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Serving Harris, Fort Bend and Surrounding Counties for over 30 years

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020 l Published Weekly From Houston Vol. 34 • No. 8 • 16 Pages (2 sections) • 50 cents • 713-774-5140 • www.voiceofasia.news • E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com

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Dinesh Singhal for Justice of the 1st Court of Appeals, Place 3 as an emcee for Kavi sammelans. Dinesh and his family have been attending Chinmaya Mission for years, and Dinesh has been a team leader of the Chinmaya cooking team.

Dinesh Singhal, Attorney

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ouston attorney Dinesh Singhal is the first Indian American to run for Justice of the 1st Court of Appeals, Place 3. Dinesh has practiced law for 27 years and is licensed to practice law in Texas, New York, California, and New Delhi.

Dinesh has received several endorsements, including from the Houston Chronicle, who chose Dinesh over two of his primary opponents stating, “We recommend Dinesh Singhal, 52, who has tried more than 25 cases and handled 19 appeals. He is board-certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

He has a reputation for being intelligent and experienced.”

Dinesh has received endorsements from distinguished human rights champions Sissy Farenthold, Muffie Moroney, Sherrie Matula, Ray & Bobbie Cohen, as well as from democratic & progressive organizations Houston Lawyers Association, Area 5 Democrats, Texas Democrats with Disabilities, Our Revolution, Bay Area New Democrats, and Greater Heights Democratic Club.

Dinesh has been an active volunteer for Indian causes, including serving as a co-chair of India Studies program at the University of Houston, and as director of the International Hindi Association. Dinesh has promoted the Hindi language in Houston, including serving

What also distinguishes Dinesh’s candidacy from his primary opponents is his 20+ years of civil rights work in promoting democratic values.

He has worked for the American Civil Liberties Union as a UHLC Dean Public Interest Fellow. He has served on the boards of Houston’s Iconic interfaith institution, Rothko Chapel, and on the board of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. He is currently serving on the advisory board of Rice University’s Center for Studies on Women, Gender, & Sexuality. At Rice University, Dinesh sponsored Balkishan Award for the last five years, an annual award given to a student for exploring religion’s impact on Women and social justice issues.

Dinesh has been a pro-bono counsel for Houston Interfaith Worker Justice Center assisting undocumented workers to recover wages from unscrupulous employers. Dinesh has also served as the fund chair for Houston’s Voices Breaking Boundaries.

The 2020 March primaries present Texas voters with decisions that may be just as important at the state and local level as the election of the President: the nomination of state judicial candidates. Our state judges make critical decisions that directly impact life and liberty. The First Court of Appeals reviews orders and judgments from all trial courts from ten counties (Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Waller, and Washington).

As a Justice on the First Court of Appeals, Dinesh has promised never to allow injustice to evade his pen “I will

review trial court judgments to ensure that the state civil, criminal, and family courts protect your rights and afford due process to all. Our courts exist to guarantee fair and impartial Justice for everyone, regardless of means or influence.”

Dinesh has held several leadership positions within the legal profession, including serving as the President of the Harris County Democratic Lawyers’ Association and as the director of the State Bar of Texas and Texas Association of Civil Trial & Appellate Specialists.

Dinesh came alone to America as an international student with $500 in his pocket. As a solo/ small firm attorney for the past 20 years, he knows firsthand what it means to work hard for success. It took him 22 years to become a naturalized citizen. Dinesh has done everything possible to become a model immigrant, solid citizen, and a competent attorney to earn our support.

Dinesh supports restrictions on political campaign monies from litigants or law firms who have cases in a particular court. Dinesh also supports higher qualification standards for judges and will support performance review as a basis for reelection. To achieve these goals, Dinesh has pledged that he will: • Refuse to accept campaign funds from litigants, attorneys, or law firms who are involved in any matter on my docket.

• Not seek a judicial office again if the Houston Bar Association lawyers’ overall “Excellent” and “Very good” rating for me does not exceed an average of 70%.

For further information or to inquire about the campaign, address inquiries to Dinesh@ Singhallaw.com or call Dinesh Singhal at 713-222-8500.

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Pooja Jesrani, NASA’s first ever South Asian female flight director

33 Asian American Candidates are on the Primary Election Ballot!

Houston Area Organizations Asking for Your Support

Jesrani is in charge of mission control not only at the Johnson Space Center, but she also partners with agencies around the world. (Image Facebook)

by Pooja Lodhia

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OUSTON, Tuesday, February 18, 2020 -- In NASA’s 62year history, there have only been 100 flight directors.

Jesrani is in charge of mission control not only at the Johnson Space Center, but she also partners with agencies around the world.

Only 15 of them have been women, and now, the agency has its first South Asian female flight director.

Earlier this month, Houston-area resident Christina Koch came home after 328 days, breaking the record for the longest spaceflight ever done by a woman and giving researchers a valuable look on the long-term effects of space on female bodies.

After 12 years, Pooja Jesrani has seen a lot of changes, with even more changes on the way as their team works to put the first woman on the moon in the next four years.

“I used to have astronaut posters in my room because of my dad. He was so into it, and it trickled down on me,” said Jesrani.

From a space nerd who graduated from Clements High School in Sugar Land, to a wife and mother now directing the International Space Station, she’s become a flight director with a lot of responsibility.

She graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and started working for NASA soon afterward.

NASA’s biggest priority right now is its Artemis program, which is a mission to get the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024.

From there, the goal is Mars.

“To even think about how many planets we have in our solar system and our galaxy and sort of the whole universe.

The fact that we as a human species have only gone to the moon, which is our closest celestial body, is kind of crazy to me,” Jesrani said. “To think about how much further there is for us to explore and move on to is inspiring.”

- KTRK Channel 13

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KAUSHAL PATEL A SSOCIATES

F ORENSIC D ATA C ONSULTANT

Asian American Candidate Forum event organizers with some of the candidates that attended on Feb 12th. Photo provided

by Forum. Read report on Page 5

Suleman Lalani for Texas Representative of House District 26

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r. Lalani is running for Texas Representative of House District 26, which mostly comprises of Sugar Land and Richmond areas.

Dr. Suleman Lalani has been in private practice in the Greater Houston area for the last two decades and in Sugar Land for 15 years. In the early 90’s Dr. Lalani arrived in the United States to begin his medical career. He chose the United States because here is where the medicine was the most advanced, here is where the greatest quality of healthcare was provided and because this is the world’s greatest nation. It was a shock to discover how inequitable the healthcare system was in this wealthy nation.

The advancements and the high level of care was undeniable, but the access to the common citizen was shameful.

Throughout his career, Dr. Lalani tried to shorten that gap through his own practice and charitable endeavors—always wanting to do more. Now, after decades of practice and thousands of patients, Dr. Lalani has decided to do more for his fellow Texans. Who better to advocate for the healthcare and bet-

terment of a community than it’s trusted physician?

Dr. Lalani completed his fellowship training at Baylor College of Medicine and has attended courses at Harvard Medical School and Columbia University College of Physicians. He has been triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and he has also been certified by the American Medical Directors Association.

Dr. Lalani believes strongly in philanthropy and volunteer service. He has formerly served as the Chairman for the Regional Committee of the Aga Khan Foundation USA for four years.

The Aga Khan Foundation operates under the mandate to alleviate global poverty and improve the quality of life for all. He is also involved with raising awareness and funds for the National MS Society and Alzheimer’s Association. Locally he serves on the Ft Bend Rainbow Room, meeting the needs of Fort Bend County’s abused and

Dr. Suleman Lalani Imge: Campaign

neglected children and adults. Once elected, Dr. Lalani wants to represent you the people and not the political bosses.

He will work to: Improve Healthcare Access , Lower prescription medical costs, Enhance Healthcare and focus on preventative care, Work with the state to find long term funding for public education in Texas, Attract and retain qualified teachers, End high stakes STAAR testing and instead, invest in early childhood and special needs education

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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

By Joseph Kristol and Stephen Petraeus

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would just say there is one misperception of our veterans and that is they are somehow damaged goods. I don’t buy it.”

So said retired Marine Corps general Jim Mattis during remarks at the Marines’ Memorial Club in San Francisco in 2014.

The line strikes a chord with us, as we’re sure it would with the great majority of veterans with whom we served. We’ve all, by and large, been trying simply to navigate the sometimes challenging transition to civilian life — finishing school, finding a good job, raising a family — without the added challenge of being perceived by our peers as “damaged goods,” “ticking time bombs” or “killing machines.”

While no president could ever shake our pride in our military service, we fear that President Trump’s recent decision to pardon two service members involved in war crimes cases and reverse disciplinary action against another — and his stated motives for doing so — will damage Americans’ perception of the military, encouraging the view that veterans are “broken.”

On Thursday, the president showed fresh contempt for the professional judgment of military officers, tweeting “The Navy will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin.” The Navy had intended to oust Gallagher from the SEALs for, among other things, his conviction at court-martial for posing in a photograph with the corpse of a 17-year-old captive Islamic State fighter.

Our generation of post-9/11 veterans has been relatively fortunate. We returned home from war to an overwhelmingly supportive country — majorities of veterans and the public say most Americans look up to people who have served in the military.

By Frederick Starr and Svante Cornell

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his month, the Trump administration released its strategy for Central Asia.

This marks the first time in more than two decades that the United States has come up with a serious approach to a region where vast economic, geopolitical, and civilizational stakes are at issue. It follows visits by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the first trip to the region by someone in that role in half a decade.

Long seen as a stagnant land of Soviet holdovers, Central Asia is undergoing a dramatic transition led by its two most powerful countries, Kazakhstan and Uz-

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

Trump’s ill-advised pardons will damage Americans’ view of the military

Former U.S. Army lieutenant Clint Lorance was serving prison time in Leavenworth for murders committed in combat in Afghanistan before the pardon by the President. (Getty Images/File photo)

That is to be celebrated. But the positive view hasn’t always been the case, and we should not take it for granted.

In 1981, in the shadow of the Vietnam War, confidence in the military as an institution hovered around 50 percent. It didn’t recover until after the 1991 Gulf War, and then continued to rise after the terrorist attacks of Sept.

11, 2001. Today, even as the war in Afghanistan nears the end of its second decade, more than 70 percent of Americans express confidence in the military — a higher level than for any other American institution, according to Gallup. The president’s pardoning of those who dishonored the uniform threatens to erode this high level of confidence.

His apparent rationale for the pardons has given new life to the “broken veteran” stereotype.

Earlier this year, commenting on the case of Army Maj. Mathew L. Golsteyn, who was scheduled to be tried for murder

next year, the president tweeted, “we train our boys to be killing machines, then prosecute them when they kill!” In November 2018, he commented on the case of a mass shooting suspect in Thousand Oaks, Calif., who had served in the Marines: “He was in the war . . . they come back, they’re never the same.” And last Friday, the White House’s official statement on the pardons said the president just wants to give members of the military “the confidence to fight.”

These comments don’t reflect the truth about the military in which we served. The soldiers and Marines we led in Afghanistan were filled with confidence, and while they were well-versed in infantry tactics, we did not transform them into so-called killing machines. We trained them to be disciplined and proficient, and to take seriously their responsibilities.

There is a difference between giving a soldier the benefit of

the doubt and excusing unacceptable and illegal acts. (One of the pardon recipients is former Army 1st Lt. Clint Lorance, who was serving a 19-year sentence after being convicted of second-degree murder in 2013 for ordering his soldiers to open fire on three men in Afghanistan. Nine soldiers in his platoon testified against him.)

The U.S. military is given a unique charge: the right to kill on behalf of the state. Exercising that right, though, must be done in a manner consistent with the nation’s ideals. With only rare exceptions, members of the well-trained and professional U.S. military execute their missions with honor. For the few who don’t, the armed services must be allowed to hold them accountable.

When Mattis spoke in San Francisco five years ago, rejecting the “damaged goods” label for veterans, he also said, “If we tell our veterans enough that this is what is wrong with them, they may actually start believing it.”

For now, we remain confident that most of our fellow veterans will continue to reject this label.

But we are disappointed that the commander in chief is now perpetuating the caricature of the broken veteran and endorsing a cynical view of what it means to support the troops and those who have served.

Joseph Kristol is a former Marine Corps officer. Stephen Petraeus is a former Army officer. Both served combat tours in Afghanistan as infantry platoon leaders.

- The Washington Post

A new strategy for Central Asia bekistan. Both have plunged into meaningful domestic reforms focused on expanding citizen rights, governmental responsiveness, and the rule of law. They have also taken important steps toward establishing their own structures for regional cooperation, a process that could result in a kind of Central Asian version of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Neither George Bush nor Barack Obama bothered to think strategically about Central Asia, shifting their attention instead to Afghanistan and the war on terror.

Afghanistan has been intimately linked with Central Asia for 3,000 years, but for the past two decades, the United States treated the two as separate worlds. Subordinated to American concerns in Afghanistan, Russia, and China, Central Asia became an afterthought. But in an era where great power competition is seen as the most serious challenge to national security, it follows that the United States should care about countries sandwiched between Russia, China, India, Iran, and Pakistan.

The new strategy emphasizes American support for the sover-

eignty and independence of the Central Asian states. It encourages the growth of regional cooperation among them, and acknowledges positive steps toward political and economic reform in the region. The new strategy indicates that at long last Washington is beginning to take Central Asia seriously. Having finally taken important first steps, it should now finish the job.

Frederick Starr and Svante Cornell are the chairman and director of the Central Asia Caucasus Institute of the American Foreign Policy Council. - The Hill

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33 Asian American Candidates are on the Primary Election Ballot!

Houston Area Organizations Asking for Your Support in Houston including Helen Shih of the United Chinese Americans, Nabila Mansoor of Emgage, Cecil Fong of Houston 80-20 and OCA Greater-Houston, Nishan Khan of the Bangladeshi American Political Affairs Council, Abur Khan of the Pakistan American Voter Registration Initiative (PAVRI), Arun

by a Staff Reporter

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OUSTON - (Feb 15, 2020) - The 2020 Pri-

mary Election in Texas will be on March, 3rd, Tuesday (Super Tuesday). Early voting has started this week and will continue till Feb 28. This year, a total of 14 states will join the Super Tuesday Primaries, including two large states of Texas and California. The purpose is to elect the winning candidates from each political party, Democratic and Republican, who will be then heading to the historical 2020 General Election in November.

A coalition of greater Houston Asian American organizations has jointly hosted an Asian American Candidate Forum in the evening of Feb 12th, at the Turkish Center, to help the communities and organization leaders meet these candidates and hear their campaign themes. In this election, there are 33 Asian American candidates on the ballots of both political parties in the Houston area. The number of candidates have doubled from the 2018 election, and is a four-time increase of those in 2016.

This unprecedented enthusiasm of Asian Americans running for office is triggered by what’s happening in the national and local politics since 2016. This is obvious from hearing what candidates have spoken about passionately during the forum. They expressed grave concerns and clear desires of taking leadership roles in the public offices and changes they wish to bring in both government

Mundra of the Indo-American Association of Greater Houston, Rahul Pandit of the Hindu American Foundation, and Shobana Muratee of Voice of Asia. Other sponsor organizations included Asian-Pacific American Public Affairs and Indian American Political Action Committee.

KP George, Fort Bend County Judge, spoke at the event as one of the Asian Americans elected in 2018. and local communities. This was very much welcomed by loud cheers and claps from a packed full-house audience during the event.

Among the 33 candidates, 8 are running for Congressional seats, 3 are for Texas judiciary positions, 9 are for Texas House Representatives, and the remaining are for county-wide positions including tax assessors, judges and constables. In the contested race of Congressional District 22 and Texas House 26 which cover Fort Bend County with a high density of Asian American immigrants, there are 12 Asian Americans running on both parties. Down-ballot candidates asked for every note possible as these positions are

even more relevant to everyday life and local policies such as tax, safety, and flood control.

Organizers of the forum emphasized on the importance of voter participation among the Asian Americans which historically do not vote in the Primary. But due to the current political climate and a high number of candidates, community support becomes paramount in this election. As voters can only pick one political party in the Primary, therefore, in crowded races, doing the research thoroughly on the candidates and understanding who is who in the race, the motives of their running are obviously going to be important.

Please check the county election office for voting location and hours, and sample ballot.

Houston Chronicle and Texas Tribune, along with other major civic organizations, such as the League of Women’s Voters (https://www.vote411.org/texas) also have descriptions and coverage of the election, in addition to introduction or endorsement of the candidates. List of the Asian American candidates in Houston area is available from sponsor organization facebook or email event organizer helenshih1111@gmail.com.

Organizing committee of the event comes from different Asian American organizations

Sri Preston Kulkarni, candidate for Congressional District TX-22, spoke to the assembled audience.

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Section 2

Family Health

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

Outpatient palliative care improves Parkinson outcomes

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ompared with standard care alone, outpatient palliative care is associated with benefits among patients with Parkinson disease and related disorders, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in JAMA Neurology.

Benzi M. Kluger, M.D., from the University of Colorado in Denver, and colleagues evaluated whether outpatient palliative care is associated with improvements in patient-centered outcomes compared with standard care among 210 patients with Parkinson disease and related disorders and 175 caregivers.

The researchers found that compared with participants receiving standard care alone at six months, participants receiving the palliative care intervention had better quality of life. There was no significant difference in caregiver burden

between the groups. Significant differences in nonmotor symptom burden, motor symptom severity, completion of advance directives, caregiver anxiety, and caregiver burden at 12 months all favored the palliative care intervention. Benefits of the intervention were greater for persons with higher pallia-

tive care needs. No outcomes favored standard care.

“The lack of diversity and implementation of palliative care at experienced centers suggests a need for implementation research in other populations and care settings,” the authors write.

- HealthDay

Shown to impair hormone production, disrupting sleep, cognition, and memory · The team has learned more about how traumatic brain injuries trigger a long-term reduction in growth hormone that’s linked with several health issues. Our TBI survivors who receive hormone replacement therapy experience dramatic symptom relief from these conditions.

Because the issues return if treatment is stopped, the team seeks to better understand the post-TBI syndrome and learn how and who growth hormone replacement works so well in order to develop new treatments.

They’ve published two new studies showing how growth hormone strengthens connections within the brain, decreases fatigue, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances and improves the gut microbiome.

Please use the following link for a video summary of the studies. A downloadable version is available upon request.

We’ve identified someone who has benefited from growth hormone treatment following a brain injury.

They are available for interview upon request.

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ALVESTON, Texas – More than 2.5 million people in the United States alone experience a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, each year. Some of these people are plagued by a seemingly unrelated cascade of health issues for years after their head injury, including fatigue, depression, anxiety, memory issues, and sleep disturbances.

A collaborative team, led by Dr. Randall Urban, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston’s Chief Research Officer and Professor of Endocrinology, has spent the past 20 years investigating this post-TBI syndrome.

The team has learned more about how a TBI triggers a reduction in growth hormone secretion and why most TBI patients improve after growth hormone replacement treatment.

The studies led to the definition of the syndrome as brain

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Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Plan Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D Will Provide Better Coverage, More Access and Improved Transparency for Medicare Beneficiaries

Traumatic brain injuries linked to issues Key Points

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injury associated fatigue and altered cognition, or BIAFAC, as recently described in a commentary published by Drs Urban and Brent Masel, UTMB Professor of Neurology, in the Journal of Neurotrauma. Detailed information on the team’s two most recent advances also in the Journal of Neurotrauma.

The team’s work on brain injuries began in the late 1990’s when Galveston philanthropist Robert Moody asked the team whether TBI caused dysfunction of the hormones made by the brain’s pituitary gland and funded research for the study. His son, Russell, had suffered a serious TBI during a car accident and was seeking ways to improve the life of his son and others living with brain injuries.

The team has been building on the discovery that TBI triggers a long-term reduction in growth hormone, or GH, secretion that is linked with BIAFAC. Most TBI patients experience dramatic symptom relief with GH replacement therapy, but the symptoms return if the treatment stops. The researchers are trying to better understand BIAFAC and exactly how and why GH replacement works so well in order to develop new interventions.

“We already knew that even mild TBI triggers both short-and long-term changes to functional connections in the brain,” said Urban. “GH administration has been extensively linked with both protection and repair of the brain following damage or disease, however we didn’t know much about the particular mechanisms and pathways involved.”

They examined 18 people with a history of mild TBI and inadequate GH secretion. The subjects received GH replacement in a year-long, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and were assessed for changes in physical performance, resting metabolic rate, fatigue, sleep quality, and mood.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging was also used throughout the year to assess changes in brain structure and functional connections.

The study showed that GH replacement was linked with increased lean body mass and decreased fat mass as well as reduced fatigue, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance. It was also found, for the first time, that these improvements were associated with better communications among brain networks that have been previously associated with GH deficiency. They also noted increases in both grey and white matter in frontal brain regions, the “core communications center of the brain,” that could be related to cognitive improvements.

“We noticed that TBI patients had altered amino acid and hormonal profiles suggesting chronic intestinal inflammation, so we recently completed a trial to investigate the role of the gut-brain axis in the long-lasting effects of TBI,” said Urban. “We compared the fecal microbes of 22 moderate/severe TBI patients residing in a long-term care facility with 18 healthy age-matched control subjects, identifying disruptions of intestinal metabolism and changes in nutrient utilization in TBI patients that could explain the reduced growth hormone function.”

The results suggest that the people with TBI-related fatigue and altered cognition also have different fecal bacterial communities than the control group. Urban said that the findings suggest that supplementing or replacing the dysbiotic intestinal communities may help to ease the symptoms experienced after TBI. “These two studies further characterize BIAFAC and act as a springboard for new treatment options,” said Urban. “We hope that the publications will focus the collective wisdom of the research community to better understand and treat this syndrome, providing hope for many. Because these symptoms can manifest months to years after the initial injury and as this cluster of symptoms hasn’t been previously grouped together, it often goes unidentified in the medical community.”

The centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule and the Advance Notice Part II to further advance the agency’s efforts to strengthen and modernize the Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug programs. The changes proposed today would lower beneficiary cost sharing on some of the most expensive prescription drugs, promote the use of generic drugs, and allow beneficiaries to know in advance and compare their out-of-pocket payments for different prescription drugs.

Together, these proposed changes advance President Trump’s Executive Orders on Protecting and Improving Medicare for Our Nation’s Seniors and Advancing American Kidney Health as well as several of the CMS strategic initiatives. The proposed changes described in the Advance Notice are expected to increase plan revenue by 0.93%.

As part of President Trump’s commitments to promoting price transparency and lowering prescription drug prices, the proposed rule would require Part D plans to offer real-time drug price comparison tools to beneficiaries starting January 1, 2022, so consumers could shop for lower-cost alternative therapies under their prescription drug benefit plan.

For example, beneficiaries would be able to compare drug prices at the doctor’s office to find the most cost-effective prescription drugs for their health needs.

In addition, if a doctor recommends a specific cholesterol-lowering drug, the patient could easily look up what the copay would be and see if a different, similarly effective option might save the patient money. With this tool, patients would be better able to know what they’ll need to pay before they’re standing at the pharmacy cash register, and pharmaceutical companies and

plans would have to compete on the basis of the costs that patients face for their prescription drugs.

In the Medicare Part D program, beneficiaries choose the prescription drug plan that best meets their needs. Many plans offering prescription drug coverage place drugs into different “tiers” on their formularies.

Today, all drugs on a plan’s specialty tier – the tier that has the highest-cost drugs – have the same level of cost sharing.

The proposed rule would allow a second, “preferred” specialty tier in Part D with a lower cost sharing amount. This proposal is designed to give Part D plans more tools to lower out of pocket costs for enrollees.

Plans would be able to demand a better deal from manufacturers of the highest-cost drugs in exchange for placing their products on the “preferred” specialty tier.

Under the Part D program, plans currently do not have to disclose to CMS the measures they use to evaluate pharmacy performance in their network agreements. CMS has heard concerns from pharmacies that the measures plans use to assess their performance are unattainable or otherwise unfair.

The measures used by plans potentially impact pharmacy reimbursements.

Therefore, the proposed rule would require Part D plans to disclose such information to enable CMS to track how plans are measuring and applying pharmacy performance measures. CMS will also be able to report this information publicly to increase transparency on the process and to inform the industry in its new efforts to develop a standard set of pharmacy performance measures.

CMS is also seeking comment on Part D pharmacy performance measures more broadly, including stakeholders’ recommendations for potential Part D Star Ratings metrics that could

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900

incentivize the uptake of a standard set of measures once the industry establishes one.

One way to help lower drug prices for beneficiaries is to encourage greater use of lower price generics and biosimilars.

In general, plans are already achieving high utilization rates, but there is room to do better.

In the Advance Notice, CMS is seeking comment on potentially developing measures of generic and biosimilar utilization in Medicare Part D as part of a plan’s star rating. This would reward plans based on the rate at which they encourage market adoption of these competitor products and lower costs for patients.

Currently, beneficiaries with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) are only allowed to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans in limited circumstances.

Today’s proposed rule implements the 21st Century Cures Act requirements to give all beneficiaries with ESRD the option to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan starting in 2021. This will give patients with ESRD access to more affordable Medicare coverage choices and extra benefits such as transportation or home-delivered meals.

- Source: CMS

To choose right Medicare Plan, Long Term Care Plan and/or small group and individual health insurance plan contact Sudhir Mathuria at 713-771-2900.

VOICE OF ASIA 7

Houston Chronicle endorses Sri Preston Kulkarni in TX-22’s Democratic Primary

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UGAR LAND, TXThis morning, Sri Preston Kulkarni, Democratic candidate for TX-22, was endorsed by the Houston Chronicle in the Democratic Primary for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District. In their announcement, the Chronicle cited Kulkarni’s mix of insider and outsider perspective that comes from a 14 year career as a Foreign Service Officer and running a grassroots campaign in TX-22 for both the 2018 and 2020 cycle.

Houston Chronicle: We recommend Sri Kulkarni in the Democratic primary for U.S. House 22nd District [Editorial] “We see Kulkarni as the strongest possible candidate for Democrats hoping to turn the seat blue.”

“Given his close finish against Olson two years ago, Democrats can be optimistic about Kulkarni’s prospects for flipping the seat. He’s raised enough money for his campaign to contest even the best-financed Republican opposition in November. We recommend Democrats take advantage of that head start and vote for him in the primary.”

Sri Preston Kulkarni is the son of an Indian immigrant father and a mother whose family descends from Sam Houston. Prior to running for Congress, Kulkarni spent 14 years with the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer serving overseas tours in Iraq, Russia, Taiwan, Jamaica, and Jerusalem. Kulkarni is a former Defense, Foreign Policy and Veteran Affairs Advisor to Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY). Kulkarni has been endorsed by Representatives Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Lucille Roybal Allard (CA-40), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8), Tom Malinowski *NJ7), Ro Khanna (CA-17), and Nick Lampson (Ret. TX-22).

Kulkarni has also earned the coveted endorsement of the AFL-CIO TGC, Asian American Action Fund, and GLBT Caucus.

COMMUNITY

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FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

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Fort Bend View

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

Section 2

Sugar Land, Katy, Stafford, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg and Meadows Place

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

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Harmony Science Academy - Katy celebrates National Children’s Dental Health Month

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Harmony Public Schools are 58 high performing PreK-12 col-

Photo courtesy Harmony Science Academy - KATY

lege preparatory charter schools throughout Texas. Harmony blends the highest standards and expectations, with a rigorous math- and science-centered curriculum and dedicated and engaged teachers and families to cultivate excellence and prepare students to succeed in college, ca-

reers and life. At Harmony Public Schools, we believe every child can succeed, and we are committed to helping them realize their full potential.

To learn more about Harmony Public Schools and our 58 campuses across Texas, please visit: www.harmonytx.org

Foster grandparents making a positive difference at Armstrong Elementary

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ORT BEND - Who would have thought that five adult volunteers could make such a huge impact on the students and staff at Armstrong Elementary in just a few short months? Since October of this school year, the Foster Grandparents, as they are known, have graced the classrooms, lunchroom and other areas of the school to ensure that students are provided the extra support and care they need to succeed.

“We love our Foster Grandparents! We currently have five individuals volunteering with us. They’re giving that extra love and gentle care that students want, and that’s what we love about them,” said Armstrong Elementary Parent Educator Shaneka Richardson.

Armstrong’s Foster Grandparents, all of whom are trained volunteers, include Cynthia Frierson, Delois Blueitt, Shyrl Bolton and married couple Maria Teresa Ospina and Jairo Arias. They are participants of

19 candidates to compete in contested U.S. Congress District 22 primary

ORT BEND -- For the first time in over a decade, Republican Rep. Pete Olson will not be on the ballot for the U.S. Congress District 22 seat, which encompasses northern Brazoria County and portions of Fort Bend and Harris counties. Instead, voters will have to choose which of the 19 candidates they would like to see move past the March primary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized community water fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.

For children younger than age 8, fluoride helps strengthen the adult (permanent) teeth that are developing under the gums.

About Harmony Public Schools

Tel: 713-774-5140

F

ATY - February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and the students and staff at Harmony Science Academy – Katy welcomed dental professionals into the classroom on Thursday, February 13, 2020. Students were shown how to correctly brush their teeth, floss and learned about the importance of using fluoride which corresponds with this year’s national theme “Fluoride in water prevents cavities! Get it from the tap!”

Harmony Science Academy – Katy would like to thank Smile Studio Orthodontics, Pediatric Dental Safari and Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental for taking time to participate in this year’s Dental Day.

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the Texas Health and Human Services’ Foster Grandparents Program. The program is funded primarily by the Corporation for National Community Service and serves a dual purpose – to provide income-eligible adults, age 55 and older, with meaningful volunteer opportunities and meet critical community needs by serving children with exceptional needs. The program has been in operation since 1965 and is available at 17 different sites in Texas, eight of which are administered by Texas Health and Human Services.

Retired Fort Bend ISD employee Delois Blueitt was happy to return to the district in her new role as a Foster Grandparent. Her first year in the program, she volunteers four days a week and looks forward to working with the Armstrong students and staff.

“It’s very rewarding for me to support the school, and I hope I’m doing a good job working with the students,” said Blueitt.

“I help PPCD [Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities] and kindergarten students stay on task, and help first graders with reading and math.”

She also volunteers with FBISD’s Shared Dreams Program during back to school, the Holiday Cheer event in the winter, and supports Second Mile Ministries and Houston’s Food Bank.

Like Blueitt, married couple Maria Teresa Ospina and Jairo Arias also look forward to volunteering as Foster Grandparents. They spend five days a week mentoring, tutoring and motivating first grade bilingual students at Armstrong to do their best each day. They also teach students life skills, such as tying shoelaces.

The two have been married for 50 years and have two adult sons. Although they have no biological grandchildren of their own, they both agree that “the Armstrong students are our grandchildren and that makes us

With 15 Republicans and four Democrats vying for spots in the primary election, and five of those candidates being from Pearland, there are a lot of moving parts to keep track of, especially since either party has a fair chance of winning the district, said Mike Jones, a political science professor at Rice University. Jones said the high number of candidates is because District 22 is an open seat where both parties have a real chance to win in November.

Shayne Green, the chair of the Brazoria County Republican Party, said the number of candidates indicates how hotly contested the area is.

“The whole country is looking at this race, and there are people in this area who are strong Republicans with good ideas who want the chance to go to Washington,” Green said.

Agreeing that the seat will be competitive, Kris McGarvey, chair of the Brazoria County Democratic Party, said Democrat Sri Preston Kulkarni securing 44.75% of the vote in 2018 has encouraged candidates to run.

“The current administration and Republican Party are out of line with everyone’s values,” McGarvey said. “It’s a perfect time to run.”

- The local effect When it comes to the effect of the election on Pearland, Green is confident in a strong Republican presence, he said. Of the two Republicans from Pearland running, Greg Hill and John Camarillo, he said it is a good posi-

very happy.”

Mrs. Ospina says the program not only benefits the students and staff, but the Foster Grandparents as well. “Interacting with the students and teachers keeps us physically and mentally active and gives us a chance to give back to society,” said Ospina.

tion to make a difference.

On the contrary, McGarvey said the Democratic outlook in Pearland is good, with Carmine Petrillo III, Derrick Reed and Nyanza Moore running as Democrats from the city.

“The people of Pearland aren’t really well represented right now,” McGarvey said.

“Democratic candidates have a personal commitment to serving the people there.”

In District 22, about twothirds of the voting population is in Fort Bend County. While this means Pearland and Brazoria County are not the dominant presence in the voting population, the results from this election will still influence county politics.

McGarvey pointed to Fort Bend County elected officials, saying they already reflect the area’s diversity.

A Democratic win in District 22 would create the narrative that Fort Bend County has gone irreversibly blue, Jones said.

“It would discourage the Re-

publicans’ hopes in the county,” Jones said. “If you’re a Brazoria County Republican, you might look to Fort Bend as the canary in the coal mine.”

- Demographic shifts The decline of the white population in conjunction with an increasing Asian American and Latino proportion is one demographic change that may affect party support in the area, Jones said.

Green said changing demographics may influence politics in the county, but it only means they have to work harder to get their message out.

According to the U.S. Census five-year estimates in 2010, the Brazoria County population was roughly 55.1% white, 26.8% Hispanic, 11.4% black, 5.1% Asian and 1.7% other races. In this context, Hispanic refers to people of all races, while other categories are non-Hispanic.

In the 2018 estimates, the Brazoria County population was about 48.1% white, 30.2% Hispanic, 13.3% black, 6.4% Asian and 2% other races.

- KTRK

Even more excited about the Foster Grandparents program are the Armstrong students and teachers.

Second grade student Elizabeth Trejo admits she gets happy when she sees Ms. Bolton, or Grandma Grace as she calls her.

“I really like Grandma Grace

because she helps me learn math problems and sound out words and read chapter books,” said Trejo. “We also get to eat lunch together and talk about my day.”

To learn more about the Foster Grandparents Program, visit the Texas Health and Human Services website or call (281) 344-3515.

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

HOLLYWOOD - BOLLYWOOD

Section 2

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www.voiceofasia.news

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Email: voiceasia@aol.com

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ndian photographer Dabboo Ratnani brought out the stars for the launch of his star-studded 2020 calendar, an annual tradition, in Mumbai on February 17.

Mumbai’s ‘V Unbeatable’ wins America’s Got Talent: The Champions Season 2

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OS ANGELES, Monday, February, 17, 2020 - The Mumbai-based dance group V Unbeatable has won the second season of “America’s Got Talent: The Champions.” The dancers found the international glory with their victory on the US show on Monday.

Congratulating V Unbeatables on their win, a post on the official page of “America’s Got Talent” read: “Give it up for your new #AGTChampion winners, @v_unbeatable.”

A video is doing the rounds on the internet in which the group members can be seen hugging each other after hearing the result. The audience even gave a standing ovation to the group.

V Unbeatable, which is composed of 29 dancers from Mumbai, India, first appeared on

“America’s Got Talent” in 2019, winning a Golden Buzzer from guest judge Dwyane Wade.

The group came in fourth place last year, but this time around, V. Unbeatable won the trophy in “America’s Got Talent: The Champions”, reports ustoday. com.

The group has received immense support from the Indian audience too. Even, Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh wished them luck before the finale’s announcement. “”I am very happy that V Unbeatable have made it to the finals of ‘America’s Got Talent’.

This is unprecedented. I’d like to give my best wishes to the troupe. I just want to say that whatever you have achieved on the world stage is unprecedented. To do what you guys have

done on the world stage in such a spectacular fashion, you have won the hearts of the entire nation.”

“We are so proud of you. We love you for your dedication, commitment and honesty. Keep it going till the finals. Put in all your energy and perform with your hearts and bring it home.

C’mon V Unbeatable,” Ranveer said in a video message.

And now congratulatory wishes are pouring in for V Unbeatable.

“So indians took over #agt2020 we won!! #VUnbeatable,” a user commented.

Another user tweeted: “I really loved their every single performance. You guys deserved this championship. @v_unbeatable, @AGT.” - PTI

Bollywood actors including Vidya Balan, Rekha, Bhumi Pednekar, Sunny Leone and Jackie Shroff attended the event.

Also in attendance were Isha Koppikar and several Indian TV stars.

This year’s featured stars include Balan, Pednekar, Sunny Leone, John Abraham, Vicky Kaushal, Varun Dhawan, Ananya Panday, Kartik Aaryan, Anushka Sharma, Kiara Advani, Kriti Sanon, Parineeti Chopra, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Tiger Shroff.

A proud Jackie was spotted posing with the portrait of his son Tiger.

Ratnani, known for his celebrity portraits, recently celebrated 25 years in the industry.

Ratnani regularly features the Bachchans in his calendars, while Balan has been in 13 calendar shoots.

Bollywood stars dazzle on Dabboo Ratnani’s calendar launch In this picture taken on February 17, 2020, Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar poses for a picture with her portait during the launch of photographer Dabboo Ratnani’s 2020 calendar, in Mumbai.

(Photo: Sujit Jaiswal / AFP)

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As a major same-sex rom-com is released – starring Ayushmann Khurrana – it seems that progress is being made. So how is the industry changing, and is it enough, asks Meher Mirza.

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by Meher Mirza

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UMBAI, 18 February 2020 - Change is afoot in Bollywood. Early this year, Indian screens were hit by trailers of the latest blockbuster, ripe with lavish costumes, songs and dances, and a love story. Matinee idol Ayushmann Khurrana stars in it. And yet, the new film Shubh Mangal Zyaada Savdhan (Be Extra Cautious of Marriage) is different – Khurrana plays a man in love with another man.

Meanwhile writer and director Faraz Arif Ansari’s latest film, Sheer Qorma, although not a big-ticket film release, stars Bollywood actors Shabana Azmi, Swara Bhaskar and Divya Dutta in a gentle, Muslim, same-sex love story. Other recent releases include Ek Ladki ko Dekha And Aligarh (The Way I Felt When I Saw Her), a lesbian love story, and Aligarth, a nuanced, sensitive film about a gay professor propelled into a horrifying university investigation. Is Bollywood’s traditional approach to relationships gently fraying?

Anna M M Vetticad, film critic and author of The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic, tells BBC Culture: “From historically, routinely using LGBT+ characters as targets of contempt or sources of amusement, Bollywood has come to a stage when, although there are very few representations, those that we do get are usually less othered and less caricatured than in earlier times.” She points to Onir’s My Brother Nikhil (2005) and I Am (2011) as examples of films that

have treated the subject sensitively.

“Dostana (2008) broke the mould in the comedy genre,” she says. “It featured a conservative Indian mother, blessing her son’s relationship with a man she thinks is his boyfriend.

This was followed by the normalisation that came with the 2016 film Dishoom, in which a star as popular as Akshay Kumar had a cameo as a gangster, whose attraction for men is not treated as his defining characteristic. And last year’s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (How I Felt when I Saw that Girl) took the unprecedented step of featuring a glamorous female star, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, as a lesbian.”

Parmesh Shahani is the author of upcoming book Queeristan as well as head of the Godrej India Culture Lab. Shahani finds something positive even in somewhat problematic movies like Dostana (Friendship), which was produced by Karan Johar, who identifies as queer.

In it, the apparent queerness in the movie is finally revealed as a pretext for wooing a woman.

Shahani says: “Dostana, at a text level, is obviously homophobic, and had a lot of issues. On the other hand, (the mother) Kirron Kher’s journey was a masterful stroke; it was a fully fleshed-out narrative. Importantly, the film was used by the queer community to come out to our families –we did’t have the language for it before that.”

Rapid urbanisation, cheap mobile phones, mobile internet, and streaming services are helping to break down traditional barriers, not just in big cities but crucially also in smaller towns.

Shelly Chopra Dhar, director of 2019’s Ek Ladki ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (The Way I Felt When I Saw Her), touches on this, while acknowledging the tremendous impact her film had.

“It has been a year but the film is still resonating with people,” she tells BBC Culture. “The University of Virginia used this film as an example in their film class and the students spent a semester studying the nuances of this storytelling. I am still receiving emails from people about how this film has changed their life.” - BBC Culture

www. voiceofasia.news Read the latest articles and news on BOLLYWOOD /HOLLYWOOD & ENTERTAINMENT Visit : www. voiceofasia.news

In this picture taken on February 17, 2020, Bollywood actress Rekha poses for a picture during the launch of photographer Dabboo Ratnani’s 2020 calendar, in Mumbai. (Photo: Sujit Jaiswal / AFP)

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VOICE OF ASIA 11

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

Young Life

VOICE OF ASIA 12

Section 2

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

www.voiceofasia.news

An inspirational talk by Judge Sandill with Youth Leadership Development Program students

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

Tel: 713-774-5140

Bangladesh teacher suspended for chopping hair of 50 students

Physical punishment including caning, squatting, and frog-marching is nothing new to primary and high school students in Bangladesh. (AFP Photo/Munir Uz Zaman)

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YLDP students with Harris County Judge, Ravi Sandill, in his Courthouse.

haka, Bangladesh | AFP - Bangladeshi authorities have suspended a high school headmaster who cut the hair of scores of students in an effort to discipline them, sparking protests in a western rural town, officials said Monday.

by Adithya Sivakumar

O

n December 8th, Harris County Civil Courthouse Judge, Ravi K. Sandill met with the Youth Leadership Development Program (YLDP) students and spoke on facing challenges, having humility and fierce resolve to be successful.

Judge Sandill is the only South Asian to be elected to a countywide office in Harris County and is the highest ranking South Asian elected official in the State of Texas. In the course of his talk, Judge Sandill spoke on how he discovered his goal and went about pursuing it. He wanted to become a Doctor, he said, and spent his student years studies trying to become a doctor. However, as he went into college, he realized his interests changed to helping the community, so he chose law instead. Judge Sandill’s story was helpful to me as a listener as he discussed how we should always pursue our dreams even if it isn’t what one’s parents want or pays well. Further, Judge Sandill discussed how he embraced his Asian American culture in Harris County, a predominantly white community. He said he had to go out with a fierce passion everyday trying to gain attention as he’s an Asian American who wasn’t

Teen who threw boy from UK gallery ‘told of plan to kill’

YLDP Board members with Judge, Ravi Sandill.

well known among his county peers. The Judge’s passion and perseverance made an impression on me and stuck to me as something that I would remember when I’m trying to achieve my goals. Meeting with Judge Sandill’s meeting was inspirational and sent a strong message about stretch-

ing one’s limit and always working hard to pursue your dreams. He also gave the idea of exploring the unknown and by doing so you are enriched with its success as well as disappointments.

Youth Leadership Development Program of Houston

is a non-profit organization that helps high school juniors and seniors from the Greater Houston Area, of Indo-American (India) origin, to develop leadership Skills and attributes through established successful local organizations, accomplished leaders and community service projects.

Sekandar Ali, headmaster of Joari High School in Baraigram town, started cutting the boys’ hair with barber’s scissors on Sunday afternoon, creating panic among the students, local police chief Dilip Kumar Das said.

“He randomly ran his scissors on their scalps. He cut hair of around 50 students. Several students said they were injured during the heated moment,” he told AFP. The 60-year-old teacher had an “old-school mentality” and wanted to punish the students for keeping undisciplined “long hair”, the police chief added.

The incident triggered protests in the town. Hundreds of students, parents and locals gathered on the school field to angrily demand action against the headmaster.

He was suspended after the students lodged a formal complaint with the town’s govern-

ment administrator.

Administrator Anwar Parvez said a three-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident.

Physical punishment including caning, squatting, and frog-marching is nothing new to primary and high school students in the conservative nation of 168 million people.

In 2011 in the wake of a series of reports of brutal canings of students that led to critical injuries, the government banned all types of physical and mental punishment in the institutions, terming it “cruel, inhuman and humiliating”.

Rights activists condemned the headmaster’s action saying it directly contradicts the government order.

“The headmaster has breached both human rights and law by his action,” Rezaul Karim, a spokesman for the non-profit Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, said.

If proven guilty by the investigative committee, the headmaster could lose his job and a criminal case may be lodged against him for physically hurting the students.

Tips for students and teachers to get through the midyear slump

‘Parasite’ child star cheers the film’s Oscar wins

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ONDON | AFP | Friday 2/7/2020 - A British teenager who threw a six-year-old French boy off the 10th floor of London’s Tate Modern art gallery had said he planned to push someone off a high building, the BBC and Daily Mail reported Friday.

The two news groups obtained a recording of Jonty Bravery, who has autism, reportedly telling care workers a year ago that “in the next few months I’ve got it in my head I’ve got to kill somebody”.

“It could be anything just as long as it’s a high thing and we can go up and visit it and then push somebody off it and I know for a fact they’ll die from falling from a hundred feet,” he was quoted as saying.

Bravery’s care provider said they had “no knowledge or records of the disclosure”.

The six-year-old suffered a broken spine, legs and arm when he was thrown from the 10th floor viewing platform of the Tate Modern in front of horrified visitors on August 4.

Bravery, 18, pleaded guilty to attempted murder at a hearing in London’s Central Criminal Court on December 6 and is in custody awaiting sentencing later this month.

In a post published on a GoFundMe page helping to pay for their son’s recovery, the victim’s family said he had regained some movement in his limbs and was beginning

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10-year-old “Parasite” star Jung Hyeon-jun might have been too young to go to the Oscars – but he still enjoyed the excitement of the best picture win on Febuary 10, 2020. (Screengrab: YouTube)

to start speech.

But they said he was still in great pain and progress was slow.

The boy fell onto a fifthfloor roof below. Prosecutors at Bravery’s last court hearing said it was “extraordinary” he survived at all.

Bravery’s lawyer told the court her client had autistic spectrum disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and was likely to have a personality disorder.

The court was told he claimed to have heard voices tell him he had to hurt or kill people, and that he said to police he wanted to “prove” he had a mental health problem.

India win five silver, six bronze medals at Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships

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EW DELHI: India claimed five silver and six bronze medals at the ongoing 2020 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

KVL Pavani Kumari (45kg) won silver medals in both youth girls and junior women section, while Sidhanta Gogoi (61kg) claimed silver in youth boys and junior men events after lifting a total of 145 and 269kgs respectively.

Mukund Aher (49kg) then

clinched a silver in youth boys category with a lift of 189kgs.

Harshada Goud (45kg) clinched two bronze medals with a lift of 139kgs in youth girls and junior women events.

Other lifters to win bronze medals are Boni Manghkya (55kg), Ch Nirmala Devi (59kg), S Gurunaidu (49kg) and Golom Tinku (55kg).

A total of 197 athletes from 20 Asian countries are participating in the event.

- New Indian Express

Photo Source: (c) diego_cervo / iStock via Getty Images Plus

here comes a certain point during every school year when students and educators alike are at risk of suffering from a midyear slump. One solution to staying motivated?

Adding some color and vibrancy to everyday tools used in the classroom. Here are five ideas for doing so:

• A change of scenery has the power to inspire. Students can revamp their lockers and desks at home with new decorations, artwork and organizational tools, like a color-coded bulletin board. Teachers can make the same updates to classrooms to give students and themselves a fresh perspective.

• Add a fun splash of color to music-making. With Casiotone CT-S200 keyboards, you can select from vibrant red or white, in addition to the standard black.

The ability to hook up to any portable music player so that the user can play any music downloaded to the device offers versatility in lesson planning, practice and performance.

• Any calculator can be easily customized with skins, but if you want to keep it simple, some models are stylish and colorful right out of the box. One

such example is the fx-9750GII. Available in black, blue or pink, this can be a great way to give young mathematicians a fun and useful tool to see them through finals, college entrance exams and more.

• If you didn’t purchase new accessories like backpacks, gym bags or laptop cases at the beginning of the school year, maybe it’s time for a refresh. Slick new carrying essentials can give a student greater confidence while traveling from home to the classroom, and help brighten the school day.

• From quotes and messages greeting students each morning to building out lessons with pictures from around the globe, a projector designed to work well in the classroom, such as the Casio Ultra Short Throw projector XJ-U351, can be a versatile tool for teachers looking to liven things up or engage students in a lively conversation.

By embracing colorful tools, students and teachers can work their way out of the midyear slump for a strong finish to the school year.

-StatePoint

VOICE OF ASIA 13

Section 2

Walmart suffers disappointing Christmas hit to results

by Luc Olinga

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EW YORK | AFP | Tuesday 2/18/2020 - American retail giant Walmart did not have a merry Christmas as disappointing toy and clothing sales hit the chain’s bottom line, the company announced Tuesday.

Massive social unrest in Chile also undermined earnings, but the company has not yet been able to estimate the financial impact of the new coronavirus epidemic in China, where it has a large supply chain.

In Chile, “unrest led to disruption in the majority of our stores which... negatively affected operating income by approximately $110 million,” the company said, adding that it “continues to monitor the events” in the South American nation.

Walmart said it also is watching the coronavirus outbreak and “has not included any potential financial effects in its assumptions.”

Apple cast a shadow over markets on Monday after announcing it would not reach its sales target for the quarter due to the virus outbreak, which has shut down many key manufacturing and transportation links in China.

Walmart, which has 11,500 stores located in 27 countries, took advantage of the US trade war to re-organize its supply chain so as not to depend too much on a single country or geographic area.

But the retailer, which is a staple for low-income households, saw sales slow in the fourth quarter ended January 31.

With the consumer instrumental in sustaining US economic growth, the lackluster Walmart results will be a source of concern to analysts and policymakers.

Business

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

UAE issues licence for first Arab nuclear power plant

by Shatha Yaish and Dana Moukhallati

A

The UAE has substantial energy reserves, but with a power-hungry population of 10 million it has made huge investments in developing alternative power sources including solar.

“Today marks a new chapter in our journey for the development of peaceful nuclear energy with the issuing of the operating license for the first Barakah plant,” Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan said in a tweet.

“As we prepare for the next 50 years to safeguard our needs, our biggest strength is national talent.”

The Barakah plant, located on the Gulf coast west of the capital, had been due to come online in late 2017 but faced a number of delays that officials attributed to safety and regulatory requirements.

The national nuclear regulator has now given the green light to the first of four reactors at the plant, Hamad al-Kaabi, the UAE representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told a press conference.

Abu Dhabi authorities said in January that the plant would start operating within a few months. No new date was given on Monday but Kaabi indicated it would happen soon.

“The full operation of Barakah plant in the near future will contribute to the UAE’s efforts for development and sustainability,” he said, adding that the operator would “undertake a peri-

The under-construction Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi’s Western desert. (File photo)

od of commissioning to prepare for commercial operation”.

The plant is a regional first -- Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has said it plans to build up to 16 nuclear reactors, but the project has yet to materialise.

It is being built by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation at a cost of some $24.4 billion.

When fully operational, the four reactors have the capacity to generate 5,600 megawatts of electricity, around 25 percent of the nation’s needs. The remaining three reactors are almost ready.

As well as generating competitively priced electricity, the UAE also hopes the nuclear plant will elevate its status as a key regional player, building on its success in establishing itself as a centre for tourism, banking and services.

“This is part of the UAE’s drive to diversify its energy economy, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and project its image as a regional leader in science and technology,” one Gulf analyst told AFP. Other headline initiatives include a homegrown space programme, which saw the first Emirati astronaut sent into space last year, and plans to launch a

Visit: www.voiceofasia.news

S

Paying for news would diverge from the Alphabet-owned internet titan’s practice of freely mining the internet for material it displays in search results.

A licensing deal would likely be welcomed by news organizations that contend Google derives profits from ads alongside their news articles, including “snippets” in search results.

Contacted by AFP Friday, Google indicated it is seeking new ways to help publishers.

“We want to help people find quality journalism -- it’s import-

ant to informed democracy and helps support a sustainable news industry,” Google vice president of news Richard Gingras said in a statement.

“We care deeply about this and are talking with partners and looking at more ways to expand our ongoing work with publishers, building on programs like our Google News Initiative.”

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Friday Google was considering deals for a “premium” news product.

The California tech giant has remained steadfast about not paying for news article links displayed in search results and is not changing that position, people familiar with the matter told AFP. It has argued that it drives traffic to news websites and thereby helps those publishers get ad revenues.

Google’s News Initiative works with publishers to encourage readership and paid subscriptions to their offerings.

Facebook, which has been hit with similar criticism, last year launched a dedicated “news tab” with professionally-produced content -- a move by the social network to promote journalism and shed its reputation as a platform for misinformation.

Facebook was expected to pay some of the news organizations, reportedly millions of dollars in some cases.

The move by Google comes amid pressure to comply with a European copyright directive on content in search results.

Google said last year it would not pay European media outlets for using their articles, pictures and videos in its searches in France, the first country to ratify the copyright directive, raising the prospect of legal action against the internet titan.

The tech giant said it would only display content in its search engine results and on Google News from media groups who had given their permission for it to be used for free.

probe to Mars.

- Concerns in volatile Gulf The Barakah plant is situated on the Emirates coast, separated from Iran by the troubled Gulf waters. It is just 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the border of Saudi Arabia, and is closer to the Qatari capital Doha than it is to Abu Dhabi.

Amid a confrontation between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the UAE has said it will not be developing an uranium enrichment programme or nuclear reprocessing technologies.

But relations between Iran and the UAE, a staunch US ally, have been strained as Washington pursues a “maximum pressure” policy against Tehran and accuses it of attacking oil tankers in Gulf waters.

Energy giant Saudi Aramco was the target of a missile and drone attack in September that knocked out half of its production. The strike was claimed

by Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels but Washington accused Tehran of carrying it out.

Tel: 713-774-5140

Despite trade wars, Trump says US ‘open for business’

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BU DHABI | AFP | 2/17/2020 - The United Arab Emirates said Monday it has issued an operating licence for a reactor at its Barakah nuclear power plant, the first in the Arab world, hailing it as a “new chapter”.

Google mulls licensing deals with news media: industry sources AN FRANCISCO | AFP | Friday 2/14/2020 - Google is in discussions on deals to pay media organizations for content, a move aimed at blunting criticism that it unfairly profits from copyrighted news, according to people familiar with the talks.

Negotiations between the internet giant and news outlets were said to be in the early stages, with most of the publishers located in France and other parts of Europe.

www.voiceofasia.news

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

ASHINGTON | AFP | 2/18/2020 - President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he wants to avoid policies that make it difficult for other countries to do business with the United States -- even as his administration has done precisely the opposite.

Trump has imposed tariffs on billions of dollars in goods and launched disputes with most key US trading partners over the past three years, but in a lengthy Twitter thread, the president said, “We don’t want to make it impossible to do business with us. That will only mean that orders will go to someplace else.”

“The United States cannot, & will not, become such a difficult place to deal with in terms of foreign countries buying our product, including for the always used National Security excuse, that our companies will be forced to leave in order to remain competitive,” he tweeted.

Trump has imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum worldwide, calling those imports a national security threat, and threatened to do likewise for cars from Europe.

In the most costly conflict, Trump announced tariffs on virtually 100 percent of good imported from China. A truce signed in January suspended the most damaging of those, but the majority remain in place.

US trading partners have not stood by, retaliating with puni-

tive duties on American goods like bourbon, motorcycles and farm products, which obliged the government to provide millions in aid to farmers.

In the latest conflict -- a 15-year-old dispute over European government subsidies to Airbus -- Washington hit out with 25 percent tariffs on a host of goods, including Scotch whisky, French and Spanish wines, and English cheeses.

Trump also slapped penalties on French goods in response to a digital tax.

Nonetheless, “I want to make it EASY to do business with the United States, not difficult,” he said.

“THE UNITED STATES IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!” In fact, US companies have been forced to shift operations or find new sources for components, or plead for exemptions from the trade policies.

Likewise, foreign buyers of American goods have gone elsewhere in many cases.

“With each round of cascading tariffs, Trump has bullied more American companies into becoming protectionist,” Chad Bown, trade expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said in a recent paper.

“For many Americans, the higher costs resulting from his tariffs mean they can no longer compete with foreign firms in either the US or global market.”

COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

“Thai Poosam” Celebration at MTS

by R. Muthu Kumar with M.K. Sriram

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haipoosam, the Hindu festival in honor of Lord Karthikeya (Muruga) was celebrated on the Morning of February 8, 2020 at Sri Meenakshi Temple in Pearland, Texas. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the occasion of Lord Karthikeya’s mother, Goddess Parvathi, giving her son the “Sakthi Vel” or the Divine Spear to vanquish the demon army of Asura Tarakaasura and combat their evil deeds. Thus, it is a celebration of victory over evil.

Thaipoosam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (January/ February), on the day of the star “Poosam “and around the day of the full moon or Pournami. This day is honored as a special festival not only at all Murugan temples in India but also worldwide e.g. Malaysia, Singapore, Ceylon and Mauritius. Sri Meenakshi Temple is a unique temple in the United States where this is celebrated with great authenticity, replicating the traditions of Murugan temples in India. This attracts a lot of devotees from the greater Houston area as well as from other cities and states.

Chairman Dhani Kannan addressing the gathering. Also seen are other event organizers and Board members.

The festivities began at the Ganesh Temple with a Sankalpam and Pooja for all the Paal Kudams (a pot of milk which will be offered to Lord Muruga as

The resplendent Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai were then taken out on a pro-

Abisekham, with a coconut on top and covered with a yellow ornate cloth) and Kaavadis (a semi-circular decorated canopy with a wooden rod that holds together 2 small pots of milk on either ends, also used for the Abishekam).

This year there were sponsors for about 150 Paal Kudams and 135 Kaavadis.

The Sankalpam and Pooja was followed by a very festive procession of the Paal Kudams and Kaavadis from the Ganesh Temple to the newly renovated Kalyana Mandapam through the main Temple. Devotees attired in their finest colorful attire, chanted “ Muruganukku Arohara” and re-

cited devotional songs in praise of Lord Muruga, the entire way.

Once at the Kalyana Mandapam, a grand Abishekham was performed by priests Sri Kalyana Sundaram and Sri Balaji Sethuraman to the chanting of the divine Sri Rudram. The exquisite Alankaram and Aarti that followed rendered the gathering of about 1500 devotees spellbound. Devotees recited the Kanda Shasti Kavacham and sang other devotional songs as well. The whole ambiance was supremely divine.

Devotees gather around the Paal Kudams to be offered as Abisekham to Lord Muruga. MTS Photos cession on the silver Ratham or chariot to the main temple, to the beat of the traditional drums and the songs and chants in praise of Lord Murugan. The prasadams were distributed to the devotees after the final arathi at the main temple. This was followed by a sumptuous lunch that was provided by the temple for all those attended the event. What makes this a very special event is that it brings together so many people with a common purpose in the service of the Lord. Many vol-

unteers took time off from their work on the previous day to cut vegetables, make flower garlands and prepare the kavadis and paal kudams for this big event.

Kudos to Chairman Dhani Kannan, Partha Krishnaswamy, Bhargavi Golla and the Board members for planning and executing this function flawlessly.

The priests conducted the event with great passion and dedication. The temple silpis (artisans) worked tirelessly in setting up and decorating the Kalyana Man-

dapam as well as other facilities, as well as supporting all other activities. The event was coordinated by Dr. Dorairajan, Mrs. Malar Narayanan and Mr. Muthuraman under the leadership of the Religious Activities Committee Coordinator Mr. Vinod Kaila. Lunch preparation was coordinated by Suseela Denduluri and served by many volunteers. This huge effort along with the devotees’ enthusiastic participation made this year’s Thaipoosam celebration a grand success.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME:WOMEN INNOVATORS

Week of Febuary 21, 2020 HOROSCOPE.COM

21 March to 20 April While you may have practical matters to deal with related to your job, career, or ambitions, it’s also wise to make time for reflection. This can be a powerful opportunity to process through emotional issues and find closure. It might be easier to connect with and express your feelings, and this could make all the difference in resolving things.

21 April to 20 May You may also be drawn to a life coach, teacher, or philosophy that can help you get a fresh perspective on life. You might find it easier to ditch old beliefs and embrace new, more life-enhancing ones as expansive Jupiter aligns with compassionate Neptune. This influence can last for a week or more and impact the kind of people you connect with.

21 May to 20 June Inspiration may be forthcoming as opportunistic Jupiter aligns with aquatic Neptune on Thursday. Under this influence, you may be eager to raise money for others in need or start a business that’s geared to eco-friendly projects or other holistic ideas. The blend of practical and visionary can be very successful. Romance could strike unexpectedly, you might want to keep it under wraps for now.

21 June to 22 July Are you ready to discover new places and faces? The sun’s move into your sector of travel and adventure on Tuesday could inspire you to explore new terrain. And yet with chatty Mercury retrograde in this sector, you might also be drawn to visit places that have sentimental value or evoke powerful memories. The new moon can be perfect for starting a class on healing, developing psychic skills, or gaining metaphysical knowledge.

23 July to 22 August With thoughtful Mercury rewinding in this zone, it would be just as well to take care when doing deals involving large amounts of money. If you can hold off until chatty Mercury pushes ahead again, in around three weeks, this might be the better option. You can still have ideas, but rather than get carried away, it would pay to be practical. And it’s better to be overly concerned with the details than to not bother.

23 August to 22 Sept Your sector of relating lights up as the radiant sun moves into Pisces on Tuesday to encourage cooperation and teamwork.

And with articulate Mercury retrograde in this same zone, it’s a perfect opportunity to resolve any ongoing issues. At the same time, you might be drawn to connect with people from the past, so a reunion is very possible.

23 September to 22 Oct Lifestyle matters are well starred as the sun moves into Pisces on Tuesday for a four-week stay. This is an opportunity to look at your routines and decide what to jettison and what to keep.With dealmaker Mercury retrograde in this zone, it pays to be careful at work and back up important files and documents. If there are delays, they could work in your favor.

23 October to 21 Nov Feisty Mars continues to move through your sector of communication, stirring up this zone and encouraging you to reach out to others to market your goods and services. Do you need to create a new brand? Do your research and you’ll have a better chance of getting it right. The sun’s move into Pisces and your leisure zone on Tuesday can be a call to indulge in your favorite activities.

22 November to 21 Dec A delightful Jupiter-Neptune angle could inspire you to beautify your residence in a way that’s both practical and artistic. Whatever plans you come up with can create a delightful and homey ambience. Do you need to earn extra cash?

With feisty Mars angling toward energetic Uranus on Friday, an opportunity could come out of the blue that boosts your income.

22 December to 20 Jan Dynamic Mars is now in your sign for a six-week stay, so you may find that your passion and energy for life return.

This planet can bestow courage and inspire you to overcome obstacles to live your brightest dreams. And with the sun moving into your sector of communication on Tuesday for around four weeks, this is the ideal time to reach out to others who are on your wavelength.

21 January to 19 Feb With thoughtful Mercury retrograde here combined with the sun’s radiant energies, you might be able to make wise decisions after looking at your financial situation in some depth. It might be easier to gloss over it, but if you can take the time to get things back under control, it could leave you feeling more peaceful all around.

20 February to 20 Mar Fiery Mars aligns with emancipated Uranus on Friday, and an encounter could shift your focus and encourage you to explore an interest or key opportunity. Doing so could be very good for you. The new moon in your sign on Sunday is the best of the year for you and perfect for initiating changes that may have been on your mind for some time.

ACROSS 1. Cause for September celebration 6. Net holder 9. Island near Java 13. “Pokémon,” e.g.

14. *Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman wrote its first version in 1923, acr.

15. Archeologist’s find 16. Synagogue scroll 17. Bag in Paris 18. “Behind ____ Lines” 19. *Aviation pioneer 21. *She rebelled against sentimental novel 23. Nurses’ org.

24. Deceptive maneuver 25. Director’s cry 28. Snow and cycling helmet manufacturer 30. Low hemoglobin 35. Bryce Canyon state 37. Something to do 39. Lady’s Bella Notte date 40. Puerto ____ 41. Bone hollow 43. Slang for heroin 44. Cake cover 46. ____ and drab 47. Roman robe 48. “Purple People ____,” pl.

50. Defender of skies, acr.

52. Easter lead-in 53. Attention-getting interjection 55. Pres. Truman’s 1947 creation, acr.

57. *She originated the little black dress 60. *”Hidden ____” 64. Knights’ feat of strength 65. *Mary Phelps Jacob patented the 1st modern one 67. Dickens’ Heep 68. Ladies’ fingers 69. Three strikes 70. Actress Rene 71. Crowd-sourced review platform 72. Lilliputian 73. Master of ceremonies

DOWN 1. Better than never?

2. a.k.a. midget buffalo 3. 100 cents in Ethiopia 4. D-Day beach 5. Move a picture 6. Breather 7. Investment option, acr.

8. Last European colony in China 9. Crooked 10. Sheltered, nautically 11. Trace or outline 12. Slippery surface 15. Feel indignant about something 20. Indian cuisine dip 22. *Sally Ride was 1st woman in space for this country 24. Speaker’s platform 25. *1st person to win two Nobel Prizes 26. Carthage’s ancient rival 27. Implied 29. *She developed philosophy of Objectivism 31. Formerly, formerly 32. *Home of Wesleyan College, first college chartered to grant degrees for women 33. Insect, post-metamorphosis 34. *Inventor of a newborn screening test 36. Use a whetstone 38. Caitlyn Jenner’s ex 42. Primitive calculators 45. Ulysses and Cary 49. Female 51. *Singular of #60 Across 54. Tennis-affected joint 56. Gold, to a chemist 57. Pepsi rival 58. Fling 59. Rush job notation 60. Inevitable occurrence 61. Reduced instruction set computer 62. Alleviate 63. Old Woman’s home 64. *Jennifer Lawrence played her in eponymous 2015 movie 66. Rivoli in Paris, e.g.

SOLUTION: WOMEN INNOVATORS on Page 15

VOICE OF ASIA 15

B

SMALL BUSINESSES / CLASSIFIEDS

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

D

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

COMPUTER SERVICES

RESTAURANTS

ACCOUNTANTS

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M.D. Associates LLP

Networking and Computer Repair

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2 Locations to serve you Houston 713-774-6533 Spring 281-251-2205

Home & Business, on site, Microsoft MCSE & A+ certified, low flat rates, free estimates, pickup & delivery, www.PCNetworkGuru.com Call Amit at 832-971-6807

Ph: 713-266-0131/0805

visit us at: www.mdassociatescpas.com

We cater from 10 people to 800 people for all occasions. We deliver to your venue.

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Payroll processing & Payroll tax payments l Filing 940, 941, 1099, TWC reports l Filing of Sales Tax & Franchise Tax Return Manish Gaglani Ph: 346-317-7409.

Email: accuratebookkeeping2018@gmail.com 7011 Harwin Dr Suite 230 Houston, TX 77036

Selling Your Business?

We can help you get faster results though our online listing.

Call 713-774-5140

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281.955.9878 216.338.3940 (cell)

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Selling Your Business?

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Email Obituaries to us at: voiceasia@aol.com Deadline for publication: Tuesdays by 5pm.

Specializing in North Indian Cuisine, office & Corporate catering 2514 Times Blvd, Rice Village Ph: 713-523-4753 Visit us online: www.shivarestaurant.com

List Your Business CALL TODAY 713-774-5140 BILINGUAL TEACHER - HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

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BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIRED Three (3) Openings

Bilingual (Spanish) teacher for elementary school needed; plan a study program for elementary student; establish and communicate lesson objectives; assess student’s accomplishments, prepare and provide progress reports as required by district policies and procedures. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree required. A valid Texas teaching certificate for bilingual – Spanish for grades EC-6 is required. Submit resumes and transcripts via email at: employeerelations@houstonisd.org.

INDIAN GROCERY STORE FOR SALE

Established Indian grocery store in San Antonio for sale.

Please call 210-317-6302 for info.

VEGA SOFT INC. ACQUIRED BY REGAL IT SERVICES INC. Regal IT Services, Inc. has acquired Vega Soft, Inc., a Houston based IT service provider.

Vega Soft’s product development capabilities will be integrated into Regal IT’s consulting businesses.

The acquisition will extend Regal IT’s consulting and product development reach to the healthcare and banking markets.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIRED Two (2) Openings

Math teacher for grades 8-12; plan a mathematics study program; establish and communicate lesson objectives; assess student’s accomplishments, prepare and provide progress reports as required by district policies and procedures. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree required. A valid Texas teaching certificate for mathematics for grades 8-12 is required. Submit resumes and transcripts via email at: employeerelations@houstonisd.org

When you find some time, READ!

READ DAILY! 15 - 30 minutes of reading daily helps your brain focus better. Grab a novel!

A Community message from Voice of Asia Group

Accounting Assistant

T

ax Consulting Firm’s accepting resumes from qualified entry level accounting graduate for “Accounting Assistant” Position.

The position challenge to all aggressive accounting graduates who would like to apply their accounting knowledge.

Please forward your resume for review to: P. O. Box 36770, Houston, TX 77236-6770.

E-mail: HarryTax@aol.com

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD SOLUTION

READ MORE COMMUNITY NEWS ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIA.NEWS

Answers: WOMEN INNOVATORS from Page 14

VOICE OF ASIA 16

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020

Home&Real Estate How to extend your living area to outdoor spaces

Taking a top down approach to home exterior updates

DaVinci Roofscapes is made of virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers, plus a highly-specialized fire retardant. Whether you add accent panels with composite siding or go for the whole house,

W

hether you want to boost the beauty of your home for your own enjoyment or you’re looking to sell in the near future, experts recommend taking a top-down approach to evaluate the outside of your home.

“When making updates to your home exterior, it’s helpful to think of how all the parts of the whole work together to create a unified look,” says Kate Smith, chief color maven with Sensational Color.

With that in mind, here are a few remodeling ideas to get you started:

Put power where you want it in an unobtrusive, code-compliant way.

W

hen warmer weather arrives, it’s all about spending time in your home’s outdoor spaces. Here are a few new ideas for transforming your porch, deck or yard into an oasis of relaxation.

Before getting down to brass tacks, it’s time to give your outdoor spaces a once-over and note what basic maintenance and cleaning are needed; be sure to sweep up porches and decks of debris, dust off and move outdoor furniture out of storage and prune trees and plants that need it. This may be a good time to refinish or re-stain an older deck in need of some tender loving care.

Want to add a splash of color to the space? Give some time-worn wooden furniture a new paint job in a bold hue.

Power Up To match the true comfort of indoor life to your home’s outdoor spaces, you’ll need a safe, code-compliant and unobtrusive way to power fans, lighting, entertainment, electric appliances and more.

To add an outlet to raised outdoor floors, porches and decks, consider installing a Deck Outlet Cover from Hubbell TayMac. Accommodating two power cords, it lets you put the power where you want it -- in a safe place where people are less likely to trip over cords.

Weatherproof, UV resistant and durable even in harsh environments, it also features a low-profile design that meets ADA standards, and an attractive slip-resistant texture available in gray, white and bronze.

Furnish Given the broad scope of weatherproof furnishings, cushions, pillows and even rugs available on the market today, there is absolutely no reason that your outdoor spaces can’t offer the same level of comfort and beauty as any den or living room, especially now that you’ve supplied your outdoor space with electrical power and the flexibility to install such amenities as an entertainment center, ceiling fans and even chandeliers.

Just be sure everything you

The Roof A new roof not only adds aesthetic appeal, it can add value too. Indeed, Remodeling’s Cost vs. Value 2020 report shows that a roof replacement can have a return-on-investment of over 60 percent.

Composite roofing is particularly durable, long-lasting and low-maintenance, and an allaround smart investment. Not only does a high-quality roof help home-sellers get foot traffic, but the low-maintenance aspect really resonates with house-hunters.

An attractive, more affordable install is weatherproofed and protected against the elements, and that you select only outdoor-grade products. However, you can extend the life of certain items by taking extra precautions during extreme weather and the off-season.

By giving your home’s outdoor spaces the same attention to detail as the indoors, you can extend your living spaces and even create new “rooms” in which to dine, relax and entertain.

- StatePoint

Experts recommend taking a top-down approach to evaluate the outside of your home. alternative to the real thing, the composite slate and shake roofing options available from manufacturers like DaVinci Roofscapes, for example, reduce pesky maintenance concerns, offering impact-, fire- and wind-resistance, as well as the peace of mind that comes with a strong warranty.

This is also a good choice for both those with a clear color palette in mind, and those who might need some direction, as free resources on the DaVinci Roofscapes site include a Color Visualizer offering users the ability to see how different colors may look on their home exteriors, as well as a variety of free e-books with project inspiration and advice.

To learn more, visit www.davinciroofscapes.com.

“Using these free color tools can be both fun and empowering,” says Smith. “They take the guesswork out of crafting a pleasing exterior color palette for the home and help create increased curb appeal.”

Siding If your home sports traditional siding, you may have noticed that the tiles contract and expand in fluctuating weather conditions and temperatures. What’s more, the color of these often-times thin and flimsy materials can fade quickly.

Rather than replacing siding with more of the same, consider composite siding built to resist impact, fire, mold, algae, insects, salt air and high winds. The handsplit shake siding available from

this can add a hassle-free aesthetic benefit to your home and boost its value.

Walkways Cracked or uneven walkways and steps are not only an eyesore, they can present a tripping hazard to you and guests. Evaluate whether it’s time to give yours an overhaul. Be sure to select low-maintenance materials that complement the look of the other elements of your exterior. This is a good time to consider lighting that adds drama to the walkway at night and makes for safer walking.

Sprucing up? Go for high-impact projects that boost curb appeal and add value to the home.

- StatePoint