(ARA) - Warmer weather brings more outdoor sports – and with them, the increased risk of eye injury. Every year in the United States more than 40,000 sports-related eye injures require emergency room attention, with almost half happening to people younger than 15. The majority of these injuries could be prevented simply by using appropriate protective eyewear when playing sports.
“Even if they’re just playing a quick pickup game in the park, eye protection should be a major concern for kids,” says Florida optometrist and former University of Miami football player Dr. Pat Del Vecchio. “This is very important when playing certain sports – like baseball, basketball or football – where there is a higher risk of eye injury.”
When choosing eye protection for children, first make sure the eyewear is specifically designed for sports, Del Vecchio advises. Conventional frames and lenses can shatter and turn a small impact into a sight-threatening injury. “The eye protection should also be comfortable and not obscure vision during the game” he adds. “If it doesn’t meet these two criteria, then kids just aren’t going to wear it.”
While on-field collisions remain the most frequent cause of sports-related eye injuries, sometimes the playing field itself can be the culprit. Playing outdoors kicks up dust and dirt that can adhere to the eye and cause scratches or even more severe problems. This is a particular concern for young contact lens wearers. For these situations, Del Vecchio recommends taking along a multi-purpose solution in case you need to remove your lenses. “A good multi-purpose disinfecting solution, like OPTI-FREE RepleniSH MPDS, removes the irritants, and is an effective way to kill the germs that can cause eye infections,” he says.
Ultimately, the most important tip of all is to see your eye doctor at least once each year, Del Vecchio says. “Your eyes need to be taken care of just like any other piece of athletic equipment. As a former athlete, I can tell you they are the most important part of any sport, so a yearly visit to the eye doctor can identify any problems early, help maintain healthy vision and ensure you’re able to keep your eye on the ball.”
Quick Tips for Protecting Your Eyes
* Wear protective eyewear. Do not substitute ordinary glasses for appropriate protection. Sports-protective eyewear is specifically tested to meet rigid impact standards.
* Know your eye safety options. If you are not sure what protection works best, visit your eye doctor to see what is available.
* Add eye protection to other protective gear. If you are playing a sport that requires a helmet, consider wearing a helmet with full face protection.
* Take out contacts before getting in the water. Don’t wear your contact lenses while swimming. Certain organisms present in the water can attach to contact lenses and can cause eye infections. Remember to always care for your contact lenses with a Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution, like OPTI-FREE RepleniSH.
* Protect your eyes from the sun. To prevent eyes from being over exposed to UV rays, give your eyes a break by wearing sunglasses when not playing on the field.
Parental Involvement Pivotal for Helping Teens Make Smart Choices
In fact, when it comes to underage drinking, parents have the biggest influence on their teens’ decisions. According to the 2007 GfK Roper Youth Report (SM) , 69 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 say their parents — not their peers — are the No. 1 influence on their decisions about whether they drink alcohol, and that finding has remained consistent since this survey began more than a decade ago.
Lonnie Carton, Ph.D., director of Teen and Family Resources for the Web-based “Warm2Kids” program and an advisory panel member of the “Family Talk About Drinking” program, offers parents advice on how to use their positive influence with teens as they celebrate graduation and enjoy the more relaxed days ahead.
“It’s important for parents to create an atmosphere of open communication with their teens, especially during the summer months when teens have more free time,” Carton says. “Along with setting firm rules and guidelines, parents can teach teens critical decision-making skills to help them make responsible choices — including not drinking when underage.”
Dr. Carton advises parents to let teens know that rules are made to protect them, not punish them, and remind them to make their own decisions based on what they know is right. Teens should call immediately if they get into a situation they know isn’t safe. Carton also reminds parents to think again if they believe it’s OK to bend the rules and host a party with alcohol for teens and their friends, memorable occasion or not.
“Every parent wants their house to be the ‘hang-out’ place, but providing alcohol to minors is not only irresponsible, it’s illegal. And while graduation celebrations and summer parties are special occasions in your teen’s life, supplying or permitting alcohol at these events is never negotiable,” adds Carton.
In fact, most parents are not permitting underage drinking or hosting these kinds of parties. A recent survey by Harris Interactive for Anheuser Busch found that 82 percent of parents with children under 21 years of age do not think it is OK for parents to provide alcohol or purchase alcohol for their teens or others’ teens at parties or gatherings. In addition, the survey found most parents with teens ages 15 to 20 years would not allow their teens to attend a party where other teens are drinking, even if parents would be present.
Putting your positive parent power to work during this season will help teens enjoy a memorable and safe time. For more tips about safe celebrating, visit http://www.preventdontprovide.com and http://www.myspace.com/positiveparenting . For “Family Talk About Drinking” program materials visit www.familytalkonline.com or call (800) 359-TALK (800-359-8255). The materials are provided free-of-charge as a community service of Anheuser-Busch
Third Annual Essay Contest Gives Kids Chance to Thank Outstanding Drivers
“America’s school bus drivers are collectively doing an outstanding job of safely transporting our children to and from school every day,” says John O’Leary, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses, the leading manufacturer of school buses in the United States. To recognize the contributions individual drivers make to children’s safety every year, Thomas Built sponsors an annual Children’s Choice School Bus Driver of the Year essay contest.
With their parents’ help, children in kindergarten through sixth grades can nominate their favorite drivers by submitting a 90-word essay on what makes their driver so special. Now in its third year, the contest runs until August 1, 2008. Winners earn a $1,000 educational savings bond and laptop computer for the nominating child and a $1,000 Visa gift card for the nominated driver. All winners and runners up also receive Thomas Built Buses jackets and Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus lunch boxes. To enter the contest, visit www.thomasbus.com/contest for complete rules and an entry form.
Completed forms and typed or legibly printed 90-word essays should be mailed to: Children’s Choice Essay Contest, HMH, 1435 W. Morehead St., Suite 140, Charlotte, NC 28208.
School buses are the safest and largest mass transportation system in the United States, according to research by the School Bus Information Council (SBIC). Consider the following eye-opening facts about school bus safety:
* Each year, the nation’s 450,000 yellow school buses annually make 8.8 billion student trips carrying 24 million children, the SBIC reports.
*While nearly equal numbers of children ride the school bus as use other modes of transportation in getting to school, in 2003, the last year for which statistics are available, five passengers were fatally injured while riding in school buses. By contrast, every year about 800 school aged children lose their lives on their way to school while either riding in private passenger vehicles, walking or biking, according to the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences.
* Long gone are the dubiously maintained and equipped school buses you might remember from your own childhood. Today’s buses have safety devices that range from specially cushioned high-backed seats, and flashing red and yellow warning lights to rollover protection, enhanced braking systems and buses can now be equipped with optional three-point lap-shoulder belts for every seat without reducing passenger capacity.
* School bus drivers undergo rigorous special training, must hold commercial drivers licenses, and submit to criminal background and substance screening tests.
“Modern school buses are outfitted with extensive safety devices but one of the most important contributors to your child’s safety is the bus driver,” O’Leary says.
To nominate your driver for “School Bus Driver” of the year, visit http://www.thomasbus.com/contest for complete rules and an entry form.
The Importance of Training Paralegals in Forensic Science
(ARA) - Imagine your employer does an unannounced drug screening for all employees, and to your dismay, you test positive. You are accused of doing illegal drugs and have been fired from your job based on these results. If you don’t find work soon, you may not be able to pay your rent or your car insurance. Of course, you vehemently deny using any illegal drugs and take your case to a legal firm.
Most likely, your case will not go directly to a lawyer, but will instead first be screened by a paralegal. Currently, paralegals are not trained in forensics, so most likely your paralegal will not know where to turn to help you.
Professor Zachary Kinney, chairman of the paralegal studies department at Everest College in Arlington, Va., is trying to change all this. He uses the above scenario to illustrate how crucial forensics training is for current paralegal students.
Kinney explains that if a paralegal had forensic training, he or she would know how to deal with a drug testing case such as this one. “For example, the first thing the paralegal would understand is that this case involves the branch of forensic science known as toxicology. The paralegal would know to contact a toxicologist with an independent toxicology lab to see about retesting the client’s specimen,” he says.
“The paralegal would then be able to recommend that his supervising attorney request a sample of the original urine sample. He or she would also know to research regulations governing the employer’s right to conduct drug screenings. Without some basic knowledge of forensic science, the paralegal simply would not know what to do or how to take these steps. They wouldn’t have a clue,” Professor Kinney emphasizes.
An article in the Washington Post in 2005 reported that, because of what they call the ”CSI syndrome,” juries now require proof beyond all doubt to get a conviction. Moreover, criminals watching CSI on television are learning tactics to evade detection. Combined, these two phenomena mean an understanding of forensic science is becoming increasingly important for paralegals who hope to give their clients a fair trial.
Currently there is no program or book that teaches lawyers, paralegals or judges about forensics, according to Professor Kinney. The National Justice Institute (NJI), the training arm for the U.S. Department of Justice, does offer lawyers and judges an online workshop on forensic science, but there is no similar program for paralegals.
To help get paralegals up to speed with forensics, Professor Kinney, who is an attorney and a retired U.S. Air Force officer and military lawyer, teaches an introduction to Forensic Sciences at Everest College in Arlington. He is also in the process of developing a text for paralegal studies students in the area of forensics. “Forensic Evidence For Paralegal will be the only book of its kind, and lawyers and judges will be able to use the book as well,” says Kinney.
This drug-testing scenario is not merely a hypothetical example. Professor Kinney explains that he experienced a case similar and that he was able to help clear his client due to his knowledge of forensics. “I once had a client who was being prosecuted for illegally using cocaine. I knew that there are logical explanations for why a person’s urine can come up with a false positive, such as cross contamination, or incompetence on the part of the lab personnel who tested the specimen,” says Kinney.
“Due to my knowledge of forensic science, I was able to prove that her specimen was contaminated, but had I not had the training, I would not have known what to do or where to turn,” says Kinney. “Not just lawyers, but also paralegals, need to know about this important science. This is where my book and teaching efforts are being aimed.”
Courtesy of ARAcontent
CARY, NC – SELmedia, Inc. announced that it has formed a strategic marketing and distribution partnership with Emotionally Intelligent Schools. Based in New Haven, CT, EIS conducts research and develops programs that increase the level of emotion-related skills among school teachers, administrators and students. The programs are grounded in research and have been adopted by schools throughout the world.
Marc Brackett, Ph.D., President of EIS, developed the Emotional Literacy Series for use in schools and school districts to create an awareness of the role and importance of emotional literacy in the school environment and to provide students, teachers and school administrators with these critical skills. The linkage between emotional competence and academic performance among school children has been well researched. Positive emotional and relationship skills also lead to greater job performance and success among adults.
“We are thrilled to be working with SELmedia,” said Brackett. “After examining several options, we were won over by SELmedia’s sophisticated approach and dedication to providing high quality programs and service.”
The Emotional Literacy Series consists of professional development courses for school administrators and educators and classroom-based curricula for use with upper elementary and middle school students.
“The Emotional Literacy series is a perfect fit with SELmedia’s mission of providing research-based programs to schools,” said Ken Arneson, CEO of SELmedia. “The demand has been incredible: the ink is barely dry on the agreement and we’ve already arranged workshops for over 800 teachers and administrators.”
About Emotionally Intelligent Schools:
Based in New Haven, Connecticut, EIS is dedicated to enhancing the professional and personal lives of school administrators, teachers, and students by providing evidence-based and field-tested training programs to schools. EIS programs are grounded in research on the critical value of emotions and emotion-related skills in learning, decision-making, and building quality relationships. For more information, please visit www.ei-schools.org.
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
ARA) – You see them on college campuses and at county fairs, people offering free T-shirts when you sign up for a credit card. You get offers in the mail every day - instant approval for the credit card of your choice. But just because you have access to seemingly unlimited credit does not necessarily mean you should take the credit card industry up on the offer.
“Over the years, I’ve seen many students, colleagues and acquaintances make some very serious mistakes by misusing readily available credit and uninformed borrowing,” says Larry Lazofson, professor of business administration at DeVry University, Columbus. Lazofson offers these tips to start young people off on the right financial footing:
* It’s Your Responsibility to Know What You Can Afford
Never rely on a lender to determine how much debt you can manage. There are lenders who will readily extend enough credit to place you in a cash-strapped position where a large chunk of your earnings will go directly to paying their interest.
Every borrower needs to carefully review their finances to determine how much debt he or she can safely and comfortably afford. A simple debt-to-income calculator can be found at www.bankrate.com. It is your responsibility, as a borrower, to do the research on how much debt a person at your income level can handle.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how many credit card offers I received when I was a student,” says Ronna DiBuono, a recent college graduate, now working as a marketing and communications professional in Pittsburgh. “I had friends that took everything they were offered, but I did my homework and knew the consequences. I passed on most of the offers so I wouldn’t have financial problems before my career even started.”
* Build a Financial Mountain or Dig a Hole of Debt
When you save money and earn interest your investment compounds over time, like a snowball rolling downhill that becomes bigger the further it goes. Too many people borrow money to purchase things that lose value such as designer clothing, electronics and expensive cars. Putting lots of consumer goods on your credit cards can saddle you with debt for years and sap your personal savings.
And what happens to the trendy, chic stuff put on the credit card? It ends up in a box in the closet or in the trash while the debt lives on. It’s always a better investment to save and build interest rather than spend and pay interest.
*There is no Easy Escape
Some people, when drilling themselves deeper into debt, believe that filing for bankruptcy will allow them to escape their financial troubles. Federal bankruptcy laws were revised in 2005, making it much harder to erase debt by filing for bankruptcy. If a college student plans on finding a good, professional job after completing his education, he should think twice before attempting to file for bankruptcy. Many employers do background checks and will not hire an employee with a poor history of managing finances.
“College students already make important sacrifices that will pay off both professionally and financially in the future. Students need to understand that taking advantage of easy credit is not worth the risk,” says Lazofson. “Young adults bound for college, students and everyone, for that matter, need to carefully consider their consumer purchases, especially if making them on credit, and instead choose to invest in themselves and in the future.”
For more information about DeVry University and its finance and business administration offerings, visit www.devry.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
The term “Relocation Consultant” is an all-encompassing business that
involves everything that has to do with transferring people.
The task of a relocation consultant may include any or all of the
following activities and services that generally come with moving to a
new location:
- Select a moving company.
- Selling the old house .
- Finding and buying a new home or renting a new apartment.
- Suggesting schools, churches, etc.
- Spouse job placement counseling
Of course you choose which services you want to include in your repertoire.
However, on a joint-effort with other professionals in your area, you can
really offer an extensive menu of services.
Relocation consultants do not own moving companies. They hire moving
companies for and on behalf of the client. As a relocation consultant,
you also deal with real estate agents, travel agencies, and career
consultants. You control the middle ground where all these services merge
to fulfill the needs of your client.
SHELTER IS #1
The most important issue in any relocation is where your client will
reside in their new city or state. Some clients buy a home in the new
city before they move. Others prefer to rent, giving themselves enough
time to become familiar with the area before buying a house.
Most relocation consultants receive their commission from the real estate
agent. However, if your client wants to rent, as opposed to immediately
buying a home, the company relocating your client will more than likely
pick up the tab, usually equal to one month’s rent.
Some rental properties, however, will pay a relocation consultant a
commission equal to one month’s rent.
CORPORATE FIELD
You can do a real volume business by targeting large corporate accounts.
Companies in high-technology related products and services are the growth
markets in relocation.
Contracts for technical top-guns range 3 to 5 years, so you can expect
excellent turn over in the high-tech industry. Concentrating on a specific
industry gives you credibility and lots of referrals.
Read More Articles:City5nc.com
Since 1987, Raleigh Real Estate Investment Company has acquired and developed approximately $250 million in student housing development
RALEIGH, NC - The Preiss Company (”TPCO”), the largest off-campus student housing provider for North Carolina State University, Clemson University, and UNC Charlotte and the second largest provider for the University of Texas in Austin, is beginning their 21st year on target of meeting their goal of closing on $150 million worth of student property development.
Founded by Donna Preiss, the company employs just under 100 people and provides a wide range of services including acquisition, property management, disposition, development, and consulting for multi-family real estate investments. In their 20-year history, TPCO has formed over 50 partnerships and has been the developer or co-developer of over 20 projects stretching from Texas to Maryland. The company recently acquired their first property in Alabama-University Village at Auburn.
“With every property developed or acquired, The Preiss Company is changing the way people view student housing,” explains Preiss. “We’re setting a new standard of how off-campus living should be, and we’re encouraged by the feedback we’ve been getting from our residents and property managers. Students want more from their college experience and The Preiss Company is delivering on all levels. It’s an exciting time, and we’re looking forward to continuing to set the gold standard in student housing.”
The Preiss Company is the leader in the development of new technologies, tools, and strategies for the student housing industry. Over the years, the company has been a multi-year recipient of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s coveted Pinnacle Business Award, winner of the Metro Bravo Award for Residential Real Estate, winner of the Triangle Fast 50 Award for fastest growing company, and recognized by Triangle Business Journal as one of the Triangle’s top Women-Owned Businesses.
“I’m overwhelmed when I think of how far we’ve come in such a short period of time,” says Preiss. “All of our successes and accomplishments are the result of many talented and dedicated individuals who put their heart and soul into this company everyday. I’m truly blessed
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
RALEIGH - The State Board of Community Colleges plans to select the next president of the North Carolina Community College System during a special meeting next Thursday, December 6, 2007. The process to select the man from among the three final candidates will take place over two days.
The Personnel Committee of the State Board of Community Colleges meets in closed session on Wednesday, December 5 at 4:00 p.m. in the State Board room.
The entire State Board meets on Thursday, December 6 at 8:00 a.m. in the Board Room. The purpose of this meeting is the selection of a new System President. This is the only item on the agenda. The first part of the meeting will be in open session. The majority of the meeting will be in closed session, when the Board will interview the three candidates.
The vote to select the new president will likely occur between 1:45 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in open session.
The three candidates are:
- Kennon Briggs has served as the vice president for Business and Finance at the North Carolina Community College System for the past ten years. He was a senior budget analyst with the Office of State Budget and Management, the county manager for Yadkin County, and the county administrator for Jones County. He obtained both his B.A. in Sociology and M.P.A. in Urban Management from North Carolina State University.
- Philip R. Day, Jr. has served as the chancellor of City College of San Francisco for the past nine years. Prior to that he was president at Daytona Beach Community College, Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts, and Dundalk Community College (Baltimore, MD). He obtained his M. Ed in Counselor Education from SUNY in Buffalo, his B.S. in Psychology (Portland, ME) and his Ed. D in Adult and Higher Education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
ARA) - One of the best benefits provided by the military is the Montgomery GI Bill, the legislation that guarantees servicemen and women money to further their educations. But according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 30 percent of those who are eligible for compensation never pursue a training or education program. Among the reasons given: having to work to make a living post service, not enough time, family became a priority, and not realizing they had to use the benefit within 10 years or lose it.
“Thanks to the growth of online learning, there’s really no excuse any more for not taking advantage of the benefit,” says David J. Pauldine, President of DeVry University, one of the largest degree-granting higher education systems in North America. DeVry has become well known in the military community for offering convenient and flexible undergraduate and graduate degree programs to busy military personnel and their families. The school also offers special military pricing to those who have served our country.
But it was flexibility that really attracted Abraham Kyle to DeVry’s Kansas City campus. Before being dispatched to Iraq in 2004, he had started the process of pursuing an accelerated bachelor’s degree there so he could keep his officer status, and was pleasantly surprised to learn he’d be able to work on it through the school’s online learning program while stationed overseas.
“DeVry University offered me exactly what I needed as a military officer — a quick degree progression without sacrificing a quality education,” he says. Kyle tackled a full-time course load online, despite his 12 on/12 off, 7-days-a-week schedule. “It was tough and there were times when I simply did not have access to a computer to complete assignments, but the professors were great and always willing to accommodate my unique situation.”
After returning to the states in 2005, he was sent to Louisiana to aid with the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort. “I arranged it so I was able to work the night shift and do my school work during the day,” he says. In October 2005, his hard work and dedication paid off and he received his bachelor’s degree in technical management.
David Prescott Dees left the military in March 2007, and immediately went to work on his degree in Business Administration at DeVry’s Decatur, Georgia campus in the Atlanta area. “To be honest, one of the main reasons I’m in school is that I was going for job interviews and the companies were telling me stuff like, come back and see us when you get a degree, or thanks for serving our country but we need you to have an education,” he says.
Raymond Reyes of South Florida decided he wanted to go back to school to pursue a degree in electronic engineering shortly after leaving the Navy where he had worked as an aviation electronics technician, “I had made the rounds between the local area colleges trying to find a program that would fit me, and they were less than welcoming to the military student, which was very discouraging. But when I received a call from Nancy at DeVry, she convinced me to visit the school’s Miramar campus and talk with some of the faculty to get a sense of what it would be like. Long story short, I enrolled and started classes. Basically 32 days after I was released from active duty I was sitting in class and love it here.”
“We’re very proud here at DeVry University of our long, rich history of educating America’s military. Back in the 1940s, we were selected by the U.S. Government to educate Army Corps instructors on electronic devices. Following World War II, we were one of the first schools approved to use the original G.I. Bill,” says Thomas Brooks, Vice Presidentof Enrollment Management.
Today, DeVry offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, technology and management to those serving as active-duty members, guardsman or reservists in any of the five branches of the U.S. Armed forces, as well as their spouses. All of the programs can be completed through the school’s distance learning program so students never have to set foot in a classroom; and there are flexible scheduling, anywhere, anytime online programs available.
Discounted tuition rates are offered to military families, and DeVry recently signed an agreement with AMVETS to offer veterans, their families and the children of active-duty guard, reserve and military personnel the opportunity to receive scholarship money. As of November 2007, the partial-tuition scholarships will be available to those who have applied for or enrolled in undergraduate degree programs at DeVry University or its Keller Graduate School of Management. Recipients will receive $1,000 per semester, up to a total of $9,000 over the course of a degree program.
For more information about military benefits at DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management, visit www.devry.edu/admissions.military.jsp.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
