Latest news with #Kowalski
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gold Star families honored at VA Hospital Memorial Day Ceremony
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — The James E. Van Zandt Veterans Affairs Medical Center honored families who lost loved ones in combat with a Gold Star Memorial Plaque. The hour-long ceremony provided those families a chance to see the new plaque, in partnership with the Blair Garden Club, revealed to the public outside the Wall of Healing. The plaque marks the second one erected in the state of Pennsylvania, the first being in Patriot Park at the Flight 93 Memorial. The long weekend that Memorial Day provides for the common person gives others a chance to enjoy the nice weather. Other families find significance in the holiday. 'Oftentimes for Memorial Day, we think of weekend picnics, hamburgers and hot dogs,' VA Executive Director Derek Coughenour said. 'But that's not the true meaning. The meaning is to remember the sacrifice, the love and commitment that our men and women rose their right hand to serve and pledge allegiance to the United States.' 'Remember that for 58,000 names, there are probably thousands and thousands of more people who knew them and loved them, and they're not coming home,' Blair Garden Club President Emma Kowalski said. For Carol Adams, whose son died after suffering an injury in Iraq in 2004, Memorial Day is a time to observe and mourn the loss. As a Gold Star family, she feels that the distinction brings grief. 'To become a gold star family yourself is not something you want to do,' Adams said. 'It is not a club you want to go to.' 'Those families that still suffer the loss that came to honor but can't stand up in front of the world and say 'This happened to me,'' Kowalski added. 'That's quiet loss.' With normal veteran ceremony traditions, such as taps, Amazing Grace on the bagpipes and presentation of the colors, the plaque reveal provided a special moment to the families in attendance. The unveiling made the ceremony more special to officials at the VA. 'It's a tremendous honor for our hospital,' Coughenour said. 'It gives us the opportunity to partner with the Blair Garden Club and Gold Star families to show our commitment to serve the men and women and their families.' 'That's a beautiful plaque. And, it means a lot to us,' Adams added. Families say that the plaque hopes to serve as a constant reminder to those walking the Wall of Healing to never forget those who defended the United States and those who died in the line of duty. For those who are younger, the Gold Star Memorial looks to provide a learning experience. 'We just want people to remember all the sacrifices, all the names on this wall here and don't forget our sons here,' Adams said. 'I hope people take the time to come and see this plaque and this memorial that's now going to stay here permanently, that they need to come and respect,' Kowalski said. 'And the young people need to come and be taught about why they can do the things that they do.' The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center plans to make the Memorial Day Celebration an annual tradition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business News Wales
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
North Wales Engineering Firm Targets Growth in Eastern Europe
CDTContinental Diamond Tool LimitedKimnel Bay Polish Salesperson Mariusz Kowalski A North Wales precision engineering company is targeting major sales growth in Eastern Europe after launching its first sales force in Poland. Mariusz Kowalski, the new Sales Manager for Poland, will lead a drive for new orders for Continental Diamond Tool (CDT). The Kinmel Bay-based business, which supplies Tier 1 aerospace and automotive companies, specialises in designing and producing high spec grinding wheels for advanced manufacturing processes. The product range includes diamond-encrusted rotary dressers, accurate to 1,000th of a millimetre. The company has also ramped up the manufacture of new electroplated grinding wheels and tools thanks to a £250,000 investment in cutting edge equipment. CDT sees huge opportunities to supply new customers in the rapidly developing engineering sector in Poland and other eastern European companies. The move is part of a £4 million expansion that will triple production and double the workforce to 80 in Kinmel Bay. As part of the strategy, the operation will be moving later this year to a new 30,000 sq ft factory three times the size of its current premisesand less than half a mile away on the Tir Llwyd Industrial Estate. Mr Kowalski graduated as a Master of Science at Warsaw University of technology where he specialised in Mechatronics engineering, combining mechanical, electrical, computer engineering and robotics to create innovative and complex systems. Before joining CDT he spent most of his career at a Polish company called Fanar, a leader in manufacturing tools for machining, where he rose through the ranks and developed new grinding and welding processes. Now representing CDT from Łomianki, about 20 miles west of Warsaw, he said: 'The new plant in Kinmel Bay will generate more products and a larger production volume, putting us in a perfect spot to support what's happening here in Poland. 'The Polish market in terms of advanced manufacturing in particular is the fastest-growing in Europe with aerospace companies like Pratt and Whitney and General Electric already in Poland and the country has its own rapidly growing engineering sector which we can service. 'Poland is also attractive to European Union countries like Germany and France because it has a well-educated and skilled workforce, lower costs and is more flexible. 'It also has between 30 and 40 tool-making companies and that's a market we are also focusing on along with the automotive sector. 'I believe that in 10 years' time Poland could be a world leader in high tech for aerospace, automotive and the medical science industries and CDT can be part of that. 'With our modern factory in Kinmel Bay due to come on line later this year and our operation in the USA in five years' time we could be looking at a market worth £80 million to the company. 'It is early days for us here in Poland but every day we learn more and make new contacts. 'It's a fast developing country. Twenty years ago we had 20 per cent unemployment but now it's below five per cent and the economy is booming.' CDT has seen sales of its new electroplated grinding products grow by 960 per cent over the past two years. The company expects electroplated products to outsell rotary dressers within a few years as orders continue to increase. They already export 50 per cent of their turnover with electroplated grinding products reaching beyond Europe into the Middle East, Thailand, and Indonesia with sales forecast to overtake rotary dressers in two to three years. The Kinmel Bay operation was founded as Consort Precision Diamond in 1984, specialising in the manufacture of diamond-encrusted rotary dressers and grinding wheels. It was taken over and rebranded in 2018 by CDT which has its headquarters in New Haven, Indiana. The business – one of only two similar companies in the UK – supplies a range of manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, automotive, medical and semi-conductors. Its products are used in Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, as well as the Airbus range A330-A380 whose wings are made at the giant Airbus factory in Broughton in Flintshire. Managing director Jeff Wirth said: 'Strategically, appointing the team in Poland was a very important move because it's the next step in our expansion in Europe. 'Poland's economy has been transformed in recent years and it's now a manufacturing powerhouse so this is perfect timing. For many years Germany was the engine of Europe and now Poland has taken that mantle. 'Poland is booming and growing. They have a great workforce and a great work ethic and the investment they have made over the past 20 to 30 years has paid off. 'Our operation there is being integrated into the company at a time when we are going to be moving into the new factory which will enable us to triple our production capacity, with new products coming on stream. 'Mariusz will be at the forefront, ensuring that our clients in Poland receive top-notch service and support. His expertise and dedication are key to navigating this phase of growth. It's a really exciting time for CDT – watch this space.'
Rhyl Journal
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Rhyl Journal
North Wales firm eyes huge growth in Eastern Europe
Continental Diamond Tool (CDT), based in Kinmel Bay, has launched its first sales force in Poland. The company, which supplies Tier 1 aerospace and automotive firms, specialises in high-spec grinding wheels for advanced manufacturing processes. The team in Poland is led by Mariusz Kowalski, the new sales manager. Mr Kowalski, a Warsaw University of Technology graduate, will be responsible for securing new orders in the rapidly expanding Eastern European market. He said: "The new plant in Kinmel Bay will generate more products and a larger production volume, putting us in a perfect spot to support what's happening here in Poland." CDT, which was founded as Consort Precision Diamond in 1984, was taken over and rebranded in 2018 by CDT, which has its headquarters in New Haven, Indiana. The company has invested £250,000 in cutting-edge equipment to increase the production of new electroplated grinding wheels and tools. This is part of a £4 million expansion plan that will triple production and double the workforce to 80 in Kinmel Bay. Later this year, the operation will move to a new 30,000 sq ft factory, three times the size of its current premises on the Tir Llwyd Industrial Estate. Mr Kowalski said: "The Polish market in terms of advanced manufacturing in particular is the fastest-growing in Europe. "Poland is also attractive to European Union countries like Germany and France because it has a well-educated and skilled workforce, lower costs and is more flexible." CDT's business is thriving, with sales of its new electroplated grinding products increasing by 960 per cent over the past two years. The company expects electroplated products to outsell rotary dressers within a few years as orders continue to increase. The move into Poland is forecast to further boost demand. They already export 50 per cent of their turnover, with electroplated grinding products reaching beyond Europe into the Middle East, Thailand, and Indonesia. Managing director Jeff Wirth said: "Strategically, appointing the team in Poland was a very important move because it's the next step in our expansion in Europe. "Poland's economy has been transformed in recent years and it's now a manufacturing powerhouse so this is perfect timing. "Our operation there is being integrated into the company at a time when we are going to be moving into the new factory which will enable us to triple our production capacity, with new products coming on stream. "Mariusz will be at the forefront, ensuring that our clients in Poland receive top-notch service and support. "His expertise and dedication are key to navigating this phase of growth. "It's a really exciting time for CDT – watch this space."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
4 men from WNY arrested for child porn in nationwide crackdown
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Four men from Western New York, ranging in ages 20 to 68, were arrested and charged with possession of child pornography during a nationwide crackdown led by the FBI, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Over the course of five days, Operation Restore Justice led to the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders nationwide, officials said. The four men arrested were identified as Samari Thompson, 20, of Buffalo, Jamie Anderson, 25, of Buffalo, Matthew Kowalski, 25, of Kenmore, and Brian Keith, 68, of Niagara Falls. Over 60 images and videos of suspected child pornography were allegedly found on a cellphone at Thompson's residence, including images and videos depicting infants. Officials said Anderson and Kowalski were each sentenced to 10 years of probation for possessing a sexual performance of a minor in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Apparent child pornography was allegedly uploaded to a Kik account traced back to Anderson. Images of suspected child pornography were allegedly found in Kowalski's possession during an unannounced home visit last month. Keith was found to be in possession of child pornography on multiple devices in March and is a registered Level 3 sex offender, according to the attorney's office. The Justice Department encourages the public to report suspected child exploitation through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or by calling a local FBI field office. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
My whole family will be FROZEN at death – we'll lay as ice cubes until science breakthrough brings us back to life
FROZEN IN TIME Dennis Kowalski, a former paramedic who is now director of the Cryonics Institute, told The Sun he is one of over 2,000 people who have signed up to be frozen when they die WOULD you cheat death for the price of $28,000? Well, that's what thousands of people across the world are trying to do with cryonics. Cryonics is the practice of deep-freezing the bodies of dead people, in hopes they can be revived in the future. 5 5 Dennis Kowalski, a former paramedic who is now director of the Cryonics Institute, told The Sun he is one of over 2,000 people who have signed up to be frozen when they die. The nonprofit, based out of the US, is almost entirely made up of volunteers who have all signed up themselves. About 270 people are currently being stored in liquid nitrogen filled tubes at the Michigan facility – and an equal number of pets. Some of the pets have even been cloned, says Kowalski, and are scampering around homes today. Other customers have given alternative forms of DNA to be frozen, like skin cells, in hopes of being cloned themselves in the future. Kowalski, his wife and their three sons are all signed up, each contributing $28,000 to secure their tube and fund maintenance until future medicine can bring them back to life. In theory, that money will be transferred into a bank account in their name for when they wake up, so they can cover medical bills (should they not be free) and have some pocket money for their new life in the future. The family took some persuading, but were fully on board once Kowalski had given his reasoning behind the process. "We don't propose fantastic futuristic medical science breakthroughs... we just propose to get you there," explains Kowalski. "We're kind of an ambulance ride to a future hospital that may or may not exist." Dissident Chinese academic has his brain FROZEN in the US with strict last wish to only thaw it 'after 500 years' For Kowalski, who signed up himself in 1995, cryopreservation is the best way he can imagine being reunited with his family after some painful losses. The concept of freezing a body until it can be brought back to life healthily is still just a concept. 'If it does work - oh my god... I would give everything I own for my my friends, my family, my mother, my father, people who have died in my life,' he says. 'It might be a shot in the dark... but it's the only shot we got.' 5 'Pie-in-the-sky' Top neuroscientists have criticised the use of cryonics. They say it gives people false hope for a second chance at life. But Kowalski says there's "all sorts of evidence that this isn't just pie-in-the-sky". He continues: "I mean we can freeze embryos right now. People [in embryonic form] have been frozen solid and brought back." From eggs and sperm to skin, scientists can freeze all kinds of mammalian biological cells for medical application. "We just haven't perfected the whole person," adds Kowalski. "We haven't been able to revive someone yet and once we do we won't need cryonics to get you to the future - we'll be in the future." For cryopreservation to work, you need a viable candidate. A body that has been dead for a long time, or even a near-centenarian, might not be a possible, or even a good idea. 'You don't want to come back as a 99 year old just to die again," says Kowalski. 5 A family affair Life is about who you share it with. And the same goes for your second coming, according to Kowalski. You'll want people from your own timeline, with whom you can revel about the past and also grapple with the future. Kowalski recommends all cryo-sleepers get their families on side before they die. 'The biggest people that can stand in the way of your cryopreservation is your family,' explains Kowalski. 'More often than not they want some more money out of the estate, that they think is maybe going to a foolish cause. 'So we suggest you give most of your money to your family and use life insurance as a savings vector. But the funny thing is this is affordable to just about anybody, its on par with an expensive funeral.' This way, nobody goes into the future with bitter rivalries hanging over their heads. 'In my case, my family is interested and has signed up as well,' says Kowalski. 'My wife, my children. Two of my sons are paramedics so they understand the emergency medical procedures. So its not a problem with me. 'But I encourage people to keep this a family thing. You don't want to break up families.'
