Women’s Independent Press

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
For Immediate Release: May 1, 2012
Bridget Lee-Calfas, Advertising and Publicity Director
bklee@illinois.edu
217/333-6282

SUMMER STUDIO THEATRE 2012 SEASON AT KRANNERT CENTER ANNOUNCED

The U of I Department of Theatre’s Summer Studio Theatre returns to Krannert Center for its 21st season. Under the direction of UI Department of Theatre Interim Head Tom Mitchell, Summer Studio Theatre will once again provide a three-show series to Central Illinois audiences. This year’s program selections offer a diverse array of theatrical experiences. During the month of June, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself)will alternate with the chamber musical Gone Missing. In the month of July, The Diary of Anne Frank, adapted in 1997 by Wendy Kesselman, will be presented. The summer season will also feature a special two-evening-only performance by vocalist Kent Conrad and pianist Paul Johnston entitled Sprung and Awakened: A Cabaret About Change.

Shipwrecked! An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself)
By Donald Margulies
Directed by J.W. Morrissette
Nineteen-year-old Louis de Rougemont grew up on adventure stories and sets off from London to create his own. The high seas beckon when he’s invited to join a pearl fishing expedition off the coast of Australia with a salty Victorian captain. An encounter with an octopus leaves him stranded on a deserted island, and after years alone and an eventual marriage to an Aborigine woman, he treks home, where his amazing but inconsistent tales are greeted with cheers . . . and skepticism.
Fr-Sa Jun 1-2, Tu-We Jun 12-13, Sa Jun 16, and Th-Fr Jun 21-22 at 7:30pm
Sa Jun 2 at 2pm

Gone Missing
By the Civilians
Written by Steven Cosson from interviews by the company
Music and lyrics by Michael Friedman
Directed by Tom Mitchell
Musical Direction by Kent Conrad
A New York Times top 10 play from 2007, Gone Missing boasts wry songs and lively montages of what’s somehow disappeared from our lives: a black Gucci pump, an uncle’s fortune, Sniffle the doll, Atlantis, a sweetheart’s photo, various body parts. Based on interviews with New Yorkers, this witty musical tracks emotional and philosophical responses to life’s transient pleasures and the many ways we cope.
Th-Sa Jun 7-9, Th-Fr Jun 14-15, Tu-We Jun 19-20, and Sa Jun 23 at 7:30pm
Sa Jun 9 and Sa Jun 23 at 2pm

The Diary of Anne Frank
By Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
Newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman
Directed by Lisa Gaye Dixon
Wendy Kesselman’s new adaptation of Anne Frank’s personal account of the dark events of World War II includes selections from Anne’s other writings and chronicles from Holocaust survivors. Despite her terror and forced exile into a secret annex, Anne retains a hopeful outlook as she bears witness not just to the horror but also to the goodness in our world. The cast for this production includes local adult actors and features performances by two local youth, Dominique Allen and Max Keagle.
Th-Sa Jul 5-7, We-Sa Jul 11-14, Tu-Sa Jul 17-21 at 7:30pm

Sprung and Awakened: A Cabaret About Change
Kent Conrad, voice
Paul Johnston, piano
Using a mixture of biography and invented truths, a series of meditations on the effects of change—real or imagined—are presented through monologue and song.
Sa Jun 16 at 10pm and Su Jun 17 at 7:30

Tickets and Information
Tickets are on sale Monday, May 7, at 10am. Tickets can be purchased by phone, mail, online, or by visiting the Ticket Office.

Ticket Prices
Regular Performances $18 / SC & Stu 15 / UI 10

Sprung and Awakened: A Cabaret About Change $10

Performance Details
All performances are in the Studio Theatre; there will be no late seating.

How to Order Tickets
Online: www.KrannertCenter.com
Phone: 800/KCPATIX (800/527-2849), 217/333-6280
TTY for deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired patrons: 217/333-9714
Fax: 217/244-SHOW (217/244-7469)
Email: kran-tix@illinois.edu
Mail: Krannert Center Ticket Office, 500 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
In Person: Krannert Center Ticket Office, open 10am-6pm daily

By Patricia Thibault
Social Security District Manager in Pittsburgh, PA

Summer will be here before we know it. That means millions of high school and college students will be searching for jobs. Whether a new worker is beginning the career of a lifetime or just earning some extra money for the school year to come, there is one question that is likely to be on each new worker’s mind when they see their first pay stub: Where’s the rest of my money?

Generally, employers are required to withhold Social Security and Medicare tax from a worker’s paycheck. The amounts you pay in Social Security and Medicare taxes are matched by your employer. Usually the money that is withheld is referred to as “Social Security taxes” on the employee’s payroll statement. Sometimes the deduction is labeled as “FICA taxes,” which stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. So let us tell you how that money is being used, and what’s in it for you.

The taxes paid now translate to a lifetime of protection, when you eventually retire or if you become disabled. In the event that you die young, your dependent children and spouse may be able to receive survivors benefits based on your work. Today you probably have family members — grandparents, for example — who already enjoy Social Security benefits that your Social Security taxes help provide.

You may be a long way from retirement now, so you may find it hard to appreciate the value of benefits that could be 40 or 50 years away. But consider that your Social Security taxes could pay off sooner than you think. Social Security provides valuable disability benefits — and studies show that a 20-year-old has about a three in 10 chance of becoming disabled sometime before reaching retirement age.

Another bit of helpful advice for young workers: be wary if you’re offered a job “under the table” or “off the books.” If you work for any employer who pays you only in cash, understand that you’re likely not getting Social Security credit for the work you’re doing.

Want to learn more about Social Security and what it means to young workers? If so, we invite you to enjoy a webcast: Social Security 101: What’s In It For Me? The webcast will fill you in on the details you should know to get the most out of Social Security. Check it out at www.socialsecurity.gov/webinars/social_security_101.html .

If you have questions about Social Security, the best place to go is online — to www.socialsecurity.gov  .

By: Mary Grace Musuneggi
www.MFGPlanners.com

Many of our clients have grown up in Western Pennsylvania; an area of ethnic and cultural diversity. This area brings with it the basics of a strong work ethic. Growing up as the daughter of a hard-working, strict Irish Catholic mother, I understood the rhetoric of all the various philosophies that inundated this region. No matter what the nationality, religion or family dynamics; the values were all there. Hard work, family unity, the importance of the home.

Although there were times that my mother barely had enough income to feed us day to day, she would sometimes work two jobs to be sure that we had a roof over our head. That roof came in the form of owning a home. Homeownership was without a doubt the most formidable goal for families. In my neighborhood, I only knew one family that rented.

Owning a home reiterated the voice of “Gone With the Wind,” that “land” is the most important thing you could own. The American Dream. Our circle of acquaintances and family believed that owning a home brought with it security, safety and success.

Today’s economy has challenged these beliefs, as owning a home today can bring with it excessive debt, no security, a lack of safety, struggles; and in fact, can be the source of owning an asset that is worth a whole lot less than what it was worth when it was purchased.

While for many generations passing on a family home to children was an important goal; today passing on a home with a mortgage or especially one that is “underwater” can create serious financial issues for an heir.

We had been taught that we should never rent. Why pay to add equity to someone else’s real estate when we can add equity to our own. If we were paying rent, we could easily turn that rent into a house payment? But today the argument is that if real estate does not appreciate, then during the first 5 to 10 years of owning a home with a 30-year mortgage most of your payments are going towards interest. And then there is the overlooked “costs of ownership” like landscaping, maintenance, painting, appliances, issues with plumbing, heating, electric; or roof repairs.

And considering that many studies have shown that most people who have purchased a home since 2006 have lost money; the rules have changed. Renting now needs to be seen as a viable housing option.
-Continued on Reverse-
But on the other hand, with housing prices so low, wouldn’t this be the best time to buy?

So who should rent?

Young people coming out of college with large education loans and credit card debt.

People without substantial down payments.

Those with no emergency funds and household savings.

Someone not prepared to stay in their home for at least 5 years.

Seniors who like their freedom to travel extensively and not be tied to their home.

Retirees who don’t want to carry a mortgage during their retirement years.

Those who don’t have the skills or income to handle their home maintenance issues.

Singles who don’t want the responsibilities of yard work and household chores.

Parents who can’t afford to pay the mortgage and all household expenses; and at the same time also pay for adequate life insurance and education funding to protect their children’s futures.

Future retirees who are unable to invest in their retirement while they are investing in a home.

Anyone who thinks other assets will grow faster than their home equity will grow.

So the decision to own vs. rent depends on the person and their circumstances. Although this may just be the right time for you to buy; it is very obvious that over the last 6 years many owners should have been renters.

Like all financial decisions, knowing all the upsides and downsides; being knowledgeable and understanding all the ramifications, is the best way to make the right decision for you and your family.

May 2 - Accessorize & Socialize - Register today and you may bring a young adult - collegiate to the event compliments of WIN-Pittsburgh…We want to support our future young professional women – Olive or Twist – 140 6th Street 2nd floor – Pittsburgh – RSVP required – register online www.winpitt.org   ($45 per person – non member, $30 member)

May 4 – Gallerie Chiz - Opening Artists’ Reception – 8:30-5:30 with Ashley Buckley on the violin – show runs 5/4 – 5/26 – 5831 Ellsworth Ave, Shadyside, Pittsburgh – www.galleriechiz.com

May 8 – Siba-cucina
530 Northpointe Circle Seven Fields, PA 16046 724-741-6000 (off Rt. 228) (www.siba-cucina.com 
7:00-9:00 PM 

Jessica Lee performs with Mark Strickland

May 9 - Brown Bag Lunch - 12:00 – 1:00pm - Speaker: Barbara Mohajery, Esq. Topic: Get it in writing. Barbara Mohajery, Esq., Mohajery and Associates, will uncover the “plain English” of legal contracts and review what to look out for before you sign or write a contract. Learn to recognize what the legal wording means, what must be covered to make a contract legal and when you should get legal advice - Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania 1650 Main Street Pittsburgh – FREE - RSVP: 412.782.5344 x 209 or volunteersofamerica@voapa.org

 
 
NAWBO Greater Pittsburgh Presents
 STANDING FIRM- A free event
 
The Business Case to End Partner Violence
How Partner Violence affects company liability
Wednesday, May 9th
 Allegheny County Human Resources Building
100 Smithfield Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
 For more information, contact
 Mary Pam Kilgore at 412-260-4178

May 10 – ET Jazz Networking Show at Little E’s (Entrepreneurial Thursdays)
949 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, 412.392.2217
5:30 - 8:00 PM -There will no ET Jazz Networking show on May 3 (Spring Break). The show resumes May 10 - 21st Century Writing and Media.

May 11 – Silk Screen Opening Night – 8 pm – midnight - Rivers Club, 301 Grant Street, One Oxford Centre Pittsburgh – Opening Night Film featuring “The Lady” – tickets $20 – Harris Theater, 7:00. Gala Advance - $85, regular $100, extended $125

May 11 - Women Business Leaders Breakfast Series - 7:30-9:00AM
Venue: James Laughlin Music Hall, Chatham University, Shadyside Campus
Cost: $25.00 ($12.50 for students with valid ID) Register Online at www.chatham.edu/cwe  - Speaker: Christine WardTopic:”Social Entrepreneurs: How Women and Girls can Solve Economic and Social Challenges”

May 13 - Have you registered for the 20th anniversary Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure - We are less than two weeks away from our deadline for mailing all Race packets. Register ONLINE by 8 a.m. on May 2 to receive your Race packet, which includes your Race t-shirt, in the mail. Don’t miss all the great activities we have planned as we acknowledge our 20th year in the fight against breast cancer. This year, we are honored to have Dr. Bernard Fisher, a pioneer in breast cancer research and treatment, as our Honorary Race Chair. Leslie Sansone, a nationally recognized fitness expert and creator of the Walk at Home program, will lead this year’s warm up. http://www.komenpittsburgh.org/

May 15 - Developing New Market Opportunities – 9-12 PM - $15 - Location: Robert Morris – visit http://www.sbdc.duq.edu/EventDetail.asp?id=314  to register

May 15 - Building Bridges for Business (@bridges4biz) will present its monthly #SmallBizPgh Twitterchat - between 7-8 pm EST featuring Los Angeles-based award-winning entrepreneur and public relations expert, Lisa Elia. At the event, which can be followed on twebevent.com using hashtag #smallbizpgh, Elia will answer Pittsburgh entrepreneurs’ and Building Bridges for Business’ question on starting and sustaining a small business.

May 16 - 12 noon-1:30 pm - Westin Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh - Celebrate the achievements of eight exceptional women at the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s 30th Annual Tribute to Women Leadership Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 16 at the Westin Hotel. The luncheon begins at 12:00 pm and Silent Auction at 11:00 am. Cost is $70 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10. Proceeds from this event support YWCA programs and services. Register online at www.ywcapgh.org . For more information, please call 412-255-1261 or email ttw@ywcapgh.org.

May 17 - Disability Resource Breakfast - 8:30 – 9:30 AM - Speaker: Mick Sittig, Ph. D., Psychologist, ReMed - Topic: Psychosocial Dynamics of Relationships Following Traumatic Brain Injury - TBI turns the world upside down, causing relationships to evolve or devolve. Learn about anticipating and managing the changes in oneself, with others and with the world at large - Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania, 1650 Main Street, Pittsburgh – FREE - RSVP: 412.782.5344 x 209 or volunteersofamerica@voapa.org

May 17 - Pittsburgh Professional Women May Workshop: Your Inner Committee - with Special Guest Speaker Dr. Nancy Mramor - from 1-3pm - LeMont Restaurant, Mt. Washington, Members $35, non Members $49 - Prices increase on May 10th - Register on our new website www.PittsburghProfessionalWomen.org  - Valet Parking $6 - Does a part of you want to play while another wants to work? - Do you want to achieve a goal but you stop yourself? - Do you criticize yourself or compare your achievements to others?

May 18th – Cocktails and Cuisine for Women in Crisis –
An Afterwork Grazing/Sipping event that benefits Crisis Center North.
6PM at the Woodlands in Bradford Woods . Tickets are just $65 with
over 25 chefs/ wine/beer and spirit purveyors. Silent and Live auction
with amazing, unique trips. This event sells out so don’t miss out!
MC is John Burnett with jazz by “It Takes Two”! For tickets go to
Www.CrisisCenterNorth.org  or call 724-935-6100

May 18 - Kauffman FastTrac® Listening to Your Business™ Workshop - 8:30 am to Noon - Place: Chatham University, Gatehouse - Cost: $40.00, Register online at
http://www.chatham.edu/cwe/events/fasttrac/listen_workshop.cfm

Student Rate: $20.00 with valid ID (email
pdecker@chatham.edu < ?xml:namespace prefix = mailto />

May 19 - Pittsburgh Professional Women & ESSpa Invite You to a Special Mothers Day Fundraiser for the Make-a-Wish Foundation from 6-8pm, ESSpa Kozmetika, 17 Brilliant Avenue, Pittsburgh -Enjoy Champagne, Beverages, Snacks and Networking for a Great Cause with Special Guest Speaker Michelle Wright, WTAE 4 News Tickets just $30 www.mothersdayatesspa.eventbrite.com

May 21 - Building Bridges for Business will present its Small Business Works event at the Kingsley Association in Pittsburgh’s East End from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event – which will feature prominent speakers, including Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald – will educate aspiring entrepreneurs on finding capital to start and grow their businesses. Interested entrepreneurs can register at www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org .

May 22 - Rev-Up Marketing is teaming up with Babb University and 21st Century Employee Assistance Partners (EAP). On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, from 1 to 3 pm they will host a workshop for human resource personnel on legal and community resources options for elderly and caregivers. This workshop has been approved for 2 HR CECs. - Panelists for the workshop include: Julian E. Gray, Certified Elderlaw Attorney, Mary Phan-Gruber, MSW, ACSW, Deputy Administrator with the Area Agency on Aging, Donald H. Goughler, President and CEO of Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, and James R. Long Ph.D., CEO of 21st Century Employee Assistance Partners. The panel will discuss legal issues that require planning and foresight, present eldercare resources and how to access them, and identify work behavior trends that may indicate a need for help. Networking and lunch from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Seminar will begin at 1:00 pm in the ballroom. Free on-site parking. Space is limited. Please RSVP today at ~ www.events.constantcontact.com  . Anyone is welcome to attend, but feel free to share with HR personnel needing CE Credit Hours.

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

May 4 – Public Policy Discussion and Luncheon
May 16 – Public Policy Discussion and Luncheon

Visit http://www.worldpittsburgh.org/  for additional details

FYI

Class: Self-Defense for Women
Dates: June 3 - 24 (four Sundays)
Time: 10 – 12
Place: Falk School, Oakland

Spring Special: sign up with another woman and take $10 off each registration. Details and a registration form are attached. Please let us know if you need any more information.

Lioness Martial Arts
412.241.6519
info@lionessmartialarts.com
www.lionessmartialarts.com

** A complimentary 3-part teleclass series for solo professionals who want to attract more clients through public speaking.

Presented by Sam Wieder, MBA of Commanding Confidence
Join us for one or more of these complimentary 30-minute, business-building teleclasses:

Session #1 (11:30 a.m. – 12 noon, Tuesday, May 1, 2012)
Public Speaking Slip-ups that Cost You Clients:
The 3 Biggest Mistakes that Prevent Professionals from Attracting Clients through Public Speaking–and What You Can Do Instead

Session #2 (11:30 a.m.- 12 noon, Thursday, May 3, 2012)
Powerhouse Preparation for a Client-Winning Speech:
What You Need to Clarify to Make Your Public Speaking Profitable

Session #3 (11:30 a.m. – 12 noon, Tuesday, May 8, 2012)
Tantalizing Speech Topics to Boost Your Business:
What to Talk About to Make Your Ideal Potential Clients Want to Talk to You

These free programs at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Downtown & Business, 612 Smithfield Street, Downtown are held on Thursdays at 12:15 pm.

May 3 A Homeowner’s Guide to Hiring a Contractor: What Service Providers Don’t Want You to Know
Alexandra Sabina, Author and Lecturer

When you are ready to make repairs or major renovations to your property, how do you know if the company or person you plan to hire is trustworthy and reliable? Ms. Sabina, author of A Homeowner’s Guide to Hiring a Contractor, will explain where to find a services provider, questions to ask during the interview, how to obtain reliable references, and everything you should see on a contract before signing. Ms. Sabina’s book will be available for purchase after the program.

May 10 Betting to Win – Your Guide to Casino Gambling
Mark Gruetze, Administrative Editor
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Winning always makes a casino visit more fun. In order to do that, you need to know which bets to make and which to avoid. Join us as Mark Gruetze, longtime recreational gambler and author of the weekly Player’s Advantage column in the Trib, reveals the best strategies for blackjack, craps and other table games. You’ll learn how to make money, or at least how to make your money last longer!

May 17 Investing for Today, Tomorrow and the Future
Nadav Baum, Executive Vice President
BPU Investments, Inc.

Are you wondering how you can maintain your same lifestyle today, tomorrow and into retirement? It’s important to invest your assets so the principal and income will keep pace with inflation. After you understand your tax status, risk tolerance, expectation of return and time horizon, you’ll be prepared to create a plan of action that will help you achieve your goals.

May 24 No program – Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend!

May 31 Stock Shock: The Short Selling of the American Dream
(DVD – 72 minutes)

When Sirius XM Satellite Radio went public, potential investors were told they had the opportunity to realize enormous profits if they bought stock in this company that offers hundreds of commercial-free music stations, sports channels and talk show personalities like Howard Stern. This documentary is a cautionary tale of how unsuspecting (and unsophisticated) investors became victims of a calculated ‘pump and dump’ scheme that caused the stock fall to five cents a share before a massive recapitalization plan saved it from bankruptcy.

That many ancient cultures celebrated mothers including
theancient Egyptians who celebrated
the goddess Isis, the Mother of the Pharaohs
with an annual festival?

That ancient Greeks celebrated a holiday in honor
of Rhea, the mother of the gods ?

That ancient Romans celebrated a holiday in
honor of Cybele, a mother goddess?
That the celebrations were notorious enough that followers
of Cybele were banished from Rome

That in the British Isles and Celtic Europe, the goddess Brigid,
and later her successor St. Brigid, were honored with a spring Mother’s
Day, connected with the first milk of the ewes?

That In the 17th century, due to a clerical decree,
the British Isles initiated a religious celebration
of motherhood, called Mothering Sunday, held on the fourth Sunday during lent?
That the reason for the holiday was to serve as a reunification of the children of
mothers who were servants and trade workers who on Mothering Day, were allowed to
travel back to their home towns to visit with their families. This day also became a reprieve
from the fasting of lent, providing a time to enjoy a family feast with mom being the guest
of honor and Moms received gifts, such as cakes and flowers and a visit from their children?

That long before the “Hallmark” version of Mother’s day, Anna Reeves Jarvis was the 1st woman to
hold a celebration of Mothers day by declaring Mother’s day in 1858, in West Virginia?

That in 1914 the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution, signed by President Wilson,
that established a national Mother’s day?
That Since that time, Mother’s day has been celebrated by Americans on the 2nd Sunday
in May?

That the greatest advocate of motherhood, Anna Jarvis never had children of her own? Ms Jarvis
was dismayed over the commercialization of Mother’s day, “I wanted it to be a day of
sentiment, not profit,” she is quoted as saying.

www.Now.org   

Statement of NOW President Terry O’Neill

On Equal Pay Day, the day when U.S. women’s average earnings finally catch up with the amount men were paid on average in the previous year. That means that women must have worked more than 600 hours into 2012 to attain the same pay men received in 2011.

Recent reports show that the wage gap is wide for women across the board, regardless of educational level. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women with the same education as their male counterparts and doing the same job as men still earn far less. Just one example of the disparity can be found in a new study by the corporate governance firm GMI Ratings, which shows that women chief financial officers are paid an average of 16 percent less than their male counterparts. Overall, by one estimate, the average woman stands to lose about $400,000 over her working lifetime to wage discrimination. Such pay discrimination compels women to seek higher and higher degrees if they hope to begin to match their male peers in pay — often forcing women into the increasingly costly student loan market.

Women working full-time annually are paid 77 cents for every dollar paid to a man, and the gap is significantly wider for women of color. An unprecedented number of women are now family breadwinners due to persistent unemployment rates, making pay equality critical not simply to family economic security but also the nation’s economic recovery.

Thanks to the wage gap, women are more vulnerable during economic downturns, making government action to strengthen pay equity laws more essential now than ever before. NOW calls for passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1519/S. 797) and a stronger bill, the Fair Pay Act (H.R. 1493). In the meantime, we call on President Obama to issue an executive order protecting employees of federal contractors against retaliation for disclosing or asking about their wages — an important first step that would reach more than 20 percent of the civilian workforce. Together, these measures can help to create a climate where wage discrimination is not tolerated, employers provide a women-friendly workplace, and government has the enforcement tools it needs to make real progress on ending wage discrimination.

www.theoutdoorclassroompa.org 

When we hear the word ‘weed’ we may grumble and grovel,
but many times this word may lead us to exquisite wildflowers.
One of the most eye-catching of these ‘weeds’ is Butterfly
Milkweed.
Butterfly Milkweed has many common names including
Butterfly Weed and Orange Milkweed, but scientifically
Butterfly Milkweed is known as Asclepias tuberosa.
The common name Butterfly Milkweed comes from the
plant’s relationship to butterflies. Butterfly Milkweed, which is in the milkweed family, is one of the host plants, or larval food sources, for caterpillars such as the queen and monarch. Caterpillars are very persnickety eaters and without these plants these caterpillars would not grow to become butterflies. Not only is this plant host to caterpillars, but it also attracts many adult butterflies due to its flower shape, bright color and lovely nectar. Wildflower lovers are often astonished when they see this blossom while driving along quiet country roads through meadows and farm fields. It is not a flower that one sees everyday, which is one of the reasons why a sighting is so special. Many New England states have watched populations of this plant drop drastically, and in some states Butterfly Milkweed is listed as an endangered species. Luckily, if you have a sunny spot in your garden you can provide a lovely habitat for Butterfly Milkweed, all while bringing beneficial insects such as butterflies into your garden. This summer as you plan to spruce up your landscape please keep our friend, Asclepias tuberose, in mind.

The Outdoor Classroom staff

For fifteen years, the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise network has been devoted to providing seniors with the highest quality care in their own homes, and to arming families with the information they need to make the best decisions about caring for aging loved ones. Below is a list of webinars offered by Home Instead Senior Care and related to important senior topics. Click the link to get more information and pre-register on any webinar below (email: info@asaging.org  or call: 415-974-9600) if you have questions about registering for or accessing a recorded webinar. Choose this link to get upcoming webinar information and other helpful articles delivered to your email.

Educational Opportunities - Family Caregiver Support Webinar Series

The 2012 Family Caregiver Support Web Seminar Series provides access to information and advice from professionals experienced with issues faced by family caregivers.
Caring for a senior loved one can bring a sense of fulfillment, but usually not without a few challenges as well. To help you feel a little more confident and equipped in your role as a family caregiver, the Home Instead Senior Care® network is launching the 2012 Family Caregiver Support Web Seminar Series, featuring free monthly seminars for family caregivers on a variety of essential caregiving topics.
The web seminars, hosted in cooperation with the American Society on Aging (ASA), provide tips, information and advice from the perspective of professionals who are well-versed in issues facing families caring for aging loved ones.
Please note, these Family Caregiver Webinars are not eligible for CEU credits. The CEU credit offering is only available for the webinars featured in the Professional Family Caregiver series.
Please pre-register for any Family Caregiver Webinar by the deadline of 9 PM PST the day before! for the following 2012 Senior Care Web Series. Please click each “Register Now” link below for more details of each webinar and to sign up.
Recorded webinars will be available for viewing following the live sessions. It may take up to two weeks following the session for the archived version to be posted.
________________________________________

Webinar Schedule
Navigating the Senior Care Maze - Family Caregiver Webinar
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 | 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain / 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern. Register Now.

Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s - Family Caregiver Webinar
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 | 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain / 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern. Register Now.

Managing the Stress of a Family Caregiver - Family Caregiver Webinar
Wednesday, July 25, 2012 | 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain / 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern. Register Now.

How to Balance Work and At-Home Care - Family Caregiver Webinar
Wednesday, August 22, 2012 | 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain / 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern. Register Now.
Senior Cognitive Issues - Family Caregiver Webinar
Wednesday, September 26, 2012 | 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain / 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern. Register Now.

Helping Seniors with Finances - Family Caregiver Webinar
Wednesday, October 24, 2012 | 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain / 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern. Register Now.

Helping Seniors with Loss of Independence - Family Caregiver Webinar
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 | 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain / 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern. Register Now.

Multi-Generational Living - Family Caregiver Webinar
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 | 10:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Mountain / 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern. Register Now.

If you, or any organization of which you are a part, is interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s, please contact our office. We would be happy to speak to your group free of charge about this subject, our services, and even employment opportunities.
Sincerely,

Rebecca Champagne, Human Resource Coordinator
Home Instead Senior Care
1102 S Braddock Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
Phone: (412) 731-0733
Rebecca.Champagne@homeinstead.com

By Joyce Faulkner
www.joycefaulkner.com/books.htm

I met Geri at the University of Arkansas in the fall of 1966. You couldn’t miss her. Her carefully constructed hairdos sported tiny clip-on bows in the oddest places…over one ear or just above springy bangs or in the curl at the top of a French twist. She was a quirky beauty – one that made people pause and reflect on how the room changed when she arrived.
She dated my boyfriend’s buddy and I saw her at parties almost every weekend for two years. I can’t say that we became close but she made me laugh when she imitated the Supremes – or when she slow-danced by herself, eyes closed and face upturned like a sunflower seeking light.
When I eloped, she wore her prettiest dress and snapped pictures and ate cake and toasted us with cheap champagne. I remember her waving as we drove off to enjoy our new life when my husband graduated in June 1968. It was the last time I saw her.
She was in love, but that relationship didn’t work out – nor the next or the next. While we traveled the world, she finished school, got a job, and moved to Tulsa.
I was in the hospital having a baby when Geri disappeared in 1975. We waited – pretending she was okay. Three weeks later, I held our infant son on my shoulder, clutched my husband’s hand — and cried when a friend called to tell us that they’d found her in an abandoned apartment building – raped, mutilated, and murdered.
Over the years, I tried to visualize her face but could only bring those silly bows into focus. Lying in the darkness with my husband snoring beside me, I thought about how scared Geri must have been – and how alone. I’d get up and blow my nose and stare out the window – watching for the glint of a knife in the shadows.
When I couldn’t stand it anymore, I started reading – first about Ted Bundy, then Gacey, and a host of other monsters. True crime magazines soon turned into tomes by Ann Rule and Robert Ressler. I began volunteering at a rape center – and moved on to textbooks to further my knowledge of psychopathy and serial rape.
In 2000, I began writing about a predatory ghoul who kidnaps young women and hurts them. Terrified of John Walsh and Larry King, my villain is a rambler – moving from town to town, taking a victim here and another there – driving a truck or working with an airline. He is aging but still dangerous – using the internet to lure his prey.
I finished the book that I called USERNAME — and put it away in a drawer. “Goodbye,” I whispered to my almost friend. “I wish…” Actually, I didn’t know what I wished…that she was alive? That I’d figured out who killed her? That I wasn’t so damned afraid?
Then our son turned 30 — and we heard.
They found Geri’s murderer! He was old — sick from drugs and drink and debauchery – and a truck driver. They matched his DNA to her rape kit and he confessed. In fact, he’d killed several times before Geri. Exhilaration gave way to more horror – Geri died in 1975. Since then, Clyde Carl Wilkerson had traveled to every state in the continental US. There had to be others. Unknown others.
“The bastard never knew how special she was,” a friend said when he heard.
“He didn’t care,” I murmured. “He can’t.”
I still cry at night when it’s dark and my husband’s sleeping – and Geri still haunts me. A book, it seems, is not enough. I guess I knew that all along but I had to try.