Civil war military and patriotic mats for photographic cases
The embossed leather or paper covered photographic case or the more expensive thermoplastic (union) case was the popular method of storing images during the decades preceding the advent of the paper image. The economic advantages of paper imaging insured that the decline and demise of the case was irreversible. The daguerreotype, ambrotype, and tintype required protection and the method for doing this became rather standard. A “sandwich” of parts offered the best solution. This was composed of the image, covered by thc brass mat, in tum covered by the brass mat, in turn covered by a sheet of clear glass and the trio held together by a brass preserver. The mat acted as a spacer that prevented the protective outer piece of glass from rubbing against and scratching the visualized part of the photograph. Most attention is given, of course, on the most popular item of this trio, namely the image. Only recently has the case itself come into its own as a collectible object.
Very little research has been directed at the brass mats, although dating of the image into early (1839-1852), middle (1853-1856) and late (1857 and later) periods can be suggested by the configuration of the cut out shape of the mat and/or the design stamped into the mat.
This dating of mats, of course, presumes the mat to be original with the image and this is guaranteed only when the original seals remain linking the mat to the image. The vast majority of the mats produced during the three to four decades of use ranged from the plain surface to mats ornately scribed with scrolls and flourishes of geometric pattern. Mats with a thematic design are considerably less common. Barring the floral motif, other themes are quite unusual. Design patent numbers for the countless styles made have not been thoroughly researched.
Tennis: Sanchez relishes the battle
WHEN ANNA Kournikova walked into the interview room, her right hand wrapped in a jacket, the suspicion was that she was either smuggling a trophy or concealing a weapon that would blow her Wimbledon rivals away faster than a Yonex racket. It transpired that she was hiding an injured thumb, the latest pre-tournament worry to set alongside Greg’s ankle and Steffi’s leg.
The 17-year-old Russian had returned to Devonshire Park, scene of the the Direct Line Ins-urance Championships, following a second visit to a doctor since Thursday’s impressive win against Steffi Graf. “The whole thumb is swollen and has a bruise on it like when you have a punch in the eye,” Kournikova said, declining to display the damaged digit for photographers who had been snapping her all week.
Kournikova’s face did not betray any great concern, and she emphasised that she expected to be fit to play her opening match against the American Kimberley Po at the All England Club next week. “The doctor said it was just a minor sprain in the ligament and that it would be better if I didn’t put any pressure on my hand today,” she said. That gave Arantxa Sanchez Vicario a walk-over into today’s final here, where she will play Jana Novotna for the 20th time in her career (Novotna leads the head-to-head, 10-9). The outlook is brighter than a year ago, when their final was abandoned because of rain with Novotna leading 6-5, on serve, in the opening set. The Czech won their only previous match on grass, in straight sets in last year’s Wimbledon semi-finals. Sanchez Vicario played one set yesterday, completing her third round match against the 16-year-old American Serena Williams, which had been delayed overnight. The Spaniard won, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Williams finishing the contest with her right thigh bandaged and experiencing pain in the right knee and ankle. “I hurt because I’m not used to the grass,” she said, adding, “I like the grass a lot. I think grass more or less forces you to attack, which is great for my game. I feel very confident on it, and I’m looking forward to playing at Wimbledon.” In contrast to their ill-tempered quarter-final at the French Open two weeks ear-lier, when Sanchez Vicario ac-cused Williams of failing to treat her with respect, the match here was in keeping with the sedate surroundings. “Serena played very well,” Sanchez Vicario said. While scurrying with her customary verve, the Spaniard is playing with impressive conviction. “I feel confident after winning the French Open,” she said. “I would prefer to play the semi-finals to go to the final, but I am feeling very good about my game.” She is also happy to find herself in the same half of the Wimbledon draw as Martina Hingis, Venus Williams and Kournikova. “I think it’s very exciting,” Sanchez Vicario said. “Everybody is playing well. The more competition the better.” Novotna played twice yesterday, defeating the Romanian Irina Spirlea in the quarter-finals, 6-4, 7-5, having recovered from 2-5 in the second set, and proving too sharp for Natasha Zvereva in winning their semi-final, 6-2, 6-1. l Richard Krajicek’s Wimbledon preparations are in doubt after he pulled out of an event in the Netherlands. The 1996 champion was forced to withdraw from the tournament in Rosmalen because of an injury to his left knee. He will visit a physio in Rotterdam today before assessing his chances. l Britain’s Miles Maclagan beat Gerald Mandl, of Australia, as the Wimbledon qualifiers finally completed the first round at Roehampton yesterday. Maclagan was joined in the second round by Nick Weal.
Building UNITY Churches bridge gaps Churches show unity by bridging
Left: Jocelyn Lyons, left, a UNITY volunteer from Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, and Yanna Sykes prepared chili for a monthly outreach lunch in February at the Abbott Community Center. The free lunch provides an incentive for individuals to come to the center where they can learn about helpful social programs. Below: Booths like this one set up by HealthWave, a state-sponsored health insurance program for the children of low-income families, provide social-services information that could be helpful to people coming to the event, which is held at a different community center each month.
Rachell Vega-Muniz had lunch with her daughter Sofia Muniz at the Abbott Center.
By Phil Anderson
Photographs by Chris Ochsner
The Capital-Journal
Many Topeka congregations want to reach out to people in their neighborhoods, but oftentimes have a hard time making the necessary connections.
Thanks to the new UNITY organization, things are beginning to move in a positive direction.
UNITY, an acronym that stands for Uniting Neighbors to Impact Topeka’s Young and Old, launched in January. It is a collaboration of local churches, Neighborhood Improvement Associations and community centers, as well as Topeka-based social-service agencies.
The group sponsors an event on the third Saturday of each month at a Topeka community center. The next such program will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 16 at Hillcrest Community Center, 1800 S.E. 21st.
Besides providing attendees with a free lunch, the event also features youth activities, as well as booths which offer information on parenting, health and education.
“We’ve seen an increase in the needs in the community,” said Toiane Taylor, a member of Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and one of the group’s leaders. “We know there’s a lot more people out of work. We know the food pantries are having a hard time covering everybody in need.”
Taylor said a number of local churches want to help meet needs in the community, but don’t have the financial resources to make much of a dent.
The other problem is finding members in the various congregations with the necessary expertise in the social-service arena.
With that in mind, Taylor said, leaders from several local churches decided to band together to address community needs by organizing the UNITY group.
Planning started about six months ago, and Taylor said the response at the two events to date — in January at Central Park Community Center and in February at Abbott Community Center — has been positive.
Most satisfying so far has been the willingness of local social- service and community-based programs to give of their time for the Saturday events.
“We wanted to do more than just give people meals,” Taylor said. “That’s why we invited some of the other community programs to come out.
“We want to meet needs on every level.”
Taylor said she was working with the Washburn University School of Nursing to provide health screenings at future events.
Most importantly, the arrangement has allowed churches to cross denominational lines and work together on a common project, she said.
Funding comes from local churches, as well as individuals and businesses.
Volunteers from various churches cook the food and provide staffing at the three-hour monthly events.
Other manpower comes from individuals who are performing court- ordered community service, Taylor said.
Arnold Jack, of Garfield Community Center and a UNITY board member, said he was excited about what the new organization can accomplish.
“I saw a need for the way it connects with the community,” Jack said. “I think we’re bringing something positive to the community, letting them know which programs are out there.”
UNITY also is showing a willingness among various congregations “to link together and work together and to get out there in the community.”
Patty Jordan, who was at the February event representing the Kaw Area Technical School, said the monthly UNITY programs show promise in helping local organizations “get the word out” to people who could benefit from their services.
Volunteer Adria Boyd, 15, a Highland Park High School sophomore, said she enjoyed helping with the monthly community-outreach event.
“It will serve some needs for people who can’t afford food,” she said. “They can come here and get something free to eat.”
Boyd also noted that youngsters in attendance were having a good time participating in activities in the community center’s gymnasium.
Lazaro DeArmas, 9, a third-grader at Scott Magnet School, agreed.
“I think it’s good,” Lazaro said, as he held a Frisbee with the words “Drug Free, That’s Me” written on it. “I like that you can play and get stuff for free.”
Local lawyer writes children’s music in spare time
In a profession where the scales of justice symbolize truth and impartial judgment, the scales can also serve as a reminder that we need balance in our lives. Some combination of career, family life, community involvement and fun helps to insure self-satisfaction and a state of well-being.
Paul Vincent Nunes, partner at Underberg & Kessler, understands the importance of life balance. His office includes a great mix of photographs and artifacts that represent his life beyond his professional training. His weathered little league baseball bat, family photos, and music posters adorn the walls of his corner office.
In a relaxed, lighthearted conversation over lunch, I caught a glimpse of Nunes beyond the office.
I sat down to talk to Nunes about the children’s music he composes and performs under the tradename Vincent, but spent much of the hour listening to charming stories about his wife of 23 years, Dr. Elizabeth Waller, and his daughters, Emily, 16, and Julia, 12.
Spending time with his family is a top priority, and one that led Nunes back to Rochester after a successful five-year stint at a Wall Street firm. After the birth of his first child, he reviewed his priorities and adjusted the career-family balance in his life, moving to Fairport, and joining his current firm.
A long-time participant in Indian Princesses and Trailmates, a YMCA father-daughter program, Nunes clearly enjoys his one-on-one time with his younger daughter, Julia. It is apparent Nunes has a close relationship with Julia as he describes her as an enthusiastic swimmer and crackling with intelligence.
Older daughter Emily also participated in the Indian Princesses program as a youngster, and now has a theater outing or lunchtime chat with her dad as key bonding time. As an accomplished dance student, Emily also enjoys her mother’s devotion to customizing her costumes and shaping her life decisions.
Music was part of Nunes’ life throughout his own youth. Self-taught on piano and guitar, he participated in high school and college bands, mimicking the various rock ‘n roll artists of the times. During law school, Nunes started writing music and returned to composing tunes and lyrics after his daughters were born. I started out writing little diddies for the children - it was fun, entertaining, and a way to communicate with the girls, Nunes said.
Around 1991 he made his first recording, mostly intending to share his collection with family and friends. His wife sent the recording to the national reviewers, where it was professionally praised. To date, three of Nunes’ four CDs have won Parents Guide awards for children’s audio. Undoubtedly, his fourth and most recent recording, Just One Step, will gain recognition in due time.
Fresh, lively, and engaging; solidly connected to the experience of young children and full of humor says the Parents’ Choice Foundation, in awarding Nunes a silver medal in 1998. In 2000, Nunes was given a prestigious Children’s Music Web Award.
Vincent and the Big Bad Kitchen Band and Read to Me were his first two releases, followed by Brand New Day, and Just One Step. You can learn more about Vincent at the web site for Lighthouse Records, www.LighthouseRecords.com.
In between courtroom battles, piles of paperwork, service on the board for The Landmark Society, and other community commitments, “Vincent” finds time to perform his children’s music six to ten times a year. He gets many more invitations than that, but again notes it’s that life balance thing - too much of anything is no good.
An annual trip to teachers’ conventions and presentations for the National Association for the Education of Young Children are among the public appearances that Vincent makes. Coming up on March 18, Nunes will be performing at Nazareth College for SUNsational Sunday, a fundraiser for Young Audiences.
Photos, receipts can speed claims
Dear Heloise: We have photographed every item that we own by room and in the attic. This includes the hot-water heater and the heating and cooling units. We have filed these, along with paid receipts, in a folder.
If we replace an item, we remove its picture and receipt and replace it with a picture of the new item and paperwork. The removed items go into a “dead” file for future reference, if needed. We place the folder in our bank safety-deposit box. In the event of a loss, all we have to do is furnish the insurance adjuster with a current picture or pictures and the associated paperwork.
All important paperwork should be filed in a secure place other than in the house it pertains to. –Ted and Sallie, Little Rock, Ark.
Dear Heloise: I never miss reading your column and have a suggestion for travelers. In this day of security checks at all airports and traveling sites (which I agree with to protect us), I use small mesh laundry bags for packing bras, panties, hosiery and other personal items. It makes it very easy for security checkers to see what items are in my luggage without having to remove them piece by piece, and they’re easier to replace in the luggage.
I also use clear-plastic bags for cosmetics, toothpaste and brushes, and I double-bag items that might leak in transit. I have even been complimented by some security people after they checked my luggage for saving them time. –B.K.H., California
Dear Heloise: This hint has helped us in so many different situations. I keep two plush bath towels in each of our vehicles at all times. I buy them to blend with the interior color of the cars. We’ve used them to mop spills, to double as a pillow or blanket, prop up a book, block the sun from a baby and protect things when transporting them to and from the car in the rain.
They have been used as tablecloths for the laps of my kids to keep food off the car when they eat. I’ve used them to keep warm at a soccer game when the wind picked up unexpectedly. When delivering meals or food trays, they help keep dishes from sliding around in the trunk. They are also good for padding sharp or delicate things. — Kelly Harris, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I have extra key rings, so I use them to put all my key-ring store club cards on. I keep this separately in my purse so I don’t have them all dangling with my keys. At a register, when I need to use a club card, instead of handing over all the keys, it’s nice to have a separate key ring. –Mary from Pennsylvania
Send a great hint to: Heloise; P.O. Box 795000; San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; fax: 210-HELOISE; e-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com © King Features Syndicate Inc.
FHLBank Cincinnati Welcomes New Member
The Western-Southern Life Assurance Company (Western-Southern) has been approved for membership at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati (FHLBank). Rated Superior by A.M. Best Co., Western-Southern is the 10th insurance company to join the FHLBank and is among more than 125 insurance companies in the 12-district FHLBank System.
“We are pleased to have such a high-quality insurance company as a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati,” said FHLBank CEO David Hehman. “This relationship better positions our two companies to expand and support the housing finance market.”
“Western & Southern believes that membership in the FHLBank is important for both organizations,” said WesternSouthern Chairman, President and CEO John F. Barrett. “We are pleased to have joined FHLBank and look forward to a long and productive partnership.”
Fannie Mae proposes new rules to help mortgage insurance holders
In a surprise move that could lower thousands of homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments this year, the nation’s largest investor in home loans wants to require automatic cancellation of mortgage insurance coverage when borrowers build up substantial equity stakes in their properties.
The proposed policy change by Fannie Mae, outlined in a confidential memo distributed to a small group of mortgage companies late last year, would also require that consumers with insured loans owned by Fannie Mae be notified in writing at least once a year about their rights to terminate mortgage insurance payments, and how to apply to do so.
Fannie Mae’s proposal attempts to defuse one of the most contentious issues in the home mortgage field during the past year: Millions of dollars of payments by homeowners for loan insurance long after the economic need for such insurance has passed. The controversy has produced over two dozen class action suits against major mortgage companies, several of which ended in settlements on the behalf of borrowers. It has also attracted attention in Congress, where legislators have considered requiting disclosure and mandatory termination of insurance coverage when requested by eligible borrowers.
At the center of the issue is a product that millions of homeowners pay for every month - private mortgage insurance or “PMI” - but that is widely misunderstood. Often adding $50 to $100 onto homeowners” monthly mortgage payments, PMI is required by most lenders whenever the borrower obtains a loan with less than a 20 percent down payment.
The insurance protects the lender - or the ultimate purchaser of the loan, like Fannie Mae - against financial loss in the event of a borrower’s nonpayment of principal and interest.
Should a borrower default and the house go to a foreclosure sale the insurance policy pays the lender’s costs to some specified coverage level. Since the risk of loss declines once a borrower has built up at least a 20 percent stake in the property, some lenders and investors permit termination of monthly insurance payments at that point, provided the borrower files a written request.
But many borrowers are unaware of their rights to seek cancellation, and continue paying for coverage far longer than necessary, In one case cited by PMI critic Rep. James V. Hansen, R-Utah, a borrower continued paying insurance premiums for over 20 years, when her equity stake approximated 90 percent.
Fannie Mae, along with its mega-investor rival, Freddie Mac, allows borrowers to request PMI termination under certain circumstances. But neither giant has ever required its mortgage servicers to monitor loans, and to terminate collection of premiums automatically at any point. Nor have they required that consumers be informed systematically of their termination rights.
Fannie Mae’s draft policy memo, written by senior vice president Robert J. Engelstad, would change this dramatically in 1997. For starters, all 2.3 million borrowers holding Fannie Mae mortgages with PMI would receive annual disclosure statements explaining the conditions under which their insurance payments could be ended.
For some borrowers, the termination would be automatic, requiring no request on their part. To be eligible for automatic termination, borrowers would have to have maintained an “acceptable” payment record - no 30-day-late monthly payments during the previous 12 months, and no 30-to-59-day-late payments during the previous two years.
Their loans would also have to have reached a minimum age: at least seven years old for a mortgage with a 15-year or less original term to maturity; or at least 10 years of age for a loan with an original term of more than 15 years.
Other categories of borrowers with “acceptable” payment histories could request termination on their own. If homeowners believe their equity stake has reached 20 percent of the original value of their property, they could contact their mortgage service and request termination. The minimum equity standard would be higher - 30 percent - for borrowers whose properties are used as second homes or rented out as investments.
Borrowers who believe market appreciation or improvements have increased the value of their equity significantly could also apply for insurance termination. Under this “current value” option, borrowers with loans two to five years of age would have to meet a 25 percent minimum equity standard; borrowers with loans five years of older would have to meet a 20 percent equity test. To establish current market value, an appraisal typically would be required at the applicant’s expense.
Sources at Fannie Mae cautioned that the Engelstad proposal are still in the negotiation stage with mortgage servicers and won’t be firmed up until late February. Moreover, sources said, the proposal with the biggest potential impact on borrowers - the automatic monitoring and termination plan - would not take effect until this summer. After that, however, eligible homeowners with Fannie Mae-owned loans could well start receiving surprise good news in the mail - notifications that mortgage insurance no longer is required and that their monthly payments will be reduced immediately. Any excess funds escrowed for PMI would be refunded or credited.
Personal Finance: Loose Change
mortgage which offers borrowers 6 per cent of the sum they are borrowing in cash, plus free accident sickness and unemployment insurance for six months. Also included is a free valuation. Loans are available up to 80 per cent of a home’s value. Compulsory buildings insurance is required. There is a pounds 250 arrangement fee. Call 01788 578311.
RMIC Named as Oregon Housing Partner in Residential Loan Program
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 22, 1998–Republic Mortgage Insurance Company (RMIC) has been selected by the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department to be a partner in the Residential Loan Program. RMIC is providing pool insurance underwriting for the program in addition to their normal primary insurance services. It can be as simple as lenders submitting one package of information to RMIC for both pool and primary insurance.
Merle Sharick, Vice President, Manager of Risk Management for RMIC said, “We are excited to have been selected by Oregon’s Housing Department as their partner in the residential loan program. This partnership allows the approved participating lenders to provide affordable home ownership to first-time borrowers and lower income families that are unable to be served by the conventional lending market.”
Lynn Schoessler, Deputy Director Oregon Housing and Community Services Department, said, “The Oregon Residential Loan Program enables lenders to offer home buyers a 6.125% interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate loan, which they should find very attractive. That interest rate does fluctuate with the market. The initial response we have received from the lenders in Oregon is overwhelmingly supportive of RMIC’s business philosophies. RMIC’s relationship with the lenders is outstanding and we are very impressed with their commitment to customer service. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship.”
RMIC is a national, private mortgage insurer based in Winston- Salem, North Carolina. RMIC’s private mortgage insurance coverage allows lenders to approve mortgage loans with smaller down payments making home buying more affordable.
RMIC offers mortgage lenders an array of innovative products including ZIP(SM) Monthlies, OASIS(SM), contract underwriting, Electronic Loan Submission, customer training, quality control services, and affordable housing programs.
Mortgage insurance more affordable with tax breaks
MORTGAGE insurance used to be an ugly stepchild in the housing market, something borrowers had to get when they couldn’t come up with a 20 percent down payment or swing a piggyback loan.
Now, a tougher lending market that has made piggyback loans harder to get, along with a new tax break for mortgage insurance, has made paying those premiums much more attractive.
Paid for by borrowers, mortgage insurance is designed to shelter lenders from financial losses associated with foreclosures.
Consumers whose yearly adjusted gross income is $100,000 or less can deduct their mortgage insurance premiums from their 2007 federal income-tax returns for homes purchased or refinanced this year under a law passed by Congress.
Taxpayers with yearly incomes of between $100,000 and $109,000 are eligible for a reduced tax break under the law. The mortgage insurance deduction does not apply to loans taken out in 2006 or earlier.
Prior to passage of the law last year, homeowners who purchased mortgage insurance could not deduct it from their federal income taxes. That’s not the case with mortgage interest, which consumers have been able to deduct since 1922.
Legislation is pending to extend the mortgage insurance deduction through 2014.
But while mortgage insurance can result in a tax deduction of several hundred dollars, keep in mind that it will be much smaller than the tax deduction from mortgage interest, which can amount to thousands of dollars a year in the Bay Area.
The mortgage-insurance deduction applies to both private and government mortgage insurance, which is used for government-backed loans.
Tax breaks
Observers point to the new tax break for mortgage insurance, along with lenders cutting back on piggyback loans, as factors that are driving an increase in home loans backed with mortgage insurance.
Borrowers use piggyback loans, which are tacked on the primary loan, to avoid paying mortgage insurance.
“(Mortgage insurance) was definitely a second choice when the piggybacks were so much more available,” said Tammy Cryer, a mortgage broker with The Home Loan Group, which has offices in Orinda and Lafayette.
In the event of a foreclosure sale, a piggyback lender is second in line to get paid. The rising foreclosure rates in today’s housing market are prompting piggyback lenders to be more conservative when making these loans, said Cryer.
While a piggyback loan can help a borrower avoid paying mortgage insurance, such loans tend to have higher interest rates than the primary loan. However, an advantage of taking out a piggyback loan is that the interest payments are tax deductible, just like on the primary loan.
Until now, that wasn’t the case for mortgage insurance premiums.
“(The mortgage insurance deduction) certainly takes away one of the objections of mortgage insurance,” said Cryer. “It’s a nice benefit to have.”
Generally, payments on a piggyback loan can be lower compared to mortgage insurance premiums, said Cryer. The drawback of a piggyback loan is that the monthly payments don’t go away until the piggyback loan is paid off or refinanced.
That’s not the case with mortgage insurance.
“Down the road the mortgage insurance will go away” when there is sufficient equity in the home, said Cryer. “And then the mortgage payments will be less than having the piggyback payment.”
To that end, borrowers who expect to be in a home for several years might want to consider mortgage insurance on a primary loan as opposed to taking out a piggyback loan.
“I tell my clients, mortgage insurance is not a forever thing,” said Cryer.
In the first 10 months of the year, about 1.7 million new private mortgage insurance policies were issued, a 41 percent increase from the same time period a year ago, according to the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America, or MICA, which represents private mortgage insurers.
“The deductibility feature for both government and private mortgage insurance has made insured loans more attractive,” said MICA spokesman Jeff Lubar. “It’s a lot harder to get those more exotic loans given the nature of the market.”
The deduction is more likely to help moderate-income borrowers save on their taxes when buying lower-priced homes, said Cryer, the mortgage broker.
For example, a married couple in the 25 percent federal income tax bracket who obtained a no-money down
$417,000 loan, the maximum amount under the conforming loan limit, would see a $615 federal income tax deduction, according to Cryer. The deduction is based on a couple making less than $100,000 a year filing a joint tax return and taking out a 30-year fixed loan with a 6.125 percent interest rate. Their mortgage insurance premiums would be $205 a month, or $2,460 a year.
Backed by government
Conforming loans are backed by mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Loans above $417,000, known as non-conforming jumbo loans, have interest rates that are slightly higher than conforming loans.