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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Somerset County seats committee to review disaster relief grant applications
SOMERSET, Pa. – Six residents from across Somerset County have been selected to review requests for help from a newly created disaster recovery fund. They all have reputations for serving their communities – in many cases, providing help in times of need, the Somerset County commissioners said. The list includes business leaders, longtime fire department volunteers, a pastor and two local emergency management coordinators. They will review grant applications to select residents and businesses eligible for flood recovery aid, the board said. The review board approved by the commissioners Tuesday includes: • David Berkey, of Jenner Township, is a Somerset County Fair board president who owns an excavating business and is active in Jenner Township Baptist Church. • Lance Bittner, of Berlin, is a local Boy Scouts of America leader who has spearheaded toy drives and assisted with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in South Carolina. • The Rev. Matthew Deal, of Somerset, is the pastor at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, serves on the United Way of the Southern Alleghenies board and previously served as president of the outreach group Somerset Area Ministries. • Gerald Parry, of Berlin, is a former fire chief in his hometown and a founding member of the county's hazardous materials team who serves as Berlin's local emergency management coordinator. • Robert Statler, of Windber, retired this month as fire chief with the city of Johnstown and is a longtime member of Windber's fire department. A longtime paramedic, he also serves on the Cambria County Swift Water Rescue Team. • Harvey Wetzler, of Addison, serves as emergency management coordinator for Addison Borough and the surrounding township. He is also a Somerset County Swift Water Rescue Team member, hazmat team member and Community Organizations Active in Disasters member. The county commissioners each selected one member, while Somerset County Emergency Management Agency officials selected the other three – Bittner, Statler and Wetzler. A history of community service 'was a key consideration for us. We wanted people who understand the need to support their community,' said Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes, who selected Deal to serve on the committee. Commissioner Irv Kimmel Jr., who nominated Berkey, said the goal was to get people involved from 'all ends of the county.' He described the committee as a 'great group of individuals.' The commissioners established the recovery fund to support southern Somerset County in the aftermath of a devastating May 13 flood – but said they wanted to leave the application review and award process to the community itself to manage. The six-member committee will work alongside the nonprofit Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, which is accepting donations and grant applications. The Community Foundation will also manage the fund as it continues to grow, the commissioners have said. As planned, committee members could begin reviewing requests for aid and issue awards in the next few weeks, the commissioners said. Municipal leaders in eight communities that have issued disaster declarations will be able to file applications on behalf of residents and businesses in their communities that sustained losses, the commissioners have said. Kimmel said there is no specific limit on the amount an entity can request – but the review committee is working with a limited amount of funds and will likely have a goal of supporting as many qualified people as possible. Now that the county has received approval for state and federal emergency loans and grants, including low-interest Small Business Administration loans, there are multiple levels of support available for properties that suffered damages and losses in the flood. Each government program has its own unique stipulations for how money can be spent – such as for home repairs or temporary housing assistance – and who is eligible. The state Disaster Relief Program, for example, has income eligibility requirements. But even with multiple sources of aid, in addition to property owners' insurance plans, the commissioners said they know there will be 'gaps' where people will have to absorb losses from the flood. 'There are going to be unmet needs,' Tokar-Ickes said, 'and that's what this fund is intended for.' As of Tuesday, Tokar-Ickes said approximately $40,000 was raised through the disaster recovery fund, including $10,000 from the CFA and a $10,000 pledge from Somerset County through hotel tax and Act 13 natural gas 'impact fee' revenues. The commissioners have designated the county's $10,000 contribution to municipal agencies – such as borough or township governments – in communities that are working to recover from the flood. The hope is that the relief fund's total will continue to grow, Kimmel, Tokar-Ickes and President Commissioner Brian Fochtman said. They said an annual fundraiser event is being considered to raise awareness and support for the fund, which will be ongoing to provide support after future disasters. 'Hopefully, there's never a 'next time', ' Kimmel said, 'but unfortunately, there probably will be.' Contributions to the Disaster Recovery Fund can be made at Tokar-Ickes said a link will also be posted online in the near future to apply for funds.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Schubert Club unveils 2025-26 season, including its Music in the Park Series
For more than 125 years, the Schubert Club has brought globally renowned classical musicians to Minnesota, a tradition that will continue in its 2025-26 season. The season features a slate of five performances in its International Artist Series at the Ordway Concert Hall. It will also bring back its more intimate chamber music program, Music in the Park, hosted at St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ. The featured artist for the 2025–26 season is British baritone Roderick Williams, who will host activities during the season for his residence, including a masterclass for students. He will also host a public performance with pianist Iain Burnside on Nov. 13 featuring a program that includes the world premiere of work by the Minneapolis-based composer Libby Larsen. Here's what else the season will bring to the Twin Cities. Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Oct. 28–29Across two concerts, the French pianist will perform Maurice Ravel's complete piano works. Roderick Williams with Iain Burnside, Nov. 13 Garrick Ohlsson and Richard O'Neill, Feb. 6–7, 2026Ohlsson makes a return to St. Paul with the Grammy-winning violist Richard O'Neill. They'll perform works by Franz Schubert and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Pablo Ferrández, March 18–19, 2026The 33-year-old cellist has performed alongside some of the most recognizable names in classical music, such as Anne-Sophie Mutter and Martha Argerich. He will take to the stage alone, performing a pair of cello suites by J.S. Bach as well as solo cello suites by Benjamin Britten and Gaspar Cassadó. Jordi Savall & Hespèrion XXI, April 16, 2026Savall, a revered performer and presenter of early music, will be joined by his ensemble, Hespérion XXI, for a program titled "Un Mar de Músicas (A Sea of Music)." While the program has yet to be unveiled, it's described as "a dialogue with the music of Africa, America, and the Caribbean," including works by Gaspar Fernandes, Diego Duron, Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, Felip Olivelles, and Santiago de Murcia. This series of concerts all take place on Sundays at 4 p.m. at 2129 Commonwealth Ave. David Finckel, Wu Han and Benjamin Beilman, Oct. 5This trio is making a return appearance with the Schubert Club and will perform a program of two Schubert piano trios. The Danish String Quartet, Nov. 23The quartet returns following their fondly remembered 2021 performance of all 15 Beethoven string quartets. This time, they come bearing quartets Alfred Schnittke and Dmitri Shostakovich. Nathan Amaral, Feb. 15, 2026The Brazilian violinist is joined by pianist Alice Chenyang Xu. The program has yet to be announced. Le Consort, March 15, 2026The early music ensemble's program combines well-loved pieces and music that is less often performed. Their March performance will include pieces by Georg Philipp Telemann, Bach, and others. The Miró Quartet, April 12, 2026The popular quartet will be joined by saxophonist Steven Banks for a unique program that includes the Minnesota premiere of Banks' "What's Old is New," as well as an inspired pairing of work by Hildegard of Bingen and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, who recently performed at the Walker Art Center with the percussion quartet Sō Percussion.
Miami Herald
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
As South Florida faith leaders, we stand up for immigrants and LGBTQ communities
Justice for all We, who are progressive faith leaders from local United Church of Christ congregations, write with hearts burdened by injustice and stirred by hope. We stand at a pivotal crossroads — one where oppressive governmental policies, hateful rhetoric, Christian Nationalism and systemic failures pose grave threats to human life and dignity. In a time where division, fear and exclusion challenge the dignity of many, we stand together in love and a deep commitment to social justice, calling for compassion and equality for all people. At the heart of our faith is Jesus' commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our faith compels us to stand for the rights of immigrants seeking safety, for our LGBTQ+ and trans siblings to live authentically, racial justice, for women to have autonomy over their bodies and for an end to practices that harm or dehumanize, such as the use of Guantanamo Bay to detain immigrants. At the same time, we remain dedicated to creating a community where all people can find peace and belonging, free from fear or judgment. We invite our neighbors and allies to join us in this work. Together, we can address the challenges of the present and build a future rooted in kindness, equality and dignity. If you are looking for a place to strengthen your soul, find community and be empowered to make a difference in the world, our doors are open to you. The Rev. Candace Thomas, pastor, Christ Congregational Church UCC, The Rev. Elvin Dowling, Church of the Open Door, The Rev. Dr. Laurinda Hafner, senior pastor, The Rev. Megan Smith, associate pastor, The Rev. Lisa LeSeur, associate pastor, Coral Gables Congregational UCC, The Rev. Harvey Lockhart, First Church of North Miami, The Rev. Jessica Derise, Miami Shores Community Church, The Rev. Aaron Lauer, United Church of Christ Fort Lauderdale Who's accountable? Apparently, things don't change much, as evident in the Feb. 19 Miami Herald story, 'Botched search warrants end feds' drug case against Miami doctor.' Almost 21 years ago, I wrote a letter to the editor following the tragic death of 3-year-old Angel Hope Herrera, beaten to death by her mother after then-Judge Sarah Zabel returned her to her mother's custody. At the time, as a police officer (since retired), I questioned why the judge's flawed and fatal decision wasn't scrutinized the same way a police officer's actions would be if resulting in a death. That question remains equally relevant today. Accountability is essential for judges, state attorney investigators and attorneys alike. Yes, Frank Casanova's sloppy investigative work was reprehensible and he should absolutely be held accountable. However, will Assistant State Attorney Brenda Mezick, as chief of the ASA Human Trafficking Unit, also be held responsible? Will the judge who signed the search warrant face any scrutiny? When those entrusted with upholding justice fail in their duties, the consequences are severe. Investigators, police officers, attorneys and judges wield enormous power over people's lives. If accountability is only applied selectively, the integrity of our justice system is compromised. Mayree Morin Fernandez, South Miami A new GOP? Re: Andres Oppenheimer's Feb. 16 opinion, 'Trump's order to pause anti-bribery law will fuel more corruption in Latin America.' I was a Reagan Republican, but I must admit that MAGA has taken over the party and it is gone. R.I.P., GOP. Now is the time for American conservatives to start over with a new party. This is challenging, but also an opportunity to redefine healthy political conservatism in the United States. American conservatives must realize that the Republican Party has been completely taken over by MAGA — and pivot. Eileen Buchanan, Zephyrhills Can't talk trash No public comment was allowed at the Feb. 19 Miami-Dade Board of County Commission meeting regarding the county incinerator. The last time public comment was allowed before the entire commission was on Sept. 17, where turnout was massive. Comment time was limited to an almost useless one minute. Comments were, however, allowed at the Feb. 10 Infrastructure, Innovation and Technology meeting, where multiple commissioners hold positions. The public's voice was united in opposition to an incinerator and came from many perspectives. Many praised Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's interim trash solution, which continues present practices of land filling near and afar, while zero waste policies and practices are implemented. Participants who sacrificed their time to speak were greeted by an inattentive dais. Many, if not most, commissioners left their seats to mull around 'backstage.' Never was a speaker asked for clarification nor a question asked from the dais. Is anyone listening? Seems not. An incinerator is still being embraced as a viable solution and the newly mandated report will be asked to reconsider, locate and price waste burning, among other options. Who are our commissioners truly listening to? It does not appear to be constituents. We seem to be wasting our time and breath. Steven Leidner, Bay Harbor Islands Insane summer The Herald's Feb. 20 editorial, ''Second Amendment Summer' is about posturing,' blew my mind. Gov. DeSantis proposes there be no limit to the number or price of firearms that can be purchased in a single transaction during the tax holiday in July. I had to read that twice. This is insanity. The same edition of the Herald has the gruesome details of a triple homicide in Tamarac, where a man shot his wife, father-in-law and a neighbor. A few days ago, the seventh anniversary of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland was a stark reminder that we are no safer from gun violence today, in spite of small legislative victories like raising the minimum age to buy firearms. What is the intention of stockpiling guns and ammunition if not to shoot other human beings? The governor will have blood on his hands with this callous measure. Rosemary Ravinal, Doral Citizens, not enemies When I was in college, I had a summer internship at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. I saw firsthand how inefficient, unwieldy and bloated federal bureaucracies can be. Many of my co-workers didn't seem to have enough to do, marginally competent employees were passed from office to office, resources were often squandered. I understand Republicans' determination to trim the size of the government and reduce waste of taxpayers' dollars. However, I also remember agricultural pollution of the Everglades, industrial waste flowing into our rivers and oceans, smog blanketing our cities and the dangerous thinning of the earth's ozone layer. Despite its flaws, our lumbering federal bureaucracy dramatically improved water and air quality in Florida and nationwide, brought species such as bald eagles back from the brink of extinction and safeguarded our planet's atmosphere. The government employees I worked with were good, earnest people. Yes, downsize the government and look for cost-savings, but allow federal agencies to continue their important work. Instead of treating government workers as enemies, respect the fellow citizens who serve us. Nat Wheelwright, Harpswell, ME So many topics In the Feb. 19 letter, 'Change the subject,' the writer complains that Herald opinion writer Andres Oppenheimer seems 'fixated on criticizing every move President Trump takes.' I agree. Oppenheimer should instead write about the china place settings used in state dinners with foreign leaders, or perhaps the color of paint on our embassies. These pieces would be much more enlightening than any discussing Trump's embrace of dictators, his cutting of foreign and humanitarian aid and other frivolous issues. Sylvan Seidenman, Miami Not safe for work There is a federal government employee who Elon Musk should fire immediately. He had been employed only four years and he played golf 307 days while on government payroll. Now he is a government employee again. His name is Donald Trump. Emilia Fosberg, Cocoa Beach
Arab Times
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Dozens take oath of US citizenship against Trump's promise of deportations
TOPEKA, Kan, Jan 28, (AP): Carlos Wriedt came to the US from Mexico in his 40s with his wife to pursue their dream of starting a business and to build a better life for their daughter, then 10 months old. He and his wife became US citizens Monday, taking their oaths in a ceremony at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, along with 28 others, as their families watched, waved small flags and recorded the event on their cellphones. Wriedt, his wife and his daughter have lived in the US for more than 20 years, and he and his wife now have a business in Wichita offering translation services to courts, medical providers and others. Wriedt had a green card proving he is a legal permanent resident, and ahead of last year's election - in which President Donald Trump made illegal immigration a key issue - he wasn't worried that he wouldn't be able to renew. But he and his wife applied for citizenship anyway. Their daughter became a citizen in September. After he and the other immigrants sang the concluding "home of the brave' in the National Anthem, took the oath renouncing foreign princes and potentates and pledged allegiance to the American flag, Wriedt said he still had goosebumps but that he also felt relief. "Now, nobody can take that away from us unless we misbehave - but of course we won't,' he said. The US naturalized more than 818,000 new citizens from October 2023 through September 2024, an average of about 68,000 a month, according to the federal government. In Topeka, the 30 new citizens came from 18 different nations, and the ceremony gave speakers a chance to stress their own immigrant roots, with Kansas Gov Laura Kelly noting that her family emigrated from Ireland. But it also occurred against the backdrop of Trump's promise of mass deportations of immigrants living in the US illegally, his suspension of refugee resettlements and his effort to end the constitutional promise of birthright citizenship for children born in the US to immigrant parents. "I'm disappointed at the climate and the rhetoric right now,' said Kansas state Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, a Topeka Democrat and United Church of Christ minister. "It promotes people with short fuses doing things they shouldn't do.' Yet Schlingensiepen was heartened by the ceremony and it brought back memories. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of his own naturalization as a 13-year-old immigrant from Germany. He has attended other ceremonies, and he stopped to watch Monday's after coming across it during a break in legislative meetings.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A ceremony to grant US citizenship celebrated immigration even as the debate around it swirls
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Carlos Wriedt came to the U.S. from Mexico in his 40s with his wife to pursue their dream of starting a business and to build a better life for their daughter, then 10 months old. He and his wife became U.S. citizens Monday, taking their oaths in a ceremony at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, along with 28 others, as their families watched, waved small flags and recorded the event on their cellphones. Wriedt, his wife and his daughter have lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years, and he and his wife now have a business in Wichita offering translation services to courts, medical providers and others. Wriedt had a green card proving he is a legal permanent resident, and ahead of last year's election — in which President Donald Trump made illegal immigration a key issue — he wasn't worried that he wouldn't be able to renew. But he and his wife applied for citizenship anyway. Their daughter became a citizen in September. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. After he and the other immigrants sang the concluding 'home of the brave' in the National Anthem, took the oath renouncing foreign princes and potentates and pledged allegiance to the American flag, Wriedt said he still had goosebumps but that he also felt relief. 'Now, nobody can take that away from us unless we misbehave — but of course we won't,' he said. The U.S. naturalized more than 818,000 new citizens from October 2023 through September 2024, an average of about 68,000 a month, according to the federal government. In Topeka, the 30 new citizens came from 18 different nations, and the ceremony gave speakers a chance to stress their own immigrant roots, with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly noting that her family emigrated from Ireland. But it also occurred against the backdrop of Trump's promise of mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, his suspension of refugee resettlements and his effort to end the constitutional promise of birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents. 'I'm disappointed at the climate and the rhetoric right now,' said Kansas state Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, a Topeka Democrat and United Church of Christ minister. 'It promotes people with short fuses doing things they shouldn't do.' Yet Schlingensiepen was heartened by the ceremony and it brought back memories. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of his own naturalization as a 13-year-old immigrant from Germany. He has attended other ceremonies, and he stopped to watch Monday's after coming across it during a break in legislative meetings. The officials speaking at the ceremony congratulated the new citizens who had to fill out applications, undergo interviews, take a citizenship test and attest to their good character before they could be naturalized. The speakers also celebrated the diversity of the American population and described their adopted nation as a place of equity and inclusion. 'The dreams of immigrants have built in America and continue to inject new energy, new vitality and new strength into our country," Kelly said. Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Rachel Pickering noted that her mother's parents came to the U.S. from Mexico about a century ago. She said later that they were fleeing a civil war and took a train to Chicago to find work before settling in Detroit. She told the new citizens, 'You are keeping the American dream alive." As Jerry Ugbo took the citizenship oath, his wife, Hannah, watched with their two children, 18-month-old Gideon and 6-month-old Nora. Gideon laughed with delight as his mother waved a small American flag then handed it to him. The flag ended up attached to the side of Nora's carriage. Jerry Ugbo came to Idaho from Nigeria in 2015 to study human biology. He and his family now live in Manhattan, Kansas, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Topeka. He is finishing up schooling to become a physician's assistant and Hannah does major event planning. The couple married in 2018, and Jerry Ugbo hadn't thought much about becoming a U.S. citizen as he concentrated on his career. He described the U.S. as a place of 'endless opportunity" after making friends and immersing himself in American culture. With the debate over immigration swirling, Hannah Ugbo said she thinks it's important for people to come to the U.S. legally but that the legal process has hurdles. It costs at least hundreds of dollars, and often immigrants hire lawyers to help them, especially if they struggle with English. Jerry and Hannah Ugbo, unable to afford a lawyer, had to sweat the details themselves. With his oath taken, Jerry Ugbo and his family planned to celebrate, though the first order of business was a meal and, Hannah Ugbo said, to 'let the kids play.'
