Latest news with #TennesseeAquarium
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
14 Best Affordable Cities for Retirees Whose Grandkids Visit Often
Retirement is an opportunity to enjoy life in a place that feels right. For grandparents, that often means living somewhere affordable, with reliable healthcare and where it's easy for family to visit. Explore More: Consider This: Whether it's a quick drive, a regional train or a short flight away, strong transportation links help make those special moments with grandchildren more frequent. If your grandkids are regular guests, the ideal city will also offer parks, museums and activities they'll love. Below, listed in alphabetical order, are some of the best affordable cities where retirees can enjoy comfort, connection and time with their families. Boise offers a warm blend of nature, community and comfort, ideal for grandparents who want to stay active and connected to family. Its strong healthcare system, low crime rate and friendly, small-town atmosphere make it easy to feel at home. With abundant parks, scenic trails and riverfront spaces, there are countless ways to enjoy the outdoors and create lasting memories with visiting grandchildren. Trending Now: Chattanooga is known for its affordability and stunning natural surroundings, including the Tennessee River and nearby mountains. With attractions like the Tennessee Aquarium and ample outdoor spaces for hiking and biking, it offers many ways to enjoy time with family in a beautiful setting. Columbus combines a low cost of living with excellent medical facilities and a lively cultural scene. The city is home to numerous parks, children's museums and family attractions that make visits with grandchildren memorable and fun. Its diverse neighborhoods offer something for everyone. Des Moines is known for its low cost of living, reliable healthcare and safe, clean environment. The city's manageable size and light traffic make it easy to navigate, while the airport offers convenient flight options. There are plenty of family-friendly events, parks and museums to enjoy year-round. Fayetteville is a peaceful retreat with a mild climate and a low cost of living. Surrounded by nature, it offers retirees plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors with their grandkids. A strong community spirit and regional airport make regular family visits both welcome and easy. Fort Wayne is known for its affordable housing and vibrant neighborhoods. The city offers access to medical facilities, parks and a riverfront trail. With community festivals, playgrounds and a family-friendly atmosphere, it's an inviting place to spend time with grandchildren. Grand Rapids blends affordable living with top-tier medical care. Attractions like the Grand Rapids Public Museum, John Ball Zoo and the city's many theaters and green spaces make it appealing for both retirees and their grandchildren. Greenville features a mild climate and Southern hospitality. With affordable homes, scenic parks and a steady stream of family-friendly events, it's a relaxing and engaging place to welcome grandchildren. The area's transportation options help keep visits convenient and stress-free. Madison is a lively college town with a high standard of living and a strong sense of community. Residents enjoy excellent healthcare and a wide range of cultural and recreational activities, including lakeside parks and museums. The city is easy to get around and its airport connects travelers to major destinations. Pittsburgh is an excellent choice for retirees, combining affordability, quality healthcare and cultural vibrancy. It's home to top-ranked medical facilities like the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and features several family-friendly attractions and children's museums — perfect for entertaining visiting grandchildren. With an international airport nearby, travel is convenient and staying connected with loved ones is easy. Raleigh boasts excellent healthcare, beautiful neighborhoods and vibrant cultural options. Its mild weather is ideal for year-round outdoor fun. The city's strong transportation infrastructure makes travel simple, whether for holidays or spontaneous family visits. Richmond grants residents a well-rounded mix of affordability, cultural attractions, a strong healthcare system and a high quality of life that makes it especially appealing to retirees. The city features historic neighborhoods, engaging museums, scenic gardens and riverfront parks, creating plenty of opportunities to enjoy time with visiting grandchildren. Sarasota offers a beachside lifestyle with the perk of no state income tax. It's known for excellent hospitals, senior services and a lively arts scene. Grandchildren will love the beaches, marine life exhibits and kid-friendly attractions like Mote Marine Laboratory and Jungle Gardens. Tulsa combines low housing costs with quality healthcare in a community filled with parks, arts and family activities. Weekends can be spent exploring green spaces or attending local festivals. The city offers easy access to highways and airports for smooth travel to and from family. More From GOBankingRates 10 Genius Things Warren Buffett Says To Do With Your Money How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State? This article originally appeared on 14 Best Affordable Cities for Retirees Whose Grandkids Visit Often
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Saving The Laurel Dace: Tennessee Community Unites To Protect A Rare Backyard Fish
In the cool, clear waters flowing down Walden Ridge, a fish no bigger than your pinky holds a story of survival, science, and community spirit. The laurel dace, a brightly colored minnow found nowhere else in the world, nearly vanished in the summer of 2024. That's when an exceptional drought hit Southeast Tennessee, drying up the two remaining streams — Youngs Creek and Bumby Creek — that are home to the last of its kind. 'We saw over the course of just, you know, maybe eight weeks, these streams go from flowing to some isolated pools to drying up, to glorified mud puddles,' said Helaina Gomez, watershed conservation coordinator at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute. Her team decided it was time to intervene. The fish's survival is not just a matter of saving a species, but also healing a landscape. Years of intensive land use, like compacted soil and plastic-covered crops, have led to runoff problems, reduced groundwater recharge, and murky, sediment-filled streams, which can be a deadly combination for a fish that relies on sight to feed and spawn. (MORE: America's Rivers Are In Crisis) Gomez and her team, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, raced to rescue as many fish as they could. In total, 299 laurel dace were saved and brought into human care, split between the Aquarium's facilities and Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery to form an 'assurance population' in case disaster struck the wild population again. The rescued fish spent the winter in what Gomez called 'ICU-level' care. By March 2025, thanks to steady winter rains and diligent stream monitoring, conditions had improved enough for most of the fish to be released back into the wild – just in time for spring spawning season. 'It was perfect timing,' Gomez said. 'We were able to release them back into their native habitats just before they got ready to create the next generation.' A small group of 60 laurel dace remains in human care - a genetic lifeline and backup colony should the species face future environmental catastrophes. But Gomez and her team know that real success lies in the fish's return to its native habitat, and that's where the town of Spring City comes in. Spring City, nestled at the base of the Cumberland Plateau, has embraced the laurel dace as its own. On May 1, 2025, local leaders officially named it the town's fish and declared Saturday, May 17, as Laurel Dace Day, falling on the day after national Endangered Species Day. (MORE: Endangered Butterfly Thrives In Unlikely Weather Twist) 'The town has really rallied behind this fish,' Gomez said. 'The same impacts that the laurel dace is facing with this sediment in the streams, are impacting the town of Spring City.' The community celebration on May 17 will feature a 5K fundraiser, family-friendly activities, and educational booths. Proceeds will go toward ongoing monitoring and conservation of the laurel dace. Looking ahead, the hope is that this event won't be a one-time celebration, but the start of something lasting. 'I'm excited for the day to come, and see all of our efforts partnering with the different community members in action,' Gomez shared. 'So I'm really looking forward to a potential follow-up on the success of that day. Hopefully, we can make it an annual event.' This project highlights more than just science: It's a model for connection. 'It's a wonderful example of efforts paying off and the ability to work together with a community and to involve the people who live in this area with protecting a species,' she added. (MORE: Forest Trolls Hope To Inspire Recycling And Protect Trees) That sense of connection is at the heart of the mission. 'When you see something as beautiful as the laurel dace, you understand its story,' Gomez said. 'And you're able to find those little connections about what's impacting this fish is also impacting my life—the ability to access clean water, the ability to turn on the tap and have water there.' Ultimately, the goal is simple but powerful: 'Literally put the laurel dace in front of people so that they can see, you know, what we get to see…and they can feel connected to it and want to be engaged and involved in protecting the fish that is only found in their backyard.' This spring, in the fresh waters of two mountain streams, the next generation of laurel dace is already wriggling to life, and Spring City is making sure it won't be the last. lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities. MORE ON Lucky Turtle Outsmarts Redding Eagles A Sinking Island's Bold Plan To Escape Rising Seas Can Dogs Sense Storms Before Humans?
