Latest news with #CalvinBall
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County flood protection progress celebrated after another round of heavy rain
Some flooding may have crept close to streets in Historic Ellicott City over the last few days, but it was nothing compared to the devastation Main Street has had in the past. Howard County's Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan has been in the works since 2018, and it's credited with helping keep flooding away. A business owner along Main Street agrees there are positive impacts that show how valuable the plan has been. When it rains like it did Monday and Sunday, a wave of fear comes over business owner Cindi Ryland. "What we go through here every time it rains, we all just hold our breath," Ryland said. "It's frightening, but we're here and we're resilient." Ryland has been a business owner on Main Street for decades -- as owner of vintage and antique store Retropolitan, and selling out of the Stone House Collective -- so she's lived through the catastrophic floods of 2011, 2016, and 2018. Altogether, according to Howard County Executive Calvin Ball's office, around 1.5 inches of rain fell in less than an hour on Monday. On Sunday, nearly 3.5 inches of rain fell in three hours. That's close to the amount of rainfall from the last catastrophic event in 2018. The EC Safe and Sound Plan includes a series of projects meant to redirect and keep water away from Historic Ellicott City. The projects include five retention ponds, two of which are complete, and two water conveyance projects. Those include a series of culverts under Maryland Avenue and the North Tunnel project. The third retention pond is expected to be up and running this fall. The North Tunnel is expected to be complete by fall 2027, while the culverts are in their final design stage. There are also a number of measures that have been put in place to complement those projects, and some are done ahead of big rain events. Crews from the Department of Public Works inspect streams and clear debris in the watershed to ensure water can keep flowing. There's also now some signage posted around Historic Ellicott City to show where to get to high ground. A tone alert system has also been installed and used several times to alert of potential flooding. Howard County Police have been helping as well. During Monday's rain event, officers enacted parking restrictions to keep drivers away from any floodwater. Police also towed 13 cars from closed-off streets and parking lots to higher ground at no cost to the drivers. Ball said he's proud of the progress made. "No longer is Ellicott City going to be known as the place that flooded," Ball said. "It's the place that came back. It's the place that's resilient. It's the place where the community comes together." Ball knows more needs to be done, especially to finish all of the projects under the plan. However, Ryland said she's happy to have seen some positive impact already. "It has just been so close every time," Ryland said. "We've survived every time without any flooding on Main Street."
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Kiwi adventurers take on gruelling Yukon 1000 paddle race through Canada, Alaska
The 1600km journey will traverse Canada and Alaska, ending at the Alaska Pipeline Bridge. Photo: SARA MONIKA/AFP Two Northlanders are about to undertake the world's longest and arguably most gruelling paddle race - the Yukon 1000. The race is named for the 1000 miles (1600km) the teams journey through Canada into Alaska, traversing bear and wildfire country, and freezing glacier-fed waters. Ryan Baxter and Calvin Ball must paddle about 18 hours a day to complete the journey inside the nine-day cutoff, totally self-sufficient and carrying everything they need on the kayak. Ball told Checkpoint the pair had manically gone through all their gear in the lead-up to the race. "[We've been] triple-checking it, repacking it, so haven't quite been able to feel really excited, but we're just starting that now." The duo is in for a variety of terrain along the journey, as the landscapes change throughout the mammoth distance. "The first half of it should be mountains, bluer water, just sort of that sort of classic Canadian scene, but then, once we get into Alaska, it goes really flat and the river braids into multiple channels," Ball said. "It slows right down and then a lot of sediment comes into the water too, so it gets quite dark and and grey. We have to bear through that for a few days to the finish-line." The journey also features a range of hazards, the biggest of which are often the least expected. "People often think bears and and stuff like that, but to be honest, it's probably hypothermia, if we get stuck in the water. It's glacier fed and it's quite cold, if we can't get out within half an hour." Baxter said another risk that the pair had been unable to prepare for was the possibility of wildfires on the course. "We just had our race briefing today and the race director actually alerted us to quite a large one on about day three that we'll pass." "I say it casually, probably because we haven't done it yet, so I might not be as brave afterwards." The former flatmates have tirelessly trained together, aiming to be as prepared as possible for any scenario, but Baxter said it hadn't been easy. "It's quite a unique race," he said. "It's pretty hard to train for in terms of the sleep deprivation and getting four hours sleep max, if you're lucky, constant day on day. The training's been pretty monotonous to be honest - it's been tough." "We've enjoyed it, but a bit taxing, just the constant everyday kayaking, running, gym... all that sort of thing." Ball said they'd treat themselves to some tunes to ward off the sleep deprivation. "We've got it as a bit of a back-up," he said. "We've downloaded a few different playlists and podcasts, but ideally, we're taking in all the sights and sounds around us. "Eighteen hours a day, the monotony, you've got to have something to basically switch your mind off." As for the songs they will take down the river with them, Baxter said there was quite the range. "Depending on the mood, we've got a bit of New Zealand, Shapeshifter, reggae, even some country and then a bit of heavier rock as well. "We don't have enough battery to play it all day, so it'll just be more of a treat." He said the best treat was something even better. "We've got some anti chafe - that's probably the main luxury." The race finishes at the Alaska Pipeline Bridge and follows the route of the Klondike goldrush. While they are paddling, the pair will raise money, via Give a Little, to sponsor a Northland teenager to go on Outward Bound. Last year, [ttps:// Kiwis Sophie Hart and Nathan Fa'avae won the race] in six days 23 minutes. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Two Northlanders paddling the worlds longest kayak race
Two Northlanders are set to take part in the world's longest and arguably most grueling paddling race, the Yukon 1000. Named for the 1000 miles or 1600 kilometres the teams paddle it will take the pair through Canada into Alaska, traversing bear and wildfire country and freezing glacier fed waters. They will have to paddle about 18 hours a day to complete the journey inside the 9 day cut off and be totally self sufficent, carrying everything they need on the kayak. The paddling pair, Calvin Ball and Ryan Baxter spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
NZ Herald
08-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Northland duo tackle world's longest paddling race, the Yukon 1000
Calvin Ball [left] and Ryan Baxter have been paddling 20km a day in Whangārei while training for the Yukon 1000 - the world's longest paddle race. Two Northland men will spend a week kayaking 18 hours a day as part of the world's longest paddling race – The Yukon 1000. Calvin Ball and Ryan Baxter will traverse 1000 miles (1609km) across Canada and into Yukon territory in Alaska in a two-person kayak as part of
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sheppard Pratt Breaks Ground on New Residential Crisis Program in Howard County
BALTIMORE, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheppard Pratt celebrated the groundbreaking of its future 16-bed Residential Crisis Program on its Baltimore/Washington Campus with a ceremony on Monday, June 9. The program represents a significant step toward expanding access to high-quality mental healthcare for individuals in Howard County and surrounding areas experiencing behavioral health crises. "This initiative is the result of a strong collaborative approach between Sheppard Pratt, state leaders, and Howard County to address an urgent need for community-based mental health services that reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency department visits," said Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt. "This program will support Howard County residents through their mental health crises and aims to empower individuals to seek help closer to home, ultimately fostering a stronger support network and a smoother transition back into their communities." With a construction completion date of summer 2026, this 24/7-staffed program is designed to help individuals avoid higher levels of care such as emergency departments or inpatient units and help other county residents transition from those higher levels of care sooner than they otherwise could. It will have special expertise in serving individuals with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders. With proximity to Sheppard Pratt's Baltimore/Washington Campus, the program will benefit from shared staffing and smooth transitions of care. The State of Maryland has committed $2.8 million in capital grants—$1.6 million through a legislative bond initiative and $1.2 million from a Maryland Department of Health Community Bond Grant. Howard County is providing an additional $2.25 million in capital support, underscoring the urgency and importance of this initiative. "Behavioral health care for people who are experiencing an emergency needs to be expanded across Howard County and our region. As a community, we must continue to invest in our behavioral health infrastructure to ensure that every resident has the resources and care they need to live a healthy and supported life," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. "Today's groundbreaking for Shepard Pratt's new residential crisis facility is yet another bold step toward a healthier, more supportive community, and future for all. Through our investment of $2.25 million, we are ensuring that all our residents have access to strong, compassionate, and comprehensive mental health services." The program will implement a federally endorsed, evidence-based model called Dual-Diagnosis Capability in Mental Health Treatment, one of the only residential crisis programs in the state to do so. All clinical staff will receive intensive and ongoing training through Case Western Reserve University, a national leader in behavioral health education and research. In contrast to many existing residential crisis programs, this program will also embrace a harm-reduction treatment model. It will include psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners trained to prescribe medications for substance use disorders, including suboxone for opioid use disorder, another uncommon and much-needed feature in Maryland's mental health infrastructure. "This project reflects what is possible when state, local, and nonprofit partners come together with a shared commitment to improving lives. Sheppard Pratt's new Residential Crisis Program is a direct investment in the well-being of our community and will provide timely, compassionate support for individuals in crisis. Sheppard Pratt is building a stronger, more responsive treatment option in Howard County utilizing the right level of care to address the community's overall health," said Senator Guy Guzzone. "Accessible and timely care can make all the difference for people struggling with behavioral health crises. That's why I've worked to support Sheppard Pratt's efforts to expand its residential program in Maryland. This new facility in Howard County will make much needed behavioral health care more readily available for Marylanders, helping to build a healthier and safer community for all," said Senator Chris Van Hollen. By expanding its residential crisis services, Sheppard Pratt aims to bridge gaps in the mental healthcare system, ensuring a smoother transition through the continuum of care. For more information about Sheppard Pratt's residential programs or to learn more about the organization's services, please visit About Sheppard Pratt Sheppard Pratt is the largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, developmental disability, special education, and social services in the country. A nationwide resource, Sheppard Pratt provides services across a comprehensive continuum of care, spanning both hospital- and community-based resources. Since its founding in 1853, Sheppard Pratt has been innovating the field through research, best practice implementation, and a focus on improving the quality of mental health care on a global level. Sheppard Pratt has been consistently ranked as a top national psychiatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years. 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