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Scoop
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Stars Align For Wellington's Matariki Ahi Kā
Welcome in the Māori New Year in style as the waterfront comes alive with Matariki Ahi Kā – a whānau-friendly celebration of fire,projections, performances, and kai. This year's Matariki festivities begin with Mana Moana Pōneke, a series of indigenous short films projected onto a water screen in Whairepo Lagoon, running on weekend nights from 7-22 June. Matariki Ahi Kā will light up the waterfront every night from 6pm–9pm from 19-22 June, offering a self-guided experience that journeys through Past, Present and Future zones. Each zone will be marked with a tomokanga (entranceway) that embodies its kaupapa (purpose), guiding attendees through fire installations, large-scale projections, live performances, interactive storytelling, traditional Māori games, and kai from food trucks. Local talent will take to the Aroha and Takoha stages with acts including the Ngāti Pōneke Young Māori Club, Tom Knowles (reggae, roots), Rei (bilingual Urban and Electronic), Tui (soul, pop), and Awerangi (old-school jams). In a tribute to those who have passed since last Matariki, names submitted by the public will be projected onto a Memorial Wall on the side of Te Papa near the Solace in the Wind statue. Each evening of Matariki Ahi Kā, a ceremonial walk will start at 7.40pm from the Barnett Street car moving procession follows the journey of the Matariki whetū (stars). Visitors are invited to write down names, memories, wishes, and aspirations, and place these in baskets located at the Memorial Wall and Whairepo Lagoon before 7.30pm. These will be released into a ceremonial flame following the procession, sending them to the stars above. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading 'Matariki is a time to pause and reflect on the past year, celebrate our present achievements, and look forward to the future with renewed hope and aspirations. Here in Wellington, our Matariki celebrations emphasise the vital role of whānau and community in bringing us all together,' says Mayor Tory Whanau. 'We invite everyone – Wellingtonians and visitors alike – to join us in these special Matariki celebrations.' The celebration of Matariki and Puanga, the Māori New Year, dates back over 700 years. The rising of Puanga (Rigel in Orion) and the Matariki star cluster (Pleiades) marks a time to reflect on the past, reconnect with whānau, share kai, celebrate, and look forward to the year ahead. Other events in the region at this time include Matariki events at Council's Community Centres, Wellington City Libraries and in the Botanic Garden ki Paekākā. The WAITUHI Matariki flags will be on display in Frank Kitts Park from 18 June – 12 July. This year's WAITUHI Matariki public art series for the 8-flag poles is Te Kohinga Whētu: Collecting the Stars, by artist Reuben Paterson (Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi, Scottish). The Matariki exhibition opening 7 June in the Courtenay Place Light Boxes (77-97 Courtenay Place) is Tiaki by artist Shannon Te Rangihaeata Clamp (Ngāti Toa Rangatira Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Tama). Tiaki is a manaia, a bearer who connects the worldly and spiritual realms. Tiaki acknowledges the space between and overlapping people, atua, this place, its histories, and its presence. Event details: Mana Moana Pōneke 7-8 June, 14-15 June, 19-22 June 6pm–9pm Whairepo Lagoon Free event In the lead-up to Matariki Ahi Kā and during the long weekend, enjoy Mana Moana Pōneke, a series of indigenous short films projected on a water screen. The films this year have been curated by Israel Randell (Rarotonga, Tainui, Ngāti Kahungunu) and are guided by the wise words of Moana Jackson's: 'In time, like te ao marama emerging out of te pō, mourning gives way to dreaming.' Matariki Ahi Kā Thursday 19 June - Sunday 22 June 2025 6pm–9pm Wellington Waterfront Free event Matariki Ahi Kā is an immersive self-led walking journey including fire, performances, projections, a ceremony each night to honour those who have passed away and to express hopes for the future, the Mana Moana Pōneke water screen, and kai. Find out more on Council's website: Matariki Ahi Kā and Mana Moana Pōneke are accessible. Toilets, including an accessible toilet are available. There is an unmanned drop-off point at the Te Papa main entrance. To avoid parking frustration during this busy time, we encourage everyone to walk, bike, scoot, or use public transport. Cyclists and e-scooters, please follow diversions or walk your wheels, and pedestrians take extra care due to the changes.
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Traveling memorial wall now in Oswego reminds us of hero faces behind the names
Say their names. You hear these three words a lot, including around Memorial Day when the country stops all its craziness to remember those who paid the ultimate price in defense of our freedoms. Still, sometimes words are not enough, especially to Gold Star families who worry that, particularly after they are gone, their loved one will no longer be remembered. That's why Bob and Mary Patterson of North Aurora started the Chris Patterson Foundation four years after their 20-year-old son was killed in action in Afghanistan on Jan. 2, 2012. Since then the foundation has raised over $35,000, with most of that money going to scholarships for Fox Valley graduates pursuing a career in the performing arts, as was Chris, a music major at Valparaiso University and a member of the Indiana National Guard who talked his commanders into including him, an ROTC cadet, when his unit was deployed. But to say their names is not the same as to see their faces, which is why the Illinois Patriot Guard Fallen Heroes Traveling Memorial Wall was created more than a decade ago as a way to connect more personally to the men and women behind the names. Unfortunately, Patterson told me, that original project was dismantled, literally and figuratively, and the wall became little more than 'rotting panels' stored inside of a barn. And so, a few years ago the Chris Patterson Foundation took it over, once more gathering the photos of all 253 men and women who have given their lives in service to this country since 9/11. It's a staggering number, especially when these pictures are all displayed in one area, as they are on the Illinois Fallen Wall now at Oswego Village Hall through June 6. Even more impactful is looking into the individual faces of these heroes, most of them painfully young, loved by their families and full of such potential for the future. Like 20-year-old U.S. Army Spc. Brian Romines from the tiny town of Simpson, who was killed June 6, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq, when an explosive detonated near his vehicle, and whose photo, with a tear sliding down his face, is particularly haunting as a reminder of the sacrifices made and the pain left behind. Or 21-year-old Andrew Meari of Plainfield, whose mother nearly brought me to tears of my own when talking about her 'scary smart' only child, who went through three years of high school in four months and could speak multiple languages, including Arabic. The gifted young man, who wanted to be a soldier since age 4 after witnessing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, joined the Army 15 years later, figuring it would also be a way to eventually go back to school to become an attorney. He was deployed to Afghanistan in May of 2010, and on Nov. 1 that year was killed by a suicide bomber on a motorcycle in the province of Kandahar. According to multiple news sources, he was trying to shield others in the unit from the blast when he took the full brunt of it. It was a sacrifice that did not go unnoticed by survivors. Pfc. Philip Wysocki, who received the Silver Star for his actions during the vicious attack that followed, later told Williams her son was the 'guardian angel protecting them from the incoming rounds as they protected his body.' And Felipe Pereira, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroics that day, honored him with his firstborn's middle name. Like all those in our area who made the ultimate sacrifice, Pfc. Andrew Meari did indeed come home a hero, with many medals, as well as his name on a stretch of Route 59 and a beautiful park in Plainfield. As grateful as she is for these memorials, as Williams points out, 'names have been on monuments from a thousand years ago, but how many do we remember? 'Every family's greatest fear is that their child will be forgotten after they are gone. Who will remember their smile … who they looked like?' she asked. 'Having their faces with their names gives us comfort knowing this is a strong visual connection people will carry away with them. 'When you see a face, you are looking at someone you grew up with or knew their family members at this age. It has a totally different impact,' she said, particularly when associated 'with the price of war.' For that reason, both these Gold Star parents encourage Fox Valley residents over the Memorial Day weekend to visit the Illinois Fallen Wall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the lobby of Oswego Village Hall at 100 Parkers Mill in Oswego. By all means, also celebrate Memorial Day with happiness. Crack open a beer. Have fun at a family barbecue. 'And celebrate everything you have because it was paid for with the highest price,' insisted Williams. 'Those faces are the last vision in our minds at night and the first vision we see in the morning,' she added. 'They remind us all that America is worth fighting for,' even when 'the cost is unimaginable.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Goshen station renamed for assistant EMS chief who lost fight with cancer
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways GOSHEN — A trio of Goshen firefighters with decades of service were diagnosed with cancer around the same time a few years ago, a common occupational hazard in an already dangerous job. One of them retired and one of them is still with the department. The third, Assistant EMS Chief Bruce Nethercutt, died two years ago at 53. The city unveiled the south-side station named in Nethercutt's honor on the two-year anniversary of his death Friday. Nethercutt died on May 2, 2023, after a one-year fight with what was determined to be job-related cancer. 'We're not here just to dedicate a building, we're honoring a life that made a quiet, lasting difference. A life defined not by titles or attention, but by steady service to others,' Mayor Gina Leichty said during the dedication at Station 3 on College Avenue, where Nethercutt served as house captain for several years. 'Bruce didn't ask us to remember him this way. In fact, his parting words were, 'Take care of each other,'' Leichty said. 'But his message is exactly why we need to remember him this way. Because in naming this building after him, we're also lifting up the ideals he lived by and the entire team he served with.' Fire Chief Anthony Powell remembered Nethercutt as a family man who set a standard that his colleagues still follow. 'Chief Nethercutt was many things: He was a husband, he was a father, he was a grandfather, he was a son. And to all of us here at the Goshen Fire Department, he was truly a brother,' Powell said. 'Throughout his distinguished career, Bruce embodied the very best of who we aspire to be. A leader who served with compassion, strength and unwavering commitment.' Nethercutt's name is inscribed on the Indiana Fallen Firefighters Memorial Wall in Indianapolis and the International Association of Fire Fighters Memorial Wall in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Both honor firefighters who died while on duty. 'The sacrifices Bruce made for this community are immeasurable,' Powell said. 'Ultimately, he gave his life in the line of duty, sacrificing himself through job-acquired cancer to protect the citizens of Goshen.' 'Don't go through what I went through' The International Association of Firefighters considers cancer the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths. It says almost three-quarters of active-duty deaths among members in 2023 were due to cancer. Powell explained that much of the risk is due to the chemicals contained in many home furnishings these days. He said crew members now take extra caution to remove residue from equipment or exposed skin when returning from a fire, and gear is kept isolated from the living quarters in a station inside a negative-pressure room. 'Where previously, your furnitures and everything were made of wood, natural wood products, now they're made with a lot of glue and a lot of synthetic materials,' he said. 'Some of the things that we're doing to help prevent that is, we have wipes that we wipe our skin down that's exposed. Our gear is bagged on scene and then brought back and washed in our extractors here. Just trying to do some preventative measures.' The material that firefighters use is another hazard, such as fire-retardant spray applied to gear or the foam that can be sprayed on a blaze. Powell said they no longer use a type of foam that contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are linked to harmful effects on humans and animals. The Elkhart Fire Department, where multiple firefighters have also been diagnosed with cancer in recent years, stopped using PFAS-containing foam in 2020. The same year, 38-year-old Travis Mahoney died of lung cancer after being diagnosed only a few months earlier. Battalion Chief Scott McDowell was one of the Goshen firefighters who was diagnosed around the same time as Nethercutt. It's an illness that firefighters are predisposed to, said McDowell, who returned to work after being cleared by his oncologist following treatment. 'I had Stage 5 throat cancer. Multiple surgeries and all that mess, and chemo and radiation, and obviously rehab. It's been a long two years,' he said. 'I can retire, I'll have 32 years on the job in August. I enjoy the job, enjoy the profession, I'm not ready to call it quits yet. As long as my health stays good, I'm here as long as I can.' McDowell said he tries to impress on younger members of the department the need to keep their guard up around potential carcinogenic hazards. 'I get on the rookies about wearing their air packs a little bit longer than what we used to back in the old days, just because of all the chemicals. You just think, with a house fire, off-gasses, the plastics, the synthetics,' he said. 'Basically, old days, you wore an air pack, but you'd take them off pretty quick. They're heavy, uncomfortable. I teach the young guys, if you think you're done with one bottle, you put another one on. Because I don't want anybody to go through what I went through.' He said being smart about the risks can mean something as simple as washing their hands before eating a snack while at a scene long-term, or changing out of their gear and showering as quickly as they can when they get back. 'Trying to be smarter about the contaminants on your gear, on your clothes, on your hands. Awareness, I guess, of the cancer issue in the fire service and being proactive. Hopefully somebody can be here longer than I can,' he said. 'If I can teach somebody, one, tell them my story and two, like, 'Hey, I remember when Chief McDowell said wash your hands before you eat the donut.' Little things like that. Is it going to happen overnight? Nope. But over 32 years, it got me. And it got Bruce.'
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Santaquin officer to be honored at Utah Capitol on first anniversary of his death
SALT LAKE CITY () — Sgt. Bill Hooser, the Santaquin officer killed in the line of duty last year, will be honored Thursday as part of the Annual Utah Police Memorial Service where his name will be engraved on the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial Wall. According to the Santaquin Police Department, its office will be closed to the public for most of the day so officers can attend the ceremony at the Utah State Capitol. EXCLUSIVE: Wife of Sgt. Hooser speaks out for the first time Officers, family, friends, and leaders attend the annual event where they hold flag ceremonies, a service with bagpipes, the release of doves, and a rifle salute in honor of the 150 officers who have been killed in the line of duty in Utah, according to the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial. This year, the ceremony will include the engraving of Hooser's name on the Honor Wall. The Santaquin community has already begun honoring Hooser by wrapping city trees with blue ribbons. The tribute was done last year after his death, and the department asked for community help to do so again for this first anniversary. The ribbons are still available for pickup at the police department on Thursday and Friday, despite the office's partial closure. If you decide to participate in wrapping a tree with a blue ribbon, the department asks that you remove it after National Police Week, which ends on May 17. On May 5, 2024, Hooser was killed by a semi-truck after initiating a traffic stop. The driver, now identified as Michael Aaron Jayne — allegedly fled the scene before making a U-turn into Hooser. Hooser is survived by his wife, Kinda, and his two daughters and granddaughter. Mike Waltz out as Trump's national security adviser: Reports Santaquin officer to be honored at Utah Capitol on first anniversary of his death 'I truly love you': Florida teacher accused of sending 5th grader inappropriate letter 'Absolutely false': Tesla chair denies report that company is looking to replace Elon Musk Fatal crash in Midvale, motorcycle engulfed in flames Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Deseret News archives: CIA boss William Buckley taken by Hezbollah in 1984
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On March 16, 1984, William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut, was kidnapped by Hezbollah militants; he would be tortured by his captors and killed in 1985. In the Deseret News' story of the day, Buckley was listed as an American diplomat. One year later to the day, Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson was kidnapped in Beirut by Hezbollah militants; he would spend nearly seven years in captivity before being freed in December 1991. One man made it home, the other did not. Per Deseret News investigative reporters Jack Anderson and Dale Van Atta, Buckley was seized by three gunmen as he headed for his office in the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. The most reliable intelligence now places his death about Oct. 4, 1985. But not until the following Dec. 5 was the CIA certain he was dead. 'We broke the news on Dec. 13, 1985, reporting that Buckley was the victim of savage torture that had induced a heart attack. The CIA, paralyzed by this unprecedented capture and abuse of one of its key officials, could not decide how to respond. So CIA officials denied our story. 'The following February, President Reagan admitted to us, off the record, that Buckley was dead. But it was a full year after we broke the story that his death was publicly acknowledged, and the CIA has continued to suppress the details,' the pair reported. In reality, even today, little is known about Buckley, what information he gave up to his captors and about CIA activities. At CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, the Memorial Wall is located in the Original Headquarters Building lobby on the north wall. There are 140 stars carved into the marble wall, representing CIA employees who have died in the line of duty. In front of the wall is a glass-encased 'Book of Honor.' It lists the names of 106 officers who died while serving their country. The names of the remaining 34 officers must remain secret, even in death; each of these officers is remembered in the book by a star. This wall memorializes those men and women who served and sacrificed in silence. Here are some Deseret News articles about Buckley, the CIA and its operatives and how it acknowledges its own: 'CIA official tortured to death, gave secrets' 'CIA remembers fallen covert operatives' 'CIA officers marks death of spy with rare request' 'Higgins' body flown back to base in U.S.' 'Veil of secrecy shrouding dead CIA officer lifted' 'CIA defector dies in Moscow' 'CIA has a brutal history of assassination attempts' 'Former CIA officer shares tools, tricks to protect self, family in 'Spy Secrets''
