Latest news with #TownHall
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Seismic assessment ongoing: council
Seismic resilience of the Dunedin Centre, including the Municipal Chambers, is not well understood, the city council says. However, work continues on a detailed assessment, and options regarding seismic strengthening are expected to be put in front of councillors early next year. Substantial restoration is also required of the exterior facade and work on this is expected to be carried out until at least 2028. The Dunedin Centre in the Octagon is made up of the Municipal Chambers, Town Hall and Glenroy Auditorium, built between 1880 and 1930. Some ornamental Oamaru stone fell from the chambers building in 2020, leading to precautionary measures being taken around it and the Town Hall, as both were due for remedial work. Detailed investigations began the following year and in 2022 Dunedin City Council meetings were shifted out of the Municipal Chambers and have yet to return there. The council did not include funding for strengthening the buildings when it adopted its 2025-34 long-term plan last month, but $14million was allocated for heritage exterior restoration, seismic investigation and some other work. An update about the programme is set to be discussed by the council this week. A report for councillors said the centre's interior had been modified over the years and some structural work had been carried out. The centre's seismic resilience was "not well understood" and some interior fixtures and mechanical systems were "either in poor condition or approaching the end of their serviceable life". "Over time, parts of the exterior facade have been renewed. However, the exterior is now at a stage where a more wholesale restoration is required." Scaffold gantries were put up after the October 2020 incident to prevent harm to pedestrians by catching any more material that might fall. The council said there had since been "further occasions where stone, slate and cast-iron balustrades have fallen from the building". Seismic investigation and exterior restoration were regarded as separate, but connected, projects. Engineering consultants WSP was engaged this year to develop a detailed seismic assessment of the property. It is expected to be completed and reviewed by the end of this year and council staff said they intended to produce a report for councillors about options for strengthening, including potential costs, early next year. Regarding the exterior, the council said a sealant was historically applied to the Oamaru stone surface. "While this approach was a common practice for the time, the types of sealants used did not allow the stone to breathe." Moisture could be trapped under the sealed layer, dissolving the stone over time.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Popular Perth markets continue after huge new deal
The Town of Bassendean has agreed to continue the popular Sunday community markets after council approved a three-year lease agreement until June 30, 2028. At the town's council meeting on Tuesday night, councillors voted unanimously to renew the agreement with Chaos Theory events to host the Bassendean Community Markets at BIC Reserve, Bassendean. In a council report, the current arrangement with Chaos Theory, which has been in place since 2021, was described as 'effective,' allowing the markets to be 'professionally staged' over the four-year period. The Minister for Lands will now need to approve the use of BIC Reserve for the purpose of hosting a community market. Credit: Facebook Their will be minor amendments to the new agreement, which include removing the requirement to supply equipment such as chairs and tables, and use of Town Hall and library toilets no longer needed as a new toilet block at BIC Reserve has been installed. Attendance of the markets ranges between 1500 and 2000 people, with about 70 to 80 stalls per event, which the town said gives small businesses an opportunity to test their respective markets. 'Free stalls for community groups, schools, not-for-profit organisations ... include the Local State Member of Parliament for Bassendean, Dave Kelly, Bassendean Men's Shed, Bassendean Preservation Group (and) Kanyana Wildlife,' the report said. The town will only be required to provide $500 per market for entertainment and $250 per year to cover waste disposal costs. The town officers supported the extension and identified it as a cost-effective partnership. 'This is an attractive and efficient way to deliver a much-valued event to our community ... we rely heavily on partnerships such as these,' the report said. The Minister for Lands will now need to approve the use of BIC Reserve for the purpose of hosting a community market. The markets will continue to operate each Sunday of the month between April and September, with twilight markets on the last Saturday of each month between October and March.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Report: The Sacred Amritsar 2025
The city of Amritsar, which is named after the sacred pool surrounding the Golden Temple founded by Guru Ram Das in 1574, seems like the perfect location to host a festival that celebrates poetry, music, storytelling, history, and food. Its lanes and neighbourhoods are suffused with the aura of this spectacular shrine that attracts not only Sikh pilgrims but people of all faiths moved by Sikhism's inclusive spirit. This generosity particularly visible in the age-old institution of the langar that ensures no one goes hungry. The third edition of The Sacred Amritsar was held from February 21 to 23 at Hotel Sarovar (located on the site of a restored circuit house dating back to the British era), the Partition Museum housed in the Town Hall, and the 18th century Qila Gobindgarh. Kalapini Komkali at The Sacred Amritsar (Courtesy The Sacred Amritsar) Spoken word artist Priya Malik opened the festival with poems about childhood memories, the comfort of home and grandparents, and the simple joys of life. Her act titled 'Ishq Hai, Ishq Hai, Ishq Hai' focused on her fondness for chai. 'Chai is one of the most wonderful things in the world. It is also a love language between my parents. They don't say 'Sorry' and 'Thank You'. They just make a good cup of chai for each other, and that says it all,' she said. Malik was accompanied by singer Tanmay Maheshwari, who performed Luka Chhupi, a song written by Prasoon Joshi from the 2006 film Rang De Basanti, and Aaj Din Chadheya written by Irshad Kamil for Love Aaj Kal (2009). As evening turned to night, Rehmat-e-Nusrat, a talented qawwali group from Uttarakhand, led the audience into a deeper appreciation of Sufi poetry. They dedicated their performance to Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and sang Mann Kunto Maula by Amir Khusrau, and Anwar Farrukhabadi's Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai. The yearning for a union with the divine, palpable in the group's music, continued into the following day with Swaransh Mishra, son and disciple of Pandit Sajan Mishra from the Banaras gharana — singing a Krishna bhajan called Chalo Mann Vrindavan Ki Or. He also presented an invigorating rendition of the Aghori Chalisa, honouring ascetics who are devotees of Lord Shiva and follow a spiritual path that challenges binaries and taboos. Hindustani classical vocalist Kalapini Komkali's tribute to her father and guru Kumar Gandharva was one of the festival's highlights. 'We keep the Guru Granth Sahib in our house,' she said, recalling her father's deep respect for the holy scripture of the Sikhs, which also includes the baani of poets such as Kabir, Ravidas, Baba Farid, Namdev, Ramanand and Surdas, among others, in addition to teachings by the Sikh gurus. Yatindra Mishra and Malini Awasthi at The Sacred Amritsar (Courtesy The Sacred Amritsar) Later, at the Partition Museum, former diplomats Navtej Sarna and Navdeep Suri were in conversation about the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre — a shocking moment in British Indian history. Sarna's novel Crimson Spring (2022) examined the worst excesses of colonialism through characters who witnessed the atrocities of Reginald Dyer, a British general who ordered troops to open fire on unarmed protestors gathered to demonstrate against the Rowlatt Act in 1919. Suri's grandfather, Nanak Singh, was at the massacre, and wrote a long Punjabi poem called Khooni Vaisakhi to bear witness. Suri's English translation was published in 2019. 'There was remarkable unity among the Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs of Amritsar in those times,' said Suri. 'Naturally, the British felt quite threatened by this, so they wanted to destroy it.' It was chilling to hear this at the Partition Museum, which is filled with textual and visual evidence of how violence along religious lines killed millions in the subcontinent. Poet, storyteller and peace activist Amy Singh spoke about her 'Dak to Lahore' initiative that grew out of her desire to bridge the deepening divide between Indians and Pakistanis. Her passion to find common ground moved many in the audience. Many descendants of Partition survivors spoke about memories of migration, loss and trauma. That evening, at Qila Gobindgarh, Abhijit Pohankar moved the conversation from the longing for a homeland to the longing for a human beloved as he sang ghazals like Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo and Ranjish Hi Sahi. Laksh Maheshwari had the audience hooked with stories about poet Amrita Pritam, her tumultuous love life and the men in it – Pritam Singh, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Inderjeet Singh aka Imroz. Anwar Khan Manganiyar lifted the evening several notches with his masterful rendition of the qawwali Chhap Tilak Sab Chheeni. Festival attendees at a heritage walk (Courtesy The Sacred Amritsar) The morning of the last day featured musicians Debapriya Adhikary, Samanwaya Sarkar and Sohon Ghosh. In the afternoon, oral historian and novelist Aanchal Malhotra spoke to cultural entrepreneur Sanjoy K Roy about her Partition-related research. Referring to WH Auden's poem Partition (1966), a scathing critique of Cyril Radcliffe's assignment to split up a land he had 'never set eyes on', Malhotra said, 'I have often wondered what I would do in Radcliffe's place. How is it possible to divide people from one soil who are so closely intermingled?' The grand finale had Gobindgarh Fort reverberating with Dastan-e-Akhtari: The Tale of Begum Akhtar, a collaboration between Yatindra Mishra and Malini Awasthi. Mishra, editor of Akhtari: The Life and Music of Begum Akhtar (2021), narrated key episodes from the life of the legendary singer of ghazal, dadra and thumri. Awasthi paid tribute to the Hindustani classical exponent by recreating on stage some of her most iconic songs including Hamri Atariya, which got a standing ovation. Neeraj Arya of Kabir Cafe. (Courtesy The Sacred Amritsar) The festival's last set had Neeraj Arya's band Kabir Café presenting popular Kabir bhajans like Mann Mast Bhaya Phir Kya Bole, Chadariya Jheeni Re Jheeni, Mann Laago Mero Yaar Faqiri Mein and Satguru Sahib Ne Mera Bharam Tod Diya. In between all this festival attendees were also taken on heritage walks to major historical sites like the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, Gurudwara Santokhsar Sahib, Katra Ahluwalia, Dharam Singh Market, and Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara. On the whole, Sacred Amritsar 2025 was a fun festival, made even more delicious with chhole kulche and creamy lassi. Chintan Girish Modi is a Mumbai-based journalist who writes about books, art and culture. He can be reached @chintanwriting on Instagram and X.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Louth public invited to St. Nicholas Quarter information event
Louth County Council, who are leading the project, confirmed that ahead of Phase 2 of the major town centre redevelopment project, an information session will be held in Dundalk Town Hall. St. Nicholas Quarter Phase 2 is a regeneration scheme aiming to transform the area around Bridge Street, Linenhall Street, Northgate Street and Peace Park. The area is home to a mixture of residential, retail and commercial properties, which are set to benefit from the public realm upgrades already underway. As the project will soon be entering the second phase, Louth County Council are keen to hear the views of the public. The information day will provide an opportunity to look at initial designs, which have been drafted using feedback from the first consultation, and to meet the team behind the project. All are welcome to drop into the family friendly event taking place at the Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk on Thursday 31st from 3pm to 8pm.
Atlantic
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Atlantic
The Atlantic Festival Announces New Events Across New York City
July 22, 2025—Today The Atlantic is announcing more speakers, events, and the agenda for the 17th annual Atlantic Festival, taking place September 18–20 for the first time in New York City. This year's festival will be anchored at the Perelman Performing Arts Center along with venues around the city, including the Tenement Museum, the Town Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Hauser & Wirth, and McNally Jackson Seaport. Among the speakers announced today: actor Robert Downey Jr. and Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, in conversation with The Atlantic 's editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg; actor Tom Hanks, who voices several historical figures in the new Ken Burns documentary series The American Revolution and who will join the premiere screening of the series at the Town Hall; comedian, writer, and director Richard Ayoade in a conversation moderated by talk-show host, comedian, and producer David Letterman; Executive Producer of The Apollo Kamilah Forbes; Professor of Marketing at NYU's Stern School of Business and a serial entrepreneur Scott Galloway; clinical psychologist and Founder and CEO of Good Inside Becky Kennedy; and TV personality, chef, author, and activist Andrew Zimmern. Previously announced Festival speakers include Mark Cuban, Jennifer Doudna, Arvind Krishna, Monica Lewinsky, Tekedra Mawakana, H.R. McMaster, and Clara Wu Tsai. The Atlantic Festival will also host an exclusive first look for Season 3 of Netflix's The Diplomat, which debuts this fall, followed by a conversation with the show's stars Keri Russell and Allison Janney and creator and executive producer Debora Cahn; a sneak peek screening of FX's The Lowdown, along with a talk with creator, executive producer, writer, and director Sterlin Harjo and executive producer and star Ethan Hawke; and a screening of The American Revolution, followed by a discussion with directors and producers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein, along with actor Tom Hanks, who voices several historical figures, and historian Annette Gordon-Reed. New this year: The Atlantic Festival introduces Out and Abouts, intimate events around the city that are ticketed individually. Among the events announced today: Atlantic Reads book talks at McNally Jackson Seaport. Featuring Walter Mosley for his new novel Gray Dawn; Susan Orlean for her memoir Joyride; and a poetry conversation around The Singing Word: 168 Years of Atlantic Poetry, featuring the book's editor and Atlantic contributing editor Walt Hunter, with Singing Word contributor and MIT professor Joshua Bennett. Premiere of Dread Beat an' Blood at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), featuring a live performance by legendary poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. The Big Story Live events, across downtown venues: 'What Does it Mean to Be an American?,' at the Tenement Museum, featuring staff writers Xochitl Gonzalez and Clint Smith, plus more speakers to be announced. 'The Future of the Arts in a Changing World,' at Hauser & Wirth, featuring Jeffrey Goldberg, Noah Hawley, and Kamilah Forbes, with more speakers to be announced. With more to be announced, including a live taping of the Radio Atlantic podcast. The festival's Single-Day Passes and Out and About tickets will go on sale this Wednesday, July 23, at 11 a.m. ET. Atlantic subscribers receive an exclusive 30 percent discount on festival passes and select Out & About programming. Festival sessions will be led by Goldberg and many of The Atlantic 's writers and editors, including Adrienne LaFrance, Tim Alberta, Ross Andersen, Anne Applebaum, Gal Beckerman, Elizabeth Bruenig, Sophie Gilbert, Jemele Hill, Walt Hunter, Shirley Li, Ashley Parker, and Clint Smith. The 2025 Atlantic Festival is underwritten by Microsoft at the Title Level; CenterWell, Eli Lilly and Company, and Scout Motors at the Presenting Level; and Aflac, Allstate, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Destination DC, Diageo, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Hauser & Wirth, KPMG, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation at the Supporting Level.
