Latest news with #Teen
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Farm Fun Day, 2025 Exeter Arts & Music Fest: Things to do in Seacoast
As the old saying goes, "Ne'er cast a clout till May is out," and it seems to be holding true with the weather we have experienced on the Seacoast recently. Sunny one day and raining the next five, but we shouldn't let that prevent us from having a little fun. This weekend is full of entertainment the whole family can enjoy, with Farm Fun Day at the Children's Museum of New Hampshire, the 2025 Exeter Arts & Music Fest in downtown Exeter, PMAC's Teen, Rock, Blues, and Jazz Show at The Dance Hall or forest bathing at Bedrock Gardens. Read on for details on things to do: What: A father (Paul Rudd) and daughter (Jenna Ortega) accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat, where his billionaire boss (Richard E. Grant) seeks to exploit the creature's miraculous curative properties. When: Friday, May 16, 7-8:45 p.m. Where: The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth Cost: $14 to $16 More info: What: Hayley Jane pulls from 60s + 70s rock + pop, musical theater, folk, blues, soul, psychedelic, funk + bluegrass & her live show is explosive. Ages 21-plus. When: Friday, May 16, 8 p.m. Where: The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth Cost: $15 to $20 More info: What: Frenzie and Canopy, two groovy, funky, and soulful rock fusion trios. With the belief that music is meant for taking risks, Canopy brings a raw, unfiltered approach to the live music scene. Frenzie is a trio from southern Maine that dives into the soulful end of the rock fusion spectrum, where few have dared to go. When: Friday, May 16, 8-11 p.m. Where: The Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket Cost: $15 to $20 More info: What: The Seacoast Community Chorus presents 'The French Connection: The moving Music of Faure's Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine, the vibrant Canadian Folk Song J'entends Le Moulin, the powerful medley from Les Miserables and more. An eloquent cuisine of French music bound to captivate its audience. When: Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m. Where: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 22 Fox Run Road, Newington Cost: $10 to $15 More info: What: Celebrate the museum's newest exhibit, Little Farmers, with two special guests. There will be farm-themed crafts and a scavenger hunt to enjoy. When: Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Children's Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St., Dover Cost: Free to $14.50 More info: What: Arts & Music Fest with venders, food, music and art. Rain or shine. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs. When: Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Swasey Parkway, Downtown Exeter Cost: Free More info: What: Join PMAC for the Spring 2025 Teen Rock, Blues, and Jazz Show, featuring seven teen ensembles. Come be amazed by sets from three Teen Rock Band groups, two Rock 101 groups, and two Teen Jazz Ensembles. When: Saturday, May 17, 1-3 p.m. Where: The Dance Hall, 7 Walker St., Kittery, Maine Cost: $10 More info: What: Orienteering is a sport that involves navigating between points using a map and compass. Think of it as treasure hunting in the woods if you like. It is easy to learn and fun for all ages. When: Sunday, May 18, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Where: College Woods, 35 Colovos Road, Durham Cost: $5 to $10 More info: What: We are surrounded by an abundance of food from what we can grow ourselves to what we can forage all around us. This workshop, co-led by Chef Linh Aven & Chef Elizabeth Haskett, focuses on preserving the harvest so when we make a meal, we can reach for hand-crafted seasonings, condiments, ferments, and dried goods. When: Sunday, May 18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Dandelion Forest Farm, 311 Stage Road, Nottingham Cost: $35 More info: What: Forest Bathing (also known as Shinrin-Yoku, Nature Therapy or Nature Immersion) is a group wellness experience that takes place in a natural setting, and leads participants through a series of slow movements and meditations in order to awaken and calm all of their senses. When: Sunday, May 18, 1-3 p.m. Where: Bedrock Gardens, 19 High Road, Lee Cost: $35 More info: This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Farm Fun Day, 2025 Exeter Arts & Music Fest: Things to do in Seacoast
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Mbalentle Parkie sets her sights on international glory as Miss Global Princess South Africa Jr Teen 2025
In an inspiring celebration of youthful ambition, fifteen-year-old Mbalentle Parkie has been crowned Miss Global Princess South Africa Jnr Teen 2025. This significant milestone paves the way for her to represent South Africa this October at the renowned Miss Global Princess International pageant in France, a testament to her dedication and passion for the art of pageantry. In an inspiring celebration of youthful ambition, fifteen-year-old Mbalentle Parkie has been crowned Miss Global Princess South Africa Jnr Teen 2025. This significant milestone paves the way for her to represent South Africa this October at the renowned Miss Global Princess International pageant in France, a testament to her dedication and passion for the art of pageantry. The newly crowned Miss Global Princess South Africa Jnr Teen 2025, Mbalentle Parkie, is brimming with excitement as she embarks on a significant chapter in her flourishing career. At just 15 years old, she is set to represent South Africa on the international stage at the much-anticipated Miss Global Princess International 2025 pageant in France this October, bridging dreams and aspirations under the banner of youth empowerment. Having embarked on her pageant journey at the tender age of seven, Mbalentle is now preparing to grace the international stage, ready to compete against aspiring young women from various countries. Sharing her excitement she says this role transcends beauty; it's about leadership, confidence, and compassion. 'Being Miss Global Princess South Africa Jr Teen means embracing leadership, confidence, and compassion. It's a chance to uplift others while representing youth with purpose and pride,' she expressed exclusively to Saturday Star. With reflections on her enriching experience, Mbalentle noted, 'My journey's highlights include overcoming fear, growing in confidence, and inspiring young girls in my community who now believe they can achieve greatness too.' Asked about what makes her stand out among her peers, she cites her authenticity, strong work ethic, and unyielding passion for mental health advocacy. 'As a role model, I'll lead by example, staying grounded, supportive, and present for younger titleholders, while showing them that leadership begins with kindness and integrity,' she remarked. Delving further into her advocacy, she is dedicated to promoting youth mental health and enhancing self-esteem. Her plans include hosting workshops, raising awareness, and creating spaces where young people can feel heard and empowered. 'My future hopes are to grow as a global youth leader, use my voice to impact lives, and prove that age doesn't limit purpose or the power to bring change,' she shared with passion. In addition to her new title, Mbalentle is set to step onto the world's most renowned runway during Paris Fashion Week, showcasing global fashion while proudly representing South African culture. Encouraged by her mother, a former pageant queen, Mbalentle has carried a dream of achieving such heights since childhood. 'I've worked for this my whole life. Representing my country and walking at Paris Fashion Week is a dream come true. I'm grateful to my parents for their support and to everyone who believes in me,' she concluded. As a Grade 10 learner at Urban Academy Private School, Mbalentle balances academics with a vibrant extracurricular life as a newsroom presenter and dedicated cheerleader, excelling in mathematics and physical science. Saturday Star
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Llano County settles librarian's wrongful termination suit over book removals for $225,000
Former librarian Suzette Baker will receive $225,000 in a settlement of her wrongful termination lawsuit against Llano County, according to an agreement shared with the American-Statesman. The settlement, which will be paid by the Texas Association of Counties, marks the end of a yearlong legal battle between Baker and Llano County officials. The 58-year-old accused them of firing her in 2022 because she refused to pull library materials that a group of conservative activists had deemed inappropriate for children. Several of the books focused on race and LGBTQ+ experiences, including "They Called Us the KKK: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group" and "Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen." The targeted titles were chosen from a list compiled in 2021 by former state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth. Baker also accused county officials of suppressing her First Amendment rights by barring her and other librarians from attending public Library Advisory Board meetings during their personal and vacation time. Baker, a veteran and mom of five adult kids, has worked as a cashier at a hardware store for more than a year. While relieved the lawsuit is over, she isn't celebrating. "It's saddening that it had to come to this," she said in a phone interview with the Statesman. "But I hope it's enough to make the county stop and pay attention to the citizens and their rights and the people who know what they're doing in the libraries." Llano County Judge Ron Cunningham said the county "wholly denies" Baker's claims and was "prepared to prove it in court," he told the Statesman in a statement Friday. The Texas Association of Counties resolved the case to avoid the expense of a trial or other continuing litigation, which would have exceeded the settlement amount, he added. Cunningham also said the suit's resolution will allow the county to concentrate on everyday business, including "emergency services, maintaining our county road system, and offering vital rural health care to our citizens.' Under the terms of the agreement, Baker will never again work as a librarian in the Texas Hill Country county of Llano, roughly 80 miles northwest of Austin. She also cannot apply to or work in any other Llano County job. "I would love to be a librarian again. I wanted to be a librarian, and (the county) took that away from me," Baker said. But "that's not to say that I couldn't go someplace else and do it." More: Texas county challenges First Amendment ruling on library book bans in 5th Circuit hearing The $225,000 lump sum includes Baker's attorney's fees and all other damages, fees and costs. It could account for the expected gap between the $35,500 annual salary Baker earned as a librarian and what she has made and can expect to make in other jobs. It sends the "loud and clear" message that 'if government officials are going to trample all over their community's constitutional and civil rights, there will be financial consequences," said Iris Halpern, Baker's attorney. As part of the settlement, Baker agreed to drop all claims against the defendants in the lawsuit, who include Cunningham, county Commissioner Jerry Don Moss, Library Director Amber Milum and four women who pushed for the book removals and were later appointed to the county's Library Advisory Board. News of the book removal campaign and the resulting litigation have drawn national attention to Llano. Outside of Baker's lawsuit, the county is still waiting on a decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on a First Amendment lawsuit over the book removals. A group of Llano County library patrons sued the county in April 2022, arguing that it violated a precedent barring government officials and librarians in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana from removing books 'simply because they dislike the ideas within them.' An Austin federal district judge partly ruled in their favor before the county appealed that decision. Led by attorney Jonathan Mitchell, the county has argued that the precedent lets federal courts meddle too much in local public libraries' book purchases and removals. Mitchell has also argued that those county curation decisions are 'government speech, immune from First Amendment scrutiny.' While the case is pending, officials have frozen book purchases for the county's three public libraries. According to Mitchell, a former Texas solicitor general who represented President Donald Trump in a case over Colorado ballot eligibility, the dispute could eventually make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. More: How a national dispute over library books is fracturing a small Texas town In August, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman found that Baker had plausible claims for First Amendment retaliation, wrongful termination and employment discrimination in an order denying the county's motion to dismiss the case. The ruling made clear that officials would have to settle or take the matter to trial. Baker's lawsuit was seeking back pay, attorney's fees and an injunction ordering the county to cease behavior that discriminates against minorities and suppresses residents' First Amendment rights. As their defense against the lawsuit, the county's lawyers argued that Baker was fired for setting up a display about the "highly charged and emotional issue" of censorship in the library and posting on the library's social media account against orders from higher-ups, according to court filings. They also argued Baker did not have sufficient evidence to prove Llano County officials had unconstitutional or discriminatory motivations for their actions. The settlement was first announced in early March, days before a documentary film about Baker's story was featured at the South by Southwest festival in Austin. Cunningham said county officials are "glad to put this behind us and focus our energy on the important government services that Llano County provides." Baker, for her part, said the payout proves "there is legal recourse if we stand up for the rights of the citizens in this state. There is protection for the librarians in this state." However, she sees a long road ahead for those who oppose restrictions on library books. "The war is on," she said. "But we won this battle." More: A conservative nonprofit got $80k for a Texas book-ban battle. Llano County hasn't seen it This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas county settles fired librarian's lawsuit for $225,000
WIRED
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
‘Katamari Damacy' Creator's New Game Is About Teen Angst, Cute Dogs, and Eye Boogers
Mar 28, 2025 7:00 AM Keita Takahashi talks about his latest game, To a T , which lets you navigate teenage hardships while your hands are stuck in a T-pose. Still from to a T. Courtesy of XBOX As a child, beloved Japanese game developer Keita Takahashi was picked on in school, so he never felt like going. His latest game, To a T , emulates some of those challenges. It tells the story of Teen—a kid struggling to fit in, dealing with eye boogers, and finding themselves through song and exploration, all while their arms are inexplicably stuck in a T-pose. To a T, to be released by Annapurna Interactive May 28, follows Takahashi's trajectory of creating colorful, playful games that are undeniably cute but incredibly odd. His best-known game, Katamari Damacy , is about rolling up everything in sight, from pens to people, in an ever-growing ball, featuring an unforgettable soundtrack and the most flamboyant king to ever grace games. Others, like 2019's Wattam , are eccentric, vibrant, and full of poop. Created with the game studio Uvula, To a T follows Teen's struggles navigating the bathroom, getting dressed, and dealing with bullies as their arms are trapped in a T. Fortunately Teen's dog, a shockingly adept creature who puts modern service dogs to shame, is there to help whenever Teen needs an extra set of movable hands. (Annapurna Interactive aptly describes Teen's furry helper as being 'a very cute dog.') The episodic tale opens with an upbeat song about the game (not to be confused with 'The Giraffe Song,' sung in a teaser video by Rebecca Sugar). During a brief demo I played, I guided Teen through washing their face, picking outfits, and getting ready for school. Hoping for some deeper insights into the game, I tracked down Takahashi at an Xbox event in San Francisco during GDC, where he was hiding in a back corner away from the bustle of the day and the bar. But, while he's loath to answer too many questions about his game and what it all means, he'll still gamely, gently troll anyone who comes his way. Below is an abbreviated version of a very puzzling interview. WIRED: Tell me a little bit about what is, generally, going on in this game. Keita Takahashi: [ Laughs ] What's generally going on with this game? We'll start there. It's a game about a teenager who's stuck as a T-pose and trying to figure out where the T-pose is coming from. It's a game about—umm. [ Long pause ] Do I need to explain? [ Another long pause ] No. [ Laughs ] That's fair. Who is this character? How would you describe them? A teenager, 13-years-old, female or male, whatever I mean, I don't care—stuck in a T-pose, for some reason. What makes T the perfect pose? Because it's perfect! You are perfect. I think it's just perfect. What do you think the hardest thing to do when you're T-posed is? Go to the bathroom. That's why the dog helps [with] everything. Changing the clothing, bathroom, washing your face. I've never played a game that had me start by going to the bathroom. Really? Yeah. Why? WIRED: It's an excellent question. Tell me about the decision to— Decision? [ Laughs ] Yeah, decisions, yes. I decided. Because our life could be more fun. What do you think would make life more fun? The path that you had before, then forgot—when you were younger, and there was more fun. People, for some reason—it's easy to forget. What do you think people lose from kids to adulthood? What do you think? How much time you got? What do you think? Hmm. I don't know why it's easy for other people to forget more innocent or pure [times.] I don't know why! Did making this game help you rediscover innocence for yourself? I'm not a teacher. [ Laughs ] I don't want to push my soul to the people. I just want people to get some perspective on what a video game can do, rather than fighting or RPG stuff. This is for the next generation of game devs. They don't need to stick to a platformer or something. They can make a new genre or category of game. What genre would you call To a T ? No. [ Laughs ] I hate the concept of a genre. It's just a marketing tool. You know, what Beyoncé said. ['I believe genres are traps that box us in and separate us,' Beyoncé said in a GQ interview.] The concept of the genre is kind of funny. That's right! It's hard to define your games, but I'm curious how you, when forced into a corner by a red-headed journalist from WIRED, define your video games. That's part of the reason why I'm making this game. What's the definition of a video game? It's—no wait, no, this is an interview of you. [ Laughs ] What do you think is a video game? At least interactivity. That's it. I just realized, what I want to do is make people smile and have fun. It doesn't need to be interactivity, or it doesn't need to be video game video games. I can make a cartoon or animation to make people have fun and laugh. This time, I just don't care about the genre or what the video game is. This is just what I want to make. I had another question but … I forgot. That's OK. Just forget.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Miss Teen USA contestant who overcame childhood homelessness killed in horrific Florida crash
An 18-year-old Miss Teen USA pageant queen who survived childhood homelessness and an abusive mother was killed in a car crash, according to reports. Kadance Fredericksen, a student at Baker School in Okaloosa County, died after the car she was driving collided head-on with a tractor-trailer on a highway around 1.30 p.m. Monday, WKRG reported. The other driver suffered minor injuries, the outlet reported. In 2024, she was given the title of Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA. She had just received acceptances to nine colleges and planned on becoming a veterinarian, her family told WKRG. Miss Florida and Teen Florida USA Family released a statement in the wake of the tragedy: 'Our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul - one who was a true light in this world. She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters.' The statement continued: 'Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and all who are mourning this devastating loss. May we honor her memory by carrying forward the light she so effortlessly shared with the world and our Florida pageant community. Forever our queen.' 'Kadance was a beacon of light in our community, known for her compassion, tireless advocacy for children in need, and unwavering dedication to making a difference,' Baker School Principal Michael Martello told WEAR-TV a statement, referring to her advocacy work. She founded Kada's Promise in 2017, which provides teddy bears and blankets to children in foster care, homeless shelters, abuse shelters and hospitals. Her inspiration for the program stemmed from her firsthand experience. During her childhood, Fredericksen's mother was abusive and she struggled with hunger and homelessness while 'being groomed by her biological mother's husband,' a statement on the Kada's Promise website reads. 'During many dark times in my early childhood, the only thing that I could call my own or that made me feel safe was a single teddy bear that I received as a gift,' she said. Her biological father and stepmother gained custody at some point and in 2017 her stepmother formally adopted her. She wrote: 'I am so blessed that my pain was temporary and now I get to use my story to temporarily take someone else's pain away."
