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A few weeks back I received a phone call from a lovely lady thanking me for my informative post on the lakeshore market in the Twin Cities north metro. She lives in Forest Lake on Clear Lake and was considering selling next summer After reading my article, Think Now is a GREAT Time to Make a DEAL on a MN Lakeshore Home? I Do!, she was concerned about the changing market and wanted more specifics on how homes on Clear Lake were fairing today. She didn't want a market analysis of her home, just some statistics on what was really selling on Clear Lake. I told her that was a very good question and the sales values would be very different than what was happening on other area lakes. I said that I would look into the situation further and get back to her. I also told her that her query could become my next post. She thought that was a terrific idea so here it is.
First of all, many people may not realize that the City of Forest Lake, Miinnesota has several lakes and the lake, Forest Lake itself is really 3 lakes, First, Second and Third. All three are full recreational lakes and are connected by channels but the lakeshore on the different has different levels of desirability and hence drastically differing values. First Lake is the largest and most coveted shoreline. Similarly, Clear Lake is nearby Forest Lake. It is a full recreational lake but it is not connected to Forest Lake. Many people driving past the City of Forest Lake as they head up on 35 toward Duluth will mistake Clear Lake for Forest Lake as it is the only lake visible from the freeway. It is just to the east of 35 and there is a small fishing pier and boat landing visible from the road.
So how has Clear Lake real estate faired during the market slow down?
My research showed very little activity in the past year. In fact, only one home has sold so far in 2008 and three homes were sold in 2007. The home sold in 2008 had been recently remodeled and sold within days of listing for an amount significantly higher than its stated tax value. This is very unusual and on the surface sounds like great news for Clear Lake homeowners but it is only one house and so the information taken alone is misleading.
Taking the three homes sold in 2007 into account, the picture is clearer but not as rosy. Averaging all four homes, the days on the market (DOM) expands to 135 for the SOLD homes on Clear Lake. Since each of the homes is drastically different in age, style, shoreline, acreage and condition, I did not want to average the value. Rather I compared the homes sales prices to the current listed tax values from the Washington County Assessor.
Here is what I found:
- A home on 217th sold for $463K and has a current tax value of $332K. It sold for significantly more than its tax value.
- A home on Everton sold for $295K and has a current tax value of $277K. It sold for slightly more than its tax value.
- A home on 210th sold for $320K and has a current tax value of $441K. This is significantly lower than the county has listed (and more in the norm for what is happening in the marketplace).
- A home on Fondant sold for $682K and has a tax value of $530K. Again very high compared to the tax record.
Then I averaged the sales prices to come up with an average; it appears that the homes on Clear Lake are selling at 1.15% of tax value based on the 2007 and 2008 sales data.
There are also four homes currently listed on the lake that and the cumulative DOM is considerably higher. The average DOM is over 440 days for these four lakeshore homes. Also two of the homes are listed at prices significantly higher than tax value:
- 21XXX Everton $270K List, $278K Tax
- 21XXX Floral Bay $406K List, $441 Tax
- 57XX 220th $680K List, $375K Tax
- 51XX 217th $949K List, $703K Tax
The first two homes were originally listed at $340K and $475K respectively. I think it is possible that the prices on these homes were brought down to under tax value so that they would have a better opportunity to sell. This seems to be inline with what is currently happening in most segments of the real estate market today.
Since there were so few sales on Clear Lake, I also compared tax values to sale prices for lakeshore homes on Forest Lake during the past 12 months. On Forest Lake (Lakes First Second and Third combined), 17 previously owned homes sold with lakeshore. The tax record to sales price ratio was 1.01% just slightly over tax value.
To get a true picture of what a lakeshore home value would be in the market place today, it would be most prudent to have a property specific market analysis done. But, if you just want a ball park value, take a close look at your Washington County tax statement. Unless your home has significant recent improvements or is significantly distressed, its current value in today's market is very close to the assessed value.
More Articles on Forest Lake and Lakeshore that might be of interest:
- Forest Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics Third Quarter 2008
- Extremely Affordable Minnesota Lakeshore!
- Dreaming of Life on MN Acreage?--What YOU Need to Know Before YOUR Move!
- Relocating to Forest Lake MN? The Schools are Full of Ranger Pride!
If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
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In today's Magic Minute, Peter points out the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a new build. Safety, warranty's, and what matters most to the buyer.
Month: September 2016
Raw Sugar No. 1 – Featuring PLG's MEW
On Saturday Sept. 10 Sugar Press Publishing presented the opening of Raw Sugar No. 1 at Fathom Gallery located in the heart of DTLA at the California Market Center. An art Exhibition featuring the work of many artists including PLG Agent/Artist MEW (Matthew Weinberg @matthewweinberg ). MEW creates "Urban Pop Art", like drawing KISS (the band) faces on $100 bills, turning them into large prints and selling them to Rock Stars (literally). They are indeed unforgettable!
At Raw Sugar No. 1 you can find 10 original MEW pieces hanging alongside some iconic pop artists! The complete list of participating artists: Colette Miller @colettemillerwings , Andre Miripolsky @andremiripolskyart , Bisco Smith @biscosmith , Matthew Heller @helloheller , Rohitash Rao @rohit913 , Sarah Stone @sarahstoneart , Shplinton @shplinton , Timothy Robert Smith @timothyrobertsmith , Kate Carvellas @katecarvellas , Larry Lott , Ashley Payne @ashleypayneart , Issy , Erin Yoshi @erinyoshi , Raphaele Cohen-Bacry , Raul de la Torre @rauldelatorreart , Paul Juno @pauljunoart , and Andrea Bogdan @andreabogdanartist.
Colette Miller's "The Global Angel Wings Project" (Spirit Paintings) can now be discovered all over the world, transforming normal pedestrians into transcendent creatures of fantasy. Lifting spirits one wall at a time. Bisco Smith's black and white graffiti murals have popped up all over LA recently within the last couple of years, and have already become a Los Angeles staple. He contrasts legendary people from artists to activists with his almost subliminal graphic messages. "The World is Yours for the Changing" an excerpt from his most recent mural titled "The World Is Yours" in Johannesburg, South Africa 2016.
"Maestro of his Kingdom of Color; the Cole Porter of Pop" Andre Miripolsky's work is outstanding to say the least. You may not know it, but his choice of hyper-hue's add vibrance to your life in the form of murals, billboard ads, and double decker bus' you can't miss if you live in LA.
Rohitash Rao get's MEW's personal shout out. A true multi-media-faceted artist. The best way to describe his art is that it's almost too hip to describe. When he's not directing commercials, customizing your local electrical box's, or placing doll hands in inconspicuous creepy doorways, he paints on trash. One of Rao's freshest pieces is a basic painted portrait. An outline of a girls face and hair with the words "PRETEND I'M YOUR PHONE and LOOK at ME" written in the place of a face. His website http://www.RohitashRaoPaintsOnTrash.com kind of says it all.
I could go on and on about all of these artists however, Art is meant to be experienced! If you missed the opening on Sept.10th, 2016, Raw Sugar No. 1 will reside at Fathom to view until the closing celebration, that you are all invited to attend with RSVP, on Oct. 22nd, 2016.
What is Property Tax? | Magic Minute | Real Estate Tips
In this episode of Magic Minute, Peter discusses property tax and how much you should expect to pay. A question that comes up every day, Peter generalizes property tax in Los Angeles.
Backstage Pass 007 | PLG Estates Behind the Scenes | Real Estate Tips
Backstage Pass 07 – The next installment in our original series that pulls back the curtain on the Los Angeles real estate industry showing the inside of one of the busiest brokerages in SoCal. In this episode we meet Lana a new agent, visit a luxury photo shoot and meet the one and only Sydney Shand a veteran PLG agent as he spills the beans on where he came from and where he is going. Kick back and enjoy the party…..
Backstage Pass 006 | PLG Estates Behind the Scenes | Real Estate Tips
The 6th in our original series #BackstagePass, goes behind the scenes of one of Los Angeles' busiest, bustling brokerages. This episode features Katherine Wood of Roofshoot and The Urban Farmer We meet a whole host of characters as this reality series continues to evolve in our usual unique style. We continue to pull back the curtain on the real estate at an super progressive real estate brokerage with an insatiably "What's Next??" flavor with a no holds barred approach.
How To Set Professional Goals | Magic Minute | Real Estate Tips
In today's Magic Minute, Peter reveals his tips for goal setting and forging your own path for success. Attainable and realistic goals are crucial to achieving your plan and thriving in the competitive real estate industry.
How To Prep Your Open House | Magic Minute | Real Estate Tips
In today's Magic Minute, Peter discusses essential points to prep your open house for successful results. A clean and tidy home are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to preparation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Woofer: Customer Assistance
Monday, September 2nd, 2013
"I'll never go in a Walmart again in my life," Charlie said. "Keep on walking fast until we get to the car."
"Neither will I," I told him. "That was about the most embarrassing moment in my entire life. People are still staring at us."
A few minutes earlier we were happy to be in the big department store in Atlanta, Georgia. Charlie and I are on a nine day summer road trip to the US.
"I want to buy some pants," Charlie said.
"Price check in home appliances," the intercom blared out. "We have a customer by the refrigerators who needs assistance."
"I forgot how under staffed these stores are," I said. "They supposedly have a salesperson for each department but you can never find one."
"Excuse me, Miss," Charlie said to a woman in a Walmart uniform. "Do these pants come in a tan color?"
"I don't know," she said. "I work in house wares. Hold on a second."
She reached for the in-house telephone..
"Customer needs assistance in men's wear," she said into the intercom. "Customer in men's pants needs assistance."
"Well, at least she described me right," Charlie told me. "I am wearing men's pants."
As we passed the sports department I spotted a display of footballs.
"Let me check this out," I said. "I told Davin I would get him a football."
"Excuse me, Miss," I said to a passing clerk. "This football doesn't have a price on it. Can you tell me how much it is?"
The pretty little blonde clerk reached for the phone and said, "I work in electronics. Just a moment."
"I have a customer by the balls in the sports department," she announced. "Customer assistance . . ."
That's when I got so nervous that I knocked an aquarium over.
"Cleanup in the sports department," she said into the intercom.
Charlie said, "I'm out of here."
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Hall, H. & McMurdo, G. (1993, April). Hand-written or word processed? The option of submitting word processed exam scripts. Paper presented at Computers in Writing Association Annual Conference, University of Aberystwyth, Wales
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50-pound catfish pulled from the Susquehanna River in York County, sets new state record
Watch: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stock Fishing Creek in York County on Wednesday, March 23. It's part of the state's program to stock more than 3.8 million trout this year.
A monster, record-setting catfish was recently caught in Susquehanna River, south of Lower Bear Island in York County.
According to media reports, Jeff Bonawitz of East Lampeter Township reeled in a 50-pound, three-and-half feet long catfish on April 6.
Bonawitz caught the fish on a live bluegill bait.
More: Maryland: 58-pound flathead catfish pulled from Susquehanna River
The previous Pennsylvania catfish record was a 48-pounder caught in Blue Marsh Spillway in Berks County back in 2006.
Upon getting the fish officially weighed and measured, Bonawitz released the fish back into the water.
More: Pa. trout fishing 2019 season: A quick guide to dates, limits, license prices and more


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9:00 to 13:00 (20 min. break)
20 lessons per week
A1 to C2 (please consult dates for absolute beginners)
Every Monday (please consult dates for absolute beginners)
3-10 students
Minimum age: 18 years old
Enrolment fee: 50€
Price: 180€/week (please consult discounts from the 4th week)
If you want to make the most of your stay in madrid, our course with four lessons a day is the perfect option for you to improve your Spanish language skills. Our motivating and dynamic classes focus on effective communicative use of the language, exploring real-life contexts that are practical and relevant to the student. Furthermore, as an integral part of the course, we have created our own cultural program that will help you to put into practice what you've learnt in class.
- Complete level test
- First textbook
- Welcome Pack
- Free Wifi & student room


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"I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past."Clara Barton
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Twitter announcement
September 13, 2012 | General News | 4 Comments|
Just a small note. Our very own Conservative Gal is now tweeting. No time for full-blown posts and comments but thoughts in 140 characters or less is manageable.
Follow her: @C0nservativeGal
Note the C0 (as in, Czero)
I'm also on @YDP


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Here at AMEE, we like to make life easier for our developer community, and we're also committed to Open Source. Therefore, it always makes us happy when we can release new things out into the community, and today we're releasing the first parts of AMEEappkit, our open source rapid application development toolkit.
Built on top of the popular Ruby on Rails web framework, AMEEappkit is a set of modules we use to quickly build applications on top of AMEEconnect. This helps us compress the innovation process so we can deliver value more quickly to customers, expedite development for our partners, and help make us all smarter about how we manage environmental resources.
The AMEEappkit consists of a number of linked Ruby gems which plug together to provide a complete framework for webapps that include AMEE's environmental intelligence. Today, we're releasing as open source the two most important components; Data Abstraction and Data Persistence.
- Data Abstraction lets you define calculation sets using a simple Domain Specific Language (DSL) and handles performing calculations with them, simplifying app development by removing a lot of repeated code.
- Data Persistence ties all this into ActiveRecord to quickly add local storage and caching of data to your app.
Over the next little while, we'll be releasing more modules covering more advanced application areas. Soon the entire developer community will be able to build AMEEapps as quickly as we can. Stay tuned!


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GREENVILLE, SC - July 11, 2017– iResponze® will be exhibiting at GBTA Convention 2017 in Boston, MA. This event brings together thousands of business travel managers and industry suppliers to share insights, introduce products and review current trends.
GBTA Convention 2017 will feature 400+ exhibitors and nearly 7,000 attendees from around the globe. This annual event promotes small and large business growth in the travel industry, with an Expo floor of new innovations and over 60+ hours of diverse educational opportunities, including CEO panels, general sessions and professional development seminars.
iResponze® will be featuring its signature guest review management services, currently utilized by hundreds of hotels and restaurants across the US and Canada.
Today's business travelers trust the reviews of others, and responses to reviews are often included in their evaluation. iResponze® partners with hotels and restaurants by responding to online reviews on their behalf. This collaboration allows staff to focus on what they do best – deliver exceptional guest experiences.
"Exhibiting at GBTA Convention 2017 is a terrific way for us to meet one-on-one with potential clients and showcase the innovative guest review management services our company offers," says Rose Mentrie, Chief Innovation Officer of iResponze. "I encourage attendees to stop by our Booth #2238 and visit with Susan Wardzala, Client Development Manager, to hear how online reputation management positively impacts occupancy and revenues."


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Amphenol Corp. APH, -0.92% shares rose 7% Wednesday reported second-quarter earnings of $53.3 million, or 58 cents a share, up slightly from a year-ago profit of $52.1 million, or 58 cents a share. Excluding a flood-related casualty loss of $15 million, the company posted a pro forma profit of 69 cents a share in the latest quarter. The latest results reflect $2.1 million, or 2 cents a share, in stock option expensing. Sales rose 37% in the three months ended June 30 to $606.6 million from $443.6 million in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call was for a profit of 68 cents a share in the June period on sales of $591.5 million. The Wallingford, Conn., maker of electronic and fiber optic connectors attributed performance to strength in the wireless handset and broadband communications networks markets.
A.O. Smith Corp. AOS, -2.74% shares jumped 5% said second-quarter earnings rose to $25.1 million, or 81 cents a share, from $6.5 million, or 22 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding a one-time gain from foreign currency transactions related to the GSW acquisition, earnings for the quarter ending June would have been 71 cents a share. Revenue increased to $594.5 million from last year's $437.7 million, boosted by growth in sales at its water and electrical products divisions and from acquisitions. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had been expecting earnings of 61 cents a share and revenue of $598.7 million, on average. The Milwaukee maker of water heating equipment reiterated its 2006 earnings projection of $2.30 to $2.50 a share, as continued strength in its water heater and electrical products businesses are expected to be partially offset by higher-than-anticipated steel and freight costs.
Bank of New York Co. BK, -1.63% shares jumped 7% after the company reported second-quarter net income rose 13% on higher securities-servicing fees, net interest income, foreign-exchange and other trading revenue, and private-banking and asset-management revenue. See full story.
CDW Corp. CDWC shares gained after the company reported second-quarter net income rose 9% to $73.1 million, or 91 cents a share, with revenue up 6% to $1.63 billion. The quarter included 3 cents a share in stock option expenses. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call were expecting earnings of 79 cents a share on revenue of $1.65 billion.
Churchill Downs Inc. CHDN, -0.05% shares rose 5.9% after the company named Robert Evans as its next President and CEO. Evans will replace Thomas Meeker, who will resign in August after 22 years as the company's top executive. Evans is a co-founder of Symphony Technology Group, which invests in software and IT services companies. Churchill Downs said Meeker will continue to serve the company in an advisory role until the end of his contract in March.
Datalink Corp. DTLK shares surged 10.4% after the company reported second-quarter net earnings of $2.03 million, or 18 cents a share, up from $446,000, or 4 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The Minneapolis-based provider of information storage technology products posted revenue of $39.8 million vs. $28.7 million. For the third quarter, Datalink said it expects earnings of 5 to 10 cents a share on revenue of $33 million to $37 million.
En Pointe Technologies Inc. ENPT shares climbed 6.3% said it sees third-quarter sales of $93.8 million to $94.8 million. For the year-earlier period, the Los Angeles company reported sales of $92.6 million.
Ericsson ERICY shares gained 6.4% following a published report that the company is in line to win a GSM order from Brazil's Vivo. "We believe that it is likely to be a very significant order for which we estimate the total value to be at least $1 billion," said analysts at ABN Amro, citing a report in the online version of Swedish business newspaper Dagens Industri. "We see this as a clear positive for Ericsson," they added.
Shares of Evergreen Solar ESLR jumped 11.4% after the company signed an agreement with SunEdison LLC to provide $200 million of photovoltaic modules over the next five years. The photovoltaic modules will be manufactured at Evergreen's plant in Massachusetts and at the new 30MW EverQ factory in Thalheim, Germany, the company said.
Illumina Inc. ILMN, -2.27% shares leapt 29% after the swung to a profit in the second quarter and lifted its 2006 forecast. See full story.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. JPM, -2.48% shares moved up 5.7% after the company reported second-quarter earnings of $3.54 billion, or 99 cents a share, up from $994 million, or 28 cents a share. Revenue rose to $15.72 billion from $13.71 billion in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call was for a profit of 87 cents a share in the June period. See full story.
Keane Inc. KEA shares gained 15% after the company reported second-quarter net income rose 33% on 2% higher revenue. Net reached 15 cents a share from 11 cents in the year-earlier period. Adjusted net was 21 cents against 14 cents. Revenue rose to $242.6 million from $237.8 million. A survey of analysts by Thomson First Call produced a consensus estimate of 15 cents on revenue of $245.3 million for Keane. Keane estimates third-quarter net at 13 cents to 15 cents a share, adjusted net of 18 cents to 20 cents, and revenue of $240 million to $250 million.
Knight Capital Group Inc. NITE shares added 11% after the company swung to a second-quarter profit from a year-earlier loss on strength in its four main businesses: broker-dealer, institutional sales, direct market access and foreign-exchange trading. Net income was 29 cents a share, compared with a loss of 5 cents in the year-earlier period. Revenue nearly doubled to $204.6 million from $111.7 million. The broker-dealer business "was once again the largest contributor to quarterly earnings in mixed market conditions," Knight said in a statement. See full story.
Longview Fibre Co. LFB shares added 6.5% after the company said it's considering a sale or merger of the company or other strategic transactions such as a sale of company assets.
Lufkin Industries LUFK shares moved up 8.8% after the company said second-quarter net income rose to $17.5 million, or $1.16 a share, from $10.4 million, or 71 cents a share. Profit in the 2006 second quarter included 4 cents a share in costs related to the expensing of stock options. Analysts, on average, expected it to post a profit of $1.02 a share, according to Thomson First Call. Sales rose to $147.7 million from $121.7 million. The Lufkin, Texas-based oilfield services company raised its 2006 earnings forecast to a range of $4.17 to $4.57.
Nuveen Investments JNC shares surged 10% after the company said second-quarter net income for the period ended June 30 rose 13% to $46.4 million, or 56 cents a share, from $40.9 million, or 50 cents a share in the year-ago period. Revenue rose to $172.2 million from $138.9 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call forecast earnings of 56 cents a share and revenue of $168.6 million, on average.
Packaging Corporation of America PKG, -1.32% jumped 9.5% after the company reported second-quarter earnings late Tuesday. The Lake Forest, Ill.-based company reported earnings of $32.2 million, or 31 cents a share, up 16% from $27.8 million, or 26 cents a share, last year. Revenue came in at $551.1 million vs. $519.3 million last year. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had forecast earnings of 23 cents a share on revenue of $532.7 million. The company said the increase in earnings per share was driven by higher pricing and volume for both containerboard and corrugated products. Packaging Corporation expects third-quarter earnings of 42 cents a share. Analysts are looking for a per-share profit of 37 cents.
Ryland Group RYL shares gained 7.8% after the company said second-quarter earnings fell to $94.8 million, or $2.03 a share, compared with $104.3 million, or $2.10 a share in the year-earlier period. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had seen earnings of $93.9 million, or $1.93 a share. The home builder also reduced its earnings forecast for 2006, saying it now expects profit between $7.75 and $8.25 a share. In late May, Ryland cut its 2006 profit outlook to a range of $8.50 to $9 a share, saying its second-quarter sales at that time were 35% lower than the previous year.
Sonoco Products Co. SON, -1.06% shares added 8.7% after the company reported second-quarter earnings of $49.3 million, or 49 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $40.2 million, or 40 cents a share. On an adjusted basis, excluding restructuring charges, the company posted a base profit of $50.9 million, or 51 cents a share, for the latest period, above its year-ago equivalent earnings of $45.8 million, or 45 cents a share. Sales rose 4.4% in the latest three months to $917 million from $878 million in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call was for a profit of 47 cents a share in the June period. The Hartsville, S.C.-based Sonoco attributed the sales increase to strong volumes and higher prices in its tubes and cores/paper businesses, higher prices in its consumer packaging business and the favorable impact of currency translation.
Southwest Airlines LUV, +2.08% shared jumped 8.2% after the company said its second-quarter earnings more than doubled to $333 million, or 40 cents a share, with revenue up 26% to $2.45 billion. Its earnings excluding derivatives gains and losses were 33 cents a share, topping Thomson First Call-compiled analyst forecasts of 26 cents a share. The Dallas-based low-cost carrier's load factor, a measure of passengers to available seats, rose 5.5 percentage points to 78%. It added it expects to "easily exceed" its 15% 2006 earnings rise goal, and said third-quarter earnings excluding derivatives should rise.
Total System Services Inc. TSS, -4.81% shares leapt 11% after the company reported second-quarter net income increased to 29 cents a share from 26 cents in the year-earlier period.
Trustmark Corp. TRMK, -0.85% reported second-quarter earnings of 55 cents a share, compared with 39 cents in the year-earlier period.
USANA Health Sciences USNA, -3.10% shares rose 11% after Salt lake City-based maker of nutritional supplements, personal care and weight management products reported earnings of $10.3 million, or 55 cents a share, up from $9.54 million, or 48 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose to $93.9 million from $82 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had forecast earnings of 52 cents a share on revenue of $93.2 million. The company expects a third-quarter per-share profit of 55 to 57 cents, or 60 to 62 cents excluding items, on revenue of $94 million to $96 million. Analysts are looking for a per-share profit of 56 cents on revenue of $96.3 million. For 2006, the company forecast per-share earnings growth of 17% to 20%, excluding equity-based compensation, which the company expects to impact earnings by 18 cents a share.
Valmont Industries Inc. VMI, -0.34% shares rocketed up 17% after the company reported second-quarter earnings rose 66% from the year-earlier period to $17.3 million, or 67 cents a share.
Westbank Corp. WBKC shares surged 24% after the company agreed to be acquired by NewAlliance Bancshares Inc. NAL, +0.34% for $116 million in cash and stock. The terms of the deal call for each outstanding share of Westbank common stock to be converted into the right to receive $23 in cash or NewAlliance stock. New Haven, Conn.-based NewAlliance operates 71 branches in Connecticut, while Westbank, headquartered in West Springfield, Mass., operates 17 branches. The combined company will have $8 billion in assets. The deal is expected to close just after the end of the year.
ADC ADCT shares plunged 13% Wednesday after the company said it expects third-quarter earnings excluding its French business to range 15 to 18 cents a share. Fiscal 2006 earnings should range 49 cents to 57 cents, down from a prior outlook of 65 to 80 cents. The Minneapolis networking company said sales are expected at $330 million to $335 million in the quarter and $1.28 billion to $1.3 billion for the year. Its prior outlook was for 2006 sales of $1.35 to $1.39 billion. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson First Call is for third-quarter earnings of 33 cents a share and 2006 earnings of $1.06.
Affymetrix Inc. AFFX shares dropped 7.8% after the compnay lowered the list price of its two-chip 500K genotyping set, a tool that analyzes genetic information, to $250, effective immediately. The Santa Clara, Calif., company said it plans to launch a 1-million SNP product by the first quarter of 2007. Affymetrix expects to sell the genotyping tool for about $500.
Cognex Corp. CGNX, -1.38% shares fell 6.3% after the company reported second-quarter earnings rose to 24 cents a share from 17 cents in the year-earlier period.
Digitas Inc. DTAS shares plummeted 28% after the company reported second-quarter earnings up 14% from the year-earlier period, to $13.5 million, or 14 cents a share. The Boston marketing-services company posted revenue of $190.9 million vs. $134.3 million.
Jakks Pacific JAKK, +0.91% shares dropped 9.4% after the company said acquisition costs and lower sales caused second-quarter income to drop to $6.4 million, or 22 cents a share, from $11.6 million, or 38 cents, a year ago. Sales for the three months ended June 30 declined to $124 million from $127.1 million in last year's period. Analysts' average estimate stood at earnings of 35 cents a share on sales of $146.5 million, according to Thomson First Call. Jakks said results were hurt by shortfalls in international sales and sales of its Fly Wheels and TV Games lines, as well as charges of $5.4 million related to the acquisition of Creative Designs International.
PLX Technology PLXT shares lost 14% after the company said it swung to net income of a penny a share from a net loss of 3 cents in the year-earlier period. However, gross margins slumped in the latest quarter, going from 63% to 58% on a sequential basis. The Sunnyvale, Calif., chip maker cited a shift in product mix to USB and PCI Express devices, which have lower margin yields than PCI I/O devices.
Rambus Inc. RMBS, +1.08% shares dropped 14% after the company said it plans to restate certain previously issued financial statements to correct errors related to its accounting for stock option expenses. The Los Altos, Calif.-based Rambus said its audit committee has determined non-cash stock-based compensation expenses should have been recorded with respect to certain stock option grants and recognized over the vesting period of the options. The company said the committee considers the amount of the additional expenses to be material, although it hasn't yet completed its work and reached final conclusions. Rambus said its results going back to 2003 should no longer be relied upon and will be restated. It also said it's "highly likely" that the company had a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting as of Dec. 31, 2005. The company added that it doesn't expect to file its Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30 prior to the due date, and that its common stock may be subject to delisting as a result of its non-compliance with filing requirements.
Renaissance Learning Inc. RLRN shares lost 10% after the company reported second-quarter net income fell to 16 cents a share from 24 cents in the year-earlier period.
Taylor Capital Group TAYC shares fell 13% after the company reported second-quarter net earnings of $6.31 million, or 57 cents a share, down 29% from $8.82 million, or 90 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The Rosemont, Ill.-based bank holding company posted net interest income of $27.5 million vs. $26.6 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had forecast second-quarter earnings of 76 cents a share. The earnings decline reflect lower net interest and noninterest income, an increase in the provision for loan losses and higher noninterest expenses, the company said.
Unisys Corp. UIS, -8.32% shares fell 16% after the company reported second-quarter loss widened to 57 cents a share from 8 cents in the year-earlier period. The Blue Bell, Pa., technology-services company said results for the quarter ending June include a $141.2 million charge related to workforce reductions. Revenue fell 2% to $1.41 billion, as a 6% decline in U.S. sales offset a 2% increase in international sales. See full story.
Yahoo Inc. YHOO shares plunged 22% after the company reported that second-quarter profit fell sharply from the year-earlier period, when it had a one-time investment gain and didn't include the cost of employee stock options in its results. See full story.


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On the Road with FedEx: Feeder Planes on Nantucket
Go on the road around the small island of Nantucket, Massachusetts with FedEx courier Kevin O'Brien. Learn some of the secrets of how small FedEx Feeder planes help drivers like Kevin bring packages to remote places all over the world. Feeders make up 285 of the fleet of 675 aircraft in the FedEx fleet.
Did you know that FedEx has an industry-leading pilot development program focused on Feeder pilots? Learn more about the Purple Runway program.
*Also check out other episodes of 'On the Road' from Vermont, Alaska, and Colorado.
i watch the video of " Feeder Planes on Nantucket " this makes me very happy and proud to know how FedEx covers these remote areas, i wish to work in such type places. I work in FedEx and I am very proud. Thanks
Seeing a video like this make me proud to be part of the FedEx team!
I love 'On the Road with FedEx!"
These are fun stories and they make me feel proud to be part of the FedEx family.
EXCELLENT Story/Video!!!
Very well done!
This was so very neat to see!! Thanks for sharing it!
I watched the On The Road episode in Alaska. I liked Ron's distinction between Courier and Professional Driver. Before, I would have used the terms interchangeably, but what he said makes sense. Keep on driving, Ron!
I was a member of the ACK team last summer 2018 and had a great time. Working with a group that was knowledgeable and hard working made the summer a huge success for the increase in volume we received. If asked again I would accept the return to ACK.
Excellent work and great idea to video this unique operation and the great team behind it
Having lived on Nantucket for 2 years, it was fantastic seeing familiar places. Brings back so many memories. Thank you for making this video.
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October 25, 2017
Den Mother, Drill Sergeant and Safety Leader Takes Center Stage
More like this in blog


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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana's unemployment rate has fallen to 3.4 percent in December, continuing a decline in the state that was seen a month earlier.
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development said Tuesday that the state's unemployment rate decreased three-tenths of a percentage point from the November rate. The state's unemployment rate remained below the national rate of 4.1 percent.
With the exception of October 2014, when it was equal to the national rate, the state's unemployment rate has been below the U.S. rate for more than four years.
Indiana's labor force had a net decrease of about 14,200 over the previous month, which was a result of about 10,700 unemployed residents no longer seeking employment and a roughly 3,500 decrease in residents employed. Indiana's total labor force is 3.3 million.
Related Content
- Indiana's December jobless rate declines to 3.4 percent
- Indiana's July jobless rate edges higher to 3.4 percent
- Indiana's March jobless rate is unchanged at 3.2 percent
- Indiana's May jobless rate is unchanged at 3.2 percent
- Indiana's June jobless rate edges higher to 3.3 percent
- Indiana's November jobless rate edges higher to 3.6 percent
- Indiana January jobless rate edges lower to 3.5 percent
- Indiana jobless rate moves slightly higher to 3.6% in March
- Indiana's unemployment rate declines to 3.5% in June
- Crime rates quickly declining in Frankfort


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she wouldn't have a care not one, nor two
she would be in heaven if he said ' i love you '
peering shyly she'd watch him in the hall
and when he didn't see her oh how she would bawl
oh how she would bawl limp on her bed
if he had seen her what would he have said?
so every day she'd watch him in the hall
and he wouldn't see her, and how she would bawl
because the beautiful boy standing there
would never, really, ever, care.
Find more stories like this one bysigning up!


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Client Area
Domain services.com, net, org, biz, my, com.my, net.my
We provide registration services for common top level domain names including .com, net, org, asia and also country level domain such as MY extensions. For top level domain name, managed DNS service and domain whois privacy protection is included in your registration or renewal fee.
Managed DNSA, CNAME, DNS Records Management
Our domain name managed DNS is included for free for international (top level) domain name extensions. We will assist you if you need to utilize blogger.com or Google applications. Inform us if you need to have this service enabled for your domain name. For country domain (MY) a minimal fee will be charged in order for you to have this feature for your domain name.
SSL CertificatesSecure Socket Layer Certificate
Through secure socket layer (SSL), encryption, the certificate assures that information is kept private between your web server and your client's web browsers. This service is only offered to our customers as an add on feature. Another requirement for SSL is for you to subscribe to our dedicated ip address as well.
Web developmentCSS & Wordpress Development
Our web development service limited to Wordpress and CSS based web site. We believe web site should be simple and easy to manage. You can contact us in order to help you set up your blog based or CSS web site. Wordpress is the platform of choice from professional to amateur. CSS html is easy to update using WYSIWYG editor and search engine friendly.
Co-LocationSecure Internet Data Centre
For industry-leading colocation services, house your servers now with EasyNet's high security, redundant, fully-controlled colocation at NetMyne Datacenter - Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. Get the fastest response and lower latency network. Please enquire if you need to place your dedicated server in 1U, 2U or 4U size.
ResellerPartnership and Reselling
If you are a web designer or web developer, reseller package is the package that you are looking for. Manage your client's sites using one control panel with your own branding. Our reseller hosting comes with optional domain name reselling account as well. This enables you to have your own web design or hosting under your own branding.


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Guarantee: 5 years
Hob Safe: No
Oven Safe: Yes
Grill Safe: Yes
Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Freezer Safe: Yes
Microwave Safe: Yes
With its secure lid, the Heritage stoneware covered casserole is a convenient choice for transporting dishes to parties, potlucks and picnics. Not only does the stoneware lid provide an effective moisture and heat lock for the dish, but it prevents spills and protects contents until they are ready to serve. Adding to the versatility of this classic design, it is also useful as a marinating dish for lengthy cuts of meat before grilling or roasting in the oven.


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Being a part of the local firefighter community is a huge privilege and relationships are what makes life so great. We are grateful to all who serve the public and take great pride in serving them. Please find these links to some friends of Spokane Firefighters Credit Union:
Spokane Firefighters IAFF Local 29
Spokane Valley Firefighters IAFF Local 876
Spokane Valley Fire Department
Cheney Firefighters IAFF Local 1919
Spokane County District 9 & 10 IAFF Local 2916
Spokane County Fire District 9
Spokane County Fire District 10
Spokane County Fire District 8 IAFF Local 3711
Spokane County Fire District 8
Spokane County Fire District 4
Coeur d' Alene Firefighters Local 710
Coeur d' Alene Fire Department
Kootenai County Firefighters Local 2856
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue
Hanford Fire Department Local I-24
Washington State Council of Firefighters (WSCFF)
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)
Spokane Fire Fighters BenefitsTrust
Spokane Valley Firefighters Benevolent Association
Spokane Firefighters Benevolent Fund
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Firefighter Stairclimb


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372 total views, 1 views today
registry cleaners
Bits from Bill Pytlovany: Beware over ambitious clean up programs
By Bill Pytlovany
Last month I wrote about problems caused by the security company McAfee. An update from McAfee falsely accused my WinPatrol program of being a dangerous Trojan. A slow response from McAfee cost some business but mostly hurt our reputation for over a week. I've had a number of people ask me how things were going since this annoying experience.
569 total views, no views today
Should I use a Registry Cleaner?
By Steve Hogan
One question I see over and over in our forums and even in our Customer Service department is, "What's the best registry cleaner " or "Is it safe to use a registry cleaner". You'll find almost as many answers to this question as there are geeks in a Starbucks. Look inside to find what works best.
Dont buy snake oil.
5,246 total views, no views today


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Know Before You Go
The museum space is situated beneath the Bici & Baci bicycle and scooter rental outlet on Via Cavour. The store is easily found thanks to the many scooters parked out front and the clear signage. There is also usually a display board that allows tourists a photo opportunity as they pretend to be Hepburn and Peck in Roman Holiday. The nearest Metro stops are Colosseo and Cavour (on the Metro B line) and the museum is very close to the Imperial Forum. The exhibition space is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and there is no entry charge. Visitors with mobility issues should be advised that access to the space is by stairs into a basement.


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With Christmas around the corner, perhaps you are bracing yourself for your children's "holiday behaviour". We know they will be excited and more tired than usual. They'll likely test the boundaries to see if there's any "holiday flex" in them too. Or it may be that, heading into the new year, you're wanting to change the dynamic between yourself and your child so that it is more respectful and peaceful. This time of year can be particularly joyful and particularly testing for parents so it seems a good time to offer a few thoughts on discipline from a spiritual point-of-view. I try to appeal to the love in my children to encourage the best from them first but, there are times when discipline is needed.
From teachers of A Course in Miracles, I have learned that, in life, we are constantly choosing between Love and fear. In a spiritually-led life, we aim to choose Love every time, though, of course, we don't always manage to do so. We can bring our intention to Love to those moments when we need to discipline our children. To highlight the features of a love-based approach, let's compare the two –
Fear-based Discipline: With a fear-based approach, we use discipline to control our children so that they behave in a way that we judge as acceptable. We don't see our child in this approach, blinded by our own egoic fear – fear of being judged for our children's behaviour, fear of losing control of our children, fear that our children won't respect us… We go on to create fear in our children in an attempt to avoid the things we're fearful of,making threats and dishing out punishments of various kinds. The punishments may be practical, such as removing screen time, or they may be emotional, such as humiliating our child or expressing our disapproval of them. Ultimately, we undermine their self worth when we discipline from fear. Sometimes their behaviour improves quickly, it may appear to "work", but at the cost of our child's belief in their own inherent value. We set our children up for a long-term struggle with fear and unworthiness.
Love-based Discipline: With a love-based approach, we use discipline is to teach our children. And what we are teaching them is to stay aligned with their own true nature. When disciplining from Love, we remember that our children are our spiritual equals, each a representation of God, just as we are. We know that they are essentially "good" and it is only their behaviour that needs correcting, not themselves. When disciplining them, we have unconditional Love for them in the form of non-judgement and respect, even when we feel differently about their behaviour. The discipline techniques we use when we are coming from Love can sometimes be slower to see effect but leave our child's self-worth intact and empower them to be the marvellous person that they are.
S0, here are a few ideas to guide us in disciplining our children with Love.
- Be Respectful We need to be asking ourselves when disciplining whether we are being respectful of our child or not. We can measure how respectful we are towards our children by the respect they have for us (this can be sobering at times). Our respect for our child can be shown in many different ways when disciplining them. For example, when possible, we should give our child a (one) reminder of the expectation and the consequences if they continue their inappropriate behaviour before we follow through. Suddenly springing a "punishment" on them when they've gotten carried away and forgotten to manage themselves is disrespectful and doesn't give them the opportunity to self-correct (which is preferable for everyone). Another way that we unwittingly disrespect our children is to send them to their bedrooms as a punishment. I think we need to respect their bedrooms as their sanctuaries (see my post Home Sweet Home – A Place for Our Souls), a place they can retreat to when needed. Let's not make it their jail.
- Be Consistent By managing behaviour using a familiar set of expectations & consequences and applying them consistently, our children know exactly where the boundaries are and what will happen if they don't stay within them. They can then deliberately choose for themselves how to behave (and sometimes they may decide the consequences for stepping outside of the boundaries are worth the excursion!). Consistency allows us to carry out any necessary consequences in an objective way – we can calmly follow our family's process and detach our emotions from the situation to an extent.
- Always Make Emotional Support Available To Love our children unconditionally is to do so regardless of their behaviour. When they are struggling with the emotions of a situation, we cannot withdraw our support without giving them the message that they are unworthy of our love in that moment. Sometimes, I offer a cuddle in the middle of a disciplining situation because I can see my son needs reassurance and help to manage his big emotions. A child's emotions need to be allowed to settle before they are in a position to learn anything from the situation (see my post Helping Children to Manage Difficult Emotions).
- Allow Life to be the Teacher Many situations are "self-disciplining". By this, I mean that the natural consequences of a child's actions are enough to teach them what they have to learn. In these situations, we need to step back a little and give our child the space to experience life's lessons. I'll explain this further in the section below.
I can think of three types of self-disciplining situation where the lesson naturally unfolds and we just need to allow it to.
- A natural emotional response There have been times when Jake has done something he shouldn't have and I have immediately seen the regret on his face. The point doesn't need driving home any further. He has learned.
- A natural consequence A simple example of this is when our child treats a playmate unkindly and the other child refuses to play with them anymore. Fair enough!
- A natural opportunity to put things right For example, Thomas, like many two-year-olds, sometimes spits his food out if he doesn't like it. I don't mind (too much) if he spits in back onto his plate but sometimes he spits it on the floor. When he does, I simply get him to pick up the food and put it on his plate and remind him briefly of our rule. No fuss needed.
In any of these types of situation, there is no need to use an arbitrary punishment to make our point. ( What does his television-watching have to do with spitting food, for example?) There's also no need to add heat to these situations with a telling-off or lecture. If we do need to explain things a little further to help our children grasp their lesson, we can do so in a calm, informative way. Fear-based parenting can see our egos wanting to have a bit of an authoritative rant at this stage, but it's unnecessary and only serves to undermine our child and, in turn, our relationship with them.
When disciplining our children, we are really managing ourselves! We are putting aside our fear and allowing Love to be the teacher. This can be hard to do when our buttons have been pushed and we are feeling tired & frazzled. If you see yourself in my description of fear-based discipline, as I do regularly, please forgive yourself. So much of our fear is unconscious and most of us are doing the very best that we can.
What we are wanting is for our children to come through the disciplinary experience a little wiser and with their self-worth intact. I'm sure I will come back to the topic of discipline many times, it's complex and often highly emotional. I hope I've provided a good starting point today. Look out for my first post of 2017, "My Best Discipline Technique".
Much love to you and your little souls,
If you found this post helpful, subscribe to get new essays & soulful parenting tips sent straight to your inbox.


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London is one of the favourite destinations of most if the tourists especially when it is about a city break. Each year plenty of visitors come here for fun, leisure and for work which makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations. No matter whether you have travelled the city multiple times now, on each visit you shall discover a different side of the city for sure. Someone has rightly said that if you are tired of London you are tired of life. There is so much that you can plan here especially if on a weekend holiday trip with family.
Since London is a big city, it will be quite a tedious task to squeeze your trip for a weekend only. Thus, it is important to plan the things well and carefully starting from the accommodation to the kind of attractions you must visit and other fun filled activities etc. If you are familiar with the city earlier then it will be an added advantage for you as you will be able to plan and organise things in a much better way then.
Where to Stay in London?
In order to make the most of your short trip here in the city one must go for some central London hotels special offers. These not only will make your weekend sorted in terms of staying, but will also help you save lot of time, money and effort too.
The most initial thing for any traveller would be finding a suitable accommodation. To get one as per your needs and requirements you must do the bookings in advance. Using comparison websites you will get to know the best prices for the hotels. Thus, you shall go and book the one that suits you the best. Finding a hotel accommodation in the capital is a tedious task since it is an expensive city to stay in, however with little effort and carefulness one shall get the best deals at both luxury and budget accommodations. A traveller must prefer a centrally located hotel which not only saves you time but also helps you in saving money which you will otherwise spend on travelling within the city.
What all to see in London?
The capital city is a known one for its splendid, iconic structures and attractions. Perhaps some of these attractions can be a little expensive so one must always go for some money saving offers if possible. You will be surprised to know that apart from these expensive sightseeing there are attractions which are absolutely free to visit and are worth witnessing.
Museums & Green Spaces
Starting with the museums no visit to London is complete without visiting the Natural History, Science and the V&A museums. Each of these is an attraction in itself and is walking distance apart from each other. The natural history reveals the dinosaur reconstructions whereas the science museum is a real influence for kids as it incorporates lots of interactive experiences. The V&A on the other hand boasts of housing the largest collection of decorative arts and design in the world.
Moreover, the green oasis of the Hyde Park shall make you spellbound. It is a great picnic place too and the best place to take a stroll along the fresh surroundings. It is one of the eight Royal Parks in London.
A pleasant stay at Park Grand London Hyde Park shall make your visit to these places even more convenient.
Magnificent Palaces & Famous Attractions
There is no dearth of palaces in London. Starting from Buckingham to the marvellous Kensington Palace marks the real epitome of luxury in London. These occupied royal residences are worth catching a glimpse. Moreover, attractions like Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Cathedral, Houses of Parliament and London Eye etc are the real places to watch which I am sure is there in everybody's itinerary.
See Great Outdoors in the City
Changing the Guard ceremony is a great event to watch. It is an outdoor event which takes place on the grounds of the Buckingham Palace itself where the royal guards change their duties. Another great option is to visit Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Getting Around in London
Getting around this city is the most convenient one as plenty of convenient public transport options are available. London is a home to the most sorted tubes, trains and buses. The tube probably is the best way to travel to and from Central London. It is divided into nine travel zones. Whether you are making a onetime trip to the city or are a regular traveller an oyster card is the most sought after way to travel around. It is a kind of pre paid card which is allowed on all public transport options including the buses. It is not only easy to use, but saves money too as this travel card is less expensive than the actual paper ticket.
Iconic double decker buses are a quick and convenient way to travel around London. It even offers lot of sightseeing opportunities along the way. The bus route network is a sorted one here and covers the entire city with a 24 hour service. Pay as you go on a bus and it can be done using an oyster card too.
A family weekend in London can be well planned in several great ways depending upon your budget and liking. You cannot turn your back towards the city without having fun at any of these places.


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New York, NY, US
Playspaces in New York
Ps 132 Juan Pablo Duarte
This is NOT a playground. PS 132, where my son attends, has a very small schoolyard on the south ...
Ps 33 Chelsea Prep
Public school: Rooftop playspace not open to public. Google Maps aerial view: http://g.co/maps...
Ps 40 Augustus Saint Gaudens
This is a great park that has just about everything. There are basketball hoops, hop scotch, four...
Ps 59 Beekman Hill International
Public school: Facilities available for play during non-school hours.
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – especially those living in poverty – the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play.
KaBOOM! inspires communities to make play the easy choice and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of PLAYces.
KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build or improve more than 17,000 playspaces, engaged more than 1.5 million volunteers and served nearly 10 million kids.


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Where is CO Springs Storage located?
Our address is 4526 Oro Blanco Drive in Colorado Springs, CO 80917.
What times am I able to visit the office?
Feel free to stop by the office Monday through Saturday between 9:00am to 5:00pm. We're also open on Sundays between 10:00am to 2:00pm.
Do you offer any promotions?
We are currently providing a FREE LOCK for every new unit rental.
Are you near any attractions, landmarks or businesses?
Our facility is not far from Garden of the Gods, United States Air Force Academy Airfield, First & Main Town Center, Borriello Brothers Real New York Pizza #2, and Springs Cleaners.
Is the facility fenced?
Our entire facility is enclosed by a fence and we're also gated. Our computerized gate allows tenants to use their passcode to enter the gate. If you forget your code, give us a call.
Am I able to pay my storage bill online?
Yes you are. Pay online with ease using your smartphone or computer. All you need is your login information and a few minutes to get it done.
Do you have a resident manager?
We have a resident manager who is confident in providing all of our tenants with the information that they need. When you store with us you'll always have access to someone on our team who is skilled in everything involving storage. Our resident manager is available when you need any information or storage tips.
Is the CO Springs Storage facility safe?
Of course. Along with customer service, atmosphere is something that we take pride in. Security is huge part of our business atmosphere, so we've installed HD security cameras throughout the facility to help us keep track of what goes on throughout the day. Our gate and fence are also a good source of our security. If you don't have a code, which all of our tenants do, the gate won't open. We do what we can to keep intruders at bay.
Are your units drive-up accessible?
We have ground floor and upstairs units. All of our ground floor units are easily accessible due to to our drive-up access feature. All you have to do is pull your vehicle up to your unit door. Whether you're loading or unloading, drive-up access will make the process run much more smoothly. Our upstairs units are a great option to keep the elements away from your door!
How do I get started?
If you've decided to start storing with CO Springs Storage you have a few options to get yourself going. Rent a space right here on our website. Just go to our Unit Prices page, figure out the size and prices that best fit your needs. You can also call or visit. Someone on our team will get you started.


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GERMANY: GAZ says UK output continues
Russian automaker GAZ is trying to quash rumours that its Washwood Heath plant in Birmingham here in the UK would be closed and production of Maxus vans shifted entirely to Russia.
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The 15 Best Vacuums for Cats 2019 [They Totally Suck]
Let's face it, no matter what kind of litter you use or what kind of cat you have you're still going to need to vacuum. Constantly. Probably every day if not every other day.
You're going to want to look at the best vacuums for cats to ensure you get the job done right. I've researched thoroughly and used several myself to pull this list together.
Table of Contents
The Best Vacuums for Cats
-Upright Vacuums-
Bissel Cleanview Bagless Pet Vacuum
Bissell has been in the market for a long time and they have a name that means trust and reliability when it comes to vacuums. The Cleanview Bagless Pet model is one of their most recent options to come out and it is specifically designed for cat hair and cat litter.
It is super lightweight for an upright and the swivel steering will make it easy for you to navigate around any and all home obstacles. It is also multi surface so you can use it on bare floors or carpet! A few other things worth noting:
"Finally, I managed to find a vacuum that picks up the cat hair!"
Shark TruePet Bagless Lift-Away
Shark brings to bear one of the coolest vacuums on the market. It is primarily an upright vacuum, but if you need to get into a tight spot and use the attachments you can easily lift the canister and move into the desired area.
Tired of not being able to reach that last step? Or tired of not being able to get that tuft of cat hair floating around and hanging off the cabinets? Shark has you covered. Just push a button and lift the canister to reach whatever you need to.
A few other things worth noting on this model:
"This thing works spectacularly on sucking up cat hair!"
Dyson Ball Animal Vacuum
Dyson has made a name for itself with high quality products that tend to both look and feel innovative. They've broken the mold in vacuums, hand dryers, even home fans. Purchasing a Dyson will of course get the job done, but it'll also ensure you get any job done in style. That includes sucking up cat hair and litter.
This vacuum features some of the best suction of any vacuum on the market. On top of this Dyson outfits this model with all of the accessories you'll need to get cat hair out of pretty much anything or anywhere.
A couple of other things worth noting:
"I have four long haired felines and it is the best thing ever for giant clumps of fur!"
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Canister Vacuums-
Bissell Zing Bagged & Corded
If you're tired of heavy vacuums that are hard to navigate through tight places or up and down stairs then this is the vacuum for you. Canister vacuums in general are much lighter and are easy to move almost anywhere.
This vacuum is specifically designed to be lightweight and it features an easy carry handle so it is comfortable in your hand.
"Never had a better vacuum. We have two cats who spread litter all over the house and it picks up litter as well as fur and dirt. Highly recommended."
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
Eureka Mighty Mite Pet Vacuum
If you're looking for power but don't want something heavy then the Mighty Mite is just for you. Weighing in at less than 9 pounds this is an amazing canister vacuum. It is super mobile when on the ground, but even more so because it is so light to pick up!
It also features full scale HEPA filters ensuring that you'll not only suck up cat hair and cat litter, but you'll also filter all that darn cat dander out of the air!
A few other key items worth noting:
"This is the perfect solution for lightweight and powerful kitty litter pick-ups which is what I wanted and needed."
Ovente Bagless Cyclonic w/ Pet Brush
If you love the mobility and lightweight features of a canister vacuum and you don't want to deal with bags then Ovente has you covered. This is best bagless canister vacuum out there with pet focused attachments.
It'll help you pull pet hair out of those hard to reach places and it'll still be just as mobile as any other canister vacuum you might want to consider.
"It sucked up all the litter from the nooks and crannies, even in the chairs in my living room. That was a huge relief."
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Stick Vacuums-
Dyson Cyclone V10 Cat Vacuum
If you're looking for a cordless vacuum with serious power then look no farther. Dyson has basically made a name for itself with extremely powerful vacuums and this one is no different. It is the power powerful cordless vacuum on the market.
This means it'll have no trouble sucking up both cat litter and cat hair. It'll even help you suck up those bits of cat food your little mess makers have knocked out of the bowl and ignored.
A few other things worth noting on this model:
"It is perfect for cleaning pet hair off my furniture and blinds. It also does a nice job on tracked litter in my apartment."
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
Shark DuoClean Ultra-Light Vacuum
This ultra lightweight model from Shark features DuoClean Technology which means it has a bristle brush to deep clean carpets and a soft brush that gets those larger particles to leave floors looking polished. Because it doesn't have a battery it is lighter weight than many of the other stick and handheld models.
This model was specifically put together to feature a pet multi tool which allows it to easily suck up all that pet hair that gets so stubbornly stuck in pretty much everything! A few other items worth noting:
"We have way too many cats and even a few dogs...and it didn't sling anything back on my feet while in use. It literally polished the floors and picked up all of the hair and litter too!"
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
Puppyoo Cordless Stick Vacuum
The Dyson stick vacuum is definitely great, but it is also quite expensive. If you're looking for a more accessible model price wise then you'll want to consider the Puppyoo 536. It is very competitive in almost every way, but it blows Dyson out of the park on price.
Let's dig into a few of the key items we cat owners will care about:
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Handheld Vacuums-
HoLife Handheld Cordless Vacuum
If your cats are all over your furniture, like most cats are, then you probably want a handheld vacuum to help pick up what they leave behind. And you probably want to be able to do it in a quick and easy fashion.
This HoLife handheld cordless vacuum makes is super easy to pull out and take care of a quick cleanup job. Got company coming over and your cat just tracked litter all over the couch and the wood floor? This vacuum is lightweight, powerful, and has a long lasting battery. It'll make that emergency cleanup a breeze.
A quick rundown of key items worth noting:
"I keep it right by the litter box so I can sweep up the litter that the cats track out on the floor before they track it through the rest of the house."
It is also worth considering the following before making a purchase:
Bissell Cordless Pet Hair Eraser
If you're looking for a vacuum that not only looks cool and does a killer job, but also has an amazing name, then look no farther. The Pet Hair Eraser not only sounds awesome, its performance lives up to its ridiculously cool name.
I highly recommend you use the name of this vacuum as a conversation starter with other pet owners. There are a couple of key items worth noting on this model as well:
"Great hand held vacuum that easily sucks up the cat litter between deep cleaning sessions."
There is one item you'll want to consider before purchasing:
Bissell Corded Pet Hair Eraser
This is the original Pet Hair Eraser. It has all the power you need to pull pet hair out of pretty much any surface because it was designed to do just that. The corded version gives you the extra power you need to get that pet hair that seems like it is glued to your couch or chair.
The only thing worth noting is that with great power comes great responsibility. You'll probably need to send fluffy off to another room before flipping this guy on because it is pretty powerful and it might scare your cat!
A few other items worth noting:
"It managed to suck out the cat hair that was weaved into the couch cushions and made the cat tree look brand new!"
One key item worth noting before clicking the buy button:
Shark Rocket Hand Vacuum
Shark has recently become one of the top names in the world of vacuums and there's a reason for that. Their vacuums are amazing. They do a great job, they are affordable and you'll absolutely love how easy and lightweight they are!
This Shark model will have you wanting to clean your house. You'll want to pick it up to watch how much stuff it manages to suck up out of your couches, rugs and chairs. It's an absolute delight to see it clean. There are a couple of key items you'll want to know:
"I've got 3 cats in the house. This does a great job on my stairs & their cat trees."
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Robotic Vacuums-
iRobot Roomba 690
If you're looking for a robot slave to do your dirty work for you then the iRobot Roomba is a great option. Robot vacuums are excellent options for someone who has another vacuum and uses this on a daily basis just to help in between deep clean sessions.
I love my robot vacuum, it does an excellent job in a hands off manner. But it doesn't solve the problem of litter on the couch or litter that gets stuck in corners and crevices, for that you'll need something else.
But robo vacuums are an excellent addition that will minimize your need to vacuum daily. Here are the key features worth noting on this model:
"It does an awesome job cleaning up cat hair and litter!"
One key item worth noting before before purchase:
-Electricity Free Options-
Electrostatic Floor Sweeper
If you're looking for something whisper quiet and powered by your own strength then this is a great consideration. Not only will it pick up cat litter and cat hair, but it'll do so without ever being plugged in or charged.
The sweeper basically creates an electrostatic charge as you move it along the floor and that enables it to easily pull things off of both bare floors and even on low pile carpet floors. It is also light as a feather since all the weight sits on the ground!
A few other great things worth noting:
"Easily gets 5 stars for the removal of cat hair, cat litter and cat litter dust on high-pile carpet, medium-pile area rug and porcelain tile floors."
It is worth noting the following:
Additional Information
Core Vacuum Types for Consideration
You're of course welcome to consider any vacuum you'd like, but in my opinion your best bet lies in both upright and canister vacuums. Beyond that both stick and hand held vacuums have nice perks and special use cases that most households will find handy.
Robo vacuums of course have their place too, but I wouldn't consider one to do the entire job, especially since they tend to have trouble in corners and crevices. But let's take a look at some of the best types!
Upright Vacuums
Pros: Uprights are usually quite a bit cheaper than your typical canister vacuum. They are also a heck of a lot better at cleaning carpets, specifically if you get a model with a bag. They're also of course very easy to store given they sit upright and don't take up much space.
Cons: Some uprights can be hard on your arm and wrist, especially if you use them daily. They have quite a bit of weight to them and with the pull from the carpet they can put a lot of strain on you, especially when they weigh 20 pounds! Uprights also are usually quite a bit noisier than canisters vacuums.
Canister Vacuums
Pros: You'll usually find that canister models are great at cleaning hardwood and tile floors. They usually also have quite a few attachments to make it easy to clean things like the couch and chairs where your cat spends a lot of time sleeping. Canisters are generally quieter and the power head makes them seem lighter because a hefty chunk of the weight is right on the floor.
Cons: They don't tend to do as great of a job on carpets as your typical upright. They can also be a pain in the butt to store because they're usually not a single unit and the hose/attachments don't usually directly attach to the canister.
Stick Vacuums
Pros: Stick vacuums are named as such because the motor is usually up near the handle and there's a long tube resembling a stick that reaches down to the floor. This makes it nice and easy on your back, no bending over. Most stick vacuums are both lightweight and battery-powered so you can take them pretty much anywhere.
Cons: Stick vacuums don't have the same amount of power or capability to do deep cleaning. Stick vacuums are designed to pick up items on the floor that are lightweight and visible. To maintain their light weight they usually have limited capacity and require frequent emptying.
Hand-Held Vacuums
Pros: Hand held vacuums are great because they are small, lightweight, and you can get them with or without a cord. They're great for cleaning up a quick mess in a tight spot and generally work best on bare floors, though some also do have attachments for other things.
Cons: Due to their limited size and weight they often have shorter battery life and require frequent trips to empty out the receptacle.
Robotic Vacuums
Pros: If you absolutely hate vacuuming then a robotic vacuum can help solve your problems. Robo vacuums are designed to clean things up on their own. Depending on the model they can run on a schedule or you can kick them off whenever you like for spot cleaning. New models often have the ability to be started and stopped from a mobile application too.
Cons: Robo vacuums can get stuck and have difficulty reaching small tight spots because of their size. They also require constant emptying, almost every time they run in a household with cats.
Specialty Vacuums for Unique Needs
Shop Vacuums
Pros: Unrivaled power compared to other types of vacuums. They will pick up most anything, including wet messes, and they work on any type or floor. Great to consider if you have a huge number of cats and a specific room where there might be numerous litter boxes and a recurring mess.
Cons: They are incredibly noisy and they are often difficult to move around. They are also usually quite heavy given the size of the motor included and they take up lots of space for storage too.
Backpack Vacuums
Pros: Backpack vacuums are generally used in commercial application, but you can certainly apply some of the home models to your household. Backpack vacuums are super mobile, you rarely need to unplug them, and they usually have a pretty powerful motor too.
Cons: The biggest drawbacks of backpack vacuums are that they tend to be quite loud and that you'll actually need to strap the vacuum onto your back every time you want to use it.
Central Vacuums
Pros: They're easier to use than most vacuums because all you have to do is bring the actual tube and extension with you. There's no motor to pull along with you. Central vacuums are also quite quiet because the motor is removed from the location of vacuuming. Their dirt receptacle also rarely needs to be emptied because the central location provides ample space.
Cons: Central vacuums are pricey and can require professional installation. If you aren't building a new home or gut rehabbing one then it is unlikely you'll want to explore this option. The hoses are quite large in making up for the lack of a power cord so they can be hassle to store.
What Types Perform Best for Cats?
If you're buying a vacuum because you have cats then you have a few key things you're trying to pick up:
- Cat hair
- Cat litter
- Cat dander
- Cats nails
To say the least Upright and Canister vacuums are by far the best choices for larger projects or an entire household. They perform well at picking up most anything and are versatile.
They will be the most likely to pick up litter and cat hair on a consist basis without having to push the vacuum back and forth over the same area again and again.
It is important to note your likelihood to use the vacuum though. If you're as lazy as I often am then you'll want to look at a robotic vacuum that you can schedule to run daily to help pick up some of the slack. This will decrease the need to vacuum every single day by picking up a bit every day.
What Features Should I Consider?
Bagged or Bagless
The key concern to keep in mind with bagged vacuums is that you're going to have to keep buying bags. That being said, bagless vacuums have recurring costs as well. You'll need to clean the HEPA filters or full on replace them after a period of time. Emptying the receptacle of a bagless vacuum can easily get your nose and mouth filled with dust and pet dander as well. If you you have asthma you'll want to watch out for this.
Bagged vacuums also tend to lose their effectiveness once the bag is over half full. Given this you'll need to replace bags often to maintain full efficiency.
Motorized Brushes
Suction will only get you so far if you're trying to deep clean, especially on a carpeted floor. Motorized brush get you one step further by actually spinning and pulling debris off of the floor.
But you'll want to be careful because the brushes are rather rigid and they can damage a wood floor quite easily. If you have both bare and carpet floors you'll want to consider a vacuum with a switch that can deactivate the brushes. This ensures you don't damage your bare floors and it will help minimize scattering cat litter all over the place too.
Noise Levels
Vacuums in general are a bit noisy, but if you have a house with bare floors this will likely seem even louder. Robot vacuums tend to be quite quiet and canister vacuums tend to run quieter than their upright counterparts.
Adjustable Height
If you've got carpet floors or lots of rugs in your house then you will want to keep an eye out for a vacuum that allows you to adjust the height of the head. Without this capability you either never get a deep enough clean or you can feel like you're dragging around an extra 20 pounds while you vacuum.
Filter Type
Vacuums these days range pretty extensively in the quality of the filters they provide. The most common type of filter you'll find these days is a HEPA filter. If anyone in your immediate or extended family has cat allergies then a HEPA filter is a must
Cord Type
This may be a small item, but some folks absolutely hate pick up and winding up cords. Several models out there these days have cords that automatically retract into the vacuum to save you the hassle.
Battery Life
For both stick and handheld vacuums you'll want to take a look at the size and expected life of the batteries, especially if you have a larger home and your closet or storage area doesn't have a plug to charge the vacuum from. While generally you won't use a hand held vacuum for an extended session you'll also want to ensure you aren't constantly pulling it out to charge it on the kitchen counter.
I still remember pushing my old Kirby around the house with carpet floors as a kid. It was brutal. It felt like it weighed as much as I did. Vacuums have come a long way in the past 10 years.
Most are pretty light weight. But be sure to take a look at the weight before you decide on a model, especially for handhelds and stick vacuums where you'll be supporting the bulk of the weight during use.
Even if you're buying a vacuum specifically for cat cleanup you'll still want to consider the other scenarios you'll use it for in the house. Attachments can make cleaning drapes, cars, tight spots, etc. far easier. Keep a close eye on any attachments you think you might need.
Why Is My Cat Afraid of the Vacuum?
Why Your Cat Is Afraid:
Many of us have cats that bolt at the first sign of the vacuum, even before you turn it on. My cat Lexi knows the sound of our vacuum rolling on the wood floor and usually runs and hides the second she hears it.
There's a pretty straight forward explanation to this behavior. Vacuums are quite loud and they aren't around often. So cats often feel like the vacuum pops up, makes a ton of noise, chases them from room to room as they find new new hiding spots...then all of a sudden disappears!
You might be equally afraid if you had no idea what was going and why the vacuum was coming out. But if you're wondering why you're probably more interested in what you can do to help.
What You Can Do To Help:
There are a few things you can do to assist your cat in relation to the vacuum.
Option 1: Move Your Cat Preemptively
Lexi, as I mentioned, dislikes the vacuum a lot. The second she hears it she hides. But Lexi is also a cat that doesn't mind being picked up and doesn't mind the vacuum if she is behind a closed door while it runs.
The easiest thing to do is pick her up and put her in a room I don't plan to vacuum or that I can vacuum later as part of a rotation. It is a simple process: Move the cat, vacuum, move the cat, vacuum, done! Voila! Problem solved.
Option 2: Acclimate Your Cat to the Vacuum
Cats can also be taught to largely ignore the vacuum. While I doubt you'll ever get them to sleep through it, you can actually slowly introduce the vacuum to them so they don't freak out the second it flips on.
Ideally you can approach this when your cat is young and they haven't yet developed a fear of the vacuum yet. But even if your cat is an adult you can work on this by having another person vacuum in a different part of the house while you feed your kitty treats or play her.
She'll gradually associate positive things with the sound of the vacuum and should grow out of her fear. If you want to explore this in more detail check out this excellent article by Cat Behavior Associates on getting your cat used to the vacuum.
Can I Vacuum My Cat Safely?
Maybe. More than anything it'll depend on the cat. Since many cats run off at the sound of the vacuum you should already have a pretty good idea of whether or not this is even an option.
If you have a pretty laid back cat that doesn't mind the noise then you can certainly give it a shot. There are even specific vacuums that come with attachments designed for this purpose. The idea is that if you vacuum the cat off less hair will make it to the floor.
Dyson makes a specific pet attachment that you can attach to most of their upright vacuums to suck the hair right off your cat. The attachment is designed to ensure that you never actually get full section on your cat where you might hurt them.
To be direct, most cats will likely never allow you to vacuum them. Instead you're more likely to have to brush them to help minimize clumps of hair floating or rolling through your house. If you have a long haired cat this is even more important.
I personally recommend brushing your cat over vacuuming anyway. It is far better for removing potential mats and it is far more personal which will help develop a better bond between you and your feline friend. If you're looking for a good high quality brush then check out this article.
How Do I Decrease Litter Tracking?
Behind cat hair, tracked litter is probably the second most common reason cat owners have to vacuum on such a consistent basis. It can be infuriatingly difficult to stop too, especially if you have multiple cats in the house!
Litter tracking can be battled, but it usually cannot be completely stopped. There are a few things you can do to help minimize tracked litter:
- Get yourself a high quality litter mat immediately, it is your best line of defense
- Consider a top entry litter box or a piece of litter box furniture
- Look into other types of litter, crystals, paper & pine are good options
- You may also want to consider getting a groomer to trim your cat's paw fur
If you're looking for a more in depth guide on litter tracking you can find it here.
Wrap Up On The Best Vacuums For Cats
Having a cat basically means making a lifetime commitment to having cat fur and cat litter all over the place all the time. Just kidding. You can easily solve this problem with the right vacuum and the right schedule.
There are some other great things you can consider to help minimize litter tracking and help minimize how much your kitties shed all over the house. These will certainly help you along the right path and minimize the vacuuming, but they certainly won't stop it.
If you've got any additional thoughts or have a vacuum you absolutely love then please leave a comment below and tell us all about it!
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
References: Consumer Reports, Dyson, Bissell, Shark
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IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. (SBRA) announced today that Rick Matros, the company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Harold Andrews, the company's Chief Financial Officer, and Sarah Mazur, the company's Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis, will attend the Mizuho REIT/Real Estate Conference June 25, 2019 at the Lotte New York Palace in New York, New York.
On June 27, 2019, Harold Andrews, the company's Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the 2019 JMP Securities Boston Real Estate 1x1 Forum at the Boston Harbor Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.
About Sabra
Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation, operates as a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (a "REIT") that, through its subsidiaries, owns and invests in real estate serving the healthcare industry throughout the United States and Canada.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190612005767/en/


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Rabbi Milevsky's Thought of the Week: Toldos - 5780
Over the last few weeks, we read in the Torah many stories about the Patriarchs and wells. On a basic level, it appears that as they were settling and expanding their influence in the Land of Canaan, they needed to create sources of water. Commentators add that the wells symbolize Torah. Just as a person needs water for physical survival, so too Torah is needed for a person to survive spiritually. Thus, the information given to us regarding the wells that are dug by Avraham and Yitzchak are teaching us that they were involved in spiritual education and were attempting to guide a pagan society onto the path of Hashem.
Later, as the family of Israel turned into a nation, a shift occurred and the focus of our nation was to work on its own development.
Nevertheless, we must always remember that ultimately we are to follow the path of the Patriarchs and in the words of Isaiah, "Become a light unto the nations."
Shabbat Shalom


text:
Your Travel Experience with Galapagos PRO
Santa Cruz Highlands and El Chato Reserve
Your guide will greet you in the arrivals area of the airport. After a short bus and ferry crossing over the Itabaca Canal, you will make your way in to the highlands of Santa Cruz.
As you venture into Santa Cruz's higher altitude areas, you will notice the changes in the vegetation as the climate becomes wetter and warmer. The earth in the upper altitudes is rich in minerals. Coffee plantations and fruit orchards line the streets and giant tortoises roam around at ease in their natural environment. The Scalesia forests in this area offer the opportunity to discover endemic species of the Galapagos Islands, as well as giant cacti and a variety of deciduous trees and edible fruits.
At the tortoise reserve El Chato, you will see the Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Nowhere else will you get so close to those animals! (Please maintain the minimum distance!)
At Charles Darwin Station, you will get a chance to learn more about the friendly giants that you met in the highlands in the morning. Here, scientists from around the world research the many special tortoise subspecies that are endemic to the Galapagos islands. The highlight of the research center is the breeding station, Fausto Llerena, where baby tortoises take a training course over rocks, branches and sandy stairs in preparation for their upcoming release into the wilderness.
Visitors leave the station with a stronger understanding of the tortoises, iguanas and much of the flora native to the islands. You'll be impressed by the tiny tortoises, often only the size of your hand, who will grow over the next 100 years to become as large as the wild adults you saw this morning!