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American Press
2 days ago
- American Press
Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School sixth-grader attends national leadership conference
For sixth-grader Layla Gaar, attending the 2025 Junior National Young Leaders Conference earlier this month was more than an academic opportunity. It was an unforgettable opportunity to meet new friends, explore history and continue a family tradition. The Junior National Young Leadership Conference brings together fifth-graders and middle schoolers from across the country to develop leadership skills through interactive projects and dynamic workshops. The conference has been held by Envision by WorldStrides – immersive educational programs designed to help students explore potential careers and build leadership skills through hands-on experiences – for over 35 years. This year, it was hosted at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts (just outside of Boston). Gaar, a student at Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School, joined over 200 students to participate in a 'unique academic and career oriented development experience.' Jan Sikorsky, vice president, Education for Envision, said in a release that the conference allows students from across the country to collaborate while they explore the professional world. 'It's a wonderful opportunity for ambitious young students to explore their interests outside the classroom and discover how to innovate and think creatively through hands-on immersive learning,' she said. 'Our students are challenged with real-world simulations and problems, working together to develop solutions and projects to bring life to their studies and career interests.' Gaar said the trip was 'absolutely amazing.' Her favorite part was making new friends and visiting the historical sites in Massachusetts. 'I made so many friends and memories. I was able to visit several historical sites, including the Old North Church, Salem, and Plymouth Rock. The conference was held at Bentley University, and it was beautiful,' she said. She is no stranger to leadership. She served as secretary of the library club, and is a member of Team Green, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Student Council. She also plays tennis, acts in school productions and leads songs at church. And her family is no stranger to the Junior National Young Leaders Conference. Layla's older sister Lindsay attended the same conference last year and worked on a team that drafted a healthcare policy proposal to Congress. Layla's conference was centered around a Presidential election. She was the only student from Louisiana in her group, and was appointed 'Chief of Staff' for the week. Throughout the week, Layla developed leadership skills that taught her to work as a team with people of a different background, she said. These skills will help her late in life when she enters her career as a speech therapist, she said. 'I can communicate with different people and help them achieve their goals.' At the end of the conference, she was chosen to write a speech and present it at the conference. She wrote about her experience at the conference. Her speech encouraged and inspired her peers to 'remember the wonderful memories made,' maintain the friendships and apply the leadership skills they gained in life and school, said Layla's mom, Laura Gaar.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Kids Playing in Yard Hear Dad's Voice—But He's 'Hundreds of Miles Away'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dad has described the "overwhelming joy" he felt at finding a way to connect with his two young daughters while away with work. John lives with his family in Youngsville, Los Angeles, but spends at least 14 days of the month working in South Texas and a further five days in South Louisiana. Maintaining a good work-life balance can be difficult, particularly in the United States. One recent study ranked the top 20 countries in the world for the best work-life balance, and the U.S. did not make the cut. In fact, it came second-to-last in the poll of 60 different countries. John has been able to come up with a workaround, though, using the Ring doorbell camera fitted outside his house. He told the company: "We use the Ring frequently to stay in touch, especially with my demanding work schedule that keeps me away for weeks at a time." A video shared with Newsweek by Ring demonstrates how it works, with John surprising his daughters Layla, 22, and Mya, 5, while they are playing outside the house. "Seeing their joy and hearing their voices through the app brings me closer to them, even from hundreds of miles away," he said. This use of the Ring doorbell cam has seen it evolve from being more than just a security device. "It's become a vital part of how we stay connected as a family.," John said. Despite the distance between them, the camera has also allowed the family to create lasting memories that have not only helped John get through being away from them, but also created footage that will be cherished for years to come. "My reaction to watching the video back was one of overwhelming joy. Layla's excitement is truly infectious, and it's a precious moment I wanted to share," John said. To him, the clip is a prime example of the "positive impact technology can have." It s one of several examples highlighted by Newsweek in recent months. Back in May, Brandon, a father of two from Port St. Lucie, Florida, was able to capture a similarly heartwarming moment involving his young kids. Brandon was heading out to work when his doorbell cam captured the moment his kids called out "wait" before springing one last surprise on him before he left. "I lost my dad earlier this year, and it made me realize how important it is to create as many happy memories as I can," he told Ring. In June, a military father of two deployed overseas also found a special way to stay close to his kids despite being over 6,000 miles away. Major Peter DeCrans was deployed to Kuwait for 10 months, but was able to stay connected to his wife and two young children, Zerick, 7, and Petroula, 5, back home in Forest Lake, Minnesota, by communicating through the Ring doorbell. DeCrans told Ring: "With a simple tap at the doorbell, my family found an easy, meaningful way to stay connected, despite being thousands of miles apart."
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
How to get Eric Clapton tickets: Columbus, Nashville, Boston, and more
With a career spanning over 50 years as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, it's no surprise that the announcement of Eric Clapton's return to the US for a tour sparked great interest. The 'Layla' star recently concluded a residency in Japan earlier in the year, which was followed by several stops across Europe. September 2025 sees the global star back in the US for a limited seven-show tour. Original standard tickets have already sold out for several locations, but luckily, there are still options available if you are looking for how to get tickets to see Eric Clapton this year. Clapton originally announced his 2025 limited US tour to be only six stops, but later added an additional show on September 5 in Columbus, Ohio. The tour marks the first US performance for Clapton in over a year and has been highly anticipated by his fans, who have been eagerly awaiting his return. Eric Clapton has openly discussed that he finds touring difficult, due to the length of time it takes to go from place to place. He was even once quoted as saying he would quit touring when he reached the age of 70. This year saw the star turn 80 years old, and luckily for his fans, he didn't follow through on that. Considering Clapton's increasingly selective tour schedule, each concert date feels like a special event. Unlike artists who tour extensively every year, Clapton's live appearances have become rare opportunities for fans to experience his iconic hits performed in person. Eric Clapton's musical band for his limited tour will consist of bassist Nathan East, drummer Edward 'Sonny' Emory III, guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, keyboardists Tim Carmon and Chris Stainton, and backing vocalists Sharon White and Katie Kissoon. If you want to score tickets to see the legendary Eric Clapton himself onstage this September, we've got you covered. Here's our breakdown of Eric Clapton's tour schedule, purchasing details, and price comparisons between resale and original tickets. You can also browse concert and ticket specifics on StubHub and Vivid Seats at your convenience. Eric Clapton's 2025 tour schedule After finishing a residency in Japan followed by European tour stops, Eric Clapton is ready to grace the stage of the continental US. The tour has seven dates on the roster, starting September 5 in Columbus, Ohio. It is scheduled to finish on September 20 with a performance in Uncasville, Connecticut. September 5, 2025 Columbus, OH $328 $360 September 8, 2025 Nashville, TN $130 $135 September 11, 2025 Cleveland, OH $135 $130 September 13, 2025 Philadelphia, PA $297 $291 September 16, 2025 Boston, MA $208 $205 September 19, 2025 New York, NY $301 $330 September 20, 2025 Uncasville, CT $421 $401 Follow our WhatsApp channel and Instagram for more deals and buying guides. How to buy tickets for Eric Clapton's 2025 concert tour You can buy standard original tickets for Eric Clapton's 2025 concert tour on Ticketmaster. As of writing, the standard original tickets for most locations are either low in stock or entirely sold out; however, there are still a limited number of original standard tickets listed for the Nashville and Boston performances. You can check Ticketmaster for the latest standard original ticket availability. As the tour is in extremely high demand and remaining standard tickets are going quickly, it is expected that these will sell out soon, similar to the other tour dates. Tickets are also available from verified resale vendors such as StubHub and Vivid Seats. Considering the limited availability of remaining original tickets, you may have better luck purchasing from these websites instead. Both sites also have a variety of options in terms of seating location and price points, as well as ticket availability for tour stops that have already sold out their original tickets. How much are Eric Clapton tickets? Ticket prices for Eric Clapton's 2025 performances vary depending on each show's date, location, and demand for tickets. While most of the seven scheduled performances have already sold out, Nashville and Boston still have options remaining for original standard tickets available on Ticketmaster. Nashville has options priced at $124 remaining, although all of these options are toward the back of the venue. Boston currently has floor options remaining priced $370 to $400. StubHub offers various options at various price points for all tour stops. The most affordable options range from $130 for Clapton's September 8 performance in Nashville to $421 for the stop in Uncasville, Connecticut. Most tickets on StubHub average $200 to $800, with pricier options available for those looking for the most exclusive options close to the stage. These prices are before additional taxes and fees are factored in. Vivid Seats offers similar pricing to StubHub. The most affordable options range from $130 for Eric Clapton's September 11 performance in Cleveland to $401 for his Uncasville, Connecticut show. Overall, Vivid Seats tickets range from $300 to just over $1,000, with some higher-end options even ranging over $2,000. Similar to StubHub, pricier tickets are for more premium seating and offer an exclusive chance to see the star from a once-in-a-lifetime close-up location. Also similar to StubHub, these prices are before additional taxes and fees. There are currently no VIP packages being offered on Ticketmaster for Eric Clapton's 2025 tour stops. Who is opening for Eric Clapton's tour? It has been confirmed that The Wallflowers will support Eric Clapton for all of his 2025 tour dates. There is currently no information on whether any other acts will open for or support the tour in other capacities. Will there be international tour dates? Eric Clapton's remaining 2025 scheduled tour dates do not include any more international stops. The artist recently returned from an eight-show residency in Tokyo, followed by performances in the UK, Italy, and France. Considering Clapton is known to tour on a limited basis, it is unlikely he will add additional international dates this year.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Cat mom accuses Blue Angels of terrorizing her dying 14-year-old cat with ‘sonic barrage' practices: ‘It terrified her so much'
A Seattle cat mom accused the US Navy's Blue Angels of robbing her elderly cat of a peaceful death after their annual practices for a summer fair flyover caused a frequent 'sonic barrage' that would terrify the feline she loved like 'a daughter,' according to a lawsuit. Lauren Ann Lombardi's 14-year-old cat Layla died on Aug. 11, 2024 following a battle with heart disease that was only worsened by the Blue Angels' frequent overhead flying, she alleged in a federal civil complaint filed this week. 5 Lauren Lombardi sued the Blue Angels, alleging it violated her First Amendment right by blocking her on Instagram after she complained the crew's flyovers were terrorizing her cat Layla. Ever Loved 'I just wanted to share what happened to her. I wanted people to know, and I wanted there to be some sort of accountability for that. That's the main thing I wanted to get across was Layla's story,' Lombardi told The Post. The lawsuit hinges on the Blue Angels' alleged blockage of her Instagram account, which she claims violated her First Amendment rights. Every year, the Blue Angels participate in the Boeing Seafair Air Show in Seattle during the summer Seafair Festival. The flight squadron practices and performs over Lake Washington, which is just a few miles away from Lombardi's home. The noise from the flyovers would last for several minutes up to three times a day, she said. 'It's like what I imagine being in a war zone sounds like. It's very terrifying, it actually shook our house when they would go by,' Lombardi said. The cat mom lobbed her first tirade at the air squad in August 2023, her first summer living in the area after moving from the East Coast. 5 Layla, Lombardi's 14-year-old cat, passed away in August 2024. U.S. District Court Western District Of Washington At Seattle 'Stop with your F—king bulls–t you are terrorizing my cat and all the other animals and wildlife. Nobody gives a f–k about your stupid little planes,' Lombardi wrote to the squadron via Instagram. By then, the show had already started. The Blue Angels' Instagram account allegedly blocked Lombardi shortly after. She tried to reach out to call them 'cowards' in a direct message two days later, but it was apparently never delivered 'due to the blocking,' according to the lawsuit. 5 The Blue Angels perform every year at the Boeing Seafair Air Show in Seattle. AP 'I wasn't even expecting to get a response, I was just really angry. I know my messages weren't very nice, but I was just overcome with rage because it terrified her so much,' Lombardi said of Layla. 'The Blue Angels are really cool. Obviously, it's really impressive, but the harm is real greater than the good, and I just want people to know so they can form their own opinions. By them blocking me, it prevented me from being able to communicate that to people who otherwise wouldn't know how harmful it is.' Lombardi claimed that the squad's 'sonic barrage' sent an already-feeble Layla with mere weeks left to live into a panic again the following year. To try and calm her frail feline, Lombardi barricaded all points of sound entry in the house and even used her hands to block the elderly cat's ears. 5 Lombardi said she treated Layla like her own 'daughter.' U.S. District Court Western District Of Washington At Seattle The dedicated cat mom was 'traumatized' by Layla's tragic passing and retired early to ensure her honorary 'daughter' was comfortable during her final months, she said. 'She was everything to me. Pet doesn't even sound right to me, I refer to her as my daughter,' she said. A week after the 2024 fair, Layla was humanely euthanized. She spent the bulk of her final days hiding under furniture around the house, according to the complaint. Lombardi noted that she 'respects and supports' the US military, but still asserted that her feline's sundowning was 'pockmarked by debilitating terror brought on by the actions of the United States Government,' according to the complaint. She doesn't blame the armed forces for Layla's death — though the lawsuit is riddled with complaints about the cat's torment. Instead, she's looking for the Blue Angels to unblock her Instagram account and repay her expenses, including 'reasonable attorneys' fees,' according to the complaint. 5 The Blue Angels are a flight demonstration squadron for the US Navy. AP The lawsuit itself was penned by attorney Nacim Bouchtia, Lombardi's husband and Layla's human father, according to the cat's obituary. Lombardi also seeks to require a refresher course for the Blue Angels on the 'fundamental importance of the First Amendment which the brave men and women of the U.S. Navy are sworn to protect,' according to the complaint. Her two new cat children, Ozzy and Ziggy, named after the late rockstars Ozzy Osbourne and David Bowie, will be experiencing the Blue Angels' practice for the first time in just a few days. In Lombardi's ideal world, the air show would be nixed and replaced with something like a laser light show, but she acknowledged that eliminating the seven-decade tradition would be unrealistic. The Post reached out to the United States Navy for comment. A representative for the Blue Angels could not be reached directly.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How British footballers are helping women's football in Pakistan
Ask one of the 255 million people in Pakistan to name their favourite sport, and most will say cricket. Not many will say football, and even fewer will say women's football. But that's all about to change, according to new Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Syed Mohsin Gilani. "We want to promote mass participation of girls in football," he says. With the PFF previously suspended by governing body Fifa, the country's national women's team had been quiet on the world stage, playing only three games in the past two years. Now those hoping to drive the game forward in Pakistan have been looking further afield to find talented players to boost its profile, such as defender Layla Banaras. The former Birmingham City player tells BBC Newsbeat that Pakistan's football setup "isn't the best at the moment". "But hopefully that's going to change," she says. Layla made history when, aged 16, she became the first-ever South Asian woman to play for Birmingham City, something that she hopes can inspire others. "You don't really see many players in the WSL [Women's Super League] from a South Asian heritage," she says. "I feel like I want to be the person that people can see and show others that you can play football." Layla is currently a free agent after leaving the Blues at the end of last season, and recently made her debut for the Pakistan women's national team. She played in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup qualifiers, where the side finished as runners-up. "Pakistan contacted me a couple years ago but I felt like it wasn't the right time and I felt like this was the right time," she says. "It was an amazing experience and I'd do it all over again." She is half-Pakistani, so when it came to choosing between England or Pakistan she says "it wasn't even a thought, I'm proud of where I'm from". "It wasn't really a debate," she says. Joining the squad alongside her is 21-year-old Mariam Mahmood, a former West Bromwich player. "When they called me up, I was really happy," she says. "To know they know about me from the other side of the world is crazy." Mariam didn't have the same experience as Layla from her extended family when she decided to pursue football. "They were just like: 'Pakistani girls don't play football, they don't do sport and that it's not a career path'. "But, you can't let culture hold you back, you have to follow your heart," she says. Layla and Mariam join four other diaspora players in the national side, and PFF present Syed Mohsin Gilani is happy to have them. "Anybody who's eligible for Pakistan should play for Pakistan, it's doesn't matter where you live or where you're from," he tells Newsbeat. The battle now will be to focus on developing players at home. "We want to have more women's football clubs and we are setting a functioning women's football department in the federation," says president Gilani. "We want to take it all over the country." The federation also plans to launch new competitions aimed at women and girls, he says. Layla says the PFF will need to do a lot of work to raise awareness and get young girls into football. "It needs to be in schools, it needs to be in the local communities and there needs to be access to it," she says. She also wants to see more girls from a South Asian Muslim background coming through "into the academies, into the systems and into Pakistan's football team". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. More on this story 'I never thought I'd be playing international football' Ex-England youth Suliman switches to Pakistan Three years without any football - can Pakistan recover?
