Inspired by First Lady Michelle Obamas Joining Forces initiative, the campaign targets six pillars – jobs, education, health, housing, family and leadership, and includes specific goals in each area.

VENTURA, CA, May 11, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
The Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are launching a new
capital access program to assist business owners in preparing for
funding and investment. GPF Real Estate & Financing Corporation
(Global REFCo), a subsidiary of Global Private Funding, Inc.,
(Global) will provide the financial packaging services for SBDC
clients through workshops and one-on-one step-by-step guidance. The
goal is to prepare business owners to present their businesses in the
most positive light and capture the attention of venture capital
(VC), private investors, underwriters and revenue financiers.

Bruce Stenslie, President and CEO of the Economic Development
Collaborative serving Ventura and Santa Barbara County (EDC-VC),
shared that creative financing and access to capital will turn the
economy around creating greater consumer confidence and local jobs.
Lawrence Hermelee at SBDC, a retired banker who masterminded this
program, added that most often, businesses, even those growing
exponentially reach glass ceilings and walls that though one can see
through to the other side, remain a hard barrier holding the
businesses from growth. Larry further added that Global’s Business
Incubation process helps businesses break the invisible barriers and
grow. In an interview, Andrew Halarewicz, Vice President of Business
Development of Global, at the Century City branch, explained how the
Global Business Incubation program is performance based and therefore
does not burden the businesses with advance fees. The clients and
Global are aligned through performance-based compensation.

Mary Kananen, the Community Outreach Manager at Global, spoke of the
Global Center for Excellence Award, an award to challenge and inspire
Innovation & Creation of Disruptive Technologies. Mary described
disruptive as similar to the invention of the light-bulb vs. the
candle. The nominations for this award are through research
institutions and grant award committees at various private and
government agencies. SBDCs of EDC-VC have been selected to submit up
to five (5) candidates per year for California. Mary explained that
the award is not based on a bell-curve, rather on merit and that
there are years when nominees do not meet award standards; it’s a
challenge, not just recognition. The recipient of the award is given
up to $100,000.00 to further develop the technology, up to
$250,000.00 in consulting, marketing and product placement
development through Global, and a one year management internship.

Joshua Loeb, Associate Vice President, Lending & Venture Investment
at Global expressed his excitement about the new Global-SBDC
micro-loan startup fund. We have experience launching similar funds.
He expressed that most often, funding a half a million dollars
($500,000.00) to an established business is far less complicated than
the few thousand needed to start a business. According to the Wells
Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index study of 2006, small-business
owners spend an average of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) to start
their business. “The Global-SBDC micro-fund is vital to unshackling
startups,” said Joshua.

Jessica Beavers, Vice President of Health and Human Services Group at
Global, spoke about the changes to Medicare and the migration of
medical service from fee-for-service to results-based through
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The SBDC will expand its
services to physicians by bringing ACO and IPA origination services
to physicians. Jessica spoke of the benefits of physicians
collaborating to start their own ACO or an IPA opposed to joining
one. She also spoke about how hospitals, in creating their own ACO,
retain good physicians. Medicare reform is here and the ACO model is
one that can be implemented to benefit private patient practices and
HMOs to reduce costs.

Ray Bowman, Director of the SBDC who was recently assigned to the
prestigious National District Export Council by Secretary of
Commerce, John Bryson, plans to take this model across California and
to other states enabling SBDCs across the nation to provide greater
value to their clients. It’s not just about funding and financing,
it’s also about showing business owners how to become better
operators and create an exit strategy so that there are milestones
and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

The SBDC network is part of the national Small Business
Administration (SBA) providing individualized consulting and training
to new and growing businesses. Global is an equity based lender who
specializes in incubating businesses and financing. Unlike venture
capital firms, Global does not take equity. Often, venture capital
firms retain Global’s incubation services to secure success of their
acquisitions. Global finances collaboratively with its partners as
well as by connecting investors directly to the investment. Global
does not charge the investors any fees, thus, maintaining its
impartiality.

Dr. Sam Francis Senev, Chairman of Global, reiterated the importance
of SBDCs: “That the local businesses are who support the local
economy and if we as a community want to champion change, we can
think globally, but we must act locally.”

Contact:
Ray Bowman
SBDC Director
Small Business Development Center
Economic Development Collaborative – Ventura County
(805) 384-1800 ext: 26
Email Contact

www.edcsbdc.org
Mary Kananen
Community Outreach Manager
Global Private Funding Inc.
GPF Real Estate & Financing Corp.
(800) 226-8146 | (805) 807-2943
Email Contact

www.GlobalPrivateFunding.com

SOURCE: Global Private Funding, Inc.

http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=AAB85F984D2198F9

http://www.edcsbdc.org/

http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=2E782FBB8E006861

http://www.globalprivatefunding.com/

Copyright 2012 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.

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NEW YORK, May 12 (UPI) — Former basketball star Charles Barkley said he was inspired to join and campaign for Weight Watchers when he realized hed gained 100 pounds since retirement.

Currently weighing in at 292, Barkley has lost nearly 60 pounds since joining the weight-loss program. He told Parade Magazine hed like to drop another 20 pounds from his 6-foot-5-inch frame.

Id gained, like, 100 pounds since I retired, and that wasnt good, Barkley said.

Barkley admitted it was his idea to dress up as a woman for the Weight Watchers ad about man food.

I thought their commercials were a little intense and I wanted to have more fun. Ive dressed like a woman on Saturday Night Live, so it doesnt bother me at all. My message is about health, he said.

In January Barkley was caught on air during a Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks game calling his Weight Watchers gig a scam. He believed his microphone was turned off at the time.

I thought this was the greatest scam going — getting paid to watch sports. This Weight Watchers thing is a bigger scam, The New York Times quoted him as saying.

Weight Watchers released a statement from Barkley, in which he said: I meant what I said. The fact that Im dropping pounds, getting healthier and getting paid at the same time is my definition of a great scam.

CBS sues ABC for copying Big Brother

LOS ANGELES, May 12 (UPI) — CBS has filed a lawsuit against ABC for infringement of copyright law, saying the networks upcoming Life in a Glass House is similar to CBS Big Brother.

The complaint, filed by CBS Thursday in Los Angeles federal court, alleges the ABC show replicates every key aspect of Big Brother, including, among other things, its plot, themes, mood, setting, pace, characters [and] sequence of events.

ABC had previously not responded to a cease-and-desist request filed by CBS last week, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The differences between Glass House and Big Brother are both fundamental and obvious, ranging from Glass Houses interactive elements and audience participation to its deployment of cutting-edge technologies, ABC said.

Both reality shows film strangers living together in a competition in which one contestant emerges as the winner.

Lance Lieberman, an intellectual-property attorney, said it is CBS responsibility to prove in court ABC was directly copying ideas unique to Big Brother.

Any time a new show comes out thats basically the same idea, there are always these kinds of charges, Lieberman said.

Life in a Glass House is scheduled to premiere June 18, the Journal said.

Damon, Affleck to host Warren fundraiser

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 12 (UPI) — New Englanders Matt Damon and Ben Affleck will be hosts of a Hollywood fundraiser for Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, her campaign said.

John Krasinski of NBCs The Office, a fellow son of the commonwealth, will also welcome donors to the May 21 event at the Santa Monica, Calif., production company owned by Star Trek producer JJ Abrams.

It wont be all celebrities at the party, The Hill noted. Two tickets will be issued in a raffle among donors who chipped in $5 or more. The campaign will pick up the travel costs to get the luck winners out to Los Angeles.

Warren has been on a financial roll in her campaign to unseat US Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., The Hill said. She pumped nearly $7 million into her war chest in the first quarter of 2012.

Jazz savant Matt Savage graduates college

BOSTON, May 12 (UPI) — Autistic jazz music savant Matt Savage celebrated his birthday and graduated from Bostons Berklee College of Music Saturday with a 3.99 grade point average.

Savage, who was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old and couldnt stand the sound of music, cut his first album at age 7, has won several ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards, has performed in numerous festivals and competitions around the world and has even played with the likes of Chaka Khan and Chick Corea.

Music is a soundtrack to my life, he told The Boston Globe. It transports people into what life could be. When you play music, it feels like youre making the world that much more exciting.

Savage, 20, still has one semester left at Berklee — hes graduating now because the school only has one ceremony per year — but plans to perform at the Heineken Jazzaldia Festival in San Sebastian, Spain, in July and has a gig lined up in Japan in September.

Despite Savages early success — hes composed some 100 to 200 songs — hes basically a typical college kid, said John Funkhouser, Berklee professor and member of the Matt Savage Trio.

Hes gotten good grades, met tons of people, and played with a wide variety of people and in various musical styles, Funkhouser added.

SANTA CLARA, CA, May 11, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
Billeo, Inc. announced today that its ShopSmart(TM) iPad app was
named a Finalist in the Apps category in The 2012 American Business
Awards, and will ultimately be a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Award
winner in the program.

The American Business Awards are the nation’s premier business awards
program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to
submit nominations — public and private, for-profit and non-profit,
large and small.

For the first time, The American Business Awards will be presented at
two awards events: the ABA’s traditional banquet on Monday, June 18
in New York, and a new tech awards event on Monday, September 17 in
San Francisco.

More than 3,000 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in
virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration
in a wide range of categories, including Most Innovative Company of
the Year, Management Team of the Year, Best New Product or Service of
the Year, Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year, and
Executive of the Year, among others. Billeo’s ShopSmart(TM) iPad app
is nominated for best Shopping App.

Billeo, Inc. creates free apps that save people time and money while
shopping and paying bills online. Billeo also provides banks, credit
card companies, credit unions, airlines and loyalty providers with
context-aware shopping and bill pay technologies that help them
better interact with their customers online.

Billeo’s latest app, ShopSmart, is a free iPad app built to make
shopping from an iPad easier and more rewarding, saving the average
user 10 percent on each purchase. ShopSmart includes a secure eWallet
and form-fill features, which take the work out of shopping from an
iPad. The app also instantly alerts users about deals from their
loyalty and rewards programs, favorite merchants and daily deal
services. Recently, ShopSmart was updated with a more intuitive look
and feel to make shopping from the app even easier.

“We’re thrilled to have our work recognized by The American Business
Awards,” said Murali Subbarao, CEO of Billeo, Inc. “This further
validates that our consumer-centric approach to designing and
developing apps is a win-win — consumers save money while financial
institutions build brand loyalty.”

Finalists were chosen by more than 140 business professionals
nationwide during preliminary judging in April and May. More than 150
members of 10 specialized judging committees will determine Stevie
Award placements from among the Finalists during final judging, to
take place May 14 – 25.

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of Finalists
in all categories are available at
www.stevieawards.com/aba .

About Billeo, Inc.
Billeo, Inc. helps consumers save time and money
while shopping or paying bills online. Billeo’s free browser and
mobile apps save more than 1.5 million consumers nearly 10 percent on
each purchase, by helping them take full advantage of their financial
relationships and loyalty programs. Billeo’s Active Context
Platform(TM) provides financial institutions and card issuers like
American Express, Discover, US Bank, Wells Fargo and Visa with
context-aware shopping and bill pay technologies, helping them better
interact with their customers online. More than 40 banks, 20,000
billers, 1,500 merchants, six of the top 10 card issuers and two of
the top five airlines are part of the Billeo network.

Billeo was listed as one of the fastest growing private companies by
Inc. Magazine and named the 2011 best e-commerce site by the American
Business Awards. For more information about Billeo, Inc. visit

www.billeo.com .

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four
programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business
Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie
Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all
types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize
outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about
The Stevie Awards at
www.stevieawards.com .

Sponsors and partners of The 2012 American Business Awards include
American Support, Business TalkRadio Network, Callidus Software,
Citrix Online, Dynamic Research Corporation, iolo technologies, John
Hancock Funds, LifeLock, PetRays, Primus Telecommunications Group,
SoftPro, and VerticalResponse.

SOURCE: Billeo, Inc.

Copyright 2012 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.

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PHOTOS: 10 Entertainers Democrats and Republicans Love to Hate

Obama addressed the crowd shortly after 7 pm He thanked Katzenbergfor putting the event together and Clooney for hosting it at hishouse, according to a pool report. The president noted that he spotteda Hope poster, by Shepard Fairey, hanging in Clooneys house.

People dont realize that the photograph of me is actually me sittingnext to George at an event when Clooney was advocating on behalf ofDarfur, the president told the crowd. We struck up a friendship, he said, and then he joked, to much laughter: This is the first timethat George Clooney has actually been Photoshopped out of a picture. Never happened before, will never happen again.

Obama added: But the wonderful thing is the artist actually sent George — some of you have seen this — a print with my picture and his picture right next to each other with the same … in the same format. Why he said at the bottom, Dope and Hope I dont know. I dont think thats fair.

As for the record-breaking evening, Obama said: We raised a lot of money because everybody loves George. Theylike me, they love him. And rightfully so. Not only is he anunbelievable actor, but he is one of those rare individuals who is atease with everybody. He seems to occupy a constant state of grace anduses his extraordinary talents on behalf of something trulyimportant.

PHOTOS: 11 Childrens Movies With Political Agendas? You Betcha, Say Conservatives

After the niceties to Clooney, Obama briefly discussed his ABCinterview he gave Wednesday, where he announced that he was coming out in supportof same-sex marriage.

Obviously, yesterday we made some news, Obama told the crowd to a bigapplause. But the truth is, it was a logical extension of what Americais supposed to be. It grew directly out of this difference in visions.Are we a country that includes everybody and gives everybody a shotand treats everybody fairly and is that going to make us stronger? Arewe welcoming to immigrants? Are we welcoming to people who arent likeus? Does that make us stronger? I believe it does. So thats whats atstake.

He then veered into his familiar stump speech on how bad the situationwas when he took office, according to the pool report. Despite allthis, the American people are pulling through. … Slowly, things arecoming back.

The other side has got a different view, Obama continued. Theirattitude is, youre on your own. If youre a kid born in a poorneighborhood in LA, tough luck; youre on your own. If youre a seniorcitizen who because of bad luck got laid off or your company ended updissolving without your pension being vested, tough luck; you didntplan well enough. Thats not the America I believe in. Thats not theAmerica you believe in.

PHOTOS: Democrats and Republicans Favorite Movies

Fourteen round tables with 10 people each filled a tent on Clooneysbasketball court. At a table in the middle, Maguire sat to the rightof Clooney and his girlfriend, Stacy Keibler.Nearby were Diane Von Furstenberg and Barry Diller. Streisand (at a rear tableand looking serious throughout, in black beret) sat with her husbandJames Brolin, according to the pool.

Also in attendance were designer Trina Turk, Rob Reiner, JJ Abrams andwife Katie McGrath, Starz CEOChris Albrecht, video game pioneer Skip Paul and his husband Van Fletcher, Summit co-chairman Rob Friedman, producer Nina Jacobson, ICM president Chris Silbermann,CAA partner Bryan Lourd, entrepreneur Lynda Resnick, Friendsco-creator Marta Kauffman, Warner Bros. Entertainment CEO Barry Meyer,LACMAs Michael Govan, DNC Southern California finance co-chair John Emersonand E! Entertainment founderJarl Mohn.

All had paid $40,000 apiece not only to support Obamas re-election but also to be part of history: the single richest one-night fundraiserin the history of presidential politics. The presidents local andnational campaign officials differ on exactly how much the dinnerraised. Katzenberg told the crowd that the event raised nearly $15million, though campaign officials say that number is inaccurate.Nevertheless, the total appears to have topped the previous record of $11 million raised by a Streisand concert and dinner in 2008. To putthe new record in perspective, the Obama campaign raised more moneyThursday night than Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee,has raised in any month since he jumped into the race.

PHOTOS: 22 of Hollywoods Best Presidents in Movies and TV

The smashing success of Thursdays event owed at least as much tocircumstance as it did to calculation. Katzenberg and his politicaladviser Andy Spahn had long intended to stage a major Obama fundraiserat about this time of year, but the original venue was supposed tohave been the studio executives newly constructed Beverly Hillsmansion. When work on the house fell behind schedule and otherconsiderations arose, they began looking for another site, and Clooneyagreed to open his home. The chance to dine withObama and the worlds ranking male star sent the online contestportion of the event into the fundraising stratosphere. (In his opening remarks to the crowd, Clooney joked about receiving the campaign e-mails encouraging him to enter the contest.) The winnersof the contest were two women, a Florida utility company employee anda New Jersey science teacher, who attended with their husbands, aretired military man and a jazz guitarist, respectively.

Almost lost in the chatter surrounding the Clooney-Katzenberg eventsrecord take was the fact that, earlier in the day, Obama raised $3million at a pair of events in Seattle. And, as Obamas motorcaderolled through Studio City by Laurel Canyon Boulevard, people linedthe street holding signs. Our gay family says thanks Mr. President,one stated. And another: Will trade Lakers for Bulls if you stop!

There is little doubt that Obamas forthright endorsement of same-sexunions also has re-energized his Hollywood base in a manner not seen since the enthusiastic days of 2008.

As one entertainment industry insider told The Hollywood Reporter:Longtime Democratic supporterswho had lost hope in Obama are reversing course. … Theyre all back in the saddle now.

Ken Solomon, the DNCs Southern California co-finance chair, said Obamas ABC interview was the conversation topic of the evening among guests at the fundraiser.

Everyone was so proud of what had happened yesterday, Solomon said. It just cut through any previous cynicism.

Thursdays event was, in an important sense, a ratification of theincumbent presidents re-embrace of a Hollywood base from which he had seemed distant. And, as the event shows, Obamahas learned two essential truths about raising money in LA: thebigger the stars in attendance, the bigger the take, and even thechief executive has to be sensitive to traffic here. Obamas previousfundraising visits, which relied entirely on motorcades to move thepresident, his retinue, the security detail and the press pool aroundsnarled traffic in Mid-City, Hancock Park and Beverly Hills.

This timearound, the presidential party took helicopters to Burbank Airport and a relatively quick motorcade to Chez Clooney. However, Obama did bring along an unusually large entourage of White House and campaign heavyweights that included David Plouffe, Valerie Jarrett, Jay Carney, Julianna Smoot, Rufus Gifford and speechwriter Jon Favreau.

Afterward, Obama traveled to Beverly Hills to spend the night. Before heading out of town Friday morning, he played a game of basketball with his staff and other special guests, including Clooney and Maguire. Hes set to travel toReno, Nev., to deliver an address on mortgage reformin a state even more badly hurt by the real estate crash than California. On Monday, hell hit the fundraising trail again, travelingto New York for an event jointly sponsored by Latino and gaysupporters.

.

LOS ANGELES, May 11, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education, and community support for women entrepreneurs, has launched the Urban Rebound business growth initiative for women with a $750,000 grant from Sam’s Club. This exciting new business growth initiative is designed to provide education, support and community for women business owners looking to grow their ventures to $250,000 in annual revenues.

“Women business owners are key to our nation’s success, and despite their increasing numbers, statistics show they are less likely to reach their full potential,” said Catherine Corley, Vice President for Membership Services at Sam’s Club. “We are proud to support Count Me In. We believe the Urban Rebound program will empower women business owners to expand their capabilities, create jobs, and strengthen communities.”

Count Me In will present Urban Rebound programs in three metropolitan areas across the United States in 2012. Urban Rebound-Los Angeles Pitch Parties began in March. The Urban Rebound-Los Angeles Conference and Competition is taking place May 10-11 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Additional programs are scheduled for Detroit, Mich., and Charlotte, N.C., later this year. Urban Rebound is designed to help bring 100 women-owned businesses in each region to $250,000 in annual revenues within 12 to 18 months. That goal translates into potentially $75 million in new economic activity and 600 to 900 much needed new jobs.

Urban Rebound is a three part journey:

First, free Pitch Parties are offered throughout each target region where women business owners can practice their two-minute elevator pitch and receive expert feedback on how to make it work most effectively.

Pitch Parties are held in preparation for the Urban Rebound Conference and Competition held in the host city, where participants pitch their businesses to a panel of experts for a chance at one of 100 spots in the business growth program and other business growth prizes. Event attendees will also take part in business education workshops, hear inspiring keynotes, and network in a community of peers and role models. Registration is $49.

Finally, the Pitch Winners selected from the competition will go on to apply for a place in the Count Me In Business Accelerator Program, a nine-month business growth intensive designed to help women-owned businesses with revenues between $50,000 and $150,000 grow to the $250,000 threshold. The program uses a proven combination of professional business coaching and education, confidence building, and support from a strong community of peers.

“We are so excited to bring this fantastic program to LA, Detroit and Charlotte this year – 29 percent of women-owned businesses in the U.S. are based in those states,” said Nell Merlino, Founder and President of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence. “We look forward to providing local women entrepreneurs with the tools and confidence needed to grow their businesses, create jobs, and foster economic stability for their families and local economies.”

California, Michigan and North Carolina are all among the top 10 states in terms of the number of women-owned businesses based there (number 1, 8 and 10, respectively), yet each ranks below the national average in terms of growth for these firms from 1997 to 2010, according to a recent report by American Express OPEN.

To compete in the pitch competition and take part in the CMI Business Accelerator Program, businesses must meet the following criteria:

Be based in one of the three target regions

Be in business for at least two years

Be at least 50 percent woman-owned

Have annual gross revenues of no less than $50,000 and no greater than $150,000

Be a US citizen or legal resident

Have no bankruptcies or liens within past five years

Urban Rebound corresponds with the Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative created by Walmart Stores, Inc., in 2011 to empower women across its supply chain. As part of that commitment, Sam’s Club aims to empower women through job training and education, and support women’s economic empowerment through philanthropic giving.

For more information about Urban Rebound and to register for upcoming events, visit
www.countmein.org/UrbanRebound .

About Count Me In

Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education, and community support for women entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses to million dollar enterprises. Count Me In launched the Make Mine a Million $ Business Competition to inspire one million women entrepreneurs scale their businesses to a million dollars in business revenues in the next decade by providing tools, skills, and the support of a nation-wide community of peers.

About the Sam’s Club Giving Program

Sam’s Club Giving supports community-based programs that empower young people, families and small businesses to make smart choices that lead to healthy and bright futures. Through cash and in-kind donations, as well as the dedication of associates, Sam’s Club is committed to making an impact in areas that align with the company, and with the passions and interests of members. In 2011, the Sam’s Club Giving Program made cash and in-kind contributions of more than $101 million, which included donating more than 38 million meals. Visit SamsClub.com/giving (hotlink) for more information.

SOURCE Sam’s Club

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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Historys Headlines: Moravian Society 155 and going strong

NAZARETH, Pa. –

George Washington, rock star? Well maybe the father of this country is not the first name you think of after Elvis, but in the America of 1782, when Washington stopped at Bethlehem’s Sun Inn, he was very popular with a lot of patriot folks in the country.

So it is understandable why, when a Moravian lady, as we might say today a “fan,” asked him for lock of his hair, it was a request he was glad to oblige.

That errant lock from Washington, carefully preserved, has for a long time been at home at the Moravian Historical Society in Nazareth’s Whitefield House, a space he society has occupied for a long time.

Founded in 1857, when Pennsylvanians were celebrating the election of favorite son James Buchanan of Lancaster to the White House, the society has managed to survive, keeping its Moravian heritage intact and preserving a remarkable collection of items. Among them are the heartfelt religious paintings of 18th century Moravian master artist John Valentine Haidt, who once gave painting lessons to Benjamin West, America’s first internationally known artist, and artifacts related to Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf, the Moravian church leader who founded Bethlehem.

Megan van Ravenswaay, the current director of the society’s museum, who took over last January after having worked for the Historic Bethlehem Partnership, notes that the scale of collection is mind-boggling. “When I walk into our collection area my jaw drops,” she says. “We have the oldest clavichord (a small keyboard instrument with a soft tone that was one of the many predecessors to the piano) in the country, and the oldest violin. The Moravians really were at the cradle of the American Revolution and so much of the art and culture of the time.”

Since 1871 the Moravian Historical Society has been housed in a beautiful park like setting at the Whitefield House, the oldest existing Moravian site in North America.

Built between 1740 and 1743 it takes its name from George Whitefield, the great evangelical preacher of the 18th century who for a time worked with the Moravians but had a falling out with them over theology. It was apparently one of those hair-splitting debates right out of the Middle Ages with university trained academic theologians throwing Latin phrases at each other.

Originally called simply the “stone house,” Whitefield housed the 33 newly married couples who founded the Moravian settlement of Nazareth. It later served as a girls school and refuge for frontier settlers fleeing the violence of the French and Indian War in the 1750s.

John Jordan Jr., vice president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, purchased the building in 1870. He extensively remodeled the interior, which included constructing the present main entrance and stairway. The first floor was to be used for the Moravian Society for Propagating the Gospel, a missionary group. Jordan stipulated that its second floor be turned over to the historical society for use as a museum.

In 1907 the Whitefield House was given indoor plumbing and electric lights. The property was turned over to the society in 1978 and when the Whitefield House’s last tenants moved out in 1990, the entire building became museum space, which was extensively renovated in 1995.

At first the Moravian Historical Society’s museum was like many 19th century museums. When people did not know what to do with something that had been gathering dust in the attic they decided to give it to the museum. Thus the collection grew beyond things that had any links to the Moravian Church or Moravian history. Apparently this is what led to the museum ending up with lock of Washington’s hair and pieces of the catafalque that bore the body of Abraham Lincoln. As much as this practice added to the society’s extensive collection, it tended to make people think of museums as musty spaces that were for dull, musty people. Even the elite Smithsonian Institution in Washington came to be known as the “national attic.”

Today many museums still battle with this image problem. And van Ravenswaay admits that in the current tough environment for museums it is crucial that change comes to places like the Moravian Historical Society’s museum. “The days when museums could house exhibits that never changed with staff people running around hushing visitors are over,” she says. “I want to see the museum full of children and laughter. I want to open the doors and share what we have with the Lehigh Valley and the country.”

In order to do this van Ravenswaay notes that the museum has joined forces with the Moravian Archives in Bethlehem. She notes that she works closely with Paul Peucker, Archives director and internationally known Moravian scholar. “We maintain separate collections and separate books,” says van Ravenswaay, “but we decided that since we are only 10 miles away and are geared toward the same audience it made sense to share staff and resources.”

In keeping with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Moravian Historical Society’s current exhibit is titled “United By God, Divided by Man: The Moravian Struggle During American Civil War.” The War Between the States split the Moravian Church as it did many denominations with national memberships. Arguments for and against the Union and the subject of slavery led literally to brother fighting against brother. The exhibit looks at the stories of soldiers, the church’s role in the war effort and the sacrifices made by many.

On June 9th the society will be holding its Arts and Crafts event that will include fun for all ages. “We want history to be both educational and fun and want everyone to join us. Moravian history is American history and it is for everyone.”

Over the coming weeks, we are going to see more and more former players coming out of the woodwork claiming suffering and issues that they have had when their playing days were over.

Currently, there are over 1,800 former players named in 70 complaints that are going to be presented as a class action lawsuit against the NFL, claiming that the NFL did not do enough to properly protect or inform the players of the inherent risks and dangers they could potentially be exposed to while they are playing.

Just the other day, Jim Arnold, former Pro Bowl punterthats right, punterof the Detroit Lions joined a class action lawsuit against the NFL and recently, Art Monk, former Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Washington Redskins joined a different class action lawsuit against Riddell Helmets and the NFL for not properly protecting them from the dangers of head trauma.

I realize that this is a fine line to be walking and I dont want to minimize the suffering that certain players are experiencing. In my past articles, I have written about not wanting to see my favorite players crippled or suffering from early onset dementia due to their time on the field.

I do support greater safety for players and increased health benefits and insurance for former players. I think one of the greatest black-markets against both the NFL and the NFLPA is that neither has done enough to provide for those that built the game into what it is today.

All of that being said, there are two views that I feel need to be expressed that refute the actions of some former players.

First off, concussions and the NFL are a hot topic these days. It is not unheard of for those out of the spotlight to have a desire to want back in and are opening their mouths before they are able to speak and are risking tarnishing their names for the sake of a few more moments of recognitionChris Carter I am talking to you.

News and sports shows now want to use concussions as a topic because it is going to garner ratings.

This means that every crackpot former player who wants to get on TV is going to have an opportunity to talk about their experiences and how they are suffering now. This is going to do great damage to the NFL as a whole and those former and current players that are suffering real effects of concussions and head trauma. But that will be lost in the rush to judgment that the public will make.

At a certain point, these attention seekers are going to be creating wasteful lawsuits against the NFL not based on suffering, but on greed. Unfortunately, the lawsuits will cause some damage to the NFL brand and cost the NFL a great deal of money simply because some of these former players want to grab some headlines.

Some of these lawsuits will become frivolous wastes of time and money and every reptile-like lawyer will find some former player that woke up one day with a headache and decide that it must be a concussion and sue the NFL. And lets not forget the over 70 percent of former NFL players that are broke or in bankrupt procedures.

You dont think that some shady lawyer is going to be able to create a correlation between repeated hits to the head and the inability to manage finances? We are a victim society so why should we be surprised when our favorite athletes who have lost all their money decide they want to play the victim card as well.

The second issue is the more or current players than the former players.

As much as I want to see the game become safer so that players can have a happier post-football life, at a certain point they have to accept the fact that they are making a conscious decision to suit up every week and play football.

The warnings of danger are now known, the potential post career issues are going to be well-documented and current players are not going to be able to claim they didnt know. That would be like someone starting to smoke ten years ago and claiming that they had no idea that tobacco could cause cancer.

At a certain point we must put the burden of responsibility and consequences onto the person and not blame a corporation that has lots of money.

Football is a violent sport. That is why players are drawn to it and its one of the reasons we the fans love it.

We like seeing the toughest, fastest guys try to blow each other up. We love seeing the battle between the lines and bone-crushing tackles. Why should it be a surprise that when 250 to 300 pounds of muscle consistently impact, they cause damage to each other?

Lawsuits can have the power to hurt the NFL; lawsuits can cost billions and ruin the game.

Aside from the financial impact of the lawsuits, they can force the NFL to alter its product, make it even safer, which means even more diluted.

Are these former players willing to risk the future of the NFL simply to get either another five minutes of fame on a talk show or a small portion of a class action suit?

You can hit me up on twitter @mattfrogers

The dark side of this is that nonstick cookware contains two toxic chemicals: PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). Classified by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen, manufacturers must eliminate their use by 2015.

GreenPan is a nontoxic, healthy, nonstick cookware line that offers a simple, safe alternative.

This durable, stylish cookware is made with Thermolon — a natural, ceramic nonstick coating made from minerals rather than plastic synthetics.

Traditional nonstick coated cookware can reach a temperature of 500 degrees in minutes, which will start the breakdown of regular nonstick coatings. This causes toxic fumes from the release of PTFE, which can be harmful to small pets, including birds. Humans can experience respiratory issues from this such as headache and nausea.

When you cook with traditional nonstick pans, theres actually a label saying to open a window while cooking, said Dieter Naessens, GreenPans vice president of the US Thats because its dangerous to cook your food in it, especially for children, he said.

Thermolon is heat resistant up to 850 degrees, and will never blister, peel or emit any harmful fumes.

Recently, an investigative panel reported links of PFOA to kidney and testicular cancer.

A lot of buyers and retailers are (becoming) aware of that and starting to change their buying to more ceramic, said Naessens.

DuPont introduced the PTFE process in 1960 and its been used in nonstick cookware ever since. From that point on, the only changes were to add more layers of this toxic chemical to make nonstick cookware better.

When GreenPan was launched in 2007 with its new ceramic technology, it sold 100,000 pans in four hours on HSN. By the end of that year, they company sold several million pans through shopping network.

GreenPan has a number of green features.

Its ergonomic handles are made from premium recycled stainless steel and GreenPan uses recycled materials in its aluminum. Even the packaging is made mostly from recycled materials. That means a 60 percent reduction in CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process

GreenPan lets you cook on low to medium heat. Its construction lets it cook more evenly than traditional nonstick.

Over the years, the company has worked to constantly to make the GreenPan more abrasion-resistant and more nonstick.

Since its launch, a lot of companies are trying to copy the success and technology of the GreenPan, said Naessens.

To be sure you have the GreenPan, just look for the apple on the inside label, he said.

There are a few different types of GreenPan collections. I tested out a pan from the Rotterdam professional cookware collection. This has a green removable silicone sleeve. The San Francisco professional collection has upcycled stainless steel handles.

Both collections use heavy gauge upcycled aluminum with a Thermolon coating for perfect heat distribution, creating even cooking and retaining moisture, heat and especially flavor.

There are some dos and donts in using these great pans.

Before using a GreenPan, wash with mild soapy water; rinse, then dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Also, preheat your pan and allow a small amount of oil or butter to briefly heat before adding food to the pan.

The donts include:

Do not put this in the dishwasher. It will warp and void the warranty.

Dont use metal utensils — only plastic, rubber, nylon and wood.

Dont use oil sprays. If you want, use a little bit of oil for flavoring.

Do not use abrasive cleaners, harsh scouring pads or steel wool to clean the pan. This will damage the nonstick coating and void the warranty.

Do not put a hot GreenPan under cold water. Allow it to cool completely first.

These efficient and healthier pans can be found at a growing number of retail stores, including Target, Publix, some Macys and specialty stores. You can locate a store near you by going to www.green-pan.us. You can also find it online at Amazon, Macys and Williams-Sonoma.com.

An environmental journalist and blogger, Debra Atlas is reachable through www.Envirothink.wordpress.com or debraatlas@gmail.com.