Seven travel destinations accepted into Vermont Attractions Association
The Vermont Attractions Association (VAA) has accepted seven prestigious Vermont businesses into membership for 2011. New to VAA this year are: the Norman Rockwell Exhibition / Sugar Shack in Arlington, the Chocolatorium/Village Peddler in East Arlington, Hathaway Farm & Corn Maze in Rutland, the Timber Ripper at Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, ArborTrek Canopy Adventures at Smugglers’ Notch, Artesano Meadery in Groton, and Sharp Park in Milton.Members of VAA enjoy many benefits, including a presence on 1.15 million copies of the Official Vermont Road Map & Guide to Vermont Attractions, which is widely distributed across the country and internationally as the State of Vermont highway map.Focusing on education as a component of the visitor experience, VAA members meet high standards while offering unusual experiences in the areas of agricultural tourism, art, excursions, galleries, guided tours, history, museums, recreation, shopping, and specialty foods.The Norman Rockwell Exhibition / Sugar Shack in Arlington combines Rockwell’s art with history, where one may learn about models and their interactions with Rockwell, view a film, and experience the famous newspaper covers and other reproductions (www.sugarshackvt.com(link is external)).The Chocolatorium in East Arlington is the home of Cocoa, a 100-pound chocolate Teddy Bear. The exhibit explores the world of chocolate, featuring tastings and demonstrations conducted by chocolatiers (www.villagepeddlervt.com/chocolatorium.aspx(link is external)).Hathaway Farm & Corn Maze in Rutland helps intrepid explorers get lost! In addition to the maze, visitors may meet friendly donkeys, giant rabbits, sheep, chickens, cows and more at this 3rd generation working beef and maple farm (www.hathawayfarm.com(link is external)).Okemo Mountain Resort’s four-season mountain coaster, the Timber Ripper, offers a scenic and exhilarating alpine experience in Ludlow, as sled-like cars carry riders at driver-controlled velocity descending 275 vertical feet along 3,100 feet of stainless steel tubular rails, through forests, along the mountain contours (www.okemo.com(link is external)).ArborTrek Canopy Adventures at Smugglers’ Notch allows visitors to experience 3 hours of gravity-fed, zip-riding, heart-pounding, bridge-crossing, breathtaking, tree-hugging, eco-friendly, unforgettable family fun (www.arbortrek.com(link is external)).Artesano Meadery in Groton produces high quality mead from pure, raw Vermont honey and locally grown fruit. Visitors may tour the meadery and experience the tasting room to discover this fascinating beverage (www.artesanomead.com(link is external)).Sharp Park in Milton offers hiking, Segway tours, paragliding lessons, zip lines, hot air balloon rides, and helicopter sightseeing flights in summer/fall, with sliding, snow tubing, skiing and boarding available in winter (www.sharppark.com(link is external)).The VAA, which is managed by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, was founded in 1957, and represents 70 of Vermont’s finest family destinations. To see a complete list of VAA members or for more information about the VAA, visit www.vtattractions.org(link is external).
In 2015, a photo of the lifeless body of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, who drowned while he and his family were attempting to cross from Turkey to Greece, went viral, sparking a heated international debate about the refugee crisis. Millions of people suddenly had a very real, very personal glimpse inside an issue that, for many, felt so far removed from their daily lives.Ritchie Vaughan, a realtor and cyclist in Harrisonburg, Va., was one of those galvanized by the image. Looking for ways to help, she reached out to Harrisonburg’s refugee resettlement organization, run by Church World Service (CWS). That initial phone call landed her at a women’s only tea group, where she surveyed participants about the city’s public transportation system.In short, the overwhelming response was it sucked—there weren’t enough bus stops or routes or buses, causing many of the women to be late for important appointments or work. Vaughan, a daily bike commuter, asked if any of the women had a bike.“Most of them were from the Middle East. They all turned to each other and laughed and giggled,” Vaughan says. “They told me it was basically illegal for a woman to ride a bike over there.”The next meeting, Vaughan showed up with a handful of bikes and taught the women how to ride. The sense of freedom and empowerment the women felt was so powerful that Rebecca Sprague, Community Program Coordinator for CWS, felt certain there was a larger need for bicycles in the refugee community.“Harrisonburg isn’t a large city,” Sprague says. “We don’t have a lot of public transportation. Some of these refugees have been living in refugee camps for 30 years without access to electricity or cars, so when they get here and the driving manual is only available in English or Spanish, it often takes some populations longer to learn to drive. The bicycle has been really important for those people. It gives them more independence and confidence and I think helps them integrate more quickly.”Thus, Bikes For Refugees was born. Initially, the demand was greater than the resources Vaughan could provide. Harrisonburg has a long history of resettling refugees in the area, thanks in large part to the Mennonite Church and the Church of the Brethren. Long before the modern refugee resettlement program was established by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, both churches were welcoming refugees displaced by World War II.In recent years, Harrisonburg was resettling an average of 100 to 250 refugees every year, with about one-fifth of those coming to Bikes For Refugees. Vaughan and the program’s few volunteers pulled long hours sourcing and repairing bicycles, organizing safety training sessions, and acquiring essentials like helmets and pumps to give to each new bike owner.
The Bikes for Refugees program helped Rodrigue Makelele find independence in his new life after fleeing the corruption and violence of the Congo. Photos by Jess Daddio.Rewarding as it was, the work had its challenges. Sometimes it took Vaughan over a month to get a refugee a bicycle that was in good working order. Given the lengthy list of tasks—such as finding employment and applying for social security—required of each refugee within the first 90 days of resettlement, one month is a long time to go without reliable transportation.But within the past year, the influx of refugees has slowed to a mere trickle. At the end of September 2018, Harrisonburg had resettled only 60 refugees, as opposed to the previous year’s 260. Nationwide, the United States approved just 20,000 refugees, which is 25,000 fewer than the official Presidential Determination of 45,000 (in and of itself, a historic low—former administrations maintained the Presidential Determination around 75,000).“It’s heartbreaking,” says Sprague. “We have clients come to our office every day saying their family is still ‘over there,’ in places like Pakistan or other Muslim majority countries, and there’s nothing we can do. There are a lot of places that are really unsafe right now. The need for refugee resettlement is greater than it’s ever been.”Despite the decrease in refugees, CWS and Bikes For Refugees are expanding their reach to help other immigrant populations like secondary migrants and asylum seekers.Rodrigue Makelele, 27, is one of the latter. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Makelele came to Harrisonburg in the spring of 2017 through the Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice & Peacebuilding program.In 2008, when Makelele was just 17 years old, his father was murdered by a group of Congolese rebels affiliated with the government. Two years later, his mother passed away, leaving the then 19-year-old to care for his 10 siblings. After receiving his undergraduate degree in computer sciences, Makelele picked up a job installing internet communications systems in rural parts of the Congo.Originally from the thriving capital city of Goma, Makelele was suddenly exposed firsthand to extreme poverty, starvation, and lack of basic medical care. In one village he visited, where the total population was only 1000, 35 children died in 30 days. Distraught but committed to making a change, Makelele founded the non-profit Vijana Africa, which aims at educating and empowering youth. Around the same time, he became a citizen journalist, reporting on his blog about the human rights injustices and corruption within the Congolese government.His articles eventually landed him in prison for three months where he was held without trial and tortured, his family threatened. Though he was able to make it to the United States, his stay here is not guaranteed; in September 2017, Makelele submitted his application for asylum, and as of October 2018, he still had not received any updates. His family, meanwhile, is still in the Congo.Within a few months of arriving, Makelele met Vaughan. At the time, Makelele was living in Rockingham County, which is not on any of the city’s bus routes. Vaughan gave Makelele a bike, and even though he had to ride 25 minutes uphill to reach the first bus stop, he was finally able to have some independence in his new life.
“It’s really a tough situation right now,” he says. “Watching what is being said and the attitude by the government, for people like me it is really tough and really traumatizing. The community here was very welcoming and helped me work through this transition.”Makelele recently passed his driver’s license test and received a donated car. He returned his bicycle to the program for another newcomer to use. When he’s not studying for his master’s degree in conflict transformation, he’s pulling shifts at the CVS and doing his best to take care of his family from afar.Sprague urges communities to contact their state senators and representatives in support of returning the Presidential Determination number of refugees back to its historic value of 75,000. In a city that was once described as “99.2% American-born and 93.7% white,” Harrisonburg’s diverse economy thrives because of its diverse population—a 2018 study released by James Madison University found that immigrants made up 9.8% of the city’s population and 13.8% of its entrepreneurs. In 2016, foreign-born residents alone contributed 10% to the Harrisonburg area’s GDP.Back at 821 Mount Clinton Pike, Vaughan is prepping bikes for a family that will arrive in a week. She says it’s volunteers, not bikes, that present the biggest need for Bikes For Refugees.Interested in lending a hand? Visit svbcoalition.org/bicycles-for-refugees for more information.
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The government has confirmed that 362 Indonesians working as crew members aboard the MS Westerdam cruise ship docked in Cambodia are in a healthy condition following reports that a former passenger tested positive for the new coronavirus.“Indonesians account for most of the crew members on the ship. When the ship anchored, they have been confirmed to be in a healthy condition,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told journalists on Monday. Twenty-seven of the 362 Indonesians had returned to Indonesia as their work contracts with the cruise ship had expired, she said. Topics : The Malaysian health ministry previously reported that an 83-year-old American woman, who had been a passenger on the ship, tested positive for the virus, officially named COVID-19, upon landing in Malaysia from Cambodia on Friday. She flew there along with 144 others from the ship, including her 85-year-old husband who had tested negative for the virus, Reuters reported. The MS Westerdam — carrying 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members — docked in the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville on Thursday after being turned away by five countries on fears that passengers could be carrying the virus. The cruise ship, which is operated by Carnival Corp unit Holland America Inc, previously spent two weeks at sea.Read also: ’I’ll let fate take its course’: Indonesian crewmen brave virus fears aboard cruise shipThe infected American woman is now under observation at a hospital while her husband is also being monitored.Holland America said on Sunday it was in “close coordination” with Malaysian and Cambodian officials alongside experts from the World Health Organization and the United State Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AFP reported.Retno also confirmed on Monday that 78 Indonesian crew members aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship — which has been quarantined since Feb. 4 in Japan — were in healthy condition during the two-week observation period, which is scheduled to end on Wednesday.Japanese authorities confirmed on Monday that a total of 454 people abroad the cruise ship had tested positive for the virus, AFP reported. Since it first emerged from the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December, COVID-19 has killed nearly 2,000 people, including five outside of mainland China. The virus has spread to nearly 30 countries, with more than 70,000 people infected globally. 
“At first, there were 60 people whose work contracts had already finished and who said they would come home,” Retno said, “However, some of them later extended their contracts, leaving only 27 people who returned to Indonesia,” Retno said.She said the government had also ensured that the 27 citizens who returned were in good health upon arriving in the country and that they filled out their health alert cards.Read also: ’It’s our nation’s right to rely on the Almighty’: Minister justifies calling for prayers in coronavirus battle“When they arrived, they were all checked by a team from the Health Ministry,” Retno said. 
Topics : ‘Really difficult’Archery and taekwondo were South Korea’s most successful disciplines in Rio, with five medals each.But the country’s Olympic archery trials were postponed indefinitely this week due to the virus, and once selected the team were to take part in the Archery World Cup in May in Antalya, Turkey — which has an entry ban.Similarly the taekwondo team would normally compete at the Asian Championships in Beirut in May, and officials are seeking an exemption from Lebanon’s entry ban.South Korean boxers taking part in the current Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in Jordan — which has also imposed an entry ban — were only allowed into the country after testing negative for the virus.”It was a really difficult journey,” trainer Lee Sang-wook wrote on his Instagram account.Some stars rushed out of South Korea as the infection numbers climbed, to avoid the risk of restrictions.South Korea dominates women’s golf, with six of the top 13 in the current LPGA rankings. Three of its players including Olympic champion Park In-bee left for the US a week earlier than scheduled amid concerns Washington could impose an entry ban, while world number one Ko Jin-young cancelled a trip home. Ping pong diplomacy The table tennis team is considering heading abroad later this month and staying away to escape potential disruptions, an official at the Korea Table Tennis Association said.They have already been forced to drop out of the 2020 World Tour Platinum in Doha this week, and while they have secured a spot at the Games, missing international competitions would deprive them of chances to improve their world rankings and Olympic seedings.”We don’t know which country will be next in banning South Korean arrivals so going abroad as soon as possible is the safest bet,” the KTTA official said.KTTA chief Ryu Seung-min was due to meet International Table Tennis Federation officials this week in Singapore — which has imposed an entry ban.”If even this can’t be done, we are in near-isolation,” Ryu wrote on his Facebook page.For the weightlifters, the situation is even more precarious – Olympic spots are allocated at the end of April based on ranking points at six competitions since 2018, and the South Korean team has only taken part in five so far.The sixth was going to be the East Asian Championships in Seoul in February, but the event was postponed over the coronavirus. Next month’s Asian Championships in Uzbekistan are in doubt, on top of which the country has a quarantine requirement.”At this point, no one knows who is going to the Olympics,” a Korea Weightlifting Federation official told AFP. The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee said it had implemented safety measures including banning athletes from leaving the national training camp in Jincheon, which was being disinfected on a daily basis, and was in talks with the International Olympic Committee to try to ensure continued participation. “What’s really hard is that the list is getting longer and the situation is changing nearly every hour,” said an official from the Korea Judo Association, which is trying to secure exemptions from Russian authorities.He still expected the South to compete in most of the 14 weight classes in Tokyo. “But you never know with sports,” he added, “because an underdog could suddenly emerge at the Grand Slam or Grand Prix and one of our athletes could lose their spot by just a point or so.”
Scores of countries and regions have imposed travel restrictions and more than 20 — including Olympic host Japan — have ordered two weeks’ quarantine on arrivals from South Korea. Around 40 others have barred foreigners who have recently been in the country.Unless exemptions are granted, the measures make it impossible for South Koreans to take part in international competitions in those countries — costing them ranking points and sometimes putting Olympic qualification in doubt.The national judo team were planning to arrive in Russia next week for the Ekaterinburg Grand Slam from March 13 to 15. But on Wednesday, Moscow announced its two-week quarantine.Most of the remaining judo competitions are in countries that already have entry bans, including Turkey, Mongolia and Qatar. Travel restrictions around the world on arrivals from virus-hit South Korea are plunging its Olympic preparations into turmoil, with some athletes considering self-imposed exile and some at risk of missing the Games altogether.South Korea is a country that takes the Olympics seriously, coming eighth in the medal table at Rio 2016 with nine golds, and fifth at London 2012 with 13.But it also has the largest number of reported novel coronavirus cases in the world outside China, with the national total passing 6,000 on Thursday, less than five months before the Tokyo Olympics.
July 06, 2020 More Research Points to Importance of Masks, Mandatory Mask-Wearing Order Remains in Effect Press Release, Public Health The Wolf Administration highlighted recent research studies that further point to the importance of wearing masks to stop the spread of COVID-19.“The recent uptick in cases in southwest Pennsylvania have been traced to people not wearing masks in public places such as bars and restaurants,” Gov. Wolf said. “Research tells us that masks, while not perfect, make a difference in the spread of COVID-19 and are a simple and effective way to help protect ourselves and others.”According to a recent, comprehensive study published in The Lancet and funded by the World Health Organization, which identified 172 observational studies across 16 countries and six continents, face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of infection from COVID-19, in particular when combined with social distancing.A study by a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor has found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person’s chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus. The findings were published in the PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). According to the study’s findings, “not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person’s chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus.”And a recent modeling study by the Royal Society A notes that wearing masks in public could have a major impact toward reducing the spread of COVID-19. According to the modeling, “Under certain conditions, when lock-down periods are implemented in combination with 100% facemask use, there is vastly less disease spread, secondary and tertiary waves are flattened, and the epidemic is brought under control. The effect occurs even when it is assumed that facemasks are only 50% effective at capturing exhaled virus inoculum with an equal or lower efficiency on inhalation.”“Study after study indicates the effectiveness of mask-wearing to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to keep the curve of cases flattened,” Gov. Wolf said. “That’s why we are requiring masks when in public. It is the most simple, effective way to protect yourself and others during our ongoing efforts to mitigate COVID-19.”Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order mandating mask-wearing on July 1. It remains in effect. Frequently Asked Questions about the mask-wearing order can be found here.Ver esta página en español.
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Set goals and reward yourself are among Mr Flavell’s tips 5 — DON’T BE HARD ON YOURSELF Mr Flavell said those looking to get on top of their finances must forgive themselves when they stumble and plan for a little indulgence.“While it is important to take a proactive approach towards your finances, it is critical that you don’t be too hard on yourself if you fail to follow all of the above mentioned steps exactly,” Mr Flavell said.“We are not robots and we do have moments of weakness in which we make poor decisions,” he said.“Rather than beating yourself up over it, you should factor this into your budget by setting aside money that you can freely use for your own leisure.“It’s great to save money, but at the same time, it is important that you enjoy it as well. In other words, don’t be afraid to treat yourself once in a while,” Mr Flavell said.Follow Kieran Clair on Twitter at @kieranclair You’re not alone when it comes to money stress and a lack of financial smarts. 1 — PAY WITH CASH “While cards are a convenient way of spending, you can easily lose track of your spending and in some cases, rack up debts,” MR Flavell said.“If you don’t trust yourself to spend within your means and find it easy to lose track of your spending, it might be worth considering using cash to buy everyday items such as groceries.” 2 — BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET If you want to get on top of your finances, Mr Flavell said the best thing you can do is create a budget.“A good budget will include all of your regular outgoings and earnings factored in,” he said.“The more detailed your budget is, the more successful it will be. A detailed budget will show you were you are potentially overspending and where you may be able to cut back.” 3 — REVIEW YOUR SITUATION More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus1 day agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market1 day agoJust recording the numbers wasn’t enough, Mr Flavell said.“Once you have drafted a detailed budget, you will be able to see how much money you are dedicating to certain things like your phone bill, electricity, gas, water etc,” Mr Flavell said.“From there, it is critical that you get online, do your research and make sure you are in the best product for your needs, or partnered with the right companies,” he said.“By taking a proactive approach towards your finances, you may even find that you are able to bundle up certain expenses — like phone and internet — saving you money in the process.” 4 — SET A SAVINGS GOAL WITH FAMILY MEMBERS “Research has shown that people are far more engaged when working with other people towards a common goal,” Mr Flavell said.“So, in order to save, it might be a good idea to do it with family and friends. We all love a bit of competition and this is a great way to keep you focused on your goal,” he said. Mortgage Choice CEO John Flavell has five top tips to help Aussies get back on track with their finances.IF you feel overwrought by finances, don’t fret — you’re not alone.According to recent data from Mortgage Choice’s Evolving Great Australian Dream whitepaper, 21 per cent of respondents said they did not consider themselves ‘money smart’Mortgage Choice chief executive officer, John Flavell, said he was startled to think one-fifth of the population lack the confidence to make good financial decisions.“There are a range of reasons why people may feel as though they are not financially savvy,” Mr Flavell said.“According to our survey, 28.8 per cent of Australians couldn’t find the time to improve their financial knowledge, while a further 11.7 per cent said they would simply rely on their ‘friends and family for financial advice’.“In addition, 15.2 per cent of Australians said they just weren’t interested in building their financial knowledge and happy to be complacent when it came to their finances,” he said.Mr Flavell provided five strategies Australians could use to get back in control of their dollars.
Perfect for lazy afternoons.“Everything in the property is from the USA, he just went to town.”Among the high end features throughout the property are a Porte-Cochere, solid timber doors, a stone, timber and iron staircase, a chandelier, marble tiles and a 1000 bottle humidified wine cellar. MIAMA STYLE: Take a look inside this luxury home.HOW is this for style?A waterfront home in Ormistan that is currently on the market was built and designed to look like the mansions of Miami.The five bedroom home at 5 Grenoble Place is on the water at Raby Bay, and has 40 metres of water frontage. 5 Grenoble Place Raby BayThe home is on the market now. Plenty of space to watch the water.“You feel like you are on holidays,” she said.And for anyone wanting to just chill at home, it comes with a home cinema, tiled pool and a home office. The home is on the market now.More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus19 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market19 hours agoAgent Sarah Hackett from Place: Bulimba said the owner spared no expense when constructing the home eight years ago.“He based it on homes on the Miami waterfront,” she said. 
ION Geophysical has started a marine seismic acquisition on a new 2D multi-client program offshore Ghana in partnership with Geoex and Ghana Geophysical.ION and its partners will acquire up to 7,200 km of data in advance of the licensing round expected in late 2018 to help refine understanding of the hydrocarbon potential of the area.The seismic company said the survey program was designed together with regional experts and clients to answer remaining geological questions with a survey tied to recent discoveries.According to ION, this data will be the first offshore Ghana to image 40 km below the seafloor. Acquisition is expected to be completed at the end of May 2018 with Fast Track products available in Q3 2018 and final imaging products expected in Q1 2019, the company said.đGhana is believed to have up to 5-7 billion barrels of petroleum and up to 6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in reserves and has renewed interest due to new projects coming online and the resolution of the maritime boundary dispute with Côte d’Ivoire in September 2017, ION added.The Ghanaian Government is transitioning from an open door system to its first competitive bid round due to the petroleum legislation passed in August 2016 making its petroleum resource management more transparent.“We are excited to support the Ghanaian government as the country prepares for its next offshore license round with the stated goal to attract additional investment to develop their reserves,” said Joe Gagliardi, Senior Vice President of ION’s E&P Business Development group. “The new data we are acquiring will help a number of E&P companies properly evaluate the offshore acreage in advance of the country’s first competitive bid round later this year.”
Read Also: COVID-19: Ronaldo teaches his children how to properly wash their hands Cristiano Ronaldo had already quarentined himself in Italy after Rugani tested postive last week, while Higuain reportedly returned to Argentina this week to be with his ill mother. The Serie A have postponed their season until next month, although it remains to be seen whether or not the suspension will be extended due to the severity of outbreak in Italy. Three more Juventus stars have now broken quarantine to flee coronavirus-hit Italy after it emerged that Gonzalo Higuain left the country earlier this week. European league have been suspended until the end of April due to the coronavirus outbreak, and some players have taken the opportunity to flee Italy. Promoted ContentInsane 3D Spraying Skills Turn In Incredible Street Art6 Unforgettable Shows From The 90s That Need To Make A Comeback5 Of The World’s Most Unique Theme Parks7 Famous And Incredibly Unique Places In ThailandWhat Is A Black Hole In Simple Terms?The Highest Paid Football Players In The World7 Universities In The World With The Highest Market ValueFantastic-Looking (and Probably Delicious) Bread ArtWhy Do So Many Digital Assistants Have Feminine Names & Voices?Which Country Is The Most Romantic In The World?The Very Last Bitcoin Will Be Mined Around 2140. Read More8 Fascinating Facts About Coffee The Sun have reported that Sami Khedira has returned to Germany, Miralem Pjanic has gone back to Luxembourg while Rodrigo Bentancur has fleed to his home nation, Uruguay. Juventus duo Daniele Rugiani and Blaise Matuidi have already tested postive for the virus and have been self-isolating as a result. Meanwhile, it was confirmed on Saturday night that Paulo Dybala and his girlfriend contracted the virus.Advertisement Loading… FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail分享 