Latest news with #BattleoftheBooks
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
The R13 million library in Orange Farm: A year of unfulfilled promises
The Drieziek Community Library has not seen opened its doors to the community since it was officially inaugurated by the Gauteng provincial government over a year ago. Image: Supplied A state-of-the-art R13 million public library in Drieziek, south of Johannesburg, opened by the Gauteng provincial government five days before the May 2024 national and provincial elections, remains unused. This emerged this week in correspondence sent by DA member of the Gauteng provincial legislature, Kingsol Chabalala, to the province's Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Matome Chiloane, demanding that the abandoned facility in Orange Farm be finally opened. Inside the Drieziek Community Library in Orange Farm. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Chabalala said construction of the library started in February 2014, with a total cost of over R13m. Chiloane's predecessor as Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC, Morakane Mosupyoe, who is now the speaker of the Gauteng provincial legislature, on May 24, 2024, officially opened the library five days before last year's elections on May 29. The DA is demanding answers on why the Drieziek Community Library has still not opened a year later. Image: Supplied It was scheduled to open to the public on May 27 and offer lending services (print and online), reference service and research support, study space and support with access to dedicated study areas and programme implementation, including reading development programmes such as the Battle of the Books and the Story Skirmish starting from July last year. Other promised offerings included e-learning programmes such as digital skills and basic coding for children of all ages, children's services, including homework assistance, story hours, and holiday programmes, as well as photocopying services. The Drieziek library was also meant to fulfil various community-centred roles, such as a community centre, which would be a place for learning, socialising, meetings, business, research, and education for children. There would be an entertainment space offering fiction, audiobooks, and online resources for community enjoyment, an empowerment centre providing digital skills training, reading and learning skills, and assistance with online job applications. Other services were a knowledge and information centre supporting lifelong learning through various print and online resources, an education space encouraging quiet reading, learning and research, and community discussions. However, Chabalala complained that a year later, it remains inaccessible and unbeneficial to Orange Farm residents, while funds are wasted on security and maintenance. He said that when the provincial legislature's Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation conducted an unannounced oversight visit on May 21 this year, members found only a security guard present. 'The DA has tabled questions in the legislature to Chiloane, to determine why this facility is closed to the public and inquire about the amount spent on security and maintenance,' said Chabalala, adding that residents were frustrated because they must commute to nearby townships to access libraries while their own is gathering dust.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
April 12: Potsdam Public Library's Battle of the Books
Potsdam Public Library's Battle of the Books local battle will be held on Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m. Teams consisting of four or more students can be formed by any combination of fourth and sixth graders. In September, the teams read a selected list of 16 books together under the guidance of an adult coach. Teams answer questions about the books on the list during the tournament by providing the title and author of the book. The PPL winning team advances to a regional competition where they will compete against the winners of other North Country Library System libraries in St. Lawrence, Lewis and Jefferson counties. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘If you cut us off, you're cutting off our future': Students rally against federal spending plan that would slash DC budget
WASHINGTON () — Hundreds of students, parents and advocates held 'recess' as the Senate Hart Building on Thursday, urging senators to vote against a spending bill that would significantly impact the District's local budget. 'We have people out right now on every floor of every Senate office building talking to every single senator making sure they know the cuts they are considering would be devastating for D.C. communities,' said Alex Dodds, co-founder of . The spending plan, which was already approved by the House, is a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government open for the next six months at 2024 spending levels. Proposed federal bill would cut DC budget by roughly $1 billion, city officials say Unlike in previous continuing resolutions, however, this CR treats the District as a federal agency, forcing the city to also spend at 2024 levels, despite already operating under its Congressionally-approved 2025 budget. Should the CR be passed by the Senate, D.C. would need to make an immediate $1 billion cut to its local budget, which is funded by local tax dollars, not federal dollars. '[The CR] would not save the federal government any money,' said Dodds. Cuts would span across all District agencies, including public safety and education. DMV senators have expressed opposition to the CR, including Virginia Senator Mark Warner and Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen. Government shutdown deadline is approaching Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks also filed an amendment Wednesday evening that would allow D.C. to continue operating as is. It's unclear when that will be discussed. 'The idea that halfway through the school year they have to fire all of the teachers, it's just abhorrent. Why would anyone let that happen?' said Lindsey Jones-Renaud, who was at the Hart Building for the rally. Jones-Renaud has two children in school, one in a D.C. public school and another in a D.C. charter school. 'What worries me is the first group that would be cut would probably be special education teachers. I have two kids who are on an IEP,' she said. 'Kids in D.C. are still struggling to catch up after the pandemic. We need extra resources in our schools, not to be taken away.' Advocates express concern to lawmakers over proposed $1 billion cuts to DC budget Kids colored pictures and signs expressing love for their teachers and schools. They carried those signs to various office buildings on Thursday. 'I love how there are so many competitions like Battle of the Books, that's fun. And I was recently in a math bowl,' said Magnolia, a fifth grader at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School. She's worried about what would happen if the spending bill is passed. 'It's going to cut our education. If you cut us off from when we're 3 through 12, you're hurting the world,' she said. 'If you cut us off, you're cutting off our future.' It's unclear when the Senate will vote on the CR, but Congress has until midnight Friday to pass a spending plan and prevent a government shutdown. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Wealth.com Bolsters Legal Team With Addition of Kathy Wunderli as Head of Private Wealth
the industry's leading end-to-end estate planning platform, today announces the addition of Kathy Wunderli to its legal team as Head of Private Wealth. Wunderli joins the team with more than 20 years of experience in private wealth law, specializing in estate planning, probate, trust administration, and tax matters. Her distinguished career has made her a trusted advisor to entertainment industry professionals, high-net-worth families, individuals, closely-held business owners, and nonprofits. Most recently, Wunderli was a partner in the Private Wealth Group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, based in Los Angeles, where she advised clients on a range of complex legal issues, including premarital and post-marital agreements, cross-border estate planning, and the administration of trusts and estates. 'The legal team at is second to none in the digital estate planning space,' says Wunderli. 'We have the ability and experience to revolutionize the estate planning experience by blending the best of technology, legal knowledge, and artificial intelligence to benefit clients and their personal planning team. I am excited to be part of this legal team and support in transforming the estate planning industry by pushing it into the modern era.' Wunderli has received noteworthy recognition for her legal work on behalf of her clients and contributions to the legal community. She was named to Variety's 2023 Legal Impact Report and earned a spot on the Hollywood Reporter's 2022 list of Power Lawyers: Troubleshooters. Additionally, she was recognized as one of Los Angeles Times' Inspirational Award nominees in 2024. Outside of her legal practice, Wunderli is deeply committed to advocacy and mentorship. She serves on the Board of the California Women's Law Center, co-founded CHAI (Community Hope Action Initiative), a grassroots organization dedicated to uplifting and inspiring individuals to take bold action to improve their communities and the world. During her time at Willkie, she led mentoring initiatives within Willkie's West Coast offices to foster an inclusive workplace culture. Additionally, Wunderli has made significant contributions to her community, having founded Redondo's 'Battle of the Books,' a reading program enjoyed by hundreds of children each year. 'I could not be more excited that Kathy is joining our team,' says Anne Rhodes, chief legal officer at 'Today, has established a foothold in the digital estate planning industry, and 2025 is about supercharging the products that we offer to advisors who have ultra high net worth clients. These are clients who engage in the most complex wealth transfer strategies. They rely on the most technically sophisticated wealth managers, attorneys, and more. With Kathy on board, we're even better positioned to deliver trusted and innovative software solutions that match the level of sophistication required by your most important clients.' To learn more about advanced, end-to-end estate planning platform, please visit is the industry's leading estate planning platform, empowering 500+ wealth management firms to modernize the delivery of estate planning guidance to their clients. As the only tech-led, end-to-end estate planning platform built specifically for financial institutions, helps drive scale and efficiency, meeting client needs across the wealth spectrum. Financial advisors ranked as the #1 estate planning platform in the 2024 T3/Inside Information Advisor Software Survey. In 2024, was honored by as the 'Best Technology Provider' in the Trust category, and CEO Rafael Loureiro received the Advisor Choice Award for Technology Providers: CEO of the Year. 317-590-0915 [email protected] Farmer 415-377-3293 [email protected] SOURCE: Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 02/11/2025 09:08 AM/DISC: 02/11/2025 09:08 AM
