Pittsford students celebrate 100th birthday of real-life Rosie the Riveter
Mary Masciangelo, a Fairport resident and recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, visited Calkins Road Middle School on Wednesday to meet students and share her story. The students also gave her birthday cards, which they had made in class.
During World War 2, Masciangelo helped produce supplies for soldiers fighting overseas. She was a teenager when she took a job manufacturing pins for parchutes and goggles for the Air Force. She worked at Shuron Optical Defense Plant here in Rochester while her brother and future husband served.
'We were thrilled to celebrate Mrs. Masciangelo's 100th birthday and give students the chance to learn firsthand about this remarkable period in history,' said Superintendent Michael Pero in a statement. 'Her story was an inspiration to us all.'
Masciangelo was given the Congressional Gold Medal on March 21.
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Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Yahoo
Homeowners discover suspected Nazi bunker underground with creepy message scrawled on walls: ‘Beware, the enemy is listening'
A UK couple was taken aback after discovering a World War 2-era 'Nazi bunker' underneath their home. 'It's not something you find every day!' Shaun Tullier, 35, told South West News Service while recalling the 'completely wild' discovery. The subterranean refuge was reportedly located 26 feet underground and was outfitted with bottles, water and even an escape hatch like a Bond villain's lair. He and his wife Caroline, 32, had moved into the domicile in Guernsey in 2021, unaware of the wartime shelter that lay beneath their feet. Having been born in Guernsey, Shaun had been familiar with the history of the Channel Islands, which were occupied by German forces from 1940 until their liberation in May 1945, the BBC reported. They had reportedly turned these idyllic isles into an 'impregnable fortress' in line with Adolf Hitler's orders. However, while the Brit knew that the site had been used as an enemy gun emplacement, he didn't realize it also housed a concealed bunker until he got tipped off by a woman who used to live in the house. She had reportedly contacted Shaun, who works as a carpenter, while he was hawking some chopped boards on Facebook Marketplace. 'She said, 'Oh did you find the rooms below your house?'' Shaun recounted.'I then replied, 'Oh, so there are rooms!', to which she said, 'Yes, we used to play in there when we were kids, my dad filled it in — I know they're at the front of the house.'' That's when he made the decision to uproot the driveway to try and unearth this chamber of secrets. Shaun and his friend ended up using an excavator to remove 100 tons of earth, uncovering the entrance to the underground lair. 'We kept digging down for a while and then finally, the ground just gave way and this doorway appeared,' he said, per the BBC. The space reportedly measured 17ft by 10ft and 17ft by 20ft, and featured a hallway that was 30ft by 4 feet wide. It also housed the remnants of the occupants who sheltered there, including old bottles, water, tins a tiled floor, and an emergency exit. Perhaps most notable was the chilling German phrase 'achtung feind hort mit,' which translates to 'beware, the enemy is listening.' 'You can't really put it into words,' said Tullier, who knew about the bunkers but didn't expect to find one under his home. 'I always knew about bunkers, but when Guernsey people came back to Guernsey after the war, they wanted to fill all the bunkers up,' he said. 'A lot of people still have bunkers here, but they are down the road and in gardens — not underneath the house!' The homeowner was reportedly so enamored with the discovery that he took pains to preserve the historical elements. They reportedly filled the bunker with 80s tons of concrete to encase the walls and steps, and are currently in the process of converting the space into a games room with a snooker table and a gym. The pair hopes to install the floor and finish painting the space by November. They even plan to preserve the eerie message. 'We are definitely keeping the writing — and might get someone that can calligraphy it back on, otherwise it gets lost,' said Shaun. 'Even the air getting to it has faded it a bit.' Ultimately, the Brit believes the restoration is worth it, declaring, 'It's not just rooms for us, it's a part of history.' Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
06-08-2025
- New York Post
Homeowners discover suspected Nazi bunker underground with creepy message scrawled on walls: ‘Beware, the enemy is listening'
A UK couple was taken aback after discovering a World War 2-era 'Nazi bunker' while renovating their home. 'It's not something you find every day!' Shaun Tullier, 35, told South West News Service while recalling the 'completely wild' discovery. 4 'It is history and it's good to have but I couldn't have imagined going through that — it really puts you back, especially when you go down,' said Shaun Tullier while describing the space. Shaun Tullier / SWNS Advertisement The subterranean refuge was reportedly located 26 feet underground and was outfitted with bottles, water and even an escape hatch like a Bond villain's lair. He and his wife Caroline, 32, had moved into the domicile in Guernsey in 2021, unaware of the wartime shelter that lay beneath their feet. Having been born in Guernsey, Shaun had been familiar with the history of the Channel Islands, which were occupied by German forces from 1940 until their liberation in May 1945, the BBC reported. They had reportedly turned these idyllic isles into an 'impregnable fortress' in line with Adolf Hitler's orders. Advertisement However, while the Brit knew that the site had been used as an enemy gun emplacement, he didn't realize it also housed a concealed bunker. 4 The bunker featured bottles, water, and even an escape hatch. Shaun Tullier / SWNS The pair had reportedly wanted to turn their garden into a turnabout, so they dug it up and paved it over with gravel, right above where the secret space was situated. Shaun, who works as a carpenter, finally figured out what lay beneath while hawking some chopped boards on Facebook Marketplace. The owner of the house contacted the woodworker and tipped him off about the wartime structure. Advertisement 'She said, 'Oh did you find the rooms below your house?'' Shaun recounted.'I then replied, 'Oh, so there are rooms!', to which she said, 'Yes, we used to play in there when we were kids, my dad filled it in — I know they're at the front of the house.'' 4 The chilling inscription reads, 'Beware, the enemy is listening.' Shaun Tullier / SWNS That's when he made the decision to uproot the driveway once again — a mere week after putting it down. Shaun and his friend ended up using an excavator to remove 100 tons of earth, uncovering the entrance to the underground lair. The space reportedly measured 17ft by 10ft and 17ft by 20ft, and featured a hallway that was 30ft by 4 feet wide. Advertisement It also housed the remnants of the occupants who sheltered there, including old bottles, water, a tiled floor, and an emergency exit. 4 Shaun said he knew the Germans stored weapons there, but never expected to find a wartime shelter as well. Shaun Tullier / SWNS Perhaps most notable was the chilling German phrase 'achtung feind hort mit,' which translates to 'beware, the enemy is listening.' 'You can't really put it into words,' said Tullier, who knew about the bunkers but didn't expect to find one under his home. 'I always knew about bunkers, but when Guernsey people came back to Guernsey after the war, they wanted to fill all the bunkers up,' he said. 'A lot of people still have bunkers here, but they are down the road and in gardens — not underneath the house!' The homeowner was reportedly so enamored with the discovery that he took pains to preserve it. They reportedly filled it with 80s tons of concrete to encase the walls and steps, and are in the process of converting the space into a games room with a snooker table and a gym. The pair hopes to install the floor and finish painting the space by November. Advertisement They even plan to preserve the eerie message. 'We are definitely keeping the writing — and might get someone that can calligraphy it back on, otherwise it gets lost,' said Shaun. 'Even the air getting to it has faded it a bit.' Ultimately, the Brit believes the restoration is worth it, declaring, 'It's not just rooms for us, it's a part of history.'
Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Lively's Gerry Wagner got married on D-Day, then went to war
To reach 100 years old is quite the milestone. It is with sadness that the family of Gerald (Gerry) Wagner share that their dad is no longer here to recount his memories. He was in otherwise good health right until his last days. Born March 24, 1925, and leaving us on July 19, 2025, Wagner represented a chapter of Canadian history that is soon to disappear. 'I am writing to let you know of the passing of Private Gerald Wagner, of Lively, the last known member of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) who served in World War 2,' posted Captain (retired) Tim Fletcher. As a young man, Wagne joined 'RHLI late in the war and fought through some of their toughest battles towards war's end,' said Fletcher. 'I was supposed to meet him last year. The fates conspired against us getting together. I was in the Army Reserves for 36 years. I try to stay involved with as many veterans as I can.' Wagner served in Italy, then France. After hospitalization, he caught a returning English convoy to Belgium. In Holland, he was at Nijmegen, then off to Essen and ended up with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. He was then part of the occupation of Germany as part of the Queen's Own Rifles. 'The loss of someone like Pvt. Wagner is a loss not just for our regiment but for all Canadians, Fletcher said. 'His experience was a reminder of the human condition and that we have to work towards something better. It is an erosion of memory.' For this reason, donations to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #564 Lockerby Poppy Fund would be appreciated. His daughter Kathy O'Neill recalled her father's last days. 'We were just loading the motorhome on the ferry to Newfoundland and in the lineup. We got the call. We came back fast. I even offered to drive. Dad was in hospital and he waited for us. My sister was here. We were soon all here.' Like many pensioners across Sudbury, Wagner had long service with Inco (34 years.) He had been living at the Meadowbrook community (a Chartwell retirement residence in Lively) since 2015. 'So many people have come up to us and said such nice things,' O'Neill said. 'In Lively, drivers used to honk and wave to our dad. He used to be at the corner. Messages on Facebook recall him being there. He said before he passed that he just wanted peace and love.' I had an afternoon to talk with Wagner this spring. It was soon after he received the King Charles medal on his birthday. He was musing about letting his hair grow; maybe to even – he said jokingly - consider a ponytail. 'I was born in Pembroke. My dad was a diamond driller. I was later with the same company. There were five children, and I was number four. It was a happy childhood ... 'In 1941, I came up north to join my Dad. I've been here ever since. I ended up in Creighton. I met a good-looking girl. I knew she was the one for me.' Ivy (nee Hodgins) predeceased in 2009. 'It was Christmas. I proposed with a box of Laura Secord chocolates. Robert Brown Jewellers sold me a ring. There was a tray of rings. My Mum chose, and I paid in full. 'I drove my Dad's green Buick out to Creighton. I put the ring in the centre spot of the box. Ivy did not see it. She took the box, thanked me, and put the chocolates to the side. It was only when her grandmother said that Ivy should have a second look inside that she realized what was there.' Wagner had to get permission from the Canadian Army to get married. 'I was just a private. We got married on D-Day (June 6, 1944.) The church was packed … I thought they were there for our wedding, but actually the doors were open for everyone and anyone to pray. They all stayed.' The ceremony was delayed for hours. 'I was waiting patiently for Ivy as she and her parents went into town to get her flowers and found everything was closed. We were 65 years married when Ivy left us. I had no appetite, but I had my little dog.' Beauty was a Bichon and the love of Meadowbrook. She was close to Wagner's heart. 'She took sick and suffered, and she had to leave me. She was 15.' For this reason, donations to Pet Save is another of Wagner's wishes. What was the secret to his long and rewarding life? 'I quit drinking, I eat well, and no, I don't exercise,' he said in the spring. 'I moved in here. I have been in the same suite. I have been happy here.' In the summer on a nice day, you might have spotted Wagner. 'Any day I go out to the corner, and I sit and watch the cars driving by. Sometimes I get a toot-toot. I get very suntanned over the summer. 'It's been a good life. Have loving children, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren … and another coming. Life is what you make of it. If something is broken, go and fix it. If it isn't broken, don't mess with it.' Bluesky: @ X: @SudburyStar Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. 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