The latest headphones from Skullcandy are a lightweight, wireless pair of headphones called the Hesh ANC. Priced at $130, they're a notable entry into the ANC world for a number of reasons, including their price tag, especially when compared to the Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones, priced at a budget-crunching $320.

Both share other features as well, including having Tile trackers inside. But there are some details that differ substantially. We tested them in multiple ways, listening to music, watching videos and of course putting their noise cancellation feature to work. Here are the similarities we found between the two, where they veered, and how you can tell which one may be the right option for you.

Skullcandy Hesh ANC

The Skullcandy Hesh ANC are lightweight, clocking in at just 8 ouncesGearBrain

The Skullcandy Hesh ANC come with a charging cord, cables for wired use and a soft bag for carrying. At $130 it's fair that you're not getting a hard case for these headphones.

These are lightweight headphones, just 8 ounces, and they feel a bit less substantial for that reason. That weight is nice when you're looking to carry these around for a bit, but I did mess the heft.

Buttons are on the right ear, located very close to each other, and they're a bit difficult to find by feel. The cushions on the ears and on the headband are also a bit thin, not as dense as some more expensive options.

As for charging, these can hold 22 hours of battery life but crucially you can get a quick top up of three hours in just 10 minutes. And a nice extra perk? You have a Tile tracker embedded inside which will help you locate them if left on a bus, or even hiding somewhere at home.

Skullcandy Hesh ANC have buttons on the right ear that are close to each other GearBrain

Sound is of course what people look for in headphones, and here the Hesh ANC hold their own. They're good, and while I found some range missing like brights they're more than a solid option for listening to music, watching video and certainly picking up calls.

Active noise cancelling works very well too, and you can toggle easily between this option and also ambient mode. That's a big plus for these sub-$150 headphones, a very nice perk in a very wallet-friendly price.

Skullcandy Crusher ANC

Skullcandy Crusher ANC fold nearly into a hard caseGearBrain

Skullcandy Crusher ANC remain some of the best active noise cancelling headphones we've reviewed. And at $320 they should be stellar. They're weighty, with thick heavy padding along the headband and ears, and buttons as well as sliders that make it easy to change the volume, pair, power up and run other features all by just touching the ears. (And yes, these controls are easy to find, and tell what they do, just by touching.)

These also come with a hard-shell case, one that ensures you're not going to puncture padding, nor dent them in any way when they're tossed in a bag.

You get a bit more battery with the Crusher ANC, 24 hours versus 22 hours for the Hesh ANC not substantial, not worth paying an additional $190 for, but certainly nice. And yes, you can get a quick rapid charge as well with these. Also shared between the two? A Tile tracker inside.

The case for the Skullcandy Crusher ANC, left, next to the bag for the Hesh ANC on the rightGearBrain

Sound again is one of the main reasons we buy headphones. And the Crusher ANC hits all the right notes here. They also have a haptic feature, they call it Adjustable Sensory Bass, which means you can feel those moments against your ear. Watching an action film? You can get a haptic boost for every explosion, for example. That is, you can choose this option and also turn it off, from a slider on the ear.

And yes, there's active noise cancellation built in to these headphones and it works well. You can also pair these with the Skullcandy app to create a personalized sound profile tuned to your ears. And you can create multiple profiles, and then share the headphones with other people. (If you feel so inclined.)

Which headphones are right for you?

Price may be a factor in choosing the Skullcandy Crusher ANC, left, over the Hesh ANC on the rightGearBrain

The choice may come down to a matter of price, and in that regard, you're likely going to want to choose the $130 Hesh ANC over the $320 Crusher ANC. With both offering active noise cancelling, similar battery life and even Tile trackers inside, it's an easy choice.

However, if you're looking for a more substantial sound experience, personalized options, haptic feedback and some of the best sounding Skullcandy's we've tried, it's certainly worth taking a look at the Crusher ANC if you feel comfortable springing for the extra cost. You're also going to get more cushioning around the ears and headband, buttons and sliders that feel more easy to use, and even a nice carrying case.

Plus, if color options are crucial to you, note that the Hesh ANC only come in black right now, while the Crusher ANC have a few options including black, a two-way pattern of black and tan, and a red. That's not a reason likely to sway us, but it's certainly worth noting.

Visit link:
Skullcandy Hesh ANC vs Skullcandy Crusher ANC: Which are right for you? - Gearbrain

DIYing is a journey that offers homeowners and renters alike plentiful opportunities to fix, update, and decorate. As 2021 unfolds, were all looking for new ways to improve our home environment, boost our mental health, and express our individuality. Arts and crafts supplier Michaels may have a little inspiration to get us all going. The retailer examined sales data, social media content analysis, and other factors to uncover the top five DIY trends expected to emerge in the year ahead. Do any of these strike a chord with you?

As work from home continues with no formal end in sight, there is renewed focus on the home office environment, and 2021 will be the time to make further tweaks to enhance mood and space, says Erika Popejoy, Michaels vice president of trend, design, product development, and packaging.

Analysis shows that consumers are trying to personalize and maximize their spaces. The closet/office combo is a perfect example of maximization; Pinterest searches for cloffice have increased twofold heading into 2021. Japandi, Japanese design meets Scandinavian aesthetic, is also trending. The style incorporates sleek lines, neutral color schemes, and calming setups, says Popejoy.

Michaels revealed that 30 percent of U.S. households bought at least one plant within the past year. And while houseplants in general have been on trend for years, consumers without a green thumb have turned to faux plants, which provide a touch of nature without the upkeep.

Consumers are also leaning into crafting with faux and paper plants to showcase popular greenery designs, including plant-themed jewelry, office supplies, and more, says Popejoy. As we look ahead, both faux and real plants will continue to trend throughout 2021 and even through 2022, as consumers look to bring the outdoors inside and liven up their personal spaces in creative ways.

RELATED: The Best Cricut Machines for Your Craft Projects

Mental health awareness has been on the rise for years, and its in the forefront now, with the disruptions and stress brought on by the pandemic. Studies have concluded that making is good for mental health, and its proven to lower levels of mental distress, says Popejoy. In 2020, crafting, knitting, and scrapbooking helped makers relieve stress and find joy.

Throughout the year, expect DIY to increase in popularity as a stress reliever. As Popejoy notes, Search trends indicate that tile work, beading, macram, resin art, and painting are among the top queried creative projects heading into the new year.

RELATED: The Best Candle Making Kits for Crafting at Home

Last year, Americans were forced to get innotivate, finding new ways to safely celebrate small and big occasions alike, including birthdays, weddings, graduations, and other important milestones. Throughout 2021, expect to see more over-the-top ideas, such as big and bold decorations for holidays like Valentines Day and Easter.

There will also be an increase in newly minted crafters celebrating small moments with DIY decor, including smaller anniversaries and occasions, says Popejoy. Pinterest reports a 145 percent year-on-year increase in online searches for things like monthsary message for girlfriend and those hoping to seek creative inspo on social.

RELATED: 6 Quirky Home Trends Only Etsy Could Predict

Social media has always been a place for consumers to receive design inspiration and home hacks, says Popejoy. TikTok will be huge for inspiring creativity and DIYing, especially among first-time crafters. Hashtags like #MyRoutine (1.6 billion views) and #WhatILearned (2.8 billion views) showcase new creations every day that continue to wow platform users and inspire makers to replicate their designs.

Read more from the original source:
The Top 5 DIY Trends, According to Michaels - BobVila.com

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

One of the things we love about being a remodeling company in Reston is the diversity of the homes we get to work on! From the original townhomes of Waterview Cluster to the newest condos in Reston, every home tells a story, and we love working with clients who are ready to write theirs.

With many of the houses built in Restons early years now well into their fifth decade, you may be living in one and are starting to think its time for an update. If this sounds like you, heres some inspiration for turning your 1970s home into a modern oasis that will stand the test of time.

1. Create a More Open Concept

There was a time when clearly defined rooms were the only way houses were designed and built. Its very common in older homes in this area. The kitchen. The dining room. The family room. The bonus room that no one really knows what to do with. This often meant the size of the kitchen was compromised leading to odd U shaped or cramped galley kitchen.

Over the years, the way we use space has changed with less demand for formal dining rooms and more demand for multi-functional spaces that serve as family gathering areas with informal dining, and lets face it once we can safely gather again the kitchen is THE room where guests congregate.

The kitchen has taken center stage as the place where most homeowners are willing to spend more to get more. The most obvious example of a way to give your kitchen a modern feeling is to create a more open plan concept and increase the usable square footage in your kitchen. This is usually achieved by completely removing walls between rooms. Not in your budget? You can also make a huge difference by creating larger openings between rooms to improve the flow and allow more natural light into your space.

Read our previous blog How to Tell if a Wall is Load-bearing, and ALWAYS get a professional opinion before you take down any walls!

The home below was built at the very end of the 70s. This is a great example of how removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room enabled us to expand the size of the kitchen and add a large island with lots of room for the family. The dining room was relocated to another room at the front of the home.

In this second example, this Reston townhome had undergone a previous renovation some years ago, but this time around we opened up the kitchen to the dining room, which not only provided better flow and light, it opened up the fabulous view to Lake Thoreau.

2. Flooring, Stairs and Front Doors!

Parquet floors. Small square tiles. Carpet. Painted stair railings. If you love them, dont change them. However, these are some of the things that really age a home. Some of them are an easy(ish!) fix.

If your hardwood floors have lost their luster, you dont necessarily need to replace them. Spend the money to get them sanded and refinished. The popularity of hardwood is going nowhere, so if youve got some original 1970s wood floors, they are probably a quality product, and the quirks and imperfections acquired over the years make them even more endearing. Take care of them, and give them a chance to shine in their own right!

If you have tile in your kitchen but hardwood floors elsewhere, you may also be able to tooth new hardwood floors into the existing floors. This will require the entire floor to be refinished to avoid a patchy look, but it is possible, and the same flooring throughout provides cohesiveness between spaces.

Wed like to tell you that small square brown/white/yellow/pink/blue 1970s bathroom tile is in again. Alas, its not. Although a tile called zellige has become popular in recent years, thats about as close as it gets to the 1970s tile we all know. Its time to let it go. Want to know more about tile trends and how you can get an updated look? Read our latest blog!

Lastly, unless you live in a cluster neighborhood with HOA rules about what you can and cannot do on the exterior of your home, start with the front door (as long as the Reston Association is OK with that!). Nothing provides better curb appeal and an instant home update than a new front door.

The Reston home below (built in 1970) shows how a beautiful new front door, refinished floors/stairs and modern cable railing bring this home right up to date but still look perfectly at home!

3. Switch Up Your Lighting

We dont know why, but lighting always seemed to be an afterthought in most 70s houses! In many older homes, one single light fixture was expected to provide enough lighting for an entire room. Recessed lighting is nothing new, but it is a simple way to update your space.

There is now such a fantastic choice of reasonably priced pendants, sconces and chandeliers that theres no excuse for that flush ceiling fixture or fluorescent light thats been there since your house was built!

New lighting is also a fantastic and easy way to add personality to your space. Under cabinet lighting in kitchens is the perfect way to add additional lighting for prep work or added ambience.

A word of warning! Additional lighting will inevitably show up flaws in your paintwork you may not have noticed before. Have realistic expectations of your home remodeler or general contractor. Unless you are refinishing a wall or having new drywall installed, the downside is that additional lighting may show up the imperfections youve lived with for many years but have never been able to see!

4. Show Your Powder Room Some Love

The powder room may be the smallest room in your house, but it can easily make a design statement in its own right. Many older homes in Reston feature the same thing a round sink with a wooden vanity with square floor tile. Nothing says modern and adds a little pep to your space like switching things up in the powder room!

You also dont have to hold back in your design choices in your powder room. If youre afraid of wallpaper because you dont know how to use it, nows your chance to try it out! Heres a few before and afters to give you a little design inspiration for what is possible in your space!

5. Sometimes, Simple Changes Have a BIG Impact.

Depending on the look youre going for, it may be possible to make simple changes that completely update your space without breaking the bank. If removing a wall or replacing the flooring isnt within your budget, a subtle change might make the difference between your space looking dated or looking like it is a design choice that fits beautifully into the rest of the room.

A great example of this below is the change to this fireplace. Previously, the stone fireplace was overpowering the room. By adding a natural wood mantle, the visual line of the fireplace is broken up so it seems like it now fits right in. A beautiful Ansel Adams picture above and a great choice of furniture pieces that all complement one another make this feel like a whole new home.

You can read more about the steps we took in the recent transformation of the main level of a local 1970s Reston single family home into a modern but family friendly space here. If youre ready to start the discussion on your next home remodeling project, were always happy to chat!

Continue reading here:
Reno of the Month: Tips for Updating Your 1970s Reston Home - Reston Now

Valheim, like many survival and crafting games, prefers to let players work things out on their own rather than telling them exactly what to do. But when it comes to little things like how to repair tools, weapons, and building parts, that's the kind of useful little thing that everyone ought to know from the start. Learn how to do each of those things with our quick Valheim repair guide below!

On this page:

In Valheim, tools such as axes, hoes, and even your weapons have a durability meter which is lowered every time it's used. If it reaches zero durability, the item will break. It won't disappear from your inventory, but it will be unusable until you repair it at a Workbench.

Here's how to repair tools in Valheim:

That's right - as long as you have a usable Workbench nearby, you can repair your tools for free whenever you like. They don't have to be fully broken either: you can repair any tool that doesn't have a full durability meter.

If you're having trouble covering a Workbench properly, you'd best check out our handy Valheim Workbench guide!

Repairing buildings in Valheim is even easier than repairing tools. All you need to do is equip your Hammer, right-click to open up the building menu and select the Hammer tool icon in the top-left corner.

Now that the Hammer is set to repair mode, just walk up to the building part that needs repairing (you'll know if it's damaged because a little bar will appear next to your reticule denoting its health, or durability), and left-click to repair it. As with repairing tools, this costs you no materials at all, so you can do it as much as you like.

It's worth taking a look at the health of each of the parts of your home every so often. Wooden building parts in particular can get damaged over time without you realising, because whenever it rains any wooden part that isn't covered with a roof tile will have its health slowly stripped away until it is destroyed. So keep that Hammer handy!

That's it for this Valheim repair guide. Now why not head over to our guide on setting up your very own Valheim server so you can play with friends?

Read the original:
Valheim: how to repair tools and items - Rock Paper Shotgun

Ah, the conveyor belt. Such a reliable staple of the factory-building game genre, and Dyson Sphere Program is no different. The belt's function is pretty clear, but there's a lot of useful information to know about how to use them properly. This Dyson Sphere Program belts guide will explain how belts work and how to use them effectively, along with useful tips and information on Splitters, ratios, throughputs, and much more.

On this page:

If you've played more than a couple of minutes of Dyson Sphere Program, you'll likely have come across Conveyor Belts. These belts are an essential logistic cog in your ever-expanding factory, and required for you to move from manual construction to automation.

The function of the belt is extremely simple: it transports items from one place to another. Most buildings which mine or harvest raw materials, such as Mining Machines, Oil Extractors, and Water Pumps, can be directly connected to a belt, so that whatever the building produces will automatically be placed on its attached belt. But for other buildings that produce intermediate and complex component items - such as Smelters, Assembling Machines, and so on - you'll need to attach them to belts using Sorters, because they can't connect directly to a belt.

To place a belt, you need to click on a tile corner (or a building) where you want the belt to start, and then click where you want the belt to deliver items towards. A belt can be as long as you like, it can turn as many corners as you want, and you can even raise or lower its elevation, allowing you to pass over or under other belts or obstacles. If you want some handy tips on belt placement, then check our tips section below.

There are three types of belt in Dyson Sphere Program. There's the Mk1 belt (yellow), the Mk2 belt (green), and the Mk3 belt (blue). Each one is more expensive than the last, but transports items at much greater speeds.

If you want to master the use of belts in Dyson Sphere Program, you'll need to know things like how many items it can transport per second, how many buildings and sorters it takes to empty or fill a belt, and so on.

Here's the throughput of each Dyson Sphere Program belt:

Knowing these three values allows us to make some useful deductions. For example, because a Mining Machine produces 30 ore per minute per covered node, we know that it takes 2 Mining Machines, each covering 6 ore nodes, to completely fill a Mk1 belt to maximum capacity.

Likewise, you'll need 6 Smelters to empty a Mk1 belt of, say, Iron Ore, and fill another Mk1 belt with Iron Ingots.

4 Mk1 Sorters can empty a Mk1 belt of materials, as long as all the Sorters only cover a 1-tile gap.

Knowing the throughput of each tier of belt will enable you to place down exactly the right number of buildings, sorters, and so on. No wasting of materials on unnecessary buildings.

It's worth talking about Splitters here as well, because they're an incredibly useful tool for manipulating belts in Dyson Sphere Program. Splitters have four points where you can attach a belt. By default, a Splitter will take in all items offered to it through the input belts, and evenly distribute them between its output belts.

If you click on a Splitter, you can also set priority input and output belts, which becomes useful for routing materials to exactly where they're needed. I use priorities with Splitters in my Hydrogen and Oil Cracking build, to make sure the build keeps supplying itself with enough Hydrogen to continue working, before sending the remaining Hydrogen off to where it's next needed.

While placing a Splitter, you can hit "Tab" to cycle between different Splitter layouts, each of which is very useful for different situations. You can also stack Splitters, which makes for a useful (and aesthetically pleasing) tool for elevating belts.

Let's finish up with some useful and practical tips and tricks when it comes to using belts in Dyson Sphere Program:

That's probably enough belt talk to be getting on with, and no doubt you'll want to get back to your factories now. I certainly do. But might I suggest first you take a look at our in-depth page on Dyson Sphere Program Logistics Stations? They're like belts, but bigger and more interstellar-y.

Original post:
Dyson Sphere Program Belts: how Belts and Splitters work, correct ratios, useful tips, and more - Rock Paper Shotgun

Smallhold, which opened in a shipping container in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn in 2017, has seen the sudden interest in fungi firsthand; in three years, the company has grown to 25 employees from two, and is still hiring. Thats likely linked, in part, to an expanding interest in eating mushroom varieties beyond the kind found in grocery stores: For decades, the only mushrooms the average consumer in the United States had access to were button, portobello or cremini varieties.

All three are actually the same species, just at different stages of growth. Its an illusion of diversity, Mr. McInnis said. In a kingdom that contains more than a hundred thousand known species (the total number is likely to be several million), of which some 3,000 are edible, this amounts to a monoculture, not unlike our overreliance on just a few varieties of grains and vegetables.

The sudden interest in at-home mycology, specifically, seems to have a particular resonance with our times. In our ruined global moment, watching something busily transform trash into fleshy, sculptural, delicious fruit is a comfort, so its little wonder theyve become popular in a pandemic.

In my apartment, once the cycle began, it didnt stop for weeks. Every five or six days, one of my six mushroom kits would disgorge a pile of fleshy appendages, always faster than seemed reasonable. Each time I was newly shocked.

Six kits for two people quickly proved an outrageous excess. We had pounds and pounds of mushrooms to consume. I cooked oyster mushroom bourguignon, mushroom tacos, mushroom pastas. I sliced the bulbous lions mane into thick steaks and seared them in butter. When a few mushrooms sat out too long and shriveled, I boiled them into a mushroom stock for ramen. It was incredible. Still, we could barely keep up.

Read the original post:
Mushroom Grow Kits: Yes, They Work - The New York Times

Size: 3,600 square feet

Price per square foot: $149

Indoors: The front door, topped by a fanlight and set in the middle of a classical-style portico, opens to a graceful reception room with original hardwood floors that continue throughout the house. To the right is a sunken living room with a wood-burning fireplace and a wall of built-in bookshelves. To the left is a formal dining room with a bay window, a white wainscot topped by blue walls and a crystal-bead chandelier. Both rooms have sash windows that rise almost to the 10-foot ceilings.

The kitchen has been refurbished with white cabinets, a farmhouse sink, a mobile island and Viking and Sub-Zero appliances. A cushioned bench under a bay window serves as seating in a breakfast nook.

The primary bedroom is on the second floor. It has an en suite bathroom a converted walk-in closet with a large, glass-enclosed shower faced in subway tile and a soaking tub with treetop views. A second bedroom suite includes a bathroom with vintage gray tile with a blue border. There is a vintage hall bathroom that pairs with the third bedroom; it has mint-green tile and a streamlined tub with a shower head. A windowed niche at the top of the staircase could be used as a work space.

A bright lower level has half of the area of the first two floors. It was recently used as an art studio with an exercise space. A laundry room and storage room are there, as well.

Outdoor space: The house is set at least 500 feet off the road and is partially screened by mature pines. The property, about half meadow and half forested, includes a kitchen herb garden, an elegant breezeway, a detached two-car garage, a barn, a chicken coop and an equipment shed whose contents (mowers, tractor with front loader) are negotiable. Artifacts, including a gazebo, lamppost and dinner bell, are distributed around the house.

Taxes: $2,573 (2019, although a homestead exemption would result in a significant reduction)

Contact: Chuck Paulk, Cabin & Creek Real Estate, 601-810-2104; cabinandcreekproperties.com

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.

See more here:
$550,000 Homes in Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Mississippi - The New York Times

By J.O. Haselhoef

The open-air room buzzed with activity, while the instructor made notes on this first practical exam. One team of vocational school students strung lines to define the 25-by-25-foot area they would tile. Another mixed mortar, adding sand that his colleague shook through a wire screen.

A young woman, one of only three in the class, added water from a gardening can. Her teammates gave her feedback Ase, enough; Yon ti kras plis, a little more. The look on her face suggested that she would stop when she, and not the others, thought it was the right amount.

This scene, in 2018, at LEcole Vocationelle de Duchity is typical of the many employment-oriented schools in Haiti. Today, classes are popular and well-attended during positive economic times but less so with crop devastation after recent hurricanes and the work slowdown amid the pandemic.

The efforts of these schools are impressive. They determine appropriate classes, line up qualified teachers, fund scholarships, recruit capable students, teach the trade and put qualified workers into the job market. Yet, the availability of trained graduates doesnt always correlate directly with jobs in Haiti. Too often, the primed and energetic new worker cannot find employment.

Vocational schools in Haiti developed in the 1920s and 30s under the American occupation. The focused approach appeared to be the best way to help nonacademic students secure employment. Maurice Dartigue, a Haitian-born international education professional and the nations first education minister, reformed the system in the 1940s so that Haitians replaced American teachers and administrators and approached education in a way that was relevant to the country.

The Bernard Reform of 1982 first developed a language policy for teaching in Haiti. It also offered sixth-grade students the opportunity to move into a vocational tract.After the earthquake in 2010, many nongovernmental organizations introduced training schools. Haitis National Institute of Vocational Training, by 2016, had registered 190 vocational schools 1,010 more existed without that official recognition.

HAPITech opened its vocational school in 2018

HAPITech, in Mizak near LaValle-de-Jacmel, is part of the larger U.S.-based Haitian Assets for Peace International (HAPI), founded in 2007 as a womens artist collective. It has since established a successful medical clinic, maternal care program and, for the last five years, its vocational school, which caters to students 15 years and older.

One of HAPIs founders, Valerie Celestin-Mossman, cited the founders desire to build capacity a phrase used in the nonprofit world that reflects the effort to improve effectiveness and future sustainability through better business practices. HAPI staff recognized that after the earthquake in 2010, little or no money went to Haitian-run organizations. HAPI wanted to create the potential for future connections. They offered English as a second language and computer literacy (Word, Excel and the skills to build a website) in addition to computer trouble-shooting, ceramic tiling (like LEcole in Duchity) and electrical training.

Community surveys help keep their curriculum current with local needs. Theyre considering a plumbing program, though Celestin-Mossman worries that the subject will not attract women in an equal number to men an important objective within their student population of 135. She remembered HAPIs research in 2011, which determined that Mizaks young women, if not married or working, were considered a burden in their community.

The vocational school in Mizak maintains a high bar for student success, requiring students reach the 75th percentile to pass (many schools require 60 percent). Staff also knows their students rely on them to deliver training. Participants in last semesters English class spoke weekly to students at the University of Michigan over the internet. When WiFi service failed in Mizak, HAPITech loaded the entire class on the back of motorcycles to finish the class in Jacmel, where it could find a strong signal.

HAPITech enrolled 25 students its first year. Enrollment increased when staff changed its enrollment model to focus on skilled trades and connect graduates to jobs. They expected 50 enrollees the second year but cut off at 105 applicants. From the point of view of Mario Demas, HAPITech Coordinator, if you have a well-run, effective school, people will come. HAPITech could handle 500 students. He said that once he finds additional resources to keep the students supported, I can make it happen.

Vocational training continues in Duchity

Back in Duchity, Jn D. Felix began LEcole Vocationelle de Duchity in 2014. He grew up in the community and partnered with the Vermont Haiti Project (VHP), which had established a medical clinic and primary school some years prior in the same location.

LEcole became, more or less, financially independent from VHP last year. The center fights local perceptions that, if an American organization is involved, a student doesnt pay tuition. Many students have had financial difficulties these last few years. Recently, the center asked its agronomy students to pay fees that would help buy materials for the class. Unable to pay, one-third dropped from the program, Felix said.

The center, depending on student demand for these programs, has the capacity to offer English, computer sciences, and ceramic tiling as well as construction, welding and agronomy.

Before Felix and VHP began to design their program at LEcole, Felix went to the U.S. He returned to Haiti excited about including auto mechanics, a trade for which he was trained, in the new curriculum. He looked at the many cars and expensive equipment required as well as the difficulty to find and afford a teacher with the right skills. He decided it wasnt the right fit for the program at LEcole. Felix hears positive feedback from the many students in the area who have other skills thanks to the school and said, I have no regrets.

Are Haitis vocational schools meeting the need?

If the need in Haiti is to train workers, these two schools are fine examples: They offer classes to meet the perceived needs of the job market and graduate students, adding to the number of trained people in Haiti.

If the need, however, is to immediately employ graduated students in their field of training, success is difficult to evaluate. No central source nationwide, such as a bureau for labor statistics, collects the data that could help match vocational training to the jobs market nationwide. And job opportunities are scarce as the Haitian economy shrank in 2020 and foreign investors continue to shy away because of poor infrastructure and other difficulties for conducting business.

When asked about employment for HAPITechs graduates, Celestin-Mossman said, Its too early to tell. She acknowledges that job opportunities for graduates vary by year and program focus, though the English tract continues to be popular.

Coordinator Demas recognized many of those graduating from the programs computer literacy section were teachers. They used their skills, he said, to help their own students understand computers.

Some courses of study at LEcole in Duchity are more effective than others. All the agronomists who attended the center for at least two years have work, said Felix. Every one of last years construction students were employed upon graduation. And most built houses for their families. Unfortunately, the employment rate has been less in areas like computer technology.

Should vocational schools continue to train students if many are unsuccessful in finding jobs? By doing so, Haiti has a trained workforce. And, as Felix pointed out, Any kind of skill improves employability.

HAPITech staff may have the logical next step towards improving employability. It wants to offer business classes, hoping its students will begin the new ventures that hire other students. However longthat process may take, it moves the thinking, and the learning, in the right direction.

A young woman, one of only three in the class, added water from a gardening can. Her teammates gave her feedback Ase, enough; Yon ti kras plis, a little more. The look on her face suggested that she would stop when she, and not the others, thought it was the right amount.

This scene, in 2018, at LEcole Vocationelle de Duchity is typical of the many employment-oriented schools in Haiti. Today, classes are popular and well-attended during positive economic times but less so with crop devastation after recent hurricanes and the work slowdown amid the pandemic.

The efforts of these schools are impressive. They determine appropriate classes, line up qualified teachers, fund scholarships, recruit capable students, teach the trade and put qualified workers into the job market. Yet, the availability of trained graduates doesnt always correlate directly with jobs in Haiti. Too often, the primed and energetic new worker cannot find employment.

Vocational schools in Haiti developed in the 1920s and 30s under the American occupation. The focused approach appeared to be the best way to help nonacademic students secure employment. Maurice Dartigue, a Haitian-born international education professional and the nations first education minister, reformed the system in the 1940s so that Haitians replaced American teachers and administrators and approached education in a way that was relevant to the country.

The Bernard Reform of 1982 first developed a language policy for teaching in Haiti. It also offered sixth-grade students the opportunity to move into a vocational tract.After the earthquake in 2010, many nongovernmental organizations introduced training schools. Haitis National Institute of Vocational Training, by 2016, had registered 190 vocational schools 1,010 more existed without that official recognition.

HAPITech opened its vocational school in 2018

HAPITech, in Mizak near LaValle-de-Jacmel, is part of the larger U.S.-based Haitian Assets for Peace International (HAPI), founded in 2007 as a womens artist collective. It has since established a successful medical clinic, maternal care program and, for the last five years, its vocational school, which caters to students 15 years and older.

One of HAPIs founders, Valerie Celestin-Mossman, cited the founders desire to build capacity a phrase used in the nonprofit world that reflects the effort to improve effectiveness and future sustainability through better business practices. HAPI staff recognized that after the earthquake in 2010, little or no money went to Haitian-run organizations. HAPI wanted to create the potential for future connections. They offered English as a second language and computer literacy (Word, Excel and the skills to build a website) in addition to computer trouble-shooting, ceramic tiling (like LEcole in Duchity) and electrical training.

Community surveys help keep their curriculum current with local needs. Theyre considering a plumbing program, though Celestin-Mossman worries that the subject will not attract women in an equal number to men an important objective within their student population of 135. She remembered HAPIs research in 2011, which determined that Mizaks young women, if not married or working, were considered a burden in their community.

The vocational school in Mizak maintains a high bar for student success, requiring students reach the 75th percentile to pass (many schools require 60 percent). Staff also knows their students rely on them to deliver training. Participants in last semesters English class spoke weekly to students at the University of Michigan over the internet. When WiFi service failed in Mizak, HAPITech loaded the entire class on the back of motorcycles to finish the class in Jacmel, where it could find a strong signal.

HAPITech enrolled 25 students its first year. Enrollment increased when staff changed its enrollment model to focus on skilled trades and connect graduates to jobs. They expected 50 enrollees the second year but cut off at 105 applicants. From the point of view of Mario Demas, HAPITech Coordinator, if you have a well-run, effective school, people will come. HAPITech could handle 500 students. He said that once he finds additional resources to keep the students supported, I can make it happen.

Vocational training continues in Duchity

Back in Duchity, Jn D. Felix began LEcole Vocationelle de Duchity in 2014. He grew up in the community and partnered with the Vermont Haiti Project (VHP), which had established a medical clinic and primary school some years prior in the same location.

LEcole became, more or less, financially independent from VHP last year. The center fights local perceptions that, if an American organization is involved, a student doesnt pay tuition. Many students have had financial difficulties these last few years. Recently, the center asked its agronomy students to pay fees that would help buy materials for the class. Unable to pay, one-third dropped from the program, Felix said.

The center, depending on student demand for these programs, has the capacity to offer English, computer sciences, and ceramic tiling as well as construction, welding and agronomy.

Before Felix and VHP began to design their program at LEcole, Felix went to the U.S. He returned to Haiti excited about including auto mechanics, a trade for which he was trained, in the new curriculum. He looked at the many cars and expensive equipment required as well as the difficulty to find and afford a teacher with the right skills. He decided it wasnt the right fit for the program at LEcole. Felix hears positive feedback from the many students in the area who have other skills thanks to the school and said, I have no regrets.

Are Haitis vocational schools meeting the need?

If the need in Haiti is to train workers, these two schools are fine examples: They offer classes to meet the perceived needs of the job market and graduate students, adding to the number of trained people in Haiti.

If the need, however, is to immediately employ graduated students in their field of training, success is difficult to evaluate. No central source nationwide, such as a bureau for labor statistics, collects the data that could help match vocational training to the jobs market nationwide. And job opportunities are scarce as the Haitian economy shrank in 2020 and foreign investors continue to shy away because of poor infrastructure and other difficulties for conducting business.

When asked about employment for HAPITechs graduates, Celestin-Mossman said, Its too early to tell. She acknowledges that job opportunities for graduates vary by year and program focus, though the English tract continues to be popular.

Coordinator Demas recognized many of those graduating from the programs computer literacy section were teachers. They used their skills, he said, to help their own students understand computers.

Some courses of study at LEcole in Duchity are more effective than others. All the agronomists who attended the center for at least two years have work, said Felix. Every one of last years construction students were employed upon graduation. And most built houses for their families. Unfortunately, the employment rate has been less in areas like computer technology.

Should vocational schools continue to train students if many are unsuccessful in finding jobs? By doing so, Haiti has a trained workforce. And, as Felix pointed out, Any kind of skill improves employability.

HAPITech staff may have the logical next step towards improving employability. It wants to offer business classes, hoping its students will begin the new ventures that hire other students. However longthat process may take, it moves the thinking, and the learning, in the right direction.

J.O. Haselhoef is the author of Give & Take: Doing Our Damnedest NOT to be Another Charity in Haiti. She co-founded "Yonn Ede Lot" (One Helping Another), a nonprofit that worked with volunteer groups in La Montagne ("Lamontay"), Haiti from 2007-2013, when Haselhoef wrote many of these stories. Shelives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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What Vocational Schools Are Accomplishing in Haiti The Haitian Times - Haitian Times

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Janet and Lawrence Rosman had a dream starting their own business and eventually retiring comfortably.

Then Lawrence died unexpectedly at 51, the victim of a tragic accident and complications that followed.

"At that point, I didn't know what I was doing," Janet, now 50, said.

That was over a year ago.

Today, Janet has fulfilled their dream by owning and operating a mobile floor covering business based in Wellford.

Called Floor Coverings International, Janet says she grieved the loss of her husband of 30 years, and then decided to move forward.

"He was my biggest cheerleader and always had more confidence in me than what I had," she said. "He loved to make everyone laugh, but he'd make you work. The thing I missed most was always knowing he was there."

Janet, a graduate of Dorman High School, met Lawrence, a Chapman High graduate when she was 18 and he was 20. They soon married, and then had two children, a daughter who is now 16 and son who is 19.

He worked for many years at Milliken & Company and later with BMW Manufacturing for 25 years.

Janet worked part-time jobs while Lawrence helped put her through college. She studied psychology at the University of South Carolina Upstate then earned an associate degree in accounting at Spartanburg Community College.

She went to work for Copac Global Packaging in Spartanburg, then Electric City Print Company in Anderson.

In 2001, she went to work at Grace Management Group in Spartanburg, a locally owned company that makes, sells and markets fragrances worldwide.

Her responsibilities included marketing and product development, and she flew to different cities in the U.S. and around the world to set up marketing teams.

Then in early 2019, she decided she was ready for a career change.

"I was sitting back and thought, what am I doing?" she said.

Lawrence, meanwhile, was happy with his job in the body shop at BMW, but both began talking about venturing out on their own.

They explored various franchise businesses and looked hard at a flooring franchise opportunity.

At that point, they already had been in their home in Campobello and began to look ahead to their eventual retirement.

After visits to Floor Coverings International headquarters in Georgia, they learned they could obtain the franchise for Greenville and Spartanburg counties, build it up, then sell it for a profit.

"In the grand scheme of things, that sounded like a great thing," Janet said.

Norcross, Georgia.-based Floor Coverings International has been ranked as the top mobile flooring franchise in North America by Entrepreneur Magazine, with nearly 200 franchisees.

One day in September 2019, Lawrence was trimming a limb on a large oak tree outside their home when a strong gust of wind knocked the limb onto the ladder, and he fell on his back, breaking five ribs and puncturing a lung, she said.

He was taken to the hospital emergency room, treated, then sent home.

Within a couple of days, he began having a hard time breathing and had no appetite. He returned to the hospital, was placed on a ventilator,then told he was paralyzed, she said.

She said it was later determined he suffered post-traumatic Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks its nerves, eventually causing paralysis.

He died on Nov. 16, 2019, surrounded by his family. And he was not without friends.

"Everybody that met him loved him to death," Janet said. "At his service in November, there were over 1,000 people. We are all humbled, holding tears back, that he had made such an impact on everybody."

A couple of months passed, and the executives at Floor Coverings contacted Janet to see if she was still interested in obtaining the franchise.

She said she wasn't yet ready and decided to take a long-awaited vacation to Europe with her children.

"They held the territory for me until I was ready," she said of Floor Coverings. "That went a long way with me. I chose to start up in September (2020)."

She has since worked hard to build up the business, meeting with homeowners and builders, insurance and real estate companies, to provide for their flooring needs from hardwood and luxury vinyl to carpet, tile and even backsplashes.

"I have a mobile showroom," she said. "All samples are in a Ford transit van. I'm able to meet the customer at their place. My job is to realize what they're trying to put into their home or business."

She orders the floor coverings from a manufacturer, hauls away the old flooring, and then installs the new flooring.

"Business is going well," she said. "It's a little overwhelming getting started, but they (the home office) help guides you.

Kristen Kelley, who previously worked for Janet at Grace Management Group, is now office and project manager for Janet.

"I honestly would work for her anywhere," she said. "She is one of the best examples of just a hard worker, to the point where you want to try the best you can to be like her. She leads by example. She's hustling just as hard as you are."

Kelley said she offered support to Janet after Lawrence's accident and again after he died.

"Opening this company here is what she and her husband wanted to do together," Kelley said. "When he passed, that was obviously devastating.

"It has showedhow nothing can slow her down in the sense of meeting her dreams, her responsibility for the kids, and wanting a good life for them. She wants to succeed to make him proud."

Longtime friend Bryan Lawson said Janet helped set up the office at his business,Lawson Contracting and Construction. She also helped him with the recent startup of a cabinet company, C2C Cabinets (Concept to Completion).

She's highly motivated and determined that when she sets her mind to something, it's going to get done," Lawson said. "She's a very unique individual. She rises to the occasion.

"She took what was a tragic situation and started a new chapter in her life. She did it with a relentless attitude and work ethic. She's a definite inspiration."

Contact Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com

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Spartanburg woman overcomes tragic death of husband to launch dream business they planned - Spartanburg Herald Journal