MontCo sells Parkhouse and Open Space to a Developer Please join the opposition and protest a deal that has been characterized by unanswered questions, shady associations, scandal, lies, a willful disregard of the residents, insider information, and the belligerent arrogance of our County officials in the sale of Parkhouse (aka Montgomery County Geriatric Center or “Johnson Home”) and the surrounding 220 acres of open space in Upper Providence Township by Montgomery County. Montgomery County Commissioners closed the sale of Parkhouse and the 220 acres of land surrounding the facility that was previously slated to be permanently preserved in the county's own open space plan. The entire property was sold for $41 million in an unscheduled, unannounced, behind closed-doors recess in their Thursday morning meeting March 6, 2014. The new owner is a REIT that was formed in Delaware on January 14, 2014. We have no way of knowing who the actual principals of this REIT are and whether Dr. Menkowitz is still a part of it. The 70 acre Upper Schuylkill Valley Park was not ever part of the original deal but was sold along with the rest of the property then condemned and bought back for $2 million. How generous of them to protect a park that was already county-owned. The 5-year deed restriction only gives the public access to the property for the next 5 years or till the new owner develops it, whichever comes first. It gives the land no further protection from development than Upper Providence’s zoning ordinances already in place and will prove to be a costly battle to protect them The Request For Proposal had shown the Montgomery County Commissioners had been lying to the public about their intent to develop the land surrounding Parkhouse. The RFP states that the buyer, Mid-Atlantic Health Care, will be working with Einstein Health System, Ganas Development (led by Dr. Elliot Menkowitz a county-employed doctor at Parkhouse) and Sukonik Building Companies to develop a comprehensive development strategy. A subpoena had been issued and Dr. Menkowitz has been fired for ethics violations in his involvement with insider trading on the deal and suggesting he had special influence over the sale process Mid-Atlantic CEO Scott Rifkin's claim that they had changed their mind in regards to the development of the land is meaningless as they do not own it, GA HC REIT II Royersford SNF, LLC does and THEY will be the ones to develop it. This sale was brought about to fill a hole in Montgomery County’s budget caused by the failed Logan Square movie studio project. Montgomery County Commissioners are patting themselves on the back for creating the 2014 budget in surplus while blind-siding us on the sale of our precious open space and much needed home to the less-fortunate elderly. Montgomery County commissioners have now set a precedent to sell off any open space or park that has not been permanently preserved as open space. It is the responsibility of those in office to operate with transparency, obedience to those who they serve, and with the goal of doing good by all. The three Montgomery County Commissioners have violated all three of these very important principles, and will continue to do so if we stay silent on the Parkhouse issue. Rallys are being held to raise awareness to this issue. Check the Save Parkhouse Facebook group for the next rally: https://www.facebook.com/groups/242665885899065/ Full story and timeline here: saveparkhouse.blogspot.com PA State Representative Warren Kampf has joined the fight to save the open spaces at Parkhouse. Please sign his petition at: www.WarrenKampf.com/Parkhouse

Simply the re-naming of Ft. Marion National Monument in St.Augustine, Fla., by executive order to the "NATIVE AMERICAN MEMORIAL." It is time to recognize and honor the memory of the Native American people of this nation.

It seems that every once in a while we come across something that just “bugs” us. I am a business owner and with every business comes responsibility to its clients/patrons. I have had a good business running for over 14 years and have clients who love us and also clients that have not been so happy. With that said, it seems that something has just gotten under my skin. With the climbing use of the Internet and cell phones, they have become a crutch for most of the population. Review sites and local searches have become the wave of the future when looking for a business. These sites can be beneficial to businesses and their services/products, but when they take it upon themselves to decide which reviews are real and which are fake they ultimately make it a non trustworthy site. These sites are supposed to represent a business as a whole, but in actuality it only counts the reviews shown, in their ratings and creates mayhem for small businesses. Unlike other review sites, YELP has a filtering system which it thinks is a way to “weed out” the fake reviews. On my site for instance, one week ago it was showing 1 negative review and hid 2 real, good reviews leaving my rating at 1 star. This week we had 1 negative review and 2 good ones added to the site by real customers and as of today 11/22/13 the only ones showing are the 2 negative reviews, YELP has hidden all four good reviews, again leaving my rating at 1 star. When I complained to the Better Business Bureau, I received a response from YELP and this is what it said: “ Hi Chris, Thank you for writing - we are glad to have this opportunity to address your concerns. As you may have read, the goal of Yelp's review filter is to showcase more reliable content. The system is automated, and it affects both positive and negative reviews. You requested that filtered reviews for your business be reinstated, but as the system is automated, we cannot manually restore filtered reviews (nor can we manually filter reviews). That said, reviews may become filtered or unfiltered over time as the system picks up new information. You can read more at http://www.yelp.com/faq#what_is_the_filter. Regards, Tara Yelp Inc. “ Not only does that not help me in any way, it is not a sufficient answer to my questions, which is “Why does it filter in the first place?” , “How does it determine who to filter?” , “Why does it not inform its Yelpers that their review may or may not be filtered out?” and “why are the filtered reviews hidden in light gray and can barely be seen?”. It seems to me, upon doing much research I have learned that there are many other businesses with the same concerns. Below you will find information articles on this problem with YELP: http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/22/local/la-me--banks-yelp-backlash-20130423 http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimhandy/2012/08/16/think-yelp-is-unbiased-think-again/ http://www.theresumator.com/blog/do-you-believe-yelp-hides-good-reviews/ SOMEONE HAS GOT TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND SHUT YELP DOWN FOR GOOD.

A recent meeting was held between the Ravalli County Commissioners and members of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes concerning the tribes' plans to transfer a parcel of sacred land (Medicine Tree site) to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in order to protect the land as a trust within the federal government. At this meeting irrelevant, racist and extremely offensive statements were made by the chair of the Ravalli County Planning Board. The cultural insensitivity and ignorance shown by the Ravalli County Deputy Attorney and members of the County Commissioners demand an apology from all of us in Ravalli County.

Cannabis sativa (marijuana) is the most popular illicit drug in the United States. Its prohibition has caused innumerable harm to society. Its re-legalization and regulation would bring a number of advantages. It is currently, fraudulently, listed as a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act, which claims it has no medical value (disproved by the Institute of Medicine's 1996 "Marijuana as Medicine" report, as well as the 17 states in the US which have passed laws establishing its medical value, and other countries such as Israel which have nation-wide medical marijuana programs) and high potential for abuse. Marijuana, however, is a non-toxic, non-addictive substance (aside from slight dependence issues, no worse than a caffeine habit) upon which it is impossible to overdose. The prohibition of marijuana has failed to achieve its goals, so the only recourse is to end the prohibition and allow a legal and regulated market. This has the added benefit of making marijuana available for medical purposes (in flower, concentrate, or other options that patients would want to have), for medical research, and for the industrial use of its non-psychoactive variety known as hemp. As well, it would lift a large burden off of our criminal justice system, saving untold billions of tax dollars that could be used for more useful purposes (or given back to the people). Numerous people in my own family would significantly benefit from having legal access to marijuana (for medical purposes). My father, who has Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (a condition which causes unbearable, random pain, burning sensations, intense and random sweating, and other unsavory symptoms); my grandmother who has severe arthritis; my cousin who has Crohn's disease; my mothers best friend who has bone marrow cancer... the list goes on. Regulated marijuana is better than illicit marijuana, because either way, marijuana is here to stay.

Rezoning to allow 36 attached town homes on Lavista Road between North Druid Hills Road and Clairmont Road is unnecessary as 11 detached single family homes can be built under the current R100 zoning. Allowing 36 town homes in this stretch of Lavista Road will set an unwanted precedent in a suburban R100 area where roads and high-quality schools are already overburdened. A more appropriate area for town home development is around the corner on North Druid Hills Road where 86 town homes are already under construction in two separate developments. Residents of the proposed 36 town homes would be forced to access Lavista Road on a dangerous curve with line-of-sight issues where many accidents and one recent fatality have occurred. Approval of the town homes would also exacerbate an already-existing problem with cut-through traffic in the nearby Lavista Acres neighborhood. Finally, an increase in impervious surfaces will increase the load on a creek adjacent to the proposed town homes. For all of these reasons, the Weiland Homes' rezoning application should be denied. The sellers and Weiland Homes can develop a plan under the existing zoning for detached single family homes that will be mutually profitable and consistent with the surrounding neighborhoods. Note: This application for rezoning does not involve the existing apartments beside the CVS at the corner of Lavista and North Druid Hills. The proposed town homes would be built on land currently occupied by two homes.

We have the right to know what is in our food. GMOs (genetic modified organisms) are not categorized as vegetables, because they are not! Their DNA, is the DNA of a virus. They are categorized as herbicides/pesticides. GMO seeds are made in labs and their trade marks are own by Monsanto and other bio-tech corporations (Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey Smith, ResponsibleTechnology.org). In other words, GMOs are pesticides that look and taste like food! GMOs change our DNA. They make us sick. Unknowingly, we are feeding our family poisons. We don’t want GMOs on our plates! Please sign this petition specially if you live in the City of Los Angeles. Also sign it if you live in the county of Los Angeles. We have to deliver thousands of signatures by March 16. Let's show Los Angeles Politicians that we care!!! Please send this petition to your family, friends, and post it in Facebook. WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW. We are making history together. Thanks.

Our mission is to save lives and prevent injury by providing protection against convicted domestic violence offenders through a National Domestic Violence Offender Registry which requires MANDATORY registration of convicted offenders. Enabling people to protect themselves with information BEFORE they enter into a relationship or become involved with someone that has convictions for domestic violence offers a great deal of protection by prevention. We recognize that domestic violence is a human issue: although women are most often affected by this crime, children and men are also victims. We recognize that domestic violence occurs in all types of relationships: casual, dating, engaged, married, same sex, and parent/child. We believe all persons deserve protection from those convicted of domestic violence charges. Whether you have been a victim, a parent, friend, colleague, neighbor, employer, or witness to an incident, you can help. Even if you don’t feel you’ve ever encountered or been affected by domestic violence, your signature can still save lives. This is one survivor’s story: “I am a survivor of Domestic Violence; however, my abuser continues 20 years later to repeatedly offend with at least 4 more convictions with different women who had no knowledge of his history. This information is kept private and out of public view by the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in my state. If his convictions were PUBLIC and VIEWABLE nationally, then it could protect others from his abuse. It would definitely make a huge difference in entering into any kind of relationship with this person. So much pain, injury and potential death could be prevented if there was a Registry in existence for Convicted Domestic Violence just was we all use and appreciate the National Sex Offenders Registry.”

Nearly 50 countries require labels on GMOs, and many of these also have severe restrictions or bans against GMO food production or sale. We deserve the same level of protection and information as citizens in other nations around the world.

Newspapers need to stop publishing letters that deny climate change.

City of Detroit retirees have worked long and hard for up to 30 years or more for their pensions and now, as part of the bankruptcy, the Governor and the Emergency Manager propose to eliminate our pensions. I, personally, worked for the Detroit Housing Commission for over 30 years and have earned the pension which I was promised at the time I signed on and it would be tragic (and unfair) for me to lose it at this point. (Please note, my actual petition is somewhat longer and I would really like to have the opportunity to let you see it in its entirety).

I have autism, so does my daughter and so does my nonverbal brother. I want the world to know that Autism Speaks raises a lot of money in the name of autism, without respecting us or including us as part of their organization. Co-founder Suzanne Wright's recent post, "This is Autism" was especially offensive to myself and the millions of families like us. Psychology Today, Forbes, The Arc, Autism Society of America have joined individuals and families in solidarity against Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks major supporter Doug Sanders is the President/CEO of a grocery chain that has a store in my neighborhood. My daughter, and maybe a couple of her friends, would like the chance to meet with him and show him that autistic young people are pretty wonderful, capable individuals and not the monsters or hopeless types that Autism Speaks makes them out to be. I need your help to make that happen.