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Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Michael Sheen, Eva Longoria joins family holiday comedy 'The 12 Days of Christmas'
'Passengers' actor and 'The Sentinel' actress have joined the cast of the upcoming family holiday comedy 'The 12 Days of ', reported Variety. According to the outlet, the film written by Ted Safran will be directed by BAFTA nominee Ben Gregor . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The movie is based on the bestselling novel 'The 12 Topsy-Turvy Very Messy Days of Christmas,' co-written by bestselling author James Patterson and Safran, reported Variety. According to the outlet, 'The 12 Days of Christmas', will follow the story of the dysfunctional Sullivan family who cancelled the Christmas for the fifth year in a row until someone mysterious starts sending them strange gifts. The hopeless widower Henry (Sheen) and two children, Will and Ella received the gifts, as per Variety. First, a partridge in a pear tree, the next day two turtle doves are sent, followed by three calling birds on day three. Before they know it, the house is full of boisterous animals and house guests, all relating to the famous Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," reported Variety. The family's lives are turned upside down as they try to figure out just who the mystery gift giver is. Longoria will play the role of Mariana from Animal Protection Services. The synopsis of the film as quoted by Variety states,"Even though this Christmas will be messy, it might turn out to be just the gift the family needs." "We couldn't be more excited about Michael Sheen and Eva Longoria leading the cast. The same goes for the Ben Gregor," said co-writer Patterson as quoted by Variety. The 'Desperate Housewives' star Eva Longoria also received the Platino Honor at the 12th Platino Awards ceremony at the Municipal Palace in Madrid on April 27, reported The Hollywood Reporter.
Forbes
26-04-2025
- General
- Forbes
Putting A Human Face On Government
A group of people on the background of the American flag USA Sometimes, when you tell a big story, you start with a small one. That's the approach that author Michael Lewis takes as editor of Who Is Government. As Lewis writes, 'There is the stereotype of the 'government worker.' We all have in our heads this intractable picture: The nine-to-fiver living off the taxpayer who adds no value and has no energy and somehow still subverts the public will.' Lewis has gathered fellow writers to tell the stories of women and men who work in the federal government. 'The PR wing of the federal government isn't really allowed to play offense, just a grinding prevent defense,' writes Lewis. 'And the sort of people who become civil servants – the characters profiled in this book – tend not to want or seek attention.' The stories contained are inspiring because they laud the expertise of these employees and underscore the commitment they have to our nation. Without exaggeration, they are soldiers on the home front working to serve and protect our natural resources, our food supply, our healthcare system, our research sciences, and so much more. [Lewis's earlier book, The Fifth Risk, similarly addressed this topic.] Among the stories that resonate are ones that no one would ever know about unless one went looking—as Lewis and the contributors did. 'The Canary' profiles Christopher Mark, who pioneered a way to prevent mine roof collapses, the largest killer of miners. Mark, who once worked as a coal miner in his youth, went on to get a Ph.D. in engineering and wrote his thesis on ways to prevent mine roof collapses. His work has resulted in minimizing such collapses and saving many lives. 'The Sentinel' features Roland E. Waters of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). "Perhaps the most striking thing about Ron Waters," writes Casey Cep, "His agency is one of the world's experts on death, but he is an expert on how to live." One aspect of what his agency does is repatriate the remains of service personnel who died overseas, something in which it takes pride. More broadly, these cemeteries "are designed to stir our moral imagination… on behalf, though not always, on behalf of our highest ideals." The effort the agency expends gained them the highest customer satisfaction scores of any organization, as ranked by the University of Michigan's study. On a 100-point scale, Costco scored 85, Apple 83 and Facebook 69. The average score for federal agencies is 68. NCA scored 97. 'The Equalizer" tells the story of Pamela Wright of the National Archives. A native Montanan, Wright administers the Archives, which manages the documents the government generates, including presidential records, historical documents, and Census Data. It also innovates. It was Wright who oversaw the development of a digital reference platform, the History Hub. The agency also "physically" cares for the U.S. Constitution. All employees take an oath to that Constitution. As Wright told contributor Sarah Vowell, "That oath makes you realize that what you are doing is fundamentally important to the country, no matter what capacity you are in." Other stories include ones about a team of men and women working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab looking for signs of extra-terrestrial life; another about an FDA epidemiologist who founded CURE ID, a database for registering case histories of rare diseases that in turn can generate pathways to cures; and an IRS director working to detect cases of cyber fraud – an effort that actually generates income from "criminal settlements." Streamlining government is a worthy goal. We all have been bedeviled at times by bureaucratic snafus (and snares), and so improvement is necessary. Yet, as with change, we say change is good as long as I don't have to change myself. The same is true for the government. Now, with the government under siege by cost-cutting measures that to some seem arbitrary and, in some cases, cruel, this book stands as a testament to those who represent the best of us.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rebuttal filed against Garnet Lewis' explanation of EPIC campaign finance complaint
SAUGATUCK — Six months after a complaint was submitted to the Michigan Bureau of Elections against an organization called EPIC operating in Saugatuck, there's been movement. In his complaint, filed in October 2024, former Saugatuck Mayor Ken Trester claimed EPIC hadn't filed a legal statement of organization (a requirement under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act), before posting campaign signage and newspaper advertisements for Saugatuck City Council incumbents Lauren Stanton, Helen Baldwin and Scott Dean. An address listed for EPIC on the signage matched an address listed for "Empowering People Investing in Communities" on LARA, an online filing system for Michigan corporations. The directory lists Leigh G. Lewis (Garnet Lewis) as president and resident agent. At the time, the Allegan County Clerk's Office confirmed to The Sentinel that EPIC had not filed the required statement. More: State investigating election claims against Garnet Lewis-directed nonprofit in Saugatuck In March, the Michigan Bureau of Elections provided Trester with a copy of Lewis' response to the complaint, in which she took responsibility for the error. In her response, Lewis claimed, after realizing the statement of organization hadn't been submitted, one was filed with the Allegan County Clerk's Office in November and processed in December. Lewis also said the standard "error and omission notice" was received and signed in January 2025. "I understand there will be a fine for (the) delay," she wrote. Lewis told The Sentinel via email the fine was $1,000. 'The issue has been resolved and the campaign committee has been dissolved," she added. But that's not entirely true, according to Trester, who filed a rebuttal to Garnet's response on April 11. 'I wish to request that you do not accept (Lewis') application to dissolve EPIC,' Trester wrote. 'There are many unresolved issues regarding this Super PAC. In particular, (Lewis') response does not address EPIC's campaign spending during the local elections of 2022 or 2023. 'I ask that the BOE not allow EPIC to be dissolved until the migration of the campaign finance reports that (Lewis) did file are complete, so that the public, which has been denied the opportunity to see who EPIC's donors are and what its expenditures were, can have the opportunity to review those reports, to know who received funding from the PAC and if any irregularities occurred in the election campaigns.' Garnet refused to comment on the rebuttal to The Sentinel. "There is enough hate in the world," she said. "I won't add to it.' Lewis was first elected to Saugatuck City Council in November 2019. She secured re-election in November 2021 for a two-year term ending November 2023. Shortly after, Lewis was selected by council to serve as mayor for a one-year term, running through November 2022. This isn't the first time Lewis has run into election challenges. In August 2023, she pled guilty to a single charge of failing to report a violation on a nominating/initiative petition. In court, she admitted she failed to sign a petition sheet and didn't report it. Lewis agreed to pay $500 in fines and court fees, and was given a delayed sentence of six months. The case was later dismissed. She has also faced ire over the listing of several individuals as directors and officers of EPIC on LARA, several of whom denied holding the roles. In a letter sent to Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski and provided to The Sentinel, Mary Fechtig, Elizabeth Estes, Julie Ridl and Holly Leo wrote, "We write to clarify in no uncertain terms that none of the undersigned had any knowledge of the EPIC entity before seeing (a) Facebook post on Oct. 25, 2024. "In addition, none of us have any memory of agreeing to act as directors or officers of EPIC. Finally, after a review of our personal records, including emails, text, and hard copy materials, we can find no indication of any of us having involvement in (EPIC). " ... It goes without saying, therefore, that none of us have been involved in a decision related to EPIC's funding or other support of political candidates in the current race of Saugatuck City Council.' Dan Fox, another local resident, hopes to file a formal fraud complaint on that front, but is having difficulty finding the right department for enforcement. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage LARA, he said, doesn't have an enforcement role, and the Bureau of Elections wouldn't investigate because another investigation is already underway. The Michigan Attorney General's Office directed Fox to their Charitable Trust Division. In their response, the Charitable Trust Division said the matter falls outside the scope of their normal enforcement and regulatory authority. Fox isn't giving up, though. 'This lack of an appetite on the part of the State of Michigan to investigate and prosecute clear, evidence-supported, multiple fraudulent filings with the state is unbelievable, disheartening, and ethically vapid," he wrote via email. The rebuttal filed in the first complaint will enter a determination phase under the Board of Elections, which has 45 days to make a decision. — Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@ This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Saugatuck residents want more answers on EPIC finance complaint
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
April 14-18: Saugatuck Township to consider 35-unit housing development
HOLLAND — In 2025, The Sentinel is providing a weekly round-up of the biggest topics in upcoming municipal meetings, giving our readers a chance to engage with their local officials on the projects, appointments and decisions that hit closest to home. These round-ups are written on Fridays, and will not include an agenda if one hasn't been posted by 1 p.m. Municipalities are not required by the Michigan Open Meetings Act to provide an agenda in advance of a meeting, but they are required to provide notice. Please visit your local municipality website for the most updated information. Here are the biggest topics for meetings Monday-Friday, April 14-18: Land Bank Authority: 7:30 a.m. Monday, April 14, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex The agenda includes: A "Land Bank 101" training from Roman Wilson Election of board officers Consideration of a budget amendment to cover the cost of an annual audit Consideration of a series of items to forward to the Ottawa County Appointment and Alignment Committee for approval, including updated bylaws, updated term end dates for some board seats and to appoint Tom Oonk to a seat on the board A review of a draft of the organization's 2023-2024 annual report A review of 2024-2025 revenues and expenditures An update regarding blight elimination from Becky Huttenga Read the packet: Groundwater Board: 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex The agenda includes: Consideration of a motion to amend board bylaws and rules A series of project updates, including outreach efforts, native landscaping and groundwater monitoring Read the packet: Community Action Agency Advisory Board: 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, at Community Action Agency An agenda was not immediately available Brownfield Redevelopment Authority: 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Street Complex A discussion on the The Landings at Rush Creek Brownfield Plan Amendment Consideration of approving a development and reimbursement agreement with LaCati Group for The Landings at Rush Creek Consideration of an operational policy for the authority Read the packet: Parks Advisory Board: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the Allegan County Services Building The agenda includes: A series of updates from parks administration, including the start of parks season, a tourist council update, a disc golf course at Littlejohn Lake Park and a review of park ordinance 1010.1, which limits the number of people who can stay on a single campsite Read the packet: Commission on Aging: 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, at the Allegan County Services Building The agenda includes: Consideration to recommend approval of contracts with both Evergreen Commons/The Day Center and Generations Adult Day Services beginning on or before May 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027 Consideration of a motion to recommend approval of a revised scope of service for Adult Day Service A review of COA bylaws and member expectations Read the packet: Economic Development Commission: 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, Location TBD An agenda was not immediately available Holland SmartZone Local Development Authority: 12 p.m. Monday, April 14, at Holland City Hall The agenda includes: Review of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget An update regarding the Lakeshore Advantage SURGE Center Read the agenda: Planning Commission: 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at Holland City Hall The agenda includes: A study session starting at 4:30 p.m. regarding an update about the Resthaven Maplewood Campus Project Consideration of a rezoning request at 4384 Blue Star Highway to change from low-density residential to a mixture of industrial and corridor mixed use Read the agenda: City Council: Wednesday, April 16, at Holland City Hall An agenda was not immediately available City Council Budget Review Session: Wednesday, April 16, at Holland City Hall An agenda was not immediately available West Michigan Regional Airport Authority: 4 p.m. Monday, April 14, at 60 Geurink Boulevard in Holland An agenda was not immediately available City Council: 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 14, at Saugatuck City Hall An agenda was not immediately available Board of Trustees: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Olive Township Hall An agenda was not immediately available Board of Trustees Work Session: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Park Township Offices An agenda was not immediately available Board of Trustees: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the Zeeland Township Offices An agenda was not immediately available Parks Commission: 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, at Laketown Township Hall An agenda was not immediately available How to attend remotely: By calling 312-626-6799 and typing in 455 671 8351. You can attend via Zoom on your web browser by visiting Planning Commission: 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at Saugatuck Township Hall The agenda includes: A series of six public hearings, all to amend portions of the Saugatuck Township Zoning Ordinance. Planned amendments include: clarifying the definition of "structure," correcting typos, amending setback requirements, modifying special use criteria for mineral extraction and mobile food units, private street paving requirements, adding a new section regarding scoring of plans and more. Consideration of a Planned Unit Development for a proposed 35-unit development comprised of 10 duplex buildings totaling 20 units, two townhome buildings totaling 12 units, and three accessory dwelling units (according to previous meeting minutes) on a parcel on 135th Avenue Read the agenda: — Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@ Follow her on Twitter @cassideykava. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Agenda 14-18: Big meetings coming in Saugatuck Township, Allegan County
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Man Hospitalized After Huge Surf Flips Boat Near Santa Cruz Harbor
Rough seas and tough news out of Santa Cruz, Calif., yesterday. As a large, unruly swell slammed the coast, the National Weather Service issued a beach hazard statement for northern Monterey Bay, advising boaters and swimmers to be aware of dangerous conditions. For reference, nearby buoys were registering a northwest swell of 15 feet at 15 seconds, the kind of unruly energy that renders many lineups in Santa Cruz and beyond unridable. Despite regular dredging of the harbor, sand builds up in the winter. With the combination of enough sand and swell, the normally placid harbor mouth can see a well-overhead wave all the way across, a tricky scenario for any boater. On Thursday, the swell turned from tricky to downright dangerous. Just after 5 p.m., local firefighters and lifeguards were alerted to a capsized boat at the mouth of the Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that first responders pulled one man from a 20-foot Bayliner that washed ashore upside down at Twin Lakes State Beach. 'The call was for a capsized vessel near the harbor mouth,' State Parks Public Safety Superintendent Capt. Gabe McKenna told The Sentinel. 'We had a very large northwest swell with a low tide during that time, and the transit out of the harbor and into the ocean was very dangerous.' Footage of the flip, which happened as the boat attempted to enter the harbor, ended up on the Instagram of The Qualified Captain, which documents boating mishaps and occasional boating-related disasters. The account claimed that there was a dog on board the boat but it did not survice the ordeal. First responders told The Sentinel they did not find any canine on the beach. The man was taken to a nearby hospital and the vessel was taken to the habror. "Once the boat passed the break and stayed maybe 600ft from the mouth for about 10 minutes, he attempted to come back in during a big set of waves," the captain explained. "He was able to swim to shore after capsizing. Unfortunately, the dog onboard did not make it."
