#Montgomery County Pool Care

[manta-pools]

Montgomery County Pool Care Services & Nearby Areas

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[stevishabitat]

The summer wasn’t meant to be like this. By April, Greene County, in southwestern Missouri, seemed to be past the worst of the pandemic. Intensive-care units that once overflowed had emptied. Vaccinations were rising. Health-care workers who had been fighting the coronavirus for months felt relieved—perhaps even hopeful. Then, in late May, cases started ticking up again. By July, the surge was so pronounced that “it took the wind out of everyone,” Erik Frederick, the chief administrative officer of Mercy Hospital Springfield, told me. “How did we end up back here again?”

The hospital is now busier than at any previous point during the pandemic. In just five weeks, it took in as many COVID-19 patients as it did over five months last year. Ten minutes away, another big hospital, Cox Medical Center South, has been inundated just as quickly. “We only get beds available when someone dies, which happens several times a day,” Terrence Coulter, the critical-care medical director at CoxHealth, told me.

Last week, Katie Towns, the acting director of the Springfield–Greene County Health Department, was concerned that the county’s daily cases were topping 250. On Wednesday, the daily count hit 405. This dramatic surge is the work of the super-contagious Delta variant, which now accounts for 95 percent of Greene County’s new cases, according to Towns. It is spreading easily because people have ditched their masks, crowded into indoor spaces, resumed travel, and resisted vaccinations. Just 40 percent of people in Greene County are fully vaccinated. In some nearby counties, less than 20 percent of people are.

Many experts have argued that, even with Delta, the United States is unlikely to revisit the horrors of last winter. Even now, the country’s hospitalizations are one-seventh as high as they were in mid-January. But national optimism glosses over local reality. For many communities, this year will be worse than last. Springfield’s health-care workers and public-health specialists are experiencing the same ordeals they thought they had left behind. “But it feels worse this time because we’ve seen it before,” Amelia Montgomery, a nurse at CoxHealth, told me. “Walking back into the COVID ICU was demoralizing.”

Those ICUs are also filling with younger patients, in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, including many with no underlying health problems. In part, that’s because elderly people have been more likely to get vaccinated, leaving Delta with a younger pool of vulnerable hosts. While experts are still uncertain if Delta is deadlier than the original coronavirus, every physician and nurse in Missouri whom I spoke with told me that the 30- and 40-something COVID-19 patients they’re now seeing are much sicker than those they saw last year. “That age group did get COVID before, but they didn’t usually end up in the ICU like they are now,” Jonathan Brown, a respiratory therapist at Mercy, told me. Nurses are watching families navigate end-of-life decisions for young people who have no advance directives or other legal documents in place.

Almost every COVID-19 patient in Springfield’s hospitals is unvaccinated, and the dozen or so exceptions are all either elderly or immunocompromised people. The vaccines are working as intended, but the number of people who have refused to get their shots is crushing morale. Vaccines were meant to be the end of the pandemic. If people don’t get them, the actual end will look more like Springfield’s present: a succession of COVID-19 waves that will break unevenly across the country until everyone has either been vaccinated or infected. “You hear post-pandemic a lot,” Frederick said. “We’re clearly not post-pandemic. New York threw a ticker-tape parade for its health-care heroes, and ours are knee-deep in COVID.”

That they are in this position despite the wide availability of vaccines turns difficult days into unbearable ones. As bad as the winter surge was, Springfield’s health-care workers shared a common purpose of serving their community, Steve Edwards, the president and CEO of CoxHealth, told me. But now they’re “putting themselves in harm’s way for people who’ve chosen not to protect themselves,” he said. While there were always ways of preventing COVID-19 infections, Missourians could have almost entirely prevented this surge through vaccination—but didn’t. “My sense of hope is dwindling,” Tracy Hill, a nurse at Mercy, told me. “I’m losing a little bit of faith in mankind. But you can’t just not go to work.”

When Springfield’s hospitals saw the first pandemic wave hitting the coasts, they could steel themselves. This time, with Delta thrashing Missouri fast and first, they haven’t had time to summon sufficient reinforcements. Between them, Mercy and Cox South have recruited about 300 traveling nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialists, which is still less than they need. The hospitals’ health-care workers have adequate PPE and most are vaccinated. But in the ICUs and in COVID-19 wards, respiratory therapists still must constantly adjust ventilators, entire teams must regularly flip patients onto their belly and back again, and nurses spend long shifts drenched in sweat as they repeatedly don and doff protective gear. In previous phases of the pandemic, both hospitals took in patients from other counties and states. “Now we’re blasting outward,” Coulter said. “We’re already saturating the surrounding hospitals.”

Meanwhile, the hospitals’ own staff members are exhausted beyond telling. After the winter surge, they spent months catching up on record numbers of postponed surgeries and other procedures. Now they’re facing their sharpest COVID-19 surge yet on top of those backlogged patients, many of whom are sicker than usual because their health care had to be deferred. Even with hundreds of new patients with lung cancer, asthma, and other respiratory diseases waiting for care in outpatient settings, Coulter still has to cancel his clinics because “I have to be in the hospital all the time,” he said.

Many health-care workers have had enough. Some who took on extra shifts during past surges can’t bring themselves to do so again. Some have moved to less stressful positions that don’t involve treating COVID-19. Others are holding the line, but only just. “You can’t pour from an empty cup, but with every shift it feels like my co-workers and I are empty,” Montgomery said. “We are still trying to fill each other up and keep going.”

The grueling slog is harder now because it feels so needless, and because many patients don’t realize their mistake until it’s too late. On Tuesday, Hill spoke with an elderly man who had just been admitted and was very sick. “He said, ‘I’m embarrassed that I’m here,’” she told me. “He wanted to talk about the vaccine, and in the back of my mind I’m thinking, You have a very high likelihood of not leaving the hospital.” Other patients remain defiant. “We had someone spit in a nurse’s eye because she told him he had COVID and he didn’t believe her,” Edwards said.

Some health-care workers are starting to resent their patients—an emotion that feels taboo. “You’re just angry,” Coulter said, “and you feel guilty for getting angry, because they’re sick and dying.” Others are indignant on behalf of loved ones who don’t already have access to the vaccines. “I’m a mom of a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old, and the daughter of family members in Zimbabwe and South Africa who can’t get vaccinated yet,” says Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, who works at a Veterans Affairs hospital in St. Louis. “I’m frustrated, angry, and sad.”

“I don’t think people get that once you become sick enough to be hospitalized with COVID, the medications and treatments that we have are, quite frankly, not very good,” says Howard Jarvis, the medical director of Cox South’s emergency department. Drugs such as dexamethasone offer only incremental benefits. Monoclonal antibodies are effective only during the disease’s earliest stages. Doctors can give every recommended medication, and patients still have a high chance of dying. The goal should be to stop people from getting sick in the first place.

But Missouri Governor Mike Parson never issued a statewide mask mandate, and the state’s biggest cities—Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and Columbia—ended their local orders in May, after the CDC said that vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks indoors. In June, Parson signed a law that limits local governments’ ability to enact public-health restrictions. And even before the pandemic, Missouri ranked 41st out of all the states in terms of public-health funding. “We started in a hole and we’re trying to catch up,” Towns, the director of the Springfield–Greene County Health Department, told me.

Her team flattened last year’s curve through testing, contact tracing, and quarantining, but “Delta has just decimated our ability to respond,” Kendra Findley, the department’s administrator for community health and epidemiology, told me. The variant is spreading too quickly for the department to keep up with every new case, and more people are refusing to cooperate with contact tracers than at this time last year. The CDC has sent a “surge team” to help, but it’s just two people: an epidemiologist, who is helping analyze data on Delta’s spread, and a communications person. And like Springfield’s hospitals, the health department was already overwhelmed with work that had been put off for a year. “Suddenly, I feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day,” Findley said.

Early last year, Findley stuck a note on her whiteboard with the number of people who died in the 1918 flu pandemic: 50 million worldwide and 675,000 in the U.S. “It was for perspective: We will not get here. You can manage this,” she told me. “I looked at it the other day and I think we’re going to get there. And I feel like a large segment of the population doesn’t care.”

The 1918 flu pandemic took Missouri by surprise too, says Carolyn Orbann, an anthropologist at the University of Missouri who studies that disaster. While much of the world felt the brunt of the pandemic in October 1918, Missouri had irregular waves with a bigger peak in February 1920. So when COVID-19 hit, Orbann predicted that the state might have a similarly drawn-out experience. Missouri has a widely dispersed population, divided starkly between urban and rural places, and few highways—a recipe for distinct and geographically disparate microcultures. That perhaps explains why new pathogens move erratically through the state, creating unpredictable surges and, in some pockets, a false sense of security. Last year, “many communities may have gone through their lockdown period without registering a single case and wondered, What did we do that for?” Orbann told me.

She also suspects that Missourians in 1918 might have had a “better overhead view of the course of the pandemic in their communities than the average citizen has now.” Back then, the state’s local papers published lists of people who were sick, so even those who didn’t know anyone with the flu could see that folks around them were dying. “It made the pandemic seem more local,” Orbann said. “Now, with fewer hometown newspapers and restrictions on sharing patient information, that kind of knowledge is restricted to people working in health care.”

Montgomery, the CoxHealth nurse, feels that disparity whenever she leaves the hospital. “I work in the ICU, where it’s like a war zone, and I go out in public and everything’s normal,” she said. “You see death and suffering, and then you walk into the grocery store and get resistance. It feels like we’re being ostracized by our community.”

If anything, people in the state have become more entrenched in their beliefs and disbeliefs than they were last year, Davis, the St. Louis–based doctor, told me. They might believe that COVID-19 has been overblown, that young people won’t be harmed, or that the vaccines were developed too quickly to be safe. But above all else, “what I predominantly get is, ‘I don’t want to talk to you about that; let’s move on,’” Davis said.

People take the pandemic seriously when they can see it around them. During past surges in other parts of the U.S., curves flattened once people saw their loved ones falling ill, or once their community became the unwanted focus of national media coverage. The same feedback loop might be starting to occur in Missouri. The major Route 66 Festival has been canceled. More people are making vaccine appointments at both Cox South and Mercy.

In Springfield, the public-health professionals I talked with felt that they had made successful efforts to address barriers to vaccine access, and that vaccine hesitancy was the driving force of low vaccination rates. Improving those rates is now a matter of engendering trust as quickly as possible. Springfield’s firefighters are highly trusted, so the city set up vaccine clinics in local fire stations. Community-health advocates are going door-to-door to talk with their neighbors about vaccines. The Springfield News-Leader is set to publish a full page of photos of well-known Springfieldians who are advocating for vaccination. Several local pastors have agreed to preach about vaccines from their pulpits and set up vaccination events in their churches. One such event, held at James River Church on Monday, vaccinated 156 people. “Once we got down to the group of hesitant people, we’d be happy if we had 20 people show up to a clinic,” says Cora Scott, Springfield’s director of public information and civic engagement. “To have 156 people show up in one church in one day is phenomenal.”

But building trust is slow, and Delta is moving fast. Even if the still-unvaccinated 55 percent of Missourians all got their first shots tomorrow, it would still take a month to administer the second ones, and two weeks more for full immunity to develop. As current trends show, Delta can do a lot in six weeks. Still, “if we can get our vaccination levels to where some of the East Coast states have got to, I’ll feel a lot better going into the fall,” Frederick, Mercy’s chief administrative officer, said. “If we plateau again, my fear is that we will see the twindemic of flu and COVID.”

In the meantime, southwest Missouri is now a cautionary tale of what Delta can do to a largely unvaccinated community that has lowered its guard. None of Missouri’s 114 counties has vaccinated more than 50 percent of its population, and 75 haven’t yet managed more than 30 percent. Many such communities exist around the U.S. “There’s very few secrets about this disease, because the answer is always somewhere else,” Edwards said. “I think we’re a harbinger of what other states can expect.”

[michaelgmoore35]

Last minute polling in Pennsylvania show Biden holding a lead

Joe Biden holds a 5-point to 7-point lead over Donald Trump among likely voters in Pennsylvania, according to the Monmouth University Poll. The challenger has widespread backing from core Democratic constituencies, including young voters and people of color. These strengths offset small gains by the incumbent among senior voters and in the state’s most competitive counties. More voters trust Biden to handle the pandemic, which is a bigger issue advantage than Trump has on jobs or law and order.

Biden leads Trump by a 51% to 44% margin among likely Pennsylvania voters in a high turnout model+. The race stands at 50% Biden to 45% Trump in a low turnout scenario – which at this point would basically mean a large number of mail ballots have been rejected. Among all registered voters, 50% support Biden and 45% back Trump while another 1% support Libertarian Jo Jorgensen and 4% are undecided or won’t reveal their vote choice. The undecided number is up slightly from 2% last month.

The results show a smaller lead for the challenger compared to Monmouth’s poll last month, when Biden held an 11-point lead in a high turnout scenario and an 8-point lead in the low turnout model. That poll was taken immediately after the first debate, with half the interviews conducted after the public learned that Trump had just contracted Covid-19. Across three Pennsylvania polls conducted by Monmouth since the national party conventions,   Biden’s share of the vote has ranged from 48% to 54% among likely voters while Trump’s support has ranged from 43% to 47%.

“All eyes have been on the Keystone State from the start. Pennsylvania voters may have responded more than most to key events, such as the conventions and the debates. This potential for movement is one reason why both campaigns have spent so much time there,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.

Regionally, Biden holds a 40-point lead (67% to 27%) among registered voters in four large Democratic counties Hillary Clinton won by a cumulative 35 points four years ago. Trump has a 20-point lead (57% to 37%) in the counties he won handily in 2016. This is consistent with his standing in these counties in prior polls, but remains tighter than the 34-point margin he had in the last election.

The swing counties* where vote margins were the closest in 2016 appear to have swung again. The race in these ten counties – which are concentrated in a swath that runs from west of Philadelphia into the northeast region of the commonwealth – currently stands at 49% for Trump and 45% for Biden. Voters in these counties gave the Democrat a 53% to 42% edge a month ago, but were divided at 46% for Trump and 44% for Biden in late August.

“Northeast Pennsylvania and other swing areas of the state are as hotly contested as they were four years ago. Even without an advantage in this region, Biden is able to hold a statewide lead on the back of strong support in core blue areas along with his ability to nibble away at Trump’s margins in deep red areas,” said Murray.

  PENNSYLVANIA: VOTER MODELS Presidential vote choice: Registered voters High likely turnout Low likely turnout November Biden 50% 51% 50% Trump 45% 44% 45%   Early October Biden 54% 54% 53% Trump 42% 43% 45% Late August Biden 49% 49% 48% Trump 45% 46% 47% Mid July Biden 53% 52% 51% Trump 40% 42% 44% Source:  Monmouth University Poll, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2020

  Demographically, Biden holds a large lead among registered voters of color (81% to 10%). He also leads among white college graduates by 56% to 40%, while Trump leads among white voters without a four-year degree by 58% to 37%. The Democrat enjoys a wide margin among voters under 50 years old (57% to 35%) while the Republican commands the age 50 to 64 vote (54% to 40%). Senior voters aged 65 and older are more evenly divided at 50% for Biden and 49% for Trump. The challenger led among senior voters by between 10 and 13 points in Monmouth’s prior Pennsylvania polls. According to the National Election Pool exit poll, Trump won Pennsylvania senior voters by 10 points in 2016.

“Even when we control for demographic relationships in the sample, there can be some noisy results among these subgroups. The senior vote is up for grabs in Pennsylvania given the margin of error, but could end up decisively in either candidate’s camp on Tuesday. However, the trend in this poll is in line with recent Monmouth polls in Florida and Georgia last week, suggesting that Trump may be clawing back a little bit of the senior vote in the campaign’s final days while Biden is strengthening his position among younger voters and people of color,” said Murray.

The poll also finds that registered voters in Pennsylvania do not have a particularly rosy image of either candidate. Biden gets a 46% favorable and 45% unfavorable rating, which is down from 50% favorable and 44% unfavorable in early October. Trump gets a 42% favorable and 49% unfavorable rating, which is slightly better than his 40% favorable and 52% unfavorable rating last month.

Trump has a nominal, but not significant, edge on handling two issues – protecting jobs in Pennsylvania (45% trust him more while 42% trust Biden more) and maintaining law and order (44% trust Trump and 43% trust Biden). The challenger, on the other hand, has a larger advantage on one major concern – handling the coronavirus pandemic – 47% trust him more on this issue while 34% trust Trump.

Slightly more Pennsylvania voters expect Biden (46%) rather than Trump (41%) will win the election this week. This differs from the opinion of voters in states Monmouth recently polled. More thought the incumbent would beat the challenger in Florida (49% Trump and 41% Biden) and Georgia (51% to 42%). A national Monmouth poll in early September also found that more American voters thought Trump (48%) rather than Biden (43%) would emerge victorious.

Back in July, Pennsylvania voters were evenly divided over who they thought would win their own state – 46% said Trump would and 45% said Biden. Despite the apparent shift in overall voter expectations about the eventual winner, Republicans (45%) remain more likely than Democrats (20%) to feel very optimistic about this year’s presidential election in the current poll.

The Monmouth University Poll was conducted by telephone from October 28 to November 1, 2020 with 502 Pennsylvania registered voters. The question results in this release have a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percentage points. The poll was conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, NJ.

    +   Monmouth’s likely voter models for the 2020 election are not forecasts. They are designed to present a range of reasonable outcomes based on voter intentions as of this moment (including ballots already cast as well as potential for undercounting among certain demographic groups due to election administration issues). Each registered voter is assigned a probabilistic weight between 0 and 1, based primarily on past voting history, with adjustments for self-reported likelihood to vote, motivation and other factors. Further adjustments are applied to the aggregate sample based on turnout propensities among different demographic groups (e.g. by race, gender, education).

  * 2016 presidential margin by county groupings:

Swing (26% of vote) – counties where the winning margin for either candidate was less than 10 points, with a cumulative vote of 48.6% Clinton and 47.4% Trump (Berks, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Dauphin, Erie, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton).

Clinton (34% of vote) – Clinton won these counties by more than 10 points, with a cumulative vote of 66.3% to 30.7% (Allegheny, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia).

Trump (40% of vote) – Trump won these counties by more than 10 points, with a cumulative vote of 64.8% to 31.4% (remaining 53 counties).

  QUESTIONS AND RESULTS     

(* Some columns may not add to 100% due to rounding.)

  [Note: Voters who report already casting their ballots were asked, “In the election for X, did you vote for…” for Q1.]

  If the election for President was today, would you vote for … Donald Trump the Republican, Joe Biden the Democrat, or Jo Jorgensen the Libertarian? [NAMES WERE ROTATED] [If UNDECIDED: If you had to vote for one of the following candidates at this moment, who do you lean toward – Donald Trump or Joe Biden?]

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS(with leaners) Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 Aug. 2020 July 2020* Donald Trump 45% 42% 45% 40% Joe Biden 50% 54% 49% 53% Jo Jorgensen 1% 1% 2% n/a (VOL) Other candidate <1% <1% <1% 3% (VOL) No one <1% <1% 1% <1% (VOL) Undecided 4% 2% 4% 4% (n) (502) (500) (400) (401)

* July 2020 question specified “another candidate.”

  Do you feel optimistic or pessimistic about the 2020 presidential election? [Is that very or somewhat optimistic/pessimistic?]

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 Aug. 2020 July 2020 Very optimistic 29% 19% 33% 27% Somewhat optimistic 32% 34% 30% 36% Somewhat pessimistic 12% 22% 16% 18% Very pessimistic 14% 21% 14% 10% (VOL) Neither, don’t care 4% 2% 4% 4% (VOL) Don’t know 8% 2% 3% 5% (n) (502) (500) (400) (401)

  How motivated are you to vote in the election for president – very motivated, somewhat motivated, or not that motivated?

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 Aug. 2020 July 2020 Very motivated 89% 88% 85% 85% Somewhat motivated 7% 9% 9% 11% Not that motivated 3% 3% 6% 4% (VOL) Don’t know 0% 0% 0% 0% (n) (502) (500) (400) (401)

  Compared to past elections, are you more enthusiastic than usual, less enthusiastic, or about the same as past elections?

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 Aug. 2020 July 2020 More enthusiastic 51% 47% 48% 42% Less enthusiastic 9% 16% 13% 11% About the same 38% 36% 37% 46% (VOL) Don’t know 2% 1% 1% 1% (n) (502) (500) (400) (401)

  [QUESTIONS 5 & 6 WERE ROTATED]

  Is your general impression of Donald Trump very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable, or do you have no opinion?

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 Aug. 2020 July 2020 Very favorable 27% 27% 29% 25% Somewhat favorable 15% 13% 15% 15% Somewhat unfavorable 5% 6% 6% 7% Very unfavorable 44% 46% 45% 47% No opinion 8% 8% 5% 6% (n) (502) (500) (400) (401)

  Is your general impression of Joe Biden very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable, or do you have no opinion?

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 Aug. 2020 July 2020 Very favorable 26% 25% 26% 17% Somewhat favorable 20% 25% 22% 28% Somewhat unfavorable 10% 11% 9% 15% Very unfavorable 35% 33% 37% 32% No opinion 8% 6% 6% 9% (n) (502) (500) (400) (401)

  [QUESTIONS 7 & 8 WERE ROTATED]

  Who do you trust more on maintaining law and order – Donald Trump or Joe Biden, or both equally?

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 Donald Trump 44% 41% Joe Biden 43% 45% Both equally 9% 11% (VOL) Neither 2% 3% (VOL) Don’t know 2% 1% (n) (502) (500)

  Who do you trust more on handling the coronavirus pandemic – Donald Trump or Joe Biden, or both equally?

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 Donald Trump 34% 32% Joe Biden 47% 52% Both equally 12% 10% (VOL) Neither 4% 4% (VOL) Don’t know 2% 1% (n) (502) (500)

  Who do you trust more on protecting jobs in Pennsylvania – Donald Trump or Joe Biden, or both equally?

REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Donald Trump 45% Joe Biden 42% Both equally 8% (VOL) Neither 2% (VOL) Don’t know 2% (n) (502)

  How will you vote this year – in person on Election Day, in person at an early voting location, or by mail ballot? [If ALREADY VOTED: How did you vote this year…?]

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 In person on Election Day 60% 64% In person at an early voting location 5% 5% By mail ballot 33% 28% (VOL) Won’t vote at all 0% 0% (VOL) Don’t know 1% 2% (n) (502) (500)

  Overall, how confident are you that the election will be conducted fairly and accurately – very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident?

TREND: REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Oct. 2020 Aug. 2020 Very confident 20% 20% 19% Somewhat confident 44% 40% 40% Not too confident 24% 24% 24% Not at all confident 11% 14% 15% (VOL) Don’t know 1% 1% 2% (n) (502) (500) (400)

  Regardless of who you support now, who do you think will win the presidential election this year – Donald Trump or Joe Biden? [NAMES WERE ROTATED]

REGISTERED VOTERS Nov. 2020 Donald Trump 41% Joe Biden 46% (VOL) Don’t know 13% (n) (502)

    METHODOLOGY

  The Monmouth University Poll was sponsored and conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute from October 28 to November 1, 2020 with a statewide random sample of 502 Pennsylvania voters drawn from a list of registered voters. This includes 172 contacted by a live interviewer on a landline telephone and 330 contacted by a live interviewer on a cell phone, in English. Monmouth is responsible for all aspects of the survey design, data weighting and analysis. The full sample is weighted for party registration, age, gender, race, education, and region based on state voter registration list information and U.S. Census information (CPS 2018 supplement). Data collection support provided by Braun Research (field) and Aristotle (voter sample). For results based on the full voter sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling has a maximum margin of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points (unadjusted for sample design). Sampling error can be larger for sub-groups (see table below). In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.

  DEMOGRAPHICS (weighted) REGISTERED VOTERS   Party Registration 39% Republican 14% Other/none 47% Democrat   Self-Reported Party 35% Republican 28% Independent 37% Democrat   47% Male 53% Female   22% 18-34 22% 35-49 29% 50-64 27% 65+   82% White, non-Hispanic 11% Black   4% Hispanic   3% Asian/other   64% No degree 36% 4 year degree

MARGIN OF ERROR unweighted  sample moe

(+/-)

REGISTERED VOTERS   502 4.4% SELF-REPORTED PARTY ID Republican 173 7.5% Independent 136 8.4% Democrat 188 7.2% IDEOLOGY Liberal 123 8.8% Moderate 201 6.9% Conservative 150 8.0% GENDER Male 243 6.3% Female 259 6.1% AGE 18-49 222 6.6% 50-64 143 8.2% 65+ 135 8.4% INCOME <$50K 157 7.8% $50 to <100K 153 7.9% $100K+ 139 8.3% 2016 VOTE BY COUNTY Trump >10pts 186 7.2% Swing <10pts 131 8.6% Clinton >10pts 185 7.2% RACE White, non-Hispanic 381 5.0% Other 104 9.6% RACE EDUCATION White, no degree 208 6.8% White, 4 year degree 172 7.5%

Photo by anro0002

Photo by Michael M Stokes

[jacbyley]

parc central residences pdf

Burgeoning with culture, Laurel is a tour de force in the real estate world because of its family friendly atmosphere. If it is the crossroads where history meets small town chic and the surreal life, then Laurel is definitely the place to consider.

It is the small town charm and strong sense of community pride that makes Laurel an attractive find for families in the market to buy a home. The classic ideals that it was built upon still remain steadfast, and with safety being a number one priority, residents can easily say that life in Laurel is indeed the superior way of life.

Annually, there are community driven events such as Lake Fest, the Main Street Festival, River Fest, and the National Night Out. The city of Laurel ensures that members of its culturally rich and diverse community have the opportunity to be proactive in maintaining its ideals. One way the city does this is by sponsoring and promoting the Citizen Emergency Response Team where training is given to volunteers within the community who are interested in protecting the community's way of life.

A quick drive down Historic Main Street oozes the charm and familial ties that the town is known for. Additionally, Laurel residents have a certain savoir faire that is missing in other Maryland towns.

If it is family fun, safety and solid sense of community that you seek then make no mistake, Laurel is at the parc central residence ec  forefront for those wanting to live the superior way of life.

With its vast offering of educational, recreational and employment opportunities along with a central location near major transportation corridors, Laurel is an ideal community for active couples and families.

Laurel is located on the bank of the Patuxent River in Prince George County, halfway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

It's bordered by several major interstates and serviced by multiple commuter train and bus lines. This central location makes for a convenient commute to many area employers, including Fort Meade Army Base, the National Security Agency (NSA) and Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory.

The population of incorporated Laurel is a modest 22,000, with unincorporated areas reaching across Anne Arundel, Howard and Montgomery counties. Children in Laurel proper attend Prince George's County schools, while children in the unincorporated areas attend the district of their corresponding county.

In addition to top-rated public schools, the community also has highly regarded private schools including Augsburg Academy Christian Day School, Julia Brown Montessori School, St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Primary School and St. Vincent Pallotti High School.

Secondary schools include Prince George's Community College and Howard Community College which share a campus in Laurel called the Laurel College Center.

The nearby Fairland Sports and Athletic Complex is a world-class facility with an Olympic swimming pool, and featuring gymnastics, tennis, racquetball, weight training, child care and more. The complex also hosts a variety of sports camps and clinics for kids. The Gardens Ice House is a skating center inside the Fairland Regional Park, which is home to the Washington Jr. Nationals ice hockey team.

The area is known for its local performing arts, including the Venus Theatre, Laurel Mill Playhouse, Central Maryland Chorale and the Montpelier Arts Center, as well as a variety of museums and historic sites.

[ultraheydudemestuff]

Shawen Acres 3304 N. Main St. Dayton, Ohio 45405 Shawen Acres, also known as the Montgomery County Children's Home, is a historic complex at 3304 N. Main St. in Dayton, Ohio. Originally designed as an orphan's home, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1991. Child welfare in Montgomery County took a major step forward when taxpayers approved a $400,000 bond issue in 1926 to erect a “modern-type cottage plan institution.” Dr. C. E. Shawen gifted 20 acres of land on North Main Street in Dayton to the county on March 21, 1926, for "wayward and homeless children,” and soon after Shawen Acres was under construction. The complex comprises a main building, annex, gym, and 10 English-style cottages in a park-like setting. Completed in 1927, Shawen Acres’ old English architecture brought an undeniable charm to the orphanage’s 10 cottages and administration building. The campus also featured a gymnasium/auditorium, barber shop, pool, and other amenities to help children through trying times. In 1969, Shawen Acres’ averaged 172 residents in its cottages. There was a shift away from the orphanage model in the 1970s because the foster care model was producing better results for children in care. In 1977, the Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners voted to suspend operations at Shawen Acres. Today, the current Children Services administration building, Haines Children’s Center, at Shawen Acres in Dayton houses over 300 Children Services employees. The workers investigate claims of abuse and neglect, facilitate foster home placements for children in care (around 700 at any given time), pursue the reunification of families, and recruit adoptive parents for children who need forever families. The Haines Center has 21 conference rooms, 16 visitation rooms, two medical examination rooms, an indoor playroom, and a secured outdoor playground to better serve children and their families. It was named in April 2001 as a tribute to the late Montgomery County Sheriff Gary Haines who is remembered for his dedication to protecting our community and children. Sheriff Haines served as the county's top law enforcement officer for 12 years. He passed away at the age of 50 following a lengthy battle with cancer.

[christianinsuranceagency]

Home Insurance Montgomery County - Auto Insurance The Woodlands

Christian Insurance Agency - Montgomery County Insurance Agency is located in the Southeast Texas area and has been serving the communities for decades. What makes Woodlands Insurance Company different than others is the friendly and excellent service you receive.

We will help you find the right combination of tailored, personalized insurance coverage at just the right price to fit your needs be it Home Insurance Montgomery County or Montgomery County Auto Insurance. When it comes to taking care of the ones you love the most, you can't go wrong with investing in the right insurance policies, from Home Insurance Woodlands to The Woodlands Auto Insurance. We got you covered!

Our Home Insurance The Woodlands Tx policies can be customized to meet your specific needs, which is especially beneficial if your property has a swimming pool, basketball court, or other types of amenities. We also specialize in Auto Insurance The Woodlands and renters insurance. Our policies are focused on providing you with the best care possible at the most affordable price. Give us a call today! 281-789-4070

Reference: https://christianagency.net/ Christian Insurance Agency 281-789-4070

[landscapedesignfirm]

Local Landscapers: Landscaping Design in Bryn Mawr

Bryn Mawr, a town in the Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County of Pennsylvania, is located towards the center of the Main Line. Main Line comprises a group of affluent Philadelphia suburban villages stretching from the city limits to Malvern. One of the best places to live in PA, Bryn Mawr offers residents an urban feel. The beautiful homes with stunning landscaping design in Bryn Mawr are part of the uniqueness of the community. If you are in Bryn Mawr and looking to transform your landscape, read on!

Landscaping design is very time consuming and requires a lot of effort on your part if you are planning to do it yourself. Assigning the task to professionals is a much more viable option. Choosing the right landscaping design firm might seem difficult. Read our tips below to make the task easier:

Jot Down your Requirements - First and foremost, know what you want! Put down all your requirements on paper - it helps! Once everything is jotted down, you get a clear picture of what your needs are and can accordingly set out to hunt down the best firm that can offer most of it, if not all!

Fix a Budget - Any project without a budget is sure to put you in a financial fix. Try to come up with the maximum amount that you are willing and able to spend on the landscaping design project.

Do your Research - Collect information about experts in landscaping design in Bryn Mawr. Talk to your neighbors, friends, colleagues, family and acquaintances. Also, be sure to check websites, social media profiles, and review sites like Yelp and Angie’s List.

Get References - First-hand experience is the most useful and trustworthy. Try to get references for good local landscaping design firms from those you know and rely on.

Ask Questions - Landscaping design firms are known by various names like lawn care companies, landscape maintenance, landscape design and so on. Regardless of what they call themselves, make sure to ask them questions like:

How long have you been in business?

What is your Better Business Bureau rating?

Do you have memberships with professional organizations, like the local Landscape Association?

What satisfaction guarantees do you offer?

Can you share testimonials from past clients?

Can you share pictures from past projects?

Answers to these are vital in deciding whether the firm is professional and skilled enough to meet your needs.

Burkholder Brothers is known for high quality landscaping design in Bryn Mawr and other Main Line communities. They offer full-service landscaping, from initial 3D renderings to installation of pools; from construction of outdoor structures like pergolas and patios to the final touches like lighting and fine outdoor furnishings. If you want to get started, contact them today for a consultation.

About Burkholder Brothers, Inc:

Burkholder Brothers, Inc is passionate about designing, building and maintaining the finest landscapes in the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley area. If you are looking for reliable landscape designers, please contact Burkholder Landscape. For over 20 years, our family owned and operated company has devoted all of its efforts to perfecting the art of landscaping by creating an “all-inclusive” advantage that will provide a single source of service for all of your lawn and landscape needs.

[rebelliousrejects]

Mormon Girls Camp-Shayla

So I’ve been in this relationship with this guy named Jose from the Spanish ward in my stake aka Silver Spring Stake MD, well since July 13. People in that ward kinda disapproved of me being his gf some people there actually liked me. Well since I was the only white girl who would actually go talk to them and try to be their friend unlike other people in my stake who were mostly white. This stake is in two counties Prince Georges County which other counties in Maryland except Baltimore like to say it’s ghetto and trashy; and the other county is Montgomery which is nicer apparently and full of the white Mormons. My stake is mostly from Montgomery, so we have more white people in our stake then other races. But remind you again Me (Shayla) and this band are from PG where there’s barely any white people there which is quite nice to me, I like the POC here anyways. They’ve always accepted me. When I met the Spanish ward kids I felt more accepted in the church because they were like how I’m used to at home and before in the  church, I never felt accepted at all.

Well here comes girls camp....

First Day:

The girls ask me at the stake center while we were waiting for the bus if me and Jose were really going out. I said yes and some showed awws and some showed me disgusted looks. Then I try to ignore it and we change the subject, then I keep getting this vibe that I’m not being accepted by some of them which gets me feeling in a deep depression and makes me have a lot of anxiety on what I’m doing wrong. The girl who gives this vibe off to me the most is named “Ally” or “Alejandra”. Me and her were always friends but ever since this year I’ve felt like she hates me. On the bus no one sits with me so I’m glad with that because I have an anxiety attack. But I hide myself in my pillow so I don’t get called an “Attention Seeker”. Some of the Spanish girls asked if I was ok and I lied and said “Yes I’m ok” while hiding myself in my pillow. I then pull out my blade but quickly hide it from everyone else as we go in the Taco Bell to use the bathroom. When it became my turn to use the bathroom, I locked the door and basically self harmed my feelings away. I put the blade away and but I accidentally left some of my blood in there;but no one noticed it. I end up hiding my face until camp. At camp, I was already done dealing with people. So around night time I’m wearing my night gown “I’ll start working when my coffee does”... All of my friends at camp were POC....Yea btw Sophie isn’t my friend tbh...So my friends were saying I looked nice while everyone else just gave me death stares for wearing it. I actually got into a argument with a Molly that night about it...really pissed me off so i was like Fuck you to her.... So it’s night time, I’m in my tent with Alejandra,America,and Yenny. They are all in the same ward as my bf. So they were talking about my bf little did I know that my bf used to have a major crush on America to the point he texted America’s mother saying that he was deeply in love with her. But apparently her dad always is outside the sunday school room so he doesn’t talk to her. Hearing that made me so insecure so I texted him asking him about it, he seem confused so I ended that convo...

2nd Day:

It was the service project/Hike. I was with my friend Elena and Mimi who were 3rd years and btw I was a 4th Year. We basically had to walk and pick up trash but the head of camp was supposed to be my step mother but this lady Sister Willis threw a pity party to not get released so they were supposed to be sharing it. But it turned out that Sister Willis like over stepped my step mother. Btw she is Sophie’s mother. She always hated me but she also didn’t like the spanish girls. This was the first day my anger started to build up. We had to make our own dinner this day, so I didn’t eat any of it because well I didn’t like it. Also in the morning I drank coffee i brought and I shared some with Elena. Also during the day my step mother heard that Sophie (the other white girl in my year aka very molly) was saying to her older sister Lucy who was our WCL that we weren’t up to her level and that she was sick of us. So her mom of course let her sleep in with the WCLs Madelyn and Icky (The only POC WCL at camp). Lucy was like me a bit with the mental issues. Lucy was also trashed by her mom behind her back to her sisters at camp. But Lucy slept outside in a canopy.  I went and told the girls what Sophie said and we were all mad about it. At that point it was like we all hated Sophie and Madelyn. The reason Madelyn was because she was a bitchy WCL and did was Sophie did and treated us less than her. Icky hated them too. Icky and me met like when I was a 2nd year. She was fun we ended up swindling a leader out of 20$.

3rd Day comes:

Me and Elena we are just getting really tired of people at this point. Like from the drama from the girls or from the leaders. In the early of the day we both had anxiety attacks but she coughs up blood. But I ended up self harming. The nurse who is Dominican helps us both and we talk with her. Me and her both walk to the dock to talk, We discuss my issues. When I get back to camp I get yelled at by my leader to where i was and I was like I was with the nurse. At this point I get really upset and pissed cause they’re like cherry picking me. So me and Elena were able to skip the talk at night and stuff and we ended up being bad and fucking things up. Also we learned that day that Ally doesn’t like anyone at all that she just likes to trash people ever since her parents got a divorce.

4th day comes:

So it’s around dinner time and it starts pouring and thundering after we went to the pool. Remind you this at the pool I’ve cussed so much that day in front of Sister Willis cause i didn’t care anymore. I went with Elena to her tent to help her move her and everyone else’s stuff away from the walls in the tents. While I was doing that a leader yells “Is Shayla in there?” I go “Yes but I’m helping Elena with her stuff” then they go rudely which pisses me off “ WELL WE DON’T CARE ABOUT ELENA, YOU NEED TO BE AT STAKE” Right at that moment they fucked up and i yelled back “WELL IF YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ELENA THEN I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE DOWN THERE. YOU ALL CAN GO FUCK YOURSELVES. I DON’T CARE ANYMORE FUCK YOU ALL!” After that Elena and me go to the bathroom to stay there. My step mother is in there but she turns out to be in there with Sister Willis’s oldest daughter back from her mission. And I’m just telling my step mother why I’m so pissed and she tells Elena to stay with me in the bathroom to cool down. But the major problem was that leaders kept coming in the bathroom along with the WCLs that I hated telling me i have to be at stake. They like came right at the moment when i was about to be calmed down. The 7th leader that came in the bathroom with her older daughter to tell me that I need to be at stake I just flipped out on them saying “LOOK YOU GUYS NEED TO LEAVE US THE FUCK ALONE! CAUSE IF YOU GUYS KEEP COMING IN HERE TELLING ME THAT I GOTTA BE AT STAKE IMA END UP CUSSING EVERYONE ELSE OUT! IM ALREADY ON THE EDGE OF SNAPPING!” The leaders left mortified and in shock. Elena was there with me trying to calm me down. Strangers from the camps near us also helped me calm down and i told them what happened.

last day comes:

Still pouring and I was done with everyone’s shit. The girls took my phone and the next day try to tell my bf i tried to expose him. He believed me but he couldn’t take the drama so he dumped me. But he told me he still loves me. The end and this was my worst year at camp.... -_-

[dipulb3]

US coronavirus: Some states return to previous restrictions hoping to slow surge of cases | Appradab

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/us-coronavirus-some-states-return-to-previous-restrictions-hoping-to-slow-surge-of-cases-appradab-3/

US coronavirus: Some states return to previous restrictions hoping to slow surge of cases | Appradab

Even states with low case counts have readjusted their reopening plans. Monday, New Jersey determined towards resuming indoor eating, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo stated a choice on whether or not New York Metropolis may resume indoor eating could be made by Wednesday.

The “nationwide scenario compounded by situations of knucklehead conduct right here at house are requiring us to hit pause on the restart of indoor eating for the foreseeable future,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said at a information convention.

“This is not a endlessly and for all the time, however this virus indoors, sedentary, lack of air flow, shut proximity, it is simply much more deadly than it’s open air,” Murphy advised Appradab’s Jim Acosta, noting that outside eating was typically going “very properly.”

The bulletins come after a devastating week for the nation, throughout which many states broke information for brand new confirmed circumstances in a day and the US recorded a document excessive of single-day confirmed circumstances with 40,173 reported Friday. New circumstances are significantly surging amongst younger folks within the South and West.

Oregon may see its hospitals overwhelmed inside weeks if the virus unfold is not slowed, Gov. Kate Brown stated. And in Los Angeles County, there are simply 200 ICU beds obtainable, in accordance with knowledge offered by Well being Companies Director Christina Ghaly. Hospital beds could possibly be at capability in only a few weeks, she stated.

However the numbers of circumstances reported may be a glimpse into how widespread infections actually are — a survey from the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention discovered the entire quantity could possibly be as much as 24 instances greater than reported.

The pandemic has modified life in all places, however no different nation has seen as a lot sickness and dying as the US. The US makes up about 4% of the world’s inhabitants but accounts for 1 / 4 of the world’s reported circumstances and deaths, in accordance with knowledge from Johns Hopkins College.

What occurs subsequent is unclear. Till a vaccine or therapy is broadly obtainable, public well being consultants have repeatedly pushed for mass efforts on behalf of the general public good: social distancing, hand-washing, mask-wearing, testing, contact tracing and quarantining the sick.

Native and state leaders have vowed they’re going to do no matter it takes to avoid a second shutdown. However many have stopped wanting taking the choice off the desk.

Improve will ‘worsen for weeks’

Well being and Human Companies Secretary Alex Azar warned Sunday that the window of time to get the pandemic under control is quickly closing.

Governors have partially attributed their surges to extra widespread testing — however former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden stated Sunday that even with extra testing and higher ready hospitals, “this virus nonetheless has the higher hand.”

The rise in circumstances throughout the South is the results of reopening too shortly, Frieden stated on “Fox Information Sunday,” including that it “goes to proceed to worsen for weeks.”

And deaths will come too, he famous in a grim prediction that coronavirus fatalities will lag behind circumstances of infections by a couple of month.

Throughout the US, 31 states noticed a rise in new coronavirus circumstances this previous week in comparison with the week prior, primarily within the South and the West.

One other 15 states held regular in comparison with the week prior, and simply 4 states noticed a decline: Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Points with testing, contact tracing and potential vaccine

The rise in circumstances comes as well being consultants have acknowledged America’s efforts to cease the virus have fallen brief.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s prime infectious illness professional, advised The Washington Post final week that “one thing’s not working” in America’s testing technique.

He prompt that the White Home coronavirus activity power is “severely contemplating” pool testing for Covid-19.

Pool testing works by mixing a number of samples collectively right into a “batch,” or pool, after which check the pooled pattern with one diagnostic check. If the pooled check comes again damaging, then you’ve got eradicated that group of individuals with one check. In the event you get a constructive end result, you’ll be able to return and check folks individually.

Along with the testing points, new knowledge reveals that states have underinvested in contact tracing, which entails monitoring down all of an contaminated particular person’s shut contacts to stop additional unfold.

In April, the Nationwide Affiliation of County and Metropolis Well being Officers estimated that communities would wish 30 contact tracers per 100,000 folks.

However there are far fewer contact tracers than that in eight states rife with Covid-19 infections, in accordance with new knowledge obtained by Appradab from Nephron Analysis, an unbiased well being care analysis agency that has been monitoring contact tracing throughout states.

As of Monday, Florida has about seven tracers per 100,000, Texas has about 11 tracers per 100,000 and Arizona has about 5 tracers per 100,000.

Simply six states have greater than 30 contact tracers per 100,000 residents, led by New York and North and South Dakota.

In New York, Gov. Cuomo stated the contact tracing system had quickly identified clusters of cases at a Westchester County commencement occasion, a Montgomery County aluminum manufacturing facility and an Oswego County apple packaging plant.

“Because of our contact tracing program we discovered these clusters shortly, permitting us to handle them instantly and assist stop the virus from spreading additional,” he stated Friday.

Requested in regards to the nation’s progress on contact tracing, Fauci was not impressed. “I do not assume we’re doing very properly,” he stated.

Fauci additionally expressed skepticism that a reasonably efficient vaccine would cease the pandemic.

He stated he would “settle” for a Covid-19 vaccine that is 70% to 75% efficient, however that this incomplete safety, coupled with the truth that many People say they will not get a vaccine, makes it “unlikely” that the US will obtain ample ranges of immunity to quell the outbreak.

Dr. Birx: Masks could partially defend you from getting contaminated

As communities once more grapple with tips on how to transfer ahead, one other query: What about masks?

White Home coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx on Sunday pushed People to put on masks, saying that not solely does proof counsel masks “hold you from infecting others,” however they “can also partially defend you from getting contaminated.”

The federal government has talked about the chance earlier than however has not made it some extent of emphasis. The CDC says, “fabric face coverings are supposed to defend different folks in case the wearer is unknowingly contaminated however doesn’t have signs.”

Birx additionally inspired younger folks to put on masks once they enterprise out, including, “and in the event that they’re interacting with their mother and father and grandparents, they need to put on a masks then too as a result of we all know now what number of of them are asymptomatic.”

Vice President Mike Pence recommended that people wear masks once they can’t social distance. However he has avoided requiring everybody to put on one and has as a substitute deferred to native and state leaders, who’re themselves following the lead of President Donald Trump, who has steadfastly refused to wear a mask in public.

Nonetheless, the mask-wearing message could also be getting by way of. The town of Jacksonville, Florida, which plans to host a big Trump rally in the course of the Republican Nationwide Conference in August, introduced it should require face masks for public and indoor areas.

Appradab’s Artemis Moshtaghian, Jacqueline Howard, Wes Bruer, Kristina Sgueglia, Brian Ries and Elizabeth Hartfield contributed to this report.

[biofunmy]

Wyckoff, N.J.: A Peaceful Suburb With a Sense of Community

Daniela Panetta is from Westchester County and her fiancé, Rob Cappadora, is from Long Island, but when they decided to buy a home they chose Wyckoff, a leafy township in northwest Bergen County, N.J., that they discovered after visiting a friend nearby.

“Wyckoff had such a neighborhood feel and just felt so peaceful,” said Mr. Cappadora, 28, a financial adviser who works on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Ms. Panetta, 30, a paralegal, said that seeing children at the petting zoo at Abma’s Farm made it easy to envision raising a family in this township of 17,000, about 27 miles northwest of Times Square. The couple, who plan to marry in October 2020, recently paid $900,000 for a 1969 colonial with four bedrooms in the Sicomac section of Wyckoff.

These days, many Wyckoff buyers are young couples moving from other parts of the metropolitan area, said Adam DeFino, the broker and owner of DeFino Realtors, in Wyckoff.

“People like the schools, and taxes are on the fair side compared to some other towns,” Mr. DeFino said. “The local government has always done a good job of keeping costs in check.”

Melissa D. Rubenstein, a member of the Wyckoff Township Committee and a real estate agent with Keller Williams, said the government keeps tax rates manageable by holding down debt levels. It also helps that the township shares a regional high school district with two neighboring boroughs, Franklin Lakes and Oakland.

Wyckoff is the kind of place where children bicycle around the neighborhood and residents get to know business owners, said David Cantinieri, 39, who works in law enforcement.

“We shop local in town,” said his wife, Taryn Cantinieri, 34, a nurse, who grew up there. “It’s nice to see a friendly face.”

The couple, who met as students working part-time in a Wyckoff supermarket, bought their first house there in 2011, then spent $620,000 last August to trade up to a four-bedroom colonial after their third child was born.

Joey and Patrick O’Connell recently moved to Wyckoff from Montgomery County, Md., after Mr. O’Connell, 34, a sales manager for an orthopedics company, was transferred. They paid $895,000 for their new home.

Their older son, who is 8, attended a regional Catholic school in Maryland, but the family chose public schools in Wyckoff because of their good reputation. Now, their two sons’ classmates live nearby instead of in other towns, said Ms. O’Connell, 38, who runs a crafts business: “It really helps them create these new friendships.”

There is little room for development in the township, but the Christian Health Care Center, which offers nursing care and rehabilitation services, is building 199 senior independent-living apartments on its campus, which straddles Wyckoff and Hawthorne. The project was proposed a decade ago, and faced opposition over concerns about traffic and the loss of wooded areas on the site. After changes were made to the plan, the building was approved, and it is expected to open at the end of 2020.

“It’s allowing our residents to retire within our community,” Ms. Rubenstein said.

What You’ll Find

Wyckoff, which covers 6.5 square miles, has housing stock that was mostly built in the decades after World War II, with a lot of ranches, split-levels, colonials and other 1960s and 1970s styles. Sales are steady in the under-$1 million market, but slower at the high end, real estate agents said.

Wyckoff is largely a single-family market, with few condos or rentals, said Sergio Sciortino, an agent with Keller Williams, who lives in town.

And while it has a small-town atmosphere, Wyckoff offers easy access to highways, including Route 17 and Route 208. “You can be at the mall in a few minutes,” said Maryanne Elsaesser, an agent with Christie’s International Real Estate in Franklin Lakes and a longtime resident of Wyckoff.

What You’ll Pay

The most active part of the market is between $600,000 and $800,000, Mr. DeFino said.

Prices of single-family homes rose 7.6 percent last year, to a median of $726,000, according to the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service, and 185 single-family homes sold in 2019, down from 205 in 2018.

A recent check of the multiple listing service and Zillow found about 70 homes on the market, from a Cape Cod listed for $450,000 to a newly built ranch with a pool and tennis court on over an acre of land, listed for $2.2 million.

The Vibe

Wyckoff offers quiet, shady neighborhoods and a downtown that centers on Wyckoff Avenue and Franklin Avenue, and includes the recently expanded Boulder Run shopping center.

Dining options include the Brick House, Blue Moon Mexican Cafe, Aldo’s and the Barn, a rustic restaurant in an 1876 dairy barn.

Although there is no municipal pool, the Wyckoff Family YMCA offers Spring Lake, a sandy pond just off Wyckoff Avenue, as well as two indoor pools.

For a walk in the woods, there is the James A. McFaul Environmental Center, an 81-acre Bergen County park on a former pig farm.

Bargain hunters like the Wyckoff PTO Economy Shop, a resale and consignment store founded in 1947 and run by Wyckoff’s parent-teacher organizations. The shop is in a historic train station in the heart of the township and donates all its profits to the local schools.

The shop has created a sense of community that keeps many volunteers coming in even after their children have graduated, said Sarah Renner, a co-president of the Economy Shop. “Once you start, you keep coming back,” Ms. Renner said.

The Schools

The Wyckoff school district serves about 2,000 children in prekindergarten through eighth grade, in four elementary schools and one middle school.

Ninth- through 12th-graders are served by the Ramapo Indian Hills school district, which has about 2,300 students and also serves nearby Franklin Lakes and Oakland.

High school students can attend Indian Hills High School in Oakland or Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes. On the SAT tests in 2017-18, students at the two schools scored an average of 585 in reading and writing and 578 in math, compared with statewide averages of 542 and 543. About 92 percent of graduates continued to college.

The Commute

The rush-hour commute from Wyckoff to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan takes about 50 minutes on Coach USA buses. The fare is $9.75 one way, or $244.35 for 40 trips.

The township is not on the commuter rail line, but residents can drive to nearby Ridgewood to catch New Jersey Transit trains into New York. The trip from Ridgewood to Penn Station takes about 50 to 60 minutes and costs $9.75 each way, or $298 a month.

For those who prefer to drive, Wyckoff is on Route 208, a state highway that slices through the township and connects to Route 4 (for those heading to New York) or Interstate 287 (for suburban destinations). The drive to New York at rush hour can take an hour or two, depending on traffic.

The History

Constance Kopp, who lived on a Wyckoff farm with her sisters in the early 20th century, was Bergen County’s first female sheriff’s deputy. Ms. Kopp was drawn to crime-fighting after a car driven by a Paterson industrialist rammed her buggy; when she tried to collect damages, the factory owner and his associates sent threatening letters and sprayed the sisters’ home with bullets. The Bergen County sheriff armed the Kopps for self-protection and later appointed Ms. Kopp a deputy. The story is the basis for a series of novels by Amy Stewart, including “Girl Waits With Gun.”

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[yookte]

80 Things to Do in and Around Philly

Lounging on the couch and binging on a series is great, but it won’t be beneficial for you and your partner’s relationship if  that’s the majority of your activity spent together. It can be hard to plan a date whether it’s your first or the 30th. Our mind grabbles with wanting something different from the norm, though quickly succumbing to  dinner and a movie often because it’s easy, and the cost is foreseen. Let’s  face it most of us budget for dates and sometimes they can get costly.  

Truth is, dinner and a movie is barely a step above Netflix and take out at home but we’ll admit it gets you out of the house at least.  The movie theaters now have reclining chairs and all that’s missing is your blanket, it’s almost like being at home. This inlies the issue, going to the movies lacks engagement.  The dinner before or after the movie is generally 45-60 mins, surely not enough time for you and your partner to really enjoy each other’s company other than being in their presence, which is always nice but it truly lacks that one on one time that your relationship thirsts for. 

We created the list below with you in mind.  It’s there for you to mix and match, improvise on our suggestions,  and to come up with new ideas. Let us know how you made out and what we should add to the list. 

Escape to your nearest Escape Room. Test your compatibility and problem solving skills with your partner. 

For the cold months starting in November head down to Penns Landing for winterfest for some spiked hot cocoa, ice skating,  and games. Get the feeling as if you are in a lodge in the Poconos.

And in the summer months visit Spruce Street Harbor. 

Ice Skate at Dillworth Park or these other places. 

Who doesn't love live music? Check out Chris’s Jazz Cafe, Warmdaddy’s, Time, Johnny Brenda's,  World Life Cafe, Union Transfer, TLA, The Fillmore, The Met… to name a few.

Visit Wilmington’s Riverfront.  There are great restaurants aligning the waterfront and you can take their  river cruise.

Drive down to Atlantic City, walk the boardwalk, take in any number of shows and have dinner with an ocean view. While you're there try a hand at BlackJack. 

I see you!  Laser Tag anyone? 

Ever think about zipping through the trees like spider man? Tap into your spidey senses. Try Zip-lining in Philly or Bucks County.

Jump, Jump, Jump around at your nearest sky zone!

Have you ever pretended that your Pink or a trapeze artist in the circus?  Well you can fly gracefully through the sky with a little help. Here’s one we found for you Trapeze.

Learn more about science and stuff.  Visit The Franklin Institute,  and while you’re there think about taking in a planetarium show or a movie at their Omniverse Theater.

Have you ever been fascinated watching planes take off? Take in a front row seat, and watch as they land via Fort Mifflin Rd and Hog Island Rd near PHL.  Pack some snacks but be careful NOT to park your cars at the fences. 

Visit Haddonfield NJ, it’s close to Philly and they have a ton of shops and restaurants.

Walk across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge from Philly to Camden or Vice Versa and grab a bite to eat nearby at a local spot. 

Join a mixologist class just make sure you do this on a full stomach! 

Take a walk or bike ride along the Schuylkill River Trail. Pack a lunch and eat at one of the park benches or head up to the cafe by BoatHouse Row or inside the Art Museum(admission fee).  There is one light fare restaurant where you don’t need to pay museum general admission to eat at if you’d like to stay along the trail. 

If your biking or walking through East Falls stop at the Trolley Car diner or In Riva along Kelly Drive and from there head over to Sherman Mills to check out their hidden business gems in a unique industrial space. 

Philly has Free Streets from March to October on the weekend. You are free to ride your bike without vehicular interference along MLK drive. 

Attend a Mediation class with your boo.  Relax, relate, release..... “Google Mediation Near Me".

Try out a new BYOB and don’t forget to bring a great wine.

Visit a Main St in a nearing town, West Chester, Doylestown, Haddonfield, Princeton, etc..... Main St. are always great and historic!  

Get your history on by visiting the Constitution Center and Independence Mall.

Visit The Eastern State Penitentiary .  Once the largest and most expensive public structure ever erected in the United State which opened in 1829. A bit spooky. Enjoy! 

 Visit Phoenixville, an old industrial town turned chic is roughly 40 mins from Philly for a perfect day trip. Take a stroll on Bridge and Main St. 

 Good at golf? It doesn’t matter, we aren't either! Try your hand at virtual golf.  

 So virtual golf not your thing?  What about miniature golf? Or is any golf just not your thing?

 Who doesn’t love an Arcade!? Bring out your inner child enthusiast.  Some ideas are The Barcade or Dave and Busters.  

Bowl! There are a ton of hip bowling alleys in Philly you can find. Try out Harp & Crow for a more intimate setting, perfect for a date night. 

Like to sing? Hit up a Karaoke spot at a local neighborhood bar or head to Chinatown where there are plenty to choose from no matter the night. 

Take in a show at the Kimmell Center , Walnut St Theatre, or any of these theatres. 

For a change of pace try out  Valley Green Inn.  It’s is  a wonderful dining experience nestled in Fairmount Park. 

 Want to get out some aggression, all while having fun?  Try your hand at Axe throwing. 

Dinner and a view from high up?  Four Seasons, R2L, XIX, and Skygarten are some ideas.  

Fancy art? Explore  The Pennsylvania Art Institute, The Barnes  or The Art Museum.  The Art Museum is pay what you wish on Wednesday  and every First Sunday.  

Why not be a Philadelphia tourist for the day? Look into Free Tours by Foot. 

Take a boat ride on the river. Find the right cruise here.

Show’em what ya workin with or your date! Do you like to dance? Try these spots.  

Can’t dance? Take a dance class together and learn or better your skills in Salsa , Hip-Hop or whatever your flavor.

Visit the Philadelphia Zoo. If you could be any wild animal, what would it be?

Venture over to the Adventure Aquarium and visit the penguins and sharks!

Take a Mural Arts self guided tour or guided, whatever your preference.  

Let’s get creative and design your own Art Exhibition Tour  all around the city. Include local universities and colleges like Drexel University, The Art Institute, University of the Arts and Moore College of Art and Design for more exhibition tour ideas. 

So this is a little different, but wouldn’t it be great if you were able to save your dates life in a godforbid life altering event?? The Red Cross offers CPR classes. You can find other first aid classes online and possibly Groupon.  In one day you can become certified. 

Philly is all about our Sports!  Take in a game watching the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, Sixers, Philadelphia Union or Philadelphia Soul play. 

In the Spring it’s about enjoying the scenery.  In the Summer it’s nice to get your feet wet in the fountains.  The Fall is about the many unique festivals, pop up shops, and activities, and in the Winter it’s all about the ice skating rink at Dillworth park. 

Once the tallest building in Philly, but still a favorite One Liberty Observation Deck . Observe the city and all its glory.   

Sketch out your own Brewery Pub Crawl.  Philadelphia is now home to a ton of local breweries. Have fun mapping out your tour! 

Explore our past and gain some light into the future at The Academy of Natural Sciences or The Penn Museum. 

Cigars or Hookah anyone? Ashton Cigar Bar , Smoke , Fishtown Hookah and The Hubble Bubble Lounge Hookah are popular choices.  

Go shopping at a local farmers market, go home and cook a lovely meal together. 

And if you can’t cook or want to learn new techniques take a cooking class together. 

Sip, sip,  we’ve got wineries in the area. In Delaware , West Chester, Montgomery, and Bucks counties as well in New Jersey. Book a tour at one!  

Visit a neighborhood that you haven’t been to or for awhile and grab lunch or dinner, and walk around to take in the sites. Chestnut Hill, University City, Fitler Square, Rittenhouse, Bella Vista, Olde City, Northern Liberties, Manayunk, East Falls,  East Passyunk, the list goes on. 

Visit the Navy Yard from 6am -8pm dine or take a walk along the river or chill out in one of their parks.  

Visit City Hall  atop William Penn once the tallest building in Philadelphia. 

Not everyone can appreciate a beautiful garden; however Long Wood Gardens is sure to impress even the naysayers. 

Cheese Steak anyone!? Hit up some new spots and have your own taste test, take notes, tell your friends who had the best steak out of your food venture that day:).  This works for Tacos as well! 

Everyone seems to fall in love with New Hope, PA, destined for a great date night or day.  

Painting with a twist is not just for parties, go with a date and sip and paint!

Eat your way through Chinatown and step into its many shops. 

Jump, Jump, Jump around at your nearest Sky Zone.

 Spend a day at the pool, indoor or outdoor and take a dip in the Jacuzzi.  If you don’t have access to one book a hotel room. For last minute deals check out hoteltonight.com or bid on Priceline.com.  

 Explore the Japanese House and Garden  located in Fairmount Park from March to October.

Battle it out at paintball! 

For live  dance performances here are some options  Philadelphia Dance , The Performance Garage,  Anne Berger Center , Wilma Theater, and the  Philadelphia Ballet.

Learn about black heritage at The African American Museum. 

Race Go Karts and get competitive with your date. 

Just feel like chillin? Get a couples massage and  top it off with a mani and pedi. 

Game Night! Choose games specific to couples to learn more about your partner, in a creative way. If you wanted to go out and play board games instead,  Philly’s got them! 

Learn about Jewish heritage at The National Museum of American Jewish History.  

Visit Reading Terminal, depending on when you go it’ll be incredibly busy. Rule of thumb is to find out what you want by visiting their site first due to their heavy crowds.  You and your date will want something different, decide, split up and meet in the middle at the dining area. This will cut time and avoid cold food. 

So you’ve had a fantastic dinner and you want a place to go for dessert?  A La Mouse in Chinatown is our favorite but here is a list of others.

Explore your tasting palette and try a Vietnamese, African, Jamaican, Dominican, or Puerto Rican restaurant, anything outside your norm. Go eat! 

Do you love stand up comedy? Take in a comedy show. 

Take a tennis lesson together, there is one near you!

Have you ever wanted to shoot a gun? Do you know how and want to show off your skills to your date? Go to a local shooting range. 

First Fridays in Olde City Philadelphia is a long standing tradition which showcase  Art Exhibitions in local Galleries and Shops, open to everyone from 5pm to 9pm.

Musical talent?  Have you ever wanted to learn the drums or play guitar? Who hasn’t? Philly has got group classes for that!

Like to climb things? Philly’s got it! Visit the largest climbing wall in Philly.

Happy Dating!

[modernstonecare]

Sealing Outdoor Stone in Houston

At Modern Stone Care we specialize in cleaning, restoring, polishing, and sealing natural stone surfaces; this includes your outdoor pool coping, travertine tiles and limestone. We work hard to ensure your natural stone maintains its beautiful appearance for as long as possible.

  Outdoor natural stone takes a beating in the sun yearlong, and especially during the summertime. When there are people jumping in and out of a chemically treated pool they cannot help but to track the treated water onto the stone surfaces. Chlorine and other chemicals found inside of many pools is harsh, and can break down the stone.

  Natural stone is a porous material, meaning below its surface it is full of many hollowed out pathways and holes. This leaves your stone flooring vulnerable to liquids, dirt, grime, dust, and other particles or materials entering through the surface and penetrating the stone. Once the stones surface has been penetrated by these materials, damage will become harder to avoid and may lead to permanent changes in your stone.

  Whenever we seal your stone floors with a thin protective layer, this helps keep any liquids, particles, or other materials from penetrating beyond the surface of the stone. Protecting the structure of your stone, while also preventing staining and superficial scratches from impacting the appearance.

  Don’t run the risk of having your outdoor natural stone surfaces becoming damaged. Instead, contact Modern Stone Care to have your floors sealed and professionally cleaned. We will help maintain your floors and keep them in fantastic shape for as long as possible. Outdoor floors are often neglected, don’t let yours suffer! Contact us to schedule maintenance for your outdoor or indoor natural stone flooring today, to keep your stone looking great for years to come.

  Whenever you need to have your natural stone counters serviced, contact the Greater Houston area experts! Modern Stone Care proudly serves The Greater Houston Area, including but not limited to, Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Cypress, Friendswood, Houston Heights, Houston, Humble, Katy, Kemah, League City, Kingwood, Memorial, Missouri City, Montgomery County, Spring, Spring Branch, Stafford, Sugar Land, Tomball and The Woodlands.

    https://plus.google.com/u/0/102506567575277412513  

Modern Stone Care  

970 Bunker Hill Rd  

Houston, TX 77024  

(832) 814–2041  

https://www.restoreyourfloors.net

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[yourpoolservice]

Pool Services Near Conroe TX

Swimming pool company providing over 20 years experience caring for pools & spas around the Montgomery County, Texas areas including Conroe, TX.

50 mile pool service radius around Montgomery County, Texas - these zip codes: 77301, 77302, 77303, 77304, 77356, 77316, 77318, 77382, 77386 and many more within and nearby Montgomery County.

Your Pool Service Conroe

3915 W Davis St. Ste 130212

Conroe, TX 77304

(936) 701-1087

9am to 5pm Monday - Saturday

Pool Cleaning Service in Conroe providing:

swimming pool service company specializing in pool care, maintenance, and remodeling services in around and near Conroe, TX and Willis, TX areas.

Areas of expertise:

Your pool service of Texas location in Conroe specializes in all swimming pool & spa services, repairs and more!

Swimming pool maintenance

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Other surrounding areas serviced by this location:This swimming pool company services all of Montgomery county and surrounding cities.

If you are looking for exceptional and professional pool services north of the greater Houston, TX area give them a call or email today!

More Info:

Your Pool Service in Conroe Business Site

Your Pool Service of Texas more info

[blogwonderwebsites]

Nature Bill Cosby Sentencing: Decision Day Begins

Nature Bill Cosby Sentencing: Decision Day Begins Nature Bill Cosby Sentencing: Decision Day Begins http://www.nature-business.com/nature-bill-cosby-sentencing-decision-day-begins/

Nature

Image

Bill Cosby arrived at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on Tuesday.CreditCreditRyan Collerd for The New York Times

• Bill Cosby arrived in court in Norristown, Pa., on Tuesday to be sentenced for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home near Philadelphia 14 years ago. Prosecutors have asked that he be sentenced to the maximum: 10 years in prison.

• Timothy Foley, a forensic psychologist and defense witness, testified that Mr. Cosby’s age, 81, blindness, and frailty meant the risk of him re-offending was “extraordinarily low.”

• Mr. Cosby will be given an opportunity to speak to the court before the sentence is handed down. It’s not clear whether he will, and it’s almost certain that he won’t express remorse because he plans on appealing his conviction.

• He is likely to be incarcerated, experts say, though it is unclear for how long. His lawyer on Monday had asked for a sentence of house arrest.

• Still to be decided: whether Mr. Cosby should be classified as a “sexually violent predator,” a finding under Pennsylvania law that could lead to a sentence at the higher end of the range.

A psychologist testifies that Mr. Cosby is no predator

NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Bill Cosby will be sentenced here Tuesday after testimony by a psychologist for the defense, who said the entertainer is not a sexually violent predator.

The expert, Timothy Foley, contradicted a psychologist representing Pennsylvania’s Sexual Offenders Assessment Board who testified Monday, the first day of Mr. Cosby’s sentencing hearing, that he had demonstrated a lifetime interest in sex with nonconsenting women, which indicated a mental abnormality.

The determination of whether a defendant is a sexually violent predator can be a factor in sentencing and in the conditions imposed both in prison and afterward.

“I found him to be extraordinarily low risk,” Dr. Foley said.

He came to his opinion, he said, after he met with Mr. Cosby for three hours on July 18 and also after reviewing some records. He said he had read none of the trial records or depositions in the case.

M. Stewart Ryan, a prosecutor, asked whether he was aware that Mr. Cosby had admitted to giving seven prescriptions of quaaludes to give to women for sex. Dr. Foley said he wasn’t.

Dr. Foley also said he didn’t know that five other women had testified at trial that they had been assaulted by Mr. Cosby.

Image

Journalists converge before sunrise Monday on the site of Mr. Cosby’s sentencing hearing, the Montgomery County Courthouse.CreditMark Makela/Getty Images North America

Mr. Cosby’s lawyer, Joseph P. Green, argued Monday that Mr. Cosby’s age, 81, and the fact he is legally blind, meant he was no risk, especially since there have been no new allegations of sexual abuse leveled against him since 2004.

“How’s he going to meet these people?” Mr. Green said. “There is no reasonable prospect that an 81-year-old blind man is likely to reoffend.”

But the psychologist for the state panel, Kristen F. Dudley, said she did not believe the disorder had dissipated with age. “It is possible that he has already met someone who could be a future victim,” she said.

The final decision rests with Judge Steven T. O’Neill, who is presiding over the hearing.

Once Judge O’Neill has made his ruling on the predator question, which is expected midmorning Tuesday, he will proceed with sentencing, which could lead, later in the day, to one of the world’s best-known entertainers entering a prison cell.

Will he speak?

Mr. Cosby was convicted in April of drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee to whom he had been a mentor.

Ms. Constand spoke in court on Monday, along with her mother, father and sister. Ms. Constand told the judge: “The jury heard me, Mr. Cosby heard me and now all I am asking for is justice as the court sees fit.”

Image

Andrea Constand, the victim of sexual assault by Mr. Cosby, said Monday she was asking for “justice as the court sees fit.”CreditPool photo by

But the most dramatic moment of the hearing may be yet to come if Mr. Cosby finally speaks at length to the many accusations that have been leveled against him. Though he has denied sexually abusing any of the women who have accused him, he has not addressed the matter in a sustained way.

Most experts say they do not anticipate that Mr. Cosby will express remorse because his team has already announced his plan to appeal his conviction. Nevertheless, Judge O’Neill encouraged him to speak.

“I hope that if he so chooses he will get the last word,” Judge O’Neill said.

At least seven women who have accused Mr. Cosby of similar acts of sexual abuse were in the courtroom Monday to watch the sentencing, including three who testified at the trial in April. Expect many of them to return on Tuesday.

But Mrs. Cosby? She was absent Monday. Will she be there Tuesday?

How long will he get?

Mr. Cosby had faced a maximum 30-year prison term: 10 years for each of three counts of aggravated indecent assault he was convicted of.

But Judge O’Neill chose on Monday to merge the counts into one, as is allowed when they stem from the same event. In this case, they originated with an encounter in January 2004 when, Ms. Constand said, Mr. Cosby sexually assaulted her after giving her pills that made her drift in and out of consciousness.

Judge O’Neill will consider state guidelines that recommend, but do not mandate, appropriate sentence ranges. Those guidelines, which take into account any previous criminal record (Mr. Cosby has none), the seriousness of the offense, and mitigating and aggravating factors, suggest a range of about 10 months to four years, But Judge O’Neill has great leeway, and prosecutors on Monday asked him to sentence Mr. Cosby to a maximum five-to-10-year term.

Kevin R. Steele, the Montgomery County District Attorney, said the judge should use the sentencing to send a wider message.

“The bottom line, your honor, is nobody’s above the law,” said Mr. Steele. “Others in a similar situation need to understand that.”

Will he remain free on appeal?

Mr. Cosby’s lawyers have filed several motions suggesting that they will pursue an appeal that challenges the judge’s rulings and even the judge’s personal integrity.

A key question for Tuesday will be whether Mr. Cosby is allowed to remain out on bond during the appeal process, which could take years.

His lawyers will argue that he is not a flight risk, and that he is not likely to commit another crime.

But if Judge O’Neill were to permit him to stay at home, the judge would surely face bitter criticism from the many female accusers eager for closure this week.

On Monday, Mr. Green argued in favor of house arrest, saying Mr. Cosby is a danger to no one and that the court must be careful not to allow public opinion to affect its decision making. “In this case we rely on you to make sure that that public advocacy doesn’t affect the application of the rule of law,” he said, adding later, “It’s your obligation to make sure that the sentencing decision is not affected by all that noise.”

But prosecutors rejected defense arguments that Mr. Cosby would be victimized in a prison because of his age and his blindness, and said that state correctional authorities have experience dealing with inmates Mr. Cosby’s age and older.

Read More | https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/25/arts/television/bill-cosby-sentencing.html |

Nature Bill Cosby Sentencing: Decision Day Begins, in 2018-09-25 15:46:11

[blogparadiseisland]

Nature Bill Cosby Sentencing: Decision Day Begins

Nature Bill Cosby Sentencing: Decision Day Begins Nature Bill Cosby Sentencing: Decision Day Begins http://www.nature-business.com/nature-bill-cosby-sentencing-decision-day-begins/

Nature

Image

Bill Cosby arrived at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on Tuesday.CreditCreditRyan Collerd for The New York Times

• Bill Cosby arrived in court in Norristown, Pa., on Tuesday to be sentenced for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home near Philadelphia 14 years ago. Prosecutors have asked that he be sentenced to the maximum: 10 years in prison.

• Timothy Foley, a forensic psychologist and defense witness, testified that Mr. Cosby’s age, 81, blindness, and frailty meant the risk of him re-offending was “extraordinarily low.”

• Mr. Cosby will be given an opportunity to speak to the court before the sentence is handed down. It’s not clear whether he will, and it’s almost certain that he won’t express remorse because he plans on appealing his conviction.

• He is likely to be incarcerated, experts say, though it is unclear for how long. His lawyer on Monday had asked for a sentence of house arrest.

• Still to be decided: whether Mr. Cosby should be classified as a “sexually violent predator,” a finding under Pennsylvania law that could lead to a sentence at the higher end of the range.

A psychologist testifies that Mr. Cosby is no predator

NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Bill Cosby will be sentenced here Tuesday after testimony by a psychologist for the defense, who said the entertainer is not a sexually violent predator.

The expert, Timothy Foley, contradicted a psychologist representing Pennsylvania’s Sexual Offenders Assessment Board who testified Monday, the first day of Mr. Cosby’s sentencing hearing, that he had demonstrated a lifetime interest in sex with nonconsenting women, which indicated a mental abnormality.

The determination of whether a defendant is a sexually violent predator can be a factor in sentencing and in the conditions imposed both in prison and afterward.

“I found him to be extraordinarily low risk,” Dr. Foley said.

He came to his opinion, he said, after he met with Mr. Cosby for three hours on July 18 and also after reviewing some records. He said he had read none of the trial records or depositions in the case.

M. Stewart Ryan, a prosecutor, asked whether he was aware that Mr. Cosby had admitted to giving seven prescriptions of quaaludes to give to women for sex. Dr. Foley said he wasn’t.

Dr. Foley also said he didn’t know that five other women had testified at trial that they had been assaulted by Mr. Cosby.

Image

Journalists converge before sunrise Monday on the site of Mr. Cosby’s sentencing hearing, the Montgomery County Courthouse.CreditMark Makela/Getty Images North America

Mr. Cosby’s lawyer, Joseph P. Green, argued Monday that Mr. Cosby’s age, 81, and the fact he is legally blind, meant he was no risk, especially since there have been no new allegations of sexual abuse leveled against him since 2004.

“How’s he going to meet these people?” Mr. Green said. “There is no reasonable prospect that an 81-year-old blind man is likely to reoffend.”

But the psychologist for the state panel, Kristen F. Dudley, said she did not believe the disorder had dissipated with age. “It is possible that he has already met someone who could be a future victim,” she said.

The final decision rests with Judge Steven T. O’Neill, who is presiding over the hearing.

Once Judge O’Neill has made his ruling on the predator question, which is expected midmorning Tuesday, he will proceed with sentencing, which could lead, later in the day, to one of the world’s best-known entertainers entering a prison cell.

Will he speak?

Mr. Cosby was convicted in April of drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee to whom he had been a mentor.

Ms. Constand spoke in court on Monday, along with her mother, father and sister. Ms. Constand told the judge: “The jury heard me, Mr. Cosby heard me and now all I am asking for is justice as the court sees fit.”

Image

Andrea Constand, the victim of sexual assault by Mr. Cosby, said Monday she was asking for “justice as the court sees fit.”CreditPool photo by

But the most dramatic moment of the hearing may be yet to come if Mr. Cosby finally speaks at length to the many accusations that have been leveled against him. Though he has denied sexually abusing any of the women who have accused him, he has not addressed the matter in a sustained way.

Most experts say they do not anticipate that Mr. Cosby will express remorse because his team has already announced his plan to appeal his conviction. Nevertheless, Judge O’Neill encouraged him to speak.

“I hope that if he so chooses he will get the last word,” Judge O’Neill said.

At least seven women who have accused Mr. Cosby of similar acts of sexual abuse were in the courtroom Monday to watch the sentencing, including three who testified at the trial in April. Expect many of them to return on Tuesday.

But Mrs. Cosby? She was absent Monday. Will she be there Tuesday?

How long will he get?

Mr. Cosby had faced a maximum 30-year prison term: 10 years for each of three counts of aggravated indecent assault he was convicted of.

But Judge O’Neill chose on Monday to merge the counts into one, as is allowed when they stem from the same event. In this case, they originated with an encounter in January 2004 when, Ms. Constand said, Mr. Cosby sexually assaulted her after giving her pills that made her drift in and out of consciousness.

Judge O’Neill will consider state guidelines that recommend, but do not mandate, appropriate sentence ranges. Those guidelines, which take into account any previous criminal record (Mr. Cosby has none), the seriousness of the offense, and mitigating and aggravating factors, suggest a range of about 10 months to four years, But Judge O’Neill has great leeway, and prosecutors on Monday asked him to sentence Mr. Cosby to a maximum five-to-10-year term.

Kevin R. Steele, the Montgomery County District Attorney, said the judge should use the sentencing to send a wider message.

“The bottom line, your honor, is nobody’s above the law,” said Mr. Steele. “Others in a similar situation need to understand that.”

Will he remain free on appeal?

Mr. Cosby’s lawyers have filed several motions suggesting that they will pursue an appeal that challenges the judge’s rulings and even the judge’s personal integrity.

A key question for Tuesday will be whether Mr. Cosby is allowed to remain out on bond during the appeal process, which could take years.

His lawyers will argue that he is not a flight risk, and that he is not likely to commit another crime.

But if Judge O’Neill were to permit him to stay at home, the judge would surely face bitter criticism from the many female accusers eager for closure this week.

On Monday, Mr. Green argued in favor of house arrest, saying Mr. Cosby is a danger to no one and that the court must be careful not to allow public opinion to affect its decision making. “In this case we rely on you to make sure that that public advocacy doesn’t affect the application of the rule of law,” he said, adding later, “It’s your obligation to make sure that the sentencing decision is not affected by all that noise.”

But prosecutors rejected defense arguments that Mr. Cosby would be victimized in a prison because of his age and his blindness, and said that state correctional authorities have experience dealing with inmates Mr. Cosby’s age and older.

Read More | https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/25/arts/television/bill-cosby-sentencing.html |

Nature Bill Cosby Sentencing: Decision Day Begins, in 2018-09-25 15:46:11

[healthandfitnessrecipes-blog]

In the Pipeline: Ryan Cos., LCS Start Work; Tukka's Scandinavian-Style Project - Senior Housing News

https://healthandfitnessrecipes.com/?p=4976

In the Pipeline is brought to you by the Senior Housing News Architecture & Design Awards. Sign up for the SHN Architecture & Design Newsletter from SHN for updates on architecture and design trends, the annual SHN Awards Competition.

Construction: Planned

Affordable Assisted Living Community Planned in Indianapolis

An affordable assisted living facility with 124 units is slated to open in Indianapolis.

Integral Community Development recently secured a $17.2 million loan for the community, which is called Oasis at 56th. Commercial real estate services and finance firm Walker & Dunlop helped arrange the loan through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) New Construction program.

As planned, units at Oasis at 56th will have access to a commercial kitchen with a dining area, resident and personal care rooms, laundry facilities, an exercise room, cafe, and transportation. Each of the assisted living units will come with a living area, accessible bathrooms, and kitchenettes with cabinets, sink, refrigerator, and a microwave.

Third Latitude Margaritaville Planned in Florida

Margaritaville Holdings, Minto Communities USA and St. Joe (NYSE: JOE) have teamed up to pursue the development of a new Latitude Margaritaville active adult community in Bay County, Florida.

The newest Margaritaville community would initially have 3,000 homes, but the surrounding St. Joe’s Bay-Walton Sector Plan is entitled for up to 170,000.

Residents who move into the planned Latitude Margaritaville Watersound in Bay County would have access to amenities such as a resort-style pool, fitness activities, game and hobby rooms, arts and learning programs, live entertainment and Margaritaville-themed food and beverage concepts.

Read more about these plans on Senior Housing News.

Construction: In progress

Ryan Companies, LCS Break Ground on Clarendale Community in Tennessee

LCS, Harrison Street Real Estate Capital and Ryan Companies US have broken ground on their second senior living community in Nashville, Tennessee.

The $50 million project, Clarendale at Bellevue Place, will have 195 independent living, assisted living and memory care units. Amenities include restaurant-style dining venues, a bistro, pub and billiards room, wellness center with fitness and therapy facilities, salon, covered parking and a large community room.

This is the second project in Tennessee for Ryan Companies and its project partners LCS and Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, and the group’s seventh project overall. Clarendale at Bellevue Place is anticipated to open in November, 2019.

Work Underway for ‘Modern Scandinavian’ Community in Wisconsin

Developer Tukka Properties and operator Tealwood Senior Living have started work on their fourth joint construction project, Kettle Park Senior Living in in Stoughton, Wisconsin.

As planned, the “modern Scandinavian” community will span about 130,000 square feet and house 100 independent living, assisted living and memory care apartments. Amenities include a bistro and multiple dining areas, flexible activity spaces, an arts and crafts room, library, salon, fitness and wellness spaces and a theater.

The project’s design—which took inspiration from the designs one might see in a small Scandinavian village—features light colors, Norwegian-style roofs and farmhouse-style porches. Iconica designed the building, and is also managing the project’s construction. Tukka and Iconica also partnered with interior design firm Henricksen.

If all goes according to plan, work will wrap up in the summer of 2019.

LCB Holds Groundbreaking for Connecticut Project

LCB Senior Living on May 9 held a dedication and groundbreaking celebration for The Residence at Selleck’s Woods, a new independent living, assisted living and memory care community under construction in Darien, Connecticut.

As planned, the community will have 105 units, and is on track to open later this year in the fall. When it opens, the community will be a “modern, luxury senior housing experience,” and have exclusive Emerald Suite concierge services for residents.

Construction Begins for Florida Community

The Palace Group, a South Florida developer and operator of senior living communities, has broken ground for The Palace at Weston, a 320-unit community

The community will occupy a 7.5-acre site adjacent to The Palms at Weston, an active adult condominium community that Palace Group completed in 2008.

The Palace at Weston will offer independent living, assisted living and memory care services in three separate but adjoining buildings. Amenities include a theater, fitness complex with a yoga room, fine-dining restaurant, plaza and bar, library, arts and crafts area and a courtyard with a swimming pool.

TD Bank awarded the Palace Group a $95 million loan for the construction of the property. Coastal Construction LLC, is the project’s general contractor, and Salazar Architectural Group designed the community.

The Palace at Weston’s leasing center is expected to open in late 2018, with a grand opening currently slated for 2020.

Other noteworthy projects:

Planned

— Officials in Naperville, Illinois, have given the go-ahead to plans for a 174-unit senior living project.

— Westminster Canterbury Richmond, a senior living community in Richmond, Virginia, has plans to add 125 independent living units.

— A university in Spokane, Washington, is seeking to build a senior housing building with 47 units.

— A mixed-use development in the works in Woburn, Massachusetts, could also include four assisted living complexes and a 100-bed memory care community.

— An affiliate of Kayne Anderson Real Estate has purchased 20 acres of land in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the construction of a senior living community with about 250 units.

— A senior living community in Longmont, Colorado, is seeking to become a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) with the planned addition of four new skilled nursing cottages.

— Brightview Senior Living recently got the green light from a local zoning board to build a 190-unit community at the site of a vacant shopping center in Wayne, New Jersey.

— A 200-unit senior living community is part of a mixed-use development proposed in Orlando, Florida.

— CaraVita Village, a senior living community in Montgomery, Alabama, has plans for a $3.5 million facelift.

— Work for a new senior housing development in New Albany, Ohio, could begin as early as this fall.

— The city of Huntington Beach, California, could soon get a new assisted living community with 44 units.

— A developer has proposed building 220 assisted and independent living apartments in Mount Vernon, New York.

In progress

— Construction crews are currently laying the foundation for a 130-unit retirement community in Moosic, Pennsylvania.

— A 44-bed assisted living community is coming together in Hollywood, Florida.

— Work has begun for a $4 million assisted living community with 28 units in Caledonia, Michigan.

— A senior living community in Sarasota, Florida, recently broke ground on a $20 million expansion project to add a new heath, rehabilitation and memory care center.

Complete

— Construction has wrapped up for a 159-unit senior housing community in Littleton, Colorado.

— The city of Roswell, Georgia, has a new 101-unit independent living community for low-income seniors.

— A nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease has opened a memory care community on the Hudson Hills Senior Living campus in North Bergen, New Jersey.

— A $1.5 million facelift is complete at a senior living senior living community in Glendale, California.

— The city of Tucson, Arizona, has a new assisted living and memory care community.

Written by Tim Regan

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