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Outdoor seating areas on Shattuck Ave just north of University Avenue in downtown Berkeley. Starting on Dec. 7 through at least Jan. 4, all outdoor dining will be banned. Photo: Pete Rosos

The city of Berkeley and five Bay Area counties announced a new shelter-in-place order on Friday that would impose new restrictions on businesses and restaurants, including shutting down outdoor dining through at least Jan. 4. Local health officials made the decision to not wait until available ICU beds dropped below 15% in the region. The order will take effect at 12:01 a.m., Monday, Dec. 7.

Diners, restaurant employees, and owners weighed in during the last days of outdoor dining in Berkeley about the impact of the order on their lives.

On Thursday, a crew of construction workers gathered during their lunch break at the wooden tables and benches outside Taco and Co. in Southside Berkeleys Durant Square, a narrow courtyard shared by seven other restaurants.

This is where weve been coming every day, said Jonathan Manzano, a worker with B12 Drywall who has been working on a student housing project in the neighborhood for weeks.

Where are we supposed to eat? Manzano asked. The companys employees are staying at a hotel while they work on the project, so they dont have the opportunity to make their own meals. Nearby Durant Square has been a convenient lunch spot for months.

The December outdoor dining ban is just the latest in a long list of alternating directives that restaurants have received since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outdoor dining shut down in March, re-opened in June and shut down again in July before it was reinstateda few days later. Indoor dining got the green light in Octoberbut was shut down again in November due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. One more shutdown? Restaurant employees said they could handle whatever restrictions the city throws at them.

Its the same as always. If its going to happen, its going to happen. What can I do about it? said Robert Lopez while flipping burgers at Bongo Burger on Center Street in downtown Berkeley. Lopezs hours have been cut he now only works three or four days a week and its been hard for him to support his family. Were short on money all the time. We can handle a few days, even a few months, but after four more months, thats going to be it, Lopez said between calling out orders.

Its beyond that. Weve already been affected enough. Its not going to be worse than its been, said Eric Kaedi, an employee at Daryoush, a Persian restaurant, also on Center Street. On Thursday, the tables inside Daryoush were all set with silverware, napkins and glasses, but the restaurant was empty.

People are still scared. 95% of our orders are to-go, Kaedi said. Whether there is indoor or outdoor dining doesnt matter as much because we still have our to-go orders.

Still, outdoor dining can help draw people in. Tucked away in a courtyard off of Euclid Avenue in Northside, La Vals Pizza and La Burrita usually serve students at UC Berkeley during a typical year. Their shared patio has been a boon during this difficult time.

As long as the students arent here, business is going to be slow, said Juan Guevera, who has worked at La Burrita for two years. But when outdoor seating opened up, we saw some families coming with their kids from the neighborhood getting pizzas. Its not enough, but its helped us to survive this period and pay our staff, said Izat Eliyan, who owns La Vals.

Halting outdoor dining takes away an important draw for restaurants struggling to scrape by with only a fraction of Cal students living on campus this year. The latest order raises ongoing questions for business owners and diners about the trade-offs between the economic pains of closing businesses and the risk of spreading COVID-19.

I understand that stopping outdoor dining would reduce the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, a lot of the staff work paycheck to paycheck and they need money to support their families and to pay rent, said Eliyan, who has had to cut half of his employees since the start of the pandemic, including some student employees who left voluntarily.

Outside in the courtyard on Saturday, diners wearing coats and scarves debated the trade-offs of the latest order. Im worried about the economic impact of closing outdoor dining, said Tate Swindell, holding a slice of pizza from La Vals.

You cant do anything about the economic impact. Follow the science, man, replied Robert Kaufman, seated diagonally across from Swindell. When people start throwing themselves off of buildings and theres anarchy in the streets because of economic impact, then well start talking about reopening businesses.

Then theres the question of whether the outdoor dining ban will change peoples behavior at all. People are still going to get food to-go and sit outside somewhere else, Swindell said.

On Thursday afternoon, a pair of friends ate lunch from Bongo Burger seated in the back of a pick-up truck parked on Center Street. There may not be a table you can sit at, but you can still get food and sit on the curb or sit on a pick-up truck for that matter, said Brandon Imbes-Auf-Ingabritzen.

For now, people in the restaurant business are making it work, stay-at-home order or not. Gueveras hours at La Burrita have been cut by a fourth since March, but he is earning enough to get by in the meantime, grateful that his boss prioritized fellow employees who had families. He knows that wont last forever, though. If it does pass that year mark in March, money is going to start running out. Ill probably try to find another job, Guevera said.

Eliyans playing the long game, too. He is hoping for government aid to push his business through to the summer. Honestly, we are accumulating debt right now with rent that is not fully paid. Were hoping there will be some kind of a stimulus package that can help us pay our rent and pay our staff, Eliyan said. I dont think anything will change until the summer. That is our goal to survive until summer of 2021.

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Berkeley diners and restaurants weigh in on the latest outdoor dining ban - Berkeleyside

Its never too early to look ahead at whats on tap for next year and 2021 is already shaping up as a good year for roller coaster enthusiasts, thrill ride junkies and theme park fans.

Consider our top 21 for 2021 to be an evolving and ever-changing list of the best new rides and attractions coming to theme parks in the United States in the coming year.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many U.S. theme parks to postpone 2020 rides and attractions until 2021. Nearly half the entries on this list are holdovers that were supposed to debut this year. Nevertheless, they will still be new rides by the time we get to ride them in 2021.

Early announcements suggest 2021 will once again be a good year for theme park enthusiasts. Many parks have already begun construction on 2021 projects while some holdovers from a spoiled 2020 are already done. Other parks have only announced plans or launched teaser campaigns.

Well update our top 21 list as new rides and attractions are unveiled and more details become available.

The highly-anticipated super hero land is currently under construction at Disney California Adventure next to the existing Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout drop tower ride, which would be thematically tied to the other Marvel attractions.

Disney cant call it Marvel land, for complicated legal reasons, but everybody else will. The official name: Avengers Campus.

Officially the new land will include a Spider-Man attraction, Dr. Strange mystic arts encounter, Ant-Man and Wasp restaurant and Marvel character meet-and-greets.

The Spider-Man attraction will be a web-slinging dark ride. The Dr. Strange encounter is expected to be a special effects stage show. Youll be able to get a beer and a bite in the Ant-Man restaurant.

Disneyland had just announced a July 18,2020 opening date for Avengers Campus when the park closed because of the pandemic.

Work is finished on the new Secret Life of Pets dark ride at Universal Studios Hollywood on the former site of the Globe Theater.

The new ride has been squeezed into the London-themed Baker Street area between the Walking Dead walk-through attraction and the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem simulator ride.

The original 2016 Secret Life of Pets film and the 2019 sequel examine the lives pets lead when their owners are away from home.

Universals Pets ride was days from opening when the pandemic struck.

Busch Gardens Tampas Gwazi dual wooden coaster will be reborn as the worlds steepest, tallest and fastest hybrid coaster. The new ride will be rechristened Iron Gwazi.

Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Construction handled the renovation of Gwazi, which has been standing-but-not-operating since 2015. The Utah-based ride maker has been responsible for a number of recent conversions of existing wooden coasters into wood-steel hybrid beasts that have thrilled ride enthusiasts.

Iron Gwazi was among several Busch Gardens and SeaWorld rides planned for 2020 that were put on hold until 2021 by parent-company SeaWorld Entertainment.

The title of most highly anticipated truly new coaster of 2021 belongs to the VelociCoaster at Universals Islands of Adventure in Florida.

The new Jurassic World coaster by Switzerland-based ride maker Intamin is themed to the prehistoric Velociraptor predators from the film franchise.

The dual-launch coaster takes riders over a 155-foot-tall top hat element, into a zero G stall over a lagoon and through a jungle and raptor paddocks along 4,700 feet of track. Riders reach a top speed of 70 mph and experience 12 seconds of off-your-seat airtime.

The Jersey Devil single-rail coaster coming to Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey will be the worlds tallest, fastest and longest ride of its kind.

The 130-foot-tall coaster will reach a top speed of 58 mph over a 3,000-foot-long track through the woods. The coaster trains will travel through a raven dive,180-degree stall and zero-gravity roll.

Passengers will sit in an inline-style train with their legs straddling a monorail I-beam track.

Rocky Mountain Construction has built similar Raptor single-rail coasters at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (Wonder Woman Golden Lasso) and Californias Great America (Railblazer).

Six Flags pressed pause on several 2020 rides, deciding to wait until 2021 when crowds return.

Silverwood in Athol, Idaho, will be getting its own version of a Rocky Mountain Construction single-rail coaster that is not quite as tall, fast or long as the world record-setting Jersey Devil coming to Six Flags Great Adventure.

Silverwoods Stunt Pilot biplane-themed coaster will recall the air shows that were hosted by the Idaho theme park in the 1980s and 90s.

The 113-foot-tall coaster will reach a top speed of 52 mph over a 1,800-foot-long track. The RMC Raptor inline-style coaster trains will travel through three inversions including a dive loop and corkscrew.

The Pantheon coaster coming to Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia will feature track segments themed to five Roman gods: Pluto, Mercury, Neptune, Jupiter and Minerva.

Billed as the fastest multi-launch coaster in North America, Pantheon will include forward and backward launches that propel riders to a top speed of 72 mph over a 3,300-foot-long track.

The 178-foot-tall Blitz coaster from Switzerland-based Intamin will send riders down a beyond-vertical 95-degree drop and through two inversions.

The Arctic-themed Ice Breaker quadruple launch coaster coming to SeaWorld Orlando will send riders up and over icy summits on a wintery journey in sunkissed Florida.

The Maryland-based Premier Rides Sky Rocket coaster begins with backward and forward airtime-filled launches that shoot the train up a 93-foot-tall beyond-vertical 100-degree spike track.

After descending the Scorpion Tail spike, riders will reach a top speed of 52 mph as they fly over an 80-foot-tall near-vertical top hat element, race through high-speed twists and hop over camelback hills.

Six Flags Over Texas will get the first Mack Power Splash launched shuttle coaster in North America in 2021.

Aquaman Power Wave will travel backward and forward twice on a U-shaped track before a dramatic splashdown finale that will generate a tremendous wave of water.

The 20-seat boat will rocket backward up a 148-foot-tall track spike before racing forward across an undulating track skimming over a pool of water to another towering spike. Riders will then hurtle backward again above the lake and up the first 90-degree spike again. After a brief hang time, the boat will splash down into the lake at 63 mph unleashing a powerful wave.

The first Mack Power Splash debuted in 2016 at Walibi Belgium, a former Six Flags park.

SeaWorld San Diego will add its tallest roller coaster in 2021 as the marine park continues to shift its focus from animal attractions to thrill rides.

The 153-foot-tall Emperor floorless dive coaster will be the longest, tallest and fastest ride of its kind in California.

Built by Switzerland-based Bolliger & Mabillard, Mako will have a 143-foot-tall vertical first drop, a top speed of 60 mph and nearly 2,500 feet of track. The ride will feature a barrel roll and a sweeping Immelmann loop named after a German pilot who used the distinctive flying maneuver in World War II.

Epcot will get a new Ratatouille dark ride as part of the France pavilion expansion at Disneys Florida theme park.

Remys Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot will be a copy of the $150 million Remys Totally Zany Adventure attraction at the Disneyland Paris resort.

The attraction features trackless ride vehicles with 3-D projections and special effects.

Shrunk to the size of a rat, visitors navigate around giant food props and towering kitchen utensils as they explore Paris from the point of view of the 2007 films rodent protagonist. In a number of scenes, riders see 3-D images projected on giant domed screens.

The new Legoland New York theme park will open in 2021 in the small town of Goshen, about 60 miles northwest of New York City.

Geared for kids 12 and under, Legoland New York hopes to draw visitors from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The park will be open seasonally from early spring through late fall.

Billed as the worlds largest Legoland theme park, the 500-acre New York location will feature more than 50 rides, shows and attractions in eight themed lands including Pirates Shores, Lego Ninjago World and Heartlake City. The centerpiece will be Miniland with iconic real-world buildings and places made with Lego bricks.

Legoland New York will be home to the first Great Lego Adventure attraction that will let riders experience what it feels like to become a Lego minifigure from the manufacturing process to the box to the hands of a kid.

Other major attractions will include a Ninjago dark ride, Dragon kiddie coaster, Lego Driving School, Fire Academy, Rogue Wave Riders, Splash Battle, Merlins Flying Machines and DJ Dizzys Disco Spin.

The new park, like several Legoland attractions around the world, was pushed back to 2021 after being set to debut in 2020.

The new Lego Movie World themed land coming to Legoland California will drop visitors into the quirky, frenetic and manic world of Emmet Brickowski, Wyldstyle, Unikitty and Benny the spaceman from the Lego Movie film franchise.

Lego Movie World will open in 2021 at the Carlsbad kiddie park with a Masters of Flight flying theater, Unikittys Disco Drop kiddie drop tower, carousel, play area and meet-and-greet location themed to the movie town of Bricksburg.

The new Lego Movie World will be the largest addition in Legoland Californias history. A similar Lego Movie World opened in 2019 at Legoland Florida.

Epcot will launch a new version of the long-running Illuminations show in 2021 that updates the nighttime spectacular created as part of the Walt Disney World millennium celebration.

The new Harmonious show will celebrate how Disney music inspires people around the globe. The fireworks and laser show will feature massive floating set pieces, LED panels and choreographed fountain displays.

Billed as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park, Harmonious will take over the World Showcase Lagoon following a limited run of Epcot Forever.

Disney had planned to unveil the new nighttime spectacular in 2020 as part of Epcots 50th anniversary celebration.

Snake River Expedition is Cedar Points attempt to create its own version of Disneylands Jungle Cruise at the Ohio theme park.

Passengers aboard the riverboat ride will join Trapper Dan and his band of bandits on a risky smuggling mission to trade some goods and sundries. The boats sail along a winding, murky river where riders encounter bad guys out to steal their cargo.

Actors aboard the boat will conduct a hastily-planned takeover like a train robbery on a river.

Snake River Expedition had been planned for 2020, but was postponed until 2021.

Knotts Berry Farm will bring back the Bear-y Tales dark ride in a tribute to the original one-of-a-kind attraction with the catchy theme song that could only be found at the Buena Park theme park.

The Knotts Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair 4-D interactive dark ride will replace the Voyage to the Iron Reef 4-D interactive dark ride that debuted at the park in 2015. Both rides were designed by Montreal-based ride maker Triotech.

Bear-y Tales riders will once again follow Boysen Bear and Girlsen Bear as they travel to the Country Fair in hopes of winning a blue ribbon for their boysenberry pie. Crafty Coyote and his mischievous pups will be back with their eyes on the pies and thievery on their minds. New digitally rendered scenes will recreate the Boysenberry Pie Factory, Frog Forest, Fortune Teller Camp, Thunder Cave and Weird Woods from the original attraction.

This time around, riders will be armed with jelly blasters they will train on the thieving coyotes who have stolen boysenberry pies from the factory.

The completed Knotts ride was planned for 2020 and will debut when the park fully reopens.

The Dragon Slayer fourth-dimension roller coaster coming to Iowas Adventureland will feature seats that spin forward and backward as the train navigates a zigzagging track with undulating straightaways and free-fall drops.

The 4D Free Spin coaster by Utah-based S&S Worldwide will feature a track that snakes back and forth like a demonic pachinko game. Aided by magnetic kickers along the track, the Dragon Slayer trains will spin freely based on gravity and the weight distribution of the cars.

The new Dragon Slayer ride replaces the parks double-looping 1990 Dragon coaster.

The most talked -about new coaster of 2021 is coming to the new Funplex Myrtle Beach oceanfront amusement park in South Carolina.

The otherwise-ordinary Fun in the Sun family coaster stands out thanks to one unique twist: The so-called 360 Car that spins like a human hamster wheel.

New Jersey-based Rides 4-U debuted the Big Air coaster from SBF Visa Group at the 2019 IAAPA Expo.

ThrillGeek summarized the sentiment on the IAAPA show floor: This new coaster from SBF Visa is nuts!

A Schwarzkopf looping coaster with a long history of traveling the German fair circuit before operating in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Mexico is now heading to the historic 1926 Indiana Beach amusement park.

The as-yet-unnamed triple loop coaster stands 111 feet tall and reaches a top speed of 53 mph as it travels over a 3,400-foot-long track. The classic coaster should attract a steady cavalcade of ride enthusiasts to Indiana Beach who love classic Schwarzkopf loopers and intense G-forces. The ride hits an astonishing 4.7 Gs, according to Screamscape.

Two riders were killed on the coaster in 2019 when the last car derailed at the La Feria Chapultepec amusement park in Mexico. The accident was blamed on poor maintenance by the park.

The Sidewinder Safari roller coaster will navigate hairpin turns, steep drops and helixes along a 1,400-foot-long track.

The new family coaster coming to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will be combined with an animal exhibit. Riders will enter through a jungle-themed queue displaying snakes, lizards and other reptiles.

The Zamperla Twister coaster will have a traditional Wild Mouse-style track layout with spinning cars.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will add a kiddie drop tower that offers panoramic views of the Pacific shoreline.

The Lighthouse Liftoff ride lets seated riders pull themselves to the top of a slowly spinning tower. Riders control the speed of the ascent by pulling on a rope. Let go of the rope and you slowly sink back to the ground.

The new ride technically debuted in 2020 when the Beach Boardwalk briefly opened for two days in November before a spike in COVID-19 cases in Santa Cruz County forced the oceanfront amusement park to close again. But Lighthouse Liftoff will be new to 99.9% of visitors when Beach Boardwalk reopens in 2021.

Legoland California has several of the kid-powered drop towers.

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Top 21 for 2021: Best new attractions coming to U.S. theme parks - OCRegister

Author Beth Cunningham - December 7, 2020December 7, 2020Two Birmingham favorites in one place. Rendering via CMH Architects

If youve driven through Homewood lately, youve probably noticed an abundance of orange cones and construction going on. Dont worrythe traffic is a fair trade for all the exciting developments coming to 18th St. S. Heres the latest on whats coming (and when its going to get here).

Back in September, we shared the latest renderings of The Valley Hotel, the newest (and biggest) addition to Homewood.

The 129-room luxury hotel is a Curio by Hilton, and its currently under construction at the corner of 18th Street South and 28th Avenue South, right next toMaple Street Biscuit Co.

The Valley Hotel is officially set to open its doors in Januarybut well be bringing you a sneak peek before then. Be sure to stay tuned to Bham Now on social so you dont miss it!

Who doesnt love the fresh + vibrant flavors of this local favorite? Little Donkey isnt new to Homewood, but based on my personal experience of dining at their original location recently, filling even more space with customers will be a breeze.

Back in April, we shared that Little Donkey and Rodney Scotts BBQ had plans to open new locations in Homewood. That project is officially moving forward following a resurveying request granted by the Homewood Planning Commission on December 1, according to the Homewood Star.

With almost 17,000 square feet of total restaurant space in this new development, Little Donkey will only fill half. The other tenant will be award-winning Rodney Scotts BBQ.

Pssst: if you want to learn more about this local BBQ hotspot, check out the Emmy-nominated series Chefs Table: BBQ on Netflix. Theres a whole episode featuring Chef and Pitmaster Rodney Scott.

This combined restaurant space will be located right next to The Valley Hotel, both of which are set to open in 2021.

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Downtown Homewood continues to expandhere's the latest - Bham Now

Sara Arnold| Item Correspondent

LANCASTER - Selectman Jason Allison is furious the gazebo is not yet ADA accessible and is prepared to have the gazebo removed if that is not rectified.

During Monday night's meeting, he said it is critical the town serves the 10 percent of the population that has ambulatory disabilities, adding we care more about where it is, than if its accessible.

Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco said there were plans in place to build after winter, creating a ramp, with an informal April or May deadline. The new ramp would be smaller and look more like the gazebo, with a stone dust pathway.

Im not OK with this, Allison said, adding that if the gazebo wasnt made accessible by March 1, he wanted it removed.

Selectmen Jay Moody and Walter Sendrowski were concerned, given the wintry weather that is likely between now and March.

Allison said he is very upset, and passionate about the 'who' not the 'where,'a problem which he is motivated to solve.

Moody suggested a compromise,havingfinal plans done by March 1.

Allison made a motion for formal final plans to be completed and approved by the Commission on Disability and the building commissioner by March 1; if not, the gazebo must be taken down.

Were not in a position to threaten anybody, Sendrowski said, recommending they wait until spring and get the plans in place. He called the threat of removal overkill.

Selectmen unanimously approved a motion to draw up plans, with the requirement that the gazebo be removed taken off the table.

Allison said he would make a motion at the March 1 selectmens meeting for the gazebo to be removed if the final plans werent completed.

There will be no more signs on the Town Green - kind of.

The Town Green Committee had previously unanimously recommended signs be banned.

Allison said he was torn, as signs like the banners found on the Town Green are important in moderation.

Sendrowski refused to weigh in on the issue at all.

Consider me a dissenter, he said, pointing out he was not in favor of the committee being brought into existence in the first place.

Although Thayer Memorial Library has historically placed banners there, such as for the annual book sale, Director Joe Mul said the Town Green is a revered space and he said he supports no allowing signs.

The signs of the Bulfinch church would be exempt, so banners for the annual strawberry festival and other events of the church would continue to be on the Town Green.

Pacheco said the bylaw referenced during discussion addresses only permanent signage, not the kind of temporary banners that have been placed on the Town Green. He said a change would impact five to 10 banners a year.

Banners are subject to the elements, fall overand look really bad, said Heather Lennon, a member of the Town Green Committee and chairman of the Historical Commission. The seat of town government needs to be pristine.

Banning signs passed 2-0, with Sendrowski abstaining.

Making the committee permanent, the committees other recommendation, was not taken up.

Special Town Meeting might still need to happen.

Although Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High Schools School Committee planned this week to discuss Lancasters request for them to revote on athletic fields borrowing in spring, to allow Lancaster not to try to bring residents to a town meeting during the winter (see the story in the Dec. 4 Item), Pacheco believes the answer will be no.

He said he was told the low bid Minuteman is planning to accept is only valid until mid-January, and other member towns arent doing a town meeting to vote on the borrowing.

If Lancaster wants to stop the district from taking out the loan, the town will likely need to have a special town meeting within 60 days of the Minuteman vote.

Moody asked residents to write to the selectmen or Pacheco if they do or dont want a town meeting and the Minuteman borrowing, so selectmen can decide at the Dec. 21 meeting if they need to resurrect the special town meeting.

If they do have one, they can now do so on a Saturday, as that bylaw has been changed.

There will be a permanent committee for commercial and industrial economic development.

Phil Eugene, a member of the temporary committee, said a permanent committee will be tasked with reviewing development proposals to keep Lancasters character and rural charm and prevent overdevelopmentwhile encouraging development in North Lancaster, including infrastructure like water and sewer.

This is what the town needs, Allison said. This could be pivotal to take Lancaster where it needs to be.

Sedrowski said they need to have friendly, cooperative conversations with developers, not like what has happened in the past. He said they needed to concentrate on and emphasize getting development happening in North Lancaster, not keeping the town pure.

We need money, Sendrowski said. They all agreed.

The committee will consist of seven members, including members from the Planning Board, Conservation Commissionand the town planner. The three spots for residents will be immediately advertised.

Selectmen followed the Board of Assessors recommendation and set a single tax rate for both residential and commercial property.

Selectmen declined to renew Kalon Farms alcohol license for wine and beer. Kalon Farms has been cited for serious safety violations and code issues, with the state building department now involved as well as action from the state on pouring licensing issues and land use decisions, according to Pacheco.

Some operations will have to cease permanently and some will have to operate differently, he said.

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Gazebo access a sticking point with Lancaster selectman who would rather raze it than wait - Worcester Telegram

If you live in South Philly, its not your imagination: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park is having a moment.

As COVID-19 restrictions pushed more residents outdoors, many urban parks saw attendance surge and city officials say FDR hit unprecedented levels of use. They estimate that park trash collection, one rough measure of usage, increased by 50% since last year in a park that already saw hundreds of thousands of annual visitors by some estimates. More than 900 on-site parking spaces are now regularly maxed out on weekends, and new park volunteers have arrived by the dozens.

But volunteer Carolina Torres Toledo, a volunteer park ambassador, said the surge is also the fruit of a battery of deliberate and often community-driven improvements aimed at making the park more user-friendly. Most visibly, park staff and volunteers transformed a defunct 146-acre golf course into an informal network of public trails, effectively doubling the publicly accessible grounds at FDR, reigniting interest in the park along the way.

In the last year theres been way more volunteers, Toledo said. Especially since some of the new trails have been openedIts appealing because many people have never been there before.

Changes at the park like this and numerous smaller improvements arent coincidental. They emerged from an experiment that could revolutionize how Philadelphia manages its showpiece parks. But they also come just as the citys looming fiscal crisis threatens those same improvements and economic strains from the pandemic stall philanthropic donations Philadelphia increasingly depends on for major public works projects.

An ambitious $250 million 10-year master plan for FDR that was unveiled last year as a joint project of Parks & Recreation, the nonprofit Fairmount Park Conservancy and the William Penn Foundation has already had its lengthy timeline upended.

Were always afraid, said Andy Toy, a board member at the Friends of FDR Park, a neighborhood-driven nonprofit support organization, of funding cuts. And I honestly dont know what [philanthropic groups] will support right now. The master plan might have to get broken into more, smaller pieces.

The sprawling tract near the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, was originally known as League Island Park and was pieced together in phases during the early to mid-20th century. Initially designed by the same Olmsted Brothers, whose fathers firm also planned Central Park, the green respite was envisioned by city leaders as a means of managing the collision between South Phillys cramped, unplanned rowhouse blocks and what was essentially estuarial bogland at the time. The solution was a landscaped park, which would be further developed during the citys ill-fated 1926 Sesquicentennial Exhibition with a planned golf course added later, reportedly at the urging of officers at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

At 348 acres, FDR is larger than both the Packer Park neighborhood it borders across Pattison Avenue to the north and the sprawling Sports Complex to the east that houses the citys pro teams. In addition to open space, the park is also home to institutions like the American Swedish Historical Museum, ancient structures like the colonial-era Samuel Preston House, Audubon Society-designated bird-watching areas, a skate park and numerous athletic areas.

This current master plan came after a lengthy community engagement process that identified assets and big challenges in the largest green space in South Philadelphia, a dense neighborhood that is changing as new immigrants and young families flock to affordable rowhouses. Many residents both praised the park and identified it as severely neglected.

People pointed to athletic areas that felt neglected. They noted the potholes and pockmarks on the central loop road the result of subsidence and deferred maintenance. More than half the park was still dedicated to the 1940s-era golf course, which closed in 2019 due to a lack of use and chronic flooding. Although the park is known for its Olmsted-designed boathouse and gazebo around a central lake, an entire secondary swimming pond known as Meadow Lake and two adjacent bathhouses sit largely disused and nearly invisible from some of the primary park trails due to overgrowth.

In neglect came some opportunities. Liminal space underneath Interstate 95 to the south has long been used as a DIY skatepark an internationally-recognized and ever-changing graffiti-covered course of concrete halfpipes, hips, and bowls that are largely maintained by the skaters that use it. South Phillys Southeast Asian and Latin American communities regularly transform other parts of the park into informal food markets on weekends.

But it was clear there had been little central guidance or support. As many opportunities as the park had captured, it had missed.

For example, Toledo, who aided in the community outreach process, said they also help coordinate games with a popular local Latin American soccer league but the park wasnt designed with a formal soccer area in mind. The growing league has, for years, squeezed into a patchy section of unused lawn adopted by hundreds of South Philly footballers who couldnt find better facilities.

Its crazy that just across the street are multi-million dollar stadiums, they said.

I think FDR was forgotten about. And whats happened is people themselves have had to make up for the lack of care from the city, Toledo said. Its a really multicultural place. But its also a place that a lot of people dont knowtheres a need to be more user friendly. It needs more bilingual support.

The month the pandemic struck in earnest, the city took one of its first steps toward reimagining the park, installing Justin DiBerardinis as a full-time executive director at FDR, a first-of-its-kind position that would oversee operations, programming and the eventual implementation of the master plan. This move brought FDR more in line with intensive park management strategies employed in places like Brooklyns Prospect Park, where a municipal park administrator is paired with dedicated staff and a robust friends group to help keep up with day-to-day needs at the park.

Prior to the launch of the master plan, FDR was unstaffed, mostly passive parkland, said Parks & Rec spokesperson Maita Soukup.

Soukup said the city had also made other real investments: Hiring two more support staffers in the interim and pouring money into tangible renovation projects. $750,000 went to repaving the pockmarked loop road and parking lots, striping a new bike lane in the process. The department poured a million dollars into a new roof for the historic FDR Park Welcome Center, a former stables for police mounted units. Eventually, the building is envisioned as an environmental center and offices for staffers.

A $250,000 state planning grant, that will be matched by the Fairmount Park Conservancy, will begin the process of designing a new playground area. New trails and remediation for 40 acres of mostly inaccessible wetland near the back nine of the golf course are slated to begin, with investment from the Philadelphia International Airport, possibly as soon as next fall.

Other investments have come from the parks growing community of superfans. In 2020, nearly a year after the golf course closed for good, park staff teamed up with volunteers to reopen the former grounds as a hiking and recreation meadow. Handpainted signs inform visitors the area is now dubbed The South Philly Meadows and the space has been key to handling the surge in visitors during the COVID era, Toy said.

I personally didnt even know about the golf course. Id never used it, he explained. I didnt realize how large it was.

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The pandemic helped make FDR Park better. Now it has to survive the aftermath - WHYY

By Michael DeWitt and Mae Frances Bing| Augusta Chronicle

A 4-year-old child and his dog were killed during a hit-and-run incident, and another person was injured, leaving family, police and the community searching for answers and justice.

Hampton County EMS, first responders and law enforcement responded to a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian accident around 5:46 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 348 Palmetto Avenue, Varnville, near the Varnville Gazebo.

Responders found that a four-year-old, JaKarie Breland, of 65 Middle Street, Varnville, was riding his bicycle with his dog and his uncle, Delante Chisolm, 44, when all three were struck by a vehicle that had reportedly left the scene after impact.

According to EMS and Varnville Police Department reports, Hampton County Emergency Management Division Director Susanne Peeples happened to be in the area with her grandchildren to enjoy the Christmas light display at the Varnville Gazebo and was the first on the scene. Peeples started CPR on Breland until EMS units arrived.

Breland was then transported to Hampton Regional Medical Center before being flown by helicopter to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he died around 2 a.m. Sunday, said Hampton County Coroner Angela Topper.

Chisolm was transported to HRMC and treated for minor injuries. The boys dog, Sugar, died at the scene.

As of press time on Wednesday, no driver has come forward to take responsibility and no suspects have been charged. The hit and run incident remains under investigation by the Varnville Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

We want justice for JaKarie and his uncle, and we want his mother to have clarity and get some answers, said Varnville Police Chief Tyrone Smith.

Smith said that police are searching for a dark-in-color car, possibly a sedan, with possible damage down low or underneath the vehicle.

I believe the driver panicked, or maybe was intoxicated or driving under suspension, but that doesnt give them the right to not stop and render aid for this boy.

Smith thanks the Hampton Police Department and the Hampton County Sheriffs Office for their assistance in this ongoing investigation, and praised the response by EMD Director Peeples, who initially brought Breland back from an unresponsive state, according to reports.

I commend Mrs. Susanne for the great work she did to render CPR and aid to JaKarie and his family, said Smith. She did a great job, and I am so proud to say that I work with her. Im so grateful for her, and Hampton County should be proud to have her. But the focus isnt on us, its about finding justice for JaKarie, and thats what we are going to do.

The VPD and assisting agencies is out and about in the community conducting the investigation, and are speaking to area residents and local auto body shop businesses. Police are encouraging residents and businesses to report any type of damages that are found, and reports can be made anonymously by calling the VPD at 803-943-2979, or the Hampton County 911 Dispatch at 803-943-9261, or by calling any local police department or authority that you feel comfortable speaking with.

An angel taken too soon

The Hampton County Guardian correspondent Mae Frances Bing spoke with Brelands sister, Diamond Hamilton, to learn more about this young man whose life was taken too soon. Hamilton described Breland as a smart, very curious, caring and loving boy who loved pizza, pancakes and French fries.

He loved to go outside, play with his toys, watch things on his tablet, and he loved to learn, ride his bike and paint, said Hamilton. His favorite cartoons were Peppa Pig and he loved Super Ranger Mini Force. His favorite cartoon characters were Marshall and Chase from Paw Patrol.

Breland also loved his dog and enjoyed walking him often, with the help of his family members.

Breland is the son of Aketa Davis, of Varnville, and Dyshawn Breland. He also leaves behind a nephew, Cannon Risher, and a baby brother.

Originally posted here:
Child killed in hit and run; suspect still at large - The Augusta Chronicle

For many towns and cities, the magic of pantomime won't be part of families' festive plans this Christmas. For the residents of Bilston and across areas of Wolverhampton, Bilston based charity Gazebo Theatre are taking their pantomime Dame and Fairy to the streets to spread joy to the community, visiting the homes of those who may be feeling lonely, isolated, overwhelmed, facing difficulties financially, or just in need of a pick me up - to know there are people there who care.

Dennis Ffrench, the UK's longest-serving black Pantomime Dame and Rebecca Shepherd will lead the team from Gazebo to deliver well-being packs throughout the week beginning 14th December.

The packs contain a range of items including handmade bath bombs, soap, crafty wellbeing activities, a keepsake keyring, toys and recipes as well as reusable bags and facemasks. Contents have been sourced and bought from local small businesses and artists, with the support of Simple Acts of Kindness, who have also taken donations of new toys; as well as from organisations; Wolverhampton Sewing Group, the Hope Centre, City of Sanctuary, and the Refugee and Migrant Centre, who have been raising funds through sales of their cookbooks. Gazebo have been supported by their team of HeadStart parent and carer volunteers to compile the packs, and help identify local families and individuals who would benefit from one of the packs.

The packs are part of Gazebo's Mindful Support project, which is funded until February 2021 by the Government's Emergency COVID-19 Fund, distributed through the National Lottery Community Fund. The project will also provide people in the local community with free telephone, video call and text counselling, advice and guidance throughout January and February as well as providing those who find themselves digitally excluded with tablets and up to 6 months of internet access. This is in addition to befriending services and support for families.

If you know someone who would benefit from support this Christmas, you should contact Gazebo's Mindful Support Team by calling 07393 018 271 or email mindfulsupport@gazebotheatre.com.

In 2019, Gazebo spread the festive cheer with a Christmas single, Christmas Is A Time of Cheer, written and produced by Gazebo Studios manager, Danny Hudson. It features staff and service users of Gazebo and has been re-released this year in the hope of spreading a little joy at the end of 2020.

Check out the video below!

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Pantomime Characters to Deliver Holiday Cheer to Homes in Bilston and Wolverhampton - Broadway World

Published: 12/7/2020 4:29:35 PM

GILL While the pandemic didnt put a stop to the annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony by the French King Bridge, it did lead organizers to limit attendance on Monday.

Dec. 7 marked the 79th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii, where 100 military ships were being held. The attack destroyed or damaged 16 ships, killed 2,403 people and injured another 1,178.

The day after the attack on Dec. 8, 1941 the United States declared war on Japan, formally entering World War II. The war was not declared over until Sept. 2, 1945.

Monday marked the 16th year that a memorial ceremony was held at the French King Bridge. It has been organized by Rolling Thunder, a national organization that advocates for prisoners of war, soldiers missing in action and all veterans. The local chapter of the organization is Vermont Chapter 1.

The ceremony was at noon, at the west end of the French King Bridge. Attendance was kept small, and everyone wore masks and kept their distance from one another. Many in the crowd wore symbols and patches from branches of the military.

Were gathered here to share a moment of history, and to remember our World War II veterans and the greatest generation that kept America strong during those years of war, said Jeff Neipp, president of Rolling Thunder Vermont Chapter 1.

A flag was displayed at the ceremony, and a wreath was hung on the gazebo at the end of the bridge. Keeping it short to reduce social contact, the ceremony was only a few minutes long.

The wreath was left at the gazebo for others to visit and pay their respects.

Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.

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The Recorder - Pausing to remember Pearl Harbor - The Recorder

With the holiday season in full motion, everyones rushing to get their shopping done on time for whatever get-togethers are planned this year, albeit smaller and different from last year. Dont fret though, theres still plenty of places spreading holiday cheer in Jersey City this weekend, meeting everyones needs for a colorful and celebratory vibe.

Holiday photos at Hamilton Park

On Saturday, Dec. 12, Hamilton Park will have a free picture corner at the Gazebo for Jersey City families to create holiday memories. Even though its free, you must register, select the time slot, and be there at the time you select in the registration form. Everyone attending must wear a mask and maintain a distance of 6 feet from the closest person. Register at jcfamilies.com/event/holiday-picture-corner-at-hamilton-park-with-jcfamilies. Hamilton Park is located at 9th St and W Hamilton, Jersey City.

Womens Collaborative Holiday Bazaar

Xtinas Shop is teaming up with the Jersey City Womens Collaborative for the 2020 Holiday Bazaar at The Hive Goods and Deep Space Gallery on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The holiday event invites allows you to shop small and support local Jersey City female artists and makers.

The lower level of the warehouse will include art, vintage clothing, handmade items, vinyl records. Upper level and outdoor area will include a donation based gift wrapping station, Xtinas Swap Shop $3 bins, and 4th annual The Gigantic Miniature Art Show at Deep Space Gallery. The Hive Goods is located at 77 Cornelison Ave., 1st FL, Jersey City.

The Happy Holiday Market

The Happy Holiday Market returns to The Ashford rooftop and the Grove PATH Plaza this year on Dec. 12 and 13 from noon to 6 p.m. The Market will be going on simultaneously in both locations. The rooftop of The Ashford will be heated and decorated, and depending on circumstances, a live Santa or Instagram-able Santa Station will be located in the rear for photos. The Ashford will be serving drink specials all day and a giveaway for one lucky shopper.

Check out a virtual tour of the space which can be seen at theashfordjc.com/virtual-tour. The Market will also take place the following weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19 and 20 from noon to 6 p.m. Grove St. PATH Plaza and The Ashford Rooftop is located at 145 Newark Ave., Jersey City.

MST to join nationwide play readings against gun violence

Mile Square Theatre is joining the fight to end gun violence with the Nationwide Reading of the seven winning plays of #ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence, a short play competition for middle and high school students. On Dec. 14, the 8-year remembrance of the shootings at Sandy Hook, the winning titles will be performed at Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken.

The plays, all written by high school students, tackle gun violence through the lenses of the threat of and anxiety over school shootings, police shootings, community violence, race, and gun culture in American history.

The performances begin at 7 p.m. and can be seen at milesquaretheatre.org/shows-events/enough-plays.

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Holiday hot spots in Jersey City this weekend; Play readings against gun violence - nj.com

Debbie LaPlaca| Correspondent

WORCESTER This custom contemporary at 44 Whisper Drive is a rare find amid the countless Colonial homes that populate New England.

The 5,164-square-foot home features a skylit two-story atrium, spacious rooms, a dream kitchenand a quiet yard situated just four miles from the center of town.

David Stead of RE/MAX Advantage 1 has it listed for $950,000.

I love the central atrium. Its just so bright, you walk in the front door and its like wow, Stead said. Plus, we dont see too many contemporary houses. We usually see the plain vanilla Colonials that are common in New England; this is much different.

That octagonal atrium is the central point of both stories of this nine-room house. Its marble floor leads to a curved, wrought-iron spoked stairway to the second floor.

The large living and dining rooms have warm oak hardwood flooring with walnut inlays.

A modernized, sun-splashed kitchen includes custom cherry cabinetry and granite countertops over a marble floor. An oversized subzero refrigerator/freezer, double wall ovensand a six-burner cooktop is a cooks dream for family meal preparations or entertaining. The center island also serves as a breakfast bar and the informal dining area has access to the deck.

Host a large post-COVID crowd in the family that features a floor-to-ceiling fireplace with a custom cherry cabinet surround.

The first floor also includes a guest bedroom with full bath and a laundry room.

Upstairsis a loft-type sitting area in the upper atrium. From there, the master bedroom suite offers a sitting area and a grand bath with stall shower and walkup jet soaking tub.

Three more bedrooms with connecting bathrooms complete the second floor.

Outdoors is what the homeowners daughter, Oli Hannah, said she most enjoys, especially the large deck and attached gazebo overlooking pristine grounds and gardens.

The deck is great for entertaining. Before COVID, it was great for family gatherings, she said.

While the property has a tranquil, country feel, it is located minutes from downtown Worcester, with its shopping, hospitals, parks, regional airportand train station.

Built: 1989

List price: $950,000

Living space:5,164 square feet

Total rooms: 9

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 4 full, 1 half

Climate: 6 zone hot water baseboard heat, 2 zone central air

Land: .54 acres (23,689 square feet)

Assessed value: $763,700

Taxes: $12,983 in 2020

Parking: 2-car attached garage

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House of the Week: Colonial in Worcester with two-story atrium and dream kitchen listing at $950K - Worcester Telegram