The Sentinel

Leave the snow behind and head to the ocean this winter holiday season

Photo provided

NAPSI — As an increasing number of people have discovered: for delightful holidays by just adding water. Simply hop on a plane and leave the midwest for the warm waters, whether it be a lake, bay or the ocean, and head for Florida, Texas, or California. For an unique way to celebrate this Christmas, look at using Boatsetter, a mobile app for boat rentals, charters, and on-water experiences, making it easier to have fun with family and friends by spending the season at sea.

Just imagine — using Boatsetter to host Friendsgiving onboard, be part of a lighted boat parade, or secure the best view for New Year’s Eve fireworks.

With more than 50,000 boats in over 700 global locations, the company makes getting on the water as easy as calling a rideshare. With no sign-up fees or membership dues, its easy-to-use app and simplified booking process lets anyone — with or without prior boating experience—browse, book, and go.

As Michael Farb, Boatsetter CEO, put it, “The holiday season is about spending quality time with loved ones, and what better way to do that than on a boat?”

Sample Sailings

• A pontoon party where you can take in unparalleled views of dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees.

• A day of offshore fishing and cruising.

• A luxury sailing experience on board the aptly named “Serenity” sailboat. Learn to sail or just relax under the careful watch of a U.S. Coast Guard-certified captain.

• A two-day overnight charter for the extended family in Turks and Caicos. Escape to a private beach of your choosing on board a luxury yacht complete with crew.

By connecting qualified renters directly to boat owners and licensed USCG-certified captains, Boatsetter makes it easy to discover and enjoy a wide array of on-water experiences.

For further facts, to see available tours or to book one, visit www.boatsetter.com.

Traveling with your pet? 6 things you will want to remember

Pet parents increasingly want to take their furry family members with them wherever they can. This has led to an uptick in pet travel, whether around town, on business, or across the country. In response to this demand, more hotels are taking steps to accommodate four-legged guests.

Save money on trips with latest travel trend

A vacation planning and booking gateway lets you explore curated travel itineraries on featured destinations and then build and book your next dream vacation with a quick call. You can choose from thousands of destinations around the globe or design your own trip with ...

Overcoming burnout while searching for your next career opportunity

Photo: Pavel Chernonogov/PEXELS

StatePoint Media - As the job search continues for unemployed Illinoians, a new national survey reveals a massive case of job hunt burnout.

The Insight Global survey, conducted among recently unemployed American adults actively seeking employment, found that a competitive job market, a lack of applicable jobs, low self-confidence and an inability to interview well are all contributing factors in job candidates’ lack of success in securing employment.

Fifty-five percent of respondents have been searching for a new job for so long that they are completely burnt out, and many are willing to take drastic measures to save and make money in the meantime: More than 2 in 5 would live at home with their parents; the same amount would rather create an Etsy business or thrift flip than send out another blast of resumes, and of Gen Z respondents, 44% admit they would rather get a sugar daddy or sugar mommy than apply to more jobs.

“It’s no wonder that so many unemployed Americans are feeling unmotivated – between several years of a volatile job market, headcount reductions, budget cuts, hiring freezes and a total overhaul of the way companies are running their businesses, it can feel downright impossible to get back on track,” says Bert Bean, CEO of Insight Global, a leading national staffing company.

To beat job hunting burnout and get back in the game, Bean recommends the following tips:

• Rethink Remote: Of millennials surveyed, 21% feel they’re still unemployed because they will only apply to remote job opportunities. To greatly expand your options, be open to hybrid and on-site work opportunities.

• Stand Out: Over a quarter of those seeking full-time work feel that there are no jobs available for their skill set or there is too much competition for available jobs. To stand out in the crowd, get creative. Whether it’s creating an interactive resume, dropping by the office for a quick hello, or just not stopping until you hear back, doing whatever it takes to get your foot in the door improves your chances of success.

• Find Small Wins: Job hunting can be exhausting and disheartening. Find things you can accomplish that help you feel productive and remind you what it feels like to win again. It could be getting in shape, completing a 5K, journaling for a month, or making five new daily connections on LinkedIn.

• Don’t Write Anything Off: Interestingly, 26% of men surveyed said they are still unemployed because the jobs they hear back from are beneath them. Leave preconceived notions like this at the door. Many companies offer opportunities for promotions and upskilling, so look past the specific outlined role and imagine future possibilities with that organization.

• Reach for Resources: When trying to get back in the workforce, don’t go at it alone. Companies like Insight Global can help you shape up your resume, brush up on interview skills, boost your confidence and connect you with companies and opportunities that fit the bill. Leverage events like the Be The Light tour, Insight Global’s free-to-attend mobile career center in select cities around the country. Accepting help from professionals will put you in a better position for landing a job. To learn more, and for additional tips and resources, visit insightglobal.com.

“While searching for employment that fulfills your professional goals can feel overwhelming, changing the narrative and thinking about the market in new ways can connect you with additional opportunities and position you to succeed,” says Bean.

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Restaurant jobs have always been difficult, but the mental stress has gotten worse during the pandemic as restaurants closed or cut hours — or became ground zero for the fight over mask-wearing.

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Quick Pics | Win #7 and IPC second place spot sealed for SJO after win over PBL

St. Joseph-Ogden's Justice Wertz takes advantage of the holes created by the SJO offensive line to churn up sod through the Paxton-Buckley-Loda defense. The senior finished the game with 119 all-purpose yards. See more photos from this game here.

Photo: PhotoNews Media

Tanner Siems and Coy Taylor celebrate the first of three touchdown receptions for Siems. After scoring on this 23 yard play, Siems hauled in an 11 and 37-yard pass for SJO touchdowns. Taylor also caught a 30-yard pass in the rout at Zimmerman Field in PBL.

Photo: PhotoNews Media

With Garrett Denhart on holding duty, senior Joe Frasca boots another PAT for SJO. Frasca, who converted on five of six extra point attempts and nailed a field goal in the third quarter, averaged 46 yards across his six kickoffs in the game.

Photo: PhotoNews Media

Rowan Musselman hauls in one of three interceptions picked off by the Spartans. The senior ran the ball 20 yards down the field to setup St. Joseph-Ogden's next scoring drive.

Photo: PhotoNews Media

Spartans' Nate Wagner blocks Panther's Connor Rice during second half action. Keeping the game out of reach in the second half, SJO recorded 62 tackles on the PBL, three for a losses totaling 16 yards. See more photos from this game here.

Photo: PhotoNews Media

Guest Commentary | I'm ready for a break from all the bad news

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

I’m burned out watching the news. I don’t enjoy feeling like I want to throw up. There has to be more to life than taking in the world headlines every morning and every evening. However, I have to pause and give thanks because I’m not part of the news story. I don’t want to be because news is typically bad.

When you turn on the morning or evening news the first few minutes is filled with all the bad news in the world and your area. Innocent people in Israel being ripped apart by hate-filled religious terrorists. Innocent civilians in Gaza are dying every day. Another mentally ill gunman kills innocent people in Maine. A category five hurricane wipes out Acapulco. Congress finally agrees on a Speaker. Surely, we are glad if we are not part of the news story. Being in the news typically means something bad is going on. You don’t want to be in an active shooter situation or being attacked by terrorists.

A friend of mine has said, “I don’t watch the news, it’s too depressing.” Depressing is probably a reasonable word. Yet, be glad that you weren’t in the news because that would be more depressing.

If you are like me, you are probably ready for a break from all the bad news. You can turn off your television and your computer and move throughout your day. Just hope that along the way that nothing bad happens around you. There are crazy people almost everywhere it seems. Drugs are flowing in this country. Drug related deaths are rampant. Violent drivers are on our highways. Road rage violence happens somewhere every day in this country. The mentally ill have access to semi-automatic rifles. Hate-filled people live throughout our country. The desperate and hurting are everywhere. Hate-filled religious terrorists are not just isolated people living in the Middle East. Some of them probably live not far from you.

You can be minding your own business and living the good American citizen’s life and still have something bad happen to you. At every level there is a new devil. It just takes a crazy person to make news happen and unfortunately you can be in the right place at the wrong time to become part of the news story.

So, while many of us are tired of the bad news, let’s try to be grateful for every day that we somehow, by the grace of God, miss being a part of the news.

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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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