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CBS News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Lansdowne Theater in Pennsylvania will reopen this week with a new mission after nearly 40 years
A historic Delaware County landmark is making a dramatic return after being closed for 38 years. The Lansdowne Theater is officially reopening on Friday, following a $20 million renovation funded through grants and private donations. The once-abandoned movie house is now a state-of-the-art concert venue, designed to breathe new life into the borough's downtown. "It was very exciting," Matt Schultz, executive director of the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation, said. "It was very, very scary at multiple times for lots of different reasons, but I'm glad we're coming out the other end." The theater has been standing since 1927, but it closed after a fire in 1987. Since then, it had fallen into disrepair until the community rallied behind a vision to transform it into a modern performance space with upgraded lighting, sound and new infrastructure. "We wanted to make the arts more accessible to people outside of the city," Schultz said. "And we also wanted to spur economic development throughout the business district." The theater's revival is already having an impact. Across the street, Backstage Tap + Grill recently opened its doors and its owner believes the theater's reopening signals a turning point for Lansdowne. "There's a general excitement in town about the opening and there's a real pride in the business district right now, which has been needed for a long time," Backstage Tap + Grill owner Dan Brodeur said. The first act to hit the stage will be Academy Award-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri, performing his acclaimed one-man show "A Bronx Tale." "People who love the movie A Bronx Tale will be really surprised to see, because I'm by myself and I do the whole movie on stage alone," Palminteri said. Concert promoters said the venue is already attracting attention from artists and fans across the region. "People that usually travel further to go see something may not have to do that now," Ken Alderfer, Senior VP at BRE Productions, said. "They can come here instead. So, I think that's significant." For longtime residents, the theater's grand return is the fulfillment of a promise. "I've lived here 22 years," Lansdowne resident Kymberly Hernandez said. "When I moved in, they said, 'Oh yeah, it's opening soon.' So it's nice to have it finally open." Schultz said he expects the theater to draw as many as 100,000 visitors per year, making it not only a cultural destination but a potential economic engine for Delaware County.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
'Locals are fed up': councillor demands state action on Lake seawall
Lake Macquarie East Ward Liberal councillor Matt Schultz said Swansea residents are tired of the NSW government's inaction in repairing their damaged seawall. A 50-metre section of the seawall near the Swansea Wharf on Belmont Street was closed in 2021 due to public safety concerns. The wall was found to be cracked in sections and slumping behind an unstable slope. A Lake Macquarie City Council spokesperson said the damage was discovered during the replacement of the wharf and pontoon, and "the velocity of water running along the channel has scoured beneath the wall to the point where it is now a safety risk." Ever since the idyllic spot to the west of the Swansea Bridge has been fenced off, however, the Swansea Wharf remains open to temporary mooring and fishing. On Monday, the state government announced the 46 recipients of its $23 million Boating Infrastructure for Communities Grant Program. These included $1.6 million to Lake Macquarie City Council for the demolition and reconstruction of the Belmont Wharf and $1.1 million to replace the deteriorated Croudace Bay Boat Ramp. The funding announcements have subsequently stoked a renewed push to stabilise the Swansea seawall, which was built in the 1990s. "We can't let it take decades, like it did with the dredge, to get a long-term solution," Cr Schultz said. "The lack of visible action is leading to growing community frustration. "The community is justified in being angry. This has been closed off for too long. "I acknowledge it is a complex issue with multiple stakeholders, but our local community has had enough - and it's time we see some change." The office of Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley was approached for comment. Lake Macquarie council estimates the cost of the repairs is $8 million. The council spokesperson said a budget submission had been made to the NSW government. "This is not an application for the NSW government to fund a council project, but rather a submission for the NSW government to allocate its own budget for the work," they said. Cr Schultz said the issue had been raised by residents regularly over the past four years, and especially during last year's council election campaign. The state and federal governments committed $16 million last year to install a permanent sand dredge in the Swansea Channel to improve access to Lake Macquarie. While Cr Schultz conceded the state government had poured significant funds into Reid's Reserve, dredging Swansea Channel, and Blacksmith's Boat Ramp, he said the seawall was an important piece of infrastructure. "I am concerned the inaction is sending mixed messages to locals and visitors," he said. "I understand things can't be fixed immediately and need a budget - but years locked up is not good enough. "Our community deserves better, and it deserves action, particularly as Swansea Channel is the gateway to Lake Macquarie." Lake Macquarie East Ward Liberal councillor Matt Schultz said Swansea residents are tired of the NSW government's inaction in repairing their damaged seawall. A 50-metre section of the seawall near the Swansea Wharf on Belmont Street was closed in 2021 due to public safety concerns. The wall was found to be cracked in sections and slumping behind an unstable slope. A Lake Macquarie City Council spokesperson said the damage was discovered during the replacement of the wharf and pontoon, and "the velocity of water running along the channel has scoured beneath the wall to the point where it is now a safety risk." Ever since the idyllic spot to the west of the Swansea Bridge has been fenced off, however, the Swansea Wharf remains open to temporary mooring and fishing. On Monday, the state government announced the 46 recipients of its $23 million Boating Infrastructure for Communities Grant Program. These included $1.6 million to Lake Macquarie City Council for the demolition and reconstruction of the Belmont Wharf and $1.1 million to replace the deteriorated Croudace Bay Boat Ramp. The funding announcements have subsequently stoked a renewed push to stabilise the Swansea seawall, which was built in the 1990s. "We can't let it take decades, like it did with the dredge, to get a long-term solution," Cr Schultz said. "The lack of visible action is leading to growing community frustration. "The community is justified in being angry. This has been closed off for too long. "I acknowledge it is a complex issue with multiple stakeholders, but our local community has had enough - and it's time we see some change." The office of Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley was approached for comment. Lake Macquarie council estimates the cost of the repairs is $8 million. The council spokesperson said a budget submission had been made to the NSW government. "This is not an application for the NSW government to fund a council project, but rather a submission for the NSW government to allocate its own budget for the work," they said. Cr Schultz said the issue had been raised by residents regularly over the past four years, and especially during last year's council election campaign. The state and federal governments committed $16 million last year to install a permanent sand dredge in the Swansea Channel to improve access to Lake Macquarie. While Cr Schultz conceded the state government had poured significant funds into Reid's Reserve, dredging Swansea Channel, and Blacksmith's Boat Ramp, he said the seawall was an important piece of infrastructure. "I am concerned the inaction is sending mixed messages to locals and visitors," he said. "I understand things can't be fixed immediately and need a budget - but years locked up is not good enough. "Our community deserves better, and it deserves action, particularly as Swansea Channel is the gateway to Lake Macquarie." Lake Macquarie East Ward Liberal councillor Matt Schultz said Swansea residents are tired of the NSW government's inaction in repairing their damaged seawall. A 50-metre section of the seawall near the Swansea Wharf on Belmont Street was closed in 2021 due to public safety concerns. The wall was found to be cracked in sections and slumping behind an unstable slope. A Lake Macquarie City Council spokesperson said the damage was discovered during the replacement of the wharf and pontoon, and "the velocity of water running along the channel has scoured beneath the wall to the point where it is now a safety risk." Ever since the idyllic spot to the west of the Swansea Bridge has been fenced off, however, the Swansea Wharf remains open to temporary mooring and fishing. On Monday, the state government announced the 46 recipients of its $23 million Boating Infrastructure for Communities Grant Program. These included $1.6 million to Lake Macquarie City Council for the demolition and reconstruction of the Belmont Wharf and $1.1 million to replace the deteriorated Croudace Bay Boat Ramp. The funding announcements have subsequently stoked a renewed push to stabilise the Swansea seawall, which was built in the 1990s. "We can't let it take decades, like it did with the dredge, to get a long-term solution," Cr Schultz said. "The lack of visible action is leading to growing community frustration. "The community is justified in being angry. This has been closed off for too long. "I acknowledge it is a complex issue with multiple stakeholders, but our local community has had enough - and it's time we see some change." The office of Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley was approached for comment. Lake Macquarie council estimates the cost of the repairs is $8 million. The council spokesperson said a budget submission had been made to the NSW government. "This is not an application for the NSW government to fund a council project, but rather a submission for the NSW government to allocate its own budget for the work," they said. Cr Schultz said the issue had been raised by residents regularly over the past four years, and especially during last year's council election campaign. The state and federal governments committed $16 million last year to install a permanent sand dredge in the Swansea Channel to improve access to Lake Macquarie. While Cr Schultz conceded the state government had poured significant funds into Reid's Reserve, dredging Swansea Channel, and Blacksmith's Boat Ramp, he said the seawall was an important piece of infrastructure. "I am concerned the inaction is sending mixed messages to locals and visitors," he said. "I understand things can't be fixed immediately and need a budget - but years locked up is not good enough. "Our community deserves better, and it deserves action, particularly as Swansea Channel is the gateway to Lake Macquarie." Lake Macquarie East Ward Liberal councillor Matt Schultz said Swansea residents are tired of the NSW government's inaction in repairing their damaged seawall. A 50-metre section of the seawall near the Swansea Wharf on Belmont Street was closed in 2021 due to public safety concerns. The wall was found to be cracked in sections and slumping behind an unstable slope. A Lake Macquarie City Council spokesperson said the damage was discovered during the replacement of the wharf and pontoon, and "the velocity of water running along the channel has scoured beneath the wall to the point where it is now a safety risk." Ever since the idyllic spot to the west of the Swansea Bridge has been fenced off, however, the Swansea Wharf remains open to temporary mooring and fishing. On Monday, the state government announced the 46 recipients of its $23 million Boating Infrastructure for Communities Grant Program. These included $1.6 million to Lake Macquarie City Council for the demolition and reconstruction of the Belmont Wharf and $1.1 million to replace the deteriorated Croudace Bay Boat Ramp. The funding announcements have subsequently stoked a renewed push to stabilise the Swansea seawall, which was built in the 1990s. "We can't let it take decades, like it did with the dredge, to get a long-term solution," Cr Schultz said. "The lack of visible action is leading to growing community frustration. "The community is justified in being angry. This has been closed off for too long. "I acknowledge it is a complex issue with multiple stakeholders, but our local community has had enough - and it's time we see some change." The office of Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley was approached for comment. Lake Macquarie council estimates the cost of the repairs is $8 million. The council spokesperson said a budget submission had been made to the NSW government. "This is not an application for the NSW government to fund a council project, but rather a submission for the NSW government to allocate its own budget for the work," they said. Cr Schultz said the issue had been raised by residents regularly over the past four years, and especially during last year's council election campaign. The state and federal governments committed $16 million last year to install a permanent sand dredge in the Swansea Channel to improve access to Lake Macquarie. While Cr Schultz conceded the state government had poured significant funds into Reid's Reserve, dredging Swansea Channel, and Blacksmith's Boat Ramp, he said the seawall was an important piece of infrastructure. "I am concerned the inaction is sending mixed messages to locals and visitors," he said. "I understand things can't be fixed immediately and need a budget - but years locked up is not good enough. "Our community deserves better, and it deserves action, particularly as Swansea Channel is the gateway to Lake Macquarie."
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two-Thirds Of Newlyweds Take On Debt To Pay For Their Weddings, Experts Say That May Not Be A Bad Thing
Some 67% of newlyweds took on debt to pay for their weddings, a survey released by LendingTree in April found. Of that number, less than two-thirds had paid off what they owe, and 47% say they won't be caught up for at least six months. Wedding planning platform Zola says that wedding costs are on the rise, overall. In 2025, it's estimated that the average wedding will cost around $36,000, up from $33,000 last year and $29,000 in 2023. Shop Top Mortgage Rates Personalized rates in minutes Your Path to Homeownership A quicker path to financial freedom As the events get increasingly expensive, more couples are taking on debt to pay for their big days. Experts are saying that may not be a bad thing. Don't Miss: The same firms that backed Uber, Venmo and eBay are investing in this pre-IPO company disrupting a $1.8T market — Accredited Investors: Grab Pre-IPO Shares of the AI Company Powering Hasbro, Sephora & MGM— While many finance experts recommend avoiding unnecessary debt at all costs, Matt Schultz, LendingTree's chief consumer finance analyst, says that wedding debt may not always be a bad thing. "Good debt absolutely exists, and it is debt that comes with a return on investment," he said. "However, that return doesn't always have to be financial. I believe that a dream wedding, vacation or some other experience that brings memories that will last a lifetime and strengthen your bonds with your friends and family has a strong return on investment as well." In order to ensure the debt is worth it, Schultz recommends couples examine why they want to spend the extra cash. Bending to pressure to impress your guests, something 34% of couples say they did, is not a great reason to go over budget. Spending on elements of the day that are important to you, on the other hand, is. Trending: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can "Spend on what really matters to you. Don't spend on what doesn't. There are a million things that wedding planners, influencers and websites say that you should spend money on to have the 'perfect' wedding, but if you listen to all of it, you'll end up broke. It is your day. Spend the money around it on things that matter most to you and the ones you love," Schultz said. LendingTree also found that the couples who were most satisfied with their wedding budgets, whether that involved taking on debt or paying in full up front, were the ones who were on the same page about their finances. Some 23% of newlyweds said that money was the most stressful aspect of their wedding experience. A different perspective on an appropriate budget caused 29% of couples to argue in the lead-up to their big day, and 15% say it caused ongoing problems in their relationship post-wedding. A whopping 16% of newlyweds even said that disagreements about their wedding budgets caused them to consider splitting. Unnecessary debt that leads to the breakdown of a major relationship? Never worth it. Read Next: $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. Image: Imagn Images UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Two-Thirds Of Newlyweds Take On Debt To Pay For Their Weddings, Experts Say That May Not Be A Bad Thing originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Post
28-04-2025
- Business
- New York Post
More US shoppers paying for groceries with ‘buy now, pay later' loans: survey
A growing number of Americans are turning to 'buy now, pay later' loans for groceries as they grapple with stubborn inflation, stiff interest rates and uncertainty around Trump's tariffs, according to a survey. The alarming trend comes as lower-income consumers are also paying their bills late, according to an April survey by LendingTree. Rising food prices have pushed 25% of BNPL, or 'buy now, pay later,' users in April – up from 14% a year ago – to purchase groceries with a BNPL loan, according to the survey which reached 2,000 consumers ages 18 to 79 from April 2 to April 3. 3 a growing number of Americans are paying for their grocery bills with 'buy now, pay later' loans as food prices continue to rise. Tada Images – 'A lot of people are struggling and looking for ways to extend their budget,' Lending Tree's consumer finance analyst Matt Schultz told CNBC. 'Inflation is still a problem. Interest rates are still really high. There's a lot of uncertainty around tariffs and other economic issues, and it's all going to add up to a lot of people looking for ways to extend their budget however they can.' More worrisome is that consumers, including higher-income households, are paying these loans late. Some 41% of BNPL users say they paid late in the past year, up from 34% a year ago, the survey found. 3 BNPL users are also paying these loans late, an April Lending Tree survey found. Oksana – The loans are seen as an alternative to credit cards allowing users to pay their bills in installments of smaller payments that incur fees and interest charges if they pay late. While most people use this payment method to purchase clothing and accessories, groceries were the fourth largest category. 'I do think it's going to get worse, at least in the short term,' Schulz told CNBC. 'I don't know that there's a whole lot of reason to expect these numbers to get better in the near term.' 3 The worrisome trend is likely to get worse in the short term, a lending Tree analyst said. SARAH YENESEL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Even food delivery services including Doordash are cashing in on consumers deferring payments. Doordash, which delivers both groceries and take-out, launched a partnership with 'buy now, pay later' giant Klarna in March.
