Congratulations on unwittingly earning your degree in maritime law this year! If youre a dedicated viewer of the Below Deck franchise on Bravo, which includes Below Deck, Below Deck Mediterranean and new series Below Deck Sailing Yacht, you now know exactly what you can and cannot do (and be in possession of) on a big old boat. The course was tough but we all got there. Our certificates must still be in the mail somewhere

Because this year found the reality TV franchise navigating some choppy-ass waters. Ratings-wise, it was smooth sailing (yes, you can expect the puns throughout) as millions of people tuned in from their homes for a fun escape, including celebrity fans such as Schitts Creeks Dan Levy and long-time viewers Jimmy Fallon and Chrissy Teigen. But content-wise, well, where each show docked instead (told you) was in an infamous Port of Drama (cant stop, wont stop).

We already know 2020 was a rough year for us all, and even the Rich People Only world of yachting wasnt exempt. And look, the coronavirus pandemic can (and will) explain a lot of the tolls it took on this current season of Below Deck, which is airing on Monday nights on Bravo. But we watched three other seasons that were filmed long before the world shut down, and theyve got a whole lot more to answer to.

Lets take it back to Season 7 of Below Deck. If youre like me, youve blocked a healthy portion of this out of your mind, so I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it has not even been a full calendar year since weve witnessed the repeatedly vile behavior of the brus. Did you just feel a shiver down your spine too? Yeah, same. In short, the men ganged up and acted like little assholes on a school playground in order to be mean to (and gaslight, v. cool) the women on the show. Perhaps you remember the disturbing moment in the van when Ashton was unable to reach Kate Chastain in the back seat and so he punched a window instead? That aired at the very end of 2019, but the lack of ramifications trickled on into 2020. The season didnt end until February with a super frustrating reunion (save for the modern woman brilliance of stew Courtney Skippon), which was followed by the announcement that Kate would not be returning to the show after six seasons of supreme sass. Woof, all around. What we didnt yet know was that during this same month, cameras resumed filming for Season 8 (which is what were watching now)just as coronavirus was on the horizon.

In fact, it was likely due to coronavirus that Below Deck Sailing Yacht had as large of an audience as it did, as we were all stuck inside while the majority of the season aired, desperate for an escape, or even just a thatll do show we could count on to be regularly available on TV. The show premiered in February with Chef Adam Glick, formerly of Below Deck Med, tying the new series to the existing ones. Except his journey on the show waslets go withnot ideal. Its always important to have an open mind about any shows first season. Even this one, which shouldve been smoother than most, right? But between the odd and unpredictable casting mix (in a bad way) and the lack of any real drama (also in a bad way), we quickly learned that too much of a good thing is very real, even if this thingwasnt all that good.

It wasnt all bad though. Captain Glenn seems like a nice guy.

But this show just could not find the wind in its sails (here I go again!) and we as viewers needed a little bit of time to miss any forms of Below Deck.

Ah! But up ahead was Season 5 of Below Deck Mediterranean. Lets all take a deep breath before we dive into this one.

Ill just mention the name Lara here (again, a shiver down the spine) and move along because really, what even was that? I still dont know if I just feel happy that a person like Chef Kiko exists in the world at all (and his good vibes could be felt through the screen this summer) or if I am full of rage that a misguided Vegas-themed dinner (no but really, WHAT EVEN IS A VEGAS THEMED DINNER) led to his demise and departure from the show, and was ultimately the catalyst forsigh, everything else.

Once Kiko left the boat, Hannah Ferrier had zero allies in her corner. And even though she was on good enough terms with second stew Bugsy (oh yeah, she came back to the show and brought a lot of decorations for both her hair and the table), that was soon tested as bosun Malia White insisted on sharing a room with the new chef (conveniently her boyfriend), which wouldve left Hannah and Bugsy to actually have to deal with each other.

A blow-up about roommates was handled horrendously amongst a group of adults and even though Malia got her way, largely due to her weirdly unbreakable bond with Captain Sandy, on her way out of the former room that she shared with Hannah, Malia organized a magazine-worthy photoshoot of the contents of Hannahs purse which included Valium and a pen that was filled with either weed or CBD depending on who you ask. It doesnt matter. Neither had been reported to the boat at the start of the season and therefore, it was technically grounds for firing someone, though apparently so is You dont seem like yourself on this boat.

The bottom line is: it was beyond disgraceful the way Hannah was forced off of this boat and therefore this show. Maybe she wasnt for everyone and maybe you didnt love her, but you at least loved to hate her. It was dramatic, yesbut it was also despicable the way it all went down. The rest of the season which felt like it was comprised of about 300-400 episodes proved to be a total snoozefest, not in a way that was a relief, but in a way that it just didnt matter what Jess and Robs doomed relationship amounted to and that Chef Toms repeated tantrums were just one big eye roll.

Its wonderful that the Below Deck franchise has seen such warranted success for Bravo, but rolling right into the new season of Below Deck in early November simply felt like a lot. Put on a classic rom-com for a few Monday nights and let us come up for air before we board this new adventure! I miss missing this show. Though everyones always happy to see Captain Lee, its too early to appropriately assess this season, as were only a handful of episodes deep. Its nice to see Eddie Lucas return as bosun so that Captain Lee has a buddy, and Izzy is a promising personality. Francesca deserves a bit more time as chief stew to see what she can do, and despite a real doozy of a charter to kick it all off, overall, the season so far has been fine. Which, in this year, is a true compliment.

In a year where so much felt depressing and disastrous, it was a bummer to realize that included most forms of Below Deck, too. This is not a show that should ever be stressful, it should be (almost) as much fun as the charter guests are having drinking and partying in the middle of a bright blue ocean. From the brus to the bickering on Sailing Yacht to the bullshit of a vape pen (I KNOW YOU HAVE TO DECLARE IT OR PEOPLE CAN LOSE THEIR JOBS), I craved the fun, carefree, frivolous drama that would roll out at least as smoothly as the giant slide does over the side of the yacht. Hell, even the shows recognition in the New York Times felt awfully meh. All this is simply coming from a place of love: we count on this show to entertain us, to delight us, to cheer us up. And when it doesnt, well it feels like being handed a super-thin tip envelope, is all. But as we watch this current season and head into a new year (both Sailing Yacht and Mediterranean have reportedly managed to film their seasons already, so theres even more to come!), even with casts largely comprised of new cast members, I am hopeful for whats ahead for these brilliant Bravo shows. And at least we can always count on Captain Lee.

Below Deck airs Monday at 9 pm ET/PT on Bravo.

Where to stream Below Deck

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The 'Below Deck' Franchise Nearly Sunk Its Own Ship This Year - Decider

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum presented by Dinsmore is inviting fans to visit the first three Saturdays in December for kids activities, specials on merchandise, discounted Great American Ball Park tours and more. The final Saturday also features a special appearance by Santa Claus. Saturday, December 5

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum presented by Dinsmore is inviting fans to visit the first three Saturdays in December for kids activities, specials on merchandise, discounted Great American Ball Park tours and more. The final Saturday also features a special appearance by Santa Claus.

Saturday, December 5

The Hall of Fames Winter Wonderland theater begins and runs through the end of the month. Visitors can walk through the candy-themed Winter Wonderland display and get in the mood for the holiday season.

All prints and framed pieces are 25% off for HOF members and 10% for non-members

Additional specials on holiday gift items

Teens receive free admission courtesy of Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center

Saturday, December 12

Winter Wonderland theater continues

25% discount on HOF merchandise, plus additional specials on holiday gift items

Kids 12 and under can fill a Red Stocking with candy throughout the Hall

Scavenger hunts available for kids

Saturday, December 19

Winter Wonderland theater continues

Prizes and giveaways for HOF members checking in on this day

Members get a 25% discount on HOF merchandise and non-members get 10% off merchandise

Kids 12 and under can fill a Red Stocking with candy throughout the Hall

Scavenger hunts available for kids

Visit with Santa Claus

Also in December:

Free Sonny Gray bobblehead presented by John Morrell, available with regular-price admission.

Great American Ball Park Tours presented by Ohios 529 Plan are just $15 for the month of December. Students and seniors just $10.

Johnny Bench Home Run Collection still available with limited quantities available. Dont miss out on this perfect holiday gift for the ultimate Reds fan.

The Reds Hall of Fame & Museum presented by Dinsmore is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for students/seniors

Children 12 and under are admitted free, courtesy of the H.C.S. Foundation

Active military/veterans are admitted free, courtesy of the Sargent Family Foundation

Plan your visit at RedsMuseum.org or by calling 513-765-7923.

To keep visitors and staff safe, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols are in place including hand sanitizer stations throughout the museum as well as frequent cleaning and disinfection of touchscreen and high-contact surfaces.

Reduced capacity limits to allow for social distancing throughout the museum.

Link:
Deck the Hall in December at the Reds Hall of Fame - MLB.com

December 4, 2020 Arts & Culture, Restaurant/Bar News

NEW YORK ACADEMY OF ART SALE ONLINE!Every (normal) December, the New York Academy of Art hosts Deck the Walls, an art sale at its Franklin Street building where 300 small works of art from Academy artists are for sale and theres usually a feeding frenzy as the doors open. However theres a twist: all the pieces are displayed anonymously the buyer wont know whose work it is until after the sale. (25-50 percent of the proceeds go directly to the artist.) This year the Deck the Halls event is online, but still just as cool. Virtual doors open at 6p on Dec. 6 and all art is priced on size, from $200 to $500.

BLUE SMOKE UPTOWN CLOSING PERMANENTLYDanny Meyer has decided to close his Flatiron location of Blue Smoke but will keep ours in BPC open. We have explored every avenue to arrive at a different outcome, but due to the pandemic and months without revenueas well as a lengthy rent negotiation that has come to a standstillweve reached the disappointing conclusion that there is no alternative but to close Blue Smoke Flatiron and Jazz Standard. Im in for anything Meyer decides to do even if its a peanut butter and jelly restaurant and if you ask me, no one had more of an influence on the transformation of Flatiron. The restaurant opened in March 2002, right after 9/11.

THE LAST THING ANYONE NEEDSThe curbside structure at Estancia 460 was hit by a graffiti vandal this week, in a disheartening blow to an already taxed neighborhood business. Luckily they were able to remove it without too much trouble, but that sure does rub salt in the wound

EUNICE GOLDEN AT SAPAR CONTEMPORARYSapar Contemporary is hosting a show through November of the work of feminist artist Eunice Golden, who is now 93 yet exhibiting her work in a commercial gallery for the first time. Golden mostly paints the male form, and to do so meant she had a fight on her hands for the early part of her career. A champion for the visibility of women in museums and art institutions, Golden was a part of the Ad Hoc Women Artists Committee in 1970 and joined the Fight Censorship group with other feminist artists. But she also garnered critical praise for work that reoriented the perception of human sexuality.

Original post:
Seen & Heard: Deck the Walls - Tribeca Citizen

RAYVILLE, LA (KTVE/KARD) As you know its been a crazy year for a lot of us with covid during this pandemic, and now that the holidays are here many of us just want a little normalcy. A local Christmas tree farm is seeing a boom in business as people are needing that holiday feeling again.

The covid-19 pandemic has seen the cancelation of many things this year, but it appears Christmas wont be one of those things. Here at curry farms, theyve seen an increase in sales of Christmas trees.

Many, because of the pandemic, have realized and recognized the importance of family time and how rare that opportunity is. I think that is one of the reasons that choose and cut farms have done so well this year and Christmas sales, in general, are up, said Sandy Curry, co-owner of Curry Farms.

The owners of Curry Farm in Rayville say their busiest time of the year is the week of Thanksgiving.This year, they had around 75 percent of their business in that week alonedespite the bad weather.

People still came out, they still had fun, and we were overwhelmed by the numbers that came and still kind of overwhelmed by it. We are pleased as well because obviously, its good business, said Bentley Curry, co-owner of Curry Farms.

The farm has more than 6 thousand Christmas trees, ranging from 1 to 12 years old, they are just thankful they planted enough trees 5 years ago so they could be prepared this year.

There is no way you can anticipate a worldwide pandemic in a little operation we have. So we planned to sell about a thousand trees when we planted because that appeared to be our market. The pandemic really had no effect on how fast these trees grew and how many we had ready to sell. It is what it is, said Sandy.

The couple says they believe the high volume of sales comes from families wanting to choose and cut their own tree to spend time together. In addition, the excitement of a real Christmas tree adds some normalcy to the year.

The real tree, there is an exciting package that comes with it that doesnt come with the tree you open up in the cardboard box, said Bentley.

And the history of the Christmas tree is a lesson we can all remember through the tough times of the year 2020.

In celebration, they brought in live greenery, to them that live greenery was a symbol that life goes on that springtime will come again, said Sandy.

LOCAL CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS:

-Curry Farms (Rayville, LA) is open 7 days a week from 10 am- 5 pm

-Pepper Christmas Tree Farm (West Monroe, LA) is open 7 days a week

-Precious MemoriesChristmas Tree Farm (Calhoun, LA) is open 7 days a week from 10 am- 5 pm

-Old Days Farm (Winnsboro, LA) is open Friday- Sunday from 8:30am -5:00 pm

-Green Hills Christmas Tree Farm (Natchez, MS) is open Saturdays from 10 am- 5 pm

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DECK THE HALLS: COVID-19 pandemic brings increase in sales of real Christmas trees - KTVE - myarklamiss.com

Theres no doubt that MTG Arena is a competitive game by its nature, where winning games will get your daily rewards and allow you to climb the ladder, sometimes even qualifying you for the big stake tournaments. Amongst all that, we forget that Magic: The Gathering is one of the best games in the world and we play it to have fun. Theres one person in our Discord community that has always shown unwavering enthusiasm, win or lose, at Bronze or Mythic rank, since joining our server way back in 2019.

His name is Steepgrip, and plays almost exclusively best-of-one (BO1) Standard with his own take on what is usually a off-meta deck often utilizing Rares and Mythic Rares that you opened in your booster packs and are collecting dust, such as Circle of Loyalty. Over the past few weeks, hes been enjoying the new Standard since the bans and has been sharing his various decks on the Discord server, piquing interest from members of the community.

Its also no secret that a large proportion of the MTG Arena players play BO1, and as we gear our focus towards such content moving forward, we wanted to start off by sharing with you 11 of Steelgrips latest BO1 Standard builds below. You will also find the exportable lists themselves and you can always find them in ourdeck sectionof the website. The sample sizes are small as for overall record, but you can still find his Untapped.gg profile in the individual decklist pages if you are curious.

As always, the disclaimer is that these decks wont necessarily take you to the heights of the Mythic ladder (many decks do still have the shell of currently powerful Standard decks) and should be used as your own starting points to further refine and improve. Remember, the main goal is to have fun and hopefully still win at least 50% of your games. Enjoy!

Excerpt from:
Off-Meta BO1 Standard Deck Collection: Chill on the Ladder with Steelgrip! - MTG Arena Zone

If youve never thought much about coziness, now might be the time to start.

As the long, dark winter approaches and the pandemic puts a damper on holiday gatherings, well all be spending a lot of time in our own homes. So why not make them as cozy, warm and inviting as possible?

Were not talking about major renovations, just little things that can make a difference. Since its the holiday season, bringing in a fresh-cut Christmas tree or making a holiday wreath can be part of it. But we can also steal some ideas from our Danish friends who know something about long, dark winters and their coziness philosophy called hygge. Blankets, pillows and rugs can help too.

Here are a few ideas and resources to help you unleash your inner coziness this year.

SMELLS LIKE HOME

This time of year, the most inviting thing about home for a lot of people is the smell of a fresh Christmas tree. We all have more time on our hands, so why not get the freshest possible tree full of fresh scent by cutting one down yourself at a Maine tree farm? The website of the Maine Christmas Tree Association lists more than 45 choose-and-cut farms all over Maine, with addresses and information on each. You can plug in your zip code and find farms within a 30-mile radius. The South Portland zip code yields listings for farms in Kennebunkport, Raymond, Scarborough, Dayton, Wells, Lewiston, North Yarmouth, Kennebunk, Windham, Cape Elizabeth, Durham and Standish.

Its a good idea to check on what each farm offers, their hours and any COVID-19 restrictions. Tree cutting is an outdoor activity and farms are big enough so that you dont have to get too close to anyone. Once you have the tree in your home, thinking about the fact that it was farm-raised right here in Maine will surely make you feel a little more cozy. To find a tree farm near you, go to mainechristmastree.com.

CAN YOU SAY HYGGE?

First of all, its pronounced hue-guh, and to the Danish it basically means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people according to the VisitDenmark website. Winter and Christmas are high seasons for hygge in Denmark, because that country, like Maine, is known for long, dark winters. The term actually comes from an old Norwegian word. It first appeared in Danish writings at the end of the 18th century and the philosophy has been embraced by Danes ever since. Hygge has become something of lifestyle phenomenon, so its easy to find hygge tips on blogs and websites.

Lighting candles all over your home can be part of living the hygge life, to bring warmth and light. Taking time to enjoy warm drinks like mulled wine or hot cider fit in with hygge as well. Some hygge blogs and sites say you can create a cozy atmosphere at home with a basket of slippers, so as you enter the house you put something warm and cozy on your feet. Similarly, you could keep a basket of blankets on hand so everyone in the house can grab one when they need to be wrapped in warmth. Also layering blankets or sheepskin on furniture makes pieces more inviting and comfortable. For more hygge-inspired ideas, go to hyggelife.com or hyggehouse.com.

To find locally made versions of these cozy items, head to the Shaker Virtual Christmas Fair at maineshakers.com/shop,where there are handmade candles, quilts and more on sale for pre-order and contactless pickup at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester through Saturday. Items can also be shipped worldwide.

CIRCLE OF LOVE

Wreaths, any time of year, look inviting and cozy. But at the holidays even more so. You might also get a warm feeling from making your own wreath this year, maybe going out and collecting evergreen branches yourself. Or you can buy branches along with wire and other wreath-making equipment at local garden stores and nurseries. If youve never made a wreath before, the University of Maine Cooperative extension has step-by-step instructions online for making them with balsam fir. The instructions tell you how many tips or ends of branches you need for various sizes, and how to bundle them together before assembling the bundles on to the wire structure of the wreath. The instructions include 11 specific illustrations of the various steps, plus a video on how to sustainably harvest balsam fir tips. See the instructions at extension.umaine.edu/publications.

FOUND COZINESS

You dont actually have to make anything to bring seasonal warmth into your house, you can just go out and find it. Tom Atwell, author of the Maine Gardener column in the Maine Sunday Telegram, suggests scouring your yard or nearby woods and keeping and open mind about what might work as decor. Bring in a bunch of pine cones and put them in boxes or baskets around the house, or on the mantle or coffee table. Look for colorful plants, like branches of winterberry. They add gorgeous, warm, red color to any place you want to put them, whether in a vase or on a windowsill. Birch branches, with their wintery whiteness, would be a nice accent in a dark room. And of course evergreen branches can be placed just about anywhere. For more ideas on how to scour your yard for decorations, read Atwells Nov. 1 column at pressherald.com.

TIPS FROM THE PROS

Interior designers make their living getting rooms to feel and a look a certain way, including cozy and welcoming. Vanessa Helmick of Fiore Home in Portlandsuggests that in a darker room you can place a decorative, oversized mirror near a window to provide more natural light. She also says a beautiful piece of art a print maybe can help. Bringing in flowers or driftwood you find outside can also create a sanctuary effect, she says.

One of Americas best-known home experts spends at least part of the year in Maine, at her house in Seal Harbor. Martha Stewart offers a lot of ideas on her website about how to create a holiday feeling in your house from interior designers and others. Changing up your throw pillows for cozier, warm ones made of wool, for instance, is one idea. Another is to use soft, ambient lighting, maybe from a string of lights or candles, instead of harsh, high-watt bulbs. For more holiday season decorating ideas, go to MarthaStewart.com.

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How to deck the halls for a long winter at home - Press Herald

Shaquil Manigault|Rockford Register Star

ROCKFORD With more than2,300 jobs at stake, community leaders, residents and elected officials are coming together to do everything they can to save the Byron Generating Station.

Exelon announced in late August that it plans to close the Byron nuclear power plant in September 2021 and the Dresden Generating Station in Morris two months later. In response, a group that includedlocal business ownersand Byron School District officials formed the Byron Station Response Committee to galvanize the public and lobby lawmakers to keep the plant open.

Since organizing in September, the committee has grown to more than40 members.

For now, the committee is focused on laying the ground needed to get residents involved in future lobbying efforts. Whatthose will be remains to be seen as the committee monitorslegislators' plans to address clean energy in Illinois, something Gov. JB Pritzker had made atop priority before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

More: Exelon to shut down Byron and Dresden nuclear plants

More: NIU report: Byron nuclear plant closure would lead to 2,300 jobs lost

The Byron School Districts budget relies on$19.1 million a year in property revenue generated by the plant. That accounts for more than 70% of the school districts budget. School Board President Christine Lynde says that if the plant were to close in September the district would receive the full amount owed in taxes through the 2022-2023 school year. The tax revenue would likely decline in succeeding years as the decommissioning process proceeds.

The absolute is that we have a couple of years where we will receive taxes. After that, its up in the air," Lynde said. "Will we get something? Yes, will get something. Do we know what that is? Nope, and there is no way to tell."

WithIllinois lawmakers not scheduled to meetagain until next year, Lynde says the committee doesnt have specific plans for advocacy but is encouraging people to register online atsaveilnuclearpower.com so that the groupcan communicate about lobbying efforts when the time comes.

Exelon has pushed state lawmakers to a role in establishing energy prices that would allow nuclear plants to compete with natural gas and coal plants. Pritzker says that transitioning to clean renewable energy is a priority, but that utility companies will not write the legislation to get the state there. He said any new laws must protect consumers.

Lynde hopes legislators take up the issue when they reconvene.

We want whatever it's going to take to keep this open, Lynde said. If you look at the big picture of things, the market favors every generation source except nuclear and so I get why theyare saying that there is a flawed market.

Exelon declined to talk about any discussionswith the state so far but said that legislation would need to be passed by spring 2021 in order to avoid closure.

Declining energy prices and flawed market policies that favor fossil generation have resulted in Byron and Dresden Stations becoming unprofitable and being slated for early retirement in the fall of 2021. The legislative solution needed would properly recognize the environmental value of the carbon-free product produced at Byron Station which also accounts for enormous economic value to the state of Illinois, Byron Station Communications ManagerPaul Dempsey in an e-mail.

For now, the committee is doing what it can to keep people informed about the plants importance to the community and the state.

An economic impact study commissioned by the committee and prepared by Brian Harger, a senior research specialist at Northern Illinois University, shows that closing the plant would indirectly and directly put thousands out of work and could also strip $97.5 million in annual employee compensation from the local economy.

The committee also launched a YouTube campaign, asking residents to make videos explaining what the plant means to them and how its closure would affect them. These videos will later be shared with lawmakers.

We wanted to offer an information hub where people could come and grab accurate information. A place where they could learn about nuclear power and the impact it will have on our community and our state as a whole, Lynde said.

State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, says hes been meeting with colleagues in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to make lawmakers aware of the energy challenges that Illinois faces.

Demmer says there arent any concrete solutions yet, but he said that any bill that wouldkeep the Byron plant open would be part of a comprehensive energy plan.

While theprocess will take months, Demmer feels talks are heading in the right direction.

We havent found people that have said no they should just close and go away. Weve got a lot more receptiveness," Demmer said. "Now weve got to find exactly the right way to save the plant and thats not going to be easy, but I am encouraged by the number of people who are willing to have those conversations and who are trying to find a way to keep the plant open."

Lynde acknowledges the difficult position that the community is in but believes that ultimately they will be successful in keeping the plant open.

We want people to understand that it's a serious thing but we believe that we are going to be successful, she said.

Shaquil Manigault: smanigault@rrstar.com; @rrstarShaquil

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All hands are on deck to save the Byron nuclear plant - Rockford Register Star

If you missed out on one of the speaker deals during the Cyber Monday and Black Friday sales, we've got music to your ears: Amazon is running a one-day sale on Anker Soundcore speakersRemove non-product linkfor the living room, bedroom, or backyard with many at all-time-low prices.

First up, we have the Soundcore Infiniti Pro Soundbar for $149Remove non-product linkinstead of $199. a new all-time low. We haven't reviewed this soundbar, but it's well-liked on Amazon with four out of 5 stars from over 300 ratings. The Infiniti Pro is a 2.1-channel soundbar, it supports Dolby Atmos, as well as 4K pass-through, and when you're not watching TV it has Bluetooth 5 for wireless music streaming. (If you need something a little more heavy-duty be sure to check out our round-up of the best soundbars for 2020.)

Next up is theSoundcore Flare 2 Bluetooth speaker with 360-degree sound for $55.19Remove non-product link down from $70, another all-time low. We reviewed this speaker in May giving it four out of five stars. We really liked it for its improved audio (20-watt output up from 12-watt on the prior version), as well as a pair of LED rings at the top and the bottom (as opposed to a single light on the original Flair). It's IPX7 rated making it an ideal speaker for pool and lakeside listening along with a long-lasting 5,200mAh battery.

Finally, for those times you need something a little more modest, the Soundcore Mini is $16.07, down from its usual $21 sale price and the lowest we've seen. This tiny speaker has a 15-hour playtime, a 66-foot Bluetooth range, enhanced bass, and a built-in noise-canceling microphone. And be sure to check out the rest of the sale as well.

Ian is an independent writer based in Israel who has never met a tech subject he didn't like. He primarily covers Windows, PC and gaming hardware, video and music streaming services, social networks, and browsers. When he's not covering the news he's working on how-to tips for PC users, or tuning his eGPU setup.

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Deck the halls with Amazon's rocking one-day Anker speaker sale - TechHive

FARMINGTON United Way of the Tri-Valley Area is celebrating the holidays this year by adding a little cash and competition for the best decorated house or business in Deck the Halls. For a nominal entrance fee, participants could win extra spending money for the holidays and year-long bragging rights. And if they are already decorating for the Chamber of Commerces Holiday Home Challenge (also cash prize and different categories) entrants could win both. The Franklin County Chambers Holiday Home Challenge judging will be on Saturday, Dec. 12. Check out their Facebook page for additional details.

United Ways Deck the Halls will give the Franklin County, Livermore and Livermore Falls communities a way to get into the holiday spirit but avoid large gatherings and stay distanced. It will provide United Way with an opportunity to replace a COVID-19 canceled fundraiser and still raise money to continue the positive impacts in the community. Programs/organizations like SeniorsPlus Meals on Wheels, Safe Voices, Literacy Volunteers and others rely on United Way funding.

Visit uwtva.org to register the address (it can be a residence or business; businesses will be judged in a separate category). Th entrance fee is $20, and decorating must be finished by Friday, Dec. 18. Volunteer judges will drive around and vote from Dec. 19-21, and winners will be announced Tuesday, Dec. 22.

Categories include Best Lights, Best Decorations, Best Business and Best Overall, while prizes include $100 for winners in each category and $50 for runner-up, along with bragging rights.

Anyone interested in being a volunteer judge should contact United Way at 207-778-5048. For additional information about United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, visit uwtva.org, call the above number or like the organization on Facebook.

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United Way inviting residents, businesses to 'Deck the Halls' - The Bethel Citizen

SALEM City council ended 2020 by approving a flurry of legislation Tuesday night, including next years budget, amid wishes of good luck to a departing member and Merry Christmas to all.

Hopefully 2021 will be a little kinder, better for all of us, Councilman Andrew Null said.

Council hasnt met in person since March due to COVID-19, but has continued conducting the citys business via Zoom video conferencing, meeting the challenges of the pandemic for the finances and operations of the city.

Council members voted on a whopping 14 ordinances and resolutions to finish up, opting not to meet again until 7 p.m. Jan. 5, barring any emergencies. The meeting that would have been held Dec. 15 has been canceled.

Many of the moves dealt with financial matters, approving the 2021 budget, numerous appropriations and transfers, reductions in appropriations, changing the income tax split so that more money goes to the general fund and granting 2.5 percent wage increases to non-bargaining city employees to match what was approved for union workers.

This was the last council meeting for Columbiana County commissioner-elect Roy Paparodis, who will join the Board of Commissioners in January after being elected to fill the seat being vacated by longtime Commissioner Jim Hoppel, who didnt run for another term.

Its been great working with all of you. I look forward to helping on the county level, Paparodis said.

The Republican Party will have the task of naming his replacement on council.

According to city Auditor Betty Brothers, the general fund budget for next year includes estimated expenses of $5,687,682 and estimated income of $4,595,351 for a difference of $1,092,331. The estimated deficit will be covered by the cash carryover, which she said is now projected at $1.6 million when 2020 ends.

Were going in with a really good carryover, a strong carryover, Brothers said during an earlier interview.

With a month left in the year, the income tax receipts are down $315,394 from last years total, with the affects of COVID-19 on businesses and residents due to closures and layoffs blamed for the shortage. Through 11 months, the income tax receipts total $5,730,257. Next year is when the damage from COVID-19 will be felt when it comes to the citys finances, she indicated.

In order to help increase the income in the general fund, council approved changing the tax split to 94/6, which means after money is taken out for income tax collections/operations, 94 percent of the income tax receipts will go to the general fund and 6 percent will go to debt retirement. The tax split had been 82.5/17.5, with part of the 17.5 going to capital improvements after covering the debt payments.

Besides all the financial matters, council also gave permission to city Service/Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello to advertise for requests for qualifications and contract for engineering for the 2021 paving project. The paving will be paid for through the additional .25 percent additional income tax approved by voters again last year.

Council also approved moving the vacant property registration ordinance from under the housing and zoning code 1187 to the building code under chapter 1335.

In other action, council approved the vacation of an unnamed alley off of Dodge Drive behind Dunkin Donuts, authorized advertising for bids for a used 2014 Ford Taurus and a used 2015 Ford Taurus, authorized selling radios/chargers and a turnout gear washer from the fire department on govdeals.com and approved using $68,410 of CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act funds for wages and benefits for the fire department. The additional CARES Act funding came from money returned by other communities which had not used their full allotment.

Council also approved resolutions commending retired housing inspector Roy Brown and retired Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst for their dedicated service to the city. Brown served from Sept. 12, 2001 to March 4, 2010 and again from May 13, 2013 to Oct. 29 this year for a total of 16 years. Kenst served nearly nine years from Jan. 9, 2012 to Nov. 30 this year.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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Salem council clears the deck with passage of 14 measures - Morning Journal News