Cover Page Legal HistorySports SearchAguada mayor tapped to lead PDP rebuildThe San Juan Daily StarFeb 171 min readAguada Mayor Christian Cortés FelicianoBy The Star Staff Popular Democratic Party (PDP) President Pablo José Hernández Rivera has appointed Aguada Mayor Christian Cortés Feliciano as “Engineer of the Structural Refoundation of the PDP,” the party announced Sunday “Christian Cortés is an exemplary public servant with the ideal combination of experience in municipal administration and knowledge in law and engineering,” Hernández Rivera said in a written statement “His leadership will be key to re-establishing the structure of the PDP and ensuring that the party is aligned with the needs of the people and the challenges of the future.” Migdalia González Arroyo and Carlos “Charlie” Delgado Altieri supported the appointment “I accept this task with a great sense of responsibility and commitment,” Cortés said with the expert sectors and with all the ‘populares’ who want a more agile and effective party The refoundation of the PDP is a project for everyone.” Cortés must draft a new regulation that reflects the structural refoundation of the PDP before Sept © 2025 The San Juan Daily Star - Puerto Rico Aurora Polo and 90210 Polo Team will play the championship match of the XV La Aguada Ladies Cup, hosted by La Aguada Polo Club, in Open Door, Province of Buenos Aires Argentina. The ladies tournament marks the start of the 2024 Spring Season at the Novillo Astrada family’s club, and sees six teams up to 30 goals (ladies handicap), partake. Teams are split in two leagues. The last qualification games took place through Friday October 11 and Monday October 14:   Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics 13-8 Frigorífico Rioplantense Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics 14-12 Las Indias Therefore, the matchups for the finals of the XV La Aguada Ladies Cup, due on Tuesday October 15, have been set as follows:  2pm: Subsidiary II: Las Indias vs. Frigorífico Rioplantense 2pm: Subsidiary I: La Hache Thai Polo vs. Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics 4pm, Final XV La Aguada Ladies Cup: Aurora Polo vs. 90210 Polo Team LA AGUADA LADIES CUP –  OCTOBER 7-15 Las Indias: Maru Gimenez 6, Delfina Rossi 0, Julia Rossi 0, Elena Venot 7. Total: 13. La Aguada Rioplatense: Alexia Laprida 5, Sofía Lorenzo 5, Dayne Wetcher 3, Mia Novillo Astrada 7. Total: 20. Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics: Milagros Sanchez 8, Juana Deramo 4, Juana Lavinia 4T, Micaela Saracco 6. Total: 22. 90210 Polo Team: Sarah Siegel-Magness 1, Cata Lavinia 8, Lia Salvo 9, Mia Cambiaso 8. Total: 26. La Hache Thai Polo: Clara Cassino 8, Maitena Marré 7, Milagros Fernández Araujo 7, Azucena Uranga 6. Total: 27. Aurora Polo: Izzy Brockett 2, Hazel Jackson 9, Hope Arellano 10, Candelaria Fernández Araujo 9. Total: 30. 90210 Polo Team 13-10 Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics La Hache Thai Polo 16-9 Frigorífico Rioplantense IHCL, Goa Introduces Aguada Pickleball Arena at Sinquerim Beach, Goa furthering the legacy of pioneering innovative leisure experiences and its commitment to redefining luxury through unique offerings. The Aguada Pickleball Arena, nestled with in emerald greens against the backdrop of the breathtaking Sinquerim coastline, is poised to become a key destination for sports enthusiasts and leisure travelers alike. As the sport of pickleball rapidly gains momentum worldwide, IHCL Goa’s strategic investment in this facility exemplifies its foresight in recognizing and catering to emerging lifestyle trends.   IHCL Goa’s initiative is particularly significant as it aligns with the government’s efforts to position Goa as a global hub for sports tourism. Moreover, it demonstrates it’s commitment to sustainable development by repurposing existing spaces to accommodate this innovative facility, ensuring minimal environmental impact while maximizing social and economic benefits.   From establishing India’s first luxury resort 5 decades back to introducing  the Aguada Pickleball Arena showcases IHCL Goa’s forward-thinking approach and its ability to stay ahead of the curve in identifying and delivering on customer aspirations.   Commenting on the launch, Mr Ranjit Phillipose Sr Vice President – Operations, Goa said, “Commenting on the launch, Mr Ranjit Phillipose says “ Pickleball, a fusion of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, is rapidly gaining popularity due to its accessibility, inclusivity, and social appeal. This sport is easy to learn, making it suitable for all ages and skill levels, while its low physical intensity attracts both recreational players and fitness enthusiasts. Smaller courts and slower-paced play foster friendly competition, encouraging social interaction and community building. As pickleball adapts to both casual and competitive formats, its growing presence among all sections of society and age groups further fuels its popularity. Here is to ‘Your New Favorite Hangout: Pickleball Courts Are Here” We bring you all the information needed to paddle your way through the beautiful paradise we call Goa! In other words, ItsGoa is an online archive about everything in Goa. MONTEVIDEO (Liga Sudamericana) - Organizers liked what they saw in Uruguay last week when Aguada hosted Semi-Final Round games in the Liga Sudamericana.\r\nWith Aguada finishing second in Group F to Uniceub BRB (Brasilia) and reaching the Final Four, the South American Basketball Association (ABASU) has decided Montevideo would be the ideal place to host ... HomeNewsURU/BRA/ARG - Aguada receive thumbs-up to host Final FourFIBA BasketballURU/BRA/ARG - Aguada receive thumbs-up to host Final FourMONTEVIDEO (Liga Sudamericana) - Organizers liked what they saw in Uruguay last week when Aguada hosted Semi-Final Round games in the Liga Sudamericana With Aguada finishing second in Group F to Uniceub BRB (Brasilia) and reaching the Final Four the South American Basketball Association (ABASU) has decided Montevideo would be the ideal place to host .. MONTEVIDEO (Liga Sudamericana) - Organizers liked what they saw in Uruguay last week when Aguada hosted Semi-Final Round games in the Liga Sudamericana With Aguada finishing second in Group F to Uniceub BRB (Brasilia) and reaching the Final Four the South American Basketball Association (ABASU) has decided Montevideo would be the ideal place to host their showpiece event Bauru of Brazil and Uniceub had also expressed an interest in staging the decisive games of the competition Aguada will take on Bauru on 27 November and Uniceub will square off against Boca Juniors The title tilt and third-place clash will then be held on the 29th "We come from a dramatic semi-final that was played at a coliseum packed every night with a special atmosphere," said Gerazime Bozikis "Montevideo and all the fans of Aguada left us happy "We thank the clubs Bauru and Uniceub for their interest in organizing formidable problem with three candidates to be the venue of our grand final to what we know will be a unique festival of South American basketball." Aguada will now be in an excellent position to deliver a first Liga Sudamericana championship to Uruguay Twelve times in the history of the tournament the winning side has been from Argentina and on five other occasions The only club in this year's Final Four to have captured the crown before is Uniceub They prevailed in 2010, and one of the team's leading players in this year's side, Brazil international Guilherme Giovannoni                               ~ MARKS OVER FIVE DECADES OF SHAPING GOA’S TOURISM LANDSCAPE MUMBAI, DECEMBER 15, 2024: Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) marks a momentous milestone as it completes 50 years of Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa continues its pioneering leadership in Goa’s tourism landscape Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer “Goa holds a special place in IHCL’s legacy Beginning in 1974 with the launch of India’s first beach resort Taj Fort Aguada this historic moment marked the dawn of luxury hospitality in Goa IHCL has been an integral part of Goa’s transformation into one of the world’s most sought-after holiday destinations With the introduction of brands like Vivanta and the homestay bungalows under amã Stays & Trails IHCL offers experiences tailored to diverse traveller preferences.” as Goa continues to develop its infrastructure IHCL stays committed to realising the state’s tourism potential This includes our continued investment be it the recently launched TajSATS air catering unit and the upcoming 300-key Ginger hotel at MOPA airport as well as the development of Aguada Plateau as a world-class tourism destination showcasing the state’s rich cultural legacy.” The journey began in 1974 with the opening of Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa transforming Goa into a global tourism hotspot IHCL has continued to unveil iconic properties like Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa the historic Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage designed by renowned architect Charles Correa and Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon at Dauna Paula La Estoria and The Yellow House under IHCL-SeleQtions Miramar and Panjim and Ginger’s lean luxe hotels in Panjim Inextricably linked with the cultural fabric of the state IHCL hotels seamlessly blend Goa’s natural beauty and cultural ethos with world-class experiences About The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service These include Taj – the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as World's Strongest Hotel Brand 2024 and India’s Strongest Brand 2024 as per Brand Finance; SeleQtions a named collection of hotels; Tree of Life private escapes in tranquil settings; Vivanta full-service hotels designed to be your gateway to exceptional destinations and Ginger which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group the Company opened its first hotel - The Taj Mahal Palace IHCL has a portfolio of 350 hotels including 118 under development globally across 4 continents The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization Please visit: IHCL; Taj; SeleQtions; Tree of Life; Vivanta; Gateway; Ginger For media queries, please contact: malihah.faizi@ihcltata.com Tuesday | May 06 2025 | Goa is set to make history with the launch of its first luxury pickleball court The event will feature the inaugural Sundowner Pickleball Tournament on April 5-6 With over 150-200 players expected from major cities such as Mumbai the Aguada Pickleball Sundowner aims to position Goa as a premier destination for the sport The tournament will feature Men's and Mixed Doubles categories along with a Gender-Neutral Doubles segment all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Goa’s beaches "Pickleball is more than just a sport—it’s a movement bringing together enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels The Aguada Pickleball Sundowner is an exciting opportunity for players across India to come together and celebrate this growing sport in the stunning setting of Aguada We invite all picklers to be part of this unique experience and make it a memorable evening of camaraderie and spirited play."  boasts a synthetic acrylic top layer and asphalt base attendees will enjoy exclusive F&B offerings Jointly organised by Aguada Pickleball Arena the event highlights India's growing interest in pickleball and can be completed via the official event link vivek.mittal@businessworld.in, amit.bhasin@businessworld.in Subscribe to our newsletter to get updates on our latest news 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English Hotelier India Home » Operations » Taj Fort Aguada hosts its first-ever Sundowner Pickleball Tournament in Goa There are 150-200 top players expected at tournament by Taj Fort Aguada from Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore venue designed for high-performance play with a synthetic acrylic top layer and an asphalt base Jointly organized by Aguada Pickleball Arena, Courtly, and Adi Oberoi, this event is a testament to India’s growing pickleball movement. Courtly, founded by Tanishq Mahendru, is pioneering the digital transformation of recreational sports. Adi Oberoi, a leading Sports Marketing Consultant and Secretary of the Goa Pickleball Association has been instrumental in expanding the sport’s reach in Goa “We are thrilled to bring the Aguada Pickleball Sundowner to Goa offering players a dynamic platform to showcase their skills and engage with the growing pickleball community With an impressive prize pool and an electric atmosphere this event promises to be a landmark event for the sport in India.” – Adi Oberoi “Pickleball combines the passion of cricket with the prestige of golf making it both accessible and aspirational we are proud and humbled to grow this beautiful game across India uniting players nationwide,” says Tanishq Mahendru “Pickleball is more than just a sport—it’s a movement bringing together enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels We invite all picklers to be part of this unique experience and make it a memorable evening of camaraderie and spirited play.” – Ranjit Philipose The Aguada Pickleball Sundowner event is supported by a strong network of sponsors and partners ensuring a memorable experience for all participants while Majestic Pride serves as the Prize Money Sponsor Associate Partners The Windsouls and A3 Charge enhance the event’s offerings and Greater Than London Dry Gin is the Sip & Serve Partner and Get-A-Way Desserts adds sweetness as the Ice Cream Partner HotelierIndia.com is the new digital destination for India hospitality and the home of ITP’s industry-leading hospitality publications on the web analysis and comment from our team of expert journalists; accurate and up-to-date industry data and contacts; and coming soon a whole host of exciting new business opportunities in the form of relevant tenders The 2024 Spring Season at La Aguada Polo Club kicked off on Monday October 7 The prestigious ladies competition is underway at the Novillo Astrada family’s club and sees six teams up to 30 goals (ladies handicap) La Hache Thai Polo 16-9 Frigorífico Rioplantense The final of the XV La Aguada Ladies will be played on Tuesday October 15 Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics: Milagros Sanchez 8 10am: Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics vs Frigorífico Rioplatense 10,30am: Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics vs Las Indias SearchEPA fines company for Clean Water Act violations in AguadaThe San Juan Daily StarNov 29 20241 min readA natural pool in the Cañas River in Aguada A construction company has been fined $80,000 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency for violations of the Clean Water Act at a site in the northwestern coastal town (Facebook via En Ruta con Karla Agosto)By The Star Staff Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined Transporte Rodríguez Asfalto Inc (TRA) $80,000 this week for violations of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) after identifying discharges of rainwater with pollutants from its construction project into the Cañas River in Aguada The CWA prohibits the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States without a valid permit “We are holding TRA accountable under the federal Clean Water Act which is designed to protect stormwater like that entering the Cañas River from pollution that threatens public health and the environment,” EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F can cause long-term damage to local rivers and ecosystems TRA will need to obtain a construction permit use best practices and prevent future discharges into the river.” TRA began earthmoving for the construction of a used tire processing facility on a 13-acre property located between highways PR-2 and PR-48 in Aguada Despite conducting large-scale earthmoving activities TRA failed to obtain the necessary permits or install the required erosion and sediment controls stormwater runoff generated during the earthmoving entered the Cañas River carrying harmful pollutants and affecting water quality EPA also issued an administrative consent order requiring TRA to take corrective actions * Amend the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan * Amend application under EPA’s Construction General Permit * Submit plans identifying stormwater collection and management systems ~ MARKS 50 YEARS OF TAJ FORT AGUADA RESORT & SPA announced country’s largest skilling centre in Goa based at the Aguada plateau This announcement coincided with the 50th anniversary celebrations of Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa “The skilling centre located on the Aguada plateau will address the critical need for a skilled workforce to support the travel and tourism sector This capability-building initiative will leverage the untapped talent and bridge the employability gap in the sector.” “Goans have a natural flair for hospitality reskilling and upskilling are the need of the hour as the country's premier leisure & MICE destination IHCL's initiative will create new employment opportunities for our youth supporting Goa's vision for sustained growth in the tourism sector this effort embraces our principles of regenerative tourism ensuring sustainable development while empowering local communities and enabling them to build successful careers right here in Goa.” Under its industry leading ESG+ framework of Paathya continues to invest in talent pools to support deserving youth and their families enhancing employment opportunities and contributing to the growth of the hospitality sector These include Taj – the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as World's Strongest Hotel Brand 2024 and India’s Strongest Brand 2024 as per Brand Finance; SeleQtions private escapes in tranquil settings; Vivanta full-service hotels designed to be your gateway to exceptional destinations and Ginger IHCL has a portfolio of 350 hotels including 118 under development globally across 4 continents For media queries, please contact: malihah.faizi@ihcltata.com following the championship match that took place at La Aguada Polo Club The prestigious ladies tournament kicked off the 2024 Spring Season at the Novillo Astrada family ‘s club and saw six teams up to 30 goals (ladies handicap) It’s worth to note that La Aguada Ladies Cup is the first stage of the ladies polo circuit hosted by the Argentine Association of Polo Both teams already clashed in the qualification stage with Aurora Polo victorious; and there was no rematch for 90210 Polo Team in the final Although both teams played a remarkable contest and 90210 Polo Team received four goals on handicap Hope Arellano and Candelaria Fernández Araujo managed to close the gap slowly thanks to the significant contribution of the American extraordinary 10-goaler Hope seized the reins by producing enough goals to allow Aurora Polo earn their first lead in the fifth chukka (11-10) while moving forwards to dominate their contenders for the remainder of the game luck was on the Aurora Polo girls’ side the Subsidiary I Escorihuela Gascón Cup went to Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics who took a tight 11-10 win over La Hache Thai Polo por 11-10 while Frigorífico Rioplantense won the Subsidiary II Equidiet Cup Equidiet Cup: Frigorífico Rioplantense 11-9 Las Indias Escorihuela Gascón Cup: Los Sauces SouthCross Logistics 11-10 La Hache Thai Polo Final XV La Aguada Ladies Cup: Aurora Polo 14-10 SearchThey invest $5.6 million in Aguada in the New Nativo Alers SoutThey invest $5.6 million in Aguada in the New Nativo Alers South Detourh DetourThe San Juan Daily StarJul 22 20242 min readThe new road connects the urban center of Aguada with several communities received Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia Monday for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Nuevo Desvío Sur Nativo Alers project which has a total allocation of $5.6 million This road runs from east to west with an average traffic of 13,836 vehicles per day “When I took office as mayor in January 2021 one of the goals was to resolve the terrible state of our roads and traffic situation We have been working on this problem since day one we have invested more than $11 million in an intense asphalt program that we call ‘Operation Brea’ a commitment to the safety and comfort of everyone This project that begins construction today is an essential part of this commitment to improving traffic in our Municipality.” The New Nativo Alers South Detour represents a substantial improvement to the road flow in the center of Aguada equipped with all the comforts and international urban planning standards such as streets with fluid and safe traffic reforestation which provides adequate vegetation along the road cutting-edge lighting and high-quality asphalt throughout the road The road connects the urban center of Aguada with several communities as well as the Professor Juana Rosario school state government facilities such as the Court of First Instance and federal shops of all kinds and sports and recreational facilities Nativo Alers serves as access to the Pico de Piedra Spa and the PR-115 highway that connects with the Municipality of Rincón The mayor pointed out that this work is added to other large-scale works such as the reconstruction and reopening of the Chavalillo Delgado Coliseum and a broad reconstruction of sports and community facilities for the enjoyment of families and economic development in sectors such as tourism And it’s a wrap for the Qualification Tournament La Zeta Kazak and La Aguada secured the two spots to play the upcoming 131st following the last matchdate that took place at the Argentine Association of Polo Headquarters La Zeta Kazak and La Matera clashed for the first ticket to the world’s most important polo tournament La Zeta Kazak managed to widen their advantage long enough to earn a 12-9 win and the first of the two remaining spots to play at Palermo which obliged La Dolfina Valiente to win by three goals or more The Cañuelas-based foursome dominated most of the match and they even managed to claim a five goal gap But La Aguada bounced back and tied the game in the last minutes of the game And Although La Dolfina Valiente won 14-13 Goa and Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa Goa welcomes Anmol Ahluwalia as its new General Manager Awarded the Best General Manager of Western Region – Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) for 2017-2018 Anmol Ahluwalia is known for his passion and commitment to see his vision through commitment and hard work has been rewarded with his movement as General Manager - North Goa in charge of two of the most coveted hotels of the favourite holiday destinations Starting his professional tenure as a Housekeeping Management Trainee with The Oberoi Hotels,Anmol has come a long way to achieve his goals he has almost 2 decades of experience in luxury hospitality Over the years he has had a rich and varied experience and spearheaded the Housekeeping and Accommodations for various prestigious hotels across IHCL including Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa (Goa) Taj Lands End (Mumbai) and Vivanta Panaji (Goa) before being appointed as General Manager of Taj Wellington Mews (Mumbai) in 2005 with the added portfolio as Head of Centre of Excellence Housekeeping and Accommodations for IHCL in 2017 He has pioneered several innovative initiatives from creating unique bespoke experiences to elevating the standard of luxury residences in India He has put in place mechanisms for quality improvement making it an extension of his perfectionist self Employee engagement is just as important as guest satisfaction for him it’s the people who build the industry Anmol was selected for the Emerging Leader program (EL) of IHCL and was selected for the Managed Best Practice Lab Champion (BPL) for the IHCL Leisure Hotels (30 hotels) and was responsible for implementing processes and styling the properties he managed the Members Network Communicator (MNC) program for Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa (Goa) Taj Chandigarh and Vivanta Panaji (Goa) and also won the Young Executive Housekeeper of the Year A graduate of IHM with an Advance Diploma in Hotel Management from OCLD Anmol believes education is just as important as life’s lessons That would explain his penchant for garnering more and more knowledge over the years Anmol actively participated in the General Manager Cross Exposure training for four months at Taj Mahal Hotel (New Delhi) and Taj Rambagh Palace (Jaipur) and also excelled in the LDP (Leadership Development Workshop) with IHCL he has attended the Tata Group Emerging Leadership Program for three weeks in Tata Management Training Centre Pune and has been a part of the General Manager Development Centre in Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad (First and Third Phase) and in Nanyang Technological University Anmol is known for positive attitude and his willingness to learn A proven leader with excellent communication and inter-personal skills Argentine Polo Open Championship resumed on Sunday November 3 with two games and the debut of the two 40-goal forusomes who were victorious over La Zeta Kazak and La Aguada the two teams who emerged from the qualification to play the most significant tournament in the world La Dolfina Saudi and La Zeta Kazak played quite a close contest with a two goal gap average between the two teams when La Dolfina Saudi bounced back – they outscored their contenders 5-1 and the scoreboard read a 12-6 lead for the Cambiasos & Co La Dolfina Saudi claimed an impressive 21-7 win The follow-up saw the clash of the reigning champions Although the green jerseys dominated the first half and although La Aguada got better with every chukka luck was on the Castagnola’s team side and were victorious 19-11 It’s worth to notice La Aguada’s 7-goaler Facundo Llosa remarkable performance in his debut in the Argentine Open Argentine Polo Open Championship is due on Saturday December 7 13st. Argentine Polo Open Championship – Teams & Fixture The oldest and largest ceremonial structure in the Maya world has been hiding in plain sight on a Mexican cattle ranch near the Guatemala border “It just looks like part of the natural landscape,” says University of Arizona archaeologist Takeshi Inomata He and his team were studying low-resolution lidar images of the region collected by the Mexican government when they were astonished to come across what seemed to be a huge earthen platform A subsequent high-resolution lidar survey of the site showed that the platform stretches almost a mile long and rises as high as 50 feet Radiocarbon dating suggests that Maya people constructed the ritual space between 1000 and 800 B.C or “Phoenix Reservoir,” the structure resembles a platform discovered in the 1960s at the even older Olmec city of San Lorenzo such as colossal stone heads memorializing its rulers suggests that the Olmec were likely directed to build the platform by powerful leaders But signs of such social inequality are absent at Aguada Fenix where the only piece of sculpture thus far unearthed is a two-foot-tall limestone sculpture of a javelina nicknamed “Choco” by the excavators “People weren’t coerced into building this platform,” says Inomata “They seem to have come together and built it communally Takeshi InomataModern Mexicans have lived and worked above the 3,000-year-old site for centuries entirely oblivious to the staggering complex beneath Researchers from the University of Arizona have discovered what is currently believed to be the oldest and largest monument of the Mayan civilization ever found The colossal structure was unearthed within the Aguada Fénix excavation site in Tabasco It extends for nearly a mile and is dated between 1000 and 800 BCE The monument has beat out the Mayan site of Ceibal (or Seibal) as the civilization’s oldest ceremonial center experts will reassess the evolution of the culture’s architectural capabilities The discovery was published in the journal Nature and according to lead archaeologist Takeshi Inomata it is “the oldest monumental construction ever found in the Maya area and the largest in the entire pre-Hispanic history of the region.” Takeshi InomataThis sprawling structure was only discovered after researchers conducted an aerial laser survey the structure has practically been in plain sight for the last few centuries as modern Mexicans have lived and worked above it “This area is developed,” said Inomata “It’s not the jungle; people live there But this site was not known because it is so flat and huge It just looks like a natural landscape.” modern technology has made it possible to identify hidden structures like these The site of Aguada Fénix as a whole was only first detected through aerial surveys and LiDAR technology which fires rapid pulses of laser light at a surface and measures how long it takes for the light to bounce back Researchers surveying Aguada Fénix noted an elevated platform about 50 feet high the complex measures 4,635 feet and 1,309 feet from east to west Part of what makes this structure unique is how horizontal it is Other famous Mayan structures are known for their height like the pyramids of Caracol or Chichen Itza Takeshi Inomata/NatureThe lack of humanoid sculptures could suggest no social inequality nor hierarchy existed at the site — prompting fascinating questions about the ancient communities organization The structure at Aguada Fénix is characterized by a rectangular shape that is accentuated with numerous rows of low mounds It also includes nine large causeways that extend from the main platform which is itself surrounded by several smaller structures even-level design suggests to researchers that the structure was built perhaps before the Mayans had established a ruling class or social hierarchy “The whole construction itself seems to be this communal open space,” said Daniela Triadan at the University of Arizona in Tucson But the monument at Aguada Fénix is not entirely unprecedented The structure certainly bears a few similarities to San Lorenzo and La Venta Olmec sites in the Mexican state of Veracruz The big difference between the monument at Aguada Fénix and the Olmec sites Aguada Fénix does not exhibit clear indicators of marked social inequality such as sculptures representing high-status individuals,” the study suggested “The only stone sculpture found so far at Aguada Fénix depicts an animal.” Researchers hope that in comparing and contrasting Aguada Fénix with these other sites they can then learn more about who inhabited this colossal monument “This kind of understanding gives us important implications about human capability and the potential of human groups,” said Inomata “People can work together to achieve amazing results.” Next, check out the newly-discovered, human-sized dinosaur footprint that’s the biggest of its kind ever found. Then, learn about the lost Mayan “megalopolis” that was uncovered in the jungles of Guatemala See below how our Phoenix players performed at their off-season teams: Nathan Sobey – Santeros de Aguada (BSN)13PTS Co-captain Nathan Sobey was injected into the starting five with the Puerto Rican team Santeros de Aguada for his first game for the season Sobey continued his NBL25 form as he finds his feet in South America recording 13 points three rebounds and three steals in the tough four-point loss to Vaqueros de Bayamon (58-62) A post shared by Santeros de Aguada (@santerosbsn) Owen Foxwell – Taranaki Airs (NZ NBL)20PTS Owen Foxwell helped his New Zealand side bounce back after a loss to Manawatu Jets last Tuesday where he didn’t suit up Coming up against Phoenix teammate Tom Vodanovich’s Auckland Tuatara Foxwell was pivotal in the win scoring 20 points and working hard defensively with three steals in the win Tom Vodanovich – Auckland Tuatara (NZ NBL)22PTS Tom Vodanovich had a standout game scoring 22 points going 6/15 from deep for Auckland Ben Ayre – EWE Baskets Oldenburg (BBL Germany)7PTS Ben Ayre had his second game in Germany taking on Ludwigsburg two rebounds and registered three assists in the side’s 13-point win on the weekend A post shared by EWE Baskets Oldenburg (@ewebaskets) Stay tuned via Phoenix socials and website to be kept updated on how players perform during the off-season.                         A few steps off the main stretch of shops on Golden’s Washington Street lies a taste of Argentina. When you walk into San Telmo Market & Deli—a storefront marked by baby-blue-striped Argentine flags that features a big communal table at its center—you can’t help but feel welcome no matter whether you’re a native of Argentina or simply seeking house-made empanadas This was exactly what co-owner Leonela Aguada intended when she opened the store three years ago in June 2021 with her husband you can find non-perishable items like bags of earthy yerba maté tea leaves and tubs of rich dulce de leche as well as fresh goods such as cuts of asado (steak) queso cremoso (a creamy cheese used to top pizza) and convenient pre-cut disks of empanada dough—all sourced directly from Argentina via the store’s warehouse in Buenos Aires Aguada moved to Golden to pursue a master’s degree in geology at the Colorado School of Mines only six months prior to launching San Telmo which was originally intended to be an online shop to bring Argentine goods to people all across the United States and Canada Aguada found herself in a new country seeking connection during the pandemic—and she was also out of her favorite Argentine staples “I realized I needed to do something about it because the closest places we could find some of these goods are far and quite expensive and not Argentinean places,” says Aguada who is originally from the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires owned two burger joints in Buenos Aires Province and were planning to open an empanada factory But they decided to sell everything to build the store in Golden Though the online shop is still a large part of the business—it can ship over 1,500 Argentine products to addresses across North America in one to four days—the popularity of San Telmo Market’s in-store pick-up program made it clear to Aguada and Matayoshi how much customers enjoy having a physical space to shop for products and feel connected to Argentina the couple added in the store’s first shelves and eventually expanded the space into the market it is today which cooks traditional Argentine recipes for empanadas and chimichurri-slathered choripan sandwiches On the day Aguada and Matayoshi opened the deli “You are not expecting to see something like this in our little town Maybe you are expecting to see something like this in Denver Everything down to the spices used to make flavorful spinach and cheese empanadas and the chorizo for the choripan are made from 100-percent Argentine ingredients the shop is filled with furnishings that celebrate Argentine culture such as a ceiling collage of the country’s iconic advertisements and posters of local fútbol legends Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona the store constantly receives new customers from all across the state Aguada notes that Argentines will drive hours from Aspen or even from other states just to come by to have a choripan or empanada “And you can tell by looking at their faces how happy they are,” Aguada says “It’s like they are teleported to Argentina.” As a student who applied to and was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship for international exchange Aguada knows the importance of cross-cultural experiences She was the first Fulbright recipient to study at the Colorado School of Mines and is passionate about helping others have similar opportunities she wants the store and deli to be a place where even if you are not from Argentina or have never been there you can still enjoy the country’s food and gather with and learn from others For those who are new to her native country’s cuisine a generous helping of dulce de leche (a rich thick confection similar to caramel) sandwiched between two shortbread cookies and coated with chocolate Another must-try dessert is the chocotorta a pastry made from chocolate cookies (chocolinas) soaked in coffee and layered with dulce de leche cream cheese frosting “Argentinean cuisine is indeed like a mixture of different types of cuisine,” Aguada says when [people] immigrate to Argentina because of the wars and we receive them and then we have this cultural exchange with them… That’s why I think cultural exchange is so important for us.” The store hosts various events to help connect community members where attendees can meet and share their cultures and languages and learn more about Argentina a light meal in the late afternoon or early evening when friends and family gather and chat over yerba maté and snacks such as sweet medialuna pastries or tostado sandwiches made with ham and cheese Aguada and Matayoshi are constantly working on improving the experience of the store or extending the store’s closing time to 9 p.m Thursday through Sunday to reflect the later eating customs in Argentina Aguada notes that the upgrades are motivated by the customers who visit from near and far the most precious thing that you have in your life is not the money people doing the long commute just to come here To stay up to date about the store’s happenings and menu items, follow San Telmo Market’s Instagram And for those interested in a taste of Argentine cuisine Aguada and Matayoshi will commemorate the shop’s third anniversary with a pizza day on Saturday Argentine Polo Open Championship resumed through Saturday November 9 and Sunday November 10 Ellerstina and La Dolfina Saudi victorious over La Aguada made their debut at the Open against La Aguada in the first of the two contests played on Saturday November 8 La Hache got off to a stronger start by closing the first chukka 3-0 but La Aguada managed to remain close during the first part of the match; by half time and led by the remarkable Tomás Panelo and Fran Elizalde – the top scorers with seven goals each – La Hache widened the gap and displayed their best polo in the last three chukkas La Aguada did their best to get closer in the scoreboard mostly thanks to Pedrinho Zacharias accuracy to convert penalties Sébastien Aguettant French organisation led by Nico Pieres Gonzalito (Ellerstina’s only remaining Pieres within the lineup) Sapo Caset delivered another spectacular performance (he produced ten goals) very well supported by the extraordinary Gonzalito Pieres and the young Lukin Monteverde La Zeta Kazak managed to play well against their “elder brother”; it’s worth a mention to another young and very skilled player La Dolfina Saudi were the dominant force thoroghout the eight chukkas of play with Juan Martín Nero delivering a remarkable performance not only in his usual position as a back but also as a accurate scorer – Juanma and Poroto Cambiaso produced six goals each And although Cría La Dolfina (who made a fantastic debut against La Ensenada bouncing back to win an almost impossible game) never gave up with a simple and effective team play that make things so easy for them and four players who fit perfectly together La Dolfina Saudi had a five goal lead (9-4) and extended the gap to 17-10 by the time they reached the eighth and last chukka Poroto Cambiaso and Pelon Stirling produced three unanswered goals to secure the 20-10 victory Argentine Polo Open Championship will be back through Friday November 15 and Sunday November 17 131st. Argentine Polo Open Championship – Teams & Fixture Goa announced the appointment of Albert Rebello as its new General Manager An established leader in the hospitality industry Albert brings more than 35 years of hotel experience to the resort perched atop the ramparts of the 17th century Portuguese coastal fort Albert will be responsible for the continued success of the hotel overseeing the day-to-day operations and providing exceptional guest service at one of India’s most luxurious holiday destinations "We are incredibly fortunate to have Albert join the team at Goa as he brings with him a vast experience and passion for operating hotels Goa has an iconic status and remains a market leader in Goa,” said Farhat Jamal – Senior Vice President – Operations (West) “Albert’s impressive background paired with his proven results will be instrumental in the continued success and momentum of the resort," he added Albert has undertaken a number of different assignments through his 35 years at Taj notable among which were his appointments as the General Manager of five hotels namely Taj Residency Indore Bangalore and The Gateway Hotel Hinjawadi Pune Albert makes sure that he takes time out of his busy schedule to play a round of golf every day a hobby which he undertakes whenever time permits and also loves spending time with his family “I am thrilled for this opportunity in Goa This historic Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort & Spa Goa has contributed much to the tourism in Goa since its arrival four decades ago I look forward to further strengthening the position of the hotel as a world class holiday destination and focus on maintaining the high guest experience levels that it’s known for.” said Albert Rebello on his new appointment vivek.mittal@businessworld.in, amit.bhasin@businessworld.in, nilesh@businessworld.in © Copyright BW HOTELIER 2025. All Rights Reserved. ProductionYPF seals $75 million deal for Vaca Muerta shale developmentState-owned company to partner with CGC to produce from Aguada del Chanar block in Argentina Aguada open with victories in BSN quarterfinalsThe San Juan Daily StarJul 15 20242 min readAlexander Franklin (42) scored 16 points to help Carolina beat Quebradillas in a National Superior Basketball quarterfinal opener on Saturday night The Carolina Giants defeated the Quebradillas Pirates 103-91 to open the quarterfinals of the National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) on Saturday night at Guillermo Angulo Coliseum in Carolina 13 assists and eight rebounds for Carolina which used an 11-1 run in the second quarter to take control Alexander Franklin opened the run with a floater drawing a foul and completing the three-point play JJ Romer hit a long-distance bomb that extended the score 36-31 and the Giants made it 41-31 on a 3-pointer from Goodwin and two free throws by Jonny O’Bryant The Pirates’ only point was a free throw by Phillip Wheeler after he was fouled by Romer Scottie James led Carolina with 20 points and nine rebounds and Franklin finished the night with 16 points AJ Slaughter had 10 points and four assists in the second half while O’Bryant finished with 16 points and seven rebounds Tai Odiase led the Quebradillas offense with 20 points and seven rebounds followed by 17 points from Wheeler and 12 from Emmanuel Mudiay who also had nine rebounds and five assists the Aguada Santeros beat the Caguas Criollos 92-89 led by native forward Jase Febres (22 points seven rebounds) and reinforcement John Meeks (21 points From the beginning at Roger Mendoza Coliseum host Aguada appeared poised for an upset on the road scoring seven straight points to go up 32-24 at the start of the second quarter led by Travis Trice (10 points in the second period 18 in total with 10 assists) won the rest of the quarter outscoring Aguada by nine points to take a 47-46 halftime lead with a basket by Louis King (15 points) that made it a two-point game with 46 seconds left in the game and a triple by Akil Mitchell (17 points nine rebounds) that put them down one with 13 seconds on the clock and although Febres missed his second attempt from the charity stripe the Criollos could not secure the rebound to have a chance to tie the Ponce Lions defeated the Santurce Crabbers 85-82 at Juan Pachín Vicens Auditorium in Ponce to secure a spot in the BSN playoffs Santurce led 66-62 to start the fourth quarter outscoring the Crabbers 23-16 en route to the win Jezreel de Jesús led the way for the Lions with 25 points Jordan Murphy and Christian Negrón had 10 points each Jared Sullinger finished his season with another double double William Barton scored 18 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists IHCL Goa has launched the Aguada Pickleball Arena at Sinquerim Beach furthering its legacy of innovative leisure experiences Set against the backdrop of the Sinquerim coastline the arena is positioned to become a major attraction for sports enthusiasts and leisure travellers As pickleball continues to gain global popularity IHCL Goa's investment in this facility highlights its commitment to emerging lifestyle trends Situated opposite the iconic Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa the arena promises a world-class sporting experience for both guests and non-residents is rapidly gaining popularity due to its accessibility This initiative aligns with the growing demand for active tourism and complements Goa’s push to become a global hub for sports tourism reflects IHCL Goa’s dedication to minimal environmental impact while enhancing social and economic benefits Argentine Polo Open Championship is perhaps one of the best of the latest years Of course there are games that are predictable there can be many nice surprises and even unexpected results and it’s happened on Friday November 15 and Saturday November 16 two days that saw La Hache Cría & Polo La Zeta Kazak and Indios Chapaleufu victorious over La Aguada as they all were played under very hot weather conditions Everybody expected a close contest between La Hache Cría & Polo and La Aguada given the leveled handicaps of both lineups (La Hache Cria & Polo 31 because La Hache Cría & Polo took off from the second chukka onwards leaving La Aguada scoreless during three chukkas La Hache Cría & Polo were leading by an overwhelming 13-3 score finally got rid of the “three” in the fifth chukka mostly thanks to Pedrinho Zacharias and Facundo Llosa both of them very accurate on penalty conversions and who produced six goals each While La Aguada struggled to get closer in the score La Hache Cría & Polo slowed down with the aim to secure the result Saturday November 16 was a different story La Zeta Kazak and Cría La Dolfina opened fire; somewhat needed to secure a win to keep hopes to qualify to the 2025 Triple Crown or at least go to the playoff with the winner of the Cámara de Diputados Cup Cría La Dolfina claimed a quick lead in the first chukka and under the command of a fantastic Nico Pieres La Zeta Kazak remained on Cria La Dolfina’s tail managed to maintain a close lead (the average gap was two goals in favour of Cria La Dolfina) They stepped into the last chukka one goal up (12-11) and La Zeta Kazak knew that they had to put on their best if they wanted to reach their goal the last chukka was a tough battle; forget about the red hot weather but Bautista Bayugar replied quickly for Cría La Dolfina 17-years-old Beltrán Lauhlé came from nowhere and ran to the goalposts to seal the deal La Zeta Kazak claimed a spectacular 14-13 win Indios Chapaleufu and La Hache clashed in the second match of the day It’s worth to notice that La Hache had Tomás Beresford subbing in for the injured Tomás Panelo the Chapaleufu young boys demonstrated to be real tough contenders – Polito Pieres produced the first goal for La Hache with five minutes in the chukka who demonstrated to be up to the task and who were not intimidated by the experience of the recent winners of the Tortugas Open and was very accurate on penalty conversions Indios Chapaleufu almost overwhelmed La Hache with the accuracy of the most seasoned professionals But the deal was said and done after Cruz Heguy converted two penalties to extend the advantage to 16-12 but luck was on Indios Chapaleufu’s side who claimed a very well deserved 16-13 victory in one of the most remarkable games of the whole season Argentine Polo Open Championship will resume on Sunday November 17 The Taj Fort Aguada will host a Sundowner Pickleball Tournament at the newly inaugurated Aguada Pickleball Arena This event will feature competitive pickleball aiming to attract players from across India With over 150-200 top players expected from Goa the event is expected to be more than just a tournament but a convergence of elite sport The tournament will take place at the Aguada Pickleball Arena venue with a synthetic acrylic playing surface Men’s & Mixed Doubles (Advanced & Beginner/Intermediate) A total prize pool of ₹1,27,500 will be distributed across the various categories Men’s Doubles Advanced – Winners: ₹20,000 | Runners-up: ₹10,000 Mixed Doubles Advanced – Winners: ₹20,000 | Runners-up: ₹10,000 Men’s Beginner/Intermediate – Winners: ₹15,000 | Runners-up: ₹7,500 Mixed Beginner/Intermediate – Winners: ₹15,000 | Runners-up: ₹7,500 Gender-Neutral Doubles – Winners: ₹15,000 | Runners-up: ₹7,500 Registration for the tournament is ₹1,600 per category with a maximum of three categories allowed per participant visit: https://tna61.app.link/e/l0xiu8QSgRb or contact Ayush Joshi at +91-9871670971 Following a private capital investment of over $8 million Flexible & Integrated Technical Services LLC (FITS) is expanding its operations in Aguada secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC which specializes in critical areas such as engineering technical support to manufacturing processes maintenance and professional technical consulting benefited from the Puerto Rico Economic Incentives Fund for the acquisition of machinery and equipment as well as for the retention and creation of 50 full-time jobs "We are delighted with the expansion of a company that has a vision of entrepreneurship and innovation and that has first-rate professionals who provide their expertise to companies operating in Puerto Rico and the United States Their services add value to the operations of companies such as CooperVision which also contribute to the creation of well-paying jobs and economic development in different regions of the island," said Cidre explained that the expansion represents a significant investment that will have a positive impact on the community and the company's valuable human resources "Our expansion plans involve the creation of new which will increase our current base of 127 employees but also stable and meaningful employment opportunities for talented individuals in our region We are committed to creating full-time employment and providing a work environment that fosters professional and personal growth for our employees," said the FITS president "We are deeply grateful for the support and incentives provided by the DDEC This support allows us to confidently move forward with our expansion plans and further contribute to the economic development of our community," he added LLC specializes in providing integrated engineering and maintenance services to various industries The company is distinguished by its ability to integrate technical services essential to the effective management of projects associated with expansions regulatory compliance and operational improvements in Spanish) under the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) and Dr The Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC in Spanish) and its Trade and Export Program (PCE Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Panaji: The under-utilised Aguada helipad will be a major attraction for the ensuing 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024 slated from Nov 20 to 28.  The State government has finalised several venues including the helipad for the festival for movie screening.  told reporters that all projects will be completed by November 15 and that he will personally conduct a ground review by November 18 Other sites for land screenings include the Vagator Helipad all of which will be accessible to the public The Central Board of Communication will host a special art exhibition along Yoga Setu while the DB Football Ground will feature additional screenings including movie screenings and jury evaluations will be conducted at the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) with access restricted to the general public over 3,659 registrations have been received for IFFI 2024 and delegates can still register online through the official IFFI website.  a parade featuring six floats from the ESG will take place from the ESG to Kala Academy on November 22 showcasing the best of Carnival and Shigmotsav and the theme for the floats is based on films," said Sawant Sawant emphasized the collaboration of various departments which have reviewed and accepted their responsibilities and now it’s left to the central departments,” he added is spending nearly 26 crores to organise the festival "The cost keeps increasing each year," said Sawant Sawant also announced that a special traffic plan has been prepared and will be implemented starting November 20 Metrics details Recent finds of early ceremonial complexes are beginning to challenge this model Here we describe an airborne lidar survey and excavations of the previously unknown site of Aguada Fénix (Tabasco which measures 1,400 m in length and 10 to 15 m in height and has 9 causeways radiating out from it We dated this construction to between 1000 and 800 bc using a Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates this is the oldest monumental construction ever found in the Maya area and the largest in the entire pre-Hispanic history of the region Although the site exhibits some similarities to the earlier Olmec centre of San Lorenzo the community of Aguada Fénix probably did not have marked social inequality comparable to that of San Lorenzo Aguada Fénix and other ceremonial complexes of the same period suggest the importance of communal work in the initial development of Maya civilization Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout The results of field investigations and laboratory analyses are described more in detail in annual reports presented to the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia. Those reports, as well as the 3D models for volume calculation, are available at the University of Arizona Campus Repository (https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/635527) The OxCal code used for Bayesian analysis is provided in the Supplementary Information and the origins of lowland Maya civilization Artificial plateau construction during the Preclassic period at the Maya site of Ceibal in Early New World Monumentality (eds Burger in Pathways to Complexity: A View from the Maya Lowlands (eds Brown and Urbanism in the Early Lowlands (eds Freidel in Antropología e Historia de los Mixe-Zoques y Mayas: Homenaje a Frans Blom (eds Ochoa A.) 147–174 (Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas in The Origins of Maya States (eds Traxler Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and Meaning in Mesoamerica’s Preclassic Tradition (eds Guernsey et al.) 177–205 (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection Volume 2: Data and Case Studies (eds Inomata The First Maya Civilization: Ritual and Power before the Classic Period (Routledge D.) 231–256 (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection in Arqueología Reciente de Chiapas: Contribuciones del Encuentro Celebrado en el 60° Aniversario de la Fundación Arqueológica Nuevo Mundo (eds Lowe too few buildings: investigating construction potential at Copán Ojo de Agua monument 3: a new Olmec-style sculpture from Ojo de Agua in Early Mesoamerican Social Transformations: Archaic and Formative Lifeways in the Soconusco Region (ed Early Olmec obsidian trade and economic organization at San Lorenzo Prehistoric subsistence in the Soconusco region and Ethnogenesis in Mesoamerican Prehistory: Papers in Honor of Gareth W Development of sedentary communities in the Maya lowlands: coexisting mobile groups and public ceremonies at Ceibal Göbekli Tepe–the Stone Age sanctuaries: new results of ongoing excavations with a special focus on sculptures and high reliefs a preceramic site in the Supe Valley on the central coast of Peru a Middle Archaic mound complex in northeast Louisiana The Evolution of Human Co-Operation: Ritual and Social Complexity in Stateless Societies (Cambridge Univ Starch grain and phytolith evidence for early ninth millennium B.P maize from the Central Balsas River Valley Geospatial revolution and remote sensing LiDAR in Mesoamerican archaeology Ancient Maya regional settlement and inter-site analysis: the 2013 west-central Belize LiDAR survey Lidar mapping and surface survey of the Izapa state on the tropical piedmont of Chiapas Lidar reveals the entire kingdom of Izapa during the first millennium BC Small buildings and small budgets: making lidar work in northern Yucatan Boots on the ground at Yaxnohcah: ground-truthing lidar in a complex tropical landscape Mapping the Tres Zapotes Polity: the effectiveness of lidar in tropical alluvial settings Detection thresholds of archaeological features in airborne lidar data from central Yucatán Archaeological application of airborne LiDAR to examine social changes in the Ceibal region of the Maya lowlands Ancient lowland Maya complexity as revealed by airborne laser scanning of northern Guatemala Ancient Maya wetland fields revealed under tropical forest canopy from laser scanning and multiproxy evidence Uncovering archaeological landscapes at Angkor using lidar Airborne laser scanning as a method for exploring long-term socio-ecological dynamics in Cambodia Capability assessment and performance metrics for the Titan multispectral mapping lidar Now you see it … now you don’t: understanding airborne mapping LiDAR collection and data product generation for archaeological research in Mesoamerica Adapting LiDAR data for regional variation in the tropics: a case study from the Northern Maya lowlands Evaluating airborne LiDAR for detecting settlements and modified landscapes in disturbed tropical environments at Uxbenká Archaeological application of airborne LiDAR with object-based vegetation classification and visualization techniques at the lowland Maya site of Ceibal Mapping Matacanela: the complementary work of LiDAR and topographical survey in southern Veracruz A comparison of visualization techniques for models created from airborne laser scanned data A generic toolkit for the visualization of archaeological features on airborne LiDAR elevation data Visualisation of LiDAR terrain models for archaeological feature detection Lidar for archaeological landscape analysis: a case study of two eighteenth-century Maryland plantation sites Detection of a low-relief 18th-century British siege trench using LiDAR vegetation penetration capabilities at Fort Beauséjour–Fort Cumberland National Historic Site Visualization of lidar-derived relief models for detection of archaeological features Red relief image map: new visualization method for three dimensional data Visualization of airborne laser mapping data: production and development of red relief image map After 40 years: revisiting Ceibal to investigate the origins of lowland Maya civilization High-precision radiocarbon dating of political collapse and dynastic origins at the Maya site of Ceibal The emergence of standardized spatial plans in southern Mesoamerica: chronology and interregional interactions viewed from Ceibal in Mesoamerican Plazas: Arenas of Community and Power (eds Tsukamoto How the Maya Built their World: Energetics and Ancient Architecture (Univ and implications for hunter-gatherer complexity Stability and instability on Maya lowlands tropical hillslope soils Radiocarbon calibration and analysis of stratigraphy: the OxCal program Bronk Ramsey, C. OxCal 4.3. http://c14.arch.ox.ac.uk/ (2019) IntCal13 and Marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years cal bp Correlating the ancient Maya and modern European calendars with high-precision AMS 14C dating Chronological revisions of Preclassic Kaminaljuyú Guatemala: implications for social processes in the southern Maya area Combining archaeological and radiocarbon information: a Bayesian approach to calibration Bayesian Approach to Interpreting Archaeological Data (Wiley Rolling out revolution: using radiocarbon dating in archaeology Quality in Bayesian chronological models in archaeology Dealing with outliers and offsets in radiocarbon dating North Terrace and North Acropolis of Tikal (Univ Proyecto Cholula (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia Download references The permit for our research was granted by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia Funding was provided by the Alphawood Foundation the National Science Foundation (BCS-1826909) the Agnese Nelms Haury Program of the University of Arizona and JSPS KAKENHI (26101003) Department of Anthropology and Archaeology National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) Department of Geography and the Environment coordinated the acquisition and processing of high-resolution lidar data analysed lidar data and made 3D bedrock models carried out the Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates wrote the manuscript with input from others The authors declare no competing interests Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Each bar shows the period in which a large portion of the building was constructed Minor renovations and additions occurred outside of the indicated ranges The causeways are connected to the main plateau by large ramps The northwest causeway is the longest at the site and connects multiple MFU complexes and rectangular complexes along the way The footprint of the main plateau indicated in this figure was used for the calculations of plateau fill volumes. The locations of the section drawings shown in Extended Data Fig. 9 are also indicated The locations of radiocarbon samples are projected to the nearest profiles The image shows that a substantial part of the plateau fills was placed during the period between 1000 and 800 bc The fills between floors 10 and 11b consist of clays and other soils of multiple colours in checkerboard-like patterns Blocks of soils in different colours are separated by dividers made of black clay and other soils This sequence shows that blocks of soils in different colours were placed in multiple layers above floor 11a in one construction event They were covered by floor 10 at the end of the sequence Composite 3D photogrammetry image of the structure and the excavation Back wall viewed from the interior (from the southwest) Back wall viewed from the exterior (from the east) (2-m-wide trench) There was a deposit of broken ceramics placed at the end of the Late Classic period including the northern portion of the eastern platform of the E group was damaged by a modern development project The construction was halted by the Mexican government after initial destruction The construction volume of the main plateau of Aguada Fénix is larger than that of the La Danta complex (the largest construction in the Maya lowlands previously known) and that of the Pyramid of the Sun of Teotihuacan the largest city in Preclassic-to-Classic Mesoamerica but it was expanded over more than 1,000 years which was placed on the east–west axis of the E-group plaza It contained six axes and a perforator (all made of greenstone) as well as three small pieces of greenstone The pointed end of the perforator is broken The contents and location of this cache closely resemble those found at San Isidro Similar caches of greenstone axes were also found at La Venta along with the similarities in site layout show that these Middle Preclassic centres shared spatial and ritual concepts It contained a limestone sculpture—possibly representing a white-lipped peccary—that we named ‘Choco’ The naturalistic image of an animal contrasts with Olmec art which depicts supernatural beings and high-status individuals This combined PDF file contains Supplementary Table 2 (Depths of the layers found in excavations and auger tests) Supplementary Table 3 (Frequency of obsidian artifacts by sources) Supplementary Table 4 (Frequency of identified starch grains on grinding stones found in Middle Preclassic contexts) Supplementary Data (Oxcal output of Model 1) and Supplementary Method (Oxcal code for the analysis of radiocarbon dates) Radiocarbon dates and the results of the Bayesian models Bayesian-modelled date and other information for each radiocarbon sample examined in this study Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2343-4 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com A "short-lived tornado" formed over Aguada A "short-lived tornado" formed over Aguada Hungry customers fill Erie Mexican restaurants for Cinco de Mayo Reporter Tyler Gallagher live at El Amigo in celebration of Cinco de Mayo State police in Erie pay tribute to fallen troopers across PA Your Money: How to avoid unwanted surprises at tax time Former NASCAR Kyle Petty’s Charity Ride caravan stops in Erie police continue efforts on pedestrian safety Southern portion of Route 6 bridge removed Lake Canadohta Historical Society finds new City of Erie police see uptick in fake ID usage Real ID requirements to begin this week: Here's how you can still get yours Check out these tips for when buying tickets to a show or event Dignitaries and officials present at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Aguada Pickleball Arena Goa has introduced the Aguada Pickleball Arena at Sinquerim Beach which is poised to become a key destination for sports enthusiasts As the sport of pickleball rapidly gains momentum worldwide IHCL Goa’s strategic investment in this facility exemplifies its foresight in recognizing and catering to emerging trends Strategically situated opposite the iconic Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa the arena is set to provide a world-class sporting experience to resident as well as non resident guests thus enhancing the brand’s repertoire creating new avenues for customer engagement while setting benchmarks for experiential offerings IHCL Goa’s initiative aligns with the government’s efforts to position Goa as a global hub for sports tourism it demonstrates it’s commitment to sustainable development by repurposing existing spaces to accommodate this innovative facility ensuring minimal environmental impact while maximizing social and economic benefits Ranjit Phillipose Sr Vice President - Operations making it suitable for all ages and skill levels while its low physical intensity attracts both recreational players and fitness enthusiasts Smaller courts and slower-paced play foster friendly competition encouraging social interaction and community building As pickleball adapts to both casual and competitive formats its growing presence among all sections of society and age groups further fuels its popularity Hordes of tourists flock to Fort Aguada a 17th-century seaside defense structure in Goa It was built in 1612 by the Portuguese for defense particularly to restrict the entry of enemy ships Within the fort premises was a freshwater spring hence the name Aguada (Agua is water in Portuguese) Water was stored in a huge tank in the Upper Fort and brought down to the Lower Fort where it was supplied in wooden casks to passing ships which stopped to replenish their freshwater stores.  the southern part of Lower Aguada Fort was turned into a prison Many freedom fighters during the Goa liberation movement were imprisoned here The place continued to serve as a prison till 2015 Today the jail complex has been turned into an interactive museum that highlights the history of Goa from the Portuguese Era through Goa’s freedom struggle in the 20th century The complex has maintained some interesting architectural curiosities from the old days such as a bell tower There is an inscription on a step that says “GTS” followed by a Zero which stand for the Great Trigonometric Survey and the starting point of the land survey respectively The premises look out towards the sea and the mouth of the river Mandovi On the other side of the river is Goa’s capital Fort Aguada Jail Museum is approximately 16 kilometres from Panaji It is located at the southern tip of the landmass which constitutes the entire area of Fort Aguada The building that houses this museum is as historic as its collection This abandoned prison is now a museum chronicling the oppression of political prisoners in the not-so-distant past Former Gestapo prison turned memorial museum Documenting the nationalist movement in Northern Ireland with an emphasis on the history of political prisoners this palace served as a residence for the Holy Roman Inquisition's leaders A Spanish Colonial fort now houses an archeology museum this small museum recounts local Nicaraguan myths A historic jail preserves etchings from over a century of incarcerated people in a town with a rough and tumble past PANAJI: The Goa government today signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with one of India' largest hospitality company to set up a new Skill Development Centre at tourist centric Aguada Fort The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and CEO IHCL The initiative is aimed at boosting training in the hospitality sector and creating employment opportunities for the youth Sawant said that the new centre will offer skill development courses to 1,000 students annually.  which will be the largest of its kind at Aguada Fort will initially offer four courses and will be expanded gradually.  “The project is expected to be completed within one year The goal is to train 10,000 students by 2030,” Sawant said.  The Chief Minister said that the Skill Development Centre will focus on training young people for jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry.  'We are committed to providing the right skills to our youth and improving employment prospects," he said.  Chatwal expressed excitement over the firm collaboration with the Goa government to help skill the youth of the state.  we aim to empower young people with the necessary training and skills to succeed in the hospitality industry," he said This work, Director of NRTF AGUADA Recognized with Copernicus Award, by James Hoeft, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright An international team of archaeologists has discovered an artificial structure — which is 1,400 m in length and is about 3,000 years old — at the archaeological site of Aguada Fénix in Tabasco This is the oldest monumental construction ever found in the Maya area and the largest in the entire pre-Hispanic history of the region High-resolution lidar images of Aguada Fénix (main panel) and La Carmelita (inset) Scale bar – 500 m (both images are on the same scale) “Using low-resolution lidar collected by the Mexican government, we noticed this huge platform,” said Professor Takeshi Inomata a researcher in the School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona “Then we did high-resolution lidar and confirmed the presence of a big building.” “This area is developed — it’s not the jungle; people live there — but this site was not known because it is so flat and huge The archaeologists then excavated the site and radiocarbon-dated 69 samples of charcoal to determine that the monument was constructed sometime between 1,000 to 800 BCE Until now, the Maya site of Ceibal was the oldest confirmed ceremonial center This oldest monumental building at Aguada Fénix turned out to be the largest known in the entire Maya history far exceeding pyramids and palaces of later periods “The discovery marks a time of major change in Mesoamerica and has several implications,” Professor Inomata said archaeologists traditionally thought Maya civilization developed gradually it was thought that small Maya villages began to appear between 1000 and 350 BCE what’s known as the Middle Preclassic period along with the use of pottery and some maize cultivation Second, the site looks similar to the older Olmec civilization center of San Lorenzo to the west in the Mexican state of Veracruz but the lack of stone sculptures related to rulers and elites suggests less social inequality than San Lorenzo and highlights the importance of communal work in the earliest days of the Maya An aerial view of Aguada Fenix Main Plateau and the ramps connecting to causeways viewed from northwest “There has always been debate over whether Olmec civilization led to the development of the Maya civilization or if the Maya developed independently,” Professor Inomata said our study focuses on a key area between the two.” The period in which the Aguada Fénix monument was constructed marked a gap in power — after the decline of San Lorenzo and before the rise of another Olmec center, La Venta such as construction and architectural styles among various regions of southern Mesoamerica,” Professor Inomata said “The extensive plateau and the large causeways suggest the monument was built for use by many people.” there were powerful rulers and administrative systems in which the people were ordered to do the work and we don’t see the evidence of the presence of powerful elites We think that it’s more the result of communal work.” “The fact that monumental buildings existed earlier than thought and when Maya society had less social inequality makes archaeologists rethink the construction process.” “It’s not just hierarchical social organization with the elite that makes monuments like this possible,” Professor Inomata said “This kind of understanding gives us important implications about human capability You may not necessarily need a well-organized government to carry out these kinds of huge projects People can work together to achieve amazing results.” The discovery is described in a paper in the journal Nature Monumental architecture at Aguada Fénix and the rise of Maya civilization Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has announced the establishment of India’s largest hospitality skilling centre at Aguada Plateau The initiative was unwrapped during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the iconic Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa This capability-building initiative will leverage the untapped talent and bridge the employability gap in the sector.”Rohan Khaunte The initiative aligns with IHCL’s Paathya ESG+ framework under which it operates 38 skilling centres across the country IHCL aims to enhance employment opportunities and empower local communities while supporting regenerative tourism Drew McDonald Ivan Gandia-Rosa was already in a good mood The Ospreys won their second straight game at Swisher Gymnasium filled with a surprising amount of UNF fans Little did he know that more good news would come after the game “The draft was the same time as the game,” Gandia-Rosa said  “I wasn’t paying much attention to that and then I found out after the game through social media and people calling to congratulate me.” Gandia-Rosa was selected third overall by Santeros de Aguada the reigning champions of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional de Puerto Rico Gandia-Rosa looks forward to being closer to his family “It would mean a lot especially for the rest of my family who haven’t been able to see me play in Jacksonville,” Gandia-Rosa said the senior used to go to BSN games and now it might become a full circle moment if Gandia-Rosa joins the Santeros “I’ve been to many of the games of that league and it’s really good,” Gandi-Rosa said “My experience at those games has been really fun and hopefully some more kids come to see our games.” The BSN has had a history of being a launching pad for NBA players like J.J Gandia-Rosa hasn’t made a decision yet and is focusing on finishing this season for the Ospreys in their quest for the ASUN Championship For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact editor@unfspinnaker.com Letter to the Editor: Honoring the Legacy of Jasmin Chaney Guevara OPINION: Why is Jacksonville investing millions in UNF esports? On-campus housing rates to increase by nearly 6% this fall pending board approval Last-minute calls and school records: Inside Smilla Kolbe’s history-making indoor season President Limayem makes statement on ICE agreement, says police duties remain unchanged Madelyn Schneider Ethan Howick Daniel Cimino Alekzander Jenkins and Madelyn Schneider Cancel reply SUBMIT A STORY IDEA SUBSCRIBE Melina Garcia excavating part of the Aguada Fenix site it's impossible to tell that the plateau underfoot is something extraordinary it's clear that it is the largest and oldest Mayan monument ever discovered the newly discovered site of Aguada Fénix lurked beneath the surface The monument measures nearly 4,600 feet long ranges from 30 to 50 feet high and includes nine wide causeways The monument was discovered by an international team led by Takeshi Inomata and Daniela Triadan, professors in the University of Arizona School of Anthropology in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, with support from the university's Agnese Nelms Haury program and under the authorization of the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico The team used lidar – or light detection and ranging – technology which uses laser-emitting equipment from an airplane and their reflections off the ground's surface reveal the three-dimensional forms of archaeological features The team then excavated the site and radiocarbon-dated 69 samples of charcoal to determine that it was constructed sometime between 1,000 to 800 B.C This oldest monumental building at Aguada Fénix is also the largest known in the entire Maya history The team's findings are published today in the journal Nature "Using low-resolution lidar collected by the Mexican government Then we did high-resolution lidar and confirmed the presence of a big building," Inomata said "This area is developed – it's not the jungle; people live there – but this site was not known because it is so flat and huge The discovery marks a time of major change in Mesoamerica and has several implications it was thought that small Maya villages began to appear between 1,000 and 350 B.C – what's known as the Middle Preclassic period – along with the use of pottery and some maize cultivation the site looks similar to the older Olmec civilization center of San Lorenzo to the west in the Mexican state of Veracruz but the lack of stone sculptures related to rulers and elites such as colossal heads and thrones, suggests less social inequality than San Lorenzo and highlights the importance of communal work in the earliest days of the Maya "There has always been debate over whether Olmec civilization led to the development of the Maya civilization or if the Maya developed independently," Inomata said our study focuses on a key area between the two." The period in which Aguada Fénix was constructed marked a gap in power – after the decline of San Lorenzo and before the rise of another Olmec center among various regions of southern Mesoamerica The extensive plateau and the large causeways suggest the monument was built for use by many people and we don't see the evidence of the presence of powerful elites We think that it's more the result of communal work," he said Aerial view of Aguada Fenix Main Plateau and the ramps connecting to causeways viewed from northwest The fact that monumental buildings existed earlier than thought and when Maya society had less social inequality makes archaeologists rethink the construction process "It's not just hierarchical social organization with the elite that makes monuments like this possible," Inomata said "This kind of understanding gives us important implications about human capability People can work together to achieve amazing results." Inomata and his team will continue to work at Aguada Fénix and do a broader lidar analysis of the area They want to gather information about surrounding sites to understand how they interacted with the Olmec and the Maya They also wants to focus on the residential areas around Aguada Fénix "We have substantial information about ceremonial construction," Inomata said "but we want to see how people lived during this period and what kind of changes in lifestyle were happening around this time." CONTACT US SUBSCRIBE We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui The University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings University Information Security and Privacy © 2025 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of The University of Arizona Photo by Jorge Ramírez Portela | Centro de Periodismo Investigativo While the communities near the Río Piedras demand the execution of flood control projects that have a minimum ecological and social impact the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) clings to the canalization alternative because it is the least expensive way to address the problem The USACE dusted off a project conceived nearly 40 years ago to reduce flooding in several areas of San Juan and proposes to complete it in 2032 after a congressional allocation of $1.5 billion approved the funds for the works that involve altering the natural flow of the river with the construction of a cement wall that redirects its course The federal agency says that while the idea may be old “As the project has progressed the design has been continually evaluated and updated with the latest data and design guidance climate change and seismic,” the USACE said in written statements sent to the Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI Even if the design conformed to current data, guidelines, and regulations, the USACE project faces another problem: how undesirable this type of construction has become among certain scientists, academics, environmental and community leaders, and even among engineers, when compared to projects based on natural solutions Nature-based solutions are intended to protect US President Joe Biden announced his administration’s strategies to combat climate change based on natural solutions professor at the Graduate School of Planning of the University of Puerto Rico’s Río Piedras Campus Straightening a river is the most unnatural action you can do you basically killed the entire ecosystem and everything around it,” said Ana Navarro a biologist and chemical oceanographer attached to the Sea Grant Program at the UPR in Mayagüez The almost general admiration that channeling generated as a work of engineering is questioned today, challenged, and even reversed in countries like Spain, the United Kingdom, and France, where ecological river restoration projects have been carried out removing dams and infrastructure that alter the natural flow of water Among the questions raised by the residents of San Juan and Aguada are: Why use a channeling model discarded in other places in Europe and several cities in the United States Why insist on projects in Puerto Rico that affect hydrological ecosystems The federal agency said the conditions of the Río Piedras make it difficult to develop alternative models for channeling through levees and channels As explained in written statements sent to the CPI the alternative model to the channeling proposed by the community would require the expensive purchase of a huge amount of public Due to the high levels of urban sprawl in San Juan on the riverbanks an alternative solution to the channelization would also affect homes and businesses that would have to be relocated along the channel major alterations would have to be made to the road infrastructure and engineering solution given the conditions is to improve the existing channelized Río Piedras and its tributaries,” the USACE stressed As the USACE published in March 2023 the coordination of the relocations will be done through a contract awarded by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA chaired by former DTOP secretary and former gubernatorial candidate or the New Progressive Party (PNP Río Piedras neighborhood community leader Cynthia Manfred Fernández who is the spokesperson for the Guarda Río organization believes the government of Puerto Rico does not want to require radical changes in the flood control project concerned that Congress would freeze the funds and so it ruled out the possibility of “developing an advanced project that sets an example for the future in the face of resilience to climate change.” However — almost four decades have elapsed since the federal government granted the go-ahead for the channel’s design — now is when the project that was launched but not finished because the government of Puerto Rico did not have the funds to contribute to it Congress authorized the USACE to carry out works with an investment of 100% in federal funds without requiring local budgetary contributions in past decades the USACE imposed its mentality of building levees as an almost exclusive alternative to control floods caused by rivers jumping their banks “Channeling is usually cheaper — although they are expensive than a basin project— there were no such considerations with the environment,” she said “Channeling or dredging kills the body of water Channeling is not a plan for the future,” said Manfred Fernández the area’s biodiversity includes 59 species of birds according to data compiled by Guarda Río and the Alliance for the   Río Piedras Basin “The riverbank is part of the river ecosystem where you have the water and the land that is in the surroundings,” explained Navarro the biologist and chemical oceanographer attached to the Sea Grant Program The CPI has requested a reaction from the DRNA since June 23 Both the residents of the communities surrounding the Río Piedras and the residents of Aguada agree that their proposals have not been accepted by the USACE or by the state agencies that sponsor flood control projects in their regions In Aguada residents, for example, claim that the community has not been given participation in the flood risk control project for the Culebrinas River processes so they have not been able to explain why they are convinced that the project will not control flooding in the areas that it proposes to affect a resident of the Espinar neighborhood in Aguada said the proposed project to control flooding in the Culebrinas River would not actually be built in the area of the river it consists of building two levees around the town’s Madre Vieja channel “There would be absolutely nothing to protect us from flooding where the Culebrinas River is,” Vega said and although the purpose is to protect us from flooding Since the levees aren’t built where they should be the flooding is going to affect the Tablonal neighborhood more,” added the teacher Planner Santiago Bartolomei explained that the problem with levee channeling is that its design is based on hydrological data that is often not enough to adequately project the magnitude of flooding The Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP which is sponsoring the flood control project in Aguada assured that citizens will be consulted when the project is in a different stage the project is in an early stage of technical studies for its design We hope that more information will emerge as the project progresses we are very attentive to each stage and to the feelings of the citizens who will be consulted at each stage of the project’s development,” the DTOP confirmed in written statements sent to the CPI Aguada residents interviewed by the CPI agreed that altering the flow of water in the Caño Madre Vieja area could cause communities in the Tablonal sector and the Espinar neighborhood to experience greater flooding events The Madre Vieja channel is on the border of the towns of Aguada and Aguadilla It is an estuarine area of high ecological value that includes wetlands and mangroves Aguada Mayor Christian Cortés Feliciano did not respond to the multiple requests for interviews the CPI made The residents of this western municipality are concerned that the project is based on 2004 studies that do not consider the geomorphological changes of the Puerto Rican coast in the last two decades secretary of the Comité Ciudadanos Aguadeños Pro Conservación del Ambiente believes that the construction of the levees in the Madre Vieja channel will affect 11 acres of wetlands and the habitat of species such as the brown pelican The conservationist leader criticized the fact that the USACE proposed this solution more than three decades ago and has not reconsidered whether it is the best current alternative to prevent flooding in the area The Culebrinas River flood control project is in the design phase. Its construction will take place between 2027 and 2033, the USACE stated According to the agency, the project will not harm ecosystems or marine species because “its engineering features are inland and will not affect marine ecosystems or species such as sea turtles or their nesting.” In response to the complaints by Aguada residents for those who have expressed concern about the placement of levees in the Madre Vieja channel The representative of the Tablonal community was left with the impression that the USACE personnel were not familiar with the area’s geography or with the claims of the communities [channeling] doesn’t protect Espinar or Tablonal because they’re going to hit this wall [of the levees in the Madre Vieja channel] They don’t touch the Culebrinas River at all in the channeling [project],” Méndez said USACE recommended that DTOP or the Municipality of Aguada seek funding to relocate residents of the Tablonal community living within the existing flood zone Although the effect on the Tablonal sector had been identified since 2004 the project did not include protection measures for this community because it “would require the relocation of hundreds of structures in the area” and is not cost-effective Unlike most flood control projects that are 100% federally funded, in this case, the costs of the Culebrina River project are shared between USACE (65%) and DTOP (35%) through supplemental federal funds authorized last year. Hydrologist and environmental engineer Ferdinand Quiñones believes the solution that the USACE proposes for the Culebrinas River has failed in other parts of the United States “Accelerating flood drainage without considering the long-term environmental effects, including the maintenance of levees, is not the best solution to coastal flooding,” Quiñones said on his Geography of Puerto Rico page on Facebook instead of resorting to channeling or building levees as done in places in Europe and the United States “These lagoons are designed in such a way that they ‘capture’ the ‘peak’ of the flow of the floods and store it temporarily discharging it little by little,” the scientist said whose municipality is also affected by the floods and the channelization project said he asked the USACE to “update all this [data] before re-submitting it to the community.” Roldán Concepción criticized the fact that the USACE could not present its damage mitigation proposal “We’re talking about a channel that has flora He also expressed concern that the maintenance of the Madre Vieja channel would be the  DTOP’s responsibility “They say that DTOP will provide the maintenance [of the channel] The roads are abandoned,” the municipal executive added The USACE assured the CPI that it works with the government of Puerto Rico and other involved parties to find the most natural and environmentally sustainable designs It said that all design solutions are coordinated with the DRNA According to the USACE and the government of Puerto Rico channeling is the best solution to flooding in communities The federal agency assured the CPI that the Río Piedras project has undergone changes since it was designed 30 years ago there will be more “green surface,” wastewater spillage into the river will be reduced and a linear park will be built that will interconnect with the Luis Muñoz Marín Park in San Juan Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Washington Jenniffer González believes that updating the design is enough even if an idea proposed 40 years ago is not revised “All these river channeling projects are done because of the effects caused every time a flood happens when the lives of the people in those communities are put at risk and certainly the property,” González said “These projects may have had their first investigation 40 years ago but the Corps of Engineers doesn’t build with a 40-year-old blueprint It involves multiple revisions for which I must regularly allocate funds in Congress to update them this federal requirement means that nothing can be done if there is no input from the community,” she added The head of the USACE Jacksonville District Water Resources Branch and Projects Division agreed with the Resident Commissioner when approached by the CPI about the reviews that the proposed project has had “In the case of the Puerto Nuevo River [Río Piedras] but the models that are being done now are new All the studies carried out by the Corps of Engineers are based on 50 years The local community and the University of Puerto Rico are involved for comments,” Mora said The Resident Commissioner rejected the fact that there was no citizen participation as part of the planning process the changes that she believes the project has had in response to resident requests “The community had asked us in 2017 to channel the part of University Gardens and Reparto Metropolitano (neighborhoods) that were in the original plan the same community changed [their minds] and said they didn’t want it but the floods will continue,” warned González “The plans were altered to satisfy the request of that single community The federal requirement is to listen to the community project costs double because you have to re-quote you find things that maybe weren’t there five years ago,” she added in a document produced by the USACE on March 23 the federal agency acknowledges that consultations with neighbors  about the channeling of the Río Piedras were conducted in 1984 as part of the requirements of the “Environmental Impact Assessment for compliance with NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act)” and then in 2002 “with a finding of no significant impact (FONSI The USACE maintains that as “a supplemental NEPA is now being processed for project contracts in which a significant change to the original design has been identified,” there will be a public comment period They also claimed that together with the DRNA “they have coordinated community meetings in different phases of the project with the main goal of informing the general public In May, the Resident Commissioner announced the creation of a Task Force for the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to expedite pending USACE projects In addition to the technical aspects that concern the neighbors of the Río Piedras the group also demands that the project allow them to coexist with the river and its banks when the temperature reached 99°F in the Jardines Metropolitanos neighborhood in San Juan a small “ecological corridor” along a part of the Rio Piedras riverbank on Galileo Street in the neighborhood provides residents with shade and cooler temperatures The Puerto Rico National Weather Service bulletin for that day indicated that the heat indices would fluctuate between 100°F and 110°F in urban areas and near the coasts community leaders and environmental scientists met in the corridor to advocate for the importance of conserving green areas as protection tools in the face of the climate crisis and to raise awareness about the proposed USACE project that would affect the riverbank The impact that the channelization may have on the river and flora is one of the main concerns that residents expressed as part of a community investigation carried out between November 2022 and April 2023 by the Transdisciplinary Institute for Research and Social Action (ITIAS in Spanish) of the University of Puerto Rico in Humacao (UPRH) and Guarda Río About 74% of the residents interviewed said they felt dissatisfied with the citizen participation process that the government of Puerto Rico and the USACE established stating that there was not enough consultation or transparency in the information related to the project 75% of people expressed concerns about the channelization project The consultation consisted of interviews with 257 households in the communities of University Gardens One person per household answered the questionnaire The study also revealed that 66% of the people interviewed know that a channelization project will be carried out in the middle basin of the Río Piedras Some 58% of those who know it disagree with the project as it is presented According to the environmental sociologist and chief investigator of the study led by the UPRH and Guarda Río most of the people consulted believe the USACE never provided them with the necessary information about the project “There is no consultation process since the federal funds were approved and it is based on the premise that the communities agree The main argument of both the local and federal governments is that it [channeling] is going to greatly reduce the flooding problem without having run a formal citizen consultation process,” said Torres Abreu who lamented that in Río Piedras the USACE did not practice the same principle of participatory planning that it adopted in response to the historical claims of the eight communities that surround Caño Martín Peña where a different model was adopted from the one proposed originally In response to requests for greater participation from the communities that are part of the Río Piedras, on June 28, the USACE held a meeting with San Juan residents and staff from the Municipality of San Juan fish and mammals that were part of the biodiversity according to research carried out in the area and agencies of the state of Florida Because of the adverse impact on the basin’s ecosystems, starting in the 1990s, the USACE itself in conjunction with other state and federal agencies began restoring the river to reestablish the habitats and ecological value that had been lost as a result of channeling A report published by the National Geographic Society website reviews how the communities adjacent to the Kissimmee River presented opposition to the channeling project from the start because they believed that their relationship with the body of water would be altered many species have returned and have established themselves in those areas that they inhabited prior to channeling In the United States, restoration processes have also taken place in the Elwha River in the state of Washington and in the Los Angeles River in California When approached by the CPI on the case of the Kissimmee River as a possible model for the Río Piedras USACE argued that the geomorphology of the watershed in San Juan is different from the case of the area in central Florida “Due to construction within a floodplain and high urbanization that encroaches up to the river banks you have a situation [in San Juan] where businesses and residents are within a floodplain that experiences floods frequently,” the USACE explained According to the specialist in green-blue infrastructure and founder of the firm Urban Hydrologics and it is something that we must discuss.” To achieve those goals and propose alternative models for the bodies of water in Puerto Rico it is essential that the communities are at the center of decision-making Manfred Fernández agreed with integrating the communities She believes the USACE can accept the model implemented with the communities of Caño Martín Peña where families were relocated to facilitate dredging but as part of a consultation process and citizen participation “This must be seriously reconsidered because if not the [Río Piedras] project is going to be unfortunate taking a pause and rethinking where the river’s vital system is being affected then perhaps the best possible project can be achieved that can be used as a model in other areas of Puerto Rico and who knows where else,” Manfred Fernández said In 2021, hundreds of people, including oceanographers, biologists, engineers, environmental lawyers, professors, scientists, doctors, and leaders of community and environmental organizations in Puerto Rico signed the 10-point Climate Crisis Declaration demands from the Executive and Legislative Branches the urgent prohibition of “the disappearance of wetlands and other estuarine systems the channeling of rivers and other constructions that make us more vulnerable to floods and erosion.” Necesitamos tu apoyo para seguir haciendo y ampliando nuestro trabajo Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" El CPI reconoce que el requisito fundamental para una verdadera democracia es que la ciudadanía esté bien informada y que existan entidades independientes con la capacidad de fiscalizar los poderes que accionan en la sociedad Si tiene una solicitud de investigación, queja, aclaración, 'orejita', prueba, inquietud, u observación sobre alguna información publicada por el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, escriba al correo electrónico [email protected] Los donativos que recibe el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo están exentos de contribuciones en Puerto Rico y Estados Unidos Modern-day pirates are threatening the lives and livelihoods of the fishermen and tourism operators of Isla Aguada, a recently-designated magical town that is part of an archipelago of islands on the Gulf of Mexico in Campeche pirates approach fishing and tourism boats in the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna de Términos tidal lagoon and steal their motors Data shows that some 500 outboard motors have been stolen in Campeche over the past eight years told the newspaper that up to five armed pirates violently attack fishing and tourism boats you don’t know who’s attacking you … When they’ve removed your motor A motor … costs 200,000 or 300,000 pesos [about US $10,000-$15,000],” Echavarría said adding that people have made sacrifices to save up for motors only to have them stolen in the blink of an eye “[My boat] is the means of support of my family told Milenio that a lanchero working for him was attacked and almost killed by criminals who posed as tourists the supposed tourists paid to go on an afternoon boat tour of Laguna de Términos When night fell and his employee and the phony tourists hadn’t returned Puch grew worried and called the latter “When they answered they told me they’d just killed my lanchero that they’d left him dead on the Cayo Arena island,” he said He went to search for his employee and found him unconscious While his lanchero survived the terrifying ordeal He has since canceled sunrise and sunset tours of Laguna de Términos due to the risk of attacks under the cover of darkness said that early morning and dusk are the best times to observe birdlife on the Isla de los Pájaros (Island of the Birds) as well as marine animals such as bottlenose dolphins but he doesn’t go out at that time due to the risk of motor theft … for our safety and that of the people who use our services,” he said Echavarría called for greater surveillance of the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna de Términos Only one navy boat is currently based at Isla Aguada “As the town has now become a Magical Town I would ask that there be a little more security for everyone both for the fishermen that go out on the Gulf of Mexico and the group of lancheros who work in tourism,” Echavarría said adding that authorities need faster boats to be able to apprehend the modern-day pirates With reports from Milenio ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC IHCL MD and CEO Puneet Chhatwal and other IHCL officials during the signing of the Taj Aguada Plateau Supplemental Lease Deed The tourism department has signed a supplemental lease deed with Indian Hotels’ Company Limited (IHCL) offering 3 lakh sq mtrs of land at Aguada plateau for the development of the resort of international standards IHCL MD and CEO Puneet Chhatwal and other IHCL officials were present at the signing of the Taj Aguada Plateau Supplemental Lease Deed would be developing a resort of international standards at Aguada on a land of 3 lakh sq “The issue of land was pending for the last 30 years This issue has now been resolved and all legal formalities have been completed,” said Sawant “The IHCL has offered cooperation in resolving this issue They have paid arrears of Rs 10 crore and further Rs 12 crore will be paid shortly after signing of this supplemental lease deed.” Stating that the project is expected to be completed within two-and-half years the chief minister said IHCL will be paying Goa Tourism Rs 1 crore every year or 5% of the turnover “The focus of the tourism department is to project Goa beyond beaches This project of a resort by the Tata Group will be one of the best resorts having a wellness centre The first phase of the project is expected to be launched by December 2026,” said Sawant around 33 licenses need to be acquired for the project of this scale but the State government has cut short the procedure and have issued only 7 licenses and some of these licenses have been given for 5 years for the purpose of ease of business,” said Sawant IHCL MD and CEO Puneet Chhatwal also spoke on the occasion