washingtontimes--2020-11-14--Single moms in Maryland strive to overcome challenges

FREDERICK , Md .
( AP ) - Janice Smith got her first job when she was 14 , sweeping up hair and washing the windows at a salon in Walkersville .
She feels she had no other choice .
Smith , now a 44-year-old single mother of three , used to stand in line at the food bank with her mother and pray the electricity wouldn ’ t be shut off at home .
Her parents separated when she was 4 .
By the time she was a teenager , she had become the primary caretaker of the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died , suffered with mental health issues and had trouble keeping a job , according to Smith .
It often fell to Smith to deposit the disability checks or child-support payments and write the checks to pay the bills , which she said often required her to forge her mother ’ s signature .
“ It was more of an effort that I ’ ve got to get these bills paid so my mother could maintain her sanity , and it can be a happy household , ” Smith said .
As Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she now works full-time for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage - her standard of living did not .
A teenage pregnancy derailed her plans of going to college , and , now , with three of her own kids to care for at home , she was getting passed over for promotions at work by people with similar skill sets and maybe even less experience .
Why ?
Because they had college degrees .
“ I often asked myself ‘ why is this so difficult ?
’ ” Smith said .
“ I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
I have done everything right that ’ s in my capabilities to do right .
I work hard .
I do the stuff that I am supposed to do .
Why is this so hard ?
” They are questions that many single mothers , like Smith , ask here in Frederick County and abroad .
Almost 80 percent of single moms in the county have a difficult time affording a basic standard of living , according to the ALICE ( Asset Limited , Income Constrained , Employed ) report published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frederick County .
Many are unable to attend college or obtain some form of higher education due to demands on their time and budgets , as well as the needs of their children .
So they are forced into a workforce where gender-wage gaps exist , and it can be difficult to obtain a higher-paying job without a college degree .
“ As a mother , all you are thinking about is ‘ I want to live a comfortable life and be able to provide for my kids.
’ That ’ s it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single mother from Frederick .
“ That ’ s all you are thinking about.
” Cruz , a mother of two boys , saw her life turned upside down several years ago , when her marriage ended .
She went to Social Services and applied for “ anything and everything they could give me.
” The assistance she received eventually led her to her current job in human resources for a local plumbing company .
“ If I could put it in one sentence , your children give you the strength , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them a better life , wanting to give them more , it just activates something in a mom ’ s brain , body , heart and soul .
It gives you strength you never knew you had.
” Single fathers , by comparison , do not fall under the ALICE threshold at nearly the same rate ( 49 percent in Frederick County ) .
Some have access to higher paying jobs .
Some don ’ t face the same child care responsibilities .
The gender gap economically has only been further exacerbated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 865,000 women left the workforce or were laid off nationwide , compared to 216,000 men , according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics .
“ Single mothers who are in this position due to having to care for their children will be further financially disadvantaged , and will make economic recovery for them even harder , ” said Malcolm Furgol , the director of community impact and grants for the United Way of Frederick County .
“ We must face the child care crisis that existed even before the pandemic to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economically , but all families in our community.
” Olivia Huntington , 24 , of Frederick , was working full-time and attending classes at Frederick Community College until caring for her young daughter , Alayna , made it too difficult .
She dropped out of school .
“ I decided to just balance the work-family life instead of the work-school-family life , ” Huntington said .
Over time , she discovered her passion for helping other people and wanted to pursue a career in social services with an emphasis on helping children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to school to jumpstart that pursuit .
“ I just didn ’ t know all of the resources I did have being a single mom trying to balance school and work life , ” she said .
With the help of her mother , Huntington found FCC ’ s Parent Lead program , which offers financial assistance to parents in pursuit of a degree .
With the aid of the program , Huntington was able to obtain daycare vouchers for Alayna , who is now 4 years old , as well as her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have to worry about , well , I don ’ t have schooling for my kid .
I don ’ t have a babysitter at night time and I work during the day , so I can ’ t go to school , ” Huntington said .
“ Whatever your excuses are to not attend school , they have some kind of resource for you ( with Parent Lead ) .
” Life can still feel really hectic .
Huntington is the primary caretaker for her two young children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree in social work with a minor in psychology .
“ It is definitely very crazy , ” she said with a laugh .
“ Sometimes you just have to lock yourself in the bathroom for a minute.
” But her job as a patient support specialist for Potomac Case Management , which provides mental-health services to adults and children , is in her field of interest , and she feels like her life is on track .
“ Not only am I doing it for myself and to make a career out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it for my mom , too , ” Huntington said .
“ I know she would love to see one of her ( three ) kids graduate from college.
” Cruz and Smith are making progress , too , despite living on the ALICE brink without a ton of disposable income in their budgets .
They are both on track to earn their associate degrees at FCC .
Cruz said she talks to other single moms and , through her own experience , tries to help them .
“ If you want it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can find it , ” she said .
“ If you need it , you just have to go out there and suck up your pride and say , ‘ I need help.
’ ” Smith , meanwhile , dug out of credit-card debt and purchased her own home in Walkersville .
“ I feel like I am a success story .
But I also feel like I have so much more to do , ” she said .
“ I try to tell other people it can get better .
You just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right direction .
”

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) - Janice Smith got her first job when she was 14, sweeping up hair and washing the windows at a salon in Walkersville. She feels she had no other choice.
Smith, now a 44-year-old single mother of three, used to stand in line at the food bank with her mother and pray the electricity wouldn’t be shut off at home.
Her parents separated when she was 4. By the time she was a teenager, she had become the primary caretaker of the house. Her mother, who has since died, suffered with mental health issues and had trouble keeping a job, according to Smith.
It often fell to Smith to deposit the disability checks or child-support payments and write the checks to pay the bills, which she said often required her to forge her mother’s signature.
“It was more of an effort that I’ve got to get these bills paid so my mother could maintain her sanity, and it can be a happy household,” Smith said.
As Smith’s life and career advanced - she now works full-time for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage - her standard of living did not.
A teenage pregnancy derailed her plans of going to college, and, now, with three of her own kids to care for at home, she was getting passed over for promotions at work by people with similar skill sets and maybe even less experience. Why? Because they had college degrees.
“I often asked myself ‘why is this so difficult?’” Smith said. “I have had a job for most of my life. I have done everything right that’s in my capabilities to do right. I work hard. I do the stuff that I am supposed to do. Why is this so hard?”
They are questions that many single mothers, like Smith, ask here in Frederick County and abroad. Almost 80 percent of single moms in the county have a difficult time affording a basic standard of living, according to the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report published last month by the United Way of Frederick County.
Many are unable to attend college or obtain some form of higher education due to demands on their time and budgets, as well as the needs of their children.
So they are forced into a workforce where gender-wage gaps exist, and it can be difficult to obtain a higher-paying job without a college degree.
“As a mother, all you are thinking about is ‘I want to live a comfortable life and be able to provide for my kids.’ That’s it,” said Jenny Cruz, a single mother from Frederick. “That’s all you are thinking about.”
Cruz, a mother of two boys, saw her life turned upside down several years ago, when her marriage ended.
She went to Social Services and applied for “anything and everything they could give me.” The assistance she received eventually led her to her current job in human resources for a local plumbing company.
“If I could put it in one sentence, your children give you the strength,” Cruz said. “Wanting to give them a better life, wanting to give them more, it just activates something in a mom’s brain, body, heart and soul. It gives you strength you never knew you had.”
Single fathers, by comparison, do not fall under the ALICE threshold at nearly the same rate (49 percent in Frederick County). Some have access to higher paying jobs. Some don’t face the same child care responsibilities.
The gender gap economically has only been further exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. In September alone, 865,000 women left the workforce or were laid off nationwide, compared to 216,000 men, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics.
“Single mothers who are in this position due to having to care for their children will be further financially disadvantaged, and will make economic recovery for them even harder,” said Malcolm Furgol, the director of community impact and grants for the United Way of Frederick County.
“We must face the child care crisis that existed even before the pandemic to not only give single mothers a fighting chance economically, but all families in our community.”
Olivia Huntington, 24, of Frederick, was working full-time and attending classes at Frederick Community College until caring for her young daughter, Alayna, made it too difficult. She dropped out of school.
“I decided to just balance the work-family life instead of the work-school-family life,” Huntington said.
Over time, she discovered her passion for helping other people and wanted to pursue a career in social services with an emphasis on helping children. She knew she needed to go back to school to jumpstart that pursuit.
“I just didn’t know all of the resources I did have being a single mom trying to balance school and work life,” she said.
With the help of her mother, Huntington found FCC’s Parent Lead program, which offers financial assistance to parents in pursuit of a degree.
With the aid of the program, Huntington was able to obtain daycare vouchers for Alayna, who is now 4 years old, as well as her 10-month-old son, Hayden.
“You don’t have to worry about, well, I don’t have schooling for my kid. I don’t have a babysitter at night time and I work during the day, so I can’t go to school,” Huntington said. “Whatever your excuses are to not attend school, they have some kind of resource for you (with Parent Lead).”
Life can still feel really hectic. Huntington is the primary caretaker for her two young children, while working full time and pursuing a degree in social work with a minor in psychology.
“It is definitely very crazy,” she said with a laugh. “Sometimes you just have to lock yourself in the bathroom for a minute.”
But her job as a patient support specialist for Potomac Case Management, which provides mental-health services to adults and children, is in her field of interest, and she feels like her life is on track.
“Not only am I doing it for myself and to make a career out of my life, I am doing it for my mom, too,” Huntington said. “I know she would love to see one of her (three) kids graduate from college.”
Cruz and Smith are making progress, too, despite living on the ALICE brink without a ton of disposable income in their budgets. They are both on track to earn their associate degrees at FCC.
Cruz said she talks to other single moms and, through her own experience, tries to help them.
“If you want it, you can do it. You can find it,” she said. “If you need it, you just have to go out there and suck up your pride and say, ‘I need help.’”
Smith, meanwhile, dug out of credit-card debt and purchased her own home in Walkersville.
“I feel like I am a success story. But I also feel like I have so much more to do,” she said. “I try to tell other people it can get better. You just have to continually trudge forward in the right direction.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-14--Virginia girl sells masks to raise money for charity

VIRGINIA BEACH , Va. ( AP ) - When Sophia Lingeris received a tie-dye kit for her 11th birthday , she started creating colorful face masks .
The Princess Anne Middle schooler came up with the idea after her neighbors and aunt complained they didn ’ t like their plain white face masks .
Jenna Lingeris , Sophia ’ s mom , said her daughter has always been crafty and is an avid artist .
“ Her masks came out beautiful , and people commented she should sell them , ” she said .
“ She didn ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do something to give back.
” Sophia decided to raise funds from sales of her decorated masks for Operation Smile while also promoting safety during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Operation Smile is a global charity that offers free surgeries to people born with a cleft lip or cleft palate .
The cause is near and dear to her heart .
Lingeris was born with a bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate .
She had 11 surgeries to correct her cleft .
She first started talking to Sophia about her condition when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaction was like any child ; it was inquisitive but normal .
I ’ m her mother , and that ’ s how she knows me , ” she said .
“ Over the years , the conversation evolved to ensure that Sophia and all my children have an understanding and appreciation of people ’ s differences.
” At an early age , Sophia learned about Operation Smile and participated in many fundraisers with her older brother , Jonathan .
Sophia said she ’ s enjoyed making the masks .
She loves art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time she mixes the colors .
“ My favorite part is making the art and helping others , ” she said .
“ I ’ m lucky that my family helps promote the masks by telling their friends.
” She takes all the photos of the finished product and tells her parents what to post .
When customers order the masks , Sophia includes an inspirational card in each package .
She wants to help spread positivity during these difficult times .
So far , more than 260 custom tie-dyed masks have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been raised , and the numbers continue to grow .
Lingeris said growing up with a cleft palate provided many experiences .
Some were good , and others were hard .
“ Being able to take all my experiences , describe the condition to Sophia and why it ’ s so important to treat everyone with kindness , will provide a lifetime of opportunities for her , ” she said .
“ To see Sophia genuinely care and make a difference in this world just warms my heart .
”

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - When Sophia Lingeris received a tie-dye kit for her 11th birthday, she started creating colorful face masks.
The Princess Anne Middle schooler came up with the idea after her neighbors and aunt complained they didn’t like their plain white face masks.
Jenna Lingeris, Sophia’s mom, said her daughter has always been crafty and is an avid artist.
“Her masks came out beautiful, and people commented she should sell them,” she said. “She didn’t want to just sell them; she wanted to do something to give back.”
Sophia decided to raise funds from sales of her decorated masks for Operation Smile while also promoting safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Operation Smile is a global charity that offers free surgeries to people born with a cleft lip or cleft palate.
The cause is near and dear to her heart. Lingeris was born with a bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate. She had 11 surgeries to correct her cleft.
She first started talking to Sophia about her condition when she was 5 years old.
“Her reaction was like any child; it was inquisitive but normal. I’m her mother, and that’s how she knows me,” she said. “Over the years, the conversation evolved to ensure that Sophia and all my children have an understanding and appreciation of people’s differences.”
At an early age, Sophia learned about Operation Smile and participated in many fundraisers with her older brother, Jonathan.
Sophia said she’s enjoyed making the masks. She loves art and has fun creating new designs every time she mixes the colors. “My favorite part is making the art and helping others,” she said. “I’m lucky that my family helps promote the masks by telling their friends.”
She takes all the photos of the finished product and tells her parents what to post. When customers order the masks, Sophia includes an inspirational card in each package. She wants to help spread positivity during these difficult times.
So far, more than 260 custom tie-dyed masks have been sold. More than $2,600 has been raised, and the numbers continue to grow.
Lingeris said growing up with a cleft palate provided many experiences. Some were good, and others were hard.
“Being able to take all my experiences, describe the condition to Sophia and why it’s so important to treat everyone with kindness, will provide a lifetime of opportunities for her,” she said. “To see Sophia genuinely care and make a difference in this world just warms my heart.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-14--Community helps Virginia businesses destroyed in explosion

HARRISONBURG , Va. ( AP ) - The strip mall on Miller Circle erupted into flames last month after an explosion that shook Harrisonburg for miles .
Within the shopping center , Hometown Music and Blue Sprocket Sound were two businesses reduced to rubble .
For local music makers , the loss of both businesses threatened to mark the crisp fall Saturday as the day the music died .
“ It ’ s such an important place .
Blue Sprocket and Hometown Music are pillars of the Harrisonburg music community .
… To lose them in such a tragic way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could do but respond in a way that would hopefully be helpful to them , ” said Daniel Bellerose , bassist and vocalist for Prince Bellerose .
One day after the incident , members of Prince Bellerose and Paracosm started a GoFundMe to be split between the two music businesses and raised $ 10,000 within 24 hours .
After raising the goal to $ 20,000 , the fundraiser once again met its target within another day .
As of Thursday , the explosion relief fundraiser was at $ 24,150 .
Over the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the businesses have been nonstop .
The week following the explosion , Lola ’ s Delicatessen served sandwiches inspired by the small businesses affected by the explosion , including the Cordon Blue Sprocket and Hometown Hero .
Downtown ’ s nanobrewery , The Friendly Fermenter , ran a mug club raffle to benefit the businesses .
Rev .
Bill Howard dedicated the collection plate from his weekly “ confessional ” music stream on Oct. 25 to the explosion relief fund , contributing $ 185 .
On Saturday , eight bands played a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Valley Pike Farm Market , raising nearly $ 5,000 .
Saturday night , MACROCK , the heart of downtown ’ s independent music scene , is hosting its first live stream on the streaming platform Twitch with performances by Paracosm and Prince Bellerose in support of Blue Sprocket and Hometown Music .
“ This is such a townie music scene where we want to support each other , ” Bellerose said .
“ It just feels like a community center for music in Harrisonburg .
It ’ s like you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Hometown .
… There ’ s nowhere else .
It was the place to go .
It feels kind of lonely without them in town.
” Several pieces of audio equipment in Blue Sprocket were vintage , limited edition and nearly if not completely impossible to replace , such as the soundboard , of which only eight exist in the U.S. and less than 20 around the world .
Despite the epic quality recording available in town , the studio was by and for locals and played centerfold in the debut of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to record their initial EP .
Yes , Blue Sprocket was a place to record tracks and Hometown Music a destination for gear and equipment , but Ethan Morris of Paracosm said the teams within and community surrounding the businesses instilled them as quintessential pieces in the Harrisonburg independent music scene .
“ They weren ’ t just people who stood behind the counter .
… We need to help at all cost the people who facilitate ( music ) and do the major recording of bands in town , ” Morris said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , so without them , will the Harrisonburg music scene continue ?
Sure .
… But it ’ d be an incredible loss to go forward without them.
” Blue Sprocket owner Chris Jackson grew up in Harrisonburg and worked at Hometown Music after high school before moving to Nashville , Tenn. , to learn from the industry ’ s top dogs during his formative years .
There , he worked with high-profile musicians , made connections in the recording industry and learned to restore antique equipment that enabled him to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
“ Instead of moving to the Philly area or New York or a big city , we really love Harrisonburg and decided we were going to stick it out here , ” Jackson said .
“ Instead of having a small studio in a basement , I wanted to build a proper room along the lines of what I ’ d come to get used to using in Nashville.
” In late October of 2013 , Blue Sprocket Sound on Miller Circle opened - almost exactly seven years ago to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with MACROCK and Harrisonburg band Sunday Evening Drive said the two businesses were staples of the local scene , and music makers will be left in limbo until their fitful returns .
“ That ’ s definitely going to put a dent in town for the music scene .
That would really make it really hard for people around town to record their music , and it ’ ll force everyone to kind of buy their gear online to get it from some big corporations , ” he said .
“ A lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for recording purposes , so I ’ m sure there ’ s a lot less output of music because of that.
” Chuck Marks , owner of Hometown Music , declined an interview but said in an email that he felt “ blessed , humbled , honored by the community response.
” Both businesses are in discussions of reopening , preferably near each other again , though Jackson said the future remains murky and the timelines varied .
“ Until we ’ re able to find or build new space , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobile capacity put together so we can resume some work , ” he said .
“ I ’ m hopeful what we build out of this will be better for everybody .
… I ’ m fairly confident that ( Chuck ) ’ s coming back in the near future , and I ’ m pleased for that .
Harrisonburg needs a good little music store , and he ran a great one.
” During the pandemic , Jackson said , the music industry is one of the most hurt , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strange exclamation point on top of it.
” But alongside the grief , he also feels bittersweet humility and comfort to receive the waves of support rolling in from the community .
MACROCK ’ s livestream fundraiser goes live at 8 p.m. on Saturday , and artists such as Howard and Valentin Prince from Prince Bellerose are partnering up for an online concert sponsored by WNRN next month to continue raising awareness and funds for the Miller Circle businesses impacted by October ’ s explosion .
“ I still feel the punch in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been this unbelievable outpouring of support , ” Jackson said .
“ I ’ m glad that it happened when it did so there was not more human damage , and I guess to that extent I ’ m glad it happened here because it ’ s got a community that really cares about one another .
”

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) - The strip mall on Miller Circle erupted into flames last month after an explosion that shook Harrisonburg for miles. Within the shopping center, Hometown Music and Blue Sprocket Sound were two businesses reduced to rubble.
For local music makers, the loss of both businesses threatened to mark the crisp fall Saturday as the day the music died.
“It’s such an important place. Blue Sprocket and Hometown Music are pillars of the Harrisonburg music community. … To lose them in such a tragic way, we felt there was nothing we could do but respond in a way that would hopefully be helpful to them,” said Daniel Bellerose, bassist and vocalist for Prince Bellerose.
One day after the incident, members of Prince Bellerose and Paracosm started a GoFundMe to be split between the two music businesses and raised $10,000 within 24 hours. After raising the goal to $20,000, the fundraiser once again met its target within another day. As of Thursday, the explosion relief fundraiser was at $24,150.
Over the recent weeks, efforts to accrue more resources for the businesses have been nonstop.
The week following the explosion, Lola’s Delicatessen served sandwiches inspired by the small businesses affected by the explosion, including the Cordon Blue Sprocket and Hometown Hero. Downtown’s nanobrewery, The Friendly Fermenter, ran a mug club raffle to benefit the businesses.
Rev. Bill Howard dedicated the collection plate from his weekly “confessional” music stream on Oct. 25 to the explosion relief fund, contributing $185. On Saturday, eight bands played a benefit concert for the studio and shop at Valley Pike Farm Market, raising nearly $5,000.
Saturday night, MACROCK, the heart of downtown’s independent music scene, is hosting its first live stream on the streaming platform Twitch with performances by Paracosm and Prince Bellerose in support of Blue Sprocket and Hometown Music.
“This is such a townie music scene where we want to support each other,” Bellerose said. “It just feels like a community center for music in Harrisonburg. It’s like you’ve got the Golden Pony and Blue Sprocket and Hometown. … There’s nowhere else. It was the place to go. It feels kind of lonely without them in town.”
Several pieces of audio equipment in Blue Sprocket were vintage, limited edition and nearly if not completely impossible to replace, such as the soundboard, of which only eight exist in the U.S. and less than 20 around the world. Despite the epic quality recording available in town, the studio was by and for locals and played centerfold in the debut of many independent bands as the first studio to record their initial EP.
Yes, Blue Sprocket was a place to record tracks and Hometown Music a destination for gear and equipment, but Ethan Morris of Paracosm said the teams within and community surrounding the businesses instilled them as quintessential pieces in the Harrisonburg independent music scene.
“They weren’t just people who stood behind the counter. … We need to help at all cost the people who facilitate (music) and do the major recording of bands in town,” Morris said. “They help facilitate all of that, so without them, will the Harrisonburg music scene continue? Sure. … But it’d be an incredible loss to go forward without them.”
Blue Sprocket owner Chris Jackson grew up in Harrisonburg and worked at Hometown Music after high school before moving to Nashville, Tenn., to learn from the industry’s top dogs during his formative years. There, he worked with high-profile musicians, made connections in the recording industry and learned to restore antique equipment that enabled him to return home and bring top-notch music magic with him.
“Instead of moving to the Philly area or New York or a big city, we really love Harrisonburg and decided we were going to stick it out here,” Jackson said. “Instead of having a small studio in a basement, I wanted to build a proper room along the lines of what I’d come to get used to using in Nashville.”
In late October of 2013, Blue Sprocket Sound on Miller Circle opened - almost exactly seven years ago to the day of the explosion.
Jon Furson with MACROCK and Harrisonburg band Sunday Evening Drive said the two businesses were staples of the local scene, and music makers will be left in limbo until their fitful returns.
“That’s definitely going to put a dent in town for the music scene. That would really make it really hard for people around town to record their music, and it’ll force everyone to kind of buy their gear online to get it from some big corporations,” he said. “A lot of artists around town use Blue Sprocket for recording purposes, so I’m sure there’s a lot less output of music because of that.”
Chuck Marks, owner of Hometown Music, declined an interview but said in an email that he felt “blessed, humbled, honored by the community response.”
Both businesses are in discussions of reopening, preferably near each other again, though Jackson said the future remains murky and the timelines varied.
“Until we’re able to find or build new space, we’re working on trying to get some mobile capacity put together so we can resume some work,” he said. “I’m hopeful what we build out of this will be better for everybody. … I’m fairly confident that (Chuck)’s coming back in the near future, and I’m pleased for that. Harrisonburg needs a good little music store, and he ran a great one.”
During the pandemic, Jackson said, the music industry is one of the most hurt, and the explosion was “a very strange, strange exclamation point on top of it.” But alongside the grief, he also feels bittersweet humility and comfort to receive the waves of support rolling in from the community.
MACROCK’s livestream fundraiser goes live at 8 p.m. on Saturday, and artists such as Howard and Valentin Prince from Prince Bellerose are partnering up for an online concert sponsored by WNRN next month to continue raising awareness and funds for the Miller Circle businesses impacted by October’s explosion.
“I still feel the punch in the gut. But there’s been this unbelievable outpouring of support,” Jackson said. “I’m glad that it happened when it did so there was not more human damage, and I guess to that extent I’m glad it happened here because it’s got a community that really cares about one another.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-14--Delaware exhibit puts spotlight on Black superheroes

While the first two superheroes are known the world over , the last two are known only to a select few .
Delaware State University alumnus Guy Miller ’ s new art exhibition , titled “ Subversion : Not a Bird , Not a Plane , ” represents his exploration of the issue of representation of African Americans in pop culture .
The works on display reflect an alternate reality created by Mr. Miller , in which Black superheroes from the mid-1990s are celebrated on lunch boxes , PEZ candy dispensers , trading cards and movie posters , all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the exhibit can be viewed virtually at artgallery.desu.edu/exhibitions .
It is also behind a glass door in the William C. Jason Library on the Dover campus .
Mr. Miller ’ s works feature his renditions of African American superheroes of the mid-1990s - 25 years before the cinematic success of 2018 ’ s “ Black Panther ” - such as 1993 ’ s “ The Meteor Man ” with Robert Townsend and 1994 ’ s “ Blankman ” with Damon Wayans , as well as Marvel Comics characters like Bishop , Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because lunch boxes and other items of those years were adorned with images of Superman , Batman , Spider-Man , The Incredible Hulk and other non-Black heroes , the Miller exhibition begs the question : Why were African American superheroes excluded from such products ?
Mr. Miller , 29 , graduated from Delaware State in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio arts .
He later continued his education at American University in Washington , D.C. , where he completed a Master of Fine Arts in 2019 .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Secondary Intensive Learning Center in Dover .
He said that it was upon going to school in Washington , away from the historically Black environment of DSU and the people with whom he grew up in New Castle , that he noticed his frame of reference , especially in pop culture , was different from those around him .
“ I had a different database than the people I was in class with and I ’ m trying to communicate with daily .
So that got me starting to think about just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the movies that I ’ m familiar with , the TV shows that I know like the back of my hand , and how they could be very different for somebody else , ” he said .
“ So I started thinking about pop culture from a Black perspective , like what ’ s called culture to a Black guy .
And I started collecting a bunch of images , different movies and things like that .
And I just had a gut feeling that I should celebrate these things.
” At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was to build a makeshift shrine to these characters , but after further reflection , he came up with another idea .
“ I started thinking about what people do to celebrate the things that aren ’ t popular .
Superman , Batman , how are they celebrated ?
And I just thought about it .
Oh , they show up everywhere .
There are license plates .
They ’ re on sneakers .
They ’ re on lunch boxes , PEZ dispensers .
There are 1,000 movies with the same guy over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So that ’ s what I went and did .
I started making the things that would propose the ideas of what it would look like if these guys were celebrated the same way that traditional superheroes were celebrated.
” For the exhibit , he created four movie posters , three for “ The Meteor Man ” ( the original and two sequels that were never made ) and , in the “ Batman v. Superman ” vein , a poster for a nonexistent movie where Meteor Man squares off with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lighter in tone than most of the superhero films are today , were failures at the box office .
Mr. Miller isn ’ t entirely sure why .
“ My best guess would be maybe there just wasn ’ t like a swirling conversation about ( race ) just yet .
The movies did take place .
They did happen .
They were in theaters .
But I don ’ t know if society was so ready to get behind the idea yet .
Maybe they weren ’ t resisting and boycotting or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maybe they weren ’ t against it in that way .
But maybe there was still just a little reluctance to actually support it.
” It wasn ’ t really until “ Black Panther ” with the late Chadwick Boseman that society was willing to accept a Black superhero on screen , Mr. Miller said .
“ Everyone was ready to support it .
And we mainly just weren ’ t there as a society just yet ( in the 1990s ) , ” he said .
“ I think there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it being a Marvel film and having a pretty strong foundation .
Also , the climate at the time .
Everything ’ s been going crazy the last couple of years , and I think a lot of conversations about race have come to the forefront .
You see a lot of Black success nowadays .
So it ’ s a lot more easier to digest , I believe , right now .
So it ’ s just more , I ’ m not gon na say more appropriate , because my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been happening then .
But I think digestible is the best word to use for people right now.
” He points out that the popular belief is that “ Black Panther ” was the first African American Marvel character to star in a film franchise .
In actuality , it was 1998 ’ s “ Blade , ” starring Wesley Snipes .
In the exhibit , Mr. Miller shows a comic book collection made by Marvel after “ The Meteor Man ” was released that he jokingly calls “ every issue ever.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the exhibit are lunch boxes that depict what Mr. Miller calls “ auxiliary characters.
” They are Black characters that appeared in comic books and cartoons but weren ’ t prominently featured .
He calls some of these characters “ covertly Black.
” He offers Skeeter from the Nickelodeon cartoon series “ Doug ” and Panthro from the “ ThunderCats ” cartoon as examples .
“ With Skeeter , his skin is blue .
But you know from his mannerisms , his interests , we all can kind of pretty much deduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us and our culture , you added it to your show , which means it has to have some value .
You have to agree with that .
But at the same time , you didn ’ t actually show us as we are .
There had to be some type of alterations , ” Mr. Miller said .
“ I can ’ t really say what their thoughts were when they did those things .
But looking at it as myself , that ’ s where it leads me , is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how come we couldn ’ t appear like Doug ?
He had a flesh skin tone .
So how did it end up being blue ?
” Without being identified as Black , Panthro also had stereotypically Black features , said Mr. Miller .
“ He had a dull , gray coat with a big , wide nose .
He was known for his brute strength , which is kind of a popular depiction for Blacks .
Especially , decades ago - more muscle , no brain .
But he was a smart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had technology and everything .
But there were times where he was the brute force , as well , ” Mr. Miller said .
“ Even on his intro , when he appears , they play like a funky , super funkadelic theme song where he jumps on the screen .
So this is very different than anything else that you hear when other characters come on screen .
He was voiced by a Black guy , as well .
So there were subtle things that they will do to let you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t even know that it ’ s a bad thing .
At that time , they maybe thought they were being inclusive .
So I ’ m not taking issue with it .
But it ’ s just something to point at and think about.
” The exhibit will be on view through December .

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Superman, Batman, Meteor Man, Blankman.
While the first two superheroes are known the world over, the last two are known only to a select few.
Delaware State University alumnus Guy Miller’s new art exhibition, titled “Subversion: Not a Bird, Not a Plane,” represents his exploration of the issue of representation of African Americans in pop culture. The works on display reflect an alternate reality created by Mr. Miller, in which Black superheroes from the mid-1990s are celebrated on lunch boxes, PEZ candy dispensers, trading cards and movie posters, all of his creation.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the exhibit can be viewed virtually at artgallery.desu.edu/exhibitions. It is also behind a glass door in the William C. Jason Library on the Dover campus.
Mr. Miller’s works feature his renditions of African American superheroes of the mid-1990s - 25 years before the cinematic success of 2018’s “Black Panther” - such as 1993’s “The Meteor Man” with Robert Townsend and 1994’s “Blankman” with Damon Wayans, as well as Marvel Comics characters like Bishop, Black Ranger, Storm, Blade and others.
Because lunch boxes and other items of those years were adorned with images of Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk and other non-Black heroes, the Miller exhibition begs the question: Why were African American superheroes excluded from such products?
Mr. Miller, 29, graduated from Delaware State in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio arts. He later continued his education at American University in Washington, D.C., where he completed a Master of Fine Arts in 2019.
He is now an art educator at the Kent County Secondary Intensive Learning Center in Dover.
He said that it was upon going to school in Washington, away from the historically Black environment of DSU and the people with whom he grew up in New Castle, that he noticed his frame of reference, especially in pop culture, was different from those around him.
“I had a different database than the people I was in class with and I’m trying to communicate with daily. So that got me starting to think about just the things that I saw growing up, the movies that I’m familiar with, the TV shows that I know like the back of my hand, and how they could be very different for somebody else,” he said.
“So I started thinking about pop culture from a Black perspective, like what’s called culture to a Black guy. And I started collecting a bunch of images, different movies and things like that. And I just had a gut feeling that I should celebrate these things.”
At first, Mr. Miller’s thought was to build a makeshift shrine to these characters, but after further reflection, he came up with another idea.
“I started thinking about what people do to celebrate the things that aren’t popular. Superman, Batman, how are they celebrated? And I just thought about it. Oh, they show up everywhere. There are license plates. They’re on sneakers. They’re on lunch boxes, PEZ dispensers. There are 1,000 movies with the same guy over and over again,” he said.
“So that’s what I went and did. I started making the things that would propose the ideas of what it would look like if these guys were celebrated the same way that traditional superheroes were celebrated.”
For the exhibit, he created four movie posters, three for “The Meteor Man” (the original and two sequels that were never made) and, in the “Batman v. Superman” vein, a poster for a nonexistent movie where Meteor Man squares off with Blankman.
Those two movies, although lighter in tone than most of the superhero films are today, were failures at the box office. Mr. Miller isn’t entirely sure why.
“My best guess would be maybe there just wasn’t like a swirling conversation about (race) just yet. The movies did take place. They did happen. They were in theaters. But I don’t know if society was so ready to get behind the idea yet. Maybe they weren’t resisting and boycotting or were throwing tomatoes at the screen. Maybe they weren’t against it in that way. But maybe there was still just a little reluctance to actually support it.”
It wasn’t really until “Black Panther” with the late Chadwick Boseman that society was willing to accept a Black superhero on screen, Mr. Miller said.
“Everyone was ready to support it. And we mainly just weren’t there as a society just yet (in the 1990s),” he said.
“I think there’s a lot to do with the association with it being a Marvel film and having a pretty strong foundation. Also, the climate at the time. Everything’s been going crazy the last couple of years, and I think a lot of conversations about race have come to the forefront. You see a lot of Black success nowadays. So it’s a lot more easier to digest, I believe, right now. So it’s just more, I’m not gonna say more appropriate, because my whole point is that it should have been happening then. But I think digestible is the best word to use for people right now.”
He points out that the popular belief is that “Black Panther” was the first African American Marvel character to star in a film franchise. In actuality, it was 1998’s “Blade,” starring Wesley Snipes.
In the exhibit, Mr. Miller shows a comic book collection made by Marvel after “The Meteor Man” was released that he jokingly calls “every issue ever.” Just seven were published.
Also included in the exhibit are lunch boxes that depict what Mr. Miller calls “auxiliary characters.” They are Black characters that appeared in comic books and cartoons but weren’t prominently featured.
He calls some of these characters “covertly Black.” He offers Skeeter from the Nickelodeon cartoon series “Doug” and Panthro from the “ThunderCats” cartoon as examples.
“With Skeeter, his skin is blue. But you know from his mannerisms, his interests, we all can kind of pretty much deduce that he was Black. You acknowledge us and our culture, you added it to your show, which means it has to have some value. You have to agree with that. But at the same time, you didn’t actually show us as we are. There had to be some type of alterations,” Mr. Miller said.
“I can’t really say what their thoughts were when they did those things. But looking at it as myself, that’s where it leads me, is just questions that I have. Like, how come we couldn’t appear like Doug? He had a flesh skin tone. So how did it end up being blue?”
Without being identified as Black, Panthro also had stereotypically Black features, said Mr. Miller.
“He had a dull, gray coat with a big, wide nose. He was known for his brute strength, which is kind of a popular depiction for Blacks. Especially, decades ago - more muscle, no brain. But he was a smart character. He was intelligent. He had technology and everything. But there were times where he was the brute force, as well,” Mr. Miller said.
“Even on his intro, when he appears, they play like a funky, super funkadelic theme song where he jumps on the screen. So this is very different than anything else that you hear when other characters come on screen. He was voiced by a Black guy, as well. So there were subtle things that they will do to let you know that somebody is Black.
“I don’t even know that it’s a bad thing. At that time, they maybe thought they were being inclusive. So I’m not taking issue with it. But it’s just something to point at and think about.”
The exhibit will be on view through December.


washingtontimes--2020-11-14--Two West Virginia men create man cave with memorabilia

There ’ s a swanky new man cave in town that raises the bar when it comes to design , comfort , functionality - just about any scoring system there is .
“ This is living out your childhood dreams on an adult income , ” said Allan Hathaway , owner of Capitol Market ’ s The Purple Onion and the WV Marketplace , and part-owner of a Kanawha County man cave he didn ’ t know he wanted .
Ownership is a little murky , though .
“ We don ’ t even know whose is whose anymore .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Tom Garton , Hathaway ’ s cul-de-sac neighbor and the cave instigator .
Garton waves his hand around a room filled with bar stools and recliners , beer taps , a big screen television and thousands of pop culture collectibles , carefully curated and displayed on every available square inch - including the ceiling .
There are football helmets , statues , movie posters , figurines , bobbleheads , comic books and more - so much more .
Many of them signed , numbered and limited edition pieces .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant , or a bar , or a shop … you got ta appeal to everybody .
So , people like sports and football , they like rock ‘ n ’ roll , we got rock ‘ n ’ roll posters , they like Star Wars , ” Garton said .
“ We even got Christmas , see , here ’ s Santa Claus drinking a margarita .
That ’ s Santa Claus after the holidays , ” he added , pointing to a jolly round guy with drink in hand .
Which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill your man cave with random stuff .
“ Put something in that ’ s gon na make you have a memory , because that ’ s what really matters , ” Garton said .
“ If I look at it and it gives me a memory of my childhood , then I did the job the way I wanted to , ” added Hathaway .
The cave itself is as unexpected as their unlikely friendship , which began in the midst of a divorce for Hathaway , and following a skiing accident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical therapist by trade .
“ I met him at one of the worst times of my life .
I tore my hip and my ACL - and if I hadn ’ t , I would ’ ve never had a chance to meet him .
We ended up talking about beer at our first PT session .
We ended up getting to be good friends .
He was there to get me out of the house .
I ’ d come to their house and stay - a lot - until I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hathaway said .
“ And so because of that , I think there is some rough times but you usually get a silver lining .
He and his wife have been by my side from day one.
” When the house across the street from the Gartons was rumored to be for sale , Hathaway snatched it up before it ever got to market .
At first , the new place felt empty .
Bare .
He told Garton in passing , “ If you wan na bring some stuff over to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this big , empty space.
” As it turned out , Garton had the remnants of a bachelor ’ s pad from a different life that got squeezed out after he was married and his son , now 10 , was born .
He was especially fond of an old statue of Conan the Barbarian .
“ Conan was one of my favorite characters growing up , but my mom wouldn ’ t really let me read it that much because there was a lot of scantily clad women , and they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liked Conan , ” he said .
It was the first piece he bought as a young adult when he landed his first real job and finally had a little cash to spend back in 2001 .
It was a whopping $ 200 .
“ When my wife and I got married , I thought , ‘ I ’ m just gon na put that out , ’ ” said Garton , who quickly realized his wife didn ’ t seem to be as fond of the piece .
“ Every time she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grinning , his voice trailing off as he pointed to one barely visible crack , then another .
“ There ’ s a break here .
And there .
She ’ s broke the sword a few times .
She keeps saying , like , ‘ I ’ m sorry , babe , I was just dusting.
’ And finally I was like , ‘ If you don ’ t like it , I can take it down.
’ And she was like , ‘ No , no , I like it.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and promises the breaks were not intentional .
But eventually , Conan and a handful of other choice pieces were relegated to a closet , then the garage and finally to a storage space .
So his new neighbor ’ s offer struck a chord - and Tom Garton got to work .
“ I was still just moving into the house and I come home and he comes out in the driveway and he ’ s like , ‘ No , dude , you can not come in.
’ I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rachel , that ’ s his wife , was like , ‘ You ’ re gon na be sorry , ’ ” Hathaway said .
Until that moment , Hathaway said , he had scarcely noticed the rarely used , barely finished , unpainted garage or the adjoining room on the ground floor of his new place .
“ He had brought over his Conan , his wolverine sculptures .
I mean , these are statues that are very valuable .
And comic book characters .
These are signed and numbered pieces .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cabinets .
And I walked in and I ’ m like , ‘ Holy cow , dude , this is awesome .
What I ’ ve always dreamed of , ’ ” Hathaway said .
That was the humble beginning of the man cave evolution .
Since then , a large amount of their free time - vacations , concerts , football games , weekends and evenings - has been dedicated to adding to the cave and displaying each item perfectly .
Items are color coordinated , displayed in black frames and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dart board on a whiskey barrel background .
A Chewbacca beanbag chair .
A Lego set with a tiny Jaws eating a doomed Quint .
A Batman leg lamp from Purple Earth Comics in Huntington .
An Incredible Hulk .
A poster featuring Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue from the movie “ Cocktail.
” “ That was my first movie I ever went to on a date , ” Hathaway said .
There are scores of comic books , covered in plastic and carefully stored in protective binders .
Some are worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth next to nothing .
“ It ’ s kind of our version of ‘ Diners , Drive-Ins and Dives , ’ ” Garton said .
Somehow , in building the cave together , they built a friendship .
Maybe some day this place will lead them to another dream - a combo bar , pub and grill they call Garthaways .
For now , it ’ s full of the kind of eclectic ensemble that needed to go somewhere , but didn ’ t really fit anywhere .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own special place .
And the two friends who built it together both feel they belong .

MILTON, W.Va. (AP) - Move over, she shed.
There’s a swanky new man cave in town that raises the bar when it comes to design, comfort, functionality - just about any scoring system there is.
“This is living out your childhood dreams on an adult income,” said Allan Hathaway, owner of Capitol Market’s The Purple Onion and the WV Marketplace, and part-owner of a Kanawha County man cave he didn’t know he wanted.
Ownership is a little murky, though.
“We don’t even know whose is whose anymore. It’s all just ours,” said Tom Garton, Hathaway’s cul-de-sac neighbor and the cave instigator.
Garton waves his hand around a room filled with bar stools and recliners, beer taps, a big screen television and thousands of pop culture collectibles, carefully curated and displayed on every available square inch - including the ceiling.
There are football helmets, statues, movie posters, figurines, bobbleheads, comic books and more - so much more. Many of them signed, numbered and limited edition pieces.
“We decided, if this was like a restaurant, or a bar, or a shop … you gotta appeal to everybody. So, people like sports and football, they like rock ‘n’ roll, we got rock ‘n’ roll posters, they like Star Wars,” Garton said.
“We even got Christmas, see, here’s Santa Claus drinking a margarita. That’s Santa Claus after the holidays,” he added, pointing to a jolly round guy with drink in hand.
Which is not to say that you should fill your man cave with random stuff.
Quite the contrary.
“Put something in that’s gonna make you have a memory, because that’s what really matters,” Garton said.
“If I look at it and it gives me a memory of my childhood, then I did the job the way I wanted to,” added Hathaway.
The cave itself is as unexpected as their unlikely friendship, which began in the midst of a divorce for Hathaway, and following a skiing accident that led him to Garton, a physical therapist by trade.
“I met him at one of the worst times of my life. I tore my hip and my ACL - and if I hadn’t, I would’ve never had a chance to meet him. We ended up talking about beer at our first PT session. We ended up getting to be good friends. He was there to get me out of the house. I’d come to their house and stay - a lot - until I could get back on my feet,” Hathaway said.
“And so because of that, I think there is some rough times but you usually get a silver lining. He and his wife have been by my side from day one.”
When the house across the street from the Gartons was rumored to be for sale, Hathaway snatched it up before it ever got to market.
At first, the new place felt empty. Bare.
He told Garton in passing, “If you wanna bring some stuff over to my house, I’ve got this big, empty space.”
As it turned out, Garton had the remnants of a bachelor’s pad from a different life that got squeezed out after he was married and his son, now 10, was born. He was especially fond of an old statue of Conan the Barbarian.
“Conan was one of my favorite characters growing up, but my mom wouldn’t really let me read it that much because there was a lot of scantily clad women, and they were drinking and killing people. But I liked Conan,” he said.
It was the first piece he bought as a young adult when he landed his first real job and finally had a little cash to spend back in 2001. It was a whopping $200.
“When my wife and I got married, I thought, ‘I’m just gonna put that out,’” said Garton, who quickly realized his wife didn’t seem to be as fond of the piece.
“Every time she would dust,” he paused, grinning, his voice trailing off as he pointed to one barely visible crack, then another.
“There’s a break here. And there. She’s broke the sword a few times. She keeps saying, like, ‘I’m sorry, babe, I was just dusting.’ And finally I was like, ‘If you don’t like it, I can take it down.’ And she was like, ‘No, no, I like it.’”
Rachel Garton laughs at the story, and promises the breaks were not intentional.
But eventually, Conan and a handful of other choice pieces were relegated to a closet, then the garage and finally to a storage space. So his new neighbor’s offer struck a chord - and Tom Garton got to work.
“I was still just moving into the house and I come home and he comes out in the driveway and he’s like, ‘No, dude, you cannot come in.’ I was like, ‘Why?’ And Rachel, that’s his wife, was like, ‘You’re gonna be sorry,’” Hathaway said.
Until that moment, Hathaway said, he had scarcely noticed the rarely used, barely finished, unpainted garage or the adjoining room on the ground floor of his new place.
“He had brought over his Conan, his wolverine sculptures. I mean, these are statues that are very valuable. And comic book characters. These are signed and numbered pieces. And he starts putting them in these cabinets. And I walked in and I’m like, ‘Holy cow, dude, this is awesome. What I’ve always dreamed of,’” Hathaway said.
That was the humble beginning of the man cave evolution.
Since then, a large amount of their free time - vacations, concerts, football games, weekends and evenings - has been dedicated to adding to the cave and displaying each item perfectly.
Items are color coordinated, displayed in black frames and on carefully anchored shelves.
There’s a dart board on a whiskey barrel background. A Chewbacca beanbag chair. A Lego set with a tiny Jaws eating a doomed Quint. A Batman leg lamp from Purple Earth Comics in Huntington. An Incredible Hulk. A poster featuring Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue from the movie “Cocktail.”
“That was my first movie I ever went to on a date,” Hathaway said.
There are scores of comic books, covered in plastic and carefully stored in protective binders. Some are worth hundreds of dollars, while some are worth next to nothing.
“It’s kind of our version of ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,’” Garton said.
Somehow, in building the cave together, they built a friendship.
Maybe some day this place will lead them to another dream - a combo bar, pub and grill they call Garthaways.
For now, it’s full of the kind of eclectic ensemble that needed to go somewhere, but didn’t really fit anywhere.
It’s a place where thousands of memories have their own special place. And the two friends who built it together both feel they belong.


washingtontimes--2020-11-14--Community colleges boost internet capability through network

RIDGELAND , Miss .
( AP ) - Mississippi ’ s 15 community colleges are upgrading to a fiber-based broadband network that officials say will allow faster internet speeds and more collaboration with other institutions of higher learning and research in the state .
The Mississippi Optical Network ( MissiON ) , run by C Spire , already serves the University of Mississippi , Mississippi State University , the Stennis Space Center and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers ’ Engineering Research and Development Center , as well as a number of other major institutions .
The network allows members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per second ( Gbps ) and share virtual resources , C Spire CEO Hu Meena said .
“ MissiON allows students , researchers and others from Jackson State to use the supercomputer at Mississippi State , ” University of Southern Mississippi chief information officer David Sliman said during an online announcement Thursday .
“ Likewise , MissiON allows terabytes of oceanographic data generated by USM and Stennis Space Center to be accessed directly by individuals at Ole Miss as if the data resides on their own campus.
” Mississippi State ’ s supercomputer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
It can accomplish 5 quadrillion computations a second , according to the university ’ s website .
The MissiON network began serving Mississippi ’ s four research institutions and has expanded over the years .
Adding community colleges will allow more than 200,000 students to access the network .
Andrea Mayfield , executive director of the Mississippi Community College Board , said the transition to the MissiON network will help with expanded distance learning needs during the coronavirus pandemic .
She said MissiON is critical for online workforce development training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help community colleges use tools like augmented reality and virtual reality-based training for frontline healthcare workers , Mayfield said .
Jason Guntharp , Systems Engineer at Itawamba Community College said the school has already leveraged the new network to host a virtual job fair .
Students were able to connect with employers - including those in other states - through video conferencing where they could tour the employers ’ headquarters .
MissiON is one of about 45 regional research and education networks across the United States , Sliman said .
Many regional networks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care facilities , libraries , primary schools and secondary schools .

RIDGELAND, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi’s 15 community colleges are upgrading to a fiber-based broadband network that officials say will allow faster internet speeds and more collaboration with other institutions of higher learning and research in the state.
The Mississippi Optical Network (MissiON), run by C Spire, already serves the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, the Stennis Space Center and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers’ Engineering Research and Development Center, as well as a number of other major institutions.
The network allows members to access speeds up to 100 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and share virtual resources, C Spire CEO Hu Meena said.
“MissiON allows students, researchers and others from Jackson State to use the supercomputer at Mississippi State,” University of Southern Mississippi chief information officer David Sliman said during an online announcement Thursday. “Likewise, MissiON allows terabytes of oceanographic data generated by USM and Stennis Space Center to be accessed directly by individuals at Ole Miss as if the data resides on their own campus.”
Mississippi State’s supercomputer is among the fastest academic systems in the world. It can accomplish 5 quadrillion computations a second, according to the university’s website.
The MissiON network began serving Mississippi’s four research institutions and has expanded over the years. Adding community colleges will allow more than 200,000 students to access the network.
Andrea Mayfield, executive director of the Mississippi Community College Board, said the transition to the MissiON network will help with expanded distance learning needs during the coronavirus pandemic. She said MissiON is critical for online workforce development training. For example, the network can help community colleges use tools like augmented reality and virtual reality-based training for frontline healthcare workers, Mayfield said.
Jason Guntharp, Systems Engineer at Itawamba Community College said the school has already leveraged the new network to host a virtual job fair. Students were able to connect with employers - including those in other states - through video conferencing where they could tour the employers’ headquarters.
MissiON is one of about 45 regional research and education networks across the United States, Sliman said. Many regional networks include members such as museums, health care facilities, libraries, primary schools and secondary schools.


washingtontimes--2020-11-14--Rockefeller Center Christmas tree arrives; lighting Dec. 2

ONEONTA , N.Y. ( AP ) - A 75-foot ( 23-meter ) Norway spruce arrived Saturday at New York City @ @ @ @ @ serve as one of the world ’ s most famous Christmas trees .
Video from @ @ @ @ @ ” show recorded the tree being trucked in early Saturday morning , later to be @ @ @ @ @ crane .
The tree will be decorated over the coming weeks , and its more @ @ @ @ @ km ) of lights will be illuminated at a ceremony at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 @ @ @ @ @ which is broadcasting the event .
No in-person spectators will be allowed this year because @ @ @ @ @ the network said .
The tree was donated by Al Dick of Daddy Al ’ @ @ @ @ @ , in central New York .
Tishman Speyer , the company that owns Rockefeller Center @ @ @ @ @ s especially proud to keep up the tree tradition this year .
The pandemic has @ @ @ @ @ other New York holiday customs , such as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular .

NEW YORK (AP) - A 75-foot (23-meter) Norway spruce arrived Saturday at New York City’s Rockefeller Center to serve as one of the world’s most famous Christmas trees.
The tree was trucked in early Saturday morning and later lifted into its spot by a crane.
The tree will be decorated over the coming weeks, and its more than 5 miles (8 km) of lights will be illuminated at a ceremony at 7 p.m. Dec. 2, according to NBC, which is broadcasting the event.
No in-person spectators will be allowed this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the network said on the “Today” show Saturday.
The tree was donated by Al Dick of Daddy Al’s General Store in Oneonta, in central New York.
Tishman Speyer, the company that owns Rockefeller Center, has said it’s especially proud to keep up the tree tradition this year. The pandemic has spurred the cancellation of some other New York holiday customs, such as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.


washingtontimes--2020-11-14--Maine hunting seasons enter final weeks of the year

AUGUSTA , Maine ( AP ) - Maine ’ s biggest fall hunting seasons are entering their final two weeks @ @ @ @ @ firearms season for deer hunters ends Nov. 28 .
That ’ s also the final @ @ @ @ @ the bear and moose hunts .
The turkey hunt is already finished for the fall @ @ @ @ @ the spring .
The deer hunt continues in December for hunters who use muzzleloaders and @ @ @ @ @ still legal to take deer via archery in some parts of the state until Dec. @ @ @ @ @ also the final day of the muzzleloader season .
Maine wildlife officials offered more deer @ @ @ @ @ an attempt to control the growth of the herd .

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine’s biggest fall hunting seasons are entering their final two weeks of the year.
The firearms season for deer hunters ends Nov. 28. That’s also the final day of the year for the bear and moose hunts. The turkey hunt is already finished for the fall, and will return in the spring.
The deer hunt continues in December for hunters who use muzzleloaders and archery. It’s still legal to take deer via archery in some parts of the state until Dec. 12. That’s also the final day of the muzzleloader season.
Maine wildlife officials offered more deer hunting permits this year in an attempt to control the growth of the herd.


washingtontimes--2020-11-14--Officials hope to begin work on New Hampshire-Vermont bridge

BRATTLEBORO , Vt. ( AP ) - Officials hope construction can begin next spring on a new bridge across the @ @ @ @ @ Hinsdale , New Hampshire , and Brattleboro , Vermont .
The project to replace the @ @ @ @ @ two communities has been discussed for more than two decades .
The Brattleboro Reformer reports @ @ @ @ @ due to right-of-way negotiations and utility planning .
On the Vermont side a three-story multi-family @ @ @ @ @ will be demolished .
Brattleboro will also lose 32 parking spaces .
The current target @ @ @ @ @ bridge for traffic in late 2023 .

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) - Officials hope construction can begin next spring on a new bridge across the Connecticut River that will link Hinsdale, New Hampshire, and Brattleboro, Vermont.
The project to replace the two 100-year-old bridges connecting the two communities has been discussed for more than two decades.
The Brattleboro Reformer reports the project was delayed mainly due to right-of-way negotiations and utility planning.
On the Vermont side a three-story multi-family building and a commercial building will be demolished. Brattleboro will also lose 32 parking spaces.
The current target dates call for opening the bridge for traffic in late 2023.