CONNEAUT — The growth of the Conneaut Youth Center was celebrated on Thursday afternoon when dozens of people gathered to tour its new home.
The CYC is now located at 299 Main Street in downtown Conneaut. The new site will be a place for junior high and high school students to gather to learn and have fun together, said CYC Executive Director Bridget Rand.
The center is a faith-based, non-denominational refuge for kids and is sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“We just needed some more room,” Rand said while greeting those who attended a Conneaut Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility.
The youth center opened at the D-Day Conneaut building, which was the former site of a United Methodist Church. A variety of churches worked together to make the center a reality after Ann Wiley, an area business owner, saw a similar site in Florida.
Students have been meeting once a week after school with about 14 attending weekly, Rand said. She said the students change from season to season with different sports schedules.
Rand said children seem to be enjoying the variety of activities at the center and seem to like just having a place to hang out. The activities include tutoring and a variety of games.
Rand said one young boy expressed how he loved coming to the center because everyone was welcome and he felt at home.
The center opened in late October, but the D-Day facility is still available for special programs. Rand said it will likely be used for an archery program.
The CYC will be open this summer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include two full weeks of summer camp, Rand said.
“We plan on getting out,” she said of games and field trips.
Rand said the CYC plans to partner with area businesses for a scavenger hunt this summer.
Two teachers are volunteering their time to tutor students and life-skills classes are being taught, according to Rand.
An air hockey table was being used by students as adults toured the site. The building includes a large room, classrooms and a game room.
“We have a blast watching them grow in the Lord and letting them know they are not forgotten,” said Linda Robertson, a volunteer at the center.
Earlier this week, the Sundance Film Festival announced that it was exploring its options to move to a new locale in 2027, after throwing the revered festival in Park City, Utah for the last 43 of its 46 years. And SF will be throwing its hat in the ring.
“We are in a unique moment for our festival and our global film community, and with the contract up for renewal, this exploration allows us to responsibly consider how we best continue sustainably serving our community while maintaining the essence of the festival experience,” said festival director and head of public programming Eugene Hernandez in a statement.
Hernandez doesn’t spell it out, but it seems that the festival’s relationship with the small ski town of Park City has been strained in recent years, particularly as the festival has grown in size and esteem. As the Chronicle notes, locals there complain about the noise every January from helicopter shuttles as Hollywood’s elite chopper in from Salt Lake City. And, due to space constraints, the festival has in recent years been doing more programming in Salt Lake City itself.
Sundance remains one of the Big Five on the annual film festival circuit, along with the festivals in Toronto, Berlin, Venice, and Cannes.
And, as the Chronicle’s G. Allen Johnson writes, “Sundance belongs in the West.” Territory-wise, it would be stepping on the toes of the Toronto and Tribeca film festivals if it was held in New York. Austin already has South by Southwest. And San Francisco has previously partnered with Sundance, along with the Roxie in the Mission, to host drive-in movies at Fort Mason during the pandemic. (The SF Film Festival, though, might be less than pleased to be overshadowed.)
Manijeh Fata, executive director of the San Francisco Film Commission, confirmed to the Chronicle that the city is putting in a bid to the Sundance Film Festival to host it in the coming years. Letters of interest are due May 1, and the proposal process goes from May 7 to June 1.
We know that Minneapolis is also planning to put in a bid (brrr!), and for the rest of the competitors, we’ll have to wait and see.
Photo via Wikimedia
The future of home heating and cooling in California is looking a whole lot greener thanks to the latest building code proposal from regulators. In a big win for the climate, new efficiency rules will mean the vast majority of new homes and buildings are built with heat pumps rather than gas starting in 2026.
Let that sink in. Just a few years ago, California was adding more new gas customers than anywhere in the nation besides Texas. Now the state is poised to course-correct in a huge way to stem the tide of fossil fuel lock-in. This code blazes the trail for emissions-free heating and cooling across California’s new housing stock.
But the draft also contains a glaring missed opportunity when it comes to cutting pollution from existing homes. The proposed code scrapped a critical provision included in a previous draft that would have encouraged households statewide to install two-way heat pumps when replacing old air conditioning (AC) units. Instead, it punts that responsibility to individual local governments to push for heat pump swaps when existing ACs burn out.
That’s a real problem for California’s already narrow path to meeting its 2030 climate targets. Heat pumps are two-for-one climate winners — providing efficient cooling and zero-emission heating that can displace dirty fossil fuel furnaces with a single appliance. A heat pump installed in California today will cut emissions from space heating by 93% over the lifetime of the equipment compared to a gas furnace.
The good news? There’s still time before the code gets finalized in August for regulators to course-correct. Reinstating that provision would be a catalyst for transitioning millions of existing California households to affordable heating and cooling powered by clean electricity.
The Opportunity of AC for Heat Pump Swaps
For many homeowners, installing a two-way heat pump when their existing AC stops working is a remarkably simple switch. These dual systems are essentially ACs with one extra, ingenious part — a reversing valve that allows them to provide efficient heating too.
Most installations follow the same process as traditional cooling units, but open the door to using clean electricity, instead of burning fossil fuels, to keep homes warm. It’s a common-sense climate solution in an affordable package.
Federal and state incentives are slashing away at the heat pump price premium. According to an RMI analysis of wholesale data the average cost of a minimum efficiency air conditioning unit ranges from $2,400 to $4,150 depending on the condenser capacity. The average cost of a minimum efficiency heat pump ranges from $2,900 to $5,200. In the cases where there is a small cost differential between outdated ACs and two-way heat pumps, the federal and state incentives can more than cover the gap.
The IRA offers a tax credit of up to $2,000 per year per owner-occupied residence to cover up to 30% of costs to install a high-efficiency heat pump, inclusive of materials and labor. This same tax credit offers up to $600 per year for up to 30% of any electrical expenses needed to support heat pump installations. There are also incentives available from the state through the TECH Clean California program, and other local programs.
Additionally, low-to-moderate income households could actually save even more money by installing a heat pump through the federal HEEHRA program launching this year, which offers up to $8,000 in rebates to install high-efficiency heat pumps. Plus, a new electrification direct-install program through the California Energy Commission (CEC) is slated to launch shortly, which will cover the cost of appliances plus health and safety improvements for low income households.
Avoiding the installation of one-way ACs now will also save families money and hassle down the road, as the California Air Resource Board (CARB) moves toward zero-emissions appliances standards in 2030 which will require heat pumps to be installed instead of polluting gas furnaces. This rule is already in place in the Bay Area where, starting in 2029, when a gas furnace burns out it will need to be replaced with a heat pump thanks to approved air quality regulations.
Households that install a central AC system now, just to have their furnace burn out a few years down the line, could end up paying for two expensive systems when they could just pay for one. But who is thinking about these future regulations when they are just trying to get their AC replaced on a hot summer day? A reversing valve should be in every AC unit in the state as standard practice, to avoid this wasted opportunity. That way, a consumer trying to replace a broken AC on a hot summer day is presented with options that make the most sense for their wallet and their health.
Despite this Missed Opportunity, the Proposed Code Makes Significant Progress
While the draft code misses this opportunity to encourage central ACs to be replaced with heat pumps at burnout, it does make significant progress in several other areas. A few notable wins in the proposed code:
- Expanding existing requirements for new homes to encourage heat pumps for both space and water heating, rather than just one end-use.
- For new commercial buildings, strengthening requirements that encourage heat pump space heating to larger systems in schools and office buildings.
- Encouraging small rooftop unit (RTU) air conditioners in commercial office buildings to be replaced with heat pumps at burnout – a major improvement that will encourage the adoption of heat pumps in existing commercial buildings!
- Additional efficiency and electric-ready measures that will reduce costs for Californians and help pave the way to a decarbonized future.
CA is Behind its 2030 Adoption Targets – the Code Could Accelerate Progress
While the building code represents climate progress, California has farther to go on its overall heat pump goals. Governor Newsom aims for 6 million heat pumps installed statewide by 2030, but as of last fall, that number hovered around just 1.5 million across 800,000 homes.
With the state swapping roughly 500,000 residential HVAC systems each year, ensuring those installations are heat pumps is a critical lever to get back on target. Simply continuing the current install pace with mostly ACs means California likely misses its climate-saving heat pump potential in existing homes and buildings.
The upcoming code adoption is a pivotal opportunity for California to boost its heat pump pathway to a decarbonized future – for new and existing buildings alike. Strong statewide standards can provide the policy certainty to ramp up heat pump supply chains, turbocharge consumer adoption, and mainstream these affordable climate solutions in time to meet our fast-approaching 2030 climate goals.
A golden retriever puppy called Nellie has melted hearts on social media after her owner shared a clip of what her third day at home with them looked like.
In a post shared on TikTok in February, under the user, @nellthegoldenretriever, the puppy’s owner says that, on day 3 of her life with her new owners, Nellie went to the vet to get her vaccinations, and they all loved her.
“She didn’t cry at all and then we came home,” the poster can be heard saying, “She helped with the dishwasher. She did not enjoy the broom, though. She got a little bit scared of that, so we gave her a carrot and, of course, she absolutely loved it, and once again, it went all over the floor.”
Nellie slept lots during the day, which her owners believe was due to her vaccinations, and she also managed to go potty outside, which means she is already learning the basics.
Dogs need lots of sleep, way more than humans. The animal-wellness experts at Hills Pets say that adult dogs can sleep up to 12 to 14 hours each day, while puppies may slumber for as much as 18 to 20 hours.
“This essential rest helps their central nervous system, immune system and muscles develop properly. Many puppies will get the sleep they need by napping throughout the day,” the Hills Pets website says.
In the viral video, the poster said of Nellie after her sleep: “She then stole daddy’s slipper off of the floor, which was great. She absolutely loved it and threw that around for a little bit, and that kept her occupied. And then she came in here, and we were chilling on the kitchen floor.”
Finally, as recommended by the vet, she also gave Nellie a bath, putting a lick mat on the side of the bath to keep her occupied, before she could go to bed.
“Day 3 was a busy one for little Nellie!” reads a caption shared along with the heartwarming video.
The video quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across TikTok. It has so far received over 317,000 views and more than 19,000 likes on the platform.
One user, Marla Sjw, commented: “You do not own a Golden Retriever! The Golden Retriever owns you.” And Nichola2002 posted: “Get used to the shoe taking. Goldies love doing that. Enjoy Nellie!”
Martin Cassells added: “Awe she’s is gorgeous x we have 2 golden retrievers it’s the only dogs we have had they are amazing.”
Newsweek reached out to @nellthegoldenretriever for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
The Big Story
It was another momentous week for the Stardust families with a long-awaited State apology delivered by Taoiseach Simon Harris in the Dáil.
Relatives and survivors said they felt they had “finally been listened to after 43 years” as they welcomed the belated apology.
Antoinette Keegan, a survivor of the blaze who lost her sisters Mary (19) and Martina (16), said the families were “overwhelmed” as State apology came less than a week after the inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing in every case.
After so long a wait, the affected families are understandably keen to see the Government’s words followed up with actions. In the coming weeks, each family will receive a personal written apology from Mr Harris. The issue of counselling was also being arranged by officials this week. One part of the puzzle that has not yet been ironed out is that of redress. While it is almost certain there will be some form of scheme, Ministers say they want to be led by the families and will hold consultations to get their views.
Bust-up
Politicians from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are well able to have a pop at their Coalition partners in the Green Party, but this week it was the Green Party who were unexpectedly opening fire on former taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Minister of State for Integration Joe O’Brien said Mr Varadkar did not put enough pressure on Government departments to find beds for asylum seekers sleeping rough. He said he didn’t care if noses were put out joint by his comments (we didn’t have Joe O’Brien the rebel in our political bingo cards this year) and even said the much-promised communications plan on immigration had failed to materialise.
There was another bust-up in the Dáil on Thursday when proceedings were suspended following attempts by Solidarity TD Mick Barry to raise the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not to prosecute the gardaí involved in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old George Nkencho.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl told Mr Barry that “separation of powers means that in this House you do not criticise or comment on affairs of the courts or the DPP”.
Mr Barry had raised the case during Leaders’ Questions and said that Mr Nkencho’s “grieving, working-class, migrant family” would “now have to fight a long and hard battle for justice, even for basic information”.
Banana skin
In his maiden speech as Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Simon Harris pledged to deliver 250,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030.
Sure, it was at variance with the Coalition’s own targets but Harris argued that anything less eye-catching would have been underwhelming for voters.
But what appeared to be a slight softening of the language at a housing press conference on Wednesday morning has caught the attention of the Opposition.
There, Mr Harris said 250,000 would be “roughly” the “landing zone” for these targets. He also said it was a “ballpark figure”. It didn’t take long for the Opposition to pounce. Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan said the Taoiseach was “clearly more concerned about a soundbite than how he would actually deliver on this commitment.”
”It hasn’t taken long for the row back on these promises to begin,” he added.
As none other than Simon Harris said on Monday (when discussing Eamon Ryan’s Green Party conference warning on over-promising on budgetary promises): “people say things at their party conferences.”
This particular banana skin could prove slippery in the longer term.
Just ask Enda Kenny, whose famous 2007 general election promise that he would “end the scandal of patients on trolleys” was used as a stick to beat Fine Gael with by none other than the current Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, before the last election.
Winners and losers
It’s a heartbreaking and bittersweet victory, but the clear winners this week are the Stardust families who persevered in their campaign for justice despite decades of obstacles being put in their way. Simon Harris, in turn, delivered a solid State apology just weeks after being appointed to the role.
This week’s loser is not a person, but rather an entire continent.
The European Union’s (EU) climate service Copernicus and the World Meteorological Association (WMO) found this week that Europe is the fastest warming Continent, with temperatures continuing to rise at around twice the global average rate and impacting all countries. It pointed towards widespread flooding and severe heatwaves in 2023, in a series of extreme weather events made worse by climate change. Alarmingly, the three warmest years on record for Europe have all occurred since 2020.
The Big Read
Pat Leahy has a piece in Saturday’s paper on the beginning of the long war over the budget (no it’s not in your head – the budget kites are flying earlier and earlier every year.)
Jack Horgan Jones also has a piece looking into whether there a migration “back door” to Ireland over the border.
Hear here
London Correspondent Mark Paul told Hugh Linehan on the Inside Politics podcast about an Irish comparison to current position of the Tories
It’s like 2011 Fianna Fáil. The public have stopped listening and it doesn’t matter what you do, nothing is going to make a dent in the polls.
— Mark Paul
CADILLAC — Surrounded by supporters in front of the foundation of his future home on Huston Street, Robb Vancil was overwhelmed.
“I’m at a loss for words,” said Vancil, who was one of three Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity partner families who on Monday celebrated the start of construction of their homes.
The other two groundbreaking celebrations were held on South 39 Road, at the future home of Candice Tripp and her family, and on Washington Street, at the future home of Beth Miller and her family.
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Amy Gibbs said they’re hoping to have all three homes finished by next spring.
The three partner families will be engaged in a number of Habitat-related activities as a requirement of their partnership.
“The families are ready to engage in our program that consists of classes, sweat equity hours and construction activities leading to acquiring a mortgage and becoming a Habitat homeowner,” Gibbs said.
At the beginning of the year, the organization announced a goal of building more than 30 homes in the Wexford, Missaukee and Osceola region by 2028.
“CAHFH is working hard to eliminate the housing crisis we are in by tripling our production and we could not do what we do without the many partners we have in our community,” reads a press release about this year’s home builds. “Safe and affordable housing is key to every person’s success.”
An estimated 50 attendees gathered in front of the Edmonds Waterfront Center Thursday afternoon to witness the formal gifting by Edmonds sculptor David Varnau of his bronze sculpture Joie de Vivre – “Joy of Life” – to the EWC’s permanent art collection.
“She is so fresh and beautiful – with the sun on her face she just glows,” said Waterfront Center Art Director Julaine Fleetwood. “Today we dedicate her to the young and the young at heart in us all. We’re confident we’ve given her the best place in Edmonds.”
She then introduced sculptor David Varnau, noting that he’s been a vibrant part of the Edmonds arts scene for decades as a booster and philanthropist, and that his work is on public display in several locations in the community.
“Thanks so much for accepting this gift,” Varnau began. “This is not a new sculpture for Edmonds. Many of you have seen it in its previous location near 6th and Main, where since its initial installation it had become sandwiched between the sidewalk and the new deck built for Kelnero’s bar and café.
“In thinking about a better location, I approached the EWC to see if there was interest in receiving it as a gift and siting it on the premises,” he continued. “Happily, there was, and I’m confident that the new location will mean that more people will see, enjoy, and interact with it.”
Varnau went on to explain that his main motivation for creating outdoor sculpture is rooted in his passion to see art – and particularly sculpture – in the community.
“Many of us have been to different countries and seen plazas and piazzas with sculpture as their centerpieces,” he said. “It gives a sense of place, a personality that the spaces would not have without it. It inspires reflection and connection and brings something special to our community. I’m so honored to have this sculpture here where it can be seen and enjoyed by our community – I’m just thrilled.”
Varnau pointed out that the inspiration for the work was his then-4-year-old granddaughter Abby who – now 13 years old – was present at the event.
He went on to relate a personal story about working with Abby to create the sculpture.
“Being only 4 years old at the time, Abby couldn’t stand still for long – no matter how much ice cream I gave her – so it took a while to complete,” he laughed. “When it was finally almost done, I asked her how she liked it.”
She furrowed her brow, responding, “it doesn’t look like me, Poppa.”
Despite making some changes, Abby’s reaction remained the same. Varnau finally gave up and took it to the foundry to be cast in bronze anyway.
When it came back cast in bronze, he asked her again. Her eyes opened wide, lit up and she exclaimed, ‘Now it looks just like me!”
“Why? What’s changed?” asked a befuddled Varnau.
“Because now it’s shiny,” she confidently responded.
“She’s the apple of my eye,” Varnau concluded. “It was such a joy, privilege and honor to have been able to sculpt her and memorialize her in bronze.”
Final remarks came from EWC President and CEO Daniel Johnson.
“We are so delighted with this addition,” he said. “As the latest expression of our larger commitment to art, it enhances the life and spirit of this spectacular facility. Her face captures the exuberance and joy of being alive in this beautiful place.”
— Story and photos by Larry Vogel
As Marvel has continued to release information about its X-Men linewide relaunch, collectively referred to as “From the Ashes,” which shows the X-Men moving on from the Krakoan Age (where nearly all of the mutants on Earth were living together on the mutant nation of Krakoa, as well as the mutant planet known as Arakko, formerly known as Mars) to now living amongst humanity again, a consistent aspect of all the titles has been that they are located all across the country, but NOT in Westchester, where the longtime home of the X-Men, The Xavier Institute (later the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning), was located. Marvel now reveals why that is as it gives more information about one of the three “core”X-Men books, Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone and David Marquez.
The series has already been revealed to be set in New Orleans, where Simone has previously noted that she intends on the series having a “Southern Gothic” feel to it. Now, though, we know why the X-Men can no longer call Westchester, and their former school, their home, as it has been turned into a PRISON!
You Should Always Give a New Comics Approach a Little Grace
In the latest example of general “rules” of comic books, Brian explains why you should always give a new comic book approach a little bit of grace
Why can’t the X-Men go back to Westchester?
UNCANNY X-MEN
Written by Gail Simone
Art by David Marquez
OUTLAW HEROES ONCE AGAIN, THE X-MEN EMBARK ON A NEW MISSION!
Making themselves at home in the Big Easy, the X-Men protect a world that hates and fears them! Join ROGUE, GAMBIT, NIGHTCRAWLER, JUBILEE and WOLVERINE on explosive super hero adventures. Uncanny as ever, the X-Men are back to saving the day mutant-style!
Besides the X-Men no longer being on Krakoa, the X-Men are also separated from their founder, Charles Xavier, for reasons currently being explored in the Fall of X crossover event, and Marvel teases that Professor X is gone from the picture, forcing X-Men like Rogue to pick up the slack in the pursuit of Xavier’s dream.
Meanwhile, the X-Men’s former home has been transformed into Graymalkin Prison, which is why the X-Men are in very different locations during “From the Ashes” (of the three core books, X-Men is in Chicago, Uncanny X-Men is in New Orleans, and Exceptional X-Men is in Chicago). They’ve lost both their most recent home country, as well as their original home!
Marvel Teases Three New X-Men Series
Marvel has released new teasers for three upcoming titles that will be launching as part of the X-Men: From the Ashes linewide relaunch
What do Gail Simone and David Marquez have to say about Uncanny X-Men?
Gail Simone, the writer of Uncanny X-Men, expressed her excitement over the new project in a Marvel press release:
Most of my time lately has been spent trying to keep my brain from exploding right out of my skull from this book. It’s either the fun of all my favorite mutants acting in surprising and wonderful ways, the impossibly brilliant work of the art team, or the thrilling collaboration with all the other writers, but somehow every DAY is just filled with some kind of manic joy. Ever since I took the book, I’ve been scribbling notes and plots and bits of dialogue day and night. I feel like a kid at a carnival. Who DOESN’T want to write Rogue and Jubilee and Gambit all the rest?
David Marquez added (while confirming that the excellent colorist, Matt Wilson, will be coloring the new series, “”Uncanny X-Men is the book that made me fall in love with comics. It’s been a dream come true getting to work with Gail, Matt [Wilson], and the whole Marvel editorial crew under Tom to put together this story: a badass, heartfelt, action-packed, character driven X-Men mystery. I hope readers have at least half as much fun reading it as we have had making it.”
Simone took a moment to praise her artistic collaborator, “Not only is this going to be one of the best-looking books on the stands, he’s simply an idea MACHINE and he makes every single page better than I wrote it. Anyway, come join us, we’re having an X adventure and you’re all INVITED!”
Uncanny X-Men #1 is due out on August 7th.
Source: Marvel
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — I found my cat, Nico, on Craigslist for $20. The former owners had toddlers at the time and another baby on the way in Old Brooklyn.
I’m an empty nester and was tired of being lonely with a health condition (epilepsy).
So here’s to my Hero Super Companion Guardian Cat! His furry swirl is his superpower, and when he finally slows down, he crosses his paws like the boss of our apartment here in Cleveland Heights.
The swirl continues after I’m lucky enough to snap a picture.
I still send pictures to his former family — and they send back photos of their growing family!
Shani Meeks,
Cleveland Heights
Do you share your life with an animal that is near and dear to you? Tell us something about your pet – all species are welcome – and send along a photo of the two of you. Be sure to tell us which Greater Cleveland community you live in.Send everything to Ann Norman atanorman@cleveland.com.
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