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New Glasgow Mayor Nancy says Local Events in the Early Part of the Summer a Success

New Glasgow Mayor Nancy says Local Events in the Early Part of the Summer a Success

After a successful first part of the summer, New Glasgow Mayor Nancy Dicks said she is happy

New Glasgow Mayor Nancy Dicks

to see people getting out in the community.

Dicks pointed to the success the town saw through the attendance at the Festival of the Tartans as well as the New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee. Dicks credited both events for having seamless operations despite the two year hiatus. She also noted the weather cooperated as well.

 


 

With Ribfest on the way this weekend and other events on the slate for later in the summer, Dicks said the early success bodes well for upcoming events. She said the fact the events were outdoors helped, noting it is encouraging to see people getting out and enjoying themselves.

 

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Langley events for early May 2022 – Aldergrove Star

COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Langley events for early May 2022 - Aldergrove Star

Contact event organizers with any questions, including costs, age limits, and COVID precautions and vaccination requirements for in-person events.

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Shari Ulrich: Award winning musician performs at Bez Arts Hub, 20232 64th Ave., at 8 p.m. on May 6, accompanied by keyboardist Cindy Fairbank. Tickets and info: www.bezartshub.com.

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Scotch broom clipping: volunteers can help remove Scotch broom, an invasive plan in the Derby Reach area at an event on May 7 hosted by the Derby Reach Brae Island Parks Association. Info: www.drbipa.org/volunteer.

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Youth Week Festival: Event is noon to 4 p.m. on May 7 at Douglas Park and includes swag bags, cultural activities, barbecue, button making, snacks, raffle, crafting, games, prizes, and more. Free. Hosted by Langley City, the Youth Hub, and Encompass Community Services Society.

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Art, Faith and Science: panel discussion with musician Carolyn Arends, David Goa, Dr. Jason Byassee, and Dr. Greg Cootsona as part of A Creature Chronicle art installation by Betty Speckman at Swallowfield Farm, 7296 Telegraph Tr. Panel is 10 a.m. to noon on May 7. Admission is by donation. Must book a seat in advance at ccregister@shaw.ca. May 7 theme is Seeing and Believing, reconciling faith and science. Display open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Closed Sundays. Panel talks are Wednesdays and Saturdays. Info: bettyspackman.com.

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McHappy Day: Every item sold May 11 at Langley McDonald’s restaurants generates donations that will benefit Foundry Langley, a youth mental health facility, and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Day also features games, digital hearts for $2, $1 spin the wheel contest, $5 McHappy socks for sale, and McHappy Day bracelets and pins.

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Advance Care Planning: Free workshop via ZOOM at 10 a.m. on May 12. Learn the five steps involved. Register in advance at https://langleyhospice.ca/event/acp-workshop/

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Hub meeting: Langley Seniors in Action monthly meeting allows local seniors to gather virtually, collaborate and network. Open to seniors and those in the senior-serving organizations and businesses. Meetings are third Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. Info: langleyseniorsinaction.ca/hub/meetings.

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Housing navigation: Seniors can receive help accessing SAFER and BC Housing, and obtain information on seniors rental housing options. Wednesdays 1 to 3 p.m. Call 604-530-3020 ext. 306 to book an appointment.

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Walking Club: Open to any seniors, the walking club is Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. Beginner and more advanced groups. Info and registration: Lindaw@lsrs.ca or 604-530-3020 ext. 303.

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Rockin’ Red Hats: Langley chapter is accepting new members. Red Hats is a playgroup for active senior women (65-plus) to make new friends and get together with other active senior women for fun and friendship. Aactivities include dinners, theater, walks, cards, craft fairs and more. Call Trish, 604-427-4366.

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Hominum Fraser Valley: Informal discussion and support group to help gay, bi-sexual and questioning men with the challenges of being married, separated or single. Meets on the last Monday of every month. Information: Art, 604-477-9553 or aapearson@shaw.ca.

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Community Engagement: Langley Community Services Society program for senior immigrants who are permanent residents. Meet people from around the world, learn about topics such as Canadian culture, financial literacy, recipes, gardening and more. Free. In person at LCSS office, 5330 207th St. or online. Info and registration: Joohye Nam, 604-534-7921 ext. 1204 or jnam@lcss.ca.

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Volunteers needed: Critter Care Wildlife Society looking for volunteers for various duties (animal capture, transport, painters, builders, gardeners, landscapers, general maintenance and labour. Info: Michelle Binnet, crittercare9@shaw.ca.

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Langley Newcomers and Friends: Women’s group meets on the first Tuesday of each month for outings and activities, including movie nights, brunch, lunch, socials, walks and more. Info: langleynewcomers.webs.com.

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Meditation: Free session Thursdays 7 to 8 p.m. at the Derek Doubleday Arboretum Rotary Interpretive Centre, 21177 Fraser Hwy. Folding chairs available on site or bring one. Hosted by Melissa Kramer, Low Entropy Foundation. Open to all skill levels and those wanting to learn more. Info: www.lowentropy.org/events.

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Singles Social Walking Club: Singles 55+ do walks in Surrey, Langley, etc. Saturdays, Sundays and stat holidays. Walk at 10 a.m. with brunch 11 a.m. Info: sherrysands4@gmail.com or Sherry, 604-531-4427.

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Groups are welcome to submit information about upcoming community events in Langley. Click here. Publication is at the discretion of the newspaper, and host groups are responsible for keeping their information up to date.

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community calendar

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How to watch MTG New Capenna Early Access streamer event

How to watch MTG New Capenna Early Access streamer event

Wizards of the Coast has quietly brought back the Magic: The Gathering Arena Early Access streamer event for the release of Streets of New Capennna.

Prior to the release of Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX) in April 2021, WotC abruptly canceled the Early Access MTG Arena streamer event. Providing Magic players with a sneak peek at Constructed decks prior to the release of a set while boosting content creator views, the end of the Early Access events upset many in the MTG community. 

With the upcoming release of Streets of New Capenna (SNC), WotC has decided to bring the Early Access streamer event back, taking place all day on April 26. After a full year of no MTG Arena Early Access streamer events, WotC officially announced the event’s return within the MTGA State of the Game

Image via WotC

It’s unknown who or how many content creators are participating in the event. Most Magic content creators are sharing that they are participating in the SNC Early Access streamer event via Twitter under the hashtag #MTGCapenna. Fans can also check out the MTG Twitch homepage on April 26 for any streamers participating in the Magic Arena event. 

The SNC Standard-legal set is a three-color focused set, containing five crime boss factions. Unlike recent Magic set releases, tabletop prerelease events began on April 22 prior to the digital release of the set on MTG Arena and Magic Online, which is scheduled to take place on April 28.

The return of the Early Access streamer events for MTG New Capenna is a big deal, allowing fans to once again get hyped for Constructed play by watching their favorite streamers craft decks prior to the set’s official release.  

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Brampton Bunny Eggscitment events celebrate Easter early | inBrampton

easter

By Ryan Rumbolt

Published April 5, 2022 at 10:21 am

easter

The Easter Bunny is coming early to Brampton with some egg-cellent community events.

The city is hosting free, family-friendly events for the next two weeks to celebrate the arrival of spring.

With Easter egg hunts, games, performers and scavenger hunts, the Bunny Eggscitment events will run this weekend and next and give families a chance to enjoy some in-person entertainment and take away a delicious treat to enjoy at home.

The events will be at community centres across the city leading up to the Bunny’s big day and will feature:

  • Meet and greet with the Easter Bunny
  • Airbrush tattoos
  • Balloon Artists
  • Magicians
  • Games and Activities
  • Community Quilt Craft
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Storybook Station

There is also a free skating even this Sunday (April 10) from 3:15 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. at the Cassie Campbell Community Centre​​.

The Bunny Eggscitment events will run on Saturday (April 9) at the Save Max Sports Centre, Sunday (April 10) at the Cassie Campbell Community Centre, and a final event on Saturday (April 16) at Chinguacousy Park .

All events take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and are sponsored by Telus.


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Coyotes snag eight events at USD Early Bird – University of South Dakota Athletics

Coyotes snag eight events at USD Early Bird - University of South Dakota Athletics

VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota captured eight events Saturday at the USD Early Bird, with the day at the Lillibridge Track Complex capped off by a top-10 nationally ranked mark in the women’s pole vault.
 
Freshman Marleen Mülla rolled to a victory in the women’s pole vault at the end of the night by clearing a personal best of 14-5 ½ (4.41m). Mülla’s height ranks sixth in the NCAA this season and fourth all-time in USD history.
 
South Dakota swept four of the top-five marks in the event. Second-year freshmen Jaidyn Garrett and Cassidy Mooneyhan took second and third, respectively, with a clearance of 13-3 ¾ (4.06m). Fourth-year junior Deidra Marrison finished fifth.
 
From the end of the meet to the first event, South Dakota’s list of personal record performances were abound. Fourth-year junior Jessie Sullivan captured the men’s discus for the first title of the meet. He launched the discus a personal best of 186-0 ¾ (56.71m) for third in USD program history. While Sullivan’s fourth throw was the furthest of the competition, he had four throws past his previous PR. The new mark leads the Summit League this season. Fifth-year seniors Matt Slagus and Jackson Coker took fourth and fifth in the field, respectively.
 
The Coyotes clocked the three-fastest times in the women’s 400-meter hurdles this afternoon with a podium sweep in the race. Freshman Moe Bridgen crossed the finish line in 1:00.48 for a new league-leading time. Sophomore Jacy Pulse took second in 1:00.56 and fifth-year senior Holly Gerberding was third in 1:00.87. Bridgen and Pulse moved to fifth and sixth, respectively, on USD’s career charts.
 
Sophomore Erin Kinney led from tape to tape in the 100 meters, improving her outdoor best in the event to 11.75 seconds. She leads the Summit in the 100 meters this season and moved to seventh in USD history with today’s time.
 
Third-year sophomore Helen Gould improved her league-leading steeple time by winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a season-best time of 10:55.71.
 
USD snagged the top-two spots in the men’s 200 meters. Sophomore Demar Francis took the tape in 21.23 seconds. Third-year sophomore Dylan Kautz posted a time of 21.45 seconds for runner-up. Kautz also finished runner-up in the 100 meters in 10.61 seconds.
 
Third-year sophomore Lydia Knapp launched a personal best of 198-11 (60.63m) on her second throw of the hammer competition. The mark topped the field Saturday and ranks second in USD program history.
 
Recent Coyote graduate Zack Anderson captured the high jump with a clearance of 7-1 ½ (2.17m). Fourth-year junior Jack Durst jumped 6-7 (2.01m) for fourth place.
 
Freshman Danii Anglin leaped an outdoor best height of 5-10 (1.78m) to finish runner-up in the women’s high jump. The height ranks third in USD program history. Third-year sophomore Carly Haring placed third in 5-8 ¾ (1.75m)
 
With a personal-best day in the throws, third-year sophomore Meredith Clark finished runner-up in both the shot put and discus. Clark improved her shot put best by just over an inch, launching it 47-2 ½ (14.39m), which ranks seventh in USD history. She also sent the discus a personal best 159-4 (48.57m) for sixth in USD history. Fourth-year junior Josephine Starner took fifth in the shot put and Knapp was fifth in the discus.
 
Kinney added a runner-up finish in the 200 meters to her 100 title. She clocked 24.67 seconds with a negative wind reading. Freshman Anna Robinson took fourth.
 
Third-year sophomore Ella Byers closed hard in the women’s 1,500 meters to finish runner-up in 4:37.01. Sophomore Abrielle Jirele finished just two seconds back in fourth place.
 
Sullivan took second in the men’s hammer throw, launching it 195-8 (59.63m). Slagus was third in 193-10 (59.09m) and fourth-year junior Kaden Elder tallied a personal best of 185-0 (56.38m). Elder remains ninth in USD program history.
 
Third-year sophomore Charlie Babcock crossed the finish line in third place in the 5,000 meters, clocking a time of 14:49.96.
 
Fifth-year senior Alli Wroblewski placed third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:17.50 and fourth-year sophomore Haley Arens finished just behind in fourth.
 
Three freshmen added top-five performances in their events. Averi Schmeichel was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (14.22 seconds), Renee Brummels was fourth in the triple jump (37-7 ¾, 11.47m), Caelyn Valandra-Prue finished fifth in the 400 meters (57.54 seconds).
 
South Dakota travels to Wichita, Kansas, for the K.T. Woodman Classic next week. Multi-event action kicks off at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
 

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Study provides insights into how early life events can affect brain wiring patterns

Study provides insights into how early life events can affect brain wiring patterns

A new study of brain development in mice shortly after birth may provide insights into how early life events can affect wiring patterns in the brain that manifest as disease later in life – specifically such disorders as schizophrenia, epilepsy and autism.

Researchers focused on two types of brain cells that have been linked to adult neurological disorders: neurons in a modulating system nestled deep in the brain and other neurons in the cortex, the brain’s outermost layer, that counteract excitation in other cells using inhibitory effects. The modulating cells send long-range cables to the cortex to remotely influence cortical cell activity.

The study is the first to show that these two types of cells communicate very early in brain development. A chemical released from the modulating cells initiates the branching, or arborization, of axons, the long, slender extensions of nerve cell bodies that transmit messages, on the cortical cells – and that arborization dictates how effective the cells in the cortex are at doing their job.

Though there is still a lot to learn about the impact of this cellular interaction in the postnatal brain, the researchers said the study opens the door to a better understanding of how neurological diseases in adults may relate to early-life events.

It’s known that abnormal early-life experiences can impact kids’ future sensation and behavior. This finding may help explain that kind of mechanism.”


Hiroki Taniguchi, associate professor of pathology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and senior author of the study

“This study provides new insight into brain development and brain pathology. It’s possible that during development, depending on animals’ experiences, this modulating system activity can be changed and, accordingly, the cortical circuit wiring can be changed.”

Taniguchi completed the work with co-authors André Steinecke and McLean Bolton while he was an investigator at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience.

The research is published today (March 9, 2022) in the journal Science Advances.

The study involved chandelier cells, a type of inhibitory neurons in the cortical section of the brain, and neurons of the cholinergic system – one of the systems that monitor the environment and the internal state, and send signals to the rest of the brain to trigger memory and appropriate behaviors.

“Both of these types of cells have been separately studied in the context of adult functions or modulations so far. The developmental role of cholinergic neurons in the brain wiring remains poorly understood,” Taniguchi said.

Chandelier cells are named for the spray of signal-transmitting synapses (called synaptic cartridges) at the branch terminals that resemble candles of a traditional chandelier, a pattern that gives them inhibitory control over hundreds of cells at a time.

“These cells have output control,” said Steinecke, first author of the study who is now working at Neuway Pharma in Germany. “Chandelier cells can put a brake on excitatory cells and tell them they’re not ready to fire. As inhibitory cells, chandelier cells are thought to regulate waves of firing – which is important, because the waves contain information that is transmitted over large distances of the brain.”

Previous post-mortem studies have shown that the synaptic terminals located at the end of chandelier cell axons appear to be reduced in the brains of patients with schizophrenia.

“This axonal ‘arbor’ being reduced suggests they don’t make as many connections to downstream targets, and the connections themselves are also altered and don’t work that well,” Steinecke said.

The team used two techniques to observe chandelier cells during early-life brain development in mice: genetically targeting and using a dye to label and detect cells that differentiate into chandelier cells, and transplanting genetically manipulated cells back into animals shortly after birth. “This enabled us to watch brain development as it happens and manipulate conditions to test what the mechanisms are,” Taniguchi said.

The researchers first observed how chandelier cell axons develop their branching structures, noting that small protrusions emerging from axons were the first signs that branches would sprout. And they identified the chemical needed to start that sprouting process – the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is released by cholinergic system cells.

The interaction between the distant cell types was confirmed through a series of experiments: Knocking out receptors that bind to acetylcholine and decreasing activity of cholinergic neurons lessened branch development, and making cholinergic neurons more likely to fire led to more widespread branching.

“The key is that we didn’t previously know how neuromodulatory systems regulate the cortical circuits – and both of them have been implicated in brain diseases,” Taniguchi said. “Now that we’ve found that cholinergic neurons could remotely impact cortical circuit development, especially cortical inhibitory signals, the question is what kind of environment or emotional state of change can impact cortical inhibitors’ development? We may want to see if we can find a link as a next step.”

This work was supported by funding from the Max Planck Society and the Brain Behavior and Research Foundation.

Source:

Journal reference:

Steinecke, A., et al. (2022) Neuromodulatory control of inhibitory network arborization in the developing postnatal neocortex. Science Advances. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe7192.

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Early stage Euro VC Backed brings in another €150M, and puts a heavy focus on founder events – TechCrunch

Early stage Euro VC Backed brings in another €150M, and puts a heavy focus on founder events – TechCrunch

London-based early-stage European VC fund Backed is bolstering its position by adding €75M to its Seed fund, while adding another €75M via a new follow-on fund vehicle. The ‘Backed Core 2’ fund will continue to invest in seed-stage startups, while the new ‘Backed Encore 1’ will do follow-on investments in later-stage rounds of existing portfolio companies.

Partner Alex Brunicki said in a statement: “We’ve pushed ourselves to be an entrepreneurial fund… I’d say we’ve made it to our ‘Series A’. We’re developing deeper edge in frontier markets like Biotech and Crypto; we’re bringing nascent communities together – such as Coin-Op – in a meaningful way; and we’ve built an exceptional team to support our founders at scale.”

Co-founded and launched in 2016 by Partners Andre de Haes and Brunicki, Backed says it now has 67 companies with an aggregate value of €10.7Bn. It’s also claiming three unicorns: SkyMavis owners of crypto game Axie Infinity; banking platform Thought Machine; and the Ethereum Layer 2 solution Immutable X. It’s also had exists such as mobile gaming studio, Hutch Games, which sold to MTG for $375M in November 2020.

LPs in the fund include firms such as Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (through their Sienna Capital vehicle) and private firms such as Wilshire Associates, alongside 20 family offices and over 20 entrepreneurs.

The question is, with so many early-stage VC funds now playing across Europe, what sets Backed apart from the others?

Backed says it’s all about being “human-centric”. That translates into an 18-month founder support programme, with leadership training, workshops, in-house recruiter, mental health service providers and an in-house executive coach for founders and leadership teams.

In other words: a large swathe of training and events. Backed’s other ‘special sauce’ – it says – is plenty of off-sites and founder retreats. Whether you want to describe those as ‘parties’ or not is up to you, but it’s just as well that, in modern times, UK Prime Minister Boris Johson has re-defined the meaning of the phrase ‘work events’.

This emphasis on hosting translates into 30 events annually, from founder dinners to a 1,000 person party at the Finnish tech conference Slush, and co-hosting conferences such as Coin-Op, a global blockchain-gaming summit held at the London Science Museum. 

Backed also has 60 Venture Scouts in its network across Europe such as Maximillian Bade, GP at Nucleus Capital, Abi Mohamed, Programme Lead at Tech Nation, Saloni Bhojwani, Partner at Pink Salt Ventures, and Nalden, Founder of WeTransfer and Adelee.

In an interview de Haes told me: “During the pandemic, we launched three different kinds of workshop or webinar series for founders, such as how do you survive a pandemic and how do you look after your people. Now that we’re moving back to an offline world… it’s ramping up again. So this year, for example, we’ve got two three-day retreats in Italy and Ibiza for founders, six crypto gaming events. So it’s we’re going back to a much more in-person experience.”

The question, however, is how are all these events funded, given VCs aren’t usually in the events business?: “We’re funding from management fee and from voluntary contributions that attendees make up the events,” de Haes told me. “And then from sponsors, so AWS, Pernod Ricard – these sorts of businesses want to be associated with this clan of people.”

What next, a Backed ‘Fyre Festival’?

BACKED’S INVESTMENT SECTORS (# OF INVESTMENTS)

•   21% Web3 / Blockchain

•   15% Gaming & Entertainment

•   12% Biotech

•   10% Financial Services

•   10% Manufacturing

•   6% Beauty / Fashion

•   7% Food / Agtech

•   6% HR / Legal

•   4% Pharmaceuticals

•   4% Property

•   3% Utilities

•   2% Education

FOUNDER DEMOGRAPHICS (Observed)

•   White male (71.2%) White female (6.3%)

•   Black male (1.8%) Black female (4.5%)

•   Asian/NBPOC male (13.5%) Asian/NBPOC female (2.7%)