Podcasts about vital records

Rich Hamburg, Executive Director of the Safe States Alliance, reflects on his career in public health as he prepares to retire; Marita Chilton, Senior Director of Accreditation and Recognition at the Public Health Accreditation Board, tells us about the Vital Records and Health Statistics Reaccreditation Program; and a recent episode of the Public Health Review Podcast details how your team can work across agencies to maximize investments in the social determinants of health. ASTHO Web Page: Joint and Affiliate Councils Safe States Alliance News Release: Safe States Alliance Thanks Retiring Executive Director and Announces New Executive Director Public Health Accreditation Board News Release: News PHAB Launches Reaccreditation Program for Vital Records and Health Statistics Units Public Health Review Podcast Episode: Working Strategically Across Agencies to Maximize Investments in the Social Determinants of Health ASTHO Web Page: Stay Informed  

This week, NCSEA on Location features a discussion with Erica Thornton, Policy and Paternity Unit Manager, Division of Child Support Services, Georgia Department of Human Services. Hosted by Pat O'Donnell of YoungWilliams in Illinois and Brandi Gallebo, Frankin County Child Support Enforcement Services in Ohio, the conversation focuses on the collaboration between the Georgia Division of Child Support Services and the State Office of Vital Records to establish paternity at the time of birth.  Listen as Erica describes how the program operates and the benefits each of the program's stakeholders have realized.

Kalamazoo County Clerk and Register of Deeds Meredith Place joined the show to talk about the program that offers financial aid to individuals and families who need vital records.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest this week is Danny Palo. Danny is the CEO of Vital Records Control. This company started in 1988 at $300,000.00 in annual revenue and today is at $300,000,000.00. Windjammer Capital now owns VRC and is in 80 markets with 2,000 employees.What's even more impressive is that Danny's only job prior was flipping hamburgers. He then started as a delivery driver, dropped out of college, and has run this company for nearly 40 years with a great group of long-time associates, original investors, and owners. They are one of the top leaders in their industry.The document management industry has exploded with the adoption of computers and printing, and now, there is a shift to digital.This is a great episode that covers: Why not having a college degree hasn't held Danny back Operating principles that have driven success for decades and why staying relentlessly focused on the customer drives success The value of doing a deal with the right private equity partner and what makes that work Plus, so much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with VRC Networks CEO Danny Palo!Danny- https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-palo-46650225/VRC- https://vitalrecordscontrol.com/Windjammer- www.windjammercapital.com

Clark County Public Health's Vital Records office is making changes to its regular office hours. https://tinyurl.com/5f9sfetj #ClarkCountyWa #VitalRecordsOffice #NewOfficeHours #CustomerServiceHours #BirthCertificates #DeathCertificates #ByPhone #InPerson #Appointments #VancouverWa #ClarkCountyPublicHealth #VitalRecords #ClarkCountyNews #ClarkCountyToday

Clark County Public Health's Vital Records office will be closing early on Tuesdays throughout September and into October. https://tinyurl.com/3xs5rbmn #ClarkCountyPublicHealth #VitalRecordsOffice #ClosingEarly #Tuesdays #September #October #EarlyClosures #StaffTraining #BirthCertificates #DeathCertificates #VancouverWa #ClarkCountyWa #ClarkCountyNews #ClarkCountyToday

Mariah Pokorny, Director of Accreditation & Reporting for the South Dakota Department Of Health, explains the importance of vital records and health statistics accreditation; Chantell Reed, Interim Deputy Director Of Operations at the Multnomah County Oregon Health Department, discusses how public health infrastructure grants impact health agencies' community partnerships; Maggie Davis, ASTHO Director of State Health Policy, shares state policies supporting therapeutic Psilocybin use; and registration is open to attend ASTHO's tobacco endgame webinar on June 27th.    South Dakota Department Of Health: Vital Records ASTHO Webpage: State Policies Supporting Evidence-Based Therapeutic Psilocybin Use ASTHO Webinar: Building State Readiness for the Tobacco Endgame       

E201  On this first episode of Season 2, join us on an enlightening journey as we explore the world of DIY genealogy with our inspiring guest, Ronnie, a dedicated teacher from Farmingdale, Long Island. Roni  joins Kathleen for a session that sorts out four Samuels, the Salvation Army, and why assumptions are the arch enemies of genealogy heroes.  Research Sites/ Repositories Bronx Jewish Synagogues:         http://www.bronxsynagogues.org/ic/bronxsyn/survey.htmlNYC Dept of Vital Records: https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/searchJewish Gen: https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/jgform.phpJewish Genealogy Society of NY: https://groups.jewishgen.org/g/mainFamilysearch.org:  https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&query=%2Bsubject%3Ajewish Familysearch Wiki:  Russia Jewish Records        https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Russia_Jewish_Recordsfold3.com: may have the naturalization records of parents or holder siblings born in Russia.  This database is most often  free through your library card. NY – NARA:  New York National Archives may hold naturalization records.  https://www.archives.gov/nyc USCIS. For naturalization records  after Sep 1906; some ship manifests https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-639.pdfOther ResourcesResearch Orthodox Church in America (OCA) https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2012/06/research-orthodox-church-in-america-oca.html7 Steps to Begin Jewish Genealogical Research https://blog.a3genealogy.com/2018/01/7-steps-to-begin-your-jewish-research.htmlAnd be sure to follow the a3Genealogy blog for a full blog post on this topic.Happy Research (and learning). Be sure to provide feedback for each episode. Be sure to bookmark linktr.ee/a3genealogy for your one stop access to Kathleen Brandt, the host of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen. And, visit us on YouTube: Off the Wall with Kathleen John and Chewey video recorded specials.Hittin' the Bricks is produced through the not-for-profit, 501c3 TracingAncestors.org.

Melissa Bird, Bureau Chief for the Iowa Bureau of Health Statistics, explains why vital records accreditation is important to public health; Rachel Scheckman, ASTHO Senior Policy Analyst, says new data sharing techniques in Iowa improve care for people living with HIV; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, points out the end of the public health emergency may impact state vaccine policies; and ASTHO has a new partner spotlight with Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, President of the National Association of State Offices of Minority Health.   Vital Records/Health Statistics Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships in Iowa Medicaid and Public Health Partnerships in Iowa: Improving Access to Care for People Living with HIV COVID vaccine mandate for federal workers and others is set to end May 11 Partner Spotlight: Q & A with Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, Board President of the National Association of State Offices of Minority Health    

In this very special 100th episode of the Italian Citizenship podcast you'll learn about registering your vital records with the Italian government. Italian Attorney Marco Permunian and Podcaster & Dual Citizen Expat Rafael Di Furia explore the significance of registering vital documents such as marriage, divorce, and birth certificates, as well as how this process affects individuals with Italian citizenship or those seeking it. You'll learn about different scenarios that require registering these records, from applying for citizenship by descent to the unique 1948 cases. This episode is a must-watch/listen for anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of managing vital records with the Italian authorities.For help with the Italian citizenship process and more information about Italian Citizenship Assistance visit ICA's website:https://ItalianCitizenshipAssistance.comTo contact Italian Attorney Marco Permunian and his team of dual-citizenship experts and attorneys you can use the contact form on the Italian Citizenship Assistance website:https://italiancitizenshipassistance.com/contact/To see more from Rafael Di Furia about life in Italy and life as a dual citizen expat check out his YouTube channel and website:Http://YouTube.com/RafaelDiFuriaHttp://RafaelDiFuria.com#podcast #italiancitizenship #movetoitaly 0:00 – A special message from Marco Permunian0:34 - Intro & Opening Thoughts1:20 – Why would a person would need to register their vital records in Italy?5:30 – How does all this relate to municipalities in Italy?7:28 – How can you register your documents? Do you have to fill out a special form?11:30 – How do you get all of your documents registered at these different places? Are there any differences?16:22 - Closing Thoughts & Outro

The predicted top names for new baby boys and girls in Virginia are familiar ones, according to Names.org, a site that tracks naming trends. The site predicts that Charlotte and Olivia will be the two most-popular names for newborn girls in Virginia; those names ranked first and second in the state for newborns last year, according to the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records. The predicted top name for newborn boys in the state this year – Liam – was the third-most popular name last year, according to the state's OVR. Noah (predicted second this year) was first...Article LinkSupport the show

Warwick Life host Scott Nerney talks with author and genetic genealogy coach Gerri Berger. Genetic genealogists use DNA evidence and traditional genealogical records to solve family tree mysteries. Hear how DNA testing helped Gerri find her birth father, how she became a coach, why coaches are helpful when children contact their birth parents, when to contact a genetic genealogist, and which ethnic groups are underrepresented in present-day DNA databases. Visit Gerri's website and learn about her book Living in the Know. RI is one of eleven states that allows adult adoptees (age 18 and over) unrestricted access to their own original birth certificates. If you were adopted, born in Rhode Island, and were age 18 as of July 8, 2021, you can request a non-certified copy of your original, pre-adoption birth record from the State Office of Vital Records. (Non-certified birth records cannot be used for passports, driver's licenses, etc.) Adult adoptees (age 21 and over) who were born and adopted in Rhode Island; birth parents who surrendered a child for adoption in Rhode Island; adult genetic siblings of adoptees; adoptive parents of deceased adoptees; and parents or adult siblings of deceased birth parents can register with the Family Court Voluntary Adoption Reunion Registry. Warwick Life highlights what's special in Warwick, Rhode Island and helps listeners get the most from this seaside community. Warwick Life is produced by Scott Nerney and presented by the ⁠Varnum Memorial Armory Military & Naval Museum⁠. Write to warwicklife@gmail.com. Music by Tess Der Manouelian.

Gretna Green is a term you need to know if you are searching for marriage records. In this video professional genealogist J. Mark Lowe joins me to discuss Gretna Green: what it means, why it matters, and how Gretna Greens may have affected your ability to find your ancestors' marriage records. Get the . MyHeritage Get your  Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription.  and use coupon code genealogygems   Become a Genealogy Gems Premium MemberPremium Members have exclusive access to: Video classes and downloadable handouts Monthly Elevenses with Lisa show The Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast downloadable show notes handout PDFs Become a Premium Member . Free Genealogy Gems NewsletterThe Genealogy Gems email newsletter is the best way to stay informed about what's available with your Premium eLearning Membership.  to sign up today. Follow Lisa and Genealogy Gems:

A sermon on Matthew 12:46-50 An important moment A significant response The key decision Righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son, who lived a sinless life and died on a cross as the payment of God's wrath against sin (1 John 2:2), so by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), a person can be forgiven of sin and be restored to a relationship with God, their Creator. Faith in Jesus brings about righteousness (Galatians 3:11; Habakkuk 2:4). There is no other way. As a result, our family of origin does not determine our righteousness; only a relationship with Jesus does that. Therefore, obedience to God takes precedence over responsibilities to family. 

Vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, are a valuable resource for genealogy research, providing important information about your ancestors' names, dates, and places of significant life events. In this chapter, we will explore the ins and outs of using vital records for genealogy research and show you how to make the most of this valuable resource.

- Julie's concerning search for her own Marriage Certificate - More Somerton Man news - Trenches: Red Flags from a self professed Genealogist - Talking about Orphan Trains - Part 2 of Story Time with author/adoptee Lora K Joy   Subscribe, Rate and Review! For help with your search contact Julie at www.cutoffgenes.com  

Today's blockchain and cryptocurrency news Bitcoin is down slightly at $19,462 Ethereum is down slightly at $1333 Binance Coin down 1% at $283 Aurora pays out $2M in bug bounties. California to allow vital records on blockchain Uniswap looking for $100M+ at a $1B valuation. MicroStrategy hiring DeFi-focused software engineer. Binance opens in NZ. DJ Seedphrase sells cryptopunk x2y2 hits out at Tyler Hobbs OpenSea signs deal with Warner Music Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clark County Public Health's Vital Records office is expanding its hours for in-person services to five days per week, beginning Monday (Sept. 19). https://bit.ly/3QR74w8 #ClarkCountyPublicHealth #VitalRecordsOffice #EnvirontmentalPublicHelathOffice #BirthCertificates #DeathCertificates #InPersonServices #VancouverWa #ClarkCountyWa #ClarkCountyNews #ClarkCountyToday

If you've tried and tried to find a vital record in Pennsylvania, and keep running into a brick wall, this episode is for  you. Here's 4 search strategies you can use to find birth, death, and marriage records - or really any record - in PA.Ancestry's tips to use wild cards in searches https://support.ancestry.com/s/topic/0TO150000004cAdGAI/search-records Subscribe to PA Ancestors Discoveries Newsletter [https://welcome.paancestors.com]https://welcome.paancestors.com/Make a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it! Become an Inner Circle Member Music: *My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free*, composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1788 in Philadelphia, [www.amclassical.com], Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.Support the show

Pennsylvania had a few attempts at birth records and death records that didn't work out as expected. Some failed, and some.....well, I explain what happened in this episode. Genealogists can use these record attempts to find their ancestors in PA.Pennsylvania Archives Series (books) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Archives Subscribe to **PA Ancestors Discoveries** Newsletter  [https://welcome.paancestors.com](https://welcome.paancestors.com/)Make a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it! [https://paancestors.com/testimonials/](https://paancestors.com/testimonials/) Become an **Inner Circle Member** [https://www.paancestors.com/members/](https://www.paancestors.com/members/)Music: *My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free*, composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1788 in Philadelphia, [www.amclassical.com](http://www.amclassical.com/), Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.Support the show

Genealogists get to research in a variety of records. But I have one absolute favorite record, and its a hard-to-find vital record. Listen in to what it is and where to find it.Subscribe to **PA Ancestors Discoveries** Newsletter  [https://welcome.paancestors.com](https://welcome.paancestors.com/)Make a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it! [https://paancestors.com/testimonials/](https://paancestors.com/testimonials/) Become an **Inner Circle Member** [https://www.paancestors.com/members/](https://www.paancestors.com/members/)Music: *My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free*, composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1788 in Philadelphia, [www.amclassical.com](http://www.amclassical.com/), Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.Support the show

The 19th Century was a time of change and vital records were tried, failed, and tried again in various ways. It's confusing and and I'll clear it up in this episode.Subscribe to PA Ancestors Discoveries NewsletterMake a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it!Have a question on how research in PA? Submit it here for the Research Q & ABecome an Inner Circle Member and get exclusive content while supporting the podcastCatch-up on all the past episodesMusic: My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free, composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1788 in Philadelphia, www.amclassical.com, Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.Support the show

Genealogists don't need to order certified copies or pay monthly subscription fees to get the records they want. Here are three ways to get birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses for free.Subscribe to PA Ancestors Discoveries NewsletterMake a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it!Have a question on how research in PA? Submit it here for the Research Q & ABecome an Inner Circle Member and get exclusive content while supporting the podcastCatch-up on all the past episodesMusic: My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free, composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1788 in Philadelphia, www.amclassical.com, Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.Support the show

There are three vital records family historians need for each ancestor. What are they and where do you find them?Free access to public Pennsylvania birth and death certificates for PA residentsPA Department of Health to order non-public vital records9/11 hijackers used fake identificationAncestry. com and FamilySearch.org to search for marriage licensesSubscribe to PA Ancestors Discoveries NewsletterMake a discovery about your ancestors? I'd love to hear about it!Have a question on how research in PA? Submit it here for the Research Q & ABecome an Inner Circle Member and get exclusive content while supporting the podcastCatch-up on all the past episodesMusic: My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free, composed by Francis Hopkinson in 1788 in Philadelphia, www.amclassical.com, Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.Support the show

Clark County Public Health is reopening its Environmental Public Health and Vital Records offices to in-person services. https://loom.ly/1zjOB2w #ClarkCountyPublicHealth #CCPH #OfficesReopening #InPersonServices #ServicesByAppointment #EnvironmentalPublicHealthAndVitalRecords #VancouverWa #ClarkCountyWa #ClarkCountyNews #ClarkCountyToday

Brandy's attempts to get in touch with Tiffany Dover are yielding only silence. So she heads to Chattanooga to prove that she's alive—or at least, not dead. After stakeouts at Tiffany's house and workplace don't pan out, Brandy searches everywhere for records: the police department, the Office of Vital Records, grave registries. Nothing. Brandy meets with the local TV reporter who covered the vaccination event, and who got caught up in the conspiracy theory herself, and she questions a hospital official about CHI Memorial's handling of the incident. Meanwhile, the theory is rolling right along, spreading more lies, and dragging in new victims.

Oh No! Either you have lost your copy of one of your vital documents or maybe you never had a copy, and you need one for school or work. Before the thought of going to the Vital Records office makes you anxious, listen as Alison Crane, Family & Consumer Sciences Agent, shares what you need to know to get a copy of your important records. You'll learn how to get a copy of your birth certificate, marriage license, a replacement Social Security card and death certificates for a loved one.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with a countdown to the release of the 1950 census on April 1. Then, it's a marvelous find for a family who lost a pilot uncle in World War II. Hear what was found and what has come home to the family. The guys will then tell you about another World War II unit that is receiving a Congressional Gold Medal. Dorchester Heights in Boston is the site of a statue commemorating Washington's troops' success in forcing the British out of town in 1776. David will tell you about it, and “Evacuation Day,” recently celebrated. The guys wrap up with an incredible letter written by a formerly enslaved man to his long time enslaver. You will love it! Next, Fisher visits with Joshua Taylor, President of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society in New York. In the first segment, the guys talk about the recent release of millions of images of vital records… birth, death, and marriage records… for free on the “DORIS” website. In a second segment, Fisher and Josh discuss other new assets coming online in New York research covering both city and state. David then returns for Ask Us Anything, as the guys answer your family history research questions. That's all this week on Extreme Genes, America's Family History Show!

Step 4 is to find vital records. What are vital records? Where can you find them? Listen to learn what you need to know before you search, and tips for how to find them quickly.Keep listening each week for another step/module from my online course, More Than a Name. I'm giving you a brief rundown of each of the 6 modules so that you can get a bit of an understanding of how to research a family from start to "finish." If you'd like to get the online course - GO HERE Connect with me:Instagram @moderngenealogyFacebookWebsiteYouTube

Join us this week for a segment we call “Ann in the Vault” when we invite Town Clerk Ann Quirk back in to talk about the town's vital records such as Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates: The history and importance of collecting data from certificates; How can you obtain a copy of a recent or even historic certificate; And other great information including ways to help your genealogy quest.

Tips for financial and estate planning professionals working with transgender clients to their legal name and/or gender marker, identify documents, and powers of attorney. The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, ACTEC, is a professional society of peer-elected trust and estate lawyers in the United States and around the globe. This series offers professionals best practice advice, insights and commentary on subjects that affect the profession and clients. Learn more in this podcast.

Curling is Cool Day. Inconvenience Yourself Day. National Rationalization Day. These are some of the themes supposedly associated with February 23, 2022, another day with a little more light than the one day before. I suppose it is inconvenient that it’s way too warm and there’s no local ice rink to go curling. Instead, dig in for another installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement, a podcast and newsletter that seeks everyday to emulate the principles of World Understanding and Peace Day. On today’s program:Albemarle County Executive Jeffrey Richardson presents a fiscal year budget for FY23 that’s 20 percent higher than the current yearAmazon will build a 1 million square foot fulfillment center in Fishersville Governor Youngkin signs four more bills into lawCharlottesville’s Parking Advisory Panel further discusses civilian enforcement of parking First two shout-outs go to good cheer and local mediaLet’s begin today with two Patreon-fueled shout-outs. The first comes a long-time supporter who wants you to know:"Today is a great day to spread good cheer: reach out to an old friend, compliment a stranger, or pause for a moment of gratitude to savor a delight."The second comes from a more recent supporter who wants you to go out and read a local news story written by a local journalist. Whether it be the Daily Progress, Charlottesville Tomorrow, C-Ville Weekly, NBC29, CBS19, WINA, the Crozet Gazette, or some other place I’ve not mentioned - the community depends on a network of people writing about the community. Go learn about this place today!Amazon to open fulfillment center in FishersvilleGovernor Glenn Youngkin has announced that the internet distribution company Amazon plans to open a 1 million square fulfillment center in Fishersville, creating 500 jobs where workers will specialize in packing and shipping bulky and large-sized items. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership have been working to secure the project. “It has been a great pleasure to work with the Amazon team and Augusta County to secure this major expansion by one of the world’s largest corporations,” said Shenandoah Valley Partnership Executive Director Jay A. Langston, Ph.D. “We are excited about the expanded logistics infrastructure that will exist as a result of Amazon’s location.”Youngkin said the economy is a top priority for his administration. “Amazon’s new fulfillment center in Virginia is a testament to the Commonwealth’s exceptional infrastructure, competitive business costs, and long-term commitment that I’ve made to make sure we are developing talent and training workers to make Virginia the best state for business,” Youngkin said.  Amazon has over 30,000 full-time and part-time employees in the Commonwealth of Virginia already and recently launched delivery stations in Louisa County and Waynesboro. They opened a robotic fulfillment center at Richmond Raceway in Henrico County and both a delivery center and a “cross-dock fulfillment center” in Stafford County last year. The announcement is a sign that economic development is bipartisan. Last year, the Shenandoah Valley Partnership worked with the Northam administration and the VEDP to locate: An Italian cured meats producer to Rockingham CountyThe expansion of Virginia Industrial Plastics in RockinghamA distribution center for the restaurant chain CAVA in the Mill Place Commerce Park in AugustaA factory in Rockbridge County for Modine Manufacturing Company, a company that makes cooling systems for data centersExpansion of textile-based engineering firm Ryzing TechnologiesLearn more about the announcement on Virginia Business.Youngkin signs four billsThis morning, Governor Youngkin signed four more bills that have passed both houses of the General Assembly. HB55 will require the State Registrar of Vital Records to provide a weekly update of recently deceased people to the Department of Elections “to promptly cancel the registration of a person on the list.” HB195 would allow a locality’s registrar to waive requirements for location of polling places if a suitable building cannot be found within legal parameters.HB386 adds the Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge to a list of those where D.C. and Maryland have jurisdiction to clear disable vehicles. HB971 would grant additional tax relief to Virginia businesses “Through this bill, Virginia expanded and made retroactive tax benefits related to Paycheck Protection Program loans and Rebuild Virginia grants to ensure COVID-19 aid granted to businesses would not be treated as taxable income,” reads a press release. “Altogether, this bill will save Virginia individual and business taxpayers $201 million in taxes.”Charlottesville Parking Advisory Panel discusses civilian enforcement of parkingCharlottesville in November 2020 was in a different place, with interim City Manager John Blair at the helm. At that time, the city’s Parking Advisory Panel endorsed a proposal to ask the City Council to transition enforcement of on-street parking limits from the police department to a civilian contractor. (Parking panel supports non-police enforcement, November 18, 2020)Since then, Blair left the city. Chip Boyles was hired and resigned within nine months, shortly after he terminated former Police Chief RaShall Brackney. Charlottesville’s Parking Director Rick Siebert told the panel earlier this month that neither the policy or parking enforcement appears to be a priority at this time. “I’m aware the police have a lot of challenges right now but parking seems to have fallen pretty far down the list,” Siebert said. Now the interim City Manager is Michael C. Jones, and his primary focus is getting together Charlottesville’s budget for next fiscal year. “He has not been briefed on this issue at all,” said Chris Engel, the city’s economic development director.The panel discussed whether they should bring the matter up during the city’s budget development process. Siebert said there would be be no additional revenue, but panel chair Joan Fenton said switching to a civilian firm could free up resources in a department that is understaffed. “And it would free up the [Community Service Officer] or somebody else to do other duties which they are short-handed for so perhaps it does make sense to present it as part of the budgeting,” Fenton said.Engel said it was more of a policy issue than a budget one and suggested this was not the right time to approach Jones or Council. “It might be the type of thing that a citizen could submit as an idea though rather than coming officially from one of you all,” said panel member Kirby Hutto. The panel then suggested resending its previous letter. Siebert urged them to be realistic until after the city’s FY23 budget is adopted later this spring.“We only have an acting chief of police and this kind of policy issue is just not on anyone’s radar right now compared to trying to hash out what the city is going to do about its budget,” Siebert said. Siebert suggested trying again in May. The panel agreed to wait. Third shout-out goes to Camp AlbemarleToday’s first subscriber-supported public service announcement goes out to Camp Albemarle, which has for sixty years been a “wholesome rural, rustic and restful site for youth activities, church groups, civic events and occasional private programs.”Located on 14 acres on the banks of the Moorman’s River near Free Union, Camp Albemarle continues as a legacy of being a Civilian Conservation Corps project that sought to promote the importance of rural activities. Camp Albemarle seeks support for a plan to winterize the Hamner Lodge, a structure built in 1941 by the CCC and used by every 4th and 5th grade student in Charlottesville and Albemarle for the study of ecology for over 20 years. If this campaign is successful, Camp Albemarle could operate year-round. Consider your support by visiting http://campalbemarleva.org/donate. Richardson presents $565M “Transform Albemarle” to SupervisorsA strong projection of revenues in Albemarle has led County Executive Jeffrey Richardon to present the Board of Supervisors with a budget for fiscal year 2023 that is twenty percent higher than the existing year. (download the budget)“This fiscal year’s recommended budget is built to transform Albemarle,” Richardson said. The property tax rate will remain at 85.4 cents per $100 assessed value. Property assessments in Albemarle are up an average of 8.4 percent in 2022. Sales tax, food and beverage tax, and transient occupancy taxes are up 17.1 percent from FY21.However, Richardson said not all signs are positive. “We are mindful that those indicators don’t highlight some of the challenges in the local economy,” Richardson said. “The prices that consumers are paying have risen, they’ve risen by 7.5 percent when comparing January 2022 to January 2021. Gas prices are up nearly 40 percent from where they were a year ago. Participants in the SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program remain higher than in pre pandemic 2019.” Richardson said he has had direction from Supervisors to reduce the amount of the county’s budget that is based on the property tax. In fiscal year 2007, sixty percent of Albemarle’s revenue came from that source, but that has increased to 68.5 percent in the current year’s budget.The budget is built on an increase in the food and beverage tax from two percent to six percent, and an increase in the transient lodging tax from three percent to eight percent. That would match the same rates in Charlottesville. “Thousands of people visit our community for vacations, sporting events, weddings, and to visit our natural and historic resources,” Richardson said. “We are also a regional hub for commercial activity. Increasing our taxes in these two areas means we can begin to shift revenues away from the people who live here and spread it out more broadly to those who are visiting our community.”The budget also anticipates lowering the personal property tax rate by 86 cents due to a sharp increase in the valuation of used vehicles.“We’ve been given the authority for a local cigarette tax which went into effect in January,” Richardson said. “A plastic bag tax which we will be exploring in the coming months. Richardson highlighted several areas of new spending in the budget. A Community Response Team will be created to respond to “individuals in crisis with a cross-functional team” consisting of social workers, police, and firefighters. The funding source is the cigarette tax authorized by the General Assembly in recent years. “Depending on the details of the call, this team will adapt their response to best meet the critical needs of the person, ensuring the safety of all parties involved,” Richardson said. “This program responds to a troubling growth in mental health call services that have unique needs.” The capital budget for fiscal year 2023 anticipates spending the highest one-year amount in county history. In fiscal year 2006, the figure was $23 million and the Albemarle population was around 91,400. Now the population is estimated at 114,424 and the recommended capital budget for next year represents a need to catch up.“For fiscal year ‘23 the recommended capital budget is approximately $93 million and I would like to note that in 2010 and in 2011 these years were impacted by the Great Recession and in 2021 by the pause in the capital program due to the pandemic,” Richardson said.A fire engine at Pantops Station 16 will be operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Seven days a week to further support the strength of the fire rescue system and to reduce reliance on Charlottesville Fire for calls east of the City,” Richardson said The capital budget also has funding to increase space to address increasing enrollments in Albemarle public schools.“The budget recommendations will over the next five years advance three new public school projects to address capacity needs within our school system,” Richardson said. “Two elementary schools. One in the northern feeder pattern and one from the south, and a second high school center.”Biscuit Run Park will be opened with five miles of trails and athletic fields.“This is a 1,200 acre natural park within the county’s development area and it will provide a park experience unlike any of our other parks, combining the natural features of our rural parks with athletic amenities that you’d expect in an urban park,” Richardson said. In recent years, Albemarle has been putting money into a line item to match other sources of funding. “This budget recommends continued investments in our transportation leveraging program which provides local funding to draw down state funding for road and bike and pedestrian improvements,” Richardson said. Some of the American Rescue Plan Act funding will be used to pay for the cost of some urban Albemarle properties to be connected to the sewer system.“There is a connection cost that can be out of reach for many homeowners,” Richardson said. “The proposed program will provide fiscal support to low-income households in making that shift as the age of these homes and the infrastructure attached to them is reaching a tipping point where the failure of a septic system in the urban area presents a real environmental health hazard.” Other aspects of the budget: There’s a four percent market adjustment for staffThe county will pick up funding of the Yancey Community Center once a grant from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation expires. The county will fund a microtransit project on Pantops and the Places-29 areaWork to implement the Housing Albemarle plan will be paid for through a combination of the budget surplusThe public hearing on Richardson’s recommended budget will be held virtually on March 2. Work sessions will be held throughout that month before a public hearing on the tax rate on April 27 and the version of the budget marked up by Supervisors. Approval is set for May 9. Supervisors had a few comments in advance of the public hearing next week. Several expressed concern that action in this year’s General Assembly may affect the budget. It will be the first budget for new Supervisor Jim Andrews (Samuel Miller). “A lot of times I’ve always been advised that when you try to figure out what’s a priority in any organization it’s not to ask what they’re doing but what they’re not doing,” Andrews said. Supervisor Ann Mallek (White Hall) has been through over a dozen budget cycles so far, including during the Great Recession when the capital budget was slashed. “That reduction of $100 million in new projects three and four years in a row is why we have the backlog that we have,” Mallek said. “We are making a valiant effort at catch-up with available one-time money that is a once-in-a-lifetime generational thing to have at hand.”Supervisor Donna Price (Scottsville) praised staff for reducing the personal property tax.“We talk about using equity and inclusion in our decisions and your proposal here to reduce the personal property tax provides an across the county truly equitable calculation of relief for our community members,” Price said. “We do have so many people who are in tenancies and almost everyone has to rely on their vehicle for transportation because of the nature of our county being so rural in so many areas.” More to come in the very near future. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

There is no holiday today, at least not officially. For the most part, there’s nothing special about today at all, unless you have a lot of love… for local and regional government! If so, this and every other installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement will take aim at your heart, mind, or wherever in your metaphorical sense of self where new information is supposed to go. I’m your host, Sean Tubbs, trying to look whatever the opposite of cherubic is. On today’s program:Governor Glenn Youngkin issues a PSA asking people to get vaccinated but stops well short of a mandateCharlottesville City Council transfers some federal money for a sidewalk to fire prevention measuresA General Assembly wrap-up before Crossover DayA survey is now available seeking input on two options for a pedestrian bridge across the Rivanna River A very brief update on Charlottesville’s zoning updateShout-out to Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards In today’s subscriber-supported Public Service Announcement, the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards continues to offer classes winter and spring to increase your awareness of our wooden neighbors and to prepare for the future. The next event is February 22 at 7 p.m. when tree steward Emily Ferguson will help you look beyond the monotonous winter forest by focusing on the finer details that will help you differentiate between species of trees. Learn more at charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org. (register for the February 22 session) Governor Youngkin asks Virginians to get vaccinatedThis morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports an average of 3,783 new COVID cases and the seven-day percent positivity has dropped to 11.1 percent. That’s down from 19.7 percent a week ago. In the Blue Ridge Health District today there were 46 new cases and the percent positivity is at 14.6 percent. The Virginia Healthcare and Hospital Association reports 1,676 patients in hospital with a positive COVID test.  That’s down from 3,845 a month ago. As of today, 70.9 percent of Virginia’s total population is considered fully vaccinated, but a smaller portion of that number has received a booster or third dose. That figure is 2,754,159. Today Governor Glenn Youngkin launched a public service announcement encouraging people to get a vaccine, but that he will do nothing to require that anyone get one. “In Virginia, there’s a better day right around the corner,” Youngkin said. “I won’t mandate it but the vaccine is the best way to protect our loved ones, our lives, and our livelihoods.” Youngkin said he and his family decided to get the vaccine.“While the vaccine won’t completely prevent you from contracting COVID-19, it makes it far less likely that you will be hospitalized or die from the virus,” Youngkin said. Last week, the CDC released a study indicating that those who have only have had two doses likely have their immunity fade after four months, but more study is needed to determine the efficacy of the booster or third dose. This morning the University of Virginia Health System announced that additional visitation will be once again allowed at various facilities. A press releases this is due to decreasing COVID cases. Visitors must wear a mask at all times and and cannot have any symptoms or contagious diseases. Public spaces including cafeterias and lobbies remain closed. Visit the UVA Health website for more details.Route 151 / U.S. 250 roundabout constructionConstruction of a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 250 and Route 151 in Albemarle County is moving ahead. This week, a section of  Route 151 in northwest Nelson County will be closed overnight to allow installation of pipes for three waterways to be temporarily diverted during the project’s construction. According to a release, traffic will be detoured using Goodloe Lane and Old Turnpike Road from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night.The project is one of several funded in the second round of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Smart Scale process. Smart Scale is a system that funds projects based on a series of criteria including decreasing congestion and improving public safety. The application lists the reasoning for the project. “US 250 is not able to handle overflow when incidents occur on I-64 resulting in significant delays,” reads the application. Other Smart Scale projects funded that year include changes to I-64’s exit 118, conversion of exit 124 to a diverging diamond, and a roundabout at the intersection of Proffit Road and Route 20. Applications for Round 5 are currently being prepared. For more information on what the candidate projects are, visit the Smart Scale site on the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Rivanna pedestrian bridge survey openOne of those 5th round candidates is a pedestrian bridge across the Rivanna River to connect Woolen Mills and Pantops. Two choices are being reviewed by a stakeholder committee who will make a recommendation to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization. A survey is now open through March 4 to gauge public feedback. Visit the TJPDC’s website for more information. See also: Rivanna bridge options narrowed to two, January 12, 2022Decision point looming for Rivanna bike and pedestrian bridge, February 2, 2022Charlottesville zoning updateCharlottesville has begun the process of updating the city’s zoning code to reflect both an affordable housing plan and a Comprehensive Plan that seeks to increase the number of places to live within city limits. An internal review by city staff took place on Thursday, according to Neighborhood Development Services Director Jim Freas. ‘We’re slowly building up,” Freas said. “The first product is a diagnostic and approach report. Things will really ramp up once that’s released. We are targeting a mid-April date for the release of that report.” Mark your calendar. Meanwhile, Albemarle County’s Comprehensive Plan review kicks off this week with three pop-up events and a virtual meeting on Thursday. Read the Week Ahead newsletter for more information. See also: Charlottesville zoning rewrite to begin this year, January 12, 2022A portion of Franklin Street sidewalk funding going to pay for fire prevention kitsLater this week, a task force appointed by City Council to make recommendations for how federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are spent will meet. Earlier this month, Council agreed to reallocate money a previous task force had opted to spend on a sidewalk on Franklin Street in Belmont, but less than staff had suggested. (staff report)Erin Atak is the city’s grants coordinator. “On January 14, 2021, Charlottesville was found to be noncompliant for the second consecutive year with CDBG requirements,” Atak said. “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development] noted that Charlottesville’s lack of spending performance was an issue.” Atak said the city receives about $400,000 a year in CDBG funding from HUD and they want it to be be spent within a certain time. Based on the recommendation of a task force, Council selected the sidewalk project and its scope was much bigger than originally anticipated.  The goal right now is to address the timeliness issue. “By May, the city is required to spend approximately $227,973,” Atak said. Atak said the money can be used to address the COVID-19 pandemic. When she sent around an internal request to city departments to see if they had any projects that would fit the bill, the Charlottesville Fire Department had a project to spend $217,200. “The Fire Department listed several housing maintenance activities which included smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, stove top fire-stop installation and CPR-assist devices, all of which are HUD-eligible, could meet City Council priorities to provide homeowner rehab, and entitlement funding in the Ridge Street and Belmont priority neighborhoods,” Atak said. Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook asked if the balance could be given to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville for their projects on Nassau Street. Atak said that projects that receive federal funding are subject to much more scrutiny, and the money would not be spent in time. Snook pushed. “I mean, is that something where it’s ‘come on, if someone just pushed the pedal to the metal we can make this happen’, or is it  ‘come on, this is the federal government you’re talking about.’ In other words, how serious is the risk this doesn’t get done if we suggest the money should go to that cause?”Two members of city staff responded in unison. “It’s very serious,” Atak sad “It’s very serious,” said Alexander Ikefuna, the city’ interim director of the Office of Community Solutions.” Councilor Sena Magill said she supported this use of funding, especially for carbon monoxide detectors which she said the Fire Department often can’t provide.“It’s one of those things that keeps getting kicked off down the road and whenever the Fire Department has a little extra somewhere, they try to put it into this,” Magill said. “And keeping houses from burning down is a way to keep them affordable, too.” Councilor Michael Payne expressed concern about how this information was presented to the elected body. “I don’t think the process was adequate enough to feel like I was presented with options to choose from,” Payne said. “I feel a little boxed in in terms of being presented only one option and given this point in this process. That boxing in to make one decision. I do feel like this was a wasted opportunity to at least evaluate and look as a policy option for Council at possible expenditures on vitally needed affordable housing needs.”To that end, Council opted to spend less money than staff had suggested with $140,585.49 to the Fire Department rather than a higher amount recommended. Councilor Payne still voted no. Shout out to the League of Women Voters Natural Resources CommitteeIn today’s second subscriber supported public service announcement, the Natural Resources Committee of the League of Women Voters of the Charlottesville Area wants you to know a webinar coming up on Tuesday, February 15, at noon. They’ll talk about Renewable Sources of Electrical Power: Challenges and Promises. How can we develop renewable sources without endangering our ecological systems? The seminar will feature Dan Holmes from the Piedmont Environmental Council and Jeff Hammond with Apex Clean Energy. They’ll address some of the complexities in switching utility scale electric power from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Register for the Zoom and get ready to learn!General Assembly updateWe are one day from Crossover Day in the General Assembly, so let’s check the statistics before the action begins today! This was up to date as of 7 a.m. this morning.  A total of 2,501 bills and resolutions have been introduced, and 351 of them have been killed through various actions. Another 143 will come back in 2023. The Senate’s passed 592 pieces of legislation and the House of Delegates has passed 572. The Senate has passed four bills from the House of Delegates that have already crossed over, but the House of Delegates has yet to do the same. Those bills include a non-controversial bill that would require the State Registrar of Vital Records to update the Board of Elections once a week of people who have died so they can be removed from the voter rolls. (HB55)Other bills that have passed the Senate and require House passage include:A bill to require absentee ballots to be sorted in the precinct where the voter lives as opposed to a central district passed the Senate unanimously, (SB3)Localities would be required to provide data to the state once a year on emergency sheltering capabilities if SB60 passes. The Senate passed it unanimously. Martinsville voters will decide whether to revert to town status in a bill that passed the Senate 32 to 8. (SB85) A similar bill (HB173) passed the House on a 82 to 18 vote and is before the Senate Local Government Committee. The Town of St. Charles in Lee County would be terminated under SB589 which passed unanimously. (SB589)Sports betting establishments and casinos won’t be able to use the phrase “Virginia is for Bettors” under SB96, which passed the Senate unanimously. A bill to create the Virginia Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation fund passed the Senate on a 30 to 10 vote. (SB158)A bill to require those who display a Farm Use tag on their vehicle to get it from the Department of Motor Vehicles passed the Senate unanimously. (SB186) Similar legislation has passed the House of Delegates. (HB179)Currently several localities in the James River watershed have combined sewer and stormwater systems which results in effluent to be released into waterways. The Senate passed a bill on a 36 to 4 to speed up the deadline to change that from 2035 to 2030. (SB354)In 2020, the General Assembly passed legislation requiring the creation of a Marcus Alert system that would alert public safety responders of a person’s mental state so that a non-violent response could be made by trained mental health specialists. The Senate passed a blll unanimously to clarify that participation by localities would be optional. (SB361)Hazing that leads to someone’s death would be a class 5 felony under SB440, which passed the Senate on a 30 to 10 vote. The Department of Corrections would need to convene a work group to review fees charges to inmates for various services such as telephone use, meals, and medical records if this bill also passes the House. The Senate approved it on a 31 to 9 vote. (SB441)Under SB491, the Virginia African Diaspora Advisory Board would be established to advise the Governor on ways to increase trade and cultural exchange between Virginia and African nations. The passed the Senate unanimously. A bill to allow for recall elections for certain officers passed the Senate on a 21 to 18 vote. (SB495)A bill to create a grant program to help localities develop wildlife corridor plans and implement them passed on a 29 to 10 vote. (SB707)Now let’s go to the House of Delegates.Virginia law currently states that elementary and secondary students cannot be considered to be engaged in disorderly conduct if they’re on school property. HB89 would change that to refer to kindergarten through 8th grade, paving the way for high school students to be potentially be arrested for “public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof.” That passed the House of Delegates on a 52 to 48 vote. Virginia has a shortage of mental health beds. HB105 would study the transformation of Catawba Hospital into a facility for substance abuse treatment and recovery services. This passed the House on a 99 to 0 vote. Currently, invasive plant species can be sold in Virginia. Under HB314, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services would need to develop signage to be given to retailers to point out the benefits of native plants and the hazrds of invasive ones. This passed the House 99 to 0. A bill to allow parks authorities the ability to install electric vehicle chargers passed the House on a 94 to 6 vote. (HB443)A bill to allow home-schooled children the ability to play in public school sports passed the House 50 to 49. (HB551)Stealing catalytic converters would be a Class 6 felony under HB740 which passed the House on a 69 to 30 vote.A bill to require voters to present a photo ID before casting a ballot passed 52 to 48. (HB1090)A bill to require School Boards to hold a public hearing before adopting cultural competency requirements passed 51 to 48. (HB1093)Seventh and eighth graders in public school would have to undergo at least one hour of personal safety training in physical education class if HB1215 makes it through. The House adopted it 99 to 0. Support the program!Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Laura Richard, Ft Bend's County Clerk in Texas. As a business owner, the County Clerk's office can be a valueble resource to grow and gather information needed when research is necessary. Not only to they handle the standard Birth Certificates & Vital Records, they are involved in Commissioner's Court, Court Records, and more. Their website is filled with records dating back to the 1800s! www.fortbendcountytx.gov. To reach her office directly call 281-341-8685 or go online to: https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/county-clerk. Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/FBCountyClerk or https://twitter.com/FBCountyClerk. If you liked today's show - please let Laura know by either contacting her at laura@fisherpodcast.com or give her a great review. Also, if you know of someone who would be an inspiring guests, let her know… even if it's you. Until then… "You better be Up to something!"SPONSORED BY: Business E Suites in Sugar Land, TX.  https://businessesuites.com/ Perfect place to grow your business. 281-862-3150

This is not the day that repeats and to my knowledge there are no important prognostications or forecasts that I am aware of. But this is the first day of the second month of the current year, and there may be sayings that I am not saying, except to say hello and welcome to the February 1 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and podcast that does repeat in the sense that it comes out as often as possible. I’m Sean Tubbs, here are the things I have to say: On today’s program:The University of Virginia is in the early stages of creating a new master plan for the future of its land use A bill to extend oyster season is one of several bills that has passed the Virginia Senate, and I have a small rundownThe housing market in the Charlottesville area shows signs of cooling downCamp Albemarle shout-out!Today’s first subscriber-supported public service announcement goes out to Camp Albemarle, which has for sixty years been a “wholesome rural, rustic and restful site for youth activities, church groups, civic events and occasional private programs.”Located on 14 acres on the banks of the Moorman’s River near Free Union, Camp Albemarle continues as a legacy of being a Civilian Conservation Corps project that sought to promote the importance of rural activities. Camp Albemarle seeks support for a plan to winterize the Hamner Lodge, a structure built in 1941 by the CCC and used by every 4th and 5th grade student in Charlottesville and Albemarle for the study of ecology for over 20 years. If this campaign is successful, Camp Albemarle could operate year-round. Consider your support by visiting http://campalbemarleva.org/donate. Pandemic updateCOVID’s omicron surge continues to recede, though numbers are still higher than at most points of the pandemic. Today the Virginia Department of Health reports another 6,055 new cases and the seven-day percent positivity dropped to 24.5 percent. The Blue Ridge Health District reports another 130 new cases today and the percent positivity in the district is at 22.4 percent. Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved the Moderna version of the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been authorized for emergency use since December 18, 2020 and will now be marketed as Spikevax. (release)Black History Month begins todayFebruary 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month, and Governor Glenn Youngkin has issued a proclamation to mark the occasion that cites leadership provided by Black Virginians including former Governor Doug Wilder as well as Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, the first woman of color to be elected to statewide office. The proclamation also recognizes the roles played by Dr. Robert Russa Moton, Maggie Lena Walker, and Dorothy Height. Each of those links goes to Encyclopedia Virginia, where you can learn more. (read the proclamation)CAAR: Residential sales in region beginning to cool The housing market in the Charlottesville area continued to increase in price with constrained inventory, though there are signs of cooling. Sales were down five percent but sales prices were up six percent according to an analysis published this morning by the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors. “There were 436 active listings across the CAAR footprint at the end of the fourth quarter, which is 33 percent fewer listings than this time last year,” reads the report. The report suggests more homes are on the way. Housing construction was up 34 percent in the first eleven months of 2021 compared to the previous year. “Between 2020 and 2021, the number of permits for new single-family homes increased by 15 percent, while the number of permits for multifamily units more than doubled,” the report continues. The report also breaks matters down by jurisdiction. Sales were up 14 percent in Charlottesville in the fourth quarter of 2021 and up 15 percent in Greene County. However, sales were down 14 percent in Fluvanna and 38 percent in Nelson County. The median price in Charlottesville was down was one percent, but was 26 percent higher in Nelson. Check out the report for more information on consumer confidence, mortgage interest rates, employment, and many other economic indicators.General Assembly update: Split Senate votes on law enforcement notification, funding for kidney disease Let’s continue with another quick update on the status of some legislation in the Virginia General Assembly beginning with a bill that has passed the House of Delegates.The House passed a bill 99 to 0 to require companies that charge for services on a continuing basis to notify the consumer at the end of a seven-day trial period. (HB78)The Senate passed a bill 40 to 0 to direct the Department of Education to develop policies to inform coaches, parents, and guardians about the risks of heat-related illness. (SB161)The Senate also passed a bill to direct the State Registrar of Vital Records to update the Department of Elections once a week with names of people who have died. The vote was 32-8. (SB211)The two parties split 21 to 19 on a bill to create the Renal Disease Council and a fund to support people with kidney disease. (SB241)Another party line vote was held on a bill that would require law enforcement officers to tell a motorist why they have been pulled over before identification must be presented. (SB246)A bill that would clarify the definition of composting also passed the Senate on a unanimous vote. (SB248)Food manufacturers that operate in historic buildings would be exempt from certain laws and regulations if SB305 also passed the House of Delegates. The Senate passed this bill from Senator Creigh Deeds (D-25)The Senate passed a bill 39 to 1 to create the Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority to be made up of Williamsburg and the counties of James City and York. (SB438)A bill to extend oyster season to March 31 passed the Senate on a 39 to 0 vote. (SB629)Second shout-out goes to Code for CharlottesvilleCode for Charlottesville is seeking volunteers with tech, data, design, and research skills to work on community service projects. Founded in September 2019, Code for Charlottesville has worked on projects such as an expungement project with the Legal Aid Justice Center, a map of Charlottesville streetlights, and the Charlottesville Housing Hub. Visit codeforcville.org to learn about those projects.MPO Policy Board briefed on the UVA Master PlanReaders and listeners should know by now that planning is a constant theme of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Tonight the Albemarle Planning Commission will get an update on the county’s Comprehensive Plan process. Visit the new engage.albemarle.org to learn more about AC44 (which is also a regular Air Canada flight between Vancouver and New Dehli). Staff and consultants are at work on the third phase of Charlottesville’s Cville Plans Together initiative, which will see the rewriting of the city’s zoning code.But how does the University of Virginia plan for its future? Something called the Grounds Framework Plan. Julia Monteith is the Associate University Planner and she briefed the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization on January 26. “The last one of these that we did was completed in 2008 and we roughly due them on a ten-year cycle,” Monteith said. (read the 2008 plan)Creation of the next plan was to have begun in 2020, but as with many things, the pandemic got in the way. “The world had other plans for us so the project went on hold,” Monteith said. Last spring, UVA hired a consultant called Urban Strategies to do some of the background work. The Toronto-based firm recently completed a master plan for Princeton University.“This plan will take about a year and they’re planning to wrap it up in fall of next year and so to date what they’ve been doing is really coming up to speed, doing a background review, data assembly, interviews, and quite a bit of analysis and understanding of who we are and what we’ve done to date,” Monteith said. Monteith said the plan will help to physically implement the Great and Good University Plan, which was adopted in August 2019 as UVA’s strategic plan. One of the strategic goals in that document is to “be a strong partner with and good neighbor to the Charlottesville region.” A key initiative is the “Good Neighbor Program.” The next Grounds Framework will update the 2008 plan which Monteith said called for compact growth and redevelopment of existing sites where possible. “We’ll be considering the Grounds and for those who may not be familiar, we delineate the Grounds into three precincts—Central Grounds, West Ground, and North Grounds with the Academical Village at the center of Central Grounds,” Monteith said.All of those properties are owned by the state of Virginia through the Rector of the Board of Visitors. The University of Virginia Foundation also owns property throughout the community and some of that will also be addressed in the plan update. “We’re also going to be considering the context of some of the Foundation properties,” Monteith said. “Westover, Boar’s Head, Birdwood, Foxhaven and the [Blue Ridge Sanitorium].”In the context of the plan, these properties are not intended for new facilities any time soon but instead are intended to be “spheres of influence” for development into the future. Monteith said there is a lot of capacity for redevelopment within the Central Grounds area. Urban Strategies will also take into account a Strategic Framework for Academic Space from 2018 and a Landscape Framework Plan from 2019. There’s also a key transportation study as well. “In 2019, we completed our third parking and transportation plan,” Montieth said. “This plan really takes a hybrid approach towards transportation that really looks at transportation demand management balanced with more traditional transportation planning.” Among other things, this plan seeks to limit the number of parking spaces that UVA will need to build by offering alternatives to driving alone in a single occupancy vehicle. In all there are eighteen strategies, ranging from “reorganize commuter and student parking to reduce event impact and enhance commuter service” to “evaluate need to build new parking facilities in the long term.” Back to the idea of redevelopment. Monteith said a master plan is completed for each one before construction begins. That includes Brandon Avenue, Emmet-Ivy, Ivy Mountain, Fontaine, and more. There’s also Ivy Gardens, which is owned currently by the UVA Foundation. The Grounds Plan update is intended to bring it all together. (See also: UVA making plan for Ivy Garden redevelopment, June 9, 2021)“A framework plan of this type is going to be looking at place and character, land use and facilities, and transportation, but equally important to us are equity and inclusivity, community well-being, and sustainability,” Monteith said. One theme is to continue to move more medical programs and outpatient services from the West Complex to the Fontaine Research Park.UVA has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and fossil-free by 2050 and the Grounds Plan will take this into account, and how UVA will work with Albemarle and Charlottesville to achieve those mutual goals, as well as others. “Of course I think you are all aware that UVA is committed to facilitating the development of 1,000 to 1,500 affordable housing units, so that’s part of our discussion also,” Monteith said. Those are at the UVA North Fork Discovery Park, the Piedmont site on Fontaine Avenue, and Wertland Street. Monteith said the plan also will provide opportunities to think how the University Transit Service can work better with Charlottesville Area Transit and Jaunt to improve the regional transportation system. Supervisor Ann Mallek said she wants the University to make an investment to connect Old Ivy Road to points south. At the eastern end, there’s currently a narrow railroad tunnel with no sidewalk or other concessions for pedestrians and Mallek said that needs to change. “I do hope that the University will take on its responsibility for dealing with that trestle either with a walk over the top or something for pedestrians because it really is dangerous every day for the people who live there now,” Mallek said. Monteith said Old Ivy Road is the responsibility of the Virginia Department of Transportation, and she said the University is working with VDOT on potential solutions for both ends of the roadway. In addition to the Ivy Residences, Greystar Development is seeking to build over 400 units at the western end of the roadway. “We’re waiting to hear back from what the thinking is to approach that and long-term it has been discussed that it’s a priority for [Albemarle] County should funding appear but it’s quite a challenge to figure out how to realign the road to better move through that railroad trestle,” Monteith said. More information on the development of this plan, and all of the other plans, will come in future installments of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Support the program!Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to January 4, which goes by many names. It’s National Trivia Day, according to nationaldaycalendar.com. It’s also National Spaghetti Day and National Missouri Day, two more pieces of information you might not necessarily need to know, but there you are. Another piece of information is that this is Charlottesville Community Engagement. Who is the host? Send me your best guess.Charlottesville Community Engagement is a service of Town Crier Productions that depends on contributions from readers and listeners. Sign up for free today and decide later if you’d like to support the show with a subscription.  On today’s show:A winter storm has caused various delays and power outages through the region with the effects still being felt this morningThe ARB seeks changes to a three-story self-storage building proposed at the intersection of U.S. 250 and Crozet Avenue The Blue Ridge Health District will hold a town hall on the pandemic tonight, and people between the age of 12 and 15 are now eligible for the Pfizer boosterGovernor Youngkin appoints more staff as well as key positions in veteran services Virginia sets up a mortgage relief fund Today’s first subscriber-supported public service announcement goes out to Camp Albemarle, which has for sixty years been a “wholesome rural, rustic and restful site for youth activities, church groups, civic events and occasional private programs.”Located on 14 acres on the banks of the Moorman’s River near Free Union, Camp Albemarle continues as a legacy of being a Civilian Conservation Corps project that sought to promote the importance of rural activities. Camp Albemarle seeks support for a plan to winterize the Hamner Lodge, a structure built in 1941 by the CCC and used by every 4th and 5th grade student in Charlottesville and Albemarle for the study ecology for over 20 years. If this campaign is successful, Camp Albemarle could operate year-round. Consider your support by visiting their website to make a donation. Storm aftermathThousands of homes throughout the region continue to be without power a day after a winter storm charged through the area one day after temperatures in the sixties. Downed tree branches due to heavy snow have knocked out power lines. As of 9 a.m. this morning, Dominion Energy reported 21,152 customers without power in Albemarle and 4,619 customers in Charlottesville. Nearly all customers in Louisa remained without power as the sun rose. Around two-thirds of Fluvanna customers were without power. Consult their outage map for updated information. The storm canceled the meetings of both the Louisa County Board of Supervisors and the Charlottesville City Council. Louisa will meet tonight beginning at 5 p.m. to select a chair and vice chair before going into closed session. The new City Council will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. to go into closed session before an open session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Trash service in the city of Charlottesville was delayed yesterday and has been canceled for today. That will mean a two-day delay for city residents beginning tomorrow when Monday’s service will resume. The service week will conclude on Sunday. Learn more in this release.Elsewhere in Virginia, I-95 south of D.C. remains close at publication with reports of thousands of stranded drivers. That includes Senator Tim Kaine. Pandemic update: FDA approved Pfizer booster for 12+The omicron surge continues in Virginia with the Virginia Department of Health reporting another 15,449 new cases and the percent positivity statewide has now increased to 29.9 percent. The percent positivity in the Blue Ridge Health District is at 22.8 percent and there are 326 new cases. District officials will hold a virtual town hall meeting tonight beginning at 7 p.m. and the main topic is local guidance on new CDC rules related to quarantine and isolation following a diagnosis. (meeting info)On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration expanded the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in three ways. Individuals between the age of 12 and 15 will soon be able to get a single booster dose. They’ve also allowed a shortening of the time between completing the first two doses and the booster to a minimum of five months. Thirdly, children between five and 11 with certain immunocompromised conditions will also be able for a third shot of the primary series. According to a press release, the FDA analyzed data from Israel where the booster has been authorized for those between 12 and 15. They argue the data shows the benefits of protection from new variants outweighs the potential risks. Virginia Mortgage Relief If you or someone you know is having trouble paying your mortgage, the Commonwealth of Virginia has a new relief program. Applications are now open for the program, which follows on the heels of the Virginia Rent Relief Program. “The Commonwealth has implemented rent and mortgage relief programs through designated state and federal resources,” reads a press release from outgoing Governor Ralph Northam. “Combined, these programs have provided more than $519.5 million in 106,621 rent relief payments for more than 76,500 households across Virginia.”The funding source for the new program comes from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Homeowner’s Assistance Fund. To be eligible, households need to demonstrate a reduction of income after January of 2020. For more information, visit virginiamortgagerelief.com.Youngkin names top staff, two key Veterans’ positionsGovernor-elect Glenn Youngkin will take office in less than two weeks, and he continues to flesh out his cabinet. Yesterday he names a chief of staff and other top positions. Richard Cullen will serve as Counselor, Jeff Goettman will serve as Chief of Staff, and Rebecca Glover will be Assistant Chief of Staff and Communications Director. Eric Moeller will be the Chief Transformation Officer. Cullen is a senior partner at the law firm McGuireWoods who served as Attorney General in 1997. Previous clients have included former Vice President Mike Pence and former FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Learn more about the appointments in a release on the transition website.This morning, Youngkin appointed Craig Crenshaw to serve as his Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. Crenshaw is a former marine who is currently the president of Claxton Logistics Services. Dan Gade will be the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services. Gade is a veteran of the second Iraq War who lost his right leg in 2005. He is the co-founder of The Independence Project and was also the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in the 2020 race won by Senator Mark Warner. More 2022 General Assembly bills  Eight days to go until the 2022 General Assembly begins, and volume of pre–filed bills is still low enough to report. Once the session begins, action moves fast. Senator John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake) filed a bill requiring the state Registrar to amend death certificates within 30 days if there is new evidence and information. (SB55)Senator Barbara Favola (D-Arlington) filed legislation to establish a Foster Care Prevention program intended to encourage children to be placed with relatives. (SB56)Senator Favola has another bill that would establish the School Health Services Committee to provide guidance on any proposals that might require local school boards to provide health services. (SB62)Senator Mamie Locke (D-Hampton) filed a bill to amend the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act to exempt gift tickets or admission fees if the responsible person is using them to perform official duties. (SB57)Delegate Ronnie Campbell (R-24) wants to add zoos to the list of entities from which animals can be seized if they are being treated cruelly. (HB53)Incoming Delegate Karen Greenhalgh (R-85) would require absentee ballots to sorted by precinct. (HB54)Greenhalgh also submitted a bill to require the State Registrar of Vital Records to transmit a list of recent deaths to the Department of Elections on a weekly basis for the purpose of taking the deceased off the voter rolls. Currently they must do so monthly. (HB55)Delegate Bill Wiley (R-29) filed a bill to provide enhanced retirement benefits for juvenile detention specialists. (HB56)Incoming Delegate Tim Anderson (R-83) would limit the power of a governor’s declaration of emergency to 45 days without General Assembly approval. (HB57)Delegate Glenn Davis (R-84) has a bill that would prevent localities from placing minimum wage and benefit requirements when procuring services from contractors. (HB58)Delegate John McGuire (R-56) would require school principals to notify law enforcement of any acts that could be construed as a misdemeanor. (HB59)McGuire has another bill seeking permission for the Town of Louisa to appoint five to seven members to an economic development authority. Currently the code specifies seven. (HB60)McGuire has another bill that would allow individuals who work as both an employee and a volunteer for a public entity to be able to earn overtime for the employment portion of their service. (HB61)Senator Travis Hackworth (R-38) filed a bill to require the chief of police of a dissolved department to relinquish records to the sheriff of that locality. Seems specific. (SB59)Hackworth has another bill that would move the deadline for political subdivisions to provide information on emergency sheltering capacity to the State Coordinator of Emergency Management from May to August. (SB60)Hackworth also filed legislation to allow judges, law-enforcement officers, attorneys, and judges to carry concealed weapons in areas where they may otherwise be prohibited. (SB61)Distilleries would be allowed to sell products directly to consumers via the Internet if a bill from Senator Frank Ruff (R-15) becomes law. (SB65)Today’s second subscriber-supported public service announcement: The Charlottesville Jazz Society at cvillejazz.org is dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and perpetuation of all that  jazz, and there’s no time like now to find a time to get out and watch people love to play. The Charlottesville Jazz Society keeps a running list of what’s coming up at cvillejazz.org. This Thursday, the Charles Owens Trio will play Potter’s Craft Cider and on Saturday the Eric Franzen Trio plays at Early Mountain Vineyards. Sign up today to see the rest!Further delays for Smith Aquatic CenterJanuary 3 had been the expected reopening day for the Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center in Charlottesville, but further repair is needed for the facility which opened in 2010. However, a release that went out this morning now states that Smith will remain closed until a “spring 2022 reopening.”Smith has been plagued with ventilation issues since soon after it opened. According to a 2015 Daily Progress article, the facility closed for several weeks in 2015 for installation of new exhaust systems. The pool closed again in April 2019 for repairs and was slated to be closed in the spring of 2020 for a $1.8 million repair that has not yet been completed. Crow Indoor Pool is open. ARB seeks smaller scale for Crozet self-storage facilityThe winter storm yesterday ended up canceling all three of the government meetings scheduled including the Albemarle Architectural Review Board. That group last met on December 20 when they weighed in on a self-storage facility proposed for the intersection of U.S. 250 and Crozet Avenue. Margaret Maliszewski is a planning manager who works with the ARB. (watch the meeting)“The proposed building is three stories tall with a 30,000 square foot footprint,” Maliszewski said. “The building as shown on the plan measures 260 feet by 120 feet.”Staff is concerned about the size of the building in relation to what’s around it. Maliszewski said the developer submitted a design with architectural treatments intended to break down the design, but continued to have concerns with the preliminary design. The property is zoned for highway commercial, so the use is allowed but must comply with entrance corridor guidelines. Doug Bates, a member of the Downtown Crozet Initiative and the Crozet Community Advisory Committee. During public comment, he said the project is not consistent with a Crozet Master Plan that seeks to build larger structures closer to downtown and now on U.S. 250.“I can’t think of a more important corridor to deal with Crozet and I would urge this Architectural Review Board to consider your broader responsibilities to keep the community coherent,” Bates said. Another member of the public urged the county to deny the whole proposal. “I think we’re giving too much importance to by-right and not enough to what really needs to go there,” said Brenda Plantz. “It’s a Scenic Highway.” However, Virginia law is clear that property owners are entitled to uses laid out in the zoning code as explained by ARB Chair Dade Van Der Werf. “I think I can speak on behalf of the board to say we certainly appreciate and share the appreciation that this is a significant intersection on these entrance corridors and I think our charge on the ARB aligns with the desire for coherence in the order of the county,” van der Werf said. “We are not empowered to affect zoning or use. That’s kind of the responsibility of the Planning and other commissions.”However, ARB members did express concerns such as this one from Frank Stoner.“I took struggle with the scale of this building,” Stoner said. “It’s very close to the intersection. If there was a way to push it back on the site and make it sort of an ancillary use to something more appropriate that was on the corner, I think I could be supportive.” ARB member Fred Missel also wanted to look very closely to see how the entrance corridor guidelines could be applied at this location.“In my opinion, this project is precisely an example of what the guidelines are designed to help us guard against,” Missel said. “I think we have to not only take our guidelines seriously but also ask the applicant to spend some significant amount of time looking through our guidelines, really understanding them, reflecting on them, and addressing them both visually and also narratively  the next time we speak if its in a work session which I think is probably smart.” Missel said the ARB cannot comment on the use but said the scale is incompatible with the county’s guidelines. The ARB voted 4-0 on a resolution stating their lack of support with one member recusing himself. Recommendations including trying to make the building seem more like a two-story building and looking at other buildings along the corridor to find compatibility. Support the program!Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

00:00:00 Molly RauhHello and welcome back to this CCIRA Literacy Conversations podcast. I'm your host Molly Rauh with my co-host Jessica Rickert. Today's podcast features, Marc Tyler Nobleman.00:00:14 Jessica RickertMarc's work centers around writing fiction and nonfiction books for young people, Mark shares how he writes books that grab an interest people will welcome. Mark we're so excited to chat with you tonight. Could you start by telling us a little bit about your background?00:00:34 Marc Tyler NoblemanWell, thanks for having me. And I am very excited to be making my return to CCIRA. It's either my third or my fourth; I can double check that before I get there. So I am an author of books for young people. I've been doing this for most of my adult life. I've written both nonfiction and fiction. My main criteria is I want to write books that grab your attention. I want to tell....If it's nonfiction, I want to tell an Untold Story, or at least what I hope will be an untold story to most readers. And if it's fiction, I just want to surprise you. I wanted to be funny, or just feel fresh to you in some way, and something that you that might grab you just from a quick, quick little glimpse, or a quick initial explanation, not a deep dive. But just I want to grab people right away.00:01:25 Jessica RickertSo when did this start? When did you start writing?00:01:29 Marc Tyler NoblemanWell, same time as everybody when I was a tiny person, but I liked it at the time, unlike a lot of my peers. And so I would write short stories. I know I did that in high school, so that might be the earliest I can say definitively. And in college, I knew I wanted to become some kind of a professional writer. It didn't know what. And I got out of school, and I stumbled into being a children's book author that was not on my agenda. Not that I was against it. I just didn't think of it. And here I am. All these years later, I'm very happy with that. I mean, it's expanded into a variety of types of writing, but that is my that is, my focus really is writing for young people. And and there are adults, their loved ones who are adults, their parents, their teachers.00:02:15 Molly RauhWell, and you and I have already... So people who can't see, he and I share the love of comics. And so I'm kind of curious. One of your more nonfiction stories is about the sort of originally unknown second co-creator of Batman. How did you get into that story?00:02:42 Marc Tyler NoblemanYes.00:02:42 Molly RauhHow do you spell across that? Where does that come from?00:02:45 Marc Tyler NoblemanWell, do we do? Should I explain to who our listeners who Batman is, or do you think they already know? They probably...00:02:53 Molly RauhI hope they know00:02:54 Marc Tyler NoblemanThey probably know. Let's give them that benefit of the doubt. So that is my big story. I will be talking about that in person. I don't want to spill the beans too much on that. But I'll answer your question, which doesn't spill the beans, which is that I was a comic book reader since I was in, again, a tiny person. And back then it wasn't cool. Now it's cool now anyone can do it, now, there's no judgment, but back then it was not exactly mainstream, or, you know, widely accepted. In fact, you know, when I was in, when I was in grade school to high school, I think there were only two or three mainstream superhero movies in that entire 10 or 12 year stretch. Now there's two or three a week, just to put it in perspective. You know, there were the Superman movies. And then at the very end of high school, the Batman movie came out. Those are the main ones. And then there was a couple lesser ones. So it really wasn't something that was, you know, widely accepted. And I, as a as a person who became a writer, I started to pay attention not only to the fictional side, but to who created these characters. And I, I remember that on my 16th birthday. The cover of Time Magazine was Superman's 50th birthday, and it talked about his creators. So I was a sixteen-year-old reading Time magazine in my school library, you know, having an epiphany that yeah, these characters came from somewhere, and I was interested in that. So I don't know exactly when I learned about the story behind Batman, but I know it was not in college. It was after that. Because in college, I proof that I did not know about The Unsung co-creator, because there's not my proudest moment, but I'm just gonna be honest with you, because you're all adults, some of my friends and I would crank call each other each other, not strangers. And this is back in the answering machine days. So our goal was to just fill out the tape. Just talk until we got cut off. So I would just ram- We would all just ramble. You know, I would just pick up a book and start reading. I would tell some story from my childhood. I am. One of the stories I told was this story began Batman, and all I mentioned was Bob Kane, the artist, the man who was credited on Batman at the time, the only person. I didn't mention Bill Finger. So as as late as college, I had never heard of this man who then end up becoming the subject of my most, I think, my most popular book and a huge part of my life, which is, again, a story that I'll tell in great detail at the conference. But you know, just the point being that, you know, you can't, as we I'll say, as adults, and as teachers and Educators can't believe everything you read. Got to look further, you might be even if it's something as huge as Batman, maybe even, especially if it's something as huge as Batman, you've got to know your source. You've got a double check. Make sure you're getting the true story you might be, you know, pulling the wool over your eyes.00:05:39 Molly RauhNow, you just made me more curious. There's no answer.00:05:41 Marc Tyler NoblemanThat's the goal right? 00:05:42 Molly RauhI'm gonna have to come see you at the conference, so I can get more info.00:05:44 Marc Tyler NoblemanPlease, do. That's what I want. I want a big group on a big, huge attendance.00:05:50 Molly RauhOkay, so, thinking more about because, you know, we have teachers here. And so they're trying to inspire their own next generation of authors. In terms of process, how do you go about writing a book? Like what? What steps do you work through?00:06:11 Marc Tyler NoblemanSo if it's fiction, I like to try to sketch out the arc of the story in advance. Now you're not locked in, but it helps me to have guideposts. And when I teach creative writing to kids in the summer and at various times during the year and I always tell them that you, I recommend that you do that, but don't feel beholden to it. You know, if your writing and your story goes in another Direction, that's okay, you're not breaking a law or a rule, but it does help to have that outline, especially, I think, the ending, because I really think with fiction, it's and I think it's important at least it helps me to have some sense of your destination so that you get there and an exciting way. I talk about it with kids by saying, if you know, there's let's say it's a Sunday, and your family is all hanging out, looking for something to do. Someone in your family might say, let's go get ice cream, but you know, we're not going to go straight there. We're going to take the scenic route. Another person might say, let's just get in the car and drive, and who knows where we'll end up. So in one, in case you've got a destination which you might get excited about, and then you take a roundabout way to get there, because that's fun in another, you're excited because you don't know what at all where you're going. So it's just one of the two, but I just prefer knowing that we're going to get ice cream at the end. That's how I like to write that I know that's where we're going. Now with nonfiction. It just starts with just the, the, the, you know, the spark of the electricity running up my spine. I mean, I read something, I hear something that I feel is so enticing and even better again, if it hasn't been done before, and it's own book. So most of my nonfiction in recent years, it's that category. Its if given my know some of the story, of course, but it hasn't been the focus of its own book. And so I love that I love feeling like I'm walking through the forest by myself. No one else is looking for mushrooms or whatever you're foraging for. You're the only one you're going to get all the best spoils. And I also just love the excitement that I see on faces of both kids and adults want to telling a story that that is new for them. So, you know, with all no love loss to Rosa Parks and Babe Ruth. And, you know, any number of other textbook names that get tons of picture books about them all deserve it. Muhammad, Ali. And, well, a lot of the presidents are falling out of favor these days. But, you know, you know who I'm talking to. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. All these people have multiple picture books by now, and they deserve them. But I want to I want to be one of the people that writes about someone that you don't really know. So that, to me, is just it's a little riskier as some some publisher. Some editors don't want to work on books that aren't pre-sold. But for me, it's the only way forward. I just want to be fulfilled by the read, the process. So with fiction, I have to sketch it out a bit with nonfiction. I just have that spark, and I just download as much as I can about the topic. And then I go through and it's fun, because then you go through and pick out the kid-friendly parts. The parts that you know are going to excite kids. It might not be them. You know, the linear story from. I mean, it will be linear when it's done, but, you know, you might be missing big moments that are not appropriate or interesting for kids. You still have to make it, you know, a cohesive whole. So that's finest. Yet. What are the pieces of this that work best for my audience? 00:09:36 Jessica RickertAnd how, like, what resources, do you have "go to" resources when you're researching for those non-fiction books?00:09:45 Marc Tyler NoblemanYeah, I just use Wikipedia exclusively. I basically just rewrite Wikipedia articles and act like its original. Wait. You're going to share this with other people. (Jessica laughs) Good? Yeah. Now, well, because I'm trying to do these stories that are more or less Untold. Oftentimes I can't rely on just the internet or books, because again, there's stuff out there that's never been documented. So a lot of the work I've done has been about people that are either still alive, or people who died recently enough that there are people still alive who knew them. So I get original interviews with those people, and sometimes original documents, you know, private documents letters, or, you know, Vital Records or so on that helped fill in the story, never been published in. If they're on the Internet, it's often because I put them there. Now, after, after I do the book, I put some of the research online share the wealth, and you know, for the next person who might want to write about that. Of course, I do use the internet, and I do use books as well, but I'm more excited about these, you know, these Quests for the things that aren't as easy to find, and sometimes you don't get some anywhere. I mean, right now, I'm working on a book where there are two main true story, two main character, two main figures. They're both still alive. The story happened in the 70s. One of them gave me a lovely two hour interview so far. And the other one I I just reached out today to this person's family, but I've been told, don't expect this person to participate for reasons that will become clear when this, when the topic is revealed, but so I may not get that, but I'm going to carry anyways and just write based on what's already been documented, maybe without family. But again, some of the stuff I've written is by about people that are long dead. So I'm never. There's not any opportunity to talk to those people. So it can be done without talking to the people involved. It's just sweeter for me if I can get their buy-in and get there on, you know, the previously Untold Story. 00:11:43 Molly RauhThinking about just interviewing in general, I know that sometimes that's a challenge to ask kids to do. So, what are some of your tips for reaching out to someone and kind of asking for their time and their story and their information?00:11:59 Marc Tyler NoblemanYeah, well, I wish I was a little kid asking because who said, can say no to a little kid, right? That would that would be an advantage, but I get it. Yeah, it is an important skill, even if you don't become a writer. It's just important to know how to ask questions of other people. being appropriate, but, you know, getting the story, you know, and how to handle people that are difficult or mysterious, or whatever. So that is a great skill. I mean, for kids that are doing that for school, I mean, I did will depend on the assignment. But let's say they don't have a specific number of questions to ask, maybe just start with five something that seems manageable and not overwhelming. And if you can ask them to, don't think of it like an assignment. But think of it like, you're just curious, what do you? What do you? What would you want to know about? Someone kids are not. They're very curious. But, I mean, I have two kids of my own, and sometimes they just don't, you know, the they don't articulate what they want to know, and just they just they give up before they even start. So if you tell them just, you know, think about what something you want to ask someone that you think that person is never talked about, or wouldn't tell you without you asking, or just try to make it a little bit more of a game and a mystery like can you be the one to crack the code? Can you get this person to tell you about his childhood when she never talked about before? I don't know, make it a little bit more of a challenge. I haven't done that specifically with kids, but, you know, working on interview techniques. But you know, you never, you just have to keep trying. If someone's I don't know if I would emphasize this with kids. But when people say no to me, I don't, I don't hear the word no when it comes to asking for an interview that's not talking about other types of consent, but I will keep trying to get the story. And I actually put a bit of a burden on their shoulders saying, you might be the only person who can share this information. So for the you know, for posterity, for scholarship, I hope that you'll you'll talk about it, and that doesn't always work, but I am not gonna let it go without trying. It's just too important. I've had people that have died that I know know interesting things about my topics, but they wouldn't tell me. So I, you know, I don't want I want to limit, mitigate that as much as possible. So basically, like we tell kids, you know, there's no such thing as a dumb question. Ask whatever is of interest to you. 00:14:10 Molly RauhSo a little perseverance is valuable there too. Let's see, there's so so many different directions I could go. So I'm also curious, you know, just about. Obviously comic books have been a passion that informed a couple books. But what are some of your interests outside of writing outside of, you know, that career path that inspire you as a writer, or just help you kind of feel well-rounded and give you that energy and inspiration to keep writing?00:14:52 Marc Tyler NoblemanWell, I mean, it's nothing original to say that I love reading, and I do. And I love running, and I can't say that it has a direct correlation to writing. But there are a lot of people that would compare writing to running because they're both typically solitary. And I also, you know, as a writer, I don't want to be the person of a person who's just at a desk in a room all day, even before covid. I wanted to get out and get some air. And so that that's a happy place for me. I. There's a trail that picks up right around the corner from our house. And it's might like it's like a second home for me to go there and listen to music and not, you know, a lot of people listen to podcasts when they run or commut or all that. But I'm so much with words all the time when I'm working, that when I run, I listen to music. I give myself a chance, because I don't have a commute. I don't drive anywhere everyday guaranteed. So that's my time to just listen to music and relax and get some, some fresh air. And I've actually got a couple book ideas while I've been running; nothing that's sold yet. But I don't know if the running is a help or a hindrance. But yeah, when you're out there, your head clears, and you can think of things and... And I have, as I mentioned, two kids. I love spending time with my family. They're both teenagers now. So it's not always my choice anymore. Spend time with them. I have to be penciled in or well, you know, typed in. And as I mentioned, I love music I love especially 80s music. I could do a whole talk on that, but I don't think anybody would show up. Maybe that's another conference. So those are my things running, music, family.00:16:36 Molly RauhAll right, I get that like running, I think, is I don't know, it's cathartic. It just helps you, you know, I, yeah, I think it's stimulating for ideas. Yeah. So no, no podcast, no words, music only.00:16:51 Marc Tyler NoblemanOkay, yeah, they're, we're a dying breed or so much so much pressure to listen to podcasts these days.00:16:58 Molly RauhI know. Well, I did the podcasting for a while, but even on my commute, I don't listen to podcasts anymore. I do listen to audio books. My commute is for audiobooks. So since you said reading which, you know, you said, not unique, which is true. Every time we talk to authors, they always have books that they love. So what are some of your favorite authors, or favorite books, especially when you were younger, that have kind of led you to have the passion you have for reading and writing?00:17:28 Marc Tyler NoblemanWell, some of these may not be so original either, but Where the Wild Things Are, which each, when I revisited it as an adult, reading it to my own kids, I was really blown away about how beautifully written is. It's not just this memorable visual journey, but the way he wrote it was so so wonderful. And it's only 10 sentences, which is a weird thing to realize as an adult, I love a novel called the mouse in the motorcycle. By Beverly Cleary, who just passed away. I think it was last year. And I loved a book that is not well-known. It's called David and the Phoenix. Have you heard of that? By any chance? It wasn't a big, you know, classic book, although since I've been to, I mean, over the years I've blogged about it and talked about it in various ways. And I know a lot of people come out of the woodwork and say, I totally remember that book. That was a big favorite of mine. But again, it never became a classic. So that was a novel written in 1957 by a man named Edward Ormondroyd, who's still alive at 96 and he's a friend, I guess you could say, I did reach out to him at one point, interview him for my blog. And I met him in person. So that was a really fulfilling moment, to meet someone that inspired me as it, not only as a fan to an author, but as peers. I mean, because I do that now too. And he was very gracious and very interesting, and that he had never met. You'd never done anything that authors today do. He'd never spoken at a conference. He'd never done a book signing. He never did a school visit, they just didn't he his that this book was published in 1957. It wasn't - those things were in all standard at. Certainly not school visits, I would imagine. So that was interesting, meet an author who has a totally different experience as a children's author than I have. So those are three of my favorites as a kid. Yeah, those are three of my favorites.00:19:21 Jessica RickertWhat about for your own books that you've written? Do you have some favorites, both fiction and nonfiction that you love more than other book, your other books?00:19:33 Marc Tyler NoblemanWell, everything I've done in the last ten or twelve years totally overrides everything I did before that not that they weren't books of Merit of some kind. I mean, I put my heart into those two, but what I've been doing recently are all things that topics that I hand pick. And before that, I was sometimes doing books based on other people's suggestions, or, you know, not not coming to it on my own. So, of all my books, and I mean my Batman book is my favorite in the sense that it became more than a book. And again, I don't want to teach just enough to get people to show up. It's it started off as a book, and it became a mission. And it became a very big mission that lasted many years, so that that's a category unto itself. And then, you know, the others I love in different ways too, they all like, with everything that we do, they have their, you know, they conjure different, you know, moments of your life, or in my case, I think about some of the struggles that each one involved, and what I had to try to overcome to get the book published, because nothing's come easy for me with writing, which is fine. If it's easy, it's it's boring. But it isn't like I've written a book and then the next day, someone says, I want that like it's taken a while for me, a lot of my work. And but again, because it's I'm, I think it's because I'm choosing topics that they feel are going to be a harder sell. And I tell them, well, that's what I'm here for. I'm not just going to write it and then go on a run and never come back. I'm going to help you sell it and promote it, and that's why I do conferences. That's why I go to schools. I want people to, you know, enjoy the story the way I did I wouldn't do all this work, and then let it float off, you know, on its own. So yeah, the Batman book would take first place. And then a lot of the recent ones would be in a tie for second.00:21:27 Molly RauhSo, thinking about that, you like comics? So we've asked about books, but what are some of your favorite Comics? Or even graphic novels? Because like you and I have mentioned there, you know, once upon a time, it wasn't cool to be into comics. But now, like there's not that stigma around that. So maybe share some of your favorites, some newer things that are being printed and published that kids might get their hands on, or that teachers might get hands on, because I certainly like some adult comics that I would never give to kids. And I've also had some comics that, like as soon as I'm done reading, I bring into the classroom to a particular kid. And I'm like, you have to read this. Here's the next one. What are some of your favorite? Well, a couple of graphic novels I've read recently that I loved were "Flamer" by Mike Curato, which is biographical and "New kid". Of course, I by Jerry Craft. I really liked. I don't read tons of graphic novels by you know, it's not I'm not. I don't specifically gravitate towards those. I just gravitate towards a good book, whether it's graphic novel, you know, pros or whatnot. Another one I read this summer that I thought was great was "Kent State." It's a new. It's 00:22:47 Molly Rauhthe newest book by a guy named Derf Backderf And it's, it's, it's his telling of the Kent State, the Ohio, you know, the, the Four Dead in Ohio story. And I knew almost nothing about that, even though I knew, ooh, that I know. I mean, I know of the song I know of the incident, but I couldn't have told you what it was about. And he just does a masterful job of weaving these four individuals stories into one tragic, overarching story. And then as far as traditional comics I mean, I grew up on I mean, being a huge fan of I'm a DC guy. As you can imagine, based on Batman. My favorites were Justice League because I like groups. I like to see how groups work together, like to see how groups split up to tackle different issues, both in superhero comics and in life. I also liked it a team-up comic called "The Brave and the Bold," which was Batman, plus somebody else every issue. And there was another one of DC Comics presents, which was Superman, plus someone else. And there are there are there are collected editions of those. I would recommend them for teachers with kids, because comics these days, the the there are still comics produced for elementary age kids. But a lot of the main characters are quite dark. Even Superman. I mean, a lot of the stories are quite sophisticated, quite dark. So not the same way when we were kids, where it was all kind of for everybody. So if you go back to the stuff that was done in the 70s and 80s, it's you know, it's a bit dated a little. It's a little dated. But I think for kids that like superheroes, they might really like it. You know, that sometimes it's a one-and-done story. It's you not to read 20 issues to get a full story. You can read one, which I think for reluctant readers is a little bit more accessible. Nowadays, you know, everything's an arc. You know, it's a it's 8 issue Arc, or a ten issue arc because they want to. They're creating these stories to be bound and sold as graphic novel so they can sell them online and easier with, you know, the newsstand business of buying this individual issue is, unfortunately, I don't think going to be around for much longer. Once people our age phase-out, they're not going to do it for the next generation. They're not buying comics generally. So, and then, of course, there's all the, you know, the ones that don't need my help. You know, there's there's the Raina, you know, Telgemeier books to Cece Bell, and they're doing great things, and kids know them already. So they don't need, you know, like them. But those are great too. 00:25:19 Jessica RickertI have a question not being a connoisseur of comic books, and only just watching the movies which I know is probably horrible for you two. Do you have a favorite superhero?00:25:32 Marc Tyler NoblemanSuperman. So it's again, it's there's this dichotomy throughout my whole childhood, you know, cool and uncool. So Superman uncool, Batman cool. DC uncool, Marvel cool. Han Solo cool, Luke Skywalker, uncool. You know, Fonzie, cool, Richie Cunningham uncool. I always like the uncle ones, except I did like Han Solo better than Luke. But for the most of the most of, those examples I was on the less cool side. So yeah.00:26:09 Molly RauhAll right, you're going to have to explain that one 'cause I have my reasons why I would pick Batman over Superman. So why Superman? Because, no I hardcore disagree with you on that one.00:26:20 Marc Tyler NoblemanSo do most kids. I I think it's, so I mean, a lot of it is just, you know, who you meet first. And he, I remember being introduced to Superman. It feels like first. But I also like, I mean, hit, you know, the Superman that I fell in love with is doesn't exist anymore. In a way. You know, he was good for good sake. There wasn't. There was no complexity to it. Of course, you know, our culture at the moment, and probably forever more is is just much more sensitive to all kinds of Injustice and differences, and, you know, sent being sensitive to as much as possible in every direction which those are certainly greatness there. Superman, you know, used to just you just you just had you just trusted the guy to do the right thing no matter what. And now it's just not as not as black and white. So I still love him, but I think it's just getting more complicated to be Superman than it used to be. And I love Batman too, obviously I spent a whole bunch of my life on him too. But I like Superman, just seems they both seem like loners. And I think I always was I always was drawn to that. Now they both have, well now they're both. It's not good. You know, things evolve. Now, they're - Superman's married with a son. And Batman has Catwoman. But you know, when I was growing up, they were loners and I that appealed to me to that they would do the right thing not to get tons of friends and to get paid or praise, but just because it was the right thing and that really resonated with me as a kid and helped inspire me to write Boys of Steel, my Superman book. That notion of just do the right thing, even if you don't get all this attention for it, or jobs and money, or your name on a big, you know, sign or plaque, or, you know, something like that. You're just doing it because, you know, in your heart, that's what you should do. And I like that about Superman. And Batman did it too. But it was just that was Superman's whole whole essence. 00:28:21 Molly RauhAll right, that's a fair argument. That's maybe the best argument for Superman I've ever heard. So, yeah, I might, I might like him a little better than I did a minute ago.00:28:31 Marc Tyler NoblemanWhat's your Batman take?00:28:33 Molly RauhWell, for me, it's it's a very simple piece of superpowers and not having superpowers. I like Batman because theoretically, like he is a regular human being. Yes, he's empowered by, you know, money and access to this technology. But, you know, I kind of liked that he was an ordinary human being. Who just, you know, used innovations, and you know his own personal sort of drive to become a superhero.00:29:07 Marc Tyler NoblemanI want to see if I can find. I saved this tweet that for me, really summarized Superman in a new way. But probably I knew it all along innately. So I love this. Superman stories aren't a fantasy about how good it would be to have power. they're a fantasy about what it would be like if someone with power was good. So giving credit where credit's due. This is I don't even know who this is. But the it's a someone on Twitter named Ian McIntyre. So I just love that that he could do whatever he wants. I mean, talk people talk about Batman that you know, look what he's doing with no power. But there's a flip side. Look what Superman is not doing with power. 00:29:50 Molly RauhI like that take that's kind of cool, that almost like I might have to pull that into an essential question, because I teach history and like, you know, we just finished some industrial like Gilded Age, Progressive Era, kind of stuff. And a big piece of that was looking at corruption. And so thinking about, like people with power, you know, do they do they always abuse it? Or are there people who use it for good? And so thinking of, yeah, yeah, well, I can send that to you. 00:30:25 Jessica RickertI just never really, like, you guys have opened my eyes to there's deeper and more complex things than just like the movies that I go to like looking. I'm definitely going to look at superheroes differently now. At a deep audio cuts out.00:30:43 Marc Tyler NoblemanThey're not for everybody.00:30:45 Molly RauhYeah, they're not for everybody, but I, you know, anybody I think, who's into comics, realizes that the majority of your comics, whether it's super hero stories or anything else, they're really human stories. They're looking at the human condition and looking at human motivations. And so the social scientist in me always loves them, because they're really just kind of who are we at our core? And, you know, what are we capable of in good and bad ways?00:31:14 Marc Tyler NoblemanYeah. 00:31:18 Jessica RickertWell. Are there any other books that you want to highlight for teachers that might be listening, that you think would be good for them to share with their students? I know you have a lot of books, but a couple that, oh, you should try this one or try this one00:31:33 Marc Tyler NoblemanSure. So I wrote a book called "Fairy Spell," which is a true story about two girls in World War One era England who went into the woods one day with a camera. And this was, again, World War 1 era. So this was not camera like anything we've seen. And they came back with only one photo, which one of their fathers developed in the dark room in their house. And that photo revealed one of the two girls with what they said were for fairies. And this kicked off a mystery that lasted for the rest of their lives. So they were one of them was only nine, and one was 16 and they didn't reveal the full truth about what really happened that day in the woods until they were in their 80s. So what I love about this story level out of things about I love it. It's about two girls. I love that it's about two girls that have agency. They're driving the story I love. I can't reveal it because it would spoil the book. But when they end up telling more of what happened later in life, I love their reason for not telling it sooner. So at first I thought maybe there'd be some. Maybe I'd get some pushback that I'm writing a book about liars. I don't want to say what they said that was true and not true. They said things that - I'm going to say this so I don't spoil the whole thing. At the end, there's they have a different -they say something different than each other. Their story was the same for most of those years. But then at the end, they diverge. So there is some. There is some untruth in it. But there's also some truth. And I love how it's just a new way of looking at the truth. And what isn't what we, how we classify truth and what we, how we judge people that don't tell the truth. You know, it's not, they don't lie for the same reason with the same effect. So I love that. And it also it's become, you know, very relevant with respect to fake news. I didn't write it because of that, but it is a great book to use to help children start to discern, you know, the importance of, again, not believing everything you read on at face value and learning how to verify things on the especially on the internet, whether they're true or not, or whether they need more, you know, more investigation. So that's a great book for that. And apparently, that's what a lot of people use it for. And there are a lot of lessons these days about that which is so important, teaching our kids how to be internet savvy, and how to not question everything to the point that you are a conspiracy theorist. But just you have a healthy skepticism about things so that you use your brain. And when I say in the book, you know, some people decry the internet saying that it makes us think less. I think it has to, really, it's making us think more. You really need to, like, I just said, don't take the first- and I, you know, I tell my kids, we all tell kids. Now, you know, the last couple of years, when you Google something, Google has a little box at the very top. It's in a box the to make you think like that's the definitive be-all-end-all answer. So I tell my kids, well, view, are you even looking at the source of that? And just because Google says it's true doesn't mean it is. So that book is helpful, I think with that topic. And then I wrote another book that's called "Thirty Minutes Over Oregon," so closer to your side of the country. And that's a true story out of WWII about a Japanese pilot named Nobuo who did something that no one before him, or since luckily has done. He became the only person in history to bomb the United States mainland from a plane. And the reason that most people have never heard this is because those bombs did not kill anyone, didn't even hurt anyone. They hit the forest outside of a town called Brookings. So maybe a couple squirrels bit it, but no humans. And because of that, it's not a World War. Two story that we teach it wasn't a turning point, but that's why I love it. It's a smaller story with a great famous first that is not really famous. And then this emotional core about this pilot, how this act impacted him later in life. So it's a great story about how enemies can become friends. I don't want to say too much, but he does come back to America after the war. And it's about something that you don't see in picture books. Too much least. I haven't seen it in non-fiction picture books, and that is redemption. This the idea of redemption, most picture books, that folk that are biographical. They follow the same arc. They start in someone's childhood. The child has a dream. The child tries and fails multiple times. And eventually the book ends with this person becoming the famous person that we all know. Again, the you know, with Bader Ginsburg or Babe Ruth, who met those I don't need to name famous people, you all know them, but that's and that's fine. But I don't. I prefer different kinds of stories. So I prefer story that's not quite as predictable where maybe they mean the Batman story is about a guy that basically opposite success. And then the ending is that he failed. So it's kind of a bummer, but that's life sometimes, and people we need to tell kids that you did a great thing. We shouldn't. He should be honored for it. But in the end, he didn't really benefit from it. And it was a sad story. And that's okay. It's okay to have a sad story. So the 30 minutes of Oregon book is a great story about Redemption about how I mean. Now it's especially, I think, a topic in the news and in life is about second chances. I mean, people are, you know, I see a lot of people that are not given a second chance. They misspeak. They something comes up from their past from sometimes even as young as being a teenager. And that completely changes the entire trajectory of their adult life. And there are times where, you know, second chances are definitely less viable. But I think for a lot of these cases, they're not in. This is a story about that. In today's world, you know, this man's story would he would have not been given a second chance, and he would have been a villain for the rest of his life. So I love this idea of, you know, seeing them at a human level. In this case, he was doing something during war, and you don't excuse that. But it was a war, and everyone was doing things that they would prefer not to be doing. And he did spend a lot of years trying to atone for that and show his true nature, and so reconciliation, redemption, very powerful, very powerful ideas. That, again, you don't see that often in - at least, I don't see them in picture books. I hope they're out there. I just haven't seen them myself. So those two, I think, really help with a lot of different levels of lessons in classrooms character development. And of course, the news thing is more, you know, practical skill.00:38:23 Molly RauhI love that. I think I know what books I'm picking up next, and hopefully I can get through them before. Maybe I hit some units where I could use those in my classes, because, you know, again, I'm a history teacher. I can totally use those.00:38:40 Marc Tyler NoblemanThank you.00:38:41 Molly RauhSo we're at that point where we're some of your heroes00:38:49 Marc Tyler NoblemanHeroes in general. Or...00:38:51 Molly RauhWell, certainly educational heroes, if you have them. But if you want to go a different route and just focus on anybody who's inspired you, who is your hero in what you do, you can go broader if that suits you better. Sure, well, I can do a two-in-one. I can do a personal hero and an educator here, which is my mom, who was a teacher before I was born. So I ruin that. She gave up when I came along, but she is just she's had a really, really challenging life for different reasons. But you turned out to be the sweetest mom. I mean, except for your two moms of all time. And with no, with no guidance, she, you know, she didn't have a loving upbringing where she had something 00:39:40 Molly Rauhto learn from. I don't know where she gets it from. And and she was also someone that you know, helped shape my creative side When We Were Young, my sister and I, my mother would not give us coloring books, because she felt we should start with a blank page that we should create from nothing. And so after a while, I think we wore down a bit, and as long as we still Drew on blank pages as well, but she didn't want us to be given someone else's work and then fill it in. And she also nudged me to be that she saw that I could be a writer before I did, which is typical mom. You know, she knew that I what I was good at, or what I had an aptitude for, and probably what I like, even though I didn't realize it. And she nudged me that way. And then again, as this is going to be no surprise about a guy who liked Superman Richie Cunningham, DC Comics better than there are opposite, which is that I have a lot of teachers that not only were inspirational for me, I'm still in touch with. I mean, most people I know if they're in touch with anyone, it's just one teacher I'm in touch with. I mean, not regular touch, but I have emails and reach out on, and I would say, on a, you know, somewhat regular basis to say hi to a number of teachers. So and you know, sometimes it's very vague why they resonate with me, but they must they must have helped shape me. I can't always figure out why I'm so drawn to them still, but a couple in particular are you no, are you know were formidable, or not formidable, formative, or probably formidable too, formative for me. And I love that because they are so that such a thankless job for so many and I it just three. It's very gratifying to, you know, all these years later, to just have this relationship so that they know that they mattered to me and probably to others that don't don't don't all right, as you know, aren't as obsessive about these things as I am, reaching out keeping in touch. So that means a lot to me for teachers that I had that had an impact for them to know that they did even your in my old age.00:41:47 Jessica RickertI love that. Well, thank you so much for joining us. We're all definitely going to have to check out so many more books. I loved your cliffhangers. And if you have not registered for Marc Tyler, Nobleman's sessions yet, now you got to go find out about the Batman story too. So thank you for joining us. And we look forward to seeing you in February at CCIRA.00:42:13 Marc Tyler NoblemanI can't wait. Thank you so much for your time. And I look forward to seeing you both in person. 00:42:19 Molly RauhThanks for listening to CCIRA Literacy Conversations podcast. To find out more about CCIRA go to CCIRA.org. On CCIRA.org, you can join as a member, or find great resources like our professional development blog, which posts every Tuesday and has a variety of guest writers on an awesome selection of topics. CCIRA is a professional organization of educators and community members is dedicated to the promotion and advancement of literacy. We also have a Twitter account @ColoradoReading. You can find us on Instagram at CCIRA_ColoradReading. Or you can find us on Facebook, where we also have a members only group that we're trying to build. And our Facebook account is CCIRA Colorado Reading. We'd love to hear more from you. And again, if you're looking for new content, please send any questions or things you'd be interested in seeing from ccir a to ccir a video at gmailcom. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

The next logical place for you to continue your beginning family history research is with vital records. These are typically birth, death, and marriage records. These are super important records to your genealogy research. This is the type of information you may find on these valuable record genres. Podcast Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/vital-records-a-closer-look-at-family-history-research-2/ Genealogy Clips Podcast https://genealogyclips.com Historical Postcard Giveaway https://ancestralfindings.com/postcard-giveaway/ Free Genealogy eBooks https://ancestralstuff.com Hard To Find Surnames https://ancestralfindings.com/surnames Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings Support Ancestral Findings https://ancestralfindings.com/donation #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

RAZGRAAD, OBSEQUIES, HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN

Become an Inner Circle Member and get exclusive content while supporting independent creators PAancestors.com/membersSee all past shows and resource links at PAancestors.com/podcastNewsletter plus free research guide at welcome.PAancestors.comMusic: My Days Have Been So Wondrous and Free, composer Francis Hopkinson, www.amclassical.com, Creative Commons, some rights reserved.

Most genealogists know the 1890 US federal census is gone. It leaves a large gap in the genealogical record, which can make it challenging to fill in the information on your family tree, or connect the 1890 generation to the one before it. The good news is there are other records you can use to get the information you need. This is how to use vital records to get past the 1890 census. Show Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/vital-records-substitutions-for-the-1890-us-federal-census  Click Here to listen to the weekly podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast Weekly Giveaways: https://ancestralfindings.com/drawing Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Hard To Find Surnames: https://ancestralfindings.com/surnames Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.twitter.com/ancestralstuff Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/donation #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #TownDirectories

BLACK FRIDAY SALE! Use code BLACKFRIDAY for 25% off until November 30th for my VITAL RECORDS 101 online course and my full beginner online course MORE THAN A NAME..................................................................................................DNA and family history is so huge right now! But how can you use it to help build your family tree? Listen to this interview with Diahan Southard of YourDNAGuide.com where she explains what you need to know as you start to use DNA testing in your family history research.In this episode we discuss:what type of DNA test you should getwhat to do first after you've taken a DNA testwhat centimorgans are and how many matterthe differences between autosomal, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial DNAwhat to do when surprises are discoveredtop three pieces of advice for someone getting started with DNA and family historySee? We covered a lot! Be sure to listen and check out all of the goodness that Diahan has to offer in the links below!Learn and connect with Diahan:YourDNAGuide.comYourDNAGuide The BookDNA Quick Reference GuidesYourDNAGuide MentoringFollow Diahan on Instagram (@diahansouthard) Connect with me:Instagram @moderngenealogyFacebookWebsiteYouTubeRemember to use code BLACKFRIDAY for 25% off both of my online courses until Monday November 30th 2020:Go to moderngenealogy.ca/course for Vital Records 101Got to moderngenealogy.ca/fullcourse for my full beginner course More Than A Name

Have you been told that your family tree is "all done?" I've heard this numerous times, and now I'm giving my response.  Listen to learn why I believe your tree is never "done" and 4 places in your tree you can start doing some work if you've been disillusioned to think that it is.There's always something more we can learn and there are always more blessings that can come from building those eternal connections with our ancestors and relatives in our family trees!Links:Finding Someone to Research When You Have Mormon Pioneer Ancestors - YouTubePuzzilla.orgGet my Vital Records 101 Online Course Connect with me:Instagram @moderngenealogyFacebookWebsiteYouTube

A new law going into effect in 2021 will, in part, provide more funding for training in the state's system of death investigation. The change is the first small step toward improving education for chief death investigators statewide, especially elected coroners — who serve about a third of Washington’s population and have a wide array of experience .

On this episode of Vital Records, Winchester Town Clerk MaryEllen Lannon and David Gauthier discuss how COVID-19 has affected the election ballots this year and what new changes will be put into place for the November 3rd Election.

  You can blame Patty for this one. We let a few awesome things that landed in our inbox slide- so this is the makeup episode.  If you don't like chitchat (in which we talk wax melts by Magical Mimosas and puzzling at Walt Disney World) go ahead and skip to around the 9:30ish mark. That's when the real discussions start.  On this episode: Shoutouts An interesting Disney find at a Vital Records office Unpopular Land opinion Mickey made her cry Favorite shows we left off Bathroom corrections- because we didn't get it 100% correct! Basically, if you emailed us or spoke up in the Facebook group recently, it's probably mentioned here! This episode is sponsored by WhosIts and WhatsIts and you can score 15% off for being a No-Guilt Disney listener. Use promo code NOGUILT  Don't Forget: Join the No-Guilt DisneyFacebook Group! Find the No-Guilt Disney Podcast Team *transcripts to each episode will be posted within a few days on noguiltdisney.com  by email at noguiltdisneypod@gmail.com Patty noguiltdisney.com noguiltfangirl.com The No-Guilt Fangirls Podcast noguilttravel@gmail.com  Theresa insightfulllife.com @gertiethedino on Twitter @accessibleinfluence on Instagram Jane @realmousewifewdw on Instagram @realmousewifeFL on Twitter Music from https://filmmusic.io "Vivacity" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

In episode 5 of Vital Records, MaryEllen Lannon and David discuss Winchester Town Meeting in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the procedures for Town Election and the differences between the town and federal census.

Host Scott Fisher opens the show with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org. The guys begin with Fisher prodding David on his recent appearance in the pages of Woman’s Day! David explains. David then shares that Extreme Genes has received something of a clerical blessing. Next the guys share the sorrowful news of the passing of genealogist Johni Cerny. Johni was the chief genealogist for Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ PBS program Finding Your Roots, whose crew is mourning her loss. (Dr. Gates talks about her later in this show.) David then talks about the outstanding piece recently shared on Fox News about the oldest crimes that have been solved over the last two years using genetic genealogy. He then notes that a Canadian police force is now turning to the method. The last Negro League ballplayer to have played at the time of Jackie Robinson has passed. Hear who he was and just how old he was! Fisher then visits with Ron Arons, best known as a speaker on the subject of “black sheep” ancestors. Ron talks about a very useful technique for coming to understand more about the details in your ancestors’ lives. He calls it “Mind Mapping.” Find out how it works. Next, Ryan Woods, COO of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and AmericanAncestors.org  comes on to talk with Fisher about how the Governor of Massachusetts is seeking legislation to limit access to vital records. It’s a concept that, if spread around the country, could truly impact family history research. Hear Ryan’s take on the situation. Dr. Henry Louis Gates visits with Fisher in the fourth segment, telling us a little about the late Johni Cerny, as well as the celebrities he hosts on this week’s episode of Finding Your Roots on PBS. David Allen Lambert then returns for Ask Us Anything, tackling another listener question. That’s all this week on Extreme Genes, America’s Family History Show!

This week’s episode is a continuance of our theme Astrology with another New York based Astrologer Leslie Galbraith. Leslie became fascinated by astrology after getting a spot on and detailed reading of her life from a stranger. It was in that moment that Leslie began her journey into Astrology and helping others understand their natal chart, what it all means, and the influence and connections that the planets have with our souls.During this podcast Leslie will discuss how the cosmos are a Web of consciousness and energy that links us with the universe. She talks about how she teaches about the planets as archetypes living inside us and how the connection with the planets and universe shape our paths through life. She tells us how she helps her clients uses their natal charts to help them better understand themselves and use the information to better the flow in their live and relationships. She explains to us that every moment has a birth and every moment is different and we are here to work and evolve and grow our soul.What you will learn:How are we connected to Astrology?What do the planets symbolize?How is a zodiac sign influenced by its planet's function?Follow Leslie Galbraith:https://www.instagram.com/ourcosmicday/http://www.ourcosmicday.com/Follow the Dreamboard Social Club:https://tanya-saunders.mykajabi.com/https://instagram.com/tanya_saundershttps://instagram.com/pausebreathwork?igshid=1ile8vcwf0l8y HOW TO SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEWhttps://dreamboardsocialclubpodcast.wordpress.com/how-to-listen-and-review/Resources:http://planetwatcher.com/Where to Write for Vital Records:https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htmhttps://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/vitalstatsonline.htmBooks:Initiation by Elisabeth HaichThe Oversoul Seven Trilogy- Jane RobertsThe Development of Personality: Seminars in Psychological Astrology (Seminars in Psychological Astrology ; V. 1)Dynamics of the Unconscious: Seminars in Psychological Astrology Volume 2 (Seminars in Psychological Astrology, Vol 2) By Liz Greene and Howard SasportasThe Inner Planets: Building Blocks of Personal Reality (Seminars in Psychological Astrology) HOW TO SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEWhttps://dreamboardsocialclubpodcast.wordpress.com/how-to-listen-and-review/https://magicspoon.com/PROMO Dreamboardsocialclub for FREE SHIPPING

In episode 4 of Vital Records, MaryEllen Lannon and David discuss the importance and purpose of the town and federal census.

Candle fires, vital records, flu, and the Citizens Police Academy are some featured topics on the Health and Safety Podcast.

Candle fires, vital records, flu, and the Citizens Police Academy are some featured topics on the Health and Safety Podcast.

Our hosts sit down with self-proclaimed public health nerd Virginia Riley to talk about her work with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. Find out which vital records are actually housed in the Office of Vital Records, and learn how gender identity comes into play in the day-to-day work of DHEC's general counsel.Get to know more about SC DHEC at dhec.sc.gov or by calling 803-898-3350.Follow Direct Examination on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.Send questions or suggestions to directexaminationpodcast@gmail.com.Theme music by 630 Band.https://sccriminallaws.com/

On episode 3 of Vital Records with MaryEllen Lannon, David and MaryEllen discuss Town Meeting. The history, the mechanics, and what to expect.

On this episode of Vital Records, Winchester Town Clerk MaryEllen Lannon discusses the open meeting law in the state of Massachusetts.

Louisiana vital records conversation about the death certificate for Rico Dukes

The premiere edition of this informational podcast produced by Winchester Town Clerk, MaryEllen Lannon. In this episode, MaryEllen talks about how Winchester residents can access vital information using a new online database.

Alison Watson-Maston, Genealogy Researcher at the Simsbury Free Library. Alison said the best way to get started researching their family tree is with family stories and personal resources. A Free 5 Generation pedigree chart is available on the library's website. The library also has resources and expertise to help. Alison says the library has a unique collection of local historical resources that can connect to the founders of Simsbury and other towns in the area. She says there are a number of websites that can help with the research including Familysearch.org the National Archives and Vital Records are available from the government to assist in research. Alison says some of the most important information when searching for a person or relative are full names and nicknames, dates and places of birth, marriage and death, names of parents, siblings, spouses and children, locations and occupations, which can be found in vital records, census records and city directories. Alison says for people who do not have the time to do all the research themselves he Association of Professional Genealogists has a list of professionals that can be hired to do the work in part or in full.

Georgia Department of Public Health Overview The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency in preventing disease, injury and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing for and responding to disasters from a health perspective. In 2011, the General Assembly restored DPH to its own state agency after more than 30 years of consolidation with other departments. At the state level, DPH functions through numerous divisions, sections, programs and offices. Locally, DPH funds and collaborates with Georgia's 159 county health departments and 18 public health districts. Through the changes, the mission has remained constant – to protect the lives of all Georgians. Today, DPH’s main functions include: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Maternal and Child Health, Infectious Disease and Immunization, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Emergency Medical Services, Pharmacy, Nursing, Volunteer Health Care, the Office of Health Equity, Vital Records, and the State Public Health Laboratory. https://dph.georgia.gov

..Una compilation co-pubblicata dall'etichetta tedesca Piranha, veterana della world music, e dalla Vital Records ci porta in un paese che neanche la produzione discografica di world music che circola a livello internazionale è abituata a toccare: il Botswana, uno dei paesi più poveri e in condizioni più misere di tutto il continente africano. Ma che ha le sue ricchezze: come gli stili e la singolare tecnica chitarristica documentati da questa bellissima raccolta.

..Una compilation co-pubblicata dall'etichetta tedesca Piranha, veterana della world music, e dalla Vital Records ci porta in un paese che neanche la produzione discografica di world music che circola a livello internazionale è abituata a toccare: il Botswana, uno dei paesi più poveri e in condizioni più misere di tutto il continente africano. Ma che ha le sue ricchezze: come gli stili e la singolare tecnica chitarristica documentati da questa bellissima raccolta.

..Una compilation co-pubblicata dall'etichetta tedesca Piranha, veterana della world music, e dalla Vital Records ci porta in un paese che neanche la produzione discografica di world music che circola a livello internazionale è abituata a toccare: il Botswana, uno dei paesi più poveri e in condizioni più misere di tutto il continente africano. Ma che ha le sue ricchezze: come gli stili e la singolare tecnica chitarristica documentati da questa bellissima raccolta.

This episode originally aired in Salt Lake City on 105.7FM 570 AM KNRS on 8/4/13 On this weeks show Fisher shares the latest family history news.  A story of a World War II couple that met when a plane crashed in a field next to a young lady’s home, and new “GPR” (Ground Penetrating Radar) […]

Published July 21, 2011 Git yer lasso and git ready for the Genealogy Records Roundup in this episode. Then I'll show you how to improve your online security, introduce you to family history blogger Becky Jamison, and share my own person story of genealogical serendipity. Records Round Up The Library and Archives Canada has announced the launch of an updated version of its finding aid to locate electoral districts in its federal voters' lists collection from 1935 to 1980. This updated version provides for each of the 892 microfilm reels of the collection, the electoral year, the province, the exact name of the electoral district and the page numbers for each microfilm.  You can find it at The Library and Archives Canada also recently announced the release of a new version of the online database Lower Canada Land Petitions (1626-1865).    This version includes digitized images of the actual petitions for all individuals listed in the database. Corrections to entries, including suggestions received from users, have also been integrated into this updated version. You can find the database at .  has added Free Records for 10 Countries. And their U.S. collection additions include records from Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Collections covering several countries were updated.  Germany and Mexico church records were the two largest collections added.  You'll also find 25 million new images of historic records for 16 countries including records for Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Wales AND over 8 million civil registration records for the Netherlands.   The 1930 U.S. Census indexing project is also coming to a completion.  They will now start some new U.S. projects that you might want to consider helping out with as a volunteer. They have plans to building a nationwide marriage index. There are several projects already underway, and many new marriage projects are coming. They have started a Civil War era initiative that will include record collections expanding before and after the Civil War, which should come in very handy.  Archives.com.  While they are newcomers to the genealogy records field, they are getting new records out there as well.    Archives.com recently announce that there are 17 million new U.S. vital and military records available on Archives.com! These new birth, death, marriage, and military records make up 30 unique collections. Here is a quick summary of the new records: Military Personnel Records - including personnel records from the Vietnam War and Gulf War eras. They boast nearly 16 million in all, and say that these records cover individuals who served in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and National Guard.   In the Vital Records category they have added Texas Birth, Death, and Marriage Records - dating anywhere from 1800 to 2011 and cover the following counties: Fort Bend, El Paso, Cooke, Montgomery, Tarrant, Burnet, Hood, Denton, and Kaufman. There are 1.4 million new Texas records in total. They have also added Colorado Marriage and Death Records from Delta County, located in the western part of the state. Over nine thousand new records have been added. South Carolina Marriage Records - a collection of four thousand early South Carolina marriages covers years 1641 to 1799.    Future U.S. Records: 1940 Census Here in the U.S. we are already talking about records that aren't due for another year.  Yep, we're talking the 1940 US Population Census Schedules. It's still more than 9 months away, but in the time it takes to bring a new descendant into the world the National Archives will be delivering the 1940 US Population Schedules to the public. And there are a couple of guys who have been on the forefront of this event, none other than Steve Morse and Joel Weintraub.  And Joel has been my special guest on a past Premium episode.  Of course we are all chomping at the bit to dig into the 1940 census even though there won't be an index when it's first released. However, the guys have put out a press release about what you can do to get ready to search, so let me give you the scoop here: It says: “It will not be name indexed, so it will be necessary to do an address search in order to find families.  Address searching involves knowing the ED (enumeration district) in which the address is located..   The National Archives (NARA)  earlier this year indicated they had plans to make available in 2011 the 1940  ED maps of cities and counties, and ED descriptions,  but their recent move to consider having a 3rd party host all the images may have appreciably set back this timetable. The only website that currently has location tools for the 1940 census is the Steve Morse One Step site ().  There are several such tools there, and it could be overwhelming to figure out which tool to use when.  There is a tutorial that attempts to clarify it () and an extensive FAQ ().  We are announcing the opening of another educational utility to help people learn about the different 1940  locational search tools on the One Step site, and information about the 1940 census itself.  It is in the form of a quiz, and should help many, many genealogists quickly learn how to search an unindexed census by location.  The new utility is and is called ".  Not only is it informative, we hope it is entertaining.” 1940 Census Training is Now Online But there's still another way to prep for the big release, and that is to learn more about the 1940 enumeration process and the national Archives has released four short videos created by the US Census Bureau prior to 1940 that were used to train enumerators on their general duties and responsibilities, as well as the correct procedures for filling out the 1940 census.   at the national Archives channel at YouTube.    Newspapers   The British Library is one year into its plan to digitize 40 million news pages from its vast 750 million collection, housed in Colindale, north London. According to their recent press release, this Fall, the library will reinvent its cavernous vaults as a website, where amateur genealogists and eager historians will be able to browse 19th-century newsprint from their home computer.”  Also recently announced by The British Library in conjunction with Google is their partnership to digitize 250,000 out-of-copyright books from the Library's collections.    Once digitized, the collection will be available for full text search, download and reading through Google Books, as well as being searchable through the Library's website and stored in within the Library's digital archive.  Selected by the British Library and digitized by Google, both organizations will work in partnership over the coming years to deliver this content free through and the British Library's website (www.bl.uk). Google will cover all digitization costs. The project will digitize a huge range of printed books, pamphlets and periodicals covering a large time span - 1700 to 1870. It will include material in a variety of major European languages, and they will be particularly focusing on books that are not yet freely available in digital form online. Deceased Online website is sporting some new records: 313,000 records for Edinburgh's Seafield Cemetery and Crematorium and for Warriston Crematorium. Also, by early August www.deceasedonline.com will have added another 1.25 million burial and cremation records from the north of Scotland to South Devon.  MAILBOX GEM:  Citing SourcesSean writes:  “One strategy that I have recently begun when posting data to my genealogy blog is to include footnotes and reference lists showing what sources were used to find the data.  This isn't a difficult task at all, since all of the data and the source citations are in my local RootsMagic database.  So, all I need to do is to copy/paste the source information when I paste the data into a blog post.  An example of this strategy is in my about our Curtis line that I posted. If more genealogy research blogs listed their sources with the data, we would all benefit from the shared research even more.”  GEM: Supporting this Free PodcastRichard in California wrote in to ask if the new so-called Amazon Law is impacting Genealogy Gems. Good news: You can still support the free podcast by clicking our Amazon icons and links GEM: Getting off Spooky Spokeo In this gem I'm going to explain how to get off Spooky Spokeo   You remember earlier this year that I told you about a new website called Spokeo, a people search engine that organizes vast quantities of white-pages listings, social information, and other people-related data from a large variety of public sources. They say that their mission is to help people find and connect with others, more easily than ever.  And that they certainly do.  In fact I remember calling the site a bit spooky they way it so readily gave not only information but photos and all kinds of their data on people that you search.   But of course, that makes it a go to site when it comes to finding long lost relatives.   Della wrote in about her experience with Spokeo and a few questions about online security. She writes:   “I do not want my name and all my personal information showing up on any site where someone has evidently gathered the information from the public domain and is offering it to the public either for free or for a charge…How do I opt out of my name even appearing on this site?”   It is no wonder that identity theft occurs and that the occurrence is rising. Della is obviously concerned about her privacy and in this technological age, managing our online presence has become an issue that all of use should keep in mind.    In reality it's not really that Spokeo is reaching into areas that were previously forbidden.  Here in the U.S. we have always had public information.  I think the real difference is that the Internet offers information vendors a hugely accelerated method for delivering that information.  It used to have to be compiled in books and updated at a very slow pace.  Or even more difficult you had to make a personal trip to the location where the information was held, and of course back in the day, few people would have ever bothered.  But the information has always been available.    The one exception that comes to mind is Facebook, Google+, Twitter and other social media websites.  These didn't exist in the past, however, the only reason personal information, photos or what have you are there, is because WE put it there.   And putting info out there isn't necessarily bad.  It's just that with that freedom comes responsibility to manage and protect it appropriately.  Tweaking the security settings can make a huge difference in what's available publicly.  And the new Google+ seems to really have made that quite a bit easier.  Facebook could learn a few lessons about making it easier for folks to manage their security.  The features are there, but it can take a bit of digging to find them and change them.   But let's get back to Spokeo.  I 100% agree that if you don't want all your data so easily searched on the site, there should be a way to manage that, and I've done a bit of research on this and you can.   To request that Public Information about You be removed from Spokeo.com people searches, you'll need to use their “Remove A Listing” tool at .  This page also contains information about sending written requests for removal.  This process is only intended to remove information available through Spokeo.com and cannot remove the information from the third-party public sources, such as phone books, and government websites.  And as I said, information is public from a wide range of sources and it's computer databases and Internet search and delivery that makes it seem like there's so much more than there used to be.  In that respect Spokeo is the messenger.  Julie also wrote in about Spokeo to say “Yes, that is spooky-o, because I found myself, address, and even a Google earth picture of where I live, and I'm a survivor of domestic violence still unable to escape my ex-husband after 30 years of divorce.” And Julie's concern is totally understandable!  These types of sites are a double edged sword to be sure, and the emphasize the fact that information has always been public - it's just now they make finding it much easier. To learn more about Spokeo's privacy policy visit their . You can also contact the folks at Spokeo, which is located in Pasadena, CA through their TIP:  If you have a camera with a GPS setting then your photos have geographic location tags attached to them. When you post those photos online, strangers will not only see your photo but they will also see exactly where you were at the time you took the photo.  This is especially important to remember if you are posting photos you took at home on Facebook or other sites.  Check your camera instruction manual for information on how to turn off that feature when it's not needed, and you'll have taken an important step toward taking responsibility for your online presence.  GEM:  Interview with Genealogy Blogger Becky Jamison GEM: Winthrop Cookbook App Users Bonus Content:  Whip up a batch of sour cream cookies yourself with the recipe PDF download!

Conferences and Vital Records. Lisa's special guest is Dick Eastman.