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GRPS shares renderings of new school at Aberdeen site

GRPS shares renderings of new school at Aberdeen site

Yahoo16-04-2025
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Rapids Public Schools has of the new elementary school being built to replace Aberdeen Academy.
The new elementary will be built behind the current Aberdeen building. Officials expect it to open in 2027. Once the new school opens, it will replace Aberdeen and Palmer elementary schools, and the current Aberdeen building will be demolished.
Why GRPS is proposing a new Aberdeen school
The district shared plans for the new school at a Tuesday meeting with community members. According to GRPS, the design is intended to reflect the Red Hawk mascot: There are two classroom 'wings' around the body of the school.
The interior design will feature organic colors and forms, aiming to create a collaborative, inviting atmosphere and help students 'take flight,' the district said. It will include a media center and a dedication wall, according to the plans.
With a price tag of $38 million, the construction will be funded by funds from a bond voters in 2023.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday at regimental museum
D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday at regimental museum

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday at regimental museum

A D-Day veteran has celebrated his 100th birthday at the museum of his old regiment in Aberdeen after receiving his coveted message from the King. Jim Glennie turned 100 on Tuesday and a number of his family and friends gathered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum where he volunteers. Mr Glennie met the King earlier this year when he toured the Aberdeen museum, with Charles praising him as a 'great example to us all'. As an 18-year-old private, he was part of the invasion force which landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. He was later wounded in action and taken prisoner, spending the remainder of the war in Stalag IV-B. He and other soldiers made their own way back to Allied lines when their German guards deserted them as the Russians approached from the east. When Mr Glennie returned to Turriff in Aberdeenshire after the war, he became a welder. France has awarded him the Legion d'Honneur and earlier this year he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the King's Honours list. Friends and family gathered at the museum on Tuesday to celebrate, singing 'happy birthday' to the veteran. He was formally presented with his British Empire Medal by Aberdeen's Lord-Lieutenant, who is also the city's Lord Provost, David Cameron. The former soldier had earlier received his message from the King. John McLeish, chief executive of the The Gordon Highlanders Museum, said Mr Glennie was in good spirits. He told the PA news agency: 'Jim Glennie has volunteered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum for over 30 years. 'His military service is well documented but less well-known is the commitment and enthusiasm he brings to his volunteer role every Tuesday, week in week out. 'He is an important member of our team and, at the age of 100, his personality and generosity of spirit add to the wonderful camaraderie exhibited by team members. 'Watching Jim engaging with museum visitors is a sight to behold. He makes a regular museum visit very special indeed and, ultimately, he makes people smile! 'There were lots of smiles at the Museum today as we celebrated Jim's 100th birthday.' Charles toured the regimental museum in January, and upon seeing the King, Mr Glennie greeted him cheerfully and said 'long time no see!' The King told him about a portrait of Mr Glennie he had been shown at the museum, saying 'it looked terrific' and promising to send him a message when he turns 100 in August. The King said: 'You're a great example to us all, if I may say so, you really are.'

Woman forbidden from removing bat infestation from her home
Woman forbidden from removing bat infestation from her home

Yahoo

time17-07-2025

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Woman forbidden from removing bat infestation from her home

A woman has been forced to sleep in her car after discovering hundreds of bats roosting in her home - and being told there is nothing she can do to remove them. Anne-Marie Murchie says she is "living in fear every day" after discovering a colony of more than 500 of the protected animals in the walls and roof of her house in Aberdeen. She first heard flapping noises in the walls and later discovered a bat hiding in her toilet roll holder. She has since found more in the living room and kitchen. The NatureScot agency says it cannot remove bats from homes and has advised Ms Murchie that the animals will leave of their own accord at the end of the "maternity season" in August or September. That has been of no comfort to Ms Murchie, who says her anxiety is "through the roof" from the sound of the bats' constant movement. She told BBC Scotland News: "They're above the spotlights in the kitchen and they've popped them out a few times as well. "I'm scared to come in the house. Sometimes I actually sleep outside in the car. I'm just petrified. "The noise is horrendous, it's like running water. But I think it's all the wings going together, like flapping. "It never stops. They get louder at about five or six at night and then when they come in at five in the morning. But they're constantly making noise. I wonder if they sleep." The bats colonising Ms Murchie's home are soprano pipistrelles, which are among the most common and widespread of British bat species. They are known to form colonies well in excess of 200 adult animals - plus their offspring. NatureScot said these bats are usually seasonal visitors to houses and are present for four or five months of the year. They form maternity colonies in May and June and leave in August and early September, once the young bats are independent. NatureScot's bat workers can collect information and advise homeowners on problems they have with the animals. But it says they "cannot carry out any works to your building or exclude/take away the bats". The agency's Kevin Giles told BBC Scotland News: ''With regard to what you can do with them, actually nothing, because they are a protected species under European protection laws and Scottish and UK laws. "So the bats themselves can't be touched, nor can the roosts.'' Ms Murchie first became concerned about a constant noise in her house a few months ago and believed it must be down to a wasps' nest. But a pest control officer told her it was actually bats after looking at doorbell camera footage and seeing them outside. "We found out they were protected so we went through the proper channels and called Nature Scotland," Ms Murchie said. "They then came out with thermal cameras and that gave them an idea of how many bats there are and all the entry points in the house. "It was about 500 bats at least and about 200 to 300 babies. But now we've found another site so they're coming back next week to see how many are there. "It's absolutely awful. I actually moved out because I couldn't bear to live in the house. You can't come in or out at certain times because there's hundreds of them." Ms Murchie returned to her house after a few weeks in the hope that the bats had left. "I thought, they're definitely not in the house," she said "but then I got up one night and went to the loo. "Half asleep, I grabbed the toilet roll holder and one came out and held on to my hand. I just flipped." She added: "I phoned Nature Scotland and they came straight out. She (the bat expert) took her outside and put it back up beside the roost so she could go back up to her home." Ms Murchie, who is a taxi driver, says she now spends as much time as possible working in her car to get away from the sights, sounds and smells in her house. "The smell comes through the fan. It's like a musty, dirty smell. "It's sad that you can't do anything about it in your own home. "I feel like the rules should change a bit. Surely someone can come in that's licensed and take them away to somewhere humanely?" Licence to seal NatureScot has told Ms Murchie an officer will return to her house next week to update the situation. She said: "Once they've checked that the bats are gone, I can get a special licence and it's confirmation that I can seal up all the potential entry points. So that when they come back next year they won't be able to get in." NatureScot says people affected can call its Bats in Houses helpline on 01463 725 165 or email batsinhouses@ Anyone who finds a grounded bat in their property can also call either the Bat Conservation Trust Bat Helpline (0345 1300 228) or the SSPCA Animal Helpline (03000 999 999) for advice on how to best handle and remove the bat.

York revealed as UK's friendliest city, as Aviva research finds the nation's community spirit is strong - but millions are without access to pubs and gyms
York revealed as UK's friendliest city, as Aviva research finds the nation's community spirit is strong - but millions are without access to pubs and gyms

Yahoo

time24-06-2025

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York revealed as UK's friendliest city, as Aviva research finds the nation's community spirit is strong - but millions are without access to pubs and gyms

Survey of over 6,000 people finds the UK is more trusting, friendly and community-minded than some may think Three quarters of people trust their neighbours (73%) and think their communities are friendly (74%) York is the UK city with the friendliest community, the people of Exeter trust their neighbours the most, while Londoners are mostly likely to say feeling part of a community is important to them 79% of people are happy with the quality of their local green spaces, but only 35% are satisfied with local pubs and just a quarter (28%) are happy with gyms, sports and fitness centres in their area LONDON, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Kingdom is more united than people may think, according to a new study from Aviva. The survey of more than 6,000 UK adults finds nearly three quarters (74%) of people think their communities are friendly, while a similar number (73%) trust their neighbours. Nearly four in five (77%) UK residents also say their local community is a good place to live. York is revealed as the UK's friendliest city, while Exeter is pinpointed as the home of neighbourly trust. The top ten UK places for both categories are revealed as: UK Cities: Friendliest Communities UK Cities: Neighbourly Trust My local community is friendly % agreeI trust my neighbours % agree 1 York 90.4 % 1 Exeter 92.1 % 2 Exeter 85.7 % 2 Aberdeen 83.3 % 3 Plymouth 84.9 % 3 Bath 81.4 % 4 Bath 83.7 % 4 Norwich 81.3 % 5 Aberdeen 83.3 % 5 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 79.6 % 6 Edinburgh 81.9 % 6 Chelmsford 79.2 % 7 Derby 81.3 % 7 York 78.8 % 8 Chelmsford 81.1 % 8 Peterborough 78.0 % 9 Cardiff 79.3 % =9 Cambridge 77.1 % 10 Brighton & Hove 78.9 % =9 Derby 77.1 %10 Leeds 76.7 % And it's time to challenge the idea the UK's capital is an isolating and unfriendly place: 85% of Londoners* say being part of the local community is important, compared to 74% nationally. Being part of a community is a key factor in quality of life Aviva's research shows being part of a local community improves overall life satisfaction: 8 in 10 (83%) of those who feel they are part of their community are satisfied with their overall quality of life, in comparison to just 45% of people who don't feel part of their community. And while people are largely in agreement that local community is important, there's room for improvement in terms of satisfaction with community life. While 74% of people nationwide think it is important to be part of their community, only 69% are satisfied with their local community, though the gap is lowest in the South East and Wales (two points respectively). Community means people first, and the UK is seen as a green and pleasant land Aviva asked the UK what they believe constitutes a local community. Overwhelmingly 'the people who live near me' was the most popular answer across all generations, showing human connection and proximity makes a community, not digital connections. Access to green spaces matters to everyone and is often viewed as a necessity: 90% of respondents say it's important for them to have access to green space in their local community, and 79% are happy with the quality of their local green spaces. The cities with the highest levels of happiness with their green spaces are Plymouth, Brighton and Hove, Edinburgh and Bath. However, Aviva's research suggests that many people do not have access to certain amenities in their local area. Nearly a third (32%) say they do not have access to pubs in their local community, while 42% say the same about libraries and 46% have no access to gyms, sports and fitness centres in their area. Perhaps ironically, 56% say they don't have a community centre in their local community. Claudine Blamey, Chief Sustainability Officer, says: "Like all countries, the UK faces challenges, but we also have great opportunities and strengths, particularly in local communities, as this research shows. Aviva is here to help overcome the challenges and make the most of the opportunities. "This research shows just how deeply people value feeling part of a strong, connected local community. We are supporting people to get ready for the future with confidence, including by reinvesting an average of 2% of our group adjusted operating profit annually back into our communities. Over one million people are estimated to have benefitted from our community investment programmes in the UK, Ireland and Canada. "Across the UK, from north to south and east to west, it's heartwarming to hear people feel they are part of friendly communities and trust their neighbours – and that being part of a community is having a positive impact on their wellbeing." How Aviva is supporting the nation in 2025 Aviva has been part of the UK's story for over 300 years, supporting customers through industrial and digital revolutions – and is now committed to supporting climate adaptation and a more inclusive future. Aviva aims to invest £25 billion in the UK over the next decade, including in social housing, schools, hospitals and green energy projects. As part of its climate ambition, Aviva has pledged £100 million by 2030 towards nature-based carbon removals that also benefit communities. By the end of 2024, £87 million has already been committed to nature-based solutions in the UK, Ireland, and Canada, which deliver carbon sequestration, biodiversity gain, improved climate resilience, and social and community benefits. Aviva is supporting a new cancer research and treatment hub expected to create 13,000 highly skilled jobs in health, science, education and construction. To make the shift to support new greener transport for Britain, Aviva is funding 190,000 accessible EV charging points by 2030 with Connected Kerb and has committed to investing £2.5 billion in low carbon and renewable energy infrastructure by 2025. In tackling cost-of-living challenges, Aviva has donated £13 million to Citizens Advice and Money Advice Trust, supporting individuals and small businesses while gaining insights to better serve its own customers. Aviva is also Business In The Community's first National Place Partner, uniting local councils, businesses and community groups to create a strategic vision for long-term change, with a shared goal of reaching 50 communities across every UK region by 2032. Volunteers from Aviva's York site are delivering employability workshops throughout the academic year for Year 7 and 8 pupils at York High School, focusing on essential career skills and real-world workplace insights as part of a partnership with The Place in Westfield. Notes to editors: *Study asked people living in Greater London. More about the research: The study, commissioned by Aviva, was conducted by Edelman DJE. The self-completion online survey was hosted by Potentia Insight among N=6,089 members of the public living across the United Kingdom, nationally representative by age, gender, region and ethnicity. The research was undertaken from the 31st March to the 21st April 2025. More about Aviva: Notes to editors We are the UK's leading diversified insurer and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in India and China. We help our 20.5 million customers make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong we'll be there to put it right. We have been taking care of people for more than 325 years, in line with our purpose of being 'with you today, for a better tomorrow'. In 2024, we paid £29.3 billion in claims and benefits to our customers. In 2021, we announced our ambition to become Net Zero by 2040, the first major insurance company in the world to do so. While we are working towards our sustainability ambitions, we recognise that while we have control over Aviva's operations and influence over our supply chain, when it comes to decarbonising the economy in which we operate and invest, Aviva is one part of a far larger global system. Nevertheless, we remain focused on the task and are committed to playing our part in the collective effort to enable the global transition. Find out more about our climate goals at and our sustainability ambition and action at Aviva is a Living Wage, Living Pension and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. Find out more at As at 31 December 2024, total Group assets under management at Aviva Group were £407 billion and our estimated Solvency II shareholder capital surplus as at 31 March 2025 was £7.6 billion. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE 100 index. For more details on what we do, our business and how we help our customers, visit The Aviva newsroom at includes links to our spokespeople images, podcasts, research reports and our news release archive. Sign up to get the latest news from Aviva by email. You can follow us on:- X: - LinkedIn: - Instagram: For the latest corporate films from around our business, subscribe to our YouTube channel: For more information on Aviva's place-based action: Infographic: View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio

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