Category: Culture

Ethnic cultures as newsmakers

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Art & Life Culture Education Lifestyle Perks

Lofty Goals: Hillary sets her sights on the moon in latest adventure in children’s book series

KILLEEN, Texas — The Adventures of Hillary the Little Ladybug children’s book series weaves a tapestry of experiences designed to intrigue, educate and inspire young readers.

 

Hillary’s exciting escapades have included saving other ladybugs from a praying mantis, meeting Bigfoot, exploring a haunted castle, vacationing in Malibug Beach, going on a nuclear submarine ride, entering a mystery cave and traveling on an alien spaceship into outer space.

 

In the latest book, Hillary Flies to the Moon, Hillary the Little Ladybug is admiring a full red moon when she begins to dream about flying through the night sky.

 

Hillary passes over Ladybug Lake, marvels at the stars and wonders what it would be like to be the first ladybug on the moon. Flying faster than she has ever flown before, she heeds a small voice saying, “Come to me.” Once her feet touch down and she begins exploring, she comes face to face with aliens! A black hole and time/space warping are part of her thrilling journey through outer space, as she unlocks secrets of universal truths.

 

“The mystery and excitement of her adventure will keep you on the edge of your seat,” said author Gary Revel.

 

Co-authored by William Dandurand, Elisabeth Revel and Mary Cohen, the Adventures of Hillary the Little Ladybugseries explores climate change and other topics through stories aimed at young readers. Parents have found the books entertaining as well, especially when they read them to their children.

 

“The Adventures of Hillary the Little Ladybug is in development at Jongleur Pictures LLC for the making of an animated series to be produced by Jeff Olm,” Revel added.

 

“Jeff has been on the film-making team of many top-grossing films over the last 20 years. These include Titanic, The Revenant, Shrek Forever After, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and many more.”

 

For more information about how the Hillary the Little Ladybug series is helping to stop global warming, visit https://mothernaturefestival.live.

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Business Culture Healthcare Lifestyle Science

New 2022 data from The Aesthetic Society reveals a surge in nonsurgical procedures, contributing to a 14% overall increase in aesthetic procedures

Findings demonstrate Americans spent over $11.8 billion on aesthetic procedures, up 2% from 2021

 

The Aesthetic Society, the leading authority on aesthetic plastic surgery, has just released its annual Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank report for 2022, highlighting significant trends in the field of aesthetic plastic surgery.

 

The data showcases a remarkable 14% increase in total aesthetic procedures, largely attributed to the soaring popularity of nonsurgical procedures, which witnessed a 23% jump last year. In an unprecedented milestone, the 2022 data was sourced from the same 200 plastic surgery practices across the United States, providing consistent quarterly data between 2019 and 2022.

 

“The landscape of aesthetic plastic surgery is undergoing a transformation as revealed by The Aesthetic Society’s 2022 report,” says Melinda Haws, MD, President of The Aesthetic Society.

 

“With nonsurgical procedures witnessing a surge and surgical procedures still accounting for 70% of revenue, the industry is moving towards a future defined by dynamic trends. This showcases our industry’s ability to embrace innovation and meet evolving patient preferences. As we journey forward, The Aesthetic Society is dedicated to supporting our patients through top-tier member education.”

 

“The 2022 statistics, drawn from 200 U.S. practices is a significant milestone for aesthetic data, offering consistent insights from 2019 to 2022,” explains Dr. Kye Higdon, Communications Commissioner of The Aesthetic Society.

 

“From this data we’re able to understand the trends on the horizon for our specialty and can help shape a future for aesthetics that both drives innovation and empowers our patients.”

 

The report reveals an interesting trajectory for surgical procedures. After experiencing a surge in the second half of 2020 and reaching its peak in the Spring of 2021, 2021’s surgical counts surpassed pre-pandemic levels by an impressive 55%. Although 2022 saw a decline in surgical procedures compared to 2021, the numbers remained a notable 37% above the counts in 2019. This increase was largely fueled by significant gains in body procedures, with liposuction (+63%) and abdominoplasty (+55%) leading the way. Conversely, nonsurgical procedures took some time to recover from the pandemic’s impact, with significant growth observed in the Spring of 2021, possibly reaching their peak in the Spring of 2022.

 

Quarterly data from the report indicates that the number of procedures performed by surgeons has been well-balanced throughout the year, with the Spring season (April – June) emerging as the most popular period for cosmetic enhancements. Approximately 55% of all surgical procedures were conducted in the first half of the year, with this pattern consistent across body and breast procedures, as well as other surgical treatments.

 

The average plastic surgeon performed 252 surgical procedures in 2022, showing a 13% decrease from the 289 procedures conducted in 2021. However, despite this decline, surgical counts remained an impressive 27% higher than the pre-pandemic levels of 198 procedures in 2019. 2022 saw Americans spending over $11.8 billion on aesthetic procedures overall, up 2% from the previous year.

 

Women continued to dominate the demographic of individuals undergoing aesthetic procedures, representing 95% of all procedures. Among surgical procedures, the most popular age group was 51–70-year-olds, accounting for 36% of all surgeries. The 36-50 age group closely followed with 30%, and 17–35-year-olds accounted for 27%. Patients over the age of 70 represented 8% of all surgical procedures.

 

The Aesthetic Society’s latest report offers invaluable insights into the trends shaping the aesthetic industry. Despite the decline in surgical procedures, the overall growth driven by nonsurgical treatments demonstrates the industry’s adaptability and continued evolution.

 

You can obtain a full copy of The Aesthetic Society’s 2022 statistics here.

 

About The Aesthetic Society:

The Aesthetic Society is recognized as the world’s leading organization devoted entirely to aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine of the face and body. The Aesthetic Society is comprised of more than 3,000 Active members in North America and internationally; Active Members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (USA) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have extensive training in the complete spectrum of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. International Active Members are certified by equivalent boards of their respective countries. All members worldwide adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and must meet stringent membership requirements. The Aesthetic Society is at the forefront of innovation in aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine globally.

 

About the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank:

The 2022 Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Statistics were compiled using the Aesthetic Neural Network (ANN) data. The Aesthetic Society partnered with Ronan SolutionsTM (Phoenix, AZ) to develop ANN. ANN connects directly to participating Aesthetic Society member plastic surgeons’ practice management systems to retrieve real-time, de-identified, billing data. The data is reviewed and mapped by subject matter experts to generate a dynamic, comprehensive, longitudinal, valid, and reliable repository of procedural and billing data. ANN’s automated, real-time data access also eliminates other drawbacks associated with surveys such as low response rates, cross-sectional data, inaccurate recall, need for manual data entry and the limited number and scope of questions that can be included. For the 2022 Statistics, aggregate data from 200 participating plastic surgery practices across the U.S. that consistently provided data quarterly between 2019 and 2022 were analyzed. The procedure counts were extrapolated to estimate nationwide statistics. These statistics have a standard error of +/- 6.8% at a 95% level of confidence. To enhance the reliability of trends, all prior data have been restated to reflect the consistent sample of participants.

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Art & Life Culture Education Lifestyle Science

Be better than your bias — 5 areas of your life to examine

An award-winning diversity consultant and international corporate speaker, Risha Grant, has a mission to help us all be better than our BS — that’s our “biasphere”— the powerful and often invisible belief systems that we’ve been steeped in since birth and the judgment and bias we carry with us that impact our lives and the many others we encounter every day.

 

 

Analyzing your biasphere and identifying your BS raises your unconscious bias to the conscious level,” says Grant.

 

 

“If you don’t like what you discover, don’t blame or judge yourself, not because bias isn’t problematic, but because getting caught up in your feelings is a distraction. What matters is what you’re going to do about it, because once you can see your BS, you’re also quickly going to see that it’s been running your life for a long time and warping your ability to gauge reality.”

 

 

5 socializing agents that form the rings of our biasphere:

  • Family
  • Peers and friends
  • Schools or government
  • Religion
  • Mass media

 

Using stories from her personal and professional journey as well those of her clients, Grant encourages you to first examine the roots of your own BS through a process of radically accepting yourself and then to build a BS-free culture, which can only happen when you learn to radically accept others. She also shares the exercises, tools, and strategies she has taught thousands of people at all levels to make their workplaces more accepting, inclusive, and productive

 

 

About Risha Grant

Risha Grant is diversity personified: CEO. Entrepreneur. Black. Female. Small-town born and raised. Bisexual. Spiritual. Ex-preacher’s wife. Cusser. Left-handed. Former Division 1 athlete. But these traits alone aren’t what make her one of the most powerful and effective diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) experts in the US. Hailed as a “cultural competency genius” and renowned for her storytelling chops, humor, and frank delivery, she has made a career of leading her audiences as well as executives and their teams, politicians, civic leaders, and academic directors around the world to Radical Acceptance (RA) through a unique bias-busting process of self-examination and concrete advice on how to behave, lead, and manage businesses more inclusively.

 

 

In her role as a speaker and CEO of a multi-million dollar business, Grant has shifted the hearts and minds of her audiences and clients from around the world, including Google, Levi Strauss, Nestle Purina, Xerox, YouTube, Procter & Gamble, Discover Card Financial Services, Samsung Electronics America, Cox Communications, U.S. Airforce, U.S. Navy, Intuit, NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, and Harvard University.

 

She’s been featured in various national and international media including Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, Harvard Business Review, HR News, The Financial Times, Glamour Magazine UK, Bloomberg Media, and Black Enterprise, among others. She is also the author of two books: That’s BS! How Bias Synapse Disrupts Inclusive Cultures and the Power to Attract Diverse Markets and Be Better Than Your BS: How Radical Acceptance Empowers Authenticity and Creates a Culture of Inclusion.

 

Grant has received numerous honors such as being named one of the Top 10 Most Powerful Women Leaders in HR, one of the 40 Top Women Keynote Speakers, and made the list of Top 100 HR Experts. She was named as 1 in 9 Speakers Turning Crisis into Opportunity by Entrepreneur magazine, and for three consecutive years been an Engagedly Top 100 HR Influencer and Entrepreneur of the Year.

 

Grant will freely admit that she is a work in progress. She occasionally misuses pronouns. She prejudges others. Sometimes she walks in fear. Yet she has consistently striven to focus on love, and made it her mission to use her passion, persistence, knowledge, and experience to dismantle racism, sexism, classism, and plain old stupidism—including her own. She lives in Tulsa, Okla. with her partner, where when not teaching people how to challenge bias she is busy being the world’s best auntie.

Categories
Business Culture Science Technology

Intercept Music revolutionizes music marketing with groundbreaking AI integration in latest software update

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — PrismMediawire – Intercept Music, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanwire Corporation (OTC: SNWR), is proud to announce the launch of its latest software version, now incorporating cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology into the music marketing process.

 

As the first in the industry to introduce AI integration, Intercept Music is empowering artists and musicians to level the playing field and market their music on-par with major labels.

 

 

The music industry has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, with the rapid advancement of technology significantly influencing the way music is produced, distributed, and consumed. AI, in particular, has emerged as a powerful tool that is reshaping the landscape of music marketing, bringing personalized and data-driven strategies to the forefront.
With Intercept Music’s latest software, artists gain access to a wealth of AI-powered features, enabling them to optimize their promotional efforts and connect with their target audience like never before. The incorporation of AI in the marketing process offers invaluable insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and trends, ensuring that artists can tailor their campaigns for maximum impact.

 

 

CEO of Intercept Music, Tod Turner, expressed his enthusiasm about the company’s pioneering achievement, saying, “We are thrilled to introduce the world’s first AI-integrated music marketing software. At Intercept Music, we believe that every artist deserves the opportunity to succeed in the music industry. With our latest update, we are bridging the gap between independent artists and major labels, providing them with sophisticated tools and resources to effectively promote their music and build a loyal fan base.”

Intercept Music’s AI-powered platform offers a wide array of features, including advanced data analytics, targeted marketing campaigns, personalized recommendations, and audience segmentation. This enables artists to identify their most engaged listeners, better understand their fan base, and tailor their content to enhance the overall fan experience.

 

Sanwire Corporation’s CEO, Ron Hughes, also commented on the significance of this innovation for investors, stating, “The integration of AI technology into Intercept Music’s software represents a major milestone for Sanwire Corporation and our shareholders. With the music industry constantly evolving, we are committed to staying at the forefront of innovation and offering our customers the latest tools to thrive in this digital era. This cutting-edge AI integration positions Intercept Music as a trailblazer in the music marketing space, and we are excited about the growth opportunities it presents.”

Artificial Intelligence has the potential to redefine how music is marketed and consumed, and Intercept Music is leading the way by providing independent artists with the same powerful marketing capabilities that were once exclusive to major labels. The latest software update reinforces Intercept Music’s commitment to empowering artists and musicians, fostering creativity, and fostering a diverse and thriving music ecosystem.
About Intercept Music:
Intercept Music, a subsidiary of Sanwire Corporation, is an innovative technology company focused on helping independent artists and musicians navigate the digital music landscape. Their advanced platform offers a wide range of marketing and distribution tools to enable artists to reach their fullest potential in the music industry.

 

Read more:

https://prismmediawire.prowly.com/256855-intercept-music-revolutionizes-music-marketing-with-groundbreaking-ai-integration-in-latest-software-update

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Culture Environment Lifestyle Local News Science

Annual ‘Insect Festival’ set for Sept. 9

This year’s theme is “Bugs Rule!”

Learn about the importance of insects in our lives and how to protect their habitats through fun, hands-on activities!

Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County will sponsor the 2023 “Bugs Rule!” Insect Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Mercer Educational Gardens,431A Federal City Road, Hopewell Township. The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is free and on-site parking is available. Learn about the importance of insects in our lives and how they create the biological foundation for all terrestrial ecosystems through fun, hands-on activities!

This year’s festival will feature how insects are important because of their diversity, ecological role and influence on agriculture, human health and natural resources. There will be educational activities for visitors of all ages, including the popular Scavenger Hunt and Metamorphosis game. Other highlights include “Bugs in Water,” and Q&A with  Rutgers Cooperative Extension Horticulturist, Justine Gray and Mercer Master Gardeners. Local environmental agencies and experts will offer displays and information to the public. Representatives from the Watershed Institute, Abbott Marshlands, Native Plant Society of New Jersey, Northwest New Jersey Beekeepers Association, N.J. Department of Agriculture, and more!

Attendees are invited to view the demonstration gardens on site and learn how insects interact with the different plants. The public can also learn about various methods of composting. Along the way, there will be activities designed to teach children of all ages to appreciate the beauty, diversity, and essential roles of our insect friends.

About the Master Gardeners:

The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County is a volunteer educational outreach program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Master Gardeners participate in many volunteer programs throughout the County. For home gardening, plant, turf, or insect questions, you can visit our Helpline office at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and speak with our Helpline team. You can also call us at (609) 989-6853 or send us an email at AsktheMGs@mercercounty.org. Visit our website at www.mgofmc.org for more information

PHOTO: Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County from left, Michele Berenwick of Lawrenceville; Amber Dalke of Princeton; Bev Phillips of Trenton; Marietta Hujber of Hamilton; and Susan Colket of Titusville don insect costumes at a previous Insect Fest and explain the importance of each insect. Look for these insects and fun activities at the upcoming 2023 Insect Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine at Mercer Educational Gardens, 431A Federal City Road, Pennington.

CONTACT: Justine Gray, (609) 989-6830 justinegray@njaes.rutgers.edu

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Business Culture International & World Lifestyle Sports & Gaming Technology

WSOP Online returns for players all over the world

WSOP gold bracelets to be won at GGPoker, WSOP.COM & GGPoker.CA

Join Daniel Negreanu in playing for your share of poker history

 

 

DUBLIN & LAS VEGAS — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The World Series of Poker® (WSOP®) – the richest, most prestigious, and longest-running poker series – and GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, today announced further details for WSOP Online 2023.

 

Since its launch in 2020, WSOP Online has become the world’s most prestigious online poker tournament series, with each new bracelet winner joining the honor roll of champions that includes the most successful and famous players ever to sit at a poker table.

International players can pursue official WSOP gold bracelets exclusively at GGPoker, Ontario residents can do likewise at GGPoker.CA, while United States residents physically present in Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania have their own slate of tournaments on WSOP.COM. Both GGPoker and WSOP.COM will each offer a total of 33 coveted WSOP gold bracelets during WSOP Online 2023, while GGPoker.CA has a total of eight more WSOP bracelets up for grabs.

 

The tournament series is hosted at GGPoker and GGPoker.CA from Aug. 20, 2023, to Oct. 2, 2023, and WSOP.COM from Sept. 10 to Oct. 17. The WSOP Online 2023 schedule caters to players of all levels, with a wide range of buy-ins and satellites running daily.

 

“With record-smashing events and something for everyone, WSOP Online is quickly realizing its vision to be the premier annual online poker series,” said Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the World Series of Poker, Ty Stewart. “We’re the ‘World’ Series of Poker and backed by GGPoker, WSOP Online is where we can deliver a chance for glory to players across the world who might not otherwise travel to live events. Bling is the thing, and we’ll be looking forward to welcoming new members to poker’s most exclusive club.”

 

Poker players worldwide are invited to join Daniel Negreanu at GGPoker during the upcoming WSOP Online tournament series, as he seeks to add to his haul of six WSOP bracelets. Negreanu intends to take aim at gold in a variety of bracelet events, including #7 $10 Mystery Millions $10M GTD, #10 $1,050 Beat The Pros Bounty NLH and #12 $500 Mini Main Event NLH $2.5M GTD. He will live stream much of his play, allowing viewers to follow his progress and cheer him on, and also plans to sell some of his action via the GGPoker app.

 

“I cannot wait to get into WSOP Online 2023 and play for WSOP gold alongside thousands of other players,” said Daniel Negreanu, GGPoker Global Ambassador. “I’ll be streaming a lot during the series and you’ll also be able to buy some of my action via GGPoker’s legendary integrated staking feature, so why not buckle in and ride along with me this WSOP Online?”

 

Players can also join Negreanu at GGPoker’s Rush & Cash tables for a very special promotion, Rush & Cash Double DNegs. During the days this special event will run, the daily Rush & Cash Leaderboard will be doubled to $60K and all cash drops at Rush & Cash tables at which Negreanu or any other GGTeam ambassador is playing will also be doubled, with cash drops of up to 1,200 big blinds waiting to be won. Further details on Rush & Cash Double DNegs will be unveiled in the near future.

 

WSOP Online 2023’s domestic schedule begins with the $400 Series “Kick-off” No Limit Hold’em event and is highlighted by returning player favorites, including the Colossus, “Lucky Sevens,” “Crazy Eights,” and the $1,000 Online Championship. New events for this year’s series include “PLOssus” and a $1,500 Bounty No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max.

 

The domestic series offers fifteen events of $1,000 or higher, including a $3,200 High Roller Championship and a $5,300 Super High Roller 6-max Freezeout. Players must be physically located within state borders to participate. Special resort rates will be available in Nevada and New Jersey at Caesars Entertainment destinations for players traveling into each state to play. For complete information and schedule, please visit: WSOP.COM or ggpoker.com/tournaments/wsop-online-2023/.

 

 

About the World Series of Poker

Part of Caesars Entertainment’s Caesars Digital operations, the World Series of Poker® is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, having awarded more than $4 billion in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest-running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2023, the event attracted 214,641 entrants from more than 114 different countries to the Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas and awarded more than $403 million in prize money. In addition, the WSOP has formed groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent of WSOP Europe in 2007 and the WSOP Asia-Pacific in 2013 and the WSOP International Circuit Series in 2015. All WSOP events are subject to the then-current and applicable WSOP tournament rules. For more information, please visit www.wsop.com.

 

 

About Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) is the largest casino-entertainment Company in the U.S. and one of the world’s most diversified casino-entertainment providers. Since its beginning in Reno, NV, in 1937, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions. Caesars Entertainment, Inc.’s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah’s®, Horseshoe®, and Eldorado® brand names. Caesars Entertainment, Inc. offers diversified gaming, entertainment and hospitality amenities, one-of-a-kind destinations, and a full suite of mobile and online gaming and sports betting experiences. All tied to its industry-leading Caesars Rewards loyalty program, the Company focuses on building value with its guests through a unique combination of impeccable service, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars is committed to its employees, suppliers, communities and the environment through its PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com/corporate.

 

 

About GGPoker: GGPoker is the World’s Biggest Poker Room, with a global player base. It offers a range of innovative games and features such as the patented Rush & Cash poker, All-In or Fold, Flip & Go, Spin & Gold, Battle Royale, GGCare & GGCheers, integrated staking platform, SnapCam video messaging, PokerCraft, and Smart HUD, all designed to enhance gaming experiences and make poker more fun than ever.

 

In 2020, GGPoker hosted the world record-breaking WSOP Online main event. In 2021, GGPoker won PokerListing’s ‘Best Poker Software Overall’ award. In 2022, GGPoker became the world’s largest online poker room and was awarded the Online Poker Operator of the Year Award at the SiGMA Americas Gaming Awards. In 2023, GGPoker sent more than 750 players to the live WSOP 2023 Main Event and will support WSOP Paradise at the Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

 

Find out more about GGPoker at GGPoker.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

Contacts

Media Contacts:

Brad Harwood

bharwood@caesars.com

Paul Burke

press@ggpoker.com

Categories
Art & Life Culture Foodies/Tastylicious International & World Lifestyle

Award-winning caterer inspires with her mantra: Food, fun and love

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — At her charming flat above a bistro in England, Pauline Parry was constantly enveloped in the comforting aromas of slow-roasted lamb and fresh-baked pie crusts, punctuated by the occasional whiff of freshly chopped garlic. It was the setting of Parry’s culinary apprenticeship, and where she discovered the secret recipe for a life filled with flavor and substance.

 

In her engaging new memoir, My Culinary Love Story, Parry invites readers inside her formative years in hospitality; the early days of her romance with her future husband and the life experiences that fed her entrepreneurial spirit. Along the way, she introduces readers to the people who nurtured her talents and helped shape the award-winning catering powerhouse she is today.

 

“In this book, I share my story with you. Food is an important part of it, as is love. Both are the foundation on which my marriage and my business are built and how we journeyed from England to America,” Parry writes. “It’s the reason I say that everything I do has been guided by food, fun, and love.”

 

It all begins when, as a newly single mother, Parry gets an unexpected invitation to work at a bistro in a quaint English market town. The job includes a flat above the bistro, so she would be able to work without being far from her children. After moving in, she finds she loves the excitement of the kitchen and of being on her own. But Parry is not alone for long.

 

She is soon joined on her journey by a handsome carpenter, and the result is a snowy, romantic Christmas wedding. Every juicy detail of Parry’s romantic relationship and every bite of the cuisine Parry learns to master are chronicled in a story that takes the reader from one English Christmas to the next.

 

Peppered with 64 delicious recipes, accompanied with beautiful watercolor illustrations by Janette Carpenter, My Culinary Love Story maps the author’s serendipitous encounters, the setbacks she faced with resilience and the many victories she met with gratitude.

 

In My Culinary Love Story, the lesson is clear: life is all about food, fun and love.

 

About the Author
Pauline Parry is the renowned and highly sought after founder and president of Good Gracious! Events, an award-winning food and beverage company, and the author of My Culinary Love Story, a memoir and collection of her favorite recipes that started her on her career path and journey.

 

Parry’s awards include Caterer of the Year, Best Event for a Corporation, Best Off Premise Caterer, The I-3 Award (Innovation, Inspiration and Instruction), ACE (Achievement in Catering Excellence) and the John Mossman Award for ICA, among others. She was an inductee into the Event Industry Hall of Fame and the Wedding Industry Hall of Fame.

 

Greatly respected by her peers, Parry serves as an expert consultant to her colleagues throughout the country.

 

She enjoys bringing friends and family around the table at her home, watching films, drinking a good red wine and munching popcorn. She is a lifelong Beatles fan. On the few occasions of downtime, she enjoys spending time with her husband and grandsons, and keeping on top of all her favorite magazines.

 

For more information, please visit https://paulineparry.net, or follow the author on Instagram (@paulineparry) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PaulineParryGG).

Categories
Art & Life Culture Economics Lifestyle Programs & Events Regulations & Security

The Prospector creates competitive and inclusive employment for people with disabilities

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — The Prospector, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is dedicated to providing competitive and inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities through the operation of a first-run movie theater and online gourmet popcorn business.

 

 

With a mission to create meaningful work for millions, the Prospector operates a wide array of jobs and businesses while educating entrepreneurs, employers, and educators about their model.

 

 

The Prospector aims to address the pressing issue of unemployment among individuals with disabilities, where nearly 80% of Americans with disabilities do not have a job.

 

 

By showcasing the value that people with disabilities bring to the workforce, the Prospector is committed to transforming lives through meaningful work.  Prospects are paired with jobs that highlight their strengths and passions – or as the Prospector calls it, “sparkle.”   Approximately 75% of Prospects, the name given to all Prospector employees, self-identify with a disability.

 

“Our goal is to build a system where anyone with sparkle, determination, and drive can transform their lives through meaningful work,” the organization states.

 

“We are dedicated to creating a universally-designed, inclusive workplace where barriers are eliminated, and all individuals can thrive.”

 

Since its inception, the Prospector has established a workplace that embraces inclusivity at every level. Operating procedures are documented with accessibility in mind, while accommodations, modifications, and workarounds are integrated into daily operations. The organization believes in constant learning and teaching, adapting dynamic approaches to training and nurturing a supportive environment.

 

Prospects at the Prospector have trailblazed a revolutionary model of social enterprise, which can be adapted by businesses of all sizes. The key to their success lies in competitive and inclusive employment, with Prospects, both with and without disabilities, working together across various roles. This collaboration ranges from movie projection and production to concessions, clean team, grant writing, graphics, and more. Prospects earn competitive wages, benefit from upward mobility, professional development, and contribute to the organization’s high standards of excellence.

Categories
Business Culture Digital - AI & Apps Economics Government Lifestyle Local News News Now! Perks Programs & Events

County Exec. Hughes not long ago, announces Certified Diverse Vendor Directory

Building on his Small Business Set-Aside Program, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes announced that a digital directory of participating businesses is now available online on Mercer County’s website.

The  Mercer County New Jersey Certified Diverse Vendor Directory will include New Jersey State certified Women Business Enterprises (WBE), Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Veteran Owned/Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (VOB/DVOB) and Small Business Enterprises (SBE).

“The online directory is an effort to support the business enterprises of women, minorities and veterans, along with small businesses,”  Mr. Hughes said.

“Small  businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy, and our goal is to create and identify ways to increase business traffic to certified small businesses and encourage others to become certified. This online directory, managed by our Small Business Outreach Department, is another tool to support our business community.”

In his 2023 State of the County address, County Executive Hughes recognized Job One Lawn and Landscape, a Woman and Minority-owned small business in Ewing. Owned by Jocelyn and Stan Tucker of Ewing, Job One recently won a county contract for $75,000, and are just one of Mercer County’s set-aside success stories.

How will my business benefit?

No-cost advertising. The digital directory will be accessible to all Mercer County departments and the public, and for even greater exposure for businesses listed in the directory Mercer County will share information with municipal purchasing departments within the county. All businesses will be displayed by category and will include the business’s contact information and Capability Statement.

Hands-on help. Mercer’s Small Business Outreach pros will walk you through the process to learn how to participate in the county’s formal bidding process.

Free training. Mercer partners with the Small Business Development Center at The College of New Jersey to review business plans, and obtain funding from the UCEDC.

Please note, only current certified businesses registered with The State of New Jersey SAVI Selective Assistance Vendor Information Portal will be included.

Digital directory accessible at www.mercercounty.org

Sign me up!

 

Questions? Please contact James Chambers, Coordinator of Small Business Outreach at (609) 989-6212, jchambers@mercercounty.org.

Adopted in July 2018, the Qualified Minority-, Women-, Veteran-owned Business or Small Business Set-Aside Program reserves 10 percent of the dollar value of all the county’s goods, professional services and construction contracts to be utilized for qualified businesses. Of that 10 percent, 30 percent is allocated for qualified minority businesses; 30 percent for qualified women-owned businesses; 30 percent for qualified veteran-owned businesses; and 10 percent for small businesses. The Set-Aside Program makes it easier for qualified businesses to contract with the county, as it provides access to $70 million in procurement. An estimated $7 million worth of contracts will be available to eligible businesses as part of the new program.

Categories
Culture Foodies/Tastylicious Healthcare Lifestyle Local News Programs & Events

Capital City Farm blossoms under new leadership in Trenton

As farm grows, so does artistry

 

The Mercer County Park Commission’s Capital City Farm (CCF), a flourishing urban farm in Trenton, recently welcomed its new Farm Manager, Corinne Gordon.

Corinne Gordon, new manager at Capital City Farm in Trenton.

Gordon brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as Farm Specialist for the Carter Historic Farm in Bowling Green, Ohio. Her background in sustainable agriculture and community engagement is a perfect match for the Park Commission’s mission and goals for this vibrant space, which include providing locally grown produce for those with limited access to fresh food, lush floral cutting gardens — as well as the opportunity to learn about and participate in urban agriculture.

CCF and the Park Commission’s Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell donate tons of fresh produce and grains, including grits and whole wheat flour, to food pantries and soup kitchens throughout Mercer County each year. In 2022, 21 tons of produce were donated.

“We were very fortunate to be able to bring Corinne aboard,” said Aaron T. Watson, Park Commission Executive Director. “With her education and experience, we know that the farm will continue to flourish under her leadership, strengthening our outreach to the community and the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK).”

A bounty of flowers from the cutting gardens at Capital City Farm.

Capital City Farm and TASK have been great partners for many years, even prior to the first harvest, according to Joyce Campbell, TASK CEO.

“Having a farm next door to a soup kitchen is like a dream come true as it’s often difficult to get fresh produce donated,”  Campbell said. “The farm’s donation of fresh produce inspired the installation of a salad bar at TASK, which not only provides nutritious foods, but also provides choice for our patrons, most of whom live in poverty and don’t often have the choices many of us take for granted.”

Artist-turned-farmer, Walter Roberts, displays a portrait he painted.

Many farmers may be natural artists, with their carefully-sown beds, their gentle coaxing of seedlings, and their passion for creating a product that they can be proud of. Indeed, the work of farmers requires the touch and vision of craftsmen, and Capital City Farm has become a living canvas that showcases the beauty of agriculture and art.

Working closely with Gordon is Walter Roberts, an artist-turned-farmer whose unique set of skills have been a mainstay of Capital City Farm since it was first acquired by a coalition of local partners and converted into a farm. Starting as a volunteer and eventually becoming a full-time farmer for the Park Commission, Roberts is largely responsible for the growth and variety of crops produced on the farm, not to mention the art that adorns the fences and other structures there. Roberts’ artistry is on display in the meticulously-managed garden beds and the portraits he paints and displays along the farm’s enclosure.

Raven George, Capital City Farm florist.

Also contributing to the aesthetic is Raven George, New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s Cut Flower Production Manager and CCF florist, who creates beautiful flower bouquets each Saturday from the cockscomb, zinnias, cosmos, and snapdragons grown at the farm. Occasionally, she holds free workshops to teach others how to create their own cut flower arrangements at home.

Capital City Farm’s commitment to sustainability and artistic expression has transformed a once-vacant lot into a dynamic space for the entire community to enjoy. Even beyond the garden beds and fruit trees at the edge of the farm, the work of Corinne Gordon, Walter Roberts, Raven George, and a host of volunteers and interns is fast finding new roots in the neighborhood, and throughout New Jersey’s capital city.

Participants in a floral design workshop show off their creations.