In Congress, its the rare subject about which theres unanimous agreement.

Its the Congressional Award, the highest recognition Congress bestows on young people. To qualify, a young person must meet certain goals in four key areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.

Are you thinking what Im thinking? Yes, many of the activities young people enjoy in Scouting fit nicely into those four categories. Better yet, double-dipping is encouraged, meaning work on merit badges, rank requirements and Eagle projects counts toward the award.

This natural correlation explains why, in 1999, the BSA became partners with the Congressional Award Foundation, which remains Congress only charity.

As jobs and colleges become increasingly more competitive, the Congressional Award along with a young persons experience in Scouting will look great on a rsum. That something extra is exactly what hiring managers and college admissions counselors want to see.

Scouts have been earning the Congressional Award ever since it was established in 1979. In 2019, at least 75 of the 538 Congressional Award Gold Medal recipients were Scouts. But I say its time to raise that number even higher. The award is noncompetitive, meaning anyone who properly completes the requirements will receive the award.

Before you consider retroactively counting Scouting experience toward the award, let me point out one key statement from the Congressional Award site: This is not an award for past accomplishments. Instead, you are honored for achieving your own challenging goals after registering for the program.

That means your Scouts should register for the award as soon as possible after turning 13.5 years old, giving them the maximum amount of time to count Scouting requirements toward their progress.

But even if your Scout or Venturer is 16, 17 or older, all hope is not lost. They have until their 24th birthday to complete the requirements.

After registering, any qualifying activity in school, Scouting or another extracurricular activity can count toward the award. That fact is confirmed in the awards FAQs: If you belong to groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Venturing, 4-H, etc., your activities may often be used to achieve a particular goal.

That was certainly the case for Eagle Scout Todd Christian, who earned the Congressional Award in 2019, at age 23.

I completed all of the requirements for the program exclusively through the things I was already doing through Scouting, he says.

Christian earned the Gold Medal, which is the highest of the Congressional Awards six levels. That top honor includes an invite to the national award ceremony in Washington, D.C., where honorees meet other recipients as well as their congressional representatives. (Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this years ceremony was held virtually.)

The Gold Medal requires at least 400 hours of volunteer time, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness, and an expedition of at least five days and four nights.

Essentially, anyone who completes a multiday trek as well as a comprehensive service project what we call an Eagle project has already overcome a major hurdle to receiving the top award, Christian says.

The entry-level award the Bronze Certificate is within even closer reach for most Scouts. It requires 30 hours of volunteer service, 15 hours of personal development, 15 hours of physical fitness, and a one-day expedition or exploration.

Virtually every Scout has met these requirements many times over, just by being a Scout, Christian says.

Explore the program requirements here. Keep in mind that each level is cumulative, meaning time spent on one award carries over to the next. For example, completing 200 hours of service for the Silver Medal means youre already halfway to the 400 needed for Gold.

Scouts who want to count their work in Scouting toward the Congressional Award should keep three things in mind:

Scouts like to aim high, so Im guessing that many will be eyeing that Gold Medal. Christian shared a few examples of how Scouts might meet or exceed Gold Medal requirements just by enjoying all that Scouting has to offer.

While it is certainly appropriate to present this opportunity to your Scouts and Venturers, keep in mind that like anything else in Scouting the Scouts should take the lead.

But as a Scouter, you still play an important role.

Any young person wishing to earn the Congressional Award will need Advisors and Validators adults who can help a young person navigate the program and verify completion of requirements.

According to the official FAQs, Scoutmasters are ideally suited for this role with a few exceptions.

Teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, club leaders and Scoutmasters would all make excellent Advisors and Validators, according to the FAQs. The only guideline in choosing an Advisor or Validator is that they cannot be your parent, relative or peer.

Thankfully, Scouting has not been on pause during the coronavirus pandemic. Scouts are still having fun, earning merit badges and serving others.

Likewise, progress toward the Congressional Award can continue. For the official guidance on navigating the award during COVID-19, see this article from the Congressional Award Foundation.

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The Congressional Award: An impressive honor Scouts can earn just by being Scouts - Scouting Magazine

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Published Thursday, Jul. 2, 2020, 12:55 pm

Front Page Business These 14 writers and bloggers investigate alleged cults and their leaders

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Journalists, bloggers, and book authors sometimes one and the same investigate all sorts of people and organizations. Though they often make mistakes that damage their subjects reputations and blow back on their own, their work as a whole is worth celebrating and protecting.

One of the more interesting investigative writing niches involves organizations alleged to be cults (and leaders alleged to be cult leaders). The reading publics appetite for stories about secretive organizations both well-known and not so well-known is all but insatiable, and theres plenty of material for intrepid writers to supply.

If you count yourself among the many readers intrigued by this type of writing, youve come to the right place. What follows is a list of more than one dozen writers and bloggers who currently or have in the past written about organizations and leaders alleged to be involved in cult activity.

Mike Rinders runs an independent blog devoted to exposing the follies and foibles of so-called cult organizations that more mainstream outlets dont or wont cover. He also covers more mainstream organizations that have courted controversy in the past, some of which receive sustained coverage in major daily newspapers, magazines, and TV outlets. His highest-profile target is Scientology; his motto is Something Can Be Done About It.

Writer Be Scofield is a self-proclaimed cult hunter whose investigations have appeared on several niche websites devoted to so-called cults and cult activities. While Be Scofields controversial approach has generated criticism, the writer remains active and continues to pursue new investigations.

Paul Morantz has an unusually high profile for a writer focused mainly on cults and cult leaders. Thats largely because hes also an accomplished attorney with a number of high-profile cases to his credit, several of which involve alleged misconduct by cult leaders. Hes the author of two books: Escape: My Lifelong War Against Cults and From Miracle to Madness: The True Story of Charles Dederich and Synanon.

Steven Hassan is a self-proclaimed former cult member who has spent the better part of 40 years investigating an alleged cult leader named Tony Alamo. He is also an advocate for victims of alleged child sexual abuse by members of various orders clergy, including the Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Jehovahs Witnesses.

Mitch Weiss is a reporter whose groundbreaking AP investigation tells the story of a victim of an alleged cult known as the Word of Faith Fellowship. Weisss story pulled back the curtain on the secretive North Carolina group, which claims hundreds of members.

Les Zaitz is a retired reporter for the Portland Oregonian newspaper. In the 1980s, he was part of a group of intrepid Oregon journalists on the trail of the sect led by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and Ma Anand Sheela years later, the subject of the popular 2018 documentary Wild Wild Country. The Columbia Journalism Review has more on Zaitzs accomplishments.

Emilie Friedlander is an investigative writer who spent months on the trail of Trumple, a social media cult that many observers brushed off as a troll until Friedlander began digging. Her work revealed a new model of rigidly hierarchical organization thats at once attractive and dangerous to young, tech savvy followers.

Dennis Yusko is one of several upstate New York reporters who began tracking the secretive sex cult Nxivm in the early 2000s. Despite his and his colleagues intrepid work, the group operated more or less without restraint until national media outlets picked up the trail in the late 2010s. Still, Yuskos groundwork proved vital in spotlighting the organizations seamy side.

David Thibodeau is a former member of the Seventh Day Adventist offshoot sect led by David Koresh. The sect is best known for the calamitous events at its compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993, when a botched raid by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms left dozens of members dead. Thibodeaus book, Waco: A Survivors Story, is required reading for anyone interested in Koreshs organization and the origins of the modern-day right-wing militia movement.

Deborah Layton is a memoirist and former member of the infamous Peoples Temple sect, whose years-long presence in the jungles of Guyana culminated in one of the largest mass suicides in recorded history. Her book, Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivors Story of Life and Death in the Peoples Temple, is regarded as a classic of the first-person cult survivor genre.

As a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, Tim Reiterman traveled to Guyana with then-Congressman Leo Ryan to investigate the Peoples Temple sect. Years later, he would write Raven: The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People, a compelling companion to Laytons first-person account. Readers interested in the story of Jones and Peoples Temple, and aspiring writers looking for a model of cult journalism to follow, would do well to read Reiterman.

Jeff Guinn is the author of the definitive biography of Charles Manson (Manson: The Life and Times of Charles), one of the most influential cult leaders of the past 60 years. His work builds on investigations by others but remains a vital resource in its own right.

Sam Brower spent nearly a decade investigating the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a polygamist derivative of Mormonism led by Warren Jeffs. His book, Prophets Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation Into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints, is at once spellbinding and informative.

Lawrence Wright is one of the foremost investigators of Scientology. His book, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, was made into a major Netflix documentary in 2015.

These writers are not the only ones whove made names for themselves investigating organizations and leaders alleged to be involved in cult activity. Many others are active in this niche, and anyone familiar with it knows that theres plenty of uncovered material out there.

Perhaps you think you have what it takes to write about alleged cults and cult leaders. Or perhaps youre just looking for a good read on a lazy day. In either case, your contribution helps keep honest those on both sides of the writer-subject divide and ensures more great stories in the years ahead.

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These 14 writers and bloggers investigate alleged cults and their leaders - Augusta Free Press

With todays national health challenges, winning involves more than one area in your life in order to maintain balance.

Your victory includes developing a strategy for physical, mental, and spiritual victory.

Before focusing and on your own victory and strategy to succeed, it is important to first look around and consider helping others who appear to be less fortunate in life.

Studies remind us that we are in one of three places in life: (1) you may be entering a storm, (2) you may be in the middle of a storm, or (3)you may be coming out of a

storm.

Keep in mind ,you succeed when you help others to succeed.

Regardless of your position in life ,you have a story to share from lessons learned from yourself or from helping others. Yes! You will gain wisdom and awareness as you are going through! Your amazing brain will be come creative as you overcome each moment of your struggle. You will remind yourself that you will be better prepared the next time you come face-to-face with a similar situation.

You will learn that it is vital to heed the warning signs. In other words, you will not assume it is just your imagination. You will realize it is accompanied by your intuition giving you foresight.

Success stories share that your intuition prompts you to make your best move and works with your imagination visualizing the end result.

Albert Einstein shared that your imagination is a preview of what is to come.

In closing overcoming,learning with insight, and sharing your strategy for victories is an art that will make you a valuable tool in helping others to win their life battles.

I was reminded by the late Zig Ziglar that It is not what you accomplish in the end but who you become in the process.

Jumpstart your brain; jumpstart your life.

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This writers opinion is their own and not the opinion of this newspaper

Marcia Harris, MA, CLL YOUnique Whole Brain Life Skills, LLC 740 821 9515

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The Art of Winning your Battle - Portsmouth Daily Times

February is Black History Month in the United States. US President Barak Obama described it thus:

"During National African American History Month, we recognize champions of justice and the sacrifices they made to bring us to this point, we honor the contributions of African Americans since our country's beginning, and we recommit to reaching for a day when no person is judged by anything but the content of their character."

The #MeToo and Times Up movements in the United States demonstrated that while great strides have been made to open doors for women and minorities, significant work lays ahead to equalize the playing field for all Americans. Issues critical to achieving racial equality include police ethics, the income gap, equal access to high quality education, employment discrimination, workforce diversity, and the impact of redistricting and voter ID requirements on voting rights. In this article we address racial bias, which impacts all aspects of the employment continuum from hiring, pay, promotion, and overall retention of people of color.

Different faces of racial bias

According to the Psychology Today, racial bias is the act of holding prejudices against someone based on their race. Racial bias can take various forms, so lets understand the distinctions:

Practice tips

Racial bias prevents a company from leveraging the full potential of its entire workforce. Studies have long demonstrated the financial benefits of a diverse workforce. With the authority and legal tools to support the companys commercial objectives while steering leaders, managers, and supervisors clear of potential claims, in-house counsel are uniquely positioned to provide the right guidance and challenge bias. Follow this guide to prevent racial biases at your company:

1. Take an implicit bias test

Maintained by Harvard University, this test exposes implicit biases that exist outside the consciousness in categories such as race, gender, gender identity, weight, and religion. If your results denote a bias, dont be dismayed. Now you can consciously ensure that your bias does not manifest in the administration of your work responsibilities.

2. Stand up

Renowned motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, You've got to be before you can do and do before you can have. For your companys inclusion efforts to stick, choose a philosophy of inclusion and exhibit it in your thinking and the guidance you give your company.

3. Examine company policies

Critically examine your company policies and their enforcement for unintentional yet disparate outcomes. For example:

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4. Address felony convictions

Use the three-part test recommended by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in determining whether to hire a candidate with a criminal conviction.

5. Address double standards

In considering a minority candidate, if a manager emphasizes the need for the candidate to be qualified, while suggesting it would be a stretch role for an unqualified white candidate, unconscious bias might be at work. If, despite a minority candidate demonstrating all objective criteria required for a job, the hiring manager still has unspecified concerns.

6. Examine your preferences

If your year-end bonus were dependent on the racial, cultural, and ethnical balance of your direct reports, would you receive 100 percent payout? Would you resort to the I cant find qualified minority candidates mantra as an excuse? If so, scrutinize your practices.

7. Have the courage to ask

We see this failure in advertising all the time: A company releases an ad and is blindsided by negative backlash for a what appears to be (in hindsight) an obvious bias failure that threatens the products revenue as consumers vow boycotts. Have the courage to ask those affected, and foster an encouraging environment that welcomes sincere feedback.

8. Check your language

If your coworker refers to the black employees sitting together in the cafeteria as a gang or some other derogatory term, address the language of bias.

Parting thoughts

Undoing racial biases, whether implicit or unconscious, is an arduous challenge for one person, let alone an entire society, to undertake. And though you might not be able to change the world, you can do your part to improve working conditions for minorities in your company.

This article was originally published for Black History Month.

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is a global legal association that promotes the common professional and business interests of in-house counsel who work for corporations, associations and other private-sector organizations through information, education, networkingopportunities and advocacy initiatives. With more than 45,000 members in 85 countries, employed by over 10,000 organizations, ACC connects its members to the people and resources necessary for both personal and professional growth. By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel.

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8 Tactics to Roll Back Racial Bias at the Office - Lexology

July 05, 2020

EDWARDSVILLE It was good to be together again.

A group of friends gathered in one backyard Sunday and had a cookout

Social distancing was practiced. People wore masks.

But we all knew each other.

We had great food and great conversation. We laughed, we joked, we caught up with each other.

This is a group not unlike many that held similar gatherings over the July 4th weekend. These are gatherings born of lifelong friendships and family.

These sort of events have been a part of the fabric of America for generations. I fondly recall my parents taking me to these type events where people brought food, had a few adult beverages, played cards, laughed and enjoyed celebrating Americas birthday.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live. We all crave for that return to normalcy that we cherished for all our lives.

And its been a difficult pandemic to say the least. The contagion level of the coronavirus is higher than any before. People can be exposed, not realize they are carrying it and transmit it to others, many who are extremely susceptible to the effects of COVID-19.

So we must be cognizant of this when we venture out in public. We may feel we are invincible, but we are not. And I have witnessed the effort being put forth by most.

So when we gather, we protect ourselves from the virus and we protect our friends and family.

And thats really what friendship and family are all about.

Even with our masks on and social distancing, we still got to see each other, talk to each other and enjoy each other.

And on this July 4th weekend, there were more fireworks emanating from backyards that I have ever seen before. With apologies to all the pets out there, the fireworks were an expression of celebration of gatherings that people not only wanted, but really needed.

I truly believe that this pandemic will pass and a vaccine/cure will be found. Its just that we dont know when that day will come. So until it does arrive, we must remain diligent in practicing those mitigation tools we have been taught.

This group of ours is a vibrant group. We enjoy doing things together. One of our favorites is the annual dance at Irem Temple pavilion with Joe Nardone & the All Stars and Eddie Day and the Starfires. Sadly, this event that annually attract 700-plus, may not be held.

I will also miss the annual Plymouth Alive Kielbasa Festival that provides so much fun and renewal each year. And Plymouth Alive raises money that is put back into the community.

Same with other events like the Edwardsville Pierogi Festival, not to forget all those bazaars of churches and fire companies.

It will all return, we just dont know when.

And we will again celebrate together have fun again together.

But one thing Sundays gathering at our friend Deidre and Franks home proved one thing remains crystal clear.

No pandemic can ever change the love we all have for each other.

Good food, good friends, good conversation, great fireworks, great time.

That will always be with us all.

July 05, 2020

Jason Carr bought a small corner lot on Catlin Avenue in Wilkes-Barre in 2016 because it was only $500 and adjacent to a single-family residential structure he already owned.

The 0.17-acre lot, which Carr said is too small to house a building, was available cheap because it had been abandoned by the prior owner and wasnt sold in popular Luzerne County back-tax auctions. The county typically has about 1,000 of these repository properties up for grabs, and taxing bodies are eager to unload them.

Assuming he was stuck with the countys $10,000 real estate tax assessment on the lot, Carr said he almost fell off the chair at a county government meeting earlier this year when officials discussed a state law covering repository property assessments.

This statute says the purchase price of repository properties shall be deemed to be the fair market value of the property for tax assessment purposes.

Carr argued this means the county should have automatically reduced the assessed value to the price paid in his case $500.

Instead, the county has required property owners to file assessment appeals to receive a reduction. The county also set the minimum repository assessment at $1,000 as part of the countywide reassessment that took effect in 2009.

County lawyers continue to vehemently maintain the county is in compliance with the law because the statute refers to fair market value instead of expressly stating the purchase price must become the assessed value.

Fair market value does not necessarily equal the appropriate tax assessment, which is why an appeal is required, the county administration says.

Nevertheless, the county administration has decided assessors office procedures would be simplified if the assessment change is automatic. Starting Sept. 1, the repository purchase price will be the assessed value, county Manager C. David Pedri recently announced.

Carr questioned if this new directive will be applied retroactively.

The administration said it will not, which leaves a legal challenge as the only recourse for purchases before that date.

Convinced the Sept. 1 change is what the county should have been doing all along, Carr said he is exploring legal options and has contacted government investigatory agencies attempting to force officials to lower his assessment to $500 dating back to the 2016 purchase.

A Saylorsburg resident who owns multiple rental properties in the county, Carr said its a bigger issue than his own purchase because he has identified many other vacant lots purchased from the repository that still contain the original assessments.

Carr also believes the county should have informed property owners of its requirement to file assessment appeals to qualify for the reduction, particularly because hes found at least 18 other counties that have been making the assessment change automatically.

Repository buyers are helping taxing bodies by taking ownership of properties that had been deserted and maintaining them, Carr said.

The repository assessment issue has come up before.

In 2017, New York resident Alex Zbinovsky said he cant proceed with plans to fix up a former Wilkes-Barre factory he bought for $500 from the repository in 2013 until the assessment issue is addressed.

The assessment on the 43,000-square-foot brick property at 447 New Grove St. is $225,000.

His attorney, William Vinsko, said last week that litigation is still pending on the matter. Vinsko has long argued the county should have automatically lowered the assessment to the repository purchase price and said he still holds that position.

The county assessment appeals board had issued a ruling in April 2013 keeping the New Grove property assessment at $673,100. The board reduced the value to $225,000 in September 2014 but declined a further reduction, records show.

Most properties that land in the repository are rundown structures, land slivers or large undeveloped parcels with access problems or other hurdles, officials have said. The properties can be purchased at any time, and a list of those available is updated regularly and posted at http://www.luzernecountytaxclaim.com.

In a separate issue related to these properties, councils real estate committee also is recommending repository purchases be increased from $500 to $1,000 if a parcel contains a structure, with land-only properties remaining at $500. Council is set to vote on the proposed purchase price change this month.

July 05, 2020

WILKES-BARRE The Pennsylvania Department of Health Sunday reported six new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Luzerne County and no new deaths.

Those numbers bring the total cases to 2,956 and the death count remains at 178.

In Lackawanna County, there are 1,733 confirmed cases and 207 deaths; in Monroe County, there are 1,436 cases and 109 deaths.

The Department of Health Sunday confirmed that there are 479 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 89,854. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania have cases of COVID-19.

There are 6,753 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 4 new deaths reported.

Mask wearing is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home. Consistent mask-wearing is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19.

There are 634 patients who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases.

There are 734,846 patients who have tested negative to date.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:

Nearly 1% are ages 0-4;

1% are ages 5-12;

Nearly 3% are ages 13-18;

Nearly 8% are ages 19-24;

Nearly 37% are ages 25-49;

24% are ages 50-64; and

Nearly 27% are ages 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 17,923 resident cases of COVID-19, and 3,346 cases among employees, for a total of 21,296 at 709 distinct facilities in 52 counties.

Out of our total deaths, 4,592 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.

Approximately 6,806 of our total cases are in health care workers.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit Responding to COVID-19 on pa.gov.

Currently, all 67 counties are in the green phase of reopening.

July 05, 2020

Luzerne Countys administration recently started collective bargaining negotiations with the detective union, which is operating under a contract that expires the end of this year, said county Administrative Services Division Head David Parsnik.

Only one expired county union contract is still outstanding with the assistant district attorneys/public defenders, Parsnik said.

Binding arbitration became necessary with those workers because both sides reached an impasse negotiating a new contract to replace one that expired the end of 2018, officials have said.

Parsnik said he has no idea when the arbitrators decision will be completed and released to the county.

Courthouse eatery

The Center City Cafs recent opening in the county courthouse basement cafeteria has been a phenomenal success, said county Manager C. David Pedri.

Workers and visitors at the courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre can dine in, with social distancing enforced, or pick up their orders, Pedri said.

He recently enjoyed a salad there and said the prices are reasonable.

The food is delicious. The people love it, Pedri said.

Council approved the lease to business owner YonKondy Enterprises LLC in March. The business will pay monthly rent of $500 for the first half of the five-year contract and $525 for the second half.

Wedding rental

After cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic, the county has booked its first courthouse wedding in months a small ceremony on July 11, Pedri said.

Information on holding weddings at the facility is posted on the building/grounds department section at http://www.luzernecounty.org.

Tax sale

Luzerne Countys popular main Aug. 13 free-and-clear delinquent tax auction has been postponed to Nov. 5, according to Sean Shamany, a representative of county tax-claim operator Elite Revenue Solutions LLC.

This final-stage sale typically draws crowds because liens and back taxes are no longer attached.

Shamany said the rescheduling does not stem from coronavirus-related limitations on large gatherings because Elite could space people apart and limit attendees to registered bidders with no spectators. County tax sales are held at the Kings College auxiliary gym on North Main Street in Wilkes-Barre.

Instead, Shamany said the concern is fitting in all required court hearings tied to the auction while judges work to catch up on cases backlogged because of the pandemic.

There are no plans at this time to delay the Sept. 24 upset sale, which is a first stage auction, Shamany said.

Write-in votes

Luzerne County primary election voters can get a glimpse of why it took the county Election Board days to count write-in votes.

The final June 2 election results, posted on the main page at luzernecounty.org, now include the extensive list of nominees voters wrote down instead of selecting contenders on the ballot.

On both the Republican and Democratic sides in the presidential race, for example, numerous other names were entered. Among the unsuccessful nominees were docuseries tiger owner Joe Exotic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Elon Musk and Bishop Joseph Bambera.

In all seriousness, names entered in jest slow up the processing of votes, particularly with the increase in mail-in ballots requiring the Election Board to decipher handwriting instead of reading letters typed on an electronic voting machine.

Each new write-in name also had to be manually entered into the voting results system during the review process.

July 05, 2020

Luzerne and Lackawanna counties are working with a consultant to develop a regional blueprint for transportation, land preservation and development and other issues facing their communities for years to come.

Recommended every decade, the last comprehensive bi-county plan was released in 2012.

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Yoga on the riverfront returns - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader

The Seventh Annual Yoga on the Roof was held Saturday morning at the Marketplace at Steamtown.

SCRANTON, Pa. One Fourth of July tradition in the Electric City looked a little different this year.

The Seventh Annual Yoga on the Roof was held Saturday morning at the Marketplace at Steamtown.

The number of attendees had to be cut in half to allow for safe social distancing and participants were asked to wear a mask until practice began.

"I'm just so happy that so many people came. I think we all needed a break it's been a long lockdown and the news is challenging but we work very hard to make sure that it would be namaste stay six feet away."

The yoga class costs $10 and all the money benefits the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic's educational programs.

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Yoga on the roof in Scranton - WNEP Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

JOHNSON CITY (WBNG) -- Yoga Body Shop in Johnson City reopened its doors Saturday.

Owner Linda Sambursky said the studio was approved to open through the Department of Labor, as yoga instruction falls under phase three.

Like many local businesses, Yoga Body Shop has been closed since mid-March.

"It was scary," said Sambursky. "Not knowing if you could pay your bills, not knowing if your members were going to stick with you, not knowing if they were going to come back. It was just really scary."

Sambursky says they found out they could reopen for in-person classes, just one day before the reopening.

"We had everything ready. We were ready to go," says Sambursky.

A number of changes have been made to keep clients and staff safe. Clients receive a temperature check upon entering, and must be below 98.6. Everyone must wear a mask, until settled on their mat.

There is no physical interaction between instructors and clients, and classes have been significantly reduced. The main room has a maximum capacity of 75 people, but is now cut down to 24.

Yoga Body Shop offered virtual classes throughout the pandemic, and the virtual option is still available for clients who don't feel comfortable coming to the studio just yet.

While being closed was challenging, Sambursky says she's thankful for the ability to teach classes in-person, once again.

"Everything has a purpose and things are starting to slowly open and we're very grateful to open, and continue supporting the community."

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Exercising body and mind: Yoga studios reopen - WBNG-TV

Obtaining a six-pack or achieving the flat stomach of your dreams doesn't necessarily mean spending the rest of your days performing crunches or repping out sit-ups in a dark corner of your local gym, when gyms reopen.

Yoga, often perceived as a spiritual undertaking to cleanse the mind, is also fantastic for building overall strength, especially when it comes to the core muscles. We think it's one of the top 5 reasons you should try yoga, other than the attractive athleisure-wear buying opportunities it brings. In fact, it plays a starring role in our drive to help you get fit in 2020, and it's a great way to find out how to get a six pack.

Hannah Barrett (@yoga_girl_london), a yoga instructor, author and health and fitness specialist, believes yoga is the perfect way to increase happiness, while improving overall fitness levels and strength.

"This quick workout aims to fire up your core with five of my favourite yoga-inspired core-burning drills. They will help you build strength, power up your practice and work up a sweat. No need for gym equipment, just roll out your mat and put on some favourite tunes," she says.

On top of this, Hannah believes working the core is the best way to move from her basic yoga for beginners workout to more complex yoga moves.

"If youre looking to get into arm balances and inversions, or simply hold these moves for longer, then strong core muscles are key.

"They also can help alleviate back pain, improve posture and keep the stomach toned. This fiery sequencebuilds yourcorefrom the inside out," she says.

Also, make sure you follow Hannah on Instagram for plenty more tips, workout videos and expert advice to get you feeling chilled and improving fitness levels.

Find you inner Zen with this yoga workout

(Image credit: Chevanon Photography from Pexels)

"Focus on moving mindfully with your breath and keeping a strong core to help you control the movements. Listen to your body and take it to the level that is right for you. It is always possible to adapt the moves slightly to work with your level of strength and flexibility," she says

Yoga Burpees

Main muscles targeted: Deep core, quads, glutes, hamstrings and shoulders

Start at the top of the mat, feet slightly wider than hip width and at 45 degree angles. Now, exhale and slowly sit the hips down towards the mat into a 'yogi squat'. Keep the chest lifted and the core engaged.

Place the hands on the floor in front of you, shoulder distance apart. Jump the feet back to plank and then jump straight back into the yogi squat (keeping the core strong and a gentle bend in the elbows). You can always step the feet backward instead of jumping, if required.

Inhale and pushing through the balls of the feet and engaging the glutes, return to standing position for one rep. Repeat this ten times.

A quick look at yoga's version of a classic burpee

(Image credit: Hannah Barrett)

Chair to Warrior 3

Main muscles targeted: Deep core, quads, glutes, hamstrings and shoulders

Start in chair pose, sit the hips back and squeeze the glutes. Inhale lifting the right knee up towards the chest.

Now exhale, sending the right foot back behind you, folding the torso forward until the right leg is fully extended behind you, leg fully engaged and hips square to the floor.

Straighten the left leg, pressing firmly into the big toe and spreading the weight over the entire foot. Inhale and bring the right knee forwards, bending into the left leg and returning to one legged chair with hands at the heart centre.

Exhale, returning the foot to the floor and arms above the head into one-legged chair. Repeat ten times and then switch legs and repeat.

The complex but worth it Chair to Warrior 3

(Image credit: Hannah Barrett)

Down Dog Flow

Main muscles targeted: core, quads, hamstrings, calves, lats and shoulders

Starting in downward facing dog, lift the seat bones up, keeping the spine long and moving the chest towards the thighs. Draw the heels towards the ground and actively press into the hand, externally rotating the upper arms to widen the shoulder blades away from the spine. Engage the core by hugging navel to spine, keeping the ribs drawn in.

Inhale and reach the right leg to the sky pointing through the toes engaging the glutes and keeping the hips square. This is three legged dog.

As you exhale, pull the right knee in towards the nose and hinge the weight forward, so the shoulders are over the wrists. Push the ground away, rounding the back and keeping the core super strong.

Inhale back to three legged dog and repeat ten times. Return to downward facing dog and repeat with the left leg.

Downward Dog Flow works lots of muscle groups

(Image credit: Hannah Barrett)

Side Plank Leg Lifts

Main muscles targeted - Glute med, external obliques, deep core and shoulders

Begin in a side plank with the left arm to the sky. Stack the hips and draw the waist upwards, pushing firmly through the right hand to stabilise the shoulder. There is also the option to drop the lower knee to make it easier.

Keep the hips facing forwards and stacked as you inhale and lift the top leg up and exhale to lower the leg back down. Repeat for ten reps and then repeat on the opposite side.

(Image credit: Hannah Barrett)

Dead Bugs

Main muscles targeted - deep core, deltoids, hip flexors

Begin on your back with the arms raised, fingers pointing to the ceiling. Bring the knees up over the hips, bent at 90-degrees with the shins parallel to the floor.

Now engage the core. There should only be a small gap between the lower back and the ground, which should stay the same size throughout this exercise.

Exhale and at the same time, slowly lower the right arm backwards and the left leg forwards, also lowering it and extending the knee until they are both hovering off the floor. Keep the core engaged, making sure the lower back isn't overarching. If it this is too intense, drop one foot to the ground and do one side at a time.

Inhale and slowly return to the starting position and repeat with the opposite side. Repeat ten times on each side.

Hannah demonstrates the 'Dead Bugs' pose

(Image credit: Hannah Barrett)

Read the rest here:
Get a six pack in 15 minutes with this yoga-inspired core blaster - T3

Rewari: A two-day international webinar on Yoga, Ayurveda and Immunity over the theme of role of yoga, pranayam and ayurveda in improving immunity to fight Covid was organised by Indira Gandhi University (IGU). The webinar commenced with a keynote speech of Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Director, Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research, Pondicherry, while MP Dharambir Singh put his practical approach to fight hard times, in a simple but effective manner. Vice-Chancellor Prof SK Gakhar said more than 1,000 participants from 16 states across the country ranging from Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to Gujarat participated in the event.

Tributes paid to former PM

Kurukshetra: Kurukshetra University Registrar Dr Bhagwan Singh Chaudhary said the ideals of Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Gulzari Lal Nanda need to be held in life. A person who adopts his virtues will surely achieve his goal, he said. He spoke on the behalf of Gulzari Lal Nanda Ethics-Philosophy Centre Museum and Library at a function organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of Gulzari Lal Nanda on Saturday. Earlier, a havan yajna was performed. Dr Chaudhary, KDB CEO Gagandeep Singh and other dignitaries paid floral tributes at Nandas virtuous tomb. The Registrar said Bharat Ratna Nanda contributed significantly to the development of Kurukshetra. Dr SM Mishra, Director of the centre, explained various activities of the centre.

Online group discussion

Hisar: The Training and Placement Cell of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, organised an online group discussion (GD) contest under its fortnightly virtual speakathon programme. In all 27 students of various departments participated in the online GD. Pankaj Chaudhary, Director, TIMES, Hisar, was the chief judge of the event assisted by Rajneesh from TIMES and Dr Savita, Associate Professor from the Haryana School of Business. The programme started with orientation about How to participate effectively in GD by Pankaj Chaudhary. He said in most of the placements or admissions, GDs are used as an elimination process and therefore it was important to be good in it. He said using GD tool assessor judges the communication skills, knowledge of the topic, confidence, content, interpersonal skills, maturity, problem solving skill, leadership skill, body language and creativity of the candidates.

Developers of Desi Kalakar lauded

Hisar: Students of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Kishan, Rahul and Rohit who passed out BTech IT in 2017 were lauded for developing an App named Desi Kalakar on which various small videos can be downloaded/uploaded for entertainment purpose. One more student namely Sushant of same batch of the university is also associated with them. The app is a challenging alternate of TikTok which has been recently banned by the Government of India. This already has 21,000 downloads and has got 4.8 ratings. The team of these students is very conscious to take views of the users for making it more user-friendly. Prof Tankeshwar Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Harbhajan Bansal, Registrar, Prof Usha Arora, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof Dharminder Kumar, Chairperson, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Partap Singh Malik, Director, Training & Placement Cell and Prof Sunita Srivastava, Department of Physics, congratulated the students. The VC assured them of any help required to extend the development of the application.

Webinar on research methodology

Mahendragarh: The Central University of Haryana (CUH) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science and Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, and Students for Holistic Development of Humanity organised a week-long workshop on Research methodology. RSS Seh-prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar while addressing the participants as chief guest said amid the pandemic, time had come to proceed towards self-reliance and to do research on subjects that prove helpful in highlighting the way to relief in contemporary conditions.

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Webinar on yoga and immunity - The Tribune India