Quincy-area recreation area project still uncertain
Port officials purchased about 90 acres in 2013, with the intention of developing the site for camping, along with picnic tables, a building that could be used for small events and other amenities. But Port Commissioner Patric Connelly said the plans didn't work out, and so far, plans to sell it haven't worked out either.
"We're talking with one outfit that's looking at (the property)," Connelly said.
The Bishop recreation area — named for the last owner prior to the port — includes a trailhead for access to the Ancient Lakes area, along with connections to trails leading south from the Quincy Lakes unit of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area. Port Commissioner Curt Morris said in an earlier interview that the spot allows hikers to see the remains of geological events that shaped the landscape during the last Ice Age, called the Missoula Floods.
What is now Central Washington was downstream from a river that periodically became a lake when ice built up across the river's course and created a dam. The water pressure eventually broke the dam and sent the entire lake downstream. The cycle repeated itself multiple times over the course of millions of years.
"There are some pretty incredible views," Morris said. "It's one of the few places where you can see the results of the Missoula Floods. People come from all over the world to see it."
The original plan included campsites and RV hookups as well as accommodation for horses and a small event venue. That plan had to be abandoned in 2023, when port officials got some estimates on development costs.
Developing a well to provide water was in excess of the port's budget; estimates for constructing the event building pushed the price even higher. That made it cost-prohibitive, Morris said.
Port commissioners were working on a plan that involved a third party and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the eventual result of the Bishop property going into WDFW ownership. But that fell through, Connelly said.
"It wasn't going to work out the way we were thinking," he said.
The possible sale of another piece of port property, this one on the west side of Quincy, is pending, Connelly said.
"We have a couple of offers on it right now," he said.
Two different companies have signed letters of intent, he said.
Port officials are in the process of subdividing the property, along Road R Northwest, he said, as well as other city zoning requirements.
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Associated Press
18-07-2025
- Associated Press
Before It Was a Buzzword: L'Auberge Invites Guests to Experience Its Farm-to-Table Legacy
White Post, VA July 18, 2025 --( )-- For over 40 years, L'Auberge Provençale Inn and Restaurant has been a pioneer of farm-to-table dining in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. In recent years, they've expanded their culinary ecosystem journey beyond cultivated farms and orchards, inviting guests to explore a deeper connection to the land through foraging, wild harvesting, and rediscovering native ingredients. On September 13, 2025, L'Auberge will host a foraging class led by Professor of Appalachian Foodways, Clay Morris. Additional class dates will be posted on the website as they are available. Each guided outing explores the Shenandoah Valley's native plants, their culinary uses, and the cultural stories rooted in the land. It is a rare, hands-on experience that brings the farm-to-table philosophy to life. 'When people talk about foraging, they tend to think just mushrooms,' says Morris. 'But it's so much more than that.' With deep knowledge of cultural food traditions, Morris shares ways indigenous peoples and early settlers relied on native plants for survival. 'People want a story with their food,' he adds. 'And the land is where that story begins.' After the morning foraging excursion, participants return to the inn for a multi-course luncheon, where Chef Alex Sakelakos transforms the wild ingredients into refined dishes. Each course is paired by sommelier Christian Borel with selections from L'Auberge's award-winning wine cellar, creating a full-circle culinary experience from field to fork. For those unable to attend a foraging class, dining at L'Auberge Provençale still offers a genuine farm-to-table experience year-round. Each day begins with what's growing just steps from the kitchen garden. 'The menu always starts with the produce,' says Chef Sakelakos. 'We're harvesting and processing the same day.' What the team doesn't grow themselves comes from a network of trusted local farms. These include Chilly Hollow Vegetable Farm, Baker's Farm, Whiffletree Farm, Marker-Miller Orchards, and Mackintosh Fruit Farm. The team also visits area farmers' markets for seasonal extras. And thanks to Clay Morris, wild-foraged ingredients make frequent appearances on the menu as well. This ingredient-driven philosophy is reflected in every dish, whether served in the elegant main dining room or the inn's more casual bistro. 'We serve fine dining, yes,' says co-owner Celeste Borel, 'but it's never pretentious.' Guests can expect Michelin-level cuisine grounded in seasonal ingredients, complemented by gracious service and an exceptional wine and bourbon selection. Dining at L'Auberge is a sensory and visual delight that celebrates both flavor and atmosphere. About L'Auberge Provençale: L'Auberge Provençale offers an authentic Provençale experience in the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. This romantic bed and breakfast features elegant guest rooms, gracious service, and an award-winning farm-to-table restaurant that celebrates seasonal ingredients and regional flavors. To learn more or reserve your spot in an upcoming foraging class, visit Contact Information: L'Auberge Provencale Sarah Baker 919-353-3917 Contact via Email Read the full story here: Before It Was a Buzzword: L'Auberge Invites Guests to Experience Its Farm-to-Table Legacy Press Release Distributed by
USA Today
23-06-2025
- USA Today
Why scooters and e-bikes are the newest travel hazard you didn't see coming
Sarah Morris used to love riding an e-scooter. Until her accident. Morris, a tour guide from Seattle, lost control of her rental last year and wiped out. "The handlebars came back at me and hit me square in the face, knocking me unconscious," she remembered. "I fell to the ground and slashed my chin and forehead open on the gravel." The accident left her with 60 stitches to her head, a traumatic brain injury, and a new perspective on motorized scooters. "Now, I have zero tolerance for them," she said. Check out Elliott Confidential, the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone! That's becoming a popular opinion. Many major tourist destinations, such as New York, Paris and Madrid, have either banned or strictly limited e-scooters. Many more are on the verge of going scooter-free. I agree with Morris. I've traveled around the world, and there seems to be one constant: the ever-present motorized scooters and bikes on the sidewalks, weaving between pedestrians. It's time to put an end to the madness. "There are a lot of reasons travelers should remain very aware of their surroundings, but the popularity of e-bikes and scooters in tourist destinations definitely adds urgency to that," said John Gobbels, chief operating officer of Medjet, a membership program that provides air medical transport and travel security services. Flying mistakes you'll wish you didn't make; from bad seat swaps to spilled drinks How dangerous are e-bikes and scooters to tourists? Medjet has seen an uptick in transport calls related to e-bike and scooter accidents from both sides – the rider getting hurt and someone who got hit by the e-bike or scooter. A recent national study by the University of California at San Francisco found that accident rates were soaring in the United States, with e-bicycle injuries doubling every year from 2017 to 2022 and e-scooter injuries rising by 45% each year. In rare cases, the incidents can seriously injure travelers. For example, a hit-and-run with a motorized scooter in West Hollywood left one woman with a fractured skull and brain swelling. And an American visiting Sydney was struck by an e-bike while crossing a path where cycling was not allowed, sending him to the hospital with a serious brain injury. Rental companies are aware of the problems and say they are working to make their scooters safer. Lime, one of the largest scooter rental companies, told me that it's developing rider education and on-vehicle technology. It also shares its rider data with cities to determine where infrastructure improvements like protected bike lanes would be most valuable. 'Safety is at the core of our mission at Lime, and the foundation for successful micromobility programs," says Lime spokesman Jacob Tugendrajch. He noted that 99.99% of Lime trips end without any reported incident. Yet most run-ins between visitors and these new mobility devices go unreported. Even if they're just close calls or clips, they can really affect the visitor experience in that they leave people stunned and frightened. And, to be fair, it's often tourists who do it to each other. They rent an e-scooter or bike for a few hours and race it around town, sometimes taking the vehicle for a joyride on the sidewalk. What's the problem with scooters and e-bikes? So what's wrong with these popular urban mobility vehicles? Nothing – and everything. Nothing, in the sense that they are not inherently dangerous. A scooter or e-bike operated carefully in a dedicated bike lane can get you from point A to point B quickly and safely. Problem is, a mobility lane isn't always available. "In the street, e-scooter riders feel unsafe because of cars, which can easily kill an e-scooter rider," said Ralph Buehler, a professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech. "On sidewalks, e-scooter riders feel that they are endangering pedestrians, and they can't move freely." But that's not all. E-bikes are bulkier and faster than conventional bikes, and they can easily reach speeds of 30 miles per hour. And the newest e-scooters, though a bit slower, are built like a tank. In the wrong hands, they're a menace to pedestrians. Tourists are afraid of e-bikes and scooters Travelers don't really think about the safety of a pedestrian walkway until they're actually standing on it. But if you ask them about the threat of scooters, they're not shy about sharing their opinions. Jenna Rose Robbins, a web consultant who lives in Los Angeles, said Miami is pretty awful when it comes to scooters. "The scooters and e-bikes are a nuisance," she said. "I was nearly hit on numerous occasions, and there was a certain lawlessness to it all -- no signs saying not to ride them on sidewalks, piles of scooters on almost every corner." Morris, the tour guide from Seattle, told me her "zero tolerance" attitude toward e-bikes and scooters wasn't just the result of her collision. Her experience of showing visitors Seattle cemented her position. "I've personally been clipped multiple times just walking down the sidewalk," she said. "Riders often don't realize that walking tours stop, move, and change direction, which leads to frequent close calls." What should you do about the dangerous streets? I'm currently in Christchurch, New Zealand, where pedestrians have to be extra careful. In fact, I just returned from a walk through town and counted three close calls – one e-bike, two scooters. They were all on the sidewalk. I asked Chris Davlantes, an emergency room physician, what to do about this problem. Davlantes, a concussion expert and senior medical director for Abbott's point of care diagnostics business, has some firsthand experience. He was recently riding an e-scooter and collided with a pedestrian who wandered into the bike lane. The pedestrian was fine, but Davlantes went airborne and suffered a concussion, bilateral nasal bone fractures, two broken bones in his right wrist and a broken finger on his left hand. "Always be attentive," he said. "Especially when crossing the street at an intersection – and even if you have the right of way." Read between the lines: Stay off your phone and watch where you're going. Never step into the bike lane unless you first look both ways. And be aware that e-bikes and scooters are fast and heavy – and very quiet. He added that if you're in an accident and hit your head, you should get checked out even if you feel OK. "When it comes to concussions, it's never best to wait and see," he warned. "For your best chance at a full recovery, seek professional medical help immediately." The sidewalk should be off-limits to e-bikes and scooters But what about the problem of e-bikes and scooters on the sidewalk? If you're traveling anywhere this summer, you should assume that you'll be sharing the pedestrian walkway with fast-moving vehicles, and they won't always be on their best behavior. This is not a difficult problem, and it's not a controversial solution. These vehicles should never be allowed on the sidewalk, ever. And e-bikes should probably be on the road, since they are practically mopeds, anyway. I used to think pickpockets and tourist traps were the biggest threats to visitors, but those are usually easy to avoid. E-bikes and scooters, not so much. Be careful out there. Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
World's most beautiful castles
What is it about castles that fascinates so many people around the globe? A lot of the allure derives from the history and human drama that played out within the walls, as well as the astonishing architecture that features on so many castles. But they're also romantic and somewhat mystical, places that spark our imagination and conjure visions of long-ago knights in shining armor and powerful warrior queens. 'Because they combine two functions, they are far more interesting than fortresses or palaces,' says Marc Morris, author of 'Castles: Their History and Evolution in Medieval Britain.' 'What makes a castle a castle is that it combines the functions of defense and dwelling — it's a fortification and a stately home rolled into one. Creating a building which is both comfortable and defensible is difficult. The ingenious ways in which castle-designers reconciled this balance is always intriguing.' Although we normally associate castles with European history, it's actually an architectural form found around the world — in nations as varied as Japan and India, Morocco and Mexico. Many are now hubs of living history where modern visitors can watch jousting and other ancient combat forms, listen to medieval music or watch artisans demonstrate the arts, crafts and everyday skills of a thousand years ago. They also make great backdrops for outdoor concerts, films, theater and military performances, or for the on-location filming of movies and television shows. 'With a castle you get not only the stories of sieges, but also stories of the domestic lives of the rich and famous,' says Morris. 'Castles are places were plots were hatched, marriages were consummated, murders carried out, royal babies born, and so on. With castles, you are never short of fascinating things to talk about.' Read on to find out more about 21 of the world's most beautiful castles, fortified homes that are both a feast for the eyes and a time trip back to the bygone age during which they were created. Located about 30 minutes by bullet train west of Osaka and Kobe, Himeji rises above the Inland Sea and is considered the epitome of the Japanese feudal castle. Both a Japanese national treasure and World Heritage Site, the elegant whitewashed structure is also called 'White Heron Castle' because of its resemblance to a great bird taking flight. Completed in the early 17th century, Himeji offers daily guided tours in Japanese and English. This classic medieval castle towers above the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea. Originally built as a Byzantine citadel, it was reworked into its present Gothic form by the crusading Knights of St John when Rhodes served as the headquarters of their grand master. During the brief Italian occupation of the Dodecanese Islands, Benito Mussolini used the castle as a holiday home. Its permanent archeological exhibitions feature relics from ancient Greece and the early Christian period. Even though many people consider this Bavarian masterpiece the epitome of a German castle, it's a relatively new creation, erected in the late 1800s at the behest of King Ludwig II. The Bavarian monarch instructed his architects to design something that would reflect both the operas of Richard Wagner and the romantic ideals of the Middle Ages — as much a fantasy as Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, but with the snowcapped Alps as a backdrop and the Bavarian plains spread out beneath. Neuschwanstein is also a cinema darling, having appeared in numerous flicks over the years including 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and 'The Great Escape.' One of the most striking castles in all of Europe, the Alcázar rides a narrow, rocky promontory overlooking the plains of Old Castile in central Spain. Although it started life as a Roman fort, the structure evolved over hundreds of years into a prototypical medieval castle with a deep moat, drawbridge, round guard towers and a robust keep, as well as lavishly decorated royal chambers. Segovia Castle is most renowned as the home of Queen Isabella and powerful Phillip II before the royal court was moved to Madrid. Another offspring of the Romantic movement that swept 19th-century Europe, Pena crowns a hilltop near Sintra, Portugal. Commissioned by King Ferdinand II on the site of a ruined monastery dedicated to the Virgin of Pena, the castle is a flamboyant blend of various historic styles including Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance details. The castle's vivid red-and-yellow color pattern — and its flashy clock tower — endow Pena with a much more playful air than the somber castles found elsewhere in Europe. Erected in the early 17th century by the Mughal ruler of Rajasthan, the Amber Fortress crowns a hilltop near Jaipur, its stout walls reflected in the waters of Maota Lake. The palace complex inside the walls revolves around courtyards flanked by exquisite examples of Rajput architecture like the Maharaja's Apartments, Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure) and Diwan-i-Am (Royal Audience Hall). Although it was once fashionable to ride an elephant up the steep entrance road, visitors are now advised to walk or take a 4x4 taxi. This massive mudbrick structure on the edge of the Sahara has starred in more than a dozen movies and television shows including 'Game of Thrones,' 'Gladiator' and 'The Man Who Would Be King.' The complex features a fortified lower town along the Asif Ounila River — where people still reside — and a partially ruined hilltop citadel. Berber-style guest houses provide accommodation for visitors to a ksar originally built in the 17th century as an overnight stop for caravans traveling between Marrakech and the Sudan. Founded in the waning years of the Viking Age, Kalmar Castle traces its roots to a 12th-century defensive tower overlooking the Kalmar Strait on the Baltic Sea. Four centuries later, King Gustav and his sons transformed Kalmar into a splendid royal residence that (with the help of renovation) looks much the same today as it did in 1592. In addition to exhibitions, children's activities and guided tours, Scandinavia's best-preserved Renaissance castle also features special events like an exhibition of ancient Egyptian artefacts, which is open until November 2025. Guarding the entrance to San Juan Bay, this 16th-century Spanish citadel is one of the most impressive structures in the Caribbean. Protected by a moat (with a drawbridge), stone battlements and rugged sea cliffs, the castle has repelled numerous attacks including several assaults by French pirates and a 1595 strike by Sir Francis Drake. However, it surrendered to US forces after a fierce naval bombardment during the Spanish-American War. Since 1962, El Morro and nearby Castillo San Cristóbal (the largest fort constructed by the Spanish in the western hemisphere) have been part of the San Juan National Historic Site. The grassy 'field of fire' in front of the castle is now immensely popular for picnics and kite flying. Although it's officially called a palace, Istanbul's sprawling Topkapi compound bears all the features of a classic castle: defensible site, fortified walls, powerful gateways and a royal residence occupied by the Ottoman sultans from the late 15th century when it was originally constructed until the 1850s. Converted into a museum when the Ottoman Empire dissolved after World War I, the Topkapi offers extensive gardens, wall-top walks overlooking the Bosphorus, the Ottoman Imperial Harem where the ruler's concubines resided and the Imperial Treasury with its famous emerald-encrusted golden dagger — stolen and eventually retrieved in the 1964 heist movie 'Topkapi.' Perched on an ancient volcanic outcrop at the end of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle is considered the 'most besieged place' in Britain with at least 26 major attacks during its 1,100-year lifespan. From Mary Queen of Scots to Oliver Cromwell and Sir Walter Raleigh, many famous Britons are indelibly linked the ancient edifice. Britain's oldest crown jewels (the Honours of Scotland) are safeguarded inside a castle that also provides an incredibly fitting venue for the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Music concerts, living history events and weapons demonstrations are among the many events staged throughout the year inside the walls. And bygone military mascots are buried in the castle's Dog Cemetery. Despite its diminutive size, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is well-endowed with castles — more than 50 are spread across an area smaller than London's metro area. The most spectacular of these is Schloss Vianden, poised high above the Our River in northern Luxembourg. Built on the site of an ancient Roman fortress that protected the empire from barbarian invasion, the castle was constructed between the 11th and 14th centuries. Blending aspects of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance design, it remained in royal hands until 1977 when the Grand Duke bequeathed it to the state. Vianden's biggest annual bash is an August medieval festival with dueling knights, troubadours, jugglers and artisans. The Kremlin in Moscow may be better known, but it can't hold a candle to the one in Novgorod when it comes to medieval ambiance. Located 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of St. Petersburg, Novgorod was the seat of a powerful Russian republic from the 11th to 15th century when it was finally overshadowed by Moscow. That power was concentrated inside the detinets or kremlin with its sturdy walls and heavily fortified towers. Among its landmarks today are the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom with its silver domes, the Novgorod Museum and the Millennium of Russia monument. There's no better example of the transition from the fortified castles of the medieval era to palatial homes of the Renaissance than this enormous chateau in the Loire Valley. Commissioned as a 'hunting lodge' by King François I in the early 16th century, the massive structure (440 rooms) took 28 years to construct. While it's moat, corner towers and keep are purely decorative, the 500-year-old castle has nevertheless protected some real treasures, not least the a magnificent double helix staircase said to have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci. One of the finest examples of Chinese castle architecture is Shuri, a hilltop fortress and palace complex on the island of Okinawa in Japan. As the royal court of the independent Ryukyu Kingdom for more than 450 years — when the islands were heavily influenced by nearby China — Shuri developed a warren of imperial living quarters, audience halls, religious shrines and an extravagant throne room reminiscent of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The compound was heavily restored after World War II, when Shuri served as the local headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Army. The castle's present-day activities range from a morning gate-opening ritual called Ukejo and multilingual audio tours of the grounds to daily dance performances and nighttime illumination. England has far larger castles (Windsor) and others that are more steeped in history (Tower of London). But none boasts that textbook form of Bodiam Castle in East Sussex. Erected in 1385 as the bastion of a former royal knight, it's the epitome of a medieval castle – thick crenelated walls supported by nine stubby towers, arrayed around a square central courtyard and reached via a wooden walkway (a drawbridge in olden days) across a wide moat. Among its many visitor summer activities are archery sessions, dressing up in medieval costumes, afternoon tea with cakes and scones and guided tours. And just seven miles away is where the landmark Battle of Hastings played out in 1066. The only royal castle in the Americas hovers high above Mexico City. Erected in the late 1700s as a summer house for the viceroy of New Spain, the castle has played many roles since then, including the palace of Emperor Maximillian and an 1847 battle between Mexican troops and invading Americans that features in the 'Marine Corps Hymn' ('From the Halls of Montezuma …'). Nowadays Chapultepec is home to Mexico's National Museum of History. The royal quarters — including the precious Malachite Room and Maximillian's flamboyant bedroom — are included in castle tours. What makes this Slovenian castle so special is its astounding location — Predjama is arrayed across a cave mouth beneath a natural rock arch on the side of a sheer cliff. The lofty setting made it virtually impregnable when it was constructed in the 13th century. Attackers laid siege to Predjama on numerous occasions, but a secret passageway (that still exists today) allowed the defenders to come and go at will. Located 62 kilometers (38 miles) from Ljubljana, the castle and its park-like grounds host the Erasmus Knight's Tournament, a medieval festival and jousting competition staged every July. This island bastion overlooking the Bay of Naples is the oldest castle on our list, tracing its roots to the 5th century BC when Greeks colonized the region. From Roman legionnaires to Napoleon's troops, many armies have occupied Aragonese over the years. The castle now belongs to the family of an Italian lawyer who purchased the fortified island in 1912 and began restoration of its battlements, churches, convents, crypts and gardens. In addition to views that stretch all the way across the bay to Mount Vesuvius, Aragonese Castle boasts outdoor cafes, a bookshop, art exhibits and outdoor movies. Prague's imposing citadel is also one of the few castles anywhere in the world that still boasts real political power — the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic. Among the other landmarks inside its spacious confines are St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, 10 gardens and a row of 16th-century cottages called the Golden Lane that once housed the castle guards. Guided tours, offered during daylight and evening hours, last around three hours. Reportedly damaged during Syria's recently ended civil war, Krak des Chevaliers remains one of the world's great castles — and the only one on our list that has experienced 21st-century conflict. Created in the 12th century by the Knights of St. John, the celebrated Krak is considered the epitome of a crusader castle in the Middle East and one of the greatest statements of medieval military architecture. The structure features two mighty walls separated by a moat on a steep hillside between Homs and the Mediterranean Sea. It's hoped that the end to the fighting in Syria will enable restoration and repair work. This article was first published in 2019. It was updated and republished in June 2025
