Latest news with #HappyDays
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Fort Erie animal sanctuary receives major donation match
A Fort Erie animal sanctuary is shining a light on the vital role pets play in our lives — and what happens when disaster strikes. Happy Days Sanctuary, founded in the aftermath of the Fort McMurray wildfires, has become a refuge for animals displaced by wildfires, floods, and other climate related emergencies. Located on 14 hectares in Stevensville, the sanctuary provides shelter, medical care and permanent homes for dogs, cats, goats, horses and other animals left behind in a crisis. To support the mission, First Onsite Property Restoration has announced it will match public donations to the sanctuary, up to $10,000. The announcement was made on July 15 as Canadians marked Pet Fire Safety Day. 'Donations help us provide food, medical care, and shelter to animals that have nowhere else to go,' said Ann Swinson, owner of Happy Days Sanctuary. 'First Onsite's partnership allows us to reach more people, rescue more animals, and share their incredible stories.' First Onsite is one of North America's largest disaster recovery companies and has supported the sanctuary with fundraising, awareness campaigns and the delivery of essential supplies part of a disaster relief efforts. 'While weather-related catastrophes can be devastating, we find hope in the many dedicated people who work tirelessly to rescue and care for what's closest to our hearts when we're unable to,' said Shane Swinson, executive vice-president insurance portfolio at First Onsite in a statement. 'Supporting a sanctuary like Happy Days helps First Onsite reconnect with the compassion and healing that follows a disaster, it's personal.' Happy Days grew from a grassroots effort to reunite animals with their families after the Fort McMurray evacuations, which forced nearly 90,000 people from their homes. The sanctuary was officially founded in 2018 and has since expanded into a year-round operation helping displaced animals across Canada. The urgency of their work is underscored by new data from a 2025 First Onsite survey , which found that the top three items Canadians would grab in an evacuation are pets, credit cards, and important documents. Happy Days continues to partner with local shelters and veterinary clinics to respond to crises, but depends heavily on donations and sponsorships to fund transportation and care. 'We're proud to support Happy Days' incredible work,' said Swinson. 'Their mission aligns with our company values of compassion, community, and restoration.' 'Through this donation matching and our call to action, we hope to inspire others to get involved.' Canadians can support the sanctuary by donating or volunteering. More information is available on the Happy Days website and . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Connie Francis was a trailblazing pop star haunted by tragedy
There may be more widely revered singers, but the statistics don't lie – worldwide, the Italian-American Connie Francis was the best-selling female vocalist of the 50s and 60s. Her breakthrough hit, 1958's Who's Sorry Now, was written as far back as 1923 and had been a hit for Johnnie Ray just a couple of years earlier, with a swinging, uptempo arrangement. But what made the 19-year-old Francis's version click was the way in which she took pleasure in her ex's misery, coolly and coyly cooing over the slow-rocking backing while picking his failed love life apart; for a finale, she ended the song with impressive, high-kicking spite. In contrast, her second UK No 1 was the daffy Stupid Cupid, written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, and loaded with ear-catching gimmicks: the bow-and-arrow guitar effect on the chorus; Francis jumping an octave when she sings 'Cu-pid!'; and instruments that drop out – the musical equivalent of a wink – to allow her voice to sound as seductive as possible. Her career would follow this pattern through the late 50s and early 60s, alternating lightly updated pre-rock ballads with teenage material redolent of soda shops and drive-ins, the kind of American 50s scenario later lit in neon by Happy Days and Grease. Of the ballads, My Happiness and Mama were especially heartfelt performances, and both reached the top 10 in Britain and America, while the desperation of the country-leaning My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own gave her the second of three US No 1s. The finger-snapping Fallin' and It's Gonna Take Some Time were cool and sassy, while Lipstick on Your Collar (its title later used by Dennis Potter as a late 50s signifier) and Vacation were so camp, they were almost gleeful self-parodies. In 1960, Francis made her big-screen debut in Where the Boys Are, and the Sedaka/Greenfield theme song became another transatlantic top five single. 1960 was also the year Brenda Lee broke through – up to this point, Francis had been a lone trailblazer for women in rock'n'roll; the likes of Wanda Jackson and Jo Ann Campbell made great records but never came close to a top 10 hit, while the girl group era which gave us the Ronettes, the Chiffons and the Shangri-Las didn't begin in earnest until 1962. Francis struggled to adapt to the rise of the teenage girl group, though when she recorded material as strong as 1965's soulful No Better Off it was clear the fault didn't lie with the singer. She would be edged further into easy listening territory, scoring her last two hits in the UK with the darkly intense My Child in 1965 (she would never have children of her own) and the accusatory Jealous Heart in 1966. The latter could have been directed at her father, also her manager, who had broken up her relationship with the singer Bobby Darin by waving a gun at him; Francis would later describe Darin as 'the most interesting human being I've ever met in my life'. The following decades were less than kind to Connie Francis, who seemed to be dogged by tragedy. She was raped at knifepoint and almost killed in her motel room in 1974, after performing at a fair in New York state. She went public with the story, and Howard Johnson Motor Lodges were ordered to pay her $2.5m in compensation (later reduced to $1.475m in a settlement); this would then become a test case, leading to major upgrades in American hotel and motel security. The attacker was never found. Francis's bravery in going public couldn't help her overcome the mental health repercussions, and she didn't sing in public for several years afterward. Then in 1981, her brother was shot dead, apparently by a professional hitman; the trauma would lead to Francis being misdiagnosed with manic-depressive disorder. She was involuntarily hospitalized by her controlling father, and spent much of the 1980s in and out of psychiatric institutions. Again, Francis was brave enough to speak out as a survivor, and became a spokesperson for Mental Health America to help others 'suffering from the deleterious effects of depression and trauma of all kinds'. Though the hits had dried up in the mid-60s Connie Francis kept a devoted following. In 1977, 20 All Time Greats made her – rather shockingly – the first female solo artist to have a No 1 album in Britain. She had also been the first female singer of the modern pop era to score three US No 1 singles, while 1962's Pretty Little Baby – only an album track at the time – would become a TikTok hit, gaining millions of streams in 2025 thanks to its use by Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian. Connie Francis was a trailblazer, both as a pop star and an advocate of mental health support, and – like most trailblazers – she had to face the highs and the lows on her own.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Legendary 70s sitcom star unrecognizable after quitting TV to work as a director – can you guess who he is?
THIS iconic 70s sitcom star was at one point part of one of the most beloved ensemble casts of all time. And even after leaving the show, he continued to create worlds that defined generations of teenage audiences as a director. Advertisement 9 The actor wsa seen stepping out to join his wife at a nail salon Credit: BackGrid 9 Anson shot to fame alongside Ron Howard and Henry Winkler in Happy Days Credit: Getty - Contributor 9 Anson kept a low profile as he spent a day running errands Credit: BackGrid But can you guess who this 75-year-old star is as he steps out for a self-care day with his wife? Anson Williams shot to fame as Potsie in Happy Days back in 1974, remaining on the show for a decade as the sweet-but-stupid friend of the cool friendship group, led by Henry Winkler's 'The Fonz' Arthur Fonzarelli. He is one of five stars in the ensemble cast who appeared in all 11 seasons of the long-running show, which was set in the 1950s and followed a family navigating life with their friendship group on hand to help them. Nowadays, rather than Milwaukee – where Happy Days was set – Anson is living a calm life in Ojai, California with his third wife, Sharon MaHarry, who he married in 2023. Advertisement READ MORE UNRECOGNIZABLES He was previously married to actress Lorrie Mahaffey, who had a brief six-episode appearance in Happy Days, but they split after nine years together in 1987. Anson then went on to marry Jackie Gerken in 1988, and they were together for 32 years, having four daughters together named Hannah, Olivia, Gabrielle and Stella. The pair would divorce in 2020, with Anson meeting real estate developer Sharon shortly after and tying the knot three years later. Anson and Sharon were seen stepping out of a nail salon near their home, having had a day of relaxation. Advertisement Most read in Celebrity These days, Anson prefers life behind the camera as a director – though still dusts off his acting chops every now and again. Notably, he has directed episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and soaps Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210. In the early 2000s, he directed 10 episodes of iconic teen comedy Sabrina the Teenage Witch and six episodes of Lizzie McGuire. He even reprised his role of Potsie in an episode of Sabrina, popping up as one of her spells went awry. Advertisement Most recently, Anson directed Secret Life of The American Teenager – a series that launched the career of Shailene Woodley and followed a young teen as she discovers she's pregnant. 9 Happy Days cemented itself as one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time Credit: Alamy 9 The actor was later spotted going shopping for groceries Credit: BackGrid 9 The actor cut a casual figure in a day out in Ojai Credit: BackGrid Advertisement 9 The star is now best known as a director Credit: BackGrid 9 Anson has stepped away from acting in favour of being a director Credit: BackGrid 9 Happy Days ran for 10 years with fans falling in love with the family and friendship group Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Legendary 70s sitcom star unrecognizable after quitting TV to work as a director – can you guess who he is?
The star became a director of beloved TV shows in the 90s and 00s GUESS WHO Legendary 70s sitcom star unrecognizable after quitting TV to work as a director – can you guess who he is? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS iconic 70s sitcom star was at one point part of one of the most beloved ensemble casts of all time. And even after leaving the show, he continued to create worlds that defined generations of teenage audiences as a director. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 9 The actor wsa seen stepping out to join his wife at a nail salon Credit: BackGrid 9 Anson shot to fame alongside Ron Howard and Henry Winkler in Happy Days Credit: Getty - Contributor 9 Anson kept a low profile as he spent a day running errands Credit: BackGrid But can you guess who this 75-year-old star is as he steps out for a self-care day with his wife? Anson Williams shot to fame as Potsie in Happy Days back in 1974, remaining on the show for a decade as the sweet-but-stupid friend of the cool friendship group, led by Henry Winkler's 'The Fonz' Arthur Fonzarelli. He is one of five stars in the ensemble cast who appeared in all 11 seasons of the long-running show, which was set in the 1950s and followed a family navigating life with their friendship group on hand to help them. Nowadays, rather than Milwaukee – where Happy Days was set – Anson is living a calm life in Ojai, California with his third wife, Sharon MaHarry, who he married in 2023. READ MORE UNRECOGNIZABLES NATURAL BEAUTY 00s movie star is unrecognizable in LA - can you guess who she is? He was previously married to actress Lorrie Mahaffey, who had a brief six-episode appearance in Happy Days, but they split after nine years together in 1987. Anson then went on to marry Jackie Gerken in 1988, and they were together for 32 years, having four daughters together named Hannah, Olivia, Gabrielle and Stella. The pair would divorce in 2020, with Anson meeting real estate developer Sharon shortly after and tying the knot three years later. Anson and Sharon were seen stepping out of a nail salon near their home, having had a day of relaxation. These days, Anson prefers life behind the camera as a director – though still dusts off his acting chops every now and again. Notably, he has directed episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and soaps Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210. In the early 2000s, he directed 10 episodes of iconic teen comedy Sabrina the Teenage Witch and six episodes of Lizzie McGuire. He even reprised his role of Potsie in an episode of Sabrina, popping up as one of her spells went awry. Most recently, Anson directed Secret Life of The American Teenager – a series that launched the career of Shailene Woodley and followed a young teen as she discovers she's pregnant. 9 Happy Days cemented itself as one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time Credit: Alamy 9 The actor was later spotted going shopping for groceries Credit: BackGrid 9 The actor cut a casual figure in a day out in Ojai Credit: BackGrid 9 The star is now best known as a director Credit: BackGrid 9 Anson has stepped away from acting in favour of being a director Credit: BackGrid
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Legendary 70s sitcom star unrecognizable after quitting TV to work as a director – can you guess who he is?
THIS iconic 70s sitcom star was at one point part of one of the most beloved ensemble casts of all time. And even after leaving the show, he continued to create worlds that defined generations of teenage audiences as a director. 9 9 But can you guess who this 75-year-old star is as he steps out for a self-care day with his wife? Anson Williams shot to fame as Potsie in Happy Days back in 1974, remaining on the show for a decade as the sweet-but-stupid friend of the cool friendship group, led by Henry Winkler's 'The Fonz' Arthur Fonzarelli. He is one of five stars in the ensemble cast who appeared in all 11 seasons of the long-running show, which was set in the 1950s and followed a family navigating life with their friendship group on hand to help them. Nowadays, rather than Milwaukee – where Happy Days was set – Anson is living a calm life in Ojai, California with his third wife, Sharon MaHarry, who he married in 2023. He was previously married to actress Lorrie Mahaffey, who had a brief six-episode appearance in Happy Days, but they split after nine years together in 1987. Anson then went on to marry Jackie Gerken in 1988, and they were together for 32 years, having four daughters together named Hannah, Olivia, Gabrielle and Stella. The pair would divorce in 2020, with Anson meeting real estate developer Sharon shortly after and tying the knot three years later. Anson and Sharon were seen stepping out of a nail salon near their home, having had a day of relaxation. These days, Anson prefers life behind the camera as a director – though still dusts off his acting chops every now and again. Notably, he has directed episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and soaps Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210. In the early 2000s, he directed 10 episodes of iconic teen comedy Sabrina the Teenage Witch and six episodes of Lizzie McGuire. He even reprised his role of Potsie in an episode of Sabrina, popping up as one of her spells went awry. Most recently, Anson directed Secret Life of The American Teenager – a series that launched the career of Shailene Woodley and followed a young teen as she discovers she's pregnant. 9 9 9 9
