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Gale and Boston Public Library Deliver New Online Accredited High School Completion Program to Adult Residents

As students head back to school, adult residents in Massachusetts now have the opportunity to obtain their high school diploma from their local public library.

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Boston Public Library Offers Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School to Help Drive Workforce Development and Economic Growth

BOSTON and FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. /PRNewswire/ — As students head back to school, adult residents in Massachusetts now have the opportunity to obtain their high school diploma from their local public library. The Boston Public Library (BPL) offers Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School, an accredited online diploma completion program from Gale, part of Cengage Group. The program is designed to help busy adults who have aged out of the education system obtain their high school diploma online with the convenience of a self-paced schedule. Boston Public Library began piloting the program at the end of last year (2021) and has already had two students graduate.

This opportunity completely changed my life forever. This school provides so much assistance to help you succeed. Tweet this

Massachusetts adults (19 and older) who are looking to advance their careers, prepare for workforce entry or continue their education, can apply online for an Excel Adult High School scholarship through BPL. There is no cost to students for the program, but enrollment is limited and requires a library card.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly half a million adults in Massachusetts age 18 or older do not have a high school diploma or equivalency[i].

Boston Public Library’s Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School program

Boston Public Library decided to invest in Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School to make more education services available to residents through their public libraries and help drive workforce development and create economic growth within their communities. As the library for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, state funding and private donations have made it possible for BPL to expand the program to all eligible residents of Massachusetts.

“With Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School, we are implementing a program that gives Bay Staters another option to advance their education and achieve their career goals, setting the stage for future workforces and economic growth, and we are excited to offer it,” said Gianna Gifford, Chief of Adult Library Services at Boston Public Library.

Excel Adult High School graduate, Christina Ingram says enrolling in the program was one of the best decisions she has ever made:

“This opportunity completely changed my life forever. This school provides so much assistance to help you succeed and graduate. The courses are at your own pace, so you don’t feel rushed to complete them. All my life from the age of 25 I tried to get my diploma, but I couldn’t pass the GED test or night school. Excel Adult High School helped me accomplish my dream and also show my kids that as long as you don’t give up, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. Thank you, Excel Adult High School for the opportunity. I will never forget this for the rest of my life.”

Once accepted and enrolled, students have up to 24 months to finish the program and can complete it sooner by transferring previously earned high school, GED®, HiSET® or TASC credits. After completing the program, students earn an accredited high school diploma (not an equivalency).

Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School provides:

  • 21.5-credit curriculum aligned to national standards.
  • 24/7 online access to self-paced classes on intuitive platform.
  • live, unlimited one-on-one tutoring and ongoing support from success coaches
  • courses with built-in tools for English language learners. Non-native English speakers have access to course translations in 135 languages.
  •  more than 100 core academic, elective and college-level courses to select from.
  • opportunity to earn up to 21 free college credits through ACE (American Council on Education) courses.
  • Counseling team to assist with course selection, college planning or career guidance.

“Boston Public Library recognizes the economic value they bring to their communities by investing in Gale Presents: Excel Adult High School,” said Shawn Clark, senior vice president of Gale’s domestic learning business. “With education, workforce-ready resources, they are truly changing lives and improving the quality of life for Massachusettsans and it’s an honor to be a part of that journey as a trusted partner.”

Massachusetts residents interested in learning more about the program can visit: https://www.excelhighschool.org/library/bpl.

About Cengage Group and Gale

Cengage Group, an education technology company serving millions of learners in 165 countries, advances the way students learn through quality, digital experiences. The company currently serves the K-12, higher education, professional, library, English language teaching and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, part of Cengage Group, provides libraries with original and curated content, as well as the modern research tools and technology that are crucial in connecting libraries to learning, and learners to libraries. For more than 65 years, Gale has partnered with libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights – where, when and how people need it. Gale has 500 employees globally with its main operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.gale.com.

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About the BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY      

Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large, free municipal library in the United States; the first public library to lend books; the first to have a branch library; and the first to have a children’s room.

The Boston Public Library of today is a robust system that includes the Central Library in Copley Square, 25 neighborhood branches, the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, the Kirstein Business and Innovation Center, and an archival center, offering public access to world-class special collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and prints, along with rich digital content and online services.   

The Boston Public Library serves nearly 4 million visitors per year and millions more online. All of its programs and exhibitions are free to all and open to the public.

The Boston Public Library is a department of the City of Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu. To learn more, visit: https://www.bpl.org.

[i] U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

SOURCE Gale, part of Cengage Group



Family

Easy Easter Eats

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One-pan dishes to make hosting simple

(Family Features) Even if Easter hosting duties fell on your plate this year and added one more thing to your holiday to-do list, that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult. After all, Easter is a time meant for fun and fellowship with the food just one part of the celebration.

Building the menu around simple, one-pan dishes can keep the focus where it needs to be: spending time and creating memories with family and friends. These dishes call for short lists of ingredients, many of which you may already have in your pantry, and simple preparation to create a full spread perfect for sharing with loved ones. Plus, using only one pan makes cleanup a breeze, so you can get back to the festivities quickly.

A dish like this Easter Roast lets you check both the main course and side dishes off your list, relying on the oven to do most of the work for you after some quick prep work. Similarly easy to prepare, these Refrigerator Rolls can also be made up to six days in advance and stored in the fridge until ready to bake – a perfect complement to the savory roast and veggies.

Finish off your feast with an adaptable dessert like this Blueberry Crumble. Made using just five ingredients and ready in about an hour, you can swap the blueberry pie filling and yellow cake mix for any combination that suits your guests’ tastes like apple pie filling with spice cake or cherry pie filling with chocolate cake; the sky’s the limit when it comes to satisfying that sweet tooth.

For more Easter recipe inspiration, visit Culinary.net.

Easter Roast

Yield: 1 roast

  • Salt
  • pepper
  • garlic powder
  • 1 roast (3 pounds)
  • 1 bag (1 pound) baby carrots
  • 1 bag (1 1/2 pounds) trio potatoes or potato of choice
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 can (10 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 tablespoon garlic pepper
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 bundle asparagus
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic powder over roast and rub into front, back and sides. Place seasoned roast in middle of large roasting pan.
  3. Place carrots on one side of roasting pan and potatoes on other side.
  4. In large bowl, mix beef broth and cream of mushroom soup with garlic pepper. Pour mixture over roast, potatoes and carrots. Sprinkle brown sugar over carrots and add chopped onion. Cover and cook 2 1/2 hours then remove from oven, add asparagus and cook uncovered 30 minutes.
  5. Serve from pan or place on platter for more formal presentation.

Refrigerator Rolls

Yield: 18 rolls

  • 2 packages yeast
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups lukewarm water
  • 6-7cups all-purpose flour, divided
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 stick softened butter
  • oil, divided
  1. In large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in lukewarm water. When yeast is foamy, add 3 cups flour. Mix in salt, eggs and butter.
  2. Once mixed well, add remaining flour 1 cup at a time and knead dough into ball in bowl. Remove dough from bowl and place on clean surface.
  3. Wash and dry bowl then grease with drizzle of oil. Place dough in bowl and let rise 1 hour or store in refrigerator if making in advance.
  4. When ready to use, grease muffin pan with oil. Roll dough into hand-size balls and place in each muffin hole; cover 1 hour.
  5. Heat oven to 350 F. Bake rolls 30 minutes.
  6. Note: Dough can be made in advance and stored in refrigerator up to six days. If making ahead, punch down dough, cover and place in refrigerator. Punch down daily until ready to use.

Blueberry Crumble

Yield: 1 cake

  • 1 can blueberry pie filling
  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 bag (4 ounces) chopped pecans
  • 1 stick butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • whipped cream, for serving (optional)
  • vanilla ice cream, for serving (optional)
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Spread pie filling on bottom of 9-by-11-inch pan. Sprinkle cake mix and pecans on top. Do not mix.
  3. Drizzle melted butter and oil on top of cake mix and pecans. Do not mix. Lift pan and tilt from side to side until cake mix is completely covered in butter.
  4. Bake 1 hour until golden brown and bubbly.
  5. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.


SOURCE:
Culinary.net

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Lifestyle

5 Handy Ways to Jumpstart Productivity in Your Workspace

Designing a project workspace takes creativity & planning. Identify needs, invest in the right tools, plan for storage, light it up, & stay safe! #WorkshopTips #DIY

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"Designing a Functional Workspace for Your Projects"

(Family Features) Designing a project workspace can take your creativity to new heights. Whether you’re into woodworking, metalworking, building models or repairing bikes or tools like chainsaws, having the right space allows you to focus on creating and enjoying each project to the fullest.

Completing a job to your satisfaction requires the right tools, equipment and resources to get the job done. Set up a workspace that lets you explore your passion with these tips from the DIY pros at Work IQ Tools:

Identify your needs. Every project comes with a unique set of tools and requirements for success. Make a list so you can ensure you account for every detail.

  • Determine if a large, flat workspace is required or floor space is better suited.
  • Balance comfort and craftsmanship by choosing a stable chair or rolling chair or decide if working on your feet is more practical.
  • Decide exactly how much space you realistically need.
  • Assess your access to adequate power sources.
  • If you’re using paints and varnish or other odorous substances, ensure there’s proper ventilation.

Invest in the right equipment. Having the right tools allows you to work faster, easier and smarter. Incorporating a solution like the IQ Vise System is like having a built-in problem solver with smart features that improve functionality and capability. The vise features a ball and socket design that allows articulation and 360-degree rotation at any angle for optimal work positioning while complementing task-specific jaws are crafted to create the perfect grip for an extensive range of shapes and materials.

Plan for storage. Keeping all your parts and pieces neatly organized means they remain in good condition until you need them, and you can find what you’re looking for easily. When you’re planning your storage needs, think about the space you need at every stage, including how you’ll protect a project that is in progress when you step away from your workspace.

Light it up. A well-lit workspace gives you the visibility you need to complete each project to your satisfaction. Overhead lights rarely do the trick for hands-on work, so plan to add task lamps to your work area. Look for models with features that match your hobby needs, such as dimming capabilities and goose necks that allow you to position the lights just right.

Remember safety. Different projects require distinct protective gear, but virtually all DIYers can benefit from some basic safety precautions. At the least, keep a first aid kit handy for nicks and cuts, but also consider safety glasses, gloves, ear protection and other gear that can help protect you while you work.

Find more useful tools to create a functional project workspace at workiqtools.com.

Workshop Assistants to Get the Job Done

No matter your craft or hobby, you can find plenty of tools and accessories that make it easier to navigate the intricate details of each project you tackle. Consider these IQ Connect plug-and-play workshop accessories that provide hands-free assistance where and when needed on the IQ Vise and around your work area via three additional mounting options.

Work Light: Task lighting helps illuminate dark or shadowed areas so you can see the tiniest details. A hands-free, 180-lumen work light that mounts in a magnetic holder, bench mount or clamp mount can add extra versatility. Rechargeable and featuring multiple light settings, it’s always ready and adaptable to your needs.

Magnifying Glass: Many hobby projects require intricately detailed work that’s difficult to see with the naked eye, whether it’s a minute piece of your project or the fine print on a tool. Look for a magnifying glass that’s at least 5 inches in diameter with at least two levels of magnification and an adjustable frame so you can get the angle just right.

Cell Phone Holder: A smartphone is often a hobbyist’s most valuable tool since you can use it to look up information, scan for design inspiration, record your process or add entertainment to your work session. An adjustable hands-free holder lets you get the positioning just right while giving you the freedom to tackle the tasks at hand.



SOURCE:
WorkIQ

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Disney Destiny Will Bring Stories of Legendary Disney Heroes and Villains to Life

The New Disney Cruise Line ship will draw inspiration from epic tales of Disney, Pixar, and Marvel

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CELEBRATION, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — Disney Cruise Line revealed the first details about its next ship, the Disney Destiny, as it reached a new construction milestone today with a keel laying ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. With the good luck garnered by this maritime tradition, this ship of legends and lore is beginning to take shape.

New Disney Cruise Line ship to draw inspiration from Disney, Pixar and Marvel's epic tales in "Heroes and Villains" themed ship.
Disney Cruise Line revealed the name of its next ship, the Disney Destiny, along with details about its design theme, “Heroes and Villains.” The ship, sister to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, will draw on the legacy of beloved Disney stories, characters and theme park attractions to forge a cruise vacation that will empower guests to embrace their own calling aboard every unforgettable voyage. (Disney)

The design theme of the Disney Destiny, sister to the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, will be “Heroes and Villains,” drawing on the legacy of beloved Disney stories, characters and theme park attractions, to forge a cruise vacation that will empower guests to embrace their own calling aboard every unforgettable voyage.

The Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering teams were inspired by the dynamic duality of every great Disney story, where opposing forces of light and dark drive characters to rise to their purpose, when developing the Disney Destiny. Onboard, guests will encounter heroes and villains alike – including those from beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios stories like “The Lion King,” “Hercules” and “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” – within the spaces, experiences and entertainment throughout their voyage.

To embody and embolden the theme, Disney also unveiled brand-new filigree artwork for the bow of the Disney Destiny, continuing a beloved Disney Cruise Line design tradition. The illustration depicts Minnie Mouse striking a valiant pose in a heroic ensemble, her cape waving majestically in the sea breeze as she boldly leads guests toward their vacation destinies.

“The Disney Destiny will celebrate our most legendary Disney stories and characters, bringing them to life in new and exciting ways exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Cruise Line. “As we continue to expand our fleet, the Disney Destiny will further strengthen our position as a leader in family cruising as we offer even more ways for families to experience Disney magic and world-class service at sea.”

The Disney Destiny is scheduled for delivery in 2025 as part of a multi-year expansion of the Disney Cruise Line fleet that includes the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, the Disney Adventure that will homeport in Singapore, and the new island destination in The Bahamas, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact a travel agent.

SOURCE Disney Cruise Line

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