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The Brewers Association, the main trade group for U.S. beer-makers, announced June 20 that the number of American breweries had surpassed 2,500, more than at any time since at least the 1880s and more than in any other nation.
The vast majority (more than 2,300) are craft breweries, independently owned companies that make beer on a small scale using traditional ingredients. There are also, according to the association, as many as 1,559 breweries in the planning stages, most of them craft.
This growth shouldn't be surprising, given that craft beer's share of the $99 billion U.S. beer market increased to $10.2 billion in 2012, from $8.7 billion in 2011.
European beer was once considered the world's best. Brewers there didn't produce in the same volume as Anheuser-Busch, but their products were regarded as higher quality. That perception began to change in the 1990s, as U.S. craft beer makers racked up successive years of double-digit growth.
By the new century, many critics recognized U.S. beer for its excellence. American brewers had redefined age-old styles and created new ones; and their consumers were increasingly savvy.
There were four important milestones in the development of the industry.
Anchor: In 1965, the home-appliance heir Fritz Maytag saved San Francisco's Anchor Brewing Co., the last craft brewery in the U.S. Anchor's beer was pretty bad, and so Maytag decided to make it better. In so doing, he set benchmarks for future makers of craft beer.
First, Maytag decided that his brewery would remain small and wouldn't follow the trend in American brewing of increasing volume and expanding distribution. Second, it would remain independently owned, no matter how much money it lost (and it lost plenty, well into the 1970s).
Most importantly, Maytag used only traditional ingredients. No more adjuncts such as corn syrup or rice — only hops, malted grains such as barley, and yeast and water.
New Albion: In late 1966, Jack McAuliffe, a U.S. Navy mechanic stationed in Scotland, visited a Boots drug store in Glasgow. Hoping to recreate the rich European beers he knew he wouldn't be able to get in the United States, he bought a home-brewing kit.
Back at his stone cottage in nearby Dunoon, McAuliffe brewed a pale ale over a coal-burning stove. It was a hit with fellow service members and with the Scottish locals.
Ten years later, McAuliffe started New Albion, the first new craft brewery in the U.S. since Prohibition, in Sonoma County, Calif. A lack of funds for expansion caused the company to collapse in 1983, but it inspired a generation of homebrewers to start commercial operations.
Cascade Hop: Typically, hops are added at two points during brewing: the earlier "bittering" stage and the later "aromatic" stage. Until the early 1970s, no U.S.-grown hops were considered good enough to be added during the aromatic stage, when a beer acquires its distinctive aroma.
In 1972, Coors tested the Cascade hop, which had been developed by an Agriculture Department farm in Corvallis, Ore. It eventually came to the attention of Maytag at Anchor, which was preparing a brew called Liberty Ale, in honor of the 200th anniversary of Paul Revere's 1775 ride. It would be the bitterest domestic beer.
The Cascade-infused Liberty Ale spawned imitators (including the modern India pale ale, the most popular style in American craft beer) but it also fostered a new, experimental way of thinking about brewing.
Tax Breaks: Since World War II, the industry had been lobbying the federal government to cut taxes for smaller brewers. They had little success until Henry King, the head of the now-defunct U.S. Brewers' Association, took up the cause in the mid-1970s.
King cajoled contributions from big-time brewers and leveraged the political muscle of manufacturing unions. In September 1976, he got Congress to cut excise taxes on beer by more than 20 percent, from $9 a barrel to $7 on the first 60,000 barrels a brewery made — so long as the brewery didn't make more than 2 million barrels a year.
When the tax cut went into effect, there was only one craft brewery: Anchor. The number grew exponentially in subsequent decades.
New Amsterdam: In 1981, Matthew Reich, a top executive at Hearst Magazines, flew to Boston to meet with Joseph Owades, a leading consultant in the brewing industry. Reich wanted to start the first craft brewery in New York City; Owades told him the cost would be prohibitive.
Instead, Owades suggested contract brewing: Reich would rent the equipment and subcontract the labor at one of many under-capacity regional breweries that were being squeezed by national giants such as Anheuser-Busch.
Reich's decision to contract-brew New Amsterdam through the F.X. Matt Brewing Co. in Utica, N.Y., inspired imitators such Jim Koch and Pete Slosberg, the creators of Samuel Adams and Pete's Wicked.
The craft beer movement also has had some setbacks along the way. From 1996 to 2000, almost 200 craft operations, or around one-third of all small brewers, closed. The main reason: too much beer of dubious quality being produced by too many uncommitted new entrants to the market.
That isn't likely to happen with the current craft-beer boom. This time around, much more stringent quality controls are in place: Modern breweries, equipped with top-shelf technology and staffed by highly trained brewmasters.
Tom Acitelli is the author of "The Audacity of Hops: The History of America's Craft Beer Revolution."


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The city of Hermosa Beach has thrown its support behind a proposed law designed to relieve financial pressure that leaders are facing in an ongoing debate over oil drilling.
City Council members voted unanimously Monday night to support a bill in the Legislature that would lend state funds to Hermosa Beach to help it with a payment it would owe to an oil company if voters reject a proposed oil drilling project at the polls this fall.
Hermosa Beach residents will face a high-stakes ballot question over whether to allow oil company E&B Natural Resources to reverse a more than 80-year ban on all new oil drilling.
The company wants to drill about three dozen wells at a 1.3-acre city maintenance yard next to homes and blocks from the beach.
If residents approve the new drilling, the city estimates it stands to gain $118 million to $270 million over the 35-year life of the project, with an additional $1 million to $2 million going to Hermosa Beach schools.
If drilling is rejected, however, the city will be on the hook to pay $17.5 million to E&B Natural Resources, the terms of a legal settlement struck with the oil company in 2012.
The bill, introduced last month by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), would allow Hermosa Beach to borrow the sum from state tidelands funds at no interest. Payments made by the city would go back into a fund for coastal and climate change programs.
The city says it has $6 million in the bank but that financing the rest could mean payments of $825,000 a year for 30 years, or $1.1 million a year over 20 years, according to the city-issued report. Under the legislation, those annual payments could be reduced to $500,000, according to the assemblyman.
Hermosa Beach will now send an official letter to the state Assembly appropriations committee, where it will be heard Wednesday, and Mayor Michael DiVirgilio may testify in support of the bill in the future.
While city leaders have pledged to remain neutral on the oil issue until a measure is placed on the ballot, DiVirgilio insisted that supporting the bill made good financial sense for the city, as it could potentially save Hermosa Beach as much as $350,000 a year in interest payments compared with a commercial loan.
He added, however, that the city has always been, and will continue to be, capable of shouldering the cost.
"In no scenario is there a doomsday," DiVirgilio said. "This is a better deal for us, so that's why we support it."

subset: commoncrawl


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ALBANY, N.Y. -- Superstorm Sandy ran up a $42 billion bill on New York and the state and New York City are making big requests for disaster aid from the federal government, according to a Cuomo administration official.
The official provided the new, higher total on the condition of anonymity because an announcement was scheduled for later Monday.
The cost includes $32 billion for repairs and restoration but also includes an additional accounting of $9 billion for mitigation of damage and for preventive measures for the next disastrous storm.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo met with the New York's congressional delegation Monday to discuss the new figures. The delegation, Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will now draw up a request for federal disaster aid.
Bloomberg announced earlier Monday that Sandy caused $19 billion in losses in New York City, which is part of the $30 billion estimate Cuomo used.
The mayor is asking federal lawmakers to put up nearly $10 billion to reimburse government agencies and private businesses. That would be additional funding on an expedited basis over the $5.4 billion in standard disaster aid that the city projects it will receive from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"The city will struggle to recover in the long term unless expedited federal funding is supplied," Bloomberg said.
That FEMA money and private insurance won't cover all the public and private expenses from the storm, which included damaged streets and restaurants closed because of flooding, Bloomberg said.
"While the impact of the storm will be felt for some time and the challenges are great, I am confident that the city will rebound and emerge stronger than ever," Bloomberg wrote to the congressional delegation.
Monday's briefing comes at a difficult time for Washington because of the dwindling funds left in the account of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Compounding the problem is the congressional effort to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff that requires significant spending cuts by the end of the year.
Hard times were already facing the state and city governments which were staring at deficits of more than $1 billion before Sandy hit at the end of October. State tax receipts have also missed projections, showing a continued slow recovery from recession that could hit taxpayers in the governments' next budgets.


text:
WCSU to host College Goal Sunday
University to offer help for students completing federal financial aid forms
DANBURY, CONN. — While many are counting down to Superbowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2, there's an event the Sunday before that has higher stakes for high school students planning to attend college. From 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, the Western Connecticut State University Office of Student Financial Services will host "College Goal Sunday" on the Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. College-bound high school seniors and their families will receive assistance from financial aid professionals in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online. Check-in is at the Student Center Theater on the Midtown campus.
The Connecticut Association of Professional Financial Aid Administrators, the Connecticut Association of Educational Opportunity Programs and the YMCA of Greater Hartford will sponsor College Goal Sunday at 15 sites in Connecticut. Each site will be able to assist students who speak Spanish or English. Information about the benefits of attending college, student support services, areas of study and different degree programs also will be available.
College Goal Sunday is a volunteer charitable effort specifically designed to assist low-income families and those who are the first in their families to attend college. The FAFSA forms are required to qualify for college financial aid nationwide.
For more information or to register, visit www.collegegoalsundayct.org or call the WCSU Office of Student Financial Services at (203) 837-8588.
Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England's best small private universities.


text:
HOUSTON (AP) — A former University of Minnesota wide receiver who quit the team after accusing the head coach of abusive behavior has been arrested in Houston on a marijuana possession charge.
According to Harris County court records, A.J. Barker was arrested Sunday on a misdemeanor charge of possessing less than two ounces of marijuana. Barker is free on $500 bond. He is to appear in court Feb. 14.
His father, John Barker, declined to comment about the arrest when contacted by telephone at his St. Paul, Minn., home.
A.J. Barker had been leading the team in catches when he abruptly quit in November. In an email which he posted on a personal blog, Barker accused Minnesota coach Jerry Kill of demeaning him and questioning his family background. Kill denied the accusations.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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text:
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) had April sales of $5.78 billion, a
decrease of 3.7 percent from $6.0 billion for the same month in fiscal
Total front-end sales decreased 0.5 percent compared with the same month
in 2011, while comparable store front-end sales decreased 2.2 percent.
Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 3.0 percent while basket
size increased 0.8 percent.
For the combined March/April period that includes the Easter holiday
season, comparable store front-end sales decreased by 0.5 percent, while
customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 2.3 percent and basket
size increased 1.8 percent.
Prescriptions filled at comparable stores decreased 7.8 percent in
April. Calendar day shifts in April, which had one additional Sunday and
Monday, and one fewer Friday and Saturday compared with April 2011,
positively impacted prescriptions filled in comparable stores by 0.6
percentage point. On a calendar-adjusted basis, prescriptions filled at
comparable stores improved for the third consecutive month, including a
0.9 percentage-point improvement in April compared with March.
Lower incidence of flu negatively impacted comparable store
prescriptions filled in April by 0.2 percentage point. The negative
impact on comparable store prescriptions filled due to no longer being
part of the Express Scripts, Inc. pharmacy network was 10.7 percentage
points. Prescriptions processed by Express Scripts comprised 12.6
percent of Walgreens prescriptions in April 2011.
"We've seen month-to-month improvement in comparable prescriptions
filled on a calendar adjusted basis each of the last three months, while
our front-end business reflects our continued focus on a more relevant
product mix, supported by a new advertising circular strategy that
launched in February with continued pricing and promotion discipline,"
said Walgreens Executive Vice President and CFO Wade Miquelon.
April pharmacy sales decreased 6.3 percent, while comparable store
pharmacy sales decreased 8.9 percent. Calendar day shifts positively
impacted pharmacy sales in comparable stores by 0.6 percentage point.
Comparable store pharmacy sales also were negatively impacted by 3.4
percentage points due to generic drug introductions in the last 12
months, by 0.5 percentage point due to lower incidence of cough, cold
and flu and by 10.7 percentage points due to no longer being part of the
Express Scripts network. Pharmacy sales accounted for 62.6 percent of
total sales for the month.
Sales in comparable stores decreased by 6.4 percent. The effect of
calendar day shifts positively impacted total comparable sales by 0.4
percentage point.
Sales for the combined months of March and April 2012 decreased 4.0
percent from the same two months in 2011. Comparable store sales for the
March/April period decreased 6.7 percent.
Calendar year-to-date sales were $23.46 billion, a decrease of 2.2
percent from $24.0 billion in the same period in 2011.
Fiscal 2012 year-to-date sales for the first eight months were $48.61
billion, up 1.0 percent from $48.14 billion in the same period in fiscal
Walgreens opened seven stores during April, including one relocation,
and acquired two stores.
At April 30, Walgreens operated 8,307 locations in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. That includes 7,855
drugstores, 146 more than a year ago, including 21 stores acquired over
the last 12 months. The company also operates infusion and respiratory
services facilities, specialty pharmacies and mail service facilities.
Its Take Care Health Systems subsidiary manages more than 700 in-store
convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers.
Cold, Flu
* Includes +3.3 percentage points from patients filling more 90-day
Please note: Sales numbers and the adjustments shown in the table are
preliminary, unaudited and subject to revision. Comparable stores are
defined as those drugstore locations open for at least 12 consecutive
months without closure for seven or more consecutive days and without a
major remodel or a natural disaster in the past 12 months. Acquired
operating locations and relocations are not included as comparable
stores for the first 12 months after the acquisition or relocation.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Statements
in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "likely,"
"outlook," "forecast, "would," "could," "should," "can," "will,"
"project," "intend," "plan," "continue," "sustain," "on track,"
"believe," "seek," "estimate," "anticipate," "may," "possible,"
"assume," and variations of such words and similar expressions are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, but not limited
to, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms,
competition, industry consolidation and the effects thereof, changes in
economic and business conditions, risks associated with new business and
business retention initiatives and activities, failure to obtain new
contracts or extensions of existing contracts, risks associated with
acquisitions, joint ventures and divestitures, the ability to realize
anticipated results from capital expenditures and cost reduction
initiatives, and outcomes of legal and regulatory matters. These and
other risks, assumptions and uncertainties are described in Item 1A
(Risk Factors) of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, each of which is incorporated herein by
reference, and in other documents that we file or furnish with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or
anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the
extent required by law, Walgreens does not undertake, and expressly
disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statement after the date of this report, whether as a result of new
information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
WalgreensMedia Contact:Robert Elfinger, 847-315-2962orInvestor
Contacts:Rick Hans, CFA, 847-315-2385Lisa Meers, CFA,


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Coach AL Golden spoke on the ACC Teleconference this morning, and the first question involved the pre-winter blast of extremely cold weather forecast for Pittsburgh. It's snowing there today, I'm told, and it will be clear for the game with temperatures that start at about 31 and head into the high teens at night. The sun will set early into the game, and any wind converging with the three rivers toward the open end of the stadium will undoubtedly make it brutally cold conditions for both teams, but especially daunting, obviouslly, for the Hurricanes.
Here's Golden's transcription:
COACH GOLDEN: We're in the middle of
our preparation, getting ready to go to Pittsburgh,
first time seeing them as a coastal opponent.
Great challenge for us, great opportunity.
With that I'll open it up to any questions
that you have.
Q. Obviously major weather issues on
the East Coast today. I know it's 48 hours
before you play. I know the Miami Dolphins
were famous for not performing well in cold
weather. Have you seen your team in adverse
weather conditions before? Probably going to
be cold Friday. Is that a concern going up
there in these conditions?
COACH GOLDEN: I think more than a
concern, I think it's a challenge. It's a challenge to
the way we want to operate. It's a challenge to our
mindset. I don't think there's any question. It's a
challenge to everything that we want to be as a
football program.
We want to be a team that's
process-oriented. We want to be a team that
focuses on two-acres and a ball and blocks out
everything externally. In this case the weather is
one of those external challenges.
It's going to be a great challenge to our
team's mindset, mentality and their commitment to
each other for four hours on Friday.
Q. I know the passing game is very
important to you guys. If it's tough conditions
like that, how big an adjustment do you have to
make offensively to perform?
COACH GOLDEN: Well, again, I think we
all know it's going to be tough conditions. It's going
to be tough conditions for both sides. We just
cannot allow any excuses to come into the game.
We got to make sure we're throwing the
ball well. We got to make sure we're catching the
ball well. We have to protect the ball when we're
running it.
I don't think there's any question that we
cannot allow an excuse mentality to creep in here
because at the end of the day it's going to come
down to protecting the ball well and finding a
running game against obviously the great Pitt
defensive front and connecting on the passes that
you throw. We can't have a lot of incomplete balls
because it's cold, windy, whatever the case may
We know there's going to be elements that
are going to be a challenge on Friday. We have to
accept the challenge and execute regardless.
Q. You started out 7-0, ranked 7.
Things haven't gone well since then. Has it
been a product of better competition or things
you're not doing now that you were doing
COACH GOLDEN: Again, it's always a
function of us. Some of the things perhaps we
were doing better earlier in the year, like taking the
ball away, playing better red zone defense.
Certainly we did that better against Virginia this
past week. Hopefully we'll be able to continue to
do those things.
It can't be about the opponent ever. It's
got to be about the things that we're doing and
what we're not doing. We haven't converted as
well as we needed to on offense or third down.
That's really hurt our time of possession and left
our defense out there.
All three units are responsible. We have to
continue to play better. Hopefully we'll play better
than we played last week, as well.
Q. Last week there was talk about
Dorsett possibly playing. Are you still holding
out hope he'll be able to play Friday?
COACH GOLDEN: I still am holding out
hope. Can I say right now definitively? I can't. I
wish I could. He'll be practicing today. I think the
biggest thing is that he feels comfortable and
confident. If we see that today, we'll move forward.
Ultimately it will be the young man's decision
because medically he's cleared.
Q. Their guy Aaron Donald is one of
the best. Can you talk about the problem he
COACH GOLDEN: Again, when you see
players like this, you admire them. Obviously you
have to deal with them on game day, which you
have to find ways to do that.
You just admire players like this because
he's just not a talented kid, he's a skilled kid. He's
a young man that knows how to play double-teams
really well and he plays with a motor, of course.
They move him around to get him in the right
position to rush the passer. He's got excellent
pass-rush skills, as well.
Again, I think this young man has really
worked hard at his craft. I think that's the thing I
admire about him. He's taken his talent and
cultivated it into skill. The result is a heck of a
football player, one that's going to be a great
challenge for our offensive line.
Q. Tell me about your guys. Make a
case for a couple of your guys.
COACH GOLDEN: Again, you always
hear about who you leave out. I think I'm on
record as saying that [Brandon] Linder is playing at a really,
really high level right now. I'll leave it at that. The
rest of it, you guys have to sort it out and evaluate
it. I'm record on that one, so I stand behind that
one. I think Brandon Linder is playing an elite level
of football right now at offensive line.
Q. I know you play Friday, your fate in
the Coastal Division will be up in the air. If you
win the game, you still have a chance. I guess
you become a UNC and Virginia fan on Saturday.
COACH GOLDEN: Again, we're just trying
to prepare and execute today and get better
tomorrow, obviously play well against Pitt. The
rest of it will take care of itself, will sort itself out.
It's really important for us to play well this
week and try to get win number nine, then we'll
move forward as a program. If we have the good
fortune on Saturday, we'll go forward from there.
For us to speculate on any of that is just
premature. It's really about playing better this
week than we did last week and getting ready for a
Pitt team on the road.
Q. If Duke wins, that game is at noon,
are you worried your kids might drop off a little
bit, put their heads down a little bit because
they can't win the coastal?
COACH GOLDEN: Duke's game is
Q. I apologize.
COACH GOLDEN: We'll be there Friday,
too. You're good. I thought I was going to play a doubleheader (laughter).
Everybody have a great Thanksgiving.


text:
Hotels with a passion for quality, service and the environment. Great deals on UK hotels with a responsible attitude towards the environment
Manor House, Ballycastle
Strict policy of using ingredients and products that either support local trade or have strong ethical policies themselves.
Apex European Hotel, Edinburgh
Apex Edinburgh has outstanding attitude to environmental responsibility and endeavour to identify and implement eco friendly policies throughout the hotel.
Atlantic House Hotel, Bude
The hotel takes a number of positive steps to minimise their environmental impact. Supporting the local community and protecting the natural environment of Cornwall are fundamental to the hotels environmental policy.
Fortingall Hotel, Aberfeldy
A small country house hotel that has implemented a number of energy saving measures. The hotel has started an excellent initiative to support local wildlife.
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Encourage green travel, use recycle products and support council recycle were ever possible.
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Have a proactive approach to saving energy guests are encouraged to assist in saving energy by taking simple steps such as turning lights of when leaving a room.
Neatham Mill Farm Guest House Alton
The hotel has its own biomass boiler providing 100% of hot water and heating. The boiler uses waste from the hotel resulting in carbon neutral energy.
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The Winford Manor work extremely hard to minimize adverse effects on the environment caused by the day to day running. Staff are well trained and take all steps necessary to ensure successful implementation of the hotels environmental policy.
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The Hotel understands the need for responsible energy management as part of a programme to limit the effective running a hotel has on the environment.
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Bristol & Bath Railway Cycle Path
The Bristol & Bath Railway path is one of the original routes on the National Cycle Network. The path provides a traffic free route, slight gradients and pleasant scenery.
Kidwelly to Llanelli Bridge Cycle Path
Enjoy a traffic free route along the Loughor Estuary looking out towards the Gower Peninsula.
SPECTACULAR BEAUTY OF BRITAINS COASTLINEBritain's beaches come in all shapes and sizes from the classic bucket and spade beach to the wild craggy shorelines. Our beaches are unique to our coastline and provide a wonderful location for a cheap day out.
Camber Sands
A fantastic beach which has been awarded the blue flag. Camber Sands is popular for the beautiful dunes that lead onto a glorious sandy beach which even on the busiest of days has space for everyone.
FAMILY FRIENDLY FUNHolidays and short breaks in the UK are becoming very popular with money tight and the exchange rate so poor Britain has never offered better value. From days out to full blown holidays Britain has it all Grab your opportunity and create memories that last a life time.
The World of Beatrix Potter
The world of Beatrix Potter is a award winning attraction situated minutes away from Lake Windermere in the centre of Bowness. Children will love this virtual world that brings to life all the characters made famous by Beatrix Potter. The attraction offers a special day out perfect for families and anyone who loves the stories of Peter Rabbit, Jeremy Fisher and Jemima puddle duck
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
Act like Captain Jack at the Diana, Princess of Wales Playground in Kensington Park . The playground which is inspired by the story of Peter Pan will keep children of all ages occupied for hours, the park has been designed to make sure less able bodied children do not miss out on the fun. The focal point of the playground is the Pirate ship complete with ships wheel, pulleys and ropes.
BRITAINS BREATHING SPACESThe National Parks of Britain celebrate some of most diverse and beautiful landscape in the world. There are 14 National Parks in all providing access to the mountains, lakes, beaches and untamed landscapes that stir the imagination providing inspiration for body and soul. Perfect for a day out or short break Britain's National Parks are the ideal destination for the adventures or young families and promise a lifetime of unforgettable experiences.
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WINDSWEPT FELLS TO STUNNING COASTAL PATHSThe natural landscape of Britain offers a choice of thrilling walks, each offering a new experience and a different challenge. Get you're walking boots on and discover for yourself the hills, moors, lakes and rivers that make Britain great.
The Pennine Way
The Pennine Way is a classic walk which is without doubt a testing but highly rewarding experience. The walk covers Peak District, South Pennine Moors and Yorkshire Dales.
Coniston to Great Langdale
Staring from the traditional Lakeland village of Coniston the walk takes you through woodland, passed Tarn How down into the beautiful Langdale Valley. Don't forget to take your time to enjoy the views which are special whatever the season.
Marvel at Edinburgh from Arthurs Seat
The Edinburgh landscape is dominated by craggy hills of which Arthurs Seat is perhaps the most famous climb to the top and you're guaranteed the best views of historic Edinburgh, the only drawback it's a 250 metre climb.
Boscastle Harbour Walk
A Peaceful walk which takes you through beautiful Cornish Woodland before arriving in picturesque Boscastle harbour.
Walk the Roman Way
Hadrian's Wall runs stretches 85 miles from the north west across to the north east of England. The wall takes you through farmland, upland and green pastures passing countless sites of historic importance related to the Romans. You can walk individual parts or take the challenge of completing the full 84 miles and in doing so enjoy the full beauty of this stunning trail.
REDUCE, REUSE, REPAIR, RECYCLEEach individual contributes to climate change however it easier than you think to limit the damage caused by day to day living. Many green tips also help you save money.
Travel green go by train
Train travel uses less fuel and emits less pollution per passenger than both the plane and the car. The train may not be practical for a short trip in town or the supermarket but for medium to long travel around the UK from an environmental standpoint the train beats all other means of transport.
10:10 campaign
The Guardian Newspaper have just launched their 10:10 campaign which aims to encourage individual, organizations and business to cut their greenhouse emissions by 10%. it's a exciting, imaginative campaign which clear sky hotels have signed up to.
Save energy by installing a smart meter
Individuals looking to cut household emissions by 10% by 2010 can give themselves a helping hand by installing a smart meter.
Its easy to reuse
We live in a disposale society but we can reuse many things we throw away. By reusing we cut down on waste that often ends up in landfill sites
Stay Green
What simple but effective steps can we take to minimize our carbon footprint when staying in a hotel?
Reduce food waste and save upto £600 a year.
Save your self money by cuting back on food waste, on averge each household in the country throws away a third of food purchsed.
What is a green hotel?
Clear Sky Hotels actively support Green Hotels, but what is a green hotel. Is there such a thing as a green hotel policy or is it as simple as working with guest to reduce, reuse, repair and recycle.
10% by 2010 it easier than you think
Limiting the damage caused by your own lifestyle is easier than you think, even better news you probably end up better off, healthier and happier.
Clearskyhotels and 10:10
Clearskyhotels shows its support its support for the 10:10 campaign with a set of initiatives aimed at achieving and exceeding 10:10
The Good Web Guide rates sites on ease of use, security,original informative content and on customer service. Sites are subject to independent review with only a small percentage of sites submitted meeting the conditions of entry.


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Junior forward Maria Nasta tallied a career-high five points
Nov. 18, 2008
BOSTON, MA - Junior forward Maria Nasta (Andover, MA) tallied a career-high five points and netted her second career hat trick to lead the University of Massachusetts Boston women's ice hockey team over visiting Saint Anselm College, 7-3, tonight in an Eastern College Athletic Conference East contest at the Clark Athletic Center on the campus of UMass Boston. The Beacons snap a seven-game losing streak to the Hawks and improve to 3-1-1 overall and the same in ECAC East play, while Saint Anselm suffers its first defeat to fall to 4-1-0 and 4-1-0.
Senior forward Bianca DeSantis (Georgetown, MA) took a feed from freshman forward Aly Zappen (Huntington Beach, CA) and sophomore forward Chelsea Fillingim (Fairbanks, AK) and opened the game's scoring for the Hawks with her third goal of the season coming on a five on three power play at 8:22 of the first period. UMass Boston responded mightily with six unanswered scores, including four on the power play to take a 6-1 lead. Nasta knotted the score at 1-1 with a power play goal on a helper from freshman forward Kelly Gillis (Northford, CT) at 14:45 and sophomore Jazz Webber (Winslow, ME) then found Nasta for her second goal of the evening on the power play with just 1:21 to go in the opening period to give UMB a 2-1 edge. Senior forward Maria Guanci (Everett, MA) continued the Beacons' success on the power play with her first goal of the season coming on an assist from Gillis and sophomore forward Kristen Smith (Beavercreek, OH) just 33 seconds later for a 3-1 margin. Gillis kept the momentum alive in the second period for UMass Boston with the first goal of the stanza on an assist from Nasta at the 8:05 mark, followed by Nasta's third goal of the night and fourth of the season on a helper from freshman defenseman Emily Brienzo (Greenfield, WI) just 1:39 later for a 5-1 advantage. Brienzo followed her first collegiate point with her first career goal on the power play when Guanci and junior blueliner Jacqui Villani (West Roxbury, MA) combined on the assist with 1:37 left in the second period to give the Beacons a 6-1 lead.
Saint Anselm responded with the first two goals of the third period when freshman forward Cierra Romaldo (Chuluota, FL) and freshman defenseman Jamie Comrie (Asburn, VA) fed senior forward Kelsey Johnson (Byfield, MA) for her third goal of the year at 8:42 and DeSantis set up freshman forward Michelle Lacombe (Delafield, WI) for her first collegiate goal just 64 seconds later to cut the deficit to 6-3 for the Hawks. UMass Boston capped the scoring with another power play score when Nasta blasted a shot from the middle of the circles and junior forward Katelyn Lajoie (Marlboro, MA) redirected it into the net for her first goal of the season at 17:49. Sophomore defenseman Hannah Davis (Oakdale, MN) was also credited with an assist on the goal to make it 7-3.
The Beacons were 5-10 on the power play to set a school-record for power play scores, while limiting Saint Anselm to just one goal in nine chances on its power play. Nasta also extended her point-scoring streak to 11 straight games, dating back to last season.
UMass Boston freshman goaltender Jami Cudmore (Balgonie, SK) earned her first collegiate victory with 30 saves to give her 74 in her first two contests, while freshman goalie Amy Zappen (Huntington Beach, CA) stopped 13 of 18 shots in 30:38 of action for the Hawks, before yielding to sophomore Carley Berry (Danvers, MA), who played the final 29:22 and turned away 14 of 16 shots that she faced.
The Beacons will be in action again when they travel to New London, CT to take on Connecticut College on Tuesday, November 25 at 7:30 p.m., while Saint Anselm hosts Plymouth State University on Friday, November 21 at 4:00 p.m.


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Saturday, January 9 – Fort Ward Park History Group Meeting
Interested participants are invited to the Fort Ward Park History Group meeting at Fort Ward Museum, 4301 W. Braddock Rd., from 9 a.m. to noon. Workgroup members are recording family history, identifying features such as graves, documenting historical photographs including family and landscape images, and helping with other projects related to the history of the site and in particular, to the African-American community that existed at Fort Ward. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org or call 703.838.4848.
Wednesday, January 13 – Census Complete Count Committee Meeting
The 2010 Census Complete Count Committee Meeting will convene at 7 p.m. in Room 3-4 at the Durant Center, 1605 Cameron Street. City Council established a Complete Count Committee to help develop a strategy to ensure an accurate count and promote participation by all residents in the 2010 Census. For more information, contact Ralph Rosenbaum at 703.746.3859.
Wednesday, January 13 – Strategic Planning Forum on Land Use and Economic Development
The City will hold a strategic planning forum on Goal #1 of the City Council Strategic Plan, which focuses on "quality development and redevelopment, support for local businesses, and a strong, diverse, and growing local economy." The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Council Workroom, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 301 King St. For more information, contact Brandi Collins at 703.746.3854.
Thursday, January 14 – Ad Hoc Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting
The City of Alexandria's Ad Hoc Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Stakeholder Advisory Group will meet at the Fort Ward Museum, 4301 W. Braddock Rd. at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 14 and Tuesday, January 26. Established by City Council resolution in June 2009, the Advisory Group will advise City staff on Fort Ward Park and Museum use and management. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation or call Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator at 703.746.5493.
Thursday, January 14 – CANCELLED: Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing
Please note that the Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing scheduled for Thursday, January 14 has been cancelled.
Thursday, January 14 – Waterfront Plan History Night
A meeting to discuss the history of the Alexandria waterfront is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. The purpose of history night is to recognize significant themes, places, events, activities and people that distinguish the history of the Alexandria waterfront. In addition, we will discuss how history of the waterfront can enhance its character and add to the experience of being there. For more information, contact Veronica Davis at 703.746.3855.
Coming Soon
Monday, January 18 – Alexandria Marketing Fund Applications Due
Applications are now being accepted for the Alexandria Marketing Fund, a program administered by the Alexandria Marketing Committee. The program is designed to encourage public-private partnerships that promote the City as a destination for visiting, shopping, dining and doing business. City Council appropriates monies for the fund on an annual basis and the Marketing Committee reviews and approves applications for funding. Information, guidelines, and an online application are available at alexandriava.gov/MarketingFund. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 18. For more information, contact Andrea Blackford at 703.746.3959 or e-mail email@example.com.
FY 2011 Budget Process
The City of Alexandria expects Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 to be another challenging year based on early economic forecasts. As the City begins the budget process, we would like your input regarding the FY 2011 Operating Budget and Capitol Improvement Program. Residents are encouraged to submit their comments online at alexandriava.gov/Budget.


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WASHINGTON | A unit run by President Barack Obama's political staff inside the Environmental Protection Agency operates illegally as a "rogue law enforcement agency" that has blocked independent investigations by the EPA's inspector general for years, a top investigator told Congress.
WASHINGTON | A unit run by President Barack Obama's political staff inside the Environmental Protection Agency operates illegally as a "rogue law enforcement agency" that has blocked independent investigations by the EPA's inspector general for years, a top investigator told Congress.
The assistant EPA inspector general for investigations, Patrick Sullivan, is expected to testify Wednesday before a House oversight committee about the activities of the EPA's little-known Office of Homeland Security.
The office of about 10 employees is overseen by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy's office, and the inspector general's office is accusing it of impeding its independent investigations into employee misconduct, computer security and external threats, including compelling employees involved in cases to sign nondisclosure agreements.
"Under the heavy cloak of 'national security,' the Office of Homeland Security has repeatedly rebuffed and refused to cooperate with the OIG's ongoing requests for information or cooperation," Sullivan wrote in prepared testimony obtained by The Associated Press. "This block unquestionably has hamstrung the Office of Inspector General's ability to carry out its statutory mandate to investigate wrongdoing of EPA employees."
EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe is expected to tell Congress that the agency's employees work cooperatively with the inspector general and support its mission, according to his prepared testimony.
Perciasepe assured Congress in his prepared testimony that the EPA remains committed to ensuring that the inspector general's office successfully roots out waste, fraud and abuse across the agency.
The EPA allegations are the latest under the Obama administration to question the effective independence of the government's inspectors general, which ostensibly operate on their own to investigate wrongdoing inside federal agencies. Two weeks ago, the Homeland Security Department secretary put the agency's former inspector general on administrative leave after senators said he was too cozy with senior agency officials and improperly rewrote, delayed or classified some critical reports to accommodate Obama's political appointees.
Last year, the Defense Department's inspector general removed material from a draft report that concluded then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta had improperly disclosed classified information about the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden to a producer for the movie "Zero Dark Thirty."
The inspector general, Arthur A. Elkins Jr., was appointed to lead the office by Obama in 2010. However, it's an independent office within the agency expected to be outside of political influence.
"It's disturbing that even investigations by this administration's own nonpartisan watchdogs are being blocked by political appointees," said House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif.
EPA's Office of Homeland Security was set up in 2003 by an administrative order and has no statutory authority to conduct investigations or enforce the law, according to Sullivan's testimony.
His opinion was backed up by a staffer in the Office of Compliance and Enforcement Assurance, but the agency has not issued a legal opinion on the office's role. Since July 2012, in an agreement with the FBI, it has been the primary contact on all investigations with a connection to national security.
The dispute between the inspector general's office and the Homeland Security office came to a head last year, as Republicans in Congress investigated the agency's handling of John C. Beale, a former deputy assistant administrator who pleaded guilty in federal court last fall to stealing a total of $886,186 between 2000 and April 2013, falsely claiming he was working undercover for the CIA. The Beale case was initially investigated by the Homeland Security office months before the IG's office was made aware of it.
Another inspector general investigator, Elisabeth Heller Drake, will testify that McCarthy asked the inspector general's office to halt a probe into a homeland security office employee after he allegedly assaulted her in October, according to her prepared testimony. The EPA said that the claim is a mis-
characterization and that McCarthy only asked that the investigation be paused until the internal dispute between the two offices was settled safely and efficiently.
Both the IG's office and the EPA's lawyers have requested a third-party investigation into that incident by the Federal Protective Service, part of the Homeland Security Department.


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36 Commuting Solutions is asking people who commute along U.S. 36 to take take part in the US 36 Commuter Incentive Program survey. Responses will help 36 Commuting Solutions create an assessment for commuting choices in the U.S. 36 corridor.
Participants will be entered to win an Apple iPod Nano. Participants must complete the survey before Feb. 15 to be eligible for the prize.
To learn more about the US 36 Commuter Incentive Program, visit http://36commutingsolutions.org


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A man who suspected his then-girlfriend of cheating has been charged with a felony computer crime for allegedly accessing her computer without permission to confirm his suspicions, according to court documents.
Timothy Ryan Johnson, 27, was indicted by a Juneau grand jury late last month after the woman discovered a "keylogger" on her computer that allegedly allowed Johnson to view private emails and pictures, including nude photographs. Keyloggers silently monitor and record key strokes pressed on a keyboard, unbeknownst to the computer user.
The woman, who is not named in court documents, contacted police in October complaining that her ex-boyfriend, Johnson, placed a keylogger on her computer, according to an affidavit. She told police she kept changing her passwords, but Johnson kept confronting her with personal information she never shared with him, the affidavit states.
During a police interview last month, Johnson admitted to having used the keylogger to access "emails and pictures she had sent to other guys," because he thought she was cheating, the affidavit alleges.
Johnson was indicted on the single felony "criminal use of a computer" charge, which prohibits using keyloggers or other devices to intercept or record another person's keystrokes or computer entries. That's a class 'C' felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Johnson was additionally charged by the district attorney's office with one misdemeanor count of "indecent viewing or photography" for viewing nude photographs without consent of the person shown in the photographs.
Johnson is scheduled to appear for an arraignment in Juneau Superior Court before Judge Philip Pallenberg next week. He is represented by defense attorney Julie Willoughby, who declined to comment on the case.
Johnson said in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon that he did not realize it was a felony offense, and that he hopes the felony charge is reduced or dismissed.
"I didn't realize that it was illegal when I did it, and I just wanted to catch her cheating on me, which I did," he said.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at firstname.lastname@example.com.