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12 night Greek island hopping itinerary. Visit vibrant and historical Athens, and island hop the Greek islands of Paros, Naxos and Santorini.
- 3 nights hotel accommodation in Athens
- 3 nights hotel accommodation in Paros island
- 3 nights hotel accommodation in Naxos island
- 3 nights hotel accommodation in Santorini island
- Ferry tickets Athens - Paros - Naxos - Santorini - Athens
- Half day Athens sightseeing tour
- All transfers as mentioned
- Daily breakfast
- 24 hour assistance phone number
- All taxes
- Travel insurance
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Balance of day at leisure.
Morning sightseeing tour of Athens. The striking contrast between breathtaking monuments of a glorious past and modern elegant structures is what you will enjoy during your tour of Athens. Visit the Acropolis,the crowning beauty and glory of Ancient Athens, with its many monuments atop its rocky base, including the awesome Parthenon, the Propylea, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion, with its Porch of Maidens. Drive to the Roman Temple of Olympic Zeus, the Panathinaikon Stadium(site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896), the Tomb of the unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament House on Constitution Square. See views of government buildings and elegant structures of the 19th century. Drive along Panepistimiou Avenue and view the Catholic Cathedral, the Academy, University, National Library. In contrast, conclude your tour with a visit to the new Acropolis museum, a marvel of architecture with a full exhibition of the glory of Ancient Athens. Afternoon at leisure
Morning transfer to the pier to embark the ferry to Paros. Upon arrival, transfer to your selected hotel.
Days at your leisure to explore the island. Paros has a bit of everything you'd expect from an island in the Cyclades archipelago – whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches, blonde-sand beaches, fishing harbors with adjacent taverns, and lively bars. From its shores are dramatic views towards the myriad surrounding islands and the road that circles the modest 770-metre-high summit reveals glimpses of translucent sea at every turn. Optional tours available
Transfer to the pier to board the ferry to Naxos. Upon your arrival on the island, transfer to your selected hotel.
Naxos features especially fertile soil and produces enormous crops of both olives and grapes, and its very own Naxian wine. With charming mountain villages, superb beaches and endless Greek sunshine, it is easy to see why the island has become so popular. The island has plenty to see and do: the highest mountains in the Cyclades, intriguing fertile central valleys, a spectacular north coast and long, marvelously sandy beaches in the southwest. Optional tours available
Transfer to the pier to board the ferry to Santorini. Arriving on the island you will be transferred to your selected hotel.
Days at leisure to enjoy the sun, the unforgettable view and the most romantic sunset in the world. Santorini is the essence of a Greek island, where sea meets weather-beaten rock and colors are bold and elemental. Blue-domed chapels stand on hilltops; houses are simple white cubes, sunsets flamboyant orange. The half-moon island, with its rearing cliffs and dramatic outlooks, is all that remains of a huge volcanic explosion. Inland, fertile soils provide a softer landscape of silvery olive trees, fields of tomatoes and neatly pegged vineyards that produce sweet amber-colored wine. Optional tours available
At the indicated time you will be transferred to the port for your ferry back to Athens. Upon your arrival, transfer to your selected hotel.
According to your departure flight, you will be transferred to the airport.
Optional Tours
Half-Day (Afternoon)
From Nov 1 to Mar 31 - Every Mon-Wed-Fri & Sat
From Apr 1st to Oct 31st - Daily
Dep.: 3:00pm – Ret.: 7:00pm
Half-Day (Afternoon)
From Nov 1 to Mar 31 - Every Mon-Wed-Fri & Sat
From Apr 1st to Oct 31st - Daily
Dep.: 3:00pm – Ret.: 7:00pm
Driving along the coastal road past the wonderful beaches of GLYFADA, VOULIAGMENI, VARKIZA and countless coves, one has a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf. A crowning feature of the tour Cape SOUNION, dominated by the spectacular Temple of POSSEIDON overlooking the Aegean sea.(Oct 1 to Mar 31 - ½ hour earlier)
Night Life
From Nov 1st to Mar 31st - Every Thu & Sat
From Apr 1st to Oct 31st - Daily
Dep.: 8:30pm - Ret.: around midnight
Starting our evening tour with a pleasant panoramic drive through illuminated city center and we will approach the slope of the sacred hill to admire the illuminated Acropolis.Night Life
From Nov 1st to Mar 31st - Every Thu & Sat
From Apr 1st to Oct 31st - Daily
Dep.: 8:30pm - Ret.: around midnight
Then we will visit the museum of Ancient Greek musical instruments and discover the music history of Greece. Explore the greatest and only collection with 60 reconstructed Ancient Greek Musical instruments.
Next we will walk through the narrow pedestrian street of Plaka, the old city of Athens, to dine in a Greek typical restaurant with floor folklore show with live music, ballet with dancers in traditional costumes
N.B. Drinks at the taverna are not included.
Daily Departures
11:30 - 17:30
At first, our boat stops on the little dock of the famous Volcano, where we will walk towards the top of the island. While walking, our experienced guide talks about the intense volcanic activity of the last 3000 years! The crater still seems active, as hot fumes are released in many points! Next, we are heading to the Hot Springs, where we will make a 50-minute stop for swimming in the suplhur springs of the volcano. Another major proof of the strong volcanic activity still today, Hot Springs have beneficial effects against rheumatisms, arthritis and other diseases. The island of Thirasia is our final destination, where we will stay 2 hours for swimming and lunch. Thirasia is a small, very picturesque island, ideal choice for nice walks, swimming and lunch in the little port of Korfos or in the traditional village Manolas. On the way back, the boat stops just for a few minutes in the port of Armeni in Oia. If you wish, you can leave the group here and visit the village of Oia , famous for its breathtaking sunset. The red stones of lava along with caves, numerous churches and multi-coloured houses are the ultimate challenge for every single photographer... In the night you can return to your hotel by the public transportation or by taxi. In case you continue your trip to the Old Port of Fira or to the Athinios Port, you will have a great way back, as the boat sails very close to the coast of the Caldera!
Daily Departures
At first, the bus takes us to the highest point of Santorini, the mountain of Profitis Ilias , from where we can see a panoramic view of the island. We continue to the village of Pyrgos, to see the old castle; in the 18th century, that castle was the capital of Santorini and its dense architecture was offering great protections from the pirates invasions.Daily Departures
The bus takes us to Athinios Port to board on a beautiful traditional wooden boat. We stop on the little dock of the famous Volcano, where we will walk towards the top of the island. While walking, our experienced guide talks about the intense volcanic activity of the last 3000 years! The crater still seems active, as hot fumes are released in many points!
Next, we are heading to the Hot Springs, where we will make a 50-minute stop for swimming in the suplhur springs of the volcano. Another major proof of the strong volcanic activity still today, Hot Springs have beneficial effects against rheumatisms, arthritis and other diseases.
The island of Thirasia is our final destination, where we will stay 2 hours for swimming and lunch. Thirasia is a small, very picturesque island, ideal choice for nice walks, swimming and lunch in the little port of Korfos or in the traditional village Manolas.
The last stop is in Oia, where you can walk in the village, enjoy the view of the Caldera and see the brilliant sunset
Daily departures
15:00 - After sunset
Daily departures
15:00 - After sunset
The tour starts from the Old Port of Fira and from Athinios Port (if you select the transfer option). We will stop for 1.5 hours in the volcano to walk the path to the craters. Our guide will be all the time with and explain the history of the volcano, its effects in the everyday life of inhabitants in Santorini and its current state. Nowadays, as you will see, scientists have installed organs to measure the volcanic indexes, so to warn in case of violent activation.
The, we will sail to the hot springs. Formations of lava and rocks are constantly changing and in a while we can see the older rocks of the nearby island, Palea Kameni. This island proves that the volcano is still active! Sulfur comes out of the sea-bottom and the waters become very warm (temperature reaches 104F / 40oC!). We make a 40-minute stop for swimming.
Later on, our captain will choose the most quiet bay of the Caldera to enjoy our dinner. Varieties of meat, refreshing salads and pasta, local cheese and fruits are our chef's suggestions! With our sails open, we sail to Oia. The sunset is now in front of us and we will enjoy it with a glass of Santorinian wine…
We return before 22:00, so to admire the night in the Caldera. Oia, Imerovigli and Firostefani at the end reflect their lights in the sea…
Private and semi private
Day time (5 hours) 10:30-15:30
Sunset Cruise (5 hours) 15:30-20:30
Caldera cruisesDiscover Santorini's beautiful Caldera and magnificent coastline sailing on the catamaran.
Experience the wonders of Santorini on a daytime or sunset cruise, sailing to the most au-inspiring parts of the island.
We set sail from Marina Vlihada, to the spectacular red beach of the island which is situated in the historic village of Akrotiri and we make a short stop for anyone who would like to take a dip, sailing onwards to the white beach which once again is magnificent and from there past the Indian Rocks to our venetian lighthouse on the tip of the island from where you have the most au-inspiring view of the whole Aegean Sea and the surrounding Greek islands stretching out in front of you.
Explore the most beautiful parts of Santorini whilst sailing past the Caldera where you have the chance to view Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia from afar and admire the rock formations of our coastline, touring past the volcano which also presents amazing photographic opportunities.
From there we sail to the famous volcanic hot springs where once again we make a brief stop so you may have the chance to take a healing swim in the sulphurous waters and to the most unique private bays and coves of Palia Kammeni where you may relax, take a swim and do some snorkeling in the clear, cool blue waters.
Dine luxuriously, with our mouth-watering on board barbecue, with fresh meat and seafood from the local farmers and fishermen accompanied with greek salads and soft beverages.
Whilst basking in the sunlight or watching the fantastic colours of our world known sunset upon the santorinian landscape, relax and enjoy a glass of chilled wine from our local wineries.
Whether you are looking for a sunny daytime trip or a romantic sunset cruise with your loved ones, there is no better place than upon our catamaran "Caldera".
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The fees for a dog license are as follows:
- If spade or neutered, $10.
- If not spade or neutered, $30.
- If you are a Senior Citizen, $10.
Proof of rabies shot and driver's license or state ID is also required.
Certified copies of death records, of only those who have passed in Taylor, can be obtained in person or by mail through the City Clerk's office located at:
Taylor City Hall
23555 Goddard Road
Taylor, MI 48180
Mail requests are to include:
- The name of the decedent
- The date of death (if known)
- The name, address, and telephone number of the requester
- The number of copies requested
- A check or money order made out to the City of Taylor in the correct amount
The copy of the first certified record is $20, and additional copies are $5 each.
Birth records are only available to persons listed on the record, such as the parent or the person themselves. Photo ID must be shown, and a short form completed.
In general, exterior work, fence, siding, windows, roofing, and concrete require a permit. Any interior work that requires a structural change will require a permit. Interior cosmetic work does not require a permit (i.e. painting, replacing tile, carpeting).
Applications and fee schedules can be found on City Forms. Completed applications are processed at the Municipal Building at 23555 Goddard Road. You can make payments with cash, check, or money order. If you mail the application and request paid permit/receipt be returned by mail, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). Permits that are processed with no enclosed SASE will not be returned. No work can be started until a permit has been issued.
Applications and fee schedules are located here.
Fee schedules are listed here.
A change in owners, tenants, or use in commercial buildings requires a new Certificate of Occupancy.
Certificates required. No building or structure, or part thereof, which is hereafter erected or altered, shall be occupied or used or the same caused to be done, unless and until a certificate of occupancy has been issued for such building or structure. Any change of ownership shall require a certificate of occupancy. [Zoning Ordinance, Sec 25.06]
The forms and the fee schedule are located here.
Yes, please complete and submit the rental registration form located here. Rental properties are regulated by Code of Ordinance Article V, Section 8-100 through 8-111.
Please use the New Business Packet located here. This checklist will assist you in obtaining your Certificate of Occupancy and Business License required to operate a business within the City of Taylor.
The electrical, mechanical and plumbing inspectors are in the office:Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m
Please contact the Building Department at 734-287-6550 if you need an appointment outside of the listed office hours.
A building permit application that requires plan review must be submitted to the Building Department with 3-sets of plan drawings and a digital copy on a Flash Drive. Payment for your review is also due at the time they are submitted for review. Plans received without a digital copy and/or without payment will not undergo review until the digital copy and/or payment is received. *No Exceptions* Plans undergo review for approximately two weeks. The size and complexity of the project and completeness of the document submitted may alter this time frame. Plan reviews are done on a first in, first out basis.
The plan review fee schedule is listed in the city form center under the building permit fee schedule located here.
All building/zoning permit applications received through the Building Department are subject to a Zoning Review Fee (ZRF). (eff. 7-12-10) A zoning review is performed to determine if the project you are proposing meets the requirements of the City of Taylor Zoning Ordinance. The fee is collected at the time the permit is dropped off at the Building Department. Zoning review fees are non-refundable. The ZRF does not include plan review fees and/or permit fees. Applications submitted to the Building Department that are subject to a zoning review will not be reviewed until the ZRF has been paid. Permits exempt from a Zoning Review: removal and replacement of existing roofing, siding, windows or concrete. Residential Fee Amounts Residential - $50 - Commercial Fee Amounts Based on project under 1/2 acre - $125 - Based on project 1/2 to 1 acre - $150 - Based on project 1 acre to 5 acres - $250 - Based on project over 5 acres - $500
* Fees do not apply to the removal and replacement of roofing, siding windows or concrete permits.
All Zoning Review Fees are non-refundable.
Amendments or Ordinances proposed by members of the public via a citizen-circulated petition for signatures and submitted to the City Clerk for certification and placement on the ballot. Qualifying petitions appear on the ballot for voter approval in either a Primary or General Election.
No. The City Clerk's Office has blank petition forms available for circulation; organizers may also create their own sheets, in compliance with State guidelines for petition forms. The type size, the substance of the proposal that appears on the petition; the proposal summary that appears on the signature side of the petition, and the manner in which the proposal language is affixed to the petition are solely the responsibility of the petition sponsor. Petition sponsors are encouraged to seek legal counsel with respect to the initiative petition drive and Michigan election law requirements.
For additional information on petition format, please review the Michigan Secretary of State bulletin on filing statewide petitions (PDF). The format and style requirements for local petitions are the same.
Yes. All signers must be registered voters in the City of Taylor at the time of signing.
Yes. Circulators must ensure that all five columns are completed by each petition signer and they must witness each signature. Petition sheets may not be left unattended. A circulator or a petition signer cannot sign for another person. The circulator must complete the circulator's certificate after collecting signatures. A certificate that is signed and dated prior to circulation is invalid.
Petitions for local issues within the City of Taylor (e.g. Charter amendment or City ordinance initiative) are filed in-person with the City Clerk. Due to the time required to file and accept citizen-initiated petitions, a scheduled appointment to file is requested. Please call 734.374.1475 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
At the time of filing, the petition must appear on its face to meet the number of required signatures (partial or piece-meal filings will not be accepted) and comply with State guidelines. The total number of signatures collected must equal or exceed 5 percent of registered voters in the City at the time petitions are filed. Current voter registration numbers can be obtained by contacting the City Clerk's Office during business hours or emailing firstname.lastname@example.com. At the time of filing, petition sheets will be counted and numbered and a cursory review of each sheet will take place in front of the petition submitter to determine that the filing appears to be complete. A receipt will be provided. *If the petition contains the signatures of 20% or more of the persons residing in and registered to vote in the city as of the date when they signed it, and the petition requests submission of the proposal at a special election, the city clerk, within 90 days after the date of the filing of the petition, shall call a special election to be held on the next regular election date that is not less than 120 days after the petition was filed.
Signatures are checked and recorded electronically by the City Clerk's Office via the State of Michigan's QVF (Qualified Voter File) system. In the case of duplicate signatures, (i.e. multiple signatures by the same registered voter) both the original signature and all duplicates will be discarded.
Signatures dated more than one year prior to the filing of a Charter amendment petition will not be counted.
In accordance with Michigan Election Law, the filing deadlines are two weeks prior to the 12th Tuesday of the Primary or General Election (MCL 168.646a). Petitions can be submitted anytime up to the final deadline. However, filing on the legal deadline may not allow enough time for certification for the upcoming election! (See below).
By law, the City Clerk has up to 45 days to certify a citizen-initiated petition. To ensure that the initiative will appear on the next available election date, the City Clerk's Office recommends that petitions be turned in at least 45 days in advance of the final certification deadline.
Supplemental signatures will be accepted, if necessary, up to the final filing deadline for the upcoming election. However, no supplemental signature(s) will be accepted if it is dated more than 1 year after the first qualifying signature in the original filing (i.e. no rolling off old signatures to add new ones). In addition, supplemental petitions must meet the same State guidelines as the original filing.
The City Clerk's Office will make best efforts to check supplemental filings within the original 45-day certification period, and as quickly as possible, but depending on the number of supplements needed and the number of additional signatures filed, additional time may be required. It is recommended that a significant buffer be submitted at the time of the original filing to prevent the need for supplemental signatures late in the process.
8 percent of the votes cast for the Office of Mayor in the last Mayoral Election, but in no case less than two thousand (2,000).
The restaurant is open Mondays through Fridays 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
The range is open seven days a week from sun rise until the pro-shop closes. It does close early on Mondays and opens late on Tuesdays (approximately 11 a.m.).
Range buckets are $6 for a small (30-35 balls), $9 for a medium (60-65 balls), and $12 for a large (90-100 balls). We also offer a 20-medium-bucket punch card for $125.
This is very similar to the process that is required when you buy a property and want the bank to lend you the money. The bank requires an appraisal to determine the usual selling price and verify that your purchase price is reasonable.
Current real estate listings are not used in determining true cash value of properties.
Please dial 734-287-1633 or 734-287-1655 and ask to speak with a banquet manager. You may leave a message and a banquet manager will get back with you.
The Senior Center is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding holidays.
All transportation must take place within the Taylor city limits and requires an advance 48 hours notice. We provide transportation to the center (referred to as Dial a Ride), to the doctors, banking and pharmacy. All payments to the doctors are due at the time of service. There is $2 fee for doctors' trips only. All other transportation is free.
Shopping Trips are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (time-frame at the store). Trip includes pick-up and drop-off at home, and please only buy what you can carry in one trip. Our drivers are not able to assist with your purchases. The shopping schedule is as follows:
- Mondays - Meijer
- Wednesdays - Walmart
- Fridays - Kroger
Pharmacy and Bank Trips are offered on Thursdays (pick up window between 9 and 10 a.m.). Trip includes pick-up and drop-off at home for one person daily.
Doctor Trips are offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1p.m. The fee is $2. Trip includes pick-up and drop-off at home. The Doctor/Dentist/Eye Doctor must be located in the City of Taylor. Please be ready one hour before scheduled appointment.
The Friends of the Ford Senior Center is a 501(c) (3) non profit set up to help raise funds for the seniors at the Ford Senior Center. The annual membership is $15 per year.
There are three ways:
- Stop by the front counter at the senior center and pick up a free copy.
- We can email the newsletter if you provide us your email address.
- It can be mailed to you by sending a check for $8, made payable to City of Taylor, 6750 Troy Street, Taylor MI 48180. Please indicate the check is for newsletter and include your phone number.
Stop by the front counter and fill out the class registration. Payment is required at the time of sign up. Please see the class brochure for days, times and pricing as this varies. We accept credit cards, cash or checks as payment.
Contact The Senior Alliance at 734-722-2830 or visit their website linked below. You can also contact The Information Center at 734-282-7171.
Credit cards, checks or cash .
The 2023 Summer Homestead millage rate is 46.3892 mills. The Summer Non-Homestead millage rate is 64.1552 mills. The difference is the 18 mills levied on Summer Non-Homestead properties by the Taylor School District. The Winter 2022 rate is 6.8828.
Find a breakdown of this tax roll on our
The Winter tax bill is primarily taxes levied by Wayne County including county, DIA, jail, parks, Huron Clinton Metro Authority, community college, transit, EPA levy, zoological authority, and special assessments including lights and drains.
Click here to view tax bill.
If you are paying late, make sure to look online for the current amount due with penalty and/or interest. However, remember that once a real property tax bill is delinquent, (March 1st) real property taxes must be paid to the Wayne County Treasurer, and the City's tax bill information on the website is "frozen" and no longer updated. Information on delinquent personal property tax bills continues to be updated, and the City Treasurer continues to collect delinquent personal property taxes.
The Summer tax bill is sent out early July and is due September 30 without additional penalty or interest. Certain eligible seniors may qualify for a deferral of the due date to mid-February (check with the Treasurer's office for the exact date each year, because it is set annually by the State of Michigan). They may file an Application for Deferment of Summer Taxes, available from the Michigan Department of Treasury or the City Treasurer. Winter tax bills are sent out early December and due in mid-February (again, check for the exact date each year). The Treasurer's office accepts payments 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday except holidays. There is also a 24-hour secure drop box outside the Pine Street entrance to City Hall in which payments may be made.
Penalties and interest are added onto the tax bills if not paid when due. Taxes are considered delinquent if not paid by the February due date. The delinquent tax roll for real property is returned to the Wayne County Treasurer for collection on March 1, and delinquent real property tax bills can only be paid to the Wayne County Treasurer. Note that after real property taxes go delinquent March 1st, the tax bill information on the City's website is "frozen" and no longer updated. Information regarding amounts due would be on the Wayne County Treasurer's website. If the tax bill goes unpaid for two years the property is subject to foreclosure for taxes, which no one wants to see happen. Unpaid personal property tax bills continue to be collected by the City Treasurer, with interest added the 1st of each month.
Additional information is available on the
Yes. The City uses a service provider, ACI, to handle online payment of tax bills by credit card, debit card, or electronic check. Follow the link below to make your payment. The City Treasurer will not accept credit card payments for tax bills except through the ACI website. ACI charges a 2.55% fee for credit cards and $1 for electronic checks. You can also call 1-888-272-9829 to pay by credit card. Use jurisdiction code No. 3211.
In November 2021, voters approved a bond for the new high school. The levy amount reported from the school district is 2.35 mills.
The tax date is the December 31st each year preceding the tax bills. Therefore the tax date for the 2021 tax bills was December 31, 2020. This was the date as of which the Assessor established the assessed and taxable values of the property being taxed.
If you are 62 years of age and had an income of less than $40,000 for the prior year, you may apply for a deferment of Summer taxes on your principal residence. An application for deferment filed with the City Treasurer by September 30 defers the due date for the Summer taxes to February 15. You may also be eligible for deferment of your taxes if you meet the income requirement and one of the following conditions: you are totally and permanently disabled, blind, a paraplegic or quadriplegic, veteran, or an eligible widow or widower. Applications for deferment are available at the Treasurer's Office and online.
Contact us by calling 734-287-6550.
The window at the Treasurer's Office in City Hall is open between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The restaurant is open Mondays though Fridays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Rates vary. Click here for a complete rate card.
See answer to question number one under "Tax Department- Calculating Tax Rates".
You can register to vote for federal, state, and local elections by mail; at your county, city, or township clerk's office; by visiting any Secretary of State Branch Office or by registering online at mvic.sos.state.mi.us.. You may also download our
You must contact your City Clerk to request an absentee ballot application. You may also obtain and absentee ballot application form online through the City's website, accessible using the link below. Your request for an absentee voter ballot must be in writing, and can be submitted to your City Clerk. Absentee voter ballots are available for all elections. They provide voters with a convenient method for casting a ballot when they are unable to attend the polls on Election Day. You may also submit one online at
To find out if you're registered to vote, you may call 734-287-6550 or by visiting the
Your polling location and precinct number are located on your voter ID card. If you do not have your voter ID card, you may obtain this information by calling 734-287-6550 or visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at
For more information regarding elections, visit the

subset: commoncrawl


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New Jersey is a very unusual state in many ways when it comes to something called local rule. Even though it is one of the smallest states in the U.S., it actually has 551 separate municipalities or governing bodies. Aside from being the #1 ranked golf course in the world year after year, Pine Valley is also its own stand alone municipality. The entire municipality consists of the golf course. Under New Jersey law every municipality has to have a town hall, a school district, etc. Pine Valley does have each of these and its own stand-alone police force as well.
Like the presidential retreat at Camp David, the location of Pine Valley isn't exactly unknown, it's just that you have go out of your way to find it. Pine Valley is located in a typically middle-class New Jersey suburb. The area surrounding the course is not grand and does not hint at the greatness that exists behind the fences that separate this special place from the rest of the world. To get to Pine Valley you make your way to the Clementon Amusement Park, which saw its best days in the 1940s, but still functions seasonally to this day. Behind the Amusement Park, down a two lane road, on the other side of the railroad tracks is the Pine Valley Administration building. This lilliputian building contains the entire infrastructure for the town of Pine Valley, population 20. This includes the municipal court, police headquarters, town hall, etc.
It sets the stage for what can only be described as the perfect environment for a golfer. Going behind the fence at Pine Valley is like going to Disney Land for a five year old. It's magic.
Being invited to Pine Valley
"Hey, Joe, how does Sunday look?"
I couldn't speak. After a good thirty seconds it registered. Never mind that I would have to skip church, my son's soccer game and my wedding anniversary (just kidding on the last point, but that would be a tough call).
"Looks ideal!"
"Great, as long as the weather holds up, let's do it"
What does it feel like to get invited to play P.V.? Pretty damn good, at the risk of gloating. As I told my golf friends that I was invited, the jealously-inspired insults came quickly and then when they asked if there was room for someone else in the foursome - silence. One (now former) dear friend was so jealous, he hoped that Sunday's weather would bring a "Nor' easter".
For the next five days I checked the weather on-line every half hour.
I remember reading the accounts of those who have played the top 100 and was always struck by how they were invited to play at certain courses. One guy who completed the top 100 quest was called and invited to play Augusta rather than having to grovel for years. This stuff really does happen.
My game, like the game of all golfers, goes up and down. One can only hope that when you are invited to play P.V. it is when you are in an up-cycle. In a very good turn of events, I was invited to play P.V. after posting some of my best scores ever. My good karma on this quest is continuing (thank you Archbishop Tutu).
As it turned out, the Weather Channel forecast for Clementon, NJ for the day I played:
Mostly Sunny
High - 73
Low - 55
Humidity: 45%
Winds: WNW @ 13 MPH
Golf Index: 10 out of 10 (Excellent)
Now, I had to get ready to play P.V. I re-read Zen Golf to try and re-center myself. Focus on breathing. Meditate. I also re-read Golf is not a Game of Perfect. Stay in the present. pick a target. Relax, it's only a game. As usual with me before a big round, there was a lot of mental chatter: "Bring a lot of balls. Nobody breaks 100 the first time. Slope of 153. Hit the ball straight. Don't get too hyped up. It's a golf course like any other golf course, with tee boxes, fairways and greens."
Bull Shit.
P.V. is like any other golf course like the Pope is like any other priest or the Queen is like any other Brit. I would rather be invited to play P.V. than to a White House State dinner. This is a big deal.
On the morning of my round, I put on my finest dress slacks and best golf shirt. No fraying khakis at P.V. I prepared my car, filled it with gas, checked the tire pressure, oil and wiper fluid (OK, so I'm a little compulsive). Nothing could stop me now. I drove down the New Jersey Turnpike at 55 miles per hour, which is actually quite difficult to do since the average car/truck is going over 70. I was like a little old lady out for a Sunday drive. The last thing I needed was to be pulled over by a State Trooper on my way to P.V. I was taking no chances at all.
Playing Pine Valley
I was particularly looking forward to playing the par threes, which looked to me to be awesome. The tenth hole here is a short, downhill par-three with one of the wickedest bunkers in the world short of the green on the right side. The bunker is nicknamed the "Devil's ass hole", or as the gentleman at P.V. call it in the club history, "The Devil's aperture." I also looked forward to playing the dastardly 219 yard uphill (over water) par-three fifth, undoubtedly one of the hardest par threes on the planet.
Pine Valley's short par three 10th hole
The round went well. Although I was very nervous I had a nice drive onto the first fairway. The first three holes I was in such a trance I couldn't tell you how I did. It was just over-whelming. Eventually I calmed down and we settled into a very nice round of golf.
The 9th green, on the right hand side
Pine Valley Fifth hole - The hardest par three in the world
I hit the par-three fifth green with a driver, in one of the best shots of my life. I also hit an eight-iron stiff to the pin on the par three tenth, avoiding the Devil's Ass Hole, seen below.
On a course of intimidating tee shots and forced carries, I actually found the most intimidating tee shot to be the downhill par three fourteenth, where you hit from a highly elevated tee. It is tightly tree-lined with water in front and behind. There are bunkers in front of the green and a sense of having to hit nothing less than the perfect shot. The general feeling standing on this tee was of claustrophobia, a feeling of being closed in.
The 8th green (right hand green)
I played the #1 handicap par five seventh well, I hit a good drive and then a lovely three wood over "Hell's Half Acre". Although I hit the ball well, I didn't score well, but that's P.V. I felt better that the three handicap player in our group couldn't score either, it's just that hard. Make one mistake and it multiplies.
To my utter astonishment, when we completed playing we walked directly from the 18th green back to the 1st tee for another round. By now, I had calmed down and in one of my proudest golfing moments ever, I hit the farthest and straightest drive of my life on the first tee. We saw perhaps three other groups out on the course during the afternoon round.
The essence of Pine Valley is its difficulty. Every shot has a forced carry off the tee, many of which are at an angle so you have to decide how much risk to take. A prime example of this is the view from the tee on the sixth hole seen below. The course is fair if you hit good shots. Driving the ball is not a problem if you hit it straight. The fairways are generous. I hit more than half the fairways. The difficulty is the second (and third) shots. I had to hit three wood, utility wood or five iron as the second shot on most holes. Accuracy in long approach shots is required to play Pine Valley well. Even on the short holes such as the eighth, one of the few holes you can actually hit driver and a short iron, there is no letup. This is because you have to hit from a downhill lie to a postage stamp green. It also goes without saying also that you must putt well at Pine Valley. The green complexes are as complicated and as good as you will ever see. I also noticed that a lot of holes start out being wide and get progressively narrow as you approach the green. This is most acute on the long part five fifteenth hole, which gets quite narrow as you get closer to the hole.
The Overall Experience
As far as the overall feel of the place, there are no frills at Pine Valley. The clubhouse is modest, understated and has little trappings. The place is about golf only. It is the perfect setting for golf, the cynosure of the golf world. It would do the officials at the U.S.G.A and P.G.A. a world of good to visit Pine Valley every so often as a refresher course in what makes golf great. It is the true north of a golfing experience.
The course is no doubt one of the best in the world. It is an exclusive enclave. You are away from the world when playing P.V. The routing of the course is diverse, it is in great condition, it tests all aspects of your game and was a privilege to play. Is it the best in the world? I don't know where I would rank it yet. I find it best to give some time before trying to assign a ranking. It is certainly one of the most difficult and intimidating courses in the world. The entire experience had an out-of-body feeling to it that is still difficult for me to believe.
For those loyal readers on the lookout for me in my travels - I am now easier to spot. I'm the doofus walking around with all the Pine Valley logoed clothes on.
By the end of the day, I have never been more physically and mentally drained in all my life. Playing 36 at P.V. took it all out of me. After I drove home I opened up a bottle of whisky I have been saving for a special occasion. A 25 year old Bushmills Millennium Malt bottled in the year 2000, accompanied by a Bolivar #2. I passed out on the back deck a happy man.
The day also included a victory for my son's soccer team.
Can a day be more perfect?
The only unfortunate thing about the experience is the several ex-friends I now have who aren't talking to me anymore after finding out I played in a threesome and would have loved to be the fourth. Also, if you are lucky enough to be invited, the pro shop doesn't take credit cards so bring cash or a check to buy things.
Interested in learning the methods I used to play all these spectacular golf courses around the world? then my forthcoming book may be of interest, in details how a mortal golfer may be able to do the same. The book is available from Barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com. Click on the image of the book below to order on Amazon:
I hope you will find it enjoyable and entertaining.


text:
Thinking of buying a home? Are you on the fence about taking out a loan? You may still have several years to take advantage of historically low interest rates.
In a speech Tuesday, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley laid out three key reasons why the Fed may keep its short-term interest rate -- the federal funds rate -- below historic averages for the long haul. That rate is important, because it impacts rates for mortgages and loans.
Listen up, because Dudley is a top decision maker at the central bank and closely aligned with current Fed Chair Janet Yellen.
1) The economy remains weak: Like it or not, the economy is still disappointing on several fronts, and that may not change anytime soon.
"Economic headwinds seem likely to persist for several more years," Dudley said in a speech to the New York Association of Business Economics.
He notes that the Great Recession "scarred households and businesses," which is likely to dampen their spending and investment for a long time.
Meanwhile, the housing sector is facing "several significant headwinds," he said.
Related: Janet Yellen's big concern is a housing slowdown
Take these three, for example: Mortgages are still hard to come by for homebuyers with all but the most pristine credit histories. High levels of student debt are delaying young people from becoming first-time home buyers. Finally, housing supply remains limited.
2) Our future potential is declining: Remember the economic good times? Say, the Clinton years or the mid-2000s? In the future, the U.S. economy has lower potential to grow at the strong rates it did in the 1990s and 2000s, mainly because a huge portion of the population is retiring. (Yes, we're talking about you, baby boomers!)
Lower economic potential implies interest rates will have to remain low, even after the economy starts revving up again, Dudley said.
3) Bank regulation: Following the massive crash in 2008, banks these days are required to hold a larger cushion of cash on the sidelines for emergencies. While these higher capital requirements are "essential in order to make the financial system more robust," Dudley said, this is likely to cause the Fed to keep low interest rates in place in the future.
Why? Traditionally, banks make their money by taking in your deposits and paying you a certain interest rate, but then lending that money out to someone else at a higher rate. If banks are forced to hold more cash on the sidelines, they may become less profitable and may slow their lending.
If the Fed wants to continue stimulating the economy, this means it may have to keep interest rates lower than usual, to achieve its desired impact on the economy.
Just how low are we talking about?
Okay, so you may have missed the boat on locking in a 3.4% 30-year mortgage last year, but even so, rates on mortgages and other loans will probably stay near their historic lows for years to come.
Since 2008, the Fed has kept the federal funds rate near zero, but in better economic times, that rate averaged 4.25%. Going forward, Fed officials have said they expect to start raising rates sometime next year, but even so, Dudley expects it to remain "well below" the 4.25% level for the long run.
"Precisely how much lower is difficult to say at this point in time," he said.


text:
suggestions: Malabrigo Ríos, Brooks Farm Solana, Creatively Dyed Yarn Woodbrook,
or Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted. The dress shown was knit in Malabrigo Ríos
in color #103, Archangel.
12-18 mos (2-3 years, 4-5 years, 6-7 years)
12-18 mos size: chest circumference: 20 inches. overall length: 16 inches.
2-3 years size: chest circumference: 24 inches. overall length: 18
4-5 years size: chest circumference: 26 inches. overall length:
19.5 inches.
6-7 years size: chest circumference: 28 inches. overall length: 21
Malabrigo Ríos, 2 (2, 3, 3)
Size 8 (US) circular
needle, 24 inches
Size 6 (US) circular
needle, any length
2 buttons, about 1-1/8 to 1-3/8
inches / 28 to 34mm
Tapestry needle
Sewing needle
Sewing thread to match
gauge: 20 stitches / 4 inches on size 6 needles in
stockinette stitch
slipped honeycomb stitch
work over an odd number of
R1 (RS): Knit
R2 (WS): K1, *Slip 1 with
yarn in back, K1. Repeat from * to end.
R3: Knit
R4: K1, *K1, Slip 1 with
yarn in back. Repeat from * to end.
You will begin this dress
at the lower edge and knit in the round on circular needles.
Note to the purl-averse:
The first 14 rounds are based on garter stitch, so if you're one of those
people who can't stand purling, knit the first 14 rounds flat and sew them up
Using larger needles, cast
on 125 (151, 163, 175) stitches, place a stitch marker, and join to knit in the
round. Knit the first 6 rounds in garter stitch (alternating knit and purl
Round 7: K1. Knit, wrapping
three times for each stitch, to end.
Round 8: Purl, dropping all
the extra wraps.
Knit 6 more rounds in
garter stitch.
Change to stockinette
stitch. Continue knitting in the round until dress measures 9 (10, 10, 11)
inches from cast-on edge.
Decrease for bodice:
Change to smaller needles. *Knit
7, work a centered double decrease. Repeat from * to end. As you come to the
last 5 (2, 3, 5) stitches, K2tog, K to end. 100 (120, 130, 140) st remain.
Centered double
Slip 2 stitches together knitwise. K1. Pass the slipped stitches over the knit stitch. 2 stitches decreased.
Slip 2 stitches together knitwise. K1. Pass the slipped stitches over the knit stitch. 2 stitches decreased.
You will now divide the
front and the back of the dress, and knit each side of the bodice flat in
Slipped Honeycomb stitch. Just hold the back half of the dress on scrap yarn
while you work the front.
R1: K 51 (61, 65, 71) place
the remaining 49 (59, 65, 69) stitches on scrap yarn to hold. Turn, work row 2
of Slipped Honeycomb stitch.
Continue knitting this
section in the stitch pattern for 2 (2, 3.5, 3.5) inches.
Make armholes
Note: Through
the rest of the bodice and the straps, you will begin every row with a
slipped stitch, with the yarn held in front (WYIF). This creates a very tidy,
even edge for any garter stitch-based stitch pattern and eliminates the need
for a border to be picked up & knit or sewn on later.
Note also:
Throughout the remainder of the bodice, you will continue to work the honeycomb
stitch pattern as established. Because of decreases at many row ends, you will
sometimes need to work row 2 instead of row 4 of the honeycomb stitch, or
vice-versa. The important thing is to keep the slipped stitches staggered as
established when you began working the pattern – this is easy to follow with
your eye.
Decrease row (RS): Slip 1
WYIF, SSK, SSK, K to the last 5 stitches. K2tog, K2tog, K1 (4 st decreased).
Next row (WS): Slip 1 WYIF,
K to end (maintaining pattern).
Repeat the last two rows 2
(4, 4, 5) more times, until 37 (41, 45, 47) stitches remain on the needles.
Sizes 12-18 mos, 4-5 years:
Next RS row: Slip 1 WYIF,
SSK, K to last 3 stitches. K2tog, K1. (2 st decreased)
35, (41, 43, 47) st remain.
Continue working in patt
until the bodice section measures 3.5 (3.5, 5, 5) inches.
Work neckline:
* *You will still slip the
first stitch of every row (RS and WS) with yarn held in front!**
Next RS row: K16, BO 3 (9,
Right front:
Keeping the first section
on a holder, work the second section of 16 stitches, maintaining the honeycomb
stitch pattern and the first stitch slipped every row.
WS: Knit in patt to end of
row (neckline).
RS: Slip 1 WYIF, SSK, SSK,
patt to end. (2 st dec).
WS: Turn, patt to end of
row (neckline).
Repeat these last 2 rows
til 10 stitches remain.
Next RS row: Slip 1 WYIF,
SSK, patt to end. 9 stitches remain.
Continue working these 9 st
in honeycomb stitch pattern for 3 more rows.
Next RS row, work
buttonhole: K3, BO 3, K3.
Turn, patt 3, cast on 3 st
using backwards loop cast on, patt 3.
Work 2 more rows in patt.
RS: Bind off all stitches
as follows: Slip 1 WYIF, SSK, BO all stitches to last 3, K2tog, BO.
Left front:
Join yarn to held stitches
at the neckline to work the left side.
WS: Knit in patt to end of
RS: Slip 1 WYIF, patt to
last 5 stitches, K2tog, K2tog, K1.
You will work the left
front just as you did for the right, but working your neckline-edge decreases
as K2tog's (as instructed for previous 2 rows).
Work buttonhole and bind
off as you did for the right front.
Join yarn and work the back
as you did for the front, right up through the armholes. Work the armhole
decreases until 35, (41, 43, 47) st remain.
When the back bodice
measures 4.5 (4.5, 6, 6) inches, work the back neckline exactly as you did the
However, once 9 stitches
remain on each side, do not work a buttonhole.
Instead, work these 9 st in
patt until each shoulder strap measures 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5) inches from the point
where you separated out the two sides. Bind off on the RS, using decreases to
shape the ends just as you did on the front side.
Sew up the sides below the
Weave in all ends.
Button placement:
Wash and block the garment before sewing on buttons. Try the dress
on the intended recipient if you possibly can, using safety pins to mark where
you want the buttons to go. If you can't try it on the child first, the default
setting is to sew on the buttons such that the finished armholes measure about 5
(6, 6, 6.5) inches. Stretch the straps gently as you measure, since these
straps will stretch a bit lengthwise during wear.
If the dress is to be given
as a gift, wind a generous length of sewing yarn around a small card and
present it with the dress, so that the buttons may be moved down the strap as
the child grows (you may wish to offer to provide this service to the
recipient's parent, since many people today are unfamiliar with domestic arts
like button-sewing).


text:
May 12, 2011
Vibratory Boot-Mounted Rotary Feeders
This line of boot-mounted rotary feeders can be retrofitted on existing bucket conveyors or bucket elevators from 9 to 48 in. wide for added flexibility and productivity. This allows customers to expand their existing bulk materials handling process and enhance their production capabilities with minimal investment. The feeders are powered by two vibratory motors mounted directly onto the load unit of existing bucket conveyors or elevators. This assures a controlled, consistent, and effective fill and expands the capabilities for both Swinglink heavy-duty bucket elevators and the Econ-O-Lift bucket conveyors. Gough Econ, Charlotte, NC 800-264-6844 www.goughecon.com
USDA-Accepted Vibratory Feeder
The SolidsFlow USDA vibratory feeder was designed specifically for use in the food and dairy industries where equipment and processes must meet stringent sanitary levels. All welds, radii, seals, surface finishes, gaskets, contact and non-contact materials are compliant to USDA standards. A two-piece V-banded 304 stainless steel feed tray splits apart for easy detachment and cleaning. The domed hopper cover speeds and optimizes drainage during and after wash-down cycles. This feeder handles a wide variety of dry bulk solids including friable materials such as nuts, powders like cellulose, and granular-shaped additives like salt or sugar. It is offered in volumetric and gravimetric configurations with feed rates up to 350 cu ft/hr. Schenck AccuRate, Whitewater, WI 800-558-0184 www.accuratefeeders.com
Powder Feeder
The PFM-S powder feeder offers precise and reliable feeding of cohesive, easily aerated, and difficult-to-control powders. It handles a wide range of material bulk densities at low to medium feed rates. The patented U-Trough hopper and feed section provides a practical and economical means for metering difficult powders. The geometry of the trough and agitator effectively de-aerate and contain the powder on initial fill to help prevent flooding. The independently driven agitator maintains optimum material conditioning while screw speed can vary to control flow rate. Material does not build up within the trough or within the continuous screw tube, preventing blinding or erratic feed. This combination along with a selection of screw sizes and types allows material to be fed with an accuracy of ±1.0 to 2% of set rate. Feed rates up to 25 cu ft/hr at a material bulk density of 50 lb/cu ft are possible. Thayer Scale, Pembroke, MA 781-826-8101 www.thayerscale.com
Compact Electromagnet Feeders
Eriez has developed an eco-certification designation for its entire line of Hi-Vi compact electromagnetic feeders. These feeders have a positive impact on recycling processes and the recycling industry. They are manufactured with energy-savings features, including the use of energy-free permanent magnets, keeping power consumption low. The feeders are built in a facility that focuses on recycling consumables, driving down energy usage and drastically reducing solid landfill waste. With their totally enclosed patented magnetic drive, these feeders can feed practically any bulk material from micron size to bulky chunks. Solid-state controls operate the feeders with "watch-like" precision while keeping power consumption to a minimum to save energy. Eriez, Erie, PA 888-300-3743 www.eriez.com
Weigh Feeders
Model 407 series "weight-loss" weigh feeders feature a compact design with a small footprint resulting in low overall space requirements. Yet, the Model 407 Series is versatile, and it is available with a variety of metering mechanisms capable of feeding a broad range of even the most difficult-handling dry solids materials. The feeders incorporate a robust design that features a high-resolution, "non-load cell"-based weighing mechanism that never requires field calibration or adjustment. The weighing system, including its associated electronics, is unconditionally guaranteed for five full years. Acrison Inc., Moonachie, NJ 201-440-8300 www.acrison.com
Continuous Weigh Feeders
Better-Weigh continuous feeders are ideal for gravimetric feeding of dry bulk materials where it is necessary to determine actual feed rates on a loss-of-weight basis. Available in seven models with feed rates from 1 to 550 cu ft/hr (larger sizes available), these feeders are designed to provide feeding in either batch or continuous mode depending upon the arrangement of the feeder's control electronics. In batch mode, the batch controller is used to control the fast (bulk) and slow (dribble) speeds of the feeder. Accuracies of ±0.5% can be easily achieved in 2-lb or less batches, and ±0.25% with 3-lb or greater batches with time spans of 30 to 90 seconds. In continuous mode, the feeder's electronic controller is used to constantly monitor loss of weight of material per time in order to maintain a continuous loss of weight with an accuracy of ±0.25% to 0.50%. Standard features include a platform or lever balance scale, sealed tactile keyboard, 7-digit numerical keyboard, automatic manual batching, and a 2- or 5-cu-ft hopper. Sanitary construction is also available. Metalfab Inc., Vernon, NJ 800-764-2999 www.metalfabinc.com
Vibratory Feeders
BEST vibratory feeders are designed to smoothly convey products. Flow of material is adjustable, and flow rate can be variable or fixed. Available in electric- or air-operated models, the heavy-duty vibratory feeders are designed with above-, below-, or side-mounted drives and can be arranged for base mounting or overhead suspension. Feeders come in custom vibrating trough lengths, with special trough designs available. Several basic models are available including air-operated light duty, air-operated heavy duty, twin-motor vibrating pan and grizzly feeders, electromagnetic, twin motor, and special application feeders. Metso, Brunswick, OH 800-827-9237 www.bestvibes.com
Brushed Stainless Steel Powder Feeder
The PF Series powder feeder offers operators high metering accuracy from ultra low rates up to 3000 lb/hr. A round-to-trough feeding area is incorporated into the brushed stainless steel design that provides more consistent mass flow for better metering accuracy. The PF Series can be configured with controls for intermittent agitator operation, which is particularly useful when operating at very low rates. The feeder is designed with a steep wall, removable hopper that features a dust-tight band clamp for easy mounting of hopper extensions and quick disassembly for clean out. The bottom trough is optimized to provide maximum material exposure to the auger. The metering accuracy of the feeder is enhanced by a proprietary filtering method that allows accurate and consistent gravimetric metering in the presence of ambient vibration and electrical noise. Process Control Corp., Atlanta, GA 770-449-8810 www.process-control.com
Vibratory Pan Feeder
The Kraus L-Series vibratory pan feeder feeds almost any granular material from abrasive silica sand to very fine granular powders. Applications include weighing and batching where feed control is essential. It is ideal for feeding coolers, dryers, belt conveyors, bucket elevators, weigh hoppers, continuous process systems, and continuous mixers. The feeder can be operated with a variable speed controller or in a fixed rate application. It can be stopped instantly without any dynamic movement as seen with a typical electric vibrating motor. Because it is air operated and requires no motor starters, it is ideal for explosion proof atmospheres. In addition, the feeder is low in cost and maintenance. The heavy-duty construction is available in mild steel, abrasion resistant steel, or stainless steel. Stainless steel construction is available in polished or mill finish. Dynamic Air Inc., St. Paul, MN 651-484-2900 www.dynamicair.com
Continuous Loss-In-Weight Feeding System
Most pellets, regrind, and powders can be metered into the process, even at very low levels (>50 g/hr). The AccuMeter series continuous loss-in-weight feeding system will improve overall product quality, and reduce material usage caused by over-feeding, resulting in reduced product costs. The system features a modular, compact design that provides complete flexibility for changes in your process. Pellets, micro-pellets, powders, and regrind are all accurately metered, while twin-screw feeders and special agitators are also available for non free-flowing materials. Self-calibration eliminates the need to take manual weight samples or calibrations. Material changeovers are quick and easy, saving time, labor, and money. Colortronic North America Inc., Flint, MI 810-720-7300 www.colortronicna.com
Gravimetric Additive Feeder
The AF-1000 Series gravimetric additive feeder provides accurate metering of additives as well as material usage tracking, which can be utilized in all molding and extrusion applications for pelletized materials. The feeder adds colorant or other free-flowing material to your process, based on a self-calibrating gravimetric controller. This eliminates the over-feeding that typically accompanies volumetric feeders and make recalibration unnecessary. Consistent, accurate operation and repeatability, even at low output rates, provide savings in additive consumption, offering a quick payback time. There is automatic, self-adjustment if there is a deviation from the set additive weight, and automatic calibration makes the AF-1000 series simple and easy to use, and flow rate is calculated in percentage or kg/hr for extruders. AEC Inc., Schaumburg, IL 847-273-7700 www.aecinternet.com
Volumetric Additive Feeder
This volumetric screw additive feeder meters color concentrate, regrind, or other additives. The feeder features modular design for one or two materials with an interchangeable stainless steel auger assembly. It benefits from performance-driven design features such as 1/10 hp DC motor, closed loop motor control, and a low-profile, 6-in. throat with inspection windows. The feeder also features a convenient sample hatch for greater calibration, a swing-out drain cover for easy clean out, and rugged, easy-to-clean stainless steel augers with interchangeable UHMW polyethylene inserts. Sterling, New Berlin, WI 262-641-8610 www.sterlco.com
Feeder with Spreader
The PosiPortion feeder can be equipped with a specially designed, elongated distribution nozzle to satisfy a broad array of general spreading and seasoning applications. This option is ideal for extending into a coating drum, distributing product across a moving conveyor belt, or to optimize filling of wide surge hoppers. Traditional purpose-built equipment with similar performance characteristics can sell for many times more. Hapman, Kalamazoo, MI 800-427-6260 www.hapman.com
Loss-in-Weight Feeders
These loss-in-weight feeders provide accuracies to ±1/4% to 1/2%, weighing ounces to tons, and feeding materials from fine powders to fibrous or flaky materials. Control of batch size and feed time is provided through a
microprocessor based controller that eliminates the effects of plant vibration and electrical noise and the need for vibration dampening devices. The controllers incorporate user-friendly, menu-driven software with membrane keypads and easy-to-read displays. A controlled vibration feeder design for weigh feeding means minimal loss of accuracy during the volumetric refill cycle and high accuracy in the gravimetric mode. The versatile line of weigh feeding devices includes pan or tube feeders, screw feeders, and belt feeders. Vibra Screw Inc., Totowa, NJ, 973-256-7410 www.vibrascrew.com
Weigh Screw Feeder
Continuous flow measurement is accomplished with a cantilevered screw feeder with pivot centered under the in-feed of the feeder with the feeder suspended from a load cell hung from the discharge end. Flow rates of 7-170 cu m/hr are possible with a turndown ratio of 5:1. Accuracy rate is ±1% full scale. APEC USA, Lake Odessa, MI 616-374-1000 www.apecusa.com
Weigh Belt Feeder
The Smart Weigh Belt (SWB) feeder is used for continuous controlled gravimetric feeding of free-flowing or friable bulk materials. The feeder can be used for gravimetric batch feeding or for continuous metering of bulk material flow. The SWB features a primary weighbridge and offers an optional secondary weighbridge that provides continuous online auto tare, reducing maintenance, frequency of calibration, and improving long-term stability. Material weight on the primary weigh deck and belt tare weight on the secondary weigh deck are determined by patented SFT III weighing technology with vibration and temperature immunity, zero deflection, and 1 part in 1 million resolution. The SWB is available in 300, 600, 650, 800, and 1000 mm belt widths. The SWB-300 and SWB-600 are supplied as open or closed frame. K-Tron, Pitman, NJ 856-589-0500 www.ktron.com
Rotary Airlock Valves
This new line of cast iron rotary airlock valves features the RotorRail that enables tool-less access to the rotor and all internal surfaces of the housing without time-consuming disassembly of the rotor, or the removal from service of upstream or downstream equipment commonly associated with standard valve configurations. When compared to bolt-together housing designs, the valves reduce rotor service cycle times by 78%, and, as a result, increase total process uptime by 18% during a typical 8-hour operating shift. The RotorRail feature of these cast iron valves also ensures accurate rotor re-alignment during re-assembly, thus, eliminating axial shaft movement, bearing wear and seal leakage, and premature, uneven rotor vane wear. ACS Valves, Caledonia, ON, Canada 800-655-3447 www.acsvalves.com
Rotary Feeders
Precise engineering, durable construction, and high-quality materials ensure that each rotary feeder is precision-designed to help your plant achieve maximum uptime. These feeders come in various sizes. Each feeder has an extra-thick barrel designed to be rebuilt many times before needing replacement. Optional feeder mounting frames are available, with an injector tee, check valve, and bottom knife access door custom designed to fit your line size and center lines. Special materials such as stainless steel or abrasion-resistant Tribraze steel are also available. Feeders can be designed to exact size specifications. A trade-in allowance is offered for used feeders. Precision Machine & Manufacturing Inc., Eugene, OR, 800-722-9841 www.premach.com
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Ron and Sherry workbook book cover
April 23, 2019
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text:
The first time I learned about Peru was a bit of a strange and unrelated coincident.
The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition is known as LIMA. While looking up that up on the internet I was brought to a different Lima – the capital of Peru, and that was how I first know about this South American country.
Peruvian Gastronomic Week at Ritz Carlton – Joyce & Jamie
Fast forward many years later, I found myself sitting across a Peruvian colleague at my work place, and now a chance to get a taste of Peruvian cuisine for the first time in my life. (I ran the photos through my colleagues and he gave a thumbs up on their authenticity)
The Peruvian Gastronomic Dinner starts from 10th to 16th October 2012 and is priced at RM180++ per person (with two pisco sours). It is a collaboration between Ritz Carlton KL and the Peru Embassy.
Ceviche – tuna, mussels, salmon & octopus
Anyway, lets get on with the food.
Peruvian cuisine has a strong influence from African, Arab, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese cooking. This is particularly evident with the raw fish dish that is Ceviche.
mix this up and you get a good plate of Ceviche – seafood goodness
Ceviche is in fact declared a part of Peru's "national heritage". The dish is a mixture of chunks of fish/prawns/octopus with key lime, sliced onions, chili peppers, salt and pepper.
In this regard, it is actually closer to umai, a traditional Sarawakian dish I had thanks to Irene on our trip to Sipadan many moons ago.
The ceviche was delicious and we had second servings. If you like sashimi, you'll love this.
octopus with black olive alioli and various types of potato dishes
Another interesting dish that stands out here was the octopus with black olive alioli. The octopus prepared not unlike those in Japanese cuisine, but what's distinctive here is the black olive alioli, a sauce made from garlic, olive, lemon juice, and egg yolk with the taste that reminds me of fu yee (fermented bean curd). This needs a little getting used to, but I find it quite interesting.
Executive Chef Rafael Lopez-Aliaga mentioned that there are over 4000 types of potato found in Peru, and there's a few samples of dishes made from potato at the festival. I enjoyed the potato with huancaina sauce (yellow chili sauce), and the mash with yellow chili and crab was excellent too.
potato, chicken & peanut stew; sea bass with seafood & spicy sauce;
tenderloin beef with onion & potato; beef and cilantro stew
The main dishes from Peruvian Gastronomic festival certainly gives a hint of their origin while retaining a unique. There are 9 different dishes presented here.
Peruvian heritage. Potato, chicken and peanut stew is something that I've never tasted before, with a hint of peanut butter and the savory taste of chicken, it is quite special.
Sea bass with seafood & spice sauce (they don't call it Chilean sea bass here though they are the same thing) goes well with rice, tenderloin with onion and potato savory and delicious, and beef with cilantro stew provided a little kick to the taste buds too.
desserts! – pecan with dried fruits, rice pudding, milk pudding, and more
And then there's the desserts. The usual suspects were rice pudding, sweet milk pudding, apricot and coconut cake, but of course, there're those Peruvian influenced sweet dishes such as pisco chocolate cakes, chirimoya, orange and meringue. and lucama crunch.
Always good to have a sweet ending isn't it?
pisco sour is a definite must try drinks to complete the Peruvian experience
By the way, each guest is also served two glasses of Pisco sours to complete the Peruvian experience. The drinks is a mixture of Peruvian Pisco with the addition of lime (or lemon) juice, syrup, ice, egg white, and Angostura bitters.
It was certainly an excellent dinner and a great introduction to Peruvian cuisine. Now where do I find more Peruvian food?
Peruvian Gastronomic Week @ Ritz-Carlton Hotel
168 Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel:Â 03-2141 8000
In an unrelated news, our election is here starting tomorrow (17th Oct 2012). Watch this space for more information very soon!
It's gonna be exciting. 😀


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Show All Answers
1. Storage or use of: hazardous materials; flammable or combustible liquids; LP gas; compressed gases 2. Cutting and welding3. Hot work4. Repair garages and fuel dispensing facilities5. Open burning A complete list can be obtained by contacting the Inspection Department at 817-249-6081.
It will take between four and six weeks after placing the order for the box to arrive. Once the Knox Box has been installed, please call the fire department at 817-249-1727 to have the box locked.


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Vasquez, Edward | |
Svejcar, Anthony |
Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 12/30/2008 Publication Date: 2/8/2009 Citation: Vasquez, E.A., Riegel, G.M., Svejcar, A.J. 2009. LITTER DECOMPOSITION IN A SIERRA NEVADA RIPARIAN MEADOW AS A FUNCTION OF PLANT SPECIES, DISTANCE FROM STREAM EDGE, AND GRAZING. 62nd Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. Paper No. 1000-17. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: A key process in nutrient cycling is decomposition of plant litter and the potential resulting increase in soil nutrient levels. We compare the decomposition rate (k-value yr-1) of four riparian graminoids as influenced by plant species, distance from stream edge (2.5, 20, and 50 m), and grazing intensity (non-grazed, light, and moderate) in a montane meadow located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, USA. Above-ground biomass of Carex nebrascensis, Deschampsia caespitosa, Juncus bulticus, and Poa pratensis was clipped to the top of the litter surface and separated by species at peak standing crop. Litter was placed in mesh bags on the soil surface and allowed to decompose for 712 days. Litter bags were retrieved at fixed intervals and litter was analyzed for mass loss, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The rates of decomposition of the four separate species were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from that of the four species combined (BIO). Although J. balticus and D. caespitosa were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from BIO, they were significantly different from P. pratensis. There was no difference in the rate of P or K loss among species, and few differences with respect to N loss. There was no evidence that the rate of decomposition or nutrient loss was a function of location from stream edge or grazing treatment. It appears that major changes in species composition would be required to influence decomposition rates in the riparian system we studied. |


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Today, we know exactly who our enemy is: the mosquito.
I'm truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs' death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.
Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.


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Toronto gave up five goals for the second consecutive game as John Tavares and the Islanders took tonight's tilt decisively. The Leafs built a two-goal lead on their first two shots of the game before paying their dues to the tune of five consecutive goals against on account of inattentive and sloppy play.
1. After a lackluster two-game set earlier this week, Toronto got off to a great start in tonight's dance with the Isles. This involved a rousing penalty kill (5-on-3) that featured a couple of fantastic stops by Reimer. The PK continues to be a surprisingly strong spot for this young team. Of course, the massive improvement in this area is a result of acquired and improved personnel (eg. McClement and Reimer). But, the sense of confidence and belief in a structured system is much more evident in this year's incarnation of the Leafs. They've expressed this in quotables throughout the season and the effect of this confidence in a system on the ice should never be underestimated.
2. The team and crowd drew on the energy of this kill, culminating with yet another filthy Joffrey Lupul goal. Similar to his magical display of skating and strength earlier this season, he walked around Matt Carkner and gave Toronto the early lead.
3. The Leafs followed this up with another skillful showing on a special team, as Bozak fed a backhand pass to Franson for a pretty powerplay goal. In many of Toronto's fringe non-playoff years of recent history, this caliber of special teams would have probably been the difference maker with respect to their presence in the post-season. However, it would have not made them a true contender, as evidenced by the ease with which a team can fall apart at even strength.
4. Truly, with a 2-0 lead, I'm sure there were many that sat back in their seats a bit – perhaps expecting this to be an "easy" game typical of the Islanders of yesteryear. There's a good chance that idea flitted through the heads of a few Leafs as the wheels fell of the wagon at that point. In particular, the Phaneuf-Gardiner pair was victimized on multiple occasions as the Islanders Tavares stormed back into the driver's seat with three consecutive goals. Jake Gardiner got caught chasing up high on New York's first goal and Tavares whisked a pass through Kadri to ex-Leaf Boyes for the goal. On the third goal, it was Phaneuf's turn to get caught up high. Once again, Tavares made them pay. Get well soon, Carl Gunnarsson. Dion misses you.
5. On that note, Tavares deserves serious consideration for the Hart Trophy this year. He epitomized what that award embodies as his team would not have won without him tonight. The type of player that can snatch momentum from the jaws of defeat and maintain it in the face of adversity is as valuable as they come.
6. The Leafs still looked sloppy coming into the second period, with turnovers and failed breakouts aplenty. However, a furious and productive shift eight minutes into the second by the newly (re)incarnated Kulemin-McClement-Komarov line got the club back on track. This shift sparked an offensively dominant showing by the Bozak line, after which the Kadri line came on and forced an icing. With Toronto only down one goal it seemed that the team was preparing to mount a push back. As mentioned above, John Tavares happened and the Leafs were down by two.
7. The appeal of Kulemin-McClement-Komarov as a checking line is undeniable. A fierce forecheck and strong cycling game was immediately evident with the trio, but consequently one of Grabovski or Kadri must be bumped to the fourth line (as we all know by this point that Bozak is physically inseparable from Phil Kessel). As such, Grabovski found himself with the Blue Bombers late in the second frame. Toronto's lineup is a murky picture with everyone healthy and the picture may not truly become clearer until the resolution of Bozak's UFA status.
8. Toronto's Belorusian center came out in the third with a great shift on the fourth line. He's at his best when he uses his speed and characteristic tenacity on the puck, something that he has only done in spurts this campaign. Carlyle rewarded this effort by flanking Grabovski with Lupul and MacArthur on his next shift to good effect. Of course, this relegated Kadri to the fourth line and ideally this mess will resolve itself with the permanent scratching of one of McClaren or Orr before the playoffs.
9. Unfortunately, despite Carlyle's frantic attempts to foster some spark in his team, it was another night of too many giveaways and shots against that ended in a deserved loss. There were flashes of the fast, forechecking team that we have become familiar with this season, but they were few and too far between. Whether the increasing inconsistency is due to fatigue or the mental repercussions of all but securing a playoff spot is yet to be seen.
10. While James Reimer yielded five goals on the night, this is a loss that falls squarely on the shoulders of those in front of them. For lack of a more accurate technical term, the skaters in blue and white just did not look sharp. It should be considered that this team has showed impressive fortitude and resiliency both on the macro (over the season) and micro (within games) scale this season. One would have hoped that two mediocre performances would be acknowledged and responded to by this team. However, one should expect that consecutive sloppy losses provokes a better response before this weekend's game against the Senators.
Toronto may not have officially clinched a playoff spot after tonight's showing, but the post season is right around the corner. This short-term malaise must be addressed by both the players and the coaching staff in conjunction with the inevitable lineup decisions to be made prior to the beginning of the postseason.


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Heroic Diplomacy: How Barack Obama Finally Earned That Peace Prize
By Robert Scheer
Finally, Barack Obama may prove deserving of his Nobel Peace Prize by joining with England, France, China, Russia and Germany in negotiating an eminently sensible rapprochement with Iran on its nuclear program. Following on his pullback from war with Syria and instead, successfully negotiating the destruction of that country's supply of chemical weapons, this is another bold step to fulfill the peacemaking promise that got him elected president in the first place.
As Obama reminded his audience at an event Monday in San Francisco, he was fulfilling the pledge from his first campaign to usher in a "new era of American leadership, one that turned the page on a decade of war.†As a candidate in 2007, he committed to engage in "aggressive personal diplomacy†with Iran's leaders, and he has now done just that.
This is potentially an international game changer comparable to Richard Nixon's opening to Mao's Red China and Ronald Reagan's overtures to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, two examples of heroic diplomacy that combined to destroy the underpinnings of the Cold War. Those who continually call for regime change in Iran as a condition for improved relations with that country, as Obama's critics are now doing, ignore that history.
It is also true that the religious leaders of Iran came to power after a previous U.S. effort at regime change—replacing a democratic secular leader with the despotic shah—failed miserably. The Israelis who are now giving Obama such a difficult time on dealing with Iran might also adopt some humility, since it was their Mossad spies who helped train the shah's agents in the fine art of prisoner interrogation. Yesterday's prisoners sometimes end up today's negotiators.
Evidently, this has also been a casebook study in diplomacy pursued for years at the president's insistence with much international cooperation and at the highest level of effectiveness. But instead of celebrating the president's returning to his original promise as peacemaker, the warmongers of both parties in Congress, egged on by the unholy alliance of Saudi Arabia and Israel, are crying foul. Their outrage is an affront to morality and logic, as well as a stark betrayal of a legitimate public concern over the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Obama's critics clearly prefer the murky unknown of rank speculation to the reality check of on-site inspection when it comes to preventing nuclear proliferation. How can it be a bad thing to call Iran's bluff—if that's what it is—on its nuclear program being designed for peaceful purposes?
The interim agreement releases a scant $4.2 billion in oil revenue, while still freezing an additional $30 billion over the next six months, in exchange for the imposition of enrichment limits verified by much improved inspections, daily U.N. checks of enrichment facilities, stopping work at the Arak heavy-water plant and other means of establishing transparency to which both sides have agreed.
Are American hawks and their counterparts in Israel and Saudi Arabia afraid that transparency will deny the U.S. a justification for invading Iran, as it did previously with Iraq, and more recently Syria? Is the prospect of a meaningful peace all that threatening? Or are the hard-liners who run Israel afraid that their own nuclear program might come under more intense international scrutiny if the spotlight is off Iran?
In that case, the push would be on to make the entire region an enforceable nuclear-weapon-free zone, but that would put Israel's WMD program under the microscope. No informed observer believes that Israel has made good on its oft-repeated pledge not to be the first nation to introduce nuclear weapons in the region. Israel is well known to have many actual nuclear weapons and not merely a uranium enrichment program. The Pentagon estimated that Israel had 80 nuclear weapons in 2002, as well as a robust delivery system of missiles, airplanes and even sea-based launchers. Of course, we won't know the truth about Israel's WMDs until U.N. inspectors are permitted on the ground.
That won't happen anytime soon, because Israel has worked itself into a self-righteous corner of unaccountability that does not bode well in a rapidly changing world. It is now in the morally odd position as the self-proclaimed sole democracy in the region of joining Saudi Arabia in backing a military junta in Egypt that snuffed out that most populous Arab country's political spring. Once a backer of Syria's minority religious-based government "as the enemy we know,†Israel again sides with the Saudis in backing an Islamic rebel coalition heavily infiltrated by al-Qaida.
But oddest of all is Israel's currently partnering with Saudi Arabia in stoking a regional Sunni war against the Shiites led by Iran, as if taking that side in deepening the region's religious wars is somehow good for the Jews. It isn't, and Obama's words of caution to critics of the Iran nuclear deal apply to those in Israel as well as in America: "Tough talk and bluster may be the easy thing to do politically, but it's not the right thing to do for our security.†He's back.


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Police: Security officer's gunshot warning caused stampede at Navy Pier
CHICAGO - A stampede at a Fourth of July fireworks display that injured more than a dozen people at Chicago's Navy Pier started when a private security officer shouted for bystanders to take cover, police said Friday.
Chicago police spokeswoman Kellie Bartoli said "approximately 13" people who fell or were trampled during the ruckus were hospitalized with minor injuries. The rush of people occurred shortly after a brawl that resulted in at least two stabbings.
The incidents happened just after 10 p.m. as thousands crowded Navy Pier on Lake Michigan's shoreline. Police said they were searching Friday for two male suspects in the stabbings.
Authorities speculate that shortly after the stabbings, someone exploded a firecracker near a group of people, prompting shouts of "gun" or "shots fired." Chief of Patrol Fred Waller told a news conference Friday that the ensuring panic was fueled by warnings to bystanders to take cover shouted by a member of a private security firm employed by Navy Pier.
Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said that despite the fracas, the officer's warning was appropriate.
"If you're going to make an error in judgment, we want to err on the side of caution," Johnson said. "Suppose there had been an active shooter, and he had said nothing?"
Chicago police tactical and SWAT teams that provided the main security for the fireworks show, backed by covert state and federal law enforcement officers, responded by searching the area but found no gunman.
The private security firm was not identified and Navy Pier officials did not respond to a request for comment, but issued a statement that said Thursday's "unfortunate isolated incident" was quickly managed by security teams and law enforcement officers.
"We are continuing to work with the Chicago Police Department on this matter and to ensure that we are doing all that we can to keep people safe while they are visiting the pier," the statement said.
In the earlier incident, authorities said teens allegedly flashing gang signs began fighting, with a 14-year-old boy being stabbed in the arm and rib area and a 15-year-old boy stabbed in the armpit. Both were transported to Lurie Children's Hospital and were reported in stable condition.
A 30-year-old man not involved in that altercation suffered stab wounds to the face and arm but said he did not see the offender nor did he remember any details about the incident, Bartoli said. He was at Northwestern University Hospital in stable condition.
Also, police said a 16-year-old boy, initially thought to have been stabbed, sustained a puncture wound to his leg after running into a table.
Those who were injured while running or falling in the commotion were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, said another police spokesman, Rocco Alioto.
Rachel Schar, who's a server at the waterfront restaurant Harry Caray's Tavern, said that during the ensuing panic, crowds of visitors swarmed the restaurant for at least 10 minutes to escape what they believed was an active shooter.
"It was pure chaos," the 22-year-old told the Chicago Tribune. "I literally thought I was going to die."
Schar said she was collecting credit cards from a party table when she heard screaming, shoes rapidly pounding the pavement, and shouts about a gun and people stabbed outside. She said she was tackled during that pandemonium and then sprinted upstairs into an office.
Elsewhere in the city, the typically violent July Fourth holiday had already seen 35 people shot, five fatally, with three days to go in the weekend. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who took office in May and has made curbing gun violence a priority, followed recent years' practice by adding an extra 1,500 police officers onto the streets. Messages left with her press office Friday were not immediately returned.
In 2017, when Independence Day fell on a Tuesday, more than 100 people were shot and at least 15 died. In 2014, when the holiday was a Friday, 82 were shot and at least 14 died.
Johnson said his staff monitors crime statistics hourly and said this year's numbers "are up a little bit, but let's let the rest of the weekend play out."


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Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss Commercial An Awkward Mess
Straight out of advertising's Book of Awkward Moments comes this Thanksgiving-themed commercial for Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss who, after giving thanks and offering prayer for President Bush, President-Elect Obama and the troops, gives his granddaughter a very creepy chest grope.
Creepy as that move might be, it's made even creepier by the two grand kids who utter "...and vote for my big daddy." With the commercial just dripping with overtones of family value, the ending is a bit shocking. Even more shocking is the fact no one noticed Chambliss' awkward hand movement before the commercial hit the airwaves.