Blogs

recycOil (http://www.recycoil.com) has been recycling used cooking oil in the Rocky Mountain region since 2005 – and has been supplying commercial biodiesel producers and other agricultural and industrial end-users with high quality feedstock for almost six years. Now, in partnership with best-in-class biodiesel producers and fuel distributors, recycOil is providing high-quality, cost- competitive biodiesel fuel to the Colorado market. This fuel is manufactured from used cooking oil and other recycled feedstocks under the strictest quality production protocols—achieving the highest environmental performance available in today’s commercial marketplace and delivering high-performance fuel at cost effective price points. All of this is done while also adhering 100% to applicable local, state and federal rules and regulations, including the federal Renewable Fuel Standard.

“We are proud to be fueling a low carbon future through our used cooking-oil recycling programs and sustainable biodiesel solutions,” said recycOil spokesperson Zane Kessler. “It is an honor for our company to be partnering with some of the nation’s premier biodiesel producers to convert existing waste streams into low carbon, competitively-priced biodiesel for Colorado consumers.”

Now other sustainability leaders are getting on board too! On June 20th, the recycOil team, along with commercial biodiesel producer, Renewable Energy Group, and biofuels distributor, Gray Oil Inc., “put the fat” in New Belgium Brewery’s Tour de Fat 2011 tour kick-off by fuelling them up with biodiesel. Then on June 21st, the same partners fueled up Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown tour at Red Rocks amphitheatre, where recycOil has been recycling Front Range music fans’ fryer grease since 2008. Nelson continues to practice what he preaches about the clean, domestic, job creating advantages of biodiesel as he fuels his tour vehicles with the environmentally friendly fuel.  Stay tuned through the summer and into the fall to hear more about how recycOil is helping to close the loop with domestic energy resources!

"It is a terrific honor to fuel up Willie Nelson's tour as he is an artist that has fueled up country music fans across the USA," said Aaron W. Perry, CEO of recycOil. "His support of farmers and the biodiesel industry are testament to his commitment to rural communities and the production of sustainable, American-made biofuels."

Hundreds of restaurants and commercial facilities throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region are working with recycOil to drive innovation in the Clean Technology industry – helping to strengthen our local economies while reducing our dependence on foreign oil, improving air quality and deploying commercially viable alternatives. This is how the recycOil network is helping fuel a low carbon future.

About recycOil, LLC

Boulder-based recycOil, LLC recycles waste cooking oil from more than 1,600 restaurants, businesses and sporting and cultural venues in Colorado and Southern Wyoming, including Red Rocks Amphitheater, the University of Colorado-Boulder, INVESCO at Mile High, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Taco Bell and hundreds of independent restaurants. The company supplies some of the nation's best biodiesel producers with high-quality recycled cooking oil and partners with fuel distributors to provide a competitively-priced, high-performance biofuel to Colorado consumers. For more information, visit http://www.recycoil.com.

CPAC/WWA to Merge Organizations

The Colorado Photographic Arts Center and Working With Artists – Denver’s two most established non-profit photographic organizations – are merging. This effort will combine the strengths and vision of these two groups to create a vibrant center for photographic exhibitions and education comparable to any of the most influential contemporary art spaces in the country.

This merger unites two established photography agencies to form a highly visible entity that will provide a much-needed destination for this region’s underserved photo community. Both organizations bring tangible benefits to the other. There is an underlying need for a stable non-profit community-oriented space dedicated to the appreciation and learning of photography. This endeavor promises to fill that role in ways that the two separate organizations never could. It will benefit the existing photographic culture by nurturing new talent, expanding concepts, generating skills, peaking interest, and contributing to a sustainable market for collectors and artists.

CPAC and WWA will combine operations at the Working With Artists’ Belmar facility, 445 South Saulsbury, Lakewood, CO 80226. The combined organization will be known as the Colorado Photographic Arts Center. For the immediate future, Working With Artists will be the umbrella name for classes and workshops at the Center.

The first celebration of this merger is a collaborative Members' Exhibition entitled "Merge." This juried exhibition runs August 5 - September 17, 2011 with an opening reception held Friday, August 12 from 6-9p at FLASH Gallery.

History of each organization:

Working with Artists:

Established as a Colorado corporation in August of 2001, Working With Artists has been running year-round programs in fine art photography continuously since its inception. The school received nonprofit status as an educational organization in January 2002. In December of 2005 WWA expanded programming by adding an exhibition space at its Belmar location.

More info at www.workingwithartists.org

Colorado Photographic Arts Center:

Founded in Denver in 1963, the Center was the first venue in the region to foster the art of fine art photography. From 1998 until the end of 2005, CPAC had a permanent gallery space in Denver’s Highland district. During this time, the Center organized nearly 60 exhibits and numerous lectures, seminars, and artists’ talks. A center without walls since 2006, CPAC holds to its artistic and educational goals and has continued to offer exhibits, reviews, and presentations by nationally known and local photographers.

More info at www.cpacphoto.org

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Current consumption practices in the United States play a large role in our ranking as the second largest contributor to global CO2 emissions. We closely follow China whose population quadruples the U.S according to the United Nations. Post World War II, our country turned to a culture of consumerism in order to boost the economy. The problem is the production cycle results in CO2 emission and other environmental damage. In addition many of these products are made to last six months, or trends tempt consumers to discard items for newer versions. This results in a lot of waste. The only way to effectively address the issues related to consumption is to do less of it.

Inspired in part by Freecycle’s mission, in the spring of 2008, John Nicoll embarked on a journey to provide structure and support for the Boulder community to reduce its consumption and improve its social fabric. With an innovative design and emphasis on functionality, LocalShare creates real world, face to face time between Boulderites.   

Members can build profiles, post listings with photos to share, gift, trade, or sell items and services, all with safety precautions that give the user control of what information is shared. Unlike much older sites (e.g. Craigslist and Freecycle mailing lists), Localshare uses web 2.0 technology to create connectivity and safety in the process of gifting, sharing, bartering, renting and selling items, products and services in the community.

Beyond listings members have access to a directory of local businesses, farms, and events with sustainable practices. Supporting these local businesses decreases the environmental damage caused in the production cycle and supports local economy. Up to 80% of every dollar spent at a local business in Boulder stays in Boulder according to the Boulder County Independent Business Alliance. In addition, LocalShare approved businesses are evaluated for sustainable practices in different categories and feature a Values Profile with user-friendly values badges so it is clear what your money is supporting.Members also have exclusive access to weekly deals that feature discounts with local businesses. Simultaneously, these deals support local non-profits by donating 10% of the profits.

LocalShare is more than just a place to give and take things, it seeks to empower community and local commerce in order to embody the change we want to see across the nation and world. The goal is to create a community that depends on itself to be successful, highlighting that what we need, together we already have. We have the power to build a resourceful, strong local community and economy. It all lies in the decisions we make each day. Whatever your commitment is, LocalShare has the capacity to support you and grow with you as you inevitably become more invested in this dynamic community.
Contact: Dakota-Rae Westveer, intern
LocalShare
320-310-7991
westveer@localshare.org

Love Strong. Live Smart.www.localshare.org

RecycOil LLC, a Colorado clean energy company, and the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA) teamed up to fuel country music superstar Willie Nelson's Country Throwdown as it made a stop at Red Rocks Amphitheater.

Nelson's crew fueled up with the recycOil biodiesel the morning of the Red Rocks show, which featured eight top country acts and six emerging singer/songwriters.

"It is a terrific honor to fuel up Willie Nelson's tour as he is an artist that has fueled up country music fans across the USA," said Aaron W. Perry, CEO of recycOil. "His support of farmers and the biodiesel industry are testament to his commitment to rural communities and the production of sustainable, American-made biofuels."

RecycOil, which recycles waste cooking oil from more than 1,600 restaurants, businesses and sporting and cultural venues in Colorado and Southern Wyoming, also supplied biodiesel to New Belgium Brewery's Tour de Fat this week as it kicked off another summer of fun. The Tour de Fat caravan filled up at Gray Oil in Fort Lupton on the way to its first stop in Durham, North Carolina.

A long-standing commitment to biodiesel

Nelson continues to practice what he preaches about the clean, domestic, job creating advantages of biodiesel as he fuels his tour vehicles with the environmentally friendly fuel.

"One of our goals as an organization is to connect biodiesel users like Willie Nelson and the Throwdown tour with local biodiesel providers," said Tanner Watt, Associate Director of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance. "It's about educating consumers and giving them options, so they can make purchasing decisions that benefit their communities and the environment."

In 2010, the SBA introduced its Sustainability Report Card during national summer music tours. Over 90,000 gallons of fuel were tracked, evaluated and scored and over 600,000 concert goers had the chance to learn a little about locally produced, sustainable biodiesel.

The SBA will be taking its Sustainability Report Card on the road again with The Willie Nelson Country Throwdown Festival, as well as Sheryl Crow's 100 Miles From Memphis tour and the 2011 PHISH Summer tour experience. These artists will use SBA tools to help source and evaluate biodiesel and biodiesel blends on their national tours in order to purchase and use the most sustainably produced fuel available in every market they visit.

New trends and trusted best practices in eating disorders treatment are among the key topics that will be presented by a lineup of nationally recognized experts at the 3^rd Annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference, held August 19-20, 2011, in Denver, Colo. Registration is now open for this year’s conference, which is hosted by Eating Recovery Center (EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia.

“The annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference offers our colleagues from across the nation an opportunity to connect with and learn from multidisciplinary experts,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief medical officer, chief executive officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center. “Taken together, the event’s compelling program, Denver’s temperate August climate and Colorado’s numerous summertime activities represent an ideal fusion of professional development and leisure.”

Limited registration and an interactive educational program featuring plenary speakers, panel discussions and Q&A sessions support connection and collaboration among attending physicians, therapists, nurses, dietitians, advocacy organizations and other members of the eating disorders treatment community. Highlights of the 2011 program include:

• Challenges of Treating Seriously Ill Eating Disordered Patients, Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, and Philip Mehler, MD, FACEP, CEDS
• Panel Discussion: Nutritional Intervention of Eating Disorders Across the Continuum of Care, Ralph Carson, PhD, RD, LD, Sondra Kronberg, MS, RD, CDN, CEDRD, and Ginger Hartman, RD
• New Trends in the Field of Eating Disorders Treatment, Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS
• Q&A Session: The Use of Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the Treatment of Eating Disorders, Enola Gorham, MSW, LCSW, CEDS, and Q&A with Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS
• Q&A Session: Enhanced Family Based Treatment (FBT) in Inpatient Treatment for Children and Adolescents, Elizabeth Davis, PsyD, and Q&A with Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS
• Panel Discussion: Outpatient Treatment Interventions, Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, Susan McClanahan, PhD, Julie O’Toole, MD, MPH, and Kay Watt, LPC
• Tricks of the Trade: Things We’ve Learned Along the Way, Carolyn Costin, MA, Med, MFT, CEDS, and Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS
• Trait Management: Tailoring Treatment to Patient Characteristics, Emmet R. Bishop, Jr., MD, FAED, CEDS
• Readiness for Change in the Treatment of Eating Disorders, Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS

The 2011 Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference will be held at the Denver Marriott City Center. Prior to July 1, 2011, registration for professionals is $125 and includes all sessions, 12.5 continuing education credits, brunch and dinner on Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and periodic refreshment breaks. Single-day registration is $75. Student-discounted registration is $100 and $50 for single-day attendance. Space is limited and registration prior to the event is recommended. Register instantly online at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com or by mail after completing the registration form.

For more information or to register for the 3^rd Annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference, visit Eating Recovery Center’s website or call 877-218-1344.

Celebrate dance at Ballet Nouveau Colorado (BNC) at an Open House on Saturday, July 9 (3pm-5pm).  The BNC Open House will include: dance demonstrations and mini-workshops, free food, fun games, crafts, face painting, drawings to win prizes and much more.  Children and adults that sign up for Summer or Fall dance classes at the Open House receive free registration, a $25 value. This offer is only valid for new students. This portion of the event will culminate with the opportunity to join our flash mob taught by BNC’s Associate Artistic Director Dawn Fay. 

Then, get your groove on at BNC’s Disco Dance Off! (5pm-8pm)

There are two ways to participate -- collect sponsorship pledges or pay to enter the dance party. Then, dance the night away during this competition and FUN-draiser event. Extra points will be awarded for costume, shoes, make-up, hair, and, of course, crazy dance moves. All dance participants will enjoy snacks, prizes and great music to boogie down! Adult admission fee is $10 and children under 18 years of age admission fee is $20. Don’t forget if you get pledges admission is free!

Date: Sat. July 9^th

Time: 3pm-8pm

Cost: 3pm-5pm Open House (FREE)

           5pm-8pm Disco Dance Off Party(Children 18 and under: $20 Adults: $10 Or admission is free if participant is collecting pledges to compete)

Who’s Invited: Family Friendly Event- open to all ages

Where: BNC’s Studios 3001 Industrial Lane, #12 Broomfield, 80020

For more information: www.bncdance.com or info@bncdance.com

Ashley Burns

Communications Manager

As the World’s Most Refreshing Beer, many wish to battle Coors Light for the “Super Cold” title, but until now, never has the challenge been so great. In what may be the greatest battle of the coldest yet, Coors Light faces off with entertainment mogul Ice Cube in two new ads, titled “Cold Talk” and “Cold Challenge.” View the humorous standoff between Ice Cube – hip-hop star, actor, screenwriter, director and producer -- and Super Cold Activated Coors Light in “Cold Talk” here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlE5zKAYlJg).

The Current Champion

Super Cold Activated Coors Light is the World’s Most Refreshing Beer specializing in providing consumers with refreshment as cold as the Rockies. As part of its upcoming Super Cold Summer, Coors Light is debuting the latest in cold-activated technology: New Coors Light Two-Stage Activation bottles and cans, which make it easy to see when your Coors Light goes from cold … to Super Cold.

Studies indicate that more than 70 percent of legal-drinking-age men have put their beer in the freezer to achieve the desired level of cold. The trick is to know when to take the beer out. Now on Coors Light bottles and cans, the iconic mountains still turn blue when the beer is cold, and in addition, a new Cold Indicator bar will turn blue at the same time. Then, when the Coors Light temperature is at the peak of refreshment, a second Super Cold Indicator bar turns blue.

As an extension of the Two-Stage Cold Activation packaging launch, nearly 3,500 beer retailers who meet the right criteria to ensure Coors Light is Super Cold at the point of purchase will be “Super Cold Certified” this spring. The retailers will display a neon sign as evidence that the Coors Light in their store is Super Cold.

The Challenger

Known to be one of the most important figures in rap history, Ice Cube can add actor, screenwriter, film director, and producer to his illustrious list of accomplishments.  With his inherently cold name, Ice Cube is a worthy opponent in the battle over who is colder.

As a rapper, he has sold more than 10 million albums to date.  As an award-winning actor, he has appeared in more than 20 films, and he has directed or produced movies such as “Are We There Yet?” and “Barbershop.” Additionally, he served as one of the producers of the Showtime television series “Barbershop” and the TBS series “Are We There Yet?,” both of which are based upon films in which he portrayed the lead character. Cube is getting ready to kickoff a European concert tour in June.

Can Super Cold Activated Coors Light maintain the “Super Cold” title and continue its reign as the coldest? Or will the entertainment mogul with the coldest name in the game win the battle and the “Super Cold” title? To find out, view the epic “Cold Talk” standoff here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlE5zKAYlJg). For more information on the Coors Light Super Cold Summer visit Coors Light on Facebook. 

“Living with Schizophrenia: A Call for Hope and Recovery” is a half-hour documentary film that tells the story of three people who are living meaningful lives with schizophrenia, a chronic and potentially disabling brain disorder.  Visit  http://www.hopeandrecoveryfilm.com/videos/trailer.swf to view the documentary trailer.  The film sets out to increase understanding and to reduce the fear and stigma often associated with this mental health condition. About one percent of the US adult population, or 2 million, and approximately 24 million people globally are living with schizophrenia.

“‘Living with Schizophrenia’ highlights the stories that don’t make the headlines – the stories of hope and promise,” said Emily Abt, award-winning filmmaker and director of the film. “My grandmother struggled with schizophrenia, and making this documentary gave me new insights about what it is like to have this illness and overcome the obstacles in life that it presents.”

In the film, viewers journey with three individuals with schizophrenia to experience their daily struggles, personal insights, paths to the mental health recovery process, and the impact their illness has had on those who love them. “Living with Schizophrenia” delves into the lives of Ashley, who after finding effective treatment for her schizophrenia, returned to school and created a blog to share her story with others; Joshua, who was in and out of psychiatric hospitals for six years and now, following his path of mental health recovery, is dedicated to helping others living with the illness; and Rebecca, who spent a decade blaming herself for her diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and is now actively involved in her treatment process.

Ashley, Joshua, and Rebecca are joined in the film by their families and experts in schizophrenia, including community-based psychiatrist Rebecca Roma, MD, medical director of the Community Treatment Team at Mercy Behavioral Health in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Xavier Amador, PhD, clinical psychologist and founder and director of the LEAP Institute; and, Dave, president of the Georgia chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Throughout the film, they share their perspectives and reinforce the message of hope and self-acceptance for people living with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder whose cause eludes experts to this day.  Researchers have identified various risk factors for schizophrenia, including heredity, brain damage, and environmental factors such as social stress, isolation, and drug use.  The disease typically manifests as abnormal psychological functioning and disturbed behavior. There are currently no physical or lab tests that diagnose the disease; therefore, schizophrenia is diagnosed by the presence of symptom types.

“By sharing the powerful stories of Ashley, Joshua, and Rebecca, we can work to reduce the fear and reduce the stigma, just like we’ve done with so many other issues over the years,” said Dr. Roma. “Deep down inside, we’re all people with different struggles and I learn from my patients every day about the power of perseverance and hope.”

“Living with Schizophrenia” was funded and produced by Janssen, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  The people featured in the film present their own stories and ideas and were not compensated by Janssen to appear in the film. Janssen products are not named or promoted in the film.

For more information about “Living with Schizophrenia” visit http://www.hopeandrecoveryfilm.com.

International au pairs support American military families

Celebrating Military Appreciation Month

Erie, Colorado May 2, 2011 -- The tradition of honoring our military on Memorial Day is a great example of American culture for au pairs who are experiencing life in the U.S. for the first time. These young people from overseas will attend parades, wave flags, listen to tributes and taps, and kick off summer with their host families. However, for some au pairs, supporting our military goes far beyond Memorial Day.  

Simone Staudenmann from Switzerland is an au pair for the Liebold family which consists of mom Marian, infant twins, and LCDR Wayne Liebold, a deployed career Naval officer. Simone takes photos of developmental milestones of the children and posts them online so LCDR Liebold can see the twins sitting up, crawling, standing and walking. She also regularly shows them pictures of their father and helps them connect via Skype. “This way we can talk for a few minutes, even though I’m on the other side of the world. I can see them clapping, and playing and I know that they are happy and also that they haven’t forgotten me,” says Liebold.

Simone’s efforts are a tremendous help for a busy working mom and a priceless benefit for a deployed father. LCDR Leibold says, “Because of our au pair, I am able to do my job better. I know my family does not just have great childcare, but a family member who willingly has taken on the challenges of joining a military family with intuition, grace and an understanding of our needs and the needs of our children.” 

For military families, childcare is especially critical to their stability at home and their ability to focus and have peace of mind on the job. Unfortunately, according to a recent study by The Pew Center titled “On the Home Front”, military families struggle with childcare due to relocation, deployment, and non-traditional work hours. They are also affected by wait lists at military Child Development Centers (CDCs) or do not live on or near official installations that provide childcare.

The au pair option is an attractive alternative for military families for many reasons.  Kimberly Mowat, a local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair who works with families in the Erie, Colorado area, shares how the program benefits parents in the armed services.

10 Ways an Au Pair Childcare Can Help Military Families

Quality childcare

All au pairs are carefully screened and trained and families receive attentive year-round support from local childcare coordinators. Cultural Care Au Pair goes above and beyond the strict guidelines that regulate the au pair program set by the U.S. Department of State.

Extra pair of hands

An au pair can provide extra help in the home in addition to childcare. Assistance with light household duties, homework help, and driving to children’s activities is particularly helpful following a spouse’s deployment.

Flexible scheduling

The flexibility of the au pair program allows families with unpredictable work schedules and non-traditional hours to set a schedule that works for them.

Assistance with moving 

Having an extra set of hands gives parents additional time, energy and freedom for packing, organizing and all the logistics involved in getting ready for a move.

Help settling in

When everything else is changing – home, school, friends, job – having consistent childcare can make the transition to a new place smoother for everyone.

Staying connected

An au pair can help children stay connected with deployed parents through daily activities such as letter or email writing, craft projects, and video conferencing.

Peace of mind

Knowing that their children are being cared for at home by a trained, experienced au pair allows military personnel to concentrate at work and focus on the job at hand.

No waiting list

Like many day care centers, military Child Development Centers (CDCs) often have long waiting lists. Families can apply for an au pair and welcome a child care provider into their home in eight weeks and sometimes even sooner.

Network with other military families

Cultural Care Au Pair is proud to serve more military families than any other au pair program. Interested parents can be connected with other military families who have welcomed an au pair into their home.

Military discount

In honor of Military Appreciation Month and in celebration of Memorial Day, military families who apply in May are eligible for a $75 application fee and a $650 program fee discount. To learn more about au pair childcare and other seasonal discounts especially for families of those serving in the military, visit www.culturalcare.com/military.

Families interested in learning more about au pair childcare can call Kimberly Mowat at 303-396-7328 or visit www.kmowat.aupairnews.com for additional information on the Cultural Care Au Pair program.

# # #

About Cultural Care Au Pair

Cultural Care Au Pair is the leading provider of intercultural childcare in the United States. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 85,000 au pairs in welcoming American homes. A U.S. Department of State regulated program, Cultural Care Au Pair is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with their own extensive network of recruitment, screening and orientation offices worldwide and more than 600 local coordinators across the U.S. For more information about hosting an au pair, visit www.culturalcare.com or call 800-333-6056.

Nearly 10 percent of 9^th to 12^th grade students in Colorado have gone without eating for 24 hours or more; 4.7 percent have taken diet pills, powders or liquids; and 3.6 percent have vomited or taken laxatives – all to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight – according to 2009 data from the Centers for Disease Control. Eating Recovery Center (EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery, warns that these behaviors can lead to medical complications, nutritional deficiencies and, potentially, a full-fledged eating disorder.

“Oftentimes, once teens begin to experiment with these behaviors, it can be difficult to get out of the habit of them, especially if they receive positive feedback from peers and others about the initial weight loss,” explained Ginger Hartman, R.D., registered dietitian at Eating Recovery Center’s Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents. “These types of comments can often influence the teen to continue the behaviors and/or increase the frequency of behaviors. Eventually, the teen may no longer be able to control the behaviors and may find him or herself struggling with a life-threatening eating disorder.”

With swimsuit season and teens’ accompanying focus on body image around the corner, it is vital that parents keep an eye out for behaviors that may trigger disordered eating. Hartman offers the following six recommendations for parents who notice their teens engaging in unhealthy food-related behaviors:

1.     Better identify what your teen may be struggling with by learning more about eating disorders. 

2.     Parents should be on the alert for negative changes in attitudes or beliefs. Changes in your teen’s attitude about size or weight, dissatisfaction with his or her body and health consciousness may precede abnormal eating behaviors. 

3.     Discuss with your teen, in a caring, gentle and non-judgmental way, what you have noticed or observed and why it concerns you.  

4.     Schedule a medical check-up with a physician who has a background in working with eating disorders.  

5.     If behaviors persist, seek assistance from an eating disorders therapist and/or a registered dietitian who specializes in eating disorders.  

6.     Intervene early. The sooner that intervention occurs, the less likelihood there is for long-term effects or consequences from the behaviors. Earlier intervention can also increase the potential for lasting recovery.

Eating Recovery Center’s Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents provides comprehensive eating disorder treatment for children and adolescents – both girls and boys – ages 10 through 17. Focused on empowering families to become agents of change in their children’s recovery, the program is led by a nationally recognized expert in child and adolescent eating disorders, Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS.

Learn more about treatment for eating disorders in teenagers and children at http://bit.ly/j9cLer.

• Contrary to popular belief, lactic acid is not what builds up in skeletal muscles - lactate is.  Biochemist used to believe that the body produces lactic acid which immediately turns into lactate after losing a proton.  Now it has been proven that this was incorrect.

• Cortisol levels go down.  Cortisol levels elevate in periods of stress.  Since training is a form of stress on the body, cortisol gets released.  This unfortunately can be catabolic in long term.  When you do not rest enough in between training sessions, your body will go into a state of overtraining and cortisol levels will remain high while insulin levels will remain low.  Since insulin is a great hormone to build tissues, this may lead to performance and/or muscle loss.  Sleeping is a great way to lower the cortisol levels.

• Increased levels of Human Growth Hormone.  When sleeping, your natural levels of HGH get elevated.  This mainly occurs in the later and deeper phases of sleep so when you cut your sleep short, you are missing out on a significant opportunity to recover.   HGH supports muscle recovery, promotes lipolysis (decomposing fat), stimulates the immune system etc.  No doubt this will aid your recovery and performance.

• Higher testosterone levels.  The more and better you sleep, the higher your testosterone levels will be when waking up.  This gives you mental and physical energy and promotes bone and muscle mass since it is an anabolic steroid.  The body produces testosterone itself in men and women.  The levels differ but women have testosterone in their system and men have estrogen in their body.

The World’s Most Refreshing Beer continues to out-cold itself, as Coors Light packaging now features a new design that tells you when your beer reaches the “peak of refreshment.” As part of its upcoming Super Cold Summer, the brand is debuting the latest in cold-activated technology: New Coors Light Two-Stage Activation bottles and cans, which make it easy to see when your Coors Light goes from cold … to Super Cold.

Studies indicate that more than 70 percent of legal-drinking-age men have put their beer in the freezer to achieve the desired level of cold. The trick is to know when to take the beer out. Now on Coors Light bottles and cans, the iconic mountains still turn blue when the beer is cold, and in addition, a new Cold Indicator bar will turn blue at the same time. Then, when the Coors Light temperature is at the peak of refreshment, a second Super Cold Indicator bar turns blue.

Starting this month, the launch of Coors Light Two-Stage Cold Activation will be supported in many ways from coast to coast. This includes new creative featuring entertainment mogul Ice Cube in two commercials, titled “Cold Talk” and “Cold Challenge,” that depict a humorous stand-off between Ice Cube – hip hop star, actor, screenwriter, director and producer -- and Super Cold Activated Coors Light in a battle over who is colder. To view “Ice Cube: Behind the Scenes, Cold Challenge,” visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYk0zteaKD4

Known to be one of the most important figures in rap history, Ice Cube can add actor, screenwriter, film director, and producer to his illustrious list of accomplishments.  As a rapper, he has sold more than 10 million albums to date.  As an award-winning actor, he has appeared in more than 20 films, and he has directed or produced movies such as “Are We There Yet?” and “Barbershop.” Additionally, he served as one of the producers of the Showtime television series “Barbershop” and the TBS series “Are We There Yet?,” both of which are based upon films in which he portrayed the lead character. Cube is getting ready to kickoff a European concert tour in June.

Cube’s popularity and relevance started and grew in the world of hip-hop.  However, as his popularity has increased, so has his cross-over appeal.  It is Cube’s mass appeal that allows Coors Light to strongly engage and motivate a broad, diverse legal-drinking-age audience to embrace the brand, its cold refreshment and its new Two-Stage Activation bottles and cans.

The Ice Cube commercials will air on a variety of TV stations during the NBA playoffs, including ESPN and TNT. Both spots were created for Coors Light by Chicago-based commonground.

As an extension of the Two-Stage Cold Activation packaging launch, nearly 3,500 beer retailers who meet the right criteria to ensure Coors Light is Super Cold at the point of purchase will be “Super Cold Certified” this spring. The retailers will display a neon sign as evidence that the Coors Light in their store is Super Cold.

For more information on the Coors Light Super Cold Summer and to view the “Cold Challenge” video, visit (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYk0zteaKD4) or visit Coors Light on Facebook.

“Living with Schizophrenia: A Call for Hope and Recovery” is a half-hour documentary film that tells the story of three people who are living meaningful lives with schizophrenia, a chronic and potentially disabling brain disorder.  Visit  http://www.hopeandrecoveryfilm.com/videos/trailer.swf to view the documentary trailer.  The film sets out to increase understanding and to reduce the fear and stigma often associated with this mental health condition. About one percent of the US adult population, or 2 million, and approximately 24 million people globally are living with schizophrenia.

“‘Living with Schizophrenia’ highlights the stories that don’t make the headlines – the stories of hope and promise,” said Emily Abt, award-winning filmmaker and director of the film. “My grandmother struggled with schizophrenia, and making this documentary gave me new insights about what it is like to have this illness and overcome the obstacles in life that it presents.”

In the film, viewers journey with three individuals with schizophrenia to experience their daily struggles, personal insights, paths to the mental health recovery process, and the impact their illness has had on those who love them. “Living with Schizophrenia” delves into the lives of Ashley, who after finding effective treatment for her schizophrenia, returned to school and created a blog to share her story with others; Joshua, who was in and out of psychiatric hospitals for six years and now, following his path of mental health recovery, is dedicated to helping others living with the illness; and Rebecca, who spent a decade blaming herself for her diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and is now actively involved in her treatment process.

Ashley, Joshua, and Rebecca are joined in the film by their families and experts in schizophrenia, including community-based psychiatrist Rebecca Roma, MD, medical director of the Community Treatment Team at Mercy Behavioral Health in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Xavier Amador, PhD, clinical psychologist and founder and director of the LEAP Institute; and, Dave, president of the Georgia chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Throughout the film, they share their perspectives and reinforce the message of hope and self-acceptance for people living with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder whose cause eludes experts to this day.  Researchers have identified various risk factors for schizophrenia, including heredity, brain damage, and environmental factors such as social stress, isolation, and drug use.  The disease typically manifests as abnormal psychological functioning and disturbed behavior. There are currently no physical or lab tests that diagnose the disease; therefore, schizophrenia is diagnosed by the presence of symptom types.

“By sharing the powerful stories of Ashley, Joshua, and Rebecca, we can work to reduce the fear and reduce the stigma, just like we’ve done with so many other issues over the years,” said Dr. Roma. “Deep down inside, we’re all people with different struggles and I learn from my patients every day about the power of perseverance and hope.”

“Living with Schizophrenia” was funded and produced by Janssen, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  The people featured in the film present their own stories and ideas and were not compensated by Janssen to appear in the film. Janssen products are not named or promoted in the film.

Our networking events are the talk of the town!

Hosted by Colorado Sport Aviation, Inc.

 

 

The new Temple Grandin School (TGS) will hold its Open House and invites family and community members to come and learn about our program for strengths-based, real world learning on Thursday morning, May 12 @ 8:00 a.m. at the Bridge School auditorium at 6717 S. Boulder Rd, Boulder, CO.  A link to Google maps is included below.

David Hazen and Jen Wilger, Co-founders of Temple Grandin School, will take you through a “day in the life” of a TGS student and an overview of TGS’ program features; learn about TGS’ challenging academics, the 4+1 program, real-world experience and mentoring, integrated social skills and more. They will share about the program elements and research based approaches to learning that TGS brings to students with Asperger’s Syndrome and other similar learning profiles.  More importantly, research is now showing how these features of education are aspects of how we ALL learn best.    Come learn more! 

Also, check out the latest interview with Jen Wilger at: http://yellowscene.com/2011/04/15/jennifer-wilger/

Come learn, ask questions about TGS and how your student might benefit from an individualized TGS education.  Children are welcome.  Light snacks/refreshments will be provided.

While not required, an RSVP to info@templegrandinschool.org or 303-544-7363 will help us better prepare.

Map to Open House

Mark Inglis

Director of Admissions

Temple Grandin School

Office: 303-554-7363

http://www.templegrandinschool.org

Why, I, Darcie Mae, write fun and educational stories for children:

The message I am trying to send is clearly stated in my quote: "Words can change a life. Make a good change. Read a child a book."

On 9/11, when the towers went down, I was living in the woods in a log cabin and did not know what was going on in the world until someone came out to tell me. That night I listened to all the chaos happening in the world. The first thing that popped into my mind were all the children who were probably listening to it as well. I have always enjoyed putting pen to paper, keeping journals, writing poems, etc. But, it was that night I decided I wanted to take my writing seriously. I made up my mind I was going to write stories for children and I was going to write many. That is what I’ve done, and am doing. I have 100’s of stories done and there will be many more. I hope the stories I write keep children's minds and thoughts busy so they won’t have to pay attention to all the chaos happening in the world. When adults are afraid or worried, children are as well, whether we want them to be or not. I want my stories to keep kids minds busy thinking about what their reading, and thinking about the next story or book they want to read. There is enough time for worrying about world troubles when they get older.

I am also one who thinks a family reading night would great. That is why I am putting The Peably series of stories on my website free to read, and offering a couple coloring pictures free to print and color. I put a new story, and 2 new coloring pictures up each week, usually Sunday. Any night of the week, get out some fruit juice or hot cocoa, make some popcorn or get a snack, print out the new story, print out the coloring pictures and make copies if needed, get out the crayons, colored pencils, and makers, and most importantly, get the family together. Have the same person read each time or take turns reading. Have fun. I guarantee after a while you all will be waiting anxiously to see what the next story will be.

Darcie Mae



Keep your kids moving this summer!

Join us July 18 - 22, 10:30am - 3:45pm, ages 6-12 - non-members welcomed!

Camp is a great time to get to know fellow classmates while participating in Tae Kwon Do skill building, games and movies!

Cost is $150 per child; family discounts available.  Tuition is due upon registration and includes a 25% non-refundable fee.  Please call 720-566-0677 to register, or email traditionalarts@comcast.net.

Please visit our website for more classes and student testimonials!