Latest news with #SarahScully
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Marshall American Legion taking submissions for community art project for building
MARSHALL - A team of local veterans and community members are working together to help bring back the Davis-Sexton American Legion Post 317 in Marshall. The American Legion building has been a part of downtown Marshall for decades, but hadn't been used much in recent years. But after Tropical Storm Helene devastated much of downtown Marshall, including the building, which sits at the corner of Bridge Street and Back Street/Jerry Plemmons Way, a number of organizations are working to make the building better than ever. Marshall resident and U.S. Army veteran Sarah Scully is organizing an art contest to raise funds for the nearly 100-year-old building, the only American Legion building in Western North Carolina that was severely impacted by Helene's floods. The art contest is designed to help transform the American Legion building into a cultural hub and event space, including potentially hosting music performances, according to Scully. The roughly 1,500-square-foot structure is needing a complete rebuild. The team is currently constructing a 400-square-foot party deck, and plans also include a catering kitchen, two bathrooms, a green room and a stage. The project, costing $260,000, has received roughly $80,000 in donations from volunteers and labor from various organizations, including the Three Rivers First United Methodist Church in Three Rivers, Ohio, who helped reframe the building. Every Angle Construction, located just across the street, plans to work with the Legion to help perform construction, as they quoted the buildout at $260,000. "What's really beautiful is, you can see the potential of it," Scully said. "You have six picture windows. You can see the island, the river, everything." Scully said the Post 317 team wanted to rebuild the Legion in the same spirit in which the community, volunteers and military, including the Army's 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, rallied together in the Helene rebuild. Joe Schmidt is Post 317's shift commander. "We would like to be more interactive with the community, and what better way than to have local artists paint murals on our building?" "We hope visitors and veterans alike will come and enjoy one of the best views of the river." According to Scully, the rebuilding efforts have already helped to revitalize the Post as a whole, as attendance at meetings and participation in the group has increased since the Post held its first post-Helene meeting in November. "If you look at where the Legion is and the parking that it has, it's like the best location in downtown," Scully said, adding that membership numbers and attendance meetings have both increased post-Helene. The suggested requirements for the artwork are to be military and patriotic in nature, showing American Legion & Post 317, showcasing one or all six branches of the military. But Scully said they can be either subtle or overt representations. "The artwork doesn't have to be overtly patriotic," Scully said. "It can be subtle and have the town and the river and the mountains." The artwork at the Post 317 building will not only offer local artists a chance to showcase their talents, but will also allow the artists' work to be on display in Marshall and inspire current and future Legion members. "We want to keep that spirit alive and open up our Post for events in the future. We thought, 'Why not create beauty out of the destruction?' "Why put in some tile when you could put in a mosaic? Why put in a regular wall when you can do something artistic? Why not bring beauty back into the building now that we have a clean slate?" But for Scully, who spoke with The News-Record in November, the artmaking process can provide breakthroughs for the creators and the community at large. A survivor of sexual trauma while serving in the U.S. Army, Scully suffered from PTSD as a result of her military sexual trauma. "I first did art therapy at the VA, and it was so beneficial. All of these alternative types of therapy, rather than just sitting in a therapist's office and talking about your problems, when you can look around and see the beauty that other people have put into the world, it really helps," Scully said. "I think it will help not just the veterans but the people that have been through so much with Helene, for people to enjoy this space." Scully said she hopes the contest can become a community art project. Ideas posed by Scully include four murals, one on each exterior wall. Another option is two murals, one on each side of the barn door in the event space opening to the stage. Other ideas for projects include the potential for glass blowers to supply lighting fixtures in the bathrooms, hallway or office. The Legion team will take submissions related to mosaics, woodworking, ironwork, textiles, photography and mixed media as well. "The whole thing will become an art piece, not just little bits of art. That's the vision - for the whole thing to become a piece of art," Scully said. More: Marshall native Sarah Scully's new weekly news broadcast a program for and of the people The Legion team plans to announce contest winners around June 16. "Everybody talks about 'Build back better,'" Scully said. "We can bring beauty back at the same time." Johnny Casey is the Madison County communities reporter for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@ This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Marshall American Legion taking submissions for building art project
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Marshall honors Madison County veterans for their sacrifice and service
MARSHALL - The town of Marshall honored Madison County's veterans in a Memorial Day observance at the First Baptist Church downtown. Sarah Scully, who lives in Marshall with her husband Donovan and their two kids, is an Army veteran who organized the Marshall American Legion Davis-Sexton Post 317 community art project contest to help raise funds for repairs to the building. The building, located across from the Sprinkle Shelton building behind the former post office on Bridge Street and Jerry Plemmons Way, is estimated to require roughly $260,000 in repairs after Tropical Storm Helene decimated the building. The Legion has received roughly $80,000 in donations from volunteers. In an observance planned for the Madison County Courthouse steps but moved inside due to rain, Scully and a number of other local veterans spoke to the crowd gathered May 26. Scully reminded attendees of the price paid by veterans for their service, citing statistics that show 7,000 American veterans have died in combat since 2001, with another 30,000 dying by suicide. "There's many different types of death and sacrifice in serving our country," Scully said. "But I also want to talk about those who didn't serve but serve alongside us, and that's our parents, siblings, spouses and children, including the two sitting in front of me." Scully read from one of her pieces, "The Post-9/11 War Generation," which she said she wrote as a member of the veterans writing group Brothers and Sisters Like These, a group run by the Asheville Veterans Administration that helps veterans process their trauma by writing their stories and reading them aloud. According to Scully, the piece was written with those less-recognized loved ones in mind. "Our children, and all children of veterans serve as honorary veterans who never volunteered for that military service, but they live it everyday through their parents - a father with PTSD from combat, a mother with PTSD from military sexual trauma," Scully said. During her time in the military from 2003-08, Sarah Scully served in Iraq, Japan, Korea, Kuwait and Thailand. "Our quieter legacy is that we will all serve and sacrifice together, our stories eventually fading away only to be told by our children, and our children's children," Scully said. "We all, veterans and our children, the post-911 war generation, we are all one collective voice ringing out the price paid for that sacrifice. "On days like Memorial Day, our kids understand in ways that children of civilians could never understand: the importance of remembering the honor, selfless service and personal courage of all veterans, because they were in it too." Joseph Shmitt, the post commander at the Davis-Sexton American Legion Post 317 in Marshall, also spoke at the observance. Shmitt said while athletes and movie stars are typically idolized, it is veterans and first responders who are the true heroes. "The heroes that we are today are not exclusive to any gender, race or religion. They come from all economic classes and backgrounds, and they hail from all 50 states, and some have migrated from other countries," Shmitt said. "They are a diverse group wedded to the belief that America is a nation worth fighting for." Shmitt pointed to the history of Memorial Day, which was first observed in 1955 when President Dwight Eisenhower, a U.S. Army veteran, signed a proclamation signifying the day of recognition. But while Memorial Day serves as a reminder to pay tribute to our veterans, Shmitt said Americans should remember to honor every day those who have taken an oath to serve for our freedoms, and to remember that peace is the goal. "Monday May 13, 1955, was proclaimed as a day of nationwide prayer for permanent peace," Shmitt said. "It's a prayer that every American and every decent human should share, not just on Memorial Day 2025, but the rest of the year as well." Donovan Scully served five combat deployments to Iraq. He also was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, where he received a Purple Heart. Scully served in the Navy from 1993-97. He was serving in the Navy Reserve when 9/11 happened, and his branch transferred to the Army, where he served from 2002-16, including 12 years as a United States Army Special Forces member, or the "Green Berets." Donovan Scully spoke about sacrifice and service in his address to the attendees. "For service members, sacrifice is not just an option, it's an obligation," he said. "Aspects of our sacrifices include our sense of duty to the nation, and the good of our unit over our individual comfort. It includes principles such as honor and courage, and our insatiable need to protect the innocent. It is our loyalty to our own brothers and sisters over that of our own family." Like other veterans, Scully said Memorial Day offers him a chance to reflect on these sacrifices made by veterans, and to empathize with those families who have lost loved ones in these sacrifices. According to Scully, the most important duty for a combat veteran is to his brothers and sisters in arms. "Soldiers fight not for politicians in distant capitals, but for those with them to their left and their right," Scully said. "The camaraderie formed between soldiers is often profound. The survival of our fellow soldiers takes precedence above all else. "When it gets right down to it, we've got to fight and protect our friends." Scully said the physical and emotional sacrifices brought invaluable meaning through his service. "My service took from me my feet, my hips, my lower spine, my shoulders, my hearing, my abilities, my dreams, my memories, my mind, my time with my family," Scully said. "Yet history is shaped by those who are willing to sacrifice and respond to the needs of their fellow man." Shmitt read a list of names honoring the Madison County veterans who had died in the past year. "The sacrifices made by our fallen are not just a somber reminder of our past, but a call to action for our future. We must continue to support our veterans, their families and those currently serving in our armed forces," Donovan Scully said. Marshall Mayor Aaron Haynie called on attendees to carry forth the spirit of remembrance and promise. "We've honored the fallen, reflected on their sacrifices, and gathered this community to say, 'Thank you,'" Haynie said. Johnny Casey is the Madison County communities reporter for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@ This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Marshall honors Madison veterans for their service and sacrifices
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
Millions in NSW to be lashed by rain, strong winds as system looms off east coast
Dreading the rain lashings? Next week looks to be even soggier for one state in particular. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said it's a 'wet outlook for eastern parts of Australia over the coming days'. The bureau's latest figures estimate up to 9mm of rainfall for Sydney on Thursday, with a rise of up to 15mm on Friday. A developing coastal trough is swinging through, re-energising rain and shower activity across inland Queensland and northern NSW, according to Ms Scully. 'Now that is expected, or is bringing, some patchy rain and showers that are forecast to extend into inland parts of NSW later today and also into tomorrow,' she said. While the worst of the weather will move away by Wednesday, Ms Scully said an onshore flow was expected to keep some showers hanging around in NSW — meaning the wet and windy weather may linger until end of next week. 'There are early indications of a low pressure system in the NSW coast on Friday, which has the potential to bring moderate to heavy rainfall and strong winds on Monday,' she said. 'The greatest impacts will be concentrated about the central and mid-north coast of NSW.' Ms Scully says the onshore flow is being 'driven by a ridge of high pressure' causing southern and eastern winds to bring moisture off the Tasman Sea onto NSW and Queensland and further amplified by upper trough to create enhanced showers all week. Rainfall totals from the bureau estimate up to 9mm in Sydney on Sunday before a steep rise to 20mm on Monday. Sydney metropolitan and the Hunter District, in particular, are in for a drenching. With wet weather on the horizon, temperatures in NSW have plummeted, ranging between the cusp of the teens and low 20s with cloudy skies. The showers also continue in Queensland, with temperatures set at the mid 20s and moderate to high chances of rain for the rest of the week. In the country's west, Perth residents are in for much sunnier days and temperatures rising to the mid- to high-20s throughout the week, with light winds during the day. Darwin dwellers can expect sunny skies all week, with temperatures going up to the mid-30s with little chance of rain. South Australians should look out for cloudy mornings all week, with Adelaide temperatures at the 20s with medium chance of showers. A wintry chill is well and truly setting in to the country's south, with overnight temperatures in Melbourne and Hobart dipping below 10C by Friday.
West Australian
14-05-2025
- Climate
- West Australian
Millions in NSW to be lashed by rain, strong winds as system looms off east coast
Dreading the rain lashings? Next week looks to be even soggier for one state in particular. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said it's a 'wet outlook for eastern parts of Australia over the coming days'. The bureau's latest figures estimate up to 9mm of rainfall for Sydney on Thursday, with a rise of up to 15mm on Friday. A developing coastal trough is swinging through, re-energising rain and shower activity across inland Queensland and northern NSW, according to Ms Scully. 'Now that is expected, or is bringing, some patchy rain and showers that are forecast to extend into inland parts of NSW later today and also into tomorrow,' she said. While the worst of the weather will move away by Wednesday, Ms Scully said an onshore flow was expected to keep some showers hanging around in NSW — meaning the wet and windy weather may linger until end of next week. 'There are early indications of a low pressure system in the NSW coast on Friday, which has the potential to bring moderate to heavy rainfall and strong winds on Monday,' she said. 'The greatest impacts will be concentrated about the central and mid-north coast of NSW.' Ms Scully says the onshore flow is being 'driven by a ridge of high pressure' causing southern and eastern winds to bring moisture off the Tasman Sea onto NSW and Queensland and further amplified by upper trough to create enhanced showers all week. Rainfall totals from the bureau estimate up to 9mm in Sydney on Sunday before a steep rise to 20mm on Monday. Sydney metropolitan and the Hunter District, in particular, are in for a drenching. With wet weather on the horizon, temperatures in NSW have plummeted, ranging between the cusp of the teens and low 20s with cloudy skies. The showers also continue in Queensland, with temperatures set at the mid 20s and moderate to high chances of rain for the rest of the week. In the country's west, Perth residents are in for much sunnier days and temperatures rising to the mid- to high-20s throughout the week, with light winds during the day. Darwin dwellers can expect sunny skies all week, with temperatures going up to the mid-30s with little chance of rain. South Australians should look out for cloudy mornings all week, with Adelaide temperatures at the 20s with medium chance of showers. A wintry chill is well and truly setting in to the country's south, with overnight temperatures in Melbourne and Hobart dipping below 10C by Friday. Daytime temperatures in both capitals are expected to hover near 17C for the rest of this week.
Perth Now
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Perth Now
Millions to be lashed by rain, strong winds
Dreading the rain lashings? Next week looks to be even soggier for one state in particular. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said it's a 'wet outlook for eastern parts of Australia over the coming days'. The bureau's latest figures estimate up to 9mm of rainfall for Sydney on Thursday, with a rise of up to 15mm on Friday. NSW will be blanketed by rain all week, with the heaviest falls on Thursday and Friday. Credit: Supplied A developing coastal trough is swinging through, re-energising rain and shower activity across inland Queensland and northern NSW, according to Ms Scully. 'Now that is expected, or is bringing, some patchy rain and showers that are forecast to extend into inland parts of NSW later today and also into tomorrow,' she said. While the worst of the weather will move away by Wednesday, Ms Scully said an onshore flow was expected to keep some showers hanging around in NSW — meaning the wet and windy weather may linger until end of next week. 'There are early indications of a low pressure system in the NSW coast on Friday, which has the potential to bring moderate to heavy rainfall and strong winds on Monday,' she said. 'The greatest impacts will be concentrated about the central and mid-north coast of NSW.' Ms Scully says the onshore flow is being 'driven by a ridge of high pressure' causing southern and eastern winds to bring moisture off the Tasman Sea onto NSW and Queensland and further amplified by upper trough to create enhanced showers all week. Rainfall totals from the bureau estimate up to 9mm in Sydney on Sunday before a steep rise to 20mm on Monday. Rains are expected to continue into next week, with Australia's east coast to be hit with patchy showers Credit: Supplied Sydney metropolitan and the Hunter District, in particular, are in for a drenching. With wet weather on the horizon, temperatures in NSW have plummeted, ranging between the cusp of the teens and low 20s with cloudy skies. The showers also continue in Queensland, with temperatures set at the mid 20s and moderate to high chances of rain for the rest of the week. In the country's west, Perth residents are in for much sunnier days and temperatures rising to the mid- to high-20s throughout the week, with light winds during the day. Darwin dwellers can expect sunny skies all week, with temperatures going up to the mid-30s with little chance of rain. South Australians should look out for cloudy mornings all week, with Adelaide temperatures at the 20s with medium chance of showers. A wintry chill is well and truly setting in to the country's south, with overnight temperatures in Melbourne and Hobart dipping below 10C by Friday. Daytime temperatures in both capitals are expected to hover near 17C for the rest of this week.
