Latest news with #communityoutreach
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Church messages removed from outside Merrimack schools
Lawn signs, balloons and chalk messages on sidewalks promoting a local church's community outreach were removed from all six public schools in Merrimack late last week because a local congregation's annual 603 Day project didn't have permission. Wearing 'I Love My Church' T-shirts, large groups of Movement Christian Church members spread their 603 Day message Monday evening on the eve of June 3 (which is 6/03). Kids drew chalk art with sayings such as 'You rock' and 'That smile looks goooood on you.' But in addition to the happy faces and hearts, members drew the church's logo, which was also on dozens of balloons. Everett Olsen, the chief educational officer for the Merrimack School District, said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon that he had learned about the signs and messages just a few hours earlier and was having them removed. 'We don't allow anything of that nature, either from companies or religious organizations on school property,' Olsen said. 'We would certainly not encourage or allow any group to do that without a permit from the School Board, and that didn't happen.' Olsen said parents reported the presence of religious messages on the secular public school campuses of James Mastricola Elementary, James Mastricola Upper Elementary, Reeds Ferry Elementary, Thornton's Ferry Elementary, Merrimack Middle and Merrimack High schools. Georgeann Lytle, ministry coordinator for Movement, said if the church overstepped its bounds, they didn't mean to, and they will work with the school district to be respectful of their policies going forward. 'It was not our intent to promote Movement in any way shape or form,' Lytle said in a phone interview Sunday. 'We care deeply for our teachers and schools in our community.' Movement Christian Church's website is and members run monthly LOVE603 community service events at homeless shelters, food banks and other places in the area. Lytle said the church has been doing community service projects on 603 Day for eight years, since the inception of the Movement Christian Church in Merrimack. This year, they had about 130 volunteers who worked around Merrimack and surrounding towns. One group of students did yard work on this 603 Day for an elderly veteran, Lytle said. Another example is the church donated 20 meals for community members last Thanksgiving. 'Our acts of service are not meant to promote our church or our beliefs,' Lytle said. Lytle featured some of her team's work outside the Mastricola Elementary schools during last Monday, saying in the video, 'We're over here at the schools, drawing some messages for our amazing teachers and staff.' Most of Movement Christian Church's social media posts about 603 Day included biblical verses referencing service such as Mark 10:45 and Philippians 1:3, or had hashtags such as #ServeLikeJesus. However, posts also featured hashtags and non-religious rhetoric such as #LoveInAction or #CelebrateTeachers. There did not appear to be any direct biblical references or use of the church's name in any of the signage or chalk art. The executive pastor of the church is Mark Papp, who is the husband of Stacy Papp, a Reeds Ferry kindergarten teacher. Stacy Papp was a 603 Day team leader at one of the schools. dpierce@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zuber Realty reaches out to the community
'We work for you!' is the motto of Richard A. Zuber Realty of Boyertown. The organization regularly participates in community events to celebrate and honor community members. Spring and early summer are especially busy times for the organization's community outreach efforts. Coming out of hibernation Community members enjoyed spinning the wheel to earn prizes during Building a Better Boyertown's (BaBB) festival that attracts thousands of visitors. 'The bear-themed stress ball that agent and associate broker Connie (Dolansky) discovered this year was a hit with the children and their families as they spun the wheel to earn one of their own,' owner Richard Zuber said. 'There were plenty of bubble wands, squishy toys or stuffed farm animals as alternate prizes. Everyone won something!' Mother's Day flowers Recently, agents and staff handed out flowers to mothers to celebrate Mother's Day. 'Our agency's motto 'We work for you!' is evidenced every day in all the things that mothers do and all the love they provide their families,' Zuber said. 'Mother's Day is a day to demonstrate our gratitude, and we love to do it with flowers!' Sips & Dips Wine Walk Participating in Berks-Mont Business Association's (BMBA) Sips & Dips Wine Walk is a fun time for Zuber staff to enjoy getting to know members of the community. 'Zuber Realty is known to serve the best snacks during Wine Walks,' Zuber said. 'We need to thank agent Vanessa Deskie for her culinary creativity; she earns these compliments. 'And agent Lee Heffner provides a nice assortment of wines for participants. We can count on him to make sure things are good to go for these events.' BMBA's Philadelphia Avenue Street Fair The Philadelphia Avenue Street Fair, which was held Saturday, is always fun for Zuber Realty's agents and staff. Folks look to add to their wardrobe during the event with the year's annual Zuber T shirt giveaway. Veterans' food drive Adding to the Philadelphia Street Fair event is a reminder about the agency's month-long annual veterans' food drive to replenish the nonprofit organization Veterans Making a Difference, headquartered at Veteran Social Center, 645 N. Sixth St., Reading, and dedicated to helping veterans in need in Berks County. Richard Zuber and Zuber Realty agents help volunteers from Veterans Making a Difference unload the Zuber bus packed full of donations providing non-perishable food items to assist Berks County's veterans in need. (Courtesy of Richard A. Zuber Realty) Non-perishables are collected throughout the month. A special collection day to stuff the Zuber bus will be held on June 21 at Boyertown's Redner's Market. Donations of cash, checks or gift cards will also be accepted and encouraged.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CT is receiving $7M from EPA for cleanup of several brownfield sites. Here are towns on the list.
Connecticut is receiving nearly $7 million in federal funds to help clean up its brownfield sites, with advocates haling the news as a major boost for the environment. Brownfields are abandoned or underused properties, often industrial or commercial, where redevelopment is complicated because of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants in the soil. There are dozens of these sites scattered across the state, according to officials. The grants will help fund assessments of brownfields, a revolving loan fund and cleanup grants. The funds come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program. The program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.9 billion in brownfields grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. As part of the overall $7 million, approximately $3.2 million are assessment grants, which will provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments and community outreach. The other $3.75 million is part of revolving loan fund grants to help continue the work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated brownfields sites. Supplemental funding for revolving loan fund grants is available to recipients that have depleted their funds and have viable cleanup projects ready for work, according to officials. 'Today's brownfields announcement reflects EPA's commitment to clean air, land, and water for every American,' said EPA regional administrator Mark Sanborn. 'From rural towns to urban centers, we are helping communities across New England clean up contaminated sites and unlock new opportunities for economic growth and revitalization. Through partnerships with states, local governments, and the private sector, we're returning blighted properties to productive use — and showing that a clean environment and economic development can go hand in hand.' On Friday, the Connecitcut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced the applicants who are being awarded funding. The Capitol Region Council of Governments has been selected to receive $750,000; DEEP has been selected to receive $2 million for a brownfields community-wide assessment grant for states and tribes; Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments has been selected to receive $1 million in supplemental funding for its revolving loan fund program; Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments has been selected to receive $2 million in supplemental funding for its Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund program; and Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments has been selected to receive $1.2 million to lead a Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant. Among the sites that will benefit from the funding are the Collinsville Axe Factory in Canton, the Excelsior Plant and the Torrington and E. Farrel Corporation property in Ansonia, and the Connecticut Sports Group and Davidson Block properties in Bridgeport, officials said. 'DEEP congratulates the Capitol Region, Metropolitan, Naugatuck Valley, and Southeastern Councils of Governments on earning EPA brownfield grants. We are also proud to receive a $2 million Community-Wide Assessment Grant for Connecticut,' said DEEP commissioner Katie Dykes. 'This funding will promote the cleanup of contaminated sites, turning long-abandoned properties into community assets that support public health, environmental safety and economic development. It's a win for cleaner neighborhoods, stronger local economies and a more affordable, vibrant future.' An interactive map showing brownfields in Connecticut can be found here. For information on brownfields, go to Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Keep the Peace panel focuses on community issues
CONNEAUT — The Conneaut Area Ministerial Association and the Jefferson Community Church of God in Christ hosted a Keep the Peace panel at First Congregational United Church of Christ Friday. The panel included Ashtabula County Sheriff William Niemi, Conneaut Municipal Court Judge Nicholas Iarocci and county Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Executive Director Kaitie Park Hart. The panel was facilitated by Reverend Isaac Chappell, and discussed community outreach and dealing with people suffering from addiction or mental health issues, and how their institutions relate to it. 'Prevention starts in the family and in the community,' Park Hart said. 'There is only so much we can do with prevention in our schools that's actually going to impact our kids.' Park Hart said the MHRS has a mobile crisis team that works with law enforcement. 'Whenever there is a crisis situation, law enforcement can call our mobile crisis provider, which is Signature Health,' she said. 'Unfortunately, it's not 24/7. We're working on that. Workforce is a huge issue in Ashtabula County. For all of the services that we have available, we need more people to provide those services.' Niemi talked about county leaders' interest in getting funding to expand the jail. 'That jail was built in 1977,' Niemi said. 'The people that we deal with now are on a whole different level. Mental health is one of the biggest issues we're dealing with today.' Park Hart said the MHRS board works to provide services at the county jail. 'There are a couple therapists in the jail,' she said. 'We have a case manager. Like the sheriff said, space is absolutely an issue.' Niemi said the jail lacks space for counselors. 'Our jail is falling apart,' he said. 'It doesn't meet our needs, basically, and it's very possibly costing the county over three and a half million dollars.' Iarocci talked about the Conneaut Renewal Court he started in the city. It is one of three Substance Abuse and Mental Illness courts in Ohio, and focuses on helping people suffering from those issues, who are sent to the municipal court. 'There were two people in [the Conneaut] jail, our little jail, who had serious mental health issues and substance abuse issues,' he said. 'One young lady was sleeping on the streets and was 23 years old.' Iarocci said he wanted the 23-year-old woman sent to Renewal Court, regardless of what happened with her case. 'When she was sentenced ... I basically said we have a bed for you for the next hour, and you're immediately going to residential treatment,' he said. The woman had never had residential treatment before, he said. 'She just started crying,' he said. 'This was a girl, who three days before, refused to be assessed.' Reverend Eddie Parker, a community engagement liaison, was also part of the panel. Parker said churches can get involved with community outreach and helping youth suffering from substance abuse issues. 'We're not proselytizing and trying to engage them in faith,' he said. 'We're trying to be a friend and meet the emotional needs. The church happens just to be a safe, neutral meeting place.'
