Will Young: Visits Crawley library

WILL Young and Sophie Dahl visited people at Crawley Library this week as part of the national Headspace project.
Sophie, grand daughter of the acclaimed children's writer Roald, is a patron of the Roald Dahl Museum and the Story Centre which help fund headspace. She has initiated a scheme with role models from sport, music and television offering an hour to Headspace members to discuss their favourite books. Will, one of these role models, shared extracts with the group in Crawley, from Rudyard Kipling's 'Just So Stories', which his father read to him as a child. Will said: "I found it extremely interesting to be around teenagers who were engaging, challenging, interested, and with greatful senses of humour. It reminded me of why reading is so important." Headspace is an area within libraries that is designed by young people. They choose everything including how the area looks, which books are stocked and the activities which are arranged. It is hoped that offering children involvement in how and what they read may re-kindle a love for books which is all but lost to generation X-box. Cllr Henry Smith said: "Reading can often be knocked off the agenda for young people. The Headspace project aims to tackle this issue, and make books fun and accessible."

Bullitt young professionals group

Young Professionals the newly formed of Bullitt County will hold its first event Monday.
The networking event will meet at 6 p.m. at the El Nopal Mexican restaurant, on U.S. 31 East near Ky. 44 in Mount Washington.
Professionals ages 21 to 40 who live or work in Bullitt County are invited to attend, said Joey Herm, arranger of the pair.
The pair, which is a branch of the Bullitt County Chamber of Commerce, will promote leadership and community work, he said. The steering committee has been arrangeing the pair for just over a month.

Obama touts efforts to boost economy, In hurting upstate New York

TROY, N.Y. Touting resilience in hurting upstate New York, President Barack Obama said Monday that better economic days are coming thanks to innovation and some help from the government.
"As we emerge from this current economic crisis, our great challenge will be to ensure that we do not just drift into the future," Obama said at Hudson Valley Community College. "Instead, we must choose to do what past generations have done: shape a brighter future through hard work and innovation."
Obama's delivered of a mix of an economic pep talk and a plug for his plan for economy recovery: a sustained investment in education, technology, health care and research. He told his audience that Washington has for years not lived it up to its responsibilities to help.
"If government does its modest part, there is no stopping the most powerful and generative economic force the world has ever known: the American people," Obama said.
The president's pitch came in a region where the economic mood has long been gloomy. Nationwide, unemployment is at 9.7 percent, the highest level since 1983.

Will Young Adults Afford Insurance, How?

There's been some grumbling that young people haven't mobilized for health reform as strongly as they did for Obama during election season. Katha Pollitt expressed the opinion in a column last month:
We want you to stand on street corners handing out fliers that explain what healthcare reform is really all about and how people can make sure it doesn't get swallowed whole by the drug and insurance companies. Surely you're not too young and strong and healthy and vegan to care about boring parent stuff like health insurance?
This is unfair for a few reasons. First of all, progressives of all ages have been outmaneuvered during this debate. As Robert Reich wrote here at TAPPED, even middle-age lefties haven't been able to get their act together in terms of organizing a health reform march on the Washington Mall. And while there are some great benefits for young adults in the various health reform proposals primarily the right to stay on a parent's health plan until age 26, and an end to "gender rating," in which young women are charged more than young men because they use more health care there are also pitfalls. As the Washington Post reports, a "cheap" health plan after reform may still cost as much as $100 monthly. Facing an individual authorisation to buy coverage, that is a significant burden for low-wage and even middle-income young adults.
That's one reason supporters of reform should pressure the White House and Congress to expand subsidies, regardless of what happens to the public option. The House plan to offer subsidies to individuals making as much as $43,000 annually is much more generous than the Senate Finance plan, which cuts that number down to $32,490.
The administration's white paper on reform, released to coincide with the president's speech last week, avoided the issue of subsidies altogether. But as Obama and advocates pitch health reform directly to young people this week, beginning tomorrow with an event at the University of Maryland, affordability will be a major concern. Young people deserve to hear specifics on how government will help them pay for coverage.
While we wait for specifics though, we can enjoy this ridiculous Rock the Vote health reform ad featuring the annoying stars of "Scrubs."

Will young Wildcats straight playoff appearance for Canton South?

The Canton South Wildcats went 8-4 last season in their third straight trip to the playoffs. With three years under his belt, head coach Moe Daniska, would like to keep his playoff streak going, but he says “there are many holes to be filled” for that to happen.The Wildcats graduated 22 seniors last year, including their three year beginner quarterback Matthew Trissel and middle linebacker Mike McKinney.In the words of Coach Daniska this means “...there will be a lot of competition for starting positions.” And there certainly will be, with only five starters returning on each side of the ball. The fight for a starting position on either side of the ball should bring out the best from each and every player. Among those who are returning this year on violation are linemen Nate Randall (Sr. 5’ 10, 240) and Justin Darnell (Sr. 6’, 240), who should supply a solid pocket for the new adviser. Jared May, a junior, is being called upon to lead the team as the adviser. Also on the displeasing side of the ball are wide receivers: James Lucas, a 6’ 2” 200 lb. junior and Jerald Robinson, a 6’2” 175 lb. senior. Defensively, J’Colby Waters (Sr. 5’8 175), Jordan Wanner (Sr. 5’10 170), and Troy Sheridan (Jr. 5’11 185) make up the central linebacker and two outside linebacker positions, respectively, while senior Mark Trissel (5’10 170) will play protective back. Robinson will help out on protect as a back. According to Coach Daniska the returning defense “...will be called upon to spark an belligerent, but young protective unit.” Most notable among the returning starters are Robinson and Justin Keith (6’ 200). University of Michigan recruit Robinson will play an important part in the Wildcat spread violation at wide receiver, while also providing greatly at defensive back on the other side. Keith, as a running back, rushed for 1,200 yards last year including 18 touchdowns. Senior Anthony Balsley (5’11 190) will return as offensive lineman and middle linebacker. This makes a total of 11 varsity lettermen returning from last year. Top prospects to fill the vacancies in this 2009 football season include linemen Lloyd Robinson (Jr. 6’ 195), Greg Harris (Sr. 5’11 170), Cody Myers (Jr. 6’4 220) and Chris Mossor (Sr. 5’11 170). Junior Chantler Jenkins (5’7 160) could fill a wide receiver position, while juniors Dewon Turpin (5’9 165) and Justin Lynch (5’7 170) are both viable options for time as running backs and outside linebackers.“Overall, our coaching staff is inspired about the competition for starting positions.” says Daniska.In only his third year as a head coach Canton South and Mount Union graduate Daniska has earlier garnered many honors. They include being named Associate Press All-Northeastern District II Co-Coach of the Year and Stark County Coach of the Year in Division III, IV, V and VI, both in 2006. His experienced coaching staff includes: Eric Frazee, fourth year displeasing coordinator; Greg Williams, 10th year protective coordinator; Greg Eibel, sixth year junior varsity offense; Derek Faiello, junior varsity protect and Dan Hanson, special teams coordinator. The Wildcats will run a spread displeasing set with a 3-5 defense. The Wildcats will open their season at home against Dover on Thursday, Aug. 27, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Other nonleague games will include Canfield and Ravenna. The first Northeastern Buckeye match-up will come against returning NBC champions the Louisville Leopards.

WILL YOUNG TOASTS OLD PAL

AS the new gamut of The X Factor kicked off, original Pop Idol winner Will Young and runner up Gareth Gates, 25, were reunited.

Sharing a bevvy in the Virgin Media Louder Lounge, the group were on happy form.
Will, 29, told me: “I had a excellent set and so to watch Gareth has biggest off the day.”
Nab your tickets for V 2010 at 09 gift from tomorrow for one week only.

Adviser: 'Political will' key to juvenile justice reform

CHEYENNE -- Wyoming leaders want to exercise "political will" to action juvenile justice reform, a technical adviser for the Annie E. Casey Foundation said Tuesday.Rand Young said he is amazed at the amount of attention juvenile justice receives in Wyoming, including the support for change from Gov. Dave Freudenthal and other leaders."You have all the horsepower but for some reason you don't have the political will," Young said. "I don't have the answer for that."Young, who is from Spokane, Wash., was in Cheyenne to explain the foundation's Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative to members of the Joint Interim Judiciary Committee.The foundation has been performing the initiative for 17 years in 110 jurisdictions in 27 states.The invention is to decrease the number of low risk juveniles held in detention in favor of substitute access.
Rand said the substitute is not a "great jail break," because high risk juveniles, those charged with dangerous felonies like murder and assault, will continue to be held in detention for the safety of the public.The "heart of the first," he said, are the community based alternatives -- starting with community service, then house arrest, day reporting and an evening program where the low risk juvenile delinquent can receive tutoring, counseling and learn new skills.The plan has a simple solution for juveniles missing court dates: a phone call ahead of time with a reminder of the damage for not showing up, Young said.The maiden saves money and has not resulted in an increase in juvenile crime in 17 years, according to Young. Detention costs $200 a day per juvenile equivalence to $35 per day for the alternative."We've been doing this for a long time and it works," he said. "Wyoming can, too."It appears Wyoming does not have a lot of actual data, Young said, adding that the foundation could show the state how to cure that problem.Young desire the state not to build long, new juvenile detention facilities."Most of the kids you have in custody are not high risk," he said.He said 63 percent of juveniles in Wyoming detention services are low risk offenders.Community centers can be used for many of the sessions with the juvenile offenders, he said.Sen. Tony Ross, R-Cheyenne, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said part of Wyoming's difficulty is not enough confident services for juveniles.A juvenile offender picked up in Lusk probably will be held in the county sheriff's office until the parents can be found, he said.The committee is working on bills to breed uniform standards for juvenile detention facilities.Wyoming is the only state not in compliance with the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.The major check to compliance is the position of some judges and prosecuting attorneys who want to retain the option of sentencing juveniles to jail for alcohol possession, for example.The committee cannot move forward without the support of the sheriffs and prosecutors, said Rep. Keith Gingery, R-Jackson, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee."I think the first step is to change some minds, some education," Sen. Kathryn Session, D-Cheyenne, said.Joe Evans, director of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association, said he would try to arrange for Young to address the sheriffs and prosecuting attorneys during their annual meetings next month.