ByColin Merry, Pioneer News Network

Amber Miles, funeral director, and Kirk and Courtney Barz, owners, at the new Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service location in Frankfort.(Colin Merry/Pioneer News Network)

Amber Miles, funeral director, and Kirk and Courtney Barz, owners, at the new Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service location in Frankfort.(Colin Merry/Pioneer News Network)

Amber Miles, funeral director, and Kirk and Courtney Barz, owners, at the new Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service location in Frankfort.(Colin Merry/Pioneer News Network)

Amber Miles, funeral director, and Kirk and Courtney Barz, owners, at the new Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service location in Frankfort.(Colin Merry/Pioneer News Network)

Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service opens in Frankfort

FRANKFORT Benzie County residents have a new option when preparing to mark the passing of a loved one.

Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service has opened a funeral home in Frankfort, at the former location of Frankfort Building Supply on the east end of Main Street. The fully renovated building features a conference room, a reception area and a room for the funeral service itself to take place.

"We're a full service funeral home," said Courtney Barz, who co-owns Beacon with Kirk Barz.

The modern facility features neutral decor and multiple monitors for videos to be played. The space can accommodate around 295 people, according to Kirk.

"The building has a modern feel, it's not a funeral parlor," he said.

Courtney said the space could be used for other purposes too, such as weddings and anniversary gatherings.

"Having lots of space is a huge deal," She said. "With the exception of the cemetery, you don't have to go anywhere else. You can have the funeral and reception in the same building."

Food can be catered to Beacon as well.

While Beacon does handle cremation services, the actual cremation takes place at the Bennet Barz Funeral Home, in Beulah.

"We don't own the crematorium, but we have direct supervision of the cremation," Kirk said.

As for special touches Beacon can provide, Courtney said there are a lot of little details they take care of.

"When you come to a funeral there are a lot of things going on," she said. "Things like taking care of flowers, markers, lunch, things to be delivered to people; little touches that make it personal."

She also said the modern feel of Beacon made it stand apart from the funeral parlors and the homes converted to funeral homes of the past.

"Those types of facilities don't work as well anymore," she said. "People want space, and the modern facilities are more compatible with wheelchairs and walkers."

Kirk said he bought the building in 2018, and began remodeling in 2019.

As for why he opened a Beacon location in Frankfort, Kirk said he saw a need for a funeral home in Frankfort.

The Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service facility is one of several owned by the Barz family. There are other Beacon facilities in Whitehall, Ludington and Hart.

They also own the Bennett Barz Funeral Home in Beulah and the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva.

Go here to read the rest:
Beacon Cremation and Funeral Service opens in Frankfort - Manistee News Advocate

Here we are. Debbie is sitting on the loveseat in the living room. She staked out that roost years ago.

I settled into my over-stuffed chair, better known as Pappys chair. Its a big chair. When Im settled back and comfy, my feet dont even touch the floor. It sort of swallows me up, but there is always room in the Pappy-chair for a few grandchildren.

Those are the seats Debbie and I take when were both watching the same program on TV. That doesnt happen very often.

Debbie likes anything on HGTV, the Hallmark Channel or any type of cooking show.

Not me. I dont care at all about home remodeling, redecorating, flipping or flopping homes, fancy cooking or any of the variations on those themes. I enjoy watching news, old movies or documentary-style programming. I enjoy several other types of shows, but not those.

As a result, we dont watch TV together very often. The only program that we routinely enjoy together is Dancing with Stars. We pick our favorite dancer and root for them. We both get upset when a lousy dancer is allowed to stay, and a really good dancer is voted off. Every season we vow never to watch it again, but we do.

Other than that, we usually sit in different rooms, watching different programs on different TVs.

But, on Super Bowl Sunday, were together.

Just before kick-off, I turned to Debbie and asked, Are we ready for this? It was finally game time. The pizza was ready and so were we.

Sunday night, as we settled into our nests and hoped for a great game, I had my laptop ready to take notes for this, my regular Tuesday column. The game was so good and the commercials so watchable (for the most part) that I ended up doing very little typing and a whole lot of watching.

Debbie decided that she would root for the Kansas City Chiefs. She has an uncle and several cousins who live in the KC area.

I decided to root for the San Francisco 49ers in honor of a dear friend Roy Harrison, who died about 20 years ago. Roy lived and breathed anything having to do with the 49ers. Besides, it gave us the opportunity to root against each other in friendly competition.

Following the team introductions, by Dwayne The Rock Johnson, as he introduced the players with his loud, trademark, resounding announcers voice and then transitioning to the beautiful voice of Demi Lovato as she honored our country with an amazing rendition of the National Anthem, we were ready for a great game.

We both wondered whether the game would be as good as the commercials or whether the commercials would overshadow the game. We were not disappointed by either.

Just as the referees prepared for the kick-off, a commercial started that featured a young athlete named Bunchie Young. He and his friends were playing a pick-up game of football.

Bunchie caught a kick-off and barreled down the field. As he passed all-time great running back Jim Brown, Jim smiled and told Bunchie, Take it to the house, kid.

He gets help from dozens of NFL all-stars, all who give him the same advice.

He continues to run past obstacles, including the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade, until he finally makes it to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. There, as he passes more all-star, hall-of-fame athletes, he enters the stadium.

Suddenly the commercial transfers from a pre-taped commercial to a live broadcast as Bunchie and his friends run onto the football field. As he hands the game ball to the referee, the crowd goes wild for this group of kids who may be our next generation of NFL stars. It was well done, unexpected and perfect of the moment.

We were ready whatever the next few hours had to offer.

I was a little surprised by the halftime show. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira shook every body part they had. With all the pole dancing and twerking, I kept expecting to see a wardrobe malfunction. They must have used at least a quart of glue to keep their costumes in place.

Like it or not, those ladies put on a show.

The first half of the game was a battle. They went into the locker room at halftime tied at 10 points each. The 49ers came back to score another 10 points in the third quarter.

It looked like the game was over. One of the announcers said, For the Chiefs to come back, theyre going to need some Mahomes magic. The Chiefs quarterback provided that magic, scoring 21 points in the final few minutes of the game. Wow what a game.

Too often the Super Bowl ends up being anything but super not this year. It was a great game, separated every few minutes by some really good commercials (and a few stinkers).

Congratulations to Chiefs coach Andy Reid and MVP Patrick Mahomes for a great win.

And thanks to Debbie for not rubbing my nose in her win.

Randy Riley is former Mayor of Wilmington and former Clinton County Commissioner.

Read the original here:
Are you ready for this? - Wilmington News Journal, OH

From stadium seats to sporting equipment, UT auctions off unneeded items

Batting helmets, cleats, football practice jerseys, and much more can all be found in the online auction.

AUSTIN, Texas - If your University of Texas-inspired game room, man cave or she shed is lacking in apparel, look no further. Many UT items are now up for auction.

We've got a large amount of items coming from athletics due to remodeling that they are doing, said Mark Engelman, the assistant manager of the UT Surplus Property division.

Batting helmets, cleats, football practice jerseys, and much more can all be found in the online auction. The items getting the most buzz are more than 100 stadium seats from Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

It stays on there for tendays of bidding and on that 10th day if you have the highest bid you will own it and then you have seven days to pick that item up, said Engelman, when describing how long the auction lasts.

Engelman said they've recently received a lot of equipment from athletics which is no longer needed by the university. The money from the auction goes back to the university and if you're not a fan of sporting equipment, they have other options like furniture with the UT logo.

If you're not interested in any of that, this auction has a little bit of everything, includingworkout equipment, cars, and even plants.

According to Engelman, their job is to auction off everything the university no longer needs, so that it isn't sent off to a landfill.

The departments make their decision that they no longer need those items and either they make arrangements for our staff to come pick up on campus or they bring it to our warehouse, said Engelman.

As remodeling continues, Engelman said they expect more items to be added to the auction in the coming days; however, it's impossible to tell what items those will be. It could be more seats or more plants.

If you're looking for something from a specific player, you are out of luck. They cannot auction off anything with a player's name.

Continued here:
From stadium seats to sporting equipment, UT auctions off unneeded items - FOX 7 Austin

Donna Thompson / donna@timestelegram.com

TuesdayFeb4,2020at5:45PM

HERKIMER The Herkimer village board took no action on the village clerk-treasurer's appointment Monday but scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday evening to discuss the matter.

Mayor Mark Netti said he needed clarification before any action could be taken.

The appointment was the lone item on Tuesday's agenda.

At the board's Jan. 21 meeting, Netti proposed appointing a new clerk-treasurer to replace Amanda Viscomi and changing Village Superintendent James Franco's position to a per diem one. The board discussed both proposals in executive session for more than an hour, but did not vote on either one.

The clerk-treasurer's position was not discussed in open session Monday, but that appointment, along with court personnel, an update on litigation and other items were taken into an executive session which lasted approximately two hours.

PLANNING BOARD

Herkimer Village Planning Board Chairman Brion Carroll reported that a site plan review meeting on the proposed Mohawk Valley Community Action day care facility is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, in the court room at the municipal hall.

He said after conducting the review, the planning board will submit its recommendation to the village board to either approve the project, approve it with conditions or disapprove it.

The Herkimer Housing Authority's multi-phase redevelopment project includes the construction of a two-story building with 24 senior and affordable housing units and a day care facility at 310 John Ave., as well as remodeling Creekside Courts on Protection Avenue, Eastern Gardens on Harter Street and Midtown Apartments on North Prospect Street and the construction of 15 new units at the corner of Harter and Steuben streets. The current day care programs at Creekside Courts and Eastern Gardens will be consolidated into one program with 63 slots at the John Avenue facility, according to the plans. The space freed up at Eastern Gardens and Creekside Courts will be turned into community rooms.

Go here to see the original:
Herkimer board delays action on appointment - The Times Telegram

Church of the Open Door is getting ready to open the doors to its Lorain Campus.

In 2016, the Elyria-based Christian church unveiled its 20/20 Vision Plan, a blueprint for expanding several ministries, eliminating debt and upgrading the existing facilities.

The plan included a new physical presence in Lorain -- and it is happening.

At 11 a.m. Feb. 9, Church of the Open Door will begin regular Sunday worship services in the renovated former Lorain YMCA, 1121 Tower Blvd.

When the YMCA was built in 1969, for years it was a blessing to the surrounding neighborhood, said Jason Russ, Lorain Campus pastor.

Church of the Open Door will begin regular Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. Feb. 9, 2020, at the former Lorain YMCA, 1121 Tower Blvd. This 1991 mural by Jim Lemaster remains in place on the lower level of the Y building.

He added he has talked to people who recalled their experiences at the Y growing up in Lorain. In the neighborhood, residents also want new connections, especially for children and the elderly.

Everybody has some connection to this Y, Russ said. What a gift of God to be able to open the doors back up to this community, something that was such a huge benefit.

I just think its neat that we can turn this place back around to the community, open it up, he said.

On Feb. 3, the building was a hive of activity as contractors, church staff and congregation members completed tasks ranging from painting to rigging lights to installing sound and video equipment.

Russ wore an Open Door shirt and blue jeans with a wrench and work gloves in his hip pocket.

Church of the Open Door's Lorain team leaders took a break from construction for a group photo at the former Lorain YMCA, 1121 Tower Blvd. From left are Stephanie Carrell, who works with childrens ministry; Joe Gonzales, who works with the student ministry; Jason Russ, Lorain Campus pastor; and Tony Reyes, director of worship. The church will begin regular Sunday worship services there at 11 a.m. Feb. 9, 2020.

Church of the Open Door Executive Director Alex Marks was present with the Lorain Campus directors: Stephanie Carrell, who works with childrens ministry; Joe Gonzales, who works with the student ministry; and Tony Reyes, director of worship.

On Sundays, the renovated space will use two entrances, one on the north side of the building and one on the east side.

That door opens into a fellowship area that sits next to the main auditorium; holding about 170 seats, the auditorium will serve as the sanctuary for worship.

The worship team would rehearse there in a few days, Reyes said. He has grown up, gone to school and worked in the city.

Its really awesome to now launch a campus where we can now bring the Gospel in Lorain as well, where its home as well, Reyes said.

Church of the Open Door Director of Worship Tony Reyes, right, and helpers prepare a wall for installation of a video screen mounting bracket as part of renovations at the former Lorain YMCA, 1121 Tower Blvd., on Feb. 3, 2020.Church of the Open Door will begin regular Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. Feb. 9, 2020, at the former Lorain Y.

The Sunday morning worship service will be at 11 a.m. with Russ and Reyes leading prayer and singing. There will be a simulcast of the weeks sermon with church Pastor Jim Mindling.

Carrell said she and Church of the Open Door Pastor of Childrens Ministries Ben Fowlkes have met local children through visits to Lorain City Schools Washington and Hawthorne elementaries. But they have not yet had families with young children in the building.

For the worship, there will be a check-in station, a nursery and rooms for pre-K and elementary childrens ministries. Weekly themed lessons will include songs and music.

Im so excited about partnering with families in Lorain, just being here for whatever they need, Carrell said. I just feel deeply for families and I want to partner with families just to fill in the gaps that might be there. Again, so much of that is pointing them to Christ and just loving people and meeting needs as he did.

The building is Lorains former YMCA. Although there has been extensive renovation, it still has a lot of room for athletics and that will be part of the programming there.

Church of the Open Door will begin regular Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. Feb. 9, 2020, at the former Lorain YMCA, 1121 Tower Blvd. The church has renovated some spaces within the building, but the basketball court remains in place as one of the areas where children and adults can pursue physical health along with spiritual health.

Gonzales is the first to work in regular ministry in the building. He has begun a basketball ministry, drawing up to 40 youths, mostly boys from Clearview, Lorain and Horizon Science Academy schools, for basketball and discussion three nights a week.

Gonzales recalled his youth and the advice from an elder: Be the person you wanted when you were younger.

My passion is to be that person to the young people of Lorain, that I wish I had when I was younger, he said. Part of that is introducing them to Christ and giving kids in Lorain something to do.

Russ and Marks agreed the only real difficulty about the Lorain project is that it took longer than expected.

But they said the congregation trusts in Gods timing for the growth. It took time to raise money and develop the vision, then the blueprints, for how the building could accommodate Sunday worship and weekly use for study, fellowship and physical activities.

Church of the Open Door will begin regular Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. Feb. 9, 2020, at the former Lorain YMCA, 1121 Tower Blvd.

The investment in Lorain was part of a multi-year effort to raise more than $2 million for the entire Vision 20/20 plan.

The cost of remodeling the building has been significant, Marks said.

But from our perspective, its an investment in the community and into the people here, he said.

Go here to see the original:
Old doors ready to reopen for Church of the Open Door growth in Lorain - The Morning Journal

In the last few years, a number of startups led by the company Away have disrupted the sleepy luggage market with an array of colorful hard-shell suitcases that incorporate features such as built-in batteries to recharge your gadgets.

Now Target is looking to get in on the action, too.

After overhauling most of its apparel and home brands, the Minneapolis-based retailer is now eyeing other categories where it could increase its business such as luggage.

Target's new luggage brand, Open Story, lands in stores on Sunday and on Target.com on Feb. 13.

The nearly 40-piece line includes hard-sided checked and carry-on luggage, backpacks, packing cubes, garment bags and totes, with prices ranging from $19.99 to $179.99. The suitcases include features such as USB ports for a battery or power bank, a built-in TSA lock, a laundry bag and many zippered pockets to help travelers to keep items organized.

"We know from looking at market trends that the consumer is looking to travel more and more and is preferring to go on experiences," said Julie Guggemos, Target's chief design officer. "We decided, as we look at the travel industry, that it would be a good opportunity for Target to create something that offers the best of the best from a features standpoint at an incredibly affordable price."

Target's new carry-on suitcase, for example, will sell for $149.99, which Guggemos said is about 30% cheaper than comparable products from major competitors. Away's carry-on suitcases start at $225.

Target's designers and engineers spent about 14 months developing Open Story, researching not only the features offered by premium luggage brands, but also talking to consumers about what they are looking for in luggage and where they would like to see improvements. They went through several prototypes and stress-tested them on trips and on cobblestone streets.

"It's going to blow all other luggage offerings out of the water," Guggemos said.

Target decided not to include a battery with its suitcases. Built-in lithium batteries are now barred from being checked on flights in the U.S., and some airlines now require them to be detached when carrying such luggage onto flights.

"We decided to let the consumer decide what they want to do," she said.

The suitcases also come with a hardy polycarbonate shell, four silent 360-spinning wheels and are expandable. They will come in about a dozen colors.

While Target has been seeing some growth in luggage sales, Guggemos said it hasn't been on par with the rest of the market. With Open Story, she said Target hopes to outpace competitors.

Luggage sales have risen 11% in the U.S. since 2016 and are now a $2.3 billion industry, according to Beth Goldstein, an industry analyst with the NPD Group.

In addition to the growing interest in travel and experiences, enhanced features and functionality are also helping to fuel growth, she said.

"I think there has been a halo effect from the startups, most notably Away, but even the ones that didn't survive, like Raden and Bluesmart," she wrote in an e-mail, noting that traditional players are also now adding more features such as luggage sleeves and extra pockets.

The challenge, though, is that consumers don't buy new suitcases very often, which could hinder sustained growth.

This is not Target's first foray into private-label luggage. It has a longtime brand called Embark and more recently launched an in-house line through one of its newer, though more budget-focused, brands, Made by Design. It also carries national brands such as American Tourister.

Open Story will be prominently displayed in Target's luggage section, but the overall space for the section won't change. Instead, the retailer is making room for it by shrinking its offerings from other owned and national brands, Guggemos said.

In addition to remodeling stores and adding new fulfillment options, refreshing Target's owned brands has been a key part of Target CEO Brian Cornell's strategy that has led to impressive sales gains over the last two years. However, Target reported last month that its sales over the holidays came in lower than expected, a rare miss for a retailer that has become one of the better performers in the industry.

Target has now rolled out more than 40 new brands over the last several years. Last month it launched All in Motion, an activewear brand that replaces C9 by Champion.

While the pace of new brand rollouts has begun to slow, Target is now looking at other categories outside of apparel and home, which had been its initial focus.

As for what's next, Guggemos said Target is looking at everything from sporting goods to toys.

Link:
Target takes on startups like Away with new luggage brand - Minneapolis Star Tribune

41 West, Special to Naples Daily News Published 6:40 a.m. ET Feb. 1, 2020

BEFORE: View of kitchen area at condo in The Windsor before being renovated by 41 West.(Photo: Submitted)

AFTER: Dramatically enhanced kitchen area after renovation by 41 West.(Photo: Kenny Siebenhar)

Considering a new look for your condo, kitchen or bath? Where do you start? This is the question 41 West hears most often from condo owners in the luxury high-rise buildings in Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs and Estero.

41 West has been remodeling luxury condos since 1995 and is honored to be ranked as the #1 General Contractor in Naples by Houzz.com. 41 West creates inspires condo residences in collaboration with architects and interior designers. With the understanding that you want your own special place that reflects your style and taste, they use The 5 Simple Steps , allowing you to describe what you want, the design team draws it, you approve it and 41 West builds it, as was the case with this 5,500 SF, four-bedroom condo in The Windsor.

This beautifully renovated high-rise has been dramatically enhanced to modernize the space and update the home to suit the lifestyle of the owners by adopting a transitional style, blending traditional molding details with contemporary tile, stone flooring and dove-white cabinetry in a bright, neutral space with LED lighting throughout.

The intent was to keep the space very clean and ornate. One of the primary kitchen walls was knocked down to create one large area with a large doorway from the dining room to the kitchen, while a new suite of appliances was installed. Walls also came down in the master bathroom, where the larger space allowed for a new shower and a free-standing Albert & Victoria soaking tub, a stunning centerpiece in any bathroom.

A unique design element is the blue agate accent tile in the entryway. Known for enhancing any space, this semi-precious gemstones eye-catching blue agate surface is exclusive in look because of its luxurious and crystalline nature.

Visit 41west.com for more information or to schedule an idea session with their team of design experts.

41 West is a design/build firm that has been building custom home and remodeling luxury condos and homes in the beach communities of Naples, Marco Island and Bonita Beach since 1995. 41 West is honored to be ranked #1 on Houzz.com of over 3,000 general contractors in Naples. The 41 West design team specializes in creating plans for an inspired residence and work in collaboration with nationally recognized architects and interior designers. Creating a unique residence to match the lifestyle of their clients if the focus of 41 West. Choose 41 West to build your new custom home, remodel your luxury condo or remodel your home and enjoy their promise of a 41 West 5-Star experience before, during and long after construction.

Read or Share this story: https://www.naplesnews.com/story/money/real-estate/2020/02/01/41-west-renovates-condo-windsor/4608081002/

More:
41 West renovates condo in The Windsor - Naples Daily News

BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Reflecting his commitment to offer the most state-of-the-art technologies to his patients, Jacob D. Steiger, M.D., Facial Plastic Surgeon, of Steiger Facial Plastic Surgery in Boca Raton is one of the first physicians nationally to have Sofwave ultrasound, the newest technology to hit the market to improve fine lines and wrinkles on the face and neck.

Created by Sofwave Medical Ltd., an emerging aesthetic device company, the Sofwave system has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In clinical studies, 87% of patients were marked as improved or significantly improved, 12 weeks after a single treatment.

A clinically-proven, non-invasive approach to improving fine lines and wrinkles, Sofwave utilizes proprietary Intense Ultrasound Beam TechnologyTM (IUB), in which sound wave energy passes through the skin's surface (the epidermis), heating at precisely the right depth in the mid-dermis to improve the overall appearance of aging skin. It is a non-invasive, no downtime wrinkle treatment. The treatment only takes about 30 minutes, and offers major results. It is appropriate for all skin types.

The high-intensity, high-frequency, IUB ensures no damage to the epidermis nor the underlying structures beneath the dermis, including bones, facial nerves, facial fat and blood vessels. With Volumetric Directional Thermal Impact (VDTI), the beams spread through the tissue and create a variety of volumetric cylindrical-shaped thermal zones in the dermis, separated by areas of undamaged tissue, creating a fractional effect in the mid-dermis.

This creates a controlled and directional, thermal impact (60C70C) parallel to the skin, at a prime depth of 1.5mm in the mid-dermis. The targeted treatment zones promote an inflammatory wound-healing response, the remodeling and concentration increase of collagen (neocollagenesis) and elastin (neoelastoegensis), which leads to a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, and restoration of natural skin features.

The direct skin contact enables the integration of cooling and real-time feedback mechanisms for superb epidermal protection, accurate targeting of the thermal effect and optimal pain management.

The solid-state energizer module, a hand piece, is robust and stable with no moving parts nor optics. It's light and maneuverable, and covers a large area. The treatment involves no sterilization nor needles.

"Sofwave is a revolutionary treatment that provides effective and safe results," said Dr. Steiger, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. "My ongoing commitment to my patients is to research and utilize the latest, cutting-edge treatments in facial plastic surgery such as Sofwave to provide the best possible results."

Dr. Steiger is board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery, and is a diplomate of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is also board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He focuses his practice specifically on the face and neck. He offers state-of-the-art surgical and non-invasive solutions for facial rejuvenation, as well as techniques for specific features, such as nose reshaping, jawline tightening, neck lifting, lip augmentation, skin resurfacing and eyelid lifting.

About Jacob D. Steiger, M.D. & Steiger Facial Plastic SurgeryAn accomplished, double board-certified, Ivy League-trained physician, Jacob D. Steiger, M.D., Facial Plastic Surgeon, specializes exclusively in plastic surgery of the face. The 5,000-square-foot modern Steiger Facial Plastic Surgery features luxurious treatment rooms and a state-of-the-art surgical center with an operating room and overnight suite. For more information, to schedule an appointment, or to book a spa treatment, call 561-499-9339, toll-free at 866-994-FACE (3223) or visit drsteiger.com. Steiger Facial Plastic Surgery/1001 Aesthetic Medical Center is located at 1001 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33432.

Media Contact:Dure & Company, Inc.954-723-9350233413@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jacob-d-steiger-md-one-of-the-first-physicians-nationally-to-offer-sofwave-ultrasound-the-newest-non-invasive-technology-to-improve-fine-lines-and-wrinkles-on-the-face--neck-300998400.html

SOURCE Steiger Facial Plastic Surgery

See the article here:
Jacob D. Steiger, MD, One of the First Physicians Nationally to Offer Sofwave Ultrasound, the Newest Non-Invasive Technology to Improve Fine Lines and...

The Washington Parks Department started 2019 with a new parks and recreation director Wayne Dunker, who assumed his new duties Jan. 7.

Dunker has been working in this field all of his career, dating back to 2000. He moved around the St. Louis area working for different parks departments before coming to Washington.

Last year was a busy year, he said. I had a lot of things come in and out of this office, but now I have a better feel of things.

With one year under his belt, Dunker said he has a better handle on a lot of things, including the budget, the different events and the Washington Town & Country Fair.

Dunker did admit that the Washington Parks Department is a little busier than he expected, but he was able to accomplish quite a list in 2019.

Dunkers first task was updating athletic and facility fees. His office looked at comparable facilities and organizations, evaluated pricing and updated the fees accordingly. This also included fee increases for rentals for the senior center, pavilion, fairgrounds.

Several roofs in the park system have been replaced in the past year. This roof replacement was an ongoing project that started in 2018 after storms in 2017 damaged facilities.

What was most pleasing about the project was after the roofs were replaced the department had an excess of funding and was able to make other improvements. This included a renovation to the main park pavilion which now has new siding, paint, suffixing, gutters, as well as a new roof.

Another highlight was the opening of the front nine holes of Busch Creek Disc Golf at Burger Park and a new trail was installed with 1,700 square feet of wood fence around the quarry at Miller Post Nature Reserve, which is open.

The parks department also updated city hall with LED lighting, new windows and HVAC improvements. The lighting also was updated at the police station, library and fire houses.

Dunker said Washington participated in the America in Bloom Competition for the ninth year. The city finished first in the 12,000-14,000 population category and received special recognition for its flowers.

Some other accomplishments in 2019 included renovations at the South Point Dog Park, such as parking lot paving, sidewalk installation and landscaping; resolving the drainage issue at Lakeview baseball soccer field; receiving the Tree City USA award for the 14th year; installing an informational kiosk on the riverfront west trailhead; and other renovations and improvements in the Washington area.

Washington residents can expect to see several changes and exciting in the new year, according to Dunker.

The America in Bloom National Symposium will be held in Washington Oct. 1, which is expected to bring between 200 to 250 people to the city for the day.

The back nine holes at Busch Creek Disc Golf Course will open later this year and there will be new playgrounds in the main park, renovations to the Optimist skate park and updated and revised park entry signs.

The department also plans to install large and small dog fencing at South Point Dog Park.

The fountain at the Farmers Market parking lot will receive an upgrade this year as well.

Dunker explained that weather and river levels permitting, renovations will take place on the eastern portion of Rotary Riverfront Trail after MoDOT completes its work, which will allow the trail to reopen.

A big picture idea that the department is working on is continuing to evaluate how Washington can connect to the Katy Trail, Dunker said.

Originally posted here:
Parks Office Reports Busy, Successful Year - More to Come in 2020 - The Missourian

Judith Faulkner, CEO of healthcare IT giant Epic Systems.

Source: Epic Systems

Epic Systems CEO Judy Faulkner recently urged some of the largest health systems in the country to sign a letter opposing proposed rules designed to make it easier for patients to obtain their medical information and share it with apps.

About 60 of these health systems have signed it.

The letter, which was obtained by CNBC, was addressed to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and opposed proposed rules designed to help medical information flow more easily between health systems and patients. The rules also aim to make clinical data accessible through application programming interfaces (APIs).

Epic, which is privately held, sells its electronic medical record software to hospitals across the country and is one of the largest health-technology companies in the U.S. An Epic installation is a major undertaking and can cost upwards of $1 billion for a major health system to implement.

Epic's CEO Judy Faulkner previously urged health care executives to take a stand with her: "HHS needs to hear from you so they understand that you feel these issues are important," it says. "Very little time is left."

A spokesperson for HHS told CNBC that it did indeed receive the letter. "We appreciate all stakeholder feedback as we continue to finalize the rules," they said. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure that patients are able to easily access their electronic medical records."

The largest technology companies, alongside patient advocates and caregivers, have taken the opposite stance and have spoken out in favor of the rules. Apple, Microsoft and Google recently joined a call with a non-profit called Carin Alliance to discuss ways to get the rule finalized and released. These companies favor the rules, in part because greater interoperability between systems that store medical records could help them move into the $3.5 trillion health care sector.

"There are many health systems that have deep concerns regarding the rule, and they've shared those concerns with HHS," Epic said in a statement to CNBC. "We are supportive of the goals of the proposed regulations, but we believe that important changes must be made to the rule before it becomes final in order to protect the privacy of patients and their personal health information. We appreciate the work that HHS is doing to incorporate different perspectives and ensure that the final rule is a good one."

The letter reads, in part, "While we support HHS' goal of empowering patients with their health data and reducing costs through the 21st Century Cures Act, we are concerned that ONC's Proposed Rule on interoperability will be overly burdensome on our health system and will endanger patient privacy. Specifically, the scope of regulated data, the timeline for compliance, and the significant costs and penalties will make it extraordinarily difficult for us to comply."

The letter goes on to recommend some changes, including more clarity around health information related to family members, and a longer timeline -- at least 12 months to prepare and 36 months for "development of new technology required by the rule."

It was signed by health systems including Ardent Health Services, Atrius Health in Massachussets, Bay Health in Delaware, NYU Langone Health in New York, Parkview Health in Indiana and Ohio, University Health System in Texas and UW Health in Wisconsin among others. Several life sciences companies also signed it, including Exact Sciences, maker of a diagnostic test for colorectal cancer.

A handful of organizations were also listed as sending their own separate letter.

One doctor who signed says he shared Epic's privacy concerns as the number of proposed medical apps skyrockets.

"There are tens of thousands of health care apps," said Neil Calman, MD, chairman of family medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and president of the institute for family health, in an interview.

"Getting these big computer systems to communicate in a predictable and secure way took a decade and now people are writing these apps in all different languages. There's no possible way a system that has been in development for decades now could all interface with all these apps and keep information secure. This needs a lot more thought, and more structure and regulation."

Some health IT experts note that the letter has not been signed by some of the largest health systems in the Epic ecosystem, and they say that's significant.

"Their absence represents a thundering silence," said David Brailer, the first National Health Information Technology Coordinator, appointed by George W. Bush. "Many health systems are quietly discussing how the data access and data fluidity actually benefits them in the long-run."

Here is the full list of health systems and health companies that signed the letter, not including those who chose to send their own:

Access Community Health Centers; Community Health Center Network, Alameda Health Consortium; Altru Health System; Atrius Health; Adventist Health Portland; Affirmant Health Partners; Lovelace Health System; Arc; UT Health Athens; Ardent Health Services; Bay Health; Buffalo Medical Group; Christie Clinic; Deaconess Health System; Genesis Healthcare System; Catholic Health; Community Health Network; Exact Sciences, Group Health Cooperative, South Central Wisconsin; Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates; Confluence Health; Fresenius Medical Care; Gundersen Health System; Guthrie; HonorHealth; Institute for Family Health; Mercy; UnityPoint Health; Hospital Sisters; HSHS Wisconsin; Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics; Mercy Care; VHS; HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital; HSHS St Joseph's; HSHS Illinois; Mary Washington Healthcare; Mercy Health Services; Middlesex Health; Beth Israel Lahey Health, Mt. Auburn; NYU Langone Health; PeaceHealth; Piedmont Healthcare; Northshore's Evanston Hospital; OhioHealth; Pembia County Memorial Hospital; Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services; Norton Healthcare; Parkview Health; Permanente Dental Associates; Prevea Health; River Valley Primary Care Services; Singing River Health System; University Health System; Vancouver Clinic; Riverside; Southcoast Health; Titus Regional Medical Center; UT Health San Antonio; Wellstar Medical Group; Self Regional Healthcare; SSM Health; UHS Inc. and UHS Hospitals; UW Health; West Virginia University Health System.

More here:
Epic and about 60 hospital chains come out against rules that would make it easier to share medical info - CNBC