Latest news with #Schuette
New York Post
26-05-2025
- New York Post
JFK survival guide: 4 secret finds at NYC's busiest airport
Roughly 63 million poor souls traveled through John F. Kennedy International Airport last year, data shows — and at least 62 million probably vowed to never make the same mistake again, if they could help it. Face facts — NYC's most notorious airport doesn't exactly put its best foot forward, no matter how many billions of dollars are spent trying to make the confusing sprawl make sense. Tucked into the tangle of twisted roadways, crowded concourses and endless construction projects, however, you'll find a surprising number of secret finds — and some of them might even make your next date with airside agita the tiniest bit enjoyable. Advertisement And, hey, worst case — you can always take a deep breath and thank the sky gods you're not flying out of Newark this summer. Read on for a few particularly likeable finds — in one of the Big Apple's most unpleasant places. No humans allowed 14 The ARK Pet Oasis offers a space for your furry friends to get fresh air at the airport. Tamara Beckwith/ Advertisement 14 Horses are frequent visitors to The ARK. The Ark at JFK, ; Anthony Collins JFK's most exclusive lounge has every comfort a globetrotter could hope for — but no amount of miles accrued can get you into this serene sanctuary. Unless, of course, you're a dog. Or any other type of animal. In that case, you're welcomed with open arms at The ARK, a privately-owned, 24/7 hang for a veritable menagerie of well-traveled creatures — from cats and dogs to horses, elephants, birds and even spiders. Advertisement 14 An owner is reunited her with her pup after he arrived from the Dominican Republic and had to clear customs and health inspections. Tamara Beckwith/ That's because the company provides space for zoo animals being moved around the world as well as dogs and cats being shipped sans owners. 'We see goats, sheep, pigs, cows, horses — as a matter of fact, we have Icelandair coming in with a very large shipment of small Icelandic ponies,' Elizabeth Schuette, president and CEO, told The Post. And there's a reason why it's so swanky, too: Air travel is even more stressful and anxiety-ridden for animals than humans, Schuette explained. Advertisement 14 Many domestic pets find their way to the ARK at JFK. Tamara Beckwith/ 14 There is a vet at the ARK who makes sure animals are cared for. Tamara Beckwith/ 'We should not just assume that animals are like people and can travel with us or without any kind of thought to it,' Schuette explained. Many people traveling with pets don't understand just how complicated it is, Schuette said, especially the cargo and public health aspect. 'A lot of what we do is actually educational because you don't think about it,' she said. 14 Air travel is even more stressful and anxiety-ridden for animals than humans. The Ark at JFK, ; Anthony Collins Because of the many rules surrounding animal travel, The ARK runs a tighter ship than Noah's — they have direct airside access — a necessity when loading and unloading bigger beasts — and work hand-in-hand with multiple government agencies for safety, like protecting the public from diseases during animal transport. The ARK also runs a pet boarding program when jittery jetsetters need a safe and convenient place to keep their pet while they fly around the world. Advertisement For an overnight stay, pet parents can expect to pay $150 for the first night and $125 for each additional night — and the limited kennel space is often booked up solid. 'Your pets are your family, and you want to make sure that they're being handled properly,' Schuette said. Not your average airport bar 14 The 1850 Speakeasy Bar is located in the Centurion Lounge at JFK's Terminal 4. American Express Tucked behind a copper-paneled wall in the Centurion Lounge at JFK in Terminal 4, thirsty travelers will find the 1850 Speakeasy Bar, which looks nothing like a typical airport lounge. Advertisement 'The design of the intimate space — the lighting, dark wood, cozy booths, and truly phenomenal cocktails — makes you forget you are even at an airport,' Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, told The Post. And airport beer be damned — expert bartenders at 1850 conjure up 'sophisticated' versions of classic New York cocktails, including the espresso martini and boulevardier. 14 The drink menu was curated by award-winning mixologist Jim Meehan. American Express 14 Expert bartenders at 1850 conjure up 'sophisticated' versions of classic New York cocktails. American Express Advertisement The drink menu was curated by award-winning mixologist Jim Meehan, famous for his work with PDT (Please Don't Tell) in New York's East Village. There's also a rotating experiential menu with a theme of 'travel meets New York.' During the day, 1850 also serves as a café, but only a select few — Eligible American Express Platinum Card Members, American Express Centurion Members, and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members who have access to the Centurion Lounge — can enter. Up on the roof 14 JFK's Terminal 5 features a hidden rooftop garden. JetBlue This garden takes things to new heights. Advertisement Tucked away in JFK's Terminal 5 is a secret rooftop garden, accessible to all passengers post-security. With stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, the T5 Rooftop & Wooftop Lounge spans across 4,046 square feet and is complete with charging stations, free Wi-Fi, a dog walk and New York-centric food and beverage carts/kiosks. 14 The T5 Rooftop & Wooftop Lounge is located across from Gate 528. JetBlue There's also landscaped greenery featuring shrubs and plants, including oak-leaved hydrangeas, lilyturf and sweetspire. While the T5 rooftop initially opened in 2015, many travelers don't know about this hidden gem or that they can be outside while waiting for their flight. The entrance to the space is a slim glass door that almost looks like the entrance to a closet, though it does say 'T5 Rooftop' in white lettering. 'As New York's Hometown Airline, T5 was designed to show off the pride we have for our city,' Jamie Perry, current president of JetBlue Travel Products, said. The outdoor space is located across from Gate 528 and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. You need a staycation from your vacation 14 The Paris Café by Jean-Georges is in its original location up the curving staircase on the mezzanine level. Annie Wermiel/NY Post JFK's acclaimed TWA Hotel is a destination unto itself — but travelers on the move can have plenty of fun while they're waiting for their flights elsewhere. The repurposed Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal has a raft of amenities — like the Paris Café by Jean-Georges, which is located in its original location up the curving staircase on the mezzanine level. The world-renowned chef partnered with Tastes on the Fly, a leading boutique airport restaurateur, to offer breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts with a view. 14 The Paris Café offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Annie Wermiel/NY Post The menu offers both timeless recipes and dishes the modern traveler will love, transporting guests to the Jet Age. While walk-ins are recommended, reservations are highly encouraged at the coveted dining spot. The Lisbon Lounge within the Paris Café also serves meals and offers a full bar. Seating here is available on a first come, first served basis and reservations are not available. Food is served until 10 p.m. and cocktails are served until 11 p.m. nightly. 14 The TWA Hotel also has an infinity pool, open year-round and heated during the winter. Getty Images Also on premises is a rooftop infinity pool and observation deck, offering fantastic views of planes taking off and landing. Anyone can snag a day pass, whether or not they're staying at the hotel. Reservations for the pool, which is open year-round and heated in the winter, can be made through the hotel's website or via Resortpass, where they are being sold for $50. Non-guests can also reserve a day pass to the on-site, 24/7 fitness center — which claims to be the world's biggest hotel gym, at 10,000 square feet — for $25.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House committee hears proposal for governor to appoint state superintendent
State Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) answers questions during a March 12, 2025 meeting of the House Education and Workforce Committee after testifying on his proposal to allow the governor to appoint the state superintendent. | Kyle Davidson Members of the House Education and Workforce Committee heard testimony Wednesday on a recently proposed state Constitutional Amendment supporters say would bring additional accountability to the state's public education system. House Joint Resolution E, introduced by Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) would amend the state constitution to allow the governor to appoint the state superintendent, whereas the position is currently appointed by the eight members of the State Board of Education. 'This resolution, it's letter E, but I think it's appropriate. If you think about the grade our state is receiving in public education, it should be an F, a failing grade, our third grade, reading scores, our math and our testing results, they do not measure up,' Schuette said. According to a report from Kids Count, an annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Michigan placed among the bottom ten states for education. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as The Nation's Report Card, raised similar concerns, noting that 25% of fourth graders and 24% of eighth graders were considered proficient in reading. 'By adopting this resolution and having a superintendent who was appointed by the governor, who is elected by the people, we can restore some form of accountability to that department,' Schuette said. Rep. Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park) raised concerns that directly tying the superintendent to the governor's office could make the position more partisan and less consistent, noting the state tends to go back and forth between Democratic and Republican governors. However, Schuette argued that allowing the State Board of Education — whose members are nominated at each political party's convention before they are elected by Michigan voters — is already subject to a hyperpartisan selection process. 'I think having a governor who is elected by the people every four years improves the accountability of that process, because when we're looking at how are the metrics of how our public schools are performing, or if we have a governor who wants to implement reforms or changes, and [the superintendent] has a mandate directly from the people and the governor, I think that is a better way to execute that accountability and make sure that it's starting from the top with the governor, and the buck stops there,' Schuette said. The resolution would also alter the constitution so the superintendent reports to the governor rather than the state board of education, Schuette said, noting that he would also support eliminating the state board of education entirely, or allowing the governor to appoint those positions as well. Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Niles) noted that Michigan's first governor appointed the state's superintendent, suggesting the state could benefit from returning to that model. Schuette agreed, noting that the states ranked highest by the National Assessment of Educational Progress have a governor-appointed head of education. However, Weiss emphasized her concerns on the stability of changing the process, warning that when lawmakers create systems where things are constantly changing in education, it's hard to adapt to those changes. 'My concern really here is you're setting up a system in which you'll have, because of the, again, the purpleness of our state, a Republican governor appointing someone, and then a few years later, a Democratic governor, and then the constant push and pull, I think, would be detrimental for outcomes in our state. And again, whether or not I agree with the change, constant change is not good when it comes to education,' Weiss said. Schuette responded noting that Michigan is 42nd in the nation for education, saying a change is warranted. While members of the committee did not vote on the resolution, they voted on other policies on their agenda, including an effort from Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) seeking to improve representation from the state's various regions, telling the committee that the partisan nominating process used in selecting candidates for the Board of Education leaves northern Michigan and the rural areas of the state vastly underrepresented. 'What this bill does is simple. It divides our state into four districts, ensuring that when political parties nominate candidates for the State Board of Education, those candidates represent every corner of Michigan, not just a few cities,' Cavitt said. 'It mandates that parties nominate candidates from all four districts on a rotating schedule, guaranteeing that rural, northern and less populated regions have a fair shot at representation.' 'Our schools in Northeast Michigan face vastly different challenges than those in Wayne County. Our rural districts struggle with transportation funding, declining enrollment and broadband access, challenges that are rarely front and center in discussions at the State Board of Education. By requiring that nominees come from different regions. This bill ensures that the lived experience of students and educators in all parts of the state are represented at the table,' Cavitt said. Additionally, the bill would force party leaders to recruit and elevate voices from northern Michigan, the Upper Peninsula, and rural Michigan rather than defaulting to candidates from major metropolitan areas, Cavitt said. Cavitt's House Bill 4148 was referred back to the House floor in a 7-4 party line vote. Schuette's resolution, meanwhile, has an unlikely path to becoming reality. It would have to pass through committee and then receive approval from two thirds of both the House and the Senate, before being placed on the ballot where Michigan voters would have the final say on whether the change would be implemented. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
