Verified Identity Pass abruptly shuts down

Verified Identity Pass abruptly shuts down

NEW YORK — Verified Identity Pass, a company that promised to speed passengers through airport security checkpoints for an annual fee, shuts down, leaving some frequent fliers looking for options to avoid long screening lines.

Verified Identity Pass said it wasn’t able to negotiate a deal with its creditors, which it needed to continue operating. Its service, Clear, stopped operations abruptly Monday night.

Clear originated with a program set up by the Transportation Security Administration called Registered Traveler. It was instituted when security lines swelled after 9-11.

But the service ran into trouble, as TSA attempted to balance a desire to cut wait times while ensuring proper screening.

Tours of historic home focus on revolution

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Charleston Museum’s Heyward-Washington House will offer tours with a focus on the Revolution on Thursdays during July.

President George Washington stayed at the home of Thomas Heyward Jr. during his Charleston visit in 1791. But the national historic landmark in Charleston’s historic district was significant in the earlier Revolutionary War.

Heyward had the house built in 1772. He was one of four South Carolinians who signed the Declaration of Independence, and he also served under Gen. William Moultrie during the Revolution.

Heyward was captured when the British captured Charleston in 1780. He was exiled to Saint Augustine and exchanged the following year.

Associated Press

Combo tickets for ’Moore & Monet’

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Botanical Garden and the High Museum of Art are teaming up to offer a joint discounted-admission ticket to two of their biggest temporary exhibitions.

The combination ticket is called “Moore & Monet.” It will allow entrance to “Moore in America: The Monumental Sculpture of Henry Moore” at the garden and “Monet Water Lilies” at the High. It also gives access to other special exhibitions and collections at both places.

The combination ticket prices are: adults, $25; seniors 65 and over, $21; and children ages 6 to 17, $17.

The offer runs through the end of the “Monet Water Lilies” exhibitions on Aug. 23.

An edible garden grows in the Bronx

NEW YORK — The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx is opening a new outdoor exhibit called The Edible Garden with programming that includes tastings, tours, demonstrations and celebrity lectures.

The Edible Garden, open through Sept. 13, will be a showcase for edible plants, vegetable-growing techniques and garden design. It will also host presentations from famous guests including Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse, Lidia Bastianich, and Dan Barber, who recently won the James Beard Award for “2009 Chef of the Year.” An audio tour includes narration by Mario Batali and Bette Midler.

Details can be found at www.nybg.org.

Pet area opens at St. Louis airport

ST. LOUIS — Lambert Airport in St. Louis has opened two outdoor rest areas where traveling animals can spend a few minutes off the leash and play.

Lambert says the miniature dog parks have 400 square feet of gated space with benches, fire hydrants, and plastic mitts for pet owners to clean up after their animals.

Lambert spokesman Jeff Lea said that several airports have created areas for pets and service animals to exercise, play and relieve themselves between flights.

The area at the Main Terminal has synthetic turf and is located outside exit MT-6. The East Terminal location has natural grass and is outside baggage claim at exit ET-15.

Associated Press