Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Washington D.C. music scene lost a titan today. How did Brown's music impact your life?
Update: 6:30 p.m. - Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker has issued a press release expressing his condolences over the passing of local music legend Chuck Brown. The statement reads in full: “My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and countless fans of Chuck Brown. It is a sad day for so many in Prince George’s County, the Washington region, and throughout the world. Chuck Brown left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds with his very distinctive voice and incredible genre of music that he created, Go-Go. He was an icon whose music inspired so many and become the sound that defined modern-day Washington, DC and Prince George’s County. He will be missed, but we are so fortunate that his music will be with …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Gretchen Schock says the nonprofit Music for Autism, enabled her family to enjoy a concert for the first time!
Children on the Autism Spectrum often find it difficult to process information gathered through their senses to appropriately react to them. My oldest son, who is on the Autism Spectrum, has such a Sensory Processing Disorder and struggles with a sensitivity to noise that usually prevents him from enjoying music. Last year he wore noise-reducing headphones in his mainstream music class. A classmate made fun of his headphones and now he refuses to wear them. He then grew his hair long to cover his ears to muffle the sound around him. My son looks "normal"; he acts "normal" most of the time. He doesn't flap his hands or have other behaviors that are red flags for children on the Autism Spectrum. Many people don't realize he's on the spectrum…
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Facebook executives announced the new feature Tuesday morning on Good Morning America encouraging its 900 million users to let others know if they are organ donors, according to a Washington Post report.
You might be familiar with the tiny heart on driver's licenses marking the license's owner as an organ donor. Now, you might find the tiny heart on Facebook, too. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced the social networking giant added the ability to both register as an organ donor and demonstrate it in your profile on ABC's "Good Morning America" Tuesday morning. The new initiative, which encourages Facebook's 900 million users to let others know they are organ donors, was motivated by Zuckerberg's relationship with Apple's late co-founder, Steve Jobs, and Zuckerberg's girlfriend, according to The Washington Post. The two each encouraged Zuckerberg to use Facebook as a means for spreading social awareness. Facebook's FAQ …
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Instead of just focusing on road capacity in Prince George's County, one residents believes developers should focus on sidewalks.
April—Autism Awareness Month—is the time to learn more about the disorder.
I am a huge advocate for both my children; my oldest is on the Autism Spectrum. I believe many people are scared of the diagnosis. I was in the beginning as well. Though I also was searching for answers. Why won’t my son talk to me like the other children his age? Why does he sit and stare off into space for long amounts of time? When my oldest son, L, was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum it was because I was determined to have someone help me learn how to parent my child. The diagnosis gave me the ability to understand Autism and it opened a window into my child’s mind. One day a parent confided in me that her child was recently diagnosed being on the Autism Spectrum. I told her to treat the diagnosis the same way you would if your doctor…
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Calvert Hills resident Joseph Grikis calls on the District Council to reject the developer's rezoning proposal.
The proposed rezoning of the Cafritz property would cause "immense and wide-ranging" harm to the surrounding community and should be rejected by county lawmakers, Calvert Hills resident Joseph Grikis writes in Thursday's issue of The Gazette. Calling the development "highly debatable," Grikis argues that the Cafritz project lacks the attention to smart growth and economic development seen in the University of Maryland's nearby East Campus development. Under the Cafritz plan, the developer's 37-acre parcel on the north end of Riverdale Park would be rezoned from single-family detached residential (R-55) to mixed-use town center (M-UTC), easing the way for the construction of more than 900 units of housing, a 35,000-square foot Whole Foods, …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
A best friend for a child on the Autism Spectrum is a gift like no other.
When I rounded the corner on my walk to school to pick up the kids, I saw L sitting next to his best friend B. When they saw me approach, both boys came running up. “Can B come over to play today? Please!!” L asked. “Sure, we need to ask B’s mom or dad first though,” I replied. B quickly interjected: “We already did—He said 'Yes.' He’s over there.” And off all three boys went, running down the sidewalk to our house. My youngest son, Z, tried unsuccessfully to be a part of their pack. Although he plays well with older kids, it’s not the same with L and B. L is on the Autism Spectrum and his friend also has some speech delays. The two of them speak their own language and live in a world together, and it’s hard for other kids to be a part of …
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Society accepts many forms of habits and mannerisms. My child recites movie lines to calm himself down.
I pull into the pick-up lane at the school, scanning the running children for my two sons. I see my youngest, Z, playing tag with some other kids in his class, laughing and yelling the children’s names as he runs away from the child who is deemed “it.” My oldest son, L, who is on the Autism Spectrum , is sitting alone eating his snack, staring off into the distance, as if the children running and laughing aren’t within mere feet of him. He never turns to look at them or watch their game. He sits and stares. This veteran-special-needs-mama knows what this behavior means … He didn’t have a good day. Something must have happened out of the ordinary. Did he have a substitute teacher, an assembly? The smallest detail in his routine shifting or…
Thursday, March 22, 2012
As I waited for Mitt Romney to enter his town hall meeting in Arbutus Wednesday afternoon, I took note of the songs playing on the PA system.
How do you entertain a hyped audience of Mitt Romney supporters as they wait for the Republican presidential candidate? Play some good tunes, of course. Before Romney’s campaign song, Kid Rock’s “Born Free,” played, and before he spoke to a packed house at Arbutus’ American Legion Post 109, a playlist consisting almost entirely of songs I have my own iPod played. I’m not sure what it all means, but it seems like the majority of the music was Motown or classic rock – songs that have a multi-generational appeal. I did miss a song or two, after all I was covering a presidential candidate’s town hall meeting, but here is the playlist from what I could tell: 1. Martha and the Vandellas – “Dancing in the Street” This is a pretty festive song, …
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
A report released Monday by the State Integrity Investigation project drew some scathing remarks from a spokeswoman for Gov. Martin O'Malley.
A report released Monday by the State Integrity Investigation project drew some scathing remarks from a spokeswoman for Gov. Martin O'Malley. I highlighted the release of the report by the non-profit here on this blog yesterday and included several links to the review of all 50 states. The post wasn't intended to be a comprehensive report as much as an effort to let readers know it existed and show them where it could be found. Raquel Guillory, a spokeswoman for the governor, cried foul and sent an email detailing what the O'Malley administration sees as problems with the report. I'm presenting her email here unedited: Hey: I can't believe you guys put this up on your website without contacting us. The whole thing is very sketchy. The "…
Kate Phelan
7:23 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012
I had the great joy of ushering Chuck Brown's show at Strathmore Hall a couple of years ago. It was my first exposure to his music and unforgettable! He was amazing. The whole building was dancing - in the concert hall and the atrium. more ›