Category: LegacyImport2

Trees Not Tombstones: New Options For End-of-Life

(NAPSI)—The vast majority of Americans have not completed their end-of-life planning. In fact, over half of those age 45-plus have done no end-of-life planning at all, according to a recent survey conducted by Better Place Forests, the country’s first sustainable alternative to cemeteries for families that choose cremation.

A beautiful forest can be a final resting place that brings comfort to family and friends.

Better Place Forests hopes the idea of a beautiful, sustainable final resting place will encourage people to create those plans. Instead of tombstones, the company incorporates ashes into the base of beautiful trees in permanently protected forests. The company performs spreading ceremonies in the forest, where families can gather to say goodbye. Currently, there are two forests in California, in Point Arena in Mendocino County and in Santa Cruz, and the company plans to open more across the country.

There is a growing trend toward greener burial options in the United States. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, nearly 54 percent of Americans are considering a green burial and 72 percent of cemeteries report an increased demand for green burials. Thousands of people have already reserved trees for themselves.

“Making plans and establishing guidelines for the end of your life means that loved ones don’t have to guess about your wishes and you can give them the experience you’d like them to have when you pass,” explained Sandy Gibson, CEO of Better Place Forests. “At Better Place Forests, we talk to people every day who find peace in knowing they have created a beautiful experience for their loved ones by selecting a family tree.”

Beyond providing a more beautiful final resting place, choosing a tree in one of these memorial forests means you are leaving a legacy of conservation. The company performs spreading ceremonies in the forest, where families can gather to say goodbye and continue to visit—a feature current cremation options can’t provide. The trusts also actively manage the land to ensure that it’s less susceptible to forest fires. They hire forestry experts to keep the trees healthy and the forests free of invasive species. In addition, more trees are planted in areas in need for every tree a customer chooses. Thousands of trees have already been planted in forests devastated by the California wildfires.

Learn More

For further facts, visit

www.betterplaceforests.com

.

New Jersey Carpenters Union Adds Puerto Rico as Home to Newest Local

Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Charters Newest Local in Puerto Rico

(Philadelphia, PA) The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters announced that it has charted a new Local to represent workers in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The charter for Local 787 was officially ratified on January 10

th

, 2020.

“The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters is excited to take the next steps in helping to rebuild the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and organize the local workforce,” said Executive Secretary-Treasurer William C. Sproule, “The addition of Puerto Rico to our Council will strengthen our union with even more highly trained and community-first focused carpenters.”

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America tasked the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters with organizing the Puerto Rican workforce. The Council’s involvement in Puerto Rico has been ongoing for some years. Members of the Council have been helping to rebuild Puerto Rico ever since 2017 when Hurricane Maria devastated the island. Through partnerships with groups like Heart 9/11, they have been assisting in the rebuilding of homes and the training of local workers in how to properly and safely rebuild their communities.

“Our mission of advocating for worker rights, negotiating fair wage standards, and training the best workforce in the nation does not happen overnight,” Sproule stated, “Our members have been on the ground in Puerto Rico helping in any way they can and have shown that they truly care about the residents and community. Our union likes to promote the idea of being a ‘community carpenter;’ which means committing to the overall welfare of where you work and live.  The people of Puerto can be assured that we are here for the long haul and will never turn our backs on them.”

The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters have already been implementing their training programs in the Commonwealth. A partnership with the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections has already created a pre-apprentice training program for incarcerated individuals looking to find a career after their release. These newly trained workers gained the skills they need to become a successful carpenter and rehabilitated members of their community. Their training included building much-needed homes for low-income residents.

The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters represents 42,000 members in a region that includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and ten counties in North Carolina.

Another One Bites the Dust

Source NRA-ILA

Actually, that headline is a little misleading, as we are referring to U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) abandoning his bid to take on Donald Trump in the 2020 Presidential Election. But when we

last reported

on the Democrat clown-car that is the field of candidates who wished to challenge Trump for POTUS, there were 19 active campaigns.

With the departure of Booker, Democrats now have “only” a dozen candidates from which to choose.

In fact, our last posting on the field proved to be quite prescient. We suggested that promoting the extreme anti-gun position of confiscating firearms from American citizens may be the new

“exit strategy”

for foundering campaigns poised to leave the race. At the time, we opined that U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) seemed to be positioning herself to drop out of the race by reiterating her support for banning and confiscating semi-automatic firearms. She threw in the towel the following week.

Booker, like Harris, promoted the euphemistically named

“mandatory buyback”

policy, which is a more innocent sounding name for confiscation. Now that he has announced he is quitting, every Democrat candidate who had been vying to be President and has also openly advocated for confiscating firearms from American citizens has now deserted the race. Before Booker and Harris, we saw the campaigns of failed candidates

Eric Swalwell

and

Robert Francis O’Rourke

give up the ghost.

Of course, those candidates that remain are all still stridently anti-gun.

They all want to ban the future manufacture and sale of

semi-automatic firearms

like the AR-15.

They all want to set arbitrary limits on how many rounds of ammunition

a magazine can hold

.

They all want to prohibit the private transfer of firearms between law-abiding citizens by imposing so-called

“universal” background checks

.

Virtually every proposal that has been introduced by anti-gun extremists over the last few decades has been met with support by most, if not all, of the candidates that are still in the race.

Sadly, two candidates that appear likely to stick around for a while have taken arguably equally extreme positions on another gun issue, using firearms to save lives.

The first, former Vice President Joe Biden, has a modest lead in most polls, but a commanding lead in

gaffes

. In 2017, after

Stephen Willeford used an AR-15

to bring an end to the rampage of a crazed murderer at a Texas church, Biden ignored the idea that lives were likely saved by the heroic act. Instead, when asked about the use of an AR-15 by Willeford, he stated, “Well, first all, the kind of gun being carried, he shouldn’t be carrying.”

Last December, after another Texas church attack was also stopped by an armed citizen, it was pointed out by many that

Biden had criticized the very law

that allowed law-abiding gun owners to carry firearms for self-defense into houses of worship.

After Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the NRA-supported law in September, Biden said, “It’s just absolutely irrational. It’s totally irrational.”

Granted, Biden cannot see into the future, so he had no idea that his words would come back to make him look so foolish, so quickly. Then again, some might argue that he has a long track record of past statements causing future problems.

The other Democrat candidate who has staked out a position against firearms being used by law-abiding citizens to save lives cannot use the excuse of not being able to foretell future events, as his comments were made after the fact.

Anti-gun billionaire

Mike Bloomberg spoke out against not just the Texas law

, but, presumably, against any use of a firearm by any citizen to defend themselves or others.

Although most acknowledge that Jack Wilson—the 71-year-old church congregant who brought an end to the violent attack at West Freeway Church of Christ—acted heroically, Bloomberg didn’t see things that way.

At a campaign stop in Alabama, Bloomberg commented on Wilson’s action, stating, “[I]t’s the job of law enforcement to, uh, have guns and to decide when to shoot. You just do not want the average citizen carrying a gun in a crowded place.”

So, now that all of the Democrat candidates who openly advocated for gun confiscation have been shown the door, it appears that Biden and Bloomberg hold the most extreme anti-gun position—opposing law-abiding citizens using firearms to stop violent assaults and save lives.

Biden will be in the race for the foreseeable future due to his lead in the polls. Bloomberg, on the other hand, is polling in the single digits. But with a personal fortune that could underwrite several Presidential campaigns, and a driving desire to impose his anti-gun ideology on America, expect Bloomberg to remain in the race for at least several months.

Unless, of course, the curse-of-the-most-extreme-anti-gun-positions strikes again.

We can certainly hope.

https://www.nraila.org/a

10 Ideas For Unforgettable Winter Breaks

Gloucestercitynews.net(January 20, 2020)–Winter can be a very difficult season for a lot of people. There’s the ever-present seasonal affective disorder (or SAD), of course, but there are many more reasons to feel fed up with the colder months. Chief among them is the struggle to find a decent place to go on holiday. For obvious reasons, travel is often cheaper in the winter months, but many people just don’t know where they should go. We’re here to help. Here are ten ideas for unforgettable winter breaks you and your family can try.

1. São Tomé and Príncipe

Despite their incredible vistas, these small African islands don’t really enjoy a lot of visitors. That’s a shame, because they’re an unspoiled paradise that only those truly dedicated to travel can enjoy. The downside is that tourism in these islands is mostly luxury, so if you don’t have a decent wad of cash then you may not be able to enjoy them. Still, there’s lots to see, and if you want to visit during the hottest months, you’re best off going during January, February, and March.

2. Switzerland

The tail end of winter is the best time to visit Switzerland; everyone else goes during January or February, since that’s when winter is at its peak. March is still a wonderful time to visit Switzerland, though, and since it’s less busy, you’ll have your pick of the ski slopes. We’d recommend you head to

Matterhorn Diamonds Ski School

for a truly all-inclusive, special experience in Switzerland. Their tuition is second-to-none and they cater to all skill levels.

3. Germany

If you’re looking for somewhere magical and nostalgic to holiday during the winter months, we’d strongly recommend Germany. There, you can find some of the most incredible Christmas markets around. Berlin’s offering is particularly special, but the Frankfurt market (which also makes an appearance in Birmingham during the run-up to Christmas) shouldn’t be missed, either. Combine this with some truly spectacular views and Germany becomes an unmissable winter holiday destination.

4. New York, USA

There’s plenty to do in New York during the winter months. For a start, the city looks absolutely spellbinding covered in snow. New York gets around twenty-five inches of snow per year, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to see a beautiful snowfall if you head to the city in November or December. As for activities, you’ll find jazz festivals, lantern events, and flower shows to visit while things are a little chilly. Big urban centres can still be wonderful places to go in winter!

5. Australia

Since the northern hemisphere winter is southern hemisphere summer, Australia offers a sun-soaked experience for you if you’re tired of the usual snow, rain, and sleet that your winters are battering you with. Sydney is particularly beautiful during December and January; the sun glinting off the world-famous opera house is a sight to behold. Naturally, there’s also a thriving beach culture in Sydney, so get yourself down there if you want to sunbathe.

6. Iceland

True winter-heads definitely need to experience Iceland winters at least once in their lifetime. Obviously, Iceland is absolutely freezing during the winter, and it’s pretty much dark for the entire day during December. Despite this, Iceland is the best place you can go to see the shimmering aurora borealis, and it’s a truly stunning sight you won’t be forgetting in a hurry. Reykjavik is a bustling urban centre without any of the crowding you might find in other cities, so head there for an immersive Iceland experience.

7. Canada

Another wonderful place to pursue some skiing (although we still think Switzerland has the best slopes), Canada is a popular tourist destination during the winter months, and for very good reason. The beautiful Lake Louise completely freezes over during winter, making it an ideal destination for a chilly stroll. Naturally, there’s plenty to do in the cities too, but Canada boasts some of the world’s most beautiful and striking landscapes. Winter is the best time to experience these landscapes in our opinion.

8. Norway

Like Iceland, Norway offers a dark and chilly but still beautiful experience if you’re looking for somewhere to head in winter. Norway is more famous for its mid-spring months than its winters, but if you’re a poetic soul, this gorgeous country’s tundras and fjords will give you plenty of food for thought when the dark sets in. Of course, since Norway gets plenty of snow, you’ll also find lots of skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts in Norway.

9. Japan

During the winter months, most of Japan’s massive tourist destinations find themselves completely deserted, so winter is the perfect time to head over to Japan and do a spot of sightseeing. None of these destinations lose any of their characteristic beauty or historical significance just for having a little snow on them, so what have you got to lose? You’ll also find bustling centres like Tokyo and Osaka just as busy as you would during summer.

10. Estonia

Few places in Europe are as thoroughly picturesque as Estonia during the winter months. You’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere that looks more like a scene from a postcard than the capital city of Tallinn. It’s not just gorgeous views, though; Tallinn also boasts plenty of history, so if you’re of an academic mind, you can spend hours exploring its many alleyways and basking in the atmosphere of an ancient city covered in powdery snow.

Military Caregiver Champions Recruited by Hollywood Legends

(NAPSI)—Academy Award winner Tom Hanks is rallying the nation behind America’s military caregivers with help from the legacy of a legend, Bob Hope. Hanks launched the Military Caregiver Champion program with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to fund resources for the 5.5 million Americans voluntarily caring for a loved one who was wounded, made ill or injured through military service. Hope’s daughter, Linda Hope, was the first to join the campaign, donating $1 million on behalf of the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation.

Tom Hanks, Linda Hope and Senator Elizabeth Dole want to help honor the people who care for ill or injured veterans. You can, too.

“My dad, Bob Hope, dedicated so much of his life to connecting members of our military to the nation they served and their loved ones waiting at home. He would be so proud to join another passionate entertainer like Tom Hanks in making that same connection between America’s military caregivers and the country that owes them such a debt of gratitude and support,” said Hope.

Military caregivers provide $14 billion of unpaid care to veterans every year. They devote their lives to their loved ones, often sacrificing their own health, jobs and financial security.

“As Senator Elizabeth Dole says, our military caregivers are hidden heroes and I am honored to have the spirit of Bob Hope helping us support them,” said Hanks. “There has never been, nor will there ever be, a greater ambassador between the military community and us Americans than Bob Hope.”

All Americans are invited to become Caregiver Champions. Supporters will receive a Caring Tag, which reimagines the honored symbol of the military dog tag and includes the name and story of a military caregiver.

All administrative costs have been sponsored. One hundred percent of donations will support the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s resources for caregivers.

“We cannot take away the injuries or the illnesses but we can ensure our caregivers do not walk this difficult journey alone,” said Hanks.

To become a Caregiver Champion, visit

www.hiddenheroes.org/champion

.

Gloucester Township Police Chaplain Program

GTPD Community Bulletin:

Did you know Gloucester Township Police Department has a Chaplain Program? Are you a clergy member who is looking to join the GTPD as a volunteer chaplain?

The Gloucester Township Police Department works together in a partnership with qualified religious leaders, regardless of denomination, who are available to respond during a crisis or time of need in providing a more personalized quality of service to the community. The goal is by having the Police & Clergy working together during certain crisis or incidents that a more comprehensive response will be given to those in need. The religious leader will perform tasks of a more emotional or social nature while the Officer handles those tasks that are of a law enforcement nature.

GTPD is sponsoring a basic police chaplain training through the Police Chaplain Training Program on February 10 and 11th, 2020. Please see the attached flyer for sign-up details.

For more information on the training contact 609-774-0283 or gwholden@comcast.net

For more information on how to become a chaplain with the Gloucester Township Police Department please contact: communityrelations@gtpolice.com or (856)228-4011

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

PUROTRADER™, Offers to Pay LSU Tigers QB Joe Burrow\’s Legal Fees for Puffing while Working

PuroTrader™ founder and entrepreneur, Pierre Rogers, believed LSU quarterback, Joe Burrow, had the right idea when he chose to celebrate the Tiger’s National Championship victory over Clemson with a stogie Monday night.

Joe Burrow smoking a cigar (image courtesy of LSU)

As CEO of the world’s premier cigar trading exchange, Rogers announced that support of the Heisman Trophy winner’s right to smoke, he will make a meaningful contribution to any unjust legal fees and penalties if he gets arrested for illegally smoking the infamous cigar inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome locker room. Rogers says, “The best thing about smoking a cigar is it makes you sit down and enjoy the moment.” Joe Burrow did exactly that.

Joe Burrow and his teammates who were puffing away after the game were told numerous times that smoking was not permitted, however they laughed off and ignored the warnings. The locker room can be seen all over social media, filled with ecstatic Tigers players dancing and singing, celebrating their 42-25 win, along with visible smoke. Even LSU alumni, Odell Beckham Jr. can be seen getting in on the fun festivities, minus the cigars.

While no arrests have been made yet, if charges are brought against the known to be quirky Burrows, Pierre Rogers and PuroTrader™ will be by his side. There is certainly no mystery of what the smoking gun is in this case, no pun intended.

About Pierre Rogers:

Pierre Rogers is a successful venture capitalist, international keynote speaker, and the CEO and founder of both Yahyn and Puro Trader, the largest peer to peer wine and cigar platforms in the world.

About PuroTrader

: PuroTrader was created by two aficionados to bring more transparency and access to the global cigar market. The aim of the site is to educate connoisseurs, stimulate conversation and more importantly monitor market trends within the industry.  With the upcoming launch of Yahyn Q1 2020, they will bring this same passion to the wine market.

New Brunswick facility offers a medically monitored inpatient detoxification program

New Brunswick,New Jersey (PR MediaRelease) January 9, 2020–

SOBA New Jersey, a premier addiction treatment center, announces the opening of its new state-of-the-art drug and alcohol detox facility in New Brunswick. The grand opening will be commemorated with a ribbon cutting and open-house event on January 9, 2020, from 2 to 5 p.m. The facility will officially open on January 15, 2020.

The new facility, located at 23 Duke Street, is home to a medically monitored detoxification program. The detox facility provides withdrawal management and helps individuals to recover from habitual drug use in a safe, welcoming, and clinical environment. The program works to manage the withdrawal process as addictive substances begin to clear from the body, and withdrawal symptoms, which are often severe, begin to manifest. Clients are carefully monitored and appropriately treated in order to go through the detoxification process as comfortably as possible.

“We are thrilled to be opening our new detox facility in New Brunswick,” said Isaac Glasman, Owner of SOBA New Jersey. “For those seeking recovery, it can be a challenge to find treatment that provides a lasting, successful sobriety. SOBA New Jersey remains steadfast in our commitment to continuing to fight addiction and the opioid epidemic, and we are proud to be at the forefront of treatment and recovery in our community.”

Combining an array of the best treatment resources, including personal experience, principles of Eastern and Western medicine, clinical trial findings, and various alternative treatment approaches, SOBA has crafted a multidisciplinary treatment program that facilitates recovery. Each client receives a customized care plan based upon individual needs, where they explore a treatment path to fit their individual recovery goals, overcome addiction, and learn to live a healthy life.

Go visual with a new outdoor LED sign for your business

It’s all about being visual

Gloucestercitynews.net(January 20, 2020)–It is usually said that an image is worth more than a thousand words and nowhere is this truer than when it comes to advertisement. Then it is all about the visual!

If you hope to grow your business, regardless of what that business is, you need a good marketing strategy to make sure you are being noticed by potential customers. There is currently a multitude of options when it comes to marketing platforms as well as strategies and that’s why you need to conduct some marketing research before you get going.

One such platform, that usually is a sure-fire way of drawing attention to whatever marketing message you are trying to convey, are

outdoor led signs for busines

s

. Opting for an outdoor LED sign as a part of your digital marketing strategy will increase your chances of reaching new potential customers.

By choosing a strategic placement of your LED sign or banner you have the opportunity to really engage with the public. Perhaps your business is located inside a mall or you are targeting commuters on their way to work. Revert back to your marketing strategy and then let your ambitions for the future lead the way.

Don’t get distracted when creating a distraction

A good marketing plan should contain different elements, all with the same goal, i.e. increase your ROI as well as creating a strong brand for your business. A strong brand, often also including a catchphrase which embodies the core of your business is key to being successful.

Unless you have this competence yourself you are wise to bring in the services of professionals. Creating a marketing strategy that will promote your brand and business in the most favorable way is not as easy as it sounds and often you need the input from someone with experience.

Of course, you should be heavily involved in the process but one of the hardest things to do is to “kill your darlings” and that is where someone with less of an emotional attachment serves a purpose. It’s also easy to get distracted in these processes, ultimately focusing on things that are not relevant. Enlisting the help of a marketing professional will be one of the soundest business decisions you will ever make.

Once you have the outline of a marketing strategy in place it’s time to start looking more closely at some of the different elements it should entail.

Go digital or go home

This might sound like a harsh statement to make but it is in fact truer than not. All contemporary marketing strategies need to entail a section covering digital marketing efforts and platforms.

Today almost everyone has access to and uses some sort of social media for instance and that is why it is critical that your marketing strategy contains targeted efforts in this arena. By knowing where your potential costumers go to find information, you are one step ahead in the game of advertisement.

However, a digital marketing strategy can also include for instance LED signs and banners. Online sites such as

VisualLED

as an example provides easy to use LED signs and banners perfect for getting noticed. By opting for the usage of such high technological alternatives you stay relevant and in touch with potential customers.

Investing in an LED sign or banner is not complicated and thanks to advancements made in this field there are options available that allow you to effectively assemble and operate as well as carry out smaller maintenance services on your own. This might sound like a tall order but it really isn’t and you have several alternatives available as well in terms of sizes and features.

It all really depends on what your needs are and how you envision your business conveying its message. Once you have created your brand as well as your catchphrase it’s all about making sure it reaches the public in the best way possible. You want to make an impact and you want to make sure your potential costumers feel that there is value in your message. Outdoor LED signs and banners can be placed strategically depending upon your needs and thanks to features such as being weather resilient there really are no end to the possibilities.

Stay relevant by staying visual

LED signs and a digital signage software from

Rise Vision

really are the perfect way for you to display your marketing message for your business. Make digital advertisement part of your overall marketing strategy and you will be amazed at the difference it makes for your ROI.

Use the knowledge of professionals and let them guide you when you are creating your brand. By staying visual you stay relevant, effectively encouraging potential customers to engage with your business.

The LED signs and banners that are available today will make your next marketing campaign a breeze and since you are able to update them easily yourself, you also have the possibility of being flexible when it comes to promoting new and exciting messages.

FBI Announces New Policy for Notifying State and Local Election Officials of Cyber Intrusions

Affecting Election Infrastructure

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a new internal policy to clarify and guide the timely federal notification of appropriate state and local officials of cyber intrusions affecting election infrastructure.

Protecting the integrity of elections in the United States against criminal activity and national security threats is among the top priorities of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI. Cyber intrusions affecting election infrastructure have the potential to cause significant negative impacts on the integrity of elections. Understanding that mitigation of such incidents often hinges on timely notification, the FBI has established a new internal policy outlining how the FBI will notify state and local officials responsible for administering election infrastructure of cyber activity targeting their infrastructure.

The FBI’s new policy recognizes the necessity of notifying responsible state and local officials of credible cyber threats to election infrastructure. Each state has a designated person to serve as its chief state election official with ultimate authority over elections held in the state, which often includes certifying election results. However, most election infrastructure is owned and operated by local governments. Likewise, the local election process is overseen by local election officials. The FBI’s interactions regarding election security matters must respect both state and local authorities. Thus, the FBI’s new policy mandates the notification of a chief state election official and local election officials of cyber threats to local election infrastructure.

The new policy is informed by existing FBI policies surrounding cyber incident notification thresholds and cyber victim notification in general. The new policy, however, provides updated and additional guidance on the timely dissemination of notifications and/or threat reporting; the protection of victim information and disclosures; and coordination between FBI and other agencies in regard to election security for maximum impact. Decisions surrounding notification continue to be dependent on the nature and breadth of an incident and the nature of the infrastructure impacted.

It is the intent of the FBI that this new policy will result in increased collaboration between all levels of government for the integrity and security of U.S. elections.