Teaching kids the “habit of writing” is one of the most important literacy skill building exercises to do early in their lives. While basic skills are important, and mastery of advanced skills comes over time, if children do not acquire the passion for actually doing the writing, they will never become great writers.

In many human endeavors, the most important thing about achieving greatness, about excelling and enjoying and celebrating those endeavors is two simple things. Everything else does not matter at all if those two conditions are not met. Two simple rules determine success in almost everything we do.
Read on >> Writing Prompts for Kids

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Check out the summer Break Time and odds are you will find a class that piques your interest and doesn’t dent your pocketbook. We offer a variety of low cost classes at several locations throughout the community. Come out and play!

*  Horsemanship
*  Cardio Jam Class
*  Dr. Sears L.E.A.N. Essentials
*  Acrylic Landscape Painting
*  Transparent Watercolor Landscape Painting
*  Basic First Aid & CPR
*  A.W.E.S.O.M.E. Organizing for Kids Rooms

Arizona Travel Series: Jerome, Arizona
Join us on an exciting tour of the Historic Homes in Jerome on Saturday, May 16. Stops along the way include Phelps Dodge Administrative Office, a classic Victorian house, a 1904 cottage, the authentic Gypsy Wagon, the lovely and haunting Holy Cross Catholic Church, the Ladies Jail, and more.

The tour ends with refreshments at Jerome’s famous ‘Spook Hall’. The excursion includes coach bus transportation and tour admission. The trip is offered to anyone age 7 or older. To register, go to www.chandleraz.gov/registration or stop by any of the City’s community or recreation centers.

Historic Hotels and Resorts of Arizona
This photographic exhibit at the Historic McCullough-Price House runs through June and highlights many of Arizona’s unique historic resorts, including a glimpse of the early years of Chandler’s San Marcos Hotel, which opened in 1913 and featured the first turf golf course in the State. Call 480-782-2878 or visit www.chandleraz.gov/pricehouse for more information.

Active Senior Adult Programs (ages 55+)
Chandler Senior Center
Active seniors can always find something fun to do and make new friends, too, at the Senior Center. It is located at 202 E. Boston St., and the phone number is 480-782-2720. Activities include:
*  Early Bird Exercise
*  Arthritis Exercise
*  Bingo & Bunco
*  Quilting and Other Crafts
*  Ceramics
*  Mah-Jongg
*  Bowling
*  And a variety of card games.
A full list of ongoing activities is online at www.chandleraz.gov/senior-adults

Maynard White Day!
On May 8, Maynard White is turning 102 years old! We’ll be holding a birthday party complete with a proclamation from the Mayor of Chandler at 10:30 am.

Mother’s Day Celebration
On May 11 at 10 a.m., come out and celebrate with us! Festivities are sponsored by Diane Ayers with United Healthcare

Centenarian Birthday Party
On June 11 at 10 a.m. it is time to party with all our patrons who will be or have reached 100 years!  Party sponsored by Diane Ayers with United Healthcare.

Father’s Day Celebration!
On June 22 at 9:30 a.m. Happy Father’s Day! It’s another reason for a party. Cupcakes will be provided by Diane Ayers with United Healthcare.

Therapeutic Recreation Programs
“You Look Marvelous” Fashion Show
Chandler Therapeutics hosts its annual fashion show at the Chandler Center for the Arts on Saturday, May 9, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance at the Chandler Senior Center (202 E. Boston St., 480-782-2720) or $12 at the box office (480-782-2680).

Volunteers Are Always Welcome!
There are many ways that you can help out with Special Olympics sports, classes, socials, or special programs. If you are a positive role model and interested in helping out with any of the fun and inspiring programs, please call Collette Prather at (480) 782-2709. You’ll be glad that you made a difference!

Our Goal
It is the goal of the City of Chandler Therapeutic Recreation Program to facilitate the development, maintenance, and expression of an appropriate leisure lifestyle for individuals with physical, mental, emotional, or social limitations. We strive to meet the leisure needs of those individuals who are active in one or more of the following areas: sheltered workshop, Special Education classes, and one whose mental and/or physical disability limits that person from participating in regular recreation.

For details on our programs, call 480-782-2709 or go to www.chandleraz.gov/therapeutic.

Technorati Tags: Adult, Arizona, Chandler, Recreation, Senior Adults, Summer Programs

There is a lot of questionable information floating around with regard to Mortgage modification.  Most of this information is being provided by people and companies who hope to profit from the current mortgage loan crisis and want to charge people large fees to negotiate modification of their mortgages.

Talk to your lender and ask for the loss mitigation department.

Look in your local area for Foreclosure Prevention Seminars or Foreclosure Prevention Workshops.

You want to look at events that are involved with the HOPE program and Hope for Homeowners and similar programs.

Community Information & Referral http://www.cir.org/ runs a state-wide foreclosure prevention hotline in Arizona under the sponsorship of the Arizona Department of Housing. Callers are put in touch with a HUD Certified Foreclosure Counselor.

In Arizona, the number to call is 877-448-1211.  Outside of Arizona call 888-995-HOPE.

http://www.arizonaforeclosuretaskforce.com/ provides news about foreclosure prevention efforts in the state of Arizona. This is the website of former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano’s Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, and is sponsored and supported by two of my companies.

Thursday night, there was a foreclosure prevention workshop in Glendale Arizona and hundreds of people were helped. I heard one of the 20+ lenders who had a team there say that she had helped over 90 people begin the process of modifying their loans that night.

Loan Modification – Frequently Asked Questions from the Department of Housing and Urban Development – HUD

A Loan Modification is a permanent change in one or more of the terms of a mortgagor’s loan, allows the loan to be reinstated, and results in a payment the mortgagor can afford.

Loan Modification Frequently Asked Questions – HUD

Bill Austin

Technorati Tags: Foreclosure, Foreclosure Prevention, Foreclosures, HOPE, Mortgage Loan Modification, Mortgage Modification, Mortgages, Real Estate

Don’t try beating ‘em or joining ‘em. Either hang out by yourself or quit.

Seek, and you shall be disappointed.

Knock, and the door shall be slammed in your face.

If you don’t have anything nice to say, welcome to the club.

Did you ever sit back and evaluate your life and think, “Wow, things are going just as I always wanted them to?” I didn’t think so.  Me either.

Funny Jokes

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A book review of “Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd” by Mark Blake

- written by Esther Schindler at CIO Magazine.

Esther considers the lessons that Pink Floyd can teach about collaboration, team-building and management skills. Traditional notions in these areas may not be the most effective route to success.

Yes Men are non-contributors to success.

… “as a successful businessman once told me, ‘When two partners agree all the time, one of them is unnecessary.’”

Personality Fit and Cultural Fit are not that important and may reduce creativity and innovation.

… “to be a business success, “personality fit” isn’t always a requirement—though obviously it sure helps. The ability to get the job done is what matters. Barrett was let go only after he made it clear he could no longer contribute to the team’s success.

Creative Teams Use Limitations and Frustrations to Greater Creative Purpose

The difference between effective teams where people don’t necessarily get along and those that fall apart—or at least this team—is how the individuals turn their experiences (past and present) into the creative work.

Expect Creative People To Push Themselves and Others—Sometimes Too Hard

Creative people aren’t always compassionate in demanding the best of others.

Four Non-Obvious Things Pink Floyd Can Teach Your Team

Technorati Tags: Business, Collaboration, creativity, innovation, Management, pink floyd, Team Building

As an example, this quotation from Peter Drucker:

“Businesses are not paid to reform customers. They are paid to satisfy customers.”
- Peter Drucker

To read the rest, visit David at this page: Quotes To Live By

For Quotes about Life or Life Quotes – Quotes About Life

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June 9, 2008 · By Linda S. Thompson

Someone recently asked me what I planned to do when I retired. “Retire?” I asked. “I’m not planning to retire!” I can’t think of anything much worse. What would I do if I weren’t pursuing my passion? Yes, my work is my passion and I hope to be pursuing it for many more years.

Read More Here: Retire Not Me

Sure, I like to travel, just not for long periods of time. I don’t play golf. I do mess around in my garden, but this only takes a few hours of my week. I love to read, but I couldn’t read all day, every day. I want to continue writing books and articles and speaking to groups about my favorite topics. But, I want to do all of this when I want to do it!

Does this sound familiar? As a Baby Boomer, what is in your future? Do you have a vision of your life ten, twenty, even thirty years down the road? What does your next chapter look like? If you are like most Boomers, you may be searching for a new career. You may have a desire for personal reinvention. If you need some help, I highly recommend Ellen Freudenheim’s book, Looking Forward, An Optimist’s Guide to Retirement. Ellen offers a wealth of information and ideas on this very subject.

Technorati Tags: Aging, baby boomers, boomers, Retire, retirement, Retirement Planning, Seniors

One of the best ways to quickly and easily get listed in the search results of Google, Yahoo, MSN / Windows Live, and other search engines is to submit a business listing to the local business directories of those search engines.  Your Internet marketing results could improve substantially as soon as your site ges listed locally.  The article below, written by Bill Austin, describes the process and provides links to submit to these business directories.

Local Business Directories

Local Marketing – Local Search Marketing – Submitting Your Local Business Directory Listing to Local Business Directories | Arizona High Tech Talent Partnership

How To Submit Your Business Listing to Local Directories for Businesses in Phoenix Arizona, Yahoo Local, Google Local, and MSN Local (Windows Live Local)

Local businesses can show up in local search results on various search engines by submitting a business listing to East Valley Living, Yahoo Local, Google Local, MSN Local, and others.

For more information on each of these opportunities visit the following links or call AZhttp, Inc. at (480) 998-0246.

Submit your Local Business Directory Listing to East Valley Living Business Directory

Submit your Local Business Directory Listing to Google Local Business Directory

Submit your Local Business Directory Listing to Yahoo Local Business Directory

Submit your Local Business Directory Listing to MSN Local Business Directory

Technorati Tags: Arizona, business directory, business listings, directory listings, Local, Local Business, Local Business Directory, Local Marketing, Phoenix, Phoenix Arizona, Phoenix Arizona Local, Phoenix Arizona Search Marketing, Search Engine, Search Marketing

Gardening During Times of High Pollen Counts Puts Patients at Risk for Severe Allergic Symptoms – Health News, Health and Wellness Tips and Wellness Articles

March 02 , 2008 by Ask Amy

Hi Amy – I am in a relationship with a man who has been separated from his wife for many years (more than 5).  They have an 11-year-old son and his son means the world to him.

Addictions Soothe Self and Numb Emotional Pain

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