2024 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore: "Stories That Soar!” returns with a collaboration between 2nd grade students who are exploring the meaning of some very potent emotions Aspiring student-age writers can submit their stories to The Magic Box Story Portal now TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — This month's Giving Project nonprofit is BICAS—the Bicycle Inter-Community Art & Salvage The organization helps people acquire a bicycle many of whom need transportation to and from work One of those people is current BICAS board member Matt Harmon who tells me the nonprofit is in the business of something bigger than bikes alone My doctor would tell you that it saved my life," Harmon says Harmon says he was at an unhealthy weight with dangerously high cholesterol He got the idea of biking the 12 miles round-trip to work for his health But after discovering a new bike would be far too expensive Harmon bought a bike in parts from a U of A surplus auction That's when Harmon found BICAS—and organization where he was able to reassemble those surplus parts into functioning bicycle The discount transportation bike became a big part of his return to good health "I was able to bring my weight down to a more healthy level and reduce my cholesterol levels without medication." With routine trips Harmon was making to BICAS he was asked to become a board member 10 years ago riding in the last eight El Tour De Tucson events Harmon points out there are ways for people with a low income to get a bike they may need for transportation You can work in the shop through our work-trade program You can walk out with a bike so you can get to and from work There are two ways to help support BICAS through our Giving Project: by either donating used bikes and bike parts, or by giving a monetary donation directly through their online donor portal For more information on how to donate bike, bike parts or tools, visit bicas.org/donate Your donation qualifies for Arizona's charitable tax credit And don't forget, your Giving Project donation qualifies for Arizona's charitable tax credit Our partners in the Giving Project, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona will again match the first $500 in donation BICAS, located at 2001 N. 7th Avenue, is open Tuesday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., with classes at various times throughout the month Report a typo GIVING PROJECT TOTAL CASH DONATIONS SINCE LAUNCH TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE NON PROFITThe Giving Project wants to identify local nonprofits that address community needs to spotlight a new nonprofit every month Email details and contact information to givingproject@kgun9.com Stacy Pierce tries a recycled one at BICAS Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2014 carries bike tubes into the new home for BICAS has been a Tucson staple for sustainable bicycle education and accessible bicycle transportation for more than 30 years We're kicking off December with 12 Days of Nonprofits — a 12-day celebration of the many local organizations that provide needed services to our community Less than three miles north of downtown Tucson sits an 8,000-square-foot warehouse filled with bicycle parts plenty of art made from recycled materials and people passionate about connecting the community with affordable and sustainable bicycle transportation Bicycle Inter-Community Art & Salvage — also known as BICAS — has been Tucson's go-to nonprofit for bicycle recycling Previously referred to as Bootstraps to Share the organization changed its name to BICAS in 1996 Despite the organization's name change, the mission has remained the same: "participate in affordable bicycle transportation, education and creative recycling with our greater Tucson community," according to their website BICAS hopes to improve the quality of life for marginalized communities in Tucson by providing them with the tools and education they need to keep them riding with accessible transportation "We include LGBT people, we include people of color, we include low-income families and we include people experiencing homelessness," said Shruti Kaul, the Women, Trans, Femme program coordinator at BICAS "And so we really care about engaging those communities Because it's not just about giving people a bike it's about making sure that they understand how it works and that when it breaks or something happens with your bike The organization hosts a variety of programs classes and workshops right at the BICAS shop which allows WTF people to fix bicycles in a safe environment while creating a sense of belonging and acceptance in the bicycle community BICAS also provides an education program for Tucson's youth. The Youth Earn-A-Bike program allows local youth ages 9-18 to learn bicycle mechanics and apply those lessons to fixing a bicycle that they can take home at the end of the program They also learn leadership and problem-solving skills and appreciation for the community throughout the program The Youth Earn-A-Bike program runs on a sliding scale fee from $25 to $200 but BICAS has full scholarships available upon request True to BICAS' roots, the organization offers bicycle repair and maintenance classes where community members can completely disassemble But what if you need help with a bike repair right away You can stop at BICAS anytime during their hours of operation and receive one-on-one instruction from one of the bike mechanics through BICAS' Community Tools program but Kaul recommends visiting as soon as they open so you can get more repairs done BICAS offers this service on a $6 to $12 sliding scale fee Unable to manage the fees for the service? BICAS offers a work-trade program "Basically people can pay for bike services with their work," Kaul said "So if they don't have a lot of money available with them or if they have a lot of time they're able to help volunteer with us and they can do anything from like sweep to put away bike parts to even repair bicycles and they get $12 an hour (in shop credit)." Bike maintenance and mechanic classes range from $30 to $100, depending on the class type. Most of the programs, such as the adult Earn-A-Bike program do not have fees due to the work-trade program individuals participate until they have earned a bike that they are interested in Don't forget about BICAS' art program that recycles old bike parts into stunning art pieces BICAS remains determined to adjust to the needs of the community the organization stayed open and switched their business model to an essential services model and repaired people's bicycles for them instead of having them in the shop and teaching them to do it themselves BICAS also gave away bikes to those who desperately needed them Meeting the needs of the community plays into BICAS' six pillars of values: community "Our success is because of community engagement and that's something about BICAS that's really special is we have all of these different programs like the subsidized youth programs really exciting programs that we're able to do to connect different types of people to BICAS and cycling."   The community can help by spreading the word about BICAS and its mission and programs on social media The organization is also seeking recurring donations of any size. Donations can be made in person or online. In addition, you can see what your donations contribute to with BICAS' "Year-in-Review" annual pamphlet you can volunteer your time at the organization by cleaning and organizing parts performing cleaning tasks around the shop or assisting staff with projects "There's a lot of different ways to volunteer," Kaul said We're looking for people to help grant-write and help do different committee work for us So if you're someone who has any skills with web design or financial experience or legal experience We're even looking for board members so there's a lot of different ways to plug in." Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today. More in 12 days of nonprofits: Celebrating local organizations that provide services to our community (10 of 12) The Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce's sister organization, the Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce Foundation, aims to support local LGBTQ+ business leaders through mentorship, leadership and education. Native Seeds/SEARCH aims to conserve arid-adapted seeds of the Southwest. There are 1,900 accessions in the seed bank, translating to about 1,600 crop varieties, many of which are endangered. What started out as nine storage units with bins of items through Tucson nonprofit More Than A Bed became a warehouse stocked with toys, clothes and beds, free for foster families to take.  Familias Unidas Ganando Accesibilidad, also known as FUGA, was founded in 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. The organization advocates for mobility, accessibility and representation for Tucson's south-side and west-side communities. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: About two miles from campus exists a small shop full of recycled bicycle parts donated and refurbished bikes and art made from recycled parts is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the Tucson community find affordable and sustainable transportation The organization heavily relies on donations of items to sell at a lower price or money to provide a variety of programs on how to fix a bicycle or make art from recycled parts BICAS started in 1989 and was originally called Bootstraps to Share of Tucson The organization focused on sustainable transportation as a basic need and determined that its greatest resolution was to provide recycled bicycles and the skills needed to maintain them The nonprofit was underground both figuratively and literally as it used to be in the basement of a warehouse it moved to its current location just north of Downtown Tucson The organization provides volunteer opportunities for anyone who needs hours for school “We have our volunteers help out with things like administrative tasks or grant writing,” said Joselyn Aguilar we also have volunteers help us out with loading and unloading or help us with the activities themselves.” BICAS also provides a work-trade opportunity for customers to work for credit if they cannot afford to buy parts or a bike themselves over 42 bikes were earned through the Earn-A-Bike program “They get $16 per hour of store credit that can be put towards any of the used items in the shop,” said Jaden Salama Salama said one of his favorite parts of working for BICAS is being able to aid in providing low-income Tucsonans with a way to get places “I really believe in bikes as a tool of revolution and as a sustainable transportation system,” Salama said “So I really appreciate that we can provide those services to the public especially like houseless folks or people who just don’t have any money.” BICAS holds frequent events for the community to join a space that is inclusive and accessible Some of these events include a Women/Trans*/Femme Ride on the last Monday of every month Youth Earn-a-Bike program during school breaks and a weekly Art Corner from 3-6 p.m “BICAS has a strong art background,” said Tony Zepeda “The Art Corner has been here since BICAS has been around We invite the public to come and check out the space.” The Art Corners are free to attend for all For more information on the nonprofit, visit BICAS’ website and Instagram Follow the Daily Wildcat on Instagram and Twitter (X)  Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Cascais The shared bicycle and scooter network in Cascais is set to change MobiCascais has decided to "permanently close" the service due to issues with theft and vandalism of the biCas reports the newspaper "Lisboa Para Pessoas" the municipal mobility company has recently launched a public tender to find a private operator interested in running a shared bicycle network in the municipality offering a tariff for residents (who previously used these services for free) the biCas network was supposed to have 84 stations by 2016 There was a gradual disinvestment in the shared bicycle and scooter service The network was suspended during the pandemic and resumed in 2023 with only 12 stations The number of docking stations at various locations was also reduced There were shared bicycles near the train stations in Cascais as well as at places like Universidade Nova SBE there was an attempt to reimplement the sharing system given the success it had before the pandemic due to various factors such as vandalism and theft we were forced to permanently close the service" The public tender now outlines a network that will include 1,234 conventional bicycles "The solution will be in the form of a partnership and will have the support of external entities with the experience and know-how necessary for its success with the resident benefits previously offered being maintained by the same entity" This service is more focused on leisure and tourism purposes You can rent a traditional or electric bicycle or an electric scooter for a cost ranging from 2€ to 15€ + What's new in Cascais Thanks for subscribing! 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To contact us, call 311 or visit Tucson 311 to submit a request with warmer weather moving in before the full heat of the Southern Arizona summer we tend to turn to outdoor activities like biking That's where this month's KGUN 9 Giving Project nonprofit BICAS comes in BICAS—an acronym for Bicycle Inter-Community Art & Salvage—is a bicycle recycling and education center geared toward people struggling to make ends meet As part of their mission statement BICAS advocates for accessible transportation for all Located north of Downtown near Grant Road and 6th Avenue then offers them for sale at very affordable prices While BICAS does serve as a one-stop community bike shop The nonprofit's Work-Trade Program also offers an opportunity to get involved with the organization while earning credits toward bike parts or an entire bicycle And it's not just about providing bikes to people which also allows bike riders to pay-it-forward with donations of their own bikes so if you have bike parts or a bike that you would like to bring in that really helps us," Development Coodinator Kristen Lindgren tells me "Then we could fix them up and give it to someone who's really in need." It's like the old adage: Those old bikes and bike parts can end up being a new treasure to someone in need of their own transportation "A lot of people are just trying to get to and from work a lot of thorns," says BICAS mechanic Oma Garcia-Thwing "Bikes that we get donated to us a lot of the time are kind of perfect for what people are looking for." BICAS, located at 2001 N. 7th Avenue, is open Tuesday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., with classes at various times throughout the month There are two ways to help BICAS. Visit their online donor portal to make a monetary donation. Or, you can donate bikes, parts, other tools and even your time. Find out more at bicas.org/donate Don't forget, your Giving Project donation qualifies for Arizona's charitable tax credit Our partners in the Giving Project, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona Beth Jones tugs at the back wheel of her single-speed bicycle is putting the finishing touches on the second bike she's built at BICAS everything but the tires and tubes — came from the piles of donated materials that sit in plastic crates at BICAS' headquarters The first bicycle Jones built at BICAS was stolen "I've learned so much coming down here and repeatedly overhauling my bike," she says thousands of people such as Jones have fallen in love with two-wheeled transportation at BICAS Bicycle Inter-Community Action and Salvage was created in 1989 with a different mission — to help the homeless — and a different name It was originally called Bootstraps to Share the Bootstraps to Share organizers decided to focus on what the group did best — encourage people to ride bicycles it became an organization that serves many communities BICAS moved to its current location in the downtown basement of the old Citizens Transfer and Storage Warehouse It's not clear how much longer BICAS will stay at that location Ryberg says it's likely that the warehouse will be sold to a developer sometime in the next year but I don't know if we're going to be able to afford it," Ryberg says BICAS is one of the country's oldest bicycle co-ops along with Boston's Bikes Not Bombs and New York's Time's Up The organization has a $100,000 annual operating budget and a dozen employees and last year it welcomed about 5,000 customers says BICAS is a grandmother to bike co-ops in other cities "Oftentimes it's other bike co-ops that ask us for help," he says how to keep finances straight and how to do work-trade." who owns Fourth Avenue-area bike shop Ordinary Bikes volunteered at BICAS in 1999 when he was a senior at Salpointe Catholic High School "It was part of my community service for my high school project," he says "That was when BICAS was just getting started Most of what we were doing was donations for Ronald McDonald House." There's an eight-week course that teaches students how to build a bicycle; art classes where clocks and jewelry are made from bike parts; and shop hours when anyone can use BICAS' tools to work on chinky chains or wobbly wheels Anyone who's ever ridden over Tucson's potholes or train tracks knows the value of a cheap and quick tire fix "We have at least a dozen people who come down a day to fix a flat tire," says BICAS employee Troy Neiman "You can get a puncture from a thorn or glass," he says which is two little holes next to each other That happens when your tube gets pinched between the rim and the pavement usually because you don't have enough air in your tires." BICAS employee Leilani Robinson says she can tell when homeless customers couldn't get a bed at the shelter because the Salvation Army gives blankets to men it turns away "They give them two blankets," Robinson says "That's how we know they're back on the street." But BICAS has expanded its reach beyond just the homeless says there's no telling who will walk through the doors "Today we had a Somalian refugee who didn't speak English," Frumoff says and a group of 20 grade-schoolers from the International School (of Tucson) came through on a field trip." The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. BRAZIL (AP) — At the Word of Faith Fellowship churches in the Brazilian cities of Sao Joaquim de Bicas and Franco da Rocha the signs of broken families are everywhere: parents separated from their children grandparents who wonder if they will ever know their grandchildren the U.S.-based mother church took command of both congregations in Brazil applying a strict interpretation of the Bible and enforcing it through rigorous controls and physical punishment Many of the more than three dozen former members interviewed by the AP in Brazil said they live in perpetual fear of retribution Others ask themselves how they put up with the abuse for so long Former member Juliana Oliveira remembers when life was normal in the Sao Joaquim de Bicas church Before the Brazilian traditions were stripped away you don't know you are in a cult because little by little it all becomes 'normal,'" said Oliveira The examination of Word of Faith Fellowship's spread into Latin America's largest country is part of the AP's lengthy ongoing investigation into the evangelical church Based on exclusive interviews with dozens of former members the AP reported in February that congregants in the U.S punched and choked to "purify" sinners by expelling devils The AP also has detailed how Word of Faith Fellowship funneled a steady flow of young Brazilian members to the United States on tourist and student visas and forced them to work both at the church and companies owned by sect leaders Neither Whaley nor the pastors at both Word of Faith Fellowship branches in Brazil responded to requests for comment The church has nearly 2,000 members in Brazil and Ghana and its affiliations in Sweden in addition to 750 congregants in Spindale the takeover of the two churches was a slow evolution that culminated in drastic rules dictating almost every aspect of congregants' lives Many of the edicts echoed Whaley's mandates in North Carolina such as a ban on wearing jeans and children talking to members of the opposite sex without approval former members said Whaley prohibited soccer as Brazil was getting ready to host the 2014 World Cup because she felt the church's young males were focused on the event at the expense of God "We just dealt with a major 'soccer devil' down in Brazil two weeks ago," Whaley told the Spindale congregation in a sermon transmitted to branches in Brazil and Ghana that was viewed by the AP When Oliveira was a teenager in the late 1990s the evangelical school she attended was "strict but normal," she said The Bible was the guiding principle at Ministerio Verbo Vivo (Live Word) but general subjects were taught just like at any Brazilian school By the time she returned from college to teach at the school life at Verbo Vivo was barely recognizable Schoolbooks reviewed by the AP show heavy redactions the life cycle is taught via plant reproduction "The influence of American pastors was getting stronger and stronger in the school and church," Oliveira said wiping away tears during an interview at her home in nearby Betim "They stopped emphasizing the teaching of Portuguese It turned into mostly Bible study and a lot of abuse." Students deemed as "rebellious" were isolated from others during the school day made to read the Bible or shouted at for hours to "expunge devils," according to many former students and their parents the long palm tree-lined driveway from the gate to the school provided plenty of time for school employees to pull out regular books and make things look "normal," Oliveira said former members say the Brazilian churches introduced physical assaults and "blasting" — a Word of Faith Fellowship practice where ministers and congregants surround members and scream in their faces for hours to drive out demons Flavio Correa said his oldest son was slapped so many times during a blasting session by pastors at the Franco da Rocha church that he suffered several cuts on his face who left the church last year after 23 years "But I confided in them and you start to think it is good for the person Word of Faith Fellowship's reach into Brazil began with John Martin an American missionary who arrived in the late 1970s married a local woman and served as pastor at a Baptist church near Belo Horizonte Former members say Martin met Sam Whaley on an airplane in 1986 sparking a relationship that led both Whaleys and other ministers from Spindale to begin visiting Martin's church Martin founded Verbo Vivo in Belo Horizonte in 1987 and the Americans began to gain control of the parish Martin moved his church to Sao Joaquim de Bicas dozens of church families moved to a large plot of land in Betim Though land was cheaper outside Belo Horizonte former members cite another motivation: Isolating the flock from the outside world Children attended school on church land — property ringed by an 8-foot-high fence topped with barbed wire — and returned home to a neighborhood with a manned gate and its own 8-foot-high fence Adult members had little contact with the outside world going to work and returning straight home to the community Current congregants and former ones pass each other daily without speaking Former members say evangelical pastors Solange Granieri and Juarez De Souza Oliveira met the Whaleys at a religious conference in Sao Paulo in the mid-1980s De Souza Oliveira opened Ministerio Evangelico Comunidade Rhema in the Sao Paolo suburb of Franco da Rocha congregants in the second branch were encouraged to buy land in a remote area outside the city there was an emphasis on building close-knit communities modeled after the original sect in North Carolina almost two decades after the founding of Verbo Vivo the increasingly harsh treatment and strict rules imposed by the Americans led to a revolt by dozens of congregants in Sao Joaquim de Bicas contending in television interviews that Martin and the other American ministers who periodically visited were "brainwashing" and controlling congregants at Whaley's behest Their departures created a rupture so great — and led to so many complaints — that the human rights committee in the Minas Gerais state legislature held hearings Two dozen ex-members testified about abuses from forced isolation to being shaken and hit during services and at the church school Former students recounted being spanked with wooden spoons and yelled at for extended periods in front of their classmates testified he had been taken to Spindale four times as a teenager He said he was not put to work during the first trip instead spending his days praying and learning the church's doctrine everything for the sake of the sect," he testified Morais de Oliveira stood by his testimony but declined to be interviewed Parents also testified that their children were sent to the U.S and indoctrinated to the point that they turned against their families said his 19-year-old son and 22-year-old daughter had broken off contact after traveling to North Carolina don't try to speak to us anymore," Gonzaga recounted them telling him during a phone call from Spindale on Father's Day All future communication must go through church leaders in Spindale Gonzaga testified that he tried repeatedly to reach his children Many of the abuse allegations came down to the word of former members against church officials similar to the way investigations at the North Carolina parent church have stalled over the decades denied the allegations and called the disciplinary rules "guidelines and not prohibitions," according to news media reports at the time He declined to offer fresh comment to the AP The turmoil did lead to at least one change: Former members said there was a sharp drop in Martin's congregants While the Franco da Rocha branch did not suffer the same internal strife congregants who left in recent years estimate that the number of members there dropped from 700 a decade ago to 250 now a member of the Franco da Rocha church for a quarter-century said the dramatic changes in the church made her want to leave a decade ago but that she mustered the courage only last year was a conversation with Jane Whaley about her teenage son who liked a fellow congregant but was not allowed to talk to her because the sexes are strictly separated feels full of regret — from the birthdays not celebrated had doubts about the church and argued for years that they should leave citing cutting off contact with friends who are not members "Then you are like a caged animal that no longer knows how to live outside," she said Associated Press reporter Sarah DiLorenzo contributed from Sao Paulo The AP National Investigative Team can be reached at investigate@ap.org Follow Weiss on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mitchsweiss Follow Mohr on Twitter at http://twitter.com/holbrookmohr Follow Prengaman on Twitter at https://twitter.com/peterprengaman This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page which stands for Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage hosts a Women Trans* Femme workshop every Monday night from 3-7 p.m The workshop is open to anyone who identifies as female The workshop consists of teaching the attendees bicycle mechanic skills in an atmosphere where they feel comfortable allowing the members of the workshop to use communal tools and the help of the mechanics to guide and answer any questions           RELATED: LGBTQ+ fraternities and sororities balance exclusivity with inclusivity BICAS is a colorful place that sells various kinds of refurbished bikes helmets and biking clothes and offers classes on the mechanics of bicycles There are spaces that act as classrooms and work spaces with bikes galore I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know about just tools People would be like ‘Go grab channel locks,’ and you’re like ‘I don’t know what those are,’ which is something that people who are traditionally more masculine learn off the bat,” said Diana Englert one of the shop mechanics and WTF workshop instructors Englert explained she was interested in teaching skills in WTF worlds because she enjoyed teaching it to “folks who generally don’t have that opportunity.” less than two percent of working automotive mechanics were women No data were presented on what percentage of mechanics were transgender vs because I’ve been able to do my own work without the help of others,” said Ryn Briggs “A place like this is really good for that.” Briggs said knowing the skills to fixing a bike are important because of the bike tours she goes on which takes months of biking around and camping out someone immediately came up and asked me what I needed and then immediately got me started with the materials,” said Kate Gambel “[This] just shows how much they thought everything through because some bike places you go in and they either kind of leave you stranded to or they try to do everything for you.” Gambel said she has an interest in learning more about mechanics so she can fix other people’s bikes for extra money and for the sake of helping people out “I’m interested in learning as much as I can so that I can especially when I’m stranded,” Briggs said One of the benefits of attending the workshops is when learning how to do the skills oneself going into a bike mechanic is not necessary the attendants are saving their money every time they have a bike malfunction.  and I’ve had the pleasure to learn from friends how to fix my own bike and I like working somewhere we can make it less intimidating for people because I know I’ve been intimidated going into bike shops,” said Marr Mhina The WTF workshop provides the opportunity to learn bike mechanics to people who are not represented in mechanics and it’s also way less crowded,” Briggs said about WTF nights Briggs said that she also comes into BICAS on days that are not WTF days but considers it less helpful            RELATED: Astronomer to Race Across the West Many of the people who attend the workshop use their own bikes often some even as their main way of transportation “It’s a very empowering feeling and those of us who don’t [know how] typically weren’t taught those skills right off the bat are all the more grateful to learn it and all the more excited to learn them,” Englert said Follow Shannon Sneath on Twitter BICAS (Bicycle Inter Community Art & Salvage) hosted an Art Mart featuring several local artists at BICAS This is second annual Art Mart featuring creative DIY art for sale made by local artists and BICAS employees and Colin Holmes of Revolta Art talk with Ashley Chatz and her son about their favorite lizards while Chatz buys an art piece for her son at the BICAS second annual Art Mart Gabrielle Mohn talks to a cyclist about her art at the BICAS second annual Art Mart George Chatz holds a bat’leth inspired art piece made of bicycle gears created by Car Arteaga at the BICAS second annual Art Mart Jesus Garcia was selling hand made art works that originate from South American countires and Mexico all proceeds go to Bridges Across Borders a collective of artists and activists with the goal of dissolving imagined boarders that divide people at the BICAS second annual Art Mart laughs and talks with Kelly Komives about her art made of concrete at the BICAS second annual Art Mart Stacy Spurgeon-Shoults an independent welder and artist makes her first appearance at the BICAS second annual Art Mart Local artists have brought these new murals to Tucson since the beginning of the year and more are on the way Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Supporters of BICAS (Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage) will take part in the Hottest Day of the Year Bike Ride and Pool Party on Saturday Proceeds from the annual event will benefit general BICAS programs The Second Annual Hottest Day of the Year Bike Ride might just live up to its name this year organizers are optimistic that the Saturday event will raise funds and garner awareness for Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage BICAS is a nonprofit education and bicycle recycling center dedicated to promoting education art and a healthy environment while providing service and opportunity for those in need “We had a great response from the community last year I think the Tucson community really loves to celebrate its uniqueness and this is an opportunity that brings us together to celebrate one of the things that we love about our city,” said Kristin McRay who is helping organize the event for the second consecutive year “We are here for the summer and it is crazy hot but people still want to celebrate the things they do every day McRay is expecting about 75 riders to brave triple-digit heat for the 14-mile route which will be outfitted with mechanics to assist with flat tires or other problems as well as cooling stations with shade and water McRay emphasized the inclusiveness of the event and said there will be riders of all ages She said entire families also participate; the ride attracts recreational riders of all levels as well as seasoned bicycle commuters “It is so exciting to see young children and old folks riding together We have some real little kids that ride in tandem with parents .. but some young folks ride the whole way themselves,” McRay said and the sense of enthusiasm and community support helps people push themselves and everyone really responds to that.” Carlyn Arteaga was part of the support team; she served as “the caboose” last year bringing up the rear with an 8-year-old boy with lots of encouragement and lots of Otter Pops,” Arteaga said Arteaga said that it was heartening to see the diverse crowd that came together to support BICAS which is centered around community and diversity in a quest to make bicycle transportation accessible to everyone Its mission is accomplished through a variety of programs including Community Tools which offers shop time and tools for bicycle maintenance for a sliding scale fee; “community mechanics” and BICAS staff answer questions and provide assistance as needed The Earn-a-Bike Program is a work-trade program that allows participants to earn credit toward a bicycle that needs to be refurbished; participants in the Build-a-Bike class learn to build a bike from scratch and build one for BICAS to sell BICAS also offers sales and rentals of refurbished bikes BICAS offers a small art boutique and gallery featuring one-of-a-kind bike art More than 300 young people utilize the work-trade and community-service programs annually the organization has trained thousands of adults and youths in bicycle repair safety and maintenance while restoring thousands of bicycles It has served more than 100,000 people since inception who has been on staff with BICAS for three years said one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is teaching people that bikes are feasible forms of transportation “Lots of people come into the shop looking nervous and uncertain and leave that same day having overhauled several major components of a bike .. Arteaga experienced that uncertainty firsthand; when she began using her bike as her primary form of transportation seven years ago She had to take her bike to repair shops — until she discovered BICAS She said it has given her a great deal of independence and the continual sharing of skills is invaluable I didn’t know how to fix a bike and I had a couple stolen and I sort of gave up If people know how to lock a bike up correctly and how to fix just a few things I want to help people get over those barriers because biking can be such a positive influence in life,” she said Besides the environmental and financial advantages of commuter biking Arteaga appreciates the emotional and physical benefits “Many people can’t work time to go to the gym into their schedule Riding a bike also really helps you to get grounded and centered emotionally If I am having a hard day and am worried or stressed out about something and get on a bike then I am moving my body and I can work through it,” she said If I am parking at a bike rack and someone parks next to me There is a wonderful sense of belonging that you don’t have with cars,” she said Contact freelance writer Loni Nannini at ninch2@comcast.net Second Annual Hottest Day of the Year Bike Ride & Pool Party to benefit BICAS Cost: $25 per person; $50 for a family of four (must have one child under age 12); $15 per person for youth riders (age 18 and younger) An additional $10 procrastinator fee will be charged for registering Saturday Festivities include a light breakfast/coffee followed by a leisurely 14-mile ride from BICAS to Menlo Pool; a picnic lunch; entry to the pool at Menlo Park; a BICAS water bottle; music and beer courtesy of Dragoon Brewery Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community The Guatemalan woman arrested in the Arizona desert will be given the choice taking her newborn — a US citizen born Wednesday at Tucson Medica… An undocumented Mexican man who has lived in Tucson for almost 15 years was arrested by immigration agents outside St agency staff cuts and efficiency improvements are still under review VA Secretary Doug Collins said Monday i… A man with a gun was shot and killed by police Monday night northwest of Tucson inside popular Tohono Chul Park University of Arizona announces departure of senior vice president for health sciences says health sciences colleges will now be under the provost Click here to head back to the giant list of March events On Wednesday, March 22, we'll publish a list with even more events. Keep your eyes peeled for that or sign up for our Weekend Planner email newsletter to get the list sent straight to your inbox Old Tucson hosted two attractions last year Nightfall for Halloween and Yuletide over the holidays officially debuting "A Western Experience." There will be cowboy gunfights Where: Old Tucson, 201 Kinney Road It's recommended to purchase tickets in advance Visit the event page for more information Tucson Circus Arts is collaborating with Flam Chen to host a flow night where you can join performers and friends for skill-building with juggling Where: MSA Annex, 267 S. Avenida del Convento Visit the event page for more information Head to the Tucson Festival of Books on the University of Arizona Campus on March 4-5, 2023. Meet best-selling authors like Temple Grandin, Robert Crais and Lois Lowry. Explore interactive fun in Science City, stroll the midway packed with booksellers and local food vendors. Admission is FREE! You’ll find it all at the Tucson Festival of Books Visit Children's Museum Tucson for a free night of science and art including story times and pop-up science experiments Where: Children's Museum Tucson, 200 S. Sixth Ave. Visit the event page for more information See hundreds of artists from around the world plus enjoy bites from food vendors and hear the sounds of local musicians Where: Historic Fourth Avenue Visit the event page for more information Did you know that when you buy Girl Scout Cookies, you are directly supporting Girl Scout entrepreneurs and funding their future adventures, such as lifetime memories at summer camp? Every purchase you make guarantees that Girl Scouts capture the experience of life and leadership — it’s a win-win for everyone Get free access to recycled bike art parts tools and other materials and get creative you can donate your creation to BICAS or give a suggested donation to the nonprofit Check in at the front counter before heading to the art area Where: BICAS, 2001 N. Seventh Ave. Visit the event page for more information The Hotel Congress Séance Experience is a live recreation of a Victorian Era-theatrical séance "exactly as performed in 1800s" in the hotel's only third-floor room to survive its 1934 fire (be prepared to go up a few flights of stairs) Where: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.  Visit the event page for more information Celebrate Easter early with Tucson Parks and Recreation When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25. Egg hunts are at various times, organized by age. See the full schedule for details Where: Mansfield Park, 2000 N. Fourth Ave. Visit the event page for more information Listen and share stories about local neighborhood Barrio Kroeger Lane The stories will be used as inspiration for a mural that's set to be created later this year Where: Verdugo Park, 902 S. Verdugo Ave. Visit the event page for more information Kira Kira Collectibles is hosting an anime-themed event with a maid cafe Where: Ding Tea, 910 W. Irvington Road Visit the event page for more information Visit Tohono Chul's Garden Bistro on Saturday nights through May 13 for cocktails Where: Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte Visit the event page for more information Go back in time at the Renaissance Festival with an arts and crafts fair When: Saturdays and Sundays through April 2 Where: 12601 E. US Highway 60 Visit the event page for more information you'll get to enjoy dinner from Dante's Fire all while watching a magical theatrical performance Where: Dante's Fire, 2526 E. Grant Road Visit the event page for more information Philip's Plaza to shop from local makers and enjoy live music grab a bite to eat at one of the plaza's several eateries Where: St. Philip's Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave. Visit the event page for more information Head to The Tuxon for an evening of stargazing with Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association There will be complimentary wine and s'mores kits Where: The Tuxon, 960 S. Freeway Visit the event page for more information Local nonprofit BICAS started an art market in 2021 after art events were canceled during the pandemic taking away important revenue generators for Tucson artists The vendor list has yet to be announced for this year's art mart but stay tuned Visit the event page for more information Junior League of Tucson is hosting a family-friendly event where kids will be able to touch Where: Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3482 E. River Road Visit the event page for more information Enjoy a 45-minute yoga flow session at Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter and Sanctuary Where: Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter and Sanctuary, 5278 E. 21st St. Visit the event page for more information Midtown's Sam Hughes neighborhood is hosting a self-guided tour featuring 11 residences Three nearby eateries will also serve free samples and there will be activities in Himmel Park Where: Maps can be picked up at Himmel Park's north parking lot on the day of the event, 1000 N. Tucson Blvd. Visit the event page for more information Spend time with the cats at El Jefe Cat Lounge at these weekend events Where: El Jefe Cat Lounge, 3025 N. Campbell Ave. Visit the event page for more information Head to Rozet Nursery every second and fourth Sunday of the month for a market featuring local vendors Where: Rozet Nursery, 7707 E. 22nd St. Visit the event page for more information Explore Tucson's downtown area with walking tours hosted by the Presidio Museum Upcoming tours include the Turquoise Trail downtown; Mansions of Main Avenue; and Public Art and Murals When: Various dates, check out the calendar here Pre-registration may be required for these events Visit the event page for more information Some of the Tucson Women Shredders pose for a group photo during an outing Click here to head back to our giant cycling guide Tucson has a bike club for just about everyone someone in Tucson probably already started a group for it Bicycle Inter-Community Art & Salvage (BICAS) is a local nonprofit dedicated to “affordable bicycle transportation, education and creative recycling with our greater Tucson community,” according to their website BICAS hosts a Women, Trans* and Femme night ride that takes place on the last Monday of each month. For more information about the group, check out their website Bicycle Ranch Tucson offers a group ride around Tucson every Saturday morning The ride is roughly 56 miles and fairly fast-paced at a rate between 18-22 mph The shop is currently looking for riders to lead slower-paced rides “All store rides are designed to promote the enjoyment of cycling in a friendly group atmosphere,” their website states. For more information about the group, check out their website Cactus Cycling Club hosts multiple rides around Tucson each week Some of the popular routes go along The Loop or in Saguaro National Park and Mount Lemmon Note: Cactus Cycling Club requires a $15 monthly membership $30 for an annual membership or $50 for an annual family membership for three people If you’re not quite ready to commit to a full membership The club also gives back through the Adopt-a-Highway program and donates to a local bike organization every year. For more information about the club, check out their website The Civano Cycling Club typically meets at Civano Boulevard and Drexel Road on Tucson’s southeast side Expect to ride through places like Saguaro National Park East and Fantasy Island The group also participates in local biking events like El Tour de Tucson For more information about the club, check out their website El Grupo Youth Cycling is focused on empowering local youth ages 12-18 through bicycles. On average, the organization serves around 200 people annually through its programs and summer bike camp, according to El Grupo’s website The organization also has a group for younger kiddos El Grupo also hosts an annual fall ride to help further their mission. For more information, check out their website Local shop Fair Wheel Bikes hosts bike rides on Tuesdays and Saturdays Fair Wheel Bikes has been around for five decades and under the same ownership for over 40 years. For more information, check out their website Familias Unidas Ganando Accesibilidad (FUGA) is a local grassroots coalition bringing bike accessibility to Tucson’s south and west sides. FUGA hosts two monthly bike rides — one on Tucson’s west side on the second Sunday of the month and one on the south side on the last Friday of the month The coalition was founded in 2018 and has hosted numerous bike rides with riders of all ages “We started realizing that we needed a coalition of folks that knew how to represent their community, their barrio, their streets, because we’re from them,” FUGA co-founder Vanessa Gallego told #ThisIsTucson in 2022 For more information about the coalition, check out their website The Greater Arizona Bicycling Association (GABA) is one of the largest bike clubs in Tucson and Southern Arizona. According to its MeetUp page But don’t fret — not all 1,700 members are going on the same ride at once GABA hosts weekly rides with various difficulty levels through different parts of town. They even offer overnight rides during certain times of the year. On top of their bike club, the organization advocates for “bicycle riding for recreation, fitness, and transportation” and bike education and repair, according to their website For more information about the club, check out their website Project Bike Club is another Tucson club centered around local youth setting them up with bike skills they can use throughout their lives The goal is for riders to build confidence while biking in a non-competitive environment The organization offers a 12-week after-school bike club program for $600 and a summer bike club program for $500 If you’re looking for something short-term Project Bike Club also hosts weekend trail rides once a month for $40 For more information about the club, check out their website Local nonprofit Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists promotes mountain biking in ways that are deemed environmentally and socially responsible The organization hosts numerous mountain biking events and group rides every month including rides where the group contributes to trail maintenance and clean-up which helps keep routes accessible for all Memberships start at $40 per person or $60 for families. For more information, check out their website Tucson Women Shredders is a local women’s mountain biking group that goes on monthly bike rides through Tucson Mountain Park and Catalina State Park the group also participates in trail maintenance days and goes on mountain biking trips to places like Patagonia and Greer “We've been trying to get more people involved from different backgrounds because mountain biking in the last 10 years was a heavily male-dominated sport,” Sarita Mendez, a ride leader and communications coordinator for the group told #ThisIsTucson in 2022 For more information about the group, check out their Instagram page If you ask almost anyone in Tucson about local ride groups, chances are they’ll tell you about the Tuesday Night Ride The ride is one of the largest weekly bike gatherings in Tucson with dozens participating in the event that was started over 15 years ago The group meets at 8:30 p.m. at the flagpole near Old Main on the University of Arizona campus. For more information, check out their Facebook group Get discounts and deals on dining and shopping at the big AND local brands you love. Save on pet insurance, identity theft restoration, personal services, discounts on entertainment, home improvement and plan your next trip with your own travel concierge. Explore the savings and possibilities with Checking PLUS. Visit HughesFCU.org/PLUS Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Metrics details Various vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) affect dogs worldwide with their diversity and force of infection being usually higher in the tropics Cross-sectional studies have been conducted to investigate the prevalence of VBPs in dogs but data from longitudinal studies are scarce we assessed the prevalence and the year-crude incidence (YCI) of Leishmania spp and other VBPs in privately-owned dogs from two geographical regions of Brazil A total of 823 dogs were initially screened for Leishmania spp by both serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Pernambuco) were randomly selected for the longitudinal study These dogs were tested for various VBPs at baseline 131 (15.9%) were positive for Leishmania spp Out of the 307 dogs enrolled in the longitudinal study 120 (39.1%) were lost for different reasons (e.g the baseline prevalence and YCI were as follows: 16.5% and 7.1% for Anaplasma spp.; 81.6% and 100% for Babesia spp.; 0% and 1.3% (only one faint positive) for Dirofilaria immitis; 37.9% and 22.9% for Ehrlichia spp.; 19.5% and 43.8% for Leishmania spp the baseline prevalence and YCI were as follows: 45.1% and 38.3% for Anaplasma spp.; 79.9% and 96.0% for Babesia spp.; 36.3% and 39.8% for D immitis; 64.7% and 58.5% for Ehrlichia spp.; 14.7% and 19.6% for Leishmania spp Anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were not detected in any of the samples tested herein infection was significantly higher in São Joaquim de Bicas We confirmed a high prevalence and YCI of various VBPs among privately-owned dogs in two geographical regions of Brazil Our data also indicate that the risk of infection varies significantly for individual VBPs and between the regions which may be related to several factors that are still poorly understood Prevalence data cannot per se be used to infer incidence also considering that seroconversion may take months to occur and that antibodies produced against certain pathogens may last for months we estimated the year-crude incidence (YCI) of infection by Leishmania spp based on data gathered from two cohorts of privately-owned dogs followed up for 1 year and whose new infections were diagnosed by serological and molecular tests infections by other VBPs were also investigated This study was conducted from September 2015 to November 2016 The first site was the municipality of Goiana (7°33′39″S Goiana has a tropical savanna climate with dry-summer characteristics which corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories “Aw” and “As” The mean annual temperature and precipitation are 24.9 °C and 1924 mm The mean monthly temperature ranges from 23.3 °C to 26 °C whereas the mean monthly precipitation ranges from 46 mm to 307 mm The second site was the municipality of São Joaquim de Bicas (20°02′56″S São Joaquim de Bicas has a humid subtropical climate with dry-winter characteristics which corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category “Cwa” The mean annual temperature and precipitation are 21.5 °C and 1348 mm The mean monthly temperature ranges from 18.3 °C to 23.9 °C whereas the mean monthly precipitation ranges from 10 mm to 287 mm The study population included initially 823 privately-owned dogs which were screened for anti-Leishmania spp Part (n = 632) of these dogs was also tested for Leishmania minicircle kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) by real-time PCR From the negatives to both serology and PCR and complying with some inclusion criteria (i.e untreated with ectoparasiticides with known efficacy against VBPs availability of written owner consent form) 307 (168 males and 139 females) dogs were randomly selected for the longitudinal study with age ranging from 2 months to 13 years (average = 2.7 years) Except for 76 dogs whose owners reported (at least once) the use of ectoparasiticides (39 in Goiana all dogs were not treated to prevent ectoparasite infestations throughout the entire observation period a 5 ml blood sample was collected from each dog Approximately 3 ml of blood were added to BD SST™ gel tubes and the remaining blood (2 ml) were collected in EDTA (purple cap) collection tubes BD SST™ gel tubes were centrifuged at 2000× g for 10 min for serum separation Aliquots of sera were then immediately tested as described below Remaining serum samples and EDTA-blood samples were frozen at − 20 °C dogs were tested for antibodies to Leishmania spp using at least one of the following tests: ELISA/S7® (Biogene) All dogs randomly selected for the longitudinal study had to be negative by the SNAP® Leishmania Test (and also by PCR) which was the one used to retest the dogs after 8 and 12 months All dogs included in the longitudinal study were also tested (at baseline after 8 and 12 months) by a rapid ELISA (SNAP® 4Dx Plus Test USA) that detected antibodies to Anaplasma spp dogs were tested by an indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) that detected antibodies to Babesia spp All serological tests were performed using serum samples and according to the manufacturer’s instructions EDTA-treated blood samples collected from dogs were subjected to DNA extraction using a commercial kit (PureLink® Mini Kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions The quantity and purity of the extracted DNA were assessed using a NanoDrop 2000c Spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific USA) and samples were then stored at − 20 °C infantum genomic DNA (MHOM/BR/76/M4192) at different concentrations (1 ng A master mix with no DNA was used as no template control (NTC) Real-time PCR reactions were performed using QuantStudio® 5 Real-Time PCR system (Applied Biosystems USA) and results were analysed using QuantStudio Design and Analysis Software v1.4 (Applied Biosystems Each reaction contained 8.5 μl of DNA-free water 12.5 μl of GoTaq® Colorless Master Mix (Promega 1.0 μl of each primer at a concentration of 25 pmol/μl and 2 μl of DNA sample Thermal cycling conditions were as follows: initial denaturation at 95 °C for 2 min and a final extension step at 72 °C for 5 min DNA extracted from the blood of a dog infected by B vogeli was used as positive control and a master mix with no DNA as NTC Each reaction contained 7.5 μl of DNA-free water 1.5 μl of each primer at a concentration of 10 pmol/μl and 2 μl of DNA sample Thermal cycling conditions were as follows: denaturation at 95 °C for 1 min and a final extension step at 72 °C for 7 min DNA extracted from the blood of a dog infected by A platys was used as positive control and a master mix with no DNA as NTC 1.5 μl of each primer at a concentration of 10 pmol/μl 12.5 μl GoTaq® Colorless Master Mix (Promega USA) and 2 μl of the sample DNA to be tested Thermal cycling conditions were as follows: denaturation at 95 °C for 30 s with a final extension step at 72 °C for 1 min DNA extracted from the blood of a dog infected by E canis was used as positive control and a master mix with no DNA as NTC All conventional PCR assays were run on a Veriti® 96-Well Thermal Cycler (Applied Biosystems USA) and amplicons were analysed by 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized in ultraviolet light Baseline prevalence was calculated for each of the two study locations considering dogs positive to one or more tests was calculated using data from all dogs initially screened whereas for other pathogens it was calculated using data from dogs included in the longitudinal study Exact 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for each baseline prevalence YCI was expressed as percentage and calculated considering the number of dogs positive at the interim and/or at the final follow-up using the following formula: number of positive dogs/(number of negative dogs at baseline − number of dogs lost to follow up) × 100 “dogs lost to follow up” were those tested at baseline but removed from the study before the interim follow-up (i.e we used the last observation carried forward (LOCF) method so data from dogs tested at the interim follow-up but removed before the final follow-up were included in the calculations dogs positive at the interim follow-up and eventually negative at the final follow-up were considered as positive The differences in baseline prevalence and YCI for each pathogen between dogs from São Joaquim de Bicas and Goiana were tested using Chi-square test, with a P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Calculations and statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad QuickCalcs (http://www.graphpad.com/quickcalcs/) and BioEstat version 5.3 (Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá While the illiteracy rate is generally higher in Goiana as compared to São Joaquim de Bicas a detailed analysis of individual dog owner education level would be necessary to assess whether this could be a main driver for the higher prevalence and YCI in São Joaquim de Bicas Out of the 307 privately-owned dogs enrolled in the longitudinal study 120 (39.1%) were lost during the 1-year observation period for different reasons (e.g The losses were higher in Goiana (n = 87; 42.7%) as compared to São Joaquim de Bicas (n = 33; 32.0%) including higher exposure to sand fly vectors which may be ultimately related to poor housing conditions our results may suggest that the tick population present in Goiana may be more capable of transmitting E canis as compared to the population of São Joaquim de Bicas this could also be related to seasonal patterns to tick infestations on dogs in these municipalities further studies are needed to confirm the presence and significance (if any) of borreliosis in dogs from this part of the world Longitudinal studies on the very same population of dogs are challenging to conduct especially with privately-owned dogs that are untreated against ectoparasites One of the major challenges is the high proportion of dogs lost to follow-up data generated herein will be useful for future studies and analyses perhaps also for different pathogens not considered herein This study confirms high prevalence and YCI of various VBPs in dogs in two geographical regions of Brazil Our data also indicate that the risk of infection varies significantly for individual pathogens and between the regions which may be related to several biotic (e.g climate and socioeconomic status of dog owners) and abiotic (e.g vector competence and capacity of different tick populations) factors that are still poorly understood YCI may be somewhat underestimated in this study considering the ectoparasitic treatments that some dogs received and considering that the LOCF method for missing data at the final follow-up was applied to all dogs concerned including dogs that were negative at the interim Such dogs might have become positive until the final follow-up but were considered to be negative within the analyses the impact is expected to be low as only limited numbers of dogs were concerned The data supporting the conclusions of this article are included within the article and its additional files Raw data can be shared with other researchers upon specific request Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico Managing canine vector-borne diseases of zoonotic concern: part one Managing canine vector-borne diseases of zoonotic concern: part two haematological and biochemical findings in young dogs naturally infected by vector-borne pathogens Are vector-borne pathogen co-infections complicating the clinical presentation in dogs Best practices for preventing vector-borne diseases in dogs and humans Toward the formation of a Companion Animal Parasite Council for the Tropics (CAPCT) and humans in Brazil: opening the black box Ecology of Lutzomyia longipalpis in an area of visceral leishmaniasis transmission in north-eastern Brazil Vector-borne parasitic zoonoses: emerging scenarios and new perspectives Human intraocular filariasis caused by Dirofilaria sp The burden of neglected tropical diseases in Brazil 1990–2016: a subnational analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 The epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis: transmission rates estimated from a cohort study in Amazonian Brazil Cross-sectional and longitudinal epidemiologic surveys of human and canine Leishmania infantum visceral infections in an endemic rural area of southeast Brazil (Pancas Serologic prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Brazil Frequency of antibodies anti-Ehrlichia canis Borrelia burgdorferi and Dirofilaria immitis antigens in dogs from microrregion Ilhéus-Itabuna A serological and molecular survey of Babesia vogeli Exposure to vector-borne pathogens in privately owned dogs living in different socioeconomic settings in Brazil infection in rural dogs from remote indigenous villages in north-eastern Brazil Advantages of real-time PCR assay for diagnosis and monitoring of canine leishmaniosis sensitive and low-cost real-time PCR assay for the detection of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis kinetoplast DNA in canine blood samples Coinfection with multiple tick-borne pathogens in a walker hound kennel in North Carolina Serological and molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia species in dogs from Minnesota Prevention of endemic canine vector-borne diseases using imidacloprid 10% and permethrin 50% in young dogs: a longitudinal field study Preventing zoonotic canine leishmaniasis in northeastern Brazil: pet attachment and adoption of community Leishmania prevention Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Cidades. http://www.cidades.ibge.gov.br/xtras/home.php Updated canine infection rates for Dirofilaria immitis in areas of Brazil previously identified as having a high incidence of heartworm-infected dogs Heat treatment and false-positive heartworm antigen testing in ex vivo parasites and dogs naturally infected by Dirofilaria repens and Angiostrongylus vasorum Molecular survey and genetic characterization of tick-borne pathogens in dogs in metropolitan Recife (north-eastern Brazil) Molecular epidemiology of the emerging zoonosis agent Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Foggie First report of Ehrlichia ewingii detected by molecular investigation in dogs from Brazil Babesia gibsoni genotype Asia in dogs from Brazil Prevention of canine leishmaniosis in a hyper-endemic area using a combination of 10% imidacloprid/4.5% flumethrin Efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas Comparative evaluation of the vector competence of four South American populations of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus group for the bacterium Ehrlichia canis the agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis A review on the occurrence of companion vector-borne diseases in pet animals in Latin America Download references We thank the Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco and Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Goiana for their logistic support during field activities Thanks also due to all veterinarians and students involved in the field activities and Gabriela Dantas Torres Guimarães for data quality control Publication of this paper has been sponsored by Bayer Animal Health in the framework of the 15th CVBD® World Forum Symposium This study was sponsored by Bayer Animal Health and Idexx Laboratories provided the SNAP 4Dx tests FDT is the recipient of a research fellowship from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico CNPq (CNPq; 313118/2018-3) Joanna Lúcia de Almeida Alexandre & Yury Yzabella da Silva Centro Universitário do Vale do Ipojuca (UNIFAVIP/Wyden) Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais Guilherme Ribeiro Valle & Vitor Márcio Ribeiro Matthias Pollmeier & Gertraut Altreuther YYS and LGS performed the diagnostic tests FDT performed the statistical analyses and wrote the first draft MP and GA provided scientific advice for the study and reviewed the manuscript All authors read and approved the final manuscript The Committee on Ethics in the Use of Animals (CEUA project number: 66/2014) of the Aggeu Magalhães Institute (Fiocruz) approved the procedures used in this study Dog owners signed a consent form before the inclusion of their animals in this study KD and MP are employees of Bayer Animal Health GmbH FDT and DO are members of the CVBD World Forum whose activities are sponsored by Bayer Animal Health This study and the publication of this article were sponsored by Bayer Animal Health IDEXX Laboratories provided the SNAP 4Dx tests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Total number of dogs tested by serology and PCR for different pathogens at each time point (baseline in Goiana (Pernambuco) and São Joaquim de Bicas (Minas Gerais) Numbers are expressed as “positive/total (positivity)” unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04056-8 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Cathy Franklin creates beautiful sculptures using recycled bike parts and other metal scraps Cathy Franklin stands next to a five foot metal shark sculpture she and her son Nathan created together 52 demonstrates basic welding techniques in her home studio Bicycle cogs and gears are just a couple pieces Cathy Franklin works with when creating metal sculptures Sometimes Cathy Franklin has an idea and sometimes the parts give her the idea Cathy Franklin created this dragon for the BICAS silent auction out of recycled bike parks Cathy Franklin created this sea turtle using bike parts Creating this elephant took Cathy Franklin about 50 hours The 52-year-old mother of three creates intricately detailed works of art by welding bike parts and other used pieces of metal together Piles of bike cogs and metal scraps sit on shelves in Cathy Franklin's carport Some are shiny and perfect while others are discolored All of them will eventually add beauty and character to one of Cathy's metal sculptures "There are so many bike parts that are so beautiful and I love to incorporate them in my art," Cathy says They've had a life and they have a story to tell and to be able to give them a new place is really cool." Franklin has only been making metal art for about three years In the yard of her east side home two shark sculptures hang from a tree And the other is the first one she worked on with him Cathy had been many things: preschool teacher In 2015 she designed a sea turtle and sea horse wall hanging to be in the BICAS silent auction and had her son and husband weld them When she saw those pieces in the auction that year "I think my son could see I was going to be asking him to weld quite a bit for me in the future," Franklin says "Instead he told me that I could learn to weld and he would teach me." She accepted his offer and the two got to work Nathan started bending metal for a 5-foot shark and taught his mother welding techniques When Nathan went back to Flagstaff where he was attending college but I could see progress in both my technique and art," Cathy says she creates nature inspired sculptures all on her own Cathy created a sculpture inspired by the Reid Park Zoo's little elephant Nandi It included a metal table with grass and a cute little cricket All made from recycled metal and bike parts She says it took her about 50 hours to complete the project She mostly makes larger pieces for commissions or for benefit silent auctions but she also makes smaller pieces like sea turtles "I like making animal sculptures," Franklin says "Nature is what motivates me to make my art." Cathy pulls out a couple large flat metal pieces and says they will be the feet of a giant 13-foot giraffe she is going to create for her front yard "This is the first one I'm making for myself and I'm gonna put it out there like it's eating from that tree," Cathy says Cathy's process starts in a couple of different ways Sometimes she has an idea in mind and other times the metal parts inspire her to create something sometimes the parts speak to me," Cathy says 'oh this has to be made into a such and such,' and then I'll look at pictures to help me get the features." A giraffe figurine sits on one of her work tables She says she'll use it to help design the sculpture "Then I'll look up (on Google) how big the legs are how big the body is and how big the neck is to get an idea of where to start," Cathy says For this big piece I'm working from the legs up." Her husband Mark is an engineer and will help with logistics to make sure it'll stand Cathy dons her safety gear — a helmet with a face cover that adjusts to the light hair tie and gloves — then draws some lines on a scrap piece of metal and starts to demonstrate how to do a basic weld "My left hand is what's giving me stability and with my right hand I'm pressing the trigger and pulling it across," she says There's a green spark and a crackling sound as she slowly moves across the work table "You know it's right when it sounds like sizzling bacon," Cathy says This is how it goes until the parts stay together There's another worktable with power tools in the backyard Three dogs excitedly approach as we go through the gate which has been topped with flowers made out of bike cogs The next step is buffing the pieces to make them smooth while leaving some things like variations in color to add character "I like that purplish color," Cathy says before buffing the rest of the owl ornament we're making She goes out front and places the owl on a board and sprays it with clear coat abrasions and dirty nails I still love the process," she says Cathy Franklin's art can be seen on FB at Cate Franklin Designs Jessica Gonzales started out drawing and painting on cardboard. This story is the first of a series called "What's your side hustle?" We want to learn about… The Tucson Museum of Art is getting ready to open a new, highly regarded show, 30 Americans, which opens Oct. 5 and features the work of African American contemporary artists. This one will take you back in time with its old-world charm and feel under a 550-seat big top tent and classic performances. If Jim Hensen were on Cartoon Network with stories told by Outkast, you'd have the creations of Tucson artist Cynthia Naugle. We ❤️ celebrating the amazing moms in our community.  with son Clyde Neiman and Jack Russell terrier Lupe That’s where this Tucson bicycling power couple met for the first time ‘That’s the nicest guy I’ve ever met,’” says Walzak an event that closes Tucson streets to cars so cyclists skaters and others can hit the road in a car-free zone “But nothing happened for a couple of years.” Fast-forward to a 2009 reunion at BICAS (Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage) the formation of Living Streets Alliance and the birth of their 8-month-old son now works as the program manager for bike encouragement at Living Streets Alliance and Neiman is an artist and shop coordinator for BICAS At the center of it all is their shared belief that bicycling as transportation is for anybody — for professionals “That’s how Cyclovia started,” Walzak says “We wanted to create an event where we literally removed all barriers to bicycling — including the cars temporarily — so that people could give bicycling a try again.” has merged two lifelong passions — riding bikes and collecting junk Neiman found treasure in the piles of trash pushed to the curb “I would bring home a VCR and my parents would say ‘We don’t need a VCR,’ but I would take it apart,” he says He learned to weld during a yearlong class in Wisconsin and now uses that skill to repurpose old bike parts tagging along with a friend who wanted to visit the gem showcase The city — and the funky bike racks on Fourth Avenue — piqued his interest He snagged a bike shop job so he could stick around a bit longer He started volunteering at BICAS and about 10 years ago stepped into a paid position The nonprofit salvages and repairs bikes and bike parts and teaches others how to do the same “It was a cool combination of things I was interested in working on bikes and using unusable junk to make something into art,” says Neiman One of his favorite pieces might be the BICAS saguaro — about 8 feet tall — made out of bike rims often points people to Neiman for his work Rich is now youth program and exhibitions director for the Drawing Studio and arts and culture coordinator for the Tucson Jewish Community Center Neiman’s work is visible around town — obelisks on University Boulevard a park bench in the Barrio San Antonio Neighborhood He recently contracted with the Los Reales Landfill for a public art project “He’s this bike alchemist,” says Nick Georgiou an artist with a studio in Citizens Warehouse rusty parts into brilliant art is quite fantastic.” Walzak’s journey to Tucson’s bicycling scene started when she was a teenager in Flagstaff and discovered her mother’s dusty 10-speed finding out there’s this thing in the garage that can get you away from home is amazing,” she says When she moved to Tucson in 2006 to earn a master’s degree in education from the University of Arizona she knew a little about getting around Tucson on two wheels was the city’s alternate modes coordinator in the 1990s and would show his daughter the best bike shortcuts on her visits I was totally unprepared to get around on my bike,” Walzak says “I found myself riding across Campbell Avenue She started joining the Tuesday night bike rides that still meet at the Old Main flagpole weekly and slowly learned the easiest ways to get around the city When she started working with BICAS as the education outreach coordinator in 2009 she noticed the basement bike shop was serving immigrants “Kylie was a student in the build-a-bike class I taught (at BICAS) and was excited about bikes,” says Ignacio Rivera de Rosales He now runs the Safe Routes to School program for Pima County “She went from being mechanically excited about bikes to saying Through her involvement with the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Downtown Links Citizen Advisory Committee Walzak met like-minded people who together launched the nonprofit advocacy organization Living Streets Alliance in 2011 For its work toward making Tucson more accessible by foot Living Streets Alliance was recently named Advocacy Organization of the Year at the National Bike Summit in Washington through his contract with the Alliance for Biking and Walking and the League of American Bicyclists to make the awards Neiman made an award out of recycled bike parts to mail to D.C “One of the biggest things that Kylie and that organization has brought to the table is making it something that is for all ages and abilities,” says Ann Chanecka the city’s bicycle and pedestrian program coordinator “They are advocating for it to be safer and easier for anyone to walk and bicycle.” In addition to starting the biannual Cyclovia Tucson and collaborating on the Safe Routes to School program Living Streets Alliance has organized family-fun bicycle outings done surveys of neighborhood walkability and promoted streetcar safety everything seems accessible on a bicycle,” Georgiou says “It seems like even when they got their house (in Menlo Park) Troy was always telling me he discovered a new bike route.” With the birth of their son Clyde Neiman in July Walzak and Neiman found bicycling everywhere less doable and I think that has made me gain more empathy for families out there,” Walzak says “I feel like we are now like a lot of families in Tucson who are like I’m juggling kids’ schedules and juggling my work schedule.’” both have flexible jobs and still manage to bike often “We’re waiting for him to be bike-strong,” Walzak says of Clyde and that’s generally when people start with their kids and bikes.” Walzak took Clyde on his first ride in a child seat strapped to the back of her bike a week ago even though she is a new mom now,” says Janet Miller Miller credits Walzak for inspiring her to lead silly themed bike rides as circus performers or wearing tricorn hats and yelling Walzak and Neiman’s work “brings the joy of bicycling to all kinds of people,” Miller says Walzak has learned tinkering tricks she never knew growing up with a single mom Bike tours together around Arizona and down the West Coast taught Walzak an even greater freedom in bicycling: They could just ride “Anybody — literally anybody — can get on a bike and take it wherever they need to go There are tricks to the trade that make it easier .. and there are lots of resources in Tucson to learn those tricks Contact reporter Johanna Willett at jwillett@tucson.com or 573-4357 roller skate — anything but drive — at Cyclovia Tucson The event closes certain streets to cars so people can get some exercise and sunshine on car-free roads Where: Route begins at the Lost Barrio shops on South Park Avenue and ends at Himmel Park at North Tucson Boulevard and East First Street More information: Vist Cycloviatucson.org As part of Bike Fest Tucson, April is full of other bike-related events. Visit bikefesttucson.com for more information Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Irene describes events in April for Bike Fest Jannie Cox has devoted her retirement to getting Tucson moving From business startups to social media to gardening A profile of Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik Few of the bike thefts reported to Tucson police result in arrests or bikes being returned Although the bicycle was an advised means of mobility in times of pandemic the Municipality of Cascais decided to suspend its shared system biCas are back with far fewer bikes and stations These were the first shared bikes in the Lisbon metropolitan area but when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020 the Municipality of Cascais decided to deactivate the service for no apparent reason At a time when mobility needed to be reduced but it was still necessary to leave the house - whether for supplies or so-called "hygienic rides" - the cycling has been harnessed by many cities as an excellent form of mobility over short distances and without social contact The municipality of Cascais will not have seen the bicycle in the same way which works just as you would expect a bike sharing system to work: you choose a station and return it at the same or another station Use is free and for a maximum of 60 minutes per use But if the bikes that are at the stations are only for residents, students and workers (with the Viver Cascais card), there are several kiosks that allow the use of these same bicycles by tourists and other non-residents there are five kiosks: two in the town of Cascais you can rent conventional or electric bikes and also helmets and locks for periods of 30 minutes to 1 day There are 12 stations spread throughout the county There are three docks between Carcavelos and Praia da Torre/Universidade NOVA; two more in Estoril; four more in Cascais; two in Bairro Chesol; and one in Malveira da Serra The biCas system works every day of the year via the app and between 7 am and 8 pm The biCas service was originally launched in 2001 and provided bicycles for leisure at three points in the town of Cascais it was renewed with 84 stations planned for strategic locations such as public transport hubs access was possible with an NFC card or cell phone app and there were four types of subscriptions: daily The docks could be used both to take biCas and to park private bicycles since there was a complementary mode of bike parking which gave access to a dock and its lock However, between 2016 and the present time, not only has the number of active stations been reduced, but also the number of docks at some stations. For example, in Carcavelos, there were even two dozen docks and today only two are available the docks will have been replaced by a kiosk for renting biCas to tourists and visitors; doing the math from 84 planned stations to the current 12 electric scooter rental has been added to the biCas rental About the suspension of the dockside bike-sharing system, the Cascais Municipality clarified to the newspaper Polygraph, a year ago which made that decision "because it is not possible to ensure that bicycles are disinfected with the regularity necessary for safe use by everyone"and that this pause "was taken advantage of to make a number of improvements to the service" the municipality led by Carlos Carreira promised a relaunch for "very soon with new features and more soft mobility solutions for the citizens of Cascais and all MobiCascais users" one year after the promise of brevity and three years after the pandemicHere the biCas are out again Note that bike rental at the kiosks has never been suspended except at the critical moments of the pandemic It should also be noted that other cities like Lisbon never suspended their bike share systems; in the capital GIRA users were made aware of bike disinfection and the system was always available and was used both by people looking to avoid contact in public transport and for "hygienic rides" the city opened itself to private rental systems namely to Ridemovi and the Birdwho started sharing electric bikes in the county in the summer of last year MB Way: 933 140 217 (indicar “LPP”) Ou clica aqui Podes escrever-nos para [email protected] O LPP / Lisbon For People é um jornal local dedicado à cidade e à área metropolitana de Lisboa editado de forma totalmente independente e sem fins lucrativos ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com The International Day of Yoga 2021 celebrations was held in Bahrain virtually based on the theme “Holistic Approach to Yoga for Immunity” It was organised by the Bahrain India Cultural and Arts Services (BICAS) under the patronage of the Indian Embassy in Bahrain A number of Bahraini and Indian yoga enthusiasts and members of various Indian associations also participated in the event Dr Sahasrabuddhe congratulated the Indian Embassy and BICAS for organising the event He said that Yoga was completely non-denominational and holistic an ever-evolving science of human well-being Dr Sayed highlighted the importance of yoga for the global community and its benefits particularly in these challenging times of the Covid 19 pandemic Mr Srivastava congratulated BICAS for organising the event in a befitting manner and thanked all Indian associations and yoga enthusiasts in association with whom the embassy will be holding series of events for The International Day of Yoga 2021 celebrations throughout this month He particularly thanked his Bahraini friends for their enthusiastic participation which shows the depth and breadth of close and historical bilateral relations and the people to connect between the two countries Flooding disaster: A Brazilian Indigenous leader Vice Cacique Sucupira of the Pataxo-Hahahae tribe observes flood damage in São Joaquim de Bicas POPE Francis has prayed for flood victims in Brazil hard hit in recent weeks causing scores of deaths and forcing major displacement The Holy Father’s thought for Brazil came after he prayed the Sunday Angelus with the crowd of faithful gathered in St “I express my nearness to the people hit by strong rain and flooding in various regions of Brazil during these past weeks,” Pope Francis said “I am especially praying for the victims and their families May God sustain the efforts of those who are providing relief.” hundreds of thousands of families have faced devastating flooding in the state of Bahia The floods have displaced more than 93,000 people and have taken 26 lives People are scrounging for their few remaining belongings the country has continued building dams in order to expand hydropower despite the havoc caused to the environment and Indigenous communities And when they burst — which is increasingly likely as climate change worsens — they leave behind devastation following some of the heaviest rainfall in the history of Bahia the overflowing of local rivers led to two dams bursting within 24 hours at least 12 people have died in landslides since the weekend The area has been pounded by intense rainfall and authorities are monitoring dams that could also burst Minas Gerais’s 145 municipalities were in a state of emergency due to flooding with more than 17,000 people forced to leave their homes State authorities were monitoring 42 dams in the state three of which were considered at high risk Water was overflowing the retaining wall of the Carioca hydroelectric dam below which riverside residents had evacuated their homes Minas Gerais was the site of two recent tragedies resulting from dam ruptures more than 200 people died when a dam in Brumadinho gave way the collapse of another dam killed 19 people The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929 accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians who have walked upon and cared for this land for thousands of years We acknowledge the continued deep spiritual attachment and relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to this country and commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader Another Comporta opening to satisfy the endless needs of tourists desperate to experience the magic of the Alentejo for those hoping to travel without formality Deep within the Portuguese countryside is this brand new where whitewashed buildings sit in perfect silence Independente doesn't want to be just another Comporta opening for those popping in for a long weekend but a getaway for travellers and locals alike who want to while away the evenings with a glass of local wine in hand and stay up late to watch the night sky Check-in takes place at the small reception alongside the restaurant so you can sense the vibe and take in staff prepping for dinner service colourful dragonflies swoop overhead as music (mercifully nothing like tacky lobby music) plays from the invisible speakers It’s an ideal place to spend an afternoon; sun-seekers can recline on the day beds while there’s a shady escape by the wooden bar which serves up an inventive cocktail list (the gin-based ones particularly hit the spot on a summer's day) Martim and Bernardo D'Eça Leal and Afonso Queiroz are responsible for four Independente properties The newest Comporta offering is the first outside of a city and therefore a true passion project for the team overlooking one of the city's most famous viewpoints But while Independente Comporta is undoubtedly more upmarket The brothers want to make travelling about creating communities and that's why the sense of belonging here is so strong here Inspired by Portuguese 'aldeias' (small villages) Independente is home to 34 courtyard villas – ranging from studios to 5-bedroom houses – and 40 hotel rooms Some of the villas were available to buy (almost all have been snapped up now) which means that the property has many returning guests adding to the sense of community the brand is so keen to build Within the rooms, it's clear that design – and most importantly, the local area – was at the forefront of their minds when planning started. Almost all decor comes from local artisans; for example, for the lighting, the team picked ceramic wall sconces handmade in the neighbouring town of Melides and handwoven lamps from Évora following the traditional decorative techniques of the region Artwork is in the form of hanging rugs made by weavers from the Alentejo who used traditional techniques to create patterns especially designed for the hotel which were so good we genuinely considered enquiring about buying The small but wonderfully calm Aura Spa offers treatments that cater to guests' specific needs. Each one is designed to pay tribute to the natural ingredients of the Alentejo coastal region; facials and body care treatments use rice or guests can choose from their own signature massages and therapeutic treatments focused on energy such as sound healing so guests may need to book well in advance to ensure they get the treatment they wish for But the inventive treatment menu from manager Filipa is worth checking out and the 30 minutes that you get post-treatment to enjoy the small indoor pool (complete with massaging jet beds) and relaxation area is the icing on the cake The hotel’s restaurant, Maroto (meaning the naughty one in Portuguese) serves up small plates that bring a fun twist to Alentejan classic (hence the name). Ingredients have been carefully selected from local producers, and wines come from smaller winemakers, rather than the big names you might see in most parts of Portugal Alentejo black pork and dogfish soup shouldn’t be missed but the real star of the show is the wild seabass most delicious skin you've tasted and summer vegetables on the side who are only too happy to gush about the dishes they're serving but Bóia is an outdoor pizza & grill outpost which can fit up to 42 seated guests plus those enjoying the sun in several Balinese beds making it almost impossible not to indulge in a treat and a cocktail There’s a certain kind of camaraderie between the staff that you don’t see often; it allows you to feel like you’re almost part of the team that you could stay up and chat with them after service ends This opens up a different type of enjoyment to your stay and helps connect you to the property and its purpose It likely helps that staff themselves look cool and relaxed; for the uniforms Independente has a partnership with Portuguese brand ISTO who are known for their sustainable stance and kitchen staff glide around in trendy striped t-shirts and light-coloured trousers A cool crowd, looking for Comporta luxury with a relaxed vibe and zero stuffiness. Expect chic families, couples here to relax and potentially even groups of friends travelling around the country. Plus, unlike many other properties, you don't need to be a guest to enjoy the restaurant or facilities, so you can expect a much more local crowd. Families would be easily entertained here, particularly those in private villas, some of which have their own pools and plenty of space for running around. Again, a car would be necessary to keep them amused for longer periods of time. Villas are pet-friendly, but hotel rooms are not. Care has clearly been taken to consider sustainability, particularly when it comes to supporting local businesses. The dedication to using local decor and ingredients means that the hotel's carbon footprint is lower than most, and the local area can continue to thrive. Personal care products are by 8950, whose production takes into account the preservation of collected plants and the absence of pesticides in the cultivated ones, in plastic-free packaging. Meanwhile carpets in the rooms are made from recycled PET bottles. In fact, there are no plastic bottles available on site – instead, the property provides water bottles which guests can refill in the water fountains within the property. Accessibility for those with mobility impairments A selection of rooms and villas are available for those with mobile impairments, while the hotel's reception and restaurant are located on the ground floor for easy access. The spa, however, is not currently accessible for all. Aura Spa will also offer osteopathy and nutritional advice. And for those who want to stay active, even when on vacation, there will be personal trainers, daily pilates and yoga sessions, and a 700-meter jogging track and outdoor exercise machines. Of course. You'll never regret a trip to Comporta, and this new opening stays true to the relaxed vibe of the area (without leaning too far into the slightly clichéd ‘Hamptons of Portugal’ reputation the area has). The stand-out elements of the hotel are the restaurant and the service, so be sure to spend time getting to know both. And be prepared to want to purchase much of the decor in your room. Home Islamabad Air university Bicas consultancy sign collaboration accord Islamabad and Bicas Consultancy UK Limited sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a graceful ceremony here at the Islamabad campus The MoU signifies a momentous collaboration that holds great promise for the future of education The MoU formalizes the commitment of Air University and Bicas Consultancy to work closely together to explore foreign universities’ collaboration students’ exchange programs and to enhance academic excellence by jointly working for mutual growth This strategic partnership is poised to usher benefits for students and educators Introducing Air University’s fast-paced growth and acclaim at the national and international levels Air Commodore Afzaal Ahmed Khan (R) shared details of the University’s faculties He said Air University offers a conducive learning environment to students and makes all-out efforts to impart quality education He said in a recent World University Rankings 2024 Air University secured 3rd position amongst 232 universities in Pakistan which endorses the university’s resolve for continuous improvement Muhammad Saqib Siddique shared the details of the company’s services being offered within Pakistan and in the United Kingdom he always connects himself with Pakistan and feels honored to serve the country particularly for the noble cause of education He vowed to explore and provide new avenues of higher education to young scholars of Air University in renowned global institutions Air Commodore Ahmed Hassan (R) also attended the MoU signing ceremony © 2025 All rights reserved | Pakistan Observer © 2024 All rights reserved | Pakistan Observer Nepal is a predominantly agrarian country with a very diverse nature of exceptional beauty where mountains and hilly areas cover 64% of the territory This brings with it a unique set of challenges Nepal's vison and aspiration to develop and to reach middle income status by 2030 can only be achieved with a specific focus on rural areas Rural development is a focal area of EU-Nepal cooperation and it includes initiatives to foster cohesion helping those areas which are lagging behind As part of this cooperation implementing partner Practical Action together with the EU launched a 2 million euro project called BICAS (Building Inclusive and Sustainable Growth Capacity of CSOs in Agriculture and forest Sectors) BICAS operates in 5 districts in the far and mid-west regions of Nepal: Kalikot These districts are amongst those with the highest level of poverty with average 46 per cent population living below the national poverty line Increasing food insecurity in the region has resulted in high migration of around 25 per cent of the male population The situation has further worsened due to increased climate change impacts mainly on existing cropping system and productivity Livelihood of people in the Karnali region with below 2 per cent arable land mainly depends on agriculture Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) collection In this challenging context BICAS aims to stimulate inclusive and sustainable growth through better livelihood opportunities The project will enhance economic infrastructure by promotion of 5 Gravity Goods Ropeways (GGR) promotion of irrigation infrastructure including 5 irrigation canals 25 pond irrigation canals and other micro-irrigation technologies such as thai jars processing infrastructure and market infrastructure The project also focuses on propoor value chains by promoting four subsectors: spices enhanced entrepreneurship skills of rural farmers and local traders business networking and business development service provision to facilitate commercial/urban value chain actors to make their business services accessible to rural areas During the launch event Chief Guest Vijaya Bahadhur Kunwar Member of National Planning Commission (NPC) said “Practical Action’s BICAS project with support from EU is being implemented in chronically food insecure regions of Nepal The project can complement Government of Nepal’s agenda of Right to food as peoples’ fundamental right by enabling CSOs towards that end; specially at the time when the government is prioritising development of far west and other food insecure regions of the nation.” Meanwhile Andreas Roettger "The Karnali region and Nepal's Far west are amongst the most stunning in the country At the same time living conditions there are very harsh for many The EU is looking forward that BICAS demonstrates practical ways to enhance livelihood opportunities in this part of Nepal." South Asia Regional Director of Practical Action The BICAS project initiated in February 2016 in Kalikot Bajura and Bajhang Districts of Nepal and will continue until January 2019 The project co-funded by the European Union aims to enhance Civil Society Organisations CSOs’ contribution to governance and development of agriculture and forest based economic sectors in Nepal the project focuses on building the capacity of 45 CSOs to promote inclusive and sustainable growth and increase income of 7000 HHs from agriculture and forest based enterprises in project districts BICAS is designed to build institutional capacity of the local non-state actors for inclusive and sustainable growth BICAS’s intervention aim to bring about increased access of rural population to resilient light and innovative infrastructure for economic activities strengthened inclusive and propoor value chain of rural agro and forest based enterprises and NTFP developed technical and entrepreneurial capacity and disaster risk reduction skills of local farmers Improved capacity of CSOs in development and promotion of disaster resilient infrastructures and climate smart agricultural practices and enabled environment for CSOs to constructively engage with local governments and other development actors for better governance BICAS also embeds successful experiences from the EU funded food security project POSAN enhanced in the project districts agro-vet and various extension services like goat Resource Centres for breed services to strengthen market chains It also developed collection centres/hat bazar and linked them to urban market actor to increases access to rewarding markets Due to better market linkages and business services the volume of goat business have doubled while the vegetable production and marketing increased by three fold over the period of 2 years For more information, please contact Sujan Piya, Head of Agriculture, Food Security and Markets, Practical Action, Indira House, Panipokhari, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal. Or call at 01 4423639/640. Email: sujan.piya@practicalaction.or.np. You may also log on to www.practicalaction.org/nepal This project is co-funded by the European Union '#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/news\/first-team\/picture-special\/2018\/may\/home-town-heroes-gallery?__cf_chl_rt_tk=OyRDYk6HPRh7zh57D5oOWGwLC_qMBREDRVO9ANV0qgA-1746455469-1.0.1.1-Vlaxr2tPodBhxVPcPXFGcECel2pL2c8p_db4Y9HyAHc" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news Lisbon this seaside town has lots to offer if you have a day to spare Take a look at our guide with the best things to do in Cascais If you're in Lisbon, you definitely can't leave without taking a tour through Cascais Less than an hour away from the city - and you can even take the train and enjoy the view on the way there - it's the true jewel of Portugal's capital You’ve woken up and feel like getting out and about with so many options of things to do in Cascais. Whether for walking, cycling or skating, this cycle route is perfect. It stretches for almost nine kilometres between the centre of town to Guincho beach, via the sea cliffs at Boca do Inferno There are 60 free bikes (as BiCas) for hire at Cascais rail station You’ve done enough exercise and now need to get your strength back A Sacolinha (Alameda dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra 107 A) is a great bakery with fabulous cakes and bread Time to head for the water. You can wear a wetsuit if you want. What for? To get onto a paddlesurfing (Stand Up Paddle) board or just a regular surf board. Cascais, Carcavelos, Praia Grande and Guincho are excellent places to practice some surfing lessons The Mercado da Vila (Rua Padre Moisés da Silva) in the centre of Cascais was revamped in 2015 and now has dozens of eateries as well as produce stalls Our favourites are Marisco na Praça For an early-evening drink before heading back to Lisbon drop into the House of Wonders (Largo da Misericórdia shop and café rolled into one and has a top-floor terrace that's ideal for a sundowner here are two good options with only one thing in common: they both involve fish On the one hand is one of the town’s most renowned seafood restaurants Mar do Inferno (Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália) where you must try bruxas de Cascais – locally caught crustaceans; on the other is sushi specialist Confraria (Rua Luis Xavier Palmeirim ©PSML/EmigusThere are loads of great options for day-trips from Lisbon. Sintra, with its fine architecture, significant monuments and museums and hidden treasures, is maybe the best choice for you if you are looking for some out-of-town hours. So save one day on your schedule, put on your hiking boots and visit Sintra, less than one hour away from Lisbon. You won’t regret it – scout's honor! ©Inês Calado RosaSome are perfect for families, others are little havens for couples or even paradise for surf lovers. But all of them put together stand amongst the most beautiful beaches you can find in our country and in the world. And they’re only a few moments away from Lisbon. From Cascais to Sintra or Arrábida, here are the most beautiful Lisbon beaches. Fotografia: Arlindo CamachoThere are loads of great options for day-trips from Lisbon but if you are a fish lover a seaside town and probably the best place to eat it fresh and cheap head up to the other margin of the Tagus River and have fun with our list of the best things to do in Setúbal which includes of course eating as much fresh fish as you can.   facebookinstagramAbout us connecting you to the stories and voices that celebrate Brampton’s vibrant community Contact us: editor@bramptonist.com