Lady Liberty is illuminated anew
New light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, illuminated the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island after the new system was turned on Tuesday in New York. The system comes from Musco Lighting of Oskaloosa, Iowa. Musco systems are also in place at the Washington Monument, the White House and the Flight 93 National Memorial. The new system is expected to reduce energy consumption.
NEW YORK >> The Statue of Liberty has a certain glow about her — thanks to a new lighting system. Onlookers and officials stood on the grounds and boats gathered in the waters around Liberty Island on Tuesday night to see the new ground lights get turned on. The lights cast a bright spotlight on the statue, clearly defining the folds of her robes.
The National Park Service said much of the previous lighting system was installed below ground and damaged by Superstorm Sandy. A temporary system had been installed.
Calls of ‘racism’ end kimono event
BOSTON >> The Museum of Fine Arts Boston has canceled “Kimono Wednesdays” after protesters decried the event as racist.
In a Tuesday statement, the museum apologized for offending some visitors with the event, where museum visitors were encouraged to don the traditional Japanese garments and pose in front of Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise.”
The museum said it had hoped to create an “interactive experience,” helping museum attendees appreciate the rich details of the garments.
But protesters have held signs at the Boston museum’s events, calling them “racist” and “imperialist.” The museum says kimonos will now be on display Wednesday evenings for visitors to touch, not try on.
Irish carrier Ryanair to serve Israel
JERUSALEM >> Europe’s low-cost airline Ryanair says it will start its first cheap flights in and out of Israel in November.
The Irish budget airline said Tuesday it will offer twice-weekly flights between Israel’s Ovda Airport and Hungary, Lithuania and Poland. The November and December flights will be available for two days at a special price starting at $32, or 29.99 euros.
State opens dirt roads to bicyclists
NEWCOMB, N.Y. >> Nearly 20 miles of dirt roads through the state’s new Essex Chain Lakes complex in the central Adirondacks are now open to bicyclists.
The Essex Chain tract is already a popular destination for canoeists and kayakers.
The state is completing an official management plan for the Essex Chain area and is taking public comments until July 27. The plan would make bicycle access permanent, but the state is opening up temporary access now.
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