2011 in Review: Curacao top international destination

Photo by Todd DeFeo / (c) 2011

By Todd DeFeo / (c) 2011

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao – Think of any Caribbean island. The beach is probably the first thought that comes to mind.

But the island of Curacao – a member of the ABC islands along with Aruba and Bonaire – is different. Yes, there are plenty of beaches on the island, and Curacao is known for its scuba diving. But, there is so much more history and heritage to be explored.

For this, Curacao is the top international destination for 2011.

The island, first discovered by Europeans in 1499, has long been an important shipping destination because of its natural deep water harbor, St. Anna Bay.

That harbor divides the city into two sections: Punda – which translates to “The Point” – and Otrobanda, which means "other side." The two are connected by the Queen Emma floating bridge, which opens to allow ships to enter or exit the harbor.

The island's name, according to one theory, is derived from Spanish and Portuguese words meaning healing, likely because sailors centuries ago found a cure for their scurvy in the island's natural fruits and the Vitamin C they contained.
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Curacao, located off the coast of Venezuela, was a part of the Netherlands Antilles until 2010. The island is today considered a country within the Kingdom of Netherlands.

Conyers confederate monument

Photo by Todd DeFeo / (c) 2011

By Todd DeFeo / (c) 2011

CONYERS, Ga. – Saturday morning, April 26, 1913, was “a dark, threatening morning,” as The Conyers Times described it.

The clouds “soon materialized into rain,” but that apparently didn’t curtail the festivities surrounding the new Confederate monument unveiled in town at 2 p.m. that day.

The unveiling capped a day of festivities – that included music from a Lawrenceville band and a luncheon – attended by about 50 Civil War veterans, a news account indicated. Leading up to the unveiling, Col. E.R. Clarkson gave an address “as fine as any one ever delivered in Conyers,” the newspaper noted.

In his address, Clarkson lauded the South and talked of “New Patriotism, the patriotism of the New South, a South that is rapidly coming into its own,” The Conyers Time reported.

“And so today, we would not have any man pick a flower with a desecrating hand, nor would we have one word of praise removed from the monuments in cemetery and town,” Clarkson noted in his address, according to a transcript. “We would leave them there that every school boy might become familiar with the meaning of these stones – that patriotism – the New Patriotism – might find expression in the lives of our children.

“My theme is this: The war is over – no longer is father arrayed against son, nor brother against brother – but peace – sweet peace may reign supreme,” Clarkson added. “The voice of hate has long since fallen into silence, and the State rose nobler, grander, stronger than before – for peace and union pledged forevermore.”

With a tug of the cord by Clyde McDaniel, the monument was unveiled. The monument, as The Conyers times noted, “will ever stand as a silent tribute to the Confederate Veterans of Rockdale County.”

Interestingly, Rockdale County didn’t send any soldiers to fight during the Civil War. The county, then part of Newton and Henry counties was formed in 1870.

Arcade veterans memorial

Photo by Todd DeFeo / (c) 2011

Taken June 25, 2011, in Arcade, Ga.

Viva Las Vegas (Part II)

Photo by Todd DeFeo / (c) 2011

By Todd DeFeo / (c) 2009-2011

LAS VEGAS – Playing the penny slots makes it rather difficult to gamble all that much.

Think about it: One could stay in town for a month and only bet $14 at the penny slots. Allegedly, it’s possible to spend an entire week in Vegas and bet only one penny. Just think of how many pulls one could have on a penny slot machine playing a $10 bill. At the blackjack table, that could be gone in seconds.

Nevada Gov. Fred Balzar paved the way for modern day Vegas. On March 19, 1931, he signed into law a bill that allowed gambling. The Northern Club on Fremont Street has the distinction of being the first legal gambling establishment in Las Vegas, and while the basics of Vegas have stayed the same over the years, the city has changed – the hotels today are flashier and the money bet has grown exponentially.

Vegas vaulted into legend starting in the 1940s and continuing through the 1960s. Thomas Hull’s El Rancho, credited as Sin City’s first themed hotel, and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s Flamingo, both of which opened in the 1940s, changed the meaning of the casino-hotel. Vegas’ stature continued to rise as The Rat Pack, Elvis and Liberace became synonymous with the city.

Viva Las Vegas (Part I)

Photos by Todd DeFeo / (c) 2011

 By Todd DeFeo / (c) 2009-2011

LAS VEGAS – The typical Vegas casino is an endless row of slot machines, roulette wheels and blackjack tables. Hundreds of opportunities await the lucky traveler to try his or her hand at just about every type of bet imaginable.

Whatever strikes your fancy, Vegas has it and in any number of themes – from Central Park at New York-New York to ancient Rome at Caesars Palace to the canals of Venice at The Venetian. Where else in the world can you find the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statute of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower and a pyramid within walking distance?

Surreal? Yes. Bizarre? Indeed. Over the top? Without a doubt. Frankly, Sin City is what one makes of it.

Want to bet $10 on a hand of blackjack? There are a dozen or so chances to do so within about five feet. But maybe you don’t part quite so easily with your hard-earned cash. No need to worry.

Ga. State Patrol receives $1.8M grant

ATLANTA – The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has awarded a $1.8 million H.E.A.T. grant to the Georgia State Patrol.

The grant will allow the state patrol to continue its Nighthawks DUI Task Force – a group of state troopers who have received specialized DUI enforcement training – and its Administrative License Suspension (ALS) Program, the state patrol said.

H.E.A.T. is an acronym for Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic and aims to reduce fatal crashes involving driver impairment and speeding while increasing the use of seat belts.

“The H.E.A.T. grant helps support the Georgia State Patrol’s enforcement efforts and is a reminder of their dedication in supporting the GOHS mission to protect Georgians from speeders and impaired drivers,” GOHS Director Harris Blackwood said in a news release.

“Crashes involving impaired drivers killed 331 people across Georgia in 2009,” Blackwood added. “The chance of a fatal crash involving drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol is much higher than the rate for fatal crashes not related to impairment.”

Four killed on Ga. roads during Christmas holiday

ATLANTA – Four people were killed on roads statewide during the Christmas holiday, the Georgia State Patrol reported.

Fatal wrecks were reported in Atlanta, near Washington and in Cobb County during the 78-hour-long Christmas holiday period, which for the state patrol ran from 6 p.m. on Friday through midnight on Monday.

Troopers statewide worked a total of 280 crashes with 169 injuries and one death, according to the state patrol’s tally. Numbers for police agencies statewide were not immediately available.

During the 2010 Christmas holiday, authorities statewide worked 641 wrecks with 387 injuries and three deaths.

The state patrol will count fatalities during the upcoming New Year’s holiday. Seven people were killed on roads throughout the Peach State during last year’s holiday.

“Before leaving on the trip, make sure everyone is properly restrained, take frequent rest stops along the way, and don’t speed,” Col. Mark McDonough, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said in a news release leading up to the Christmas holiday.

“This is a festive time of the year and we want everyone to enjoy the holiday season, but we also want everyone to be safe on our highways,” McDonough added.

Stay safe while traveling this holiday

ATLANTA -- Authorities are warning motorists to stay safe this holiday by focusing on the road, not a mobile device.

A new poll from AAA indicates that eight in 10 feel less safe as a passenger in a vehicle with a driver who is texting. According to AAA, some sort of driver inattention occurs in an estimated 80 percent of all crashes.

"There is a growing concern about distracted driving and its impact on safe driving", Michele Harris, director of AAA traffic safety culture, The Auto Club Group, said in a news release. "Every year, nearly 40,000 people die on our nation's roadways, and that is about the same number as if a 727 jet crashed every single day of the year. If this were to ever be a reality, people would demand that something be done about it."

Many states, including Georgia, have banned motorists from texting while behind the wheel. AAA suggests pulling off the road before making a call and even programming a GPS device before hitting the road.

Meanwhile, authorities nationwide, are stepping up patrols to keep motorists safe this season.

“The message is short and sweet,” Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Harris Blackwood said in a news release. “Drive sober or you’ll get pulled over. Drinking alcohol and driving is no present for anyone so if you plan to consume alcohol, you better plan for a sober driver to get you home safely.”

AAA: More Georgians traveling this Christmas

ATLANTA -- The number of Georgians traveling at least 50 miles this holiday is expected to increase 0.5 percent to more than 2.5 million, AAA predicted.

Nationally, the number of people traveling at least 50 miles is expected to rise 1.4 percent to 91.9 million, the association said.

"AAA is happy to learn so many Americans plan to travel this holiday season, contributing to the second-highest year-end holiday travel volume in the past decade. This year's travel forecast is second to the 2006-2007 holiday season when more than 93.6 million Americans traveled," Brent Hubele, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a news release. "This represents healthy growth following the 1.3 percent increase in 2010 holiday travel and is a notable milestone in the travel industry's recovery."

In Tennessee, the number of travelers is expected to rise 1.6 percent, while in Florida, the projected increase is 1.2 percent, AAA said.

AAA: Stay safe while traveling this holiday

ATLANTA -- Authorities are warning motorists to stay safe this holiday by focusing on the road, not a mobile device.

A new poll from AAA indicates that eight in 10 feel less safe as a passenger in a vehicle with a driver who is texting. According to AAA, some sort of driver inattention occurs in an estimated 80 percent of all crashes.

"There is a growing concern about distracted driving and its impact on safe driving", Michele Harris, director of AAA traffic safety culture, The Auto Club Group, said in a news release. "Every year, nearly 40,000 people die on our nation's roadways, and that is about the same number as if a 727 jet crashed every single day of the year. If this were to ever be a reality, people would demand that something be done about it."

Many states, including Georgia, have banned motorists from texting while behind the wheel. AAA suggests pulling off the road before making a call and even programming a GPS before hitting the road.

AAA: Christmas travel expected to increase

The number of Americans traveling at least 50 miles this Christmas is expected to increase 1.4 percent, AAA predicted.

In total, 91.9 million are projected to be traveling, AAA said. The organization looks at travel between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2.

"It's a positive sign for the travel industry that so many Americans are planning to travel this holiday season, collectively contributing to the second-highest year-end holiday travel volume in the past ten years," Bill Sutherland, vice president, AAA Travel Services, said in a news release. "As our lives get busier, it is so important to create opportunities for the rest and rejuvenation that result from vacation travel and connecting with family and friends, especially during the holidays."

Am I a Time Person of the Year?

I'm seriously considering putting two-time "Time Person of the Year" winner on my resume.

Why?

In 2000 or so "You" was the winner.

This year the "protester" is the winner.

St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Taken Sept. 3, 2011, in Granville, Ohio.

Delta increasing LaGuardia presence

ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines is upping its presence at New York's LaGuardia airport, adding more than 100 new flights and 29 new cities, the airline said.

The move to create a new domestic hub positions Delta to better compete against American and United airlines, The Associated Press reported.

"This is another example of a global business investing more in New York, benefiting our economy and consumers" New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release. "Delta's expansion will create hundreds of jobs, improve New York's airport infrastructure and give New Yorkers greater travel opportunities.  Delta continues the pattern of businesses partnering with us to make our State a better place."

By next summer, Atlanta-based Delta will offer 264 daily flights to more than 60 cities from LaGuardia, the airline said.

"Delta's new service will offer customers more flights, seats and travel choices than any other carrier in New York, one of the largest and most competitive aviation markets in the world," Richard Anderson, Delta's chief executive officer, said in a news release. "Our expanded New York schedule is a clear indication that we're making good headway with creative thinking and strategic moves to become the preferred airline for travelers flying to and from New York City."

Earlier this month, Delta and US Airways announced an agreement to exchange takeoff and landing rights at LaGuardia and Reagan National Airport in Washington.

Delta: NMB denies IAM's interference claims

ATLANTA -- The National Mediation Board has has rejected claims of interference filed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) following the November 2010 Delta Air Lines fleet service representation election, the airline announced.

With its ruling, the NMB upheld the decision of a majority of voters to reject IAM representation, allowing Delta below wing airport customer service and Cargo warehouse workers to move forward as a combined work group, according to Delta.

"This is a great day for my below wing airport customer service colleagues," Gil West, senior vice president – Airport Customer Service, said in a news release. "Finally, we will immediately begin the process of aligning pay, benefits, work rules and seniority."

Interference claims are still pending relating to a representation election for Delta employees who work at airport ticket counters and gates, in customer-facing Cargo positions and in Reservation Sales, the airline said. The majority of voters in that election also rejected IAM representation.

Ga. parks picked for 'Reader’s Choice' awards

ATLANTA -- Readers of Georgia Magazine have bestowed Reader's Choice Awards to a trio of Georgia state parks.

From the official Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites news release:

Amicalola Falls State Park near Dawsonville was voted "Best State Park" for its "gorgeous scenery, wooded hiking trails for all skill levels and breathtaking views of Amicalola Falls." At 729 feet, the falls are the tallest cascade in the southeastern United States. The popular park was also nominated as a top hiking destination due to its 12 miles of trails. Visitors will find a mountain-top lodge with restaurant, cabins, campsites and family-friendly ranger programs.

Roosevelt's Little White House Historic Site in Warm Springs earned "Favorite Historic Site" among the magazine's 1.3 million readers. This was the only home that President Franklin D. Roosevelt built for himself, and was one of his favorite retreats, especially at Thanksgiving. Visitors can see the famous "unfinished portrait" that FDR was sitting for when he suffered a fatal stroke. The museum also includes FDR's hand-controlled Ford roadster, cane collection and stagecoach, as well as "fireside chats" playing on the radio. Just down the road are the pools that first drew FDR to Warm Springs.

Unicoi State Park in Helen and Vogel State Park near Blairsville were also top mentions in the "Favorite State Park" category. Both have beautiful mountain scenery and lakes, plus exceptional hiking trails. Visitors can choose from campsites and cabins at both parks, plus a hotel-style lodge with restaurant at Unicoi.

Rare pigs make debut at Animal Kingdom

Three rare kunekune pigs have made their debut at Conservation Station in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

From the official Disney release:

Found in New Zealand but believed to have originated in China, kunekune pigs also are known as Maori pigs after the first people of New Zealand. "Kunekune" means "plump" in the Maori language. Kunekunes nearly became extinct in the 1980s before breeding efforts increased their numbers.

To help with the pigs' care at Disney's Animal Kingdom and to acclimate them to the up-close experience with Guests at Affection Section, animal keepers have been working with the kunekune pigs on a variety of behaviors. This training, which is similar to techniques used with pets, helps keeps the pigs fit, intellectually stimulated and comfortable around Guests.

"Most people have heard about endangered species in reference to wild animals, but many domestic animals are at risk of extinction as well," Jackie Ogden, vice president of Animals, Science and Environment for Disney Parks, said in a news release. "By showcasing rare domestic breeds, like babydoll sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats and kunekune pigs at Affection Section, we are helping our Guests learn more about them and how they can help."

Four Seasons breaks ground on WDW resort

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts earlier this month broke ground on a 444-room resort on land it acquired from Disney in 2008.

The new resort will incorporate the Osprey Ridge 18-hole golf course, to be renovated and managed by Four Seasons, and is located within the Golden Oak residential community, which Disney designed.

"Travelers around the world know and trust Four Seasons, and Walt Disney World is the world's premiere family vacation destination," Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations U.S. and France, said in a news release. "Together, our two companies offer a brand-new reason to visit and experience Central Florida."

The new resort is expected to open in 2014 and will include, among other amenities, a rooftop restaurant with a view of the Magic Kingdom.

"Each of us is dedicated to creating a product of the highest quality and standards, something that will become a landmark here in Orlando and a destination unto itself for travelers from all over the world," Kathleen Taylor, president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, said in a news release. "It is truly a one-of-a-kind project and Central Florida will be a valuable addition to our family of resorts, particularly since this is a destination our guests already enjoy."

In June 2010, Disney announced plans to build 30 houses as part of the first phase of its Golden Oak community. The single family custom houses were expected to sell for between $1.8 million and $8 million.

WDW: Vacation Club coming to Grand Floridian

Disney is expanding the Grand Floridian resort to include a Disney Vacation Club timeshare.

The new Vacation Club option will be across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, a timeshare Disney opened in August 2009. The expansion is expected to include 147 villas and will open in 2013, according to a Vacation Club news release USA Today posted on its website

"We continually look for ways to expand Disney Vacation Club by creating resort experiences that our members will love," WESH-TV quoted Claire Bilby, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Vacation Club, as saying in a news release. "With the continued popularity of Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, we are thrilled to offer our members and guests a new resort option along the monorail system with easy access to the Magic Kingdom Park, as well as a variety of shopping, dining and recreation experiences."

The Grand Floridian, a Magic Kingdom resort, opened in 1988. The new Vacation Club will be located near the resort's spa and the wedding pavilion.


For more: http://www.wesh.com/themeparks/29959507/detail.html#ixzz1g3yqJu3M
For more: http://travel.usatoday.com/alliance/destinations/mouseplanet/post/2011/12/Disney-Vacation-Club-confirms-Disneys-Grand-Floridian-Villas-to-open-in-late-2013/581715/1

Broun: I'll go through TSA’s books

ATLANTA -- A Georgia Congressman this week said he accepted an offer from the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to "sit down and go through TSA's books."

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., has been a harsh critic of the federal agency, saying last month the "agency as a whole has been a colossal disappointment."

In response to critics, Pistole told Bloomberg News: "Those who say that we're inefficient or bloated -- I'd be glad to sit down and go through the books and say, 'OK, how would you staff this differently?"

That was good enough for Broun who responded with a letter accepting the offer.

"I hope that Administrator Pistole makes good on his word and does in fact sit down to hear me out," Broun said in a news release. "Over the past ten years, the TSA has spent almost $57 billion and grown to nearly 65,000 employees. As a result, the government has had to dedicate too much time and money toward managing personnel and human resources, rather than using their funding to fight terrorism and enforce security measures.

Added Broun: "Administrator Pistole has even admitted that there is room for downsizing, so I look forward to working together to make the TSA more efficient and effective while protecting the taxpayer's dollars and most importantly, their safety." 

Remembering Pearl Harbor in Hawaii or closer to home

MARIETTA – It was a typical Sunday morning in Hawaii. But just before 8 a.m. 70 years ago, the serene morning quickly turned hellish.

From the morning sky, 353 aircraft Japanese descended on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor intending “to destroy America’s military establishment in the Pacific.” A total of 2,400 Americans – 1,177 on the USS Arizona alone – were killed in the sneak attack.

“Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan,” President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said the following day.

Following the attack, the United States entered into World War II. “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve,” Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto supposedly said following the attack. He was right.

“Today we honor the lives lost on Dec. 7,1941 at Pearl Harbor,” U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., said on Twitter. “Thank you to America’s ‘greatest generation’ for their courage and sacrifice.”

A visit to Pearl Harbor is indeed a moving one. But, remembering that day and honoring those who made sacrifices on Dec. 7, 1941, and during the years that followed doesn’t require a trip to Hawaii.

On Dec. 7, 1996, at Marietta National Cemetery, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association unveiled a monument to the survivors of Pearl Harbor from Georgia.

Click here for a link to other World War II memorials in Metro Atlanta.

River Line remains may be few, but they are valuable

Photos by Todd DeFeo / (c) 2011

By Todd DeFeo / (c) 2010, 2011

SMYRNA, Ga. – There is little that remains to remind to of Johnston's River Line.

For a few days in July 1864 and after falling back from fighting in and around Smyrna, Gen. Joseph Johnston’s Confederate troops took up positions along the northern banks of the Chattahoochee River. The four-mile-long line ran between the confluence of Nickajack Creek and the Chattahoochee River on the west and the Western & Atlantic railroad bridge across the river to the east.

What made the line so formidable was the creation of Brigadier Gen. Francis Shoup. His plan called for three dozen earthen forts shaped like arrowheads – as they are often described – that were large enough to hold 80 soldiers and allow them to fire shots to the right, left and straight ahead as the enemy approached. The design came to be known as “Shoupades.”

For reinforcement, the Shoupades featured exterior and interior reinforced with logs.
Sherman later wrote of the line: “It was one of the strongest pieces of field fortifications I ever saw.” A marker along the lines notes: “In 1935 their formidable character was still visible along Oakdale Rd., & just above the State R. R.”

The purpose of the River Line was to stop the Union advance. In that regard, it failed as Sherman flanked and crossed the Chattahoochee River near Soap Creek; Confederate soldiers abandoned their positions and dropped back into Atlanta. Soon after, Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced Johnston with Gen. John Bell Hood.

While most of the Shoupades were destroyed over the years, the city of Smyrna, through an agreement with a developer, helped preserve one of the works. Cobb County has purchased other land with the remains of the River Line – land that is to be developed into a park.

Legoland Florida to open water park

Legoland Florida is planning to open a water park in time for summer travel.

The new park -- to be named Legoland Water Park -- will feature a wave pool, Build-A-Raft lazy river, tube slides, body slides and an interactive water-play structure, named DUPLO Safari, the company said this week.

"We're very excited to share plans for this amazing new attraction," Legoland Florida General Manager Adrian Jones said in a news release. "True to our mission, the water park attraction has been designed for families with children ages 2 to 12 and will add hours of water play to an already full day and move Legoland Florida into a multi-day experience for vacationers. The additional also adds another great value proposition for our Annual Pass members."

Legoland Florida opened in October, giving a second life to a former Central Florida landmark, Cypress Gardens, which opened in 1936 and closed in 2009.

Merlin Entertainment built the theme park on a 150-acre tract of land formerly occupied by Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven. The park features more than 50 attractions and is the second Legoland in North America – a California location opened in 1999. There are also Legoland parks in Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom.

"This newest attraction is just one of many ways we will continue to evolve Legoland Florida over the next several years," Jones said. "Creating a multi-visit proposition for families adds another dimension to the Legoland Florida offering. Adding the water park attraction will fulfill this criteria as well as offering a unique attraction in Central Florida. "