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Courier-Mail
7 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
I spent 3 days at the USA's most scenic ski resort, Heavenly Mountain
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Like siblings hugging in a snowstorm, Heavenly Mountain Resort has two distinct sides – one in Nevada and the other California. Here's how to ski both in 72 hours, enjoying stunning Lake Tahoe views, epic tree runs, swathes of powder and a fun village. X DAY ONE: Afternoon Turn away from famous Lake Tahoe and point your rental all-wheel drive uphill, along a narrow road hugged by old lodges. You'll weave around bends that become increasingly white with snow until you find yourself side-by-side with skiers zipping down one of Heavenly's home trails. Instead of parking and racing onto the slopes, climb higher to the behemoth that is Tahoe Ridge Resort, a Holiday Inn Club Vacations property clinging to the mountainside. Spend the afternoon in the resort's heated pool, partially undercover but mostly not, and enjoy the magic of tiny flakes dancing to the water. Dinner One of the benefits of staying in a resort as large as Tahoe Ridge is you don't need to leave. In the main building, you can play pool and ping-pong, then enjoy burgers at The Ridge Club Bistro. If you feel like eating in your apartment, there's the small Marketplace on site, or you can drive 30 minutes down the mountain into Gardnerville for groceries. Tahoe Ridge Resort. DAY TWO: Morning After frying up bacon and eggs in your apartment, catch Tahoe Ridge Resort's fun Skier Express gondola to Stagecoach Express. The chairlift leads to some of the mountain's best intermediate runs, and if the snow has fallen thick and fast overnight, you can take advantage of the advanced wooded areas, chutes and bowls on the Nevada side of Heavenly. Lunch By lunchtime, make your way to Tamarack Lodge, a handy meeting point for friends riding opposite sides of the resort. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, so nab a table and cover it with plates of chicken tenders, pizzas and bowls of chilli. Heavenly Mountain Gondola. Afternoon If you're travelling with kids, take it slow in the beginner zone outside Tamarack Lodge. This is where you'll find the children's Ski & Ride School, as well as tubing and an alpine coaster. Families can access the tubing and coaster – without the need to ski – via Heavenly's gondola, caught from the heart of Heavenly Village, on the California side. Evening Enjoy an easy apartment dinner before making your way to Tahoe Ridge's single-room cinema to watch a complimentary screening of The Super Mario Bros Movie. Before you go, grab a packet of microwave popcorn from the Marketplace. Snowboard lessons on the resort's Californian side. Picture: Jennifer Ennion DAY THREE: Morning Enjoy a day off the slopes as you move to the California side of Heavenly where there's a pedestrian village full of restaurants, bars and shops, including big-brand stores such as Showcase and Patagonia. If you prefer community stores oozing authenticity, drive to The Village Board Shop to browse a top range of boards and outerwear. Lunch You're spoilt for choice for village dining options, but for something simple and affordable, swing by Sugar Pine Bakery for cinnamon scrolls and apple pies. Or for a real change of pace you can join locals at Cuppa Tahoe, a café in a bookshop with fabulous cosy nooks filled with vintage furniture and chalkboards. Order one of the specialty drinks, such as the caramelised pear tea latte. The Baked Bear ice-cream sandwich. Picture: Jennifer Ennion Afternoon Head back to the village for a spin on the small Heavenly Village Ice Rink before heading to The Baked Bear for an over-the-top ice-cream cookie sandwich. With bellies stretched, check into Forest Suites Resort, a sprawling low-level property a short stroll from Heavenly Mountain Gondola. It has an inviting foyer lounge, outdoor hot tubs, and apartments with full kitchens. Dinner Skip the tourist traps and cross the highway to Poké Rok, offering visitors a refreshing break from burgers and fried food. Order a giant sushi roll with crab or shrimp, or a poke bowl brimming with ahi tuna, salmon or teriyaki chicken. Your body will thank you for it. Forest Suites Resort at Heavenly Village. DAY FOUR: Morning Forest Suites offers a decent free buffet breakfast of pancakes, hash browns and sausages. You can then catch the gondola to mid-mountain or, to fully experience the California side of Heavenly, hop on the free shuttle to California Lodge. Eager skiers jump on the chairlift here, but if the weather is particularly wild, line up for the aerial tramway. There's a stack of epic runs on this side of the mountain, especially if you score a fresh snow day. If you're advanced, drop into Powder Bowl Woods and be sure to ride the black terrain back to the base at the end of the day. Lunch Lakeview Lodge is a great lunch spot, offering a cosy respite from a snowstorm. This lodge is the quintessential back-to-basics experience with plenty of character and window seats. Make yourself a cup of hot apple cider, order the gyro and grab a rocky road cookie while they're warm. Afternoon Spend the rest of the day lapping your favourite runs. If it's snowing heavily, keep your eyes on the opening of the Sky Express chair so you can claim more fresh turns through trees or down fast blues. (Sky Express offers some of the best views of Lake Tahoe on clear days.) Celebrate a day of fun riding back at Forest Suites Resort with free s'mores by an outdoor fire. The writer was a guest of Vail Resorts, South Lake Tahoe and Visit California. Skiers enjoy great views of Lake Tahoe. How to get to Heavenly Mountain Resort The closest airport to Heavenly Mountain Resort is in Reno, Nevada, but save yourself the hassle of two flights and travel with Qantas into San Francisco where you can collect a hire car for an easy 3.5-hour drive to Lake Tahoe. Find more travel tips at Where to stay at Heavenly Mountain Resort Tahoe Ridge Resort is an on-snow property with a restaurant, games room, activities centre, pool, hot tubs, saunas and free shuttle. In town, Forest Suites Resort is a great mid-range, family option, a short stroll to Heavenly Mountain Gondola. Skiing/snowboarding tips The Heavenly ski season is from mid-November to mid-April, snow dependent. If you're snowboarding in the Tahoe region for several days, buy an Epic Australia Pass for unlimited riding at three Aussie resorts, as well as Heavenly. Originally published as I spent 3 days at the USA's most surprising ski resort, Heavenly Mountain
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WTW Rises 24.7% in a Year but Lags Industry: How to Play the Stock
Shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company WTW have gained 24.7% in the past year, outperforming the Finance sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite's growth of 17.4% and 9.3%, respectively. Shares of WTW have underperformed the industry's growth of 26.5% in the same time insurer has a market capitalization of $30.99 billion. The average volume of shares traded in the last three months was 0.6 shares are trading below the 200-day moving average, indicating a bullish trend. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research WTW shares are trading at a price to forward 12-months earnings of 17.75X, lower than the industry average of 22.63X. Its pricing, at a discount to the industry average, gives a better entry point to investors. Shares of other insurers like Brown & Brown, Inc. BRO, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. MMC and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. AJG are trading at a multiple higher than the industry average. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Willis Towers's 2026 earnings per share and revenues indicates an increase of 13.8% and 5.3%, respectively, from the corresponding 2025 estimates. The insurer has a solid surprise history. It surpassed earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed in one, the average beat being 5.12%. Willis Towers' growth strategy encompasses a focus on improving operating margins, increasing free cash flow conversion and driving sustainable revenue growth. Focus on core opportunities with the highest growth and return, which include gaining market share in Risk and Broking and Individual Marketplace, should spur long-term growth and return more value to Health, Wealth & Career and Risk & Broking segments, driven by solid customer retention levels, growing new business and geographic diversification, continue to fuel the top line. Most of the company's operating regions experienced revenue growth for 15 straight quarters. Strategic acquisitions have expanded its geographical footprint in the last few years in countries like Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom and France, as well as ramped up its product Towers has been improving its liquidity while maintaining a solid balance sheet. A solid balance sheet and steady cash flow are expected to help the company engage in capital deployment for buybacks, dividend payouts, debt repayments, acquisitions and investments that drive and support growth. Banking on its capital position, WTW distributes wealth to shareholders in the form of dividend hikes and share repurchases. Its dividend has witnessed a six-year CAGR (2019-2025) of 5.7%. The insurer expects share repurchases to total approximately $1.5 billion in 2025, subject to market conditions and other relevant factors. Despite the upside potential, Willis Towers' expenses have been rising over the last several quarters. Higher salaries and benefits, other operating expenses, and transaction and transformation, as well as increased consulting and compensation costs related to the Transformation program, result in the contraction of margins. Willis Towers estimates to deliver expansion in margin over the long trailing 12-month ROE of 20.5% is weak when compared with the industry average of 27.3%, reflecting its inefficiency in using shareholders' funds. Willis Towers boasts a strong product portfolio and has a solid track record of strategic acquisitions, as well as favorable growth estimates. The Health, Wealth & Career and Risk & Broking segments should continue to witness significant growth from increases in most lines of business. A robust capital position over the years reflects its financial the escalating expenses and poor return on equity, it is better to stay cautious about this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (MMC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (WTW) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Global News
23-05-2025
- Global News
Okanagan musician falls victim to Facebook Marketplace scam
Online realities can shift into real-life nightmares in an instant. Kinga Heming is well known for her voice in the Okanagan and has been singing jazz tunes at venues throughout the valley for years. 'I received a text message from a girlfriend of mine saying that I think your Facebook has been hacked,' said Heming. Heming found that her Facebook profile had, in fact, been hacked. '(My friend) says, 'Well, apparently you have an uncle selling a whole bunch of items because he's moving into a retirement facility.'' As a trusted name in the Okanagan, the singer has gone from famous to infamous. 'People were actually believing that, because with my profile, it was me,' said Heming. Story continues below advertisement 'So there was messages that were, you know, that were sent to my profile, just requesting these items and people were sending deposits.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Then the scammer posted several false ads on Facebook Marketplace, posing as Heming. She says the scammer has taken at least $10,000 from people, including friends. Lorraine Bromley has known Heming for years, and reached out when she saw who she thought was her friend selling a car. 'I said, 'I'm interested,'' said Bromley. 'Who I thought was her (said), 'Oh, send me a deposit,' and that they won't show it to anybody else.' Bromley is one of the victims of the false ads. She says she had her suspicions, but because she knows Heming, she decided to trust her and send a deposit for $1,000 for a car. 'You're always suspicious of a stranger, right? But … you never think that someone's going to hack into your friend's account and act like them and ask you for money,' said Bromley. Heming and several of the victims have reported the incident to the RCMP. The RCMP says it's aware of similar scams circulating online and issued a warning last year. The RCMP recommends always making Marketplace transactions in public places near security cameras. Story continues below advertisement Heming has since regained access to her Facebook account, but she questions how long she will retain it for. 'It was honestly a full-time job trying to get this guy off my account. And every time I managed to finally get in, he somehow managed to get around me,' said Heming. Heming and her partner, Brad Krauza, have tried to get the word out that they have been hacked. However, the scammer shared their home address with many frustrated victims. 'We're thinking even (when we are) going to bed at night to make sure all the doors are locked,' said Krauza. 'She was worried about, you know, somebody coming to the house.' Heming has locked down her account again but the messages haven't stopped, as more frustrated victims continue to flood her inbox.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-05-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
This creative duo turned a 1940s Freo bungalow into a family haven
'We were deeply grieving when we got to Perth,' recalls Sweeney. 'It was more important than ever to create an established family home and feel nurtured. This house and the old gum tree did just that.' The family moved into the back studio while Sweeney worked on patching and painting the house. The single-storey structure – made of weatherboard, fibreboard, and horsehair – included a living space and two bedrooms at the front, as well as a kitchen, laundry, toilet, sunroom, and bedroom at the back. Keeping the layout, Sweeney painted the spaces white and restored the ornate features, including art deco ceiling roses and cornices adorned with pineapples and grapes and a large keyhole-opening linking the kitchen and living space. 'We wanted to respect the home's history while making it a blank canvas,' says Kawai Tang. 'This included painting the jarrah floors white, which everyone thought was strange.' When their oven broke down, the couple decided to address the 1980s kitchen. Sweeney removed the cabinetry, along with a door, window, and step down that led to the sunroom, which was part of a pokey 1960s renovation. They installed a high, horizontal decorative window featuring a Kawai Tang design of a rising sun for their son, Beau Sunray. Kawai Tang drew inspiration for the kitchen from characterful apartments in Berlin, Scandinavia, and London. 'I also love kitchens depicted in children's books, with a table in the middle and little cabinets scattered around it,' she explains. Scouring Marketplace, she uncovered vintage larders, which Sweeney restored, and a ceramic butler's sink, to which she added a curtain instead of a door. An old timber storage box, used as a coffee table, was transformed into an island bench. 'The biggest challenge was patience,' Sweeney says. 'Joinery is quick to install – finding the right vintage pieces takes time.' A tiler created a large splashback, and the couple invested in a vintage-style Smeg refrigerator, oven, and Marri timber for the benchtop and open shelves. Sweeney applied a distressed finish to the walls using a mix of plaster, limewash and pigments, a technique he used while working as a scene artist at the Sydney Opera House. 'I often painted opera backdrops in rustic Tuscan and Spanish styles,' he says. 'It is a look perfect for this space and great for concealing imperfections.' Kawai Tang's studio at the back, with its floor-to-ceiling geometric windows, was once a hub for glass artists. Now it is a charming and eclectic creative space for her business, Kawa Heart Studio, and a mini-break retreat, complete with claw-foot bath found at a market. Rather than spend $20,000 on a rebuild, Sweeney Gyprocked the building for just $1000 in one day. Loading 'We cut corners on this reno wherever we could and never spent a cent we didn't have,' he says. Though the original owner has passed away, Kawai Tang says his wife still visits for tea. 'We love listening to her stories about living here,' she says.
The Age
22-05-2025
- General
- The Age
This creative duo turned a 1940s Freo bungalow into a family haven
'We were deeply grieving when we got to Perth,' recalls Sweeney. 'It was more important than ever to create an established family home and feel nurtured. This house and the old gum tree did just that.' The family moved into the back studio while Sweeney worked on patching and painting the house. The single-storey structure – made of weatherboard, fibreboard, and horsehair – included a living space and two bedrooms at the front, as well as a kitchen, laundry, toilet, sunroom, and bedroom at the back. Keeping the layout, Sweeney painted the spaces white and restored the ornate features, including art deco ceiling roses and cornices adorned with pineapples and grapes and a large keyhole-opening linking the kitchen and living space. 'We wanted to respect the home's history while making it a blank canvas,' says Kawai Tang. 'This included painting the jarrah floors white, which everyone thought was strange.' When their oven broke down, the couple decided to address the 1980s kitchen. Sweeney removed the cabinetry, along with a door, window, and step down that led to the sunroom, which was part of a pokey 1960s renovation. They installed a high, horizontal decorative window featuring a Kawai Tang design of a rising sun for their son, Beau Sunray. Kawai Tang drew inspiration for the kitchen from characterful apartments in Berlin, Scandinavia, and London. 'I also love kitchens depicted in children's books, with a table in the middle and little cabinets scattered around it,' she explains. Scouring Marketplace, she uncovered vintage larders, which Sweeney restored, and a ceramic butler's sink, to which she added a curtain instead of a door. An old timber storage box, used as a coffee table, was transformed into an island bench. 'The biggest challenge was patience,' Sweeney says. 'Joinery is quick to install – finding the right vintage pieces takes time.' A tiler created a large splashback, and the couple invested in a vintage-style Smeg refrigerator, oven, and Marri timber for the benchtop and open shelves. Sweeney applied a distressed finish to the walls using a mix of plaster, limewash and pigments, a technique he used while working as a scene artist at the Sydney Opera House. 'I often painted opera backdrops in rustic Tuscan and Spanish styles,' he says. 'It is a look perfect for this space and great for concealing imperfections.' Kawai Tang's studio at the back, with its floor-to-ceiling geometric windows, was once a hub for glass artists. Now it is a charming and eclectic creative space for her business, Kawa Heart Studio, and a mini-break retreat, complete with claw-foot bath found at a market. Rather than spend $20,000 on a rebuild, Sweeney Gyprocked the building for just $1000 in one day. Loading 'We cut corners on this reno wherever we could and never spent a cent we didn't have,' he says. Though the original owner has passed away, Kawai Tang says his wife still visits for tea. 'We love listening to her stories about living here,' she says.
