Latest news with #NORA
The Drive
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Crew Is Empowering Paralyzed People To Have Off-Road Adventures
The latest car news, reviews, and features. A physically debilitating condition is one of the toughest things a person can face. When you can't move yourself around, every aspect of life is more challenging. But you can still have a full life without fully functional limbs. And a non-profit called SOAR Experiences, based about 100 miles north of New York City, is running some very cool and creative events to get people with all kinds of physical impairments outside, overlanding, off-road driving, and more. SOAR (stands for Specialized Outdoor Adaptive Recreation) is one of three enterprises run by Scott Trager and his sons, Sam and Alex, along with some other partners and volunteers. Based out of a neat woodsy lodge on about 70 acres in New York's Hudson Valley, they also run an off-road driving school and a dealership for heavy-duty wheelchairs on tank treads that we'll talk more about in this story. I found Trager online while I was looking for places to go wheeling in the Northeast. There aren't all that many, so I was pleasantly shocked to find an off-road-driving facility in Ulster County, NY, less than 20 miles from my front door. I was telling a group of other car journalists about it when my buddy Chris Perkins, currently at Motor1 , told me he'd not only been to Northeast Off-Road Adventures (NORA), he knew the guy who ran it, and put me in touch. On a subsequent tour of NORA's grounds, I saw a motorpool of wheelchairs with tank treads, skid plates, LED lights, and heavy-duty frames. That's how I started to learn about SOAR, and made plans to come back and see how its programming really works. Andrew P. Collins 'It really started when we had a couple of guys who wanted to go through the off-road school,' Trager told me, 'but, they were paralyzed. So we wanted to figure out, well, how do we make that work?' That attitude made me like him right away. He referred to himself as a 'solutionist' at one point, as in, if he can't go through a problem, he'll get around it, or climb over it. And really, that's what off-roading and overlanding are all about. Sam and Alex seemed similarly handy, taking on the maintenance of a large fleet of off-road rental rigs, and wheelchairs, as well as looking after guests who operate them. Weeks later, I came back to the NORA lodge to join a group that had booked an off-road experience to celebrate a birthday. The guest of honor was a guy named Rob, who is paraplegic, having lost the use of his legs in a motocross accident not so many years ago. After a safety briefing, the whole group hopped into Action Trackchairs, and we wheeled our way along one of NORA's many trails. I got to operate one myself, and I have to say, it was a lot of fun. The joystick operation and a surprising surplus of torque made the thing feel like a little battlemech stomping its way through the woods. Flip through this slideshow to take a look around one of them: There are a few versions of Trackchairs, with different levels of adjustability and features. But they're primarily set up the same way—large lithium batteries are mounted low in a heavy-duty frame, slung under the seat. Below that is a long skidplate with a sled-like shape to it, extending pretty far out the back to all but eliminate the possibility of tumbling backwards, even on a steep ascent. A joystick gives command of the treads a video game-level user friendliness, and another set of controls tilts and raises the seat itself to let you compensate for steep grades. With a small display screen and button set, you can control the vehicle's speed threshold like you'd change gears in a car. All the same principles of off-road driving a truck apply: Go as slow as possible, as fast as necessary, and put the wheels (or tracks, rather) on top of obstacles rather than trying to straddle things. The Trackchairs are best run at lower speeds over rough ground; they're definitely most comfortable in the 3- or 4-mph neighborhood. But some of them top out at 6 mph or more, which, let me assure you, feels remarkably fast to the rider. Just like a 4×4, it's easy to pick up but a little more difficult to master. And a lot of fun to take down a trail, regardless of your physical condition. The Trackchairs are fun for everybody. Andrew P. Collins For the second half of the day, Scott, Sam, and Alex got the group into 4x4s. They have an XJ Jeep Cherokee set up with good tires, a mild lift, and hand controls to make it capable of being driven without feet. The steering wheel has a spinning knob attached to it to make big directional changes at low speeds easier with one hand, and the brake and throttle are controlled by a bar connected to both pedals by long rods, for the driver's other hand. Such a device is a popular one for those who need to drive in general without the use of their legs. Push left and the brake goes down, gas comes up. Push right, and you come off the brake and onto the gas. It's not a setup I'd necessarily want on a race track, but in an old XJ climbing around rock gardens, it works great. The adaptive XJ has hand controls for the driver and an extra foot brake pedal on the passenger side like a Driver's Ed car, just in case assistance is required. Andrew P. Collins Trager and his boys have a loading dock-style transfer station where a wheelchair-bound individual can more easily access a lifted 4×4. Sometimes, folks with impairments just want to ride passenger, but Rob took the Jeep's driver's seat with some assistance. The rest of the group and I loaded into the Jeep and a pair of other SUVs and set out to explore NORA's trail network. Andrew P. Collins Rob seemed to get the hang of the controls pretty easily. But more than his driving skills, I appreciated how much his energy changed as the tires started to roll. The Jeep kicked up rocks and scrambled through mud; Rob got loose and comfortable. The whole group made a three-vehicle convoy and had a lot of fun teasing each other over the radio as they challenged NORA's driving obstacles. Before going out on the trails, Trager ran Rob through a little rock garden so he could get a sense for how the Jeep felt on obstacles and see the off-road hand signals. Andrew P. Collins Later, after the party had gone home, I got to try the hand-control Jeep myself. Somewhat ironically, I had far more trouble with this than most would. My left hand is partially crippled and quite weak; riding the brakes on a short descent took a lot out of me. It was great to see what SOAR can do to get physically impaired individuals into Jeeps and off-road experiences for fun and skill training. But SOAR's also doing important work with an even bigger challenge: Improving access to the outdoors for those who can't typically enjoy a walking trail, let alone a rugged truck trail, on their own two legs. Beyond its on-campus activities, SOAR runs regular public adventure hikes for those with ambulation impairments all over New York's Hudson Valley. While the tracked Action Chairs are somewhat expensive to buy, there's currently no charge to borrow one if you sign up to join an adaptive hike ahead of time. Andrew P. Collins In early July, I rallied with SOAR again for one of its hikes at a place called Mohonk Preserve—a sprawling forest with carriage roads crisscrossing it near the town of New Paltz, NY. Jeeps and trucks aren't allowed to play there, but Trackchairs are. About a dozen people were gathered in the parking lot, some loading from regular wheelchairs to the off-roaders, others helping, and some volunteers facilitating. The first thing I noticed was the diversity of the group. A teenager, some middle-aged guys, and older folks were all getting ready to share an outdoor experience together. Their backgrounds and challenges were different as well. A young dude named Nate had been born without feeling below his waist; a guy named Pat had lost a leg in an accident. But the second thing I observed, and maybe what stuck with me the most, was how immediately everybody vibed together. There was a palpable sense of camaraderie amongst the wheelchair-bound individuals that I picked up on instantly, and a great openness in general. The whole group was warm and conversational with me right away. Andrew P. Collins We traversed trails as a group, some on wheels and others walking. Both Sam and Alex Trager came along to provide mechanical assistance if needed, and I chatted with everybody as we made a big loop around gravel tracks cutting through woods and fields. Everybody's story was a little different, but a common theme was gratitude. Everybody driving the Trackchairs was appreciative of the opportunity to get together and get outside. By the time everyone disbanded, I was feeling pretty good myself. Taking a hike through the countryside and getting to know some new folks was a literal and figurative breath of fresh air. SOAR's still small and local, but it has been growing. A few folks told me that they'd been referred by an NY-based physical rehabilitation company called Burke, and some local parks have been working directly with the Tragers to be able to offer adaptive hiking to guests who need it. That archway was recently used in the Apple TV show Severance for some scenes. In real life, it's called the Mohonk Preserve Testimonial Gateway. Andrew P. Collins The non-profit still has challenges with awareness and logistics, though. The Trackchairs are large, and moving them around and keeping them clean isn't a trivial task. Expanding SOAR's offerings is a goal, but Trager doesn't want that to come at the expense of reducing the quality of services. That means finding additional resources—and getting on more peoples' radar. As you might have guessed, that's part of the reason why I wanted to write this story—to let more people know about SOAR and maybe indirectly help it grow. Improving the quality of life for those with physical challenges is something I felt strongly about, even before seeing the impact of SOAR's offerings firsthand. Andrew P. Collins In 2018, I had a serious crash driving a UTV in the Wyoming wilderness. The vehicle rolled over multiple times, and as it tumbled, my left hand got crushed between the roll cage and the Earth. When the buggy came to rest on its roof, the Alpinestars glove that my left paw was in felt like a bag of sand. The following hours involved a medevac flight and all-night surgery. I had several more operations over the next few months, and pretty much the whole year afterwards had me parked on my ass, strung out on painkillers, effectively immobile. To this day, I'm down a finger and stuck with severely limited left-hand dexterity. As dramatic as that was and is, it's nothing compared to what some others have gone through with losses of basic ambulation. But the experience gave me a deep empathy for those who are prisoners of their own bodies, and it's part of the reason I'm so enamored with what SOAR is doing. The combination of physical pain and emotional frustration of being physically impaired is beyond brutal, but getting outdoors and connecting with others can be a great reprieve, and a critical injection of life for those who have to sit on the sidelines so often. Here's hoping SOAR can continue its work and give more chairbound folks the opportunity to adventure! Andrew P. Collins Do you have any experience with adaptive driving or adventuring? I'd love to hear about it, drop me a line at
Business Insider
24-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Retrust MFB sets new standard with ₦8.9 billion organic growth in under six months
Emerging quietly onto Nigeria's financial stage, Retrust MFB is now making loud waves. Without resorting to external capital injections or aggressive investor funding, the bank has defied convention, growing sustainably through customer deposits, responsive lending, and deep-rooted community engagement. Founded with a mission to offer accessible and inclusive banking, Retrust MFB is proving that financial growth doesn't have to come at the expense of trust or grassroots connection. Its rise comes at a time when many new entrants in the microfinance space are struggling to balance innovation with regulatory compliance and long-term impact. Alhaji Tajudeen Olawale Olatinwo, Chairman of the Board and a retired Senior Bank Examiner with the Central Bank of Nigeria, attributed the impressive growth to a foundation of clarity and shared purpose. 'We've stayed true to our core: trust, discipline, and impact. This is leadership, strategy, and a strong sense of duty to the people we serve,' he noted. Retrust's expanding influence is anchored on real financial tools designed to meet real needs. From NORA Target Savings and Nano Loans, to EduAssure educational financing and POS/Agency Banking services, the bank has crafted a suite of solutions tailored to underserved communities and emerging entrepreneurs. The rollout of its mobile banking app and debit card further reinforces its commitment to digital-first convenience. Dr. Oluwatosin Olatujoye, a member of the Board, emphasized that Retrust's success lies in its grassroots approach.'We're showing that inclusion isn't a buzzword, it's a strategy. Every naira of this ₦8.9 billion reflects trust earned, not capital raised.' At the operational helm, Managing Director Babatunde Oladimeji echoed the sentiment. 'This is not just a financial achievement, it's a validation of our model. We've grown from within by solving actual problems. This is what real banking should feel like.' As the industry turns its attention toward financial inclusion and sustainability, Retrust MFB's trajectory signals a powerful shift. It is building not only a robust institution, but also a movement, one that proves banking can be both profitable and principled. With its values intact, its systems growing, and its impact expanding, Retrust Microfinance Bank is poised to become a trusted name in inclusive banking across Nigeria and beyond.
Irish Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Irish biofuel sales fall even as demand rises
Sales of Irish-made green transport fuel tumbled last year, despite sharp rises in consumption spurred by a Government scheme, figures show. Suppliers must blend biofuel with diesel and petrol sold to motorists under the Government's Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, meant to aid the State's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Figures from Government bod, the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) show that the amount of Irish-made biofuel used here last year tumbled 21 per cent to 46 million litres from 58 million litres, despite overall consumption rising by 20 per cent. Confirming those numbers, the Department of Transport pointed out that the 'volume of biofuels sourced from Ireland has more than doubled in the period 2017 to 2024″. READ MORE A spokeswoman added that this was consistent with the overall growth in biofuel use here over that time. Industry sources say that the profits from the type of biofuel mostly produced here, fatty acid methyl ester (Fame) 'have plummeted' in recent years in the face of competition from other fuels, including hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). Those sources maintain that the problem is widespread in Europe. They also point out that the fall in sales indicates that the waste, mostly animal fat, used to produce Fame, is not being collected here. The Government is considering the 'need to support and develop Irish production of biofuel and biogas' in its latest renewable transport fuel policy, which runs for the next two years, according to the department's spokeswoman. The policy, published this week, commits the Government to reviewing incentives to promote the use of different types of biofuel, including how that could contribute to the development of Irish products. Irish and European producers have been warning for several years that biofuel imports from different countries, mostly in southeast Asia, are fraudulently labelled as coming from waste. A key concern is that many of them are made from virgin palm oil, which the European Union does not regard as sustainable biofuel as its production requires the destruction of native forest, or other raw materials that do not qualify under European rules. Industry figures point out that the most recent figures show that about a third of the 450 million litres of biofuel used here in 2024 came from countries where the risk of fraud is high, mostly China, Indonesia and Malaysia. Germany is considering banning biofuels made in factories outside the EU where government on-site inspections are not possible. The department's spokeswoman pointed out that the EU Renewable Energy Directive required all biofuel imports to the bloc, including to the Republic, to meet the same strict sustainability standards imposed by the union on its own producers. According to the department, the NORA is responsible for ensuring that biofuel sold here meets sustainability and greenhouse gas emission reductions obligations set out in the directive and the Government's Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation. The Government's latest policy reduces, but does not eliminate, incentives for some classes of renewable fuels said to be most vulnerable to fraud.
Local Norway
04-06-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
Norwegian fjord paradise offers free rent to digital nomads
The village, situated at the far end of the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, saw the offer taken up enthusiastically when it was launched in 2024 with 750,000 kroner in funding from the Nordic Atlantic Cooperation (NORA), with over 300 people applying for the 15 places. The initiative, known as the Arctic Digital Nomads Grant , allows individuals with flexible, location-independent jobs to apply for free accommodation and office space in three sparsely populated winter destinations—Geiranger in Norway, Þingeyri in Iceland, and Vágur in the Faroe Islands. "A colleague of mine said that we were probably not prepared for success," Katrin Blomvik Bakken, director of the Geiranger World Heritage Foundation told the public braodcaster NRK. "This time we will be more professional." The pilot last winter saw 15 recipients settle temporarily in Geiranger and the neighbouring villages of Norddal and Eidsdal, with one of the temporary residents now planning to stay longer. Last year's initiative included around 15 participants spread across Geiranger and neighbouring villages Norddal and Eidsdal. Some are already planning to return — and even settle. 'One family is moving back to the village of Norddal. They are coming this autumn and will stay for a year initially,' Blomvik Bakken said. The goal, Blomvik Bakken said, was to inject life into towns village where centralisation is slowly killing off the countryside. While Portugal and Italy have had success with similar digital nomad schemes, the Arctic variant is unusual in seeking to attract visitors during the area's harsh winter. 'We're looking for people who not only can work from anywhere but also want to engage in local life,' said Blomvik Bakken. Advertisement Last year's nomads included freelancers, entrepreneurs, and artists, many of whom ended up forming close bonds with residents. A key lesson from the first round was the need for better infrastructure to manage interest. A new application portal, currently being developed by previous participants, is expected to go live in October. 'Then I won't get a flood of applications to my private email address this time,' said Blomvik Bakken with a laugh. 'And we are really looking forward to that, because it was quite a big task.' According to Marit Mellingen, director of Norway's national District Centre, success depends not just on housing and jobs but on local integration. 'What we know is important to get people to stay in a place, is that they thrive and feel included in the local community,' Mellingen told NRK. Local residents in Geiranger seem to have taken that advice to heart. Blomvik Bakken noted that the community made a strong effort to welcome this winter's nomads — an effort her own family noticed. Her daughter Nora, for example, was 'happy to get new playmates.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HILCO REAL ESTATE SALES CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP WITH NORA FOR UPCOMING NEW ORLEANS AUCTION FEATURING RESIDENTIAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Real Estate Sales is pleased to announce its continued participation with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) and their upcoming online auction of 100± vacant land parcels. Bidding will begin at 8:00 a.m. (CT), Tuesday, June 17, 2025, and conclude between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. This next installment features 97 vacant residential lots and 11 non-housing development opportunities, all with opening bids starting at $4,000. The addition of these non-housing sites presents a unique opportunity for individuals, neighborhood groups and local organizations to transform underutilized parcels into key community assets such as impactful spaces such as community gardens, green spaces, playgrounds, pocket parks, art installations or other public-use projects that serve local neighborhoods. These parcels are ideal for enhancing the livability and sustainability of the surrounding communities, especially when acquired by adjacent property owners for expansion or beautification purposes. "We are excited to expand this auction to include non-housing development options that can serve as catalysts for community connection," said Brenda Breaux, executive director of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. "With the inclusion of these parcels, we're encouraging innovative, community-driven projects that breathe new life into NOLA." Fernando Palacios, strategic consultant with Hilco Real Estate Sales, added, "This auction offers buyers an accessible entry point into property ownership while also supporting broader city revitalization. It empowers New Orleans residents to invest in their neighborhoods through creative and meaningful uses of land." The properties are being sold on an "as-is, where-is" basis. Winning bidders are required to complete rehabilitation or construction within 18 months of closing. For properties with a non-housing development option, buyers must complete a non-residential use—such as a garden, green space or similar project—in accordance with the New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance within the same 18-month period. All buyers must keep properties code compliant from the time of closing through project completion. Prior to the auction, on-site inspections can be conducted at any time at the viewer's leisure. Closing is required within 30 calendar days after the auction and financing will not be a contingency so buyers will need to know they can close on their purchase within the required timeframe and have available pre-approval for their own personal financing. Buyers must obtain and maintain flood insurance for any structures as a condition of closing. There will be a virtual "Buyers' Seminar" on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. (CT). For more information, including registration requirements, about this NORA auction, please contact Fernando Palacios at (504) 500-1891 or visit The terms and conditions set forth herein are for informational purposes only and shall not be deemed to be and are not intended to be a comprehensive or complete listing of the applicable terms and conditions. All potential buyers should read carefully the terms and conditions of the auction and sale set forth at The terms and conditions set forth at shall govern and shall supersede any terms and conditions set forth herein. For further information on the properties, sale process and terms, please visit or call (855) 755-2300. About Hilco Real Estate Sales Successfully positioning the real estate holdings within a company's portfolio is a material component of establishing and maintaining a strong financial foundation for long-term success. At Hilco Real Estate Sales (HRE), a Hilco Global company ( we advise and execute strategies to assist clients seeking to optimize their real estate assets, improve cash flow, maximize asset value and minimize liabilities and portfolio risk. We help clients traverse complex transactions and transitions, coordinating with internal and external networks and constituents to navigate ever-challenging market environments. The trusted, full-service HRE team has secured billions in value for hundreds of clients over 20+ years. We are deeply experienced in complex transactions including artful lease renegotiation, multi-faceted sales structures, strategic asset management and capital optimization. We understand the legal, financial, and real estate components of the process, all of which are vital to a successful outcome. HRE can help identify the most viable options and direction for a company and its real estate portfolio, delivering impressive results in every situation. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hilco Real Estate, LLC 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
