Latest news with #Zach
Chicago Tribune
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Baseball field in Knollwood's West Park in Lake Bluff named in honor of resident who died in Alaska
When people gathered at Knollwood's West Park to honor Zach Porter, many stories were told detailing varying chapters of his life. Yet they all had a common theme of a young man dedicated to those around him, both at home and on the baseball diamond. Amid laughter and tears, Porter's friends, family, and coaches shared anecdotes in a May 25 ceremony officially naming one of the park's fields after the Lake Bluff resident. In May 2023, Porter, 20, drowned after he became stuck in an Alaskan mud flat where he was traveling with friends. In August 2023, at the suggestion of the Lake Bluff Youth Baseball Association, the Lake Bluff Park District approved the name change of field to honor Porter, but the official dedication was delayed as officials considered renovating the park. However, a date was eventually set and one of the park's fields will now have photographs of Porter in uniform along with a large numeral 3, the number he donned while playing for Lake Forest High School, where he was a star pitcher. For roughly 40 minutes, several speakers paid homage to Porter under sunny skies. That group included Porter's childhood friend Cole Ginocchio, who described a 2017 incident when playing on a team under a coach who could be very volatile and wanted the same players to pitch in every game. One time with Porter's team was winning handily, Ginocchio said Porter suggested to the coach to let others pitch. Ginocchio related the coach was angered by Porter's idea and stormed off to his car. Despite his young age, Porter took over as temporary coach and the team went on to win. His friend believed that one incident highlighted Porter's life. 'What truly defined Zach was his unwavering kindness and his courage to stand up for what was right,' Ginocchio noted. 'Even at 13, he had the strength to speak up, bring people together and lead with heart. We ended winning the game not just because of our skill but because of Zach's leadership, compassion and the fact that he was just an amazing, amazing human being. We miss him more than words can say.' Speaking to the crowd on the two-year anniversary of his son's funeral, Todd Porter characterized the gathering as 'special, but bittersweet day.' 'Sweet because it is a fitting and beautiful tribute to Zach,' Porter said in a quivering voice. 'But bitter because it will also remind us of what we miss so much every day.' He listed one reason why the name change meant so much to him and the Porter family. 'This will be a place where kids will have fun, make friends and most importantly, play ball,' he said. Porter recalled how he and Zach spent hundreds of hours playing baseball. 'That is a time I will always cherish,' Porter stated. He later added, 'We pursued ball like others practice religion.' That dedication to baseball set a foundation for Porter playing the game he loved at many different levels. That included several local teams, LFHS and then as a member of the Washington University club team, part of a student-run organization. Some of his coaches described what they saw on the field. 'He was never truly satisfied with just competing, he wanted to win,' remembered Sean Royer, who coached Porter in a local league. 'By winning it made it more fun. Seeing his friends succeed, it was more fun.' LFHS head baseball coach Mike Nilles recalled often Porter's salty language in a lighthearted moment. 'When he was on the field, his favorite words all had four letters.' Nilles then detailed the different dimensions of Porter's personality. 'Everyone knows baseball is a game of failure but Zach never really accepted that idea. 'He was extremely intense and he expected the best from himself and his teammates,' he said. 'He was an absolute bulldog when he was in between the lines, but when he was in the dugout he was as goofy and lighthearted as anyone I have ever met.'
Sunday World
7 days ago
- Sunday World
Innocent family who ‘lost everything' after criminals firebombed wrong house appeal for help
'This attack wasn't meant for us but we are now living with the devastating consequences' The family lost everything in the incident The aftermath of the attack on the house An innocent family who almost lost their lives after reckless criminals firebombed the wrong house as part of an escalating Dublin feud have appealed for help. It had been reported that two people were hospitalised and a family dog killed when the home was targeted in an early morning attack in Ballyfermot, causing extensive damage. According to a GoFundMe appeal set up to help the family 'rebuild after a devastating attack', the incident has 'devastating consequences'. 'In the early hours of last week, at about 2.20am, my family's home was destroyed in a horrific and senseless act of violence,' the appeal reads. 'A firebomb was thrown through the window in what has been confirmed as a case of mistaken identity. This attack wasn't meant for us but we are now living with the devastating consequences.' The organiser reveals that his dad was asleep on the couch when the firebomb came through the window. 'If he hadn't been there to wake up and raise the alarm, my mother and my brother would likely have died in the fire. That thought haunts us. The house was engulfed in flames. They lost everything. Most heartbreakingly, our beloved dog Zach perished in the fire,' they add. The aftermath of the attack on the house News in 90 Seconds - May 27th 'My dad is an artist, and the fire also destroyed many of his original paintings, materials, and years of creative work—gone in moments. And to make matters worse, the house was uninsured, leaving no safety net to recover from the devastation.' Now displaced, the family is trying to pick up the pieces, but 'financial burden of temporary housing, replacing essentials, and beginning the long process of rebuilding is immense'. I'm reaching out to our community—friends, neighbours, and anyone moved by this tragedy—for help. Every donation will go directly to helping Patrick, Breda, and Luke recover and rebuild their lives,' the appeal adds. 'If you can't donate, please consider sharing this page. Your support, in any form, means the world to us. Thank you so much.' Detectives believe the attacks was carried out as part of a worsening city feud involving a young drug dealer and junior associates of mobster Brian Rattigan. There has been a spate of assaults and petrol bombings in recent weeks while one property was also shot up last year. An investigation is under way into the latest incident which happened at around 2.30am last Wednesday. Emergency services including Dublin Fire Brigade, paramedics and gardaí were alerted and two people taken to hospital as a precaution. Extensive damage was caused by a suspected petrol bomb and the family dog was killed. The lads who were sent out to petrol bomb their target clearly got the wrong house The residents who live at the property have no involvement in criminality and gardaí are satisfied the perpetrators targeted the wrong home. A source said: 'This is a decent family who have absolutely no involvement in what has been going on. The lads who were sent out to petrol bomb their target clearly got the wrong house. The family lost everything in the incident 'It shows the calibre of people involved in this feuding and how easily completely innocent people can get caught up in this'. A Garda spokesperson confirmed that an investigation into the incident of criminal damage by fire is under way. The Sunday World previously revealed how a partner of one of the feuding criminals was also warned by her boyfriend's rivals that she would be burnt out of her home. A drug dealer in his 20s is centrally involved in the dispute and was the victim of a violent attack Her partner, a drug dealer aged in his 20s, is centrally involved in the dispute and was the victim of a violent attack in the city centre recently. He was beaten over the head with weapons and also stabbed while receiving a bad slash wound to his face. His family home was also shot at in May of last year while his home and car were smashed up days before the assault on him. Days after that attack a series of coordinated petrol bomb attacks linked to the dispute were carried out in Drimnagh and Kildare. Gardaí believe two brothers, who are in their early 20s and junior associates of convicted killer Rattigan, are leading the feud against the young drug dealer. Rattigan led a gang involved in the deadly Crumlin/Drimnagh feud They were previously part of the same drugs gang but last year fell out in a row over drugs as well as a personal dispute over a woman. Rattigan led a gang involved in the deadly Crumlin/Drimnagh feud which claimed more than a dozen lives in the 2000s. He has served lengthy jail terms for drug offences and manslaughter. The mobster is not suspected of playing any direct role in the feud but gardaí believe he still has a key role in criminality in the area.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WATCH: Bear spotted in Sumner County neighborhood
BETHPAGE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A rare bear sighting in Middle Tennessee over the weekend was captured on video. Casey Briley, the man behind the camera, said he and some friends were heading to dinner Sunday evening when they spotted the animal in Bethpage. Komodo dragon eats shoe thrown into Tennessee zoo exhibit 'My buddy Zach was driving and I said, 'You better watch out there's a big dog up there in the road.' He got a little bit closer, he said, 'That's a black bear!'' Briley said. He told News 2 they spotted the bear between Dollar General and Gifford Lane. 'Once I seen it was a bear, I pulled my phone out real quick, and was lucky enough to get it on camera before it kind of eased behind the trees where I couldn't see it. But it was pretty cool to be able to capture that on video,' he said. ⏩ Officials believe this is the first bear sighting in the area in over a decade. The last was reported in 2015 near Bledsoe Creek State Park. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said they intend to leave the bear alone unless it becomes a threat, which is unlikely. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nescafé's first-ever global influencer Zach King is bringing magic to the brand
VEVEY, Switzerland, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nescafé announces today a global partnership with renowned digital magician and filmmaker, Zach King, who will serve as the brand's first-ever global influencer. This exciting collaboration marks a significant step in Nescafé's brand-building strategy to reach a broader and younger audience, bringing coffee into the realm of digital storytelling. TV Commercialhttps:// Zach King, the digital wizard Zach King, from California, USA, has an impressive following of over 185 million fans and holds the Guinness World Record for the most viewed video on TikTok with 2.2 billion views. He ranked number four in the top 10 most watched TikTok videos in 2024. His unique ability to entertain and engage resonates perfectly with Nescafé's vision, particularly among younger consumers aged 18 to 24, through authentic storytelling and innovative content, making him an ideal choice for this collaboration. "I've always loved turning everyday things into something unexpected," said Zach King. "This project with Nescafé has been all about having fun, getting creative, and showing how even your afternoon coffee can have a twist of magic." Billboard Hack Hacking Nescafé with Zach King At the heart of this partnership is the new Nescafé Espresso Concentrate, the brand's latest cold coffee range designed for home consumption. This product empowers consumers to craft and personalize their coffee experiences, aligning with the emerging coffee hacking movement. The synergy between Nescafé's expertise and Zach King's creative digital storytelling promises to create a captivating narrative for coffee lovers everywhere. "Zach King's fan base is young and diverse, mirroring the spirit of our newly launched Nescafé Espresso Concentrate cold coffee," said David Rennie, Executive Vice-President and Head of Strategic Business Units and Marketing and Sales at Nestlé. "We are excited to bring Zach into the Nescafé universe, providing a fantastic platform for our cold coffee hacks. Together, we will create magical moments that resonate with our consumers." The partnership includes a series of creative digital assets, including TV advertising, exclusive social media videos, and behind-the-scenes content. The partnership will launch first in the US and the UK and will expand globally throughout this year. Photo - - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Nestlé
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mother pushes for LPRs in Nashville after son injured in hit-and-run crash
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The mother of the man who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run Sunday evening is calling out Nashville for not have license plate recognition cameras. Zach Carach and his family were reportedly visiting Nashville over the weekend to celebrate his 21st birthday. However, everything changed around 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 18. In the surveillance video, you can see Zach looking both ways before crossing the walkway on Church Street. Moments later, the footage shows a silver Mitsubishi Mirage hitting Zach, throwing him airborne, and then driving off. 'It's just a miracle that he's alive,' Zach's mom, Sheena Carach, said. PREVIOUS | 'In a split second, it all changed': 21-year-old injured after hit-and-run on busy Nashville road The Metro Nashville Police Department said the Florida man sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries in the crash. As of Wednesday, May 21, he is reportedly still recovering at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 'I had to call cops around this nation to say, 'Please help me put pressure on this department to do something; please help me get this done,'' Sheena said. Sheena has been fighting for answers in her son's case and questioning why Nashville doesn't have LPR cameras. 'Why does Nashville, as big as they are, not have this but everybody else does? I just, I can't stress it enough, and I'm not done fighting. I'm going to fight for my child until this is finished, but then I'm going to fight for those other people, for other people's children…and I'm going to fight for justice for every single person that's been harmed here in this city,' Sheena said. SEE ALSO | MNPD finds car used in hit-and-run crash that left 21-year-old injured According to Sheena, her fight is paying off because the MNPD announced on Tuesday, May 20 that its Traffic Division officers found the Mirage from the hit-and-run at a Mt. Juliet rental facility. However, investigators are still working to track down the driver. 'It's heartbreaking to see the vehicle in the video. You can tell there is damage, but you can't see the severity of the damage. Then you look at it as a mom and you say, 'Oh my God, that was my child's body that made that,'' Sheena said. Sheena is grateful for the Nashville community's response to her search for justice for Zach. 'I said the other day it takes a village and I'm just so proud, honored, and humbled that Nashville has been my village,' Sheena said. ⏩ If you know anything about Sunday's hit-and-run, you're asked to call Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward. If you want to help with Zach's medical costs, Sheena has set up a GoFundMe. So far, it's raised more than $1,300. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
