text:
Difference between revisions of "Latvia"
Revision as of 22:46, 29 March 2014
Latvia (Latvija) is a European state which is situated on the coast of Baltic Sea. One of the three Baltic states, Latvia is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus on the south east, and the Baltic Sea on the west. The most famous travel spot is the capital Riga, a World Heritage Site. There are also many other great places to see, both urban and rural, such as Liepaja with its unique former secret military town of Karosta and a magnificent beach. Kuldiga with Europe`s widest waterfall and Cesis with its medieval castle ruins are also interesting. Tourists can also enjoy the wild beauty of Latvia's unspoilt sea coast, which is 500 km long and consists mainly of white, soft sandy beaches. Forests, which cover approximately a half of Latvia's territory, offer many nature trails and nature parks.
Latvia is a famous ancient trading point. The famous route from the Vikings to the Greeks' mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from Scandinavia through Latvian territory along the river Daugava to the Kievan Rus and Byzantine Empire. Across the European continent, Latvia's coast was known as a place for obtaining amber. In the Middle Ages amber was more valuable than gold in many places. Latvian amber was known in places as far away as Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. In the 12th century, German traders arrived, bringing with them missionaries who attempted to convert the pagan Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes to the Christian faith. The Germans founded Rīga in 1201, establishing it as the largest and most powerful city on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. After independence in 1918, Latvia achieved considerable results in social development, economy, industry and agriculture. It has always been a multicultural melting point, where foreigners and locals worked together and brought prosperity to the country. On June 16, 1940, Vyacheslav Molotov presented the Latvian representative in Moscow with an ultimatum accusing Latvia of violations of that pact, and on June 17 Soviet forces occupied the country. Elections for a "People's Saeima" were held, and a puppet government headed by Augusts Kirhenšteins led Latvia into the USSR. The annexation was formalized on August 5, 1940. During the time of the Iron Curtain, Latvia was a province of the Soviet Union, but the concentration of heavy industry was enormous. Contacts with the West were regulated. The Baltic region had the reputation of being the most urbanized and having the highest literacy rate in the Soviet Union. Latvia gained independence on September 6, 1991. Between 1991 and 2007 the country saw unprecedented economic growth. However, the global recession and the banking crisis hit Latvia brutally, and severe economic contraction and destructively high unemployment have returned.
Because of a tribal past and divisions between occupying nations, there are regional differences between parts of Latvia which are interesting to explore.
The best time to travel to Latvia is from June to mid September, when it is warm and plenty of local food is available. January and February are the coldest months. October and November have autumn rains and daylight is short.
Half of Latvia is covered with forests which are rich with wildlife. There are many lakes, especially if you go to Latgale region. There are deep river valleys with some sections having sand cliffs on their banks. Heavy industry halted a long time ago, so most places are ecologically clean.
The highest point in Latvia is Gaizinkalns [3], at 312m (1,023ft) above sea level, just west of the town of Madona.
There are some cultural and social differences between regions, for example, traditional dress is different from region to region. The Latgale region has its own unique culture and language - Latgalian.
Other destinations
Get in
Latvia is a member of the Schengen Agreement.
There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented this treaty - the European Union (except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful: not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen members are part of the European Union. This means that there may be spot customs checks but no immigration checks (travelling within Schengen but to/from a non-EU country) or you may have to clear immigration but not customs (travelling within the EU but to/from a non-Schengen country).
Please see the article Travel in the Schengen Zone for more information about how the scheme works and what entry requirements are.
Health or travel insurance must be presented at border crossing points. More Information at: [4]
If you need a visa, getting one can be tricky. Visa costs are on the high side considering size of the country - 20LVL for single or 35LVL for multiple entries. Applications will take 7 days to process, or can take as long as 30 days if additional information is needed. To apply, submit to the Latvian embassy or consulate:
By plane
Riga International Airport [5] has direct flights to/from various European cities (London, Madrid, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Oslo, etc), Middle East (Beirut, Tel Aviv, Dubai), CIS (Moscow, Kiev, Minsk) as well as North America (New York City).
Inexpensive national airline: Air Baltic [6]. There are also other low-cost carriers: Ryanair [7] and WizzAir [8]. You can take also Ryanair [9] flight to Kaunas in Lithuania but it might be not so easy to get from Kaunas to Riga by public transport.
There are bus nr 22 (0.50 LVL or 0.70 LVL at the driver) and taxi (<10 LVL) connections to city centre. Red taxis [10] operate from the airport to the city center. The green Baltic Taxi operates from the airport to the city center for a flat fee of 9 LVL if purchasing a voucher from the Baltic Taxi booth inside the airport; the same voucher costs 8 LVL if purchased from flight attendants on board an Air Baltic flight (credit cards accepted). Journey times depend on traffic. Airport operates 24h hours.
If departing in the morning, allow yourself plenty of time to proceed through passport control as it can get crowded.
By train
SJSC Latvian Railways [11], 67216664, 67233397.
If you travel by train via Daugavpils to connect to Riga you might need to stay in Daugavpils overnight for the connection. The same applies if you are going opposite direction.
By car
Major "Via Baltica" road links Warsaw, Poland through Kaunas, Lithuania, crosses Riga, Latvia and goes to Tallinn, Estonia. If you have a driver's licence issued by another country of the European Union, you can use it continuosly. Residents of other countries have to obtain a Latvian licence after 6 months; however, it involves only a theoretical exam, which can be taken in English, German, French and Russian.
By bus
By boat
Get around
By plane
There are several small airports available across Latvia, two in Riga - Spilves airport and Rumbulas airport and in biggest cities of Latvia however there are no intercity flights in Latvia operating these days.
By car
International car rentals are represented in Latvia. There are many offices in Riga, including some at Riga Airport. Cheaper car rental offices are also available.
Drive with the headlights on all year round. Winter or all-season tyres are required for the winter period (December 1 to March 1). Many gas stations are self-service and operate 24/7. Gasoline with octane ratings of 95 and 98 is available, as well as diesel fuel.
You can browse the car rental companies list at the Riga International Airport website [17].
By train
It is advisable to go by train instead of bus from Riga to the following towns: Jurmala, Tukums, Jelgava, Salaspils, Jekabpils, Daugavpils, Rezekne, Sigulda, Cesis and Saulkrasti. Check the official Latvian Railroad (Latvijas dzelzcels) website[18] or [19] for timetables. If you are going to other cities, there is most likely only a couple trains per day or there are no trains going at all.
Trains are usually cheaper and you don't need to worry about having no seat. Trains are usually crowded on peak days of summer.
Remember that sometimes the name of station differs from the name of town. For example, you might need to go to Krustpils station, if traveling to Jekabpils, and going to Majori (city center) or Ķemeri (going to the national park), if going to Jurmala.
Buying a train ticket before you board the train will avoid an extra fee and language hassles of buying a ticket on the train. Ticket offices at smaller stations can open late and close early, and also close for periods during the date. The schedule is posted at the ticket office. Don't buy a return ticket unless you have confirmed there is a return train at the time you need. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or from any station. If you buy them online you still need to collect them from a station.
There is a narrow gauge railway Gulbene-Aluksne in the North-East of Latvia[20]. There are several tourist-oriented places along the route.
By bus
There is a vast network of bus connections around Latvia. Buy a bus ticket at the bus station or on bus when boarding. If you have luggage, ask the bus driver to put it in the trunk. It depends on the bus company, if they will charge extra. There are express bus connections to major towns, which can save time considerably.
On Fridays and Saturdays buses could be crowded in the outbound direction from Riga. Bus time tables are available at the Rigas Autoosta [21] site, and at [22]. If going by bus on Friday from Riga or coming back to Riga on Sunday it is highly recommended to book ticket in advance (available only of booking for route from starting station of bus) at the cash desk of bus station or online at [23]. You can buy ticket up to 10 days before departure.
By boat
If you are going from Riga to Jurmala during summer, a very romantic way is to travel by river cruise boats: dominantly two-deck motor boats with capacity for around 60-100 people. They usually depart from Riga center in the morning and go back in the afternoon. There probably still is also a river cruise service from Riga center to Riga Zoo. Ask in the tourism information center for more details and prices.
By bike
It is advised to cycle around Riga in the early morning when there is less traffic, although one should be careful when choosing this time due to reduced drivers attention. Expect heavy traffic from 5 PM to 8 PM. No left turn allowed from middle line. However, it is highly advised to choose by-ways and less densely populated roads due to hazardous traffic. It is vitally important to wear reflectors; reflective belts, bands and bright coloured clothing are advised, as well as having the bike equipped with strong front and rear lights. Generally, cycling is still not very safe in the country, especially during the dark hours. The only "real" bicycle path is existing from the old town of Riga to the Sea resort of Jurmala. But the country is fast developing local cycling routes. The international bicycle project BaltiCCycle [24] may provide you with a lot of information and help.
By thumb
Hitchhiking in Latvia is generally good. The roads around Riga present the largest obstacle, unless the city is your destination - there is no clean "by-pass" road, and a considerable amount of local traffic makes hitching very difficult. The easiest way to get around Riga is to find a "cross-country" lift at the border with Estonia or Lithuania. License plate numbers/countries of origin are your friends.
Latvian' (Latviešu valoda) is the only official language and belongs to the Baltic language group of Indo-European languages and its only closest relative is Lithuanian, but it is very different anyway, so most likely Latvian will sound completely foreign for you and it is hard to guess what written words mean, even if Latvian uses Latin alphabet, just like English. However, some words are borrowed from other languages and it is not hard to understand that Restorans means Restaurant, but what about Veikals? It means Shop. The language has complicated grammar, the most complex being usage of verb prefixes and suffixes, which can change the meaning completely, as well as many kinds of participles majority of which do not have equivalent in English.
The pronunciation is more or less easy; however there are some complicated rules for some letters like e and o, and any foreigners trying to speak Latvian have an accent, because it is really hard to speak perfect Latvian. In Latvian, there are three pitch tones and sometimes the meaning of the word changes if you change the tone, e.g. loks can mean leek or bow, depending on the pronunciation tone. Zale can mean a hall or grass, again depends on the tone you use. The easiest part is the stress, which is almost always on the first syllable. Latvian is spoken natively by only 1.5 million people in the whole world, most of them of course in Latvia, but also in Ireland, UK, USA, Russia, Brazil or Australia.
Besides Latvian, Russian is spoken fluently by most of the people (70% of people speak it as a second language according to the Eurobarometer poll of 2005), since Latvia was part of the Soviet Union, and in fact some places like Daugavpils have Russian as the majority language. It is also possible to get by with English, especially in Riga.
Thinking of Europe. the small nation of Latvia is probably not one of the first countries to spring to your mind. Buried under the big no-go blanket of the Soviet Union, it has yet to be properly discovered by the large tourist crowds. If you manage to make it there, however, you might just find yourself most positively surprised by the charms of this Baltic country.
Latvia's dynamic capital, the historic city of Riga, is a great place to spend some time. It boasts a truly lovely old quarter, full of magnificent Jugendstil architecture, winding cobblestoned lanes and many steeples. Yet, it is a modern, metropolitan city with a vibrant nightlife and a strong economic impulse, to the extend that the rise of modernist buildings is threatening the old town's World Heritage listing. Riga's vibe gets under many travellers' skins, perhaps for the strong contrasts between old and new or maybe because of the seemingly painless blend of Latvian and Russian cultures, as almost half of the city's inhabitants are of Russian origin. To get a sense of the city, wander through its large, manicured parks, stroll through the historic quarter and then kick back in one of the many cafés or outdoor terraces. Among Riga's best sights are the impressive Riga Cathedral, St. Peter's Church and the bustling Central Market.
Although Riga is by far the country's main tourist destination, there are a bunch of other places well worth a visit. At just 40 km from the capital is Sigulda, with the nicely reconstructed Turaida Castle, an interesting castle museum as well as the deep Gutmanis Cave. The town is beautifully located in the Gauja valley and has been called the "Switserland of Latvia" for its steep cliffs and banks. It's known for its winter sports opportunities and makes a great base for explorations of the fine nature around it. The coastal city of Liepāja is known to Latvians as "the city where the wind is born", for the sea breeze it constantly enjoys. It has a nice beach and a charming town centre with a colourful mixture or architectural styles, from wooden houses and spacious parks to Art Nouveau and concrete, Soviet-era apartment buildings. Liepāja's neighbourhood of Karosta was built in the late 19th century as a naval base for Tsar Alexander III and was later used by the Soviet Baltic Fleet. Its splendid sea side panoramas, former military prison and fortress remains now make it a popular tourist sight.
Cesisis one of the country's oldest towns and has a charming centre with cobblestoned lanes, historic wooden building and a few impressive castles. Kuldīga boasts Europe's widest, though at two meters high unspectacular, water fall. It's part of the Venta Rapid, one of Latvia's natural monuments. Despite its limited hight it's still a nice sight and the town itself is worth exploring too. The colossal white Cathedral of Aglona is a worthwhile day trip from Daugavpils, the second largest city in the country. Jelgava has two fine sight in its baroque style Rundāle and Jelgava palaces.
Hiking, cycling and boating
Latvia is a popular destination to nature lovers and is popular for bird watching and treks. There are many opportunities of all difficulty levels starting from short walks in old parks and up to several day camping and boating. Due to low population density large parts of Latvia are covered by forests and wetlands and there are many national parks and nature preserves. The largest one is the densely forested Gauja National Park in the River Gauja valley. The Slitere National Park has the stunning beach of Cape Kolka, where the Gulf of Riga meets the Baltic Sea.
If you've had enough of it all, Latvia's many spas are an excellent way to relax. Although widely available, the popular holiday resort town of Jūrmala has some of the best options, as well as a fine beach.
There are a lot of possibilities to practice winter sports - snowboarding, cross country skiing, downhill skiing etc. Ramkalni [25], Baili [26], Zviedru Cepure [27]. Some of slopes are open till late night. Usually need car to access.
As rivers get more water from melting snow, kayaking down the river is one of the favorite past times for young people. It usually gets warmer after Easter.
Latvia has one of the longest sand beaches in Europe. In July and August the water is warm enough to swim comfortably. The sea has a very slow slope. As a best natural beach is listed the coast southways form Liepaja. Because it is a coast of open sea (not a gulf) with cleaner water, brighter sand, and not too many people, because its not close to massive population. With stable air temperature 30°C, water temperature is about 20°C which is very refreshing when You take an intensive sunbath. You don't practically need to wash Your self after beach, because salt level is pleasantly low.
There are many interesting and old castles around Latvia. Association of Latvian Castles, Palaces and Manors [34] has links and photos on their website. Note that sometimes castles are reserved for private occasions.
It is popular to go for a stroll in the autumn to watch the different shades of colour, when the trees turn red and yellow. Popular places for such activities are Sigulda and Vidzemes Augstiene.
Latvia has the euro (€) as its sole currency along with 24 other countries that use this common European money. These 24 countries are: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain (official euro members which are all European Union member states) as well as Andorra, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and the Vatican which use it without having a say in eurozone affairs and without being European Union members. Together, these countries have a population of more than 330 million.
One euro is divided into 100 cents. While each official euro member (as well as Monaco, San Marino and Vatican) issues its own coins with a unique obverse, the reverse, as well as all bank notes, look the same throughout the eurozone. Every coin is legal tender in any of the eurozone countries.
The Latvian lats, deemed to be one of world's most beautifully designed currencies, was replaced by the Euro on 1 January 2014. A two week transition period during which the lats was in circulation along with the euro ended on 14 January 2014. Should you receive any lati, it is advisable to exchange them back to your foreign currency, unless you want to keep them as a souvenir.
ATMs are widely available throughout Latvia (including Riga International Airport), even in many small towns. Tax free [35] stores have their signs clearly displayed.
Banks will accept traveller's cheques with some fee as a percentage of the sum.
Speciality shops are open mostly from 8 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, till 4 PM on Saturdays, closed on Sundays. Groceries are open every day till 8 PM or longer. Most supermarkets are open till 11 PM every day. Convenience stores, such as Narvesen are mostly open 24/7.
The country offers plenty of varieties of bread, milk products, ice cream, sweets (loose sweets, made by Laima) etc. In the open air markets of Riga, Liepaja and other cities and towns, the local fruits, vegetables and mushrooms are a great option, such as freshly picked wild strawberries or blueberries from the forests, or some big strawberries, apples, rhubarb pie and a crunch made of fresh stalks straight from the garden. This is, of course, available mainly in summer and autumn season.
Latvian cuisine comes from its peasant culture, and is based on crops that grow in Latvia's maritime, temperate climate. Rye, wheat, oat, peas, beets, and potatoes are the staples; smoked bacon, sausage, and other pork products are favourites, smoked and raw fish is common. Many types of food are flavoured with caraway seeds, especially cheese and bread. A cheese similar to smoked gouda, but softer, is the cheapest and, arguably, tastiest variety. Latvian rye bread is heavy and flavourful, and goes well with hearty Latvian meals like pea soup, potatoes, and schnitzels. Restaurants in larger cities often offer stews in clay pots.
Latvian cuisine is typical of northern countries, especially close to Finland; it's high on butter, fat, and grains, low on spice except for caraway and black pepper. If you are from the Mediterranean, you might find it bland, but if you come from England or the Midwestern US, you're not likely to have trouble getting used to it.
A more exotic Latvian dish is a sweet soup made from rye bread (maizes zupa).
Some specific food in this area:
Other mentionable food and dishes:
Beer, the most popular alcoholic beverage in Latvia, is excellent. Beers, such as Aldaris, Līvu, and Senču can be bought almost anywhere but local people are very proud about local small breweries, try Bauskas, Tervetes, Piebalgas and some other beer. A special 'live beer' like Užavas can be found in selected pubs and restaurants. Don't forget to try the locally distilled Black Balsam (Rīgas Melnais Balzams). It's a strong (45%) infusion of various herbs, roots, and spices. It will cure your flu in no time. Add a few drops to flavor your tea, or a few spoons to lace your coffee, or in various cocktails. By itself it can be a very strong beverage! Wine is also grown in Latvia in small quantities. It is one of the most Northern places in the world where the wine can be successfully grown. Vineyards can be seen in Sabile [39] (in Latvian).
Some possible places to have a sip:
It is common to tip 10% of the bill depending on the service you encountered. Make sure you check the receipt, as some establishments automatically include a 10% tip in the bill.
Although you might not find plenty of 5 star hotels all around Latvia, you will find comfortable places to stay for a reasonable price. There are many hotels to choose from. Prices start from 20 LVL outside of Riga and from 40 LVL in Riga.
Network of youth hostels [42] is also developing. Dormitory rooms come around 10 lats, single, double rooms start from 20 lats and above.
Camping in parks is usually not allowed. As regards the stealth camping- most of rural land is private, but camping there is always possible; common sense is to ask for a permission of the owner, which in most cases will be gladly granted. However, if there's no such chance, but you decide to camp there nevertheless and are later asked to move, you have to. Paying a small amount of money (1-2 lats) helps in most such cases. Overall, camping outdoors on privately owned land is widely understood, common and accepted; however, staying in one place for more than two days, or really close to a home is not considered good manners. Follow the common sense of stealth camping.
Indicated free camp sites can be found in Latvia, especially in national parks, you can easily camp there. Commercial campgrounds as small businesses are becoming more and more widespread.
So called guest houses and country houses (some on farms) are arguably the best places to stay at in the countryside, and usually for much less money than hotels and better quality than hostels, due to very limited numbers of guests and more personal oriented and specialized service (usually run by families). These come with full amenities and some follow the hotel star ratings. These also provide many recreational activities- from the Latvian popular ancient "pirts" sauna to horse rides etc. This is not only a good way to spend the night, but also an option to spend your holiday. However, usually, guest houses should be called up earlier than the day you plan to arrive, but this can vary depending on the place. Guest houses can be found fairly frequent throughout the country and are usually listed on tourist booklets.
Not impossible (especially if you are an EU citizen), but you have to find a company which will be willing to pay a 35 LVL fee per month, work permit up to 170 LVL (once) and an additional fee for checking your documents of education 47.20 LVL (once). Salary should not be less than 246 LVL per month.
Job advertisements in Latvian daily newspapers like Diena Tuesday or Saturday edition, some of those ads are in English, German, Russian or French.
Stay safe
It is generally safe to travel around on your own, although some petty crime exists. A thing to watch out for is bicycle theft, and it is advisable not to leave valuable things in your car. Mind the forest roads, collisions with wildlife animals can easily occur.
Much like Estonia and Lithuania, roads are congested with traffic and accident rates in Latvia are high. Take care while crossing the road as most drivers can be reckless.
When visiting bars and restaurants in Riga, make sure you know the price before you order and follow your spending, so no cheating is possible. Beware of scammers who strike up conversations out of the blue and invite you to visit their favorite club or bar; this is often a favorite way for the mafia how to rob the foreigners, and the police are unlikely to help if you get scammed. The Police of Latvia [43] has a website with advice for travelers.
Emergency phone number: Fire/Police/Ambulance 112.
If bitten by a dog, wild animal or a snake, seek medical attention immediately. Snakes are not venomous in Latvia, except for the European Adder which is a possible death threat if no treatment is received within the next few hours after the bite. A dog or cat bite can carry the risk of rabies. Mosquitoes carry no disease and are only an annoyance in the summer months.
Forest ticks can be abundant from May-September, depending on previous year's weather, especially in brushwood/scrub areas, but also occasionally in town parks. Their bite carries the risk of tick-born encephalitis[44] (infected ticks can be quite common, vaccination possible before season) and Lyme disease[45] -- less common; delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to disabilities.
Stay healthy
There is no problem turning to any doctor or hospital to seek medical help, just by paying an outside patient fee. However, it can prove difficult to obtain medical assistance in many rural areas, as the service can be slow and unresponsive; therefore, it may be a good idea to bring your own first aid kit. There are virtually no air ambulance helicopters in the country, except for the army, so when exploring sparsely-inhabited, remote areas on your own, it's important to be well-prepared for emergency situations. If you get to a doctor, he/she will probably only speak Latvian and Russian.
Few drugs are available without a prescription; bring your own medicine if you require it.
If you need to seek medical attention of a doctor, be prepared to pay a fee under the table; in Latvia, it is estimated that 1 in 4 doctors take "private donations" to see patients.
Tap water is safe to drink; however, most locals prefer to boil it before drinking. Purchasing bottled water is an alternative.
One should be cautious when mentioning Latvia in the context of the USSR to ethnic Latvians. Latvia became a USSR province after World War II, and praise of the Soviet (or Russian) regimes is unlikely to be understood or appreciated by Latvians, especially young ones.
It is very common to give up your seat for an elderly passenger on the public transport in Latvia. It is also considered polite to let women board a train or bus first.
There are many waste containers and trash cans on the sidewalks and near most stores. Littering is considered a very bad manner and may be fined.
Also, you do not need to specially greet, smile or offer help to people. Latvian citizens are not so easy-going in relationships. Friendship is seen as a very serious affair that develops in the long term.
Latvijas Pasts [46] is also reliable and a fast way to send letters and parcels (up to 10kg).
If your GSM phone works in Europe it will also work in Latvia. For extended local communication it is much cheaper to buy a local prepaid SIM card. These cards and separate renewal vouchers can be easily bought in gas stations, kiosks or supermarkets. All brands are more or less equal although if you plan to talk a lot you should check beforehand which rating option to choose because that can easily tripple or halve your costs. Any local customer care center for particular operator will explain you the options. Look for these logos in Airport or in Riga - LMT [47], Tele2 [48], Bite [49].
With recent price wars the price of mobile internet has really gone down. You can have mobile internet in your phone starting as low as 0.25 LVL per day [50]. All prepaid SIM cards come with a manual in English, Russian and Latvian.
Internet spots are available in cafes, libraries and airports. Most hotels will provide free wireless access spots for laptops.
If you can't find free wireless spot, try Lattelecom WLAN. A wifi card is need to connect to Lattelecom WLAN [51]. A WLAN area can be found around any Statoil gas stations. Internet at no charge is also available in most public libraries, some have free wireless access points as well.
To call from a public phone you need a phone card (telekarte). It costs 2,3 or 5 LVL. International calls are possible from every public phone.


text:
Paula Cooper works a full-time job as a massage therapist at Palmetto Bodyworks, but her primary responsibility — something she's done every day for the past eight years — is take care of her mother, who has Alzheimer's.
Caring for caregivers
SPARTANBURG, S.C.-- It was one of Claudia Cooper's "good days."
The 77-year-old sat on a bench, facing a large pond. She smiled and laughed often as she watched her daughter, Paula Cooper, and granddaughter, Sarah Paradowski, feed ducks.
"I love the outdoors," Claudia said, as birds chirped overhead. Her white hair seemed to glow in the morning sun.
Paula Cooper describes mornings when her mother doesn't even recognize her.
She sometimes thinks her daughter and granddaughter are just guests in the house. But she will look out the dining room window, see a neighbor and instantly say the neighbor's name.
On these mornings, "She knows her neighbors but doesn't even know her own family," Paula Cooper said.
On this recent Wednesday morning, as Claudia Cooper sat beneath the shade of tall pines at Duncan Park, she was happy to share stories about what it was like to grow up in Texas and mentioned how much she enjoys time spent with her daughter.
"This is one of the good days," Paula Cooper said with a smile.
Paula Cooper works a full-time job as a massage therapist at Palmetto Bodyworks, but her primary responsibility — something she's done every day for the past eight years — is take care of her mother, who has Alzheimer's.
The reason she does it: "It's about family," she said.
Paula Cooper brings her mother to Duncan Park about once a week — it's a way to get out of the house, she said. It's a way for everyone to take a break and relax, she said.
She also, on occasion, has a professional come into her home to stay with her mother for a few hours while she and her niece step out for a bit and get dinner or enjoy some alone time.
Breaks like these are necessary for caregivers.
"Schedule days where you can take a break," Paula Cooper advised other caregivers. "Find time to do things that bring you pleasure."
Caregivers face a myriad of emotions and challenges that can lead to depression and burnout, such as frustration, anger, guilt, grief. They can also experience insomnia, anxiety, physical decline, financial burdens and relationship issues, doctors say.
"All these issues come together and form like a perfect storm," said Karen Nichols, program director for Mary Black Memorial Hospital's geriatric psychiatry services. She often educates members of the community about the disease through a course called Alzheimer's and You.
"One of the most important things a caregiver can do is recognize when they are burning out and recognize when they need a time out or a break, and not feel guilty about reaching out for help," she said.
But to whom do caregivers reach out when they need a break?
Sometimes, it's as simple as other family members coming in to help out.
That's what Paradowski, 22, did. She was attending a small community college in Texas a few years ago. When she heard her grandmother was sick with Alzheimer's, she decided to put her education on hold.
She moved to Spartanburg to help out and stays with Claudia during the day while Paula works.
"I was raised to help take care of family whenever they need it," Paradowski said. "I did it for both" my grandmother and aunt.
Paula Cooper said she's not sure she could do what she does every day without her niece's help.
"Words can't express how happy I am that she came back to help. And we have gotten closer during this time," she said.
Senior day care
Wanda Harper, of Boiling Springs, S.C., uses a senior day care service to get breaks.
She has been taking care of her mother for six years. Through a friend, she found out about the Daybridge Program, a new non-residential memory day care program at Windsor House Retirement Community in Spartanburg.
Here, the senior adults sit around tables and reminisce about their past. They smile as they share stories, laugh and speak about loved ones and religion.
On a recent Wednesday, Alice Smith, Daybridge coordinator/memory care activity director, called out "B6" from the corner of the room.
With Bingo cards fanned out in front of them on tables, the women placed red tokens over the appropriate space.
"Bingo," yelled one woman.
Then she picked out a prize for winning. She chose a pair of comfortable socks.
The Daybridge Program, like many other similar programs in Spartanburg County, is designed for people who have Alzheimer's or dementia. It's also designed as a way to give caregivers, such as Harper, a break.
"It's been a great benefit for me and my mother," she said. "Getting that free time helps out a lot. It helps you out mentally. And they are safe, so you don't have to worry about her while she is there."
The program offers interactive activities throughout the day, such as cooking, devotionals, games, etc.
"I love this," Smith said, "We have to offer new programs like this. (Senior adults) deserve some dignity and a place to go. And it's good to give caregivers a break. And we are here to help them." Programs like these might not be for everyone.
It's too expensive for many caregivers — one of the challenges middleto- lower-income families face, said Joyce Finkle, Spartanburg area program director with the Alzheimer's Associatio.
"But if you can make it work, programs like this can make a big difference, and it sure helps the family members," she said.
Community help
Sometimes, caregivers need to turn to the community around them for help.
Dr. Vonda Gravely, chairwoman of the department of psychiatry at Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System and co-medical director of geriatric psychiatry, says caregivers should reach out to their clergy, physicians, trained counselors and local agencies for support.
Organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association and the local branch of the AARP work to point caregivers in the right direction when they call.
"There are definitely options caregivers can seek out if they need encouragement, support, help or just some time off," Finkle said.
She points caregivers to one of the many agencies involved in the S.C. Respite Care Program. The Alzheimer's Association works with licensed and bonded agencies that honor or "accept" a voucher. The agency accepts the voucher instead of money, and the Alzheimer's Association pays for services provided.
The services are provided to the caregiver free of charge.
"If a caregiver," Nichols said, "wants to go to a support group or take a break, someone from the respite program can come in and give them time off."
More than 16,000 people are caring for loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer's in Spartanburg County, the Spartanburg Alzheimer's Association estimates. As the aging population continues to grow, the same can be said about the number of Alzheimer's cases and the number of caregivers.
More than 80,000 South Carolinians are living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, with a new person developing the disease every 68 seconds, according to the Alzheimer's Association's website.
The problem, Finkle said, is that there are not enough options available to meet the demands of everyone who needs help.
But what if churches got involved? Or other community organizations?
That's what Nancy Eaker, president of Spartanburg's AARP chapter, is hoping to make happen as part of a major campaign by the AARP and the Ad Council to raise awareness of the impact of family caregiving and to point overwhelmed families toward resources that might ease the strain.
Eaker wants to present a "Roadmap to Senior Care" to area churches and community centers, nursing homes and as many other organizations as possible.
Caregiver support groups are scattered throughout the Upstate, but they face many obstacles.
In the past, caregiver support groups sponsored by the AARP have received such a large turnout that they were unable to function properly, Eaker said. The purpose of a support group is to give caregivers social interaction, and allow them to exchange ideas and resources with each other.
But, Eaker said, when a lot of people are present, they are hesitant to talk with one another. "People would not share their experience in a crowd," she said. "In a smaller setting, people are more comfortable." And they are even more comfortable when they are around people they know.
That's why it's important for churches to offer these support groups.
In October 2012, the Alzheimer's Association hosted a meeting where church clergy were taught about the disease and how it affects and often tears apart families, but most importantly, what the church can do to make that road a little easier.
"We have to all work together," Finkle said at the time. "There are things a church can do to make that journey with Alzheimer's a lot easier."
If a church calls the AARP and expresses interest in starting a support group, the AARP will send in professionals and offer programs for the church, Eaker said. People within the churches can come together and share ideas and resources and help each other.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Events Calendar
Exhibition - Cyril Lixenberg: An Artist's Journey
"Cave Painting" by Cyril Lixenberg, 1961, oil on canvas
Date and TimeMonday, September 16, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Haas Center for Performing Arts » 1121 - GVSU Art Gallery
Cyril Lixenberg: an Artist's Journey explores and celebrates 81 years of the life and work of the popular contemporary Dutch artist Cyril Lixenberg, whose monumental sculpture and eye-popping, colorful screen prints are exhibited throughout GVSU's buildings and campuses. The exhibition will feature new gifts of paintings and works on paper including drawings, mono-prints, print editions, small sculptures, and archival material spanning his early career as a struggling and evolving artist from the mid-1950s to the present. Multiple exhibition venues across West Michigan from GRAM to the Muskegon Museum of Art will simultaneously focus on particular aspects of Lixenberg's art.
This Falls Arts Celebration event will host a reception for the artist on Wednesday, September 11 from 5-7 PM. This exhibit will be open from Friday, August 23 to Friday, November 1. Gallery hours are 10 AM to 5 PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 10 AM to 7 PM on Thursdays. Free and open to the public.
Art Gallery, 616-331-2563
This event also occurred on 8/23/2013, 8/26/2013, 8/27/2013, 8/28/2013, 8/30/2013, 9/3/2013, 9/4/2013, 9/6/2013, 9/9/2013, 9/10/2013 and 29 others


text:
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
1109 Geddes Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Bright stars, constellations, planets, and other objects in the current night sky will be discussed in this live "star talk." Then leave Earth and fly out into space to examine the planets and other distant objects. Includes a brief exploration of concepts of time.
Planetarium prices are $5 for adults, seniors, & children.


text:
What You'll Get
Photographers customize backdrops and props before shooting with professional gear; they post images in online gallery within 24 hours
Choose Between Two Options
$25 for a gallery wrap Lifetouch portrait package (a $204.95 value), which includes:
- One 16"x20" portrait gallery wrap print (a $164.99 value)
- Standard sitting fees for all subjects in the photo shoot (a $39.96 value. based on a four-person average)
- 40% off all additional purchases including full-session Images CD and photo greeting cards
Each gallery wrap portrait is crafted from canvas-embossed photo paper and mounted onto sturdy board to prevent shrinkage, sagging, or stretching. A black, closed-back prevents dust from collecting inside the back of the canvas, while a protective coating ensures each portrait remains scratch resistant. The lightweight, ready-to-hang piece does not require heavy wall hangers and beams with colors that will last for generations.
$25 for two portrait sheets and three-image CD Lifetouch portrait package (a $129.93 value), which includes:
- Three high-resolution images on CD (a $69.99 value)
- Two traditional-colored portrait sheets, each of which is available as one 10"x13", one 8x10", two 5"x7"s, four 3.5"x5"s, or eight wallets (each sheet can be a different pose) (a $19.98 value)
- Standard sitting fees for all subjects in the photo shoot (a $39.96 value, based on a four-person average)
- 40% off all additional purchases including full-session Images CD and photo greeting cards
The value of this Groupon is based off of sitting fees being included for four, but can be used for any number of participants.
Though Target Portrait Studio sometimes features a discounted price online, this Groupon still offers the best deal available.
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Oct 17, 2013. Amount paid never expires. Limit 1 per visit. Valid only for option purchased. After expiration, price paid for voucher may be applied toward future standard portrait purchases. Additional 40% discount not valid toward reorders, studio events, other media, services, featured products, or online orders. Valid at any Target Portrait Studio location. Cannot be combined with other offers. No pets. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Target Portrait Studio
Target Portrait Studios are operated by professional photographers who aim to help you capture special moments. The studios can be decorated for most any type of photo shoot, whether you're celebrating a mom-to-be, a graduation, or an upcoming holiday. Subjects also have the opportunity to choose their own backdrops or props, and they can even bring in their favorite toy. The customization doesn't end with the photo shoot, though—digital files can be personalized with borders, designs, and quotes and then printed in a variety of sizes.


text:
Moderators: Three Stars, dagny, pfim, netwolf
Froggy wrote:so pass interference gives ravens TD's on both sides of the ball... riiiiight. keep crying about how the refs are out to get you, ravens fans
shafnutz05 wrote:Wow what a pass and catch.
Brandon Stokley's renaissance this year is absolutely incredible. He is a 36 year old white WR.
Godric wrote:Every time they show a close up picture of ray ray I know what its like to look into the eyes of a murderer
canaan wrote:I don't think people appreciate how awesome that pass was
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests


text:
In 4 simple steps, you can build your car, see the Edmunds True Market Value (TMV®) -
the average price paid for this car in your area - and get dealer price quotes and
Price Promise℠
special offers on inventory near you.
The advertising fee displayed is based on the best available information to Edmunds and is the maximum amount reported to Edmunds for dealers of this brand in this area. Actual fees may vary based on dealer participation in manufacturer advertising programs.
The invoice price is an approximation of the dealer's cost of the vehicle and, for example, may not include all fees charged by the manufacturer. It may vary by region and/or by dealer.
The True Market Value® (TMV®) price
takes into account any generally available manufacturer-to-dealer incentives for this vehicle. However, when such incentives are available, they may not apply to a vehicle for which a consumer is taking any special manufacturer-offered incentives or financing; accordingly, in that event the TMV® price for this vehicle may be higher than the price displayed.
GLC 300 4dr SUV
(2.0L 4-cyl. Turbo 9-speed Automatic)
Sticker Price (MSRP):
The True Market Value® (TMV®) price
is our exclusive method for calculating what others are paying for a
2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class SUV GLC 300 in Ashburn, VA
(based on actual sales data from your region).
This is a new or redesigned model and there have been no (or very few) sales of this model. Accordingly, the TMV® price for this vehicle has been estimated.
*Required fields


text:
Earth : Europe : Germany : Northern Germany : Lower Saxony : Southern Lower Saxony : Hanover
Hannover (German: Hannover [1], French: Hanovre), is the capital of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) in Germany. Having a huge exhibition complex built for the World EXPO in 2000 and being host to several of the biggest exhibitions in the world, Hannover calls herself the "EXPO City" or "Exhibition City" (EXPO Stadt/Messestadt). Hannover was also played host to the 2006 Football World Cup. The major language spoken is German. English is not common, except during CeBIT or major international events.
Hannover is not a typical European city. Don't expect to see beautiful centuries-old buildings; the city was one of the hardest hit during World War II, leaving it with only a few historical landmarks. Even the Old City (Altstadt) area is "new"; all the old houses left standing after the war (around 40) were taken from throughout the city and collected in one place. This area is surrounded by grey 1950's buildings that give a somewhat heavy atmosphere to the streets.
Hannover has large green areas, with forests and big parks. The landscape is mostly flat, with the river Leine going through the city. The lake Masch (Maschsee) is rather spectacular, considering its size as a man-made object.
The city had a special relationship to the late French artist Niki de Saint-Phalle. She had several of her works in public spots in Hannover (i.e., "the Nanas", "the Cave" in the Great Garden) and also in the Sprengel Museum. To honor her contribution to Hannover, she was granted an honorary citizenship from the city government. Moreover, the recently renovated "underground" shopping passageway from the central station to Kröpcke was named "The Niki de Saint-Phalle Promenade". Hannover's public services are excellent, due to major reconstruction for the World EXPO 2000. The shopping area under the train station was renovated in 2005-2006 in preparation for the World Cup.
Kröpcke is a large pedestrian area in the heart of Hannover. It is Hannover's major shopping spot, home to the Opera house and has lots of places to eat. The main station in the Hanover Stadtbahn network, is also located here. All Stadtbahn lines except the 10 and 17, call at the station and it is the main interchange point for the network. It has six platforms in total on three lines that cross each other in independent tunnels. There is a big green clock in Kröpcke (KröpckeUhr) which makes an ideal meeting point.
Using English
Hannover became more of a tourist destination since it began hosting CeBIT, and especially following the EXPO in 2000. English translation was just recently introduced to some official tourist portals such as the train ticket machines. Germans are generally helpful, but you have to ask for help as they don't like to jump into other people's business without being invited. Most university students speak English. For general information, it's safest to go to the Tourist Office, Prinzenstr. 12 (close to central station), +49-511-12345-111, M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-2PM.
Get in
By plane
Hannover airport (IATA: HAJ) [2] handles many European major airlines, including budget airlines Air Berlin [3] and TUI [4]. There is a train that runs twice-an-hour (called the S-Bahn) from the airport to the central station (Hauptbahnhof). A 2-Zone ticket is needed from the airport to city center. The fare is around €5 and will take around 17 minutes. The last train departs around midnight. A taxi ride to the city center costs about €20 and will take about 15 minutes.
The airport offers the option to check in the day before your departure (6-9PM) for some airlines (Hapag-Lloyd, Condor, Air Berlin, Sky Airlines, and Croatia Airlines).
By train
Due to its location, Hannover has good connections from all major cities in Germany through Die Bahn [5], the German rail service. There are also direct trains to the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and Austria several times a day, including night train connections with Nachtzug trains ([6], CityNightLine [7]). Hannover is also reachable by regional trains, making it possible to use the cheap and popular "weekend tickets".
The high speed Inter City Express Trains (ICE trains)[8] can take you all over Germany to places such as: Frankfurt, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Munich, Cologne, and Berlin. The trip to Hannover from Berlin takes 1:30, from Hamburg 1:20, from Frankfurt 2:20, and from Munich 4:30. Prices vary depending on time of travel and the ticket type such as an economy, freedom or comfort ticket, but a freedom ticket from Berlin to Hannover with cost you from €75.
By car
Hannover is served by the excellent German road system, being on both the Hamburg to Kassel (Autobahn A7) running north and south and the Berlin to Dusseldorf (A2) running east and west. The city is easily reached after leaving these two motorways. In Germany they drive on the right and the autobahns have no speed limits. While the limits on the B-roads are quite high, at up to 130kph outside of towns, they can drop to as low as 50kph in built up areas. From Hamburg the drive is around an hour and a half. From Berlin and Dusseldorf, the drive is around 3 hours.
By bus
Hannover is linked to the rest of Germany and parts of Europe by frequent bus services. Bus rides tend to be fairly quick avoiding unnecessary hold ups but they are not the most comfortable way to travel especially for long distances. The Central Bus Station (Zentraler Omnibus Bahnhof or "ZOB") is located behind (to the north-west of) the Central Station (Hauptbahnhof).
Buses to Bosnia are eg. run by Salinea, [9]
Get around
By public transportation
Hannover has a fantastic network of public transportation, so it's best to just park your car and ride. If you plan to make more than than two trips by tram, bus, or subway, a day ticket is your best bet, buying you unlimited travel on the public transport system. Day tickets are valid until the last connection of the day (which normally ends sometime after midnight). The public transportation adopts an honor system for tickets, but they do have ticket inspections once in a while (also late at nights and early mornings). The fine is quite high, so make sure you have a ticket all the time. Be aware that some tickets will need to be validated (stamped on the 'blue box'), and some not, depending on the machine. [10]
By bicycle or on foot
Bike paths are provided in almost every street that runs through the city. There is no law on using a helmet, but make sure that the bike has both front and rear lights if you don't want to get stopped by the police (Fine: €10). Pedestrian paths are also provided along every street and there is also a pedestrian area in front of Central Station to Kröpcke.
It is possible to take your bike on the tram or bus for free on M-F 8:30AM-3PM and after 7PM. There are no time restrictions on weekends.
By taxi
Unless you have limited time, lots of heavy baggage, or are traveling after public transport stops at night, you might want to think twice about using taxi, as it is very expensive. However, it could be cheaper if traveling in a big group: You can order a 7- or 9-seat taxi by phone and get more people in at the same price.
Many museums (including the Landesmuseum, the Historical Museum, and the Kestner Museum) can be visited for free on Friday.
Hanover's people enjoy a lot of fireworks during the year. In addition to the world competition held every summer, there are fireworks every night of the Kleines Fest, every weekend during the Spring Festival (Frühlingsfest) and Oktoberfest, and on the weekend of the Lake Masch Festival. For the first two, the best spot to see is inside or outside the Great Garden, while the latter ones can be seen from any point around Lake Masch. Fireworks usually start at 10PM. Hanover is also place of the annual fireworks world contest (or at least one of the many world contests happening during the year around the world) in the Herrenhäuser Gärten. Six nations participate on six Saturdays, three of them around May - Jun, three in Aug - Sep.
In Spring
In Summer
In Autumn
In Winter
As Hanover regularly hosts a number of big exhibitions (eg. CeBIT, Biotechnica), temporary jobs are always available. However, these are very popular side jobs for students and recruitment may be restricted to local residents.
Flea Market
A flea market located along the Leine River takes place every Saturday, 7AM-4PM. However, it's dominated by electronic goods and overpriced "antiques". Watch out for pickpockets.
In most cafés and small restaurants, paying individually is accepted, as Germans like this system. Tips are not compulsory but most people do. In smaller cafés, if paying separately, rounding up to the next full euro is common; in bigger restaurants, 10% is best.
Beer Gardens
Cocktail Bars
Hot drinks
As Hanover frequently hosts big exhibitions, booking your room well in advance is highly recommended as hotels can easily get full and/or raise their rates during these times.
Nothing feels better than returning to your home base at the end of an exciting daily adventure
WLAN connection
For those of you with portable computers, WLAN connection is available inside the Central Station. There are also several cafes providing WLAN connection free of charge:
When you supply a german mobile number, each McDonald's restaurant in Hannover provides one hour of free Wifi. The phone number is not used for advertising.
Internet access
Café Mezzo provides a public computer with internet access. Internet cafés are easy to find in Steintor area, especially along the Goethe Strasse, Lange Laube and Am Marstall. The price varies, but normally is from €1 to €2 per hour.
Mobile phone
It is possible to buy prepaid SIM cards from several operators. However, it is compulsory to register your identity, so make sure to bring your passport with you. And since it is registered, take necessary care of the SIM card when you stop using it.
Stay safe
Hannover is normally very safe. Before and after a soccer match there might be quite a few drunken people around, especially in the central station, but there always are police patrolling. Only the area around the Tulpenstrasse in the area of the Nordstadt is not safe at night.
In Kröpcke you may get asked for money by the homeless. Pickpockets may act in crowded area such as inside the trams during a big exhibition.
Important telephone numbers
Stay healthy
Get out


text:
The Next Steps
Have Questions?
Our safari experts are always here to help.
The Trip Builder is a great tool, but it will never replace the expertise and personal attention of our planners.
Reserve Your Accommodations
Once you and your Bushtracks Trip Planner have your itinerary perfected, your dates set, and your deposit paid, he or she will send requests to each safari camp, lodge, or hotel in Africa, and reserve space for you and your party.
Then when we receive written confirmations from each property, you will be sent a Reservation Package with all the details. This part can take a week or less depending on the complexity of the itinerary.


text:
"Hey, what are you doing here? This is my trail, and no mountain bikes are allowed on it! Oh no, there's a cow pie right in the middle of my mountain bike trail. It will get all over me! Yuk! What is that horrible noise? It must be an ATV; no, it's a motor bike! Oh no, a Jeep, I thought those were banned. There should be a law against those guys ruining my forest experience. Oh no, I just heard a gunshot. That scares me,and just think of the poor animal they are shooting at. That is so wrong. Woodsman, spare that tree! My forest should be protected from all those crass people destroying what I like."
That is not a comedy routine. It is the real everyday thinking of much of our populace regarding the public lands and forests. The public land agencies have been told to focus on visual impacts and recreation. That, of course, is impossible without pandering to each individual interest group, playing one against the other, all at the expense of the rest, and neglecting management of the resources.
This used to not always be a problem, so what has happened? Here in Colorado, the problem started in 1876 at statehood when the eastern Congress unconstitutionally withheld over a third of the lands from the new state. Those lands just happened to contain the highest level minerals, timber and water known at the time. Following were several congressional acts that built on the unconstitutional base. The lands were later declared to be national forests, held for all the public to benefit from, not just Colorado. Interesting that eastern states have more control over the resources in Colorado than we do, but we have no control over any eastern state. It troubles me that the eastern power structure controls if and how we can use our own resources and live our lives.
The controversy we currently have over our public land use would not have happened if the Constitution had been adhered to from the beginning. It also would not have happened if the Forest Service had continued to manage and develop the forest resource under conservation principles of wisely using and producing the greatest good for the greatest number.
Today we have a generation that does not realize that all the lands and resources were afforded to us by our Creator, to till, use, enhance to provide for our food, shelter and economy. It was a joy to be able to work as long as possible to provide for our family and help our neighbor. Instead, the goal of the majority today is to retire from work as young as possible, so they can spend their time and plastic money indulging in consumptive pleasures instead of producing for the future. For some reason, they think it is the federal government's responsibility to provide entertainment and pleasure for them, when, where and how they choose. They do not want to be responsible for their own lives, actions and futures.
Don't get me wrong; recreation and relaxation are very important; we all need that. The problem comes when some want their preferences to be ensured, at the expense of others and the natural resource that provides the work and economy for the others.
The public lands need to be intensely managed for their own future and to provide for the needs of the local area. This includes recreation as well as timber, water, fuel, food and other economic opportunity. This was done in the past and must be started again if Southwest Colorado is to survive economically and culturally. We all know that Denver, Boulder, etc., hardly know we exist and occasionally throw us a bone to keep us quiet. Washington only cares that we send them all our money. It is up to the counties to plan the future. We can do this by being in control of the management and development of our public lands and resources.
There can be wood product industries to use the dense forests instead of burning them up. There can be fuel for homes and businesses. There can be better hunting for both food and sport. There can be vast amounts of recreation opportunities developed, including bike trails for both motorized and non-motorized, ATV use, four-wheel drives, water and winter sports.
This area could be a major recreation destination point for all varied forms, while the resources are being developed and managed economically. The opportunities are limitless; the only sticker is, the counties must be in total control of the planning and implementation. Currently, the federal government is dictating planning and implementation parameters from Washington and the eastern-controlled Congress, who are directly influenced by international agendas, not local problems, issues and opportunities.
We are in very trying times. We need to all pull together to implement the shared liberty afforded us by our Creator to live our lives to the fullest and ensure our liberty does not infringe on our neighbors. We need to look to and plan for the future today. The first step is to have the state secure its constitutional and rightful ownership and control of its entire land jurisdiction. Along with that, have the state acknowledge that the local county commissions are designated under state law as responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the county and its residents. With that legal charge given them, the county commission must be the final authority in all land management actions within the county's jurisdiction.
Dexter Gill is a retired state and tribal forester who lives near Lewis.


text:
The study of placenames has a long tradition in Ireland. Classics of the field include Joyce's The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places, among others. The standout modern day effort is the work of the Placenames Database of Ireland.
More localized and specific examples abound and one such publication is the work of William Shawn Mason. In volume two of A Statistical Account or Parochial Survey or Ireland he gives the following origins for the townlands in the civil parish of Kilmacahill.
You can also see an accompanying map from a previous post.


text:
Water Mitigation Bonduel WI
Water Damage in Bonduel WI 54107
Do you see mold growing on your walls ever since that one big rain? Is the paint peeling and cracked? Do you see brown spots on your ceiling? That is water damage and you may have a bigger problem than you think to restore.
Water damage is not just caused by one thing. A broken water supply line or pipe leaks in the number one cause of water damage. It seeps through your plaster Water Damage Restoration Company Bonduel WI which breaks down the components and starts to wear them out. This is when the walls can begin to crack, the paint will peel and mold will grow in the wet crevices.
Wall mold can cause health issues for your family. Not only does it look gross, but it can sometimes be deadly depending on what your walls are made of. If there is lead in your paint and mold is feeding off of Bonduel WI that, there could be spores in the air that can get into your lungs and cause severe health issues.
Overflow from sinks and tubs due to drain clogging can lead to drain clogging and gutter back up. This can cause damage in your flooring which can cause vinyl to peel and tiles to erupt or mold. Not to mention the floor below is going to start growing mold or rot and can even cave Water Damage Restoration Near Me Bonduel WI in eventually. You need to make sure your floor is dry at all times to prevent this otherwise you might have a little renovation project on your hands.
Of course there are the problems that you can't help. Natural disasters can flood entire floors of homes from rivers and streams from storm surges. Snow melting can also cause damage on roofing, deck or the foundation of your house. This can cause roofing to sag, Bonduel WI leak and even rot. Decks will get rotted and weathered looking and the foundation of your house can crack. Fixing this can get expensive so if you have someone to come and seal the problem before it starts or gets worse. The faster you get water extraction services in your home, the less damage you will have to fix.
You should start the drying process as soon as possible after you see a problem. Bonduel WI Finding a professional company in your area should not be a problem if you do the right searching. Of course it is going to improve your lifestyle and restore your housing with professional water extraction services on the job.
Surrounding Areas In Wisconsin
Bonduel Information
Video: Water Damage Restoration in Bonduel WI
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2016
Started January 1, 2016. The link to the previous forum is Forum 2015... MTFCA Home... Forum 2017 Posts should be related to the Model T. Post for the good of the hobby.


text:
National retailers are looking to go bigger, and earlier, for this weeks annual Black Friday shopping spree and Durangos stores are no exception.
Durangos Walmart store will start rolling out Black Friday deals at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, two hours earlier than last year.
Retailers are responding to customer-traffic trends showing that peoples thoughts quickly turn to shopping when the turkey dinner is over, said Ravi Jariwala, a spokesman with Walmart.
Thursday night shopping has surged over the past three years. A lot of planning for store trips happens right after the meal has finished, Jariwala said. Black Friday weekend customer traffic peaked at 10 p.m. Thursday night last year, so moving up the Black Friday deals made sense to give customers more choice and more access, Jariwala said.
Walmart is part of a wave of national retailers that are pushing Black Fridays start date even earlier with online deals that start hours before the in-store specials.
Sports Authority, which opened a Durango store in October, offered a pre-sale earlier in November where customers could purchase items at Black Friday prices then pick them up at the store on Friday.
Walmart also is blazing ahead in the mobile realm with an in-store mode for its smartphone application that it hopes will enhance the customers shopping experience at its brick-and-mortar stores. The app includes a map of the store and the ability to instantly place online orders for items that arent in stock.
More than half of all Walmart customers have a smartphone, and the company expects mobile devices to drive about 40 percent of the stores online holiday traffic, Jariwala said.
Meanwhile, the Black Friday deals wont start at stores in the Durango Mall until 6 a.m. Friday when the mall opens.
Mall manager Jessica Dombrowski-Yizar said she expects more shoppers than last year, thanks in part to two new additions: T.J. Maxx and Sports Authority. T.J. Maxx opened in March and Sports Authority opened in October.
The deals Sports Authority plans to offer should bring a big crowd to the mall this year, she said. T.J. Maxx devotees, dubbed maxxinistas, are a dependable customer base as well, she said.
Santa Claus will again visit the mall this year, rolling up on a fire truck at 10 a.m. Friday. A professional photographer will be on hand to snap photos of childrens visits with Santa.
On a national scale, statistics from the National Retail Federation predict holiday sales this year will increase 4.1 percent to $586 billion. Meanwhile Main Avenue businesses are mixed in their Black Friday plans. Some were planning storewide sales while others arent planning anything.
I havent even thought about it, said Juan Ramirez, store manager at Inferno Board Shop. Were planning Noel Night more than Black Friday.
Infernos operators, like most other downtown store operators, said they are holding off on their steepest sales and discounts for Noel Night, the local holiday shopping celebration on Nov. 30.
Inferno will offer a base discount on all merchandise with a raffle for larger discounts while Dancing Willow Herbs will be offering 10 and 15 percent discounts on select merchandise.
Customers who come into the Spaaah Shop & Day Spa will be able to choose coupons for discounts of 10 to 50 percent, a deal other stores said they will offer as well. The shops business increases by about 50 percent on Noel Night, said Jennifer LaCroix, store manager.
The Spaaah Shop also will be promoting Small Business Saturday, a national promotion supporting smaller retailers that dont get as much attention on Black Friday. American Express, a founding partner of the event, estimated that more than 100 million people participated in 2011.
Peter Schertz, co-owner of Marias Bookshop, said the store will promote 25 favorite titles in a Buy Indie event that runs through Black Friday. Those books will be 15 percent off, Schertz said. The bookshop has made sure to stock up on Be Local coupon books for the holidays, he said.
And if shoppers havent had enough after Black Friday weekend, theres always Cyber Monday.
Last year, the Monday after Thanksgiving was the biggest online shopping day in history. Shoppers spent $1.25 billion a 22 percent increase from 2010.
Software maker Adobe Systems is predicting those sales will jump to $2 billion this year.


text:
WASHINGTON — The ousted head of the Internal Revenue Service apologized this morning to Congress for his agency's tougher treatment of tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.
He said they resulted from a misguided effort to handle a flood of applications, not political bias.
"I want to apologize on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service for the mistakes that we made and the poor service we provided," Steven Miller, who has been acting IRS commissioner, told the House Ways and Means Committee as the panel held Congress' first hearing on the episode.
"The affected organizations and the American public deserve better. Partisanship and even the perception of partisanship have no place at the Internal Revenue Service."
At a hearing that saw lawmakers from both parties harshly criticize his agency, Miller conceded that "foolish mistakes were made" by IRS officials trying to handle a flood of groups seeking tax-exempt status. He said the process that resulted in conservatives being targeted, "while intolerable, was a mistake and not an act of partisanship."
Though Miller and another top IRS official are stepping down, the chairman of the committee said that would not be enough.
"The reality is this is not a personnel problem. This is a problem of the IRS being too large, too powerful, too intrusive and too abusive of honest, hardworking taxpayers," said Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich.
Camp also said the tougher examinations that conservative groups encountered seemed to be part of a "culture of cover-ups and intimidation in this administration." He offered no other examples.
Miller said the IRS struggled to efficiently handle growing numbers of applications for tax-exempt status.
The agency has said between 2008 and 2012, the number of groups applying for tax-exempt status as so-called social welfare groups more than doubled. Along with that was an increase in complaints that such groups were largely engaging in electoral politics, which is not supposed to be their primary activity.
"I do not believe partisanship motivated the people" at the IRS who engaged in the harsher screening for conservative groups, Miller said.


text:
continued from:http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/11/toenails-11-shock-of-real.html
Of course, it is the mange-demon of the Carpathian forests!
What horrific plans does Kaspar have in store for the hapless man things?
Fragile, flaky hominid bones are no impediment to Kaspar's grip force.
Yes, he has found the day's prey.
And what glee does our forest fur mountain display at the sight of his defenseless victims?
Eyes protrude with true Slavic hunger.
Leathery lips quiver in anticipation of the exquisite pleasures to come.
Kaspar absorbs the nutrients from Ranger marrow by chewing them into a soft fleshy man-paste.
Grind! Gnash! Absorb!Is this the end of of our ancestors?
To be continued:
Thanks to these folks for supporting the cartoons that I put up in the only way I can get 'em to you!


text:
To report an emergency in progress, call 911.
To use the search feature, you must have your 12 digit Assessment Number or 12 digit Fee Parcel number. Enter the information into the appropriate box and click the "Submit" button. If you are searching by Assessment Number, only that assessment will appear. If you wish to view all tax bills associated with the parcel (i.e. - supplemental and unsecured), searching by Fee Parcel will bring up all tax bills associated with the parcel. When the assessment you are inquiring about appears on the next screen, click on it and the tax information will be displayed.
Prior year's information is available by clicking on the dropdown menu above the fee parcel information entry box. Tax bills can be viewed/printed for the current year, and this option is available as an additional button on the top of the current year information page.
Any changes or corrections made after June 30th to prior year tax bills will not appear on the prior year screen. Prior year screens reflect activity up to June 30th only. Please contact the Tax Collectors Office at (530) 889-4120 for additional information.
Note: EFT and Credit/Debit payments will not show paid on the web site for up to 90 minutes. The delay is due to the actual processing time of funds from the respective bank or credit card company to our bank. Upon receipt of funds payments are posted reflecting the date you actually paid.
List of Direct Charges


text:
The water pipe break on Main and Harrison streets that occurred last Thursday resulted in several businesses being without water for a short time.
At Tuesday's Cortez City Council meeting, City Manager Shane Hale said one of the issues that occurred following the break was finding the right valve to turn off the water. This was a necessity before workers could go in to repair the pipe that was estimated to be between 40 to 50 years old.
After several attempts to find the correct valve, which required digging up other sections, city maintenance workers were able to find the right valve turnoff on Chestnut Street.
Hale said crews went to the city map to determine where the correct water valve was located, and each valve that was uncovered to turn off took 45 minutes to an hour.
After about 24 hours of work, all the businesses and residences impacted had their water restored, Hale said.
Businesses impacted by the loss of water the most included the Best Western Turquoise Inn and Suites, Mr. Happy's and Super 8 as well as any business between Harrison and Chestnut streets being served by that water line.
Another slight holdup came after the Colorado Department of Transportation told the city that concrete traffic barricades had to be installed before work could begin. The barricades, which have shut down the eastbound lane on Main Street, were in place Friday afternoon.
The city worked on the pipe break Friday until dark and resumed the repairs Saturday at 7 a.m.
While the repairs to the pipe have been made, more work still needs to be done.
Public Works Director Jack Nickerson said concrete will be poured today. The barricades are scheduled to come down next Tuesday.
"They stuck with it and plugged through it," Hale said of the city staff that responded to the water break. "It was a major break."
Part of the problem was the 50 years of concrete that covered the pipes and valves. Many of the valves broke after not being turned for more than 40 years, Hale said.
Some valve turnoffs were also located near gas lines, so the city had to use hand tools in efforts to be extremely careful while digging.
The break also convinced Hale that this type of incident will not be a one-time occurrence in the city.
"I fear we will be repairing that infrastructure quite often (in the future)," which he added will cost about $50,000 each time a repair is needed.
"We just have to deal with it right now," the city manager said.
The cause of the break, Hale said, was that the bolts holding the pipe together became rusted over time and gave out, possibly by the 40 to 50 years of constant traffic on the roadway where the underground pipe had been placed.
"It was a Murphy's Law project," Hale said after the meeting. "We had to face a lot of adversity."
The concrete barricade has completely closed down the south access to Harrison Street off Main Street. This has impacted parking access to a few businesses, including Cork and Bottle liquor store, the Super 8 and Jimmer's Back Country BBQ.
Mayor Dan Porter thanked the community for its understanding, realizing the city was working to fix the problem.
"The citizens stood with us pretty good," he said. "The citizens on Main Street hung tough."


text:
Bruce Mazzoni and Jennifer Linn are being honored as the 2013 Distinguished Service Award winners.
The award is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Butler and the Butler Eagle, and is given annually to a senior recipient and a junior recipient for their community service.
Mazzoni of Cranberry Township, who is retired, has volunteered with the Cranberry Public Library, the Butler County Federated Library System and the Cranberry Township Community Chest.
He also is on the Butler County Community College Board of Trustees.
Linn of Butler has been involved with the Rotary Club of Butler for about 10 years. She was president of the club in 2007-08.
On the county Rotary level, Linn is the vice president and treasurer for the Butler Rotary Foundation.
Linn, who is an attorney, formerly was on the board of directors for the Community Health Clinic of Butler County and the board of directors for Butler County Against Heroin. She helped Butler County�s Stand Tall Drug Awareness and Prevention Program get started in schools.
Since 2011, she has been on the BC3 board of trustees.
Both will be honored at a May 7 dinner at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township.


text:
THE NOCTURNAL SPELLS OF SPC ECO Dean Garcia has been the sound architect behind Curve, played bass with Eurythmics...
Tag Archive for: Rose Berlin
SPC ECO to release Sirens and Satellites on Saint Marie Records 9/9/14Bret, , Ambient, Bands, Electronica, Music, News, Shoegaze, SPC ECO, Curve, Dean Garcia, dream pop, Rose Berlin, Saint Marie Records, Shoegaze, Sirens and Satellites, SPC ECO, 0
Dean Garcia, formerly of Curve and daughter Rose Berlin release their fourth album this September. SPC ECO are a...
- Fire Tiger at The Whitley – Live PhotosJanuary 23, 2019
- Maor Appelbaum: From Sleepless to MasteringJanuary 22, 2019
- Motorbone at The Canyon Club – Live PhotosJanuary 22, 2019
- The Raskins at The Canyon Club – Live PhotosJanuary 22, 2019
- Spencer Ludwig at The Sayers ClubJanuary 21, 2019
- Spencer Ludwig at Sayers Club – Live PhotosJanuary 20, 2019
- 2019 ULTIMATE NAMM NIGHT TO FEATURE 80 TOP PERFORMERS IN THE "POWER OF MUSIC"January 20, 2019
- Evol Walks at The Viper Room – Live PhotosJanuary 20, 2019
- As It Is and Sharptooth at The Teragram BallroomJanuary 19, 2019
- Held Hostage: Opening For Metal Allegiance at House Of Blues During NAMMJanuary 19, 2019
- Edge Of Paradise release Face Of Fear music video shot in Iceland + GiveawayJanuary 17, 2019
- The Gray by Modern Mimes (Self-released)January 17, 2019
- Beautiful Disaster by Griffin Tucker (Self-released single)January 17, 2019
- Crimson Apple at Downtown Disney – Live PhotosJanuary 16, 2019
- On A Mission To Rock with Lawrence Gowan Of StyxJanuary 16, 2019
- Zebra and The Hard Way at The WhiskyJanuary 15, 2019
- State of Salazar: AOR Superheroes On The RiseJanuary 15, 2019
- The Melodic Rock Intrigue of PalaceJanuary 13, 2019
- Call That Girl by London (Vamps Worldwide Media)January 13, 2019
- Twelve by Last Union (ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records)January 13, 2019
Browse by Band
- Madelin Starr on The Sonic Reveries of Betty Moon
- Bob Napoles on Neal Schon and The Journey Through Time
- Kris Pierce on Neal Schon and The Journey Through Time
- Jason on Genitorturers at The Whisky – Review and Live Photos
- NaomiC on Shaunt Avakian at The Roxy – Review and Live Photos
- Judy on Cat Dail and The Business of Deep Groove
- Jeffrey pritzker on XIII by TNT (Frontiers Music Srl)
- Ian on Aquilus: Grand Symphonic Adventures in Metal
- James on Interview with Renato Malizia of The Blog That Celebrates Itself and TBTCI Records
- Jaega on The Grand Return of Gene Loves Jezebel with Jay Aston
- Jeffrey F Bilby on The Last Few Beautiful Days by The Motels (Sunset Blvd Records)
- Truth will kill ya on Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel to play 1st U.S. date in 10 years at the Like Totally 80's Festival
- Shannon Fisher on Autograph at The Whisky
- Angel on Michael Grant: L.A. Guns, The Assassins and Beyond!
- Angel on Michael Grant: L.A. Guns, The Assassins and Beyond!
- Ly on Madonnica at Saint Rocke – Live Photos
- Daniel Nader on Loaded Guns: Unstoppable and Ready to Rage!
- Steve on Bret's Favorite Albums of 2017
- Bret on Under The Hollywood Stars with Steve Kilbey of The Church
- Ray - RDG on Ronnie Montrose Remembered: A NAMM 2017 All-Star Memorial Concert


text:
The American people have succeeded in forging one of the worlds most united, democratic and tolerant nations, a fascinating melting-pot of cultures, and the undisputed military and economic heavyweight of the world.
Tourism is focused mainly in the great cities such as New York and Washington, as well as sunshine states such as California, Florida and Hawaii where millions of tourists congregate each year to enjoy the fine beaches, natural wonders and man-made attractions such as Disneyland, Universal Studios and Hollywood. Too many miss out on the mind-blowing landscapes of the interior which can found in the wealth of magnificent National Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Adirondacks, as well as spectacular sights like the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains. With all this on their doorstep, it's easy to understand why most Americans have never bothered getting a passport.
Established in 1988, Travel Insurance Consultants (TIC) is South Africa's largest travel insurance underwriting company. TIC is dedicated to building and maintaining excellent relationships within the travel and insurance industries and has a wide-ranging clientele, servicing individuals as well as corporate clients via travel agents, banks, medical schemes and insurance brokers. TIC employs the services of worldwide 24-hour emergency assistance companies, which means that should TIC policyholders require assistance while travelling, help is only a phone call away. All products are underwritten by Santam, South Africa's leading short term insurer.
to purchase Travel Insurance
In the news
South African Airways (SAA) announced the winners of the airline's 23rd Annual Wine Awards during a gala evening in the Western Cape over the weekend.
The airline also announced those wines which will be served on board SAA flights during 2010.
The award winners are as follows:
Best Methode Cap Classique: Phillip Jonker Brut Entheos N/V (Weltevrede Wine Estate)
Best Port: Boplaas Cape Tawny Port N/V (Boplaas Family Vineyard)
Best White Wine Trophy: Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2008 (DGB)
Best Red Wine Trophy: The MacKenzie 2005 (Hartenberg Farm (Pty) Ltd)
Anura Vineyards walked away with the SAA Chairperson's Award for the Largest Volume and the SAA Chief Executive Award for Best Performance 2010.
Customers on South African Airways flights in 2010 can expect to be served some of South Africa's finest wines after a rigorous selection process in late August 2009 assisted by respected industry experts.
For 23 years, South African Airways has been supporting the South African wine industry through the airline's annual selection process. Local producers are given the opportunity to enter their wines into the process and are provided with valuable feedback from the expert panel on the quality of their produce.
This year's selection was one of the most critical in its two and half decade history with wines chosen to be served during South Africa's shining moment -2010- when the country expects a higher volume of visitors.
More than 1000 wines were entered into the selection.


text:
Bethel signs two players
Bethel College softball coach Stacy Middleton signed her first two players for the 2014 season. Signed were Baylee Teach of Halstead and Britani Shrum of Eudora. Teach is a first baseman at Halstead High School, where she was a second-team All-Central Kansas League pick as a junior. She hit .435 last season with runners in scoring position and had an .800 fielding average. Teach chose Bethel over Kansas Wesleyan, Newman and Hesston College. "Baylee brings a great work ethic to both the classroom and the softball field," Middleton said. "I am excited to get her on our roster. She will bring depth at first base for us." "I absolutely cannot wait to become a Bethel Softball player," Teach said. "The minute I went to campus and met Coach Stacy, I knew this is where I wanted to be for the next four years." Teach is a member of the dance team, the yearbook editor, a member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, vice president of Spanish club, KAYS and is a MMC Pre-K Teacher. She intends to major in education. Shrum is a utility player from Eudora High School. A three-year letterwinner, Shrum hit .451 as a junior with a .517 on-base-pecentage. "We are excited to add Britani to our roster," Middleton said. "She is very fundamentally sound and will definitely raise our level of play. She is a very versatile player which gives us depth at a variety of positions and she brings a strong bat at the plate." "I am really looking forward to joining the Bethel College Softball team in the fall," Shrum said "All of the players and coaches were very welcoming and made me feel at home when I visited. I am ready to start this new chapter in my life. " Shrum played for the Kansas City Titans club team. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America. She was on the honor roll for four years. Shrum intends to major in athletic training.
Salsbery signs with Sterling
Newton High School senior Alexa Salsbery signed a letter of intent to play golf at Sterling College beginning this fall. Salsbery helped lead Newton to an eighth-place state finish last fall in Class 5A. She finished tied for 17th. She tied for 57th at state as a junior. She qualified for state as a sophomore and a freshman. She helped lead Newton to a regional title as a senior. She was fourth at the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division I meet as a senior to earn first-team honors. Sterling is in its second year of women's golf.
Newton grad signs with ISU
HUTCHINSON — Newton High School graduate Miguel Johns signed a letter of intent to play football at Indiana State University beginning this fall. Johns is a 5-foot-11, 181 pound wide receiver, who played the past two seasons at Hutchinson Community College. He was an honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference selection as a sophomore at both wide receiver and punt returner. In the regular season, Johns caught 54 passes for 843 yards and eight touchdowns. He returned nine punts for 107 yards and a touchdown. He returned 16 kickoffs for 292 yards. Johns helped lead HCC to a 9-3 record, 6-1 in Jayhawk Conference play. Hutchinson reached the finals of the NJCAA Region VI playoffs, falling to Butler. Hutchinson beat Iowa Central 41-21 to win the Salt City Bowl. In the bowl game, Johns caught seven passes for 107 yards and four touchdowns. He had six punt returns for 96 yards and two kickoff returns for 46 yards. At Newton, he was a four-year letterwinner. He was first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II in 2008 and 2009 and co-offensive player of the year in 2009. He was a 2010 Shrine Bowl selectee. Indiana State is an NCAA Division I-Football Championship Series team. The Sycamores were 7-4 last season, 5-3 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play. The team is coached by Mike Sanford. Johns is not the first Newton grad to play at ISU. Jayden Everett played for three years at ISU, earning Academic All-America honors and all-conference honorable mention. He graduated in 2009. Everett currently coaches running backs at ISU. Johns intends to major in exercise science.
HC signs runner
HESSTON — Hesston College cross country coach Gerry Sieber signed Jason Schroeder of Anthony to a letter of intent to run for the Larks this fall. Schroeder was a four-year letterwinner at Chaparral High School. He helped lead Chaparral to top-three team finishes in every regular season meet this season. Schroeder took fourth in the Central Plains League meet as a senior. He was 20th at regionals. He was named to Chaparral's all-time runners list. "I'm excited that Jason has chosen to join our cross country family," Sieber said. "He has an impressive resume having participated in five sports at Chaparral, is an excellent student and was active in instrumental and vocal music. He's a well-rounded young man and will thrive in his liberal arts Hesston Experience. I expect him to mature and grow as a member of our cross country program." He is a National Honor Society Member and is on the honor roll. He attends Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church in Harper, where he is active in the youth group. Schroeder intends to major in engineering at Hesston.
Larks sweep season opener
HESSTON — The Hesston College baseball team opened the season with a pair of wins over Independence Community College. Hesston won 5-2 and 14-4. In the opener, Hesston scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to overcome a one-run deficit. Tatsuzo Baba hit a two-run home run. Scott Cooper and Nick Yoder each added RBIs. Jesse Yoder went three innings of relief for the win, allowing three hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Starter Brandon Kutrubs went four innings, allowing nine hits, two runs, two walks and a strikeout. Brenton Washausen went three for three hitting for Independence. Matt Higginbothan went two for three. Galen Keys took the loss in relief of Jacob Reid. In the second game, Hesston scored seven runs in the fifth inning to break the game open. Dustin King threw six innings for the win, allowing four hits, three runs and two strikeouts. Tyler Bratton finished the game. Devin Word went three for four hitting with five RBIs. Scott Cooper went four for four with two RBIs. Jarrett Wolf went two for two with two RBIs. Seth Davenport drove in three runs. Ryan Justice went two for four with two RBIs for Independence. Travis Teague took the loss. Hesston plays 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University junior varsity.
First game Indep. 002 000 0 —2 12 3 Hesston 001 004 x —5 5 1 Reid, Keys (L) 4 and na; Kutrubs, J.Yoder (W) 5 and na. HR — H: Baba (1). Second game Indep. 002 100 1 —4 5 1 Hesston 320 270 x —14 16 2 Teague (L), Hinnen 3, King 5, Shepard 5, Hulse 6 and Higginbothan; King (W), Bratton 7 and na.
Pairings set for tourney
Below are the pairing for the Newton High School Freshman Girls' Invitational Basketball Tournament, which begins Monday: (r-Ravenscroft Gym, w-Willis Gym) Monday's quarterfinals Newton vs. Central Plains 7 p.m.-r Hutchinson vs. Campus 5:30 p.m.-r Bishop Carroll vs. Little River 5:30 p.m.-w Buhler vs. Maize South 7 p.m.-w Thursday's games Consolation semifinals Central Plains-Newton loser vs. Hutchinson-Campus loser 7 p.m.-r Bishop Carroll-Little River loser vs. Buhler-Maize South loser 7 p.m.-r Semifinals Central Plains-Newton winner vs. Hutchinson-Campus winner 7 p.m.-r Bishop Carroll-Little River winner vs. Buhler-Maize South winner 7 p.m.-r Saturday's games Seventh place 10 a.m. Fifth place 11:30 a.m. Third place 1 p.m. Finals 2:30 p.m.


text:
AO: I am working on an idea for the Content Management System and would like to see your thoughts about some of the "famous" automags that have been built.
When you think of a unique/famous AGD gun which ones come to mind?
Just off the top of my head...
- Infection or Chimera SFL
- Spacemag
- Dual Mag
- RKL X-mag
- Ed Head E-mag
If you have any more ideas please post up!!