Do We Care About the Fate of Children in Foster Care?

What happens to children after entering the foster care system? We as a society should redirect our focus and show a valid interest in improving the lives of this vulnerable, academically at-risk population.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/2vLtqG3

Manufacturer Feature: Phononic

CME has partnered with Phononic to provide you with revolutionary refrigeration technology for all of your healthcare needs. As Phononic works hard to renovate medical and scientific grade cooling technology, CME is proud to join with them to not only exceed your expectations, but also provide the best products, service and delivery.

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Mission…Accepted.

The well known phrase “your mission, should you choose to accept it…” is a signature of the popular television show and movie franchise Mission Impossible.  The things they were tasked with accomplishing were truly daunting.  While the mission of JumpBunch does not place our coaches in life and death situations by comparison, we believe that what we hope to accomplish truly matters in a way that can influence the lives of children forever.

Our formal mission statement is that “We will enthusiastically teach young children to embrace sports and fitness and believe in their ability to lead a healthy, engaged, and active lifestyle.”  It’s nice to have it spelled out like that, but we admit that is a mouthful.  Several years ago we used our tagline to boil this down so that, parents especially, can easily see who we are and what we deliver.  It’s just four words.

Sports.  Smiles.  Fitness.  FUN!

There is nothing difficult to understand there, and it is easily measured.  Sports is the vehicle with which we promote fitness in kids.  So much of what kids become is instilled at the earliest of ages.  We strive to make sure that each and every week kids see new ways to stay healthy through a variety of sports.  By making sure these experiences are producing smiles that are the best indicators of FUN, we are laying the groundwork for kids to want sports to be a part of their life.  When we burst through the doors with our equipment in tow, it is a rock star experience for us to see the kids excited about what we are about to do.

Our teams do make a choice each time theY head off to teach a class.  That choice is to enthusiastically show kids that sports and being fit are things they should enjoy and expect to have fun doing.  Mission…ACCEPTED!

The post Mission…Accepted. appeared first on JumpBunch, Sports and Fitness Programs for Preschoolers and Young Children, Preschool Fitness Program Franchise.

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Journalists faced threats, intimidation and assault during Kenya elections

In the aftermath of Kenya’s disputed election, which saw incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta re-elected president, journalists report facing harassment, intimidation and attacks. As the country’s Supreme Court rules on 1 September on the outcome of the elections – challenged by opponent Raila Odinga – Kenya’s journalists continue their fight to report the truth.

Read more ...

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Illegal Chinese Fishermen Get Jail Time in Ecuador

In mid-August, a patrol boat working in Galápagos National Park, tasked with monitoring the restricted waters, picked up an unauthorized ship in the area. Because these waters are protected, the Ecuadorian government allows very few ships to sail here. Authorized ships include patrol boats, research vessels, and select tourist ships and cruise ships. The unknown vessel turned out to be illegal Chinese fishermen, who had killed up to 6.600 endangered and threatened sharks for their fins. Now, in a swift enactment of justice, an Ecuadorian judge has sentenced 20 of these poachers to between one and four years in prison, as well as fined them $5.9 million USD.

Illegal Chinese fishermen kill thousands of sharks

When the patrol boat hailed the illegal vessel, it received no answer. Because the ship was in an area known for an abundance of sharks, the patrol ship’s crew suspected that the unknown ship was involved in illegal fishing. Upon inspection, the illegal vessel turned out to be the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999, an illegal Chinese fishing vessel as suspected. Unable to give chase, the patrol boat hailed the authorities. Ecuador sent out their Navy and Coast Guard who caught up with the ship.

Upon boarding the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999, authorities were met with a gruesome sight — the fins from around 6,600 sharks, totaling over 300 tons of shark fins. Ecuadorian authorities brought the vessel to port in order to conduct an investigation and inspection, and arrested the fishermen on board. Ecuador will maintain control of the boat and will dispose of the shark carcasses and fins at sea.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that China opposed any form of illegal fishing, and was paying great attention to the case. Chunying maintains that there was no evidence that the ship was fishing Ecuadorian waters, but rather that it had unknowingly transited through the Galapagos protected zone.

Positive as it is that authorities captured this vessel, its existence even in areas such as the Galapagos highlights a sad fact: numerous vessels just like it sail the ocean every day, illegally fishing either in open sea or inside marine sanctuaries.

 

 

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3 Window Treatment Ideas for Tall Windows

Beautiful large windows have huge advantages including lots of natural light and the ability to admire inspiring views from the comfort of your sofa. However, you might be wondering how you going to furnish these gorgeous windows.  Check out these 3 window treatment ideas for tall windows:

Image Source: Flickr

Drapery
Drapery, the most traditional choice for tall windows, makes your room feel dramatic and regal.

When choosing drapery, keep in mind the scale of the room. A 2-inch diameter curtain rod will become lost on top of a 15-foot-tall window, so use bigger drapery hardware and larger pleats for your drapes so you can see the grand effect.

Personalize the drapery to match your home style by using tiebacks, patterns or valances.

Layer different materials to add interest and dimension to your drapery. You can also include different colors to match your home decor. Source: Angieslist

Roman Shades
If you need multiple roman shades to fill a wide wall of windows, make sure you choose a pattern that allows you to stack each shade next to each other so it feels like one long shade. When there are no breaks in between each shade, your window looks streamlined.

Tip: Don’t forget to hang them higher than the windows if your windows are low. When measuring the height you need for the shades, be sure to include the extra material to cover the gap between ceiling and top of the window. Source: Houzz

Top down / Bottom up Cellular
Cellular shades are a clean and modern look to consider as a tall window treatment idea.  Their energy efficiency is perfect when the midday sun is streaming through your tall windows, keeping you cool inside.  What is most amazing about cellular shades is that they are available in a top down/bottom up feature.  The top and bottom of your shade move independently, giving you precise command of how much light is flowing into your home, preserving privacy without sacrificing natural light. Source: BlindsGalore

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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What I’m reading: Vol. 87.

August is the sleepiest month, isn’t it, my darlings? I hope you’ve found a little bit of time to sit outside with a book or a glass of wine and someone you adore. I know there are a lot of dire things happening in the world, but that makes it even more important to snatch a quiet, good moment when you have a chance.

xoxo,
Becky

What I’m reading:

JCK interviewed me for their Social Life feature!

Continue reading What I’m reading: Vol. 87. at Diamonds in the Library.

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Fish Mistake Scent of Plastic for Food

Plastic is one of the main threats to marine life. Now, researchers have discovered that it’s even more dangerous than previously thought. Not only does plastic pollute marine environments and entangle marine life, it also appears that fish mistake the scent of plastic for food and might ingest it on purpose.

A recent study on anchovies has shed light on the problem. While scientists have long known that some 50 species of sea creatures eat plastic trash, they don’t know why. Some animals may mistake the trash for something else. Turtles, for instance, seemingly mistake floating, semi-transparent plastic bags for jellyfish. But this doesn’t account for all instances.

Fish mistake scent of plastic for food

The researchers subjected wild anchovies, caught off the California coast, to various food odors. Researchers created the odors by soaking various substances in seawater. This created what the researchers termed “sea-tea,” because the process resembled steeping a tea bag to make tea. They made one of the sea-teas with krill, a natural food source for anchovies, which they used as a baseline for testing other substances.

Tellingly, the fish didn’t respond to clean plastic. They did, however, respond similarly to the baseline “sea tea” test when researchers subjected them to the odor of bio-fueled plastic, which is covered in algae and microbes. This is a common occurrence when plastic spends extended time in the ocean.

This lends credence to the theory that fish simply mistake floating plastic debris for food, which causes all kinds of problems. First and foremost, eating plastic kills many marine animals. Even if fish survive after ingesting plastic, the material then enters the ocean’s food chain. As larger fish eat the smaller fish, like anchovies, the plastic — and the toxins within — move up the food chain, ultimately reaching humans.

While proposing new solutions is outside the study’s scope, it does lend even more urgency to the need to regulate plastic use, as well as taking measures to prevent plastic from entering the ocean in the first place.

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From Token Economy to Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice: Better Late Than Never

As health care professionals, we have to turn our focus to the early attachment issues and traumatic experiences that many of our clients have faced. We have to view behaviors as a language and not as the root problem.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/2vnarGg

NEW TECHNOLOGY Reported TO REDUCE HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS (HAI)

According to the latest CDC statistics, hospital acquired infections (HAIs) affect 5 to 10 percent of hospitalized patients in the U.S. per year, with approximately 1.7 million HAIs occurring in U.S. hospitals each year, resulting in 99,000 deaths and an estimated $20 billion in healthcare costs.

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Silversides in the Cayman Islands

Silver Rush at Eden Rock from iDive Global on Vimeo.

The summer months bring something truly unique to the walls, shallow reefs, and wrecks of the Cayman Islands — silversides. These tiny fish, (Jenkinsia Lamprotaenia), gather in massive schools while trying to shelter form the many predators that inhabit these islands. One of Mother Nature’s most spectacular underwater events, the Silver Rush attracts divers from all around the world. One dive site stands out as a favorite among the small shimmering fish — Eden Rock. Located in the George Town Harbor, this reef has the perfect topography for the herring. These shallow grottos are full of tunnels, swim-throughs and overhangs. Sunshine penetrates in from the surface, illuminating the school and bouncing light in all directions, as if thousands of tiny mirrors were dangling from the reef.

About the Author: Jason Washington is the managing director of iDive Global Ltd. and the co-owner of Ambassador Divers, a PADI Five-Star facility located at the Comfort Suites Resort on Seven Mile Beach. Living and working on Grand Cayman as an underwater photographer and scuba instructor for the past 20 years, Jason’s work has been featured in numerous documentaries and feature films. Follow him on Instagram here.

Guest post by Jason Washington

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Salon Only Fall Merchandising Tips That Increase Retail Sales

The Autumnal Equinox Falls on September 22nd this year, making September the perfect time to implement a merchandising update. Determine an Fall "look" for your beauty business and express it by choosing props and retail products that tell a story in your special branded way. This type of merchandising requires a little planning and a few special details to add personality to salon displays. The objective is to create a salon experience that guests will not find anywhere else. 

This September implement an Autumnal merchandising theme to add retail and service dollars that count!

Images via Pinterest

No1 Pick a theme.
Autumnal themes are plentiful. Anything natural references such as apples, or fall leaves are all traditional back-to-school symbols.

No2 Merchandising tells a story.
Theme everything to an autumnal "story" – color choices, merchandising support elements, point of purchase signs, and retail offerings work together to visually support the theme. A unique shopping ambiance sells more retail and adds to the bottom line.

No3 Retail props.
Mix retail with merchandising support elements. Play up the season. Large apples, hanging streams of paper leaves, vintage books and typewriters, a chalkboard backdrop (with your salon logo in chalk). These are the details that make your displays special. Create small vignette displays that are grouped by color or theme, the purpose of merchandising is to show-off your "wares".

No4 Add new products to your salon retail.
Adding a new line of products to your salon retail could open up whole new lines of business for your salon. Expand inventory by bringing in hair treatment products, fragrance, cosmetic organizers, pretty notebooks and pens or "dorm-inspiring" items (good gifts or POP). 

No5 Add zest with fresh flowers.
Fresh flowers mixed into displays add instant zest for such a little cost. The simple use of fresh apples and sunflowers in pretty vases add instant summertime to any retail display. 

No6 Shelf talkers. 
Tell your story clearly with themed point of sale signs or shelf talkers mixed into retail displays. Clearly state prices, product highlights, seasonal packages, or specials you wish to highlight. Signage should both inform and encourage purchase. 

No7 Back-to-School themed selfie station.
Add a bit of back-to-school fun to encourage salon tagging, and/or use it internally for salon before and after shots to share on social media. What is a Selfie Station you ask? It's a cool staged place or space in your salon specifically designated for clients to take selfies. 

Add a Back-to-School themed selfie station in your salon to play up the season. Large apples, hanging streams of paper leaves, vintage books and typewriters, a chalkboard backdrop (with your salon logo in chalk).

No8 Autumnal themed window displays.
Salon windows are your most valuable advertising space. A fall theme should be prominently showcased in the window. Don’t underestimate the power of talking to the street. Pick a theme, be bold.

No9 Want to make even more of an impression?
Repaint a focal wall, refresh shelf talkers, update point of purchase displays and merchandising accessories in your client waiting and treatment areas. 

No10 Fall Fashion, Style and Color Trends
Leverage fall color trends to engage clients and refresh your salon environment. The color experts at Pantone® release a color trend report on fashion and runway-inspired color trends every season - this is a great reference to stay in-tune with color trends that will quickly be in demand among your clients.

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Best Scuba Diving in Dominica

Lonely Planet recently named the relatively unknown Caribbean island of Dominica (Dom-in-EEK-ah) one of the top 10 countries to visit in 2017. This strikingly beautiful island erupts straight out of the Caribbean Sea. Small settlements hug the coast, dwarfed by the steep volcanic mountains that form the island’s spine. Plump cumulous clouds perpetually brood over its lush peaks, blanketed with the most easily accessible primary rainforest in the Caribbean. As gorgeous as it is topside, the scuba diving in Dominica is just as remarkable.

Marketed as the “Nature Island,” Dominica delivers. Birders come seeking the endemic Sisserou parrot (Amazona imperialis) and other rare species. Adventurers trek up 4,747-foot (1,447 m) Morne Diablotins peak or hike eight miles (13 km) to Boiling Lake, the world’s second-largest hot spring. Film buffs paddle up the Indian River – one of 365 on the island – where scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest were filmed. Others volunteer at the sea-turtle hatchery or go whale-watching off the western shore. Here, a 19,600-foot (6,000 m) trench offers food and safe passage for migrating sperm whales. But this is all prologue to some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean.

World-class scuba diving

Dominica’s diving is some of the best in the Caribbean, with most dive sites along the western, leeward side of the island. In our experience, the sites dotted in and around Soufriere Bay in the south offer the most exciting diving on the island, with a variety and abundance of marine life that’s rare among other Caribbean dive destinations. The water is warm (81 to 85 F/28 to 29 C) and clear, with at least 50 feet (15 m) of visibility. The currents are few, and local dive staff are fun and knowledgeable.

A 3mm wetsuit is enough protection for most dives. Divers of any level are welcome, though an advanced open-water certification to 100 feet (30 m) comes in handy for the pinnacles and some wall dives. With that said, here’s a rundown of the best scuba diving in Dominica.

Champagne Reef

Probably the most well-known of Dominica’s dive sites is Champagne Reef, a few miles south of Roseau. Divers and snorkelers alike can bathe in the briny champagne of warm bubbles where volcanic gasses vent through small fissures in the hard-rock coral.

One of the few shore dives on the island, the entry is from a shoreline of stones the size of baseballs. By a depth of 10 feet (3 m), the stones have grown to algae-covered basketballs, interspersed with black-and-white urchins. There’s a remarkable variety of life, especially considering the elevated water temperature in the shallows. Porcupinefish, bold and uncharacteristically fearless, waddle among the abundant branches of yellow tube sponges. Soapfish play dead in the rubble. Arrow crabs brandish their blue-tipped claws.

Eventually the reef slopes down to around 33 feet (10 m). Here, the piles of boulders turn into a shallow wall. It’s easy to stay well above 60 feet (18 m), watching a trunkfish banging against hard coral, snacking on tiny invertebrates. A juvenile spotted drum performs its characteristic ribbon dance. One barrel sponge, a common feature of Dominican dive sites, hosts a huge channel-clinging crab. As the wall completes a long, slow curve to the left, soldierfish stand guard, moray eels jut out from crevasses, and assorted crabs skitter and hide.

At last the wall once again gives way to the boulders of the shallows, where the water warms noticeably as bubble streams flow to the surface. A fireworm braves the heat to crawl across a bubbling rock. In some areas, the water, blurred by thermocline, is hot to the touch.

Scott’s Head Drop Off

Scott’s Head Drop Off sits in Soufriere Bay, in the southwest corner of the island. The bay is an underwater volcanic crater that offers dramatic underwater topography. The dive starts in the calm bay over a shallow, sandy area with coral bommies and areas of seagrass providing protection for nudibranchs and many small and juvenile fish. About 10 minutes into the dive, there is a drop off to a 130-foot (40 m) deep shelf. This, in turn, slopes down into the crater’s abyss.

Most divers stay relatively shallow, perhaps dipping down to 70 feet (23 m) to wave hello to a vermillion longlure frogfish. Along the way, divers may see anything from a large school of smallmouth grunts to a tiny wire coral shrimp. Out in the blue, a quick flash of silver may be a tunny or fast-moving barracuda. Up in the shallows, divers cans hunt for nudibranchs and other critters on their safety stop.

Swiss Cheese

If you like swim-throughs, you’ll love Swiss Cheese. The relatively shallow (52 feet/16 m), aptly named site features a number of swim-throughs. Many shelter schools of grunts or squirrelfish that give divers the side-eye as they pass through. The swim-throughs, a labyrinth of hills, valleys, a wall, and a bit of flat shelf combine to create an underwater obstacle course teeming with marine life. At safety-stop depth, lace coral, sea rods, gorgonians and sea fans form an underwater garden, with barrel sponges and brain coral offering some landscape architecture. Vivid reef fish swarm and flit like butterflies. A comedy routine breaks out: a surgeonfish appears to be chasing a triggerfish. A throng of brown chromis methodically dart in the light current, sucking in a feast of plankton. The dive is truly fun for everyone — divers and fish alike.

Dangleben’s Pinnacles

Dangleben’s Pinnacles sits on the northern edge of the Soufriere crater, which means it’s relatively exposed to the deep channel west of the island. Because of this, most dive shops won’t do this dive in current, as there is no place to hide. This is one of the deeper dive sites, with a minimum depth of 59 feet (18 m), but up to 98 feet (30 m) if you really want to explore.

And you will want to explore. It’s wonderful to follow experienced guides as they zigzag among the five pinnacles, freeing up divers’ attention to take in the sheer volume and variety of marine life. The truly gargantuan barrel sponges are among the biggest in Dominica. The sponges and corals explode in reds and yellows, purples and pinks, greens and blues. Sea creatures as large as a southern stingray and as miniscule as a pea crab share in the abundance. Juvenile angelfish, porcupinefish, a free-swimming sharp-tailed eel, an enormous giant basket starfish coiled up in a barrel sponge — this is one of the most vibrant reefs we’ve seen in the Caribbean.

Dangleben’s North

At first, Dangleben’s North seems like a rather mundane dive site. It starts over a barren sandy bottom with a few slivers of coral. Guides take the group west, away from the island, along a rocky channel lined with barrel sponges. At last, the channel opens to low hills of large-pored boulder and brain coral. This is where the excitement begins.

The reef teems with anthias, wrasses, butterflyfish and trumpetfish. A tiny painted frogfish hides in some pencil coral. A juvenile spotted drum wiggles and waves its ribbonlike fins. A long-snouted seahorse sways in some algae. A curious mutton snapper does a swim-by. A coney – neon yellow with blue freckles – attracts attention. The dive circles shallower over a sponge-encrusted reef. An orange, white, yellow and black clown crab has chosen a terrible place to hide: on a green finger sponge. A school of creole wrasse jumps and circles. The next thing you know, the 60-minute maximum dive time has flown by. Maximum depth on this busy dive site is around 52 feet (16 m), which makes it ideal for new divers as well as photographers.

Crater’s Edge

Situated at the southernmost point of the Soufriere crater, the calm Caribbean meets the raging Atlantic at this site, creating ample opportunities to spot pelagic creatures like rainbow runners and tuna. The confluence of the two bodies of water can create strong currents, so dive operators only attempt this legendary dive when conditions allow. Because of the depth at this dive site, with a maximum of 100 feet (30 m) and likelihood of at least some current, Crater’s Edge is best for experienced divers.

Orientation and getting there

A former British colony, Dominica is part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. It sits between Martinique and Guadeloupe, about 1,400 miles (2,250 km) southeast of Miami. Its 71,000 citizens are sprinkled throughout the 290-square-mile (750-square-km) island. The highest population concentrations are along the west coast, particularly in the capital of Roseau and the town of Portsmouth.

Confusingly, the main airport is not Canefield Airport, near Roseau. Rather it’s the Douglas-Charles Airport, which is situated on the northeast corner of the island, about an hour’s drive from the capital. Because neither airport runway is long enough to accommodate long-range jets, there are no direct flights from the U.S. However, plans are in the works to extend the runway at Douglas-Charles. This should help the tourism authority achieve its goal of doubling the number of inbound tourists from the current rate of about 75,000 per year.

Guest author Christina Koukkos is a New York-based freelance writer and editor. She covers scuba diving, responsible tourism, off-beat destinations, cultural travel and other topics. She’s a certified PADI dive instructor and MSDT as well as an amateur underwater (and topside) photographer. Learn more about her on her website,  her blog, on Instagram or Twitter.

 

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Conservation in Kimbe Bay

Kimbe Bay, on the north coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, is world-renowned for marine biodiversity.

Nature Conservancy surveys have identified 860 species of fish, around 400 species of stony corals and 10 species of mammals. Conservation in Kimbe Bay is the key to preserving this underwater wonderland.

Traditional-style conservation

Traditional style conservation in Papua New Guinea is based on a strong allegiance to clan and tribe, and to this day, some 85 percent of the population still lives a village-based, subsistence lifestyle.

Very little land in PNG is privately owned. Most of it falls under the communal ownership of the tribes that are the basic fabric of the country. The tribes, led by tribal elders, share responsibility for stewardship of the land and coastal areas.

The land and the sea provide most of what the villages need for their subsistence lifestyle. Therefore, the tribes know intuitively that they must manage those resources in what we would call a sustainable manner.

The PNG stewardship system evolved simply and it worked extremely well for a very long time, but the late 1980’s brought change to Kimbe Bay. Large-scale development of palm oil plantations and increased population density changed the local dynamics forever.

Preserving Kimbe Bay

The founders of Kimbe Bay’s Walindi Plantation Resort, Max and Cecilie Benjamin, are trained agronomists. By the early 1990s it was becoming obvious to them that, if left unchecked, those changes could only degrade the pristine environment of Kimbe Bay.

So, in 1993 they joined forces with the local government and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to develop a long-term conservation and sustainable-tourism development strategy for the bay.

The next year, TNC, supported logistically by Walindi, conducted an initial Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) of the bay’s coral reefs. These quantified for the first time the full magnitude of Kimbe’s marine diversity.

To safeguard that incredible diversity, a two-pronged strategy was developed consisting of the establishment of Mahonia Na Dari and Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs).

Mahonia Na Dari

Unusually for Papua New Guineans, the people of New Britain have a limited connection with the rich waters that surround the island. Few children learn to swim and many residents of inland villages have never even seen the ocean.

Working with TNC and the European Union Islands Regional Environmental Program, the Benjamins established Mahonia Na Dari, which means Guardians of the Sea, in 1997 on land they owned next to the resort.

Mahonia works to understand and conserve Kimbe Bay’s unique marine environment, educating local young people so that they can play a part in its protection and conservation. The organization does this through its Marine Environment Education Program (MEEP). The program introduces students, many of whom have no experience of the marine environment, to the water. They can see things first-hand and better understand the need to protect and conserve Kimbe Bay.

MEEP has been very successful, with elementary, primary and secondary schools all using versions of the program. There’s a teacher’s version as well so they can conduct classes in their schools. Since its establishment in 1997, Mahonia Na Dari’s programs have directly or indirectly benefitted more than 200,000 people.

Locally Managed Marine Areas

Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) are a well-established strategy throughout the Pacific Islands. Scientists generally consider them the best way to help local communities self-manage their marine resources. However, in an area such as Kimbe Bay, locals consider the sea an unlimited resource. LMMAs in isolation would have little chance of success.

The entire community must embrace the concept for it to work. Without the MEEP programs run by Mahonia this simply would not happen, hence the two-pronged approach.

Poison-rope fishing

A crucial component of the overall MEEP and LMMA programs was to halt and eventually eliminate the spread of “poison-rope” fishing and prevent the encroachment of dynamite fishing.

Poison-rope fishing uses the naturally occurring derris plant. Fishermen mash the roots of the plant into a white pulp with a rock. Then, they jam the pulp into the coral by swimming down to the reef top. The pulp of the derris root contains the poison rotenon. It kills small fish and coral polyps, but forces larger fish to the surface where it is easy to catch them.

With no real awareness of rotenon’s destructive impact, poison-rope fishing seems to be an effective way to catch fish. But in reality, it can be as destructive as cyanide fishing.

Dynamite fishing in PNG is not the scourge it is in other Southeast Asian countries. But it does occur in Kimbe Bay from time to time. Fishermen may employ the practice on an opportunistic basis, using dynamite from old WWII ammunition found in the rainforest and then shoved into beer bottles.

Provincial government funding for boats and engines enables the villagers to monitor their no-take and open-area zones and keep illegal fishermen at bay, while Mahonia provides periodic audits to keep the system honest and encourages sustainable fishing practices such as hand lines and spears.

There are now eight LMMAs in the Kimbe Bay area, with more planned. They have proved to be the single most effective way to manage the environment.

By guest author Don Silcock

Don Silcock is an Australian underwater photographer and photojournalist based in Bali who has dived many of the best locations across the Indo-Pacific. To learn more about Kimbe Bay or Papua New Guinea, check out Don’s Complete Guides on the links provided.

 

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Who Should Take the PADI Self-Reliant Diver Specialty?

From the first day of our Open Water courses, instructors emphasize the importance of the buddy system. We teach new students to never dive solo, but experienced divers might wish to dive alone. At the very least, they may want to learn to rely on themselves in an emergency. These desires led to the creation of the PADI Self-Reliant Diver specialty, which is both challenging and fun.

Who should take this course?

PADI Self-Reliant Diver is designed for experienced divers, as the minimum requirement is an Advanced Open Water certification and 100 logged dives. The philosophy of this course is twofold. Divers will learn the skills to dive solo should circumstances warrant it, and/or to sharpen their dive skills to make them a stronger dive buddy.

Experienced divers or dive professionals may face several circumstances where self-reliance is necessary. Professional as well as amateur underwater photographers or videographers often spend much of their dives alone, following behind other divers and wildlife to shoot images. They cannot always rely on other divers in the group to help in case of an emergency; they may not even have an officially designated buddy. If you’re not a professional, you may still prefer to dive alone occasionally. Or, you may have been paired with a buddy you don’t know.

The course emphasizes self-reliance in both situations with and without a dive buddy. Even if you’re not planning to dive solo, this course will improve your diving skills and make you more self-confident in a variety of situations.

What does the PADI Self-Reliant Diver course cover?

The course goes over the theory of self-reliance and self-rescue in diving, and what skills to work on to improve in those areas. Other topics include redundancy equipment, solo-dive planning, gas management and problem management.

As for equipment, the idea is to work on redundancy and self-reliance. You will need to use equipment such as a redundant gas source — a pony bottle, for example — as well as a redundant dive computer or time and depth devices, redundant signaling devices, and a back-up mask.

The training dives require mastery of skills including using a redundant gas source, buoyancy skills, DSMB deployment and out-of-air scenarios. The course also emphasizes navigation skills. Each of the three training dives has specific requirements.

Where can I take the course?

This course used to be a Distinctive PADI specialty, but has recently become a standard specialty course. Only those certified as a Self-Reliant Specialty instructors can teach the class, so it might not be available at all PADI dive centers. Check with your local center if you’d like to take the class. Even if you never plan to dive alone, this course will improve your current abilities and almost certainly make you a better diver.

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Chasing Coral: This New Netflix Documentary is Required Viewing

Divers often find it hard to truly describe the peril facing coral reefs to non-diving friends. A new Netflix documentary, Chasing Coral, vividly and clearly explains what we stand to lose — and have lost already.

Chasing Coral: Must-See TV

We were vacationing in the Caribbean, so it seemed fitting to watch the new Netflix documentary, Chasing Coral. I expected it to be informative, interesting, and perhaps a bit sad, as I knew there had been a lot of bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.  The approach to the information was illuminating and brought the corals to life in a way that most people haven’t seen. As a diver, it had a profound impact on me, and it’s got the potential to have a profound impact on non-divers as well.

The story began with Richard Vevers, an advertising executive, realizing the reefs he loved to dive had changed for the worse. He worked with Jeff Orlowski, the director of Netflix’s “Chasing Ice,” to present the story as you would when putting together advertising for a struggling product. The result is an eloquent, engaging, accessible science lesson, filled with stunning and shocking photography and videography. The images movingly depict changes to huge areas of the environment — and to a key ecosystem — over only four months. 

What’s happening to the world’s coral?

Vevers and Orlowski work with numerous scientists, including self-proclaimed “coral nerd” Zack Rago and photographer Trevor Mendelow to give life to corals. They explain the animals’ biological make-up, how they eat and how they fight each other for territory, among other natural processes. They even explain how corals are the only animal, other than humans, that can build their own environment and create their habitat, just like humans do with neighborhoods and cities. The goal is to create empathy for corals, because when people feel that empathy, they tend to pay attention and act. When the filmmakers compare coral to humans, and back up the point with photographic evidence, they really drive the point home.

Let me be clear that they are successful in their endeavor. I watched this documentary a second time, after I was asked to write this article, and I cried just as much the second time as I did the first, not because we have lost 50 percent of the world’s corals in the last 30 years or because 29 percent of the Great Barrier Reef died in 2016, or because of a lot of charts, graphs or data.

I cried because I watched it happen — these are not rocks or even plants — they are animals and over only a 4-month period, I saw daily changes. It was impossible not to see the bleaching, the diminishing marine life, even the fluorescing that seemed like the corals crying out to be noticed. Finally, Rago films a piece of coral as it disintegrates into tiny pieces of dead tissue and then he sits on the boat and cries.

The role of climate change 

“Chasing Coral” shows a planet that’s working as hard as it can to adjust to human-created climate change, but some of these coping mechanisms can devastate entire ecosystems. Oceans absorb excess heat from the atmosphere, which in turn keeps land masses cool enough for habitation. And while ocean-surface temperatures do go through up and down cycles, the average ocean temperatures are increasing steadily. These increases operate like a fever would in our bodies. While this may be a cycle, it is not natural and the reefs — the nursery of ocean — cannot regenerate fast enough to keep up.

What can we do?

While the documentary can take you to the depths of depression, it is not without hope. “Chasing Coral” wants to cause a mindset shift because it’s not too late to change what’s happening, but we must act quickly. Several countries around the world, as well as cities within the U.S. have pledged to change, but we must expand that reach and not wait on government to act. Host a screening of the documentary. Share what you know on social media, and start making changes at home. Download the action guide from Chasing Coral’s website to get started.

Chasing Coral is a must-watch for all ages, and especially for non-divers or those uninterested in ocean issues. It creates a lasting impact, and encourages us to focus on hope for the future instead of giving up in the face of a seemingly insurmountable problem. We have, as the documentary states, “a unique moment in time, where we can change history.” And so we must. To learn more, please visit chasingcoral.com.

Cover photo credit:  The Ocean Agency – XL Catlin Seaview Survey – Richard Vevers

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3 Ways to Childproof Windows at Home

Children’s curiosity pushes them to try out new things and explore new places. As a parent, you have to ensure their safety by childproofing your entire home. Here, you’ll find the best tips in making your windows much safer for the kids.

Image Source: Flickr

Securely Anchor Curtains and Drapes
When toddlers first learn to walk, they tend to use things around them to pull themselves up. This makes long drapes susceptible to tugs, and if they are not securely anchored to the wall, the result can be disastrous.

Make sure your curtain rod is securely fastened to its wall mount brackets, not just resting on them. If these brackets are not attached to studs, be sure to use hollow wall anchors. Another option is to simply switch up your décor and hang shorter drapes until your child gets a bit older. Source: Omaha

Keep the Cord Out of Reach

• Do not place any cribs, beds, or furniture close to any windows because children can climb on them and gain access to the cords.
• Make sure to make all loose cords inaccessible and keep all window cords out of the reach of children at all times. If you have tasseled pull cords short, make sure to keep them as short as possible, and permanently anchor any continuous-loop cords to the floor or wall.
• Lock cords into position when lowering horizontal coverings or shades to prevent inner-cord hazards.
• If the window shade has looped bead chains or nylon cords, install tension devices to keep the cord taut. Source: TheSpruce

Don’t Leave the Window Open
Lock your windows. Many windows have built-in locks you can latch shut with a key to prevent the window from opening. If your windows have keys built-in, this is your best option for baby proofing your windows. If your windows do not have keys, however, use another method. Installing keys is costly and time-consuming and it’s far easier to use an alternative window locking method. Source: WikiHow

We can help you pick a window treatment that isn’t just safe for your kids, but also functional and trendy. Give us a call!

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

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5 Reasons the ASWB Social Work Licensing Exam Updates Aren’t as Scary as You May Think

Social work licensing exam tutor Susan Mankita, LCSW, explains 2018 changes to the Association of Social Work Board (ASWB) licensing exams. The changes are slight and make the exams more relevant.

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Minke Magic with Mike Ball Dive Expeditions

An enormous, smooth, mottled gray flank slowly appears out of the blue. The minke whale cruises closer, gently rolling sideways for a better view and at the same time giving you a closer look at him. You notice the sharply pointed snout, the two blowholes, the throat grooves that reach nearly a third of his underside. It’s impressive and exhilarating, but what really strikes you is the eye. It follows you as he glides to within feet while you cling to a line of rope floating on the surface. He pauses to hover in front of you. For a moment you share something, a curiosity, a connection between human and whale.

Dwarf minke whales visit the northern Great Barrier Reef each winter. During June and early July, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions operates 3-, 4- and 7-night minke whale expeditions, offering an opportunity to swim with these incredible creatures. It’s the only known predictable aggregation of these whales in the world. Since starting minke whale expeditions in 1996, Mike Ball has had a 98 percent success rate in sightings. Every day offers a high probability of whale encounters.

Dwarf minkes grow up to 26 feet (8 m) and weigh several tons. They’re quite active and agile for whales, in many ways behaving more like dolphins. Their exceptionally inquisitive nature often results in extended interactions with boats and snorkelers. The boat finds them reliably at Lighthouse Bommie and Twin Towers on the Ribbon Reefs. But if they don’t show up there, the boat will spend up to two hours searching for whales further afield. When the boat spots whales, they’ll cut the engines and unspool two 100-foot (30 m) lines behind the boat for six to eight snorkelers to hang onto. The whales then approach, sometimes for hours at a time. The best encounters, within 10 feet (3 m), occur when swimmers are stationary in the water. Remain relatively still and calm and the whales will come near.

The Ribbon Reefs are a prized region of the Great Barrier Reef on the edge of the Continental Shelf, where nutrient-rich waters attract tons of fish. The focus is on finding and swimming with minkes, however, divers will also descend on sites buzzing with reef sharks, turtles, bigeye trevally, reef fish, sea snakes, stonefish, octopus and much more.

Research is integral to the trip, and since 1996 Mike Ball Dive Expeditions has supported researchers from James Cook University’s Minke Whale Project by having a researcher on board for each expedition. Guests can assist the research by using data-collection forms to record whale observations and by sharing their photos to the database.

Only a handful of operators are licensed to operate minke encounters, and Mike Ball Dive Expeditions has conducted more minke swims than any other company. These expeditions sell out fast so don’t delay if you’re keen to join one.

Guest post by Mike Ball Dive Expeditions

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Top picks from the Leslie Hindman September sale!

It’s that time again, my darlings! Time to peep the goodies in Leslie Hindman’s September sale, that is. If you remember the spectacular and diverse treasures of Leslie Hindman’s past auctions, you’ll know that this is an excellent reason for excitement.

Lot 27: A Victorian Silver Topped Gold, Turquoise, Garnet and Diamond Serpent Necklace, Circa 1840.

If you know me, you know that a classic Victorian era snake necklace is high on my personal jewelry bucket list.

Continue reading Top picks from the Leslie Hindman September sale! at Diamonds in the Library.

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Ocean Cleanup Array Still in Testing Phase

It’s one of those projects you really want to succeed: an almost non-invasive way to clean up large quantities of the plastic debris floating in the world’s oceans, including the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch. In 2015, Scuba Diver Life reported on then 20-year-old Dutch inventor Boyan Slat’s improbable, but fantastic, Ocean Cleanup Array, meant to do just that. Slat proposed to create large, V-shaped barges that would float on the surface and collect plastic debris. He first presented the plan in 2014 and gave a TED talk about his vision.

In the original plan, Slat stated that his non-profit, The Ocean Cleanup, would test the system near Japan in 2016. Full-scale operation would start in 2020.

Marine scientists and engineers did express skepticism at the project’s likelihood of success. Biologists and geologists expressed concern about anchoring the structure, which would be the largest off-shore structure ever built, to the bottom of the Pacific, which is almost three miles deep at the proposed site.

Change of plans for The Ocean Cleanup

Now, Ocean Cleanup has reportedly changed plans a bit. They’ve launched a prototype off the Dutch coast, not in an attempted clean-up effort, but rather to test the toll on the unit in the rough sea.

In May of this year, they issued another press release stating that they’ve changed the design somewhat. Units will be smaller and rather than anchoring to the bottom, they will utilize drift anchors. This will keep the units in place, but also allow them to move with the same currents that move the plastic.

Rather than testing off the coast of Japan, the company will now test the redesigned unit off the West Coast of the U.S. starting in late 2017. The initial deployment will take place in the first half of 2018. According to the company, they will be able to collect up to half the plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch within five years.

So far scientists have conducted tests of the mechanism’s collection rate and viability in laboratories or in simulations. But if the company’s numbers are accurate in the open ocean, it would be excellent news for the marine environment.

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Self-Care Summer: Let Yourself Play!

I have discovered that occupying a space of unbridled curiosity not only shakes off my work-day woes, but teaches me to be a better social worker.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/2ikGvoc

A lunar lovely from Unhada for eclipse Monday.

You’re not tired of seeing moon-themed things yet today, are you? Because trust me, you’re going to want to see this one.

This Unhada’s exquisitely lovely moon in chains pendant, from her brand new Moonceros collection. It’s a simple design, but there’s something so irresistibly elegant about the slender crescent moon caught up in its delicate web of gold chains.

I’ve loved this little moon from afar ever since I first saw it on Unhada’s Instagram, but now that I’ve met it in person I’ve utterly lost my heart to it.

Continue reading A lunar lovely from Unhada for eclipse Monday. at Diamonds in the Library.

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Managing reader comments: 'Algorithms decide more objectively'

Comments on articles are a valuable feedback tool and reader retention instrument for newspapers. However, these are accompanied by challenges such as inflammatory comments and hate speech. "Managing reader comments is a difficult task for publishers," says Nicolai Erbs, a professor of computer science at the Technical University (TU) of Darmstadt in Germany.

Read more ...

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Diving the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Shipwrecks

If you’re a fan of the history and mysteries behind shipwrecks, one national marine sanctuary has you covered. Located in Lake Huron, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary protects one of the best-preserved and nationally-significant shipwreck collections in the United States. Unpredictable weather, murky fog banks, sudden gales, and rocky shoals earned the area the name “Shipwreck Alley.” Fire, ice, collision, and storms have claimed over 200 vessels in and around Thunder Bay. Today, the remains of these vessels represent a microcosm of Great Lakes maritime history. The cold, fresh water of Lake Huron has kept these wrecks largely intact even after a century or more beneath the waves. The wrecks within sanctuary waters are open to the public for diving, snorkeling, and paddling. Plus, seasonal mooring buoys improve access by providing a safe attachment point for boats that won’t damage the integrity of the wrecks.

Here are a few of the best if you’re diving the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary shipwrecks.

Joseph S. Fay

On October 19, 1905, the 216-foot bulk freighter Joseph S. Fay encountered a strong gale in northern Lake Huron. Fay hit the rocks at 40 Mile Point and quickly broke apart. Today, its lower hull sits in shallow water not far from the shore and still contains a load of iron ore. With a depth of only 17 feet (5 m), this wreck is perfect for novice divers, snorkelers, and paddlers.

 

William P. Rend

Throughout its career, William P. Rend went through a series of transformations. It was constructed in 1888 as a bulk freighter and originally named George G. Hadley. In 1902, it collided with the steamer Thomas Wilson, an event that sank both vessels. Hadley was recovered, rebuilt as a tow-barge, and rechristened William P. Rend. It carried stone in its final days, but foundered in Thunder Bay just outside of Alpena.

Today, the wreck is almost entirely intact; only decking and deck beams are missing. William P. Rend sits at only 17 feet (5 m) and portions of the sides are just below the surface. You can also see the shipwreck from a glass-bottom boat, making it a perfect way to introduce non-divers to the wonders of shipwrecks.

 

Monohansett

The wooden steam barge Monohansett burned to the water’s edge at Thunder Bay Island on November 23, 1907. Luckily, while most of the crew lost their personal belongings and some suffered minor burns, none lost their lives. The remains of Monohansett lie in three sections at a depth of 18 feet (5.5 m). The stern portion has hull features, a propeller, and shaft all in place, and the boiler rests nearby. Visitors can also see this shipwreck via glass-bottom boat.

 

Montana

A slightly deeper dive at 63 feet (19 m), Montana is a perfect wreck for intermediate divers. This wooden steam barge was originally a swift package freighter, rebuilt as a lumber carrier in 1909. On the way to Detroit from Georgian Bay to load lumber in 1914, Montana caught fire, burned to the water’s edge, and sank off Thunder Bay’s North Point.

Today, Montana’s bow is broken open, but the engine, boiler, shaft, and propeller are all in place. Curious divers can also find the windlass, capstan, and rudder lying among the wreckage.

 

D.M. Wilson

D.M. Wilson was headed for Milwaukee with a load of coal when it sprang a leak and began sinking. A gale broke up the ship 10 days later. While salvagers removed much of the vessel’s machinery, most of Wilson’s hull remains intact today at a depth of 40 feet (12 m), including a large windlass that rests on the bow.

 

John L. Shaw

Winter is a treacherous time to navigate the Great Lakes. Bound for Chicago in 1894, the schooner John L. Shaw foundered in a blinding snowstorm, sinking in 128 feet (39 m) of water. The crew abandoned ship and drifted for several hours before a passing steamer rescued them.

A wrecking company found the Shaw a few years later, but the planned recovery never occurred. The wreck was forgotten until July 2007 when local fisherman John Gaulthier stumbled across the site while setting nets. The site is a jumble of wooden wreckage, with broken masts and spars strewn across intact decking. The starboard side of the hull has fallen away to reveal the massive coal cargo.

 

Cornelia B. Windiate

Cornelia B. Windiate offers those looking for a challenge a great technical dive. This wooden three-masted schooner launched in 1874 and disappeared in 1875, leaving behind a mystery. It was thought to have gone down in Lake Michigan, since it was spotted there in a November gale and was never seen again. But more than a century later, the wreck was discovered deep in Lake Huron’s waters.

Windiate is in nearly perfect condition at a depth of 180 feet (55 m). Its masts remain upright; the cabin is intact; and the yawl boat lies alongside the stern. Maritime archaeologists think it sank when heavy seas covered the decks in ice, causing it to settle slowly to the bottom of the lake. No sign of its eight crew members has ever been found.

 

Portland

If you’re seeking a wreck that even non-divers can enjoy, consider the two-masted schooner Portland. This ship ran aground in 1877 and has since been torn apart by waves, currents, and ice flow.

You can access the wreck from a beautiful beach, and an abandoned town survives in the woods nearby. The bilge and starboard side now rest in six feet of water, easily accessible to both snorkelers and kayakers.

A NOAA diver swims over the shipwreck site of the wooden two-masted schooner Portland. (Photo credit: Tane Casserley/NOAA)

 

By Elizabeth Weinberg, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and Stephanie Gandulla, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

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Salon Only Tips for Back-to-School Season

August and September mark “Back-to-School” season, a time of starting over; the lazy days of summer transition to jam-packed routines. The key to Fall salon promotions is to “solve” the havoc summer has had on hair and skin, making Fall a season of booking opportunities.

1. Hair Damage = Dollar$$
Summer months spent in the sun, wind and water make the fall season the best time of year to grow business by offering solution-driven treatments. Promote add-on Hair Conditioning or Glossing Treatments. 

2. Back–to-School = Back-to-Business
Moms spend money on new clothes, shoes, and school supplies - why not include a trip to the hair salon as part of the back-to-school regimen. No one wants to send their child to school picture day with parched fiberglass hair; all hair types can benefit from an anti-oxidant plus restorative hair conditioning treatment, so build it as an add-on service for back-to-school promotion. 

3. College Students
If your town or city hosts a large college campus this could equal loads of new and returning clients. Promotions work well in August or September to attract new students unfamiliar with their new town or city. Advertise in your town's local college newspapers around September for Welcome Week - this is a very inexpensive way to target this demographic. If you are the beauty salon they choose for their first appointment, odds are that (provided they have a good experience), that client will stick with your salon for the duration of their college career (4 - 6 years).

4. Sorority Packages
Contact sororities and school groups to offer custom packages. Provide service discount rates for events at college campuses. For instance, propose a monthly sorority night special where your team visits to the sorority house for a night of pampering. 

5. Teacher Appreciation
Get high grades when you offer teacher appreciation during the back-to-school season. Extend a special discount on services or retail products for refreshing her "beauty supply". 

6. Fall Fashion, Style and Color Trends
Leverage fall color trends to engage clients and refresh your salon marketing plan. The color experts at Pantone® release a color trend report on fashion and runway-inspired color trends every season - this is a great reference to stay in-tune with color trends that will quickly be in demand among your clients.

7. Fall Trend Point of Purchase
Seasonal trend colors can perk up merchandising and boost retail sales. Point of purchase displays with items highlighting the season’s hottest trend colors in jewelry, hair accessories, hats, cosmetic cases, lip glosses, eye shadows, nail lacquers, etc.

8. Halloween Hair & More
Tie in hair, makeup and spa promotions to the Halloween season. The end of October is filled with Halloween-themed parties, giving salons multiple opportunities to book appointments reserved for theatrical makeup, face painting, special-effects and creative hair.

9. Give Spa-Goers Halloween Spirit
Get spa-goers into the Halloween spirit with themed body wraps or facials in "Seaweed Sludge" or "Potent Pumpkin". Clients get "wrapped up like a mummy" for the ultimate seasonal indulgence.  

10. High School Homecoming
Homecoming is an event that gives you an opportunity to offer specials for event hair, makeup and nail services. Advertise in your town's local high school newspaper starting in September for a November Homecoming date.

Fall is the season for high school homecoming dances, the fall version of Prom. Check the dates for your local high school's homecoming. These dates change every year, so in order to plan and staff accordingly make sure these dates are highlighted in your calendar (traditionally in the month of November). 
 

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