DRPA Announces Bond Rating Upgrades by Moody’s Investors Service

Ratings agency cites DRPA’s solid metrics in recent fiscal years and management’s tight control over costs

Camden, NJ – Today, Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) officials announced that the independent credit agency, Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) has upgraded the ratings on the bi-state agency’s outstanding Revenue Bonds to A1 from A2 and the rating on its outstanding Port District Project (PDP) bonds to Baa1 from Baa2. Moody’s previously upgraded these bonds in 2017.

Moody’s cites “solid metrics in fiscal year 2018 and expected for 2019” and projects that “management will continue to maintain a tight control over costs” as reasons for the ratings upgrade rationale. The ratings report also reflects Moody’s view of the following DRPA strengths:

Very strong liquidity with a decline slightly with cash on hand in the next few years due in part to fund a $810 million 5-year capital plan for 2020-2024;

No toll increases through at least 2023. Tolls were last increased in 2011;

Changes in debt structure including the elimination of swaps and variable rate debt;

No debt issuances planned in the next 24 months; and

Investment in enterprise resource planning and other technology.

“With this ratings upgrade, the financial community is recognizing the unprecedented levels of investment DRPA is making in our bridges and PATCO line, and also in our people through training and technology,” said John T. Hanson, DRPA CEO and President, PATCO. “We are able to continue to do all this while making a commitment to freezing tolls until at least 2023.”

“The upgrades by Moody’s, reinforces the fact that the DRPA has achieved and sustained a superior level of financial performance for almost a decade,” said James M. White, DRPA Chief Financial Officer. “This rating action also reflects a high level of operational excellence at the DRPA’s bridges, on the train line, and among administrative support staff.”

These latest upgrades join several other upgrades over the past several years by both Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings (S&P), in recognition of DRPA’s continued financial stability and financial performance. DRPA’s excellent financial state and annual cash flows support the funding of the Authority’s $810 million in capital projects necessary to maintain, improve and upgrade four bridges and the PATCO transit line. Major projects include: Ben Franklin Bridge Suspension Span & Anchorage Rehabilitation ($217M); Whitman Bridge Corridor Rehabilitation at I-76 ($74M); PATCO Franklin Square Station Reopening ($29M); bridge painting ($161M); and elevator installations at PATCO stations ($38M).

To view the Moody’s Investors Service press release,

click here

Features of Real Estate Insurance in the USA

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 6, 2020)–The US insurance market is considered the most developed in the world. Thousands of insurance organizations work in the country. Relations in the field of property insurance are regulated in each state separately, and not by federal laws. This system, along with geographical and climatic features in different regions, has led to the formation of various tariffs and features of the damage coverage package. In addition to property insurance against fires, residents of different states try to protect themselves from floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Many take the opportunity to insure title rights to real estate in order to avoid problems when disputes arise with other applicants. Therefore, if you plan to secure your property, make sure to visit

www.americaninsurance.com

Volunteering and Obligations

According to the law, the conclusion of an agreement with insurers is an exclusively voluntary decision. But many people are simply forced to purchase policies. The grounds may be the following:

Tenant association requirements;

Bank conditions when applying for a mortgage.

Residents of regions prone to frequent natural disasters ensure real estate so as not to stay on the streets after another natural disaster. Many also seek to protect themselves from damage caused by fires. According to statistics, they are the most common reason for contacting insurers for payments.

Many states have special natural disaster insurance programs that commercial structures have traditionally been abandoned. This includes floods and earthquakes. They are being developed at the federal level and with the local government. Home or other property insurance is conditionally voluntary for participation in such programs. Anyone can refuse to do this. But in the event of natural disasters, such people will not be able to rely on state aid, loans, and subsidies if the building was damaged during a devastating event typical of the region.

A real estate insurance policy takes effect only 30 days after its conclusion. This reduces the chances of attempts to pay security fees only when an immediate threat arises. For example, if you were insured against a hurricane and it erupted in a week, you will not be able to receive compensation.

Title Insurance

Here we are not talking about an honorary title, but about the right to a specific property. As a rule, after acquiring property, people receive identification documents. Before the transaction, the legal purity of the object is checked. But this does not exclude a dispute. After all, sometimes documents that no one has seen for hundreds of years can come up, and the court will review the rights of the owners, giving the recently acquired property to other people. Title insurance protects against such cases.

The cost of the policy is less than one percent of the value of the object. However, if an insured event occurs, the damage is calculated based on the prices that exist at the time the payment becomes necessary. For example, a house is worth a million. When buying, the price was 50,000. In case of loss of ownership, the owner who insured the title will receive a million.

Things to Do to Keep Safe While Traveling by Air

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 6, 2020)–At a time when the entire world has gotten under the grip of the Coronavirus, it becomes important to talk about the ways in which we can handle ourselves and look after our health while traveling by air. Air travel is one of the easiest ways and the most convenient means of moving across long distances. But the same convenience and comfort can turn to ashes in the mouth when you have a virus at large, floating freely across volumes of air. It is not just about battling Coronavirus when you are traveling by air; it is about staying safe by all means and under every circumstance. The outbreak of this particular virus might not be a long-term affair. It shall subside like every other epidemic after a short while, but that is not a blank check to throwing caution to the air and not paying much attention to one’s health while traveling via air.

The article that we have put together talks about the ways in which we can stay safe while catching that plane, not just from a virus but also from unforeseen circumstances like the loss of documents and valuables while traveling.

Take Care of Your Health While Traveling:

You cannot hope to survive the ravages of any demanding situation if you have to keep worrying about your deteriorating health. It is imperative that you pay the utmost attention to your body while traveling by air. We shall, therefore, talk about the ways in which you can look after your health and then move on to the other aspects of air travel. Traveling by a domestic flight or not, booked via

Jettly

, prioritizing your health is primal.

Remember to Wear Masks-

You might not understand the importance of wearing masks while traveling by air, but it is time that you do. The air surrounding us is a disease-carrying vector, and it only takes less than a second to fall prey to the nuisance of a virus. Therefore, always use a mask even if you are seated within the confines of the aircraft.

Wash Your Hands Before and After Using the Toilet in the Plane-

You never know the kind of diseases that people are capable of carrying in them. Therefore, you must make it a point to sanitize your hands or at least wash it with plain water after you use the toilet. The toilet is the place where you are more prone to getting infected, and thus, you cannot afford to take any chances.

Drink Up-

As some would say, water solves everything. And the need for water by your body increases all the more when you are traveling. Therefore, make sure that you are hydrated; enough to sustain the long haul by air.

Keep One Eye On Your Travel Documents, Always:

Now that we have covered the discussion on how to take care of your health while boarding the flight, it is time to pay attention to the travel documents. You cannot afford to lose your documents or your valuables while traveling via air. Therefore, it is essential to understand how you could keep your documents safe or at least deal with a situation where one or more of your documents go missing.

Always Keep a Backup of Your Documents-

A photocopy might not serve the exact purpose as that of an original, but you could rest assured that the photocopies can at least serve as pieces of vital evidence. In case your documents go missing, you can always furnish your photocopies and apply for a set of new ones.

Keep Your Passport Handy-

Keep your passport safe, but do not pack it with your clothes. Keep your passport in your handbag so that you can always keep an eye on it and reach out for it when required. You cannot afford to lose your passport while flying.

Do Not Keep Your Documents in the Check-in Baggage-

Airlines take the utmost care in keeping your check-in baggage safe. But there is always a slim chance of losing a piece of your luggage or two. Therefore, you must avoid keeping your important documents in the check-in baggage.

Conclusion:

It is important to be safe while you are traveling by air. Airlines might have their own sweet ways of taking care of their passengers. But, you, as an aware and responsible passenger, must take up the measures of keeping yourself safe and protected against threats of all kinds.

Face of Defense: Authorities Apprehend Smugglers, Seize $46.2M in Cocaine

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO 02.04.2020 Photo by Ricardo Castrodad U.S. Coast Guard District 7 PADET San Juan, Crew members of the Coast Guard Cutter Bear (WMEC-901) offload 3,086 pounds of cocaine Tuesday in San Juan, Puerto Rico Feb. 4, 2020. The drugs were seized following two separate interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the Coast Guard and the United Kingdom Royal Navy Jan. 24 and Jan. 30, which resulted in the detention of nine smugglers.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Coast Guard, United Kingdom Royal Navy and U.S. law enforcement partners seized 1,400 kilograms (3,086) pounds of cocaine and detained nine suspected smugglers following the interdiction of two separate drug smuggling events in the Caribbean Sea Jan. 24 and Jan. 30, 2020.

The seized drug shipments are estimated to have a wholesale value of more than $46.2 million.

The interdiction was a result of an international, multi-agency law enforcement effort in support of Operation Unified Resolve, Operation Caribbean Guard, Campaign Martillo (a joint, interagency, 20-nation collaborative counter narcotic effort), and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF), and will be prosecuted by the U.S. Federal District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.

“These interdictions highlight the importance of working with our allied partners such as the United Kingdom Royal Navy, as well as our joint interagency collaboration with the Department of Defense and our local and federal law enforcement in the region, said Rear Adm. Eric C. Jones, commander of the Coast Guard Seventh District. “These efforts, underpinned by our unwavering resolve to stop drug smuggling vessels at sea, greatly contribute to safeguarding our citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and protecting our shared interests of a safer and more secure Caribbean.”

“These interdictions highlight the importance of working with our international partners as we combat drug trafficking,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “These large drug seizures make our community safer by keeping the narcotics out of our neighborhoods. We commend all of our partner agencies for their steadfast efforts.”

\”These operations reiterate the significance of intelligence and resource sharing amongst agencies,” said A.J. Collazo, DEA Caribbean Division special agent in charge. “Successful interdictions like these, will continue to happen as a result of the collaborative efforts between DEA, USCG, HSI, FBI, the USAO and our foreign counterparts. We will continue to aggressively target and disrupt drug trafficking organizations operating in the Caribbean.\”

In the first interdiction, the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy RFA Mounts Bay (L3008), while on patrol with a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and a Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) armed helicopter onboard, detected two suspicious go-fast vessels, approximately 74 nautical miles south of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

The RFA Mounts Bay launched the Coast Guard HITRON helicopter and the ship’s pursuit vessel with the Coast Guard LEDET to interdict both suspect vessels.

The Coast Guard LEDET boarding team, with the assistance of RFA Mounts Bay crewmembers, boarded both suspect vessels, apprehending the seven men and seizing 42 bales of suspected contraband.

In the second interdiction, a marine patrol aircraft detected a northbound target of interest, southeast of Isla Beata, Dominican Republic. The cutter Bear along with a helicopter responded to interdict the go-fast. Cutter Bear’s Over the Horizon cutter boat and embarked helicopter arrived on scene and stopped the go-fast. Cutter Bear’s boarding team detained the two men aboard the go-fast, after discovering 13 bales of suspected contraband.

The cutter Bear delivered the seized contraband and detainees from both cases to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-HSI, and DEA special agents in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday.

Between October 2019 and December 2019, the Coast Guard and Caribbean Border Interagency Group authorities have seized 12,060 kilograms of cocaine and 407 pounds of Marijuana during law enforcement operations surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The wholesale value for these seizures is worth more than $314 million.

These cases are part of the CCSF, a multiagency OCDETF strike force comprised of federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, DHS, ICE, FBI, USCG, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service and the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety.

The Coast Guard’s efforts under Operation Unified Resolve contribute to the interagency results being achieved each and every day locally under Operation Caribbean Guard, which coordinates efforts between the Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Commonwealth and Territorial law enforcement partners, who are working diligently to deter, detect and disrupt illicit maritime trafficking to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cutter Bear (WMEC-901) is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth Va.

The RFA Mounts Bay is a Bay-class auxiliary landing ship dock belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), which provides logistical support to the United Kingdom Royal Navy.

OFFICER DOWN: Florida Trooper Joseph Bullock Shot and Killed

Trooper Joseph Bullock

Florida Highway Patrol, Florida

End of Watch

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

PALM CITY, FLORIDA (February 5, 2020)–Trooper Joseph Bullock was shot and killed when he encountered a subject at a rest stop on I-95 in Palm City.

Additional details have not yet been released.

Trooper Bullock was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 19 years.

Via

Officer Down Memorial page

CNB Crime

Blue Line

CNBNews Tips and Snippets

CNBNews Point of View

BREAKING NEWS

published Gloucestercitynews.net | February 5, 2020

Philadelphia\’s Sensory-Friendly Attractions & Performances

PHILADELPHIA, PA–Inclusivity is embedded in the original promise of Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. Today, the region keeps that promise to residents and visitors with sensory sensitivity. Some of Philly’s most popular attractions, including

The Franklin Institute

and

Please Touch

Museum

have sensory-friendly policies and programming. So, too, do eminent arts organizations such as

Pennsylvania Ballet

and

The

Philadelphia Orchestra.

Much credit for the region’s expanding sensory-friendly offerings goes to professor

Roger Ideishi

and

Art-Reach

who, together, facilitate arts and cultural environments that respect both the needs of people with cognitive disabilities and the expression of the artists and attractions themselves.

Here’s a look at Philadelphia venues and groups that have recently expanded their sensory-friendly programming:

Sensory-Friendly Attractions

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University –

Philadelphia’s dinosaur museum offers children with autism and their families exclusive Access to Science six Saturday or Sunday mornings (9-11 a.m.) per year. For these occasions and any day, visual, easy-to-follow pre-visit Museum Stories help prepare visitors of all developmental abilities for exploring the museum, including the exhibition

Survival of the Slowest

(February 15 – September 20, 2020)

January 26, February 23, May 2, June 7, July 11, August 23, September 26, October 24, November 18

and

December 29, 2020.

1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 299-1060,

ansp.org

Brandywine River Museum of Art –

A bucolic campus surrounds galleries known for three generations of Wyeths, which open select mornings for free Sensory-Friendly Saturdays. Registered families receive pre-visit social stories and enjoy hands-on activities, along with support from experienced volunteers, fidgets, noise-cancelling headphones and sensory break areas. Any day, visitors may borrow a sensory-friendly museum pack containing social stories, fidgets, noise-cancelling headphones and activities suggestions.

March 28, 2020

1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, (610) 388-8120,

brandywine.org

The Franklin Institute –

On five Sensory-Friendly Sundays per year, the tri-state area’s most-visited museum opens its doors early (8 a.m.), modifies exhibits and employs trained staff and volunteers to create a comfortable environment for visitors on the autism spectrum. Guests who pre-register are admitted free of charge, as are visitors who arrive before 9:30 a.m. The event ends at noon. Every day, sensory alert maps are available for permanent and temporary exhibits.

March 15, June 14

and

October 4, 2020.

222 N. 20

Street, (215) 448-1200,

fi.edu

LEGOland Discovery Center

Philadelphia –

At Special Sensory Days (really, early evenings, 5-7 p.m.) at this indoor Montgomery County attraction, staff trained with The Ruttenberg

Autism Center help create a calm, quiet, gentle environment for children to play with the world’s most popular toys. Break rooms, reduced light, music therapy from Keep Music Alive and pre- and during-visit social stories are available to families, along with a reduced ticket price.

February 4, May 5, July 7

and

November 3, 2020.

Plymouth Meeting Mall, 500 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, (267) 245-9696,

legolanddiscoverycenter.com

National Constitution Center –

The museum dedicated to the four most powerful pages in U.S. history holds Sensory Friendly Days several times a year. Each all-day event comes with pre-visit guides, emotionally safe spaces, modified programming and staff trained to assist all guests.

February 3, 23

and

24, March 9, June 7, September 6

and

December 6, 2020.

525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6700,

constitutioncenter.org

Philadelphia Museum of Art –

Sensory-Friendly Mornings take place quarterly before select Sunday Family Programs within galleries of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and on select summer Wednesdays and Saturdays as part of

Art Splash

, an interactive exhibition for children. With lowered lights and volume, fewer crowds, the 1.5-hour session offers sensory break areas, on-hand occupational therapists and hands-on art activities geared toward many developmental levels. Registered participants receive a pre-visit social guide.

February 23, 2020.

Main Building, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway; Perelman Building, 2525 Pennsylvania Avenue, (215) 763-8100,

philamuseum.org

Philadelphia Zoo –

America’s first zoo worked with the Center for Autism Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to create KidZooU, a hands-on, child-centric exhibit that uses the Universal Design concept to offer an inclusive, enriching experience for children. Pre-visit materials, including a picture-exchange system, are available on the zoo’s website. 3400 W. Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100,

philadelphiazoo.org

Please Touch Museum

–

The premise of this boundless little kid destination: Children learn through play. Every day, Please Touch offers a dedicated quiet space, sound-reducing headphones and staff trained to help everyone. Several Sunday mornings per year, Play Without Boundaries serves children with learning and developmental disabilities and on the autism spectrum with a sensory-friendly, all-access museum experience with Floreo virtual reality, therapy animals and community health experts.

March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2

and

September 6, 2020.

Memorial Hall, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181,

pleasetouchmuseum.org

pleasetouchmuseum.org/pageblocks/accessibility-play-without-boundaries

Sesame Place –

Just over 25 miles northeast of Center City, this vibrant amusement and water park, home to Elmo, Big Bird, Abby Cadabby and Julia, has trained its staff in sensory awareness, motor and social skills, emotional awareness and communication. Sesame Place offers designated quiet rooms and low-sensory areas and a sensory guide for its attractions. 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, (215) 702-3566,

sesameplace.com

Sensory-Friendly Performances

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts –

The centerpiece of the Avenue of the Arts select productions with relaxed house rules, designated quiet areas, trained staff and Art-Reach volunteers and sensory-friendly kits (noise-cancelling headphones, weighted bean bags, fidget toys). Audience members are welcome to bring their own sensory-friendly stress relief devices and move about as they wish. New sensory-friendly performances dates TBA. 250 S. Broad Street, (215) 893-1999,

kimmelcenter.org

LiveConnections –

This music nonprofit prioritizes accessibility across its educational and concert programming, especially

Bridge Sessions,

at its partner venue, World Cafe Live. Skilled teaching artists lead 75-minute educational performances that mix in interactive activities and provide multiple ways for all-age participants to engage in music-making through call-and-response, movement, playing percussion instruments, creating rhythm poems and more. Lighting and sound adjustments, cool-down space, sensory toys and know-before-you-go guides are available. Dates TBA. 3025 Walnut Street, (267) 295-2946,

liveconnections.org

Montgomery Theater –

This intimate venue puts on one relaxed performance per family musical, play or comedy, offering pre-visit materials, partially up house lights, loosened rules, quiet space, sound mitigation and a modified refund policy. The next such performances:

The Marvelous Wonderettes

April 11, 2020;

Frozen Jr.

May 16, 2020;

The Witches

October 17, 2020;

The Carols

November 28, 2020.

124 N. Main Street, Souderton, (215) 723-9984,

montgomerytheater.org

Pennsylvania Ballet –

Philadelphia’s eminent ballet company proudly offers sensory-friendly performances throughout the season and during the wintertime run of

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker

. This spring, the PA Ballet 2 company will perform

Snow White

in a sensory-friendly setting at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center. Pre-show materials guide patrons on going to the theater and tell the stories behind the choreography, music and characters. The theater adjusts sound and lighting and relaxes its rules — free movement and expression are welcome — and adds a quiet space and gluten-free concessions.

Snow White

April 18, 2020,

Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, (610) 622-1189,

udpac.org

;

Nutcracker

December 30, 2020,

Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad Street,

(215) 551-7000,

paballet.org

paballet.org/season-tickets/sensory-friendly-performances

People’s Light –

The mission of this large, nonprofit, professional suburban theater is education through performance. During Relaxed Performances, the house becomes a shush-free zone, so patrons with autism, ADD, ADHA, dementia and sensory sensitivities can freely express themselves during musicals and more. House lights remain low; startling lighting is reduced; sounds levels are lowered; crowds are limited; the lobby opens a quiet area, and fidget, stress- sensory toys and disposable ear plugs are available. Upcoming performances include:

Shakespeare in Love,

March 15, 2020

and

Songs for Nobodies

August 28, 2020.

39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, (610) 644-3500,

peopleslight.org

peopleslight.org/visit/accessibility/relaxed-performances

The Philadelphia Orchestra –

The orchestra has long shared its talents with children and families during their

Sound All Around

concerts, held on the comfortable carpet of the Academy of Music ballroom. The group also designates the Saturday edition of these popular, intimate performances as sensory-friendly (Brass,

February 8, 2020;

Ensemble,

March 21, 2020

). . The full orchestra’s sensory-friendly performances—and most family concerts—feature a no-shush policy, cool-down spaces, lighting adjustments, trained helpers and both planned and impromptu interaction between musicians and audience members, in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Carnival of the Animals

March 7, 2020;

The Life and Times of Beethoven

May 2, 2020.

Academy, 240 S. Broad Street; Kimmel, 300 S. Broad Street, (215) 893-1900,

philorch.org

Theatre Horizon –

This Montgomery Country theater began offering an Autism Drama Program a decade ago and has served 680 children and adults in six-week, spring-through-fall sessions. Each season brings relaxed performances of major productions, dates TBA. 401 DeKalb Street, Norristown, (610) 283-2230,

theatrehorizon.org

VISIT PHILADELPHIA

is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.

On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog,

visitphilly.com

and

uwishunu.com

, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.

Black History Month Inspired Collection

Philadelphia, PA (February 2020)

– Every February, the celebration of Black History Month observes the importance of African Americans in United States history. Nigerian-born entrepreneur and fashion designer Addie Elabor and her clothing line

D’IYANU

celebrate these achievements regularly by encouraging self expression and empowering individuals to express their cultural pride through all of their collections. With its official release on January 24, 2020, Elabor and her team present

D\’IYANU’s Black History Month Collection.

Inspired by traditional African prints, the Black History Month Collection features fashionable formal wear for men, women, and children. Ladies can make a bold statement in

African print maxi dresses, maxi skirts, peplum blazers, matching pants, and head wraps.

Men are sure to stand out in colorful, African-inspired prints in long and short sleeved tee shirts. The collection also includes matching designs for children to create a photo-worthy family look. The eye-catching patterns and vibrant prints, ranging from

$19.99-109.99

, set this collection apart while still offering the affordable price range of the previous collections.

D’IYANU welcomes customers interested in the Black History Month Collection to visit their Norristown showroom. Located on

910 E. Main St.

, the beautiful showroom is open

Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

and offers guests a uniquely intimate personal shopping experience. Elabor and her team of stylists are available onsite either by appointment or walk-in to answer questions about fit, fabric selections, and help inspire confident and bold D’IYANU wardrobes. The collection is also available

online

Connect and follow the latest trends with D’IYANU on

Facebook,

Twitter

, and

Instagram

. Shop the 2020 Black History Month Collection and best sellers on their

website

For media inquiries and/or interview requests, please contact

mara@PhillyPRGirl.com

###

About D’IYANU

The tough, competitive, and nerve-wrecking fashion industry didn’t stop designer Addie Elabor from following her heart and launching

D’IYANU

in January of 2014. Iyanu translates to “miracle” or “wonderful” in the Nigerian Yoruba language, and D’ means “of” or “from” in French. With the combination of her Yoruba and French background, the name

D’IYANU

, “of something wonderful” was established to remind everyone they are uniquely made and to dress like it. Addie also made it her purpose to help build schools and clinics for underdeveloped communities in Nigeria and other African countries.

The Afua is sure to be your next favorite maxi dress.The gorgeous African Print (Black Gold Mudcloth) is bold and vibrant. At the top, the Afua dress has an off the shoulder cut. It features a unique high-low cut at the bottom which leaves room to show off your best heels.

The Men\’s Bomani African Print Long Sleeve V-Neck Tee in the black and gold mudcloth print is especially made for the culturally confident gentleman. Rock African print in style by pairing the look with dress pants or blue jeans to achieve a day to night look.

Dress your little one in our comfortable Umi African Print Kid\’s Color Block Tee. Your child can represent their heritage while looking dope. From the classroom to the playground, this versatile piece can be worn in any setting.

Cooler Weather is Good for You; Get Your Family Outside

Parents and guardians may be tempted to dial back outdoor activities when cold temperatures arrive, but getting outside is good for children and their families, even in the wintertime. The

TurfMutt environmental education and stewardship program

encourages families to appreciate and use the outdoors and offers the following tips:

Do outdoor activities that are fun.

Weather that adults consider to be “messy” can be a huge canvas for children and their imaginations. Fall leaf piles, snowball fights, and snow forts offer a wealth of opportunities for parents to play with their children and to explore and experiment in our living landscapes.

Encourage exploration.

Ask your child to look at how the landscape changes with the seasons. Talk about what happens after leaves fall, when snow arrives, when it’s windy, and more, linking these seasonable changes with basic science about clouds, rainfall, temperature changes and the earth.

Try something new

. Try your hands at cross-country skiing, igloo-building, fall or winter hiking, ice fishing, ice skating, snow sculpting, snowshoeing, or something else that your children want to try to give them an appreciation of the outdoors in all seasons.

Do yardwork as a family.

Involve everyone in seasonal yard chores to make the work go faster. Children can help put outdoor toys into storage and help tidy the yard. Just remember that if using outdoor power equipment like a lawn mower or leaf blower for your cleanup, children should be indoors and supervised, and they should not be near equipment when it’s operating.

Mention how getting outside helps our happiness.

Even winter sunshine can make kids happy—literally. Sunlight boosts Vitamin D, which helps regulate emotional and mental moods by increasing serotonin in the brain. Even exposure to weaker sunlight in the winter can cause this joy boost.

Tolerate some mess

. It’s a given that kids going outside in all sorts of weather will often return wet, muddy and messy. Be prepared for wet and cold kids and get them warmed up when they return from playing outside.

Process what they did. Ask kids to share about what they did outdoors or ask them to write or draw out their activities and observations. Did they see something new? Did something surprise them? What was fun?

Learn more about the TurfMutt program at

www.TurfMutt.com

and more about our living landscapes in all seasons at

www.SaveLivingLandscapes.com

Face of Defense: To the Moon … And Beyond!

FACE OF DEFENSE

AMERICAN HERO

Marine Corps Maj. Jasmin Moghbeli Job Title: NASA Astronaut Hometown: Baldwin, New York Unit: NASA Astronaut Group 22, \’\’The Turtles\’\’ Stationed: Johnson Space Center, Houston

JAN. 16, 2020 |

KATIE LANGE

, DOD NEWS

What was the process of getting into the astronaut candidate program?

I just submitted a resume on USAJobs.gov. It sounds almost underwhelming, right? Then, I came back here [to Johnson Space Center] for two rounds of interviews and got accepted to the program.

Tell me about the training you went through.

The training was really exciting and diverse. You have to be able to do a little bit of everything as an astronaut because, up in space, you\’re the doctor; you\’re the maintainer; you\’re the scientist and the spacewalker; and, so, the variety of things we\’ve learned over these two years has been incredible. Some of the major courses we learned were robotics, learning to speak Russian, learning about the International Space Station and its systems, and learning how to do spacewalks. Then, there\’s flying the T-38 jets!

What did you struggle with most?

The hardest part, for me, was the training in the neutral buoyancy lab. That’s where we trained for spacewalks. I’ve watched astronauts do spacewalks before, and you think, \’Wow, they make it look so easy and so smooth,\’ and that the suit is just an extension of their body. But then I got in there for the first time, and it’s just completely different than you\’d imagined. You now have to walk with your hands, and anytime you squeeze your hands to do anything, you’re fighting the pressure in the suit. It was just really tricky learning how to move within that suit. It\’s your own personal spacecraft at that point, and [you\’re] learning how to work with it by fighting against it.

What did you do best during training?

Something that I thought would be a challenge that I did well at was learning Russian. I\’ve really enjoyed learning another language, learning about their culture. We have one-on-one instruction, and my instructor is absolutely incredible. That was something I knew would be a real challenge, but I feel like I really progressed in it.

How did you feel when they announced that you were officially an astronaut?

I felt honored to be joining the company of so many amazing women and men.

Was this a dream of yours growing up?

I was actually born in Germany, but I grew up in Baldwin, New York, on Long Island. I went through kindergarten and high school there, and I dreamed of being exactly where I am today, which is really exciting for me. I wanted to be an astronaut since I was a kid, and when you say in sixth grade, \’I want to become an astronaut\’ nobody thinks you\’re actually going to become an astronaut. While it wasn\’t always the main focus of what I was doing at each point in my life, it\’s always been there in the background, driving the general path of where I\’ve been going.

Was the Marine Corps an asset to your success?

Being in the Marine Corps was a huge asset. It’s a testament to all those people and the mentorship. The Marine Corps played a very important part in shaping me and giving me a lot of the skills I needed – not just the hard skills but a lot of the soft skills, like how to communicate and how to take my entire team into consideration and not just my personal needs. It\’s hard to teach those things, but we do it very well in the Marine Corps. And my test piloting background — the operational experience and the engineering side of that — both tie in perfectly here.

As an official astronaut, what\’s next on your agenda?

It\’s a super exciting time to be in human space exploration. We\’ve been on the International Space Station for almost 20 years continuously now, and we\’ve got several new vehicles on the horizon. There\’s Boeing and Space X, both with their commercial crew vehicles. NASA is developing Orion and the Space Launch System to go onto the moon, and there\’s Mars with the [Lunar] Gateway program. So, there are a lot of exciting things. Right now, in my day to day, I\’m focused on the human lander system and getting us to the moon.

Do you think you could be the first female astronaut to get to the moon?

There is a chance, but at this point I’m just excited that I’ll know the first woman to be on the moon!

In 2015, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicole Mann became the first female Marine to graduate from the astronaut program and she mentored you. What would you say to her for that?

You\’ve been an inspiration to me. She was my mentor right from the beginning — called me before I ever showed up here and made sure I had what I needed. Watching you and knowing you\’re going to be the first person on the launch of a new spacecraft is such an inspiration.

What drives you to do better?

I think the same thing that pushes people in the military every day — your sisters and brothers to your left and right. We\’re in a similar job here where your failures … there are life or death situations here. What we do inherently is risky because we\’re constantly pushing the boundaries and just thinking, \’I need to focus because my buddy could be on that vehicle I was working on.\’ And I think that motivates me a lot.

What advice would you give to future generations of Marines?

Whatever you\’re interested in, have that vision of what you want to do, but also don\’t forget to focus on what you\’re doing in the moment. I wasn’t always assigned to the job I wanted to be assigned to, but I put my effort into that to the best of my ability and tried to do the best I could at that job. So, whether you\’re sweeping floors or doing something really cool, just do the best you can do.

Also, I think something that gets lost sometimes is being kind to others. When you\’re in the position to mentor someone, think back to when you were in their position and first learning something. Just remember we\’re all on the same team.

FACE OF DEFENSE

AMERICAN HERO

South Florida Federal Case Reveals Illegal Immigrants Buy, Rent Kids for Easier U.S. Entry

SOUTH FLORIDA–A federal case out of south Florida illustrates the perils of a U.S. policy that facilitates the entry of illegal immigrants with children over those traveling alone. The matter involves a Guatemalan national who obtained false documents in his impoverished Central American country to claim a 12-year-old boy as his son. The 35-year-old illegal alien, Walfre Eliseo Camposeco-Montejo, and his fake son were released by federal authorities as a family unit and remained free until the boy escaped. Camposeco-Montejo eventually pled guilty to providing and obtaining forced labor, alien smuggling and unlawfully transporting aliens. This month he was sentenced to

eight years in prison

for labor trafficking a minor.

Camposeco-Montego and the minor illegally entered the U.S. by crossing the Rio Grande in November 2016, according to the feds. Not coincidentally, there was a huge spike in family units entering the country via the southern border that year. In fact, Judicial Watch

reported

it after obtaining Department of Homeland Security (DHS) figures showing that, in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2016, the number of family units apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol nearly doubled from the previous year. The majority of the illegal border crossers remained in the country under former President Barack Obama’s special refugee and family reunification programs. The Rio Grande Border Patrol sector used by Camposeco-Montego saw an astounding 91% increase in family units the year he crossed it with the boy, according to the government figures.

“Upon their arrest by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, when crossing the border, Camposeco-Montejo lied about being the boy’s father,” according to a Department of Justice (DOJ)

statement

issued this month. “Based upon Camposeco-Montejo’s false representations, he and the boy were released as a family unit and subsequently made their way to Florida.” The Guatemalan illegal alien obtained false identification documents for the boy and forced him to work in south Florida farms for months to repay a debt from the human smuggling operation, according to federal prosecutors. The scheme was exposed because the boy was eventually able to escape and report his smuggler. Authorities say the smuggler promised the boy’s mother he would provide him with an education upon arriving in the U.S.

In the last few years federal agents along the Mexican border have uncovered thousands of similar cases in which illegal immigrants use children to practically assure entry into the U.S. Family units also avoid long-term federal custody. They are known as “fake families.” During

congressional testimony

over the summer, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) explained the situation: “By requiring the release of family units before the conclusion of immigration proceedings, seemingly well-intentioned court rulings and legislation are being exploited by transnational criminal organizations and human smugglers,” Matthew Albence told lawmakers during the July hearing. “These despicable smugglers have created an entire illicit industry with untold millions of dollars being made through the sale, rental, and recycling of children—utilized by unscrupulous adults to pose as family units.”

The word that kids are a ticket into the U.S. has spread like wildfire throughout Central America. The nation’s largest Spanish-language news network, also viewed throughout Latin America, even aired a segment titled

“Children as Passport”

that points out “arriving at the U.S. border with a child in hand has become the best passport for tens of thousands of Central American migrants.” Another major Spanish news conglomerate recently reported that immigrants

buy children for $130

to create fake families that facilitate crossing the border. One Spanish news story reveals that a Guatemalan man

rented

an 8-year-old boy to cross the Lukeville port of entry in Arizona. Throughout Central America and Mexico, a multitude of news reports and social media postings reiterate similar stories.

As a result, there has been a huge—and unprecedented—rise in family units at the southern border. In 2019 there were 473,682 apprehensions of family units, an increase of more than quadruple from the previous year, according to a

report

issued by the Pew Research Center. The nonpartisan think tank describes it as a “big shift from the recent past” in which individual adults far outnumbered family units or unaccompanied children. Family units also represented more than half of all apprehensions in 2019. “The changing profile of those being apprehended has strained the Border Patrol, which follows different legal protocols for detaining family members and single adults,” the Pew report states.

SOURCE

https://www.judicialwatch.org/