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Ethnic cultures as newsmakers

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Graham Nash to be honored and will perform at the 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute Benefit Concert for Theatre Within

Benefit Concert for Theatre Within

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Theatre Within, the non-profit behind the Annual John Lennon Tribute since 1981, will honor two-time Rock And Roll Hall of Famer Graham Nash as the ninth recipient of the “John Lennon Real Love Award” at its 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Town Hall.

Graham Nash, whose remarkable career spans from the British invasion with the Hollies, to the legendary Laurel Canyon scene with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, to his still vibrant solo concerts and recordings, will play some of his favorite John Lennon/Beatles classics and be joined by a lineup of acclaimed artists.

Folk legend Judy Collins will make her first Tribute appearance in over a decade; Rosanne Cash will perform for the third time, the first since she was chosen as 2018’s John Lennon Real Love Award honoree; Grammy award-winner Rita Coolidge will make a rare live appearance, her first-ever at the long-running benefit concert; and drummer/percussionist Rich Pagano, a founding member of the Fab Faux, will serve as Music Director for the 15th consecutive year.

Upon hearing that he had been chosen as this year’s honoree, Graham Nash said, “This is a very special award. I thank Yoko and the Theatre Within for thinking of me. Over many years, I watched John and Yoko ‘fight the good fight’ for many whose voices were not being heard, a fight that Yoko continues to this day. I’m proud to be associated with the many fine artists who were previously honored with the John Lennon Real Love Award.”

In a statement Yoko Ono said, “With its joyful Annual John Lennon Tribute and John Lennon Real Love Project, Theatre Within is furthering the vision that John and I shared for a better world.”

“Few artists have combined music and positive social activism with the seismic impact that Graham Nash has,” said Theatre Within Artistic Director and longtime Tribute producer/host, Joe Raiola. “It’s fitting that Graham is being joined by so many music greats.”

Previous recipients of the prized award include Natalie Merchant, Patti Smith, Ani DiFranco and Donovan.

Proceeds from the Tribute support Theatre Within’s ongoing free workshops in creative expression and mindfulness, including the John Lennon Real Love Project songwriting program, for the cancer community, elementary and middle schools, and youth in crisis.

In 2023, for the fourth consecutive year, Theatre Within is providing 200 free workshops for children and adults impacted by cancer through the Red Door Community (formerly Gilda’s Club NYC) and other regional cancer support communities.

Since the John Lennon Real Love Project elementary and middle school program launched in the spring of 2021, Theatre Within has brought the program to 17 schools. Students write new lyrics to “Real Love” and then record their own version of the song accompanied by John Lennon’s original vocal and piano track.

Tickets for Theatre Within’s 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute are on sale starting July 22 at 12pm at LennonTribute.org. (Town Hall  is located at 123 W. 43rd Street).

John Lennon and Beatles fans are invited to join “Friends of the Annual John Lennon Tribute” at LennonTribute.org/join-friends, where VIP packages are available.

The Annual John Lennon Tribute is produced in association with Music Without Borders. It remains the only John Lennon tribute concert in the world to be sanctioned by Yoko Ono.

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Rivers Casino Philadelphia plans boutique luxury hotel in Fishtown

Waterfront hotel with views of Ben Franklin Bridge to debut by year-end 2023


PHILADELPHIA — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Rivers Casino Philadelphia is “powering up” its hotel plans.

The casino announced today that it will open a 62-suite boutique luxury hotel inside The Battery, the mixed-use lifestyle campus underway on Beach Street in Fishtown.

 

The new casino hotel will be called “Riversuites,” and it promises a high-end experience. The upscale hotel will occupy four dedicated floors of The Battery’s existing adaptive reuse complex, creating a rarity for Philly — a waterfront hotel. The casino could be accepting reservations as early as this fall.

 

Guest suites are cavernous by hotel standards, averaging 854 square feet each, with even larger options up to 2,266 square feet. One-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations are available. Every suite includes a full kitchen. Several apartment-style suites feature patios or bi-level lofts, with sleeping rooms upstairs and living room and kitchen below.

 

Unobstructed views of the Delaware River extend well beyond the Pennsylvania and New Jersey shorelines past the Ben Franklin Bridge. On the street side, running parallel to the river, hotel guests will enjoy one of Philly’s hottest neighborhoods — Fishtown.

 

With Fishtown’s walkable streets and burgeoning cultural and culinary offerings, Riversuites guests will be just steps away from a growing inventory of trendy restaurants, coffee shops, craft brewhouses, distilleries, retail stores, galleries and other recreation.

 

“A hotel addition for Rivers Casino Philadelphia has always been part of the master plan for our Fishtown property,” said Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rivers Casino and Rush Street Gaming. “The location and grandeur of The Battery allowed us to join a neighboring parcel, already in progress, with historic Philly significance.”

 

In addition to proximity to Fishtown, panoramic views and affiliation with the casino itself, Riversuites will boast several other traditional and unconventional amenities: co-working areas, lobby gathering spaces, a billiards table — and an indoor basketball court.

 

A Conduit Between Philly’s Past and Its Future

The Battery is an architectural stunner designed in Beaux-Arts classical revival style by famed turn-of-the-century Philly architect John Windrim. Windrim’s prolific portfolio also includes The Franklin Institute, the Philadelphia Municipal Court and the provost’s residence at Penn.

 

Formerly the Delaware Power Station, the 11-acre Beach Street complex was commissioned as a PECO power plant in the early 1900s. By the 1950s, it was the utility company’s largest, providing power to nearly half of Philadelphia. Eight 167-foot-tall chimneys will remain as historic architectural elements.

 

Today, The Battery is a $154 million redevelopment initiative currently underway by its Philadelphia-based owner, Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds. The active phase includes 173 apartments, 135,000 square feet of office space and 100,000 square feet of event space — and now a hotel.

 

“We saw in the old PECO power plant an opportunity to create a spectacular experience on Philadelphia’s waterfront that could be a home for both a residential community as well as an eclectic mix of commercial enterprises that will draw people to an area of the city that has until now been underused,” said Leonard Klehr, vice chairman of Lubert-Adler. “It is very exciting to see our vision for this project come to fruition, with our first residents moving in and Rivers Casino announcing its plans for a beautiful new hotel overlooking the river, and we are thrilled to welcome them to The Battery.”

 

The casino’s 22-acre waterfront property already connects with The Battery via the Delaware Riverwalk by way of picturesque Penn Treaty Park. The two properties are an eight-minute walk or a five-minute ride apart. Rivers will run a complimentary 24/7 shuttle with 24/7 security and will offer 24/7 valet parking.

 

Riversuites will be operated by Rivers Casino Philadelphia, which is owned and operated by Rush Street Gaming and its affiliates. Koo Architecture of Chicago is designing the Riversuites hotel. Strada of Philadelphia is the architect for The Battery.

 

“VIPs and out-of-town guests have long inquired about overnight stays at Rivers Casino Philadelphia, and they’re about to get a penthouse-style option,” said Eric Althaus, general manager of the casino. “We’re thrilled to introduce this entirely unexpected luxury suites collection — that’s exclusive to Rivers Philly.”

 

The Riversuites hotel project represents a $7 million privately funded investment. The new hotel will add more than 40 permanent hospitality jobs to the casino’s existing 1,100-plus workforce. Riversuites at The Battery is expected to open by year-end 2023.

 

ABOUT RIVERS CASINO PHILADELPHIA

Located along the Delaware River waterfront in Fishtown, Rivers Casino Philadelphia features 1,547 slots, 78 table games, 66 hybrid gaming seats, a 28-table poker room and a designated sportsbook area for live sports betting. Rita’s Italian Ice and Dunkin’ are among the popular grab-and-go locations in the casino’s Marketplace. The casino also offers an array of distinctive restaurants and bars — among them are Martorano’s Sicilian Slice, Mian and Jack’s Bar + Grill. Martorano’s Prime, an Italian-American Steakhouse, is coming soon. Guests will also enjoy riverfront views, live performances in The Event Center, free parking, and daily promotions and giveaways. For additional information and current offerings, please visit RiversCasino.com/Philadelphia.

Contacts

MEDIA
Jeff Shurilla

For Rivers Casino Philadelphia

215-764-2376 (cell)

jeff@hornercom.com

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AM Best affirms credit ratings of The Travelers Companies, Inc. and most subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#insurance—AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “aa+” (Superior) of the main subsidiaries of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) (headquartered in New York, NY) [NYSE: TRV], collectively known as Travelers Group (Travelers). In addition, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa+” (Superior) of Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (TCSA) (Hartford, CT) and Travelers Insurance Company of Canada (TICC) (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a-” (Excellent) of First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company (First Floridian) (Tampa, FL).

AM Best also has affirmed the Long-Term ICRs and the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of “a+” (Excellent) of TRV and its two wholly owned downstream holding companies, Travelers Property Casualty Corp. and Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc. (both headquartered in Hartford, CT). All outstanding securities issued by the two downstream holding companies are guaranteed by TRV. At the same time, AM Best has affirmed all other Long-Term IRs and Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Short-Term IR) guaranteed by TRV, as well as TRV’s indicative Long-Term IRs. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

 

Lastly, AM Best has revised the outlook to positive from stable for the Long-Term ICR and affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a” (Excellent) of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (Dominion) (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). The outlook of the FSR is stable.

 

The ratings of Travelers reflect the group’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its very strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

 

Travelers’ risk-adjusted capitalization is strongly supportive of the group’s ratings and exceeds the threshold for the strongest assessment level by a wide margin, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The assessment of Travelers’ balance sheet strength reflects its strong loss reserve position, the benefits derived from the conservative investment portfolio, the use of a comprehensive reinsurance program, which utilizes high quality reinsurance partners, and the additional financial flexibility available through its ultimate parent, TRV.

 

Travelers’ very strong operating performance reflects consistently profitable results driven by strong underwriting and investment results. Travelers’ has reported positive underwriting income in each of the most recent 10 years.

 

Travelers is the second largest commercial lines insurer in the United States based on 2022 direct premiums written and one of the top 10 largest U.S. personal lines insurers. Overall, Travelers is the sixth largest property/casualty (P/C) writer in the United States. Travelers maintains a broad spread of risk in that it offers a wide array of P/C coverages spread geographically in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, England, Ireland, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

The ratings of TCSA reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its very strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate ERM.

 

The ratings of TICC reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the implicit support it receives from its ultimate parent, TRV.

 

The ratings of First Floridian reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the implicit support it receives from its ultimate parent, TRV.

 

The ratings of Dominion reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the implicit support it receives from its ultimate parent, TRV. The positive outlook on Dominion’s Long-Term ICR reflects the company’s profitable operating performance in recent periods, as evidenced by positive net income in each of the most recent three years with loss ratios that compare favorably with those of the industry. Results have been influenced by favorable underwriting performance, as reflected by a five-year average combined ratio below 100, relatively in line with industry peers.

 

The ratings of TRV and its two wholly owned downstream holding companies are reflective of its modest financial leverage ratios, strong coverage ratios, ample liquidity and overall financial flexibility.

 

A complete listing of The Travelers Companies, Inc.’s FSRs, Long-Term ICRs and Long- and Short-Term IRs also is available.

 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Elizabeth Blamble
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 882 1661
elizabeth.blamble@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Michael Lagomarsino, CFA, FRM
Senior Director
+1 908 882 1993
michael.lagomarsino@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

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‘The Price We Pay:’ Teenager’s story underscores systemic impact of racial prejudice

CHICAGO, Ill. — Author Nikki T. Anthony invites readers into the world and mind of a modern-day Black teenager in her new book, The Price We Pay — the title a nod to the widespread impact of racial prejudice in communities, businesses, schools, families and even churches.

 

“The Price We Pay isn’t just a book. It’s a movement to get hard conversations started,” Anthony said. “When difficult conversations become productive, they improve relationships.”

 

The story centers on Zenetta Henchman, a teenage girl with a rebellious streak who is navigating strained relationships with her parents, difficult interactions with her teachers, and complicated feelings about her faith. In the backdrop is a community facing a growing racial divide due to unresolved and unaddressed past injustices.

 

All of this compounds to give Zenetta a “one life to live and a nothing else to lose” attitude. She speaks more than she listens and refuses to take orders quietly. But when she witnesses a fatal incident that rocks and divides her community, Zenetta falls silent, and she and those closest to her suffer the consequences of her inaction.

 

What follows are a string of deliberate attacks against Zenetta and the people she cares about, especially Tootsie, the free-spirited, colorful personality that paints a different picture of the world in Zenetta’s eyes. Tribal tensions flare, sparking an all-out explosion after Zenetta’s father, the only Black officer on the force, chooses the wrong side of the law when the community, but more importantly when Zenetta, needs him most. It’s not long after her father’s betrayal that Zenetta discovers there is always a price to be paid when those who could speak up choose to remain silent.

 

The Price We Pay weaves real-world issues surrounding racial prejudice with the emotional drama, trauma and tension that conflicts — and often torments — Zenetta, giving rise to a story that Anthony hopes will leave readers asking themselves what price they are willing to pay for silence … or for speaking up.

 

“When people can’t talk to one another, they talk about each other. That’s when misunderstandings grow as trust diminishes and suspicions increase,” Anthony added.

 

“We want to open the door to mature discussion by allowing people from all walks of life to use The Price We Pay as a starting point for healthy conversations around racial issues that can produce real change.”

 

Advance Praise for The Price We Pay
“The To Kill a Mockingbird of the 21st Century — but from a Black perspective.”
—    Ned Barnett, CEO of Barnett Marketing Communications

 

“I haven’t read a book that intertwined history, fact, and fiction so prolifically since BeBe Moore Campbell’s What You Owe Me, or a main character so young but beyond her years in enthralling experiences since Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever.”
—     National Bestselling Author E. N. Joy

 

“This book not only told a personal story, but it also told a realistic one that we as African Americans are living through today.”
—     BETA Reviewer

 

About the Author
Nikki T. Anthony is a multi-faceted author and serial entrepreneur who transformed from corporate technical writer, to highly sought after ghostwriter, literary consultant and content developer. Her writings are best known for epic plot twists, enthralling language and richly detailed African American characters.

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Culture Economics Government Lifestyle Programs & Events Regulations & Security

National Integrated Group Plan averts insolvency and reduction of benefits through receipt of Special Financial Assistance

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) recently announced that it has approved the application submitted to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program by the National Integrated Group Pension Plan (National Integrated Group Plan). The plan, based in Scranton, Pa., covers 48,254 participants in the manufacturing industry.

The National Integrated Group Plan will receive approximately $887.1 million in special financial assistance, including interest to the expected date of payment to the plan. The plan was projected to run out of money in 2034. Without the SFA Program, the National Integrated Group Plan would have been required to reduce participants’ benefits to the PBGC guarantee levels upon plan insolvency, which is roughly 15 percent below the benefits payable under the terms of the plan. SFA will enable the plan to continue to pay retirement benefits without reduction for many years into the future.

“These 48,254 manufacturing workers went to work with the promise of a pension when they retired. Today, the Biden-Harris Administration has fulfilled that promise,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security Lisa M. Gomez.

“Under President Biden’s leadership, the National Integrated Group Plan received Special Financial Assistance to deliver the pensions that these manufacturing workers have earned.”

About the Special Financial Assistance Program

The SFA Program was enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. The program provides funding to severely underfunded multi-employer pension plans and will ensure that millions of America’s workers, retirees, and their families receive the pension benefits they earned.

The SFA Program requires plans to demonstrate eligibility for SFA and to calculate the amount of assistance pursuant to ARP and PBGC’s regulations. SFA and earnings thereon must be segregated from other plan assets and may be used only to pay plan benefits and administrative expenses. Plans are not obligated to repay SFA to PBGC. Plans receiving SFA are also subject to certain terms, conditions and reporting requirements, including an annual statement documenting compliance with the terms and conditions. PBGC is authorized to conduct periodic audits of multi-employer plans that receive SFA.

As of June 29, 2023, PBGC has approved about $49.7 billion in SFA to plans that cover over 687,000 workers, retirees, and beneficiaries.

The SFA Program operates under a final rule, published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2022, which became effective Aug. 8, 2022, and was amended effective Jan. 26, 2023.

About PBGC

PBGC protects the retirement security of over 33 million American workers, retirees, and beneficiaries in both single-employer and multi-employer private sector pension plans. The agency’s two insurance programs are legally separate and operationally and financially independent. PBGC is directly responsible for the benefits of more than 1.5 million participants and beneficiaries in failed pension plans. The Single-Employer Program is financed by insurance premiums, investment income, and assets and recoveries from failed single-employer plans. The Multi-employer Program is financed by insurance premiums. Special financial assistance for financially troubled multi-employer plans is financed by general taxpayer monies.

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Families will have a happy & healthy summer w/ top picks from Sugar Plum & more

From Sugar Plum‘s zesty nuts for summer get-togethers to Modular Closets‘ Value Closet Kit that will help declutter the home, to the PURGGO car air eco-purifier & freshener that will freshen up family road trips, these products will help families have the best summer yet!

 

Sugar Plum’s Zesty & Delicious Nuts Are Tasty Summer Snacks

Sugar Plum Around The World Spicy Nut Sampler (Amazon)
Spices have been used since antiquity and even led to the Age of Discovery, in which explorers traveled the world looking for these elusive flavors. Sugar Plum’s Around the World Sampler lets you do some culinary exploration of your own without even leaving your couch. You’ll enjoy globally-inspired peanuts with flavors consisting of African Piri Piri, Caribbean Jerk, Coconut Curry Thai, Mexican Spiced Cocoa, and Moroccan Harissa Lime. These five sweet and spicy flavors of peanuts are sure to take you on the journey you didn’t know you needed – no passport required. Retails for $34.99 at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5Y6744N
Sugar Plum Kettle-Cooked Pumpkin Spice Almonds
Crunchy, tasty, vegan-friendly and packed full of flavor, Sugar Plum’s handcrafted Kettle-Cooked Pumpkin Spice Almonds are the undisputed taste-of-the-fall snacking champion! Generously coated with specially-crafted and tailor-made blend cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and other exotic spices which tastefully amplify the nutty flavor of the almonds to craft a pumpkin spice flavor that is second-to-none. Five 3-Ounce Bags retails for $24.99 at https://www.sugar-plum.com/products/pumpkin-spice-almond?_pos=1&_sid=83cd91080&_ss=r
Organize Your Home This Summer w/ the Modular Closets Value Closet Kit (ShareASale & Skimlinks)

*Limited Samples Available* 

Made in the USA, Modular Closets’ DIY, pre-designed Value Closet Kit will give you the gift of an organized and decluttered closet! A must-have for decluttering, it tastefully maximizes the space in a reach-in closet, making storage convenient and appealing. Neat and minimalistic, this kit doubles some hanging areas while still accommodating longer garments.

The shelves are designed strategically for utmost convenience (includes adjustable shelving). With its neutral look blending into and even complementing any decor, this easy-to-install closet is a timeless favorite. The high-quality closet system is wall-mounted with the company’s patented cleat system and features eco-friendly wood production. Available in White or Grey, the closet kit retails for $494.99+ at https://www.modularclosets.com/products/value-closet-kit?variant=41586109218998
Modular Closets offers media affiliates 8% commissions via ShareASale and Skimlinks. We would also be more than happy to offer an exclusive discount for your readers.

Improve Your Family’s Summer Sleep Hygiene w/ Manta Sleep Masks (Refersion & Amazon)

Manta Sleep Mask KIDS, the World’s Comfiest Sleep Mask for Children

The world’s comfiest sleep mask for children, Manta Sleep Mask KIDS offers 100% blackout even in broad daylight, so little ones can fall asleep more easily and get better, deeper sleep. This kids’ sleep mask is infinitely adjustable for a perfect fit, year after year. It has a fully adjustable head strap and eye cups that allow for fine customization of its size. The mask also puts zero pressure on the eyelids or lashes. And the super-soft, hypoallergenic materials offer total comfort — whether they sleep on their back, side or stomach.

 

A generic kids’ sleep mask uses poor-quality materials and falls apart within weeks. In contrast, Manta Sleep Mask KIDS’ high-quality materials and durable build ensure that it will last for years. Manta Sleep Mask KIDS comes in 2 bold colors: arctic blue or periwinkle. From the fit to the materials to its striking, colorful design, every aspect of Manta Sleep Mask KIDS is engineered for kids. Retails for $29.00 at https://mantasleep.com/products/manta-kids-mask

 

Manta Sleep Mask

Manta Sleep Masks will help you get a great nap and enjoy a wonderful night of deep sleep. Manta Sleep Mask is the only mask designed, constructed and optimized for deepest-possible sleep in any environment. Great for naps, it provides 100% blackout for maximized sleep quality — so users feel 100%, all the time. Just a pinprick of light can disrupt REM and deep sleep, leading to post-sleep tiredness. That’s why Manta perfectly covers and conforms to the eyes to block 100% of light. Manta Sleep Mask retails for $39 on Amazon.

 

**Manta Sleep’s Shopify store offers an affiliate program, with much higher percentage payout compared to Amazon’s program. The sign up link for the affiliate program is: https://mantasleep.refersion.com/

 

Freshen Up Family Road Trips with the PURGGO Car Air Eco-Purifier & Freshener (Amazon)

A smelly car will make any family road trip much more stressful — freshen up your car with the minimalistic and all-natural PURGGO car air eco-purifier & freshener! It’s made with pure and sustainable natural bamboo charcoal, which absorbs & eliminates odor instead of masking it. Fragrance- & allergen-free, the PURGGO is all-natural, non-toxic, and 100% asthma and allergy friendly.

 

PURGGO perfectly combines nature, science, and love. All the product contains is pure all-natural moso bamboo charcoal, one of the most renewable natural resources in the world and Mother Nature’s purifier, which has been carbonized and activated at 1110°F – 1300°F (600°C – 700°C). Bamboo charcoal is a tried and tested air cleanser that’s been used in Asian countries for thousands of years. On top of this, it lasts for 365+ days (longer lasting than any product available worldwide) and works continuously in the background! Retails for $23.99 on Amazon.

 

 

Stay Comfortable & Stylish this Summer w/ Medical Scrubs Collection Fashions (ShareASale)

Medical Scrubs Collection strives to offer customers comfortable and chic fashions at the lowest prices on the web. The company’s sales reps are dedicated to guiding customers to find the perfect outfit that suits their needs and taste, all while offering incredible savings. Here are breezy and stylish fashions that will help parents & teens stay comfortable and chic all summer:
For Him

Medical Scrubs Collection Med Couture Activate Men’s Bonded Fleece Zip-Up Warm Up

This warm men’s bonded fleece jacket is perfect for layering! It features 2 in-seam welt pockets, a zipper closure, a sporty lapel collar, and hidden inside pockets. Made with Hi-Tech innovation, it retails for $43.99+ at https://medicalscrubscollection.com/med-couture-activate-mens-bonded-fleece-zip-up-warm-up-scrub-jacket-8688

 

 

Medical Scrubs Collection Barco Unify M6PKT Joggers

These comfy joggers are a must for running errands! They have a breezy fit, pockets, and are available in several classic colors. The joggers retail for $39.99+ at https://medicalscrubscollection.com/barco-unify-m6pkt-jogger-bup602

 

 

For Her

Medical Scrubs Collection WonderWink Renew WRN Wmns Convertible Hood Jacket

This jacket is so comfy and chic! Featuring a convenient pocket for a cell phone or keys and available in Caribbean and Rosebud, this jacket is a must-have for stylish ladies. Retails for $47.98+ at https://medicalscrubscollection.com/wonderwink-renew-wrn-wmns-convertible-hood-jacket-black-8134

 

 

Medical Scrubs Collection Dickies EDS Essentials Women’s Drawstring Jogger Scrub Pants-DK065

Joggers are the go-to for all on-the-go fashionistas! These snuggly, mid-rise joggers have a contemporary fit and feature a rib knit covered elastic waistband, front drawstring closure, 6 pockets, and comfy moisture-wicking fabric that has a 4-way stretch. They retail for $28.98+ at https://medicalscrubscollection.com/dickies-eds-essentials–womens-drawstring-jogger-scrub-pants-dk065

 

 

Medical Scrubs Collection WonderWink 123 Women’s Knit Waist Cargo Jogger Scrub Pants

 

 

With their multitude of pockets and comfy fabric, these pants are wonderful for summer travels. Featuring a full elastic knit waistband, 5 practical pockets, and elastic cuffs at the hem, they retail for $30.98+ at https://medicalscrubscollection.com/wonderwink-123-womens-knit-waist-cargo-jogger-scrub-pants-5555

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From natural hair to biological sex, July 1 brings new employment laws to your workplace

CHICAGO — When it comes to employment laws, human resource experts know that July is the new January. This is because many employment rules and regulations often go into effect on July 1.

 

The same is true for this year. Rob Wilson, human resources expert and President of Employco USA, can speak to the new regulations that has hit many states in July, including:

 

  • Reproductive Health: “Nevada is going to require all employers that offer health insurance plans to only offer plans that cover contraception,” says Wilson. “If you are a Nevada-based company and your health insurance for your employees doesn’t cover contraceptive services, you have to change this or risk penalty.”

 

  • Biological Sex: “Starting on July 1, Kansas SB 180 goes into effect,” says Wilson. “This bill states that for the purposes of any state laws and regulations, biological sex is defined as the sex which was observed at a person’s birth. This will have an impact on everything from an employee’s identification documents to sex-segregated spaces in the workplace.”   
  • Artificial Intelligence: “Employers in New York have until July 5 to use an independent auditing service to test their A.I. tools for any potential bias or discrimination that may exist,” says Wilson. “They want proof from employers that their A.I. is not racist.”  
  • Anti-Semitism: “Starting July 31, Arkansas has given employers a newly updated definition of antisemitism that is to be used when determining whether or not antisemitism occurred in the workplace,” says Wilson.  
  • Workplace Violence: “In Utah, employers will now have the right to get a workplace violence protection order against any ex-employee who demonstrated violent or abusive behavior on the job,” says Wilson.

 

Also, upcoming:  

 

  • Natural Hair: “The CROWN Act goes into effect on August 1,” says Wilson. “Under this act, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee or potential employee because of their natural hair. This means that dreadlocks, twist, locs, and other natural hairstyles will be protected in the workplace.”
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Don’t be an easy target: ‘Armed & Female II’ empowers women to protect themselves

NEW YORK CITY — Self-defense and firearms expert Paxton Quigley paved the way for the women’s gun movement decades ago and continues to advocate for responsible gun ownership, particularly in light of today’s shifting social landscape.

 

Every month, 70 women on average are shot and killed by an intimate partner, according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

 

“If you find yourself in a potentially violent situation,” Quigley said, “you should understand that in almost every case you will be the only person you can truly depend on to protect yourself. You cannot count on the police, unless they happen to be nearby, and bystanders most likely won’t be able to help you.

 

“There are more women living alone and more single mothers than ever, and more women are realizing that they have to learn to take responsibility for their own safety, as well as that of their loved ones,” Quigley said.

 

“And in a country with more guns than people, owning a firearm for self-defense has become a necessity for many women.”

 

But with the right to own a gun comes extraordinary responsibility and accountability, and Quigley wants to help new and existing gun owners realize their potentially lethal as well as non-lethal options.

 

Quigley’s latest book, Armed & Female II: Never an Easy Target (available in paperback and Kindle versions from Amazon.com), aims to help guide readers through the process of making the initial decision to purchase a firearm, choosing the right one, finding the right path for learning how to shoot and care for the gun, and most important, keeping children safe in a home from firearms.

 

Federal background checks for gun purchases hit an all-time high of 21 million in 2020 (according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation). Nearly half (48%) of the new, first-time gun buyers were women, and of these female buyers, 21% were Black (according to the 2021 National Firearms Survey), none of which surprises Quigley.

 

“The pandemic caused many changes in American society, not the least of which was making people, especially women, feel vulnerable,” she said.

 

“The increase in women choosing to arm themselves, especially those who have suffered intimate partner violence or race related threats, has resulted in more choices and diversity in shooting clubs and firearms instruction. There are liberal gun clubs, gay gun clubs, African American and Latinx gun clubs, and so many excellent women shooting instructors, three of which I profile in my book.”

 

With plenty of helpful photos and diagrams, Armed & Female II also includes compelling true stories about women who have survived life-threatening situations; everything readers need to know about handguns and non-lethal self-defense, including non-lethal strategies for personal safety at home and while traveling; and expert advice from some of the country’s most respected firearms safety instructors.

 

“Though written for women, this book is also excellent for men who are new to firearms or want to learn as much as they can as quickly as they can,” Quigley added.

 

“Because when it comes to self-defense, what you don’t know canhurt you.”

 

About the Author

Paxton Quigley is the author of the bestselling women’s gun self-defense series: Armed & Female (hardcover, E.P. Dutton; paperbacks, St. Martin’s Press); Not an Easy Target (Fireside); Staying Alive: Armed & Female in an Unsafe World (Merril Press); and Armed & Female: Taking Control (Merril Press). She has taught personal protection strategies to more than 7,000 women in the U.S. and abroad.

 

No stranger to the media, Paxton has appeared on more than 300 TV and radio shows, including Oprah, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, Good Morning America and NBC Nightly News. She was briefly a bodyguard for Yoko Ono and other high-profile women, and taught self-defense to numerous celebrities, including actresses Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Geena Davis and Judith Light.

 

For more information, visit www.paxtonquigley.com, or follow the author on Instagram at @Armed_and_female and on Facebook, Armed & Female II: Never An Easy Target.

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Art & Life Culture Education Lifestyle

Shepherding American children to maturity: Sometimes less is more, expert reveals

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Dr. Cornelius N. Grove, an authority on children’s learning and parents’ parenting across cultures, takes readers on a journey of discovery through premodern villages and camps on five continents.

 

Revealed is how children in traditional societies gain practical knowledge and life skills — and grow into contributing members of their families and communities — with far less daily parental involvement (and angst) than most American parents devote to their children. How is this possible?

 

“The more traditional a contemporary society is, the more it resembles the way our ancestors lived,” Dr. Grove said.

 

“It’s possible that we modern folks could gain useful insights about our own parenting styles by re-acquainting ourselves with our ancestors’ styles. My research turned up some stark differences, which got me to stand back and look at American parenting, as it were, from the outside. I identified several practical adjustments that could prove beneficial for both parents and kids.”

 

In his eye-opening new book, How Other Children Learn: What Five Traditional Societies Tell Us about Parenting and Children’s Learning, Dr. Grove shares a wealth of stimulating contrasts between the child-rearing strategies in premodern societies on five continents and those of most middle-class American parents.

 

“What astonished me about parents in traditional societies is how uninvolved they are with their children,” he said, adding, “The paraphernalia, experiences and anxious 24/7/365 commitment we Americans routinely associate with parenting are absent.”

 

Dr. Grove defines traditional societies as those unaffected by industrialization and urbanization and untouched by modern values. They are found in small villages and camps where people engage constantly with their natural surroundings (raising, hunting or gathering their daily food) and have little or no experience of classroom instruction.

 

Anchored in the published research of anthropologists of childhood, How Other Children Learn takes a close look at the following five societies: the Aka hunter-gatherers of Africa, the Quechua of highland Peru, the Navajo of the U.S. Southwest, the village Arabs of the Levant and the Hindu villagers of India. Each society has its own chapter, which overviews that society’s background and context, then probes adults’ mindsets and strategies regarding childhood learning and socialization for adulthood.

 

The book concludes with two summary chapters that draw broadly on anthropologists’ findings about dozens of traditional societies and offer examples from the five societies featured in the book. The first summary chapter reveals how children in traditional societies learn to willingly carry out family responsibilities and suggests how American parents can attain similar outcomes. The second contrasts our middle-class patterns of child-rearing and school-attending with traditional societies’ ways of ensuring that their youngsters have opportunities to learn and develop into mature, responsible adults.

 

“Like their traditional peers, our children have a natural capacity to learn on their own and with other children by freely exploring, imitating adults and engaging in all sorts of activities serendipitously occurring in their community,” Dr. Grove added.

 

“How do our children’s opportunities to freely explore and engage with others compare with those of traditional children? With school, extracurriculars and screen time, ours have very few.”

 

About the Author
After attaining a Master of Arts in Teaching at Johns Hopkins University, Cornelius Grove taught high school history, worked in educational publishing, traveled extensively in Europe and Africa, and completed a doctorate in education (Ed.D.) at Columbia University. He then served for 11 years as director of research for AFS, the student exchange organization, simultaneously holding adjunct teaching posts at Columbia and New School Universities. In 1986, he taught at Beijing Foreign Studies University, after which he co-authored Encountering the Chinese: A Modern Country, An Ancient Culture (3rd Ed., 2010). During the 2000s, Dr. Grove became curious about the belief of many Americans that inborn ability is the main determinant of a child’s academic performance. This led to The Aptitude Myth: How an Ancient Belief Came to Undermine Children’s Learning Today (2013). He then figured out why East Asian students always outperform U.S. students on international comparative tests and wrote two books on his findings. The first addresses differences in parenting: The Drive to Learn: What the East Asian Experience Tells Us about RAISING Students Who Excel (2017). The second explores contrasting approaches to teaching in pre- and primary schools: A Mirror for Americans: What the East Asian Experience Tells Us about TEACHING Students Who Excel (2020).

 

A charter fellow of the International Academy of Intercultural Research, Dr. Grove wrote lengthy entries on “pedagogy across cultures” for two encyclopedias. He retired in 2020 after 31 years as managing partner of Grovewell LLC, a global business consultancy. He and his wife have three sons. For more details, visit www.howotherchildrenlearn.info, or connect with the author at www.LinkedIn.com/in/cngrove-author/.

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Art & Life Culture Economics Education Lifestyle Regulations & Security

Heading toward splitsville? Here’s how to take the high road

GREENWICH, Conn. — Attorney Jeffrey Stephens and psychologist Ronald Raymond help pave the way through legal and emotional aspects of divorce in their new book, The Road to Splitsville: How to Navigate the Road to Divorce without Making Yourself Crazy, Your Children Miserable, or Your Lawyer Wealthy … and Then Discover Your Path to Happiness.

 

Intended for folks seeking a less stressful, more amicable approach to divorce, The Road to Splitsville offers an abundance of practical, impartial and immensely helpful information designed to help keep matters less combative — and therefore less costly.

“Our purpose is to demystify this journey, simplify the expedition, minimize the emotional turmoil and expense, and have you reach the other side of this path without the scars so many suffer unnecessarily on the road to a new life,” the authors write in the book’s first chapter.

Topics covered include:

  • Confronting and understanding the “why” of the divorce
  • Techniques for dealing with the inevitable emotional factors
  • Choosing the legal process best suited for your individual circumstances
  • Selecting an attorney, managing that relationship and limiting the costs
  • What to do if you need help from a therapist and how to choose one
  • Avoiding advice from well-meaning, but dangerous, friends
  • How to deal with adult children of divorce
  • How to deal with young and adolescent children of divorce
  • How to handle the loss of love
  • How to rebuild your life and find happiness

Useful and interactive — with brief questionnaires to help readers see things more objectively — The Road to Splitsvilleis intended to make the journey toward ending a marriage a little less rocky.

“This book is for people who have concluded that divorce is inevitable,” Jeffrey Stephens added. “We hope to minimize the emotional and economic damage and point them toward a path to happiness.”

About the Authors

A native of New York City, Jeffrey Stephens is a successful attorney in private practice, having handled many divorces and family law issues, both in New York and Connecticut. Stephens has lived for more than 30 years in Greenwich, which is where he and his wife, Nancy, raised their two sons, Graham and Trevor. Stephens is the author of the Jordan Sandor thrillers, Targets of Deception, Targets of Opportunity, Targets of Revenge and Rogue Mission, as well as the Anthony Walker murder mystery Crimes and Passion and the Pencraft First Place Award winning novel, Fool’s Errand. His newest novel is the just released thriller The Handler from Post Hill Press.

Dr. Ronald Raymond is a clinical and neuropsychologist who has been practicing for over 50 years. His background includes being a professor and adjunct professor at several universities. He served as the Director of Psychology at one of the nation’s most prestigious psychiatric hospitals, Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, and was the developer of Transition, Inc., where he had the opportunity to counsel, in group fashion, over 5,000 prospective corporate transferring families. In private practice, Dr. Raymond has counseled children and adults, including many going through the issues of divorce. He is also the coauthor of Ring of Destiny, Destiny Revealed and The Four Essential Ingredients for Effective Parenting.

For more information, please visit www.theroadtosplitsville.com.