Award-winning Yolo Rum Expands Popular Brand to Include Yolo Rum Clear

April 11, 2017

Yolo Rum - You Only Live Once... Be extraordinary, drink extraordinary rum!

DENVER and PANAMA CITY, April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Yolo Rum is delighted to announce the newest addition to its line of premium spirits: Yolo Rum Clear. Joining Yolo Rum Gold and Yolo Rum Silver, Yolo Rum Clear is boutique-quality rum that isn’t priced like it.

“For a long time now, we’ve wanted to produce an affordable, connoisseur-worthy rum blend,” says Yolo Rum founder Philip Guerin. “And Don Pancho has once again knocked it out of the park.”

At the heart of the Yolo Rum operation is master distiller Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez. Born in Cuba and operating out of the Republic of Panama, Don Pancho is the world’s most respected and honored ronero (that’s “rum blender,” for the layman). The recipient of hundreds of awards, Don Pancho starts with rare sugar cane strains found only in Central America and the Caribbean. The resulting specially prepared sugar cane juice is fermented and distilled through a complex, five-stage series, and then Don Pancho goes to work, dictating how and how long the rum is stored before choosing the blends he crafts into dark or light spirits. Aging in charred American white oak barrels does the rest.

Yolo Rum features three distinct blends for rum aficionados. Top-shelf Yolo Rum Gold enjoys a 10-year aging process that gives it a rich, tawny color and smooth buttery taste. Two-year-aged Yolo Rum Silver is the world’s premium rum for mixing—if you like vodka, you’ll love Yolo Rum Silver. And now Yolo Rum Clear is a bridge between the two, ideal for mixing or solo consumption, with a smooth, lightly smoked sweet-oak taste. It is truly small-batch-quality rum available at a real steal.

All Yolo Rums are gluten free, with no added sugar or molasses and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and the company produces its products using revolutionary environmentally sustainable processes. Yolo Rum has received multiple Best-of-Class wins from Spirits of the Americas, won multiple gold medals at the Denver International Spirits Competition and taken home multiple gold medals at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival.

Offering boutique quality at exceptional value, Yolo Rum is the ideal synthesis of ancient crafts and modern tastes, and Yolo Rum Clear looks to be a worthy addition to the best rum line in the world.

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Releases its New ‘Pulmonary Fibrosis Information Guide’

April 11, 2017

CHICAGO, April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), the leading pulmonary fibrosis (PF) resource for patients, their families, and the medical community, has announced the publication of its new Pulmonary Fibrosis Information Guide. The guide provides patients and families with up-to-date information about pulmonary fibrosis, treatment options, and ways of maintaining one’s health while living with the disease. “Pulmonary fibrosis can be a confusing diagnosis,” said David Lederer, MD, the PFF’s Senior Medical Advisor, Education and Awareness. “Information available online and through other sources is not always accurate. Our new Pulmonary Fibrosis Information Guide was designed to provide clear, accurate, easy-to-understand information for people living with PF and their caregivers.”

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The Pulmonary Fibrosis Information Guide is available in both English and Spanish, and features graphics to clearly illustrate the PF disease process. The guide is funded through the generous support of Genentech, Inc., and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a group of progressive diseases that cause scarring in the lungs, limiting oxygen intake. As a result, the brain, heart, and other organs do not get the required oxygen needed in order to function properly. There is no known cure for PF.

For more information about the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, please visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call the PFF Patient Communication Center at 844.TalkPFF.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) mobilizes people and resources to provide access to high quality care and leads research for a cure so people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) will live longer, healthier lives. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, people with PF and caregivers worldwide. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. The PFF Summit 2017, its fourth biennial international health care conference, will be held November 9-11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or +1 312.587.9272 from outside the U.S.

Contact: Luis Arellano, 312-224-9835

March of Dimes grantee makes key discovery about structure of zika virus

April 10, 2017

WHITE PLAINS, New York, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Scientists funded in part by the March of Dimes have identified a “weak spot” in one of the Zika virus proteins that could provide a target for new drugs to fight the disease.

Jikui Song, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of California, Riverside, and his team studied the structure and function of the Zika protein NS5 (non-structural protein 5), one of just 10 proteins that make up the Zika virus particle. The NS5 protein is crucial to the life cycle of Zika, helping the virus replicate itself. NS5 also participates in helping the virus evade the host immune system.

In an article published in Nature Communications on March 27, Dr. Song and colleagues described the 3D structure of the entire NS5 protein and provide new insight into how it functions. They identified a potential binding site in the protein for an inhibitor, which could make possible the development of the first drugs to suppress Zika infection.

“This is an important finding that could be a first step toward treating Zika virus, an infection that is very dangerous to pregnant women and babies, and for which we currently have no treatment or vaccine,” says Joe Leigh Simpson, MD, senior vice president for Research and Global Programs at the March of Dimes.

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause damage to the brain, microcephaly (smaller than expected head) and congenital Zika syndrome, a pattern of conditions in the baby that includes brain abnormalities, eye defects, hearing loss, and limb defects. Zika infection during pregnancy also has been linked to miscarriage and stillbirth. A report from the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry on April 4 showed that among pregnant women with confirmed Zika infection in 2016, 10 percent had a fetus or baby with birth defects.

Dr. Song says the next step for the team is to investigate the antiviral potential against Zika of a chemical compound that previously has been shown to work against dengue virus, a close relative of Zika.

“The structure of Zika virus NS5 reveals a conserved domain conformation,” by Boxiao Wang et al. appears in Nature Communications 2017 Mar 27;8:14763, and was supported by grants from the March of Dimes, the Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research and the National Institutes of Health.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit peristats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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Toyota announces record $1.33 billion investment in Kentucky plant

April 10, 2017

The 2018MY Toyota Camry XLE and XSE will be built from the ground up using Toyota New Global Architecture. The new Camry will be available for purchase later this year.

GEORGETOWN, Kentucky, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The future of automobile production is now. A $1.33 billion investment- the highest of any automaker in Kentucky and the second-largest in state history- will make Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) the first plant in North America to begin producing vehicles using Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA). Named the “Most American Made” car by Cars.com and the number one selling car in America for the past 15 years, the Camry, from the 2018 model year, will become the first Toyota vehicle made in the U.S. to fully incorporate the new vehicle development and production technology.

“This $1.33 billion investment is part of Toyota’s plan to invest $10 billion dollars in the U.S. over the next five years, on top of the nearly $22 billion Toyota has invested in the U.S. over the past 60 years,” said Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. “Toyota New Global Architecture is about exciting, ever-better vehicles for our customers as it will improve performance of all models, including increased fuel efficiency, more responsive handling, and a more stable, comfortable feel while driving.”

TNGA represents a completely new strategy to the way the company designs, engineers, and manufactures its vehicles. In addition, it will shorten the development cycle for vehicle improvements and new vehicles. TNGA retains all of Toyota’s traditional values of exceptional build quality and safety while injecting a fun driving experience with more responsive handling, regardless of the model. It also allows for a more flexible production environment, which will allow Toyota Kentucky to build ever-better cars, and respond quicker and more capably to customer demands down the road.

In addition to TNGA improvements, TMMK will undergo other makeovers that will, together, modernize and streamline the production process. That includes updating equipment and construction of an all-new paint shop.

“This is the largest investment in our plant’s history and it speaks directly to the quality of our people and our products, as well as the partnerships we’ve forged in the local community and across the state,” said Wil James, president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK). “This major overhaul will enable the plant to stay flexible and competitive, further cementing our presence in Kentucky.”

Toyota Kentucky is the automaker’s largest plant in the world, employing 8,200 team members. This represents an all-time high after recently adding over 700 people to support the upcoming launch of the 2018 Camry. Last year, TMMK produced nearly a quarter of the total number of Toyota vehicles produced in North America – over 500,000. In total, the plant has produced more than one-third – 11 million – of all Toyota vehicles manufactured in North America since 1986.

Today’s announcement adds to the $530 million investment the plant committed to in 2013, in part to support Lexus production. This brings Toyota Kentucky’s investment in the last four years to approximately $1.86 billion.

“Toyota’s decision to invest $1.3 billion in their Kentucky plant is further evidence that manufacturers are now confident that the economic climate has greatly improved under my administration and echoes the recent National Association of Manufacturers’ 2017 Outlook Survey showing that 93% of manufacturers are now optimistic, which is an increase of 37% from just a few months ago.” – President Donald J. Trump

“Toyota is a global icon. This $1.33 billion investment is further proof of their commitment to producing American-made cars that are among the finest quality found anywhere in the world,” said Governor Matt Bevin. “It also serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the plant’s current employees, and reaffirms Toyota’s confidence in the advantages of manufacturing in Kentucky. We are grateful that this significant investment further validates the fact that Kentucky is the engineering and manufacturing hub of excellence in America.”

“Today’s announcement is welcome news for Kentucky’s economy and our workforce,” Senator Mitch McConnell said. “For more than 30 years, Toyota has been committed to the Commonwealth, and today’s investment is further proof that the company maintains its pledge to grow our economy and solidify Kentucky as a world-class automotive state. I want to congratulate the Toyota team, especially its thousands of hard-working Kentuckians.”

A recent study by the Center for Automotive Research shows Toyota Kentucky supports nearly 30,000 jobs across the state (direct, indirect, and spin-off). TMMK employees live in 80 Kentucky counties, and currently Toyota has more than 100 suppliers located across the Commonwealth.

“Toyota is a great asset to Kentucky and the decision to continue its commitment to Kentucky jobs by investing in the Georgetown plant is wonderful news for the Commonwealth and a reflection of its confidence in Kentucky as a prime location for business growth and innovation,” said Senator Rand Paul. “I congratulate Toyota on this new initiative, and look forward to continuing my efforts in Congress to promote business-friendly policies to ensure Kentucky continues to reap the benefits of economic growth and expansion as a result of these types of investments.”

“This major investment further solidifies Toyota’s long-term commitment to its Kentucky plant,” said Secretary Terry Gill of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. “Its ripple effects will add to Toyota’s three decades of transformative impact on our communities and for our residents across the Commonwealth. Additionally, this strengthens Kentucky’s status as a top state for auto manufacturing.”

A community effort

With the next chapter for the plant a bright one, Toyota is giving back to Scott County to help drive economic development efforts for the community. Three properties at Lanes Run Business Park, totaling nearly 22-acres, as well as $1 million for future land purchases, are being donated to further advance the vision for the area. Additionally, Toyota is committing $2 million over the next 10 years to Scott County United to go toward economic development initiatives that will benefit the community and region.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to advancing mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. Over the past 60 years, we’ve produced more than 33 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 46,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.45 million in the U.S.) in 2016 – and about 85 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people move more places. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

About Scott County United

Scott County United, a non-profit, was formed in 1985 to implement economic and industrial development in Georgetown–Scott County, Kentucky. Today it also acts as an issues forum for members of the board and the local community.

TMMK Contacts:
Rick Hesterberg (859) 351-4780
Ashley Chatham (859) 473-3709

Toyota Media Line: (469) 292-5100

An engine sub-assembly line at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK). On April 10, 2017, Toyota announced the Reborn project - a record $1.33 billion overhaul - of the Georgetown plant.

A look inside Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., shows the rear suspension assembly area. Toyota is investing $1.33 billion to make the 30-year old Georgetown plant a more flexible production environment that can build ever-better cars for customers now and respond more quickly and more capably to market demands down the road.

Team members at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) work on the engine sub-assembly line. Toyota’s record $1.33 billion investment will introduce Toyota New Global Architecture and other next generation improvements that will position the plant for long-term success.

Engines move along the engine sub-assembly line at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) in Georgetown. Toyota’s record $1.33 billion investment for the Reborn project will give the 30-year old plant a major overhaul.

Wil James, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. discusses the impact of Toyota’s $1.33 billion investment on the Georgetown, Ky. plant. (Two soundbites)

Toyota’s record $1.33 billion investment in Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., will introduce Toyota New Global Architecture, as well as other next generation improvements that will position the plant for long-term success.

The “Mayor of Hinchtown” Masters Long Beach

April 10, 2017

James Hinchcliffe celebrates his victory Sunday at the Grand Prix of Long Beach

LONG BEACH, California, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Returning to Southern California, where he found fame as runner-up last winter in “Dancing with the Stars,” James Hinchcliffe took his Honda into the lead of Sunday’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Lap 63 and never looked back, dominating the final 22 laps for his fifth career Verizon IndyCar Series victory and first win of 2017.

The win was also the second in as many events for Honda to start the 2017 Indy car season, as Sebastien Bourdais followed up his victory at the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with a second-place result today on the demanding Long Beach temporary street circuit.

Hinchcliffe and his Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team made their winning move on Lap 56 of the 85-lap Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, as he stayed on track for one additional lap after his primary rivals pitted. The extra speed provided by running that lap free of traffic, plus an excellent pit stop from the Schmidt Peterson crew, gave Hinchcliffe the lead for the final 22 laps and the victory.

Despite having to pit at the end of the first lap to replace a rear wing damaged from contact, Sebastien Bourdais again took advantage of both speed in his Honda and excellent pit strategy from his Dale Coyne Racing team to move through the field. He was running a solid third in the closing laps when second-place Ryan Hunter-Reay was forced out of the race with mechanical issues. Bourdais finished 1.4-seconds behind Hinchcliffe at the checkers.

As typical at a street circuit race, contact and mechanical issues either slowed or eliminated several possible Honda contenders. Tony Kanaan twice had his progress hindered by contact and resulting damage, and Mikhail Aleshin also came into contact with other cars twice before finishing 12^th. In addition to Hunter-Reay, the front-running Honda of Alexander Rossi also dropped out with mechanical issues on Lap 62.

On a happier note, Scott Dixon recovered from an early-race pit strategy gamble that failed, to rebound for fourth at the checkers for Chip Ganassi Racing, while rookie Ed Jones made an excellent Long Beach debut, with the 2016 Indy Lights champion netting sixth place today.

Video recaps from this weekend’s Honda Verizon IndyCar Series, as well as Acura IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar and Pirelli World Challenge action in Long Beach, are being posted on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.

After a weekend off for Easter, the Verizon IndyCar Series next heads east to Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama, for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, to be televised live on the NBC Sports Network at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday, April 23.

James Hinchcliffe (#5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda) started 4^th, finished 1^st, 5^th career Indy car victory: “After Indy, and personally, for me, Toronto, Long Beach is the biggest race to win. I’ve had a lot of luck here. We’ve been really quick here in the past and to finally get to Victory Lane here is more than I can put into words. Forty-three years running, this place has a lot of history. That’s what drivers really care about. The greatest of the greats have won here. Toronto, Indy and this place were on my bucket list to win before I die, and it’s nice to check this one off.”

Sebastien Bourdais (#18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda) started 12^th, finished 2^nd, continues to lead the Verizon IndyCar Series Drivers’ Championship: “We played to our strengths. I’ve always been pretty comfortable saving fuel, and [the race] just came to us. After the last restart, I was just trying to hang on to second place; I didn’t really have a very good balance in the car at the end to chase James [Hinchcliffe] for the win, so I tried to hold on to second. Fortunately, we were able to do so. It’s still very early in the season, but it’s always better to be leading the championship rather than chasing!”

Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race and 2^nd consecutive IndyCar Series victory of 2017: “It’s been a pretty good start to the season. Winning the first two races of the season – and especially this one, at one of our ‘home’ tracks here in Long Beach – makes for a pretty satisfying start. However, we recognize there still are improvements to be made. Congratulations to James for his first win since coming back from his 2015 crash at Indianapolis, and to Sebastian for a nearly perfect start to the 2017 season. We’re happy to win in front of all our Honda associates and their families, but there will be no let-up, as our next race will be in front of our Alabama family at Barber Motorsports Park.”

Verizon IndyCar Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Circuit: Long Beach Convention Center (1.968-mile temporary street circuit), Long Beach, CA
Weather: Mostly clear, mild, 68 degrees F

Top-10 Race Results:
Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Laps	Notes
1.	4.	James Hinchcliffe	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	85	90.845 mph average speed
2.	12.	Sebastien Bourdais	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	85	+1.494 seconds
3.	8.	Josef Newgarden	Team Penske	Chevrolet	85
4.	2.	Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	85
5.	21.	Simon Pagenaud	Team Penske	Chevrolet	85
6.	13.	Ed Jones-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	85
7.	14.	Carlos Munoz	A.J. Foyt Racing	Chevrolet	85
8.	19.	Spencer Pigot	Ed Carpenter Racing	Chevrolet	85
9.	1.	Helio Castroneves	Team Penske	Chevrolet	85
10.	6.	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	85
*Other Honda Results*
12.	16.	Mikhail Aleshin	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	85	Running
14.	20.	Max Chilton	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	84	Running
15.	11.	Tony Kanaan	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	84	Running
17.	3.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda	79	Did not finish – mechanical
18.	18.	Takuma Sato	Andretti Autosport	Honda	78	Did not finish – mechanical
19.	5.	Alexander Rossi	Andretti Autosport	Honda	64	Did not finish – mechanical
20.	10.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda	14	Did not finish – mechanical
21.	7.	Charlie Kimball	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	1	Did not finish – contact

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(Español) Adrian Mauceri de America TeVé ganador del 1er puesto en la categoría “Edición” del prestigioso premio del “Florida Associated Press”

April 10, 2017

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Texas homebuyers broaden in diversity, household composition while affordability challenges grow

April 10, 2017

Texas Association of Realtors logo

AUSTIN, Texas, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A new Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report released today by the Texas Association of Realtors revealed growing diversity in the household composition and ethnicity of Texas homeowners as well as rising housing affordability challenges across the state.

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“The profile of Texas homebuyers is as diverse as Texas itself, continually broadening as the demand for Texas real estate grows,” said Vicki Fullerton, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors. “At the same time, rising home prices, lower household incomes, and tight lending standards are making it increasingly difficult for some Texans to afford a home.”

The ratio of single Texas homebuyers continued to rise from the previous year’s report, with single female homebuyers increasing 5 percentage points to 19 percent and single male buyers rising 2 percentage points to 9 percent of all Texas homebuyers.

The report also showed a broader ethnic diversity among Texas homebuyers. Among all Texas homebuyers, 14 percent identified as Hispanic, 6 percent identified as African-American and 4 percent identified as Asian. Minorities among first-time homebuyers were most likely to be Hispanic (27 percent), while minorities among repeat buyers were most likely to African-American (27 percent).

Indicating that Texans are buying later and moving earlier in life, the median age of first-time buyers increased three years to 35 years old, while the median age of Texas home sellers decreased eight years to 46 years old.

The 2017 report also illustrated growing affordability challenges across the state. The median household income among Texas homebuyers declined nearly 3 percent year-over-year to $94,200. The median home price paid among Texas homebuyers was $215,000, significantly higher than the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University’s estimation of $150,000 as a typical home price for entry-level and first-time homebuyers.

According to the report, debt delayed Texans from saving for or purchasing a home for a median of three years. Forty-four percent of Texas homebuyers waited six to 12 months to save for a down payment, compared to only 10 percent of homebuyers in the previous year’s report.

“As obstacles to purchasing a home increase, soaring property taxes due to a lack of accountability when tax rates are set at the local level have made it difficult for Texans to continue to afford that home,” concluded Fullerton. “The Texas Association of Realtors supports Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 15 to bring honesty and transparency to the property tax rate setting process and facilitate property owner engagement in that process.”

About the Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report
Data from the 2017 edition of the Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report is derived from the 2016 Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers Texas Report by the National Association of REALTORS®, which analyzes survey data among Texans who bought or sold a home between July 2015 and June 2016. The Texas Association of REALTORS® distributes insights about the Texas housing market throughout the year, including quarterly market statistics, trends among homebuyers and sellers, luxury home sales, international trends and more. To view the Texas Homebuyers and Sellers Report in its entirety, visit TexasRealEstate.com.

About the Texas Association of REALTORS®
With more than 100,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We advocate on behalf of Texas REALTORS® and private-property owners to keep homeownership affordable, protect private-property rights, and promote public policies that benefit homeowners. Visit TexasRealEstate.com to learn more.

Contact:
Hunter Dodson
512-448-4950
[email protected]

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Ritz-Carlton Reserve At Pearl Island, Panama, Commemorates Upcoming Construction Of Ultra-Luxury Resort With Groundbreaking Ceremony

April 10, 2017

PANAMA CITY, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Representatives of Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company and parent corporation of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., joined the President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, and investors from Grupo Eleta and Grivalia last week, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the ultra-luxury Ritz-Carlton Reserve being built on Pearl Island, 45 miles south of Panama City.

As Pearl Island is renowned for its spectacular white sand deserted beaches, scuba diving, marine life and delicate ecosystems, the resort will offer a bespoke experience that is reflective of the destination. With handcrafted curated offerings and cultural elements woven throughout their stay, guests will have an experience that is transformative, pure, rare, and refined. It will be an authentic extension of true Panamanian hospitality.

The centerpiece of the Reserve will feature an open-air resort offering 86 intimate rooms, and a range of select luxury amenities and exceptional services to include a lavish spa, private beach club, swimming pools, restaurants, an 1,800-square-foot pavilion and boardroom with ocean views, and access to a world-class marina.

Each Ritz-Carlton Reserve is set apart from other luxury hotels, showcasing the natural beauty of their location, with deeply immersive experiences of local culture and traditions. At this new Ritz-Carlton Reserve, travelers will foster a unique connection with the destination through personalized service and heartfelt, genuine care.

The Pearl Island project is a development of Grupo Eleta together with Grivalia Hospitality, which recently acquired the participation of Dolphin Capital Investors.

“This first stone represents a great achievement for Panama as we become the first country in the region with a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, renowned for leading trends in travelers seeking experiences in natural sanctuaries that offer unique and unrepeatable services,” said Guillermo De Saint Malo Eleta, CEO, Grupo Eleta.

The third largest island within Las Perlas Archipelago

Reachable by boat, helicopter or plane through a private airstrip, Pearl Island is a virtually untouched paradise featuring an extensive private natural reserve with over half of the island undisturbed. Located in the Gulf of Panama on the Pacific Ocean, minutes from Panama City, the 3,500-acre private island is the third largest in the Archipelago of Las Perlas. The island is one of approximately 250 different islands inhabited by fishing communities throughout the archipelago.

Populated by an extraordinary collection of exotic natural life, Pearl Island is home to a remarkable 150-species bird sanctuary, one of the greatest in the world, including a vast population of migrating pelicans, 700 species of fish and 15 species of coral that fill the surrounding waters, in addition to 16 species of mammals, sea turtles, and whales that visit the island for a great part of the year.

To preserve this critical habitat of birds and marine species, 70% of the total of the island will not be affected, applying strict development measures to minimize the impact on the environment, guaranteeing the conservation of this natural paradise.

In this sense, Saint Malo said that “we have conceived this project to keep the majestic natural beauty that exists on the island, so for us it is paramount to be able to protect the environment.”

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, MD., currently operates more than 90 hotels in over 30 countries and territories. More than 40 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is proud to offer The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® in which members can link accounts with Marriott Rewards® and Starwood Preferred Guest® for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. For more information or reservations, visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com, for the latest company updates, visit news.ritzcarlton.com and to join the live conversation, use #RCMemories. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc.

About Grivalia Hospitality

Grivalia Properties is a global Real Estate Investment Company, with a market value amounts to €826 million. Is the leading Greek Real Estate Investment Trust and amongst the 20 strongest companies in the Athens Stock Exchange. In 2015, The Company established a subsidiary company with corporate seat in Luxembourg under the name “Grivalia Hospitality S.A.” which object is the acquisition, development and management of hospitality real estate offering a unique tourism investment platform in Greece and abroad. Grivalia Hospitality recently acquired 60 percent of the Pearl Island Project in Panama from Dolphin Capital Investors (DCI).

About Grupo Eleta

Grupo Eleta is a family-owned Panamanian investment fund and business conglomerate founded by Fernando Eleta Almarán in 1950. Companies within the group employ more than 4000 people in the Republic of Panama, in telecommunications, energy, real estate and agribusiness. Don Fernando, a Stanford– and MIT-educated business leader and public figure, founded multiple companies, professional associations and civic institutions in Panama and Grupo Eleta continues to be led following the high environment and social stewardship standards he established, by Guillermo de Saint Malo Eleta, his grandson.

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LADO A LADO, the Brazilian soap-opera that won all prizes, coming to Canal SUR

April 10, 2017

MIAMI, April 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — An extraordinary story that swept up all the prizes in its time, including the International EMMY as best soap opera of the year, it was even selected by the viewing audience as having the best love scene, the best kiss and the best romantic couple.

Rio de Janeiro, 1903. The city was immersed in its dream of being the Paris of the tropics. Between machismo, emancipation, the sexual liberation of women, the creation and rhythms of a new culture, two women from opposite worlds, Laura (Marjorie Estiano) and Isabel (Camila Pitanga), build a bridge made of trust, respect and friendship that will break down all barriers.

With its controversial subject, its excellent cast of leading actors, writers, costumes, scenery and staging, LADO A LADO (‘Side by Side’) influenced Brazilians’ very lives, becoming a focus of national debate and the subject of all sorts of discussion and analysis.

Premiere: Monday, April 24
Time: Monday to Friday, 10:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm PT
Rebroadcast: 1:30 pm ET / 10:30 pm PT

CANAL SUR
20 years rebroadcasting the best of TV in Spanish. Without cuts or editing.

SUR LLC, creator of the channels Canal SUR (the first TV channel in Spanish in the United States), SUR Perú, TV Venezuela and Estudio5, is a television consortium with more than 20 years of tradition and a devoted audience among Hispanic immigrants in the U.S.

There is just one reason behind SUR’s unstoppable growth: we keep our promise to rebroadcast from their countries of origin programs with high ratings that have made history, without cuts or editing.

Canal SUR is available through AT&T Uverse, Advanced Cable, Atlantic, Comcast-Xfinity, Cox, Frontier, Optimum, Suddenlink, Spectrum, and Verizon Fios, and it is the cable channel in Spanish with the highest distribution at the national level.

www.canalsur.com

Nonprofit HITN Learning Launches New Award-winning Educational Apps For Preschools At Head Start Conference

April 8, 2017

CHICAGO, April 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — At the Annual National Head Start Conference today HITN Learning, the educational division of non-profit, Spanish-language media network HITN, demonstrated its new suite of 15 Pocoyo Playset apps for preschool that prepare children for Kindergarten success in math, literacy and English language development (ELD). Two of these apps just won prestigious 2017 Parents’ Choice Awards for Mobile Apps and a 2017 Kidscreen Award. HITN, providing educational programming to more than 44 million American households for 35 years, is on the floor in booth #202 to demonstrate the variety of tablet-based apps on iPads and talk with educators about how they can help preschoolers, early learners and transitional Kindergartners up to age 5 develop both the academic and socio-emotional skills necessary for a successful start in Kindergarten.

The English-Spanish bilingual apps feature familiar characters from the animated Pocoyo series, entertaining while teaching children to enjoy learning. Educators are invited to stop by the booth to see product demos with HITN Learning Pocoyo Playset Executive Producer, Erica Branch-Ridley, and HITN Learning Director of Product Management MaryEllen McLaughlin, and enter a raffle to win educational play kits and prizes. Also, a free sample Pocoyo Playset app is available for educators to download from GooglePlay by searching for Pocoyo Playsets.

“Kindergarten readiness for Spanish-speaking children is the ultimate goal of HITN Learning’s Pocoyo Playset apps, which we developed to the highest educational standards with a Ready-to-Learn grant from the U.S. Department of Education,” said David Rust, General Manager, Education at HITN. “Our apps support the National Head Start Association’s mission to give every child a chance to succeed in school and life. Recognized for high quality and educational effectiveness by 2017 Parents’ Choice and Kidscreen Awards, the Pocoyo Playsets engage each child in exploring, creating and learning new concepts and vocabulary with fun and laughter.”

Each Pocoyo Playset app addresses one of three educational categories: English language development, early literacy development or early math development. Some examples from the suite of 15 titles include the award winning Pocoyo Playset: 3D Shapes, an early math app, Pocoyo Playset: Let’s Move for English Language development, and Pocoyo Playset: Helpers for early literacy development.

In Pocoyo Playset: Let’s Move children ages 3 to 5 follow Pocoyo characters, in activities that teach English and Spanish words describing different kinds of movement. Children can play Get Moving, Pocoyo Says, The Word Machine and Story Maker activities. Preschoolers build fluency in spoken English and expand their English vocabulary learning words, while also sharpening their listening skills and ability to follow directions.

The Pocoyo PlaySet apps were developed by the Early Learning Collaborative (ELC) between HITN and Zinkia Entertainment, the creator of the award-winning animated series, Pocoyo. HITN‘s creative design and focus on solid academic and social-emotional skills were brought to life through the renowned and revered Pocoyo brand, and through the support of a $30 million Ready-to-Learn grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Pocoyo Playset educational resources were proven effective through summative studies and pilots in the USA and Puerto Rico.

The entire suite of 15 Pocoyo PlaySet apps are available on the Apple App Store for $1.99 each and for subscription on GooglePlay.

HITN is the leading Spanish-language media network focused on educational and cultural programing for the whole family. It reaches over 44 million homes across the United States and Puerto Rico through DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-verse TV, Verizon FiOS TV, Comcast, Charter Spectrum, Frontier Mediacom, CenturyLink Prism, and Cablevision. For more information, log in to www.hitn.org.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160314/344200LOGO

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