| CollegeHighway.com Login |
| Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As registered user you have some advantages like theme manager, comments configuration and post comments with your name. |
| Trippin? |
 |
| Check Yourself |
 |
| Ephemerids |
One Day like Today...
|
| Welcome |
| You are Anonymous user. You can register for free by clicking here. |
 |
|
| Introduction | | Introduction You just clicked into the coolest place to get all your college news and information about college life. Looking to join the CollegeHighway crew? Click here. | |
| |
| Montgomery Honors 2026 Volunteers of the Year |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:49 PDT (12 reads) | |
|
The village of montgomery proudly recognized its 2026 volunteers of the year during a special ceremony before the board meeting june 8, to honor and celebrate the outstanding winners whose dedication, compassion, and service strengthen the community every day.
this year’s theme focused on the power of small moments and consistent acts of kindness that create lasting impacts across montgomery. Volunteerism was celebrated not only through grand gestures, but through the countless ways community members give their time, talents, and energy to improve the lives of others.
the 2026 volunteer of the year honorees are:
•active adult impact, sharon graeber
sharon graeber, active adult impact award.
village of montgomery photos honored for her many years of dedicated service at the oswegoland senior & community center, where her reliability, kindness, and welcoming presence have positively impacted countless seniors, families, and community members.
•business impact, loreto arzola, state farm agent
loreto arzola, state farm, business impact award recognized for his exceptional support of the village and chamber events, as well as his dedication to empowering students through his work as a bilingual professor at the illinois small business development center at waubonsee community college.
•community impact, dan & joanie britton
dan and joanie britton, community impact award recognized for their ongoing commitment to serving others through church and community outreach programs, including the food pantry at st. Olaf, griefshare classes, love purse, samaritan’s christmas child, faith & blue, and numerous other service projects.
•group impact, montgomery beautification committee
members of the montgomery beautification committee receive a 2026 volunteer of the year group impact award from village of montgomery president matt brolley, left. The group received the award for enhancing community pride and connection through flower plantings at a special ceremony june 8. Village of montgomery photo recognized for enhancing community pride and connection through flower plantings, arbor day celebrations, seasonal decoration contests, and beautification efforts that bring residents together.
•nonprofit impact, gemita jones, grow with gem
gemita jones, grow with gem, nonprofit impact award honored for her leadership in addressing community needs through food pantries, clothing closets, diaper drives, back-to-school fairs, and outreach efforts that provide hope and support to individuals and families.
•rising star awards, abury avila, evrey dominguez jr., And lander orocio
abury avila and evrey dominguez, jr., Rising stars award honored for their enthusiasm, initiative, and positive spirit while volunteering at community events, demonstrating that young people can make a meaningful and lasting difference through service and volunteerism.
“change doesn’t always come in big moments– it comes through consistent, thoughtful actions,” said village community engagement & event coordinator rosie boeing during the presentation. “Because of our volunteers, montgomery is stronger, kinder, more connected, and a better place to call home.”
the village extends its gratitude to all volunteers who generously give their time in service to others and congratulates the 2026 volunteer of the year honorees for their outstanding contributions to the montgomery community.
for more information on the award program and details, visit montgomeryil.Org.
—village of montgomery government |
( Read More... | 7066 bytes more | comments? |   ) |
| |
| OCTET to Make Downtown Debut at Goodman Theatre with Raven Theatres Original Cas |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:48 PDT (15 reads) | |
|
|
Following an acclaimed extended run at raven theatre, dave malloy’s a cappella musical octet transfers to goodman theatre for a two-week run this summer. Directed by keira fromm—associate director of the goodman’s iceboy! Or the completely untrue story of how eugene o’neill came to write the iceman cometh—with music direction by nick sula (kokandy productions’ jekyll & hyde) and choreography by laura savage (the lord of the rings international tour), the goodman’s presentation of the raven theatre production will feature raven’s original cast—including neala barron (porchlight theatre’s fun home), elliot esquivel (lookingglass theatre’s white rooster), joryhebel ginorio (theo ubique’s the secret garden), jordan golding (a christmas carol), teressa lagamba (paramount theatre’s waitress), ryder dean mcdaniel (court theatre’s taming of the shrew), sam shankman (court theatre’s falsettos) and grace steckler (writers theatre’s as you like it).
the goodman presents raven theatre’s production of dave malloy’s octet in the 400-seat flexible owen theatre july 15-26. For tickets ($44-$94, subject to change), call 312.443.3800 or purchase online at goodmantheatre.Org/octet. This project is partially supported by a grant from the city of chicago department of cultural affairs and special events (dcase). This programming is also supported in part by a grant from the illinois arts council.
“i’m thrilled that octet will receive an encore production this summer at the goodman theatre! Our whole team is stacked with the most generous and talented group of artists whose abundant love for the show is clear from the moment the first song begins,” said director keira fromm, who is also the associate director of the goodman’s upcoming world-premiere musical iceboy! Or the completely untrue story of how eugene o’neill came to write the iceman cometh, starring megan mullally and nick offerman. “I’m overjoyed that the tiny ember i carried for this piece has caught fire and will be shared with so many others. It’s a balm to put down your phone and be in the room with this incredible musical, and i can’t wait for a wider audience to experience it.”
“octet has been a rare and remarkable experience here at the raven, and we are so very excited to partner with the goodman in creating a downtown extension for this production,” said raven theatre executive artistic director jonathan berry. “At its heart, raven is always looking to build community, and this is a fantastic opportunity to share this production that we’re so proud of with a wider audience.”
in an anonymous meeting room on the north side of chicago, a group of people—always eight—gathers to sing. Best known for the broadway hit natasha, pierre, & the great comet of 1812, dave malloy’s octet uses chamber-inspired a cappella music to explore the total impact of life online. Hailed by the new york times as “the most original and topical musical of the year” for its 2019 off-broadway premiere, this inventive and acutely relevant piece reflects the perils of the digital age.
about the artists
dave malloy (playwright) is a composer/writer/performer/orchestrator. He has written 13 musicals, including octet, a chamber choir musical about internet addiction; natasha, pierre & the great comet of 1812, an electropop opera based on a slice of tolstoy’s war & peace (12 tony nominations, including best musical, score, book, and orchestrations); ghost quartet, a song cycle about love, death, and whiskey; preludes, a musical fantasia set in the hypnotized mind of sergei rachmaninoff; little bunny foo foo, a forest entertainment for small people; three pianos, a drunken romp through schubert’s “winterreise”; black wizard/blue wizard, an escapist rpg fantasy; beowulf—a thousand years of baggage, an anti-academia rock opera; beardo, a reinterpretation of the rasputin myth; sandwich, a musical about killing animals; and clown bible, genesis to revelation told through clowns. He has won two obie awards, a smithsonian ingenuity award, a theater world award, the richard rodgers award, an ascap new horizons award, and a jonathan larson grant, and has been a macdowell fellow and composer-in-residence at ars nova and the signature theatre. Future projects include an adaptation of moby-dick. He lives in brooklyn. Davemalloy.Com
keira fromm (director) is a chicago-based freelance director. Chicago credits include iceboy! Or the completely untrue story of how eugene o’neill came to write the iceman cometh (goodman theatre); octet (raven theatre); the brightest thing in the world, bull in a china shop, significant other, bright half life and a kid like jake (about face theatre); the last match (writers theatre); top girls, hang (remy bumppo); the how and the why (timeline theatre). Regional: we had a world (huntington theatre); the liar, the moors and a doll’s house (american players theatre); who’s afraid of virginia woolf (milwaukee chamber theatre). Mfa depaul university. Member of sdc, the professional directors union. Keirafromm.Com
nick sula (music director) is an award-winning music director and pianist. Recent productions include music direction with kokandy productions on the jeff award-winning productions of jekyll & hyde (jeff award for outstanding music direction), into the woods (jeff awards for outstanding music direction and orchestration), sweeney todd (jeff award for outstanding music direction), and the chicago musical theatre festival. Other chicago theatre music direction credits include: anything goes (jeff nomination) with porchlight music theatre; dave malloy’s ghost quartet (jeff nomination), mary rose, nevermore, amour, and coraline with black button eyes productions; myths & hymns, the glorious ones (jeff nomination), hello again, la cage aux folles, and pippin with boho theatre. As a professor of musical theatre, he serves as a music director, instructor and vocal coach at the chicago college of performing arts at roosevelt university.
laura savage (choreographer) most recently was the associate choreographer for the lord of the rings international tour. Past choreography work includes: cruel intentions (kokandy productions; jeff nominated), rock of ages (mercury theatre) rent (porchlight music theatre), zorro and shrek (music theatre works), shrek (drury lane), elephant and piggie (marriott theatre), and many productions for bam theatre. Laura has associate choreographed and dance captained at: marriott theatre, paramount theatre, and drury lane theatre. She is a jeff nominated actress and has performed in over 40 productions across the chicagoland area. Laura also choreographed for and appeared on fox’s hit show empire. @Lauramsavage www.Laura-savage.Com |
| ( Read More... | 13612 bytes more | comments? | ) |
| |
| OCTET to Make Downtown Debut at Goodman Theatre with Raven Theatres Original Cas |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:48 PDT (12 reads) | |
|
|
Octet to make downtown debut at goodman theatre with raven theatres original cast
dave malloys a cappella musical, directed by keira fromm, transfers following an acclaimed extended run.
a.A. Cristi
following an acclaimed extended run at raven theatre, dave malloys a cappella musical octet transfers to goodman theatre for a two-week run this summer. Directed by keira fromm—associate director of the goodmans iceboy! Or the completely untrue story of how eugene oneill came to write the iceman cometh—with music direction by nick sula (kokandy productions jekyll & hyde) and choreography by laura savage (the lord of the rings international tour), the goodmans presentation of the raven theatre production will feature ravens original cast—including neala barron (porchlight theatres fun home), elliot esquivel (lookingglass theatres white rooster), joryhebel ginorio (theo ubiques the secret garden), jordan golding (a christmas carol), teressa lagamba (paramount theatres waitress), ryder dean mcdaniel (court theatres taming of the shrew), sam shankman (court theatres falsettos) and grace steckler (writers theatres as you like it).
the goodman presents raven theatres production of dave malloys octet in the 400-seat flexible owen theatre july 15-26. For tickets ($44-$94, subject to change), call 312.443.3800 or purchase online at goodmantheatre.Org/octet. This project is partially supported by a grant from the city of chicago department of cultural affairs and special events (dcase). This programming is also supported in part by a grant from the illinois arts council.
“im thrilled that octet will receive an encore production this summer at the goodman theatre! Our whole team is stacked with the most generous and talented group of artists whose abundant love for the show is clear from the moment the first song begins,” said director keira fromm, who is also the associate director of the goodmans upcoming world-premiere musical iceboy! Or the completely untrue story of how eugene oneill came to write the iceman cometh, starring megan mullally and nick offerman. “Im overjoyed that the tiny ember i carried for this piece has caught fire and will be shared with so many others. Its a balm to put down your phone and be in the room with this incredible musical, and i cant wait for a wider audience to experience it.”
“octet has been a rare and remarkable experience here at the raven, and we are so very excited to partner with the goodman in creating a downtown extension for this production, said raven theatre executive artistic director jonathan berry. At its heart, raven is always looking to build community, and this is a fantastic opportunity to share this production that were so proud of with a wider audience.”
in an anonymous meeting room on the north side of chicago, a group of people—always eight—gathers to sing. Best known for the broadway hit natasha, pierre, & the great comet of 1812, dave malloys octet uses chamber-inspired a cappella music to explore the total impact of life online. Hailed by the new york times as “the most original and topical musical of the year” for its 2019 off-broadway premiere, this inventive and acutely relevant piece reflects the perils of the digital age.
about the artists
dave malloy (playwright) is a composer/writer/performer/orchestrator. He has written 13 musicals, including octet, a chamber choir musical about internet addiction; natasha, pierre & the great comet of 1812, an electropop opera based on a slice of tolstoys war & peace (12 tony nominations, including best musical, score, book, and orchestrations); ghost quartet, a song cycle about love, death, and whiskey; preludes, a musical fantasia set in the hypnotized mind of sergei rachmaninoff; little bunny foo foo, a forest entertainment for small people; three pianos, a drunken romp through schuberts “winterreise”; black wizard/blue wizard, an escapist rpg fantasy; beowulf—a thousand years of baggage, an anti-academia rock opera; beardo, a reinterpretation of the rasputin myth; sandwich, a musical about killing animals; and clown bible, genesis to revelation told through clowns. He has won two obie awards, a smithsonian ingenuity award, a theater world award, the richard rodgers award, an ascap new horizons award, and a jonathan larson grant, and has been a macdowell fellow and composer-in-residence at ars nova and the signature theatre. Future projects include an adaptation of moby-dick. He lives in brooklyn. Davemalloy.Com
keira fromm (director) is a chicago-based freelance director. Chicago credits include iceboy! Or the completely untrue story of how eugene oneill came to write the iceman cometh (goodman theatre); octet (raven theatre); the brightest thing in the world, bull in a china shop, significant other, bright half life and a kid like jake (about face theatre); the last match (writers theatre); top girls, hang (remy bumppo); the how and the why (timeline theatre). Regional: we had a world (huntington theatre); the liar, the moors and a dolls house (american players theatre); whos afraid of virginia woolf (milwaukee chamber theatre). Mfa depaul university. Member of sdc, the professional directors union. Keirafromm.Com
nick sula (music director) is an award-winning music director and pianist. Recent productions include music direction with kokandy productions on the jeff award-winning productions of jekyll & hyde (jeff award for outstanding music direction), into the woods (jeff awards for outstanding music direction and orchestration), sweeney todd (jeff award for outstanding music direction), and the chicago musical theatre festival. Other chicago theatre music direction credits include: anything goes (jeff nomination) with porchlight music theatre; dave malloys ghost quartet (jeff nomination), mary rose, nevermore, amour, and coraline with black button eyes productions; myths & hymns, the glorious ones (jeff nomination), hello again, la cage aux folles, and pippin with boho theatre. As a professor of musical theatre, he serves as a music director, instructor and vocal coach at the chicago college of performing arts at roosevelt university.
laura savage (choreographer) most recently was the associate choreographer for the lord of the rings international tour. Past choreography work includes: cruel intentions (kokandy productions; jeff nominated), rock of ages (mercury theatre) rent (porchlight music theatre), zorro and shrek (music theatre works), shrek (drury lane), elephant and piggie (marriott theatre), and many productions for bam theatre. Laura has associate choreographed and dance captained at: marriott theatre, paramount theatre, and drury lane theatre. She is a jeff nominated actress and has performed in over 40 productions across the chicagoland area. Laura also choreographed for and appeared on foxs hit show empire. @Lauramsavage www.Laura-savage.Com
videos |
| ( Read More... | 13832 bytes more | comments? | ) |
| |
| What Pope Leo Means for Fulton Sheen |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:48 PDT (12 reads) | |
|
|
What pope leo means for fulton sheen
commentary: the cause of our once best-known catholic may well have been advanced by our new best-known catholic.
i was struck by a strange feeling upon finishing the manuscript for my biography of pope leo xiv. It occurred to me that my subject, cardinal robert francis prevost, the first american supreme pontiff, would now become the most famous american catholic in the history of the church.
that itself was a revelation, but i was further taken aback when i realized who cardinal prevost would unwittingly supplant in that position. He would be taking that title from the late, great archbishop fulton sheen (1895-1979). Not that this is a competition, nor that the soon-to-be beatified archbishop sheen would have minded. Venerable fulton sheen would have been thrilled at the notion of an american pope. Still, the realization hit me as remarkable and a bit sad, even as it wouldn’t have saddened sheen. In fact, it may well benefit him.
one of ven. Sheen’s biographers, thomas reeves, dubbed him “america’s bishop.” As many readers know, archbishop sheen was widely beloved. He was a household name among catholics and non-catholics alike. Personally, i’ve written on him at length in articles and books and have been intimately close to his home parish, his museum, and his distinctly american town of peoria, illinois.
it is interesting that both sheen and prevost — america’s bishop and the american pope — come from illinois. In my 2017 book a pope and a president, which was about john paul ii and ronald reagan but had much material on fulton sheen, i noted the irony that the two greatest communicators of the 20th century (reagan was dubbed “the great communicator”) hailed from small farm towns mere miles apart in northwestern illinois, the american midwest, the heartland. Add leo to that distinction, growing up in little dolton, illinois.
to be sure, leo does not have archbishop sheen’s communications skills (no one does), but he will have a platform far larger than archbishop sheen ever had. Archbishop sheen was incredibly influential on radio and television, but his microphone pales in comparison to the megaphone that leo xiv now possesses. And that microphone reached robert francis prevost, as the new pontiff himself acknowledged shortly after being elected pope.
mere weeks after his installation, pope leo told a newly married couple in rome that fulton sheen “had an influence” on him, and that he grew up watching sheen on television. That young couple, kristen and austin savage, first met at a sheen-themed event at the cathedral of st. Mary of the immaculate conception in peoria, the very parish where archbishop sheen had been ordained a priest and that today holds his earthly remains. Kristen and austin asked the new holy father and a fellow illinois native to consider picking up archbishop sheen’s cause for canonization that had suddenly halted several years ago.
“venerable fulton sheen played a major role in our relationship,” said kristen in an article in the register. “And during our marriage preparation, we always asked for his intercession. So he’s always been someone who we wanted to see canonized.” And thus, “when i saw the holy father, i said, ‘we’d really like to see his canonization’ — and what better person to plead our cause to than the holy father himself?”
what was pope leo’s response?
“the holy father did specifically say he would remember what we said,” said kristen. “So that definitely did give us hope for fulton sheen’s canonization. Maybe we will see it during pope leo’s pontificate.”
maybe? Indeed. Kristen said that last july. Her statement is proving prophetic, or at least on track.
we quickly saw in just the opening months of leo’s papacy a marked reversal in the pause of sheen’s track to sainthood. The momentum that suddenly slowed during the francis papacy has picked back up into a positive trajectory.
for his part, pope francis on july 5, 2019, approved the miracle attributed to the intercession of sheen. Soon thereafter, sheen was set to be beatified on dec. 21, 2019, but the beatification was delayed. It was reported that the bishop of rochester had requested the delay due to concerns that sheen (who had been bishop in rochester in the late 1960s) might be named in the final report of an ongoing investigation into clergy sex abuse in new york.
that delay was quite unexpected. To many sheen fans, it seemed mysterious, controversial. It had many sheen admirers saddened, disappointed and frustrated. Some even blamed pope francis or perceived plotters and “enemies” organized against their guy. Whatever the culprit, the delay persisted, and archbishop sheen’s advocates were dispirited. But behold, that darkness lifted in february of this year, when the holy see officially informed bishop louis tylka of the diocese of peoria that the cause for the venerable fulton sheen can proceed to beatification.
just one month later, the vatican’s dicastery for the causes of saints announced that archbishop sheen would be beatified at a mass presided over by cardinal luis antonio tagle, pro-prefect of the dicastery for evangelization, on sept. 24, 2026, in st. Louis, missouri. Cardinal tagle will formally represent pope leo xiv. The diocese of peoria is ecstatic and planning a huge celebration.
by january 2026, eight months into leo’s papacy, fulton sheen’s beatification was quickly back on track. There was a sharp change in pace for archbishop sheen’s process toward sainthood within just the first year of the leo papacy.
and that is plainly great news.
last fall, i closed my manuscript on pope leo with an unusual section called, “an american postscript,” where i shared some of these thoughts on pope leo and archbishop sheen, including leo taking the mantle of most famous american catholic ever. I also quoted leo’s words to kristen and austin. I speculated that pope leo could possess the ability to change the momentum on sheen’s delayed beatification. And it looks like that may have happened.
it’s a blessed irony: the cause of our once best-known catholic may well have been picked up and advanced by our new best-known catholic. And regardless of who is most responsible, the holy father or the holy spirit, fulton sheen fans can rejoice.
paul kengor is a professor of political science at grove city college, editor of the american spectator, and author of more than two dozen books. His latest is american pontiff: pope leo xiv and his plan to heal the church (humanix books, 2026). |
| ( Read More... | 13268 bytes more | comments? | ) |
| |
| Civittolo, Barrett to Lead Ohio State University Extension |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:48 PDT (7 reads) | |
|
|
Columbus, ohio — the ohio state university college of food, agricultural, and environmental sciences (cfaes) has announced the appointment of david civittolo as associate dean and director of ohio state university extension and eric barrett as chair of the department of extension and assistant dean, effective june 1, 2026, pending approval by ohio state’s board of trustees.
the appointments reflect cfaes’ continued investment in strengthening extension’s statewide impact and ensuring ohio communities remain connected to the university’s research, expertise and educational resources.
ohio state extension is cfaes’ outreach arm, delivering research-based education and programming in all 88 ohio counties through agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-h youth development and community development.
civittolo has served as interim associate dean and director of extension and interim chair of the department of extension since 2023. Barrett has served as assistant dean of extension and associate chair of the department of extension.
“david has provided thoughtful and steady leadership for ohio state extension during an important period of transition and growth,” said cathann a. Kress, ohio state vice president for agricultural administration and cfaes dean. “He understands the critical role extension plays in connecting the resources of ohio state with the needs of ohio’s communities, families, businesses and agricultural producers.”
kress said the leadership structure will strengthen coordination across extension’s teaching, research and outreach mission while positioning the organization for future growth and innovation.
“eric brings extensive experience in extension leadership, collaboration and relationship-building,” kress said. “His commitment to supporting faculty, staff and educators across the state will help strengthen the department of extension and advance its impact throughout ohio.”
as associate dean and director, civittolo will focus on organizational leadership, communication, and operational alignment; workforce readiness; and long-term strategic planning across extension.
before serving in the interim role, civittolo held several leadership positions within extension, including associate professor and assistant director of community development; interim assistant director of community development; extension field specialist; extension education and research area leader for the western reserve region; and medina county extension director.
“my professional passion has always centered on helping communities grow stronger and more resilient,” civittolo said. “Ohio state extension has a long tradition of serving ohioans through research-based outreach and education, and i’m honored to continue working alongside our faculty, staff and community partners to advance that mission.”
civittolo earned a bs in criminal justice and an mpa in political science from bowling green state university.
barrett will serve as chair of the department of extension while continuing in his role as assistant dean. In that role, he will help support faculty development, academic leadership and collaboration across extension’s statewide network.
before joining the college’s leadership team, barrett served as professor and extension educator in agriculture and natural resources in mahoning county and as area 10 leader. His work has focused on leadership development, community engagement and strengthening extension partnerships throughout ohio.
“extension’s success is built on strong relationships and a shared commitment to serving ohioans,” barrett said. “I look forward to continuing to work with our faculty, staff and educators to strengthen opportunities for collaboration, programming and engagement across the state.”
barrett earned a bs in animal sciences and an ms in agricultural economics from ohio state.
— ohio state university cfaes |
| ( Read More... | 7952 bytes more | comments? | ) |
| |
| Montgomery Honors 2026 Volunteers of the Year - The Voice |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:48 PDT (7 reads) | |
|
|
The village of montgomery proudly recognized its 2026 volunteers of the year during a special ceremony before the board meeting june 8, to honor and celebrate the outstanding winners whose dedication, compassion, and service strengthen the community every day.
this year’s theme focused on the power of small moments and consistent acts of kindness that create lasting impacts across montgomery. Volunteerism was celebrated not only through grand gestures, but through the countless ways community members give their time, talents, and energy to improve the lives of others.
the 2026 volunteer of the year honorees are:
•active adult impact, sharon graeber
honored for her many years of dedicated service at the oswegoland senior & community center, where her reliability, kindness, and welcoming presence have positively impacted countless seniors, families, and community members.
•business impact, loreto arzola, state farm agent
recognized for his exceptional support of the village and chamber events, as well as his dedication to empowering students through his work as a bilingual professor at the illinois small business development center at waubonsee community college.
•community impact, dan & joanie britton
recognized for their ongoing commitment to serving others through church and community outreach programs, including the food pantry at st. Olaf, griefshare classes, love purse, samaritan’s christmas child, faith & blue, and numerous other service projects.
•group impact, montgomery beautification committee
recognized for enhancing community pride and connection through flower plantings, arbor day celebrations, seasonal decoration contests, and beautification efforts that bring residents together.
•nonprofit impact, gemita jones, grow with gem
honored for her leadership in addressing community needs through food pantries, clothing closets, diaper drives, back-to-school fairs, and outreach efforts that provide hope and support to individuals and families.
•rising star awards, abury avila, evrey dominguez jr., And lander orocio
honored for their enthusiasm, initiative, and positive spirit while volunteering at community events, demonstrating that young people can make a meaningful and lasting difference through service and volunteerism.
“change doesn’t always come in big moments– it comes through consistent, thoughtful actions,” said village community engagement & event coordinator rosie boeing during the presentation. “Because of our volunteers, montgomery is stronger, kinder, more connected, and a better place to call home.”
the village extends its gratitude to all volunteers who generously give their time in service to others and congratulates the 2026 volunteer of the year honorees for their outstanding contributions to the montgomery community.
for more information on the award program and details, visit montgomeryil.Org.
—village of montgomery government |
| ( Read More... | 5870 bytes more | comments? | ) |
| |
| Mike Collins Wins Georgia GOP Senate Runoff, Sets Up High-Stakes Battle Against |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:48 PDT (8 reads) | |
|
|
Georgia republicans have officially selected u.S. Representative mike collins as their nominee for the 2026 u.S. Senate election, giving former president donald trump a significant political victory after he endorsed collins ahead of the runoff election against political newcomer derek dooley.
collins, who led the republican primary field on may 19, secured the nomination after receiving trump’s backing. The former president praised collins as a “warrior and winner” and highlighted his long-standing support for the maga movement. Dooley, a former college football coach, had been endorsed by georgia governor brian kemp, making the runoff a closely watched contest within the republican party.
the georgia senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive elections of the 2026 midterm cycle. Collins will challenge democratic senator jon ossoff, who is seeking a second term and is widely viewed as a potential democratic presidential contender in 2028. Ossoff is currently the only democratic incumbent senator defending a seat in a state won by trump during the 2024 presidential election.
despite georgia being a top republican target, political analysts believe ossoff enters the race with significant advantages. University of georgia political science professor charles bullock noted that ossoff has built a strong reputation through extensive constituent services and frequent engagement with voters across the state.
fundraising remains another major strength for the democratic incumbent. Ossoff has raised approximately $60 million and entered may with nearly $33 million in campaign funds. In comparison, collins reported raising $4.9 million through late may and had roughly $1.2 million cash on hand.
outside groups are already preparing for an expensive battle. The democratic senate majority pac has reserved $20 million in georgia television advertising, while the republican senate leadership fund has committed $44 million toward efforts to flip the seat.
the georgia contest comes as democrats seek to regain senate control in the 2026 midterm elections. The party would need a net gain of four seats to secure a majority. Recent electoral forecasts have shifted several battleground states toward democrats, including north carolina, while alaska and ohio are now considered highly competitive.
democrats are also optimistic about strong candidates in key races across north carolina, alaska, and ohio. Meanwhile, republican senator susan collins of maine faces a challenging reelection campaign in a state that favored democratic presidential nominee kamala harris in 2024.
the senate battlefield may continue to expand as democrats target traditionally republican states such as iowa and texas. Democratic nominees josh turek in iowa and james talarico in texas hope to capitalize on voter concerns surrounding inflation, rising living costs, and broader political issues heading into november.
with trump-backed mike collins now officially in the race, georgia is poised to become one of the most closely watched senate contests in the country, carrying significant implications for both senate control and the national political landscape. |
| ( Read More... | 6368 bytes more | comments? | ) |
| |
| Dangerous heat at UO graduation: Could have been so easily avoided - Lookout Eug |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:48 PDT (6 reads) | |
|
|
Quicktake:
one dean and at least four students collapsed amid scorching heat during the university of oregon’s graduation ceremonies on monday, sparking questions about the university’s preparedness for extreme weather.
wearing heavy black ceremonial robes, the dean of university of oregon’s college of design and school staff members repositioned more than 500 chairs on hayward field after attendees in the stands moved to the shaded side of the stadium to escape the scorching sun.
then, about a half-hour after the ceremony was supposed to begin at 4 p.M. On monday, june 15, the dean, adrian parr zaretsky, took the stage to address the graduates seated before her.
the dean got through most of her speech before asking the audience to applaud the staff’s work in the hot weather. Then, she collapsed.
“i felt myself starting to get dizzy, my ears were starting to block up, and then at a certain point the next thing i know i was on the ground,” zaretsky told lookout eugene-springfield.
those who saw her faint told zaretsky that her whole body was shaking, she said. The next thing she remembers is being wheeled off the field in a stretcher. Zaretsky said she was taken to the hospital, where she received intravenous fluids until she was taken home by her husband late monday night.
four graduates also fell to the ground while waiting to enter hayward, according to a witness account, and they were taken indoors to cool off.
those incidents at hayward occurred about an hour after the university decided to reschedule ceremonies at autzen due to extreme heat. But the college of design’s ceremony, also outdoors, continued as scheduled.
extreme heat has killed more people in the united states than any other weather-related hazard over the last 30 years, according to the national weather service.
the public health threat is why meteorologists from the service’s portland office issued a heat advisory last week, ahead of monday’s record-breaking temperature of 98 degrees.
more than 35,000 people — including graduates and their supporters — attended ceremonies at hayward field and autzen stadium throughout the day.
while the university’s management plan for this year’s commencement events called for water and cooling fans, it did not include relocation, either proactively or retroactively, though that step was eventually taken, said angela seydel, uo spokesperson and director of issues management.
she also added, “as we do following every major event, we will review this year’s ceremonies as part of our ongoing commitment to improving the experience for our graduates and their families.”
but for nearly 5,000 graduates, the once-in-a-lifetime moment has already passed.
155 degrees at autzen: ‘nobody told us’
the speaker who gave the land acknowledgement at the morning’s main commencement ceremony in autzen stadium noted things were already getting warm.
jason yonker, adviser to uo’s president on sovereignty and government-to-government relations and chief of the coquille indian tribe, told attendees at about 9 a.M. That eugene was already in the 70s, but the turf was closer to 100 degrees.
he then referenced a popular ducks catchphrase, “it never rains in autzen stadium.”
the cloudless skies, unrelenting sun, and heat from a high-pressure weather system drove the temperature on the field higher throughout the day. By the afternoon, the surface reached a scalding 155 degrees, seydel confirmed.
but that’s something that trinity white, a geology and environmental science student, didn’t know as she joined a queue of thousands of other graduates waiting outside autzen for the college of arts and sciences’ natural sciences 2:30 p.M. Ceremony.
graduates flocked to a small strip of shade next to the nearby practice field, seeking relief from the scorching sun, white said.
they were parched. The university told them to not bring their own water into the ceremony, and so volunteers in golf carts dropped off two cases of water bottles. Students began “fighting over” them, she said.
eventually, there wasn’t enough shade for everyone, and volunteers shepherded graduates into the adjacent indoor moshofsky center to wait, which wasn’t much cooler than outside, white said. Sweat was dripping out from under their caps and soaking through their gowns.
white, and others in line, then got texts from friends and families at about 3 p.M. That confirmed their worst fears: uo was rescheduling the ceremony due to extreme heat. Gasps and screams rippled through the crowd.
“they [family and friends] got the announcement before we did,” white said. “Nobody told us.”
her loved ones, including her parents, two siblings, girlfriend and three friends, had been waiting in the stands at autzen for nearly an hour for a ceremony that never happened.
worse, white had opted to skip the university-wide ceremony earlier in the day because she was planning to attend this one.
even worse still, she wouldn’t be able to attend the rescheduled ceremony, set for 7:30 p.M. At matthew knight arena, because she had reservations for a graduation dinner with friends and family.
“i didn’t realize how much walking meant to me until it was canceled,” white said. “It just felt like my whole college experience just ended so anticlimactically.”
uo’s response
in an email, seydel told lookout eugene-springfield that “monday’s record-setting heat made conditions during our afternoon ceremonies challenging, and we understand the frustration of the graduates and families whose celebrations were affected.”
part of what made autzen stadium so hot was a field covering she said is “always used” during events.
“it added radiant heat in these record temperatures, and as on-field conditions reached unsafe levels we made the decision to move the affected ceremonies indoors,” she said.
while uo has emergency operations and hazard response plans, it does not appear to have a clear framework for moving or rescheduling major events due to heat, according to documents reviewed by lookout eugene-springfield. Seydel said she would need to check further on that point, but did not get back to reporters by the time this story was published.
however, the university has an incident comment plan for large events like commencement, with this year’s outlining specific responses to the heat that included supplying water, moving people to grassy areas and providing information on personal safety.
some of that guidance came through email a week before graduation day, june 8, with the subject line: a week before the graduation ceremonies, uo sent an email to attendees with the subject line: “it will be hot!”
“the forecast for commencement day is calling for temperatures in the low 90s. Those participating in ceremonies in autzen will be much warmer, as the stadium turf is hotter than the outside temperature,” the email read in part, including general heat safety tips like staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen and wearing loose, light-colored clothing.
however, in a separate message to college of arts and sciences faculty, the university advised that “faculty should wear regalia,” while also noting, “consider bringing sunglasses and hats. Please keep hot weather in mind – the field gets hotter than surrounding areas.”
june heat waves become recurring risk
the state climateologist, larry o’neill, knows firsthand how heavy and hot regalia can be in mid-june. He is also associate professor in the college of earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences at oregon state university.
“it’s always been a real concern that we could get one of these early season heat waves, where it’s over 80 or 90 degrees,” he said.
the eugene-springfield area has experienced nearly twice as many days above 90 degrees this decade as in previous decades, averaging about 33 annually over the past six years compared with a historical average of 17, according to o’neill.
four of those six years included june days with temperatures of 90 degrees or higher, including 2021, when the pacific northwest heat dome killed more than 500 people across the region.
“with climate change we’ve already solidified more warming. We know these conditions will continue to happen and they will actually probably happen more often for the next couple of decades,” o’neill said. “So when we get events like this that happen in the year, it’s a test of our resilience.”
uo ‘fallen short’
dylan plummer, a campaign adviser with the sierra club on local clean energy initiatives, points to two core elements of climate planning.
“it’s about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and two, it’s about adapting to the already baked-in effects of the climate crisis. The university of oregon has fallen short on both of those fronts,” he said.
plummer has followed uo’s climate action plan since he studied as a student there and served on the student-driven climate justice league. For nearly a decade, students have called on the university — the largest single source in eugene of greenhouse gas emissions, which trap heat in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change — to reduce its carbon footprint.
students are still pushing for a reduction in those emissions, including jack dodson, who is entering his senior year as a double major in environmental studies and indigenous, race, and ethnic studies.
“[uo] is burning fossil fuels on campus, and at the same time is having to, you know, cancel and postpone their graduation ceremonies because of your extreme heat,” said dodson, who is now an organizer with the league.
“i think yesterday [monday] was a perfect example of how, you know, climate change is here, it’s getting worse. It is directly affecting the university of oregon, and despite that, uo continues to delay significant action,” said dodson.
while dodson did not attend any ceremonies, he heard from friends who attended hot ceremonies at hayward field.
that is where candice francis, a graduate in the college of design, witnessed dean zaretsky collapse from heat exhaustion — after the university had called off ceremonies at autzen.
after zaretsky’s fall, the rest of the speeches were called off. Francis estimated that about 70% of college of design graduates left hayward after receiving their diploma instead of returning to their seats due to the uncomfortable heat.
the students were already frustrated. Francis said she watched four fellow graduates keel over from the heat while they waited outside hayward without shade for more than 90 minutes.
also adding to their frustration, francis said, graduates walked through the air-conditioned indoor track inside hayward on their way to the much hotter outdoor field where the ceremony was taking place — offering just a couple of minutes of relief from the weather.
graduates who had collapsed while waiting to enter hayward were taken there, where they received ice, before being sent onto the field for the ceremony, she said.
she said uo should have rescheduled all outdoor events when it called off the ceremonies at autzen.
“i’m really upset that they haven’t even reached out to us yet, they haven’t apologized, they haven’t sent out any emails, even acknowledging that it happened,” francis said. “They haven’t taken responsibility at all. It could have been so easily avoided.” |
| ( Read More... | 22888 bytes more | comments? | ) |
| |
| Ka Wai Ola: New graduate certificate in Indigenous planning |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:48 PDT (6 reads) | |
|
|
This article by native hawaiian initiative alaka?I (coordinator) at the university of hawai?I at m?Noa kamakanaokealoha aquino was first published in ka wai ola on june 1.
a new graduate certificate in indigenous planning will be offered at the university of hawai?I at m?Noa. A partnership between the department of urban and regional planning in the college of social sciences and the kamakak?Okalani center for hawaiian studies in the hawai?Inui?Kea school of hawaiian knowledge, this graduate-level certificate offers students and professionals an in-depth understanding of indigenous peoples, processes, and practices to enrich urban and regional planning.
through planning and several consultations over the past 2 years, priyam das, a professor in urban and regional planning, and konia freitas, a specialist in hawaiian studies, developed a program that will prepare students to engage respectfully with indigenous worldviews, knowledge systems, and methodologies; to apply indigenous and hawaiian-informed approaches to land use, sustainability, housing, and community development; and to center planning practices around core values such as pilina, kuleana, and aloha, with a focus on ethics, equity, and inclusion.
students and professional planners will be equipped with culturally grounded tools to navigate complex land-use, social, and environmental challenges. This certificate requires the completion of six courses: one required course in the foundations of indigenous planning; one capstone course on an individual project of analysis, plan preparation, policy, and program evaluation; and selection of four elective courses from planning, hawaiian studies, geography, law, natural resource management, political science, or pacific island studies.
this new graduate certificate is the latest collaboration between the urban and regional planning and hawaiian studies departments, which began in 2017, when both departments signed a memorandum of agreement allowing urban and regional planning graduate students to enroll in designated hawaiian studies courses with prerequisites waived.
then, in fall 2022, a bachelor’s-to-master’s degree pathway was established. Students can pursue a bachelor’s degree in hawaiian studies through a master’s degree in urban and regional planning within a shorter timeframe of 5 years by double-counting up to three courses at the undergraduate tuition rate. Students are able to save money and time to enter the workforce.
these programs will help build capacity in the planning workforce in hawai?I and across the pacific that centers indigenous values, concepts, and methodologies in the field of planning. |
| ( Read More... | 5342 bytes more | comments? | ) |
| |
| How Akons Brothers Secretly Boosted His Career (And One Betrayed Him) |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 17 @ 00:00:48 PDT (6 reads) | |
|
|
Akon’s brothers didn’t just help him—according to his own admission, they became him. In a candid interview with artist 2 artist host jim jones, the senegalese superstar revealed how his siblings bu and omar thiam secretly impersonated him at concerts during his 2004–2007 rise to fame, pocketing millions in fees while he struggled to keep up with his explosive schedule. The scheme wasn’t just a family favor—it was a calculated move that shaped akon’s financial empire, from his $11 million ringtone boom to his $6 billion akon city megaproject. But the story raises a question few have asked: in an era where digital identities are easier to fake than ever, how much of akon’s wealth—and the industry’s trust in him—was built on a foundation of deception?
how akon’s brothers turned impersonation into a side hustle
by 2004, akon was the breakout star of the early 2000s hip-hop scene, but his success came with a problem: demand outstripped his ability to perform. “I was leaving so much money on the table,” he told jones. The solution? His brothers, bu and omar thiam, would step in. “Bu would take certain gigs, and omar would take certain gigs,” akon explained, clarifying that the arrangement was initially consensual. However, omar soon went rogue, booking shows without akon’s knowledge and keeping the earnings—a move that blurred the line between family loyalty and financial exploitation.
the scheme wasn’t just about filling slots. According to akon, omar once fooled rapper foxy brown into thinking he was the real akon at a 2005 new york performance. “She thought it was me,” akon recalled with a laugh, though the incident underscored the risks of the ruse. “If someone had recognized omar, it could’ve been a disaster.”
expert perspective:
“this wasn’t just a personal story—it was a case study in how early 2000s artists managed their brands before social media made impersonation a daily risk,” says dr. Lisa thompson, a music industry analyst at berklee college of music. “Akon’s brothers were essentially his first ‘ghost performers,’ a tactic that became more common as artists scaled too fast. The difference here? He admitted it publicly, which is rare.”
from ringtones to real estate: how the scheme fueled akon’s empire
akon’s financial empire didn’t start with concerts. In december 2007, he became the guinness world record holder for top-selling master ringtones, earning $11 million—a figure that dwarfed his performance fees. But his brothers’ impersonations played a role in his early cash flow, allowing him to invest in ventures that would later define his net worth.
by 2010, akon had expanded into:
- konvict music: his label, which signed artists like
wiz khalifaand2 chainz, generated millions in royalties. Akon city: a $6 billion smart-city project in senegal, backed by government partnerships and private investment.- Two diamond mines in south africa and an energy drink brand,
akon lighting.
“the brothers’ scheme wasn’t just about money—it was about survival,” says music economist mark james, who tracks artist revenue streams. “Akon needed liquidity to scale, and his brothers provided it. Without that early cash flow, his empire might not have taken off the way it did.”
legal gray areas: why no one pressed charges
impersonation is illegal under u.S. Federal law, punishable by fines and imprisonment. Yet akon never faced legal consequences—because the brothers weren’t just filling gigs; they were doing it for him. “This was a family operation, not a scam,” akon clarified. “The money was still going to me, just indirectly.”
legal experts note that the lack of prosecution reflects a broader trend in entertainment: artists often turn a blind eye to creative solutions when the alternative is losing revenue. “The industry has always had a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy on behind-the-scenes financial maneuvers,” says harvard law professor mary-rose papandrea, who studies entertainment law. “Akon’s case is unusual because he admitted it, but the legal risk was minimal—no one was harmed, and the money stayed in the family.”
however, the rise of deepfake technology and ai-generated performances has made impersonation a bigger risk. In 2023, a deepfake of drake and the weeknd went viral, sparking debates about digital identity theft. Akon’s story now reads like a pre-digital warning: “if you’re not careful, someone else can become your brand—and your bank account.”
what happens next: the future of artist impersonation
akon’s revelation comes at a time when artists are increasingly protective of their digital identities. In 2024, a study by billboard and riaa found that 37% of top artists had faced impersonation attempts, up from 12% in 2020. The rise of ai tools like elevenlabs and synthesia has made it easier than ever to create convincing fakes.
so how are artists protecting themselves? Some, like taylor swift, have sued imposters. Others, like beyoncé, have lobbied for stronger anti-deepfake laws. Akon, meanwhile, has doubled down on authenticity—his akon city project includes biometric security measures to prevent identity fraud.
“the old-school method of having a brother stand in for you won’t work anymore,” says thompson. “But the core issue—protecting your brand’s value—is the same. Akon’s story is a reminder that in music, as in business, trust is currency. And once it’s broken, even by family, it’s hard to get back.”
the takeaway: a lesson in trust, family, and the cost of success
akon’s brothers didn’t just help him make money—they helped him build it. Their impersonations weren’t just a side hustle; they were a survival tactic in an industry where opportunity moves faster than ethics. Today, as ai blurs the lines between real and fake, akon’s story serves as a case study in how artists navigate the tension between authenticity and ambition.
so here’s the question: if you were a rising star with a skyrocketing schedule, would you trust your brothers—or would you risk losing millions to the imposters? |
| ( Read More... | 12358 bytes more | comments? | ) |
| |
|
| Classifieds |
|
|
