|
Dr.
Stephen C. Schimpff |
New
Board of Governors chair named
Dr.
Stephen C. Schimpff, chief executive officer of the University
of Maryland Medical Center and executive vice president
of the University of Maryland Medical System, has been
named chair of the Board of Governors of the Clinical
Center.
"Dr.
Schimpff has the clinical and administrative expertise
to guide the Clinical Center through the complex challenges
of conducting clinical research in the 21st century,"
said Dr. Ruth Kirschstein, acting NIH director who announced
the appointment. "We are honored to have him lead
the board as the Clinical Center advances its tradition
as a center of excellence in clinical research."
Dr.
Schimpff, a member of the board and its executive committee
since their inception four years ago, is currently chair
of the finance working group. He will be installed as
chair at the June 5 board meeting.
"I
am very excited about the opportunity to serve as chair
of the Board of Governors of the NIH Clinical Center,"
said Dr. Schimpff. "The Clinical Center is the world-wide
leader in clinical research, bar none, and is a national
treasure. It is critical that its mission be preserved
and extended as medicine continues rapidly to evolve.
The discoveries made there over the past 47 years are
truly incredible. I am very proud to be able to contribute
to this great institution."
As
chief executive officer of the University of Maryland
Medical Center in Baltimore, Dr. Schimpff is responsible
for patient care services, operations, finances, strategic
planning, and business development for the academic medical
center, which encompasses 724 beds, 5000 employees, 800
physicians, and an annual budget of $500 million. As executive
vice president of the University of Maryland Medical System,
Dr. Schimpff supports initiatives of a three-hospital
system, which includes all levels of care, from community
medicine to rehabilitation, to care for the most acutely
ill patients in the state and surrounding regions.
"Dr.
Schimpff's depth and breadth of experience has been a
valuable asset to the board since it was established,"
said Dr. John Gallin, Clinical Center director. "His
leadership will continue to enhance the Clinical Center
efforts to improve the health of the nation."
Dr.
Schimpff obtained his medical degree from Yale Medical
School in 1967. His internship and residency training
were completed at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 1969. He
was a clinical associate in the Baltimore Cancer Research
Center of NCI, from 1969 to 1972. He was a guest worker
at NIAID from 1972 to 1973. He remained with NCI as a
senior investigator until 1982.
The
Board of Governors was established in 1996 by DHHS Secretary
Donna Shalala to oversee the management of the Clinical
Center. The Board is made up of physicians, scientists,
and health care mangers from some of the nation's top
medical centers and from across NIH.
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Alda
visits CC
Alan
Alda (right), Emmy-winning actor, writer, and director,
perhaps best known as the wisecracking Hawkeye Pierce
on the TV classic M*A*S*H, was at the CC in April
to film a segment of PBS's "Scientific American
Frontiers." Alda, here to interview Dr. Jordan
Grafman, NINDS, hosts this series of scientific
specials. The segment filmed at the CC is expected
to air later this year.
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Hatfield
takes a tour
Senator
Mark O. Hatfield (right), for whom the new Clinical
Research Center is named, toured the construction
site last month with CC Director Dr. John Gallin.
Hatfield served for 30 years as a senator from Oregon
and for 8 as chairman of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, all the while championing for clinical
research. Hatfield was also briefed by project architects
and the development management firm on the status
of the construction, schedule, and prototype of
the building, expected to be completed in 2002.
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Quality
of Worklife
|
Recently
the Clinical Center Quality of Worklife Council
received the following suggestion:
The
Suggestion:
Get new food service $4.00/lb for lettuce
is a rip-off. Get a new
cafeteria company. Food is poor quality and overpriced.
Response:
This summer, Eurest Dining Services will begin a
10-year contract
providing food in Bldg. 10 (including the B1 facility)
and in a number of other facilities on campus. The
variety and quality of food is expected to improve
with the new contractor.
Also,
according to the Office of Research Services' Division
of Space and Facility Management, the new contractors
will be obligated to provide food at prices 10 percent,
in aggregate, below the local market value, therefore
making food more
affordable.
Some
of the options Eurest is expected to provide include
a sandwich station, wrap-style sandwiches, Panini
Fresca, a fresh grille, bakery, salad station, gourmet
coffee bar, and carvery with chef on duty. Expect
to see Sbarros pizza, Krispy Kreme donuts, and Subway
deli sandwiches.
This
information is brought to you by the Clinical Center
Quality of Worklife Council.
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Nursing
department holds annual ceremony
Capt.
Andrew Sparber, RN, MS, CS (left), was presented
with the 2000 Nursing Research Award by Dr. Jacques
Bolle.
|
Lipsett
Amphitheater buzzed with excitment before the Nursing
Department's annual meeting and awards ceremony
last month. This year, the awardees' names had been
kept a closely guarded secret.
Acting
Associate Director for Nursing Dr. Jacques Bolle
began the ceremony by welcoming the audience to
the first annual meeting of the new millennium.
"Today we are celebrating teamwork and partnership.
We are all here to support biomedical research.
It is only through partnership that we can move
forward," he said.
In
opening remarks, Clinical Center Director Dr. John
Gallin commended the nursing staff for handling
a 6 percent to 8 percent increase in patient activity
in the face of a national nursing shortage. He commended
Dr. Bolle for his leadership of the department during
the past few months, and then outlined some changes
and opportunities that lie ahead for nursing in
the new Clinical Research Center:
- A
change in structure of patient care units from
Institute-based and proprietary to program-based
and shared.
- Increased
responsibility for the nurse managers of these
new units.
- Greater
authority over unit budgets by the unit care teams.
- Career
ladders that let nurses pursue individual goals.
- A
new director for nursing. Dr. Gallin said he hopes
to make a final selection from the candidates
by early summer.
In
closing he stated, "I will leave you now with
congratulations, a thank you from me for everything
you do for the Clinical Center, and a personal feeling
of real excitement and optimism that we are moving
in the right direction."
In
another new feature of the meeting, Dr. Bolle invited
Institute and CC department partners to talk about
what the nursing staff means to them. Dr. David
Henderson, deputy director for clinical care, reminded
CC nurses that they set the benchmark in the recent
patient survey conducted by the Picker Institute.
"I
wasn't the least bit surprised by that result,"
he said. "We are so fortunate to have you,
and I am so grateful to you for what you all do
for us. It's clear that you are a cut above."
Several
others, including Dr. Adrienne Farrar, Dr. Cliff
Lane, Alberta Bourn, and Hank Primus, also stepped
forth to give testimonials.
The
event culminated with the presentation of awards
to the following people and groups.
The
2000 Nurse of the Year Award went to Suzanne Sheets.
The
Nursing Research Award went to Andrew Sparber.
Director's
Awards went to Clarissa Mickle, and the Competency
Workgroup.
Nursing
Executive Recognition Awards went to Nancy Ames,
Barbara Corey, Kim Cox, Debbie Price, Barbara Quinn,
and Charlotte Seckman.
Citations
for Excellence were awarded to the following people
in these areas:
- Leadership:
Sharon Emerald, Peggy Shovlin, and Karla Thompson.
- Research
Implementation: Janice Davis, Olanda Hathaway,
Sheila Phang, and Debra Vause.
- Teamwork:
5 West Neuroscience Program of Care Nursing Staff,
8 ACRF Nursing Staff, 11 West Nursing Staff, 12
East Nursing Staff, 13 East Outpatient Cancer
Center Nursing Staff, and the MHALPS Unit Trainers
Group.
- Clinical
Patient Care: Deneise Francis, Suzanne Sheets,
Mary Tully, and the 10D ICU Nursing Staff.
- Nursing/Patient
Education: Diana O'Hagen, Cheryl Fisher, Maureen
Kennedy, Chevalia Robinson, and Barbara Whiting.
- Administrative/Research
Support: Lynne Fenwick, Michelle Gibson, and Loan
Kusterbeck.
PHS
Achievement Medals went to Barbara Fuller, Sherry
Meyers, Genise Nixon, and Susan Orsega.
PHS
Commendation Medals went to Maria Dinger, Florentino
Merced-Galindez, Philantha Montgomery, Marsha Moore,
Jeanne Odom, Edwina Smith, and Diane Walsh.
PHS
Citations went to Felicia Andrews and Akilah Green.
The
PHS Outstanding Service Medal went to Carol Romano.
The
PHS Unit Commendation went to Lisa Barnhart.
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CC
nurse recognized as Nurse Hero
Darlene
Frasher
|
There
are only 10 in the nation, and the Clinical Center
is privileged to be home to one.
Darlene
Frasher, a clinical research nurse in the CC's Surgical
Intensive Care Unit, has been named a Nurse Hero
by "Nursing Spectrum" magazine and the
American Red Cross.
Frasher,
who resides in Vienna, Va., with her husband and
children, was honored at a ceremony in May during
National Nurses Week at the Red Cross national headquarters
for "going above and beyond the call of duty
in saving or attempting to save a life under adverse
conditions."
"I
feel honored," said Frasher of the award. "But,
I think the incident was a lot bigger than me. I
was a small player in it."
She
was nominated and selected for her heroism and courage
when saving the life of David Marks in July 1998.
While
visiting Cabbage Key Island, Fla., during a summer
vacation, the Frasher family sought refuge from
a severe storm in a small island restaurant. Within
minutes, a loud lightning bolt deafened local ears.
"I
remember a man saying, 'That hit something,'"
she said.
Two
young boys then burst into the restaurant, crying
about their injured father. Frasher immediately
sprang to her feet."I'm a nurse, I can help,"
she said.
The
lightning bolt indeed made a direct hit; it struck
43-year-old Marks.
After
running down an embankment, Frasher found Marks
in a pontoon boat, with a dime-size burn on the
right side of his head. She had him moved to shore
in hopes of resuscitating him and discovered he
had gone into full cardiac arrest - his lips were
blue, he had no pulse, and was not breathing.
Marks,
also visiting the area, had been caught at sea during
the storm and was trying to get himself and his
two sons safely to land when the bolt hit.
After
assessing the situation through the pelting rain,
Frasher began performing mouth-to-mouth CPR on Marks.
Aside from her annual certification, this was the
first time she had performed CPR in her 15 years
of nursing.
"I
guess that certification really paid off,"
she said.
A
rescue helicopter was unable to land due to deteriorating
weather, and Frasher had heard that a rescue boat
was called upon.
During
the wait, Frasher continued working with Marks.
He soon had a weak pulse, then a stronger one. She
continued rescue breathing and sought to get a response
from him to establish his mental condition.
"Along
with his kids, I screamed to him: 'Squeeze my hand,
Dad; please, squeeze my hand,'" she said.
As
the rescue boat was arriving, she finally got a
faint squeeze.
"I
didn't think about anything," she said of the
incident. "I was focused on compression and
breathing."
Today,
Marks is almost fully recovered from the incident,
as the lightning burn on his temple has healed and
he only suffers a slight hearing loss and minor
cardiac damage.
"It
was a great humanitarian act," said husband
Wayne Frasher, who witnessed the event and nominated
his wife for the award. "I don't know many
people who have the courage and fortitude to never
say no. It's remarkable. She is such a beautiful
lady all the way through. She deserves this award."
"It's
a pleasure and honor to work with someone like Darlene,"
said Allison Adams-McLean, unit coordinator. "Her
professionalism just carries through in all her
aspects of care. She adds a different dimension
to nursing."
--by
Bonnie Flock
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"Cooking"
tumors to zap cancer
|
Using
radiofrequency (RF) energy to "cook"
and kill cancerous tumors without affecting surrounding
healthy tissue may provide an alternative to surgery
for patients with kidney and other cancers, according
to Dr. Bradford J. Wood, a clinical investigator
with the Clinical Center's Diagnostic Radiology
Department. Dr. Wood presented his research at
the 25th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society
of Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology,
held this spring.
"Preliminary
results look promising for this technique, which
is being used on tumors throughout the body, including
painful tumors and cancers of the kidney, adrenal,
liver, prostate, and bone," said Dr. Wood.
RF
energy is fed to the tumor through a very small
needle with an electrode on the tip. The needle
is inserted into the tumor under imaging guidance,
such as CT scan or ultrasound. The electrode generates
heat up to 100 degrees Celsius. After 10 to 12
minutes of continuous contact with the tumor tissue,
the RF energy "cooks" a 1-inch to 2-inch
sphere, killing the tumor cells. Larger tumors
can be treated by cooking overlapping spheres.
The dead cells are not actually removed, but become
scar tissue and eventually shrink. Typically,
the outpatient procedure is performed while the
patient is lightly sedated, and the patient may
go home hours later, usually feeling no pain.
RF
ablation is a modification of electrosurgery or
electrocautery, which has been around at least
since the 1920's, according to Dr. Wood. It is
finding a niche in cancer treatment, which increasingly
is being customized for each patient based on
the size, location, and type of tumor.
Early
results from a multicenter study that included
the Clinical Center look promising: of 21 kidney
tumors treated, 14 (67 percent) were no longer
visible on x-ray 5 months after RF treatment.
One patient remains cancer-free 18 months after
treatment. For kidney tumors 3 centimeters or
less, 11 of 14 (79 percent) showed no activity
on follow-up.
"Most
of these smaller tumors were in patients with
recurrent, hereditary kidney tumors. For these
patients, RF may provide an effective, minimally
invasive option that spares normal kidney and
prolongs function," said Dr. Wood.
In
a related Clinical Center study of tumors of the
adrenal glands, 10 of 15 tumors (67 percent) showed
no active disease, while the remaining patients
had some tumor visible on follow-up imaging. All
patients treated had x-ray evidence that most
of the targeted tumor was killed by the treatment.
No major complications were seen. Results are
preliminary with only short-term follow-up.
In
another preliminary study, RF ablation provided
effective short-term pain control in 21 of 24
painful tumors. RF could eventually be an option
for inoperable patients who have not responded
to conventional methods, are on high-dose sedating
pain medicine, or have had maximum allowable radiation,
according to Dr. Wood.
"RF
is less expensive, safer, and generally easier
than surgery," said Dr. Wood. "However,
without randomized, prospective trials and long-term
results, RF is not an alternative to surgery at
this point. Surgery remains the proven treatment
of choice for most solitary or small liver tumors."
Collaborating
with Dr. Wood on this research are Drs. Tito Fojo,
Mac Walther, Steve Libutti, and Christian Pavlovich
of NCI. More information, pictures, and video
of this work can be found at the following website:
http://www.cc.nih.gov/drd/rfa/.
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MRI
used to image the soft palate
|
Magnetic
resonance imaging, or MRI, is a radiation-free
imaging technique that has grown in popularity
over the past 15 years due to the high quality,
detailed cross sections ("slices") it
can provide of the brain, spine, and other internal
organs. Such organs are easy to image because
they don't move.
Recently,
however, NIH researchers have developed ways to
use MRI to image moving body structures, such
as a beating heart. These techniques are called
"gated MRI."
Dr.
Alex Kane, a fellow with the Clinical Center's
Diagnostic Radiology Department, is using gated
MRI to image the soft palate, the upper part of
the mouth which acts as a valve, opening and closing
to enable us to form intelligible speech.
"This
valving capability is non-existent in children
with an unrepaired cleft palate because the hard
and soft palate are split down the middle,"
said Dr. Kane, a plastic surgeon with an interest
in craniofacial surgery and medical imaging. "Even
after we repair the palate, in about 20 percent
to 30 percent of patients the muscles that form
the soft palate still don't function properly.
These children may need further surgery."
But
first these patients must undergo further diagnostic
tests so the surgeon can see exactly what needs
to be done and where. The standard tests are either
invasive and uncomfortable, involve relatively
high doses of radiation, or provide only a limited
view of the palate, according to Dr. Kane.
Seeking
an imaging method without these limitations, Dr.
Kane devised a way to simulate a "beating
palate," analogous to a beating heart. He
asked normal volunteers to repeat a syllable,
such as "paa," over and over, each time
they see a light blink. An MRI picture of the
palate was made at the same point in each repetition.
A
high-powered computer then assembled and averaged
the hundreds of images. The result is a 3-dimensional
"block" that shows the palate opening
and closing in a continuous cycle. The image can
be rotated or flipped to be viewed from any angle.
"By
wearing special glasses, we are also able to produce
stereographic images of the palate moving on screen
with simulated depth," Dr. Kane said. "We
anticipate that these imaging techniques will
be useful not only in the domain of cleft lip
and palate speech problems, but as a general-purpose
tool for the study of speech."
To
view a slide presentation on Dr. Kane's project,
go to the Diagnostic Radiology web site at http://www.cc.nih.gov/drd/research.html,
and click on the link "Toward an Improved
Method for the Study of Speech Using Gated MRI."
Dr. Kane hopes to add a video to the presentation
soon.
Drs.
John Butman, Peter Choyke, and Hani Marcos, and
Marlene Skopec, M.S. Eng., collaborated on this
research. The cardiac gated MRI studies that form
the basis for this work are being done by Drs.
Robert Balaban and Andrew Arai, of NHLBI's Laboratory
of Cardiac Energetics.
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Ognibene elected to SCCM council
Dr. Fred Ognibene
|
Dr.
Frederick Ognibene, of the Clinical Center's Critical
Care Medicine Department, was recently elected
an at-large member of the 18-member governing
council of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.
"While
this is certainly good for me professionally,
it is also good for the Critical Care Medicine
Department and for the Clinical Center. It is
important for us to have recognition at a national
level, and this is one way to accomplish that,"
he said.
Dr.
Ognibene's duties will include development of
policies and procedures, budget oversight, liaison
with federal agencies, development of standards
and guidelines, and editorial input into the Society's
journal, "Critical Care Medicine." His
term of office lasts three years.
Dr.
Ognibene began his critical-care training at the
Clinical Center in 1982 and has achieved national
recognition in the field. He has held other leadership
and administrative positions within the Society
and was elected to the at-large position in a
general election.
The
Society of Critical Care Medicine was founded
in 1970. Its membership of nearly 10,000 health
professionals comprises anesthesiologists, internists,
nurses, pediatricians, pharmacists, respiratory
therapists, surgeons, and others involved in the
care of critically ill and injured patients.
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Gallelli
awarded honorary membership
Dr.
Joseph Gallelli, center, accepts honorary membership
in the United States Pharmacopeial Convention
at the organization's quinquennial meeting, held
in Washington, D.C., in April.
|
Dr.
Joseph Gallelli, the Clinical Center's senior
advisor for biotechnology, was recently awarded
an honorary membership in the United States Pharmacopeial
Convention along with 16 other individuals involved
in the organization. Membership is bestowed by
unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees.
According
to the organization, "The bestowal of honorary
membership recognizes an individual's distinguished
contribution to drug standardization, the sciences
of medicine and pharmacy, and public health."
Dr.
Gallelli was recognized for his "distinguished
service on the Committee of Revision since 1973,
and his invaluable contributions in establishing
drug stability, assay development, and the formulation
and stablization of parenteral products."
The
United States Pharmacopeia (USP) was established
in 1820 to ensure that consumers receive medicines
of the highest possible quality, strength, and
purity. It sets the standards that manufacturers
must meet to sell their products in the United
States and operates nationwide practitioner reporting
programs.
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News
briefs
Detour
to P3 garage
A
section of Memorial Drive will be closed until
June 25 for water-line installation. Only emergency
vehicles and some delivery trucks may pass. Patients
and their visitors who need to reach the P3 garage
from the CC's South Entry will be rerouted along
Center Drive past Memorial Drive. A flagman will
assist drivers and provide maps. Maps are also
available in Bldg. 10, Room 1C174, or on the web
at http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/crcnews/updates.html.
Call Arvind Patel at 2-2735 or Kristy Long at
6-6248 if you have any concerns.
Parking
renewals
NIH
general parking permits for campus employees whose
last names begin with K or L will expire on the
last day of June. To renew yours, visit the NIH
Parking Office in Bldg. 31, Room B3B04, weekdays
between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Be sure to bring
your valid NIH identification card, driver's license,
and valid vehicle registration certificate for
each vehicle to be registered.
Metals
conference
"Metals
in Medicine: Targets, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics"
will be held June 28 and 29 at the Natcher Conference
Center. The meeting explores the role of metals
in the development of therapeutic drugs and in
vivo diagnostic agents. Visit the website at http://pub.nigms.nih.gov/MIM/
for current information and online registration
or call Dr. Peter Preusch at 4-5938.
Noons-in-June
Salutaris,
the NIH Gay and Lesbian Employees Forum, announces
plans for its 4th annual Noons-in-June lecture
series. Lectures will be held each Thursday in
June at noon. Consult their website, http://www.recgov.org/glef/index.htm,
and click on "Salutaris Events," for
updates on topics, speakers, and locations.
Construction
info
Construction
got you confused? If you need help figuring out
what's going on with the new Clinical Research
Center, and why it's happening, check out the
following website for the latest information and
photos: http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/crcnews/updates.html.
Inaugural
lecture
The
inaugural lecture of the Eleanor Nealon Extraordinary
Communi-cators Lecture Series, sponsored by NCI,
will be held at noon on Friday, June 16, in Masur
Auditorium. The series is a tribute to outstanding
communicators and honors Eleanor Nealon
a beloved NCI employee who displayed passion and
persuasion in her communication and advocacy work
until breast cancer claimed her life in 1999.
ABC News Special Correspondent Robert Krulwich
will serve as the inaugural speaker. Sign language
interpreters will be provided. If you have a disability
or need any assistance, please call L'Tonya Frazier
at 6-8776.
Jaw
pain study
NIDCR
researchers seek patients for studies of pain-relief
medications. Patients with early-stage temporomandibular
disorders (TMD) will receive either the study
drug, celecoxib, a standard treatment drug, naproxen,
or a placebo. Patients with later-stage TMD will
receive either the study drug etanercept or a
placebo. If you are between the ages of 18 and
65 and have TMD jaw pain, call 1-800-411-1222
to find out if you might be eligible. There is
no charge to take part.
CC
policy website
There
have been changes in the CC administrative policy
manual. The new manual is available on the CC
website. Employees are urged to disregard old
hardcopy green manuals and any links to the old
website for administrative policy statements and
refer to http://intranet.cc.nih.gov/od/admin_policy/
for the new versions.
Nursing
"e-news"
The
CC Nursing Department now has an online source
of news and features thanks to "e-news."
Published every other month for nursing staff,
the web-based "e-news" is sponsored
by the department's Retention Team. It's designed
to encourage open communication on all levels
of the Nursing Department and to provide information
on a variety of CC activities. To visit "e-news,"
go to the Nursing Department home page, http://www.cc.nih.gov/nursing/.
Blood
study
Healthy
postmenopausal women are needed for a study of
normal blood. To be eligible, you must have had
no abnormal bleeding or clotting in the past.
Study participants must be willing to stay off
any hormone treatment for 9 months. Participants
will be required to give a small sample of blood
(about 2 tablespoons) in an initial screening.
The study takes place at the Clinical Center and
involves no hormones or medications. NIH will
pay participants $50 for each blood draw. For
more information call 6-5150.
"The
Cure"
Potter
George E. Juliano exhibits a piece called "The
Cure" in the Clinical Center's sculpture
case near the coffee shop on the first floor.
The artist said he created the piece during chemotherapy
and that it represents the transfer of his tumors
to the pottery. He says he is now cancer-free.
The piece was purchased and donated to NIH by
Dr. Larry Nelson of NICHD. The exhibit ends June
28.
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|
Clinical
Center News, 6100 Executive Blvd., Suite 3C01, MSC
7511, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
20892-7511. Tel: 301-496-2563. Fax: 301-402-2984.
Published monthly for CC employees by the Office of
Clinical Center Communications, Colleen Henrichsen,
chief. News, article ideas, calendar events, letters,
and photographs are welcome. Deadline for submissions
is the second Monday of each month.
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