Latest news with #St.Pierre
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Rochester community unites in support as search for missing 5-year-old continues
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – The search for 5-year-old Zy'Jae St. Pierre continued along the Genesee River for a fifth day Thursday. The young boy fell from the Andrews Street bridge Sunday afternoon, according to Rochester police. Earlier this week, police deemed their efforts a recovery mission. Search efforts continue for 5-year-old who fell in the Genesee River, declared 'recovery operation' In an update Thursday afternoon, the Rochester Police Department shared they were still unable to locate St. Pierre despite ongoing efforts. The department credited assistance from RG&E in helping to control and redirect the river during the search, including lowering the water level between the Andrews St. bridge and High Falls. Police say St. Pierre was walking with his mother, who was pushing another child in a stroller, when he ran ahead of her. Witnesses said he climbed the railing, and before his mother could reach him, he fell over. Police say she ran along the waterway and was unable to reach the boy before he left her sight. Balloons, candles, and toys now line the span of the bridge. News 8's Natalie Kucko spoke to community members there, who are continuing to show their support for the family. 'They were very happy. It was a very happy family. He used to go outside and play, things like that. He was a very good little boy. Good memories. It's devastating,' said Nichelle Beale, a former neighbor of the family. 'I want him to be found and I want justice. I want the family to be at peace, and to know where he is and not to wonder every night.' Outside Rochester City Hall Thursday, community members shared a call on the city in the wake of this tragedy. 'We're calling for the city of Rochester to put up a higher gate on not just that bridge, but any bridge, whether it's over water, or a highway. We want to prevent this tragedy from every happening again to any family. There's no words to express what they're going through,' said Marquita Ladd, a Rochester resident. News 8 spoke with Rochester Mayor Malik Evans for his response to those concerns. 'I think it's admirable the community is concerned about families' safety and that's what this is about — and we'll go back and look to see if there's anything that can be done from preventing a tragedy in the future. Right now, the focus is to make sure the family has what they need. But more importantly, the recovery is what we're focusing on right now and we will continue to be focused on that until we get some closure for this family,' said Evans. At this time, community members like Beale continue to visit Andrews Street to reflect. 'It hurts. Because if it was my child, I'd be hurt, too. I wouldn't know what to do,' Beale said, 'Embrace your kids every day and let them know you love them every day.' The Rochester Police Department plans to resume search efforts Friday morning. The department continues to ask for awareness from local boaters and fishermen in an effort to locate St. Pierre. Two GoFundMe accounts have been created to assist the family during this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
UK workers skipping lunch as 'too much work to do' costing them £1,000 per year
UK workers skipping lunch as 'too much work to do' costing them £1,000 per year A study of 2,000 adults in full or part-time work found over half of those who do take a lunch break typically only use 70 per cent of their allocated time St Pierre launches 'No Tech Zone' Hardworking Britons are, in effect, 'giving away' as much as £29 billion in labour every year simply by not taking full advantage of their lunchtime breaks. A study of 2,000 employees holding either full-time or part-time positions has shown that those who do take a break for lunch generally use just 70 per cent of the time they're given, and those who don't take the entire break often skip it altogether twice a week. For someone working full-time, with an average of 233 workdays in a year and the average full-time salary taken into account, this tallies up to an astonishing £1,012 worth of time each person annually misses out on. Almost 50 per cent confess that it's usually too much work that prevents them from stepping away, whilst others feel pressured to get back to work or see no point when there's barely enough time to go anywhere during their break. More than one-third consider their lunchtime pauses 'too brief', reporting an average length of only 39 minutes per day to refresh themselves. In an effort to restore the sanctity of lunch hours for the British public, St Pierre has established a 'respect zone' in London's Potter's Field Park – an ode to the preciousness of the midday interlude, calling upon Londoners to engage in dining 'avec respect'. Article continues below St Pierre launched 'The Respect Zone' - a Parisian themed pop-up near Tower Bridge (Image: PinPep ) The special area intended to transport office workers to Paris, inviting them to follow the French example of enjoying unhurried and relaxed mealtimes. A spokesperson from St Pierre remarked: "Lunchbreaks shouldn't be a luxury." They added: "Even though life is busy and work is important, we need to remember to take time out for ourselves to really get that break we need – and go back to work energised, refreshed, and satisfied by a delicious meal we were able to properly savour." A fifth of Brits feel that lunchtime rituals are not given the respect they deserve, particularly when compared to European neighbours such as Spain, Italy, and France who are seen as more appreciative of their midday meals. Some Brits skip their lunch break entirely twice a week (Image: PinPep ) Yet, even those who manage to set aside time for lunch often end up multitasking with work-related activities like checking emails or answering calls. For those accustomed to working through their lunch hour, over 20 per cent admit it would be difficult to alter this routine even if they had the chance. This admission comes despite 37 per cent acknowledging that regularly skipping lunch breaks can lead to burnout and negatively impact work performance. Article continues below St. Pierre's spokesperson added: "It's a sad state of affairs that our main break during a long day of work isn't really being treated as one – and that we can't seem to switch off even when given permission. "There's something to be learned from the French here – taking that moment to really unwind and enjoy a delicious meal, without thinking about other things. We're also missing a prime opportunity in our everyday lives to connect with other people over good food and conversation."
Hamilton Spectator
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Ministry says NNDSB breached commitments regarding McDougall
Ontario's Minister of Education, Paul Calandra, has accused the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) of breaching prior commitments made to the ministry. He detailed his message in a letter to St. Pierre, which the ministry also sent to BayToday. His concerns regarded the board's decision to keep open McDougall Public School in Parry Sound. The decision — which faced opposition from some trustees — drew criticism from the minister. 'My expectation remains unchanged,' Calandra emphasized. As outlined in a previous letter, he expects the board to reverse its decision and carry out the commitments previously made. See: 'Unacceptable,' minister says of school board's decision to open McDougall Calandra explained to St. Pierre that the board's decision to keep the school open 'reverses more than 10 years of work and capital planning, creates serious financial implications for the board, and fails to follow through on the board's previous commitments.' The minister also stated that his letter aimed to correct what he described as inaccuracies in St. Pierre's earlier communications with the ministry. See: School board leaders push back against education minister's 'threatening' letter He emphasized the decision to reduce the size of the new Parry Sound K-12 school – set to open this fall, and will accommodate students from Parry Sound High School, Nobel and McDougall public schools – was not made by the Ministry of Education. 'School boards are responsible for their own capital planning, and for submitting proposed projects to the ministry for consideration,' Calandra detailed. The minister explained the new Parry Sound K-12 school was approved in 2015 through the School Consolidation Capital Program. Before submitting the project to the ministry, 'Your board would have conducted the necessary community engagement, as per your own policies and procedures.' When the ministry approved the project, it allocated $27.6 million to support the construction of a 1,085-pupil school. These were the projected enrolment numbers provided by the school board, the ministry noted. He emphasized, 'The ministry approved a request from your own board to reduce the number of pupil places in February 2020.' Calandra explained the request to reduce was based on updated board enrolment projects, the available space in other area schools and the use of portables for peak enrolment period. See: NNDSB keeps McDougall Public School alive for another year In December 2022, the closure of McDougall Public School was reaffirmed, Calandra said, and the ministry agreed to provide $44 million to fund the project. That number has since risen. Calandra noted that funding later increased to $58.6 million in 2023 so that NNDSB could award a contract for construction. The minister mentioned to St. Pierre, 'You also assert that the board was unaware that McDougall Public School could be used to support French-language access in the region. However, there have been discussions with Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l'Ontario regarding how this property could be used to support French-language access in this region.' He clarified that similar conversations took place with the NNDSB as well, going back to 2021-22. Further, the minister outlined how the Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l'Ontario indicated to the ministry that board members visited McDougall to assess the location in 2023, with the NNDSB's knowledge. The issue will return for discussion at the school board's next meeting on May 13. David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
New York Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Why Is There Always a Line? And Why Is It at My Front Door?
New Yorkers are always waiting in line for something. Want a table at Lucali, a pizza restaurant in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, frequented by celebrities? Clear your afternoon to line up early. Craving a pastry from Radio Bakery? Wake up at the crack of dawn because some pastries sell out quickly. From the pharmacy to a stoop sale, lines in New York City can pop up everywhere, but what happens when it is at your front door? Avoiding them is part of the routine for Max St. Pierre, a 34-year-old architectural designer, who moved in 2022 to Park Slope. Dripping in sweat, he hauled his stuff out of a U-Haul truck, carrying his bed frame while weaving through the horde of people. He quickly discovered that Miriam, an Israeli restaurant in the storefront of his building, was a major draw. 'It's pretty much like I open the door and then there's like bodies in front of me,' he said, adding later: 'Even if the line is three people, it feels like it's 100 people long because it's in front of my door.' Rafi Hasid, the owner of Miriam, has tried to lighten the inconvenience for residents like Mr. St. Pierre. After long lines starting popping up around 10 years ago, he decided to open the restaurant an hour earlier on the weekend. Switching from 9 a.m. to 10 has helped them move through tables more quickly. 'We try to be very cautious of our neighbors,' he said, encouraging neighbors to alert the restaurant when the line is disruptive so it can 'pay more attention.' Mr. St. Pierre noted that the crowds have 'been fewer as of late.' When Printemps, the French department store, opened its New York location in Manhattan's Financial District, it went a step further to be good neighbor. Residents who are in the same building at One Wall Street can skip the line — no small gesture since the store had lines down the block on opening weekend. Using an app, residents can either flash a QR code to Printemps's security at the door or set up special services, like a private shopping appointment or an at-home fitting. Residents 'are now the friend that can get their friends in to skip the line like the hottest clubs,' said Anna Zarro, the president of sales at One Wall Street. 'I think there's a little bit of street cred now that comes with being the person with the app that's probably fun.' And yet, conflict ensues in every corner of New York. Stepping out of line. Crossing the line. Drawing the line. Even the slightest annoyance could lead to beef. Last year, a landlord threatened to evict Apollo Bagels from its location in the West Village, arguing its long lines interfered with nearby businesses. In the East Village, a neighbor recently dumped some water down on to some people waiting in line at Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop, where wait times are over an hour for a scone with jam. People have been lining up for a taste of the city's most viral foods for years. After the cronut's debut in 2013, people lined up on Spring Street in SoHo in the early morning to try and snag one of Dominique Ansel's hybrid treats. But today's crowds outside restaurants, bars and bakeries can often be attributed to social media. Newer platforms like TikTok are full of videos hyping up New York's 'hottest' restaurants. Even some of the less buzzy restaurants still attract lines. One of those social media darlings is Radio Bakery, which was named one of the best bakeries in the country by The Times last year. Search the bakery on TikTok and Instagram, where you'll see many influencers and pastry fans showing their hauls. Radio Bakery opened in 2023 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Customers swarmed, as the smell of fresh pastries wafted down onto the nearby subway platform. The lines have not dissipated, sometimes snaking halfway down the block, which is just short of a quarter mile long. White signs hang on a tree guard and the gate of a home next door with the same message: 'Please respect our neighbors, noise travels. Thanks, Radio Bakery.' Will Fagan, 44, and his partner moved to the same block the same week that the bakery opened. 'You live in New York, and you're kind of open to, like, New York inconveniences, but it's not an inconvenience to us,' said Mr. Fagan, who works in music marketing. At least, he's nearby if he wants a pastry and can check if the line is long, but he tries not to go too often, only a few times month. (His favorite is the cheesy pretzel bear claw.) Proximity to pastries is not the only perk. An entrepreneurial teenager living near Radio Bakery started a stoop sale, selling clothes and toys to people in line. When Radio Bakery opened a second location in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, the crowds followed. On opening day, the line bent the corner and snaked around 200 feet. Wait times were well over an hour that day, and staff were passing out hot chocolate to those queuing in the cold. At the new location, barriers were installed six feet from the entrance 'to make sure that the line wouldn't go directly in front of people's apartments or businesses in the direction the line went,' said Ben Howell, a partner and the director of operations at Radio Bakery. 'It forces the line to be six feet away from the frontage of other buildings, so that there's no situation where someone has someone right in front of them when they get out,' Mr. Howell said. He noted that they've been in touch with the businesses on the same block where the line extends. As many New Yorkers can attest, a line can be bothersome for people who don't necessarily live directly next to it. Julia Feingold, 27, lives in an area of Greenpoint that she described as 'pretty quiet' until last October, when Chrissy's Pizza arrived with its much-anticipated brick-and-mortar shop, which is around a 3-minute walk from her apartment. The lines followed. In March, hordes of people lined up at Chrissy's for a collaboration with Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez to promote their new album. 'On the first few days it was open, I was like, 'Oh my God, there are 30 people waiting on this block that usually no one is at,'' said Ms. Feingold, a graphic designer. The Citi Bike station in front of the pizza shop is now sometimes inaccessible, which makes grabbing or putting away a bike — her main way of getting around — a chore. People, she said, will either wait for their pizzas on the bikes or eat them there, and she's had to shoo them away to grab a bike. Other times, she has an audience while putting on her helmet and gloves. 'I just have 30 strangers staring at me, which is cool,' she said, laughing. Chris Hansell, the owner of Chrissy's Pizza, said the Citi Bike station is accessible from the street and noted that the line blocking its neighbors 'has not been an issue.' 'I just haven't seen an issue where anybody was blocked from accessing a Citi Bike,' he said, adding later, 'We're a tiny shop — only like five, six people can really sit in there at a time to order and then they just have no choice but to wait outside because we serve full pies at my spot, and they take 10, 15 minutes to cook.' Although she's eager to try it, Ms. Feingold still hasn't been to Chrissy's, mainly because of the line. Mr. St. Pierre has been to Miriam and its takeout location next door a handful of times, but he's not 'a big brunch guy.' He has tolerated the lines for three years now because his rent is affordable and he likes the area. 'I've had some hit apartments and some miss apartments, and I feel like it's one of these things that it doesn't bother me enough to make me move,' he said. He compared it to another classic New York experience: When you find a mouse in your apartment, he said, you learn to live with it. Of course, as New Yorkers know, there's never just one.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Suntory Holdings hands China distributor ASC Fine Wines back to family ownership
Japanese drinks major Suntory Holdings is selling Chinese wine importer and distributor ASC Fine Wines back its original owners, the St. Pierre family. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to be completed in the coming months, have not been disclosed. Husband and wife Don St. Pierre Jr. and Monica Xu St. Pierre have signed a definitive agreement to re-acquire a 100% stake in the company, ASC said in a statement. Founded in 1996 by Don St. Pierre Jr. and his father, Don St. Pierre Sr., ASC Fine Wines has a distribution portfolio of over 1,200 wine brands from more than 100 wineries worldwide, including labels such as Cakebread Cellars, Alion and Banfi. Its sales network covers mainland China, Macau on the southern coast of the country and Hong Kong. In its own statement, Suntory said in light of "the challenging environment in the Chinese wine market," it had been mulling over "various options for the future of ASC Fine Wines", and had ultimately decided to see ownership return back to the St. Pierre family. Osaka-based Suntory acquired ASC in 2010 after agreeing to take a majority stake from Austria's Wine Holdings in 2009. In its statement, ASC said with the St. Pierre family at the helm, it will 'remain committed to its core strengths' while developing "into a next-generation platform" tailored to adapt to the evolving demands of the Chinese wine market. To achieve this, ASC said it plans to leverage 'cutting-edge technology, direct-to-consumer models, and best-in-class warehouse and logistics partnerships'. Following the transaction, Don St. Pierre Jr. will become executive chairman and CEO, focusing on the group's strategy and operations. He said that 'the evolving Chinese market presents a unique opportunity for us to innovate and provide new ways for wine producers to engage with consumers.' Monica Xu St. Pierre will take on the position of lead director, concentrating on people, culture, and consumer experience. "Our focus will be on strengthening the reach of our existing brands while selectively introducing new ones that complement ASC's growth strategy and the changing needs of the market," Don St. Pierre Jr., said. In the months ahead, the company plans to unveil new partnerships, investments, and plans 'that will further solidify its leadership position in the industry'. "Suntory Holdings hands China distributor ASC Fine Wines back to family ownership" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
