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Why We Went to Rome & India
I never would have guessed that I would fall madly in love with traveling. But y'all, I've gotten bitten by the bug and I can't ever go back.
The things you experience, the ways you are stretched, the people you meet, the hilarious situations and the hard situations, the opportunities to exercise patience, the interesting food and culture you are exposed to… the things you learn firsthand that you could never fully learn from a book or movie, the new perspective you glean… It powerfully changes you.
I'm so grateful to be married to a man who adores adventure and is willing to go along with my crazy ideas — like my recent suggestion that we tag along with our good friends on a big trip they were planning.
(Side note in case you were wondering: We aren't the type of people who just invite ourselves on someone else's vacation! Jamie and Drew are really close friends of ours and Jamie and I had both chatted about the crazy idea of us going to India as couples. We didn't actually think it would happen. But then I ended up going to India earlier this year and my trip sort of set this ball into motion and by a week after I had gotten back home, we decided that we'd go with them — IF a number of things fell into place. And somehow they all did — and so we said yes to the trip!)
Why We Went on This Trip
Drew is an optometrist and has a real heart to use his skills to help other people — especially those who can't afford eye care. He had some contacts in India who told him about some pressing needs at orphanages to provide eye exams and glasses to kids who couldn't afford them. So Drew and Jamie decided to plan a trip to India to help these kids. They wanted to take their oldest two kids (ages 13 and 11) with them and they really wanted us to come, too.
As they were mapping out details for the trip, they realized it would only cost a little bit more to buy tickets to Rome and that it might be a great way to acclimate to the time change. I was ALL OVER the Rome idea for two reasons, 1) Jesse has never been to Europe and 2) I got to visit Rome a few years ago and loved it and really wanted to go back with Jesse.
So it was settled. We'd go to Rome for a day and a half on the way to India and then we'd spend 7 days in India and then fly back home.
I've been documenting our trip on Instagram Stories and so many of you have expressed interest in me sharing more details, so I thought it would be fun to do a series here on our time in Rome and India (and some ways we saved money on the trip and lessons we learned along the way!).
I'm writing this while we're still on the trip, so it's very fresh! But sometimes that's the best time to write about our experiences!
The Airline We Chose
We flew American Airlines and British Airways for this trip. We looked at a lot of different ticket options and these were by far the most reasonably priced with the best flight options. If we were heading straight India, Air India would have been a more economical choice, but not by that much.
And honestly, I wouldn't recommend flying Air India. I flew Air India the last time I went to India and the reviews online are pretty bad. My experience was fairly similar to the majority of reviews online.
The planes were older (one of the planes had a number of seats that had Duck tape on them; I'm not joking!), the planes were dirty, and the food on the flights was — for the most part — very unappetizing. The only plus of flying Air India was that I thought the flight attendants were fantastic and very warm and welcoming.
After a lot of research and price comparison, we decided to skip Air India this time and go with American Airlines/British Airways. I'm so glad we did. We almost always fly American because I am able to get gift free cards on Swagbucks for American airlines, so because we fly with them so often, we have status on their airline. This gives us perks like better seats, faster check-ins, and more.
We had never flown British Airways before, though, so we didn't know what to expect. Well, let's just say we were blow away by the service and graciousness of the flight attendants on the international flights.
We flew from Nashville to Chicago to London to Rome and then back to London and then onto India. On the way home, we're supposed to fly from India to London to Dallas to Nashville.
(Note: The shorter flights from London to Rome had subpar service and all of the food and drinks cost extra money. We were able to get a cup of water for free on one, but on the second one, they never even came by long enough for me to ask for a cup of water. I know that Jamie asked for a cup of water and they never brought it to her.)
My Thoughts on the London Airport
We had never flown into London before and we were excited to get to be in a city and airport that we'd never been to before. We even went outside to ride a bus to the other terminal and then we had to ride a bus to our plane. So, I can actually say I've stepped foot outside in London — even if I haven't gone outside the airport. I have breathed outside air in London… does that count for something??
The London Heathrow airport was quite massive, but everyone who worked there that we encountered was so kind and warm and helpful. We had to go through security again in order to get on the Rome flight and, since they don't offer TSA Precheck, we had to take all our liquids out and put them in baggies. The guy at security was super helpful and gave us baggies to use + pointers on the best way to get everything into the bag and maximize the space.
One thing that caught us off guard was the fact that they don't assign gate numbers for flights until pretty close to the departure. This might be common practice in many countries, but it's not something we've encountered before and it took a bit adjustment for us mentally to just have to go to the correct terminal and then wait for the gate to be shown on the board.
I also cracked up about this sign for the restrooms. I'm not sure what the designer had in mind when the ladies' hips/body shape was drawn like this, but I had to walk quite a long way to go get my phone and go back and take a picture of this for you all. Are there a lot of bathroom signs like this in London or is it just at the airport?
Are there any specific questions you have or topics you'd like for me to cover as I share about our trip? I'd love to know!
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36 Comments
The sign shows a lady wearing a dress, those are not her hips 🙂
A true lady wears dresses, not pants (according to the British).
I think it's an "exaggerated" version of a female's dress LOLOL
Yes, the holding area for flights and trains is common in London. It is a little nerve racking. Once a gate or track it assigned, it is placed on the large screen. As for the trains, it is only at the large train station heading out of town (not the regular underground). I have also seen this in Paris at the train station. (Again, the large train station), not the metro.
LOVED the pic of the English guard donned in his busby! 🙂 We lived in England for three and a half years–LOVED it! Wish I could attach a pic of the toilets at Heathrow–they were very unusual looking as well as the toilets at Harrod's. 😮
Sounds like a great trip!! In addition to hearing about the trip itself, I'd love to hear about how you pack for trips, what kind of backpack you use, etc. (I'm planning a budget backpack-only Europe trip for our family of 5 next year…so all travel and gear tips are welcome! I've been to Europe but not recently and not with husband/kids.)
Just the signs at Heathrow! Glad you had such a fab experience at the airport! I feel strangely proud of everything London/uk (I've lived here for more than 12 years!)
And yes, flights between most European cities, while not technically domestic, are terrible. The standard is set by budget carriers and everyone else seems to bow to that level! When travelling within Europe always pack everything you would need/want on the flight for yourself!!
If you see the Air India plane itself covered in duct tape, then run! ?
"Drew is an optometrist and has a real heart to use his skills to help other people — especially those who can't afford eye care. They had some contacts in India …" ha ha, get it? Optometrist? Contacts?
We're headed to India next month! First time for us there. Can't wait to read more about that part of your trip. We also went to London for a couple weeks earlier this year and I am anxious to go back. We'll spend a day there on the way to India, but honestly there is so much to see, it'd take living there in order to really experience it all. But if you take your family, consider a bike tour. Such a fun way to get exposure to a city. 🙂
Thanks for sharing! When you plan your trip to London, you should consider Wow Airlines for your flight. They are an Icelandic based airline that offers bare bones, but comfortable, travel to Europe. All flights go through Reykjavik and a layover in Iceland is easy to do and relatively inexpensive.
We used the airline for our honeymoon in 2015 when the company only had nine planes and we were super impressed. Our flights were $1,100 less than the next lowest fare for round trip air for two people from BWI to London and Paris to BWI. They regularly have $149 flight deals to Europe (not including fees like seat selection, baggage, etc). 🙂
I love the reason you and your friends went to India. My son serves in the Peace Corps in another part of the world where people don't have access to eyeglasses.
As someone who has worn glasses since second grade, his stories make me feel so fortunate to have easy access to eye exams and glasses here in the U.S.
Without glasses, there are so many things I wouldn't be able to do: drive my car, read small print, work in my job as a nurse.
We are richly blessed by so many simple things we take for granted!
If you don't mind me adding on to this, many, many people in the United States also do not have vision insurance or care. We regularly donate glasses to a local organization that then provides the frames and prescription lenses for those who cannot afford glasses. Also, very few states in the US require parents to have their children vision checked before kindergarten. I found that crazy! We had both of our children examined before school to ensure there were no vision impairments that hinder their ability to be successful. So please look around here in the States, too, for opportunities to provide the gift of vision!
infantsee.org is a US based program where participating doctors provide vision exams for children between the ages of 6 and 12 months which is a period of rapid and important growth.
I've only been to Europe once with work and our travel services group mainly uses Lufthansa for intercontinental trips. We flew on their flights 4 times during the trip and I thought they were all good experiences.
My mom and I spent a couple of weeks in September in England. British Airways now has a direct flight from Nashville to London. Our tickets were less than $800 each, which is a bargain for a trip overseas. Keep an eye on their sales, maybe these prices will pop back up. We too were really impressed with BA's flight. Best one I've been on in years!
Leaving next Friday for 3 weeks in Myanmar and India. We have been to India a dozen times because our daughter lives in a little village there but when we leave the airport in Bogdogra I have been known to say, "I hate India." Then we spend time with the people and I'm always sad to leave. I'm glad you went back for another experience.
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text: Get away to the banks of the Nile at the gorgeous Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa, just 10 minutes from Luxor town middle. Our elegant resort is the ideal base for look the region's historical attractions. Among the eight restaurants and bars at our resort, you'll find scented Arabian-style teas and Turkish coffees with waterfront scene at Diwan Shisha Café. The sunken Oasis Pool Bar which serve tasty drinks.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wowza! The Friday Legends night of TXBF was incredible! All the performers were outstanding, Bazuka Joe and Jett Adore of the Stage Door Johnnies (hotties) absolutely killed it, and Marinka was magnificently sexy and flawless! Our great friend, Dainty Dandridge from D.C. won audience choice, and believe you me, she deserved it! Fancy and fabulous – Dainty's piece was PBR inspired greatness!
As for us, we continue to meet talented and beautiful new people, and are excited to share the stage with so many of them tonight! Doors @ 7:30pm, show at 8:30pm!


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In today's day it was released by Capcom the long-awaited Devil May Cry 5, new entry of the franchise available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The title as we know has not been published on Nintendo Switch, but Capcom does not exclude the idea that this could happen in the future. The director of DMC5, Hideaki Itsuno, has recently released an interview with the German magazine M !, where he says that the fifth installment of Devil May Cry will land on the hybrid of Nintendo: "Se Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen will sell well on Switch ".
Itsuno he also explained that the game was not published simultaneously on Switch and that "possibly" could receive a subsequent port because:
"We started the development of DMC 5, while we did not have the dev-kit [for] Switch, so we focused on the PS4 version, Xbox One and PC. "


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May 9, 2018
The command to love is a call to action and that's exactly what the Save the Storks mission is all about when it comes to serving expectant mothers. They provide generous compassion through financial, spiritual and physical help.
Our conversation with Amber was so rich! Holy Yoga, abortion, radical self-care, the Enneagram and saving lives are just a few of the topics we cover.
Find more about Save the Storks here
See a video testimony about the mission of Save the Storks.
Find out more about the Holy Yoga and Amber's personal mission on her blog.
Find out more about creating a Simply Summer and get 50 Free Boredom Busters.
For the free Creating Slow Time, Soul Time and Always Enough Time course as well as some of the downloads to help you begin to plan. Just text TIME to 66866
Get the Simply Summer workshop for only $14 through May 17th, after that it jumps up to $34.
Be sure and check out Enter the Worship Circle's newest album, Down Here and Up Above written by Karla Adolphe and Ben Pasley. Our new theme music is the song Heavenly Things. Obviously, a new favorite. Loving having this on repeat. Be sure and check out the full version with the thought provoking lyrics here.
To learn more about the Enneagram check out @yourenneagramcoach on Instagram and when you purchase Discovering You or Exploring Your Course use the discount code: SIMPLY at checkout for 25% off! And listen to episodes #37 and #38 to get an overview of all nine types!
****These show notes may contain affiliate links****
Find Ashley Pittman and Amy Wicks hanging out on Facebook at Simply Wholehearted on Facebook and @SimplyWholehearted on Instagram.


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Iowa Department of Natural Resources
July 19, 2017. Yesterday, we went on offense for clean water. Iowa CCI and Food & Water Watch filed a petition with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to strengthen rules on factory farms!
Click here to support the petition and demand stronger rules!
The Master Matrix – a tool used to evaluate applications for new factory farms – was created by the legislature in 2002 with the promise of giving communities a greater voice in factory farm construction and more protections from factory farm pollution. But, in its fifteen years of existence, that hasn't happened.
Instead of working for everyday people, the Master Matrix only works for the industry.
We all know it: Iowa is in a water crisis. But, year after year, the legislature has failed to act. Iowans can't wait any longer.
That's why on Tuesday, we teamed up with our allies at Food & Water Watch to file a formal rulemaking petition with the DNR to finally strengthen the Master Matrix. We know it's no substitute for local control or a moratorium, but the Master Matrix is one tool DNR can strengthen right now outside of the legislature to enact meaningful changes that will protect our communities and environment from factory farm pollution.
The DNR has 60 days to respond to our petition. During that time, we want to collect as many comments in support of this petition as possible.
Click here! Show DNR that Iowans demand stronger factory farm rules!
The petition asks for:
- A higher minimum passing score, requiring applicants to earn more points to obtain a permit;
- A one-time enrollment for counties, rather than the current burdensome requirement for counties to readopt the Master Matrix every single year;
- Revisions to the point structure to incentivize practices that prevent or mitigate pollution;
- New criteria that consider more environmental factors, such as unique topography and existing water pollution impairments;
- Elimination of criteria that do not provide meaningful environmental or community benefits; and
- Increased separation distances from things like schools, homes, public use areas, wells, etc.
TAKE ACTION TODAY! Click here to support strengthening the Master Matrix!
This is just one step in our clean water fight. We'll keep pushing for mandatory – not voluntary – water protections, and a budget where Big Ag – not taxpayers – pays to clean up its pollution.
Together, we can make the changes we need for clean water and healthy communities!
Join the Fight!
- Ready to take action? Contact us to learn how to get actively involved in this fight.
- Join as an Iowa CCI member
- Sign up for our email Action List
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Now is the time to strengthen the Master Matrix.
This tool is supposed to provide better community and environmental protections from factory farm pollution – but that hasn't happened. Instead, the number of factory farms in Iowa is skyrocketing, while our air, water, and neighbors suffer the consequences.
The Master Matrix is so easy to pass that it has amounted to little more than a rubber stamp. Applicants only need 50 percent – an "F" by most standards – to pass the master matrix, and DNR records show that only 2.2 percent of applications have been denied. In 2007, DNR conducted its own analysis of the Master Matrix and found that many items are practically always used, while other items are hardly used at all.
The industrial livestock industry has grown significantly since the master matrix was first enacted in 2002, and the industry continues to rapidly expand. The Master Matrix is no substitute for local control, but it's the only tool we have right now.
That's why next week, Iowa CCI is teaming up with Food & Water Watch to file a formal rulemaking petition to strengthen the Master Matrix.
Make your voice heard!
Join us for the upcoming Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) meeting to help deliver the petition.
Iowa is in a water quality crisis – but year after year, the legislature has failed to act. We can't wait any longer. Strengthening the Master Matrix is one thing the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) can do right now outside of the legislature to protect our communities and environment.
What: Petition delivery to the EPC and DNR to strengthen factory farms rules
When: Tuesday, July 18 at 9 AM
Where: CCI Headquarters (2001 Forest Avenue, Des Moines)
Register: Click here to let us know you're attending.
This spring, Iowa CCI toured the state and met with over 100 Iowans to discuss what changes they'd like to see in the Master Matrix. We used this input in the petition.
What the petition asks for:
- A higher minimum passing score, requiring applicants to earn more of the possible points to obtain a permit.
- A one-time enrollment for counties, rather than the current burdensome requirement for counties to readopt the master matrix every year.
- Revisions to the point structure to incentivize practices that prevent or mitigate pollution.
- New criteria that consider factors currently unaddressed by the matrix, such as karst topography, existing water pollution impairments, and water quality monitoring.
- Elimination of criteria that do not provide meaningful environmental or community benefits.
- Changes to strengthen existing criteria, such as increased separation distances from schools, homes, public use areas, waterways, and wells.
The Master Matrix shouldn't just work for the factory farm industry – it should work for us.
Help us deliver the rulemaking petition to strengthen the Master Matrix and crack down on factory farms.
Why you need to be there:
- No matter where you live—urban or rural—the Master Matrix affects you.
- Now is not the time to sit on the sidelines. Stand up for our water and communities.
- Strength in numbers! Show EPC and DNR that Iowans demand stronger factory farm rules.
- We can't wait any longer. This is one thing DNR can change right now outside of the legislature.
Sign up today, and see you there!
Join the Fight!
- Ready to take action? Contact us to learn how to get actively involved in this fight.
- Join as an Iowa CCI member
- Sign up for our email Action List
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Lots of us recreate on lakes with friends and family. For hours at a time, we boat, canoe and kayak. Needless to say, we congregate there.
But the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) doesn't see it that way.
In their recent revisions to factory farm rules, the DNR decided lakes are no longer considered a "public use area." They erased the word "lakes" from the definition, meaning factory farms can build even closer to these precious water bodies.
Why would DNR do this, you ask?
As revealed by Iowa CCI's Freedom of Information Act request, the change was made at the behest of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. That's right: the very industry DNR is charged with regulating.
It's clear as day that Gov. Branstad's DNR isn't working for the people of Iowa and certainly isn't protecting our natural resources. All Iowans should be up in arms about this deliberate decision to weaken factory farm rules at the expense of our water and communities. The continual deregulation of this industry leaves us with no choice but to call for a moratorium on any new or expanding factory farms!
Iowans Demand EPA Return To Iowa To Force Factory Farm Compliance With The Clean Water Act
According to DNR records there have been at least five factory farm spills that reached Iowa waterways in the past three weeks:
- FISH KILL: Osceola & Clay County – factory farm egg washing liquid dumped in Stony Creek polluting 18.2 miles of stream and killing 163,001 fish
- FISH KILL: Cherokee County – Bear Creek, source unknown
- FISH KILL: Buchanan County – factory farm manure overflowed from manure pit and entered West Branch Pine Creek
- Mahaska County – valve on manure tank failed and 3,000 gallons of factory farm manure entered a tributary of the Skunk River
- FISH KILL: Allamakee County – manure application equipment broke and 1,000 gallons of factory farm manure entered Clark Creek
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) members are outraged at the number of manure spills occurring in Iowa each year during what many call "manure spill season."
"Right now, as crops are being harvested, thousands of factory farms across the state are starting to spread upwards of 10 billion gallons of toxic, untreated manure on Iowa farmland," said Rosie Partridge, conservationist and small business owner in Wall Lake, Iowa. "We're seeing equipment breaks, pits overflow, and careless practices like spreading manure on highly erodible land, on steep slopes and near waterways. At what point is there too much manure in Iowa? I think we passed that point a long time ago."
CCI members say the DNR needs to start holding this industry accountable for polluting Iowa's waterways.
"In 2012 the EPA investigated the DNR and found that the DNR has an inadequate inspection program, fails to respond to spills, and does not issue fines and penalties that deter future pollution," said Larry Ginter, a retired family farmer from Rhodes, Iowa. "It's 2015 and nothing has changed. The EPA needs to come back to Iowa and make the DNR implement the Clean Water Act with teeth."
Like the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit, CCI members want the DNR to implement and enforce the Clean Water Act for factory farms. CCI members believe that Clean Water Act permits, tough fines and penalties and on-site inspections that find and fix problems will drastically reduce the amount of manure polluting Iowa's waterways each year.
"We're sick and tired of corporate agriculture being exempt from any laws and regulations meant to protect people and the environment; they should be held to the same standards as every other industry in Iowa," said Ginter. "Isn't it obvious that voluntary doesn't work?"
CCI members will be meeting with the DNR on November 3 to address the lack of enforcement and regulation of Manure Management Plans and application.
Iowa's more than 20 million hogs confined in thousands of factory farms produce nearly ten billion gallons of toxic manure every year. There have been more than 800 documented manure spills since 1996 and Iowa currently has more than 725 polluted waterways.
Join the Fight
Factory farm proposing to build near you? Have concerns about an existing facility? We can work with you and your community to fight back and stand up for clean air and water and your quality of life.
- Contact us for more information
- Join as an Iowa CCI member
- Sign up for our E-Mail Action list to get the latest updates
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Learn more
- We're reminded daily why the CWA is important
- 4 ways the DNR can strengthen the Clean Water Act rules
- Why do we want Clean Water Act permits issued to factory farms?
- Timeline of how CCI members pushed DNR to come into compliance with the Clean Water Act
- Read more...
2 Years Since Historic Clean Water Act Agreement And Still No Permits For Hog Factory Farms
Des Moines, IA. In early August Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) submitted its 2-year progress report of the precedent-setting Work Plan Agreement between the DNR and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the Clean Water Act (CWA) for factory farms in Iowa. Iowa CCI is calling out the DNR for the lack of detail in the report about the outcome of DNR inspections and why no Clean Water Act permits have been issued.
Click here to view DNR's 2015 Clean Water Act Annual Progress Report.
"This is an absolute disgrace. We've been saying for 8 years that the DNR is failing to do its job to hold factory farms accountable for their pollution and sadly we're proven right," said Larry Ginter, CCI member and family farmer from Rhodes, Iowa. "We've already had at least 17 manure spills this year. If DNR was completing good inspections, you'd think the number of manure spills would go down significantly each year, but it doesn't."
The DNR agreed to assess twenty percent of Iowa's 8,500+ factory farm facilities each year to determine which operations need permits. The 2-year progress report states they have completed 41% over the past two years.
The DNR touts the number of inspections as a success but CCI members think otherwise.
"It's not just about the quantity of inspections – it's about the quality of inspections," said Ginter. "Who cares how many you've completed if they don't result in anything but more pollution?"
The Work Plan also required the DNR to "timely issue [Clean Water Act] permits that meet federal requirements to all CAFOs that DNR determines discharge to Waters of the U.S."
According to DNR records, since the Work Plan was signed on September 11, 2013 there have been at least 99 documented manure spills in Iowa yet the DNR failed to issue a single Clean Water Act permit to any of the polluting hog factory farms.
Barb Lynch, DNR Chief of Field Services and Compliance was quoted saying 'Since the majority of larger facilities in Iowa are confinements, with animals housed under a roof and state law requiring manure containment, most facilities we inspect do not have problems with manure runoff'.
However, water data collected from Iowa's 2014 list of impaired waterways shows manure as one of the leading cause of impaired waterways in Iowa lakes and rivers. CCI members say this and the fact the DNR has issued no CWA permits shows how the DNR continues to work for factory farm corporations by misleading the public about the cause of Iowa's polluted waterways and not holding them accountable for the pollution they create.
Also, CWA permits aren't just targeted at runoff problems, they are for any kind of pollution discharge leaving a facility.
"We see dozens of cases of factory farms with multiple manure spills," said Barb Kalbach, 4th generation family farmer from Dexter. "Any factory farm that has a discharge needs a CWA permit and needs to be held accountable, not just a slap on the wrist."
Another demand of the DNR to meet the Clean Water Act Work Plan is "to implement enforcement program that ensures penalties are sought in accordance with DNR's [Enforcement Management System] and creates a stronger deterrent to noncompliance".
In the past 2 years, DNR has only issued 23 Administrative Orders and 1 Attorney General referral against factory farm polluters with manure spills or other violations. That means out of the 99 polluters, 75 of them received no meaningful penalty for their manure spill. CCI members believe that the lack of penalties sends a message to the industry that manure spills are just a cost of doing business.
DNR is also failing to meet the final Work Plan requirement, which is to keep the public informed of its Work Plan progress. So far the Work Plan progress updates have been vague and contain very little real information. The annual report lacks detail about the outcome of inspections and why no Clean Water Act permits have been issued to a hog factory farm.
"The 2-year report lacks detail," said Kalbach. "DNR provided no detail on the outcome of assessments and how they determined that a factory farm does not need a CWA permit. The DNR needs to take a presumption that every factory farm has a potential to discharge and therefore every factory farm has the duty to apply for a permit."
"This Work Plan will only be successful if it leads to real oversight of factory farm pollution in Iowa. That means serious inspections, strong permits, and enforcement actions that ensure it doesn't pay to pollute. DNR hasn't shown that it takes permitting seriously, and EPA should step in and conduct independent investigations of Iowa manure spills," said Jess Mazour, Farm & Environment Organizer at Iowa CCI.
CCI members are calling on the DNR to strengthen the Clean Water Act implementation with four demands:
- Issue a Clean Water Act Permit to every factory farm in Iowa.
- Complete quality on-site inspections that find problems and fix problems.
- Issue tough fines and penalties that deter future pollution.
- Create a transparent database of manure spills, inspections and details of specific factory farms.
Iowa's more than 20 million hogs confined in thousands of factory farms produce nearly ten billion gallons of toxic manure every year. There have been more than 800 documented manure spills since 1996 and Iowa currently has more than 725 polluted waterways.
CCI Member, Ray Harden, from Perry, Iowa wrote an excellent piece about the Des Moines Water Works Lawsuit and the new dirty water attack ad. Check it out!
The T.V. commercial opposing the Des Moines Waterworks legal action against three county drainage districts in northwest Iowa has misleading statements. The commercial gives the impression that individual farmers are being sued, this is incorrect. The legal action is against drainage districts, not farmers or landowners. Under Iowa law the drainage districts are run by the county supervisors, they are responsible for operating and maintaining the drainage district system.
The Des Moines Waterworks (DMWW) is saying that the districts are allowing water that contains known pollutants to be discharged into Iowa's waterways via a drainage ditch is a "point source of pollution" and should be regulated by the Federal Clean Water Act. The discharge from the drainage ditches should be treated the same way as a discharge from a municipal sewage facility. DMWW wants drainage districts to be regulated and be required to have a permit for discharge. This is what the courts will decide.
The most egregious statement made in the T.V. commercial is: " Currently Iowa's rivers are the cleanest they have been in twenty years." The Iowa Clean Water Alliance does not provide any data to backup this claim regarding water quality. It is ironic that the statement was made the same week that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported Iowa's
"Impaired Bodies of Water" has increased 15% in the last two years- there are now 725 bodies of water on the list (Des Moines Register May 15). The North Raccoon River, that flows through Dallas County, is one the most polluted.
The "Clean Water Alliance" does not provide any data to backup this statement regarding water quality. I am not seeing the rivers getting cleaner. I do a monthly nitrate test on three drainage tiles that flow into a creek near Perry. From late winter to May these three tiles have consistently had nitrate reading of 15mgm per liter to 20mgm per liter. More that 10mgm per liter is not considered to be safe in drinking water.
I did nitrate tests on the waters of the North Raccoon River, from Greene County to Dallas County on a recent canoe trip and found similar nitrate readings. The river's color is also a sign of water quality- the river was a chocolate brown, indicating a lot of soil erosion. The soil washing into the streams carries fertilizer, manure, and other undesirable chemicals that have a harmful effect on wildlife and humans.
It has been many years since I have caught a walleye or smallmouth bass in the Raccoon River- fish that need clean water. It has been equally as long since I have see a live mussel or clam in the river; they are dying because of nitrates in the water. Where is the clean water the commercial is referring to?
I am pleased the Des Moines Water Works is moving forward with the lawsuit. This action will bring more focus to the problem and hopefully the Iowa Legislature and governor will provide more funds for agricultural conservation practices and regulations to improve Iowa's water quality.
Ray Harden
Perry, Iowa
Join the Fight
Factory farm proposing to build near you? Have concerns about an existing facility? We can work with you and your community to fight back and stand up for clean air and water and your quality of life.
- Contact us for more information
- Join as an Iowa CCI member
- Sign up for our E-Mail Action list to get the latest updates
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Learn more
- We're reminded daily why the CWA is important
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-Zachary is currently 30 months old-
We had a lot of fun with Tot School this week!
We have been doing No Time for Flashcards' Summer Reading Challenge! Here is the list of (well, some of) the books we read last week:
John Deere Tractors Wheelie Book by Parachute Press & DK Press
John Deere Loaders Wheelie Book by Parachute Press & DK Press
Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs by Sandra Boynton
Lots of Opposites (Sesame Street) by Christy Webster
Johnny Tractor by Ertl
Bob's Birthday by Diane Redmond
Lazy Days Go Away by Ron Eddy
Baby Bop's Counting Book by Mary Ann Dudko
Big and Little by John Stadler
Fisher Price All About Tools by Susan Hodges
Barney's Hats by Mary Ann Dudko and Margie Larsen
Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber
Z and I both have tractor and loader wheelie books and the Johnny Tractor book memorized, we read them over and over, SO many times!!!
I found him 'reading' on his own this week, too! :)
We drew with chalk, sorted his MegaBlocks by size (how many pegs on top of each block) and shape - rectangle vs. square, and we played with some dollar-store 'floam'. In case you've never given dollar store floam to a two-year-old, let me warn you that this is absolutely an OUTDOOR activity!!!
I forgot to include this activity that we did last week, so I'll put it here. Z is watching this video about Noah's Ark - it comes with a book, and it's an interactive storybook that reads the words of the book out loud - there is even an option where you can read it aloud with the TV & just press the button to hear the words you don't know - it's so neat. Obviously Z isn't to that point yet, but he enjoys watching the video (and there's a song and some trivia games on the DVD, too). It also comes with a programmable remote, but we don't have a DVD player, just my hubby's game system, so the remote doesn't work for us. :(
Z did some Kumon workbook pages this week - here he is drawing some rain over a snail with an umbrella. :)
For our craft this week, we did dandelion painting! Last week, we made a field of dandelions - this week we used yellow dandelions to paint with instead of brushes! And we painted outside- why have I never thought of painting outside???? It worked really well! For supplies, you get to go dandelion hunting again, and pick several yellow dandelions this time. Then you need some paint, and I let Z pick two colors - he picked yellow and purple, and I put them on a plate. Just dip the dandelions in the paint and paint on a piece of paper! I thought it would be cool to do something similar with Queen Anne's Lace sometime, too - I'll let you know if we do that. :)
checking out the colors on the dandelion 'brush'. :)
We did a color scavenger hunt this week - can't remember where I found this idea, but it's a great one - I just pulled out 3 pieces of construction paper, red, blue and green this time, and had Z find things that matched the colors - he did awesome with it! I suggested a few things at first and he put them where they belonged, then he got up on his own and grabbed the red tractor wheelie book, and put it on the red paper! He picked up the green & blue frog teether, too, so we put it half on green and half on blue and discussed why we did that. He had a lot of fun with this, and we will definitely do it again!!!
We also discovered Z's new favorite website this week - starfall.com! I have had this on my list to try for a while, but just hadn't checked it out - but it is great. It really helps with phonics, and they even have a whole preschool/kindergarten curriculum available that teaches kids to read through phonics. The games and activities are fun and really educational. They have activities that a newly 2-year-old would enjoy, and things that even school-age readers would enjoy! If you have a pre-reader, I would definitely check it out. We have been working on phonics for a really long time, but I think this site is really helping Zachary 'get' the concept - as we were walking to camp this morning, he saw a pipe, and was saying, "Pipe, pipe, pipe, puh, puh, puh, Pipe! P says puh - Puh puh Pipe!" I was super excited. :)
Just for fun - Z in a box. :) Actually, I really want to make a 'Let's Go-Kart' - if any of your kids watch Sprout on Saturday & Sunday mornings, you know what I'm talking about - but I was trying to see if this box would be a comfy car - as you can see, it wouldn't. But it's cute anyway. :) Also, our toys were all piled everywhere because of an issue with our carpet - it got wet & we had to replace it - but our new carpet is really nice and soft! :)
We had a picnic at a local park this week, the one with the big curly slide, which Z loves. :) It was fun. Natalie swung in a swing, and I got this cute picture of her (notice Z on the left going high!)
So of course I had to take a picture of Z swinging, too. :)
My Tiny Tot
My tiny tot is almost 6 months old - couldn't somebody please stop time??? Waaaaa. Ahem. Excuse me, I'm back under control now. Here's my Natalie sitting in her highchair, with her new sippy cup. She likes to chew on it, and doesn't do much else with it, but it's cute to see her with it.
She is eating her rice cereal and some oatmeal baby cereal quite well now, and she had her first taste of sweet potatoes this morning. Though she was unusually fussy today, which could be due to teething or maybe the sweet potatoes upset her stomach, so I may hold off on those and switch to something milder like squash or avocado. Any recommendations?
And here she is playing on the floor, all smiles. She loves to kick, and was rather excited that she positioned herself to kick this bucket of blocks - she was playing with the handle with her feet. :)
To see what others are doing for Tot School this week, head on over to 1+1+1=1!


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I agree. How effective can altidore be without having Giovinco around. Thats the big question and the question with respect to his worth. Dont get me wrong, he has been terrific in his time here, especially in the big games. But Giovinco had a way of drawing attention from opponents.
That cant be the guy they have in mind for DP. Just heard Manning on the radio and he stated that it would be a player that soccer fans (he may have even used casual soccer fan) would be familar with. Usually that will mean someone who is an international and played at the World Cup and/or would have played on side that is not a long shot. And/or played in one of the big three or four leagues (one whose games are televised in Canada) in europe and not for a typical relegation bound side. Unless its an american or a mexican. An algerian player from the Russian league would not fit that description. Gregory Vander Weil has greater name recognition, than the player thats being alluded to here. And he was acquired with TAM money.
I don't disagree with anything you said. Also, it would find it very difficult to justify matching that reported offer if that 10 mill is correct for the reasons you mentioned. But it doesn't change the massive crater in the roster that this departure represents. If they agree to spend on the next guy what they did for Giovinco when they signed him, then maybe there is glimmer of hope. But I'm not holding my breath. They were lucky to end up with Giovinco as I alluded to earlier in other posts and they got arguably more than what they paid for. if they decide to spend 5mil a year for next DP instead of the 7mill a year they gave Giovinco, then what they will have is a $5mill DP. And, there have been others in the league of that value. Including some who have never delivered a trophy. That's the frustrating part. After watching TFC signing of the past, I tend to view it like buying a lottery, after ten years they hit the jackpot with the Giovinco signing. Before that they got a few free tickets but not much else.
That's old news isn't it? Wasn't this announced several weeks ago?
There was a quote attributed to Tim Bezbatchenko (when he decided leave) stating something along the lines that he believed that things were going to change at TFC. So he knew what was coming. I am sure that clubs and companies dont arrive at these conclusions (ie; to scale back) just out of the blue. They likely knew that this would be the new direction some time ago, even before the season tickets renewal campaign for 2019. That's the part I find frustrating, moreso given that SSH prices went up. Since day one when this club started we have seen increases and decreases as far as ticket prices over the years. Often it was based on the mood and optimism around the fans and clubs. They managed the mood well last fall to justify an increase in season seat prices.
I can never fault any professional for wanting to get paid. Careers are short for athletes and we don't know the details of what they offered and what was asked. You cant compare the Giovinco situation to that of Osorio because one (Giovinco) has name value and pedigree that translates across borders. Plus the numbers will be different and hence the gaps in numbered will be larger for a guy like Giovinco as opposed to Osorio. With Osorio, they might have been haggling over tens of thousands of dollars and where else is he going to go? With Giovinco they may have been haggling over many millions and there are more places in the world he can go.
Yes. This is similar to a point I made earlier. There seems to be a misconception that TFC never spent before the Giovinco era. But they did spend. It's just that they never got the same value in return and they never allow the chemistry to form. I don't know that you can replace what Giovinco brings given the Constraints of MLS.
Not familiar with him. The age part (28) would mean that he is still at his peak as far as abilities. So that part is encouraging.
This would be a disaster. Regardless of the money they get for him and even if they break the bank to replace him, you just can replace what he brings. The goals scoring is one thing, but its also what he creates in the final third and the space he creates for others. And then there's the free kicks. Who is out there that is willing to come to MLS, that replaces the skills i mentioned and that is not on the downside of his career? Sure there are always the thierry henry and wayne rooney types and other great fowards but not with the multideminsions that giovinco had. Mls people use to talk about David Villa, i say BS to that comparaison. Villa could score goals but couldnt fulfill definition of a ten like Giovinco. In his mvp year, i believe that he had the kind of form whereby he would starred in any league in the world. Maybe he was too good for the league and maybe he should have been playing somewhere else like top flight Italy, spain or england at that time but it was sure worth the price of admission. TFC was very fortunate to land this guy. No way did anyone expect the kind of impact he would have when they signed him. Even the tactics, like the multiple midfield formations, worked because you had Giovinco. A diamond formation , for example, worked because while the team conceded width on the pitch, the diamond created space for the midfielder when difting from side to side while having Giovinco on the opposite side drawing the attention from defender(s). This created a game that was fun to watch because it had lots of passing, possesion and creativity. Made the midfield look great.
Thats not a very strong denial of the story.
All well and good to have money to spend but are they going to get the kind of value from that money that equals what has departed? Thats the question. You could end up with another Aketxe with some of that money just as easily that you could find another Vazquez. Thats the nature and lessen learned from 12 years following this league. You just never know who is going to fit in and adapt and make an impact. Other examples, Altidore is here because Jermaine Defoe got home sick. And if Defoe stays, would they have spent the money they did to get Giovinco? I doubt it. And without Giovinco and Altidore how many trophies would TFC have? MLS is a weird league because of the cap and salary structure. In other leagues around the globe, you more often get what you pay for. if you have lots of money to spend you have a large margin of error because any incomming talent is more likely to fit and look good because there is comparable valued talent around them. In MLS, a guy like Giovinco is going to play on the same pitch as some college guy who might be a second or third division player in europe. Giovinco can rise above that and make others better. But was Torsten Frings able to do the same? Yes, i know they play different roles but even though Frings had a bigger pedigree, he did not have anywhere near the impact as Giovinco. Much less Bradley. Yet, Frings started every game for a national team that went to the world cup. Finals
Hagglund was a good and usefull piece. The only aerial presence the team had on set pieces. He was also young enough to still have an upside.
I'd like to know what the ratio of subtractions to additions is from the roster and team this off season. Seems like every roster news that has been comming out is about key players or personel leaving or being released rather than of exciting additions. Vasquez, as someone else pointed out, was someone you could have placed on a short list for league MVP a few years ago. Its imposible to stay confident of seeing trophy presentations in 2019 given all the news of the last month comming out of the TFC camp.
This would explain the selection of a former New York Red Bull exec.. NYRB have seldom signed anyone who would be considered marquis talent. They have had success if you look at wins and losses but no real trophies. And, when the scheduled is released or when season tickets box comes in via courier, the NYRB matches are not the ones that I am going to mark on my calendar. Unlike, say, half a dozen other teams in the league that come to mind. Thats the problem with significantly lowering the spending. You will lose your attractiveness and your image. I like the image of the big bad spenders who say "to hell with what everyone else thinks, we are in it for ourselves. ". I believe that in this sport, more so than certain others, there is a more direct correlation of trophies and to what you spend. The investment in the big three is what turned this club around. And the thought of going back to a time before that is what will cross my mind when it comes time to renew for 2020.
Depends on the person. But, there's Better job security as a president. So many things that are out of your control can go wrong when your a GM (eg.: injuries, personality conflicts in the locker room, underperformance, chemistry, unreasonable fan expectation..etc). As president, you can better plan and see the fruits of your plan. As GM, you can try to plan but more often than not your dealing with day to day things all the time.


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The ways we solve design problems can be pretty much related to why we act the way we do as individuals. Just like we have the personality traits, we also have design traits that reflects a person's perception of color, texture, pattern and what an ideal space should look like.
A creative mix of the different design traits goes on to enhance and reinforce the resultant interior designs that we marvel at. In other words, creativity is at its best when there's an harmonious blend of the diverse design traits.
Much of my designs have been full of discoveries about why I design the way I do. I happen to be a traditionalist _ someone who is in a constant touch with roots and the essence of individual cultures. I wonder and have come to deeply appreciate the rich cultures and elements associated with different design elements.
According to a recent survey carried out by architecturaldigest.com, interior designs have been classified into the following categories; it is worthy to note that there is no better design personality. None is superior to another. Each is unique in its own sphere, so its ok if you find yourself in one particular trait while some others seem to be a mix of one or more traits. Either ways. I hope you find the following outlines insightful, expository and downright inspiring.
As a TRADITIONALIST, you pursue plush sofas, authentic finishes and details, an enveloping and inviting vibe – there's a reason why everyone wants to congregate at your house. Like Ralph Lauren, you gravitate toward traditional lines and approachable materials, an aesthetic that's in keeping with your casual entertaining style and love for classic Americana (or French provincial, or English country house, depending on your mood). So bring on the warm woods, the aged pewter, the grain-sack pillows. In your book, comfort is undeniably cool.
If you're a GLOBE TROTTER, you can't resist picking up a souvenir (or three) on your world travels; every piece in your home has a story behind it which you love to share. When you aren't visiting a far-flung locale, you're exploring your neighborhood vintage stores and antique markets in search of beautifully handcrafted objects. Off-the-beaten path shops, bustling markets and high-design destinations – you will happily trek out to any corner of a city for that next-one-of-a-kind find.
Fads have never been your thing, being a CLASSICIST, in fashion or at home. For you, elegant lines, timeless motifs (think chinoiserie, trellis and Greek key), and a healthy obsession with antique urns and busts aren't just personal choices – they're the secrets to a well-lived life. I won't even get you started on wall moldings. A room without them just doesn't look finished.
Finally, when you're a MINIMALIST, "less is more" become your mantra. With Donald Judd and Isamu Noguchi as your design icons, you apoint your home with a few deliberately chosen furnishings that boast spare lines and exacting silhouettes. While you generally edit your palette down to the basics – black, white, wood grain, you might add a thoughtful jolt of color or metallic when you're feeling a bit wild.
Click this link to take a quiz, and find out why you design the way you do.


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Blog | Safe driving
Other News Stories
Stopping distances: What do you know?
Want to know more about how to calculate stopping distances and why they're important? This guide from WiseDriving can help. Click to read more.
What to do in a driving emergency
How can a telematics device help with anti-theft tracking? What should you do if you have an accident? This guide on driving emergencies from WiseDriving can help.
What is a claim scam - and how do I avoid one?
Nobody enjoys making a claim on their car insurance – but even less so when there's fraud involved. We've put together the common claims scams out there, so you can stop yourself falling victim to one.
What are the biggest distractions for young drivers?
Stats suggest that young drivers are the most likely to be involved in road accidents – but why? We look at the biggest distractions for young drivers on the road, and how they can be combatted.
Driving laws: is it illegal to drive barefoot?
Is it illegal to drive without shoes? No, it isn't illegal and this post from WiseDriving can tell you more. Click here to read.
Graduated driving licences proposed for the UK to curb young driver accident rates
The government has proposed graduated driving licences for newly-passed drivers. But what could that mean for young drivers? Find out here.
5 ways to avoid drink driving
An average of 70,000 people are caught drink-driving per year – but would you ever drive under the influence? We've put together some tips to stop you getting tempted.
How to check your tyre treads
Are your tyres below the legal limit for tread depth? Check out this article for how to find out!
Festival season: how to prepare your car
Each summer, great numbers of us head all over the country to various festivals - but does your car have what it takes to get you there safely? RAC and WiseDriving have teamed up to bring you some handy festival guides to make sure your festival season goes smoothly.
What to do in a breakdown
Breaking down can be scary for anyone - especially if you're not sure what to do. Get clued up with our handy breakdown guide.


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Paperback, Published in Apr 2011 by iUniverse.com
Page count: 312
Landon Starker is an anger-imbued, foul-mouthed delinquent teenager with a horrific home life and an angry father who would challenge anyone's existence. He hates school, skips classes liberally, and fears his father's reaction to all of it. Then one day, it all changes, but why? In the same vein as "Catcher in the Rye's" Holden Caulfield, Landon arrives at his existence through a tragedy, wherein his psyche becomes fractured. For emotional success, Landon must work to recognize how his mind has engaged in self-preservation: a combination of repressing memories and re-defining reality so it doesn't hurt when life's recordings invade the mind.
Landon starts to confront these repressed memories and warped views of his past when he's forcefully removed from his abusive home in Leigh, Nebraska, and placed in a counseling center. He attempts a re-entry into an "old family" he thought had abandoned him. And while this therapeutic process seems to soothe his trauma, another revelation demands that Landon search his repressed memories for the details of a serious crime he has no recollection of. The "truths" flood in, leaving the reader with a profound sense of how trauma robs the self of mind ...and spirit.


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MADISON, Wis. – CUNA Mutual Group today reported strong 2016 financial earnings and operating results, including record revenues and income for the third straight year. Total revenue rose to $3.3 billion, an increase of 4.7 percent from 2015. Net income increased 2.8 percent from the previous year to $223 million, which is attributed to growth in its core business units, positive claims experience and strong investment performance.
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Cold Saturday Night
Stiff northwesterly winds and temps in the teens tonight. But no new snow accumulations. Snow showers will diminish to the north and east of
Monday Weather Highlights
Here's a look at the national weather map for today. From around the Interstate 70 southward is where you'll find the best chances of a few rain and
Indiana's Weather For Monday
I hate to bring up North/South divisions just as the whole country is enjoying that "Lincoln" movie so much...but sometimes the weather divides us.
Indiana's Weather For Wednesday
WATCH my weather right now on the Star@Sunrise! PP Dot com is sponsored in part by Dr. Nancy Halsema at Carmel West Dentistry. Subscribe to this
2012 Winter Storm Watch
Here's a map of the Watch, which includes the 95-3 MNC listening area. The reason is the first big lake effect snow event of the winter. It is
Tuesday Night Snow Update
Here's the map for possible snow accumulations Tuesday night into very early Wednesday mroning. Don't see much reason to fiddle or futz with the
Michiana's News Channel Forecast
Today: Periods of rain, but not all day long. High 50.Tonight: Rain likely, and it could be heavy at times. Rumbles of thunder are also possible.
Winter Storm Center
MORNING SNOW TOTALS: 6.2" Fort Wayne 6.0" Muncie 4.7" Yorktown 4.5" Westfield 4.0" Lafayette 3.0" Laporte 3.0" Galveston 2.2" Indianapolis 2.0" South
Sunday Update & Monday's Storm
The biggest upcoming travel concerns will be icing late afternoon and early evening Monday north of I-70, and a little snow throughout the state
Record Breaking South Bend Snow
A strong upper-level disturbance shifted through the Great Lakes region in the afternoon of Friday January 7th. Cold air flowing over the relatively


text: Infographic: Our Guide to Eco-Friendly Flooring Eco-friendly flooring is a hot topic both in West Metro Atlanta and across the country. But which choice is best for your home? The experts at Floor Coverings International West Metro Atlanta have done the work for you and put together this handy guide to eco-friendly flooring. Photo Credits: gualtiero boffi, Fishman64, Valentina Razumova Posted by mark on September 30, 2017 No Comments Permalink


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Under Policy Governance®, within the directives and limitation listed in the Board Governance Policies, the Board delegates the development and implementation of Administrative Regulations and procedures to the Superintendent and staff, except in regard to issues for which they are mandated by law to take direct action. A comprehensive review and revision of all District policies and procedures was completed between August and December 2015, and the conversion to an Administrative Regulations Manual was completed on February 1, 2016.
Regulations establish legal records and standards of conduct for the school district. Regulations can provide a bridge between the School Board's philosophy and goals and the everyday administration of programs.
The Issaquah School District is continually updating Regulations and procedures to keep current with state laws and regulations as well as best practices. Regulations or procedures on this website may be in transition or in process of being revised. Please contact Tricia Romo, Public Records Officer, if you have a specific policy question or to double-check on a Regulation.
Code: 3140
Adopted: 4/27/1994
Last Revised Date: 10/17/2014
A student who resides within the boundaries of the Issaquah School District shall be released to attend school in another District when any one of the following circumstances apply:
Resident students who meet one of the above listed conditions shall apply to be released by the Issaquah School District. The transfer request is not complete until the resident school District has submitted the request to the nonresident school District, and it has been accepted. The student remains the responsibility of the resident school District until the effective start date or rejection.
In all cases in which a resident student is released, the student or the student's parent(s) shall be solely responsible for transportation.
If the request is denied, the superintendent/designee shall notify the parent of the right to appeal such decision to the superintendent of public instruction.
Resident parents/legal guardians shall be informed of choice enrollment options annually. The District shall make available for public inspection the Superintendent of Public Instruction's annual information booklet on enrollment options.


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Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta says athletics trial for the Africa Senior Athletics Championship (ASAC) would begin on July 18, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
Okowa, who disclosed this during an inspection visit to the stadium, said the ongoing renovation was at its advanced stage.
He said the main bowl with nine tracks, was ready, while critical areas requiring attention were been addressed.
According to Okowa, work at the stadium has greatly advanced, but I will keep monitoring the project to ensure that it is complete on target.
He said: "I was here on Friday alongside Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe to inspect the stadium project and a lot of work has been done after that.
"The athletics trial will start on July 18, I will visit the project frequently to encourage the contractors to deliver on time."
The governor said the State Government would be partnering with the Federal Government on sports, to effectively put the stadium into use after the ASAC championship.
He said government would also use the facility for the grooming of young athletes from primary and secondary schools in the state.
Okowa also inspected ongoing storm water projects at various points in Asaba.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 54 African countries are expected to participate in the championship, billed for between August 1 and August 5, 2018.


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Special Offer: 10% off all appliance and vacuum cleaner filters. Save now.
This spring helps to create tension allowing for a smooth and controlled movement of the latch on your tumble dryer's door. If your spring is rusted, broken or misplaced, it is possible to replace it.
How do I find my product number (PNC)?
Items bought on this site will be delivered to addresses within the UK only. For deliveries to Ireland, please use the Ireland website. If you want an order sent to a country other than the UK, click here, select the country Webshop, then find your item and make your purchase from that Webshop instead.
Standard delivery is £2.99 for each order.
Orders will be delivered in 3-5 working days via Royal Mail.
Items that are shown as out of stock at the time of purchase may take up to 28 days to be delivered.
Next Day delivery is £6.99 for each order.
Only items shown as "IN STOCK" are eligible for Next Day delivery.
Please note:


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Marie Pier Germain gives us some ideas for family activities in Montérégie during March break.
Skiing is really a fun sport and super easy to do with your family. I suggest you climb the mountain with sealskins under your skis, which allows you to do a little more exercise, before coming down again. There are very beautiful mountains to explore in Montérégie!
Why not spend the afternoon at the Ceramic Café in Greenfield Park, as to satisfy your little creative ones? Simply choose a blank pottery and have fun painting it to your taste.
I like to have coffee at Pistache in Saint-Lambert with my daughter and chat for a long time.
Go to the movies. My favourite is the Cinema Cineplex Odeon in Saint-Bruno, very close to the Simons, because it reminds me of so many memories and I love the smell of popcorn!
Take advantage of the days off to plant your seeds for your summer vegetable patch! You can go and choose the seeds with your family and decide together what will grow in the garden next summer.
A classic: the immersive activities of B Fly at Quartier DIX30, where you can be amongst the butterflies. It's always very popular!


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A timeless staple, this playful long-sleeved T-shirt by Kenzo is a must-have in your little one's casual wardrobe.
• It's crafted from soft organic cotton jersey that's lightweight and comfortable.
• The classic crew-neck design and relaxed fit allow for unrestricted movement.
• Team it with a pretty skirt or opt for jeans for a more pared-down take.
• Lightweight, stretchy fabric
• View the link below for extra size information
• Organic cotton jersey
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• Ribbed crewneck
• Long sleeves
• 100% organic cotton
• Cold machine wash
• Please note this item is sold separatelyProduct Code: 213841870
Free for orders above 500 SAR 50 SAR for orders below 500 SAR


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With entire fleet in lay-up, Fred. Olsen Energy swings to loss
Norwegian offshore driller Fred. Olsen Energy recorded a loss in the fourth quarter 2017 as its revenues tumbled due to its entire rig fleet being in lay-up mode.
According to its financial report on Friday, the company's net loss for the fourth quarter 2017, including an estimated tax expense of $5.9 million, was $62.1 million compared to a profit of $9.7 million in the prior-year period.
Operating revenues in the fourth quarter 2017 were $49.5 million, a significant decrease compared to revenues of $156.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Compared to the third quarter 2017, the company's revenues within the offshore drilling division decreased by $26.1 million, mainly due to a received settlement for Bredford Dolphin in the third quarter and Bolette Dolphin receiving termination fee in fourth quarter vs. partly on contract in third quarter.
Revenues within the engineering and fabrication division were $4.5 million.
Rig fleet
The offshore fleet of Fred. Olsen Energy, with subsidiaries, consists of seven drilling units. Six out of seven rigs are without a contract. Only one rig, the Blackford Dolphin, currently has a contract, which starts in May.
Namely, BP in January 2018 hired the rig for a one-well contract plus four options. BP then on Wednesday, February 8 declared the first two options under the contract for the use of the Blackford Dolphin rig in the UK North Sea. The rest of the rigs are stacked in Norway, Tenerife, and Malaysia.
Engineering & fabrication division
According to the company, the profitability of the Harland & Wolff yard, with core activities within engineering, ship repair and shipbuilding, has improved in the fourth quarter compared to the previous quarter. However, the activities have in general been low through 2017. The company said that an increase in activity is expected through 2018.
Norwegian & UK market
Commenting on the offshore drilling market, the company said that the recovery in the Norwegian market was confirmed during the last year with continued increase in activity. New contracts have been awarded for work in 2019 and 2020, predominantly for field development activities. Further sanctioning of new development projects are expected through 2018. As for exploration requirements, an increase in requests and tenders for work in 2018 is now becoming evident, the company said.
The UK market is active with several contract awards and a number of tenders still ongoing, particularly targeting 2018 work. Additionally, a high number of requests for work in 2019 are still open.
Offshore Energy Today Staff
List of related news articles
Posted: 28 days ago
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Offshore drilling contractor Dolphin Drilling has been awarded an $83 million worth contract with Me...Posted: 28 days ago
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Fred. Olsen enters green loans for jack-up trio
Fred. Olsen Windcarrier has entered into two new long-term non-recourse debt financing arrangem...Posted: 3 months ago
Posted: about 1 month ago
Borr Drilling sees early signs of recovery despite 2Q loss
Borr Drilling booked a loss in the second quarter of the year as its revenues dropped, but the drill...Posted: about 1 month ago
Posted: about 1 month ago
Santos swings to loss on impairments
Australian independent energy firm Santos reported a net loss in the first half as it booked a $526 ...Posted: about 1 month ago


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Brion Vibber authored
Basic splitting/validation code submitted via http://status.net/wiki/XMPP/JID_validation -- Copyright 2009 Patrick Georgi <firstname.lastname@example.com> Licensed under ISC-L, which is compatible with everything else that keeps the copyright notice intact. Added PEAR Net_IDNA package to extlib to handle IDN normalization (also used by Validate's email verifier if present). * added test suite, supplemented my own test cases with JID validation and normalization test cases from libpurple * follows XMPP rules for validation of name part * fixes for normalization with non-ASCII names * will do domain checks if $config['email']['check_domain'] is on, checking for an XMPP-server SRV record or any lookup. (We don't actually need to ping those direct though.) * some more obscure stringprep validation rules aren't quite followed yet, but we err on the side of permissiveness. * we still don't actually let you save your address with a resource on it, as we strip resources when looking up users who've sent us presence or message updates. I would recommend saving the outgoing resource as a separate field if/when we add that..?0841fa71


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Pasta with Chicken, Spinach and Feta; questions
Another pasta dish with a Greek twist.
I'm rather (excessively?) fond of feta cheese and dry-cured black Greek Olives. I think the combination adds so much flavor to any pasta dish. Or risotto or vegetable or salad.
Add pepper, spinach, garlic and onions and you have a simple, skillet dinner.
Chicken, Spinach and Feta Pasta
Preparation and cooking time: 30 minutes
- 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- 1/2 red or green bell pepper
- 1/2 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbs paprika
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 15oz (450gr) chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup (4oz, 125ml) white wine
- 6oz (175gr) fresh or frozen spinach
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 3 – 4oz (100gr) feta
- 1/2 cup dry-cured, pitted Greek olives
- 1oz (30gr) grated Parmesan
- 1 1/4 cups pasta, bite size
- Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Slice the pepper into matchsticks then cut in half.
- Chop the onion and mince the garlic.
- Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
- Pit olives, if needed and cut in half.
- If using fresh spinach, pick through leaves, discarding any that are damaged or wilted, and tearing any that are huge.
- In a large skillet heat oil. Sauté paprika in hot oil for 1 minute.
- Add onion, pepper and garlic, sauté for 5 minutes.
- Add chicken and sauté until cooked through.
- Add wine, herbs, tomatoes and spinach, if using frozen, and cook, uncovered until spinach is thawed and sauce has reduced and thickened slightly.
- Add spinach, if using fresh, olives, feta and cooked, drained pasta.
- Toss to combine and heat through.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.
I was reading Cooking Light magazine the other day.
First – my apologies, Cooking Light. I really think you have a wonderful magazine and, for the most part, I like your recipes (everyone has a dud now and again, don't feel bad). But there are a few things in every issue that I take issue with (;-))
I know you measure precisely so that your nutrition information is as accurate as possible…..
But do you really expect cooks to use 1/4 cup of onion?
And if I'm trying to be as accurate as you, how finely should I chop that onion to fit in my 1/4 cup?
Apparently I've been out of the US too long. I saw several 'easy, weeknight recipes' that featured steak or shrimp. I've always kind of considered steak or shrimp to be for a nice, leisurely weekend dinner…. Not something I whipped together after a busy day.
Do regular, working people really eat that well? Or is steak and shrimp that reasonably priced in the US?
Speaking of prices…. I can buy 3 level of ground beef: 5% fat, 15% fat and 20% fat. The 5% fat is the cheapest with the 20% fat being the most expensive. Thought you should know.
Back to the mag….
At the back of the magazine, under 'The Enlightened Cook'. there is a step-by-step bit on how to prep Swiss chard.
It tells one to fold the leaf in half lengthwise and cut out the hard 'stem', then to slice and use the leaf.
Here, in France one would be told to trim the leaf away from the 'rib', then slice or chop and use the rib (stem).
Being multi-cultural I use it all. I give the sliced or chopped stem a few minutes head start in the skillet. For a salad I would sauté the stems and use the leaves raw.
How do you use chard? (If you use chard… if you don't, you should)
Finally, I know the majority of Cooking Light readers are perfectly happy using the low-fat this and the non-fat that. Personally, I would never touch the stuff. I would either use less or substitute something else…. like yogurt for sour cream.
But, that's just me. We all get to have our quirks.


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Strictly Come Dancing is back! The BBC has revealed that Stacey Dooley will be stepping out on the dancefloor this year – get to know her a little better.
Revealed as a Strictly contestant: Stacey Dooley was confirmed as a Strictly 2018 contestant in an Instagram story on the show's official account on Thursday, August 16.
[Read more: Who is taking part in Strictly Come Dancing 2018?]
[Read more: Who are the Strictly pro dancers?]
Age: 31
Occupation: Broadcaster
🕵🏼♀ Stacey Dooley's next investigation: who will be her #Strictly dance partner? All we know is that @StaceyDooley's joining our glittering 2018 line-up! https://t.co/h01xuApH44 pic.twitter.com/jDJVacuhna— BBC Strictly✨ (@bbcstrictly) August 16, 2018
Best known for: Stacey first became famous when she was a participant in a 2008 documentary called Blood, Sweat and T-shirts that saw a group of 20-somethings who loved to shop travel to India to see the shocking conditions under which cheap garments were made for the UK market.
Stacey stood out for her shock and interest in the labour laws, and was given her own BBC Three documentary series, Stacey Dooley Investigates.
[Read more: When does Strictly Come Dancing begin?]
Her programmes have lifted the lid on sweatshops, child soldiers and sex workers, and earned her an MBE for services to broadcasting.
The TV star's other documentaries have included My Hometown Fanatics where she met Islamists and people from the English Defence League, and Coming Here Soon which saw her travel to Greece, Ireland and Japan to interview young people affected by the global financial crisis.
"Typically, work for me is very serious and can be quite hardcore so I'm going to soak up the escapism and bathe in the sequins. See you on the dancefloor!"
Strictly partner: Kevin Clifton
Weekly dances and scores:
Week 2 - Cha Cha to Came Here for Love by Sigala - 20
Week 3 - Jive to Happy from Despicable Me 2 - 32
Week 4 - Foxtrot to Hi Ho Silver Lining by Jeff Beck - 33
Week 5 - Samba to Tequila by David Hirschfelder and The Bogo Pogo Orchestra - 33
Week 6 - Tango to the Doctor Who theme - 35
Week 7 - Couple's Choice: Street and Commercial to Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys - 36
Week 8 - Waltz to Moon River by Audrey Hepburn - 32
Week 9 - Salsa to Ooh Aah (Just a Little Bit) by Gina G - 33
Week 10 - Paso Doble to Malaguena by Brian Setzer - 39, Lindy Hop-a-thon - 4 (out of 7), combined total - 43
Never miss an episode with BT TV – catch up via the iPlayer app.


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Philip Following Divine Direction In The Desert
Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 23, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: God desires to direct His people through His Holy spirit living in us. In Philip you can see a person determined to follow the direction of God no matter where the direction would lead.
Intro: We see in our passage today that God greatly desires to direct His church by way of the Holy Spirit.
You might ask, how does God direct and guide through His Holy Spirit living in us?
God speaks, guides and directs His people in so many different ways.
Imagine the many different ways God has spoken to people, angels, a burning bush, a donkey, a still small voice, a wet fleece, a thirty-three year old Carpenter, An old rugged cross.
He guides through inner promptings that are either heard and heeded, or heard misunderstood and hurled in the garbage.
Through a voice so loud we either know its God or we are so unused to His voice that it merely blends in with the rest of our noisy chaotic world.
But more important than the many ways God communicates, speaks, guides and directs us is the way we respond to God's direction.
As we focus in on Philip we see a man that is determined to follow God's direction.
Truth: It takes a determined will to follow God's direction no matter the consequences. (Moses, Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jesus)
Many of those in the Bible went through difficult days, and difficult deaths but were still determined to follow God's direction.
Determination to follow God will build conviction to share Christ (Matthew 4.19)
Jesus tells us some truths about the Holy Spirit.
John 16.13 "He will guide you into all truth." God will direct us if we will follow the direction of the Holy Spirit that lives in us.
John 14.16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that he may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him, nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." (God will help us if we obey His direction)
What does it look like to be determined to follow God's direction?
Look at Acts 8.26-40 and see Philips example.
I. Philip was Open (Available).
A) To the Spirit's Call
Acts 8.26 "But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip "
1) A divine messenger with a word from God. 8.26 a
a) There are many ways that God can speak to His people.
1) Through a hymn "Wherever He leads I'll go" (does he lead you?)
2) Through a song Brad Cox Daystar
"Lead me Lord, I will follow anywhere you open up the door"
3) Through a devotional/prayer time
4) Through a sermon (my call to preach June 13, 1999 "Wasted Talents")
5) Through a Sunday School/Bible Study
6) Through His holy spirit to my heart.
b) There are many reasons that God's speaks to His people
1) God speaks to us for conformations, correction, instruction, revelation, and encouragement.
2) God is speaking a command to Philip
2) A divine messenger with a command from God. 8.26b
Get up and go South" 8.26
a) Reminiscent of what God told Abraham
Now the Lord said to Abram Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father's house to the land I will show you.
Talk about walk on faith! Abraham struck out on a journey and God hadn't yet told him where.
I'm sure in the back of my mind I would have said, Uh, God, what about food, what about water, I have a family here.
b) Reminds us of Jesus words
Go and make disciples.
1) Jesus' Great Commission
Matt 28.19 "Go and make disciples of all nations"
Mark 16.15 "Go into all the world and preach"
Acts 5.20 "Go and stand and speak"
Acts 8.26 "Get up an Go south."
2) Spirits Commission.
The same Greek word is used in all these occurrences of the Lord Jesus or the Holy Spirit telling His church to go!
God is still giving the commands from heaven, go into all the earth and make disciples of all nations!!!!
3) Go – A present tense verb. It is a command for action as you are going. God is thus calling us to obedience to His great commission in all areas and aspects of our lives.
II. Philip was Obedient (Faithful)
A) To the Spirits direction (commission)
"So he got up and went"
What an awesome commentary on Philips spiritual journey.
1) What the Bible doesn't say
a) Philip didn't moan and complain; he didn't need to check his schedule; he didn't make excuses.
b) Philip heard God speak and he simply obeyed!!!
John Oxenham
Not for one single day
Can I discern my way,
But this I surely know—
He who gives the day
Will show the way,
So I securely go.
2) Where he was sent
a) To an unlikely place (road between Gaza and J 50 + miles)


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Done. Finally done.
Two years I've been working on the Mystara Player's Handbook. Paid out probably thousands in art. And now the art is done. All that is left is editing the book and setting the table of contents. Then wait to get published. The train at the end of the tunnel has finally arrived. It feels good.


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Poweradd Virgo II 10000mAh Portable Charger
LED Display
Built-in digital LED display, indicators the remaining power so that you could correctly know how many charges it could offer at that moment.
USB-C Charging Port
Efficient and future-proof charging technology for the whole range of exciting new USB-C devices.
Charge compatible devices at high speed with 5V 3A output. Easy, hassle-free connection for power with the new USB-C connector design.
Special iPhone Series Devices Input Port
The built-in compatible with iPhone series devices input port compatible with 8pin cable.
1 meter 8-Pin iPhone series cable is included. That means you can use this cable to charge your iPhone series devices and recharge the power bank, do not need to carry other cable.
Use Tips:
1. Due to safety purpose, the power bank you receive will not come with 100% capacity, please fully charge it before first use to get better performance.
2. Recharges the power bank with Type-C charger to maximize the charging speed(in 6 hours).
3. Use the included cable, your original cable or a third-party certified one.
Capacity: 10000mAh/37Wh
Battery Type: A+ Li-Polymer Battery
Input(iPhone series devices port): 5V/2A
Input(Type-C): 5V/2A (3A Max)
Output(USB): 5V/2.4A
Output(Type-C): 5V/3A
Dimensions: 18.6x9x3cm, 290g
1.Question: How do i actually charge the power pack? is it from the mains?Answer: plug the lead into a plug as if you were to charge a phone normally. find the slot on the side of the powerbank it would fit into, (its on the black side neear the middle)


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Jacob & Friends {senior} :: Fort Worth, Tx HS Senior Photographer
Jacob is the oldest son of a dear friend in Fort Worth who worked for my Dad at his vet clinic. We met a few weeks ago for his session and he brought along a couple of his friends. Here are a few of my favorites… Click here for a link to the slide show!


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July 22, 2004
FX-MAX.com has announced the immediate availability of Giga Teleport
and Giga VST Adapter, new tools allowing you to integrate one or more Giga
Studio software samplers into VST host application. MIDI streams from VST host
to Giga Studio(s), audio from Giga Studio streams back to VST host.
Giga VST Adapter is designed to work when both the VST host application and
Giga Studio are on the same computer. No GSIF-compatible audio hardware is
In case one wants to run Giga Studio on a separate dedicated machine, Giga
VST Adapter can be used in conjunction with FX Teleport, a DAW networking solution.
Also, Giga Teleport – a combination of Giga VST Adapter and teleport features
is availble. These programs will integrate one or more Giga Studios each running
on its own dedicated machine into the VST host application. As the only connection
between the host and the Giga Studio machine(s) required for Giga Teleport/FX
Teleport to run is a local network, no additional audio or MIDI interfaces
are needed on the Giga Studio machines.
- Seamless Giga Studio 2.54 or 3 integration into any VST 2 host
- Runs a number of Giga Studios on networked (with Giga Teleport/FX Teleport
only) and local computer
- No GSIF-compatible hardware required
- No MIDI hardware required
- Audio from Giga Studio streams to host mixer
- Up to 128 MIDI channels for Giga Studio 3 or 64 MIDI channels for Giga
Studio 2.54 (on all hosts except Logic)
- Up to 32 audio outputs
- Up to 192 KHz sample rate support
- 16, 24 and 32-bit depth support
- MIDI layering
- Support of external performance tool(s)
System Requirements
- VST 2 compatible host application (Cubase, Nuendo, Logic or SONAR with
a VST Wrapper, etc.)
- Giga Studio 2.54 or 3
- Windows XP/2000 with sufficient resources to run Giga Studio
- Windows XP/2000/ME/98SE with sufficient resources to run VST host
Pricing and Availability
Giga Teleport and Giga VST Adapter are now available for online purchase direct
from the company's web site. Prices starts from $119/Eur99 for Giga Teleport
1 host + 1 server configuration and $69/Eur59 for Giga VST Adapter 1 computer
license. Volume discounts are available. Full-featured 14-day trial versions
are available for download.
For more information, visit their web site at www.fx-max.com


text:
Family Pack Specials
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Sal's Mexican Restaurant's is your last minute party specialist. Perfect for any gathering. The most talked about party tray in the valley. Thousands are ordering every year! Be sure to order from our menu today.
Time to enjoy Sal's Award winning Salsa. Our salsa is made fresh daily using the freshest ingredients our valley can provide. Savor a delicious combination of chilies, green onions tomatoes and so much more bringing flavors together that will enhance everything from your tacos to salads. Available to-go in ½ pint or pint size and…
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Please give us your Feedback Thank you for choosing Sal's Mexican Restaurants. We would appreciate your feedback by completing our survey. Your information will help us continue to provide top standards for our food and service. By submitting your request, you are also giving authorization to add your contact information to the Sal's Mexican Restaurant database and…
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The California Restaurant Association (Fresno chapter) presented the 2017 Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards. The event honored Jon Koobation with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The evening gave guest an opportunity to network, socialize and enjoy wonderful appetizers, dinner and dessert. Awards were also given to restaurants from Best Winery, to Best BBQ to Restaurateur…
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