Latest news with #Behrend
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Erie students take the polar plunge for a good cause
They were freezing for a reason Friday. Students from three area schools took part in a polar plunge on the bayfront. The event raised awareness, excitement and funds for the Special Olympics. Behrend students take polar plunge for Special Olympics The students have been raising money all year long and dropping into the frigid pool was a way to celebrate their efforts. 'I heard about it and I'm like jumping into a freezing cold pool in freezing weather, I love it! It sounds like lots of fun, it's really exciting and it's for a good cause,' Clifford Seibel, a Polar Plunge participant said. Dominick's Diner says thank you and farewell to Erie 'Our unified school champions program is incredibly important. We have students with and without disabilities playing on a team together and as equal partners. It's really important,' said Katherine Reim, regional executive director of the Special Olympics. Greenville, Corry and Charter School of Excellence took part in Friday's plunge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Erie High students start their on tiny homes for people in need
Students in Erie High's construction trades program are helping to serve some of those most in need in our community. Over the next two years, students will be building a tiny home. Not only will students be doing a good deed, but it will give them valuable workforce experience. Behrend students take polar plunge for Special Olympics Erie High's construction trades program students are starting work on a single tiny-family home. 'This is a phenomenal opportunity for these kids to get out and actually do what we do in the field. We could only replicate so much within the lab without wasting material and it not really having a purpose,' said Mike Trippi, the construction trades instructor. That purpose is for this tiny home to be used by families facing a housing crisis. It'll take roughly two years for students to finish. Then it'll be donated to community shelter services to become part of its Kiwanis Caring Village. Jersey Mike's presents Shriner's Erie with annual donation 'In our tiny homes right now, it's about when we finally get someone to that next step, the next job, the next house, and see them get on their feet, and then they come back and visit and we hear success stories. We have some of them who are now making $18 an hour and have their own place. That's wonderful to see,' said Diane Lazette, executive director of Community Shelter Services. And on the north side alley of Erie High is where this tiny home will be built, and soon, students will be putting up scaffolding for the project. Students will be working with tools and equipment most of them have never touched before and explore possible career opportunities. 'I think this is a good way to get out there and show my skills off. I'm really excited for this. I like helping people and think it's a really good deed,' said Danrell, a sophomore at Erie High School. 'I just wanna get the experience of building a house, and maybe later in life I can work with my grandpa's company.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Students started out by doing some real-world calculations to determine what material they needed, and how much. From there, more than 30 local partners in the construction industry are picking up the rest, and footing most of the bill. 'It's a switch. You see these kids and they don't realize what they can do. Then we start talking about it, practicing it, and then they're able to get out and do it,' Trippi went on to say. St. Vincent promotes organ donation for Donate Life Month The tiny home will feature two sleeping lofts, a laundry room, a full kitchen and bathroom, and a living room. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Behrend students take polar plunge for Special Olympics
Members of Penn State Behrend's athletics department were freezing for a reason Wednesday as they partnered with Special Olympics for a fundraiser. Student athletes took the polar plunge Wednesday at Behrend's campus to help raise money for Special Olympics programming. Jersey Mike's presents Shriner's Erie with annual donation Special Olympic athletes don't pay a dime to be involved in their programs so fundraising is a huge piece of what they do. 'Having the students here, come out to plunge today, and just tell them a little bit about the special Olympics and the good work that we're doing is incredibly important and we're so thankful,' said Katherine Rein, regional director of the Special Olympics. Erie Regional Airport Authority hosting Global Entry event 'We had people here earlier in swim trunks and ski goggles, getting really into it. I think it's something that everybody is passionate about. We're just happy to come out here and raise awareness and raise support,' said Oliver Petsch, a senior and president of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Special Olympics will be taking their dunk tank to Mercyhurst University Thursday and then to Erie's bayfront on Friday to continue efforts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lettie G. Howard nearly ready to start 2025 sailing season
If you've taken a drive along the bayfront, you may have noticed the return of one of Erie's iconic ships. The Lettie G. Howard has made its way back to the end of Dobbins Landing, where it will be docked throughout the sailing season. Behrend students take polar plunge for Special Olympics Sailing in the bay will start earlier this year than ever before, the first day being May 2. Beyond regular day sails and sunset sails, the Lettie is continuing programming for local students offering learning experiences, sail training, and tall ships challenge port visits. For a full schedule of the 2025 sailing season or to book your trip, Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Valparaiso School Board applications now available, due April 14
The Valparaiso City Council has opened the application process for appointing a new member to the Valparaiso School Board. 'I've got exciting news in that school board applications are now available online as of March 11,' said Valparaiso City Council Member Emilie Hunt, D-At-large, who serves as the council liaison for Valparaiso schools. 'There's a member whose term is expiring and the school board currently includes two appointees who are considered Republicans and two appointees who are considered Democrats. So for the 2025 school board appointment process, applicants can be either political party affiliation.' The application is available at: Applications are due by noon on April 14, and interviewing will begin in May. 'It should also be noted that there is also a township-appointed seat which is also open to be filled since that member's term is also ending,' Hunt said. School board township appointed member Erika Robinson-Watkins, whose term is ending, was selected in May 2021 from nearly a dozen applications and appointed by the Center Township Advisory Board. 'There have been women as members on the Valparaiso School Board for decades, but this board has not had diversity, and I'm happy to say I'm a diverse first for this dedicated group,' said Robinson-Watkins, after her appointment almost four years ago. 'Valparaiso has seen many changes in just the 10 years I've lived here with my husband and children, and that change continues every day.' The term of school board member and current president, Valparaiso dentist Dr. Robert Behrend is also ending, which is the resulting need for a new appointment. He was appointed by the city council. Both Watkins and Behrend generated media and public attention earlier this year after they addressed the Valparaiso City Council during the public comments portion of the Jan. 27 meeting. The two participated in a verbal tug-of-war of accusations about whether Behrend, who said 'the Democrats were coming after him,' had moved to Wisconsin and therefore was not eligible for school board duties. Watson said then she's been portrayed as finger-pointing and reactive about not ascending to the usual rotated title and duties of school board president, since the school board opted to give Behrend two consecutive terms as president. Behrend told the city council at the Jan. 27 meeting his pay stipend equates to $62 per school board meeting. Applicants for the city council's Valparaiso School Board seat must be at least 21 years old and live within Valparaiso city limits, with state statute requiring that the Valparaiso School Board have at least one member from each political party. 'Party affiliation' is determined by the last primary in which the applicant voted. The term of appointment for the new member is four years. From noon April 14 to 25, the public can submit interview questions via the city hall website. If four or fewer applications are received, all applicants will be interviewed. If more than four applications are received, the city council can meet in executive session to narrow the pool to only four applicants to be interviewed. On April 26, applicants will be notified of their May 5 first-round interview time, and selected public-generated questions will be sent to applicants and all city council members before the 6 p.m. May 5 panel interviews at Valparaiso City Hall. For the second round of interviews, at 6 p.m. May 19 at Valparaiso City Hall, all applicants will receive the same questions in advance. Each of the interviews will be 25 minutes, with council members also allowed to ask one follow-up question if time permits. The council president and vice president have the first opportunity. Valparaiso City Attorney Patrick Lyp will moderate. After a 10-minute recess following the second round of interviews, council members will reconvene to appoint a school board member. After Lyp counts the ballots, if there is a majority vote for one candidate, that person is nominated and seconded, with discussion following about the merits of the candidate. Following discussion, a vote will be taken and the selection made. If there is no majority vote for the candidate, according to the guiding procedure, a council member can then make a motion to consider two candidates. After discussion, a motion to select one candidate will be made and seconded with additional discussion followed by a final vote. For the Center Township Trustee appointment, Trustee Jesse Harper, Board Chair Elizabeth Gingerich, Secretary Debra Fray and member Dr. Stephen Buck are accepting applications from individuals who are 21 years old and reside within the physical boundaries of Center Township in Porter County. Individuals applying may submit written information either by mail or personally to the Center Township Trustees Office at 202 Roosevelt Road, Valparaiso, Ind. 46383 through Monday, April 14. The Trustee's office is open 8 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Applications can be found at or picked up from the Trustee's office. Interested individuals can also email jesse@ to request an application. The Center Township Board will convene at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 12, at the Trustee Office in executive session to select a minimum of three applicants. At 6 p.m. Monday, May 19, in the Porter County Commissioners Chambers in the County Administration Building at 155 Indiana Ave. in Valparaiso, there will be a public meeting to interview and choose an appointment.
