Press Release
USDA Announces Record-Breaking Funding for 2019 Farm to School Grants
WASHINGTON, July 16, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today the award of more than $9 million in USDA Farm to School Program grants that will increase the amount of healthy, local foods served in schools and create economic opportunities for nearby farmers.
This year marks an all-time high of funding and projects in the program, with grants supporting 126 selected projects across 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These projects are expected to serve more than 3.2 million students in over 5,400 schools.
“The farm to school grants announced today connect schools with the farmers, ranchers, and producers in their communities,” Secretary Perdue said. “Everybody wins with Farm to School. USDA is proud to help the next generation better understand where its food comes from, while strengthening local economies.”
This record-breaking year for the USDA Farm to School Grant Program was made possible by increased funding from Congress for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, which enabled USDA to award 52 more grants than the previous highest year of 2016 when 74 were granted. Grants range from $20,000 to $100,000 and fund equipment purchases and experiential learning activities, including planting school gardens, offering taste tests to children, and organizing field trips to local farms and food producers.
Among the organizations that will receive Farm to School Grants are:
· The Louisiana Department of Education, which intends to bolster existing Louisiana Farm to School (LaF2S) activities and develop Seeds to Success! This will guide schools in curriculum planning and promoting lifetime involvement in agriculture.
· The Parma City School District (Ohio), which will build and implement healthy farm to table programming throughout the community through collaboration with all district programs, such as Career Technical Education, Special Education, and Nutrition Services.
· Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma, which will develop a partnership with Miami Public Schools to facilitate planning the introduction and regular consumption of locally raised bison meat into the student lunch program.
In addition, two agricultural producers, Green City Growers, LLC (Somerville, Mass.) and the North Country Farmers’ Cooperative (Colebrook, N.H.) were also awarded grants.
Farm to school activities strengthen local economies. USDA’s 2015 Farm to School Census found that in the 2013-2014 school year alone, schools purchased more than $789 million in local food from farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food processors and manufacturers. Schools provide producers stable markets and long-term revenues, and the program introduces students to agricultural career paths.
“Our nation’s food supply depends on more young people entering the field of agriculture as farmers retire,” said Perdue. “Farm to school inspires young people to consider careers in agriculture and food systems.”
Since 2013, the USDA Farm to School Grant Program has offered annual grants to schools, school districts, nonprofits, state agencies, agricultural producers, and Indian tribal organizations to plan, implement, or provide training on farm to school activities. FNS is committed to working with schools and agricultural partners to ensure healthy habits take root in early childhood.
Please visit the USDA FNS website for more information about Farm to School projects and grant awards: www.fns.usda.gov/cfs/grant-awards.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works to reduce food insecurity and promote nutritious diets among the American people. The agency administers 15 nutrition assistance programs that leverage American’s agricultural abundance to ensure children and low-income individuals and families have nutritious food to eat. FNS also co-develops the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provide science-based nutrition recommendations and serve as the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
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SLEEP ON IT
ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM
PRIDE & DISASTER
TO BE RELEASED SEPTEMBER 13 VIA
EQUAL VISION RECORDS
WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER
Photo Credit: Alex Bemis
SUMMER CO-HEADLINE LIKE PACIFIC TOUR KICKS
OFF JULY 18
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
July 16, 2019 - Chicago, IL - Sleep On It have announced their new full-length album, Pride & Disaster, out September 13th via Equal Vision Records. Fans can watch the music video for the first single, "Under The Moment", here: https://youtu.be/MGGhGatu4G8. Pride & Disaster is now available for pre-order: https://sleeponit.lnk.to/pride
"Under the Moment" was produced by Mike Green (All Time Low, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Set It Off). Speaking to the track, vocalist Zech Pluister said, "At its core, the song is a cry for help. I spent a lot of the last year struggling with my depression and anxiety, and without even realizing it I had fallen deeper than I really even noticed into those things," he said. 'Take my hand pull me again' is a plea to anyone listening. The song also really tells the story of the struggle between the denial of those mental health issues, saying you're fine, lying to loved ones to cover for yourself; and asking those same people for help from under the crushing weight of each day."
Pride & Disaster is the follow-up to 2017's Overexposed, and features additional production by Kyle Black (State Champs, Pierce the Veil, All Time Low). Since the release of Overexposed, the Chicago four-piece has toured with the likes of State Champs, Waterparks, With Confidence, Broadside, and This Wild Life, and made appearances at a number of festivals including Riot Fest, Slam Dunk, and the Vans Warped Tour. Following Overexposed, Sleep On It was named one of Kerrang!'s 'Hottest Bands of 2018', and was featured on the 2018 Warped Tour Compilation album.
With Pride & Disaster, Sleep On It harnesses the strength and vulnerability of the human spirit. Over the course of ten songs, they makes a case for enjoying life, even when times are tough, and never shying away from your truth.
"One of the big things we focused on when making this record was not only writing sad songs," Pluister says. "Going along with the theme of growth, we wanted to show that there is more to life than just being sad. As hard as life is, there are still good days, and we really wanted that thought to be present in this record. It doesn't seem fair to us to only portray the hard times."
The positivity found throughout Pride & Disaster adds a silver lining to an album that is also unafraid to address the problems that many, including the band, face with mental health.
"We're trying to be better every day," says guitarist TJ Horansky. "A
nd that's what a lot of our songs are about. We want to be better people. We want to improve ourselves, and we want to help the people around us improve as well."
Sleep On It is gearing up for a year of extensive touring, including their summer co-headlining tour with Like Pacific, as well as a North American tour with Don Broco later this year. Tickets to all shows are available now: sleeponitband.com/tickets. For a full list of tour dates, please see below.
Sleep On It is comprised of Zech Pluister (vocals), TJ Horansky (guitar/vocals), Jake Marquis (guitar/vocals), and Luka Fischman (drums).
Pride & Disaster is out September 13th and is available now for pre-order: https://sleeponit.lnk.to/pride
Pride & Disaster track listing:
1. Racing Towards A Red Light
2. Hold Your Breath
3. Babe Ruth
4. Under The Moment
5. Fix The Dark
6. After Tonight
7. Take Me Back
8. The Cycle Of Always Leaving
9. Logan Square
10. Lost & Found
Upcoming tour dates:
w/ Like Pacific, In Her Own Words, & Never Loved
July 18 - Detroit, MI @ Pike Room
July 19 - Lakewood, OH @ Mahall's
July 20 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
July 21 - Indianapolis, IN @ Hoosier Dome
July 23 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Smiling Moose
July 25 - Brooklyn, NY @ Kingsland
July 26 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Brew
July 27 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry
July 29 - Boston, MA @ Middle East Upstairs (SOLD OUT)
July 30 - Montreal, QC @ Le Ministere
July 31 - Ottawa, ON @ 27 Club
August 2 - Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck Bar
August 3 - London, ON @ Call The Office
North American Fall tour dates:
w/ Don Broco, Trash Boat, and Selfish Things
* w/o Trash Boat
September 12 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall*
September 13 - New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater*
September 14 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry at The Fillmore*
September 15 - College Park, MD @ Milky Arthouse*
September 17 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos' Southend
September 18 - Orlando, FL @ Sounder
September 20 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
September 21 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
September 23 - Austin, TX @ Barracuda
September 24 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
September 26 - Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater
September 27 - San Diego, CA @ The Irenic
September 28 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubador (SOLD OUT)
September 29 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
October 1 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
October 2 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
October 3 - Portland, OR @ The Paris Theatre
October 5 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
October 8 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
October 9 - Cleveland, OH @ Mahall's
October 11 - Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
October 12 - Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck
October 13 - Montreal, QC @ Le Minstre
For more information on Sleep On It:
Keep updated on Sleep On It:
www.facebook.com/sleeponitband
https://twitter.com/SleepOnItBand
www.instagram.com/sleeponitband
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Press Release
USDA Forest Service and State of Utah Invest in Utah’s Future Through Shared Stewardship
Contact: Mike Richardson
Phone: 801-625-5347
Utah, July 16, 2019 – Today, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert have agreed to implement specific actions under Utah’s Shared Stewardship agreement that will immediately begin to improve conditions on-the-ground. The Shared Stewardship agreement, signed on May 22, 2019 by Secretary Perdue and Governor Herbert included a commitment to protect communities and watersheds by addressing the threat of catastrophic wildfire on National Forest System lands in Utah.
As part of Utah’s Shared Stewardship agreement, an investment of up to $20 million dollars will be made over the next four years to address wildfire, threats to communities and protecting watersheds.
Specifically, under the umbrella of Shared Stewardship, the Forest Service and State of Utah have agreed to begin implementation of two priority projects this year. The Upper Provo River project, located on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and the Canyons project, located on the Manti-La Sal National Forest, are landscape-scale forest restoration projects that are designed to address the problem of large unwanted fire in critical watersheds. The Canyons project will also provide an opportunity for local business owners capable of utilizing an array of wood products to expand and stabilize their businesses, which will create greater job opportunities for local residents.
“This agreement strengthens the already strong partnership between the Forest Service and the State of Utah,” said Secretary Perdue. “Through Shared Stewardship, Utah and the Forest Service are working together to identify landscape-scale priorities and build capacity to improve forest conditions.”
“This influx of resources allows the state and USDA Forest Service to begin immediately to address the state’s most critical forest and watershed needs,” said Governor Herbert. “By working collaboratively with our federal partners and under the Shared Stewardship agreement we can quickly respond to the most pressing issued faced by land managers.
In addition to investing resources in these two projects the Secretary and Governor have also agreed to begin work on several other initiatives. First, the Forest Service will expedite project level environmental review that will enable the agency to efficiently complete additional restoration work in priority areas. Second, the State and Forest Service will increase fire prevention education and outreach in an effort to reduce the number of human caused fire starts. Third, The State and Forest Service will work with industry partners and economic development agencies to develop strategies that will improve the business climate for the wood product industries in Utah.
The State’s Roadless Rule petition will remain pending while the State and Forest Service address the threat of unwanted fire to communities and watersheds through Shared Stewardship.
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“USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.”
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July 18 - 21 at Shorefront Park in Patchogue Village, Tickets On Sale Now
Hi Dawn - Hope you're having a great week!
Checking in to see if the Great South Bay Music Festival is on your radar! The festival kicks off this Thursday at Shorefront Park in Patchogue Village on Long Island! Would love to have you out to cover or let me know if you'd like to speak with the founder or any of the bands to help preview!
The festival runs from Thursday to Sunday, and each day is broken into a genre. Thursday is Alt/Rock, Friday is reggae/ska, Saturday is the jam day and the festival will close out Sunday with a classic rock theme, which will include a 50th-anniversary tribute to the '69 Woodstock Festival.
Headliners this year include Taking Back Sunday (who are celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band), The Menzingers, America, Lotus, Slightly Stoopid, Sublime W/ Rome, Dweezil Zappa, WAR, Glassjaw, SOJA, Edgar Winter, Spafford, Tac Niederauer, Pink Talking Fish...and many more!
We recently announced the collaboration between the festival and Patchogue's Protecting the Environment Committee. The GSB-PEP Project, one of the first of its kind in Suffolk County, is a collaborative initiative between the Patchogue Village: Protecting the Environment in Patchogue Committee (PEP) and the Great South Bay Music Festival.
The goal of the project is to reduce the eco-footprint of the Great South Bay Music Festival while bringing awareness to the importance of developing sustainable communities, and providing a blueprint for festivals and events regionally.
A few highlights of the project include:
* Reduction of water bottles
* Providing a water refilling station
* Use of recyclable cups
* "Straw by request" policy, no single-use plastic bags or Styrofoam
* Promotion of public transportation
* Public awareness campaign through Eco-Art created by local artists, students, and community members
More information can be found below! Let me know your thoughts - looking forward to discussing coverage with you!
Thanks so much,
Natalie
Long Island's Longest Running, and Largest 4 Day Music Festival Returns
THE GREAT SOUTH BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Celebrating It's 13th Year
JULY 18-21 at Shorefront Park in Patchogue Village
2019 Line Up Includes America, Taking Back Sunday, Slightly Stoopid,
Sublime w Rome, WAR, Edgar Winter, Glassjaw, Lotus, Dweezil Zappa,
Spafford, SOJA, Brandon "Taz" Niederauer, The Menzingers
Assembly Of Dust, Pink Talking Fish, Frank Iero & the Future Violents
Englishtown Project, Blue Coupe (Members of Alice Cooper & Blue Oyster Cult), and more...
Over 75 Performers on 5 Stages
Press Applications Now Open // Apply at http://bit.ly/GSB19Application
The Great South Bay Music Festival - Long Islands longest running, and largest 4 day, all ages Music & Arts Festival, returns to the picturesque waterfront at Shorefront Park in Patchogue Village from Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21st.
**Press applications for Great South Bay 2019 are now open. Apply at this link: http://bit.ly/GSB19Application
Celebrating its 13th anniversary, the four-day festival, presented by King O'Rourke Autogroup, will feature over 75 performers on five stages, in classic and contemporary rock, folk, punk, blues, indie, jam-band, reggae, and funk genres. The fest boasts multiple craft beer and wine tents, an artisan and craft market, and food court offering a diverse gourmet menu of funky and healthy fare.
Great South Bay Festival will kick off the four days with Long Islands own, Taking Back Sunday, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band on Thursday, July 18. Their performance at the festival will be one of the first of theirs back in the states following a monster tour in Europe. Iconic post hardcore band, and hometown favorites, Glassjaw, plus The Menzingers, and ex My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero & The Future Violents will also perform this day. Ten artists will perform on two stages.
Friday, July 19th brings a genre busting rock-reggae party to the south shore with over 20 performers on 4 stages. Headlining the Main Stage is Slightly Stoopid, described as: "A Spiritual bath of positive party energy. Reggae rock favorites Sublime with Rome returns, with SOJA, and Common Kings supporting.
Saturday at the festival is always "Jam-Day", and this year Great South Bay brings its most eclectic and diverse lineup to date. Fest favorites Lotus headlines the main stage, with Dweezil Zappa supporting and carrying the eclectic Frank Zappa torch. Also appearing on the main Stage are Spafford, Reid Genauer's Assembly of Dust, Pink Talking Fish, and the Englishtown Project.
On the "Jambalaya Stage" Great South Bay will present a 50th anniversary tribute to the '69 Woodstock Festival. Headlining will be Kiss The Sky, featuring Jimy Bleu and Juma Sultan, Hendrix percussionist at the original Woodstock Festival. Also appearing is Who's Next, considered the premier Who tribute, Joplin's Pearl, The The Band Band, and Halfstep, playing the music of the Grateful Dead. Over 25 bands will perform on this day.
Sunday will highlight all things classic rock, and this year it's all about "Legends, and Future Legends". 2019 will be Grammy winners, and perennial rock favorites America's, 49th. anniversary. Original Founding Members: Gerry Beckley, and Dewey Bunnell met in high school, and 40 plus years later are still making music together, and touring the world.
Supporting America is the multi-platinum-selling WAR. True legends with over 50 million records sold, 12 Billboard Top 40 hits, and countless "samples" by artists including: Dave Matthews, Tupac, Flo-Rida, Kendrick Lamar, Korn and more. Main Stage support also includes The Edgar Winter Band and Blue Coupe, a fusion of Blue Oyster Cult founders Joe and Albert Bouchard, and Dennis Dunnaway of Alice Coopers Band. Brandon "Taz" Niederauer, the phenom guitarist who, at just 15 years old, has shared the stage with Gregg Allman, Gary Clark Jr., Tedeschi Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, Lady Gaga, Stevie Nicks, Dweezil Zappa and so many more, is no doubt on the road to being a "Future Legend".
This year, Great South Bay has added an additional stage in an effort to support and nurture original singer-songwriters, and emerging artists. The Busker Stage will showcase 15 up and coming artists.
Emerging Local Artists:
Supporting and presenting original local, emerging artists has always been a given for the Great South Bay Music Festival. This year, the festival is pleased to present some new artists that we are excited to lay on our music loving attendees., as well as some that are GSB Fest regulars, that our attendees look forward to seeing and hearing new artists performing this year include: Fern Dells, Walk-A-Bout, Andre Fortier & Tricycle, Oogee Wawa, Quarter Horse, Jake Incao, and The End of America.
Philanthropy:
Great South Bay is proud to be a part of the Long Island Community, and is committed to doing all we can to support our less fortunate.
As always, Great South Bay will also donate $1 from every ticket sold to the GSB-Stony Brook Cancer Center Fund. To date, the fest has raised over a quarter of a million dollars for the cancer center.
Since 2017, GSB has installed the "Storyville Tent", where up to six LI based organizations can set up a booth, and spread the word about their cause, and raise funds.
Tickets for Great South Bay 2019 are on sale now.
To Purchase Tickets: http://bit.ly/GSB2019Tickets
Ticket price includes all concerts and entertainment. Food & beverages not included.
Children ten and under are free, except for the Sunday children's concert.
Festival Times:
Thursday, July 18: Doors are at 3:00 pm, till 10pm.
Friday, July 19th: Doors are at 3:00PM, till 11pm,
Saturday the 20th.: Doors are at 1:00pm, till 11PM,
Sunday the 21st: 11:00am doors for Great South Bay's annual Kids Concert
Sunday Regular Fest Ticket holders: 1:30 Doors, till 10:00pm.
Shorefront Park is located just a few miles south of LIE, exit 63S.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EACH ARTIST, PLEASE GO TO:
Artist Press Assets Link: (Additional artist bio information, approved photos, logo's etc)
http://bit.ly/GSB2019ArtistAssets
For additional festival info, please go to www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com
Additional Fest assets available upon request.
For more information
Website: www.greatsouthbaymusicfestival.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GreatSouthBayMusicFestival
Twitter: @GSBMFestival
Instagram: www.instagram.com/greatsouthbaymusicfestival
Past performers at Great South Bay Music Fest have included B.B. King, Taking Back Sunday, Graham Nash, 311, Govt. Mule, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Doobie Brothers, Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart & Bill Kreautzman, Umphrey's McGee, Hot Tuna, Dickey Betts Band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, The Wailers, Dirty Heads, Ritchie Havens, Anders Osborne, WAR, Billy Squire, Little Feat, G Love & Special Sauce, Railroad Earth, Rusted Root, Blue Oyster Cult, moe., Eddie Money, Dave Mason, Foghat, 38 Special, Jerry Douglas, Tom Paxton, Galactic, Third Eye Blind, Soulive, Jefferson Starship, Martin Sexton, Colbie Caillat, Rachel Platten, The Front Bottoms, Thrice, David Bromberg, New Riders, DSO, blues legends Savoy Brown, Bernard Allison & Sonny Landreth, New Found Glory, Circa Survive, Tom Paxton, the subdudes, and gospel-blues queen Odetta in one of her final performances.
To request a press pass, on site interview with the founder or specific band, please reach out to Big Picture Media or apply here: http://bit.ly/GSB19Application
