By STEPHANIE BUNKER

Moapa Valley Progress

Lets Play Music recital was held last Friday night. Students graduated onto the next step in the program and showcased the songs they learned along the way. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE BUNKER/Moapa Valley Progress.

Music is relaxing, beautiful, and fun; especially through the Lets Play Music childrens program with instructor Stephanie Tobler. A recital was held on Friday evening April 28 to showcase the lively melodies the kids have learned throughout the past year. The program involves a 3 year commitment and each of the 3 age groups performed at the recital.

The youngest group, called the Blue Bugs, began the show singing the fun songs they learned throughout the year and playing chords on the bells and autoharp. Tobler explained that the first year of the program the children are learning through play by learning the foundational building blocks of music as they internalize it.

Following the Blue Bugs performance, the Yellow Arrows began their portion of the evening with their musical journey throughout the year showing how they brought the chords to the keyboard. The third and final group of was called the Orange Roots. These students are now ready to move on to private instrument instruction. They played rhythms and melodys on the keyboard for the audience during the recital. The goal of the recital was to show the parents, specifically the dads, what we are doing and what the value of it is, said Tobler.

She described the purpose of each song to show that they arent just fun songs, but the students are actually learning during the fun. Tobler explained that this comprehensive music program combines the techniques of learning to hear the music, and reading the notes as well. Music is like learning a type of language and becomes second nature to them, Tobler said.

The Lets Play Music program operates between the ages of 4 and 6 when young brains have the most aptitude for developing musical talent, Tobler said. This program begins before the childrens fingers have the dexterity for the piano. They start by learning how to listen for music and develop an ear for it. It makes it easier to sight read and be able to decode the notes on the staff better, not one note at a time but to recognize it as a broken chord, Tobler said.

This was Toblers 9th year of teaching Lets Play Music. She is excited to see repeat families coming back with siblings to go through the course because of the results the program has shown. Tobler warned that the program is somewhat of a lifestyle change because the music goes home with them to practice and learn in order to reinforce the patterns.

Tobler also offers a class to toddlers called Sound Beginnings, available to ages 2-4. This class gets the kids ready for the Lets Play Music program and allows parent bonding through music, she said. Tobler holds sample classes to give the parent and child an idea of what the class is like. To contact Tobler about the program at stephanietobler@letsplaymusicsite.com.

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Local 'Let's Play Music' Program Holds Spring Recital - mvprogress

While classical concerts are typically associated with formality, one instructor is trying to promote a more relaxing setting for her repertoire: a stage decorated with a couch, lamps, family photos and a virtual fireplace.

Timna Mayer, graduate teaching assistant at Ithaca College and a violin instructor at Cornell University, brought the idea of living room concerts concerts held in an informal setting where the stage is designed to look like someones living room to the college. She said she wanted a space for musicians to perform without the usual stress and formality of a concert.

I was thinking about the music school and my profession, and I couldnt remember a time I heard someone say, Im doing this because its so relaxing and fun, she said. Usually, its like, Oh, no. I have to go practice.

Mayer recalled studying violin herself from a young age and how playing for fun transformed into a more austere environment as she began studying. Her idea for living room concerts came, in part, as a desire to recapture that feeling of first discovering her passion for playing.

I started playing violin when I was little because I loved the sound of it and I loved playing, she said. At some point after I started studying it just became this really strict environment.

Mayer said her students, mostly nonmajors, have wanted to perform but were intimidated by a typical concert setting.

The concert atmosphere never made sense for me, Mayer said. Why would you be by yourself on a huge stage? How can you communicate your feelings when you are so far away from [the audience]?

While traditional solo music performances have the performer dressed formally and playing on a stage far away from the audience, living room concerts aim to make the experience more personal for both the audience and the performer. She said she wanted to recreate what it was like for 19th-century composers to get together and perform for each other.

Composers like Shubert, for example, used to get together at their houses and play in their living rooms, she said. And he would invite all these different artists and musicians and just play for each other.

Mayer is planning the second living room concert from 6 to 8 p.m. May 7 in Nabenhauer Recital Room. There is no dress code, and anybody is welcome to sign up and perform, both students and faculty, not just those who study with her. At the end of the concert, Mayer said, there will be a free improv session for anyone to come and onstage and play.

Part of her motivation is to bring musicians together and celebrate music rather than treating it as a competition. She said that at high levels of performance, musicians sometimes get to a state where they are scared of failure or scared of not being good enough.

I was thinking about what happened to the music world, that its become this state where were always scared and Oh, my God. Other people might be better than we are.

Freshman Emma Rabinowitz attended the first concert and will be performing in the upcoming show. She said she likes the idea because it gives performers a chance to play without the usual pressure associated with student recitals.

I thought it was a really cool experience because when we do concerts here, it can be very stressful, she said. Theyre very formal. But having a living room concert in an informal setting while still playing great music is a good way for us to not feel as stressed and be more relaxed. It feels much more natural.

Rabinowitz said that as a freshman, she hasnt had much experience playing her own recital but that she thinks living room concerts will be a great way for her to experience one in a comfortable setting.

Rabinowitz plans on playing Lgende by Wieniawski on violin.

Senior Benjamin Pawlak, a piano performance major, accompanied soloists in the last living room concert and will perform a solo himself in the upcoming concert. Pawlak, who has been friends with Mayer for a few years, said he feels the relaxed environment comes not only from the decorations but from the audience as well.

There are far more audience members than performers at any given concert, and I think they really dictate the vibe, Pawlak said. Walking into a concert where you have a fireplace projected on a screen and the lights are low its a very homey environment. It helps the audience relax and not view it as some sort of event where you have to be quiet and behave.

Going forward, Mayer said, she would like to hold a concert each month. In addition to promoting a stress-free environment, she said she wants to foster inclusivity and collaboration among musicians attending and performing at the concerts.

Its a good platform for people to just chat and be like, Hey, I really like your band. Can I join you guys once in a while? she said. Theres not enough communication between students because were all so tied up in our coursework.

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Living room concerts brings live music back to it's roots - The Ithacan

To the Editor: I have been associated with music programs for the past 41 years. I believe we vote for our school board members to do what we hope will be best for our students. This time, they are obviously just looking at the bottom line and not the best education for our children. As soon as our board members need to save money, it seems that the music department is the first place they look. I truly believe that if they really knew what music does for a student, I would hope they would think twice about cutting the instrumental music department in any way. You have to remember the student who starts band in fifth grade is really committing themselves, not only for that fifth grade, but for all eight years of their musical education. I have found in my 41 years that, on average, 90 percent of students who start instrumental music continue through 12th grade. Board members think of instrumental music as an elective. With that thinking, wouldnt classes like physics, Spanish and biology be an elective? I believe these classes may have around 25 students per class (and they feel this is too large). If you wish to save money, why not cut their positions to half time or lets just cut FFA or the equivalent altoghter. The concert band alone will average 80 students and the instructor has all these students in his classroom at the same time. Our elementary instrumental department alone is starting 75 students each year. The instrumental music program totals 300 students, and all of these students are being taught by two teachers. Come on, board members, what are you thinking? Social skills are lost when looking at your phone is all you do. I remember when a phone was actually used to physically talk to another person. There are people better at stating the facts than I might be. I would like to reprint just one of the many lists online that states the benefits of a student being in music. This list is titled: 20 Important Benefits of Music in Our Schools. Musical training helps develop language and reasoning: Students who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain is better developed with music, and songs can help imprint information on young minds. A mastery of memorization: Even when performing with sheet music, student musicians are constantly using their memory to perform. The skill of memorization can serve students well in education and beyond. Students learn to improve their work: Learning music promotes craftsmanship, and students learn to want to create good work instead of mediocre work. This desire can be applied to all subjects of study. Increased coordination: Students who practice with musical instruments can improve their hand-eye coordination. Just like playing sports, children can develop motor skills when playing music. A sense of achievement: Learning to play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a challenging, but achievable goal. Students who master even the smallest goal in music will be able to feel proud of their achievement. Kids stay engaged in school: An enjoyable subject like music can keep kids interested and engaged in school. Student musicians are likely to stay in school to achieve in other subjects. Success in society: Music is the fabric of our society, and music can shape abilities and character. Students in band or orchestra are less likely to abuse substances over their lifetime. Musical education can greatly contribute to childrens intellectual development as well. Emotional development: Students of music can be more emotionally developed, with empathy towards other cultures They also tend to have higher self esteem and are better at coping with anxiety. Students learn pattern recognition: Children can develop their math and pattern-recognition skills with the help of musical education. Playing music offers repetition in a fun format. Better SAT scores: Students who have experience with music performance or appreciation score higher on the SAT. One report indicates 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math for students in music appreciation courses. Fine-tuned auditory skills: Musicians can better detect meaningful, information-bearing elements in sounds, like the emotional meaning in a babys cry. Students who practice music can have better auditory attention, and pick out predictable patterns from surrounding noise. Music builds imagination and intellectual curiosity: Introducing music in the early childhood years can help foster a positive attitude toward learning and curiosity. Artistic education develops the whole brain and develops a childs imagination. Music can be relaxing: Students can fight stress by learning to play music. Soothing music is especially helpful in helping kids relax. Musical instruments can teach discipline: Kids who learn to play an instrument can learn a valuable lesson in discipline. They will have to set time aside to practice and rise to the challenge of learning with discipline to master playing their instrument. Preparation for the creative economy: Investing in creative education can prepare students for the 21st century workforce. The new economy has created more artistic careers, and these jobs may grow faster than others in the future. Development in creative thinking: Kids who study the arts can learn to think creatively. This kind of education can help them solve problems by thinking outside the box and realizing that there may be more than one right answer. Music can develop spatial intelligence: Students who study music can improve the development of spatial intelligence, which allows them to perceive the world accurately and form mental pictures. Spatial intelligence is helpful for advanced mathematics and more. Kids can learn teamwork: Many musical education programs require teamwork as part of a band or orchestra. In these groups, students will learn how to work together and build camaraderie. Responsible risk-taking: Performing a musical piece can bring fear and anxiety. Doing so teaches kids how to take risks and deal with fear, which will help them become successful and reach their potential. Better self-confidence: With encouragement from teachers and parents, students playing a musical instrument can build pride and confidence. Musical education is also likely to develop better communication for students. It also has been documented that schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2 percent graduation rate and 93.9 percent attendance rate compared to schools without music education, which average 72.9 percent in graduation and 84.9 percent in attendance. A poster outside the Lakeside Elementary School Office said it best: The expert in anything was once a beginner. Mike Tassinari Hometown Music, Inc. Glencoe

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Preserve the benefits of school music program - McLeod County Chronicle

On May 11 from 6:30-7:30 p.m., the Jackson Library will host Jo Ellen Ford from The Brewers Apprentice. She will discuss what people need to know to brew their own beer. The presentation is for adults. Registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400 and press option 4.

Singer Bob Kulik of the 1950s and 1960s group the Happenings, will perform at Congregation Ahavat Olam, 106 Windeler Road, Howell, at 3:30 p.m. May 21. A Chinese buffet will follow the show. Dinner and show, $25; Children 12 and under, $15; Show only, $18; Children 12 and under $10. RSVP by May 15. Reservations not needed for show only, but are appreciated. Details: 732-719-3500.

The Project Matters will present its seventh benefit show to raise funds for its mission of helping young New Jersey musicians at 7 p.m. May 6 at the Wonder Bar, Asbury Park. The headline act will be Cymbals Eat Guitars, with local talent Colton Kayser and The Project Matters supported Tyler Sarfert rounding out the bill. The Project Matters helps New Jersey artists age 5 and under with the purchase of instruments, education, music and video production costs, and other musical expenses. Tickets available at https://goo.gl/BZR6Nu

Look for turtles, egrets, herons, ospreys and other wildlife during a boat tour of the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. Each 45-minute tour leaves from the Visitor Center, Windeler Road, Howell. Tours are offered at the top of the hour from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, May 6 through Sept. 4. Wednesday tours are offered at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. from July 5 through Aug. 30. Evening tours are offered on the first Friday of each month May through September; call 732-751-9453 as times vary for the evening tours. All tours are weather and water level dependent. The fee is $6 per adult and $4 per child age 12 and under.

The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey will host a dinner meeting on May 11 at 7 p.m. at Mamma Mia Focacceria, 345 Route 9 South, Manalapan. The guest speaker will be portrait, sports and wildlife artist James Fiorentino. BYOB. All are invited. The cost is $35 per person for society members and $45 for non-members. Cash is preferred, no credit cards. To reserve seating, call Anthony Grassi at 917-743-3311 or Richard Favara at 732-861-9465.

Kathy Lo Bue, managing director of Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC, and host of the 2017 Discussion Series, will speak about the Fundamentals of Investing Yesterday, Today and in the Future from 7-9 p.m. May 10 at the St. Robert Bellarmine Parish Center, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Adults of all ages are invited to the presentation. The series is free, nonsectarian and open to the community. Lo Bue is an investment adviser with more than 30 years of experience. Call 732-866- 6660 to register.

The annual Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair will be held on May 13 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Route 33, Manalapan, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Five centuries of New Jerseys history will be represented by exhibitors and re-enactors. Activities include 19th century baseball, plowing demonstrations, period music, and historical figures from New Jerseys past. Free admission/suggested $10 parking donation. Details: http://www.njhistoryfair.org

Get More Organized will be the theme of the May 7 meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society at the Community Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown. Beverly Yackel will explain her techniques for organizing genealogy research at 1:30 p.m. The program is free and the public is welcome. Details: 732-747-0090.

Residents of all towns are invited to attend an all you can eat breakfast sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion from Post 455, 2 Meadowbrook Lane, New Egypt, from 7-11 a.m. May 7. Adults, $8, children, $4, (children under 3, free).

On May 13 the Jackson Memorial High School Class of 1997 will host their 20-year reunion at Doolans Shore Club, Spring Lake. Cost is $85 per person, includes buffet dinner, open bar and DJ. Details: Steve Matusz at matusz.steve@gmail.com

The Jackson Library will host local author Lo Anne Mayer as she discusses her book, Celestial Conversations, which was inspired after Meyer lost her mother and daughter. The discussion will take place at 11 a.m. May 9. She will share techniques to overcome loss and find healing. The program is free, however advanced registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400.

The Jackson Library will host meditation practitioner Shazia Zaman sharing tips and techniques about visualizing during meditation. The program will take place at 11 a.m. May 16. This is an intermediate level class. Comfortable clothes recommended. Pre-requisite: Some meditation experience required. Limited seating. The program is free. To register, call 732-928-4400.

A coloring for adults program will be held at the Jackson Library from 10-11:30 a.m. June 20. Rediscover the joys of coloring. Coloring sheets and art supplies provided along with light refreshment and relaxing music. Adults 18 and over. Seating limited. Registration required. Registration is open now. Details: 732-928-4400.

Adults 18 and over can create their own rainbow clay necklace at 2 p.m. June 22 at the Jackson Library. Supplies provided. Seating is limited. Registration required. Registration opens June 9. Details: 732-928-4400.

The Jackson Library will host an Adventure in Art workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 10. The workshop includes hands-on instruction by artist Nancy Bonta Voitko. Adults 18 and over. Seating limited. Registration required. Registration opens May 8. Details: 732-928-4400.

New Egypt Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 20. Activities for children will include face painting, pony rides, inflatables, petting zoo and a tractor-pulled wagon. Food, music by Jakes Rockin Country Band and vendors. Festivities will take place on Main Street and Evergreen Road. Admission is free. A $6 per child wristband is required for unlimited access to childrens activities listed above. For more information or to request a vendor application, contact Peter Ylvisaker at 609-758-2241, ext. 132, or email pylvisaker@plumsted.org

The Jackson Friends of the Library will host a book sale at the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, from April 29 through May 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Monday through Thursday) and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Friday and Saturday). Books, audio books, CDs and DVDs will be available for purchase. New items will be added every day. All are welcome to attend.

The Upper Freehold-Allentown Municipal Alliance will host Bike Night 2017 on June 7. All makes and models of bikes are welcome. American and metric bikes will be present. A car show will be held on June 28. All makes and models of cars are welcome. Both events will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Roost at the Cream Ridge Golf Course, 181 Route 539, Upper Freehold Township. Door prizes, judging, awards, music, food and beverages. Vendor opportunities are available. There is no entry fee, but donations for the alliance are accepted. Details:609-758-7738, ext. 230.

The Adelphia Fire Company, 925 Adelphia Road (Route 524), Howell, will hold its annual Steak Bake and Gift Auction on May 6. Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner from 7-9 p.m. Ticket donation: $35. Includes all you can eat steak, fries, salad, dessert, soda/tea and beer. For tickets, email Mark or Katie at adelphiafiresteakbake@gmail.com

The Jackson Librarys knitting group, Knit-Chat-Chain, is seeking donations of yarn and wool. The members of the group create sweaters, hats, scarves and blankets to donate to charity. Yarn donations may be brought to the Circulation Desk during library hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 732-928-4400.

New Jersey Blood Services is in need of volunteers to work blood drives in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Tasks include assisting donors with registration, watching donors for post-donation reactions and responding to their needs. Details: Jan Zepka, 732-616-8741.

St. Aloysius Church, 935 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson, offers support groups to help people better understand their feelings and to meet others who are dealing with the same life issues. A bereavement support group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. and a divorced and separated support group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Both meetings are held in the parish office. A freewill donation of $5 is requested. Details: Email St AloysiusGonzagaGroup@gmail.com.

Items for the Datebook may be sent to gmntnews@newspapermediagroup.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.

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Tri-Town News Datebook, May 4 - News Transcript

Next time youre in the grocery store trying to decide whether to splurge on organic milk or stick with milk from conventionally raised cows, consider that the two products may not be that different.

According to an investigative report published by theWashington PostMonday, cows at Colorado's Aurora Organic Dairy arent grazing in accordance with USDA organic standards, and after being submitted to chemical testing, the organic milk from Aurora wasn't dramatically different from the conventional.

Post reporters say they visited Aurora's largest production facility in Greeley, Colo. several times during the grazing season (early spring to first frost) and also captured high-resolution satellite images of the cow pens. The reporters allege that they never found more than a few hundred cows in the pastures at one time -- out of 15,000.

Grazing cows to organic specifications is expensive for farmers which is why organic milk costs more, sometimes even double, its conventional counterpart in the dairy aisle.

ORGANIC FOOD ISNT ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE, STUDY SUGGESTS

In order for the milk at dairies like Aurora to secure a USDA Organic seal, cows cant be fed any hormones to stimulate production of milk. Their feed or pasture must be organic, meaning grown without synthetic pesticides and their diet needs to come from the grass they eat during grazing. More grazing equals more land and cows that are purely grass-fed produce less milk.

When Post reporters contacted Auroras inspectors to inquire about the time cows actually spent grazing, they discovered that inspectors didnt know because theyd last visited the farm in November after the grazing season had ended.

The USDA is under no obligation to inspect farms such as Aurora. Farmers are allowed to hire their own inspectors they choose from a list of private companies licensed by the USDA. The inspector and the farmer/owner can arrange the visit-- days or weeks in advance-- and, according to the Post, only 5 percent of inspections are done spontaneously.

The USDA reviews the inspections on average every 2-and-a-half years.

But organic food is a booming business. The new USDA Organic seal has seen a surge in food sales from $5 million annually in 2000 to $40 billion in 2015, according to the Organic Trade Association.

When Post reporters took samples of Aurora's milk for scientific testing at Virginia Tech, the results showed that the Aurora milk was basically no different than conventional non-organic milk, from a nutrient makeup.

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Grass fed cows produce milk with higher levels of two types of fat conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) and an Omega-3 fat known as alpha-linolenic acid the clearest indicator of grass feeding. In tests, Auroras milk levels were similar to the CLA and linoleic acid levels in regular milk, ranked slightly higher than conventional milks, but lower than other samples bearing the USDA organic label.

When reached via email, Sonja Tuitele, Aurora Dairy's director of communications, sent the following statement to Fox News:

"We are an 100% organic company and have always produced great tasting, high-quality certified organic milk throughout our history. We take extraordinary care of our animals, and we meet or exceed the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program.

"We completely reject the suggestion that organic compliance can be determined by a test, and so does organic certification. Certified organic dairy means making great tasting, quality milk that requires extraordinary care for animals and prohibits the use of synthetics pesticides, GMOs, antibiotics and added hormones. Certification is the only test for organic compliance."

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That organic milk might not really be organic - Fox News

BENGALURU: Spinach & banana muffin for tiffin, sugar-free wheatgerm apple biscuits as evening refreshment and organic black rice for dinner. What's new about this meal plan in the times of raging health-consciousness and Bollywood-inspired fitness fever? Well, this meal plan has been fine-tuned for a two-yearold named Ray Chandra Kini.

Health is more important than formal education today and it starts with food. Invest in organic food than paying medical bills. We don't need chemicals damaging little bodies, says Jyotsna Kini (40), the toddler's mother and a travel company owner. The single mother is part of the new big wave -organic baby food.

Health-conscious affluent parents are taking the farm-to-fork revolution to their children. Which is why , for every millennial who recalls indulging in instant noodles, there is now a Kini growing up on trendy clean and green eating.

Three-year-old Areeha Jain eats organic lollipops ordered every few weeks on Amazon. Her mother and event planner Deepika Jain grows preservative-free palak, brinjal and tomatoes in her home garden for Areeha's consumption. Parents don't like to treat their children as kids anymore. Healthy living has to be imparted as education to children too, says Jain, who works out in the gym regularly and has enrolled her daughter for tennis lessons.

The rising popularity of organic baby food is directly proportional to the mushrooming homegrown brands selling the stuff. Bebe Burp, a Surat-based organic baby food startup, launched in November 2016 retails across India through online marketplaces like Eazelly.com. It sells organic cerelac in flavours like khichdi mix, oatmeal, finger millet and broken wheat for babies aged six months onwards. Co-founder Aman Tibrewal says, Cosmopolitan and high-literate city of Bengaluru is home to many working moms who are our primary takers. 25% of our total sales -4-5 orders a day -come from Bengaluru.

Minka Sikka, who launched Mommy's Health Kitchen in September 2016 in Bengaluru, says, From receiving 30 orders during the launch month to 70 orders a month now, there is a definite spurt in awareness. Millennial mothers recognise the value of clean eating and want their kids to start young.

Taking tips from grandmother's kitchens and nutritionists on board, Sikka makes organic bakes like carrot muffin, chocolate-almond granola to banana-oat teething breadsticks for toddlers. All ingredients used are organic. Dates, honey and jaggery replace refined sugar. She sells at pop-ups and home delivers on order basis.

Reports suggest that organic baby food industry will gain momentum this year. According to Central Food Technolo gical Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of organic baby food is estimated to be about 12% in revenue from 2016 to 2020.

The demand for baby food has increased with the trend of both parents working. With increased disposable income, they are able to compensate homemade food with branded organic baby food, says Prof Ram Rajasekharan, Director, CFTRI.

The first variant of brand Amul baby food was developed at CFTRI, a pioneering initiative in the segment.Today, the institute is developing baby foods with superfoods like popped quinoa powder and demucilaged chia seeds. Observing the potential of this segment, Rajasekharan notes, We have a high population of babies in India.Thus, quality high nutrition baby food is a good opportunity for Indian industry to explore.

Link:

Trendy babies are burping to organic food these days - Economic Times

Most newspapers in Colorado carried stories today about the results of an investigation into a fatal home explosion in Firestone, which was caused by anuncapped, abandoned gas line. Read our full coverage on that here.

As for what else made the Wednesday fronts across the state:

The High Plains dairy complex reflects the new scale of the U.S. organic industry: it is big. Stretching across miles of pastures and feedlots north of Greeley, Colorado, the complex is home to more than 15,000 cows, making it more than a hundred times the size of a typical organic herd, reports The Washington Post, re-printed in The Denver Post. It is the main facility of Aurora Organic Dairy, a company that produces enough milk to supply the house brands of Walmart, Costco, and other major retailers. We take great pride in our commitment to organic, and in our ability to meet the rigorous criteria of the USDA organic regulations, Aurora advertises. But a closer look at Aurora and other large operations highlights critical weaknesses in the unorthodox inspection system that the USDA uses to ensure that organic food is really organic.

A felony drug and weapon possession case was dismissed in court last week at the request of the 10th Judicial District Attorneys Office after it was discovered that a Pueblo police officer reportedly reenacted body camera footage of a search of the defendants car after the initial search of the vehicle had already been conducted, reports The Pueblo Chieftain. The case involved [a 36-year-old man]who was facing charges of possession with intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and special offender; all felony charges. Text messages revealed what the officer had done.

Greeley will pay $225,000 to the man injured in October 2015 when a retired Greeley police officer struck him with his unmarked police car, reports The Greeley Tribune. Jerry Hill suffered numerous injuries, including to both shoulders, knees and his head, when he was hit Oct. 20, 2015, in the crosswalk at 9th Avenue and 10th Street. Steve Duus, who has since retired form the Greeley Police Department, eventually pleaded guilty to driving too fast for conditions and paid $181.50 in fines. The $225,000 settlement marks at least the third Greeley has paid out this year, totaling at least $725,000 for a variety of claims.

A new annual report from the Garfield County coroners office shows that the number of accidental deaths in the county nearly doubled from 2015 to 2016, reports The Glenwood Springs Post-Independent. However, its difficult to call this or any other figures in the report a trend yet, said Robert Glassmire, Garfield County coroner, because the office wasnt compiling these numbers prior to 2015, before his term in the office. But Glassmire hopes that tracking statistics about his offices investigations will produce some valuable information in the future for public health, hospitals and budgetary projections. Garfield County saw an estimated 329 total deaths last year, and the coroners office investigated about 38 percent of those, or 126 deaths. All together, 229 deaths were reported to the office. The office performed 61 autopsies, which accounts for about 18 percent of all deaths.

Longmont City Council members did not direct the city staff Tuesday night to study and review a proposal to protect undocumented immigrants by designating a Longmont to be a sanctuary city, reports The Longmont Times-Call. Instead, council members voted unanimously to approve a suggestion from Mayor Dennis Coombs that the city staff prepare a public presentation on what our practices and policies are, insofar as police and city employees dealings with undocumented immigrants. And let us digest that information, Coombs said.

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner has introduced a bill that would authorize the move of the Bureau of Land Managements headquarters to the West, as Gardner reiterated his view that Grand Junction would be the ideal location for the office, reports The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. The Colorado Republicans measure would require the Interior secretary to develop a strategy to move the headquarters from Washington, D.C., to a Western state in a manner that will save the maximum amount of taxpayer money practicable. The bill spells out that by Western state, it means Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington or Wyoming. U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., introduced a companion measure in the House.

Becca Bleil has a fundamental beef with Colorado State University. A university that prides itself on being green should not slaughter animals on campus, no matter how noble the purpose, she said, reports The Coloradoan in Fort Collins. Bleil, a member of the animal rights club on campus, began a petition through change.org to protest a small animal harvesting facility included in the $20 million JBS Global Food Innovation Center planned to open on CSUs Fort Collins campus in 2018.

Extended business hours might help explain why Steamboat Springs three marijuana stores had record sales in March, reports The Steamboat Pilot & Today. Stores began extending their hours Feb. 17, which means March was the first full month they were allowed to be open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. We were really surprised by the number of people we got in here after 7 p.m., Golden Leaf manager Paige OBrien said.

Loveland City Council members on Tuesday voted to spend as much as $500,000 of their special projects fund as a matching grant to the Food Bank for Larimer County, reports The Loveland Reporter-Herald. The City Council approved the request on April 18 for as much as $500,000 and almost $34,000 in fee waivers for the nonprofits purchase of a new warehouse facility the former building of High Country Beverage. Council members approved the request on second reading 6-2 (Councilmen Dave Clark and Steve Olson voted against for the second time).

Opting against an outright ban on ground-floor banks along Pearl Street downtown, the Boulder City Council instead decided to adopt a softer measure with a wider geographic scope, reports The Boulder Daily Camera. By an 8-1 vote on Tuesday night, with Bob Yates representing the lone voice of dissent, the council passed on second reading an ordinance that requires any banks seeking to locate downtown to undergo a special use review. This plan will apply not just to Pearl Street between Ninth and 18th streets the stretch affected by the temporary bank ban approved in February but rather to three different downtown zoning districts that include portions of Canyon Boulevard, Walnut Street and Spruce Street.

Durango business owners upset with panhandlers who are impacting the safety, charm and allure of our community have come up with some creative and potentially unconstitutional ideas for dealing with the problem, reports The Durango Herald. According to a survey circulated last week by the Business Improvement District, ideas to combat panhandling include more police in downtown Durango, informing panhandlers of community resources available to assist them, recruiting volunteers to work in opposition to panhandlers and bringing back no-loitering laws.

Jenny Cristelli said she didnt know about the silver toy gun that was pointed at her daughters head until she came home from school, reports The Caon City Daily Record. This incident might have played a role in the Caon City School Boards decision not to renew Harrison K-8 School Principal John Pavliceks contract, according to district emails obtained by the Daily Record through a Colorado Open Records Act request. In recent weeks, a flood of parents and educators have come forward in support of Pavlicek, who said he was pressured into submitting a letter of resignation. At an April 24 school board meeting where the board decided not to renew Pavliceks contract a crowd of supporters shouted chants of recall at board members and yelled questions.

The Gazette continues its series about legalized marijuana with an installment about how Pueblo is becoming the Napa Valley of weed.

The rest is here:

The Home Front: Your 'organic' milk might not be so organic. WaPo comes to Colorado to show you why. - The Colorado Independent

Free of Burden

Theres little debate in the science regarding the benefits of meditation. According to research published in theJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,meditation has beenlinked to reduced feelings of depression, anxiety, and physical pain. Other studies have explored connections betweenmeditation and

Other studies have explored connections betweenmeditation andimproved focus, lowered blood pressure, strengthened memory, reduced fatigue, andwell, the list goes on and on.

But theres a problem. At its core, meditation sounds like the easiest thing in the world: Clear your mindand think about nothing at all. However, meditatingcan be far more difficult than simply breathing in and out for a few minutes. Reaching a meditative state actually takes a lot of work, and truly clearing your mind is far from easy.

However, scientists assert that using proprioceptive input (also know asdeep touch pressure (DTP))to ground your body is helpful when attempting to reach a meditative state. Research has shown that this kind of pressure results in a reduction in cortisol levels and an increase in serotonin production, decreasing yourheart rate and blood pressure.

Thus, the relaxed physical state that comes from peroprioceptive input can make it easier to achieve a calm mental state thats conducive to meditation, and one of the most effective ways to get this proprioceptive input isby using a weighted blanket.

Thegravity blanket is filled withpoly pellets in an evenly distributed grid pattern that is engineered to be roughly 10 percent of yourbody weight. This added weight allows the gravity blanket to applyspecifically targeted pressure to various points throughout your body in order to reduce the aforementioned cortisol levels and increase your serotonin production.

As Amber Martin, an occupational therapistfrom Utica College, notes, peroprioceptive input is good for pretty much everyone and anyone. It can be very calming and organizing. By helping youreach a state of peaceful relaxation more quickly, Gravity Blanket makes it easier for you totake advantage of every valuable moment of meditation before you have to return to the busy world outside your mind.

Though researchers estimate that it has beenaround for more than 5,000 years, meditation has recently found itself the subject of intense scientific focus. Scientists have used all the tools in their arsenal, from fMRIsto EEGs, to uncover the science behind this practice and determine how productive it really is in relation to the human body.

Theyve reached some interesting conclusions about the positive benefits that it provides. As Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, notes, meditation literally transforms your brain: We found differences in brain volume after eight weeks in five different regionsin the group that learned meditation, we found thickening in four regions. Studies by other scientists have shown that meditation can help enhance attention and emotion regulation skills. Gravity Blanket can help you get there, and significantly help your mind and body as a result. You can learn more about the science behind proprioceptive input, and select a blanket, here.

Futurism has partnered with Gravity Products LLC to bring you this exclusive product.

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No, Meditation Isn't Overrated. Here's How You Can Use it To Change Your Brain. - Futurism

Some corners of corporate America have long had a culture that wears its long and grueling hours like a badge of honor.

Now a group of executives is trying to change that by opening up about how they each found balance in their own lives and by making wellness a priority at their companies.

Ive found in a culture like Wall Street, people are obsessed with how many hours people work, said Barry Sommers, CEO of Wealth Management at J.P. Morgan Chase, during Fortune 's second annual Brainstorm Health conference in San Diego on Tuesday. Way too many people are getting out of there as fast as they can because theyre totally burnt out.

Click here to subscribe to Brainstorm Health Daily, our brand new newsletter about health innovations.

Sommers decided to take his health into his own hands a decade ago after someone hed known personally and professionally for 30 years started doing transcendental meditation. It transformed this persons life, he said. I saw a different person.

Sommers now has being doing transcendental meditation 20 minutes two times a day for a decade. And he prioritizes sleep, getting seven and half to eight hours every night. I changed my schedule and lifestyle, he said. When I do a dinner, well be at the restaurant at 5pm, not at 8pm. He said his kids make fun of it, but he wakes up every morning incredibly happy. If theres a problem at the office, his employees know to call the house and his wife will wake him up. But rarely is there anything so important that it cant wait until the morning, he said.

This goes completely against mainstream assumption that J.P. Morgan is the boiler room of burnout, said Arianna Huffington, the founder and CEO of Thrive Global, who moderated the panel.

Over at Levi Strauss, CEO and president Chip Bergh has focused on pushing exercise for his employees. I always saw a connection between what I was doing for my own health and fitness and performance, said Bergh, who has run triathlons and marathons.

Levi Strauss was in turnaround mode when Bergh joined after 28 years at P&G . It was his belief that the whole human drives performance so he implemented a program that focuses on every aspect of employee life. The company subsidizes gym memberships for its employees who work at headquarters, and now has about half of them signed up. Its one of the things that's helping to contribute to us driving healthcare costs down, Bergh said. He tries to model good behavior by making it clear when he leaves the office at lunch to work out.

Deborah DiSanzo, general manager of IBM Watson Health, sets boundaries for herself and hopes her team follows suit. I try to make a habit of not emailing on the weekend, she said, adding that its parts of the companys goal to create a culture of health.

DiSanzo's health and work like collided five months after she took on her role at IBM when she received a cancer diagnosis. She struggled to get a consistent storyline from multiple doctorsthey all gave her different information about the size of the tumor and the type of surgery and treatment she should have. She turned to Watson, who had been trained by the oncologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering, entered her data, and followed its recommendation. Shes now in remission.

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Sleep and Meditation Key to Top Performance, Execs Say | Fortune ... - Fortune

Another unarmed black person this time a 15-year-old in Texas was killed this weekend by a police officer. When incidents like this occur, they can lead black Americans to feel a frustrating mix of despair, anger and hopelessness.

Dr. Candice Crowell, a professor at the University of Kentucky, was intent on creating a way for black Americans to cope with these devastating news stories. She created theBlack Lives Matter Meditation for Healing Racial Trauma to help them attend to their spiritual health.

The 17-minute guided meditation was released in August 2016, less than a month after the shooting deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, which Crowell said increased her interest in creating the audio. The meditation contains positive affirmations that were inspired by feelings of unworthiness Crowell picked up on from those around her.

I based [the affirmations] on messages I had heard directly or indirectly from clients, students, friends, colleagues and personal [feelings] that try to undercut black humanity, she told HuffPost via email Monday. The meditation provides the counter message to those.

She said the audio has been used at colleges like UCLA, Emory University,University of North Carolina at Charlotte and University of Iowa, as well as in several private practices.

Crowell said meditation has been an integral component of her well-being: Meditation has helped me sleep well, express more gratitude, practice patience and concentrate.

Where her work in the field of psychology is concerned, BLMs teachings have played a critical role, and she made sure to credit the movements three co-founders.

The BLM movement has been a healing, affirming balm and a catalyst for me, as a researcher, professor and healer, she said. I incorporate activism into all of these roles because I remain inspired by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullorsand Opal Tometis work, as well as the many leaders in this movement. Their courage is empowering and world-changing.

Crowells next meditation audio will be dedicated to helping white allies practice greater sensitivity toward black Americans.

Often, white people do not create the space to center non-white experiences as worthy of love, life, health and happiness, she said. This would inform their continued growth as allies, while also offering a psychological and physiological benefit to them.

You can listen to Crowells Black Lives Matter Meditation for Healing Racial Traumahere.

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This BLM Meditation Can Help People Cope With The Tiring Cycle Of Oppression - Huffington Post