Latest news with #Lauro
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Indian Express
Italy's sunken Roman city rises again from sea; visitors to explore via glass-bottomed boats, snorkelling
Off the coast of the Italian island of Ischia, the ruins of a forgotten Roman city are once again seeing the light of day. Thought to be lost to legend, the city of Aenaria is now being brought back to public consciousness through a combination of archaeological excavations and guided underwater tours. Located in the Bay of Cartaromana, the ruins lie just beneath the surface. Visitors can now explore the site via glass-bottomed boat rides or snorkelling excursions that reveal ancient quays, Roman artefacts, and stone structures preserved on the sea floor. 'It was believed that the Romans never built a city on Ischia,' archaeologist Dr Alessandra Benini told the BBC. 'It was the opposite.' The eruption that likely destroyed Aenaria is estimated to have occurred around 180 AD, but unlike the well-documented destruction of Pompeii in 79 AD, Aenaria's story remained unwritten. No contemporary Roman records describe the event, and for centuries, the site was buried under volcanic sediment. Initial clues emerged in the 1970s, when divers found fragments of pottery and lead ingots off Ischia's coast. However, early efforts led by Don Pietro Monti and archaeologist Giorgio Buchner failed to uncover the city. The trail went cold until 2011, when a group of local sailors and history enthusiasts resumed investigations, eventually unearthing the remains of a massive Roman quay buried under two metres of seabed. Subsequent discoveries have included amphorae, mosaics, coins, the remains of seaside villas, and even a wooden Roman ship. Long believed to be a Greek domain, Ischia was famed for its thermal springs and early Greek colonisation around 750 BC. Roman control followed in 322 BC, with the island renamed Aenaria, a name that appears in classical texts by Pliny the Elder and Strabo. But physical evidence of Roman settlement was scarce. 'The name was documented,' said local resident Giulio Lauro, as per BBC. 'But no one could find the place.' It turned out the city had not disappeared. It had simply sunk. The rediscovery was driven by Lauro and a team of local tour operators, archaeologists, and volunteers who self-funded the ongoing excavation. 'We started from zero,' Lauro told the BBC. 'We were lucky to believe in it. And then to actually find it.' Items uncovered suggest that Aenaria was not only a port but also a residential hub. Archaeologists have found mosaic tiles, oil lamps, wooden combs, fishing needles, decorated plaster, and even Roman baths. Radiocarbon dating places the quay's construction between 75 BC and AD 30. In 2020, the discovery of a shipwreck revealed military hardware, including a bronze mooring post shaped like a swan's head and lead sling bullets, indicating Aenaria may have had a strategic role in Roman military operations, as per the BBC. Trade evidence is equally strong. Amphorae found at the site originate from 12 production centres across the Mediterranean, including Campania and the Levant. Analysis of recovered lead traced its origin to Spain, painting a picture of a deeply interconnected Roman trade hub. 'It's likely there was also a small town nearby the port,' Benini said. Visitors can now observe live digs during the summer months, view artefacts at a nearby exhibit, and watch a 3D video reconstruction of Aenaria, offering an immersive look at its streets, buildings, and coastline. (With inputs from BBC)
Boston Globe
10-06-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Approving the Excel Academy lease would put our students first – and prove what's possible
Partnering with Excel Academy allows the Lauro space to be utilized again while reducing the financial burden on the city and creating new opportunities for collaboration that serves all students. Between Excel's rent payments, capital improvements, facility costs, planned annual neighborhood beautification projects, and philanthropic support, the total investment coming into our city will be around $80 million. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Excel Academy–which is open to any student from Providence, North Providence, and Central Falls, with the majority coming from Providence–is one of the top 10 schools in Rhode Island for student growth in both math and English language arts. Ninety-five percent of students identify as students of color, and many will be the first in their families to go to college. Advertisement Rhode Island Education Collective, This shared space agreement creates a meaningful opportunity for charter and district schools to collaborate in the way they were always meant to—by exchanging ideas, sharing resources, and learning from each other to better serve all students. Placing two strong schools under one roof creates a culture of partnership rather than competition, setting a powerful precedent for education across Rhode Island. Together, these schools can show how alignment between charter and district models can elevate instruction, enrich school culture, and expand access to high-quality education in Providence. It's the kind of innovative, student-centered cooperation our public education system urgently needs. This lease agreement also offers clear financial benefits. At a time when the Advertisement It shouldn't be revolutionary for a school district and a charter school to work together to do what's best for our children. I hope what's planned for Lauro becomes the first of many examples of our city's leaders coming together to put our students' needs first and ensure every child has access to the high-quality education they deserve, whether they attend a district, charter, or any other public school. Victor F. Capellan is the founder and CEO of Rhode Island Education was the former superintendent of schools in Central Falls and has been a leader in education for 25 years in various capacities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Public warned of risks cliff jumping at Spitting Cave
HAWAII KAI (KHON2) — It's a picturesque and popular coastline in Hawaii Kai, but officials are reminding the public about its dangers following another death that occurred Saturday evening.'People like to come watch whales, scuba dive, and cliff jump as well,' said Seth Becker, a cliff jumper. Ocean Safety looking to recruit 'best of the best' lifeguards But the beauty at Spitting Cave can turn deadly. Officials said a man in his 20s died after diving into the ocean Saturday night. According to Honolulu Ocean Safety, they have responded 52 times over the past five years for cliff jumping injuries, drownings and near drownings. 'If that shelf is wet, you can be dragged right off that shelf and scraped into the water and not be able to get back out,' said Brian Lauro, a former resident who frequented the area. 'We also don't want it to be foamy. If it's foamy over there, foam has a negative buoyancy, which means you don't float in foam. It's like liquid quicksand.' Lauro created his social media page, @ChinaWallsReport, in 2022 following a string of deaths and injuries. He would post about the conditions at Spitting Cave and China Walls daily to educate followers and warn them of the high risks. 'Just because [tourists] swim in a swimming pool or swim in a lake or jump in a quarry doesn't make you qualified to do that here,' Lauro said. 'Even though you tell them not to do it on a day that would be too dangerous for an outsider, they see our kids do it and they're like, 'I can do that too.' Then they get in trouble.' There are three memorials dedicated to those who have died while jumping, but the total number of deaths is estimated to be even more. 'Everyone that jumps here that I've jumped with are professional cliff jumpers that do it as a full time living. So, for tourists to just come here and try it is a very dangerous thing. There's certain days that we'll come here with a big group of people to jump, look at the water, and just call it off just because it's too dangerous,' stated Parker Sullivan, an experienced cliff jumper. Ocean Safety said no one should be jumping at Spitting Cave due to the danger and posted warning signs. The jump off is estimated between 50 to 60 feet into open ocean known for its strong currents. 'From this high, you could get knocked unconscious pretty quickly if you land a wrong way,' said cliff jumper Jared Nunez. 'I think it's mostly just like having people to spot you and landing correctly.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC News
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Silent film feared lost for over 100 years found by intern going through old boxes on Long Island
A piece of film history missing for more than 100 years and thought to be lost forever was found on Long Island in New York by an intern going through old boxes. The 16-millimeter film is believed to be the only known surviving copy of 'The Heart of Lincoln,' a silent movie about the life of President Abraham Lincoln and American life during the Civil War. The 1915 motion picture released by Universal was listed by the Library of Congress as among 7,000 silent films believed to be lost forever. The director and star of the film was Francis Ford, the older brother of legendary Hollywood director John Ford, the winner of a record four Academy Awards for Best Director who would go on to make his own movie about Lincoln decades later. Film archivist Eliot Kissileff was able to clean and digitize the movie, so it could never be lost again. 'I guess it was just lucky the cans were sealed and had not decayed,' Kissilef saidf. The film, which was in remarkably good condition despite its age, was found in 2024 at Lauro's Historic Films Archive in Greenport, New York, by summer intern Dan Martin. He had been going through boxes of old films donated to the archive, and the movie was among many that had been left untouched for decades. 'For someone going to school for film preservation, this is about the most rewarding outcome you can have sifting through those old film cans,' said Martin, of Jamesport. The movie's five reels were among the rusty film cases lining the walls of the office of Joe Lauro, who owns the business. 'He came up with a startled look on his face and said 'Joe, I really think we've got something special here,'' said Lauro, who hopes to restore the film and add a score to it, so modern audiences can be treated to a piece of cinematic history. 'With silent films, probably 70% of them are gone,' Lauro said. 'It's a piece of the puzzle that's now been found. The puzzle of lost American cinema.' As for Martin, his discovery serves as a reminder that no intern's task is too small. 'It was very rewarding to end my internship on this high note,' Martin said. 'A film like this provides evidence that film history is still being written.'
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Yahoo
'Always up for an adventure:' Girlfriend remembers man, 65, killed at Gardens golf course
RIVIERA BEACH — Dina Lauro recalled her first time meeting Brian Hiltebeitel nearly two decades ago. As she saw him walking into the corridor of her Philadelphia apartment complex, she walked up to introduce herself. "I was immediately smitten," Lauro said in written remarks to The Palm Beach Post about Hiltebeitel, who died Nov. 25 in an attack at Sandhill Crane Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens. "Despite being shy at the time, I couldn't help myself and walked right up to him to introduce myself. He was just so handsome and energetic." It was the beginning of a relationship that would lead to the couple moving to South Florida and Hiltebeitel helping Lauro build a vegan bakery and deli businesses. This month, Lauro hosted a celebration of life at her Riviera Beach-based business, Dina's Vegan Deli & Desserts, to honor the man she loved. 'Not a threat . . . a promise': Man in prison for murder threatens Palm Beach County judge who sentenced him Hundreds gathered on Jan. 12 to remember the man known for his adventurous spirit and outgoing personality. "The celebration of life was something I wanted to organize for Brian and for all the people he touched here in Florida," Lauro said. "We've lived here since 2011, and through both of our businesses, we've connected so many people. Many of them came to pay their respects, and it was like a reunion of old friends." Lauro described Hiltebeitel as someone who "always had a smile on his face and a mischievous look in his eyes, like he was always up to something fun." He had a funny way of making up his own language, saying words by accident, she said. "For me, Brian was not just a life partner, but my best friend and constant playmate," she said. "We were always up for an adventure — whether it was hiking or kayaking, a day at the amusement park, a cozy movie night, or simply enjoying each other's company at home." Hiltebeitel was previously married and had three daughters and three grandchildren. Every Sunday meant making a video call to his youngest daughter, Kelsey. "His family adored him, not just because he was a wonderful father and grandfather, but because of his silly, fun-loving nature," Lauro said. Workplace homicide: Palm Beach County man was under red-flag order after animal cruelty arrest Palm Beach Gardens police investigators said Hiltebeitel, 65, was at the city-owned Sandhill Crane Golf Club on Nov. 25 — days before the Thanksgiving holiday — when he was attacked with his own golf clubs. Witnesses told police that a man later identified as Junior Boucher chased Hiltebeitel into a nearby pond and began choking him. Police arrested Boucher, 36, of The Acreage and prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder. Boucher also faces a charge of aggravated battery on a person 65 or older. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and is awaiting trial. His next court hearing is scheduled in April before Circuit Judge Caroline Shepherd. At the time of Boucher's arrest, police said he had no known reason for being at the golf course or for interacting with Hiltebeitel. Police Chief Dominick Pape said Boucher's family had reported him missing to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office about an hour before the attack. Lauro said Hiltebeitel did not know the man accused of killing him. A spokesperson for Palm Beach Gardens police said Friday that investigators have not identified a motive for the attack. Lauro said Hiltebeitel began playing golf as a child, with the game becoming more of a serious hobby in his 20s and 30s. Moving to Florida allowed him to spend more time at the course, practicing two days a week and playing once a week, she said. On the day of the attack, Hiltebeitel had gone to the golf course to practice, Lauro said. "It was his day off, and he loved spending time outside, honing his skills and appreciating the tranquility of nature," Lauro said. "It was a way for him to unwind, take his time and focus on the game he loved." Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@ and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Man killed at Gardens golf course remembered for adventurous spirit
