Latest news with #MichaelPayne
The Age
29-05-2025
- General
- The Age
A literal swag of spoils
Rob Baxter's (C8) canine feculence concerns (C8), reminded Michael Payne of West Pymble of 'a petite friend of mine who was the victim of a bag snatch while walking her dog. She had trouble containing herself as her old handbag was used to contain her doggie do.' 'Carrying a full poo bag is a badge of honour,' asserts Robert Hosking of Paddington. 'It says: 'I did not leave that poo on the pavement. That was some other irresponsible person. I am a responsible dog owner!' And a call-out to Woollahra Council for providing not only plenty of bins, but poo bag dispensers on those bins.' Meanwhile, we await plaudits from Andrew Taubman of Queens Park for not calling it 'Poop'. 'An ABC TV newsreader blithely reported that the 'Sydney Surf Club' had torpedoed the proposed Rosehill Racecourse sale,' notes Jim Dewar of Davistown. 'Must've been a board decision then ...' 'Cracker night (C8) was Empire Day, and we had half-day off school to build the bonfire and sort out our crackers; tom thumbs, double bungers, sparklers, catherine wheels and skyrockets,' writes Judy Jones of Thornleigh. 'One particular cracker night, one of the lads had the bright idea of putting a smouldering log in the tray of his ute, and we piled in with it. We drove the neighbourhood, lighting and throwing penny bungers over the side. We put the chooks off laying and the cows gave no milk for a few days. The innocence of childhood!' For letter box annihilation, Michael Johnston of Corlette thinks bigger is better: 'Thunders were much more effective than tuppenny bungers when attempting to destroy a letter box on cracker night …….. so I'm told.' 'My father was a GP, and he typically had a red lamp on the wall outside his surgery,' says Libby Cameron of Newport. 'The night before cracker night, he would remove the costly panel of red glass on which his name was inscribed – he knew too well the temptation for local youngsters to pop a double bunger into the lamp. I'm delighted to say the lovely lamp is still standing as a decoration in our daughter's garden.' Peter Riley of Penrith sees an election strategy in all this: 'Ever since they tried to conscript me into the Vietnam War, voting Liberal has been verboten, but if Sussie and her new libs promise to reinstate cracker night, then I'm in!'
Sydney Morning Herald
29-05-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
A literal swag of spoils
Rob Baxter's (C8) canine feculence concerns (C8), reminded Michael Payne of West Pymble of 'a petite friend of mine who was the victim of a bag snatch while walking her dog. She had trouble containing herself as her old handbag was used to contain her doggie do.' 'Carrying a full poo bag is a badge of honour,' asserts Robert Hosking of Paddington. 'It says: 'I did not leave that poo on the pavement. That was some other irresponsible person. I am a responsible dog owner!' And a call-out to Woollahra Council for providing not only plenty of bins, but poo bag dispensers on those bins.' Meanwhile, we await plaudits from Andrew Taubman of Queens Park for not calling it 'Poop'. 'An ABC TV newsreader blithely reported that the 'Sydney Surf Club' had torpedoed the proposed Rosehill Racecourse sale,' notes Jim Dewar of Davistown. 'Must've been a board decision then ...' 'Cracker night (C8) was Empire Day, and we had half-day off school to build the bonfire and sort out our crackers; tom thumbs, double bungers, sparklers, catherine wheels and skyrockets,' writes Judy Jones of Thornleigh. 'One particular cracker night, one of the lads had the bright idea of putting a smouldering log in the tray of his ute, and we piled in with it. We drove the neighbourhood, lighting and throwing penny bungers over the side. We put the chooks off laying and the cows gave no milk for a few days. The innocence of childhood!' For letter box annihilation, Michael Johnston of Corlette thinks bigger is better: 'Thunders were much more effective than tuppenny bungers when attempting to destroy a letter box on cracker night …….. so I'm told.' 'My father was a GP, and he typically had a red lamp on the wall outside his surgery,' says Libby Cameron of Newport. 'The night before cracker night, he would remove the costly panel of red glass on which his name was inscribed – he knew too well the temptation for local youngsters to pop a double bunger into the lamp. I'm delighted to say the lovely lamp is still standing as a decoration in our daughter's garden.' Peter Riley of Penrith sees an election strategy in all this: 'Ever since they tried to conscript me into the Vietnam War, voting Liberal has been verboten, but if Sussie and her new libs promise to reinstate cracker night, then I'm in!'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Crozer Health closure: Hundreds attend Delaware County job fair
The Brief A job fair was held in Delaware County aimed at connecting thousands of workers impacted by the Crozer Health bankruptcy and eventual closure to new careers. More than 200 employers and support systems lined up in Subaru Park in Chester for them Tuesday. CHESTER, Pa. - Hundreds of former employees of Crozer Health attended a job fair at Subaru Park, in Chester, in order to help those impacted move on in new positions and careers. Personal impacts Michael Payne walked through Subaru Park in Chester with fellow former OR Surgical Technologists on Tuesday, joining the thousands affected by recent Crozer Health layoffs, trying to find a new full-time job. He says the layoff couldn't have come at a worse time. "My wife had a stroke maybe three to four weeks prior to me losing my job. She was on my benefits, my children is on my benefits and everything got ripped from under me," he says. "I'm praying, I'm praying to God that I land something." Kareeman Blagman, also a OR Surgical Technologist, says they were hopeful until their last day. "It felt like a death," she says. "My ideal next job would just be somewhere that's more stable, just working at another great facility and learning." What we know More than 200 employers set up around the concourse for the four-hour job fair, a collaboration between the Delaware County Workforce Development Office, PA CareerLink® Delaware County, Pa. Department of Labor & Industry, and numerous community partners. Michael Robinson, with Outreach and Hiring at Temple University, was among the many also offering free resources. "Resume writing, job referrals, we help them with their job search tactics," he says. "There's a lot of people as you can see looking for work." Dr. Monica Taylor, Chair of Delaware County Council, says for those that could not make the job fair, their transition center for laid-off employees will remain open 8:30 to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 160 E. 7th Street in Chester. You can make an appointment by calling (610) 876-4855, and walk-ins are also allowed. "You can't replace a Crozer and some of our employees have been here serving our community for decades, but I do feel like today is the next step. People are starting to look at what the next opportunity is," she says. What's next As for next steps for healthcare in Delaware County, she says they are continuing to work with non-profit providers in the region. Mayor of Chester, Stefan Roots, also stopped by. "We're very hopeful that when the smoke clears, the building is still there intact, the need is certainly intact, and anyone that wants to bring a health system to Chester, believe me, I'm rolling out the red carpet," he says. Payne, while praying and hopeful for a new full-time gig, says he is also worried about the community. "People can die and that's my main concern," he says. "Hopefully it helps the people that lost their jobs, but for the community, it's still sad, it's a terrible thing." Information for Crozer workers County officials say Crozer employees can text 'healthjobs' to 888777 for updates from PA CareerLink or for career and training events and resources. Employees can also sign up for virtual sessions starting April 30 for more information about unemployment, health insurance and training services, or drop by the Crozer Transition Center/PA CareerLink at 160 E 7th St. in Chester starting on May 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evening and weekend hours to be announced later. Scan the QR code for career and training events: Mental health support Those in need can also utilize the National Suicide & Crisis Hotline and call, text or chat 988. For mental health support from Peer, contact the Peer Warmline at 855-464-9342. You can also reach the Delaware County Crisis Connections Team at 1-855-889-7827.
Business Journals
22-04-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
Wichita's VA hospital ranks first for specialty care access
A new study reveals why Wichita has become a standout for veterans seeking health care. Story Highlights Wichita named top U.S. city for veterans health care in 2025. Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center received perfect score for care. Dole VA ranked first nationwide in access to specialty care. Wichita has been named the top city in the U.S. for veterans health care in 2025 by a study analyzing VA hospitals around the country. The city's Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center had top marks in low wait times, high patient satisfaction and superior hospital care quality, resulting in a perfect score by Trajector Medical, a private company that works with veterans to obtain health care. The study assessed all 132 VA hospitals. "Speaking for Dole VA, the Wichita community has done an outstanding job of working together to improve access to, and quality care for, our veterans," CEO and medical center director Michael Payne said in a statement. "As the hub of care for veterans in our area, we are proactive in improving, and that includes building a strong network and great partner relationships." expand Michael Payne, CEO of Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita Brittany Schowalter | WBJ The Dole VA ranked first nationwide in access to specialty care, including shortest average wait time for existing patients to see a cardiologist, second-highest percentage of veterans able to access routine specialty care, second-highest access to urgent specialty care, and third-shortest wait time for new patients accessing pulmonology. Wichita-area veterans were also found to have the seventh-shortest wait time for existing patients to access mental health-integrated primary care, and ninth-shortest wait time for new patients to access the same service. Wichita and the Dole VA placed sixth nationally in hospital-care quality. That's similar to the five-star rating the hospital has received the last two years by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dole VA said that places it in the top 8% of all hospitals, including non-VA facilities.
