The association filed a lawsuit against the state’s attorney general over a deadline to pull hemp-derived THC products from unlicensed stores which declared it illegal to sell hemp THC-infused products without a valid marijuana establishment license At the core of this issue are HITA members who provide federally legal hemp products that help Arizona communities in many ways—from veterans seeking comfort for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to seniors being able to sleep without stress and to being an economic engine that creates jobs and sustainable livelihoods for the people of Arizona this ruling is not a setback but a procedural step forward. The court chose to give every stakeholder a full and fair opportunity to be heard and granted the association an expedited hearing on its preliminary-injunction motion for May 9 HITA thanks Judge Randall Warner for the court’s prompt attention and for setting a fast-track schedule that recognizes the urgency facing Arizona’s hemp community HITA respects the court’s decision and remains confident that its position will prevail if given the opportunity to present complete evidence and legal argument Unity: HITA was founded on cooperation and shared purpose HITA will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder science-based regulation—not prohibition—of lawful hemp-derived products employee and customer to comply fully with state law and with directions from law-enforcement officers. Professional cooperation protects you remember that you are entitled to due-process protections. Document interactions keep your licenses and test results current Stay Engaged: The May 9 hearing is only two weeks away HITA’s legal team is working around the clock; we will keep you informed of every development and will call on you when your voice or data is needed This is bigger than a single order or hearing date It is about safeguarding thousands of Arizona jobs, millions in state tax revenue and the fundamental right of adults to choose safe lawmakers and the public that regulation—not prohibition—best serves Arizona HITA is proud of the resilience the hemp community continues to show. Hold the line HITA will keep pressing until it secures the legal certainty Arizona’s hemp industry deserves Learn more about GoFundMe Causes including COVID-19 relief here Hita always had a close bond with her grandparents The special connection she felt with them prompted her to look for more ways to connect with other seniors She started out by writing cards and notes for retirement home residents and eventually began volunteering in person at a local nursing home “I would do things like help out with trivia and call bingo,” says Hita “I started working with more residents who had dementia and Alzheimer’s It was such an awesome experience to be able to interact with seniors who have so many stories to tell.” Inspired to make an even bigger impact, Hita created her very own nonprofit organization called Brighten A Day when she was just 13 years old Her organization’s mission is to lift the spirits of anyone who could use some cheer and give them a reason to smile Hita used her own allowance money to send handwritten cards and small gifts to elderly folks and children in hospitals the unimaginable happened: COVID-19 swept the globe That’s when Hita learned that she would not only be unable to volunteer at the nursing home for the foreseeable future but that its residents would no longer be allowed to see any visitors whatsoever—not even their loved ones Feeling a deep responsibility to ensure that the seniors did not feel forgotten amidst the chaos of the pandemic, Hita sprung into action and launched a GoFundMe campaign to help buy items for care packages that could give seniors solace I really wanted to do something to not only lift the spirits of the elderly but to also keep them occupied and remind them that they’re not alone,” says Hita Hita’s care packages included puzzle books She even recruited her little brother Divit who enthusiastically wrote uplifting notes to include in each care package Hita has received an overwhelmingly positive response from nursing homes and their residents who are all endlessly appreciative of her work “I heard back from the coordinator from this retirement home in Hawaii and they said that the residents actually started crying when they received our cards and videos,” says Hita “They were just so touched that someone was thinking about them right now when they weren’t allowing any visitors.” Hita has also received messages from people all over the globe who have been inspired by her efforts and raising funds themselves to help their local seniors feel supported and loved during the pandemic A few have even started their own chapters of Brighten a Day—something that Hita says is highly encouraging “Seeing the big impact this has made and how many seniors we’ve spread joy to… I’m definitely going to continue doing this,” Hita says “We’re going to continue seeing loneliness especially in the elderly and other people who are isolated Hita looks toward the future with hope and is committed to her mission of spreading joy and giving everyone a reason to smile she can spread the message that anyone has the power to brighten someone’s day—all it takes is a simple act of kindness “It is so easy to bring a smile to someone’s face and spread joy,” Hita says 30 seconds to record an encouraging video message and that message could make a difference for someone who’s going through a period of isolation or loneliness Support Hita’s mission here Listen to Hita’s interview on the True Stories of Good People podcast More than $50M is raised a week on GoFundMe to support people like you Tamin'ny alatsinainy dia nahita i Korea Atsimo One UI 7 modely Galaxy Z Fold4 ho Z Flip4 Toa izany Samsung miaraka amin'ny fanitarana ny fanavaozana One UI 7 dia tena mandroso haingana amin'ity herinandro ity Ny fanavaozana ho an'ny finday tsirairay dia manodidina ny 3,5 GB Raha tsy manisa ny filàna fanavaozana manerantany ho an'ny piozila jigsaw andiany faha-3 sy faha-4 isika dia minifarafaharatsiny amin'ny tsena anatiny Samsung nahavita ny famoahana ny fanavaozana tamin'ny One UI 7 ho an'ny telefaona azo aforitra rehetra Satria ny fanavaozana dia misy ao amin'ny modely rehetra amin'ny andiany Galaxy S hifantoka amin'ny andiany iray izao ny orinasa Galaxy A Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" their take on Hinduism and the kind of ancestral wisdom that they had one cannot ignore that dimension,” shares the architect with STIR The use of rattan because of its natural flexibility allowed the tower’s organic and flowing forms to emerge The ironwood reclaimed from a disused railway bridge ensured the structure remained robust against the island’s coastal elements Exposure to weather will gradually alter the colour and texture of its rattan surfaces transforming it into a living entity that reflects Bali’s shifting environment continuously reimagining themselves through code The algorithm's role is particularly profound. Influenced by the three pillars of Balinese Tri Hita Karana—harmony with the divine (Parahyangan), harmony with nature (Palemahan), and harmony among humans (Pawongan)—the AI-generated patterns take viewers on a journey through cultural narratives woven into the fabric of the island. There are over 1000 light design fixtures throughout the tower with 18 projectors housed in surrounding mini towers and an in-built custom sound system is an invitation to the visitors to leave a piece of themselves behind.  They can interact with the tower through a custom web application by submitting their responses to prompts These inputs are then translated into unique visual patterns making each nightly projection a collective creation layered with personal interpretations from its audience A key aspect of the landmark architecture project is its deep connection to the Balinese community the sprawling creative city where the tower is located is a 44-hectare development that strongly emphasises education The tower is a collaborative effort between local artisans and Mamou-Mani’s team played an essential role in weaving the intricate latticework that defines the tower’s form ensuring that every curve and line reflects the rich artisanal heritage of Bali This harmonious partnership between international architects and local artisans speaks of a global collaboration grounded in respect for local knowledge and traditions the director of Brand and Communications at Nuanu eloquently encapsulates the project’s essence: “The THK Tower is not just an architectural feat—it is a testament to the fusion of tradition and modernity It embodies the principles of Tri Hita Karana not just in its name but in its very existence from the materials we used to how it interacts with its surroundings.” sees the project as a testament to sustainability and collaborative design “What I love about these materials is that over time It is not a static installation but a living breathing piece of art,” mentions Mamou-Mani Nikitha is a young architect and writer contributing to various publications she loves writing across different genres and interviewing architects and designers Nikitha wants to tell impactful stories to a larger audience beyond the architecture and design fraternity focusing on how design influences people and the creative use of spaces From vernacular knowledge to modern sustainability Middle Eastern pavilions serve as living archives of architectural thought offering fresh frameworks for global adoption STIR engages with the curators of the Togo Oman and Qatar pavilions—debuting at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025—on representation the book presents a fictional story depicting algorithms exercising control over humans and how this affects the built environment Tipnis shares how the toolbox democratises the practice of restoration via DIY resources to repair tangible urban heritage made of common building materials Exclusive preview for subscribers. Learn More Make your fridays matter. Learn More © Copyright 2019-2025 STIR Design Private Limited Please confirm your email address and we’ll send you a link to reset your password All your bookmarks will be available across all your devices Password must be 8 characters long including one capital letter By creating an account, you acknowledge and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy by STIR Select the Conversation Category you would like to watch Please enter your details and click submit Single account access for STIRworld.com,STIRpad.com and exclusive STIRfri content Verification link sent to check your inbox or spam folder to complete sign up process by Nikitha Sunil | Published on : Nov 15 Tri Hita Karana Tower is launching at Bali's Nuanu City; designed by Arthur Mamou-Mani it’s a new hybrid art-AI architectural landmark for the island The design has been named 'after the philosophy of the Balinese people which symbolises harmony with the divine They add that 'the architectural wonder is the first and the largest permanent hybrid art-AI installation of its kind in the region' the rattan and ironwood tower can be explored by climbing its 108 steps in the heart of Nuanu A journey inside promises a playful experience 360-degree views of the surroundings during daytime and a projection mapping show in the nighttime 'THK is my first ever permanent installation in Asia A key part of the process was understanding the life cycle of every strip of rattan and ulin which is known as “ironwood” in English Although it is a permanent landmark here in Nuanu City it has been designed so that it can be disassembled evolved and broken down over time in a way that does not harm the environment which features Mamou-Mani's signature flowing forms and a captivating was conceived to showcase how design and technology can work together in a cohesive says of the project's intricacy: 'There are over 1,000 light fixtures installed throughout the tower with 18 projectors housed in 12 surrounding mini towers alongside an in-built custom sound system and climate control box This is brought to life in an 11-minute light and sound show with the exhibition viewable from different points across Nuanu mamou-mani.com escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox nuanu.com delivered.global Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper* She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006 visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas Ellie has also taken part in judging panels such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022) The Balinese concept of Tri Hita Karana is a central philosophy in Balinese culture that underpins their approach to life Translating roughly to the “Three Causes of Prosperity” or “Three Sources of Happiness,” this concept focuses on harmonious relationships that sustain balance across different dimensions of existence It is almost impossible to understand Bali without becoming acquainted with these three principles which are interwoven into many aspects of Balinese culture and their way of life Tri Hita Karana is a profound philosophy that defines Balinese values and identity It reflects the intricate balance that the Balinese people strive to maintain between spirituality and the natural world—an approach that resonates deeply with the Balinese sustainability movement today Parhyangan emphasizes the relationship between humans and the divine or the spiritual realm It reflects the Balinese commitment to honoring the gods and the ancestors through rituals often forming the spiritual heart of the community and are spaces for the community to gather for rituals that honor the divine provide opportunities for the community to maintain this divine connection reinforcing the moral and spiritual foundation of Balinese life emphasizing a balanced relationship between individuals and their communities This is central to the Balinese idea of gotong-royong (communal work) and banjar (local council) where collective decision-making and mutual support are key maintaining strong social bonds and ensuring that each member contributes to and benefits from community life Pawongan also includes respect for the traditional caste hierarchy though it functions differently in Bali compared to other parts of Indonesia blending Hindu principles with unique Balinese customs Palemahan encourages a symbiotic relationship between humans and the natural environment reflecting the deep respect the Balinese have for nature as a living force This respect is seen in the care for rice fields (subak irrigation systems) all of which are not only seen as resources but as sacred elements of the island a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage practice embodies both the technical and spiritual aspects of Palemahan as water is seen as a gift from the gods and its use and distribution are governed by rituals Jl. Bumbak 55Kerobokan Kelod, Bali 80361+62 (0)813 5368 4470(Get Direction) Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox (List price   3  months 12 Bulletins)  and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible: Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc Also attach a photo to illustrate your article OITA – A Shidazakura weeping cherry tree near Ohara Hachimangu Shrine will be lit up at night through April 7 in Hita please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent The tree is about 200 years old and is 12 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 2.5 meters The illumination event will take place from 6:30 p.m It may end sooner if most blossoms have fallen Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun PRESENTATION: CHamoru researchers Samantha Barnett and Andrew Gumataotao present "Waves of Return: CHamoru Approaches to Repatriation in Museum Collections," a Hita Talk curator of archaeological collections at the Guam Cultural Repository comments after "Waves of Return: CHamoru Approaches to Repatriation in Museum Collections," a Hita Talk by CHamoru researchers Andrew Gumataotao and Samantha Barnett HITA: CHamoru researchers Samantha Barnett and Andrew Gumataotao stand for a photo after their Hita Talk "Waves of Return: CHamoru Approaches to Repatriation in Museum Collections," at the Guam Museum in Hagåtña on Saturday Two CHamoru researchers presented their work on locating and repatriating Indigenous ancestral remains from European museums detailed their three-year effort to return cultural artifacts and human remains to their homeland titled "Waves of Return: CHamoru Approaches to Repatriation in Museum Collections," is part of the Guam Museum's HITA Talks series The event gave a nearly full theater of attendees a chance to learn more and ask questions about the work being done to recover the CHamoru community’s cultural heritage were taken during a period of European colonization and are now the subject of repatriation campaigns by Indigenous communities seeking to reclaim their heritage have been working to trace the origins and stories of these ancestral remains and are part of a broader movement to address the historical wrongs of cultural dispossession and to bring these items back to their communities Barnett and Gumataotao have been working alongside the Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands historic preservation offices to document and request the return of CHamoru ancestral remains currently held in two of Europe’s most notable museums Their research has revealed that Berlin's Ethnological Museum holds the remains of more than 40 Indigenous CHamorus nine CHamoru and Carolinian ancestral remains taken from Guam Saipan and Rota are currently housed in Spain's National Museum of Anthropology in Madrid Barnett told The Guam Daily Post on Saturday we have officially submitted repatriation requests to be able to bring the CHamoru ancestral remains back home we are in the early stages in working with the Guam and the CNMI (historic preservation offices) to start that process.” “We didn’t know that our ancestors were in these museums,” said Barnett I think a big part of that is continuing to tell their stories building awareness in our community so we can begin to work together to bring them back home.” butterflies and animal skins from across the Marianas in the Natural History Museum in Berlin “I believe there is so much potential in bringing our community to these collections and the knowledge that can be gained.” Barnett added “We are looking at applying for a grant program to bring local scientists in collaboration with these collections so they can begin to do research.” Barnett said she believes Indigenous cultural practitioners can benefit from access to the collections held in these museums including woven slippers and other belongings that would be really fruitful for our practitioners here to learn from,” said Barnett “There are so many ways that can unfold that would be really meaningful for our people here.” it will be up to the historic preservation offices and the communities to determine if the remains will be interred or kept in depositories or museums “This is our first public event talking about what we’ve been doing and we hope to continue building awareness Barnett and Gumataotao have drawn much inspiration from the successful repatriation efforts of other Pacific islands They aim to learn from these experiences and apply them to their work in the Marianas They also noted that fostering solidarity among institutions and communities is crucial for achieving success they are eager to collaborate with other Pacific island organizations and international groups engaged in similar struggles “I think (our presentation today) went quite well,” said Gumataotao “We had a lot of practitioners and cultural experts from our community attend and give feedback I’m hopeful that we’ll receive more feedback which we’ll organize and expand on as we continue engaging in their collection.” The Guam Daily Post also spoke to Michael Lujan Bevacqua “It is Guam Museum’s version of a TED Talk This series was started to give a platform to those people who are doing important creative the HITA Talk was postponed for over a year due to Typhoon Mawar and air-conditioning issues but “when Sam and Andrew updated me on the work they’ve been doing I told them this would make a great HITA Talk and this is a perfect topic to revive the series.” I said let’s do one again and see what happens,” said Bevacqua and for those who were unable to be present in person a livestream was made available on the Guam Museum's social media channels we really want them back,” exclaimed Gumataotao at the end of the talk ideas and feedback to formulate the best path forward (for successful repatriation).” To provide feedback, interested people can view a recording of the livestream or learn more about Barnett and Gumataotao’s work by visiting the Guam Museum’s social media channels or emailing michael.bevacqua@dca.guam.gov Email notifications are only sent once a day Poll results are published every Monday in The Guam Daily Post Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: izay ahafahan'ny mpampiasa manamboatra ny superstructure One UI mihoatra izay atolony namoaka izany maneran-tany ilay goavambe Koreana Eo amin'ny magazay ihany aloha no misy Galaxy Store sy any amin'ny firenena voafantina azo alaina any amin'ny tsena maro hafa ary koa ao amin'ny Play Store ny mpampiasa sasany any amin'ny firenena nanitatra ny Good Lock dia nitaraina fa tsy ampy ny maody sasany ao amin'ny fampiharana Ianao izao Samsung naverina tamin'ny laoniny saingy tetsy an-danin'izany dia nanala telo hafa izy namerina ireto maody Good Lock manaraka ireto: Tsy manana Camera Assistant ianao ao anaty lisitra Powered by EterPride | © 2025 AhmedabadMirror Ahmedabad Mirror is an award-winning city newspaper from 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Cookie Policy Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students and their teachers toss microbial mud balls they themselves made from a fishing platform and into the waters of the Masso Reservoir during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 prepared by Micronesia Climate Change Alliance staff members and Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students are prepped to be tossed into the waters of the Masso Reservoir in Piti on March 20 Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students and their teachers toss microbial mud balls from a fishing platform and into the waters of the Masso Reservoir during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 offers insight on how he believes the Masso River and the surrounding area was named as he speaks to Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students and Micronesia Climate Change Alliance members during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students assist Micronesia Climate Change Alliance staff members to mix form and dispatch microbial mud balls as a method to revive water resources around Guam young students from the Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School have been learning about how to protect Guam’s water through a pilot program They spent time making so-called metgot mud balls or mud balls which have beneficial bacteria that can help clean the water they got to put their lessons — and mud balls — in action The second to fifth grade students from the charter school took a field trip to Masso Reservoir in Piti and Malesso’ Pier to test the water They found the water at Masso Reservoir to have a pH level of 8.4 higher than what normal freshwater would be They then threw their microbial mud balls into the water which could help clean the Masso Reservoir All this is part of Micronesia Climate Change Alliance and Hita Litekyan’s pilot youth water program called Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom in partnership with the CHamoru immersion school MCCA executive director Maria Hernandez said Masso Reservoir tested positive for coliform and the mud balls help eliminate them She said the students are learning how to feel empowered and learning the importance of protecting the water Hernandez hopes the program can be an annual thing and move around different parts of the island to try to restore water bodies in other areas said it was important for the students to make the mud balls themselves “So part of empowering them is showing them that there’s tiny things you can do...with family that can have a big impact on the environment,” Camacho said The program’s overarching theme is the importance of water “ But another thing with this program is how easy it can be for you to help out,” she said “Science shouldn’t be this big scary thing.” The program teaches the kids that science is accessible and it’s something they can do The mud balls are simple to make and one just gives it a week to let the good bacteria form Students can test the water themselves with kits available at Home Depot and they can see what the water looks like and be able to help out “We hope to really try to make an impact in our way,” Hernandez said Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students and their teachers toss microbial mud balls from the fishing platform and into the waters of the Masso Reservoir during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 Micronesia Climate Change Alliance staff members prepare pans filled with microbial mud balls during a visit to the Masso Reservoir in Piti on March 20 Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students arrive to the Masso Reservoir during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students and Micronesia Climate Change Alliance members gather during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students perform a chant prior to a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event being held at the Masso Reservoir in Piti on March 20 as a cultural show of respect during a visit to the Masso Reservoir with Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students and Micronesia Climate Change Alliance members during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 shares how he and his family has been acting as caretaker for the Masso Reservoir and the surrounding as he speaks to Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students and Micronesia Climate Change Alliance members during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 a fisheries biologist with the Guam Department of Agriculture's Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources shares the history and features of the Masso Reservoir as he speaks to Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students and Micronesia Climate Change Alliance members during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 The testing the pH level of a water sample is demonstrated for Maga’låhen Hurao CHamoru Academy Charter School students and Micronesia Climate Change Alliance members during a Hita i Mana’adahi i Hanom: Prugråman Ha’nom event held in Piti on March 20 Guam Department of Agriculture biologist Brent Tibbatts a Piti resident who has been coming to the area with his family over the last 10 years Royce Camacho gave an overview of the cultural significance of the area and Tibbatts provided the students with an overview of how the reservoir came to be Camacho led the students in a CHamoru chant and spoke to students about the origin of Masso according to those with knowledge of the area He said the reservoir is normally empty so to see the kids there and to hear the place filled with the CHamoru language was something he really appreciated “They’re trying to do something that’s helpful for the area His family lives down the road from the reservoir and has been coming to it for the past 10 years They took an interest because they live so close “It just felt natural that in our off time we just come up here and try to do what we can,” he said Tibbatts shared that the Masso Reservoir was built by the U.S Navy after World War II to provide drinking water for Naval Station but that only lasted five years as the water was always too dirty and muddy which is still being used today and left the Masso Reservoir abandoned the Department of Agriculture had an agreement with the Navy to plant trees in the area and in 2000 the land was given back to the government of Guam the area was given to the Guam Department of Agriculture to conserve Guam’s natural resources and he’s been working at the site since then Tibbatts said the lake was very dirty so they drained out the water and scooped out all the mud which ended up being 15,000 cubic yards of mud The reservoir was only about 4 feet because of the mud but once it was taken out the fishing platform was put in place for people to fish there He encouraged the students to keep coming to the area as it is open to the public and shared that they planted many fruit trees so that people can pick them and to help keep the water clean He shared the importance of tree planting to keep soil in place so the reservoir doesn’t get very muddy again There are also plans to plant more medicinal plants in the area Royce Camacho said the reservoir fills up with a lot of mud because it’s an area ancient CHamorus used for pottery clay “So not a very smart choice to pick this as a place for drinking water But they didn’t know,” he said of the Americans who built it who teaches fourth grade at Maga’låhen Hurao said the program has been very educational for the students She said the students have been able to learn about the water on Guam and the importance of protecting it She appreciated that the program is so hands-on as well has been volunteering with the program and said she was happy to help Santos-Rosa said she’s enjoyed getting the kids involved and hopes they can continue to learn more as they get older and teach others on the island as well She hopes the program can be brought to other schools We have to preserve and make sure that we’re able to have safe drinking water,” she said Santos-Rosa spoke CHamoru to the students and said she learned by reading Juan Malimanga with her mom She said she tried to speak to the kids in CHamoru as much as she could and said it inspired her to take more lessons to expand her knowledge Jerick Sablan is assistant managing editor for the Pacific Daily News. You can reach him at jsablan@guampdn.com Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Salvador "Tata" Hita passed away peacefully on December 20 He is remembered as the beloved husband of Irene beloved great grandfather of 44 great grandchildren and esteemed great-great grandfather to 2 great-great grandchildren.  A “Celebration of Life & Memorial Service” will be held on Thursday 2023 from 5-8 pm at Sunset Funeral Homes- East Friday services will begin at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church then to his final resting place at Mount Carmel Cemetery located at 401 S Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Clay Township officials will have to revisit appointments to the Harsens Island Transportation Authority later this month after a discussion of oversight of the transit committee weeks ahead of a millage election erupted into a brief argument among board members the township board voted down two appointments from Clay Supervisor Artie Bryson — that of Kevin Geraghty and Bob Reno each identifying North Channel Drive residences on the island under a HITA member requirement Neither Geraghty nor Reno appeared to speak before board members most of the board agreed to revisit appointments at its next regular meeting Trustee Mark Borchardt said he wanted more transparency in the process And although proposing appointments is statutorily Bryson’s duty “I haven’t vetted them,” and that he hoped to follow up with Geraghty and Reno Both individuals similarly wrote they had attended “many of the HITA meetings” and were “interested in supporting the HITA mission” in separate letters to Bryson But the conflict Monday has emerged following weeks of concerns about HITA that some township officials say haven’t been entirely addressed by members while those close to the authority allege the township is purposefully trying to stymie their push to establish a second ferry service to the island “These two gentlemen are only interested in what’s (going to benefit) them They want to make sure that landing is not in their backyard,” Clay Township Trustee Maureen Boury “… There’s no reason Paul Cassidy and Skip Tornow should not be able to continue to serve.” have terms for the authority committee ending March 1 After the authority was resurrected several years ago to address transit needs for islanders HITA officials agreed to request a new five-year The millage proposal would only affect island property owners who live in the township’s fourth precinct It would reportedly help fill a financial gap to complete a feasibility study and complete the purchasing of property for a public service that’d ultimately compete with the privately-owned Champion’s Auto Ferry HITA Chairman Harold Bain said they’d a private investor and property identified to establish a second ferry operation though authority members have been mum on details citing a non-disclosure agreement involved in the planning drew issue with what she thought was the township board’s treatment of the authority as well as Supervisor Bryson’s conflict with Champion’s — an establishment owned and operated by family members whose death Bryson announced late last week She also accused the board’s two other officers — its treasurer and clerk — of a conflict in potentially supporting new HITA appointees citing their wages as full-time township department heads that are separated into statutory and non-statutory salaries along with Bryson maybe you’re not going to get your additional duty money,” Boury said “… You can say it gives (future boards) more control (to reduce or raise wages on merit) “I hate that insinuation that you continuously make,” Treasurer Kristi Hiltunen replied “I do not take orders from (Bryson) to vote.” HITA Vice Chairman Dennis Szymanski gave Bryson his condolences for the loss of his brother admitting he didn’t mean for Monday’s discussion to become “beat up Artie day.” But he said he agreed the intent “has always been to be an obstruction and debunk HITA.” Cassidy said he believed they were looking to “appoint a couple malcontents” to the HITA board with Geraghty and Reno Boury later added the two were frequently disruptive to HITA meetings alleging their interests were against the authority adding she’s listened to or watched past HITA meetings and seen other disturbances “And I am dissatisfied with the current board members that are up for reappointments.” Parties on both sides of the argument refuted others’ concerns about a lack of communication and available budget or audit reports the township board agreed to send HITA a list of questions and concerns after a request for funding fell short of any decision on Jan Tornow had asked the board for $200.000 from Clay’s share of American Rescue Plan funds to help the feasibility study and bring back a grant writer “The board has not lived up to its obligations even set forth in their own rules and bylaws,” Bryson said He pointed to concerns with state funding received by HITA two years ago and that the township hasn’t received annual reports from the authority “Asking questions of HITA is not speaking against HITA Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp ‘Attack on Titan’ was created by Hajime Isayama, a manga artist born and raised in Hita, Oita Prefecture Now fans of the manga and anime can experience the world of the famous series in his hometown Mikasa and Armin are featured at Oyama Dam in Hita You can also find a bronze statue of another beloved character Both statues have become famous sightseeing spots In March 2021 the ‘Attack on Titan in HITA Museum’ opened in Oyama creating a fascinating new spot for manga lovers to experience including original drawings of the series and works from Isayama’s childhood you’ll want to add Hita to your itinerary for your next visit to Japan Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages « Back Oita — Fluorescent stones scattered around the obsolete mine shaft emit colorful light to form the so-called underground museum of the Taio Kinzan gold mine once said to be the largest producer of the precious medal in the East once said to be the largest producer of the precious metal in the East features about 30,000 such stones throughout a 40-meter section of the area accessible in the tunnel The stones glow when illuminated by black light which has few areas exposed to the outside air The tunnel this year drew more visitors than in a typical year because of the brutal summer heat “There are so many colors that are sparkling — it’s like Christmas,” an 8-year-old from the city said Today's print edition Home Delivery An 84-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck Monday at a shopping complex in Hita Hatsumi Hino was rushed to a hospital after a witness reported to police that a person had been stabbed at around 11:25 a.m She was confirmed dead at the hospital around an hour later.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); whose address and employment status were unknown was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder Police have not disclosed whether the man admitted to the charge or not The shopping complex is located approximately 200 meters south of the city's Hita Station In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Samsung nandefa endri-javatra vaovao tamin'ny fomba ofisialy Gemini Live izay mitondra resadresaka hita maso miaraka amin'ny AI ho an'ny mpampiasa modely rehetra Galaxy S25 Lasa azo alaina tsikelikely amin'ny alàlan'ny fanavaozana firmware maimaim-poana ny fampiasa Gemini Ny Live dia mamela fifandraisana mivantana amin'ny AI amin'ny alàlan'ny fizarana fakantsary sy efijery Ireo mpampiasa dia afaka manindry sy mihazona ny bokotra sisiny mba hampavitrika ilay mpanampy Alaivo sary an-tsaina ny toe-javatra toy ny fisafidianana akanjo na fanamboarana ny akanjonao Tondroy fotsiny ny fakan-tsary ary Gemini Live dia hanome torohevitra momba ny fomba hanatsarana ny habaka na ny fanasokajiana entana Ny mpanampy nohatsaraina dia afaka mamakafaka ny sehatra amin'ny fotoana tena izy na ny tontolo iainana ara-batana amin'ny alàlan'ny fakan-tsary na ny votoatin'ny fampiratiana rehefa miantsena an-tserasera ny mpampiasa dia hahazo tolo-kevitra manokana ohatra rehefa misafidy fomba fitafy mifototra amin'ny votoatin'ny sarety na ny vokatra hitany Araka ny Samsungu manome io asa io Galaxy S25 refy vaovao amin'ny andiany "Amin'ny asa Gemini Live dia mitondra AI finday ho amin'ny vanim-potoana vaovao "Amin'ny alàlan'ny fiaraha-miasa amin'ny Google dia manolotra fifaneraserana marani-tsaina sy voajanahary kokoa izay mifanaraka kokoa amin'ny fomba fiaina maoderina izahay," hoy i Jay Kim Nohamafisina ihany koa tamin’izany Gemini Ny Live dia azo alaina maimaim-poana ho an'ny mpampiasa rehetra Samsung ka nanamafy ny fanoloran-tenany hanome traikefa AI manara-penitra tsy misy vidiny fanampiny A row Galaxy S25 mividy eto Oita — A celebration was held last month in the city of Hita or portable shrine in the shape of a giant geta measuring 95 centimeters long and 55 centimeters wide was hoisted around the Ohara Hachimangu shrine on July 22 which has been nationally designated as “Geta Day.” With forests covering over 80% of the city’s land area makers have ample resources to produce the sandals Hita’s geta-making dates back to the 19th century and the city produced about 20 million pairs in 1946 But production fell off as consumers bought more Western footwear an association of local five geta manufacturers and members of a local performance group who dance wearing Hita geta took part in the event and pledged to carry on and develop the traditional craft The parading of the geta-shaped mikoshi was started by the association in 1992 When Florida Gulf Coast University graduate student Delanie Fether was young her inquisitive mind was captivated by “Bones,” the long-running TV series Fether watched in awe as forensic anthropologist Temperance “Bones” Brennan effortlessly read clues from victims’ bones – usually when the remains were so badly decomposed or burned that typical identification methods were worthless Fether loved the way Brennan worked with police to serve justice while using her formidable forensic knowledge Fether’s fascination influenced her journey at FGCU and the hands-on experience she’s getting working alongside Professor Heather Walsh-Haney chair of the forensic studies program and an in-demand expert in the field then added a criminal justice major and an anthropology minor hands-on nature of the forensic studies Human Identity Trauma Analysis (HITA) program After receiving dual bachelor’s degrees in forensic studies and criminal justice in 2020 She assists Walsh-Haney in the HITA Lab with the examination of human skeletal remains metric assessment and skeletal inventories These experiences in the laboratory often begin in the field she interfaces with crime-scene analysts and forensic pathologists when she helps with the recovery of human remains from crime scenes Her experiences involving forensic casework informed her graduate research that focuses on identifying postmortem changes to human remains that are donated and prepared for medical study “She is unafraid about processing the anatomical donors for whom she fingerprints “She works alongside me and the laboratory coordinator and technician She may help sift soil or take notes and follow my directions at all times She records the anatomical marks that appear on bones as a result of anatomical donation (scalpel marks) She learns to treat all remains ethically from her training with me.”  involves “documenting everything on forms for quality assurance and identifying the chain of custody from where it enters our lab to transporting the remains back to the district we are working with.” They work with the remains with ethics in relation to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy considerations and the Daubert standard which applies to evidence admissible in expert witness testimony Fether credits Walsh-Haney with not only stoking her interest but taking her to the highest level of expertise and experience “She is exceptional at what she does and is always trying to help us learn through hands-on work,” Fether says “I think what captivates me about this field is being able to help individuals in any way that I can who may not have a voice anymore The decedents that we work with are not able to tell their own story anymore then maybe it can bring closure to a family.” Fether is grateful for opportunities to grow she spent almost three months on the Mediterranean island country of Cyprus where she conducted osteology research and attended training workshops in skeletal pathology “This experience meant the world to me,” she says “It’s not every day that you get to work with those type of remains I never thought I would have the opportunity to travel overseas and do what I love.” her TV-inspired interest in her chosen field was all rather vicarious until Fether ventured into a forensic science class at Land O’ Lakes High School and experienced the inspiring teaching methods of Amanda Faint “She facilitated my interest in this area and pushed me to do better consistently.” Faint encouraged her to pursue a forensics degree who earlier had considered a career in marine or environmental science chose FGCU based on its sustainability goals She’s still fascinated with crime-scene TV shows and watches reruns of “Bones,” but now – with an eye sharpened by her studies and field work – some inaccuracies become obvious to her Brennan in the show will look at one characteristic and make a determination on age And it takes almost no time in the show to run fingerprints Site is hosted by National Informatics Centre (NIC) Information is provided and updated by Press Information Bureau “A” wing It’s been nearly two years since the public body charged with grappling with Harsens Island transportation concerns was brought back to life those close to the discussion said all options to address them are still on the table The Harsens Island Transportation Authority got a state budget line item to help agency operations as well as an update from the Detroit International Bridge Company still exploring its options earlier this year Now, as island residents brace for another ferry rate increase to get back and forth with mainland Clay Township HITA Chairwoman Margie Baldwin said they’re “going to continue to pursue” any available avenues to ensure “safe affordable” options — whatever they are “There are also other options for bridges looking at the possibility of a county bridge,” Baldwin said “We’re not locked into anything and this budget item … will allow us to really do research and hire help and look at legal opportunities and get in front of decision-makers to improve transportation to the island.” The next HITA meeting is set for 4 p.m What's gotten the discussion this far?HITA itself was active decades ago but emerged once again in late 2019 and early 2020.  Although a state environmental permit request to build over the North Channel of the St the Detroit International Bridge Company re-approached discussions about resurrecting the idea with HITA officials this summer A conceptual mitigation plan for a bascule bridge was shared with the authority and posted on its website in July in addition to other breakdowns about the project — similarly outlining a years-long timeline requiring federal and state approvals as iteration spelled out several years ago And according to the minutes of HITA’s last meeting in September which owns the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit would hold a community meeting when more information became available HITA officials have also looked into conducting a ferry rate survey as Champion’s is the only privately owned service in the state and touching on what would happen to Champion’s if a local bridge was built he introduced a bill that made it easier for ferry operations like Champion’s to adjust its rates he helped secure a one-time $250,000 allocation for the local agency whose members have been critical of the ferry service It’s an area where Lauwers admitted he’s trying to accommodate a range of constituent needs and he wasn’t sure what role he may play in the future he said his goal was to find a “long-term solution to the transportation challenges of the island” — be it by helping a business or HITA as it attempts to answer the same question “You had a government agency that knew absolutely nothing about ferry business making financial decisions for the ferry’s private business owner,” Lauwers said Before a division of the Michigan State Police handled ferry rates fare requests went before the Michigan Public Service Commission reportedly taking months or years to get approval “… It’s the only private ferry in the state of Michigan Everyone else has access to (Public Act) 51 money." that was considered and they decided not to do it a number of years ago before I was in office,” Lauwers said referring to decades-old ideas — some that islanders still talk about — that’d link Champion’s up with a public agency like Blue Water Transit “But maybe it’s time to look at that again I think that’s what HITA is doing.” Baldwin: HITA 'desperate for the help of lawmakers'In addition to its fare increase Champion’s has run into concerns with limiting hours and backed up traffic which its owners have attributed to a staffing shortage How those and other transport concerns for islanders are addressed is something that Clay Township is “basically leaving up to HITA,” according to Supervisor Artie Bryson “It’s their function to do so,” he said “We don’t want to step on anybody’s toes or anything.” And Lauwers said he isn’t looking to take “a seat at the table,” but rather trying “to give the resources to facilitate the opportunity.” Baldwin said one of their “greatest concerns” is that HITA’s members are all volunteers we’re really learning as we go and kind of making it up,” she said “We are really desperate for the help of lawmakers to care about us Even in talking to the state police about the increase It’s like nobody wants to care about us and so we’re doing the best we can to say And we’re going to get stranded on that island without resources Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com OITA — An express train adorned with characters from “Shingeki no Kyojin” (Attack on Titan) began operation on Saturday will run between Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture and Beppu Station in Oita Prefecture A ceremony to mark the departure of the first train was held at JR Hita Station on the Kyudai Line Fans of the manga series filled the station to see it off JR Kyushu planned the train to boost the ongoing Fukuoka-Oita Destination Campaign Two cars have been emblazoned with the main characters along with others from the manga series Illustrations of titans have also been drawn on four tunnels around Hita with the city center being portrayed as a residential area surrounded by walls to prevent the giants’ intrusion said: “I want people to come from not only the Kyushu region and across Japan but also all over the world.” After the station manager gave the all-clear The train is scheduled to run until late August Osel Hita Torres joined a monastery after the Dalai Lama declared him a reincarnated spiritual leader but at 18 he broke free and moved to Ibiza leaving in his wake a string of headlines as he partied in Ibiza and bemoaned a childhood bereft of television Nearly two decades later, the Spaniard has opened up about his experience, in a recent four-part series on HBO Max in Spain that has cast a spotlight once again on his singular story you could say I’m a social experiment,” Hita Torres “A reincarnation is almost like going to the casino You’re betting on something when you don’t know what the outcome is going to be Born in 1985 in a small village at the foot of Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains Hita Torres became the subject of rumblings about reincarnation when he was just a few months old His parents had been devoted followers of Lama Yeshe a Tibetan spiritual leader who had long worked to make Buddhist teachings accessible to westerners The toddler was taken to India and asked by a religious leader to pick out the lama’s former possessions. The trip also saw the 14-month-old meet the Dalai Lama – the most senior figure in Tibetan Buddhism – who confirmed him as the reincarnation of Lama Yeshe At the age of six, he moved to a monastery in southern India movies and playdates for robes and intensive studies it was a time of suffering,” said Hita Torres Lama Yeshe who invited him to live with her in Darjeeling Photograph: Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive/Estate of Zina Rachevsky/ Mr Monkey productionsAttempts by his family to move with him to India proved complicated – Hita Torres was the fifth of his mother’s nine children – and loneliness set in He also found he had trouble identifying with the strict role set out for him “Sitting on the throne was very uncomfortable for me,” he said “I had to put my hands on heads as a blessing who am I to put my hand on your head to bless you he informed the monastery he was leaving and moved into his family’s home in Ibiza “I went from one extreme to another,” he said “From being completely isolated and studying where there’s no entertainment He marvelled at jam-packed nightclubs and gaped at public displays of affection he learned basic skills such as cooking and cleaning – tasks that had previously been carried out for him The young Osel offers a ceremonial scarf to Lama Zopa at a ceremony.As he bounced between prestigious schools Burning Man festivals and stints living on the streets of Venice and Naples “I had nothing to relate to or identify with,” he said I didn’t follow the path that was meant for me.” Word eventually reached Hita Torres that Lucas Figueroa was envisioning a film or series based on his life it’s a story of a normal family passing through fantastic events,” said Figueroa “The clash between east and west was the core of the story He had matured over the past decades and relished the chance to narrate his experience in his own words The series – called Osel – captures how time has shifted Hita Torres’ view of his experience particularly when it comes to his childhood in the monastery “It was a huge opportunity for which today I thank my parents,” he said and I would never have been capable of handing him over But I’m very grateful that my parents believed in that opportunity because otherwise I would have missed out on many good things,” he added citing his various interactions with the Dalai Lama as an example OselHe describes himself as a disciple of the Dalai Lama highlighting his continuing relationship with members of the Buddhist community Of course I’m a little bit of a weird outcome,” he said This view was backed by the network of dharma centres projects and services co-founded by Lama Yeshe “I would say our relationship is quite good,” Roger Kunsang CEO of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition there have been times when it has been difficult but we are all committed to having a close relationship built upon respect and love.” He described it as a continual learning experience for everyone and it did not come with a manual explaining how we relate to the incarnation of a Tibetan spiritual teacher who was reborn a westerner.” In recent years, Hita Torres has been channelling his energy into environmental causes, launching a tree-planting NGO in 2020 It’s a small nod to his passion for gardening – an interest he shares with the late Lama Yeshe “I’ve been discovering similarities with Lama Yeshe my whole life and it’s always surprising to me because I never really identified myself with him,” he said “It has been a process – a lot of controversy things are falling into place and people are understanding This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Hita & Maitri) to enhance HADR capabilitiesOne of the highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine which is currently engaged in battle with Russia will be a demonstration of the BHISHM Cube a unique mobile hospital made in India for disaster management Developed as part of project BHISHM -- Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri -- the Aarogya Maitri Cubes is the first-ever mobile hospital designed for emergencies It can be airlifted and is compactly packed into 72 cubes for transport The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently effectively tested the use of the BHISHMA portable hospital known as the Battle Field Health Information System for Medical Services leading the Defense Ministry to establish a task force for this effort At the Global South Summit in January 2023 Prime Minister Modi unveiled the 'Aarogya Maitri' initiative through which India plans to offer crucial medical aid to any developing nation impacted by natural disasters or humanitarian emergencies is designed to be air-dropped by an Indian Air Force transport aircraft from a height of 1,500 feet This is made possible by two custom parachutes created by the Agra-based Air Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) the hospital can be operational within just 12 minutes this waterproof and lightweight structure can be assembled using various methods such as aircraft and drones The portable hospital includes two special cages called master cubes that can be combined to accommodate up to 200 survivors Inspired by the "Rubik's Cube," these lightweight cubes can be easily carried by hand for distances up to one kilometer allowing for quick deployment to disaster-affected areas Within each master cube are 36 smaller cubes containing advanced tools that improve disaster response and offer medical aid in emergencies These cubes utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and data analysis for smooth coordination and efficient management of medical services at the location The portable hospital is equipped with cutting-edge medical facilities and supplies for treating a range of injuries like gunshot wounds This hospital plays a vital role during emergencies The project costs around Rs 1.5 crore per unit featuring rapid deployment capabilities and including essentials like a small generator Its sustainability and operational efficiency are further boosted by utilizing solar power and batteries A notable feature of the Cube is its advanced medical equipment tagged with RFID for easy repacking and redeployment and ensure they are prepared for future missions Such comments are punishable under cyber laws The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi the Harsens Island Transportation Authority is taking steps to pursue the establishment of a second ferry service from mainland Clay Township Champion’s Auto Ferry has been the only way for vehicular traffic to cross the St. Clair River’s North Channel to the island for years. Then, after a ferry dock collapse in late 2019 temporarily stymied the private service, officials began to re-evaluate options, including the long-rejected bridge idea HITA Chairman Harold Bain said they weren’t sure a bridge — last formally proposed to be a bascule structure by the Detroit International Bridge Company before its state permit application was rejected in 2016 — would be beneficial to islanders Now, Bain said they’re working with the “major players” in order to line up what they need to open another ferry operation instead “We have a private individual that’s going to fund some of the money It’s pretty much going to happen now with what’s going on,” he said Bain said he couldn’t identify that investor adding only it’s a local company that came on board to talks a year and a half ago And the property along the north channel they hope to secure have been working on what the ferry service would look like and lining up support in letter requests from the township and St But despite the determination on the direction Bain admitted they’re still far from ironing out all the details and getting another ferry boat system in the water “It took us a long time to get in this position so I’m seeing it come together faster than people think because people are complaining — the service is what the service is,” he said We’ve still got the feasibility study to go through We’ve got to go to the Federal Transit Authority On the operation side, Bain said they’re attempting an arrangement modeled after EUPTA or the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority Blue Water Area Transit has been acting in an advisory role in HITA’s ferry discussion said that relationship is still being established but that he anticipated contracting with HITA to operate a ferry service if plans continue to move forward “The state does have operating funds for ferries that would pass through us and go to HITA And we would have some oversight responsibility to ensure that HITA’s performing the service that they’ve proposed or contracted with us to perform," he said regional spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation said marine passenger financing through comprehensive transportation funds “To be eligible … they need to own or have long-term control over the property/facilities/equipment for which capital assistance is being requested,” she said via email There may also be other ferry boat assistance requirements that HITA could pursue through their federal counterparts the transportation authority is doing all of the legwork I believe they have a feasibility study underway to determine different alternatives My understanding is the process to establish a public ferry service is extensive.” Bain said they’ve independently looked at prices for ice-breaking ferries — he believed they’re around $5.5 million each — believing other needs he didn’t have a specific timeline for when the feasibility process would be completed Bain added the biggest benefit to public support could mean a cheaper cost for islanders and visitors to cross the North Channel Champion’s rates are $15 a trip for individual cars and $200 for each discount booklet of 20 tickets Bain alleged transit group’s service would only cost a few dollars per trip said HITA was welcome to “try and start up a competing ferry” when asked about the potential disparity “It’s certainly within their rights,” he said the only thing I could say is I’m just disappointed that they chose not to work with us I sent them a letter with a few projects that I thought we could work on together.” was pursuing a grant opportunity for an enclosed heated airboat to transport passengers when there’s ice on the river — the arrangement being that HITA would own the boat But Bain said it was a difficult position being “asked for money.” “I cannot give them public funds if we don’t have an agreement with them,” he said “Ka tino hakapono ahau he taonga tuku iho nā ngā atua, nā o mātou tūpuna tēnei momo āhuatanga o te takiwātanga,” te kī a Jessica Hita. (I’ll be very honest, takiwātanga is a treasure that has been gifted by the atua, by our ancestors for this type of autism,” says Jessica Hita. Hita (Muriwhenua) and partner Tūhoro Paki (Ngāti Mahuta) are the parents of 8-year-old Te Aurere, who was diagnosed with autism in 2019 and have faced challenges seeking treatment under mainstream health care that addresses their cultural needs. Hita shared with Te Ao Māori News that since Te Aurere’s diagnosis, the clinical processes and information they were provided are from a Westernised system, and it did not culturally fit their family. “Ehara tēnei momo āhuatanga te takiwātanga i te māuiuitanga. Tā te tauiwi tērā ngā whakaaro, nā reirā me waihō ēra whakaaro ki a rātou,” te kī a Hita. (This type of autistic behaviour is not a disorder. That’s what non-Māori think; that’s their way of thinking. Leave those ideals to them.) To raise awareness around autism and drawing on their personal experiences, the young couple founded Kanorau Takiwātanga Consultants to support whānau experiencing takiwātanga. Last month, they published a children’s bilingual book on autism. Tōku Takiwā is a children’s book that explores the unique experiences of Te Aurere, the main character, who shares his perspective on life as a gift when viewed through a te ao Māori lens. Hita says Tōku Takiwā is a book that celebrates not only the uniqueness of Te Aurere, but also all takiwātanga children, highlighting their deeper compassion and understanding worldview compared to others. “Ko te whāinga matua ka taea e rātou ki te kite a rātou āhua i roto i ngā rauemi.” (The other main goal is for them to be able to see a depiction of themselves in these resources) Hita hopes that this book will help people see that autism is a superpower, not a disorder, as so often referred to by health practitioners. It’s a sentiment she hopes will reach other children diagnosed with autism, and the rest of Aotearoa. “Ko te mea tuatahi kia mōhio rātou tā rātou ake mana. Me whakanuia a rātou pūkenga, ae,” “The number one thing is that they (takiwātanga children) know of their mana and that we should value their skills. Yes,” The book launch took place in Hamilton Waikato over the weekend but was published by Kanorau Consultants Limited in March. Nā Kristin Ross te pukapuka nei i whakamāori. Hei tāna, he tuatahitanga tēnei mōna, ara te tuhi i tētahi pukapuka e pā ana ki te takiwātanga. “He reo hou tēnei ki ahau, he ao hou tēnei ki ahau otirā ko te painga o tēnei, kei te ora te aro rere tini i tōku āno whare. Nō reirā, he huarahi tēnei e āta noho ai ki tēnei ao o te aro rere tini me te takiwā.” Hei tāna anō, ko te painga o tēnei pukapuka, ka whakamārama atu ki te ao i ngā āhuaranga, ngā wheako, me ngā whakaaro o ngā tamariki kua pāngia ki takiwātanga. “Kua roa e pēhia ana, me mutu tērā āhua. Mā tēnei pukapuka e whakaatu atu ai ki te ao i tō rātou whakamīharotanga.” Maioha Panapa. He uri teenei no Ngai Taamanuhiri, Rongowhakaata, Te Whaanau a Apanui me Waikato Maniapoto. Home   News   Article Our Inverness Courier photographers were there to capture the evening including several of the smiling faces of winners at Friday evening’s annual Highlands & Islands Thistle awards ceremony and gala dinner For a full list of this year’s winners and comment from the event organisers, read more here: Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards 2024 ‒ winners announced! The annual awards cover all the regions of the Highlands and Islands; from Argyll in the west HITA winners now proceed to the Scottish Thistle Awards national final in November to represent the region and compete with the best of the rest of the country Find out more about the Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards and this year’s winners at https://www.hita-awards.com A 4.5-mill operating tax for the Harsens Island Transportation Authority that would’ve in part aided the agency’s pursuit of a second ferry service from the mainland was resoundingly rejected by voters in Tuesday’s election proposing to collect $866,223 in its first year in a term of five only impacted island property owners in Clay Township’s fourth voting precinct HITA Chairman Harold Bain wasn’t immediately available for comment as of early Wednesday he has said they could look at a smaller proposal to bring back to voters in the future and it’s their wish that we don’t levy that millage and we respect that,” HITA Secretary Skip Tornow said Wednesday but we do have some alternative paths that we can take a look at it’s obviously going to slow us down because of the funding thing.” Since the transportation authority re-emerged a few years ago initial talks among officials included reapproaching the idea of a bridge to Harsens Island as residents at the time often pushed back against raises in prices by the privately-owned Champion’s Auto Ferry HITA officials began more serious talks about establishing a second but public ferry service — an overall startup cost Bain has previously at $35 million to $40 million including $1.2 million to $1.5 million needed for docks on both the island and mainland A portion of the annual of the proposed millage would’ve gone toward completing a feasibility study to help HITA go after grants for the ferry idea Bain said they’d an investor willing to submit millions into the effort HITA members have advocated for more involvement in its endeavors in the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s election township board members have alleged concerns related to HITA’s organization and track of financing Earlier this month, the board also weighed replacing two of the authority committee’s members with different appointees though the discussion was tabled at the time The wreck of a traditional Mauritanian fishing boat also used by migrants to reach Spain’s Canary Islands at least seven boats appearing to be from Northwest Africa washed up in the Caribbean and in Brazil an asylum-seeker from Mali who survived 22 days aboard a Mauritanian boat drifting in the Atlantic Ocean Sako was rescued by the Spanish Air Force on April 26 His boat was spotted by chance more than 310 miles (500 km) from the Spanish island of El Hierro — “in the middle of nowhere,” as one of the rescuers described it They had set off 22 days earlier from Nouakchott Only three of 63 people who boarded survived A mortuary technician opens the door of a refrigerator used to store the remains of migrants recovered from a Mauritanian boat that appeared drifting near the island of Tobago Palm trees line the beach on the Caribbean island of Tobago Empty boats used by migrants are moored at the port of Arguineguin in the Canary island of Gran Canaria went missing as he tried to reach Spain’s Canary Islands by boat sits during an interview in her room in Selibaby An AP investigation has found that Cheikh Dioum was among 43 people to have boarded the boat that was found in Tobago on May 28 more than four months after its departure from Mauritania A button-down shirt found on a deceased migrant whose remains were recovered from a Mauritanian boat on May 28 is laid out at the Scarborough police station on the island of Tobago recognized the black striped button-down shirt There it was — the same black striped shirt This undated photo provided by his family shows Alassane Sow on the beach in Nouakchott after boarding a boat from Mauritania in an attempt to reach Europe’s Canary Islands His body was found more than four months later near Trinidad and Tobago after his boat drifted across the Atlantic stands after a day of work in the village of Belle Garden on the Caribbean island of Tobago Biggart and a colleague towed a Mauritanian boat back to shore after it was found on May 28 Biggart remembers being puzzled by how the boat could have survived Atlantic swells whose son Djibi Koume went missing as he tried to reach Spain’s Canary Islands by boat poses for a portrait in the village of Moudji An AP investigation has found that the younger Koume was among 43 people to have boarded the boat that was found in Tobago on May 28 2021 more than four months after its departure from Mauritania unload their catch at the port of Nouadhibou went missing after boarding a boat from Mauritania in an attempt to reach Europe she received DNA results confirming Alassane’s body was among those recovered on a boat that was found in the Caribbean “I regret to inform that the DNA sample result is a positive match,” an e-mail “At least “We can pray for him and believe that he is in a good place.” (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) People walk in the streets at dusk in Nouadhibou Fishermen chat as the sun sets in the village of Belle Garden on the island of Tobago A rainbow is seen in the sky above the village of Belle Garden where the Mauritania boat remained parked for months after it was found drifting near Tobago Fishermen aboard a traditional Mauritanian fishing boat return after a day of work to the port of Nouadhibou hundreds if not thousands of West African migrants disappear trying to reach the Canary Islands and and so many people and boats are never seen again Residents walk around the central market area in Selibaby A strip of tarmac leading to the capital is partly covered by sand near Nouadhibou Sangare has tried and failed to reach Spain’s Canary Islands by boat Despite being aware of the dangers of such ocean voyages and the fact he can’t swim Sangare said he was determined to try again Young fishermen walk into the ocean to board an artisanal fishing boat in Nouakchott A man holds fish as he walks on the beach in Nouakchott A beach is illuminated by a car’s headlights at dusk near Nouadhibou knew many of the young men who went missing after boarding a boat in Nouadhibou hoping to reach Spain’s Canary Islands Traditional Mauritanian fishing boats known as pirogues are moored at the port in Nouadhibou A boy runs in the street at dusk in Nouadhibou sits with other relatives during an interview in Selibaby was among 43 people to have boarded the boat that was found in Tobago on May 28 more than four months after its departure from Mauritania in an attempt to reach Spain’s Canary Islands An old map of Mauritania is displayed in a hostel in Nouadhibou Two young fishermen from Senegal lean on a wall after returning from a fishing expedition in Nouadhibou covers his face during an interview in Guadalajara The engine found on the Mauritania boat that appeared drifting near Tobago lies in on a floor in the village of Belle Garden Mortuary technician Thomas Philips sits inside the morgue at the Scarborough hospital on the island of Tobago is it me you’re looking for?” found on a deceased migrant whose remains were recovered from a Mauritania boat on May 28 Fishermen clean and cut their catch in the village of Belle Garden on the Caribbean island of Tobago A traditional boat from Mauritania known as a pirogue sits by the side of the road in the village of Belle Garden in the island of Tobago The boat was found by local fishermen drifting nearby on May 28 2021 with 14 bodies and other skeletal remains inside An AP investigation has found that the boat had departed the port town of Nouadhibou in Mauritania Africa more than four months earlier with 43 migrants Police evidence bags containing clothing and other items found on a Mauritanian boat are laid out at the Scarborough police station in Tobago A boot is seen inside a Mauritanian boat that drifted to Tobago with 14 bodies and other skeletal remains clothing found on deceased migrants whose remains were recovered from a Mauritanian boat on May 28 are laid out at the Scarborough police station on the island of Tobago A police officer shows one of the phones found inside a Mauritanian boat at the Scarborough police station in Trinidad and Tobago A boat navigates the shore of the island of Tobago off the beach near the Caribbean island of Tobago a narrow white-and-blue boat drifted onto the horizon Then they saw the decomposing bodies of more than a dozen Black men 43 people were believed to have left a port city across the ocean in Mauritania They were trying to reach Spain’s Canary Islands At least seven boats carrying dead bodies appearing to be from Northwest Africa washed up in the Caribbean and in Brazil in 2021 These “ghost boats” — and likely many others that have vanished — are in part an unintended result of years of efforts and billions of dollars spent by Europe to stop crossings on the Mediterranean Sea That crackdown helped push migrants to return to the far longer more obscure and more dangerous Atlantic route to Europe via the Canaries instead Arrivals on that route jumped eightfold from 2019 to more than 22,000 in 2021 with conservative estimates for the dead and missing that year ranging from 1,109 to more than 4,000 These migrants are as invisible in death as they were in life The AP spent two years putting together puzzle pieces to identify 33 of the migrants on the Mauritanian boat by name 1,000 West African CFA francs (under $2) and scattered euros and half a dozen corroded cell phones with SIM cards from Mali and Mauritania Eslyn McDonald-Burris had never seen so many bodies arrive at the local mortuary in Tobago at once Their apparent African descent reminded her of her enslaved ancestors What is happening here?” asked the soft-spoken Burris “It’s the same currents that they used when they brought us here.” As Burris pulled back the layers of clothing she found soccer jerseys and shorts with insignia from Europe and Mauritania wearing a black button-down shirt with thin white stripes May Sow had all but given up hope of finding her nephew alive leaving his family in both Mali and France desperate Alassane had told her over the phone that he was thinking of boarding a boat to Spain and and he had saved some money working as a security guard in Mauritania he wouldn’t be allowed to work legally in France his French family had a good life with stable careers that allowed them to send money back to Mali to support his mother including one that his boat had been stopped in Morocco and the migrants sent to prison May contacted a Malian community representative in Morocco to check prisons and morgues She reached out to a page on Facebook called “Protect Migrants not Borders,” used by families of missing migrants to exchange information That was when May realized her nephew was one of thousands disappearing each year en route to Europe Every day people posted about a missing person Any tips she obtained were by word of mouth grandmother and wife held onto hope that he was alive She saw him dead with many people in the water Alassane eventually opened his eyes but couldn’t speak her sister shared a news report about a Mauritanian boat found in Tobago with dead bodies inside Then an AP reporter contacted her asking about the same The contact list extracted from one of the SIM cards on a phone in the boat by authorities in Tobago contained 137 names and shared photos of the evidence collected in Tobago with families of the missing in Mauritania stared at the photos on her phone for days One looked familiar: a black striped button-down shirt She went back to photos of her nephew from shortly before he disappeared “I don’t think they had the right to bring things with them so he must have worn his best clothes,” she said who had accompanied him on the first part of the journey confirmed that he had worn the striped shirt underneath a jacket with red pockets Sow reached out to the Red Cross in Senegal for help with a DNA test to confirm But because Alassane’s mother was from Mali the AP got a saliva sample sent from Alassane’s mother to the Forensics Science Center in Trinidad and Tobago “I regret to inform that the DNA sample result is a positive match.” Alassane was buried after an Islamic funeral on March 3 2023 at the Chaguanas Public Cemetery in Trinidad and Tobago held prayers in both his hometown in Mali and in France The results of DNA testing by the Red Cross with the possible relatives of the other dead men aren’t yet known and much of their story will likely remain unknown also “We can pray for him and believe that he is in a good place.” Texas - The Sweet Play of the Week for week 3 of the high school football season went to the Montwood Rams popped the ball loose after a big hit on an Americas wide receiver Montwood's Antonio Landeros recovered the ball and took it to house for the scoop and score As winners of the Sweet Play of the Week the entire team received a box of cupcakes courtesy of Albertsons The Rams are also this week's Community Champions Community Champions is sponsored by Albertsons and the El Paso Community Foundation Adrian Ochoa is ABC-7’s Sports Director KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KVIA-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information Bertha is preceded in death by her parents: Jose Hita and Maria Guadalupe Sifuentes and her husband: Julio Sanchez Meade Jr She is survived by her daughters: Bertha Sanchez (Christopher Duarte) She is also survived by many extended family and friends to cherish and honor her memory A Visitation will be held from 10:00am to 1:30pm on Friday 2024 with a Memorial Service to commence at 12:00pm at Sunset Funeral Homes-West and a Funeral Mass at 2:00pm at St Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-West  Please visit her online memorial at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.  Fans of the hit anime “Attack on Titan'' can make a pilgrimage to Hita City in Oita Prefecture – hometown of the manga’s creator In addition to visiting the city’s well-preserved old town area of Mamedamachi check out the bronze statues of the characters from the popular series that have been erected around the town area and Armin can be found at the foot of the towering Oyama Dam as a reflection of the series’ iconic first chapter while Captain Levi’s statue can be spotted at the plaza in front of Hita Station Another attraction is the free-to-enter “Attack on Titan in HITA Museum” which showcases Isayama’s original drawings Part of the “Attack on Titan” project is a specially-developed smartphone game – download it to defeat the human-devouring giants using GPS (in Japan only) and receive medals for the number of Titans you defeated Visitors to Hita City can also spot Titans “appearing” around town with the game’s AR function Access: Hita Station is 75 minutes by special express train from Fukuoka Station or one hour by highway bus from Fukuoka Airport Website: 進撃の巨人 in HITA | 大分県日田市に巨人出現！ (shingeki-hita.com) Saturday afternoon at the Guam Museum had all the makings of a backyard jazz jam session amplified with star power Palomo and Bais’s performance was impromptu Bais hadn’t even brought an instrument He and Ruby Santos went to support a fellow artist and longtime friend at Palomo’s H.I.T.A Bais drummed on the top of a table that previously propped up a bottle of water on the stage of Guam Museum’s indoor theater Palomo was the featured speaker at Saturday’s H.I.T.A More: Chef Jacklyn Borja to lead PIC in 2019 Pastries in Paradise president of Galaide Group which manages the museum said the H.I.T.A talks are a CHamoru spin on TED Talks Previous panels and speakers have spoken about indigenous healing traditions looking into other things that people are interested in,” Guzman said “We want to draw more people to their museum.” Palomo spoke of his lifetime as a musician his family who supported him and the music that shaped him In between stories of inspiration and accomplishments More: Bank of Guam 2K/5K and free block party He said he hadn’t planned what pieces to perform ahead of Saturday’s talk He relied more on what felt right in that moment One of those moments was a touching performance of “Tåta,” sung by Bais who's also cousins with Palomo’s grandfather Palomo was at a club and a melody just came to him when Bais walked in “I looked at the lyrics and the depth of what he wrote,” Palomo said Bias and Palomo haven't performed “Tåta” in at least a couple of years Palomo said the song meant a lot to them both he could feel Bais’ shaking next to him he was there composing this tune and I said Can you do something with this?’” Bais said Guzman said the museum plans to host more musicians in upcoming H.I.T.A talks and encourages residents to attend future events they can catch him at the Guam Premier Outlets Port of Mocha every Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m Palomo and Tradewinds’s latest album Hinengge is available to buy online or stream on iTunes.                                                    Saina Martha Tenorio offers a lesson in weaving coconut leaves into a katupat or traditional CHamoru rice cooking pouch to a handful of participants on March 20 2025 at the University of Guam’s Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub at the CHamoru Village in Hagåtña Ta silelebra i Mes CHamoru este na mes lao mungnga maleffa na siña ta silebra i kotturan yan i lengguahen CHamoru kada diha Gof maolek na guaha actibidåt siha este na mes para ta silebra Mes CHamoru lao mungnga este ha’ na mes Siempre u guaha linachi-mu lao mås maolek na un chagi yan sige ha’ umeyak Yanggin un tungo’ un taotao ni siña fumino’ CHamoru faisen gue’ ayudu Ti para un tungo todo gi un diha lao siña un eyak mås kada diha Yan un diha siempre siña hao kumekuentos gi fino’ CHamoru Meggai nesisista para ta cho’gue para ta na’lå’la’ i fino’ CHamoru yan i kotturan CHamoru Guaha meggai na resources para un eyak fumino’ CHamoru gi internet Guaha lokkue’ videos gi YouTube yan otro siha na social media siña un egga’ para un eyak fumino’ CHamoru pat maseha håfa put i kotturan CHamoru hånao ya un eyak lokkue’ Meggai na taotao ma sångan “yanggin ti hita pues håyi?” Gof metgot este na sinangan sa hunggan gof magåhit Todu hit nisisita ta cho’gue maseha håfa nina’siñå-ta Gi mamaila na tiempo yanggin ti ta na’lå’la’ i fino’-ta på’go siempre måtai i lengguahi-ta kalan i otro na lengguahi Lao gof impottånte ta chagi todu nina’siñå-ta Usa CHamoru maseha månu na gaige hao yan kada diha hu ufresen maisa yu’ para bai hu prutehi yan hu defendi i hinengge Gof impottånte para ta sångan este ya ta hongge este An official website of the United States government Watch Live at 11:30 a.m. ET: Results of Nationwide Law Enforcement Effort Press Conference View the latest ICE guidance on COVID-19 Get information about how to check in with your local ICE Office here Reportándose con ICE: Obtenga información sobre cómo reportarse a su oficina local de ICE aquí View in other languages Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE to report suspicious activityReport Crime Learn More About ICE ICE's ERO officers uphold United States immigration laws by focusing on individuals who present the greatest risk to national security View the annual report Media Inquiries the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated This information is archived and not reflective of current practice Texas – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso special agents assisted Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers on Wednesday to arrest a local man who threatened to rob local businesses and commit murder was taken into custody June 1 without incident on I-10 in front of a local shopping center after DPS was notified about a phone call from Hita who threatened to commit robbery and murder DPS Criminal Investigations Division (CID) special agents and Texas Highway Patrol officers worked jointly to locate Hita inside his vehicle on I-10 east; a felony traffic stop was conducted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the principal investigative arm of the U.S responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at ICEMedia@ice.dhs.gov 22 ary 25 taona niara-namoy ny ainy tao Mantasoa Lakana rendrika no nitarika ny fahafatesan’izy ireo Olona telo hita faty tao amin’ny farihin’i Man­tasoa Niara-nitaingina lakana tao amin’io farihy io ny vatan-dehilahy miisa efatra Nahita lakana an’ny mpanjono nipetraka amoron-drano izy ireo ka nitaingina izany “Efa noraran’ny rainy tsy hitaingin-dakana izy ireo” hoy ny loharanom-baovao avy amin’ny zandary Nisy simba kely tamin’ny vatan’io lakana io ka nitarika ny faharendrehany Tsy nahay nilomano ny roa raha toa ka nahay ny roa namany Niharan-doza tampoka vokatr’io fahasimban’ny lakana io ireo efa-dahy Nikoropaka samy nanavotra ny ainy izy ireo kinanjo tsy hita popoka ny telo Nanomboka ny fikarohana ireo olona natelin’ny rano “Avotra tamin’io fotoana io ny iray saingy tsy hita ny telo namany” Nan­droso maizina ny andro ka natsahatra ny fikarohana ary notohizana ny ampitso Years ago, when Attack on Titan manga creator Hajime Isayama was visiting his hometown of Hita City in Japan's Oita prefecture he noticed many businesses had been shuttered and realized his hometown wasn't doing so well He decided he "wanted to give something back to this town in which [he] came up with the idea for Attack on Titan." Isayama has noted several times that Hita City served as the original inspiration for the scenery in his manga The city is located in an insular basin surrounded by mountains and forests that let you feel like you could see someone emerging from them using the vertical maneuvering equipment at any moment In 2014, Isayama was named "Tourism Friendship Ambassador to the 'Beautiful Riverside Location of Hita.'" In the years since then the city has embraced itself as the hometown of Isayama and has leaned into anime tourism launching the "Attack on Titan in HITA -Attack on Hita-" project The city crowdfunded several projects to erect statues of the characters from the franchise you can find Isayama's signature and doodles hanging in shops from hair salons to cafés and lamp posts feature Attack on Titan flags Many shops sell local specialties branded with Attack on Titan logos and images There's even a museum dedicated to Attack on Titan on the site of a local farmer's market A new bus tour of the area is scheduled to launch at the end of April and ANN was given a preview of the tour before its opening a city in northern Kyushu that's a stop on the bullet train about three hours away from Kyoto or five hours away from Tokyo The city also has an international airport a bus fully decked out in Attack on Titan decoration takes visitors on the one-hour drive to Hita City The city has also provided an app for tourists to use which is available for iOS and Android in Japanese and English (unfortunately the app is currently unavailable worldwide but the staff stated they would look into expanding its availability) fans can scan a QR code to get a stamp as part of a stamp rally fans can choose a prize via lottery and show it to certain establishments to receive it in person (such as a postcard) making it seem like characters are right there with you The app also includes coupons that can be used at area establishments The first stop on the tour is at Hita City station The AR attraction in the area also lets fans pose in front of the station while being attacked by the Beast Titan The Levi statue was unveiled in March 2021 and stands 1.52 meters (about 5 feet) tall and weighs 200 kg (about 440 lb) The next stop on the tour is the Patria Hita "Attack on Hita Café," which includes a bento lunch and lots of merchandise for sale The AR experience at the café features Erwin and Levi The bento includes themed dishes such as "Sasha stole potatoes from the kitchen," "Sasha stole meat from the food storage of a superior officer," and "marinated seafood caught in the sea of Marley," but also includes Hita City specialties and favorite foods of Isayama's The café also sells a gelato dessert using local fruits The café and museum house a copy of the Attack on Titan manga volume that holds the Guinness World Record for "the largest comic book published," measuring 7,030 cm squared The bus tour then takes visitors to the "Hita Kusu Chiiki Sangyo Sinko Center" for shopping and photos The store features lots of Attack on Titan goods and even a recreation of a chair that Levi sits on in one of Isayama's illustrations The panel on the right in the above image says "You have large-size Hita-made geta (wooden sandals)! "You can look at an AR of vertical maneuvering equipment." The next stop at the 72-meter-tall Oyama Dam is easily the highlight of the trip The AR experience at the dam features the Colossus Titan itself reenacting a scene from the beginning of the manga where it peers over a partially broken Wall Maria Isayama advised the staff in the creation of the statues and he even has his handprint and signature near the base Isayama has said in an interview that as a child he would visit the waters around the dam nearly every day to play The area of the dam is where you can most feel the oppressive atmosphere of the mountains surrounding you and it gives a true feeling of being in the world of Attack on Titan The next stop is the Attack on Titan in HITA Museum located in a rest area and a farmer's market and cherry blossom trees surround the area a video featuring interviews with Isayama plays that includes English subtitles The interviews highlight Isayama discussing his creative process his thoughts on the drawings on exhibit at the museum The museum also features doodles and drawings Isayama drew as a child in junior high school and high school Isayama said at first he did not want those drawings in the museum as he was embarrassed by them he said he wanted to move past the feelings of being embarrassed by his past "To draw manga is to expose the embarrassing parts of yourself to the world." He realized that without those embarrassing doodles he would never have been able to create Attack on Titan so he decided the museum could put them on display The museum also features the desk Isayama used when he debuted The museum also has an AR experience featuring the Female Titan and has more limited Attack on Titan merchandise and local souvenirs The museum was listed on the 2023 edition of the Anime Tourism Association's "Japanese Anime 88-Spots." The final stop on the tour is the appropriately (but coincidentally) named Paradiso Oita The dinner at Paradiso Oita didn't feature any Attack on Titan-themed items it showcased many local specialties such as Bungo-gyu (Oita's Wagyu beef) The stop had an AR experience with a 3D Levi the area gives a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains While some places on the tour are available by train or on foot you can easily get around to many of the main tourist spots within Hita City and its surrounding areas the organized bus tour is the best way to see all the main spots There is also much more to explore for Attack on Titan fans in the city. Aside from the 13 AR attractions, more than two dozen places feature collaborations with Attack on Titan, from shops to restaurants. Everything you need to know about the "Attack on Titan in HITA -Attack on Hita-" project is available on its English website The upcoming tour will cost 17,500 yen (about US$132) per person for those who wish to start and end the tour in Fukuoka and 16,500 yen (about US$125) per person for those who wish to start and end the tour in Hita City As part of the 10th anniversary project for the anime franchise that was announced at AnimeJapan 2023 last month, Hita City and Isayama will host a tree-planting ceremony later this year which seems appropriate in light of the anime's upcoming finale this fall Disclosure: Tour organizers paid for domestic travel and one night of accommodation for this media tour Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Manga & Anime Oita Prefecture--Although the "Attack on Titan" manga series is nearing the end of an 11-year run in April its legion of fans has another valiant figure here to keep the memories alive a leading character from Hajime Isayama's massively popular series was unveiled during a ceremony on March 6 in front of JR Hita Station in the author's hometown The Levi figure is wearing gear to battle the giant Titans It is 142 centimeters tall and measures 216 cm tall including the stand When visitors hold up their smartphones installed with an exclusive augmented-reality app in front of the station The statue joined other main characters previously set up in a different location in the city The unveiling ceremony was reported by The Asahi Shimbun's Oita General Bureau via its Twitter account attracting responses from fans around the world in various languages including English The statues were produced as part of a crowdfunding campaign to erect statues of the protagonist Eren Yeager and his childhood friends Mikasa and Armin looking up at towering Oyama Dam as if it is the massive wall from the manga story The campaign conducted by local volunteers raised more than its goal of 14 million yen ($128,400) on the day it was launched on Aug The statues of the trio were placed in November last year After receiving more responses than expected the project initiator came up with an idea to add a statue of Levi a fan favorite known as "humanity's strongest soldier." The campaign eventually raised 29.68 million yen head of a local volunteer association who has been committed to the crowdfunding project said: "I am relieved that I fulfilled my promise He also said that there is a plan to establish a museum devoted to "Attack on Titan" in Hita Isayama praised the placing of a statue dedicated to Levi in his hometown "Levi is someone who has supported 'Attack on Titan' and whom I feel so indebted to," he said "I'd be happy if everyone who has supported the campaign can enjoy the statue I only have one more month to continue with the series and I'm determined to make it count and do my best." "Attack on Titan" is a dark fantasy about humans who live in a world surrounded by walls and their survival against man-eating giants Running in Kodansha Ltd.'s Bessatsu Shonen Magazine since September 2009 the series is set to conclude its 11-and-a-half-year run with the 139th episode which will be published in the manga anthology Isayama to conclude ‘Attack on Titan’ manga series in April ‘Attack on Titan’ statues look up in fear at Oyama Dam in Oita Fans ride the rails to collect all ‘Demon Slayer’ digital stamps Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardPaoli teen brightens days of nursing-home residentsHita Gupta has created the Brighten a Day foundation to bring cheer to residents of nursing homes around the country Hita Gupta used to volunteer at a nursing home near her residence in Paoli trying to brighten the days of the senior citizens in the long-term care facility A 15-year-old sophomore at Conestoga High School Gupta has created a nonprofit organization that specializes in bringing cheer to socially isolated seniors as well as hospitalized children Her Brighten A Day foundation started out by sending goody bags — each one stuffed with an adult coloring book and packs of colored pencils — to Philadelphia-area nursing homes and sending letters with uplifting messages to facilities in neighboring states But backed by donations through a GoFundMe page as well as the work of an expanding army of volunteers Gupta has since widened the scope of her project which has reached as far as Hawaii and now includes videoed messages as well as the delivery of smart devices to help residents communicate with loved ones “It’s been wonderful to see how many people have reached out to help,” Gupta said “We’ve been able to reach so many seniors — who are among the loneliest people in our society — and let them know they are not alone.” Gupta’s project has lifted spirits at Genesis Wayne Center “It’s impressive to see a high school student take that kind of initiative,” Nichols said Gupta was motivated to take action when the coronavirus outbreak meant she was no longer allowed to visit the nursing home where she had been a volunteer “That made me determined to do something else to try to help,” Gupta said she used her own money to purchase the materials for the goody bags which she dropped off at area nursing homes She soon realized she could make a bigger impact and began organizing volunteers from around the country to write cards or make videos for nursing-home residents who have been the most severely impacted by COVID-19 Some of her volunteers specialize in having conversations with seniors because their families can’t go and see them.” She said her interactions with seniors are reminiscent of her weekly Skype calls with her grandparents That’s why Gupta expanded her project to include the acquisition and distribution of smart devices — anything that will enable Skype or Zoom access — to nursing homes and long-term care facilities She recently dropped off a donated Kindle device to Genesis Wayne Center “What she is doing is more important than ever given the restrictions created by the lockdown,” Nichols said noting that the Wayne Center residents have been unable to see family and friends since mid-March “For a young girl to let them know there are total strangers out there that care about them The foundation’s website — brightenaday.weebly.com — includes a page filled with thank-you notes from facilities around the country From Woodbury Senior Living in Minnesota: “The residents are enjoying your cards and feeling your love.” From Maunalani Nursing and Rehab Center in Hawaii: “Aloha Hita Your ‘Brighten a Day’ has TRULY IMPRESSED us … you have made many of our people cry because they are very happy and touched.” From Hibbard Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center in Maine: “This is amazing work you are doing Gupta works most of her days on her project She spends the rest of her time doing schoolwork — her favorite subject is math — as well as reading who writes many of the cards and helps assemble the goody bags in the family’s living room “I’m very proud that Hita is able to bring smiles to so many seniors and children,” her mother Gupta said her foundation’s name is a reflection of her determination to chase away doubt and depression for folks in need and how much I wanted to brighten their days and bring joy to them.” 2023 at 3:42 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mayor Noni West presents a plaque to HARB member Anthony Hita who is stepping down from the board PA — Doylestown Borough Mayor Noni West on Monday night recognized four volunteers and a longtime business owner with certificates of appreciation Mayor West presented the first recognition to Anthony Hita thanking him for his service on the Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB) Hita has served on the board from 2020 to 2023 "It was a great joy and honor to be able to serve the community," said Hita who came to Doylestown after graduating from Penn with a master's degree in historic preservation "When I came here I was going through some hard times in my life and Doylestown was a town of healing for me It meant a lot to me to be able to give back to the community." Hita is stepping down from the HARB because he will be moving out of town Council is accepting applications to fill the vacancy on the HARB Knowledge of and interest in the preservation of the historic buildings and district is essential A resume and letter of interest should be sent to John Davis or via e-mail to jdavis@doylestownborough.net Applications will be accepted until May 10 Mayor West also recognized three students who have volunteered their time on the borough's various boards and commissions She presented certificates of appreciation to Mason Lange (Fanny Pool Board) and William Shandlay (Fanny Pool Board and the Human Relations Commission) and Junior Councilperson Brooke Wassman Growing up around Fanny Chapman and learning the behind the scenes was a great experience," said Lange who served as a student member of the Board of Managers at the Fanny Chapman Pool from May 2022 to April 2023 Shandley also served as a student member on Fanny Chapman board from April 2021 to April 2022 He also served for a year on the Human Relations Commission from May 2022 to April 2023 Wassman served as a member of the borough's Shade Tree Commission from May 2021 to April 2022 and as junior councilperson from September 2022 to May 2023 I have loved learning about stuff I didn't know," said Wassman "A great perk is you get the inside scoop on everything It was just amazing to be here and to see the members of the community." Mayor West presented a certificate of appreciation to the Doylestown Bookshop "in recognition of 25 years of providing a foundation for our attitudes standards and judgments in shaping our thinking and broadening our imaginations." Twenty-five years ago Pat Gerney purchased the Village Green a chain book store that was going out of business "She wanted a hometown bookstore and she created this amazing store She made it through the big box bookstores the e-readers and the online orders because you supported her You chose to buy your books from us," said current owner Glenda Childs non-book gifts and you have continued to support us," said Childs You have made it possible for small businesses to be successful downtown I'm very grateful for all that you do and for listening to our voices," she said Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The shortlist for the 2024 Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards (HITA) is revealed • Blervie House • Broad Bay House • Dunnet Bay Escapes • Glenegedale House Islay • Johnny Foxes and The Den • Scotch & Rye • The Station Bar • Downright Gabbler • One One Two Wine Bar and Eatery • The Dipping Lugger • Links House at Royal Dornoch • Ness Walk • The Dowans Hotel • Nevis Range • Seabirds-and-Seals – The Original Noss Boat Tours • Shetland Seabird Tours – The Noss Boat • Borve Lodge Estate • Hideaway Under the Stars • Kabn Company • Islay Sea Adventures • Landmark Forest Adventure Park • Cheryl Heggie School of Dance • Loch Ness Hub and Travel • Wick Development Trust • Dornie Croft • Glen Mhor Hotel & Uile-Bheist Distillery and Brewery • Girls on Hills • Wavysail • Hebrides Cruises • Scottish Islands Passport • Eilean Dorcha Festival Ltd • Orkney Folk Festival • Taste North • Aedan Doig, Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa • Elliott Sabor, Orrin Restaurant and Bar • Harris Brooker, Speyside Wildlife • Kate Paterson, Golf View Hotel and Spa Tourism and Hospitality Employer of the Year • Kingsmills Hotel • The Pierhouse Hotel • Fiona McLean, The Pierhouse Hotel • Paul Nixon, The Loch Ness Centre • Russell Fraser, Loch Ness Hub Congratulating all the finalists for making it onto this year’s shortlist our finalists have shown just what incredible talent we have in tourism and hospitality across all the regions of the Highlands and Islands “Every year our judges find it more and more challenging to their shortlist and 2024 has been no exception dedication and desire to offer the very best experience of the Highlands and Islands to guests is inspirational and the awards help ensure we all strive for excellence to create unforgettable experiences and deliver rewarding careers “I look forward to celebrating with all our finalists on October 4 It will be a wonderful occasion and a well-deserved night off!” The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony and gala dinner at the Kingsmills Hotel To book tickets contact the event management team: amanda@primeeventmanagement.com If you or your business has been shortlisted you will receive two complimentary tickets per table of 10 purchased Covering all the regions of the Highlands and Islands; from Argyll in the west the annual Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards new enterprises and trusted names to celebrate and recognise excellence in the sector HITA winners proceed to the Scottish Thistle Awards national final to represent the region and compete with the best of the rest of the country Visit https://www.hita-awards.com Diets high in acid load may contribute to kidney function impairment. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary acid load and 1-year changes in glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR). Higher PRAL and NEAP were associated with worse kidney function after 1 year of follow-up as measured by eGFR and UACR markers in an older Spanish population with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome. Volume 9 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.986190 This article is part of the Research TopicDietary and Nutritional Indices and Chronic DiseasesView all 22 articles Background: Diets high in acid load may contribute to kidney function impairment This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary acid load and 1-year changes in glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) Methods: Older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome (mean age 65 ± 5 years 48% women) from the PREDIMED-Plus study who had available data on eGFR (n = 5,874) or UACR (n = 3,639) at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up were included in this prospective analysis Dietary acid load was estimated as potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) at baseline from a food frequency questionnaire Linear and logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the associations between baseline tertiles of dietary acid load and kidney function outcomes One year-changes in eGFR and UACR were set as the primary outcomes We secondarily assessed ≥ 10% eGFR decline or ≥10% UACR increase individuals in the highest tertile of PRAL or NEAP showed higher one-year changes in eGFR (PRAL β: –0.64 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI: –1.21 to –0.08 and NEAP β: –0.56 ml/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI: –1.13 to 0.01) compared to those in the lowest category No associations with changes in UACR were found Participants with higher levels of PRAL and NEAP had significantly higher odds of developing ≥10% eGFR decline (PRAL OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.07–1.54 and NEAP OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.03–1.50) and ≥10 % UACR increase (PRAL OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.04–1.46) compared to individuals with lower dietary acid load Conclusions: Higher PRAL and NEAP were associated with worse kidney function after 1 year of follow-up as measured by eGFR and UACR markers in an older Spanish population with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome following a healthy diet characterized by a low acid load may be a useful preventive strategy against kidney dysfunction since most research has been conducted in healthy young or middle-aged individuals or in patients with advanced CKD little is known about the potentially harmful association between dietary acid load and kidney function of older populations with underlying comorbid conditions analyses assessing dietary acid load on kidney function have rarely been conducted in Mediterranean populations at high cardiovascular risk as more scientific evidence and longitudinal studies in this field are required we prospectively investigated the association between PRAL and NEAP and 1-year changes in two markers of kidney function decline eGFR and Urine Albumin/Creatinine Ratio (UACR) in a large Spanish cohort of older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) The final study protocol and procedures were approved following the standards of the Declaration of Helsinki by the Institutional Review Boards of participating centers and all participants provided written informed consent Dietary acid load was estimated at baseline using individual nutritional data obtained from the FFQ. Previously published methods proposed by Remer and Manz (29) and Frassetto et al. (8) were applied for the calculation of PRAL and NEAP scores PRAL (mEq/day) = 0.4888 × protein intake (g/day) + 0.0366 × phosphorus (mg/day) – 0.0205 × potassium (mg/day) – 0.0125 × calcium (mg/day) – 0.0263 × magnesium (mg/day) NEAP (mEq/day) = 54.5 × protein (g/day)/potassium (mEq/day) – 10.2 At baseline, trained PREDIMED-Plus staff collected socio-demographic and lifestyle information including age, sex, educational level, physical activity, smoking status, as well as medication use and history of disease using several questionnaires or reviewing medical records. Moreover, adherence to the energy-reduced MedDiet was evaluated using a validated 17-item MedDiet questionnaire (32) Compliance with each item of the MedDiet questionnaire was scored with one point and non-compliance with 0 a cut-off point based on the median of the score was determined by dividing individuals into those with high adherence to a MedDiet (≥9 points) or a low adherence (<9 points) other cut-off points were tested arbitrarily and defined as the highest tertiles or quartiles (in both cases high adherence was observed to be ≥12 points) Total daily energy intake and sodium intake were estimated according to data from the FFQ Anthropometric variables were measured in duplicate and resting blood pressure was measured in triplicate using an automated digital device (Omron-HEM297705C) BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters white blood cell count was used to assess inflammation (leucocytes > 10 × 109/L) we used the PREDIMED-Plus database generated in December 2020 Participants were categorized into tertiles of PRAL and NEAP One-way ANOVA and chi-square tests were used to evaluate differences among tertiles of PRAL and NEAP for the baseline characteristics of the study population Descriptive data were expressed as means ± SD for continuous variables and percentages (%) and numbers for categorical variables Multivariate linear regression models were performed to examine the associations between tertiles of PRAL and NEAP at baseline and 1-year changes in eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) and UACR (mg/g) PRAL and NEAP were also analyzed as continuous variables (both for each 1-SD increase) β-coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed using two different models: Model 1 was adjusted for sex and age; and Model 2 was further adjusted for study center (categorized into quartiles by number of participants) smoking status (never/current/former smoker) educational level (primary education/secondary education/graduate) leisure-time physical activity (METs/min/week angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) (yes/no) angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (yes/no) tertiles) and high leukocyte levels (yes/no) odds ratios (OR) and their 95% CIs were calculated for the association between tertiles of NEAP and PRAL and ≥10% eGFR decline and ≥10% UACR increase at 1-year of follow-up adjusting for the same confounders as mentioned in model 2 The first tertile was used as a reference category in all regression models linear regression models were further adjusted for baseline eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) or baseline UACR (mg/g) depending on the main outcome Variance inflation factors (VIFs) were used to assess collinearity for the multivariable models and none of the covariates needed to be removed All analyses were conducted with robust estimates of the variance to correct for possible intra-cluster correlation Intra-cluster was defined as the participants who shared the same household the median value of each tertile of PRAL and NEAP were modeled as continuous variables We also conducted subgroup analyses for the 1-year changes in eGFR and UACR stratifying by baseline categories of eGFR (≥90; 60–90; <60 ml/min/1.73 m2) and UACR (<30; ≥30 mg/g) Interaction between tertiles of PRAL and NEAP with categories of eGFR and energy-reduced MedDiet adherence (high/low) as well as the intervention/control group were checked in the fullest multivariable model using likelihood ratio tests and non-significant results were observed we repeated our main analysis investigating the association between PRAL and NEAP with 1-year changes in eGFR and UACR after excluding individuals with eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or with UACR > 300 mg/g at baseline we evaluated the association between dietary acid load and ≥5% eGFR decline and ≥5% UACR increase following the same procedure mentioned previously Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata/SE software TX) and significance level was set at a 2-tailed p < 0.05 Baseline characteristics of the study population with data on eGFR at 1-year follow-up by tertiles of PRAL and NEAP (n = 5,874) We also explored the interactions between tertiles of PRAL and NEAP and the adherence to energy-reduced MedDiet and no statistically significant findings were observed (all interactions Multivariable-adjusted β-coefficients and 95% CI of 1-year changes in eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) or in UACR (mg/g) across tertiles and per 1-SD increment of baseline PRAL and NEAP (A) Multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CIs) for ≥10% eGFR decline by tertiles of baseline PRAL and NEAP and per 1-SD increment (B) Multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CIs) for ≥10% UACR increase by tertiles of baseline PRAL and NEAP and per 1-SD increment Estimated glomerular filtration rate; NEAP Percentage of participants with eGFR decline (>10%): tertile 1 of PRAL (n = 296; % = 15.1) tertile 3 of PRAL (n = 346; % = 17.7); tertile 1 of NEAP (n = 297; % = 15.2) Percentage of participants with UACR increase (>10%): tertile 1 of PRAL (n = 539; % = 44.4) tertile 3 of PRAL (n = 597; % = 49.2); tertile 1 of NEAP (n = 550; % = 45.3) participating center (categorized into quartiles by number of participants) leisure-time physical activity (METS/min/week in tertiles) hypertension prevalence (yes/no) and hypercholesterolemia prevalence (yes/no) Mediterranean diet adherence (high/low adherence) **one SD = 15.6 mEq/d in PRAL and 8.1 mEq/d in NEAP this is the first study to prospectively evaluate the association between dietary acid load and kidney function concurrently assessing eGFR and UACR in a population of older adults with underlying comorbidities it is worthwhile to mention that when UACR was also assessed as an increase ≥10% after 1 year of follow-up we found a significant association with PRAL future longitudinal studies and clinical trials would be helpful to clarify these observations related to albuminuria and dietary acid load our findings in conjunction with the evidence available to date suggests that following a diet with a low acid load could be an appropriate measure to improve renal function and decrease the risk of CKD development and progression among older individuals from middle-aged to elderly with underlying comorbid conditions This study has some limitations that deserve to be mentioned the population consisted of older Spanish individuals at high cardiovascular risk meaning the findings may not be generalizable to other populations the Mediterranean lifestyle could imply healthier habits which may result in different macro- and micronutrients intake related to kidney function such as potassium-rich or low-sodium dietary intakes as PREDIMED-Plus is a randomized controlled trial all the analyses were adjusted for the intervention group the lifestyle advice that participants received could be affecting our findings dietary acid load was calculated using PRAL and NEAP from dietary nutrient intake information obtained from FFQ data Although this questionnaire was validated and carefully administered by trained dietitians potential measurement errors and reporting bias could be present while SCr-based eGFR was used as a biomarker of kidney function as is common in most epidemiologic studies there are other more optimal markers such as inulin iothalamate or 24-h urinary creatinine clearance and difficult measure in large populations although a substantial number of confounding factors were considered confounding bias could not be completely ruled out and direct causality cannot be inferred Analyses were conducted using data from a large cohort which has a wide selection of different variables to adjust the models for kidney function related-potential confounders it is important to highlight the prospective design that we performed and the joint assessment of two commonly used biomarkers of renal function Another novel aspect of this study is the sensitivity and supplementary analyses conducted which gave robustness to the main results the current study conducted in a population of older Spanish adults with overweight/obesity and MetS shows that higher dietary acid load is associated with changes toward a worse eGFR and higher odds of ≥10% eGFR decline and ≥10% UACR increase further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to clarify and confirm the consistency of these associations before considering a reduction in dietary acid load as part of strategies for preventing kidney function decline There are restrictions on the availability of data for the PREDIMED-Plus trial, due to the signed consent agreements around data sharing, which only allow access to external researchers for studies following the project purposes. Requestors wishing to access the PREDIMED-Plus trial data used in this study can make a request to the PREDIMED-Plus trial Steering Committee chair: cHJlZGltZWRfcGx1c19zY29tbWl0dGVAZ29vZ2xlZ3JvdXBzLmNvbQ== The request will then be passed to members of the PREDIMED-Plus Steering Committee for deliberation The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki by the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study and NB designed and conducted the research CV-H and AD-L are the guarantors of this work and had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis All authors revised the manuscript for important intellectual content and read and approved the final manuscript This work was supported by the official Spanish Institutions for funding scientific biomedical research CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (FIS) which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (six coordinated FIS projects leaded by JS-S and JVid including the following projects: PI13/00673 and PI20/01158); the Especial Action Project entitled: Implementación y evaluación de una intervención intensiva sobre la actividad física Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant to JS-S; the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2014–2019; agreement #340918) granted to ÁA-Gó; the Recercaixa (Number: 2013ACUP00194) grant to JS-S; grants from the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0458/2013 and PI0137/2018); the PROMETEO/2017/017 and PROMETEO/2021/021 grants from the Generalitat Valenciana; Generalitat Valenciana AICO/2021/347 grant to JVid; the SEMERGEN grant; the Boosting young talent call grant program for the development of IISPV research projects 2019–2021 (Ref.: 2019/IISPV/03 grant to AD-L); the Societat Catalana d'Endocrinologia i Nutrició (SCEN) Clinical-Research Grant 2019 (IPs: JS-S and AD-L) Collaborative Nutrition and/or Obesity Project for Young Researchers 2019 supported by CIBEROBN entitled: Lifestyle Interventions and Chronic Kidney Disease: Inflammation Oxidative Stress and Metabolomic Profile (LIKIDI study) grant to AD-L gratefully acknowledges the financial support by ICREA under the ICREA Academia programme CV-H receives a predoctoral grant from the Generalitat de Catalunya (2022 FI_B100108) None of the funding sources took part in the design or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication The authors would especially like to thank the PREDIMED-Plus participants for their enthusiastic collaboration the PREDIMED-Plus personnel for their outstanding support and the personnel of affiliated primary care centers for their exceptional effort We also thank the PREDIMED-Plus Biobank Network part of the National Biobank Platform of the ISCIII for storing and managing the PREDIMED-Plus biological samples Author JS-S reported receiving research support from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) Departament de Salut Pública de la Generalitat de Catalunya and Borges S.A; receiving consulting fees or travel expenses from California Walnut Commission receiving non-financial support from Hojiblanca and Almond Board of California; serving on the board of and receiving grant support through his institution from the International Nut and Dried Foundation and the Eroski Foundation; and grants and personal fees from Instituto Danone and non-financial support from the California Walnut Commission during the conduct of the study and grants non-financial support from Alexion; personal fees from Amarin; and non-financial support from the International Nut Council outside the submitted work Author RE reported receiving grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III and olive oil for the trial from Fundacion Patrimonio Comunal Olivarero/during the conduct of the study and personal fees from Brewers of Europe Fundación Dieta Mediterránea Wine and Culinary International Forum; non-financial support from Sociedad Española de Nutrición and Fundación Bosch y Gimpera; and grants from Uriach Laboratories outside the submitted work Author XP reported receiving grants from ISCIII during the conduct of the study; 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Accepted: 02 September 2022; Published: 30 September 2022 distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Andrés Díaz-López, YW5kcmVzLmRpYXpAdXJ2LmNhdA== †These authors have contributed equally to this work ‡ORCID: Andrés Díaz-López orcid.org/0002-7500-5629 Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish