Town Meeting Day in United States of America

QUINCY – For the second year in a row, Quincy is debating how its public schools should recognize the most important holiday for their largest ethnic group. The school committee’s vote on the 2024-25 calendar, scheduled for April 10, will decide if the district will observe Lunar New Year with a day off from classes. Widely celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and other populations worldwide, Lunar New Year ushers in good luck and reconnects family and friends. Many in Quincy support having it off, but so far Quincy school officials haven’t agreed. Under the current policy, students can receive an excused absence to stay home in observance of the holiday. Last year, an online petition written by North Quincy High…

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Like other states around the nation, Florida is home to tens of thousands of people who live on the street — a fact of life that has vexed city and county leaders for decades. Now, state legislators are swooping in with what some are calling a cutting-edge solution to the homeless crisis they say will make streets both safer and cleaner in the Sunshine State. The new law would force counties and cities in Florida to ban the homeless from sleeping in public places but allow local governments to set up designated camps with running water, toilets, security and access to mental health services. Critics say the proposed state law stands in stark contrast to current…

Suwannee Spring Reunion: All day Friday-Sunday, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, 3076 95th Drive, Live Oak. Tickets: Prices vary. See website for information. (suwanneespringreunion.com) This year’s celebrated artists include Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale, Donna the Buffalo, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp, Hatti and Joe Craven Trio, The Grass is Dead, Habanero Honeys and more. Live and Local Concert Series: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave. Free. (tinyurl.com/livelocal24) Live performances by Half Gone, Earworms and Boat Stuff. Playlist at the Pointe: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Celebration Pointe, Celebration Pointe Avenue. Free. (celebrationpointe.com) Jamie Davis will perform. Food will be available from area restaurants. Saxsquatch with DJ Em of Future Joy, and Knob Ross: 7:30-11 p.m. Friday,…

GLEN ROCK, New Jersey (WABC) — Kids in one Bergen County school district lucked out this year with two unused snow days, but now there’s growing debate on how exactly to use those extra days off. The Glen Rock School Board of Education used one of the unused snow days to extend Spring break by a day — that’s April 1. About a dozen parents who observe Passover have asked the district to consider their observance of that holiday. “I think we have a variety of individuals in the town, some who are religious and others who may not be, and we have to account for everyone who is observant,” said parent Liliya Nissen. “It is a very special holiday…

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — There was no green beer, no pickup trucks towing parade floats or throngs of tourists in gaudy green outfits. Instead, just a few dozen of Savannah’s early Irish immigrants marched a half-mile from a hotel near the riverfront to attend a special service at what then was the city’s only Roman Catholic church. That modest procession on March 17, 1824, launched one of the most beloved — and profitable — traditions in Savannah. On Saturday, Georgia’s oldest city will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its St. Patrick’s Day parade, which has grown over time into one of America’s largest. Thousands of revelers are expected to cram sidewalks and squares along the parade route through Savannah’s downtown…

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans bade a typically joyous goodbye to Carnival season Tuesday with Mardi Gras parades, street parties and what amounted to a massive outdoor costume festival around the bars and restaurants in the French Quarter. Revelers in capes, wigs, spandex and feathers danced in front of St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square while Latin music blared. Not far away, tourists and locals roamed Bourbon and Royal streets with costumes that varied from the scanty and suggestive to the fanciful. × Already a Subscriber? Sign in You are logged in Switch accounts There were pirates, mimes and a family of giant bananas. A group of black-robed, white-wigged judges downed drinks outside a bar wile, nearby, a fluorescent…

KUTZTOWN, Pa. (AP) – The spotlight will be on Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania early Friday morning, when handlers of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil will announce whether he saw his own shadow and predicts there’ll be six more weeks of winter – or didn’t, which signals an early spring. Thousands are expected to attend the annual event that exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie, “Groundhog Day.” It’s part of a tradition rooted in European agricultural life, marking the midpoint between the shortest day of the year on the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s also a time of year that figures in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas. And in eastern and…

CLEVELAND, Ohio — MLB Network released its Top 10 Right Now rankings for third basemen and Cleveland’s José Ramírez is No. 2 behind Atlanta’s Austin Riley. It’s the same position Ramírez found himself in heading into last season behind Manny Machado of San Diego. On Thursday’s podcast, Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga look at the third base rankings and where Ramírez fits as well as how the latest ratings redeem MLB Network for snubbing left fielder Steven Kwan. Listen and read along with an AI-generated transcript of the podcast below. Read the automated transcript of today’s podcast below. Because it’s a computer-generated transcript, it may contain errors and misspellings. Joe Noga (00:06): Welcome back to another edition of the Cleveland…

LAKELAND — Six members of Lakeland’s African-American community stepped forward one-by-one Monday morning, together building the case for why Lakeland should recognize a pivotal date in Black history as a city employee holiday. It’s one way to kickstart February as Black History Month. Harlem Turner, president of Lakeland’s Rose Heights Elk Lodge, made his second plea to Lakeland commissioners within the past three months to recognize Juneteenth as an official city holiday. This would close down City Hall, giving many employees a paid day off and allowing them to join in the community celebrations. “Why can’t we have Juneteenth? It’s not for race, it’s for everybody,” Turner said. “Why can’t we do what’s right?” Mayor Bill Mutz asked whether other…

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — The spotlight will be on Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania early Friday morning, when handlers of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil will announce whether he saw his own shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Thousands are expected to attend the annual event that exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie, “Groundhog Day.” It’s part of a tradition rooted in European agricultural life, marking the midpoint between the shortest day of the year on the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s also a time of year that figures in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas. And in eastern and central Pennsylvania, where people of German descent…

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — The spotlight will be on Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania early Friday morning, when handlers of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil will announce whether he saw his own shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Thousands are expected to attend the annual event that exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie, “Groundhog Day.” It’s part of a tradition rooted in European agricultural life, marking the midpoint between the shortest day of the year on the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s also a time of year that figures in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas. And in eastern and central Pennsylvania, where people of German descent…

NEW BEDFORD – Police were called twice to City Hall on the night of Nov. 30 for an “argument or possible disturbance.” Police learned when they got there that the incident involved two residents, two city councilors and the city clerk. The conflicting accounts of what happened that night were the subject of a clerk-magistrate’s hearing Friday in New Bedford District Court to determine whether charges of trespass or filing a false police report should be pursued. Probable cause was found for neither, and no charges will be sought. New Bedford Police had requested the hearing into possible trespassing charges against Carlos Felix and Craig Ptaszenski. Felix and Ptaszenski requested the hearing into a possible charge of filing a false…

KUTZTOWN, Pa. (NEXSTAR) — The spotlight will be on Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania early Friday morning when handlers of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil will announce whether he saw his own shadow and predicts there will be six more weeks of winter — or didn’t, which signals an early spring. Thousands are expected to attend the annual event, which exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie, “Groundhog Day.” It’s part of a tradition rooted in European agricultural life, marking the midpoint between the shortest day of the year on the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s also a time of year that figures in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas. In eastern and…

KUTZTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The spotlight will be on Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania early Friday morning, when handlers of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil will announce whether he saw his own shadow and predicts there’ll be six more weeks of winter — or didn’t, which signals an early spring. Thousands are expected to attend the annual event that exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie, “Groundhog Day.” × Already a Subscriber? Sign in You are logged in Switch accounts It’s part of a tradition rooted in European agricultural life, marking the midpoint between the shortest day of the year on the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s also a time of year that figures in the…

KUTZTOWN — The spotlight will be on Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania early Friday morning, when handlers of a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil will announce whether he saw his own shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Thousands are expected to attend the annual event that exploded in popularity after the 1993 Bill Murray movie, “Groundhog Day.” It’s part of a tradition rooted in European agricultural life, marking the midpoint between the shortest day of the year on the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s also a time of year that figures in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas. And in eastern and central Pennsylvania, where people of German descent have…

Millersport Village Council met Jan. 9 in the Municipal Building. Nicole Crosson and Jim McKittrick were issued the oath of office by Mayor Gary Matheny. Dustin Bidwell was elected President of Council and the committees were the same as last year. The Safety Committee will be chaired by Stephanie Helle, with Dustin Bidwell and Nicole Crosson. The Activities Committee will be chaired by Beth Butler with Jim McKittrick and Nicole Crosson. The Finance Committee will be chaired by Dustin Bidwell with Stephanie Helle and Rick Thompson. The Rules Committee will be chaired by Jim McKittrick with Rick Thompson and Beth Butler. Motions were approved to accept the minutes of the December meeting and pay the bills. John Wood of the…

In brief: Bridgeville, Carnegie area news and events, week of Jan. 22, 2024 and beyond Carnegie Borough awarded funding to rehabilitate Main Street bridge Rep. Anita Kulick, D-Allegheny, announced Jan. 16 that Carnegie earned $150,000 to rehabilitate the Carnegie Main Street bridge. The bridge was originally built in 1967. “By repairing the Carnegie Main Street Bridge, we make our roadways safer for those traveling through our area,” Kulick said. The grant is from the state’s Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund, which falls under the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County and Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Financing Authority. Bridgeville gets two new police officers Bridgeville has two new full-time police officers. The borough recently hired Robert Spencer and Jeffrey Slagle to the police department.…

Jan. 5 — Logansport travels to Kokomo tonight to face the Wildkats for the final time in an NCC game. It’s a girls-boys doubleheader. The girls game gets underway at 6 p.m. at Memorial Gym, followed by the boys game at approximately 7:45. The Kokomo boys are ranked No. 10 in Class 4A and No. 9 in the coaches’ poll. The Wildkats (9-3, 2-0 NCC) are coming off a third-place showing at the Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle on Dec. 30, when they lost to Indianapolis Crispus Attucks 69-59 and beat Brownsburg 87-58. Attucks beat Brownstown Central 76-51 to win the event. Kokomo is led by Kansas recruit Flory Bidunga, a 6-foot-9 senior who is averaging 17 points,…

Syracuse, N.Y. — It might take Pat Dalton three or four trips to buy everything on his short grocery shopping list for the day. By noon last Wednesday, he had already picked up cold cuts at Green Hills Farms Market in Nedrow, and then it was off to Thanos Import Market on the the North Side for bread, cheese and olives. Before he’s done, he still may head to Nichols in Liverpool for meat and maybe Lombardi’s or Vince’s Imports for any deli items he may have forgotten along the way. Yes, he knows he could easily clear his list with one stop at any large chain superstore. “For years people would make fun of me because I go to…

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Each February, the eyes of millions of people turn to one rodent in a small western Pennsylvania town that, according to legend, predicts the weather. “Every little town has their claim to fame. I think if you go to any town, you’re going to find something that adds a certain amount of charm for one day throughout the entire year,” said Darren Sherry, former executive director of the Punxsutawney Historical and Genealogical Society. “Ours happens to be a groundhog named Phil.” Thousands of people flock to Punxsutawney for Groundhog Day in anticipation of meeting Phil, partying in frigid temperatures all night and seeing whether the furry forecaster will see his shadow and proclaim six more weeks of…