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How to redefine customer loyalty for your organization

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


What is customer loyalty? How would you define it?

This one question sparked heated debate, both in the boardroom and in the bar. The most fundamental point of contention is whether customer ‘retention’ is truly achievable, or whether brands / retailers should refocus on engagement and experience as a path to building valuable customer relationships.

The future of customer retention is upon us and as we emerge from nearly 18 months of atypical lifestyles, it becomes more and more clear with each passing day that people are embracing new buying habits and refine their preference for specific communication channels and payment methods.

People are also increasingly thinking about the retailers they frequent, carefully measuring brand values ​​to align with their personal values. This review process is fueled by a subjective element where consumers listen to the news, scroll through Twitter and Reddit, and chat with their friends to address the latest post or supported cause that might change their perception of a favorite brand.

The debate over whether loyalty is an achievable goal over a sustainable period of time is not surprising in a world that generates news at a breakneck pace and where consumer behavior is mercurial to the point of almost being unpredictable. The customer retention debate has gone beyond mere curiosity in its importance and has important implications for the future of your business.

Now is the time to redefine what loyalty means to your organization

The experts in consumer engagement and retention at Exchange Solutions know very well how the concept of consumer retention and value exchange can be misinterpreted across an organization. Mike Hughes, CEO of Exchange Solutions, explains why this concept motivates their corporate mission.

“The concept of optimizing the exchange of value within a loyalty framework, formal or informal, is essential to successfully achieve the goals of consumer engagement and financial growth for your organization. Creating an optimized exchange of value requires understanding the current behaviors and interests of an individual consumer, identifying additional actions that they could take, and presenting an economically sound and attractive incentive that offers benefits. value to the consumer while ensuring an incremental and profitable transaction for the retailer. This is how we create win-win experiences for consumers and retailers ”

All the talk about becoming customer centric has led to the point where customer retention is no longer an option, but a skill necessary for the survival of the business. It’s time to see your customers as your most important asset and take a clear view of how you plan to build trusting relationships with them for the long haul. The mantra “build it and they will come” is more easily applicable to loyalty marketing than to baseball.

The value exchange described by Mike Hughes means that when you take the right approach for your brand, customers will be delighted. In turn, they will reward you with additional visits and sales, while investors and shareholders will reward you with increased market value. You could even increase your annual incentive pay in the process, so everyone wins if you successfully redefine loyalty in your business.

How do you get started on the path to creating your own vision for customer retention in the future? You can start by checking whether your business is focusing on the big or the small “L” of loyalty.

If you focus on the little L of loyalty, you may have a loyalty program but find it continually challenged by senior management.

  • You focus on the program and the programs offered by your competition. What value do they give in their currency of points or miles? What types of rewards do they offer? What other rules of the program must be equal or exceeded?
  • You would like to spend time investing in continuous improvement, removing the friction elements in the shopping experience, and eliminating the pesky details of your program that limit value to members, but you spend most of your time. time to defend the program to the boss.

If you’re focusing on the Big L of loyalty, you’ve probably got the C-Suite deal where customers come first.

  • You continually refine your strategy to become truly customer-centric and highlight it in your investor briefings or owner meetings, sharing metrics indicating progress towards the goal
  • You may or may not have a formal loyalty program, but you collect a data-driven understanding of your customers’ behaviors and work to collect even more information about their lifestyle, stage of life and personal values ​​in order to to serve them better.

Forward-looking marketers know that expanding the ranks of truly loyal customers is the golden ticket to profitability and higher capital valuations.

By focusing on the Big L of customer retention, your strategy is executed with great execution and generates additional visits, revenue and profits. You connect more effectively with senior executives when you provide access to performance measurement, which means you never have to respond “I’m not sure” in response to the CFO or CEO who asks you what. is the performance of your investment in customer retention.

Understanding the nuances of this debate is essential for your brand to succeed in becoming more customer-centric. If you focus on your loyalty program, chances are you’ll never move the needle much to increase the number of customers who give you the ongoing benefit of the doubt. People don’t care as much that you have a program, they care about how that program strengthens your brand promise and delivers extraordinary value. They want this program to speak to the hoped-for truth that your brand wants customer loyalty first and foremost.

The big L of customer loyalty is a supreme goal. Top-level marketers realize that the absolute conquest of customer allegiance does not define success. Building trust, strengthening brand affinity, and increasing value is achievable and may be the most accretive aspect of customer loyalty to the business. Good execution with the exchange of value in mind, as Mike Hughes has described it, is the result of a Big L-focused organization.

Whether or not you have an explicitly defined loyalty program, you can earn by focusing on Big L. Your go-to-market strategy can be based on engagement-focused campaigns and a formal program is not always necessary. to achieve your goals. You may or may not choose to include a promotional currency (points or miles), but you should link the execution of your loyalty strategy to in-store and online operations to ensure that loyalty is part of the customer experience and to communicate the brand’s authenticity to customers at every point of interaction.

How to redefine customer loyalty for your organization


Things to do in Long Beach this weekend including … tiki drinks and black dance festivals • the Hi-lo

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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This week we are pretty confident that we have something for everyone. Do you like to drink? We have something for you. Photograph your passion? We’ve found an inspiring photographer you are sure to learn a tip or two from. Looking to improve your dance skills free? No problem. Fancy an outdoor getaway? Yeah, that too.

And if you’re looking to get out of the house and admire some cool stuff, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Scroll!

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER IAN SHIVE VISITS THE PACIFIC AQUARIUM (Wednesday)

Photographer Ian Shive holds up his bulky camera. Photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific.

Award-winning photographer, filmmaker and Discovery Channel host Ian Shive will visit the Aquarium of the Pacific on Wednesday August 4 to talk about his new book “Refuge: America’s Wildest Places”.

Shive will show nature and wildlife photos from his book and talk about the reserves he photographed, including places such as Kenai, Alaska, and the coral reefs of Palmyra Atoll in the South Pacific.

The evening will end with a cocktail and a signing session.

the free the event is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations for the theater are required, Click here. For those who wish to connect at home, a stream of the conference will be available online, Click here.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is located at 100 Aquarium Way.

FILMS & MOONLIGHT: “THE GREATEST SHOWMAN” – 2ND & PCH (Friday)

Participants watch an outdoor movie on Seaport Way at 2nd & PCH. Image courtesy of 2e and PCH.

Catch a free outdoor film screening of “The Greatest Showman” at 2nd & PCH on Friday August 6 as part of the Movies & Moonlight series at the Food & Drink Center.

The movie begins at sunset (around 7:45 p.m.), but it’s best to arrive early to take your seat along the main drag, which is blocked off to traffic. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets as free spaces are limited. The center asks all participants to respect social distancing.

2nd & PCH is at 6400 Pacific Coast Highway.

CATALINAVILLE FUNDRAISER – DESCANSO BEACH CLUB (Saturday)

A couple dance at the Descanso Beach Club in the evening during the Catalinaville fundraiser. Photo courtesy organizers.

This “Margaritaville-style” event at the Descanso Beach Club on Catalina Island on Saturday August 7 is a fundraiser for the Catalina Island Medical Center Foundation.

Tickets are already sold for dinner and cocktail, but the beach party (starts at 8 p.m.) promises live music, beach dancing, and a fully stocked bar.

Tickets cost $ 100 which, yes we know it’s pretty high but it’s fundraising, remember? However, as a consolation prize, it allows you to buy two cocktails!

For more details and to buy online, Click here.

The Descanso Beach Club is located at 1, chemin Sainte-Catherine.

JUDY KEPES DOLLS HOUSE OPENING RECEPTION – LOITER GALLERIES (Saturday)

Loiter Galleries to Unveil Their New Exhibition, The Doll House, by Local Artist Judy Kepes Saturday August 7.

The art reminiscent of Judy Kepes’ storybook features delicate black and white pen strokes that depict characters one might imagine existing in a Grimm tale. Sweet, sentimental, even somewhat gruesome, the characters she creates are identifiable, unique, and intricately defined.

Expect cutouts of her paper figures set in paper dollhouses, as well as life-size installations for you to browse.

The opening reception is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Regular viewing hours are 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The exhibition will be on view until September 11.

Loiter Galleries is at 180 E. Fourth St.

SUMMER MUSIC SERIES – LONG BEACH TOWNE CENTER (Saturday)

Flyer courtesy organizer.

The Long Beach Towne Center kicks off its summer concert series this Saturday, August 7 with 90s Nation, a cover band outfitted to perform all of your favorite rock and indie songs from the 1990s.

Expect anthems from Alice in Chains, Audio Slave, Oasis, Nirvana, Foofighters, Incubus, Muse and more. Seriously, these guys cover songs from over 50 rock bands.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs to watch the show, which will take place on the downtown promenade.

The series will continue with a different live show every Saturday until the rest of August. Click here for more information.

The Long Beach Towne Center is located at 7575 Carson Blvd.

DANCE AND YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUNG ADULTS LESSONS – LONG BEACH PLAYHOUSE (Saturday)

Photo file.

Teens and young adults are invited to take a free hands-on theater and dance lesson at the Long Beach Playhouse on Saturday, August 7. ArtReach Village, a non-profit organization dedicated to the enrichment of disadvantaged young people and families through art.

The event runs from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and includes a drama and improvisation lesson from Rovin Jay, a 30-year veteran in the theater industry, and a hip hop, movement and dance class from Sonya Randall, a dancer who has traveled the world, singer and choreographer.

Click here for more information. For RSVP, which is required, send an email [email protected]

The Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St.

AUGMENTED REALITY CHALLENGE FESTIVAL – LA PROMENADE (Sunday)

A sample of the objects of the world in augmented reality showing dolphins in downtown Long Beach. Screenshot.

Long Beach’s inaugural Augmented Reality (AR) Challenge Festival kicks off on Sunday, August 8 in downtown, where locals can interact with businesses, murals, buildings and other attractions using their smartphones.

The festival is the culmination of the Long Beach Augmented Reality (AR) Challenge, which in early spring called on the community to develop AR graphics that honor, inspire, or could enhance the “historic past, diverse present or l ’emerging future’ of the city.

Some of these exhibits will include fun face filters, unique “objects from the world” (like the photo above), and animated murals.

During the contest, entrants will be able to vote for their favorite AR exhibit and the winner will receive a cash prize from a pool of $ 14,000.

Most of the event will take place along the Promenade area, although there are exhibits or “trigger points” on Broadway to the historic Psychic Temple of the Holy Kiss building and on Long Beach Boulevard towards Fourth Street. A good place to start, according to the organizers, is at Harvey Milk Park where DJ Cool Miq will perform a concert throughout the day.

The event is from noon to 5:00 p.m. The awards ceremony will start at 4:00 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Harvey Milk Park is located at 185 E. Third St.

2ND ANNUAL LONG BEACH BLACK DANCE FESTIVAL – VARIOUS VENUES (Sunday August 8 – Sunday August 15)

Organizers courtesy flyer.

Returning for a second year after a successful inaugural show, the Long Beach Black Dance Festival, organized by The CRay Project, is set to beautify the city with dance classes, enrichment workshops, panel discussions and, well. sure, a great dance concert.

This year’s theme is “Black Habits: Cultivating the Future,” which explores dance values ​​related to the Black Diaspora through the history of dance education, dialogue and performance.

“The festival is a continuum of celebration of black culture, amplifying dancers of color and occupying spaces for our voices to be seen, felt and heard,” organizers said.

The weeklong event runs August 8-15. Dance classes that include hip hop, twerk, ballet, capoeira and more will be available August 9-13. Click here for the list of available dance classes and to register online. Classes are free, just like the rest of the festival.

The festival will conclude with a community dance concert in Rose Park on Sunday August 15th.

Click here for more information on events and programming.

RUM TIKI SOCIAL – ROXANNE’S (Sunday)

Julio Gutierrez, creator of Chuntikis tiki pop-up, stands behind Roxanne’s bar after serving one of his handcrafted cocktails, Limon y Nada. Screenshot.

This event at the Roxanne bar on Sunday August 9 celebrates the know-how of tiki cocktails.

A $ 25 general admission ticket will get you access to the event, which will feature loads of craft cocktails from the bar and Chuntikis tiki-pop ups, which create specialty cocktails inspired by stories from Hispanic culture. and latino.

Attendees will be able to browse products from over 15 vendors selling specialty tiki-related products including clothing, home decor, tableware, art and more.

Drinks and merchandise are not included in the ticket price.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. The event is from noon to 6 p.m.

Roxanne’s is at 1115 E. Wardlow Rd.



Overland Park City Director Bill Ebel announces his retirement effective March 2022

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Overland Park City Director Bill Ebel has decided to retire next spring, ending an 11-year term as head of city administration.

Ebel worked for a total of 21 years at Overland Park, including in the city’s public works department and as director of planning and development departments.

“After 43 years of public service in my county and community, I decided it was time to retire,” he told city council on Monday, referring to his career in the US military. before moving on to municipal administration.

His job is scheduled to end on March 1, 2022, and his last day of work will be February 25, he said.

“Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to the next six months where I don’t expect the pace to slow down at all here,” he said.

Professionnal career

Ebel, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, is only the fifth city manager of Overland Park in its history.

He has often been praised by council members for his leadership over the city’s budget, especially during the troubled months following pandemic shutdowns.

But he also found himself in the hot seat last year in controversies over his role in handling a separation agreement with Clayton Jenison, the police officer who shot teenage John Albers dead during a police check-up. social assistance in 2018.

The city has sought to keep this information out of public view, but details of the settlement were released earlier this year after a lawsuit.

Some board members also questioned Ebel’s decision to lay off employees and suspend pay increases as the pandemic first took hold in 2020, as well as a request from the city. coronavirus relief fund to pay for video equipment at a youth football complex that ultimately was not advanced.

Ebel’s announcement on Monday was greeted from the podium with a mixture of admiration and regret.

Outgoing Mayor Carl Gerlach said the announcement of Ebel’s retirement was “not something we like to hear, but we certainly understand. You’ve been through a lot in 43 years.


PPG recognized for its environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices; Named in the FTSE4Good Index Series for the third consecutive year

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


PITTSBURGH – (COMMERCIAL THREAD) – PPG (NYSE: PPG) announced today that it has been named to the FTSE4Good Index Series for the third consecutive year. The index measures the performance of companies’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.

“Our unwavering commitment to develop and supply the paints and coatings that will create solutions today for a more sustainable future is supported by key ESG priority areas, including operating with integrity, preservation and environmental protection. and the communities in which we operate, developing PPG people, and ensuring our workforce is inclusive and representative of our diverse global customer base, ”said Diane Kappas, PPG Vice President, Sustainability global. “In the context of the ongoing global pandemic, our inclusion in the FTSE4Good index underscores our commitment to be an ESG leader in the paints, coatings and specialty materials industry. ”

Released in April 2021, PPG’s 2020 Sustainability Report highlights the company’s progress towards achieving its 2025 sustainability goals and progress in key ESG areas. Highlights include:

  • 35% of sales from sustainably favored products and processes, including the launch of antibacterial and antiviral products, towards the 40% target by 2025;

  • 35% of manufacturing and research and development sites with zero waste from treatment to landfill;

  • 34% reduction in waste disposal intensity compared to the 2017 baseline, above the target of 25% by 2025;

  • 15% reduction in water intensity from the 2017 baseline towards the 20% target by 2025;

  • 33% reduction in the spill and release rate from the 2017 baseline; and

  • 24% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2017.

PPG and its employees have also supported the basic needs of communities around the world; implemented a comprehensive COVID-19 response plan to protect employees and support communities; served customers in new ways; and advanced diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). Actions included:

  • Invest $ 13 million in communities around the world to support education and community sustainability;

  • By committing $ 20 million from 2020 to 2025 to promote social justice and educational opportunities in under-represented communities;

  • Provide $ 4.5 million to support COVID-19 relief efforts, including the donation of 80,000 masks to hospitals; and

  • Increase and strengthen the company’s focus on ED&I by identifying and taking action on a range of commitments.

To learn more about PPG’s sustainability efforts and progress, visit Sustainability.ppg.com.

The FTSE Group confirms that PPG has been independently assessed against the FTSE4Good criteria and has met the requirements to become a component of the index.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND EMBELLISH THE WORLD â„¢

At PPG (NYSE: PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for over 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our clients’ biggest challenges, working closely together to find the right path forward. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 75 countries and achieved net sales of $ 13.8 billion in 2020. We serve clients in the construction, consumer products industries , industry and transport and the aftermarket. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

We protect and beautify the world is a brand and the PPG logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

CATEGORY Sustainability


Midland infrastructure group connects with lawmakers this summer

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0

As lawmakers return home from Washington, DC over the summer recess, the Midland Business Alliance (MBA) Infrastructure Advisory Board recognized this is an important time to make contact with federal and state officials.

Representatives from the committee reached out to lawmakers to share background information, vision and scope for flood mitigation and resilience building in the Mid-Michigan region.

Formed in early 2021, the MBA Infrastructure Advisory Board has a broad mandate to examine any infrastructure issue that impacts the quality of life and economic vitality of the Midland region. The first areas of interest are legacy flood issues and related sanitary sewer issues. The committee is charged with finding the best ways to work with local, state and federal partners to resolve long-standing flood issues that impact citizens, the business community and economic development in the region of the Bay of the Great Lakes.

“Part of the committee’s efforts is advocacy,” said Bill Schuette, a community volunteer who is the former Michigan attorney general. “We need to be in regular contact with lawmakers because they will, in turn, defend us in Washington and Lansing. Flood mitigation in central Michigan is likely to be a complex and time-consuming project. If it was easy, it would have been done a long time ago. We will need the funding support and expertise of federal and state resources. “

Lee Ann Keller, co-chair of the committee, reports that the group has worked with several companies to advance the committee’s work.

“First and foremost, Squire Patton Boggs is a law firm with expertise in public policy,” Keller said. “Cabinet members have started advocating for our Washington and Lansing flood mitigation goals with agencies and lawmakers. Second, we are working with AMPM, Inc., a Midland-based communications company, which has helped us to communicate regularly with the public, stakeholders and legislators. Third, as we work to paint a picture of what flood mitigation in mid-Michigan could look like, we asked AECOM, a global consultancy firm in infrastructure, to help us predict the scope of potential mitigation and resilience projects.


“We asked AECOM for initial concepts, best practice examples of nature-based flood mitigation, as well as a rough estimate of the budget,” said JW Fisher, co-chair of the committee. “Knowing that we are still doing a prehydrology / hydraulic study with the US Army Corps of Engineers, we wanted to be able to give lawmakers a sense of what we are trying to do and the scope. It’s not a few million dollars. We expect it to be more like $ 350 million to $ 500 million.

Fisher also pointed out that AECOM was invited to participate in this early conceptual work, but was not hired for future engineering work. Any future work would include a normal tendering process.

Types of future engineering solutions could include large-scale detention, local drainage improvements, river engineering, and the potential for dikes in some areas. Large-scale detention could involve the expansion and rehabilitation of wetlands and swamps. Flood stage water could be channeled to these areas to reduce the downstream flow volume. These detention areas could also serve as additional recreation areas and wildlife habitat. For local drainage, improvements can be made with storm drains, canals and ponds to reduce urban stormwater runoff on impermeable surfaces. With river engineering, the original natural functions of rivers and streams are assessed to identify “soft” engineering solutions versus “hard” features like concrete lined canals. It can improve the appearance of water characteristics and recreational use. When space is limited, dikes can prevent flow from entering low areas.

“There are many examples of successful floodplain mitigation programs, including those that focus on environmentally sensitive solutions,” said Schuette. “We are excited to share our vision with local, state and federal leaders. We know research, engineering, and funding will be a long-term effort, but we plan to do so to improve the quality of life, safety, clean water, jobs, and economic growth in central Michigan. .

On July 23, the Corps of Engineers presented Midland County with a draft proposal to begin the hydrological / hydraulic study of the Tittabawassee River watershed. County officials will review the proposal and determine how to proceed. Through donations from local businesses and foundations, the MBA Infrastructure Advisory Board has pledged to fund the 50% cost share by recruiting engineering services to help the engineering corps carry out the study and / or by a direct contribution.

According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Tittabawassee River Assessment, the watershed covers 2,471 square miles, including all or part of the following counties: Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon and Saginaw. The main course of the Tittabawassee River is over 90 miles long, with over 600 miles of tributaries including the Tobacco River, Pine River, and Chippewa River. Located in the central portion of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, this watershed is the fifth largest in the state.

Formed in 2021 by the board of directors of Midland Business Alliance, the advisory committee structure is made up of members of the board of directors of the MBA, members of the community at large, a representative of the staff of the MBA and representatives of the Four Lakes Task Force, Midland County and Town of Midland. In addition to communicating with stakeholders and collaborators, the committee also reports regularly to the President and CEO of the MBA, who will update the entire MBA Board of Directors at regular intervals.

For more information, visit www.MBAmi.org/floodstudy.

Online Seminar on Effective Quality Monitoring of Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), August 25-26, 2021 – ResearchAndMarkets.com

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


DUBLIN – (COMMERCIAL THREAD)–The “Effective quality monitoring of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs)” training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com offer.

The globalization of the pharmaceutical supply chain has resulted in an increased use of contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). There are many advantages to using CMOs; however, it also presents unique compliance risks, especially since operations are not under your direct control. Compliance risks are highlighted by trends in FDA warning letters, the majority of which relate to serious GMP compliance and data integrity issues at foreign CMO sites.

If you use CMOs, your company is fully responsible for the quality, safety, efficacy, and cGMP compliance of the products. Additionally, the FDA has made it clear that companies using CMOs will be held accountable for CMOs’ compliance with cGMPs, as well as for compliance with CMOs through the sponsor’s regulatory commitments. Problems identified by your CMO may result in sending FDA 483 and / or warning letters to your company. Therefore, it is imperative that your organization has a robust CMO management system. Ultimately, your ability to adequately monitor the quality of marketing managers is key to ensuring product safety and protecting your company’s compliance profile.

This seminar will help all staff responsible for supervising CMOs understand how to ensure effective and quality supervision of CMOs from start to finish. Special attention will be given to selection and qualification, CMO audits, quality agreements, oversight of CMO operations and review of key CMO files. Considerations for different types of fabrication will be highlighted and techniques for dealing with difficult CMO situations will be discussed. Techniques for ensuring robust CMO surveillance programs in light of COVID-19 restrictions will also be discussed.

This is a hands-on course, designed to provide participants with skills that they can immediately apply to supervising marketing managers within their own organizations. Case studies will allow participants to practice skill sets in cooperation with the instructor.

Learning objectives

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Understand the CMO’s business model

  • Understand the regulatory requirements for CMO quality oversight

  • Understand how to structure your organization for effective CMO supervision

  • Understand the key points to select and qualify CMOs

  • Knowing how to prepare and conduct CMO audits

  • Know how to develop a Quality Agreement and how to execute it

  • Understand the key points for examining CMO files

  • Know how to resolve issues identified in CMO files

  • Knowing how to manage CMOs continuously

Main topics covered:

DAY 01 (7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. PDT)

The CMO’s business model

What is CMO supervision?

COVID-19 CMO oversight and restrictions

Regulatory requirements for CMO oversight

FDA expectations and warning letters

Structure your organization for the supervision of the CMO

  • Manufacturing

  • Chemistry / Laboratory

  • Quality assurance

  • Regulatory Affairs

  • Project management

  • Group exercise n ° 1 – Structuring your organization

Selection and qualification of the marketing director

  • General considerations

  • Selection criteria / process

  • Qualification criteria / process

  • Assessment of CMOs against selection / qualification criteria

  • Case Study # 2 – Sample Selection Scoring Matrix

CMO audits (remote audit perspective)

  • General considerations

  • Qualification vs. Routine audits

  • CMO questionnaires

  • Purpose of the questionnaires

  • Questionnaire subjects / Answers

  • Planning the audit

  • Purpose / Scope of the audit

  • Audit agenda

  • Performing the audit

  • Document review / Interviews

  • Time management

  • Audit findings / CAPA

  • Group exercise n ° 3 – Audit agenda

The Quality Agreement

  • Regulatory requirements

  • General elements of the quality agreement

  • Negotiation of the quality agreement

  • Execution of the quality agreement

  • Case study 4 – Quality agreement: main pitfalls

DAY 02 (7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. PDT)

Getting to know your CMO

  • Understand CMO operations

  • Operational / communication style

  • Case Study # 5 – CMO Personality Types

Review of key CMO files

  • Batch records

  • Modification controls

  • Gap / CAPA surveys

  • OOS surveys

Hot Topic – Data Integrity

Continuous monitoring of the CMO

  • General considerations

  • Elements of Effective Continuous Oversight of the CMO

For more information on this training, visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5gni8g


President Preckwinkle cuts ribbon on new and improved Sand Ridge campus

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Becky J. Dansereau
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Investing roughly $ 1.6 million to improve a one-square-mile suite of amenities in Southeast Cook County, Cook County Forest Reserves celebrated a new integrated vision for a campus allowing visitors to hike, bike, camp, bird watch, swim, fish, play, learn or just spend time in nature.

Cook County Council and Cook County Forest Reserves Chairman Toni Preckwinkle, Forest Reserves General Superintendent Arnold Randall, Cook County Commissioners Stanley Moore and Donna Miller, and Resource Department Director Naturalist Colleen Callahan spoke at a ribbon cut for the new Sand Ridge campus. , which includes the Sand Ridge Nature Center, Camp Shabbona Woods, Green Lake, and Green Lake Family Aquatic Center.

“The Calumet region is a special part of Cook County, and the Sand Ridge campus emphasizes the region’s unique natural and cultural heritage. As part of Forest Preserves’ intentional investment in the southern suburb of Cook County, this campus will serve local residents and other visitors for generations to come, ”said President Preckwinkle.

Toni Preckwinkle, Chairman of the Cook County Board of Directors

“The Sand Ridge campus is a natural theme park. There is something for everyone here. Providing the ability to create your own adventure and be in the natural world is a big part of our mission. We saw an opportunity to connect and augment an incredible mix of our existing resources in this square mile, and I am very proud of what has been accomplished, ”said General Superintendent Randall.

Funded largely by the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the creation of a campus includes:




  • The Sand Ridge Nature Center has a completely redesigned and reconstructed interior with new interactive exhibits that explain the region’s rare dune and gully landscape and its impact on the region’s cultural history, plants and animals. The nature playground for children outside has also been extended.
  • The old fences have been removed and new trails have been added through the woods at Camp Shabbona Woods campground.
  • New fishing outcrops at Green Lake for anyone who wants to try their luck catching a largemouth bass, bluegill or rainbow trout.
  • A new paved three mile point trail spur along Paxton Avenue and 159e The street connects the Nature Center, Green Lake, Aquatic Center and the Burnham Greenway regional trail system.
  • A new piece of landscaped art on the trail interprets the environment of the region’s dunes and gullies.
  • Directional and interpretive signage welcomes visitors and creates a cohesive experience.
  • The campus is one of the Forest Reserve priority sites for ecological restoration, and ongoing work has removed an additional 30 acres of invasive brush surrounding the Nature Center grounds. Returning native plants include pink mallow, sassafras, and several species of oak.



Ray hanania
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New Webb City Hotel in Centennial Park Interim Opening | New

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Becky J. Dansereau
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WEBB CITY, Mo. – The first hotel built in Webb City in decades is now open and ready for guests.

Sleep Inn & Suites Webb City by Choice Hotels at 221 S. East St. had a smooth 98% opening last week. A few final details, like touch-ups and decorating, are in the works, but the hotel is accepting reservations.

Owners Jeremy and Christie Evans have invested $ 6.5 million in the project and are planning a grand opening in the coming weeks. It is located across from Atwoods Home and Ranch in Centennial Park, the city’s 300-acre commercial and commercial development district.

“It’s a little scary and exciting, but I’m definitely excited,” Jeremy Evans said. “It’s like a big dream come true here at home.”

The 35,000 square foot space is equipped with 75 rooms, with different styling options, a fitness center, a nostalgic game room, a common area, a laundry room, a a conference room and a small business center with access to a computer and printer. .

Customers who reserve a block of rooms may receive a discount on their reservation. Anthea Harbin, the hotel’s general manager, said a variety of room types are available, including those that are accessible to people with disabilities.

“Our first night we only had four (occupied) rooms, but last weekend we had 21 (occupied) rooms,” she said. “We have had a lot of people requesting room blocks for weddings later this summer.”

There are currently 11 employees in the three-story hotel, but Harbin said that would most likely increase to around 20 employees in the near future. She said there has been an incredible amount of interest and support from the community since the smooth opening.

“I’ve had tons of locals stop by and want to take a ride,” Harbin said. “They tell me their families are coming for Christmas and they would like them to stay here. Random people walked by and told us they were glad we were here.

It will be the first hotel to open in Webb City in at least three decades, according to city administrator Carl Francis.

“The last hotel in town we know of was 30 years ago on the corner of South Madison and Missouri 171 where McDonald’s is now,” he said. “We haven’t had a hotel here for several decades. It is very pretty and very well done. The owner was a soldier overcoming obstacles during the construction.

The land was laid for the hotel last summer with the goal of opening in the spring. However, it was delayed due to challenges brought on by the pandemic. Jeremy Evans said the obstacles have been tough, but they are eager to bring a new kind of facility to the Webb City community and the region.

“We have only received excellent feedback,” he said. “People really like it because it’s affordable, especially for those who can’t always stay in nice places. We’re also happy to help promote local attractions and businesses. I think the hotel has enormous potential.

Growth of Centennial Park

Francis said he believes the hotel will help increase business growth in and around Centennial Park. The city owns the land directly north of the hotel, which will be the site of new restaurants and a grocery store. Other activities are also in the pipeline.

“We are working with a chain of fine restaurants to build a nice sit-down restaurant there,” Francis said. “There are two restaurants and a chain of grocery stores north of the hotel. Across the street, the town has also bought the old concrete property from G&H where we are clearing this land and hope to attract a developer there. We are now removing trees and brush. We are currently working with a few developers, but no one has signed a contract on this property yet.

With the exception of the G&H Concrete property, Francis said the city no longer has any plots of land available for development in Centennial Park. The city purchased the Centennial Park land near the Highway 171 roundabout and East Road over ten years ago, as it was being reclaimed as part of the Environmental Protection mine cleanup. Agency.

Once uninhabitable mining land was restored by the EPA and later turned into a hub for developers and retailers. Francis said this has been a goal of the city for the past 15 years and that the city intends to continue development of Centennial Park.

“Since working here since 2006, the board has been very aggressive in developing Centennial Park as a future commercial area for the town of Webb City,” said Francis. “They invested about $ 4 million in total between the roundabout, all the roads and the properties. With the establishment of the Centennial TDD (Transportation Development District), it will be a source of income and a great destination for the citizens of this part of the county, this part of the state, for years to come. We hope to keep improving the facilities there.

For more information on Sleep Inn & Suites Webb City or to make reservations, visit https://www.choicehotels.com/mo466 or call 417-717-0497.


Cop and kids camp connects teens and police

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Santa Barbara, California, July 26, 2021 – After 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and polarizing discussions about policing in the United States, teens and local police officers had the unique opportunity to come together in an open-minded and stress-free environment during of the Cops & Kids camp last June. For four days, 32 teenagers from the Santa Barbara Police Activities League (SBPAL) gathered at Circle V Ranch Camp with officers from the Santa Barbara City Police Department. In addition to participating in typical summer camp activities including skits, swimming and hiking, the teens also participated in workshops such as the Street Smarts program, which focused on developing leadership skills and in team building.

The annual Cops & Kids Camp, hosted by SBPAL, provides a wonderful free camp experience for youth who might not otherwise be able to participate in such a program. The camp is also an opportunity for teens to get to know the local police and learn more about their work in the community.

Having the opportunity to interact with police officers and develop mentoring relationships is an experience that many teens do not have outside of SBPAL. Through this camp, teens can ask questions and have honest conversations with officers. After the camp, participants expressed increased self-confidence, leadership skills and ease among the police.

Teenager SBPAL and Lt. Aaron Baker at the awards ceremony. Credit: League of Police Activities of Santa Barbara

“It’s very beautiful because you have a family outside of your family. You will be able to start a new family. You can make new friends. You get opportunities like going to camp. I was very shy, but when I got to PAL it really helped me open up. It really helped me connect with new people, with the cops, and see their work from a different perspective, ”shared a participant at Camp Cops & Kids.

Camp Cops & Kids is an example of community policing, where officers get to know the youth and families in the community where they work. It’s a critical time for teens to have these conversations and to be able to ask questions that are often emotional and difficult. The environment of the Cops & Kids camp is particularly suitable for these conversations, which leads to a better mutual understanding for the teenagers and the agents.

To ensure that the camp experience is effective in providing a fun and positive experience for participants, SBPAL conducted a post and pre-survey. The survey questions included what participants thought of the police, their sense of belonging and what they hoped to gain from the camp. The preliminary investigation reported higher levels of isolation, a lack of confidence among the police and uncertainty about how they would feel about attending the camp. The post-poll survey showed an overall 18% increase in feelings of safety and trust in police officers. The post-survey poll also showed that more students learned about community resources, developed a better understanding of community policing, and felt more comfortable trusting law enforcement.

“At the heart of it all, we care about each other. It gives us the opportunity to learn from each other and to learn from each other. It’s as useful for officers as it is for the kids who can attend, ”said Lt. Aaron Baker of the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Hear from the teens and the officers themselves, and take a peek at Camp Cops & Kids at this video.

The Santa Barbara Police Activities League strives to bridge the gap between cops, kids, and our community through educational, athletic, and leadership enrichment programs. SBPAL, located at the Twelve35 Teen Center (1235 Chapala Street), offers teens holistic programming that includes academic support and a wide range of enrichment programs such as classes and fitness equipment, environmental education and referral support. in matters of social, emotional and mental well-being.

For more information on SBPAL, visit their website at www.sbpal.org.


Concerns of “community character” are a veil – a thin veil

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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The houses overlook the San Elijo Lagoon and Cardiff by the Sea Beach. / Photo by Jamie Scott Lytle

The recent effort in San Diego to prevent homeowners from being able to build additional Grandma’s apartments – one of the few successful steps we’ve taken to address the city’s severe housing shortage – is raising the bar. an issue that should receive more honest attention. In the effort to protect “community character”, why do we selectively protect the character of only certain communities, and precisely what is the nature of the “character” that we choose to preserve?

Like cities across California, San Diego hasn’t built enough housing. Each year, the city tragically fails to approve the 12,000 housing permits needed to keep up with population growth. San Diego residents who are renters should do 2.8 times the local minimum wage to pay the median rent, and more than 70 percent even our modest income households cannot afford to buy a home. Half of residential neighborhoods in San Diego only allow the construction of single-family homes.

California’s love affair with single-family zoning severely restricts housing, and this in a way that perpetuates historic racial inequity. Many neighborhoods in San Diego as we know them are largely the product of intentional segregation.

There is a clear and direct line between the practice of redlining in the last century – the policies that denied mortgages to black families and created restrictive covenants making it illegal to sell houses to people of color – and the preservation of single-family zoning today. . When such blatant discrimination was overturned by the courts, cities and counties in California, including San Diego, restricted construction of multi-family dwellings to achieve the same end goal.

Single-family zoning maintains the legacy of racist housing policy by keeping most high-potential neighborhoods inaccessible to many families. It directly prevents wealth creation through home ownership and upward mobility by ensuring that housing in traditionally white neighborhoods remains both limited and expensive.

Neighborhood associations, HOAs, “slow growing” groups and others behind the most recent efforts to ostensibly protect “community character” – like those in Kensington, Talmadge, and El Cerrito – have something to do with it. obvious in common. These are the same communities that used redlining to exclude families of color decades ago. Behind the concern to maintain the “community character” hides a very thin veil.

Unless we (literally) start at ground level with zoning reform efforts, attempts to increase housing production will continue to be blocked by those unwilling to allow smaller and therefore less housing. dear ones in their neighborhoods. The continued suppression of housing production and the continued segregation of San Diego communities will remain the status quo. San Diego must allow more people to live in higher opportunity neighborhoods with more community benefits like parks, public transport and good schools. Building more housing in these high potential communities is not correct a solution to the housing shortage is also a solution to an equity crisis.

Pro Senate Speaker Tem Toni Atkins has shown leadership on this front by introducing SB 9. This bill will allow homeowners to divide their lots or build duplexes, creating more naturally affordable housing and new opportunities. for affordable home ownership. Allowing homeowners to choose to build another unit or allow new homes to be built as duplexes could free up capacity for nearly 800,000 new homes throughout the state.

SB 9 will make housing less expensive while incorporating robust anti-displacement protections for tenants. This includes preventing landlords from dividing lots or disrupting homes that have been occupied by tenants for the past three years and prohibiting the disruption of existing affordable housing, rent-controlled housing, or newly rented housing. to a tenant.

And for those who are truly concerned with architectural character, the SB 9 preserves local control and neighborhood look and feel by ensuring compliance with local design standards, severely limiting modification or demolition of existing structures, by requiring that the lot splits create two similarly sized plots that are at least 1,200 square feet, and allow local governments to limit additional accessory housing units on those plots.

San Diego lack of new undeveloped land for housing, the lowest in the country for the available land space. Vertical construction is essential, but not sufficient. The only way our city can build enough housing to meet the needs of our diverse community, reduce homelessness and increase homeownership is to add smaller, affordable homes. to existing neighborhoods.

The adoption of SB 9 is necessary if we are to truly meet the housing goals that our region and its residents need now.

Al Abdallah is the COO of the San Diego County Urban League.


Osborne’s “Reclamation” exhibit offers a hopeful vision of humanity and the future of the planet

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Q: Why is it important to show Claim at CSU?

A: CSU is well known for its research, teaching and management practices focused on the environment and sustainability. The School for Global Environmental Sustainability is a prime example. Often the focus of this research and teaching lies in the STEM fields, but I think it’s extremely important to highlight the work being done by some of the highest caliber cultural practitioners in the arts. I think this exhibit has so much to offer all disciplines at CSU, and I hope our entire community can benefit from the exhibit and all that it has to teach us.

Q: Is your own artwork included in Extraction?

A: My own work has been highlighted in several of the Extraction publications, and of course on the website. I will also be working in a large investigative exhibition this fall at the Phoenix Art Museum titled Mining Landscapes: The Art of Mining in the American West [on view Nov. 7, 2021 – March 6, 2022].

Q: Recovery and Extraction are inherently collaborative, as are some of the works in the exhibition. What can we learn from artistic collaboration, and how can we apply this to issues such as resource extraction and climate change?

A: There is a history of artists collaborating with other artists and of scientists collaborating with scientists, but it is only in the last decade or so that the interdisciplinary collaboration between the humanities and the sciences has emerged. is installed. I think this is happening because we now realize that in order to truly find and implement solutions to the very large and complex problems facing our planet, we need to act collectively – using expert knowledge from all disciplines. You see examples of what is happening in Claim where John Sabraw (artist) and Guy Riefler (engineer) work together to turn Acid Mine Drainage into paint pigment, or where Ecosexuals bring activists, scientists, policymakers and the public together in their performances. In doing so, the impact and scope of the work they all do is much greater.

Q: What do you hope visitors take away from this exhibition?

A: I really want people to come out of this exhibition feeling like there IS a future, and that we, as human beings, can either choose to be a part of it or continue as we are, ultimately eliminating ourselves from history.

Black arts organizations in Atlanta receive less funding due to lack of equity from philanthropic organizations

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Photos of the Ballethnic Black Art showcase. (Photo credit: Lenz Capd)

Last year, the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta awarded more than $ 1 million in funding to 28 arts organizations in Atlanta. Over $ 1 million has been awarded to organizations run by people of color.

Prior to that, the organization and other philanthropic organizations like the one in Atlanta had supported predominantly white organizations for 27 years, according to a report by the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Why don’t black-led organizations get the same funding as their white counterparts?

“It has always been their practice. They have money that they are sitting on that needs to go to black organizations and they choose not to, ”said Heather Infantry, equity and inclusion expert at Generator and the Transformation Alliance of philanthropic organizations. ‘Atlanta. “From 1993 to 2020, 87% of funding went to white organizations, while black-led organizations received only 11% of funding from philanthropic organizations during this time. These organizations set rules and use requirements where black-led organizations are not eligible for grants. “

Frank Fernandez, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, said the organization had a racial calculation after the death of George Floyd, had taken action with black Americans and admitted the 28-year history of companies like his. to black-run arts organizations in Atlanta.

In 2020, the Metro Atlanta Arts Fund supported small to medium-sized arts organizations, including those that responded with safe and innovative programming to elevate the arts across the region. With support from an anonymous donor, the Foundation was able to provide a third round of additional grants totaling $ 150,000 in December 2020 to support other black-led arts organizations. Throughout 2020, the foundation also orchestrated broader work to better focus racial equity across the organization, which included the appointment of five black board members and two black leaders.

Fernandez said there was a town hall earlier in the month to address the issue of fairness where they got input from the black arts community.

Photos of the Ballethnic Black Art showcase. (Photo credit: Lenz Capd)

“The philanthropic organizations in Atlanta need to apologize to the black-run nonprofits in Atlanta for the way we have handled the grants. We have been looking at equity over the past year, which will bring a strong equity lens to our work and in particular a racial equity lens, ”said Fernandez. “Last year, the Community Foundation began meeting with different nonprofit arts leaders to get reviews of our grant practices. In September of last year, we donated $ 1 million to the arts community. Ninety-one percent of that funding goes to black-led groups. We are currently working on a review of our granting practices and a new strategy for the arts. “

Visual artist Charly Palmer, who currently has a visit to the Hammonds House Museum in Atlanta, has had a successful career but has said that being a black artist is difficult and that many black artists go through a difficult time and that they are late due to lack of opportunities. Over the past year, Palmer said that has changed and that he has seen black people get more opportunities and said that due to the George Floyd tragedy in 2020, white guilt is starting to build. so that people in senior positions begin to make a difference.

“Black is universal. We’ve contributed to the arts globally through theater, music, dance, visual arts, but we don’t often get the credit we deserve, ”said Palmer. “These tragedies have always happened. We are responsible for so many movements. We are here, we are doing it, we just weren’t recognized. “

Nena Gilreath, co-founder of Ballethnic Dance Company in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia, said she has been in business for more than 30 years in Atlanta and wondered where she would be as an organization if she got more funding from the start compared to now.

“When we’re the talent it’s one thing, but there’s a different level of scrutiny when we’re the managers or the leaders,” Gilreath said. “It’s disturbing to see the difference in the way we are helped compared to other organizations. We had this conversation for years before George Floyd. The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta must have listened. There is a recalculation. Before, I knew something was wrong, but to see the real facts, the facts are there. Hopefully they will listen this time.

Ballethnic Dance Company has been in business for over 30 years in Atlanta. (Photo credit: Lenz Capd)

Gilreath said she hopes there will be a difference in the future as she has seen small changes. Ballethnic recently received funding from the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and hopes it won’t be the last time.

“When we integrate the arts and cultural expression into the planning process, our planning efforts have more innovative and creative results that are ingrained and reflect a diversity of experiences and perspectives,” said Marian Liiou, Head of Atlanta Regional Commission arts and community engagement program. . “Bringing diverse perspectives and creative energy into the community planning process helps our communities better meet their challenges in a way that improves the quality of life for all residents. “

“Dark art is the path through which we all find redemption and transformation of a troubled history that continues to undermine our humanity and undermine our best intentions,” said Infantry. “Social justice, both in the lived experience and in the expression of black artists, is inherent in their work. Philanthropy misses the mark to advance equity when black voices are excluded, or we relegate black art to just being for black people. “

“Over the past several decades, there has been implicit bias and systemic racism in all areas of public health, youth development, the arts, and public housing in Atlanta. Black groups have not been put on an equal footing. The people who gave the funds weren’t thinking about these things, ”Fernandez said. “Today, we are removing the barriers that prevent people from qualifying and being eligible for our grants. We have made a long term commitment to racial equity. We want to do it right, we listen and we will act as quickly as possible. “

“The vision of a beloved community has been conceived and articulated here in this city and the black art coming out of Atlanta by extension of the movement is the main voice in this urgent call for racial reckoning,” said Infantry.

For more information on the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Greater Atlanta Community Foundation, visit www.atlantaregional.org or visit cfgreateratlanta.org. Visit ballethnic.org and www.charlypalmer.com for blacks in the arts.


With $ 3.5 million in federal and state money, the Science Center will grow further • St Pete Catalyst

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


With its glass shattered, peeling paint, and gaping holes in interior drywall, the St. Petersburg Science Center is a dilapidated shell of the shining lighthouse of knowledge that was dedicated in 1966 and expanded seven years later. The city building at 7701 22sd Avenue N has been vacant for three years; plans were underway to bulldoze and use the land for the expansion of a nearby sewage treatment plant.

Thanks to $ 3 million in federal funding, plus $ 500,000 in previously approved public funds, the Bunsen burners at the Science Center will soon be re-ignited.

Pathfinder, a St. Petersburg non-profit organization focused on outdoor and environmental education for young people, was specifically named on the grant application, and will therefore be the lead agency, working in building and taking decisions about which other groups can use it.

“There aren’t any solid plans yet,” said Amy Dugan, executive director of the organization. “This is the next step, to do strategic planning. Check with the community what the community wants and needs. How can we better support families, the tech industry and jobs in St. Pete. But it’s really unlimited what we can do.

City council member Robert Blackmon, who led the facility’s backup and restoration process, said Friday before a brief ceremony announcing that he had previously been a student at the Science Center.

“I hated it, every summer,” he laughed. “And looking back, it was the best science education I have ever had.”

Blackmon received legislative support from Senator Darryl Rouson and Representative Linda Cheney, as well as U.S. Representative Charlie Crist, who introduced the appropriation bill to Congress.

Rouson also attended the Science Center in his youth. Cheney’s children too.

Blackmon said he hopes the renovated science center will serve multiple uses – “kind of like a dining hall for science” – and that a community event space, unique to the west of town, will. part of the design.

Science, he said, will be at the heart of this era where STEM education is essential.

“In 2019, when I started talking about it, we didn’t have a pandemic. We haven’t had the worst red tide in recent memory. Now we are doing it and we want the children in the area to be able to help solve these problems and prevent them from happening again. “

Durand, who has lived in St. Pete for two decades, said she still hears local residents talking about the Science Center’s glory days.

“There is an association of science and technology centers in Washington, DC, and I called them to discuss what are the best practices for renovating a new science center? And they said, “This science center in St. Petersburg – we talk to people all the time who love this place.

“They had an intern who came to work for them because he loved the Science Center so much. So there was definitely a lightning bolt in a bottle with that.

Amy Durand of Pathfinder receives the big ceremonial check. Photo of Amy Cianci.


Californians Take 40% Less Payday Loans During Pandemic: Report

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0

A Super Flower Moon rises through low clouds over the city of San Diego, California, United States on May 25, 2021. REUTERS / Mike Blake

  • Total amount borrowed decreased by $ 1.14 billion in 2020
  • Decrease part of a national trend correlated with pandemic aid

(Reuters) – California borrowers took 40% fewer payday loans in 2020 from the previous year, the state’s consumer credit regulator said in an annual report on Thursday.

Data from payday lenders submitted to the California Department of Financial Protection showed that the overall value of loans taken in 2020 also fell 40%, to $ 1.68 billion from $ 2.82 billion the previous year. .

Acting DFPI Commissioner Christopher Shultz said economic intervention by states and the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic, including federal relief checks, extension of unemployment insurance and various types of loan forgiveness, are a likely factor in the decline.

Reuters Image

But Shultz said that while the relief has helped keep California consumers afloat financially, the agency is monitoring what is happening “on the way out of the pandemic.”

“Some of the economic consequences will be downstream and we need to watch them closely,” he said.

Shultz took over the agency in mid-June when his former commissioner Manuel Perez left for an internal position at the Binance cryptocurrency exchange.

Payday loans are short term loans made to customers who deliver a signed check for the amount. The lender provides the funds minus the fees and agrees to cash the check within one month.

According to the DFPI, about half of California borrowers who used the loans in 2020 were earning less than $ 30,000 per year. The average annual percentage rate on loans was 361%.

Payday lenders in California aren’t the only ones experiencing a downturn in business. Total weekly loans in nine states fell 60% between February 2020 and May 2021, according to data from Veritec Solutions, which manages payday loan data for state governments.

Reuters Image

Kiran Sidhu, policy adviser for the Center for Responsible Lending, said Thursday that the correlation between pandemic relief and payday loans illustrates how low-income borrowers are using loans as a financial stopgap.

“If we paid people a universal basic income, or paid them better wages, they probably wouldn’t need these products,” she said.

The DFPI report also showed that 2020 saw a 27.7% drop in the number of payday lenders in the state, leaving 1,121 licensed locations.

Ed D’Alessio, executive director of consumer finance business group INFiN, said in a statement Thursday that 2020 was “a tough time from a business perspective.”

He attributed the decline in small dollar loans to consumers staying at home, paying off debts and receiving government assistance.

For those who have used consumer credit products, “we were proud to be there during this time of need,” he said.

Jody godoy

Jody Godoy reports on banking and stock market law. Contact her at [email protected]

The Board Game “,” AEW Elite General Manager “, and more – TouchArcade

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


Managing Director AEW Elite (free)

Description of iTunes

AEW ELITE GM is the official mobile online wrestling management simulator of All Elite Wrestling.

Prove that you have what it takes to become the Managing Director of AEW Elite! Sign a list of wrestlers, select who appears in your matches for your show, then simulate the results to determine how much money, new fans, and the effect on wrestler stamina and morale have your choices.

Forum topic: Managing Director of AEW Elite (by Crystallized Games)

Crossword pie (free)

Description of iTunes

Crosswords reinvented!

Crossword Pie reinvents the concept of crosswords, combining mental exercise, entertainment and knowledge acquisition!

Whether you are a crossword fan or not, Crossword Pie is the perfect way to spend some quality time, alone, with your partner or with your friends! With our smart but simple 3 minute crossword puzzle, you’ll challenge your brain and learn something new every time you play!

Forum topic: Crossword Pie (by Legenbeary Games)

I AM 414C ($ 2.99)

Description of iTunes

I AM 414C is an addicting text-based adventure communication game with a robot named 414C. There is a challenge: the robot is damaged and has forgotten all the letters. Help 414C recover his memory by solving binary operations and chat with him to learn more about his past and his purpose.

Forum topic: I AM 414C (by Darius Kryszczuk)

ITALY. Land of Wonders (Free)

Description of iTunes

ITALY. Land of Wonders presents the cultural heritage and wonders of Italy to a global audience. Help Elio collect 20 sparks, turn on the lighthouse and make the sun shine again. During their journey, players will meet 5 Guardians, who will guide them in the discovery of Nature, Cuisine, Art, Performance and Design, the 5 main sectors of Italian cultural heritage. At the end of the trip, a huge surprise awaits the players: they will take Elio’s place, symbolically becoming the new lighthouse keeper, with the mission of protecting the treasures of the country.

First, however, they will have to pass no less than 100 puzzle game levels, each featuring a 3D reconstruction of an iconic Italian monument, in a truly captivating journey to discover, step by step, the coast and the mountains, the towns and castles, traditions and myths of the country. Created for those who already know Italy, as well as for those who do not know it and want to know more – while improving their command of the language -, ITALY. Land of Wonders can double as a travel guide, too, with a collection of 600 articles filled with stories, news and fun facts.

Forum topic: ITALY. Land of Wonders (by Forge Reply)

Heroes from another world (free)

Description of iTunes

Explore, fight, and find your way through this epic location-based AR MMORPG!

Explore new worlds, fight magical battles, and complete epic missions in Otherworld Heroes, the world’s first location-based augmented reality MMORPG.

Select your hero and enjoy this enchanting universe, full of heroes, villains, monsters and magic. Everywhere you walk you will encounter new challenges, incredible opportunities and face deadly dangers!

Forum topic: Otherworld Heroes (by Bublar Group)

Perfect World: Revolution (Free)

Description of iTunes

Perfect World: Revolution is a fantastic MMORPG with incredible 3D graphics presented in a brand new portrait mode. With the new vertical layout, the game breaks the status quo of two-handed controls, while retaining the classic elements of the original Perfect World, allowing you to easily play the game with one hand. Welcome to Perfect World, Researcher!

Forum topic: Perfect World: Revolution (by Perfect World Games)

Punishment: Gray Crow (Free)

Description of iTunes

Humanity is almost extinct. Earth was conquered by a robotic army – the Taken – twisted and deformed by a biomechanical virus known as The Punishing. The last survivors fled into orbit, aboard the Babylonia space station. After years of preparation, the Gray Raven Special Forces unit leads the mission to recover their lost homeworld. You are their leader.

As the commander of the Gray Raven unit, you are tasked with assembling the greatest cyborg soldiers the world has known and leading them into battle. Uncover the dark truths behind the Punishing virus, fend off the corrupt, and reclaim Earth in this stylish Action-RPG.

Forum topic: Punishing: Gray Raven (by Kuro Game)

RUBY (Free)

Description of iTunes

RUBY is an endless runner located on Mars. Overcome obstacles to collect orbs, fight your way through enemies and level up to unlock weapons and skins.

Forum topic: RUBY – Endless Mars Runner (by UMOK Games)

They’re coming: Zombie Defense (free)

Description of iTunes

A bloody, simple yet hardcore arcade game of zombie shooting and defense.

This is a simple yet hardcore bloody zombie game, when you are faced with different zombies, you have to think about using different traps and weapons to kill them.

Forum topic: They’re coming: Zombie Defense (by OnHitDev)

Tasty Travels by Tiger Trio ($ 8.99)

Description of iTunes

Solve puzzles with an adorable team of animals serving sushi! Join our three tiger siblings as they take over the world with their sushi food truck. It’s super delicious, but the orders always tend to get mixed up. With the help of their talented friends, solve puzzles by adding, subtracting and moving sushi between conveyor belts, settling orders before they reach the customer! You will meet places like ghost land and even venture into space! This new puzzle game will test your wits over a total of 60 stages. Includes a hint feature, so players of all ages can travel with the Tiger Trio and their friends. During your journey, you might even start to think like a programmer!

Forum topic: The Tasty Travels of Tiger Trio (by Oink Games)

Scope: the board game ($ 9.99)

Description of iTunes

Wingspan is a relaxing, award-winning strategy card game about birds for 1-5 players. Each bird you play extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your three habitats. Your goal is to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife sanctuaries.

You are avid bird enthusiasts – researchers, ornithologists, ornithologists and collectors – seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife reserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats. Each habitat focuses on a key aspect of growing your reserves.

Forum topic: Scope: The Board Game (by Monster Couch)

The Witcher: Monster Slayer (Free)

Description of iTunes

Follow, study and fight the dangerous beasts that roam the world around you. Experience the witcher’s monster infested realm up close like never before. The Witcher: Monster Slayer is an augmented reality exploration game that challenges you to become an elite monster hunter. As you explore the real world around you, each stage will take you deeper into a dark and fantasy adventure.

Follow the monsters, learn their habits and prepare for battle. Select the best weapons and armor and brew powerful witcher potions to gain the upper hand before starting a battle. As you gain experience and face more dangerous enemies, you will need to improve your skills, equipment and tactics in order to become a monster slayer of true renown.

Forum topic: The Witcher: Monster Slayer (by Spokko)


OC organizations are looking for workers to coach and help people with disabilities

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


(Update: added video, comments from organizations)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – According to Opportunity Foundation from central Oregon and First Central Oregon Jobs, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not getting the kind of support they need.

Without adequate staff, Employment First Central Oregon agent John Livingston says they don’t have enough coaches to offer counseling to people with disabilities.

“We are not able to place them in the jobs because we have no one to support them,” he said on Wednesday.

Livingston also said one of his goals is to increase community awareness of this need.

“People don’t know how to interact with someone they see who has Down syndrome,” Livingston said.

Instead of disengaging from the disability community, Livingston encourages people to ask more questions. He adds that the coaching position does not require prior training – other agencies offer it.

While this is a very flexible and not overly demanding job, Livingston says the understaffing affects agencies in central Oregon.

“The beauty of it is that in central Oregon there’s a staff shortage, and we have a pool of people who can work and are good employees, with support,” Livingston said. “It’s just a struggle to find people who are willing to do the job.

Employment First Central Oregon works with a network of agencies that strive to serve people with disabilities. One of these agencies is the Opportunity Foundation, whose aim is to help members with disabilities find employment and function successfully.

The foundation also operates two large thrift stores that serve as a training ground for people with disabilities and operates nine nursing homes in Redmond. Although they also need more community support, they are specifically looking for caregivers.

“The greatest immediate need is to find the caregiver who works in one of the homes where we support people,” said Lew England, director of business relations for the Opportunity Foundation.

England says it would like to employ more than 150 people in the programs and have around 30 to 40 vacancies depending on the day. He adds that due to a staff shortage, those receiving care are unable to do things they previously could, such as recreational activities.

Likewise, the agency is not looking for just anyone. England is highlighting the type of audience it wants to attract workers to.

“People who care about others who want to see them succeed. People who like to have a positive impact on others, and really someone who just has a little bit of flexibility in their schedule, “said England.

England mentioned that the Opportunity Foundation is hosting a hiring event next week and will offer a $ 1,000 bonus to new hires. The event will take place at the Opportunity Foundation Thrift Store in Redmond.

In response to the lack of statewide support for people with disabilities, the two groups worked with the state to create a website – Impactoregon.careers – for people to apply and find support jobs in different agencies.

They hope to encourage the central Oregon community to play a bigger role in the solution.


States, cities that expected to go bankrupt due to pandemic now see cash surplus

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Nattakorn Maneerat / iStock

(WASHINGTON) – When the pandemic hit Alexandria, Virginia, the economic outlook was bleak.

In April 2020, the city forecast a budget deficit of up to $ 100 million as businesses shut down and workers lose their jobs, wiping out key revenues from sales, tourism and income taxes.

“At first it was catastrophic for us,” Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson told ABC News. “Every week, unfortunately, I got a notification from hotels, big restaurants, telling us that they were laying off workers.”

But a year later, those dire budget forecasts still haven’t become a reality. In fact, the city just passed its spending plan for the first $ 30 million in aid it received from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act 2021. The proposal includes investments in infrastructure, food aid and a guaranteed basic income pilot program giving $ 500 to about 150 families.

“We are working on different ways of trying to help our residents: food insecurity, housing insecurity [and] further efforts to make sure they get back on their feet as a result of this, ”Wilson said.

It’s a story that unfolds from coast to coast. Thanks to generous federal relief funds, a rebound in consumer spending, and stock market gains, state and local governments that predicted economic calamity now find themselves full of cash.

“So far, we find that many states [that] talked about how they were going to have to raise all kinds of taxes and cut all kinds of expenses, and that didn’t happen, ”Richard Auxier, senior policy associate at the Tax Policy Center, told ABC News.

Auxier said that while it’s too early to say states are out of the woods, federal support has helped them stay afloat during the pandemic.

The American Rescue Plan Act passed in March provided for $ 350 billion in direct aid to state, local and tribal governments. A spokesperson for the Treasury Department told ABC News that about $ 200 billion of that funding has already flowed.

Unlike the previous two COVID-19 relief laws, there are fewer restrictions on how states can use the money, which must be committed by 2024 and spent by 2026.

“By the time the third major bill arrived in 2021, there was a great desire to give them that freedom, to have a little slack on how they want to spend it,” Auxier said.

President Joe Biden is now urging some cities to use part of the funds to fight crime – for example, by paying police officers overtime.

The Cherokee Nation also receives $ 1.8 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act. Senior Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told ABC News the funding was going towards stimulus checks of $ 2,000 for each resident, as well as investments in mental health, broadband internet and a new hospital.

“Plan number one was to bring relief directly to our citizens,” Hoskin told ABC News.

Meanwhile, 13 Republican state attorneys general are suing the Biden administration for wanting to use federal aid to fund tax cuts, which is one of the few restrictions under current law.

“It’s not for the federal government to decide Arkansas’ own tax structure,” Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge told ABC News. “This is where the federal government is going too far.

In Maryland, Comptroller Peter Franchot has established a task force to determine where the federal money is going. He said the funding had “changed the game” by helping the state avoid bankruptcy. But he added that it is clear that some of the money is not going to the hardest-hit communities who need it most.

“A part will be well spent, [but] a lot of it probably won’t, ”Franchot told ABC News. “It’s the nature to have a cash fire hydrant suddenly going into the state.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Rockford Park District decides not to host city junior golf tournaments

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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ROCKFORD – Ella Greenberg competed in the Rockford Women’s Golf Classic at age 13, but has been banned for the past two years.

“I got to play at 13 because I won Girls City and got a waiver to play in Women’s City,” Greenberg said. “When I was 14, they changed the age limit to 16. When I was 15, they brought her down to 18. Now it’s 14 years old again.

“They have changed a lot. I feel like I can hang out with older women. It was upsetting not being able to play the last few years, but it’s okay now. I’m just happy to be able to play this year.

Except now she can’t play in Girls Junior. City’s junior tournaments last year were canceled due to COVID reasons. This year, the Rockford Park district decided not to host the Junior Boys Classic, which took place every year between 1936 and 2019, and the Girls Classic, which started in 1953.

After:Rockford City Golf Tournaments feature 4 big changes this year. Here are the novelties

“It really makes me happy,” said Butch Pegoraro, a former Boylan State Champion who was the longtime professional chef at Forest Hills Country Club before retiring several years ago. “When I was born there was a city for boys and girls, and that was 71 years ago. They have all these tournaments that we called the Friday tournaments and think that’s enough and they don’t. no need for a City tournament for boys and girls.

“It’s terrible. It’s the future of golf. Why isn’t the Park District supporting the future of golf? It’s really bad for Rockford Junior Golf.

The Park District hosts six youth tournaments throughout the summer. One in Forest Hills drew 77 golfers on Tuesday. But Lynn Blevins, the district tournament director, says elite Rockford golfers tend to skip local junior events.

“The Ella Greenbergs and all those girls don’t come to our events because they aspire to college golf,” Blevins said. “They participate in (American Junior Golf Association) and (Illinois Junior Golf Association) events. The thought of the park district is why have a two day junior championship if you don’t get the best players? And when the county chose not to be in our junior series this year, we wanted to reconstruct those six events. “

After:“I don’t know if this can be recreated”: is the Rockford Pro-Am dead or alive?

Greenberg will participate in an AJGA tournament in Indiana Monday through Thursday. But she will also play at Women’s City on Saturday and Sunday before her departure, then next Saturday and Sunday when she returns. She said she would have found a way to play in junior girls as well.

“I have no idea why they don’t have Girls and Boys Junior,” she said. “I think a lot of juniors would have played there. My two sisters would have played there. I would have played in it. I have been playing it since I was 4 years old and now I won’t be able to play it anymore.

Greenberg said if organizers want better players in their city’s tournaments, they need to let those players know when.

“The Rockford Park District doesn’t release its schedule until the start of summer,” Greenberg said. “I have already planned my summer schedule in February. If I knew when the tournaments are taking place, I could plan my schedule around all these tournaments.

Former Junior Boys Champions included some of the greatest golfers in Rockford history, such as 1947 NCAA Champion Dave Barclay, 1948 United States Junior Amateur Champion Dean Lind, five-time State Amateur Champion Arizona Ken Kellaney and recent Illinois High School State Champions TJ Baker and Danny Gorman. The last time the tournaments were in 2019, Baker and Greenberg won.

After:Prayers, clubs and a little rain: a look back at Tiger Woods’ arrival at Rockford in 2001

“It breaks my heart,” said Kara Soderberg, 46, who won three junior women’s titles before winning the 1992 State High School title as a senior from Guilford. “It was such an honor and a big deal for a young child. In other sports, everyone receives medals and plays as a team. Golf, especially as a woman, is a solitary sport. To be recognized like this is very important. “

If the park district hears enough complaints, there is a chance it will bring back the tournaments.

“This is something that we are going to review and talk about again next year,” Blevins said.

Matt Trowbridge: [email protected]; @matttrowbridge


Clark County Fair has huge impact on youth development, officials say

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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According to House, 4-H is a positive youth development experience that engages young people in hands-on learning. Projects range from animals to environmental education. There are over 200 4-H projects.

“The goal is to encourage young people to explore and find their passion,” House said.

To exploreWYSO expands and moves into a former school owned by Dave Chappelle

Although some only associate 4-H with the fair, the fair is a showcase for the projects the children have worked on throughout the year. This year, more than 1,100 children aged 5 to 18 will participate in 4-H.

“The impact on the community is absolutely huge,” said Clark County Fairgrounds executive director Dean Blair. “I think FFA and 4-H and the work ethic they create, the good habits they create, the interaction with adults and with business. It is absolutely priceless.

Competitors show their pigs at the 2020 Clark County Fair. Preparing to show animals as part of 4-H helps kids develop a variety of skills. BILL LACKEY / STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Blair recalled his personal experiences at the fair and with FFA, which he said taught him managerial and public speaking tactics.

“Responsibility, work ethic, good values, these are all the things that are so important that our company is a little short,” said Blair.

Thomas Edwards, a recent Springfield High School graduate, has been showing market lambs for 10 years and says 4-H is a generational tradition in his family. Her older sister and father both competed in 4-H.

“4-H is everything for me. I made my best friends with 4-H. I learned all of my life skills from 4-H, ”he said.

Edwards also said it helped him develop his social and leadership skills. In 2019, he was the King of 4-H, which led him to get involved in several community service projects. Edwards, who will attend Columbia University in the fall, said 4-H played a big role in her acceptance into the university.

“When I applied, a lot of my essays were tailored to my 4-H experiences. Once I was accepted my admissions counselor told me that anything about 4-H was what caught their attention, that’s how they knew I would be a great member of theirs. campus and their student body.

“This is my last year, and I’ve already spent a few emotional nights realizing that I won’t be able to do this any longer,” he said. “I think for many of us Fair Week is our favorite time of the year, more exciting than Christmas.”

Blair doesn’t expect to set attendance records this year, but is hoping for around 75,000 people, up from more than 83,000 in 2019.

The Clark County Fair, which regularly brings together around 80,000 people each year, creates an atmosphere for businesses to network and residents to spend money.

“Because it’s a local fair, I think most people like me want to do business with someone locally if possible, and what better way to meet and interact with local businesses than at the fair, ”said Blair.

Dean Blair, Executive Director of the Clark County Fair. Bill Lackey / Staff

Dean Blair, Executive Director of the Clark County Fair. Bill Lackey / Staff

Blair also says that the 4-H industry has an economic impact both on 4-H children who have to buy different supplies and on community members who buy the animals.

“They spend their money at the junior fair, and all of a sudden about three quarters of a million dollars for the gross sale comes back and is reinvested in the community as these young people turn around and spend that money in that community. “

In addition, auto dealer shows, commercial construction companies, outdoor vendors, and food vendors provide opportunities for over 100 different businesses to create sales and make connections.

How to get there:

What: Clark County Fair

Or: 4401 S. Charleston Pike, Springfield

When: Doors open daily at 8:00 a.m. from July 23 to July 30.

Cost: Admission is $ 6, which includes parking and all tickets to concerts and shows. Admission is free for children five and under. Trip tickets and wristbands are sold separately.


Mass Effect: The Cerberus Organization Explained

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Cerberus plays one of the strangest roles of any organization in the original Mass Effect trilogy. For much of the series, the illusory man’s motivations are, as the pun suggests, elusive, even for players enjoying the story a second time in. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.

Cerberus is complicated, and stands out as one of the more interesting moral gray areas in a trilogy that sometimes portrays complex moral situations of its own design in black and white – or blue and red. Here’s the story of Cerberus, and why its inclusion in the story helps take Mass Effect: Legendary Edition to the next level.

RELATED: Mass Effect 3: The Best Bonus Powers & How To Unlock Them

The origins of Cerbère

Humanity’s first contact with aliens in the Mass Effect the timeline did not go well. After discovering the Mass Relay system and spreading among the stars, mankind encountered the Turians in 2157 CE. The Systems Alliance was activating the Charon Relay, an act that unbeknownst to mankind broke Citadel regulations after the Rachni Wars, starting with a group of scientists activating a relay leading to space Rachni.

The Turians attacked the humans, who retaliated. The conflict lasted three months and formed a solid basis of anti-alien suspicion on Earth. Even after the ceasefire, mankind had reason to be suspicious. He was suddenly ushered into a happy galactic civilization to take charge of the fate of the non-Citadel races. The Rachni Wars had ended not only with the elimination of almost all Rachni, but with the Citadel arming the Krogans and – after a rebellion – infecting them with the genophagus.

In the aftermath of the war, mercenary Jack Harper, who had served under Ashley Williams’ grandfather when he became the first human to surrender to the Turians, released the Cerberus manifesto. He claimed that one day aliens would also try to annihilate them. From that point on, he personally oversaw Cerberus’ operations as an illusionary man.

RELATED: Mass Effect Fan Reveals Amazing Miranda Cosplay

Cerberus in action

Cerberus has waged a campaign of assassinations and espionage, often killing public figures in order to allow more sympathetic successors to Cerberus to take their place. This included killing the Pope to allow for his replacement with a pontiff whose beliefs about the abduction were more closely aligned with Cerberus’ apocalyptic vision of the impending extinction of humanity. Explicitly pro-human groups were also not safe. The Illusionary Man had a candidate for the leadership of Terra Firma killed to allow his favorite candidate to win – Claude Menneau, who asks Shepard for his support in Mass effect 1. In 2182, they were responsible for the assassinations of the leaders of the United States of North America, China and the Turian hierarchy.

In Mass effect 1 Cerberus plays a key role, although it’s easy to miss. Cerberus is involved in experiments on the Rachni and the Thorian. It is even believed that Cerberus was behind Thresher Maw’s attack on Akuze, of which Shepard was the only survivor if the player chose this story. They also create EDI using the rogue VI encountered on Earth’s moon.

The organization was also the source of several other unethical experiments. Cerberus agents performed experiments on human children purchased from Batarian slavers, enhancing their biotic abilities. Ultimately, this research would lead to the creation of one of the most powerful human biotics in existence, Subject Zero, aka Jack.

After Shepard’s death early in Mass effect 2, Cerberus helped Liara T’Soni stop the Shadow Broker from selling Shepard’s body to collectors. As the Illusionary Man explains to Shepard when they first met, Project Lazarus brought Shepard back not only because of their skill, but also their value as a symbol. Shepard’s past cooperation with aliens has also made him a useful asset, with Cerberus’ pro-human reputation sometimes preventing the organization from achieving its ends.

The victory against the Collectors at the end of Mass effect 2 has made Cerberus more popular than ever among the citizens of the Systems Alliance, particularly with the Citadel Council and the Systems Alliance themselves seemingly unable to take the necessary steps to protect them. This reputation will not last long.

After Mass effect 2Suicide mission, Cerberus kidnapped former asset Paul Grayson and implanted Reaper technology in him. Grayson’s adopted daughter had previously been the subject of Cerberus experiments to improve biotics. Before being taken away, however, Grayson managed to leak information about Cerberus that was passed on to Shepard’s mentor, Captain Anderson. With Turian’s help, Anderson orchestrated several raids on Cerberus bases.

The Augmented Grayson escaped into chaos, and the Illusion Man hired Omega’s Aria T’Loak to find him, after which he was killed by Cerberus assassin Kai Leng. Aria’s alliance with Cerberus did not last long, however, taking control of the station and ousting it until the events of Mass effect 3the Omega DLC.

The fall of Cerberus


Mass Effect 3 Illusive Man Indoctrination Citadel ME3

Through Mass effect 3, Cerberus’ research on Reaper had enabled the organization to create its own version of indoctrination and an army of brainwashed civilians. The Illusionary Man hoped to take control of the Reapers and conquer the galaxy for mankind. An attempt to take over the Citadel failed, and it was revealed that Humanity Advisor Udina had – through indoctrination or his own sympathies – been compromised by the group.

Shepard, however, managed to dismantle Cerberus’ operations, including killing Kai Leng. The illusory man appears for his last time just at the end of Mass effect 3, on the Citadel now stationed in orbit around the Earth. There, Shepard either killed him or convinced him he was brainwashed, which led to his suicide.

Cerberus is one of Mass Effectmost interesting factions of, although its representation tends to fluctuate between each of the games. In all versions, however, the Illusory Man is ready to do whatever it takes to prevent what he sees as the inevitable destruction of humanity at the hands of his newly discovered alien neighbors.

The formation of Cerberus in the aftermath of the War of First Contact makes a lot of sense, but in just a few decades the main motivation for the organization has shifted from self-preservation to galactic domination. Perhaps it was because the Illusory Man believed that this was the only way to prevent the extinction of mankind, or maybe it was the influence of the Reapers. One thing is for sure – when players relive the story in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, keen-eyed fans will notice Cerberus’ fingerprints throughout the trilogy.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is now available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

MORE: Mass Effect: The War Between The Quarians And Geth Explained


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Notes from Mauldin City Council: Thrift stores may be limited; petanque ball coming to city park

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Mauldin City Council July 19 approved a resolution calling for a public hearing with the planning commission on the thrift store limitation in light and general shopping districts, redevelopment districts, and trades and commercial services districts. The hearing has not yet been set.

According to the proposed ordinance, “additional thrift stores in the Town of Mauldin may be inconsistent with the objectives of the zoning ordinance to protect the quality and appearance of properties” in the aforementioned neighborhoods.

City Council also approved Cely Construction’s $ 298,850 proposal to renovate the city’s new public works facility at 700 E. Standing Springs Road.

The project will be in two phases and the upgrades include concrete, masonry, doors, finishes, electrical, mechanical and plumbing.

City Council previously allocated $ 200,000 for renovations to the new facility and $ 60,000 for its purchase.

Rendered courtesy of Johnston Design Group

In other cases

APPROVED: Maintenance agreement with the South Carolina Department of Transportation for the Bridgeway Station pedestrian bridge

City Council approved a maintenance agreement with SC DOT for the Bridgeway Station Pedestrian Bridge, which would support public pedestrian and cyclist traffic on I-385.

The city previously entered into a development agreement for the bridge with Centerpoint Land Inc. on December 19, 2020. The developer also entered into an agreement for the design and construction of the project with United Infrastructure Group Inc.

The SCDOT is reviewing the plans and specifications for the construction of the bridge in order to issue a permit allowing the contractor to begin work.

APPROVED: Pétanque field at Mauldin municipal park

The municipal council approved $ 6,031.40 for the installation of a pétanque court in the municipal park of Mauldin.

The city will be reimbursed with a grant from the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority, according to supporting documents provided to city council.


Sonoma County Government: New Regional Park and Open Space Preserve Arrives in Sonoma Valley

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Ag + Open Space transfers 1,290-acre Calabazas Creek open space reserve to regional parks

California

“Ag + Open Space has sought to conserve this property because of its amazing natural resources, important wildlife habitat, magnificent panoramic views, and the potential for it to become a place for the public to explore,” said Susan Gorin, supervisor of the first district, member of the board of directors of Ag + Open Space and whose district includes the reserve. “As we know, the physical and mental health benefits of nature and the outdoors are needed more than ever, and we are delighted that our community can enjoy this magnificent reserve forever.”

Rich in cultural history, the Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve is located near the eastern border of the Miwok Coast Traditional Territory, with the Wappo to the east and the Southern Pomo tribal territories to the north. In the late 1800s, Anglo-Americans and European settlers introduced ranching, dairy farming, dry farming, and mining to the region. One of the most famous former landowners was Mary Ellen Pleasant, a former slave turned civil rights leader and entrepreneur from San Francisco in the late 1800s, who named the property Beltane Ranch.

Nestled in the Mayacamas mountain range, the reserve is truly a wild place that is home to a wide range of diverse ecosystems and rare plant species, including remarkable wildlife such as peregrine falcons and northern spotted owls. Its namesake stream is home to a variety of species, including the rainbow trout, the yellow-legged foothill frog, and the California giant salamander. The iconic mountain peaks and forested slopes of the reserve are visible from Highway 12, a busy designated scenic corridor.

Ag + Open Space purchased an undeveloped part of Beltane Ranch in 2004 for $ 9.115 million, renaming it Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve. At the time, it was planned that the property would be transferred and operated by California State Parks. However, due to budget constraints, State Parks was unable to accept title deed. Ag + Open Space then developed a management plan and began working with the regional parks on a potential park and open space reserve that would protect its scenic and natural resources, while providing public recreation. During the transfer, the regional parks will launch a series of guided “park preview” tours, with funding provided by Ag + Open Space, to allow the public to enjoy the reserve while the regional parks provide public access comprehensive, a process that typically takes three to five years. Ag + Open Space will retain a conservation easement and recreation agreement on the property in perpetuity.

“It is extremely gratifying to see our original vision of protecting the reserve’s impressive coves, trees, grasslands and wildlife, while allowing the public to explore this natural gem, come to fruition,” said Misti Arias, Managing Director of Ag + Open Space. . “Now we are seeing that protecting the reserve also provides our community with greater resilience in the face of climate change and increased forest fires, and provides an opportunity to see up close how our natural landscapes are adapting. and recovering from forest fires. “

Although the reserve burned down completely during the Sisters fire of 2017, there has been significant regrowth of shrub and hardwood species in recent years. The reserve is also home to manzanitas that depend on fire to help their seeds germinate, and thousands of new manzanita seedlings have grown on the south-facing slopes since the fire. In partnership with Cal Fire and local land conservation organizations and agencies, Ag + Open Space has applied for a grant to help fund fuel breaker and forest thinning work, which is underway and has already created safer entry / exit conditions along Nuns Canyon Road.

With the onset of climate change, it is important to protect lands with diverse elevations, habitats, plant communities and microclimates to ensure that wildlife has sufficient room for migration and adaptation to the rising sea levels, warming temperatures and environmental changes. . The reserve begins at the bottom of the valley and climbs to the top of the mountain ridges at around 2,000 feet. This vast property includes a variety of soil types, habitats and topographical features that allow adaptation to climate change.

“As you explore Nuns Canyon, the sounds of Highway 12 and the outside world are replaced by the flowing waters of Calabazas Creek and a spectacular diversity of habitats,” said Bert Whitaker, Director of Sonoma County Regional Parks. . “This wild and vibrant landscape, close to other protected lands accessible to the public, is important because of the many benefits it offers to people and wildlife. The preservation of this property expands regional wildlife corridors, creates the possibility of multi-use trails and connectivity with regional trail networks, and preserves critical natural buffer zones that reduce the risk of forest fires to neighboring communities. ”

Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve sits between Sugarloaf State Park and Sonoma Valley Regional Park and offers a potential alignment to access the Bay Area Ridge Trail, a 400+ mile trail system that crosses seven counties and encircles the entire San Francisco Bay Area.

Before the new park can open for full public access, regional parks will complete a master plan to guide trail development, recreational and educational uses, and stewardship of natural resources. Public awareness of the planning process is expected to begin in early 2022. Beginning in fall 2021, regional parks will be holding guided “preview” outings to provide regular public access to the park and reserve.

Bulletin

This press release was produced by the Sonoma County Government. The opinions expressed here are those of the author.


SCVNews.com | LA County Rewards Several SCV Arts Organizations Over $ 56,000 in Grants

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


The Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture announced $ 4,518,000 million in grants, including $ 57,600, to five arts organizations in the Santa Clarita Valley under the County of Los Angeles Organizational Grants program. THE. The award provides a two-year grant to 231 nonprofit arts organizations.

The local not-for-profit arts organizations that receive the grant are:

Escape theater: $ 19,600

SCV Youth Orchestra: $ 15,800

Santa Clarita Masters Choir: $ 10,200

Santa Clarita Artists Association: $ 6,700

Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival: $ 5,300

OGP is Los Angeles County’s premier arts grants program, funding the diverse and comprehensive ecology of artistic nonprofits. Grant recipients expand the arts sector and reflect a rich array of artistic and cultural forms. Their size, budget, and discipline vary from arts education to theater, dance, visual arts, media arts, and literary arts. They offer a variety of arts and culture services at venues and programs throughout the LA County community. For example, folk music from South El Monte (Hernandez Mariachi Heritage Society). Equity, Diversity and Global Initiative (Long Beach Opera); after-school mural program in West Hollywood (Arts Bridging the Gap); Art education and concert management in Sylmer (Department of Music, Wesley) .click [here] Displays a complete list of beneficiaries.

“The Organizational Grants program has strengthened the activities of arts organizations in LA County since the 1940s. Today, the program includes arts organizations that demonstrate culture, tradition and artistic creativity that celebrate diversity. County. It’s important to help the local arts ecosystem thrive, ”said Hilda L. Solis, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Trustees. , District 1 Supervisor. “OGP gives our residents, especially those in historically underserved areas, access to arts and culture services, as well as all the personal interests and community connections they bring. AT. “

Prices range from $ 1,500 to $ 107,500, depending on the needs and size of the organization. This pricing is flexible and can be used to meet all of your current critical needs, from personnel and infrastructure to programming in your organization. For example, LA Commons in South LA and Las Photo Project in East LA, which inspires teenage girls through photography and self-expression, use grants to pay performers and educational artists to pay for the production. Both are financially sponsored organizations applying for 501 (c) (3) grants and receiving funding for the first time. The Strindberg Institute deepens the theater’s involvement with imprisoned people and underserved communities. Turnaround Arts: California uses this award to support key staff positions as the new recipients continue their mission of transforming their highly sought-after school districts and communities through the arts.

“We know how much the cultural resources of vitality, well-being and resilience can bring to individuals and communities. We underestimate the resonance and impact of organizational funding programs in the local arts sector, especially in the aftermath of pandemics. He can’t, and his role in equitably sharing those interests is important, ”said County Manager Holly J. Mitchell.

“Organizational grant programs are an important and essential function of the Department of Arts and Culture. These grants provide public sector funding for the arts that employ artists and the cultural workforce, and the diversity of LA County. Increase community access to arts, ”said Christine Sakoda, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture. “As the number of organizations applying for and receiving funding increases each year, we are confident that this program strengthens the artistic ecology infrastructure of the region and thereby improves the quality of life for the people of the county. I know. “

OGP Context and Review Process
Since 1947, the Department of Arts and Culture (formerly the LA County Arts Commission) has funded LA County arts and culture organizations, which reflect the region’s rich diversity. In addition to direct funding, OGP recipients benefit from professional development and training opportunities, ranging from workshops on cultural and racial equality to creation and talent grants. Of the 231 recipients of OGP 2021-2022 grants located in 48 of the county’s 88 municipalities, 11% are receiving this funding for the first time. OGP grants cover areas such as arts education, dance, literature, media arts, interdisciplinary, music, choir and opera, theater, traditional and folk arts, and visual arts.

Applications for the OGP program are reviewed and rated by 75 diverse expert panelists from a strong community of cultural workers, artists, curators, nonprofit art managers, funders and art educators from the Los Angeles area. it was done. The price recommendations are Artistic committee Approved by Supervisory Board..

Letter of recommendation from OGP beneficiaries
“We are honored to receive the Organizational Grants Program award from the LA County Department of Arts and Culture. These grants are essential for arts organizations in Los Angeles. They give us with community members. This gives us the flexibility and the power to work with us, so that we can provide a valuable artistic experience in the most meaningful way for our county, ”said Lucia Torres, General Secretary of the Las Photo Project. .. “This is especially useful in this time of recovery when organizations like us are strengthening and rebuilding themselves after such an eventful year. “

“LA Commons’ first OGP grant makes a decisive contribution to our sustainability during highly volatile times. Roots in South LA, which continues to suffer the worst impacts of COVID-19. It’s all the more important that there are, ”says Karen Mack. , founder and executive director of LA Commons. “At the crossroads of art, community and social justice, we strengthen the stories and voices of youth and other members of the community. Driven by the creativity and resilience of local youth in various parts of Los Angeles. We are pleased to join the LA County Department of Arts and Culture as a partner in promoting a fair, healthy and equitable Los Angeles. “

“This grant will allow us to reshape the sense of community that theater brings to the people who do our work and to the audiences who participate in these works,” said the Secretary General of the Lindberg Institute. said Michael Biaman.

“Community Turnaround Arts: California’s support is disproportionately influenced by pandemics, and during this difficult time, art is important in providing young students and their teachers with a source of community and self-expression. It played a role, ”says Marissa Shriver. Turnaround Arts: CA co-founder and president. “We are working with our partner schools to prepare for a positive return to schools that have adopted art as a core strategy for healing and engagement, so we were able to secure support from the County Department of Arts and Culture. THE. I am honored. “

Peggy Sivert Zask, CEO / Founder of SoLA Contemporary, said: “We are very happy to include promising young artists who will present curators and preparation practices, as well as digital declaration and promotion techniques, based on the artist criticism program.

About the Ministry of Arts and Culture
The mission of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture is to enhance art, culture, and creativity throughout Los Angeles County. Grants and technical assistance to non-profit organizations, county-wide arts education initiatives, commissioning and maintenance of civil art collections, research and evaluation, access to creative career paths, professional development, community programs free, citizens A creative transversal strategy that addresses the problem .visit lacountyarts.org..

SCVNews.com | LA County Rewards Several SCV Arts Organizations Over $ 56,000 in Grants SCVNews.com | LA County Rewards Several SCV Arts Organizations Over $ 56,000 in Grants


West side of Salt Lake County welcomes new and improved parks

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Communities on the west side of Salt Lake County are welcoming new parks and improvements to existing ones this summer and fall, as outdoor spaces continue to be popular gathering places during the ongoing pandemic.

New features in the parks include playgrounds, play areas and, in Taylorsville, loving volunteer labor to teach residents about gardening.

County residents want to see more trails, open spaces to relax and a higher level of maintenance in area parks, according to a 2017 survey by the Salt Lake County Department of Parks and Recreation and Utah State University. These top priorities were consistent across the valley, said Martin Jensen, director of the department.

“We are absolutely thinking about the future and the future. We know there is huge growth on the west side, “Jensen said,” and we are actively planning and trying to meet that demand to provide parks and recreation services.

Here are some of the new parks and renovations planned for this year – and some plans for next year.

Opening of Magna Regional Park

The new Magna Regional Park will open to the public this fall at 4042 S. 7200 West in Magna, as at least two decades of planning and work to secure the right location begin to pay off.

This year, the Utahns will be able to enjoy the first 25 acres of Phase 1 of the park, with a playground and wading pool for all levels, walking trails, pavilions, washrooms and a multi-use field for soccer, lacrosse. or football, Jensen said.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Magna Regional Park playground, pictured June 17, 2021, is under construction, but the park’s estimated opening date is August.

The exact date of its opening is uncertain as the turf continues to grow as the county also strives to conserve water during the drought.

When completed, Magna Regional Park will cover 62 acres.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Magna Regional Park playground, pictured June 17, 2021, is under construction, but the park’s estimated opening date is August.

Redesign at Labrum Park, Taylorsville

Volunteers have moved lots of dirt, laid and marked trails, and will soon be planting seeds for their makeover at T. John Labrum Memorial Park, 6041 S. Jordan Canal Road in Taylorsville.

Their Loving Labrum Park project is an overhaul with walking trails and areas meant to educate the community about gardening. The features will show visitors ideas on what they could plant in their own garden, different types of plants that would work well with little water, and how to create an irrigation system or drip system, according to Meredith Harker. , Member of Taylorsville City Council and Parks and Recreation Liaison.

This new concept is slated to open this fall, with a $ 6,000 grant from the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and a $ 10,000 budget from City Council. About twenty volunteers gather on certain Saturday mornings and weeknights to complete the work.

Get Updates at Oquirrh Park, Kearns

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Oquirrh Park in Kearns on Thursday July 15, 2021.

With an investment of $ 4.5 million, Phase III of Oquirrh Park has been completed and now offers a playground, more hiking trails and trails for rides and scooters, and a pavilion.

These amenities join the multi-use fields, baseball field and skate park that once made it a sporting destination at 4950 W. Ed Mayne Lane in Kearns.

“Now you can go out there and hang out and have lunch and let your kids play on the playground,” Jensen said.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A baseball game at Oquirrh Park in Kearns on Thursday, July 15, 2021.

Confluence of the Three Streams Park

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Three Creeks Confluence Park marks Salt Lake City’s newest park when it opens Wednesday, July 7, 2021 in the Glendale neighborhood.

Once buried in the garbage, the point at which the Red Butte, Emigration and Parleys streams drain into the Jordan River has been uncovered.

The new Three Creeks Confluence Park, located at 950 W. 1300 South in Glendale, has been transformed into a space with bridges, banks for fishing or enjoying the water and a playground, after an investment of $ 3 million. dollars in Salt Lake City.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A fish lurks in the grasses at Three Creeks Confluence Park, Salt Lake City’s newest park opening Wednesday, July 7, 2021, in the Glendale neighborhood.

More parks in 2022

New parks slated to open next year include two in and near Herriman and two in West Valley City.

K-9 Memorial Dog Park

A 5-acre dog park is planned on Main Street in Herriman in memory of Hondo and Dingo, two K-9 officers who died in action.

Although residents may see a partially completed park this summer, growing the turf to the point that it is sturdy enough for heavy dog ​​traffic will take additional months, said Anthony Teuscher, director of parks and events at Herriman.

The opening date will most likely be in the spring of 2022, he said.

The park should have two main pods with play features like stacked logs, boulders, and agility obstacles. The plans also include shade structures, a trail around the perimeter of the park, and a dog water station.

Bingham Creek Regional Park

Once opened in spring 2022, Bingham Creek Regional Park, located approximately 4800 west and 10200 south in southern Jordan, will be the largest park in Salt Lake County. Phase I is expected to cover approximately 25 acres of the 125 acres the county parks and recreation team is planning.

“This park, when completed, will be a gem. It will be what we call the Sugar House Park of the West, ”Jensen said.

The first phase of the park will include a large playground, six multi-use fields and walking trails. A bicycle pumping track will be “a playground for children and adults on bicycles,” he said. Future phases are expected to include playgrounds, kilometers of hiking trails and more sports fields.

Juniper Canyon Recreation Area

The Juniper Canyon Recreation Area could take a long time to become fully functional. But when completed, it will cover 72 acres connecting the primitive Herriman Hills trail system with two starting points.

Phase I of the project is slated to open in southeast Herriman, off Sentinel Ridge Boulevard, in late 2022 or 2023.

The Herriman Parks and Recreation team plans to have a paved multi-use trail for walking and biking and a circuit training trail with fitness equipment along the way. The preliminary concept includes a separate mountain bike trail with skill features, a pumping trail, and a disc golf course that would replace the Rosecrest course, which was closed in 2018.

West Valley City Parks

West Valley City plans to use community development block grants this summer to create the new Grasmere Park and to begin work on the final phase of the bike park at Centennial Park at 5405 W. 3100 South, according to a presentation by the Director of Parks and Recreation, Nancy Day. to city council this spring.

Grasmere Park’s 1 acre budget is $ 325,000, which will fund picnic tables, a play area and outdoor exercise stations at 3900 S. 1500 West. Construction is expected to begin around August and could be ready to open by spring 2022.

City plans to spend $ 1.1 million to build bike park ahead of estimate opening in the spring of 2022, according to Jason Erekson, deputy director of parks and recreation at West Valley City. It should include asphalt tracks and ramps to help reduce congestion on the park’s existing small pump tracks.

Alixel Cabrera is a Report for America body member and writes on the status of communities on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley for the Salt Lake Tribune. Your matching donation to our RFA grant helps her continue to write stories like this; please consider making a tax deductible donation of any amount today by clicking here.


Learning the right way to recycle brings us closer to a safer environment

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Learning the right way to recycle brings us closer to a safer environment

Protecting our environment and supporting our economy are synonymous and require action from each of us. The recent dispatch.com article, “Living Plastic-Free: Columbus Area Residents Share Stories About Ditching Single-Use Plastic,” highlights the many efforts already made by committed and caring residents and businesses to our community.

After:Living plastic-free: Columbus area residents share stories about moving away from single-use plastic

In Franklin County, plastics make up about 17% of all landfill material, which is equivalent to burying 380 million pounds of plastic each year. These items take hundreds of years to decompose, and typically plastics like double-hulled containers and grocery bags end up dangerously as roadside trash or in the recycling cart where they create waste. environmental eye injuries and operational problems at the recycling treatment center.

But, by working together, we have the opportunity to reduce single-use plastics and move closer to our collective goal of further reducing our reliance on landfills. If successful, these efforts will make a huge difference to our environment, our economy and our community for many generations.

To help you on your waste reduction journey, SWACO offers grants, expertise and public education programs to make it easier for you to increase your sustainability, including reducing waste and learning to recycle properly.

Visit swaco.org to register for our webinars and learn more.

Hanna Greer-Brown, Communications Manager, Central Ohio Solid Waste Authority

Northmoor Road, part of the dangerous Olentangy Cycle Route, needs to be repaired

CLAY BENNETT Cartoon on vaccinations 07/17/2021

I have been using the Olentangy cycle path for over 40 years and have enjoyed it very much. I guess it has one of the highest traffic rates of any road in the state. However, he has a serious problem at Northmoor Road (Park). There are many deep potholes blocking the entry / exit. It is very difficult to miss them, which can cause a fall or a puncture. It’s very dangerous. This has been a problem for many years.

I contacted the city about this. They recognized my information and said they would verify it. That was about three weeks ago. I haven’t heard from them and no repairs have been made.

Hopefully this letter will trigger action on the part of the city and make our beautiful path safer for all who walk it.

Robert Wead, Columbus

letters

After:How to Submit a Letter to the Editor of The Columbus Dispatch

Kristen Baneck volunteered for an all-female U.S. Army Cultural Support Team in Afghanistan in 2011-2012, working closely with Afghan women and girls.

Withdrawal of remaining US troops from Afghanistan is the right move for Biden

The July 16 dispatch article “Bush Criticizes Withdrawal From Afghanistan” quotes former President George W. Bush that Afghan women and girls “will suffer indescribable harm.” He says the withdrawal is a mistake and “the consequences are going to be unbelievably bad.”

I agree that the withdrawal will have bad consequences and that Afghan women will suffer at the hands of the Taliban. But we have passed 20 years, lost the lives of 2,312 American soldiers and spent $ 825 billion. In August 2010, we had 100,000 troops in Afghanistan. If this sacrifice of blood, money and effort on our part cannot create a modern and capable Afghan army in 2021, it looks like they will never achieve that goal. President Biden is right to withdraw the remaining US troops before we spend more blood or money on this failed effort.

Philip Keogh, Howard

CLAY BENNETT Cartoon on vaccinations 07/17/2021


North Springs Business Buzz: Council of Neighbors and Organizations Announces New Executive Director | North Springs Edition

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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The Woodmen Business Buzz highlights the local economic scene, promotions, acquisitions and expansions. Contact Chhun Sun at [email protected] for the chance to be featured.

The Council of Neighbors and Organizations announces a new general manager

The Council of Neighbors and Organizations, or CONO, has selected Sara Vaas, a well-known champion of neighborhoods in the Pikes Peak area, as executive director, effective immediately, according to a July 14 press release.

CONO’s board of directors chose Vaas to lead the nonprofit agency largely because of his tenure under CONO’s longtime executive director Dave Munger. Vaas first joined CONO in 2015 when it became a nonprofit after 37 years as an all-volunteer neighborhood advocacy group.

Vaas worked alongside Munger, providing support and resources to neighborhoods and accompanying them in public processes. Vaas remained at CONO as Director of Operations after Munger’s retirement in 2018 before taking a leadership role with Pueblo West in 2019 as Director of Community and Neighborhood Development.

“The Board of Directors is delighted to bring Sara back to CONO in this new role and to work with her as the new CEO,” CONO Board Chairman Rick Hoover said in a statement. “Like Munger, Vaas believes neighborhoods should be active participants when decisions are made about code enforcement, zoning and other issues impacting neighborhoods.”

He added: “Sara also has many great ideas for new and relevant ways to empower neighborhoods, some from her own experience in Pueblo West and as a former leader of the Westside Neighbors Organization. CONO’s board of directors urged Sara to put her own brand on CONO. We are confident that CONO will be well placed under his leadership to prosper in the years to come. “

As Executive Director, Vaas will work closely with the Board of Directors, stakeholders and community members to ensure that the organization adapts to the changing environment and the needs of our neighborhoods. One of her first acts as a director will be to communicate often and intentionally, to share a new vision and direction for the organization, and to continue to make CONO an inclusive, relevant and meaningful organization for the citizens of the city of Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

“I’m so excited to be back at CONO, to do what I love, to work with the neighborhoods,” Vaas said in a statement. “I have spent time in the non-profit sector and in local government. I see the value in the intersection of public engagement and a formal system for community contribution. I know CONO is positioned in this ideal location, and I can’t wait to start the work ahead.


Rochester City Council agrees to sell old Dooley site for $ 1.4 million

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Rochester City Council voted on Monday to approve a purchase agreement with Powers Companies for the old Dooley site – despite dissent from some members who raised concerns about the deal process.

The $ 1.4 deal, which had the backing of city staff, followed a request for proposals from the city that received little to no interest. During this process, however, the city listed the property for rent, not for sale.

Council member Patrick Keane, who voted in favor of the deal, said he did not “necessarily feel good” about how the proposal had reached Council. Nonetheless, noting the complexity of the deal, he described it as “a messy thing, but in balance, it’s good for our city”.

“These aren’t the kinds of deals you go to the highest bidder with,” Keane said. “It’s a lot more complicated because you live with these new people in the [restaurant space]. “

Keane also added that the city is a “weak owner” who “should try to stay out of this business where we can.”

“If a private company wants to own them and do the same mission, I think we’re better served than the city that owns them,” he said.

Keane was joined by four other colleagues – Board Members Kelly Rae Kirkpatrick, Shaun Palmer and Mark Bransford, as well as Board Chair Brooke Carlson – in supporting the motion.

“We’re in an existing lease with someone who isn’t paying the rent right now, and the business isn’t open; and I think we have to move forward and I think that will help downtown Rochester in a better way, ”said Palmer.

Mayor Kim Norton also expressed his support for the deal, noting that Powers Ventures founder Joe Powers was someone the community “knows and respects”. She also commented that the city was “happy” to pull out of the bar rental market. (She didn’t suggest that the city sell the entire BioBusiness Center, like Kirkpatrick did.)

Council members Molly Dennis and Nick Campion were the only two to vote against the deal. Although both said the deal wasn’t bad on paper – and they had no qualms about Powers Ventures coming forward with the proposal – they were concerned about selling the property beforehand. to submit it to a competitive bidding process.

“I think it’s done very quickly,” Dennis said. “I don’t think it’s transparent… what I heard from the audience [is] maybe favoritism or lack of offers, and I think we should reopen that and go slower to have a more competitive [bidding process]. “

Dennis added, “Selling it so quickly I think gives some people a bad rap and loses public trust.”

Prior to council comments, city staff championed the process, noting how unique the property was. For example, they noted that the condo / retail unit is connected to an existing parking structure – and the agreement includes provisions for scenarios involving the potential demolition of the ramp.

“It is very difficult to be a public entity that operates commercial real estate in this space. You have a number of other properties that are in clear earth … but I would probably say this is one of the more unique sales we would look at, simply because of the nature of how the condo unit is an integral part of the parking ramp, ”said city administrator Alison Zelms.

The purchase price of $ 1.4 million for the site, 255 First Avenue SW, is the estimated value of the property. It is also almost the same amount of federal funding Joe Powers’ PH Catering LLC received under the Restaurant Revitalization Fund of $ 28.6 billion.

Nick Powers, President of Powers Ventures, said last week that the proposed concept “will provide a family atmosphere, relaxed and laid back, with… a unique and fun dining experience”. The restaurant, he said, would be ready to open later this year after a complete renovation. It will likely be open until around 10 p.m. and provide a “Chesters-style” experience, Zelms added.

Sean Baker is a Rochester reporter and the founder of Med City Beat.

Go Out This Summer With These 10 Nature Trails In Alachua County

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Summer is here, and between school breaks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Florida’s beautiful scenery, many are heading outdoors for fun, physical and mental health, or an escape from reality.

Alachua County has a variety of natural spaces between parks, reserves, and conservation lands managed by city, county, and state, as well as environmental nonprofits. Local trails provide diverse recreation right here in Gainesville’s backyard.

Sources Ichetucknee:Protecting Ichetucknee Springs requires more than limits on the tubes

After:Alachua County gets 236 acres along headwaters of Santa Fe River

Between hiking, biking and horseback riding, you are sure to get some beneficial exercise. Or maybe you’re interested in spotting some of Florida’s wildlife, like rare plant species, migratory and wading birds, wild horses and bison and yes, alligators.

Whatever your interest, the benefits of outdoor exploration abound, said Andi Christman, program manager for the Land Conservation and Management Bureau of the County Environmental Protection Department. ‘Alachua.

“Going on a trail doesn’t necessarily mean going to the Appalachian Trail or going to Yellowstone National Park… These are our beautiful local resources,” she said. “It allows [people] to disconnect from human stress. “

After:So many beers to choose from: Your guide to craft breweries in Grand Gainesville

Here are the trails:

The Pithlachocco Lake hiking trail passes through Newnans Lake in Gainesville.

Pithlachocco Lake Trailhead Trailhead in Newnans Lake State Forest

Location and Times: The trailhead is at 921 NE 55th Blvd., east of Gainesville. It is open every day during the day.

Accommodation: Animals on a leash are allowed. Free parking is available.

Trail Length & Activities: Two trails start at the Pithlachocco Lake Trailhead. One is a 2.5 mile loop that leads to the lakeside about halfway. It features many diverse scenes, from a small stream to a dense forest through patches of open fields. Picnic tables and a historic replica canoe can be found at the lakefront rest area. The second trail is a 5.5 mile bike loop through hardwood and pine forests.

A road with a canopy of trees leads to an entrance to the La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Gainesville.

La Chua Trail in Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Location and Hours: The main entrance is at 4801 Camp Ranch Road, south of Gainesville. It is open every day from 8 a.m. to one hour before sunset.

Accommodation: Animals are not allowed. A promenade allows access to strollers and wheelchairs. Parking is available, but the state park charges an entrance fee of $ 6 per vehicle.

Trail Length & Activities: La Chua Trail is 3 miles round trip and very popular. Visitors will find views of the prairie and swamp, such as Lake Alachua and the Alachua Sink. Dozens of alligators are often present, as well as numerous birds and sometimes a herd of wild horses or bison. Sections of trails sometimes close due to flooding.

A cardinal rests on a branch of one of the trails accessible to visitors to San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park, just northwest of Gainesville.

San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park

Location and Hours: San Felasco has two trail entrances that only separate hiking from other cycling and horse trails. The hike location begins at 11101 Millhopper Road, northwest of Gainesville. Bike and horseback trailheads are located at 13201 Progress Blvd., south of Alachua off the US 441. All are open 8 am until sunset daily.

Accommodation: Parking is available for $ 4 per vehicle. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the hiking trails.

Length of trails and activities: Hiking trails range from just under a mile to 5.6 miles, but the biking trails are the real star of the state park and are a popular spot for solo mountain bikers and as a team. Spanning nearly 20 miles, the bike trails include everything from gentle curvy beginners to steep hills, jumps, and bridges. The equestrian trails allow tours of the diverse landscape, including mature forests, open fields and streams.

The Turkey Creek Preserve offers winding trails and training equipment for hikers in Gainesville.

Turkey Creek Preserve

Location and Hours: The reserve is located at 6300 NW 93rd Ave. northwest of Gainesville and is open daily 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. October through March and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. April through September.

Accommodation: Parking is available and free. Dogs on a leash are allowed.

Trail length and activities: The reserve is a new natural space for visitors that opened to the public in February. It offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails ranging from half a mile to 2 miles, including an outdoor fitness trail with seven training stations. The reserve is home to an endangered plant species, the wood poppy, known for its bright pink-purple flowers.

A flower grows along the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail in Gainesville.

Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail

Location and Hours: The trail begins at 3400 SE 15th St. in South East Gainesville and is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset.

Accommodation: Free parking is available at four locations along the trail. It is paved and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Dogs on a leash are allowed.

Trail Length & Activities: The popular 16 mile trail follows an abandoned railroad track. Hiking, biking and skating are allowed along the route. A grassy equestrian path runs alongside the paved one. Fishing is permitted at two locations, Prairie Creek and Lochloosa Creek, from bridges.

A bird feeds her baby in the waters of Sweetwater Wetlands in Gainesville.

Sweetwater Wetland Park

Location and Hours: The park is located at 325 SW Williston Road in southwest Gainesville and is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset.

Accommodation: Parking is available for $ 5. The crushed gravel and walking trails are suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Pets are not accepted. There are toilets.

Trail Length and Activities: Approximately 3.5 miles of trail is available for hiking and nature viewing. The park is home to many alligators and bird species among the wetlands and ponds. It is popular with families and was originally created to create better water quality for the Florida Aquifer and the Paynes Prairie.

A gate opens onto a trail in the Watermelon Pond Wildlife and Environmental Area in Newberry.

Watermelon Pond Wildlife and Environmental Zone

Location and Times: The North Area Trailhead is located at 9514 SW 282nd St. in Newberry and is open daily from 1.5 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset.

Accommodation: Parking is available. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the trails.

Trail Length & Activities: Watermelon Pond WEA offers loop trails of up to 8 miles for hikers, cyclists, and horse riders. Picnic tables are also available. The area is known for a handful of key wildlife species, such as the gopher tortoise and Sherman’s fox squirrel.

A pot of white flowers rests on a commemorative brick in a labyrinth in the commemorative garden of suicide survivors in Cofrin de Gainesville Natural Park.

Cofrin Natural Park

Location and Hours: The park is hidden away in the town of Gainesville at 4810 NW Eighth Ave. and is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from November to April and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from May to October.

Accommodation: Animals on a leash are allowed. Parking is available.

Trail Length & Activities: The park has a playground, a half-mile wooded loop, and a small stream. It is also home to the Suicide Survivors Memorial Garden, a space with flowers and a trellis, secluded seats and a meditation maze.

A butterfly rests on a blade of grass on one of the trails at Mill Creek Nature Reserve in Alachua.

Mill Creek Nature Preserve

Location and Hours: The reserve is located at 14505 NW County Road 236 in Alachua. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November to April and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May to October.

Accommodation: Dogs on a leash are allowed. Parking is available.

Trail Length & Activities: Hikers can explore 5 miles of unpaved trails through pine forest, swamps, deciduous forests, and marshes. There is also a stream. The reserve is home to some of the southernmost American beeches.

Visitors can view Hogtown Creek at Loblolly Woods Nature Park in Gainesville. Loblolly Creek merges with Hogtown Creek in the park.

Loblolly Woods Nature Park

Location and Hours: The park is located at 3315 NW Fifth Ave. and is open daily from dawn to dusk.

Accommodation: Restrooms and limited parking are available. Animals on a lead are allowed. The stroll portions are suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.

Trail Length & Activities: The main Loblolly Trail is great for first-time hikers or cyclists who want time in nature without too much length or distance from the company. Mix of unpaved trail and boardwalk, it stretches from a small parking lot entrance off Northwest 34th Street to the Gainesville Solar Parkway on Northwest Eighth Avenue, just across from Westside Park and offers plenty of places to walk dogs, bird watch and spot Hogtown Creek. It resumes as a walk across the avenue for another quarter mile to Northwest 16th Avenue.

Journalist Danielle Ivanov covers University of Florida and General Mission. Contact her by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @DanielleIvanov.


Baby Bear Hugs hosts family resource exhibit in City Park – The Fort Morgan Times

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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  • Baby Bear Hugs hosts the 2021 Morgan County Family Resource Exhibit at City Park. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

  • Moms walk past the Northeast Colorado Department of Health booth. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

  • At their booth, Pack 25 Cubs hand out homemade kazoos, show off their rocket and car projects, and sell jerky as part of their fundraising efforts. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

  • The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program, or CCCAP, is participating in the event. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

  • Guests chat with the women who run the Morgan County Social Services Department’s booth on foster care and adoption. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

  • Employees of Salud Family Health Centers attend the event. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

  • A mother and her two sons get information at the Fort Morgan Public Library table. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

  • Consultants for Children, Inc. is participating in the event. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

  • Customers gather more information about the Morgan County Family Center. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

  • The Caring Pregnancy Resource Center in Northeast Colorado has set up a table to educate expectant mothers about care options. The association also brought educational models (right) showing the size of a fetus as it grows. (Katie Roth / The Fort Morgan Times)

To help Morgan County parents and expectant parents connect with local organizations, Baby Bear Hugs has brought together a dozen agencies to participate in the 2021 Morgan County Family Resource Expo. , held in City Park on Friday, also allowed like-minded organizations to connect and grow the wider network of parenting support in Morgan County.

Each participating organization is highlighted and linked below:

Baby bear hugs

Baby bear hugs is a non-profit organization that aims to support expectant parents and children up to the age of three. Free services include age specific education: prenatal to 12 months, 12 to 14 months, 24 to 36 months. Baby Bear Hugs provides parenting education through classes and home visits, nurse and family partnerships, developmental screenings, and healthy lifestyle education programs.

Cubs Pack 25

Cubs is open to boys and girls from Kindergarten to Grade 5. They meet year round and learn useful life skills along the way. In addition to participating in community service, Scouts go camping, hiking, biking and swimming. They also learn about forensics, geocaching, woodworking and how to make fires.

Package 25 is always on the lookout for new members and will be holding its open house on August 21 at 6 p.m. in the 4-H building of the Brush Fairgrounds.

Northeast Colorado Department of Health

the Northeast Colorado Department of Health offers programs and services to better educate residents on public health with three main objectives: promoting healthy behaviors, protecting against environmental risks, preventing injuries and illnesses.

Morgan County Family Center

the Morgan County Family Center has both a location in Fort Morgan and a location in Brush and strives to provide families with the resources and support needed to help them connect to community resources and live successful lives. Specifically, the Morgan County Family Center offers rent and utility assistance, childcare resources, veterans assistance, parent education, health / nutrition education, and youth enrichment.

Morgan County Department of Social Services

Morgan County Department of Social Services works to promote healthy and safe family environments in the community through protective and supportive services. It offers protection services for adults and children, assistance services (food, energy, financial, medical), child support services, childcare services (CCCAP) and foster care programs, parentage and adoption.

Morgan County CCCAP (Colorado Child Care Assistance Program)

the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) reports to the Division of Early Care and Learning of the Colorado Department of Social Services. CCCAP offers childcare assistance – at a reduced cost – to families in need.

Salud Family Health Centers

Salud Family Health Centers provides low-income and medically underserved families and migrant and seasonal agricultural workers with medical, dental and pediatric care in addition to pharmacy and behavioral health services.

Fort Morgan Public Library

the Fort Morgan Public Library serves as a place of education and entertainment by providing adults and children with access to both recreational and research reading. FMPL also organizes Family Storytime every Thursday at 10 a.m.

A Compassionate Northeast Colorado Pregnancy Resource Center

A benevolent pregnancy resource center is a non-profit organization with its location in Morgan County based in Brush. Its goal is to empower women through free and confidential services, ranging from pregnancy tests to adoption support to post-pregnancy care.

Children’s Consultants, Inc.

Children’s Consultants, Inc. (CFCI) provides resources for people with developmental disabilities with the goal of encouraging independence and establishing success in everyday and academic settings. Services offered include: Home Programs, Assessments, Parent Counseling, Respite Care, Comprehensive Services, ABC Training Consultants, Continuing Education, Children’s Residential Empowerment Program (CHRP), Club Spark social skills groups and clubs, RBT training. The Brush location also includes an apartment space that can be used to teach older children the necessary independent skills.

Colorado early intervention for infants, toddlers and families

Colorado Early Intervention (EI Colorado) was created with children with developmental delays or disabilities in mind – and their families. Developmental support and services can be provided from the birth of a child until the child’s third birthday.

Centraide’s collective impact initiative

Centraide’s goal Collective impact initiative is to bring together organizations with a common goal of creating change in the community. United Way of Morgan County currently has partnerships with nearly 20 other local organizations.

Kidz Healing Artz

The objective of Kidz Healing Artz is to provide children and their caregivers with coping skills and opportunities to mourn and heal loss, while also finding healing and emotional expression through artistic creation. Families meet once a week for eight weeks following four main stages: understanding, grieving, commemorating, moving on.


Philly organizations partner to create summer learning modules for children in underserved communities

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Becky J. Dansereau
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As Philadelphia continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, children and families are also beginning to plan for summer events.

A local event developed by the Barnes Foundation is Early Learner Summer Pods, a free program designed to introduce children to environmental education workshops, art classes, outdoor activities and other educational activities.

The project aims to give children the opportunity to learn and have fun while promoting community engagement and early access to education before the start of the new school year.

The Barnes also partnered with seven other Philadelphia-area organizations for the program, including Fairmount Water Works, Fleisher Art Memorial, Please Touch Museum, and several other institutions.

The program is aimed at children from disadvantaged communities aged five and under.

“The summer offers a crucial opportunity to close the developmental gaps of the past year, and our goal with the Summer Capsules for Young Learners is to offer a variety of free programs across town for six weeks to support young learners socially, emotionally and linguistically. , and literacy development, ”said Barbara Wong, director of community engagement at the Barnes Foundation, in a press release.

The program began July 8 and will continue to offer free activities throughout August 13. The Barnes initially wanted to start the program providing children with safe activities as the city is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted access to high-quality early development and learning opportunities for children, posing profound setbacks that undermine the potential for long-term success for many, especially for children. low-income families who have been hit hardest by the myriad impacts of the pandemic, ”Wong said.

In addition to the free workshops offered, the foundation also distributes free activity kits to children in the city.

The initiative also taps into other activities that involve hands-on science projects, storytime sessions and other experiences.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected jobs and businesses, but early childhood education as well.

The Barnes hopes to reverse last year’s downturn with life-saving experience for children and parents.

“The summer offers a crucial opportunity to close the developmental gaps of the past year, and our goal with the Summer Capsules for Young Learners is to offer a variety of free programs across town for six weeks to support young learners socially, emotionally and linguistically. , and the development of literacy, ”said Wong.

There are many more learning opportunities planned for the coming weeks, including the workshops listed below:

Drexel University Academy of Natural Sciences

Discover, play, share: summer fun with the family

STEAM, literacy, and fun family activities.

  • Aspira Inc. 4322 N. 5th Street, July 28, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Congreso de Latinos Unidos 216 W. Somerset Street, July 24, 10 am to 1 pm; August 4, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Sister Cities Park 210 N. 18th Street, July 13 and August 10, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • The Academy of Natural Sciences 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, August 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Barnes Foundation

Barnes Early Learner Summer Capsules

Outdoor performative tales, artistic creation and kits.

For ages 2-5 and families in West Philly Playstreets and South Philadelphia.

July 6 – August 12, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

  • Mondays at Philly Playstreet Mantua 3500 Mt. Rue Vernon
  • Tuesdays at Philly Playstreet Kingsessing 1438 Vodges Street
  • Wednesdays at Mifflin Square Park 500 Wolf Street
  • Thursdays at Ford PAL Rec Center 609 Snyder Avenue

For more information on the Barnes Foundation and its summer capsules for young learners, please visit their website.


Hirshhorn Museum’s redesigned sculpture garden approved and more news – SURFACE

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Becky J. Dansereau
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DESIGN SHIPPING

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BY EDITORS

July 19, 2021

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Hiroshi Sugimoto’s redesign of the Hirshhorn Museum Sculpture Garden is approved.

The United States Commission on Fine Arts granted final design approval to the redesign of the landscaped garden at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Japanese architect Hiroshi Sugimoto plans to add much-needed infrastructural improvements, such as the creation of a platform to stage performances and sculptures, as well as the expansion of a reflecting pool and the addition of ‘an expanse of open lawn. Although the plans have sparked a lot of controversy since their unveiling, in 2019 they are expected to help increase visitor numbers by 300%.

Budget cuts eliminate SFMOMA’s film program, art lending gallery and publishing platform.

The programming of the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco will tighten thanks to budget cuts linked to the pandemic. The establishment recently eliminated some of its long-standing programs such as the Artist Gallery at Fort Mason Center, which helps loan works by local artists to local offices and residences; the programming of films will end after the fall 2021 season; and the “Open Space” publishing platform and the “Raw Material” podcast will both shut down later this year. “For SFMOMA to maintain a healthy institution for our community, we must change our approach to make these goals more achievable and successful in today’s radically changed environment,” a museum representative said in a statement.

The Venice Biennale Beach Opera will make its long-awaited US debut in September.

One of the highlights of the Venice Biennale 2019 was Sun & Sea (Marina), the apocalyptic opera in which carefree day trippers performed daily outdoor activities on a surreal indoor beach while singing areas foreshadowing the impending ecological disaster caused by climate change. Designed by Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė and Lina Lapelytė for the Lithuanian pavilion, the opera will be debuts in the United States in September at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. Next, it will undertake a trip across the country to Arcadia Exhibitions in Philadelphia, the Momentary in Bentonville, AK, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, where it will be presented in collaboration with the Hammer Museum and the Center for the Art of Performance at the ‘UCLA.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation pledges $ 3 million for African-American monuments.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (AACHAF) African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund announced an investment of $ 3 million to help preserve 40 African-American monuments across the United States. “The recipients of this funding exemplify centuries of African American resilience, activism and achievement, some famous and others unheard of, that tell the complex tale of American history,” said Brent Leggs, Director AACHAF executive, in a press release. Recipients include the Black American West Museum and Heritage Center in Denver, the Karamu House in Cleveland, and the New Granada Theater Hill CDC in Pittsburgh.


A rule at the Tokyo Olympics banning Soul Cap designed for afro hair is being revised.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) is evaluate a rule which prohibits athletes from wearing the Soul Cap, larger swim caps designed for those with “long, voluminous hair”. The backlash ensued after the brand was “denied by FINA from its approval process to become certified to wear for competitive swimming,” according to a Instagram post. The agency is currently reviewing its decision to better “understand the importance of inclusiveness and representation”, as well as whether or not larger swim caps give wearers an unfair advantage.

Thanks to high rates of deforestation, the Amazon now emits more carbon than it absorbs.

The Amazon rainforest was once one of the world’s greatest carbon sinks, but deforestation has turned this natural wonder into a polluting. According to a recent study Posted in Nature, one billion tonnes of carbon is emitted from the forest each year, the majority of which comes from forest fires, which are deliberately started to clear land for beef and soybeans. “The first very bad news is that burning forests produces about three times as much CO2 as the forest absorbs,” said Luciana Gatti of the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research, who helped lead the study, in a press release. “The second bad news is that places where deforestation is 30% or more have carbon emissions 10 times higher than places where deforestation is less than 20%.

Today’s Attractive Distractions:

Remember when MIT predicted that society would collapse this century?

Animal Crossing will soon receive the long awaited Monopoly treatment.

Spike Lee revealed the winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes ahead of schedule.

Dozen of munching goats rampaged in a New York City park.

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Rohnert Park gives green light to launch of mobile crisis response unit

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Becky J. Dansereau
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Rohnert Park has given the city’s public safety department the green light to launch a new mobile crisis response unit that will send mental health workers on specific nonviolent calls, instead of police officers.

The program, which city council unanimously approved in a 5-0 vote on July 13, is one of many expected to start operating in the Sonoma County area.

The inclusion and creation of such units is a direct response to demands for changes in the way public safety officials deal with social service calls made by protesters after the murder of George Floyd, according to the director. of the Rohnert Park Public Safety Department, Tim Mattos.

“We’re not sending the right people on these sanity-type calls,” he said. “We had to take a step back and think and ask ourselves, ‘How do we keep these calls from ending badly? “”

Mattos added that he wanted to launch the program in two to three months.

The effort mirrors the Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS) program, which was developed in Eugene, Oregon about 30 years ago.

Sonoma County officials have previously worked with other cities in the region, including Santa Rosa and Petaluma, which have expressed interest in launching civilian crisis mobile teams modeled on the program, which sends teams from doctors and mental health workers trained in urgent calls for medical care. or psychological help.

Crisis calls

Ben Adam Climer, a former CAHOOTS crisis response worker and emergency medical technician, is Petaluma’s crisis consultant and started working with Rohnert Park in May to expand his unit.

Based on an assessment of Rohnert Park’s dispatch records from 2019 to 2020, Climer said the unit could respond to more than 3,500 mental health, non-violent and social calls per year at Rohnert Park.

“The unit will offer support to someone trying to locate their missing uncle, to someone having problems with their children, or even to inform families that their loved ones are deceased,” he said. “This program will allow a smoother approach to this type of non-violent appeal.”

The Santa Rosa Police Department began expanding its Crisis Response Unit last summer following nationwide and local protests denouncing racial inequalities and police brutality following Floyd’s murder. The unit is expected to come into effect in October.

Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Christopher Mahurin said unity “is a need”.

“The police receive minimal training in mental health. By sending clinicians who can help mental health issues more effectively, we are putting the right people in the right place, ”he said.

Next steps

Climer trains the Petaluma and Rohnert Park dispatchers on how to handle these specific calls. Petaluma People Services Center, a non-profit organization that offers social service programs to prevent problems such as homelessness and unemployment, will help Rohnert Park grow his unit.

The steps include drafting and developing an agreement with the Petaluma People Services Center, purchasing a vehicle, finding office space for staff, and identifying program costs.

The Rohnert Park unit is expected to cost around $ 1.3 million in its first year.

In May, Rohnert Park City Council set aside $ 1 million to fund the program. This is one of several things that city leaders have declared a priority for 2021, said Mayor Gérard Guidice.

“Rohnert Park is making great strides in the fight against homelessness in our community. It is one of the growing number of tools Rohnert Park needs when it comes to roaming, ”he said. “It speaks to my heart. “

The Department of Public Security is considering federal and state funding to offset the costs of the program. Mattos added that the city could ask Sonoma County to contribute a portion of the O measure’s mental health sales tax funds.

Measure O was passed last year to increase local spending on mental health and homelessness services each year by $ 25 million.

Speaking to council at the July 13 meeting, Rohnert Park community members such as Julie Royes praised the Crisis Response Unit.

“My first love and partner of 4.5 years committed suicide. If a program like this existed then, it would be celebrating its 40th anniversary today, ”Royes said.

You can contact Editor-in-Chief Mya Constantino at [email protected] or 707-521-5220. On Twitter @searchingformya.


Palestinian terror organization chooses new leader after longtime leader dies

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Becky J. Dansereau
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DAMASCUS, Syria – A breakaway Palestinian terror organization that carried out headline-grabbing attacks on Israel in the 1970s and 1980s has appointed a new veteran leader after the death of its long-time founder, the group said.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) said Talal Naji was elected at a meeting in Damascus. He will replace Ahmed Jibril, who died on July 7 after being ill for months.

Naji was born in Nazareth in British-dominated Palestine in 1946. He studied in Syrian schools and joined the ranks of the Palestinian Liberation Front faction in 1962 before later joining the PFLP-GC.

Naji, who lost an arm and an eye in a grenade explosion while training, had been the deputy leader of the PFLP-GC since 1973. He received a doctorate in political science from Moscow in 1984. .

Khaled Jibril, the son of the late leader, is appointed his deputy.

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Take back the future, one meter at a time

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Becky J. Dansereau
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Insects, birds and other wildlife populations are in decline, and the cause could be the loss of our native plants.

But all hope is not lost, says Doug Tallamy, professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. In his book “Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Garden”, Tallamy explains the relationship between living things and how humans can tell the difference.

Tallamy says he’s always been interested in biodiversity and how insects interact with plants and how those interactions can help diversify animal populations.

“I think I was born that way. From the first days, I was drawn to every living thing around me,” Tallamy said. “And now is the time to talk about it.”

Tallamy explained that we are living in an urgent biological crisis in the world. But Tallamy also said it was not too late. There is a basic solution that rests on humanity.

“Every person on the planet needs a healthy ecosystem, which means everyone on the planet has a responsibility for good stewardship of the Earth.“Said Tallamy.” We need to have healthy ecosystems everywhere, not just in parks and reserves. We have to practice conservation where we live, where we work, where we play, even where we grow, otherwise it just won’t turn out well for us. “

Tallamy described the things each landscape should contribute to the local ecosystem, and how people can facilitate this in their own backyard.

Landscapes must support a viable food web

Plants need to capture energy from the sun and transform it into food, and pass it on to animals.

The plants you choose in your landscape should be ready to share this energy they’ve captured to support animal life. Native plants do this better, says Tallamy

Remember that not all plants are created equal, Tallamy suggests choosing your plants wisely.

“Only 5 percent of native plant species generate 75 percent of the energy that drives our food webs,” Tallamy explained. “The genus of plant that contributes more to the diversity and stability of the food web than any other native plant in North America is the oak – nationally, it is home to over 950 species. Willows, cherries, birch, hickory, walnuts and pines follow but do not. even approach the oaks. “

If you’re looking for something smaller, Tallamy suggested smaller oak varieties. And even smaller, and the flowery variety? He said he is considering plants for specialized pollinators, members of the goldenrod genus, perennial sunflowers, asters, primroses and native violets.

A viable and diverse pollinator population is essential

“We need pollinators because they pollinate 80 percent of all plants and 90 percent of all flowering plants. We need these pollinators everywhere, not just near farms,” ​​explained Tallamy.

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One thing you may ask yourself is, “How well do your plants tolerate caterpillars native to your place of residence?”

Tallamy thinks there is always room for more.

Only caterpillars that have evolved with adaptations to bypass plant defenses can eat them. So you need to match native North American plants with native North American caterpillars that have the right tusks to eat them. An example of this host plant specialization is the monarch caterpillar and milkweed.

“If you want to have insects, the little things that run the world, you have to have the plants to support those insects. And they will be native plants,” Tallamy said.

Every landscape must sequester carbon

Not only is it important to remove carbon from the atmosphere so that it can be trapped in plant tissue, but also to pump the extra carbon into the soil for long-term storage. The presence of native plants and species not only facilitates this process, but makes it more efficient.

Watershed management is essential for landscape and insect survival

“Everyone lives in a watershed. No one has the ethical right to destroy this watershed, ”said Tallamy.

Tallamy went on to explain how people can facilitate a healthy landscape in their own backyard.

“Consider cutting your lawn in half,” he suggested. “And plant native plants in its place.”

You can also go above and beyond by paying special attention to your ground cover.

“The way we manage under trees is critical to the survival of the caterpillars,” Tallamy explained. “We need to make it easier for caterpillars to complete their development. Beds with looser soil will help them get underground to pupate. Things like wild ginger, flowers, and shrubs work well for this.”

Pay attention to your labels

He recognizes that fertilizers and pesticides can be effective tools, but they must be used responsibly and appropriately.

He says don’t assume the products on the shelves are safe and urges you to check the labels.

A question of semantics

“Part of the problem is with the native plants that run our ecosystems that we have referred to as weeds – milkweed, New York ironweed, Joe Pye grass. If it’s called a weed, it must be bad, then you kill it. Tallamy continued. “It’s a simplistic label we put on our native plants, and it perpetuates the problem.”

So, consider not pulling that “weed” out next time, and maybe researching the importance of a plant.


Michael Overall: A strange place for the new park in Tulsa? Wait | Local News

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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More than 200 people lived there at the height of the operations. But federal welfare programs made a poor farm largely redundant, and by August 1955 the number of residents had fallen to just 76.

With the farm no longer needed, Mayor LC Clark suggested it would make a nice place for a park. But again, some Tulsans scoffed. The area around 51st Street and Yale Avenue remained largely rural at the time with only a few suburban homes nearby. Why build a park “over there?”

Nonetheless, tanker Joseph LaFortune donated $ 650,000 – about $ 5.6 million today – to build his namesake park, which covered 270 acres when it opened in October 1960. And, of course, the development rapidly developed around him.

Now Tulsa is planning another park even further south. Land Legacy, a nonprofit conservation group, and the Mary K. Chapman Foundation recently donated nearly 30 acres of undeveloped land near 71st Street and US 169. It will be added to 26, 8 acres of adjacent property the city already owned to create a new park that will connect with the nearby Mingo Valley Trail.

This time, no one can complain that the area is too rural. Rather the opposite. The land is behind a Lowe’s Home Improvement store and next to a noisy six-lane freeway near one of the state’s busiest suburban shopping districts.

Doesn’t this seem like a great place?


The beaches of Sisal, eligible for the ‘Blue Flag’ certificate – The Yucatan Times

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Sisal, Yucatán, (July 17, 2021) .- “The beaches of Sisal are an ideal candidate to receive the international competition Blue flag certificate, ”said the executive director of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Joaquín Arturo Díaz Ríos.

“This recognition guarantees the quality of the water and guarantees the safety of the population; 92 beaches have been certified across the country, ”he said.

The manager recognized the advantages of Sisal: “it is a very practicable beach which could and should be Blue flag. Díaz Ríos explained that it is the municipalities that must apply to the body to obtain this certification, in order to verify that they meet all the requirements such as having good quality in their waters, complying with the official standard Mexican NOM-001- ECOL-1996, which establishes the maximum allowable limits of pollutants in wastewater discharges into water and physicochemical parameters, as well as European regulations, and the implementation of improved systems of environmental performance, through environmental education.

In addition, they must guarantee the safety of people by means of specialized and prepared rescuers, equipped in such a way as to be able to give the certainty that they are in a safe and clean place.

“Among the advantages is the national and international projection, they position themselves as a leading beach compared to others, and at the same time, this stimulates the development of the destination. For a destination to have a future and a global position, it must be managed appropriately and sustainably, ”he said.

He therefore invited local communities, businesses and hoteliers to approach the foundation to work with this distinctive. More information about the requirements can be found here: http://feemexico.org/

The Yucatan Times newsroom

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Rotary funds the organization My Very Own Bed | Release

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Becky J. Dansereau
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The Edina Rotary Club Foundation recently awarded a grant of $ 2,500 to the organization My Very Own Bed, according to a statement.

My Very Own Bed, based in Minneapolis, provides beds for children in the Twin Cities metro area who move into stable housing. The grant will be used to finance the purchase of 18 beds for children who would otherwise sleep on the floor or share a bed with a family member.

My Very Own Bed delivers the beds to their homes shortly after the families move in. With each delivery, My Very Own Bed seeks to provide a “Dream Kit” consisting of bedding, a book and a stuffed animal.

In early June, Rotarians collected 36 sets of sheets, 21 blankets, 21 soft toys, 16 pillows and 14 mattresses and helped with some deliveries.

“We still plan to reach 1,200 children this year, so every item is essential in helping us reach that goal,” My Very Own Bed’s Meg Hobday said of the donation. “We feel so lucky to be a part of the great work your club is doing, locally and internationally.”

Edina’s new Rotary Club president, Michael Stanzak, has chosen to honor those who speak at the club’s weekly meetings in 2021-2022 by donating to My Very Own Bed on their behalf.

Money for Rotary Edina Foundation grants and speaker gifts is raised through a fundraiser and fall gala, and through donations made throughout the year.


chronicle: we are rapidly destroying what makes this community special | Notice

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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In 2012-2013, I wrote a regular column for this journal. One of these columns, published in the May 31, 2013 edition, was titled “Endangering What Makes Us So Special”.

This addressed my concerns about what I perceived at the time to be unexamined growth in southern pines. For me, that meant not systematically asking tough questions about relevance and impact before approving construction projects.

The high-profile project, announced a week earlier in The Pilot, was a “Vegas-style” showroom and IMAX theater that reportedly provided live entertainment for “the many guests who flock to the area.”

We have yet to see these projects come to fruition. But what we are experiencing – eight years later – is a seemingly unregulated building explosion that goes beyond endangering the area we call our home to destroy it.

For example, in an area within walking distance of downtown Southern Pines, a few years ago there was a nice country road with little traffic and mostly older houses on large lots with a few farms. equestrian. I loved driving or walking the route just to marvel at how something so bucolic could exist so close to town.

Today there are dozens of houses crammed into and around this road with heavy equipment right now pulling up more beautiful mature trees that shaded the area and provided refuge for wildlife.

Another construction project is underway. Additionally, there is at least one Airbnb on this route where guests often leave unsecured trash, which ends up being strewn across the properties of various owners by wild animals and roaming dogs.

I understand that growth is inevitable, and often desirable. However, there is a sustainable way to achieve growth that preserves the better and unique nature of a region and there is a reckless, profit driven approach. And it is a fact that growth, without preservation at some important levels, forever changes the nature of a place.

Take trees, for example. One of the most direct and cost-effective ways to reduce temperatures and keep the air clean is to maintain a tree-rich environment. Left untouched, trees are an eminently useful and romantic entity. They provide shade and an essential bulwark against flooding, reduce carbon dioxide in the air, diversify the landscape and invite the dreamer and climber alike.

And yet, rather than finding ways to preserve mature trees during expansion, too many builders are systematically stripping land to make room for more structures. Consider Morganton Road in its current state.

Then there is water. We may not have experienced a water shortage yet, but it may only be a matter of time. Recently, The Pilot reported that there is so much demand for water hookups for new buildings in Moore County that the lead time for these services is 30 days.

Meanwhile, a booming section of eastern Colorado Springs is literally running out of accessible water as demand has skyrocketed. Across the country, blooms of highly toxic algae regularly threaten water supplies. A recent article on the Truthout.org website addresses this issue in detail. And while our water supply is always secure, many of our ponds and lakes are not.

There are many other considerations associated with rapid and unsustainable growth: safety, traffic, and affordable housing to name a few. Drive Indiana Avenue and May Street with any regularity and you will be shocked at the amount of tractor trailer traffic.

A project currently in planning for a 31-acre parcel of former cow pasture between Vass and Southern Pines offers 40 new homes and 35 townhouses. Bordered by two narrow country roads, one of which has been periodically inundated over the years with grazing cows, this proposal has problems written all over it.

One need only drive or walk in parts of Moore County with your eyes wide open to see our landscape and the slow, easy way of life that characterizes life in small towns around the world is quickly disappearing. The big question is, is there anything we can do about it?

Beth Daniels lives in Southern Pines.


Editorial: US Rescue Plan Plans Must Be Done With Care | Editorial

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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In other words, when federal aid runs out, the associated spending should also stop. So, before creating new programs or facilities, or adding elements to existing services, managers should ask themselves: is the idea really a one-time expense? Or will it require ongoing financial commitments, from salaries to materials to building maintenance?

For example, in May, Governor Ralph Northam and General Assembly leaders listed “helping public schools” as a first shared priority for Virginia ARP funds. They stressed their intention to ‘modernize’ school buildings across the Commonwealth, by ‘rehabilitating and modernizing existing facilities, improving air quality and HVAC systems and improving safety’.

The cost of upgrading the ventilation can probably be planned as a one-time expense. And in the hope that kids have healthy, in-person learning experiences this fall, there is some urgency to reaching that goal.

But in Florida, USA Today reported in April that the state faced a waiting list of nearly 50,000 seniors seeking community care. It is no less urgent. Still, some lawmakers have warned that using ARP funds for this cause might work in the meantime, but result in loss of support once the money runs out. How does this litmus test apply to other allowances provided across Virginia and the country?

The best places to learn to kayak in whitewater

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Earlier this summer, the town of Montgomery, Alabama, unveiled a new addition to its downtown area: a whitewater park. The $ 50 million project, slated for completion by summer 2023, will be located on a 120-acre parcel along the banks of the Alabama River, with a recirculating wave park suitable for kayakers and paddleboarders. .

This is just one of the many new whitewater parks appearing in the United States. A destination is also under construction in Great Falls, South Carolina, on the Catawba River, as an extension of the White water center. It should open by 2023. New England becomes its first locationThe 13-acre Mill City Park will open in September in the former mill town of Franklin, New Hampshire, with a bike pumping trail, climbing walls, and whitewater features.

“Whitewater parks have revolutionized the sport by bringing the best of remote mountain kayaking to the center of town,” said Scott Shipley, former World Cup kayaking slalom champion and three-time Olympian who now races. S2O design, a whitewater design and engineering company based in Lyon, Colorado. Shipley estimates that there are more than 70 whitewater parks in the United States, with a dozen more currently underway.

Here’s why that’s good news: If you want to try it out, it’s just gotten a lot easier. Until the advent of these man-made training grounds, which appeared in the mid-1990s and used engineering to make surf waves and other river-like features, whitewater kayaking was a reserved sport. remote and risk tolerant people. Now, residents of Boise, Oklahoma City can paddle a downtown river and learn to kayak with the help of a qualified instructor or guide.

“Destination lessons can help you learn from the best,” Shipley says. Here are some spots to get you started this summer.

Nantahala Outdoor Center

Photo: Courtesy of Nantahala Outdoor Center

Bryson City, North Carolina

Take a kayaking lesson, sign up for a whitewater rescue course, or paddle a raft at the Nantahala Outdoor CenterThe 500-acre campus along the Nantahala River, on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains. On-site accommodation (starting at $ 80) includes cabins, rooms at the newly renovated Dogwood Motel, and private inn-style dorms alongside Appalachian Trail hikers.

Riversport Rapids

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

I bet you didn’t know downtown Oklahoma City had Class IV rapids. Yes, the recirculating whitewater park Riversport Rapids has gentle to rowdy wave trains suitable for a wide range of experience levels. If you’re just getting started, sign up for a kayaking roll lesson or private or group kayaking lessons. You’ll also find raft adventures for the whole family (for kids ages eight and up). There is no accommodation on site, but the park is associated with several local hotels (ask for the “boathouse rate”).

Boise Whitewater Park

Photo: Courtesy of Boise Whitewater Park

Boise, Idaho

The River Boise runs through downtown and the Boise Whitewater Park has become a playground for surfers, stand-up paddles and kayakers playing on an adjustable wave. The park, which is managed by the Boise Parks and Recreation Department, opened in 2012 on a previously neglected section of river that was littered with industrial debris. The features of the park have been updated and extended since then.

Charles City Whitewater

Charles City, Iowa

Known as one of the best river surfing waves in the Midwest, Charles City Whitewater First opened in 2011 on a quarter-mile section of the Cedar River through Charles City’s Riverfront Park. It has three beginner-friendly wave trains that serve as the site for an annual surf kayak competition. Pitch a tent near the river at R Campground (from $ 20), from which you can rent a canoe (from $ 18).

Bend Whitewater Park

Photo: Courtesy Bend Whitewater Park

Bend, Oregon

Tubers, kayakers and surfers flock to the Bend Whitewater Park on a section of the Deschutes River in the Old Mill neighborhood of Bend for surf waves and good times. Three separate channels on the river provide an option for everyone: the fish ladder has gentle waves for tubers and children, the whitewater channel is suitable for experienced paddlers with four separate waves, and the l The habitat is intended for migratory fauna and is closed to the rest. from U.S. This section of the river was previously impassable for paddlers and fish due to an underwater dam structure that was removed when the area was redeveloped into a park in 2015.

Rio Vista Park

San Marcos, Texas

Don’t have paddle equipment? Its good. You can rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and tubes nearby to float or paddle the San Marcos River through the rapids of Rio Vista Park, about half an hour south of Austin. This spring-fed river stays stable and comfortable at 70 degrees all year round, making this place popular even during the winter months and at night when the lights are shining on the park. In 2006, the city of San Marcos transformed this dam into a whitewater park with three main rapids. Olympic paddler Ben Kvanli teaches clinics and river circuits here, and the local Lions Club rents tubes and manages a shuttle for the river.

Buena Vista Whitewater Park

Photo: Courtesy of Buena Vista Whitewater Park

Buena Vista, Colorado

The Arkansas River is a legendary kayaking and rafting destination about three hours from Denver. the Buena Vista Whitewater Park, one of Colorado’s largest whitewater parks, with five waves, lets you test your skills before jumping into the Class III and IV natural rapids elsewhere on the river, like Numbers or Browns Canyon . Stay at Surf hotel (from $ 245), which is part of the vision of professional kayaker turned entrepreneur Jed Selby Principal South District.

Truckee River Whitewater Park

Reno, Nevada

Amidst the sparkling casinos of downtown Reno, you’ll find a calming riverside paradise known as the Truckee River Whitewater Park. This half-mile stretch of the Truckee River has been transformed into a series of Class II and III rapids, perfectly surfable even for new kayakers. Sierra Adventures leads tours and offers instruction. Proximity Whitney Peak Hotel (starting at $ 284) has an indoor bouldering room and a 164-foot outdoor climbing wall on the side of the hotel.


Summer Programs at Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center | Education

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


AMBOY – The Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center will be presenting several public programs this summer and fall. The first of these, Stream Safari, will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 28. Participants will learn that the freshwater community is diverse in animals and plants. Program participants will explore the stream to learn about these animals and plants. Pants and shoes will get wet and muddy. Pre-registration is required. Visit https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/StreamSafariAmboy4-HEEC_235 to register or scan the QR code with a phone. If people need help or more information, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County at 315-963-7286.

These programs are designed for families; however, individuals can attend. Pre-registration for all programs is required. Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask per New York State’s implementation of recent CDC guidelines. However, vaccinated people can choose to wear masks (or other acceptable face coverings) and maintain social distancing at their own discretion. Unvaccinated persons are required to wear a mask (or other acceptable face covering) indoors and when six feet of social distancing is not possible outdoors, in accordance with the implementation by the State of New York of recent CDC guidelines. Participants should always sign the Cornell Cooperative Extension Risk Assumption and Liability Release prior to participating in the program.

There is a charge of $ 4 per person with a family rate of $ 12. Children under three are free.

The Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center is located at 748 State Route 183 in eastern Oswego County between routes 13 and 69 near Williamstown. For more information on the facility and its programming, call the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County 4-H Office Monday through Friday at 315-963-7286. To learn more about the programming of the Amboy 4-H Environmental Education Center, find them on Facebook at http://tiny.cc/AmboyOnFB, and check out the website at thatscooperativeextension.org/amboy-4-h- environmental-education-center. Contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County office if people have special needs.

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Lancaster Inn and Suites welcomes you for a summer in Lancaster, PA

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Lancaster Inn & Suite Logo

Hotel in Lancaster City

Lancaster Inn & Suites

Hotel in Lancaster PA

Lancaster Inn & Suite Hotel

Interior view of Lancaster Inn & Suites

Interior of Lancaster Inn & Suites

Lancaster Hotel Dining Room

Lancaster Hotel Dining Room

There are a ton of places to visit in the city, and hotels are also easy to find. You can very easily find a hotel in Lancaster PA for a place to stay.

LANCASTER CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, USA, July 16, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ – Lancaster can claim the title of being one of the oldest cities in the interior of the United States and, with its bustling population, is ranks 8th on the scale of Lancaster’s most populous towns. There are a ton of places to visit in the city, and hotels are also easy to find. You can very easily find a hotel in Lancaster PA for a place to stay and there are also various hotels, hostels and other residential places open to tourists. To get a slightly different taste and feel of Lancaster, you can always head to the Lancaster Inn and Suites. You can book your suite or room by simply dialing +1 (717) 665-5440 or online.

Although they have closed their swimming pool for the summer of this year to fight COVID-19 and protect the health of their customers, other facilities remain open. This hotel focuses on the element of hygiene very rigorously. Rooms are thoroughly cleaned before receiving visitors and this Lancaster hotel tries to combine the city’s rich Dutch history with a historic touch to the whole experience. The breakfast and fitness centers are other features of the unique nature that is offered here. There are also the Whirlpool Spa Suites and a Deluxe Room that comes with all the bells and whistles.

Well, let’s move on from a certain hotel in Pennsylvania, the varieties of stay that are offered there, and explore the sights of Lancaster that can keep a person engaged throughout the days they spend in the city and places in the city. proximity.

The most popular tourist destination is Long’s Park, which is a large area of ​​around 80 acres that was established in 1900. Many popular events take place here and will likely keep you hooked to the heart and soul of the city. There’s also the Dutch Wonderland, which is a family-friendly place that offers up to 30 different rides. Also important is Duke’s Lagoon, a tropical theme park open especially in summer. Lancaster Central Market brings an old and rustic charm to the place once you enter it. The Amish Farm and House is also one of the local attractions which has a rich history of over 200 years. A bus tour gives a real and detailed overview of the countryside.

There is the Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin & Marshall College which has an outdoor sculpture trail and is a hotbed for discussion, exchange of ideas, exclusive film screenings and various performances. In addition to the art museum, there is also the Landis Valley Museum which features a historic village and a farm to navigate and soak up its deep history. The Dutch Apple Dinner Theater offers exceptional food, service and ambiance. In addition, the American Music Theater presents a pleasant place to organize various concerts and music festivals. For theater lovers there is the Fulton Theater is another place that aims to capture heart and soul through performances and art exhibitions. Various plays, musicals and other theatrical performances are regularly organized there.

For those interested in science there is also the Lancaster Science Factory which has various exhibits and hosts various science related events. It is the place that responds to the technological and scientific turn of the mind, because here children can learn about various artefacts, devices and other scientific concepts in a close and interactive way. There’s also the North Museum of Nature and Science which sports a magnificent SciDome theater that will delight its viewers with a tour of the galaxy and a closer look at the night sky. In addition to the SciDome, there are also permanent live exhibits of various animals that allow children to get up close and personal with various types of animals, birds and also fossil exhibits. This presents a practical and practical experience for young children who are interested in such things.

Another place that proudly showcases Amish traditions to locals is the Mennonite Information Center. Visitors can learn about the unique habits and habits of the Amish and Mennonites here. A comprehensive 45-minute tour by a guide is offered here. For those interested in the history of a place, there is Wheatland, which was characterized by former US President James Buchanan as a “pleasant country residence about a mile and a half from Lancaster City” and tours here also consists of an ongoing commentary regarding various facets of James Buchanan’s family and personal life. As well as being a country house, the place is also famous for being the seat of James Buchanan’s presidential campaign in 1857. A 4 day road trip is usually required to fully enjoy the views and ambiance of this historic place.

There is also the historic Rock Ford Plantation which has a rich heritage and the sites themselves are quite easy to view. The Lancaster Puppet Theater hosts various live performances featuring puppet puppets and was first created by Robert Brock. For baseball fans, there’s the Clipper Magazine Stadium, home to the Lancaster Barnstormers. The stadium was inaugurated in 2005 and has already won praise from various circles for its infrastructure and design.

The Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society preserves historical documents, archives, books, etc. relating to the Mennonite faith and its followers in the Lancaster area so that those interested can learn more about the subject. In terms of outdoor sightseeing, there’s the Holtwood Dam, which presents a refreshing trip out of town and can provide renewed vigor. The community spirit within the town, however, is preserved in part thanks to the Lancaster East Side Market, which in addition to being a farmers’ market and providing residents and tourists with a wide variety of vegetables and fruit, also has fun activities to keep kids engaged. . To complete the trip, there is also the hot air balloon trip which is the unmissable event for many tourists who love adventure and thrills.

Sanjay Bhartiya
Lancaster Inn & Suites
+1 717-665-5440
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Mercer University organization helps immunize Hispanic population

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


A group of Mercer University students this week set up a vaccination site specifically targeting the Hispanic population.
Mercer students are helping Hispanics gain better access to the vaccine.
Mercer University

MACON, Ga. (41NBC / WMGT) – A group of undergraduate students at Mercer University this week set up a vaccination site specifically targeting the Hispanic population.

According to the CDC, the Hispanic population has one of the lowest COVID vaccination rates.

Jose Pino, Interfaith Youth Core coordinator at Mercer University, says many people face challenges when it comes to getting vaccinated.

“One of them is transportation, misunderstandings, misinformation, sometimes it’s language barriers,” Pino said. “That’s why, in this case, we think we’re doing something for our community. “

The group has partnered with Mercer Medicine to provide the Pfizer vaccine.

“To be able to provide this protection and to help people be safe and healthy is really good that we are doing something for the community,” said second student Komal Gandhi.

Seven people were vaccinated during the event.

The group’s next event will take place on August 5th. For more information, contact Jose Pino at (478) 301-5345.


Freedom Center, Leesburg Near Deal on Cemetery Transfer

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0

Progress appears imminent on an agreement to transfer the land from the cemetery in the town of Leesburg to a local nonprofit.

Although as recently as this week Leesburg city council failed to find a majority to support funds for improved drainage at the Sycolin cemetery site, Freedom Center founder Michelle Thomas told the City staff she was soon planning to sign a memorandum of understanding between the nonprofit association.

For months, Thomas begged the council to help rectify the drainage problem in the tomb area and previously said the memorandum would not be signed until it was done. City Council approved the transfer of the 1.6 acre cemetery land to the nonprofit on May 11, following a lengthy process that began in 2019 when the decision to transfer the land required study of delimitation of the cemetery, a survey and a platform work. The Loudoun County Supervisory Board also had to approve the creation of a subdivision including the cemetery land that would be transferred to the Freedom Center.

The land near the burial grounds was purchased by the city over 30 years ago for the federally mandated runway protection area for Leesburg Executive Airport. While the city had maintained the land around the cemetery for years, it was criticized several years ago by Thomas and the NAACP for the overgrown nature of the cemetery site itself. Sixty-five graves associated with the Baptist Church of Sycolin are found on the grounds of the cemetery, the first burial recorded in 1913 and the last in 1959. A staff report notes that no historical research has shown it to be buried. acted as a cemetery for the slave; however, some who are buried in the cemetery were born before the Civil War.

Although Thomas stressed that she did not expect the terrain, down a steep hill near a stream and next to springs, to be completely dry, she said the Freedom Center wanted the terrain to be completely dry. the situation is sufficiently rectified so that gravestones can be placed on the graves to commemorate appropriately those buried there.

City staff estimated that improvements with ditches or drains would cost between $ 125,000 and over $ 200,000. This would be in addition to the $ 81,000 Leesburg has already spent on maintaining and preparing the site for the transfer, including the cemetery boundary study, surveying and platform work.

Representatives of the Loudoun Freedom Center alleged the city is to blame for some of the erosion of the area and soggy conditions from the graves. Deputy general manager Keith Markel said the city never altered the topography of the area, but covered the nearby paths with a mixture of sand and gravel in June 2018.

Two attempts were made during Monday night’s council working session to find support to fund the Freedom Center to address some of the on-site drainage issues. City Councilor Suzanne Fox attempted to enlist council support to donate $ 3,300 to the Freedom Center, the internally estimated cost of staff time spent on the property’s annual maintenance.

Mayor Kelly Burk asked if this would set a precedent to spur future council donations to city cemeteries. She alluded to a recent request from a parishioner’s council of St. James’s Episcopal Church to help fund the headstones renovation and landscaping of the church cemetery, as well as new signage.

“I want to acknowledge that we have had some ownership in this area. I feel like that’s the distinction, ”Fox said in response.

Only city councilor Kari Nacy indicated her support for the $ 3,300 donation.

City Councilor Zach Cummings then offered a grant of up to $ 100,000 to the Freedom Center to support the drainage improvements.

“We own this land. We do not have any other cemeteries. Maintenance, although beyond what some people think we should have done, has not been efficient and effective enough to preserve a historic cemetery, ”he said.

Cummings said he would prefer the city government to ask the nonprofit to send the city an invoice for work it has done to improve the drainage of the cemetery, and the city would spend up to ‘to $ 100,000 for reimbursement. Only Deputy Mayor Marty Martinez and City Councilor Ara Bagdasarian supported the demand, one less of the four votes that would be needed to pass a motion at a future meeting.

Similar overtures towards the same goal have also been offered at previous board meetings, but none have had enough voice to move forward on the allocation of funds.

On Tuesday evening, Ron Campbell, former city council member and executive director of the Loudoun Freedom Center, again addressed council during the petitioners section of the business meeting. Talking to Loudoun now Earlier today, Campbell said he spoke to Fox, Cummings and Bagdasarian on several occasions, but pointed out that the Freedom Center never asked the council for a specific amount of funding.

“We talked about a way forward; we never talked about a number, ”he said.

Campbell also criticized the process, or the lack of it, since talks began about moving the land from the cemetery. He said the Freedom Center should seek a response time from general manager Kaj Dentler, and that this week alone, the county signed the plaque for the first time. He also said the city never handed over the memorandum of understanding to the Freedom Center.

Dentler requested a formal decision from the Freedom Center by July 30, Markel said. The signed plaque from the Loudoun County Construction and Development Department approving the creation of the subdivision must also be registered within six months of signing. If this is not done, the county’s process for approving the subdivision will have to start over. The deadline for this is October 21.

Thomas said she plans to sign the memorandum of understanding after the next round of council meetings on July 26-27, but stressed that the council still has an opportunity to “do the right thing” by supporting funding for improvements to the cemetery site.

“The signing of the MoU does not prevent them from catching up with their moral compass at some point,” she said.

Thomas said she hoped within a week and a half that she would be able to share with council members the work on the Sycolin Cemetery site plan currently being undertaken by students in the architecture program. landscape by Virginia Tech. Perhaps seeing those plans worked out would make it more clear to board members why they should help with the funding, she noted.

If the council does not provide funding, Thomas expressed optimism that the Freedom Center would be able to raise the funds needed to improve conditions at the cemetery and highlighted the historic resilience of the African American community when was treated unfairly.

She compared the signing of the MOU, without any funding, to a sharecropper agreement. Thomas had previously used the same term to describe the council’s initial decision, almost three years ago, to lease the cemetery land to an outside group to maintain it before revisiting that decision and choosing to transfer the land completely. .

“Signing this MOU almost feels like signing a sharecropper agreement and I can understand how our ancestors felt when they felt they had no choice but to sign agreements of a discriminatory nature.” , she said. “It’s certainly an unfair and unfair deal, but that’s what we have. We can begin to move forward in the construction, protection and maintenance of this sacred site or continue to fight a losing battle because of the racism that governs this council. “

[email protected]

Friendship Village wants to build pickleball fields, add parking to Bontrager Park | New policies

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Paul Huting (2014)


WATERLOO – A plan to add pickleball fields and more parking to a municipal park that will be built and paid for by a nearby long-term care facility is one step closer to approval.

The Waterloo Recreation Services Commission unanimously recommended a 75-year lease with Friends of Faith Retirement Homes Inc., which operates Friendship Village at 660 Park Lane.

Friendship Village will pay the city $ 10 for the lease, which will run until December 31, 2096. City council will vote Monday to schedule a public hearing on the matter for August 2.

The long-term agreement will allow Friendship Village to lease a 2.13-acre portion of western neighboring Bontrager Park to manage its stormwater retention, build up to three pickleball courts and add a parking lot with 100 spaces, according to city documents.



Construction Plan for West Bontrager Park by Friends of Faith Retirement Homes Inc.

The construction plan for stormwater retention, parking and pickleball fields in a 2.13 acre portion of West Bontrager Park, as presented by Friends of Faith Retirement Homes Inc., owner of Friendship Village , at the Waterloo Recreation Services Commission meeting on July 13, 2021.


The agreement states that Friendship Village will keep the property “open and available to the public, except with the prior approval of the Director of Recreation Services.”

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“Obviously, they will have instances where they need to have exclusive use” of the property, recreation services director Paul Huting said at the commission’s board meeting on Tuesday. “But I think we kind of get the best of both worlds: we maintain the ownership of the park, but we also improve it with the pickleball and rate it.”


Dutchess opts for young New York deer hunters; education courses offered

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


At its July meeting, the Dutchess County Legislature voted in favor of a state Department of Environmental Conservation pilot program to enable 12 and 13 year olds to hunt deer in Dutchess County. Established in the 2021 New York State budget, this two-year pilot project will assess the ability of young hunters to hunt deer safely and humane.

Any young person who wishes to participate in the program will need to have a New York State hunting license. To qualify for a license, they must first complete a hunter education course taught by a New York State certified hunter education instructor.

Each fall, new hunters scramble to find a hunter education course. Until 2020, their only option was to attend classes in person. Due to the public gathering restrictions put in place last year, the DEC implemented online hunter education courses which quickly became extremely popular. I think it is likely that participation in in-person courses will lag behind online courses in the future.

Column outside:DEC unveils a new white-tailed deer management plan

After:NY opened the door for 12 year olds to hunt deer with guns. Here is the continuation.

After:Deer have been the most numerous for almost 20 years

With the start of this fall’s hunting season in a few weeks, if you or someone else you know is considering purchasing a license for the first time, a Hunter Education Certificate will need to be presented to complete. purchase from any licensing agent. In New York State, Hunter Education is a requirement for novice hunters using firearms or archery equipment to pursue big game, small game, turkey, waterfowl, and migratory birds. considered as game.

Bowhunter Education is required in addition to the Hunter Education course listed above when using a bow and arrows to only pursue deer and bears. If you are bow hunting for other game, this course is not compulsory but recommended.

If you are interested in trapping furbearers, a trapper training certificate is also required.

Crossbow hunting qualification is required for hunters using a crossbow to pursue big game, small game, turkey or any other unprotected species.

COVID-related restrictions led to the suspension of in-person hunter education classes early last year. In response to the suspension, the DEC introduced online courses so that training can continue during the pandemic. Online courses immediately became popular. By the start of this year, around 70,000 people had signed up for online courses.

In-person classes are free and taught by volunteer instructors from the Hunter Education Program, or HEP. Courses are offered for the training of hunters, bow hunters, trappers and waterfowl hunters. Registration is mandatory and all in-person courses require mandatory homework which must be completed before attending the course. For more information or to register for an HEP ​​course, visit the Hunter Education Program page on the DEC website.

COVID-19 safety protocols in place at the time of the course will be followed in each in-person course, including on-arrival health check, mandatory mask wear, social distancing, smaller classes and disinfection of hands and equipment.

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At this time, it is still unclear how the in-person classes will be scheduled before the fall season. Continue to check back from time to time for new courses scheduled on the DEC website.

The cost of the online hunting training course is $ 19.95. The course can be viewed on the DEC Hunter website. CED continues to offer an online archery training course.

According to CED, since March 2020, there has been a 12% increase in sales of hunting and fishing licenses compared to sales for the previous 12-month period. During this period, which roughly coincides with New York State on PAUSE, turkey resident permits have increased by more than 13% and junior hunting licenses have increased by more than 25%. The department previously reported that a combination of factors, including the availability of online hunter training for new hunters and more time available to participate in hunting and other activities as New Yorkers were looking for recreational options during the pandemic, had likely contributed to the increase.

To register for a course, go to www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/92267.html

Waterfowl education is required to obtain a permit to access certain national wildlife refuges and state lands open to waterfowl hunting. While this course is not mandatory for waterfowl hunting in general, it is recommended and worthwhile to attend.

This is a very difficult course which requires the identification of ducks in field conditions. All waterfowl hunting training courses require completion of homework before attending the course.

You can register for 2021 in-person instructor-led courses. However, due to COVID-19, the number of courses offered may be limited.

A waterfowl identification course is scheduled for August 7 at the 110 Rod & Gun Club in Pleasant Valley. The class will be taught by Bill Alexander of the Waterfowl Task Force here in New York. George Downing, a state hunter training instructor, will assist you. The course is limited to 13 students and pre-registration is compulsory. No walk-in will be allowed.

Again, everyone attending the class is required to complete the homework. Proof of completed homework must be provided at the compulsory in-person course. Homework can take several hours. Attendance at an in-person course or a course lasts at least three hours.

Bill Conners of the Federation of Hunting and Fishing Clubs writes on outdoor issues. Email: [email protected]


Scio Township Planning Improvements to Marshall Park

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


The Township of Scio has planned improvements to Marshall Park that will aim to make this new park another attractive place for residents and visitors.

Taking an important step towards these, the Council of the Township of Scio approved an agreement with the Washtenaw Engineering Company at its July 13 meeting for an amount of up to $ 12,750 for engineering, construction documents and construction. construction supervision services for the Marshall Park project.

Mileage approved by voters pays for this and funds are budgeted for parks and reserves.

On the township’s website, Marshall Park is described as a 10-acre parcel with convenient access to the Zeeb Road trailhead and boasting a collection of distinguished red cedars.

Park land is on Marshall Road and Zeeb Road and extends to Dexter-Ann Arbor Road.

The project will seek to use an early 1900s barn that has fallen into distress and is not financially economical to preserve, according to the plan. The barn will be demolished, but planners will look to reuse / salvage parts of it as well as use other materials needed to properly build one or two new pavilions for the park measuring 16ft by 16ft. . A stone plinth will accompany the pavilion (s) as well as a picnic table.

Andy Turner, chairman of the township park advisory board, brought this agenda item to the meeting on July 13 and said the agreement kicks off the process to make Marshall Park a community destination. He said there were still many decisions to be made, such as details like design and placement, but added that this was a good first step.

City council trustee Alec Jerome said he also liked the deal and the project as a whole. He noted that the part of the plan for reuse and recovery of the old barn is a good example of the township’s desire to have more sustainability in its planning. He agreed with Turner and said this project would be a big step forward to help improve the township’s overall park and trail system.

In the description on its website, the township states, “This park will serve as a starting point for strategic routes along many future Scio trail opportunities. Marshall Park will also provide a place to gather, rest, find shade, picnic, seek shelter or even take a short hike on a nature trail within the property ”,

In the long term, the overall Marshall Park plan calls for the township to want to develop it with picnic pavilions, bicycle racks, a natural play area with wooden climbing structures, a rustic trail system that conforms to ADA requirements, walks to protect wetlands, a training and parking area, the completion of phase 2 of the Zeeb road trail, benches and orientation and park signs.

In another park decision, city council approved up to $ 6,000 for work at the Sloan reserve by Freier Forestry for land reclamation and parking lot restoration. One thing that will be done is the removal of the existing entrance panel with a new one. There will also be parking improvements.

A change from the original proposal was made during the meeting and city council withdrew the use of any herbicide to kill weeds in the Sloan parking lot.


Florence organization recognized by Main Street SC for efforts to help businesses during pandemic

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) – The Florence Downtown Development Corporation received the Main Street South Carolina Inspiration Award for its response to COVID-19.

The organization has supported businesses during the pandemic and pushed them to overcome any obstacles they faced.

Development director Hannah Davis said the company took immediate action after the businesses closed.

They created an online resource center to connect business owners with information on loans and services. As of March 2020, Florence city center social media pages have been teeming with up-to-date COVID-19 information, opening times and reopening times.

“We have moved to an emergency management model to keep our businesses open, and not only successful but prosperous during the pandemic,” Davis said.

Davis said receiving the Main Street South Carolina Inspiration Award validates all of their work over the past year.

As the pandemic subsides, they have now focused on an even higher reward.

“We are pursuing the Great American Main Street Award, which is the highest national award you can receive for Main Street America,” Davis said.

While the organization has helped keep businesses afloat, it has also overseen the opening of six new businesses in downtown Florence.

LilJazzi ‘Cafe opened on Dargan Street six months ago.

Owner Andrena Mullins said there are no words to describe what the Florence Downtown Development Corporation means for her business.

“They are there, you can call, they are helping financially. In any way I can, I have never seen something so great for building a downtown and they are greatly appreciated, ”said Mullins.

The company also won a second inspiration award for a holiday catalog designed to help downtown businesses.

Copyright 2021 WMBF. All rights reserved.


Europe rolls out ambitious climate change plan, but obstacles loom

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0

The carbon border tax could not only undermine global trade and spark a dispute over protectionism within the World Trade Organization, it could also create new diplomatic fault lines ahead of the Glasgow climate talks.

The rally in Glasgow is an important moment for major polluting nations to show what they will do to tackle the greenhouse gas emissions that have put the world on a dangerous warming path. Scientists have said the world as a whole needs to halve emissions by 2030, forcing the biggest polluters in history – the United States and Europe – to make the biggest reductions. important and fastest. All eyes are on the targets set by the United States and China, which currently produce the largest share of greenhouse gases.

Although the European Union produces only around 8% of current global carbon emissions, its cumulative emissions since the start of the industrial age are among the highest in the world. But as a huge market, it also sees itself as an important regulatory power for the world and hopes to lead by example, invent new technologies that it can sell and deliver new global standards that can lead to a carbon neutral economy. .

The United States has pledged to reduce its emissions by 40 to 43% over the same period. Britain, which will host COP-26, international climate talks, in November, has pledged a 68% cut. China, the world’s largest carbon emitter, has only said it is aiming for peak emissions by 2030.

“Europe was the first continent to declare itself climate neutral in 2050, and now we are the very first to put a concrete roadmap on the table,” Ms von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

The Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Frans Timmermans, in charge of the environment and the European “Green Deal”, recognizes the difficulty of the challenge. “We are going to ask a lot of our citizens,” he said. “We’re also going to be asking a lot of our industries, but we’re doing it for a good cause. We are doing this to give humanity a chance to fight.

Mr Timmermans considers these proposals to be of fundamental importance for the creation of a new economy. “As far as the direction Europe is going, it could actually be of the same nature as the internal market or the euro,” he said.

No More Ben Gray District 2 Residents Tell City Council

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


Omaha City Council voted to delay confirmation of Ben Gray to the Omaha Municipal Land Bank (OMLB) board of directors at Tuesday’s meeting, following public opposition to the appointment of the former member of the city council.

“Mr. Gray had the opportunity to serve for District 2,” said Precious McKesson, former non-voting member of the OMLB and leader of the North Omaha Neighborhood Alliance. “This community wants new leadership.

the OMLB is a government association that acquires “vacant, abandoned or dilapidated properties” and renovates or demolishes them. The OMLB’s board of directors includes one voting member for each district of the city, as well as several non-voting members. The city council also appoints a non-voting member representing the council, who is now Councilmember Juanita Johnson.

Mayor Jean Stothert chose Gray to replace Tiffany Hunter as District 2 representative. Hunter, who now resides in District 3, will remain on council as a non-voting member.

Gray represented District 2 on Omaha City Council for 12 years until he was defeated by council member Johnson in May. During his tenure on the board, Gray contributed to the development of the OMLB, which was established in 2014.

Several members of the North Omaha community have spoken to city council to oppose the appointment of Ben Gray. Opponents said Gray was kicked out of city council because he was not engaging with the community and the OMLB had not done enough for North Omaha.

“No one ever bother to ask us,” Terence Haynes said. “North Omaha still looks the same as in 1969.”

Terrence Haynes speaks to Omaha City Council.

Haynes said the mayor often chooses from the same group of people to represent District 2, and those people do not have “our best interests at heart.”

Opponents demanded that city council ask Mayor Stothert to find a different candidate, and that council member Johnson be part of that process.

Board member Aimee Melton defended Gray as “uniquely qualified” for the position, citing her experience on the board and his role in creating the OMLB. Gray responded to some of the comments made by residents.

“There was so much misinformation today that I don’t know where to start,” Gray said.

Gray said he was shown a screenshot of a Johnson’s Facebook Post. The post was a “call to community action” asking community members to comment on the nomination at the city council meeting.

“A call to action. A call for what? Gray said. “For some reason people assume that for some reason I have a desire to divide the community.”

Ben Gray, former member of the Omaha District 2 municipal council.

Gray said he had met Johnson and believed they could work together. Johnson said she recognized the mayor’s power to choose a candidate, but wanted the community to be involved.

“For far too long District 2 has not been in a speaking position,” Johnson said. “We want our community to want to be involved, to want to have a say. “

After more than an hour of heated discussions and passionate pleas, the city council remained divided. Board members Melton and Brinker Harding have made clear their support for Ben Gray, while board member Vinny Palermo joined Johnson in opposing the nomination.

Harding said Mayor Stothert was re-elected in the same election Gray was rejected and that he supported Gray’s nomination. Palermo said although Gray is qualified he will not back his nomination after hearing from the community and Johnson.

Councilmember Johnson offered to decline the nomination. The vote to decline failed 3-4, with Council member Dan Begley joining Palermo and Johnson in voting yes. The motion to approve the appointment then went in the same direction, 4-3.

After the approval vote appeared to have passed, many residents of District 2 left the legislative chambers visibly disappointed.

“It’s a joke,” said one of them.

However, City Clerk Elizabeth Butler informed council that the nomination required a qualified majority of at least five votes, meaning the motion for approval was also unsuccessful. The board voted again, which again failed 4-3.

After an exchange among council members, council member Palermo proposed that the resolution be postponed until the July 27 meeting, which only required a simple majority. He went 4-3, with Councilmember Festersen breaking the tie.

The city council was then able to move on to the mayor’s 2021 annexation package, which it approved. Council members Palermo and Johnson voted against.

“We don’t have enough city employees at all levels,” Palermo said, referring to the city’s current efforts to recover from last week’s storm as well as existing shortages in the department. of the city’s public works. “Are you going to add more wires, are you going to add more kilometers of track?” “

Board member Festersen said the proposal was the smallest he had seen in years and would be financially beneficial.

The city council passed the new Omaha City Park rules, which had been tabled twice to add an amendment to keep the city’s trails open 24 hours a day. Parks director Matt Kalcevich said that the department had spoken to officials in other cities with similar policies and that they were working with local advocacy groups like Bike Walk Nebraska and Mode Shift Omaha.

City trails will now be open at all hours as an activity “at your own risk” for transportation purposes. Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. (when the trails would have been closed), users should not stop or park unless necessary.

Due to a recent change in Nebraska law, the Omaha City Council created a process for participants in council meetings to waive the requirement to publicly declare their address. The form will be available on the City clerk website, and must be completed by 4:30 p.m. on the Monday preceding the meeting.

contact the author at [email protected]


Home Summer Camp Kits Available | New

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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MARINETTE — Marinette County Land and Water Conservancy will be donating 50 summer home camp kits to Marinette County youth in lieu of Sand Lake Conservation Camp.

Sand Lake Conservation Camp is typically held annually for approximately 70 to 90 Marinette County youth in grades 6-8. According to the Marinette County Land and Water Conservation website, the camp provides “positive outdoor educational experiences, helps foster appreciation and understanding of nature, and presents a variety of opportunities in the world. natural resources and careers in conservation ”.

The camp has been canceled in the past two years due to COVID-19. At this point, the department is not sure what the future holds for the conservation camp.

The 50 kits, which cost around $ 700, were designed, donated and assembled by the Marinette County Land and Water Conservation Division. The kits will be available from mid-July on a first come, first served basis.

The kits will provide a variety of learning materials that mimic some of the activities that take place at the camp, as well as other yard things to do that emphasize conservation.

Each kit consists of a fabric backpack and a small storage bag that children can decorate on their own, as well as various tools for field study or outdoor activities. A magnifying glass, insect jar, identification guides, small aquatic net, notepad / pencil, and mini first aid kit are examples of tools included. Each kit will also be accompanied by a folder of various learning materials and activities to do at home. Examples include a key and an aquatic invertebrate identification booklet; how to build an underwater telescope, bat house and insect hotel; how to “leave no trace” when camping; and various pages with activities focusing on topics such as wetlands / water, wildlife and habitat.

Anne Bartels, Information and Education Specialist for the Marinette County Land and Water Conservation Division, said: “We will also include seeds from native plants, like the Susan eyed. black and purple echinacea so that they can start a small pollinator garden in their homes. “

Along with each kit, there will also be a folder filled with environmental education activities, coloring pages, found words and activity booklets on mammal tracks and building a solar oven and fire pit. similar conservation activities to be done at home.

“We thought it would be a cool little thing to try and see how many people are interested,” Bartels said.

Registration begins mid-July. To register for a kit, people can call the Land Information Service at 715-732-7780. Kits will only be collected from the Land Information Office, located on the second floor of the Marinette County Resources Building, 1925 Ella Court, Entrance A, Marinette (opposite the Mariner Theater car park), during office hours; Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


‘Black Girls Surf’ Rhonda Harper Treats The Ocean Like A Church

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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The surf coach and activist wants to help black girls find their wave.

Rhonda harper– who, it should be mentioned, only recently returned to California after being stranded abroad for almost 17 months during the pandemic, first in Senegal and then in South Africa – was born for two things : surfing and activism. Her career in surfing education and black empowerment has been going on since 2014, when she created Africa Surf International, a series of professional and amateur competitions that brings together surfers from the African diaspora.

But since 2018, Harper has focused on changing the lives of young black girls across the globe across the globe. Surfing Black Girls. Through trainings, workshops and surf therapy, Harper’s organization has helped hundreds of black girls and women across the United States, Africa and the Caribbean not only improve their skills in the water, but also to heal their minds and to feel empowered to say “I belong. “As said to Tiana Attride.

I started surfing when I was sent to Hawaii to live with my sister when I was almost sixteen. There are only three things you can do when you live on the North Shore, especially since I lived in a resort: There was golf, and I didn’t do that. There was a swimming pool. And then, maybe 100 or 200 feet from my house, was the ocean – and this is the playground that I decided to explore.

I call surfing my church. When I go to church, I want comfort; I want peace; I want to have that respite that everyone wants when they’re not at work. I can sit in (or pass) the queue for hours, and just jump on my board. The movement of water heals. Whether I’m riding a wave for three or 30 seconds, facing the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, either way, I can go out there and give it my all, come back and feel 100% better. .

But often, finding the space to go to church is made difficult.

Rhonda harper
Rhonda Harper, Founder of Black Girls Surf | Courtesy of Black Girls Surf

It wasn’t until I returned from Hawaii to the mainland that I realized that some people didn’t want me in the water. I was at the beach one day with a Caucasian man – which made it worse, since it was in the 80s and so interracial relationships weren’t celebrated already – and we were getting all stares. time. As we were leaving, I walked up the hill to my car, and someone had written “come home, n-” on the side. I knew right away that I wasn’t “supposed” to be there.

Most recently my nephews were renting surfboards while I was waiting with a friend of mine outside. As they walked out of the surf shop, of course, they were carrying their wetsuits and surfboards in their hands. They were proud, like, yeah we are surfers. And they were stopped at least four times by white people on the street to take pictures, because they had never seen a black surfer before. It was really uncomfortable, and I had to explain to them what it meant to them in the car: we, as people of color in the water, white people don’t see us as surfers. We are a spectacle. An exhibition. And since we’re made to feel like outsiders, a lot of people of color don’t see surfing as a sport for them.

a group of young black girls practicing surfing
Black Girls Surf started with an Africa Surf International competition | Courtesy of Black Girls Surf

Surfing Black Girls started with an Africa Surf International competition in Sierra Leone. Blacks were excluded from professional surfing; they had no visibility, so I decided to create Africa Surf so that we could hunt black talent internationally.

We found all the guys we needed that day, but we only had one girl. His name was Kadiata Kamara, and she was the first and only surfer that day in Sierra Leone. At first I thought we would make her surf with the boys, and then I thought, “No, we’re not going to do that.” We will also look in West Africa; there must be more African women out there with counseling. “This is how we found Khadjou Sambé in Senegal.

This is what I want black women and girls to understand with Black Girls Surf: you can be anything you want.

Still, we knew there was a catch: there were hardly any black girls willing to participate. And when there is a problem like that, what do you do? I couldn’t leave it as it is; I decided to do something about it.

It was the start of Black Girls Surf. We started with two girls, and now I have to keep getting new staff as it gets bigger and bigger every day. We had to put an end to applications in South Africa because an entire canton was interested [in learning to surf]. There were 60 girls aged 8-17 who lived within 10 miles of the beach, but had never been there before.

a woman surfing towards the shore
Black Girls Surf offers lessons and helps booming black surfers go pro | Courtesy of Black Girls Surf

Now, as soon as the girls get out of the water, they walk up the beach smiling, noses runny. No one worries about their hair or who is looking around. Nobody worries about anything. They have just had the most fun of their life. And even though they might have only caught one wave, that wave was huge for them. The story they tell when they get home – it might not be similar to live action, but that’s exactly what the sport makes you feel: larger than life. It makes you feel like you can conquer it all. This is what I want black women and girls to understand with Black Girls Surf: you can be anything you want. You don’t have to be a great surfer. We just want to empower you to be your best.

For me, it’s all about parenthood. My parents always had extra people in our house, which was already full – we were literally the Black Brady Bunch. They would always fly to Washington or take us to visit and talk to people in juvenile facilities since they both worked in civil rights.

It helped me become who I am today. My parents are gone now, but I was determined not to give up their legacy. When I was young, my mother wanted me to be a lawyer. Now I still remember the day she saw me on CNN with Khadjou. She just turned around and looked at me and said, “You’ve become like me, haven’t you? “

I said, “I did. I don’t have to be a lawyer, mum, you said to be the best I can be. I’m not the best surfer, but I can be the best surfer in my community. ” And she said, “You sure are heading in that direction.”

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Organizations join coalition and lawsuit to block Texas abortion ban

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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AUSTIN, Texas – Whole Woman’s Health and Whole Woman’s Health Alliance join a broad coalition of abortion providers, doctors, clergy, abortion funds and practical support networks to take legal action against blocking Bill 8 of the Texas Senate.

The law is not only the most restrictive abortion ban in the country – banning abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy before many people even know they are pregnant – but it also pits communities, neighbors against each other. and even friends and family members against each other.

The law allows any person or organization to sue anyone for helping a Texan get abortion care, including doctors, clinic staff, abortion funds, and even family members who drive their. relatives on a date. It encourages these lawsuits through substantial monetary rewards – $ 10,000 to anyone who successfully sues for “aiding and abetting” someone to seek abortion care and the extremely limited exceptions in the law don’t even include no provisions for victims of rape or incest.

President and CEO of Whole Woman’s Health and Whole Woman’s Health Alliance, Amy Hagstrom Miller says, “At the heart of this battle lies a difficult choice between a nightmarish future in which Texans are encouraged to turn on each other by politicians. who seek full control over our most personal decisions, or a much brighter decision in which those facing complicated decisions about their pregnancy can get the advice, support and care they need. “

“We know how devastating this law is going to devastate the lives of people and communities across Texas because it is the people and communities we serve,” said Hagstrom Miller. “This law will prevent people from getting intensive care when they need it. It will tear families, friendships and communities apart as politicians pit them against each other for monetary reward. It is an affront. to the values ​​we share with the communities we serve, and with a majority of Texans statewide. “

Recent polls show the majority of Texans from all political backgrounds reject all major provisions of the law, with 51% opposing the six-week abortion ban and 63% opposing the provision allowing individuals and groups out of state suing Texans for helping people receive abortion care.

“When our fellow Texans are faced with the decision to continue or terminate a pregnancy, we seek to help them with sound advice, unconditional support and compassionate care,” said WWH Director of Clinical Services Marva Sadler. “We believe this is what most Texans would want for their families, friends and neighbors, not a world in which our most deeply personal decisions are subject to interference and lawsuits from those in charge. to uphold the will of the extremist politicians who have hijacked our state legislature.

Research shows that countries where abortion is restricted have more than three times the rate of unintended pregnancies than those where abortion is legal. When abortion is severely restricted, women in poor, rural and marginalized communities suffer the most, as they cannot afford to go to places where abortion is legal or to pay for medical and / or medical costs. logistics.

“The structural inequalities that have narrowed the options and outcomes available for people of color, immigrants, economically disadvantaged people and other marginalized communities will be further reinforced by SB 8,” Sadler said. “It will have even more dire and disastrous consequences for the people who already suffer under the harsh conditions created and exacerbated by the politicians responsible for this despicable law.”

Whole Woman’s Health and Whole Woman’s Health Alliance have also issued a warning to citizens of other states:

“People across the United States had better take note because if this law is allowed in Texas, it will soon appear in their own backyards,” said Hagstrom Miller. “This law is yet another outrageous bet in a deliberate, long-term national strategy to systematically dismantle people’s options and ability to get safe and legal abortion care. We are fighting to help stop it here. before it appears elsewhere. ”

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MORE TITLES:
Texas governor signs law banning 6-week abortions
Texas Senate Passes 7 Bills to Restrict Access to Abortion
Legal challenges ahead for a tough new abortion law in Texas
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The City is not considering Centennial Park for disc golf; residents ask lawmakers not to change the use of the park | New

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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BATAVIA – City lawmakers, having received concerns from residents about the possible use of Centennial Park as a location for disc golf, told residents at tonight’s meeting that council has no plans to go. forward with the idea.

City council chairman Eugene Jankowski Jr. said the last known councilor Phillip Boyd of Batavia, who proposed to use a city park as a disc golf site, came to a meeting with more information and was asked to hand them over to city manager Rachael Tabelski so she could inquire.

“By design, that’s what we do for all requests, all projects. They go through the city hall verification process, which starts with the city manager and usually involves the police, fire department, public works – everyone – to make sure it suits the city well, ”he said. -he declares. “It’s spread over several meetings, so there are a lot of opportunities for the audience to weigh in, to comment and nothing is by surprise, nothing is hit, nothing is done without the support and the contribution of the public. “

In this case, Jankowski noted, there were several concerns.

“The reason I put this here was for the board to speak out. I would like to remove Centennial Park from the list for this. I just don’t think it’s even a partial adjustment… ”he said. He asked city council to order Tabelski to immediately remove Centennial Park from consideration.

Tabelski said of Boyd: “The gentleman who was interested in making a plan for disc golf understands perfectly and doesn’t want to sue Centennial Park either. There may or may not be an adjustment in another park …. We haven’t even had a ministerial review of the proposed area yet.

A few residents have raised concerns about the use of Centennial Park for disc golf during the public comment period at tonight’s meeting.

Among the speakers was Carl DeLuca of Ellicott Avenue. He said his comments might be redundant since Council just took Centennial Park off the table.

“I still think you, as a city council, should know that the reason we’re all here is because we first got indications that Centennial Park was being used and so we kind of took the train. on straight away. I don’t know if this caused you all to decide whether Centennial Park is banned or not, ”DeLuca said.

DeLuca noted that Centennial Park was created with the New York State School for the Blind in 1869.

“It is free to be used by the public for a variety of outdoor activities. It is used by walkers, joggers, track and field and cross country teams, yoga, sledding, bird watchers, etc. It has been the iconic location for the annual July 4th picnic, 5km road races and concerts, even hosting the Buffalo Philharmonic. The proposed disc golf would occupy two-thirds of the 14-acre park in this community, limiting the activities that are now accessible to everyone, ”he said. “Those who now have the freedom to choose an activity would be limited to using only a third of the park’s area. The proposed installation of disc golf would be a permanent obstacle to freedom of use for the community at large.

Linda Daviou of Park Avenue said Park Avenue has been a wonderful place to live for over 40 years, raise her daughters and enjoy retirement.

“Although we don’t use the park so much ourselves anymore, we love to see it being enjoyed by a lot of others,” she said. “I really want to thank the city council for everything you do for Batavia. When I emailed all of you and the Town Manager, I really didn’t expect to hear so many from you. I was impressed. I received thoughtful responses from you that allayed my concerns that no one was listening. Keeping Centennial Park as a green space is important, and as evidenced by your many calm responses, you have heard us and you agree.

Judy Sikora of Park Avenue said she has lived in Batavia for 46 years since she left Buffalo to work as a librarian and library director at Genesee Community College for 36 years. She asked those at the meeting to support Centennial Park to stand up. Several people in both seating sections stood up.

Sikora said residents had drafted a petition, which she wanted to record in the meeting minutes. The petition had around 150 signatures.

“We slowed down once we felt like you took it off the table,” she said. Sikora called on lawmakers, for the future, to keep Centennial Park free for all.

“The other thing is to keep the park safe,” she said. “I am a daily user of the park. It is the only park we have in the city that retains its natural quality. I think you all know what I mean. It’s just grass and trees and a beautiful hilly terrain. It is very simple. Centennial Park has been a lifeline for many of us, especially many of us here tonight during COVID. It really is a treasure. This park, I think many cities would envy Centennial Park. “

Sikora said she also wanted to thank the staff who maintain the parks.

“They do an amazing job, so if anyone could pass on my thanks to them, I would appreciate it,” she said.


Nine Ways the Senate’s Budget Is Far Below North Carolina’s Needs

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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While awaiting the House budget proposal, it is worth exploring the shortcomings of the Senate budget proposal, the passage of which marks the first completed step in the process in which the Senate, House and Governor must agree on how to finance the needs of a growing state more than a year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposed budget would leave North Carolina more than $ 7 billion below historic investment levels as part of the state’s economy during a period of unprecedented and continuing need. The proposal also includes a series of tax cuts that would massively benefit wealthy North Carolina and businesses and their shareholders, and the full impact of lost revenue when the tax changes are fully implemented – although ‘they are not yet fully known – would exceed $ 5 billion per year. .

The Senate’s biennial plan once again chooses corporations and the wealthiest over North Carolina residents, a vision that has yet to result in tangible improvements in a host of areas where people continue to work. be deprived of their full potential and greater well-being. The investments in solid basic education that the state has a constitutional obligation to provide will unfortunately not be met if this plan becomes law, as will the need for our state to finally expand Medicaid to ensure that hundreds of thousands other North Carolinians can receive care when they need it. These and many other opportunities have been missed in this first major step in the budget process, and if the Senate’s ideas are accepted by the House and the Governor, North Carolina will continue on a path detrimental to its people.

  • Not progressing towards a solid basic education. The Senate budget does not make significant progress in providing North Carolina students with the education they are entitled to under our constitution, in direct violation of a June 7 court order issued as part of the long Leandro school funding file. This ordinance obliges the General Assembly to fully implement the first two years of a seven-year plan to establish a constitutional education system by the school year 2027-2028. The Senate budget would only fund 13% of the plan, avoiding the evidence-based and court-ordered plan to improve recruitment and retention of diverse teachers and principals, create an adequate and fair financial system, support schools and poorly performing districts. , revise a discriminatory academic responsibility system and create better links with academia and careers.
  • Short-term and insufficient funds for equitable preschool education. The Senate budget does not significantly increase investments in NC Pre-K, Smart Start, child care grants or increased salaries for preschool educators and teachers, which is also required by a June 7th. Leandro order of cort. The Senate budget slightly increases the slot funding for NC Pre-K but does not increase the number of slots available. Although it does provide some funding for Smart Start, these funds are one-time, so the system does not receive ongoing investment. State dollars would have provided continued support to North Carolina’s youngest children and their families and would have helped ensure that federal funds lead to transformative change. Instead, the Senate budget relies on funding for the US bailout, which does not meet the long-term needs of our state or Leandro conditions.
  • Choose to pass on a key tax incentive to expand access to health care. Senate leaders have failed to address the lack of access to affordable health care for more than 500,000 North Carolina residents. While the Senate plan includes extending full Medicaid benefits to women for 12 months postpartum – rather than the current 60 days of limited Medicaid postpartum pregnancy coverage – this exclusion demonstrates a failure to recognize the link between pregnancy-related and long-term health, as well as the need for all individuals and family members to have access to care whenever they need it. General Assembly leaders also rejected the estimated net $ 1.2 billion that North Carolina would receive as an incentive to expand Medicaid over two years, made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act.
  • Short-term and insufficient support for small businesses. The NC office of Historically Underutilized Companies (HUB) conducted a disparity study in 2020, which found that there were significant disparities in procurement opportunities for HUB certified companies, even controlling for factors. neutral for race (capital, time spent in the company, employees, etc.). The HUB Office does not have the capacity to resolve issues on its own and additional funding is required. Despite the findings of the study, no additional funds were allocated to the HUB Office. The Senate budget includes $ 20 million in US bailout funds for ReToolNC, which provides recovery grants to HUB companies. While useful, these funds will only solve some of the short-term challenges of the pandemic instead of committing state dollars to mitigate the damage to minority-owned businesses and address the underlying systemic issues. that created the disparities.
  • Prioritize tax cuts for the rich instead of a targeted, bottom-up tax credit. The Senate budget did not include state tax credits for working families, which would provide an upward tax cut by benefiting low- and middle-income households with incomes no greater than about 57,000 $ for a family with three or more children. Instead, the Senate proposal increases the standard deduction, a provision that would offer 24% of the tax cut to the richest 20% of North Carolina taxpayers. This tax change, in addition to an elimination of corporate income tax and a reduction in personal income tax – which massively benefits the richest – reflects a failure to recognize that people with what they need will lead to a healthier economy.
  • Low levels of investment that will exacerbate North Carolina’s housing affordability crisis. Currently, North Carolina lacks nearly 200,000 affordable housing units for extremely low-income renters, and 1 in 3 extremely low-income renters spends 50% or more of their income on housing. The Senate budget proposal includes provisions that would change the operations of the NC Housing Finance Agency, making it more difficult for homeowners to receive much-needed help, in addition to the lack of additional funds to support the agency. While investment remains low, North Carolina’s affordable housing crisis will continue to worsen as the state’s projected population growth continues to rise.
  • Undermine our democracy by weakening the state’s electoral infrastructure. North Carolina is one of many states with Republican legislatures that are proposing restrictions on election administration that would alter the ability of state election officials to deal with election prosecutions – instead giving power to elected officials, including the leaders of the General Assembly. To mitigate the impact, NCGA recommends allocating $ 5 million for mobile programs to help people who will need photo ID, rather than removing ID requirements that disproportionately harm black voters and women.
  • One-off funds for environment-related expenses where long-term investments are required. Environment-related spending in the Senate budget primarily takes the form of one-time funding for projects that required at least multi-year or even long-term funding, as well as earmarking for specific projects. While the budget includes an allocation to meet the state’s counterpart for FEMA’s major storm disaster funds this year, it does little to advance the state’s environmental resilience, including including flood management.
  • Limited expenses on local reintegration programs and disinvestment in infrastructure and state and local reintegration programs. Funding for reintegration assistance is essential to prevent recidivism for the more than 22,000 people who return home each year from state prisons. The budget does not include adequate funding to support this population, for example by providing limited funds for the diversion and treatment of people with substance use disorders, but by not making additional funds available for the functioning of local reintegration councils, transitional housing programs or vocational training and placement. assistance. Although the budget creates a Justice Reinvestment Council, it must also allocate adequate funding to this entity to carry out the work of reinvesting funds in community reintegration programs.

Kris Nordstrom from the Education and Law Project, Laura Holland and Quisha Mallette from the Fair Chance Criminal Justice Project, as well as Parker Martin and Logan Harris from the Budget & Tax Center, all projects from the NC Justice Center, contributed to this article.


Vacant school building in Battle Creek is set on fire again

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0


Battle Creek Police question two people about their potential involvement in a weekend crime. They are being held in connection with another fire at the former Southwestern Jr High School, along South Washington.

The school building was burnt down in April. The damage was minimal.
City investigators say there is no doubt the fire was deliberately started.

The vacant building was set on fire again yesterday – late afternoon.
Still minor damage.

But this time, the city police had enough information to bring two people to the department to urge them to get information. The Battle Creek Fire Marshal’s Office continues its
work to determine how the fire started.

See the must-see routes in each state

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To learn more about how the price of gasoline has changed over the years, Stacker has calculated the figures for the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the past 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released April 2020), we analyzed the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline from 1976 to 2020 as well as the Consumer Price Index (CPI ) for regular unleaded gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gasoline over time and rediscover how bad a gallon was when you first started driving.


79% of organizations identify threat modeling as a top priority in 2021

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Security Compass has released the results of a report designed to provide a better understanding of the current state of threat modeling in mid-size, $ 100 million to $ 999 million and large, $ 999 million enterprises. a billion dollars +, with a focus on the challenges to evolve threat modeling for the applications they build and deploy.

People directly involved in threat modeling efforts within their organizations provided insight into their company’s approach as well as gaps and vulnerabilities.

The most pressing issue uncovered by the study was the increasing priority given to threat modeling for business-created applications, coinciding with the belief that most or all of these efforts could be automated. Traditional threat modeling practices are historically slow and hamper an organization‘s goals of getting applications to market quickly.

Additionally, more than half of those surveyed reported problems when trying to integrate this essential process into their existing technologies. These gaps have contributed to the conclusion that less than half of organizations feel highly prepared for critical cybersecurity threats.

There is a clear need for more scalability and automation in threat modeling to balance rapid software development with secure software development.

Current performance of threat modeling approaches

  • Only 25% of survey respondents indicated that their organization performs threat modeling during the early stages of collecting and designing software development requirements, before proceeding with application development.
  • Less than 10% say their organizations perform threat modeling on 90% or more of the applications they develop. Most often, organizations test between 50% and 74% of their applications.

Lack of automation

  • Over 60% of organizations believe that all aspects of their organization’s threat modeling could be fully automated, but only 28% have reached this threshold.
  • More than half of organizations face challenges automating and integrating their threat modeling activities with other technologies, with 41% of respondents saying it takes too long.

Impact of COVID-19 and vulnerability of the supply chain

  • Over 80% of organizations have had to make moderate to significant changes to their approach to cybersecurity in the wake of COVID-19.
  • Supply chains can be particularly vulnerable, with over 84% of organizations reporting that they have made cybersecurity changes due to the vulnerability of the supply chain. However, 31% of companies model threats on less than half of the applications they develop in their supply chain.

“Software is used in almost every aspect of daily life, so it is essential that organizations are equipped with the resources to perform timely threat modeling on the applications they develop and deploy,” said Rohit. Sethi, CEO of Security Compass. “Threat modeling ensures that vulnerabilities are recognized and remedied before they become a problem. “


Opinion #SpaceWatchGL: Raising the Limits of Our Current Approach to Space Debris Collision Risk

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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by Romain Buchs, Scientific Assistant at the International Risk Governance Center (IRGC)

The advent of large satellite constellations has drawn attention to the risks associated with increased activity in space. The growth in space traffic and the debris population, which results in more conjunctions, has highlighted the limits of our collision avoidance capabilities and processes. This observation has prompted governments and space actors to focus their attention on developing knowledge of the space situation and space traffic management. While these efforts are necessary to reduce the risk of collision, they are insufficient. Current strategies for dealing with the risk of collisions from space debris need to be strengthened, and there are new strategies that deserve greater consideration.

The risk profile of operational spacecraft is dominated by Lethal Untraceable Debris (LNT), objects too small to be tracked with current technologies, but which can still result in the deactivation of a spacecraft. These objects cannot be dodged by operational spacecraft and outnumber larger objects tracked by radar and optical sensors. The large population of abandoned objects dropped into orbit is clustered at different altitudes, posing a significant risk of generating more LNT debris in collisions. The extent to which these objects pose a greater risk to the space environment than large constellations is debated. It strongly depends on the size and altitude of the constellations finally deployed, as well as the level of mitigation measures implemented by the constellation operators.

Decision making in this area is very difficult. The risk of collision is technically complex, with many interconnections between risk elements, which are difficult to assess, in terms of likelihood of occurrence, severity, economic costs and broader impacts. The space ecosystem in which the risk thrives also presents a complex pattern of interconnections, with many links to other systems on Earth. There is pervasive uncertainty about the current level of risk and the effect of mitigation measures, as well as ambiguity about the current and future behavior of various space actors. Policy makers and space actors find it difficult to assess the severity of the risk and their tolerance to it. The prioritization of intervention strategies is complicated by the uncertainty associated with the cost of damage to satellites and the disruption of the services that depend on them. There is a lack of data needed to perform cost-benefit analyzes of mitigation and remediation approaches.

In this context, the International Center for Risk Governance (IRGC) of EPFL has just published a report entitled “Space Debris Collision Risks: Current State, Challenges and Response Strategies”. The report seeks to provide factual insight into the important technical, regulatory and economic aspects of collision risk, as a basis for much-needed deliberations on policy options in this area.

The current response strategy to ensure both the safety of short-term operations and the long-term stability of the space environment is based on mitigation: procedures and technical requirements for operational spacecraft aimed at reducing the probability of debris creation. Space debris mitigation includes shielding spacecraft, collision avoidance maneuvers, post-mission disposal, and disposal of end-of-life stored energy to limit the likelihood of an accidental explosion. Internationally agreed non-binding guidelines recommend the use of these technical measures and are supplemented by technical standards and industry-led best practices. International space debris mitigation guidelines are often incorporated into the requirements of national authorization procedures.

The current response strategy has a number of limitations. First, it mainly addresses the creation of new pieces of debris, without addressing the legacy of abandoned items. Second, overall compliance with internationally agreed guidelines is low. Third, national policies are not uniform and do not always implement these guidelines. Fourth, national requirements prioritize ex ante measures to minimize the potential creation of space debris from a mission; once in orbit, the policies in place provide little incentive for operators to reduce the risk of debris creation.

These limitations can be overcome by strengthening the current strategy and developing new ones. Strengthening the current strategy would involve:

  • Strengthened surveillance and monitoring capabilities through new infrastructure, improved collaboration and new requirements for operators.
  • Revise international guidelines with adaptive components to keep pace with scientific and technological developments.
  • Design mechanisms to encourage countries to adopt national regulations aligned with internationally agreed standards.
  • Adopt more stringent technical requirements than those in force at national level. Large space nations could strengthen their rules and foster change through reciprocity. Market entry conditions can be used to prevent forum shopping.
  • Possibly introduce ex post sanctions in the event of non-application of debris reduction plans, which requires the development of effective monitoring systems.
  • Develop mechanisms to finance space debris remediation, which aims to reduce risk once the debris has been created, and address cost allocation.

Remediation lacks funding and leadership from major space nations. Different methods have been proposed, such as actively removing abandoned objects from orbit (active debris removal), reducing the likelihood of a predicted collision by affecting the trajectory of one of the two pieces of debris ahead of time. planned collision (just to collision avoidance over time) and upgrading abandoned objects with collision avoidance capabilities (nanotugs). These methods have different risk-risk tradeoffs, are at a different stage of development, and are likely to result in different costs. Effective management of the risk of abandoned objects probably involves funding the development of these three methods.

To encourage space players to commit to their space debris reduction plan and to strengthen compliance with existing guidelines, a number of market-based solutions have been proposed. Some of them would not only incentivize risk reduction behaviors in space, but also provide a fund that could be earmarked for the development and implementation of corrective measures. Insurance is a key example, but given the uncertain legal framework and the remote nature of the space, it is unlikely to effectively reduce risk. Liability insurance premiums are priced according to the risk of loss and not the probability of a collision. As the probability of loss in the event of a collision is currently low, the mechanism for pricing third-party insurance premium rates cannot induce risk reduction behavior. Tradable permits (similar to a greenhouse gas emissions trading system) and regulatory fees (similar to a carbon tax) could be an effective way to reduce risk. Many forms of regulatory charges such as taxes levied at launch, for orbital use or for the generation of debris have been proposed. The mechanisms envisaged include deposit and reimbursement systems and performance guarantees. However, most of the proposals have only been developed at the abstract level and do not provide details on how they would be implemented. In particular, discussions on the unit of responsibility driving the risk, the trigger for the expense liability or its calculation period, and the mechanism for execution are lacking. More research and concrete proposals in this area are needed. While the research can help clarify the trade-offs between different implementations, the acceptable options will likely be determined by stakeholder preferences.

The intensification of space activities and the increased dependence of our economies on space infrastructures require technical and governance regimes more suited to the objectives. This article and the IRGC report have highlighted some of the limitations of the current approach to space debris and the challenges of managing the risk of collision. More concrete policy options that should be pursued will follow in a subsequent guidance note and article.

The EPFL International Risk Governance Center (IRGC) is an interdisciplinary unit dedicated to deepening knowledge about the increasingly complex, uncertain and ambiguous risks that affect society. We develop risk governance strategies that involve all key stakeholder groups, including citizens, governments, businesses and academia.

LWVBC Centenary Celebration and 19th Amendment

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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LWVBC Centenary Celebration and 19th Amendment | BCTV Skip to content
/ Articles / Community, Government /

by the Berks County League of Voters

Jul 11, 2021

You are invited to the Berks County Women’s Voters’ League celebration on August 28e at 11:00 a.m. in Reading City Park to commemorate the founding of the League of Women Voters and the ratification of the 19e Amendment to the Constitution. Join the League of Voters as we celebrate a century of success on the path to equality.

Why is it important to celebrate this milestone? It is one of the fiercest battles for fundamental democratic freedoms our nation has ever seen. Beginning in 1848, the quest for the right to vote for 50% of the American population was not completed until 72 years later with the passage of the 19th Amendment to the American Constitution.

In 1920, the League of Women Voters was founded. People are realizing that there is still a long way to go until the seeds sown 100 years ago blossom into equality for all. We continue to work for the adoption of an amendment on equal rights.

In 2020, the League of Voters planted a centennial tree and placed a marker in Reading City Park to mark the anniversary. We were unable to invite the community due to COVID restrictions. We are planning to celebrate on Saturday August 28, 2021 (rain date Sunday August 29, 2021 at 1pm) and hope you can join us.

Please tell us if you will be attending and how many guests you will be bringing with you. RSVP to [email protected] before August 20, 2021.

We need your support!

Your contribution makes community media possible.

A donation of any size to your nonprofit media organization supports the future of media access in our community – the things you love and the places you care about, by people you know.


Hidden Story: Alfred Hurst and the History of Hurstville | Characteristics

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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MAQUOKETA, Iowa – A short distance from the North Fork of the Maquoketa River, where cars and semi-trailers rush to their destination on US 61, there was once a bustling industrial complex and town of company called Hurstville.

From 1871, A. Hurst and Co. extracted dolemite from a nearby quarry. The limestone would be poured into a brick kiln and heated. The heat shattered the powdered limestone stone, which was packed in barrels and shipped by train. At the height of the company’s popularity, it was spending $ 40,000 per year on shipping, the equivalent of $ 1.1 million in 2021 dollars.

The town of Hurstville included a school, cooperage, smithy, stables, general store, fire department, and homes for employees and their families. On a hill overlooking it was the home of Alfred Hurst, owner of A. Hurst & Co.

In 1852 the Hurst family traveled from Lincolnshire, England, and landed in New Orleans. They boarded a steamboat that sailed up the Mississippi River, bringing them to Davenport, Iowa. Alfred Hurst was 5 years old.

Hurst grew up in the Quad Cities. As a teenager, he joined the Union army. He fought in the first battles of the Civil War, notably at Shiloh and Fort Donelson, at the age of 15. Captured at Fort Donelson, he escaped during the Second Battle of Memphis. He returned to his regiment and participated in the Battle of Paducah and the Red River campaign.

Returning to Davenport as a Civil War veteran at 19, Hurst was employed by a stonemason, where he learned the craft of masonry.

“He learned lime and mortar and masonry work,” said Jessica Wagner, environmental education coordinator for Jackson County Conservation. “He was obviously an entrepreneur. He said ‘I can improve this. I can make a better product. ‘ So he came to Maquoketa, and he found the limestone he was looking for.

A. Hurst and Co. soon operated four ovens 24 hours a day, seven days a week, three seasons of the year. The heat in the ovens was generally kept at 900 degrees.

“They would put the limestone in rail carriages and then use gravity to bring it down to the kilns,” Wagner said. “The high temperature of the ovens would shatter the rock into powder that they would put in barrels made by the cooper and then they would send it out. It would be mixed with sand and water to create mortar.

Bringing in his brother, William, as the company’s sales manager was a good thing. William Hurst was known to be fiscally conservative. And as the business grew to eventually include a railway line, cattle, hundreds of acres of lumber for harvesting lumber for kilns, and more than 50 employees who worked around the clock. most of the year to operate the ovens, William made sure Hurst & Co. grew at a rate that would ensure its success.

Employees were paying $ 3 a month to rent their homes in Hurstville, the equivalent of $ 79 today. Workers were making 15 cents an hour, which in today’s dollars was just over $ 4.

“By working 10 hours a day, they would earn $ 1.50 a day,” Wagner said. “They could earn enough to pay their rent in two days. I guess it was a pretty good salary at the time.

By all accounts, Hurst has treated its employees well. Each family had a cash cow donated by the company. During the winter months, when the kilns were not working, he kept the workers employed as loggers, harvesting the wood he possessed for eventual use in the kilns, often taking 800 cords of wood each week to make them. function.

Hurst lime was shipped across the country and it was a popular product: “Gentlemen, I’ve been handling your lime for years. I want to state that I think your ‘best lime on earth’ is correct. My clients will not have another, ”read a note sent by a South Dakota client in 1875.

Hurst also served on the Jackson County board of directors for five years, then served four terms as a senator from Iowa. In a resolution read to the Senate after his death, he was recognized as “one of the most splendid types of early Iowan.”

Advances in mortar and cement followed shortly after Hurst’s death in 1915. All four kilns were last lit in 1920. The business closed in 1930. Families moved and Hurstville fell into disrepair.

In 1979, a popular campaign to restore the kilns and preserve the site began when the Hurstville Land and Development Company purchased the town and succeeded in having the site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The kilns were restored by the Jackson County Historical Society in the 1980s. Jackson County Conservation maintains the site, which is part of the Silo and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. It operates an interpretive center less than a mile from the Ovens, where visitors can learn more about the area.

For more information on the Silos and Chimneys National Heritage Area, visit www.silosand

Thanks to Jessica Wagner of Jackson County Conservation for touring the Hurstville Lime Kilns, located two miles north of Maquoketa, Iowa on US Highway 161. The site is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. groups or families. Contact Jackson County Conservation at 563-652-3783 to schedule a visit with an educational staff member.


Conservation measures included in the state budget 2021-23

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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The Wisconsin budget signed Thursday by Gov. Tony Evers included a reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson stewardship program, albeit with reduced funding and for fewer years than originally proposed, and an increase in the price of state waterfowl stamp.

Both issues were a priority for state conservation organizations.

There were no measures to control the spread of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer. A proposal from Evers to provide more dumpsters was cut by the Republicans-controlled Joint Finance Committee.

The two-year, $ 87.3 billion spending plan, officially Wisconsin’s Law 58 of 2021, was largely crafted by the GOP, which has a majority in the Senate and Assembly.

But there was enough bipartisan support to allow two pro-conservation measures introduced by the Democratic governor in February to survive and be enacted last week.

Perhaps the most significant has been the renewal of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, created by the Legislative Assembly in 1989 to preserve wildlife habitat and natural areas, protect water quality and fisheries, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Although part of the budget of the Department of Natural Resources, most annual stewardship spending takes the form of grants to local governments and non-profit organizations for local park infrastructure, boat ramps and water, recreational trails and land purchases for parks and nature reserves.

MNR also uses the program to supplement Crown land holdings and acquire easements.

Land in northern Wisconsin purchased with state stewardship program. The DNR unloads certain packages deemed unnecessary.

The program was re-authorized, usually in 10-year increments, and expired this year.

Evers has sought to renew it at $ 70 million per year for 10 years. The JFC reduced it to $ 33.2 million for four years.

In a statement, Elizabeth Koehler, director of The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin, thanked Evers for a budget that re-authorized stewardship, but also expressed disappointment at the JFC’s decision to scale back the original proposal.

Koehler called the program a “nationally recognized public-private partnership that powers a $ 7.8 billion outdoor recreation economy and supports a $ 24 billion forest industry, clearly and consistently delivering a very strong return on investment. investment to Wisconsin taxpayers “.

A recent poll from The Nature Conservancy showed strong bipartisan support for reauthorizing stewardship for 10 years.

“While four years represents an improvement over the last budget, since 1989 the stewardship program has been re-authorized every ten years for an additional 10 years with broad bipartisan support, providing the fiscal certainty needed for multi-year land deals from conservation, ”Koehler said. “There is much more work to be done on clean drinking water and energy and we look forward to working with lawmakers from both parties and the governor’s office on these priorities when the Legislative Assembly meets in the autumn.”

Ducks Unlimited expressed appreciation for the renewed stewardship, calling it “one of the country’s premier land conservation programs.”

“Landscape-level conservation requires partnerships and many sources of funding,” said Brian Glenzinski, DU regional biologist. “Our members’ private philanthropic investments, state waterfowl stamp dollars, stewardship investments and NAWCA grants combine to enable many wetland restoration projects each year in Wisconsin. “

The 2021-23 state budget also includes an increase in the price of the Wisconsin waterfowl stamp.

A coalition of conservation groups pushed for price hikes for over a decade; the stamp, whose sales support purchases and rehabilitation of wetland habitats, has been $ 7 since 1997. Polls have shown that a large majority of members of duck hunting organizations support a raise.

But a stand-alone bill to raise the price died in committee in the last legislative session, even though it was drafted by Republicans. And previous efforts to include the stamp increase in the broader license fee proposals have also failed.

Fans worked with Evers to include it in their initial budget proposal this year and the new strategy has been successful. The JFC has advanced the measure.

Thirsty the Duck is part of a campaign to "Give the ducks a raise" by Bryan Muche. Muche created a petition to urge Wisconsin officials to increase the price of the waterfowl stamp, which has not changed since 1997.

The new $ 12 award will generate approximately $ 400,000 in additional funding for Wisconsin wetland conservation work and the conservation of waterfowl breeding habitat in Canada.

“With duck hunters’ historic commitment to the future of the state’s wetland resources, it is no surprise that over 90% of them argued to go deeper into their own pockets,” said Bruce Ross, executive director of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. “After a decade of advocating for this increase, we are delighted to have found a governor and legislature willing to work with us to make it a reality.

The increase was supported by WWA, DU, Green Bay Duck Hunters Association, Delta Waterfowl, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.

The Republican-controlled joint finance committee has not put forward an Evers proposal for funding the deer carcass dumpsters. Evers sought to provide $ 1 million in grants to local governments, businesses or nonprofit conservation organizations to acquire receptacles where hunters could deposit their deer droppings in an effort to fight the spread of the disease. chronic debilitating.

At the same time, the JFC blocked an Evers plan for annual funding of $ 50,000 for educational programs related to the CWD.

The JFC also killed a proposal from Evers to allow free entry for 4th grade students and their families to state parks.


Metro police and local organization hold road rage talk

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WKRN) – Metro Police are teaming up with a local nonprofit to host a meeting on road rage and how to deal with it.

Road rage is becoming too common in Middle Tennessee. According to 2019 data from the AAA Road Safety Foundation, nearly 80% of drivers have expressed anger, assault or road rage at least once in the past 30 days.

Partners in the Struggle will host a road rage community discussion on Saturday at the eastern precinct of the police department.

Sergeant Jessica Ware, MNPD East Riding Community Affairs Coordinator, will lead the discussion.

“I want people to drive safely. I want them to realize that driving safely is getting to your destination alive and whatever argument or madness someone has given you is not worth the risk of not arriving alive ”, a- she declared. “I think it’s important for discussion and awareness – just like any other topic, if you don’t bring it up, it’s hard to put it in the front of your mind and understand what’s going on and think about how you would react in a situation.

The meeting will discuss how to react and manage yourself in the event of a road rage incident.

The event will take place at the East End of the Police Department on Trinity Lane inside the Community Meeting Room starting at 1 p.m. It’s free and open to the public.


River Islands approach reduces park maintenance costs

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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The increasing cost of public employee retirement will not be a burden over the years for owners of River Islands at Lathrop when it comes to maintaining parks and general areas.

This is because all of the work to maintain 2,206,000 square feet of parkland, 776,000 square feet of pocket parks, 2,842,000 square feet of landscaping plots, 1,900,000 square feet of landscaping. road, 3,600 trees, 226,500 square feet of street sweeping and 21,360 square feet of noise barriers currently in place is awarded to a private contractor through the tendering process.

As a result, the River Islands Public Financing Authority, supported by community levies on public utilities capped at 2%, will not create pension and other charges for homeowners with respect to park and landscape maintenance.

Susan Dell’Osso, president of River Islands Development, said the overall design for community planning of 15,001 homes – including ongoing costs for homebuyers – was to provide the most robust community lifestyle. while reducing costs as much as possible.

This commitment included the provision of retail electricity service through the Lathrop Irrigation District at rates currently 5% lower than PG&E. The savings margin is expected to rise to 15% or more as more homes are occupied and PG&E continues to raise rates.

The approach contrasts sharply with some cities like Manteca.

In fact, Manteca at one point did what the River Islands Financing Authority does. All work in the city’s landscape maintenance district was tendered and awarded to private contractors who often paid many of their workers minimum wages. The city, like the River Islands funding authority, monitored the quality of the contractors’ work.

When Manteca quit awarding bids to private companies in 2010, it wasn’t to save owners money or because of quality work issues. It was to save the city’s jobs.

The Great Recession created a significant funding gap for the city, forcing them to consider cutting jobs. They saved a number of positions by asking city park employees to do LMD work and charge for the time – including salary costs – that they worked on the specific LMD.

In the early years, the city took over the LMD’s annual reports to council, explaining how they were able to reduce the need for manpower to work more efficiently without affecting the quality of work. This was necessary given that city workers at the time were paid 30 to 40 percent more than private sector workers employed in landscape-related work.

The shift from private companies to city workers has never addressed the unfunded costs of the California Public Employment Retirement System (CalPERS) that have become an issue in recent years.

Assuming that the costs are distributed proportionally over the LMDs, there will come a time when the current level of assessments, even with capped annual increases, will not be able to cover all costs.

This means that neighborhoods with common area landscaping and even park maintenance covered by a separate assessment will likely face service level reductions or will have to vote to assess themselves and their neighbors to a rate in excess of the annual inflation adjustments.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email [email protected]


Floridians fight back to protect the environment :: WRAL.com

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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By AMY DREW THOMPSON, Orlando Sentinel

ORLANDO, Florida – If you can’t beat them, eat them.

It’s an old saying, which could easily have its origin here in the Sunshine State, where invasive species aren’t limited to oiled-up tourists and blue-haired retirees. There are hundreds, in fact, wreaking havoc from reefs to tree tops, causing millions of dollars in damage and killing native species both directly and indirectly.

One way to solve the problem – or at least reduce it – is to put them in your personal menu, but most of them are inaccessible. Unless, of course, you’re willing to get some blood on your hands. Ron Ritter’s hunter clients are.

The National Pork Board called it “the other white meat” in a late 1980s ad campaign, but the wild boar looks nothing like what you find in your supermarket butcher’s cooler, says Ritter, who will no longer suffer from store-bought meat. .

“Wild boar looks more like red meat,” he says, and when the customers of his I Live Wild farm don’t want the meat they killed (about half, he estimates), he is happy to have it. “Oh, damn it, no you’re not wasting that meat at all!” “

Ritter, a native of Wisconsin, hosts hunters on a nearly 100-acre property near Dade City. He takes people for the turkey and the deer, but the boar and pork hunts are at the heart of the operation.

There are about half a million feral pigs in Florida, spread across counties across the state. Although invasive, they have settled here for hundreds of years. And they destroyed the joint like rock stars on a pipe bender with $ 1.5 billion in property damage nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, much of it in the Sunshine State – where they uproot bike paths and decimating crops overnight.

“It’s incredibly good meat,” says Ritter. “You will get the backstraps (fillets are small in a wild pig), sometimes the ribs are worth taking and four legs, depending on where the animal is slaughtered.” But it’s harder than it looks. “Pigs are smart, they have a good nose and can hear everything. “

Recently, a few customers have waited in the brush until 10 p.m. before seeing anything.

“Five pigs snuck out of the swamp, but no one got a good shot,” says Ritter. “They had a blast, a great adrenaline rush, but no meat that night.”

I Live Wild hunts are not “guaranteed” as in some places, where animals have much less land to cover.

“To me it’s not even hunting,” says Ritter, who likens it to pulling fish out of a barrel, “it’s an expensive grocery store.”

Wild boar meat is also available in markets and online, it just won’t be Florida meat. For this you will need a gun. Or a friend willing to use one and share the loot.

Pigs have two litters of up to 13 babies each year, sometimes three. They are fierce. And the few predators they have are suspicious.

“The hunts here really help the environment,” says Ritter. “And (the pigs) taste amazing on the spit.”

This year, on Valentine’s Day, Jayna Corns had her “soul on fire”. You might call them goals, even though her husband was less there than the 13-foot Burmese python they encountered on a walk in the Everglades.

The Corns are new Floridians, wildlife enthusiasts and recreational photographers. Their recent move from West Virginia to Fort Lauderdale breathed oxygen into Corns Fire for wildlife, especially exotic varieties native to its new home state. The Burmese python, of course, is not one of them.

The first documented sighting of this invasive species dates back to 1979. Since then, ravenous eaters have made their way through the welcoming Everglades ecosystem. When Corns hikes here in the evening, the presence of the pythons is noticeable.

The glades are calm, she said.

“We used to come here when I was a kid, and there were raccoons and possums and birds,” she tells me. “The other night I was there for hours, and all we saw was frogs and an owl.”

Corns now stalks the Glades as the Everglades Avenger alongside Florida’s most famous python hunter, Donna Kalil, with whom she recorded her first spot and caught in May – a five-footer.

“She’s so knowledgeable, kind and humble,” Corns said of Kalil, python removal specialist for the South Florida Water Management District. “She taught me so much about pythons.”

Including how to eat them.

Pythons – along with other invasive but edible animals, including iguanas and the voracious snakeheads, a fish native to Southeast Asia – aren’t available on any restaurant’s menus, but they aren’t. not prevent Floridians, fishermen and enterprising hunters from having tasted.

They just need to be proactive.

Kalil made his Christmas cookies with python eggs this year, and Corns testified that no one would know the difference.

“I tried a chocolate chip one while we were out the other day, and it was delicious!” she raved.

Maybe, but it’s a taste that the general public won’t be offered anytime soon.

“The South Florida Water Management District does not endorse or approve the human consumption of Everglades python meat,” an official wrote in an email to the Sentinel. “There are many studies being done to determine whether or not it is safe to eat.”

Previous studies have shown that Everglades pythons have high levels of mercury.

Kalil has a home test kit. She found that the bigger and older the snake, the more likely its levels are too high to eat.

“The seven and a half footers are my favorite,” she says. “None of them came back hot.”

Since she started practicing, she has been making chili with the meat and enjoying the hard-boiled eggs with sriracha. She’s done jerky mojo and takes it with her on hunts and hikes.

Kalil only eats python about once a month and points out that people should wait until studies on her safety come back before considering it on their own, but Corns – who wanted to use the snake she caught – was curious. After catching a 9 foot last week, she made Cajun fried python liver and drizzled it with hot sauce, then fry her heart in bacon fat.

“It was the consistency of a skirt steak, almost,” she said. “It was like eating filet wrapped in bacon.”

Lionfish was appearing on Florida menus more often, but vendors report that anything that isn’t bought hyper-locally is often acquired by larger markets, like Whole Foods.

Seafood professionals at Dr. Phillips’ location say it’s very seasonal; they hadn’t had it for a year. Nor will the Orlando or Port Canaveral Grills locations, which rate lionfish dinners on their website, but people should follow on Facebook for availability. Their most recent post on credit was from 2018.

This could be because, like citrus fruits from Florida, they make more dollars in other states. But it could also be because environmentalists are having success with lionfish derbies, organized to reward teams for removing as many of these deadly creatures from the reef as possible.

The Reef Environmental Education Foundation’s 2021 Earth Day Lionfish Derby shot down 494 off the coast of Key Largo, where 14 spearfishing teams competed against each other and species native to the waters of the Keys won. They’ve been running a derby here for 12 years. The events help educate the public, gather information for science, and promote the commercial market. DeLand leader Hari Pulapaka was at the forefront, however. The founder / co-owner of Restaurant Cress started serving these thorny sea creatures in 2013.

“I have organized many dinners at the Cress where I have presented underutilized species, and every time I have organized one of these events I have served lionfish,” says Pulapaka, who hosted cooking demonstrations at Whole Foods, preparing tastes and teaching shoppers how to prepare fillets, which are quite delicate.

“If you look at them with burning eyes and it’s going to cook,” he jokes. “It’s like any other soft, white, flaky fish.”

Pulapaka served lionfish at the 2018 James Beard Awards, where he was a featured chef.

“I took (now Monroe’s executive chef) Josh Oakley with me, and we brought 150 pounds of lionfish to serve 1,000 people as part of a tasting dish,” he says. “I like it as a quick stir-fry or as a ceviche, and a favorite preparation at Cress was like a herb-crusted fish of the day, kind of like a snapper mix. It’s also great in tacos.

REEF has a lionfish cookbook – there are several on the market – and Jim Polston of King’s Seafood (5999 S. Ridgewood Ave. in Port Orange) says they get it from local divers every week.

“It’s very popular,” he says. “Once people try it, they keep coming back. “


Abraham Oglanian | The Gazette

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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ABRAHAM OGLANIAN

Cedars Rapids

Abraham Oglanian of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2021, aged 88.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Susan (née Ribble) Oglanian; her children, Lynn Goeke (James) of Salem, Oregon, Ann Oglanian of Sonoma County, California, and James Oglanian of Chicago, Illinois; his grandchildren, David and Daniel Goeke; and his brother, Harry Oglanian. He was predeceased by his parents, Vahan and Altoon (née Hajinian) Oglanian; and her sister, Eve Krewal.

Abe was born in Racine, Wisconsin on October 10, 1932, as the youngest of three children of Armenian immigrants who survived the Armenian Genocide and found a place to build a life together in the United States. worker, served in the United States Army before becoming a United States citizen. Her mother, a devout Christian and long-time member of the Armenian Apostolic Church of St. Mesrob, became an American citizen in 1942. While Abe did not speak English when he started school, the teachers acknowledged his fiery intelligence and a high school teacher guided him to a scholarship to Lawrence University, where he played football and in 1954 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education.

When called up for service, he entered the United States Army and was deployed with the 3rd Engineers in South Korea. Upon his return, he was employed as a teacher. At Deer Path School in Lake Forest, Illinois, he met his future wife, Susan, also a teacher. After their marriage, he used the GI Bill to earn a master’s degree in elementary administration from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley. He then got a job as a teacher in the Cedar Rapids school system and became a principal. From 1961 to 1971 he was a committed administrator, promoting excellence in the same type of public education that had so effectively uplifted and broadened his own life. During the summers he worked for a doctorate. in education at the University of Iowa and encouraged the Chicago Cubs.

When he left teaching to go into business with his stepfather, Harry Ribble, in Rapids, Inc., he also began a love affair with fishing in the trout streams of eastern Iowa, where he and Harry could be found on Friday afternoon. . He eventually swapped the rod and reel for his true passion, golf. He was dedicated to improving his handicap on the Cedar Rapids County Club course and loved the men he played with as brothers. During the Iowa winters, he made beautiful furniture that resides in the homes of all of his children. He was an active member of the Thursday Midi Optimist Club, whose credo supports the choice to lead an optimistic life. For many years, he and Susan enjoyed domestic travel, often to visit their children and grandchildren, and international travel around the world.

Abe was a loving and constant father who was present in his children’s lives, and who taught them to laugh. He was guided by the belief that we should do our best but not take ourselves too seriously, that we should leave places and people better than we found them, that people different from us have something of our own. learn, that we only need what we need and that we’re all better off if we’re talking about solving problems and not people. He engaged the world with a quick wit and an easy laugh and was grateful to the many people who contributed to his long and happy life. He leaves a legacy of hard work, humor, friendship, contribution, learning and fairness.

Abe’s family warmly thank the staff at Cottage Grove Place and Mercy Hospital Hospice for the compassionate care they provided to Abe during his battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for August 21, 2021, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Indian Creek Nature Center. The next day, a private funeral will be held at Spring Grove Cemetery.

Recognizing her long-standing faith in the power of effective education to raise all children, her family established the Oglanian Early Education Foundation. The fund will be run in perpetuity to support the education of children in need at the Indian Creek Nature Center at 5300 Otis Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403, including at their Creekside Forest School, a nature-based preschool program for children of 3 and 4 years old. In lieu of flowers, donations to the education fund are welcome.

Nature discovery walk in the Ouabache trail park | New

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Join local master naturalist Terri Talarek King for “The Web of Life,” a relaxed stroll through Ouabache Trails Park on Sunday July 11. On this walk, participants will enjoy observing what is going on around and how members of the environment all connected to each other. There will be a group activity at the start of the walk, then an observation activity will take place during the walk, which participants can do on their own or with another person. Both are simple activities that children can participate in as well. Participants will also be looking for various types of cobwebs.

The walk will start in front of the park office at 2:00 PM EST and then continue on trails 2 and 4. There are a few steep inclines. The walk will take place rain or shine.

Everyone is welcome and families encouraged. The Web of Life is part of the Second Sunday Nature Exploration Walk series for 2021, all at Ouabache Trails Park, just north of Vincennes, Indiana, at the end of Lower Fort Knox Road. The walks are free and without registration.

For questions or more information, email [email protected], or leave a voicemail (no text) at 812-881-8987. Also check out The Nature of Knox County, Indiana Facebook page.


Florida’s Wildlife Corridor is worth celebrating

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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This year’s session of the Florida legislature has been terrible in many ways. Governor Ron DeSantis made matters worse by signing cultural warfare measures while rejecting some quality laws that were successful in passing.

At the end of last month, DeSantis vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have erased the criminal records of minors had they gone through diversion programs. He also vetoed unanimously passed legislation that would have established a stronger civic education for students.

But the governor has signed yet another unanimously approved bill that should benefit Floridians for generations to come. The measure officially establishes the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which connects parks, reserves and other undeveloped land to allow passage of wildlife and protect natural resources as the state’s growth engulfs so much greenery.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor campaign aims to preserve undeveloped land in a series of regional trails that can be corridors for wildlife to find habitat and travel safely.

The wildlife corridor, as envisioned, would total 18 million acres from Panhandle to the Keys, of which about 10 million acres are already protected. The newly signed law requires the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to encourage and promote ways to connect the remaining lands through state acquisitions, conservation easements, and public-private partnerships.

Creating a statewide connected land corridor prevents endangered animals such as the Florida panther from being cut off from each other and helps maintain their genetic diversity. People also benefit from the fact that natural lands prevent further decline of groundwater and other natural resources, as well as more recreational opportunities on state-owned lands.

State lawmakers have also committed $ 300 million in federal bailout funding for the Florida Forever Land Conservation Program specifically for the Wildlife Corridor. Another general funding of $ 100 million from Florida Forever was also included in the state budget approved in the last session.

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Conservationists are celebrating Florida for being the first state to map and actually invest in statewide wildlife corridors.

“Florida is ahead of the rest of the country,” Tom Hoctor, director of the Center for Landscape Conservation Planning at the University of Florida, told The New Yorker’s Dexter Filkins.

But don’t get too carried away by praising the Republican-controlled legislature for supporting land conservation. After all, nearly 75% of Florida voters approved Amendment 1 in 2014 to force Parliament to spend roughly $ 300 million a year on Florida Forever – which lawmakers ignored each subsequent year until the federal coronavirus aid provides additional funding.

As Craig Pittman reported for the Florida Phoenix, nearly 80% of the land remaining to be acquired in the Wildlife Corridor is already on Florida Forever’s planned purchase list.

“In other words, if the legislature had pumped money into the Florida Forever program the way voters wanted, much of the land in the Florida Wildlife Corridor would likely have been saved from development by now,” Pittman wrote.

It remains to be seen whether the legislature will continue to spend money on the corridor once federal funding is exhausted. For now, longtime supporters of the corridor, such as nature photographer Carlton Ward Jr., are celebrating the new law as an important step in that direction.

“It gives me a lot of hope for the future of land conservation in Florida,” Ward told National Geographic.

– Nathan Crabbe is the Sun’s opinion and engagement writer. Follow him on twitter.com/nathancrabbe and facebook.com/nathancrabbe.

Opinion editor Sun Nathan Crabbe

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The Pipeline: commercial real estate transactions for 7.9.21

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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NorthPeak Commercial Advisors reports the following transactions:

Milky Way Apartments LLC purchased 206 multi-family units at 1300 Milky Way in Thornton for $ 33.25 million from Parkview Terrace Apartments IV LLC. Keith Hardy, Joe Hornstein and Scott Fetter represented the buyer. Chuck Sweeney of Sweeney Real Estate Advisors represented the seller.

Highland Properties 3221 LLC purchased six multi-family units at 1044 Marion St. in Denver for $ 1.5 million from KRMN II Marion LLC. Greg Johnson and Conner Piretti represented the seller.

DB Capital reports the following transaction:

DB Capital purchased the 138-unit Apex on the Highline apartment complex at 15597 E. Ford Circle in Aurora for $ 31 million.

Henry Group Real Estate reports the following transaction:

CR 101 Grant Denver LLC purchased the 11-story, 74-unit building at 101 Grant St. in Denver for $ 19.25 million from RW Flats LLC. Patrick Henry, Boston Weir, Foster Gillis and Tommy Vento represented the seller.

CBRE reports the following transactions:

Abarca Ten LLC purchased 5270 Fox St. in Denver for $ 11.95 million from 5180-5270 Property Owner LLC. Bill Thompson and Mike Camp represented the seller. Jim Gruber of Gruber Commercial Real Estate Services represented the buyer.

Phillips Feed Service Inc. leased 69,345 square feet at 4501 Florence St. in Denver. Bill Thompson, Mike Camp and Jim Bolt were involved in the transaction.

Black Horse Carriers Inc. leased 66,231 square feet at 5303 Havana St. in Denver. Todd Witty represented the tenant. Jim Bolt, Mike Camp and Bill Thompson represented the owner.

Tortuga Agricultural Technologies leased 18,845 square feet at 5075 Kalamath St. in Denver. Bill Thompson, Mike Camp and Jim Bolt represented the owner. Chandra Spring of Transworld Commercial represented the tenant.

Pinnacle Real Estate Advisors reports the following transactions:

Littleton Windermere LLC purchased the 57-unit Lynnewood apartment property at 5579 S. Windermere St. in Littleton for $ 10.3 million from Rop-Lynnewood LLC. Andrew Monette and Jeff Johnson represented the seller. Josh Newell represented the buyer.

Littleton Windermere LLC purchased the 35-unit Courtyard on Windermere apartment building at 5599 S. Windermere St. in Littleton for $ 6 million from Hoaloha Windermere LLC. Josh Newell represented the buyer.

Worldmind Nature Immersion School purchased the 6,948 square foot office building at 1515 Race St. in Denver for $ 2.495 million. Eric Shaw represented the buyer.

Lew Evans Family LLC, Michael Evans and Suzanne Evans purchased the 12,000 square foot retail building and 1.19 acre yard at 4705 and 4745 Kingston St. in Denver for $ 1.2 million from Union Taxi Cooperative. Amanda Dorotik represented the buyer.

Newmark reports the following offers:

Price Development Group purchased 3.04 acres at 2973 Central Park Blvd. in Denver for $ 9.08 million from a real estate fund of Brookfield Asset Management. The company plans to build 286 multi-family units. Steve O’Dell, Bryon Stevenson and Mackenzie Walker represented the seller.

BKB Holdings bought two acres at 7880 Trenton St. in Denver for $ 3.14 million from a real estate fund Brookfield Asset Management. The company plans to build townhouses for sale. Steve O’Dell, Bryon Stevenson and Mackenzie Walker represented the seller.

SVN | Denver Commercial reports the following transactions:

Big Rock Realty LLC has purchased 30 units in the Woodstream Condominiums complex at 9700 E. Illif Ave. in Denver for $ 4.92 million from WFCA Rentals LLC. Bill Reilly represented the seller. Art Gonzales of Re / Max Altitude represented the buyer.

Carmen Arevalo purchased 1.14 acres at 8551 Washington St. in Thornton for $ 630,000 from Gasamat Oil Corp. Jeff Heine and Corey Murray represented the seller.

WKRWC LLLP and Kona2 LLC purchased 8,120 square feet of leased retail space from Colorado Harvest Co. at 11002 Yale Ave. to Aurora for $ 1.895 million from GBC Enterprises LLC. Ryan Bengford represented the seller. Austin Smith of Capstone represented the buyer.

Unique Properties reports the following offers:

Chief Investments Ltd. bought 23,344 industrial square feet at 5311 Niagara St. in Commerce City for $ 2.45 million from Brenda Sue Jacobs. Marc Lippitt and Justin Herman represented the seller.

Worldmind Nature Immersion School purchased the 6,948 square foot office mansion at 1515 Race St. in Denver for $ 2.495 million from James Alleman and Ralph Heronema Education Fund Revocable Trust. Sam Leger and Tim Finholm represented the seller.

Woodrowmae Investments LLC purchased 6,200 industrial square feet at 1441 W. Cedar Ave. in Denver for $ 947,500 from Thomas and Deborah Brooks. Tim Finholm, Sam Leger and Emma Schilling represented the seller.

Fermin Guardado purchased 4,608 industrial square feet at 2201 and 2297 W. Dartmouth Ave. to Englewood for $ 900,000 from Ullerich Brothers Trust. Sam Leger, Tim Finholm and Graham Trotter represented the seller.

Countertops38 leased 19,140 industrial square feet at 3795 E. 38th Ave. in Denver. Sam Leger and Tim Finholm represented the owner.

EverWest Real Estate Investors reports the following transaction:

Sashco has leased a 121,000 square foot industrial building currently under construction at 14802 Grant St. in Thornton in EverWest’s 25 North Industrial Park. Matt Trone of Cushman & Wakefield and Tim Maierhofer of Sashco represented the tenant. Steve Hager of Cushman & Wakefield represented the owner.

Fuller Real Estate reports the following transactions:

RomEnz Empire LLC purchased 1,659 industrial square feet at 2340 W. College Ave. to Englewood for $ 340,000 to Brian and Alina Rehder. Jason Russ represented the seller.

KidzToPros has leased 1,680 flexible square feet at 7100 Broadway in Denver. Alex Scott and Travis Wanger represented the tenant. Matthew Kawulok of CBRE represented the owner.

Lincoln Property Co. reports the following transactions:

Vorto LLC leased 6,635 square feet in Hardware Block at 1515 Wazee Street in Denver. Scott Caldwell, Peter Thomas and Andrew Piepgras represented the owner.

Legend Partners leased 6,527 square feet in the Colorado Center at 2000 S. Colorado Blvd. in Denver. Scott Caldwell, Peter Thomas and Andrew Piepgras represented the owner.

Ryall Group LLC leased 3,402 square feet in the Union Tower at 165 S. Union Blvd. in Lakewood. Peter Thomas and Andrew Piepgras represented the owner.

Diversified Animated Technologies Associates Inc. leased 3,257 square feet in the Colorado Center at 2000 S. Colorado Blvd. in Denver. Scott Caldwell, Peter Thomas and Andrew Piepgras represented the owner.

Wold Oil Properties LLC leased 2,600 square feet at Lincoln Crossing at 1775 Sherman Street in Denver. Scott Caldwell, Peter Thomas and Andrew Piepgras represented the owner.

BTU Analytics LLC has leased 2,207 square feet in the Union Tower at 165 S. Colorado Blvd in Lakewood. Peter Thomas and Andrew Piepgras represented the owner.

Antonoff & Co. Brokerage reports the following transactions:

The Brow Bar has leased 1,570 square feet at 9116 W. Bowles Ave., Unit 9116-07, in Littleton. Charles Nusbaum and Bob Bramble represented the owner.

Barmada LLC leased 3,600 square feet at 16860-16864 E. Iliff Ave. in Aurora. Louis Lee represented the owner.

Denver Barber’s LLC leased 1,600 square feet at 4307 S. Lowell Blvd. in Denver. Louis Lee represented the owner and the tenant.

Happy Lemon has leased 1,400 square feet from 1001 W. 120th Ave., # 105, in Westminster. Jeffrey Hirschfeld and Alec Sowers represented the owner.

Flyte Co. Brewing leased 5,750 square feet at 4650 Tower Road, # 108, Denver. Jeffrey Hirschfeld represented the landlord and tenant.

Marcum Commercial Advisors reports the following transaction:

Kodiak Transportation has leased 3,388 square feet of office space at 5889 Greenwood Plaza in Greenwood Village. Tanner Digby represented the tenant.

NAI Shames Makovsky reports the following transactions:

SB Clark Inc. leased 2,793 square feet of office space at 450 E. 17th Ave., Suite 310, in Denver. Peter Knisely represented the tenant.

Leven Group LLC leased 1,114 square feet at 3450 Larimer St. in Denver. Cory Dulberg represented the owner.

Boost Pilates LP has leased 1,193 square feet at 3463 Blake St., Suite 200, in Denver. David Leuthold and Connor Donahue represented the owner.

PetersPoormon LLC has leased 1,279 square feet of office space at 1245 E. Colfax Ave., Suite 202, in Denver. Trent Rice and Connor Donahue represented the tenant.

Axio Commercial Real Estate reports the following transaction:

Wingstop has leased 1,400 square feet of retail space in Westminster Crossing at 13648 Orchard Pkwy. in Westminster. Corey Cross, John Livaditis and Brian Frank represented the owner. Nate Hansen and Kyle Underwood of Legend Partners represented the tenant.

Progress made at Spa City Park

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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HOT SOURCES – As a very versatile park that will be heavily used, the new Majestic Park baseball complex is being built to accommodate just that, as turf is now being laid for the fall opening of the Park.

Turf was installed on the first pitch last Saturday and the other four courts will follow. Majestic Park general manager Derek Phillips said the decision to use sod instead of grass and dirt comes down to a simple practicality and doing what’s best for the way the park will be used in the years to come.

“I’ve been running tournaments and balls since the late 90s and had to rain a hundred to a thousand games – I don’t know,” he said. “And if you have a downpour here, within 15 minutes you can go back to the field and start playing. You don’t all have that upkeep job to dry the field and prepare the ground. And look at these beautiful lines. white. They’re there. We don’t have to repaint and iron them constantly. It saves a lot of money. “

Over time, Phillips said he expects using the turf to save a substantial amount of yard maintenance costs as well as the additional staff that would accompany him.

Having grass pitches also helps ensure that teams can still play when it rains. He noted that baseball seasons generally run from February to July and there is usually a significant amount of rain for most of that time.

“We are not missing all the games that we would have missed if it rained,” he said. “And even while you’re playing, if you have a tournament, you’re constantly – between matches – fixing the pitches. You know, they play on them, they mess them up and you fix them. It takes a lot of staff and a lot. equipment and supplies like dirt, chalk, and paint. You play a game on that and off you go. You can play the next game without really working. And so it’s a big money saver. and it keeps us from missing games, which I think is a huge advantage and a plus for us to go with this all-grass pitch. “

Before the sod falls off, Phillips said gray rock is added after the initial earthwork to serve as a base for the drainage. Thicker rock is first laid a few inches before the thinner rock is laid on top and smoothed and leveled evenly.

Laying the sod, he explained, is the second step and once the five fields have been sodded, workers come back and stitch the sewn areas together so that the seams are no longer visible. The last step concerns the spreading of the backfill.

“They’ll come back with the landfill and basically smear it like sand on the grass of a golf course, or even a baseball field,” he said.

The entire sodding process at the five pitches takes 30 to 45 days depending on the weather, he said, noting that the four youth pitches will be completed first, followed by the larger main pitch.

As the resort will host everything from city league baseball games to varsity baseball tournaments, it is designed to serve a wide variety of events.

“We’ve also configured every field to accommodate just about anything you can imagine, from men’s baseball to T-ball to college age on the big field,” said Phillips. “And they all use different base distances. So we have the flexibility to move our bases and even accommodate girls’ softball with the different rubber and pitch base distances they use – a very versatile park and will be used a lot for baseball and some softball too. “

The project is still on schedule and is expected to be completed around the end of August through mid-September, he said.

Other work in progress includes finishing some of the cantilever and decorative arch work, as well as fencing and toilets / concessions. Lots of concrete will also go in, he said, for the square and sidewalks before the final landscaping is done.

The two championship pitches will feature grandstands while the other three will have covered bleachers with backs and sides. A bedroom is also provided for those who wish to bring their own seat.

“If you’ve been to a youth game, people like to bring their lawn chairs and their tents and things like that,” Phillips said. “And there are areas between the grandstand and the canoes for those seats to happen. And you can also sit on that concrete slab on the seats as well. People will.

“From canoe to canoe, you know, people will sit close [the backstop netting] to watch the matches. So we’ll have quite a bit of seating for people to come to all of these games. People don’t usually use all of the permanent seats you have in place anyway, so we left room for people to sit down and the seats to be a bit flexible, ”he said. .

Regarding the degree of planning for the complex fields – which once served as homes for Major League Baseball spring training – Phillips said it was a step-by-step process throughout. along the process.

“Some of the things that we saw as this started to unfold, you know, we said, ‘Hey let’s do this a little different than that’, and let’s just try to do it just for that. that we’re gonna use it for, ”he said.“ So yeah, that’s a ton of planning. We’ve got about a year, crawling over a year, to build it and I think it’s just a nice park and this turf to me just – it looks awesome.

“I can just imagine what a 10 year old kid would come up here and play on these courts – what he would think, you know, compared to what I might have grown up playing on. although you will find it I am really proud to have it here in Hot Springs and to use it for our community league and tournaments to bring tourism and tourism money here in Hot Springs ”, a- he declared.

“Lots of Hall of Fame members have played at this site and you can see it on the Historic Baseball Trail, but we’ll also be presenting the story here. We have a signage plan that will run along these sidewalks as you enter in the park and it’ll be like double-sided entrance signs that you can stop and read and take photos with this show – on a specific player, like a Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron or Jackie Robinson – and that’s is I will give the story of how they played here. “


Rotarian of the Year reflects on time in the organization

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Mel Dick’s love for Rotary began in 2009. He had recently retired from his corporate job, he said, and was looking for a way to contribute to his community.

Although Dick was honored this month as District Rotarian of the Year, he does not do it for honors, he said: Rotary is a collective and he takes the motto seriously ” Serve before yourself ”.

One of the projects he’s been most involved with, Dick said, is the CHAFE 150 bike race. Proceeds from the event were used to support services for children with autism in the Lake School District. Pend Oreille and, more recently, the District After School Reading Program.

“He always had a heart for children,” said new Rotary president David Keyes. “He was the one who pushed the CHAFE bike race.

Last year, Dick also rode over 5,000 miles of cross-country on his bike to raise over $ 15,000 for Rotary’s youth projects.

Education, in particular, has been a passion, Dick said. The club’s youth programs include a leadership conference and a backpack program.

“I grew up in a family where my mom and dad didn’t go to high school,” Dick said. “They kind of drove education into my head.”

Dick, along with other Rotarians, is also linked to the nonprofit Firewood Rescue through Rotary, he said. During the summer and fall, the group chopped and collected donated wood, delivering it to families in need of firewood to heat their homes all winter.

“He has the physical capacity and he has the capacity to help financially,” said friend and fellow Rotarian Arthur Pollock. “He’s always been on one committee or another.

Dick has been a staunch supporter of Rotary for years and insists the group deserves more credit than he or any individual. He highlighted the many projects that Rotary does not only locally but internationally, such as partnering with the World Health Organization, the United Nations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fight polio.

“When we started, 50,000 children were dying of polio per year,” he said. “We are almost on the verge of eradicating it.

Public interest aside, he said, one of the things he loves about Rotary is how much fun it is. Some groups, such as Whiskey Drinking Rotarians And Members (DRAM) do not require participants to be Rotarians. Still, he’s happy to be one.

“They are all full leaders,” he said. “Some of my best friends are Rotarians, and if I hadn’t joined Rotary, I probably would never have met them.

For Pollock, that sentiment certainly rings true, he said.

“[Dick] was one of the first people to come to me and say “Arthur, whatever you need, call me”. He found me a doctor, he found me a plumber, ”Pollock said. “If I say I’m in trouble, he’ll drop what he’s doing and he’s there… that’s how I would define a friend.” When needed, you have someone you can count on.


University Recognized for Outstanding Digital Response to Events of 2020 | UTSA today | UTSA

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Unlike many other universities that relied heavily on simple conference broadcasts, UTSA decided to set up a support and encouragement network to foster faculty success. UTSA management worked with the Office of Academic Affairs Division of Academic Innovation to identify faculty members who could help support instructors without online teaching experience. Management then partnered with the deans of each college to select “points of contact” for each college and a “faculty champion” for each department.

“COVID-19 has changed the way we live, teach and learn. UTSA faculty, staff and students worked together to quickly transform the way we experienced an academic semester ”, Melissa Vito, vice-rector for academic innovation. “UTSA has created a daring e-learning experience that goes beyond simply familiarizing yourself with new tools and instead emphasizes digital literacy. “

Faculty Champions helped their colleagues gain confidence in their online teaching abilities by offering one-on-one mentoring, identifying actions to support student success, and helping instructors overcome feelings of isolation and isolation. disruption caused by the pandemic. In partnership with the Academic Innovation team, they trained over 1,000 instructors in less than a week to move 2,298 courses online.

“I quickly realized that my role was more than just a transition to online education and online classroom navigation,” said Eddie Hernandez, Faculty Champion and Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Biology. “It was also about easing faculty dismay and offering encouragement to alleviate some of the timidity regarding the adoption and integration of online platforms for student engagement during this pandemic.”

The points of contact managed communications between faculty, departments, colleges and university, and shared updates with faculty champions. The effective communication strategy within the university business created a better learning experience for students struggling with online learning, as the touchpoints helped identify and share the needs and resources of the students. students. UTSA’s status as an Adobe Certified Creative Campus has provided additional tools to connect students and faculty.

UTSA leadership has provided a cohesive COVID-19 response plan and continued support to the university community. This approach allowed staff to focus on developing quality, dynamic and engaging e-learning strategies.

“Professors were able to get help both within their departments and from a larger support structure, so they felt confident to seek help from colleagues who were familiar with their course content,” said Arturo Montoya, Faculty Champion, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “Faculty champions posed complex questions to the digital learning staff, who rose to the challenge of responding to requests for educational support during the pandemic.”

UTSA faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to support faculty touchpoints and champions. The Academic Innovation Team has actively responded to faculty inquiries and created numerous faculty resources and tips to help them be successful online. The team ran intensive Blackboard Learn bootcamps early in the online transition, and within a week delivered 40 live sessions to all departments. They also provided each college with an instructional designer to implement new online teaching and learning practices, ensuring that students enjoy the highest quality online learning environment.


Legislature corrects budget problems at close of special session

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Hawaii lawmakers made several corrections to the state budget at the suggestion of Gov. David Ige and overturned a final veto related to state bonds on Thursday, the last day of the brief special session of the Assembly. legislative.

Many of the details of these measures were already settled on Tuesday, when the legislature overturned five of Ige’s vetoes. However, House and Senate rules required lawmakers to wait until Thursday to proceed with final votes.

On Thursday, the Legislature issued a sixth waiver, this time from Bill 53 House, the legal mechanism that allows the state government to borrow more than $ 1 billion over the next two fiscal years to finance construction projects.

Like Thursday’s other approvals, the veto waiver was technical in nature. There was little discussion of the measures, and lawmakers concluded their work and adjourned the veto session in less than an hour on Thursday.

Lawmakers finished their work and adjourned the veto session on Thursday in less than an hour. Cory Lum / Civil Beat / 2021

The legislature inserted $ 496 million in debt service payable to the state treasury in Bill 54. The measure helps address one of Ige’s concerns that lawmakers violated Federal guidelines when they used American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay for some of these capital improvements. projects.

The bill also deposits $ 250 million in the rainy day fund.

These fixes to HB 54 were needed before lawmakers could take a final vote on HB 53, Senate Speaker Ron Kouchi said.

The legislature continued with sweeping money sitting in various pockets around the state government to deposit it in the general treasury. This decision gives lawmakers greater control over how these funds are used.

Lawmakers also approved minor changes to Bill 1299 recommended by Ige to correct wording regarding the Milk Control Special Fund and the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust Fund.

The legislature also took some of Ige’s suggestions regarding Senate Bill 589, which deals with various facets of the University of Hawaii.

An important provision allows the president of the UH, David Lassner, to act as the person in charge of the purchases of the system. There are also other contractual terms that lawmakers have clarified at Ige’s request.

However, lawmakers have gone their own way when it comes to the UH Cancer Center. Lawmakers promulgated the cancer center and demanded that it be affiliated with the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Ige objected to the provision, saying that enshrining in law the obligations of the cancer center limits the university’s ability to make changes in the future.

“These structural changes should be made in consultation with the leadership of the respective institutions and the leadership of UH Manoa,” Ige wrote in his objections to the bill.

First-ever Full Plan Looks Into Zilker’s Future: Zilker Park Vision Plan Starts Rolling – News

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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Barton Springs Weir (Photo by Jana Birchum)

Last Tuesday, June 29, Austin Department of Parks and Recreation held their first community meeting to gather feedback for their Zilker park vision plan, a comprehensive attempt to protect the future of Austin Central Park, which more than 2 million people visit each year. Like the city itself, “Zilker, too, is experiencing growing pains,” said Claire Hempel, project manager for the plan with Design workshop.

The company and PARD started their work in November 2020, preparing a needs assessment and identifying six major intervention areas for which they have developed guiding principles and high-level objectives: guiding future growth, nature and l ecology, history and culture, diversity and inclusion. , accessibility and sustainability. The Parks Department says this is the first attempt to produce a comprehensive plan for the 350-acre park, which dates back 104 years, and its many amenities: not just the Large lawn which hosts the Austin City Limits Music Festival, but also Barton Springs Pool and the three other sources of the park, the Ann and Roy Butler Hiking and Biking Trail which crosses the park, the Zilker Hillside Theater, the Austin Nature and Science Center, Zilker Botanical Garden, the recently renovated Cafe Zilker and Eagle Zilker train, and more.

These features, unique among Austin parks, generate revenue ($ 2.4 million from events and admission fees in fiscal 2019) that help cover the cost of keeping Zilker open. A coalition of non-profit organizations supporting the various events and venues are currently funding most of Zilker’s maintenance and improvements; the vision plan aims to identify ways to expand programming and strengthen this funding. But it must happen while protecting the environmental features of the park and the habitat of endangered species and many historic resources, and meeting the needs of current park users, and mitigating impacts on surrounding neighborhoods – in short, a microcosm of familiar Austin struggles.

A Zilker Park Vision Plan pop-up event (Photo by David Brendan Hall)

One of the most important is the need to improve mobility options and reduce the need for parking that encroaches on green spaces. In the “baseline survey“In the field by PARD and Design Workshop as part of the needs assessment, 86% of 4,061 respondents said they were traveling to Zilker in a personal vehicle. When asked what would encourage fashions alternative transportation, respondents cited better trail connections and safer bike lanes. as better orientation in the park; some suggested a commuting shuttle in the park. Other respondents’ preferences include more public washrooms, better lighting and (for some) an increased police presence.

While many of these suggestions are uncontroversial, some proposals for change are hotly contested. One of those issues is the sale of alcohol at Zilker’s Cafe near Barton Springs. Although presenters noted at the start of the June 29 meeting that they would not address the requested conditional use license for the sale of alcohol, speakers during the question-and-answer period did took the opportunity to voice their concerns about safety, as well as the type of culture would encourage: “I just don’t understand how someone has to drink a beer to enjoy Zilker Park,” commented a citizen. Environmental groups, including the Save Our Springs Alliance also oppose the permit, and the Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-2 last week to do the same; it will then be taken over by the Planning Commission, whose decision can be appealed to the Municipal Council.

Other attendees at the meeting were concerned that as Zilker grows and programming expands, the park will become commercialized. “When we talk about sustainability, one aspect of sustainability is social equity,” noted one speaker. “If what we’re doing is creating a place that by nature requires you to spend a lot of money to come here… we’re creating a very elitist place.” Another added: “Politically, I think we really need to set the policy on how we fund public parks so that we don’t have to market them to maintain them.” Former Director of the Austin Parks Foundation Charlie mccabe, a consultant on the project, ensured that the team “is examining a wide range of public funding mechanisms that different cities use … Everything from bonds to sales tax to district park fees, everything else, and we’ll ‘I’ll report on those as we go through the process.’

Testimonies from the speakers highlighted the central tension the plan must address: how to allow more activity for Zilker without eroding parts of his familiarity. Dense Urban Park Needs Programs and Services, Design Workshop Director Says Kurt Culbertson, but a natural space focused on preserving the environment must be left alone. Zilker has both. “The challenge and the opportunity for Zilker is that there are areas… which have a natural character and which are not crowded, and there are other areas of this park that are heavily used,” Culbertson said. “The challenge of this vision plan is to work with people in the community to try to find the right place.”

The final draft vision plan will be completed in January 2022; before that, there will be four more community meetings, as well as 10 in-person pop-ups at swimming pools around town (in each council district) throughout July, and plenty of small group discussions on specific topics. The 14 of these organized so far have included sessions on area businesses and park concessionaires, K-12 schools and young partners, environmental and water issues, and historic tourism. and cultural.

To see the work accomplished so far, including recordings of all meetings, visit austintexas.gov/zilkervision.

Advance America: 3 Instant Loan Borrowers Can Apply Online

By
Becky J. Dansereau
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0
Advance America: 3 Instant Loan Borrowers Can Apply Online

LOS ANGELES – Aug 17, 2021 – (Newswire.com)

People sometimes need cash immediately, regardless of whether they have an unexpected medical bill or need to pay for expenses before their next paycheck. There are many online loans that provide quick funding for borrowers. These are quick online loans that can be compared so that borrowers can find the right loan for them with loan help company.

Cash advances

A cash advance is a short-term, small loan that provides money for borrowers to pay their bills until the next payday. Online applications are possible and borrowers can usually receive the money within 24 hours. They don’t require good credit to get approved.

Cash advances are quick and easy to get. However, these loans can have higher interest rates. Before you agree to take out a loan, compare different lenders online.

Installment loans

Installment loans allow borrowers to borrow money they can repay over a period of time in equal monthly installments. Installment loans are often more affordable than cash advances.

Installment loans are often quick to apply for and borrowers can do it from the comfort of their homes. Many lenders offer instant approvals, which means that borrowers can get funds as soon as possible.

Securities lending

Borrowers who have a vehicle can get a title loan using their car’s title as collateral. Lenders will often lend borrowers as much as 50% of the vehicle’s appraised value. Online applications for title loans are possible. You don’t need to have good credit in order to apply. They can drive the vehicle they have been approved for while they pay the loan.

Interest rates for securities loans are often higher than cash advances. The borrower is also at risk of losing their vehicle in case of default. Therefore, it is important to ensure that they are able to repay the title loan.

How to get an instant loan online

Borrowers will need to gather a few things before applying online for an instant loan. First, they will need a photo ID. The second is their photo ID. The second is proof that they have income. The second is proof of income. Borrowers need to have several payslips as well as their most recent W2.

Online loans are easy to apply for and can be completed in a matter of minutes. Complete the application and attach any required identification forms. Borrowers who apply for a title loan might need to scan their vehicle and have it ready to be sent.

The bottom line

Instant loans are available online. Borrowers can apply from their home when they require quick cash. There are many options available to provide instant cash, including installment loans, cash advances and securities loans. Borrowers need to compare lenders in order to find the right loan for them.

Note: This article contains information that is intended to be informative only. Consult your financial advisor about your financial situation.

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Advance America: Apply Online for 3 Instant Loan Borrowers

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