ITS like a buffet of must-see spots that can be enjoyed in single stop. Although this is not uncommon in an ancient city such as Rome where just at every street corner a cornucopia of surprises unfold. But consider this "buffet" something special -- the offerings are lip-smacking, so to speak.

It's one of the seven hills in the city -- the Capitoline Hill, a citadel (like the forum to the Greeks), where, once, one of the largest and the most beautiful temples of early Rome sat on. What sits on the hill today is a piazza with Medieval and Renaissance palaces converted into museums, an ancient church and a controversial monument.

The Piazza del Campidoglio.

Commissioned by Pope Paul III "to build a symbol to reestablish the grandeur of Rome," Michaelangelo designed the Piazza del Campidoglio and redesigned the surrounding palazzi, plan that was executed over a period of more than 400 years. It can be approached via the cordonata, a sloping road composed of transversal stripes, from the Via del Teatro di Marcello.

Enclosing Michaelangelo's trapezoidal piazza were once two official buildings of Rome's civic government-the Palazzo dei Conservatori (built in the Middle Ages for the local magistrate on top of "Maximus Capitolinus," a 6 BC temple dedicated to Jupiter. Annexing it is the Palazzo Caffarelli Clementino where short-term exhibitions are held) and the Senatorio (a 13-14th century palace that housed the archives of ancient Rome and now the Roman city hall) - and the Palazzo Nuovo (built in the 16th century). At the center of the piazza is a replica of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius in bronze (the original is in the Palazzo dei Conservatori).

Santa Maria in Aracoeli

The monumental flight of stairs left of the cordonata leads to the highest summit of the Campidoglio where the Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli al Campidoglio or the Basilica of St. Mary of the Altar of Heaven is situated. The church was famous in Rome for the Santo Bambino, a 15th century wooden statue of Jesus Christ of olive wood from the Garden of Gethsemane, which was stolen in 1994 and never recovered. A jewel-encrusted copy can be seen in the church.

The relics of Constantine the Great's mother, Saint Helena, and the remains of St Juniper, one of the original followers of St. Francis of Assisi, are in this church.

The Altaredella Patria (The Altar of the Fatherland)

Also known as the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II) or "Il Vittoriano," the monument erected to honor the first king of unified Italy, is the controversial addition to the Capitoline Hill. Why? Because to create this, the largest monument in white Botticini marble ever built, a large area of the historic hill, a Medieval neighborhood included, had to be "chopped off" or "destroyed." The boxy structure (the Romans commonly call it "the typewriter") was perceived as "pompous and too large," and glaringly white against the predominantly brownish hue architectural landscape.

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Up & down a Roman hill

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St. Andrews rising senior guard Marcus Adkison is expected to be one of the top players in the county.

The Montgomery County boys basketball landscape will have a different look this summer, thanks to a new league launched by St. Andrews Episcopal School.

The St. Andrews League will include 16 teams with many, like St. Andrews, that played in the Montgomery County Summer League in previous summers.

Lions boys coach Kevin Jones, who helped launch the league, said he hopes it will help the players gain additional exposure to college coaches. The league is in the process of adding a website that includes schedules, standings, rosters and statistics, Jones said.

We just thought it would be a good opportunity to run a league the way that we wanted, Jones said.

Walt Whitman, the Class 4A state finalists, is one of the 12 Montgomery County public school teams participating in the league, hosted at the Potomac private school.

[We wanted] to do something different, Vikings coach Chris Lun said. ... For us, its right in Potomac. Its close for a lot of our kids.

Other participants include Clarksburg, Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Gaithersburg, The Heights, Landon, Col. Zadok Magruder, River Hill (Howard), Rockville, Richard Montgomery, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Watkins Mill and Thomas S. Wootton.

The Lions return three starters, including rising senior Marcus Adkison, from last seasons 18-7 team.

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St. Andrew

Andrew Howard

Age: 12 Grade: Fifth Favorite thing to draw: Landscapes

Hanging in a lobby at Moss Hill Elementary School stands a picture that showcases the schools mascot and the artistictalents of one of its students.

Fifth-grader Andrew Howard said he started drawing at age 4 and his father, also an artist, helped spark his intresest in art.

When I saw his drawings, the young artist said, I thought they were neat and the way the appear real.

Howard said he was also inspired by paintings from Germany that hang on the walls in his house.

I look at those and sometimes I will try to draw them, he said.

Howard said a love of art has helped him form a strong bond with his father.

We dont always get to do it together, but sometimes I will draw something by myself, show it to him and then he will help me with it, he said.

Excerpt from:
Meet Me Monday: Moss Hill student finishes commissioned school painting

As the June 3 primary nears, candidates for the 74th Assembly District continue to battle for votes.

U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) endorsed Newport Beach City Councilman Keith Curry for the seat, which represents Newport, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods.

"Keith and I have worked together so many times and so well in the past, and I am sure we will be working together in the future for the betterment of coastal Orange County," Rohrabacher said in a news release.

Describing Rohrabacher in the release as a "longtime friend and fellow Reagan administration alumni," Curry added that he looked forward to collaborating with him on increasing jobs and growing the economy.

*

Local PAC snubs Curry

Stop the Dock Tax, a political action committee affiliated with the Newport Beach Dock Owners Assn., announced that it won't endorse Newport Beach Councilman Keith Curry in his run for the Assembly.

Citing Curry's vote on a dock fee increase and the cost of the new Newport Beach Civic Center, the group said it would donate $2,000 to opponent Emanuel Patrascu.

"Curry's style of big government is bad enough here in Newport we can't afford it in Sacramento," association Chairman Bob McCaffrey wrote in a news release.

McCaffrey said the group, now called Residents for Reform, will focus on electing four fiscally responsible council members this November. Nancy Gardner, Mike Henn and Leslie Daigle are termed out. Mayor Rush Hill is seeking reelection.

Originally posted here:
Political Landscape: Curry wins backing of Rohrabacher

by James Muoz / KENS 5

kens5.com

Posted on May 23, 2014 at 2:04 PM

Updated today at 2:22 PM

BULVERDE-- Johnson Ranch is the latest development going up in Comal County.

Eventually 950 homes on 767-acres will become the front porch of the Texas Hill Country in Bulverde.

Johnson Ranch Elementary School in the Comal ISD is at the front of the development.

DH Investments donated land for the school in 2008 when it had to delay plans for the development due to the slow economy. The Johnson Ranch has been a thriving cattle ranch for more than 60 years.

DH Investments is working closely with Johnson family members to preserve the character of the ranch.

"Were doing what we can to help take in some of that history. Were doing things with our amenities plans for our amenities center that really link to their heritage and naming streets and naming neighborhoods after the cattle ranching operation. Theres a lot of ranching heritage on this ranch that were trying to capitalize on," said Charlie Hill, Vice-President of DH Investments.

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Johnson Ranch development in Bulverde to have 950 homes, waste water treatment plant

Okanagan Valley, Vernon, British Columbia (PRWEB) May 19, 2014

While Europeans traditionally schedule a week or two of vacation each year to stay in a health resort, this is relatively a new trend for North Americans, states Hans-Peter Mayr, CEO of Sparkling Hill Resort Wellness Hotel and former general manager of several health destination spas in Austria. With an aging population in Canada and the US, and vacationers today focused on lifestyle values, health and sustainability, more of our guests are beginning to see the value and choose one of our week long health programs offered at our European-inspired, KurSpa. Here in Canada, Boomers 45+ represent 57.1% of the adult population, and with a growing interest in wellness vacations, this past year we have seen a 10% increase in room nights for wellness retreats and we anticipate this number to triple in 2015.

The integrative health clinic at KurSpa is characteristically distinct, innovatively combining all the services and amenities offered within a full-service spa in conjunction with naturopathic, homeopathic, psychology and kinesiology treatments all under one roof at the internationally acclaimed Swarovski crystal-infused Sparkling Hill Resort. Our programs are designed to treat the whole body with a combination of naturopathic and conventional therapies that eliminate chronic pain and inflammation, defy aging, and improve health, relationships, and work-life balance, says Dr. Ray Lendvai, medical director of KurSpa.We create personalized healing programs for our guests, comprehensively designed to improve the quality of ones life. Specialty programs include Cleanse and Detox, Healthy Weight Loss, Whole Body Wellness, 55+ Stay Young and Healthy, SHaRP Relationship Programs, Athletes Recovery and Executive Wellness Retreats. Wellness programs are led by the resorts two doctors, Dr. Lendvai and Dr. Strauss.

KurSpa is a whole body, mind and soul experience - a 40,000 sq. ft. European spa oasis where guests explore a better level of health from walking on the acres of private hiking trails to experiencing 7 unique aromatherapy steam and sauna rooms, and having access to over 100 therapies and treatments, 50% of which are health oriented. Health treatments such as Fango and chelation therapy remove harmful toxins from the body that have built up over the years. KurSpa encapsulates the beauty of the natural landscape outside the floor to ceiling windows surrounding salt water pools, Kneipp hydrotherapy, and relaxation and tea rooms. The abundant natural light and setting in nature is naturally healing and uplifting, ideal for health and wellness retreats.

About Sparkling Hill Resort Sparkling Hill Resort opened in 2010 and is a premier international destination spa resort for extended heath vacations with 149 guest rooms that are in themselves a wellness retreat. World renowned, it is the only resort in the world to incorporate Swarovski crystal elements into every aspect of its design. Located in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia near Vernon, Sparkling Hill Resort is easily accessible from Kelowna International Airport (YLW) with daily flights from Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. The valley is recognized for its majestic mountains, refreshing waters, award winning wineries, world-class golf, winter skiing and one of the warmest climates in Canada.

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Sparkling Hill Resort Wellness Hotel Identifies a Surge in Wellness Vacations

May 19, 2014

The waterfall in Lembah Kiara Park. March 19, 2014. "I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art anybody could ever want." Andy Warhol.

The costly exposed HDPE pipes have being dug up for disposal on 16 May 2014 by the Landscape department following the article in the Malaysian Insider "Taxpayers' monies down the drain in Kiara Park".

The solid steel railings which had been lying in wait at a stream in the valley in Kiara Park will also be disposed of, after concerns were raised by park-users that the new steely bridge may not be able to withstand its heavy weight. They will be replaced by nylon nets according to the chief contractor, Haji Yuril, who was overseeing the removal of the HDPE pipes.

How will the public, in the face of rising costs of living, perceived these afterthoughts on the action of the department? Was it a sheer waste of taxpayers' monies washed down the drain? Granted of course that the rectification is necessary to prevent erosion on the slopes and possible collapse of the steely bridge.

Or will they perceive positively that such remedial actions of the Landscape Department signal a step towards consultative management of the people's park?

Park-users had in fact celebrated with jubilation the removal of barbed wire that had suddenly sprouted out along fencing in Bukit Kiara in April 2014 after FoBK ( Friends of Bukit Kiara) highlighted that "barbed-wire has no place at all in a forest". They had mistakenly thought that the " Great Wall of Bukit Kiara " had been dismantled!

The question raised is why does the Landscape department have to wait only after the damage has been done and for park-users, FoBK and TRAKS (Trails Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor) to cry and scream before any action is taken, if at all?

The disastrous slope rectification in Bukit Kiara since January 2014 which exposed the hill and park-users to the elements and caused collateral damage to a new Angel Trail on the opposite slope where earth removed had been dumped callously is a classic case in point.

The HDPE pipes removed at the Lembah Kiara Park. March 19, 2014.Will the landscape department and the relevant authorities henceforth move towards a consultative management of Bukit Kiara with stakeholders to ensure its sustainability ? And that hard-earned money of taxpayers are spent wisely and accounted for by the relevant authorities for the benefit of the people?

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The_waterfall_in_Lembah_Kiara_Park.jpg

LAGUINDINGAN Coinciding with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)s declaration of the month of May as Heritage Month, May 15, 2014 marked the date of the opening of Misamis Orientals latest ecotourism attraction Oyster Hill which is located in Lapad, Laguindingan town in Misamis Oriental.

Misamis Oriental governor Vicente Yevgeny Bambi Emano, Laguindingan mayor Oliver Ubaub and Dr. Erlinda M. Burton, curator of the Xavier University Museum graced the provinces new eco-tourism destination.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. A display of fossilized oyster shell. (Contributed photo)

While visitors can enjoy the sites clean, fresh air in the hills landscape, nothing could be more beautiful than the seemingly unassuming pieces of limestone at the base of a hill, Oyster Hills fossilized oyster colony.

What makes it special is preserving the colony of fossilized oysters as a natural heritage.

Like all great inventions and discoveries, it was discovered by accident, shares Engr. Raul B. Ilogon.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Misamis Oriental governor Yevgeny Vicente Emano and Dr. Erlinda Burton, curator of Xavier University Museum put their palms on a wet cement to mark the opening of the Oyster Hill heritage place in Barangay Lapad in Laguindingan town in Misamis Oriental. (Contributed photo)

Fossils were first discovered in 1993 by Raul while he had been clearing the land to plant mango trees. Unfortunately, tourism and environmental awareness had still been in its developing stage and the family had at that time been unaware that they had stumbled upon pre-historic treasures, so many of the fossils and giant clams had been used as decorative items at their family restaurant. Emano, in his speech, thanked the family for this contribution to the province. He also shares that while he has personal interest in this natural heritage and furthered that the province is luck to have it readily available unlike in foreign countries where they pay for archaeologists to dig and find fossils.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Dr. Erlinda Burton, curator of Xavier University Museum and who confirmed the authenticity of the fossilized oyster colony in Barangay Lapad, tells the visitors about the fossil oyster colony during the Oyster Hill inauguration in Barangay Lapad in Laguindingan town in Misamis Oriental on May 15. (Contributed photo)

Emano is optimistic that despite looming difficulty to sell it as a new eco-tourism destination, it would pay off in the future.

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Oyster Hill and its treasure

SPRINGFIELD, KY (WAVE) Have you traveled around the Commonwealth lately? If so, you may have noticed horse country has taken on a fresh face.

Built in 1848, Maple Hill Manor has more to offer than their critically acclaimed breakfast and well appointed guestrooms. The picturesque landscape comes with an interactive feature.

"Guests enjoy strolling the grounds and interacting with the alpacas," Maple Hill Manor co-owner Todd Allen said.

[SLIDESHOW: These photos of Alpacas will make you smile]

Allen grew up on a dairy farm but turned his attention to alpacas after seeing them at the Kentucky State Fair. He began researching alpaca farms in other states and became one of the first 10 alpaca farm owners in Kentucky in the 90's. Now Allen and his business partner breed, show and sell alpacas.

Loved for their beautiful soft coats with high luster, their luxurious fiber is sheered once a year and turned into everything from sweaters to toy alpacas.

Llamas are used at Maple Hill Manor as guards, protecting the herd of 36 suri alpacas from coyotes.

[SLIDESHOW: Scarves, socks and stuffed animals all made from alpaca fleece]

After all, more than livestock and livelihood all 36 of them are pets with names like Chauncey and Brimstone.

Visitors are drawn to the oversized eyes, diverse colors and gentle dispositions.

Excerpt from:
Alpacas bring a fresh face to horse country

A vital part of any historical property lies in the landscaping.

Mound House on Fort Myers Beach is no different as committee members, volunteers and representatives eye a winter opening of a project that has been many years in the works.

Now that Town officials have approved a master contract for cultural resource management firm Search, Inc. to complete a landscape signage design, fabrication and installation program, the overall project to fully open the property for history buffs is beginning to "come up roses."

BOB PETCHER Mound House foreground landscaping features meadow plantings, such as gaillardia and dune sunflowers. Near the home is a jacaranda tree to the left and a strangler fig to the right.

The design portion of landscape signage has been reported to cost just over $55,000, while the fabrication and installation elements is not expected to exceed $117,484.79. Both task orders are funded by a Lee County Tourist Development Council grant for landscape restoration.

"Landscaping is an integral part of the educational experience that a visitor will get when everything is open to the public," said Barbara Anderson Hill, chairperson of the Town Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board. "It is value-added. It talks about the history from the Calusas to the Longs, how that property was utilized and how the landscaping provided an important resource for over 2,000 years. The plants and the trees tell a story."

Hill stated William and Florence Long, the last residents of Mound House, were the ones that developed Shell Mound Park back in the 1950s.

"The other mounds were flattened and the shells were used to pave a large part of the beach," she said.

Signage under the Town's action plan is being designed for plant identification, directory/directional signs and interpretive panels. Templates for each sign type is being developed. Once approved, Search, Inc. will begin full design of them. The program is expected to take many months, well after the property should be fully open for visitation.

"That's the unfortunate part," said Hill, who also stated the landscape lighting will probably not be in as well at that time.

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PLANT PROJECT: Mound House landscaping adds natural beauty