DES MOINES, IA (08/17/2011)(readMedia)-- Norita Solt of Bettendorf took home the blue ribbon in Bruce Piper's Apricot Pie contest judged Saturday at the 2011 Iowa State Fair.

Shelby McCreedy of Atlantic placed second, and Cynthia Murphy of Des Moines took third. Joyce Larson of New Market earned an honorable mention.

For the contest, entrants baked a two crust apricot pie with no other fruit or nuts. The pies were judged on flavor, general appearance, consistency of filling, crust and creativity.

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center sponsored by Blue Bunny.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2011 Iowa State Fair, celebrating 100 years of the Butter Cow August 11-21. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

Service to Seniors Impacted by Reckless Budget Cuts

Waterloo, IA– Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement on the early closure of Social Security Offices:

“Iowa seniors are already seeing the real impact of irresponsible Republican budget cuts.  It’s a sad day when tax bonuses for the rich are extended, yet we restrict seniors’ ability to secure their social security benefits.  Cuts on the backs of our nation’s seniors are the wrong way to fix the deficit.”

In July, Commissioner of Social Security Michael J. Astrue announced plans to close Social Security Offices across the country a half hour earlier at 3:30 PM in response to budget constraints.  The cuts stemmed from passage of H.R. 1473, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution for Fiscal Year 2011, which Rep. Braley opposed on April 14, 2011.  The early closures took effect on August 15, 2011, impacting offices across Iowa and the nation.

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WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to account for serious allegations that case-related document destruction might have compromised enforcement in cases involving suspicious activity at major banks and hedge funds. 

“From what I’ve seen, it looks as if the SEC might have sanctioned some level of case-related document destruction,” Grassley said.  “It doesn’t make sense that an agency responsible for investigations would want to get rid of potential evidence.  If these charges are true, the agency needs to explain why it destroyed documents, how many documents it destroyed over what timeframe, and to what extent its actions were consistent with the law.”

Grassley’s inquiry to the SEC came after an agency whistleblower sent a letter to Grassley describing “the SEC’s unlawful destruction of the federal records generated in at least 9,000 informal investigations.”  The documents are said to support “matters under inquiry,” which is the first step in investigating a case that may or may not lead to a formal investigation.  After reviewing the whistleblower’s letter and supporting documents, Grassley sent a letter to the SEC, asking for a full accounting of any document destruction policies, including whether the allegations are correct that the SEC destroyed documents related to Bernard Madoff, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Lehman Brothers, and SAC Capital.

Grassley wrote in his letter to SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro, “If (the whistleblower’s) allegations are correct, the intentional destruction of at least 9,000 MUIs would appear to greatly handicap the SEC’s ability to create patterns in complex cases and calls into question the SEC’s ability to properly retain and catalog documents.”

Grassley is a long-time advocate for whistleblowers and in addition, has a longstanding interest in whether the SEC fulfills its role of protecting consumers from securities fraud.

Most recently, he sought information from the SEC on how the agency handled 65 referrals from an industry regulatory organization regarding suspicious activity at SAC Capital. 

Grassley’s letter to the SEC chairman is available here.

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Music therapy is the clinical use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals that address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. According to the American Music Therapy Association’s web site (www.musictherapy.org), the idea that music could serve a healing purpose has been around for centuries. However, it was not until the late 1950s that the discipline of music therapy was formally developed and first recognized in this country after doctors and nurses in veterans’ hospitals noticed positive physical and emotional responses evoked by injured soldiers, after musicians played for them.

Music therapists are trained to assess the strengths and needs of each client and to provide indicated  treatment by creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement, in a therapeutic context, an individual’s abilities are strengthened and transferred throughout other areas of life. Essentially, music therapy can improve the quality of life for persons throughout the lifespan, despite diversity, disability, or illness. Music therapy interventions can be designed to:

■ promote wellness

■ manage stress and anxiety

■ alleviate pain

■ express feelings

■ enhance memory and retrieval

■ improve communication

■ decrease frequency and duration of aggressive or agitated behaviors

■ promote physical rehabilitation increase self-awareness

■ motivate change and personal growth

■ reinforce self-identity and self-worth

■ alter mood

■ encourage meaningful social interaction and emotional intimacy

■ empower individuals and decrease feelings of helplessness

■ foster successful experiences and a sense of control over life

Research highlights music therapy’s usefulness specifically in working with older adults, as well as their families and caregivers. Music therapy has been proven to successfully address psychological, social, physical, and cognitive needs associated with aging issues. In addition, music therapy literature and research indicates effectiveness specifically in working with those who have suffered from strokes, or those who have Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

Contact:

Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University Extension

TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868