iLAVA simplifies e-commerce shopping experience by building an onsite shopping experience with a revolutionary cannabinoid selector iLAVA's brand footprint has grown significantly since Ashley Cregor joined the team as Director of Sales in early Summer 2022 "The core of why people buy iLAVA products is to replicate a consistent experience Once we educate the retailers and they are able to funnel that knowledge to the consumer who buys an iLAVA product Over 95% of all iLAVA products comply with Arizona's recreational law The remaining 5% are available to AZ medical marijuana cardholders only iLAVA has set up a brand headquarters in downtown Phoenix to work more closely with licensed cannabis retail management and employees Arizona cannabis dispensaries and retailers can stock iLAVA products by ordering on Leaflink Shop iLAVA: https://ilava.com Stock iLAVA products: https://www.leaflink.com/menu/ilava/ Stock Entourage by iLAVA multi-cannabinoid products: https://www.leaflink.com/menu/entourage-by-ilava/ Our mission is to lead the evolution of wellness cannabis We create efficacious cannabis products with an optimal combination of plant medicine and technology iLAVA is one of Arizona's most innovative cannabis brands We have developed rare multi-cannabinoid edibles and award-winning essential oil infused topicals Because we cultivate our own flower and perform in-house extraction and distillation our products are known for being consistent Media Contact: Katie Hawbaker at 602-621-0648 or [email protected] Do not sell or share my personal information: Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka addresses a function in Kilome Speaking during a church service at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Mwingi Town Kalonzo said the country deserves a more transparent and credible investigation into the circumstances surrounding the helicopter crash that claimed General Ogolla’s life in April last year in Elgeyo Marakwet “What has happened is whitewashing of that situation No one will believe that story unless there is an independent inquiry into his death,” Kalonzo stated The former Vice President expressed concern over the increasing number of fatal military aircraft accidents urging Parliament to spearhead a probe into the matter These helicopter crashes need to stop,” he added Kalonzo further hinted at possible foul play alluding to Ogolla’s political involvement during the last general election and the threat he may have posed to certain power structures “He was sent by the National Security Council during the last election and there are some people who had threatened that they would deal with this guy later,” he claimed “There was no way General Ogolla was not going to become the next head of our military—and that is why he was taken out.” Kalonzo’s sentiments were echoed by Matungulu MP Stephen Mule Mule also called for accountability and transparency in matters concerning national security and the safety of Kenya's military leadership KQED Live Events PRX Podcast Garage Events Events Around the Bay Area Member Benefits with KQED Live Videos from KQED LiveWatch recordings of recent KQED Live events Featured That's My WordAn ongoing exploration of Bay Area hip-hop history See Senior Director of TV Programming Meredith Speight’s recommendations from this month’s KQED 9 Watch recordings of recent KQED Live events Support KQED by using your donor-advised fund to make a charitable gift A classic Hawaiian plate lunch at iLava comes with macaroni salad and two scoops of white rice. (Alan Chazaro) I grew up in a single-parent home in the South Bay with a Mexican immigrant father I remember that our first apartment complex was surrounded by Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants we all learned how to communicate and mix our customs spending time in each other’s homes and eating each other’s food that meant an extra dose of potstickers and noodles as kids and quesadillas my dad would often make for dinner I understood what it meant to constantly translate cultures through taste we had access to everything from Round Table Pizza and Kentucky Fried Chicken to Middle Eastern rotisserie and German hofbrauhaus But as a first-generation Mexican American with all of these options there was one plate I grew to relish more than any other: Hawaiian barbecue The “plate lunch” combo was my favorite It always arrived in a steamy container with a creamy scoop of macaroni salad and strips of grilled chicken on a bed of greens—all for a relatively affordable price I’d mix it up with some breaded katsu for the extra crunch or order two scoops of mac instead of rice A can of sinfully sweet Hawaiian Sun completed the meal I never questioned the origins of the dish But eventually I wondered: Did this really come from Hawaii And how did it get to become such a popular meal for Northern Californians? What I’ve come to understand is that…it’s complicated There’s a distinction between “Hawaiian-style” foods and foods that are part of the “true,” original Hawaiian diet poi (a mash of starchy vegetables like taro or plantain) and certain fruits that are native to the islands The rest has been modified over years of migration Spam musubi? A mix of Japanese sushi and U.S. infantry rations from World War II. Loco moco? A mash-up of Spaniard-introduced beef, British gravy and Chinese rice that a group of young cooks tossed into a bowl at a diner in Hilo, Hawaii, in 1949. (One of the teens, George Takahashi, later migrated to San Leandro.) “Hawaiian pizza” Even the ukulele was brought over by the Portuguese oils and batters—key contributions that led to Hawaii’s eventual boom in fried treats like poi doughnuts The story of Hawaiian barbecue isn’t a story about the sanctity of the purest Hawaiian foods it’s a celebration of what it means to be from many places at once of melting together a multitude of deliciously imperfect cultural elements and serving them in a Styrofoam to-go box it’s about finding and tasting that fusion in the most unlikely places—like a Central American strip mall in East Oakland “Hawaiian food isn’t just 100% Hawaiian food, especially in the Bay Area,” says Nicolle Jacinto, owner of iLava Hawaiian Barbecue which sits in the aforementioned strip mall There’s a fusion and variety of ethnicities here Hawaiian has been able to become so popular.” The restaurant is located on a metaphorical island on High Street and International Boulevard It’s a barely noticeable independent shop surrounded by taco trucks armed security guards and fast food joints Yet right in the heart of this predominantly Latino epicenter you’ll find this tropically inspired restaurant serving classic plates of island-style food to a diverse clientele of Spanish-speaking immigrants when her former employer at Hawaiian Grill Express in San Lorenzo asked if she would be interested in running her own restaurant as a part-owner Jacinto has overseen iLava’s success expanding into catering services and a food truck that circulates the entire Bay Area The business serves classic Hawaiian-style plate lunches that feature dishes like barbecue chicken There’s also a menu of fresh tropical smoothies like the “Hawaiian Sunrise,” a tangy blend of passionfruit and mango. The one Yelp reviewer who says iLava is “not a true authentic Hawaiian place” because they don’t serve poi seems to miss the point about what the restaurant does do well: a Californicated version of Pacific Island sustenance in a part of the city that otherwise lacks any major Polynesian presence Hawaiian culinary history seems to be just that—a whirlpool of various inexplicably linked ingredients from miscellaneous sources that can be cooked on the spot for anyone who’s hungry Jacinto embodies this fusion in her own journey After immigrating to the East Bay from the Philippines in 2009 many of her Filipino family members migrated to Hawaii in the 1990s she learned about the nuanced varieties of regional foods while helping her mother cook for relatives the parallels between Hawaiians and Filipinos are unmistakable highlighted by “a great sense of hospitality an appreciation for tropical weather and a love of grilled meat.” “My favorite Hawaiian dish is kalua pork,” she tells me and it’s basically lechón in the Philippines It’s prepared slightly differently—lechón is crispier—but it’s almost the same.” (A Latina employee at iLava excitedly compared the dish to carnitas.) Filipino ube (mashed purple yam) has a distinct purple hue Jacinto would cook skewered meats in the streets of her native country grilling them over open flames and selling them to neighbors and passersby on their way to work It was relatively inexpensive and convenient That’s where she gained an appreciation for barbecuing Of course, Hawaiian food is much more than grilled meats. But that particular style, commonly known as “Hawaiian BBQ,” is the one that’s the most widely available here in the Bay Area—especially the classic style of meal known as the plate lunch. Born from a working-class context of mixed leftover foods—scraps from previous night’s meals consisting of rice heaped in a to-go bento box—the plate lunch has become an indisputable California favorite. Though Landeza believes most Hawaiian barbecue outlets lack “true aloha,” or a sense of soul and genuine service he also admits that they are good at “doing what they do by serving comfort food.” Raised on the “island of Berkeley,” Landeza specializes in poke—bowls of diced raw fish and other ingredients—which is a certified Hawaiian staple he acknowledges the importance and accessibility of mainstream Hawaiian barbecue among the non-Hawaiian population The cuisine’s origins on the mainland date back to 1999 when Johnson Kam and Eddie Flores, Jr. opened their first L&L Hawaiian BBQ outside of Hawaii This was already three decades after the pair had successfully launched the original L&L Drive-In in 1976 Their brand of quick, simple Hawaiian fare reached California’s shores when a former employee relocated to San Francisco and began to serve his own Hawaiian-style plate lunches as a side hustle That initial success eventually led to the commercialization of Hawaiian food services that have since proliferated under the L&L brand name the chain boasts over 200 locations throughout the United States including a recent opening of their first franchise as far east as Florida. Like the plate lunches they serve, L&L’s take on “the state food of Hawaii” is a fusion of past traditions with modern business opportunities They were able to offer ownership to anyone willing to invest in their franchise model—whether Hawaiian-heritaged or not A wave of shops selling what we now know as “Hawaiian BBQ” emerged as a result For many, these can come across as a form of cultural appropriation and “colonial nostalgia.” I’ve seen the same exotic simplification happen with Mexican food—it’s tricky territory to mindlessly enjoy a tiki beverage or “Aloha burger” without considering the layers beneath the surface it represents some attempt to offer the flavors and experiences of a region tone-deaf and imperialistically exploitative. eating a Filipino-prepared Hawaiian plate lunch in Oakland served by Latino employees represents the beauty of what food can teach us about our human similarities “Food is a vehicle for building community creating and nurturing that community,” says Landeza I am a Hawaiian caterer who does Hawaiian food But coming from the mainland with Hawaiian roots we miss these foods because we identify with it I can only speak for mine: I’ll take a Hawaiian-style barbecue plate lunch any day of the week There’s just something refreshingly simple about it and it reminds me of how we’re all a mixture of histories that are outside of anyone’s control or simple definitions It’s a place of comfort for me as the child of immigrants “Hawaii reminds me of my home—the warmth “It’s the closest where I can feel like I’m home.” iLava Hawaiian Barbecue is open 11 am–8:15 pm daily at 1446 High St iLAVA of Arizona owns 100% of a cultivation and processing license and is now accepting proposals for a financed operator with cultivation experience to enter one of America’s top cannabis markets Our ideal partner must be focused on quality control and has experience designing and building out cannabis cultivation operations The Arizona medical marijuana program and upcoming adult use initiative do not limit cultivation canopy size or limit plant count Arizona’s population is over 7.2 million as of 2019 of medical marijuana is sold per year in the Arizona cannabis market cannabis sales in Arizona’s medical dispensaries reached $93 million There are currently over 245,000 registered medical marijuana patients in Arizona and patient cards are valid for 2 years The iLAVA management team opened The Downtown Dispensary in 2013 which has won Best of Tucson® in 2015 The iLAVA team currently operates 2 dispensaries and an industrial medical marijuana cultivation/production facility with 120+ employees in Tucson iLAVA products are also distributed in 80+ dispensaries statewide including the bestselling topical in Arizona in addition to our vape cartridges & extracts Arizona currently has 126 operating dispensaries statewide The iLAVA distribution network and the product expertise of our retail staff will be available to our potential partners This opportunity includes cultivation and can include marijuana product manufacturing & distribution depending on negotiated deal terms Due to Arizona’s medical marijuana laws and our internal practices any qualified individuals must be able to pass a criminal background check and provide proof of funding upon request This opportunity is being listed by the iLAVA management team (Moe Asnani & Chip Boyden) and not by a broker or third party Interested parties who want to enter the Arizona market can email their proposals to info@ilava.com. Visit ilava.com to learn more about us By using this site or subscribing to our emails or newsletters, you agree to our Terms, Privacy Policy Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors the end goal remains the same: Safely get from Point A to Point B people and goods are moving in many ways today - whether it’s with a ride sharing company “We need to think about the whole picture of keeping people safe,” says State Farm Assistant Vice President “While the conversation about the future of mobility focuses a lot on autonomous vehicles people are using many modes of transportation today we’re advancing right along with it to reduce the number of deaths caused by human error.” The conversation involves many entities – public and private – coming together to understand the issues collaborate on solutions and use resources wisely State Farm is uniquely positioned to bring everyone to the table the individuals who move those goods and the vehicles who transport those goods “The intent is to start identifying the key public policy issues in the mobility and transportation space,” said Ryan Gammelgard “We’re excited to convene and continue these conversations in order to create a framework that propels the transportation industry forward.” one such event was held -- Framing the Future of Mobility for Illinois Organized by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Autonomous Vehicles Association (ILAVA) more than 100 stakeholders attended at State Farm in Bloomington “Technology is transforming mobility in exponential ways,” said Jerry Quandt “Because many areas depend on mobility – including agribusiness transportation and logistics and small business Innovation in mobility is an economic driver for our state enabling industries and elevating citizens' quality of life there needs to be cooperation among public Mobility and Transportation at State Farm: State Farm was founded on the revolutionary idea that farmers should have different rates of insurance than city drivers due to different risk State Farm teams up with many entities -- research ongoing alliances with leading universities car manufacturers and government bodies This includes collaborating with the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) to test vehicle automation the research conducted helps stakeholders understand the benefits and risks of connected and automated vehicles If you had a months-long paid leave from work By day she works as the Director Of Innovation for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and by night she runs her own socially responsible fashion brand ILAVA When she was approved to take a three-month sabbatical from her day job earlier this year she set her sights on tackling one of the most challenging treks in the world as an emotional reset Many Americans feel the same, as 89% of Americans have suffered from burnout within the past year she also sought the work respite as an opportunity to culturally reconnect “I feel a special connection to the mountain because its home is my home,” Mwitula tells ESSENCE “I wanted to do this instead relaxing in the traditional sense Many aspects of her life centers around her mission to promote everything Black and African—the trek was no different and its beauty is obvious to those who regularly experience it but I want more people to know and love them.” and is the largest free-standing mountain rise in the world “Climbing this mountain is a sign of it can be done,” she tells ESSENCE “And for little Black girls not to be afraid to take risk and to experience beauty because we deserve it too Black women are always taught to be fearful of everything It’s time climb away from that.” Haščák offered to purchase new bed linen and computer Jaroslav Haščák of the Penta financial group, who faces charges of corruption and money laundering linked to the Gorilla case wanted to donate €50,000-€100,000 to the Ilava prison where he was held in custody before being released He wanted to purchase new bed linen and a computer, the Denník N daily reported and even turned to the National Criminal Agency (NAKA) It is not clear whether Jaroslav Haščák wanted to ensure better conditions in a cell for himself by purchasing better accessories “He belongs among the richest people arrested in recent months who have to get used to the cruel conditions in Slovak prisons,” the daily noted.“He belongs among the richest people arrested in recent months who have to get used to the cruel conditions in Slovak prisons,” the daily noted Haščák, co-owner of the Penta financial group, was detained on December 1, 2020, then taken to the custody. He was released on January 7 after he filed a complaint with the Supreme Court "The senate concluded that the existence of reasons behind the custody of the accused had not been proven," Supreme Court spokesperson Alexandra Važanová told the Sme daily Disclaimer: The Penta financial group has a minority share in Petit Press the publisher of the Sme daily and the co-owner of The Slovak Spectator Sign In Subscribe Now Marko Stacha from Slovakia has become the latest player to sign a contract with the Vancouver Giants Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta made the announcement Wednesday that the team has signed the 2002-born Stacha (Ilava “We are excited to add a defenceman of Marko’s calibre to our organization,” said Parneta he was a player that we were hoping would be available to us He’ll fit in really well on the Vancouver Giants blueline.” Stacha was originally selected 90th overall by the Giants in Round 2 of the draft READ MORE: Giants draft two imports 190-pound left-shot defenceman joins the Giants after a successful 2019-20 campaign with HK Dukla Trencin He also appeared in three games with Team Slovakia’s U-18 Team and three more games with HK Dukla Trencin’s U-20 team Stacha has represented Slovakia internationally in 22 games over the span of the past three seasons he competed for Slovakia in the IIHF World Juniors where he notched one assist four penalty minutes and was named one of the top three players on his team for the event READ ALSO: Two Vancouver Giants on opposite sides as NHL playoffs begin Stacha is eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft and cracked NHL Central Scouting’s Final Draft Rankings List at No Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter About the Author: Langley Advance Times Staff Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Blavity“Diaspora” derives from the Greek term that literally means "to scatter about," a perfect explanation of how African culture has been shared across borders of land and sea assimilating to other cultures while never fully negating our own no matter where we have ended up in the world we've always managed to find ways to stay close to home Among the many ways we have remained in tune with our roots is through fashion. Here are 11 dope and empowering fashion brands that represent the African diaspora so well ILAVA is a socially conscious brand focused on uplifting women around the world through its lifestyle fashions The term "ilava" derives from a Tanzanian tribal language called Nyamwezi and means "it can be done." Owned and operated by Rahel Mwitula Williams a Tanzanian-American woman who is proud of her heritage the brand radiates boldness while also evoking functionality in all of its apparel ILAVA's goal to empower women is met with deep purpose as they use their products to share the history of the Tanzanian women who inspired its inception A female-empowered apparel company, The Bombchel Factory is about more than just looking good; it’s about feeling good and implementing change Based out of owner Archel Bernard’s ancestral homeland of Liberia The Bombchel Factory uses skills-training and education to design and manufacture contemporary attire from traditional African fabric purchased locally in West Africa Bernard employs women who are members of the deaf community as well as survivors of rape and Ebola Known as “bombchels,” the women learn how to conduct business and be self-sufficient earning salaries to provide for themselves and their families Mizizi, which means “roots” in Swahili, is a fashion and lifestyle brand that aims to display African pride. Paakow Essandoh developed Mizizi in 2014 while in college, because he wanted to see more African pride on the University of South Florida campus. Drawing inspiration from African ancestry, the brand showcases designs that challenge the diaspora to remember our heritage and take pride in being African no matter where we are. A post shared by A N D R E A I Y A M A H (@andreaiyamah) on Sep 23 Exuding bold patterned, vibrantly colored swimwear that represents a variety of African cultures and tribes, Andrea Iyamah is a must have amongst the African diaspora fashion brands Although the brand is known for the architectural designs in their swimwear Nigerian fashion designer and founder Dumebi Iyamah is a versatile designer who also offers ready-to-wear special event dresses Iyamah's aesthetic is best described as vintage with a twist. After quitting her corporate job in 2017, founder Catherine Addai decided it was time to pursue her passion for fashion and become a full-time entrepreneur, pouring herself into her fashion brand. Reflective of both North African and American style, Kaela Kay combines traditional Ankara prints with additional vibrant colors and patterns inspired by American pop culture A rising star based out of Chicago, UE Supply Co. represents a millennial-centric fusion of African and American urban flare these styles complete or compliment day time and evening looks with ease and finesse Accessory brand 84Gem displays African history with practical The 84Gem jewelry collection consists of both traditional and contemporary African styles that can be paired with any attire Creator Kimone Young uses her Jamaican-American heritage to inspire some of the most beautiful the creativity and time spent to create 84Gem jewelry further increases the special value each piece possesses a mentor program for young African-American boys in the Houston Sisters Darlene and Lizzy are the creators behind the apparel line William Okpo. Named after their father and modeled after their mother, the brand exists as an ode to their Nigerian immigrant parents’ take on American style. Combining culture and circumstance to create an array of mod, feminine designs with a hint of masculine influence, William Okpo is a unique brand among the African diaspora. A post shared by lilly and zeze (@yohannessisters) on Feb 19 When Ethiopian sisters Lilly and Zeze Yohannes moved back to their native country, nearly a decade ago, they were enamoured by the beauty of traditional Ethiopian fabric. The pair wanted to showcase that beauty to the world, thus they created the Yohannes Sister’s brand By intertwining a small amount of western material with exquisite Ethiopian textiles the sisters are able to create dresses and gowns that are bold Get relevant content delivered to you once a week Ready to dive in Select your preferences and get ready for an experience tailored just for you *by clicking Subscribe you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy "We have arranged for a meeting between parents and the administration to determine the way forward because our children no longer have facilities to learn." The school fraternity has called on well-wishers both at county and national government levels to step in and help restore structures at the school when he was called and told his house had been set ablaze. "I hurried home to try and salvage the situation but I found the entire house and all my belongings had been razed," Mwendwa said.He called for justice saying it was not right that the culprit is still at large.According to Jamleck Mbai the assistant chief for Muruana sub-location investigations were launched after the victim reported the incident."We are following crucial leads to who might have committed the crime," he said Differing accounts leave many questions of how and why a prisoner was beaten so badly by guards A sentenced man in the Ilava prison suffered a serious head injury after being beaten by prison guards; he has been in an induced coma for three weeks while also on lung ventilation.The prison guards claim he attacked them the Sme daily wrote on its website on October 14 But it was the public TV channel RTVS which first broke the story on its Facebook page the inmate repeatedly disobeyed the call of the guards on duty grips and blows of self-defence were used against him during which he was injured,” spokesman of the Prison Guard Corps the family of the injured man sees the situation differently – one of the other prisoners wrote to his mother that the man in the coma did not attack them physically the family accuses the guards of not giving first aid immediately which caused brain damage "The guards were already saying he would be beaten when he was taken from the cell,” the mother of the injured told RTVS But this does not mean he attacked them as they accuse him of now they defend themselves the best they can; the sentenced is always guilty But why did they beat him so vigorously – my son does not even know whether he is alive.” The man is in an induced coma in the Trenčím prison hospital The Ilava prison has already asked police to investigate the incident and have initiated prosecution The guards are still on duty and none of them has been charged so far Ombudswoman Jana Dubovcová plans to look into the case A screen grab of a video of the five suspects being paraded at the Kitui Central Police Station KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu during a past address This after the union advised its teachers to avert the ongoing nationwide teachers' strike and instead engage the government and forge a way forward Speaking during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Kyuso teachers in Kyuso town Oyuu said the union is not working to please anyone "On a serious note we shall continue addressing issues of teachers squarely with the employer We must safeguard the position of the teachers and we must have a working force that is very professional," he said Oyuu added that the decision to rescind on the strike was unanimously welcomed by its teaching fraternity and it was done in the best interest of its workers KNUT said that it arrived at the decision having considered all options in the developments of the matters at hand and the level of commitment by both the government TSC and the teachers' position in driving the education agenda. KNUT said despite being not convinced with some of the steps taken by the government and TSC to address pressing concerns it believes there is goodwill to meet the demands raised by the union Some of these demands included permanent employment of 46,000 Junior Secondary School teachers immediate implementation of the second phase of the 2021/2025 amended CBA signed between TSC and KNUT and immediate remittance of the third-party deductions accrued to their respective organisations remitted the third-party deductions and was in the process of implementing the amended CBA. teachers from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have remained adamant on taking the streets demonstrating for better health care and confirmation of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers to permanent and pensionable among other demands Oyuu has noted that all demands being made by the KUPPET teachers emphasizing that the JSS teachers will be confirmed as permanent employees in a few months time The supermarket chain is now planning to open a new store in the town of Ilava Slovakia – the old store is no longer big enough to match the discount grocer’s plans Lidl are reportedly making the old store into an outlet store – which will sell non-food items that the company fails to sell to its customers will be collected and brought to the outlet store which will be sold at discounts of up to seventy percent Lidl won’t even be advertising which goods will be for sale at what prices Lidl has tried this in other European countries Contact us: info@rli.uk.com The prettiest of Slovakia’s big cities is home to the grandest castle in the country Trenčín taught me a lesson on my last visit I had somehow briefly forgotten: that travelling in Slovakia is fun I needed this reminder because I had begun my day in Púchov a boring little town on the river Váh that is so unremarkable that I found myself studying the cinema’s film posters for a good deal of my visit For those passing on the Bratislava-Košice train line Ilava looks like an enchanting little place and what appears to be a fortification wall nearby gives it further apparent character the first thing I noticed was that Ilava seemed deserted; in the early afternoon not a single person was to be found on the main square The second thing I noticed was barbed-wire That lovely cathedral and wall I had admired from a distance is actually part of one of Slovakia’s largest prisons So when I arrived in Trenčín my mood was decidedly grumpy in Trenčín weary grouches are instantly transformed into giggling travellers invigorated by the privileged feeling of visiting a beautiful city looming high above the picturesque Old Town below the guide pointed out a large wall painting of one Jozef Ilešházi a judge and county head/administrator in the 18th century “His right foot is an optical illusion,” the guide said But the story almost every guide tells is that of the castle well The king of the castle had taken his true love Scorning proffered jewels and other such riches the king would only release her if Omar could provide the castle an internal source of water thus enabling the fortress to withstand even the longest of sieges He finally struck water 80 metres down and Fatima was released he threw himself at her feet and said: “My dearest dove the brightest star of my endless nights in the rocky depths you are mine forever and we are free.” But quixotic folklore was not responsible for my improving spirits that day Tourist sites in Slovakia are different from those in other European countries both in that they are a bit rougher around the edges and in that they are far less formal Consider this visit: It begins with the guide telling our group of 25 that the lights in the castle are not working Nobody knows why nor even when they will be fixed is undaunted and the guide is easily persuaded to take us in Without light most of the paintings are nothing more than dark shades forming vague figures in the gloom not even when the tour ends short of the viewing deck atop the main tower “Aren’t we going up the tower?” a visitor asks.“I’m sorry but unfortunately we can’t,” the guide says.“Why not?”“There is no electricity and the walkway up to the tower is very dark.”“Oh It’s just a little ways off.”“No Just last week a guest fell and injured herself And that was when the lights were working.”“So Who needs them?” This quip earns a round of laughter from the group and a smile from the guide But she stands firm and says the tour is over The man who called the lights useless even thanks her for the tour as we leave I am struck yet again by how nice Slovaks can be you can bet that there would have been complaints filed But here it’s just a shrug of the shoulders and a ‘thanks anyway’ the ticket collector at the front gates bursts from her booth in an apologetic fury “I’m so sorry,” she says (and she really means it) “It is such a pity that you did not get to go up the tower.” After consoling her by explaining that I’ve already been up the tower three times she strikes a dramatic pose with her hand on her cheek and This is why Trenčín is my favourite Slovak city polite and helpful locals (sometimes alarmingly so) with trails into the forest starting directly from the town centre hikers are offered the unique sight of Trenčín Castle from the rear plus a monument in the middle of the forest erected in memory of those who were killed by the Nazis in World War II with his head being forced under water at gunpoint make sure to include a few minutes of sitting on a bench on Mierové námestie at night what may be the most magical view in Slovakia is on offer: the magnificent Trenčín Castle ablaze in a flood of lights A helping hand in the heart of Europe thanks to the Slovakia travel guide with more than 1,000 photos and hundred of tourist spots Detailed travel guide to the Tatras introduces you to the whole region around the Tatra mountains Lost in Bratislava? Impossible with our City Guide This was emphasized by the Registrar General for the Civil and Identity Registry Office during the official declaration of Lese Ward as the Ward Registration Area for East Kerema Civil and Identity Registry Officers have been in Malalaua District of Gulf Province for the past week to get the people of East Kerema especially the Lese Ward registered under the National Identity Registration Project 63 birth certificates and 13 NIDs were presented to the first lot of Lese Ilava villagers who were registered two weeks ago This NID system aims at yielding information on daily It will help the Department of National Planning and Monitoring to effectively make policy plan and monitor implement government exercises The in-built memory system in the plastic card would contain personal information such as; date of birth photograph and a stored fingerprint copy for identification Birth certificates are also printed by project offices set up around the country You must be logged in to post a comment The South Eastern Kenya University in Kitui File image of a military officer inspecting an aspiring recruit during a past KDF recruitment exercise confirmed that the deceased was the driver of the canter. The accident occurred when the canter driver resulting in a head-on collision with a trailer that was en route Nairobi. “The canter switched to the wrong lane and encroached the lane of oncoming vehicles leading to a head-on collision between the canter and a trailer The trailer then hit another car,” the Police Commander said The two injured parties were rushed to Mtito Andei Hospital for medical attention however they were later transferred to Makindu Hospital for further treatment. the body of deceased has been transferred to the Kaambu Mortuary Authorities have initiated an investigation into the accident. Police Commander Maina has urged all drivers to exercise heightened caution particularly during the ongoing rainy season when road conditions can become treacherous