Latest news with #AlanPerry
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fire department rallies for firefighter battling cancer
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — A longtime local firefighter is now in the fight of his life after being diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer. Now, his firehouse and his family are stepping in to help. Robert Cornelius is the kind of firefighter every department wishes to have. For the last 28 years, he hasn't just worn the badge for the Frontier Volunteer Fire Company — he's lived it. 'Rob has been a huge, huge player,' said Rich Silvaroli, former chief of the Frontier Volunteer Fire Company. 'He was on many calls among this neighborhood helping our neighbors here at Frontier.' Now, the man who has answered thousands of calls for help is facing something he can't battle on his own. In March, Cornelius was diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer. It's a disease that's tragically common among the very heroes who run toward danger. 'When you hear it from one of your own members, it hurts,' said Alan Perry, chief of the Frontier Volunteer Fire Company. 'The only thing we can do is give back to him as much as he's given back to us.' Cornelius described the moment he found out the news. 'It was devastating just thinking about the girls and family,' said Cornelius. Day by day with rounds of chemotherapy and hospital visits, he continues to put his family first. 'When we were younger, it was him watching us struggle,' said Aurora Cornelius, one of Rob's daughters. 'If we fell and scraped our knee, he was the one to pick us up and put a Band-Aid on it and tell us we were going to be OK. Now, we kind of have to do the same for him.' In the Cornelius family, firefighting isn't just a duty, it's a legacy, five generations strong. It was never a question if his daughters would also become firefighters. 'Seeing my dad when I was younger, it was very inspiring,' said Faith Cornelius, Rob's daughter. 'It was pretty easy to know where I was heading.' 'It was just having the same people in your life and being able to fall back on them when something like this happens,' said Aurora Cornelius. At Frontier, the bond is described as a brotherhood, which means standing by each other when it matters most. 'It's a big family,' said Silvaroli. 'We come together, and when one of our family members gets sick, it means a lot to us and (we) want to help out as much as we can.' To help support Rob, the fire company is holding a benefit on July 19 from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m., with all profits going to Cornelius and his family. It will be a pasta dinner with basket raffles and the chance to give back to the man who has given so much. Family members said the response from the community has already been immense, with fire departments near and far donating what they can. 'Watching all these people come and support him and do these things for him, it just fills your heart with gladness,' said Rochelle Earp, Rob's sister. 'Firefighters and EMS meet you at your worst possible moment, and they're not jaded, they're amazing and just keep going.' Cornelius told WIVB News 4 that his chemotherapy has been working. He will undergo surgery on June 26. He's urging other firefighters across New York State to get tested. 'I'm going to be around for another 20 to 30 years,' said Cornelius. 'I want to be here for my kids, watch them get married and have kids of their own.' For tickets to the event, you can contact chief Alan Perry at 716-930-1109 or treasurer Denise Morreale at 716-622-6324. If you'd like to make a donation in the form of a check, you can make it out to Robert Cornelius. You can drop it off, along with baskets or pasta for the dinner, at 2176 Liberty Dr. There is also a GoFundMe family members have started to support Rob's journey, which you can find here. Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 2026 HHI Town Budget higher, includes property tax break for residents
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — On Tuesday, the Hilton Head Island Town Council approved the first reading of the Town Manager's proposed 2026 consolidated budget in a 7 to 0 vote. The financial plan totals $174,711,350 million in projected revenues and scheduled expenditures. It spans six major funds and decreases the property tax rate from 21.4 mills to 19.4 mills. This reflects the Town's ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility and service to residents. 'This budget allows us to move forward on protecting our Island's character, investing in resilience, and strengthening community services,' said Mayor Alan Perry. 'The Town Manager and his staff have done a fantastic job of bringing forward a balanced budget that eases some of the tax burden on our residents, puts shovels in the ground on some big projects, plans for future capital investment and economic growth, and creates some tangible, long-awaited improvements in our land management ordinance. I encourage everyone to do a deep dive into this budget because I think our community will be pleased with how well it positions us for success.' Town Manager Marc Orlando presented the proposed budget, emphasizing its alignment with the Town Council's current 2023-2025 Strategic Action Plan, the 2020 Comprehensive Plan, and preliminary strategic priorities developed during the February 2025 Strategic Planning Workshop. Those strategic priorities can be found here. The public will have three more opportunities to learn more about and provide feedback on the proposed budget: Monday, May 12 at 2 p.m. – Town Council budget workshop. Tuesday, May 13 at 2 p.m. – Town Council budget workshop for capital improvement projects. Tuesday, June 3 at 3 p.m. – Second public hearing and final reading at the Town Council meeting. Anyone wishing to address the Town Council about the budget during any of the scheduled meetings should contact the Town Clerk at 843-341-4701. You can also sign-up prior to the start of meeting business to address Town Council during the public comment period. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Spirit Aerosystems workers urge UK government to secure jobs
Spirit Aerosystems workers and union officials will meet with Westminster politicians on Wednesday to try and secure the future of the aerospace sector in Northern comes days after Airbus finalised a deal to take over part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation in deal was first announced in July last year as part of a wider break up of the Spirit is Northern Ireland's most significant manufacturing employer, with about 3,500 staff but there is uncertainty for the non-Airbus parts of the Belfast business, with Spirit saying it will sell them separately. Susan Fitzgerald from Unite said that "clarity" is needed for all employees but especially those working in non-Airbus sections of the accused the UK government of not having "done enough" to impact a different outcome and ensure the company isn't broken rejected the government's response that the matter is "commercial" and therefore it can't interfere. Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament, Alan Perry from GMB union said it was "vital" politicians with influence within the British government "act upon the situation.""The aerospace industry in Northern Ireland is worth over £10 million to the Northern Ireland economy, over 3,500 workers work there, the factory has been there for over 135 years, this is clearly something we are not prepared to let go off without a fight," he added.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WSAV EXCLUSIVE: Hilton Head Mayor talks potential changes to beach parking
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — Hilton Head Island's Mayor is talking about beach parking, and the rumors he wants big changes to the new town policies. Two months ago, the island instituted new fees for visitors to park at the beach and not everyone in the area is happy about having to pay up. But could changes be coming? Town Council previously approved parking fees for all beach parking lots except for Coligny Beach. Hilton Head Island residents can get two passes and park for free, but visitors and tourists have to pay to park at the beach lots. Many of the people who live and work in areas like Bluffton have complained about the cost and want a pass of their own. Mayor Alan Perry said he is listening to everyone's issues with the new fees and wants discussion to start. 'We've got to look out for our residents, and we've got to look out for our businesses as well,' said Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry. 'There are a lot of people that come over here to work every day from Bluffton and other areas throughout your four counties. And is it really fair that we don't have some alternative parking aspect?' One of the possible solutions an available year-long beach parking pass for visitors. 'Technology is in place to be able to monitor those people coming in from off island. If they were if we were to do an annual beach parking pass,' said Perry. 'So, all the technology is there, but we're just trying to make it make it reasonable. And I've heard a lot about the $20 on Saturday. Sunday is a big problem if you're going for one hour. Well, maybe that becomes the topic of conversation. I don't know yet. But it's going to be a council and we're going to we're going to have it and we're going to figure it out.' Perry said while he wants Council to talk about the policies he is not advocating for 'free passes' to parks for anyone off-island. 'Whatever we do, it's not going to be free,' said Perry. 'The island residents will stay free. Islanders Beach Park will stay for Islanders residents. And that needs to be really understood that we're not trying to make it free for everybody to come in and let's load up everything and, but we just want to be good stewards to our neighbors, to our businesses and to our residents.' Perry said he is not advocating for changes, just for discussions to starts. He would like town committees to look at the issue. Then potentially town council to get involved and possibly even put the question to voters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fears for 2,000 staff as historic Belfast aviation factory as Airbus signs deal with Boeing
Thousands of jobs are in limbo after Airbus signed a deal to buy part of a historic Belfast aviation firm. The deal will see up to 1,500 jobs transfer from US owner Spirit AeroSystems to Airbus. But another 2,000 staff face an uncertain future as part of the business remains up for sale. It is the latest chapter in the saga of the Shorts plant which first opened in Belfast in 1936 but has gone through the hands of various owners in recent years. Trade union Unite called on the Government to intervene to secure jobs as well as the future of Northern Ireland's aerospace industry. And Alan Perry, senior organiser at the GMB union, said: 'We will fight tooth and nail to protect and maintain jobs for future generations.' The deal is part of a carve-up of Spirit, a major supplier to the global aviation industry, between America's Boeing and Europe's Airbus. Airbus is buying Spirit plants in the US, France and Morocco as well as Northern Ireland, and the Prestwick plant in Scotland. The Prestwick factory, which employs 1,100 staff, also faces uncertainty as Airbus said it would 'assess the long-term strategy for the site'. Spirit bought the Shorts business in Belfast five years ago from Canada's Bombardier. It employs around 3,500 people. Around 1,000 are involved in wing manufacturing and assembly for the Airbus A220 aircraft while 500 work building fuselages for A220s. Those jobs are expected to transfer to Airbus, though a final consultation will arrive at the final total. Spirit said it expected 1,200 jobs to transfer, implying some of those jobs may be lost. The non-Airbus part of the Belfast site, employing 2,000 people, remains up for sale. If no buyer is found, the jobs would transfer to Boeing. Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Hundreds of highly skilled Spirit workers are facing an uncertain future. 'The Government must now intervene to secure not just the workers but the future of Northern Ireland aerospace.' Unions and workforce representatives will travel to Westminster tomorrow to make their case to MPs and ministers. Industry minister Sarah Jones said: 'We know this will be a concerning time for Spirit workers and their families who may be affected.'
