Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 14, 2023 NINJA | FROM PAGE 1 fore at 18½ feet and, for the first time ever, ninjas will need to complete all six obstacles in a designated time in order to earn a shot at the $10,000 prize. Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila, along with co-host Zuri Hall, are back to call the action as the ninjas make their way through the qualifying and semifinal rounds in Los Angeles before moving to the national finals in Las Vegas. Also at stake is a top prize of $1 million for the fastest ninja who can conquer all four stages at the national finals. Everett Police Officer John Uga, 25, from Everett, Mass., ran the intense obstacle course in this week’s episode on July 10 and advanced to the semifinals. He’s lived in Everett his whole life. After growing up in Everett, he became a police officer to protect his hometown. He works the graveyard shift and drives a patrol car for 10 hours at a time. John is known as the “Ninja Cop” around Everett. As he is a ninja, kids relate to him a little more, and he hopes that it helps the community look at police in a more positive light. John’s goal is to combine his love of “Ninja Warrior” with his work by organizing community events centered around ninja obstacles. The goal is to build a bridge between kids and the police community. He’s an instructor for the Junior Police Academy – a program where middle schoolers go through a mock police academy and learn about different departments within the police. John participated in a comparable program when he was in middle school, so he sees his time as an instructor as a way to “pay it forward.” The program motivated him to pursue a career in law enforcement, and he credits “American Ninja Warrior” for teaching him about how efficient movement saves energy, which helped him surEverett’s John Uga (left) and Daniel Novarro (right), Qualifiers, Season 15, Episode 6 of American Ninja Warrior. (Photo by Elizabeth Morris/NBC) vive the six months of mentally and physically demanding training. He graduated at the end of last year. BBB Tip: What to know before booking a vacation package B etween booking flights, hotels, a rental car and things to do, planning a vacation can get stressful. It’s one reason many travelers turn to vacation packages, which bundle multiple aspects of your trip. Vacation packages are simpler to purchase and can save you money, too. To get the best deal and to avoid unpleasant surprises, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends the following tips when booking a vacation package. • Count the cost. The best way to know if you’re getting a good deal on a vacation package is to check the price for booking each part of the vacation separately. If a vacation package costs more than purchasing hotels, flights, rental cars, etc., separately, you might want to make your bookings instead. • Be flexible to get the best deal. Getting a better value for your vacation package is easier if you can be flexible with your dates. This is also true if you’re flexible with your destination. Is your heart set on Cancun, but it’s outside your budget? Why not consider a travel package that takes you to a lesser-known beach in Mexico? The same goes for airport choices. Being open to departing from any nearby airport might save you hundreds of dollars. • Know that you can extend travel dates (usually). If you’re offered a package with pre-established dates, know that most packages allow you BBB TIP | SEE PAGE 5
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