Latest news with #Ambler
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
WATCH: New thrift shop to fund care for ill children
A NEW thrift shop in Pinetown has opened its doors where proceeds will go towards an NPO which provides palliative care to children with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses in KZN. The NPO, Umduduzi – Hospice Care for Children, opened the thrift shop at Sandy Centre in Pinetown in May, and its members encourage donors and potential thrifters to pay them a visit. The NPO's clinical director, Dr Julia Ambler, said the shop's stock is sourced through 'active social media support' which results in good quality products being donated. Ambler and her colleagues, administrator Michelle Norman and the shop's sales exec Zama Gcaba, encourage potential donors to give 'anything you think someone else would like to buy'. 'The idea is for people to shop with dignity – people who cannot afford the pricier retail stores, this shop is for them to find something lovely,' explained Dr Ambler. So far, the reception at the centre and in the community at large has been positive, with support seen through shoppers buying the quality products at affordable prices. Norman said since Umduduzi is an NPO which is not funded by the government, the idea to open up a thrift shop was to create 'a more sustainable income stream' for 'a very good cause which is caring for very sick children'. 'What is not sold at the shop goes towards the children we care for and their families,' said Norman. Also read: 5 Durban children's homes to support this Mandela Day Gcaba thanked the staff at the Spar outlet located at the centre that constantly refers customers to the thrift shop. 'When they get here, they exclaim at the prices,' said Gcaba, who added that some of the items sold are new and had been donated by closed down boutiques. 'But we reduce the prices of those items drastically,' she said. For a large quantity of goods, collection can be arranged, however drop-offs to the shop are preferred. The shop runs from 08:00 to 16:30 on weekdays and until 13:00 on Saturdays. Umduduzi – Hospice Care for Children is a dedicated children's palliative care service providing care to children with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses in KZN. The organisation is entirely donor funded. The shop stocks clothing, household goods, toys, children's books, puzzles, games and various other essentials at affordable prices. Dr Ambler said the Umduduzi Hope Chest thrift shop is committed to promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness. 'By encouraging the reuse of items, we strive to reduce waste and minimise the environmental footprint associated with the production of new goods,' said Dr Ambler. Donors can contact Norman on 072 829 8384 or Dr Ambler on 076 417 8977 or visit the shop at Sandy Centre in Pinetown. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Appeals court rules in favor of prosecutors in case against ex-Williamson County sheriff
The Texas 3rd Court of Appeals on Friday ruled in favor of prosecutors in the tampering with evidence case against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and Assistant County Attorney Jason Nassour. Chody and Nassour are accused of taking steps to ensure that a video shot by the "Live PD" television show during Javier Ambler's in-custody death in March 2019 was never seen by investigators or the public. The video was sent to the television producers, who destroyed it in June 2019. The criminal trial against Chody and Nassour was put on hold in August after Travis County District Court Judge Karen Sage ruled that the state could not present evidence about whether Chody and Nassour were involved in a decision to remove television footage from the scene of Ambler's death because the federal Private Protection Act prevented the officials from seizing the footage at the time. The federal act prohibits police from searching or seizing work product and documentary material intended for publication. The appeals court said in its opinion Friday that the federal Private Protection Act did not apply to the case. "This case, from the beginning, has never been about a search or seizure; it is about evidence already inside a patrol vehicle parked within a secure crime scene," the opinion said. The state had argued that if the federal privacy law did apply, it could not prosecute the case. Ambler was driving home in the early morning hours of March 28, 2019, when two Williamson County sheriff's deputies — who both had 'Live PD' crews in their patrol cars — started chasing him after he failed to dim his headlights. Ambler crashed his car several times before it became disabled in North Austin after a 22-minute chase that started in Williamson County and ended in Travis County. Deputies J.J. Johnson and Zach Camden used Tasers four times on the 400-pound former football player as he cried that he had a heart condition, could not breathe and was not resisting arrest, according to a body camera video from an Austin police officer at the scene. Ambler, a 40-year-old former postal worker and the father of two sons, died a few minutes later. Chody and Nassour arrived at the scene after Ambler died. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Appeals court favors state in case against former sheriff Robert Chody
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
2025 Budget Must Prioritise Support For Small Businesses
Press Release – Buy NZ Made 'Small businesses are facing a tough economic climate – rising costs, uncertain demand, and global competition. What they need now is a Government that steps up with strategic, long-term investment in local enterprise.' Buy NZ Made is calling on the Government to deliver meaningful support for New Zealand's small businesses, the backbone of the economy and the heart of our local communities. With small businesses making up over 97% of all enterprises in New Zealand and employing more than 600,000 Kiwis, Buy NZ Made Executive Director Dane Ambler says it is essential that the 2025 Budget includes targeted initiatives to ease cost pressures, encourage innovation, and drive local consumer confidence. 'Small businesses are facing a tough economic climate – rising costs, uncertain demand, and global competition. What they need now is a Government that steps up with strategic, long-term investment in local enterprise. 'Ideally, we would like to see increased access to low-interest loans, grants, and tax relief for small businesses, especially those recovering from the impacts of inflation and global supply chain disruptions.' Ambler says the government's recent move to a 'local-first' approach in procurement to ensure New Zealand-made products and services are given fair consideration in public spending decisions was a good start. 'Backing small businesses is not just good economics – it's good nation-building. 'When the Government supports local, it sends a powerful message to every New Zealander that choosing Kiwi-made products and services creates jobs, strengthens communities, and keeps money circulating within our own economy.' Buy NZ Made is encouraging the public and policymakers alike to think local, buy local, and back the businesses that make New Zealand unique.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
2025 Budget Must Prioritise Support For Small Businesses
Buy NZ Made is calling on the Government to deliver meaningful support for New Zealand's small businesses, the backbone of the economy and the heart of our local communities. With small businesses making up over 97% of all enterprises in New Zealand and employing more than 600,000 Kiwis, Buy NZ Made Executive Director Dane Ambler says it is essential that the 2025 Budget includes targeted initiatives to ease cost pressures, encourage innovation, and drive local consumer confidence. "Small businesses are facing a tough economic climate - rising costs, uncertain demand, and global competition. What they need now is a Government that steps up with strategic, long-term investment in local enterprise. "Ideally, we would like to see increased access to low-interest loans, grants, and tax relief for small businesses, especially those recovering from the impacts of inflation and global supply chain disruptions." Ambler says the government's recent move to a "local-first" approach in procurement to ensure New Zealand-made products and services are given fair consideration in public spending decisions was a good start. "Backing small businesses is not just good economics - it's good nation-building. "When the Government supports local, it sends a powerful message to every New Zealander that choosing Kiwi-made products and services creates jobs, strengthens communities, and keeps money circulating within our own economy." Buy NZ Made is encouraging the public and policymakers alike to think local, buy local, and back the businesses that make New Zealand unique.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey's first solar panel farm switched on to power homes
Jersey's first solar farm which will provide enough energy to power more than 600 homes has been switched 11 acre site consists of nearly 7,500 panels and is expected to power 14% of St Clement's Electricity's chief executive Chris Ambler said the array was a "very significant achievement" and was important for the island's energy solar farm and plans for a further five sites have received criticism from some residents and farmers who believe countryside land should not be used. 'Significant achievement' Mr Ambler said: "By a country mile it is the biggest solar panel array in the Channel Islands, it's the first big ground-based solar development."It's relatively modest by international standards but for Jersey I think it is a very significant achievement."He added the project cost more than £4.5m but should lead to lower and more stable electricity costs for the island."We're constantly looking for opportunities to diversify but do so cost-effectively and we think solar has a very important role to play as well as off-shore wind," Mr Ambler said. 'Energy security' Deputy Steve Luce, Environment Minister, said: "Low carbon energy will be critical to the island's energy mix in the future. "I congratulate Jersey Electricity and its partners on developing this scheme which, as well as providing the island with renewable energy, also helps contribute to our energy security."He added it is important to consider whether the panels can be viewed by residents and tourists in their Island Plan for 2022-2025 set out that large-scale solar panel installations were an increasingly viable option to reduce Jersey's reliance on French sources and increase levels of renewable added solar panel installations on the ground are easily removed allowing the land to be restored to its original condition. The site is also home to more than 100 sheep from Panigot Farm, which will prevent grass overgrowing and benefit from the shade of the Hughes, owner of Panigot Farm, said he contacted JE in 2022 when the site's plans were announced as he knew of the benefits for sheep grazing in solar Hughes said: "[The sheep] seem to be absolutely thriving, they're really enjoying the shade the panels themselves bring."Particularly in this weather - I think it's 25 degrees today - they're spending a lot of time in the shade which they normally wouldn't have the chance to do that."
