Latest news with #Boyles
Los Angeles Times
30-05-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Around Town: Balboa Island Parade steps off this Sunday
Sunday will kick off the summer season on Balboa Island with the annual Balboa Island Parade. The theme this year is 'Celebrating 30 years on Balboa Island — A Tribute to Our First Responders,' a nod not only to the number of years the parade has taken place, but also to the opening 30 years ago of Newport Beach fire station No. 4 in a then-new facility. The Grand Marshal this year is Newport Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles. 'Even though I'm selected to serve as Grand Marshal, it's not lost on me that I am the representative of our entire first responder community and for that I'm extremely honored,' Boyles said. Along with two hours of fun-filled entertainment, the parade provides an opportunity to come out and thank the firefighters, police, paramedics, harbor patrol personnel and lifeguards who keep everyone safe on Balboa Island. 'We start planning in January and with 78 volunteers, a lot goes on behind the scenes,' said co-chair, Gail Vasterling of the Balboa Island Improvement Assn. 'It takes an army.' Among the 99 entries, paradegoers Sunday can expect to see horses, floats, decorated cars, Keystone Kops, U.S. Marines, the USC Marching Band, high school bands and drill teams. There will also be six dog groups, local dignitaries and a surprise four-legged guest this year. The parade begins on the Balboa Island Bridge at 11 a.m. and continues down Marine Avenue. It's followed by the afterparty concert featuring M Street band at the fire station. The bridge closes to traffic at 10:45 a.m. As part of a nationwide movement known as Baptize America, Oceans Church will join dozens of churches across California in hosting a mass baptism at Pirates Cove in Corona del Mar at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8. The late Pastor Chuck Smith baptized thousands at the same cove during the 1970s Jesus Movement, when served the congregation at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. The cove was also the launch site of Baptize SoCal in 2023, when more than 4,000 people were baptized in a single day. The Costa Mesa City Council will hold a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive. Among the agenda items are consideration for approval of the proposed operating and capital improvement program and housing authority budget for 2025-26. The panel will also take a look at a proposed agreement for the UCLA football team to use part of the Jack Hammet Sports Complex for training camp this summer. Orange County Museum of Art on June 21 will open 'California Biennial 2025: Desperate, Scared, But Social,' a new exhibit featuring artworks that span generations, from early works from established California artists to contemporary collaborations between artists and their children. They will be on view through Jan. 4, 2026. The exhibit took its title from the 1995 album by Orange County riot grrrl band Emily's Sassy Lime, who are featured artists. A celebratory opening day block party and public programs is planned for 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 21. 'The biennial arrives at a moment when both the present and future can feel uncertain, especially in the wake of devastating Los Angeles wildfires that have touched the lives of many participating artists, said Heidi Zuckerman, OCMA chief executive and director, in a news release. 'In response, the exhibition looks toward the generative power of youth, offering a vision of hope, perseverance, and possibility.' OCMA is located at 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Community fundraiser organized for Limestone County deputy who lost home due to severe storms
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Community is rallying together to help support a familiar face in the Limestone County area. A community fundraiser has been organized to help support Limestone County Deputy Mike Boyles. Boyles is also a School Resource Officer at East Limestone High School. According to LCSO, Boyles lost his home during the severe storms that took place on Tuesday, May 20. On Monday, June 2, Greenbrier Restaurant is hosting a community fundraiser to help support the Boyles family during this devastating time. Utility poles down and home destroyed after a tornado ripped through Athens Greenbrier Restaurant is located at 27028 Old Hwy 20, Madison, Alabama. The fundraiser is set to take place from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. 'Deputy Boyles has always been there for our children, schools, and community. Now it's our turn to be there for him. Come out, enjoy a great meal, and show your support for someone who has dedicated his life to protecting and serving others.' Limestone County Sheriff's Office According to the Sheriff's Office, 20% of all proceeds from the day will go directly to the Boyles family for recovery efforts. A GoFundMe has also been set up for the family, if would like to donate, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
‘Not everyone was Paul Revere': Mass. historians reimagine America's founding tale
Related : Advertisement These overlooked perspectives — included in the museum's ' 'Not everyone was Advertisement A more inclusive accounting of Massachusetts history is a massive undertaking in the current moment, local historians acknowledge. They are taking the charge when public history funding is scarce, the sector lacks few diverse perspectives, and mentions of The Trump administration's canceling of millions of Against these odds, though, 'this is really the time to hook people,' Folsom said. Governor The state closed a second, $2 million grant cycle for organizations marking the But the programming has drawn some Advertisement 'An important focus for us from the start has been on telling the untold stories and spotlighting underrepresented voices from the Revolution,' the spokesperson said in a statement. That focus includes 'Indigenous peoples, enslaved and free Black communities, and women,' along with cities and towns that aren't usually included in Revolutionary War-related tourism. Fifty years ago, or even a few years ago, Independence Day revelers might have heard a different Revolutionary War story. Globe coverage from America's bicentennial captures celebrations centered around figures such as George Washington, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson. Protests from Black and Indigenous groups about these figures' owning of people, and genocide of Native tribes, respectively, were mentioned in mainstream media, albeit briefly. Brian Boyles, executive director of MassHumanities, sits on the state's commemoration commission and co-chairs MassHumanities has allocated at least $600,000 toward ' Boyles said the nonprofit realized that philanthropic initiatives for more diverse public history isn't enough. Historians must also ensure their money will ensure that marginalized communities are shaping the stories visitors hear. 'Expertise lives in a lot of different ways and communities,' Boyles said. Also broadening the Revolutionary War's narrative are exhibits such as ' Advertisement The item, with its endless pattern of circles and focus on King Philip's War, 'serves as a touchstone to multiple stories' of the past, present, and future, Walley said. Related : Walley sees Concord Museum as a potential model for museums reckoning with their outdated interpretations of the nation's founding. It is using its privilege, Walley said, as an institution with extensive collections and funding to center voices such as hers. 'It's not like they're the only museum that's doing good things,' Walley said, but there are many museums that haven't even started improving. As the demand for more inclusive histories grows, community-bred, public historians such as Joel Mackall are in high demand. For years, he has led walking tours of Black history around Greater Boston, mostly among Black people like him. But recently, he has received several inquiries from outside the community to give tours, lectures, and speeches. The surge in popularity is something he's still getting used to, but at times, he feels he can't be as candid about America's problems with race. 'We always have to tone down or reshape our suffering" to ensure some audiences don't feel uncomfortable, Mackall said. 'It's a lot.' At popular Revolutionary War sites such as the Old State House in downtown Boston, historians don't shy away from the political aftershocks of violent protest. This touchy subject is fleshed out in the ' Advertisement But when it comes to race, things get tricky, said Nat Sheidley, CEO of Revolutionary Spaces, the nonprofit managing the landmark. 'It's dangerous, it's hard to create a space you can't control,' Sheidley said. 'You put other people at risk by inviting them to be in dialogue with it.' Joe Palumbo, a Concord native and historian, believes that learning a more complete story will benefit everyone. The state recently awarded the town a $25,000 grant for a project related to the 250th commemoration, which includes Palumbo's tours that highlight the different sites shaped by patriots of color. Take the Across the street from the famous span, there is The Robbins House. Its namesake, Caesar Robbins, was born into slavery in Chelmsford and fought in two wars. At 16, he served in the French and Indian War, and his enslaver received his wages. In his early 30s, he fought in the Revolutionary War and gained his freedom. He served at both Dorchester Heights and Fort Ticonderoga. And these are just two stories. For Palumbo, inclusion in the story of the town, and the nation, matters. 'The country was really built by everybody,' he said. Danny McDonald of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Tiana Woodard can be reached at
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Southampton developers submit new application for self-storage facility on College Highway
SOUTHWICK — The Southampton developers who withdrew a request for a special permit to build a nearly 60,000-square-foot self-storage facility at 662A College Highway in February has applied once again for a special permit to build a scaled-down version of the project. 'We are confident that the proposed plan addresses the requirements of the Site Plan Review and Southwick's zoning bylaws and look forward to presenting this site plan to the [Planning] Board at the next meeting,' wrote Chris Chamberlain on behalf of Jim and Ellen Boyle, the Southampton developers seeking the special permit to build the facility. Chamberlain is a principal engineer for the Berkshire Design Group, which designed the facility originally proposed by Boyle. The new permit is fundamentally different from the first Boyles's first request, which drew negative comments from Planning Board members and Fire Department Chief Richard Stefanowicz. Last year during one of several public hearings held on the Boyle's request to build the 59,000-square-foot facility, Stefanowicz called the site plan, a 'bad plan' that compromises 'public safety.' The general complaints from the Planning Board for the first permit request was that the proposed facility would be too big for the 3.17-acre parcel the Boyle's own on College Highway, which is between O'Reilly's Auto Parts and the former Southwick Episcopal Church that is being renovated into a recreational marijuana dispensary. The new proposal heeded the concerns of the board and Stefanowicz and submitted a plan to build two buildings on the property with a combined square footage of 35,416 square feet. The special permit application doesn't specify the individual square footage of the self-storage facility and the second building that will serve as an office for the facility but does indicate the storage building will be two stories in height. The Boyles had wrestled with the Planning Board for months during its first request for a permit trying to meet the board's expectations which came to head in February 2024, which was when board members and Stefanowicz pushed back on the proposal. For nearly a year, the public hearing, which had remained open since May 2023 when the Boyles first applied for the permit, they requested the public hearing remain open as they considered changes to the design of the facility. In January, Town Planner Jon Goddard said that the Boyles had been meeting periodically with him to 'brainstorm certain modifications.' 'Several meetings ago, he came in with a building that was fundamentally different in scale…to manage some of our concerns,' Goddard said at the Jan. 7 meeting With that reduction in the scale of the building, Goddard said the Boyles saw an 'opportunity' rent space to small contractors for storage of their tools and materials. During that meeting, Goddard and former Planning Board Chair Michael Doherty agreed that if the facility began renting space to small contractors was a change in the use of the property. 'My concern is that regardless of scale it adds another use,' he said at the time. Goddard said that it may appear 'really simple' that the two uses might fall under the same 'umbrella' of the town's zoning bylaws. But the town's bylaws 'spells it out very clearly these are separate uses,' he said. It's not clear in the special permit application if space in the facility will be rented to small contractors. The first public hearing on the new permit application will be held on Tuesday, April 29 at 7 p.m., in the Land Use Room in Town Hall.
Boston Globe
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
NEH funding cuts hit Mass. groups focused on history, culture
On Tuesday, NEH officials told staff that DOGE had recommended staff reductions of as much as 80 percent, as well as the cancellation of grants made under the Biden administration that had not been fully paid out. Advertisement Brian Boyles, executive director of Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Since the 1960s, Massachusetts Humanities has provided funding to projects around the state focused on local history, literature and storytelling, 'We have received an annual grant from the NEH for 50 years,' Boyles said. In 2024, organizations in Massachusetts received grants totaling $7.4 million, according to the Mass Humanities website. 'While information is still forthcoming, we believe all of these grants were eliminated this week,' the organization said in a statement on its site Thursday. Advertisement Other local organizations have also been hit hard. The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association saw a $300,000 NEH grant cut this week, said Timothy Neumann, the group's executive director. The funding supported historical research on Lucy Terry Prince, a Black woman poet who was well-known in the Massachusetts free Black community during the Revolutionary War. The NEH also cut a $40,000 grant for the Boyles said he learned of the Mass Humanities grant termination in an email he received at 12:39 a.m. Wednesday night. The email, from the NEH's interim director, Michael McDonald, originally went to Boyles' spam folder, he said, because it was sent from a non-governmental address. 'I am stunned at the manner it was handled,' Boyles said. Boyles said he was bracing for funding cuts, but did not expect them to come quite so suddenly. 'We were given no indication by NEH that this was coming,' he said. The letter sent to Boyles said, 'NEH has reasonable cause to terminate your grant in light of the fact that the NEH is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President's agenda.' The letter also said the grant termination was an 'urgent priority' for the Trump administration, and that due to exceptional circumstances, 'adherence to the traditional notification process is not possible.' NEH-supported projects in Massachusetts that got grants starting in 2023 or 2024 are at risk because their grants are supposed to run for several more years, said Boyles, who is trying to keep track of cancellations. Advertisement A project list Boyles shared with the Globe includes more than 75 initiatives on topics including slavery, Native American studies, poetry, international relations, urban design, maritime history and musical instruments. In Hadley, the historic farmstead Sánchez-Eppler helps run was erected in 1752 and passed down in the same family for two centuries, allowing architecture, furniture, and documents including diaries to be preserved, she said. 'Because it has so much stuff, it really tells a broad social-historical story,' said Sánchez-Eppler, who is also an American Studies and English professor at Amherst College. Much of grant money that was canceled supported the museum's semiquincentennial exhibits, including restoring part of the home's garden to what it would have looked like in the 1770s, she said. Now, staff don't have the money to populate the garden with flowers and plants, Sánchez-Eppler said. Museum workers will have to describe to visitors what the garden would have looked like, she said, sighing. 'That's a tangible loss,' she said. Other museum exhibits tell the stories of two enslaved people who lived on the farm, and explore the diary of a woman who owned the farm during the Revolutionary War. The loss of the grant means visitors won't be able to learn about those important parts of US history, Sánchez-Eppler said. 'The basis of democracy is knowledge, having a knowledgeable populous that can deliberate and make decisions about the present, and also about the past,' she said. This is a developing story. Claire Thornton can be reached at
