Saint Michael’s College,The second annual Saint Michael’s College Community Service Day has drawn some 119 employees volunteering to do a variety of service activities for the day, Wednesday, May 25, both on and off the Colchester-based campus. Participants were encouraged to join in the ‘opportunity to come together with your colleagues and to give back to your community.’ Staff AwardsService activities from 9 a.m. to 12 noon will be followed by lunch and Annual Staff Awards Ceremony in Alliot Hall that will honor six employees for their commitment, service and dedication. The six to be honored were nominated by their colleagues, and will be identified for the first time at the ceremony. ‘This project celebrates the Saint Michael’s community by doing good work together,’ said Angela Irvine, director of foundation relations and service-day team member. Participants, including vice presidents, cafeteria workers, computer specialists, librarians, professors and others, will be doing the following activities: On CampusBaked Love: making meals for area familiesCampus Grounds: raking, sweeping entrances & around dumpsters, cutting ivy, weeding flower bedsChapel: spring cleaningCommunity Garden: garden prep, planting and weedingEarly Learning Center: cleaning and yard workLibrary Archives: cleaning and organizing5 paint crews, painting St. Joe’s porch, dugouts on 300s field, Old Fire Station, handrails of dorm entrances, and bus stop; walkways and seat numbers on Ross sports center bleachersPower washing of building exteriorsWindow washing Off CampusCamp Ta Kum Ta: yard work, spring cleaning, handy workCatamount Family Center: trail maintenanceCOTS: spring cleaningRock Point School: yard workShelburne Museum: gardeningWinooski Senior Center: deliver meals on wheels and bake treats for BINGO event Learn What Matters at Saint Michael’s College, The Edmundite Catholic liberal arts college, www.smcvt.edu(link is external) . Saint Michael’s provides education with a social conscience, producing graduates with the intellectual tools to lead successful, purposeful lives that will contribute to peace and justice in our world. Founded in 1904 by the Society of St. Edmund and headed by President John J. Neuhauser, Saint Michael’s College is located three miles from Burlington, Vermont, one of America’s top college towns. It is identified by the Princeton Review as one of the nations Best 371 Colleges, and is included in the 2011 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Saint Michael’s is one of only 280 colleges and universities nationwide, one of only 20 Catholic colleges, with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Saint Michael’s has 1,900 undergraduate students, some 500 graduate students and 100 international students. Saint Michael’s students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Pickering, Guggenheim, Fulbright, and other grants. The college is one of the nation’s top-100, Best Liberal Arts Colleges as listed in the 2011 U.S. News & World Report rankings.-30-
Award-winning Haitian journalist James Pierre touches hearts with Haiti: Hurricane Matthew One Year Later, his moving, eye-opening documentary on the devastating Hurricane Matthew that struck Haiti on October 4, 2016. It premiered on August 9.Almost a year later, the world is given an opportunity to take another look at the victims and their fight for survival. Devastation leaps off screen With each scene, the devastation leaped off the screen, hearing stories of destitute families detailing the loss they suffered. A woman spoke of giving birth on the floor of her fragile home, grateful that her child is safe and healthy.“They must remember that I am one of them,” said James, who has lived in South Florida since 2008.He reminded viewers that he too came from humble beginnings and never allowed his upbringing to limit him, nor change the way he feels about his native Haiti, once proudly called The Pearl of The Antilles, a sharp contrast to its current state.Fights for change Pierre – who covers current affairs in South Florida and Haiti for various outlets such as Mira TV – continues to fight for change in his country, bringing awareness to many all over the world.He is also an actor, producer and motivational speaker, who has inspired hundreds of people from his hometown Jeremie, which felt the brunt of Hurricane Matthew’s devastation.During a visit to Haiti last October, he was recognized by many residents as he walked through the streets, giving them hope for change.“It’s all about giving God the lead and following where he takes you,” said Pierre.He and members of the Hurricane Matthew Relief Effort provided medical and spiritual support to victims.Local 10 News reporter Calvin Hughes commended Pierre for his humanitarian work. “James, you have a gift,” he said.Over 1,000 victims The United Nations reported that over 1,000 persons died inHaiti due to Hurricane Matthew. According to the UN, approximately 1.4 million citizens required humanitarian aidin the country which has a population of over 10 millionpeople. Visit James Pierre on Facebook to view Haiti Hurricane Matthew One Year Later or JamesPierre.com.by Chely Paul
Haiti’s Prime Minister warns persons posing as soldiers The Haitian government has called on persons pretending to be members of the soon to be reconstituted national army to end their practice or they’ll be prosecuted for the possession of illegal arms.Pretenders occupy streetsHaiti’s Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant said armed individuals, dressed in military uniforms, have been identifying themselves as members of the Haitian Armed Forces, and occupying the streets of the capital and certain provincial towns by claiming to be part of the military.The prime minister said such actions contravenes the Haitian Constitution, particularly the provisions of the Criminal Law.“The reconstitution of the Haitian Armed Forces must be no pretext for anyone to give themselves titles and statutes that the law does not recognize, and take advantage to sow confusion in public opinion and create public disorder.Recruitment conditions provided for in Constitution “The conditions of recruitment and engagement in the armed Forces provided for by the Constitution, are determined by law,’ Lafontant said.He warned that “armed individuals posing as demobilized soldiers must report to the Office of Management of Demobilized Military to hand over all state property in their possession including weapons, ammunition, equipment and uniforms.”He said failure to do so could lead to those persons being charged and prosecuted for the possession of illegal possession of firearms. “The General Coordinator will make every effort to ensure the success of this operation.”Demobilized Military Management OfficeThe government said that since 2004, the State has set up the Demobilized Military Management Office (BGMD) which has been carrying out the compensatory indemnity program granted to the military because of their demobilization which is in its third and final phase.Last week, Haiti’s Prime Minister Lafontant shied away from confirming whether or not Haiti’s new army will be officially commissioned on November 18, promising however that it will not be one aimed at tormenting the population.For recent article on Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, click the link: PM mum on new Haitian army
The five-year-old son of the woman who died last Thursday from the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been confirmed positive with the virus.The boy (name withheld), along with three others, is being given supported treatments at the Eternal Love Winning Africa (ELWA) II Ebola treatment unit (ETU), which presently has a 60-bed capacity, should the number of cases in this new outbreak increase.The other three, including the sister of the boy’s deceased 30-year-old mother and his two siblings, are suspected of having the virus, because of their direct interactions with the index case, who died last Thursday, March 31, while en-route to the Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town, a densely populated suburb of Monrovia. The three are still yet unconfirmed as having the virus.Health Minister Dr. Bernice T. Dahn said in a statement that the 30-year-old woman’s “blood specimens were taken and tested positive for Ebola.” She also said investigations are “ongoing to identify the source of transmission and the line-listing of contacts,” and called on Liberians and foreign residents to not panic as health authorities are doing everything possible to contain the new outbreak.Along with the four under observation, at least 46 contacts, including 13 healthcare workers, who worked at a clinic in Jacob Town, Monrovia, where the 30-year-old woman sought treatment before her death, are now being observed and monitored. The healthcare workers at the clinic are under what authorities at the Ministry of Health termed “voluntary precautionary observation (VPO).” According to Deputy Health Minister, Tolbert Nyenswah, and the Ministry’s Communications Director, Sorbor George, the temperature of the healthcare providers are being tested every morning and evening.George said they are being kept at a “safe place far from their families and friends so that they don’t contaminate others, just in case.”Nyenswah disclosed that at least 99 percent of the contacts that the victim might have come in contact with prior to her death are now being traced and that ordinary Liberians need not be afraid “as the MOH now has all the capabilities including rapid response to bring any outbreak of the transmission under control.”He told our Health Correspondent that the Ministry is suspecting that this present outbreak is an “imported one,” as the lady’s history shows that she entered Liberia on March 21 from neighboring Guinea. According to Mr. George, they understand that the lady’s husband had recently died of the virus in neighboring Guinea, which is battling a resurgence of the deadly virus that has now claimed several lives.Minister Nyenswah further disclosed that the official Liberian borders with Guinea were closed on the day the lady and her three children entered the country. He added, “So, she didn’t come through any of the official border posts.”He, along with his Communications Director, quoting the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that the EVD outbreak in West Africa is no longer a public health threat. However, Minister Nyenswah has cautioned every Liberian and others residing in the country to revert to all the Ebola protocols, including constant washing of hands, avoiding body contacts with others as much as possible, etc. Minister Nyenswah said the Health Ministry is not taking this single case lightly as one confirmed case is enough to create an epidemic. Liberia was last declared free from the EVD transmissions on January 14. It was first declared EVD-transmission free on May 9, 2015, but new cases emerged subsequently, forcing health partners to restart the clock each time.Following the Ebola-transmission free declaration in May 2015, the nation entered a 90-day period of heightened surveillance aimed at preventing a future reemergence of the disease. Unfortunately, the nation has reported more than two new outbreaks.WHO has recorded the latest deaths and summed up Liberia’s Ebola death tally to 4,809 since March 2014. It also said at least 10,675 persons have been affected with the virus in Liberia.However, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced early last week Ebola is no longer a public health threat of international concern, because the three worst affected countries: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, have the full capacity to effectively manage any resurgence of the transmission as evidenced in the last two flare-ups in the countries.The MOH has called communities to remain vigilant to report to their respective leaders and health care-givers any person/s showing signs and symptoms of Ebola and any deaths in their communites, or call 4455 with any concerns and information.“Always protect yourself, family and community,” Minister Dahn urged.In another development, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has conveyed a consignment of health-related items to the MOH, donated by Liberians residing in the U.S. donated to his office in Monrovia, are worth US$700,000. Making the presentation on Friday at the Ministry’s Congo Town office, VP Boakai said the donation seeks to help in the building of a resilient health care system. He also spoke of the many goodwill gestures that are shortly expected in the country to boost the country’s health system.Some donated items were surgical lights, hospital beds, walkers, bedpans and food items among others. Sorbor George, who received the items on behalf of Minister Dahn, lauded the Vice President and all those associated with the donation. He promised that the items would be used for the intended purposes.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)