Latest news with #MarkStanley
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Parents scrambling with three days' notice about Springbank daycare closure
A surprise announcement that a Springbank daycare is closing by week's end is creating stress for families and businesses caught in the middle. A Springbank daycare is abruptly closing this week, leaving families of 130 children with three days to find alternatives. Springbank Cottage Childcare contacted families on the afternoon of May 27, saying the building is not structurally safe and will permanently shut down on May 30. 'Three days doesn't give anyone a chance to make alternate arrangements,' said Dave Serfas, whose two daughters attend Springbank Cottage Childcare. 'Where are the kids going to go for the summer programs? Now they're all full. We've kind of missed that boat, so what are we supposed to do?' Some parents said they are disappointed by a lack of communication and clarity about the risks. 'There has been a tremendous lack of transparency (and) communication with Rocky View school district,' said Serfas. 'I'm picking my son up there this afternoon. Is it safe for them to be in this building? We are told yes, but then what's not safe about the occupancy come next week?' said Mark Stanley, whose son attends before- and after-school care. A Springbank daycare is abruptly closing this week, leaving families of 130 children with three days to find alternatives. A Springbank daycare is abruptly closing this week, leaving families of 130 children with three days to find alternatives. Families first learned of potential structural concerns with the 1903 former schoolhouse in March, following an engineering assessment. At that point, the building was deemed safe to remain open until September. Rocky View Schools (RVS) said things changed after it commissioned a second, more comprehensive assessment, which found the building unsafe. In a statement, RVS said, 'We recognize this expedited timeline is challenging for families and staff. This was a difficult but necessary decision made in the interest of safety.' 'Springbank is a rural residential community, so these facilities don't exist everywhere out in this area,' said Serfas. Some parents said aside from putting them in a tough situation, the lack of transparency is unsettling. 'Now, it's for all intents and purposes an immediate closure. Along with that immediate closure, Friday that building is unsafe, but there are 130 kids in there (Wednesday),' said Serfas. They agree safety needs to be prioritized but said if the building can safely stay open a few more days, why not three more weeks, until the end of the school year? 'We're so close to the end of the school year. Is it really necessary to create all this turmoil and chaos when we're talking about another three weeks?' said Stanley. 'If the risks are real, then absolutely, safety is a priority, but then that has some bigger questions as to what was previously decided. Either way, there are questions that have to be answered. 'Are the safety risks real? And if they are real, why were our children allowed to be in this building until Friday? And if they're not real, then let's apply some common sense and look at this in a more staged approach.' In a letter to parents, Springbank Cottage Childcare wrote, 'We were served with an order to vacate by Rocky View County requiring us to vacate our current facility by May 30, 2025, despite a previously agreed-upon Sept. 1 timeline. We are actively pursuing an appeal and have submitted a request for a stay of the order.' A Springbank daycare is abruptly closing this week, leaving families of 130 children with three days to find alternatives. A Springbank daycare is abruptly closing this week, leaving families of 130 children with three days to find alternatives. As for the future of the building, RVS said the structural concerns are too severe and costly to fix, so the historic schoolhouse will be demolished this summer. Parents said Springbank Cottage Childcare planned to reopen in a new location in September, and staff are just as shocked by the sudden notice to close. 'I feel terrible for the staff and the actual folks that work at Cottage. It is a family business. They do an amazing job. The kids are always excited to go there, and we're just disappointed,' said Serfas. CTV reached out to Springbank Cottage Childcare and Rocky View County but has not yet heard back.
Boston Globe
22-05-2025
- Boston Globe
‘Adolescence' is great TV — but not because it's realistic
The praise centers on the show's purported insight into the dangerous intersection of adolescence, online radicalization, and toxic masculinity. Advertisement Despite its emotional impact, though, 'Adolescence' is fiction widely misinterpreted as fact. The very aspects praised as realistic are, indeed, statistically improbable and misleading. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Shortly after watching the show, I One of the most persistent myths about incels is that they are predominantly white, far-right extremists. In fact, Advertisement Psychologists find that incels tend to score high on what's called ' Yet the scenario depicted — a teenage boy influenced by incel ideology murdering a female classmate — is among the rarest forms of youth violence. The show's creators say they were inspired by the real rise in knife violence across the UK, which is indeed a From left, Mark Stanley, Owen Cooper, and Stephen Graham in a scene from "Adolescence." Uncredited/Associated Press Another reason the series should not be mistaken as representative is that the killer in 'Adolescence' comes from a two-parent home. In reality, Advertisement I observed this pattern firsthand in my own In 'Adolescence,' the victim is a young girl. In reality, three out of four stabbing victims in Britain are The creators of 'Adolescence' may have intentionally crafted an atypical narrative to highlight how rage and violence can appear unexpectedly. Ironically, some of the series's admirers miss this nuance, mistaking a fictional tragedy for a representative one. Advertisement In doing so, they overlook uncomfortable truths about the causes of most violent crime, which are rooted less in online radicalization than in fractured families and offline peer dynamics. 'Adolescence' is a superb work of art. It should not be mistaken for reality.
Agriland
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Agriland
Kilkenny contractor says mower ‘performance is unreal'
Kverneland 5387MT mowers deliver on high output, ease of use, and reliability. according to a Kilkenny-based contractor. Mark Stanley has been working with his uncle, Leeson Stanley, at Leeson Stanley Agricultural Contracting in Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny, for over 22 years. Between Leeson's tillage work and Mark's own nearby farm, the pair know what they want from a mower — and they have found it in the Kverneland 5387MT BX butterfly mower. Mark said: 'We've been using Kverneland since day one. 'When we heard the 5387 was about a tonne and a half lighter than the older model, we said we'd give it a go. 'We were very impressed — they're well-balanced, not hard on the tractor, and the performance is unreal.' High output, no hassle With a 250hp tractor up front, the 5387 mowers can easily cover up to 240ac a day on the Stanleys' ground. Even with 200–220hp, Mark says it runs no problem. 'Before, we were using two sets of doubles. It worked, but one mower was always sitting idle when trying to split nine headland runs. 'With the 5387, every mower is working full-time — it's more efficient, and it pairs perfectly with our swarter,' he said. QuattroLink suspension: 'Just brilliant' Mark highlights the QuattroLink suspension system as one of the standout features. The Kverneland 5387 butterfly mower conditioner delivers a working width of 8.75m, making it ideal for contractors and large farms alike. Source: Kverneland Built around Kverneland's unique QuattroLink suspension system, the mower glides over the ground with up to 700mm of vertical movement — 400mm upwards and 300mm downwards — ensuring a clean, even cut across every contour. The QuattroLink concept, inspired by racing suspension design, features four suspension arms connected to a fixed carrying arm. This allows the mower to float and respond independently to ground undulations while maintaining precise pressure. 'That's what I love about the suspension,' Mark said. 'You can control how much pressure is on the ground from the cab. 'And more importantly, when it lifts over a bump, it comes back down fast — no missed strips or green patches.' BX belt swarting: fast, tidy, and flexible For second-cut silage, the 5387s are fitted with BX belts, which can be easily adjusted or removed. Mark said: 'You can speed them up or slow them down from the cab using hydraulic pressure. 'We run them at around 25% and the tractor barely knows they're on. The swart is lovely and uniform, or you can lay it flat — you've full control.' The belts are quick to remove using carrier wheels and quick-release couplings, saving time when switching between cuts. Dual adjustment for better wilting The mower features dual adjustment for conditioning, which Mark considers key for optimising wilting and forage quality. 'You can pull it in tight for light second cuts or open it up for heavy crops like haylage or Italian ryegrass. 'It bruises the grass just right — you get great wilt, and it conditions evenly across the width,' he said. Simple mower controls, easy maintenance Mark rates the operation and maintenance of the 5387 mowers very highly. 'There's a lovely, simple control box, numbered 1 to 5. You use the same lever the whole time — it's very user-friendly. The parking stand is great too. You can fold the mower up, and it takes up less space than a trailed mower,' he added. Maintenance is made easy thanks to thoughtful design. 'The covers lift up high, and you're standing up straight when changing blades — no crouching or straining. It's quick, easy and safe.' Mark also noted the durability and convenience of the mower's quick-release blades. 'We start the season with a fresh set, turn them all together, then change them all together,' he explained. 'I've never lost a blade with the quick release system. It saves time, and you always know where you stand.' Non-stop breakback system that works The mower features an advanced hydraulic breakback system, which reacts faster than traditional spring setups. Mark said: 'I've hit a few yokes with it over the years — never done damage. 'It pulls the mower back quickly and resets straight away. It's far superior to springs.' Built to last — and to perform Now into its sixth season with the 5387s, Mark says the machine is standing up exceptionally well. 'No cracks, no sag, still runs as sweet as the day we got it,' he said. 'No gear noise, no stress on the drive. The Kverneland bed uses equal-sized gears, so power is distributed evenly — no loss in torque like other systems.' Source: Keverneland The butterfly mower also uses round discs, which prevent damage from stone strikes. 'They can't physically hit each other, and they repel stones. It's a clever design, and it's been standard on Kverneland for as long as I can remember,' he said. Reliable dealer support The mower was supplied through Gordon Hegarty & Sons, who Mark says have been excellent to deal with. 'All our Kverneland kit comes through Hegarty's,' he said 'Parts and service are top notch, and while we've been lucky not to need much, it's good to know the back-up is there.' Final verdict Would he recommend the Kverneland 5387 butterfly mower? 'Absolutely. They're light, strong, easy to run and low cost to maintain. 'We've put ours through its paces and it still works like new…. And I'd be hard on a yoke! 'I'd have no problem putting another contractor onto one tomorrow,' Mark said. Kverneland Group Ireland are now offering 0%* finance on 100% of the VAT Inclusive selling price across the full range of equipment. *T&C's apply You can contact Kverneland directly for more info –
Cision Canada
24-04-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Shopware hosts 2025 North America Partner Day, focused on solving complex commerce business challenges for merchants
NEW YORK, April 24, 2025 /CNW/ -- Shopware, the leading global open-source e-commerce platform, hosts its North America Partner Day today in Chicago at the historic The Berghoff Restaurant—a nod to Shopware's German roots. The event is designed to harbor collaboration and learning for Shopware's partner community of integrated technologies and agencies. The event theme of " Better Together" reflects Shopware's partner-first and developer-friendly collaborative approach to supporting the needs of merchants. The " Better Together" theme will be woven throughout the day, starting with opening remarks from Shopware CEO and Co-Founder, Sebastian Hamann, celebrating the 25th anniversary for the company and the expanded role partnerships will have in Shopware's vision for the future. Shopware's Chief Product and Technology Officer, Mark Stanley, will unveil the exciting upcoming product roadmap. Some highlights include: "Partner Day is one of the best things we do," said Jason Nyhus, President and GM, US Shopware. "Bringing together our tech and agency partners under one roof to connect, learn and showcase how our solutions are addressing the needs of merchants is special. We all get a chance to educate and inspire one another to continue to drive success. Truly, in this world, we are better together, and this event is a great showcase of that." The program content will focus on complex commerce, including presentations from partners on merchant case studies, and the release of two new research reports from The Rick Watson team. The new reports reveal compelling insights and opportunities from forgotten and underserved categories of commerce. "In the B2B landscape, it's not about being the loudest, it's about being the smartest," said Rick Watson, CEO of RMW Commerce. "These reports are about giving forgotten industries the playbook they've been missing. Partnering with Shopware has allowed us to combine sharp strategy with real-world tools for industrial, legacy sectors. We're moving past noise and focusing on actionable steps that protect and drive margin, retention, and resilience for overlooked sectors." The program will end with growth marketing strategies from Sarah Falcon, SVP of Global Marketing for B2B Ecommerce Association, followed by an after party at The Berghoff. To learn more about Shopware's partner ecosystem—or to join our partner community—visit About Shopware Shopware provides high-performance B2C and B2B ecommerce solutions—with differentiated capabilities in complex commerce business requirements and workflows—enabling global businesses to scale rapidly and efficiently. By combining the robust security of open-source technology with the agility modern businesses demand, Shopware delivers cutting-edge innovation, reliability, and unmatched adaptability. With ready-to-deploy features and a headless, API-first architecture, Shopware empowers merchants to customize and scale the solution, creating a strong customer experience anywhere in the world. Trusted by over 50,000 companies worldwide and supported by an extensive partner ecosystem, Shopware is built to adapt and evolve alongside the ever-changing market landscape. Top industry analysts, including Gartner, Forrester, and IDC, consistently recognize Shopware for delivering impactful solutions that prioritize efficiency and long-term success. Founded in 2000 by Co-CEOs Stefan and Sebastian Hamann in Germany, Shopware continues to lead the industry in ecommerce innovation and performance.
