Latest news with #TheColony
CBS News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Police cast wide net in probe of defunct North Texas car dealership's business practices
Desire Godfrey said it was time for a vehicle upgrade. The Lancaster mother had her eye on a Lexus. "I had a baby, so I'm looking for something reliable for me and a baby," Godfrey said. She searched online and found what she thought was the right vehicle at The Reserve Auto Group in The Colony. She described the sales process in May 2024 as a positive experience. Warranty and GAP insurance issues But an unexpected oil change six months later changed everything. Godfrey, 33, said a Lexus dealership informed her the vehicle was not under warranty. She also discovered her GAP insurance policy didn't exist. "They (Reserve Auto Group) never paid the warranty company the money they were supposed to pay to activate this warranty and this GAP insurance," she said. Car loan charges continue Godfrey said the costs were included in her car note. She filed a report with The Colony Police Department — and she's not alone. Police said they received their first complaint on Jan. 31. According to a news release, police have been investigating multiple fraud claims connected to the dealership since 2023. The business shut down in December 2024, but complaints continue to come in. Alleged auto fraud pattern Investigators said customers were allegedly instructed to write separate checks for aftermarket warranties or GAP insurance policies. Those payments were supposed to go to third-party providers, but police said the dealership allegedly cashed the checks and never forwarded the money — leaving customers without coverage. Another victim comes forward A second alleged victim, who spoke to CBS News Texas anonymously, said she and her husband also bought a Lexus from the dealership. She provided a non-activation letter from DOWC Administrative Services LLC, a company that offers GAP insurance and warranties. The letter stated: "Please be advised that Reserve Auto has failed to remit payment to Us as the Administrator and Provider for your Contract. Consequently, the Contract was not activated in our system." Investigation still ongoing Police have not made any arrests or publicly identified anyone associated with the allegations. Officers said they are continuing to vet additional alleged victims. CBS News Texas is not naming the person listed as the dealership's owner, as police have indicated he did nothing wrong. He spoke briefly by phone, saying he wanted to schedule an appointment to discuss the claims further because he believed "we did not have all the facts." When asked for clarification, he said he didn't have time to explain. Legal team responds Two emails followed the call, and attorneys from Herrin Law introduced themselves. "We have no comment at this time. Thank you for your interest in our client's side of the story," attorney Benjamin Palatiere said. He requested that all future inquiries be directed to him. Buyer left without coverage Meanwhile, Godfrey said the vehicle itself has not had any issues. But she continues to pay for a warranty and insurance that don't exist. "So nobody wants to refinance the loan. Nobody wants to give me GAP insurance," she said. "It's just more so like I'm going to take it or leave it. If I wreck the car, then I would have to figure out a way to pay that car off." Godfrey said she hopes to recover the money one day.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jonas Renske hopes Katatonia's new era includes more input from his bandmates
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Revered Swedish prog metal gloom mongers Katatonia sent shockwaves through their fanbase in March when it was announced that founding guitarist Anders Nyström had left the band after 34 years and 12 albums. That hasn't stopped co-founding vocalist Jonas Renkse in his tracks, though, and he ushers in a new era of the band with 13th LP Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State. It features a new-look line-up with two new guitar players – Nico Elgstrand and Sebastian Svalland – and Renkse is now eyeing new heights. 'When I listen to the album, I hear a band that's still very hungry and wants to do new things and go to new places,' he says. 'There's a drive, a new energy and new ideas.' He'd previously said Nyström's departure was 'a decision not taken lightly,' but that it allowed 'everyone to thrive and move forward with their own creative preferences.' Things threatened to get ugly when the guitarist retaliated by saying:'Katatonia could and should have been mutually laid to rest,' believing Renkse and co should operate under a new name. He also criticised the band's recent setlists for ignoring their earlier material. Renkse confirms to Prog that he's mourning the end of their 'fruitful' partnership – but believes the band's legacy in in safe hands. 'Some relationships go on for a long time, and you maybe don't realise that you've grown apart,' he reflects. 'I'm happy we got to live this dream together. What we have created together cannot be taken away from us.' The new record itself, it sees Renske accompanied by bassist Niklas Sandin, drummer Daniel Moilanen, and the 'overwhelming' talents of Elgstrand (Entombed AD) and Svalland (Letters From The Colony). Elgstrand is no stranger to the band, having deputised for live shows in recent years, while Svalland was 'the guy that I had my eye on' when the search for a new member began. This album is a little bit more guitar-based … I was thinking more as a guitar player than anything else While 2023's Sky Void Of Stars found Katatonia sounding uncharacteristically upbeat, Nightmares returns to a darker sonic world. 'It's something I reacted to,' Renkse says. 'Perhaps subconsciously because of the last album, but when I got the masters back, I thought, 'Wow, this record is really dark!' 'I think, for some reason, this album is a little bit more guitar-based. I was picking up the guitar more often than keyboards, and I was thinking more as a guitar player than anything else.' Listeners can expect plenty of guitar solos too. Nightmares is the third consecutive Katatonia album Renkse has written on his own. He says the new record – which explores 'the nightmares we face in life' – is not very different from its predecessors; but he's afforded himself experimentation with Efter Solen, a fully electronic song sung in Swedish. 'I'm always writing, and it had a very nice vibe to it. I didn't really want to waste it by just keeping it on a hard drive,' he explains. 'I'm very happy to have it as an experiment; it's still very melancholic and dark; it just has a different kind of clothing.' He hopes future albums will see the band sharing the weight of songwriting duties. 'I always encourage it – but in the last 10 years, no one has really stepped up to the plate. Being the sole songwriter is sometimes very lonely; I would love the bouncing back and forth of ideas.'
Vogue
23-05-2025
- Business
- Vogue
What's New in the Hamptons? The Restaurants, Hotels, and Stores to Know for Summer 2025
Memorial Day is here, and with it, the start of the summer season in the Hamptons—New York's unofficial summer getaway. For those who plan to make the trek down the 27-A state highway this summer, here are the new restaurants, hotels, and shops you'll see along the way. An iconic East Hampton mainstay, for example, is getting a new life courtesy of the hoteliers behind The Colony in Palm Beach, whereas in Sagaponack, a general store is making a splashy re-introduction. Below, a roundup of what's new in the Hamptons in summer 2025. Hotels Arguably the most exciting news from out East? The Hedges Inn—the beloved hotel housed in a 19th-century colonial home on the cusp of East Hampton Town—has found new stewards in Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall. The owners of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach will breathe new energy into the property, with minor renovations occurring this summer and a more extensive update to debut in 2026. 'Our goal is to create a warm and welcoming environment where guests can immerse themselves in the quintessential East Hampton experience—where tradition meets luxury, and community and connection thrive,' Sarah Wetenhall said in a statement. In the remote stretch of 27-A that passes through Wainscott you'll find The Sagaponack, a new hotel that overhauled the former property that once stood on the grounds. Lodging options include guest rooms in the main inn or bungalows, complete with a cocktail bar for guests to make their own summer aperitifs. The Sagaponack has a pool—but the beach is only a short beach cruiser ride away. Restaurants Photo: Glen Allsop Inside The Hedges Inn will be Swifty's, the Upper East Side restaurant that served a dedicated and well-heeled group of uptown New Yorkers until it closed in 2016. (Its owner, Robert Caravaggi, was also maître d' of the beloved Mortimer's.) Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Swifty's will serve everything from Jumbo Lump Maryland crab cakes, chilled lobster salad, and meatloaf, many dishes made with ingredients from local farms. New York's critically acclaimed pizza joint goes rustic with Camp Rubirosa, a seasonal pop-up at 31 Race Lane in East Hampton that'll see their signature thin-crust tie-dye pizza and house-made pastas served in a summer camp-inspired setting—complete with, yes, tents. The French-Indonesian restaurant by Cédric and Ochi Vongerichten will set up their kitchen at E.H.P in East Hampton, where they will serve everything from crab fried rice, lobster noodles, and black sea bass on a deck that overlooks Three Mile Highway. It's just the latest high-profile outpost for Wayan, which also recently opened in Aspen. The world's most famous dinner-to-party restaurant—which also has locations in St. Barths, St. Tropez, and Courchevel—will open in the Montauk Marina this summer. While an exact date hasn't been confirmed, hopefully Champagne bottles will be popping by the Fourth of July. Stores Photo: Glen Allsop You likely don't need us to tell you about the re-opening of the Sagaponack General Store, which has been covered by national outlets like Air Mail to The New York Times as well as local paper The East Hampton Star. ('The Sweet Smell of Nostalgia at Sagaponack General,' read the headline in the latter.) The new owner, Mindy Gray, has completely renovated the store without sacrificing its nostalgic charm: there's a wall of penny candy and rotisserie chickens, as well as shelves made from salvaged wood that came from the original store. The Swedish candy shop will open just off Main Street in Sag Harbor, surely delighting kids—and parents—of all ages with their sour gummy candies and marshmallows.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Colony Hotel founders bring Palm Beach posh to East Hampton's Hedges Inn
Despite having only 13 rooms, the historic Hedges Inn — which sits at the entrance to East Hampton village and across from its idyllic pond — has made oversized headlines in the last year. Scott Sartiano, the man behind celebrity-packed private club Zero Bond, leased the inn last summer in the hopes of launching a spinoff club. He was met with insurmountable resistance by village officials and residents, who feared a nightlife vibe and its accompanying noise and traffic. After a flurry of opposition, his lease was not renewed. Now the bed-and-breakfast's new owners, Sarah and Andrew Wetenhall, have been welcomed with open arms. It doesn't hurt that the Wetenhalls had a home in East Hampton for 15 years (until 2021) and also transformed The Colony Hotel into a buzzy Palm Beach destination where vacationing New Yorkers and locals alike flock to its poolside restaurant Swifty's and its rousing trivia and bingo nights. Advertisement 3 The Hedges Inn in East Hampton will have a 'summer Americana' aesthetic. Susan Kaufman The couple brought many of those same elements to the Hedges when it opened last week — along with the whimsical design that's been part of The Colony's lure. 'There is a style that thrives with destinations close to the sea,'' Sarah tells Alexa. 'We want the Hedges to become the best version of herself, and a visual representation of East Hampton, the way The Colony is a visual representation of Palm Beach. It will have the summer Americana aesthetic that's so well loved.'' That means shake shingles; lots of red, white and blue; plus plenty of pops of The Colony's famed pink. The inn's ground floor was already renovated by the previous owners, and the rooms will be refreshed this year, with a larger overhaul planned after the summer season. Advertisement 'Andrew and I love to travel, but we also love the creature comforts of home,'' Sarah explains. To this end, they are adding Matouk sheets, towels and robes along with luxury amenities. 'We are all about creating a fun summer, and we will do so with a smile on our face and kindness in our time,'' she says. As at The Colony, they will offer their Instagram-famous branded bicycles with baskets and route maps, along with buggies that transport guests, chairs, umbrellas and coolers to the beach. 'They make us visually who we are.' The inn, first established in 1873, will now have a 24-hour full-service desk, valet parking, butler service, a provisions bar with complimentary drinks and snacks, curated itineraries and a concierge-by-text service — nicknamed Ahab, after East Hampton artist Jackson Pollock's poodle. In addition to hotel rooms, there will be a three-bedroom, stand-alone residence next door to the property, ideal for extended stays. 3 Sarah (left) and Andrew Wetenhall are updating East Hampton's Hedges Inn with stylish renovations, design refreshes and luxe brand partnerships. Capehart Advertisement 'We can offer a bespoke, customized experience, and we are really excited about reimagining hospitality on the East End,' Sarah says. Guests can indulge in intimate bonfire gatherings (complete with s'mores) as well as Wednesday evening conversations with guest lecturers. The Wetenhalls are known for bringing in designers, beauty brands and famed fitness instructors (including Tracy Anderson and Isaac Boots) for collaborations. 'We do love our partnerships; they round out the guest experience,'' she notes. At the Hedges, those collabs will include Naturopathica spa services, Volvo electric EX 90 cars for tooling around the village and a house car for local rides in the form of a vintage pink Land Rover Defender. 3 Cuisine from Robert Caravaggi's latest Swifty's outpost at the hotel. Glen Alsop Advertisement But the most pivotal partnership remains with Swifty's (originally a New York eatery before being resurrected under founder Robert Caravaggi at The Colony). The restaurant has taken over the 100-seat indoor-outdoor dining space that housed Sartiano's last summer, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, including its signature meatloaf and crab cakes, along with farm-to-table local fare. Trivia will reappear as well, but sadly, those uberpopular bingo nights won't make the journey north. 'The New York State gambling laws will not allow it,'' Sarah sighs. Rooms from $599 in May and from $1,499 from Memorial Day weekend on at The Hedges East Hampton
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Meta AI: Irish wolfhounds join writer's protest
Irish wolfhounds have joined a protest by writers, who are protesting about what they describe as "any piracy" of their works being used by Meta's AI protest at the Dáil and Government buildings in Dublin was led by the Irish Writers Union (IWU).The union, which is coordinating a campaign with Irish publishers, screenwriters, and poets, is demanding that Meta "complies with Irish and EU copyright laws in the training of its AI model".Members say the protest follows "the revelations arising from a court case in the US, that Meta used millions of copyright-protected works in order to train its AI model, Llama 3". Writer's work used for AI training Audrey Magee, an award-winning author whose publications include The Colony and The Undertaking told BBC News NI she was shocked when she discovered that her works had been used for AI author said she's concerned that her works have been accessed and "used in a way you have no control over". She also said the presence of Irish wolfhounds at the protest today was a powerful symbolic gesture because of their ancient links to Irish literature, poetry, mythology, and members of the Irish Writers Union who claim their works have been harvested for AI training purposes include Ruth O'Leary, author and The Weekend Break and Sam Blake, author of The Killing Sense. The Chairman of the IWU, Conor McAnally said: "It is difficult enough to make a living as a writer without billionaires deciding it's too inconvenient to pay for our work."The Irish Writers Union will robustly defend our members, and their right to fair compensation for any use of their work. We call on the Irish Government to support those writers whose work has been pirated and hold Meta to account."A petition, with 1500 signatures, has been presented to the Irish Department for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital a statement, Minister Niamh Smyth TD, said: "Given the rapid advancement of AI technologies, EU and Irish policies and legislation are adapting to address emerging challenges."The IWU is encouraging its members to make a formal, legal complaint to Meta demanding the immediate cessation of any use of their copyrighted material in the company's AI training processes until appropriate permissions are also want Meta to negotiate "fair and reasonable licensing terms" if it wants to use their work, as well as the offer of compensation for any past unauthorised use of their work in AI model training investigation by The Atlantic magazine, external revealed Meta may have accessed millions of pirated books and research papers through LibGen - Library Genesis - to train its generative AI (Gen-AI) system, Llama.A spokesperson for Meta said: "We respect third-party intellectual property rights and believe our use of information to train AI models is consistent with existing law."
