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Sustainable investing is a growing trend in the financial industry, as more investors seek to align their investments with their personal values and beliefs. This type of investing takes into account environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors alongside traditional financial metrics to identify opportunities that can generate positive returns while making a positive impact on the world.
While sustainable investing has been around for decades, it has gained momentum in recent years as awareness of climate change and social inequality has grown. Investors are increasingly recognizing the potential of sustainable investments not only to benefit society and the environment but also to provide strong financial returns. However, understanding how to evaluate ESG factors and identify sustainable investment opportunities can be challenging. In this article, we will explore the benefits of sustainable investing, how to evaluate ESG factors when selecting investments, and strategies for maximizing returns while making a positive impact on the world.
Understanding Sustainable Investing and Its Benefits
The benefits of sustainable investing can be comprehended through an understanding of its underlying principles and how it aligns with social, environmental, and governance concerns. Sustainable investing involves the consideration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions to generate long-term value for investors while contributing to a more sustainable society. ESG factors cover a wide range of issues such as climate change mitigation, human rights policies, labor standards, corporate governance practices, among others.
Sustainable Investing: How It Works and Why It Matters is gaining traction among investors who are concerned about the impact their investments have on the world around them. This approach recognizes that companies that operate sustainably are likely to outperform those that do not over the long run. The Future of Investing: Embracing Sustainability implies that we must shift our mindset from short-term profit maximization to long-term value creation by considering the impact our investments have on people and planet. By embracing sustainability in investment decisions today, we can unlock the potential for a better tomorrow.
Evaluating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Factors
Assessing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors is a crucial component of evaluating investment opportunities. ESG metrics have become increasingly important for investors seeking to align their investments with sustainable development goals. These metrics provide a framework for assessing the environmental impact, social responsibility, and corporate governance practices of companies that they are considering investing in.
Investment criteria based on ESG factors can help investors identify companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. Companies that demonstrate strong ESG performance may be more likely to generate long-term value by managing risks related to climate change, resource scarcity, human rights violations, and other issues. Furthermore, these companies may also be better positioned to attract customers who are increasingly concerned about sustainability and social responsibility. By incorporating ESG metrics into their investment decisions, investors can unlock the potential of sustainable investing and drive positive environmental and social outcomes while generating financial returns.
Identifying Sustainable Investment Opportunities
Identifying sustainable investment opportunities involves analyzing companies’ environmental impact, social responsibility, and corporate governance practices to align with sustainable development goals. Green industries are a primary focus of sustainable investing as they promote the reduction of carbon emissions and encourage the use of renewable resources. Some green industries include clean energy production, waste management, and sustainable agriculture. Ethical finance is also an essential aspect of sustainable investing as it ensures that investments do not support activities that harm people or the environment.
To identify sustainable investment opportunities, investors must consider various factors beyond financial performance. They should assess a company’s commitment to environmental sustainability by evaluating its carbon footprint, resource efficiency, and waste management practices. Moreover, investors should evaluate a company’s social responsibility by examining its labor practices, human rights policies, and community engagement initiatives. Finally, corporate governance practices such as board diversity and transparency in decision-making processes can also indicate a company’s commitment to sustainability. By considering these factors when identifying potential investments in green industries or ethical finance sectors can help investors unlock the potential of sustainable investing while contributing to building a more environmentally conscious economy.
Maximizing Returns while Making a Positive Impact on the World
Achieving both financial success and positive social impact is a compelling goal for investors seeking to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world. To achieve this, investors must balance profit and purpose, by incorporating ethical investing strategies that maximize returns while making a positive impact on society. Ethical investing involves selecting companies that align with the investor’s values and beliefs, such as those committed to environmental sustainability or social justice. This can be achieved through screening investments based on certain criteria, such as environmental impact, labor practices, or corporate governance.
Impact driven portfolio management is another strategy used by ethical investors who seek to maximize returns while creating a positive social impact. This approach involves selecting investments based on their potential for generating measurable social or environmental benefits in addition to financial returns. By focusing on companies that have a clear mission towards creating positive change in society, investors can make a significant contribution towards building a more sustainable future while still achieving their investment goals. Ultimately, the key to maximizing returns while making a positive impact lies in identifying high-quality investments that align with one’s values and beliefs and possess strong potential for long-term growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common misconceptions about sustainable investing?
Misunderstood concepts of sustainable investing include the belief that it sacrifices financial returns, but research indicates no trade-off. Impact assessment techniques help investors understand their positive social and environmental impact.
How do political and economic factors affect sustainable investing?
Political intervention and economic indicators can significantly impact sustainable investing. Policies favoring renewable energy can lead to increased investments, while economic downturns may hinder investors’ willingness to prioritize sustainability over short-term profits.
Can sustainable investing be profitable in the short-term as well as long-term?
Sustainable investing can yield short term gains while balancing risk, but it may require a longer investment horizon for maximum returns. Studies suggest that companies with sustainable practices tend to perform better in the long run due to reduced risks and improved reputation.
How do you measure the impact of sustainable investments?
By using environmental metrics such as carbon footprint and biodiversity, and social metrics like employee diversity and labor standards, sustainable investments can be measured for their impact. Such data provides investors with objective information to assess the success of their investments.
What are some challenges and limitations of sustainable investing?
Investment risks and ethical considerations are major challenges and limitations of sustainable investing. Companies may not always uphold their sustainability commitments, leading to reputational damage and financial losses. Additionally, the lack of standardization in sustainable investing makes it difficult to assess performance accurately.
Sustainable investing is gaining popularity among investors who want to make a positive impact on the world while maximizing returns. By evaluating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, investors can identify opportunities that align with their values and beliefs. Sustainable investing also has various benefits including reduced risk, improved brand reputation, and increased profitability in the long-term.
According to a report by Morningstar, sustainable funds have outperformed their traditional counterparts during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first quarter of 2020 alone, 70% of sustainable funds ranked in the top half of their respective categories. This statistic emphasizes that sustainable investing is not just about doing good but also about achieving financial success. Investors who prioritize sustainability can benefit from both positive impact and strong returns.
In conclusion, sustainable investing is an effective way to unlock potential for both profit and impact. By evaluating ESG factors and identifying sustainable investment opportunities, investors can maximize returns while making a positive difference in the world. The statistics show that sustainable investing is not just a moral choice but also a wise financial decision that can drive success in today’s market. As more people become aware of this opportunity to invest sustainably, we may see an increase in demand for responsible investments that benefit society as well as profits.


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Thiopentone versus propofol-anaesthetic of choice in patients undergoing modified electroconvulsive therapy
Keywords:Anaesthetics, Electroconvulsive therapy, Intravenous, Propofol, Prospective studies, Thiopentone
Background: The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment modality has increased over the recent years. This is largely due to the use of general anaesthetics, which reduces the physical and psychological trauma associated with the procedure. We attempted to compare the hemodynamic variations and recovery characteristics, along with their effect on seizure quality in patients induced with Thiopentone /Propofol, for Modified ECT.
Methods: This was a prospective, randomised controlled study, involving 80 patients. Patients in group 1 received Thiopentone 5 mg/kg, while patients in group 2 received Propofol 1 mg/kg. The hemodynamic status and recovery status were monitored in both the groups for the first thirty minutes. Seizural duration were also recorded. Data was analysed using Students t-test and Pearson Chi-square test.
Results: The induction time as well as recovery time was found to be significantly lesser (p <0.05) in the propofol group. The hemodynamic response to was blunted and returned to baseline levels within 10-15 minutes after ECT in the propofol group, whereas it persisted even after 30 minutes in the thiopentone group. There was however, no significant difference in the duration of the seizural activity(p> 0.05).Conclusions: The quick and smooth induction, transient changes in hemodynamics, rapid recovery profile and minimal effects on the seizure quality altogether makes Propofol the preferred anaesthetic agent in Modified ECT.
Task Force on Electroconvulsive therapy: Recommendations for treatment, training and privileging - Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2001.
Cerletti U, Bini L. Electroshock article. Acad Med. 1938;64:136.
Chanpattana W. The origins of electroconvulsive therapy. J Psychiatr Assoc Thailand. 2000;45:371-80.
Shah PJ, Dubey KP, Watti C, Lalwani J. Effectiveness of thiopentone, propofol and midazolam as an ideal intravenous anaesthetic agent for modified electroconvulsive therapy: A comparative study. Indian J Anaesth. 2010;54(4):296-301.
Office of Mental Health. Electroconvulsive therapy: Clinical indications. New York state, 2007
Chittaranjan A, Shah N, Tharyan P, Reddy MS, Thirunavukarasu M, Kallivayalil RA, Nagpal R, Bohra NK, Sharma A, Mohandas E. Position statement and guidelines on unmodified ECT. Indian J Psychiatry. 2012;54(2):119-33.
Rao SS, Daly JW, Sewell DD. Falls associated with ECT among the geriatric population-a case report. JECT. 2008;24:173-5.
Arya A, Singh M, Gurwara AK. A comparison of thiopentone sodium, propofol and midazolam for electroconvulsive therapy. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2008;24:291-4.
Omprakash TM, Ali MI, Anand B, Devi MG, Surender P. Comparison of thiopentone sodium and propofol in ECT anaesthesia. Indian J Psycho Med. 2008;30:48-50.
Hoyer C, Kranaster L, Janke C, Sartorius A. Impact of the anaesthetic agents ketamine, etomidate, thiopental and propofol on seizure parameters and seizure quality in electroconvulsive therapy: a retrospective study. European Archives Psychiatry Clinical Neuroscience. 2014;264(3):255.
Bolaji B, Omosofe F, Kolawole I, Makanjuola A. Comparative Effects of the haemodynamic responses of modified versus unmodified electroconvulsive therapy in Nigerians. Internet J Anaesthesiology. 2012;30(3):4169.

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With the third Grand Slam of the tennis season getting underway in South West London this week, Wimbledon and the upcoming US Open provide Novak Djokovic with the opportunity to become the first man in the history of the men’s game to win a calendar Grand Slam. The Serbian world number one has achieved success at the Australian Open and French Open so far in 2016, and will be looking to write himself into the record books with further victories this summer.
Djokovic is seeded one for Wimbledon, and as he hunts for his fourth title on the grass in London, the Serbian still believes that there is room for improvement in his game. This will certainly be ominous news for his closest rivals, with bookmakers Coral offering Djokovic as the favourite over the next two weeks with tennis betting odds of 8/11 Of course, we cannot talk about Wimbledon without mentioning home favourite and 2013 winner Andy Murray. With another day, another Murray story makes the headlines, and the Scot heads to Wimbledon having achieved the perfect preparation with another title at Queens, under his new coach for the second time, Ivan Lendl. Murray is the 5/2 second favourite with Coral, with Roger Federer and Milos Raonic at 11/1 and 12/1 respectively to upset the world’s current top two.
Meanwhile, August sees the return to action of the US Open at Flushing Meadows, with the world’s best players battling it out under the lights in New York. Djokovic will be looking to defend his title from last year, and with it possibly achieve the calendar Grand Slam. As a result, Coral offer Djokovic tennis betting odds of 10/11, with Murray once again the second favourite at 4/1. With Rafa Nadal missing Wimbledon due to injury, the Spaniard will be hoping to recover in time to take part in New York, where he is currently 16/1 with Coral to win his third US Open title.
Having failed to win a Grand Slam title since 2012, Federer will be looking to hit back in the best way possible at critics who have written off the 34-year-old over recent years. The Swiss maestro certainly loves the grass of Wimbledon, and it will take a brave man to bet against the seven-time champion reaching the latter stages once again this year.

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Lifestyle Portraits & Family Portraits
Until my own daughter was born, I don’t think that I truly appreciated how fast Children grow up. One minute they are crawling around, the next they are up to their ears in all sorts of mischief. It’s great to capture it all on phones. My phone is always telling me there’s no memory left because it’s full of photographs. How many do we actually look at, again and again though? Really look at, like we would look at framed and printed family portraits?
I always try to shoot Lifestyle Portraits and Family Portraits outdoors. If possible, I’d like to shoot them somewhere that means a lot to you. If you are thinking about a family or lifestyle portrait, have a think about when and where. The season in which you’d like to be photographed is important, because that will have an impact on your backdrop, as well as the location. Would you prefer an urban setting, or a rural one, perhaps a woodland?
It’s really important to me to capture the essence and spirit & dynamic of the couples, families, children, friends or pets in the portraits. That’s why I like to allow around two hours for the shoot. I’m not big on watching the clock though, so however long it takes to get what we need is fine by me. No need to rush.
There’s plenty of beautiful space around us so we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to locations. I’d be more than happy to suggest one for you, but I’m flexible and open to all ideas. So, if you’ve got an idea for something a bit different, drop me an email and we’ll take it from there.
Lifestyle / Family Portrait Packages and Prices
The booking fee for Portraits is £75.00 with the following options for how you’d like your photographs:
- Digital Package – 10 Hi Res Image Files with unlimited licence to print and share: +£75.00
- Print Package – Three 8×10” Prints + Three 5×7” Prints: +£75.00
- Full Package – Both Digital & Print Packages as detailed above: +£135.00
- Custom Prints – contact me for an individual price for larger prints
What Next ?
It might take a while for you to look through everything in the portfolio. Once you’ve been through it all though, if you’d like to get in touch to talk a little bit more about a lifestyle or family portrait shoot, you can use the contact link above. ?

domain: artistic


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This essay has a total of 1944 words and 8 pages.
Stephen Edwin King is one of today's most popular and best selling writers. King combines the elements of psychological thrillers, science fiction, the paranormal, and detective themes into his stories. In addition to these themes, King sticks to using great and vivid detail that is set in a realistic everyday place. Stephen King who is mainly known for his novels, has broadened his horizons to different types of writings such as movie scripts, nonfiction, autobiographies, children's books, and short stories. King's works are so powerful because he uses his experience and observations from his everyday life gives them his unique twist
Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine, on September 21, 1947, at the Maine General Hospital. Stephen, his mother Nellie, and his adopted brother David were left to fend for themselves when Stephen's father Donald, a Merchant Marine captain, left one day, to go the store to buy a pack of cigarettes, and never returned. His fathers leaving had a big indirect impact on King's life. In the autobiographical work Danse Macabre, Stephen King recalls how his family life was altered: "After my father took off, my mother, struggled, and then landed on her feet. My brother and I didn't see a great deal of her over the next nine years. She worked a succession of continuous low paying jobs." While young, Stephen King and his family moved around the North Eastern and Central United States. When he was seven years old, they moved to Stratford, Connecticut. Here is where King got his first exposure to horror.
One evening he listened to the radio adaptation of Ray Bradbury's story "Mars Is Heaven!" That night King recalls he "slept in the doorway, where the real and rational light of the bathroom bulb could shine on my face" (Beaham 16). Stephen King's exposure to oral storytelling on the radio had a large impact on his later writings. King tells his stories in visual terms so that the reader would be able to "see" what was happening in their own mind, somewhat in the same fashion the way it was done on the radio. King's fascination with horror early on continued and was pushed along only a couple weeks after Bradbury's story. One day little Stephen was looking through his mother's books and came across one named "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." After his mother finished reading the book to him, Stephen was hooked. He immediately asked her to read it again. King recalls "that summer when I was seven, [my mother] must have read it to me half a dozen times"(Beaham 17). Ironically that same year, while Stephen was still seven years old, he went to go see his first horror movie, The Creature from the Black Lagoon. This is important because Stephen says, " Since [the movie], I still see things cinematically. I write down everything I see. What I see, it seems like a movie to me"(Beaham 17). It was during this year the biggest event that probably had the biggest impact on Stephen King's writing style was the discovery of the author H. P. Lovecraft. King would later write of Lovecraft, "He struck with the most force, and I still think, for all his shortcomings, he is the best writer of horror fiction that America has yet produced"(Beaham 22). In many of Lovecraft's writings, he always used his present surroundings as the back drop of his stories. King has followed in his footsteps with the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. Castle Rock is a combination of several towns that King moved to and from with his family in his childhood. The main town that it resembles is that of Durham, Maine. It was after the exposure to H. P. Lovecraft's stories that King first began to write. While growing up and moving around the way his family did, King had never been able to “feel comfortable and settle down in one place and make friends they way other kids his age did” (Underwood 77).
Around the age of twelve, the King family finally settled in the town of Durham, Maine. For King, Durham was the place where his imagination began to shine. It was at this time that King first began to make friends. Along with his friends, King would go the movies a lot. King would use the movies as an inspiration. Although he enjoyed going out and having fun, whenever he would come home, King would immediately write down his experiences and observations. Frequently King would place his friends and family into childhood fantasy tales. “One would always know how Stephen felt about them because of how long they lived in the story.”(Underwood 36)
It was not until college that Stephen King received any kind of real recognition for his writing. In the fall of 1967 King finished his first novel, The Long Walk, and turned it into his sophomore American Literature professor for review. After a couple of weeks and a couple rounds around the department, the English professors were stunned. They realized that they had a real writer on their hands. From then until he graduated with a bachelors degree in English from University of Maine at Orono in the Spring of 1970, King concentrated on rounding off the edges of his writing technique.
One short story that best shows the type and technique of Stephen King's writing is "The Body." "The Body", which has been adapted into to a Hollywood movie, was first published in the collection of short stories called Different Seasons. The story is a tale of four twelve year old friends who at the end of one summer go out on a journey in into the woods to see a dead body. While on their journey they learn abo
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ENGINEERING/ Factory Equipment
With the data supplied by our customers, begin the design stage, using the latest generation software is designed and verified to build structures, and link to optimize the design to production through the use of software packages such as:
- • Computer Aided Engineering
- • Computer Aided Design
- • Computer Aided Manufactiring
This technology allows structures with high quality standards, reduce time-related complexities of mounting occasional work, reducing the direct and indirect costs and improving yields in various stages of the project, allowing a better and broader control of them.


Yuting Class Type 072-II Large Landing Ship of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Navy (PLAN). Many more linked sets available from ES3DStudios in a range of formats. Click 'ES3DStudios' for full range. Complete PLAN surface action group is also available.
Texture Res: 13 diffuse textures - 2 x 1024 x 512, others 256 square. Please note, textures are included only in the Max zip (download this file whatever format you require).
The Type 072-II Yuting class is similar to the Type 072 Yukan class, featuring a destroyer style bow for high-speed cruise. Troops and vehicles can be loaded/unloaded via the bow ramp. The stern gate can be flooded to allow fast unloading of amphibious vehicles and air cushioned landing crafts directly into the water. The enlarged vehicle deck provides a large floor area of 810 square metres. A helicopter flight deck is added to the ship stern, capable of supporting a Z-8/SA 321-sized medium helicopter.
The first batch of the Type 072-II were armed with two manually-operated Type 76 dual-37mm/63-calibre AAA guns (rate 400rds/min, range 9.4km) in front of the bridge, and a manually-operated Type 66 dual-57mm/70-calibre AAA gun (rate: 120rds/min; range 12km) on the front-end of the bow deck. On later batch these were replaced by three Type 76F dual-37mm AAA guns (manual or automatic, rate 180rds/min; range 8.5km). Additional air defence is provided using man-portable air defence missile systems (MANPADS).
Some hulls were temporarily installed with two Type 81H 40-tube 122mm multiple rocket launcher (MRL), which was derived from the Type 81 MRL deployed by the PLA ground forces. The weapon can be used to provide firepower for the suppress of enemy shore defence.
The ship is fitted with a surface search radar and a Type 756 navigation radar. Some hulls are also fitted with JPT-4G fire-control radar for the targeting of the Type 76F dual-37 mm AAA.
The vessel is fitted with a stern helicopter deck, capable of supporting a medium-size helicopter such as Z-8/Sa 321 Super Frelon. This allows the Type 072-II to launch vertical landing by ferrying marines using helicopters to behind the enemy line. No helicopter hanger is provided.
The ship's propulsion is provided by two 12PA6V-280MPC diesels rated at 9,600hp. There are two shafts driving two fixed-pitch propellers, giving a max speed of 17 to 18 knots.


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GHHN'S 3rd Annual Membership
Appreciation Boat Cruise is NEXT FRIDAY- Have you registered yet?
Please join us for a scenic sunset cruise on the Hudson River on Friday, June 13th. The boat departs from West Point's South Dock at 6:00 PM (Boarding begins at 5:30 PM). The event is FREE! This is our way of saying "Thank You" for all your support of GHHN. Do you know of a fellow heritage devotee who is not a member of GHHN? Bring them along as your guest and introduce them to other like-minded history enthusiasts. The boat cruise is a private event for GHHN members (and their guests) and light hors d'oeuvers and Hudson Valley wines will be served. Boat seating is limited, so register now!
Thank you to our hostsThe West Point Museum for their generous hospitality!
Let's Talk About...Access and Use of Primary Sources
June 17, 2014
Rockland County Archives
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Imagine this scenario...You are part of an organization that has a wonderful archival collection. You'd love for researchers, students and members of your community to come in and use the collection. Problem is, no one seems to know about it. Sound familiar? This an all too common phenomenon. Not only do we want to hold our collections safe, but we also need to make efforts to reach out to and inform the public about the importance and usefulness of the historical records. In order to increase the use and awareness of your collections, it is important to develop programs and services which inform the public about the treasures you hold! Please join us on Tuesday, June 17 as DHP Regional Coordinator/Archivist Kerry Sclafani discusses the challenges of access and use of primary sources. The session will feature group activities designed to help you think about the access you are providing to your collections as well as new and different ways for you and your patrons to use the primary sources you hold.
We hope to see you there!
Furry Fuzzy Creepy Crawlies- Pest Management at Your Institution
June 24, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Presented by Donia Conn
Mold, insects, and rodents cause considerable damage to museum, library, and archival collections. Unfortunately, infestations are not usually limited to one collection type, but can spread... to textiles, leather, paper, photographs, baskets, furs, and wooden objects. Often, collection storage environments are the culprit, but infestations can also be introduced with new acquisitions or from materials on exhibit. Attendees will learn how to identify a range of common insect and rodent pests; how to identify active and inactive mold; and how to prevent and respond to infestations on a small budget.
About the Presenter
Donia Conn is an independent consultant for small and mid-sized cultural heritage institutions. She has worked in the fields of conservation and preservation for almost 20 years, specializing in book conservation and preservation training. She teaches and consults on the full spectrum of collections care topics and is an adjunct faculty for the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science teaching Preservation Management and Collection Maintenance. Donia is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC).
Need collection care assistance?
We'll come to you! For FREE!
What is a circuit rider? Historically, the term referred to clergy who traveled to minister to settlers and congregations.
Our "Circuit Riders" are a team of statewide trained professionals in the field of collection management and conservation - who will come to you! The site visits are available to historic houses, museums, historic sites, historical societies, libraries, and archives. Circuit Riders will discuss various areas of stewardship with you, and help identify your specific collections issues including but not limited to:
* Collection Policy & Procedures
* Disaster Preparedness Plans
* Environmental Controls & Monitors
* Storage Solutions
* Any other issues regarding Books & Paper, Photographs, Ceramics, Metal & Wooden tools, Archaeological & Ethnographic Artifacts, Furniture, Paintings, Decorative Arts, and Textiles.
Best of all, the service is completely FREE! Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity!
Apply today at
Questions? Call 914.592.6726 or email [email protected]
35th Conference on
New York State History
The 35th Conference on New York State History will take place on
and will be hosted by Marist College in Poughkeepsie.
The Conference on New York State History is an annual meeting of academic and public historians, librarians and archivists, educators, publishers, and other interested individuals who come together to discuss topics and issues related to the people of New York State in historical perspective and to share information and ideas regarding historical research, programming, and the networking of resources and services.
Please visit here to register for the conference, and to add meals, lodging and additional workshops. The full conference program and details can be found here. We'll see you there!
The New York State Archives announces its twenty-fourth annual Student Research Awards program to promote and recognize excellence in student research. The main purpose of the awards program is to encourage students to explore the wealth of historical records held in historical records repositories* in New York State. A secondary purpose is to increase cooperation between schools and organizations that administer historical records useful for education.
Students, working individually or in groups, develop projects such as research papers, papers reconstructing the past, exhibits, documentaries, performances, PowerPoint/Prezi entries, websites, or proposals for the designation of a historical marker, property or district. The Student Research Awards program is a statewide competition open to all New York State students in grades 4-12.For more information, please click here Entries must be postmarked no later than July 1, 2014.
|NYCH Grants Workshop
Nonprofits and artists in New York City are invited to learn more about state and city support for Arts & Cultural activities. Any organization, or individual coordinating cultural programming is invited, including museums, libraries, historical societies, artists & performing arts groups, filmmakers, community organizations and colleges & universities.
Bring your questions and proposal ideas for this interactive event.
Astoria Grants Workshop:
Tuesday June 17, 2014
9 - 11:30 a.m.
Queens Public Library, Steinway Branch
21-45 31st St, Astoria, NY 11105
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
New York Foundation for the Arts
New York State Council on the Arts
New York Council for the Humanities
Questions? Please contact the New York Council for the Humanities at [email protected]
NYCON's Efforts Makes a Difference and a Win for Nonprofits
Some good news is coming from the NYS Grants Gateway Team. As many of you know, the Nonprofit Revitalization Act requires many nonprofits to change bylaws and certain documents, including many of those required by the "Gateway" in order to obtain "prequalified" status. In the past, when these documents were changed or the document vault was even "opened," nonprofits would automatically lose their "prequalified" status - potentially denying them the ability to apply for new grants or renew existing contracts. Thus the problem - virtually every nonprofit that receives a grant from the State would need to resubmit documents and then lose, for an unknown period of time, their prequalification status.
NYCON and NYCON members were the first ones to identify this problem and we brought the issue to the legislature and the Governor's Office. Yesterday the Gateway Team announced that effective July 1st, the requirement that nonprofit grantees be prequalified on the due-date for applications is suspended for 90 days. The suspension of the enforcement of prequalification will allow nonprofit grantees time to adopt new policies and adjust to the new filing requirements, while still being eligible for State grant funding.
This is a temporary solution - one for which we are thankful to the Executive Branch. We cannot stop here, however, as the structural problem with Gateway remains and there is no guarantee that the State will approve submitted documents within the 90 day period. For a long term solution, legislation has been introduced, at NYCON's urging, to permanently fix the Gateway System by holding all nonprofits harmless for simply updating documents.
We remain hopeful that Gateway Bills S. 7340 / A. 9599 will pass this session and be signed by the Governor as will Bills S. 7341 / A. 9600 to reasonably delay to March 1, 2015 the implementation of the Nonprofit Revitalization Act.
This change is proof that our voices do make a difference and we greatly thank our members for making sure they are heard!
To read more about the Nonprofit Revitalization Act, which becomes law July 1, 2014, please click here
. Please be aware that this law affects ALL nonprofits in the state, no matter the size.
GHHN IS CONNECTING YOU TO NEW YORK'S COLLECTIONS
WEBINAR SERIES FOUR:
Preservation of Digital Collections
Our next webinar is on 7/7!
This webinar series is based upon the Library of Congress Digital Preservation Outreach and Education (DPOE) program which aims to foster national outreach and education to encourage individuals and organizations to actively preserve their digital content. The multi-part webinar series will focus on how to collect, preserve, and make available significant at-risk digital contents. All webinars in this series will be taught by Mary Molinaro, Associate Dean for Library Technologies, University of Kentucky Libraries.
All Webinars Only $10 Each!
Webinar 4B: Monday, July 7, 2014
Storing and Protecting Digital Content
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Webinar 4C: Monday, August 11, 2014
Managing and Providing Access to Digital Content
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Can't make the live webinar? Missed the first webinar in the series (June 2 on Identifying and Selecting Digital Content) Not a problem! Give us a call! All our webinars are recorded - after the live webinar, all participants receive a link to the recording of the webinar - so you can watch it whenever you'd like!
Each webinar is only $10!
A priceless investment in caring for your collection...
Got Weekend Plans?
Over 370 Events Have Been Submitted for Path Through History Weekends!
Path Through History Weekends
- comprised of events which are heritage and cultural celebrations and special
programming that promote the unique history of our State - will be held this year on
Whether you are attending an event or hosting one, we encourage you to get social with Path Through History Weekends and
I LOVE NY! Here's what you need to know:
Twitter/Instagram: use #ISpyNY in addition to your own event/organization hashtags
We appreciate your partnership as we work together to showcase New York's unparalleled history. Path Through History Weekends would not be possible without the efforts of countless organizations throughout the State working hard to deliver programming that helps connect people to New York's history. To learn more about Path Through History Weekends, please click here.
Questions? Email us at
|GHHN Membership application/renewal is
Don't miss out on exciting GHHN/DHP programs-- renew or become a member today!
Bring a NYCH reading and
discussion program to your community!
Open to any tax-exempt organization in New York State, New York Council for the Humanities' Adult Reading & Discussion Programs and Grants bring together community members for a series of thematically-linked text-based conversations about important humanities ideas and themes.
Your organization chooses a theme, decides how many sessions to hold, and finds a local scholar to facilitate the discussions. After you're awarded the program, you then select the texts from our themed book lists that work best for your organization. Applications are due Friday, June 13. To learn more about this program, please click here.
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2014 Dutchess Heritage Days History Fair and Civil War Reenactment
Join history organizations from across Dutchess County and the members of the recreated 150th Regiment of New York Volunteers (the Dutchess County Regiment) to celebrate three centuries of Dutchess history at Tymor Park!
Historical Societies, sites, and preservation groups will offer displays with information on local history and history-themed outings in Tymor Park's main building. Reenactors of the Dutchess County Regiment and other organizations will have a Civil War camp set-up in the adjacent field, with on-going demonstrations of military drill, artillery, and camp life, punctuated with skirmishes each afternoon at 2:30 pm.
The Dutchess Antislavery Singers will perform on Saturday, while additional presentations will explore civilian aid societies such as the United States Sanitary Commission (which laid the groundwork for the USO), the experiences of women in the Civil War, and medicine before the discovery of germs. Candlelight tours of military camps will provide a special opportunity to engage with living history.
The event is open from 10 AM-5 PM on Saturday and 10 AM-4 PM on Sunday, completely free of charge to the public. These programs are sponsored by Dutchess County and the Town of Union Vale.
Tymor Park is located at 8 Tymor Park Road, LaGrangeville, NY.
Download a complete schedule of events here (.pdf)
Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society Walk & Talk
A New Carl Oechsner Walk & Talk
"Secret Tour" of the Old Croton Aqueduct Weir Chamber
Sunday, June 22, 2014 at 2:00 PM
Wear your walking shoes and meet at the Ossining Community Center at 95 Broadway (Ossining Village Center). This event is free, but space is limited and reservations are required. Please call us at 914.941.4393 or email us at [email protected]
to reserve your place.
Deadline Extended to June 9th!
RFP - Uncommon Approaches to the Common Core Conference
The second Uncommon Approaches to the Common Core conference will be held in Albany on August 12 - August 13.
You are invited to submit a proposal for an interactive lab in one of six curriculum areas: The Arts, English Language Arts, Math, Science, Language other than English (LOTE), or Social Studies. Lessons or curriculum used during the lab must be aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards and must demonstrate inquiry through the use of primary sources and/or other cultural resources, such as historic objects, multimedia objects, maps, works of art, or natural resources such as plants, soil or rocks. The presentation team must consist of two or more people, each from one of the following professions; a classroom teacher, a librarian, a teaching artist, or a cultural educator (an educator from a museum, archive or records repository, public media, historic site, nature center, zoo, performing arts center, or other cultural organization) and must demonstrate mastery in the area of inquiry-based learning. Your team members should come from different professions.
SAVE THE DATE!
September 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28

domain: library


text:
Hola! Shepard Family members and friends,
Greetings from Madrid, Spain, where Cindy and I woke up this morning on this last Saturday of summer. Tomorrow begins the first official day of fall, but you would never know it from the warm Spanish weather we are having.
I am including a couple of family pictures. The first one is another of the pictures I recently received from Dane that was found in his father's photo archives. It shows a stern but well dressed Bura Davis Shepard with her youngest child Thelma Shepard (now Boyd). Dane tells me this picture was taken in 1941, behind Will and Bura's rented home on Granada Street in San Diego. That would put it within about a year of the time the family moved there in 1940 from Two Buttes, Colorado. That move began the presence of our family in San Diego, a presence that continues to this day.
Will and Bura's first three children, Pauline, Elmer and Eugene, were born in 1916, 1918, and 1921, but it was not until about 15 years later that Thelma was born. When the family moved to San Diego, Pauline was already married to Bill Russell and together they had two children, Rex and Beverly. At the time of the move, Elmer and Eugene were in the service in WWII, or would be shortly, but Thelma was just a child of 4. She had actually been born back in Two Buttes just 2 weeks before her nephew Rex Russell, an interesting phenomenon that often came up in family conversations when I was young.
The other picture I am including was taken earlier this summer and shows a proud Maida Shepard with three of her grandchildren, the children of Darrell and Mary Shepard -- Christopher, Rachel and Patrick. All three live with their folks in Bothell, Washington. Donations to the Patrick Shepard clothing fund will be gladly accepted! (Do I sound like old school, or what?)
I mailed to a couple of you a CD that had on it the presentation that was made at the family reunion back in July, plus many more other family pictures. Some others of you may have asked me to send you a copy, but I am sorry to say I do not remember who. So if you would like a copy of that CD and have not received one, please let me know. I will be glad to send you one. Be sure to send me your physical address as well.

domain: history


text:
FUNDAMENTO: O tratamento da fibrilação atrial com dispositivo de ablação de tecidos por radiofrequência bipolar em concomitância à cirurgia cardíaca tem se mostrado método eficaz no tratamento desta arritmia. OBJETIVO: Descrever a experiência inicial do Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia no tratamento cirúrgico da fibrilação atrial com uso de dispositivo de radiofrequência bipolar em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca, relatando o resultado de acompanhamento pós-operatório de um ano. MÉTODOS: Entre janeiro de 2008 e março de 2009, 47 pacientes (36 mulheres) consecutivos, com idade média de 53,7 ± 10,6 anos, apresentando fibrilação atrial por um período médio de 34,6 meses (3 a 192 meses) foram submetidos à ablação cirúrgica desta arritmia, por radiofrequência bipolar, durante o procedimento que motivou a indicação da cirurgia. Oito apresentavam fibrilação atrial intermitente e 39, contínua. Oitenta e um por cento foram submetidos à cirurgia valvar como procedimento principal. Esta é uma análise retrospectiva, observacional, com avaliação de um ano de pós-operatório das variáveis clínicas e de Holter 24 h. RESULTADOS: Dos 47 pacientes, 40 sobreviveram um ano. Desses, 33 foram submetidos a Holter 24 h, em um intervalo médio de 401 dias após a cirurgia. Encontrou-se a seguinte distribuição de ritmos: 24 (73%) sinusal, 5 (15%) fibrilação atrial, três (9%) Flutter atrial e um (3%) ritmo juncional. Foram observados dois acidentes vasculares encefálicos, sendo um associado à arritmia supraventricular. CONCLUSÃO: A ablação cirúrgica de fibrilação atrial com dispositivo de radiofrequência bipolar concomitante à cirurgia cardíaca é método eficaz para o tratamento desta arritmia.
Flutter atrial; fibrilação atrial; técnicas de ablação; arritmias cardíacas; cirurgia torácica
FUNDAMENTO: El tratamiento de la fibrilación atrial con dispositivo de ablación de tejidos por radiofrecuencia bipolar en concomitancia con la cirugía cardíaca se muestra un método eficaz en el tratamiento de esta arritmia. OBJETIVO: Describir la experiencia inicial del Instituto Nacional de Cardiología en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la fibrilación atrial con uso de dispositivo de radiofrecuencia bipolar en pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardíaca, relatando el resultado de seguimiento postoperatorio de un año. MÉTODOS: Entre enero de 2008 y marzo de 2009, 47 pacientes (36 mujeres) consecutivos, con edad promedio de 53,7 ± 10,6 años, presentando fibrilación atrial por un período promedio de 34,6 meses (3 a 192 meses) fueron sometidos a ablación quirúrgica de esta arritmia, por radiofrecuencia bipolar, durante el procedimiento que motivó la indicación de la cirugía. Ocho presentaban fibrilación atrial intermitente y 39, continua. El 81% fue sometido a cirugía valvular como procedimiento principal. Éste es un análisis retrospectivo, observacional, con evaluación de un año de postoperatorio de las variables clínicas y de Holter 24 h. RESULTADOS: De los 47 pacientes, 40 sobrevivieron un año. De ellos, 33 fueron sometidos a Holter 24 h, en un intervalo promedio de 401 días después de la cirugía. Se encontró la siguiente distribución de ritmos: 24 (73%) sinusal, 5 (15%) fibrilación atrial, tres (9%) flutter atrial y un (3%) ritmo de la unión. Se observaron dos accidentes vasculares encefálicos, siendo uno asociado a la arritmia supraventricular. CONCLUSIÓN: La ablación quirúrgica de fibrilación atrial con dispositivo de radiofrecuencia bipolar concomitante a la cirugía cardíaca es método eficaz para el tratamiento de esta arritmia.
Flutter atrial; fibrilación atrial; técnicas de ablación; arritmias cardíacas; cirugía torácica
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation with tissue ablation device through bipolar radiofrequency in conjunction with cardiac surgery has proven to be an effective method to treat this arrhythmia. OBJECTIVE: Describe the initial experience of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation using bipolar radiofrequency device in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, reporting the results of postoperative follow-up of one year. METHODS: Between January 2008 and March 2009, 47 consecutive patients (36 women), with mean age of 53.7 ± 10.6 years, with atrial fibrillation for a mean period of 34.6 months (3-192 months) underwent surgical ablation of this arrhythmia, through bipolar radiofrequency during the procedure which led to the indication of surgery. Eight of them showed intermittent atrial fibrillation and 39, continued. Eighty-one percent underwent valve surgery as the main procedure. This is a one-year postoperative retrospective, observational evaluation of clinical variables and 24-h Holter. RESULTS: Out of the 47 patients, 40 survived one year. Out of these, 33 underwent 24 h Holter, at an average interval of 401 days after the surgery. The following rhythm distribution was found: 24 (73.0%) sinus, five (15.0%) atrial fibrillation, three (9.0%) atrial Flutter and one (3.0%) junctional rhythm. Two cerebrovascular accidents were observed, one of which was associated with supraventricular arrhythmia. CONCLUSION: Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation with bipolar radiofrequency device concomitant with cardiac surgery is an effective method for treating this arrhythmia.
Atrial Flutter; atrial fibrillation; ablation techniques; arrhythmias,cardiac; thoracic surgery
Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Brazil
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation with tissue ablation device through bipolar radiofrequency in conjunction with cardiac surgery has proven to be an effective method to treat this arrhythmia.
OBJECTIVE: Describe the initial experience of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation using bipolar radiofrequency device in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, reporting the results of postoperative follow-up of one year.
METHODS: Between January 2008 and March 2009, 47 consecutive patients (36 women), with mean age of 53.7 ± 10.6 years, with atrial fibrillation for a mean period of 34.6 months (3-192 months) underwent surgical ablation of this arrhythmia, through bipolar radiofrequency during the procedure which led to the indication of surgery. Eight of them showed intermittent atrial fibrillation and 39, continued. Eighty-one percent underwent valve surgery as the main procedure. This is a one-year postoperative retrospective, observational evaluation of clinical variables and 24-h Holter.
RESULTS: Out of the 47 patients, 40 survived one year. Out of these, 33 underwent 24 h Holter, at an average interval of 401 days after the surgery. The following rhythm distribution was found: 24 (73%) sinus, five (15%) atrial fibrillation, three (9%) atrial flutter and one (3%) junctional rhythm. Two cerebrovascular accidents were observed, one of which was associated with supraventricular arrhythmia.
CONCLUSION: Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation with bipolar radiofrequency device concomitant with cardiac surgery is an effective method for treating this arrhythmia.
Keywords: Atrial flutter; atrial fibrillation; ablation techniques; arrhythmias,cardiac; thoracic surgery.
The tissue ablation by bipolar radiofrequency has been established as an effective methods for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) during cardiac surgery1. Although the Cox-Maze III surgerywith cutting and suturing technique delivers excellent short and long term results2 both in reversion for sinus rhythm and in preventing thromboembolic events3, its complexity and demand for a longer surgery discouraged many surgeons to use it routinely. In our environment, the feasibility and effectiveness of the Cox Maze III have been demonstrated by Kalil et al4 and Canale et al5. Aiming to simplify the procedure, several alternative forms of energy for tissue ablation resulting in bidirectional electrical conduction block were studied to recreate the original lesions of the Cox-Maze III1. The bipolar radiofrequency device AtricureTM enables the creation of fast and safe tissue lesions covering the entire atrial wall thickness6.
The purpose of this paper is to describe the initial experience of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia (INC) in treating atrial fibrillation during cardiac surgery with tissue ablation device by bipolar radiofrequency Atricure® and clinical evaluation and 24-hour ambulatory Holter one year postoperatively (PO).
Methods and patients
Between January 2008 and March 2009, 47 patients referred for cardiac surgery and atrial fibrillation associated underwent, with the main procedure, AF ablation with tissue ablation device by bipolar radiofrequency (RFB) AtricureTM. This is one of the alternative energy options available in the Brazilian market.
RFB ablation uses alternating power current to heat the tissue, creating thermal lesion and resulting conduction block line7. The electrodes are located in the jaws of the instrument that consists in a a forceps, and each lesion should be made three times to ensure that the lesion is transmural8. The theoretical advantages over the unipolar RF include increased security on the dispersion of energy, creating continuous lesions and ability to assess whether the lesion has reached the entire thickness of the atrial wall through the feedback system of the forceps console6,7.
It is a retrospective observational study with evaluation of patients, records and complementary tests, whose variables of interest investigated are in accordance with the guidelines on research of patients undergoing surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation9. The following variables were evaluated: age, type of AF, AF time reported prior to surgery, prior ablative procedures, presence of pacemaker (PM), cardiac diagnostic motivating indication for surgery, left atrial size, left ventricular ejection fraction, surgical procedure performed, set of lesions for AF treatment performed.
Patients were followed postoperatively with outpatient visits scheduled for one, three, 6 and 12 months after the operation. In these visits, patients were evaluated by an non-blind expert for the treatment of AF on the use of medications, cardiac rhythm, thromboembolic events, any percutaneous ablations performed postoperatively and reoperations. Three-channel Holter monitoring was requested from 04 months and was also assessed by a non-blind expert for the treatment of AF. The failure criterion used is of any therapeutic tachyarrhythmia with total length greater than 30 s in 24 h.
The study was evaluated and approved on February 02, 2010 by the Research Ethics Committee of the INC under number 0257.
Out of the 47 patients, 36 were women (76%) and average age is 53.7 ± 10.6 years. The average reported AF time was 34.6 months (three to 192 months). The type of AF presented was: paroxysmal: 08; persistent: 05; and permanent: 34 (Figure 1). The left atrium had an average size of 54 ± 10.7 mm and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was: 58.6% ± 13.4%. Two patients had previous pacemaker, and none had been submitted to previous ablation of any arrhythmia. Three patients had a history of cerebrovascular accident. The event observed was related to AF in three patients. At surgery, one patient showed complete resolution of neurological sequelae and two remained with motor and speaking skills. See Table 1.
Most primary indications that have led these patients to surgical intervention were related to valve disease (81%). See Figure 2.
Description of lines of lesions for AF ablation
1) Isolation of pulmonary veins - Pulmonary vein isolation was performed by involving the right and left pulmonary veins in pairs epicardially (passing one of the electrodes of the ablation device beyond and the other below the pulmonary veins) during cardiac decompression with cardiopulmonary bypass, and therefore, with the patient heparinized, with the convexity of the device facing the left atrium in order to spare the pulmonary vein ostia. Before the main cardiac procedure, at least three periods of energy are applied until the buzzer of the occurrence of transmural lesion at the same point.
2) Left atrial connection lines - The connection lines between the pairs of the right and left pulmonary veins were made after opening the left atrium by placing one of the electrodes outside the LA posterior wall (epicardium) and another through inside (endocardium) such that the ablation lines, performed prior to the isolation of the pulmonary veins, were connected above and/or under. This procedure was performed during the primary cardiac procedure.
3) Connection line to the mitral annulus - The line connecting the mitral annulus was not performed with bipolar radiofrequency forceps due to anatomical impossibility. It was performed by employing the cutting and suturing technique, connecting the mitral valve annulus to the isolation line of the right inferior pulmonary vein.
4) Cavotricuspid line - The cavo-tricuspid line was made with the RFB forceps involving free wall of right atrium, after it was opened, in order to connect the atriotomy line to the tricuspid annulus posterior to the coronary sinus ostium venosum.
The choice of the number of lesions for the ablation as well as the handling of the left atrial appendage was at the discretion of each surgeon.
The comparison of continuous variables was performed with Student's t test and categorical variables were compared with Fisher's exact test. The results were expressed as means with their standard deviation or, where appropriate, in percentage. We considered p values < 0.05 statistically significant.
There were 04 perioperative deaths and three during one-year follow-up. The causes of perioperative deaths were: two deaths from cardiogenic shock after atrioventricular disjunction, two deaths from septic shock. The two cases of atrioventricular disjunction were diagnosed in the operating room and in both, bovine pericardium was used for the suture of the junction, without success, though.
This surgical accident was not associated with surgical ablation since the lesion lines, in both cases, were performed away from the mitral annulus. The causes of late deaths were: one patient died at home (without a clear definition, PO: three months), a coumarin accident (PO: 04 months), one reoperation for mitral valve endocarditis (PO: 08 months). The coumarin accident was diagnosed in patients undergoing implantation of a mechanical valved tube and using anticoagulation with coumarin. The patient came to the hospital with an INR of 10, cardiogenic shock and images of bleeding around the aortic tube in chest computed tomography (CT). There was a history of chest trauma from falling to the ground a few days before. Despite an attempt to correct coagulopathy before emergency surgery with blood transfusion, the patient died of refractory cardiogenic shock.
Out of the 40 patients who survived the first year, 07 did not undergo 24-h Holter. The reason for that was: one moved to another state, one could not be contacted through telephone and 05 gave up performing the test. The 33 24 h Holter tests were performed averaging 401 ± 117 days post-surgery (ranging from 136 to 751 days).
Conventional ECGs of 07 patients who did not undergo 24-h Holter are available. The last ECG of each patient was performed in 278 days postoperatively in average. Six patients are in sinus rhythm and one patient with AF.
The characteristics of the 33 patients who underwent 24 h Holter do not differ significantly from the total group of 47 patients (p = NS). The mean age was 50.1 ± 9.4 years, mean SE was 52.6 ± 9.9 mm, EF, 56.6 ± 12.5% and the reported time of AF was 37.3 (three to 192 months). Twenty-four patients (73%) are in sinus rhythm, 5 patients in AF rhythm (15%), three in right atrial flutter rhythm (9%) and one patient in junctional rhythm (3%). See Table 2.
Considering the 40 patients surviving one year and all Holter and ECG tests together, 30 patients are in sinus rhythm (75%), 06 patients in AF rhythm (15%), three patients in atrial flutter rhythm (7.5%), and one in junctional rhythm (2.5%) (Table 2).
Cardiac rhythm on the day of discharge was available only for 18 out of 43 patients who were discharged. Nine (50%) were in sinus rhythm and 09 with AF rhythm.
The set of ablation lines performed can be evaluated in Figure 3. The need to implant a permanent pacemaker postoperatively was zero.
Regarding the use of antiarrhythmic drugs, among 33 patients who underwent 24 h Holter, 05 were not using any drugs, 09 were using amiodarone, 09 were using only atenolol, 05 were using amiodarone and atenolol, and 05, no information (Figure 4). Regarding the use of anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agent, 08 were not using any of these, 19 were taking warfarin, one was using ASA and for 04 there is no information (Figure 5). Out of the 24 patients in sinus rhythm by 24 h Holter monitoring, three (12.5%) were not using any anti-arrhythmic drug and 09 (37.5%) were not taking any anticoagulant drugs.
Two patients had neurological events in the postoperative period. One of them had complete resolution of neurological deficits after 7 days from the event and another remained with a slight left paresis, which did not compromise walking.
Percutaneous ablation of residual or recurrent arrhythmias was performed in only one patient for treatment of right atrial flutter.
The development of the Cox-Maze III10 surgery is a true example of a scientific method applied to experimental surgery in animals and, later, in humans, resulting in a highly effective option for treating atrial fibrillation. It is effective in maintaining sinus rhythm (90% after 10 years)11-14, maintaining atrial contraction and preventing thromboembolism in the long term (annual incidence of events similar to patients who have never developed AF regardless of the level of anticoagulation used)3,15. On the other hand, the surgical procedure is complex, time-consuming, performed through cutting and suturing, it increases the risk of reoperation due to postoperative bleeding10. This is why few surgeons have developed a specific ability to perform it safely and effectively.
Based on that, with the development of technology, alternative forms of energy have emerged in order to simplify and shorten the time spent in the procedure, trying to keep the good success rates previously achieved. Moreover, the recent demonstration that, in most patients, the foci of atrial fibrillation come from pulmonary veins16 and from the posterior wall of the left atrium17,18 allowed the surgeon to reduce the number of ablation lines performed.
This paper presents the initial experience of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgery combined with the use of bipolar radiofrequency forceps performed by a mixed group of 10 surgeons, all of whom in phase of getting acquainted with the method and the technology.
Out of the 40 patients who survived the first year after the surgery, 24 h Holter monitoring was obtained from 33 patients (82.5%). Out of the 6 patients with paroxysmal AF, all of them underwent 24 h Holter and presented sinus rhythm.
Out of the 34 patients with continuous AF (persistent + permanent), we obtained 24 h Holter monitoring from 27 patients (79%). Ouf of these 27 patients, 18 (67%) were in sinus rhythm, one (4%) in junctional rhythm (which is not considered a treatment failure), 05 (19%) in AF and three (11%) in flutter. Therefore, 71% of the patients with persistent persistent/permanent AF are free of AF/flutter after the first year of the surgery, according to 24 h Holter.
The factors for persistence of AF after the ablation surgery are both related to the patient operated19-22 and to the set of lesions performed19. Risk factors for treatment failure are: age, AF duration, type of AF and LA size. In our series, only the AF duration reported preoperatively proved to be a factor for treatment failure (Table 3).
We believe that the small number of patients in our experience explains the lack of correlation of the other classical factors. In patients with permanent AF, it has been reported19 that the left atrial connecting lesions influence the long term outcome in the maintenance of sinus rhythm. The results of ablation with bipolar radiofrequency vary in literature as well as the research method of heart rate in each study. Gillinov et al19, in reviewing 513 patients who underwent bipolar radiofrequency ablation and cryothermia through serial electrocardiograms, found a prevalence of sinus rhythm in 06 months of 87% and a total success in therapy in one year of 72%.
In this large series, 27% of patients had intermittent atrial fibrillation, 14% persistent and 56% permanent. The average duration of AF was 24 months and the average size of LA 51 ± 0.9 mm. The main indication for surgery was valve disease. Both the type of patient operated with the results of rhythm in one year are similar to our sample. In 2004, Gaynor et al8 reported an initial experience with 40 patients whose AF was treated with bipolar RF forceps. Nineteen patients underwent isolated ablation of the arrhythmia and in 21, ablation was concomitant with another procedure which led to the surgery.
In this study, the average age was 62 years and median duration of AF of 3.8 years. Twenty-five patients (62%) had paroxysmal AF. The sinus rhythm index after 06 months was 91%. This group resembles our series, since half of the patients underwent isolated ablation of the arrhythmia and more than half had paroxysmal AF, admittedly a better prognosis than the continuous form.
More recently, Melby et al20 reported results of 85% of sinus rhythm (via serial ECGs) after one year of follow-up in a series of 130 patients undergoing AF ablation in isolation (30 patients) or concomitant with the main surgery (100 patients). In 2008, Beukema et al21 reported the follow-up of 285 older patients (mean age 68 years), with longer AF duration (60.9 months in average) and only with permanent AF. They have found 59% of patients with sinus rhythm on ECG in one year and 53.4% in 05 years.
Our results are consistent with the literature that reports success rates in one year ranging from 59% to 85%. In our country, this is the only series of patients undergoing intervention with the use of bipolar radiofrequency. Kalil et al4 have published their experience with the classical Cox Maze III technique in our country. In a group of 61 patients, with mean age of 49 years, mostly undergoing valve surgery after an average of one year with conventional ECG follow-up in all survivors (51 patients) and 24 h Holter monitoring in 17 patients, sinus rhythm was found in 70.5%, atrial rhythm in 4%, atrial tachycardia in 2% and DDD pacemaker rhythm in 4% The need for permanent pacemaker was 11.4%. More recently, Canale et al5 prospectively evaluated 07 patients who underwent conventional Cox-Maze, with a mean age of 61 years, 43% with permanent AF and valvular surgery indication in all of them. After 08 months of monitoring with serial ECGs and Holter monitoring in all of them, 100% were free of AF. One patient (14%) required a permanent pacemaker. Therefore, the results of this series are consistent with previous reports of Cox-Maze III in our field.
The surgical approach in our series, with respect to the sets of lesions performed, could be more complete. Figure 3 shows the lesions performed, in which the number of lesions in the posterior wall of LA (27 patients) is smaller than the number of patients with persistent/permanent AF (39 patients). We attribute this to the initial process of learning. Figure 3 also shows the number of closures of the left atrial appendage: there is a discrepancy between the observed (34 patients) and the ideal23 (47 patients). In some surgeries, there was no need for opening the left atrium (coronary artery bypass grafting, implantation of a valved tube, Ebstein surgery etc.) and the surgeon chose not to add this procedure. The alternative for closing the left atrial appendage without opening the left atrium was the approach with epicardial suturing of the appendage. However, this procedure, as shown by a recent study24, has a disputable effectiveness, with high incidence of left atrial appendage remaining open and flowing.
Diagnoses of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) were delivered postoperatively in two patients. One of them had focal neurological signs on day 17 after surgery, back home. It is a 49-year old male patient with an EF of 30%, mitral and tricuspid regurgitation and continuous AF preoperatively. The patient underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valve surgery, ablation of pulmonary veins and cavo-tricuspid line and closing of left atrial appendage. The discharge rhythm had been sinus rhythm, but the rhythm on the day of the event was AF. The patient had been taking Warfarin and amiodarone. There were no neurological sequelae and today the patient is in sinus rhythm on 24 h Holter monitoring. The second case was probably not associated with arrhythmia. The patient had a cardiorespiratory arrest (CRA) (duration 10 min) due to hypoxia in the first month after surgery in the ICU and diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident confirmed by CT scan showing scattered hypodense areas, consistent with cerebrovascular accident after cardiorespiratory arrest. Upon discharge, this patient had a mild left-side paresis, which did not interfere with walking. She was referred to physical therapy and motor rehabilitation.
The investigation of the benefits of ablative AF therapies in the prevention of systemic thromboembolism is difficult due to the low annual incidence of the event studied and the need for long-term monitoring. Although the studies by Cox et al15 and Kalil et al3 with the Maze III surgery showed an index of cerebrovascular accident in patients treated similar to the general population, regardless of whether or not using anticoagulants and antiarrhythmics, there are no similar investigations with ablations performed with alternative energy forms.
Only one of three patients with right atrial flutter detected by 24 h Holter postoperatively underwent percutaneous ablation (in month 9 postoperatively). The procedure was successful and the patient remained in sinus rhythm confirmed by serial ECGs. Out of these three patients, two received ablation of cavo-tricuspid line (including the patient who subsequently underwent percutaneous ablation of right atrial flutter). McCarthy et al25, in applying electrophysiological study in patients with failure of ablative therapy (in a series where various forms of energy were used) showed that, when only the pulmonary veins were isolated, with or without left atrial connecting lines, 75% (6 out of 8) of the failures arise from foci in the right atrium. In the same study, 67% of patients undergoing percutaneous ablation of persistent/residual arrhythmia, after any ablative surgery, returned to sinus rhythm.
In our series, there was no need to implant a pacemaker in any patient. A review by Khargi al1 points to the average incidence of a new PM implant in 5% when any alternative form of energy is used, without a significant difference between them. The main reason for pacemaker implantation is not the atrioventricular block, but the appearance of sinus node disease, previously existing, but hidden by the AF.
The treatment of atrial fibrillation concomitant with cardiac surgery using tissue ablation device with bipolar radiofrequency results in the absence of supraventricular arrhythmia in 76% of patients after one year.
- 1. Khargi K, Hutten BA, Lemke B, Deneke T. Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation; a systematic review. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2005;27(2):258-65.
- 2. Prasad SM, Maniar HS, Camillo CJ, Schuessler RB, Boineau JP, Sundt TM 3rd, et al. The Cox maze III procedure for atrial fibrillation: long-term efficacy in patients undergoing lone versus concomitant procedures. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;126(6):1822-8.
- 3. Kalil RA, Nesralla PLM, Lima GG, Leiria TL, Abrahão R, Moreno P, et al. Assessment of thromboembolism after the Cox-Maze procedure for chronic atrial fibrillation secondary to mitral valve lesion. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2002;78(4):378-81.
- 4. Kalil RA, Albrecht A, Lima GG, Vasconcellos D, Cunha B, Hatem D, et al. Results of the surgical treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation. Arq Bras Cardiol. 1999;73(2):139-48.
- 5. Canale LS, Monteiro AJO, Barbosa RM, Cortês DC, Fernandes MR, Colafranceschi AS, et al. Análise prospectiva do tratamento cirúrgico da fibrilação atrial em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia valvar. Rev SOCERJ. 2006;19(5):391-5.
- 6. Gillinov AM, McCarthy PM. Atricure bipolar radiofrequency clamp for intraoperative ablation of atrial fibrillation . Ann Thorac Surg. 2002;74(6):2165-8.
- 7. Gillinov AM. Bipolar radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrilation. In: Sie HT, D'Ancona G, Bartolozzi F, Beukema W, Doty DB (eds). Manual of surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. Massachusetts: Blackwell Futura; 2008. p. 155.
- 8. Gaynor SL, Diodata MD, Prasad SM, Ishii Y, Schuessler RB, Bailey MS, et al. A prospective, single-center clinical trial of a modified Cox maze procedure with bipolar radiofrequency ablation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004;128(4):535-42.
- 9. Shemin RJ, Cox JL, Gillinov AM, Blackstone EH, Bridges CR. Guidelines for reporting data and outcomes for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. Workforce on Evidence-Based Surgery of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007;83(3):1225-30.
- 10. Cox JL, Boineau JP, Schuessler RB, Jaquiss RD, Lappas DG. Modification of the Maze procedure for atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. I: Rationale and surgical results. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1995;110(2):473-84.
- 11. McCarthy PM, Gillinov AM, Castle L, Chung M, Cosgrove D 3rd. The Cox-Maze procedure: the Cleveland Clinic experience. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000;12(1):25-9.
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- 13. Arcidi JM Jr, Doty DB, Millar RC. The Maze procedure: the LDS Hospital experience. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000;12(1):38-43.
- 14. Kosakai Y. Treatment of atrial fibrillation using the maze procedure: the Japanese experience. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000;12(1):44-52.
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- 17. Harada A, Sasaki K, Fukushima T, Ikeshita M, Asano T, Yamauchi S, et al. Atrial activation during chronic atrial fibrillation in patients with isolated mitral valve disease. Ann Thorac Surg. 1996;61(1):104-12.
- 18. Sueda T, Nagata H, Orihashi K, Morita S, Okada K, Sueshiro M, et al. Efficacy of a simple left atrial procedure for chronic atrial fibrillation in mitral valve operations. Ann Thorac Surg. 1997;63(4):1070-5.
- 19. Gillinov AM, McCarthy PM, Blackstone EH, Rajeswaran J, Pettersson G, Sabik JF, et al. Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation with bipolar radiofrequency as the primary modality. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005;129(6):1322-9.
- 20. Melby SJ, Zierer A, Bailey MS, Cox JL, Lawton JS, Munfakh N, et al. A new era in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation: the impact of ablation technology and lesion set on procedural efficacy. Ann Surg. 2006;244(4):583-92.
- 21. Beukema WP, Sie HT, Misier ARR, Delnoy PP, Wellens HJJ, Elvan A. Predictive factors of sustained sinus rhythm and recurrent atrial fibrillation after a radiofrequency modified Maze procedure. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2008;34(4):771-5.
- 22. Gaynor SL, Schuessler RB, Bailey MS, Ishii Y, Boineau JP, Gleva MJ, et al. Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation: predictors of late recurrence. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005;129(1):104-11.
- 23. Calkins H, Brugada J, Packer DL, Cappato R, Chen SA, Crijns HJG, et al. HRS/EHRA/ECAS Expert Consensus Statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: recommendations for personnel, policy, procedures and follow-up. A report of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Task Force on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. 2007;4(6):816-61.
- 24. Kanderian AS, Gillinov AM, Pettersson GB, Blackstone E, Klein AL. Success of surgical left atrial appendage closure: assessment by transesophageal echocardiography. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52(11):924-9.
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Use of bipolar radiofrequency for the treatment of atrial fibrillation during cardiac surgery
Leonardo Secchin Canale; Alexandre Siciliano Colafranceschi; Andrey José Monteiro; Marialda Coimbra; Clara Weksler; Ernesto Koehler; Bruno Miranda Marques; Marco Antonio Mattos; Fernando Eugênio dos Santos Cruz Filho; Roberto Luiz Menssing da Silva Sá
Publication in this collection
29 Apr 2011
Date of issue
15 Dec 2010
28 Sept 2010
21 Dec 2010

domain: medical


Surface America creates unique poured-in-place surface in Washington, D.C.
Girard Street Park was being loved almost literally to death.
There is no doubt that the park and playground, located just off Washington, D.C.’s Girard Street, is a popular place for the neighborhood children to play, hang out and gather. But they were simply wearing the park out. The grass was threadbare, which was bad enough in the summer when the park would become a dust bowl, it was during the colder winter months that the same area would turn into a mud hole—not exactly an ideal spot for the neighborhood children to play.
The city of Washington, D.C., and especially the community around the park was ready to do something about it—something that would hold up to the rigors of child’s play during the summer and winter months.
With the help of Surface America, the park has been transformed into a year-round play place that not only handles the rigors of child’s play, but has become a source of pride in Washington, D.C.’s Columbia Heights neighborhood.
The Girard Street Park and playground is definitely an urban park and its redesign was meant to capture the cultural diversity of the neighborhood that surrounds it. “Girard Street Park Playground is located in the neighborhood of Columbia Heights, a culturally diverse, redeveloping area of the city,” Sherry A. Frear said. Frear, as a member of the Office of Planning and Capital Projects in the Washington, D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, was instrumental in seeing the new Girard Street Park come to fruition. In an effort to capture that neighborhood’s culture and diversity in a unique way, Frear explained what the city incorporated in the design.
“The languages included in the rubber surface reflect some of the languages spoken in this area: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Amharic and Sanskrit,” Frear said. “There are others, but only so many would fit.”
The park also showcases the federal district’s somewhat unique layout—quadrants, four to be exact. Frear said, “These four quadrants are represented in the rubber surface.” Girard Street Park Playground is located in the city’s northwest quadrant.
Interestingly enough, the Girard Street Park Playground has existed for decades—the Surface America surface is just the latest project to provide a lasting play area for the Columbia Heights’ children.
“Girard Street Park Playground has existed, in some form or another, for at least 50 years,” Frear said. “The playground was wholly redesigned and rebuilt in 2005. The central elliptical area was designed and built as a simple, open lawn. However, due to heavy use by the community, DPR programs, camps, and local charter schools, grass simply wasn’t sustainable, even with an in-ground irrigation system. The foot traffic was just too much.”
Something had to be done.
Looking For Options
“Shortly after I joined the DPR, then-DPR director Wanda Durden asked that the Office of Planning and Capital Projects (OPCP) take a look at options for providing a safe, stable, sustainable play surface,” Frear said. She said the Girard Street Park area was being referred to as “The Dust Bowl” but Frear took to calling it “The Ellipse,” because “that sounded more hopeful.”
It was painfully obvious the grass surface had to go. “Rubber and artificial turf were pretty much the only options,” Frear said. “I developed a few conceptual designs and we took it out first to the local friend's group and then to the larger community for comment.”
Frear said her group did take a serious look at artificial turf but found some issues that raised some concerns. She explained, “DPR investigated artificial turf and put it out there for the community to think about, but we recommended against it, given concerns about maintenance. Unlike our artificial turf athletic fields, which are generally controlled via permitting, DPR just didn’t have the mechanism or manpower to maintain open-use, artificial turf at Columbia Heights; that is, trash, gum, food, rat droppings, etc., are too readily ‘hidden’ in artificial turf, whereas rubber is more readily hosed down.”
Perhaps it was the ease of maintaining a rubber surface or maybe it was the sweet look it was offering—or a combination of both—that sold the community on choosing that surface over artificial turf but that was the final decision.
Frear explained, “The community supported rubber and they liked the languages and the games, but not so much the various designs (see image above). One design showed artificial turf while the other three showed rubber as a small ‘field,’ a frog—a nod to the local friend's group: Friends of Girard Street Playground or “Frogsplay”—and a swirly sort of thing. At the community meeting, almost all at once, two citizens remarked, ‘Hey, how about a map of D.C.?’ So, I kept the languages and games and developed a map of D.C.. The big red star marks the location of Columbia Heights Community Center.”
The playground is located right outside the Columbia Heights Community Center at 1480 Girard Street, NW, which houses Frear’s office and the Office of Planning and Capital Projects, which are on the fourth floor. Frear said that made site visits to check work progress “a cinch.”
Once the community was on board with the surface and the design, it was time to move ahead with the actual work of installation. In many communities across the country, that would require some site work and then installation but in a city like Washington, D.C.—a place steeped in this country’s history, it’s not quite that easy. As construction workers found out when they started to excavate the site, history abounds above and below the ground in Washington, D.C.
That discovery turned out to be a “huge challenge,” Frear said. “Once excavation began, we discovered the remains of whatever former structure(s) once stood on the site. There were portions of walls, pieces of concrete pads, and plenty of loose rubble. That’s all okay if you’re just planting grass, but none of which will compact sufficiently for a good solid rubber surface.”
At that point, other agencies had to be brought into the picture to make sure nothing of historical significance was demolished or damaged during the installation of the new Girard Street Park Playground. Frear explained, “So we coordinated with the D.C. Historic Preservation Office (D.C. HPO), which advised that this neighborhood was once part of Columbian College, which eventually moved to Foggy Bottom and became George Washington University. Also, during the Civil War, a huge hospital was located in this area, and that it was likely the remains of these and/or associated structures that we had uncovered. But D.C. HPO also advised that the city had already done a preliminary survey of the area and that assorted remains were not considered significant enough to preserve. So, construction resumed and upon the advice of the rubber surface contractor—Surface America—we excavated to 36 inches and backfilled with clean fill and gravel, to ensure a proper base for the final surface.”
Jim Dobmeier, then president of Surface America, described what the new surface includes. The final 9,500-square-foot surface is a PlayBound poured-in-place surfacing system, which is a two-layered system consisting of a basemat of 100 percent post-consumer recycled SBR (styrene Butadiene rubber) and polyurethane and a top surface made from post-industrial EPDM rubber and polyurethane. “Using a poured-in-place system, which is mixed and applied on site, allowed us to create the custom design required for this project,” Dobmeier said. “In this case, the design called for incorporating the word ‘welcome’ in six different languages, a map of D.C. and four square and hopscotch.”
The actual installation took 10 days.
Rising To The Challenge
The unique design that the Washington, D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation wanted to be incorporated into the surface created its own unique challenges, Dobmeier said. “Playground surfaces that incorporate a greater design are always more challenging and labor intensive than those with fewer graphics,” he said. “For each design, we create templates that we cut out and then fill in on-site. After each color is used, the surface needs to cure before the next color is applied, so the more intense the design and the more colors used, the longer the project. Inlaying graphics is a true art, which requires skilled craftsmanship and great attention to detail.”
The Girard Street Park Playground project is a bit larger than the standard Surface America surface but it’s not the largest the company has completed. Dobmeier said, “The intense graphic design added a level of complexity that we don’t find with every project, but an element we truly enjoy.”
Frear not only credited Surface America for a great new play area but also pointed to Nakai Surfacing owner Jim Feterle out of Ohio as doing “a masterful job of building out the design.”
Not only is the new Girard Street Park Playground a source of community pride in the Columbia Heights neighborhood, but it has also turned out to be truly a year-round area that children can enjoy. “Previously, children played in the area, despite the lack of grass, but from November to, say, April, the area was primarily mud, making it unusable,” Frear said. “Now, there is a solid, stable, safe surface for the kids to play on nearly year-round. Plus, the rubber surface is permeable, meaning rainwater passes through it, so there is no increase in stormwater runoff, such as would happen if the area were simply paved.”
She added, “And it’s really gratifying to see, from my vantage point on the fourth floor of the community center, kids running and playing in this space, on all but the coldest winter days.”
The Girard Street Park Playground project has become a personal favorite of Frear’s, maybe because from her bird’s eye view from her office window she can see the fruits of so many people’s labors or it’s the satisfaction of seeing a durable surface holding up where the former grass surface was played out.
She concluded, “I’m coming up on two years with DPR, and hoping to be here many more, but The Ellipse will probably always be one of my favorite projects. It’s just one piece of a larger site but, wow, what a difference it’s made in ensuring that kids can enjoy the playground nearly year-round.”


text:
Twit Twoo! This large Owl Necklace is made from two layers of cherry, walnut and mahogany wood with engraved detail and mirrored acrylic accent pieces in teal and pink. The pendant measures 75mm (3 inches) wide and hangs between and chunky plated metal chain.
A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?

domain: design


text: One of America's most powerful troubadours was the legendary folk-singing social activist Woody Guthrie, and this lushly photographed and carefully told tale presents him honestly, warts and all. Using Guthrie's own words and music, screenwriter Robert Getchell and director Hal Ashby recreate the pivotal Great Depression years during which Guthrie left the Dust Bowl for California, took up singing, and got involved in union organizing. David Carradine's portrayal of Guthrie is deeply affecting but never maudlin. The filmmakers put considerable effort into portraying Guthrie's personal failings as part of his authentic humanity. The great cinematographer Haskell Wexler won an Academy Award for his mythic American landscapes, and Bound for Glory was nominated for five other Oscars. Some critics unfairly compared the film to the classic The Grapes of Wrath, with which it shares subject matter and viewpoint. Bound for Glory is a rare latter-day portrait of social unrest and progressive populism in the United States.


text:
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In 1911, more than 25 years before the glassy Hecht Company Warehouse was built on New York Avenue NE, and exactly 100 years before Douglas Development purchased it to turn into chic apartments and yuppie-serving retail, the Alexander Crummell School opened its doors to the District’s African-American students.
Named for an abolitionist and Episcopal priest who founded St. Luke’s Church in Dupont Circle, the school served D.C.’s black children for over half a century. But enrollment plummeted in the 1960s as its home neighborhood, Ivy City, bled industrial and railroad jobs. Crummell eventually closed in 1972. A nonprofit ran community services in the building through the rest of that decade.
The property has remained vacant ever since. Meanwhile, development has crept farther east of Florida Avenue, transforming the area around Union Market. As one example, Hecht now houses upwards of 300 apartments and a 900-spot parking garage. It has a MOM’s Organic Market, a Nike, a Petco, and more.
Yet Crummell’s dead-zone status is set to change in the coming years, bolstering the revitalization of Ivy City. In April, the District released a solicitation for teams to redesign the 108,000-square-foot site, including the sizable lot that surrounds the empty school. Three responded, offering a range of mixed-income housing, commercial activity, and amenities.
Their submissions followed a year-long community engagement process organized by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, headed by Brian Kenner. Residents have expressed support for a new Crummell that would feature recreational uses, job training, and—per the solicitation—“cultural or historical reference” to the school and its neighborhood.
Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration says it will rely on this framework as it evaluates the pitches, with the goal of greenlighting one by year’s end. Although it’s unclear when a chosen proposal would be finished—in part because any of the trio would have to undergo zoning review—a DMPED spokesman says the office is looking for a “balance between preserving some of the site and the growing needs of residents.”
With the weight of D.C.’s black history and the community’s eyes on the long-derelict property, it won’t be an easy decision. The initial plans have significant differences, and a medley of groups behind them.
Because the Crummell School was designated a landmark in 2002, any redevelopment would have to go before the District’s Historic Preservation Review Board. The property would transfer to the winning team “as-is,” requiring several million dollars in restoration.
Despite these constraints, the site—and the cash flow that would result from transforming it—remains an attractive prospect. On Sept. 22, the three teams presented their proposals to residents. Adam Roberts, chair of ANC 5D, which covers Crummell, attended the session and recalls that the teams seemed interested in creating spaces for community services. They’re scheduled to discuss their plans at the ANC’s meeting next Tuesday.
“Most of our commission is especially concerned about affordable housing,” he says. “It’s not just about the number of units at 80 percent or 50 percent of [area median income]. It’s also about rising property values, taxes going up, people getting pushed out of their homes. Ivy City and Carver Langston are at the helm of that because of the rapid change in property costs.”
Parisa Norouzi, executive director of advocacy group Empower DC, believes Crummell could become Ivy City’s “heart” again. In an admittedly atypical move, her organization has teamed with W.C. Smith and City First Enterprises, among others, to redevelop it into a community center whose programs a shared land trust would direct. “It’s a mechanism for protecting the school and the outdoor space for public use in perpetuity,” she explains. Ivy City residents would sit on the trust’s board, while the community center, which Empower DC has secured a $10 million grant to refurbish, would furnish “multigenerational, multiuse space.”
A new building owned by W.C. Smith would host a health clinic run by Community of Hope, a discount home goods store by Habitat for Humanity, a public gym, and a childcare facility. There would be three stories of apartments above this building’s ground floor—ranging from studios to three-bedrooms—with none renting for more than 60 percent of the area median income. A fifth would be reserved for families making under 30 percent of AMI and a tenth would be permanent supportive housing. Open space would contain a playground, a garden, and art.
“The stakes are high because we’re eager to demonstrate what real community development looks like,” says Norouzi, who’s worked with Ivy City residents since 2001. “This is part of a community that has had this vision for it for a long time.”
The Trammell Crow Company, a Dallas-based real-estate firm that’s leading a second proposal, plans a 20,000-square-foot YMCA facility in the school, wrapped by green space, a 230-unit apartment building with 14,000 square feet of retail, and a new 12,000-square-foot Mary’s Center facility, with 88 affordable units for seniors. The western half of the site would be temporarily converted into recreational space during the first development phase. Trammell Crow has also committed $250,000 to improve a small, nearby park before constructing the mixed-use building.
Lastly, the Jarvis Company, StonebridgeCarras, and Ivy City-based wholesaler Profish have a third proposal to restore the school for an estimated $14 million, and retain its ownership with the District. Their concept calls for a garden and “working farm” around the school and apartments that have townhouse-style components. On the Okie Street NE side of the residences would be a lobby, storefront space, and restaurant, each about 5,000 square feet.
The apartments would rent for market rate, but several dozen would be affordable, and they wouldn’t rise taller than the school. Profish would operate underground to minimize its impact to residents. In conjunction with programs at the school, it could provide workforce training.
“We were concerned that if you turned [the school itself] over to anyone but the city, you could go a few years down the road and it would be vacant again,” says N. William Jarvis, managing principal of the firm. “We’re trying to blend as many worlds as we can.”
The African-American students Crummell once served have departed from its hallways. But after years of decay, the school could finally have a purpose again. For now, DMPED is mum about how it’s leaning as officials weigh the proposals. And even after a development team has been selected, their plans could change during zoning and preservation reviews. Ultimately, the decision may come down to the most sustainable proposal.
Or politics. Norouzi says she hopes the community’s involvement will serve as a check on other outside considerations. “[Having] input is great, but if it doesn’t influence the outcome—or isn’t directly tied to the outcome—that’s where the disappointment comes in.”