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Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Berks' Best 2025 Taylor Seitzinger Community Service and Leadership winner: Garrett Hyneman has dedicated his life to helping others
Garrett Hyneman knows that learning extends far beyond the classroom. It's something that the Gov. Mifflin High School senior has seen firsthand since he was around 7 years old. That's when he first joined the Cub Scouts and discovered the joy of being of service to others. Over the year, his passion for community service and leadership has only grown, becoming an intrinsic part of who he his. 'My life purpose is to make a positive difference to the most number of people I can,' he said. That mindset, and his willingness to back it up with action, has earned Hyneman the distinction of being named the winner of the 2025 Berks' Best Taylor Seitzinger Community Service and Leadership Award. 'In my 27 years of teaching, I have encountered many outstanding students, but Garrett stands out as one of the most driven and involved individuals I've ever had the pleasure of working with,' Kristi Jo Bonanno, Gov. Mifflin's internship and school-to-work program coordinator, said in a letter supporting Hyneman's nomination. 'He takes full advantage of every opportunity presented to him and approaches each with remarkable initiative and passion.' That has led Hyneman to be incredibly busy, with running through the list of projects and activities he has been involved with enough to make most people's heads spin. Take, for example, his Eagle Scout project. As someone who is extremely passionate about preserving and protecting the environment, he got 80 homeowners on a local street to band together and beautify their neighborhood by planting two dozen shade trees. That led to another project, this time working within the Gov. Mifflin School District to plant trees. Starting with the high school and middle school campuses, he has been soliciting donors — who can pay $250 to have a plaque installed — to cover the costs. 'The goal is to beautify the campus and recognize donors who are able to honor somebody special in their lives,' Hyneman said. 'It's a passion project, and it's 100% student-run.' That project is in the planning stages for phase two, which will see trees planted at Cumru Elementary School. 'The ultimate goal is to get the students there a step closer to being steward of the environment,' he said. Hyneman is also a member of several local community organization. He sits on the youth advisory board of the Berks County Community Foundation, where he has worked to battle food insecurity and to protect the environment, and as a member of What's Up Berks has been helping to lead an effort to ban single-use plastic bags in the county. He has also created his own What's Up Berks youth board at Gov. Mifflin, which helped the district transition from using plastic utensils in its cafeterias to using metal versions. The switch will help protect the environment, he said, and save the district about $30,000. Hyneman said he plans to continue his community service and leadership work as he heads off to college this fall at Lehigh University. There, he will study mechanical engineering with a focus in the environment and sustainability. 'I'm really interested in getting involved in the realm of green energy,' he said. 'I'm doing college research on a thermal electric generator. I'm working on a patent. I'm trying to create a more environmentally friendly, more efficient model.' Hyneman said he is also interested in getting involved with politics, saying he feels he can make the biggest impact on the world that way. And, he said, his long-term plans include trying to give back to the community by becoming an educator. Related Articles * May 16, 2025\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009Berks' Best 2025 mathematics winner: Jasper Platt intrigued by the theoretical side of math\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009 * May 16, 2025\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009Berks' Best 2025 communications winner: Sydney Guida has a passion for storytelling\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009 * May 16, 2025\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009Berks' Best 2025 career and technical education winner: Devra Longacre headed toward bright future\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009 * May 16, 2025\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009Berks' Best 2025 overview: 418 students nominated for 11 awards\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009\u0009
The Sun
25-04-2025
- The Sun
The UK road trip with some of the world's most beautiful landscapes and huge castles
MAKING my way through Scotland's finest scenery of breathtaking hills, dramatic waterfalls and wild goats, I was living out all of my nomad fantasies. And, thanks to Nomadic Scotland, I was doing it in style, too. 5 5 My girlfriend Rachel and I set off in our chunky Land Rover from Nomadic Scotland's HQ in Perth, aka the 'Gateway to the Highlands', on a four-day itinerary that had been personally curated for us. Easing ourselves into life on the road, we made our way to Glen Nevis campsite in Fort William, which was the perfect introduction to any adventure in Scotland. From our base, we could hike up Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, take a stroll to the Steall Falls and make the short drive to the famous and jaw-dropping photo stop that is Glenfinnan Viaduct, which has featured in the Harry Potter movies. When we weren't driving through rolling landscapes, we were spending the night on the roof of our jeep, in a built-in tent, peering out at the stars. Luckily, after tiring days of driving and hiking, putting the tent and awning up turned out to be a breeze (partly thanks to the detailed instructions we were given by the Nomadic Scotland team). The tent sits on top of the car, while a ladder is positioned by the side, leading from the ground to the roof and tent entrance. Even in blustery Scottish weather, the base of the roof tent and the ladders themselves held up well. But do pay attention to exactly where each pole or piece of rope has to go, both to keep the entrance to the tent secure and to give yourself enough space to sit under the awning and enjoy a cuppa or cook some grub. If gusts are anything above 25mph, then it's probably best to ditch the al fresco dinners under the awning and instead take a wander into a nearby town and find a warm pub for a hot meal. We may have been on the road at the end of a sunnier-than-usual March, but sleeping in warm clothes proved essential. Pack tracksuits, jogging bottoms and leggings — even long johns wouldn't go amiss. This isn't quite old-school camping from your school days or Cub Scouts. Nomadic provides plush mattresses, snuggly sleeping bags and plump pillows for an ultra-comfortable night's sleep. And with enough space for up to four people, Rachel and I had plenty of room to stash our shoes for any late-night trips to the toilet, or indeed to keep an extra few bags of crisps. Coming prepared may sound like a lot of effort, but once you've mastered the basics of rooftop camping, you'll have some of the world's most beautiful landscapes at your fingertips. One of our favourite routes was through the nine-mile Glen Shiel, where you may even be lucky enough to spot some deer among the jaw-dropping scenery. We even passed Eilean Donan, the second-most photographed castle in Scotland, perched on a picturesque island with the Cuillin mountains in the background. Each day took us somewhere new, from cute market coffee stops in Broadford to a 'four seasons in one afternoon' walk to see the Isle of Skye's Fairy Pools. The only challenge was squeezing everything in. We'd love to have visited the Talisker distillery and Dunvegan Castle, or trekked to the Quiraing and ventured out to see the Old Man of Storr. But instead, we headed to the remote Neist Point on the western tip of the island. Standing at the edge of the cliff here is a spectacular lighthouse where white-tailed eagles can be seen swooping around the choppy waters. 5 5 Our four-day trip flashed by in a blur of craggy mountains and winding roads. Luckily we were able to eat our final lunch of the trip al fresco, tucking into fresh fish and chips among the multi-coloured buildings down at the harbour in Portree. Scotland's varied terrain was easier to navigate than I'd first thought — and the mighty Land Rover took us to places that any ordinary car wouldn't manage. So the only question left now is, when can I get back in the driving seat?
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Billy Idol refuses to look or act his age ahead of milestone birthday
The singer, who is about to embark on a world tour, talks being an 80s legend, his near death experience and why he'll always go 'beyond what people expect' despite his age It is more than 40 years since Billy Idol stormed out of the punk scene and on to worldwide fame, with his bleach-blond spikes, flashy swagger and signature snarl. And he's still sneering, rocking, and rebelling - even if these days that means refusing to accept that, for someone turning 70 this year, he should be acting his age. It's why the release this week of his ninth studio album, Dream Into It - Billy's first full-length album of new music in over a decade - could be considered an act of rebellion in itself. The irrepressible rocker is also getting ready to embark on an extensive two-leg North American tour, beginning on Wednesday, with a European leg between June and July. And he doesn't seem to have lost any of his famous rebellious spirit or rock'n'roll energy. READ MORE: Joanna Lumley reveals her strangest diva demands from food ban to dealing with secret phobia Last year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of hit album Rebel Yell, Billy belted out the title track while perched on the top of the Empire State Building - wearing the same black leathers, chunky silver necklace and porcupine peroxide hair that made him an 80s icon. And last week Billy - a grandad-of-two - posted a photo of himself on X, bare chest on show under a ripped T-shirt, alongside pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne, who features on his new single, 77, writing: 'Two generations of rebellion.' Released this week, 77 has stormed to No1 in the US iTunes rock chart, and reached the top 5 in most countries around the world, while the singer's new album looks set to be his most successful since the height of his fame. His YouTube channel, meanwhile, passed the million-subscriber mark earlier this week, with the singer proudly showing off his Gold Button plaque on social media. It has been a lifetime of defying both etiquette and expectations which began in Stanmore, north London, in November 1955, as William Broad, the son of a power tool salesman died and a surgical nurse mum. The young William went to church with his parents and attended Cub Scouts, but as a teen he was obsessed with music. He remembered: 'The first thing I did in front of an audience was read from the Bible in church. But I rebelled against all of that. 'I wasn't trying hard at school, and eventually, between the ages of 14 and 16, my dad didn't talk to me for a couple of years. I had really long hair and he couldn't stand it. What I liked about the music scene was that it gave you a sense of freedom. It was just so alive, as opposed to your parents who were still so fuddy-duddy.' In 1976 Billy, who had enrolled in a philosophy with literature degree at Sussex University, told his parents he was quitting the course after just a year to join a punk rock group. 'My parents were always going on about getting qualifications. They didn't even know what a punk rock group was, let alone what it meant to join one,' he recalled. The band, newly-formed retro-rock group Chelsea, in which Billy, who joined as a guitarist, used his stage name Billy Idol - coined after a chemistry teacher described him as 'idle' on a school report card - and dyed his hair blonde. After a few weeks he left and co-founded Generation X, one of the first punk bands to appear on Top of the Pops. The band released six singles and two albums that made the UK charts, but it was after they disbanded in 1981 that turned him into a megastar stateside. Moving to the US that same year, the chart success of White Wedding and Dancing with Myself, from his first solo album - along with his cartoonishly bad-boy roguishness - made him a poster boy for the newly-launched MTV and the dawn of the music video age. His second album, Rebel Yell, which sold 2million copies, and singles such as Eyes Without a Face which reached No4 in the US, established the bad boy rocker as one of the biggest stars of the Second British Invasion, alongside bands like Duran Duran, Wham! and Culture Club. But fame also nearly destroyed him. In his autobiography Dancing With Myself the singer remembered how, at the height of his 80s success, his life consisted of 'never-ending broads and bikes, plus a steady diet of pot, cocaine, ecstasy, smack, opium, Quaaludes, and reds.' He said he became convinced he was 'next in line to die outside an LA nightclub or on some cold stone floor, surrounded by strangers and paparazzi'. But he recalled: 'I was having a great time. Today I can see I was on a tightrope hovering between life and death, but at the time I didn't care. I ignored the dangers.' Revealing the closest he came to death, in 1984, the same year that singles Rebel Yell and Flesh For Fantasy were topping charts around the world, he said he snorted five lines of a 'strong Persian brown heroin' before everything went black and he realised he was dying. While his friends frantically tried to save him, Billy said he was so high that he craved death, thinking, 'Let me sleep, let me dream. I don't want to be awake - I'm an emperor!' In 1988 girlfriend and Hot Gossip dancer Perri Lister gave birth to his first child, Willem Wolfe, but dumped him soon after when she caught him cheating. He had a second child a year later, daughter Bonnie Blue with 19-year-old girlfriend Linda Mathis. In 1990 Billy suffered a serious motorbike accident when he ran a stop sign on his Harley Davidson that almost caused him to lose a leg, and his fear of making his children orphans forced him to put the worst of his rock'n'rock excesses behind him. Last year Billy remembered how the accident made him 'think I should not be a drug addict anymore and stuff like. It took a long time, but gradually I did achieve some kind of discipline where I'm not really the same kind of guy as I was in the 80s.' Describing himself as 'California sober', he said: 'I can have a glass of wine every now and again. I just tell myself I can do what I want, but then I don't do it. If I tell myself I can't do anything, I want to do it. So I tell myself, 'You can do anything you like.' But I don't actually do it.' Billy, who gained US citizenship in 2018, lives in the Hollywood Hills with his long-term girlfriend, model and actress China Chow, 50, was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023. And this year the legendary rocker, who gets 11.1M monthly listeners on Spotify, is up for induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Asked earlier this month why he should get the fans vote, he replied with typical spunk: 'Because I'm just f***ing incredible! 'It's pretty amazing that I went from something like punk rock in England to mainstream success in the States. And then I carried on making the music, living the rock'n'roll life. I didn't stay in my lane. I took chances. I've gone beyond what people expect.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Generation ROC: Victor teen becomes first local girl to earn every scouts merit badge
VICTOR, N.Y. (WROC) — Anything you can do, I can do too. That's what Eagle Scout Sabrina Bhalla says crossed her mind back when she was a little kid admiring her brother's merit badges. 'I just got to see him go to all these meetings and it always looked really exciting, but girls couldn't join at that point,' Sabrina describes of watching her brother go through Cub Scouts. Then when Scouting America first opened its ranks to girls in 2018, Sabrina became a founding member of the troop that her mom started to encourage girls in the Victor region to give it a try. But the ever ambitious Sabrina wanted to take it a step further. 'I told my mom I'm getting all the merit badges. She said, what?' Sabrina recalls. 'From then, it's just kind of been on and off again. Definitely lost motivation at times, but there's been some really interesting merit badges that I've earned. Like sailing—I didn't even know I liked to sail before I got that merit badge, but it's one of my favorite things. Or scuba diving—I'm actually scuba certified because I got that merit badge.' The Scouting America Seneca Waterways Council just recognized Sabrina as the first female Eagle Scout in this region to earn every badge. She says she's honored to live up to the scout law—prioritizing being a good person and member of the community—and to show other young ladies what a confident leader can look like. 'I definitely encountered some people who weren't as excited about girls joining the program as I was. I just feel like it's been a journey, but now I'm able to stand here and prove like yeah, girls can do it just as well as guys can,' she says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
17-03-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Vatican Releases First Photo of Pope Francis Since He Was Hospitalized
The Vatican on Sunday released the first photo of Pope Francis since he was hospitalized 31 days ago, showing him facing the altar in the small chapel that is part of his private suite at a hospital in Rome. Francis celebrated Mass with other priests for the first time since he was admitted to the Policlinico A. Gemelli hospital, the Vatican said. He continued his physiotherapy — both motor and respiratory — on Sunday, and he seemed to be 'benefiting from it,' the Vatican said. The pontiff is shown in the photo wearing a purple stole, reflective of this being the season of Lent. Earlier in the day, balloons in the Vatican colors of yellow and white were held aloft by dozens of children who had gathered in the square outside the hospital and chanted 'Papa Francesco' and cheered 'Viva la Pace' — hurray for peace. Many held up signs, hoping that the pope might peek out of the windows of his 10th-floor hospital suite to see their art. They offered encouragement, wishing that the pope get well soon. One boy with a boisterous group of blue-and-yellow capped 'castorini,' or beavers, as children too young to be Cub Scouts are known in Italy, held a sign that said 'Ciao Papa Cesco, I love you a lot.' Children on Sunday standing near the statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where Pope Francis is being treated for pneumonia. Credit... Matteo Minnella/Reuters Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
