Latest news with #Quercus
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
These Georgia towns make Southern Living's 'best places to go in 2025.' See where
Looking for a great place to visit in the South? Look no further than these two hidden gems in Georgia. Two towns in the state have been named among Southern Living's list of the 25 best places to go in the South in 2025. The magazine's list highlights towns that offer a unique blend of Southern charm, history, and culture. While many are familiar with the renowned Callaway Resort and Gardens, a lesser-known treasure awaits just 40 minutes away. Located in LaGrange, at 1916 Hills and Dales Dr., is Hills and Dales Estate. This is the former family home of textile magnate Cason J. Callaway and offers a glimpse into a bygone era. "The 1916 Georgian-Italian villa is famous for its boxwoods, camellias, and orchids," Southern Living wrote. "Its 1841 grounds are considered some of the best-preserved 19th-century gardens in America." Also in the Peach State is Quercus, a resort located in Gay, at 208 Caldwell St. It is situated on 3,800 acres of land and was originally founded in the 1970s as a working farm. Today, Quercus is a luxurious resort with four furnished guesthouses and a restaurant called Uberto. "Take part in activities like horseback riding, kayaking, and fishing on the Flint River, or just enjoy the quiet," Southern Living wrote. "Although the property itself is expansive, everything is tailored to a small number of guests, so it feels like a private escape." Here are all of Southern Livings top places: The Summit, in Terlingua, TX The Hotel Chalet, in Chattanooga, TN Star of the Seas Cruise, in Cape Canaveral, FL The Momentary, in Bentonville, AR Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, in Clermont, KY Palo Duro Canyon, in Canyon, TX Preservation Hall, in New Orleans, LA Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, in Montgomery, AL Asheville, NC Congaree National Park, in Hopkins, SC Quercus, in Gay, GA Deep Creek Lake, in McHenry, MD The Grand Ole Opry, in Nashville, TN Reynolda, in Winston-Salem, NC Horizons District, in Oklahoma City, OK Singer Island, in South Florida Hills and Dales Estate, in LaGrange, GA Shenandoah Mansions, in Richmond, VA Universal Epic Universe, in Orlando, FL The Dolly Parton Experience, in Pigeon Forge, TN Lexington, KY Bolt Farm Treehouse, in Whitwell, TN Cabot Citrus Farms, in Brooksville, FL Humble Baron, in Shelbyville, TN Primland Resort, in Meadows of Dan, VA Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@ This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Southern Living's best places to visit in Georgia in 2025
The Independent
01-05-2025
- The Independent
Death cap mushrooms: What are the symptoms of mushroom poisoning?
In July 2023, Erin Patterson invited four of her ex-husband's relatives to lunch at her home in Leongatha, a small town in Victoria. Within days, three of them had died. Her estranged husband's uncle – a local pastor – was the only one to survive after spending weeks in a hospital. The dish served to Ms Patterson's former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and two other relatives, Heather and Ian Wilkinson, that day was a homemade beef wellington, which prosecutors say contained death cap mushrooms – one of the world's deadliest types. Doctors said the symptoms matched death cap mushroom poisoning, which forensic tests later confirmed. The prosecution alleges that Ms Patterson, 50, deliberately poisoned the lunch guests after inviting them under the false claim that she had cancer and needed their advice on telling her children. Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty, saying the poisoning was a tragic accident. The trial, expected to last five to six weeks, is being covered by ABC through a daily podcast, while streaming platform Stan is producing a documentary on what it calls 'one of the highest profile criminal cases in recent history'. Earlier, in a statement, Ms Patterson said that she did not know the mushrooms were possibly poisonous when she prepared the meal in Leongatha, South Gippsland. 'I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones,' the 48-year-old said at the time. 'I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved.' 'I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones,' she continued. 'I am hoping this statement might help in some way. I believe if people understood the background more, they would not be so quick to rush to judgment.' Speaking about the loss in the community, South Gippsland Shire Mayor, Cr Nathan Hersey, said: 'The deaths of three well-respected members of our community – and the serious condition of another – have shocked and saddened local residents, many of whom knew them well. 'They were active in their hometown of Korumburra and had made significant contributions to education, religious and community support organisations. Their loss will be felt greatly and by many.' The death cap, Amanita phalloides, contains the poison amanitin and is responsible for 90 per cent of deaths by fungus, with half a cap or even less enough to kill a person, according to the Woodland Trust. Here is everything you need to know about the death cap and mushroom poisoning: What does a death cap mushroom look like and where can it be found? The death cap is a large fungus up to around 15cm across and 15cm tall with a domed or white cap and an off-white stem. These mushrooms can be located in parks, gardens and nature strips, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria has said on its website. It often resides under exotic trees, especially oak (Quercus). There have also been reports of Amanita phalloides growing under Eucalyptus in Algeria and Tanzania, but there have been no confirmed sightings of the death cap away from exotic trees in Australia, the website added. In Victoria, the death cap is often found widely across Melbourne in suburbs including Ashburton, Burwood, Camberwell, Canterbury, Clayton, Deepdene, East Malvern, Emerald, Heathmont, Heidelberg, Kew, Sandringham, South Yarra, Surrey Hills and Wheelers Hill. In regional Victoria, Death Cap has also been reported from Bendigo, Bright, Castlemaine, Gisbourne and Wandiligong. They can be expected to grow anywhere in Victoria where oaks are planted. It was first confirmed in Australia in the 1960s, according to Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, but may have been undetected prior to that. The death cap appears during the autumn and sometimes winter seasons. Better Health, which provides health and medical information in Australia, has said there are three main effects of poisonous mushrooms, this includes hallucinations, gastrointestinal illness and liver failure, which can lead to death. Other symptoms include: • Confusion • Muscle weakness • Agitation • Rapid heart rate • Headache The symptoms of gastrointestinal illness include: • Nausea • Vomiting • Stomach cramps • Diarrhoea 'About 9 out of 10 fungi-related deaths are attributable to the death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides),' Better Health has said, and symptoms can occur six to 24 hours after consuming the poisonous mushroom. Are there any treatments for mushroom poisoning? If you suspect you or anyone else may have eaten a poisonous mushroom, do not wait for symptoms to occur to seek medical help, Better Health said. You should try to seek medical attention from the nearest hospital or your local doctor, who will then be able to provide you with the treatment they think is best for you. In Australia, people are advised to contact the Victorian Poisons Information Centre as soon as possible. Better Health has said: 'It helps to have a sample of the mushroom. VPIC staff may ask you to send them a photo of the wild mushroom to help in the species identification and risk assessment. 'If the person has collapsed, stopped breathing, is having a fit or is suffering an anaphylactic reaction, immediately ring triple zero (000) for an ambulance.' In the UK, the NHS has advised people showing signs of being poisoned to call 999 to request an ambulance or take the person to their local A&E department. 'In serious cases, it may be necessary for the person to stay in hospital for treatment. Most people admitted to hospital because of poisoning will survive,' the NHS website has said.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
In profile: Donnchadh Mac Aodha, winner of the composition competition at Cork Choral Festival
When Donnchadh Mac Aodha was deciding where to pursue his musical studies, the obvious choice was Dublin, just down the road from his home in Dundalk, Co Louth. But as a traditional Irish and classical musician also interested in contemporary composition, he found the perfect fit further afield, in UCC. 'I was set on Dublin but when I looked into the course specifics, it was that blend of traditional, classical and contemporary that drew me to UCC,' he says. Mac Aodha is currently completing a degree in Irish and music at UCC, where he is a Quercus creative and performing arts scholar. Earlier this year, he was announced as winner of the prestigious Seán Ó Riada composition competition, which celebrates new works from Irish composers. His winning composition, a choral piece entitled Babel, draws on his love for traditional music and the Irish language, and was described by the judges as "captivating" with "a distinct musical identity". It will be performed by Chamber Choir Ireland at St Fin Barre's Cathedral Cork this Friday as part of the Cork International Choral Festival. The decision to study at UCC has paid off both professionally and personally. 'I wanted something that encompassed everything. I have had an absolute ball in terms of the extracurricular stuff as well," says Mac Aodha. Coralia of the University of Puerto Rico performing at last year's Cork International Choral Festival. Picture: Chani Anderson Mac Aodha, who plays tin whistle, flute, trad harp and piano, has cultivated his many talents under the guidance of lecturers including contemporary art music specialist and founding member of Crash Ensemble, John Godfrey, and traditional music scholar and concertina player, Jack Talty. His love for the Irish language is reflected in his use of a poem by Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, from which his composition Babel takes its name. Inspiration struck, as it often does, when Mac Aodha was under creative pressure. 'Ailbhe was actually a lecturer of mine in UCC. The deadline for the composition was probably about three weeks away, and I still had no text. I whipped out some books and started going through them. I found the poem and I just emailed her asking her 'can I please use this'.' Mac Aodha grew up steeped in traditional music. His mother played flute and the family would go to the Fleadh Cheoil and various festivals and summer schools around the country. 'My dad had no choice even though he doesn't play music, although there is a lot of music on his side. 'Music in the blood with poor circulation' is always his line,' he laughs. The various cycles whereby traditional music or the Irish language are deemed to be 'cool' again leaves Mac Aodha somewhat bemused. 'Maybe in terms of outside appreciation, traditional music and the Irish language is on an upward trajectory but it's hard to say that within your own circle, because I've grown up playing traditional music since I was wee and I know so many people that play it. We've always been playing away and we don't need to be kind of rejuvenated and reinvented. I wouldn't see any people that I play with as backwards or old-style.' Outside of his studies, Mac Aodha says he has started listening to a lot of folk music. 'It's always been hard to even define what folk is in Ireland… I listen to a lot of Joshua Burnside, and Ye Vagabonds. I enjoy it, and you can pull stuff from that into your own compositions.' In his own composition Babel, the judges reflected positively on 'the (quite deliberate) absence of harmonic stability'. Mac Aodha is very aware of the balance between composing a challenging work and not alienating the listener, or the performer. "My mum is getting to grips with all this contemporary stuff, and she says, 'So is that piece going to be normal or wacky?'. At the moment, I'm treading some sort of line in between. A lot of the choral scene is amateur musicians, so if it's not enjoyable to sing, they're not going to sing it. That's the way music survives — that it is performed. With choral music, you really want to have something that draws people back to it. There's too much music in circulation for people to be working away at something that they're not enjoying for weeks on end.' Babel will be performed at St Fin Barre's Cathedral Cork as part of a concert performance by Chamber Choir Ireland this Friday, May 2, at 7.30pm. Cork International Choral Festival runs April 30 - May 4. For full details, see Cork International Choral Festival through the years* 1954: The inaugural Cork International Choral Festival is established. 1957: A 21-year-old Luciano Pavarotti gave his first Irish performance at the Cork International Choral Festival, as part of a male voice choir called Societa Corale Gioachino Rossini, from Modena in northern Italy. 1964: Introduction of the International Trophy Competition, which was later renamed the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition in honor of Aloys Fleischmann, a significant figure in the festival's history. 1959: Expansion of the festival to include a vibrant Fringe Fest, bringing choral music beyond traditional concert halls. A concert at Cork City Hall during the Choral Festival in 1955. Picture: Irish Examiner Archive 1962: The Seminar for Contemporary Music began in 1962 with the commissioning of Seán Ó'Riada, Edmond Rubbra and Darius Milhaud and over the following years commissioned multiple distinguished composers including; Flor Peeters (1963), Herbert Howells and Elizabeth Maconchy (1965), William Walton (1974), John Tavener (1990) and Mícheál O'Súilleabháin (2000). 1966: The launch of the Schools Competition, fostering a love of choral music among young singers. 1972: Introduction of the Seán Ó Riada Competition, initially designed to encourage amateur adult Irish choirs to perform original works in the Irish language. By 1976, it had evolved into a composition competition. 2000: Introduction of the Light Jazz and Popular Music Competition, which this year our most popular competition. 2010: A reimagining of the Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition, incorporating anonymous submissions to ensure unbiased judging. 2021: Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival embraced virtual performances, keeping the music alive during a time of global uncertainty. 2021: The launch of the IBEC Workplace Choir of the Year, celebrating the role of music in corporate and community life. 2022: A return to live performances, reaffirming the festival's place at the heart of Cork's cultural scene. 2025: The festival's landmark 70th anniversary, set to feature a special programme of concerts, events, and tributes honouring its legacy. (*Source: Cork International Choral Festival)
The Independent
15-04-2025
- The Independent
‘Loss for the nation': Is this ancient, felled oak tree London's Sycamore Gap?
Police are investigating the felling of a centuries-old oak tree that has 'more ecological value than the Sycamore Gap' amid outrage from local residents and conservationists. Reports were made to Enfield council in London earlier this month regarding the 'criminal' felling of an ancient oak tree in Whitewebbs Wood, an ancient woodland in the north of the capital. Lawrence-Thor Stephen, CEO of London-based tree care company Thor's Trees, said the felling was a 'loss for Enfield' and 'a loss for the nation'. The tree is estimated to be up to 500 years old, and Mr Stephen said that, due to its age, it is more ecologically valuable than the 200-year-old Sycamore Gap tree near Hadrian's Wall, which was felled in 2023. 'I can't believe this has happened,' he said. 'This is a loss of a National Treasure.' A statement from Ergin Erbil, leader of Enfield council, said the felling has been reported to the police and a tree preservation order was put in place to protect it from further damage. The tree is a Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), with a girth of 6.1 metres and it is officially verified on the Woodland Trust 's Ancient Tree Inventory. Mr Stephen told The Independent that thousands of species of birds, bats and insects rely on the tree to survive. He added that the tree will take centuries to replace. "When an ancient tree falls, it's nature that's wounded and a community,' he said. 'But from this, we have the chance to build something better: stronger protections, greater awareness, and a renewed commitment to the trees that quietly support all life around us. 'Let's make sure this story is not just one of loss but a turning point for action.' The three councillors for the Whitewebbs Ward said in a joint statement that the tree's felling is 'enormously distressing and the perpetrators must be 'brought to justice'. 'Crucially, the council also needs to make clear how it will ensure that this is never allowed to happen again', they added. Mr Ebril said in a statemen that while the felling occurred on April 3, the council wasn't made aware until last week, carrying out an immediate inspection of the site. 'We are treating the matter as criminal damage and have reported it to the police,' he said. 'We will work closely with the police as they continue their investigation into this matter.' The Metropolitan Police confirmed it had received a report from Enfield Council.
Globe and Mail
31-03-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Anaergia to Provide Advanced Technologies for Two Anaerobic Digestion Facilities in Italy Being Developed by QGM
Anaergia Inc. ('Anaergia', the 'Company', 'us', or 'our') (TSX:ANRG) (OTCQX:ANRGF), through its subsidiary, Anaergia S.r.l., has signed contracts with entities owned by QGM S.á.r.l. ('QGM') for the building of two new biomethane production plants in Italy. Anaergia S.r.l. will serve as the engineering, procurement, and construction ('EPC') contractor for both projects, providing state-of-the-art equipment to support biomethane production at the new facilities in Copparo and in Derovere, in northern Italy. These plants, like other global projects, will leverage Anaergia's cutting-edge anaerobic digestion technologies to produce renewable biomethane from various types of agricultural wastes, supporting Italy's ongoing commitment to sustainability and decarbonization. Each of the plants are to treat more than 50,000 metric tons per year, converting the organic waste into more than 4,000,000 m 3 /h of methane. Both plants are expected to be fully constructed and able to provide renewable biomethane to Italy's gas pipeline grid by mid-2026. Anaergia's total contracted value for these two projects exceeds C$46 million. 'Quercus Real Assets Limited ('Quercus') leadership is committed to investing responsibly in order to achieve strong and sustainable income and capital returns while maintaining a carbon-positive approach. We are therefore enthusiastic about partnering in these two new facilities,' said Diego Biasi, Co-Founder and CEO of Quercus, a partner in QGM. 'Sustainability and the decarbonization of hard-to-abate industries are deeply ingrained in the values of Elionia Limited ('Elionia'), and we are thrilled that these two new facilities will positively influence Italy's future, both environmentally and in terms of energy supply,' said Danilo Fumarola, CEO and Founder of Elionia, also a partner in QGM. 'Italy has emerged as a global leader in converting organic waste into renewable energy,' said Assaf Onn, CEO of Anaergia. 'With the development of these two significant facilities, QGM becomes a leading developer of sustainable projects in this vital market.' About Quercus Real Assets Quercus Real Assets Limited is a renewable energy specialist focused on energy transition investments, with offices in London and Dubai. Diego Biasi and Simone Borla founded Quercus by establishing a Luxembourg-based fund which successfully completed over €1bn in gross investments from inception in five different successful strategies. In January 2020, Diego Biasi started to steer Quercus's business in response to the evolution of the energy sector into a more diversified strategic investment approach. Quercus has successfully completed over 40 deals up to date. Since 2010 the strategy of the company has been founded on the belief that the creation of long-term environmental and social capital underpins and strengthens investors' and shareholders' returns. Quercus is committed to developing business opportunities and supporting responsible investments for sustainable income and capital returns while contributing to a carbon-neutral future. For further information, please see: For media enquiries please contact: info@ About Elionia Elionia is an investment vehicle dedicated to renewable energy and is part of a diverse and extensive portfolio managed by a prominent European family office based in Monaco. The portfolio spans multiple asset types, with a notable focus on legacy investments in shipping ( Founded by Danilo Fumarola, Elionia was created with the vision of assembling a global portfolio of assets that are strategically positioned to generate energy from renewable sources. For media enquiries please contact: administration@ About Anaergia Anaergia is a pioneering technology company in the renewable natural gas (RNG) sector, with over 250 patents dedicated to converting organic waste into sustainable solutions such as RNG, fertilizer, and water. We are committed to addressing a significant source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) through cost-effective processes. Our proprietary technologies, combined with our engineering expertise and vast experience in facility design, construction, and operation, position Anaergia as a leader in the RNG industry. With a proven track record of delivering hundreds of innovative projects over the past decade, we are well-equipped to tackle today's critical resource recovery challenges through diverse project delivery methods. As one of the few companies worldwide offering an integrated portfolio of end-to-end solutions, we effectively combine solid waste processing, wastewater treatment, organics recovery, high-efficiency anaerobic digestion, and biomethane production. Additionally, we operate RNG facilities owned by both third parties and Anaergia. This comprehensive approach not only reduces environmental impact but also significantly lowers costs associated with waste and wastewater treatment while mitigating GHG emissions. For further information please see: Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects Anaergia's current expectations regarding future events, including but not limited to, counterparty contractual performance, the capability of the Company's technology and performance with respect to the project objectives, the estimated volume of organic waste to be treated at the two plants, the timing of completion of construction of the two plants, and the expected revenues from the plants. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions, including, but not limited to counterparty contractual performance, the full development and funding of construction of the five facilities, the capability of the Company's technology and performance with respect to the project objectives, and the sufficient sourcing of food waste and power generation. The Company is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under 'Risk Factors' in the Company's annual information form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and under 'Risks and Uncertainties' in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. Anaergia does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Anaergia's operations or financial results are included in Anaergia's reports on file with Canadian regulatory authorities.
