Sheltering Arms is kicking off the 2013 golf season with an exciting program designed especially for people with physical disabilities. In partnership with the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Hospital, the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Eastern Amputee Golf Association, Sheltering Arms is offering the nationally acclaimed ‘First Swing’ program for individuals right here in central Virginia.

Friday, April 26, 2013
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Windy Hill Sports Complex
16500 Midlothian Turnpike

Anthony Netto and the Paragolfer®

The one-day clinic will bring golf professionals, physical and recreational therapists, and people with physical disabilities together to teach, learn and play golf. Instructors Louis Namm, who lost his legs while serving in Vietnam, and Anthony Netto, who has been confined to a wheelchair for more than a decade, will spend the morning instructing golf and therapy professionals on the basics of teaching adapted golf techniques to people with disabilities. The professionals will then offer driving range clinics and on-the-course assistance for these individuals and their families in the afternoon.

In addition to this personalized instruction, attendees who use wheelchairs for mobility will have the opportunity to try the ParaGolfer®, a device that lifts people from a sitting to standing position in order to participate in a variety of sports. A special clinic for first-time ParaGolfer® users will be held on Thursday, April 25^th from 10:00-2:00.

“Programs like the ‘First Swing’ and ‘Learn to Golf’ clinics help us show people hands-on that they can enjoy their favorite recreation and leisure activities, even if illness or injury has limited mobility,” says Alison Clarke, Director of Community Recreation Services at Sheltering Arms. “There are so many adaptive tools and techniques, as well as technological advancements like the ParaGolfer®, that we can use to help people overcome their physical challenges and get back to doing the things they love.”

About Sheltering Arms
Sheltering Arms helps patients find the Power to Overcome the obstacles of illness and injury with a complete range of physical rehabilitation and wellness services.  To learn more about Sheltering Arms’ two hospitals and nine outpatient clinics visit http://www.ShelteringArms.com, call 1-877-56-REHAB, or connect with Sheltering Arms on Facebook. (www.facebook.com/shelteringarms) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/SheltArmsRehab).

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(Alexandria, Virginia) – FightSMA, an international non-profit organization with a goal of finding a treatment or cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, today thanked the sponsors and champions of the National Pediatric Research Network Act (NPRNA) of 2013 (S.424), who reintroduced the bill in the U.S. Senate last night. The move comes just weeks after a bipartisan companion bill (H.R.225) passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infant death. FightSMA helped to develop the NPRNA in order to speed development of a cure for SMA and many other pediatric diseases.

“FightSMA and the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, two of the bill’s endorsing organizations, are tremendously grateful to the sponsors and supporters of the NPRNA in the Senate,” said Martha Slay, co-founder and past president of FightSMA. “This bill gives hope to thousands of families across the nation.”

The bill was reintroduced in the Senate on International Rare Disease Day. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) continue their leadership from the 112th Congress by once again serving as the bill’s lead sponsors. Joining them as original cosponsors will be Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Susan Collins (R-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). The NPRNA will now be referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee, where it is expected to be considered by committee members in the coming weeks.

“We’re calling for all SMA families and friends to do what they can to support this legislation,” said Slay. “Your work during the 112th Congress brought the legislation closer to the president’s desk than it has ever been, and a phone call, letter or email to your senators now can make all the difference. With your help, we can push the NPRNA over the finish line!”

About FightSMA
FightSMA, an international nonprofit group, was founded in 1991 to accelerate a treatment or cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic cause of infant death. Since its formation, FightSMA has awarded research grants at more than 40 universities and research institutions in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. For more information about FightSMA, visit http://www.fightsma.org.

Viral Blockbuster “2 Guys 600 Pillows” Continues to Grow Two Years After its Release

(Richmond, VA. Jan. 23, 2013) – Rhett & Link’s viral masterpiece, created for Carpenter Co.’s SleepBetter brand, has broken through yet another barrier.  Despite being released more than two years ago, the blockbuster online video “Two Guys 600 Pillows” is continuing to grow, and this week exceeded six million views on YouTube.

“Internetainers” Rhett & Link create some of the most popular videos on the web.  Their “2 Guys 600 Pillows” video illustrates the attachment that individuals can develop with their pillows and how difficult it can be to say goodbye to that favorite pillow when it’s gotten too old to use anymore.  The action and, amazingly, the singing in the video, were shot backwards and then reversed to create breakthrough special effects.  A separate video that shows how they created “2 Guys 600 Pillows” can be seen only at SleepBetter.org.

“Two Guys 600 Pillows” launched on YouTube on Sept. 14, 2010.  It immediately went viral, with more than two million views in the first two weeks.  The video was included in Time’s 2010 “Top 10 of Everything” and was awarded two Webby Awards.  The Webby is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet.

Recently, SleepBetter.org and Rhett & Link released their second joint video, “Spot the Differences”.  Illustrating what could be happening while you sleep, including monsters under your bed and visits by The Sandman and the Tooth Fairy, this video has a unique twist.  It’s the first live action split-screen spot the differences video, challenging viewers to find all of the discrepancies between the two screens.  Since its release on Nov. 13, 2012, it’s been viewed nearly 1.2 million times on YouTube.

“On the surface these videos are pure fun, but their messages get people thinking about sleep and bedding,” said Dan Schecter, senior vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co. and creator of SleepBetter.org.  “Our goal is to lead a national conversation about the health benefits of a good night’s sleep and the role of high quality bedding in sleeping better.”

About Carpenter Co.
Carpenter Co. is the largest manufacturer of comfort cushioning products in the world.  The Richmond, Va.-based company manufactures a wide variety of polyurethane foam and polyester fiber products, all designed to make the world more comfortable.  Born and built in the United States, Carpenter Co. has a 64-year history of designing the world’s most comfortable products and remains on the cutting edge of product development, creating innovative products that improve sleep and enhance active life styles.  The Carpenter Co. Consumer Products Division offers a dynamic line of trusted products, including Isotonic®, ErgoFresh™, Ambient™ and IsoCool™ by Isotonic® pillows, mattress pads and neck pillows as well as comfort technologies like Avena™ and Avela™ and new technologies like IsoFresh™. For more information, visit www.carpenter.com.

About SleepBetter.org
Created by Carpenter Co., SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the website creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss and discover solutions to fit their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep-related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the SleepBetter seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. For more information, please visit www.SleepBetter.org.

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Every year it seems the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, otherwise known as Black Friday, comes earlier. It started with stores opening at ridiculously early hours on the Friday after Thanksgiving, trying to lure shoppers with low prices. Then, in the last few years, those same stores started opening at midnight on Friday. This year, the sales are starting so early that Black Friday won’t begin on Friday at all. Instead, the sales will start on Thursday, with a number of stores opening at eight or nine o’clock on Thanksgiving day. According to premier online sleep news and information website SleepBetter.org, this is a big benefit for sleep-deprived consumers.

Setting aside complaints that this frenzy of consumerism is invading a beloved holiday, as well as the labor unrest caused by the additional working hours, there is a silver lining for shoppers — they may not lose as much sleep if they want to participate in the big shopping frenzy.

Shoppers who head out to the stores at eight or nine o’clock in the evening and return around 10 or 11 p.m. can make up any lost sleep by staying in bed an extra hour or so the next day. That scenario is preferable in terms of health and safety (as shoppers drive drowsy on the way home) to shoppers getting up at three o’clock in the morning and shopping until 10 a.m.

Shoppers who DO feel the need to set the alarm for “oh dark thirty” in order to get a great deal on a flat panel TV (for instance), like many said they would in SleepBetter’s 2010 Thanksgiving shopping survey, should use these tips to try to minimize the impact of the lost sleep:

• It’s not necessary to lose sleep to get a good deal. Shopping online from home (and at a reasonable hour) can yield some great deals as well. Many online retailers are offering free shipping during the holiday season.
• Shoppers who MUST be up in the middle of the night should plan ahead. Sleeping a little extra for a couple of nights before the big event can help minimize the sleep debt accrued on Black Friday.
• Making time for a nap after shopping can help eliminate some of the sleep debt accrued on Black Friday. Waiting until late in the day for that nap can be counter-productive, however, as it can make sleep difficult that night.
• Caffeine is useful, but should be used wisely. Having a cup of coffee during the shopping frenzy or later in the morning (or both) isn’t a big deal. However, don’t drink it the late afternoon or evening, as it may make sleep difficult that night.

In short, SleepBetter doesn’t recommend giving up sleep for shopping, but those who do should try to make up the sleep debt as soon as possible. For more sleep news and advice, visit SleepBetter.org and use the search bar at the top of the site.

About SleepBetter.org
Created by Carpenter Co., SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the website creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss and discover solutions to fit their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep-related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the SleepBetter seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. For more information, please visit www.SleepBetter.org.

(Richmond, VA) – Nearly every weekend, golf tournaments are held in the Richmond area.  For the most part, they’re very similar – participants are competing to have the best score, have fun, and perhaps win prizes.  A non-profit organization may also be involved.  The 20^th Annual Different Strokes Golf Extravaganza from Sheltering Arms has had all these features for two decades, plus one more very important one: participants who had to work hard for the ability to walk or use their limbs, let alone play golf.

The Different Strokes Golf Extravaganza, to be held at the nine-hole Lake Course at Windy Hill Golf and Sports Complex, has an usual requirement.  Each foursome participating in the tourney must include one golfer who is disabled.  The event highlights Sheltering Arms’ therapy programs, as well as the hard work demonstrated by individuals who just wanted to get back to playing their favorite sport.

Many of the disabled participants in the tournament are enrolled in an innovative program from Sheltering Arms that uses golf as a therapy sport. The Adaptive Golf Program works with individuals who are disabled due to injury or disease, teaching them the Power to Overcome their disabilities and start playing golf.  In some cases, they’re learning the game as beginners, and some cases they already know the game but need to learn how to overcome disability to start playing again.

“Golf is an outstanding therapy sport, as it gets people moving and focused on a goal,” said Sheltering Arms President Jim Sok.  “Not only does it promote increased flexibility, mobility in the joints, and higher metabolism … it’s a lot of fun.”

One of the many tools available to participants in the Adaptive Golf Program is the Paragolfer™, a unique mobility aid that not only gives disabled golfers an easy way to get around the course, but also brings them to a standing position to strike the ball.  At least two Paragolfer units will be available for use by golfers during the golf tournament.  The units are owned by Windy Hill and can be used by golfers who have been fully trained in their operation.

The Different Strokes Golf Extravaganza will be held on Saturday, October 27, with registration at 12:00 noon and a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m.  The fee for an individual is $45.  Each participant will receive lunch before the tournament and a desert reception afterward.  For more information, contact Valerie Newman at (804) 764-5275.

About Sheltering Arms
Sheltering Arms helps patients find the Power to Overcome the obstacles of illness and injury with a complete range of physical rehabilitation and wellness services.  To learn more about Sheltering Arms’ two hospitals and nine outpatient clinics visit http://www.ShelteringArms.com, call 1-877-56-REHAB, or connect with Sheltering Arms on Facebook or Twitter.

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As we move further into fall, we’re all seeing more signs offering flu shots.  While these shots are a great idea and can protect you from the misery of influenza, there’s something simpler (and free) that can add to their effectiveness: sleep.

With cold and flu season around the corner, making sure you get a good night’s sleep every night (as you should all year `round) is one of the best moves you can make to help yourself stay healthy.

For years, scientists have worked to try to understand how sleep improves the immune system or, on the flip side, lack of sleep compromises it.  Non-scientists, however, only need to know that to decrease our chances of getting sick, we should stay well rested.  For those who need more proof, however, here is some research into the matter:

• A recent study at the University of California found that lack of sleep can reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.  In their study, which looked at the Hepatitis B vaccine, participants who slept fewer than six hours on average per night were far less likely to mount antibody responses to the vaccine and thus were far more likely (11.5 times) to be unprotected by the vaccine than people who slept more than seven hours on average.  While the study did not focus on the flu shot, it’s something to consider if you want to be as fully protected as possible.

• A 2009 Carnegie Mellon University study of 153 men and women showed that those who slept fewer than seven hours on average per night were about three times more likely to develop a cold than those with at least eight hours of sleep daily.

• The same study in 2009 found that those who spent 92% of their time in bed asleep were five and a half times more likely to develop a common cold than those who spent 98% or more of their time in bed sleeping.  In short, quality time in bed matters more than quantity.

While we’d all love more time off to can lay in bed guilt-free, being sick isn’t much fun — just one more reason to take a good look at how you’re sleeping, and how you can improve your nightly rest.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

The following article about the National Pediatric Research Network Act (NPRN) was posted in this week’s edition of the Washington newsletter FDA Week:

Bipartisan legislation aimed at expanding the National Institutes of Health’s investments in pediatric research through the creation of pediatric research consortia could work with newly enacted provisions in the FDA Safety and Innovation Act aimed at accelerating drug approvals, according to an advocacy group spearheading the effort. FightSMA, the group backing the legislation, is pushing for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to take up the bill when it returns from August recess.

The National Pediatric Research Network Act, introduced by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Lois Capps (D-CA), directs NIH to establish a National Pediatric Research Network consisting of up to 20 pediatric research consortia over a five year period that would be eligible for awards, including grants, for basic, clinical, behavioral or translational research to meet unmet pediatric population needs, including rare diseases.

The legislation is aimed at improving clinical trials to quickly move promising drugs to approval, said Steven Eichenauer, a partner at Public Strategies Washington, who is working with FightSMA to pass the legislation.

Eichenauer added the bill would bolster research that could utilize the recently expanded accelerated approval pathway, a provision in FDASIA. He said the National Pediatric Research Network Act would help put drugs in the pipeline that can then be sent to FDA for approval, providing “a supply of newly minted therapies that have shown promise in clinical trials and are now before FDA.”

The bill would ensure these consortia focus on conducting or coordinating multisite clinical trials for pediatric rare diseases, and would establish a data coordinating center to distribute the findings, including to FDA. The consortia would be modeled after the National Cancer Institute centers and would ensure funds are dedicated exclusively towards basic and translational pediatric research and would enable inter-institutional networking, according to FightSMA. The group works to accelerate the search for a treatment and cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading inherited cause of infant death, according to the group.

Martha Slay, co-founder of FightSMA, said the group decided to take a broader approach with the currently introduced legislation than it has in past efforts, which focused specifically on spinal muscular atrophy.

“I consider this a really historic moment for SMA and other pediatric rare diseases, going from obscurity to a place where something significant and material could be done to make clinical trials available to children who desperately need it,” she said.

Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Peter King (R-NY) are cosponsors and a companion bill in the Senate was introduced by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), and is co-sponsored by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Kerry (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Mark Begich (D-AK).

Eichenauer said the group is pressing for consideration of the bill by the House Energy and Commerce Committee when lawmakers return to Washington in September as several sponsors sit on the panel. He said committee staff have been involved in writing the legislation and it has been vetted by the committee. “The committee knows the bill well,” he said. Further, FightSMA said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) is a longtime supporter of their cause.

Eichenauer said the group hopes the House could approve the legislation on the suspension calendar and then the bill could come before the Senate. Some cosponsors of the bill also sit on the Senate health committee, which FightSMA has also been working with on the legislation. Eichenauer added the group doesn’t know if the bill will move on its own or will be attached to a bigger package. Sources have said moving any legislation before the elections could be difficult.

Eichenauer said sponsors of the measure are exploring the possibility of a score from the Congressional Budget Office, but said it would not affect FightSMA’s ability to move forward with the bill. The legislation could also face difficulty with the looming “fiscal cliff.”

“There is no question that federal funding is going to be a challenge now and in the coming fiscal year,” Eichenauer said. “One of the chief advantages (of the bill), is that it does use federal dollars in a more highly-leveraged way. It takes infrastructure that is already there and expands it to leverage those dollars smartly.”

FightSMA is working over the recess to gather support in Congress and among other groups, with the Coalition for Pediatric Research, the National Down Syndrome Society and the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy endorsing the bill. Eichenauer said sponsors have discussed reaching out to other groups, including the National Organization for Rare Disorders. — Nanci Bompey

(ALEXANDRIA, VA. July 20, 2012) – A bill to authorize the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the creation of up to 20 pediatric research consortia focused on diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was introduced yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bipartisan bill, called the National Pediatric Research Network Act (NPRNA) is being introduced by Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Lois Capps (D-CA). It is designed in part to help achieve the goal of securing additional federal resources to accelerate clinical trials for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

“We are thrilled about this bill which is the result of the dedication of so many in the SMA community,” said Martha Slay, founder and immediate past president of FightSMA. “Legislation to benefit SMA is at the heart of the FightSMA mission.”

“Over the past year, FightSMA has worked with our champions in the Congress, Representatives McMorris Rodgers and Lois Capps, on this important legislation. With the support of longtime FightSMA ally House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), these two key members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health have collaborated to craft bipartisan legislation that will advance translational research and clinical trials for a variety of rare pediatric disorders, with SMA serving as a model disease,” said Ms. Slay.

“I am proud to join Rep. Capps in introducing the very important National Pediatric Research Network Act.  She has been an instrumental leader in the fight to promote pediatric research for genetic disorders, especially spinal muscular atrophy and Down syndrome,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.  “As the mother of a son with Down syndrome, I am confident this legislation will go a long way to improving the lives of those with genetic disorders.  I look forward to working in a bipartisan way to make sure this bill is signed into law.”

“I am proud to co-author this legislation with my friend  (Rep.) Cathy McMorris Rodgers, which would go a long way to increasing and improving research on children’s illnesses–especially rare and complex diseases–and developing new treatments to fight them,” said Congresswoman Capps. “Every parent’s worst fear is that their child becomes sick, and we owe it to all parents to do what we can to fight childhood illnesses.  I would also like to thank my constituents, Bill and Victoria Strong, for their tireless work on behalf of their daughter, Gwendolyn, and all children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and other rare diseases. Their dedication to fighting this terrible disease has been an inspiration for me and a driving force behind this bill,” said Congresswoman Capps.

Expanding on a previous pediatric research measure by Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), the bill calls for an appropriate number of new consortia to focus primarily on rare diseases, and specifically mentions SMA among the diseases that should be included.  The bill directs NIH to support consortia that conduct multisite clinical trials of therapies for pediatric rare diseases.

“FightSMA and our congressional sponsors have collaborated directly with senior health staff on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in drafting this legislation,” said Mike Calise, Chair of the FightSMA Board of Directors, “and we will continue to work with them to ensure that the committee considers the bill in a timely manner.”

The process of building bipartisan support for a companion bill in the Senate has begun, working with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). FightSMA’s objective is to have a bill introduced in the Senate as early as possible. “We will continue to push aggressively for enactment of this important legislation in 2012,” said Calise.

About FightSMA
FightSMA, an international nonprofit group, was founded in 1991 to accelerate a treatment or cure for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic cause of infant death. Since its formation, FightSMA has awarded research grants at more than 40 universities and research institutions in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy.

For more information, visit:  www.fightsma.org or contact Danielle Chan at 703.647.5032

(Richmond, Virginia) – In a move that’s sure to surprise at least a few Virginia retailers, the state government  announced recently that it will only accept electronic payments of sales tax.  The new policy, which was passed as part of the Commonwealth’s new budget, goes into effect in July.  VRMA is advocating on behalf of retailers to ensure a smooth transition to electronic-only filing and making sure that no retailer is penalized if they are unable to comply on time.

“This is a new policy that a lot of our retailers are likely unaware of, and it’s a policy that some of them may find difficult to follow at first,” said Virginia Retail Merchants Association Director of Government Affairs Jodi Roth.  “In some rural areas, it’s still impossible to get a reliable Internet connection.”

Business owners are being informed about the requirement via a mailing from the Virginia Department of Taxation.  Businesses should receive the brochure in the next two weeks.

Retailers who pay sales taxes on a monthly basis are required to file and pay electronically beginning with the July 2012 return, which is due August 20, 2012.  Retailers who file on a quarterly basis will be required to file and pay electronically beginning with the July–September 2013 return, due October 20, 2013.  To be considered an “on time” payment, returns must be submitted on or before the due date.  Pre-printed sales tax return coupons will no longer be mailed to business owners.

Fortunately, business owners who are unable to comply with the new filing policies before their next payment is due can file for a temporary waiver.  Instructions on how to file electronically or request a waiver are included in the mailer being sent by the tax department.  For more information, retailers can contact the Virginia Department of Taxation at (804) 367-8037 or go to http://tax.virginia.gov.

About VRMA
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association was established in 1905.  VRMA is a not-for-profit trade association representing retailers to educate, inform, and serve as a resource. VRMA and its member associations represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.  For more information, please visit www.virginiaretail.org.

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(Mechanicsville, VA) – Before you throw your hands up in the air in frustration because you can’t find your keys, or are overwhelmed by clutter in your home or office, think about giving Neatest Nest, a Professional Organizing company in Mechanicsville, Virginia (near Richmond), a call. Neatest Nest will help organize your life and share ideas and tips to keep your home or small business office in order.

With 15 years of organizing experience for various employers, family and friends, Becky Santelli decided to start Neatest Nest. Neatest Nest’s goal is to save you time and money so you can work and live more effectively and efficiently. Availability, personal touches and honesty make her services unique.

“I’m so excited to spread my wings in this new business venture,” said Santelli. “My goal is to help clients find a nest for everything and inspire them to keep everything neatly in their nest!”

Neatest Nest focuses on organizing attics, basements, closets, garages, kitchens, home or small business offices, and senior downsizing. Becky Santelli is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and the NAPO Richmond Chapter. More information about Neatest Nest is available online at www.neatestnest.com.

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As Mother’s Day gifts go, candy and flowers are fine, but a leading sleep tips website suggests that mom would really appreciate the chance to recharge her natural batteries more regularly.

“Whether it’s related to work, home or school, today’s moms are being pulled in multiple directions, and the tepid economy is only adding to the stress,” says Dan Schecter, senior vice president of Consumer Products at Carpenter Co. and creator of SleepBetter.org. “Motherhood has never been easy, but these days getting proper rest is a bigger challenge than ever for moms.”

Sleep deprivation is common with mothers, especially those with smaller children, and inadequate rest patterns can result in much more than daytime drowsiness. Moodiness, irritability, memory lapses and even weight gain can result from lack of rest, so it’s not a reach to say that getting good sleep is an important part of a healthy diet.

SleepBetter.org offers some tips for families to help mom get the rest she needs:

• Let mom grab a nap when things are quiet around the house (such as when baby is napping)
• Encourage mom to make a “to do” list rather than plunging into stimulating activities when the kids go to sleep
• Just as mom strives to help the kids unwind before bedtime, family members should remember she needs time to relax at the end of the day, too
• Make sure mom’s sleeping environment promotes the best quality rest: quiet, cool, dark, with comfortable and supportive pillows and mattress
• Remember, the bedroom should be for sleep and romance, not for paying bills or eating…except, of course, for breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day!

For more tips to make the most of your family’s sleep, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

(Richmond, Virginia) – The Adaptive Golf Program from Sheltering Arms, Central Virginia’s premier physical therapy rehabilitation provider, has a goal of educating members of the community, golf professionals, and individuals with disabilities to pursue golf as a lifelong leisure activity.  If you want to know whether it works, look no further for proof than Sid Cook.

Mr. Sid Cook utilizing the ParaGolfer

Mr. Cook attended one of Sheltering Arms’ golf clinics at Windy Hill Sports Complex.  He had to give up golf years ago because of limitations caused by his multiple sclerosis.  At the clinic, Sid was introduced to trained golf volunteers and the innovative ParaGolfer device.  The ParaGolfer allows disabled individuals to not only stand and hit a golf ball, but also ride around the course and play a full round including putting on the greens.  Within 15 minutes of practicing with the ParaGolfer, Sid was able to hit a golf ball 150 yards.  Sid’s wife said the experience has changed Sid’s life.  He is currently working toward becoming certified on the ParaGolfer, which will mean he’ll be able to use it unsupervised.

Sheltering Arms partners with two area golf facilities, Windy Hill Sports Complex and Birkdale Golf Club, to provide access to the ParaGolfer to area residents.  Each of the two golf courses has a ParaGolfer.

Sheltering Arms is holding a series of clinics this spring, summer and fall that are like the one that Sid Cook attended.  The clinics, all held at Windy Hill Sports Complex, are offered for $10 per session.  Participants will be given training with adaptive golf equipment and modifications, as well as training on the ParaGolfer if the participant requires it to play.  Assistance will be given by volunteers and Windy Hill’s Golf Professional, Janet Phillips.  More information is available by downloading this brochure.  Participants in Sheltering Arms’ Adaptive Golf Program can also take advantage of a number of upcoming free play dates at Brandermill Country Club.

Members of the public wishing to take advantage of the upcoming clinics or free play dates should contact Valerie Newman at 804-764-5275 or vnewman@shelteringarms.com.

About Sheltering Arms
Sheltering Arms helps patients find the Power to Overcome the obstacles of illness and injury with a complete range of physical rehabilitation and wellness services.  To learn more about Sheltering Arms’ two hospitals and nine outpatient clinics visit http://www.ShelteringArms.com, call 1-877-56-REHAB, or connect with Sheltering Arms on Facebook. (www.facebook.com/shelteringarms) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/SheltArmsRehab).

(Richmond, Virginia) – A battle for tax equality among businesses has come to an end.  Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has signed the sales tax fairness bill into law, ensuring that all retailers will be required to pay the same sales taxes in the Commonwealth.  The bill was strongly supported by the Virginia Retail Merchants Association (VRMA) and retailers across Virginia.

Businesses with a physical presence in Virginia are required to pay state sales tax on online purchases made by individuals with a Virginia address.  Amazon.com, which has a warehouse in Northern Virginia and two distribution centers planned for south of Richmond, has been using a loophole to avoid those taxes.  The bill signed by the governor, which was introduced by Senator Frank Wagner, closes that loophole.  As part of an agreement with the governor, Amazon will begin collecting sales taxes on purchases made by Virginians in September of 2013.

“We appreciate the efforts by Governor McDonnell and Senator Wagner on behalf of the retailers of the Commonwealth,” said VRMA Governmental Affairs Director Jodi Roth.  “We would also like to thank officials at Amazon, who were willing to negotiate to bring sales tax fairness to Virginia.”

For more information on the e-fairness issue in Virginia and across the country, please visit http://standwithmainstreet.com.

About VRMA
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association (VRMA), established in 1905, is a not-for-profit trade association representing retailers to educate, inform, and serve as a resource. VRMA and its retail member associations represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.  For more information, please visit www.virginiaretail.org.

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(Richmond, VA) – The arrival of spring is good news for people who have struggled with sleep disruptions over the winter months, despite the short term disruption to sleep patterns immediately after the change to Daylight Savings Time.

“It may sound a bit counter intuitive, but a good dose of sunlight can help you sleep at night,” says Dr. Lisa Shives, a medical doctor specializing in sleep issues who partners with SleepBetter.org to offer medical insights about health and rest issues. “The reason is found in our very nature. Light helps to regulate our biological clock and keep it on track.  Research has shown that people deprived of light for long periods of time can experience dramatic changes in their sleep, temperature and hormone cycles.”

Sleep tips and advice website Sleepbetter.org offers the following advice to take full advantage of the seasonal change:

• You need to reset your internal clock every day. The best way to do it is by getting plenty of sunlight.  Morning light is best, but if you get up and off to work before the sun comes up, be sure to get outside for a little while each day.
• Direct sunlight provides the most benefit. Most artificial indoor lighting is much less effective.
• Try to stick to consistent sleep times and wake-up times, even on weekends.

For more tips to make the most of your family’s sleep, please visit http://sleepbetter.org.  You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

(Richmond, Virginia) – Virginia Retail Merchants Association (VRMA) is hailing the end of a loophole that gave online giant Amazon.com an unfair competitive advantage in the commonwealth.

Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Virginia and Amazon have reached an agreement that will require Amazon to begin collecting sales taxes.  State law requires that online retailers with a physical presence in the commonwealth collect sales tax on purchases from individuals with a Virginia address, but Amazon has been using a loophole to avoid those taxes.  Amazon has a warehouse in Sterling and is planning to build two distribution centers south of Richmond.

As part of the agreement, Amazon will begin collecting sales taxes on purchases made by Virginians in September of 2013.  A bill introduced by Senator Frank Wagner (SB 597) has been modified to reflect the agreement, and was passed by the House of Delegates Finance Committee today.  It still must be ratified by the Senate and House, and then will go to the governor to be signed.

“We appreciate the efforts by Governor McDonnell and Senator Wagner to bring about sales tax fairness, and we congratulate the governor on the success of his negotiations with Amazon,” said VRMA President Laurie Aldrich.  “Retailers understand that there will always be competition in the marketplace.  This agreement allows them to compete on an even playing field.”

For more information on the e-fairness issue in Virginia, please visit http://standwithmainstreet.com/virginia.

About VRMA
The Virginia Retail Merchants Association (VRMA), established in 1905, is a not-for-profit trade association representing retailers to educate, inform, and serve as a resource. VRMA and its retail member associations represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.  For more information, please visit www.virginiaretail.org.

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