Latest news with #Beardsley
Cision Canada
21-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Celebrating the 2025 Food Banks Canada Partner Awards
Honouring the organizations whose extraordinary commitments supporting the mission of relieving hunger today and preventing hunger tomorrow TORONTO, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - In 2024, thanks to its valued partners and donors, Food Banks Canada was able to distribute millions of pounds of food across the country and invest millions of dollars in food banks and other community organizations serving people experiencing food insecurity. Food Banks Canada's Partner Awards program shines a spotlight on remarkable contributors to these collective achievements. The honorees were selected based on their total contributions in 2024, the significance of their impact, and their engagement with our mission of relieving hunger today and preventing hunger tomorrow. "At Food Banks Canada, our partners are the driving force behind everything we do," says Kirstin Beardsley, Chief Executive Officer Food Banks Canada. "Thanks to their unwavering support, we're able to deliver high-quality food to those facing hunger, strengthen the capacity of food banks across the country, and take meaningful steps toward addressing the root causes of food insecurity." Beardsley adds, "The recipients of the 2024 Food Banks Canada Awards have gone above and beyond in their commitment to ending hunger in Canada. We're deeply grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing this vital work together—raising the bar higher every year." Food Banks Canada is excited to celebrate the following award recipients: Product Partner of the Year To meet clients' needs and fill gaps in food donations, food banks are now buying more food than ever before. Kraft Heinz offers relief from that budgetary strain by providing a consistent supply of high-demand products, such as pasta sauce, and nutrient-rich products, such as peanut butter. In 2024, Kraft Heinz gifted almost two million pounds of newly produced food to food banks across Canada. It was delivered at regular intervals, meaning that food banks and the people they serve could count on these products. To organizations and families that face a great deal of uncertainty, the significance of a predictable supply of staple products is hard to overstate. Services In-Kind Partner of the Year In-kind services such as food transportation and warehousing are essential to Food Banks Canada as they work to distribute large-scale food donations throughout the national network of food banks. In 2024, Lineage Logistics played a vital role in the food supply chain by providing temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics solutions. Their ongoing partnership with Food Banks Canada provides the storage required to preserve and keep food before it reaches the people who need it most. Lineage Logistics also donates excess food in collaboration with their partners, further adding to their valuable contribution. Funding Partner of the Year Food bank use has almost doubled since 2019. Food Banks Canada relies on strong, long-term partnerships to help food banks grow their capacity and rise to this urgent challenge. In 2024, Walmart Canada renewed their partnership with Food Banks Canada to execute their annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change fundraising campaign, which directs millions of dollars to local food banks and supports Food Banks Canada's national mission each year. Walmart is also one of the founding partners of its Retail Food Program, which provides an ongoing stream of nutritious food donations from local stores. So far, through these programs and others, Walmart Canada has helped to bring the equivalent of over 200 million meals to our neighbours in need! Foundation Partner of the Year As the last line of defense against hunger, food banks should be accessible to each and every person who needs them. Yet, our research shows that there are millions of people in Canada facing barriers to access, such as a lack of transportation, opening hours that aren't compatible with their work schedules, or even stigma and shame. With financial support from the Rossy Foundation, Food Banks Canada's Access Grants empower food banks to break down barriers and increase access for all. The Rossy Foundation also supports our Capacity Boost grants, Northern Capacity Grants and Standards of Excellence Grants, all of which help food banks and community organizations to expand or upgrade their reach, infrastructure and services. These investments in Food Banks Canada's programs help equip food banks to meet the needs of both today and tomorrow. Growth Partner of the Year 7-Eleven Canada has been a dedicated partner to Food Banks Canada since 2013. Customers look forward to the annual Slurpee Name Your Price Day, during which they can pay any amount for a large Slurpee, with all proceeds supporting Food Banks Canada. This past year, 7-Eleven Canada more than doubled its significant annual donations with a round-up program, asking customers to support the food bank network by rounding up their purchase amount in support of Food Banks Canada. 7-Eleven Canada also collaborates with their vendors to add to their support and expand their partnership with Food Banks Canada year over year. New Partner of the Year Food Banks Canada is delighted to welcome Maple Lodge Farms as its new partner of the year. They've been enthusiastic and flexible, open to exploring new ideas to step up for our communities. Food Banks Canada was proud to be chosen as the primary beneficiary of Maple Lodge Farms' 2024 Tournament of Dreams golf fundraiser. In addition to $200,000 in proceeds, Maple Lodge Farms also donates their chicken product to food banks to support families and communities in need. These quality protein foods are extremely valuable to food banks, which aim to offer well-rounded nutrition to their clients. About Food Banks Canada Food Banks Canada is the leader in addressing food insecurity in Canada. Our mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast to coast to coast. For over 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping people living in Canada with food insecurity. Over 5,500 food banks and community organizations come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours, who – this year – made over 2 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Since 2010, Food Banks Canada has shared over $1 billion in food supports and over $275 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while, backed by leading research, advocating for meaningful actions from governments to counter hunger and its root causes. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit to learn more.
Chicago Tribune
01-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Evanston-Skokie D65 may close four schools; it must cut $10 to $15 million due to deficits
As Evanston-Skokie School District 65 continues making budget cuts after a financial consultant earlier this year said the district had a $10 million deficit, officials are looking at closing as many as four schools. Those closures do not include the previously-announced shuttering of the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies. District officials said the district needs to cut about $10 to $15 million from its budget, and the administration is holding meetings telling the public about its criteria for weighing which schools to keep open. At three meetings the district held for parents and community members from June 23-25, officials said they are using the measures of equity, geography and building functionality to determine which schools should be closed. The district won't make a decision or present its idea on which schools to close before September, according to Assistant Superintendent of Academics Stacy Beardsley. Communications Manager Hannah Dillow said the district's goal is to limit school school closures to the start of the 2026-2027 school year beginning July 1, 2026. The next school year's budget, which began on July 1, 2025, is still in development, according to Dillow. 'Our Financial Services department is optimistic that the district performed better than budget for [Budget year 2025],' Dillow said, but exact numbers on the district's current deficit will not be available until the budget is approved. Beardsley hosted a community meeting at the Dr. Jorge and Luz Maria Prieto Community Center on June 25, responding to parents' concerns about what steps the district is taking to minimize the impact of any school closures on students. Beardsley said the district will need to keep making cuts to its budget in the next school year, even after slashing 73 jobs in the last school year. The criteria the district is following was developed by the Facilities Subcommittee, made up of 16 stakeholders with diverse backgrounds in education, architecture, engineering and civic leadership, per district documents. Equity The district will make efforts to avoid disproportionately impacting marginalized groups within the district, which consist of Black students, Latino students, students with IEP plans, English language learners and students on free and reduced lunch rates. 'The thing that the group [subcommittee] talked about was that we don't want to replicate what was the unintentional impact or the impact of the closing of the original Foster School,' Beardsley said. 'When the district closed the original Foster School, we ended up disproportionately bussing Black students throughout Evanston and removing the opportunity for them necessarily to have a neighborhood school,' she said. Geography The geography of a school is the highest weighted criterion to keep a school open, per district documents. Beardsley said the district will consider walkability for students to access their school, with a recommendation that students walk no more than three quarters of a mile to their school. This will also intentionally avoid raising transportation costs, Beardsley said. The safety of a student's walk to school will also be considered, she said, considering traffic and safety hazards identified by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Beardsley also said the district is considering a school's proximity to other schools, as some are considered 'community hubs.' Building Functionality The third-highest ranking criterion the subcommittee and district are considering is a school's current building functionality, given that the average District 65 school is 79 years old, has long overdue repairs, and may not be ADA accessible, Beardsley said. The subcommittee will also consider how the school uses its building, she said, primarily pointing out cases where some schools have their cafeteria and gym in the same room, which can limit schedules for P.E. and lunch. The number of classrooms will also be considered, she said. Financial impact The lowest-rated criteria the subcommittee is considering is the possible revenue a building sale can bring in to the district and the cost needed to repair an existing building, per district documents. Future public meetings to further discuss possible school closures will be scheduled between September and November, according to district documents. If the district goes forward to close a school, it would go into effect July 1, 2026.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PennDOT invests nearly $10M to improve PA airports; $6.2M for WB/Scranton
Jun. 3—WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced a $10 million state investment in projects at five public use airports — including $6.2 million for upgrades at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport. The funding for seven airports in four counties will be used for facility improvements, infrastructure preservation and development — supporting safe, reliable infrastructure, while growing the Commonwealth's economy. Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport received the largest single allocation in this round of funding. Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Scranton, said the state funding at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will go toward expanding the terminal and modernizing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening area. Carl Beardsley, executive director at the airport, said the total project cost estimate is $18.3 million. He said in addition to the $6.2 million announced Tuesday, the airport has received other funding from IIJA-AIG, AIP, Supplemental AIP, PFC. "The primary goals of the project are to improve the passenger's experience and well-being at the airport," Beardsley said. "These goals will be accomplished by expanding the terminal space approximately 10,000 square feet and incorporating the latest screening technology, increasing queuing space for security screening, providing space for social distancing, improving air quality and other public health measures." Additionally, Beardsley said implementing a separate exit lane for off-boarding passengers will reduce the conflict that currently exists with inbound and outbound passengers crossing each other near the stairs/escalators. "These improvements will help minimize the spread of pathogens," Beardsley said. "The secondary goal of this project is to minimize impacts to passengers and airport operations while constructing these improvements." Beardsley said a strategic phasing plan will be developed that focuses on the safe movement of passengers within the terminal and clearly identifies staging areas on the airfield side. He said all work associated with this project is AIP eligible and will not permanently impact existing aircraft movement areas. Sen. Flynn said the investment is part of a larger initiative by the Shapiro Administration to improve airport infrastructure across the Commonwealth. "This funding marks a long-term investment in the future of Northeastern Pennsylvania," said Sen. Flynn. "As demand for air travel and commerce in our region continues to rise, it's essential that our infrastructure keeps pace. These upgrades will ensure our airport remains a modern, accessible, and secure gateway for residents, businesses and visitors alike." Sen. Flynn said the project will be financed through the state Capital Budget via the Aviation Transportation Assistance Program, which is supported by bonds. Once completed, the upgrades will improve passenger flow, enhance security operations, and support continued growth at one of northeastern Pennsylvania's busiest airports. According to PennDOT, Pennsylvania's robust aviation industry employs more than 226,000 people, provides nearly $12.5 billion in payroll and employment benefits, and has a $34 billion annual economic impact. In addition to providing travel options, airports also facilitate services such as air cargo and freight, police and law enforcement, emergency medical services, firefighting and disaster and emergency response. "Pennsylvania's aviation industry provides good-paying jobs while linking communities to a larger transportation system that moves goods and people around the world," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "These investments are another example of Governor Shapiro's focus on maintaining our infrastructure while also expanding business opportunities." —Other airports receiving funding: Bucks County Quakertown Airport — $1.1 million to construct three new hangars. Doylestown Airport — $525,000 for the continued rehabilitation of hangars. Doylestown Airport — $157,500 to demolish four structures on airport property. Doylestown Airport — $360,000 to extend public water access to the terminal area of the airport. Jefferson County DuBois Regional Airport — $225,000 for the continued renovations of their administration building. Lehigh County Lehigh Valley International Airport — $1.5 million to construct a parking structure to enhance terminal commercial development. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Telegraph
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
‘We always felt if Spurs crossed the Watford Gap they would wet themselves!'
The sense of delayed gratification is tangible as the next Premier League champions await their coronation. The Covid pandemic cancelled Anfield's first title celebration for three decades under Jürgen Klopp. Now Liverpool 's legends are readying Arne Slot's induction into their hall of fame with the party plans shelved for five years. 'It feels right that it can happen this way,' says Phil Thompson, former Liverpool captain and assistant manager, anticipating Slot's side will get the point needed against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. 'We were denied this in 2020. There is no right way or wrong to win the league, but the best way to celebrate winning it is in front of your own supporters. We deserve to do it on our own ground.' The choreography could be straight from a Busby Berkeley classic, Virgil van Dijk urging every fan to wear red for a carnival which, while overwhelmingly focused on Slot's imminent triumph, will offer an appropriate nod to Klopp's success, the ex-manager to attend the final home match in May. 'Whether we win it on Sunday or not, that trophy presentation on the last day against Crystal Palace will be truly special,' says Thompson. 'Everyone can experience how it should be when you win the league.' Thompson should know, having done so seven times during a glittering career. For the distinguished former centre-back, Spurs rolling up at the Shankly Gates holds special resonance. So accustomed are the north London club to the bridesmaid role on the day the title is won, their players could be forgiven for arriving on Sunday holding a bouquet. Manchester United fondly recall Spurs being the Old Trafford opponents when completing part one of the 1999 treble, while Arsenal found their neighbours hospitable hosts in 1971 and 2004, White Hart Lane the ideal party venue for Bertie Mee and Arsène Wenger. The last time it happened on Merseyside, Kenny Dalglish's classic 1987-88 side completed their title march thanks to a Peter Beardsley winner against Terry Venables' Spurs. 'My memory of that is as clear now as it was that day,' says Beardsley. 'You don't forget scoring the goal that won Liverpool a title at Anfield. It is something you dream of. The similarity with Sunday was uncanny because we knew if we beat Tottenham we'd win it with four games left.' Beardsley struck in the 34th minute for a Liverpool team hailed by England legend Tom Finney as 'better than Brazil'. 'We all saw Tom Finney say that on Sportsnight after we beat Nottingham Forest [10 days earlier]. He was such a respected figure who had seen thousands of games, and for him to say that was the ultimate approval,' says Beardsley. 'When I signed for Liverpool I always thought we were going to win the league, but not necessarily the way and style we did it, going 29 games unbeaten and being so far ahead of everyone else. Liverpool had won the league plenty of times before, but you have to remember it was all new for those of us who had just joined. Other than [John] Barnesy, maybe, I'm not sure we were household names before we went to Liverpool. 'It was the perfect blend. Alan Hansen was amazing in defence, just like Virgil van Dijk today, and Barnesy was the talk of the town. John Aldridge was the perfect partner for me because he loved working inside the box and I liked to work outside it. And then Ray Houghton came in. It was a dream scenario for anyone coming into that team. 'It is hard to compare different eras and times. What I will say for sure is Liverpool have never had a better wide player than John Barnes. When you talk about the best Liverpool players ever, Barnesy is in there. He was the best player I ever played with.' Beardsley agrees that securing the title in front of the Kop means more. 'I didn't want Liverpool to go into the Spurs game having already won it because Arsenal lost on Wednesday. Doing it on your own patch is a brilliant feeling,' he says. 'I'm looking forward to seeing Liverpool have a trophy parade so soon after Newcastle's. It's been an amazing season for my old clubs – and I'm looking forward to being at Goodison Park for the final game there, too.' There was more jeopardy against Spurs in the penultimate game of the 1981-82 season. Liverpool needed to beat Keith Burkinshaw's FA Cup holders to end the challenge of Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town. 'The Kop was full at 2pm, everyone was queuing up outside for hours and hundreds if not thousands of fans could not get in,' recalls Mark Lawrenson, who was hunting the first of his five titles. 'When I went on to the pitch, it was the first time I had blessed myself as a good Catholic boy. I don't think I ever did it before or since.' Burkinshaw's side were fourth and on the brink of another Wembley win having just been narrowly beaten by Liverpool in the League Cup final. They also possessed one of the league's classiest midfielders who, on 27 minutes, silenced the Kop. 'Glenn Hoddle scored one the greatest goals ever by an away player at Anfield,' says Thompson. 'I can still picture it going in and what made it even better was the ball was bobbling all over what was a pretty dodgy pitch before he hit it.' Thompson was not the only Liverpool player purring. 'You have seen the goal, haven't you? Unbelievable,' recalls Lawrenson. 'I was probably the closest to him as he was about to hit from about 35 yards and thinking: 'Go then, you're not going to score from there.' Then it flew into the top corner.' Blocking the home path was Liverpool legend Ray Clemence, who was making his first Anfield appearance since leaving as a European Cup winner 12 months earlier. His Kop reception provided one of the most iconic images of the old terrace, and the increase in volume inspired the home side. 'When we went in at half-time, Bob [Paisley] being Bob said: 'Keep playing, chances will come,' and a few of us were looking at each other thinking: 'What if they don't?'' says Lawrenson. 'Tottenham were a decent side, but there was always a feeling that whenever Tottenham crossed the Watford Gap to head north they would wet themselves.' Lawrenson's bullet header equalised on 51 minutes, before he provided the assist for Dalglish four minutes later. Ronnie Whelan belted a third late on to get the champagne popping. 'A few fans ran on at the end. The Kop was singing: 'Get off the f-----g pitch so we can get on with the lap of honour,' says Lawrenson. At the time, Thompson's sixth title was a record for an individual player. 'The first thing I did on the final whistle was go to Clem,' says Thompson. 'Ray and myself had won so much together and he was still a big part of our group. It was an emotional day for Ray. He was not surprised we had won the league, but was probably a bit more disappointed than he showed that he was on the other team. He had big success at Spurs, too, of course.' For Thompson, Graeme Souness's trophy lift triggered mixed emotions. 'I'd lost the captaincy after we lost at home 3-1 to Manchester City on Boxing Day,' he says. 'It was a big disappointment at the time, obviously, but in hindsight it gave me the gee-up that Bob was looking for. I stayed in the side and the amazing run took us from 12th to first with 20 wins from the last 25 games. 'It was a bit bittersweet seeing someone else lift it, but I had enjoyed my moments and Liverpool winning another title mattered most. I didn't think anyone would get near us until United came along in the 90s.' Lawrenson attributes the 1982 comeback to the genius and psychology of the legendary Anfield backroom staff. 'After the defeat to City, Joe Fagan went berserk and let rip at us,' says Lawrenson. 'It was along the lines of: 'You represent Liverpool Football Club and we do not stand for this.' 'Joe was such a mild-mannered man, he never raised his voice. So when he did, it mattered. I had never heard everyone so quiet. The next match we beat Swansea 4-0 in the FA Cup and away we went.' Thompson and Lawrenson will be among the many VIPs craving the same result this weekend. There is added poignancy for Thompson when considering how his close friend and former boss, the late Gérard Houllier, would have relished the occasion. 'I will be thinking of Gérard,' says Thompson. 'He changed the whole culture of the football club moving forward, preparing footballers for the era of Champions League football. Every manager who followed him reaped the benefits of that.' Back in 1982 and modest as ever on winning the fifth of his six titles, Paisley reflected on living up to his illustrious predecessor's expectations. 'I thought I would be judged on Bill's [Shankly's] standards. If you are judged against what he did, nine times out of 10 you will hit the deck.' he said. As he closes in on Klopp's league haul in his first season and prepares to take his place alongside the club's greats, Slot can hear Anfield's echoes.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bi-County Airport Board hears report on May 7 roll-out of REAL ID
Apr. 24—PITTSTON TWP. — Mark C. Bailer, Scranton, director of public safety at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, on Thursday reported on the May 7, roll-out of REAL-ID. Bailer, who started in the position on March 21, advised the Bi-County Airport Board to inform their constituents to be ready for the mandatory start of REAL ID. "Customers without REAL ID will still be able to fly, but the process will be twice as long to get through security," Bailer said. With federal REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll, along with officials from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, and the American Automobile Association, recently encouraged Pennsylvanians to prepare now. Getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania, but beginning May 7, travelers will need a REAL ID driver's license or ID card, or another form of federally-acceptable identification — such as a valid passport or military ID — to board a domestic commercial flight, and enter a military base or other federal facilities that require ID at the door. More than 2.6 million Pennsylvanians have gotten a REAL ID driver's license or ID card since they became available in the state in 2019. A passport is still needed for international travel. Federal REAL ID regulations require that PennDOT must verify the following documents: —Proof of identity. —Proof of Social Security number. —Two proofs of current, physical PA address. —Proof of all legal name changes. When a customer gets their first REAL ID, they will pay a one-time fee of $30, plus the renewal fee, which is $39.50 for a four-year non-commercial driver's license and $42.50 for a photo ID. In other business, the Airport Board: —Heard a report from Carl R. Beardsley Jr., executive director, on passenger activity. "As you can see, we are experiencing significant growth," Beardsley said. Beardsley said passenger enplanements for the month of March 2025 increased 27.7% to 21,475 — up from 16,814 in the month of March 2024. In March 2025, 3 departing flights were cancelled — 2 for weather and 1 for maintenance. Beardsley said this accounts for 130 (.5%) out of a total of 26,986 departure seats. Also, five arriving flights were cancelled — four for weather and one for maintenance. —Approved the Airport Use Agreement between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and Breeze Aviation Group, effective April 1, 2025. —Authorize the advertisement for bids for HVAC Maintenance Services. —Approved the financial report of Chris Dalessandro, Director of Finance, that showed for the month of March 2025, Airport Operations had an income totaling $135,640 compared to an income of $5,571 in March 2024 — a difference of $130,069. Dalessandro said year to date, the profit is $294,388, compared to a loss in 2024 of $267,577 — a difference of $561,965. Invoices received since the last meeting for supplies and services totaling $738,644.95 were approved by the Board. These invoices include major construction project costs of $316,5636.73. —Approved three appointments presented by Michelle Aigeldinger, Director of Human Resources: — Anthony Constantine, Dunmore, Maintenance 2, to be effective once confirmation of airport clearances and approved physical are received. — Bryan Cadwalder, Old Forge, to Maintenance 2, to be effective once confirmation of airport clearances and approved physical are received. — Jonathan Crawn, Dupont, to Maintenance 2, to be effective once confirmation of airport clearances and approved physical are received. —Heard updates from Stephen Mykulyn, P.E., director of engineering, on engineering projects. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
