Empty streets a sight you would not have imagined in this small and bustling city.

Yet, due to COVID-19, many physical retail shops had to cease operations with the decline in footfall and the regulations in place.

36-year-old retailer, All Watches Pte Ltd, had to rethink its strategy to cope with rapid changes amidst the pandemic.

Customer service goes digital

Providing good customer service is one of the most fundamental aspects of the brick and mortar line of business.

But when Circuit Breaker happened retailers were not able to provide customer service in the traditional sense of the word.

Edna Ng, General Manager of All Watches Pte Ltd explains, During the Circuit Breaker period, we had to transform the way we do our business. We engaged all our staff and gave them mini-projects to work on.

These include familiarising with new operational protocols, new Customer Experience guidelines, and taking a multichannel approach to sales training.

They also considered how the retail landscape had evolved over years, to devise a strategy for how customer service could be better improved particularly during this difficult period.

For instance, All Watches and their employees brainstormed new business strategies to provide good customer service both offline and online.

44-year-old April Peck was one of All Watches newer employees who had to adapt quickly to the new normal. She led a new project to engage customers through virtual events.

Venturing into a new area of work

April had made the move to the frontline retail sector just shortly before COVID-19 hit.

She had previously been working in the backend logistics and wholesale functions of retail, but she was keen to gain new skillsets and try out other aspects of work in the sector.

While she was in the retail sector, it was a major mid-career switch that April had to adjust quickly to.

Despite the steep learning curve, Aprils interest in expanding her skillsets and learning front-of-house operations kept her motivated during these difficult times.

To help April assimilate into her new role as a retail operations manager, she was placed in Workforce Singapores Professional Conversion Programme for Retail Professionals in March 2020.

The course offered her a better understanding and deeper knowledge of the retail sector and equipped her with valuable skills such as service leadership, multichannel retailing and sales target management.

Putting her new skills into work

Her new skills came in handy when Circuit Breaker hit.

Prior to that, All Watches would conduct roadshows to launch novelty products. However, when the Circuit Breaker happened, the company could only do marketing through EDM (Electronic Direct Mail) or social media posts.

But April and her colleagues pushed themselves further. They aimed to make marketing impactful online, so they decided to make the retail experience more interactive for customers through conducting virtual events.

By conducting a virtual event, not only will our customers get to see new products at the comfort of their home, they can also chat with us, and ask questions as we have breakout rooms for smaller groups, April says.

Indeed, Aprils positive learning attitude resonated with what All Watches was looking for in an employee being able to understand and master the art of communication and understanding customers behaviour.

Growth potential in e-commerce

As retailers adapt to the impact of COVID-19, they also need to innovate new products and offerings, and develop a workforce with the right skillsets.

Besides career conversion programmes, those without necessary skills but want to join the retail sector can also participate in company-hosted traineeships and attachments under the SGUnited Traineeships Programme and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme.

Between April and September 2020, 770 individuals have been placed into jobs, enhanced roles, company-hosted traineeships and attachments as well as training opportunities in the retail sector.

For those who are keen to enter the sector, April has this advice, Being in the retail business is more than just a sales transaction. Do not limit your communication or sales ability because being a part of the retail team is not just a job.

While serving customers, engage with them. This will boost your communication skills and strengthen your integrity as an individual this is the most rewarding part of the work.

More information: go.gov.sg/12octretail

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Rethinking Retail: From brick and mortar to going digital - Gov.sg

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Impact of COVID-19: Sales TrainingMarket report analyses the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Sales Trainingindustry. Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to almost 180+ countries around the globe with the World Health Organization declaring it a public health emergency. The global impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are already starting to be felt, and will significantly affect the Sales Trainingmarket in 2020.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought effects on many aspects, like flight cancellations; travel bans and quarantines; restaurants closed; all indoor events restricted; emergency declared in many countries; massive slowing of the supply chain; stock market unpredictability; falling business assurance, growing panic among the population, and uncertainty about future.

COVID-19 can affect the global economy in 3 main ways: by directly affecting production and demand, by creating supply chain and market disturbance, and by its financial impact on firms and financial markets.

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Key Questions Answered in this Report:

What is the market size of the Sales Training industry?This report covers the historical market size of the industry (2013-2019), and forecasts for 2020 and the next 5 years. Market size includes the total revenues of companies.

What is the outlook for the Sales Training industry?This report has over a dozen market forecasts (2020 and the next 5 years) on the industry, including total sales, a number of companies, attractive investment opportunities, operating expenses, and others.

What industry analysis/data exists for the Sales Training industry?This report covers key segments and sub-segments, key drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges in the market and how they are expected to impact the Sales Training industry. Take a look at the table of contents below to see the scope of analysis and data on the industry.

How many companies are in the Sales Training industry?This report analyzes the historical and forecasted number of companies, locations in the industry, and breaks them down by company size over time. The report also provides company rank against its competitors with respect to revenue, profit comparison, operational efficiency, cost competitiveness, and market capitalization.

What are the financial metrics for the industry?This report covers many financial metrics for the industry including profitability, Market value- chain and key trends impacting every node with reference to companys growth, revenue, return on sales, etc.

What are the most important benchmarks for the Sales Training industry?Some of the most important benchmarks for the industry include sales growth, productivity (revenue), operating expense breakdown, the span of control, organizational make-up. All of which youll find in this market report.

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Sales Training Market 2020: Potential Growth, Challenges, and Know the Companies List Could Potentially Benefit or Loose out From the Impact of...

Recently added to Magnifier Research, a new market research study Global Sales Training and Onboarding Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 2020-2026 provides all in all compilation of the historical, current, and future outlook of the market and major factors responsible for market growth. The report shows a detailed examination of the market covering segments and sub-sections of the market, product types, advancements, applications, industry verticals. The report takes into consideration all the crucial aspects such as key constraints, market developments, trends, and prospects from 2020 to 2026 time-period. The report assists report readers with conclusive judgment on the potential of mentioned factors that propel growth in the global Sales Training and Onboarding Software market.

Here is a short glance at what the study basically encompasses: Study includes strategic developments, latest product launches, regional growth markers, and mergers & acquisitions, revenue, cost price, capacity & utilization, import/export rates, and market share, forecast predictions are displayed from analytical data sources and calculated through a series of in-house processes. The detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share, and growth rate, historic and forecast (2015-2026) of the regions has been given. The report covers the manufactures data, price, including shipment, trade distribution, gross profit, application and types, revenue, forecast estimation for global market share, and CAGR.

NOTE: Our analysts monitoring the situation across the globe explains that the market will generate remunerative prospects for producers post COVID-19 crisis. The report aims to provide an additional illustration of the latest scenario, economic slowdown, and COVID-19 impact on the overall industry.

DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT: https://www.magnifierresearch.com/report-detail/29430/request-sample

The major contenders operating in the market are: Showpad, MindTickle, Lessonly, Allego, Brainshark, Bridge, LevelJump, SalesHood, Qstream, TalentLMS, Mindmatrix, PointForward, CommercialTribe,

Regional Analysis:

On the basis of geography, the market report is divided into some major key regions, with sales data, revenue data (Million $$ USD), share data, and growth rate of the industry for mentioned regions. This global Sales Training and Onboarding Software market report offers investigation and growth of the market in these regions covering: North America (United States, Canada, Mexico), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe), Central & South America (Brazil, Rest of South America), Middle East & Africa (GCC Countries, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa)

Segmentation by product type and analysis of the market:

Segmentation by application and analysis of the market: Large Enterprises, SMEs,

The document provides data with regards to every applications industry share, estimated product demand, and predicted growth rate over the forecast timeline. It evaluates the current price trends and primary growth drivers existing in the global Sales Training and Onboarding Software industry. It also provides information concerning the production facilities engaged by several established players, their regions of operation, and the respective market share held.

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Magnifier Research is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry. Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Magnifier Research also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise. We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover. Magnifier Research provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.

Contact Us Mark Stone Head of Business Development Phone: +1-201-465-4211 Email: [emailprotected] Web: http://www.magnifierresearch.com

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Global Sales Training and Onboarding Software Market 2020: Analysis By Latest Trends, Size, Share, Growth Rate And Forecast To 2026 - The...

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viseon, Inc., a leader in minimally invasive spine surgery visualization technologies, today announced MaxView facilitates more rapid adoption of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery procedures by providing an enhanced teaching and learning experience. MaxView is a state-of-the-art technology that provides a first-of-its-kind, unobstructed view into Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery procedures. This intraoperative view of the surgical site is displayed in high definition onto operating room monitors, allowing for a magnified see and be seen experience. Surgeon trainees now have the ability to observe the procedure in real time and trainers have the confidence to allow trainees to perform a greater portion of the surgery earlier in their training, intervening only when necessary. Gregory Mundis, MD, Co-Director of the San Diego Spine Fellowship Program at Scripps Green Hospital and Rady Childrens Hospital, commented, Viseons MaxView has enabled me to let go of the knife and trust my fellows months earlier in their training. They get to see very early in their training how I perform the procedures and subsequently I am able to directly observe and direct their hands through MaxView video assistance.

Teaching and learning Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery procedures has historically been challenging for many reasons, all of which remain barriers to adoption. The most significant challenge to adoption of these procedures is limited visualization, being that only one person can view the surgical site at any given time. As a result, many trainees leave residency, fellowship or industry-sponsored training with a lack of confidence to adopt the procedure in their practice. Learning a procedure and adopting a procedure are two totally different things. For the first time ever, MaxView is enhancing the trainer and trainee experience, ultimately resulting in surgeon confidence and increased adoption rates of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery procedures, stated Matt Anderson, Viseon Vice President US Sales. As profound as it may sound, the surgeons enhanced ability to see accelerates adoption of advanced techniques, improves OR efficiency and minimizes risks of complications, added Mr. Anderson. The MaxView System provides superior visualization through minimally invasive access that is unobstructed by instrument handles and surgeon hands, and projects a real-time image onto the OR monitor, allowing the entire OR team to observe the highly magnified HD views. As a result, trainees leave training programs with a superior experience and increased confidence to more rapidly adopt advanced procedures into their practice.

About Viseon, Inc.

Viseon has developed a unique portfolio of devices to improve the procedural and clinical outcomes of many Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery procedures. In addition to rapid product development of its products, Viseon has assembled a world-class Clinical Advisory Board of leading MISS physicians, amassed a significant intellectual property portfolio, completed a large series of clinical use and is currently in phase-one of US commercialization. Viseon is a privately held medical device company founded in early 2017 as a spin-out from Rebound Therapeutics Corporation, and is located in Irvine, California.

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Viseon MaxView System Accelerates Adoption of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Procedures - Business Wire

Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Jerry, right, and Erica Evans pose at their business, Finders Keepers Treasure Seekers, on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Tiffany Pauldon-Banks has operated a successful wedding planning and event business for the past six years in both her native Chicago and in her transplanted home in Chattanooga.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic limited all but small wedding celebrations, Pauldon-Banks decided to pursue her dream of bringing Chicago-style hoagies to Chattanooga. In January, the 35-year-old entrepreneur will open Lil Mama's Chicago Style Hoagy next to Jack Brown's Tavern in the Tomorrow Building on the Patten Parkway in downtown Chattanooga.

"People ask why I would try to start a business during a pandemic, and my thought is it's still a good time because people always have to eat," she says. "I feel like the pandemic has actually opened the door of opportunity by giving me the incentive and the extra time I needed to build this new business, and I know this won't last forever."

Pauldon-Banks is among a growing number of people starting business ventures this year. Unlike previous recessions, which have caused more caution among entrepreneurs, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many to rethink who they work for as traditional jobs have been cut. With extra stimulus funds and a belief that the pandemic won't endure, many are deciding to start their own companies.

"We're definitely seeing more interest and activity in starting new businesses probably 40 to 50 percent more this year," says Hal Bowling, executive director of LAUNCH Chattanooga, a 9-year-old nonprofit group working to encourage more local business startups. "A lot of people lost jobs this year that never expected they would, so the idea of starting a new business is both more essential and more opportune for a lot folks."

The U.S. Census Bureau reports business applications in 2020 are up 38.5% so far this year over last year's levels. Even in a pandemic when many companies were forced to close, the Census Bureau reports there have been 3.2 million requests for employer identification numbers, which is what a business needs to get started. In the same period of 2019, there were 2.7 million such requests for employer ID numbers.

In Hamilton County, 2,447 business filings were made with the Tennessee Secretary of State through the first 10 months of the year, up 13.2% from the same period a year ago. Statewide, business filings for all of Tennessee in the first 10 months of 2020 rose 17.5% from last year to 46,563, according to filings with the Tennessee Secretary of State.

"We've had a 40-year decline (in the number of new business startups) and it certainly would be great with all of the negatives of this year to see an increase in business starts," Bowling says. "I think that is very likely."

As the economy emerged from most of the shutdowns this spring, more people prepared to start businesses in Chattanooga, experts say.

"Initially this spring we were getting very few inquiries about starting a business, but since July, we're seeing a definite uptick in the number of people wanting to know more about how to start their own business," says Lynn Chesnutt, director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center in Chattanooga. "Some people whose jobs have been eliminated or who have been furloughed are saying "If not now, when?'"

From March 15, when the pandemic forced many businesses to shut down, through the end of September, the TSBDC has worked with 457 people in Chattanooga, or nearly as many as the 532 that the office served during all of 2019 when the economy was booming.

Chesnutt and Bowling say their organizations have had to switch from in-person to online training and counseling, which has worked in many cases to allow more people to get help more quickly since they don't have to leave their homes or businesses to receive advice or participate in virtual seminars.

"The silver lining coming out of this is that we think people will want to continue to do virtual programs and meetings, and that will make us more productive in helping to serve our nine-county region," Chesnutt says.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports business applications in 2020 are up 38.5% so far this year over last years levels. Even in a pandemic when many companies were forced to close, the Census Bureau reports there have been 3.2 million requests for employer identification numbers, which is what a business needs to get started. In the same period of 2019, there were 2.7 million such requests for employer ID numbers.

For Jerry and Erica Evans, the pandemic inspired them to switch businesses and launch a bin warehouse outlet. The couple had previously run an estate sale business helping to price and sell household homes at estate sales across the region. But the pandemic ended most of that business, so the couple turned their selling skills and entrepreneurial drive to their newest venture Finders Keepers.

In a former car dealership and repair shop warehouse on Hixson Pike, Jerry and Erica Evans now unload a truckload of returned merchandise every week and put from 6,000 to 8,000 items from each truck into 41 wooden bins and sell each item for a declining price over four days each week.

Every Saturday, Finders Keepers opens with every item priced for $5 and then cuts the price to $3 an item on Sunday, a dollar per item on Monday and, for what's left, 50 cents an item on Tuesday.

"We knew we had to do something when the estate sales business pretty much ended and we saw how well this type of business was doing elsewhere," Jerry Evans says. "I wasn't sure at first, but we're gaining a lot of customers now every week and in this current economy I think more people are looking for the kind of bargains we can offer."

Jerry Evans, who says he might even open a second location of Finders Keepers, was able to use the skills he developed in running other businesses in the past to pivot into a new venture. But many others starting their own business for the first time are seeking help from a variety of small business assistance programs.

To help startups, Chattanooga boasts the state's biggest business incubator, one of the first business accelerator programs, and a host of other training and seed capital assistance in and around the Innovation District established downtown to nurture more startups.

"Whenever you have a correction or change in your economy, there are a number of businesses that start up," says Christy Gillenwater, president of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, which operates the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Business Development Center and works with startup business groups like CO.LAB and the Enterprise Center and local venture capital groups like the Dynamo and Renaissance Funds. "I think our entrepreneurial eco-system for those businesses is vibrant, particularly for this size community, and hopefully that is helping to create more businesses here."

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*On a roll: For some Chattanooga businesses, demand for what they do is at fever pitch

*Wear it out: Local businesses expand their brands through smart, fun swag

*Changing clothes: Pandemic frays small businesses built around getting dressed

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Might as well: Entrepreneurs across the country are going for it, anticipating better days ahead - Chattanooga Times Free Press

CENTENNIAL, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global technology provider Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW) has been selected as a Training Industry Inc.s Top 20 IT Training Company in 2020.

Training Industry recently announced its selections for the 2020 Top Training Companies lists for the information technology (IT) training sector of the learning and development market.

Training Industry, a leading research and information resource for corporate learning leaders, prepares the Training Industry Top 20 report on critical sectors of the corporate training marketplace to better inform professionals about the best and most innovative providers of training services and technologies.

Selection to the 2020 Training Industry Top 20 IT Training Companies List was based on the following criteria:

This years Top 20 IT Training Companies quickly adapted to organizations changing work environments to provide content through various modalities to meet the needs of learners working from home, said Ken Taylor, president of Training Industry. These modalities include immersive learning approaches such as virtual labs, virtual instruction through a variety of technology platforms and on-demand learning. These companies continue to modify their delivery to ensure learners are receiving the best training that work with their schedule.

More Information on Arrows education service business

About Arrow Electronics

Arrow Electronics guides innovation forward for over 175,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. With 2019 sales of $29 billion, Arrow develops technology solutions that improve business and daily life. Learn more at fiveyearsout.com.

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Arrow Electronics Selected as a Training Industry Top 20 IT Training Company - Business Wire

East Riding Museums: Beverley Art Gallery, Skidby Mill, Beverley Guildhall, and Goole Museum will remain closed.

East Riding Archives in the Treasure House, Beverley: will remain closed

East Riding Libraries and Customer Service Centres: East Riding Libraries will continue to offer their Order and Collect service - customers can either phone their library or order books online at library.eastriding.gov.uk, and then collect from their specified East Riding Library once available.

Books can be returned to any East Riding Library during opening hours and will be quarantined for three days before being cleaned and returned to shelves.

There is also an extensive online library available 24/7, of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and local, national and international newspapers which can all be downloaded free with your library card. To join the library online (its free) or find out more about downloading items from the online library, visit eastridinglibraries.co.uk.

Customer Service Centres are closed for public drop-ins to avoid unnecessary contact where possible to support the Tier 3 restrictions. For residents needing essential customer service support, many answers can be found on the website http://www.eastriding.gov.uk or please contact the call centre on 01482 393939, if necessary a face-to-face appointment can be arranged. Please be aware that the volume of calls may be higher than usual.

The Mobile Library Service will continue to provide an order and collect service and customers of the at home service will still have their books delivered. For any questions about the mobile library service, please call the mobile library team on 01482 392749.

Caddy liners are available to collect from East Riding Libraries and Multi Service Centres.

The council is reminding residents that a range of online activities is available on the Active East Riding website : http://www.ActiveEastRiding.co.uk

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Here is the latest Tier 3 restrictions information covering East Riding Museums and East Riding Libraries - Bridlington Free Press

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Highlands Stuff A Bus event canceled

The Stuff A Bus event to benefit Toys for Tots that was scheduled Saturday at Highlands Middle School is canceled due to the districts change to remote learning.

Residents can take donations of new, unwrapped toys to dropoff locations in Heights Plaza near Community Market and Wireless Zone in the Highlands Mall Shoppes, both in Natrona Heights Harrison.

Virtual paint and sip event to benefit Myasthenia Gravis Association

The Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western Pennsylvania will host a virtual holiday paint and sip event from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10.

Tickets are $50 and include a link to participate in the paint and sip event, supplies to create your own holiday snowflake wreath and two bottles of wine from Kavic Winery.

Checks payable to MGA of WPA should be mailed to 490 E. North Ave., Suite 410, Pittsburgh PA 15212. For details, call 412-566-1545.

Free drive-thru Nativity planned Sunday

Union Presbyterian Church will host a free drive-thru Nativity from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the church, 656 Route 380, Washington Township.

Church members will create five live scenes from the Nativity story. Participants can hear the story on their car radio or click a link to hear it on their cell phone.

Calendar

Apollo-Ridge School District

Tuesday: Apollo-Ridge School Board will conduct the reorganization meeting at 6:30 p.m. online at Zoom.us. Access information: apolloridge.com

Burrell School District

Tuesday: Burrell School Board will conduct the reorganization and regular meetings at 7 p.m. online. Access information: burrell.k12.pa.us/board

Cheswick

Friday: Springdale Free Public Library will host a free outdoor Family Fun Night holiday party for children in prekindergarten through sixth grade and their families from 5 to 7 p.m. in Rachel Carson Park. There will be crafts and hot chocolate and children can drop off their wishes for Santa. Face masks required and space is limited to allow for social distancing. Registration required by Tuesday. Registration: 724-274-9729

Frazer

Tuesday: Frazer Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. in the township office, 592 Pittsburgh Mills Circle, Pittsburgh Mills Mall. Details: 724-274-4202

Freeport

Wednesday: The Thrift Store Clothing Ministry at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from noon to 3 p.m. at the church. Winter clothing is available. Cash only. Donations must be laundered. Details: 724-295-2476

Harrison

Wednesday: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open to anyone in need from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Pull into the center parking lot and food will be placed into your vehicle. Senior boxes are now being distributed Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. Those who are not yet registered should come after 3 p.m. Proof of income is no longer required. Donations: avaoc.org/donate/financial-support/

Dec. 8: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will offer a virtual presentation of, Twas the Night Before Christmas, performed by Stage Right online at 6:30 p.m. Registration required. Access information will be emailed. Registration: 724-226-3491 or eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=ALVALLEY&curID=466653

Kiski Township

Dec. 21: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department is accepting orders for pies, nut logs and pumpkin rolls from The Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown. Varieties: chocolate meringue, coconut meringue, lemon meringue, apple, dutch apple, blackberry, wild blueberry, razzleberry, cherry, peach, raisin, and pumpkin and pumpkin rolls, all $9.50; nut logs and pecan pies, $12. Paid orders due Dec. 9. Pickup: Dec. 21 at the firehall. Details and orders: call or text Morgan, 724-466-2812

Kiski Area School District

Wednesday: Kiski Area School Board will hold the reorganization meeting at 7 p.m. online followed by the agenda meeting. Details and access information: 724-842-0457 or john.tedorski@kiskiarea.com

Kiski Township

Dec. 31: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Company is selling 2021 lottery calendars to benefit the company building fund. Cost: $30. Details: 724-478-4210

Leechburg

Wednesday: The free genealogy group at Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the museum, 118 First St. Basic computer skills required. Ancestry.com and Newspaper.com are available. Details: Judy, 724-681-9154

Dec. 13: Leechburg Elks will have a vendor bingo at 1 p.m. at the lodge, 228 Market St. Doors open at noon. Admission: $20, includes 11 games with vendor prizes and one $250 must-go jackpot game. Food and beverages will be sold and there will be a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and small games of chance. Players must be at least 18 years old. Tickets: Ruth, 724-422-4913 or the lodge, 724-842-8071

Lower Burrell

Dec. 13: Lower Burrell Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary will hold its Christmas party at 1 p.m. at the post, Wildlife Lodge Road. All members welcome. Details and reservation information: see the post bulletin board.

New Kensington

Tuesday: The Redevelopment Authority of New Kensington will meet at 7 p.m. online at Zoom. us. Meeting ID: 810 8147 7535. Phone access: 646-558-8656

Oakmont

Dec. 9: A Vitalant community blood drive will be from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Oakmont Borough Building, 767 Fifth St. Appointments strongly recommended. Donations are tested for covid-19 antibodies. Appointments: 412-209-7000 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and search with group code C5300082

Tarentum

Tuesday: Tarentum Council will conduct a public hearing on the proposed multi-municipal comprehensive plan at 5:30 p.m. followed by the combined meeting at municipal building, 318 Second Ave. Details: 724-224-1818, ext. 100

Wednesday: Tarentum Elks will host bingo at 7 p.m. at the lodge, 219 E. Sixth Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open.

Wednesdays: BridgePoint Church, 400 E. Ninth Ave., will host a parent-led learning pod from 1 to 4 p.m. in the church hall located on the lower level. Free high-speed internet, meals and access to the church childrens library will be provided. Use the Corbet Street entrance.

Upper Burrell

Wednesday: Upper Burrell Supervisors will hold the regular meeting at 7 p.m. at the township building, 3735 Seventh St. Details: 724-335-3517

Vandergrift

Dec. 16: A Holly Jolly Holiday basket raffle will take place through Dec. 16 to benefit Vandergrift Public Library. The prize will include a gift certificate for a whole fresh turkey from Pounds Turkey Farm in Allegheny Township, gift cards from Oakmont Bakery and Shop N Save, Sweetlane Chocolate, holiday drink ware and wine, holiday dcor and more. Cost: $5; or three for $10. Ticket sales close at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 and the drawing will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 16 on Facebook. Tickets: stop in at the library, 128C. Washington Ave., or visit Venmo online.

Categories: Local | Valley News Dispatch

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The Stroller, Nov. 30, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley - TribLIVE

Even after the coronavirus pandemic eases and most children return to their physical classrooms, millions of newly issued computing devices will need to connect to school networks, and some forms of remote instruction and two-way video conferencing will likely remain popular.

That new reality will likely mean yet another challenge and expense for the nation's beleaguered K-12 school districts, more than half of which do not currently offer the bandwidth necessary for all students to stream videos or access digital lessons simultaneously, according to a new report.

Nationwide, just 48 percent of districts, serving an estimated 15.3 million total students, currently provide the target bandwidth of 1 Megabit per second, per student in the classroom, according to the nonprofit Connected Nation (formerly EducationSuperHighway) and Funds for Learning, a consulting group, both of which have helped lead a decade-long push to improve school connectivity.

"Despite such progress, 67 percent of students still need access to scalable broadband for digital learning, a bandwidth gap affecting 31.5 million students," the groups wrote.

That finding is based on an analysis of the 2020 E-Rate applications of nearly 13,000 school districts in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Federal Communications Commission is responsible for the E-Rate program, which provides up to $3.9 billion annually to helps schools and libraries pay for connectivity equipment and services.

Since 2014, when the FCC modernized the program, nearly all schools have met or surpassed the commission's original bandwidth target of 100 kilobits per second, per student. To encourage schools to expand connectivity to allow for more devices and video streaming, the commission raised its target to 1 Mbps/student target during the 2017-18 school year.

In Arizona, Hawaii, and North and South Dakota, nearly all districts are now meeting that faster target, the new report found. In Kentucky, Maryland, and Rhode Island, however, fewer than 10 percent of districts do so.

In the months since COVID-19 forced schools to close their physical buildings, the reality that millions of American families lack adequate internet access at home has consumed the nation's attention.

As many as 15 million of the country's 50.7 million public school students lack adequate connectivity at home, according to a recent Common Sense Media survey. The challenge is particularly acute for Black, Hispanic, and Native American households.

For months, advocates have pushed the FCC to expand the program so that money can be used for at-home connectivity, but proposals to that effect have yet to gain traction.

In the meantime, however, the commission recently opened a second window for schools and libraries to apply for E-Rate funds for 2020. Earlier this year, officials there estimated that total demand was in the range of $2.9 billion dollars, far lower than the program's $4 billion annual cap.

The available dollars could go a long way towards closing the high-speed school internet gap identified by Connected Nation and Funds for Learning. The difference between 100 Kbps/student and 1Mbps/student of bandwidth will soon become painfully evident, the groups predicted.

"School networks must now be prepared to handle increasing amounts of traffic, particularly livestreaming and two-way video conferencing via applications like Zoom, Cisco Webex, and Microsoft Teams as well as student devices and the digital learning applications installed on them," according to the report.

K-12 districts have made tremendous progress towards that goal in recent years. In 2015, just 8 percent of districts provided the faster bandwidth, compared with 47 percent now. Schools serving a total of more than 5.8 million students upgraded to such speeds just within the last year alone.

And despite the gap that remains, one of the best signs for schools is the falling price of connectivity, Connected Nation and Funds for Learning reported.

Bandwidth cost schools just $1.85 per megabit in 2020, down from nearly $10 per megabit just five years earlier. And particularly beneficial for schools' bottom line has been the expansion of fiber-optic networks, which are easily adapted to provide more bandwidth as it becomes needed, without adding substantial costs to schools' internet bills.

According to the new report, those schools already meeting the FCC's 1 Mbps/student target pay $1.50 less for bandwidth than schools offering slower speeds.

Credit: iStock/Getty

Excerpt from:
Half of Districts Lack Connectivity Needed for Widespread Videoconferencing, Device Usage - Education Week

Sports facilities and libraries across Aberdeenshire will close from 2pm on Christmas eve, reopening on January 5.

Live Life Aberdeenshire, which operates sports and cultural services on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council, is closing almost all its facilities over the festive period.

The exceptions are Macduff Marine Aquarium and the area's two all-weather ski centres - Alford Ski Centre and Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre - which will continue to operate between Christmas and Hogmanay with reduced opening hours.

Interim Head of Service for Live Life Aberdeenshire, Avril Nicol, said: "This represents a longer period of closure than in previous years, for a number of reasons.

"Traditionally the Christmas period is one of our quietest and the well-publicised difficult budget position Aberdeenshire Council finds itself in means it is not economical to open in most cases.

"Many of our team members were also redeployed into important but difficult frontline work while our facilities were closed during lockdown and this period of closure will make sure they get an appropriate chance to rest and recover."

Those libraries which were due to offer click and collect and home delivery, or other services, on the afternoon of December 24 will now make these available earlier in the day.

While facilities are closed, you can still access online library services, make and do activities and exercise at home videos, amongst many other resources, on the Live Life @ Home resource athttps://bit.ly/LLAhome

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Aberdeenshire sports facilities and libraries to close over Christmas and New Year - Grampian Online