A crowd of about 45 people protested outside Allen-Field Elementary School Wednesday morning to show their support for a teacher who was disciplined after sharing immigration resources with parents and students
Alondra Garcia, a second-grade bilingual Milwaukee Public Schools teacher, said she shared copies of the district's safe haven resolution with her students last November
The resolution
states that staff can't disclose any information about students or their families to U.S
and ICE isn't permitted inside schools if the educational setting would be disrupted
Garcia was called to a disciplinary meeting with school principal Fritz Blandon
6 email Garcia shared with the Journal Sentinel
Blandon said Garcia violated five employee rules of conduct and policies
including policies related to professional conduct and communication with parents
The email does not state if Garcia was disciplined over the content she distributed or the method
Garcia sent a group text to parents indicating her plans to send their children home with immigrants' rights resources
according to a screenshot of the text message
One of the parents later reported the text to Blandon
The district prohibits sharing parents' and students' personal information
Garcia says she didn't realize group texting parents is against district policy
Garcia said that based on discussions with Blandon
she was disciplined for sending a "political" message
Blandon suspended Garcia for one day without pay and added a statement to her personnel file last week
I understand the fear that many of you have," Garcia's text
"My duty as teacher is to provide emotional support to the students but also to their families
I was able to get vital resources in the event that the worst happens in MKE related to possible ICE raids."
Milwaukee Public Schools can't add further context to Blandon's decision to discipline Garcia because of "district policy and Federal and State law," said district spokesperson Stephen Davis
“All formal communications from the school level are to be professional in nature and have the authorization of the school leader before sharing with parents and the community," Davis said
MPS sent a letter to families on Jan. 24 reassuring students
staff and parents that the safe haven resolution is still in effect
who moved from Mexico to Milwaukee's south side with her family at three years old
said she sent out the material "as a message of solidarity."
In the days leading up to the presidential election
she said students told her they were fearful the Trump administration would break up their families
Allen-Field Elementary is a majority Latino school focused on retaining the Spanish language in families
"I would appreciate it if my teachers would have shared those resources with me," Garcia said
a University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor and expert on constitutional law
said public school teachers' free speech rights are limited and up to the scrutiny of the district when they're on duty in the classroom
Garcia likely pushed the boundaries of her role as a teacher
the burden of proving her actions were disruptive falls on the principal
I would say that the balance favors Garcia," Schweber said in an email Wednesday
the director of public advocacy for the free speech organization Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Garcia’s text during school hours to parents is subject to administrative oversight
But public teachers still have a right to speak as private citizens on matters of public concern
“Garcia has an argument that she was speaking personally about immigration enforcement
and that simply informing parents about the availability of immigration-related resources and giving students a copy of a district policy was in no way disruptive,” Terr said
Supporters include teacher's union and local officialsThe Milwaukee Teachers Education Association
“MTEA stands firmly in support of the immigrant community
and fellow workers," President Ingrid Walker-Henry said in an email
"Our support is unwavering for members and students who take action to resist an authoritarian regime and its enablers who seek to ruin the lives of MPS students
Meanwhile, County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez and other elected officials who spoke at the protest accused the principal of bringing President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric to campus
"Here we are in front of Allen-Field school
thinking it will never come here," said Martinez
but we're actually the first ones to be affected."
She immigrated from Mexico when she was 12 years old
Dzib recalled how her high school teacher took her to her first protest
organized by immigrants' rights group Voces De La Frontera
I will do the same that they did," Dzib said
"They were teaching me how to fight for our rights."
Voces De La Frontera is hosting a follow-up event to hear from MPS and Allen-Field parents at 1 p.m
at the group's office at 733 West Historic Mitchell Street
Blanton, 35, is a former Notre Dame product who spent six years in the NFL as a safety with the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys
He was a reliable player and team captain with Minnesota and had his best season in 2014
when he led the team in with 106 tackles on the year
Blanton spent his first two years after retiring as a player working with the defensive backs at Benilde-St
Blanton received a job with Miami (Ohio) as the teams defensive pass game coordinator and safeties coach
1 ranking in red zone defense in the MAC while finishing third in total defense
Blanton's biggest feat though would be the development in the defensive back room
In each of the past three seasons under Blanton
the Redhawks had at least one defensive back receive All-MAC recognition after some outstanding performances
Although it is unclear what his new role will be with New Orleans
Blanton will likely find himself coaching defensive backs just like he's done in college
Just a few years older than safety Tyrann Mathieu (32)
Blanton brings in valuable experience that the players can relate to as a former pro himself
Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry could benefit from a coach who's seen it all in terms of playing within the scheme and what offenses will try to do to attack it
the young coach with NFL experience as a player seems to be the theme with many of the team's hires this offseason
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man has been sentenced to serve more than three years in prison and four years on supervision after he agreed to take money offered by another jail inmate who sought a hit on his former fiancee
was charged with a count of money laundering in the murder-for-hire plot after he took $20,000 from Brendt Johannsen to kill Johannsen’s former fiancee or have her killed last June
8 saw Blandon plead no contest to an amended count of theft
Arthur Melvin on Friday sentenced Blandon to serve 16 months in prison and 24 more on supervision in that case
giving him credit for 210 days already served
8 to a count of intimidating a witness in a plea agreement that saw two other such counts dismissed; Melvin sentenced Blandon to serve two years in prison and two more on supervision following the sentence in the theft case
Defense attorney Priya Barnes did not return a phone call seeking comment Friday
According to the complaints against Blandon
an inmate at the county jail reported to authorities last June he had information regarding a plan by Johannsen to kill his ex-fiancee
The inmate stated he overheard conversation between Johannsen and Blandon discussing the woman’s residence
The inmate reported another inmate told him Blandon had been paid or was to be paid $20,000 by Johannsen to kill the woman
Blandon at first denied knowledge of the plot
but when the woman’s name was found on a paper in his cell
"I was gonna finesse him and go on with my life," the complaint said
Blandon claimed Johannsen only wanted to "scare her" and he was being asked to go into her car and do "petty" things like take her purse
Blandon claimed Johannsen never told him he wanted the woman dead
He said a female friend of his from Chicago went to the jail to pick up a $20,000 check
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Another inmate reported he heard Johannsen say something about wanting his ex-fiancee killed
He reported Johannsen said "he would pay whoever was released from jail first to kill his exfiancee." But
Johannsen was not aware Blandon was not going to follow through on the plans and just wanted the money
Blandon was charged with witness intimidation last October after the inmate who gave authorities information about the plot reported Blandon and other inmates had been referring to him as a "snitch."
He said inmates passed around a court document listing the informant as a witness in the plot case
with a message on it that said to "WOP DUDE ON SIT (whoop dude on sight)," the complaint in that case said
The witness reported an inmate asked him if he knew Blandon
'Nico (a nickname for Blandon) said you know what happens to snitches,' the complaint said
The complaint said after the witness was moved to another part of the jail
made gestures at him and called him a snitch
Johannsen was convicted of conspiracy to commit attempted homicide
three counts of violating a domestic abuse order
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Cloudy with more rounds of showers and possibly some downpours or a t-storm
Jordan Mullen was interviewed by police earlier this year and admitted to inappropriately touching a minor
- A Blandon man is under arrest after investigators say he walked into a police station and confessed to sexually abusing a minor
Fleetwood Police say in April of this year
32-year-old Jordan Mullen arrived at their station to turn himself in
Mullen was interviewed by police and admitted to inappropriately touching a minor approximately 5 years prior
confirmed the details of the alleged abuse to police
Fleetwood Area School District superintendent Greg Miller confirmed Mullen was a paid staff volleyball coach from March 2017 through August 2019
He said Mullen was on the volunteer list for the girls' volleyball season in Fall 2022
The alleged assault did not occur on school property and happened outside of Mullen's work as a coach
He has not applied for any further positions with the school district and Miller said school officials are working with Fleetwood Police
"Jordan Mullen is no longer employed by the district and has no further association with our school district or our students," said Miller
Mullen is charged with indecent assault of a person under the age of 13 and corruption of a minor
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Stadium seating with high-back rocking chairs
West Reading family-friendly diner serving American classics daily from 7am-9pm
Bringing talent from around the world to local audiences
Community theater venue featuring house productions of diverse plays & musicals
Family-owned Mediterranean restaurant serving authentic cuisine in West Reading
Pay-what-you-can café serving ethically grown coffee and locally sourced foods
Newsome has already built an impressive career as both a career firefighter and a dedicated volunteer
As Deputy Chief of the Blandon Fire Company and Engine 3 driver for the City of Reading Fire Department
his impact on the local firefighting community is undeniable
Newsome knew from an early age that he wanted to be a firefighter
At 16—the youngest age allowed in Oregon—he submitted his first volunteer application
That decision set him on a path of service that brought him to Pennsylvania in 2016
where he quickly became involved with the Blandon Fire Company before earning a position with the Reading Fire Department
every call can bring unpredictable challenges
Newsome has experienced both the highs and the lows of the job
there was a working structure fire in a laundromat with apartments above
I was assigned to search and found a guy on the floor
Knowing you made an impact on someone’s life like that—that’s the greatest feeling.”
Firefighting is more than just putting out flames
From medical emergencies to hazardous material spills
“Lots of memorable calls,” Newsome reflects
Juggling dual roles as a paid firefighter in Reading and a volunteer Deputy Chief in Blandon requires a delicate balancing act
it’s important to provide the same level of service as a paid firefighter because everyone deserves the best firefighter showing up at their house,” he explains
But that commitment requires extensive training
and countless hours responding to emergencies—often with no compensation
the department responded to nearly 950 calls in 2023
and they have to be trained to the highest level possible.”
ensuring firefighters meet required standards while keeping up with evolving regulations
get people signed up for the classes they need,” he says
but it’s necessary to keep our people prepared.”
Newsome is grateful for his support system
and she’s involved in emergency services too
which makes things easier because she understands the demands.”
Newsome believes firefighting instills values that shape both careers and character
“You meet so many people from different backgrounds—plumbers
“It’s a great way to learn responsibility and discipline.”
young volunteers are given tasks as simple as taking out the trash
“If I can’t trust you to take out the trash
I can’t trust you on a fire scene where lives are at stake,” he explains
firefighting has given Newsome a profound appreciation for life
“You always hear about accidents happening
but when you see it firsthand—the people who thought it would never happen to them—it changes your perspective.”
As a certified state instructor and an academy instructor for the City of Reading
Newsome is passionate about mentoring the next generation of firefighters
“It takes a special person to be an instructor,” he says
“You have to push recruits to their limits
‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.’ That’s true in firefighting.”
he helps guide new recruits through rigorous EMT and firefighting training
To set them up for success in the real world
“There’s a big difference between what’s in the book and how it’s done on the street
Newsome believes that community support is critical for fire departments
especially volunteer companies that struggle with funding and recruitment
While Blandon has a strong relationship with the township
he acknowledges that public education is key
“We need to do a better job of educating people about what’s involved
and how much time volunteers put in,” he says
Newsome hopes to continue growing as a firefighter and a leader
I’d like to be promoted and help shape the next generation of firefighters
I had a lot of people help me along the way
Newsome enjoys traveling with his girlfriend
“It forces me to take a real break,” he admits
“If I’m home and something big happens at the firehouse
though he jokingly insists that West Coast pizza is superior
“I know I’ll get chastised for saying that
Jesiah Newsome’s journey from a young volunteer in Oregon to a leader in Berks County’s fire service is a testament to his dedication
Whether he’s responding to a burning building
his impact on the local firefighting community is profound
it all comes down to one simple principle: “I just want to make sure my people are taken care of
locally owned digital newspaper covering the latest regional news and headlines in the City of Reading and Berks County
WAUKESHA — The two men charged in an alleged plot to plan a murder-for-hire of the ex-fiancée of one of the suspects will face trial separately
a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge ruled Monday
and Johannsen also was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree homicide
The men were charged following allegations that Johannsen
already facing stalking and violation-of-a-restraining-order charges involving his former fiancée
solicited someone to kill the woman for $20,000
Inmates reported hearing Johannsen discuss a plan to pay someone to kill the woman
brought a motion to sever the cases between the two men
He said in his motion that Johannsen intends to call Blandon as a witness in the case
who likely will either testify against Johannsen or claim the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination
That would "erase" Johannsen’s ability to cross-examine Blandon and would "restrict defendant Johannsen’s rights to due process because of the antagonistic defenses
… Where the defendants intend to advance conflicting or antagonistic defenses
Defenses are mutually antagonistic if the acceptance of the core of one party’s defense precludes acquittal of the other party," Bucher wrote
and Assistant District Attorney Alyssa Schaller both had no objection to severing the cases
Bucher also filed a request to modify Johannsen’s bail from $2 million cash to $500,000
saying the current bail is "excessive" and all but impossible for Johannsen to post while the case is pending
The lower amount would be "more reasonable under the circumstances." Johannsen has seen his commitment somewhat relaxed at the jail but he is not housed with the general jail population
which continues his emotional distress and anxiety
Arthur Melvin III granted the motion to separate the cases but denied Johannsen’s move to amend bail
Johannsen also filed a speedy trial demand; a trial date has been set for Dec
Blandon also has filed a motion to dismiss the case against him
saying the complaint that charged him with conspiracy to commit money laundering was defective in that it never laid out allegations that Blandon was part of any money laundering effort
The complaint only showed he received money — but Barnes argued it was never to be considered as payment for an alleged hit
"There are no facts to show that the defendant himself specifically desired to solicit the homicide of Victim A or even commit the homicide of Victim A
all of the sources cited in the complaint made statements that Blandon had no intention of ever going through with the co-defendant’s plan from the get-go," Barnes wrote
it cannot be said there was an agreement when there was no meeting of the minds
The co-defendant’s intention was to transfer funds in order to obtain killer-for-hire services
but Blandon’s intention was to receive funds only to ‘finesse’ or ‘use him for his money.’ Again
no facts are recited to support that either had a common objective to violate the money laundering statute
the conspiracy charge as to money laundering falls."
But Schaller replied Blandon’s motion came too late; challenges to a complaint must come before a preliminary hearing
the "information" becomes the official charging document
and challenges to the complaint are deemed waived
Barnes replied that if the complaint fails to properly charge a violation of the law
the court loses jurisdiction over the matter
A hearing to discuss bail and Blandon’s motion to dismiss in his case was set for Oct
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A 17-year-old boy from Fleetwood died on Friday
three days after the car he was a back-seat passenger in struck a tractor-trailer
The scene of the crash and Armani Campos
"Armani Campos was in a serious car accident when the vehicle he was riding in collided with a tractor-trailer, pinning the car under the trailer and leaving all occupants in critical condition," Levi Yoder, a close family friend, wrote in a GoFundMe campaign
The driver and a second passenger remain in critical condition
24 when nearly $4,500 had been raised in the GoFundMe
Hamburg Fire Chief Jarrod Emes told Daily Voice that there were "three significant traumas," but declined to disclose any other details
"I can't get into it," Emes said on Tuesday
according to Yoder and Pennsylvania State Police statements to Daily Voice on Wednesday
Witnesses said the car was speeding before its collision near the back end of the tractor-trailer
The 18-wheeler was making a left turn onto an Interstate 78 ramp
The car's driver is 18 from Wyomissing and the second passenger is 17 from Reading
noting that they were taken to Reading Hospital for their injuries
was evaluated at the scene by emergency medical personnel but declined to be taken to a hospital
"The Campos family would like to thank everyone for the countless thoughts and prayers over the past couple of days
The community’s support means the world to them."
Click here to view or donate to the GoFundMe.
Volume 6 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.843184
Japanese seafood market has witnessed a slow but steadfast increase in the amount of certified seafood circulated on the market despite the fact that there are few incentives to apply for certification schemes such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
This is because it is difficult for the producers to reap benefits from the price premium as the retailers are unwilling to charge the consumers with a higher price for the certified seafood; at the same time
there are no sourcing codes set by the retailers to ban the access of uncertified seafood
By conducting semi-structured interviews with the applicants of MSC and ASC
this study reveals the motivation of the applicants such as the desire of producers to differentiate their seafood products from similar products on the market and to establish stable distribution channels with large retailers
We argue that this type of motivation poses a unique challenge in promoting sustainable seafood in Japan
that is the certified product needs to remain a small proportion of circulated seafood products
List of certification schemes present in Japan
this research reveals motivations for producers who apply for certifications schemes other than the pursuit of price premium or the avoidance of NGO-led campaigns
It focuses on costly certifications like MSC and ASC
the research aims to understand how these certification schemes are leading
or not leading to the establishment of sustainable seafood markets
especially in the non-Western part of the world
which lasted from an hour to an hour and half
The key informants were identified either through known contacts or through MSC Japan and ASC Japan
which allowed the most relevant informants to be contacted with low time investment
For MSC the interviews were conducted face-to-face by AB and HI visiting interviewees production sites and offices
whereas for ASC the interviews were conducted virtually using Zoom by JW and HI due to the COVID-19 related travel restrictions
Details of key informants interviewed for each case study and their role within the MSC certification process
Details of key informants interviewed for each case study and their role within the ASC certification process
The codes centered around three themes that were drawn out inductively: (1) Motivation
Codes were developed underneath these themes
picking out sections of text that pointed to similar factors
and were refined iteratively over three rounds of coding
until additional attempts did not change the resulting codes
and expanded upon using material from the interviews
The Azuma-cho FCA provides various services to the producers like technical guidance
It also owns processing facilities which have obtained MSC/ASC CoC certification
all the ASC certified yellowtail is produced on consignment and purchased by the Azuma-cho FCA
The total number of yellowtails produced by the FCA is about 2.3 million fish annually (including both certified and uncertified yellowtail)
Results of coding the semi-structured interviews pertaining to motives
All the applicants except for GOW mentioned that raising awareness of their product was one of their main motivations for applying for MSC and ASC
“Even if we can get one product certified by MSC
then that will raise awareness of everything from the bottom - brand recognition [of our company] will rise.”
Even for those who mentioned the price premium amongst their motives for application this was secondary compared to the other motives mentioned
who were not aware of the fact that it was difficult to benefit from the price premium in the Japanese seafood market as they were pioneers
their main motivations were to communicate their work on sustainable fisheries management to their consumers
and to push neighboring fisheries to step up their management strategies
they were expecting to gain benefit from the price premium through exporting their seafood to international markets
These latecomers who applied for both MSC and ASC were more aware of the fact that it is nearly impossible to obtain a price premium in the domestic market
obtaining certification is considered as part of the branding strategy to raise awareness of their product and their brand recognition
Another major economic motivation for the applicants to obtain the certification was the possibility of increasing their distribution channel or establishing a stable distribution channel to both domestic and international markets
“We thought that we could gain an advantage in terms of sales… The biggest merit [of ASC] is that they [retailers] continue to buy through ASC [certified products]
Aeon is currently trying to differentiate itself by selling certified products
They don't want to deal with uncertified producers
They also buy uncertified yellowtail from us.”
This shows that top retailers like AEON and Coop are looking for producers with MSC and ASC certification as they are committed to sourcing sustainable seafood
Establishing a distribution channel with these major retailers could add market power to the producers
even when they are not willing to pay the price premium for the certified product
who was initially approached by AEON to obtain certification
thought that if they obtained certification
they could gain an upper hand in price negotiation with their retailers
The expectation was that they would be able to diversify their distribution channel not just to domestic markets but also to international markets if domestic retailers did not agree to pay the price premium
In order to penetrate the international markets
the applicants knew that having MSC or ASC certification was critical
some applicants considered that their application for MSC or ASC was part of their contribution to their community or local environment
“Just to say that it's not just about [the economic gains]
but as you can find in the founding philosophy [of the company]
we wouldn't exist if it weren't for the fishermen and the fish
It was a certification that matched that [philosophy] perfectly.”
In similar manner one ASC applicant mentioned that:
“For feed companies and aquaculture producers
We strongly agree with ASC's philosophy [of sustainable aquaculture]
Sustainable aquaculture is something that all stakeholders in the industry needs to strive for.”
Summary of CSR policy of MSC and ASC applicants
Moving on to the outcomes of the MSC and ASC certification
which was still under assessment at the time of interview
agreed that it is difficult to gain price premium to cover the cost
A couple of applicants mentioned that Japanese consumers were unwilling to pay the price premium or care about certifications schemes when shopping
which managed to sell their ASC certified product to the US market with 50% price premium
mentioned during the interview that the price premium was not enough to cover the cost
ASC certified product costs twice as much as non-certified product due to increased feed price and reduced fish density per cage
They do not think it worth applying for certification if it is only for the price premium
both MSC and ASC applicants mentioned that they were able to have a stable channel for domestic distribution
which provided some economic returns for the applicants
some applicants mentioned that AEON was willing to purchase not just the certified product but the uncertified product from the certified producer
as mentioned previously in the quotation above
Others also mentioned some non-economic benefits of certification such as capacity building for producers
improved environment and human resource management
All four ASC applicants faced similar challenges which can be categorized into two issues: one related to feeds and other related to fish density per cage
it was difficult to source feeds that met ASC standards
To meet ASC standards the applicants had to increase the ratio of seafood residue in the feed in order to reduce Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (amount of fish meals or fish oil used to produce farmed seafood)
increasing the seafood residue meant that the applicants were required to establish a traceability for all the fish species present in the residue
and to ensure that the feeds do not include any species that are listed in the IUCN red list
as applicants were required to develop a new feed with the domestic feed company or to purchase a feed from an international supplier
the applicants had to take additional precautionary measures to avoid the occurrence of Streptococcal disease
some applicants opted to reduce the number of seedlings per cage which meant the increased production cost for ASC certified seafood
some MSC applicants suggested that they would reconsider the continuation of MSC certification if it did not result in profits
They considered the payment to the certification body as a necessary advertisement cost
all applicants said they would continue with ASC certification despite the problems and challenges that they faced
even the Azuma-cho FCA interviewee responded
we did not apply for subsidy because it is too troublesome
Considering the amount of fish that we sell
It's about half the price of a fish per cage.”
This quotation is in stark contrast with the way the MSC applicants perceived the application cost and the fact that the MSC applicants applied for financial support from NGOs
“We did not apply for MEL because everyone (in Japan) can obtain MEL.” These responses imply that the MEL was not attractive to these MSC and ASC applicants because MEL did not have the ability to differentiate their product on the market or enhance their brand image
For certification schemes to be attractive in a market which does not have “penalties,” the certified product needs to remain a small proportion of all distributed products
The fact that the certification schemes are promoted through “rewards” other than price premium may mean that it is not possible to establish a sustainable seafood market through the promotion of certification schemes alone
it is unlikely that the price premium paid by the consumers will trickle down to the producers
alternative modes of promoting sustainability are needed in the Japanese seafood market
These movements aim to promote relational connections between the producer and the consumer by posting specific information about the producers or about how the product was produced when they are displayed or hosting events for the consumers to visit the site of production
This is one way to shorten the seafood supply chain; however
especially with the development of new technologies like traceability systems through blockchain
It is our sincere hope that new research will be conducted to reveal the possibilities of these relational supply chains to promote sustainability in Japanese seafood market
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors
The study involving human participants has followed ethics guidelines provided by the University of Tokyo
The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in the study
Written informed consent was obtained from the individual(s) for publication of any potential identifiable images and data
HI was in charge of construction and writing of this paper as well as supervising the interviews conducted by AB and JW
AB conducted the interview with the MSC applicants and wrote the corresponding sections Background and Results
JW conducted the interviews with ASC applicants and wrote the corresponding sections Background and Result
NY supervised AB and JW as they conducted their research
All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version
Stockholm University funded AB as a guest researcher at the University of Tokyo (Grant Number: SU FV5.1.2-0300-18)
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations
Any product that may be evaluated in this article
or claim that may be made by its manufacturer
is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher
The authors acknowledge all interviewees who kindly gave their time to contribute
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.843184/full#supplementary-material
2. There is research that reveals that Japanese consumers have the Willingness To Pay (WTP) to pay a price premium after being notified of the decline of fish-stock and the significance of sustainability (Uchida et al., 2014)
3. The two cases that were excluded from our studies are Hokkaido Scallop Fisheries and Japan Pole and Line Skipjack and Albacore Fisheries (Meiho)
These were the only other MSC certifications in Japan at the time of interview
The Hokkaido Scallop Fisheries was excluded from the sample because the applicant
Hokkaido Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations
is an outlier considering its scale of business
Japan Pole and Line Skipjack and Albacore Fisheries (Meiho) was excluded because Ishihara Marine Product conducts same type of fisheries (Pelagic fisheries managed by a Regional Fisheries Management Organizations)
4. The 11 certified farms were assessed against five different farm standards
as ASC has different farm standards for different species
Out of these five different farm standards
five farms were certified against Seriola and Cobia (Yellowtail) standards
Only two farms each were certified against Bivalve and Salmon standards: and one farm each for Seaweed and Seabass standards
the study chose to focus on farms certified against Seriola and Cobia (Yellowtail) standard
it excluded one farm because its certified status was in the process of cancelation leaving four interviewees in the end
5. According to xe.com currency exchange rates in 2008
6. Personal communication
7. According to xe.com currency exchange rates in 2017
8. Personal communication
9. According to xe.com currency exchange rates in 2021
10. Regular members are those who fish for more than 90–120 days annually depending on the FCA regulations
11. Associate members are those who fish for less the FCA regulated days
12. According to xe.com currency exchange rates in 2021
13. According to xe.com currency exchange rates in 2021
14. This is partially due to the fact that KDSFF thought the cost of certification would be 1,600,000 JPY (around 16,000 USD) but in reality it was 2,800,000 JPY (around 28,000) (for details see Blandon and Ishihara, 2020)
15. This low percentage is partially due some technical issues mentioned in section Problems and Challenges such as the lack of feed that meets ASC standards; however
if there were enough ‘rewards'
the producers are willing to invest on overcoming these problems/challenges
16. Stage 2 is right after the scoping. It involves stakeholder meetings to develop work plans (Sampson et al., 2015)
17. As Madin and Macreadie (2015) rightly mentions
current seafood certification does not factor in the carbon footprint despite the fact that both wild-catch fisheries and aquaculture has significant impact on carbon emissions
AEON. (2014). AEON Sustainable Sourcing Code. Available online at: https://www.aeon.info/sustainability/procurement/ (accessed November 18
Shizugawa: Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Cooperative
ASC Faarm Cetification Audit Report (Azuma-Cho Fishries Coporative Assocation)
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Choosing how to be green: an examination of Domtar Inc.'s approach to forest certification
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Received: 25 December 2021; Accepted: 31 January 2022; Published: 17 March 2022
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Daniel Blandon '19 is the co-founder of Simma Capital
a Venture Capital investment fund based in Colombia
Daniel Blandon
A: Simma Capital is a Venture Capital investment fund based in Colombia
it is a venture itself and therefore the conception and strategy were conceived like any new enterprise.
we started an investment group as a side project
We shared a vision of being a part of the transformative time in which many technology-led opportunities were emerging. Specifically in Colombia
This investment group was called INVX and was the basis (or the MVP) of what Simma Capital is. We learned from the industry
and noticed that there was an interest of people who wanted to have exposure to startups and did not know how or did not have enough money to do it
Simma Capital started with the interest of some INVX’s members
Q: Can you tell us about the process of making your idea become a reality
A: The idea became a reality as a result of two parallel paths
we already had the experience investing in startups with positive results; INVX gave us the opportunity to research and talk to most of the related actors in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Colombia
We realized that the timing was perfect and that if we wanted to do something relevant it was the moment
I began to reflect more on the meaning of life and what I really wanted to do. I realized that investing
analyzing business ideas combined not only my passions
but also had a giant impact on society and made sense as a business model
I removed some fears and internal limitations
and I had the perfect set to start during the second year of the MBA at Yale
Q: You were an SOM Entrepreneurial Fellow—how did you utilize your time in the program
and other resources during your time at Yale
A: The Entrepreneurial Fellowship was especially important for Simma to become a reality
There were a lot of resources I took advantage of
I used to work from the “Bunker.” It was a great place to think and write down the ideas I was collecting
I took great advantage of the conversations with my mentor Tristan Botelho
and great professors such as Olav Sorenson
Q: What has been your experience raising funds and launching Simma Capital during the COVID crisis
A: As an investor I used to be on the other side of the table
Having the experience of going out and seeking capital helps a lot to have more empathy with the entrepreneurs who are in that process
Raising money is never easy and the COVID-19 crisis added difficulty
we were able to adapt to virtual meetings and focused a lot on the advantages that the COVID brought to the VC industry. First
if there is any sector that is a winner of the crisis
the importance of diversification and not having all the savings in a single financial asset; third
COVID has been the catalyst for many digital trends that had been developing very slowly in Latin America
history has showed that a crisis-year is usually a very good year to start a fund
Q: What types of startups are you most excited about investing in
and therefore there are many industries that capture me
I am excited to be able to invest in innovative ideas and visionary entrepreneurs who want to change the world
I especially like to invest in solutions that have an impact on people's lives and help them make their daily activities more resource-efficiently and increase access to opportunities to every time more people
Having the opportunity to see entrepreneurs every day
MD) – Investigators from the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit arrested a Harford County man last night on child pornography charges
Blandon is charged with five counts of possession of child pornography
He was arrested last night at the Bel Air Barrack without incident
Blandon was transported to the Harford County Detention Center where he was seen by a court commissioner and later released after posting bond
the FBI conducted an investigation into the possession of child pornography online
In coordination with the Maryland State Police
the investigation led to the identification of the suspect and his residence in Harford County
members of the FBI Baltimore Child Exploitation Task Force and the Maryland State Police served a search warrant at the identified residence of the suspect in Edgewood
A preliminary forensic review of the suspect’s electronic devices revealed multiple child pornography files
Troopers were advised the accused is or has been employed as a music teacher at Woodhome Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore City
Anyone with information about the accused or concerned about contact their child may have had with Blandon is urged to contact law enforcement at 410-265-8080
The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit coordinates the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
This is a combined law enforcement effort involving police departments across Maryland that is made possible in part due to grant funds provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention
Youth and Victim Services and by a federal grant from the U.S
Task force investigators focus on identifying those involved in child pornography via the Internet and other related crimes that victimize children
(410) 653-4200 | (800) 525-5555 | (410) 486-0677 (TDD)
vice president of clinical services at Plaza Rehab and Nursing Center in the Bronx
shares when she knew eldercare was right for her
the advice she has for those interested in entering the field
what it means to her to be named a McKnight’s Women of Distinction honoree
The Diamond sponsor of the 2020 Women of Distinction program is PointClickCare. See a list of all honorees here
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displayed a firearm and forced her into a vehicle
- Reading Police say a man is behind bars on charges of kidnapping and rape following a sexual assault in the city
Police say 24-year-old Liam Wilkinson of Blandon approached a juvenile at gunpoint and forced her into his car
That's when officials say he drove to another location and sexually assaulted her
Investigators say the incident happened in the area of North 3rd and Douglass streets in Reading around 3 p.m
They say Wilkinson approached the victim as she was on the sidewalk and engaged in small talk
he told the victim he's new to the area and asked if she smoked marijuana
Police say he then forced the victim to get into his car while allegedly pointing a gun from the pocket of his sweatshirt
The victim told police Wilkinson told her she would "be fine"
Police say Wilkinson then drove to a nearby area where he sexually assaulted her
Authorities said the victim escaped and called 911
Police say they used camera footage to identify the car and they later arrested Wilkinson in Sinking Spring
Neighbors in the area tell 69 News that this incident is shocking
saying they generally feel safe in the neighborhood
At last check Wilkinson was locked up on $250,000 bail
Police urge anyone with information to contact the Reading Police Department or Crime Alert Berks County
By GARY GERARD HAMILTON - Associated Press
Alyssa Norwin, TV Insider
We do more than provide students with a comprehensive
We help them discover who God wants them to be along the way
We are committed to academic excellence and equipping you with the education and real-world skills needed to thrive in your future career
you can catch a glimpse of what it would be like to be a student here
It’s more than a premier Christian college experience—it’s a solid foundation
and a Christ-centered home where you belong
Bob Landon received a phone call from Professor Bryan Ballinger
a previous coworker at Big Idea Productions
saying that the university for which he worked had an opening and asking if he could submit his resume for the position
Bob accepted a position as network and broadcast engineer for Huntington University
Starting out his career with a music degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University
Bob discovered that musicians don’t eat very well and since has moved into the technology field where has had over 20 years of years of experience working in Information Technology for companies
He most recently worked as a consultant in the greater Chicagoland area where he did everything from fixing computer hardware to architecting networks
Bob leads worship on a semi-regular basis at his church
and becoming an expert in various computer games
Bob also currently serves on the Roanoke Public Library board
He currently resides in Roanoke with his wife
Editor’s Note: We are profiling the McKnight’s 2020 Women of Distinction honorees daily through the program’s July 28 online awards ceremony. To learn more about this digital celebration, the Forum the next day (which offers three free continuing education credits July 29) and the program in general, visit mcknightswomenofdistinction.com
There’s a saying that if you want to get something done
That certainly holds true with Akia Blandon
The vice president of clinical services at Plaza Rehab and Nursing Center in the Bronx
Blandon has almost continually made professional leaps and bounds since starting in the field as a nurse attendant in 1992
In addition to overseeing a 744-bed skilled nursing facility and its wide variety of services
Blandon is a professor at the Helene Fuld College of Nursing and this spring completed her doctorate degree
mentors bachelor’s and master’s-level nursing students at a handful of local colleges
a nonprofit organization that she founded to help women and girls who have suffered physical
In addition to her full-time duties at the Plaza
she works as a nurse practitioner for Metro Urgent Care
providing urgent and primary care throughout a three-state area
Her other freelance pursuits include being an event planner and a clothing model
the Plaza’s nonprofit leadership decided to sell the facility to a management company
which in turn gave Blandon “the keys to all things clinical.” A palpable culture shift ensued
person-centered care and the pursuit of more higher-needs patients and residents occurred
and the Plaza started inviting hospitals to send it their most challenging
Her compassion and resolve are palpable,” said Plaza Administrator Randolf Palmaira of Blandon in nominating Blandon for Hall of Honor consideration
you can almost feel a powerful energy radiating out from her
inspiring her team and colleagues to strive for more
She has elevated the Plaza to heights which were unimaginable only three years ago
poise and compassion set her apart from the pack.”
The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News
The program’s Diamond sponsor is PointClickCare
Silver sponsors are OnShift and PharMerica
and the Signature sponsors are Acadia Pharmaceuticals and Enquire
Bus maintenance and parts are in Cecil Blandon’s blood
He started his transit career in the United States Marine Corps as maintenance management chief in 1997
After learning the nuts and bolts of more than 2,500 pieces of equipment
Blandon joined First Transit in 2006 as a parts manager in Phoenix
Blandon was promoted to director of maintenance in 2009 at Valley Metro
While there he worked First Transit’s procurement team to purchase products for a fleet of buses and spends time with the customer to ensure their needs are met
He was instrumental in bringing technology to the Valley Metro operations
making sure that technicians were equipped with wireless devices to diagnose repairs and get the fleet back on the road
was tapped to be one of the operations leaders on the ground for First Transit’s newest partnership in Panama
As the director of maintenance for First Transit’s Panama operations
he oversees maintenance for more than 1,200 buses
Blandon has numerous technical certifications and has completed training from some of the leading associations in the U.S
He completed parts specialist training from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE); holds a certificate from Haldex for foundation brakes and automatic brake systems (ABS); and completed the coursework needed to be a diesel and non-diesel inspector for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
"The accomplishment that I’m most proud of is my time served in the U.S
It was an experience I will never forget filled with great memories of teamwork and hard work."
“Two things that have always stuck with me since the Marines are to lead by example and to take care of your employees.Employees need leadership and mentorship to help guide them to their goals in life
I like being a part of the public transit industry because you help provide solutions to current and future generations.”
"I like being a part of the public transit industry because you help provide solutions to current and future generations."
"What I enjoy about what I do is that there isn’t a boring day
I can have a schedule planned out on what I am going to do and wham … things changed all of a sudden
Public Transit is very dynamic and you must be a fast thinker with excellent multi-tasking"
serving Maidencreek and surrounding townships
Fire Chief Daniel Miller and his crew make a routine stop at the Kostival family’s home to visit Sean Kostival
Chief Miller surprised Blandon Fire Company’s longtime supporter with a decommissioned fire coat
“Being able to see Sean’s joy is one of the various reasons we all volunteer
Being able to make his and everyone else’s day special is incredibly inspiring,” mentioned Chief Miller
was just as surprised as Sean when he received his coat but
was grateful for Chief Miller’s willingness to make his special day even more special
enjoys Blandon’s Santa Run very much and can’t wait to see Santa and Chief Miller every year
“Sean always refers to Chief Miller as his friend,” Kostival explained
“He’s been watching the previous years’ parades on his iPad and asking when the parade is since Thanksgiving
Chief Miller has been making special visits to Sean for years now and we’re always appreciative of him for doing that.”
When Sean isn’t spending time with his family
you can find him on the baseball field where he participates in Baseballtown Charities’ Dream League
an initiative that provides every kid the opportunity to play baseball regardless of experience or ability
“I always look forward to seeing Sean at Dream League games
and his enthusiasm is contagious,” Tom Frebel
“Players like Sean are what the Dream League is all about.”
Santa Claus rode through Maidencreek Township on Blandon’s 1949 Mack Open Cab Engine
They were accompanied by Blandon Fire Company’s current Engine
as well as Northern Berks Regional Police Department and Northern Berks Emergency Medical Services
and is 100% volunteer staffed by approximately 30 members who dedicate their free time responding to accidents
Another portion of their time is spent on constant training and learning
“I’ve always had a passion for helping people inside and outside of the community,” said Will Tomes
“Serving the community and continuing to help others in need keeps me going
are the brothers and sisters I serve with.”
If you live in Maidencreek Township and are interested in learning about how you could make a lasting impact on your community
visit blandon12fire.com/recruitment/ or stop by their station on Tuesday nights after 6pm for a membership application
Justin Porter and Michelle Walter are charged with homicide by vehicle in the November 6
2022 death of 55-year-old Roger Miller of Blandon
- Pennsylvania State Police say a man and woman are facing charges for their roles in a December 2022 fatal crash in Jefferson Township
Authorities have charged 27-year-old Justin Porter of Bern Township and 52-year-old Michelle Walter of Upper Tulpehocken Township with homicide by vehicle in the November 6
Police were dispatched to a report of a three-vehicle crash on Shartlesville Road in the area of Lonesome Valley Road just before 8 p.m
Authorities say Walter was travelling northbound on Shartlesville Road when she attempted to pass Porter on his driver's side
crossing the double yellow line and entering the southbound lane
Court documents state this is a posted "no passing zone."
who was travelling in the southbound lanes
pushing Miller's vehicle backwards into an embankment
In an interview with investigators following the crash
who eventually passed her in the no passing zone
Walter told police that Porter hit his breaks suddenly
causing her to swerve left into the opposing lane out of fear of rear-ending his car
Walter told police the next thing she remembered was seeing headlights coming at her
Porter confirmed Walter's account of what happened and told police he passed her in the no passing zone
When Walter attempted to pass him in the southbound lane
passing where prohibited and related offenses
Russian Mikhail Aloyan will face Nicaraguan Richardson Blandon in the first defense of his World Boxing Association (WBA) Gold Super Flyweight Championship this Friday at the Sibur Arena in St
Aloyan is a native of Armenia but has Russian nationality
a country he has represented since amateur and where he achieved great glories that give him great credit in his professional career
The 23-year-old southpaw boxer has been a professional since 2017 and has experience in world championship fights
He won the Gold belt in December 2019 by unanimous decision over Panama’s Ronal Batista in Kemerovo
Now he is returning after a long period of inactivity to face the Central American in defense of that crown
Blandon is a boxer with a good career who at 29 years old has been WBA-Fedecentro Champion and now seeks to climb to a new level against the Russian boxer
The bout is part of Vladimir Hrnov’s event this Friday night
which will feature Fedor Chudinov defending his WBA Gold Super Middleweight title against Ryno Liebenberg
In a night of mixed emotions at the ANB Arena..
Usage of Content Confidentiality Clause
commented: “Carlos is a person of integrity who came to the Chocolatito team for good
he has been in charge of keeping him concentrated and focused
as well as advising him and being with him in good and bad times
“This afternoon we want to recognize Carlos as a promoter of the career of a great champion and we present him with a certificate of excellence for his outstanding contribution to boxing
I want to give him this mini replica of the WBC champion belt for his next child that he will have,”
Carlos Blandón commented: “I want to thank God for allowing me to be here on this day
Very grateful to be in Mexico and for all the hospitality
great things have been done in Chocolatito’s career
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Blandon Zeringue’s mind went blank and his body numb
The 40-year-old Luling resident and lifelong St
Charles Parish resident had been referred for an ultrasound by his primary care physician after some tests had come back irregular
but nothing could prepare him to learn he had cancer
“You hear the words and … it’s just shock,” Zeringue said
“I honestly don’t know that my mind was working at that point
got the ultrasound and was waiting for results
was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer in July of last year
It is the most common kind of thyroid cancer
representing about 80 percent of all thyroid cancer cases
but the most common symptom is a mass in the neck
“You hear about people being dialed up and thinking they have it
and then they go get checked out and it’s not cancer,” he said
me being 40 and in the best shape in my life
I was headed up to meet everyone for a family vacation
And … I didn’t tell anyone about it for a good while
I wasn’t ready to and was still jarred from it.”
His diagnosis came after he was hospitalized for an illness
his doctor thought it was probably nothing major
the way you’re feeling and with your levels
he underwent a thyroidectomy with dissection of the surrounding thyroid bed
doctors discovered the cancer had spread to the lymphatic system and immediately re-opened him to remove all the surrounding lymph nodes
A second surgery on his neck was needed and that left him with severe nerve damage to his right side and has cost him the ability to work
He will soon head to MD Anderson in Houston for additional surgery and consultation
his road to physical recovery from the nerve damage continues to be a daunting task
“You don’t know if and when you’re getting it (full range use of his right side) back,” Zeringue said
It’s been six months to this point … it’s been a slow process.”
but he’s been able to cope in part because he made the decision his illness will not keep him down
Zeringue undergoes physical and speech therapy and is a regular in the gym
but the biggest thing is I’ve gotta get out the house,” Zeringue said
I stay busy and have never been someone happy with just sitting around and watching TV
Making those trips to put in rehabilitation work isn’t always easy
but I do it and come (to the gym) every day because that’s as much about the mental side as anything
Another thing that’s helped him through is the tremendous support of family
A number of people in the community have rallied to help — examples include a blood replacement drive held earlier this month at First National Bank in Boutte
and he will be the beneficiary of the upcoming Fishing for Frankie tournament fundraiser
Funds raised at the tourney will help offset the costs of treatment
“The support from everyone has been tremendous and I don’t know that I have the words to fully express my thanks,” Zeringue said
“You see these people who are there for you and want to help out any way they can
Just knowing you have those people to fall back on … I’ve never been one to rely on people for anything
and now I’m in a place where I kind of have to.”
He said he feels fortunate to have so many people behind him
because he knows that’s not the case for everyone
“A lot of people have to go through it alone
They don’t have the support,” Zeringue said
“It’s already lonely enough even when you do
Your support system is everything and it’s what helps carry me through this.”
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Louisiana Supreme Court judge leaves legacy of integrity
This summer, the touchdowns, interceptions and flag pulls aren’t just for the boys. […]
At the library’s Big Kid Storytime on Saturday, April 19, kids will get to hold and pet reptiles, including snakes and other wildlife. […]
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