Latest news with #Caldbeck
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Greek Food Fair Festival helps keep Church in community
DES MOINES, Iowa — The 45th annual Greek Food Fair Festival is taking place this weekend, and while it's known for its delicious food and cultural performances, the festival has a greater impact on the Orthodox community in Des Moines. The festival is organized by the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, and the St. Demetrius Serbian Orthodox Church also takes part. Greek and Serbian food draw hundreds of people to the Drake neighborhood during the first weekend in June every year. Peter Caldbeck, the Vice President of the Greek Orthodox Church, said that the festival is their largest fundraiser every year and is what allows them to stay in the community. The building that the Church is in was built in 1906 and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Proceeds from the festival help with the upkeep of the building. 'We've been an anchor here for over 100 years, so that's something we take pride in and it helps with just the upkeep in the building and the running of the Church and our parish,' he said. Caldbeck said the Church redid their roof last month and last year's proceeds helped finance that project. The festival kicks off at 11 a.m. on Saturday and ends at 8 p.m. A new attraction this year is a free shuttle. People can part in the north lot of the Franklin Events Center, and a shuttle will arrive every twenty minutes to pick up people and take them to the Church. The Franklin Events Center is located at 4801 Franklin Avenue in Des Moines. Click here for the shuttle schedule. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Silicon Beach exec alleges ‘shake down' by investor ousted during #MeToo era
A Silicon Beach entrepreneur and her investor are suing each other — part of a growing legal brawl that includes a dispute over a private jet, claims of a lesbian workplace affair and allegations of a sexual assault in a West Hollywood hotel. On May 14, Mahway founder Jessica Mah sued D Global Ventures Chief Executive Justin Caldbeck in Los Angeles Superior Court, saying he groped her and repeatedly solicited her for sex, then attempted extortion and defamed her to other investors when she rejected him. Hours after Mah's claim was docketed, Caldbeck filed his own suit, saying Mah 'seduced investors' with false promises and used money she raised to prop up her 'ersatz glamorous lifestyle' — including spending company cash on a private jet. 'Justin Caldbeck's claims collapse under the weight of the very documents he read, approved, and signed,' a spokesman for Mah said. 'Jessica Mah will not be intimidated. We expect the court to deliver a penalty to Caldbeck as substantial as his gross misconduct.' A spokesperson for Caldbeck, Sallie Hofmeister, countered with a statement that called Mah's lawsuit 'nothing more than a calculated effort ... to distract from credible accusations that they have misused millions of dollars of investor funds.' 'Nearly a year ago, she explicitly threatened to weaponize past allegations against Mr. Caldbeck if he pursued legal claims related to fraud and embezzlement against her,' Hofmeister said. Mah has maintained a jet-piloting, Lamborghini-racing, party-DJ persona on Instagram and tech industry podcasts. Caldbeck became an early face of Silicon Valley's #MeToo reckoning when he issued a public apology and left the company he co-founded after multiple Asian American entrepreneurs accused him of sexual misconduct in 2017. Their court battle — one of the ugliest to hit L.A.'s tech scene in years — erupted at a moment of cultural crisis for the industry. Many companies have abandoned efforts to root out 'bro culture,' with polarizing figures such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg embracing President Trump's anti-woke agenda. At the same time, economic uncertainty has led to mass layoffs and forced companies to do away with luxurious perks for employees. How Mah spends her company's money and treats her team is the focus of other ongoing litigation. On May 15, two former Mahway employees — ex-President Walter Delph and William Mulholland, who served as chief financial officer — sued her for wrongful termination and whistleblower retaliation. Both are represented by Caldbeck's longtime lawyer, Ivo Labar. All three of the lawsuits filed against Mah allege that she 'holds herself out as a 'unicorn breeder,'' using an industry term for companies valued at more than $1 billion. 'In reality, Mah is a charlatan living on investors funds intended for Mahway's portfolio of startup companies, the majority of which are only 'unicorns' in the sense that they are also imaginary,' Caldbeck and Mulholland's suits both claim. The men's complaints accuse Mah of using company funds for personal expenses and structuring investment payouts to unfairly benefit her. Mahway is operated out of her rented West Hollywood mansion, with the company footing the bill, the suits allege. Mah said on a recent podcast appearance that the rental cost is $16,500 per month. Delph additionally accused Mah of age discrimination and sexual harassment, claiming she called him an 'old man' and carried on a public affair with Mahway founding partner Andrea Barrica — a relationship both women deny. According to Delph's suit, Mah 'would rub Barrica's upper inner thighs' during company meetings. That allegation is similar to one Mah leveled against Caldbeck. In her May 14 lawsuit, she alleged he 'touched the upper-most part of [her] thigh and put his hand next to her genitalia,' during a business meeting at the Pendry Hotel in 2022. Caldbeck's spokeswoman Hofmeister, who also represents Delph, called Mah's claims 'nothing more than a smokescreen to deflect attention' from the fraud allegations being leveled against her. 'Ms. Mah's lawsuit is meritless and the latest example of her bullying tactics,' Hofmeister said. Mah fired back at Delph on May 15 with a raft of civil conspiracy charges, filing a suit that alleged he colluded with Caldbeck and Mulholland to smear her and 'shake down' the company. The three men say their suits were filed independently of one another. Mulholland said he was forced to resign this year 'in order to avoid engaging in illegal activities at Mah's direction,' according to his May 15 suit. Barrica has also jumped into the fray, accusing Caldbeck of sexual harassment and extortion in a lawsuit filed May 20. Barrica claims he repeatedly tried to climb on top of her and kiss her in an Uber after a business meeting in Paris. The Mahway executive says Caldbeck tried to 'leverage his repulsive behavior by threatening to spread objectively false allegations that Ms. Barrica was in a sexual and romantic relationship' with Mah. Barrica alleges Caldbeck pressured her to join his 'unhinged and baseless campaign to destroy Ms. Mah.' According to Barrica's complaint — filed by Mah's longtime lawyer— when Mah learned of the alleged incident, she confided about her own experiences with Caldbeck. The two women agreed to try to maintain a professional relationship with the investor while limiting contact, Barrica's suit said. That seemed to work until a blowup over executive payouts in September. Days before the first complaints were filed in the spring, Barrica reached out to Caldbeck 'to make one last appeal for peace,' according to her complaint. By Barrica's account, the truce offer didn't go over well. 'Even if Jess said that I raped her, I wouldn't care,' Caldbeck said, according to Barrica's suit. 'My investors wouldn't care either.' According to Mulholland's and Delph's suits, Caldbeck's spat with Mah over payouts led the executives to probe the company's operations. Both said in their claims they concluded she was bilking investors. Delph contends in his complaint that he was fired after raising those concerns to his boss. Mulholland felt forced to resign amid growing fear he would be left holding the bag for Mah's misdeeds, per his suit. Caldbeck's suit said his investment company has 'suffered millions of dollars in damages' from Mahway's mismanagement. His spokeswoman said he looks forward to setting the record straight. 'Mr. Caldbeck is confident the truth will continue to emerge and Ms. Mah's allegations will be shown for what they are,' Hofmeister said.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- The Sun
Tiny campsite on the edge of a National Park named the best value in the UK
THE UK's best value campsite sits on the edge of a National Park and even has a river running through it. Caldbeck Camping on the outskirts of the Lake District National Park, scored full marks as the best campsite in the UK. 6 6 looked at individual reviews, judging the value largely on the quality and cleanliness of on-site facilities, as well as location. The site has simple facilities including a hot water supply to showers, clean toilets and a sink area. Guests have previously commended the site for the picturesque river that runs next to it and its proximity to a small village with shops and a welcoming pub. The campsite costs £9 per night per adult or £5 per night per child while an electric hookup is an additional £6 per night. The pitches are quite spacious and each benefit from their own picnic table. Some of the pitches are also large enough to accommodate bigger groups and there are quiet zones for those seeking some peace and quiet. Alternatively, there is also a bell tent available to stay in, for two people, from £65 per night. The tent has parking next to it and inside there is a double bed, private toilet and a secluded garden with a cooking area. The campsite is near the quaint village of Caldbeck which lies on the edge of the Lake District and is named after the river Cold Beck which runs through the village. The village has a strong industrial past and it has become well-known due to being the home of John Peel, the famous huntsman. Most beautiful British campsites Campers can head to the village or beyond and explore all that the Lake District National Park has to offer. One scenic part of the National Park nearby, is High Pike. High Pike is one of the most northerly of all the lakeland fells and is surrounded by wilderness. There are some paths to the top of the fell and evidence of mining in years gone by, is evident. 6 6 At the summit, rather unusually, there is a stone bench. On the way back from a hike up to High Pike, there is another small village near Caldbeck that people can visit. Hesket Newmarket, which is only 1.5 miles to the west of Caldbeck, also has a pub and a village store. The most popular campsites in the UK have also been named. Plus, the little-known tiny campsites that cost from just £2.50 a night. 6
Business Insider
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
LA businesswoman and an investor with #MeToo past file dueling lawsuits
Los Angeles entrepreneur and investor Jessica Mah is embroiled in bitter legal disputes with two former executives of her company and with D Global Ventures, a firm led by Justin Caldbeck, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist who admitted to sexually harassing female investors in 2017. In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court this week, Mah accused Caldbeck of sexually harassing her and of seeking to defame her over a dispute about an investment he made in a corporate entity she controlled. Meanwhile, in three separate lawsuits, two ex-senior executives at Mah's investment firm Mahway — former CFO William Mulholland and former president Walter Delph — as well as Caldbeck's firm DGV, made a wide array of allegations against Mah. These include claims from all three that she misappropriated company funds, including to pay for a new private jet and trips to Burning Man; claims by Delph of inappropriate sexual conversations in the workplace and discriminatory comments about older workers; and claims from Mulholland of a concealed romantic relationship between Mah and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Mah, who says she has been programming since middle school, was featured on Forbes' "30 under 30" list in 2012 and was on the front page of Inc magazine in 2015. She founded inDinero, a fintech startup that created a financial dashboard for businesses, and then her VC firm called Mahway, which she has called a "venture builder. Caldbeck, who also worked at Bain Capital Ventures and Lightspeed Ventures, resigned from the fund he founded, Binary Capital, in 2017 after a group of women shared accusations of sexual harassment. Caldbeck admitted to his inappropriate behavior toward female founders and investors. In a statement Friday, Mah said she had spent months trying to resolve the dispute with Caldbeck privately before filing suit. "I recognize the risks and backlash that may follow, and I've made peace with the consequences," she said. "This is not a step I take lightly. I believe in doing business with transparency, accountability, and clarity — and I will always stand up for those values, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be." In an emailed statement, Caldbeck spokesperson Sallie Hofmeister denied the claims of sexual misconduct. "Mr. Caldbeck never made sexual advances toward Ms. Mah," she wrote. In her complaint, Mah alleges that Caldbeck sexually harassed her in 2022. "After consuming several drinks during a business meeting at the restaurant at the Pendry Hotel in West Hollywood, California, Mr. Caldbeck touched the upper-most part of Ms. Mah's thigh and put his hand next to her genitalia," the complaint says. It goes on to allege that Caldbeck repeatedly asked Mah if she was sexually interested in him and discussed his sexual relationships with other women. Mah alleges in the suit that Caldbeck misled his own investors about the nature of his investment in one of her entities, and then "screamed at her and demanded she immediately pay him three times his initial investment." When she refused, the suit says, he told her that "I'm going to destroy you" and defamed her to others. Her complaint alleges extortion, sexual harassment, and defamation, among other claims. All three cases against Mah, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday and Thursday by San Francisco-based law firm Sawyer & Labar LLC, accuse her of improperly using company funds to pay for her personal life. The claims variously include leasing a Lamborghini, vacation trips to Burning Man and Park City, covering rent for her home, paying for personal chefs and landscaping services, and paying for a personal jet despite employees' objections. Hofmeister, also a spokesperson for Mulholland and Delph, declined to comment on their lawsuits. "Mah is more interested in living an ersatz glamorous lifestyle than investing," the DGV complaint read. "The result of Mah's dereliction of duty was predictable for the Company and its investors: investments were not as fruitful, making no real progress, while Mah seduced investors with misleading and often contradictory representations in quarterly investor reports." Delph's complaint alleges that workers were required to work from Mah's home, and that her friends and sexual partners would visit during the workday and walk around "in various stages of undress." Mah would talk about sexual encounters with her employees, amounting to sexual harassment, the suit says. Delph also alleges that Mah called him an "old man" and "ridiculed" him because of his age. Mulholland's complaint alleges that an investor in Mahway complained that Mah had been "concealing her former sexual relationship with Eric Schmidt, the largest Mahway investor and former CEO of Google, in order to make Mahway appear like a legitimate investment opportunity." A spokesperson for Schmidt declined to comment on the purported relationship. DGV's complaint claims that Mah "misled" the firm into falsely believing that Schmidt's family office had invested in Mahway. However, Schmidt's spokesperson said this is false, and that Schmidt was indeed an investor. Delph claims to have been fired after raising concerns to Mah internally at a management meeting, while Mulholland's suit says he felt forced to resign because Mah "was ordering him to break the law by concealing and/or misrepresenting material facts while engaging in general solicitation of investors in an unregistered security." The claims in Delph's complaint include whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, age discrimination and sexual harassment. Mulholland claims constructive discharge and whistleblower retaliation, among other claims. And DGV's claims include breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, civil theft, and sale of unregistered securities. Additional reporting by Jack Newsham.
The Independent
04-03-2025
- The Independent
The Go Outdoors discount codes to use on your next purchase
Whether your favourite pursuits are way up high in the British mountains, or you prefer to explore the sea with some fly fishing, outdoor retailer Go Outdoors has you covered where your gear is concerned. Home to more than 250 outdoor brands across nine different activities, the world is your oyster. From walking boots for a weekend ramble to weather-proof tents and mountaineering equipment for your kids' school trip, you'll find yourself getting lost in Go Outdoors's huge catalogue of products. But buying equipment for an upcoming camping holiday or horse riding expedition can become rather costly, quite quickly. That's why our team of money-saving experts have been working hard to find the best Go Outdoors deals and discount codes so that you can get everything you need for your next adventure, at a more affordable price. We've found savings across all departments and even spotted a lesser-known money-saving guarantee the retailer offers. Keep reading for all this and more. You'll typically get the very best prices when signing up for a Go Outdoors membership. It costs £5 per year and comes with access to exclusive offers and cardholder-only promotions. Everyday savings mean that you can benefit from up to 50 per cent off the retail price, even if the retailer isn't hosting a sale. If you need any further excuse to sign up, members can get 20 per cent off selected walking gear with the above discount code. Just in time for the arrival of spring, you can upgrade everything you need for adventures in the hills and around enchanting lakes for much less. The Peter Storm women's Caldbeck waterproof walking boots (was £140, now £60, for example, look like they'll be robust and supportive, making the 20 per cent discount even better. Brasher men's stretch walking trousers (was £80, now £36.80, also feature in the sale, with a range of regular, short and long leg lengths available. The trousers are created using a water-repellent finish, to keep them comfy and flexible comfort in all weather conditions. Another way Go Outdoors members can know that they're getting the best possible price for their haul is with the retailer's price guarantee. Within seven days of your purchase, if you find it cheaper elsewhere, the retailer will beat the price by 10 per cent. And as a final money-saving tip, students can save 15 per cent off full-price products through Unidays. So whether you're planning a group camping trip or need some new gear for your upcoming field trip, Go Outdoors will have you covered.
