Grappling with flathead catfish: An Oklahoma noodling adventure

David Dishman and Ed Godfrey waded through a creek for a noodling adventure. Noodlers use their bare hands, and some times feet, to catch flathead catfish.

Jordan Green and Paige Dillard, Oklahoman

John Stephens chuckled at the question ofwhetherbabies born in Stuttgart, Arkansas, are given duck calls instead of pacifiers to suck on.

"It seems like everybody that comes from here knows how to blow a duck call," the 48-year-old call maker said.

Stephens is a world duck calling champion who grew up on arice farm nearStuttgart, longknown as the "Rice and Duck Capital of the World."

Atown of about 10,000 residents, Stuttgart is a six-hour drive from Oklahoma City and is hallowed ground to duck hunters. Mallardshave been flocking to the rice fields and bottomlandforests aroundStuttgartfor many, manyyears.

That, plus the maze ofrivers, bayous, sloughs and oxbow lakes makeStuttgart, located 45 miles southeast of Little Rock,a magnet for ducks.

"We have a lot of hardwood bottoms around here that flood naturally," Stephens said. "It's just kind of a natural funnel where ducks come for wintering grounds."

And it's wintering grounds for duck hunters from across the country.

More: 'Every single life matters': WildCare saves wild animals and returns them to the wild

The flooded timber of theBayou Meto Wildlife Management Area, about 15 miles southwest of Stuttgart, is considered thecrown jewel of public lands for waterfowl hunting.

The opening days of waterfowl season can get crowded atBayou Meto, even with its 33,832 acres.

Between1,500 to 2,000 hunters usethe area each day in the early days of duck season and about350 hunters use the area daily therest of the season.

Thirty-five miles southeast of Stuttgart is the White River National Wildlife Refuge, home to the largest concentration of winteringmallard ducksin theMississippi Flyway.

AcrosstheDelta region of southeast Arkansas, near the confluence of the White, Arkansas and Mississippi rivers, there are duck hunting opportunities galorewhen there is adequate rainfall to flood the public hunting areas alongthe river bottoms.

"This is a very dry year for us and we don't have quite the public land available because it's not flooded," Stephens said. "But on a normal year, that's what I think brings a lot of people here. You can just put a boat in and go somewhere and hunt."

Last weekend, Stephens met duck hunters from Florida, Maine, North Carolina, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas in Stuttgart.In additionto mallards, hunting speckled-belly geese has become extremely popular in recent years, he said.

"There's a lot of good hunting in Stuttgart, for sure," Stephens said.

More: Do the dead stick drift: How to catch big stripers in the winter on Lake Texoma

The town of Stuttgart embraces all things duck and duck hunting, during and outside of waterfowl season.

"That's one of thecool things about Stuttgart," Stephens said. "It's kind of duck season 365 days a year.Everything is just centered around the rice harvest and the fall migration of ducks,"

There are numerous of duck hunting guides operating in Stuttgart. Itis home to the world duck calling championships each Thanksgiving weekend.

Mack's Prairie Wings, which advertises itself as America's Premier Waterfowl Outfitter, calls Stuttgart home.

Down the road from Mack's is Rich-N-Tone Calls (also called RNT Calls), one of the largest duck call manufacturers in the world. Stephens is RNT'spresident and chief executive officer.

And his journey to the top of the call making world began when he was a young boyin Stuttgart.

More: Catch and keep: Oklahoma Wildlife Department hopes to change mindset of bass anglers

Stephens first went duck hunting with his dad at age5.

"I don't remember a whole lot about it, but I remember when I got to be the age of 6 or 7 they gave me a duck call to blow when we were sitting out in a blind," he said. "I was just making a bunch of racket, really."

A duck flew inand the hunters shot it. Stephens said there is no way thatduck could have beenresponding to the noise he was making, but it hooked him on duck calling.

In Stuttgart, there was a community of call makers, and a young Stephens would be a frequent visitor to watch them work and pick their brains.

"There were probably a dozen call makers in this town," Stephens said.

One of the bestwas a local craftsman namedButch Richenback, who won a world duck calling championship in 1972 and was the 1975 Champion of Champions caller.

In 1976, Richenback startedRich-N-Tone duckcalls. In the beginning, making duck calls was more of a hobby and not a full-time job for Richenback, Stephens said.

"I grew up going over to his little shop in his garage, learning how to blow a duck call," Stephens said. "And that is where I got interested in making calls."

More than 20 years later, when Richenback began having health issues, he began looking tosell the company. Richenback could have sold Rich-N-Tone to alarger companybut he asked Stephens, whom he had mentored as a boy, tobuy it.

Stephens was working as a landscape architect at the time and was reluctant about taking over for a legend, but he bought the company in 1999.

Oklahoma outdoors: MLB pitcher Archie Bradley turns into a duck hunting outfitter during the offseason

Today, Rich-N-Tone is one of the top sellers of duck calls in the world and the company has its own duck hunting show on the Sportsman Channel. Stephens is one of three co-hosts.

Rich-N-Tone calls aremachine-builtthen finished by hand and tuned, but Stephens also has his own brand of custom-made calls that he still makes by hand. The Rich-N-Tone calls sell from $65 to $200, while Stephens' customcalls start around $500.

Visitors to Rich-N-Tone's headquarters in Stuttgart can view how the calls are made. They can also see a collection of vintageduck calls.

In addition to being a call maker, Stephens is a call collector. He displays old duck calls from different collectors around the country at his store and manufacturing facility in Stuttgart."Right now, we have a duck call collection from Tennessee," he said. "It's over 200 calls dating back from 1880 to 1950. We get a lot of people that come through to see the calls and get a beer."

That's because three years ago Stephens also addeda tap room for craft beer atRich-N-Tone. The company's flagshipbeeris the"Flying Duck."

Rich-N-Tone partnered with Flyway Brewing in Little Rock to makethe "Flying Duck" beer, which is sold in Harps Food Stores and liquorstores across Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The Flying Duck tap room getscrowded during duck season.

"During duck season we are packed," Stephens said of the tap room. "It's cool because you don't go to too many places where the whole placeis filled with duck hunters."

Reporter Ed Godfrey looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at egodfrey@oklahoman.com or on Twitter @EdGodfrey. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

See original here:
Duck, Duck, Beer: What makes Stuttgart, Arkansas, the duck hunting capital of the world? - Oklahoman.com

Kim Frisbie| Special to the Daily News

I was delighted the other day to pass a bright sign outside a garden along the ocean proclaiming, Native Plants bring Life to this Landscape. The sign was outlined with pictures of cardinals, butterflies, coral honeysuckle, dune sunflower, gaillardia, and other native flowers, with the logo FANN, the Florida Association of Native Nurseries at the bottom. Peeking over the gate, I saw a mass of colorful natives thriving happily along the dunes. People are paying attention.

The New York City Parks Department recently jumped on the native plant bandwagon, urging the public to plant natives to help sharply declining bird and pollinator populations, which they acknowledge are in dire need of more natural space.The Parks Departments Pollinator Place Program supports birds, bugs and bees year-round by planting native gardens in city parks.Similar native gardens are springing up across the country, as people become more aware of the urgency to save our existing species, which happen to include us.

We have the all-native Pans Garden at The Preservation Foundation, and Lake Drive Park at the towns new marina hosts an enormous number of native species. The town and The Preservation Foundation are now collaborating on the exciting 18-acre Phipps Ocean Park, a visionary oasis of native plants stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway. Designed by renowned architect Raymond Jungles, the park will include trails through coastal hammocks of native trees, shrubsand wildflowers, educational outdoor classroomsand beautiful vistas overlooking restored dunes and mangrove islands.

These parks play a vital role in reconnecting us with naturebut we shouldnt have to go to a park to hear birds and see butterflies. This should be a part of our everyday lives.

The tropical jungle that was once Florida has been almost entirely replaced with exotic species. Many of these are beautiful and do indeed add to the allure that is Palm Beach, but we need more native plants in the mix to establish balanced ecosystems that support essential polllinators and the birds and wildlife that depend on them.

Diversity of plant material is also crucial; monocultures created by using too much of a single species invite disease and pests. This is underscored by the overuse of Ficus benjamina hedges, which cannot survive without toxic pesticides that poison our air and pollute our water and soil. Native plants have evolved with their insect pollinators in adapting to our specific growing conditions, so they require no chemicals.Once established, native plants will literally bring life to your landscape, providing sustainable habitat for butterflies, bees and other pollinators, songbirds, hummingbirds and interesting wildlife.

There is nothing more joyful than a real, living garden, full of color, fragrance, and activity. This is a far cry from the sterile landscapes to which we have grown accustomed in Palm Beach: lifeless, chemically treated lawns surrounded by sterile, manicured ficus hedges accented with spikes of podocarpus or globes of schefflera trinette provide no environmental sustenance.

A common complaint about natives is that they are too unkempt or not formal enough, but this is not the case if they are planted correctly. Sun-loving plants wont thrive in the shade, and shade-loving plants wilt and yellow in full sun. Its just a matter of learning what to plant in your specific location.

Its also important to take size into consideration: Dont plant a shrub that will grow to 10 feet in front of a window if you want to see out. And understand the natural growing characteristics of plants: tall slender myrsine fits nicely into a shady corner while open spreading fetterbush needs more space, but makes a great hedge or accent plant.

If you want a manicured look, plenty of natives are fine with pruning, including cocoa plum, buttonwood, Simpson's stopperand red cedar. Give plants room to grow; planted too closely, they will not thrive or reach their full potential.

And it wouldnt hurt us to modify our conception of the perfect garden to include more naturalistic plantings. Its fun to experiment with new species to add variety to your landscape; the more diversity you incorporate, the more birds you will attract.

Here are some interesting, beautiful natives that will add grace, distinction and sustainability to your gardens.

Blacktorch, Erithralis fruticosa, is a beautiful accent shrub with glossy evergreen foliage and small star-shaped white flowers followed by striking clusters of shiny black berries. This does well in sun or shade and grows to 6 feet.

Snowberry, Chiococca alba, has drooping clusters of fragrant white bell- shaped flowers followed by lovely bright white berries that glisten against the glossy green foliage. This grows to 8 feet in sun or part shade.

Fetterbush, Lyonia lucida, is a sprawling evergreen shrub growing 3-5 feet, thriving in moist soils in filtered shade. Fragrant white to deep pink flowers appear in spring attracting numerous butterflies, and the fruit is loved by mockingbirds. The evergreen leaves are coppery when young.

Golden creeper, Ernodea littoralis, is a fabulous low-growing, sprawling shrub perfect as a ground cover or in a planter where its arching stems will cascade gracefully over the sides. In coastal areas it forms a spreading mat controlling sand erosion, and the small whitish-pink flowers bloom all year. Heat- and drought-tolerant, it thrives in full sun. This is a threatened species, so you will be doing yourself and the environment a big favor by planting it.

Pearlberry, Vallesia antillana, is another undemanding shrub with beautiful elliptical foliage setting off delicate clusters of milky star-shaped flowers and white, translucent pearl-like berries.This makes a lovely specimen or dense screen in sun or part shade.

White indigoberry, Randia aculeata, is a tough, slow growing evergreen shrub that's perfect for difficult sites with no irrigation. The fragrant white flowers appear year-round, and the white berries enclose an indigo blue pulp. Reaching 10 feet, this can be pruned to a smaller size. It is the larval host for the tantalus sphinx moth and provides nectar for numerous butterflies.

Finally, native plumbago, Plumbago scandens, provides delicate white star-shaped flowers year-round in sun or shade. Growing 3-4 feet, the arching stems intermingle with adjacent plants, making them appear to be blooming as well. The crushed foliage is used medicinally in the Caribbean.

Planting just a few natives will add interest and variety to your gardens, and you will love the butterflies and birds that seek out the nectar and habitat provided by their fruit and foliage. Every one of the plants Ive mentioned can be seen at Pans Garden, and I have them in my garden as well, so I can vouch for their beauty and performance.

There are hundreds of natives from which to choose:experiment with different colors, textures, sizes and shapes. And let the plants natural characteristics dictate where they will be best suited in your landscape. Then sit back and enjoy natures pageant of birds and butterflies.

Read more from the original source:
Green Gardening: Enjoy the bounties of nature that native plants bring - Palm Beach Daily News

For many people, do it yourself, home improvement projects can be rewarding and typically more affordable than paying professional contractors to do the job. This is, of course, if the task at hand is relatively straightforward. However, refacing cabinets is a challenging project, and if mistakes are made, it can turn out more costly than using a professional service.

Though you might save on labor by taking the DIY route, youll still need plenty of supplies and tools to complete the job, and purchasing them can be expensive. If you cheap out and buy all the products needed at the lowest price, to save money, it will likely result in a poor-quality job.

We have relationships with manufacturers who can provide us with high-quality products at the best price. If you try purchasing similar cabinet doors and draw fronts of the same quality yourself, its going to be much more costly.

Kitchen cabinet refacing requires a lot of expertise and attention to detail. Hiring a professional who has had plenty of experience in carrying out cabinetry work will guarantee the end results are perfect. If you mess up, its on your dollar, and having to fix the issue will add costs and time to your project.

You can expect us to complete the job in two to four days; we have streamlined the process, have skilled, highly-trained professionals on hand, and all the tools and materials needed available. Even the most skilled DIY enthusiast will struggle to complete the work within a week, and thats if they get it right the first time.

If you are firmly determined to reface your cabinets yourself, realize that you dont get the guarantees that a professional cabinet refacing company offers if you mess up. If you want a fast, professional service using high-quality tools and supplies, save yourself the stress and hire skilled cabinet refacing experts such as ourselves.

Visit link:
Kitchen Cabinet Refacing | Kitchen Tune-Up

Affordable Cabinet Refacing deserves an A+

This was the third time my husband and I hired Affordable Cabinet Refacing because we know the quality of their work. Several years ago they refaced our cabinets in our old home. It came out beautiful and when we sold the house, that was the biggest selling pointeveryone at the open house loved the kitchen (got the offer that day!).

Then we had ACR reface our cabinets in our vacation condo in Mount Washington Valley. They did the kitchen and the bathroom it came out really nice; we were very pleased with the results.

Finally, we hired ACR to reface the kitchen cabinets in our new home. This time I changed my mind on my cabinet and countertop selections twice and Shawn was patient with me until I was sure I had ordered what would be best in our kitchen. It came out beautiful., again we were quite pleased with the craftsmanship and quality of the work. I love my roll out shelves and soft close drawers.

All three times Shawn reviewed our options thoroughly and when he wrote up the contract he reviewed it word for word with us so there would be no confusion or errors. They are on time, professional, hardworking and do quality work, until the job is done.

If you are on the fence about hiring ACR, do not hesitateyou wont be disappointed!

More here:
Affordable Cabinet Refacing Half Cost of Replacing Cabinets

We live in a complicated world and location is the science of our world, allowing us to organise and apply thinking related to human and natural activities. The world is constantly changing and we are part of this living, evolving system, that touches all of our lives.

As individuals, it touches our friends and families. As workers, it touches our organisations and businesses. As citizens, it touches our cities and communities. And as human beings, it touches our whole planet. Essentially, everything happens somewhere.

Nearly all data can be linked to a physical location and time. Location is a powerful way to connect people to place, transactions to actions, responses to trends, and customers to where they do business and the kind of business they do. However, location isn't just a common thread connecting disparate data sources and breaking down silos; often it provides the most transformative insights.

Location intelligence is powered by what is generally referred to as a Geographic Information System, or GIS. A GIS is a platform that provides a framework of capabilities to manage, visualise, analyse, optimise and ultimately understand the significance of location, place and geography.

A GIS helps to transform businesses and organisations across a wide range of industries by enabling a better understanding of the impact and influence of where things are.

Location intelligence: Esri Ireland

Esris ArcGIS System is the worlds most powerful mapping and spatial analytics technology, helping organisations across 80 countries to visualise, analyse and optimise business data for better evidence-based decision-making. The ArcGIS System combines maps, apps and data analytics to deliver location intelligence and meet digital transformation needs for organisations of all sizes.

Esri Ireland is the market leader in GIS and its application. As Esri's official point of presence in Ireland and Northern Ireland since 2002, it has partnered with both the public and private sector to help them understand the impact of geography on their business. Esri Ireland is part of the Esri Global Network, a billion-dollar privately held software company with nearly 10,000 employees worldwide.

Location intelligence: enabling industry growth

Esri Ireland provides software, services and expertise for a continually growing and broad-ranging customer base. Esris technology is applied across many different industries from construction, renewable energy and engineering, to utilities, government departments and local authorities.

Esri Ireland, through its customers, also supports critical infrastructure projects of national importance within the Programme for Government, Project Ireland 2040, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the National Data Strategy, all of which connect and encourage stakeholder communities to work collaboratively across different industries and market sectors.

Esri Irelands diverse customer community is testament to the flexible and dynamic nature of its offerings and highlights the value location intelligence can bring to every industry. For example, Esris ArcGIS System is the pivotal technology enabling Actavo to design a high-speed fibre broadband network that will help to deliver connectivity to 1.1 million people in rural Ireland through the National Broadband Plan.

Bord na Mna is actively engaged in projects to restore and rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of peatlands and uses Esris ArcGIS System to design and implement the most appropriate rehabilitation measures as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Open Eirs new service mapping web app, built using Esris ArcGIS, allows customers to easily search by Eircode or address for a property on an interactive map to discover which areas of Ireland have 1 GB fibre-to-home or 100 MB fibre-to-cabinet connectivity.

The Veterinary Service Animal Health Group within Northern Irelands Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has completely transformed its animal disease investigation process with new digital workflows, swapping paper forms on clipboards for field-based ArcGIS Survey apps and online dashboards.

Location intelligence: our planets nervous system

Location intelligence through The Science of Where is creating an enormous impact across all parts of life, enabling individuals, organisations, businesses and communities to not only collect and manage their data, but to synthesise and socialise it into interesting collections of detailed information for the planet.

By thinking globally and acting locally, data related to location is increasingly being organised into all types of information products that help us understand almost everything about our world, creating what Esri refers to as an intelligent nervous system for the planet.

This nervous system is providing a framework for advancing scientific understanding and integrating and analysing all types of spatial knowledge across many fields such as biology, sociology, geology, and climatology.

By applying the #TheScienceofWhere and harnessing the value of location intelligence, its possible to gain insights and solve some of the most complex business and societal challenges were facing today and into the future.

For more information, call 01-8693900, email [emailprotected] or visit esri-ireland.ie

Read more:
Why location intelligence is the science of where - Business Post

When the German tagesschau evening news on the public broadcaster Arbeitsgemeinschaft der ffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ARD) announce the upcoming weather forecast, there is the image of a landscape somewhere in Germany behind the announcer.

Source: tagesschau broadcast on Hessische Rundfunk, broadcast 2021-11-22 20:00-20:15

Usually, when faced with an unknown landscape, I tend to find it using reverse image search on Google Search. However, in this case the reverse image search comes up with newsreaders with (different) landscapes behind them, which is reasonably impressive from a technical point of view, but not helpful to identify where this specific photo is located.

Where is this landscape with a steep, lush hill with a gazebo on the summit, surrounded by broader, forested hills? Due to its appearance behind the newsreader on ARD tagesschau on German federal public television, I infer it is likely in Germany. Usually German landscapes I can't identify are in Saxony (Sachsen), but I don't know if that is the case here too.

View post:
Where (in Germany) is the landscape behind this newsreader ...

PUNE India, December 16, 2021 The Dairy Alternative Market research report systematically explains each and every aspect related to the Global Dairy Alternative Market, which facilitates the reports reader to study and evaluate the upcoming market trend and execute the analytical data to promote the business.

Download Free Full PDF Sample Copy of Report (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) at: https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=asia-pacific-dairy-alternative-market

(The sample of this report is readily available on request)

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the Asia-Pacific dairy alternative market to account USD 256,676 million by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 9.1% in the forecast period of 2021-2028.

Dairy alternative are referred to foods and beverages that can be used as substitutes for dairy products. These foods and beverages made from plants and are considered very healthy substitute for dairy products. Rice milk, soy milk, and almond milk are the most popular alternatives to dairy products globally. Due to the presence of many essential vitamins and minerals, dairy substitutes are considered healthy. Its fat and cholesterol content is also very low and its lactose content is zero.

Key Market Competitors Covered in the report:

The major prominent participants operating in this Asia-Pacific dairy alternative market are The White wave Foods Company, Kite Hill, Oalty, Blue Diamond Growers, and Earths Own Food Company Inc., Sunopta, Pureharvest, Pacific Foods Of Oregon, Inc., Sanitarium, Hain Celestial among others. DBMR analysts understand competitive strengths and provide competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

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Key Pointers Covered in Dairy Alternative Market Industry Trends and Forecast

Dairy Alternative Market Size

Dairy Alternative Market Standards and Changes

Dairy Alternative Market Trials in Different Regions

Dairy Alternative Market Requirements in Different Regions

Dairy Alternative Market Shares in Different Regions

Recent Developments for Market Competitors

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Key Vendors and Disruptors Study

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Detailed overview of Dairy Alternative market

Changing market dynamics of the industry

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Strategies of key players and product offerings

Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth

A neutral perspective towards Dairy Alternative market performance

Dairy Alternative Market players information to sustain and enhance their footprint

What are the market factors that are explained in the report?

Market Dynamics:

The Dairy Alternative report also demonstrates the scope of the various commercial possibilities over the coming years and the positive revenue forecasts in the years ahead. It also studies the key markets and mentions the various regions i.e. the geographical spread of the industry.

Competitive Market Share:

The key players dominate the operations in the industry attributable to their strong geographical reach and huge production facilities. Players operating in this market are in intense competition in terms of technology, product development, innovation, and product pricing. To gain a competitive advantage over the other players in the Solvent Distillation Units industry, the leading players are focusing more on offering products at rational prices.

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Table Of Contents

Part 01: Executive Summary

Part 02: Scope of the Report

Part 03: Research Methodology

Part 04: Market Landscape

Part 05: Pipeline Analysis

Part 06: Market Sizing

Part 07: Five Forces Analysis

Part 08: Market Segmentation

Part 09: Customer Landscape

Part 10: Regional Landscape

Part 11: Decision Framework

Part 12: Drivers and Challenges

Part 13: Market Trends

Part 14: Vendor Landscape

Part 15: Vendor Analysis

Part 16: Appendix

Get Table Of Contents of This Premium Research For Free: https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=asia-pacific-dairy-alternative-market

Thanks for reading this article you can also get individual chapter-wise sections or region wise report version like North America, Europe, MEA or Asia Pacific.

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Dairy Alternative Market 2021- Competitive Landscape ...

CAZENOVIA On Dec. 13, Governor Kathy Hochul named Stone Quarry Hill Art Park (SQHAP) a recipient of grants administered by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the recovery of the nonprofit arts and culture sector.

NYSCAs round three grants which include Support for Organizations, Support for Artists, Special Opportunities, and Recovery Grants will invest in more than 1,000 organizations and over 300 artists across all ten regions of the state.

The arts have long been a critical sector in our economy, and as we continue to rebuild a stronger New York, its essential we do all we can [to] help this industry thrive once again, Hochul said in a Dec. 13 press release. These awardees represent the best of what New Yorks vibrant communities have to offer and with this funding in hand, they will be able to not only continue their creative and inspiring work, but help spur revitalization in their own backyard as well.

NYSCA awarded SQHAP a total of $79,500 in funding.

The organization received two $10,000 grants to fund the work of SQHAP Visiting Artists Diane Schenandoah and Dr. Juhanna Rogers.

According to SQHAP CEO Emily Zaengle, the visiting artist initiative is the organizations longest-running program.

Dorothy and Robert Riester began the program in 1991 shortly after they incorporated Stone Quarry Art Park as a not-for-profit organization, Zaengle said. The visiting artist program partners with artists interested in shaping the landscape of Stone Quarry Hill. The program is interdisciplinary, emphasizes experimentation, and the artistic process. Visiting artists are offered funding, on-site lodging, and studio space. Projects from visiting artists are shared with the public on Stone Quarrys grounds.

Schenandoah, who is a member of the Oneida Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and a Wolf Clan Faithkeeper, is an invited 2022 SQHAP Visiting Artist.

The NYSCA will support Schenandoahs upcoming project The Great Tree of Peace.

Stone Quarry extended an invitation to Diane in 2021, at which time she proposed the planting of a White Pine tree and carved sculptures, noted Zaengle.

Rogers is an invited 2021-2022 Visiting Artist. The NYSCA funding will support her ongoing work on Queendom, an interactive outdoor performative experience that explores the dream and possibility of reparations.

Zaengle explained that SQHAP is the sponsoring organization for the Support for Artists grants for Schenandoah and Rogers.

The NYSCA funding will come to the Art Park and then we pay it out to them fully, she explained. The Art Park is only allowed to keep $500 of each of those two $10,000 individual artist grants to cover [administrative expenses]. We will use that administrative support to develop some type of public program or event around Diane and Juhannas work.

SQHAP received a $10,000 NYSCA Recovery Fund grant to help the organization recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including lost revenue from site rentals and events.

NYSCA also awarded SQHAP a $49,500 Support for Organizations grant.

According to Zaengle, funds from both grants will support general operating needs, such as cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment, and staff salaries. Thirty percent of both grants will support stipends for New York State artists.

In addition to working with Shenandoah and Rogers, SQHAP has invited NIC Kay to be a 2022 Visiting Artist. Born in the Bronx in 1989, NIC Kay is an interdisciplinary artist, performer, and conceptual choreographer whose works have been performed nationally and internationally.

All remaining funds from the Support for Organizations grant will support artistic engagement with the Dorothy Riester House and Studio (Hilltop House), artist commissioned projects, artist-led educational programs, and an artist-curated outdoor exhibition.

We are so pleased to have the support of NYSCA and so grateful for New York States investment in the arts, said Zaengle. We all benefit when artists can create new work.

SQHAP is located at 3883 Stone Quarry Road in Cazenovia. The park offers a unique environment for artists to create and exhibit their work in natural and gallery settings. Open from dawn to dusk 365 days a year, it also provides a space for the community to explore and appreciate the natural world and interact with art and artists.

To learn more about SQHAP and sign up for the monthly newsletter, visit sqhap.org.

See the rest here:
NYS Council on the Arts awards Art Park $79500 in funding - Eagle News Online

Situated close to the city beautiful Chandigarh, Forest Hill Resort epitomizes luxury in blissful settings by offering a rejuvenating experience in the lap of nature. Being away from the never ending noise of the city, here you will experience the bliss of nature.

A 10-minute drive from Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh will take you to a hidden heaven of sorts, leaving you awe-inspired. The project is a warm welcoming hug that embraces you with its serene and tranquil environment. From the moment you step into this jungle retreat, the magnificent Shivalik Hill views, green surroundings and sprawling landscape will take your breath away.

Set against a backdrop of the 10,000 acres of Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary at the foothills of the Shivalik Range, Forest Hill Resort is the perfect place to experience one of its kind wildlife and Birdlife. The exotic flora and fauna around would make for one of the best weekend getaways in Northern India.

FHR Golf Course, Academy & Range

Drawing golf enthusiasts from far and near, Forest Hill Resorts golf course is the best place to practice this royal game. The 12-hole par 35 golf course is a perfect blend of strategy, the dynamism of power, finesse and fun. It is one of the most challenging courses, giving seasoned players a tough game to play. With tight well-bunkered greens of varying sizes and intricate contouring placed on sometimes meandering, undulating and tricky landscape, each fairway is on a different plane with natural hurdles of gorges, lakes and sand bunkers.

FHR Club House

From afternoon games of golf on the vast green lawns to evenings spent relaxing with friends, Forest Hill Resort has a number of areas where you can lighten your mood amidst nature. Perfect legendary architecture equipped with all modern amenities, the Club House has a well stocked bar, elegant dining rooms, serving piping hot dishes and lithographs on the wall displaying the rich history of golf. Whether it is the ambience of the place, delicacies that are served or the range of best liquor, FHR Clubhouse is the place you would love to be.

Outdoor activities & Adventure zone

Theres no shortage of opportunities for fun at Forest Hill Resort. Embrace the unadulterated nature & explore lush forests while taking one of the most surreal hiking expeditions and enjoying mountain biking. Fish at the glorious lake or enjoy a boat ride at lake on the raft amidst a picturesque landscape to experience the perfect adrenaline rush! Jungle safari, Archery, Horse Riding, and E-biking are some of other activities you can try here at FHR.

If youre looking for an adrenaline rush and some adventure sports, you can choose from a range of exciting activities Burma Bridge, Commando Net, Tunnel Crossing, Tarzan Swing, Ladder Climb, Rappelling and Hanging Machaan.

Clubhouse Restaurant

Spread across acres of lush greenery, the resort encompasses specialty multi-cuisine restaurants to pamper your palate. The Latin American style club-house restaurant caters perfectly to the needs of the visitors and guests. The stylish interiors with taupe and brown wall finishes create a perfected ambience suited to the high-end dining experience on offer. The restaurants social scene offers something to tempt everyone - from varied scrumptious breakfast buffets to intimate dining and fully catered functions.

Accommodation - The FHR Cottages

Born out of a dream to provide guests with bespoke and experiential getaways to relax and rejuvenate in an impeccably-styled home away from home, Cottages at FHR offer spacious, comfortable and aesthetically designed living space in the lap of nature. The two stunning nature style eco-lodges set a new benchmark, providing a studio style living and bedroom area, equipped with a king-size bed and adjacent living area and other amenities. This will not only give you a homelike feel, but their modern amenities will make the stay worth every bit. The lavish interiors are endowed with superior dcor, subtle colors and elegant embellishments.

Lakeshore Cottage at Forest Hill Resort

FHR Organic farm

The FHR Organic farm is a very popular destination for those who want to see how an organic sustainable farm works. From exotic vegetables to culinary herbs and spices to medicinal plants, everything is grown organically and pesticide-free. Take a guided tour with the professional horticulturist to learn about Agro- forestry projects and organic farming facilities for a unique educational experience.

Banquet facilities & open lawns for parties

Situated conveniently close to Chandigarh, Forest Hill Resort is the best place to make your celebrations even more memorable. Proudly holding the reputation of phenomenal service and exceptional attention to details, Forest Hill Resort has professional event coordinators who will assist you in planning every detail of your wedding or any other event. You also get a choice of venues at the Resort for wedding ceremonies, receptions as well as corporate events ranging in size from intimate to grand. Whether enveloped in unforgettable warmth of the BallRoom or majestic scenery of the lush green and vast lawns with Shivalik Hills in the backdrop, every detail of your event will convey your personal style-unveiling the masterpiece celebration you have always imagined.

Have unlimited fun with near and dear ones amidst nature!

So pack your bags and escape to the woodlands. For bookings or any queries you can send an email at info@foresthillresort.com or can check their website. To book your stay, please visit the website.

Resort: Forest Hill Golf & Country Club, Village Karoran (Near Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh), District Mohali, Punjab, India.

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Forest Hill Golf & Country Club Resort A slice of heaven - Hindustan Times

In what could be one of the most important fantasy football weeks of the year, managers were hit with the news that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill were added to the reserve/COVID-19 list. Considering how important both these players have been in fantasy this year, the news couldnt have come at a more inopportune time. Are Kelce and Hill playing today against the Steelers, or do fantasy managers need to look elsewhere?

Update 12/26/21: ESPNs Adam Schefter has reported that Kelce did not clear protocols this morning and is out for todays game vs. the Steelers. On the plus side, Hill cleared protocols yesterday and will be active for todays game.

On Monday [December 20], the Chiefs added Kelce to the reserve/COVID-19 list, and Hill followed the next day. Kansas City is currently in the midst of a serious outbreak as their list of impacted players continued to grow throughout the week.

Those players include tight end Blake Bell, linebacker Nick Bolton, cornerback Rashad Fenton, offensive linemen Lucas Niang and Kyle Long, safety Armani Watts, kicker Harrison Butker, and cornerback Charvarius Ward.

However, on Christmas, NFL Networks Ian Rapoport reported that Hill cleared COVID-19 protocols. He added that the Chiefs are likely to activate Kelce as well, but he has not been cleared.

When it was first announced that COVID impacted Patrick Mahomes top two weapons, the former league MVP shared his thoughts about running an offense without them.

I mean, those guys have gotten a lot of reps with me just within this offense and this league, Mahomes said. Obviously, its a really complex defense that were facing. Theyve played it a couple of times, even before I was here. So, for me, as long as theyre healthy and theyre safe, and theyve passed the protocols, and theyre back, well throw them right back into the offense. Theyll be able to take on the roles that theyve always had.

Even though Mahomes and the Chiefs offense have struggled more than usual this season, Hill and Kelce have put up impressive numbers. Hill is currently the fourth-best fantasy WR in the NFL, averaging 12.8 points per game in standard formats. He is behind only Cooper Kupp (who is in the midst of an MVP-worthy season), Deebo Samuel, and Justin Jefferson.

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The tight end landscape has been quite barren the last few seasons in fantasy. Yet, Kelce has continued to be his dominating self. He is currently TE2 on the season, averaging 10.9 points per game. As per usual, he is in a battle for TE1 with Mark Andrews and George Kittle. There is a significant fall off after those three.

Pittsburghs defense is not the same as it once was. They currently rank 18th in the league against WRs, allowing 21.7 points per game. However, where they have been exceptional this season has been against the TE, allowing only 5.6 fantasy points per game.

Obviously, if both Hill and Kelce are 100% healthy and on the field, you have no choice but to start them. The Chiefs are currently two games up in the AFC West and are hanging onto the top seed in the AFC. Nevertheless, the Titans and Patriots are both close by. Kansas City is in no position to take the foot off the gas and will need this win against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is fighting in the toughest division in the league right now. They are technically last in the AFC North but are only one game behind the division-leading Bengals. With an incredibly tough remaining strength of schedule, Pittsburgh needs to surprise Kansas City and win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

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Are Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill playing today vs. the Steelers? Latest fantasy news on Chiefs TE and WR - Pro Football Network