Broadway Grosses: Newly Minted Tony Nominees Hadestown & Tootsie Surpass a Million Dollars
The recent announcement of the 2019 Tony nominations meant great news at the box office this past week for a pair of productions competing in the category of Best Musical. The new juggernaut Hadestown posted a gross of $1,055,455.75, up from last week’s intake of $959,449.90, playing the Walter Kerr Theatre to SRO crowds at 101.21% capacity. The musical comedy Tootsie made $1,256,768.80, up from the prior week’s gross of $959,001.00, filling the Marquis Theatre to a respectable 86.84% capacity. Overall, Broadway took in a gross of $34,151,624.49, an 8.9% decrease from the prior week on the Great White Way.Here’s a look at who was on top—and who was not—for the week ending May 5.FRONTRUNNERS (By Gross)1. Hamilton ($3,188,340.00)2. The Lion King ($2,221,394.00)3. To Kill a Mockingbird ($1,767,464.47)4. Wicked ($1,610,389.00)5. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ($1,602,693.00)UNDERDOGS (By Gross)5. Hillary and Clinton ($429,387.78)4. Ink ($428,622.50)3. Be More Chill ($411,115.85)2. Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus ($314,335.00)1. Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune ($69,369.50)*FRONTRUNNERS (By Capacity)1. The Book of Mormon (102.71%)2. Hamilton (101.77%)3. To Kill a Mockingbird (101.34%)4. Come From Away (101.23%)5. Hadestown (101.21%)UNDERDOGS (By Capacity)5. The Prom (78.88%)4. The Ferryman (69.65%)3. Be More Chill (67.96%)2. King Lear (66.18%)1. King Kong (65.02%)*Number based on one preview performanceSource: The Broadway League View Comments Amber Gray, Patrick Page, Reeve Carney & the cast of the Tony-nominated musical “Hadestown”(Photo: Matthew Murphy)
Brooks Nightlife is a new range of running apparel designed to help keep runners visible. Created with both style and safety in mind, the Nightlife range features high-tech reflective material in ‘critical motion zones’, so that drivers in particular can see movement at a glance.Brooks notes that ‘Now, runners can confidently hit the streets after dark knowing they’ll be safe and seen.’ The company adds that the Brooks Nightlife range pairs with the all new Glycerin 16 shoe, with DNA LOFT technology for softness and comfort.Women’s apparel:Greenlight Tight | £55.00Dash 1/2 zip | £50.00LSD Jacket | £70.00Sherpa Hat: £20.00Chaser 5” Short | £35.00Glycerin 16 | £135.00Men’s apparel:Dash 1/2 Zip | £50.00Canopy Jacket | £85.00Sherpa Hat | £20Sherpa 5” Short | £38.00Glycerin 16 | £135.00 Related www.brooksrunning.com
A rendering of part of the first phase of the proposed Brookridge multi-use project.The developer of the $2 billion Brookridge multi-use project has dropped the idea of asking the city to issue bonds – to be repaid later – for street improvements near 103rd Street and Antioch Road.Instead developer Chris Curtin will pay for the street improvements needed to accommodate increasing traffic and be reimbursed later from the public financing package, said attorney John Petersen, his representative.“The idea of the city entering into any kind of debt and having to worry about a guarantee is gone. The developer will front the cost. End of story,” Petersen said. The street financing had been a key sticking point between the developer and city officials.Petersen told the Overland Park city council’s finance, administration and economic development committee Wednesday that the developer also is in a fierce competition to land a major tenant in one of the office buildings proposed for the area a bit farther south of the intersection. Getting that tenant could shorten the time span on street work that has neighbors concerned.The committee heard the Brookridge update but declined to speed up scheduling for the next referral to planning commission, as Petersen asked.To stay competitive, Petersen wanted the financing package to come before the city council July 22 instead of Aug. 18. But council members and city staff were unsure that staff would have the time it needed to review it and get a vote by July.Petersen also said the developer hopes to build a state-of-the-art commercial development with a “carbon zero footprint” that will be recognized nationally.Protracted negotiations between city and developer on massive proposalA map included in Wednesday’s meeting packet showing the outlines of the two initial project areas.It was the latest iteration of the long-running negotiations between the city and the developer on public financing for the development. Curtin had once proposed tourism-oriented Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) bonds, but later abandoned that idea. In February the developer put forth the plan for street work to be paid for up front by the city, but later reimbursed, but that plan got a tepid reception from council members.The Brookridge project, on the site of the golf and country club of the same name, is a 140-acre project that has been steadfastly opposed by neighbors in nearby single-family homes. They have been concerned about the disruption from years of construction, especially on the streets. They’ve also voiced a number of other concerns about drainage, cost and other aspects of the project.The last time the committee heard about the financing request was in February. That discussion revolved around the northeast corner of the site – an area that would cost $596.1 million to build. At that time, developers asked for $96 million in tax increment financing to pay some of their costs.Petersen said the basic numbers for the new request remain essentially the same. The tax increment financing and community improvement district would account for about 21 percent of the total development costs of the first phase and 19 percent of the second phase, Petersen said. Some $56 million of that would be used to build public streets.Committee members asked questions but did not voice many opinions about the changes to the plan. Chairman David White asked about a request to have the city use its condemnation powers to get the necessary right-of-way for street improvements.Petersen clarified that, “we’re not talking about the houses on Antioch,” but about 25,000 square feet spread out in various places along the road. White urged the developer to negotiate with the neighbors for any right-of-way it needs, rather than asking the city to use eminent domain.Pinehurst subdivision neighbors have been particularly concerned, he said. “Those folks have been vocal about this project. For the city to go in there and condemn that property is like rubbing their nose in it,” White said.But Petersen said the only right-of-way the developer would need from Pinehurst was about four feet along Antioch Road.
2SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr,Steve Christenson Steven Christenson is Executive Vice President of the Ascensus Retirement Products and Solutions (RPS) Group. Based in Brainerd, MN, RPS carries a 35-year history of providing premier products, expert consulting … Web: www.ascensus.com Details We’ve seen a recent influx of articles addressing the growth of consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) in recent weeks, which are high deductible health plans (HDHPs) with consumer savings options, such as tax-advantaged health saving accounts (HSAs). While there has been significant growth over the past decade, some say this growth may have plateaued. One obstacle to strong growth is the lack of effective consumer education, which employers, employee benefit providers, and financial organizations can all play a roll in.Growth May Be Slowing The Kaiser Family Foundation conducts an annual employer health benefits survey. To quote the 2018 Employer Health Benefits Survey summary, “The growth in HDHP/SO enrollment has stalled over the past three years, which may be a sign of employer reluctance to rock the benefits boat for their workers.” Kaiser’s survey shows that HDHPs that are combined with savings options (HDHP/SO) have grown significantly over the years, but growth has recently slowed—29% of workers are enrolled in HDHP/SOs, and this estimate has held steady for the past three years. Survey results can vary, however, based on the survey sampling. The 2018 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans by Mercer puts CDHP coverage at 38%.The recent concerns of flat growth have caused some question about data and trends. Regardless of recent figures, the clear message is that HDHPs are here to stay and will continue to be part of the nationwide offering in the foreseeable future. Providing consumers with focused information and education on HDHP/HSAs will help them become more successful in using their HSAs effectively.Lack of UnderstandingSeventy-six percent of employees surveyed in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2018 Workplace Benefits survey stated they understand how their HSA works. But only 12% could correctly identify the common attributes of an HSA. This lack of understanding supports a common misconception—that employers that offer an HDHP also offer an HSA as part of the package. Healthcare Trends Institute’s 2017 Healthcare Benefits Trends report says that only 58.9% of employees are offered an HSA or FSA option through their employer. Only 52% of those who are offered the option actually enroll and defer. The SHRM 2018 Employee Benefits survey had a similar result with 56% of employers offering an HSA option.This shows that 44 to 48% of consumers covered by HDHPs do not have access to HSAs through their employers, and 27% of those who have access do not elect to enroll. Thus, about 75% of those covered by an HDHP do not use an HSA to help offset their deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. It doesn’t take long to conclude that those individuals likely suffer some anxiety about covering medical expenses. It also illustrates the lack of education the general public and employers have about HSAs.Tax Benefits of HSAsHSA tax benefits are significant, but do not begin until the HSA is established.Contributions, whether made through payroll deferral or directly to an HSA at a credit union, reduce an individual’s taxable income by the amount of the contribution.Earnings on those contributions also grow tax-deferred with the potential of being tax-exempt.If the contributions and earnings are used for qualified medical expenses (which are numerous), the distribution is tax-exempt.Unlike flexible savings accounts (FSAs), there is no use-it-or-lose-it rule, regardless of how the contribution is made or where it is held. HSA owners always retain control and use of their HSA assets, even when they leave their employer. 3 Types of HSA Users There generally are three types of HSA users. Understanding each will help you educate potential clients.The Spender – These individuals are using their HSA contributions immediately to cover deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. They benefit from tax-deferred HSA contributions and the tax-exempt distribution, even if they simply run the money in and out of the HSA. Spenders can benefit by learning that any accumulated money in the HSA can be used later. They will always have their HSA savings, even if they become ineligible to continue contributions later. The Saver – This group has learned the lessons of the Spender and has allowed money to accumulate in HSAs. Further education can be beneficial for Savers. They might not be aware that they can reimburse themselves from their HSA for any qualified expense that they paid in the current or earlier years, but after the HSA was established. They should be sure to retain their medical receipts. Or they can continue to build their HSA savings to cover out-of-pocket expenses in future years. The Investor – This group views their HSAs as long-term savings tools for future medical expenses, including medical expenses they will incur during retirement. At age 65, they can use their HSA savings also for long-term care expenses and to repay themselves for Medicare premiums that come out of their Social Security checks. Also when reaching age 65, HSA assets can be used for non-medical purposes. Such distributions will be subject to regular income tax, but not the additional 20% penalty tax associated with nonqualified medical expenses. This group also should be reminded of the ability to reimburse themselves for prior-year qualified medical expenses, tax-free. Education EffortsBut this evolution in HSA benefits does not occur if consumers don’t learn of the benefits. Your average members today are busy with their daily lives trying to make ends meet, and many don’t seek this information on their own. They need someone to bring it to them. This education can be provided through a benefit open enrollment meeting, when they open their accounts, through online resources, or even through a seminar. A proven case—Optum enhanced their website and educational content. They sent targeted messages to customers about HSAs and the tools on their website. This resulted in a 26% increase in one-time contributions, a 12% increase in average balances, and a 23% increase in investment account openings. Optum is HSA-focused and is able to dedicate more resources to this than the average credit union, but the concept shows the power of education. You know your member base and your local employers better than a national firm, and can determine your best methods for HSA education.Another case—a private firm I have worked with provides an employer contribution, an HSA overview every year during open enrollment, and access to on-going benefit education. This 2,200 employee firm offers two HSA-eligible HDHPs. More than 91% of their employees made HSA deferrals through payroll deduction and 13% made maximum HSA contributions in 2018. Those combined deferrals will account for nearly $3.7 million in contributions to the HSAs this year.Health savings accounts have the potential to help with near-term medical expenses. They also can be as effective as an IRA, a 401(k), or a 403(b) plan in solving long-term financial needs. It is up your organization to push these lessons to your clients and spread the message of HSA savings benefits. A little effort will go a long way and can result in positive consumer loyalty for your organization.
continue reading » ShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr Member value is a credit union industry term thrown around to try to define the value members receive from their CU. But value itself is a subjective term, meaning different things to different people. There are many ways to evaluate member value, but Callahan & Associates have created a metric to quantify value, making it a more tangible goal. They call it Return to the Member (ROM), and this metric represents a CU’s demonstration of member value. The Credit Union of Vermont has been extremely successful in providing member value, so much so that they have been recognized by Callahan & Associates for their exemplary performance within the ROM metric. The Credit Union of Vermont has ranked at or near the top of Callahan’s Return of the Member metric for nearly a decade. As one of the best in creating member value, here is how the Credit Union of Vermont has achieved their success in the category.Low Operating ExpensesFirst, it’s important to consider how Callahan calculates ROM — they use a combination of interest rates and usage. The Credit Union of Vermont ranked #2 in the second quarter of 2018 when compared to the industry’s 1,049 credit unions with $20 million to $50 million in assets. There are several factors that have allowed the CU of Vermont to maintain their status at the top, one of which is their lean operating structure. They have consolidated technology vendors so most of their products are under one roof, which allows them to operate more efficiently. The Credit Union of Vermont is a $50 million CU and their operating expenses have stayed below 3% since 2009. CEO, Brian Fogg, would like to see that rate drop below 2% in the coming years and channel those savings into greater returns for members. Fogg’s method of creating high ROM is through low loan yields. As they save money on operating expenses, they can offer better rates on loans, fewer fees, and higher deposit rates.
Source: Dropulić Ružić, M. (2015), Department of Tourism, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism PorečN = 1604 guests, 21 hotel facilities in Istria).It often happens that the Hotel Management forgets that all activities, visions and goals are done by people in the field and in contact with guests. Also, the image and brand of the hotel are precisely the people who are in contact with the guests every day and deliver the service, not the virtual image and brand logo. Do we care about our employees? Do we ask them for their opinion? They are the ones who know the real situation and who give us the best possible and free research about the hotel brand as well as what the guests think. One is paper, the other is the terrain and the real environment.The brand of your hotel is your employees. These are the people who work for you, the people you lead and for whom you are a role model. People who love their job. People who are happy and smiling. People who give, not 100 percent, but always a percentage more. People who are valued and respected, people who will “die” for your brand. People who will not go to the competition because it offers them a 500 kn higher salary. To summarize – waiters, cleaners, chefs, receptionists, animators… these are all people who are part of your hotel as well as your brand. Ultimately they are a brand. They are the first and most important to represent your hotel to guests, not the Management. They are in direct contact with guests and an advantage for praise or criticism. Take care of your employees because as you take care of them, so will they take care of your hotel.No sleep, no rest during the season !! The article was taken over from the BRID Association (authors Petra Ivšić and Katerina Duda)The project received support, ie it passed the tender for funding of the Adris Foundation, which is very important due to the implementation of the project itself without thinking about funding from start to finish. Raising awareness of the importance and role of young people not only in tourism but in society in general is a long-term goal of the project, says Dropulić Ružić and adds that it wants to communicate problems, expectations and value systems of young people in the tourism market and encourage changes in attitudes towards young people. towards the professionalization of the hospitality and tourism profession and the popularization of these occupations. ” In the long run, we want to point out the usefulness of such research and analysis, and the need to understand the value system of young people who are the future of this profession, but also society. We need to move away from the usual critical attitude towards young people and make more efforts to understand them and adapt to them. “As part of the project, a website will be created that will serve as an information and educational platform about / for tourism workers in the future, a Facebook page has been launched to achieve better interaction with the target group, and a manual with research results and key youth trends in tourism. The results of the research will be an important basis for day-to-day development and constructive discussion of how and what to do next when we talk about young people in tourism.It is very important that all problems, including the position of young people in tourism, are constructively and argumentatively discussed in public, because we are witnessing that pushing problems under the carpet will not solve anything in the long run. On the contrary, we will bring ourselves into the situation we are in and further complicate the situation. He puts out the fire as he moves, not as the house burns down. Also, it is important that the whole project is in the focus of all tourism workers, as well as hoteliers and tourism institutions because it is about scientific research and the future development of our tourism. As part of the project in Rovinj, on November 03, 11, a Forum on Young Workers will be organized to present the results of the research and which aims to stimulate discussion on the issues of young people (generations Y and Z) who are the future of tourism.This is a topic that requires a lot of activity, planning and constructive discussion, and the praiseworthy research is just the beginning of a story that will, I hope, encourage others to get involved in this issue to make us all better tomorrow. We can’t do without each other, can we?Follow and be part of this excellent scientific project that will give us insight into the state, expectations and needs of young workers in tourism, detect problems and ultimately give us clear guidelines in which direction we must develop and what changes we must make in the tourism labor market. For years, the bubble was inflated with a lack and non-investment in the education and development of employees in our tourism, we “patched” it seasonally without a long-term strategy, and unfortunately due to not dealing with this problem, this bubble burst this year. Various hoteliers as well as other tourism entrepreneurs have had, and still have, a major problem with working force for the tourist season, both in quantity and in the level of experience and quality of tourism workers.Who is to blame here? Of course, it is our wrong paradigm that tourism should not be dealt with strategically and in the long run. Tourism is complex because it is through its synergy that it connects various industries horizontally and vertically, and that is why we need to deal carefully, strategically and in the long run with the development of tourism. Every mistake or wrong step is reflected in various other segments, including the lack or insufficiently educated workforce. The demands of tourism employers as well as the market itself are great, which is great and positive, but it is a bit sad that on the other hand, too little or no investment in human resources has been made in tourism.It is a broader issue that we simply did not deal with enough and everything was left to chance. We see the consequences today, and we will only feel them tomorrow.It is precisely this issue, at the professional and scientific level, within the project “Social distance and polychronicity index of young hotel workers“They deal with the Institute of Tourism, pri Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Porec. Under the leadership of dr.sc. Marinela Dropulić Ružić, and in cooperation with hotel houses on the entire coast, schools and faculties of tourism, a national survey was conducted, aged 15 to 35 employed in hotel facilities on the coast, a scientific study was conducted to contribute to understanding skills, problems and expectations of young people in the hotel industry.Sustainable human resources management in sustainable tourism development was the main topic and guiding thought of the whole project, which is still in the implementation phase, ie all research data are currently being collected and presented in October in Bol (Croatian Tourism Days) and in November in Rovinj. on young workers). “The aim of the project, which involves top experts in the field of human resources management in tourism, is to investigate the level of skills of young employees in the hotel industry, determine their level of engagement, attitudes towards careers in the hotel industry, problems of first work experience. ) differences in the level of service of young people who have grown up and studied in the coastal area and young people from the interior of Croatia. ” points out Dr.sc. Marinela Dropulić Ružić is the leader of the entire project and adds that the average monthly cost of education per employee in tourism has been the same for years. According to Dr. sc. Dropulić Ružić, the value of this project was recognized in the field because they have a database of 5000 questionnaires (2570 employees of hotel companies, 1936 students of tourist schools and 500 students).
Email Don’t focus on the worstPeople with anxiety tend to worry about what might go wrong in a situation and fear that they will do or say something to embarrass themselves. These thoughts not only produce a highly negative mental state characterised by dread and helplessness, but also harmful physiological body changes, such as higher secretion of stress hormones.Being in such a negative state doesn’t allow you to put your best self forward and shine. An effective way to get over this is to stop focusing on what might go wrong. As soon as a worrying thought pops into your head, let it go. Realise that it is just that – a thought or a mental event that will pass just like many others did. This technique is based on mindfulness, which has been shown to lower anxiety in study after study.Another thing you can do when you’re feeling stressed or anxious is to take a few minutes and simply focus on your breathing. If thoughts come into your head as you’re doing this, don’t follow them – let them go and bring your mind gently back to your breaths. This meditative technique will relax you and make you feel calmer.Face your fearsOne of the best ways of getting over your anxiety is through repeated exposure to circumstances that scare you – and this doesn’t apply to just dating. Repeated exposure to situations or people that make you feel anxious eventually lessens your fear response and makes you realise that you really are more resilient than you thought you were.When it comes to social interactions – or any other phobias for that matter – graded exposure is an effective way of getting over those nerves: start small with mildly feared situations and build your way up to more strongly feared circumstances. For example, next time you go to a social event, practice making small talk for a short period of time or make it a point to voice a comment during a group interaction. Next time, practice making small talk for a longer time and with more people. This will retrain your mind to stop seeing social situations as scary and will give you greater control when around others.Don’t replay conversations in your headYou’ve got that “I just met someone” feeling and you can’t help but replay the conversation you’ve just had over in your head. Studies have shown that rumination – or constantly going over situations or conversations in your mind (especially those you’re uncertain of) – will only increase your anxiety. If there is an issue that needs to be dealt with, focus on fixing it or doing something about it – but without reacting to it. This is called problem-focused coping. According to research studies, people who do this have better mental health, tend to feel more positive and have more positive outcomes in life than those who use emotion-focused coping. For example, if someone does something that bothers you, tell this person, but don’t ruminate or think about it afterwards.Are they worth it?Many self-help books talk about what you should do in order to keep someone attracted. But that seems to be totally the wrong way of going about it. He or she may well be attractive and funny – and know just what to say to keep you hooked – but is that enough? Instead of worrying about how you look to the other person or being self-critical, try to find out more about him/her and whether this person is really worth sticking around for. Maybe you’ll discover that this cutie has a lying streak, is unreliable, or says things that he/she doesn’t mean. Is such a person really worth a relationship? Because the only thing worse than being in a bad relationship for a year, is being in a bad relationship for a year and a day.By Olivia Remes, PhD Candidate, University of CambridgeThis article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Share on Facebook Does anxiety keep getting in the way of you making connections with the people you’d like to spend more time with? Maybe you’ve just met someone, but are worried that your anxiety will ruin it all. People with anxiety can be highly self-critical, tend to overestimate the likelihood that something negative will happen, and often feel that others are judging them.Sometimes, just thinking about a social situation can induce panic attacks, which are sudden spikes of intense anxiety that peak within a few minutes and feel like you’re about to have a heart attack, lose control, or go mad. During social situations, people with anxiety might feel short of breath and experience dizziness, sweating, blushing, stuttering, and an upset stomachMany people are affected by anxiety. In fact, one in 14 people around the world will have an anxiety disorder at any given time, with women and young people being most affected. But it is possible to overcome anxiety and date successfully. Here are some top scientific tips. Share on Twitter
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On the job in Los Alamos Thursday at Century Bank are Teller Lizette Erives, Universal Banker Tim Branch and Assistant Branch Manager Missy Smith ready to assist with the banking needs of their customers while practicing COVID-safe protocols. Century Bank Los Alamos Branch is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at 751 Trinity Dr. Ste. 301 in Smith’s Marketplace shopping center. Visit mycenturybank.com or call 505.995.1200. #worklosalamos #wherediscoveriesaremade. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com
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The cargoes discharged by Aaras’ stevedores consisted of 3,677 packages, including heavy generators, steam turbines, hubs, nacelles, lifting gear, a weather mast and steel wire coils, as well as other equipment and accessories in containers.The total weight of the cargo handled by Aaras in Karachi was around 38,655 tonnes.Aaras Projects and Logistics is a member of the Worldwide Project Consortium (WWPC) for Pakistan. www.aaras-projects.comwww.wwpc.eu.com