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Plants to Feng Shui a patio – 5 picks to create a soothing outdoor sanctuaryKusyairi (fourth left) and other guests pose after the launching of the workshop. KOTA SAMARAHAN (Dec 21): The disposal of excessive food waste is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately due to its increasingly negative impact on the environment. In stating this, Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) acting general manager Kusyairi Bostani revealed that food waste in Kota Samarahan alone reached 43,000 metric tonnes in 2021, and is likely to increase in the coming years. Due to food waste causing other problems including soil pollution, odour and fires at garbage dumps, he called on the public to take proactive steps to reduce food waste disposal through composting activities, starting from their own home. “Public awareness of this issue is still low because we can see that the amount of food waste continues to increase from year to year. “This requires a comprehensive and thorough effort for us to achieve the target of zero food waste through the efforts of villagers to separate domestic waste from homes using available technology,” he said. He was speaking when launching a home composting workshop held at Kampung Naie Lama here today in conjunction with the ‘Towards Zero Food Waste by 2030’ campaign. Apart from maintaining environmental sustainability, Kusyairi said making compost from home could also generate additional income for the villagers by selling to buyers. The programme was organised by LCDA together with the Muara Tuang Women’s Development Association and the Naie Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK), brought together 150 participants from eight villages, namely Kampung Mang, Kampung Empila, Kampung Niup, Kampung Tanjung Tuang, Kampung Melayu, Kampung Naie Lama, Kampung Bangka Semong and Kampung Nakong.
NoneWalker's 20 help IU Indianapolis knock off Trinity Christian 106-49
LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the "modest award." Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. "She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice," she said. "I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served." The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. "He's not a man, he's a coward," attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is." Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him "no" as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, "now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. "I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman's complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said "she never said 'no' or stopped" and testified that everything she said was a lie. "It is a full blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings." McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. "You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch." The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor's arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked "happy, happy, happy." McGregor said he was "beyond petrified" when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor's friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent.National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) Plans $0.90 Quarterly DividendIn Syria , the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Asad brought joy to many people who had lived through 13 years of intermittent civil war and decades of dictatorship . PUBLICIDAD However, it also fragmented Syrian territory. Several armed factions now compete for control and legitimacy, and external actors are eager to preserve their regional interests in the midst of chaos. PUBLICIDAD The fall of the regime of took place so quickly that it not only caught the Syrians by surprise, but also the international community. This was the case for the geopolitical analyst Aboud Barsekh-Onji , 37 years old, who has been living in Mexico since 2013. In an interview with Metro World News , he shared a bit of his life in Aleppo and how he perceives the events that changed the landscape and destiny of the country where he was born and raised. MWN: When did you leave Syria and have you returned since then? ABO: I left Aleppo on June 1, 2012, when the situation in different parts of the country was beginning to deteriorate. I have not returned to Syria since then. As a context, popular discontent with the government of Bashar al-Assad triggered pro-democracy protests and demonstrations in March 2011. After months of state repression, several armed extremist groups began to form throughout the country. By mid-2012, the conflict had escalated and talks of a revolution or civil war were already underway . First, I spent some time in Lebanon because my maternal family is Lebanese. I truly thought that things would improve and that I would soon be able to return. When I realized that the conflict would be prolonged, I decided to emigrate to Mexico in the spring of 2013. MWN: Nearly three weeks after Bashar Assad's fall, why did it happen so quickly and unexpectedly? ABO: The Middle East is not a region that, in general terms, reflects stability, neither in recent years nor in recent decades or centuries, amidst dictatorships, monarchies, wars, sectarian conflicts , etc. We saw it with the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and later with the fall of the leaders of Libya and Egypt in 2011. Now we see it in Syria. It is regrettable that the region has been suffering for many years due to these types of conflicts. Beyond military conflicts, I am talking about conflicts based on ideological and religious beliefs that prevent countries from moving towards a public administration where there is a real separation between religion and the state. I think their biggest mistake was governing like a dictator . If they had managed the country with that secular vision they had, but in an institutional way, allowing other people and ethnic groups to come to power, history would be different. However, I also consider that he did good things for the country . MWN: Could you share more details? ABO: Syria was one of the countries in the world where you could sleep with the doors of your house open and no one would enter. I am talking about how things were before 2010. Some things, such as quality education and healthcare, were better than in many countries , including Mexico. Bashar, like his father, was part of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party . When they came to power over 50 or 60 years ago, they had a vision of a social structure for the region, separating religion from the state. People were truly seeking to break free from the bubble of religion and move towards a more modern environment. The problem was that, as happened in other parts of the world with other countries with socialist governments, they began to move away from the principles of socialism and democracy . MWN: What was it like to live in a country ruled by the Assads? ABO: Hafez al-Assad , father of Bashar al-Assad , who ruled for three decades, began to favor his religious group, the Alawites , an ethno-religious group that separated from Shia Islam during the 9th century. Their government, as well as Bashar's, were characterized by protecting the country's minorities, such as Catholics, Armenians, Kurds, Druze, etc., as they themselves were part of a minority in a country where the majority of the population are Sunni Muslims. It may sound harsh, but I don't believe that democracy is necessarily synonymous with well-being . Would you prefer a country ruled by a dictator, but where you have everything you need to live well, or a country where there is a certain degree of democracy, but the country is not doing well socially or economically? The Asads ruled like kings but, to a certain extent, continued with the discourse that they were leading a republic. It was their big mistake to keep insisting that they were at the head of a republic without making institutional changes . MWN: If things were relatively good in Syria, why did they experience the so-called Arab Spring? ABO: At that time, there was opposition in Syria represented by different parties, made up of groups and individuals from different ethnicities and religions, but they never sought a change through weapons . In fact, there was a certain fear in the country even to speak ill of the government. The State's intelligence apparatus was very strong and people did not think or imagine that one day it would be possible to overthrow the government or that the Arab Spring would reach Syria. However, people from other countries with extremist ideas started to arrive, with military and financial support from extremist groups and even individuals from different countries, Arabs, non-Arabs, Westerners, etc. And that's when things started to spiral out of control. Some of these extremist or terrorist groups openly talked about creating an Islamic state in Syria , or returning the region to the era of Muslim caliphates. Many centuries ago, Syrians were not Muslims; Islam came to Syria through the expansion of these caliphates, which imposed their religion, language, and many of their customs. So in a way, what happened and what is happening in Syria is something that the region has experienced before . MWN: Many people celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Asad, or at least those were the images that circulated around the world... After the fall of the regime, we saw scenes of partying and celebration, even in the historic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, by some groups. Now the Sunnis have the control that was taken from the Alawites. But as I was saying before, it's a struggle that has lasted for centuries, and among the different factions vying for power in Syria, there are some that want, or at least a few years ago they claimed to want, to create an Islamic state in the country. In other words, a state governed by Sharia law or Islamic law. I believe that what happened in Syria was the reincarnation of conflicts that have been going on for centuries, beyond just wanting to overthrow a dictator . It has mostly religious connotations. This explains how extremist groups, some officially classified as terrorists, got involved and received large amounts of weapons and money to enter the country and overthrow a regime that represented the Shia presence in Damascus , which was the capital of the Umayyad Empire. It cannot be said that the entire Syrian population took to the streets to celebrate Bashar's fall. Many people have taken a neutral or cautious stance, as uncertainty now reigns. If we only rely on what we see in the media, the scenes in Syria have already been witnessed and experienced in Iraq and Libya. And the changes were not necessarily for the better. Why should we believe that Syria will be better now? MWN: What's next for Syria? ABO: There is a lot of uncertainty . People don't know what's coming next, after the fall of a government that was in power for over 50 years. While the new authorities say they are progressive and want a united and inclusive Syria, people are not entirely sure that this is what will come. In fact, different parts of Syria are under the control of different groups and individuals , so there will undoubtedly be a stage of instability and transition that could last for decades, in an environment of different geopolitical interests that directly affect the country. The only solution would be to establish a pragmatic technocratic state, and sadly what "the rebels" started to do does not seem to be heading in that direction . Unfortunately, I believe it will take 20 years before Syria returns to the stability it experienced under Assad's rule . In the end, it could be a negotiation, a planned handover... trading one thing for another. That would explain the speed at which things unfolded a few weeks ago. * Aboud Barsekh-Onji is a Mexican researcher, communicator, and engineer of Syrian origin, specializing in geopolitics, technological innovation, and energy management.If the world wasn't already put on notice, Raiders' Brock Bowers did it vs. Chiefs by breaking several records again
In their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Ipswich, although much improved in the second half, have now lost five of their last six games, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table, three points away from safety. Mikel Arteta’s men have been rocked by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months. Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening. The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards. It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved. Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike. Havertz thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead with 34 minutes gone when he converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross. But Jesus – handed his third successive start for the first time in a year – strayed into an offside position in the build-up. When referee Darren England blew for half-time, Ipswich had failed to touch the ball in Arsenal’s box, becoming just the second side to do so in the Premier League this season. Nottingham Forest were the other, away at Liverpool, before they went on to inflict Arne Slot’s sole defeat of his tenure so far. And for all of Arsenal’s possession, while they held just a one-goal advantage, Ipswich knew they were still in the game. An encouraging start to the second half for the Tractor Boys ensued, albeit without testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Shortly after the hour mark, Gabriel should have settled any growing Emirates nerves when he arrived unmarked to Declan Rice’s corner, but the defender headed wide of Arijanet Muric’s post when it looked easier to score. Martin Odegaard then forced a fine fingertip save from Muric at his near post after a mazy run and shot from the Arsenal skipper. Rice’s stinging goal-bound volley from the following corner was blocked by Dara O’Shea as Arsenal pushed for a game-killing second. Havertz should have tapped home Trossard’s header but he fluffed his lines. And moments later, substitute Mikel Merino’s effort was diverted from danger by a diving Muric. Ipswich looked to catch Arsenal on the counter, but the match ended without them registering a single effort on Raya’s goal. Ipswich fans goaded their opponents with chants of “boring, boring Arsenal”, but it was the Gunners who enjoyed the last laugh as they saw out 2024 with a win which keeps the pressure on Liverpool.
NEW YORK — Outside Nebraska football team’s hotel, sirens blared, horns honked and music cut through the cold December air. A lengthy procession of cars, escorted by the New York Police Department, paraded through the Manhattan streets reveling with passers-by as they celebrated Hanukkah in full force on Thursday night. While trips to a New York Knicks game, the 9/11 Museum and other sights around New York City have been highlights for the Nebraska football roster, head coach Matt Rhule is pleased with the level of focus he’s seen from his players. “Walking around New York City, there’s a lot of things to do that could pull you away (from the game), but they’ve done everything right and we’ve practiced well,” Rhule said. One final non-football activity took place Friday morning when Rhule, Ty Robinson, Isaac Gifford and Jahmal Banks went to the New York Stock Exchange. Rhule helped ring the bell to denote the opening of the stock markets for the day. People are also reading... Beatrice house suffers severe damage from Christmas fire Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend At the courthouse, Dec. 21, 2024 Beatrice church starts construction on fellowship hall Former Beatrice man sentenced for sex assault of runaway City employee retires after 47 years Gage County supervisors vote down FOP contract offer Two faces charges in January vehicle thefts Downtown Beatrice festive for the holidays Beatrice man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images What’s open and closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024? Beatrice's Schroeder wins at Junior Angus show Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs with LOVB's Omaha team Matt Rhule and Nebraska football plan Pinstripe Bowl practice in Central Park Main Street welcomes new director “I’ve grown up here and if you’d told me in one day I’d be on the floor of the stock exchange ringing the bell and a couple hours later I’d be on the field at Yankee Stadium, I never would have believed you,” Rhule said. Having arrived in New York on Monday, Nebraska has practiced in multiple different locations which include the New York Giants practice facility, Fordham University and a Christmas-day walkthrough inside Central Park. “When we landed we went right to practice, and the first thing we did was put our pads on and hit,” Rhule said. “We’ve given them some free time, we’ve done a lot of cool things and celebrated Christmas together, but at the end of the day this is an opportunity for us to finish our season the right way.” * Friday marked the first time Nebraska stepped foot inside Yankee Stadium for an on-field walkthrough prior to playing in the Pinstripe Bowl. As players and coaches alike soaked up the feeling of being inside the legendary sports venue, Rhule found himself impressed with the bowl game’s setup. “A lot of times they play a football game in a baseball stadium and it’s kinda shoehorned in there, but when they rebuilt Yankee Stadium they certainly did it right because (the field) fits perfectly,” Rhule said. * A photo posted by Nebraska football’s social media accounts on Thursday showed the nine newcomers who traveled with the team and have taken part in NU’s bowl game practices. Transfer defensive end Jaylen George and eight incoming freshmen have gotten a “jumpstart” to their Nebraska careers, Rhule said, by being part of team meetings and the on-field preparation. * With wide receiver Isaiah Neyor having opted out of Nebraska’s bowl game, Rhule identified Jaylen Lloyd and Keelan Smith as two wideouts who could see increased opportunities on Saturday. * Nebraska’s transfer portal efforts are not yet fully finished. Following the New Year, the Huskers can again host transfer players on campus for visits. “We’ll be back at work on the first,” Rhule said. “There’s no break, there’s no vacation and there’s no time away; there’s the game and then we’ll be ready to host people that first week (of January).” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Mumbai, Dec 27: The domestic benchmark indices ended with gains on Friday as buying was seen in pharma, auto, IT, financial service, FMCG, media, and private bank sectors on Nifty. Sensex ended at 78,699.07, up by 226.59 points or 0.29 per cent and Nifty settled at 23,813.40, up by 63.20 points or 0.27 per cent. Nifty Bank ended at 51,311.30, up by 140.60 points, or 0.27 per cent. The Nifty Midcap 100 index closed at 56,979.80 after dropping 145.90 points, or 0.26 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index closed at 18,755.85, after rising 27.20 points, or 0.15 per cent. On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), 1,946 shares ended in green and 2,026 shares in red, whereas there was no change in 115 shares. According to experts, “The Christmas week trading ended on a subdued note; a lack of major triggers and caution ahead of the swearing in of the US Republican Party administration continued to impact the sentiment.” “While the rupee dropped to a new low, weighed down by the expectation of fewer Fed rate cuts, a widening trade deficit, and weak economic growth,” they added. On the sectoral front, selling was seen in the PSU Bank, Metal, Realty, Energy, Infra and Commodities sectors on Nifty. In the Sensex pack, M&M, IndusInd Bank, Tata Motors, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Sun Pharma, Nestle India, ICICI Bank and Asian Paints were the top gainers. SBI, Tata Steel, Zomato, UltraTech Cement, HCL Tech, L&T, Titan, TCS and Power Grid were the top losers. The Indian rupee closed at a new low of 85.54 per dollar. The previous close of the Indian currency was 85.26. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 2,376.67 crore on December 26, while domestic institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 3,336.16 crore on the same day.
Donald Trump said Saturday that a surprise meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Florida was "very productive," days after the incoming US leader rattled Ottawa with a vow to impose tariffs on Canadian imports. Trudeau, on an unannounced visit, had been seen smiling Friday as he exited a hotel in West Palm Beach to head to a dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Afterward, Trump posted on his Truth Social website that he had had "a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau." He said the two men had discussed issues including "the Fentanyl and Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration." He added, "Prime Minister Trudeau has made a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation of U.S. Families." Trudeau told journalists that he had had an "excellent conversation" with Trump, but did not elaborate. Trump has blamed Canada and Mexico for not stemming an influx of undocumented migrants and he blames them, and China, for drug problems in the United States. Trudeau's trip came after Trump sent shockwaves through the region Monday when he announced 25 percent import tariffs against Canada and Mexico and 10 percent against China if they failed to address the drug and migration problems. Such tariffs could have a devastating impact if imposed. More than three-quarters of Canadian exports, or Can$592.7 billion ($423 billion), went to the United States last year, and nearly two million Canadian jobs are dependent on trade. A Canadian government source had told AFP that Canada was considering possible retaliatory tariffs against the United States. Trudeau was the first foreign leader to meet with the US president-elect. But on Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke to Trump by phone and later ruled out a trade war with the United States. "There will not be a potential tariff war," she told reporters Thursday. Trump later said that Sheinbaum had "agreed to stop migration through Mexico... effectively closing our Southern border." But she said that there would be no closing of the border, stating: "Of course we do not agree with that." Some have suggested Trump's tariff threat was bluster, or an opening salvo in future trade negotiations. But Trudeau rejected those views when he spoke with reporters earlier in Prince Edward Island province. "Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out," Trudeau said. "There's no question about it." amc/jgc/nro/bbk/bfm
Downtown Durango was mostly quiet the morning of Black Friday – the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States – but as the day warmed, residents and visitors emerged from their post-Thanksgiving dormancy to stroll the sidewalks, step into stores and open their wallets. Families traveled from New Mexico, Arizona and Texas to enjoy the cooler weather in Durango, ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s Polar Express, enjoy local food and even purchase Christmas trees. Albuquerque residents Jason Bennett and Danielle Lavar arrived in Durango on Friday. They said they used to visit Durango at least once a year, but it’s been about two years since their last visit. They are staying in Durango until Sunday, and the Polar Express ride on Saturday is at the top of their list of attractions. Bennett said they’re spending their time walking downtown and seeing the sights. His daughter was with his grandmother at their hotel room. He said Durango mostly feels the same since his last visit – “cozy, comfortable” with a “warm, inviting atmosphere” – although he noted the now completed Grandview Interchange near Three Springs. If there’s one place he just has to visit whenever he’s in town, it would be El Moro Spirits and Tavern, he said. “They’re just a wonderful restaurant. Great spot,” he said. “Always had a great customer service, wonderful selection and craft beers, cocktails and the food has always been spectacular.” Lavar planned to attend the annual community festival Singing With Santa later Friday evening. Some families on Main Avenue were on their way out of Durango after visiting family for Thanksgiving. Not having time to dawdle, one woman said she, her husband and their son were headed off to Durango-La Plata County Airport to catch a return flight. Steve, an Albuquerque man who declined to share his last name, said he brought his family to Durango for Thanksgiving to ride the Polar Express. He’s no stranger to the city, though, because he used to live in Farmington and has visited the city often over the years. The Thanksgiving holiday falls squarely within Durango’s business shoulder season, but depending on who one asks, it doesn’t seem like it. Clint McKnight at Maria’s Bookshop said on Friday he doesn’t notice the shoulder season anymore. “Maria’s is very fortunate. It stays very busy ... consistently throughout the year,” he said. “It does drop off after the kids go back to school, but it didn’t drop off much this year. It ramped up pretty quickly. And we’re just very lucky to have that kind of interest in a small bookstore.” On Friday morning, he said the bookstore had a steady stream of shoppers, but nothing overwhelming. “On these cold mornings, it takes a little while for things to warm up, quite literally, but I’ll bet this afternoon, you come in here and we’ll have all three registers busy,” he said. Durango resident Robert Didomizio was showing his daughter, Taryn, who traveled from Austin, Texas, around town. Taryn said they went skiing at Wolf Creek Ski Area and are among the many riding the Polar Express on Saturday. She said she visits her family in Durango every year for the holidays. Durango Business Improvement Director Tim Walsworth, busy preparing for Singing With Santa, said December is a huge month for businesses all over town, matching if not surpassing July business at the height of summer. BID implemented a new gift card promotional program for Black Friday this year called the Holly Jolly Gift Card Drawing. Similar to past promotional programs, it encourages people to shop locally by offering the chance to win a $1,000 Heart of Durango gift card. Walsworth said December gives local businesses a “giant bump” ahead of the new year through Black Friday sales, Noel Night scheduled for Dec. 6 and other holiday rewards programs. “Kudos to our community members for shopping local,” he said. “I will tell you that (the) Polar Express train that brings 35,000 riders to downtown does not hurt at all. That’s a really, really awesome, fun thing to do for families, and then it has economic impact with all those riders that need to eat and do a little shopping too.” The San Juan Mountains Association launched its annual Christmas Trees for Conservation sale at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad on Friday. The sale, SJMA’s biggest fundraiser of the year, is yet another opportunity to circulate local dollars and contribute to forest health at the same time, said Stephanie Weber, SJMA executive director. “People are in good spirits and ready for the holidays,” she said. The sale started with about 940 trees, white furs harvested at Beaver Meadows estate of Bayfield and traditional balsams sourced from a commercial farm in Wisconsin. Weber said she expects to sell about a third of the trees by the weekend’s end. Most of the trees range from 5 feet to 18 feet tall. She said harvesting the white furs contributes to conservation efforts because white furs are ladder fuels, meaning they ignite easily and they quickly go up in flames, allowing flames to spread higher into the forest canopy. SJMA partners with the U.S. Forest Service and other land management agencies through the Coordinated Forest Landscape Restoration Plan, and harvesting white furs contributes to the plan, she said. She added the balsams are one’s traditional commercial Christmas tree, and SJMA stocks up on them so people looking for the perfect tree can find it at the sale. cburney@durangoherald.com