There are no statistics available for this player Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) Board of Directors on Tuesday announced the appointment of Luis Del Orbe as the organization’s executive director Del Orbe had been serving as the nonprofit organization’s interim executive director since November Hogan praised Del Orbe for the dedication and inspiration he has displayed throughout his tenure with CCGNJ “Luis joined CCGNJ seven years ago and over that time has steadfastly advanced our mission,” Horgan said “We know as executive director he is prepared to guide the agency as we confront the many challenges we see arising in New Jersey’s evolving gambling landscape Luis leads in the best way possible: By example.”  Prior to being named interim executive director last fall Del Orbe was CCGNJ’s Prevention and Treatment administrator He recently made presentations on problem gambling at town halls in northern and southern New Jersey In preparation for this year’s observance of Problem Gambling Awareness Month “The Hidden Epidemic: A Public Health Concern” in Trenton on March 13 Among his many achievements with the council is developing the curriculum for the Cognitive Perspective Restructuring (CPR) Program This strength-based initiative is delivered in five sessions designed to help youth build resilience to avoid behavior that puts them at risk and plan for their future It has been embraced by the heads of schools and teachers where it has been presented “I am honored by the faith the board has placed in me,” Del Orbe said “I feel blessed to work with the Council’s outstanding staff as we collectively address New Jersey’s increase in problem gambling As we approach Problem Gambling Awareness Month we rededicate ourselves to meeting this growing public health issue.”  The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. is a private nonprofit organization that for more than 40 years has provided information education and treatment referral services to people affected by a gambling problem CCGNJ’s primary purpose is to represent the best interest of problem and disordered gamblers and their families recognizing that problem gambling is a treatable condition Sign up to receive our daily e-news service six days per week It features important business news and information for a business like yours New Jersey Business Today is delivered to your inbox at 4:00 pm You will also receive a digital edition of New Jersey Business magazine at the beginning of the month Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" DeWitt Clinton High School, a historic institution in the Bronx has experienced a remarkable transformation under the leadership of Principal Pierre Orbe Orbe was named New York State’s High School Principal of the Year a prestigious honor that recognizes his efforts in revitalizing a school once plagued by academic decline Orbe took the helm of DeWitt Clinton High School in 2017 at a time when the institution faced serious challenges and the school struggled to maintain a positive reputation Orbe implemented a strategic plan centered on academic excellence One of his primary initiatives was the introduction of innovative career pathway programs designed to prepare students for college and the workforce. These programs include courses in Computer Science, Nursing, Business the Macy Honors Program expanded its offerings to encompass fine arts ensuring that students had access to a well-rounded education that aligned with their interests and career aspirations Understanding the importance of a supportive school environment Orbe also focused on improving student services He introduced enhanced guidance counseling and established partnerships with local businesses and organizations These initiatives provided students with valuable mentorship the school achieved a 98% contact rate between guidance counselors and parents ensuring that students received the necessary support both at school and at home A key aspect of Orbe’s leadership has been his commitment to improving the school’s physical environment He spearheaded renovations that modernized classrooms and created an atmosphere conducive to learning The revitalization of DeWitt Clinton High School’s facilities has played a crucial role in fostering school pride and boosting student morale Orbe also addressed the school’s security concerns implementing new safety measures to ensure that students could focus on their education without fear These included increased staff presence in hallways and new disciplinary policies that prioritized restorative justice practices over punitive measures The impact of Orbe’s leadership is evident in the school’s impressive academic turnaround Graduation rates have risen to an outstanding 97% while student attendance has climbed to 91% 98% of students are now enrolled in college readiness courses significantly increasing their chances of post-secondary success is steadily increasing as more families recognize the value of the school’s programs and renewed commitment to excellence the student experience at DeWitt Clinton High School has dramatically improved Teachers have also praised Orbe’s leadership noting that his hands-on approach has reinvigorated faculty morale and encouraged a renewed passion for education Orbe’s recognition as New York State’s High School Principal of the Year is a testament to his dedication His success at DeWitt Clinton High School serves as an inspiring example for educators and administrators across New York City and beyond he has not only restored a historic school’s reputation but has also provided countless students with opportunities for a brighter future Featured image credit: DepositPhotos.com a journalist of the Argentinian TV station “Canal Orbe 21” at his residence in the Vatican shortly after the conclusion of the Synod Pope Francis condemned the “hypocrisy” of talking about peace while “arming conflicts” and expressed concern for the weakening of institutions The interview touched on a range of topics from some of the world’s most pressing issues to the Pope’s vision of an increasingly synodal Church and the theme of “Hope” that runs through the Jubilee Year Pope Francis has repeatedly described war as “a human defeat,” lamenting the hypocrisy of nations that advocate for peace while profiting from the arms trade he has also decried the growing number of conflicts - especially the ongoing violence in Ukraine and the Holy Land - and reiterated his firm belief that peace can only be achieved through authentic dialogue and reconciliation “I am concerned that countless calls for peace from international organizations go in one ear and out the other,” he said during the interview decrying what he called a "fundamental hypocrisy: we talk about peace And reiterating the nefarious consequences of the arms trade the Pope denounced the fact that "one of the greatest returns on investment in Europe comes from arms factories we organize peace conferences and meetings but we continue to produce weapons to kill." Expressing his concern and warning of the universal tendency toward self-destruction he drew a parallel with the biblical Tower of Babel suggesting that humanity risks building a similarly fragile and perilous future if it continues on its current trajectory the war in the Holy Land is not a normal war and decrying the conflict in Ukraine he reiterated his conviction that “peace treaties are urgently needed Acknowledging the complexity of modern conflicts the Pope pointed to a failure of personal ethics and self-serving interests as causes for the inefficacy of international mechanisms Peace is achieved through dialogue,” he stressed calling into question also the need for the European Union to continue to work for peace “It [the EU] must not lose the independence it has in this matter This is what promotes its internal unity and from there it draws the strength to engage with the outside but they still have the capacity to foster dialogue,” the Pope said In a world increasingly polarized by ideologies the Holy Father called for a renewed focus on truth and dialogue He warned against the dangers of denialism describing it as “suicidal,” and urged leaders to address the roots of conflicts with honesty and humility Only reality will help find a way out of conflict “He also spoke against the intertwining of religion with state politics noting that such alliances often lead to intolerance and persecution he celebrated examples of coexistence and dialogue “there was always dialogue between different groups I did not find religious persecution of Christians anywhere those countries are an example of coexistence.” Reflecting on the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that concluded in October Pope Francis highlighted the significance of this milestone in his papacy “The Church is no longer top-down,” he explained the nuns; it is the Church from below that expresses itself and creates community.” The Holy Father described the Synodal Church as one that thrives on harmony amidst chaos “Let us think about what happened on Pentecost morning: a barbaric chaos The Pope also reiterated the Church’s openness to all reiterating his invitation to all and stating and the Church helps us make up for our shortcomings As the Church prepares for Jubilee 2025 under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” Pope Francis emphasized the transformative power of forgiveness and described the Jubilee as an opportunity for personal and communal renewal “God never tires of forgiving; it is we who tire of asking for forgiveness,” he recalled adding that the Jubilee is not about “religious tourism” but about a deep personal journey toward healing and renewal it must be to sort out your personal history somewhat reconstitution of so many personal and social things,” he explained Pope Francis underscored the importance of engaging young people “need to be creative.” He also recounted how acts of charity have inspired faith journeys among young volunteers If you don't give them a challenge and help them face it they'll just keep orbiting around nonsense,” he said The Pope has described artificial intelligence as both “a fascinating and a tremendous instrument” and called for its integration with human values “We must engage in humane dialogue with artificial intelligence,” he urged Commenting on social and cultural challenges facing young people today Pope Francis warned against the influence of organizations that perpetrate ideological rigidity that he said can deform one’s capacity for love and relationships calling them "a planned suicide for a country" and "a crime." criticising those governments and systems that restrict access to education" resulting in the fact that “Only the children of the rich can have access to higher education." A country must provide the resources for its universities to create the new brains of the future." When asked about his vision for the Church in the future “I think the Church is already well designed and by the decisions that the Church has been making.” He said he imagines a church in which “the laity is very involved.” The parish must be a community that interacts with the priest The Church will continue to grow in this dynamic,” he stressed when asked for a message for the people of Argentina this Christmas defend yourselves from ideologies and don't let yourselves be fooled Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Images of a pink orb floating in the sky have gone viral after the unexplained phenomenon appeared over Egypt for several hours which was viewed tens of thousands of times showed the large object floating still in the sky and several social media users were baffled by the appearance The phenomenon prompted several theories as to what could have caused it some people suggesting it could have been created by other celestial bodies Initial reports indicated that some users thought the orb was the moon apparently it is correct that Jupiter enters between the Earth and the Sun after dawn," one sleuth wrote on Threads on Reddit: "On last Sunday morning nearly at 6:30 a.m many people in Alexandria of Egypt had seen a strange cloudy pink spot on the sky Witnesses on average reported that at first it was white as the size of the moon and most people had mistaken it as the moon itself then it grew larger and later it diffused as a smoke very fast "One man explained as it was an explosion without a sound Another one said that there were white lights in the middle of it The phenomenon continued for nearly 5 minutes and has been seen in Alexandria "Anyone has a logical or scientific explanation for this? The images are from different sources on Facebook and X (Twitter) and no other international source has reported it yet …" The Reddit poster added that it could have been created by a rocket launch which would explain the white residue created by the image حد في مصر شاف المشهد ده النهارده بعد الفجر !نقطه بيضاء ماشيه في السماء وبعدين حصلها انفجار وبقت بالمنظر ده !!حد عنده تفسير ؟ pic.twitter.com/EQoJy65z7Y Similar images have previously been attributed to SpaceX rocket launches which leave red-pink vapor behind as they leave the atmosphere Rockets leaving the ionosphere can cause gas molecules to create an aurora effect though it normally isn't as circular as the shapes seen on Sunday Newsweek contacted the Egyptian authorities for more information on the sightings via email Sightings in the night sky are often the most common source of UFO conspiracies. In November, the Pentagon released a new report stating that hundreds of UFO sightings were actually balloons Do you have any questions about this story Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsletters in your inbox See all « Back Gadiel del Orbe takes the stage Thursday, Jan. 11, in Chandler. He’s a stand-up comedian from New York whose comedy is rooted in his Dominican culture.  But, del Orbe didn’t come up through the traditional stand-up route — it was in a much more modern way: through viral videos. The Navy veteran found fame making videos for Buzzfeed, and told The Show he feels like it's his mission to represent Latinos in comedy.  GADIEL DEL ORBE: That's right. Dominican mom and dad, both Dominican. You know what that means? My dad left and started a new family. The worst part about Dominican men when they leave their family, they start a family that looks exactly the, the, like the family he left behind. DEL ORBE: I was in the Navy, and I was that guy, the sailor, everybody looked for, they're like, where's the Del Orbe? I want to get Del Orbe over here because he's funny. So I'm the guy that ship mates got so like that we could hang out. We'll go to the mess decks. They used to call him kick Del Orbe because he's always kicking. That means that you're like hanging out at all times. I don't know why the Navy paid me because I ain't do nothing. But, I mean, that's a long way from comedy, right? So you were in the Navy for several years, it sounds like. How did you go from that to what started, it sounds like in, your, in your comedy career doing sort of viral videos? And then when I left, I was like, you know what, let me try once, let me just conquer my fears. Like, why not? And I, I did a comedy show and it went great. My friends were all there. They were there for supporting me and it was so fun. It was so fun. My ex-girlfriend at the time, she was like, why don't you just try to do video comedy videos as you're going to be a comedian? I was like, might as well. It is comedy. 4And no, after that, they were at Buzzfeed, they were looking for a Dominican guy. They needed like a certain personality. And I said, you know what I am Dominican and I could be even more Dominican. So, yeah. No, we did a video and, and it hit, it went viral and I asked him, I remember before I left the Navy, there was a friend of mine that said whatever you do, remember this advice. And I was like, what? He's like, people don't get what they want because they don't ask. But I'm like, you know what? That's so deep, you right. Now, that's how I live my life. Like if I want something I ask for it. That's a really good advice to start your career with. So tell us about that first viral moment. What was the video? What did it feel like when you realized like a lot of people had watched it? DEL ORBE: When I joined Pero Like, I just joined this team that was already making viral videos. The term viral came from Buzzfeed. And I was like, and I'm joining this group and this team and I see Buzzfeed and they, they sit down and have meetings. They're like, you know, we had this one video had over 1 million shares. I was like, oh my God, right. This is crazy, right? These guys are talking about these crazy numbers. That was the intention going in. So we went in, we did the video and it was like the first video that went mega viral on our page and it wasn't comedy at the end. People, people that are in desperate situations, sometimes the people that mugging you in Venezuela, they're not thieves, they're not bad people. It's just people that are hungry, you know. In 2008, Venezuela was, was voted the happiest country in the world despite the situation. So I think that the most important thing we can do is is raise awareness, let the whole world know, because if everybody knows that maybe we can make a difference. That's the most proudest video I ever did because it was also like activism at the same time. That's so interesting. So like your first really, really big moment had nothing to do with comedy. Like you were doing something that was almost being an advocate or being a journalist in a way. DEL ORBE: Yes, exactly. It felt good to see Venezuelans cry. I, I tried it. I, I tested the video a couple of times of that. I saw some Venezuela friends. Yeah. Come over here. I want you to see this video at work and they started crying. I'm like, hm, that was the goal, it worked. And then when, when we released it, boom. Wow. So talk a little bit about your act and what you talk about on stage and in your stand up, like I know you perform sort of in English and a mix of English and Spanish and Spanglish, this kind of thing. And you talk a lot about the Latino diaspora and sort of the differences between Dominicans and other Latinos, right? Do you see yourself as sort of an ambassador at this point for Dominican culture for people like you? I talk about the Mexican culture. What I've learned about the Mexican culture and different types of culture. You know, so I want to say an ambassador for Dominicans, I would say ambassador for all Latinidad. Do you feel, do you feel a power in that? Do you feel a responsibility? That's really amazing. Like, that's quite an opportunity you have to do that. Copyright © 2022 ALM Media Properties, LLC. The boutique's 24 lawyers joining Crowell include 17 in New York, one in Washington, D.C., and six in London, chairman Phil Inglima said. Acting on a long-held desire to expand in New York Crowell & Moring is combining with financial services boutique Kibbe & Orbe and London are expected to join Crowell in April The new Crowell attorneys will include Jennifer Grady managing partner and chairwoman of the boutique's executive committee; founding partners Jonathan Kibbe William Orbe and Michael Mann; and the managing partner of the boutique's London office New York Law Journal New Jersey Law Journal Litigation Daily National Law Journal The Recorder Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc Read More Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment Read More Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls Read More a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement Read More Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase Read More Browse More Resources Already have an account? Sign In The comedian Gadiel del Orbe found internet fame in the palm of your hand He started making videos at a time when the power dynamic for entertainment was changing he came up during a time when audiences were exercising power with clicks and views Digital platforms like Buzzfeed’s Pero Like and others like mitú took advantage of the fact that everyone now had a tiny TV in their pocket It opened the door for talents like del Orbe He went from being the funny guy on a Navy aircraft carrier to being that funny guy on YouTube specifically making comedy para sus domincanos which might explain why he has a thing for pigeons which show up in his jokes Now the industry’s changing again. And Gadiel is finding ways to change with it. He’s doing more standup now. And he’s back in our city. He’ll perform Wednesday night at the Miami Improv in Doral On Sundial's previous episode, we spoke with South Florida native Kenneth A. Jessell He is the president of Florida International University He tells us how he went from being the first in his family to go to college to leading FIU — Alberlin Del Orbe Rodriguez was hired last fall as Penn State Abington's first Spanish-speaking admissions counselor Her journey to earning a college degree in 2020 from Penn State Abington mirrors that of the large population of first-generation college students at the campus she is grateful for the opportunity to support them "There are students who don’t know where their path will lead them and I want them to know it’s okay to be confused and frustrated There are so many people at Abington to help you including the admissions office I’m someone who knows where they’re coming from and I can connect with them and reassure them,” added Del Orbe Rodriguez As the oldest child of parents who immigrated from the Dominican Republic but her family lacked the experience to help her navigate higher education processes “I was at a disadvantage when it came to applying to colleges but I was really resilient and figured it out,” she said of managing admissions financial aid and scholarship applications Del Orbe Rodriguez marshaled every resource at her disposal and with that support she earned a degree in corporate communication in three years despite multiple challenges that could have derailed her dream “I had health issues and couldn’t go to class which led me to being on academic probation but I went to the Center for Student Achievement to help me get back on track I couldn’t afford books so my adviser sent me to the financial aid office They provided me with gift cards for books and I made it through the semester,” she said loving pressure from her parents to earn a degree as a stepping stone to better economic opportunities “My goal was to work as hard as possible to get to the finish line make my parents proud and be an example to my siblings She became more confident as she progressed toward her degree despite setbacks and the impact of the pandemic on her final two semesters “I felt more comfortable and not so alone as I progressed,” she said her husband urged her to find something that would be more personally fulfilling “My sister was going through the college application process and I realized that higher education was where I wanted to work I am so excited to be on the other end of the process and supporting families and students It’s good to be back at Abington,” she said Penn State Abington provides an affordable accessible and high-impact education to its diverse student body It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers bachelor’s degrees in 25 majors (David Handschuh for Chalkbeat) The education department is investigating the principal of DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx for allegedly posting offensive content on his private Facebook page that referred to immigrants as “illegals,” suggested a transgender woman isn’t a woman The posts that allegedly appeared on Principal Pierre Orbe’s private page were reported to the department’s Office of the General Counsel last week and “will be thoroughly investigated,” education department spokesperson Katie O’Hanlon said a teacher at the school reported the posts on June 8 to the office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools according to an email that teacher shared with Chalkbeat confirmed that the office has received a complaint about Orbe SCI has also assigned a case number to the complaint and has received screenshots of the posts according to an email obtained by Chalkbeat Gluzmanov said she could not say if the office had opened an investigation.  Screenshots and screen recordings of the posts dating from late March through the first week of June were shared with Chalkbeat by two teachers at the school They are posts of videos or reposts from other Facebook users’ pages and not Orbe’s own words the posts were so offensive in nature that shocked faculty members began sharing them with each other and students caught wind of the controversy in recent weeks according to three teachers and two students who spoke with Chalkbeat on condition of anonymity because they fear retaliation Some of the posts had been flagged by Facebook as false information including one about the origins of the coronavirus One opposed the Black Lives Matter movement while another questioned the need for Black History Month according to the screenshots obtained by Chalkbeat Sources at the school worried that the posts had the potential to alienate Clinton’s diverse community of 1,100 students and includes undocumented and transgender students Teachers said some students already told them they were upset by some of the posts One of the posts that raised concerns is a meme that contains a picture of U.S then this is a fishing pole,” referring to the gun “In my opinion [that] was a violent post — just knowing that I personally have trans students in the building a senior who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation discovered the posts last week from classmates after they circulated on the social media app Snapchat That student said it’s Orbe’s right to post his opinions He is a figure that people should look up to because he is a principal.” That student said they felt threatened by the anti-transgender posts about Levine.  Orbe did not return multiple emails and phone calls for comment spokesperson for the principals and administrators union said the organization cannot comment on matters under investigation but was “prepared to protect his due process rights.”  The Facebook posts are no longer visible through the hyperlink where sources said the screenshots came from and the profile name now says “Amado Carillo.” However a previous cover photo of Orbe is still visible on the page The hyperlink to the page also contains Orbe’s first initial and last name.  said Monday that schools should create a culture that respects all students and fosters “an understanding of all identities including transgender and undocumented students.” The attorneys in the department’s Office of the General Counsel which is investigating the social media posts If allegations are substantiated through an investigation there is no excuse for any DOE employee – especially those in positions of senior leadership – to make hateful comments that result in our students feeling unsafe in their school,” O’Hanlon said in a statement “Comments like these can erode a school community’s trust and undermine a principal’s ability to effectively lead a school These social media posts have been reported and will be thoroughly investigated.” Orbe has worked in New York City’s public schools since 2001 and he became principal of Clinton in 2017 the school has dramatically improved its graduation rate from 67.3% in 2018 — already 17 percentage points higher than the previous year — to 85.4% last school year The state considers Clinton a struggling school specifically because of poor academic outcomes for its students with disabilities The teachers who spoke to Chalkbeat said they believe the Facebook posts go against the idea of equity and inclusion of all students — a concept that the education department often touts — and one teacher said a student in the LGBTQ community was upset about an anti-transgender post Two of the screenshots shared with Chalkbeat refer to immigrants as “illegals.” One said “What sense did it make to have had Americans locked up The teacher who reported the posts to SCI said Orbe is aware that there are undocumented students in the building said she discovered the posts after a teacher told her and some peers that he was quitting his job because of the Facebook page the most concerning posts were ones that appeared to oppose Black Lives Matter and immigration She worried about whether those posts speak to how he approaches his leadership as principal She worries about whether younger students will feel welcome at the school next year.  made me question his leadership,” she said.  Students at North Star Academy are exploring career options by understanding how AI could shape the workforce The lessons provide students with hands-on exercises to learn about AI The seven new schools are part of a multiyear flurry of openings that city officials hope will reinvigorate the system at a time of faltering enrollment and New Jersey have in-state tuition programs for undocumented students the Trump administration plans to take action against those programs A funding shortfall in the state budget forced New York City to freeze enrollment for a popular child care voucher program for low-income families Superintendent Aleesia Johnson said that while she’s deeply concerned about the changes brought by a new property tax law the district will strive to engage the community Here’s what I wish I could say when someone asks Thousands of New Yorkers are getting a 3-minute rundown of the city's big education stories and statewide policy changes every weekday morning Sign up for Chalkbeat New York's free newsletter to join them today By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users agree to the data transfer policy. You may also receive occasional messages from sponsors CHALKBEAT IS A CIVIC NEWS COMPANY NEWSROOM ©2025 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 Don’t miss the latest drinks industry news and insights Sign up for our award-winning newsletters and get insider intel and trends delivered to your inbox every week How Blanche Orbe’s past as a brand manager and sales rep gave her the skills to run a boutique wine import company—practically single-handedly As managing director at Wine in Motion a Portuguese-focused boutique wine importer She started last year with solid chops in brand management and sales and her work now straddles both sides of the business—and then some team manager (and player) but also the de facto human resources director and logistics manager Orbe could find herself traveling to a sales call hosting a dinner for wine producers with journalists in her high heels—a forklift operator to load pallets of wine cases “Soon enough I’ll have people in [for] all those tasks,” she says and her immediate charge was an overall assessment of operations “The business was run like a mom-and-pop store but we have to be better positioned to grow,” she says Orbe has the company undergoing SWOT analysis (an examination of its strengths and she’s reviewing its systems and logistics—from scheduling deliveries and receivables to creating new marketing programs and building a presence for the company in the category Orbe is also managing Wine in Motion’s relationships with producers “I had to make them believe in me and my vision and show them that my ideas are aligned with theirs to push the category as premium.” Orbe’s career path in wine has been steady, each position a building block of skills that helped her land her current executive role. Her first—a four-year stint at Sopexa—gave her exposure to the business side and involved her in the launch of Côtes de Provence Rosé in the U.S But it was her first trip to Bordeaux that put things in context and made her fall in love with the stories beyond the bottles. “That was when I decided that I’m doing this for the rest of my career,” she says. Orbe would eventually go on to manage large retail programs on the East Coast and to work with accounts such as Daniel Boulud’s flagship restaurant, Daniel which turned out to be a hindrance in that work an idea she resisted until a friend recast the situation Orbe took the leap, the first of a few through the industry, undertaking sales roles on both the distributor and the supplier sides as a sales rep, and eventually becoming a portfolio manager at Moët Hennessy and not afraid to try new things and move around,” says Beth Cotenoff “Every couple of years she just went for it and did so with success … that always impressed me.” But a call from a recruiter for a Portuguese wine company intrigued her—and Orbe jumped at the chance to work in a new territory “I really wanted to know where [Portuguese wine] was going and to be a part of that,” she says “I wanted to put my stamp on it and thought that if I got in this early The company was Esporão family-owned winery in Portugal’s Alentejo region Esporão was among the first Portuguese wineries to push marketing programs Orbe managed all communications and advertising recalling that beyond promoting a wine brand she found herself promoting an entire country which in 2010 was still under the radar for most wine consumers “We had to get the message across and indirectly try to create an image for Portugal,” Orbe says a lot fell on our shoulders.” She fielded calls about everything from Portuguese tourism to how to pronounce the names of the grape varieties “We were really the only ones doing it,” she says on educational videos and consumer-facing events “We single-handedly changed the image for Portugal and targeted the American consumer The average American consumer didn’t know where Portugal was and they now know how to pronounce Touriga Nacional.” “It was culture shock because I was used to doing everything,” says Orbe there was a person who handled each job.” She says it was career changing to work on a big brand with seven-figure budgets and national accounts Using her accumulated knowledge about the country she overhauled the sales and educational materials “I believe I revived the brand within the company,” she says “and gave them the educational tools they needed to understand not just the wine but where it comes from and why it’s special.” the vice president of marketing at Palm Bay “Blanche’s knowledge of the Portuguese category from key wineries and trends to accounts and buyers was instrumental to JMF’s success in the U.S.,” he says “She represented the wines with enthusiasm and passion.” Yet she still felt a tug for something more they lose themselves a little,” she explains So when a recruiter called her for a position with another Portuguese-focused company a former vice president at MundoVino who currently works at Now Wine Imports says Orbe’s blend of experiences makes her perfect for her new role “She definitely found a connection and a real passion for Portugal and found a way to get back into it,” he says “She’s taken on this niche at the perfect time Consumption habits are shifting more toward what she’s representing—a generation of passionate wine consumers who look for something different.” Orbe’s passion for the category definitely helped her land her job at Wine in Motion but she says it also helped to have “tough skin and vision.” She says it’s important to know where and how to grow without selling out and to embrace the impulse to “do everything better” and to look “at all angles.” She advises others who are making similar transitions to always ask how they can make improvements from promotion and sales to influencing consumer perceptions “Esporão entered me into the culture and nuances that help me relate to my suppliers today,” she says She adds that when parent company Sogevinus needed someone to be the face of Portugal for the company her experience with new and established brands and her on-the-ground experience in Portugal gave her an advantage “There’s still a lot of work to be done,” she says Don’t miss the latest drinks industry news and insights—delivered to your inbox every week Lana Bortolot has written on food and wine for Forbes and other magazines of the wine and spirits trade She reported on real estate for the New York Times She is a candidate for Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s Level 4 Diploma Having covered most European wine regions and a few in South America she is always looking to add a new wine-stained stamp to her passport pioneering Black winemaker Mac McDonald reflects on the community he’s fostered Winegrower Christopher Howell discusses how the Spring Mountain producer is rebuilding after the devastating Glass Fire in 2020 and using library releases to manage availability Head bartender and beverage director Brendan Bartley discusses the New York City Roaring Twenties-inspired cocktail bar’s new spot on the West Coast From winemaking to hospitality and NYC to Charleston Erin Miller and Matthew Conway detail their career moves over the past two years Learn more about how Provi simplifies the complex process of ordering and promoting wholesale alcohol between buyers SevenFifty Daily is an award-winning online magazine about the business and culture of the beverage alcohol industry covering all three tiers of the alcohol industry An independent platform for contemporary culture Design and build by Plinth we head to Mexico City with experimental electronic duo Orbe Nacimiento who bridge the gap between the spiritual and the physical the pair describes their trance-like ambient soundscapes as “headphone music” Their recent release for Carousel Records – Quien Nos Va A Soñar Cuando Despierte – fully taps into this otherworldly essence presented as a concept album looking at the value of dreams as a parallel reality Orbe Nacimiento take us further into the reverie “All the way from Mexico City,” the pair says “we take you on a journey into our complex ambient dreamscape journeying through our reality and yours.” L’Orbe’s Acipenser Baerii caviar is sourced from a farm in the southwest of France head bartender Alessandro Palazzi serves L’Orbe in his Baeri Pearl Martini Pernod Ricard's experimentation branch Breakthrough Innovation Group has created a world-first for the spirits industry with L'Orbe after five years of research and development escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Côte&ciel has worked alongside Studio Orbe to create a limited-edition diffuser and scent which aims to go beyond what the brand looks like and provide it with an olfactory identity the diffuser’s journey began with conversations with external brands and artisans – one of which was London-based Studio Orbe an independent fragrance house in Paris named Technicoflor Having worked alongside Orbe’s founder Jobe Burns in the past they once again struck up a dialogue about wanting to explore beyond the current côte&ciel offering they went on this so-called “explorative quest” until they arrived at the idea of developing côte&ciel’s own signature scent and worked alongside the master scent makers at Technicoflor to create a fragrance inspired by the coastal landscapes and sky above them using a mixture of floral and aquatic notes native Gabriel Orbe has pledged his verbal intention to continue his academic and swimming career at the University of Louisville and will suit up for the Cardinals at the start of the 2020-21 season who has achieved the Olympic Trials cut in the 200 fly does his club swimming with Scarlett Aquatics He most recently placed 14th in the 200m fly at Junior Nationals this past summer after racing both fly events at Phillips 66 Nationals he earned 100% best times at Juniors East where he took 14th in the 200 fly before going on to earn silver in that event at Indianapolis Sectionals Also competing for Saint Peter’s Prep School Orbe finished third in the 100 fly and sixth in the 200 IM at the National Catholic Championships during his junior season Photo Courtesy: Gabriel Orbe Instagram (@g_orbe) Orbe has consistently made improvements each season and will aim to carry his recent long course momentum into the current short course season When he arrives in Louisville as a member of the class of 2024 he’ll add his talents to a training group led by Nicolas Albiero The Cardinals are fresh off a historic season where they were the team runners-up at the ACC Championships Louisville finished a program-high fifth place at the NCAA Championships surpassing their previous top finish of ninth in both 2012 and 2018 Their 212 points was also the most they’ve ever scored at NCAAs If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " 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, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. Text description provided by the architects. The Mae Ku Learning Center is a new educational building located near the Thai-Burma border. The building is designed as a mountainous, monolithic object nestled in amidst the adjacent fields. The center is a multi-functional educational space for the Min Tu Won School, a community-led organization that provides education for a local community of Burmese refugees and migrants. Faced with minimal resources, the Min Tu Won School’s existing classrooms needed relief for their overcrowded teaching areas. They sought additional room for 70 students to improve the learning conditions of the school as well as to continue to cultivate and promote local education. As part of the philosophy of Estudio Cavernas, the design of the building uses low-tech constructive systems that can be built by all workers, ensuring that most of the systems are adapted to the available materials and skills. The beneficiaries of the project are involved throughout the design and construction process, allowing them to take pride and ownership in the building and to encourage the continued success and maintenance of the learning center. © Juan CuevasThe design build course gathered twenty students in Bangkok to study mass Through site visits and a collaborative design process students worked to refine and document the project and then participated in the building construction on site The course was taught by Wisarut Eric Wattanachote of WIWA-Studio and Jason Orbe-Smith of Orbe Architecture The project was realized through a design and construction collaboration with Juan and Yago Cuevas of Estudio Cavernas You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information which has set its sights on strategic expansion is merging with New York-based boutique Kibbe & Orbe to expand offerings to clients in the financial services industry previously known as Richards Kibbe & Orbe Among those making the jump to Crowell are Jennifer Grady managing partner and chair of the firm’s executive committee workflow tools and premium legal & business news Log in to keep reading or access research tools Marketing and Strategic CommunicationsWestern Michigan UniversityKalamazoo MI 49008-5200 USA(269) 387-8400 Mich.—Shortly before the fall 2019 winter break Claire Hernandez found herself listening to a friend contemplate committing suicide The Western Michigan University senior knew something was amiss but didn’t expect the morning conversation to veer in the direction that it did their crucial talk happened at a time when Hernandez was best-equipped to receive the information: near the conclusion of her Communicating About Taboo Topics course.  Taboo Topics relies on dialogic learning—discussion-based study—to address sensitive subjects that are typically off-limits to speak about in North American culture students have conversations about weighty material that many of us tend to avoid.  kinks/sex/masturbation and fear were just a few of the topics we discussed,” says WMU alumna Hailey Mangrum who is now the assistant director of leadership development for fraternity and sorority life at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Resulting is a classroom atmosphere that’s infused with respectful and non-judgmental exchange shame and anger are also natural emotions that surface when discussing oppositional views such negativity tends to take a backseat to diverse perspective-sharing classmates often form strong emotional connections with each other and gain insight about human interaction and communication that will last them a lifetime Because he and so many students have found the course to be so impactful Orbe has considered hosting a reunion for students from previous “generations,” which is how he refers to members of each successive course iteration “This was the top course that transformed my thinking that I can easily draw from in everyday life,” says Jonathan Pulley who took Taboo Topics in 2015 and currently serves as the W.K Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Equity Program officer.  Outsiders, such as parents and roommates, tend to react with shock and curiosity when they hear about this elective course offering in WMU’s School of Communication would students want to learn about topics so contemptible and controversial and what educational value do those lessons offer Mangrum says this lack of comprehension from those not taking the class disappointed her.  “Other folks weren’t able to understand the importance of engaging in conversations of difference although a true microcosm of the campus as we had a spectrum of perspectives and beliefs in the classroom,” she says is the most popular course he has ever instructed during his decades-long teaching career honors students and others who have enrollment priority at the university typically register as the 30 available spaces immediately fill The effect the course has on students and Orbe alike is tangible Orbe learned after his inaugural Taboo Topics course that because class interaction is so mentally draining it must be the last class he teaches on those days; he can then take those opportunities to drive home listening to soothing music and thinking about what was just discussed instead of prepare for another class He also requires students to have a check-in partner after each class who can help them recapture their emotional bearings He says he also often sits with students immediately after class until they’re ready to leave “just so they can process” what they’ve heard and said Eyebrows are raised and deep breaths are taken Orbe wrote how a provocative hypothetical question about his children once caused him to openly sob But negativity is not always the prevailing feeling Participants have also been known to uproariously laugh The course objective is challenging to attain but invaluable: come to understand contrary viewpoints about forbidden topics Argumentation and debate are taught elsewhere “This class is about mutual understanding” that’s not predicated upon persuasion; one can comprehend a particular stance without agreeing with it who self-identifies as a Black male Christian was initially taken aback by some stances that didn’t align with his race he says he came to appreciate oppositional beliefs instead of dismiss them outright as wrong.  but honor and respect people with different experiences and who believe differently,” says Pulley Class members discover the power and virtue of learning from a humanistic perspective They also realize the essentialness of delving into the reasons for why someone thinks the way they do Students begin to realize at a deeper level that everyone’s unique experiences shape how they acquire and interpret knowledge a parent’s political preferences may influence how someone votes or residing in a particular region of the country might influence someone’s views about immigrants.  whose intersectional interests in communication race and qualitative research and pedagogy have resulted in hundreds of articles no existing syllabus that could be used as a model Interactions within his interracial communications course and the obvious absence of literature and teaching experiences that directly tackle taboo areas instead of tiptoeing around them enticed Orbe to venture into the pedagogical unknown.  Addressing a culture’s most forbidden subjects can stimulate critical thinking for broader use and create a desire to understand alternative perspectives particularly within today’s diverse and polarized society where ideological differences are fostering combative attitudes His class leads participants to more thoroughly consider how an international student at WMU may feel while being away from their country for the first time contending with their first Michigan winter “Our world is increasingly diverse on so many different levels and unless we’re teaching the skills on how to understand We’re never going to have intercultural communication,” Orbe says The course is party based on the teachings of the late Paulo Freire a contemporary Brazilian educator and philosopher whose critical pedagogy advocacy has influenced teachers the word over in regards to learner-centered empowerment Freire believed that encouraging students to critically question authority and established meaning is a social justice imperative and the only path to liberation Orbe’s Taboo Topics students are required to respectfully interrogate the motives and mechanisms that contribute to a subject’s unspeakable nature Americans avoid discussing the active stages of death Students dive into such turbulent conversation waters Raised in a multiracial home on the East Coast during a time when interracial marriage was still largely forbidden socially Orbe’s quest to understand and teach others about his own identity Orbe and his multiracial spouse have children who acknowledge their African and he says he has learned valuable lessons about gender identity gender expression and sexualities thanks to different family members Engaging with taboo topics with his students has allowed him to do so willingly and gracefully His life encompasses a vivid and dynamic tapestry of people Orbe academically embraces autoethnography a form of qualitative research that incorporates self-reflection about lived activities to learn more about larger social Orbe includes autoethnographic practices in many of his communication lessons and also organizes experiential learning trips abroad For an autoethnography course in Costa Rica students learn more about themselves within the context of differing racial to be Black in Central and South America is culturally different than being Black in the U.S. He wants students to willingly get uncomfortable to face their notions head on and to become vulnerable so that the silence surrounding certain subjects is shattered “When you’re able to name the taboo and articulate it Orbe refers to the classroom for this course as one that reflects a “brave space rather than the safe space.” Confessions are common many students find themselves sharing personal information that they’d previously never shared with anyone They’ll articulate challenges they’ve faced that they’ve never said aloud before thereby revealing additional layers of their humanity As trust builds within the considerate and honest classroom environment damaging family secrets and mental illnesses have been offered but an expressive environment,” says Pulley.  “There were some really personal moments that people shared and there were moments that people were crying in class I’m sure at least half the class shared something that they had never shared with somebody before That was really shocking to me because I had never been in a classroom setting where something like that happened,” says Hernandez Some discussion tools that Orbe uses to facilitate conversations include provocative questions and well-researched student-led interactions.  He has had students divide into groups and address “Sophie’s Choice”-type hypotheticals referring to the 1982 fictional film about a Holocaust survivor One memorable question: if you had to choose between being Jewish during the Holocaust or a North American slave prior to the Civil War The “would you rather” activity requires students to guess which stances their classmates have taken on particular topics and talk about their guesses’ accuracy or inaccuracy.  a group facilitated a class on concepts about the afterlife which Orbe says “was crazy powerful” because it generated several insightful questions.  An exercise called “four corners,” which required people to segregate into groups according to levels at which they think they’ve been affected by sexual violence revealed gendered differences and sparked discussion around ideas of masculinity and cultural expectations Mangrum recalls her class having a powerful discussion about secrecy.  “Participants were instructed to finish a prompt disclosing a secret they have in their family,” she says “Maybe something going on or something that nobody knows about except family A classmate then collected the ‘secrets,’ written on pieces of paper and placed them in his backpack and continued to facilitate the conversation It was such a powerful representation of how we carry things with us wherever we go and how that could continue to stay in the family for generations to come.” According to Orbe this is one of the many powerful activities created and facilitated by students over the years “Dumela” is a term Orbe uses as a Taboo Topics theme and as a greeting for all his students and I see great potential in you.” He finds it exceptionally relevant to use in this course where students are willingly sharing thoughts that could very well lead to being stigmatized if expressed anywhere else Dumela’s tone-setting nature helps contribute to classroom power-sharing The “magic” occurs when the class realizes its “synergistic power” through dialogue Defining communication as “shared meaning,” dialogue works as a necessary tool to enhance understanding and increase mindfulness It’s a “peak communicative event” that enables individuals to understand why someone believes and behaves in the ways that they do.  “It can be something as easy as saying ‘I love you.’ And you’re like that’s so nice.’ But you have not interrogated what is meant by another person’s use of the word there are a lot of times where people hear what they want to hear and interpret that Contributing to misunderstandings can also be nonverbal cues generational dissonance and many more socio-cultural factors.  To achieve “dialogic moments,” listening is just as important as questioning is a learned skill set that runs counter to the notion of “winning,” he notes “How can we use communication in a powerfully affirmative way and not in a Machiavellian way where you’re trying to dominate others?” he asks.  The paperclip activity is typically the most memorable class experience where everyone in the class mindfully and dialogically listens to one another’s self-disclosures This “was the moment for me where I realized how important it is to listen… where I knew I could say a bunch of things that would make you feel better but I can’t contribute to your situation because I don’t understand it,” Hernandez says.  “I learned a valuable lesson that I apply in staff meetings today: when you talk you potentially could be robbing someone else of their opportunity to speak,” Pulley says “I realized that just because you have something to say doesn’t mean that students learn how to reach an understanding about why someone supports Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton or why someone has chosen to become estranged from their parents How do you know that peak dialogue has occurred When you have “experienced transformation,” Orbe explains “And transformation means that you have changed how you see yourself and/or you’ve changed how you see the world.” Pulley and Mangrum say they regularly apply the dialogic lessons and techniques they learned in Taboo Topics to their careers and personal lives Canada native who is studying behavior analysis and is multiracial said she’ll approach this year’s presidential election differently than she did in 2016 Along with asking more questions about why people think and feel the way they do about candidates and issues she will also speak more about her beliefs instead of remaining reticent in order to not distress others not saying what my truth was so that I wouldn’t offend somebody else,” Hernandez says “I think that’s a really important thing to do in a respectful way ‘I hear what you’re saying and this is why I disagree with you.’” Hernandez’s friend who expressed suicidal thoughts to her has survived Every day is a battle and you can really see it on her face you can see she’s working really hard,” Hernandez explains Listening to her friend without judging or demanding action from her She wrote her final paper for the course on that important breakfast conversation “There has been no better training for how to be an advocate and facilitator than my courses with Orbe,” says Mangrum from the way I set up a space for dialogue engage people from opposite ends of the spectrum to helping folks understand the negotiations we make every day based on the intersections of our identity learner and conversationalist simply because I was able to take a class with Dr Taboo Topics has helped Pulley navigate complex ideas stemming from his work on the Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Equity Team and made his work far more impactful and rewarding than it otherwise might have been “The way I approach difficult dialogue on hard topics now is through a lens of how can I affirm someone in the process,” Pulley says By honoring their viewpoints while also making an effort to access their origins and simultaneously remaining true to himself Pulley’s identity remains intact and his curiousity to learn more about others even those whose beliefs he considers abhorrent he says he hopes to teach Taboo Topics as long as he can remain a student-teacher who is learning along with his pupils if we give students the opportunity to teach us but there are other important teachers in the room There’s a certain cultural humility that has to come in here from everyone Orbe said the class continuously impresses and humbles him because it brings out the best in everyone involved “Students come in and they’re just so inquisitive and willing to share and teach and learn has given me a lot of faith and hope in our future because these young people are amazing,” he says For more WMU News, arts and events, visit WMU News online. A warm and genuine welcome awaits those who travel to Colombia.Photograph by Shutterstock10 min readBlessed with coastlines kissing both the Caribbean and the Pacific and boasting some of Latin America’s most exciting cities as well as some of its most biodiverse wilderness areas it’s only fitting that Colombians are universally proud to showcase their homeland to visitors shimmy and share are national characteristics — although it’s impossible to truly sum up this tapestry of 51 million people From the chefs serving up tropical flavours in Cartagena to the talented nature guides of the Amazon-Orinoco basins adventures in Colombia are all the more memorable for the warmth of the welcome awaiting you Here three travel writers share their favourite Colombian welcomes Walking south from the fishing town of El Valle at low tide towards Mamá Orbe’s Family Eco-Farm reveals pristine dark-sand beaches flanked by jungle exemplary of the wild Pacific coastline of Chocó province.Photograph by Amelia DugganHidden away on an uninhabited beach at the edge of Colombia's vast Chocó rainforest one could wonder whether Mamá Orbe’s chosen guesthouse location was commercially savvy “Travellers always seem to know where we are,” she explained simply when I found her sitting on the shore feet tucked luxuriously into the warm sand watching a gaggle of grandchildren play in the surf Mamá Orbe entertains travellers from all over the world with warm hospitality and home-cooked meals.Photograph by Amelia DugganAny check-in formalities were bypassed as she ushered the lot of us out of the fast-fading sun and into chairs around a picnic table Amid a chorus of cicadas and howler monkey cries mixed coconut into rice and fried plantain to make patacones More family members emerged into the glade drawn from their cabins by the smell of dinner Hurricane lamps were lit; laughter soon drowned out the sounds of the jungle just call me Mamá,” my host insisted later on lit a beach bonfire in honour of my arrival My memories of Mamá Orbe’s Family Eco-Farm are still as sharp and bright as if I’d returned from the Colombian Pacific yesterday I can recall the way the volcanic sands turned silver after tropical deluges; the bitter taste of a home-brewed tea expertly made for me by Mamá to cure a headache; the incomprehensible magic of seeing humpback whales blow and breach All of this was heightened by the family’s infectious wonder at nature Newly hatched olive ridley sea turtles head for the waves of the Pacific at dawn Mamá Orbe’s Family Eco-Farm runs a turtle conservation scheme that helps to safeguard the nests of vulnerable species.Photograph by Amelia DugganA knock on my door at dawn on my final day meant one thing: sea turtles were hatching patrolled the beach throughout the height of olive ridley nesting season safeguarding the turtle’s eggs from being eaten or taken He’d patrolled longer and harder since I’d arrived hoping to be able to share this spectacle with me as watery sunbeams spread across the horizon we watched a parade of hatchlings propel themselves towards the waves The turtles that survived would find their way back here in some years the jewel of the Greater Colombian Caribbean region I felt it with every step through the seaside city’s Old Town still encircled by the centuries-old stone walls that warded off pirates and privateers Within la ciudad amurallada lies an enchanting world of tree-shaded plazas brilliantly colored Spanish colonial homes and cobblestoned streets rumbling with horse-drawn carriages The city’s vibrant beauty is matched only by the incredible warmth that radiates from its residents who welcome travelers to experience their paradise—including the patio of Café del Mural is the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of Colombian coffee or experience a coffee tasting with innovative flavors.Photograph by Karen CarmichaelWhile wandering Cartagena’s intriguing alleyways and hidden courtyards in the spring of 2017 I got a taste of Colombian flavor and hospitality by sampling lovingly prepared local favorites Smiling street vendors proudly showed me their techniques melt-in-your-mouth arepas and tangy mango biche slivers of green mango tossed with lime juice and spices I savored the succulent beef of posta negra at a friendly bistro in Plaza San Diego where locals gathered to watch street musicians and filled the square with conviviality to find the most innovative coffee in Cartagena Owner David Arzayus delights in sharing with visitors his delectable brews that blend Colombian-grown Arabica beans with unusual ingredients—anise Turkish saffron—and hosts coffee tastings on the café’s patio framed by an exuberant mural of a dazzling sun His tastings don’t seek to prove that his coffee is the best but to provide an experiential journey through the coffee and the many different ways we can drink it “Coffee builds invisible bridges that interweave cultures,” he said I basked in the warm welcome of Colombia’s culture and daily,” reads the chalkboard outside Café del Mural an inviting coffee shop in Cartagena’s Getsemani neighborhood.Photograph by Karen CarmichaelA street food vendor in Cartagena’s walled Old Town proffers fresh mango biche spiced green mango slices that are a favorite in the coastal city.Photograph by Karen CarmichaelWalk into the wildBy Sarah Barrell Far from the roads and river ports of Leticia trekkers are rewarded with a warm welcome at family farms that appear suddenly in the dense forever of rainforest that carpets Colombian’s untamed Amazon-Orinoco region creeping between the buttress roots of kapok trees hanging in the humidity: the absence of noise rattle and hum climbing to a crescendo of power tool proportions – has fast receded leaving just the three-note shrill of the screaming piha bird puncturing the stupor that comes with the sudden intense heat of the day here in the Colombian Amazon-Orinoco region steady hours in a meditative movement of sweaty limbs each step calculated to conserve energy and keep balance on a forest floor bouncy with leaf mulch We hear them before we see them: Segundo’s people are signaled by the rallying ruff-ruff of dogs guarding the chacra – the forest farm where we will stay the night Segundo allows himself a smile: safe arrival in the jungle is never guaranteed and strangler figs entangle trails in an eye-blink there are kids and dogs and a shy huddle of women leading me into the maloca the community longhouse where we eat corn soup at family patriarchs warrior-dancing themselves into a celebratory muddle of red-and-white painted limbs There are hammocks strung for sleeping and a river – where I’m led hand-held through the ink dark – to wash in it is still: the welcomingly almost-silence of sleep inside a family house – a cocoon of snores creaks and dog snuffles against the rising rattling tide of another Amazon night Montville school superintendent Brian Levesque said he made it clear from the beginning of his discussions with Phil Orbe If the veteran social studies teacher and baseball coach was serious about the athletic director’s position “It was difficult only because I had been (coaching) for so long but I’m confident the next person coming in is going to be able to pick right up where we left off,” Orbe said Levesque announced that Orbe had been appointed to replace Walt Sherwin who stepped down from the position at the end of the school year to return to the classroom 1 choice of the committee made up of parents coaches and administrators,” Levesque said Not only does it end Orbe’s tenure as baseball coach but also as social studies teacher The athletic director position in Montville is responsible for all athletics district-wide Sherwin announced he was stepping aside as athletic director at the end of May right in the middle of the baseball postseason Orbe said the application process happened pretty quickly “I wanted to make sure that I took enough time to decide if this was the right course to take,” Orbe said to discuss if they felt that it was in his best interest to do so Orbe graduated from Montville in 1988 before coming back as a teacher He quickly became comfortable and began to build lasting relationships with students although it took some time to develop that ease “You never know if you can do a job until you actually do it I can remember my first day teaching 20-plus years ago But through a lot of trial and error and a lot of hard work (It’s the) same thing with the baseball position,” Orbe said The Indians had not made a baseball state championship game in their history Montville lost to Waterford in the Class M state title game It was the first of six title games that Orbe would lead Montville to The Indians won their first championship in 2006 and followed with back-to-back titles in 2010-11 just like I’m going to miss teaching in the classroom Both were educational experiences for our young people But I will be able to impact them on a greater scale given my new position,” Orbe said a “new challenge,” with a lot of work to be done He said he has spoken to both Levesque and high school principal about a couple of initiatives that he wants to implement although he was not specific on those he has a couple of coaching vacancies he must fill for the fall including a cross-country coach and a girls soccer assistant coach He is also seeking a replacement for boys basketball head coach Ben Stone He also will get his first taste this fall of what it will be like to be an athletic director in the turbulent Eastern Connecticut Conference “I will be representing Montville’s interests,” Orbe said “I think the athletic directors made a huge step forward last year when they decided to remain together I would think that would be the direction that all 18 ADs are looking toward I look forward to being part of that process.” Orbe is also the head coach of the Mystic Schooners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League His contract for the summer baseball program is up at the end of the season and he said he and the team’s administration will consider the future at that time Firms Build Financial Services Powerhouse in New York 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowell & Moring and Kibbe & Orbe have agreed to join forces to provide expanded service offerings to clients in the financial services industry 24 lawyers from the storied financial law firm would become part of Crowell & Moring's New York managing partner and chair of the firm's executive committee and the managing partner of the London office The transaction is expected to close in April Kibbe & Orbe represents hedge funds and other private investment funds and corporate boards of directors on a broad range of transactions and regulatory matters in the investment and business sectors The firm is recognized for having pioneered the legal framework governing the practice of trading in distressed bank loans creating a market that now transacts a trillion dollars annually including high-value investments in complex illiquid assets The firm is a leading voice in evolving markets Kibbe & Orbe's client roster includes six of the top 10 global investment banks six of the 10 largest private equity funds "They have established a sterling reputation over the past 30 years for their experience handling complex – and often novel – transactional They are viewed as a leader internationally for their work in the distressed debt industry and are sought out by corporate clients for their knowledge of increasingly sophisticated financial products and the rapidly changing global regulatory environment in which they are operating." The group includes 13 partners (10 based in New York and 1 in D.C.); 1 of counsel and 2 counsel (New York); and 8 associates (4 New York and Orbe, the partners joining Crowell & Moring's New York office include: Scott C and Kevin Rubinstein. Also joining the New York office are of counsel Kenneth Werner and counsel James J Ohlig and Robert Waldner; and associates John A joining the firm's London office is partner Matthew Hughes, as well as four associates: Adam Colman Mann will join Crowell & Moring's Washington In tandem with its transactional practices Kibbe & Orbe advises clients on a wide range of regulatory including providing strategic advice to boards and their companies on a range of corporate governance issues; counseling buy-side clients about the requirements of the SEC and other regulators with a focus on real-time trading advice to chief compliance officers and portfolio managers; and identifying and mitigating the risks faced by clients conducting global business and corporate transactions subject to both U.S Kibbe & Orbe is a recognized authority on internal investigations and international securities law compliance issues as well as being fluent in a complex range of issues in the investment and business sectors "This is an exciting opportunity to join forces with a firm that is as committed to diversity and professional excellence as we are," said Jennifer Grady managing partner and chair of Kibbe & Orbe's executive committee "The legal needs of our clients are evolving particularly as a result of the growing complexity of investment strategies and structures and the rapid adoption of new technologies developed for the financial markets We believe that Crowell & Moring offers the ideal platform with its broad spectrum of complementary practices We're certain our clients will find the firm's recognized capabilities in areas like anti-corruption and white collar and investigations to be of tremendous value." "This cutting-edge group of financial services practitioners will significantly expand our presence on Wall Street and increase our ability to deliver the highest level of service to global investment banks, private equity funds, and hedge funds," said Glen McGorty managing partner of the firm's New York office "Kibbe & Orbe has a core team of distressed debt and claims trading lawyers that is one of the most experienced in the world Their leadership in secondary debt and claims markets and experience as thought leaders in those global markets gives them the ability to look around the corner and capitalize on new developments for our clients." managing partner of the firm's London office "Their sophisticated and innovative practice complements our existing specialties in London Joining forces will result in more comprehensive service offerings for clients and will even further enhance our excellent collaboration with our colleagues in New York and D.C." About Crowell & Moring LLP Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 560 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity Media Contact: Rebecca CarrDirector of Communications+1 202.508.8835Email: [email protected] http://www.crowell.com a market leading lawyer representing prominent technology companies and governments on artificial intelligence and emerging.. Crowell & Moring has launched Crowell GovCon Strategies a new consultancy providing integrated business and legal solutions to guide companies.. Banking & Financial Services Personnel Announcements Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers Do not sell or share my personal information: