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Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Carlos Mortera struggled with the idea of not working all hours of the waking day explaining that this subconscious guilt is sometimes known as “immigrant shame.”  Father-son restaurant partners Carlos Mortera and Carlos Mortera Mortera announced his decision to permanently close his Mexican barbeque restaurant Mortera weighed the pros and cons and took a logical approach “I went through all the stages of acceptance,” Mortera said I looked at how much time and money it cost me to run Poio versus how much time and money it cost me to run my catering business [The Bite] and it was the smart decision to let Poio go.”  closing the restaurant gives Mortera the opportunity to focus his energy on his health and I had a health condition that was making it all very overwhelming and very stressful,” Mortera admitted so they are really why I made this decision.” Click here to read more about Carlos Mortera’s journey as a restaurateur Restaurant offerings at the Made of Kansas City food hall space — including Poio — at KCI’s new terminal; photo by Tommy Felts A buyer approached Mortera earlier this year with a proposition to buy the KCK building and restaurant equipment — but not the Poio brand Travelers can still taste Poio’s offerings at its location within Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal “The operation at the airport is through a franchise license so I do not have to do the day-to-day work there,” Mortera explained RELATED: Brands from Poio to Made in KC booked for new airport; $1.5B expected through the gate over 15 years Mortera calls himself unemployed, but the truth is far from it, he admitted. Even though he’s not working 12 to 16 hours at the restaurant, Mortera is keeping himself busy with catering and consulting services through The Bite, as well as other passion projects like SábaDos SábaDos is a community festival that features local musicians, artists and vendors. Mortera started it alongside artist FK Menace in 2022 as a way to shine a spotlight on minority and LQBTQ+ vendors and artists who have been looking for a place to belong The celebratory event is returning this Saturday Vendors and performers will be set up 2 p.m “We will be there the second Saturday of every month until November,” Mortera said and people can expect to hear a more diverse range of music — bands Click here to apply to be a part of SábaDos For those who crave Mortera’s dishes but aren’t planning on hopping on a flight anytime soon they can anticipate future pop-ups or book him for catering opportunities “Back in 2019, my friend Drew, who is vegan, and I would always make vegan snacks — so one day we decided to do it as a pop-up,” Mortera said, referring to La Vegana KC “It was very well received in the vegan community so we are thinking about bringing that back Cannabis consumers can even book Mortera to prepare a private cannabis-infused dinner that includes 30 milligrams of THC spread out between six courses “We started doing the cannabis[-infused] dinners when medicinal cards became legal it is a lot easier and more accessible to do,” Mortera said new clients — a lot of people you would never expect But the stigma has gone down since legalization; it’s made people a lot more open to it.” Mortera is currently working on his own line of THC edibles “Everything I wasn’t able to do because of the restaurant “My creativity was being capped at the restaurant because we had a set menu I am excited to be more creative and share my ideas with the community over this next year.” but it shouldn’t prohibit someone from enjoying their life “I’m still learning how to relax because it’s always been work “But I’m happy to be spending more time with my kids and fun projects that I am passionate about.” — The owner of Kansas City’s Poïó Mexican barbecue restaurant took to social media Tuesday to announce the restaurant will close its doors at the end of business on April 22 “We’ve had an incredible run, and we are grateful to our devoted patrons for supporting us over the years,” the restaurant said in the post The restaurant is among the local restaurants participating in next week’s 2023 NFL Draft Experience at the National World War I Museum and Memorial The event will mark the restaurant’s last event it’s time to take a break,” owner Carlos Mortera told KSHB 41 anchor Lindsay Shively Tuesday morning The restaurant closed in November 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and re-opened in May 2021 "I'm putting my experience on a plate of growing up in America," Mortera told KSHB anchor Rae Daniel in a January 2022 article but I grew up in Kansas and grew up with friends from just different cultures; the Philippines and Korean friends so we try to bring them all in one and you know when you come to Poïó Mortera said he plans to continue operating a catering business Report a typo  today announced its acquisition of Poio the acclaimed learn-to-read app for all children Poio has created a unique community in Scandinavia helping more than 100,000 children to learn to read through play and Poio will launch the English edition of Poio and make it available to Kahoot!'s hundreds of millions of users world-wide Through the acquisition, Poio will become part of the Kahoot! learning experience, next to the DragonBox family of math apps and school curriculum "We're impressed by how Poio has already helped more than 100,000 children in Scandinavia to learn how to read in an awesome way," said Åsmund Furuseth we are together launching Poio to our international community of millions of users teacher Daniel Senn began researching for what would become Poio now the most popular learn-to-read app in Scandinavia The aim of Poio is to help all children learn how to read through the natural process of play This empowers children to teach themselves how to read and that is to help as many children as possible to crack the reading code through play," said Daniel Senn we will be able to launch Poio in more languages and with new functionality bringing the joy of reading to millions of children around the world." and tech expert Daniel Senn quit his job to dedicate all his time to create a better way for children to learn to read through gamification Poio began as a personal journey as his son was born with a severe hearing problem Knowing that his son would require extensive assistance to master reading Daniel and his wife soon realized that the journey to reading mastery had to be fun and enjoyable Poio was born at the kitchen table of the Senn family learn how to read the storybook he has stolen from a group of letter bugs words and a story in a coherent fantasy world that unravels scene-by-scene empowering them to master reading at their own pace through play with positive feedback and exploration as the core experience Kahoot! is on a mission to make learning awesome, building the world's leading learning community by connecting teachers, students, parents and organizations with premium content. Last year, Kahoot! launched the Ignite accelerator program and the addition of Poio is an important milestone towards building a collection of learning experiences that create value for learners all over the world.   "Mastering reading and math is fundamental for all children to succeed in life Together with Poio learn-to-read app and Dragonbox math apps we will make the best learning experiences available for Kahoot!'s hundreds of millions of users around the world inside and outside the classroom," said Eilert Hanoa Poio and DragonBox will present more information at the Kahoot Kahoot!, Falguni Bhuta | [email protected] Poio, Daniel Senn | [email protected] Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that makes it easy to create share and play fun learning games or trivia quizzes in minutes is used in a variety of settings – in K-12 and university classrooms valued by organizations and harnessed by publishers had over one billion participating players in more than 200 countries is on a mission to make learning awesome and build the leading learning community in the world that connects its users to premium content the company is headquartered in Norway with offices in the US and the UK www.kahoot.com  Poio is a game-based learning-to-read app helping children crack the reading code through play Poio has today helped more than 100,000 children to learn to read Poio has so far been launched in Norway and Sweden quickly becoming the #1 learn-to-read app in Scandinavia Poio will be launched globally through a British English version www.poio.com  http://www.getkahoot.com the leading learning and engagement company nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering the global learning and engagement platform is thrilled to announce an exciting new collaboration with the globally loved Sanrio.. Computer & Electronics Computer Software Computer Software Electronic Gaming Do not sell or share my personal information: Norwegian early childhood learning app, Poio, has launched its English language version in the UK, extending its reach outside of its Scandinavian base a month after being acquired by learning platform Kahoot! the game-based learning app asks children to help a troll name Poio learn to read by collecting words and founder Daniel Senn said the game aimed to boost literacy rates within the UK “Children’s minds are vast sponges during these formative years” “The UK’s Department of Education reported in 2018 that in one in five British children are leaving their primary education without being able to read and write properly,” Senn said “They also indicated that the right solutions to solve these issues were not available in the UK market and encouraged by Poio’s success with over 100,000 Scandinavian users it felt that we may have the answer.” Senn added play was a crucial component in engaging early childhood learners and using game elements and characters that children enjoyed meant there was better knowledge retention “The spirit of play in education is at the very core of what we do and helps to connect with children who are often left behind by the traditional education,” he said “Children’s minds are vast sponges during these formative years able to recall every one of their favourite Pokémon – but also sometimes struggling to expand their vocabulary elsewhere “Instead of taking the traditional approach of chastising children for caring about the things they care about it’s the role of learning tools to tap into that sense of enthusiasm.” A US-English version will be made available later in the year In May, Poio was acquired by game-based learning platform Kahoot! which describes itself as the “Netflix of Education” About The PIE News Regions Poio Mexican BBQ announced that the restaurant will close its doors at the end of the business day, April 22. This comes as heartbreaking news to the community that has gotten used to the barbecue joint as a KC staple. In September 2022 it was reported that Poio owner Carlos Mortera was looking to sell his restaurant, and he told Fox4 that he would close after finding a buyer.  “The pandemic kind of put a perspective of what I want out of life and money is not everything,” Mortera says I’ve got to spend time with them before they hate me fans of the restaurant cannot accept that they only have four more days to enjoy Poio’s authentic Mexican food and welcoming atmosphere A post shared by Poio Mexican BBQ (@poiomexicanbbq) “We’ve loved having you in the community and we’ll be sad without you here,” one commenter says “Good luck on your next adventure!” how I can’t wait for just one more family meal Thanks for all the good times,” someone else writes Poio still has a small location in the Made of Kansas City Food Hall in the new Kansas City International Airport but it’ll be a bit more difficult than just going through the drive-thru Get the latest from The Pitch delivered directly to your inbox Subscribe ShareSaveSmall BusinessEntrepreneursThe App That Offers Kids A New Way Of LearningByLucy Sherriff Daniel Senn using the Poio app with his children After Daniel Senn's second son was born with a hearing impairment the Oslo-based businessman decided to create a solution my second son Leon was born with a serious hearing impairment which meant that he would struggle with traditional learning methods "With school systems designed for the majority of students that progress at the same pace my wife and I knew that he would need more time and assistance to master reading he and I began constructing paper-based games on the kitchen table to help practice combining letters into meaningful words he and his older brother Askel had devised an imaginary world which became central to the whole process of aiding literacy in an exciting and inclusive way "Their creativity and playfulness inspired the game that eventually became Poio and the app was officially launched." the app has helped more than 60,000 children in Norway and Sweden Poio is currently recruiting British parents and children to trial the English-language version of Poio ahead of our launch in the UK later this year and children with disabilities or impairments struggle even harder "Poio is a new method that allows children to teach themselves to read without the need for external supervision," Senn explained "Through an app and the accompanying physical storybook Poio provides a gamified alternative to traditional learning methods." The method is designed to place the child in charge of their learning process and the email service Poio offers helps parents support their child personalized learning that adapts to your child's ability level and explorative playful nature." Poio enables children to crack the ‘reading code’ through phonics - the repetitive practice of letter sounds - which they can then blend together to form complete words Senn says his method revolutionizes the learning process by turning it into a game learn to read the storybook he has stolen from letter bugs (characters known as ‘readlings’) in a magical location called Straw Island Poio has imprisoned these letter bugs due to his frustration at being unable to read children must free the readlings and collect words These words are broken down into individual phonetic letter sounds voiced by the readlings helping the child familiarize themselves with the letter and its corresponding sound "The success of Poio is based on the fact that children actually want to play and practice with our tool and this is what sets us aside from other solutions in the market "We have designed a learning environment with play as the core interface master the fundamental principles of reading." "These figures are as shocking as they are devastating," Senn added "Seeing the positive impact that Poio has had on users in Scandinavia we knew the power that this alternative method for teaching reading could have in other countries." took to Clemens Hall Thursday afternoon to call for CAS Dean Robin Schulze to resign The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) will pause hiring for a “limited number” of Ph.D a CAS spokesperson confirmed shortly after a second protest against the planned staffing reductions.  The College of Arts and Sciences plans to hire 30 fewer teaching assistants (TAs) next year reducing the total number of TAs in the college from 515 to 485 Graduate Student Employees Union (GSEU) head Joey Sechrist told The Spectrum Thursday evening Sechrist says UB provided those numbers to GSEU on March 19 “We are slowing our growth in the College to assess all the investments made to date as we continue to plan for the future,” a CAS spokesperson told The Spectrum in an email Thursday night “The College has implemented a pause on a limited number of faculty searches and some Ph.D recruitment lines as we assess the need for adjustments moving forward.  there are no proposed department cuts currently under discussion,” the spokesperson said.  The spokesperson added UB has invested significantly in the college which he described as “the heart of UB.” The university expects to have added 36 instructional faculty and 42 tenure-track faculty between the 2021-22 academic year and this coming fall His comments echo the content of a PowerPoint presentation obtained by The Spectrum that was delivered at a meeting of CAS department chairs and directors on Feb That presentation said the college “has grown its faculty at an astonishing rate over the past three years,” but that lower class enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and expected state funding that “did not materialize” have led to financial losses “Every department needs to consider reducing spending in light of the combination of growth of tenure lines and decline in enrollment,” the presentation reads The CAS spokesperson’s statement comes after around 20 demonstrators took to Clemens Hall Thursday afternoon to protest what they called cuts and to call for CAS Dean Robin Schulze to resign the students of classics are not cowards,” Bekkali-Poio said “We will not stop until your resignation letter is delivered to us in our email inboxes The spokesperson called the “coward” comment “unnecessary.” GSEU has tried to meet with representatives of the college to no avail They added that the hiring freezes “disproportionately affect smaller departments with fewer Ph.D.s and faculty overall such as Comparative Literature and Classics.” “It is unjust that the university is eager to shrink incoming cohorts and weaken our departments while our upper-level administrators make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and spend millions on new buildings,” Sechrist wrote in an email to The Spectrum “These ‘pauses’ are sadly indicative of the university's unwillingness to adequately fund robust arts and sciences programs that can remain competitive with peer institutions.” In a mass email to graduate students obtained by The Spectrum Schulze said that she has asked all departments to pause hiring for at least one Ph.D and that she did not single out the Classics Department She wrote that she “asked Classics not to book classes with historically tiny enrollments or to be sure to balance those classes with much larger classes.” “The College will be canceling classes that do not fill,” Schulze wrote She said CAS must uphold its expectations for course enrollment “We are now in the position where we must honor them for the sake of the College as a whole,” she wrote Thursday's protest follows a similar demonstration that occurred before spring break.  Carrying signs that mocked UB’s refusal to use the term “cuts” and calling for Schulze’s resignation demonstrators at Thursday’s protest booed at several points as Bekkali-Poio read Schulze’s email aloud Schulze,” Bekkali-Poio shouted through a megaphone “Thank you for putting this response in writing Thank you for giving us something that we can really sink our teeth into.” whose positions she said were “permanently paused.” Bekkali-Poio said she will lead pr​​otests every Thursday until the Faculty Senate meets on April 16 she hopes CAS faculty within the body will vote no confidence in Schulze CAS is UB’s largest academic unit Schulze became the college’s dean in 2016.  CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misidentified the CAS spokesperson Mylien Lai contributed to the reporting of this article Alisha Allison is an assistant news editor and can be reached at alisha.allison@ubspectrum.com Sol Hauser is the senior news editor and can be reached at sol.hauser@ubspectrum.com Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors A fierce battle over who will oversee the restaurants bars and stores at the new Kansas City International Airport terminal culminated Thursday with the City Council approving Vantage Airport Group to oversee the concessions The council voted 9 to 2 in support of Vantage over four competing proposers after a bruising weeks-long selection process The prize was a lucrative 15-year contract to manage the airport’s food It was seen by many as the best chance to showcase local brands and make the airport a favorable point of pride with travelers to the city local vendors are expected to include a variety of barbecue operators City Market and 18th and Vine eateries and Christopher Elbow Chocolates A selection committee consisting of the aviation director and a city manager representative a small business representative and Councilman Dan Fowler unanimously recommended Vantage Airport Group over four other proposers: Delaware North; Greater Kansas City Restaurant & Retail Group; MERA KC; and PLTR-SSP @KCI LLC Supporters said Vantage was chosen because it had the best financial proposal good partnerships with local Kansas City vendors and community organizations Fowler abstained from the council vote but said the selection committee thought Vantage was the clear choice namely because it offered the best opportunity for local businesses to participate at KCI “I wanted this airport to scream Kansas City when people got off an airplane,” Fowler said “And Vantage had the best proposal that I thought did that.” Opponents argued the Vantage proposal was risky financially for both the city and airport tenants They also said it would lead to pricier concessions and left out marquee brands such as the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals Distillery and several James Beard-winning chefs Councilwoman Teresa Loar was particularly critical of the selection She argued the other proposers had more airport experience across the country and used a more conventional concession management model than Vantage’s developer model where Vantage does not directly operate any concessions Loar also said she wasn’t getting answers to her questions and that the selection process wasn’t transparent or fair “This is the most corrupt thing I have ever been involved with outside of the police department vote,” Loar complained before she stormed out of a Sept but we need to verify what that information is and we have not done that.” Vantage representatives defended the group’s track record saying they have been successful in 31 airports worldwide including at LaGuardia Airport’s new terminal in New York City and at Chicago Midway those voting for the contract were Mayor Quinton Lucas and council members Eric Bunch Those voting against were Loar and Councilwoman Katheryn Shields Shields said the full council needed a more detailed comparison of the five proposals in a public hearing to assure that members were choosing the best option “I don’t believe we know this is the best proposal,” she said Councilwoman Andrea Bough agreed it was a tough decision but added she was comfortable with the selection committee’s recommendation “There are a lot of good brands in each of these proposals,” Bough said “I could find nothing concrete in the process to say that we should throw it out.” As various council members chose sides in the concession fight some attention focused on campaign contributions from the competing proposers to various council members Campaign disclosure reports showed Mayor Lucas received a $1,000 contribution in 2019 from the president of OHM Concession Group Another disclosure showed Loar had received a $500 contribution from Paradies Both Lucas and Loar said those contributions would have no impact on how they voted on the matter During committee testimony Sept. 29, the losing proposers and several prominent business owners urged the Council to reconsider the selection owner and chef of Jasper’s Italian Restaurant said he was approached by a number of the proposers but chose to go with SSP America/Paradies “They had a chance to team up with the Kansas City Chiefs and we thought that was just fantastic,” Mirabile said urged the council to go with the Kansas City Restaurant Group whose proposal included Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que and Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies Foundation But multiple small and minority business owners praised the Vantage plan said his group started talking to prospective concession operators more than two years ago their yearning to not only learn but to understand and because of their ability to execute at the highest level.” Local and minority-owned vendors selected to operate shops in Kansas City’s new airport terminal are more than up to the task emphasizing the power of adding flavor to the highly anticipated project “Most airports aren’t filled with local businesses,” noted Mortera, founder of Poio Mexican Barbeque I feel like we’re a city who likes to do different things And if we want to make the city a better place Kansas City International Airport concessions rendering The Kansas City City Council voted 9-2 Thursday in support of Vantage Airport Group managing the airport’s food beverage and retail operations at Kansas City International Airport The new $1.5 billion terminal is expected to open in March 2023 Vantage projects $1.5 billion in concessions sales over the course of the 15-year contract A key component of its now-approved proposal: local brands generating local jobs and providing opportunities for small (Vantage also committed to opening 100 percent of the concession offering on the first day of terminal operations.) the Kansas City International Airport New Terminal project is the largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history the facility will replace the aging three-terminal complex with a single terminal and 6,000-plus space garage The facility will open with 39 gates and the ability to expand up to 50 gates Click here to learn more about the concessions contract vote itself, from KCUR, one of Startland News’ reporting partners in the Kansas City Media Collective Vendors expected to join the terminal with Vantage’s winning bid range from Soiree Steak and Oyster House which currently operates a restaurant in the 18th and Vine Jazz District headquartered in the southeast corner of the city a retailer spread across the two-state metro Click here to learn more about the selected small business including those within the City Market Food Hall and American Royal Tasting Bar concepts Mortera was approached by two competing airport management companies offering to partner with Poio, he shared, but Vantage — which has worked with 31 other airports and currently manages operations at such major sites as New York’s LaGuardia Terminal B and Midway in Chicago — ultimately stood out because of its commitment to supporting diverse business owners “Vantage wanted to do something different at our airport something that hasn’t been done before,” Mortera said noting the New York-based company’s aggressive inclusion goals [individuals on the Vantage team] are second-generation immigrants so I definitely want to support another Brown person.” Click here to read more about the potential for generational impact from the Vantage airport contract With the vote on the 15-year management contract striking up controversy — opponents argued Vantage was too inexperienced and would leave too much of the operational responsibilities to local entrepreneurs — Mortera believes critics were afraid of going against the grain “I hate to throw the race card — but I feel like at this stage with this much money the high percentage of minority founders was something being questioned,” Mortera continued ‘How are these people going to accomplish this?’ … We know we can do it Poio plans to bring its signature meals to the airport along with breakfast and more travel-friendly options “People from all over the world are going to be coming through this airport and seeing our restaurant,” he said Click here to read about Poio’s path to reopening its popular Mexican barbecue in Kansas City Along with supporting minority business owners about 80 percent of the businesses featured in the airport will have local ties Made in KC — which made its name as the premier curator and retailer of Kansas City-made products — is set to open one of its marketplace concepts in the new terminal this airport will be one of the most locally-operated locally-represented airports in the country,” said Keith Bradley “Supporting local businesses is what we are all about at Made in KC so this is a huge step forward in our goal,” he continued “It allows us to take local artists and markers and put them in front of a platform with a nonstop cycle of travelers coming in and out of our city … It really creates endless opportunities for the small businesses we work with to grow and succeed in other markets outside of Kansas City.” After working with Vantage for the past two years Bradley has great trust in the airport group’s expertise and proposal “There was a process set up a long time ago by the airport selection committee that included a variety of stakeholders across the industry including those who know airport concessions very well,” Bradley said describing the task that considered bids for the terminal project and ultimately sent its recommendation to the city council “That committee unanimously selected Vantage’s bid — that really speaks volumes to their due diligence and the quality of the proposal they put together.” Airport visitors can expect to find many of the Kansas City products represented in existing Made in KC marketplaces at the new terminal “This is not only the best option for Kansas City’s airport but for the hundreds of small businesses involved,” Bradley said “We’re really excited to have a robust representation of local goods within our airport for the first time.” Click here to read about Made in KC’s new location in Lenexa This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in 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hostels and albergues dotting the nearly 300km path from Porto to Santiago during peak season It’s the kind of place to find yourself alone with your thoughts your partner or whatever ghosts haunt your steps around the planet Near the end of the average two-week voyage from Porto pilgrims face a choice—add several days to the journey by detouring 28km over the mountain passes of the Variante Espiritual or make single day sprint to Padron a town just one day’s walk from the finish line but three days for the otherworldly sights on the Variante Espiritual the well-marked stone blazes of the Camino Portugués are replaced by diminutive wooden signposts and the occasional boulder painted with a yellow arrow The steady stream of world travelers famously plodding the Central Route of the Camino Portugués becomes a smattering of vagabonds perusing the villages woodlands and vineyards lining this detour one might go a full day without hearing the ubiquitous pilgrims' salute of “Bom Caminho!” The alabaster walls of the Mosteiro de San Xoan de Poio loom over the town of Poio only a half day’s walk from the Central Route at Pontevedra where most pilgrims find themselves shacked up for the night The excitement of splitting off from the main trail can tempt travelers to push past this towering 17th-century monolith; but a treasure trove of mosaic-lined cloisters and the unassuming tomb of Saint Trahamunda beckon them to linger The monastery was founded in the seventh century and an attached hotel—run by the Order of Our Lady of Mercy—provides comfortable housing and a bar for the weary After nearly two weeks of carrying heavy backpacks from Porto Liz and I are more than happy to check in to the monastery early and rest our bones exploring the grounds and town below Stunning views and traditional Spanish food can be found at nearby Restaurante A Nova Cepa while peregrinos seeking a more casual atmosphere should consider a downhill walk to Café-Bar Aquelo Get an early start from Poio (the nuns will feed you breakfast) and make the nearly 2,000ft climb up and over Mount Castro to Mosteiro de Armenteira our party of two makes it to the Variante Espiritual’s second monastery around 1:00 p.m. resting only briefly at a cooler full of free drinks left for pilgrims midway up the peak The payoff for a morning spent ascending narrow mountain paths—many of which have worn themselves into the landscape over centuries—is stunning. The 12th-century enclave at Mosteiro de Armenteira was founded by a Cistercian knight said to have spent 300 years lost in a vision of paradise gifted by the Virgin Mary in the nearby woods The grounds are home to an albergue offering nightly lodging and a smattering of restaurants and gift shops stone archways here are also the high water mark of a fairytale-like path that pilgrims can either opt to push through in one day or enjoy in the morning Its entrance lies just outside of the gates we find ourselves racing against time to complete an ambitious more than 20 km hop from Poio to a hotel in Vilanova de Arousa; and we’re kicking ourselves for not booking an extra night in Armenteira an afternoon spent chasing daylight along the rippling waters of the pint-sized Rego de Armenteira and the larger lazier Rio Umia before crossing a vineyard-laden landscape into bar-strewn Vilanova de Arousa made the kilometers pass quickly If you’re collecting passport stamps to earn your Compostela in Santiago the final leg of the Variante Espiritual offers your only chance to earn one on a boat To do so, Liz and I are up again up at dawn for a dockside rendezvous with Amare Turismo Nautico We hitch a ride 28km up the Rio Ulla to Pontecesures where we'll head to Padron and make a final sprint to the finish line at Santiago This water crossing follows the legendary route of the remains of St passing a host of stone crosses marking their presumed path more than a millennia ago we pass the remnants of more recent history—viking longboats and medieval fortifications intended to protect the area from northern invaders we find our boots back on dry land where a duo of pilgrims on horseback are galloping their way east towards Santiago I squint through the brightening sun as I watch the horses dance by a line of yet more travelers clad with walking sticks and backpacks their shrinking silhouettes conjuring bedtime stories of horseback adventures spun by my father more than three decades ago I can almost feel my father’s welcoming smile watching alongside me We are back on the main route of the Camino Portugués now Most of our fellow pilgrims will have missed the crumbling watermills the story of the knight and the bartending nuns on the Variante Espiritual Dad and I will meet them all in Santiago tonight Take the Camino Portugués from Porto. Both the Coastal and Central Routes lead to Pontevedra, where pilgrims can break off at well-marked signage for the Variante Espiritual just north of town. During peak season, May-August, I recommend booking nights at the monasteries (typically under €50) in advance. Wise Pilgrim offers a convenient, smartphone guide to the Camino Portugués to help wayfinding when trail markers become sparse. Editor's note: The following is a transcript of a speech given by a student in the Classics Department during a protest that took place on March 13 The speech is being published as a letter to the editor at the request of the student who delivered it This letter remains in the condition in which it was sent We would like you to know what was said at our peaceful sit-in yesterday: “My name is Tina Bekkali-Poio; I am a PhD student in Mediterranean Archaeology in the Classics Department at the University of Buffalo I am speaking on behalf of the students in Classics We are not here to defend the existence of our field but what is happening to our department should be a red flag for all those who believe that the existence of the humanities is foundational for education and society at large the Administration at the University at Buffalo is gutting the humanities Make no mistake that this is their plan– that this has been their plan The plan of the UB Dean of the College of Arts and Science the plan to diminish the humanities departments at The State University of New York University at Buffalo What we are doing here today is the result of the lack of transparency that runs rampant throughout this University What we are doing here today is calling you to action To our faculty of the Department of Classics we say we urge that you not take our decision to exercise our constitutional right to protest personally We want to tell you what the administration has been doing to the Department of Classics; what they are doing to many of the students of the Department of Classics at the University at Buffalo are willingly putting ourselves into the line of fire to warn you We are standing here today urging you to stand with us We are standing here today to call you to action We want to tell you what is happening in our department and at this University what we have gathered from UB Hub and from personal emails to our students—undergraduate the Department of Classics is on a hiring freeze the Dean of the College of Arts and Science is not allowing our department to hire adjunct faculty next year is trying to cancel upper-level undergraduate courses our department faculty is unable to teach any Graduate courses in Fall 2024— there are no Graduate courses planned for our department in Fall 2024 The Dean of the College of Arts and Science Schulze has demanded the department speed up time to completion to get current graduate students out as fast as possible We believe that the Dean of the College of Arts and Science and the Administration of the University at Buffalo wants to exterminate our department and do so as quietly as possible It may be easy for them to justify the elimination of Classics But hear us when we say that we will be a catalyst What is happening to us will happen to others Do not let anyone gaslight you into thinking that this situation is not grave Do not let anyone gaslight you into thinking that what is happening in the Department of Classics at the University at Buffalo— what is happening to us— is not symptomatic of something much larger something much more detrimental to students This is happening across the United States In 2024 at a meeting with the Board of Trustees at Miami University in Oxford Ohio they “shared details about the university’s ongoing plan to shrink the humanities” Consolidating Foreign Language Degree Programs West Virginia University has drastically cut the humanities; they laid off 76 people— 32 of whom were tenured faculty; they cut 28 academic programs- the majority of which were the humanities other public institutions have gone the same route the New York Times reported that within these Universities: “Many courses on the endangered list are also dissonant with an expanding conservative political agenda.” Mark our words when we say that the defense for the diminishment of the humanities at the University at Buffalo will be to claim low enrollment both in the humanities and the University at large They will claim that the University is meeting the demand of students who expect to enter the workforce after graduation who expect something back for their investment in their education We are not here to blame incoming undergraduate students for not wanting to go into crippling debt It is not the job of the humanities to make good external monetary investments for this University It is not the job of the humanities to ethically and justly manage the College of Arts and Science It is not the burden of the students and faculty Do not let anyone gaslight you into thinking that the situation at the University at Buffalo is not grave If the administration wants to paint us as liars We request that they do so through actions rather than words If the administration wants to destroy our future our reputations at this University and in our field we request that they do so on and after April 1st when the NY State Budget is signed into law by Governor Hochul The epistemological–historical theme of Classics at large lies in complacency the subjects taught in the Department of Classics have traditionally been manipulated to justify fascist regimes But the students of the Department of Classics at Buffalo are not complacent The new generation of scholars in Classics across this country is not complacent The future of this field is not complacent The very word complacent derives from Latin in regards to the gutting of the humanities at the University at Buffalo who does it please to eliminate the diverse in depth study of humanity at the University at Buffalo The University at Buffalo no longer fosters education The University at Buffalo is no longer an institution of higher learning The University at Buffalo is a corporation The Administration has made it impossible for the Department of Classics and other humanities departments to thrive To create updated programs that foster the needs of students of society: the need to dismantle the manipulations of our fields We have allowed the Administration of University at Buffalo to divide us both physically and ideologically: it is falling prey to a flawed system and ideology of education in this country If you want to live in a world where people have access to the very things being developed by the good students of STEM– for these advancements to be accessible to all If you want to live in a world where everyone has access to affordable healthcare– if you believe that healthcare is a human right If you want people all people to have the right to bodily autonomy If you want to live in a world where people are not systematically oppressed based on their gender or non gender conformity If you want to live in a world where people are not systematically oppressed based on their race If you want to live in a world where people are not discriminated against based on their faith or non faith If you want to nurture and celebrate the diversity of our international community If you want to live in a world without genocide If you want to live in a world where people all people have access to higher education– if you believe that education is a human right The burden of the nationwide drop in enrollment in higher education institutions should not can not be placed on the students and especially not on the humanities the importance of the humanities should not We are a generation that has known nothing but crisis Faculty and students at the University of Buffalo and beyond a writing intensive course that fulfills the Writing 2 requirement **The Dean has restored one upper-level undergraduate Latin course that will be cross-listed with a Graduate Course; this does not change our stance Kansas-raised Carlos Mortera is defined by two he said — a contrast that led him to question his own identity but ultimately answer with culinary creations that reflect a diverse Kansas City experience I struggled with feeling like I’m not from either place,” shared Mortera “It wasn’t until I had my restaurant when I realized who I was,” continued the founder of Poio a Mexican barbecue set for its grand reopening Tuesday Although Mortera grew up around his father’s several restaurants in Mexico he initially had no intentions of going into the family business “I went to college for marketing with the goal of being a sports agent — I didn’t want to work in restaurants,” he recalled “But I didn’t care much for school at the time Mortera’s outlook had changed as he started cooking for high-end restaurants “I learned to love how to cook,” he shared “I wanted to be like a sponge and absorb as many techniques as I could I just wanted to be a chef — I didn’t want to have a restaurant.” While working at The Bite in the River Market Mortera was offered to partner with the restaurant he bought his partners out in 2016 to create a restaurant that was uniquely his own but I grew up in America loving sandwiches and fast casual restaurants; so we combined the two,” Mortera said opened in 2018 in Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood With their lease ending in November 2020 and the restaurant undergoing rapid expansion Mortera decided it would be best to close Poio’s Westside location and bring it back to his home state of Kansas Amid Poio’s reopening and welcoming a baby daughter this past year Mortera closed The Bite this spring to focus on family and health Click here to learn more about Poio and its menu Poio’s new location is set for a grand opening Tuesday in Kansas City Not only did Mortera express excitement about his upgraded space but he’s eager to return to a place that feels like home who grew up in both Wyandotte and Johnson counties on the Kansas side of the state line “Growing up in Wyandotte County always felt like home because there’s a big Mexican community here,” he said “If I ever felt like I needed to have a little piece of Mexico there’s already great food over here — I feel like it’s one of the best destinations for food — and I just want to be a part of that.” Customers can anticipate indoor and outdoor seating The COVID-19 pandemic revealed to Mortera how important convenience is for his customers already equipped with access for hungry drivers.) “We wanted to provide chef-driven food at a drive thru that is affordable,” Mortera noted “One of my big takeaways from working in fine dining is that: fine dining is not available to everyone — but everyone should be eating that well … We pick up the best ingredients and give them to people in an affordable way.”  Before Poio’s grand opening, the community can get a taste of its food through the Jewish Vocational Services’ (JVS) 9th annual Global Table fundraiser on Monday Shifting from its regular fundraiser because of the COVID-19 pandemic JVS partnered with four immigrant and/or refugee-owned restaurants for “Global Table To Go.” Each Monday in May a different restaurant is offering carry-out cuisine in partnership with JVS Click here for ticketing more information on JVS’ Global Table To Go Fundraiser “I want [Poio] to be a part of community events and partnerships in the future,” Mortera said “We already have plans with some friends to host benefit concerts because we have a giant parking lot that’d be great for a concert or different activities.” noting that the double “L” in Spanish often mimics the “Y” sound in English “But English speakers unfamiliar with the Spanish language will pronounce the word as pol-lo.” In order to have everyone pronounce the restaurant’s name the same way Mortera landed on “Poio” — which is also a reflection of growing up around both English and Spanish Mexican food and Kansas City barbecue aren’t Mortera’s only influences; he also pulls inspiration from his friends and past experiences “At one point I worked at a Korean restaurant so we did a lot of Korean-inspired food at The Bite,” Mortera said We have kimchi fried rice; we sell ribs in a Filipino adobo way … We have some of those traditional [Kansas City] barbecue sides Understanding one’s identity is a struggle that many immigrants and individuals of mixed ethnicities experience “Finding out who you are is pretty cool,” Mortera said especially as a chef feeling confident in my food.” nonpartisan foundation that seeks to build inclusive prosperity through a prepared workforce and entrepreneur-focused economic development and break down systemic barriers so that all people – regardless of race or geography – have the opportunity to achieve economic stability For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect with us at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn Baby back ribs from Marina 27 at a Kansas City Restaurant Week preview event at J Curious Kansas City diners can step away from their kitchens for the next 10 days, teased Carlos Mortera, as chefs at 200 restaurants across the city plate their latest trending tastes during the metro’s most-anticipated culinary showcase. at a Kansas City Restaurant Week preview event at J “It’s a big deal in Kansas City. Many of the restaurants feature items they don’t usually have on the menu, so a lot of planning goes into this,” said Mortera, the founder of Poio Mexican BBQ, describing the stakes of the 13th annual Kansas City Restaurant Week we’re in a pandemic and January is the slowest time for restaurants — so this really helps us bring in business.”  $35 or $45 fixed menu with multiple courses Click here to check out the full list of restaurants and their menus during KC Restaurant Week Along with supporting local restaurants, consumers can be assured that their dollars will boost community organizations like the Visit KC Foundation and Greater KC Restaurant Association Both are annual community-first recipients A third organization is chosen each year by event organizers Guadalupe Centers was selected for 2022 “Guadalupe Centers is one of the longest-serving Hispanic nonprofits in the United States,” shared Gary Bradley-Lopez communications and outreach director at Guadalupe Centers “We provide a variety of services such as youth development and social services; education; and then social and cultural events.”  Click here to learn more about Guadalupe Centers Proceeds from Restaurant Week benefit Guadalupe Centers’ catering services — a department focused on providing food for Hispanic and Latinx communities across Wyandotte and Jackson counties we have a lot of older folks who don’t have any hot meals,” Bradley-Lopez noted “The funds will help us expand our work within the community.” “One of the main reasons I wanted to participate in Restaurant Week was because a percentage of the proceeds go to the Guadalupe Center,” Mortera added “They are pro-immigrant and support the Mexican community Click here to read more about Poio and how Carlos Mortera united his Mexican-American identity through food Restaurant Week features a vast array of cuisines Second-time participant Fannie Gibson — founder of Fannies African & Tropical Cuisine — noted that Restaurant Week showcases Kansas City’s true diversity and I am so grateful for this opportunity,” Gibson shared “To see people from all walks of life coming together to enjoy West African cuisine “[Restaurant Week] customers can expect to see some of the favorites on our menu as well as new dishes that you cannot find anywhere else in Kansas City,” she continued The 10-day event is an opportunity for restaurants to attract new customers and hopefully build long-term relationships, said James Taylor, the founder of La Bodega and BLU HWY you get a honeymoon period and that’s all you get,” Taylor noted “It’s very difficult to get in front of new people It’s a great marketing vehicle to show people who you are and what you do.” When the new Kansas City International Airport terminal opens Tuesday it’ll be a new chapter for more than 20 local businesses who will debut their airport locations — including the City Market’s Brown and Loe Owner Kate McGlaughlin felt lucky that OHM the company in charge of the new terminal’s concessions She’s been in the restaurant business for decades But she wasn’t sure what to expect of an airport location where another company would be such a big part of the process more than happy with everything that has happened thus far.” She doesn’t yet know how many sales she can expect and the hours of operation will be wider because passengers will be at the airport during all hours of the day and night breakfasts and other items and will later expand once the airport gets its bearings a location at the new airport is a chance to show off to visitors But some restaurant owners also see it as a debut for Kansas City itself — and an opportunity for homegrown culture to make a first impression on the world “Kansas City’s that little gem in the middle of the country that the coasts don’t know anything about,” said Joe Paris it’s been really fun that we’ve gotten to be a part of it.” It’s also a new experience for restaurant owners who are used to managing hectic businesses independently Setting up a business at the airport has involved unique complications like airport security Menus will be different as well — slimmed down for the first few weeks until more staff are hired responsible for filling the new KCI with mostly local businesses compared to opening a restaurant,” said Carlos Mortera “This has been kind of a walk in the park.” will feature meals that are easy to take on the go that I’m usually in a hurry,” Mortera said “I need something that I can grab and go or that I can eat pretty fast Martin City Brewing Company will have an array of beers on tap rather than the full size available at other locations ‘airport’s not where you share pizza,’” said Matt Moore “It should be very quick and easy from the kitchen side.” The KCI vendors have had to consider a transient but captive customer base owners can do whatever they want within the terms of their lease But the businesses at the airport have been less focused on competition Parisi’s airport coffee shop will sell its standard array of espressos and seasonal beverages as well as portable food like sandwiches and local snacks Its décor will feature Union Station and the history of Kansas City And he relishes the chance to show off his hometown to visitors from all over “The city is just doing so much cool stuff,” Paris said and watching this city just get more and more new and unique opportunities to keep growing and making that national presence.” One major step hasn’t been easy: hiring staff There’s already a shortage of service industry workers and the airport’s location — about 20 miles from the city center — doesn’t help About 140 employees from the old airport vendors have been rehired to work at the new location While manager positions have been easier to fill “It just seems like the service industry has shifted mightily,” Steinbacher said Restaurants started training employees at their original locations first before moving to the terminal for further instruction Another bottleneck is making sure everyone has the security credentials they need hundreds of people have needed badges to access the airport Even more will need access after the terminal opens “It’s an overwhelming experience for their system,” Steinbacher said “It’s just not moving as fast as it normally does.” who previously worked for former airport concessions company HMSHost for nearly 20 years is excited for the modern look and high-tech amenities of the new terminal Features include automated self-serve beer taps and payment through facial recognition or palm scanning which Steinbacher feels might have been a turnoff for conventions and other lucrative business “With this being the doorstep of Kansas City now it’s going to be a huge welcome and a huge draw for the rest of the city,” he said “It is going to be our calling card for everyone else to come join us.” professor of epidemiology and director of the Pandemic Center said experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic were the impetus for the creation of the Center The School of Public Health celebrated the launch of its Pandemic Center in a ceremony Oct Pandemic Center director and professor of epidemiology Pandemic Center senior advisor and professor of the practice of health services The Center — with offices both in Washington and on campus in Providence — will conduct research as well as engage with policymakers non-governmental organizations and the private sector It will also offer opportunities for faculty and student engagement and learning Nuzzo said in an interview with The Herald the challenges and experiences of COVID-19 were the impetus for the creation of the Center but seeing how challenging COVID-19 was gave me deep worries about how we were going to handle the many events that we’re likely to experience in the future,” Nuzzo said “I think a lot of people assume that once COVID is over for good … that  we’re fine for 100 years and that’s very much not the case,” she explained “We don’t have the kind of plans and readiness that we need to deal with the fact that we’re going to have more of these events in our lives.” Nuzzo became interested in forming partnerships and collaborations to help address pandemic preparedness in public health and beyond. For example, Nuzzo noted that she had conversations with Ashish Jha — who is currently on leave as dean of the School of Public Health — last year who is now serving as the White House’s COVID-19 response coordinator said that he wanted to address her concerns at Brown first learned about the center through Nuzzo “When she told me that she was going to be inaugural center director I was really excited about the opportunity to work with Jen,” Cameron said “Jen wanted to tackle some of the hardest issues,” including vaccine uptake The Center is exactly “where I wanted to be — looking at the hardest issues that came out of the pandemic response to COVID-19 so we can prepare better for the next emerging biological threat,” Cameron added one goal of the Center is to reach across the entirety of the University pulling engagement and research from numerous disciplines and fields “We want the field of public health to recognize that when (pandemics) happen They also touch all of society,” Nuzzo said “I don’t think we fully understand the broader economic and social consequences of (pandemics) “One of the unique features of the Pandemic Center is that it will be multidisciplinary,” Cameron added “We’re not going to find tools that will actually help communities be able to contain respond and ultimately prevent pandemics unless we work across all of these fields.” The Center also aims to engage in translational work by gathering evidence synthesizing research and taking their findings to decision-makers in Washington office will be an important space for informing policy and engaging with policymakers domestically and abroad the Center will also provide educational resources to the Brown community and the larger public is in the perfect position to help redefine what public health education for the future ought to look like,” Nuzzo said “The idea behind the … Washington hub for the Pandemic Center at Brown is (that) it will provide students with an opportunity to learn about public policy issues.”  The Center wants to focus on training the next generation of pandemic decision-makers and responders as part of a project loosely termed “pandemic game changers,” Nuzzo said The goal is to train people “not only in public health and biomedical science but also in national security and foreign policy decision-making during a health emergency,” Cameron said the Center is currently working on a course for students that “will start diving into some (pandemic) issues and will include opportunities for students to come to Washington and interface with Washington decision makers.” The Center intends to offer the course in 2023 While the Center was recently launched and is still establishing its early initiatives and recruiting faculty Nuzzo envisions the Center as “a cohort of research faculty … whose primary identity is that they’re a part of this Center,” along with affiliated faculty who will collaborate with the Center on particular projects professor of the practice of health services hopes to bring his expertise as Florida’s former State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health to the center “There’s a distinction between public health and health policy,” Rivkees said While public health refers to what measures are in place or can be put in place to keep populations safe rules and regulations that need to be enacted to do that I hope to be able to bridge the gap between public health and health policy,” Rivkees said “One of the things that became really apparent during the pandemic is that there needs to be close ties between academic centers and public health” as well as “public health and health policy,” Rivkees said “I think the Pandemic Center is going to play a really important role in bridging these areas." Mo — The planned layout for shops and concessions at the new single-terminal Kansas City International Airport has been unveiled It includes a Dunkin’ location outside the security checkpoint and just inside the checkpoint among 22 standalone restaurant locations past security including Martin City Brewing and Soiree Steak & Oyster House Poio and the Made for KC Barbeque Experience Featuring: Black Magic There also will be the Made In KC and City Market food halls which will include additional food options Shopping options will include a Lego store along with the Made In Kansas City Marketplace and The Market at 18th & Vine Approximately 40 students staged a sit-down protest in response to rumors that UB was cutting funding for the department Approximately 40 students staged a sit-down protest Wednesday afternoon in an Academic Center classroom in the Classics Department in response to rumors that the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) plans to gut funding for the department stating that “no cuts in Classics will be made” and that there is only a “pause on recruiting for one Ph.D The protest follows registration issues with major-required classes on Schedule Builder for fall 2024 undergraduates were unable to register for 300- and 400-level classics classes students could not access any of the core courses “We have students who are one semester away from graduating and literally cannot take any 300- or 400-level [classics] classes,” Jamie Kottakis president of the Classics Club and a sophomore classics and political science major “We literally have no idea what our options are.” “Reading Latin Literature.” Tina Bekkali-Poio president of the Classics Graduate Students Association (CGSA) told The Spectrum in an email that the course's restoration “does not change our stance and opinion.”   “The dubiousness of the situation is why the students in our department mobilized today and why we will continue to mobilize,” Bekkali-Poio Protestors said they believed that a departmental hiring freeze would start in the fall A UB spokesperson said there was only a pause on recruiting for one currently vacant Ph.D Protestors said they had received emails from classics faculty stating that a departmental hiring freeze would start in the fall They declined to share those emails with The Spectrum for the time being citing the need to keep faculty members anonymous.  “We know what the university will say when this happens,” Bekkali-Poio said “We know that the university will blame low enrollment We know that they will blame the attrition rates… [But] you [UB] should not put the blame on the students because of your inability to foster enrollment and your inability to manage the budget.” speculates that the defunding of the Classics Department is a warning sign for the future of all SUNY humanities programs “A lot of us are just tired,” Charles Hill Several police officers stood outside the protest in the halls of the Ellicott Complex.  CGSA is planning another protest for after spring break UB's Classics Department is the only one in the SUNY system, according to the department's website.  Editor's note: This article has been updated to include additional information about UB's Classics Department.  Lauren Montagne contributed to the reporting of this article Ricardo Castillo is the senior sports editor and can be reached at ricardo.castillo@ubspectrum.com Mylien Lai is an assistant arts editor and can be reached at mylien.lai@ubspectrum.com  Henry Daley is an assistant sports editor and can be reached at henry.daley@ubspectrum.com  Xiola Bagwell is a copy editor and can be reached at xiola.bagwell@ubspectrum.com   Henry Daley is an assistant sports editor at The Spectrum His work has featured on other platforms such as Medium and Last Word on Sports he enjoys running and watching sports (when he’s not writing about them) Xiola Bagwell is the managing editor of The Spectrum She enjoys reading and writing fantasy/romance novels watching lighthearted movies and spending time with her friends and family Mylien Lai is the senior news editor at The Spectrum she enjoys practicing the piano and being a bean plant mom She can be found at @my_my_my_myliennnn on Instagram Ricardo Castillo is the editor-in-chief of The Spectrum Two pro-Palestinian demonstrations and one pro-Israel rally made their way through UB’s North Campus on Sunday and Monday extending a tumultuous week of protests on campus that began Wednesday afternoon Last Wednesday, May 1, about 85 protesters calling for the UB Foundation to divest from Israel attempted to form an encampment in a lawn near Hochstetter Hall After demonstrators removed the tents to comply with police orders Later that evening, dozens of University Police (UPD) and outside police officers arrested 15 demonstrators A protest organizer said 18 protesters were arrested Police were seen tackling demonstrators and allegedly ripped off one woman’s hijab A UB spokesperson said one protester was hospitalized and two police officers were injured An organizer said two protesters were hospitalized Demonstrators enter Jacobs Lot A just after sundown Sunday night led by classics graduate student Tina Bekkali-Poio held a vigil and protest Sunday evening in the Hochstetter Hall lawn where many of last Wednesday’s arrests took place Bekkali-Poio lambasted UB administrators’ response to Wednesday’s protest a SUNY UB BDS organizer who asked that her first name be withheld said the march asserted demonstrators’ rights to speak on campus after Wednesday’s arrests “The whole point of this was to highlight our right to protest after dark which we achieved by taking the weird route,” Hussain wrote in a text message At least a dozen police vehicles — from UPD including an Erie County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services mobile command truck — were stationed in the immediate area of the vigil Staff inside the mobile command truck said that command operations were being handled in Bissell Hall An Erie County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services mobile command truck sits near the site of Sunday night's vigil An out-of-service UB Stampede bus arrived adjacent to the protest about half an hour before sundown The driver of that bus said he did not know where the bus was going or why he had been dispatched Police previously used a Stampede bus at Wednesday’s protest to transport arrested demonstrators Hussain said police requested identification from her and other students wearing the keffiyeh, the scarf that has become a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians the group marched through a parking lot to the corner of Flint and Augspurger Roads before crossing Flint Road to the Jacobs A parking lot and dispersing Pro-Israel demonstrators listen to a speech Monday including several dozen congregants of an Orchard Park church joined a Holocaust Remembrance Day rally led by the Jewish Student Union (JSU) in support of Israel JSU promoted the event as a “march for Israel,” and a “march to stop Jew hatred on University at Buffalo’s campus.” Demonstrators walked from Alumni Arena to Founders Plaza and back with speeches outside Alumni and at Founders Plaza urban and regional planning professor Ernest Sternberg warned of rising antisemitism and compared pro-Palestinian protesters at UB to Nazis collecting our children and marching meekly at the Nazis’ orders to be shot and thrown into different cattle cars It’s not going to happen again,” Sternberg said “Some of the malicious agitators — most of them from off campus — who were here last week are trying once again to put Jews into cattle cars they will fail… On this Holocaust Memorial Day we have the energy to win over enemies bent at destroying us.” pastor of The Tabernacle church in Orchard Park says between 60 and 70 of his church’s congregants came to the march to show support for Jewish students feel a sense that they’re not alone,” Reed told The Spectrum “The vast majority of the people that are here — and I think this is the misnomer of the whole thing — the vast majority of people that are pro-Israel want the war to end tomorrow If Hamas would give up their weapons and return the hostages JSU president Hudson Hort says that while he doesn’t accuse all pro-Palestinian protesters of antisemitism he still believes it was present on campus at Wednesday’s and Friday’s protests “There is something inherently antisemitic with the movement it was more or less adopted as consensus that every ethnic group has the right to national self-determination,” Hort said Either it is denying that Jews deserve the same rights as any other group or denying the fact that Jews as a group even exist — both of which are antisemitic.” The JSU followed the afternoon's march with a panel on antisemitism in Cooke Hall to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day The three panel members — Students Supporting Israel president and senior public health major Brandon Meyer junior computer science major and former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Lieutenant Elisha Amiri and alum Or Kop — said they had experienced more antisemitism on campus following Hamas' Oct 7 attack on Israel and Israel's subsequent invasion of Gaza.  “[Anti-semitism] was not really existent before,” Amiri said “We might have felt a little bit of discomfort An 18-year-old student was arrested later on Monday after he posted a story encouraging violence against the rally on a public Snapchat group Students and faculty in the School of Social Work pass Capen Hall during a march advocating for Palestinians Two dozen social work students and faculty members marched to Hochstetter Hall where speakers decried Israeli airstrikes on Rafah and shamed UB’s School of Social Work and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for failing to take a stance One speaker, a social work student who asked not to be named, told attendees that NASW has shirked its responsibility to advocate for marginalized people. She cited NASW’s Code of Ethics which calls on social workers to “advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions to meet basic human needs and promote social justice.” Monday’s protest was unaffiliated with the organizers of prior pro-Palestinian protests at UB Mylien Lai and Grant Ashley contributed reporting to this article Sol Hauser is the senior news editor and can be reached at sol.hauser@ubspectrum.com Sophia Stines is an assistant features editor Post Courier Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox! First published: November 1, 2024 11:56 AM Residents of Picanya are cleaning the muddy streets and the basements of houses damaged by the flooding from the overflowing of the Poio river, known popularly as Xàtiva. In this town in the Horta Sud area, where four of the five bridges have been completely destroyed, heavy machinery and tractors are hurrying to clear the areas most affected by the storm, to let emergency services be able to pass through. Neighbors are out doing their bit too with brooms and rakes, trying to recover vehicles and remove damaged furniture and appliances. "All of Picanya is destroyed, businesses, companies, families that have been left with nothing. It will be very difficult to return to normal," Pura Raga, local, expressed to the Catalan News Agency (ACN). The recovery works will take months, and some of the houses close to the river have been completely destroyed, showing clearly how far the water reached. Rafel Gómez is one of those affected by the flood. On Thursday morning, he was clearing out the few belongings he was able to save, as the water reached the first floor of his home. He and his family were evacuated from the back of the house and, for now, they will live at their parents' house. "The waves were two meters high, they were very strong. Luckily, my house was left standing," he said. Gómez does not want to put the emergency services or any other people at risk to start clearing his house. He assures that he will wait for a professional to confirm that there is no danger to live there, and then he will start the cleaning tasks. "Everyone needs help, I'm in no hurry, first they help those who need it most," he added. For Teresa Jericó, the water flooded her entire ground floor apartment. Without electricity, with the house full of mud and all furniture and appliances damaged, she feels totally "abandoned" by the authorities. "Everything is useless, we have been left with nothing, it's time to throw everything out on the street and to redo the whole house. It's uninhabitable, it's a total catastrophe," she told ACN. She will stay in her siser's house for some time, and fears it will take months to recover her life. The workers of a restaurant on Plaça de la Vila de Picanya, together with some locals, cleaned the establishment incessantly. "Inside the premises, everything has become unusable, everything is broken, full of mud, it's horrific," said Raga. She added that they had "never" experienced a flood of this magnitude. "It was unthinkable that this would happen, the flood of 1957 affected the entire area around the ravine, but this one has washed away everything, even the polygon and the highway," she lamented. "Not even a pandemic is like this." In the few commercial establishments open, queues of people gather to buy food. Some residents pointed out that they cannot leave the town to go buy food in other places. The person in charge of the Picanya city council's communication area, Robert Amoraga, explained that the council's priority is to guarantee the safety of residents and the elderly and attend to basic needs, such as supplying medicines and food. He also highlights the need to recover basic services: "We have recovered a supply of drinking water and electricity in most of the town, but there are still areas without." Amoraga was not optimistic about the time it will take to return to normal. "It will be a matter of years, there were five bridges and four have disappeared, bridges are not built in a day, the sewer system has also been damaged and we only have the top floor of the Town Hall, the rest of municipal buildings have disappeared," he concluded. Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone v1.1.0. Copyright © 2025. Powered by EBANTIC. All rights reserved. fun and practical.Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.SBSSBS Indonesian News – Det er noe med personlighetene våres som trekkes mot dette gründer i det nyoppstartede selskapet We Will Write som denne høsten deltar i akselerator-programmet til DNB NXT og Startuplab.  er både Senn og gründer-kollegaen Johannes Stensen kjente fjes i startup-verdenen – og det er andre gangen de deltar i akselerator-programmet Fra før har de nemlig gründet det suksessfulle lesespillet Poio, som i 2019 ble kjøpt opp av Kahoot for 57 millioner kroner.  Fire år etter oppkjøpet er de igjen på plass i Startuplabs lokaler ved Forskningsparken og er klare for å bygge noe fra bunnen på nytt.  Så det er samme pulter og samme type plass sier Senn og peker mot en annen del av lokalet.  Mye har naturlig nok endret seg siden sist og med flere erfaringer i baklommen utvikler de nå et verktøy som skal brukes for å lære større grupper med barn og unge å skrive.  –  Hvordan føles det å være tilbake her på Startuplab Vi treffer folk vi kjenner igjen som har fått nye roller eller som har startet noe nytt Selv om han ikke legger skjul på at de har hatt noen tøffe stunder på Startuplab var det også nettopp der de opplevde gjennombruddet med Poio:  – På akkurat denne sofaen traff jeg for eksempel én som sa «Jeg bretter opp armene og hjelper dere» Å fortsatt ha med Johannes Stensen på laget er også en trygghet.  – Vi stoler på hverandre og har vært gjennom hardt vær før Det er jo nesten litt ekteskapelig å drive et selskap sammen og jeg tror det er viktig at man vet hvor man har hverandre i de tøffe periodene – Daniel er veldig ambisiøs og pusher meg til å gå mye lenger samme lokale og nesten samme pult de jobber ved er det likevel en del ting som er annerledes denne gangen.  – Jeg tror ikke jeg ville gjort det igjen hvis det skulle være helt likt som sist – Er det noe som blir lettere denne gangen?  og det hadde ikke vært noe gøy om det var det heller med mer trygghet – både på privaten og i finansieringen av selskapet Det var helt klart et stress-moment som hele tiden jaget oss sist gang var en app til hjemmebruk for nettbrett som siktet seg mot å vekke leselysten hos yngre barn gjennom spill.   Det nye selskapet We Will Write er på sin side en nettjeneste som heller skal brukes gruppevis i klasserom Nettjenesten inneholder en store database med oppgaver som velges utfra hvilket læremål som er aktuelt Deretter trer spill-delen av plattformen inn og deler elevene anonymt inn i lag.  Håpet er blant annet å hjelpe sårbare grupper å mestre i klasserommet bedre – og å gi barn og unge skrivelyst – Vi har fått unik innsikt om sårbare elevers behov gjennom Poio-reisen Det å bruke den innsikten til å hjelpe flere barn som strever i skolen oppleves svært meningsfullt. Vi ser at det er fryktelig utfordrende for lærerne å favne hele klasser og å få alle engasjert Dermed er også testgruppen en annen i utviklingsfasen av produktet: – Tidligere var vi mye inne i barnehager og testet med hvert enkelt barn Nå tester vi i klasserom for å fange opp dynamikken i en større gruppe De tror også utviklingen som har skjedd de siste årene kan hjelpe dem med å nå ut til flest mulig.   –  Skolene har kommet mye lenger med digitaliseringen enn i 2016 Det er mange flere klasser som har en Ipad eller en Chromebook Så både lærere og elever er klare for et sånt produkt I løpet av den kommende perioden i akseleratorprogrammet er planen å få på plass en pilot i slutten av januar.  Abonner på Shifters nyhetsbrev for de siste nyhetene Om Shifter Personvern Cookies Annonsere Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox