Some local schools are focused on how they can stand out from their high-profile neighbors.

By Michael Bradley

Saint Joseph's University president Mark Reed. All Photos By Tessa Marie Images

As president of Saint Josephs University, Mark Reed could hardly be blamed for focusing all of his attention on its City Avenue campus. But Reed is by no means a myopic man. Though he spent much of his professional career away from the area, he grew up in Montgomery County, went to St. Josephs Prep and is quite familiar with the crowded Catholic collegiate landscape in our region.

So, while his primary focus is obviously Saint Joes, he cant help but see the university in a greater context. And these days, that can be a little scary.

As tuition costs rise, and state schools become more enticing options for college-bound students and their sticker-shocked families, the glut of Catholic institutions suggests a coming shakeout that could lead to mergers or closings.

"As college loan debt cripples millions of graduates and the number of schools remains quite high, its imperative that institutions like Saint Joes create compelling pitches to potential applicants."

Reed knows he and his staff must operate within a shifting landscape while boosting the Saint Joes brand in the growing shadow of NCAA darling Villanova University several miles to the west. We have to make sure were not distracted by too much of that, he says. Were executing our own plan.

Those sentiments are a common refrain among many of the 30-plus local colleges and universities as they try to differentiate themselves at a vital time in the history of post-secondary education. As college loan debt cripples millions of graduates and the number of schools remains quite high, its imperative that institutions like Saint Joes create compelling pitches to potential applicants. Just being Philadelphias Jesuit University isnt enoughespecially as the areas primary Augustinian university, Villanova, is soaring on a blur of national acclaim and campus expansion, successfully moving from regional to national in scope.

But expanding too broadly can lead to a crisis of scale and sustainability. We have no desire to be all things to all people, Reed says.

Four decades ago, many people saw Saint Joes as a commuter school. There are still old-school Hawks from that era for whom Villanova is a sore subjecteven beyond the basketball court.

In the 60s, 70s and 80s, the two schools had distinct similarities. Each had its share of commuters, both were defined by their local presence with limited regional appeal, and the friction created by the city-vs.-Main Line dichotomy was quite real.

Today, things are different.U.S. News and World Reporthas Villanova tied for 49th among national colleges, a list that also includes the University of Pennsylvania at ninth overall. Meanwhile, Saint Joes is ranked 12th among northern regional universities, a much more tightly defined grouping. Villanova has an acceptance rate of 27 percent, while Saint Joes is 75. Recent construction has increased Novas curb appeal, much of it funded by a capital campaign that raised a staggering $759 million. Saint Joes, meanwhile, is about to execute a more modest strategic plan designed to bolster its footprint. The school has managed to increase its endowment from $200 to $300 million in five years, according to Reed, who understands the circumstances and doesnt hide from them. I have fun with it, he says. The rivalry piece is fun.

When it comes to the future, Saint Josephs University may be in same boat as the regions other Catholic institutionsbarring Villanova. At a time when higher education is more competitive than ever, its largely unfeasible that smaller independent schools like Rosemont and Chestnut Hill colleges, not to mention Gwynedd Mercy, Neumann, Cabrini, Immaculata and Holy Family universities, will survive in their current forms. Some might close; others could merge. Do I think there will be a shakeout? The easy answer is to say yes, says Reed. I do believe the answer is yes. And I think its already happening.

For Reed, its crucial to stay focused. We look at opportunities, and we look at our strategic plan. What does our strategic plan call us to do? Focus on, first and foremost, our academic quality and the experience we provide. From there, it moves into the student experience, and is the student experience truly delivering on what we say we are and what we provide. Does this provide the value that we articulate?

And what of the debate over the importance of athletics to a universitys success? Some adhere to the front porch stance, which suggests that successful sports programs bring eyes to the school and boost admissions. Others believe athletics can be beneficial, but a schools academic reputation, location, evidence of student happiness and other factors are far more important.

While that tug-of-war plays out, the Saint Joes mens basketball program is moving forward with new coach Billy Lange, whos been hired to take over for Phil Martelli. The university fired Martelli on March 19Saint Josephs Dayafter a 34-year career at the school, the last 24 as head coach. The way it was handled was not received well locally, as there was no established long-term succession plan.

Not long after the Martelli firing, the school jettisoned highly respected sports information director Marie Wozniakmuch to the consternation of veteran media types whod enjoyed strong working relationships with both. Among the other changes at Saint Joes, Jill Bodensteiner took over as athletic director in June 2018, replacing Don DiJulia, whod served in that capacity for 35 years and whose body of work established him as one of the nations foremost ADs.

Operating as a local and regional concern, the schools athletic program needed upgrades in facilities, marketing and its overall approach to business. In an interview withPhiladelphia Inquirercolumnist Mike Sielski earlier this year, Bodensteiner reported that when she was hired, department expenses topped out at $21 million and revenues were $4 million.

Martelli has said that when Bodensteiners called him into her office the day he was let go, he expected a discussion on next steps and what he believed would be a bounce-back season. Granted, Martelli had a strong overall record: 444 wins and seven NCAA tournament appearances. And his dedication to the institution and rock-solid standing in the local basketball community was undeniable. Still, some saw the move as justified, given that the Hawks have gone 41-55 over the past three seasons.

When she spoke with Sielski, Bodensteiner refuted the notion that shed blindsided Martelli. Everybody in this department knows exactly where they stand and has since the day I got here, she said, while also noting that, in some ways, mediocrity had become the rule.

Its no secret that Villanovas two national titles have spurred interest in the institution. Bodensteiner cant promise similar success, but she sees the program as a gateway to the school for many. Mens basketball should align with the universitys goals of building community and building the brand, she says. It should be part of what attracts students. It should bring alumni back. We saw what [success] did at Loyola Chicago and for UMBC (both of which earned recent NCAA tournament headlines). It can generate excitement."

St. Joseph's University athletic director Jill Bodensteiner.

Thats not likely to happen this year, as the Hawks are facing what could be a drastic step back. Martellis ouster led to an exodus of current and recruited playersmost notably starting guard Lamarr Kimble, who transferred to the University of Louisville. But Bodensteiner is thinking more long term. She envisions improved facilities, including a practice center tacked onto the back of Hagan Arena. She also wants to reestablish a commitment to supporting and branding the schools overall program, which has taken on something of a mom-and-pop personality of late.

Those ideas come straight from Notre Dame University, Bodensteiners alma mater and former employer, which has effectively used athletics to promote and improve the university. Being good is no longer the same thing as it was last year, Bodensteiner says. Students are choosing schools on Instagram. Part of being good now is continuing to evolve.

When Michael Gaynor began working for Villanovas office of undergraduate admissions back in 1982, he was three years removed from his graduation from Saint Joes. That year, a modest 6,914 students applied for 1,657 spots at Nova. Thirty-seven years later, 22,881 applications flooded his office, and the number of openings has increased by just 18. Comparison is the thief of joy, Gaynor says.

Nonetheless, the school has experienced some amazing growth. Its not lost on us how extremely fortunate we are, says Gaynor. I subscribe to the adage that there are two types of people: Those who are humble and those who are about to be.

Villanovas growth has been a result of many thingsnot just basketball success, says Gaynor. Still, theres no denying its impact. In 2016, Bloomberg Businessweek named Villanovas undergraduate business school number one in the country, and the school is now a national player in the U.S. News and World Report rankings. The campus has new dorms, an arts center and more, and $62 million went to upgrading the basketball arena.

Last year, 57,500 visitors came to the Villanova campus. Among the students who do get in and decide to matriculate, 96 percent of them stick around. But Gaynor maintains that some things havent changed. We still have that small-college hustle, Gaynor says. We dont take anything for granted. Were still relationship building for the long haul.

For the 2019-20 school year, Villanova received applications from all 50 states and Puerto Rico, plus 112 countries. Tuition was $54,550, and unlike many schools, Nova doesnt discount much (although it does attempt to meet students demonstrated financial needs). Mens basketball coach Jay Wright has said that his program strives to reflect the schools personality and ideals. Because of that, he and his staff eliminate about half of the top recruits in the nation every year because they dont fit the universitys mission.

But what happens if Wright accepts one of the many offers hes received from larger school like UCLA, which reportedly promised to double his salary? The hoops program could lose its elite status. And theres no guarantee Villanova will retain its top spot in the Bloomberg rankings. Were all concerned about growing too fast, but that doesnt dominate our thinking, say Villanova athletic director Mark Jackson. Our president understands our culture and understands the balance of growth and being responsible.

Theres another Big 5 growth story happening in our region. In the early part of this decade, Temple University was receiving fewer than 30,000 applications for its freshman class. Now, its nearing 40,000. At a time when parents are steering away from steeper private school tuitions, state institutions are gaining favor. The University of Pittsburgh received a record number of applications for the 2019-20 school year31,198 for a class of 4,205and though Penn States application total dropped slightly, it still hovers around 100,000.

Though the discount rate at Saint Joes is about the national average, according to Reed, private colleges arent for everybody. I always tell students, Theres a lot of noise out there in this process, whether its guidance counselors, teachers, others, he says. This is an important decision youre going to make. It may or may not be the most important decision of your life. Youve got to block out the noise. What do you feel the right fit is? Where do you think you can be successful? Were fortunate at Saint Joes, with our retention numbers, our graduation numbersstudents have a lot of success here.

Related Article:University and Residents Clash Over Villanova's Recent Expansions

Temple isnt worried about its status within the local hierarchy. The school has made significant strides over the past two decades and wants to continue its growth in applications and academic reputation. We have a grittiness to us, says Patrick Kraft, Temples athletic director. We work hard, and that resonates with our Temple Tough attitude. That doesnt mean were getting into bar fightsit means were making the right decisions.

La Salle University has a similar inward focus. It wants to be the best version of itselfa mantra repeated across the area. I look at the opportunities that are here, the value in education were able to offer and the ability for us to transform lives, La Salle athletic director Brian Baptiste says. As I interact with alums, thats one of the consistent things I hear, how the experience at La Salle transformed their lives and their families.

Its about finding an identityand, perhaps most importantly, a value proposition that allows for sustainability in a jam-packed higher-educational climate. Reinvention can bring excitement, but it can also create confusion. And, these days, if you stay too grounded in traditional messaging, you risk irrelevance. We just have to sharpen our focus a little, Saint Joes Reed admits. This is a very, very competitive market. As a result, being good is not enough. We have to do some things differently, like any good institution would do. We have something to build upon.

Among the regions Catholic universities, there may well be a shakeout coming. In response, smaller schools have been offering course credit to high school students in hopes of attracting applications from those who like what they see and appreciate the value of what theyve acquired. Saint Joes will move forward with its strategic plan in an attempt to make its campus more vibrant and its academic profile stronger. It has turned to Bodensteiner to create an athletic program that resembles those mid-major departments that thrive on the fields and courtsone that also generates more revenue from fans and alumni who embrace the experience. I think its helpful to focus on what other institutions are doing, because you get inspired and you get ideas, Reed says. But if everybody is chasing something, it worries me. We want to make sure were not distracted by too much of that.

Read the original:
How Saint Joseph's University is Tackling an Increasingly Competitive Higher Education Landscape - Mainline Today

Three decades after she began working as a landscape architect with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Katherine Bridges BLA 77 is right back where she started.

Jacob K. Javits Playground in Fort Tryon Park is a 1-acre oasis at the northern tip of Manhattan, overlooking the Hudson River. Bridges first assignment after joining the parks department in 1989 was project managing the work being done on the playground. Now, as she is about to retire, her last job is the renovation of that same playground.

In between, Bridges has either led or contributed to the design of more than 50 parks scattered across New Yorks five boroughs. Odds are, if you have visited New York anytime in the last 30 years, youve enjoyed her work.

Bridges most well-known projects include Blue Heron Park, which she created out of a woodland and wetland area on the south side of Staten Island, the borough where she grew up; Maria Hernandez Park, the largest greenspace in Brooklyns bustling Bushwick neighborhood; and Canarsie Park on the Brooklyn waterfront.

Prior to joining the parks department, Bridges worked for the Central Park Conservancy, where she was on the team (whose leaders included Marianne Cramer MLA 78) that created the 15-year master plan for the restoration of Central Park. Bridges created the master plan drawing, which was 13 feet long, and she still has it.

Bridges has actually been working on Jacob Javits for several years. The design was approved back in 2017. Construction didnt start until mid-2018 and continued throughout all kinds of weather, finally wrapping up this past fall when the playground reopened.

Jacob Javits is for everyone, from babies to senior citizens, Bridges says. I had to find a way to harmoniously integrate all these needs yet still create a beautiful comprehensive design that functions well.

Subtle isnt necessarily the first word that comes to mind with regard to a playground, but Bridges incorporated a variety of features to serve Jacob Javits many visitors. Multiple play areas serve specific ages (6-23 months, 2-5 years, and 5-12 years), and there are separate exercise areas for kids and adults. The new design also added ample strolling space, benches, and game tables, and it even kept intact a wilderness area. One acre isnt a large area, but at Jacob Javits theres space for everyone.

Bridges early career experience with the Central Park Team gave her the expertise to subsequently develop master plans for Blue Heron Park and Canarsie Park, both award-winning projects. Over the decades, Bridges has seen most of the ideas from those master plans become fixtures of the respective parks, beginning with the landscaping of the Great Hill in the northwest part of Central Park.

As Bridges looks back on her 30 years at the parks department, she says she is most proud of her mentorship of younger staff members. Im teaching them not only about design and the attention to detail but also the importance of listening, of process, of ecology and the continuum of landscape through time. And then theres always that scintilla di belleza, that spark of beauty.

Bridges attended UGA Cortona as a student and worked professionally in Italy for several years before moving back to New York, so she occasionally uses Italian to drive her points home.

Everything we do has to have that spark, she says. Im very happy that my work will stand the test of time.

Go here to see the original:
Katherine Bridges: Parks and Recreation - Georgia Magazine - University of Georgia

The Supreme Court on Monday will hear arguments in a potentially landmark Second Amendment case, the first time in roughly a decade that the justices will consider gun rights.

At issue is a New York City handgunregulationthat put tight limits on licensed gun owners' ability to transport firearms outside the home. The case presents the justices an opportunity to go further than ever before in defining the scope of the individual right to bear arms.

The big question is whether the conservative justices want to use this case which features an arguably extreme and silly form of gun control as a vehicle for expanding Second Amendment rights and further constricting governmental options for meaningful gun control, said Carl Bogus, a law professor and Second Amendment expert at Roger WilliamsJohn (Roger) Roger WilliamsSupreme Court poised to hear first major gun case in a decade Live coverage: Zuckerberg testifies before House on Facebook's Libra project Population shifts set up huge House battleground MORE University.

This latest chapter in the nations long-running debate over Second Amendment rights has drawn in familiar interest groups. It has also intensified the political fight over the high court's future, with Senate Democrats warning about a rightward shift under President TrumpDonald John TrumpStates slashed 4,400 environmental agency jobs in past decade: study Biden hammers Trump over video of world leaders mocking him Iran building hidden arsenal of short-range ballistic missiles in Iraq: report MORE.

The plaintiffs are three licensed handgun owners who sued New York City for, among other things, infringing on their constitutional right to bear arms. They are backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) as well as an NRA-associated firearms advocacy group, the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, which is also a plaintiff.

In the spring of 2013, the three New York City men sued the city over its handgun licensing scheme. Under the ordinance, residents could apply for a premises license, which allowed for the possession of a handgun in the home. Outside a gun owners specified address, however, the law granted few rights.

Gun owners could carry their firearms to about a half-dozen authorized shooting ranges in New York City. Even transporting a gun to a second home outside the city was forbidden. Guns also had to be unloaded and locked in a container during transport.

The lawsuit arose after the city denied the mens request to travel with their handguns outside the city to participate in target practice and marksmanship contests. The district court sided with New York City, as did the U.S. Court of Appeals for the2nd Circuit. The Supreme Court in January granted the gun owners petition for an appeal.

The decision to take up the first major gun rights case in years alarmed some Democrats who fear the court, with two Trump nominees, is poised for a rightward shift.

In an unusual move, five Democratic senators filed a sharply worded amicus brief in support of New York City. In it, they suggested that a win for the NRA and gun rights advocates would raise questions about the court's legitimacy.

Indeed, petitioners and their allies have made perfectly clear that they seek a partner in a project to expand the Second Amendment and thwart gun safety regulations, wrote Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseRepublicans raise concerns over Trump pardoning service members Overnight Energy: Pelosi vows to push for Paris climate goals | Senate confirms Brouillette to succeed Perry at Energy | EPA under attack from all sides over ethanol rule Pelosi: Congress has 'iron-clad' commitment to climate crisis MORE (D-R.I.), the lead author of the brief, which implored the justices not toexpand gun rights. Sens. Mazie HironoMazie Keiko HironoSupreme Court poised to hear first major gun case in a decade Overnight Defense Presented by Boeing Senate eyes sending stopgap spending bill back to House | Sondland delivers bombshell impeachment testimony | Pentagon deputy says he didn't try to block official's testimony Pentagon No. 2 denies trying to block official's impeachment testimony MORE (D-Hawaii), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.),Dick DurbinRichard (Dick) Joseph DurbinSupreme Court poised to hear first major gun case in a decade Protecting the future of student data privacy: The time to act is now Overnight Health Care: Crunch time for Congress on surprise medical bills | CDC confirms 47 vaping-related deaths | Massachusetts passes flavored tobacco, vaping products ban MORE (D-Ill.), and Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandHarris posts video asking baby if she'll run for president one day Warren hits Bloomberg, Steyer: They have 'been allowed to buy their way' into 2020 race Supreme Court poised to hear first major gun case in a decade MORE (D-N.Y.) also joined.

Eric Freedman, a law professor at Hofstra University, said the Senate Democrats unusual warning to the courts conservative bloc has fueled suspicions that the law is being bent to politics, and he questioned how the court would react.

That is a perception that [Chief Justice John] Roberts, [Justice Brett] Kavanaugh and, perhaps more surprisingly, [Justice Clarence] Thomas may be eager to dispel, he said. Keep an eye on them.

The case also poses a complicated legal question for the justices.

Freedman and other court watchers say its a very real possibility the justices choose to sidestep the Second Amendment question altogether. Thats because New York City and the state of New York changed their gun laws between the lawsuits initial filing in 2013 and this weeks Supreme Court oral arguments.

The New York regulation, which was unique to begin with, has already been repealed and replaced with a state law, which seems to render the case entirely moot, said Joseph Blocher, a law professor and Second Amendment expert at Duke University. Ruling the regulation unconstitutional literally changes nothing in the larger landscape of gun laws.

But if the justices do decide to address the Second Amendment issue head on, Blocher said, the impact could be felt across the country.

The real question and the reason that the case is so important is whether the justices will announce a new test for evaluating the constitutionality of gun laws going forward, said Blocher, who co-directs the Center for Firearms Law at Duke.

In a landmark 2008 case, District of Columbia v. Heller, the court said the Second Amendment enshrines an individuals right to keep and bear arms for self-defense. The court decided two years later that right applies at both the federal and state levels.

But the late Justice Antonin Scalias decision in the Heller case left key questions unanswered about the scope of the Second Amendment and how courts should determine when those rights were infringed.

Lower courts have filled the gap over the past decade. In more than 1,000 cases decided since Heller, lower courts have generally embracedatwo-step testto figure out if a gun control measure passed by a state or city is unconstitutional, according to research by Blocher and co-author Eric Ruben,a law professor at Southern Methodist University.

The test first asks whether the law under review is covered by the Second Amendment and then if the law's burdens are justifiable in regard to the public interests being served. Courts have effectively used this legal test to strike down overly strict laws but have upheld most mainstream gun regulations.

The Supreme Court now has an opportunity to adopt that standard, modify the test or even generate an entirely new one.

If the court decides to replace that consensus with some other test, then everything could change,Blocher said.

The NRA hopes the justices do exactly that. The national gun rights advocacy group told the court in an amicus brief that the judicial test developed in the lower courts is mistaken.

"This approach is contrary to the text and purpose of the Second Amendment which was enshrined in our Constitution because the People already weighed the competing interests at stake, and solemnly concluded that 'the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,'" the group wrote.

For gun control advocacy groupssuch as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the prospect of a new legal standard is cause for concern.

If [the NRA-backed plaintiffs] are successful, Americans could lose their longstanding rights to enact the public safety laws they want and need to protect their communities, said Jonathan Lowy of the Brady Campaign.

The stakes could not be higher.

Read more from the original source:
Supreme Court poised to hear first major gun case in a decade | TheHill - The Hill

As much as things change from year to year, Michael Herson understands that when it comes to Congress, its just business.

The president and co-owner of American Defense International (ADI) has long stood as one of Washingtons top defense industry lobbyists, but sometimes the desires of his clients simply dont line up with the political climate on Capitol Hill.

Im from New Jersey, so my favorite movie is The Godfather; my favorite line is its not personal, its strictly business, Herson told The Hill in a recent interview.

The key in a lot of this is not taking things personally. Im fortunate to have a lot of great friends on the Hill, and I understand that sometimes the answer is going to be no when I ask to help a client.

Through ADI, Herson lobbies for 75 clients based in six countries, including top defense contractors Raytheon, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, L3-Harris, Textron, United Technologies, Leidos, SpaceX and General Atomics.

He also counts the United Arab Emiratess Embassy in D.C. as a client, as well as German firearms manufacturer Sig Sauer.

Currently, its the annual defense policy bill that takes up most of Hersons time, as House Democrats and Senate Republicans fight over provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with President TrumpDonald John TrumpStates slashed 4,400 environmental agency jobs in past decade: study Biden hammers Trump over video of world leaders mocking him Iran building hidden arsenal of short-range ballistic missiles in Iraq: report MOREs border wall a main point of contention.

While his clients dont have conflicting wants when it comes to what is or isnt in the NDAA I couldnt represent them if they did, Herson said he allowed that he has lots of issues with whats included and whats been left out.

The NDAA covers a lot of issues beyond just weapons systems. It covers health care, energy, families and schools. Theres always winners and losers; not everybody comes out as a winner every year, Herson said.

At the end of the day we dont know whats going to be in the NDAA until it comes out. Conference discussions are very closed-lip. The most important thing, really, is getting the bill done. Its important to all my clients, its important to the industry and the people that we support.

Another battle from this year: ADI lobbied for continued U.S. military aid to Yemen, where the UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia, is involved in a proxy war against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The effort stands in stark contrast to the agenda of most lawmakers, who have pushed for an end to American involvement in the country.

The House in April advanced a bipartisan resolution calling for an end to the U.S. role in the four-year civil war, though it was ultimately vetoed by Trump.

While Herson couldnt comment specifically on his work with the UAE, he acknowledged that sometimes people are going to agree with us and sometimes theyre not going to agree with us.

Our job is to inform and educate ... If Im pushing something Congress doesnt agree with and we lose, OK. But eventually, hopefully well be able to win in the long run.

The ever-shifting political landscape, Herson said, keeps things interesting.

Not only is each administration different, but I think every year is different, he said. We always have to advise our clients differently depending whats going on that year, how much money is going to be spent on defense, whats the climate, whos in charge of the House, whos in charge of the Senate, who has the administration [and] who the players are in the administration that are overseeing defense.

He conceded that the Trump administrations unorthodox approach has led to more uncertainty in the defense world compared to the Obama White House.

Democrats retaking the House in the 2018 midterm elections also caused a new ripple, with the House Armed Services Committee gaining 18 new members a third of the 62-member panel with whom Herson had not interacted before.

So a lot of people we didnt know and also of those half, the vast majority ... their engagement with my clients and the rest of our industry downtown is different than it has been with members in the past.

And of course every year brings a new budget request, which always includes unexpected changes.

There are always surprises when the budget request comes out, which will force people to gear up on other things when certain programs arent funded at certain levels or programs are canceled. That starts a whole new campaign sometimes, he said.

The end of 2019 marks ADIs 25th year of operations.

Herson, who served in the Pentagon under former President George H.W. Bush and was an intern in the Reagan White House, has been pondering how much longer hed like to stay in the lobbying game.

Asked how long he foresees himself at ADI, he replied, Depends on what day of the week you ask me that question.

Sometimes I see myself doing it forever, and sometimes I think about going back into the government again. It would be fun to go back in the right job and the right administration to really make a difference, to have the job when you dont need the job so youre not afraid to make decisions.

Herson said he is open to working at the White House, Pentagon, State Department or the United Nations, but a lot is luck and timing. When the opportunity might present itself I might decide I dont want to do that, but Id like to keep that option open.

Original post:
Defense lobbyist on Congress, NDAA: 'Every year is different' | TheHill - The Hill

There I was minding my own business in a secluded corner of a mellow little coffee shop when a phone call shattered the tranquillity. It was environmental centre, Cabragh Wetlands, inquiring had I anything in mind for a talk celebrating National Heritage Week.

This request took me somewhat aback, for the honest answer was I had nothing at all in mind. I had given a presentation in Cabragh for the celebration of Heritage Week the previous year, but that was easy; I had been speaking on the subject of my recently published guidebook, Pilgrim Paths in Ireland. Now, I was being asked to return for a new subject to a wellspring of imagination that, at the moment, appeared dry as a dyke in a desert.

The word no never features in our Gaelic language; from distant times we have clearly been a nation of satifisers. So, in the best Irish tradition, I obfuscated. Give me a couple of days to think about this, I replied without committing. Heading for the counter, it was then, Large Americano three shots, please, before settling down to think through my unexpected dilemma.

Immediately, a disconcerting thought assailed me. Could I be just a literary one-trick pony, condemned forever to recount tales of individuals putting one foot in front of the other? But then people, and particularly upland folk with their rugged individualism and many incomprehensible ways, had always fascinated me.

Encountering an abundance of upland inhabitants, I had heard many captivating stories throughout my 30 years of rambling the benign Irish uplands. Unassuming in stature but rich in heritage, our low-slung mountains and hills have, throughout the ages, been interwoven with the ebb and flow of Irish history. Our high country has been, through the generations, an accessible part of the landscape in the way the worlds greatest mountain ranges have not.

Could my many upland encounters form the basis of a Heritage Week chat? Gradually, I began to tease out the idea. There was the colourful Tipperary based outlaw of the Slievefelim Hills, Eamon an Chnoic; Republican leader Liam Lynch, gunned down in the Knockmealdown Mountains during the Civil War; and the discovery, as late as the 1980s, of a new geographic feature on Carrauntoohil, dubbed Howling Ridge.

St Brendan came to mind for his ascents of Mount Brandon and a momentous ocean voyage that began beneath the mountains western shadow. There was unswerving Fenian and renowned Tipperary wordsmith Charles Kickham, who is forever associated with mythical Slievemanon along with the great War of Independence escape by IRA leader Tom Barry across the Shehy Mountains. Ringing back to Cabragh I said you can put me down to speak about the stories handed down to us from the Irish Uplands.

About 60 people turned up on the night with the talk appearing to go well as it drew plenty of questions. That was the end of it, though, for I was immediately back to working on a book titled, A Walking Guide to the Comeragh, Galtee, Knockmealdown and Slieve Bloom Mountains. All the while, however, stories of upland exploits and mountain people kept popping into my consciousness like an annoying jingle from some ubiquitous TV ad. The good news from all this was that when Currach Books came calling, I was ready with an idea. Wild Stories from the Irish Uplands would be my next book.

Ideas are, of course, two a penny in publishing so there still remained the hard slog of transforming a concept into a printed work. I decided to search for stories with strong central characters who had been associated with the Irish uplands. I was most pleased when they gradually began to emerge from the hill country. First added to my preexisting list was Hugh ODonnell. Thorn in the side of English rule in Ireland, he escaped dramatically from Dublin Castle through the Wicklow mountains during a blizzard and went on to create an immense headache for Queen Elizabeth 1.

Next to visit my consciousness was larger than life Irish-American, Michael Reardon, who came to our shores in order to ascend great cliffs without the encumbrance of safety ropes. There was rebel and namesake Michael Dwyer, whose extraordinary life seemed too fantastic for fiction, while the re-awakening of Irelands oldest pilgrim path and the coming of the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team also made for compelling stories.

The USP for the book would, I decided, involve lacing up the boots and following in the footsteps of the succession of rebels, rapparees, saints and sometimes scoundrels who would be central to the storylines. This I hoped would allow me provide readers with a real sense of place and purpose. Many of the areas I had, of course, visited previously but still I was amazed by the amount of new detail that became apparent when I viewed the landscape with the freshness of an authors eye.

Most interesting were the places I hadnt been too before. I panted my way up to a remote part of the Wicklow Mountains to visit Arts Cross where Ulster chieftain, Art ONeill, reputedly died of exposure, having escaped from Dublin Castle. The most enjoyable day was, however, spent following minutely in the footsteps of IRA chief of staff, Liam Lynch, on the day he was gunned down in the Knockmealdown Mountains while fleeing from Free State soldiers. It put me in mind of walking through a great outdoor museum, and I was genuinely taken aback by how accurately those present had described details of the local landscape.

Finally, the book is out of my hands. All 14 stories will now, like a political party on election day, be judged by others. What strikes me about the whole experience of writing is, however, the importance of happenchance in all our lives. Were it not for a single, brief phone call received in July 2016, Wild Stories from the Irish Uplands would never have made it to the bookshelves.

Wild Stories from the Irish Uplands by John G ODwyer is published by Currach Books

See more here:
High achievers: following in the footsteps of the heroes of Irelands hills - The Irish Times

Some stranger suggested itswore by it. He seemed like a credible source. And so I didnt bother to google it. Instead I blindly bought a bus ticket and hopped aboard for one rickety 10-hour journey from Arambol, Goa, in the south of India to Hampi, Karnataka, just about 200 miles west.

Eventually, I felt the overnight bus roll to a stop and I reluctantly peeled open my heavy eyes. Every time wed pulled over throughout the night, a man would hop on touting a steaming canteen of chai or stale peanuts or warm fruit flecked with flies. Their shouting voices had woken me up from my sorry semblance of sleep one too many times along the way. This time, however, I woke up to pleasantly surprising sherbet skies. My jaw, agape in a yawn, dropped further to the floor congested with the scattered bodies of somnolent bus riders who didnt get seats.

Id made it to Hampi, and I was stunned.

Beast Travel Digest

Get the entire world in your inbox.

Travel is transcending space. Though it often feels like transcending timedecades or centuries rather than zones. But, suddenly, Id been transported to a whole other unmapped planet. A planet where it rains boulders that build mountains no man could mold. Mountains that defy gravity. Mountains that fortify derelict stone structures and ruined temples and dilapidated dens luring the leopards and the bears. Mountains that overlook undulating fields of foliage so fresh with bananas, the monkeys abound. And rule.

Hampi, an ancient village on the south bank of the Tungabhadra river, is a place that propels travelers like me onward. Because, when we find places like Hampi, were reborn, alive with a keener curiosity than ever before.

It wasnt long after clambering out of the packed bus, however, that I wished Id researched the place. Though the landscape wouldnt have wowed me quite the same had I been mentally prepared for it, I had not a clue what I was absorbing. The storied skeleton of a kingdom thatd once reigned supreme.

Hampis history is unparalleled.

Today, Hampi is a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus. But its significance dates back centuries.

Hampi, known as the Monkey Kingdom, is recognized as the birthplace of Hanuman, the Hindu Monkey God. Its also where Hindus believe Lord Rama fought in the Ramayana, an important piece of Hindu literature that well predates the Vijayanagara Empire (1336 to 1565). It tells of the rescue of Lord Ramas kidnapped wife, Sita. Hanuman is believed to have brought rocks from all over India to build a bridge from Hampi to Sri Lanka to save her. Thats said to be how the boulder-strewn banks of the Tungabhadra River came to be.

It was in Hampi, too, that Lord Shivarenowned as the Adiyogi, or the first-ever yogimarried Goddess Pampa, daughter of Lord Brahma, the creator God. The Tungabhadra river was called Pampa after her, and the land became known as Pampakshetra. Over time, Pampa became Hampa, which ultimately became Hampi.

Centuries later during the Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi functioned as the epicenter of the ruby and diamond trade. Peppered with Dravidian temples (South Indian temples characterized by high gopuras or gatehouses), regal pavilions, titivated temples, an octagonal bath and majestic palaces, it was amongst the largest and wealthiest cities in the world and the most powerful kingdom in medieval India.

But when Deccan sultanates conquered Hampi one afternoon in January 1565, the city was pillaged and, ultimately, left abandoned. The Battle of Talikota, as it became known, reduced Hampi to ruins, and it lay in rural obscurity for hundreds of years. It wasnt until the 19th century when the British rediscovered the cityby then, a ghost of grandeurthat it was relatively revitalized. Hampi was ultimately made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.

Today, the ruins of the once-commanding kingdom represent Hampis opulence and obliteration. The wind moans stories of its harrowing demise in tunnels of fragmented temples. And monkey troops still cavort between Banyan trees, redolent of what the hallowed Monkey Kingdom once was.

While its full of wonder, Hampi still lies off the beaten path for many travelers who come to India, mostly, to visit the Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra (for the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur. But visitors would be remiss not to make the journey.

Travelers are spoiled for choice of places to see and adventures to have in Hampi.

Plentiful guesthouses and even nearby resorts are perfect places to stay to get to know the city. Never mind that visitors can spend infinite days marveling at the supernatural landscape, Hampi boasts a wealth of history to explore and adventures on which to embark.

On foot, by tuk tuk, or by renting a motorbike of their own, visitors are free to wander through the Indo-Islamic architecture of geometrical designs, mythical God carvings and Hindu sculptures, denoting Hampis multi-faith past. The labyrinth of more than 1,600 surviving remains of forts, temples, bazaars, shrines, pillared halls, and other sacred complexes invites them to explore. Among the ruins are the Lotus Mahal complex, as well as the Krishna, Pattabhirama, Hemakuta, Achyutaraya and Virupaksha temples.

The intricate Virupaksha Temple, which is used to worship Lord Shiva, is arguably Hampis most identifiable landmark. Its the oldest temple in Hampi and, allegedly, the oldest functioning temple in the country. Inside lives Lakshmi, the temple elephant who heads down to the Tungabhadra every morning for a bath. Visitors can follow Lakshmi to the river to lend a helping hand.

Its the same river that they can traverse by Dongi, a bowl-shaped boat made of reed, saplings, and hide. Sunset is a beautiful time to float, for those not up for clambering to the top of Matanga Hill for a sunset drum circle amongst both locals and backpackers alike.

When the day is done, many choose to retire on the other, sleepier side of the Tungabhadra, in Anegundi. Characterized by a small, artisanal market that throngs the river and artful but unassuming guesthousesmostly hammock-strewn hutsAnegundi is a hippie haven.

Taxi boats take visitors the two minutes across the water, where drum circles and jam sessions still emanate from the mountains. While many visitors opt to relax on colorful carpets in lazy cafes like the Laughing Buddha or read by the riverfront, others choose to continue on foot to explore hidden gems like the Valikilla Cave (also known as the Bali-Sugriv Gufa), where the mythical Bali from Ramayan had meditated. Many more will hike up Anjeyanadri Hill to visit the Monkey Temple, too.

But visitors may not be able to visit Hampi (at least as it is) for much longer.

A recent drought and ensuing blistering temperatures have had an evident effect on visitors to the heritage city, according to the Deccan Herald, an English daily newspaper published in Karnataka.

While tourism numbers witnessed an upward trend from the financial years 2014-2015 and 2017-2018, those numbers have more than halved. Foreign tourism numbered 35,000 to 50,000 in the last few years, but 2018-2019 saw just 17,949 tourists. Domestic tourism dropped by about a million visitors, as well.

And while visiting before climate change wreaks irreversible havoc is a good enough reason to go now, its not the only reason.

In an effort to stem the tides and better preserve Hampi, the Union Government declared in February 2018 that itll be transforming Hampi into an Iconic Tourism Site, budgeting for bathroom and drinking water facilities, signage, pathways and ramps, parking lots, ticket counters and more, according to the Times of India. While these facilities will ideally prove convenient for tourists in these tougher times, mass tourism will inevitably detract from Hampis natural wonder and arguably depreciate its ethereal beauty.

As such, theres mounting tension between authorities and locals, many of whom have been forcefully displaced over the years. Restoring the Karnataka city comes at the price of evicting many of those who call the old bazaar homethose whove kept Hampi a living monument, as opposed to a museum. For years, conservationists have evacuated the locals living in the small stone pavilions, known as mandapas. Many of them had sold coconuts, bananas, peanuts and chai to tourists, on whom their livelihoods relied. Others rented rooms in their houses to visitors seeking truly immersive experiences.

As bulldozers move in on their homes, the informal economy is likely to struggle on the outskirts. Likewise, visitors will be left to look elsewhere for accommodation, commuting in to see Hampi as opposed to staying to experience Hampi.

So visit Hampi before its overrun by sunhat-clad, flag-toting tour groupswhile it maintains some semblance of the largely uncharted time warp it still, for the unforeseeable future, is.

Beast Travel Digest

Get the entire world in your inbox.

Read more here:
Inside India's Lost Temple City Where Monkeys Rule - Daily Beast

Art exhibits change year to year, but the art museums I visit in my standard Washington, D.C., loop remain consistent. I would like to think of myself as in the know about the DMV art scene, but I only recently heard about Glenstone an art museum in the area that is not in the city.

Glenstone was originally established in 2006, and its expanded several times since. The largest expansion in 2018 included additional galleries and 130 acres of landscape. The private museum is located in a beautiful part of Potomac, Maryland, fairly close to College Park, so I was surprised I hadnt heard about it until this fall.

Audrey Decker and her younger sister sitting outside of the Glenstone museum (Photo courtesy of Audrey Decker).

When I searched its website, I was informed that Glenstone is viewed not only as a place, but a state of mind created by the energy of architecture, the power of art, and the restorative qualities of nature. At first, this statement struck me as a little pompous, and that feeling only grew as I drove into Glenstone. The approach was understated, but it looked like I was entering the private mansion of someone rich and famous. The entrance way was made of stacked stone with white lettering and funneled visitors into a long driveway.

The visitors center was a minimalists dream: modern, clean surfaces with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in as much natural light as possible.

You begin your journey through Glenstone on a trail, walking from exhibit to exhibit. Even inside the buildings, there was so much room between each work of art. I loved how the visitor had to go to the art, rather than all of the art being in one place like regular museums. It created a sense of discovery; the art wasnt spoon-fed.

Along the trail, everything was a surprise. The first bend in the path opened up to a huge field, with a giant fuzzy, green dinosaur-looking head by Jeff Koons at the top of the hill. Moments of art and architecture stuck out of a serene landscape

(Audrey Decker/For The Diamondback)

After the enormous head, the trail led to a zig-zag boardwalk path through the forest. The forest had small, rustic cottages along the way. The first cottage opened up to a cracked boulder made out of local clay and human hair to bind the sculpture together. The artist wanted to create something that eventually would fall apart and become part of nature again.

The second cottage was empty, but the ceilings and walls were made from the same cracked clay. As I understand, the cottages were about the natural progression of time. The last cottage had nothing in it, like the second, but the back wall had fewer layers, going deeper and deeper into the earth. It was an interesting exploration of using natural materials within a natural environment, combining landscape and art.

Walking outside on the trail was refreshing, and since there was art to see along the way, it also felt purposeful. The architecture of the pavilions, the main location for the indoor art, was breathtaking. Modern and austere concrete structures jutted upwards. The stark geometry of the architecture was juxtaposed against the organic, undulating landscape, each made more beautiful by the other.

(Audrey Decker/For The Diamondback)

Most museums have a certain hush to them, but Glenstone was especially quiet. Since the ticket system only lets a certain number of people in at a time, the spaces were fairly empty and peaceful. Keeping the private museum as lowkey as possible adds to its hidden gem quality. Glenstone is completely free and open to the public, but you need to get tickets in advance. February tickets will be released on Dec. 1.

There was an incredible amount of art inside the pavilions, enough to visit Glenstone for a second day. Jackson Pollock, one of my favorite painters, has a painting featured, as well as some other renowned mid-century artists. The gallery spaces were underground and without windows but the connecting passages had floor to ceiling glass overlooking a courtyard pond. This created a tranquil view, once again juxtaposing interior/exterior, nature/man-made, solid/transparent, above/below.

(Audrey Decker/For The Diamondback)

No pictures were allowed inside of the buildings, only outside, which made me sad at first because there were so many photo-worthy moments. But looking back on my visit, it made the experience unique individual to each guest. If you need a break from D.C. museums, request tickets to Glenstone. While it didnt restore all of my woes, there is always room for more quiet contemplation in our lives.

CORRECTION: Due to a reporting error, a previous version of this story stated Glenstone would release February, March and April tickets on Dec. 1. It only released February tickets. The story also stated that Jackson Pollock has multiple paintings featured in the museum. There is only one. This story has been updated.

Link:
The best DMV modern art museum you've never heard of - The Diamondback

When:

Thursday, February 6, 2020 - 9:30 am @ 9:30 AM 11:30 AM

2020-02-06T09:30:00-08:00

2020-02-06T11:30:00-08:00

Where:

Center for Urban Horticulture3501 NE 41st StSeattleWA 98105

This is the primary class of the series Master Pruner courses. It covers basic pruning of ornamental trees and shrubs as well as creative solutions to the overgrown or over-planted garden. The types of pruning cuts are shown and discussed. The concept of the pruning budget is introduced. Plants are divided into three categories according to their natural habits and pruning techniques given for each. Before and after slides of pruning and diagrams will be used to illustrate pruning for size reduction and pruning for definition (thinning). And students will gain insight into the process of yard renovation, where pruning is but one tool in restoring a garden.

This lecture series is designed for those who work in landscape maintenance. Each lecture provides information on tools andtechniques for quality pruning with better long-term results and customer satisfaction.

The Master Pruner Series is offered in partnership withPlantAmnesty.

Taught by Shawna Van Nimwegen

The rest is here:
How To Prune and Renovate The Overgrown Landscape - CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Over the years, the level of consistent winning by the Christian Brothers Academy boys cross-country team has made the program a dominant force, not only here in the Garden State, but on the national landscape as well.

This year was no different.

The Lincroft-based school won its third straight NJSIAA Meet of Champions title, ninth in the past 10 years and broke its own state record with its 24th overall title, winning the championship on the 40th anniversary of its first-ever M of C trophy in 1979. It defeated Mendham, 62-119, at Holmdel Park on Nov. 23 for the latest crown.

Senior Shaw Powell led the way, placing third with a Holmdel Park personal record of 15:41, ranked No. 5 all-time in school history at Holmdel. The Colts averaged 16:15 for the second straight week, a week after they captured its state-record 30th Non-Public A crown on Nov. 16. Juniors Ben Santos (15th, 16:13) and Chris DeSousa (17th, 16:14), sophomore Jack Moran (35th, 16:33) and senior Troy Hill (37th, 16:35) all finished in the top 40 in the M of C.

Our team has been great. We changed our training and werent sure what to expect, but the boys have thrived, said Christian Brothers head coach Sean McCafferty, who just completed his fourth year at the helm. Shaw (Powell) has been incredible at times, Troy (Hill) has been our stalwart, Ben (Santos) and Chris (DeSouza) have been incredible of late. Our youngsters, Jack (Moran) and Nicholas Sullivan are learning the ropes and becoming great runners. Tim Cahill did not break 5 as a freshman and has run 16:36 at Holmdel. Its an unreal mix of kids.

Last week, CBA qualified for Saturdays Nike National Championships in Portland, Ore., finishing second to La Salle Academy of Providence, R.I., at the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. The runner-up finish qualified CBA for the Nike Nationals for the 10th straight year.

A historic season for an historic team.

Read the rest here:
Christian Brothers Academy is NJ.com Boys Cross-Country Team of the Year, 2019 - nj.com

We leave our comfortable Mercedes minivan and jump into a Lada taxi to drive to the famous mud volcanoes of Gobustan in Azerbaijan. My husband and I are amused both by the battered cara relic of former Soviet ruleand the suicidal speed at which the driver drives. Completely unfazed by what the speedometer shows or the non-existent roads, he chats away with our guide sitting beside him. Leaving Baku, we hurtle past low-lying hills and miles of barren land till we arrive at a handful of parked Lada taxis that herald our destination.

This surface probably comes closest to that of Mars," says Elnur, our guide, as I stand atop a small mound peering into its large cavity. At regular intervals, a big bubble forms on the surface of the molten cement-like substance that fills it, and then bursts, sending specks of mud in all directions. Unlike magma or lava, the mud is ice cold.

Ringed by the blue Caspian Sea, the stark landscape, dominated by hillocks of varying sizes, with elephant-grey cracked mud running off the sides, is otherworldly. Apart from the howling wind and the loud plop when a bubble bursts, the scene looks and sounds fairly benign. Not surprising though as all the action is happening underneath. These active muddy puddles are formed when subterranean methane gas leaks through the earths surface. Mud volcanoes are found in subduction zones or places where the earths crust moves downwards and upwards, even colliding with each other, and indicate the presence of hydrocarbon and petroleum deposits. Over 400 of the worlds 1,000 mud volcanoes are scattered across Azerbaijan, a country thats rich in oil and gas.

As we stand around, our driver scoops up mud in a broken plastic bottle and passes it to me, with a recommendation to apply it on my face. The clay-like mud is believed to be beneficial for the skin and is also said to work wonders for those suffering from rheumatism. Its not advisable though to jump into a mud volcano unless it has been certified safe for bathing, as some may contain radioactive material. As tempting as the results of slathering on the mud sound, with a long day ahead, I pass up the offer.

Historically and culturally, oil and gas have defined Azerbaijan and the lives of its people. Known as the Paris of the east, the capital city Baku is filled with buildings that boast of European grandeur fuelled by oil money. Going back in time, explorers, traders and invaders were fascinated by the bizarre natural phenomena of bubbling mud and burning mountains that they encountered on their journeys through this country. Even 13th century explorer Marco Polo wrote about the mysterious fires he saw on his travels in the region.

Its nearly time for sunset when we get to Yanar Dag, a natural gas fire that lies north of Baku. A 10m-long stretch at the base of the hill burns day and night, through rain and snow. According to local lore, the continuously burning flame was ignited when a shepherd tossed his cigarette butt at the spot. The burning mountain looks particularly fascinating at night and forms an enthralling backdrop against which musicians and dancers frequently perform.

At one time there were many such fires across the Absheron Peninsula, but widespread exploitation of oil and gas reduced ground pressure and most of the flames eventually died out. At the 17th century Ateshgah Temple, a 30-minute drive away, the main altar was built atop a natural flame which was extinguished in 1969. Since then, a gas pipe feeds the fire in the main altar. Like the mud volcanoes, Ateshgah is intriguing and baffling. Here, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, the last thing we expect to hear is the sound of Om" coming from a room, part of the complex surrounding the central courtyard that houses the main altar. Inside, we see lifelike models of ascetics performing penance and outside, above the doorways, inscriptions read Shri Ganeshaya Namah". Debate continues whether the temple, now a Unesco World Heritage Site, was a Zoroastrian or Hindu place of worship, but research and excavations indicate that it probably began as the former, eventually turning into a Hindu temple. Hindu and Sikh traders passing through the region, part of the ancient Silk Route, used the complex as a temple and as a caravanserai or travellers inn.

Back in Baku, the skyscrapers known as the Flame Towers light up the night sky. The faades of three buildings are illuminated with thousands of LED lights that go from beaming the national flag to displays of pouring water and raging fire. The towers, the showstoppers of Bakus skyline, serve as a constant reminder of the inextricable relationship the country shares with the burning flame.

Dubai-based Chaitali Patel writes about the arts, history and culture.

Continued here:
Bubbling mud and ever-burning flames in Baku - Livemint