Latest news with #Mosi
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Navy acquires Barefoot Palms property for base expansion plans
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – For years, it was an eyesore, rows of crumbling town homes, just a stone throw away from a secure military base. But long before demolition crews rolled down Barefoot Palms, it was supposed to be something entirely different. A high-end townhouse community for beach-goers and families. But when the 2008 housing crash hit, developer Wes Burnham's vision came to a halt. Bankruptcy followed, and buildings were left to rot. Bay County officials purchased the 8-acre land from Burnham for $2.9 million. The idea was to sell it to the U.S. Navy, due to the Navy being concerned about civilian encroachment. But the Navy didn't have the money to buy the property. Bay County and Naval Support Activity land swap, townhomes demolished 'So one of the biggest tenants we have on the installation is Navy Surface Warfare Center, and they're a research group that does a lot of innovative research into technologies that we're yet to field into the fleet. And so it's critical that we're able to protect what needs protecting,' Panama City Naval Support Activity Commanding Officer Michael Mosi said. Bay County sheriff's deputies used the property for hostage and active trainer shooting. They even used it as an area to hold people who were arrested during spring break. In 2017, the state purchased barefoot palms through their military-based protection program to prevent further encroachment. In 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed off for the state to gift the property to the base. On Thursday, Naval Support Activity Panama City accepted and officially signed ownership of the property. Tyndall highlights mental health resources at Elevate Expo 'I am super proud and humbled to be at the finish line and at the signing of this property. A long line of individuals, both in the community and on the installation have put a lot of time into making sure that national security is taken care of,' Mosi added. Bay County military installations contribute around $4.3 billion in economic impact and in 33,339 jobs. 'I loved my time here, and I thought that we could not do anything higher or bigger. And the things that I've seen in the last two years with skipper Mosi and his team, they have far surpassed it,' Former NSA CEO Jessica Pfefferkorn said. Mosi said the base is in talks with stakeholders on how to make use of the property. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Maverick
25-04-2025
- Daily Maverick
Wild show-stoppers — baby beasts and birdlife in breathtaking Chobe
Though the green season in northern Botswana means having to deal with tall grass and fewer waterhole sightings, it also means all manner of baby animals are being born. Cue cuteness overload. It almost started in disaster. My Proflight Zambia plane from Cape Town was landing in Livingstone and going on to Lusaka. This I did not realise, and I sat blissfully ignorant in my seat, headphones on, while the flight attendants, and all the other passengers, waited for me to get off – the only person disembarking. They eventually tapped me on the shoulder and turfed me out. Just in time. Bags collected, I was off to The David Livingstone, my lodgings on the banks of the Zambezi River. Confession time: the Zambezi, at any point from start to Mana Pools, is one of my favourite places in the world. So I was as happy as a clam when my cruise on the Lady Livingstone set off that afternoon. Nothing like jumping in immediately, almost as you hit the airport. River cruise We dawdled along the river towards Mosi-oa-Tunya, as the Victoria Falls are known in the local languages of Leya and Lozi. I sipped on a Mosi, as one must in these parts, and watched elephants, hippos, crocs and plenty of beautiful birds. Later that night, I was struck down with an unwelcome virus and I took to my bed for two days. It was not an auspicious start to my month-long wander through the massive Kaza region, the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, the largest conservation area in the world. It stretches from Angola and Namibia in a wide band all the way through Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It's a marvellous project that is opening up ancient animal migration routes, boosting conservation through community participation and working to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. The Botswana leg My next stop was delayed a day, but eventually I set off for Chobe in Botswana, across the Kazangula Bridge. It has knocked several hours off the journey, and the one-stop border crossing has made it all even easier. Although the bridge was only opened in 2021 to replace the Kazungula ferry, there are several potholes forming already and banks of tar growing ever-larger as the huge, overloaded trucks barrel along in temperatures so high you could fry an egg on the pavement. If you have not been – and you should go – be prepared to walk through the disease control trays or disinfection mats as part of Botswana's biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, with all your shoes in your bags, before you're allowed into the country. Vehicles have to drive across a similar mat or dip. They take this seriously. Foot-and-mouth affects cloven-hoofed animals and it can wipe out bovine populations, including buffaloes, which are a virus reservoir. Chobe is one of those bucket-list places if safaris are your thing. And it has been ever since Liz and Dick (Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton) got married in the magistrate's office in Kasane, the local frontier town, half a century ago. It was the second time they married, and they honeymooned in the national park, putting the month-old Chobe Game Lodge on the world map. It was not my intention to visit Chobe on the legendary lovers' golden anniversary; indeed, I was entirely ignorant of this historical fact when I made my plans. But it made me happy when I learnt of it. Chobe sightings The animal sightings in Chobe National Park are show-stopping, and I was prepared to be wowed, even if it was green season. For those not in the know, green season is the wet season, when the grass is high and sweet, the trees filled with leaves and buds and water is everywhere. The Zambezi teak are in bloom, their pink-purple flowers strewn across the landscape. Animals can be more difficult to spot, because they don't need to come to waterholes and they can browse deep in the bush. But – and this is a big one – babies are also being dropped and the birdlife is fantastic. I saw a baby hippo trotting after its mom, so newly born it was the size of my small dog. Still wobbly on its legs, all rotund belly and cuteness. Sure-footed little impalas bounced after their mothers while their older brothers practised their fighting skills. The afternoon air rang with the million-strong cicada choir, also looking for mates, and everywhere was the sound of birds. Baby elephants also made my heart sing, just discovering their trunks and not quite sure what to do with them. (Did you know infant ellies suck their trunks like infant humans suck their thumbs?) They mock charge, their little ears flapping madly, and play happily in the mud. Elephants are truly awe-inspiring. The entire herd raises the babies, protecting them and helping the mothers. Babies are precious and adored. We could learn a thing or two from elephants. Messing about in boats The Chobe River flows year round from its source in the Angolan Highlands all the way to the Zambezi. And it makes for some fantastic safari adventures. Many lodges have their own river boats, but there are also independent boats you can hop on. A small boat is best for a sunset cruise. It's peaceful, quiet and gives you the best animal sightings. I went twice, because if you can, you should. Every trip on a safari is different. I've seen the Big Five in the first 10 minutes, and no mammals at all in four hours. There are, however, always birds and bugs, two of my favourite things. My first river cruise was washed out by an epic thunderstorm. We were not 15 minutes down the river from our mooring when the sky opened and water sluiced down in sheets. We'd forgotten to pack the rain ponchos (who would remember them on a clear and sunny day?) and there was much frantic covering of cameras with whatever could be found. An elderly English gentleman, unperturbed, sipped on his gin and tonic under the flimsy tarpaulin and toasted the 'jolly adventure'. He was a tonic himself. We saw nothing but raced back to the shore, to try again another time. I was back the next day, this time an altogether more successful safari. Crocodiles lolled in the sunshine along the banks, or floated menacingly on the water. We tootled around Sedudu Island, watching the herons, African fish eagles, kingfishers, carmine bee-eaters and African darters drying their feathers on their perches. There are more than 450 bird species on the river. On the river banks, hippos lumbered around. They come out of the water during the day here, although they don't ever wander far and are quick to splash back in if they feel threatened. And elephants. I saw hundreds of elephants, next to the river, in the river, browsing on the trees, grazing on the grasses. All fat and looking happy. Big cats In the green season there are also fewer people to clutter up sightings. Even so, at a lion sighting one early morning, my game driver was joined by eight others. I get it; lions are the king of the jungle for good reason. Their low growl hits you with a primal fear. Bone-chilling. Freeze or flee. But still, I felt claustrophobic and a bit cheated. But we're on a game drive and all is calm and fascinating. I've tracked lions on foot in the Waterberg in South Africa and it's an entirely different affair. As you can imagine. There are also cheetahs and leopards, and smaller cats like caracal, but they are tricky to spot. You can do a Chobe day trip from Livingstone or Victoria Falls, and busloads do. To be clear, buses do not ply the bumpy dirt roads of the national park. Everyone gets off at Kazungula Bridge or at the entrance, and on safari game vehicles. Or you can opt for several days in the area; there are plenty of lodges inside the park's borders, and even more around Chobe. I stayed at Elephant Valley Lodge in Lesomo Valley and at Jackalberry Chobe on the beautiful river bank. Botswana is a unique place. IYKYK (if you know you know), as the kids say. DM The writer was hosted by Africa's Eden and her flights were courtesy of Proflight Zambia. Accommodation was courtesy of The David Livingstone Safari Lodge, Elephant Valley Lodge and Jackalberry Chobe. This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Red Bull Dance Your Style Took Over L.A. with a Block Party Like No Other
Freestyle dancers gathered at Los Angeles Center Studios on Sunday, March 9, for the Red Bull Dance Your Style open qualifier, showcasing top street dance talent in an event that captured the authentic spirit of neighborhood block market and dance competition, organized in partnership with Storm DeBarge and Black on the Block, recreated the feel of those community gatherings where neighbors come together to celebrate special native Mosi won Sunday's competition hosted by dance force Storm DeBarge. Mosi defeated Koncept in the final round after facing ShortSircuit and Taktic. All four dancers will advance to the city qualifier in Salt Lake City on July the competition intensified, the festival streets came alive with energy. Attendees browsed merchandise from more than 100 Black-owned small businesses and enjoyed Jamaican cuisine while watching the freestyle battles at the Red Bull stage. Some explored the vendor stands, others remained fixed at the dance floor, but everyone felt the impact of DJ Ash B's music selections that energized the entire block powerhouse Storm DeBarge celebrated with her own pop-up, Storm DeBarge's Family Function, within the event, representing L.A. culture and hip-hop dance with a custom-decorated lounge area. It featured live mural painting, a tie-dye station, and on-site hair styling."To represent L.A. is really important to me, because a lot of people don't get to come to L.A., or they just hear bad things about it. I'm like, no, we need something positive, good energy, good vibes," she says about combining the Red Bull Dance event with her family function series. "With Black culture, we love dance. That's what we do. I think to just put everybody's vibe together is definitely important to me, and just important for the youth to see as well."Red Bull Dance Your Style gives dancers from all backgrounds a chance to display their best freestyle moves. It serves as a connecting point for those in the L.A. street dance scene to meet established figures and perform for an appreciative audience."When I get to the space, I just be filled with joy, because I enjoy people watching. The fact that I'm having fun, they're having fun, I enjoy the joy of it," says dancer Rob ShortSircuit. "That's why I lose nervousness, because I'm having fun and the crowd's having fun with me." His playful movements and cheerful personality made him a crowd favorite. Without pre-planned choreography or music, spectators decide who dominates the dance floor by holding up red or blue signs to support their favorite performer. Of the 16 dancers at the qualifier, only Mosi, Koncept, ShortSircuit and Taktic will proceed to the next round in Salt Lake Misbehavior stood out among the competing dancers. He relocated from Philadelphia just a year ago. Though this marked his first Red Bull Dance competition, not even a broken hand prevented him from participating. He wore bandages on his right hand during our conversation."I haven't danced in like two months because I've been injured. But today I just want to enjoy the love of movement and the love of my culture," he he's participated in dance battles in Philadelphia previously, nothing compared to this scale. "This is probably some of the highest stakes in the U.S. when it comes to street dance culture, because the platform is so large and there's so many opportunities to go across the world and be seen in mainstream media."Beyond the dance competitions, the event functioned as a community gathering with vendors, families, friends, and children dancing to music throughout the venue. On an unexpectedly sunny winter day in Los Angeles, Red Bull kept attendees refreshed by distributing free cans."Being able to be here with so many Black and Brown women—seeing what they got on, seeing the swag, seeing how they walk, how they talk, it's amazing—it's very Black culture," says Teebus James, 30, who attended with her friend Ayedonnie, street dance's cultural significance, it makes sense that the Red Bull dance competition would visit L.A. twice during the 2025 season. The city stands as a crossroads of culture, creativity, and diversity."L.A., the West Coast, is home to a lot of bass styles. So, like Boogaloo, Stratton, a lot of popping elements were born in L.A. on the West Coast," says Misbehavior. "You can really feel a difference in the way that West Coast natives approach the swag, approach the pocket and approach the attitude of the style."With its influence on global street dance, Red Bull Dance Your Style's return to Los Angeles for the U.S. World Final at the Intuit Dome on October 11 confirms the city's status as a cultural landmark. The 2025 USA season will feature qualifier events nationwide leading to the U.S. National Final in San Francisco on August 23, hosted by 2025 Super Bowl halftime choreographer Charm La Donna. Never Miss a Beat! Subscribe to Los Angeles Magazine's The Daily Brief for daily updates delivered straight to your inbox. Join below or by clicking here.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Force protection exercise underway at Naval Support Activity Panama City
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2025 is underway at Naval Support Activity Panama City. Each day, base personnel face a different threat scenario to test and enhance mission readiness. They practice for active shooters, unauthorized base access, and improvised explosive devices. The Bay County Sheriff's Office joined Thursday's exercise, which involved a hostage situation. Officials say the scenarios are designed to be as realistic as possible. 'We train as we fight. So even though the environment is set as a training environment, all the actors and all the simulations are actually done as if we were doing it in real life. So, the hostage that's being held truly has heart palpitations, and the response to that is also the same thing. It's a real-world type response,' Naval Support Activity Panama City Commanding Officer Cmdr. Michael Mosi said. The only thing not real is the weapons. Participants used either blanks in their firearms or air-soft guns. The simulation also allowed Bay County Sheriff's Office Hostage Negotiation and SWAT teams to integrate and exercise their tactics. 'Nothing replaces a high-stress training environment. It is going to be as realistic as you can get, particularly when we're working in a scenario and in an environment that we're not familiar with,' Bay County Sheriff's Office Swat Team Assistant Team Leader Lt. Chris Coram said. 'Dealing specifically with force protection, the responses are very dangerous responses. And so, it's critical that we have that tie-in, that we're not guessing what the other person is going to do come time of a real event,' Cmdr. Mosi said. Officials also highlight the opportunity to work with the community. 'Just because the installations have a fence line around it doesn't necessarily mean that we're separate from the communities within which we live. Economically, we're tied. The sailors and the military personnel and the DOD civilians that work on the installations live out in the communities and so it's very important that we have that tie, that symbiotic relationship,' Cmdr. Mosi said. The exercise began Monday and runs through next Friday. Thursday's hostage scenario is the only time the sheriff's office is participating in this training. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
