Category Archives: Scoop

SimpleNexus’ Shane Westra and Suzy Djilas recognized for outstanding leadership in mortgage technology

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading homeownership platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced that two staff members were honored by housing finance media organizations for their respective contributions to the mortgage industry. Chief Product Officer Shane Westra was named a 2021 Tech Trendsetter by HousingWire (HW) and Enterprise Account Executive Suzy Djilas was named a 2021 Mortgage Lending Woman of Inspiration by National Mortgage Professional (NMP) Magazine.

Shane Westra, HW Tech Trendsetters award recipient

The HW Tech Trendsetters award program recognizes the 50 most impactful and innovative technology leaders serving the housing economy. Westra was honored for bringing to market products that improve lender productivity and borrower experience at SimpleNexus. Notably, Westra managed the rapid build-out of Nexus Closing, SimpleNexus' electronic closing platform, which offers borrowers a streamlined closing experience that includes integrated remote online notarization (RON) and eSigning.

"I am honored to receive this award from HousingWire, a media outlet with widespread influence in the mortgage industry," said Westra. "I would like to thank my team at SimpleNexus for their dedication to building innovative digital tools that lead to significant efficiency gains, greater data integrity and faster delivery of loans to the secondary market."

"This year's list of Tech Trendsetters have, yet again, proven to be the driving force behind the digital transformation in housing," HousingWire Editor and Chief Sarah Wheeler said. "This impressive list of honorees are finding solutions to some of the industry's toughest challenges from improving the borrower's journey to streamlining every step of the real estate transaction process."

Suzy Djilas, NMP Mortgage Lending Women of Inspiration recipient

NMP's Mortgage Lending Women of Inspiration have made significant contributions to the mortgage industry through demonstrated leadership and innovative initiatives. Over 15 years, Suzy Djilas has built a reputation as a mortgage technology sales powerhouse who understands how to help lenders get the most from their investments in software. In the wake of the pandemic, Djilas worked hand-in-hand with lenders to ensure that loan officers maintained productivity while working remotely using the SimpleNexus app. She also kept deals moving forward with consumer-facing tools such as mobile disclosures and hybrid eClosings.

"The mortgage industry can feel a bit like a boys' club sometimes, which can be somewhat intimidating for young women considering a career in the industry," said Djilas. "I would encourage those young women to connect with strong female mentors like the women honored with this award, and seek out a company with a culture of support and diversity, which I am fortunate to have found at SimpleNexus."

About SimpleNexus, LLC:

Founded in 2011, SimpleNexus is an award-winning developer of mobile-first technology for the modern mortgage lender. Lenders depend on our namesake homeownership platform to unite the people, systems and stages of the mortgage process into a seamless, end-to-end solution that spans engagement, origination, closing and business intelligence. By helping lenders manage their teams and stay connected with borrowers and real estate partners, we deliver a measurable return on investment in the form of reduced turn times, increased loan application submissions and more referral business. A four-time Inc. 5000 company, SimpleNexus has been recognized as one of the world's Best Workplaces for Innovators.

For more information, visit https://www.simplenexus.com or follow @SimpleNexus.

News from SimpleNexus

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading homeownership platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced that two staff members were honored by housing finance media organizations for their respective contributions to the mortgage industry.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Sales Boomerang adds ‘Previous Alerts’ to facilitate better-informed conversations between mortgage advisors and prospects

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, today announced the availability of a new feature that lets lenders view a history of Sales Boomerang alerts that have previously triggered for each contact in their monitored database. The 'Previous Alerts' feature empowers mortgage advisors with historical context that makes customer outreach hyper-relevant whenever a new Sales Boomerang alert is triggered.

Sales Boomerang monitors a lender's database and alerts loan originators when a borrower or prospect is ready for a loan. "Defensive" alerts trigger when a borrower takes an action, such as applying for a mortgage with another lender, paying off a loan early or listing their home for sale. "Offensive" alerts enable originators to present opportunities to borrowers once they meet certain criteria, such as attaining a target loan-to-value (LTV) ratio or credit score, or when market conditions make it possible for the borrower to get more favorable rates or terms than their current loan. By not only indicating current loan opportunities but also providing a complete history of past alerts, Sales Boomerang gives mortgage advisors a more nuanced understanding of each past or prospective mortgage customer's financial situation and makes it easier to convert opportunities into closed loans.

With Sales Boomerang's numerous customer relationship management (CRM) integrations, most mortgage advisors will also be able to access any notes taken regarding borrower outreach at the time of previous alerts, as each Sales Boomerang alert is an opportunity to reach out and prevent the borrower from continuing to shop for a mortgage.

"Mortgage advisors are going to love this capability, because it primes them to make an informed and helpful pitch every time they call on a customer," explained Sales Boomerang Vice President of Product Mike Spotten. "For example, if a mortgage advisor receives a Mortgage Inquiry alert indicating a prospect is currently shopping for a mortgage, they can check the contact's history of previous alerts to see that the same prospect listed their home for sale just three weeks ago. This tells a mortgage advisor exactly what kind of conversation to start with the prospect."

"The longer a lender works with Sales Boomerang, the richer and more valuable 'Previous Alerts' history becomes," added Spotten. "Managers may even find the feature does double duty as a coaching tool, because they can use it to identify opportunities for more consistent mortgage advisor follow-up with triggered contacts."

For more information about Sales Boomerang's 'Previous Alerts' feature, contact your client success representative or email sales@salesboomerang.com.

About Sales Boomerang:

Sales Boomerang transformed the relationship between mortgage lenders and borrowers with the introduction of the first automated borrower intelligence system in 2017. The company's intelligent alerts notify lenders as soon as a past customer or prospect is ready and credit-qualified for a loan. As the mortgage industry's #1 borrower retention tool, Sales Boomerang is trusted by more than 150 lenders - including brokers, independent mortgage companies, credit unions and banks - to help build lasting borrower relationships that maximize lifetime customer value. To date, Sales Boomerang alerts have enabled lenders to close more than $150 billion in additional loan volume that would have otherwise been overlooked and achieve customer retention rates that outperform industry norms by an average of 3-5X.

To learn more about Sales Boomerang and its No Borrower Left Behind™ ethos, visit https://www.salesboomerang.com.

News from Sales Boomerang

Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, today announced the availability of a new feature that lets lenders view a history of Sales Boomerang alerts that have previously triggered for each contact in their monitored database.

Related link: https://www.salesboomerang.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

ACES Quality Management Partners with Financial Services RegTech Provider Winnow Solutions

DENVER, Colo. /ScoopCloud/ -- ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced it has partnered with Winnow Solutions to power certain compliance and regulatory operations within ACES through its RegTech platform Winnow®. An innovative and dynamic financial law database built by attorneys and powered by cutting-edge technology, Winnow takes the guesswork out of compliance by instantaneously identifying regulatory requirements applicable to specific institution types and products. The addition of Winnow's comprehensive database helps ensure ACES continues to provide its users with the most accurate and up-to-date information on state regulations.

"Maintaining compliance with all applicable rules and regulations is one of the most critical outcomes of lenders' quality control processes. However, managing the sheer volume of regulatory requirements from both the state and federal level can overwhelm even the most seasoned, well-staffed compliance team, which ultimately puts loan quality in jeopardy and exposes organizations to unnecessary risk," said ACES President and Chief Operating Officer Phillip McCall. "Because it was incubated inside of one of the industry's preeminent legal advisory firms, Winnow serves as a powerful resource for tracking compliance changes at all levels, and we are thrilled to leverage the extensive Winnow regulatory database to enhance the compliance support ACES delivers to our clients."

Winnow covers state laws and regulations specific to the full lifecycle of mortgage, auto, credit card, consumer and commercial-purpose lending and financing. The platform also includes generally applicable requirements that impact the lending and servicing of these products, including such topics as marketing and advertising, debt collection, telemarketing, notary requirements, electronic signatures and documents, powers of attorney and privacy/data security. With Winnow, subscribers can instantaneously and intuitively create a survey of laws based on any of these topics, export the results to their chosen file format, and save them to receive tailored updates of law changes.

"Operating or scaling a financial services company is highly difficult, even under the best of circumstances. Add on the constant change of regulatory requirements, and it becomes even more daunting. That's why a trusted partner like ACES is crucial for speeding up the audit and approval process," said Chris Hilliard, Chief Operating Officer and a Founder of Winnow Solutions, LLC. "We're delighted that ACES has chosen Winnow to power its compliance research, allowing it to deliver even more value to its customers. ACES has an excellent reputation as an industry leader in the QC space, and we deeply appreciate the trust it has placed in us."

About Winnow Solutions

Winnow Solutions, LLC is the developer of Winnow ®, a database-driven, RegTech platform that provides subscribers with accurate topic-driven surveys and automated compliance change management. Winnow catalogues over 45,000 individual state law requirements maintained by an experienced team of specialized attorneys and professionals. Winnow subscribers build highly tailored state law compliance surveys unique to their business type, licensing, financial products and jurisdictions, with federal law surveys coming soon. Winnow Solutions, LLC is a subsidiary of Buckley LLP, a law firm that focuses on financial services, government enforcement, and litigation, and that has been recognized as "The best at what they do in the country" by Chambers USA. For more information, visit https://www.winnow.law or call 1-888-488-6797.

About ACES Quality Management

ACES Quality Management, formerly known as ACES Risk Management (ARMCO), is the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry. The nation's most prominent lenders, servicers and financial institutions rely on ACES Quality Management & Control Software® to improve audit throughput and quality while controlling costs, including:

* 3 of the top 5 and more than 50% of the top 50 independent mortgage lenders;

* 7 of the top 10 loan servicers;

* 11 of the top 30 banks; and

* 1 of the top 3 credit unions in the USA.

Unlike other quality control platforms, only ACES delivers Flexible Audit Technology, which gives independent mortgage lenders and financial institutions the ability to easily manage and customize ACES to meet their business needs without having to rely on IT or other outside resources. Using a customer-centric approach, ACES clients get responsive support and access to our experts to maximize their investment.

For more information, visit http://www.acesquality.com/ or call 1-800-858-1598.

News from ACES Quality Management

ACES Quality Management® (ACES), the leading provider of enterprise quality management and control software for the financial services industry, announced it has partnered with Winnow Solutions to power certain compliance and regulatory operations within ACES through its RegTech platform Winnow®.

Related link: https://www.acesquality.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

AutoAwards Loyalty Program Offers Incredible Returns for Dealerships After Recent Inventory Shortages

ODESSA, Del. /ScoopCloud/ -- As the auto industry continues experiencing ongoing microchip shortages, dealerships need new customer retention methods. As inventory begins to recover into the winter and the latest car models start arriving, AutoAwards offers loyalty solutions for auto dealerships through its auto loyalty programs to boost overall revenue and keep customers engaged and returning.

AutoAwards' auto dealership customers recently increased their inventory through offering buyback programs. Customers who have an existing relationship with a dealership through their loyalty rewards program are more likely to sell back their vehicle to the dealership. In addition, dealerships gain vehicles that they know are in good condition because they've provided service on them. AutoAwards' loyalty program allows auto dealerships to keep track of service appointments and establish a good working relationship with customers.

They also can use the data they've gained through the loyalty rewards program to target customers they know have certain vehicles they may wish to buyback. Through AutoAwards' loyalty rewards program, we have helped auto dealership customers with email blasts and drilling down their data to target the right customers to buy back their vehicles for resale.

Since its inception in 1991, AutoAwards has worked successfully with auto dealerships to produce success stories with customized and profitable loyalty programs. The program routinely rewards customers for continued business with partner dealerships and incentivizes buying.

"Our AutoRewards Loyalty Program consistently engages customers and gets them to return to our client's showroom floors time and time again," said Jon Greene, VP of Operations at AutoAwards. "As the state-of-the-art car models come through in the coming months, dealerships could benefit from using our loyalty program for greater long-term promotion and success."

Clients of AutoAwards have experienced numerous advantages following establishing the company's loyalty programs. With AutoAwards' loyalty program, dealerships can also target customers through email who have earned points through a rewards program for future vehicle purchases.

As inventory comes back in stock, returning customers who may be overdue for purchasing, but postponed during the peak shortages, can be targeted with AutoAwards' email marketing. Some of AutoAwards' customers have sent emails with online vehicle preview events as new models come on to the market or as they list pre-owned vehicles for sale.

AutoAwards helps customers successfully implement buyback and sale offer programs through email targeting and blasts. We target customers for a potential resell using data analysis through the in-house CRM system. Despite a movement toward online car shopping, the customer retention provided through loyalty programs incentivizes buyers to shop in person in the showroom.

"Auto dealerships with AutoAwards' loyalty rewards program have an advantage because they know their customers well and can pinpoint the right customer from the data we've collected through our CRM system and email targeting," said Greene.

Overall, typical active loyalty program members often spend 10% more than customers who are not active in a rewards program, according to a study by McKinsey & Company. In addition, McKinsey & Company also discovered that members who redeem their rewards spend 25% more than members who are not active in a program.

A loyalty program has its benefits for dealerships, and AutoAwards delivers brand loyalty and rewards to each of its clients. Their loyalty programs give dealerships the tools they need to get to know their customers well and ensure they can pinpoint potential future earnings. When customers can count on a specific dealership and hold confidence in its services, they are more inclined to stay loyal and listen to the salesperson who gave them an excellent previous auto-shopping experience.

For more information about the loyalty program offered by AutoAwards, https://autoawards.com. Contact AutoAwards online to discuss how to set up a partnership or call the company at 302-696-6000.

About AutoAwards:

Since our founding in 1991, AutoAwards has been widely recognized as the industry-leader in automotive and marine loyalty marketing, earning longstanding relationships with many of the industry's most successful dealer groups and OEMs.

Since marketing for automotive dealerships has changed in the past 25 years, AutoAwards understands the #1 predictive factor for dealer growth and profitability. Customer loyalty is the most successful way to build revenue. Hundreds of automotive groups use and recommend loyalty programs for dealers as the way to drive brand loyalty. AutoAwards has always recognized the need for top notch, highly creative, effective loyalty strategies in large and small businesses alike.

For this reason, our automotive loyalty marketing expertise is engineered to meet the individual needs and goals of any business - regardless of its size. Contact us online to talk about dealer loyalty or call 302-696-6000. Visit: http://www.autoawards.com/.

MULTIMEDIA:

* VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/FB0s655E740

* LOGO 72dpi: http://www.autoawards.com/wp-content/themes/auto-awards/images/logo/logo-inner.png

RELATED LINKS:

https://www.autoawards.com/automotive-customer-loyalty-programs/

https://www.autoawards.com/automotive-crm-software/

https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/marketing-and-sales/our-insights/next-in-loyalty-eight-levers-to-turn-customers-into-fans

News from AutoAwards Inc.

As the auto industry continues experiencing ongoing microchip shortages, dealerships need new customer retention methods. As inventory begins to recover into the winter and the latest car models start arriving, AutoAwards offers loyalty solutions for auto dealerships through its auto loyalty programs to boost overall revenue and keep customers engaged and returning.

Related link: https://www.autoawards.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

iToolab UnlockGo (Windows) Release: Focus on Windows password recovery

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- iToolab Co Ltd, a leading software manufacturer with a series of Windows and macOS applications, has introduced the all-new version of UnlockGo, i.e., UnlockGo (Windows). Following the legacy of its predecessor, the tool is specifically tailored to help Windows users unlock their locked systems by creating Windows password reset disks and removing the passwords from their systems.

There are a plethora of situations when users end up forgetting their PC's password and have no other option, but to install Windows from scratch. However, since this can lead to potential data loss, the engineers at iToolab have developed a working solution that'll allow users to unlock their locked Windows computer in a hassle-free manner without losing any important files.

With iToolab UnlockGo (Windows), you can create a dedicated Windows password reset disk, remove passwords, and even delete User accounts from the computer. One of the key features of this tool is that it can help users remove passwords from local, Admin, and guest accounts.

And, once you have restored the password or deleted a user account, you can proceed towards setting up a new account from scratch. The best part is that throughout this process, there is zero data loss and users can preserve all their valuable files easily.

The primary vision behind UnlockGo Windows' inception was to make it a hassle-free task for Windows users to reset their passwords and unlock a locked system. To quote JESSE LAU, the CEO at iToolab, "We had already set a benchmark with UnlockGo's iOS version and now, we wanted to expand the software across other platforms as well. So, our engineers successfully built an exclusive Windows Unlocker that would continue to follow the footsteps of its predecessor and help Windows users relish the benefits of a feature-packed Windows Unlocker".

Key features of iToolab UnlockGo (Windows)

1. Reset Windows Account Password

After you have successfully created a password reset disk, you can then use it to reset the account password. It doesn't matter if you have logged into the Admin, local, or guest account, iToolab UnlockGo will help you reset the account password in every situation. All you have to do is simply boot your system using the USB flash drive or the bootable CD/DVD and let it reset the password automatically.

2. Remove Windows Account Password

If you have become tired of forgetting and resetting your account passwords, you can simply use iToolab UnlockGo to permanently delete the password. This way the next time you log into your account, you won't have to type in the password and you'll be able to sign in directly.

3. Delete Windows Account

If you want to manage your system with a single user account, iToolab UnlockGo will allow you to delete unwanted user accounts with a single click. Again, you can use the tool to delete local, administrator, and even guest accounts easily.

4. Create Windows Account

After you have successfully removed the password, you can use the tool to create a new user account as well. iToolab UnlockGo can be used to create multiple accounts and specify their type. For instance, you can create Admin, User, and Local accounts.

5. Remove Password for Domains Users

If you are managing multiple Windows systems using the Domain account, it's quite possible that you may end up forgetting their password sometimes. But, thanks to the all-new iToolab UnlockGo, you'll be able to reset the password of even a domain system with one click.

6. Reset RAID Servers

Raid servers are most commonly used in large organizations to conveniently store the data in separate hard drives. So, when someone forgets the password to reset the RAID server, things can become pretty annoying. With, iToolab UnlockGo (Windows), however, you can easily reset the RAID servers and change their login passwords.

Price and Availability

As of now, iToolab Unlock for Windows is available for the Windows platform. It's compatible with different generations of Windows OS. You can choose any of the below-mentioned plans to access the software on your computer.

Yearly Plan:

Standard - $19.95

Professional - $29.95

Ultimate - $59.95

Learn more: https://itoolab.com/windows-password-recovery/

About iToolab

iToolab is a software development company that primarily designs different iOS solutions to help iPhone/iPad users tackle different issues in their life. iToolab AnyGo and UnlockGo are two of the most popular applications designed by iToolab that millions of users use across different countries. After successfully designing several software titles for the iPhone and iPad, iToolab is now venturing into the Windows platform with its exclusive UnlockGo (Windows).

Website: https://itoolab.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itoolab

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/iToolab

News from IToolab Studio

iToolab Co Ltd, a leading software manufacturer with a series of Windows and macOS applications, has introduced the all-new version of UnlockGo, i.e., UnlockGo (Windows). Following the legacy of its predecessor, the tool is specifically tailored to help Windows users unlock their locked systems by creating Windows password reset disks and removing the passwords from their systems.

Related link: https://itoolab.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Record Sponsor and Fellow-Young Surgeon Turnout Recorded for 11th Annual Spine IEP Course

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Magnifi Group, Inc., a developer of e-learning technology for the medical device industry, reported a record turnout of medical device and biotech companies at its 11th Annual Spine IEP Fellows & Young Surgeons' Course (Spine Interactive Educational Program). The course was held November 19-21, 2021 at The US Grant Hotel in San Diego.

Spine Fellows and Young Surgeons from top spine centers and hospitals across the US attended the 21/2 day course. The Spine IEP has been specifically developed to educate spine and neurosurgery Fellows and Young Surgeons on current topics related to the practice of spine and neurosurgery, as well as to assist attendees with the transition from academics to practicing surgeon.

The format for the course is highly interactive. All topics concluded with question/answer sessions and panel discussions. Fellows and Young Surgeons also took part in didactic sessions with each course sponsor and attended one of four cadaver labs.

Laura McClain, Course Coordinator, said the 11th annual course represented the largest gathering of practicing Spine Fellows and Young Surgeons for an educational event of this kind. "This interactive course allows Fellows and Young Surgeons to get hands-on experience, coupled with exposure to the latest technologies and case studies presented by leading faculty," McClain said.

The Spine IEP Fellows & Young Surgeons' Course is led by Dr. Frank Phillips, Director, Division of Spine Surgery, Section Head, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, and Fellowship Co-Director, Spine Surgery at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Ill.

According to Magnifi data, an average of 70-80 spine Fellows enters the US market each year as practicing spine surgeons. Of these, 48-50 Fellows are expected to attend the 12th annual course in Austin Texas, November 18-20, 2022.

Magnifi Group, Inc. is a developer of dynamic online training solutions for leading global companies. The company is responsible for the Spine IEP Live Fellows Course; the Lower Extremity IEP Live Fellows Course and the Hip and Knee IEP Live Fellows Course.

MORE INFORMATION:

https://www.spine-iep.com/

https://www.lowerextremity-iep.com/

https://www.hipandknee-iep.com/

For Additional Information Contact:

Laura McClain: lmcclain@magnifigroup.com

News from Magnifi Group

Magnifi Group, Inc., a developer of e-learning technology for the medical device industry, reported a record turnout of medical device and biotech companies at its 11th Annual Spine IEP Fellows & Young Surgeons' Course (Spine Interactive Educational Program). The course was held November 19-21, 2021 at The US Grant Hotel in San Diego.

Related link: http://www.magnifigroup.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

ViewTech Borescopes to Exhibit at 2021 Ag Aviation Expo and Quality Expo

TRAVERSE City, Mich. /ScoopCloud/ -- To kick off the final month of the calendar year, ViewTech Borescopes will have their remote visual inspection tools available to trial at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo and Advanced Manufacturing East, both scheduled to begin this week. While both events take place over a short period of time, all attendees are encouraged to take advantage of ViewTech Borescope no-cost, no-obligation demo offer, allowing a VJ-3 video borescope to be shipped directly to their facility to trial for free during real-world inspection, maintenance, and quality control requirements.

For the first time, ViewTech Borescopes will be exhibiting at the Quality Expo taking place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City from December 7 through December 9 at Booth 638. This year's Quality Expo is the must-attend trade show for professionals who are seeking the latest quality technology to use while testing in a variety of applications ranging from aerospace to medical devices. Senior Sales Consultant, Zack Wessels, will have the VJ-3 2.8mm, VJ-3 3.9mm, VJ-3 6.0mm, and VJ-3 Dual Camera video borescopes on hand for Advanced Manufacturing East attendees to explore.

Returning for the eighth consecutive year, ViewTech Borescopes will exhibit at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo which is taking place at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday, December 7 and Wednesday, December 8 at Booth 452. ViewTech's Sales Consultant, Evan Miller, will have available a VJ-3 3.9mm and VJ-3 6.0mm video borescope for aerial application pilots and aviation maintenance technicians to trial. With many previous attendees already owning and utilizing VJ-3 video borescopes for their inspection and maintenance, ViewTech is excited to meet new connections looking to upgrade their remote visual inspection equipment.

VJ-3 Video Borescope

The VJ-3 mechanical articulating video borescope is a nondestructive visual testing instrument used for the remote visual inspection of machinery, equipment, and components. The VJ-3 facilitates the visual recording and photo documentation of an inspection and components in areas that are otherwise inaccessible or require great effort and expense to access directly. The VJ-3 consists of two modules integrated into one system: an insertion tube with distally mounted camera/LEDs, and the base unit with control panel, LCD monitor, power source and all necessary circuitry.

About ViewTech Borescopes

ViewTech Borescopes, founded as RF System Lab in 2008, is North America's #1 seller of video borescopes. Their first product, the VJ borescope, set a new standard for portability, ergonomics and ease-of-use, with its industry-first mechanical, joystick-controlled articulation.

Learn more: https://www.viewtech.com

News from ViewTech Borescopes

To kick off the final month of the calendar year, ViewTech Borescopes will have their remote visual inspection tools available to trial at the NAAA Ag Aviation Expo and Advanced Manufacturing East, both scheduled to begin this week.

Related link: https://www.ViewTech.com

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Publishers Newswire announces annual Books to Bookmark List for Dec. 2021 – 11 Great Reads You’ve Never Seen

TEMECULA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Publishers Newswire, a news publisher covering books, music and software launched in 2004, has announced its annual "books to bookmark" list of 11 new and interesting reads from small publishers and self-published authors across the U.S. These books are often overlooked due to not coming from major traditional book publishing houses.

"This past 18 months have been a whirlwind of new books being published by small publishing houses, and authors embracing self-publishing," says PNW editor and publisher, Christopher Laird Simmons, who has worked in the publishing world since the late '70s, and is also CEO of the website's parent company, NEOTROPE. "It seems the unfortunate pandemic has given many folks the time and impetus to 'finish that novel,' or write a telling memoir, then release it to the world. This year's list is truly diverse."

Herewith are 11 interesting reads worth a look (alphabetical order, based on book title):

* "Adventure Zone" by Allison Klimowicz and Veronica Stanley-Hooper (ISBN: 979-8524737199; Independently Published) is written for parents and children from the ages of 6 to 12 years old, explaining pediatric therapies in a fun, informative way. This colorfully illustrated book is designed in parts and can be read as a story alone or as a story and a resource with definitions that explain terms that parents and children may experience when entering a pediatric therapy office.

* "Drunk Talk" by Mike Davis and TL Banks (ISBN: 979-8675709625; Club Lighthouse Publishing) is "an emotional roller coaster ride with a twist of humor." Included are 48 short discussions about different aspects of life with a twist of humor, your drunken fortune, and unique quotes to keep you focused. Those who think they have heard it all, better think again.

* "Beyond the Wheat Field - The Life-After-Life of Steve Jobs" by Katherine Talley and Joy Lawrance (ISBN: 978-1982268169; Inspire Publications LLC) is an offbeat yet deeply spiritual and beautifully illustrated book, a "compilation of afterlife communications with a tech icon recounting spiritual dialogues that Talley has had with Jobs since his passing." The book offers a different perspective, regardless of one's spiritual beliefs, on the life of Apple co-founder Jobs.

* "Felina's Spell - The Delta Tango Trilogy Book Two" by Christopher LaGrone (ISBN: 978-1631955457; Morgan James Publishing) tells the tale of how fictional Border Patrol Agent-to-be Layne Sheppard has met the girl of his dreams, but will he meet his demise in the field training gauntlet that awaits? Author LaGrone draws on his own experiences as a recruit, field trainee and border agent to create a border saga unlike any previously published immigration-themed novel.

* "How to Dress a Naked Portfolio: A Tailored Introduction to Investing for Women" by Beverly Bowers (ISBN: 978-0578312705; Sister Courage Publishing) is a guidebook that to "help women learn more about how to take charge of their investments." The book asks the reader to answer eight questions and then based on those answers, the reader moves through a step-by-step process that designs a customized investment portfolio just for her. To make it a little more engaging and fun, Bowers has compared planning an investment portfolio to putting together an outfit.

* "In for Life" by Elaine Alice Murphy (ISBN: 978-0578965659; Satuit Press) is a memoir about Murphy's two-decade exploration of the wrongful murder conviction of her son's classmate and friend, Sean K. Ellis. The high-profile Boston case gained international attention when it became the subject of the eight-part Netflix docuseries "Trial 4." Murphy, working with Ellis's family and attorneys to gain him a retrial, discovered previously undisclosed evidence of police corruption that the courts called a "game changer" and led to his release after he'd spent nearly 22 years behind bars.

* "Real Outreach: A Practical Guide to Retaining and Graduating College Students" by Dr. Ezella McPherson (ISBN: 978-1737273103; Dr. McPherson Coaching) outlines successes with at-risk college students. She has retained 82% to 100% of at-risk first-year college students during her tenure at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Wayne State University, and Indiana University. The book will be of interest to high school and college bound students - and their families - so that they can learn about some challenges to endure while pursuing a college degree.

* "Sophia's Return: Uncovering My Mother's Past" by Sophia Kouidou-Giles (ISBN: 978-1647421717; She Writes Press), follows a daughter's journey to "understand why her mother left their family home when the author was a seven-year-old child, without a good-bye or explanation." Determined to unlock the true story, Kouidou-Giles travels back to Greece and interviews family members; all of whom are sympathetic but reluctant to disclose information. Finally, she hires an attorney to search for documents-and uncovers a story she never knew existed.

* "Tales From the Liminal" by S. K. Kruse (ISBN 978-1944521158, Deuxmers Publishing) features a brood of 15 short stories. Kruse, a former writer for The Onion, and mother of 11 children, offers fantastical tales including: following Schrödinger's cat into the zeroth dimension, grooving to Barry Manilow with Bigfoot on a beach, traveling with a troubadour of the apocalypse to Belleville, or having drinks with a woman who has seen Gertrude Stein in the condensation on her window.

* "True Joy for the Retired, A Holistic Approach to Spreading the Love to Our Forgotten Elderly" by Paulina Kay (ISBN: 978-1773710075; Black Card Books) shows the young and old how to overcome "the deeply rooted Disconnection between generations; the often heartbreaking loneliness and hopelessness of the elderly; and the fear about getting older." While taking time off for her family, Kay went through very difficult times that propelled her to an internal growth transformation that led her to reclaim her love for the elderly.

* "Uncommon Threads: Weaving a Life Through Family, Business and Faith" by John Wieland (ISBN: 978-1951407711; Legacy Launch Pad Publishing) is a memoir connecting family, business and faith, that is "is equal parts self-deprecating and informative." Wieland is the CEO of MH Equipment, a material handling company. In the 27 years that Weiland has served as CEO, MH has grown from a small, virtually bankrupt company with three branches and 50 employees to a thriving one with over 900 employees and over 30 branches.

MORE INFORMATION:

Learn more about additional books you've probably never heard of here: https://publishersnewswire.com/pnw/book-news/

ABOUT PUBLISHERS NEWSWIRE™:

Publishers Newswire (PNW) is an online publication founded in 2004, part of the Neotrope News Network, covering books and publishing, music and software news. Publishers Newswire does not endorse, "recommend," or review any of the book titles mentioned, and the specific books mentioned are for informational purpose only. No fee or other consideration was paid for inclusion in this list.

ABOUT NEOTROPE:

Neotrope has been in the publishing business since the late 1970s, when then teenage founder Christopher Simmons published first "The Comic Collectors Comic Checklist" sold at the San Diego Comic-Con. The company went on to publish "The Galaxy of Fandom" a one-off entertainment magazine, and later "The Adama Journal" a fanzine for "Battlestar Galactica." In 1982, "The Unicorn Hunters Guidebook" was featured in Playboy magazine. In 1987, a fanzine for "Star Trek: The Next Generation" called "Galaxy Class" launched. In 2008, the company published "FRACTOPIA" a coffee table art book by Simmons (ISBN: 978-0971055506; Neotrope Press).

The company publishing unit was originally called Silver Unicorn Graphics (S.U. Graphics and Marketing), became Mindset Press in 1987 and Neotrope Press in 1997. The Neotrope News Network was launched in 2004.

The company is also a leader in online advertising and marketing, public relations, music/video and multimedia. Neotrope is based in the Southern California wine country of Temecula. Neotrope® is a registered trademark in the U.S. and Europe.

Christopher Simmons has been a working journalist since 1984 when he sold his first article to POLYPHONY magazine. Later writing for diverse pubs including Computer Player, Digital Imaging, Micro Publishing News, Spazz, the Graphic Artist's Guild newspaper, among many others. He has been widely interviewed on topics related to technology, marketing, health and entertainment.

Learn more about Neotrope at: https://neotrope.com/ (website under reconstruction for 2022).

NOTE: NEOTROPE does not publish any of the books mentioned in this press release nor represent any author or publisher in an agency capacity. For questions about any of the books mentioned contact the author or publisher directly and not this website.

News from Publishers Newswire

Publishers Newswire, a news publisher covering books, music and software launched in 2004, has announced its annual "books to bookmark" list of 11 new and interesting reads from small publishers and self-published authors across the U.S. These books are often overlooked due to not coming from major traditional book publishing houses.

Related link: https://publishersnewswire.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

XLR8 Companies Announces its New Operations Office in Valencia, California

VALENCIA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- On December 1, 2021, Xelerate Logistics LLC ("XLR8") announced a new branch opening in Valencia, California, located strategically 30 miles away from the Los Angeles / Long Beach Port. This fully staffed, operations office has been added to XLR8 as a necessary expansion for the New York based company to keep with increasing demand and a growing repertoire of clientele.

As the past 2 years in a post pandemic economy has shown, Long Beach Container Terminal and the Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach has been one of the most contentious areas for supply chain industry in the United States. Setting up an operations office out of Valencia specifically allows XLR8 to continue servicing its clients with priority to the unique issues coming from LBCT, while also working in unison with its partners and vendors in Los Angeles.

The California office opening works in tandem with XLR8's headquarters in New York and is being overseen by company management in Manhattan for smooth integration of the companies operating system and its service requirements. Xelerate Logistic LLC continues its commitment to superior service for its clients and holistic solutions for dynamic changes to the supply chain industry.

About Xelerate Logistics LLC

Xelerate Logistics LLC is a New York based company with Headquarters in New York City with offices in Commack, NY & Los Angeles, CA, and Global Operations in Canada, Asia, Africa & Middle East. The founding members of XLR8 managed and ran asset-based lending companies with portfolios in aggregate of over $500 million over the past 20 years; and are now looking into a fund of over $2 Billion.

In addition to bringing their networks and expertise into XLR8, the team created an end-to-end supply chain and logistics management company that can finance the customer's needs from manufacturing through end delivery. The company provides services related to shipping (ocean and air), both domestic & international, financing and funding options through its supply chain solutions.

For more info, please call, 877.712.6888, email info@xlr8companies.us or visit our website: https://www.xlr8companies.us/index.html.

News from Xelerate Logistics LLC

On December 1, 2021, Xelerate Logistics LLC ("XLR8") announced a new branch opening in Valencia, California, located strategically 30 miles away from the Los Angeles / Long Beach Port. This fully staffed, operations office has been added to XLR8 as a necessary expansion for the New York based company to keep with increasing demand and a growing repertoire of clientele.

Related link: https://www.xlr8companies.us/index.html

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

On Human Rights Day, the Spotlight is on Mexico on the Scientology Network

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- "Equality," the theme for Human Rights Day 2021, is a goal that informs the work of Youth for Human Rights Mexico President Raúl Arias and his team of activists. The Church of Scientology International shares his episode of Voices for Humanity on the Scientology Network in honor of the 73rd anniversary of United Nations adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"When I was 15, I had an experience that changed my life," says Arias in his Voices of Humanity episode. Kidnappers carrying machine guns forced him and one of his best friends into the back of a van. "I thought I was going to die," he says. "They saw in my friend's papers that his father was a general and they didn't want to get into any trouble with the army, so they let us go. That opened my eyes to the world."

He enrolled in a human rights certification program at the National University of Mexico which led to his attending a conference on human trafficking.

"There were about 7,000 people there and most of them were parents carrying photos of missing children," he says. He learned that one in four victims of human trafficking is a child and 99 percent of those trafficked are girls or women. He realized that if he were the parent of one of those missing daughters, he would never give up trying to find her. "That opened my heart to emotions I never had before."

Arias attended an event at the Church of Scientology Mexico, where he was introduced to Youth for Human Rights, a human rights awareness and education program sponsored by the Church of Scientology. "I fell in love with this program," he says.

The episode documents major inroads created by Arias and his team with a movement reaching all segments of society through education on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in schools throughout the country.

In 1969, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote: "Very few governments have implemented any part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These governments have not grasped that their very survival depends utterly upon adopting such reforms and thus giving their peoples a cause, a civilization worth supporting, worth their patriotism."

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support Youth for Human Rights and make its educational materials available free of charge. Watch a documentary on the history and activities of Youth for Human Rights International on Voices for Humanity on the Scientology Network. Since launching with a special episode featuring Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige, Scientology Network has been viewed in 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320 and can be streamed at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms. For more information, visit the Scientology Newsroom.

Learn more at: https://www.scientology.tv/series/voices-for-humanity/raul-arias.html

News from Church of Scientology International

"Equality," the theme for Human Rights Day 2021, is a goal that informs the work of Youth for Human Rights Mexico President Raúl Arias and his team of activists. The Church of Scientology International shares his episode of Voices for Humanity on the Scientology Network in honor of the 73rd anniversary of United Nations adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Mortgage Coach executive Kelli Hodges honored with National Mortgage Professional’s 2021 Mortgage Lending’s Women of Inspiration award

IRVINE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, today announced that chief operations officer (COO) Kelli Hodges has been named a 2021 Mortgage Lending's Women of Inspiration award recipient by National Mortgage Professional Magazine. The annual awards program honors women leaders in the mortgage industry who spark inspiration via mentorship, professional accomplishment and thought leadership.

Hodges was honored for applying her 20 years' mortgage technology and operational expertise at Mortgage Coach, where she has helped hundreds of lenders meet the unique financial needs of millions of homeowners. Since joining Mortgage Coach in 2017, she has played a vital role in expanding the firm's connectivity with the digital mortgage ecosystem by more than doubling its partnership integrations. Additionally, Hodges has boosted internal efficiency through process optimization and fostered high employee retention while growing the company with top talent by promoting a work culture in which employees feel empowered to make a difference and grow professionally.

"Kelli's leadership and intelligence have been vital to Mortgage Coach's ability to bake financial education and highly-personalized advice into the home financing process, which in turn yields increased conversion and customer retention for lenders," said Mortgage Coach President Joe Puthur. "I applaud her professional achievements and commend her on an honor well-deserved."

The full list of Mortgage Lending's Women of Inspiration honorees can be viewed in the November edition of National Mortgage Professional Magazine on https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/.

About Mortgage Coach:

Mortgage Coach is an award-winning borrower conversion platform that gives consumers the confidence to transact with educational presentations that model loan performance over time. The company's side-by-side loan comparisons allow borrowers to make faster, more informed mortgage decisions while enabling lenders to consistently deliver an on-brand, consultative home financing experience that increases borrower conversion, repeat business and referrals.

To date, more than 120 enterprise independent mortgage banks, depository banks and credit unions rely on Mortgage Coach to deliver personalized, modern service that grows revenue and customer loyalty.

To learn more about Mortgage Coach, visit https://www.mortgagecoach.com or follow @MortgageCoach.

News from Mortgage Coach

Mortgage Coach, a borrower conversion platform empowering mortgage lenders to educate borrowers with interactive presentations that model home loan performance over time, today announced that chief operations officer (COO) Kelli Hodges has been named a 2021 Mortgage Lending's Women of Inspiration award recipient by National Mortgage Professional Magazine.

Related link: https://mortgagecoach.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Journalist Elaine Alice Murphy is set to release her memoir, ‘In for Life’

BOSTON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- This Jan., journalist Elaine Alice Murphy is set to release her memoir, "In for Life" (ISBN: 978-0578965659; Satuit Press), about her two-decade exploration of the wrongful murder conviction of her son's classmate and friend, Sean K. Ellis. The high-profile Boston case gained international attention when it became the subject of the eight-part Netflix docuseries "Trial 4."

Ellis was convicted in 1995 of the murder and robbery of Boston detective John J. Mulligan and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Mulligan was white, Sean is black. Age 19 at the time of the crime, Sean insisted he was innocent. It took three trials to convict him; his first two trials ended with hung juries.

Murphy, working with Ellis's family and attorneys to gain him a retrial, discovered previously undisclosed evidence of police corruption that the courts called a "game changer" and led to his release after he'd spent nearly 22 years behind bars.

"In for Life" is Murphy's riveting account of her journey through a corrupt criminal justice system and her distress at the two different Americas Sean Ellis and her son faced growing up. Woven throughout are insights from her prison conversations with Ellis that deepened their bond over two decades - a bond that became life changing for both.

Senior Harvard Lecturer and retired federal judge Hon. Nancy Gertner called "In for Life," "a remarkable story beautifully told ... of what it takes to make the criminal legal system fair - dogged determination, years and years of work, and a clear-eyed vision of what is right, no matter what the cost."

"In for Life" is available where all books are sold in January, 2022. It is nationally distributed by Cardinal Publishing Group.

Additional details can be found at https://www.satuitpress.com/, https://www.justiceforseanellis.com/, and @emurphyauthor on Twitter.

News from Elaine Alice Murphy

This Jan., journalist Elaine Alice Murphy is set to release her memoir, "In for Life" (ISBN: 978-0578965659; Satuit Press), about her two-decade exploration of the wrongful murder conviction of her son's classmate and friend, Sean K. Ellis. The high-profile Boston case gained international attention when it became the subject of the eight-part Netflix docuseries "Trial 4."

Related link: https://www.justiceforseanellis.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

SimpleNexus makes third consecutive appearance on Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, ranking number 292

LEHI, Utah /ScoopCloud/ -- SimpleNexus (https://simplenexus.com/), developer of the leading homeownership platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced it earned the number 292 spot on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 27th year.

The homeownership platform's "from anywhere" functionality and ability to support a modern home lending experience from point-of-thought to post-close were the primary catalysts behind its 433% revenue growth.

"SimpleNexus' commitment to providing its mortgage lender customers with a measurable return on investment by way of reducing turn times, generating referral partnerships and increasing loan application submissions has rapidly enlarged our footprint in the housing industry," said SimpleNexus Chief Executive Officer Cathleen Schreiner Gates. "We are honored to be recognized on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 alongside other world-class companies who are making waves in their respective industries."

"Each year the Technology Fast 500 shines a light on leading innovators in technology and this year is no exception," said Paul Silverglate, vice chair, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology sector leader. "In the face of innumerable challenges resulting from the pandemic, the best and brightest were able to pivot, reinvent and transform and grow. We celebrate the winning organizations and especially the talented employees driving their success."

"The pandemic has underscored the urgent need for tech solutions in a variety of areas across health care, fintech, energy tech, entertainment, to name a few, so reliance on innovators like the winners of the Technology Fast 500 is more important than ever," said Christie Simons, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications within Deloitte's audit & assurance practice. "These companies are not only at the cutting edge, transforming the way we do business, but most importantly, recognize the strategic importance of ongoing innovation, especially in the ever-changing world of technology."

SimpleNexus has made multiple consecutive appearances on the Technology Fast 500™, having ranked 143 on the list in 2020, and 102 in 2019.

Overall, 2021 Technology Fast 500™ companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 212% to 87,037% from 2017 to 2020, with median growth of 521%.

About SimpleNexus

Founded in 2011, SimpleNexus is an award-winning developer of mobile-first technology for the modern mortgage lender. Lenders depend on our namesake homeownership platform to unite the people, systems and stages of the mortgage process into a seamless, end-to-end solution that spans engagement, origination, closing and business intelligence. By helping lenders manage their teams and stay connected with borrowers and real estate partners, we deliver a measurable return on investment in the form of reduced turn times, increased loan application submissions and more referral business. For more information, visit https://www.simplenexus.com/ or follow @SimpleNexus.

About the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™

Now in its 27th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies - both public and private - in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2017 to 2020.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

News from SimpleNexus

SimpleNexus, developer of the leading homeownership platform for loan officers, borrowers, real estate agents and settlement agents, today announced it earned the number 292 spot on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™.

Related link: https://simplenexus.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Renton Plumbing Company Offers Service to Support Other Local Plumbers

RENTON, Wash. /ScoopCloud/ -- It's no secret that both the COVID-19 pandemic and the volume of unemployment is still causing a disturbing amount of damage across Washington state. According to Trusted Plumbing and Heating, as homeowners continue to need plumbing services, companies are struggling to find workers to get on the job sites. One job in particular, Directional Drilling Services, is in high demand, and not all companies have the tools required to get these jobs done.

Trusted Plumbing and Heating, a family-owned plumbing company serving the greater Renton community, recently sent out hundreds of handwritten letters to plumbing businesses across King, Pierce and Thurston County. In the letter, Trusted offers to assist with plumbing jobs that require directional drilling and horizontal boring, knowing that their help will be a big value to these businesses.

"We're lucky to have our drill. It's made underground drilling jobs much less invasive for homeowners," says owner Jim Cunningham. "If we're able to affordably rent out our services to other local plumbers, it's a triple win - great for the homeowners, valuable for us, and helpful for the companies who need a drill."

Directional drilling is the practice of drilling non-vertical bores - with minimal destruction to property. Also referred to as 'directional boring,' or 'horizontal boring,' it also decreases the environmental impact of traditional drilling. These tools are valuable not just to plumbers, but to contractors, electricians, and construction companies.

If you're a plumber, contractor or an electrician who needs directional drilling services, don't hesitate to reach out to Trusted Plumbing and Heating at https://www.trustedplumbingheating.com/, or call (206) 231-5008 to learn more.

News from Trusted Plumbing and Heating

It's no secret that both the COVID-19 pandemic and the volume of unemployment is still causing a disturbing amount of damage across Washington state. According to Trusted Plumbing and Heating, as homeowners continue to need plumbing services, companies are struggling to find workers to get on the job sites. One job in particular, Directional Drilling Services, is in high demand, and not all companies have the tools required to get these jobs done.

Related link: https://www.trustedplumbingheating.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

ScoopCloud Newswire

New men’s luxury brand North Country successfully navigates global supply chain crisis

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- North Country, a newly launched men's premium clothing brand, today announced that it has successfully skirted global supply chain issues and is poised for a robust Q4 holiday shopping season. North Country's Fall/Winter collection of authentic Portuguese flannel shirts is in-stock and ready-to-ship from New York.

The global supply chain has been backlogged for months, as the world struggles to recover from pandemic-driven supply challenges that have cleared the shelves of major retailers nationwide, cutting off consumer access to cars, computers, exercise equipment, and clothing. This crisis comes at a particularly difficult moment for consumers and retailers alike: the start of the holiday shopping season.

Enter North Country, a clothing brand launched online at https://www.northcountrybrand.com/ in October, 2021 that "showcases specialty fabrics from around the world" and uses "exceptional tailoring to create a unique and timeless experience." Unlike most retailers, North Country has not been slowed by the supply chain crisis. The brand's full collection is currently in-stock.

President Andrew Lerner's new brand is the latest venture from his fourth-generation family apparel business whose founder, Ben Wachter, was the first American to import flannel fabric from Portugal in the 1950s. Lerner credits the brand's ability to navigate supply challenges to the fact that its "shirts are manufactured in Europe, which has been less affected than Asia by supply chain issues."

True to its heritage, North Country's Fall/Winter Collection "redefines the flannel shirt, crafted from the most luxurious Portuguese fabric available and expertly tailored in Portugal." With the launch of North Country, Lerner couples his aptitude for design with manufacturing expertise to produce an exceptional product.

The brand has received notoriety from Instagram fashion influencers like Christian Bendek, Jonas Maier, Blake Scott, and Kamil Nicalek, who tout the "artisan fabric which makes them very special." North Country has also caught the eye of high-end boutiques and ski shops in Aspen, Vail, and Deer Valley, where its luxury collection is on sale for the fashionable apres' ski crowd.

North Country shirts are available in the finest men's stores in the Northeast and online at https://www.northcountrybrand.com/

North Country® is a registered trademark in the U.S.

FOLLOW ON SOCIAL:

https://www.facebook.com/northcountrybrand

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News from North Country

North Country, a newly launched men's premium clothing brand, today announced that it has successfully skirted global supply chain issues and is poised for a robust Q4 holiday shopping season. North Country's Fall/Winter collection of authentic Portuguese flannel shirts is in-stock and ready-to-ship from New York.

Related link: https://www.northcountrybrand.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

2nd Annual Synergy Achievement Awards Honor School Districts’ Pandemic Year Successes

MESA, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- Edupoint® Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy® Education Platform for student information and learning management, announced this year's Synergy Achievement Awards recipients at its Synergy Connect National Users Conference in November. Award recipients were selected for exceptional application of Synergy functionality resulting in significant benefits to district stakeholders.

The 2021 awards program received nominations from Edupoint partner districts of all sizes from coast to coast. Four districts were selected as winners to be awarded $2,500 technology grants: Clay County District Schools (FL), Coconino County Accommodation School District (AZ), Long Beach Unified School District (CA), and Tucson Unified School District (AZ).

Four additional districts were selected for honorable mention, and will receive $1,000 technology grants: Beaverton School District (OR), School District of Lancaster (PA), Rialto Unified School District (CA), and Poudre School District (CO).

"Reviewing the 2021 Synergy Achievement Awards nominations was one of the highlights of the year," said Rob Wilson, President and Chief Innovation Officer at Edupoint. "We develop Synergy features in response to requests and feedback from our partner districts, but the creativity we see in how these features are used to handle unique situations and meet district needs is truly inspiring. It is my great pleasure to congratulate this year's award recipients for their ingenuity and commitment to excellence."

About Edupoint

For over 35 years, the leadership of Edupoint Educational Systems has provided well-designed, technologically advanced student data management systems that empower K-12 stakeholders to improve student achievement. Synergy Education Platform by Edupoint is an industry-leading student data management ecosystem built to fit the way educators already work, with seamlessly integrated student information management, learning management, MTSS, assessment, special education management, and analytics.

Synergy is unique among K-12 student data management solutions in providing an array of role-based mobile apps designed to give all stakeholders access to the tools they need when and where they need them. More than 5 million students use Synergy in 22 states.

Learn more at: https://www.edupoint.com/.

News from Edupoint Educational Systems

Edupoint Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy Education Platform for student information and learning management, announced this year's Synergy Achievement Awards recipients at its Synergy Connect National Users Conference in November. Award recipients were selected for exceptional application of Synergy functionality resulting in significant benefits to district stakeholders.

Related link: https://www.edupoint.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Current Builders Announces Annual Holiday Fundraising Program

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- Current Builders (www.currentbuilders.com) is proud to announce the launch of their 16th Annual Holiday Fundraising Program. This year, the goal is to raise $75,000 to donate to Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Broward, Best Buddies, and the Dolphins Cancer Challenge. The award-winning general contractor established a foundation in 2005 to increase their community involvement, and to date they have donated over $400,000 to benefit deserving nonprofit organizations and to fund scholarship programs.

"This year we are increasing our fundraising goal and challenging our employees and construction colleagues to help us donate even more to these deserving nonprofits," said Michael C. Taylor, CEO. "These events of the past couple of years have been detrimental for many local charities, so this time, we are encouraging giving with a company challenge."

Current Builders has launched a friendly competition among the employees to incentivize giving. The department or construction project that brings in the most donations will be rewarded with a day of Paid Time Off for its members.

Current Builders' spirit of giving is an important part of its company culture; however, it is not just an end-of-year tradition. The construction firm takes part in numerous activities throughout the year to further the community including mentoring high school students, offering free in-house education programs for its employees, and building homes for those less fortunate.

To donate to Current Builders' Holiday Fundraising program, click the banner on their homepage at https://www.currentbuilders.com/.

About Current Builders:

Current Builders is an award-winning general contractor, established in 1972 with average annual revenues in excess of $250 million. Current Builders specializes in privatized student housing, multi-family residential projects, healthcare facilities, office/warehouse buildings, commercial distribution facilities, parking garages, interior buildouts, interior and exterior renovations, all included as turnkey projects inclusive of the construction of the buildings and related site work.

News from Current Builders

Current Builders is proud to announce the launch of their 16th Annual Holiday Fundraising Program. This year, the goal is to raise $75,000 to donate to Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Broward, Best Buddies, and the Dolphins Cancer Challenge.

Related link: http://www.currentbuilders.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Swift Homes Gives Homeowners More Value for their Home

CHICAGO, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- Headquartered in Chicago, Swift Homes has quickly emerged as one of the country's most sought after and successful cash home buyers. Their skilled and knowledgeable personnel help property owners from all walks of life sell houses efficiently for unmatched value. Swift Homes allows customers to sell their homes in as-is condition, and utilizes superior procedures to give them peace of mind and a wonderful experience from start to finish.

With often unreasonable fees, many moving parts, and no guarantees of success, traditional real estate transactions are far from ideal. Swift Homes does things differently, buying single-family houses that are then rented out by families in the area.

Homeowners across Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, South Carolina, Iowa, and elsewhere have discovered the numerous benefits of working with the cash home buyers at Swift Homes. First and foremost, Swift Homes' competitive cash offers are fundamentally sound as they're supported by a robust private equity fund. When transacting with Swift Homes, property owners also avoid needing to put in time and effort for repair work. The company consistently lives up to its name, closing deals in a seamless and expeditious manner.

Having bought 5,000+ homes from customers throughout the United States, Swift Homes has extensive experience working with individuals in a variety of situations. While some seek to sell their homes quickly due to unforeseen circumstances and emergencies, others aim to sell because of job relocation. No matter the reasons involved, Swift Homes' personnel are committed to assisting as best they can. The company greatly enjoys hearing customers tell them that cash received from the deals helped get them back on track financially.

Swift Homes has a signature process that is simple yet highly effective. Once homeowners send over information on their properties, the Swift Homes team supplies clear, personalized proposals with the competitive cash offers included. If the offer is agreeable to the owner, the next step is a convenient home inspection to fully assess the property firsthand. Afterwards, customers can decide on particular closing dates that work best for them. When the process has wrapped up, the happy customers get their cash payments as promised.

Swift Homes is considered an industry leader because they provide exceptional cash offers, superb customer service, and a refined process that moves things along smoothly. The private equity fund means that all cash offers are backed and legitimate. Those that select Swift Homes get peace of mind knowing that they do not need to worry about securing financing. The company also wants to impress upon prospective customers that control of the deal is squarely in their hands. No Swift Homes personnel will ever pressure homeowners to accept offers or move forward if they're not completely comfortable.

Sellers from Texas, Florida, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, South Carolina, Indiana, and other states across the nation can speak with a friendly Swift Homes representative by calling (877) 861-2466. Those desiring additional information on the cash home buyers and their process can email hello@SellToSwift.com or visit http://www.selltoswift.com/.

News from Swift Homes

Headquartered in Chicago, Swift Homes has quickly emerged as one of the country's most sought after and successful cash home buyers. Their skilled and knowledgeable personnel help property owners from all walks of life sell houses efficiently for unmatched value. Swift Homes allows customers to sell their homes in as-is condition, and utilizes superior procedures to give them peace of mind and a wonderful experience from start to finish.

Related link: https://www.selltoswift.com

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Seedling Welcomes New Development Director

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Seedling Foundation, a non-profit organization providing school-based mentoring for children who have an incarcerated parent, has selected Julie Barschow as Development Director. Ms. Barschow joins Seedling with over 20 years of nonprofit management, development and marketing experience.

Spending the first six years of her career with the YMCA of Austin, Ms. Barschow helped retain and grow membership at the Y's flagship branch in downtown Austin, while also helping to grow the Partner of Youth campaign, expanding efforts to bring the Y's services to all, despite their financial circumstances. Julie then transitioned to Boys & Girls Clubs of Austin, where she spent the next decade in development and marketing, helping raise more than $1 Million per year through a variety of initiatives and events.

During her tenure, the Boys & Girls Clubs grew from serving less than 1,000 kids to more than 10,000, and from annual revenue of less than $800,000 to $7 Million. Julie assisted the organization through its largest growth period, helping build and improve systems, resulting in more contributions and community awareness across all resource development avenues. She has also run her own business, offering development and marketing consulting and services for nonprofits and small businesses.

"I was blessed to discover my love for philanthropy and civil service at the beginning of my professional career. I have done my best to be a servant leader, helping the world get a little better every day in whatever small way I can. I am grateful and honored to join the Seedling team and help advance the mission to help children overcome difficult circumstances and reach their full potential," Ms. Barschow said.

Julie holds a B.S. in Communications Studies from The University of Texas at Austin, and has completed advanced leadership training under The Professional Association of Boys & Girls Clubs' award-winning leadership program. Julie is a member of and has previously served on the board for Women Communicators of Austin, and has served as both President and VP of Fundraising for the Parent Teacher Associations at her children's schools in Austin ISD and Hays Consolidated ISD.

Ms. Barschow succeeds Linda Thompson, who is retiring after 4 years as Seedling's Development Director. Ms. Thompson helped Seedling to increase mentoring services to children by growing its annual budget by over 20% during her time with Seedling.

"We feel very fortunate to have had Linda's experience and passion for the past four years and look forward to having Julie continue the excellence in development and raise needed awareness so that more children impacted by parental incarceration can have mentors and support," said Dan Leal, Seedling Executive Director.

About Seedling:

Seedling has provided school-based mentoring for over 2300 Central Texas children impacted by parental incarceration since 2005. Seedling is seeking mentors to serve children during the 2021-22 school year as schools allows mentors to return campuses. Seedling is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, Tax ID #74-2841791. Donations are tax deductible.

To learn more about Seedling or to become a mentor visit Seedling's website at https://seedlingmentors.org/ or call (512) 323-6371.

News from Seedling

Seedling Foundation, a non-profit organization providing school-based mentoring for children who have an incarcerated parent, has selected Julie Barschow as Development Director. Ms. Barschow joins Seedling with over 20 years of nonprofit management, development and marketing experience.

Related link: https://seedlingmentors.org/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

HousingWire recognizes Sales Boomerang’s Mike Spotten for innovations in mortgage technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, today announced that Mike Spotten, vice president of product, was named a 2021 HW Tech Trendsetter by HousingWire Magazine. Now in its third year, the HW Tech Trendsetters award program highlights the leading players in the housing economy who drive innovation with advanced digital products and services.

As Sales Boomerang's VP of Product, Mike Spotten is leading the tech disruption of mortgage lending by continuously innovating Sales Boomerang's groundbreaking borrower intelligence products to deliver new competitive advantages for mortgage lenders. During the refi boom, Sales Boomerang noticed lenders were losing profits due to early loan payoffs (EPO) and Spotten immediately began working on a solution. Within one month, Sales Boomerang was able to release a new alert type that notifies lenders when a borrower might have an EPO, providing lenders the opportunity to re-engage with past clients and meet their refi needs before they switch lenders.

"I am humbled to have my achievements recognized by HousingWire, a publication that carries so much weight in the mortgage industry," said Spotten. "I strive for innovation because I stand by the Sales Boomerang mission of using data-driven solutions to ensure every borrower has access to the right loan, right when they need it."

HousingWire's Tech Trendsetters award program honors the 50 most influential and innovative technology leaders serving the housing industry. Receiving hundreds of nominations annually, the HousingWire editorial selection committee selects finalists based on professional achievements over the past 12 months.

"This year's list of Tech Trendsetters have, yet again, proven to be the driving force behind the digital transformation in housing," HousingWire Editor and Chief Sarah Wheeler said. "This impressive list of honorees are finding solutions to some of the industry's toughest challenges from improving the borrower's journey to streamlining every step of the real estate transaction process."

The complete list of 2021 HW Tech Trendsetters will be published in the December/January issue of HousingWire Magazine. View the lineup of honorees online at https://www.housingwire.com.

About Sales Boomerang:

Sales Boomerang transformed the relationship between mortgage lenders and borrowers with the introduction of the first automated borrower intelligence system in 2017. The company's intelligent alerts notify lenders as soon as a past customer or prospect is ready and credit-qualified for a loan. As the mortgage industry's #1 borrower retention tool, Sales Boomerang is trusted by more than 150 lenders - including brokers, independent mortgage companies, credit unions and banks - to help build lasting borrower relationships that maximize lifetime customer value.

To date, Sales Boomerang alerts have enabled lenders to close more than $150 billion in additional loan volume that would have otherwise been overlooked and achieve customer retention rates that outperform industry norms by an average of 3-5X. To learn more about Sales Boomerang and its No Borrower Left Behind(tm) ethos, visit https://www.salesboomerang.com.

About HousingWire:

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 60,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 7.5 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit https://www.housingwire.com/ or https://www.solutions.housingwire.com/ to learn more.

News from Sales Boomerang

Sales Boomerang, the mortgage industry's top-rated automated borrower intelligence and retention system, today announced that Mike Spotten, vice president of product, was named a 2021 HW Tech Trendsetter by HousingWire Magazine. Now in its third year, the HW Tech Trendsetters award program highlights the leading players in the housing economy who drive innovation with advanced digital products and services.

Related link: https://www.salesboomerang.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Human Rights Day 2021 and the Role of Education in Achieving Rights for All

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- As Human Rights Day 2021 approaches, the Church of Scientology International shares the work of human rights activists featured on the Scientology Network.

On December 10, 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights whose first article proclaims "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." More than seven decades later, deep-rooted forms of discrimination persist.

Mary Shuttleworth, featured in an episode of "Voices for Humanity," founded Youth for Human Rights International in 2001 to promote full implementation of the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Youth for Human Rights stresses that education is the foundation and catalyst for changing the state of human rights in the world.

As Human Rights Day 2021 approaches, Youth for Human Rights celebrates a milestone: its 20th anniversary. Youth for Human Rights, the youth component of United for Human Rights, is sponsored by the Church of Scientology in its longstanding tradition of championing freedom for all.

"When we began Youth for Human Rights International, 90 percent of those surveyed were unable to name more than three of the 30 rights granted by the Declaration," says Shuttleworth.

Those who crafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserted the importance of human rights education. The preamble calls on "every individual and every organ of society" to "strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms."

An educator, Shuttleworth knew the key to change was making the rights enshrined in the UDHR easy to understand. Youth for Human Rights' educational tools do just that and they engage and interest young people.

These materials help them understand the 30 principles of the document. For example, the program has been used to reduce bullying, a human rights violation suffered by a third of the globe's youth, according to Stopbullying.gov, an interagency effort of the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.

In 1969, Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, "Very few governments have implemented any part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These governments have not grasped that their very survival depends utterly upon adopting such reforms and thus giving their peoples a cause, a civilization worth supporting, worth their patriotism."

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support Youth for Human Rights and make its educational materials available free of charge. Watch a documentary on the history and activities of Youth for Human Rights International on "Voices for Humanity" on the Scientology Network. Since launching with a special episode featuring Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige, Scientology Network has been viewed in 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320 and can be streamed at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.scientology.tv/series/voices-for-humanity/mary-shuttleworth.html

https://www.youthforhumanrights.org/

News from Church of Scientology International

As Human Rights Day 2021 approaches, the Church of Scientology International shares the work of human rights activists featured on the Scientology Network. Mary Shuttleworth, featured in an episode of "Voices for Humanity," founded Youth for Human Rights International in 2001.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

MarkGo Watermark Remover V2.2.0 Helps Remove Date Stamp from Photo

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- iMyFone announced the release of MarkGo Watermark Remover version 2.2.0 with 3 new removing modes: Matte Filling, Color Filling, Gaussian Blur and Edge Filling, Texture Repair, and Smooth Filling for photo stamp removal. You can remove any unwanted objects from photo by MarkGo, like time stamp etc. MarkGo will support remove people from photo in the next version. It is impossible to find any of these features in a competitive product.

MarkGo Watermark Remover 2.2.0

Curious about these new features? Go ahead with us.

1. Matte Filling

As in Photoshop, matte filling is the equivalent of stamp clone. The watermark can be removed from your video by copying the content of the selected part and covering the watermark with it. Although a complex background is behind the watermark, it can produce great results nonetheless.

matte filling have the best remove watermark effect in those three removing modes. It is not free to use, you need buy the license to active this new removing mode. You can easily remove date stamp from photo by matte filling method.

2. Color Filling

You can cover the watermark using Color Filling by detecting what color other parts use. Watermarks on single-color backgrounds can be erased from video in this way without blur. You can select which photo color to use, and filling the area you want to remove watermark.

3. Gaussian Blur

The watermark on your video can be successfully removed by blurring it. Blurring is universally applicable. Your video watermark will have a greater impact if it has a white background with few elements. Gaussian Blur will have good effect when you remove time stamp from video. Many video editors have Gaussian Blur effect.

Compatibility and Price:

MarkGo Watermark Remover can work on Windows 11/10/8/7 64 bits and macOS 10.13 or later version.

Here is the price list for Windows and Mac:

MarkGo Watermark Remover for Windows/Mac

$9.99/month

$14.99/year

$29.99/lifetime

LEARN MORE: https://filme.imyfone.com/watermark-remover/

About iMyFone:

iOS and Android devices, as well as Windows PCs and Macs, are supported by iMyFone. Using our products, people can recover lost data, unlock iPhones and Android phones, and fix other system problems. Moreover, our products also cover data transfer, data backup & restore, data cleaner, etc.

iMyFone also released voice changer for discord MagicMic Voice Changer https://filme.imyfone.com/voice-changer/

Check more via https://filme.imyfone.com/video-editor/

News from IMyfone

iMyFone announced the release of MarkGo Watermark Remover version 2.2.0 with 3 new removing modes: Matte Filling, Color Filling, Gaussian Blur and Edge Filling, Texture Repair, and Smooth Filling for photo stamp removal. You can remove any unwanted objects from photo by MarkGo, like time stamp etc. MarkGo will support remove people from photo in the next version. It is impossible to find any of these features in a competitive product.

Related link: https://www.imyfone.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

East Bay New Year’s Eve 2021-2022 at San Ramon Marriott by Professionals Guild

SAN RAMON, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Professionals Guild (https://PGuild.com) announces an Elegant East Bay New Year's Eve Party for singles and couples at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel, Dec. 31, 2021. This East Bay New Year's Eve party includes a live band, Top Secret Variety Dance Band, in the Bishop Ranch Grand Ballroom, as well as DJ Dancing with Mike Westerman in the Contra Costa Ballroom, where attendees can dance to their favorites.

VIP reserved seating and General Admission tickets are available. The party has multiple dance floors, and balloon decorations.

New Year's Eve Tickets may be purchased at: https://bestnewyears.eventbrite.com/?aff=s2p

"The Marriott is offering a wonderful deal for deluxe rooms on New Year's Eve," said Phil Seyer, Director of Professionals Guild. A deluxe room is $129; a room and breakfast for two, $171. To get that rate for hotel rooms, one may book online via https://PGuild.com.

Room reservations can be booked online via PGuild.com by 12/30; after that one must call the Marriott at 800-228-9290 and ask for the New Year's Eve Party room block for 12/31/21. To get breakfast included, tell the Marriott agent the keyword "break" (short for breakfast).

New Year's Eve Party tickets need to be purchased separately from hotel rooms.

Casino Gaming is also included with party tickets. Please note that casino gaming is not gambling. There is no charge to play, and no money can be lost, but $100's in prizes are offered.

In addition, party attendees get two free drinks, a big balloon drop at midnight and a champagne toast followed by continued mingling and dancing.

A professional photographer is available to capture memories. A diverse mix of adults 18+ attends this event. Most are in their 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's -- some younger, some older. Dress code: semi-formal to formal.

VIDEO (YouTube) "East Bay New Year's Eve Party at San Ramon Marriott": https://youtu.be/RA4qGwgkkmU

As per Contra Costa County's current regulations, be sure to bring proof of vaccination or proof of a negative Covid Test within the past 3 days of New Year's. Also, bring a mask and wear a mask except when eating or drinking.

News from Professionals Guild

Professionals Guild announces an Elegant East Bay New Year's Eve Party for singles and couples at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel, Dec. 31, 2021. Includes a live band, Top Secret Variety Dance Band, in the Bishop Ranch Grand Ballroom.

Related link: https://www.pguild.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

1st Edge Wins $9.7M Space and Missile Defense Command SBIR Contract to Research and Develop AI Solutions

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. /ScoopCloud/ -- 1st Edge, a leader in designing solutions using Artificial Intelligence and new technologies, was awarded a $9.7M Small Business Innovative Research Phase III contract to Artificial Intelligence solutions for the U.S. Army. This contract, issued by the Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), is a continuation of 1st Edge's proprietary Pragmatic Artificial Intelligence and New Technology (PAINT) program, currently impacting multiple army programs.

"Implementing sophisticated, innovative AI solutions for the warfighter and support analysts is a top priority for the Department of Defense and for 1st Edge. We've made excellent advances in phases I and II, but there is lots more to be done," states Nathan Claburn, Vice President of 1st Edge. "This contract will fund improvements in computer vision, defense planning, and target testing."

By using the PAINT approach, users are aided by the science of AI and other new technologies infused into engineering solutions for missile defense. PAINT allows subject matter experts to be more productive, less error prone, and more consistent. In automated software systems, PAINT technology satisfies a broader set of requirements through computer analysis. By processing more data in less time, these automated systems are a vast improvement on current manual approaches.

"PAINT continues to create easier, more consistent defense planning," said Tim McCarter, President of 1st Edge. "This coveted Phase III contract allows us to continue the work of advancing AI for multiple missile defense programs and increasing the success of the modern warfighter."

About 1st Edge LLC

Located in Huntsville, Alabama, 1st Edge is a Small Business Provider to the Department of Defense and works closely with Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC). Founded in 2011, the company uses agile methodology to craft advanced technologies into software solutions. Core competencies include artificial intelligence, data solutions, software engineering, air and missile defense systems, data visualization and software analysis.

Learn more at: https://www.1st-edge.com/

News from 1st Edge LLC

1st Edge, a leader in designing solutions using Artificial Intelligence and new technologies, was awarded a $9.7M Small Business Innovative Research Phase III contract to Artificial Intelligence solutions for the U.S. Army. This contract, issued by the Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), is a continuation of 1st Edge's proprietary Pragmatic Artificial Intelligence and New Technology (PAINT) program, currently impacting multiple army programs.

Related link: https://www.1st-edge.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

New How-To Book Targets Women Who Are Just Getting Started in the World of Investing

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- Beverly Bowers, a retired financial planner, entrepreneur and founder of Sister Courage Publishing, realized there was a need for a guidebook that would help women learn more about how to take charge of their investments. So, she set out to create a book specifically written for women. The end result is: "How to Dress a Naked Portfolio: A Tailored Introduction to Investing for Women" (ISBN: 978-0578312705; Sister Courage Publishing).

"As an industry as a whole, I don't believe we've done a great job of educating women about financial planning," Bowers says. "Sometimes, I'd have a couple in to talk with me about investing, but quite often it was the man who would attend the meeting. It's important for women to understand financial basics since 80 to 90 percent will have sole financial responsibility for the household at some point in her life."

While she believes that women have come a long way, she also feels there's more work to be done. "How to Dress a Naked Portfolio: A Tailored Introduction to Investing for Women," addresses not only the gap women face in lifetime earnings and retirement savings, but also the lower financial confidence that many seem to carry.

The book asks the reader to answer eight questions and then based on those answers, the reader moves through a step-by-step process that designs a customized investment portfolio just for her. To make it a little more engaging and fun, Bowers has compared planning an investment portfolio to putting together an outfit. The reader chooses specific stores, compares costs, selects clothes based on the style that suits her (accessories included) and ensures the pieces complement each other. The final step prompts her to decide where to best hang the clothes. The overall result is a completely personalized, beautiful and basic investment outfit.

The end of each chapter summarizes what's been discussed and reinforces the most important points and concepts. It prompts readers to think about topics such as risk tolerance, emergency funds and how quickly an investment can be converted into cash.

"One of my goals in writing this book was to remove the anxiety and fear that some women may have when it comes to investing," she says. "I want them to feel empowered to make financial investment decisions."

C.J. Redwine, a New York Times best-selling author, read Bowers book and said it was, "An empowering education in investment strategies that is both comprehensive and easy to grasp. I immediately bought a copy for every member of my family."

"How to Dress a Naked Portfolio: A Tailored Introduction to Investing for Women" is available on Amazon and in a few brick-and-mortar locations: Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona and Diva Hillside in Sedona, Arizona. The paperback is $19.95; the eBook is $7.99.

As part of Bowers' commitment to women and investing, she donates part of book sale proceeds to non-profit efforts that focus on financial literacy for women.

Learn more at: https://bevbowers.com/how-to-dress-a-naked-portfolio/

Contact the author for a bulk order discount through the "Contact" page on her website at: https://bevbowers.com/contact-bev/.

About the Author

Beverly Bowers' diverse financial career spanned over 30 years with stints as a portfolio manager, stock and bond trader, mutual fund and ETF sales manager and personal advisor and financial planner. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(TM) professional and has served on the Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association of Greater Phoenix as president and Chairman of the Board. In addition, the Arizona Hall of Fame of Financial Women International inducted Bowers in 1993. This is her first book.

News from Sister Courage Publishing

Beverly Bowers, a retired financial planner, entrepreneur and founder of Sister Courage Publishing, realized there was a need for a guidebook that would help women learn more about how to take charge of their investments. So, she set out to create a book specifically written for women. The end result is: "How to Dress a Naked Portfolio: A Tailored Introduction to Investing for Women" (ISBN: 978-0578312705; Sister Courage Publishing).

Related link: https://bevbowers.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Legal Counsel for Blockchain Smart Contracts Announced for Carbon Tokenization

CHEYENNE, Wyo. /ScoopCloud/ -- Carbon Asset Network (CAN) announces that Oklahoma-based Wurtz & Associates will provide oversight and facilitation of the blockchain-based "smart contracts" related to the recently revealed initiative by CAN. Through an innovative protocol, this process tokenizes land resources for carbon sequestration and protection of the soil and water resources. The initiative makes use of the natural process of photosynthesis, which reduces carbon in the air.

"We chose Kimberly Wurtz's firm to oversee this aspect because she is specialized in property law and water law, as well as land management, and has focused her firm on solely assisting landowners," says John Robitaille, Director of Carbon Asset Network. "Her firm will act as the point of contact for tokenizing the landowner assets from start to finish."

The initiative will also have support from a Digital Asset Manager who will provide the information necessary to validate the resource's title and ensure the smart contracts are properly in place. The use of blockchain creates a secure, unchangeable title and legal language in contracts so there is upmost transparency and accountability. This initiative will be the first to apply this type of technology to a real property in a way that not only benefits the landowner, but also benefits the land and promotes climate wellness.

"At Wurtz & Associates, our focus is to help empower landowners in protecting their land and resources. By utilizing blockchain, landowners can participate in CAN's grants for soil health, water, carbon, and other essential aspects to ensure that the land thrives," says firm owner Kimberly Wurtz. "Our firm is a fierce advocate for landowner rights and the protection of all natural resources."

Carbon Asset Network offers grants from the nonprofit Synergy for Ecological Solutions to land managers to create a total ecological solution in consultation with CAN's agronomy experts. Through photosynthesis, an increase in soil health will result in a decrease of carbon in the air.

For more information:

http://CarbonAssetNetwork.com

https://www.wurtzpropertylaw.com/

News from Carbon Asset Network

Carbon Asset Network (CAN) announces that Oklahoma-based Wurtz & Associates will provide oversight and facilitation of the blockchain-based "smart contracts" related to the recently revealed initiative by CAN. Through an innovative protocol, this process tokenizes land resources for carbon sequestration and protection of the soil and water resources.

Related link: http://CarbonAssetNetwork.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Aldersgate Kicks Off Their Guardian Angel Fund Campaign to Provide Residents with Confidence for Life’s Unexpected Turns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Aldersgate announces the celebration of its Annual Guardian Angel Tree offering, which lets donors dedicate a wooden angel ornament in honor of someone special. The Angel Tree is one way the community raises funds for the Guardian Angel Fund, which was created to give residents confidence through life's unexpected turns.

"If there's one thing Aldersgate residents are known for, it's bringing people together to celebrate friendship and make the world a better place," said Karen Gipson, Chief Mission Advancement Officer. "The Guardian Angel Fund is just another expression of what happens when the community puts their energy behind a cause."

Residents will celebrate the giving season on December 1, 2021 at the Aldersgate tree lighting ceremony. Angels can be dedicated in your own name, the name of a loved one, or anyone special who embodies the spirit of the Guardian Angel Fund.

When a minimum $25 contribution is made, a wooden angel is decorated with the dedicatee's name, and is placed on the grand Wintergarden lobby tree. A designated team of resident artists decorates each ornament by hand, taking great care in each angel's design. The Angel Tree is a symbol of hope and friendship in the community, and a reminder of Aldersgate's commitment to supporting its residents.

With donor help, the Guardian Angel Fund will continue to support residents who need a little help making ends meet while living at Aldersgate. Aldersgate's status as a nonprofit Life Plan Community places resident well-being at the center of their work. Aldersgate residents enjoy peace of mind knowing that they can remain at Aldersgate if they, through no fault of their own, outlive their resources. Supporting this fund allows you to be a "Guardian Angel" for residents who experience financial hardship-allowing Aldersgate residents to live with peace of mind and dignity.

Community members can donate by making a gift by check payable to Aldersgate Guardian Angel Fund, by donating online at https://aldersgateliving.org/guardian-angel-fund/, or by calling (704) 318-2009.

Aldersgate is a nonprofit Life Plan Community that has been an integral part of Charlotte NC for more than 70 years. Aldersgate is actively involved in redefining and shaping the future of senior living. Located on one of the largest green spaces in Mecklenburg County, our wooded campus is abundant in natural beauty. The community offers high quality life enrichment and a working environment for older adults and society at large, regardless of age, color, gender or sexual orientation. Aldersgate provides an At Home service that is available to help Charlotte residents with grocery shopping, housekeeping and care, if needed.

The community has earned numerous accreditations, such as CARF and SAGE Platinum. The Asbury Health & Rehabilitation Center at Aldersgate was honored by U.S. News & World Report: "Best Nursing Homes"; the local community voted Aldersgate "Best Retirement Living"; and The Charlotte Observer honored it with "Best Assisted Living." Aldersgate is committed to helping residents thrive during this challenging and unprecedented time.

News from Aldersgate

Aldersgate announces the celebration of its Annual Guardian Angel Tree offering, which lets donors dedicate a wooden angel ornament in honor of someone special. The Angel Tree is one way the community raises funds for the Guardian Angel Fund, which was created to give residents confidence through life's unexpected turns.

Related link: https://aldersgateliving.org/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

SRSI joins MHEDA, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association

DALLAS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- SRSI has joined MHEDA, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association. MHEDA is the premier trade association dedicated to serving the material handling community. MHEDA programs and services are accessed by thousands of industry professionals each year who are seeking to help their business stay competitive and their employees stay connected.

As a part of this network of industry professionals, SRSI is able to access professional development programs, best practice benchmarking and networking opportunities, all specific to the material handling industry.

"Joining MHEDA is exciting and necessary for us to continue growing and succeeding in our space," notes Benjamin York, SRSI CEO. "We look forward to showcasing more of SRSI, networking with other industry leaders, and introducing more industry-breaking solutions to the market. MHEDA is a perfect avenue for us to connect with more of the Material Handling industry."

ABOUT SRSI:

SRSI is a material handling systems integrator specializing in automation and warehouse information systems. They provide comprehensive, turnkey solutions to meet and exceed your performance goals. From inventory flow analysis, slotting and storage systems design, order processing, inventory control, to warehouse safety and even optimized labor and equipment utilization, SRSI has the breadth and depth of experience to design, execute and support your integrated system.

For more information, visit https://www.gosrsi.com.

SRSI's headquarter office is located in Dallas, Texas with regional offices and remote workspaces all over the United States including Colorado, North Carolina, Illinois, and Indiana to name a few. While growing quickly, SRSI currently has 35 employees and has been in business for three years.

ABOUT MHEDA:

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the only national trade association dedicated solely to improving the proficiency of material handling distributors, integrators and suppliers. MHEDA represents close to 600 companies in the material handling equipment business. Located in suburban Chicago, the association provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking and best practices. For more information, visit http://www.mheda.org/.

News from SRSI

SRSI has joined MHEDA, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association. MHEDA is the premier trade association dedicated to serving the material handling community. MHEDA programs and services are accessed by thousands of industry professionals each year who are seeking to help their business stay competitive and their employees stay connected.

Related link: https://www.gosrsi.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Female Persian Rapper Arzu Releases Tribute to Her Mother

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- With more than 31,000 YouTube video views for her March debut single release, "Persian Drip," Arzu is set to drop her next single. On December 1, 2021, the female Persian rapper will release "Come Back," written as a tribute to her recently deceased mother.

While "Persian Drip" focused on Arzu's insane rhymes and intense subject matter, "Come Back" is an emotional, reflective piece that pays tribute to the recent, tragic loss of her mother. "Ari" takes a more melodic approach this go-around, showcasing her vocals as much as her rapping skills. Even with more instrumentation and melodies than her debut, "Come Back" still manages to show off Ari's blazing speed and precision during the verses.

"I miss my light, and I really can't believe, so hard to fight, tell me why did you have to leave," says Arzu in "Come Back."

Then, on December 17, Arzu will release "Ain't Your Regular" to her more than 9,000 monthly Spotify listeners.

Both singles are available for Pre-Save at https://linktr.ee/arikittee.

ABOUT ARZU:

Bay Area native, Arzu has been honing in on her rap skills since she was 7 years old. She grew up listening to classic Bay Area hip hop such as E-40, Too Short and Mac Dre and always had an affinity for the style and culture of hip hop music. Arzu is otherwise known as Ari Kittee by her rather large social media following and has been a successful influencer, model, entrepreneur, and now, hip hop artist. Arzu possesses a unique artistic talent and started writing poetry at age 12. She's received many poet society awards and has had some of her poetry published. More recently, she took that skill and applied it towards writing her own music.

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/JwT9bKEqtNQ

TikTok: @arikittee

Spotify: Arzu

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdLTzoxWv8ruVRGAsLmMSA

News from Arzu

With more than 31,000 YouTube video views for her March debut single release, "Persian Drip," Arzu is set to drop her next single. On December 1, 2021, the female Persian rapper will release "Come Back," written as a tribute to her recently deceased mother.

Related link: https://linktr.ee/arikittee

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Dream Pairs Site-Wide Holiday Sale: 10% off boots, heels, flats and more

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Dream Pairs, a best-selling female-focused footwear brand, today announced a site-wide sale giving shoppers a 10% discount throughout the festive season for Women boots, heels, flats and more shoes on the official Dream Pairs' website.

Happy Holidays Promo Code

Dream Pairs is offering customers a holiday head start to celebrate the festive season. Beginning from now, footwear fans will be able to purchase shoes with a 10% discount at Dream Pairs' official website using the code "DPS10". This coupon applies to all shoe styles, colors, and designs purchased on the official Dream Pairs website https://dreampairshoes.com/

In order to receive their discount, customers must enter the code "DPS10" at checkout.

Important Information:

1. The code DSP10 will automatically apply a 10% discount to the entire order.

2. The code can only be used on Dream Pairs' official website.

3. Dream Pairs' website offers free shipping for all orders over $49.99.

4. The discount is valid until the end of the year, giving customers plenty of time to make their holiday wishes come true.

Skip the Queues

Footwear fashionistas can treat themselves to all the latest trends, from the convenience of their home. Dream Pairs' fast delivery and responsive customer service ensure their shoes will arrive in a timely manner this winter. Dream Pairs is committed to fulfilling every customer's wishes: Whether it's a gift for a friend, a loved one or just a treat for themselves, Dream Pairs has a solution for just about everyone.

About Dream Pairs

Dream Pairs is an online fashion retailer of shoes for women (plus kids) who want to stay ahead of the fashion game with their own personalized style. Dream Pairs was founded with a vision to empower women (and children) everywhere to express themselves freely through fashion, without hurting their wallets.

Learn about the latest Dream Pairs trends at: https://dreampairshoes.com/collections/new-trends

News from Dream Pairs

Dream Pairs, a best-selling female-focused footwear brand, today announced a site-wide sale giving shoppers a 10% discount throughout the festive season for Women boots, heels, flats and more shoes on the official Dream Pairs' website.

Related link: https://dreampairshoes.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

AeroJet Me and Travala.com Join Forces Taking Luxury Travel to New Horizons

LONDON, U.K. /ScoopCloud/ -- A leading international private jet rental company, AeroJet Me, and travel booking platform Travala.com, signed a partnership agreement on April 9 this year, consolidating an already exclusive and unique service - offering to customers travelling for business or for pleasure. This will be welcome news for those wishing to pack their bags in times when demand for travel is slowly but surely picking up.

The new partnership will allow AeroJet Me to continue developing its growing network of business partners while Travala.com will now be able to add a luxury jet rental booking to its already attractive palette of services.

"We are excited to be partnering with Travela.com in line with our common objective of satisfying our high-end clients' needs," says Irina Duisimbekova, co-founder & CEO of AeroJet Me.

Private jet travel versus commercial aviation

Private jet aviation booking platforms like AeroJet Me, are today re-inventing the luxury travel industry. Despite recent vaccine rollouts the regular commercial airline industry, hit hard by the pandemic, is still struggling to pick up. Luxury jet rental businesses, thanks to their VIP Client service teams available around the clock 24/7, is becoming the most viable option for time-pressed clients seeking hassle-free and tailor-made travel solutions.

Time, being life's most precious commodity, is something that is prized, with customers spared from needlessly waiting at busy airports' ticket or security counters. Clients are offered total flexibility- able to choose from tens of thousands of different destinations in addition to selecting from an extensive aircraft fleet spanning cargo charters, light-midsize business jets to helicopters.

Promising future for a luxury jet niche segment

Recent studies show a clear spike in the number of inquiries by potential clients wishing to travel by private jets. On average in 2020, compared to the previous year, the increase has been over 40 %. The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly contributed to the growing number of passengers turning their backs on conventional first-class travel on commercial airlines which have seen flight schedules severely disrupted, with clients instead opting for 4-6 seat private jets to get them safely to their desired destinations.

Another interesting development that is giving the luxury jet travel niche sector a fresh impetus, is the declining demand for private jet ownership by ultra-high net worth individuals and businesses alike. Attitudes are changing, with clients putting their faith in private jet broker companies like AeroJet Me, who have the know-how of how best to cater for the most demanding of client needs. Time will tell if working from remote and secluded luxury destinations will be a trend that will perpetuate. However, one thing is sure - private jet travel is only just taking off towards new horizons.

Website: https://aerojetme.com/

News from AeroJet Me

A leading international private jet rental company, AeroJet Me, and travel booking platform Travala.com, signed a partnership agreement on April 9 this year, consolidating an already exclusive and unique service - offering to customers travelling for business or for pleasure. This will be welcome news for those wishing to pack their bags in times when demand for travel is slowly but surely picking up.

Related link: https://aerojetme.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Choyce Peterson Hires Scott J. Lipow as Senior Associate

NORWALK, Conn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Choyce Peterson, Inc. (www.choycepeterson.com), a full service commercial real estate brokerage firm, announced that Scott J. Lipow has joined the brokerage team as Senior Associate. Lipow will join Choyce Peterson's Capital Markets team, focusing on investment opportunities throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Lipow delivers expertise to the firm's clients in asset acquisitions and dispositions, property valuation and market analysis. Lipow also represents both landlords and tenants in connection with leasing transactions.

Lipow brings 10 years of experience as the founder and operator of Six7 Marketing. After earning his MBA from Emory University, Lipow worked with a range of different businesses across the area, while establishing a deep network of relationships and an unmatched understanding of the local market. Lipow is a lifelong resident of Fairfield and is the proud founder of the Fairfield Fierce Basketball Club, a youth basketball organization that serves hundreds of families from around the area each year.

"We are pleased to have Scott join our growing team," said Scott C. Peterson, Vice President at Choyce Peterson. "He brings a wealth of entrepreneurial business experience to our firm, and we are excited for him to harness these talents within our Capital Markets initiative."

Alan R. Peterson, principal and co-founder of Choyce Peterson added, "Scott's business background and community outreach skills make him an excellent addition to Choyce Peterson. We look forward to growing the investment sales side of our firm with him on the team."

For further information, please visit our website: https://www.choycepeterson.com/

About Choyce Peterson, Inc.

Choyce Peterson, Inc., a full service commercial real estate brokerage with offices in Norwalk, CT and Rye Brook, NY, was founded in 1997 and has negotiated millions of square feet of transactions in 42 states and Canada. The Choyce Peterson process delivers comprehensive and creative real estate solutions to ensure clients derive maximum value from their real estate decisions.

Learn more at: https://www.choycepeterson.com/

News from Choyce Peterson Inc.

Choyce Peterson, Inc., a full service commercial real estate brokerage firm, announced that Scott J. Lipow has joined the brokerage team as Senior Associate. Lipow will join Choyce Peterson's Capital Markets team, focusing on investment opportunities throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties.

Related link: https://www.choycepeterson.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Church of Scientology Reaches Out to Help End the Drug Overdose Crisis

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Just last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced more than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States during the 12-month period ending April 2021. The Church of Scientology International urges concerned parents, educators and community leaders to take action against the "other pandemic" with drug education and prevention.

The Church is making fact-based drug education materials and courses available free of charge to anyone wishing to help turn around what the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is calling "a national crisis" that "knows no geographical boundaries."

Drawing on five decades in the field of drug education and prevention, the Church of Scientology developed the Truth About Drugs, now one of the world's largest nongovernmental drug information and prevention initiatives. In 2006, Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a secular nonprofit corporation, was formed to serve as the primary distributor of the educational materials and to develop new materials to meet the challenge of continually changing drug trends.

The Foundation today oversees the Truth About Drugs campaign and coordinates an international network of volunteers brought together by their common purpose to create a drug-free world.

The Foundation has grown to a network of thousands of volunteers in more than 200 chapters around the world and partnerships with some 1,800 groups and organizations.

The Scientology Network original series Voices for Humanity documents the kind of change this initiative is accomplishing:

* In San Diego, California, Dr. Beatriz Villarreal uses the initiative to combat drug abuse by educating families on the dangers of drugs.

* In his native Massachusetts and throughout the U.S. Darren Tessitore works with driver's education programs to take action against drug-related accidents, vital with traffic deaths clocking in at 20,160 in the first six months of 2021-18.4 percent higher than last year.

* In New York City, the father and daughter team Dr. Bernard and Meghan Fialkoff have reached thousands of inner city schoolchildren with the Truth About Drugs.

* And from Colombia to Malaysia, South Africa to the Philippines and Kenya to India, drug prevention activists are empowering generations of youth with an initiative that continues to grow exponentially at the grassroots level.

All this to say there is effective action parents, educators and community leaders can take to protect their children, communities and the next generation from drug abuse and addiction. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, "Prevention strategies based on scientific evidence working with families, schools, and communities can ensure that children and youth, especially the most marginalized and poor, grow and stay healthy and safe into adulthood and old age. For every dollar spent on prevention, at least ten can be saved in future health, social and crime costs."

Learn more about the Truth About Drugs initiative and Foundation for a Drug-Free World on the Scientology Network.

Since launching with a special episode featuring Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige, Scientology Network has been viewed in 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320 and can be streamed at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

News from Church of Scientology International

Just last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced more than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States during the 12-month period ending April 2021. The Church of Scientology International urges concerned parents, educators and community leaders to take action against the "other pandemic" with drug education and prevention.

Related link: https://www.scientology.org/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Aldersgate Annual Festival of Lights brings Joy, Caroling and Cheer to Charlotte Community

CHARLOTTE, N.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- Aldersgate is thrilled to host their Annual Festival of Lights driving tour on their campus on Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. This free event showcases thousands of twinkling lights, and visitors are encouraged to roll the windows down, wave at residents and listen to local musicians.

"This amazing event was created last year as a way to bring the community together during Covid, in a safe way and for a much-needed cause," said Brooks Shelley, Chief Branding & Community Engagement Officer. "Aldersgate welcomed more than 600 driving tour attendees and collected 1,400 lbs. of nonperishable food items for the Second Harvest Food Bank. The holiday celebration brought such joy to visitors, residents, and team members alike, that we wanted to bring it back again to spread holiday cheer."

Aldersgate is grateful to both local and national sponsors for their assistance in making this event possible. See the list of sponsors at https://aldersgateliving.org/Lights/.

Donations of nonperishable food items are requested at entry to benefit Loaves & Fishes and Friendship Trays. Learn more about Loaves & Fishes and Friendship Trays at https://loavesandfishes.org/.

Entertainment along the drive will include the beloved Latin band, "Furia Tropikal," as well as Impromptu Acapella (a division of Carolina Voices) and the Youth Group of the Ethiopian Community Association of Charlotte & Surrounding Areas. In keeping with Aldersgate's commitment to fostering diversity, the featured bands and entertainment cross multiple cultures and traditions. Attendees will receive coffee mugs with hot chocolate packets and individually-wrapped cookies from Manolo's Latin Bakery. Manolo's Latin Bakery shares Aldersgate's commitment to philanthropy and was the winner of the Tiptree World Bread Awards Heroes USA 2021 by the International Bakery Industry Exposition.

About Aldersgate:

Aldersgate is a nonprofit Life Plan Community that has been an integral part of Charlotte, NC for more than 70 years. Aldersgate is actively involved in redefining and shaping the future of senior living. Located on one of the largest green spaces in Mecklenburg County, our wooded campus is abundant in natural beauty. The community offers high quality life enrichment and a working environment for older adults and society at large, regardless of age, color, gender or sexual orientation.

Aldersgate provides an At Home service that is available to help Charlotte residents with grocery shopping, housekeeping and care, if needed. The community has earned numerous accreditations, such as CARF and SAGE Platinum. The Asbury Health & Rehabilitation Center at Aldersgate was honored by U.S. News & World Report: "Best Nursing Homes"; the local community voted Aldersgate "Best Retirement Living"; and The Charlotte Observer honored it with "Best Assisted Living." Aldersgate is committed to helping residents thrive during this challenging and unprecedented time.

Learn more at: https://aldersgateliving.org/

News from Aldersgate

Aldersgate is thrilled to host their Annual Festival of Lights driving tour on their campus on Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. This free event showcases thousands of twinkling lights, and visitors are encouraged to roll the windows down, wave at residents and listen to local musicians.

Related link: https://aldersgateliving.org/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Good and SMART America First Republican Patriot announces primary campaign run for West Virginia’s 1st District against a ‘sellout loser RINO’

WHEELING, W.Va. /ScoopCloud/ -- Pro-Cannabis Republican Candidate for Congress, Craig "X" Roberts (CraigX4Congress.com), The General Pharmer, was sitting on his hotel balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea when an FBI agent from Wheeling West Virginia called his cell phone. The agent wanted to know about January 6 insurrection and the events that took place at the U.S. Capitol. The first thing the FBI agent said was, "You are not in trouble, and you don't have to talk to me if you don't want." Telling someone they are not in trouble takes the pressure off.

The Candidate spoke about his experiences in Washington D.C. Tucker Carlson's report "The Purge" was similar to what Roberts saw. That was why he was moving to Mexico. "I don't think it is safe or stable to live in a country where two guys are claiming to be President at the same time," he told the FBI agent, because to this day "Trump has not conceded the election claiming fraud as the only reason for Brandon's victory. As the father of young children, I think it is best for my family to move to Mexico."

Roberts commented, "All the once stable institutions of America are now dividing the people against each other. How is that a good idea?" One week ago, President Trump, who Roberts believes won the election, asked American First Republican Patriots to run against 13 "sellout loser RINOs" who voted with the Democrat Party on "a fake infrastructure bill" (only 11% for structural improvements).

Candidate Roberts said regarding January 6, "I went there that day with two girl friends who had never been to D.C. We weren't part of any group." Answering that because the agent asked, "I still think the election was stolen, but I am not going to take up arms against the current regime. I trust the American people to do the right thing and correct the election problem."

West Virginia's 1st District Congressional Candidate Roberts found Wheeling because he saw a sign on Highway 70, "Wheeling Marsh Stogies." After being a reoccurring-regular on the TV show "Weeds," working for Mike Tyson's cannabis company and producing shows for the Cali Plug Studios that included a High Times show staring Jenae Alt, it was hard to imagine moving to the Ohio Valley in West Virginia, but the "stogie sign" was an omen.

"In 2017, when I was an online English teacher with students in China, I started having memorable dreams of working with President Trump. I didn't vote for him, but I love his America First agenda, so I used to fall asleep listening to his speeches." Roberts was certain that this was the cause of his Trump dreams.

"When I heard Trump ask for SMART Republicans to primary these traitorous RINOs I decided to look if one of them was in my District. I want my dream of working with Trump to come true." What are the odds with 435 Congresspeople that Candidate Roberts would have moved to the District of a RINO? Is Mr. Roberts going to Washington?

Tim Robbins predicted the "conservative rebel" in his hit film, "Bob Roberts." Now, Roberts, who has appeared in 15 cannabis films including "Haunted House of Chronic," "How Weed Won the West," "American Drug War" and "Totally Baked" to name a few becoming the living embodiment of the Conservative Rebel. He is pro-gun like Ted Nugent but looks more like Phil Robertson from "Duck Dynasty" than a politician.

"I agree with President Trump. The U.S. was attacked worse than Pearl Harbor or 911. This is Biblical because in my church we teach Fauci is the Rider on the White Horse of Revelation 6:2," Roberts confessed. "I know the press will beat me up for this, but it is what I truly think. Besides torturing dogs, Fauci a false healer wearing a white lab coat as cover for conquering. He conquered the world with two things, the Corona, and a common cloth - a bow (GK tocson) - you can't make this up!"

Roberts taught in Temple 420 that China and the U.S. are in an actual war even though it is undeclared. "This as a Biblical struggle between good and evil, an ideological war that I have been engaged in for a long time." The Candidate calls himself a veteran of the Drug War. "My friend named me the General Pharmer because of my militant stance for hemp. I was an influencer before the Internet and there was such a word. I think I am one of the reasons the Chinese government banned Americans as online English teachers," The Pastor Candidate laughed. "I taught their children to love guns, Jesus and freedom as I taught them English. When elected to Congress I'll absolutely put America First."

Learn more at: https://craigx4congress.com/

PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF CRAIGX4CONGRESS

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/klJJwZCV_7Y

News from Friends of CRAIGX4CONGRESS

Pro-Cannabis Republican Candidate for Congress, Craig "X" Roberts, The General Pharmer, was sitting on his hotel balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea when an FBI agent from Wheeling West Virginia called his cell phone. The agent wanted to know about January 6 insurrection and the events that took place at the U.S. Capitol.

Related link: https://craigx4congress.com/

This version of news story was published on ScoopCloud™ (ScoopCloud.com) - part of and © the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.