Latest news with #TheAndyGriffithShow
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
16-year-old Henry Buckley becomes the US' youngest male judge, recognised by Guinness World Records
Source: Guinness World Records In an incredible achievement for American civic engagement, 16-year-old Henry Buckley of Hingham, Massachusetts, has officially been declared the United States' youngest male judge. Sworn in as a Justice of the Peace only three days after turning 16 years old, Henry now stands on a record-breaking achievement certified by Guinness World Records . His success is both legally valid and symbolically potent, proving that age does not represent a bar to public service when approached with dedication and talent. US declared Henry Buckley as 'youngest male judge' at 16 One of the main reasons Henry's appointment was possible is Massachusetts's liberal legislation. In contrast to most states with stringent age requirements for public office, Massachusetts has no minimum age requirement for the position of Justice of the Peace. The major requirements are simple: the candidate must be a registered voter, be a resident of the commonwealth, and there has to be a vacancy. Henry, who fit all of these qualifications, jumped at the chance and went through a formal selection process, even though he was years younger than the average appointee. Henry's passion for public service was ignited early in life. Raised in a politically active family, he was close to his grandfather, a well-respected lawyer involved in state politics. But it wasn't only living individuals that influenced him. "I was inspired by The Andy Griffith Show. Andy Taylor was Sheriff and Justice of the Peace, and I wanted to replicate that in my own community," Henry explained to Guinness World Records. This combination of real-life and TV role models gave him a sense of responsibility and the motivation to make concrete contributions to his community. How Henry secured his Justice of the Peace role Although his age was a surprise, Henry's professionalism and determination impressed his community and state leaders. To be considered, he: Gathered four signatures for his application. Obtained a letter of reference from a respected member of his community. Turned in the completed application to the Office of the Governor. His appointment was subsequently ratified by Governor Maura T. Healey and referred to the Governor's Council, which approved his appointment unanimously. Once commissioned, he took oath and officially became a Justice of the Peace. Duties and responsibilities of a Massachusetts Justice of the Peace Massachusetts Justices of the Peace hold office for seven years, with the following duties: Notarizing legal documents Conducting civil marriages Taking depositions Maintaining public peace (if required) Although Henry was never called on to serve in law enforcement, his work was anything but ceremonial. He served purposefully by notarizing papers and even co-writing a Justice of the Peace guide utilized across the state. "I was under legal obligation to enforce public peace legislation," he said, "but I was never in a position to be forced into active enforcement." Henry's impact extends beyond his judicial role Henry's civic involvement went beyond the call of obligation. While in office, he testified in the Massachusetts state legislature regarding mental health reform and voting rights for children, topics he cares deeply about. His work as an advocate is part of a larger dedication to the public good and the rights of young voices in government. Even though Henry resigned from his seat in February to seek out wider opportunities, he is unwavering in his commitment to public service. He will pursue law school, following the course of leadership and activism that he set at age 16. "It's not just a title – to be a Justice of the Peace is an opportunity to lead and make a difference," he stated. "At a young age, I showed that our generation has what it takes to do big things. " Also Read | World's richest family 'The Waltons' wealth surpasses the GDP of Greece, Hungary and Iran
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Meet the Massachusetts teen who made history as youngest male judge in the US at 16: ‘People have trouble believing'
In a historic achievement that has inspired many, a teenager from Hingham, Massachusetts, became the youngest male judge in the United States. At just 16 years and three days old, Henry Buckley was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace, serving alongside officials more than twice his age, reported Guinness World Records. 'People still have trouble believing me when I tell them that I was a Justice of the Peace, which is understandable,' Henry told Guinness World Records. The high school student, passionate about public service, was not deterred by his age. Henry had been politically inclined from an early age, influenced by his grandfather, a well-known attorney active in Massachusetts politics. His other major inspiration came from television. 'In the show, the main character, Andy Taylor, is the town's beloved Sheriff and Justice of the Peace, and I wanted to play a similar role in my town, Hingham,' he shared, referring to The Andy Griffith Show. Though the journey to becoming a Justice of the Peace is complex, Massachusetts law places no age restriction on the position. Candidates must simply be registered voters and residents of the commonwealth, and a vacancy must exist. Henry met all the requirements, and after a detailed process, his appointment was confirmed. 'After getting four signatures on an application and a reference letter from a member of my community, I submitted my application to the Governor's Office where it would be vetted,' he said. 'Governor Maura T. Healey then nominated me, and my application was sent to the Governor's Council where I was unanimously confirmed. After I received my commission, I was sworn in and formally became a Justice of the Peace.' Justice of the Peace appointees typically serve for seven years, performing a range of duties such as notarizing documents, conducting marriages, taking depositions, and even maintaining public order if required. 'Although I was never called upon to take bail or hear criminal complaints, it was within my purview,' Henry explained. 'I did, however, notarize documents and helped to publish a JP handbook that is used statewide. Since a JP is a type of law enforcement officer, called a 'conservator of the peace', I was legally bound to enforce public peace laws, but I was never put in a situation that required me to 'keep the peace'.' His commitment extended beyond administrative tasks. Henry testified before the Massachusetts legislature on youth voting rights and mental health reform, issues he deeply cares about. Also read: CEO shares deceptively simple interview question he's asked for 15 years: 'Apple or Android?' Though he stepped down from his role in February to explore other public service avenues, Henry remains dedicated to his community and aims to attend law school. 'Being a Justice of the Peace means that you're a leading figure in your community. The title comes with weight and that influence can be used to harness meaningful change,' he said. 'As a young person, I was able to prove that we, the up and coming generation, can do anything.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Memorial Day parade and event scheduled in Mazeppa
MAZEPPA — A long-standing Memorial Day tradition will kick off in Union County on May 25. The Mazeppa Union Church at 3200 Johnson Mill Road will host the annual Memorial Day Parade at 6 p.m. May 25. It will be followed by a ceremony in the church cemetery with special guest speaker Don Turner. "This is a great community event," church secretary/treasurer Hazel Roush said. "It draws the people together. They sit on their porches all through Mazeppa. It's a great community gathering to honor those who sacrificed everything for us." The parade forms in the area of Thomas' Garage, 2499 Johnson Mill Road, and travels through Mazeppa toward the Union Church cemetery. Fire companies, residents and community organizations are part of the parade, Roush said. Turner, a veteran from Mazeppa who served in the U.S. Army during Operation Desert Storm, will speak during the ceremony, she said. The event has special music and a 22-gun salute by the American Legion. The ceremony is followed by an ice cream social in the community center sponsored by the Good Time 4-H Club, Roush said. Doug Walter, of the nonprofit Union County Veterans Foundation, is a former organizer of the event. The parade and ceremony remind Walter of Mayberry, a fictional community that was the setting of the television sitcom "The Andy Griffith Show" in the 1960s. "It's hometown America the way it should be and small-town America at its best," Walter said. "It's small and simple, and that's what makes it special."
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Andy Griffith Show' 65 Years Later: Love, Laughter and Untold Stories From the Set
Ron Howard learned the brutal limits of TV make-believe when he was handed an ice cream cone on the set of The Andy Griffith Show. 'The hot lights melted any frozen dessert in a matter of seconds, so my cones were filled with cold, lumpy mashed potatoes,' he recalled. 'I mean, try licking that and smiling ear to ear as a 6-year-old. Now that is some acting to be proud of.' From 1960 to 1968, The Andy Griffith Show welcomed viewers to Mayberry, North Carolina, a fictional town populated by a diverse group of colorful characters. Wise, good-natured Sheriff Andy Taylor, played by Andy Griffith, served as the voice of reason and the sensible hub which all storylines revolved around. 'The show is about friendship,' Daniel de Visé, the brother-in-law of Barney Fife actor Don Knotts and the author of Andy & Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show, exclusively tells Closer. 'All of Mayberry is one big family. They all love each other, protect each other, and look out for each other.' Andy created the series as a reaction to his acclaimed performance as ambitious and egomaniacal 'Lonesome' Rhodes in 1957's A Face in the Crowd. This dark political satire made Andy a movie star, but filming it exacted a real psychological toll. 'I don't ever want to do that again,' Andy told Ron, according to the Opie actor's 2021 The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family. 'I like to laugh when I'm working.' Ron noted that Andy also viewed the humorous, but largely realistic small-town characters that populated Mayberry as a good contrast to the southern stereotypes of 'mush-mouthed hayseeds' and 'buxom sexpots' on 1960s TV series like The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction. 'Andy was proud of where he came from,' said Ron. 'One of his major motivations for the sitcom was to portray his world with humanity and depth.' Widower Andy Taylor and his son, Opie, were introduced to the American public in early 1960 on an episode of The Danny Thomas Show, where Danny is arrested on a driving violation in Mayberry. 'Don [Knotts] saw our appearance on Danny Thomas's show,' recalled Ron. 'So he called Andy and said, 'Don't you think your sheriff could use a deputy?'' Andy and Don had met years earlier in New York City, where they bonded over being guys from small southern towns trying to make it on Broadway. In 1958, they also costarred in the military comedy No Time for Sergeants. 'They were very good friends who had a lot of fun together,' Don's daughter, Karen Knotts, author of Tied Up In Knotts: My Dad and Me, told Closer. 'They loved comparing notes and telling stories. That was their main bond, the small towns they grew up in.' Don, who was more thoughtful, calm and intelligent than Barney, based his neurotic character on his younger self. Born in West Virginia, he spent his childhood with an alcoholic and schizophrenic father who terrorized his family. 'He was emotionally very volatile and lived in a lot of fear and anxiety,' explained Karen. 'He didn't have a protector like Andy and I think he wished he had that.' Andy looked out for everyone on the set. When Howard McNear, who played Floyd the Barber, suffered a serious stroke in the third season, Andy made it possible for him to return to the show. 'Andy, ever magnanimous, didn't want to lose Howard or the Floyd character,' said Ron, who explained that the crew rigged a special chair allowing Howard to sit for his scenes. His wife Helen was invited to accompany him to work to assist. Alabama-born and bred Jim Nabors joined the show as Gomer Pyle after Andy saw his comedy act at a nightclub in Santa Monica, California, and invited him to audition. 'I had never acted before and it scared the heck out of me,' Jim told Closer about his first day on the job. Andy did his best to set Jim at ease. 'He called in all the cast and all of the techs together before we started shooting. He said, 'Listen up everybody, our guest star this week is Jim Nabors. Now, ya'll be nice to him and help him in any way you can because he ain't never done this before.'' Frances Bavier, the actress who played Aunt Bee, offered some excellent advice that day. 'She was watching me behind the camera in my first scene,' recalled Jim. 'She knew I came out of nightclubs and that was very physical. She said, 'You don't have to do all that. The camera never misses anything. Just do the lines that you're already doing well.' Everybody was so nice.' It's been said that Frances, a New York born and bred theater actor, didn't mesh with Andy. 'I never saw anything of the sort,' said Ron. 'My picture of Frances is of an elegant, urbane woman who simply chose to stay out of the fray … She generally spent her breaks reading The New York Times and doing the crossword puzzle.' Despite its popularity, longevity and excellent storytelling, The Andy Griffith Show was never beloved by critics. 'It was almost an uphill battle,' de Visé said. 'Just look at the total number of Emmy awards reaped by The Andy Griffith Show compared with, say, The Dick Van Dyke Show. They were both wonderful shows, both incidentally created by Sheldon Leonard, but The Dick Van Dyke Show won many more Emmy awards.' The Andy Griffith Show has, however, stood the test of time better than many of its contemporaries. It remains Andy's greatest legacy. 'As a father, a leader, a friend, and a neighbor, Andy left us with a character with strong values,' actress Nancy Stafford, who worked with the star on his later series Matlock, told Closer. 'They're characters that embody the best of American values and have bettered our culture, not diminished it.'
Buzz Feed
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
People Who Are Related To Celebrities Revealed How Their Fame Affected Family Gatherings And Events
It's always wild to find out when a ~regular~ person is related to a celebrity. So my attention was grabbed when I came across a few older Reddit threads (this one, this one, and this one from a few months ago) where people related to celebrities talked about what it's like and how their relative's fame affected family gatherings and events. Here are their fascinating stories: Note: Obviously, we cannot verify these stories as 100% fact, so take it all on faith! 1. "Matt McConaughey is my second cousin. He acts normal with us, but the bastard has yet to deliver me a Buick for the bully I beat up for him 38 years ago... Though he does always bring the best booze to the parties." 2. "I only discovered that Don Knotts is my 3rd cousin a few years ago. It explains something my grandmother used to say when The Andy Griffith Show was on when I was a kid. In the opening, when Barney Fife appeared, she always said, 'There's our Jesse,' but I had no idea what she meant. Turns out Don's full name was Jesse Donald Knotts, and when he was little, he went by Jesse, so that is how she always thought of him. He and my dad were both born in 1924, so they would play together at family events when they were young, but I don't think they had any contact after they graduated HS." 3. "Sean Young is a second aunt by marriage. I've never known her very well. She comes to family gatherings every few years. But most of the patriarch and matrix have passed, so I don't plan on seeing her again. The last time I saw her was at a Christmas party. She said that a fur coat was her 'self-confidence.' I rolled my eyes pretty hard." 4. "Related to Keanu Reeves. We have a Reeves ohana gathering every year in Hawai'i, and he never comes. Which, I don't blame him at all, his dad was not a good father. So I assume, besides being a busy actor, he doesn't come because that burned the bridges with our family. My dad sometimes mentions Keanu when the reunions happen, about how he doesn't visit. It's not in a bitter way or anything, just sometimes the little cousins ask. I haven't met all my family in Hawai'i yet because I live on the mainland, but I do know at least a few people are salty about it. Other than that, my cousins look up to him and get excited when he's in a movie. Even if the kids aren't allowed to watch because of violence, they see a movie poster and look all awe-struck. So cute." 5. "I'm related (distantly) to Elvis Presley. Went to the Presley family reunion years back. It was fucking stupid. Tried to get me to pay $20 for a plate of food. At a family reunion! FWIW, traditionally, family reunions in my area are a potluck-type deal where everyone brings food, and a pay-per-plate idea would be absurd. We would have brought a dish, but were basically instructed not to and then surprised at the steep, per person, per plate price." 6. "Okay, technically not a relative, but my wife was childhood friends with family of Viggo Mortensen. She got to hang out with him after he shot Lord of the Rings but before it was released. Said he was a very cool guy, extremely laidback, and fun to have a beer with. Her friend spent her childhood hanging out with him on summer vacations and has yet to have a bad thing to say about him." 7. "Spouse is related to David Tennant. I did not know this until after we were married (my spouse was born in America). Has not impacted my life at all except I got to meet him during my first trip to London. Their family scored us tickets to Much Ado About Nothing, and we saw David and Catherine Tate after the show. Nothing bad to say about either of them; they were both lovely and effusive, and Tennant gave us both a hug even though neither of us had ever met him before. Spouse had a brief chat about mutual acquaintances in the family, and then we left." 8. "My uncle is Sinbad (the comedian/actor). He is married to my biological aunt on my dad's side, so I am not his blood relation, but his kids and wife are blood-related to me. We go on vacations with them every summer and have for the past six or so years. We didn't for a while when he and my aunt were separated, but after they got back together, we now see that family at least once a year. At first, it was a little annoying having to stop every couple of minutes because someone asked for a picture, but eventually, he stopped posing for pictures while with us. He just says, 'Sorry, I'm with my family' now. Nothing terribly exciting, but he has been famous since I was born, so I didn't get a before-and-after experience. The coolest thing was going to Disney /Universal with him. We got the VIP treatment and skipped every line." 9. "My wife is a distant relative of Tom Hanks. It doesn't affect her at all. It affects me because she reminds me of it every time he is mentioned on the TV." 10. "Megan Fox is my first cousin once removed (her mother and my grandfather are brother and sister). She's six years older than me, so there are plenty of pictures of us playing together while growing up, but once she got older, she quickly shifted into modeling and moved from Tennessee to Florida to pursue it. She then got into movies and, as you know, made it rather big. The last time she was in town to visit was about 12 years ago. She came for Christmas, and everything seemed normal until she whipped out the stack of headshots she had brought to sign for us to take back to our friends and such. She did make it a point to call my grandfather when he had his heart attack back in 2014, so not all is lost in fame. The headshots thing was just a tad comical." 11. "I had an aunt that had a bit role in a commercial. It was for LifeCall; she was the old lady lying on the ground who said 'I've fallen and I can't get up!' She was a scream and must have done that line a thousand times during our family dinners. Even though everybody in North America has seen that commercial dozens of times, she only got recognized a couple of times. She was once recognized in a mall and laid down on the floor and said the line; people were cheering and clapping." 12. "My grandfather was Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts (Charlie Brown). I don't really know how it affected my family gatherings because my family hasn't been together for a long time for other reasons. But I do know that for a few members of the family, the comics are really important to them, and they really pride themselves in their involvement with them." 13. "My dad was the nephew of Patsy Cline. He met her when he was a young boy, and he said, 'She was a very pretty, very sweet lady.' And yes, we are all super crazy!" 14. "My third cousin on my mom's side is Rob Bourdon, drummer of Linkin Park. I met him ONCE in 2001 at a family party, literally right before 'In the End' got big. I was, like, 5, but he was so nice to me, especially since it was shortly after our grandfather's death and I was taking it pretty hard. Unfortunately, a lot of the more Catholic folks in my family got pretty pissy at him because he announced an interest in Judaism, and I haven't spoken to him since. I would love to talk to him, but I don't wanna look like those family members who would probably want a handout. The memories my cousins and I have of him were of a goofy, cool dude who is very talented." 15. "She passed away long ago. My great-aunt was Maria Felix. She was an icon in Mexico and well-known in France and Italy. The famous house of Cartier even custom-made jewelry for her, and she was given the keys to the city of Paris. Never personally met her, but my great-grandmother grew up with her since their mothers were sisters. They stayed in touch until she moved abroad and became too famous." 16. "I'm a relative of Richard Gere. He's not on the Christmas card list or anything so I can't really speak as to what he's like in person, but I do remember him being at a family gathering a couple of years before Pretty Woman shot him to stardom. He was pretty much just a normal dude eating a burger." 17. "My ex was related to Seamus Heaney, an Irish poet that was very famous in Ireland, from what I understand. We stayed at his house a few years ago, and I had never heard of him. He was just lovely, like a grandpa you would love to have. Very humble and normal house. Ex's mum kept bigging him up, but Seamus and his wife were just normal people. The weird thing was walking into bookstores and seeing his face everywhere, then going back home to have lunch with him or chat to him about life." 18. "My aunt is Xena the Warrior Princess (Lucy Lawless) and absolutely nothing at family gatherings. She is just our aunt. We got stopped a couple times in New Orleans by people who recognized her. Back in New Zealand when her show was going on, some little girls would come up and want to take pics. She's one of the nicest people to talk to and never acts like a celebrity. I have gotten to do some very cool stuff in my life which I'll never take for granted because of her kindness! Hey Lucy! I'll let you guess which one of us it is if you're out there!" ©Universal Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection — KnuckleCurve01 19. "I'm related to J.K. Rowling, and to be honest, it doesn't affect family gatherings at all. Either people whisper about her from afar or go up and have a conversation with her. Most people don't make a big deal of it, and she does the same and just chats to anyone that speaks to her. The biggest reaction I ever get is when someone finds out I'm related to her haha!" Bruce Glikas / Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic — jack_hughez 20. "My cousin is Rowan Atkinson. I forget how we are related, but I think my dad is either his uncle or grand-uncle. I only really met him when I was a baby... I'm 25 now and can't remember much, but my dad told me he used to visit my uncle's farm regularly. I wish it could be more exciting than it is ha!" Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland/WireImage — pepsiofdeath 21. "My uncle is Steve Smith, aka Red Green, the Canadian handyman comedy show from the '90s. We used to all gather in the '90s and '00s when our generation had wedding season. He was always the life of the party without ever trying. If there was a lull in conversation, he'd pipe in with something hysterical and have the whole table laughing. Never tried, he was just a natural and would never interrupt anyone else. He's a very kind and wonderful guy." RedGreenTV / Via "We'd go to tapings of the show and would howl, not only at the show but at the 'countrified' studio audience. It was all in good fun. I think the only effect it had at gatherings was on our very excited significant others meeting him for the first time. We only gather once in a while now as he's winding down a bit — he's in his 70s now and enjoying semi-retirement (still doing shows). The fam tells me we bear a strong resemblance which is nice." — snakelord 22. "Related to Kings of Leon through marriage, pretty cool group of guys. We have a family reunion every May and hang out and play horseshoes etc., just like everyone else. It's kind of funny because even here in my tiny little town, they still act like they're going to be bombarded by fans, but literally no one recognizes them." Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images — GabberFlasm 23. "My uncle is Dr. Demento. He's a really cool guy. Insanely knowledgeable about music and music history. He is totally cool at family gatherings." Vinnie Zuffante / Getty Images — CopyCenterPhil 24. And finally, one that is not a "celebrity," but certainly someone famous: "My ex-wife is related to Richard Ramirez, yes, 'The Night Stalker.' He came up at EVERY single family gathering big or small. They would talk about him for hours. Same stories, same reactions. As the years went by, he slowly started to disappear from the conversations. Then he goes and makes national news when he dies. We were already divorced when it happened, but that did not stop her family from reaching out to me and telling me, in detail, all about his life and death. It still comes up every time I come across any of them. Can't tell if it's pride or sorrow." Bettmann / Bettmann Archive —deleted Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
