Latest news with #Monson
Fox News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Transgender Miss Maine USA competitor reveals Jordon Hudson conversation
Isabelle St. Cyr, a transgender beauty pageant competitor who competed in Miss Maine USA over the weekend, opened up about an interaction with Jordon Hudson behind the scenes. Hudson was the second runner-up in the pageant amid a tumultuous few weeks that started when she shut down a question for her boyfriend Bill Belichick about how the two met. The interruption was during Belichick's CBS interview about his new book in which he described Hudson as his "creative muse." St. Cyr said the conversation with Hudson was about the media scrutiny they both received coming into the pageant. "We had a conversation backstage and we were like, 'You know, the media hasn't necessarily been kind to us.' We just kind of talked about how we've dealt with it, how to move forward, how to remain positive and when to comment and not to comment," St. Cyr told People in a story published Tuesday. "I really appreciate her willingness to talk to me about the media coverage." St. Cyr lamented the media coverage and said they both expected negativity because "that's how people get clicks." St. Cyr said Hudson helped her realize they were not alone in that regard. "And she admits that a lot of backlash still showed up to the pageant that night to compete, and I as well, with a lot of backlash and a lot of people saying that I shouldn't be there." Shelby Howell, of Bangor, was named Miss Maine USA. St. Cyr, of Monson, was a semifinalist. Hudson, who represented Hancock, won the "style" award. Hudson appeared to have a message for critics during the event. She was asked how she was doing before launching into her answer. "I'm feeling an immense amount of pride right now," she said via Mass Live. "I hope anyone who's watching this finds the strength to push through whatever it is that they're going through and embodies that hate never wins." When asked what moment in life she would want to go back to, Hudson said she wished she could be transported back to her family's fishing boat. "I think about this often because there's a mass exodus for fishermen occurring in the rural areas of Maine, and I don't want to see more fishermen leave this place," she said. "As your next Miss Maine USA, I would make a point to go to communities… to go into the government and advocate for these people so that they don't have to think about these memories as a past moment." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ana Parrelli joins Monson Savings Bank as Business Development Officer
MONSON, Mass. (WWLP) – Monson Savings Bank has announced the addition of Ana M. Parrelli as Business Development Officer, bringing more than two decades of experience in banking, sales, and community engagement to the financial institution. Historic preservation grants awarded to these Mass. organizations In her new role, Parrelli will focus on fostering relationships with commercial and municipal deposit customers, helping to strengthen the bank's presence in the region. She will work closely with clients to ensure a high level of satisfaction while promoting Monson Savings Bank's commitment to personalized service and community support. 'Ana's background and her strong community connections make her a fantastic addition to our team,' said Dan Moriarty, president and CEO of Monson Savings Bank. 'Her passion for community service and dedication to building lasting relationships align perfectly with our values.' Prior to joining Monson Savings Bank, Parrelli served as vice president of member services and community development at LUSO Federal Credit Union, where she led retail operations, human resources, and community outreach efforts. Earlier in her career, she spent 20 years with the American Red Cross Blood Services, where she served as district manager of donor services for much of Massachusetts. In that capacity, she coordinated mobile blood drives and built partnerships to meet critical healthcare needs. Parrelli's track record in leadership and her deep ties to the Western Massachusetts community are reflected in her ongoing civic involvement. She currently serves on the boards of the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5) and Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts. Additionally, she is an active member of the Ludlow Rotary Club and serves on the town's Dementia-Friendly Task Force. 'I am thrilled to be part of a team that truly values working together to meet the needs of our customers,' Parrelli said. 'The Bank's deep commitment to supporting our community resonates with me, and I am proud to be part of an organization that makes a meaningful impact.' Parrelli, a Ludlow resident, will work to support the financial needs of area businesses while helping Monson Savings Bank continue to grow its role as a trusted community partner. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Pierre woman charged with Medicaid fraud
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – A Pierre woman faces six felony counts for allegedly defrauding over $588,000 from the South Dakota Medicaid Program in federal and state funds. A news release from the Attorney General's office said Sharon Laraye Monson, 48, is accused of stealing the money as the owner of At Home Nursing in Pierre. The charges occur from May 1, 2018, to Jan. 1, 2024. Second lawsuit filed against former Canton Township treasurer Monson is charged with three counts of unlawfully obtaining benefits or payments from a medical assistance program, and one count each of aggravated grand theft, perjury to obtain state benefits, and failure to keep necessary records upon which Medicaid claim is based. She faces a combined maximum prison or county jail sentence of 42 years if found guilty of all six charges. According to the news release, the South Dakota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award for $1,002,576. The remaining 25% is financed by the State of South Dakota, totaling $334,188 for the 2025 federal fiscal year. Sioux Falls march attracts hundreds Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
22-04-2025
- General
- Forbes
Three Who Make Wine While Minding The Earth
While today is officially Earth Day, many folks make environmental issues a focus for the entire month of April (along with poetry … you did know it is National Poetry Month, right?). Then, there are those for whom there is no calendar: Taking care of Mother Earth is a year-round consciousness and way of life. Here are three wineries that put their best down to earth L-R: Ironstone Vineyards, Goose Ridge, Marisco practices in place every day. In California, Ironstone Vineyards has been at the fore of agricultural best practices for 60+ years, stewarding water conservation, soil health, pest management and naturally occurring biodiversity. It started in the 1940s with Kautz Farms in Lodi, where the family pioneered projects to recapture/conserve water and restore Riparian water systems. Throughout the decades, they have added expertise in soil conservation, established an Integrated Pest Management Program to reduce chemical inputs, which has informed standards practiced today, and continue to set standards for stewardship and sustainability. All vineyards and orchards are regeneratively farmed, using natural cover crops that encourage deep rooting, and mitigate erosion. Four generations strong, the Kautz family of Lodi, Calif. And it's not just about the grapes. Being mindful of soil health assists with creating beneficial habitats above and below surface for toads, worms, lizards and microlife. Additional dedicated efforts in biodiversity and wildlife conservation include an award-winning duck box program; establishing 140 owl boxes to provide habitat for natural predators that aid in pest control (and at the same time, enable and support a naturally occurring ecosystem); and restoring a riparian creek system to support myriad fish and wildlife, encourage native species and promote native and migratory birds. The winery has also planted 400 native oak trees in Lodi to replenish an important diminishing native species. Ironstone operates the bulk of its production in Lodi, where the entire winery is sustainable including a waste-water treatment facility, and their signature wine line comes from their Murphy's winery in the Sierra Foothills, where the family hosts tastings, education, a car show to benefit local 4-H and FFA organizations and has created numerous opportunities for public and community engagement. Wines to try: Ironstone Reserve Rous Vineyards "Ancient Vines' Zinfandel 21 Ironstone Pinot Noir 22 Ironstone Petite Sirah 21 The Monson Family from Washington State's Goose Ridge winery Hailing from Washington State, Goose Ridge Estate Vineyard is another multigenerational whose founders passed down their environmental ethos to the current generation of three siblings who lead operations. The original patriarch, M.L. Monson, initially focused on cattle and through the decades, apple and cherry orchards were established. In the late 1990s, the family turned their attention to vineyards, planting 2,000+ acres and establishing Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards & Winery. The planted in the hills around Red Mountain, which would become part of the Goose Gap AVA in 2021. Today, Goose Ridge (is one of the state's largest single vineyards. The vines—like many Washington wineries—are on their own ungrafted stock, which is about the purest and closest you can get to true terroir. Farming practices include low yields to ensure fruit concentration and eliminate competition from overplanting; regular soil testing, and irrigation management with benefits for erosion control and water conservation and supporting regenerative agriculture practices. Other best practices include nutrient and pest management through fertigation, composting, and pest monitoring. Grape must is not wasted but fed to cattle and otherwise recycled. The Revelation label of wines from Goose Ridge are 100% sustainable and boast a 'Verified Carbon Footprint,' an independent assessment confirming the accuracy and reliability of carbon footprint data. They have also hired an outside company to analyze all of their carbon emissions, and to certify that they are a carbon neutral company. Goose Ridge is the only winery in Washington undertaking such a rigorous effort, with the goal to be carbon negative by 2026. Within the winery, energy efficiencies extend to using electric/battery powered equipment where possible, energy-efficient lighting, attention to reducing emissions, and a commitment to eco-friendly packaging. Wines to try: Revelation by Goose Chardonnay 23 Revelation by Goose Ridge Rose 23 Revelation by Goose Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 23 A dad, his wife and four daughters make wine in Marlborough's Marisco Family Vineyards. Farther afield in New Zealand, the Marris family at Marisco Family Vineyards is upholding three generations of producing wines and through dedicated environmental stewardship. Located in the Waihopai Valley of Marlborough, the nearly all woman owned- and operated winery was established in 2006 and today they farm five distinct vineyards that reflect the diversity of New Zealand terroirs. With 2,500 acres of vineyards and two purpose-built wineries, the family maintains meticulous control over every step of the winemaking process. They have been part of the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) program since 2008. To qualify, they must undergo regular on-site audits and submit an annual report on their impacts across soil, water, plant protection, waste, people and climate change, as well as a full 'spray diary' that documents agrichemical applications. On the farm, best practices include using 5,500 sheep for weed control and soil tilling, and which reduces mechanical tilling; mulching vine prunings, returning natural production waste (grape marc and water) to the vineyards, and recycling materials. Their water conservation includes using sustainable irrigation systems and reusing treated winery water for irrigation. They support biodiversity through native plantings and a 'Falcon to Vineyards' program for natural pest control. Some 960 acres have been planted each year with wildflower seeds to attract beneficial insects and pollinators. The winery repurposes by-products to enhance soil health and uses carbon-neutral refrigerants to reduce emissions. They aim to be carbon neutral by 2050. Future initiatives include: use of solar for equipment and processes, insulating wine tanks to increase refrigeration capacity while using less power; efficient use of electricity throughout all systems and a commitment to work with suppliers on packaging that reduces waste and carbon footprint. Wines to try: The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2023 The Ned Pinot Noir 2021 Leefield Station Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Leefield Station Pinot Noir 21 And for Earth Day/National Poetry Month, check out this selection from the American Academy of Poets.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
From seminary to secretary: How Uri Monson balances Pennsylvania's budget and keeps Shabbat
Only in a family where nearly everyone is a rabbi does becoming a Cabinet secretary in one of the largest states in the nation make you a black sheep. That's the joke that Uri Monson, Pennsylvania's budget secretary, likes to make when describing his career as a public servant in the context of his family — a brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who were rabbis; a stepmother who was a lifelong Jewish nonprofit professional; and a mother who was a renowned Jewish academic and university administrator. But coming out of that kind of lineage (his great-grandfather was the first person to certify Coca-Cola as kosher!), choosing a career in public service was Monson's act of 'pseudo-rebellion,' he said in an interview with Jewish Insider earlier this month. He didn't stray that far from his Jewish values, though —during his first internship, at city hall in Philadelphia, he helped draft the mayor's speech for Israeli Independence Day. 'I grew up a mile from Independence Hall. Ive always been an American government junkie, and fascinated by and love[d] government and its ability to really help,' said Monson, 56. 'I felt, even at 18, that I could make it better, that it had to be able to be done better, and that started me on that path to public service.' Even if Monson didn't follow his family members into the Jewish professional world, growing up immersed in deep conversations about the weekly Torah portion over Shabbat lunch and spending his summers at Camp Ramah in the Poconos shaped his approach to public service just as much as his wonky fascination with fiscal policy and his master's degree in public administration. 'What weve seen all along is that that Jewish perspective has shaped his commitment to what government can do and the way that society should work,' said Rabbi Chaim Galfand, the head rabbi at Perelman Jewish Day School in Philadelphia and a close friend of Monson's. Monson attended the joint program at List College at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University and another, in midrash, from JTS. The intellectual curiosity and creativity that comes from his expertise in interpreting the Torah — Monson calls himself a 'midrash parsha junkie' — colors the way he approaches everything from budgetary policy to his weekly Settlers of Catan board games with Galfand each Shabbat. The biblical stories about Joseph are his favorite; Joseph's 'rise in the political world,' from slave to advisor to the Egyptian pharaoh, is particularly resonant for Monson. But he doesn't think there is only one way to engage with these stories, and that's a lesson that guides his approach to public policy, too. 'When you make that jump to learning that the Talmud is not a book of law, but that it's a book of how to think about law, it's a major change. It's a major jump in thought,' Monson said. 'To realize that you had people disagreeing over really complex issues of Jewish law —thats how they lived their lives, and what they actually record [in the Talmud] is the discussion and the back-and-forth and the debate. They were able to do it while living civilly together.' Monson started his career in Washington as a policy advisor at the Department of Education during the Clinton administration. He has friends from that era who have lost their jobs as the Trump administration slashes the federal workforce. Monson does not reflexively believe all public employees have a right to keep their jobs; his former boss, President Bill Clinton, also stressed efficiency and shrunk the federal workforce by hundreds of thousands of people. But he does think those workers should be respected. 'There are few of us who have a mantra, and I share this with the governor, that [we] cannot stand the phrase, 'Thats the way weve always done it.' There are always opportunities for change,' he said, referring to Gov. Josh Shapiro. 'The biggest difference for me between what I was a part of and what the current administration is doing is that that change was all about employee empowerment.' Shapiro has made a play for laid-off federal workers, encouraging them to apply to fill vacancies in Pennsylvania. Monson's time in Washington got him started on his path to Harrisburg — both because it was his first full-time gig in the government, and also because it was in this era that he reconnected with Shapiro, who was working on Capitol Hill at the time. 'Like most expatriate Eagles fans, we would find each other to watch games, that kind of thing,' said Monson. But their relationship goes back decades: Shapiro and Monson's younger brother, Ami, were in the same grade at Akiba Hebrew Academy, a pluralistic Jewish day school in the Philadelphia suburbs. (CNN anchor Jake Tapper was another classmate.) Shapiro's parents and Monson's were active in the Soviet Jewry movement of the 1970s and 1980s. 'Uri and I both lean on our family and our faith as motivation to serve the good people of Pennsylvania,' Shapiro told JI in a statement last week. 'We are both driven by the same Jewish principle of tikkun olam, and from the passage from the Talmud that teaches us that no one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it.' Shapiro's first video ad in his 2022 gubernatorial campaign showed him, his wife and their children celebrating Shabbat. Monson, who observes Shabbat and does not work or travel from sundown Friday until Saturday night, receives weekly 'Shabbat shalom' emails from Shapiro. 'When he offered me the job, I said, 'Im not going to be in Harrisburg on Fridays in the winter'' —when Shabbat begins in the late afternoon — 'and he said he understood,' Monson recalled. Over the years, his colleagues have gotten used to Monson's Shabbat observance, sending emails on Saturdays with the subject line 'read me first' to try to capture his attention after Shabbat ends. 'Once in a while they're like, 'Maybe I want to be Jewish too,' because they need a break,' Monson said, laughing. Uri Monson wears a kippah with the commonwealths outline and crest on it Monson returned to Philadelphia in the late 1990s for the first in a series of increasingly powerful jobs dealing with municipal and school district budgets. In 2012, when Shapiro was chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, he tapped Monson to serve as chief financial officer of the commonwealth's third most populous county. Monson then spent seven years as chief financial officer of the School District of Philadelphia, which has a budget of $4.6 billion, helping shepherd the district through the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic. He joined Shapiro in Harrisburg in early 2023. 'Uri had a very calming presence of being able to lead with certainty in very uncertain times,' said Larisa Shambaugh, the former chief talent officer in the Philadelphia school district, where she worked closely with Monson. She saw him take a forward-looking approach to budgeting, thinking not just about cost but about how to advance the interests of the school district. 'What was truly a joy about working with Uri is that he wasnt a CFO that was focused only on finances and only on the bottom line,' Shambaugh explained. 'When we would be thinking about proposing a new initiative or a new policy or a new staffing structure, the first question wasnt, How much would this cost and can we afford it? It was, Why is this best for students?' Shambaugh also benefitted from another skill Monson brought with him to his next job: his baking skills. He baked lemon squares for a meeting with new school board members. When he found out Shambaugh loved challah, he baked her one. In his new job, he's baked cranberry walnut muffins twice — once to relax before a budget hearing and once to get rid of flour before Passover — and brought hamantaschen to the capital during Purim. ('We've all been on the receiving end of his largesse,' said Galfand.) Monson has spent the spring testifying at Statehouse hearings about Shapiro's $51.5 billion budget proposal. This is the forum where he allows his Torah discussion skills to shine: keeping his cool under sometimes hostile questions from Republicans, and disarming them by actually being willing to engage. (When he sat down at this year's budget hearings, he wore a custom kippah showing the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, made by an artist his wife found on Etsy.) 'I will never claim to have a monopoly on good ideas, and I think thats something I certainly learned from around the table and from growing up among the rabbis,' said Monson. 'I want to learn from everybody, because you can learn from everybody, and be open to the discussion.'
