Latest news with #ArtSmith
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It's ridiculous': Contractor problems leave South Tampa roads in ruin
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Betsy Smith and her husband Art have been living with a problem for more than two years on their quiet South Tampa street. Many of the people who live on San Carlos Street are dealing with the same issue. PSTA approves first step in bringing back Cross Bay Ferry Smith said the city sent them a letter in 2008, saying they would soon start a project to improve the water pressure and fire safety in the area. '2008, we got our first letter from the city, saying they were going to redo the pipes, the water and the sewer lines,' Betsy Smith said. Then the recession came and the project never started. 'It started again with a letter in there from May of 2023, saying that it was going to be a three-week project,' Betsy Smith said. That was 104 weeks ago, and the project still isn't finished. In fact, the contractor doing the work has walked off the job. San Carlos and other streets in the area have been torn up. There are holes in the streets, water pipes that aren't hooked up stick out of their yard and the water pressure in their homes is still low. 'Then they dug up the pavement, they dug up the curbing and drainage,' Betsy Smith said. Frustrated, she called the city. 'And they were like, 'Oh, well, we're working on it',' Betsy Smith said. In addition to the water pipes that aren't hooked up, there are two fire hydrants on the street that are not connected. 'The communication between the city and the neighborhood has been zero,' Betsy Smith said. A city spokesperson issued a statement, saying: 'This project was designed to improve our water service to this community by replacing nearly 6 miles of aging pipeline and, by doing so, increasing water pressure, improving fire protection, and reducing future water main breaks. The City hired Young's Communication to complete the $5.37 million dollar project, and gave the go ahead to start work in late 2021. In April, however, the contractor stopped the project due to financial reasons, leading the City to declare Young's in default of its contract with the City.' Now, no work is being done at all, and the Smiths and their neighbors are angry. 'It's ridiculous to be put off this long,' Art Smith said. The statement from the city goes on to say, they are working to resolve the issue: 'City employees have submitted a claim against the construction company's performance bond and are working with its insurance company to hire a new contractor to finish the project at no additional cost to taxpayers.' However, at this time, a new contractor has not been selected. Holes remain in San Carlos and other streets and there is no set date for when the situation will improve. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Here's everything you'll eat at the Windy City Smokeout this summer
Barbecue season is nearly upon us and though there's certainly a seasonal novelty in firing up your own grill at home, why not let the professional pitmasters do it for you? The annual Windy City Smokeout is returning to Chicago this summer—on Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13, to be exact—and it's bringing together a stellar lineup of both local 'cue favorites and national smokehouses outside the United Center. A smokin' good time will be had courtesy of the finger-licking barbecue being fired up by this year's participating pitmasters, each of whom will offer two different dishes during the festival. The full 2025 food lineup includes: Bub City (Chicago) Chef Art Smith's Reunion (Chicago) Dayne's Craft BBQ (Aledo, Texas) Gene's BBQ (Atlanta) Green Street Smoked Meats (Chicago) Heritage Barbecue (San Juan Capistrano, California) Hogapalooza (Wayne, Arkansas) Hoodoo Brown BBQ (Ridgefield, Connecticut) Hurtado Barbecue (Arlington, Texas) Joe's KC BBQ (Kansas City, Kansas) Lexington Betty Smokehouse (Chicago) Little Miss BBQ (Phoenix) Meat Mitch Barbecue (Leawood, Kansas) Operation BBQ Relief (Joplin, Missouri) Panther City BBQ (Fort Worth, Texas) Pappy's Smokehouse (St. Louis, Missouri) Pig Beach BBQ (Astoria, New York) Smoque BBQ (Chicago) Soul & Smoke (Chicago) Sugarfire Smoke House (St. Louis, Missouri) Ubons BBQ (Yazoo City, Mississippi) Wright's Barbecue (Johnson, Arkansas) And if that's not enough 'cue for you, there will also be a bottomless barbecue brunch on Sunday, powered with free-flowing Mimosas, build-your-own Bloody Marys, plenty of juicy pitmaster barbecue, live acoustic music and more. And speaking of music, the festival will feature live country-music performances from both up-and-coming acts as well as renowned bands, including Megan Moroney, Shane Smith & The Saints, Angel White, Maggie Antone, Kane Brown, Josh Meloy, Kashus Culpepper, Ella Langley, Riley Green and Sam Barber, among others. Multiple cashless bars will be conveniently set around the festival grounds so you can quench your thirst with a cold glass of beer from top American breweries, including Chicago's own Goose Island. You can grab tickets (ranging from general admission to premium VIP experiences) and find out more information at the Windy City Smokeout website.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
After five and a half years, man accused of 2019 Circle K murder goes to trial
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — A high-profile 2019 murder case finally reached a Muscogee County Courtroom nearly six years after an East Columbus Circle K clerk was shot to death. Daequavian Soloman, 31, is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted in the September 2019 shooting. On Monday, Chief Superior Court Judge Art Smith dealt with pretrial motions in advance of jury selection. Prosecutors, led by Chief Assistant District Attorney Wesley Lambertus, call this an execution and plan to introduce graphic video evidence. Defense attorney William Kendrick says his client did not kill Dontrell Williams. The video at the core of the state's case is Circle K surveillance footage shot the night of the murder, showing a masked man entering the store. The video was released to the public, and authorities say it led to Solomon's arrest. Much of the morning was spent arguing over the admissibility of a police videotaped conversation with the defendant the day after the murder. Solomon drove to the Public Safety Center after a Columbus Police detective contacted him. He talked to the police for almost an hour, was never arrested, and was allowed to leave. Defense attorney William Kendrick contends that even though his client was not handcuffed or restrained, he should have been read his Miranda rights — which he wasn't. Police say that Solomon was simply a person of interest at that time. Police were interested in talking to Solomon, who lived about 200 yards from the murder scene. Judge Art Smith decided he would allow the jury to hear the videotape when testimony begins later this week. Here's what the jury may hear from Solomon's police interview: 'But when I came here, I was trying to tell them, like, you know. I don't know why the police needed to surround my house, you know. The streets talk – you see what I mean – the streets talk. As soon as I got word, I just wanted to come down here and see what was going on.' Solomon was speaking to Columbus Police Sgt. Robbie Nicholas. After the morning hearings, the trial moved from the Government Center to the Comer building for jury selection, which will likely continue into tomorrow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
When Palm Beach County bakery counts Trump family as a client, is cake any less sweet?
You might know celeb chef Art Smith from his numerous national television appearances and six restaurants, including Florida's Homecomin' in Disney Springs and Sunshine Diner at the Orlando Airport. He's also quite possibly the world's only chef with an ownership stake in a professional sports team — The Chicago Hounds Rugby Club. Raised in Florida, his star rose when he became Oprah's personal chef. Before that life-changing position, he worked in the governor's mansion cheffing for Bob Graham. For 16 years, he cooked at the Celebration of Reading events in honor of Jeb Bush's mom, FLOTUS Barbara Bush, a champion of literacy. More than a decade ago, I asked Smith if he ever had any issues cooking for opposing sides of the aisle. He replied that 'fried chicken takes no sides.' He greatly admires both former governors and said last week how, 'Every party may have a candidate we agree with, but we must never forget as humans that we shouldn't not lose the engagement of eating together.' I was reminded of this 'Artism' recently when hearing from readers and friends about my story on Southern Belle's Cakery in North Palm Beach, whose deliciously nuanced (and trademarked) Sissy Cake is not just my current obsession but also earned rave reviews from my newsroom colleagues. The Cakery's gorgeous signature grab-and-go gateaux (French for cakes) are popular with local moms; I serendipitously had a chance to indulge in a slice the day before meeting owners Jamie and Joey Fago because a lovely cake mixing fresh and iced flowers was served at a family birthday party. The story also featured photographs and a video of cakes admired by President Donald J. Trump's inner circle, including a birthday cake for daughter Tiffany and Santa's Maga hat cake at Mar-a-Lago as posted on Instagram by Donald Trump Jr. The couple behind the Cakery told me their shop supplied 2,000 cookies to the private club on election eve. And that's when things got tricky. One reader was very excited to learn about the bakery until she "read further regarding ANY association with Trump. You can let the owner know that I and none of my friends will be patronizing this bakery.' She added, 'I am always interested in learning more about new places to eat, especially a local bakery. I feel bad about making this about politics, but in view of the current political climate and my own personal beliefs, I find it very difficult to knowingly support any business which has any involvement with or shows support of our current President.' It wasn't just readers; I also got staredowns and headshakes from a few friends. Personally, I think it's bananas not to shop for best-in-class product, especially when price points are comparable to Publix and other markets. You won't find any promotions of the political kind on Southern Belle's Cakery social media sites, just gorgeous treats to pickup or pre-order. The only thing tangentially nodding to a 230-year-old political statement is a model of French Queen Marie 'let them eat cake' Antoinette holding a Sissy Cake, whose intricate details require pre-ordering. Not unlike a typical family's Thanksgiving table, where different points of view often come into conversation, Smith said delicious food can create a common thread that brings us together. 'Hunger is the root of most problems in our world, and the lack of love prepared and served with it.' He also said we all need reminders that life can be sweet. Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post's food & restaurant writer, fresh from two years at the Naples Daily News. If you have any news tips about the local dining scene, please send them to dbiederman@ Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County bakery makes custom cakes, cookies for Trump family
