Latest news with #boomer
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Search and rescue president records whimsical Boomer song to support Project Lifesaver
Stan French, a North Bay man who is the president of the Bay Search and Rescue program released a whimsical tune Wednesday about the joys and challenges of being a retired boomer. A North Bay man who is the president of the Bay Search and Rescue program released a whimsical tune Wednesday about the joys and challenges of being a retired boomer. Stan French said all proceeds will go to charities that rely on Project Lifesaver. 'As a boomer, you've got that freedom to try and stay active,' French said. Boomer2 Stan French, a North Bay man who is the president of the Bay Search and Rescue program released a whimsical tune Wednesday about the joys and challenges of being a retired boomer. (Photo from video) The name of the song came while he was on his way to play old timers' hockey at the West Ferris arena, when he started thinking that being a boomer isn't bad at all. He started to hum a catchy melody and decided to write lyrics and record the uplifting tune. 'As a retired senior, you're going to have the challenges and losses -- things like losses of friends or losses of things like eyesight and hearing,' French said. 'There's going to be challenges. But if you can laugh at those and say that's part of life, that's good.' With the help of his boomer bandmates -- Pat O'Kane, Chris Clarke, Bob Bartlett, Neil Kennedy, Linda McCarthy and Janis Herzog -- French recorded 'Being a Boomer Ain't Bad.' He also released a video for the song on major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Boomer3 Proceeds from the song will go to charities that rely on Project Lifesaver. (File) The video shows French staying active by playing hockey, curling and pickleball, saying hello to his neighbours, taking a cruise and seeing the doctor -- while also forgetting sometimes where he is. French said he'll donate all royalties to One Kids Place, The Alzheimer Society of North Bay and Sudbury, and the Victorian Order of Nurses SMILE Program. The three charities refer clients to Bay Search and Rescue (BAYSAR) and support families needing Project Lifesaver, of which French is president. 'This will be great for us … and help more seniors with having more of that money and keeping them safe at home as long as possible,' said SMILE Program case coordinator Abbey Robarts. One Kids Place currently has 30 children who are on the autism spectrum in the program. The money there will go to offset the cost of Project Lifesaver enrolment. A comfort to families 'It's incredibly comforting to families that they have a number to call, and it immediately mobilizes a team to go and find their child,' said Jesse Reid, the One Kids Place volunteer coordinator. To help kick-start fundraising and improve access so more seniors with dementia can get Project Lifesaver, the Rotary Club of North Bay has provided BAYSAR with $2,000. That money will be used to provide Project Lifesaver at no cost to families with low incomes or no other source of funding. Currently, 56 clients in the District of Nipissing are fitted with a Project Lifesaver transmitter that could help police locate them should they ever wander off. However, French said many people still haven't heard about it. 'We're almost up at the point where we'll have one client for every thousand people in the community,' he said. He's hoping the song becomes an instant classic and an earworm that people will have stuck in their heads. People can also visit French's website to make a direct donation to the charity of their choice. 'I'm going to give them some enjoyment with the song, and hopefully they all return the favor by donating,' he said.
Miami Herald
06-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Famous supermarket brand unveils sweet lineup
When we think back to the days of lunch boxes and school cafeterias, we probably picture ourselves indulging in a delightful meal of peanut butter and jelly sandwiched between two slices of unadulterated white bread. And whether you're a millennial, Gen Xer, or baby boomer, that sandwich of yours was probably made with Wonder Bread. Of course, Wonder Bread comes in several varieties. But many of us associate the brand with the classic white bread experience -- a soft, fluffy sheet of goodness that graced not only our lunch boxes, but our dinner plates on those nights when we were too tired to cook as adults. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter But it's not just the taste of Wonder Bread that made it so iconic. It's also the packaging. Related: Reese's finally offers the 'cup' candy lovers dreamed of Those bright, colorful dots made you excited to whip up a sandwich, whether for yourself or someone else. Now, Wonder is introducing a new product line. And it might evoke a sense of nostalgia for a different reason. Wonder has expanded its bread lineup through the years, but now, for the first time in the brand's 104-year history, it's diving into a related but new product category -- snack cakes. There's a bit of a history there. Flowers Foods, which owns the Wonder brand, purchased it and other brands more than 10 years ago from then-bankrupt Hostess Brands for $360 million. At the time of the sale, Hostess' cake brands, including Ding Dongs and Twinkies, were sold to a different entity. Today, they're part of J.M. Smucker. Related: Krispy Kreme returns fan favorite collection with new additions Now, Wonder is going to be offering some tasty choices that are reminiscent of the iconic Hostess products we all know and love. The new lineup includes: Creme-filled confetti cakes Powdered mini donutsFrosted mini donutsCreme-filled chocolate cupcakesPecan cinnamon twistsGlazed honey buns "For generations, Wonder bread has been a staple in American households," said Ashley Hornsby, director of brand management, in a statement. "With the launch of our new treats, we're excited to bring that same sense of nostalgia and joy to a new category, giving consumers a delicious way to enjoy Wonder beyond the bread aisle." Although consumers have been more careful with their grocery spending, as well as their broad spending, in the wake of sticky inflation, snack food sales don't seem to be slowing down. Snack cake sales, in particular, have been strong in recent years, soaring from $1 billion in 2019 to $1.6 billion in 2023, according to Circana data cited by the National Confectioners Association. Related: Coca-Cola and Pepsi Face an Unlikely New Rival With a Unique New Drink Wonder's foray into snack cakes allows the brand to enter a new section of the grocery store. And given Wonder's strong brand recognition, there's a good chance customers will be quick to give its sweet new lineup a try. Flowers Foods already has its hands in the snack food pot with the Tastykake and Mrs. Freshley's brands. The new lineup of Wonder products will allow the company to capture even more of that market. Of course, one challenge the company will face is the number of players in the snack cake space. From Drake's to Hostess to Little Debbie, consumers already have a plethora of packaged cake and donut products to choose from. More Retail News: Target announces expansion in new area parents will loveMajor healthcare company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Top brands unveil nostalgic new beverage and snack releases Plus, snack cakes do tend to be a product consumed heavily by children. And children tend to be picky about and loyal to the brands they love. Some parents may be hesitant to splurge on Wonder snack cake products, knowing that Twinkies are a sure thing in their household. But if there's one thing Wonder has going for it, it's brand reputation. That alone might help it emerge a winner in the snack cake space. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
