Latest news with #CommunityService
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ephrata Fire Department named 2025 Volunteer Fire House of the Year
May 21—EPHRATA — The Ephrata Fire Department has been awarded the title of "Volunteer Fire House of the Year" for 2025 by the Washington State Firefighters Association, significant recognition for the primarily volunteer-based team. "This award is very rewarding for me, our department, and our members," said Fire Chief Jeremy Burns. "Our fire department relies heavily on volunteers—only two of us are career staff. Without their time, effort and commitment to our community, we wouldn't be much." This is the first time the department has won the award, according to Burns. The Ephrata Fire Department boasts a roster of 33 volunteer firefighters, many of whom juggle their service with full-time jobs in various fields, including two members who also serve in the National Guard. One of these volunteers played a crucial role in a recent mental health crisis intervention, helping safely negotiate an individual down from a grain silo after nearly three hours of communication. "Their commitment to community protection and service is commendable," Burns said. "These individuals double volunteer their time for the defense of our communities and our nation. They truly are excellent individuals who show remarkable dedication." The department has actively engaged with the Ephrata community through various events, Burns said, including the Sage and Sun Festival, Touch-a-Truck and Trunk or Treat events. The volunteers also conduct fire prevention programs for local schools, reaching preschool through fourth-grade students. According to the Washington State Firefighters Association's official statement, "Ephrata Fire Department Volunteers can be found consistently giving back to their community." In addition to community engagement, the Ephrata Fire Department has shown remarkable growth in training and skill development. In 2024 alone, the department's volunteers successfully obtained 39 IFSAC certifications in areas including Firefighter 1 and 2, Hazardous Materials Awareness, and Driver Operator. Furthermore, Ephrata hosted two Fire Academies that included participation from local agencies, resulting in over 2,000 hours of fire and EMS training. "We have a great camaraderie among our volunteers. Their spirit and enthusiasm for helping our community are key to our success in recruiting and retaining members," Burns said. Burns said its dedicated volunteers continue to demonstrate that passion and commitment can make a real difference in public safety and community building. "We have just a great group of people that are there for all the right reasons, and that's to serve their community and continue to build their skill set so they're better prepared for the next response," Burns said.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Coalition Government Prioritizing Motorways Over Essential Public Transport
The Free Fares movement, a coalition of over 100 organisations, is deeply disappointed that the coalition government is prioritizing astronomically expensive roading projects over essential public transport needs in Budget 2025. 'Free Fares calls on the government to prioritise Vote Transport money towards accessible public transport for those who most need it. Free Fares calls for quality free public transport for students, under 25s, Community Service Card holders, Total Mobility Card holders and their support people,' says Free Fares spokesperson Patrick O'Connor. 'Communities are at the mercy of the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis. Public transport is the best sustainable solution to these problems. Building more roads will not improve traffic for commuters. Less investment in public transport will mean more cars, and therefore more traffic jams and congestion. 'In comparison, buses and trains take far less space and move far more people. A quality and affordable public transport system has the potential to both greatly reduce traffic woes and carbon emissions.' At the same time as 15 motorways are being built the NZTA intends to increase the 'private share of public transport operating expenditure'. This pushes councils to increase bus and train fares. This will push more costs onto working people, making daily life more difficult for already struggling New Zealanders. Many Transport Authorities have told NZTA this is not realistic. Free Fares NZ and 6000 others recently petitioned the government against the private share fare hikes. 'Free Fares advocates for community needs over the self-interests of profit' O'Connor explains. 'Public transport is a long-term investment. It increases accessibility for people to benefit from education and the labour force, which in turn allows them to contribute to the productivity and innovation of society in the long-term.' Notes: Free Fares NZ is a coalition of over 100 organisations across Aotearoa, including local councils, LGNZ, climate justice organisations, churches, anti-poverty groups, trade unions, student associations and various other community organisations. We call on the government to subsidise half-price public transport for everyone, as well as free transport for students, under 25s, Community Service card holders, and Total Mobility card holders along with their support people. Free Fares have been successful so far in securing permanent half-price fees for Community Service cardholers.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Free Haircuts for Veterans: 5th annual event honors local heroes
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Local veterans will receive more than just thanks this May — they'll also get a fresh haircut for free. The 5th Annual Free Haircut Event is happening Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Boss Man College, located at 2724 West 70th Street in Shreveport. The African American Parade Committee, in partnership with Joseph Elite Image and Boss Man Barber College, hosts the event, which is open to all veterans. Founder Barbara Norton, a longtime advocate for veterans and community service, says it's a way to give back to those who've served our country and show appreciation meaningfully. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Calgary Herald
11-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Former Edmonton Stingers CEO Reed Clarke launches bid for city council
A familiar name in Edmonton sports and business circles is entering the municipal politics arena for the first time. Article content Article content Reed Clarke, the former CEO and co-owner of the Edmonton Stingers and current CEO of Sport Edmonton, announced his candidacy for city council in Ward Nakota Isga this weekend, bringing what he describes as a 'fresh approach' rooted in collaboration, community and economic vitality. Article content Article content 'I love this city,' Clarke told Postmedia ahead of the launch. 'As somebody who grew up and was raised in the ward, bought my first house there, learned to play the sport I love the most — basketball — and still coaches these kids at the Grovenor Community League in basketball, it's really a full circle moment for me.' Article content Article content Nakota Isga is the west-end ward that has been represented by Coun. Andrew Knack, who is not seeking another term as councillor but is reportedly considering a run for mayor. Article content Clarke's platform is built around three pillars. The first is connected, which is all about building strong relationships among stakeholders, including the province, federal government, police, business leaders, and fellow council members. Clarke believes consensus-building and collaboration are essential to civic government's ability to 'get things done and to move forward with a better Edmonton.' Article content The second pillar is community, emphasizing Clarke's deep roots in the area and commitment to enhancing Edmonton's unique network of community leagues. Article content Article content 'Edmonton is one big community in my mind,' he said. 'I want to embrace and support them, and make everyone welcome in communities, especially in Nakota Isga, and make those safe, inviting places for everybody,' he said. Article content Article content The third pillar is commerce, reflecting Clarke's background and his desire to make Edmonton 'the best place in Canada to do business,' particularly among major cities. He said he will advocate for quicker permit and licence approvals and stronger partnerships with the private sector to drive 'equitable, responsible' development. Article content 'I think working with the business community and having a really good relationship with them is something that's needed in city council,' he added. Article content Clarke's campaign will also lean on his experience in sports leadership. Under his tenure, the Edmonton Stingers became a 'community powerhouse,' selling out 70 per cent of their home games and winning the Canadian Elite Basketball League's Community Service award with over 1,000 volunteer hours logged.
Travel Weekly
07-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Travel advisors are appreciated, and so is air safety
Arnie Weissmann This is Travel Advisor Appreciation Month, and suppliers have been showing their support with deals and expressions of gratitude. To which I will add my own words of thanks, as a client rather than a supplier: Here's to you, Maria Carmen of Corporate Travel Management. Thank you for knowing my fussy preferences by heart, enabling me to go around the world and always having my back. There's no shortage of reasons to appreciate travel advisors, but one area that does not get as much attention as it deserves is their dedication to community service. I spent last Saturday morning at Internova headquarters in Manhattan for the I Am Cultured Annual Youth Travel and Career Summit. I Am Cultured is a wonderful nonprofit that prepares under-resourced students in Brooklyn to navigate life. Among its programs is the opportunity to travel abroad. I learned about it from a former co-worker, Reggie Hudson, who introduced me to its founder, Karmia Berry. I subsequently spoke with Internova CEO J.D. O'Hara about the organization, and we discussed ways to support its mission. Internova really stepped up, and not only to offer space in their headquarters for a job fair. It also reached out to preferred suppliers to meet with the kids to talk about careers in travel. Over the past three years that Internova has been involved, it facilitated support for career day from Accor, AmaWaterways, Delta, Disney, the Globus family of brands, Hyatt, MSC Cruises, Omni, Royal Caribbean, Singapore Airlines and The Travel Corporation. Delta, American and Hyatt were represented by speakers this year, as well. I know several agencies and agency groups that have foundations or affiliated nonprofits or programs to support their own communities or the communities where they send clients. It's an area of advisor service that I sometimes feel goes unnoticed by many but is never underappreciated by the people who have been helped. Real ID is now for real As I write this, airports are preparing for the implementation of Real ID requirements to fly. I have been thinking all week about Norm MacDonald's joke that the "I" in "ID" stands for "I" and the "D" for "dentification." I don't know whether the TSA will be staffed to handle those who do not have Real IDs and may need further verification, but I do worry that no one standing in a TSA line on May 7 will have much to laugh about. Still, those whose travel advisor told them to bring their passport if they don't have a Real ID will do better than most, and it got me wondering what percentage of U.S. citizens currently hold passports. Approximately 47% of our compatriots do. This is a huge jump from 17% in 2000 (and may help explain why the term "overtourism" wasn't coined until 2008). But those holding passports are not evenly distributed across the states. Those lacking Real IDs but with passports and departing from airports in New Jersey, California and Massachusetts will have the fewest problems; those are the three states with the highest passport ownership in the country (79.9%, 71.8% and 71.2%, respectively). The states with the fewest households holding passports are West Virginia (20.7%), Mississippi (22.1%) and Alabama (27.7%). As Real ID issues may persist for some period, if you find yourself flying out of one of these Southern states, you may want to get to the airport early, and with some good reading material. Stress on air traffic controllers It's great that New Jersey flyers lead the country in holding passports, but those flying from the Garden State have other issues to contend with. The strain of an antiquated air traffic control system that is 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing (yes, you read that right) took a noticeable toll this past week when air traffic controllers in Philadelphia lost contact for 90 seconds with the airplanes they were guiding into and out of Newark. May I humbly ask that the 300 fired people who maintain our air traffic control system be rehired? This was too much for some of the staff in what is one of the most stressful jobs in America: Four of the controllers responsible for Newark air safety took trauma leave, which could last for up to 45 days. DOGE fired fewer than 400 out of 45,000 workers at the FAA. Although the FAA and DOT won't say which positions were cut, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union said that 300 of those were maintenance mechanics, aeronautical information specialists, aviation safety assistants and management and program assistants -- the people who help maintain the outdated air traffic control system. This was done despite being 800 technicians short of its hiring target. May I speak on behalf of flyers everywhere and humbly ask that they be rehired? Travel Weekly has been writing about "next-gen" air traffic control since 2007. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is asking for billions of dollars to update the system, but even if approved, it will be years before a new system is fully implemented. The time is long, long overdue for bipartisan support for this funding.
