Great Vacations is always looking to help excited travelers find their greatest escapes!

True Serenity Tea was recently featured at "The Market" at Macy's, included in the wedding party gift bags for the Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence wedding and will be included in VIP gift bags at Project Green Sundance Event

New York City Council Member Margaret S. Chin, Chair, Aging Committee Featured Speaker...Organized By The Radical Age Movement and 32 Sponsors and Partners

"We strongly support and promote gender parity and diversity across the industry, and believe Women in Media and its powerhouse community brings us once step closer to achieving equal representation in the entertainment world." - Katia Del Rosario

Each and every day, social media tools change the way that organizations
interact with their users.

A recent report from the Center For Urban Transportation Research at University of South Florida titled Routes To New Networks: A Guide To Social Media For The Public Transportation Industry (66p. PDF) explains how these new platforms offer not only more personal one-on-one interaction than traditional media, but also represent the essence of niche marketing.

It is undeniable that social media is all the buzz. For some, utilizing new media tools may come as second nature. For others, however, entering the world of social media means taking a giant leap into the world of online communications.

One thing is certain – social media platforms are allowing a new opportunity for transportation providers to directly communicate with their target audiences. Communication is moving in this direction – with or without your organization.

The report analyzes the usefulness of and applications for social networks, written blogs, audio/video blogs, microblogs (e.g. Twitter), photo sharing, video sharing, user-generated content and mobile web content.

The report states that key points to consider when determining which tool(s) to use are:

1) Who is my target audience and what tools are they using?
2) What type of information do I want to communicate?

Content must always resonate with your audience. What can you provide that would be of value?

Earlier this year, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) published Funding The Public Transportation Needs Of An Aging Population (57p. PDF).

It explains how rapid growth in the number of older people in the United States during the coming decades will lead to greatly increased needs for expanded and enhanced public transportation services. This report:

a) identifies the range of actions that will be needed to expand mobility options for older people, including accessible public transportation services;
b) quantifies the demand for these public transportation services; and
c) estimates the funding that will be needed to provide them.

Needed actions have been identified by means of a review of the extensive literature on this
subject. The actions needed to expand mobility options for older people include:

• Enhancements to fixed-route public transportation operations and planning such as additional bus operator training, incorporating travel needs of older people in route planning and stop placement, and coordination with other agencies and transportation providers
• Enhancements to public transportation vehicles such as low-floor buses, kneeling buses, improved interior circulation, additional stanchions and grab bars, ergonomic seating designed for older riders, and accessibility features either required or encouraged by ADA like lifts and ramps, larger letters on head signs, and stop announcements
• Actions to help older people take advantage of existing services, like presenting information in ways that are easy to read and as clear as possible, information and assistance programs to connect older people with appropriate services, and outreach and training programs
• Expansion of supplementary services including flexible route and community transportation services, ADA complementary paratransit, non-ADA demand-responsive services, taxi subsidy programs, and volunteer driver programs
• Application of universal design strategies at transit facilities, bus stops, and on streets and sidewalks in the immediate vicinity of transit facilities and stops

These are the actions of greatest concern to public transportation agencies, but they are not the
only actions needed.

Other important actions include assuring supportive services to caregivers
who provide transportation, encouraging further development of unsubsidized private
transportation services, increasing the availability of accessible taxicabs, coordinating with non-emergency medical transportation provided under Medicaid and Medicare, and supporting
modifications to automobiles and roadways to increase the safety of older drivers.

Finally, we wanted to take a closer look at U.S. Parking Policies: An Overview Of Management Strategies put out by the Institute For Transportation And Development Policy in New York.

This report highlights best practices in parking management in the United States.

In the last decade, some municipalities have reconsidered poorly conceived parking policies to address a host of negative impacts resulting from private automobile use such as traffic congestion and climate change. Unchecked, these policies have proven to be a major barrier to establishing a balanced urban transportation network.

Many aspects of current parking management in the United States do not work reliably or efficiently for anyone: Motorists find themselves circling for long periods in search of a place to park; retail employees take choice parking locations away from potential customers; developers are compelled to provide more parking than the market requires; and traffic managers encounter difficulty handling traffic generated by new parking as there is often no link between parking price, supply and the amount of available road space.

Finally, the old parking paradigm doesn’t work for the environment, as hidden subsidies encourage over reliance on private car use — a major, growing contributor to global warming and air pollution.

This report identifies core sustainable parking principles and illustrates how smarter parking management can benefit consumers and businesses in time and money savings, while also leading to more livable, attractive communities.

New funding round follows a successful Reg D round

Apache Spark runs fast, offers robust, distributed, fault-tolerant data objects, and integrates beautifully with the world of machine learning and graph analytics. Learn more here.

Many not-for-profits organizations have been concerned about the taxability of parking and transportation benefits as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Fortunately, the IRS recently issued interim guidance around the treatment of these benefits incurred after December… Read More

The post How Not-for-Profits Can Take Advantage of New Guidance on Taxable Parking Benefits by March 31, 2019 appeared first on Anders CPAs.

Many not-for-profits organizations have been concerned about the taxability of parking and transportation benefits as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Fortunately, Congress recently moved to repeal the dreaded “parking tax” on fringe benefits, such as free… Read More

The post Unpopular Parking Tax on Not-for-Profits May Be Repealed appeared first on Anders CPAs.

Dallas News: A Dallas blogger’s images of parked planes show just how far the airline industry has fallen. “Andy Luten usually takes pictures of planes in the air, taking off or landing. But in the depths of the COVID-19 downturn, the 37-year-old financial software consultant in Dallas wanted to put his hobby to work showing … Continue reading Dallas News: A Dallas blogger’s images of parked planes show just how far the airline industry has fallen

New kitchen in St. Louis Park home remakes space for optimal workflow, organization and natural light.

After closing amid the coronavirus pandemic, the National Park Service is testing public access at several parks across the nation, including two in Utah, with limited offerings and services. Visitor centers and campgrounds remain largely shuttered at Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, but visitors are welcome at some of the sites.

Major League Baseball's teams have pledged $30 million for ballpark workers who will lose income because of the delay to the season caused by the novel...

On Saturday, March 28, 2009, Grand Canyon National Park will host Archeology Day in honor of "Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month".  https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/2009-03-17_arch_day.htm

Tim Jarrell, a 32 year veteran of the National Park Service, was recently named Chief of the Facilities Management Division at Grand Canyon National Park. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/3009-03-19-jarrell.htm

On Saturday, April 25, 2009, Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate National Junior Ranger Day with kid-friendly activities and programs for the entire family. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-njrd-03-09.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/grand-canyon-national-park-launches-new-youth-program-with-new-partners.htm

Starting in May the National Park Service (NPS) will begin the reconstruction of Grand Canyon National Park’s popular South Kaibab Trail. The project will significantly improve the condition of the trail for both hikers and mule users alike. The project is expected to take anywhere from two to four years and will include resurfacing of the trail; stabilization and preventative maintenance to existing retaining walls; replacing retaining walls that have been lost to floods, slides, or erosion; repairing and aligning existing water diversion features; etc. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/nps-to-begin-trail-reconstruction-project-on-south-kaibab-trail-within-grand-canyon-np.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/nps-to-offer-pilot-shuttle-bus-service-from-grca-to-tusayan-again-this-year.htm

Grand Canyon National Park was once again invited to display its contracted MD 900 Explorer helicopter at the recent "Thunder in the Desert" Open House and Air Show at Luke Air Force Base on March 21 and 22 in Glendale, Arizona.  https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-04-02-luke.htm

The National Park Service (NPS) is now accepting public comments on the construction of a new Science and Resource Management Facility within Grand Canyon National Park. The NPS proposes to design and construct a facility for use by the Division of Science and Resource Management (SRM). In addition to providing necessary office and storage space, the SRM building will invite visiting scientists, students, and others to utilize classrooms and laboratories, offer training sessions, and have some exhibits and opportunities for experiential learning. This cutting edge facility will utilize alternative energy sources and water conservation technology. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/national-park-service-seeking-comments-on-construction-of-new-science-and-resource-management-facility-within-grand-canyon-national-park.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/implementation-of-south-rim-visitor-transportation-plan.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/grand-canyon-school-rediological-study.htm

Grand Canyon National Park rangers searching for three individuals in the Colorado River https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/canyon-search.htm

Woman injured in mule accident in Grand Canyon National Park https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/mule-accident.htm

The nineteenth annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held from Saturday, June 13 through Saturday, June 20, 2009 on the South and North Rims of Grand Canyon National Park. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-05-20-star.htm

The National Park Service is now accepting comments on mule operations and stock use in Grand Canyon National Park as the agency begins to develop an environmental assessment.  https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-05-22-stock.htm

Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA) search and rescue personnel are currently searching for a man last seen outside of the park's Backcountry Information Center on Saturday, May 23, 2009. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-05-28-search.htm

Grand Canyon National Park search and rescue personnel are now focusing their search for Robert A. Williams on the Hermit Basin area west of Grand Canyon Village. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-05-29-search.htm

Sixty-nine year old Robert A. Williams of Surprise, Arizona has not been located, and search efforts have yielded no additional clues as to his whereabouts. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-05-30-search.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-06-01-award.htm

A body, presumptively identified as 69 year old Robert (Bob) A. Williams, was found today by park search and rescue personnel in the Hermit Basin area of Grand Canyon National Park. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-06-02-search.htm

On the weekends of June 20 – 21, July 18 – 19, and August 15 – 16, 2009, Grand Canyon National Park and the 146 other National Park Service (NPS) sites around the country that charge entrance fees will offer fee-free entry into the parks. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-06-04-fee-free.htm

Late this afternoon, park rangers rescued a 38 year old woman who had fallen approximately 50 feet near a popular view point in Grand Canyon National Park. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-06-04-rescue.htm

  https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-06-05-game-reserve.htm

  https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-06-06-fires.htm

  https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-06-08-fires.htm

On Tuesday, June 9, 2009, the National Park Service began a project to reconstruct the South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. The project is funded, in part, with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/grand-canyon-national-park-begins-trail-reconstruction-project-using-funds-received-under-presidents-economic-recovery-plan.htm

Endangered Humpback Chub to be Translocated to Shinumo Creek in Grand Canyon National Park https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/endangered-humpback-chub-to-be-translocated-to-shinumo-creek-in-grand-canyon-national-park.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/grand-canyon-national-park-employee-receives-award-for-excellence-in-workforce-development.htm

Man rescued after fall in Grand Canyon. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/man-rescued-after-fall-at-grand-canyon-national-park.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/national-park-service-announces-availability-of-environmental-assessment-for-train-operations-in-grand-canyon-national-park.htm

https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/grand-canyon-national-park-to-waive-entrance-fees-the-weekend-of.htm

At approximately 6:00 a.m. this morning, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received multiple reports that a car had driven over the edge near the El Tovar Hotel in Grand Canyon National Park. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/news-2009-07-13-car-over-edge.htm