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As summer winds down and families prepare for the new school year, Historic Johnson Farm celebrates the last of summer fun with two long-standing events.

The LEGO Blast Competition will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 3 and is open to rising second- through sixth-grade students.

Student entries are $5; spectators get in free and are encouraged.

The Teddy Bear Tea Party is recommended for a younger audience, 3- to 9-year-olds, and will be held from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 10.

The LEGO Blast competition has been running for a number of years with varying themes for each event. This year the theme is Habitats. Students are invited to create an original design (no kits please) of a habitat fit for LEGO men and creatures. The habitat can be indoors, outdoors or even out in space.

Student creations will be judged on creativity and originality, use of color and interpretation of the theme.

Each student should bring their own LEGOs to build with. No LEGOs will be provided by Johnson Farm.

Students will have about 45 minutes to an hour to construct their creation on the day of the event. No pre-constructed pieces should be brought from home.

During the judging period kids are invited to play games, enjoy refreshments and have their photo taken as their favorite LEGO character. A first-place prize will be awarded for each age group and certificates will be presented to all students.

The annual Teddy Bear Tea Party will feature tea time, snacks, games, stories and a photo booth for both kids and their favorite teddy bear friend. Tea will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. and participants are asked to arrive no later than 10:20 a.m. so no part of the program is missed.

RSVP to either event by calling Johnson Farm at 828-891-6585 or visiting historicjohnsonfarm.org.

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LEGO Blast Competition, Teddy Bear Tea Party return - BlueRidgeNow.com

COOS BAY, Ore. -- Southwestern Oregon Community College is hosting a Boston Tea Party this weekend in support of the Upward Bound program.

The program is designed to help students overcome economic, social, and educational barriers to get them to college.

The fundraiser will be in the Empire Hall lobby at SWOCC and will offer tea, games and prizes.

One Upward Bound student we talked to from North Bend High has spent three years in the program.

"A lot of kids don't have the opportunity to go to college these days so it's very important that kids who don't have that opportunity can get involved in programs and have the ability to go and pursue this higher education because a lot of kids don't know what it takes to get into college, and it helps set them up for better success in their future," said Upward Bound student Carlie Paquette.

The fundraiser is this Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the lobby of Empire Hall at SWOCC.

All money raised will be used for education experiences and opportunities through Upward Bound.

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Upward Bound program hosts 'Boston Tea Party' at SWOCC - KCBY.com 11

The situation in the ATO area in eastern Ukraine was relatively calm last day. From 18:00 till midnight, the number of attacks launched by Russian-terrorist groups was small. However, the enemy ramped up the reconnaissance activity with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles.

This is reported by the ATO Headquarters press center.

As noted, in Donetsk direction, militants launched two attacks on ATO troops near Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk), using grenade launchers and small arms.

In Mariupol direction, Ukrainian positions came under grenade launcher fire outside the villages Vodiane(16km north-west of Donetsk) and Marinka (35 km south-west of Donetsk).

In Luhansk direction, illegal armed formations used small arms to shell Ukrainian strongholds near Zolote (67km north-east of Luhansk) and Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk).

Russian-backed militants violated ceasefire in Donbas a total of 17 times over the past day. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded.

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Read more here:
Militants ramp up reconnaissance activity in eastern Ukraine - Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news

Overview

The five operational Exit/Entrance Checkpoints (EECPs) continue to witness a steady upsurge of crossings in 2017. In June, over 1.1 million individual crossings were recorded, representing an increase of 10 per cent from May. The rise seems to correlate somewhat with the ceasefire agreements, which came into effect on 24 June. The highest increase was observed at the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint the only operational pedestrian crossing point in Luhansk province. Pedestrians continue to experience crossing difficulties, including long waiting hours, inadequate conditions as a worn-out wooden bridge remains the only means of crossing, and insufficient crossing procedures and capacity outstripped by high demands. Rising temperatures have also taken a toll on civilians, particularly the elderly and those with special needs. Due to heavy crossing traffic and difficulties, some people have reportedly attempted to use illegal routes to cross the contact line, and in doing so, exposing themselves to mine risks. On 20 July, local authorities called a meeting with partners to ensure collective efforts to improve the condition. Partners plan to install more first aid tents to accommodate growing needs for on-site medical services. Meanwhile, challenge remains in upgrading the conditions of all EECPs to ensure safe and dignified environment, particularly conditions between zero checkpoints (no man's land) in terms of secure travel, peoples safety and access to sanitary facilities. In 2017, at least 13 civilians are reported so far to have died of or suffered from health conditions, while waiting in queues in harsh conditions at the checkpoints. Moreover, people continue to expose themselves to fatal risks due to ongoing combat activities in and around the checkpoints. At least two security incidents were recorded in June/July close to Marinka EECP, resulting in one civilian injury. Lengthy intervals of bus services to Bakhmut also cause concentration of civilians waiting at Maiorske EECP.

See the rest here:
Ukraine: Checkpoints - Humanitarian Snapshot (as of 26 July 2017) - ReliefWeb

In her first public appearance in Colorado since leaving the White House, former first lady Michelle Obama had a message for women: Seize your power and dont let go.

Sitting for an armchair conversation in front of 8,500 people, Obama was relaxed, personable and playful but still serious as she talked on a range of topics around education for girls, health and nutrition and female empowerment all things she worked on as first lady at the Womens Foundation of Colorados 30th anniversary Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center.

The crowd was a mix of young and old and predominately women. The events popularity forced organizers to open up more seats. Obama was greeted by an extended standing ovation and a few calls of we love you.

Jason Bahr, Getty Images for The Women's Foundation of Colorado

Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks, emphasizing that women must celebrate their strength, during a live conversation with The Women's Foundation of Colorado President and CEO Lauren Y. Casteel at Pepsi Center on July 25, 2017 in Denver.

Jason Bahr, Getty Images for The Women's Foundation of Colorado

Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks, emphasizing that women must celebrate their strength, during a live conversation with The Women's Foundation of Colorado President and CEO Lauren Y. Casteel at Pepsi Center on July 25, 2017 in Denver.

Jason Bahr, Getty Images for The Women's Foundation of Colorado

Former First Lady Michelle Obama emphasized that women must celebrate their strength during a live conversation with The Women's Foundation of Colorado President and CEO Lauren Y. Casteel at Pepsi Center on July 25, 2017 in Denver.

Jason Bahr, Getty Images for The Women's Foundation of Colorado

Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaks, emphasizing that women must celebrate their strength, during a live conversation with The Women's Foundation of Colorado at Pepsi Center on July 25, 2017 in Denver.

WFCO President and CEO Lauren Casteel commented that Obama broke a glass ceiling by becoming the first black first lady. She then asked which of the falling glass shards cut the deepest.

The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut, she said, referencing being called an ape and people talking about her bottom. Knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who wont see me for what I am because of my skin color.

She said she cant pretend like it doesnt hurt because that lets those who do the hurting off the hook.

Women, we endure those cuts in so many ways that we dont even notice were cut, she said. We are living with small tiny cuts, and we are bleeding every single day. And were still getting up.

But Obama said women should own their scars. Referring to failure, she said those wounds hurt deeply but they heal with time. If women own their scars, they can encourage younger girls who are getting their first cuts.

Although Obama largely stayed away from politics, she took a few thinly veiled shots at the current president receiving cheers from the crowd. She reiterated that she would not be seeking public office, much to the crowds verbal dismay. But she said she and Barack Obama intend to stay in public service.

She warned people against the notion that the nation is falling apart. Instead she said its a young country that will learn from its mistakes and successes.

The people in this country are universally good and kind and honest and decent, she said. Dont be afraid of the country you live in. The folks here are good.

Instead of waiting on national policies, she said women need to take charge every day in their own lives and their community. And for the men in attendance, she said its important for them to be in girls lives, valuing their thoughts and voices.

She criticized a one-size-fits-all education system that values speed of learning, pushing out women who learn differently than men from STEM fields.

Michelle and Barack Obama have been on speaking tours after a post-presidency vacation. Similar toTuesdaysconversation, Michelle Obama has largely steered clear of politics, focusing instead on topics that she advocated for as first lady, includingeducation for women andhealth and nutrition for schoolchildren.

She spoke at the American Institute of Architectures annual conference in April, The Partnership for a Healthier America summit in May and the Pennsylvania Conference for Women in October.

The WFCO event served as a fundraiser for the organization.Among the speakers were Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, former first lady of Colorado and WFCO co-founder Dottie Lamm and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock.

WFCO was founded in 1987 to address the feminization of poverty as Colorado and areas across the world saw women more likely to live in poverty.

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Michelle Obama urges women to seize their power while not ...