Author: Emily Gautreaux

The Best Urban Bike Trails in the U.S.

Autumn brings a special brand of weather across the United States, making conditions absolutely perfect for holding classes outside, going on a picnic, or exploring bike trails wherever you are. Similarly, fair weather causes more travel to nearby cities, being that the conditions are perfect for urban exploration, so why not combine the rush of a bike ride, the utilization of American’s bike trails, and the visiting of everything a great U.S. city has to offer from historic landmarks to unforgettable parks? Travel and Leisure has the answer with their catalogued list of the “11 Best Bike Paths to Explore U.S. Cities.”

Before immediately jumping on the old Schwinn and merging onto a metropolitan highway, it’s suggested that you should forgo that unsafe and stressful path and instead find a dedicated bike path, as nowadays many U.S. cities have paths that allow for bikes to traverse for miles and miles through diverse terrain and not ever have to cross a multi-lane street. Bike paths also allow you to explore the city at your own pace, allowing you to take a pitstop (or several) to partake local parks, ice cream shops, public art exhibits, and historical landmarks, all without the stresses that accompany looking for a parking spot.

Katy Trail; Dallas, Texas

While only three and a half miles long, this trail has a history of being an abandoned railroad line from 1865, but it’s since been revamped into a shade-filled peaceful route that’s owned by the city of Dallas and managed by a nonprofit. The local community regularly comes together to maintain the trail’s accessibility and aesthetic for its hundreds of daily travelers who bike, jog, walk, and rollerblade atop its winding path. Once finished, stop by the Katy Trail Ice House,  since its patio borders the trail, making it a perfect people (or dog)-watching station.

Poudre River Trail;  Fort Collins, Colorado

Fort Collins, Colorado is widely recognized as one of the best cities in America for biking, as its 285 miles of trails tends to reflect enthusiasm in its cycling-friendly culture. The Poudre River trail runs a 15-mile path diagonally through northern Fort Collins, and there are plans to connect it to another 22-mile section along the Poudre River, giving locals a lengthier path to explore northern Colorado. While riding along the river, look out for the expansive wildlife of the area, as deer, bald eagles, hummingbirds, foxes, and (sometimes) mountain lions are visible to respectful travelers.

Lake Monona Loop; Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin is a beautiful city, and that beauty is highly visible from this 13-mile scenic bike path that winds through small parks, cozy lake-side neighborhoods, and botanical gardens. Riders will also take in wonderful views of Lake Monona and the city’s skyline, as the loop is a part of Madison’s extensive cycling infrastructure, which includes a growing total of 240 bike paths and trails. If planning a visit, try and get the most out of the scenery with an autumn visit, as the scenery is magical when set against leaves cast in deep reds, oranges, and yellows.

Burke-Gilman Trail; Seattle, Washington

Seattle is a very bike-friendly city, and it has been for some time, so while it might seem intimidating to bike through one of the country’s largest cities, this 20-mile trail takes you across the city and surrounding areas in a peaceful introduction to the majesties of the Pacific Northwest. Burke-Gilman trail follows a historic railroad route, and as it passes through several Seattle neighborhoods and nearby cities, it’s a popular choice for commuters, experienced cyclists, and casual bikers alike.

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National Blue Ribbon Program Awards Ten Louisiana Schools

This fall, the United States Department of Education recognized ten Louisiana schools as winners of the 2020 National Blue Ribbon School awards, as reported by a Louisiana Department of Education press release. The Louisiana schools receiving this monumental honor are located in East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Natchitoches, St. Martin, St. Tammany, and Vermillion parishes.

Since 1982 the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes both private and public elementary, middle, and high schools across the United States for their overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. This program is a part of the U.S. Department of Education, and as this is their 38th year recognizing schools, the organization has bestowed nearly 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools. Schools become eligible for awards after operating for five years, and to earn an award is an industry standard of greatness in that it signals that school for displaying evidence of exemplary teaching and collaboration among students, educators, families, and entire communities.

In 2020, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy Devos recognized 367 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools. While presenting the nominated schools with this honor, Secretary Devos remarked on the prestige of the award by saying, “It’s a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students’ needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives.”

The two performance categories in which the schools are recognized are:

Additionally, four nonpublic Louisiana schools receiving the program’s national honor are:

Each year up to 420 schools may be nominated with the U.S. The Education Department inviting National Blue Ribbon School nominations from top school officials in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education; the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools.

With Louisiana receiving so many honors for its schools across the state, the Louisiana Superintendent of Education,Dr. Cade Brumley remarked, “This national honor speaks to the high expectations and student-first cultures you will find at all of these schools. I’m proud to have them represent Louisiana and congratulate them on this remarkable accomplishment.”

The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony will be held virtually on November 12th and 13th with the United States Department of Education celebrating the total 317 public and 50 nonpublic school honorees via the virtual awards and by mailing out the traditional plaques and flags to recipient schools via mail.

Profiles on all of the 2020 award recipients can be accessed on the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program site as well as a historic database of all National Blue Ribbon Schools from present day to the program’s first year, 1982.

For more education related information, click here.

Explaining The Irish Breakfast

Whether you’re across the pond, at the counter of an American-Irish pub, or in the comfort of your own kitchen, an Irish Breakfast might be in your near-future. A Full Irish Breakfast comes loaded with a history and tradition as rich as its protein-filled plate, and thanks to an article published by Martha Steart’s cooking blog, the culture of the Irish Breakfast is brought to the light of day.

You should approach an irish breakfast with a big appetite, as tradition dictates that this meal consists of four breakfast meats, sunny side up eggs, button mushrooms, baked beans, tomato halves, plenty of toast, rich and golden irish butter, marmalade, and last (but not least) a hot, strong “cuppa,” otherwise known as irish tea with milk.

Though, the above list of ingredients has many variants depending on the specific irishman cooking or taste of those holding the forks, but no matter the specifics, it’s generally accepted that the feast that is the Full Irish Breakfast is not only a sign of enormous hospitality, but it’s also the test of an expert cook, as timing of all of the above to be served at once and remain hot is a tricky needle to thread.

In addition to the meat and eggs that pack a bulk of the plate’s protein is the button mushrooms that are cooked in butter until tender, canned baked beans, and tomato halves that may be pan-fried or broiled, depending on the chef. As for the stack of toast, this can be bread of the soft, pre-sliced variety, known to the Irish as “pan” or it can consist of brown soda bread. In addition to these cooking variations, an observer should be wary if any deep-fat fryers are present, as many prefer to cook their bread in the bacon fat. Though, if you’re in northern Ireland, you may be served a small skillet cake called a “fadge,” which holds a potato in its dough. Lastly, no matter the plating, a true irish breakfast never has hash browns nor what the English and Irish refer to as “chips.”

When cooking the Irish Breakfast, great care must be taken (from sourcing to cooking) in order to avoid an overly-greasy dish. Also, to prepare to serve all finished products at the same time, a careful host should have two skillets and a broiler ready. Begin by frying the bacon so that you can use the let-behind fat to cook the other ingredients, save the eggs which are fried seperately. The slices of bacon (also called “rashers”) are often strips of irish bacon, which is loin or back bacon, and it’s similar to what we call Canadian Bacon, as it’s not as streaked with fat as traditional American bacon. These rashers are accompanied by tender irish sausages, which are stuffed with finely ground pork, breadcrumbs, and herbs. Be careful, as these “bangers,” as they’re known in England, will pop in the hot skillet if they’re not pricked in a few places prior to cooking.

While they both hail from the same continent, the Irish Breakfast and the English Breakfast have striking differences between them despite their immediate similarities, such as the English Breakfast including fried potatoes and the Irish often using sliced black or white pudding. Note, the term “pudding” here is misleading, as these resemble fat, country-style sausages. The iron-rich, incredibly savory ingredient has a history in Ireland, as it substituted many country-diets during leaner times. The second half of the 20th century saw the industrialization of these foods with every Irish county’s butchers and artisanal producers producing sausages, puddings, breads, and preserves with local ingredients to supply chefs with what they need for a protein-rich breakfast to start the day “Irish Right.”

For more delicious recipes, click here.

Southern Waterways for Beginner and Experienced Paddlers

The Southern Waterways of the United States are often rushed to in the summer months with the accompanying water sports and beach excursions relishing beneath a sweltering sun above, but as Fall slowly approaches, there’s been no better time to simply float on and relax on a paddleboat, as learned by Diamond Brand Outdoors’ list of the top 15 Southern waters to lay your paddle (and worries).

No matter the town, city, or state, every waterway in the Southern United States is full of unique character among its water, be it a river, creek, stream, or lake. As many of the waterways find their way down from the Appalachian Mountain Ranges, joining together and subsiding their active waters as they drop closer to sea level, the flattening of their waters is what makes it perfect for a variety of paddle sports.

Southerns know that in the autumn months, mild-temperatures, generous rainfall, and variety in location make the region a much-coveted destination for paddlers of all abilities, experience, and passions. Note, listings on this list are listed in an order descending in difficulty.

Chipola River, Florida

Novice paddlers are welcome to Florida as they can take advantage of many opportunities to explore both river-side caves and freshwater springs and find swamp wildlife as well as historical artifacts. Western Florida’s Chipola River is a part of the Dead Lakes State Recreation Area, which holds two sections: the 51-mile Chipola River Designated Paddling Trail and the 4.5-mile Upper Chipola River Designated Paddling Trail; both are fed by 63 springs, housing small rapids as well as shoal bass for beginner paddlers looking to see scenic views with little to no experience requires.

Wateree River Blue Trail, North and South Carolina

Share in the majesty of the Carolina countryside as you paddle and weave down 75 miles on the Wateree River Blue Trail’s several sections of flatwater and gentle rapids, making the calm waters a destination for relaxation. The waterway drains from a natural wooded floodplain, and it is observed as a haven for wildlife such as otters, kingfishers, and the American Bald Eagle. Additionally, this river basin is one of the few, precious places that remain in the Southeast where white shoals spider-lily populations thrive in decent numbers.

Hiwassee River Blueway, Tennessee

If you’re looking to advance from class I rapids to class II, then this Tennessee destination should be on your list, as the upper section of the river, located in the mountains for the Cherokee National Forest is where you can find these steep-appearing, yet not overtly difficult rapids. Once you make it past the town of Reliance, the river calms down and mellows out, allowing for a moment of absolute serenity as you float peacefully past towering trees atop cool water.

Nantahala River, North Carolina

Nestled snugly between the North Carolina mountains just outside of Bryson City is  Nantahala Gorge where the walls are so steep that sunlight only hits the valley floor at high noon. Nantahala is Cherokee for “land of the noonday sun,” so it’s both aptly-named and home to eight miles of mostly class II rapids, resulting in a finale of the class III Nantahala Falls, which is an optional portage. The cold, reliable waters of the area flow all year round from a nearby powerhouse, making this southern waterway particularly accessible and popular.

Big South Fork, Tennessee

Cumberland Plateau’s northeastern edge opens to the towering cliffs and massive boulders that Big South Fork is known for in remote-Tennessee culture. This river is the centerpiece of a national recreation area with class III & IV rapids that challenge experienced paddlers by increasing in difficulty with rising water levels; though, these waters are exclusive to the summer months, so come prepared and early!

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BRAC & Local Universities Band Together to Retain Graduates to the Region

Louisiana State University, Southern University, and The Baton Rouge Area Chamber have combined efforts to retain graduates in the region by leveraging and utilising an existing talent recruitment platform, as reported by the LSU Media Center earlier this month.

The trio of educational and city-wide institutions will focus on connecting students to career opportunities through their participation in professional internships, thus setting students up for successful, extensive careers by giving them personally-tailored, hand-on experience by way of the Handshake platform.

Handshake is a university-based online, career resource that brings students and alumni together to offer personalized career recommendations to students. Recommendations made are based on individuals’ interests and network, allowing applicants to explore potential career pathways and build a new career by discovering new opportunities, employees, on-campus events through the Handshake platform.

Both LSU and Southern have invested in the Handshake platform in 2018, and as of today roughly half of the student population of both universities have active profiles visible to the 489 active employer profiles in the region. The platform itself allows employers of all sizes to create a profile at no cost to potentially recruit talent and graduates from LSU and Southern, as well as the over 900 other universities on the platform. Once having created a profile, employers can post job opportunities, filter candidates, and schedule interviews from a single log-in, thus saving more time for business-owners to find the right match for their company.

The president and CEO of BRAC, The Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Adam Knapp remarked to LSU journalists that this collaboration is a “ historic joint commitment of our region’s traditional four-year institutions to be intentional about connecting students to local internship and job opportunities. Now more than ever, talent drives economic development, and our college students are one of our greatest assets.”

The collaboration from LSU, SU, and BRAC holds all three institutions accountable for expanding the number of active student (graduates) and employer profiles in the system. They’ve implemented a system with a larger goal to increase the awareness of the Baton Rouge region as a vibrant, prosperous community in which recent, rising, and former graduates should consider launching a career. They do this by implementing strategic data tracking to measure applicant progress, advocating confidently for paid internships as both a critical, necessary part of the curriculum and of talent pipeline management strategies.

Hoping to get new users registered and matched with an employer, BRAC will be hosting workshops with each university’s career services centers to help employers set up Handshake profiles, learn how to most effectively engage with the Handshake platform and access the multitude of additional resources available through the career service centers.

Businesses located in the Baton Rouge region are encouraged to take the following steps in the next six months in order to both support and participate in this effort:

  • Activate an “employer” account on Handshake
  • Attend one of the Handshake 101 workshops offered by BRAC
  • Create a ‘paid internship program’ and recruit for it through Handshake
  • Recruit candidates for entry-level positions through Handshake

While initially beginning with Louisiana State University and Southern University, the BRAC will be pursuing similar agreements with the other postsecondary institutions in the area, namely, Baton Rouge Community College, FranU, and River Parishes Community College in order to retain even more graduates to the area.

Handshake’s Vice President of Higher Education and Student Services, Christine Cruzvergara commented by stating, “Access is the most direct path to opportunity, and we’re excited to partner with BRAC to help students connect with local businesses. This initiative demonstrates the strength of Handshake’s platform to help more students easily discover opportunities and help employers recruit young talent in an efficient and cost-effective way.”

For more education related information, click here.

PACE Adjusts Services for NOLA Seniors

Earlier this year when the restrictions placed on the city of New Orleans as a result of COVID-19  PACE, a NOLA-area comprehensive healthcare program, shifted its community servicing of senior citizens exclusively to in-home and virtual services, as reported in a NOLA.com profile.

The staff members of PACE were reportedly ready to adapt quickly in order for there not to be any lapses in service for a New Orleans demographic that is particularly susceptible to the effects of the pandemic. Pivoting to the new normal, PACE was still able to offer the greater area of New Orlerans’s citizens care of a physician, including medication offering, rehabilitative therapy, personal care services, transportation to and from health care offices as well as nutrition counseling, and the vital service of meal delivery.

PACE is an affiliated Ministry of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans program that aims to promote the independence, health, and dignity of the senior citizens of New Orleans. The comprehensive healthcare program includes services such as Adult Day Health Centers, both primary and specialty physician care, medications, rehabilitative therapy, and personal care services as well as transportation. PACE GNO’s mission statement is to “ enable frail older adults to live in their homes and in the community as long as medically and socially feasible.”

When asked to comment on her colleagues’ ability to pivot their operations to continue to service senior citizens, PACE occupational therapist, Trisha Ventura told nola.com, that the entire model of PACE is based in “flexibility and individualized care.” “Our executive director always says we are not a cookie-cutter service. We’re constantly adapting and changing, so it has not been a tremendously difficult transition for us.”

It is this attention to individualized care that keeps PACE in such high standing in New Orleans’s eyes, so it came a shock when they needed to shift to all in-home and virtual care, as previous PACE-offered services took place at the organization’s group facilities, but now services are shifted to participants’ homes, bringing an entirely new meaning to the “individualized care” previously mentioned.

For participants who signed up for the all-too-vital meal delivery service, meals are being distributed four days a week, meaning not only do individuals have guaranteed meals delivered to them several times a week, they also have someone check up on them and their home environment, a privilege that shouldn’t go unlooked and is not taken for granted by participants. Registered dietitians with PACE use this as an opportunity to continue making connections with members but also bring observed health or home concerns to a larger team for deliberation, and they are regularly receiving appreciation for having visited during such impersonal times.

Meal delivery isn’t the only service that was flexible in pivoting to in-home care, as physical therapists, occupational therapists and nursing assistants can now also make home visits. This is done both in person, but for recreational therapists, they will be hosting virtual classes, such as tai chi and memory games via Zoom, instead of in-person group classes. In addition to physical and mental exercise, participants’ spiritual needs are being catered to as a Chaplain provides a pastoral ministry at least once a week while also leading prayers on Zoom and talking and praying with individuals via phone call.

The lead PACE social worker, Joanne Ault is an advocate for the virtual shift of the organization, commenting that the “virtual classes have actually increased socialization because they are able to see other participants in the Zoom meeting.”

If interested in learning more information on PACE services, the organization invites you to visit www.pacegno.org or call 504-835-0006.

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