Latest news with #Hannam
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Honoring service with warmth: Austin veterans presented with Quilts of Valor
May 31—By Jed Nelson Memorial Day is a day of remembering and honoring those who have passed away serving our country. It is a day where communities come together to remember those men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It is also a day where we show respect, where respect is due. A few weeks ago, a group of quilters from First Congregational Church of Austin made and presented four Quilts of Valor to the Donovan family. The group saw this as a perfect opportunity to honor a local military family as Memorial Day approached. Tim Donovan, of Austin, served in the United States Air Force, while all three of his sons followed suit in serving our country. Tim Donovan Jr served in both the United States Navy and National Guard, while twin sons Phil and Dan Donovan both served in the United States Marine Corps. The Quilts of Valor are made by those with a passion for quilting and a heart for those who have served our country. "We give quilts to veterans to honor them for their service," group member Marlene Hannam said. "Wrapping the veterans in their quilt, it is a hug from us." The group at First Congregational is a part of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, which works to honor any person who has served in a branch of the United States military. The group in Austin has been active for 15 years and in that time has presented numerous quilts to service members. "Our group in Austin started 15 years ago when I retired," member Mari Jo Stanek said. "We've gone on to make at least five hundred quilts for Veterans." The lady's group at First Congregational consists of 12 to 15 members. Each member works to craft a quilt made with love, care, and gratitude that flows from their hearts, into their hands, then finds home within the quilt. "It's really a great thing," Hannam said. "Some vets came home to very little, so awarding them with these quilts is such an honor." Hannam, Stanek, and other group members look to local Legions and high schools holding class reunions when finding groups of veterans to present quilts to. Once the quilt members are made aware of veterans to honor, the quilters get to work, then make the trip to present the Quilts of Valor to the veterans, often in front of their family, friends, or community members that get to witness this presentation of respect and honor. "The happiness on their faces as we wrap the quilts around them is just amazing to see," Hannam added. Regarding the Donovan's, the quilters did not have to worry about presenting in front of an audience. The presentation was done at home in the Donovan's backyard, where they were presented with their very own red, white, and blue Quilts of Valor. Seeing as the Donovan presentation was in their backyard, that did not mean it was any less special to them or the quilters of First Congregational. The presentation did not forgo any of its standard rituals — that being a speech on the importance and history of the Quilts of Valor and a few words on what it means to be a veteran. "It's really neat when a family has a father and three sons that have all served," Hannam said. "They were quite happy with the quilts." The group also makes it a priority to branch out into neighboring communities to honor their veterans. Each year members of the group travel to LeRoy for Pheasants Forever, a nonprofit conservation organization that hosts a DAV (Disabled American Veterans) hunt which started in 2019. "These veterans go out there and hunt pheasants," Hannam said. "Then we present them with their quilts, and they are simply honored." The quilters of First Congregational meet every Wednesday to talk about patterns, family, and friends. "Everybody has their own material," Hannam said. "Usually, we sew at home, but some ladies sew at the church." But no matter where the members sew, the act of creating a quilt that will bring happiness to a veteran will always bring them together. During the creation process, the ladies can't help but discuss how grateful they are that they get to honor local veterans through their quilts. Once the quilts are presented, the group makes it known that each veteran is welcomed as a member to their quilting family. "It's just beautiful that we get to do this," Hannam added. "We all find it to be such an honor."
Calgary Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Calgary is the second best market in Canada to buy real estate
Article content Sales may be declining in Calgary compared with previous years, but that doesn't mean it's not among the top markets in Canada to buy a home. Article content Article content In fact, among 24 major Canadian resale real estate markets, it ranks No. 2 in the recently published annual Where to Buy Real Estate report from MoneySense. Article content 'We look at the value of homes across Canada in different municipalities to see what the best value is for Canadians,' says Lisa Hannam, editor in chief at MoneySense. Article content Article content Notably, Calgary offers buyers a lot of value for their dollar despite significant price increases in the past few years, she adds. Article content Article content Those price increases are factored into the study's scoring with Calgary seeing 41 per cent price growth over the last five years. The top market in the study, Fredericton, N.B., saw 72 per cent price growth — though its benchmark price was about $311,000 at the end of 2024 versus about $577,000 for Calgary. Article content Calgary's was $87,000 — the highest for all cities. The next highest income was Guelph, ranked 23rd, at $85,000. Yet the Ontario city's benchmark price was nearly $805,000 at the end of last year. Although its five-year price growth was 46 per cent, Guelph's one- and three-year price growth were minus two and one per cent, respectively. That trend is similar to many other Ontario cities in the study that have cooled dramatically in recent years. Article content Article content 'We're seeing a shift nationally from a sellers market to balance,' Hannam says, noting Calgary and many Ontario markets now have a balance between supply and demand. Article content In Calgary, however, not all markets are in balance, notes Robert Lamb, realtor with eXp Realty in the city. Article content 'If you're listing a good, detached home that's priced reasonably, you're going to attract a lot of attention.' Article content That's likely to result in multiple offers because affordably priced, single-family detached homes — less than $700,000 — remain in a seller's market. Article content 'So we're seeing people dropping out of the detached market and looking at semi-detached or row homes instead,' he says, noting their frustration with finding an affordable detached home.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Water pressure problems near Huddersfield cause distress to residents
Residents in a village beset with water pressure problems say the simplest of household tasks have become a people living in rural Lower Cumberworth in West Yorkshire have begun texting their neighbours before they wash to avoid taps running dry. Others have been forced to fill their washing machines by hand and are unable to run more than one tap at blamed the problems on Yorkshire Water's efforts to fix pipe leaks and bursts in the area by reducing the water the company said tests showed the water pressure levels it was responsible for "exceeded the standards required". 'It's absolutely awful' Matt Hannam and his wife Yolande live in one of four terraced houses which share the same water said they had started experiencing problems with water pressure in their home in December 2023 following the installation of a pressure reduction valve to reduce the likelihood of pipes in the area bursting and causing leaks."Everything worked well until then," said Mr Hannam, 59. "[Now] at times it's absolutely awful."Everybody needs water. For us, it's a constant headache and a stress."Together with their other neighbours, Mr and Mrs Hannam have set up a WhatsApp group to tell each other when they are planning to use water for showering or washing their it, Mr Hannam makes a joke about their four members of his household sharing a glass of water as a possible explanation for the latest drought. To complete a standard washing cycle, Mr and Mrs Hannam said they must fill up their washing machine with six four-pint cartons three times."We can't ever just switch it on and walk out of the house," said Mrs Hannam, 52."We have two teenagers in the house so I have to wash maybe at least two or three times a day."After he starts the washing machine, the water supply coming out of his kitchen tap turns to a trickle. A lack of water pressure causes other problems for the household, from a lack of heating to sanitary issues."If we flush any of the toilets in the house it takes at least 30 minutes for the cistern to fill and we have no water in the kitchen for at least 10 minutes," said Mrs Hannam, an occupational therapist."Not being able to flush the toilet becomes a health issue and, on a personal level, a wellbeing issue."She admitted "just trying to construct your day is really, really difficult", adding: "It's frustrating when we want to get a glass of water and nothing comes out of the tap."It's just inadequate. I don't think I'm coping very well - it's making me really, really fed up. I have had enough." Two doors down, Lee-Ann Meitiner and her husband Michael are facing similar issues, which they also claim date back to December 2023."There are times when I really do literally feel like crying," said Mrs Meitiner, a PA working for the NHS."When you turn on the tap and there's absolutely nothing, you can't do anything - I can't brush my teeth, wash my face."The 59-year-old added: "It's simple, little things that you take for granted, but it does make a hell of an impact on our lives."A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said due to the age of the properties in the area, "many are supplied by aging, private, joint pipework, which can lead to low pressures at times when most people use their water". "As with any internal pipework, this is the responsibility of homeowners to maintain, repair or replace," they Meitiner said she and her neighbours have heard stories of other residents in the village paying thousands to replace pipework, only for the problem with their water pressure to to their estimates, replacing or repairing the pipes would cost about £6,000 per house."After hearing what's happened with other people in the area, there isn't any point," says Mrs Meitiner. "We don't want to be wasting money we haven't got." The Yorkshire Water spokesperson said they had investigated four cases of low pressure in the area in the last 12 months - all at properties with a joint water supply."On each occasion the water pressure at the boundary of the properties, which is the responsibility of Yorkshire Water, has exceeded the standards required for residential properties," they other residents living nearby, whose homes are directly served by a water supply, said they had noticed a drop in their water pressure since December Hannam also claimed to have been contacted by 14 other people who have experienced issues in that time."I don't believe it's the [individual] pipes," said Lynn Mitchell, a resident of neighbouring Upper Cumberworth for 16 years."What Yorkshire Water have done is quite legal but it's not working. Some people have hardly got a supply."Ms Mitchell said she felt "quite resentful" about water bills rising this month. The firm is increasing bills from an average of £467 to £602. Residents met with their local MP Jade Botterill last weekend to discuss the a statement, she said: "I'd urge Yorkshire Water to look again into the matter to ensure residents are getting the service they pay for."My team and I will continue working with both the residents' group and Yorkshire Water to resolve the matter."Tim Bamford, who represents Lower Cumberworth on Kirklees Council and lives in nearby Skelmanthorpe, said he had also experienced low water pressure in his Skelmanthorpe resident, Mick Lindley, claimed his water pressure - supplied directly to his home - was "absolutely rubbish".Mr Lindley, who lives about half a mile away from those affected in Lower Cumberworth, said he had faced issues for 30 installation of water pumps, at a cost of more than £1,000, had helped, he said, albeit at the cost of his utility bills."If we don't have it, we can barely get a shower," said the 71-year-old retired joiner and manufacturer. The Yorkshire Water spokesperson added: "If there are customers in the area experiencing low pressure who have not contacted us, we would urge them to call us so we can arrange a visit and investigate the possible cause of low pressures and advise the best way to resolve any issues we find."
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rare Roman coin fetches nearly £5,000 at auction
A Roman coin that is believed to be the first of its kind found in the UK has sold for nearly £5,000. Ron Walters, 76, from Kingswinford, West Midlands, found the coin with his metal detector in Wall Heath near Dudley last year. Mark Hannam, from Fieldings Auctioneers in Stourbridge, said the coin was bought by a collector from Scotland for £4,700 on Friday. "Even though it's been in the soil for over 1,900 years, he's very pleased to add it to his collection," said Mr Hannam. The coin, which dates to AD69, is thought to be the only one of its kind to be found in the British Isles. It portrays the emperor Aulus Vitellius, who ruled for just eight months during a period of civil war known as the "Year of the Four Emperors". "To find a coin from AD69 is incredibly rare," said Mr Hannam. "Most coins we find in this country are from the third and fourth centuries, and we are talking about a time when the gold was at its purest level." The farmer on whose land the coin was unearthed will keep half the proceeds from the sale and Mr Walters, as the finder, will get the rest. "It's not just the money," he said before the sale. "It's the historic value. "It's a once in a lifetime find." The coin went for considerably less than the only other similar artefact to go under the hammer, which was sold last year in Switzerland for around £50,000. But Mr Walters told BBC Radio WM he was happy with the sale. "Anything's a bonus," he said. "Normally the things that you find, you put in your collection because they're not worth selling on." He is planning to put the proceeds towards some repairs to his motorhome - and to continue with his metal-detecting hobby. "It's surprising what comes up – not just coins, it can be anything. "Belt buckles, buttons - they've all got a story to tell." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. 'Hoard puts Worcestershire into the history books' Hunt continues for missing Viking hoard artefacts Detectorist's delight after unearthing gold coins Fieldings Auctioneers
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Rare Roman coin found in Dudley field sells for nearly £5,000
A Roman coin that is believed to be the first of its kind found in the UK has sold for nearly £5, Walters, 76, from Kingswinford, West Midlands, found the coin with his metal detector in Wall Heath near Dudley last Hannam, from Fieldings Auctioneers in Stourbridge, said the coin was bought by a collector from Scotland for £4,700 on Friday."Even though it's been in the soil for over 1,900 years, he's very pleased to add it to his collection," said Mr Hannam. The coin, which dates to AD69, is thought to be the only one of its kind to be found in the British portrays the emperor Aulus Vitellius, who ruled for just eight months during a period of civil war known as the "Year of the Four Emperors"."To find a coin from AD69 is incredibly rare," said Mr Hannam. "Most coins we find in this country are from the third and fourth centuries, and we are talking about a time when the gold was at its purest level." The farmer on whose land the coin was unearthed will keep half the proceeds from the sale and Mr Walters, as the finder, will get the rest."It's not just the money," he said before the sale. "It's the historic value."It's a once in a lifetime find."The coin went for considerably less than the only other similar artefact to go under the hammer, which was sold last year in Switzerland for around £50, Mr Walters told BBC Radio WM he was happy with the sale."Anything's a bonus," he said. "Normally the things that you find, you put in your collection because they're not worth selling on."He is planning to put the proceeds towards some repairs to his motorhome - and to continue with his metal-detecting hobby."It's surprising what comes up – not just coins, it can be anything."Belt buckles, buttons - they've all got a story to tell." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
