The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman. 

As I explained in Part #1 of this article (still available at https://eogn.com/sys/website/system-pages/?pageId=18010), I have become a fanatic on lightweight packing. I travel often and have too much "history" of dragging heavy luggage through airports as well as in and out of shuttle buses, taxis, hotel lobbies, through the snow or other inclement weather. As I get older, the muscles start to deteriorate as well. I used to carry a 50-pound suitcase without difficulty. I don't ever want to do that again!

Even worse is the finances. U.S. airlines are now gouging their customers for every dollar they can get away with. US-based airlines collected over $4.9 billion in checked bag fees in 2018. (Reference: https://thepointsguy.com/news/us-airlines-baggage-fees-2018/) I suspect the price is much higher today. Yes, that's "billions" with a "B." Who paid these billions of dollars? Hapless travelers who didn't know how to travel light.

Of course, that's not the only price gouging that is going on. Now the passengers have to pay for food on the plane and it usually is nearly inedible food at that. Some airlines want to charge to put an a single bag in the overhead bins. Then these same airlines advertise "the friendly skies" and other crap so that we have the "privilege" of being being packed in like sardines with shoulders overlapping. "Never have so many paid so much for so little." 

An Australian man is now suing American Airlines, alleging that he suffered serious injuries after being seated next to two passengers he claims were “grossly obese.” (See https://indianexpress.com/article/world/australian-man-sues-american-airlines-for-being-seated-next-to-obese-passengers-4644599/ for the sad details.) I'm not surprised that a passenger was injured simply by being seated between two severely overweight passengers. Have you seen how little available space there is in those seats?

Then there is United Airlines, advertising themselves as "fly the friendly skies." That "friendly sky" airline forcibly ejected a passenger from his paid-for seat, breaking his nose in the process. Friendly skies? 

Surprisingly, stories like this rarely appear about foreign airlines. The American-flagged airlines seem to have most of the problems.

Which is the better business decision? Gouge your customers with high prices for everything and fly with empty (non-revenue-producing) seats caused by unhappy customers who avoid your airline whenever possible? Or to charge lower prices and have every seat filled with revenue-producing, satisfied customers who will return again and again for repeat business?

I'll leave that to senior airline executives to perform the price modeling on those two options.

I think it is time for consumers to stand up and make airlines affordable and comfortable again! I do my part by avoiding the price gougers, whenever possible, and by taking my business to the airlines that treat me the best.

Of course, packing light is a win-win situation. You win once with lower fees when flying on the price gougers and you win a second time with extra convenience on ALL the airlines: no more wrestling with lots of heavy luggage!

I have created a check list of things for me to pack or not to pack. It serves strictly as a check list of POSSIBLE things to pack. I never pack everything on the list. The exact selections will vary depending upon the expected weather at my destination(s), the expected activities when I get there, and sometimes by the length of the stay. 

For longer stays, I normally make the trip with two carry-on bags: one maximum-sized carry-on bag that goes in the airliners' overhead bins and a small bag that goes under the seat in front of me. I also receive a bit of assistance from hotel laundry services along the way. A ten-day trip should never include ten changes of clothing! Laundry services are available worldwide. While expensive, these laundry services are usually cheaper than paying for additional luggage. Washing clothes in a bathroom sink is even cheaper. 

Always wear layers on the plane as it is often chilly or hot with no way to predict in advance. Besides, the more layers you wear on the plane, the fewer items you have to pack in the luggage!

Your check list of possible items to pack undoubtedly will be different from mine. After all, it is YOUR list. Your needs and preferences will be yours and yours alone. However, I will offer the following list and comments as items for your consideration.

Clothing:

Three pairs of underwear max! Yesterday's (awaiting laundry), today's (I'm wearing that), and tomorrow's (in case I don't get to do laundry tonight). I prefer to pack quick drying underwear and socks.

Three changes of other clothes, all in colors and styles that mix and match. No more than three!

The remainder of this article is reserved for Plus Edition subscribers only. If you have a Plus Edition subscription, you may read the full article at: https://eogn.com/(*)-Plus-Edition-News-Articles/13127287.

If you are not yet a Plus Edition subscriber, you can learn more about such subscriptions and even upgrade to a Plus Edition subscription immediately at https://eogn.com/page-18077. 

Archives held in warehouse since 2013 flooding disaster.

Councillors on the property committee voted Thursday to approve funding for the restoration of the Carnegie Library, which was heavily damaged by flooding in 2013.

Since then, sensitive documents spanning the city's 150-year history have been stored in a warehouse on Myrtle Street, which historians and archivists worried did not have the appropriate equipment to preserve them.

"Nobody expected that the archives was going to spend a decade in … what is  [basically] a warehouse in the industrial district," said Shelley Sweeney, archivist emeritus at the University of Manitoba.

"It was, sort of, just temporarily put there, and it's in an extremely difficult location to find. It's not particularly accessible."

A 2016 report noted the building on Myrtle didn't have appropriate space for conservation and preservation treatment to enable appraisal and description of fragile paper records dating as far back as 1874. 

You can read more in an article by Cameron MacLean published in the CBC.CA web site at: https://tinyurl.com/4uu3dr77.

The following announcement is based on information obtained from the Kentucky Genealogical Society:

 This is the first comprehensive guide published in over 30 years focusing on researching in Kentucky. The Society is publishing it in honor of it's 50th anniversary which is being celebrated throughout 2023. 

This comprehensive guide written by and for Kentucky researchers is a must-have resource for anyone looking to explore their family history in the Commonwealth. 

Learn to perform comprehensive genealogical research and get step-by-step guidance on how to piece together your Kentucky family history, from understanding the state's history to using genealogy techniques and tricks.

With its hands-on approach, this guide will empower you to become a skilled genealogist and uncover the stories of your ancestors. From assembling your family tree to sharing your research with others, this book is the ultimate guide to genealogy research in the Bluegrass State.

This guide offers not just expert advice, but inspiration for anyone looking to explore their roots and connect with their family history. 

The Kentucky Genealogical Society formed in 1973 to provide educational opportunities for family researchers. In addition to that goal, the society raises money to digitize and preserve records of genealogical value to Kentucky. The proceeds from this book support that goal.

The guide is now available on Amazon --> https://a.co/d/hAMrKCe 

The following announcement was written by TheGenealogist:

The 1871 Census for England, Scotland and Wales has, for the first time, been georeferenced on TheGenealogist. This is the process of linking a record to a geographical spot and means you can now see where a household stood with links to detailed maps on the powerful Map Explorer™. This is set to make investigating the places where ancestors lived in this year even more interesting for family and house historians. 

Viewing a household record from the 1871 census on TheGenealogist will now show a map pinpointing its location. Clicking through from this preview map opens the powerful Map Explorer™ with its georeferenced modern and historical maps. This then enables subscribers to explore their ancestors’ area in much greater detail than on other census sites.

1871 census household pinpointed on Map Explorer™ 

Joining the earlier census releases, which saw the 1911, 1901, 1891 and 1881 census linked up to the powerful mapping tool, researchers can now easily identify with just the click of a button where their forebears had once lived and get a sense of the routes their ancestors used. 

Using these linked maps allows researchers to trace the thoroughfares that ancestors may have walked down as they went shopping, or popped into their local pubs for a drink. Researchers can likewise, work out the routes that their forebears may have taken to get to their nearby churches, or find the shortest way to their places of work and the direction they needed to go in order to reach their nearby park for relaxation. Historical maps can also reveal where the nearest railway station was to their home, important for understanding how our ancestors could have travelled to other parts of the country to see relatives or to visit their hometown.

With this powerful resource, Starter, Gold and Diamond subscribers of TheGenealogist can look into their ancestors’ neighbourhood from home on their computer screens, or even access the census and the relevant maps on their mobile phone as they walk down the modern streets.

The Greater London Area, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire along with most towns and cities can be viewed down to the property level, while other parts of the country will identify down to the parish, road or street.

Albert Mansions and Albert Hall

In this particular census year, Queen Victoria opened the Royal Albert Hall, Gilbert and Sullivan premiered the first of their light opera collaborations at the Gaiety Theatre in London and a technologically advanced lighthouse was switched on near Tyne and Wear. 

Read our article “Putting 1871 on the map” to discover more as Nick Thorne takes a look at events in 1871 and brings context to the census records. https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2023/putting-1871-on-the-map-1673/ 

About TheGenealogist

TheGenealogist is an award-winning online family history website, who put a wealth of information at the fingertips of family historians. Their approach is to bring hard to use physical records to life online with easy to use interfaces such as their Tithe and newly released Lloyd George Domesday collections. 

TheGenealogist’s innovative SmartSearch technology links records together to help you find your ancestors more easily. TheGenealogist is one of the leading providers of online family history records. Along with the standard Birth, Marriage, Death and Census records, they also have significant collections of Parish and Nonconformist records, PCC Will Records, Irish Records, Military records, Occupations, Newspaper record collections amongst many others.

TheGenealogist uses the latest technology to help you bring your family history to life. Use TheGenealogist to find your ancestors today!

The following announcement was written by Findmypast:

Lancashire, Barrow-in-Furness Shipbuilding & Engineering Employees 

Travel back to the early 20th century with this brand-new collection, covering shipbuilding and engineers from Lancashire. These 96,374 records normally give a name, date of birth, the department worked in, address, and duration of work. They also include around 1,300 female employees from the First World War period.  

United Kingdom, Commemorative Plaques

Discover famous faces and great deeds in this second new collection of the week. These 12,785 commemorative plaques remember figures like Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Pankhurst, and even Hodge, the feline friend of Samuel Johnson. Depending on the plaque, you may find a name, date of birth, date of death and address. 

Newspapers 

Findmypast’s newspaper publishing is taking a short break this week, as they undertake essential maintenance in preparation for even more upcoming rich newspaper content.

The next significant genealogy conference appears to be New England’s Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC) which is returning to the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, May 3-6, 2023. NERGC 2023 will feature 8 session tracks with 100+ talks, 7 workshops, a large exhibit hall with vendors and genealogical societies, SIGs, Ancestors Road Show, Society Fair, the Libraries, Archives, and Museums Showcase, and so much more.

Whether you are a genealogical novice just getting started or a seasoned professional, there is something at NERGC 2023 for you. The conference will cover the full gamut of New England genealogy, from colonial-era research to genetic genealogy, from military research to writing for publications, from methodology to technology. There are talks that focus in on each of the New England states, as well as various ethnic groups in New England, including Native American, African America, Irish, French Canadian, Jewish, and Polish.

The main conference starts on Thursday, May 4th, but those who plan to arrive in Springfield a day early can sign up to participate in one of our four pre-conference tracks on Wednesday May 3rd:

There will also be four two-hour workshops later Wednesday afternoon:

Learn While You Eat

Along with presentations galore on the full panoply of topics related to New England genealogy, several of the lunches and dinners will have a speakers:

Thursday afternoon at 5:30pm starts the Society Fair, where tables are setup outside the Exhibit Hall for smaller genealogical societies and family associations, giving attendees the opportunity to visit with them and learn more about their organizations. Over twenty societies have signed up for Society Fair, and you can find them listed here.

A similar opportunity is provided during the day on Friday and Saturday for Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and you can find them listed here.

You can read a lot more in the conference's web site at: https://nergc.org/nergc2023/.

Whether referred to as “the Sherry Black bill” or SB.156, a new bill is regulating investigative genetic genealogy and which information law enforcement can access. 

As predicted by the Center for Genetics and Society, CGS, at the start of 2021, 100 million people had taken at-home DNA tests. 

Utah’s SB.156 outlines how law enforcement can use and access this data.

According to bill sponsor Utah State Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Salt Lake, if you submit DNA and consent to external law enforcement use, your DNA data is fair game. 

“[Law enforcement] has to be using only databases that have made the consumer aware that [their] data could be used for that purpose,” Rep. Eliason told KSL NewsRadio. 

You can read more at: https://kslnewsradio.com/1991843/will-your-genealogy-test-data-become-searchable-by-law-enforcement/.

A Senate committee meeting to vote to advance President Joe Biden's pick to run the National Archives and Records Administration was postponed Wednesday shortly before its start, again delaying action on Colleen Shogan. 

The committee rescheduled the vote for March 15 on Thursday morning. 

Shogan's nomination has been held up in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee since August, when Biden first tapped her to be National Archivist.

The meeting was postponed because the "two-hour rule" was invoked, according to a committee aide. The two-hour rule prevents most committees from meeting if the Senate has been in session for two hours or past 2 p.m., unless a deal is struck, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Shogan and the White House did not immediately respond to inquiries. 

The National Archives has been running without a permanent leader since May, a situation that experts say makes it hard for an interim leader to plan fixes to long-term problems. Aside from the high-profile classified documents issues, the agency faces a backlog of requests for veteran service records, records that need to be declassified, and longtime struggles with funding. 

I don't receive many notices of Croatian genealogy events so I am delighted to announce this one. If you have Croatian ancestry, you will want to know about a Croatian genealogy seminar with Robert Jerin from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22 at Croatian Hall, 610 Broad St., Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Attendees will learn how to research their Croatian roots, how to locate important Croatian records and how to translate Croatian records and names, the meanings of surnames and categories of surnames, along with additional genealogy research tips.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Cost is $35 per person and includes a digital copy of Jerin’s book, “Searching for Your Croatian Roots.”

Deadline to register is April 8.

Reservations, including name, email address and phone number, can be mailed to Patty Respet at CFU Lodge 5, 612 Broad St., Johnstown, Pa. 15906.

From an article by Kelly Kultys  published in the Fordham University web site:

In the first half of the 20th century, the Bronx was home to hundreds of thousands of Jewish residents, many of whom had immigrated with their families in the late 1800s and early 1900s from Europe. More than 600,000 Jewish people lived in the borough in the late 1940s, but by 2003, just about 45,000 were left, according to a 2002 Jewish Community Study by UJA-Federation.

For Sophia Maier, a senior at Fordham College at Rose Hill, interest in Bronx Jewish history was sparked when she interviewed her grandparents about their upbringing for a Bronx history course at Fordham.

“I said, ‘all right, well this is really important,’” she said. “So I did my thesis on doing oral history interviews with folks who grew up in the Bronx and left during the period of white flight in the 60s and 70s and into the 80s.”

She added that her research, which included interviews with more than 40 community member so far, focused mainly “on the 40s, 50s, and into the early 60s—a lot of those folks are people whose grandparents immigrated to this country, typically from Eastern Europe.”

“Since they came into this country, there has been this sort of upward movement—both geographically and on a class basis, starting out on the Lower East Side, or Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in this kind of crowded tenement living, [and then]folks moved up to the South Bronx, or then further up into the Northwest Bronx.”

Maier and Reyna Stovall, a sophomore at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, shared their research on March 1 at “Jews in the Bronx: Archival and Oral Histories,” an event hosted by Center for Jewish Studies. They were joined by Daniel Soyer, Ph.D., professor of history; Ayala Fader, professor of anthropology; and Ayelet Brinn, Ph.D., the Philip D. Feltman assistant professor of modern Jewish history at the University of Hartford who did postdoctoral research at Fordham.

The students’ work is at the heart of a new initiative of the Center—the Bronx Jewish History Project, which was publicly launched at the event. Maier’s interviews, paired with Stovall’s archival research, are the basis for the project, Sarit Kattan Gribetz, Ph.D., associate professor in the theology department, said. It was also partially inspired by the Bronx African American History Project, which was founded by Mark Naison, Ph.D., professor of African and African American studies.

Magda Teter, Shvidler Chair of Judaic Studies and co-director of the Center for Jewish Studies, helped introduce and combine the students’ work into a larger project that will live beyond their time at Fordham, Gribetz said.

“Through our new initiatives at the Center for Jewish Studies, we’re collaborating across generations and fields to collect, preserve, share, and learn from these stories,” Gribetz said.

You can read more at: https://news.fordham.edu/living-the-mission/center-for-jewish-studies-launches-bronx-jewish-history-project/.