Randi Minetor

When Dianne Doherty spotted a Roseate Spoonbill near the Androscoggin River Dam in Gorham, New Hampshire on 30 Jul 2021, the sighting became the state’s first record for the species. It was far from an isolated incident, however. Spoonbills have appeared throughout the U.S. this summer (2021), and two other states (Massachusetts and Michigan) and the District of Columbia have all recorded the species for the first time. Wood storks, a bird closely associated with south Florida, also is appearing in the north with great frequency. What is causing these iconic Florida bird to make their way northward? I interviewed experts to find out.

With their 2020 tour schedule cancelled, the three lead members of AJR — Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met, brothers with a 15-year performance history — found themselves with massive amounts of creativity to burn and no immediate outlet to burn it. They came up with the idea of a single night’s 90-minute performance with all of the wonder of an arena show, but with a ticketed audience watching from their homes or offices.

On a Night Like This: Bon Jovi 2020, a non-concert video available for free on YouTube at plsn.me/bonjovi, provides an unusually intimate performance experience in a studio in Nashville, on what Jon tells us is Day 167 of the Covid shutdown.

Here’s proof positive that a city doesn’t have to be a major metropolis to draw the world’s most accomplished performing artists. In Stillwater, Oklahoma, a city of about 50,000 residents halfway between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, a series of enlightened individuals saw the potential for attracting top artists, and they determined the most likely way to make this happen. Oklahoma State University (OSU) president Burns Hargis became the driving force behind the movement for a new, on-campus performing arts center, one that would reflect the scope of the university’s strong music and theatre programs. “I thought we needed a showplace, both for the university and for Stillwater,” he told OStateTV, the campus television network. “We really went round and roundabout, trying to figure out how to make it happen.”

At the geographic center of San Antonio's Riverwalk—a five-mile lane of shops, restaurants, hotels, and nightspots along the city's San Antonio River—the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts connects directly with the footpath, inviting visitors to stop at this newly revived and reimagined cultural center. The 120-foot-high structure is wrapped in a metal veil, a shimmering mesh that becomes a spectacle on the city's skyline and complements the environment. If it's early morning, the twinkling veil reflects the pale rose and blue of a Texas desert sunrise; if it's twilight, the entire building turns a deep blue to match the darkening sky. Every visit the Tobin Center brings a different perspective, thanks to the ingenious design by Seattle-based LMN Architects, in association with local architecture firm Marmon Mok, which unites the center's historic facade with new construction in the blend reminiscent of the Beaux-Arts style.

Birdwatching is for everyone. No other outdoor pursuit yields so much knowledge of nature's ways with so little effort--if one knows what to look for. Birding Florida opens the world of birding to the novice and expert in this complete guide to getting the most out of birding in Florida. Birding Florida includes sections on birding technology, equipment, identification techniques, birding "by ear," where to view birds, field guides, optics, and other essentials to get birders of all skill levels into the field to identify birds throughout Florida. Especially valuable are descriptions of habitat, feeding, nesting, and migration--informing the reader not only about what kind of bird is on the other end of the binoculars, but what it is up to as well. Includes: GPS coordinates for each species of the top three to five locations where you're likely to see the bird and what time of year is best for this Full-color photos Over 300 species

To enjoy all that New York state roadways have to offer, jump in the car and drive to sweeping lake or ocean views, lush vineyard landscapes, or breathtaking mountain vistas. Featuring more than 1,900 miles of scenic routes and byways, this indispensable highway companion maps out unforgettable trips for exploring New York’s natural beauty. Scenic Driving New York features thirty separate drives through the Empire State with delicious ice cream stops and fun side trips along the way. Buckle up and begin your next journey!

From the top of the Adirondack Northway to the precipitous drop that creates Niagara Falls, Hiking Waterfalls in New York State provides all of the information readers need to find their way to waterfalls --all on public lands, hidden in the crevices of the Catskill Mountains, high on the faces of the High Peaks, flowing through magnificent gorges into the Finger Lakes, or deep in the backcountry of the Southern Tier. Detailed driving and hike descriptions include slices of history and glimpses of geology. GPS coordinates, maps, and color photos of over 200 of the state's best waterfalls on more than 100 hikes make certain that hikers and sightseers will find their way to these sparking gems, whether they can be seen from the roadside or at the end of a lengthy trail.

Why does conflict surround us in everyday life, from spats between individuals to major conflicts involving large groups? Is conflict inevitable? Why are conflicts and differences of opinion often so hard to resolve? Blowing Up: The Psychology of Conflict focuses on interpersonal conflict and the ways that this level of conflict can move beyond the original relationship to permeate larger constructs―small groups, large groups, whole organizations, and even entire nations. By examining both the positive and negative consequences of conflict―and by documenting its existence as normal and common―readers can appreciate how conflict does not immediately equate to negative feelings and how it also can be useful in creating rules and laws, aiding in negotiation, and bringing people together to work toward a common goal. This clear and accessibly written book in Greenwood's Psychology of Everyday Life series provides students with an understanding of the important role conflict plays in our lives, the many forms conflict may take, and the ways that conflict can actually be constructive and useful as well as destructive to relationships, discussions, and groups. The historical overview of established theories and the study of conflict to date provides readers with invaluable perspective into the subject by identifying and analyzing specific conflicts, including well-publicized conflicts in foreign countries. The book also charts conflict throughout the life cycle to help students identify the reasons for conflicts that occur in their own lives―with parents, friends, siblings, employers, romantic partners, and people in authority.