#virginia school for the deaf and blind

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Umwelt: What Matters Most in the World

(Originally posted at my blog at https://rebeccalexa.com/umwelt-what-matters-most-in-the-world/)

I will be the first to admit that a lot of philosophy tends to bend my brain in ways that I’m really not prepared for. I’m a very earthy creature, and I am more comfortable in physical, solid spaces than in abstract conceptualizations. Even the modalities of psychology I gravitated toward in grad school tended to be based in our interactions with physical nature, and measurable effects thereof. But it was a casual discussion on philosophy with regards to the awareness of animals that introduced me to the concept of umwelt.

Originally coined by biologist Jakob Johann Freiherr von Uexküll, umwelt describes the unique way in which a given animal experiences the world around it. Uexküll looked at how various beings take in information through their senses; the way that a blind, deaf worm engages with their environment through taste and touch is very different from how we with our hearing and color vision connect with our world. Even when I am walking with my dog out in the woods, her interpretation of what’s going on around us is going to be much more heavily influenced by hearing, and especially smell, than my sight-heavy approach. (And when we engage with each other, our respective umwelten create a semiosphere!)

So umwelt is essentially the sum total of all the ways in which an animal takes in that sensory information and attaches meaning to each fragment thereof. It’s how they tell the story of the world around them, and understand their place in it. And they rank the signs according to importance; umwelt is more strongly formed by things that are of particular interest to the animal.

That means that umwelt, rather than being constant throughout life, is always shifting according to new sensory input, or changes in how the senses work; as my dog gets older, her hearing and vision may not be as good as they were, but if her nose stays sharp then smells may become an even more important part of how she navigates her world.

Or look at a Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), which is born as a blind, deaf little hairless being with two front legs that they use to crawl to the mother’s abdominal pouch. At that time their umwelt centers on seeking and retaining the warmth of their mother’s pouch, and the sensation of the constant flow of warm, nourishing milk. After about ten weeks they leave the pouch as a miniature furry little possum and travel on their mother’s back while learning to walk; their umwelt has expanded quite a bit to include the sight and smell of their mother, the visual and scent cues that tell them how close they are to known food sources, and visual, sound, and audio information warning of various dangers. At around five months, the opossum becomes independent, and their mother fades from their umwelt while being replaced by an even larger network of food, danger, and perhaps even potential mates. Over a lifetime, as the opossum’s senses develop (and, with age, decline) and their priorities shift, so does their umwelt evolve with them.

This then led me into a bit of a rabbit hole with biosemiotics. Semiotics is the study of symbols and the communication of meaning, to include communication with the self. Biosemiotics, then, is how non-human beings assign meaning to various things in their lives, and interpret the world they live in. Zoosemiotics specifically refers to the semiotics of animals, like the examples I’ve given so far, while endosemiotics (aka phytosemiotics or vegetative semiotics) is semiotics at a cellular or even molecular level.

One example of endosemiotics can be found in our immune systems. A B lymphocyte can recognize an invader such as a virus or bacteria, and it sends out a signal (an antigen) to T lymphocytes that then attack the invader. The B lymphocyte’s umwelt consists of information received through surface receptors that can detect certain proteins and other molecules, and the response it’s programmed to have as a result of detecting an invader. The T lymphocyte’s umwelt, on the other hand, centers on the B lymphocyte’s antigen signal, as well as the invader itself.

Biosemiotics is important because it moves meaning-making beyond humans, demonstrating that we are not the only beings who assign more importance to one part of our world than another. It promotes the idea that human language is not necessary for an organism to be able to find meaning in their environment. I’m cautious about anthropomorphization–assigning human traits to non-human beings–but biosemiotics allows each being to be its own unique self, rather than being gauged by human standards.

It’s all too easy for me to get overwhelmed by just how technical some of the discussion over biosemiotics can get (especially when delving into the “semotics” part of it!) But my takeaway is that it’s nice to have a term–umwelt–that encapsulates the unique experience that every animal, plant, fungus, slime mold, and other being has, no matter how large or small its world may be.

I can envision millions upon millions of overlapping umwelten in every ecosystem, becoming semiospheres whenever two or more of those umwelten nudge, slide, or crash into each other. I’m already delighted by knowing that I myself contain several ecosystems, with microbiomes in my organs and on my skin and more. But I can now also consider the umwelten and semiospheres of the lymphocytes in my immune system, along with all the other cells that are carrying on their existences within my various tissues, fluids, and so forth.

Of course, this gets into discussions of whether umwelt requires some level of consciousness, the nature of consciousness, sentience vs. sapience, etc., etc., all of which are the sort of headache-inducing philosophical discussions that I try to avoid at this stage of my life. So I can understand that this whole umwelt-biosemiotics thing is still being hammered out and explored and critiqued, but also use it to augment my own personal model of my world, internal and external (my innenwelt!) And for now, umwelt is a perfectly good shorthand for “the unique way in which an organism experiences its environment.”

Did you enjoy this post? Consider taking one of my online foraging and natural history classes, checking out my other articles, or picking up a paperback or ebook I’ve written! You can even buy me a coffee here!

[mariacallous]

the different tries to ban "adult cabaret" acts seem more in the vain of "homosexual propaganda" laws than 'walking while trans' though maybe it's a distinction without a difference, but together with the book banning the "don't say gay" the "report the queer kids to their parents" etc etc all of it seems like in Russia how there was a slow mo recriminalization of gay/queer life by first demanding it be removed from ANY public space because a child might see and now Russia is assaulting the private spaces because well... all of this is part of an effort to drive LGBT life out of the public eye "for the children"

The one law (SB 252) would prohibit

"any visual, audio, or physical item, article, production transmission, publication, display, exposure, exhibition, or live performance, or reproduction thereof, including any two- or three- dimensional visual or written material, stereopticon, moving picture, slide, film, picture, drawing, not exceeding $500 video, graphic, graphic novel, or computer generated or reproduced image; or any book, not exceeding $500 magazine, newspaper or other visual or written material; or any motion picture or other pictorial representation; or any statue or other figure; or any recording, transcription, or mechanical, chemical, or electrical reproduction; or any other articles, video laser disc, computer hardware and software, or computer generated images or message recording, transcription, or object, or any public or commercial live exhibition performed for consideration or before an audience of one or more"

that has, in addition to the other elements it defines as obscene,

"any transvestite and/or transgender exposure, performances or display"

("(4) For the purposes of any prohibition, protection or requirement under any and all articles and sections of the Code of West Virginia protecting children from exposure to indecent displays of a sexually explicit nature, such prohibited displays shall include, but not be limited to, any transvestite and/or transgender exposure, performances or display to any minor." is the full text)

from being within 2500 feet of

"any public school library, classroom, building or other facility under the general supervision of the state board, including any public school building containing any of grades prekindergarten through 12, any public charter school building, any multi-county career technical education center building, and any buildings of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind"

with a felony conviction attached to a violation of this plus a fine of $25,000 and/or 5 years in a state correctional facility.

And then there's this:

(b) Any school officials or school personnel while engaged in a professional capacity or activity any public school library, classroom, building or other facility under the general supervision of the state board shall be deemed a custodian of children under §61-8D-4 of the Code of West Virginia. If any such school officials or school personnel while engaged in a professional capacity or activity any public school library, classroom, building or other facility under the general supervision of the state board learns of facts that give reason to suspect that a child has been exposed to obscene matter while in any public school library, classroom, building or other facility and fails to make a timely report may be prosecuted for a misdemeanor under §61-8D-4(f) of the Code of West Virginia and upon conviction shall be fined not exceeding $500 or imprisoned not more than 1 year or both.

Any "exposure" to a transvestite or transgender individual (so just seeing someone you think/know is one) is considered obscene and would be prohibited.

That's in addition to SB 253 which is the "adult cabaret" one.

So it's both trying to ban lgbt "propaganda" and also reinforces "walking while trans".

[lboogie1906]

Dr. John Warren Davis (February 11, 1888 - July 12, 1980) was the fifth and the longest president of West Virginia State University (1919-53). He is known for founding one of the first chapters of the NAACP.

He was born in Milledgeville, Georgia to Robert M. Davis, a merchant, and Katie Mann Davis. His mother was biracial and when he was five, he was left by his parents to be raised by his maternal grandmother.

He enrolled in Atlanta Baptist College where he played on the football team and graduated with an Honors BA in Education. He worked as a personal servant for the college president, John Hope. He promoted him to a position in the college’s business office. He was at the college when Black educational leaders such as W.E.B DuBois and Booker T. Washington spoke there. President Hope encouraged him to attend graduate school, which he did at the University of Chicago.

He married Bessie Rucker (1916) the daughter of a Georgia Reconstruction-era politician Henry Allan Rucker. The couple had two daughters. After Bessie’s death, he married Ethel Elizabeth McGee (1932), the Dean of Women at Spelman College. They had one daughter.

He completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Physics and became a professor of Chemistry at Atlanta Baptist College. He helped found Atlanta’s first NAACP chapter. He served as the executive secretary at the YMCA (1917-19).

He was picked as president of West Virginia College Institute. He expanded the academic curriculum and oversaw the construction of new buildings. West Virginia Collegiate Institute became the first African American college accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. West Virginia Collegiate Institute became West Virginia State College. He created the Colored Deaf and Blind extension service for Black students.

He was a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Phi Betta Kappa Honor Society. He continued to work for the NAACP as a consultant. His legacy continues through West Virginia College where the Fine Arts building is named for him. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #sigmapiphi #phibetakappa

[mic-nz]

Public Military Schools in the US: A Unique Educational Experience

What Are Public Military Schools?

Public military schools provide more than an option for troubled teens or aspiring soldiers. These institutions are excellent for students seeking academic, physical, and moral challenges. Especially appealing to those desiring military education without hefty tuition fees or a commitment to a military career, public military schools are funded by the state or federal government, offering a military-style curriculum and environment. Open to all students meeting admission requirements, they are neither boot camps nor correctional facilities, striking a balance between rigor and discipline and support and nurture. What Are Public Military Schools? How Long Have Public Military Schools Existed? What Kind of Programs and Degrees Do Public Military Schools Offer? Complete List of Public Military Schools in the US What Are the Advantages of Attending a Public Military School? What Are the Challenges and Expectations of Attending a Public Military School? Why Should You Consider Attending a Public Military School?

How Long Have Public Military Schools Existed?

Public military schools in the US boast a long and proud history, with some dating back to the 19th century. Institutions like the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and the Citadel, among the oldest and most prestigious public military colleges, showcase this legacy. Others, such as the Oakland Military Institute (OMI) and the Air Force Academy High School (AFAHS), emerged in the 21st century to provide opportunities for urban and minority students.

What Kind of Programs and Degrees Do Public Military Schools Offer?

Public military schools offer diverse programs and degrees, ranging from high school diplomas to bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Specializations include fields like maritime, engineering, or aviation. For instance, the California Maritime Academy (CMA) and the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) excel in nautical and marine science education. General and liberal options, such as the Evergreen State College (ESC) and the Pennsylvania State University (PSU), are recognized for their interdisciplinary and flexible curricula.

Complete List of Public Military Schools in the US

here is a list of public military schools in the United States: Alabama - Alabama School of Fine Arts (Montgomery) - Carver Military Academy (Chicago) Arkansas - Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (Hot Springs) California - California Maritime Academy (Vallejo) - Oakland Military Institute (Oakland) Colorado - Colorado Springs School (Colorado Springs) Florida - Miami Military Academy (Miami) Georgia - Georgia Military College (Milledgeville) Illinois - Air Force Academy High School (Chicago) Indiana - Culver Academies (Culver) Kansas - Kansas City Cadet Corps (Kansas City) Kentucky - Kentucky Military Academy (Farmington) Maine - Maine Maritime Academy (Castine) Massachusetts - Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Buzzards Bay) Michigan - Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen) Minnesota - Minnesota State Academy for the Blind (Faribault) - Minnesota State School for the Deaf (Faribault) Mississippi - Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (Columbus) Missouri - Missouri State University-Springfield (Springfield) Nebraska - Nebraska School for the Blind (Lincoln) - Nebraska School for the Deaf (Omaha) New Hampshire - New Hampshire Academy (Hanover) New Jersey - Marine Academy of Science and Technology (Sandy Hook) New Mexico - New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell) New York - New York Military Academy (Cornwall-on-Hudson) North Carolina - North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) - The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina (Charleston) Ohio - Bataan Military Academy (Albuquerque) Oregon - Oregon Episcopal School (Portland) - Willamette Leadership Academy (Salem) Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania State University (University Park) Rhode Island - The Naval War College (Newport) South Carolina - Camden Military Academy (Camden) South Dakota - South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (Rapid City) Tennessee - The Webb School (Bell Buckle) Texas - Texas Military Institute (San Antonio) Utah - Utah Military Academy (Orem) Vermont - Vermont Academy (Saxtons River) Virginia - Virginia Military Institute (Lexington) Washington - The Evergreen State College (Olympia) West Virginia - West Virginia School of Deaf and Blind (Romney) Wisconsin - St. John's Northwestern Military Academy (Delafield) Please note that this is not an exhaustive list; other public military schools in the United States may not be listed here. I recommend that you research to find a school that is a good fit for you. We also did a deep dive into private military schools in the US.

What Are the Advantages of Attending a Public Military School?

Public military schools surpass traditional schools in numerous aspects. Providing a structured and orderly environment fostering self-discipline, responsibility, and leadership, they offer a high-quality education preparing students for college and career success. With small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and rigorous standards, they grant access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. The strong sense of community and camaraderie allows students to live, learn, and work together as a team.

What Are the Challenges and Expectations of Attending a Public Military School?

Public military schools are not for everyone. Requiring high commitment, dedication, and hard work, they enforce strict rules and regulations that must always be followed. These institutions prioritize serious and focused learning over fun and games, emphasizing conformity and obedience, not individualism and freedom. Upholding values of respect and honor, public military schools demand a significant level of discipline.

Why Should You Consider Attending a Public Military School?

Public military schools offer a unique educational experience, shaping future leaders of America. This challenge serves as an opportunity for those daring enough to embrace it. It's a way to serve the country and the world with excellence and integrity, leaving a mark in history. Public military schools are not just institutions; they are a calling waiting to be answered. Read the full article

[petnews2day]

Out-of-touch Dems are limping into Tuesday like a wounded dog wagged by its' woke tail: JOSH HAMMER

New Post has been published on https://petnews2day.com/pet-news/dog-news/out-of-touch-dems-are-limping-into-tuesday-like-a-wounded-dog-wagged-by-its-woke-tail-josh-hammer/

Out-of-touch Dems are limping into Tuesday like a wounded dog wagged by its' woke tail: JOSH HAMMER

Josh Hammer is host of ‘The Josh Hammer Show,’ and a research fellow at the Edmund Burke Foundation

The fundamental problem for the Democrats is that they have quite simply gotten very bad at politics.

If that sounds like a sweeping statement, that’s because it is.

But how else to explain the fact that as voters consistently tell pollsters they care most about crime, inflation, the economy, and immigration, the Democrats obstinately refuse to abandon their dog-eared playbook of pro-abortion maximalism, ‘Orange Man Bad’-style January 6 fearmongering, and trite warnings about the purported threats to ‘our democracy’ if the opposition party wins a free and fair election.

The Democratic Party is, at this point, best described as a wounded dog wagged by an intersectional, woke-besotted tail.

It seems that the voters have finally had enough. In fact, Americans just can’t take it anymore.

The red wave did not materialize out of nowhere – it’s been building for months. And if the terminally out-of-touch Democrats hadn’t been no deaf, dumb and blind to the pleas of their own constituents, maybe they could have headed off the disaster.

Case in point: last November, Republican Glenn Youngkin stunned the nation by capturing the Virginia governorship, proving that the Old Dominion—which had gone for President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election by over 10 points, and hadn’t gone statewide for the GOP in any election since 2009—is still very much up for grabs.

The dominating issue in that race – the right of parents to control what their children learn in public schools.

Youngkin pledged to rid the state’s education system of critical race theory, the perverse idea that skin color – nearly above all else – determines an individual’s fate in America.

For his part, Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe declared: ‘I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.’

The Democratic Party is, at this point, best described as a wounded dog wagged by an intersectional, woke-besotted tail. (Above: Left to Right) Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator John Fetterman, former President Barack Obama, Democratic candidate for Governor Josh Shapiro, and President Joe Biden on November 5, 2022 in Philadelphia

And that was all she wrote.

White women, who broke for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, voted overwhelmingly for Youngkin.

The media and political establishment were shocked. But the cable news carnival barkers said they knew why it happened.

Virginians are ‘racist’ they declared, despite the fact that Youngkin’s lieutenant governor, Winsome Sears, is a black woman and his attorney general, Jason Miyares, is a Latino man.

‘I can assure you,’ declared MSNBC’s (now-former) host Tiffany Cross. ‘This is about the fact that a good chunk of voters out there are OK with White supremacy. Let’s call a thing a thing. Actually, scratch that. They are more than OK.’

Ever since, politicos have been debating whether the results that evening were aberrant, or whether they would prove prescient for the breadth and depth of Republican pickups—that is, the scale of the red wave—during the 2022 midterm elections.

As we finally enter the campaign’s final days, the answer is increasingly clear: very prescient. The red wave is very real, and Democrats should prepare accordingly for heavy losses Tuesday evening.

True, a quick glance at some of the polling numbers might give a somewhat different impression.

In the increasingly Trump-y and quintessential Rust Belt state of Ohio, Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance has struggled to put away Democratic candidate Rep. Tim Ryan. Incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), who has served two previous terms, is nursing a similarly small polling lead in the Badger State. Meanwhile, the Senate races in the ‘big four’ states this cycle of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada all appear to be nail-biters.

But the situation is more complicated than that. To start, some of the other polling numbers right now are indeed remarkable.

In the reliably Democrat state of New York, gubernatorial challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) is within clear striking distance of incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY); indeed, Trafalgar Group, one of the nation’s most accurate pollsters the past three election cycles, had Zeldin narrowly ahead in one recent poll.

In Oregon, a once-purple state that has become a liberal bastion over the past 15-20 years, Republican gubernatorial nominee Christine Drazan is poised for a huge upset victory.

In the Granite State, Republican challenger Don Bolduc—once dismissed as a ‘far-right’ gadfly—now runs even with vulnerable incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and has all the momentum on his side.

Some of the polling cross-tabs are also incredibly bullish for the GOP; as The Wall Street Journal reported this week, the all-important white suburban woman voting bloc has swung toward Republicans by an astonishing 27 points just since August, reminiscent of the pro-Youngkin surge in Virginia.

As the Journal explained, this ‘suggests that the topic of abortion rights has faded in importance after Democrats saw energy on that issue this summer in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.’

Put another way, the ‘post-Dobbs backlash,’ which we saw most clearly in Kansas in early August, when pro-choice voters mobilized to defeat a pro-life amendment to the state constitution, is no more.

White women, who broke for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, voted overwhelmingly for Youngkin (above) in November 2021.

The fundamental problem for the Democrats is that they have quite simply gotten very bad at politics.

There is also increasing evidence other voting groups once thought to be loyal Democratic voters are shifting.

This may finally be the electoral cycle where Hispanic voters, even if they do not become a majority-Republican national voting bloc, will move decisively toward the GOP.

Hispanics are also sick of being called ‘Latinx’ by clueless liberals, who decided that they need a name change.

Mexican-born Rep. Mayra Flores (R-TX) shocked the world in June with her special election victory in Texas’s 34th congressional district, an 85% Hispanic district.

Flores’ victory corroborates the tremendous Republican gains in Texas’s heavily Hispanic Rio Grande Valley region, which President Donald Trump closely contested in 2020 in such overwhelmingly Hispanic counties as Starr County (which he narrowly lost) and Zapata County (which he won).

In Nevada, Republican Senate candidate Adam Laxalt and gubernatorial candidate Joe Lombardo are closely competing for the Silver State’s crucial Hispanic voting bloc.

In my own state of Florida, where all signs point to election night romps for Republican incumbents Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Marco Rubio, the only two questions are whether the two men will outright win the statewide Hispanic vote and whether they will win the state’s most populous county, 70% Hispanic Miami-Dade County.

A Republican gubernatorial candidate in Florida has not won Miami-Dade County since Jeb Bush—who speaks fluent Spanish and whose wife is Mexican—in 2002.

Finally, follow the campaign money, instead of just the horse-race numbers.

Democrats are now scrambling to shore up Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney, who is in serious jeopardy of losing his Hudson Valley, New York-area seat.

At the U.S. House level, the DCCC is sacrificing what should be toss-up races in no less an iconic blue state than California to secure reelection for embattled incumbents competing in congressional districts Biden won by double digits in 2020.

Mexican-born Rep. Mayra Flores (R-TX) shocked the world in June with her special election victory in Texas’s 34th congressional district, an 85% Hispanic district.

All signs point to election night romps for Republican incumbents Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Marco Rubio, the only two questions are whether the two men will outright win the statewide Hispanic vote and whether they will win the state’s most populous county, 70% Hispanic Miami-Dade County. (Above) DeSantis on November 6, 2022 in Sun City Center, Florida

And at the U.S. Senate level, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee has deployed money to no less a liberal enclave than Washington State, where incumbent Sen. Patty Murray is facing an inspired challenger in the form of Republican Tiffany Smiley.

The red wave, of course, will not lift every single candidate in a close race.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) is set to trounce inveterate election-denier challenger Stacey Abrams, but that does not necessarily mean Kemp’s coattails will drag controversial Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker across the finish line in his bid to dethrone incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA). (I do predict a Walker victory.)

In Arizona, Republican Kari Lake appears poised for a gubernatorial victory (and future national political superstardom), but it is yet unclear whether she can help Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters beat incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ). (I do predict a Masters victory.)

And finally, even as late-breaking Keystone State voters may tip the scales to Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz following John Fetterman’s indescribably disastrous recent debate performance, it is unlikely Republican candidate Doug Mastriano can beat Democrat Josh Shapiro in the gubernatorial race.

In the final count, I predict Republicans nab a 54-46 Senate majority.

All close races will break their way; such is the nature of a wave year.

Republicans will also increase their partisan share of the nation’s governor mansions, and will likely net out with 31 governors (with upward of 34 seats possible).

Democrats will be forced to ponder what went wrong. Perhaps next time around, they might consider focusing just a little bit on what voters actually want to hear.

[barefootonthemoss]

I always have love for the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind. This year’s commencement was both happy and sad. Here are some sights and sounds from WVSDB’s 2018 graduation. 

[poorshadowspaintedqueens]

PSA

It has been a really difficult week.

tw: animal death

On Monday, my dog Nigel died. This was, in itself, not a great surprise, as he was sixteen years old. But I am starting to cry just typing the words, so clearly I will be a long time getting over it. It doesn’t help that the two other dogs are constantly wandering the house in search of a third dog who will never come home. Or that both of my daughters are trying to articulate complex feelings about mortality and grief (or greeling, as my 3-year-old calls it). Some part of me is so proud of them for thinking through these things even though they’re so young, but also I just want to cry.

We adopted Nigel when he was three, and he lived with us for thirteen years, in four different homes. He was a sweet little old Shih Tzu, even when he was young. His previous owners had bought him from a pet shop, and we suspect he came from a puppy mill--he had a variety of health problems throughout his life, but they were always minor. For reasons never disclosed to us, he was awfully neglected, and one of the extended family members took it upon herself to find him a better home, and so he came to us in summer of 2009. His greatest aspiration was to be my husband’s lapdog, if not surgically attached to my husband. Neither of these came to pass, but he accepted his lot. Nigel had a contentious relationship with our basset hound Lucy, who is...a force of personality, shall we say. But they (sometimes grudgingly) got on for thirteen years, and I can tell she misses him as much as I do. He preferred to pretend that our youngest dog (adopted 2016) did not exist, and given the state of his eyes and ears by then, he did a pretty good job of it.

He started to slow down around the time that my older daughter was born, but he was her dog nanny, always in the room with her and insistently barking if she started to cry. By the time he died, Nigel was mostly blind, mostly deaf, and mostly senile, but he still puttered around the house and we made sure not to move the furniture. He had no teeth and his breath was atrocious. I know this because he slept next to my pillow every night. I keep waking up at night not because he’s cast Stinking Cloud in my face, but because nobody has.

He gave us a scare last spring, but it turned out to be a small infection that we were able to get treated, and he made a full recovery. But we kind of had the sense these past few weeks that he was slowing down more than previously, that maybe we were starting to reach that time.

And then it was time. My husband had to take him to the emergency vet on his own because the 3yo had a cold and was home from school (and I had to take her to get a PCR test, which was extra fun, let me tell you, though it thankfully came back negative). We’d hoped to have the time to bring someone to the house, but he had a neurological event. I got to hold him for about 20 minutes and tell him what a good boy he was and how much I loved him. Then my husband had him on his lap for the whole drive to the vet.

I miss him so much. He was a quiet dog, most of the time. Unless he woke up on a piece of furniture, or found himself left in a room on his own, or a baby made a noise that might vaguely resemble being upset. Then he’d start the alarm. There was also the one time soon after we adopted him that he cleared out an entire PetSmart in Northern Virginia by shrieking in an unnaturally human tone because the techs had to clean out his ears to treat an ear infection. One of them even came out to assure me that they were not, in fact, murdering my dog. I already knew he was a drama queen.

RIP Nigel. 2005-2021. You were the best boy.

[mindblowingscience]

New research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine is shedding light on the biological architecture that lets us hear - and on a genetic disorder that causes both deafness and blindness.

Sihan Li, a graduate student in the lab of Jung-Bum Shin, PhD, of UVA's Department of Neuroscience, has made a surprising discovery about how the hearing organ in mammals achieves its extraordinary sensitivity.

It was long suspected that tiny molecular motors maintain the proper tension in the so-called hair cell mechanoreceptors that are located in the inner ear. This tension is a key factor in how we detect sound, similarly to how a taut fishing line indicates nibbling fish.

The research team led by Li and Shin demonstrated that maintaining this tension was the responsibility of a protein called Myosin-VIIa. They also found that there is not just one Myosin-VIIa but several - subtle variations that all play important roles. Problems with these protein "isoforms," as the variations are known, lead to hearing loss, Shin's team found. That speaks to the vital importance of these underappreciated variations in proteins.

Continue Reading.

[rocketwerks]

Virginia Commission for the Blind

AKA, The Parkwood

3003 Parkwood Avenue

Built, 1940-1941, 1958

Architects, J. Binford Walford (1940), O. Pendleton Wright (1958)

VDHR 127-6808

April 2020

And a blind man shall lead them.

(Find A Grave) — Lucian Louis Watts  — Virginia Legislature Photograph,    Virginia House of Delegates 1928

L. L. Watts (1888-1974) was singularly instrumental in the development of services for the blind in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the individual most responsible for the successful construction of the Virginia Commission of the Blind building at 3003 Parkwood Avenue in Richmond. 

His work influenced educational and training opportunities for blind Virginians across Virginia for more than 30 years, and his legacy has continued to the present day, making him of statewide significance.

(Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind) — Main Hall, 1900

Watts was serving as a Superintendent of a railroad construction project when he lost his sight in a dynamite blasting accident in 1913. After recuperating, he attended the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, Virginia, and graduated in 1917. He became an instructor at the school and in 1919, he sent an invitation to the alumni of the school and friends of the blind to meet in June to form the Virginia Association of Workers for the Blind.

April 2020 — courtyard

In 1920, Watts was appointed to a state commission to investigate the conditions of the blind in Virginia. This temporary commission reported its survey findings to the General Assembly with a recommendation that a permanent Virginia Commission for the Blind be established. The Virginia Commission for the Blind was created on March 23, 1922, through an act of the General Assembly and Watts was chosen as the Executive Secretary of the Commission, a position he was to hold for 34 years.

(Newspapers.com) — Des Moines Register, Tuesday, February 3, 1925 — showing left to right, Anne Sullivan Macy, Helen Keller, & Polly Thomas arriving in Iowa for the convention of the American Association of Workers for the Blind

Watts was also involved in the establishment of the American Foundation for the Blind at the convention of the American Association of Workers for the Blind held in Vinton, Iowa, in 1921. The American Foundation for the Blind is the national organization most closely associated with Helen Keller, for which she worked for more than 40 years. Watts, with assistance from the American Foundation for the Blind, arranged for Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan Macy to address a joint session of the Virginia House and Senate as part of a "Three Day's Educational Campaign" on February 12-14, 1924. 

(Newspapers.com) — Helen Keller from the Des Moines Register, Sunday, January, 25 1925

The goal of the campaign was to raise awareness of the work of the fledgling Virginia Commission for the Blind and to convince the General Assembly to increase the state appropriation to further its work. Fourteen industries of the blind exhibited in the course of the campaign, which culminated in Helen Keller's address on February 14. She appealed for increased appropriations and for the continued independence of the Virginia Commission for the Blind. Governor E. Lee Trinkle reported on the effectiveness of the campaign and the enthusiasm Ms. Keller's address engendered.

(Newspapers.com) — Richmond Times Dispatch, Tuesday, June 27, 1933

The Virginia Commission for the Blind hosted the 1933 biennial convention of the American Association of Workers for the Blind in Richmond, where Watts was elected first vice-president of this international organization representing blind workers throughout the United States and Canada. When the president of the organization died in 1934, Watts stepped into the role of the chief executive and was elected president at the next biennial convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1935. After the expiration of his term as president, Watts continued to serve on the Board of Directors and as chair of the legislative committee.

(ProQuest® Sanborn Maps Geo Edition™) — Sanborn Insurance Maps of Richmond (1925) — Plate 437 — showing former Gould frame house at 3003 Parkwood

The offices of the Commission were initially in Charlottesville but relocated to 1228 East Broad Street in Richmond in 1924. In 1931 the administrative offices moved to a frame residence at 3003 Parkwood Avenue. The use of this property was donated to the Virginia Association of Workers for the Blind by Edwin J. Gould of New York. In 1938, the Association was able to purchase the property from the Gould Foundation, on favorable terms, and in December deeded it to the Commonwealth to be used by the Commission for the Blind.

April 2020 — note the absence of the urn ornament on the pedestal at center top that appears in the VDHR nomination photo below

When the City of Richmond's Fire Department condemned the frame building early in 1939, Mr. Watts, as Executive Director of the Commission, petitioned Governor James H. Price for assistance in replacing the facility. The Governor approved the construction of a new building and authorized the Commission to borrow $16,000 to add to the General Assembly's appropriation of $30,000, the Works Progress Administration's allocation of $24,000 and the $10,000 contributed by the Virginia Association of Workers for the Blind.

(VDHR) — blueprint for 1941 basement floor plan

J. Binford Walford (1891-1956) was selected as the architect and in March, 1940, applied for a permit to construct a two-story building with a basement out of concrete, brick, cinder block and wood with a slate roof.

Walford was associated with O. Pendleton Wright from 1946, forming the practice Walford & Wright, Architects. Around the time he was selected in 1940 to design the new facility for the Virginia Commission for the Blind, he had been active in designing additional academic buildings, dormitories, and a stadium for the campus of the College of William and Mary. 

(HipPostcard) — E. Lee Trinkle Library, Mary Washington College, Fredricksburg, Va., circa 1940s

He also designed classrooms, dormitories, and the Trinkle Library at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Converse and Cleveland dormitories at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, and Virginia Hall, Lindsey-Montague Hall, Colson Hall, Langston Hall, and the President's House at Virginia State University in Ettrick, Virginia. These handsome collegiate buildings, in his assured Colonial Revival style, confirm his place in guiding the architectural character of these Virginia campuses.

[VPVH] — Gould residence prior to 1939

When demolition of the former Gould residence began in 1939, Watts moved his offices to temporary quarters at 3007 Parkwood Avenue; the women's department relocated to 3154 Ellwood Avenue. Work progressed sufficiently to allow the executive offices and home work department to move into the new building in March 1941. Work continued until the facility was completed in August, 1941. 

(VDHR) — 1941 dedication photo — note the urn ornament atop the central pedestal above the door

The new quarters were formally dedicated on September 25, 1941. Among the speakers was R. S. Hummel, State Administrator of the Works Progress Administration, who offered his congratulations to Watts and the Commission, and to the WPA workers, in recognition of the quality of the work.

(Library of Virginia) — Governor J. Lindsay Almond, Jr.

In 1958, recognizing the need to expand the facility at 3003 Parkwood Avenue, Governor Almond authorized the expenditure of $193,820 for a major addition that would house a regional Braille lending library to serve the blind residents of Virginia and Maryland. Although Walford had died in 1956, the Commission looked to his firm, Walford & Wright, to guide the expansion. 

April 2020 — note the difference in ornamentation of the 1958 entryways & the 1941 entry above

The Bass Construction Company applied for a building permit on November 10, 1958, with plans by Walford & Wright, Architects, that would essentially double the size of the building by extending the rear portion of the building and constructing a wing similar in scale and parallel to the portion of the original building fronting on Parkwood Avenue. The addition was designed to be indistinguishable from the original portion, but with simpler treatment of the doors and entrances, and with an exterior basement entrance.

April 2020 — courtyard entryway

In 1980, the Virginia Commission for the Blind became the Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped and relocated to the current offices on Azalea Avenue in Henrico County. The facility at 3003 Parkwood Avenue was sold into private ownership. Plans from 1983 illustrate its conversion to Parkwood Manor, a retirement home. The potential new owner plans to preserve and rehabilitate the former Commission for the Blind as an apartment building. (VDHR)

April 2020

A prediction that came true! The former Commission building is known by the moniker The Parkwood, offering luxury apartments for rent.

(Virginia Commission for the Blind is part of the Atlas RVA! Project)

Print Sources

[VPVH] Virginia’s Program for the Visually Handicapped. John. B. Cunningham. 1940.

[itsbrimcd-blog]

My First Blog Post!

Hello! My name is Brianna and I hail from Northern Virginia or NOVA as many of my peers would describe it. More specifically, I live in Herndon and I went to High School in Reston. Ever since I was a little girl, I was determined to have such a fulfilling career that would allow me to take care of myself without the help of anyone else. Once I found my love for science, I was determined to go to medical school to become a doctor. My major is Clinical Neuroscience and I decided on this simply because Biology was too broad and Neuroscience sounded like an awesome major... and since starting my classes, it has definitely lived up to my expectations. Last semester I decided to pursue a Medicine and Society minor so that I would have a bit of a more well rounded perspective on medicine when applying to medical school and eventually practicing medicine. Sociology 1004 is prerequisite for a class required for my minor. Outside of studying for my classes, because let’s face it... studying takes up a majority of my time, I enjoy going to McComas for BodyPump and Cycling classes. I also just went through formal recruitment over winter break in an attempt to “put myself out there”, and received a bid from Pi Beta Phi! Something I miss about home since coming to Virginia Tech is my precious furry friend. Her name is Judy (she came with the name) and we adopted her when she was a year and a half. Judy is a beautiful longhaired German Shepherd who is currently 13! She is both blind and deaf but someone very dear to me. Below I have included a picture of Judy and I from Christmas last year. To our surprise she really enjoyed her Santa costume.

Until Next Time! 

Brianna

[mariacallous]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5-29; and to amend and reenact §61-8A-1 of said code, all relating to the prohibition of obscene materials in or within 2,500 feet of West Virginia schools; and defining criminal penalties for obscene materials in or within 2,500 feet of West Virginia schools.

(a) Obscene matter, as defined in §61-8A-1 of this code, is prohibited in, or within 2,500 feet of, any public school library, classroom, building or other facility under the general supervision of the state board, including any public school building containing any of grades prekindergarten through 12, any public charter school building, any multi-county career technical education center building, and any buildings of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind. Any school officials or school personnel having knowledge of any obscene matter in a public school building under the general supervision of the state board shall ensure that the obscene matter is promptly removed. This prohibition does not apply to obscene material used in the presentation of local or state approved curriculum.

(b) Any school officials or school personnel while engaged in a professional capacity or activity any public school library, classroom, building or other facility under the general supervision of the state board shall be deemed a custodian of children under §61-8D-4 of the Code of West Virginia. If any such school officials or school personnel while engaged in a professional capacity or activity any public school library, classroom, building or other facility under the general supervision of the state board learns of facts that give reason to suspect that a child has been exposed to obscene matter while in any public school library, classroom, building or other facility and fails to make a timely report may be prosecuted for a misdemeanor under §61-8D-4(f) of the Code of West Virginia and upon conviction shall be fined not exceeding $500 or imprisoned not more than 1 year or both.

(c) The State Superintendent shall establish a procedure for any person to file a complaint alleging a violation of subsection (a) of this section and a procedure for investigating any complaint that is filed. The investigation shall include a determination of whether there is obscene matter in, or within 2,500 feet of, the public school library, classroom, building or facility and whether §61-8A-2 of this code, relating to distribution or display of obscene matter to a minor, is likely to have been violated. If it is determined that there is obscene matter in, or within 2,500 feet of, a public school library, classroom, building or facility, the state superintendent shall use his or her authority set forth in §18-3-4 of this code or any other reasonable means to ensure that the obscene matter is removed from the public school library, classroom, building or facility, or within 2,500 feet thereof. If it is determined that a violation of §61-8A-2 of this code is likely to have occurred, the state superintendent, investigator, or other person acting on behalf of the superintendent shall notify the appropriate law-enforcement agency or agencies.

(d) No funds authorized by the Legislature, including, but not limited to, funds sourced from the federal government, may be used by any school under the general supervision of the state board or any public charter school: (i) to develop or distribute materials, or operate programs or courses of instruction directed at youth, that are designed to promote or encourage sexual activity, whether homosexual or heterosexual; or (ii) to distribute or to aid in the distribution by any organization of legally obscene materials, as defined in §61-8A-1 of this code,  to minors on, or within 2,500 feet of, any school library, classroom, building or facility.  

(e) If an adult individual meets the criteria for an adult to have committed a felony under §61-8A-2 of this code, and no exemption set forth in §61-8A-3 of this code applies, the individual shall be subject to the penalty or penalties imposed pursuant to §61-8A-2 of this code.

(f) Any student or parent, guardian, or custodian on behalf of the student shall have a civil cause of action against a county board, a public charter school, the state board, or the administrative council of a multi-county career technical education center if the entity caused or was negligent in allowing a violation of this section. In any such cause of action, the student or parent, guardian, or custodian on behalf of the student may recover actual damages, punitive damages, reasonable attorney fees, and reasonable costs of litigation incurred.

And how are they defining "obscene matter"?

(k) "Matter" means any visual, audio, or physical item, article, production transmission, publication, display, exposure, exhibition, or live performance, or reproduction thereof, including any two- or three- dimensional visual or written material, stereopticon, moving picture, slide, film, picture, drawing, not exceeding $500 video, graphic, graphic novel, or computer generated or reproduced image; or any book, not exceeding $500 magazine, newspaper or other visual or written material; or any motion picture or other pictorial representation; or any statue or other figure; or any recording, transcription, or mechanical, chemical, or electrical reproduction; or any other articles, video laser disc, computer hardware and software, or computer generated images or message recording, transcription, or object, or any public or commercial live exhibition performed for consideration or before an audience of one or more.

...

(m) "Obscene matter" means matter that:

(1) An average person, applying contemporary adult community standards, would find, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest, is intended to appeal to the prurient interest, or is pandered to a prurient interest;

(2) An average person, applying community standards, would find depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexually explicit conduct; and

(3) A reasonable person would find, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

(4) For the purposes of any prohibition, protection or requirement under any and all articles and sections of the Code of West Virginia protecting children from exposure to indecent displays of a sexually explicit nature, such prohibited displays shall include, but not be limited to, any transvestite and/or transgender exposure, performances or display to any minor.

[lrmartinjr]

The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind planning to reopen in August

[thecolorfulplacesystem-blog]

2018

2018 is just started and we have confidence that this year will be awesome for us and the friends I have who are also systems at least I hope positive thoughts is something I've learned from being trapped in school full of bullying and negativity every week im very thankful it's all over Virginia school for the deaf and blind hopefully they get shut down if so we will be very happy- Natasha

[riilsports]

Rogers’ Martin selected to receive NFHS National High School Heart of the Arts Award

      The Rhode Island Interscholastic League congratulates Rogers High School senior Cailin Martin, who has been selected the 2020 national recipient of the “National High School Heart of the Arts Award” by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). She will be recognized June 29 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Denver, Colorado.

      Now in its sixth year, the National High School Heart of the Arts Award was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals “who exemplify the ideals of the positive heart of the arts that represent the core mission of education-based activities.”

      This is the second time in three years that a Rhode Island student has been selected as the national award recipient. Cecelia Egan of Bay View was honored in 2018.

       Here is more about Martin and the Heart of the Arts Award provided in a press release from the NFHS:

      From the time she was in fifth grade at Thompson Middle School in Newport, Rhode Island, Cailin Martin’s artistic talents stood out among her peers, as did her willingness to go the extra mile. After showcasing knowledge far beyond her years during class, she was often seen eagerly cleaning up students’ messes regardless of who made them.

     Now a senior at Rogers High School in Newport, Martin has used course offerings and independent studies to develop her expertise in a variety of creative disciplines and has evolved her service mindset to address the needs of both her school and community.

     In addition to the murals and props she has painted for each of the last three yearly musicals at Rogers, Martin adorned one of the school’s hallways this past summer for her senior project. That mural, which takes up more than eight feet of wall space, bears the words of civil rights activist Dolores Huerta – “Walk the street with us into history. Get off the sidewalk” – and serves to inspire those walking by.

    During the same summer, Martin dedicated even more of her free time to be a digital art tutor for a seventh-grade girl in the area. Both girls enjoyed the interaction so much that they have continued their working relationship into the fall, obliging Martin to simultaneously balance a class schedule loaded with Advanced Placement (AP) courses. To this point, the 2019 AP Scholar Award winner has handled that challenge with relative ease, as her grade-point average ranks third in the senior class.

     Martin’s most notable contribution came as a part of “Project Playhouse,” an initiative formed by a management class at nearby Bryant University to provide custom-built playhouses for children with serious and life-threatening illnesses. Martin’s role in the project was to depict a Transformers theme on one of the 9-foot by 9-foot by 9-foot structures, a task that required more than 21 hours of labor.

     In addition to her work with Project Playhouse, Martin volunteered with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall in 2019 and the Norman Bird Sanctuary Harvest Festival in 2018 and 2019, and she has worked as a performer and set painter for the Rogers Theatre Company for the past five years.

     Pieces of her artwork have also been included in community showcases, including the Irish History Exhibition at the Museum of Newport in 2017 and the Newport Yacht Club Art Show, where she received Best in Show First Runner-Up in 2019.

About the Award

     Along with the selection of Cailin Martin as the national award recipient, the NFHS National High School Heart of the Arts Award Selection Committee chose an additional six individuals and one group for section awards. Following are the 2020 National High School Heart of the Arts section winners:

Section 1 – Cailin Martin, student, Newport (Rhode Island) Rogers High School

Section 2 – Kyla Goldsby, student, Leesburg (Virginia) Heritage High School

Goldsby stands as a tremendous example of personal growth and empowerment through activities participation. Suffering from a challenging medical situation and severe self-esteem issues, Goldsby found a way to express herself and connect with others as a member of Heritage’s forensics team. Her first original oratory piece – “Sometimes It’s A Zebra” – started her down a path to self-confidence and has allowed her to become a champion and community voice for the various medical obstacles in her life.

Section 3 – Winnsboro (South Carolina) Fairfield Central High School Theatre Tech Team (T3)

Along with a variety of school-related projects, the Fairfield Central High School Theatre Tech Team (T3) has been involved in helping create public-service announcement short films on topics including mental health, serving students with special needs and animal rescue. The T3 Team played a critical role in the creation of “A Pony and His Boy,” the story of an eight-year-old boy with Down syndrome who has a life-changing experience when he meets a rescued pony. The T3 Team assisted the film’s creative team with critical input on the current practices of serving students with special needs, and, after seeing the success of equine therapy on the main character, eventually had therapy sessions set up for students with special needs at FCHS. The FCHS sessions were equally as beneficial, which inspired the T3 Team to organize a showing of the film for students, parents and invited guests. Afterward, many of the viewers were able to connect with the film’s main character via social media.

Section 4 – Carter Schott, student, Orland Park (Illinois) Carl Sandburg High School

Born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Schott has not allowed his physical limitations to impede his involvement or passion for the performing arts. A participant in seven activities and a member of the Carl Sandburg bass fishing team that finished second at the Illinois High School Association Bass Fishing Unified Division competition, Schott serves as an inspiration to his school community. These effects may have been most prominent this fall when Schott marched with the marching band for the first time, a feat that required him to play his instrument with both hands and operate his chair with his right forearm, all while staying in sync with the rest of the formation.

Section 5 – Sara Given, theatre teacher, Mexico (Missouri) High School

Given, an awarding-winning, multi-discipline theatre teacher with 26 years of experience, has been highly successful in increasing competitive opportunities for special needs students through the creation of two specially designed programs. The first – Readers Theatre – was launched in 2013 using a script from The Jellybean Conspiracy Foundation, an organization that sponsors theatre shows that include students with and without disabilities. Following the “Jellybean” students’ second-place finish at the district tournament that year, Given started the Jellybean Olympics, which is similar in format to a speech festival. Starting with just two teams and 11 performers in year one, Given has grown the program every year since, and now travels around the state leading workshops for interested schools.

Section 6 – Ashley Ledezma, student, Tulsa (Oklahoma) Edison Preparatory High School

From a very young age, Ledezma had been completely deaf, legally blind and stricken with a rare auto-immune disease but decided to pursue music anyway. Against tall odds, she rose to become flute section leader in both her middle school and high school bands and also learned to play the alto saxophone and percussion instruments. While many feared for her safety, Ledezma courageously marched with the marching band starting in her sophomore year, and, with the help of a sign language interpreter, became skilled enough to be the band’s second drum major as a junior. Tragically, Ledezma contracted an illness midway through her senior year and passed away November 17 as a result of complications with her pre-existing condition.

Section 7 – Howard Summers, band director, Lehi (Utah) Skyridge High School

In a matter of four years, Summers has grown the Skyridge band program into one of the state’s powerhouses through exemplary student-focused leadership. The 2019 Skyridge High School Teacher of the Year has increased marching band membership from 99 members to 130 in that span, and leads concert bands that consistently register Superior ratings at festivals. Summers is also known for his inclusivity. He is a heavy promoter of involvement from all students, including those with significant disabilities, and has also been known to make accommodations for those with extenuating circumstances. In one example involving a Skyridge student musician who had suffered a broken leg, Summers found a way for him to compete with the band as a member of the percussion section.

Section 8 – Shelbey Colt, student, Gresham (Oregon) Centennial High School

A multi-faceted leader on Gresham Centennial’s speech and debate team, Colt is the quintessential team captain. In addition to producing excellence in her own work, she plays an integral role in preparing team materials for events, keeps a great pulse on the well-being of her teammates and has even used her own funds to purchase scripts well-suited for her peers. Colt has performed these leadership duties through a great deal of adversity in her own life, as she has endured occasional stretches of homelessness and oftentimes must play the role of adult for her sister with special needs. In the classroom, she maintains a 3.7 grade-point average and takes several Advanced Placement and college-level courses.    

     Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS National High School Heart of the Arts Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members. While the national winner will be recognized June 29 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Denver, Colorado, the section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year.

     The National High School Heart of the Arts Award was started in 2014. Including this year, seven individuals, one band and one theatre group have been chosen national award recipients.

Previous award recipients:

2014 – Leia Schwartz, student-athlete/performing arts student, Miami (Florida) Coral Reef High School

2015 – Ethan Gray, performing arts student, Chicago (Illinois) St. Rita of Cascia High School

2016 – Midland City (Alabama) Dale County High School Marching Band and Band Director Sherri Miller

2017 – Josephine Ross, student, St. Paul (Minnesota) Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School

2018 – Cecelia Egan, student, Riverside (Rhode Island) St. Mary Academy-Bay

2019 – LaRaine Fess, drama teacher at Beaufort (South Carolina) High School and the Beaufort High School Theatre Department

[tabloidtoc]

National Examiner, July 1

Cover: Who Hates Who in Hollywood 

Page 2: Behind the scenes of Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson 

Page 4: Social Animals -- Photographers capture the natural world’s amazing interactions

Page 6: 7 sunny facts to brighten your summer 

Page 7: Make yourself irresistible with a love spell, how to break up without breaking down 

Page 8: Dream Doctor 

Page 9: Alex Trebek’s miracle cancer cure is prayer 

Page 10: Teacher Finn Lanning adopting homeless student so he can get a kidney 

Page 11: Your Health -- Your pillow is a hotbed of germs, top 5 dental don’t 

Page 12: Gone with the Wind shocking secrets and scandals 

Page 14: Dear Tony 

Page 15: Eating a cup of blueberries each day slashes the risk of heart disease by around 15 percent 

Page 16: 10 easy reasons to say something nice 

Page 17: How to form a real apology 

Page 18: For his final day on the job mail carrier Floyd Martin received an unexpected love letter -- an entire Georgia neighborhood turned out to throw him a special-delivery party along his route 

Page 20: Cover Story -- Who Hates Who in Hollywood -- George Clooney vs. Russell Crowe, Whoopi Goldberg vs. Rosie O’Donnell, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson vs. Vin Diesel, Angelina Jolie vs. Amal Clooney, Taylor Swift vs. Katy Perry 

Page 21: Julia Roberts vs. Nick Nolte, David Letterman vs. Jay Leno, Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Martha Stewart, Orlando Bloom vs. Justin Bieber, Jennifer Aniston vs. Chelsea Handler, Shannen Doherty vs. Alyssa Milano 

Page 22: When a six-year-old became the first deaf student to attend her Maine school her new classmates wanted to make sure she felt at home so the entire school learned sign language 

Page 24: 48-year-old preschool teacher and mom of three Perry Shoemaker from Virginia has qualified for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials after just six weeks of coaching 

Page 25: When a Georgia mom walked into a Home Depot with a super-long list of parts for making her son a walker she got a super surprise -- they told her to take the toddler for ice cream while they put it together themselves and wouldn’t take any money for it 

Page 26: The Good Doctor 

Page 28: Just smelling a pie satisfies cravings without the calories 

Page 30: True Crime 

Page 44: Eyes on the Stars -- Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, Miranda Lambert’s marriage to Brendan McLoughlin, Hugh Grant jokes he’s come to the end of his reign as the king of rom-coms because he’s gotten too old and ugly and fat, Robert De Niro’s estranged wife Grace Hightower estimates he’s worth $500 million and she’s entitled to half, NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and soon-to-be ex Kelly Baldwin are on the road to a peaceful split after agreeing to abide by the 2004 prenup, Chris Hemsworth is ready for a break from acting because he wants to spend time with his kids

Page 45: Celine Dion, Steve and Marjorie Harvey, Carrie Underwood, Reese Witherspoon is raring to reprise her role of Elle Woods in the upcoming Legally Blonde 3, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and husband Jionni Lavalle welcomed baby #3 son Angelo, Dolly Parton sleeps with a full face of makeup, the case of missing Mouseketeer Dennis Day has come to a sad end as his body was discovered, blind item 

Page 46: South Carolina third-grader Katie Stagliano who grew a monster cabbage weighing almost as much as she did was inspired to go on to help feed thousands of hungry people across the nation 

Page 47: Iconic pay phones find new life as whimsical works of art

[punkpoemprose]

A Brief History of the Farm; Or Why Emily is the Way She Is

As requested, a brief (okay it got really really long) history of life, adventures, and my/ my family member’s fuckups on the farm.

@karis-the-fangirl I hope some of this is helpful/ amusing. Feel free to ask questions at any time if you’d like. If living in the sticks can be helpful to anyone I’m more than happy to share the knowledge I have.

So my dad has like the longest list of insane stories related to farmwork, so a lot of these will be his, and I should say that my family farm is only a hobby farm, so the work is a lot less difficult than my cousin’s dairy farm and the farms around me. We’re more of a subsistence farm/ homestead.

           When my dad was in middle school/ highschool he worked on my cousin’s dairy farm, and nearly died there five times that I know of (there’s probably more).

1.)    In the hayloft and a board broke out from under him sending him to the floor below (about a 10ft drop), which would be fine if it weren’t for the fact that the weak board sent him into a pile of very sharp tools that should have probably impaled him. He walked it off.

2.)    Was switching off equipment because he heard a storm was rolling in. The first strike of lightning in the whole night hits the barn, comes through the outlet, and knocks him flat on his ass, gasping for breath.

3.)    Was digging a trench for waterlines out to the barn. His little cousin was playing with her sisters in the back yard and went running, fell into the trench and straight on top of my father (she wasn’t necessarily small at that age and it was a 12ft trench). She nearly broke my Dad’s back, but it was lucky that she landed on him, because if she hadn’t, she likely would have hit a stone at the bottom of the trench and died.

4.)    Rolled a tractor (you’re not supposed to live through that), and not like a John Deere Mt or a little Ford or something, no, a huge commercial farm tractor with no cab. Again, he went flying, but walked it off.

5.)    Some kid decided to walk up to the back of one of the tractors when a PTO (power take off- basically a thing that spins wicked fast that you can use to power equipment off the back of a tractor, like a mower or what have you… this might explain better https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_take-off) shaft was running. If you so much as touch one of those babies when they’re going it can break your arm/ leg. God forbid you get a scrap of clothing stuck in there, you’re as good as dead. Anyway, kid gets too close, my Dad sees what’s about to happen and shoves the kid out of the way. You can probably guess what happens to Dad’s pants. If it weren’t for the fact that Dad yelled for the kid to move and the kid screamed, which caused my Great Grandfather to come running and shut the tractor off, I probably wouldn’t be here today. Oh, and what happened to him? He walked it off.

Mom wasn’t born on the farm. She was a city gal. Okay so like not a big city, but they had more than one grocery store, so that’s a city for me. My town only has farms, car garages, a post office, a town hall, and the general store an Amish lady opened up about a year ago (the pie is so damn good and her prices are so low it’s a miracle I bake at all anymore tbh, my grandmother has definitely given in all her thanksgiving pies were handmade by Laura Yoder and her three girls).

When she first started seeing Dad she was about my age (I think around 19 or 20?). They met at her summer job (at a plastic plant out towards Utica). My dad was her supervisor, and even though she had never done farm chores before, she started to learn on her visits. My father lived with his grandfather and the house desperately needed a woman’s touch, so Mom often did the dishes and tidied up for them, and she learned to crochet during the winter just to make my Dad a blanket.

By the time they were married Mom felt much more comfortable on the farm, but let me tell you (as she would, she’s a lovely woman and likes others to learn from her mistakes) she made some major mess ups/ had some adventures before and after the wedding.

She ruined about three weeks worth of green beans by weeding the row while they were wet (when you touch green beans while they’re wet they “rust” which is basically a disease/ blight that ruins the beans on the affected plants).

Planted three different plants that are so terribly invasive we’ve done everything we can to kill them since the early 2000’s and they still keep coming back (word to the wise if you ever want to plant spearmint do it in a pot).

Somehow Virginia Creeper ended up in our grape vines, and thankfully Mom only ate one berry (they look a lot like wild grapes). It lit her whole mouth on fire, and luckily she and dad were able to tear it all out before anyone else made the same mistake.

She didn’t fully cook Swiss Chard and had a similar adventure in mouth/ throat burning (The plants have tiny microneedles in their stems that will make you feel pain like no other if you eat it raw/ undercooked).

Once she made a pie with the apples off the back tree, and somehow managed to get several worm filled apples which did not reveal themselves until dinner that night, dead in the pie. In similar bug/ apple tree issues she accidently sent a wasps nest out of the tree and onto my father while picking apples (though Dad got his revenge when I was a kid and sent a chuck of beehive onto her by accident).

She was pulling weeds in the garden, accidently dug up/ pulled out a snake and panicked, not letting go of it, but running so that the poor thing (just a little garter snake mind you) was bouncing up and down the whole time, probably just trying to be free of her. She only dropped it when she ran over to my father (who’s terrified of snakes) and he smacked her hand.

When she was pregnant with me, she and Dad hadn’t accounted for such a cold/ long winter, so in the middle of February (7 months pregnant), she was up in the woods filling up a sled (that didn’t hold much but was heavy when full) with wood to bring back to the house. She had to make this trip 3-5 times in a day, and the woods are a quarter mile from the house in any direction.

When I was a toddler and my brother was a baby she worked in the garden with him in a playpen and I would be playing with my toy garden tools. My cousin, unfortunately, had planted a cornfield in the lot behind my house that he rented from us that year and I toddled off into the corn field. My poor mother ran through the corn field barefoot with my brother in one arm, screaming like a banshee for a good fifteen minutes. By the time she got back to the house, ready to call in a search party, I was being pushed on my swing set by my great grandpa (who was very hard of hearing).

My Gramp was the sweetest/ toughest man you would ever meet and doted on my brother and I terribly. He was half deaf, blind in one eye, his heart barely worked, he had a bad back and barely functioning lungs, but he would go up into the woods on the hottest day of summer to pick wild blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries for me and my brother. When Conner was a baby and I was a toddler he would do it for hours, come back, mash them all up for us with some sugar, let us eat it all, and tell us stories. My dad always said that he wouldn’t have lived as long as he did if it weren’t for me and my brother being around to give him something to live for.

As far as my experiences go I’ve been lucky to avoid anything too possibly life ending. Though we cut our own wood, and when I was a kid my Dad would fall a tree and cut it up and me, my mom, and my brother would load it into the truck or the wagon to take back to the house. Well my favorite thing was when he’d fall a tree on a hill so that we could roll the blocks down the hill to be split/ loaded. One time my shirt got caught on a log I was rolling, and it took me with it. I thankfully got thrown off the block before it could roll on my chest, but it got my leg pretty bad and it knocked all the air out of my lungs. I was pretty young at the time so my parents were worried. They made me and my brother stay in the truck the rest of the time, but we really just wanted to be out rolling more blocks. Also I’ve been hit multiple times by thrown pieces of wood to varying levels of damage to myself. I accidently broke my dad’s glasses when I didn’t see him and tossed a piece at him when I was about 12. But he was mostly fine and my brother broke a window doing the same thing when we were filling a shed, so we’ve all done something.

We use a tractor to plow out the driveway in the winter because we get so much snow. When my brother was a baby he loved riding on the tractor with Dad. (He called it a put-put because that’s the sound the exhaust/ exhaust cap makes when it runs). One time my dad hit a snow bank pretty hard and my little brother (probably about 2 or 3) went flying off the tractor and into the bank. I’m about 4 or 5, so I’m just sort of confused when my dad plucks my brother out of the snow and grabs us both (amazing given how puffy both of our snowsuits were really) and says the one phrase the three of us still share today “Don’t tell mom!”

When my brother and I were up playing on the edge of where the field meets the woods (where my great grandma used to throw the trash because they didn’t have pick up or anything like that) I sliced my finger open on a piece of glass and my brother said I’d have to get stitches so I tried hiding it from my mom for hours. I don’t know how much blood I lost, but my mom (God bless her) found out and managed to butterfly bandage it closed and made me drink a ridiculous amount of water. I probably should have gone to the hospital, but it never scarred and I lived. I have other stories that did leave scars, but I can sum almost all of them up as “young Emily really liked animals but the animals didn’t always like Emily back”. I didn’t learn obviously, I’m a Biologist.

When I started being able to do chores on my own I got my shoe eaten by pigs while bringing them slop, accidently pulled out all the plants and left the weeds in the garden because the leaves were very similar (thankfully we were able to replant them), I accidently broke a ton of eggs, I lost most of the hay out of a bale I was carrying, I ripped open a feed bag because I held it wrong, and I fell into what I will affectionately refer to as “puckey” more times than I’m willing to admit. I also freed all the fish my brother caught (because they were cute), cried over a bird that my brother shot by accident while trying to scare them out of the tomatoes, and with detached emotion named my three pigs breakfast, lunch, and dinner (my brother, who really isn’t a monster I promise, named his bacon, ham, and sausage).

I refuse to hunt, but I’ve gutted deer (the first time was an adventure trust me there), and for the last year I’ve been the closest thing my family had to a farm vet. The vet most people used around here passed recently and evidently a student of biology with a firm understanding of google is good enough for my family when it comes to the chickens and wildlife. I’ve only lost one patient and consulting with my actual vet student friends, she wasn’t going to make it anyway.

Also critters get into the house a lot and because I’m the only one in the family who isn’t afraid of them (mostly mice, bats, moles, and the occasional bird, my mom can handle the frogs/ toads/ salamanders herself), it’s been my job since I was about 12 to shoo them out. I don’t do snakes (because while I respect them I’m afraid of them), but I’ve been known to catch spiders and bring them out to the deck. The only thing I would ever outright refuse to catch is this fucking massive squirrel that used to hang out in the hay loft of my friend’s barn. It was a terror.

Oh and my brother and I had our hair chewed on by a horse when we were kids because we used to have straw blonde hair.

I overfilled a pressure canner once and I nearly died when we opened it prematurely because it blew the pressure gage clear off the top and just past my head.

My dog ran across a wet bridge and sent my cousin into the creek below where he broke his arm. I had to run back to the house (about a half mile) to get my mom to call his mom so we could bring him to the hospital (I was about 13, so he was either 14 or 15).

My brother and I have pulled more stone out of the fields around my house than I can count. Not little ones either. You can run little ones over with the tractor. I’m talking rocks the size of a laptop or larger. Once or twice we’ve found ones so big that we needed my dad to come through with the tractor to get them out.

I’ve been face to face with a bear (which is why I bring my brother, our 4-wheeler and his rifle whenever I go blackberry picking now), and we’ve all had deer, coyote, porcupines, skunks, and snakes cross our paths. Dad tries to shoot all the woodchucks out of the lot (they cause a lot of damage), but I won’t let him kill them if I’m around (same for the moles in the lawn and the field mice in the house).

There’s like a million more things I could say, but this is over 2500 words and I think I should stop now.