In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Notre Dame-sponsored volunteer trips were cancelled. Although most of such trips were cancelled, one group remained: the Notre Dame chapter of the Global Medical Brigades (GMB). A group of 33 students traveled to Panama on Saturday March 7.“[The] first two days we [focused on] access to clean water by building a water system,” sophomore and GMB trip leader Joonhee Jang said. “[It was] pretty much manual labor. It was good to learn about water sustainability in Panama. It was a nice change of pace.” At one point, the brigade inhabited a school, setting up free clinics for locals in Santa Rosa and La Bonga, Panama.“Most of the people in our group were not concerned about coronavirus,” sophomore Maryann Saba said. “Once we got to Panama, it wasn’t on our minds at all. Even though it should have been something we were anxious about, it was such a good experience it didn’t even cross our minds… At least, not until the first case on Wednesday.”Although COVID-19 is now a global pandemic, three weeks ago it was much less of a concern to many people. Still taking all necessary precautions, students and leaders traveled to the communities cautiously. They utilized masks, hand sanitizer, wipes and more. “We didn’t even talk about not going,” Saba said. “I think we were all kind of on the same page [because] we considered it pretty low risk and we all really wanted to do it.”The early days of the trip were both amazing and humbling, Jang said. “In small ways we were making a difference,” Jang said. “We made a promise to the community. These people don’t have good access to decent health care. … This was their one opportunity.”For most of the families he triaged, sophomore Quinn Retzloff said this was their first time seeing a doctor in over a year. “One elderly woman said she hadn’t seen a doctor in eight years,“ Retzloff said.Moreover, their living conditions were dangerous too.“One of our community aids working with us told us that there were 600 people in Santa Rosa, but only 60 houses,” Saba said. ”He gave us an opportunity to see a few houses. Not a single one had a toilet … or floors, just dirt.”Jang said the way GMB continues to serve communities after one brigade’s trip ends makes the work particularly meaningful.“The really nice thing about the brigade is that after our brigade goes, future brigades work together to continue providing for these needs,” Jang said. “It’s important that we take these steps to make a positive difference. I really believe we were doing that. The big thing about the brigades is that we aren’t working for the people. We are working with the people.” Although Jang, Saba and Retzloff said they had positive experiences on the trip, the continued spread of COVID-19 across the globe changed the outcome for some of the brigade. “It was Tuesday evening after our first day of clinic, an executive from GMB had come to brief us about COVID-19,” Retzloff said. “He reassured us that there was only one case reported in Panama City. … Then, because we were staying with a local host family, our host parent happened to turn on the TV. An official from the government said seven more cases and one death. … I was content with one case. But eight? And the executive didn’t know about it?” Retzloff said he worried about the potential spread of COVID-19 in the communities the brigade served.“What happens if we get [the coronavirus] and give it to them? If someone brought it in, it would spread like wildfire,” Retzloff said. “They don’t have cars. The hospital is hours away. They wouldn’t be protected. In those situations, the virus would spread very fast.”Retzloff, along with 11 other volunteers, and his family decided it would be safest if he returned home the next day. He said he “made the best decision that [he] could with the information presented.” Saba and Jang were among the 22 volunteers who stayed.“There were no hard feelings against anyone who decided to leave, and it was made very clear that we should make the decision that would make us and our families the most comfortable,” Saba recalled. “And even after almost half the group left, we didn’t feel betrayed or abandoned or anything like that. Most of us were very close to making the same decision so we understood why they did it.”Saba said she couldn’t feel anything but gratitude and pride.“I was proud of us,” Saba said. “We all just helped each other. … It was nice to see everyone come together and unite, despite the many obstacles.”When asked if they regretted their decision to go, Saba, Jang and Retzloff all said no. “I was pretty impressed with Global Medical Brigades,” Retzloff said. “I will say, however, that it would have been smarter to postpone, knowing what we do now. I think that [GMB] was more concerned with the logistics and the headache, more than safety. Although I applaud their handling of the situation, there should have been more coordination. Everything we do affects our communities. The lack of communication, the nervousness and unaddressed anxiety impacted the service we were doing.”Saba said the brigade’s week of helping more than 470 patients and handing out over 600 medical kids was the best week of her life.“It was the perfect thing to do before the mayhem of COVID-19 ensued,” Saba said.Tags: coronavirus, Global Brigades, Global Medical Brigade, Panama, Spring Break, volunteering read more

Show Closed This production ended its run on June 29, 2014 The Cotton Club is going to be the hottest of hot spots this summer! Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole will join the roster of “Special Guest Star” vocalists in After Midnight . LaBelle is set to play performances from June 10 through 29, Knight from July 8 through August 3, and Cole August 5 through 31. The tuner, which recently garnered seven Tony nods, including Best Musical, is playing at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Combined, the trio of legends have received 22 platinum and gold records, 18 Grammy Awards and sold almost 300 million albums worldwide. LaBelle has previously starred on Broadway in Fela! and Patti La Belle on Broadway. Knight appeared on the Great White Way in Smokey Joe’s Café. After Midnight marks Cole’s Broadway debut. After Midnight Conceived by Jack Viertel, After Midnight is an evocative new musical that tackles the sexy, smoky glamour of the Jazz Age, set in the heyday of Duke Ellington’s years at Harlem’s Cotton Club. The show currently stars Vanessa Williams, Dulé Hill and Adriane Lenox. View Comments Related Shows read more

Race DetailsWhen: June 1, 2013Where: Leesburg, Va.What: Half MarathonStart time: 7:00 amRace size: 3,000Website: www.destinationraces.comThe Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon is not just a running race, it’s a destination lifestyle experience. Destination Races produces the Wine Country Half Marathon series in renowned wine regions. Loudoun County plays host to this popular event located in and around historic Leesburg, VA, one hour west of Washington DC.Race Contactraceinfo@destinationraces.com707-933-1769 read more

Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York A 27-year-old Rockville Centre woman was killed when the car she was driving was involved in a crash with a box truck in Baldwin early Friday morning.Nassau County police said Chelsi Perez was driving a Hyundai westbound on Merrick Road when she lost control and collided with an eastbound box truck near the corner of Gale Avenue at 1:45 a.m.The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other driver was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.Homicide Squad detectives impounded the vehicles and are continuing the investigation. read more

24SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr Conflict in the workplace is inevitable. Drama is sure to abound when meeting tight deadlines or dealing with strong personalities.Since these situations are unavoidable, it is important to have the correct mindset when responding. Marcel Schwantes, principal and founder of Leadership From the Core, recently listed seven ways to respond to workplace conflict with emotional intelligence. His list includes:1. Get perspective. Don’t come to any conclusion immediately; instead, listen to all involved parties first.2. Take a six-second pause. Six seconds? Schwantes explains that “the chemicals of emotion inside our brains and bodies usually last about six seconds.”3. Stay humble. Extend compassion. continue reading » read more

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The city views stretch for miles.At the front of the floor, the main bedroom captures city views, natural light and breezes through casement windows. It also has a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite with a corner spa bath, large windows and glass shower. The kitchen was designed for entertaining.More from newsMould, age, not enough to stop 17 bidders fighting for this home2 hours agoBuyers ‘crazy’ not to take govt freebies, says 28-yr-old investor2 hours agoUpstairs, which has separate street entry alongside a single garage, includes the house’s main living areas, including an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space with a fireplace, a bedroom, powder room and a study with a laundry nook and access to the garage.The kitchen has a breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances and generous cabinetry, and opens through timber bi-fold doors to a tiled outdoor area with steps to the pool.Tiles, high ceilings and decorative cornices decorate the level, with the living and dining space also opening out to the outdoor area, which has city views. Another staircase with understair storage leads to the top level of the residence. Here, a central hallway connects to four air-conditioned bedrooms and a bathroom with a glass shower and corner vanity. There is ample entertaining space outside.Two of the other bedrooms have built-in wardrobes, while the bedroom to the back of the floor has an ensuite and a dressing room. Mr Given described the residence as a simplistic and functional family home, sitting on the iconic Teneriffe Reserve.“A property like this offers the flexibility to move in as is, renovate or build something special on your terms, in a location that offers a lifestyle without comparison.”The property will be auctioned at 2.30pm at Kin & Co, 24 Macquarie St, Newstead. The home has a pool as well, a real luxury in the space-constrained inner city.It incorporates brick and timber features and multiple indoor and outdoor living areas. Front gardens and a pathway lead to a ground-floor terrace including an in-ground pool. Directly inside, tiled stairs ascend to the upper level, while beyond is a guest suite incorporating an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space, a bedroom, bathroom and laundry, along with outdoor access. 9 Teneriffe Drive, Teneriffe is the only Teneriffe house to be auctioned off on Saturday August 19.THIS is the only house going under the hammer in Queensland’s most expensive suburb this weekend – a stunning inner-city Brisbane home.And true to its inner-city vibe, the standout property will go under the hammer in a cafe, Kin & Co, on Saturday afternoon, according to agent Nicholas Given of Ray White New Farm.The six bedroom, four bathroom, single garage house has been in the same family since 1939.With two street access and a location at the top of Teneriffe Hill, the tri-level residence offers a convenient lifestyle close to amenities. read more

Clancy and Cormier at the signing ceremony, Image source: USACECol. Michael Clancy, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New Orleans District, and Amos Cormier, president of Plaquemines Parish, have signed an agreement for the second LCA BUDMAT (Beneficial Use of Dredged Material) project which will create a 1 mile ridge and 55 acres of marsh at Tiger Pass.The restoration project has been delayed for several years, but is set to break ground next month, the KEDM Public Radio reports.Darrell Broussard, the project manager, said that this development scheme is consistent with the state’s Coastal Master Plan, and that when complete, will build about 40 acres of land.“The idea is that we start protecting the marsh areas that’s behind it,” said Broussard. “Then that area will regenerate itself.”The $18 million project was originally funded in the 2016 federal budget, but was delayed by land-ownership issues.USACE will use sand and silt from the bottom of the Mississippi River to build new marshes.[mappress mapid=”24080″] read more

Tweet PARIS, France (AFP) — People breastfed as infants have higher intelligence scores in adulthood, and higher earnings, according to a study published Wednesday that tracked the development of 3,500 newborns over 30 years.And, critically, the socioeconomic status of mothers appeared to have little impact on breastfeeding results, according to a paper published by The Lancet medical journal.“The effect of breastfeeding on brain development and child intelligence is well established,” lead author Bernardo Lessa Horta of the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil said in a statement.What has been less clear, is whether the effects persist into adulthood, and whether a mother’s socioeconomic status or education level played a bigger role in the outcome of previous studies than her choice to breastfeed or not.“Our study provides the first evidence that prolonged breastfeeding not only increases intelligence until at least the age of 30 years but also has an impact both at an individual and societal level by improving educational attainment and earning ability,” said Horta.“What is unique about this study is the fact that, in the population we studied, breastfeeding was not more common among highly educated, high-income women, but was evenly distributed by social class.”Horta and a team analysed data from another study of children born in Pelotas in 1982.Information on breastfeeding was compared to IQ test results at the average age of 30 years, as well as the educational achievement and income of 3,493 participants.“The researchers divided these subjects into five groups based on the length of time they were breastfed as infants, controlling for 10 social and biological variables that might contribute to the IQ increase including family income at birth, parental schooling, genomic ancestry, maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal age, birthweight, and delivery type,” said the statement.“While the study showed increased adult intelligence, longer schooling, and higher adult earnings at all duration levels of breastfeeding, the longer a child was breastfed for (up to 12 months), the greater the magnitude of the benefits.”An individual breastfed for at least a year as a baby gained a full four IQ points, had 0.9 years more schooling, and an income of 341 Brazilian Reals (98 euros, $104) higher per month at the age of 30, compared to those breastfed for less than one month, the study found.“The likely mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of breast milk on intelligence is the presence of long-chain saturated fatty acids (DHAs) found in breast milk, which are essential for brain development,” said Horta.“Our finding that predominant breastfeeding is positively related to IQ in adulthood also suggests that the amount of milk consumed plays a role.”In a comment also carried by The Lancet, Erik Mortensen of the University of Copenhagen said the findings had important public health implications.“However, these findings need to be corroborated by future studies designed to focus on long-term effects and important life outcomes associated with breastfeeding.” HealthLifestyle Study: Breastfeeding leads to higher IQ, earnings later by: Associated Free Press – March 18, 2015 Share Share 139 Views   no discussions Share Sharing is caring! read more

Erling Braut Haaland has emerged as a genuine contender for the throne of Europe’s most prolific goalscorer, a position held undisputedly by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the past decade. At the same age, the prolific Ronaldo had scored just 12 times in 87 matches. Haaland’s goals-per-game ratio as it stands is 0.53 a game, compared to the Portuguese’s 0.13 at the same age. Loading… Read Also: Bereaved Osimhen arrives Lagos Little wonder that Real Madrid see Haaland as the long-term replacement for Ronaldo and the Portuguese’s guarantee of 40-odd goals a season. A pact with Dortmund and ubiquitous super-agent Mino Raiola is believed to exist whereby the Norwegian will remain at the Bundesliga side until 2022 and then be offered to the highest bidder. Madrid will certainly aim to be at that negotiating table. FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail分享 Promoted Content6 Interesting Ways To Make Money With A Drone10 Most Evil Female Characters In Disney MoviesBest & Worst Celebrity Endorsed Games Ever MadeWhat Is A Black Hole And Is It Dangerous For Us All?10 Hyper-Realistic 3D Street Art By OdeithTop 7 Best Car Manufacturers Of All Time8 Things To Expect If An Asteroid Hits Our PlanetTop 10 TV Characters Meant To Be Iconic5 Of The World’s Most Unique Theme ParksBehind-The-Scenes Selfies From 10 Popular MoviesWho Is The Most Powerful Woman On Earth?14 Hilarious Comics Made By Women You Need To Follow Right Now The Borussia Dortmund forward has outscored both the Juventus and Barcelona talismans at the same age – just shy of his 20th birthday – in fewer matches and with a greater goals-per-game ratio. Since signing for Dortmund in January, Haaland has failed to score in just four Bundesliga games and at the age of 19 years and 10 months he has a record of 62 goals in 106 club games. Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick described Haaland as “greedy, enormous and yet very agile” ahead of the trip to Dortmund on Tuesday and that single-mindedness for goal coupled with his prodigious physique had made the Norway striker a terrible prospect for defenders. Haaland has even bettered Messi’s returns at the same stage of his career: the Barcelona forward had scored 20 goals in 63 games at the same age at a rate of 0.31 per game. read more