Latest news with #TheCabin
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Boise confronts growth: 7 articles examine housing, hazards and public needs
Stories by Idaho Statesman journalists, with AI summarization Boise is tackling complex challenges as its population grows and needs intensify. A Boise State study shows supportive housing like New Path has saved $9 million in emergency services, but homelessness is rising as affordable housing remains scarce. Residents have voiced concerns over dense developments like the 200-apartment building on Federal Way and worry about safety in fire-prone neighborhoods with only a single road for evacuation. Climate change is also taking a toll, with extreme heat and wildfire smoke halting road maintenance projects. Amid these pressures, the city weighs historic preservation against redevelopment, as seen with the threatened demolition of the Nathan Smith House and approval of new infill apartments. Hundreds of residents of three subdivisions in Southeast Boise near Micron have only one escape route: Columbia Road. Developers have plans for more homes. | Published November 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger January count shows 14% jump in homelessness in Ada County since last year. Official says rising housing cost, lack of housing stock drive the increase. | Published November 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler 2024 was an 'abnormal' year, but it may become the new normal, a top Ada County Highway District official says. | Published November 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler The Cabin, a long-running literary arts nonprofit that has attracted national and international talent, is expanding near the Boise River Greenbelt. | Published January 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger Neighbors argued the building was too tall, was too dense and didn't fit the character of the neighborhood. It could start going up near Boise State University soon. | Published February 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger Hundreds of Boiseans opposed the project, saying it could expose children to asbestos, cause traffic headaches and change the neighborhood. The Boise School District voted to buy it instead. | Published February 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger Fire damage makes it 'impossible to justify the financial implications,' according to a Boise construction company. But 'with enough money anything … can be repaired.' | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
The Courier
27-04-2025
- The Courier
The best paddleboarding spots near Stirling
With the Trossachs on its doorstep, those living in or visiting Stirling and the surrounding area are spoiled for choice when it comes to places for paddleboarding. If you're new to stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), there are plenty of local guides who can get you started. Remember to wear a personal flotation device, as well as checking both the weather and water levels before heading out. Loch Ard is one of the most beautiful spots in the local area. And, with an island in the middle and dramatic landscapes, it's a great place to enjoy some paddleboarding. This location is suitable for all experience levels, with gentle waters and shallower parts. It is also home to the Loch Ard Adventure Centre, where you can try out SUP, kayaking and more. : Very limited, but some space on the road by Kinlochard Village Hall and in other lay-bys. There is a small bank down from the village hall, or a beach by the first lay-by, coming from the Aberfoyle direction. Loch Venachar lies between Callander and Brig o' Turk. Paddle out to Portnellan Island, an Iron Age crannog, and enjoy the scenery around you. Afterwards, why not spend some time in Callander, or treat yourself to some goat milk ice cream at nearby Achray Farm? Lay-by car parks, but typically busy. : or or Use best judgment based on where you park. You'll find Loch Chon close to Loch Ard. The name means Loch of the Dogs, and local legend has it that a mythical kelpie lurks in this body of water. It's also a popular destination for fishing and angling, but a spectacular place for paddleboarding, with huge hills and trees surrounding the water. : Limited. Car park before Loch Chon Campsite. : Short distance from the car park. With Ben Ledi watching from above, Loch Lubnaig is glorious on a sunny day. There's plenty of parking here, and the loch is easy to access. Afterwards, The Cabin is the perfect place for something to eat or drink. There are also toilets here. : Loch Lubnaig car park. : Close to the car park. Scotland's only lake is also a great spot for paddleboarding. Famous for having Inchmahome Priory at its centre, which has connections to Mary Queen of Scots and Robert the Bruce, it's also popular place for wild swimming. With gentle waters, stunning scenery and plenty to explore, the lake ticks all the boxes. : Lake of Menteith car park. : : Close to car park. In good weather, it's common to see paddleboarders taking to the River Teith in Callander. This spot is easy to access and close to plenty of amenities. Keep an eye out for local wildlife as you enjoy the beautiful sights. : Meadows car park. Close to car park. The best paddleboarding spots in Perthshire 11 spots to try a new watersport in Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife My night-time paddleboarding adventure on Pitlochry's enchanted Loch Faskally
Independent Singapore
21-04-2025
- Independent Singapore
'My dad has a gambling addiction, but my mother has to work to pay off his debts' — 23 y/o daughter reveals her mental struggles
SINGAPORE: In a raw and emotional post, a 23-year-old woman took to social media on Monday (Apr 21) to reveal how her father's gambling addiction has deeply fractured her home life. She alleged that her 64-year-old father becomes violent and verbally abusive, while her mother, rather than confronting the issue, enables his behaviour by working to pay off his debts and keeping his addiction hidden from relatives. 'My dad has a gambling addiction, and it's really taking a toll on my mental health,' the post read. 'He is into horse betting and will watch races around the clock (he used to work as a private hirer but has since reduced his shifts significantly/sometimes none at all within a week). I know money is involved as he would always make calls out or receive incoming calls where he verbally bets the amount of money.' Despite trying to talk to him about his vice, the young woman shared that such efforts are to no avail. 'Unfortunately for me, that amounted to suicide threats and the usual 'I'm going to die soon, I can do whatever I want',' she said, adding that he has anger management issues as well as abusive or violent tendencies when he is mad. 'He has broken objects around the house before, but never really hit us, I guess,' she admitted. 'I don't see myself getting through to him.' To make matters worse, she divulged that her mother exhibits enabler qualities, such as covering for her father specifically by working to pay off what he owes, making excuses for him, and even keeping his gambling problems from relatives. 'My mum claims to find him pitiful,' she added. On the daughter's part, she shared that the dynamics at home have made her repulsive to the thought of coming home at the end of the day. 'I would dread going home every day, coming back to him hunched in front of his laptop, chain smoking/vaping, with his Facebook/douyin videos on max volume,' she said. A handful of online users identified with the post and shared insights with the writer. While the negative effects of gambling came up as a common topic in the comments, another thing some people zeroed in on was how the woman's mother was enabling her father's gambling addiction. 'Your mom is the enabler, which is the only reason why he has been kept from falling to true rock bottom,' said one. 'The only way for a gambling addict to get help is if they see themselves as the problem, but unfortunately, people like your father have convinced themselves that they aren't the problem, and in fact, this is how he self-harms, whether he realises it. My only advice is that all you can do is mitigate damage and respond accordingly.' A handful of others encouraged the writer to prioritise her own well-being. According to rehab service provider The Cabin, gambling addiction can place an especially heavy toll on family relationships, often leading to physical and mental health problems, financial instability, and emotional distress. The stress caused by gambling problems can put a strain on members of a family, specifically targeting their mental health. From depression to anxiety, such strains can also cause other issues, such as poor sleep and even bowel disorders. Furthermore, gambling can put a significant strain on a family's finances. See also: 4-member household, under $5K income: Singaporean seeks financial advice for this broken family Featured image by Depositphotos/Chai2523 (for illustration purposes only)
CBC
14-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
As HST break on restaurant meals ends, owner of Fredericton diner tallies up
Social Sharing Saturday marks the end of the federal government's two-month sales tax holiday, giving Canadians a break on the cost of some essential goods, including restaurant meals. And while David Halfyard's customers at The Cabin restaurant in Fredericton have been enjoying the 15 per cent discount, he's not sure if it's enough to actually change anyone's habits. "Who doesn't like getting a discount? People love it. As to whether they would stop coming out because it's off, I don't know," he said. Halfyard has already crunched the numbers and said his sales during the two-month window that started Dec. 15 are down. But he's still convinced the tax break helped. "I'm sure I gained a little bit of extra business because of it. How much, I couldn't put a finger on it," he said. "The world being what it is today, it's hard to compare last year with this year. People are just a little scared to go out spending, and they're just being conservative right now, even with the tax cut," Halfyard said. "We're all a little scared of where we're headed." WATCH | Was the tax holiday worth it? Businesses, customers weigh in: Restaurants don't want HST break to end 2 hours ago Duration 2:42 Halfyard said he has had to raise his prices more often than he would like. "I'm a little diner and it costs you close to $20 to come and get bacon and eggs and a coffee. I apologize for that, but that's the way it is. There's nothing I can do about it." Tax holiday data not available yet The official tally on spending during the break will come from Statistics Canada at a later date, but at least one organization representing the restaurant industry said it's had a positive impact. Janick Cormier, vice president Atlantic at Restaurants Canada, partnered with the reservation platform Open Table to collect data. She said said there was an eight per cent bump in reservations in Atlantic Canada during the tax holiday. Ontario saw a 23 per cent increase over that same period, according to Open Table. "We're living in a world where 53 per cent of restaurants are currently operating at a loss or are barely breaking even," Cormier said. "So any little thing that will get people through your doors, or to encourage them to have that dessert or have that glass of wine, will help with the bottom line." She would like to see the government extend the tax break to help "ride this second huge wave of economic turmoil. Customers divided over tax break During the last week of discounts, diners at the Cabin had mixed reviews on the government spending, but for Willis Storey, it provided much needed relief at a time when all food prices are high. "It's expensive eating out and it's expensive buying groceries these days. I went and looked at a little steak there the other day … $20. It's crazy." But Blaine Desroches said he hasn't noticed the difference in his bills, and it hasn't changed his eating habits. "We go out two or three times a week, minimum, to ... eat and stuff like that. So it hasn't made us go out anymore or less, but 15 per cent is always nice." Mike Jennings said he didn't agree with the tax break, and it hasn't influenced his spending at all. "I do not think it was money well spent," he said. "I think we have high deficits and debts, and I think that's where the money should be from the government. I don't think this is going to help us much at all." No 'windfall' for retail industry Jim Cormier, the Atlantic Director for the Retail Council of Canada, said "any type of incentive to get people to shop is a good thing for all of our members and good for consumers. But we didn't see a windfall." "Everything we heard was people weren't necessarily spending more, they'd often forget," Cormier said. "And when they got to the cash, they realized that they were paying 15 per cent less. So it was good for them, but … didn't necessarily result in the customer saying, "Oh, well, I'll spend more.'" Cormier said instead of a tax break for consumers on certain commodities, he would like to see Ottawa lower corporate taxes to benefit businesses. He said he is optimistic we'll see a return to spending in the spring, and "then we'll hope that some of what's happening to the south of us doesn't materialize. And if it does, our government will be able to work hard to find other markets." Uncertainty over U.S. threats and tariffs Tim Rissesco, president of Downtown Atlantic Canada, believes the tax break "was a good move in December when people were dealing with a bit of an affordability crisis." But right now, "small businesses and downtowns are going to need some help in preparing for a looming trade war with the United States." Rissesco would like to see the HST cut continue, but he would also like to see long-term support for buying local to fight against incoming tariffs from the United States, and he thinks the Government of Canada could be a big player in that initiative. "It's getting harder and harder for people to stay in business and anything the government can do to encourage people [to shop local] would be welcomed in our downtowns and main streets."
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This historic building will change as a popular corner of downtown Boise gets a makeover
It could be easy to miss the small cabin wedged between Capitol Boulevard, the downtown Boise Public Library, the Boise River Greenbelt and the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. But that log building has had an outsized impact on Idaho's literary scene, attracting writers like Louise Erdrich, George Saunders and Michael Pollan. It has uplifted Idaho's own growing list of award-winning authors, such as east Idaho's Tara Westover, whose 2018 memoir 'Educated' spent two years on the New York Times Bestseller List. Boise's Anthony Doerr, whose books include Pulitzer Prize winner 'All the Light We Cannot See' and 2021's 'Cloud Cuckoo Land,' brought international attention to the City of Trees and he has given several talks and readings with The Cabin. Now, nearly 30 years since the organization moved into the building, originally known as the Log Cabin Literary Center, it is looking to renovate and expand its offerings. The change comes in a corner of downtown that has been a hub of activity recently. 'As Idaho's only literary arts nonprofit, we are working hard to help close the gap with Idaho's arts education standards,' according to the Cabin's website. 'Our greatest challenge when meeting this need is our lack of space to grow our programming as the community grows.' Staff and volunteers have made several upgrades since first leasing it from the city of Boise, said Kurt Zwolfer, executive director of The Cabin. These include adding a classroom and putting in ramps and an elevator. This would be the first major renovation in 15 to 20 years, he said. But while the 1940-built cabin is 'astoundingly large,' Zwolfer said by phone, the staff can only use about half of it. The renovation would open the entire basement and attic and would effectively double the amount of space the organization could use. The Cabin has had plans to expand for several years, but the COVID-19 pandemic put everything on hold, Zwolfer said. 'A lot of (nonprofits) had ambitions to change, to make renovations, to grow, but we really couldn't until we saw our way out of that crisis,' he said. Plans call for a new pen-and-paint studio, a writer's den, a meeting room, a reading loft and more office space for staff. Plans also call for renovating two existing basement classrooms and adding a third. First used by the U.S. Forest Service, every room on the first floor uses a different kind of lumber, Zwolfer said. These include rooms of yellow pine, white pine, red fir and red cedar. The renovations, he said, would protect and restore some of that original woodwork. 'That beautiful floor… is a Boise treasure,' he said. Plans also call for a new outdoor amphitheater that would allow The Cabin to better host some of its programs and events, Zwolfer said. The development includes renovating the lawn and parking lot into a circulatory space and sunken amphitheater, according to Garden City's Breckon LandDesign Inc., an engineering, planning and design firm. Zwolfer said the amphitheater would add to other venues The Cabin uses, the Gene Harris Band Shell in Julia Davis Park and the Egyptian Theater. The library, the Wassmuth Center or others could use the amphitheater for community events or fundraisers, he said. It could even act as a new venue for Treefort. The space would be built in the Cabin's small parking lot and named Henry's Storytelling Grove, after past board member Henry Reents, who died in January 2023. Reents was a prominent member of the community and husband of former state Sen. Sue Reents. The renovations and amphitheater are entirely self-funded, Zwolfer said. The organization is about $50,000 away from its goal of raising $2 million for the development — just enough, he said, to move to temporary offices and start construction. Zwolfer said he hoped that construction on the interior would wrap up this summer, and the outdoor aspects by the end of the year. The timeline depends on a long list of nearby developments as well. Zwolfer said they didn't intend for The Cabin's changes and multiple nearby upgrades all to come at the same time. The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights' new Philip E. Batt Education Building opened next to the Anne Frank Memorial in October. Construction has closed all but one lane on Capitol Boulevard for roadway improvements funded by the city's urban renewal agency. Plans call for improved sidewalks, bike lanes and planter boxes, Zwolfer said. The city and its urban renewal agency are also renovating and redesigning parts of the intersection of the Greenbelt, Anne Frank Memorial and 8th Street, which runs behind the library. Plans call for security cameras, more lighting and a 'distinctive' public space between the Wassmuth Center and the library. 'It'll really make the library campus… more inviting for citizens of Boise and visitors of Boise too,' he said. 'Something beautiful and community-oriented is being created in that area.' Idaho author was excited to buy first home after new book. Then the emergencies started Incomes are growing faster in Idaho than anywhere else in the U.S. Here's where, why Downtown Boise could get a new park soon. Will it come in time for giant Basque festival? Growing Boise area could add almost 200 homes in battle over density. What about traffic?
