Higher Ed Institutions Look to Next Gen Student Learning Measurement

November 30, 2015

PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Higher education institutions of all kinds — state, private and community — are increasingly being asked for more evidence of student learning. Many are looking for ways to demonstrate their students’ general education skill levels and use information derived from student learning outcomes (SLO) assessments to enhance the learning experience on their campuses.

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“Our intercampus faculty group was looking for an assessment that would help us incorporate competencies relevant to their programs,” said Michelle Soler, Director for Competency-based Education and Assessment for all 17 University of North Carolina campuses.

Earlier this year, a variety of institutions participated in a pilot program for the new HEIghten™ Outcomes Assessment Suite from Educational Testing Service (ETS). The suite consists of six modules measuring general education skills identified by educators as most important for students to have. The HEIghten suite is designed to enable colleges and universities to obtain valid data about their students’ skills, benchmark and track student performance, and identify areas for potential curriculum enhancement.

“Using national frameworks and the latest research from the higher education community, we designed HEIghten to be used alongside institution-developed assessments,” said Ou Lydia Liu, Director of Higher Education Research at ETS. “This way, institutions can tailor their mix of assessments to their unique mission and goals.”

SLO assessments created internally are aligned to the specific education goals of the institution, while third-party assessments, like the HEIghten suite, offer standardization so that colleges and universities can benchmark their performance against similar institutions throughout the nation.

“We had been doing our own in-house assessments, but it worried me that we were not able to see how well our students are doing nationally,” said Julie Lessiter, Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Services at Louisiana State University Shreveport.

ETS worked with higher-ed institutions to develop a tool that provides actionable data without burdening their already limited resources. The goal is to help schools maintain their autonomy in an environment of ever-growing pressure for more accountability measures.

HEIghten is designed for educators. “Faculty can administer the assessment during one class period, see how their students performed, and go back to make any changes necessary to improve learning,” said Nancy Williams Parks, Associate Professor and Director of Advising, Assessment and Testing at Pierpont Community & Technical College.

Three HEIghten modules are currently available: Critical Thinking, Written Communication and Quantitative Literacy. Three additional modules will be available in 2016.

To learn more about HEIghten, check out this video or visit www.ets.org/heighten.

About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL ^® and TOEIC ^® tests, the GRE ^® tests and The Praxis Series ^® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

Sean “Diddy” Combs & DELEÓN™ Tequila Take Holidays To The Next Level Via “Combs Concierge” Program

November 30, 2015

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, Sean “Diddy” Combs invites consumers to use his personal concierge for their gifting needs this holiday season and beyond. Joining the ranks of established luxury-houses that offer personalized products, the DELEÓN™ Tequila Combs Concierge Program, in partnership with Reserve Bar, provides engraved bottles of the brand’s Platinum or Reposado variants. The packages are then delivered to the legal drinking aged recipient of your choice except in states where prohibited by law. With online spending towards luxury goods on the rise, this premium service launches just in time for America’s busiest online shopping day of the year, Cyber Monday.

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Consumers can take their holiday shopping to the next level by logging-on to CombsConcierge.com to place an order for this premium gift, which is perfect for the season filled with celebratory gatherings with friends and families. Ordering is a simple, three-step process: select a recipient, choose a product variant and enter a message of your choice for engraving. The ornate, custom-engraved bottle is accompanied by a high-end DELEÓN™ Tequila signature-serve cocktail kit which includes bespoke drink stirrers and a personal note from Sean “Diddy” Combs.

This Holiday season, Mr. Combs is giving his closest friends and family the gift of great taste with Combs Concierge. Now, consumers across the country can gift like the ultimate curator of style.

“There’s nothing like a personal touch to show someone that you care,” says Sean “Diddy” Combs, Chairman of Combs Enterprises. “That’s why I developed the Combs Concierge program – to help people give the gift of luxury with a personalized bottle of DELEÓN™, the world’s finest tequila.”

DELEÓN™ Tequila is made of 100% Blue Weber agave sourced from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico and achieves the highest level of smoothness and quality across multiple variants. The bottle, made from high quality fragrance-grade glass boldly tattooed with the distinguishing mark of the DELEÓN™ brand, also serves as the ultimate keepsake as it adds an edgy flare to office décor or can be utilized for an at home do-it-yourself project.

Consumers will have the option of customizing DELEÓN™ Platinum for $55 USD or DELEÓN™ Reposado for $65 USD. Please allow 7-10 days from order processing to fulfillment. All orders must be placed by December 15, 2015 to be received by December 25, 2015 via ground shipping and December 18, 2015 to be received by December 25, 2015 via 2-day shipping. This also makes a great gift for an entire office; for orders of 12 bottles or more, please call the Combs Concierge VIP Line at 1.844.9.DELEÓN.

This holiday season, DELEÓN™ wants to remind you to celebrate responsibly with friends and loved ones.

About DELEÓN™

DELEÓN™ Tequila was initially created in the Guanajuato region, home to the town of Leon and the town of Purisima del Rincon. The DELEÓN™ brand launched in 2009 to an elite following in Hollywood and the U.S. music industry. Purchased in 2014 by a joint venture between business mogul and international icon Sean Combs and the world’s largest spirits company Diageo North America, Inc., DELEÓN™ Tequila defies conventions to establish a new standard of luxury in tequila. The DELEÓN™ portfolio boasts six provocative ultra-premium and luxury expressions made from the finest, hand-selected 100% Blue Weber agave sourced from the highlands of Jalisco. By instilling an innovative blend of traditional yet unique tequila making processes, DELEÓN™ Tequila curates exquisite smoothness and abundant character. For more information, visit: www.DELEÓNtequila.com.

About Diageo North America, Inc.

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s, Windsor whisky, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

Combs Wine & Spirits

Combs Wine & Spirits is a privately owned, premium spirits and wine business created by Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2013. Combs Wine & Spirits is focused on delivering high impact growth driven product development strategies that promote a healthy business structure while highlighting social responsibility. The company, which is based in New York, co-owns DELEÓN™ Tequila and is responsible for all strategic marketing for Cîroc Ultra Premium Vodka™, both in partnership with Diageo.

True Loves Will Get A Bargain This Year; PNC Christmas Price Index Up A Mere 0.6 Percent

November 30, 2015

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Reflecting a steep decline in energy costs, lower inflation and slow-but-steady economic growth, the 2015 PNC Christmas Price Index^®(PNC CPI) experienced its lowest growth rate in six years at 0.6 percent in the whimsical economic analysis by PNC Wealth Management.

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According to the 32^nd annual report which measures the cost of the gifts in the holiday classic, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” the price tag for the PNC CPI is $34,130.99 in 2015, a mere $198 more than last year’s cost and in-line with the government’s Consumer Price Index, which has increased 0.2 percent over the past 12 months.

“While the economy continues to chug along on a sustainable path, low commodity prices are keeping consumer costs down,” said Jim Dunigan, chief investment officer, PNC Asset Management Group. “With only a few items in our index increasing in cost this year, True Loves should be thrilled that they can have their goose and better afford the gas to roast it too.”

The cost of each item was revealed this morning on an interactive website (www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com) that teaches consumers about the index through a real-life gingerbread branch experience.

Nine of the 12 items in the index maintained their cost this year.

As part of its annual tradition, PNC Wealth Management also tabulates the “True Cost of Christmas,” which is the total cost of items gifted by a True Love who repeats all of the song’s verses. The ultra-generous True Love will have to fork over $155,407 to pay for all 364 gifts, nearly $900 more than last year.

To mirror the government’s core CPI, which excludes energy and food prices, PNC removes the Swans – typically the most volatile item in the index – from its total index. With the Swans excluded, the core PNC CPI rose just 1.0 percent, similar to the 1.9 percent increase in the government’s core CPI.

Other Highlights Include:

Five Gold Rings: The most surprising result in this year’s PNC CPI was the cost of Five Gold Rings, which stayed the same as the past two years, despite the drop in gold commodity prices again this year. From PNC CPI history, the gold rings appear not as volatile as the underlying commodity.
Bargains in Entertainment: If one is looking for entertainment to fill the True Love’s stocking, there may be bargains this year. Prices for Nine Ladies dancing ($7,553), 11 Pipers Piping ($2,635) and 12 Drummers Drumming ($2,855) are exactly on par with the past two years. The 10 Lords-A-Leaping, however, cost three percent more than in 2014.
Pear Tree: Economists report that housing prices have been on an upward trend for the past two years, with the Pear Tree, as the home to the Partridge, increasing 1.2 percent.
Maids-a-Milking: The prices for the Eight Maids-a-Milking, the only unskilled workers in the index, held steady for the sixth straight year reflecting the federal minimum wage, which hasn’t risen since 2009, after seeing increases for 3 straight years.

The PNC CPI’s sources include retailers, hatcheries, the Philadelphia-based PHILADANCO and the Pennsylvania Ballet Company.

Cyber Prices: The Cost of Convenience

For those True Loves who prefer the convenience of shopping online, PNC Wealth Management calculates the cost of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” gifts purchased on the Internet. As Internet prices tend to be higher, True Loves will have to splurge $43,626.73 ($9,495.74 more than buying “in person”) for the convenience of online shopping this year.

Gingerbread is Baking: World’s First Gingerbread Branch & Website

PNC is building the world’s first gingerbread bank to be on display in Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing December 4-6. The pop-up bank branch, made of real gingerbread, frosting and candy, will be staffed by PNC professionals and stocked with a cocoa and cookie bar and a gingerbread-covered ATM, allowing visitors to learn about the cost of the items in the index with some holiday cheer.

The PNC CPI website www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com allows online and mobile visitors to experience the gingerbread branch through an Augmented Reality platform once it is built on Dec. 4.

The website also includes a historical view of the index as well as interactive educational tools for students and teachers who want to learn about the stock market. Each year, educators across the country use the PNC CPI to teach middle and high school students about inflation and economic trends. With that in mind, this year’s PNC CPI site includes engaging interactive activities that inform students of the current cost of Christmas. Teachers who visit the site will have access to a lesson plan from the SIFMA (www.sifma.org/foundation) explaining the PNC CPI, its significance, and how to interpret its results. The activities in the lesson plan will also help students make predictions about this year’s cost of Christmas. They can check their success against actual results on November 30, when the official 2015 PNC CPI is announced. The SIFMA Foundation is dedicated to providing youth of all backgrounds with an understanding of the capital markets. Its most popular program is The Stock Market Game™.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

[CHRISTMAS PRICE INDEX TO FOLLOW]

2015 PNC Christmas Price Index^®

	TRADITIONAL			INTERNET
			% Change			% Change
	2014	2015	2015/14	2014	2015	2015/14
One Partridge in a Pear Tree	$ 207.68	$ 214.99	3.5%	$ 242.44	$ 234.94	-3.1%
Partridge	$ 20.00	$ 25.00	25.0%	$ 80.00	$ 85.00	6.3%
Pear Tree	$ 187.68	$ 189.99	1.2%	$ 162.44	$ 149.94	-7.7%
Two Turtle Doves*	$ 260.00	$ 290.00	11.5%	$ 330.00	$ 365.00	10.6%
Three French Hen	$ 181.50	$ 181.50	0.0%	$ 331.50	$ 281.50	-15.1%
Four Calling Birds	$ 599.96	$ 599.96	0.0%	$ 470.00	$ 495.00	5.3%
Five Gold Rings	$ 750.00	$ 750.00	0.0%	$ 874.75	$ 874.75	0.0%
Six Geese-a-Laying	$ 360.00	$ 360.00	0.0%	$ 1,140.00	$ 1,140.00	0.0%
Seven Swans-a-Swimming*	$ 13,125.00	$ 13,125.00	0.0%	$ 13,706.00	$ 14,367.00	4.8%
Eight Maids-a-Milking	$ 58.00	$ 58.00	0.0%	$ 348.48	$ 352.64	1.2%
Nine Ladies Dancing	$ 7,552.84	$ 7,552.84	0.0%	$ 8,322.55	$ 8,322.55	0.0%
10 Lords-a-Leaping	$ 5,348.24	$ 5,508.70	3.0%	$ 13,373.35	$ 13,373.35	0.0%
11 Pipers Piping	$ 2,635.20	$ 2,635.20	0.0%	$ 2,200.00	$ 2,200.00	0.0%
12 Drummers Drumming	$ 2,854.80	$ 2,854.80	0.0%	$ 1,620.00	$ 1,620.00	0.0%

Total Christmas Price Index*	$ 33,933.22	$ 34,130.99	0.6%	$ 42,959.07	$ 43,626.73	1.6%

True cost of Christmas in song*	$154,508.08	$155,407.18	0.6%	$192,470.93	$196,477.70	2.1%

“Core” index, excluding swans*	$ 20,808.22	$ 21,005.99	1.0%	$ 29,253.07	$ 29,259.73	0.0%
*Revised: 2014 traditional price adjusted to better reflect open market pricing.

CONTACT:

Dorsey Tobias
(919) 788-6272
[email protected]

Editor’s note: To view or download multimedia assets related to this announcement, visit https://www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com/cpi.html#media.

Barbados Hotel Association Launches Black Friday Sale

November 27, 2015

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nov. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The island nation of Barbados has launched a Black Friday sale offering customers up to 50% off hotels of all categories. The promotion, which runs from early Friday morning to late Monday night has been organized by the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA). Customers who want to take advantage of these incredible deals should visit the BHTA’s official Barbados booking site.

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In support of the association’s efforts to attract more bookings for its members, several Barbados hotels have offered unprecedented discounts for those planning a Caribbean vacation in 2016. Some examples of the hotels participating in the promotion are:

Ocean Two Resort & Residences
Sea Breeze All Inclusive Resort
Yellow Bird Hotel
South Gap Hotel
Best E Villas

Black Friday deals are available for stays throughout 2016.

About the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association
The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association is a not for profit private sector trade association and one of the largest non-governmental associations in Barbados. We exist to serve the interests of our diverse membership of over 300 tourism and non-tourism entities, both local and international. Together with our members and our global public and private sector strategic partners, we strive to ensure that Barbados achieves and maintains the status of the most desired Caribbean destination for pleasure and business. For more information visit www.bhta.org and for bookings visit www.bookbarbadosnow.com.

Effort to Prevent, Treat Newborn Drug Exposure Becomes Law

November 26, 2015

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the March of Dimes cheered today’s signature into law of the bipartisan Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015 (S.799), which takes much-needed strides to reduce the number of newborns born exposed to drugs, such as opioids, and to improve their care. Since the bill’s introduction, all three organizations have worked together leading advocacy efforts for its swift passage, and view today’s action as a legislative victory for mothers and newborns across the nation.

“Every hour, one infant is diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome. There could not be a more critical time to help families affected by substance use and abuse give their babies the healthiest possible start in life, which is why we celebrate the Protecting Our Infants Act’s advancement into law today. Congress and President Obama recognized the urgent need to address neonatal abstinence syndrome and responded, working across both sides of the aisle to do what is right for our mothers and newborns,” said AAP President Sandra G. Hassink, MD, FAAP.

“No infant should begin life by suffering the pain of drug withdrawal. The March of Dimes commends Congress and President Obama for bringing much-needed attention to the dramatic increase in the number of infants born exposed to opioids and other drugs,” stated March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer L. Howse. “The Protecting Our Infants Act is a critical first step toward reducing the terrible toll of neonatal abstinence syndrome. We thank the bill sponsors – Senators Mitch McConnell and Bob Casey, and Representatives Katherine Clark and Steve Stivers — for their tremendous efforts on behalf of drug-exposed babies. We look forward to working with authorities at the federal, state and local levels to prevent infant drug exposure and treat those affected.”

“The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is extremely gratified that today, President Obama signed the bipartisan Protecting Our Infants Act into law,” said ACOG President, Mark S. DeFrancesco, MD. “This law takes a major step in addressing opioid use during pregnancy while giving women the care that is right for them. As ob-gyns, we recognize the importance of combatting the abuse of prescription opioids across the country while offering non-punitive, family-centered medical treatment. Together, we will address this ongoing public health crisis and ensure a healthy outcome for both mother and baby.”

Reports show the significant rise of opiate use and abuse has led to an alarming increase in the rate of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). NAS refers to medical complications associated with drug withdrawal in newborns due to exposure to opioids or other drugs in utero. Between 2000 and 2009, the number of mothers found to be using opioids during pregnancy increased from 1.19 to 5.63 per 1,000 U.S. hospital births. Further, in that same time period, the number of babies born with NAS increased from 1.20 to 3.39 per 1000 hospital births per year. Babies born with NAS often need to be hospitalized for weeks, are difficult to console, and can suffer from seizures and other complications. Currently, there are no standardized guidelines for diagnosis and treatment for these newborns, and there is an urgent need for more research to optimize their health.

Specifically, the Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015, introduced by Reps. Katherine Clark (D- Mass.) and Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to identify and make available recommendations for the prevention and treatment of prenatal opioid use disorders and diagnosis and treatment of NAS, evaluate and coordinate federal efforts to research and respond to NAS, and assist state health agencies with data collection.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015 (H.R. 1462), which has 99 bipartisan cosponsors, on Sept. 8, 2015. The U.S. Senate passed an almost-identical companion bill (S. 799), which garnered 22 bipartisan cosponsors, on Oct. 22, 2015. The Senate version of the bill, which was approved by the House on November 16, was signed into law by President Obama today.

About the American Academy of Pediatrics

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 64,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit http://www.aap.org or follow @AmerAcadPeds on Twitter and Facebook.

Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College), a 501(c)(3) organization, is the nation’s leading group of physicians providing health care for women. As a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization of more than 58,000 members, The College strongly advocates for quality health care for women, maintains the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education of its members, promotes patient education, and increases awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women’s health care. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a 501(c)(6) organization, is its companion organization. www.acog.org

About March of Dimes

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose volunteers and staff work to improve the health of infants and children by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Scam Awareness Alliance Alert: Watch out for These Top Holiday Scams

November 25, 2015

DALLAS, Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Anyone buying gifts, giving to charity or trying to make extra cash is a prime target for scam artists this holiday season. That’s why the Scam Awareness Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to educating consumers about financial fraud, is issuing a warning about three popular scams that typically increase during this time each year.

“The Scam Awareness Alliance works year-round to help spread the word about common scams and prevent future victims,” said Juan Agualimpia, executive vice president of the Scam Awareness Alliance. “I hope all consumers will use the Scam Awareness Alliance as a resource this holiday season and spread the word about these common scams to family and friends. Anyone can fall victim to a scam, and we are working to educate consumers before that happens.”

Online and Mobile Shopping

This season, almost half of holiday shopping will be done online and nearly 25 percent of purchases will be made on smartphones.** Scam artists will try to get their cut of that cash by soliciting customers through fake websites, social media sites or email. They’ll offer popular merchandise or gift cards at a deep discount and ask for payment through a money order or money transfer but never send the item.

Tip: Never send money to someone you don’t know. If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Fake Charity

Traditionally the end of the year is a prime time for people to donate to charity. Scammers will take advantage of this outpouring of goodwill by creating a new charity or misusing the name and branding of a well-known charity to get donations sent directly to them.

Tip: Before donating, verify the charity is legitimate and always use a check or credit card instead of cash or a wire transfer for a donation.

Holiday Employment

People looking to earn extra money for holiday shopping often sign up for a work–at-home or mystery shopper job. In the case of a scam, the employee’s new “boss” asks for a wire transfer or money order for a start-up kit.

Tip: Never pay money to earn money. Consumers should carefully research the job posting and individuals or company contacting you for employment.

Consumers can learn more about how to protect themselves from these and other common scams at scamawareness.org.

* Financial Fraud Research Center
**National Retail Federation 2015 l purchase

About The Scam Awareness Alliance

The Scam Awareness Alliance was founded by MoneyGram International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGI) to raise awareness of common scams that target consumers. The Alliance provides tips and information that teach people to recognize the “red flags” that may indicate potential scams, and arm them with information that they can use to protect themselves and their loved ones. One of the ways the Alliance raises awareness of scams is through a series of public service announcements. These ads air on stations across the country and depict common scams; helping everyday Americans recognize the “red flags.”

Shop Courts to Save Big This Holiday Season

November 25, 2015

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago, Nov. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Courts, the leading provider of furniture & appliances across the Caribbean, is pleased to announce details of their upcoming holiday promotions.

Courts is pleased to extend a multitude of impressive discounts on items on everyone’s wish list this holiday season. The promotion, aptly named WTF, runs the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the busy Thanksgiving weekend. Door buster items will include the following:

32″ LED Smart FHD TV for $2,999 (Wednesday only)
Pembroke Recliners for just $999
$400 off of select Acer notebooks, bringing the price to just $2,299

The promotion period kicks off Wednesday, November 25, 2015. Courts is offering impressive incentives to help shoppers jump start their holiday shopping. On Wednesday only, shoppers will be entitled to a third item free following the purchase of two other items with either cash or credit.

Promotional pricing extends to all Courts stores as well as on their online marketplace. Many of the items available for browsing in the online marketplace are also available in store, helping customers streamline their holiday shopping experience.

Delivery and store pick up are available for most items. In addition, Courts is proud to offer in store credit options to help customers finance the perfect gift.

Shop Courts will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during the promotion period.

About Courts
Courts has been serving the people of the Caribbean with quality affordable furniture and appliances since 1959. With 93 stores on eleven different islands, Courts strives to be a household name in the appliance industry that can be trusted for generations to come. The company also takes their responsibility to the communities they serve very seriously. From helping fund tutors for children with reading difficulties due to dyslexia to providing vision screenings to mentally challenged adults, the Courts attention to social responsibility is a building block of the organization. In the past 5 decades thousands of lives have been touched through their sponsorship of education, sport, and health. To learn more about Courts please visit http://www.shopcourts.com/trinidadandtobago/

Journey And The Doobie Brothers Reveal 2016 Tour

November 25, 2015

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — JOURNEY and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS will launch the SAN FRANCISCO FEST 2016 tour on Thursday, May 12, 2016, again bringing together two of the iconic groups that helped define the “San Francisco Sound.” The tour, produced by Live Nation, launches at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, California – with concerts scheduled through Tuesday, August 30, 2016, and includes special guest DAVE MASON. A full listing of tour dates can be found below. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Saturday, December 5 at 10:00 a.m. through LiveNation.com. Fans with the Live Nation mobile app will have access to a password-free presale starting Thursday, December 3 at 10:00 a.m.* The app is available via the iTunes App Store and Google Play.

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Neal Schon (founding member and lead guitarist), original member Ross Valory (bass), and longtime members Jonathan Cain (keyboardist) and Arnel Pineda (lead singer), are welcoming virtuoso drummer Steve Smith back into JOURNEY, marking the first time he will perform with the band since 1998. Schon and Smith have always remained close friends and musical collaborators. Smith has lent his incredible talent to several of Schon’s solo albums, including critically acclaimed The Calling, and, most recently, Vortex.

Schon was thrilled when Smith accepted his invitation to rejoin JOURNEY, exclaiming, “I’m so looking forward to the very exciting 2016 we have planned, starting with my ‘Neal Vortex Schon’ Japan tour in February and then our major summer tour with The Doobie Brothers and Dave Mason. We will see you All soon!!!!”

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS’ Tom Johnston (founding member, vocals/guitar), Patrick Simmons (founding member, vocals/guitar), and longtime member John McFee (guitars/strings/vocals) are adding Little Feat co-founder, Bill Payne, to their band on the 2016 tour. Payne performed on many of THE DOOBIE BROTHERS studio albums as well as on the road; a relationship the band is looking forward to rekindling.

“It’s gonna be a great summer for fans of Bay Area music, and for guys like us who have the pleasure of teaming up with our good friends from Journey and the Dave Mason Band,” said Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers. “We look forward to taking the stage with Journey. We love their songs, and think we will all complement each other musically. It is going to be a powerful tour. We can’t wait to share it with the fans!”

JOURNEY VIP Packages and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS VIP Packages will both be available through VIP Nation. For more information, visit http://journeymusic.com and http://doobiebros.com.

JOURNEY is one of the most popular American rock bands of all time, creating some of the best-known songs in modern music, with iconic hits such as “Lovin, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” “Faithfully,” “Lights,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Stone In Love,” “Who’s Crying Now,” “Wheel In The Sky,” “Open Arms,” “Separate Ways,” “Only the Young,” “Be Good to Yourself,” and the seminal “Don’t Stop Believin’,” which is the top-selling digital catalog track in history. Since its formation in 1973 in San Francisco, JOURNEY has sold 80 million albums worldwide, earning 19 Top 40 singles and 25 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums since. VH1 named the group one of the top 100 artists of all time. The Greatest Hits album is certified 15 times-Platinum, bringing Journey into the elite club of Diamond-certified holders. In 2007, Neal Schon discovered Arnel Pineda on YouTube and succeeded in making Pineda the new lead singer. Two albums and three major tours later, JOURNEY has toured four continents and performed for nearly three million fans, earning the group Billboard’s prestigious “Legend of Live Award.” They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and VH1 has named the group one of the top 100 artists of all time.

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS have been delivering mind-blowing, roots-based, harmony-laden, guitar-driven rock and roll for over four decades, selling more than 48 million albums and winning four GRAMMY® Awards. They released their latest album, Southbound, in November 2014 on Arista Nashville. Southbound features new recordings of the band’s biggest hits, with country music’s biggest stars including Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band, Brad Paisley and Toby Keith. Boasting one of the most loyal fan bases in music, the band continues to write and record new material and tour the world. Their No. 1 singles “Black Water” (1974) and “What a Fool Believes” (1979), both gold, lead a catalog of indelible songs that include: “Listen to the Music,” “China Grove,” “Jesus Is Just All Right,” “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “Take Me In Your Arms,” Takin’ it to the Streets,” “Minute by Minute,” “You Belong to Me,” “The Doctor” and more. In all, the Doobies have tallied up five top 10 singles and 16 top 40 hits. Beginning with their multi-million-selling sophomore collection Toulouse Street (1972), the Doobies have 3 multi-platinum, 7 platinum and 14 Gold albums. Their Best of the Doobies (1976) has sold more than 12 million copies – a rare “diamond record.”

Legendary rocker DAVE MASON has an illustrious career spanning nearly 50 years, encompassing producing, performing, and songwriting. Best known for his soulful voice and unsurpassed guitar playing, Mason was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of the group Traffic, and continues performing as a solo artist with sold out shows all over the world. Over his career he has penned over 100 songs and hit singles including “Feelin’ Alright,” “We Just Disagree,” “Only You Know and I Know,” among others. Mason is a true classic rocker who has collaborated with numerous members of rock and roll elite, including George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and many more. When Dave is not touring he continues writing and producing new music in his home studio, as well as tirelessly supporting philanthropic causes near to his heart: Work Vessels for Vets, Yoga Blue, Michael Bolton Charities, and Kid’s Rock.

For more information, visit http://journeymusic.com, http://doobiebros.com and http://www.davemasonmusic.com/.

SAN FRANCISCO FEST 2016 FEATURING JOURNEY & THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
With Special Guest, Dave Mason

Thursday, May 12	Irvine, CA	Irvine Meadows
Saturday, May 14	Phoenix, AZ	Ak-Chin Pavilion
Sunday, May 15	Albuquerque, NM	Isleta Amphitheatre
Wednesday, May 18	Austin, TX	Austin360 Amphitheatre
Friday, May 20	Dallas, TX	Gexa Energy Pavilion
Saturday, May 21	Houston, TX	Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Monday, May 23	Wichita, KS	INTRUST Bank Arena
Wednesday, May 25	Memphis, TN	FedExForum
Friday, May 27	Indianapolis, IN+	Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Thursday, May 28	Kansas City, MO	Sprint Center
Tuesday, May 31	Rogers, AR	Walmart Amphitheatre
Thursday, Jun 2	Birmingham, AL	Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Saturday, Jun 4	Charlotte, NC	PNC Music Pavilion
Sunday, Jun 5	Raleigh, NC	Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
Wednesday, Jun 8	Atlanta, GA	Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Friday, Jun 10	Tampa, FL	MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Saturday, Jun 11	West Palm Beach, FL	Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre
Wednesday, Jun 22	Bangor, ME	Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
Friday, Jun 24	Bethel, NY	Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Saturday, Jun 25	Holmdel, NJ	PNC Bank Arts Center
Monday, Jun 27	Wantagh, NY	Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
Wednesday, Jun 29	Cuyahoga Falls, OH	Blossom Music Center
Friday, July 1	Virginia Beach, VA	Farm Bureau Live
Saturday, July 2	Bristow, VA	Jiffy Lube Live
Tuesday, July 5	Saratoga Springs, NY	Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Thursday, July 7	Toronto, ON	Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Saturday, July 9	Darien Center, NY	Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Sunday, July 10	Mansfield, MA	Xfinity Center
Wednesday, July 13	Syracuse, NY	Lakeview Amphitheater
Friday, July 15	Camden, NJ	BB&T Pavilion
Saturday, July 16	Burgettstown, PA	First Niagara Pavilion
Wednesday, July 27	Nashville, TN++	Ascend Amphitheatre
Friday, July 29	Cincinnati, OH	Riverbend Music Center
Saturday, July 30	St. Louis, MO	Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Tuesday, August 2	Grand Rapids, MI	Van Andel Arena
Thursday, August 4	Detroit, MI	DTE Energy Music Pavilion
Saturday, August 6	Omaha, NE	CenturyLink Center
Sunday, August 7	Des Moines, IA	Wells Fargo Arena**
Tuesday, August 9	St. Paul, MN	Xcel Energy Center
Thursday, August 11	Sioux Falls, SD	Sioux Falls Arena
Saturday, August 13	Tinley Park, IL	Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Tuesday, August 16	Oklahoma City, OK	Chesapeake Energy Arena
Wednesday, August 17	Little Rock, AR	Verizon Arena
Saturday, August 20	Denver, CO	Pepsi Center
Sunday, August 21	West Valley City, UT	USANA Amphitheatre
Tuesday, August 23	Auburn, WA	White River Amphitheatre
Thursday, August 25	Ridgefield, WA	Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre
Saturday, August 27	Las Vegas, NV	Mandalay Bay Events Center
Sunday, August 28	Fresno, CA	Save Mart Center
Tuesday, August 30	Chula Vista, CA	Sleep Train Amphitheatre

* – Live Nation mobile app pre-sales only available at Ticketmaster-ticketed venues

+JOURNEY with Neal “Vortex” Schon only on this date.

++JOURNEY and Dave Mason only on this date.

About Live Nation Entertainment:

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Artist Nation Management and Live Nation Media/Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com/investors.

A New way to fly to Cuba, from Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

November 24, 2015

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands, Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This December sees the launch of a new Gateway to the island of Cuba from Providenciales (PLS), Turks & Caicos Islands. Services to Santiago de Cuba (SCU) commence on December 10^th, 2015.

With this new service to Santiago from Providenciales, visitors to the Turks & Caicos Islands will be able enjoy easy access to Eastern Cuba with the initial twice weekly flights.

Providenciales to (PLS) Santiago de Cuba (SCU)
Flight No	Routing	Effective Date	Days	Depart	Arrive
JY310	PLS SCU	10-Dec-15 12-Mar-16	Thu, Sat	4:00pm	4:10pm*

Santiago de Cuba (SCU) to Providenciales (PLS)
JY 311	SCU PLS	11-Dec-15 12-Mar-16	Mon, Fri	09:10am	11:20am*
(*1hr difference)

interCaribbean Airways, the official airline of the Turks and Caicos Islands, announced its new route to Santiago de Cuba, with services to Havana, Jose Marti International Airport (HAV), Cuba, slated to start in early 2016. These new flights expands the airline’s total list of destinations to 18 cities throughout the Caribbean, making interCaribbean the best choice for “connecting you and the Caribbean“.

With increased air services from USA and Canada and the recent addition of a second London frequency by British Airways to Providenciales, this service provides timely international connections to this new service and allowing additional island choices for the vacation traveler to combine several Islands. It is Ideal for People to People travelers ready to visit the culture of Cuba.

ABOUT INTERCARIBBEAN AIRWAYS

Based in the Turks & Caicos Islands, interCaribbean Airways has served travelers as a gateway to the Caribbean since 1992. The company operates a fleet of EMB 120, Twin Otter and BE99 aircraft connecting the Turks & Caicos to the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. It operates domestic flight in the Turks & Caicos Islands and Jamaica. International services link Jamaica to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. In winter 2015 will see the launch of new nonstop services from Providenciales to Santiago de Cuba and Havana, Cuba, as well as services to Antigua and Barbuda, new Port au Prince to Santo Domingo and Punta Cana to Puerto Rico.

For information regarding the airline, and to book your reservation, visit interCaribbean.com or a preferred travel agency.

Late Night Host Jimmy Kimmel Joins 12th Annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving® Campaign

November 24, 2015

What do you #GiveThanks for this Holiday Season? Join Luis Fonsi for 12th annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving(R) campaign

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This holiday season Jimmy Kimmel makes his St. Jude Thanks and Giving^® campaign debut alongside returning celebrity friends Luis Fonsi, Jennifer Aniston, Sofia Vergara, Michael Strahan, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^® National Outreach Director Marlo Thomas. Collectively, they star in national television spots and a star-studded movie trailer asking people to help transform the holiday season into a time of giving thanks by raising funds and awareness for the ongoing battle to end childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

The St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign is an unprecedented union of celebrities, media and more than 70 of the nation’s leading, national brands that ask consumers to support St. Jude while they shop this November-December. The national television spots debut on Monday, Nov. 23, and run through the end of the year.

“Being in the music business has allowed me to travel the world and meet some amazing people. But nothing compares to the brave children I have met at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Luis Fonsi. “They are so courageous as they fight against cancer and other life-threatening diseases. I am honored to be a part of the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign this holiday season and lend my voice and time in raising awareness to support St. Jude’s lifesaving mission of finding cures and saving children in communities across America and around the world.”

The campaign’s national television spots air on network and cable television channels, as well as online, in both English and Spanish. The movie trailer appears in theatres nationwide and in Puerto Rico — including Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Theatres, Cinemark USA, Carmike Cinemas, Malco Theatres and many others. Additionally, the PSA is shown on American Airlines and Delta Air Lines flights and through Accent Health’s waiting room media network, a division of CNN. All of the spots, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, will debut online in late November.

The campaign will receive additional celebrity support from Cristian de La Fuente, Karla Martinez, Lily Aldridge, Ashley Tisdale, Ashley Greene, Lucy Hale, The Band Perry, Sam Hunt, Olivia Holt, Zac Posen, David Lee, Mike Conley, David and Tamela Mann, Jazmine Sullivan, Erica Campbell, Travis Greene, Anita Wilson, Latice Crawford and many others in the form of radio spots, online videos, social media support and more.

“We are so thankful for this incredible group of celebrity friends who lend their hearts, time and talent for our St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign,” said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “They help us bring our lifesaving mission to millions of people who then open their hearts to the children of St. Jude during the holiday season. This amazing support allows us to keep my father’s founding promise that no family pays St. Jude for anything – not for treatment, travel, housing or food – because we believe all a family should worry about is helping their child live.”

In addition, celebrities created holiday product to benefit St. Jude. Longtime supporter Daisy Fuentes designed an inspirational bracelet and the family of Maya Angelou designed a one-of-a-kind blessings jar for the St. Jude Gift Shop. Both of these products, along with hundreds of St. Jude items ranging from ornaments, baking goods and apparel, are available to purchase online during the holiday season with all proceeds benefitting St. Jude.

“These powerful voices and passionate hearts join Marlo Thomas and our long legacy of celebrities who have embraced Danny Thomas’ vision that ‘no child die in the dawn of life,'” said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “With their support, the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign has become part of a holiday tradition that reminds us all to reflect on the spirit of gratitude and to give so that we can find cures and help save children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”

Additional Quotes:

Sofia Vergara
“I love being a part of the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign. It’s so important to me to support the work being done at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I hope to inspire everyone to help in the battle against childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases by donating to St. Jude this holiday season. With your help, we can give hope to children in communities across America and around the world that benefit from the lifesaving research and treatment being done every day at St. Jude.”

Jimmy Kimmel
“I’m honored to be involved in the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign this year and to be part of the team that is helping to save the lives of children in communities across America and around the world,” said Kimmel. “My new friends Kenlie and Jaycee, who I filmed a television spot with this year, are a true inspiration to me. I hope that everyone will join me and help the children of St. Jude who are in the biggest fight of their lives.”

Jennifer Aniston
“Over the past ten years I have been blessed to have met and worked with so many extraordinary and courageous boys and girls of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They are all such an inspiration to me and have enriched my life. It’s an honor for me to be a part of the St. Jude family and I hope you will all join me in supporting St. Jude as they work to save the lives of children with cancer and other life threatening diseases across America and around the world.”

Michael Strahan
“One of the most meaningful things to me is spending time with the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since my first visit to the hospital, I’ve committed myself to be an active voice in the fight against childhood cancer. The St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign makes it easy for all of us to help in the effort to find cures and save the lives of children across America and around the world.”

The St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign began as a holiday-focused fundraising effort and has grown into an annual tradition that has raised more than $588 million thanks to tremendous public support. Throughout the months of November and December, consumers shopping where the St. Jude logo is displayed can make a donation at checkout or purchase specialty items that benefit St. Jude. Those wanting to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude are also invited to donate online or by phone at 800-4STJUDE. For more information, visit www.stjude.org.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151124/290702

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