(NewsUSA) - Literacy is the foundation for success in life, but many children across the United States lack access to age-appropriate books. That is why the Marine Toys for Tots Literacy Program is committed to providing books and educational resources to children living in low-income communities and helping them turn the page on poverty.  

Most people know Toys for Tots as the organization that brings holiday cheer to children in need with gifts of new toys, but Toys for Tots also brings hope and support to these children throughout the year with initiatives such as the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.  

Unfortunately, 37% of children in the United States lack access to age-appropriate reading materials at home. During National Reading Month, Toys for Tots wants every child to experience the joy of reading and turn the page on poverty. 

“By getting books into the hands of struggling students, we are helping children become their best selves,” said LtGen Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.  “Our goal is to dramatically change the landscape for economically disadvantaged children and provide to the essential tools to ensure their future success,” he added. 

The Toys for Tots Literacy Program was established in 2008 as a year-round effort to offer our Nation’s most economically disadvantaged children the ability to compete academically and to succeed in life by providing them direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and communicate effectively. Since the Program’s inception, over 57 million books have been provided to children living in low-income areas – turning the page on poverty, one book at a time.  

“This Program not only brings the joy of reading to these children, but it also serves as an important instrument in breaking the cycle of poverty,” said LtGen Laster. 

The message is simple: Get books into the hands of economically disadvantaged children. Please know that 100% of any donations are used to deliver books to children and promote the joy of reading! Visit toysfortots.org to donate today. Hope is just a book away! 

(NewsUSA) - Small businesses in rural America face challenges their urban counterparts don’t. This sector is an important part of the U.S. economy and provides critical support to rural communities. A major obstacle is limited access to high-speed internet. Consider the many ways a business might depend on internet access for success. Here are some example functions:

• Transaction processing: This is important for everyone—from small retail outlets to remote tourist destinations.
• E-commerce: Rural small businesses export everything from specialty foods to niche industrial products, and connectivity can help them reach customers anywhere.
• Global sourcing of needed components: Robust rural connectivity can open small businesses to global markets and help them find the best products and prices for value-added operations.
• Online learning or training: Rural populations are often far removed from formal training facilities, and high-speed internet can help people learn important skills by watching instructional videos on platforms like YouTube.
• Customer Wi-Fi: This is an important service to customers in a waiting area at a doctor’s office or auto repair shop.
• Tracking shipments: Given their remote location, small rural businesses often rely on deliveries—both sending and receiving—even more than urban ones.
• Customer communication: Clients and customers everywhere increasingly expect timely business communications.
• Booking a table at a restaurant: Tourism is a major economic driver for rural areas, and the businesses that make transactions low friction have a competitive advantage.

Conventional options for connectivity—like fiber optics, cable, or 5G—are often not available in rural areas. The build-out for these services requires a population density and subscriber base that will justify the costs. Rural communities generally don’t meet the requirements and, thus don’t receive access.

Hughesnet has satellite connectivity solutions for rural small businesses that are both affordable and reliable. The Hughesnet Select Pro and Elite Pro service plans deliver high-speed internet with unlimited data wherever businesses operate, no matter how remote. Plus, with tasks that require significant bandwidth and computing power, like cloud-based or collaboration applications, businesses can now stay connected with Hughesnet Fusion Pro, which combines satellite and wireless technology for low-latency connectivity.

And just as important as a primary connectivity hookup, it’s crucial to have internet continuity through a backup in case that primary source goes down from weather or accidents. For rural businesses that already have a primary internet provider but are looking for additional options, Hughesnet Internet Continuity is an internet backup service for rural businesses that is ideal for when a primary connection is lost or interrupted.

Running a small business in rural America can be challenging, and a reliable, affordable connectivity solution can help expand business capabilities and position them for stronger growth.

(NewsUSA) - Thirty years ago, the advent of the internet changed the world. For the first time in human history, the collected knowledge of all mankind was freely available to every man, woman, and child on the planet with the click of a few buttons.

Fifteen years ago, the world changed again with the widespread availability and adoption of smartphones that put the full power of the internet in the palm of our hands whenever we want and wherever we are.

As monumental as these advancements were, they were just the warmup for the change that’s coming next. In just a few years, we won’t think of “going on the internet” to look up information and find entertainment. Instead, we’ll already be in the internet, living, working, and playing in an endless virtual world that will turn everything we think we know about the internet on its head.

Welcome to the Metaverse.

In Once Upon Tomorrow, author and visionary tech CEO Shurick Agapitov dives deep into this new age of the internet by unpacking exactly what the Metaverse is and what it will become. It’s not about pixels and computer chips; it’s a total paradigm shift that will revolutionize how people interact, share stories, create and implement ideas, conduct business, and literally live their lives.

“Rather than just visiting a website,” Agapitov says, “you’ll be immersed in a platform of three-dimension gaming, shopping, events and socialization. You’ll be ‘visiting’ virtual destinations that take you directly to the source of your interests.”

The Metaverse will be the biggest change any of us have ever seen, and Agapitov is here to take readers by the hand and welcome them into this wild, wonderful new universe of opportunity, estimated at about $30 trillion before the end of the decade.

Agapitov, who grew up in Russian and whose own video gaming industry company Xsolla has been valued at $3 billion, envisions a future where every consumer-facing industry, from fashion to healthcare to entertainment, is transformed. If you’re an entrepreneur and you’re kicking yourself because you didn’t grab the opportunities that existed during the rise of e-commerce and the mobile internet, there’s good news for you too. The opportunities that exist today in the Metaverse are even greater.

The author delineates how:

• In the Metaverse, we will immerse ourselves in a growing global community that will change forever how we work, play, shop, and explore, and engage brands, and how we interact and literally live our lives.
• While large companies such as Nike, Adidas and Gucci are already creating their digital footprints across the Metaverse, as technology continues to become a commodity and its price declines, anyone can get into the game. Anyone has the chance to create his or her own mega brand.
• The opportunity to own “real estate” in the Metaverse is like buying land on a nearly empty beach today, developing it, and watching a massive community build around you.

Once Upon Tomorrow is available for purchase on Amazon and other popular retail outlets where books are sold. Learn more at www.onceupontomorrow.com.

(NewsUSA) - Obesity is an increasingly significant health problem in the United States, especially for women. The disease affects 1 in 3 American women, including 57% of Black women and 44% of Hispanic women.

Although obesity is a chronic, treatable condition, obesity care is not covered by health insurance like other chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. As a chronic disease, it’s only fair that people with obesity receive the same coverage as other chronic conditions.

EveryBODY Covered, a new campaign led by the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention (AWHP) in partnership with 15 other leading health organizations, is working to change this by empowering women to speak with their employers and elected officials about the need for comprehensive obesity care coverage.

Currently, less than half of employers cover or are considering covering the latest generation of anti-obesity medications. “Healthcare professionals need to be able to provide the full range of obesity care options for their patients, and patients need access to that care,” said Dr. Eliza Chin, Executive Director of the American Medical Women’s Association. “Obesity deserves the same level of coverage as any other chronic disease.”

The campaign argues that obesity is a women’s health issue. Citing data from the National Institutes of Health which shows that women with obesity are more likely to have other chronic diseases, including breast cancer, fertility, and maternal health challenges. Women with obesity also are more likely to face stigma in their professional and personal lives. In fact, women affected by obesity earn as much as 12% less than female peers not affected by obesity.

“Women’s health and obesity are linked,” says Millicent Gorham, CEO of AWHP, “If you care about maternal health, if you care about cancer prevention, if you care about heart disease, if you care about mental health—then you need to care about obesity.”

The EveryBODY Covered Campaign is empowering women to call for comprehensive obesity care coverage to ensure everyone can access the full range of treatment options. Comprehensive obesity care includes counseling, behavior modification, physical activity, anti-obesity medications, surgery, and nutrition services.

The campaign is advocating for comprehensive obesity care coverage across insurance types, including private health insurance, employer-sponsored health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. The campaign supports the passage of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), a bipartisan bill that would provide Medicare coverage of obesity care options. In addition, the campaign hopes Medicaid will expand coverage of obesity care through state legislation. Just as care for other chronic conditions is covered, comprehensive obesity care should be covered too – it’s only fair.

Visit everybodycovered.org to learn more about the impact of obesity on women and get involved.

Support for the EveryBODY Covered campaign has been provided by Eli Lilly & Co.

(NewsUSA) - Baby X by Kira Peikoff

With a vivid imagining of the future, Gattaca meets Black Mirror in Kira Peikoff’s Baby X. In the near future, where advanced technology can create egg or sperm from any person’s cells, celebrities face the alarming potential of meeting biological children they never conceived. Famous singer Trace Thorne is tired of being targeted by the Vault, a black-market site devoted to stealing DNA. He hires bio-security guard Ember Ryan to ensure his biological safety.  

Working for Thorne, Ember’s focus becomes split when she begins to fall for him. But then she and Thorne are confronted by a pregnant woman, Quinn, who claims Thorne is the father of her baby, and all bets are off.   

Brilliantly plotted and terrifyingly prescient, Baby X is an unpredictable and relentless speculative thriller perfect for fans of Blake Crouch and John Marrs. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3qoHg3y.

Dialogues with the Wise Woman by Richard Todd Devens

Scammed by an evil Las Vegas con artist, pianist George Sister descends into a deep depression; and even after three years, his pain, guilt, self-loathing, rage, and desire for revenge remain. Through an acquaintance, he contacts Mildred Markowitz, a psychologist and philosopher of genius.

This is more than a novel. It is a psychological and philosophical treatise that tackles many important issues: What is evil? Can good and bad be determined? Is revenge ever justified? What is the best way to deal with the current violent crime epidemic? Can all criminals be rehabilitated? What is self-esteem, and how does one acquire it? How can we determine the most ethical course of action? What is happiness?

A no-holds-barred search for truth that encourages readers to utilize their own rational judgment, perfect read for intelligent skeptics everywhere. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3Ikyzwl.

Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs

In this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series, when tea maven Theodosia Browning reads the tea leaves on the set of the movie, things go from spooky to worse. Lights are dimmed, the camera rolls, and red-hot sparks fly as the film’s director is murdered in a tricky electrical accident.

 Or was it an accident? Nobody admits to seeing a thing. And when Theodosia’s friend becomes the prime suspect, Theodosia begins her own shadow investigation. But who among this Hollywood cast and crew had murder on their mind?

 Between hosting a Breakfast at Tiffany’s Tea, a Poetry Tea, and trying to launch her own chocolate line, Theodosia hunts down clues in the seemingly haunted Brittlebank Manor. And just when she’s ready to pounce, a Charleston Film Board member is also murdered, throwing everything into disarray. Includes delicious recipes and tea time tips! Purchase at https://bit.ly/48wsoAy.

The Disgrace of Sant’ Ambrogio by Michael Turturici

August 1944 – Florence, Italy. "Everybody out," a German lieutenant yells as the citizens in the river district are forced out of their homes. "They're going to blow our bridges," an old man shouts. That night, as the bridges are destroyed, smoke and flame light the air as a revered Renaissance painting is stolen by the known Gestapo collaborator, Father Danilo Lombardi.

September 1978 - Vatican City. A young American priest from Boston is summoned to the Vatican on a fateful journey. The disgrace of Sant' Ambrogio sends Father John Conley on a pilgrimage, from the catacombs of the Vatican to the summits of the Alps, the Monastery of Saint Benedict, and through the gates of East Berlin. Confronted by a blizzard, angry secret police, and unrequited love, he must remain faithful on his mission to redeem the Church of Sant' Ambrogio. Purchase at https://bit.ly/47Byi3j.

(Beni Ancheta, NewsUSA Reporter) -  

NYC usually celebrates St. Patrick's Day with tours, parties, and pub crawls, all with alcohol binge drinking.

The Sober St. Patrick's Day ® Foundation, Inc. celebrates the day booze-free. This allows everyone of all ages to join in the fun. They aim to "Reclaim the Day" by celebrating the richness of Ireland's culture and the historical influence of St. Patrick's. 

Join them at the 13th ANNUAL SOBER ST. PATRICK'S DAY® GRAND CELEBRATION on Saturday, March 16th, from 4:30 pm to 7 pm at the Church of the Epiphany, 373 Second Ave, between ​21st. & 22nd street, downstairs in the Parish Hall. 

Expect the best Irish entertainment with performances by All-Ireland Champion Musicians & Award Winning Dancers: Donny Golden's School of Irish Dance, Brian Conway, Jerry O'Sullivan, Seagda Coyle, Brendan Dolan, Fiona Conway Fogarty, and surprise guests.

Everyone is invited, Irish or not. Bring friends or the entire family to the celebration and enjoy Irish step-dancing, music, food, books, and the true essence of St. Patrick's Day with complimentary beverages and light supper.

Get tickets here.

Send an email to  [email protected] for any ticket or sponsorship queries about the Sober St. Patrick's Day NYC 2024 Celebration.

(Beni Ancheta, NewsUSA Reporter) - Experience the beauty of Downtown San Pedro with style, extra fun, nostalgia, ease, comfort, and transportation savings with their iconic free Red Car Trolley service. 

The Hop On/ Hop Off Red Car Trolley operates every weekend, Friday, and the first Thursday of the month, which takes visitors through the waterfront and downtown area.

During weekends, it operates from 12 pm to 6 pm with a trolley every 30 minutes at the Maritime Museum - a short walk to the Fish Market, Battleship IOWA, Historic Downtown San Pedro, 7th and Pacific, Port Town Brewery, CRAFTED, and Brouwerij West Brewery. The trolley makes additional stops at the Cabrillo Beach and DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton during the summers.

On Fridays, it stops at the Farmer's Market at 6th & Mesa, 7th St and Pacific, CRAFTED and Brouwerij West, Tranis Dockside Restaurant, and the Maritime Museum every 25 minutes from 10:30 pm to 3 pm.

Every Thursday, the trolley operates with stops at the Maritime Museum, Historic Downtown, Warner Grand Theatre, and 8th and Pacific St - Watercolor Society every 30 minutes from 6 pm to 9 pm.

Visit https://sptrolley.com/ for more details on the trolley schedule and routes. 

Whether you are a tourist or a local wanting a one-of-a-kind weekend getaway, let the Red Car Trolley guide you in exploring the charms and wonders of LA Waterfront and Downtown San Pedro.

(Beni Ancheta, NewsUSA Reporter) - Dance and collage? Who would think you could do both at the same time!? 

Sarah Rodenhouse, founder and facilitator of MovedLA , and Julia Walck, a local collage Artist, collaborate in bringing Groove and Glue, a one-of-a-kind avenue to express your creativity through dynamic body movements and the art of collaging. 

Artsy and groovers are invited to mark their calendars and experience an exhilarating morning of fun and creativity on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 11 AM to 2 PM at Frogtown Creative (Red Studio) at 2934 Gilroy St. LA, 90039.

Expect 45 minutes of sweating on the dance floor. Groove and let loose with fun, freeing, and easy-to-follow body movements without anyone judging. To follow is a newbie-friendly 2-hour collage time using vintage magazines from the 1940s to the 1980s. 

This fun and unique event can only accommodate a maximum of 15 people. Registration is $85 with Mimosas, drinks, and snacks on the house. No need to bring art materials except a bag to keep the masterwork safe later. 

Grab one or two of the limited spots here. Bring a friend, and bring YOU. 

Sarah Rodenhouse is a certified Pilates instructor through the Physical Mind Institute. Aside from being the founder of MovedLA, she is also a Founder and Co-Artistic Director of  MashUp Contemporary Dance Company, a non-profit all-female contemporary company.

Julia Walck is a graphic designer and collage Artist based in Los Angeles, California. She is into vibrant colors, fun, and vintage aesthetics.

(Beni Ancheta, NewsUSA Reporter) - The Stapleton branch of the New York Library at 132 Canal St. will host a FREE Vocational and Trade Fair on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 12 PM to 3:30 PM EDT. 

This fair promises opportunities for everyone eager to have a career in vocation, trade, and civil service regardless of their competency level and educational background.

Attending this fair is a unique opportunity, a must-attend, for job-seekers and career-changers aiming to learn new skills. They have gathered employers who offer a myriad of job and training opportunities in relation to trade and vocation.

Moreover, this fair will allow attendees to engage with hiring managers and trade schools, giving them networking opportunities and on-the-spot interviews. 

There is no charge to join the fair. Attend, explore, and unlock your big break. Reserve your spot here. 

For employers, please call Kelly Yim, Library Manager at 718-727-0427.

(Michael Galavia, NewsUSA Reporter) - ProExpo Free Community Events will be organizing a LivingWell Senior Expo - Durango Hills YMCA - Friday, March 29, 202 from 10:00am -1:00 pm at Durango Hills Community Center, 3521 North Durango Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89129, USA.

The event is free and  open to those who belong in the senior community.

This in-person Expo will help the seniors to become more active and explore a variety of services that cover travel companies, home improvement, insurance, immunizations, and senior living options.

 It is a good avenue for adults to promote Health and Wellness for themselves.

The first 50 guests get to spin the Brand-new Prize wheel. It has upgraded the prizes so that you’ll get a lot of chances to win.  

Free Admissions, Free Samples, Raffles and Giveaways are some of the prizes prepared. So, don’t miss out on the excitement. 

Discover valuable companies that will contribute to your well- being and happiness.