Liz Lewis Blog Liz Lewis Blog

Melissa Etheridge video Posted 1 day, 14 hours ago by Liz Lewis

http://www.melissaetheridge.com/

News

Win Tickets For Live In The Vineyard Event - Napa Valley CA (April 12)

On Monday, April 12 Melissa will act as celebrity guest host for a private cave tour of the world famous Miner Family Vineyards in Napa Valley CA. She will also be playing a short acoustic set.

"Fearless Love" video now available as download

Melissa's "Fearless Love" video is now available from iTunes. Now you can watch it anytime, anywhere!

Check Out Melissa's Fearless Love-Themed Playlist

Melissa has put together a MySpace Playlist of fearless love-themed songs. Check it out to see which songs made her list.

Watch Melissa's live acoustic performance of "Fearless Love"


Photo: Paul Parks/Anthology

Melissa played an acoustic version of "Fearless Love" as part of the Sophie 103.7 "Sophie Lounge" concert series, Feb 20 in San Diego CA. You can also see part of their interview with Melissa and her performance of "Bring Me Some Water." And don't miss SoundDiego's write up and photo gallery!

American Idol Crystal Bowersox is a Melissa fan!


Crystal shows off her autographed Melissa Etheridge guitar

If you've been watching American Idol this season, you are sure to have noticed singing sensation Crystal Bowersox.

City Worker's Salary Posted 2 days, 13 hours ago by Liz Lewis

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/162230/

 

This city worker's salary: $123,982.56

And he’s just one of several city employees who worked hundreds of hours of overtime. The bill for taxpayers? $2.7 million.

By: Brandon Stahl, Duluth News Tribune

The highest-paid city of Duluth employee is not the mayor, the chief administrative officer or the city attorney. He’s a city utility operations lead worker whose job responsibilities include repairing water line breaks and digging ditches.

A combination of contract rules and a dilapidated city infrastructure pushed Daniel Jazdzewski’s salary in 2009 to almost $124,000.

Why? More than a third of his salary came from working almost 1,500 hours of overtime.

That overtime alone was more than the salaries of nearly 300 other city workers, according to data requested and analyzed by the News Tribune and provided by the city of Duluth.

But Jazdzewski wasn’t the only employee to work massive amounts of overtime last year. The 25 city employees who earned the most overtime in 2009 each worked at least

500 extra hours, and 23 of those workers were from the city’s Public Works Department, while the other two were police officers.

Eleven of those public works employees’ pay was higher than Mayor Don Ness’ $83,856 salary.

Salary data from St. Paul and Minneapolis showed that no public works employees in either city worked 1,000 hours or more in overtime.

The city of Superior’s total spending in 2009 on public works overtime was just over $23,000.

“I am thoroughly alarmed at what I see,” City Councilor Jim Stauber said after reviewing the data. “While thousands in our city and region are under-employed or have lost their job, and still others are at reduced pay and reduced hours, it seems unreasonable that so many city employees are allowed to continue to do this.

“Who’s minding the store?” he asked.

Contract forces overtime

City utility operations manager Steve Lipinski said he doesn’t believe the overtime pay is abnormal. The cost is necessary, he said, because of the high number of water main breaks, valve repairs and gas service repairs his crews go out on.

In 2009 the city responded to 774 calls for such repairs, according to city data, including 162 emergency repairs. About 350 of those jobs required use of overtime. Without after-hours work when a main breaks, Lipinski said, people would be without water.

“We’re trying to protect the customers,” he said, “and respond as rapidly as possible.”

But the contract language doesn’t help the city control personnel costs.

Under the city’s contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 66, public works employees earn overtime pay, at time and a half, while on call — whether they are called to work or not.

On-call work is arranged differently for each of three public works divisions. Utility operations, which gets the most overtime pay, repairs water and gas line breaks.

Workers take turns being on call for an entire week, earning regular pay for their normal 40-hour schedule and time-and-a-half for the other 32 hours they’re on call — a total of 88 hours of regular pay in a week. If they’re called out to work, they earn additional time-and-a-half pay for the time they work — and for the time it takes them to get to the job site. Some employees live as far away as Cloquet, Two Harbors and Poplar.

Another clause in the contract that inflates overtime: If a crew is on a job that will extend past the 4 p.m. shift and requires overtime, the city must call and offer the job to senior staff first before keeping the crew that’s already on site.

“If a senior worker is out there, they generally have more experience and can get the job done more efficiently,” Lipinski said. “And there is a contract that we have to follow.”

It’s all created a system that has fed 54 percent of the city’s overtime spending to the Public Works Department in 2009, compared to 24 percent for police and 12 percent for fire.

“If a lay person knew exactly what was in [Duluth] contracts and how our tax dollars were being spent, they would be flabbergasted,” said City Councilor Todd Fedora. “You keep going back to the people of Duluth, taking money from them while they’re struggling to make ends meet, while we’re paying folks enormous amounts of money to carry a pager. It’s mind-boggling.”

‘They need me to work’

Many current and former employees who have earned the overtime deny just “carrying a pager.”

“The majority of the time, I’m working on repairing the system,” Jazdzewski said. “We can’t shut our work down at 4 in the afternoon and come back at 7:30 in the morning.”

The time spent to repair water line or valve breaks can take several hours or days, said Jazdzewski, who lives in Duluth. Crews can get anywhere from three to four calls a day, Jazdzewski said, especially in the winter.

Harvey Maas, a utility operations lead worker, earned $43,795 for just more than 1,000 hours of overtime in 2009 on top of his gross salary of about $68,000.

“It all boils down to, they need me to work, and I’m willing to work,” Maas said.

Mike Switzer, a retired utility operations lead worker, acknowledged that there were seven days in a row when he’d be on standby and wouldn’t be called out to a single incident, but he said that was the exception.

“Yes, I do sleep during that time,” he said. “But if I’m on duty, I’ve got to get paid for it. I’m not going to do it for free. I don’t think there are too many people out there that would.”

He said the only way he sees to reduce overtime costs would be to hire more employees and move toward shifts like those in street maintenance, where overtime costs are a fraction of utility operations’.

Though Ness has hinted at his disapproval of the standby rules, he declined to comment for this story, citing the recent contract dispute between the administration and AFSCME.

“We need to focus on the issues that we have on the table,” he said. “I don’t want to introduce new points of conflict on these other issues where we clearly have disagreement.”

City Chief Administrative Officer David Montgomery said the 2010 contract that AFSCME members will soon vote on doesn’t include a change in standby rules.

He declined to speak further on the issue but indicated it might be on the table during the next round of negotiations.

“The administration is concerned with all costs and what we can do to bring those costs into alignment with our revenue,” he said. “We’ll be looking very strongly at what we can do in areas of where our cost structure needs to be, and where it can be adjusted.”

If the administration goes after that language, AFSCME negotiating chairman Jim Dreier said the union will fight it.

“I’m sure we’re going to stand solid on it,” he said. “It’s an issue of safety. … I don’t think the people at City Hall realize the seriousness of the utility we have.”

 

Kids Sleep and Daylight Savings Time Posted 2 days, 13 hours ago by Liz Lewis

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/spring/a/daylight_svg.htm

Kids Sleep and Daylight Saving Time
Help Your Kids Spring Forward Without Losing Sleep

By , About.com Guide

Updated August 09, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

DON'T LOSE SLEEP WHEN DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME RETURNS

The National Sleep Foundation Offers Tips to Help Children and Parents "Spring Forward"

WASHINGTON, DC (March 31) - It happens in the middle of the night once a year, and can affect you and your children for several days. It's the return of Daylight Saving Time, which happens this year at 2:00 a.m. Sunday, April 6 for most of the nation. Daylight Saving Time also marks the end of National Sleep Awareness Week, the National Sleep Foundation's (NSF) week-long effort to waken America to the importance of sleep.

The annual "spring forward" ritual can cause disruptions in normal sleep patterns for children and adults. However, NSF says there are steps you can take to minimize the sleep loss and enjoy the benefits of healthy sleep and productive days.

"It is not uncommon for children to experience sleep disruptions with the return of Daylight Saving Time," says Jodi Mindell, PhD, a nationally recognized expert in pediatric sleep and a member of NSF's board of directors. "It may take your child longer to fall asleep with the time change. Since we move the clock forward, he or she may not be as sleepy as usual at bedtime," says Dr. Mindell, a professor of psychology at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, and associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

To help your child make that adjustment, Dr. Mindell offers these two tips to ease the transition and keep sleep deprivation at a minimum. No matter what approach you take, your child will adjust to the time change within a few days to a week:

  • Maintain your child's regular sleep, wake and nap times. Try not to compensate for the lost hour by delaying bedtime or allowing your child to sleep in. This willincrease the time it takes to transition. There may be some crankiness from being tired, but this should last only a day or two.

  • Make gradual adjustments. Some parents find it is best to try to start makingadjustments on Saturday night rather than wait until Sunday, a school night. Youmight even want to try making a slow transition starting on Thursday night before the time change, moving your child's bedtime earlier by 15 minutes each night. By Sunday night you will be right back on schedule.

Now for parents, who, like their children, can also experience sleep loss and schedule disruptions because of the time change. As many parents know, additional sleep deprivation is not something they can afford. NSF polls reveal that most adults already get less than the recommended seven to nine hours of nightly sleep needed to be fully alert the next day. "Too many people will sacrifice yet another hour of sleep when the clocks change - an hour they cannot afford to lose, particularly on the weekend, when people try to catch up on the sleep they missed during the week," said Richard Gelula, NSF's executive director.

By making a few simple lifestyle changes, most people can achieve the sleep that is needed to feel alert, refreshed and ready to take on the day. These steps can help your own transition into Daylight Saving Time:

  • Try to sleep more than usual a few nights prior to and immediately following the time change.

  • Take a nap in the afternoon on Sunday if you need it, but not within a few hours of your regular bedtime. Napping too close to bedtime can disrupt nighttime sleep.

Daylight Saving Time marks the end of National Sleep Awareness Week, when NSF and its partners in communities across the country raise awareness about the importance of sleep and treatment of sleep disorders. "Let Sleep Work For You" is the theme for the Week this year, a theme NSF urges Americans to adopt with healthy sleep habits throughout the year. Learn what you can do to improve your sleep and how to recognize signs of potentially serious sleep disorders by visiting NSF's Web site, www.sleepfoundation.org.

The National Sleep Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting education, sleep-related research, and advocacy. NSF is based in Washington, D.C. National Sleep Awareness Week; is a licensed program of the National Sleep Foundation.

March Music Madness Posted 2 days, 15 hours ago by Liz Lewis

Okay - so I filled out my brackets for the March Music Madness and for me it all came down to Dave Mathews Band and U2 and for me I had DMB going all the way for the MMM. 

What artist do you think will take it all?  The link to the MMM bracket is below.  Fill it out and let me know who you think will be the ultimate winner!  Have fun!

 

http://www.957thebridge.com/stationfiles/marchmusicmadness/brackets/

 

Extreme Home Makeover Again Posted 1 week, 5 days ago by Liz Lewis

 

ABC is looking for a deserving family with the Extreme Home Makeover!

 

Do you know someone whose home deserves an Extreme Makeover?  If so, the producers of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition want to hear from you!  Ty Pennington and his crew have been all across the map and they are ready to drive that famous bus into your neighborhood.

What does it take to be picked for an Extreme Makeover?
We are in search of deserving families and deserving people - people who have amazing strength of character and who put their own needs aside to help others. Whether it’s a mom, a soldier, a teacher, or a fireman, we think deserving families are families who inspire those around them. In addition, the producers are looking for families whose houses need major alterations or repair- homes that present serious problems for the family and affect the family's quality of life.

To be eligible: A family must own their own single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference in their lives.
 
Interested families or those who wish to nominate another family should: e-mail a short description of their family story to –
emheminnesota@gmail.com

Nominations/submissions must include:
1. The names and ages of each member of the household
2. A description of the major challenges within the home.
3. Explanation of why this family is deserving, or a positive role model in their community.
4. Photos of the family and a photo of the home
5. Don’t forget to include a contact phone number.
 
The deadline: for nominations is March 1st, 2010. BUT Don’t Delay! Please send story submissions as soon as possible!

For more information on how to apply please visit our website at:
http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/index?pn=apply

Google Twin Ports Posted 1 week, 6 days ago by Liz Lewis

Coach Kalin Superior Spartins Posted 2 weeks ago by Liz Lewis

Nora Jones Gone Country March 7th Posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago by Liz Lewis

The Little Willies, a band that includes singer-songwriter Norah Jones, have recorded several country classics for a new album to be released on March 7. The group also features singer-guitarist Richard Julian, bassist Lee Alexander, guitarist Jim Campilongo and drummer Dan Rieser. The musicians have been performing informal shows at the Living Room, a New York club, for about two years. In addition to several original songs, the album will feature covers of Willie Nelson's "I Gotta Get Drunk" and "Night Life" and the Western swing classic, "Roly Poly." Released on Milking Bull Records, the project will be distributed by EMI.

Mayor Ness and Wilco Blog Posted 3 weeks ago by Liz Lewis

Easy Delicious Salmon Recipe Posted 4 weeks ago by Liz Lewis

Liz...You were talking about a really good salmon recipe that you have.  I'm trying to convince my husband that salmon can really taste good, so would you mind sharing your recipe with me?  Thanks  ~Jo~

Hi Jo!  I got this recipe from Giada at Food Network... it's easy and delicious!  Let me know if your husband likes it!  - Liz

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/salmon-with-puff-pastry-and-pesto-recipe/index.html

 

Ingredients

  • 4 pieces of purchased puff pastry, each cut to be just larger than a piece of salmon
  • 4 (4 to 6-ounce) pieces salmon
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup purchased pesto
  • 2 tomatoes, sliced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

On a foil-lined baking sheet, place the 4 pieces of puff pastry. Also place the 4 pieces of salmon, being careful to make sure they are not touching. Sprinkle each piece of salmon with 1 tablespoon of the sliced almonds. Bake for 10 minutes.

To serve, place each piece of puff pastry on a plate. Top each puff pastry with 1 tablespoon of pesto. Top the pesto with 2 slices of tomatoes each. Top the tomatoes with the salmon and serve.

Super Bowl Ad with Dave Jay and Oprah Posted 4 weeks, 1 day ago by Liz Lewis

Help YMCA Camp Miller Posted 4 weeks, 1 day ago by Liz Lewis

http://www.refresheverything.com/YMCACampMiller

Pepsi is giving away up to $1.3 million in grants each month to communities and individuals nationwide looking to jump start a project. The Duluth Area YMCA Camp Miller in Sturgeon Lake is one of many candidates nationwide already in the running for a $50,000 dollar grant. The top ten project ideas each month will receive the $50,000 grant - let's help Camp Miller be one of them.

  Month Selector

  Archives