In a fast paced world where careers often come first, putting off that sick day could be more dangerous than you think.

Picture your perfect sick day. What does it look like? Is it one of comfort; curled up under a quilt, with candles and relaxing music playing? Is it you, binge watching your favourite show with a hot drink cradled in your hands? Whatever it is, the ideal sick day is best filled with relaxation.

It's common knowledge that the best way to get better is to slow down, take a breather and let our body recover. So why then, are Brits taking fewer and fewer sick days?

A survey by National Accident Helpline has revealed some worrying statistics about the UK's working population. Nine out of ten Brits (89%) admitted to dragging themselves out of their sickbeds to go to work, with over half (53%) having taken no sick days in the last six months.

Research by the Office for National Statistics also shows an overall falling trend in the amount of sick days taken between 1994 and 2016. Whilst it's understandable that money or job security worries keep us going in when we probably shouldn't, we really need to consider the impact that this is having on our health.

Doctor Jamie Shah says you risk making things worse if you go to work when you're ill.

"You do need time off when you are ill to recover properly, because if you are working continuously you aren't getting that extra nutrition and rest you need.

"You also risk causing yourself more stress, which is proven to reduce the body's immune system." Working through illness also affects your mental ability, says psychologist Joan Harvey.

"If you go to work when you're ill you're more likely to make mistakes.

"The issue is that there are a lot of tougher absence policies in the workplace, so people are terrified to not go in," she says.

Tech entrepreneur Andrew Ward doesn't go to work when he's ill out of fear, but because it's essential that he isn't beaten by illness. If he's too ill to make it into work, he will still work from home. He hasn't had a day off work for half a year.

"If I'm ill I try to work; I would have to be very ill to not do anything. I hate being forced to take a day off work due to illness. It takes all the power and control away," he says.

His aversion to duvet days has led to intense stress.

"You do sometimes get periods of very high pressure from pushing yourself when you're ill. You could be forced to put extra time in over the weekends and evenings.

"I'd say stress is a contributor to me getting ill."

His driven nature has paid off, leading to a successful career as Managing Director of an app development agency and he is happy with his fast paced life, but this doesn't mean there's not a price to pay for refusing to slow down when he's ill. He and his wife Anna spent four years without going on holiday.

Andrew's idyllic weekend is not one spent in front of the telly, but where he gets stuff done. He's been known to work 13 hours a day because he struggles to switch off.

It's not just men working in the high octane business world who suffer; I'm a 21-year-old female student whose fear of missing out and refusing to take a step back has put my health at risk.

There have been weekends when I've slept for only a few hours because I'm trying to juggle a social life as well as working, and I have taken myself to university when I should have been bed-bound with flu.

This means I suffer with chronic stress and recurrent illness. I ended up in hospital four times over six months with Peritonsillar Abscess; a potentially serious complication of tonsillitis. The first time, I had dragged myself into university before giving in and realising I needed to call A&E. I carry on despite wanting to curl up under a duvet.

Even if I do manage to stay in bed, I'm not actually allowing myself time off. Mentally, I'm still attempting or obsessing over work, guilt coursing through my groggy body as I click Watch Next on the latest Netflix binge series.

This is partially to do with guilt. Modern life is extremely demanding and students are put under immense pressure to compete with thousands of others to get a job when we graduate.

These pressurised feelings of guilt are understandable, especially as Britain has such a workaholic culture, but working a lot isn't even making us work better. The latest release from the Office for National Statistics shows that we just aren't that productive as a country. Output per hour worked in the UK was 15.9% below the average for the rest of the G7 advanced economies in 2015.

Long, demanding working hours are also having a negative impact on our mental health.

Almost one in four employees from the 2016 Britain at Work Report said that they have had to miss work over the past 12 months because of stress-related conditions and the Work Family Balance report found that workers often feel their life is skewed towards work to the detriment of their families.

Our need to get things done may be down to money issues and internal or external pressure. The National Accident Helpline survey found that reasons for working when ill included money worries (25%), pressure from colleagues (11%) and pressure from the boss (19%), with well over one in 10 having been threatened with disciplinary measures as a result of taking sick leave.

This doesn't come as a surprise to life coach Lucy Owens.

"People come to me with extreme dissatisfaction with their work but keep going because they don't want to be seen as a slacker," says Lucy.

PR Executive Claudia Barnett has often learnt this the hard way.

"Sometimes I've been known to massively push myself to the extent of burn out. It happened towards the end of last year where I just couldn't push forward anymore and literally had to stop my life for a while to recover," 23-year-old Claudia says.

She has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), often known as 'pure OCD', and says her condition worsens when she's stressed, run down or lacking in sleep.

"This is why 'slow living' is important to me- to give myself and my body a chance to recover," she says.

Hearing that you need to take more time off when you're ill can be frustrating when you have bills to pay and a family to feed, but learning how to look after yourself and slowdown could prevent a devastating burnout.

Illustration by Meg Mundy

View original post here:

Beware The Burnout: The Danger Of Overworking - HuffPost UK

I just read some interesting articles about how were close to getting cheap, fast Internet service anywhere from satellites.

Right now, existing satellite Internet service is notoriously slow and expensive.

But OneWeb, a satellite production facility led by Greg Wyler, is planning a fleet of 720 satellites that would form a global network in space-beaming broadband service down to Earth.

Its more than just an idea OneWeb has been testing a proof of concept since 2007, with a network of 12 satellites providing speeds of 1 gigabyte per second (GBps), about as fast as the highly regarded Google Fiber network.

And, last week, OneWeb was given FCC permission to use the broadcast spectrum needed to beam high-speed Internet access from space to Earth.

OneWeb has plans for a slow buildup to spaced-based Net service, with everything fully realized by the 2020s.

If you havent visited the Bismarck Public Librarys website in quite a while, you may want to stop by and check out the online options for accessing various digital media.

For example, you can borrow ebooks and digital audiobooks, access and download popular magazines or borrow digital movies to stream. Its like going to the library from the comfort of your chair and whatever digital device youre using.

Its perfect for when youre outside in the yard relaxing or on a trip or just hanging out at the park.

There is also a service called Tumblebooks, which makes available online books for young people from kindergarten through sixth grade.

Youll need a library card and Internet access to take full advantage of the online offerings. Go to http://bit.ly/2rLA5iq for more information.

If you havent had a chance yet to play around with the latest Google Doodle, do so before its gone from Googles main search page.

The doodle is in honor of Oskar Fischinger, a German-American abstract animator, who gave music a visual form and interpretation.

Music is not limited to the world of sound, Fischinger said in 1951. There exists a music of the visual world.

The Google Doodle is fairly sophisticated. You click on individual triangles in vertical rows to represent musical notes. The doodle then plays the notes from left to right.

There are four different instruments you can score, generating a small orchestra that repeatedly plays the music you create.

Each note and instrument generates a different visual animation. Create enough combinations of notes and instruments and you get a visual display that is as engaging (or distracting) as the sounds you hear.

Its a lot of fun to play and create new melodies. Google even offers a way to save your compositions.

Keith Darnay is the Tribune's online manager and has worked in the online world for more than two decades. His site is at http://www.darnay.com.

Continue reading here:

Internet service may become based in space - Bismarck Tribune

Henry Ehlebracht June 24th, 2017 - 9:00 AM

Forest Swords sophomore LP is something special. Matthew Barnes, otherwise known as Forest Swords, is known for his experimental music influenced by genres such as dub and ambient. With Compassion, the English producer has set out to create electronic music that showsfeeling without speaking. There are no featured vocalists on this album, but the music is ableconvey a volume of emotion on its own. This project is definitely a success for Forest Swords, and fans of experimental music should be excited to have a meaty new album to dig into.

One of the first things one willnotice about Compassionis that each song has a personality and mood all to its own. Barnes works hard to give each piece this uniqueness. For example, thesong Vandalism starts out slow with drumbeats and bell clinks that begin to escalate almost like the planning before the act of vandalism itself. Then, the addition of guitars and claps later on imitates the thrill of actually taking part in the act. The song Panic is another impressive offering,making listeners feel as ifsomething isnt right. As the trackgoes on, light chimes give way to rumbling guitars and bongo beats that signify anxiety and panic. The song also features a great vocal sample that comes in halfway through the track; it all comes together to really drive home this theme of panic.

Borden Margin Barrier is another song that is able to exude a unique aura. The synths that fade in and out each time almost touching give the impression that there is a barrier just barely keeping them apart. Each song on this album has a similar amount of depth to it. Onecould dig through any one of them looking for a new meaning for a long time. That is one of the greatelements ofinstrumental music:onesimagination is able to run free, envisioning any meaning itwants from the sounds that are heard. It is surprising that Forest Swords wereable to weave together so many different elements into a cohesive whole onthis project. Not only does the album feature so much depth of interpretation, its also supremely listenable with great relaxing melodies on songs like Arms Out. All in all, Barnesshould really be proud of himself because this project is a winner.

Continue reading here:

Forest Swords Compassion - mxdwn.com

A yoga class will relax your body (Picture: Getty)

Today is a special day all about yoga, and if you havent tried it yet, then what are you waiting for?

Yoga is a form of exercise that promotes health, flexibility, well-being and the perfect opportunity to wear quite possibly the comfiest item of clothing ever invented aka yoga pants.

Its a great way to make new friends, tone up and more fun than endlessly running on a treadmill listening to the awful dance music in the gym.

Celebrate International Yoga Day by booking yourself in for a class, you wont regret it.

Why bother getting your heart beating really fast, when instead you could be using yoga as a means of relaxing yourself and winding down?

Do the childs pose once, and you will never want to get on the stair master ever again.

Not only is yoga great for toning your body, but it also helps to build your strength in ways you didnt think were possible.

Give it a few weeks and you will have perfected the crow pose, and left amazed at just how strong your body is.

Nothing like doing a fancy new pose in the park or on the beach to document how nicely your yoga skills are progressing.

#YogaGoals.

It doesnt matter if you cant get yourself down to the local yoga studio, because you can practise yoga anywhere.

As long as you have a mat you can put some relaxing music on, find a YouTube video and do as many seated twists as you like all from the comfort of your own living room.

Some people swear by starting the day off with yoga, and others prefer to wind down with a session in the evening.

Basically there is never a wrong time for yoga. Perfect for those with busy schedules.

MORE: We tried anti-gravity yoga and turns out we love to hang

It doesnt matter if you are 16, or 65, anyone of any age group can comfortably practise yoga.

What do Vanessa Hudgens, Colin Farrell, Julia Roberts and Madonna have in common? They all love yoga, and swear by the benefits of it.

Orange Is The New Black even has a character inspired by the yoga lifestyle (Yoga Jones), so why dont you join the yoga loving tribe as well?

Thanks to all of the concentration you have to put into yoga moves to ensure you are doing them correctly, and angling yourself properly, it is a great way of improving your coordination.

After an intense workout in the gym, you brace yourself for the feeling of soreness for the next few days as a punishment for pushing yourself too hard.

This doesnt happen with yoga, and instead it improves your flexibility, and doesnt leave you feeling bruised.

Due to the controlled breathing, challenging physical poses, and mediation involved it is perfect to clear your head and relieve the daily stress of life.

Why bother doing the worm or the robot at a party, when instead you can impress everyone with a wounded peacock pose that involves balancing entirely on one hand.

The average yoga session burns around 120 180 calories, and with a class like Bikram you can burn over 700 calories per class.

So not only does it improve flexibility, but it also burns a ton of calories, what is there not to love?

If you have difficulty sleeping, or suffer from insomnia then yoga could be your key to a deep relaxing sleep.

By practising yoga quietly and focusing on deep breathing to calm and relax your mind as well as relieve physical tension, it will help to ease you into a gentle sleep.

There are so many different varieties of yoga, that you will find it difficult to get bored.

If you are feeling adventurous you can go for Bikram yoga and practise poses in sauna like temperatures.

Or how about Jivamukti yoga which are themed classes with Sanskrit chanting or references to ancient scripture?

Once you shimmy your way into these stretchy pants you will never want to wear anything ever again.

Plus they make everyones bum look bloody amazing.

MORE: 9 surf and yoga retreats for the ultimate fitness holiday

MORE: 19 things you only know if you love yoga but are rubbish at it

MORE: 23 reasons your gym membership was always wasted on you

Metro Blogs is a place for opinions. These opinions belong to the author and are not necessarily shared by Metro.

Excerpt from:

International Yoga Day: 15 reasons to try yoga immediately - Metro

During the week of June 12-20, the Virginia Fire Department was called for service 97 times: 21 transfers, 27 fire calls, and 49 911 calls.

This is weeks fire calls varied greatly from multiple public assists, eleven false alarms where we were dispatched and cancelled, four times dispatched to motor vehicle incidents, one cooking fire, tent fire, unauthorized burning, and a powerline down. The 21 transfers brought us to Cook Hospital, Essentia Health Northern Pines and Virginia these patients were transported to Miller Dwan, St. Lukes and Essentia Health St. Marys.

The 49 911 calls brought us to Britt, Eveleth, Gilbert, Mountain Iron, Tower, and Virginia. These patients were treated and transported to St. Lukes, Essentia Health St. Marys, Virginia, or to Air Medical.

During this week, Saturday was our busiest day, with falls being the top reason for dispatch. We performed 73 procedures and administered 43 medicines.

We treated more women (39) then men (31) with the average age being 60 years old.

The Fire Marshals Office responded to four fire calls, investigated a car fire, an illegal fire pit, and attended some in house leadership training as well as worked on fire prevention activities for upcoming events. The Fire Marshal and the Fire Explorers assisted the police and on duty fire crews with Land of the Loon and staffed a first aid station. Thank you again to all the area first responders that help us every day.

So now that winter is over and construction season is in full swing, please remember that the construction workers are not trying to inconvenience you. They are trying to improve the road ways and other infrastructure. Please be aware of emergency vehicles and personnel around fire and motor vehicle collision scenes. In the past we have had fire hoses run over and personnel almost struck by drivers who were not paying attention. Last week in Michigan, Comstock Fire Chief Ed Switalski, who was a friend and National Fire Academy classmate of mine and Hibbing Fire Captain Tony Sikich was struck by a pickup truck while on the scene of a motor vehicle collision. As Chief Switalski was putting his gear away in the back of his command vehicle he was struck by what some accounts describe as an out of control vehicle. His funeral was Wednesday.

With that being said here are a few tips that can help make your commute safer.

Do you regularly whiz through your morning routine in a whirlwind of chaos, trying to make up time while on the road? Do you allow just enough time to drive to an appointment? Then youre probably also more prone to a lead foot and a lost temper. If you add 10 minutes to your expected travel time, youll have time to stop for gas, safely navigate those snowy roads or detour around road construction. Also, try preparing clothing, briefcases, childrens school bags and lunches the night before to minimize your morning rush. Extra time equals calmer driving.

2. Your car is not a therapist.

Many of us love and identify with our cars, but sometimes you can take the car as extension of self idea too seriously. If your boss or your spouse left you steaming, take care not to use driving as a way to blow off steam. No matter how much power youve got under the hood, your vehicle is first and foremost a mode of transportation.

Without getting into the argument over aggressive music makes people aggressive, it makes sense that listening to relaxing music or even a comedy channel on satellite radio will make you less pumped up for action than a driving bass line. Try tuning in to classical or jazz to reduce stress. Or listen to an audiobook.

4. Loosen up, then breathe:

If you notice yourself clenching the steering wheel in a death grip, try flexing your fingers and loosening your hold youll find that you can control the car just as well. If your right foot is cramped, set the cruise control if traffic allows. If youre on a prolonged road trip, try not to exceed three hours of travel time without a break where you get out and stretch. Struggling to see through a dirty windshield is also an unnecessary stress factor, so fill up with washer fluid before you go. Periodically roll down the window and breathe deeply and slowly.

Perhaps another driver cut you off. Or the car in front of you is braking erratically. Before you assume the driver is getting off on your rising anger levels, realize that you, as an individual, are not the target. Perhaps the driver simply made a mistake or was just being oblivious. Maybe theres a screaming baby, a loose pet or a crazed bee in the car. Maybe he was on a cell phone. The point is, dont take things so personally.

6. Hostility is toxic. And risky.

People most prone to anger are almost three times more likely to have a heart attack than those with low anger, according to the American Psychological Association. Other health risks seen in those who display hostility include obesity, depression and stroke. Wow, who knew? Safe driving promotes healthy hearts! Not only will giving into anger not resolve an irritating situation, it can increase the risk of retaliation. Think to yourself, Is making my point worth endangering my life? If all else fails, do a mental 180 and try to laugh it off.

7. Use restaurant etiquette.

While its upsetting when a stranger is rude or cuts in line in a restaurant or store, most folks wouldnt lose their cool and become abusive as a result. It isnt only because they have good manners. Driving a car makes people feel more isolated and protected, allowing them to act in ways they would normally find embarrassing. So when another driver acts like a jerk, respond as though youre in a restaurant.

Try analyzing your driving. Do any of the following statements sound like you?

I regularly exceed the speed limit in order to get to work on time.

I tailgate other drivers, especially those who sit in the left lane.

I flash my lights and honk my horn to let drivers know when they annoy me.

I verbally abuse other drivers whether they can hear me or not.

I frequently weave in and out of traffic to get ahead.

I feel the need to set bad drivers straight.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your driving may qualify as aggressive. The American Institute for Public Safety (AIPS) has a more detailed RoadRageous Test that determines if your driving habits fall under the aggressive zone, hostile zone or worse yet war zone.

Dr. Leon James, a.k.a. Dr. Driving and author of Road Rage and Aggressive Driving, says that remembering simple courtesies, like allowing someone to merge or apologizing when we make a mistake, can go a long way in making the driving experience positive for ourselves and others. His basic motto is the old do unto others rule: Treat fellow drivers how you would like to be treated. As additional incentive, reducing your aggressiveness on the road can also keep you out of serious trouble.

By planning ahead and keeping things in perspective, we can prevent our emotions from getting the best of us. Putting aggressive driving in park will help to ensure your own safety, as well as the safety of everyone around you.

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97 fire/EMS calls last week - Mesabi Daily News

Before Bobbi Brown started whipping up beauty bowls, Kimberly Snyder was spreading the message that what you eat is the ultimate beauty product. The nutritionist and multi-time New York Times best-selling author of the Beauty Detox book series and Radical Beauty knows what she preaches. After struggling with weight issues and acne for years, Kimberly landed on a vegetable and fruit-based diet focused on whole, good-for-you foods no calorie counting involved.

Her philosophy has grown to an empire: she creates recipes, owns an organic smoothie & juice company Glow Bio, hosts a health-focused podcast, and has worked with celeb clients like Drew Barrymore, Fergie, Hilary Duff, Dita Von Teese, Kerry Washington, and Reese Witherspoon. Kimberly answered The Lookbook's pressing questions on healthy eating, and we learned two new things: we should all be familiar with the phrase "Soil-Based Organisms" and that there's a smoothie for every occasion.

What's the #1 change you should make if you want to prioritize your health?

An easy change people can make to increase their health is creating a healthy morning routine by beginning their day with soil-based organism (SBO) probiotics followed by a Glowing Green Smoothie (GGS). SBO probiotics are a great way to aid in digestion, bloating and get your body ready for a full day of eating. My Glowing Green Smoothie is a great way to start the morning, it is packed full with beautifying and energizing nutrients and is an easy way to hydrate in the morning. GGS is full of fiber and will keep you full for hours.

Do you find that celebrities have the same struggles with weight loss/healthy eating as everyone else?

Of course! We all put pressure on ourselves to look a certain way and try to live a healthy lifestyle, which results in all of us facing the same struggles to achieve those goals. Regardless of our profession, we all have temptations and obstacles that hinder our weight loss and healthy eating progress.

Do you think people are realizing the food-beauty connection you've written about more than ever these days?

There is definitely an amazing movement happening of an increasing awareness about the powerful connection between food and beauty. People are starting to reflect more about the food they are choosing to buy and consume and the effects of that decision. There are more people now than ever advocating for a healthy, primarily plant-based diet due to the availability of information on the internet and the increasingly popularity of living a healthy lifestyle as portrayed on social media.

Do you have any tips for stress eaters who turn to comfort food when things get tough?

Stress is inevitable, but there are more effective ways to cope with stress than turning to comfort food. It is important to first recognize the source of your stress. It is helpful to write them down and take some time to think about them. One should also find stress-reducing tools that are effective for them. Some mechanisms that work for me are meditation, yoga, quiet and solitude, spending time in nature, listening to relaxing music, and going for a walk or working out.

While meditation may work well for me, it may not work for everyone, so it is important to figure out what personally works best for you. If you do find that you cant stop turning to food when stressed, change what food you turn to. Bananas, cucumbers, avocados, blueberries, asparagus, and celery help reduce stress and its negative effects on your body.

What about for people who do so well trying to kick processed food, until the afternoon/end of the work day rolls around? Is there a snack they can turn to to keep on track?

A great afternoon snack is my Power Protein smoothie. Smoothies are a great option because they are super easy to make and quick to consume because you dont have to chew! This smoothie has over 18 grams of protein and is a great source of fiber, which will help keep you full and energized for the rest of the day.

The Lookbook is Bravo's home for inspiring content and experiences that feed fashionistas with a steady diet of share-worthy styles, personalities, and industry news. Like us on Facebook to stay connected to our daily updates.

Originally posted here:

Celebrity Nutritionist Kimberly Snyder on How to Stop Stress Eating For Good - Bravo (blog)

John Reynolds Staff Writer @JohnReynoldsSJR

ASHLAND -- Mike and Martie Senkler had one of the best camping spots around Saturday for the annual Crazy Horse Bluegrass Festival.

The couple, from the small town of Dunfermline, which is south of Canton in Fulton County, had a spot just behind the Crazy Horse lodge. The back porch of the lodge served as a stage for the festival, which meant the Senklers could sit at a picnic table under their campers awning and watch and listen to the bands.

This is the first bluegrass festival Ive been to where the stage is outside on a back porch. Usually, youre inside a building sitting in a row of chairs. This is a lot more informal, Martie Senkler said. I can sit here, listen to the music and read my book.

Andy Egolf, one of the owners of the Crazy Horse Campground, said that this is the 10th year for the festival. The campground has a rural Ashland address and is about halfway between Virginia and Jacksonville.

The festival usually draws a couple hundred of people, which includes people like the Senklers who camp for the weekend and others who stop by for the day to hear the music. While the Senklers had their picnic table, other people brought chairs or blankets and set up on the grass lawn behind the lodge.

The crowd here, especially the bluegrass crowd, is a wonderful crowd, Egolf said. Theyre very happy and easy to get along with -- very polite. Its a great crowd.

Eight groups were scheduled to play at this years festival. As the Senklers sat outside their camper Saturday, they listened to High Fidelity, a bluegrass band out of Nashville, Tennessee.

Jan Lease of Jacksonville, who helps books the acts at the festival, said High Fidelity is an award-winning bluegrass band.

Most recently in 2014, they were the national champions of the SPBGMA, the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. SPBGMA has an annual competition in Nashville, Lease said.

Michael Feagan and Fiddlegrass Band also played at the Crazy Horse festival. Feagan previously played with Bill Monroes Blue Grass Boys. Monroe, who died in 1996, is known as the father of bluegrass music.

The Crazy Horse festival started Friday evening and concludes Sunday morning. When theyre not on stage, the musicians have time to visit with the fans.

This is a small, intimate setting. It makes it more personal, Lease said. You dont stand in long lines to talk to the performers. In fact, many times at festivals such as this youll see a young musician from the local area come in and they might even sit down with him and show him how to play this tune or that tune.

The only event scheduled for Sunday is a gospel service, which runs from 10 to 11 a.m. Admission to the gospel service is $5 per family. The address for the campground is 2113 Crazy Horse Road, Ashland.

Egolf said next years festival will be held June 22-24.

The Senklers said they will back next year in the same spot.

Its a very relaxing weekend. We enjoy it out here, Mike Senkler said.

Contact John Reynolds: john.reynolds@sj-r.com, 788-1524, twitter.com/JohnReynoldsSJR.

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Bluegrass Festival brings out campers - The State Journal-Register

Nancy Hastings nhastings@hillsdale.net nhastingsHDN

HILLSDALE The Tuesday Night Summer Concert season starts Tuesday, offering another season of free summer concerts.

Since 2004, Mrs. Stocks Park has been the setting for these 7:30 p.m. concerts. The concert season will go from June 27-Aug. 8.

Organizer Cory Champion said he believes this will be the 15th season of concerts in the park.

We are looking forward to our 2017 Tuesday's in The Park series at Mrs. Stocks Park in downtown Hillsdale as the line up for entertainment is high quality, exciting and diversified, Champion said.

First up is Band of Tara, which covers many genres of music. Some of the talent in this group are multi-talented, giving the band a sound of a six to eight-piece group, Champion said.

Tara's vocals are strong and her voice will grab your attention, he said. Some people say they have goose bumps after hearing her strong, wonderful voice.

The Band consists of Bob Pogue on guitar and vocals, David Kincade on keyboards and vocals, Otis Marti on bass and vocals as well as Kent Bowen on percussion. Band of Tara is a return group who made their first visit last summer.

They are looking forward to another great night being able to entertain right here at home in Hillsdale County, Champion said.

The next scheduled night is July 4 and in the past, a concert has not been scheduled on this date.

This year, Champion felt compelled to have a program featuring local talent in a family-friendly event by encouraging Americana, Patriotic and a bit of formal music.

Since July 4th seldom falls on a Tuesday, after speaking with some local talent, we just decided to try it out, test the waters and see what happens, Champion said.

Refiners Fire Brass Quintet will be performing a variety of classical music, including some Americana selections, as well as a tribute to our armed services. After the brass quintet finishes, which is half of the program, a group of local musicians will finish up with some Americana music from the country music genre. The yet-to-be-named group consists of Bob Pogue, guitar and vocals, Tim Nichols, keyboards and vocals, Cory Champion, bass, acoustic guitar and vocals, Nathan Wiley, acoustic guitar and Scott Donihue on drums.

Weve really had a good time fellowshipping and practicing together for this gig, Champion said. While Champion, Nichols and Donihue have been playing and performing together for over 15 years, this is the first time any of them have worked with Pogue, and it's Wileys first public appearance on guitar.

Continuing with the regular Tuesdays in The Park series brings Dennis Guizdala from Bay City July 11. Guizdala is a high energy, gospel jazz saxophonist and vocalist. He said he is living his dream of a Christian recording artist, touring across the country.

Music has been and always will be a big influence in my life, Guizdala said. I am living a very blessed life in that I get to play music for a living. God is Good!

July 18 brings the Town and Country Chorus, ready to entertain with their variety of classic barbershop harmony with a great mix of humor, Champion said.

Ive been working with them in the park for over 10 years, and they have yet to disappoint! he added.

July 25 introduces the Day Break Trio from Coldwater.

Husband and wife team, Dan and Barbara Hefner along with long time friend Rob Cooper, will bring a great blend of oldies and folk in three part harmony, Champion said. This will be a relaxing, entertaining and delightful evening.

August 1 brings another new act to Hillsdale. Colin Dexter is an Elvis tribute artist from Jackson, who just graduated from high school and has traveled throughout Michigan and Canada.

August 8 will wrap up the 2017 concert season with Dave Trippett and The Marcella Singers.

We thank the community so much for the support they have shown over the past number of years, Champion said. We look forward to a great season.

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Concert series diversified - The Hillsdale Daily News

Need a little creativity and color in your life? Visit the 17th Annual Arts Alive, a fine arts festival this weekend at Northside Park on 125th Street to enjoy culture in a beautiful setting. Set near a picturesque bayside park, attendees can enjoy a scenic stroll while perusing art from more than 90 booths, featuring artists from the tri-state region. Other artists have traveled from from states up and down the East Coast to show off their work, be it paintings, jewelry, sculptures or furniture, in Ocean City. More than half of the vendors at this weeks festival will be new additions. All artists will compete for roughly $5,250 in prizes in nine juried categories. Awards for best in show and peoples choice will be presented at the artist reception Saturday night at the Art League on 94th Street. Attendees can take home their own masterpiece, from soap carvings or ceramics. If youre looking for a family-friendly outdoor event this weekend, this is the one, Ocean City Special Events Director, Frank Miller said in a press release. Arts Alive is more than a fine art festival. Musicians will also help set a relaxing ambiance in Northside Park. Janet Spahr, who performs with handpans, will create a soothing, ethereal music for the walks on Saturday and Sunday. Island Fusion will perform on Saturday, and will be fusing traditional island tunes with classic rock, blues standard and other music during their set. River & Rhodes, a acoustic duo, will also entertain at the festival on Sunday. Free childrens activities, including soap carving, drawing and painting, will be offered to younger visitors to make the event more pleasurable for the whole family. Rosenfelds Jewish Deli will be there and provide variety of delicious food options, like their world-famous reubens and dill pickles. Smoothie lovers can stop by the Maui Wowi smoothie stand for a refreshment if it gets too hot during the Arts Alive festival. Vendors will also sell beer and wine to adult patrons, truly making that stroll through our 58 acre park just a little more enjoyable, Frank Miller said. Bring the whole family and enjoy art. Like last year, official Arts Alive merchandise will be sold during the event, giving guests another option to take home the festival with them. Merchandise includes pins and T-shirts. Arts Alive will take place rain or shine from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on June 24-25. For more information on this free event, contact the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department at 410-250-0125 or go to ococean.com.

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Take a art walk this weekend - Ocean City Today

1. JEN KEARNEY BAND WITH LYNNE TAYLOR: 8-10:30 p.m., June 23, Amazing Things Arts Center, 160 Hollis St., Framingham. Boston born Jen Kearney has spent a lot of time experimenting with seasoning her particular musical style and flavor. Her latest album, "Age of Blame" is truly an amalgam of musical styles ranging from soul, R&B and funk to rock, latin and jazz, while maintaining a singer/songwriters attention to lyrics. Her band stirs the eight cuts of the album through boiling points and gentle simmers that concentrate that flavor down to hit all points salty, sour, sweet and bitter. Tickets cost $20. For more information, call 508-405-2787, email dailystaff@amazingthings.org or visit amazingthings.org/event/jen-kearney-band-lynne-taylor.

2. THE BRAZILIAN PROJECT: 8-10 p.m., June 24, Amazing Things Arts Center, 160 Hollis St., Framingham. The Brazilian Project was founded in 2016 by Marlene Del Rosario (vocals, keys, percussion) and Richard Viard (guitar), two Greater Boston area musicians and long time friends with a passion for Brazilian music. The duo debuted at a fundraiser concert for victims of Louisiana floods and Huricane Matthew later that year. Due to the overwhelming positive response, they have decided to continue performing and recording under the Brazilian Project name, The Brazilian Projects repertoire is a mix of the duos favorite classic bossa-novas as well as lesser known tunes, performed in a relaxed and intimate setting. Tickets cost $19-$21. For more information, call 508-405-2787, email dailystaff@amazingthings.org or visit amazingthings.org/event/marlene-del-rosario-brazilian-project.

3. COMEDY WITH FRANK SANTORELLI: 9-10 p.m., June 24, China Gourmet, 1583 Worcester Road, Framingham. Santorelli, who played George the bartender from HBO's hit series, "The Sopranos," appears at the restaurant's weekly comedy night. Tickets cost $20 for the show and $30 for the show and buffet dinner. For reservations or for more information, call 617-771-2668 or visit larryleelewis.com.

4. ADULT COLORING NIGHT: 6:30-8:30 p.m., June 29, Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington St., Framingham. Visit the library for an evening of coloring, calming tea and music. Coloring is relaxing and therapeutic! The library will provide colored pencils and coloring pages. You are welcome to bring your own materials. No registration is required.

5. METROWEST CORPORATE 5K RUN/WALK: 6:30-8 p.m., June 29, Pinefield Plaza, 1 Nicholas Road, Framingham. Companies and organizations of all sizes are invited to participate in United Way of Tri-Countys inaugural 5K run/walk. This event promises to be a night filled with company camaraderie, exercise, community support and fun! Teams will race through the picturesque streets of Framingham. Hungry participants will be refueled with subs and sandwiches by Chick-fil-a Framingham and Jersey Mikes Subs. Exhibit A Brewing Company will also be there, ready to pour frosty cold ones. Money raised for the United Way will go to help feed the hungry, prepare kids for school, and offer suicide prevention/mental health support locally.

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5 things to do in Framingham: Brazilian music, comedian from 'The Sopranos', coloring night - Wicked Local Framingham