LEESBURG, Va., May 15, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
The Hyperemesis
Education and Research (H.E.R.) Foundation today declared May 15 as
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Worldwide Awareness Day, in an effort to
draw greater attention and seek federal and private funding to research
a condition that is likely more widespread than current studies
indicate. HG is a severe form of unrelenting, excessive nausea and
vomiting in pregnancy that usually extends beyond the first trimester,
and if severe and/or inadequately treated, it is typically associated
with weight loss, dehydration, starvation and potential loss of life. HG
is the most common cause of hospitalization in the first half of
pregnancy.

The
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that HG affects .05
percent to 2 percent of pregnant women globally. But the H.E.R.
Foundation — the world’s largest grassroots network of HG survivors and
leading site for HG information on the Internet – is campaigning to fund
research that will show the CDC numbers are, in fact, much higher and
that this disease is more prevalent than currently known.

“Any family touched by this disease knows how critical it is to find new
medical protocols that can help pregnant women win their battle against
HG,” said Ann Marie King, Co-Founder of the H.E.R. Foundation. “Over the
past decade, we have heard from thousands of women whose lives have been
affected and altered by HG. We call on the medical, research and
lawmaker communities to help moms everywhere with funding and research
that can help find comfort and a cure.”

Over the past month, the foundation has campaigned online with an action
petition that has resulted thousands of women from all 50 states and 15
countries responding to the call to action. Representatives of the
foundation will head to The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Congress to
present the petition to agencies and lawmakers and continue education
that will result in federally funded research programs.

The H.E.R. Foundation recently joined the Million
Moms Challenge, a partnership created by ABC News and the United
Nations Foundation to raise awareness and funds to help mothers and
babies everywhere survive and thrive. “Too few people know about
Hyperemesis. The Million Moms Challenge community is helping the H.E.R.
Foundation draw attention to this disease, and rally support for the
mothers and families affected,” said Chrysula Winegar, community manager
of the Million Moms Challenge.

About H.E.R. Foundation

The H.E.R. Foundation was founded in 2002 and is the world’s largest
grassroots network of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) survivors and leading
site for HG information on the Internet. H.E.R. is dedicated to helping
those suffering HG or those who have survived it. The Foundation is here
to be a voice of support and education to all who are faced with
managing HG. The mission is to find a cure for HG and its complications
through advanced research, provide education and support to those
seeking effective management strategies for HG, and provide information
on new resources and treatment options as they become available. H.E.R.
and hyperemesis have been featured on the Dr. Phil Show, the Today
Show, NBC Nightly News, FOX News and many other global news
organizations. For more information on the H.E.R. Foundation, visit
www.helpher.org
or on Twitter @hgmoms and Facebook at
www.facebook.com/HERFoundation

SOURCE: H.E.R Foundation

Gaia Group Public Relations
Laura Taylor, 202-271-8216
laura@gaiapr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2012

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Traveling as a family with children with disabilities can bring about challenges, but also tremendous rewards. Being part of that group ourselves – having a child diagnosed with a developmental disability and autism – weve learned as weve traveled that there are many accommodations and services available to assist the entire family in having an enjoyable vacation.

Reasonable accommodations and particular access rules under the Americans with Disabilities Act are fairly clear when it comes to individuals with mobility, vision or hearing issues. However, the accommodations are less clear for cognitive disabilities, such as intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism or emotional disabilities. Specific rules are not spelled out and many situations are not clearly addressed.

While airline, hotel, cruise line or theme park employees may be more familiar with the accommodations needed for a child with a mobility impairment, they may not have experience or understanding when working with children with developmental disabilities or autism.

Parents should be prepared to explain limitations, request accommodations and be willing to work with employees to help create solutions. It is important to be persistent, and you may need to ask more than once or have a supervisor intervene to get your needs met.

Up, up and away

When traveling by plane, begin by calling the airline service desk to let them know about your particular situation and to find out about early or assisted boarding, special diets or to arrange special seat assignments.

Once at the airport, the first potential hurdle is getting through the TSA line. Parents can ask to be guided to a special needs line, or request a private screening, which may help to make the situation less stressful. The TSA website has a page specifically addressing these issues – http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1572.shtm – with helpful advice for special needs screenings.

Getting to bed

Suite brand hotels such as Residence Inn by Marriott, Homewood Suites by Hilton or Staybridge Suites by IHG are often a good way to go because their family-style suites have multiple rooms to meet the needs of a child who needs more sleep or a quiet area to calm down. Another important feature is these types of suites have mini or full-range kitchens that allow parents to prepare foods for their families or children on special diets.

For those using a full-service hotel, the service at brands such as Fairmont or St. Regis is unparalleled. If you need milk, blankets or anything else for your child at 2 am, someone will bring it right to you – no questions asked.

The Wyndham chain is piloting autism-friendly rooms in some of their hotels. In designated rooms, some of the features include dimmer switches on all lights, doors with inside locks and exit doors with alarms.

Many hotels also offer toddler safety packets with things like plastic caps for electrical outlets, which can be used for children of all ages where developmentally appropriate.

Disney and disabilities

Theme parks are often the highlight for many families on vacation. Major brands such as Disney and Universal offer special assistance guidelines on their websites. Reviewing this information before going to the park can be helpful.

When arriving at the park, start by checking in at the guest services desk. Although it is not required under the ADA, it is often helpful to bring papers showing evidence of the disability.

Parents should be prepared to explain their childs disability and what his or her limitations are – ability to stand for long periods of time, be in crowds, exposure to heat or cold, sensitivity to light, etc. – and then work with guest services personnel to find solutions that will help the whole family have an enjoyable day at the park.

One option could be a guest assistance card or pass for the child and family. When appropriate, the pass can allow the family to use alternative entrances to rides that are quieter, less crowded and less exposed to the elements.

A special pass is not meant to be a jump to the front of the line ticket and should not be used repeatedly on popular rides. While there may still be some wait time, the child will usually be more relaxed and less agitated.

Other accommodations some parks offer include reserved seating at shows and parades and use of designated companion bathrooms.

Cruising with kids

Childrens programs on cruise lines provide many activities which can be enjoyed by special needs children when provided the proper accommodations. The time to start is before setting sail by calling the cruise lines special services desk and finding out what programs are available.

In some cases, they will even put you in touch with the childrens program director on your ship. Once on the boat, parents should plan to spend time talking with the staff at the childrens program to explain what accommodations are needed and to work on solutions together.

One solution might be to have a child placed in a program based on his or her cognitive ability rather than age level. For example, a 14-year-old with cognitive disabilities might be happier with the activities in the 11-12-year-old group and, where appropriate, should be able to attend the program in that group.

One other tip is that parents can request pagers, special phones or other communication devices (typically used for children with diapering needs) so that they can be contacted by staff any time an issue arises.

Our family travel experiences have taught us that in all travel situations its important for parents to remember that most people want to help when they can, they often just need information on what will work best. A little advance planning and asking for accommodations can lead to a great summer getaway for everybody in the family.

Follow Kathleen Curry and Geoff Griffin on Twitter @currgrifftravel or on Facebook at Curry Griffin Travel Writers.

Hes in great shape now, said Alberto Rangel, Hernandezs medical social worker at the Mission Neighborhood Health Center. Living in a residential hotel, receiving regular medical and psychiatric treatment and attending AA meetings though not yet sober, Hernandezs life has stabilized, his AIDS under control.

He is one of the success stories of San Franciscos nationally recognized model of care for people living with AIDS and HIV and those at highest risk of infection. But the system is under siege, say care providers.

The city is set to lose almost $8 million in federal AIDS funding in the new fiscal year that starts July 1 – the biggest one-time cut ever – and $10 million the following year.

The deep cuts would not shutter any programs, but would jeopardize care for people living in San Francisco with AIDS and HIV, city officials and care providers say.

I dont think its an exaggeration to say that restoring these funds is a matter of life and death, said Mike Smith, who runs the AIDS Emergency Fund and serves as president of the HIV/AIDS Providers Network in the city.

He and others hope the city will step in to fund the money lost from the Ryan White Care Act and the Centers for Disease Control. The Ryan White Care Act funding provides health care and social services for uninsured, underinsured and other financially vulnerable people living with HIV and AIDS. Funding allocated by the CDC is for prevention programs. Combined, the city got $41.8 million from the two federal programs for the current fiscal year that ends June 30.

A support system

For the poor and marginalized, it doesnt take much to destabilize their health if they lose their housing, fail to take their medications, or miss out on treatment for substance abuse and mental health problems. Its very easy for the downward spiral to begin, Smith said.

His nonprofit, the AIDS Emergency Fund, provides grants of about $500 each to some 2,400 clients a year, helping them cover such expenses as rent, utilities, prescriptions and medical treatment. Nearly half the annual $2.1 million budget is Ryan White funding.

About 40 programs run by the city and nonprofits in San Francisco that serve thousands of clients rely, in part, on Ryan White grants. The money is used for services that include legal counsel, food delivery to the homebound, dental and medical care, mental health and substance abuse counseling, housing assistance and hospice care.

Many people, like Hernandez, rely on a web of services to keep them alive.

Im doing much better now, said Hernandez, 51.

Asking for city help

Federal AIDS funding no longer favors urban areas like San Francisco because most new infections occur in suburban areas. With the cuts looming, three supervisors from the LGBT community, Scott Wiener, David Campos and Christina Olague, have made funding restoration a priority, and service providers have stepped up their lobbying efforts to get Mayor Ed Lee to include restoration funding in his budget proposal, due out June 1.

In January, the mayor authorized a $1.8 million budget supplemental to offset earlier cuts in Ryan White Care Act funding that threatened HIV and AIDS programs in the current fiscal year that ends June 30. Now Lee is being asked to allocate more local funds to make up for the lost federal funds in the new budget cycle.

The cuts would be devastating, said Wiener, who represents the Castro district, which has been the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in San Francisco.

While great inroads have been made in preventing and treating the disease since it was first discovered 31 years ago, people are still getting infected, living with it and dying.

Big numbers

As of the end of March, there have been 29,131 cumulative cases of AIDS and another 5,996 cases of HIV non-AIDS recorded in San Francisco, according to city health department data. There have been 19,606 reported deaths in the city from the disease.

An estimated 15,523 people in the city are living with the virus, many of them for years or decades. One reason for that is because of our system of care, Wiener said. Its critical we dont let it unravel.

San Francisco currently spends more than $70 million a year on HIV/AIDS-related services, said Greg Wagner, the health departments budget chief.

The city, with an annual budget in the $7 billion range, faces a projected $170 million deficit in the new fiscal year and a $312 million shortfall the year after that. By law, the mayor must submit a balanced budget proposal to the Board of Supervisors for consideration.

The mayor is very aware of and concerned about Ryan White Care funding cuts, and he is working to protect these programs and services, said Lees spokeswoman, Christine Falvey. He… is working to find a solution, but the mayor is also trying to close a $170 million budget shortfall.

Rachel Gordon is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Twitter: @rachelgordonsf. rgordon@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page A – 1 of the San#xA0;Francisco#xA0;Chronicle

The public hearing, held at Carroll Community College in Westminster, gave residents the opportunity to express their opinions on the proposed Fiscal Year 2013 operating and capital budgets. Residents took turns explaining why their point of view was right and why others were wrong. Groups erupted with applause and cheers after the people they agreed with ended their speeches.

An estimated 700 people, some coming from as far as Detroit, Taylor and Clawson, came to see the photographic reproduction of the piece of linen cloth that is traveling through the Midwest.

Said one attendee who had been to Turin to see the true Shroud, “It’s really nice to get a good close-up look at the model… in Turin you have to stand about 20 feet away.”

The shroud, subject to more scientific scrutiny than any other piece of cloth in history, contains evidence that verifies the Gospel record of the crucifixion of Jesus. So far, science has been unable to prove it is the actual image. Until further chemical studies are made, according to the official statement issued by the Shroud of Turin research project, (October 11, 1981) the question remains unsolved.

NEWTON, Mass., May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site*, today announced the results of its annual summer travel survey of more than 1,800 U.S. respondents. Eighty-six percent of travelers are planning leisure trips this summer, up from 81 percent that traveled last summer.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:

http://www.multivu.com/mnr/49265-tripadvisor-summer-travel-survey-2012-leisure-trips

A separate survey of more than 1,200 U.S. respondents showed that recently declining gas prices will not have an effect on leisure travel plans this summer, according to 86 percent of U.S. respondents. However, 10 percent now expect to take more trips by car this summer as a direct result of lower prices at the pumps.

Summertime Shell-Out

More than a quarter of travelers surveyed (27 percent) said they will spend more on leisure summer travel than they did in 2011, while 47 percent plan to spend the same amount as last year, and 26 percent expect to spend less.

70 percent will stay at a hotel this summer, up three percent from 2011, 31 percent will stay at the home of family or friends, and 20 percent will spend their time in a vacation rental home.

Of those going on summer trips this year, 70 percent will be traveling by car and 64 percent will be taking to the skies.

If it meant saving a bundle on airfare, 21 percent would be willing to drive more than 10 hours to their summer destination.

79 percent would take a spontaneous trip this summer if they found a great deal.

Memorial Day in Motion

More than one-third of U.S. respondents (34 percent) plan to travel for Memorial Day weekend, up eight percent from 2011.

Of those traveling this Memorial Day, 70 percent will get there by car. Twenty-seven percent of those traveling by car will travel between 100 and 200 miles to their getaway spot, 19 percent will go 50-100 miles and 17 percent will drive more than 500 miles.

Summer Hotspots

The top five most popular summer destination types this year, according to U.S. travelers:

City – 58%

Ocean – 41%

National park – 20%

Lake – 18%

Resort – 16%

40 percent said the main reason for visiting their destination is due to tradition or because it’s a favorite place, while 27 percent are going for a new experience/to see a new place.

According to the respondents, New York City, Las Vegas, and Chicago are the three most popular U.S. destinations for summer travel this year.

35 percent of U.S. travelers are planning an international leisure trip this summer.

U.S. regions travelers are planning to visit this summer:

Northeast – 35%

West – 31%

Southeast – 30%

Midwest – 22%

Southwest – 17%

Fun in the Sun

Travelers will enjoy some active recreation during their leisure travel this summer. Hiking is the most popular activity (31 percent), followed by water sports (25 percent).

41 percent of respondents said while on vacation they plan to visit a historical site or landmark, 15 percent will attend a concert, and 12 percent will treat themselves to a food festival.

“The majority of U.S. travelers are committed to their leisure summer travel plans, whether gas prices are up or down,” said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. “Even if it takes cutting back on mileage and staying closer to home, the vast majority of Americans will take summer trips.”

About TripAdvisorTripAdvisor® is the world’s largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 50 million unique monthly visitors*, and over 60 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor’s millions of monthly visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc.

/quotes/zigman/7619815/quotes/nls/trip TRIP
+2.32%

manages and operates websites under 19 other travel media brands, and together the sites attract more than 69 million unique monthly visitors**. TripAdvisor’s travel media brands include
www.airfarewatchdog.com ,
www.bookingbuddy.com ,
www.cruisecritic.com ,
www.everytrail.com ,
www.familyvacationcritic.com ,
www.flipkey.com ,
www.holidaylettings.co.uk ,
www.holidaywatchdog.com ,
www.independenttraveler.com ,
www.onetime.com ,
www.seatguru.com ,
www.sniqueaway.com ,
www.smartertravel.com ,
www.tingo.com ,
www.travel-library.com ,
www.travelpod.com ,
www.virtualtourist.com ,
www.whereivebeen.com , and
www.kuxun.cn .

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, Worldwide, January 2012

**Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Inc. and its subsidiaries, Worldwide, January 2012

©2012 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE TripAdvisor

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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Add to portfolio

TRIP

TripAdvisor Inc.

US

: U.S.: Nasdaq

$
43.64

+0.99
+2.32%

Volume: 3.11M
May 16, 2012 4:00p

P/E Ratio33.29
Dividend YieldN/A

Market Cap$5.72 billion
Rev. per Employee$537,245

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She isnt goofing off — she is doing market research for Self Workout in the Park, a video game she helped create to capitalize on the explosive growth of advertising in social games like the ones played on Facebook and other online networks.

Once on the fringes of digital advertising, social game ads are now the hip newcomer for Madison Avenue, with McDonalds Corp paying for players to build restaurants in Zynga Incs CityVille game and Unilever-sponsored Dove spas popping up in The Sims Social.

The number of people who play social games has ballooned to hundreds of millions globally, meaning hundreds of millions of dollars in ad spending in games are up for grabs. Researcher eMarketer expects social game ad revenue to soar 80 percent to $672.2 million by 2014. Zyngas $28.2 million in advertising revenue in the first quarter, more than double the amount a year ago, underscores the growth potential of social game ads.

Advertisers like the size of the audience, how they can target specific demographics and how users can spend several uninterrupted minutes a day playing a game.

Publishers such as McEwen also like how social games can lead to branded advertising opportunities. The Self video game allows for the magazine to sell advertising on virtual weights and treadmills, for instance.

All of these things can be branded and new things can always be created to be branded, McEwen said.

Giant consumer products company Unilever recently signed a deal to advertise a range of goods in Electronic Arts Facebook games. Players of The Sims Social game, which number about 16.4 million per month, can now stock their bathrooms with Dove soap or eat Magnum ice cream cones, earning rewards for using Unilever products in the game.

Unilever is also in talks with Zynga to promote Lipton products, according to Amanda Richards, the companys Global Media Director of Refreshment.

She said Unilever, the No.2 global advertiser behind Procter Gamble, has made social gaming a priority in its digital advertising budget because gamers can get directly involved with its brands, and they often do so by choice.

The gaming space gives you a significant amount of face time with consumers because when youre in a game, youre pretty much not doing anything else, Richards said.

EARLY DAYS

Overall, social game ad spending is nascent compared with other forms of online ad spending such as search advertising, which hit $15.36 billion last year, or banner ads, which generated $7.72 billion in 2011, according to eMarketer.

Social game ads are in their infancy and there is no industry standard for which to measure their reach. Conversion rates, or the rate at which people buy products they have seen advertised, are also low, according to eMarketer analyst Paul Verna.

Still, proponents of social game ads insist the results are there, just perhaps not in monetary form. Bounty paper towels was quite pleased with a campaign it had in an EA game called Restaurant City that generated more than 500,000 likes on its Facebook page, the company said.

The growth potential of social game ads has caused small companies to sprout up along Madison Avenue to serve as conduits between brands and social gaming companies.

Mitchell Reichgut, for instance, left the big advertising agency world to start the Jun Group, a 30-person company focused on video ads. Jun Group has already placed video ads promoting Pinnacle Foods Aunt Jemima brand, Claussen Pickles and ConAgra products in social games.

Other agencies focused on video game ads include Appssavvy and WildTangent.

Media agency Mindshare has even hired a digital gaming specialist, Geoffrey Greenblatt, whose full-time job is to advise his firms accounts on gaming.

Nearly all of our brands are involved to some extent and I only see it growing as they increase their spending in the space year over year over year, said Greenblatt, who wrote a 125-page book on video game advertising that Mindshare gives to clients.

He predicted that advertising in mobile games that friends play together is the next growth area. One big move in that area was Fordss Word of the Day campaign in Zyngas mobile hit, Words with Friends. Players get rewards for spelling words that Ford displays in a banner ad under the game.

Thats the first step and youre going to keep seeing brands get more innovative in mobile, he said.

(Reporting By Liana B. Baker; Editing by Peter Lauria and Maureen Bavdek)

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Funding for nonprofits survives state budget ax
The governor, bowing to opposition, asked lawmakers to scrap the proposal to reduce funding. The House also rejected many of McDonnells other amendments.

By Michael Sluss
981-3373

Forget about dog houses and scratching poles. Life for Fido and felines isnt what it used to be.

Its better. Much, much better.

These days the perks for pets are incredible: pearl necklaces, soothing massages, stylish clothing, holistic creams, specially prepared birthday cakes and gentle pedicures, all offered by owners, gratefully, for the simple exchange of companionship and unconditional love.

While many Americans are still keeping their belts tightened when it comes to discretionary spending, pet owners seem to be sparing no expense to pamper their beloved companions.

This year, owners are expected to spend $52 billion on their animals, an increase of $2 billion more than 2011s record-breaking sales, according to figures released in March by the American Pet Products Association.

The numbers say two things about pet ownership and spending: Americans love to pamper their pets, and pet services and supplies are booming businesses despite the economy.

Pet store owner George Parente said the trend began after 9/11, which took place a few days before he opened his first Dogs and Cats Rule store in the Newtown Shopping Center in Newtown, Pa.

I remember I made $50 that day, the Holland, Pa., resident said. I think that after 9/11, a lot of people changed their lives. Pets became more significant to them, and pet adoption escalated. People began to have a greater sense of home and family.

Parente is still riding the crest of that wave and has since opened two more stores, the second in Pennington in the Hopewell Crossing shopping center on Pennington Road in 2005, and the latest in West Windsors Windsor Green on Route 1 south in June of 2010.

I waited for a store here (Windsor Green) to become available because theres a Whole Foods supermarket in the shopping center, and the Whole Foods customer is our kind of customer, said Parente of his latest suburban, affluent location.

Leashed and vaccinated pets are allowed in the store that is well-stocked with apparel, fabric collars, food and toys. A natural food pet retailer, Parente even sells homeopathic supplements and grooming supplies for animals plus a line of products for senior pets.

Some of the food Parente sells is supplied by Gregg and Melissa Bernhardts Bag of Bones Barkery in Hamiltons Mercerville Shopping Center. What began as an online business in 2007 for the young Hamilton couple mushroomed quickly, and the Bernhardts opened their first store in the townships Concord Square Shopping Center. They quickly outgrew the 2,100 square-foot operation and, a year ago, moved up the road to a 5,000-square foot space at the Mercerville Shopping Center on Route 33. Now the Bernhardts have three full-time and two part-time employees working with them.

Our focus is on the pet, not the owner, Bernhardt said. People come mostly from Hamilton and Trenton, but we have some who come from Hoboken and the Philadelphia area because we have such a huge variety of things.

Packed with natural food products for pets, the store features a barkery with treats made in-store by the staff. Personalized birthday cakes ranging in price from $2.95 to $22.95 sell well, and the store celebrates six to eight in-store events yearly, including birthdays for the owners dogs, Chloe and Chance. A combination beach party/ice cream social set for late June or early July will feature a pool, tiki bar and frozen yogurt.

What we hear a lot is that people spend more on their pets than they do on their children, per average, said Bernhardt. Theyll say, I love to buy for my pet because they appreciate it more than my children do. Kids always want something expensive like electronics.

Were living in a world of foreclosures and credit card defaults and customers come in here, spend $5 on their pets and go home happy because their pet is happy, Bernhardt said.

Due to the health scare over the ingredients in pet food from China that sprang up in 2007, Bag of Bones sells and distributes only all-natural, human-grade food. The Bernhardts decided that was the route to take since they began as consumers and pet owner who wanted their store to include all of the things they couldnt find when they were shopping for their own pets needs.

Barney Goodwin, a red-nosed pit bull who hails from Hamilton, is a loyal Bag of Bones customer who lives a good life provided by his parents, Susan and Gary Goodwin.

Obtained at the Pet Rescue of Mercer five years ago, the playful animal has a bed in almost every room and a plastic kiddy pool in the yard.

Aside from an intolerance of small dogs and an occasional tug of war for Susans pillow, Barney is a good dog who gets regular treats when he accompanies her to the pet supply store.

He was 4 months old when we got him, Susan said. Hes so personable, so smart and his facial expressions are so funny. He loves car rides. We have a mural of him on the back window of our car.

Goodwin said she doesnt spend too much on Barneys treats and toys but likes to spoil her furry cuddler every once in a while.

People always ask me why I have a picture of my dog on my desk at work and not one of my husband, she said with a laugh.

At Utopia for Pets on Route 206 near Route 518 in Montgomery Townships Princeton North Shopping Center, owner Mike Growney reports lively business also featuring Bag of Bones products plus a clientele thats becoming more knowledgeable about what they should feed their pets.

They love and care about their pets. They read the ingredients, and they can see that if they feed them correctly, their pets are healthier and happier, said Growney, whose own two Samoyeds are featured on the stores website.

Utopia for Pets also features expensive looking carriers for small pets. Resembling designer handbags, they sell for $100. Another luxury is the Swarovski crystal collars that go for $50 to $136.

Raincoats, sweaters and jackets are available, especially in winter when smaller, less furry pets require covering from the cold.

One pet store owner who doesnt think business is booming is Kathy Stryeski, a longtime veterinarian who operates Reigning Dogs and Cats in Block Plaza on Route 33 in Hamilton. The store has been at its current location for a year following an eight-year stint at a small strip mall across from the Acme on Route 33.

Some people will tell you that business is good, but I find that people are only buying what they need, the essentials, said Stryeski, who also offers what she calls affordable vaccinations.

People consider their pets part of the family, but they dont go overboard in this economy. Theyre not buying anything frivolous.

Then again, what passes for essentials these days in the pet department is a matter of opinion.

Follow the Times of Trenton on Twitter.

Founded only four years ago, Castlight is fast establishing itself as the leader in a field rarely associated with health care: cost transparency. The San Francisco, Calif.-based company offers employees of self-insured companies the ability to compare medical procedures based on price and quality, which vary widely within the same geographical area. Earlier this month, it announced it raised $100 million, bringing the total amount of funding to $181 million, a record amount for a health IT start-up.

Castlight has now hired John Driscoll, an experienced industry executive, as president. (Co-founder Giovanni Colella is chief executive). Driscoll spent the past nine years at pharmacy benefits manager Medco Health, most recently as group president, where he championed electronic prescribing, helped establish a national drug safety system in Sweden, and oversaw consumer-driven programs. Prior to Medco, he served as an advisor on health care investments at Oak Investment Partners, an investor in Castlight. He also spent eight years at Oxford Health Plans, which was once hailed as a progressive HMO and is now part of UnitedHealth Group.

Driscoll left Medco shortly after the Federal Trade Commission approved its merger with Express Scripts last month, and was quickly tapped by Colella to expand Castlight’s partnerships with employers and payers. “We’re in the first inning to get consumers and plans make smarter decisions,” says Driscoll. “The data is coming.”

Colella had first approached Driscoll prior to founding Castlight, to bounce the idea of a start-up that mines claims to deliver a clear picture of what certain tests and procedures costs, and in which locations. “I thought it was great, assuming you can pull together the technology and employers,” says Driscoll. He was impressed when Medco and Castlight embarked on a pilot program with a mutual customer this past January, integrating Medco’s MyRx Choices that allows members to compare prescription drug costs, with Castlight’s tools. “The level of consumer engagement was off-the-chart,” says Driscoll, starting the first week. Now Castlight plans to bring the same transparency to drugs.