Latest news with #MarkWilliams
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jekyll Island revitalizes historic district
JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. (WSAV) — Historic Pier Road on Jekyll Island is ready for its closeup. The Jekyll Island Authority has announced the opening of The District Shops. This shopping and dining destination in the heart of the Jekyll Island National Historic Landmark District was nearly two years in the making. It features eight new places for visitors and locals to shop, sip and savor everything Jekyll has to offer. During its 'gilded age,' the area was originally home to buildings and trade shops. With improvements to landscaping, lighting and outdoor gathering areas — all while retaining the original architectural character — The District Shops will be a huge tourism draw. Mark Williams, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority, says they are excited to see the new changes bring the area back to its heyday. 'This project reflects our continued commitment to preserving Jekyll Island's historic character while enhancing the experience for visitors and residents. It's a thoughtful balance of preservation and progress, designed to serve the community and honor the spirit of this special island. Pier Road has long been a hub for connection and discovery, and we're proud to carry that legacy forward with The District Shops.' Set against a picturesque backdrop of grand live oaks draped in Spanish moss, you'll find the following places to enjoy at the District Shops at Historic Pier Road: 31•81, a Jekyll Island Lifestyle Shop inspired by the island's coastal coordinates – approximately 31.0735° N, 81.4114° W – offering a curated collection inspired by the barrier island itself and featuring brands such as Southern Tide, Comfort Colors, Smathers & Branson, Lilly Pulitzer, and Dune Jewelry. Founder's Social provides a casual yet historically inspired setting for guests to enjoy casual fair, Georgia craft beer, and outdoor seating in a shaded beer garden. Georgia Grown Signature Shoppe, developed in partnership with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, highlights locally sourced products that showcase the state's agricultural legacy, craftspeople, and tradition. J.P. & Company, a Gilded Age Portrait Studio, invites guests to don period costumes and participate in portrait experiences evocative of the island's golden era. Jekyll Island Sweets features handmade confections, candy-making demonstrations, and a variety of seasonal ice cream flavors in an old-fashioned candy shop setting. North Pole South specializes in Christmas ornaments and gifts, offering coastal-inspired keepsakes for year-round holiday shopping. Pier Road Outfitters is stocked with essentials for outdoor exploration while on Jekyll Island, from biking along its 24-miles of paths to sunbathing along its pristine shores. Wake Up Coffee Company, a local favorite, serves handcrafted coffee beverages and freshly baked goods. Stop by on June 7 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for their grand opening celebration. You can enjoy live music and family-friendly entertainment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
ClarityCut AI Launches to Revolutionize Video Editing with AI-Powered Simplicity
SEATTLE, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CLEANZONE HVAC LLC proudly announces the official launch of ClarityCut AI, a cutting-edge video editing platform designed to empower creators through the speed and precision of artificial intelligence. The platform aims to make professional video editing accessible to all — from solo entrepreneurs and educators to enterprise-level marketing teams. In an era where video is the dominant medium of communication and engagement, ClarityCut AI stands out by offering automated editing workflows, smart branding capabilities, and intelligent media enhancement — all without requiring prior technical expertise. The launch of ClarityCut AI marks a pivotal moment for digital storytelling and branded content production. Edit Less. Create AI leverages advanced machine learning models to automatically detect and remove silences, filler words, repetition, and mistakes — producing seamless edits that save hours of manual labor. With support for subtitle generation in more than 50 languages, creators can expand their reach globally without needing separate translation tools. The platform also intelligently recommends B-roll footage based on the spoken context of the video, helping enrich storytelling with relevant visual support. Sound processing includes dynamic range balancing, noise reduction, and background music integration. Branding Without BoundariesClarityCut AI includes a suite of powerful customization tools, allowing users to build and apply visual identity templates across all content. With custom logos, brand colors, text overlays, and font styling, every video aligns with the creator's or company's unique brand guidelines. This feature is particularly useful for agencies, educators, and organizations managing multiple campaigns or client portfolios. Streamlined Workflow for Rapid ProductionUsers can begin by uploading their raw footage and selecting from pre-configured editing profiles or customizing their own. The AI takes care of the rest — from trimming and structuring the video to optimizing output for different social platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thanks to real-time rendering and fast cloud processing, even large video files are returned within minutes — empowering creators to publish frequently and at scale. What Creators Are Saying'ClarityCut helped me reduce my video editing time to just 15 minutes per video. It's the first tool that actually feels like a teammate rather than just software.' — Sarah Johnson, YouTube Shorts creator 'We've tried numerous tools, but none of them come close to the flexibility and consistency ClarityCut provides. It's become an essential part of our client content strategy.' — Mark Williams, Founder of Visionary Media Flexible Plans Built for GrowthFree Plan- 5 videos/month- Basic AI editing- SD exports with watermark Pro Plan – $29/month- Unlimited videos- Full HD & 4K export- Custom branding- No watermark- Priority support Studio Plan – $99/month- Everything in Pro- Team collaboration- API access- Custom templates- Dedicated support About ClarityCut AIClarityCut AI is developed by CLEANZONE HVAC LLC, headquartered in Washington, USA. The company is committed to building intelligent tools that empower the next generation of digital creators, educators, and businesses. With a focus on speed, simplicity, and storytelling, ClarityCut AI transforms raw footage into publish-ready content with just a few clicks. Contact InformationWebsite: Email: carina@ photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Outdoor courts and influencers — a whole new ballgame for squash
In the Eighties and Nineties it was often the squash court where business was done. Such was the racket sport's prominence among the elite that Gordon Gekko, in the 1987 filmWall Street, used his prowess on the court to slap down a young stockbroker hoping to rise up the ranks. But the number of people playing squash has since dropped. Participation is down 10 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, with the growth of so-called 'trendy' racket sports such as padel and pickleball partly to blame. But squashis planning a resurgence, with sports organisations seeking promotion from social media influencers and a plan to build outdoor courts. 'Outdoor courts really could be the future,' said Mark Williams, chief executive of England Squash, the sport's governing body. 'There's no reason you can't play outdoors in England, we just don't have those facilities.' The UK has only a handful of outdoor facilities. These are perspex or fenced mini-courts aimed at schoolchildren. Instead, a new outdoor court prototype, recently unveiled in Chicago, is the big hope. Developed by a Dutch engineer, the modular court has glass walls, a steel frame and a rubber floor that drains rainwater easily. It is also soundproof, unlike padel, which has residents living near courts comparing the sound of the ball hitting the racket to gunshots. Williams said plush outdoor courts could also help address squash's 'image problem'. Some of the UK's estimated 3,500 courts are set in the basements of 'tired' leisure facilities built in the 1970s and 1980s. By comparison many of the UK's 900 padel courts are set in more salubrious locations from the Hurlingham Club in Fulham to Queen's Club in West Kensington. Mike Dale, a journalist specialising in padel and squash, said: 'Padel is very on trend. Lots of celebrities are playing, the padel club is a place to see and be seen. 'Look at Padium in Canary Wharf. You've got a nine-court padel club in the middle of skyscrapers in plum bankers territory. Fifty years ago that would have been a squash club. 'I think squash has a massive opportunity to rise on wings of padel and pickleball. Their growth doesn't have to be at the detriment of squash.' The actress Emma Watson, the Princess of Wales and the rapper Stormzy have all been seen playing padel, and squash is hoping to capitalise from celebrity enthusiasts in a similar way. Williams said: 'If we are able to have a few celebrities and social media influencers playing squash and talking about squash in a positive light that will be really good for us. 'If David Beckham wants to play squash we can make that happen next time he is in the UK for sure.' He added: 'Martin Freeman used to be a good squash player but the celebrities tend to play it on the quiet.' • Pickleball or padel? How to pick your new favourite sport Authorities also hope the decision to include squash in the Olympic Games for the first time in 2028 will boost participation, especially if a Briton brings home gold from Los Angeles. England Squash's youth engagement programmes such as 'Squash from the Mosque' are also seeking to attract a new audience to the sport. However, others are more sceptical about the longevity of padel's popularity. 'Padel will go through the same curve as squash is going through at the moment,' said Markus Gaebel, an expert in squash facilities. 'The trend will be combining facilities with padel, squash and pickleball because they all help each other.' For Gaebel there is no doubt which sport is the most challenging: 'Those who want to be more athletic are squash players. Squash is a physical type of chess.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
McMenamin: Lakers showed interest in trading for Hawks center
The Los Angeles Lakers badly need a starting-caliber center, and they have been looking for help at that position for some time now. They lacked a legitimate backup behind Anthony Davis during Davis' last few seasons with them, and once he was sent away in the Luka Doncic deal, they suddenly had a Grand Canyon-sized hole at that position. They had to survive with Jaxson Hayes, who is thin as a reed and not a consistent defensive presence, as their only true 5 on a standard contract since acquiring Doncic. Advertisement The Lakers did make a real effort to plug that hole, however. They tried to land rising Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams, but that attempted trade was rescinded when he failed his physical. ESPN's Dave McMenamin said on 'Straight Fire' with Jason McIntyre that they also looked into trading for Onyeka Okongwu of the Atlanta Hawks. 'Before the Mark Williams trade, and I can't tell you all the names on that list but I actually assume he was one of the names on the list that Rob Pelinka presented to Luka because I do know the Lakers made a call to the Hawks around the trade deadline about Okongwu,' McMenamin said. Okungwu, 24, is 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, and he reportedly has a wingspan of 7-foot-2. The No. 6 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, he has been starting to emerge as an impact player over the last year or two. This season, he averaged 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 27.9 minutes a game. He's a good finisher around the rim and possesses strong athleticism, as well as a solid motor, especially on the boards. He will make $15 million next season, so he could be a relatively inexpensive get for Los Angeles, at least in terms of the players it would have to give up. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: McMenamin: Lakers showed interest in trading for Hawks center
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
McMenamin: Lakers showed interest in trading for Hawks center
McMenamin: Lakers showed interest in trading for Hawks center The Los Angeles Lakers badly need a starting-caliber center, and they have been looking for help at that position for some time now. They lacked a legitimate backup behind Anthony Davis during Davis' last few seasons with them, and once he was sent away in the Luka Doncic deal, they suddenly had a Grand Canyon-sized hole at that position. They had to survive with Jaxson Hayes, who is thin as a reed and not a consistent defensive presence, as their only true 5 on a standard contract since acquiring Doncic. The Lakers did make a real effort to plug that hole, however. They tried to land rising Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams, but that attempted trade was rescinded when he failed his physical. ESPN's Dave McMenamin said on 'Straight Fire' with Jason McIntyre that they also looked into trading for Onyeka Okongwu of the Atlanta Hawks. 'Before the Mark Williams trade, and I can't tell you all the names on that list but I actually assume he was one of the names on the list that Rob Pelinka presented to Luka because I do know the Lakers made a call to the Hawks around the trade deadline about Okongwu,' McMenamin said. Okungwu, 24, is 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, and he reportedly has a wingspan of 7-foot-2. The No. 6 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, he has been starting to emerge as an impact player over the last year or two. This season, he averaged 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 27.9 minutes a game. He's a good finisher around the rim and possesses strong athleticism, as well as a solid motor, especially on the boards. He will make $15 million next season, so he could be a relatively inexpensive get for Los Angeles, at least in terms of the players it would have to give up.
