Latest news with #Bolduc
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘This place is going to come alive': Pride stores founder unveils Hope Center for the Arts
SPRINGFIELD — Within a parking garage downtown, Pride stores founder Robert Bolduc has nearly transformed the former CityStage theaters into his Hope Center for the Arts. And in just a few months, the Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestra will do a bit of transforming itself, when it turns the stage into a cornfield. The kids, Bolduc gleefully explained Friday while leading a media tour through the space, are putting on 'Oklahoma!' 'This place is going to come alive,' Bolduc said of the 500-seat auditorium. Technicians are still installing lighting and sound equipment, and the new theaters and studios — vacant since CityStage went dark more than seven years ago — still smell of fresh paint. Bolduc already has three graduations booked for June, and 270 kids signed up for free arts programs that run July 7 through Aug. 1. Ultimately, he'd like to have 600 students involved in the programs. That's why he, his staff and the Springfield Public Schools showed off the new space Friday. Kids and their parents can sign up for the free summer programs at the Hope for Youth & Families website at or through their school. The center also is approved as a summer nutrition site, with free breakfast and lunch during the warmer months, Bolduc said. Bolduc's vision is to not only run his foundation's summer and after-school arts programs but to offer up the space to other regional organizations that showcase the arts and provide arts instruction and enrichment, such as the youth orchestra, which will use the center as its home base. The venue also will feature a more intimate 100-seat black box theater, as well as a mirrored dance studio. Both the black box and dance studio have leap-worthy, springy floors, which Bolduc said are the same ones used by the Boston Ballet. There will be visual arts studios — painting and the like — as well as quiet rooms for creative writing in what was CityStage's costume shop. Elsewhere will be studios for video and audio production, and practice rooms for musicians — as few as one or as many as an orchestra. When Bolduc first took The Republican through the youth orchestra's new rehearsal space in February 2024, it was still being used by the Springfield Parking Authority for document storage. 'Every parking ticket going back 100 years,' he said. All the studios and theaters are connected with audio and visual technology, said Kyle Homstead, the technical director. The main stage in the large theater is getting a 40-foot-long projection screen, and the floor will be set up for projection, as well. That's how the youth orchestra is going to create 'Oklahoma!' It's also a place where young people can learn to operate the latest technology, perhaps preparing for careers in the arts, Homstead said. 'This is a place where they can take something from their imagination and make it real,' he said. Bolduc's foundation bought the theater and studio space from the Parking Authority in 2024 for $1 million. It's a business-condo arrangement within the Columbus Center Garage. Built in 1984, it was StageWest until 1998. Later, Springfield Performing Arts Development Corp. presented a number of plays there, and attracted top-name theater talent. Over the years, it hosted Julie Harris as Emily Dickinson in her award-winning 'The Belle of Amherst,' Jack Klugman in 'On Golden Pond,' and John Astin of Gomez Addams fame in 'Edgar Allan Poe's Once Upon a Midnight.' Bolduc, 81, wouldn't say how much he's spent on the project. But more than a year ago, he estimated $10 million to $15 million in renovations and repairs. 'God has been good to me,' Bolduc said. Springfield collects $41M of $47M school funding threatened by Trump 50 years after arriving in Enfield, Lego's future clicks together elsewhere After 6 years on market, MassMutual sells Enfield complex for nearly $4M Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Springfield Rotary Club recognizes Bob Bolduc with a Paul Harris Award
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Every year, the Springfield Rotary Club awards a local community member who exemplifies their values focused on education, health, and economic upward mobility. This year, they chose 81-year-old Bob Bolduc. Bolduc started the Pride chain of gas stations and convenience stores. He was also involved in non-profits like the Springfield Symphony and selling Pride in 2021, his family decided to concentrate on the needs in the created the Hope for Youth and Families Foundation to help middle school students with literacy. Bolduc told 22News he hopes this award encourages others to give back. 'They know the satisfaction you get by helping others, and for those who are not involved now. I would encourage them to do so because you get a lot out of it. You help others, and they help you,' said Bob Bolduc, 2025 Paul Harris Awardee. During the Paul Harris Luncheon, grants were also awarded to 4 organizations for capital improvements. Each organization received $2,000 raised by the Springfield Rotary Club. The club is hoping to raise more money for the Hope for Youth and Families Foundation. Donations can be made online: WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
28-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Election day marks end of the long, tiring road for campaign volunteers in northern Ontario
Trudy Bolduc sat out the last two federal elections, but felt this race was different and signed up volunteer for the Liberal campaign in Sudbury. "I have spent a lot of time in the USA, not this year, not anymore, and I felt that we had to elect someone who could deal with Trump and with the various issues that are going to come along for a prime minister," she said. Bolduc said she grew up in a family of Liberal supporters and has continued to back the party throughout her life. "I can remember meeting Lester B. Pearson at my parents' home and I have basically met every Liberal prime minister since then and worked on several campaigns," she said. In 1985, she even ran as a provincial candidate in the Nickel Belt riding, but lost to the NDP's Floyd Laughren. For Sudbury Liberal candidate Vivianne Lapointe, Bolduc has been making phone calls to identify Liberal supporters in the riding and making sure they get out and vote on election day. "I have been surprised by the number of people that have identified themselves as not previous Liberal voters but would be this time," Bolduc said. A longtime Conservative volunteer Sonia Del Missier, a volunteer for Sudbury Conservative candidate Ian Symington, has had a similar focus to get out the vote on election day. Del Missier said she has volunteered for the Conservatives, on and off, since the 1984 federal campaign that saw Brian Mulroney win by a landslide and form a majority government for the Progressive Conservatives. "I believe in the cause. I believe in the candidate, I believe in the party that I'm volunteering for," she said about this election. "It's an opportunity to get involved at the grassroots level where you're interacting with just everyday people." Del Missier said she's not certain if she will volunteer for the next election campaign, as that will really depend on the candidate. She said young people should consider volunteering in election campaigns, though. "It's a great way to learn about the political system," Del Missier said. First-timer with the NDP Laurentian University student Breanna Boissoneault is one such young volunteer, who is working on her first campaign for Sudbury New Democrat candidate Nadia Verrelli. "I believe strongly in the values of the NDP and I think that it's important, especially in a complex election such as this one, to kind of spread the message that there's more than one or two parties we can vote for. There is another," she said. Boissoneault said she's knocked on 50 to 100 doors each day she's been out volunteering for the campaign and said people have generally been friendly. "Even if the views are different, people are still very nice and willing to share," she said. Boissoneault said she hopes to stay involved with politics after the campaign.
Fox Sports
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Bolduc, Thomas spark Blues to 12th consecutive victory, 5-4 over Avalanche
Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Zack Bolduc scored two power-play goals, Robert Thomas added a goal and three assists, and the St. Louis Blues extended their franchise-best winning streak to 12 games with a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. St. Louis has the longest winning streak in the NHL this season and has won 11 straight home games. Jake Neighbours and Pavel Buchnevich also scored for the Blues and Jordan Binnington made 35 saves, matching the franchise record home win streak for a Blues goaltender at 10. Russ Colton, Miles Wood, Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Malinski scored for Colorado. Mackenzie Blackwood had 17 saves. Bolduc scored his first 49 seconds into the game, taking the puck from Thomas in the slot and snapping a wrist shot by Blackwood. Neighbours made it 2-0 at 7:40 of the first. Buchnevich scored on a backhand from in front at 1:01 of the second period and Bolduc added his second at 8:53 for a 4-0 lead. Colton and Wood scored late in the period to make it 4-2 after two. Thomas added an empty-net goal with 30 seconds to play. Takeaways Avalanche: Colorado's four-game winning streak ended. The team is 6-2-1 in its last nine games with both losses to St. Louis. Blues: Thomas has an eight-game point streak. He has three goals and 16 assists in that span. He has 30 points — the most in the NHL — since the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Key moment Binnington turned aside 17 shots in the first period. He stopped 12 shots on three Colorado power-play opportunities. Key stat Since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the Blues are 18-2-2 and have climbed into the first wild-card position in the Western Conference with the most wins (18) and points (38) in the NHL. Up next Avalanche: Will host Golden Knights on Tuesday night. Blues: Will play the Jets on Monday night at Winnipeg. __ More AP NHL: and recommended
New York Times
14-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Zack Bolduc suits the Blues well: ‘Really developing into an all-around NHL player'
ST. LOUIS — Zack Bolduc walks into the rink on game night wearing a dark suit, no socks and stylish dress shoes. The 22-year-old, a 2021 first-round pick from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, looks the part of an NHL player off the ice. There was anticipation after back-to-back 50-goal seasons in junior hockey, and 25 games with the St. Louis Blues last season, that he'd begin to look the part on the ice in 2024-25. There have been some hiccups, however, and he was a healthy scratch in 10 of the Blues' first 49 games. Advertisement In what the club is calling a competitive retool, fans feel young players should be allowed to play through their mistakes and they want Bolduc in uniform — not his suit. 'There's different ways to become a consistent NHL player,' Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. 'Sometimes sitting up in the press box and watching is part of that path, and for him it was part of that path. It's always a good thing to recognize that there are going to be hard times and you have to overcome them and stay with it. We want them to have success right away, too, but that's not life. It's just part of the process.' From being a healthy scratch to being heavy on the forecheck, Bolduc's process is taking shape. He scored his 12th goal of the season and was promoted to the Blues' top line in their 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. But what's more important than Bolduc's offense, which includes 25 points in 56 games, is why he's scoring and why Montgomery gave him a prime assignment: the smart plays, the physicality and the defensive responsibility that has made him a legitimate factor in the team turning its season around. 'He works at his game, and you see it behind the scenes working with the coaches,' Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. 'His 200-foot game is getting way better and he's made huge strides. He's a guy that comes in with a great attitude every single day, competes hard, and he's a really good teammate. It's good to see him get rewarded for it.' 🚨 BOLDUC GETS US ON THE BOARD 🚨 #stlblues — St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 14, 2025 Since the Blues' 6-5 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 8, Bolduc has been on the ice for nine five-on-five goals for and just four against, per Natural Stat Trick. In those 11 games, his plus-five rating has improved him to a team-best plus-13 this season. 'I'm playing well, but all the team is playing well,' Bolduc said. 'Since we've gotten back from the (4 Nations Face-Off) break, I feel my mindset is different — just be ready to compete. Even if it's a morning skate, you've got to be ready to work hard. Advertisement 'It's an everyday battle. You've got to think about your details and practice with good tempo so that it becomes natural in games. That's what I've been doing, and I've just got to keep doing it.' There have been plenty of examples of Bolduc's progress on the Blues' current road trip. In their 3-2 shootout win over Los Angeles last week, it's a simple one. LA is exiting the defensive zone when Oskar Sundqvist creates a turnover. Bolduc pounces on the puck and skates up ice, but when he runs out of room in the offensive zone, he doesn't try to force it. Instead, he backhands a pass toward Mathieu Joseph in the middle of the ice. The puck sails into the corner, but Cam Fowler pinches in and sends it back behind the net and the offense maintains possession. The line of Bolduc, Sundqvist and Joseph has been strong since first playing together against the Florida Panthers on Feb. 6. They've played 103 minutes since then and had more shots (50-36) and scoring chances (49-33) than the opposing line, though the goals are even, 4-4. 'One thing that makes it easy is playing with the same guys game after game,' Bolduc said. 'You can build some chemistry, and I think our games are mixing well together.' The success is due, in part, to plays like the one Bolduc made in LA. 'We know he's got the shot, the skill, the speed, all that stuff,' Sundqvist said. 'But if you watch him from the first game of the year, he's grown a lot more in situations with the puck and his decision-making. On some plays, 'Well, this is the situation, I have to chip it in, I can't try to dangle this guy.' He's made really big steps in that aspect.' Sundqvist has been preaching that to Bolduc, which is part of the reason Montgomery has the veteran on a line with the rookie. Advertisement 'The one thing that goes unnoticed is how important Sundqvist is to the development of the players that play on his line,' Montgomery said. 'He understands the game at such a high level and he talks to those guys every shift. Players, especially your leaders, have to reinforce the message verbally and help guide those guys.' Two nights later in a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks, Bolduc netted his 11th goal of the season for a 3-1 lead in the third period. But the sequence starts with Bolduc playing some tight defense on Leo Carlsson, taking away the middle of the ice. The Blues recover the puck, and as they do, Bolduc takes a pass from Cam Fowler, splits the Ducks' defense and scores. It was a great finish by Bolduc, but again, it's what he was doing earlier in the shift. 'He's stopping on pucks,' Montgomery said. 'Defensively, not falling below the puck. The other two things, what he looks like when (he's using) his speed and his physicality in one-on-one battles.' That's led to more trust from the coaches. 'I think they had confidence in me, but it's on me to be ready to play mentally and physically,' Bolduc said. 'That's what I've heard a lot of the coaches saying that when I'm doing video with them — just stick with it.' Montgomery was asked if there was a player Bolduc reminded him of, in terms of development and potential. 'I would say the best comparison that we can see from growth would be right in front of him, (Dylan) Holloway,' he said. 'Not that he's the same player, but if you want to chart a course and a pathway for his growth, that's what we hope to see.' Holloway, 23, is in his third full season in the NHL, and after scoring again Thursday, he has 21 goals in 66 games. He likes what he's seeing in his young teammate. Advertisement 'Boldy is starting to figure out the league,' Holloway said. 'It's definitely a transition, but it seems like he's transitioning very well. You've just got to find a way to be effective every night. You've got to prove to the team that you can do other things that can keep you in the lineup. Then once you do that and start building a leash with the coach, you get more opportunity and that's when your offensive abilities kick in.' In the final game of the Blues' three-game West Coast swing, a 2-1 overtime loss to LA, Bolduc showed off more of what's made him successful lately. He got in on the forecheck, and after getting knocked down by the Kings' Brandt Clarke, he jumped back on his feet, stole the puck and made a pass to Jake Neighbours. Seconds later, Nick Leddy tied the score at one on a point shot with Bolduc screening the goalie. After the game, Montgomery called Bolduc's sequence with the forecheck and the screen 'winning hockey.' 'That second and third effort of staying on pucks on the forecheck is where you really see players become impactful,' Montgomery said. Bolduc is feeling as proud of those plays as he is the goals. 'Yeah, it feels good to see the little result from the forechecking in LA,' he said. 'No one is going to get the puck for you. You've got to go get it yourself. It's part of my game now to be heavy on the forecheck, create some turnovers and have a good stick. Those are the details that you put your focus on, and they're paying off. 'Now you see the results coming. I'm feeling good about my game, but I still have more, and I still can get better at some stuff on my overall game.' He looks the part on the ice, and after being in the Blues' lineup for the 17th straight game Thursday, the healthy scratches are perhaps a thing of the past. Advertisement 'Yeah, he's really developing into an all-around NHL player,' Montgomery said. 'He's been really good for us. He's doing a lot of good little things that are adding up to big things for the team. Every game since we've been back from the break, I've been confident in Bolduc because he's just doing the right things to help us win.' (Photo of Zack Bolduc: Courtesy of St. Louis Blues)
