Latest news with #Callery
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Overseas travellers are paying an extra $80 when they don't have to
Picture: Shutterstock Use a card with no international fees Set up your PIN before you leave for your holiday Don't withdraw money at airport currency exchange kiosks Pay in the local currency Foreign transaction fees are surely the bane of every overseas traveller's existence. You often forget about them until you have to pay for something - or worse, until you get home and see your credit card bill. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area I experienced this on a recent trip to Europe, but more on that later. New research from shows almost 60 per cent of Australian travellers paid foreign transaction fees on their most recent overseas holiday, costing them $80 on average. A third of those were slugged with charges of $100 or more. says foreign transaction fees - charges banks apply when you use your card overseas or make a purchase in a foreign currency - typically range from 1 per cent to 3 per cent of the transaction amount. These charges can quickly add up. If you spend $5000 overseas, a 3 per cent foreign transaction fee adds up to $150 in unnecessary charges. Saving on international fees puts more money in your pocket for seeing the sights. Picture: Shutterstock finance expert, Sean Callery, says these fees are one of the most overlooked travel expenses and one of the easiest to avoid if you're willing to shop around. "Most people look for savings on flights, accommodation and travel insurance - but forget about international transaction fees," he says. There are plenty of credit cards and debit cards on the market that don't charge international transaction fees. Some allow you to see your balance and spending in both local currency and AUD, as well as the conversion rate, so you can control your spending. But there are other ways you can avoid hefty bank fees, too. Here are Explore and top tips to avoid those pesky fees. Use a card with no international fees Australians can pick from more than 30 debit and credit cards that charge no foreign transaction fees, Mr Callery said. Switch before you travel and save up to 3 per cent on every purchase or ATM withdrawal you make overseas or online in a foreign currency. Don't forget to set up your PIN Before my Europe trip, I obtained a travel money card. But once overseas, I realised I could only tap and pay up to a maximum of AU$100 and once over this cap, I had to punch in my PIN. The problem was, I hadn't set up my PIN before leaving Australia, so I used my other card for larger payments and ended up being slugged with the very fees I was trying to avoid. Make sure you set up your PIN before you travel. Avoid overseas ATMs with extra fees Mr Callery advises sticking to partner banks or major networks when withdrawing cash abroad. Some ATMs also charge their own fees on top of what your bank may add, so it's a good idea to check with your bank about fee-free global ATM partners or daily withdrawal charges. "Avoid withdrawing cash using a credit card as high cash advance rates and fees typically apply," he says Always pay in the local currency There are instances overseas when you might be asked whether you want to pay in Australian dollars or the local currency. Always choose the local currency, Mr Callery says. Picture: Shutterstock If you pick AUD, the merchant's payment system handles the conversion using its own exchange rate, which will trigger dynamic currency conversion, and this often adds hidden fees, he says. Avoid currency exchange kiosks at airports "Airport currency counters have some of the worst exchange rates and fees," Mr Callery says. "If you need cash, withdraw a small amount from a reputable ATM abroad using a debit card or use a prepaid travel card." Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
Irish Examiner
23-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Relief road and crossings planned for Cork town where 10 pedestrians were killed in a decade
Work is progressing on making a gridlocked Co Cork town centre safer for pedestrians, 10 of whom have been killed in little over a decade, while a preferred route for its relief road is likely to be chosen early next year. Charleville is suffering from extreme traffic jams on most weekdays during rush-hour. In a number of cases over the past decade, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) passing through its main street have knocked down and killed pedestrians who tried to cross in front of them at points where there were no signalised crossings. County councillors attending a meeting of the Northern Division in Mallow were informed that route options are being identified thanks to TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) funding and feasibility report on a preferred route is likely to emerge early next year. Sean Callery, a senior official with the council's Roads and Transportation Directorate, said TII has provided adequate funding to progress route identification for this year and he expects it will do so again next year. Mr Callery added TII has also provided funding to make the town's main street safer for pedestrians. Four pedestrian crossings are being upgraded. The project includes new bus stop locations adjacent to the Bank of Ireland and the installation of the new pedestrian crossing adjacent to the AIB. Mr Callery said: The relocation of the northbound and southbound bus stops has been agreed in principle with the NTA [National Transport Authority], Bus Éireann, and TII. He said TII approval has also been received to appoint technical advisor to develop the detailed design and construction contract documents for all aspects of the safety improvement project. Mr Callery added that this tender process has commenced and construction of the new bus stop locations and the new pedestrian crossing by AIB is expected to commence this winter or early next spring. However, he added that the council had to be 'mindful' that any work in the town wouldn't impact the Christmas shopping period. Meanwhile, the council is also preparing to build new pedestrian crossings in Buttevant's main street next year. Fine Gael councillor Tony O'Shea requested one of them be located near the Centra supermarket as its one of the main places local schoolchildren cross the road. Increased congestion in Mallow and concerns about pedestrian safety there, especially with a high concentration of HGVs coming through the town centre, was raised by Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden. He asked council officials to look at diverting HGVs away from the centre via Park Road.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Some states issue bounty on handsome yet smelly tree
(NEXSTAR) — There is something idyllic about walking down a tree-lined street, especially in spring when blooms are bursting. It's why visitors from far and wide flock to Washington, D.C., every spring to admire the cherry blossoms. There are some blooming ornamental trees that, while impressive, have been found to be menacing to native species. They're so problematic, officials in some states have issued a bounty for it. The species, the Callery pear tree, has a complicated origin story in the U.S. Originally imported from Asia in 1909 for the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, the tree was again brought to the U.S. a decade later by the Department of Agriculture to help the common pear (a non-native but naturalized species here) develop resistance against a destructive bacterial disease. Once its ornamental value and hardiness were recognized in the 1950s, the Callery pear was used to develop cultivars, including the Bradford pear tree, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You may be familiar with other cultivars that have since been created, including the Cleveland Select, Aristocrat, and Redspire. It was believed, initially, that the trees were not able to reproduce, which experts later found to be inaccurate as the species found a way to cross-pollinate because of the cultivars, Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, told Nexstar's KSNW. While the pear trees have many apparent benefits — they grow quickly, can adapt to different regions, tolerate droughts and pollution, produce a dazzling bloom, and form a symmetrical shape — the Callery is less than desirable. They typically have dense growth and thorns, per the USDA, which can prove detrimental to equipment and livestock that encounter them. Their ability to grow among pine plantations 'can impede some forest management practices,' while their dense growth can block out native species. The Callery pear trees are also known to be weak, causing them to be damaged by storms frequently, experts note. $95M settlement over Siri eavesdropping claims approved: How to make a claim And yet, there's something worse about them: their odor. 'The fragrance of Callery pears has been described as smelling like dead fish, vomit, urine, and other undesirable things,' Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, wrote last year. Nonetheless, the trees have rapidly spread across the U.S. and can be found in several states, primarily throughout the East. Some of those states are inviting residents to annihilate the trees, oftentimes in exchange for a preferred native species or even money. Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Forestry offered a Callery pear exchange program, offering residents free 'native, young, healthy' replacement trees for the removal of the trees from their property. Hundreds of residents, who were responsible for all costs related to removing the Callery pear tree, took advantage of the program. Missouri's Invasive Plant Council offered a native tree in exchange for one or more Callery pear trees in April. The Kansas Forest Service expects to host a buyback program in the fall. Organizations in Ohio have launched bounty and exchange programs, some of which target other invasive species as well. Pennsylvania recently launched its own program to replace invasive trees and shrubs. Similar programs have been offered in South Carolina. Several states have outlawed the Callery pear tree in their state. It may look stunning, but officials want you to kill this bug if you see it Ohio became the first state to make it illegal to sell, grow, or plant the tree in 2023, followed by Pennsylvania and South Carolina in 2024. Next year, Minnesota will prohibit the tree's sale statewide. Starting in 2027, Callery pear trees and their relatives can no longer be moved or sold within Kansas. Callery pear trees are identifiable by their white blooms in spring, which typically come early and produce the aforementioned foul smell, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture explains. Its leaves are wavy, rounded to teardrop-shaped, and have fine teeth. Thorns can be found on branches and stems. Callery pears can also produce large crops of tiny, hard pears that are green to brown that become soft after the first frost. Come fall, the tree's leaves will be 'brilliantly colored,' if they aren't tarnished by frost due to their late color change. Johnson told Nexstar that while fall is the best time to do woody plant management, as trees are sending resources from the leaves back down to the roots, you can still take down a Callery pear tree now. He recommends cutting down the tree and treating the stumps with an herbicide, and watching for suckers — stems that can grow from the base of a tree or its roots. Why Costco, Sam's Club typically have lower gas prices than other stations While it isn't considered invasive in every state, including Illinois, and can still be purchased, Johnson noted the species does still have invasive qualities. 'Just because you can still buy it doesn't mean you should. We know it causes problems,' he explained, noting that that is true for all the cultivars of the Callery pear tree. 'Look for something else you want. Those spring blooms, redbuds, dogwoods, things like that, still have those nice blooms and the added benefit — at least they don't smell bad.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18-05-2025
- General
- The Hill
Some states issue bounty on handsome yet smelly tree
(NEXSTAR) — There is something idyllic about walking down a tree-lined street, especially in spring when blooms are bursting. It's why visitors from far and wide flock to Washington, D.C., every spring to admire the cherry blossoms. There are some blooming ornamental trees that, while impressive, have been found to be menacing to native species. They're so problematic, officials in some states have issued a bounty for it. The species, the Callery pear tree, has a complicated origin story in the U.S. Originally imported from Asia in 1909 for the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, the tree was again brought to the U.S. a decade later by the Department of Agriculture to help the common pear (a non-native but naturalized species here) develop resistance against a destructive bacterial disease. Once its ornamental value and hardiness were recognized in the 1950s, the Callery pear was used to develop cultivars, including the Bradford pear tree, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You may be familiar with other cultivars that have since been created, including the Cleveland Select, Aristocrat, and Redspire. It was believed, initially, that the trees were not able to reproduce, which experts later found to be inaccurate as the species found a way to cross-pollinate because of the cultivars, Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, told Nexstar's KSNW. While the pear trees have many apparent benefits — they grow quickly, can adapt to different regions, tolerate droughts and pollution, produce a dazzling bloom, and form a symmetrical shape — the Callery is less than desirable. They typically have dense growth and thorns, per the USDA, which can prove detrimental to equipment and livestock that encounter them. Their ability to grow among pine plantations 'can impede some forest management practices,' while their dense growth can block out native species. The Callery pear trees are also known to be weak, causing them to be damaged by storms frequently, experts note. And yet, there's something worse about them: their odor. 'The fragrance of Callery pears has been described as smelling like dead fish, vomit, urine, and other undesirable things,' Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, wrote last year. Nonetheless, the trees have rapidly spread across the U.S. and can be found in several states, primarily throughout the East. Some of those states are inviting residents to annihilate the trees, oftentimes in exchange for a preferred native species or even money. Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Forestry offered a Callery pear exchange program, offering residents free 'native, young, healthy' replacement trees for the removal of the trees from their property. Hundreds of residents, who were responsible for all costs related to removing the Callery pear tree, took advantage of the program. Missouri's Invasive Plant Council offered a native tree in exchange for one or more Callery pear trees in April. The Kansas Forest Service expects to host a buyback program in the fall. Organizations in Ohio have launched bounty and exchange programs, some of which target other invasive species as well. Pennsylvania recently launched its own program to replace invasive trees and shrubs. Similar programs have been offered in South Carolina. Several states have outlawed the Callery pear tree in their state. Ohio became the first state to make it illegal to sell, grow, or plant the tree in 2023, followed by Pennsylvania and South Carolina in 2024. Next year, Minnesota will prohibit the tree's sale statewide. Starting in 2027, Callery pear trees and their relatives can no longer be moved or sold within Kansas. Callery pear trees are identifiable by their white blooms in spring, which typically come early and produce the aforementioned foul smell, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture explains. Its leaves are wavy, rounded to teardrop-shaped, and have fine teeth. Thorns can be found on branches and stems. Callery pears can also produce large crops of tiny, hard pears that are green to brown that become soft after the first frost. Come fall, the tree's leaves will be 'brilliantly colored,' if they aren't tarnished by frost due to their late color change. Johnson told Nexstar that while fall is the best time to do woody plant management, as trees are sending resources from the leaves back down to the roots, you can still take down a Callery pear tree now. He recommends cutting down the tree and treating the stumps with an herbicide, and watching for suckers — stems that can grow from the base of a tree or its roots. While it isn't considered invasive in every state, including Illinois, and can still be purchased, Johnson noted the species does still have invasive qualities. 'Just because you can still buy it doesn't mean you should. We know it causes problems,' he explained, noting that that is true for all the cultivars of the Callery pear tree. 'Look for something else you want. Those spring blooms, redbuds, dogwoods, things like that, still have those nice blooms and the added benefit — at least they don't smell bad.'
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Organization offering ‘bounty' for removal of invasive trees in central Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A central Ohio organization has put a bounty on Callery pear trees, offering residents money to replace the invasive species with another plant. The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, Franklin County's natural resource agency, has teamed up with multiple local cities to incentivize residents to ditch their Callary pear trees and other invasive plants. The cities of Columbus, Grove City, New Albany, Reynoldsburg and Westerville are participating. Family, Delaware police seeking answers in 21-year-old's disappearance The program requires residents to remove one of the accepted invasive plants from their yard and replace it with a native tree or shrub before receiving a monetary reward, according to Kori Sedmak, public outreach coordinator at the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District. 'Westerville is just doing the Callery pears as part of the program but these other communities are also including bush and vine, tree of heaven, burning bush and Japanese barberry,' Sedmak said. To participate, residents are required to show photos of both the removal of an invasive species and the planting of a native species to the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, along with the receipt for the new plant. The conservation district has a list of native plants residents can choose from as a replacement for an invasive species, including dogwood trees, Eastern white cedars and blue-eyed grass. The required photos can be sent through email, mail or shown in person. The organization asks for two to three weeks to review an applicant's materials. The agency will then mail a $100 check to the participant, or $150 if they are located in New Albany, to help reimburse the cost of the new plant that was purchased. While New Albany participated in the program last year, the rest of the cities are offering the bounty for the first time. 'Harry Potter,' 'The Outsiders' among Broadway in Columbus 2025-26 lineup Invasive plants are those that are not native to their environment and cause harm to the ecosystem they are in. An example numerous Ohioans have likely seen – or smelled – is Callery pear trees, which spread rapidly and crowd out native plants. 'If you look on the sides of the highways this time of year, you see all these blooming Callery pears and they grow so much faster than everything else that they prevent [native] trees from growing,' Sedmak said. The tree, known for its white flowers, also typically produces a strong aroma, which has been likened to a variety of unpleasant scents, including rotting fish, vomit, and animal waste. While there is no official cut-off date for the program, the reward will no longer be offered in a community as funding limits are reached. Sedmak said the organization will be able to accept about 13 to 14 trade-ins per community. The best place to find out if a resident is located within the boundaries of the participating cities is through the Franklin County Auditor's website, according to Sedmak. She also said those who want to participate can call the conservation district at 614-486-9613 to find out if they are eligible. Residents can submit their application for the bounty program here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
