Latest news with #communityrecovery
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'We all need hope': Altadena community park reopens four months after fires
Before January's Eaton Fire, Eric and Ali Glasser and their three young children made a habit of walking a few blocks from their Altadena home to Loma Alta Park. Over the last few months, the Glassers have been driving by watching construction crews' progress on repairing the park's damage. They arrived at Loma Alta's grand reopening Saturday morning eager to find some normalcy in a life that's been anything but recently. "This little guy has been really sad about his playground burning," said Ali Glasser, 43, pointing to her 2-year-old son who was eyeing a winding slide on new playground equipment. The Glassers' home survived the fire — neighbors helped fight nearby flames — but smoke and ash damage have forced them away. They've moved 14 times before settling in a rental in Highland Park. Ali Glasser called the park's reopening "a beacon and bright spot amidst a lot of devastation." "As a community we're all still mourning," she said. "At the same time, life does go on for our children." Neighbors in Altadena and government, business and nonprofit leaders hailed the renovated, rebuilt and expanded Loma Alta Park at a reopening ceremony Saturday. They praised the park as a hub for gathering and recreation as the community recovers from a disaster that displaced more than 6,000 families. The park, which spans 17 acres, escaped major damage from the fire, but playground equipment melted and ash covered the pool and spread over the grounds. Los Angeles County workers and thousands of volunteers worked to clean up the area. Businesses and nonprofits donated funding and equipment. Saturday's debut came with all new play structures, a conversation nook with Adirondack chairs and coffee stand, a satellite library, baseball fields, computer lab and renovated pool and basketball court. Within hours of the mid-morning ribbon cutting, dozens of children traipsed through the play areas, seniors were deep into a bingo game and families lined up for a Little League baseball ceremony. Read more: 'Tone deaf.' Call for volunteers to clean park in fire zone faces pushback in Altadena Mark Mariscal, a 36-year Altadena resident who lost his house in the fire, said he was excited to spend time with his grandchildren in the park again. While he's found alternative housing, Mariscal said he and many other fire survivors remain unsettled and daunted by the lengthy process of rebuilding their homes. It was important to celebrate one of the only public spaces that could reopen now, he said. "We all need hope, and we all need love and we all need appreciation," Mariscal said. The decision to reopen the park so quickly wasn't without controversy. Many residents reacted angrily when L.A. County officials called for volunteers in March to help with rebuilding the park, saying that the decision was tone deaf in the face of fire survivors' trauma and unsafe given the toxicity of the debris. Glasser said she felt "mixed emotions" about the park's reopening, noting neighbors' concerns on the timing and extent of the cleanup efforts. Some residents came to the opening to call attention to critical housing and public safety problems in the wake of the fire that they said weren't being addressed. Read more: After disasters, FEMA leases apartments for survivors. But not after the L.A. fires Julie Esnard, 67, said she and her neighbors feel trapped in their apartment building, which is reserved for low-income seniors. The building, which opened last year, is still standing along an Altadena commercial strip but was damaged by smoke and ash. Esnard said evacuation the night of the fire was chaotic after the building lost power. Elevators no longer functioned, and residents had to drag themselves down the stairs while the complex filled with smoke, she said. The building's residents returned two weeks after the fires, and Esnard is unconvinced that it's safe. Multiple burned lots across the street from the building haven't been cleared of their debris, and residents are fearful of what remains on the sites. "Nobody goes outside," Esnard said, leaning on her walker. "It's toxic and we're old." Esnard, who has lived in Altadena for 60 years, joined about two dozen other residents and activists who marched and held up signs at the opening calling for greater protections for renters, more enforcement of laws requiring homes to be habitable and direct assistance for fire survivors still living in cars and shelters. They delivered a letter to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the area, asking her to host a town hall to address their concerns. "We're mad and we want things to change for the better," Esnard said. "Renters and elders have been ignored." Barger said she planned to review the request, but said "it was unfortunate that they felt it was better to disrupt" Saturday's event. Barger toured the park's refurbished amenities and said residents were thankful for somewhere to return so soon after the fires. "People were grateful for the fact that they have a place, a space to come," Barger said. "Many of them are displaced, so they're coming up here and reconnecting with their community." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Fast Company
14-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
What natural disasters reveal about the resilience of rural small businesses
Natural disasters—from tornadoes across the South and Midwest, to the fires in Los Angeles to Hurricane Helene's devastation in North Carolina—have upended communities, with small businesses among the hardest hit. As extreme weather events become more frequent, these businesses have emerged as vital anchors of community recovery. While urban enterprises navigate complex rebuilding amid dense infrastructure, rural businesses face distinct challenges in disaster response. Yet across geographies, small businesses play a critical role in stabilizing and revitalizing their communities after catastrophe. Rural small businesses, in particular, serve a dual role: They're not just economic drivers but also informal safety nets, stepping in to rebuild communities long before larger relief efforts arrive and continuing their work well after national attention fades. The resilience of these businesses—and the communities they support—is being tested like never before. Systemic barriers, most notably access to capital, exacerbate their struggles, threatening their survival and the economic stability of their regions. When Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, it left behind destroyed homes and displaced families, in many cases causing severe damage to already distressed and underfunded communities. Small businesses were among the first to join the front lines, providing critical supplies and services. Across impacted zones, local service providers pivoted quickly, transforming their operations into vital relief centers. Neighborhood establishments became distribution hubs while entrepreneurs converted storefronts into community aid stations. This grassroots network of support reached residents in critical early days, delivering essential resources before larger relief efforts could fully mobilize. While these actions highlight the essential role of small businesses in post-disaster recovery, they also reveal a stark reality: These businesses cannot, and should not, shoulder the burden of recovery alone. As they pour resources into helping their communities, they face significant hurdles in rebuilding their own operations—a challenge compounded by systemic imbalances in capital access. Subscribe to the Daily Company's trending stories delivered to you every day Privacy Policy | Fast Company Newsletters advertisement The final deadline for Fast Company's Brands That Matter Awards is Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ribbon-cutting held for Lewis-Upshur Community Recovery Center
BUCKHANNON, (WBOY) — The Lewis-Upshur Community Recovery Center was introduced to the area during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning, where attendees were able to walk around the space and see some of the different features that the community recovery center has to offer. Some of the different services that are provided include counseling and group sessions, as well as other activities like yoga and art classes, according to 18th Judicial Circuit Community Corrections Program Director Cheyenne Troxell. She told 12 News that the reason the program chose this building instead of the Community Corrections & Day Report Center was to help reduce the stigma that comes with attempting to get help, and no drug testing is done in this building. VA hosts PACT Act Claims clinic in Clarksburg 'We're actually very blessed in Upshur County to have a lot of services,' said Troxell. 'But I think our addition of the different space and our hybrid model, […] combining traditional counseling with the holistic approaches is what works really well for the clients that we've seen.' Troxell stated that she feels this center will be a positive addition to the community because all of the services that the program will put on the monthly calendar are free to the community. Anybody is able to attend these events, and nothing additional is needed, such as insurance or a referral. According to Troxell, the 18th Judicial Circuit Community Corrections Program deals with a lot of clients and programs related to addiction. She added that almost anything can be addictive and addiction can manifest itself in many different forms (drugs, food, etc.), so they welcome anybody who's struggling with anything to stop by. The space is set up to be immersive, with murals and decorative backgrounds in many of the different rooms. There's also a sensory room in the facility, which Troxell said is for people who need different things to be able to heal. Troxell also told 12 News that she wants people who attended Wednesday's ribbon-cutting and open house to just think about how many needs there are of people that are around them in the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
