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Arts & Entertainment Australia Celebrity Media & Communications U.S

Billionaire Heir Andy Valmorbida’s Art World Influence

New York, NY – Andy Valmorbida, the heir to a billion-dollar fortune, has made a significant impact on the art world. He has been involved in numerous high-profile art events, exhibitions, and sales. Valmorbida’s passion for art has led him to create innovative ways to promote emerging artists, and he has become a respected figure in the industry.

In 2015, Valmorbida founded the Valmorbida & Co. art advisory firm, which has quickly become one of the most reputable firms in the industry. The firm specializes in contemporary and modern art and works with collectors, institutions, and artists to provide expertise and guidance on all aspects of the art market.

Valmorbida’s success in the art world has also led to numerous collaborations with fashion brands. He has worked with luxury fashion houses such as Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton to create unique art experiences for their customers.

His influence in the art world has not gone unnoticed. Andrew Valmorbida has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, among others. He has also been a speaker at prestigious art events, such as Art Basel, and has served as a judge for art competitions.

Andy Valmorbida‘s passion for art has driven him to make a significant impact in the industry. His innovative approach to promoting emerging artists and his expertise in the art market has made him a respected figure in the art world. As he continues to work in the industry, it is clear that his influence will only continue to grow.

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Real Estate U.S

Wealthy Gulf Nationals Snapping Up Luxury Properties in New York: Market Poised to See Substantial Growth

New York’s luxury property market is gearing up for a pivotal 2023, with the most exclusive enclaves of the city witnessing a significant uptick in property viewings. Ultra-rich Gulf investors are reportedly snapping up properties in New York, according to Middle East Eye.

NYC Luxury Property Market Is Expanding

Wealthy GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) investors are vying for luxury properties, with New York and London the standout cities in high demand for prime and super-prime sales.

However, over the last few years, the worldwide border restriction due to COVID-19 caused a slowdown in the US property market.

Case in point: International buyers invested $59bn on US residences in the last 12 months ended March 31, 2023, which is the second-lowest home sale since 2009, according to the National Association of Realtors

On top of that, the hefty hikes in interest and mortgage rates, soaring inflation, and a high risk of the recession induced as the after-effect of the Russian invasion of Ukraine further exacerbated the crisis.  

However, with easing border restrictions and the country trying to eke out growth, the USA’s luxury property market is poised for a tremendous comeback.

For example, the upscale property market of Manhattan is reportedly on firm ground. The borough alone witnessed a 35.6% increase in luxury residence transactions through last August compared to the same period in 2021 and from the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

Overall, the city racked up around 244 home sales valued at $10M or more—higher than any other city in the world.

It means: despite soaring economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainties worldwide, the luxury market in New York City remains robust.

The Economies of Gulf Nations Are Booming

Even though the soaring energy prices stemming from the Ukraine conflict have caused higher monetary conditions and rising global inflation, it has buoyed the economies of the Gulf nations.

Inflated oil prices have bolstered GDP growth prospects in Saudi Arabia. The country reported real GDP growth of an eye-watering 8.7% in 2022, the highest among the G-20 countries.

UAE is also radiating optimism, chalking up economic growth of 7.6% in 2022. As a result, Gulf nationals have had their wealth increase.

Again, Dubai has been ranked as the world’s fourth most active luxury residential market last year, with property prices rising roughly 44%.

On the other hand, Riyadh ranked third, with prices surging around 25%.

Again, international investors are splurging money into the Gulf stock market.

UAE’s ADX and Saudi’s Tadawul have been ranked as the best-performing stock markets in the world, while the Initial Public Offering (IPO) in a stock market seems to be paralysed elsewhere.

GCC residents usually have high exposure to the equities of their countries.

Retail investors’ share of total equities trading volume on Tadawul is now around 67%, whereas, for US markets, it’s only 25%. Gulf stocks may seem down this year, but historically, it’s still high.

Gulf Nationals Looking at NYC Properties with Fresh Interest

The strength of the US dollar compared to the Pound Sterling has been underscored as a key player in buoying NYC’s luxury property market.

The US dollar has long been considered a safe-haven asset during political tensions, prompting investors to devise active strategies based on geopolitical shocks.

Ultra-rich GCC nationals already invested in Europe are now turning to the US luxury market as a long-term investment and as part of their effort to maximise their portfolio. 

One leading benefit they enjoy over other foreign investors is that the currencies of the Gulf nations are pegged to the US dollar.

That said, with a massive influx of Gulf nationals preferring contemporary-style interior architecture for their luxury NYC homes, the demand for high-end interior design services like Accouter is ballooning.

By blurring the line between interior design and architecture, a class-leading interior service company can transform exclusive spaces into exquisite homes. 

Wrapping Up

With a substantial number of Gulf nationals flocking to the city, NYC’s luxury property market is poised to grow this year. 

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Arts & Entertainment Books & Literature Leisure Activities Media & Communications U.S

Side Splitters Comedy Club Takes Comedy to a New Level in Tampa, Florida

Florida – Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa Bay’s premier comedy showplace, has been giving laughter since 1992 and is now taking comedy to a new level by inviting headliners to perform at their location in the Grove in Wesley Chapel. Meet comedians such as AJ Finney, AJ Finney with feature act Ricky Hicken, Eleanor Kerrigan, Maija DiGiorgio, Jenny Zigrino, Kevin Farley, Trixx, Mike Menendez, Ben Brainard and more.

“We are excited to be able to bring some of the best comedy talent to our Wesley Chapel location,” said Brian Thompson, owner of Side Splitters Comedy Club. “We have a strong following at our Carrollwood Tampa location and we are thrilled to be able to expand our reach and give our fans even more opportunities to laugh and have a great time.”

Side Splitters has been recognized as one of the best comedy club in the country and has an award-winning open mic. With the help of digital platforms and technology, comedy clubs and comedians have been driven further towards pop culture and into the screens and lives of audiences.

The popularity of comedy clubs is expected to increase, and along with this is the projected annual increase in revenue. Initially, the expectation was that by 2023, comedy clubs would become more prolific due to the rise in fame. However, the pandemic hit and may have derailed the path laid out for comedy clubs.

Side Splitters Comedy Club can provide you a show that will nurture your kind of humor or comedy. Since there is nothing like a live comedic performance, Side Splitters can assure you that your visit will be worthwhile.

For more information about Side Splitters Comedy Club, visit https://sidesplitterscomedy.com/.

 About   

A comedy club is an excellent place to visit if you are a fan of stand-up comedians and improvisational comedies. Performers also do impersonations and other performance comedy in these types of showplaces. Although there are a lot of platforms that show videos of comedians performing their craft, an actual visit to a comedian’s live performance in a comedy showplace is a unique type of experience than just being glued to the screen.

Of course, there are many things to consider now that the world is experiencing a new type of crisis. The temporary closure or limited operations of comedy clubs has been difficult for owners and employees alike. This also resulted in some comedians maximizing their online presence now that physical stand-up is limited or temporarily out of the picture.

In 2018, the projected trend for the comedy club industry was expected to rise at 2.4 percent annually from 2018 to 2023. Multiple factors have set the stage for a rise in the popularity of comedy night out shows. For one, comedians have created a broader and more loyal fan base thanks to their increased popularity in pop culture, social media platforms, and video streaming sites.

Comedians and comedy clubs have been gaining more traction for the last couple of years, they are receiving better name-recall, and now have more following thanks to popular media.

 Are comedy clubs still a trend in this digital era? 

The popularity of comedy clubs is expected to increase, and along with this is the projected annual increase in revenue. Initially, the expectation was that by 2023, comedy clubs would become more prolific due to the rise in fame. However, the pandemic hit and may have derailed the path laid out for comedy clubs.

Interestingly, the digital era is responsible for the current popularity of comedy clubs. With the help of digital platforms and technology, comedy clubs and comedians were driven further towards pop culture and into the screens and lives of audiences.

Before the pandemic, loyal audiences and fans flock comedy bars or clubs to watch in Tampa, Florida. Their favorite performers live. However, most of the comedy clubs in Tampa and other US states have temporarily closed to avoid the spread of the disease. Nonetheless, this has not stopped audiences or comedy clubs from watching comedies online. Comedy has helped people manage stress and anxiety in a difficult time, such as the current pandemic and recession.

What is the best comedy club in Tampa, Florida

Tampa Bay’s premier comedy showplace, Side Splitters Comedy Club, has been giving laughter since 1992. Side Splitters bring in the best talents, whether nationally touring or local. The club’s open mic is also award-winning.

Treat yourself as soon as they open their events once again. Comedians may come and go, but each person regularly needs a good time and hearty laughter, even while physically distancing.

Side Splitters Comedy Club can provide you a show that will nurture your kind of humor or comedy. Since there is nothing like a live comedic performance, Side Splitters can assure you that your visit will be worthwhile.

 

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Business Health & Medicine Professional Services Public Affairs U.S

The Sosa Insurance Group Is Looking for Medicare Insurance Brokers To Join Their Brokarage Firm In New Jersey

West Orange, NJ — The Sosa Insurance Group, a trusted Medicare Health Plan Insurance Agency, is looking for new team members to help serve their growing customer base in New Jersey. With a study from the Social Security Administration showing that 13,000 individuals turn 65 every day, this demographic puts Medicare Insurance Health Plans in high demand.

George Sosa, the co-founder of The Sosa Insurance Group, said, “There are not enough insurance brokers in the field to inform and educate and, most importantly, find the right health plan to fit those Medicare-eligible individuals’ needs and affordability.”

The Sosa Insurance Group seeks a self-starter who would like to work as an independent contractor. As a Licensed Insurance Broker of The Sosa Insurance Group, the chosen individual will spend their time informing and educating the Medicare-eligible consumer, assisting the consumer in selecting the appropriate plan for them, and following up with the client to make sure that the application process goes smoothly from start to finish.

This position offers flexible hours and can be full-time or part-time, depending on availability. The ideal candidate is an individual with an entrepreneurial spirit, inherent self-discipline, good time management, a willingness to learn, and an aptitude for sales, and is comfortable working with computers and adapting to changes. Successful agents also have energetic and engaging personalities, excellent communication skills and empathy for others, a genuine passion for helping others, and the ability to overcome sales objections and close leads over the phone.

As an independent contractor, the chosen individual will have the freedom to achieve the level of success they deserve while they build a solid business that will give them an opportunity to receive Lifetime Residual Income, as long as the client is on their book of business. Compensation and benefits include uncapped commission potential, compensation based on a per-client basis, and lifetime residual income from clients assisted in the previous year(s).

The Sosa Insurance Group is unique in its training offerings, providing local support and training remotely, face-to-face, and in the field. Special preference is given to individuals with a health/life license in NJ.

For more information about the position, please visit our website at https://thesosainsurancegroup.com/.

About The Sosa Insurance Group  

The Sosa Insurance Group is proud to offer the West Orange, NJ community top-notch Medicare and Financial Service Plans. Founded in 2014 by George Sosa, we specialize in Medicare Supplement, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Medicare and Medicaid, Stand-Alone Part D Prescription, Dental, Final Expense, Individual, Long-Term Care Plans, and Financial Service Plans.

George Sosa has been in the Sales and Marketing field for 30 years, holding a B.A. from Rutgers University and having completed numerous continuing education courses and seminars in sales, marketing. Fluent in Spanish, he is a devoted father of three children who founded the company to help retirees and provide flexibility and stable income to brokers. With a passion to inform and educate retirees on the importance of the right Medicare Health Plan, we have become a well-respected presence in West Orange.

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Business Computers & Software Energy & Environment Professional Services U.S

Merlin’s AC & Plumbing Launches Emergency Air Conditioning Repair Services in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona – Merlin’s AC & Plumbing is excited to announce the launch of its new emergency air conditioning repair services in Phoenix, Arizona. As the summer approaches and hot days increase in numbers, Merlin’s AC & Plumbing understands that a malfunctioning air conditioning system can be a major inconvenience for homeowners and businesses alike. That is why the company is now offering 24/7 emergency air conditioner repair services to ensure that customers can receive timely assistance whenever they need it.

The new emergency air conditioning repair services from Merlin’s AC & Plumbing are designed to provide quick and efficient solutions to all air conditioning system problems. The company has a team of highly trained and experienced, HVAC service technicians who can diagnose and repair any AC unit, regardless of its make or model. From refrigerant leaks and malfunctioning fans to circuit breaker issues and faulty HVAC systems, Merlin’s AC & Plumbing can fix it all.

“Customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we understand the importance of having a functioning air conditioning system, especially during the hot summer months in Phoenix,” said the Founder of Merlin’s AC & Plumbing. “Our emergency repair services are designed to provide fast and reliable solutions to all AC system repairs and problems, ensuring that our customers can enjoy cool and comfortable indoor temperatures.”

Merlin’s AC & Plumbing has a reputation for providing high-quality repair services at affordable prices. The company offers transparent pricing and does not charge any hidden fees, ensuring that customers can make informed decisions and choose the best option for their needs and budget.

In addition to emergency repair services, Merlin’s AC & Plumbing also offers regular maintenance services, AC tune-ups, and air filter replacement services to ensure that air conditioning and cooling systems are running smoothly and efficiently. The company uses only the highest quality parts and equipment, and its technicians are trained to provide the best possible service.

To learn more about Merlin’s AC & Plumbing’s emergency heating and air conditioning repair services in Phoenix, Arizona, visit their website at https://www.acandheatingaz.com/ or call 602-892-5338 to schedule an appointment.

About Merlin’s AC & Plumbing

Merlin’s AC & Plumbing is a leading provider of air conditioning and plumbing services in Phoenix, Arizona. With a team of highly trained and experienced technicians, the company provides top-quality repair, maintenance, and installation services at affordable prices. Merlin’s AC & Plumbing is committed to customer satisfaction and strives to exceed expectations with every service call.

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Health & Medicine Science Technology U.K U.S

FDA Releases Draft Guidance for Decentralised Clinical Trials; Adoption of DCT is Expected to Increase

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reportedly released a draft guidance detailing its recommendations on performing decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) for drugs, biological products and medical devices.

With the draft, FDA is committed to providing trial sponsors, researchers, and other stakeholders with guidance on how to accelerate DCT adoption to facilitate drug development, reported European Pharmaceutical Review.

FDA’s New Draft Guidance

The newly issued draft guidance is developed on the recommendations the agency detailed in 2020. With the earlier guidance, FDA aimed to help study teams facilitate trial decentralisation in response to the disruptions (e.g. travel restrictions, site closure, quarantines) and public health emergencies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The FDA has long considered the benefits of decentralised clinical trials. Advancements in digital health technologies and the COVID-19 pandemic – when in-person visits were limited or unavailable for many trial participants – have accelerated the broader adoption of these activities,” explained FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf.

This new draft offers recommendations related to the FDA’s conditions for investigations of medicinal products when applied to decentralised studies and meets the requirement outlined in section 3606(a)(1), FDA Omnibus Reform Act (FDORA).

FDA released the guidance a few months after the EU regulators demonstrated their recommendations on DCT to help protect the rights and well-being of the trial participants.

In the draft guidance, FDA provides stakeholders with recommendations on DCT design, conducting remote clinical trial visits and clinical trial-related activities, the adoption of digital health technologies (DHT) as enablers of clinical research, the responsibilities of the involved stakeholders, and how investigational medicine should be administered.

Breaking Down the Recommendations

Providing a framework for DCT design, FDA stresses the importance of having a physical location while conducting DCTs to ensure easy access to participant records and investigators’ care.

The trial protocol should clearly define when a tele-health checkup is required and when a patient needs an in-person visit.

FDA urges investigators to confirm participant identity during each remote visit.

According to the agency, the protocols for using DHTs in a virtual trial to gather data for trial endpoints should be compatible with the draft guidance “Digital Health Technologies for Remote Data Acquisition in Clinical Investigation”.

Additionally, in the newly released draft guidance, the FDA has urged sponsors to strive for enhancing participant diversity and inclusiveness in clinical trials. 

FDA stresses the importance of engaging local healthcare providers (HCPs” in trial activities to build trust with at-risk participants, thus improving the inclusion of diverse populations. 

While DCTs and hybrid models can encourage a much higher enrollment rate, FDA suggests investigators recruit only as many participants as they can efficiently manage to provide enough supervision of trial-related activities. 

According to the agency, while taking remote consent from the trial participants, they should be informed about whom to contact in case they face any health issues during the trial period and who can access their personal health information (PHI) acquired during the DCT.

FDA underscores leveraging central IRB in decentralised trials as a key to facilitating the review of the protocol, the informed consent documents, and other pertinent trial data.

In addition, investigational products (IP) should be administered to the participants only under the in-person supervision of the investigator or the supervision of a sub-investigator answerable to the investigator.

It’s recommended for sponsors to take into account the type of an investigational device, its prospective application, and the associated risks to determine its use cases efficiently.

IPs can be directly delivered to the participants’ location and the trial protocol should clearly define the methods of preserving the integrity and stability of the IP.

FDA recommends the use of a centralised distribution system to facilitate the delivery of IP to trial participants.

The sponsor is responsible for thoroughly monitoring the DCT processes while ensuring the trial is being conducted per the general investigational protocols and considerations included in the IND or IDE applications. 

The implemented safety monitoring plan in a trial should be devised considering the decentralised nature of the investigation. It should ensure any adverse events are detected early, correctly captured, and efficiently addressed.

FDA suggests sponsors implement high-end DCT software that can help manage electronic case report forms (eCRFs) and electronic informed consent (eConsent), schedule trial activities, sync data input in DHTs, and more. 

High-end DCT platforms such as ObvioHealth can efficiently address the issues of data inaccuracy and the interoperability essential to produce robust trial outcomes and endpoints.

Wrapping Up

Decentralised and hybrid study models are considered the way forward to decrease the patient burden. Offering participants the support and flexibility they need, DCTs also help improve data quality. 

The result: augmented trial result and accelerated drug development

“As we seek to improve our evidence generation system, decentralised clinical trials may enhance convenience for trial participants, reduce the burden on caregivers, expand access to more diverse populations, improve trial efficiencies, and facilitate research on rare diseases and diseases affecting populations with limited mobility,” commented FDA Commissioner.

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Computers & Software Technology U.K U.S

Leading IT Service and Consulting Company Atos Launched Eviden Brand Ahead of the Planned €5 billion Carve-out

Ahead of the pre-planned €5 billion carve-out, Atos has reportedly unveiled its Eviden brand.

In June 2022, Atos – the leading French multinational IT service and consulting company – announced to curate strategies to split itself down the middle.

As planned, the company has cleaved itself in two, with its burgeoning digital, big data, and security (BDS) lines to operate as Eviden, according to Consultancy Europe.

The other half, which comprises the business’s tech foundations business line, will continue under the Atos name. To differentiate this carved-out, future entity from the current Atos business, the company is addressing it as TFCo for now. 

Breaking Down the Carve-out

The split-up, costing around €1.5 billion, is planned to be “effective at the earliest on July 1, 2023, and at the latest on December 31, 2023”. The brand of the spin-off business was launched in April this year.

The new business, initially slated to be launched as Evidian, later spun out from Atosunder the name “Eviden,” retaining the same etymology (“evidence”).

The post-carve-out Atos business is planned to constitute the Digital Workplace, Data Centre and Hosting, Unified Communications, and Business Process Outsourcing units of Atos. 

Operating within the Atos business and trading as “Eviden, an Atos business,” the spin-off company also includes the Atos Consulting business.

Eviden – which comprises the shrinking units of the parent company – would have a headcount of roughly 48000 globally and revenues of around €5.4B.

Atos has confirmed to invest €1.1 billion during the 2022-2026 period as part of its effort to support a return on investment (ROI).

Fleshing Out the Reasons Behind the Split-up

After conducting a “preliminary strategic review,” Atos, one of the world’s leading IT businesses with revenues of €11 billion – decided to split itself into two separate entities in order to “unlock more value” for the stakeholders. 

However, tough economic headwinds facing the company have been marked as the key reason behind the spin-off. 

Even though the IT business is expanding at a breakneck pace globally, last year, Atos saw a sharp decline of 3% in its revenue. Earlier this year, the technology consulting giant issued its third profit warning due to the significant difference in the financial KPIs, causing the company’s shares to plunge to their lowest since mid-2022. 

The strategy Atos adopted to cleave itself in two businesses is similar to how IBM spun out its $19B managed infrastructure services into Kyndryl in November 2021.

According to its hot-off-the-presses site, Eviden is committed to turning out as a global leader in “data-driven, trusted and sustainable digital transformation,” bringing together the digital, cloud, and big data & security business lines of the parent company Atos.

Billing itself as “one of the largest carve-outs the industry has ever seen,” Eviden demonstrates its vision to “expand the possibilities of data and technology”.

That said, being a highly intricate and cross-functional process, a carve-out transaction needs to be executed carefully and by experts.

For any dynamic business looking to maximise its transaction value, investing in an expert carve-out consulting service like Fission Consulting is a logical investment.

A high-end service helps streamline the slew of complex and lengthy processes to speed up the overall separation timeline while ensuring data accuracy.

Wrapping Up

Nikki Kelly, former Senior Vice President for Public Sector and Defence in Northern Europe at Atos has been elected as the CEO of Northern Europe & APAC for Eviden, an Atos company.

“I’m excited to start my new role with Eviden as the CEO for Northern Europe & Asia Pacific,” stated the newly appointed CEO. “A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help scale a €5 billion new company with deep industry expertise, innovation in our DNA, helping our clients to be competitive and deliver secure, digital business solutions quickly at scale.”

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Business Marketing & Sales Media & Communications Professional Services U.S

Tammy Donnell, Founder of BRND Agency, Reveals Three Branding Mistakes That Can Kill a Business Before It Even Gets Started

A brand is considered to be one of a company’s most valuable assets and helps people instantly identify a company, product, or service. In addition, great branding helps ensure brand consistency so that a business is presented in a cohesive manner across all marketing channels and platforms. The primary goal of branding is to build trust, and credibility with customers and clients, which leads to brand loyalty.

“When business branding is done correctly, it will differentiate a company from the competition and connect emotionally with its customers so that a trusted relationship is formed that can stand the test of time,” according to Tammy Donnell, the founder of BRND Agency. She says there are three branding mistakes that can be the death of a business.

Mistake #1 – Failure to communicate the business’s origin story. Every business has an origin story and it is the foundation of a business that starts as a solution to a problem, an idea, a vision, or a new discovery. “Consider the origin story as a warm handshake, the kind of genuine handshake where the other person uses both hands, which creates a deep emotional connection with a person that becomes a friend for life,” Donnell advises, “People connect through stories since people buy from people. This origin story connects the business emotionally to its customers or clients and creates a loyal, trusting, long-term relationship.”

Mistake #2 – Failure to connect with authenticity. Every business has a set of values, a mission, and a message and if this is not communicated in the proper tone and with a unique selling proposition, the business will fail to connect with their ideal audience. Many businesses fail to share these authentic emotional connection points with customers and clients that are an important bridge that connects and creates community.

Mistake #3 – Failure to create a seamless brand consistency across all marketing channels and platforms. A well-crafted brand requires consistency in messaging and visuals starting with branding guidelines for websites, funnels, social media, and copywriting. Donnell says, “It’s like a well-tuned orchestra that requires each instrument to be played harmoniously and the continuity ensures that customers and clients not only recognize and identify a brand, but that they are happy to share it with their friends and family.”

Branding often seems overly complicated and it can be overwhelming for business owners. Tammy Donnell helps businesses of all sizes build their brand across every digital medium and expand their digital footprint with consistency and clarity in a way that seamlessly works together as a cohesive brand. She works with clients based in the U.S. and worldwide and you can connect with her at BRNDAgency.com to discuss business branding strategies.

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Agriculture & Farming Lifestyle Living Shopping & Deal U.S

Unplug and share The moment with Merritt Toys and Games

Merritt, British Columbia: Selling Board games has been Mike’s Life and the modern world is filled with distractions, and it can be challenging to disconnect from technology and the internet. However, it is essential to take a break from technology and engage in other activities, such as playing board games.

Work Management Games

Board games have been around for centuries, and they are a fantastic way to relax, socialize, and have fun. In this article, we will explore the importance of unplugging and playing board games, work management and set collecting games, and two popular board games: Viticulture and Lords of Waterdeep.

Mike States The Importance of Unplugging and Playing Board Games

In today’s world, people are always connected to their smartphones, laptops, and other devices. This constant connection to technology can be overwhelming and stressful. Playing board games is an excellent way to unplug and relax. Board games provide a break from the constant stimulation of technology and give people an opportunity to engage in face-to-face interactions with friends and family. In addition, board games can improve cognitive function and reduce stress levels.

One of the benefits of playing board games is that they can be a great way to socialize. Board games require people to interact with each other, which can help strengthen relationships and build new ones. Board games also allow people to practice essential social skills such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Board games can also be an excellent way to improve cognitive function. Many board games require players to use critical thinking skills, problem-solving, and strategy. These skills can help improve memory, concentration, and decision-making abilities. Board games are also a great way to improve creativity and imagination.

Playing board games can also reduce stress levels. Board games provide a fun and relaxing way to unwind and take a break from the stresses of everyday life. Board games can also help improve mood and promote feelings of happiness and well-being.

Work Management and Set Collecting Games are must try says Mike

Work management and set collecting games are board games that require players to manage resources, plan ahead, and make strategic decisions. In these games, players must balance competing priorities and allocate resources efficiently to achieve their objectives.

One example of a work management game is Agricola. In Agricola, players take on the role of a farmer and must manage their resources, such as land, animals, and crops. Players must balance their time between farming, building, and raising a family to succeed in the game.

Set collecting games, on the other hand, require players to collect sets of cards or other items to score points. One example of a set collecting game is Settlers of Catan. In Settlers of Catan, players collect resources, such as wood, brick, and wheat, to build settlements and cities. Players must also trade resources with other players to succeed in the game.

Work management and set collecting games are excellent for people who enjoy planning, strategy, and resource management. These games require players to think ahead and make decisions based on their long-term objectives.

Viticulture Board Game

Viticulture is a board game designed for 1-6 players and is set in the world of wine-making. In Viticulture, players take on the role of vineyard owners and must manage their vineyards, harvest grapes, and produce wine to score points. The game is designed for players aged 14 and up and takes approximately 45-90 minutes to play.

The game is played over several rounds, with each round representing one season. Players must plan ahead and manage their resources efficiently to produce the best wine and earn the most points. The game also includes a worker placement mechanic, where players must assign workers to different tasks to gain resources or take actions.

One of the unique features of Viticulture is the visitor card system. Visitors are special cards that can be played during the game to provide bonuses or special abilities.

https://merrittgames.com/products/viticulture-essential-edition-2015

https://merrittgames.com/products/agricola-revised-edition

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Fayetteville, NC Celebrates Military Appreciation Week

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, SANDHILLS PROSPERITY ZONE RECOGNIZES MILITARY SPOUSE’S EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF SERVICE MEMBERS’S CAREERS 

 

Fayetteville, NC –In advance of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, May 12, 2023, NC Department of Commerce, Sandhills Prosperity Zone plans a week-long celebration of the extraordinary contributions of military spouses in support of their families, community and loved ones in uniform.

The celebration will have a regional aspect including remote events in Hoke and Moore Counties (9/11 May respectively) and a three day affair (8-9 and 11 May) in Fayetteville.  The Fayetteville portion of the celebration will consist of the following:

 

Day One Monday, May 8, 2023 Iron Mike Conference Center Fort Bragg

 

Military Spouse Panel Discussion/Round Table Meetings. The morning activities will include a 5-6 member panel of current and former military spouses discussing the issues they faced during the periods that their partner served on active duty in the military. The afternoon sessions (round table) would be devoted to carving out resolutions to some of the problems discussed in the morning discussions. A Military Spouse of the Year Award will be presented as portion of the First Day’s events. We anticipate an audience of 100-150 spouses.   

 

Day Two Tuesday 9 May 2023 Fayetteville State University

Workshops for Entrepreneurship/Employment Planning and Preparation/VA Benefits/Disability Benefits . 

 

These workshops are intended to introduce the spouse to the diverse resources available to assist/support them in all phases of life. The workshops will run simultaneously 9am-5pm. Fifty to sixty spouses are expected to participate in each workshop.

 

 

Day 3 Thursday 11 May 2023 Fayetteville State University

 

Career and Resources Fair  

NC WORKS FAYETTEVILLE will host 70-80 employers and resource providers from a varied array of occupations/fields to provide employment opportunities and information relating to critical community and government resources. Though the focus of this event is military spouses and veterans it will be open to the public. It is anticipated that more than 500 job seekers will attend.