One of the things you will love about Lethbridge is the fact that it is small enough to be "Small town friendly" yet still big enough to be "Big City Convenient". When you want to eat out in the City there is plenty of choice when it comes to, both type of food and theme of restaurant.
Here are some reviews of two of our favorites:
Montanas Cookhouse
This is a western ranch style restaurant franchaise that specialises in ribs, steaks and chicken. When you walk inside the first thing you notice is the decor, one half of the eatery is split into wooden boothes or tables, the table cloth is a sheet of paper and crayons are provided to the kids (and some of the mums & dads) can amuse themselves playing noughts and crosses or sketching.
The other half is a bar area with televisions all round the bar, usuallyshowing hockey games.
The food is western orientated and theres plenty of it, the prices are very reasonable.
La Mezza Luna
This ristaurante is located on the intersection of Mayor Magrath and Scenic Drive. It is Italian themed and is split into two separate rooms, this review deals specsifically with the restaurant area.
You cannot help but be impressed as you walk through the large carved wooden entrance door, the reception staff were attentive and after a few seconds we were being shown to our table. Despite our first impressions of what we thought was quite a posh place, we noticed the customers were mostly families, some quite large groups and everyone seemed to be having a great time.
The food was fantastic, the beef barley soup was more like a beef stew and the halibut was perfectly cooked, it seemed as though it had been poached then flame seared. The steak was also perfectly cooked, the vegatables to were well presented too.
When the bill was presented i was pleasantly surprised, this is one place we will be going to again.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
WHATS IN YOUR WALLET !!
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a vital security measure that will ensure individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the nation's maritime transportation system.
TWIC was established by Congress through the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and is administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast Guard. TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials that will be issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities and all credentialed merchant mariners. It is anticipated that more than 1 million workers including longshoremen, truckers, port employees and others will be required to obtain a TWIC.
What is TWIC™?
A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC™) is a biometric credential that ensures only vetted workers are eligible to enter a secure area of a Maritime Transportation Security Act-regulated port or vessel unescorted.
What is the enrollment process?
The enrollment process consists of the following components: optional pre-enrollment, in-person enrollment, security threat assessment and notification of the results, and issuance of the TWIC to the applicant. Applicants may pre-enroll online to enter all of the biographic information required for the threat assessment and make an appointment at the enrollment center to complete the process (although appointments are not required). Then applicants must visit the enrollment center where they will pay the enrollment fee, complete a TWIC Application Disclosure Form, provide biographic information and a complete set of fingerprints, and sit for a digital photograph. The applicant must bring identity verification documents to enrollment and in the case of aliens, immigration documents that verify their immigration status, so that the documents can be scanned into the electronic enrollment record.
What documents do I need to enroll?
All applicants are required to bring appropriate documentation to the enrollment center in order to verify their identity (click here for a list of approved documents). Applicants can provide any one document from list A or two documents from List B, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID. A good example of appropriate documentation from List B is a state-issued driver’s license and a social security card.
What documentation is an applicant required to bring to the enrollment center if he/she is a U.S. citizen, but was not born in the United States?
Applicants should bring one of the following documents:
Department of State - Certificate of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350);
Department of State - Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240); or
U.S. Passport.
Note: If the Certificate of Birth Abroad, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or an expired U.S. Passport are presented, additional documents will be required to verify identity; see list of acceptable identity documents. If a current (unexpired) U.S. Passport is presented, it is the only identity verification document required.
How much does a TWIC cost?
The fee for a TWIC card will be $132.50 and the credential is valid for five years. Those who hold a valid MMD issued after February 3, 2003, MML issued after January 13, 2006, HME issued after May 31, 2005, or a FAST card, may pay a reduced fee of $105.25. Those applicants choosing to pay the reduced fee must present an MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card at the time of enrollment. If the reduced fee is paid, the TWIC expiration date will be 5 years from the date of the supporting MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card.
What are the methods of payment?
Payment must be made with money order, certified/cashier's check, corporate check, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). Checks should be made payable to Lockheed Martin. Two additional payment options are available for companies to pay for their employees: company purchased pre-paid debit cards or bulk payments. For companies choosing to use the pre-paid option, additional information can be found at http://www.twiccard.com. For additional information on bulk payments please click here for Lockheed Martin’s policy document. In all cases, payment will be made at the enrollment center at the beginning of the enrollment process.
What is the pre-paid debit card for the TWIC Program?
This method of payment is a prepaid Visa® card and is intended for employers who wish to purchase TWICs for their employees. They may be purchased in bulk and are redeemable at any TWIC enrollment center. The website for additional information or purchasing them is at http://www.twiccard.com.
What is the fee for a replacement card?
The card replacement fee (for lost, stolen, or damaged TWICs) is $60.
What is the deployment schedule?
Click here to view the latest TWIC deployment schedule, which provides monthly or quarterly time frames. As the start of the enrollment period for each grouping of ports nears, specific enrollment start dates and addresses will be posted, so stay tuned.
Where can I enroll?
The current listing of enrollment locations is available on this website, under the Schedule tab.
Where can I get more information on mobile enrollment?
Click here to view a document that provides background information, requirements, and contact information for requesting and hosting a mobile enrollment facility.
What is pre-enrollment?
The pre-enrollment process allows applicants to provide much of the biographic information required for enrollment; to select an enrollment center where they wish to complete enrollment; and to make an appointment to complete enrollment at the enrollment center of their choosing. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to pre-enroll. Pre-enrollment is available by clicking here.
Are appointments required for enrollment?
No. Appointments are encouraged to save applicants' time but are not required and walk-ins are welcome.
How can I make an appointment for enrollment?
To make an appointment for TWIC enrollment, an applicant must first pre-enroll. If pre-enrolling on the website, an applicant may use his/her address to search for nearby enrollment centers and set an appointment time for the location of his/her choice. If pre-enrolling via the Help Desk (1-866-DHS-TWIC), an operator will help the applicant set an appointment time at the enrollment center of his/her choice.
How long does enrollment take?
The enrollment process for a pre-enrolled applicant is expected to take approximately 10 minutes. The enrollment process for an individual who chose not to pre-enroll is expected to take approximately 15 minutes.
How will the cards be issued?
The applicant will be notified by email or phone, as specified during enrollment, when his/her credential is available at the enrollment center. The applicant must return to the same enrollment center to pick up his/her TWIC.
How long does it take to receive a TWIC?
Currently, there is typically three to four week turnaround from enrollment until card activation. Eligibility issues or insufficient paperwork may increase the turnaround time.
Where can I get a copy of communication materials that I can print out and distribute at my port?
There are informative communications materials available for download on this website. For general TWIC information, click on the “Other Resources” tab to download flyers in both English and Spanish. For port-specific materials, click on the appropriate port under the “Schedule” tab. We encourage you to download these materials and disseminate them widely within your port community. Feel free to use them for newsletters, web uploads, pamphlets, and flyers. All documents are 8½” x 11” PDF files.
Where can I get additional information on TWIC?
The TSA website for the TWIC program provides additional information on the program, supporting policies and regulation (information on waivers and appeals), etc. Additionally, the Coast Guard’s website contains information on U.S. Coast Guard policies and contains specific documents, such as the Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) and small entity guides for TWIC applicants and owners/operators.
What is the contact number for the TWIC Help Desk?
The TWIC Help Desk can be reached at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (or 1-866-347-8942) and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. EST.
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a vital security measure that will ensure individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the nation's maritime transportation system.
TWIC was established by Congress through the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and is administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast Guard. TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials that will be issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities and all credentialed merchant mariners. It is anticipated that more than 1 million workers including longshoremen, truckers, port employees and others will be required to obtain a TWIC.
What is TWIC™?
A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC™) is a biometric credential that ensures only vetted workers are eligible to enter a secure area of a Maritime Transportation Security Act-regulated port or vessel unescorted.
What is the enrollment process?
The enrollment process consists of the following components: optional pre-enrollment, in-person enrollment, security threat assessment and notification of the results, and issuance of the TWIC to the applicant. Applicants may pre-enroll online to enter all of the biographic information required for the threat assessment and make an appointment at the enrollment center to complete the process (although appointments are not required). Then applicants must visit the enrollment center where they will pay the enrollment fee, complete a TWIC Application Disclosure Form, provide biographic information and a complete set of fingerprints, and sit for a digital photograph. The applicant must bring identity verification documents to enrollment and in the case of aliens, immigration documents that verify their immigration status, so that the documents can be scanned into the electronic enrollment record.
What documents do I need to enroll?
All applicants are required to bring appropriate documentation to the enrollment center in order to verify their identity (click here for a list of approved documents). Applicants can provide any one document from list A or two documents from List B, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID. A good example of appropriate documentation from List B is a state-issued driver’s license and a social security card.
What documentation is an applicant required to bring to the enrollment center if he/she is a U.S. citizen, but was not born in the United States?
Applicants should bring one of the following documents:
Department of State - Certificate of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350);
Department of State - Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240); or
U.S. Passport.
Note: If the Certificate of Birth Abroad, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or an expired U.S. Passport are presented, additional documents will be required to verify identity; see list of acceptable identity documents. If a current (unexpired) U.S. Passport is presented, it is the only identity verification document required.
How much does a TWIC cost?
The fee for a TWIC card will be $132.50 and the credential is valid for five years. Those who hold a valid MMD issued after February 3, 2003, MML issued after January 13, 2006, HME issued after May 31, 2005, or a FAST card, may pay a reduced fee of $105.25. Those applicants choosing to pay the reduced fee must present an MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card at the time of enrollment. If the reduced fee is paid, the TWIC expiration date will be 5 years from the date of the supporting MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card.
What are the methods of payment?
Payment must be made with money order, certified/cashier's check, corporate check, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). Checks should be made payable to Lockheed Martin. Two additional payment options are available for companies to pay for their employees: company purchased pre-paid debit cards or bulk payments. For companies choosing to use the pre-paid option, additional information can be found at http://www.twiccard.com. For additional information on bulk payments please click here for Lockheed Martin’s policy document. In all cases, payment will be made at the enrollment center at the beginning of the enrollment process.
What is the pre-paid debit card for the TWIC Program?
This method of payment is a prepaid Visa® card and is intended for employers who wish to purchase TWICs for their employees. They may be purchased in bulk and are redeemable at any TWIC enrollment center. The website for additional information or purchasing them is at http://www.twiccard.com.
What is the fee for a replacement card?
The card replacement fee (for lost, stolen, or damaged TWICs) is $60.
What is the deployment schedule?
Click here to view the latest TWIC deployment schedule, which provides monthly or quarterly time frames. As the start of the enrollment period for each grouping of ports nears, specific enrollment start dates and addresses will be posted, so stay tuned.
Where can I enroll?
The current listing of enrollment locations is available on this website, under the Schedule tab.
Where can I get more information on mobile enrollment?
Click here to view a document that provides background information, requirements, and contact information for requesting and hosting a mobile enrollment facility.
What is pre-enrollment?
The pre-enrollment process allows applicants to provide much of the biographic information required for enrollment; to select an enrollment center where they wish to complete enrollment; and to make an appointment to complete enrollment at the enrollment center of their choosing. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to pre-enroll. Pre-enrollment is available by clicking here.
Are appointments required for enrollment?
No. Appointments are encouraged to save applicants' time but are not required and walk-ins are welcome.
How can I make an appointment for enrollment?
To make an appointment for TWIC enrollment, an applicant must first pre-enroll. If pre-enrolling on the website, an applicant may use his/her address to search for nearby enrollment centers and set an appointment time for the location of his/her choice. If pre-enrolling via the Help Desk (1-866-DHS-TWIC), an operator will help the applicant set an appointment time at the enrollment center of his/her choice.
How long does enrollment take?
The enrollment process for a pre-enrolled applicant is expected to take approximately 10 minutes. The enrollment process for an individual who chose not to pre-enroll is expected to take approximately 15 minutes.
How will the cards be issued?
The applicant will be notified by email or phone, as specified during enrollment, when his/her credential is available at the enrollment center. The applicant must return to the same enrollment center to pick up his/her TWIC.
How long does it take to receive a TWIC?
Currently, there is typically three to four week turnaround from enrollment until card activation. Eligibility issues or insufficient paperwork may increase the turnaround time.
Where can I get a copy of communication materials that I can print out and distribute at my port?
There are informative communications materials available for download on this website. For general TWIC information, click on the “Other Resources” tab to download flyers in both English and Spanish. For port-specific materials, click on the appropriate port under the “Schedule” tab. We encourage you to download these materials and disseminate them widely within your port community. Feel free to use them for newsletters, web uploads, pamphlets, and flyers. All documents are 8½” x 11” PDF files.
Where can I get additional information on TWIC?
The TSA website for the TWIC program provides additional information on the program, supporting policies and regulation (information on waivers and appeals), etc. Additionally, the Coast Guard’s website contains information on U.S. Coast Guard policies and contains specific documents, such as the Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) and small entity guides for TWIC applicants and owners/operators.
What is the contact number for the TWIC Help Desk?
The TWIC Help Desk can be reached at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (or 1-866-347-8942) and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. EST.
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