Latest news with #AnnTaylor
Chicago Tribune
18-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Waukegan's Earth Week activities start Saturday; ‘This gives people a chance to do their spring cleaning'
Collaboration between the city of Waukegan and the Waukegan Park District for a river and ravine cleanup on April 5 officially made this Earth Month locally, but the city's annual Earth Week activities begin on April 19. Started four years ago when community members and city officials joined forces to arrange a week of events, Earth Week has grown to include hundreds of volunteers picking up trash around the city from the lakefront to each of the nine wards. 'Trash accumulates over the winter,' Mayor Ann Taylor said. 'Once the snow melts, it becomes more obvious. This gives people a chance to do their spring cleaning. It's had a snowball effect. Lots of people are now getting involved to make the city better.' The city's fourth-annual Earth Week opens Saturday with a recycling event at the Waukegan Public Library and continues through April 26, when hundreds of people will be doing a variety of projects throughout Waukegan to help the environment. Along with the recycling event on Saturday and next weekend's events around the city at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, the Waukegan Harbor & Marina and other locations, each ward has a designated day where they can bring unwanted items to a Dumpster that will be set out in their neighborhood. Ald. Lynn Florian, 8th Ward, helped organize the first Earth Week when local accountant Marty Wozniak suggested more activities around the city on the same day he led the spring rendition of his quadrennial cleanup of the Amstutz Expressway. 'Our ultimate goal is that we don't have to do this because everyone will dispose of their trash and help the environment,' Florian said. 'For the foreseeable future, this is a very good thing, and we're going to keep at it. It's great to see how many people get involved.' Opening the week, the library's Off the Grid team is conducting a free recycling event for paper and electronic waste between 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot behind the building near the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Clayton Street. Christian Neighbors Church in Waukegan is organizing a volunteer effort bringing people from 14 churches and three other not-for-profit organizations together to fan out through the city collecting discarded items. 'It's a chance for people from different walks of life and different churches and other organizations to get to know each other and make the community better working together,' the Rev. Luke McFadden, the church's pastor, said. 'It's really overwhelming to see this happen.' McFadden said more than 250 people volunteered for the effort last year, and he expects more on April 26. They will gather at 8:30 a.m. in the church parking lot at 222 North County St., start going into the neighborhoods at 9 a.m. and finish with a lunch at 11:30 a.m. Lisa May, the city's lakefront coordinator, said she is expecting more than 100 volunteers from the American Place Casino and USA Bluebook for a beach cleanup from 10 a.m. to noon on April 26. May said a lot of trash accumulates at the beach over the winter. 'The wind blows a lot of trash into the dunes and tall grasses,' she said. 'It takes a lot of work to get the beach ready for summer, and my staff of Beach Rangers do not start until Memorial Day weekend.' Julie Ivic, American Place's director of communications and advertising, said this is the casino's second year of sending people to the beach and dunes. It is one of several ways the company helps in the community. Just south of the beach, between 50 and 150 volunteers — including a contingent from the Waukegan Police Department — will gather at the harbor for a cleanup. Robert Kutzler, the harbor's director of marketing and special events, said the effort has taken place for more than 25 years. 'We give them gloves, a picker and a garbage bag,' Kutzler said. 'When the bag gets full, they lay it down and the police pick it up. It helps keep the place clean, and it is good for the environment. Shelby McDonald, the Park District's director of marketing and community relations, said the organization also has Earth Month events scheduled throughout April. There are a variety of activities, including one where children in the Before and After School Experience get a tree to take home and plant. 'They are learning and doing something to reduce the carbon footprint,' McDonald said. Throughout the week, the Waukegan Public Works Department will take Dumpsters to locations throughout the city for people to discard trash. City workers will retrieve them to dispose of the items. Dumpsters will be in their location from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dumpsters will be at 8th and Adams streets in the First Ward, and at the intersection of Dugdale Road and Benny Avenue in the Second Ward on Monday. On Tuesday, they will be at 100 North Lewis Avenue in the Third Ward, and in the Fourth Ward between Butrick and Washington streets. On Wednesday, there will be a Dumpster near the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and Delaware Street in the Fifth Ward, as well as Hickory and Keith streets in the Sixth Ward. Dumpsters move to 1815 North Sheridan Road in the Seventh Ward, and 2255 West Yorkhouse Road in the Eighth Ward on Thursday. A Dumpster will be in the Ninth Ward at 2650 Belvidere Road on Friday. People cannot bring yard waste, liquids, tree trunks, concrete, brick, stone, rocks, hazardous waste, flammable materials, carpets, small engines, paint, stain or railroad ties to the Dumpsters, according to information on the city's website.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Retail Roundup: Boca Raton and Wellington malls announce new luxury fashion, restaurant offerings
New restaurants and luxury fashion stores head the list of new retail offerings that have opened or are coming soon to the Town Center at Boca Raton and The Mall at Wellington Green. Town Center, located at 6000 Glades Road in Boca Raton, recently opened a new Ann Taylor store, featuring 'sophisticated, relevant design' for professional women to wear in the office, as well as comfortable casual attire for weekends and resorts, according to a news release announcing the store debut. It's one of 99 Ann Taylor stores in the United States, including another new location in Aventura Mall. Find the one nearest you at Also newly opened, Rowan is a New York-based 'mom-founded, woman-led' ear piercing studio that a news release promises will create a 'safe, fun and celebratory piercing experience for all.' It's the brand's first foray into the South Florida market, the release says. Retail Roundup: New stores at Gardens Mall, dog resort in Pompano, Boynton gets new gym Retail Roundup: NYC-based gourmet cookie chain opens two South Florida locations Retail Roundup: Chewy opens newest vet clinic; The Gardens mall announces new stores The company promises that all piercings are performed by nurses and all products are hypoallergenic. Get more information at Moving its way from Miami, Peruvian restaurant 105 has opened its first location in Palm Beach County at the Town Center. The restaurant, oriented toward seafood, is the ninth from popular chef Juan Chipoco. Five of his 105 branches are in Miami-Dade. He also founded Pollo & Jarras, a Peruvian BBQ concept in downtown Miami and the Aventura Mall, and INTIMO in South Beach. Coral Gables Magazine describes his flagship restaurant in that city as evoking Las Vegas, draped with a chandelier, gold chains and a giant block of quartz suspended by thousands of colored strings. After arriving in the U.S. and working in various Miami-area restaurants, Chipoco opened his first 105 in Miami in 2008. Since then, the magazine explains, 'he has become a prominent figure in the city's dining scene.' Learn more about the restaurant and its offerings online at Several other new stores are coming later this year to Town Center at Boca Raton, including: — Allen Edmonds, a U.S.-based manufacturer of premium mens footwear and accessories. The brand offers recrafting services from its Wisconsin factory to ensure they can be worn for a lifetime or passed down as heirlooms. — Bonpoint, offering French-style children's clothing with collections for newborns. — BYLT, with tailored-fit premium apparel, footwear and accessories. — Kendra Scott, featuring a unique collection of necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets, as well as home goods and beauty products. — Limani Grill, a restaurant offering dishes prepared with traditional Mediterranean cooking methods. — VIX by Paula Harmanny, selling luxury resort wear designed for women 'who appreciate beauty, quality and attention to detail.' — Vuori, offering premium performance apparel integrating California-inspired fitness, surf, sport and art. The Mall at Wellington Green, 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., is home to Tango Beauty, a 3,781-square-foot location featuring products from brands like Ahava, Amika, K18, Moroccan Oil, Olaplex, Redken and Wella. The store also features its own branded lipstick, lip gloss, bronzer/blush, eyebrow pencils, brow gel, and mascara — all made in South Florida with paraben-free, gluten-free, and cruelty-free ingredients, according to CEO Alex Zeitler. At the onsite salon, consumers can get services ranging from haircuts, colorings, keratin treatments, hair extensions and blowouts. More information can be found on the salon's Instagram page: Ryan Merkatz, a local high school senior and Burger King employee, was surprised on April 5 when presented with a $10,000 scholarship in front of family and co-workers at the company's Coconut Creek location on West Hillsborough Boulevard. The award was the first-ever from the Burger King Foundation's Hometown Scholarship program, created exclusively for South Florida-based employees, a foundation spokeswoman said. She added that Merkatz, who plans to graduate high school this spring and attend college in the fall, displayed a dedication to school and work that stood out from among hundreds of applicants. Facialworks, founded in Southern California in 2013, plans to open its first Florida location this May at Mizner Park in downtown Boca Raton. The company offers luxury facial services. Patrons can book individual sessions or sign up for a membership program. The Boca location, at 439 Plaza Real, will feature five facial bar chairs, two private treatment rooms and a skincare shop where products from Facialworks' clean skincare line will be available for purchase. Facials range from $89 to $365, with optional upgrades. Go to to book an appointment. Pause Studio, another lifestyle brand founded in California, has opened its first South Florida location at 2071 E. Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. In the words of its news release, 'Pause is a tranquil and sophisticated spa sanctuary set to revolutionize the wellness space by providing an array of holistic services to nurture both the mind and body to support overall well-being.' 'Innovative wellness treatments' include floatation therapy, infrared saunas, LED light therapy, contrast therapy, cryotherapy, compression therapy, and IV drips, vitamin shots, and NAD+. Services are designed to 'stack and complement one another, making for a unique wellness experience, with all modalities available under one roof.' Check out images and video at HAUM (pronounced 'Home') has set May 19 as its opening date at its new yoga studio at 729 NE 2nd Ave., in Fort Lauderdale's Flagler Village neighborhood. The studio, founded by Danni Pomplun, is 'queer-owned and operated' and 'committed to providing a safe space for individuals of all backgrounds, body types and experience levels,' according to its news release. 'The Fort Lauderdale location carries forward HAUM's San Francisco reputation for diversity, experienced instruction, and community focus, adapting it to the local South Florida community's needs,' the release said. The opening will be preceded during the week of May 5 by donation-based classes benefiting The Pride Center at Equality Park, benefiting South Florida's LGBTQ+ community. Go to for more information. Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Send him your retail news at rhurtibise@ Make sure to type Retail Roundup in the subject line of your email. '
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lincolnshire bus services criticised ahead of mayoral takeover
Passengers have criticised rural bus services in an area where an elected mayor is about to take over responsibility for running them. The new Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, being elected on 1 May, will oversee decisions on transport, including bus services which are currently the responibility of Lincolnshire County a packed bus travelling between Louth and Lincoln, passengers called for improvements with one describing services as "very hit and miss". The six mayoral candidates have been telling the BBC how they would run the bus network. "I think they're very hit and miss," said Sarah Knowles, 43, from Wragby. "It's absolutely terrible in some places."Ann Taylor, 74, from Sutton on Sea sighed when asked what buses are like in Lincolnshire."They're so-so," she said. "They're not great, but we manage.""They could be better on timings," college student Lydia Robinson, 17, said there was "quite a long gap" between buses, meaning she faced long waits after her classes finished before she could catch one Paul Archer, 54, said: "When I have used them they've been ok."University Student Nathan Bird was sceptical of the potential improvements a mayor could offer."It would be better if services were improved, but I'm not holding out hope," he said. Stephen Bryce, managing director of PC Coaches, which operates some services in the county, was also sceptical. "The mayor taking control would be at siginificant cost to the taxpayer," he said."Other services are struggling. We need significant investment in our police force so transport isn't really a priority I don't think". Sally Horscroft, Green Party candidate for Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, said it was "a mistake to think of buses as a business isolated from what it brings to the rest of the economy".Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the Reform candidate, said "we need to think outside the box" when it comes to buses and transport. She proposed creating a body similar to Transport for London which oversees the whole of Greater Lincolnshire's transport, adding that "a bus should be a lifeline not a last resort".Marianne Overton, from the Lincolnshire Independents, defended current supplementary services like the Call Connect Bus which provides a bookable, door-to-door service ."Those are very effective," she said. "Nethertheless, it's a very large county and it would take a lot of money to give everyone the half-hour bus service they deserve."Labour candidate Jason Stockwood said he would look at franchising the county's bus service "as a priority". He said the mayor would have a "limited budget" so private investment would help the Waltham, standing for the Conservatives, said he would support bus passes for pensioners and young people but there had to be "more providers in the market to improve competitiveness".Liberal Democrat candidate Trevor Young criticised the current provision as "anything but a service.""We need to see it not from a profit point of view but from a service point of view," he said. The candidates to be Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire are featured in a debate on Sunday Politics on BBC1 at 10:00 BST on Sunday 6 April. It will be also be available on BBC Iplayer here. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Chicago Tribune
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
State board ruling may bring longtime dispute over a Waukegan coal ash ponds to a close
A ruling by the Illinois Pollution Control Board disallowing NRG Generation's request for leniency handling the two coal ash ponds and the 'grassy field' which contains coal ash deposits at its decommissioned Waukegan power plant puts a longtime dispute closer to an end. Ruling NRG will get no special treatment from the state, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is now in a position to move toward imposing a solution on NRG. Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said in a statement city officials will soon meet with members of the IEPA. 'This is a major win for Waukegan, as our community has spent over 10 years pushing for the removal of the unlined and leaking coal ash along Lake Michigan,' Taylor said. 'The IEPA has confirmed these sites are contaminating groundwater with dangerous toxins.' The Illinois Pollution Control Board ruled in a 16-page opinion March 20 in Chicago, agreeing with the IEPA all three sites on the property set aside for containing coal ash still have the pollutant on the land. 'The (grassy) area, the east pond and the west pond were originally a settling basin for sluiced (coal ash) and the area still contains historic (coal ash),' the board wrote in its opinion. 'The discharges from the area have caused a negative environmental impact.' After the state enacted the Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act in 2019, NRG decommissioned the plant in 2022. At the time, it put a plan in motion to remove the east pond, cap the west pond and made no plans for the grassy field. Taylor continues to advocate for full removal. 'Waukegan will continue to push forward with our legislators and community partners to ensure proper cleanup of this site to protect the long-term health of our people and our lakefront,' Taylor said in the statement. After proposing to remove the east pond and cap the west pond, NRG decided to cap both last year. Ann Duhon, a NRG spokesperson at the time, said the procedure is better suited to the situation. 'There are a number of risks associated with removing the coal ash including the risk of exposure to people, the environment and the community,' Duhon said in an email in May of last year. Making it clear NRG violated Illinois law in its handling of the ponds, the board ruled the grassy field is part of the package for cleaning the site because it presents 'environmental and health risks,' according to the opinion. 'Grassy field is an inactive surface impoundment that has never been closed by removal, nor has any type of low permeability cover been installed on top of it,' the board wrote in its opinion. Taylor, state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, and State Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, all wanted to push for the complete removal of both ponds as well as proper treatment for the grassy field. In early 2022, Johnson introduced legislation that passed the senate to require NRG to remove both ponds. As Mayfield tried to push it through the state House of Representatives, she did not bring it for a vote because there were not enough favorable legislators. Johnson said Thursday she believes legislation is the best way to assure the ponds are removed. She believes NRG will oppose any effort to take action and the best way to ensure compliance is through a law requiring it. 'We must pass legislation to ensure coal ash is properly removed from the Waukegan site,' Johnson said. 'Holding polluters accountable and safeguarding our water, air and public health for generations to come.' Introducing legislation when the Illinois General Assembly opened in 2023, Mayfield made another effort to enshrine the removal of the ponds in law. Again, she fell a few votes short and it did not come to the floor for a vote. She authored a similar bill early this year. 'It had its second reading and when there is a 60-vote majority it will come to the floor for a vote,' Mayfield said stressing she was working to secure the necessary support. She is not disclosing how many votes she has or who they are for fear NRG will lobby them against it. 'NRG has been lobbying very hard against it,' Mayfield said. 'They'll push ever harder if they know who they are.'
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
St. Johns County residents concerned about the safety of children riding e-bikes
A crackdown on kids riding electric bikes could be coming in St. Johns County. This comes as one county commissioner said she's received reports of kids riding the battery-powered bikes in an unsafe way, including through parking lots, streets, sidewalks, and shopping centers. Some of the bikes can go up to 28 mph. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< 'I know we all have received a number of messages from residents that are really concerned with the increasing use of e-bikes by young children in our communities,' District 5 Commissioner Ann Taylor said in a meeting last week. Just last year, county commissioners unanimously voted to adopt an updated beach code ordinance, which bans the careless operation of any e-bike in the beach area. However, Taylor is hoping to implement other legislation that would cover the entire county before any child is injured. 'While it is ultimately the responsibility of parents to ensure the safety of their children, we are aware that all parents may not enforce necessary precautions,' Taylor said. Her goal is to adopt a proactive stance rather than a reactive one to prevent accidents that could result in severe injury due to a lack of experience and responsibility among young riders. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Action News Jax talked with an e-bike rider in Nocatee. He said he has not seen any accidents, but there have been close calls. 'Especially with other bikes, on-coming bikes, and golf carts,' said John Pritchett. 'Kids are kids, and you know some are a little more reckless than others.' All of this is still in the early stages. No ordinance has been created just yet. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
