Preparing for the school year can cause a fair amount of tension and upheaval for kids. A great way to mitigate this stress is to involve them in the process of getting ready. Here’s how to include them.

Buying and labeling school supplies
Bring your kids along with you when you go shopping for school supplies. Let them choose some of the items and ask for help with labeling them. Going out to buy school supplies could become a fun activity that your child looks forward to every year.

Preparing backpacks and lunchboxes

Allowing your children to pack their own bags and lunchboxes is a great way to make them feel like they’re in charge. This is likely to calm their worries and reduce the number of unknowns they have to get used to. However, it’s a good idea to check that they don’t forget anything essential.

Planning the weekly routine
Let your kids have a say in the planning of your family’s weekly schedule. For instance, ask them where in the house they’d like to do their homework and study.

To ensure a smooth transition between the summer holidays and the return to school, start the new routine a few days before classes begin, especially with regards to bedtime.

Involving your child in the necessary back-to-school preparations is a great way to transform a stressful time into a fun experience that’ll make them feel more independent.

Front Royal, VA—Jorge Amselle, Democratic candidate for Warren County Sheriff, recently released his responses to a questionnaire from the Virginia Police Benevolent Association, which the association will use in any endorsement decision. “In the interest of transparency and accountability I am releasing the questions posed to me and my responses so that every citizen of Warren Country can see them. I call on the other candidates for Sheriff to publicly release their responses to these important questions. We need to know what kind of policies our next Sheriff will pursue,” said Amselle.

The Questions and Amselle’s responses are posted below.

Issue: Allowing PBA Recruitment of Deputies

Background:
PBA membership affords members numerous benefits and the opportunity to belong to a professional law enforcement association. These benefits include attorney representation for line of duty shootings and in-custody death situations. Membership also includes coverage if a member is civilly sued for actions arising out of performance of their duties. In those tragic cases where a member is killed in the line of duty the accidental death benefit pays up to $70,000 to the member’s beneficiary.

Question #1:
If elected, would you allow the PBA and/or its recruiters to speak to deputies about the value and benefit of having a PBA membership?

Amselle Answer:
Yes. I would welcome PBA to speak with and recruit any employees of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. I favor organized labor and benevolent associations as an essential part of easing the power disparities between employers and employees and protecting the rights of workers.

Issue: Uniforms
Background:
Over the past several years law enforcement has changed to make law enforcement uniforms more comfortable. In general, the tactical uniform is perceived as more practical for the physical aspects of today’s policing. Police officers now have more everyday gear to carry, and that means officers need to be able to accommodate that on their uniform.

Question#2:
If elected would you authorize deputies to wear a tactical uniform while on duty? Why or why not?
Amselle Answer:
Yes. When appropriate, deputies will be permitted to wear the tactical uniform. I plan to set policy about tactical uniforms after reviewing current policy and discussing it with staff to ascertain their views. Deputies have a right to be comfortable while performing their duties whenever possible. Deputies also have an obligation to present a clean and professional appearance while on duty. In some circumstance and in some job categories the tactical uniform may not be appropriate. I will set policy that makes it clear when and where a tactical uniform may be worn.

Issue: Take Home Vehicles
Background:
In the past, deputies that lived outside the county were allowed to take their vehicles home. Several years ago, the take home privilege was stripped from the deputies with no apparent warning. The take home privilege was a great recruitment tool and would help the deputies save money.

Question #3:
If elected would you be willing to change the current policy to allow deputies who live outside the county to take their cars home within a certain radius of Warren County? Why or why not?
Amselle Answer:
No. County vehicles should be for official use only, never for personal use inside or outside the county by any official or county employee at any level. I support increased compensation as a more appropriate recruitment tool. However, no staff member should lose a current benefit without due warning and proper compensation.

Issue: Unfair Application of Discipline
Background:
In the past, it has been proven that a lack of accountability and wrongdoing have taken place within the sheriff’s department. Members of the Department have been fired only to be rehired a short time later. It appears major issues have occurred with some of the employees, including administrators, and the matters have been “swept under the rug” or overlooked. This lack of accountability can be viewed as corruption and causes the agency to appear unprofessional.

Question #4:
If elected will you make it policy that complaints are investigated by a trained internal affairs department and discipline is administered fairly across the department?
Amselle Answer:
Yes. Any complaint against any member of the Sheriff’s office will be fairly and fully investigated by both trained internal affairs professionals AND an outside, independent body. No incident will be hidden from the public or “swept under the rug.” No one who has been fired with cause will be re-hired.

Issue: Department and Community Relations Background
Background:
Currently, judging by media reports, there appears to be a large amount of mistrust between members of the community and elected officials in Warren County. The sheriff’s office and the elected sheriff are at the forefront of public safety and community trust. Professionalism within the sheriff’s department is recognized by the citizens and enhances public safety.

Question #5:
If elected what measures will you take to ensure that the sheriff’s department is viewed as a professional law enforcement organization from both inside and outside the department?
Amselle Answer:
A lack of trust in our public and elected officials has severely damaged our community. This lack of trust is due to a repeated and longtime trend of insider dealing, corruption, and lack of accountability and transparency. I will have a clear policy that no employee of the Sheriff’s Office may engage in any private business transactions or dealings with anyone in a position of authority within the county or town government. Exceptions may be made for routine transactions unrelated to employment duties but they must be publicly disclosed if they fall above a specified dollar threshold. In addition, any appearance or evidence of unlawful behavior by any town or county official will be immediately referred to the State Police to investigate.

To learn more and keep up to date on Jorge Amselle’s campaign visit www.amselle4sheriff.com and follow on Twitter and FaceBook.

Meet Jorge Amselle – Democratic candidate for Warren County Sheriff

Maybe you used to be a night owl, watching late night television or reading past midnight.

But now? Some older people discover that, as they age, they become tired much earlier in the night and rise well before dawn.

This actually has a name: Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome, according to the National Sleep Foundation. It shouldn’t be especially alarming, but it can be annoying. The natural circadian rhythms that coordinate body functions advance in time with age, so people get plenty of sleep (from seven to eight hours) but everything happens earlier. Experts do not know why this happens, but they usually treat the issue with bright light therapy, exposing the body to light when it should be awake.

Then there is insomnia. About 44 percent of older persons can’t sleep for a few nights per week. But insomnia can become chronic.

Medical conditions can be responsible for insomnia. Among them snoring, a primary cause of sleep disruption for 90 million Americans. Snoring can be due to weight and aging. Very loud snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea, associated with high blood pressure, among other things. Sleep apnea causes people to repeatedly wake up as they breathe, then stop breathing. It can and should be treated, doctors say.

“As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.” (Matthew 9:32-34)

One of our adopted sons was a delayed learning child and eligible for school programs that required him to meet with a psychiatrist and a psychologist, all needed for education. The Washington area has a large market for counseling psychology and mental health problems, but you may have to wait several weeks for an appointment.

Consider the following from WMAL Radio…Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in , “Roger Goes to the Psychiatrist.”

“Good morning, Roger and how are you?”

“I am happy and really love life and I can’t really explain it to you !”

“Well this is most encouraging and I can see that your visits are paying off for you, and is there something that has given you this new lease on life?”

“Yes, doctor! It is because I have fallen in love with someone.”

“Oh this is good news, with a woman?”

“Yes doctor and her name is Stephanie!”

“What a coincidence, Roger, that’s the name of my wife.”

“I know and I can’t stand the thought of you touching her, and I want to kill you, NOW!”

“You are doing so well and I understand your love for my wife, but this is most inconvenient that you want to kill me , at this moment; could you pop by on Wednesday at 2 o’clock and kill me then ?”

“Yes, doctor, I can do that.”

“Goodbye for now , Roger , you are doing so well, I can’t wait to see you again on Wednesday.”

The Great Physician now is near, The sympathizing Jesus; He speaks the drooping heart to cheer, Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!
His name dispels my guilt and fear, No other name but Jesus; Oh, how my soul delights to hear The precious name of Jesus! (from SACRED SELECTIONS)

A last jab at psychology: Once I had multiple personalities, but now we are feeling well.
I don’t suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute.
I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not sure.
The best thing about being schizophrenic is that I’m never alone.
Just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean people aren’t out to get you!
Hypochondria is the only illness that I don’t have.

Most real estate contracts stipulate that sellers need to leave their home in “broom clean condition.” This quaint turn of phrase means more or less what you’d imagine: floors need to be swept, carpets vacuumed and all personal items need to be removed from the premises. This includes rugs, wall decor and furniture.

But does this really cut it? How would you feel about moving into a broom clean home? As a courtesy to the buyer, you should thoroughly clean your house before turning over the keys.

How do I get from broom clean to actually clean?
Too often, people fail to hand over a clean and tidy house because they leave most of the cleaning till the end. To prevent this, start tidying your home as soon as you decide to put it on the market.

As an added bonus, if your house is spick and span for showings, there’s a good chance you’ll get a better price for it.

If you’re not feeling up to the task, consider hiring a cleaning company. With all that’s involved with selling your home, there’s no shame in delegating some of the work.

If you’re planning to hit the open road this summer, renting or buying a trailer is a good way to ensure you’ll have enough space for all your stuff. Driving with a trailer can be dangerous, however, so here are some safety tips to keep in mind.

• Check your owner’s manual to ensure that your car has sufficient towing capacity to handle the weight of the trailer and its contents.

• Practice driving with the trailer before you leave on your trip. It’s harder than you think! You’ll need to take wider turns, leave more distance between you and other vehicles and give yourself enough time to come to a complete stop.

• Before leaving, inspect the trailer to make sure it’s properly attached. Check the safety chains, lights and license plates.

• Take it slow on the highway. Stick to the right lane and maintain a pace that’s slightly below the speed limit.

• If the trailer starts swaying, don’t brake or speed up. Instead, ease off the gas and reduce your speed while driving straight.

In addition, it’s a good idea to get someone (such as an employee at a trailer rental company) to give you the full rundown on how to drive safely with the trailer.

You can also use a trailer with a motorcycle, but make sure your bike can handle the load.