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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Under attack.' Stark educators say state funding cuts would destroy public education
CANTON – The message was clear: Public education is under attack. Stark County educators gathered June 10 at the Canton Memorial Civic Center for a Rally for Public Education. Organized by Canton Mayor William V. Sherer II, the informational session featured local educators discussing the impact the proposed state budget measures would have on their districts. "Public education is under attack from Columbus and the effects could be potentially fatal for some (Stark school) districts," Sherer told more than 1,000 people, many teachers and school staff, attending the event. "When you talk about educating children, there are no shortcuts. When you wage war on public education, you are attacking the mortar that holds the community together." Sherer said the issues public schools are facing are not a Democratic or Republican issue, but rather the future of every child. "We need to remain unified in our resolve in support of children, educators and schools in our community in the long term and we need to help to do that," the mayor said. "You can say this is not my lane or my problem, but this is all of our problems right now." Plain Local Superintendent Brent May echoed Sherer's remarks. "It's all of our problems," he said. "We are one county united in one goal - bring awareness to what is happening in Columbus. In our opinion, (this) will quickly destroy and dismantle public school districts in Stark County." The proposed state budget, including funding levels for public schools and measures that target districts' rainy day funds and underutilized schools, is raising concerns among school and municipal leaders. "The narrative going on in Columbus and nationwide is wrong and sometimes embarrassing," May said. "Our people are working hard. Now they are coming out with budget proposals that will change your community. Your public school district will not look the same next year if some of these things happen." Districts are looking at three different scenarios, none of them good, he said. Under the governor's proposed budget, Plain Local would lose $2.7 million in fiscal year 2026 and an additional $1.7 million the following year. That plan would put funding back to 2021 levels and doesn't account for inflation, he said. Under the Ohio House plan, Plain would be flat-funded for the next two years followed by a loss of more than $8 million in the following two years, he said. The Ohio Senate's proposed budget has Plain losing $2.2 million next year and every year after. Plain leaders says they have already cut $3 million from next year's budget. Targeted cuts could be arts, career tech, college-credit plus courses, busing, mental health services, clubs, STEM, before- and after-school care and summer camps. "Lots of experiences for our kids," May said. "All of this costs money." Scarlett Bouder, co-founder and president of Advocacy and Communication Solutions and moderator, asked local leaders to explain the impact of proposed funding plans. Nearly 80% of Canton City School's budget comes from state funding, Superintendent Jeff Talbert told the audience. The state, he added, has a responsibility to fund a public school system, but the funding formula is unconstitutional. For many years, legislators chose not to fix the problem, but in 2022, a bipartisan fair funding formula was developed. The plan has been phased in over the years, but local leaders say the proposed budgets are turning away from the formula. Legislators are "hell bent on tearing it apart," Talbert said. A measure in the proposed state budget would require districts with a carryover of more than 30% of their operating budget to return the overage to taxpayers. Stark County Educational Service Center Superintendent Joe Chaddock said districts have no control over their revenues. After facing a recession in 2012, state legislators told school districts facing financial crisis that they should have created a rainy day fund, he said. "We listened," Chaddock said. "Now a new general assembly says return it. It's a mixed message." If the carryover is taken away, district leaders say they will have to go back to voters to approve new operating levies. Levies are hard to pass, Plain Local Board of Education vice president John Halkias said. "People need to know we are not taking this money and wasting it. We are squirreling it away. It is money to fund our school. We don't get an inflation increase on property taxes. It allows us not to come back to voters time and time again. The state wants to be heroes. They are taking money from us. It is criminal and the most brazen attempt I've seen in 26 years to destroy public education." If the measure passes, Chaddock said, all of the county's public districts will repeatedly be heading back to the voters. Passage of the levies could be increasingly harder if a new provision requiring a 60% passage rate for any levy is enacted, he added. Talbert also addressed a proposal that would require districts to sell buildings that are at 60% or lower capacity. Districts would be required to offer the schools to charters and non-public schools at a value price, he said, adding it is not clear what value price is but it is likely lower than market value. Timken High School, which is used for the district's career tech programs, is below 60% capacity, Talbert said. "That state will mandate we sell our career tech campus to a charter school without having our voters or community have a say," he said. "They told us to evict our kids from their building so that organizations outside our community can come in and make a profit on the backs of our students." Alliance High School is in a similar position. When the high school was built 50 years ago, the district had about 3,000 students and a population of about 50,000. Now there are fewer than 1,000. "We are being punished because our population has dropped and enrollment dropped," Alliance City Schools Superintendent Rob Gress said. Louisville City Schools Superintendent Michele Shaffer reminded the audience that an existing law says districts can sell a building if it has been empty for more than one year and not part of a long-term district facility plan. The new legislation ignores the law. The buildings were paid for by local taxpayers and how the buildings are used should be decided by local taxpayers and elected board members, she added. Even if a building isn't full, it doesn't mean it isn't being used properly, she said. Some spaces have been designed with students in mind. For instance, some programs like career tech require more space. "It is almost unbelievable the stuff you are hearing tonight," Halkias said. Canton City Schools Board President Scott Russ said the district lost about $1 billion in the past three years from Canton Local students attending charter and private schools through the voucher program. Around 3,000 Canton City School students attend these schools. Under the state plan, the voucher program will receive about $1 billion next year, while only 10% of Ohio students attend voucher schools. The economic loss of students leaving public schools is compounded by the state requirement for districts to bus those students. May said his district buses students to 11 district schools and an additional 16 to 20 private and charter schools. Chaddock said leaders believe in educational choice but want everyone to be on an even terms. "We can compete academically, in the arts and on the athletic fields, but we also believe in a level playing field," he said. Voucher schools are not required to be audited, follow public record laws, conduct state testing or complete a five-year financial forecast like their public school counterparts. "If you are going to give them locally voted taxpayer dollars, at least make them play by the same rules," Chaddock said. Leaders urged the public to stay informed about what is happening in Columbus. The potential funding cuts and other measures are going to impact staffing. "The hardest thing we have to do as a school board is cutting staff," Russ added. "If funding doesn't change, you will start to see every school district have to affect a lot of people's livelihoods, their lives, their insurance, how they live, where they live." He encouraged community members to get out and vote and send a message to legislators who aren't listening. "Show up at the ballot and vote and know who you are voting for," he said. Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or This article originally appeared on The Independent: Stark public school leaders: Public education is under attack
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
End of an era: Artichoke Festival in Monterey County canceled after 65 years
After 65 years, the Artichoke Festival has been permanently canceled. Citing increasing costs and "growing financial strain," the nonprofit board of directors announced the official closure of one of the Central Coast's iconic agricultural events on May 9. "After 65 unforgettable years celebrating the region's agricultural heritage, artichoke royalty, and community spirit, the Artichoke Festival will not return in 2025," organizers stated in the media release. "The decision, made after months of thoughtful consideration, stems from the growing financial strain caused by increasing event production costs, insurance premiums, permitting requirements, and operational challenges that have made it no longer feasible to continue." The Artichoke Festival was long held in downtown Castroville "the artichoke capital of the world" before moving locations in recent years, including the Monterey County Fairgrounds and Event Center. This year's event was going to be held at the Monterey County Sheriff's Posse Grounds before the late-breaking announcement. "Ending the festival is one of the most difficult decisions we've ever had to make,' festival board officials stated. 'But the financial realities we now face are insurmountable. We want to extend our deepest thanks to the sponsors, volunteers, vendors, growers, and loyal guests who made every festival possible. Your support sustained us for more than six decades.' Executive director of the festival, Linda Scherer said the event has been a "labor of love" for the many people who have volunteered and taken part over the years. "Watching it grow from a hometown celebration to a regional highlight has been one of the greatest honors of my life," Sherer said. "The memories we've made, the people we've touched, and the good we've done together will live on far beyond this decision. Thank you for letting us be part of your family traditions.' Nearly 100% of artichokes from the United States are grown in California, with about two-thirds of them grown in Monterey County, the majority around Castroville. In 2023, the county grew more than 3,000 acres of the crop, generating more than $37 million in value. First brought to the Central Coast in the 1920s by Italian immigrant farmers, the artichoke thrived in the cool coastal temperatures and rich soil. By 1926, nearly 12,000 acres were under cultivation across the state, primarily in Castroville. Monterey County recognized artichokes as the county's official vegetable in 1986 and in 2013 artichokes were proclaimed to be California's official vegetable by Lieutenant Governor, Gavin Newsom. California's first honorary Artichoke Queen was Norma Jean Mortenson, better known as Marilyn Monroe, in 1948. Castroville hosted the first Artichoke Festival in 1959 as a celebration of the region's artichoke harvest. Over the years, the festival has expanded and evolved, welcoming celebrity chefs, local performers, food and crafts vendors and beer and wine tasting all the while showcasing the artichoke in a variety of dishes, whether they be fresh, fried, stuffed or grilled. The Artichoke Festival also became a source of funding for local nonprofits, generating thousands of dollars over the years. Organizers moved the location of the festival to the Monterey County Fairgrounds and Event Center from the streets of Castroville in 2013 as a cost-saving measure. As the organization winds down, the board will take time to reflect on the best way to preserve the festival's legacy and continue supporting the agricultural community that inspired it. 'To the community of Castroville and the entire Monterey County region: thank you," continued the release. "You've helped make the Artichoke Festival more than an event—you made it a home.' This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Artichoke Festival in California's Central Coast ends after 65 years
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11 Benefits of Being Single, According to a Holistic Therapist
From an early age, many of us begin romanticizing the idea of being in a relationship—it might start with watching a Disney princess meet her Prince Charming and continue with daydreaming about a future wedding and family. But there are actually proven benefits of being single, explains Megan Sherer, holistic therapist and author of Choose Your Self: How to Embrace Being Single, Heal Core Wounds, and Build a Life You Love (out May 6). However, if you're currently single and it doesn't feel like a positive status, Sherer has been there too."I know how you feel—I have not always had an empowered relationship to being single," she begins. "For most of my twenties, I felt like I was running out of time to hit all these life milestones (relationship, engagement, marriage, kids). I hated feeling like I was behind all of my peers, and often clung onto healthy relationships just to avoid being single. I tried to make all the wrong people into 'the one' just so I didn't have to feel the pain of not having someone."Now, Sherer, who takes "a mind, body, soul approach to healing," is passionate about encouraging and educating the public about this topic."I learned (through a lot of painful lessons) that staying in the wrong relationship is far worse than learning to be empowered on your own," she tells Parade. "And betraying your own core values just to be chosen will feel much worse in the long run. I know how hard it can be to trust the timing of your life, but my best advice is for you to lean into this season of being single. You have someone very important to get to know: you."As a holistic therapist for eight years and someone who's been in the coaching space for 12 years, Sherer is in a unique position to help empower individuals."I help people understand how to move beyond the awareness level of their patterns, and actually create change on a subconscious and nervous system level," she explains. "Simply put, I help people heal and get unstuck from patterns caused by core wounds."Here, she reveals common misconceptions about being single, benefits of being a single man or woman, what more people should do while they're in a solo season and more. Related: "One of the biggest patterns I see in the single women I work with is that there's often a belief that being single means there's something wrong with you," Sherer tells Parade. "Many people carry the belief that not being 'chosen' by someone must mean that we're not good enough."But that couldn't be further from the truth. "The reality is that our relationship status doesn't say anything about our worth," she continues. "It also doesn't say anything about our happiness levels. I've known plenty of people who are miserable in a relationship, just like I've known plenty of people who are full of joy while single."This leads to another misconception—that being single should only be a stage (and a short one at that)."As a society, we put romantic relationships on a pedestal, as if our life isn't complete until we find one," Sherer says. "We often treat being single as a temporary phase to be rushed through in an effort to find a partner, rather than viewing it as a powerful opportunity to build a deep and lasting relationship with yourself."Related: "Without the pressure of performing for someone else's affection, you get to meet your authentic self while you're single," Sherer explains. "This helps you identify your true core values, preferences and opinions without the bias of what someone else thinks." "When you step back from the dating game long enough to get a little perspective, you can finally see the cycles you keep repeating and can explore where they come from," she says. "No matter how badly you want to meet a soulmate, we all need a strong community to thrive—not just one person," Sherer explains. "You can devote your single time to building new community or strengthening the relationships that are already in your life."Related: This Is the Exact Age When We Tend to Feel the Most Lonely—and What to Do About It "It's incredibly fun to have a chapter where you can travel when you want, live where you want, decorate your home how you want, watch what you want, and exist how you want without taking a partner's opinion into consideration," she shares. "When you're single, you can take time to unravel old programming and get honest with yourself about what you really want and believe," Sherer says. "You get to envision a new set of possibilities, rather than living in the pre-prescribed template that was handed down to you by your family/culture/society."Related: "When there [are] no distractions and you're the only one who's there to meet your needs, you become really clear on what you actually need and how to make it happen," Sherer says. "While it's great (and necessary) to rely on the people we love for support, we also need to learn to self-soothe and self-regulate. Being single is a great time to invest in therapy to build these skills for yourself, and for your future relationships." This is a big one for growth! "Extended periods of being single can give you more time to invest in your hobbies, career goals, passion projects and health goals," Sherer explains. "You might join a book club or pickleball league, or attend a leadership seminar—and also meet more like-minded people along the way!"Related: "The more you invest in getting to know yourself and your values while single, the more likely you are to choose the right partner for you in the future," she says. "Plus, you'll have higher standards, healthier boundaries and stronger communication skills to bring with you into that relationship to make it last." According to Sherer, "When you realize that you don't have to wait for a partner to make you feel the way you want to feel, you begin creating those experiences for yourself now. When you buy yourself the flowers, dance around your kitchen, and take yourself on dates, you learn that the love you were seeking was always inside of you."Related: "So many people who just go through the motions and end up in a relationship by default (rather than from a place of aligned and empowered choice), often find themselves waking up unfulfilled in mid-life wondering how they got there," she says. "We're taught that the magic formula of finding a person and settling down will bring us joy. When you're single, you're forced to find that joy and fulfillment elsewhere first, whether that's in nature, spirituality or connection to a higher purpose. You stop outsourcing those feelings to someone else (when it was never supposed to be their job anyway)." "When you don't have the comfort of another person to lounge at home with, you may be more likely to go experience life and connect with interesting people along the way," Sherer explains. "Hanging in coffee shops, going on solo trips, and taking yourself on adventures helps you create all kinds of new memories that might not have happened if you were home Netflix and chilling with your partner."Related: Psychologists Are Begging People To Pay Attention to These 11 Early Signs of Loneliness This can be tricky at times."First acknowledge that loneliness is a normal emotion, just like sadness or anger or joy, and it's okay to feel lonely sometimes," Sherer says. "Notice how it feels when it shows up, and see if you can sit with it rather than trying to fix it or numb it right away. If you're feeling lonely most of the time, that often signals more than just an effect of being single. Chronic loneliness is a symptom of disconnection from our authentic self. Where are you avoiding taking responsibility for your life? Where are you making choices that aren't in alignment with your core values? Are you showing up in places that bring you joy and investing in building community along the way?"It's important to dig deep and get curious about that deeper loneliness, because even being in a relationship would likely not "fix" that feeling."One thing I know for certain is that you can still feel lonely in a relationship or even in a group of people if you're not connected to yourself," she continues. "So take this as an opportunity to get to know the real you, and invest in friendships and relationships that allow you to be your authentic self."Related: People Who Felt Lonely as Children Usually Develop These 13 Traits as Adults, Psychologists Say "I wish more people would take the time to understand why they're so desperate to find a partner," Sherer says. "The truth is, it's usually an attempt to mask deeper pain. The pain of feeling like we're not good enough, the pain of worrying that we'll be abandoned, the unprocessed pain of our childhoods. It's not a bad thing to seek love, but when we put our lives on hold or tether our entire identity to our relationship status, we're making another person into a god of sorts—putting them on a pedestal and assigning them the job of our happiness strips us of our own power and responsibility to create the life we want." That doesn't mean it's easy to address."As hard as it can be to confront those deeper wounds, if more single people did that, I think we'd see far more healthy relationships in the long run," she continues. "Because we'd finally be choosing people from a place of genuine love, rather than just an attempt to avoid pain. So basically, I wish more people would build a deep relationship with themselves and all their inner parts while single!"She closes with an important message, telling Parade, "I'm not advocating that everyone be single forever and we forget about romantic love altogether. But I do believe that leaning into being single can create one of the most transformative chapters of our life if we let it. And it goes both ways…if you're perpetually single just to avoid the risk of feeling pain and loss in a relationship, there's work to be done there too. It all comes down to being honest with yourself about your patterns, your emotions and what parts of you need healing. Choosing to show up for yourself in this way sets the stage for all of your present and future relationships to flourish." Up Next:Megan Sherer is a licensed holistic therapist and relationship mentor whose mission is to help women prioritize self-care to build confidence, healthy relationships, and a strong sense of purpose. She hosts the popular "Well, Then" podcast, founded the nonprofit organization Be More, and created the self-guided therapy app The Self Care Space. To learn more visit
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
'He died doing what he absolutely loved': Flight attendant death confirmed in crash
The ex-wife of a flight attendant on board a commercial jet that collided with a military helicopter Wednesday outside Washington D.C. has confirmed her ex-husband, Ian Epstein, was killed in the crash. "It is with a very heavy heart and extreme sadness that myself along with our children Hannah Epstein and Joanna Epstein and his sister Robbie Epstein Bloom her husband Steven Bloom and nieces Andi and Dani inform you that Ian Epstein was one of the flight attendants on American Airlines Flight 5342 that collided last night when they were landing in DC.," his ex-wife posted on social media Thursday. He was 53. She asked for prayers as the family travels to Washington, the post reads. The flight attendant was among the 60 passengers and four crewmembers on board the airplane when it collided with a Blackhawk trying to land at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. All on board both aircrafts were feared dead, officials said Thursday. According to Debi Epstien's Facebook page, she lives in Harrisburg, North Carolina. The town is in Cabarrus County about 17 miles northeast of Charlotte. USA TODAY has reached out to American Airlines and union reps. According to his Facebook page, Ian Epstein worked for PSA Airlines and lived in Charlotte. USA TODAY has reached out to Epstein's family. According to his ex-wife, the couple's daughter, one of their two children, is set to be married in less than two months. 'He made flying fun for the passengers on the plane so they didn't get scared,' Debi Epstein told The Charlotte Observer by phone Thursday. 'He was always the jokester and just doing the announcements with the twist.' An outgoing person, she told the outlet, her ex-husband "died doing what he absolutely loved.' "He had a beautiful energy about him," Jerri Sherer, of Jackson Mississippi, told USA TODAY. "He was fun and flirty and kind to everyone." The two met on a flight from Charlotte, Sherer said, and later dated and kept in touch over the phone "for hours". "His sign off was what convinced me I need to give him my phone number," Sherer, 48, said. "I'd never done that to a stranger before. It was his own personal statement and was lovely. He cared about people and wanted to make others happy."What is a black box on a plane? What to know after AA Flight 5342 crash with helicopter The crash took place just before 9 p.m. when AA Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, attempted to land and crashed in midair with a Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three people. The passenger plane with 64 people aboard then fell into icy waters of the Potomac River. A massive recovery effort was underway Thursday as authorities search for bodies in water. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, officials said. During a Thursday afternoon briefing, National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy told reporters the federal agency wants to assure the American public it will "leave no stone unturned in this investigation. ... This is a whole-of-government effort." The flight data recorders, often called "black boxes," Homendy said, have not been recovered yet. NTSB member Todd Inman said it is too early to know whether human error or other factors were at play in the collision, but he said the agency expected to have a preliminary report within 30 days. This story has been updated to add new information. Contributing: Christopher Cann and Jorge L. Ortiz Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. (This is a developing story and will be updated.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flight attendant's ex-wife confirms Ian Epstein died in crash
