Latest news with #Winterfest
West Australian
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Whilst it's no Lonely Mountain, Manjimup's local dragon now has a den of its own
While Manjimup is no Lonely Mountain, its local dragon now has a den of its own. A Lotterywest grant has given Blackwood D&D Winterfest's 2m-long dragon mascot Geoffrey a new home — a sea container organisers were able to purchase with the funds to house the medieval beast. Along with storing Geoffrey, organisers now have a secure place to keep their props and decorations for their Dungeons and Dragons adventures hosted each year. Winterfest president Glenn Turner said the project had been two years in the making to aid the event, which was established in 2018 and brings hundreds of Dungeons & Dragons players to Bridgetown. Last year more than 500 tickets for the two-day event were sold, amassing over more than 300 hours of game play. This year the event is taking place over July 19 and 20 at the Bridgetown Agricultural Showgrounds, with the main game sessions in Centenary Hall and Rowan Hall. The event is inviting players to contribute to regular sessions as well as short-45 minute one-shot games giving those new to the game an opportunity to dip their toes into the event. Mr Turner said the grant would also fund heating for Centenary Hall, as well as contributing to expenses for the more than 70 volunteers who make the event happen. 'We're a not-for-profit organisation and their generosity means we can make the event even bigger and better for everyone,' he said. 'We're always thankful for the Agricultural Society's enthusiastic support of Winterfest. 'They have generously offered space to store our sea container, nice and close to the venue. We can't thank them and Lotterywest enough for their support.' D&D Winterfest's founder Emily Smith said the games weren't only limited to the Winterfest event, with monthly D&D games played for locals at Rowan Hall. 'Having regular game sessions like this is a perfect chance for curious locals to come and try their hand,' she said. 'Dungeons & Dragons is a great social activity which fosters co-operation and problem-solving. 'Players all control how the story of each game session plays out — there are no winners and losers, and it's also a lot of fun.' For more information or to book tickets, visit .
Hamilton Spectator
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Trail Blazers: Burlington's Sculpture Trail Carves Space for Public Reflection
Have you noticed striking sculptures winding their way along the shores of Lake Ontario and up Brant Street this spring? If so, you've encountered the Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail, now an annual tradition returning for its fourth year. The Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail (BWST) is a unique outdoor art-viewing opportunity is the work of the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection, facilitated by Cobalt Connects, with funding from the Government of Canada's Tourism Relief Fund. Artists from Burlington and across the country exhibit their work to introduce the Burlington community to art and sculptural pieces outside of a traditional gallery setting. Steff Bishop is an associate producer of Cobalt Connects, a non-profit social enterprise that is responsible for taking on various artistic projects, ranging from public art programs like BWST to events like Hamilton's Winterfest, cultural policies and plans for municipalities, and more. In the interview below, Bishop answers questions about their experience of facilitating BWST. Answers have been lightly edited for clarity. ——————————————————————————— What have been the most challenging aspects of the exhibition? One of the things that we've found most challenging is that Mother Nature has not been our friend when it came to our scheduled free tours that we were doing. Every other Tuesday, since the opening of the tour, we have had guided tours scheduled. The artists create their works with the understanding that it's going to be exposed to the elements, and so we do give them the option of having it covered with plexiglass, or if it's able to be exposed to the weather, then that's up to the artist to make happen. What does the process of selecting an artist lineup look like? We put out a public call, and we also share that with some different sculpture galleries and things like that. Then, when the applications all come in, there's a jury process. A few of us get together and review the submissions and decide on which ones we think would be a suitable fit. Then there's also an approval process from the municipality to make sure that there are no safety concerns or things like that. If there are any gaps in the submissions, if [for example] we find that there aren't enough submissions from local artists, we do broaden the call. We try to make sure that we have a variety of artists from different locations and different demographic backgrounds. There are certain qualifying questions we ask in the application process for the artists to indicate if they self-identify as a youth, as a senior, as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, as disabled, francophone, Indigenous, etc. Those are some of the self-identifiers that we ask about; we consider those [self-identified characteristics] to make sure we have a broad mix of different identities. What has the public reaction been so far? This year it's been fantastic. Even to the point that when our team was there installing the pieces at the beginning of April, people who walk through Spencer Smith Park quite regularly were commenting about how they're glad that the art is coming back again: 'It's time for the art again!' Which is a bit of a change from a couple of years earlier when we would get comments like, 'Oh, what a waste of taxpayer money,' and things like that. We try to let the public know, whenever we hear feedback like that, that it is not taxpayer money at all. It is privately funded through private sources and from sponsors, grants, and things like that. None of it comes from, none of it is taxpayer money. As co-leader at Cobalt Connects, what are the goals that you've brought to the organization and to this year's BWST? We work hard to ensure that with the art, we cover a broad spectrum of identities. That is something that we've always mandated and worked to incorporate into any of the projects that we work on, not just the Sculpture Trail, because we recognize that the community, our local community, is diverse. We have incredible talents that should be highlighted from all backgrounds. It helps create our local identity. With the Sculpture Trail and with any of the other projects Cobalt Connects takes on, we make sure that is a key factor in what we do. Do you think the BWST is a way to break down traditional gallery settings? Exactly, yes! Adding on to what I said previously, the other thing that we do is try to ensure that art of all kinds is accessible to people — not just physically accessible, but also financially, emotionally, and intellectually. A lot of people can be put off by the stuffy perception that we have of art galleries and so by putting it out in a park where people just naturally are, it allows the general public to gain that art appreciation and then perhaps venture to an art gallery to see what else takes their interest. In your completely non-biased opinion, what is your favourite piece on this trail? I was trying to figure that out the other day. There is one artist from the U.S. who is exhibiting his piece, Boris Kramer, and his piece is in front of Village Square. It's a large metal sculpture called 'Structure and Balance,' and it's got a highly polished metal, a bit of a twist, and then a straighter piece…you get a cool reflection, the light bounces off it in a really neat way. It is a balance of that high polish beauty and hard metal, and this movement that can happen with a piece that looks so stationary. But I hate to say that one of my favourite pieces is from an American. I could tell you something that I love about every piece that is part of this exhibit. Just some of the thoughts and the background that goes into the pieces…Bastian Martel, his piece is also fantastic. It's called 'Lassitude.' It's a metal sculpture of a bust and a bowler hat. One of the things that Bastian has said about that is that the bowler hat has historically been a symbol of the working class and the upper class. It broke class barriers at the height of its popularity. I think that gives you a bit of pause when you look at the piece and try and determine whether this is a hat belonging to someone in the working class or someone in the upper class. It's difficult to tell. I like the contemplation that the piece provides. Is there anything to say to people who want more after this exhibit? Well, come back next year! There is the Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail website, which is updated every year. A lot of the pieces are on loan from the Art Gallery of Burlington. We're so lucky to have one of Canada's top ceramic galleries right here. They always have incredible pieces and wonderful exhibits throughout the year to check out. Then some of the pieces are also on loan from Eno Gallery. That's another place that people can visit to see more public sculpture art. The exhibit will continue until June 1. I,t is free to visit and is located along Spencer Smith Park, Lakeshore Rd., and Locust and Brant streets. For more information and for the digital guide, visit the BWST website .
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Racers explore Cooper's Rock for 50km and Half Marathon Trail Race
BRUCETON MILLS, (WBOY) — Saturday was the Coopers Rock 50 Km and Half Marathon Trail Race, which saw several runners reach the finish line at the Coopers Rock overlook. The race is put on to help people get to know the park and to raise money for the Coopers Rock Foundation, which helps maintain trails and host free community events such as Winterfest and Celebration of the Outdoors. Land adjacent to New River Gorge National Park for sale Race Director David Hopkinson told 12 News the 50K course actually covered every single trail on the south side of Coopers Rock State Forest, and that he has exciting plans in store for next year's race, which will be the 10th anniversary of the event. We're going to start this at night,' Hopkinson said. 'And everybody will run through the dark. The forest is a different place at night than it is during the day.' A total of 166 people ran in this years race. Each of them got a hat and a shirt in addition to the scenic run. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Florida man charged in Lackawanna County rental tent scam
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — There are new developments on Monday regarding a rental tent scam. Police say a 23-year-old Florida man is charged with stealing more than $50,000 from the Lackawanna County Arts and Culture Department. This all began last winter when the Arts and Cultures Department of Lackawanna County was scammed through email out of that money, which they thought went to pay for rental tents used for Winterfest. Florida police arrested 23-year-old Michael Patrylo on Friday. He's charged with theft, forgery, and other charges. Police say the Florida resident allegedly represented himself as a person who works for L&A tent rentals from New Jersey through email in December 2023. The County Director of Arts and Cultures thought she had sent a payment of $56,000 to the tent company. Family of 'House of Horrors' owner seeks justice for her murder L&A Tent Rentals contacted her in January 2024 looking for the money and stating that the account she sent it to was not their account. Lackawanna County then filed a claim with the District Attorney's Office to investigate the matter. They found the bank account belonged to Patrylo and found the money was used or attempted for DoorDash, Uber, a Delta Airlines flight, and even a Vrbo rental. Patrylo faces a maximum penalty of 47 years in prison and a $95,000 fine. 28/22 News is still waiting to hear when Patrylo will be brought to Lackawanna County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
First Responders Spotlight: Deputy honored for decade-long running streak
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Deputy Mark Sands is approaching 25 years now with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. He works with the jail unit. When he's not there, he's probably out for a run. Sands is what's known as a 'running streaker.' 'It all goes back to 2012,' Sands explained. 'I did a bunch of 5Ks, bunch of marathons, half-marathons and was looking for a way to challenge myself something new and heard about this streaking thing and set a goal to streak one year and one day.' To streak in running you must finish at least one mile a day, every single day. After we met, the two of us knocked out some laps at the Hall of Justice plaza to mark another mile done for Sands. While he started this journey 13 years ago, a back injury got in the way short of the two-year mark. He started streaking again. Ten years and a month later that streak continues. Word got around about Sands and his dedication to running. Local race organizers set up a surprise during the county's Winterfest celebration in January. 'The owner of Fleet Feet reached out to me before the race and said that it was in my best interest to be at the award ceremony,' Sands said. 'I'm a pretty average runner, never take first place that kind of thing, so I knew something was up.' He got the Sheriff's Commendation Ribbon for his devotion to physical health and well-being. A decade-plus into this, I asked: how many more miles are left? 'Until I can't anymore,' Sands laughed. 'I really don't have an end goal for this, I'm just going to keep getting out there every day that I can and enjoy it.' The streak for Sands averages out to about 3.5 miles a day. He's done everything, the ROC marathon, Mendon 50k, and 50 miles around Canandaigua Lake. Sands told me as hard as ultra marathons are, that mile the next morning is even more insane. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
