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| Jimmy Gomez vs. Angela Gonzales-Torres: Who will represent Californias 34th Cong |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (6 reads) | |
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California’s 34th congressional district includes much of central and east la, including historic areas such as echo park, little tokyo, downtown and boyle heights. The district is about 65% latino.
eagle rock resident and incumbent jimmy gomez faces off against highland park native angela gonzales-torres. Gomez has held his position in congress since 2017, but is currently under fire for sexual misconduct allegations that prompted an investigation by the house ethics committee.
both candidates are running on a platform to create pathways to citizenship for immigrants and increase affordable housing. Gomez is a long-time democratic stronghold in the state who placed first in the june primary, while gonzales-torres identifies as a democratic socialist and is a first-time candidate.
jimmy gomez
eagle rock resident jimmy gomez began his career as an organizer and was elected to the u.S. Congress in june 2017, and has served as the chair of the assembly appropriations committee. Before that, he became one of the youngest members of the california state assembly.
gomez authored the medicare for all act and filed the first lawsuit against the trump administration for its obstruction of congressional oversight into federal immigration detention centers.
gomez advocates for and is a co-sponsor of the college for all act to eliminate tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities for families who make up to $150,000 and make community colleges tuition and fee-free for students.
his platform focuses on issues like affordable housing, healthcare, education (including cancelling student loans) and paid family leave.
gomez faces sexual misconduct allegations that prompted an investigation by the house ethics committee. The allegations first came to light in april, when the new york post reported gomez was seen kissing a young staffer at a party in sacramento in 2023.
gomez denies any wrongdoing.
gomez’s endorsements include:
- u.S. Representative alexandria ocasio-cortez
- u.S. Senator adam schiff
- california teachers association
- planned parenthood action fund
- the california democratic party
- the american federation of labor and congress of industrial organizations (afl-cio)
angela gonzales-torres
gonzales-torres grew up in highland park and is the daughter of a deportee and single mother who relied on social services such as snap and medicaid. She said she is fighting on behalf of working families like her own.
she has experience working in the la mayor’s office as well as being a regional representative on metro’s public safety advisory committee. She also served as president of the highland park neighborhood council.
gonzales-torres serves as an advocate for equity and justice academic counselor at pasadena’s city college core program supporting formerly incarcerated and system-impacted students in navigating higher education. She is also the program director for a permanent affordable housing project set in altadena assisting elderly tenants impacted by the recent fires.
her grassroots campaign focuses on affordable housing, healthcare and education. She also focuses on the experience of immigrants and pledged to work on legislative solutions to create more pathways for citizenship. If elected, she said she would work to abolish ice.
some of gonzales-torres’s endorsements:
- la city controller kenneth mejia
- the democratic socialists of america — la county chapter
- california working families party
- justice democrats
- east area progressive democrats
- lucha action
community news produces stories about under-covered neighborhoods and small cities on the eastside and south los angeles. Please email feedback, corrections and story tips to [[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection). |
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| Candidates for state, federal seats speak |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (4 reads) | |
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• the journal extended an invitation to state and federal legislative candidates on the ballot in cottage grove to fill out a short questionnaire. Following are the responses. Not all candidates …
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• the journal extended an invitation to state and federal legislative candidates on the ballot in cottage grove to fill out a short questionnaire. Following are the responses. Not all candidates submitted a questionnaire response.
• state senate district 41
starting with state level races, facing off in state senate district 41 are tom dippel (republican) and judy seeberger (dfl). Seeberger did not return a questionnaire response, though a separate story by bruce karnick of the hastings journal includes responses from seeberger.
tom dippel
as for dippel, he is 44 years old and a current house representative for minnesota house district 41b. A husband and father of six as well as a small business owner, dippel shared more in a questionnaire.
name: tom dippel
age: 44
seat/office sought: current house rep. - Seeking mn senate
background/education: as a husband, father of six, small business owner of nearly 20 years, and current state representative, i understand the challenges facing families, businesses, and communities across our district. It is my desire to serve and sacrifice for the community i grew up in and love.
during my first term in the minnesota house, i helped pass property tax relief and car tab fee reductions youll see next year. I also secured $17.5 million to provide clean drinking water for part of the district and $9.6 million for a critical road improvement project in another area. These investments make our communities safer, stronger and more prosperous.
i am running for the senate because i believe we need more people at the capitol who understand what it means to balance a budget, make payroll, raise a family, and be accountable for the decisions they make.
what is your basic philosophy of government and representation?Minnesota families expect their elected representatives to work together, negotiate in good faith, and focus on solving problems. Unfortunately, we have seen major spending decisions, last-minute negotiations, and legislation that has not always received the scrutiny it deserves.
i believe the legislature should operate with greater transparency, fiscal discipline, and accountability. We should be willing to work across the aisle when it benefits minnesotans, but we should also be willing to stand firm when proposals are not in the best interests of the people we represent.
what is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?My first priority will be continuing to deliver meaningful results for the people of district 41.
that means protecting our drinking water, improving critical infrastructure, reducing the financial burden on families, and supporting safe, thriving communities.
campaign social media: https://www.Facebook.Com/dippelforsenate https://x.Com/tomdippel https://www.Instagram.Com/dippel4mn/
• state senate district 53
• moving to state senate district 53, the seat with bearing on southwest washington county is currently being contested between paul cumings (dfl) and todd podgorski (republican).
• todd podgorski
• starting with podgorski, he is 53 years old, married for over thirty years to a first grade public school, and has three adult children.
• with two associates degrees as well as a b.A. And a background as a peace officer for ramsey county, he shared more in a questionnaire.
• name: todd podgorski
• age: 53
• seat/office sought: mn state senate district 53
• background/education: i have been married for over thirty years, and we have three adult children. I have worked as a peace officer for over twenty-eight years in ramsey county. My wife is a first-grade public school teacher. I have served our community in south st. Paul as both a school board member and city council member for a total of eighteen years. I am proud of bringing people together to get big things done. I have a proven track record of success. My education includes an a.A.S. -Law enforcement, a.A. -General studies from inver hills c.C. And i also earned a b.A.-Political science minor in sociology from winona state university.
• what is your basic philosophy of government and representation? My basic philosophy is that government should provide public safety to its residents, so they feel safe going about their everyday life. This sense of safety then allows them to enter the free market for jobs and trade so they can acquire wealth. Some of this wealth will be property and government should respect and protect people’s private property. At the state level the state has a responsibility to educate its children. The government is best represented by having a democratic republic that elects its leaders through free elections, and they govern according to a rule of law and constitution.
what is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it? As a peace officer i have seen firsthand how we need to do much better at helping those people who have severe mental illness that is untreated. I believe we need to double the amount of state-run mental health beds to help address this need. It’s compassionate and just to do so.
• paul cumings
• also seeking a chance at minnesota state senate district 53 is paul cumings, a 45 years old current member of the south st. Paul school board with 20 years experience in the executive and legislative branch of state government. Holding a bachelors degrees from augsburg college and masters degree from the humphrey school of public affairs, he shared more in a questionnaire.
• name: paul cumings
• age: 45
• seat/office sought: minnesota senate (senate district 53)
• background/education:
• current member of the south st. Paul school board.
• 20 years of experience as a senior staffer in the legislative and executive branch of state government
• bachelors degree from augsburg college and masters degree from humphrey school of public affairs
• what is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
• people should be able to live free and independent lives. Yet, when your decisions impact others in the community, the government is an important tool in developing clear guidelines to maximize freedom, justice, and prosperity. The government can also be the people’s tool to solve big problems together as a community.
• i grew up in a small town, where you learn early that it takes everyone to make a community work. People would show up for each other, no matter their politics. That lesson never left me. I believe a senator works for everyone in their district - not just the people they agree with.
• what is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
• fixing the cost of living crisis is job #1 for anyone going into public office. Childcare. Groceries. Housing. Health care. Everything costs more, and paychecks arent keeping up. That is not an accident. Right now, billionaires are running roughshod over our economy, and working families need someone at the capitol who knows how to fight back. I am working to increase new construction of starter homes, ensure all people have access to low barrier primary health care, and to provide low or no cost child care. I also support regulations on surveillance pricing for groceries.
• campaign social media:
• website: www.Paulcumings.Com
• email: paulcumings4senate@gmail.Com
• facebook: @cumingsformnsenate
• x: @paulcumings
• minnesota house district 41a
also on the ballot nov. 3 are house races. Facing off for minnesota house district 41a are cole birkeland (dfl) and wayne johnson (republican).
cole birkeland
starting with birkeland, he is 29 years old and currently works as an attorney helping people protect their retirement savings and civil rights. His background includes work as a city attorney for numerous local governments in the metro area, with a history degree from the university of northwestern-st. Paul and a law degree from the university of minnesota. He shared more in a questionnaire.
• name: cole birkeland
• age: 29
• seat/office sought: minnesota house of representatives, district 41a
• background/education:
• i currently work as an attorney representing people to protect their retirement savings and civil rights. Prior to that, i worked as a city attorney with numerous local governments across the twin cities metro area. I studied history at the university of northwestern - st. Paul and have a law degree from the university of minnesota.
• what is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
• the primary role of government is to promote a high quality of life for the people it serves. Unfortunately, divisive and extremist politics have failed to deliver this adequately and people are hungry for change. As an attorney, i protect people’s hard-earned retirement savings and their civil rights through the legal system. If elected, i’ll protect people’s rights and their livelihoods at the capitol. I want to make life better for people as a representative. Therefore, my main focus is to deliver common-sense results that improve the quality of life for those in my district and across minnesota.
• what is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
• the most important issue to me is lowering the cost of living. Almost daily, i talk to people who are overburdened by rising costs in a vast array of areas, including gas prices, housing, healthcare, fraud, and water pollution. Minnesotans are having to pay a real price for the lack of leadership in certain levels of government. We need more accountability across the board: rooting out fraud, making polluters pay for the damage they cause, more transparency in medical billing, and stopping predatory practices in private-equity homeownership. Voters are hungry for change and want elected leaders who will lower the cost of living and put people over politics.
• campaign social media:
• facebook @coleforhouse
• instagram @colebirkeland
• wayne johnson
• also running for minnesota house district 41a is the current incumbent, 61-year-old wayne johnson. Johnson’s holds a b.S. In accounting from metropolitan state university, with prior government experience including service as washington county commissioner and cottage grove city council member. Holding a basic philosophy in government to “do no harm,” johnson shared more in a questionnaire.
• name: wayne a johnson
• age: 61
• seat/office sought: minnesota house of representatives district 41a
• background/education: currently serving in the minnesota house of representatives. Former washington county commissioner and cottage grove city council member. Owner of dust doctors air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning and former owner of furnace doctors heating and cooling. I have a bs in accounting from metropolitan state university.
• what is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
• “do no harm” is my basic philosophy of government. We should never enact legislation that knowingly harms minnesotans or creates problems that future legislatures must fix. Good ideas should come from the people we represent, not just from government. Listening to our constituents, respecting different perspectives, and working with those with whom we may disagree are essential to effective leadership. Our responsibility is to serve all minnesotans, not just those who agree with us.
• what is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
• affordability is the most important issue facing minnesotans. From healthcare and housing costs to property taxes and income taxes, decisions made by state government directly impact household budgets. Fraud, high taxes, and unfunded mandates add to these financial pressures. I will continue working to identify and prevent fraud, reduce the tax burden on families and businesses, and eliminate unfunded mandates that drive up costs for local governments, schools, and taxpayers. Minnesota families deserve a government that lives within its means and makes affordability a priority.
• campaign social media:
• www.Facebook.Com/waynejohnson4mn
• www.Waynejohnsonformn.Com
• minnesota house district 41b
• facing off for minnesota house district 41b are william beck (republican) and jen fox (dfl).
• beck is a lifelong minnesotan and a married father of two children, with website at beckforhouse.Com.
• fox is a lifelong hastings resident, small business owner and longtime community participant. She previously ran against tom dippel for district 41a in 2024. Her current campaign website is jenfoxforhouse.Com.
• see related story in this week’s journal by bruce karnick for information on and responses from fox and beck.
• minnesota house district 53b
• also included in local house races is minnesota house district 53b with bearing on newport and st. Paul park. Candidates for minnesota house district 53 are rick hansen (dfl) and patti mikulski (republican).
• rick hansen
• starting with hansen, he is 63 years old and the current incumbent. Holding a b.S. In biology from upper iowa university and an m.S. In soil management from iowa state university, hansen shared more in a questionnaire.
• name: rick hansen
• age: 63
• seat/office sought: state representative, 53b
• background/education: small business owner/b.S., Biology, upper iowa university; m.S., Soil management, iowa state university
• what is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
• the primary role of government is to help and improve people’s lives. The well-off and well connected have always had access to power. As a state representative, i work for the people, not rich corporate special interests.
• what is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
• clean air, land and water. Now more than ever, we need a problem-solving approach at the minnesota legislature. I am a problem-solver with experience as a scientist, small business owner, farmer, and local elected official to solve the complex problems facing our state.
• campaign social media: facebook and x/@reprickhansen
• patt mikulski
• contesting minnesota house seat 53b is patti mikulski, a 63 years with experience in aviation, as well as business and non-profit endeavors. Mikulski shared more in a questionnaire.
• name: patti mikulski
• age: 63
• seat/office sought: mn house of representatives/53b
• background/education?
• while my main experience is in aviation, i have successfully started/sold businesses, began a nonprofit for victims of human trafficking and currently sit on the environmental advisory committee in inver grove hts.
• what is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
• my philosophy for government is that people should be able to keep more of their own money to invest in their families and communities. There must be strict oversight on spending and programs must deliver measurable results.
• campaign social media:
• https://www.Mikulski4house.Com
• u.S. Senate
• included in ballot candidates for u.S. Senate are peggy flanagan (dfl), michele tafoya (republican), rebecca whiting (libertarian), and marisa simonetti (unaffiliated).
• simonetti was the only candidate to return a questionnaire response. Flanagan keeps a campaign website at peggyflanagan.Com, while tafoya has a presence at micheletafoya.Com. Whiting has a website at whiting4senate.Us.
• marisa simonetti
• as for simonetti, she is 33 and unaffiliated as to party, with a background as a systems architect and corporate operations executive and four years of hand-on legal experience in civil, family, criminal, traffic, and cancelations courts. Believing that government should protect everyday people, she shared more in a questionnaire.
• name: marisa simonetti
• age: 33
• seat/office sought: united states senate
• background/education:
• systems architect and corporate operations executive with four years of hands-on legal experience navigating civil, family, criminal, traffic, and conciliation courts. Ive watched how the system operates, and the deceptive tools they use to protect their image as they say the right words on the record to impose the narrative, extracting resources from hardworking minnesotans.
• what is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
• every single person we talk to has this strange, gut-level feeling that the system just isnt fair anymore. My philosophy is simple: government should protect everyday people, not prey on them. Right now, the balance is completely broken. Representation means standing as a constitutional firewall between regular citizens and a bloated administrative state. I believe public servants must be held directly accountable to the taxpayers for every dollar spent, ensuring the rules are applied uniformly, transparently, and fairly to everyone—not just the politically connected.
• what is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
• the most critical issue is how the system is actively squeezing the life out of regular families. We see it everywhere. From the soaring cost-of-living and collapsing housing affordability to corporate overreach like private, for-profit prisons and the invasive surveillance of flock license plate cameras tracking your every move. Meanwhile, our local infrastructure is strained by unchecked immigration pressures that taxpayers are forced to fund. The system is not fair and many have spoken up about it and been dismissed. This is because those who benefit refuse to give up their entitlement to profiteering and abuse of the people. I am the only one who is not beholden to a party or the system and who can actually standardize what we all know needs to be done.
• campaign social media:
• https://www.Marisasimonetti.Com/
• https://www.Facebook.Com/marisasimonetti28/
• https://www.Instagram.Com/marisa.Simonetti28
• https://www.Tiktok.Com/@marisa.Simonetti28
• u.S house district 2
• also on the ballot is u.S. House district 2, currently held by angie craig. Craig was defeated earlier this year in a primary for u.S. Senate. Looking to fill the seat for u.S. House district 2 are two candidates, matt little (democrat) and eric pratt (republican).
• matt little
• starting with little, he is 41 years old, a graduate of rosemount high school as well as the university of minnesota, and former state senator who authored or co-authored over 60 bipartisan bills. He shared more in a questionnaire.
name: matt little
age: 41
seat/office sought: house of representatives, congressional district 2
background/education: i spent summers on my grandpa’s farm growing up, graduated from rosemount high school, university of minnesota morris, and then the university of minnesota law school. I served as a lakeville city councilmember, mayor of lakeville, and state senator, where i authored or co-authored over 60 bipartisan bills, including minnesota’s red flag law and affordable insulin.
what is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
my politics don’t come from a book. They come from the people of this district. Representation comes from understanding why people are struggling. I invite people who disagree with me – from any party – to sit down over breakfast and talk about it. Government should serve working people, not elite interests, which is why i refuse corporate pac, aipac, and dark money. I build coalitions where possible and fight like hell where they aren’t.
what is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
affordability. The cost of necessities have outpaced income for decades. I watched my dad lose his job when the tech bubble burst and my mom’s health depending on an insurance industry that serves shareholders first. For too long, policy choices have rewarded wealth over work. I’ll fight to:
• build more housing of all types
• pass medicare for all and expand drug price negotiation
• establish universal pre-k and affordable child care
• permanently expand the child tax credit
• cap student loan interest at 2%
• tax capital gains and close loopholes for the ultra-wealthy
• protect every worker’s right to organize
campaign social media:
https://www.Facebook.Com/mattmlittle/
https://www.Instagram.Com/mattlittleforcongress/
https://x.Com/littlecongress
https://bsky.App/profile/littleforcongress.Bsky.Social https://www.Youtube.Com/@littleforcongress
eric pratt
also running for house district 2 is eric pratt, a graduate of the university of st, thomas with an mba and university of colorado in economics after previously graduating from prior lake high school. Holding a basic philosophy that government should serve people rather than manage their lives, pratt shared more in a questionnaire.
name: eric pratt
seat/office sought: u.S. Congress district 2
background/education: university of st. Thomas, mba university of colorado (boulder) economics prior lake high school
what is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
my basic philosophy is that government should serve people, not manage their lives. Representation starts with listening and earning your trust. You deserve a representative who tells you the truth instead of political spin.
families across our communities tell me they need real relief from high prices. That is why i consistently voted against raising income taxes, payroll taxes, gas taxes, and tab fees, while delivering common-sense results that make life more affordable.
this race is a clear contrast in priorities. Matt little is backed by the dsa, pushes new government programs, and cares more about social media views than leading. I believe families do best when they can keep more of their hard-earned money and make their own choices.
i am proud to be endorsed by the minnesota police and peace officers association, national federation of independent business, minnesota farm bureau, and both union and non-union labor. They know i have a proven record of listening, working across lines, and delivering real results. I will bring that same honest, accountable leadership to congress.
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what is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
affordability is the most important issue facing families today. Families are working hard but still struggling with the cost of housing, groceries, health care, and energy. Government should help bring costs down, not add to the burden. In congress, i would push for responsible spending and stronger oversight to uncover and stop fraud, waste, and abuse. I will support small businesses, good-paying jobs, lower health care costs, lower energy costs, and a pro-growth economy. Families deserve a government that respects their tax dollars and focuses on practical solutions to make everyday life more affordable.
campaign social media:
www.Ericprattmn.Com
www.Facebook.Com/ericprattmn
x.Com/ericprattmn
instagram.Com/ericprattmn
www.Youtube.Com/@ericprattmn |
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| Kletts able to thrive with their business |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (5 reads) | |
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Hopewell — neither alex or jim klett, say they expected when they started their small farm experiment, fairgrown farm, about eight years ago that it would grow so quickly, essentially doubling year after year.
the brothers said they became interested in organic and regenerative farming practices partly because of their uncle, ted klett, an audio engineer and organic farmer and a longtime member of the nofa-new jersey.
ted recently moved to virginia, yet his guidance to his nephews persists.
“we’ve been trying to fulfill whatever needs we can,” said alex, a skilled small engine, auto and truck mechanic, carpenter, mason, plumber and electrician. “We’ve been kind of rolling with the punches from day one and adjusting things as we go along.”
in the beginning, “it was just my brother and i playing in the dirt and seeing what we could make of it, using all of our time,” alex continued. “He was 19 or 20 and i was 23 or so. We had nothing really else major going on in our lives. I had worked for a couple of contractors and mechanics and he had just graduated from college at rutgers with a business administration degree and an agriculture degree.”
“i spent the four years i had out of high school trying to learn as many trades as i could. I had a decent amount of my own tools by that point and had experience fixing many different things,” he recalled.
as the brothers sold more pounds of produce, they pumped money back into the business by purchasing more automated machinery.
“at first, we were using old 1960’s equipment but we continued to enlarge the amount of machinery we had,” alex said. Their first tractor was obtained for free from a supportive older farmer.
“as we continued to keep fixing these older machines, we realized we needed better tractors and other more modern machinery, so with a loan from a friend of ours we were able to buy a more modern machine, a new holland tn-75, all-purpose tractor, it has a cab, a loader on the front, and in a sense, that took us out of the dirt.”
initially the brothers hired two people to help with planting, growing, harvesting and sales duties during the season. That led to more growth, especially during the covid- 19 pandemic.
“we were in vans driving around, and we hired a couple of people to do some of the deliveries, but once covid hit, we were already delivering when everybody else was playing catch-up, and not delivering yet, so it took them six months to a year to get their own vehicles to deliver their stuff and set up protocols.”
the brothers worked out a deal with the honey brook farm at watershed institute — where pioneering organic farmer jim kinsel and his wife sherri grew the largest csa program in the state — to lease property there so they could grow more produce crops. That proved to be a big break, alex said, “because we could market ourselves as the new honey brook farm, and it was amazing because after honey brook closed, a lot of customers there didn’t know what to do, they didn’t know where to go. They came to us.”
the brothers have seen growth where they’ve been doubling in size every year, alex said.
“it’s been quite crazy, because every year we’ve continued to double and we’ve wondered if we can keep this pace going,” he said. “I don’t think we can double our size again this coming year. Now we’re beginning to see a slowdown in our sales.”
alex said all the operations have been streamlined and improved. He credits the management expertise and people skills of his wholesale manager, mike simmons, who came into the operation two years ago from just across the delaware in bucks county.
“recently we had to increase prices, which we really held out on doing for a very long time. Not only did we not want to overcharge our customers which we were not, but it just got to a point where we were going to be actually losing money.”
the brothers and their respective crews grow crops on 10 acres at aunt molly road and another 35 leased acres at the former honey brook farm.
“we have a partnership between fairgrown and elijah’s promise soup kitchen in new brunswick where we’re planting essentially this field of tomatoes in order to provide all of them to their organization,” he said.
“we grow as much as we can for ourselves, and mike works with our local farmers all over new jersey and eastern pennsylvania,” he said. The goal is to bring as much produce as possible to the 10-acre location on aunt molly road where it can be stored in refrigerated warehouse space and transported on refrigerated trucks. Simmons works with a wide variety of food banks and restaurants around the state to sell them fresh produce.
alex said amid the rapid growth, managing people and finding good people willing to work hard has been a challenge. The brothers, simmons and a small crew now manage growing and harvesting produce for food banks and an 800 member csa program.
simmons has been at fairgrown farm for two years, “but it feels like he’s been here since we started.”
“mike is a very personable guy, a very talkative guy. He knows how to talk to people and be diplomatic. He has former car sales experience, but in a positive way.”
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| Your mission: Invest in a leadership-ready workforce |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (4 reads) | |
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Your mission: invest in a leadership-ready workforce
your mission: invest in a leadership-ready workforce
features
manufacturers are always competing for skilled operators, production leaders and capable managers. One highly trained workforce to enlist is transitioning military veterans.
business leaders can successfully recruit and retain this demographic by promoting their company’s mission, culture and advancement opportunities to candidates. The civilian workforce differs in workplace style from the military, but that can be overcome with a little proactive understanding. Veterans on staff can help, both before and after a transitioning service member is hired.
differences in workplace mindset
veterans often arrive to their first post-service jobs with operational discipline and technical fluency, although they may struggle to translate their military work to the typical “soft skills” vocabulary on a résumé. They are problem-solvers and doers, experienced working on teams to accomplish goals and accountable to high standards in the military — skills that translate to the workforce.
but civilian workplaces function differently than the military environments they’ve left. Marine veteran staff sergeant joseph lorelli explains that certain nuances of corporate workplaces versus military life were something he had to learn to navigate.
he recalls that in the marines, authority and direction were rarely ambiguous. “If somebody signs a piece of paper and they have the authority to say, ‘do this,’ you do it.” In corporate settings, however, contradictory communication, such as emails differing from previous directives or different people, can create gray areas or confusion. In the corporate world, inaction may actually be a decision but may feel inefficient to someone trained in decisive environments.
forward-looking companies can prepare both managers and new hires by coaching with direct, constructive feedback, having clear reporting structures and establishing regular performance check-ins.
“once i showed a company i could figure out how to get things done, that i was open to their input and ideas on how i should do things, they liked working with me and we got things moving,” says lorelli.
lorelli started his military career as an aircraft electrical systems technician and later changed roles to contingency contract specialist, where he established and managed contracts between the government and private companies. His first job out of the military was with national industries for the blind, a significant employer of veterans. He also brings a systems-thinking approach to his work.
“if i can make something simpler by just making things function better, then i will do that,” he says.
he adds he was particularly motivated by his marine corps mentors, and now he strives to be that effective leader, no matter what his work.
“if i have a team, i can say, ‘i like what we’re doing, but what can we do better? What are your personal goals? Where are you trying to get to?’ I’ve had a couple of good mentors in the marines who really shaped me,” he says. “I learned how to use my influence to make programs and projects better. Just because something’s not broken, doesn’t mean you can’t do it better.”
ready leaders who want to advance
lorelli says that the leadership and team-building skills he learned in the marines served him well in civilian positions. Kurt schimmel, director of operations for autometrix precision cutting systems inc., Headquartered in grass valley, calif., Agrees. “You see what it looks like to be on a world-class team, and it’s something you can take with you later in life.”
upon graduating from a college rotc program, schimmel joined the army as a second lieutenant. “I went to airborne school, which is just learning to jump out of a perfectly good airplane,” he says.
he toured afghanistan as an executive logistics adviser to the afghan military and police with a smaller team unit. He met with local afghan leaders and helped them build logistics capabilities and gather the supplies they needed to fight the war. “This was an amazing, formative experience,” schimmel says.
after leaving the army, schimmel gained additional experience in logistics, supply chain and manufacturing work. Later, he found a position at autometrix through word of mouth when an architect friend of his was working on the company’s building.
“i told him i was seeking a leadership position with a growing, ambitious company and a great culture. It turned out to be a great fit,” he says.
career trajectory is important for retention. Companies that wish to retain veterans should clarify advancement criteria and offer leadership development tracks. Motivated by growth and responsibility, many veterans engage more deeply when progression is visible.
“the military isn’t too different from any other high-performing organization,” schimmel says. “It’s a group of people getting together to train and refine their craft and overcome difficult challenges. And that’s what any high-performing business sets out to do.
“make sure your culture is always giving the hand up, is working to pull people up and developing them. It’s not an easy thing to do all the time, but it pays dividends when you do it right,” he adds.
connecting with vets
companies wishing to tap into this demographic need a proactive approach to formal and informal networking, since exiting service members start planning their transitions early.
steve janke, a marine veteran and president/founder of semper forward in green bay, wis. (Now a division of fastport inc., In boston, mass.), Advises that companies should connect with vets in meaningful ways. In addition to job opportunities for the veteran, his organization sends community and relocation resources as well as employment information related to the service member’s spouse and daycare or school district information if they have a family. Engaged, authentic communication has to be more than standing in front of someone at a hiring event saying, “‘we’d love for you to come work for us,’” he says.
“you can do things virtually, but the talent you want is not just going to show up at your door,” janke says. “It’s a lot like college recruiting. [Service members are] thinking about it way ahead of time.”
janke joined the marines in 1996 and spent four years stationed in kaneohe bay, hawaii, working in field artillery fire direction control. After his service, he began working for daniel zimmerman, the 10th secretary of the wisconsin department of veteran affairs.
zimmerman informed janke that wisconsin’s aging population faced a demographic cliff. “He sent me to a meeting about talent attraction, and i did something i learned never to do in the marine corps: i sat at that meeting, and i volunteered,” says janke.
he was put in charge of building out the military and veteran talent piece, where he recruited from the military community, helping transitioning service members find careers with wisconsin employers.
in 2020, janke started mission wisconsin, which carries on the work he began with the state. He says the program still exists under semper forward. (For additional ways to connect with exiting service members, see the sidebar below.)
companies’ veterans on staff can also assist in recruitment. They can talk to potential candidates ahead of their interviews to answer questions. “Tell them your story, talk about your defense contractors,” janke says. “Help them understand how your story ties into their future, their career, their family. Talk about why it matters to them.”
in-house veterans can also serve as support after hiring a new candidate, through mentorships or even through employee resource groups.
lorelli says he stays in touch with the marines he served with. He says that many veterans, especially those who have worked on the ground together, build bonds that easily last the rest of their lives. After their service has ended, many veterans continue to seek purpose and connection in their new careers.
if companies can offer concrete evidence of community and a shared mission, both sides are more likely to find successful pairings.
military experience lends strategic textile insights
some former service members harness their leadership ability — and firsthand product knowledge — to launch a business venture.
spiritus systems president and ceo zane vogel launched the aberdeen, n.C.-Based tactical gear and equipment company with his friend and co-founder adam holroyd and his wife, nichole holroyd, when the men were deployed in afghanistan. “In between missions, when i had power and the internet, i began building the website and getting our first products and branding out,” vogel says.
in 2016, vogel left the military and began making inroads in the textile industry.
“the textile world was so foreign,” he says. “But we really believed the best way we could serve our customers was to have as much control over the product as possible, which meant not only designing but doing the manufacturing ourselves.”
vogel says they founded the business on all those things that make the military “work”: clear standards, direct communication, accountability and shared ownership of outcomes.
spiritus systems’ location near fort bragg in north carolina means a large number of veterans work at the company, in addition to employees who serve in the reserves and national guard.
every day, veterans help inform design and output and lend their insights into government contracts, how gear is used and ideas for improvement.
“many of [our employees] come to us already familiar with the brand; maybe they’ve used the equipment. It’s a big deal to them, and it’s a big deal to us,” says vogel. “The military kind of prepares people to be fantastic employees. They translate extremely well to this manufacturing and operational environment we have.”
sara scullin is a freelance writer and editor based in wisconsin.
sidebar: recognition for companies that hire veterans
the hire vets medallion award program is a federal award program that recognizes employers who recruit, hire and retain veterans.
awards are based on the percentage of veterans employed by a company and retention rates; leadership training opportunities; veteran hiring initiatives and employee support programs; and pay equity, promotion and advancement outcomes.
advanced textiles association member sourceamerica® announced at the end of 2025 that it received the gold hire vets medallion award from the u.S. Department of labor.
sourceamerica is a national nonprofit that administers the abilityone program, which creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including veterans, through federal product and service contracts.
applications for the hire vets program are open by jan. 31 of a given year and close april 30. They are broken into three categories based on number of employees at a company.
the program was established under the honoring investments in recruiting and employing american military veterans act of 2017 (hire vets act).
sidebar: resources that help connect jobs and vets
the following organizations help veterans and their spouses transition to the civilian workforce. The process to hire a veteran often begins a year or more ahead of when a service member will complete their time in the service. Companies should reach out early to get their message out and develop a strong candidate pool.
• department of defense skillbridge program: this federal program helps service members gain civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships or internships during the last 180 days of service. Organizations looking to hire can work with installation support offices to advertise opportunities, access informational webinars and reach out on the site’s contact us page, skillbridge.Osd.Mil/contacts.Htm. Spring enrollment for companies is feb. 1–april 1; fall enrollment is oct. 1–dec. 1.
• military onesource (militaryonesource.Mil): connect with the transition assistance program on a local base, careeronestop and american job centers. The spouse education and career opportunities program has free services connecting military spouses with education and career opportunities as well as job-related training resources.
• semper forward (semperforward.Com): the company acts as a liaison between businesses and the military community, matching candidates to open positions. Companies receive qualified leads following semper forward’s virtual and in-person events. Jobs are also posted on the semper forward job board.
• u.S. Chamber of commerce foundation, hiring our heroes (uschamberfoundation.Org/workforce): the program hosts in-person and virtual hiring fairs and webinars to connect veterans with companies.
• local county veterans services offices (cvso): many cvsos (including those in tribal nations) provide essential assistance to veterans, their dependents and their survivors in accessing federal, state and local benefits. This includes assistance with pensions, education benefits and loans as well as retrieving military service records. Links to state or county vsos are listed on the national veterans foundation website at nvf.Org/veteran-service-officers.
is the military one of your major markets? Or do you want to get started in the military market? Check out our special digital edition of specialty fabrics review focused on this market!
you can also stay on top of news in your market areas with the advanced textiles association publications that you receive with your association membership. |
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| Frank J. Rosol, Jr. |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (4 reads) | |
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Frank j. Rosol, jr., Of lancaster, pennsylvania, formerly of marietta, pa, passed away at lancaster general hospital on sunday, october 25, 2026 at the age of 90. He was born in reading, pa, to the late frank & mary budnick rosol, sr. Frank was the loving husband of peggy wolfe rosol for 58 years who predeceased him in august of 2015.
they shared careers at armstrong world industries, attended franklin & marshall college and traveled throughout the u.S.A. & Europe with their close friends, dick and jane deibler, now both deceased. Peggy & frank were inseparable in their love for each other.
along with family members, relatives and friends, including his precious golden doodle, gigi, frank leaves behind his loving companion of 10 years, susie zarfos. They enjoyed years of friendship, attending theatre, vacation travel, cruises, fine dining and many visits to longwood gardens. They truly loved and respected each other.
surviving frank is his sister, josie bentley (mike). He also is survived by a nephew, scott bentley, and niece, christy bentley stetler (matt) along with their two children, riley and luke. He was preceded in death by his sister, maryanne rosol haas and a sister-in-law, patricia wolfe rhoads.
a graduate of lancaster catholic high school, frank earned his bachelor of arts degree in business administration from franklin & marshall college, taking advantage of the excellent armstrong world industries education program.
he joined armstrong in 1955, starting as a lab technician at the research and development center. Upon receiving his f&m degree, he moved on to become the manager of sales administration in the newly formed carpet division. Along with pricing and record keeping, his responsibilities included sales training of the new carpet division sales representatives as they came into the division.
he served in that capacity until armstrong divested itself from the carpet business ten years later. He was offered a position in the central purchasing department where he bought and sold the companys sales fleet of cars, some 500 in number. This position also included procuring jobbed products for the companys various product lines. When a position became open in the ceilings division, he became the purchasing manager for raw materials used in the various ceiling products. Along with other members of central purchasing, he became a key figure in the newly adopted supplier quality management program. Frank retired from armstrong in 1994 after 39 years of service.
frank was also active in the community, having served as a volunteer for over 20 years in the united way. He served as an account representative for several of the participating charities, the boy scouts and jewish community center among them. And for a year, he served as a loaned executive to the united way from armstrong. He completed his service to the united way serving on the budget review and allocation committee.
along with his late wife, peggy, who both were cancer survivors, he became deeply involved in the lancaster relay for life along with the united way annual day of caring.
frank was a very patriotic person, having served his country in the u.S. Naval reserve from 1953-1961. Along the way he spent training time on the apo uss horace a. Bass, instructors training school and electronic technician school.
he achieved the rank of etn2, petty officer 2nd class. He completed his enlistment as an instructor for et seaman strikers preparing them for 3rd class petty officer. This duty was completed in division 4-19, usnr, lancaster, pa.
frank was an avid golfer and bowler. He bowled with the indoor world league at leisure lanes for over 50 years. He also spent over 20 years golfing with the parsormore group. These outings were some of the most enjoyable days he experienced. He was a huge phillies and eagles fan and supported the sixers and flyers as well. His one claim to sports fame was a hole-in-one on the #14 hole at cool creek golf club in wrightsville in june of 1986. He and peggy were both big fans of f&m basketball and coach glenn robinson. He considered knowing coach robinson personally as an honor.
a mass of christian burial will take place at 11 am on thursday, november 5, 2026 at st. Philip the apostle catholic church, 2111 millersville pike, lancaster, pa 17603. Nt. Franks family will greet friends at the church from 10 am until the time of service. Interment will be private in maytown union cemetery, next to peggy.
memorial contributions may be made to lancaster catholic high school, f&m college scholarship fund, st. Philips catholic church or hospice of lancaster.
to leave an online condolence please visit: |
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| France Deploys 70,000 Officers as Weekly Protests Collide With Halloween |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (4 reads) | |
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Paris (azat tv) – thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities across france on saturday, oct. 31, 2026, marking another weekend of national mobilization that combined student grievances, public worker demands, and anti-government sentiment with halloween festivities. The new york times reported that the demonstrations, now in their second month, proceeded under a massive security operation as authorities braced for potential unrest and clashes after dark.
french interior minister laurent nuñez deployed 70,000 police officers nationwide to counter risks of arson, looting, and violence. Authorities had expressed heightened concern over online calls for insurrection and masked gatherings timed to coincide with halloween celebrations. Despite the heavy security presence and restrictions on march routes, early afternoon turnout figures indicated a lower participation rate than in previous weeks.
security measures and early turnout estimates
by midafternoon on oct. 31, the french interior ministry estimated that 15,000 people were participating in 65 demonstrations across the country. Those figures marked a significant drop compared with previous weekends; ministry data showed 37,000 participants by the same hour on the preceding saturday and 67,000 on oct. 17. Law enforcement agencies reported 27 arrests by midafternoon, a sharp decrease from the 217 arrests recorded by the same time a week earlier.
in paris, authorities rerouted the official march to the city’s eastern periphery, barring access to central locations such as the place de la bastille. Police officers equipped with shields and helmets patrolled restricted squares, enforcing bans backed by fines of 135 euros for unauthorized gatherings. While the daytime atmosphere in paris featured festive elements, including brass bands and participants in costumes aiming to counter the narrative of earlier destructive riots, police deployed tear gas and water cannons in cities including marseille, lyon, toulouse, and rennes.
grievances and institutional response
the persistent unrest stems from a coalition of high school and university students, public sector workers, and participants inspired by the yellow vest movement. Students, preparing to return to classes after a two-week break, maintained their protests despite initial government concessions. The education ministry had previously agreed to cap certain class sizes, offer low-interest loans for building repairs, and phase out an unpopular online college admissions platform.
beyond labor and educational demands, officials highlighted the growing influence of digital platforms in mobilizing crowds and inciting disorder. While president emmanuel macron dismissed speculation regarding a temporary suspension of popular websites, he noted in a youtube interview that online platforms would face strict legal requirements to remove illegal content and prevent misuse by individuals organizing looting or violence.
evolution of the nationwide movement
the nationwide unrest in france began with a handful of student demonstrations at high schools in suburban paris, starting at a high school in the working-class parisian suburb of créteil. Students initially objected to inadequate resources, crumbling infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and flaws in the higher education admissions system. Within weeks, the demonstrations spread to around 400 schools, with participants blockading entrances using e-bikes and setting fire to trash cans.
by early october, the movement expanded rapidly to encompass university students, public sector workers, and veterans of the yellow vest movement that convulsed france from 2018 to 2020. Marches grew substantially in size, culminating on oct. 17 when official estimates placed turnout above half a million people, while the c.G.T. Union estimated up to 800,000 participants. Those large-scale mobilizations saw severe clashes, including the burning of cars, the smashing of storefronts, and the destruction of the 19th-century city hall in limoges, where the building’s spire collapsed in flames.
digital mobilization and political fallout
as demonstrations entered their second month, the french government focused heavily on the digital infrastructure facilitating the protests. Reports indicated that prime minister sébastien lecornu’s office had considered measures involving telecommunications operators regarding major platforms, though the government denied plans for outright temporary suspensions. President macron emphasized that tech companies must actively prevent the misuse of features by groups intending to coordinate looting.
political divisions intensified regarding the management of public order. Human rights groups and a major union of french judges and prosecutors criticized law enforcement for employing disproportionate force, pointing to incidents involving minors as young as 14. Meanwhile, security officials noted that while far-left networks and radicalized online groups drove much of the insurrectionary rhetoric, small bands of young men linked to the far right also infiltrated demonstrations, ostensibly to protect shopkeepers but frequently engaging in street skirmishes with opposing factions. |
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| 900 Jobs at Risk: The Kent School District Levys Urgent Deadline |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (4 reads) | |
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The air in kent, washington, is thick with a mixture of civic duty and profound anxiety. By november 3rd, voters in the kent school district face a critical decision: approve a replacement levy worth $452 million, or risk the potential loss of roughly 900 jobs and a significant downturn in educational quality. This isn’t just about numbers on a ballot; it’s about the livelihoods of dedicated professionals, the stability of families, and the future of thousands of students. For anyone seeking a comprehensive kent school district levy voting guide, understanding the stakes couldn’t be more important.
as someone who’s spent years navigating the complexities of education, from k-12 classrooms to university dean’s offices, i can tell you that these local levy votes are often the lifeblood of a school district. They bridge the gap between state funding — which is rarely sufficient — and the actual costs of providing a quality education. When a district, especially one facing declining enrollment and budget shortfalls, asks for a levy, it’s usually because they’re at a crossroads. And kent is certainly at a crossroads.
the impending deadline and its gravity for kent schools
the clock is ticking. Voters have until november 3rd to cast their ballots on this replacement levy. This isn’t just another item on a long election list; it’s arguably the most immediate and impactful local decision for the kent community. The urgency stems from the fact that this levy isn’t about adding lavish new programs; it’s about maintaining the existing operational budget. Think of it less as an upgrade and more as essential maintenance for a crucial public service.
when district officials speak about jobs hanging in the balance, they aren’t using hyperbole. We’re talking about real people: teachers who shape young minds daily, counselors who guide students through life’s challenges, custodians who keep our schools clean and safe, transportation staff who ensure kids get to school, and safety personnel who protect them while they’re there. These aren’t peripheral roles; they are the backbone of a functional school system. A ‘no’ vote could trigger a ripple effect that touches every corner of the community, far beyond the classroom walls.
what exactly is this $452 million levy for?
let’s cut to the chase: where does this $452 million go? This replacement levy is designed to provide approximately 15% of the kent school district’s general operating funding. Now, 15% might not sound like a colossal figure in the grand scheme of things, but in a tight budget, it’s absolutely critical. Imagine trying to run your household budget and suddenly losing 15% of your income. You’d have to make some incredibly difficult choices, wouldn’t you? Schools are no different.
this funding isn’t earmarked for a single, splashy project. Instead, it covers a wide array of essential services that fall outside the scope of basic state funding. This includes salaries for many of those 900 employees, extracurricular activities that enrich students’ lives, specialized programs for students with diverse needs, technology upgrades, and even basic utilities and supplies. Without this levy, the district simply won’t have the resources to keep its current level of service, or frankly, even a significantly reduced one, operational.
the looming specter of job losses: who is affected?
the potential loss of 900 jobs is, quite frankly, devastating to contemplate. It’s not just a statistic; it’s 900 individuals, 900 families, and 900 stories. Who exactly are these roles, and why are they so vulnerable? The list is comprehensive and speaks to the interconnectedness of a school system:
teachers: the most obvious and impactful. Fewer teachers mean larger class sizes, less individualized attention, and a diminished learning environment.
counselors: essential for student mental health, academic guidance, and college/career readiness. Losing counselors impacts student well-being and future prospects.
custodians: they maintain clean, healthy, and safe learning environments. Their work directly affects student health and the longevity of school facilities.
transportation staff: bus drivers and support staff ensure students get to and from school safely, especially crucial for families without other options.
safety personnel: these individuals are vital for maintaining a secure environment, responding to emergencies, and implementing safety protocols.
other school employees: this broad category includes a range of support staff, such as paraprofessionals, librarians, office staff, and specialists who contribute significantly to the daily operations and enrichment of schools.
when you strip away these positions, you’re not just saving money; you’re actively dismantling the support structures that allow schools to function effectively and students to thrive. It’s a false economy, ultimately costing more in long-term societal impacts than it saves in the short term.
understanding the budget shortfall and declining enrollment
the kent school district isn’t asking for this levy in a vacuum; it’s operating against a backdrop of significant financial challenges. The district faces a projected budget shortfall ranging from $30.5 million to $35 million. That’s a substantial hole to fill, and the levy is presented as a crucial part of the solution to avoid draconian cuts.
one of the primary drivers of this shortfall, as in many districts across the country, is declining enrollment. Over the past decade, the kent school district has seen a 12.8% decrease in student numbers. This is a critical point because state funding for education is largely tied to student enrollment. Fewer students mean less state money, which then exacerbates budget pressures. It creates a vicious cycle: declining enrollment leads to budget cuts, which can then make the district less attractive, potentially accelerating further enrollment declines. (See: k-12 funding support from the education department .)
this trend of falling enrollment isn’t unique to kent; many suburban and even some urban districts are grappling with it due to demographic shifts, birth rate declines, and families choosing other educational options, including private schools or homeschooling. It means districts have to do more with less, or at least, maintain infrastructure and staff levels for a slightly smaller student body without the proportional state funding to match.
the broader impact: education quality and community stability
beyond the immediate financial implications and job losses, a rejected levy would undoubtedly have a profound and lasting impact on the overall quality of education in the kent school district. When budgets are slashed, schools are forced to make difficult decisions: for more context, see university budget cuts and their impact on jobs .
larger class sizes: fewer teachers mean more students per classroom, reducing individualized attention and making it harder for educators to meet diverse learning needs.
fewer programs: arts, music, sports, specialized stem programs, and vocational training are often the first to go, limiting opportunities for students to explore interests and develop critical skills.
reduced support services: cuts to counselors, social workers, and special education staff mean less support for students struggling academically, emotionally, or behaviorally.
outdated resources: technology, textbooks, and classroom supplies can become outdated or insufficient, hindering effective instruction.
teacher morale and retention: a climate of uncertainty, increased workload, and reduced resources can lead to burnout, lower morale, and difficulty in attracting and retaining high-quality educators.
this isn’t just about kids in schools; it’s about the very fabric of the kent community. Strong schools are a cornerstone of a healthy community. They attract families, support local businesses, and contribute to property values. A decline in educational quality can have cascading effects, making the area less desirable and potentially leading to further economic challenges. Understanding this interconnectedness is key to forming an informed kent school district levy voting guide.
the taxpayer’s perspective: balancing needs and costs
of course, we can’t ignore the taxpayer’s perspective. No one enjoys seeing their taxes increase, and in times of economic uncertainty, every penny counts. Voters are right to scrutinize how their money is being spent and to ask tough questions about fiscal responsibility.
it’s a delicate balance. On one hand, taxpayers want efficient government and low taxes. On the other, they want excellent schools for their children and a thriving community. The challenge for the kent school district is to clearly articulate how this levy represents the most responsible path forward, demonstrating that the cost of not passing it far outweighs the cost of approval. They need to show that every dollar is essential and that alternatives would lead to unacceptable compromises in student welfare and educational outcomes. This is where transparency and clear communication become paramount for voters making their decision on the kent school district levy.
lessons from other districts: the consequences of levy failures
while each district’s situation is unique, we can certainly look to other communities that have faced similar levy decisions. When school levies fail, the consequences are often stark and immediate. I’ve seen it play out time and again.
for example, a neighboring district might have to cut beloved music programs, leading to parent outcry and students missing out on crucial developmental experiences. Another might be forced to lay off a significant number of teaching assistants, leaving teachers overwhelmed and students with less support. In some cases, schools have even had to shorten the school week or drastically reduce extracurricular activities, making them less competitive and less appealing to families. These aren’t theoretical concerns; they are real-world outcomes that can permanently alter the trajectory of a school system and its students.
the impact isn’t just felt in the short term. Repeated levy failures can lead to a sustained decline in school quality, making it harder to attract and retain talented educators, eroding public confidence, and ultimately making the district less attractive for families looking to move into the area. It’s a downward spiral that can be incredibly difficult to reverse once it gains momentum.
making an informed decision: your kent school district levy voting guide
so, what should you do as a voter in the kent school district? The first step, as always, is to gather as much information as you can. Don’t rely solely on soundbites or rumors. Here’s a quick kent school district levy voting guide to help you:
review official district communications: visit the kent school district’s official website. They should have detailed information about the levy, including financial breakdowns, proposed expenditures, and the consequences of its failure.
attend public meetings (if any are still scheduled): hearing directly from district leaders and asking questions can provide invaluable insights.
talk to educators and parents: reach out to teachers, school staff, and parents in the district. They often have firsthand accounts of the impact of current funding levels and the potential effects of cuts.
consider the long-term impact: think beyond your immediate tax bill. What are the broader implications for property values, community appeal, and the future workforce if the quality of local education declines significantly?
evaluate your priorities: as a community, what do you value most? Is it robust public education, even if it means a slightly higher tax burden, or is it minimizing taxes at all costs, even if it compromises essential services?
this isn’t an easy decision, and there are valid arguments on both sides. However, understanding the gravity of the situation – the projected budget shortfall, the declining enrollment, and the very real threat to 900 jobs – should weigh heavily on every voter’s mind. It’s about more than just a levy; it’s about the kind of community kent wants to be and the future it wants to provide for its children.
the path forward: what happens after november 3rd?
regardless of the outcome on november 3rd, the kent school district will have a clear path forward, though one will be significantly more challenging than the other. If the levy passes, the district can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that a crucial 15% of its operating budget is secured. This would allow them to maintain current staffing levels for those 900 jobs and continue providing the essential services and programs that students rely on. (See: youth risk behavior data from the cdc .)
however, if the levy fails, the district will immediately be forced to confront that $30.5 million to $35 million budget shortfall head-on. This would undoubtedly trigger severe cuts, including the likely elimination of many of those 900 positions. The ramifications would be immediate and tangible: larger class sizes, fewer support staff, reduced extracurriculars, and a palpable shift in the educational landscape. The district would then have to strategize about potential re-runs of the levy in future elections, but the damage in the interim would be significant and difficult to undo. This election is not just a formality; it’s a pivotal moment for the kent school district, defining its trajectory for years to come.
a deeper look at state funding vs. Local levies
it’s easy for people to wonder why a local levy is even necessary if the state is supposed to fund education. This is where the intricacies of school finance get a bit murky. In washington state, the mccleary decision aimed to fully fund basic education. While that sounds great on paper, the reality is that “basic education” often doesn’t cover everything a modern, high-performing school district needs to offer. The state provides a foundational level of funding for core instructional staff and operational costs. However, local levies traditionally fill the gap for what are considered “enrichment” activities and services that go beyond the state’s definition of basic. This includes things like smaller class sizes, specialized academic programs, a wider array of sports and arts offerings, advanced technology, and additional counselors or nurses that exceed state-mandated ratios. For more context, see truths about teaching high school .
think of state funding as providing the basic ingredients for a meal – flour, sugar, eggs. A local levy is what allows you to add the gourmet spices, the special frosting, or the extra layers that turn a simple cake into a masterpiece. Without that local supplement, districts are often left with just the bare minimum, which doesn’t really serve the diverse needs of students or the expectations of a thriving community. It’s a common misconception that state funding covers everything, and understanding this distinction is crucial for voters to appreciate why local levies are so vital for maintaining quality.
the economic ripple effect of school cuts
the impact of a failed levy isn’t confined to the school buildings. It sends ripples throughout the entire local economy. When 900 jobs are on the line, that means 900 households face potential financial instability. These are people who live in kent, pay taxes in kent, and spend their salaries at local businesses. A significant reduction in their income or their departure from the community means less money circulating in the local economy. Businesses, from restaurants to retail stores, feel the pinch. Property values can also be affected; strong schools are a major draw for families considering where to live, and a perceived decline in educational quality can make an area less attractive, potentially impacting home prices over time.
beyond the direct financial hit, there’s the long-term economic impact. A less-educated workforce, stemming from diminished educational opportunities, can make it harder for local businesses to find skilled employees. Companies looking to relocate or expand often consider the quality of the local school system as a key factor. So, while a ‘no’ vote might seem like a way to save money in the short term, it can actually lead to significant economic drawbacks for the entire community in the long run. It’s a complex equation where the visible cost of the levy needs to be weighed against the less obvious, but equally real, costs of its failure.
why student well-being depends on comprehensive funding
when we talk about school funding, it’s easy to focus on academics and test scores. But a truly comprehensive education, the kind that helps students become well-rounded, resilient adults, relies heavily on support services that are often funded by local levies. Mental health support is a huge one. With increasing rates of anxiety and depression among young people, counselors, social workers, and school psychologists are more important than ever. These professionals help students navigate personal challenges, cope with stress, and develop healthy coping mechanisms – all of which directly impact their ability to learn and succeed academically.
extracurricular activities, also frequently supported by levy funds, play a massive role in student well-being. Sports teach teamwork and discipline, arts programs foster creativity and self-expression, and clubs provide a sense of belonging and opportunities to explore interests. These aren’t just “nice-to-haves”; they are integral to developing social skills, building confidence, and keeping students engaged in school. Cutting these programs doesn’t just reduce options; it can remove vital outlets and support systems for students, potentially leading to disengagement and increased behavioral issues. The levy isn’t just funding classrooms; it’s funding a holistic approach to student development.
the role of technology and innovation in modern education
today’s students are growing up in a world driven by technology. To prepare them for future careers and active citizenship, schools need to provide access to up-to-date technology and innovative learning tools. This includes everything from reliable internet infrastructure and modern computer labs to interactive whiteboards, educational software, and resources for coding or robotics clubs. State funding often struggles to keep pace with the rapid advancements in educational technology, leaving local levies to bridge this gap.
a rejection of the levy could mean delayed technology upgrades, outdated equipment, and limited access to digital learning resources. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it can create a digital divide within the school system, putting students at a disadvantage compared to their peers in better-funded districts. Innovation in teaching methods, which often relies on technology, would also be stifled. We need to equip our students with the skills they’ll need for a 21st-century economy, and that requires consistent investment in educational technology, something this levy aims to secure. For more context, see public service loan forgiveness and educational funding .
frequently asked questions about the kent school district levy
understanding a levy can be confusing, so let’s address some common questions voters might have as part of this kent school district levy voting guide.
q: what’s the difference between a levy and a bond?
a: this is a crucial distinction! A levy is for operational costs. Think of it as money for the day-to-day running of the school district: salaries, utilities, supplies, and programs. Levies are typically for a shorter term, often 2-4 years, and require a simple majority to pass. A bond , on the other hand, is for capital projects – building new schools, renovating existing ones, or major infrastructure improvements. Bonds are long-term loans that require a 60% supermajority to pass. The current proposal in kent is a replacement levy for operations, not a bond for new buildings.
q: will my taxes go up if this levy passes?
a: this is a replacement levy, meaning it’s intended to replace an expiring levy. The district aims for the tax rate to remain stable or potentially decrease slightly, depending on property values and the overall tax base. It’s not an *additional* tax in the sense of piling on top of existing levies, but rather renewing an existing revenue stream. However, the exact impact on an individual property owner’s tax bill can vary, and it’s always best to check the official district information for precise figures related to the proposed tax rate.
q: why does the district keep asking for levies if the state is supposed to fund education?
a: as discussed, while the state provides “basic education” funding, it often doesn’t cover the full scope of services and programs that a community expects from its schools. Local levies bridge this gap, funding things like smaller class sizes, extracurriculars, technology, and additional staff that go beyond the state’s minimum. Many districts nationwide rely on local levies to provide a quality education that meets community standards.
q: what happens if the levy fails?
a: if the levy fails, the kent school district would face an immediate and substantial budget shortfall (estimated at $30.5 million to $35 million). This would necessitate significant cuts, including the likely elimination of up to 900 jobs – impacting teachers, support staff, and other essential personnel. Programs would be reduced, class sizes would increase, and the overall quality of education would diminish. The district might attempt to run the levy again in a special election, but the cuts would still be necessary in the interim.
q: how can i be sure the money will be spent wisely?
a: school districts are subject to various audits and oversight mechanisms to ensure fiscal responsibility. The kent school district’s official website should provide detailed breakdowns of how levy funds are allocated and spent. Public meetings and school board meetings offer opportunities for community members to ask questions and scrutinize district spending. Transparency is key, and voters have every right to demand clear accountability for how their tax dollars are used.
q: what are the long-term consequences of a failed levy for the community?
a: beyond the immediate impact on students and staff, a failed levy can have broader community consequences. A decline in school quality can make the area less attractive to new families and businesses, potentially impacting property values and local economic growth. It can also lead to a less prepared future workforce. Strong schools are often considered a cornerstone of a healthy, vibrant community, and their decline can have ripple effects that extend far beyond the classroom.
frequently asked questions
what is the kent school district levy vote about?
the kent school district levy vote is about approving a $452 million replacement levy by november 3rd. This levy is crucial for maintaining the operational budget of the district, preventing the potential loss of roughly 900 jobs, and ensuring quality education for students.
what happens if the kent school district levy fails?
if the kent school district levy fails, it could lead to the loss of approximately 900 jobs, including teachers and support staff, as well as a significant decline in educational quality and services for students in the district.
why are local levies important for school districts?
local levies are essential for school districts as they help bridge the gap between inadequate state funding and the actual costs of providing quality education. They are often necessary for maintaining existing programs and services rather than introducing new ones.
when is the deadline for voting on the kent school district levy?
the deadline for voting on the kent school district levy is november 3rd. Voters in the community must make their decision by this date to impact the future of the district and its educational services.
what are the potential consequences of the kent school district levy not passing?
if the levy does not pass, the kent school district may face severe budget shortfalls, resulting in job losses for educators and support staff, diminished educational quality, and potential disruptions to student services and programs.
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| Files from Yesteryear: Oct. 31, 1929 |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (5 reads) | |
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From the files of oct. 31, 1929
hamby’s chapel news
vinemont r. 2, oct. 29.—Quite a number of young people attended the annual harp singing at eva sunday.
mr. And mrs. Tom bonner, mr. And mrs. John h. Holmes, mrs. Jasper smith, cleo murphree, ezell bonner and others attended the quarterly meeting at vinemont wednesday.
mr. And mrs. J. F. Rogers of cullman, spent the week end with john h. Holmes and family.
clell king was the dinner guest of j. B. Holmes sunday.
mrs. Minnie bonner left friday to visit her mother in mississippi, who is critically ill.
clell king, misses oleta griffin and alberta holmes attended a singing at mr. Burks’ of gold ridge sunday night.
j. B. Holmes, pearl harris, ocie morgan and annie harris attended preaching at unity church sunday night.
mr. And mrs. Jasper smith and children spent sunday with mr. And mrs. Guy johnson of north vinemont.
mrs. Viola minor, mr. And mrs. Eddie minor and mrs. Julia barnett of near bethel church, visited mr. And mrs. Charlie evans sunday
mr. And mrs. Clifford smith of akron, ohio, are visiting relatives in our burg.
mrs. Emma evans is on the sick list this week.
the many friends of w. A. Hale will be sorry to learn he had a stroke of paralysis sunday morning and died sunday night about eight o’clock. He leaves a wife and four children: bal and oscar hale, mrs. Lewis eidson and mrs. Lewis moon and a host of relatives. He was laid to rest in enon cemetery.
pine hill news
cullman r. 5, oct. 29.—Rev. J. C. Moody filled his regular appointment at this place saturday and sunday.
mr. And mrs. F. O. Loyd, mr. And mrs. Gilford cornelius and mr. And mrs. Willie loyd of gardendale, visited mr. And mrs. L. W. Woods sunday.
mrs. D. D. Johnson visited relatives in tarrant city last week, returning home sunday.
olen whitaker will leave this week for oklahoma, where he intends to make his future home.
mr. And mrs. Howard denson and mr. And mrs. Carl price of jasper, were the guests of mr. And mrs. O. J. Price sunday.
miss eva bridges, accompanied by mr. And mrs. Orvil wrank of birmingham, visited relatives in lawrenceburg, tenn., Saturday night and sunday.
mrs. Lillie woods and children were the dinner guests of mrs. Anna bridges sunday.
the singing given by mr. And mrs. D. D. Johnson sunday night was enjoyed by all present.
our teacher, mrs. Mccormick, has arrived and ready to open school next monday.
mr. And mrs. Addison bradford and phil ridgeway of akron, ohio, are visiting their parents, mr. And mrs. Albert ridgeway this week.
mr. And mrs. C. T. Stanley visited mr. And mrs. Albert ridgeway sunday afternoon.
earl anderson, wesley thompson and misses elsie and oma blair attended the box supper at vinemont saturday night.
arnold bridges called on miss mamie brown saturday night.
bees and butterflies
buell weeks has gone to akron, ohio.
men’s $1.25 union suits for 98c at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
rev. And mrs. Hawkins spent thursday in birmingham.
chief estes and family motored to birmingham sunday.
miss leona torrey has returned from a visit in birmingham.
ladies outing gowns, good quality, 85c at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
john key of birmingham, spent sunday with friends in cullman.
girls and ladies all silk dresses for $5.95 at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
ben donaldson of fairview, was a business visitor to the city thursday.
flat crepe, good quality, $1.00 per yard at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
mrs. Frank karter spent last week end with friends and relatives in decatur.
good heavy blankets, large size, $1.69 pair at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
mrs. J. C. Norwood and son, maurice, spent first of the week in birmingham.
ladies and misses suede gloves 50c to $1.00 pair at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
miss katharine gurley spent sunday in decatur as the guest of mrs. S. J. Price.
yard wide sheeting, good quality, 10c per yard at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
mrs. H. S. Wallace spent sunday in boaz and attended the methodist conference.
save money by buying children’s underwear at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
mrs. Agnes morris of birmingham, was the guest of her father, j. G. Imbusch, in the city.
mr. And mrs. W. W. Pearson and baby daughter, joy, of jasper, spent sunday in cullman with friends.
ladies silk hose with french and fancy heels for sale by o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
miss louine gibson, who has been visiting relatives in birmingham for the past two weeks, returned home sunday.
l. L. Thompson and carse biggers will open the duck hunting season with a hunt on wilson lake the first day of the season.
all leather shoes, the kind that gives service, sold by o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
clarence lotts’ daughter of vinemont, who underwent an operation for appendicitis tuesday is doing well in the cullman hospital.
little miss margaret ann wallace of birmingham, is spending this week in cullman as the guest of her cousin, miss louine gibson.
children’s, misses and ladies jersey bloomers with silk rayon, 50c pair at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
mr. And mrs. W. H. Bland, misses doris and iris bland spent sunday in birmingham as the guests of mr. And mrs. J. C. Burnham.
louis persall, an enterprising and genial young citizen of route one, left this week for akron, ohio, to work in the industrial city.
mr. And mrs. Carl thompson and children of steppville, spent wednesday evening in the city as the guest of mr. And mrs. H. S. Wallace.
mr. And mrs. Flemmon weeks and family of dayton, ohio, have returned to their home after a weeks visit with relatives in cullman.
flannel shirts, good quality, while they last at 98c at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
harold hendrix, a student of the university of alabama, spent the week end with his parents, mr. And mrs. C. N. Hendrix near simcoe.
w. F. Hamrick is seriously ill.
dr. Dodson will attend the lecture of dr. J. B. Youmans of nashville on “arthritis” next thursday in decatur.
mrs. B. E. Thornton, son, edward, and sister, miss reeder regan, motor to red bay saturday to visit their parents, returning home sunday afternoon.
mr. And mrs. Tom kempson and daughter, miss velma, of lawrenceburg, tenn., Spent sunday in cullman as the guests of mr. And mrs. Claude kempson.
rain coats: girls rain coats, the kind that will keep you dry at $3.75 at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
mr. And mrs. H. E. Hendrix, who have been making their home in detroit, mich., For the past several months, have returned to simcoe to make their home.
ladies outing pajamas, best quality at lowest prices at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
b. F. Mcleroy, a good citizen and hustling farmer of route one, was a business visitor to our office while in the city monday and left the cash for his name to be added to our list.
children’s sweaters, large stock to select from, 95c and up at o. M. Fisher & co. Adv.
w. K. Bailey, a good citizen and farmer of crane hill, was in the city last thursday on business, called into see us and left one fifty for his name to be added to our list.
m. M. Gregory, an excellent citizen and prosperous farmer of route two, was a business visitor to the city friday, called in to see us and left the cash for his name to be added to our list.
h. W. Tucker, a splendid good citizen and prosperous farmer of logan route one, was a visitor to the city tuesday, paid our office a call and left one fifty for his name to be added to our list.
miss mattie carter, cullman county’s efficient child welfare superintendent, spent last week end in tuscaloosa with miss nena mcduffie, tuscaloosa county child welfare superintendent.
w. J. Collier, an excellent citizen and enterprising farmer of route one, was a business visitor to the city tuesday, paid our office a visit and left one fifty for his name to be added to our list.
joseph humm, an excellent aged citizen and good farmer of route three, was a business visitor to our office while in town saturday and handed us one fifty for a renewal of his subscription.
a. J. Reiehwein, a splendid citizen and hustling farmer of route one, honored us with a visit while in the city and left one fifty for the renewal of his subscription to the tribune saturday.
c. A. Harper, a good citizen and enterprising farmer of route nine, was a business visitor to the city monday, paid us a visit and left the cash for the tribune to become a weekly visitor to his home.
walter hogland, an enterprising farmer and excellent citizen of hanceville route three, was a business visitor to the city friday, called by to see us and left one fifty for a renewal of his subscription.
farmers and merchants, store your cotton in the cullman warehouse, inc., Bonded under the united states government warehouse act. Cheap insurance. Any bank in cullman will loan you money on your warehouse receipts. Adv.
s. H. Tucker, holding a good position in akron, ohio, who, with his family, are spending a few days on a visit with relatives in cullman county, was a visitor to cullman tuesday, honored us with a visit and left one fifty for the tribune to pay his home a weekly visit.
mr. And mrs. C. S. Parker and two children of akron, ohio and crawford and ellis burns of nashville, tenn., Spent the week in the city with their parents, mr. And mrs. J. H. Burns. Mr. And mrs. Parker will also visit mr. And mrs. Wallace harbison, at lawrenceburg, tenn. Mrs. Harbison is a sister of mr. Parker.
union grove news
holly pond r. 1, oct. 29.—Rev. Dobbs filled his regular appointment at this place sunday and delivered an able sermon, taking for his text, this passage, “god is love.”
the singing sunday afternoon was enjoyed by all who attended.
edward mann was the sunday escort of miss minnie shedd.
mr. And mrs. Almus cox spent saturday night with her sister, mrs. Ora belle murphree.
mr. And mrs. Henry dunlap of near cullman, were the guests of their mother, mrs. Lula mcgriff saturday night.
conrad camp and little son were guests of mr. And mrs. Buford camp sunday.
earlis noles, miss venie mcgriff, parker martin and miss lois easterwood motored to the singing sunday afternoon.
quite a number from this place attended the box supper at eidson chapel saturday night.
alvin plunket, misses nellie bailey and bessie noles attended the singing at union grove sunday afternoon.
vester john lambert and elvin wade motored to the singing at this place sunday afternoon.
grady mcgriff was the saturday night escort of miss gladys rigsby.
mr. And mrs. Almus cox were the dinner guests of mrs. M. S. Cox sunday.
east point news
cullman r. 2, oct. 29.—The preaching at this place was well attended sunday.
mr. And mrs. Murphree and family spent the week end with friends and relatives at eva.
mr. And mrs. Homer duke of near vinemont, spent sunday with rev. And mrs. W. D. Eidson.
mr. And mrs. Casper reese, mr. And mrs. John nix were the guests of mr. And mrs. Newton duke of baldwin sunday.
mr. Norman and daughter, gladys and eunice stisher of welti, attended church here sunday morning.
r. E. Yeager and family of bolte, were the guests of tom yeager and family sunday afternoon.
mrs. Herbert ellis and little daughter, zelma, are spending a few days with relatives at fairview.
mr. Hambrick of boaz, was the guest of mr. And mrs. F. J. Norton sunday.
mrs. Lowell weeks of cullman, was the dinner guest of mr. And mrs. Easton sparks sunday.
willis sparks and daughter, annie belle, of welti, attended preaching at this place sunday.
mrs. J. B. Yeager and mrs. Tom yeager were called to the bedside of their father, t. J. Willoughby, who is seriously ill at warrior.
mrs. Thomas waldron and son, carl, are visiting relatives at bolte this week.
mr. And mrs. Earthel miller and son, dewey, were the guests of mrs. S. B. Keller sunday.
mrs. T. N. Allen and sons of cullman, were the guests of mrs. J. B. Yeager and children sunday afternoon.
misses velma and iva yeager, mildred and gladys ruehl and lee yeager attended the singing at welti sunday evening.
our sunday school is improving nicely. Next sunday is promotion day. Come and be with us in this service.
the musical entertainment given by mr. And mrs. Ezra head friday night was enjoyed by all.
miss jewel yeager and lewis dye attended the singing at welti sunday afternoon.
christian endeavor was well attended sunday night. Next sunday night our subject will be: “the body as god’s temple.” Everyone is invited to be with us each sunday evening at 6:30.
lee yeager and lewis keller are spending a few days at warrior.
there will be a box supper at the church for the benefit of the church saturday night, nov. 2. Everyone has a special invitation. Boys come on with the money to get some good looking girl’s box. Remember the time and place.
etha news
cullman r. 5, oct. 29.—Most everyone is done picking cotton and will soon be ready to begin gathering their corn.
mr. And mrs. T. B. Veal and children were the guests of their daughter, mrs. D. H. Phillips and mr. Phillips sunday evening.
mr. And mrs. Homer veal spent saturday night with mr. And mrs. Henry panter.
the death angel visited the home of mr. And mrs. Cecil overton and claimed for its victim, their little 5-day-old son. Its little body was laid to rest at this place monday morning.
john a. Murphy and miss clara hill surprised their many friends by getting married sunday. We wish for them a long and happy life over the sea of matrimony.
mr. And mrs. Luby veal and daughter, mozell, spent saturday night with their parents, mr. And mrs. T. B. Veal.
misses annie mae and ruth elrod, myrtle and carrie johnston were out kodaking sunday.
our school at county line will open at an early date with w. E. Smith as principal, mrs. Almer smith, assistant principal and miss opal johnston.
mr. And mrs. Henry panter spent monday night with mr. And mrs. T. B. Veal and family.
mrs. O. W. Phillips spent sunday evening with her son, mr. And mrs. Dumas phillips.
what’s the matter welcome? Wake up and let’s hear from you.
baldwin news
cullman r. 4, oct. 28.—Mrs. I. A. Moore and daughters visited mr. And mrs. W. B. Bates and family saturday night.
mr. And mrs. Elmer shedd and son, willard, spent saturday night and sunday as the guests of mr. And mrs. Thompson and family.
mr. And mrs. Spencer kilpatrick and mr. And mrs. Albert kilpatrick, herbert kilpatrick and their mother, mrs. A. J. Kilpatrick, spent sunday at trade with mr. And mrs. Davis and family.
walter weeks spent sunday with feltus bates.
mrs. I. A. Moore and daughters, beatrice, zella and gertha, visited at fairview sunday afternoon.
mr. And mrs. W. C. Reese and mr. And mrs. John nix of east point, visited mr. And mrs. N. J. Duke and family sunday afternoon.
mr. And mrs. Brady creel are the proud parents of a baby girl.
henry graveman spent sunday with mr. And mrs. Hacker and family.
lou emma moore, tempest bates and garrett grafton attended the singing at ebenezer sunday afternoon.
joe bilgere, local boy, stars in spring hill-mississippi game
joe bilgere, cullman boy, who is in college at spring hill, in mobile this year and quarterback of the football team, was the star player in the game between spring hill and mississippi college saturday at mobile.
bilgere made a spectacular 64-yard run from his 36-yard line for a touch down, which was the second marker of the game for spring hill. The final score was mississippi 6, spring hill 25.
fairview fair was a great success this fall
the district fair at fairview surpassed all previous records in attendance and interests.
the fairview district fair, which was brought to a close on saturday night, october 19th, was one of the most successful and profitable community or county fairs ever held in cullman county.
the farm product exhibits were the equal of any displayed at any county fair in the state.
a big feature of the district fair were community exhibits which were of special interest and highly pleasing to every one having the privilege to see the fine displays.
west point community captured the first prize, $50.00. Holly pond was a close second in capturing the second prize, $30.00. Mount view community captured the third prize, $20.00.
the cullman county jersey calf club boys captured $40.00 in prizes on their fine jersey calves.
in the contest between the wilsonian literary society of fairview won over the irving literary society of fairview in the fair exhibit.
feltus mullins, the popular principal of fairview school, is greatly pleased over the great success of the fair this season and especially with the hearty cooperation given by the people of the county in making the district fair such a pleasing event as to far surpass all fairs yet held in the county.
from the files of oct. 31, 1929 |
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| Never Fully Off: The Life of Working and Studying Full-Time |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (4 reads) | |
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Last year, my days started sounding like hannah montana’s theme song: “the best of both worlds.” Living like a superstar with two secret lives: a 9-5 employee and a 5-9 student.
i’ve been working full-time for a little more than five years, and currently i’m a senior copywriter at olg. However, since i got my first diploma at george brown college in 2021, getting my bachelors degree was always the end goal. So in the fall of 2025, i decided to come to toronto metropolitan university as a direct entry student, even when i was terrified to go back to school.
my life started to revolve around balancing my work-life and my student-life with work meetings, group projects, campaign deliverables and research assignments. I had my typical 40-hour work week, and i had to add a full course load on top of that. Now, i have to deal with a mix of school and work, 12-hour days, and not knowing when the last time i wasn’t looking at a screen was.
that being said, as you probably heard a million times, hard work pays off. So, if you’re debating whether to go back to school or accept that full-time position, here are some things you should know when taking the leap of doing work and school full-time.
1. Think about your financials
there are a few things you should note when calculating how much school will cost when you’re also working full-time. If you have a salary, you’re probably making more than the average student, and you might receive fewer grants and more loan percentage from programs like osap if you decide to apply for financial aid. Make sure you’re okay with your repayment plan after you get your funding calculation.
additionally, you might need to take some night courses or classes from the continuing education school, which often have different fees or separate payment schedules. Keep this in mind when choosing your classes, so you can budget and plan accordingly.
2. Time management is your best friend
this one might seem pretty obvious, but is truly the foundation of doing it all. Get yourself a time management or productivity app to schedule your classes, add your course deliverables, fit in important meetings and anything else you need to remember. Because trust me, you will forget something.
i once mixed up the date for an online final exam and ended up barely passing the course, and since then, notion has been my favourite app on my phone.
remember, a full-time job commitment is very different from a part-time job while in school. Make sure to prioritize your tasks and balance both work and school deadlines as best as you can. Also, don’t forget to plan for workouts, meal-prepping, and leave some hours to simply turn your brain off and relax.
3. Invest in your must-haves
carrying a work laptop and a personal one around can get heavy very soon. Invest in quality items that will make your life easier and lighter. This could look like a nice backpack, ergonomic chair, or a pair of noise-cancelling headphones; whatever you need to help you succeed while you run around the office, find your way around campus or settle in your home study corner.
for me, this meant finally getting an ipad after much debate, and my notes and my back thank me daily for it! The secret is to get all the tools you need to help you do your best in both roles.
4. Avoid burnout
burning out might be inevitable, as there will be early mornings and extremely long nights. It’s not going to be easy to always be “on” as you try to do your best at work and in school, especially during midterms and finals.
schedule your study time after you take a break from work and find a rhythm that allows you to take a breath every once in a while. I like to reward myself with an episode of gilmore girls in between coming home from work and then getting to my homework or going to class.
life will get busy, and there will be times that you’ll need to sacrifice sleep, grades, or simply an after-work happy hour, but don’t stretch yourself too thin. Anxiety and fatigue can happen if you’re overwhelmed with everything going on, so don’t put more than is necessary on your plate and be realistic with what you can do.
5. Have a support system
“i can meet you in 3 to 4 business weeks” is my response these days when my friends ask me to hang out.
time might be more limited with your friends, family or significant other, so squeeze in as much quality time as possible and rely on them during this time. Having so many responsibilities can feel lonely at times, so it’s key to have a support system to pick you up when you’re feeling down. Even if it’s a quick facetime call to vent, going out for a mental health walk or having someone cook your favourite meal, being surrounded by people that support you will make everything feel ten times more manageable.
following these steps is what has allowed me to succeed in both my professional and academic career. If you decide to do work and school full-time, just know you can do it, and good luck! |
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| Fed Hawks Call for Two More Rate Hikes as Bond Market Rallies Anyway |
| Posted on Sunday, November 01 @ 00:03:10 PDT (4 reads) | |
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Fed hawks call for two more rate hikes as bond market rallies anyway
two days after the federal reserve left interest rates unchanged, two of its regional bank presidents went out of their way to say the pause will not last. On friday, oct. 30, st. Louis fed president alberto musalem and dallas fed president lorie logan both argued that borrowing costs need to rise again, and soon. Yet the bond market spent the same day rallying, pushing treasury yields lower as investors fled a sharp sell-off in technology stocks. For business owners, lenders and investors, that split between what the fed is saying and what bond prices are doing is the most important financial story heading into november.
what the fed did this week
at its oct. 27–28 meeting, the federal open market committee held the federal funds target range at 3.75% to 4.00% in a 10-2 vote, with governor lisa cook and cleveland fed president beth hammack dissenting in favor of a quarter-point increase, according to etf.Net research. The fed had already raised rates by a quarter point in september, its first increase since july 2023, as cnbc reported.
chair kevin warsh declined to commit to a december move. “If we had a firm conclusion about the conduct of monetary policy, we’d announce it to much fanfare today,” he told reporters, according to cnbc. The inflation backdrop gives the hawks plenty to work with: the personal consumption expenditures price index released thursday rose 0.5% for the month and 3.6% from a year earlier, well above the fed’s 2% target.
musalem: move sooner, in smaller steps
speaking to the shadow open market committee in new york, musalem said, “i judge that additional firming of monetary policy will be necessary, and soon.” His argument was about timing as much as direction. “Incremental adjustments made earlier are usually less disruptive than larger and abrupt actions taken later,” he said, adding that moving in smaller steps while inflation expectations are still anchored gives the fed a better chance of cooling prices without damaging the job market, per cnbc.
musalem also pushed back on the idea that policy is already tight. According to reuters, he said monetary policy and financial conditions “remain accommodative,” even though financial conditions had tightened recently. Musalem does not vote on rate decisions this year, so his view carries influence in the debate rather than a ballot in december.
logan: at least two more hikes, then a pause
logan, who does vote this year and supported wednesday’s hold, was even more specific. “It remains clear to me, given the current outlook, that the fomc needs to implement at least two more 25-basis-point rate increases,” she said in remarks prepared for davidson college, as reported by reuters. She called the level of inflation, and how long it has stayed above target, “unacceptable.”
logan estimated that the current target range sits at least 50 basis points below the level that would create even modest restraint on the economy, according to marketwatch. She framed this week’s pause as a chance for markets to adjust during a volatile stretch, not a change of plan. “Skipping a meeting does not change the monetary policy destination,” she said. After those two increases, she suggested the fed could pause again and reassess.
the bond market moved the other way
normally, talk of more rate hikes pushes treasury yields up. On friday it did the opposite. The 10-year treasury yield fell about 6 basis points to roughly 4.93%, the 2-year fell more than 6 basis points to about 4.59%, and the 30-year slipped to around 5.31%, cnbc reported, as investors moved into safe-haven bonds during a tech-led stock sell-off.
the details of that rally matter. Etf.Net research found that both the 2-year and 10-year yields fell 11 basis points from wednesday’s close to friday, and that the entire weekly decline in the 10-year came from the real, inflation-adjusted yield. Breakeven inflation, the market’s implied inflation expectation, was unchanged at 2.34%. In other words, bond buyers were not betting that inflation is fading. They were seeking safety from falling stock prices. Credit markets stayed calm too: high-yield spreads on the ice bofa us high yield index narrowed 12 basis points on the week to 3.26%, according to the same analysis.
futures traders, meanwhile, took the hawks at their word. Cme’s fedwatch tool put the odds of a quarter-point hike at the dec. 8–9 meeting at roughly 76%, according to cnbc.
why it matters for businesses and borrowers
the short-term relief in yields is real but fragile. The 10-year treasury is the benchmark for mortgages, auto loans and many business credit lines, so this week’s dip offers a brief window for borrowers to lock in financing. Marketwatch noted that a recent spike in yields had already cut demand for consumer loans such as mortgages, and that yields could climb again if inflation and policy trends continue. Bank stocks fell friday, but by less than the broader market.
for companies planning 2027 budgets, the practical takeaway is that the fed’s leadership is signaling a path of higher, not lower, short-term rates. If logan’s view prevails, the federal funds range would end up at least half a point above where it is now. That means variable-rate debt, inventory financing and commercial real estate refinancing all get more expensive. Businesses that rely on floating-rate credit should stress-test cash flow against that scenario rather than assuming the bond rally sets the direction.
for investors, the gap between a hawkish fed and falling yields is a warning sign worth respecting. A rally driven by fear in the stock market, rather than by cooling inflation, can reverse quickly once that fear eases. Que.Com covered the dissent side of this story in two fed dissenters set stage for december rate hike showdown; friday’s speeches suggest the dissenters have company.
what to watch next
the next test arrives quickly. The september jolts job openings report is due tuesday and the october nonfarm payrolls report on friday, per cnbc. Strong numbers would make it easier for the hawks to deliver a december hike. Weak ones would strengthen warsh’s case for keeping options open. Either way, with inflation running at 3.6% and two regional presidents openly calling for more tightening, the burden of proof has shifted to anyone expecting rates to fall soon.
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