Latest news with #Bly
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Timeless love: Patients at Bronx nursing home tie the knot in sweet ceremony before crowd of staff, friends
A good marriage needs patients. A pair of lovebirds on Thursday exchanged vows, rings and hope for the future in a Bronx nursing home — where they first fell head over heels in love. A crowd of fellow patients, family, nurses and even the facility's therapy dog looked on as Al Cappiello, 76, and Elizabeth Bly, 51, shared their first kiss as man and wife at RiverSpring Living's Nursing Home — in what is the first marriage for both. Advertisement 7 Al Cappiello, 76, and Elizabeth Bly, 51, share a kiss after tying the knot. Stephen Yang 'Anything is possible. You can find love anywhere — age is just a number,' Cappiello told The Post after cementing his nuptials. 'I'm very lucky. I'm so, so, so happy,' said Bly, originally or Harlem. Advertisement The sweethearts planned every detail of the ceremony inside the Riverdale senior facility's banquet room, from the Greek-inspired backdrop to the deeply rich purple tablecloths that matched Bly's wedding dress — a color she chose over white simply because it's her favorite. Other residents served as the groomsmen and bridesmaids, while Daisy, the home's beloved therapy dog, served as flower girl and preceded Bly down the aisle. 7 The marriage is the first for both Cappiello and Bly. Stephen Yang 7 The lovebirds first met a the nursing home in 2023. Stephen Yang Advertisement 7 Daisy, the home's therapy dog, served as the flower girl. Stephen Yang Bly, fittingly, walked down in front of their friends and family — including her adult son — as Jennifer Olegario, the home's occupational therapist, sang Etta James' 'At Last.' 'Did you ever hear the words? 'At last my love has come along.' The way that I feel, the way she feels. It's romantic!' said Capiello, a retired substance abuse counselor. The pair of lovebirds first met back in 2023 when Bly first joined the home to rehabilitate some issues she was having with her legs. Advertisement 7 Cappiello popped the question last July on Bly's birthday. Stephen Yang At the time, Cappiello was a staple of the home and was even part of a rag-tag group of 'Golden Guys' known for wisecracking and card games. He was immediately enchanted by the newbie, whom he described as coquettishly 'quiet and shy' and made it a mission to get to know her better. Bly was at first suspicious of Cappiello and his forward manner — but she ultimately gave him a chance to become a much-needed friend as she transitioned into a permanent resident. 7 Bly chose a purple wedding dress simply because it is her favorite color. Stephen Yang Their friendship slowly blossomed into romance until Bly's birthday last July — when Cappiello popped the question with an engagement ring and a butterfly ring. The nursing home romance is the second for the gentleman. His previous seven-year romance with Gloria, another resident, tragically ended several years prior with her death. 'I'm extremely happy. This is the second time he's found love here, and I never thought he'd find love again. I'll start to cry if I think about it,' Jeff Hyman, Cappiello's best man and best friend of 35 years, said. Advertisement 7 'Anything is possible. You can find love anywhere — age is just a number,' Cappiello said. Stephen Yang But despite entering their sunset years single, neither Cappiello nor Bly gave up hope that they might one day have a ring on their fingers. Whether they'll move in together inside the nursing home, however, is still up in the air. 'We're not to that point. We have to figure it out!' Bly said.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What to learn from this surgeon's $450K student loan payoff, even if you don't earn a big salary
Dr. Ryan Bly never imagined making student loan payments for twice the amount of his mortgage. Still, making those extra payments toward his medical school debt somehow made all the sense in the world. 'I didn't want this looming behemoth of a loan to be the only thing that was driving my life,' says Bly, a Wisconsin-based general and trauma surgeon. That mindset — plus leveraging student loan refinancing three times — helped Bly and his family dispatch about $450,000 in federal loans. This amounted to paying the six-figure debt off three years ahead of schedule, in July 2023. And yes, Bly's fortunate station in life, considering his high-income career, helped too. But given the size of his education debt, every little bit helped. 'It's kind of terrifying when you send $5,000 to a [lender], and your principal goes down $247 or something like that,' Bly says. 'It just goes to show you what interest can do.' Bly's exact repayment strategy won't work for everyone — and we'll get to more relatable methods if you don't have the highest income or best credit — but his family's story might inspire yours nonetheless. Bly describes his upbringing as 'solid middle-class.' His parents, who were the first in the family tree to graduate from college, helped pay for his undergraduate degree. That isn't to say Bly didn't contribute — he worked three jobs to contribute, too. But they made a deal: paying for medical school was his responsibility. So, Bly borrowed repeatedly until he had racked up well into the six figures in student loans. All of his loans were federal except for, he says, a $7,000 Chase Bank private loan for his undergrad degree. 'I know some people that I went to school with, it was almost a fear, paralyzing-type of thing that they would continually check their balance and have a small heart attack or anxiety attack,' Bly remembers. But he didn't feel the stress of piling debt, thanks to his 'financially-savvy' mom. 'She really made money stretch, and she showed me that there can be such a thing as good debt as opposed to just bad debt,' Bly says. 'And so, she helped me to frame this in terms of an investment: 'This is an investment in your future, allowing you opportunities that we never were able to get. However, it is going to come at a cost, and that cost is the loans and associated interest.'' Related: How student loan interest works Bly recalls 'constantly' talking about education debt with his fellow medical school classmates and, later, his colleagues. 'It's not even an elephant in the corner of the room — it's a beast in the corner of the room,' Bly says. 'It's a reason why some to a fair number of [practitioners] choose the subspecialty within medicine that they do … If you're coming out of school with a half a million dollars in debt, you want to look at a subspecialty that's going to afford you the option of paying it off quickly.' To combat the average medical school debt, many graduates seek out positions with signing bonuses or employer student loan repayment assistance. Others elect to work for a nonprofit or the government to achieve Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). In Bly's case, he put PSLF to the side and joined a private practice that could award bonus payouts and the possibility of 'making partner,' which later came to fruition. Related: Best medical school loan forgiveness programs Public Student Loan Forgiveness has helped. Incentives from healthcare organizations help, but the disparity is so large that people are shying away from these slightly lower-paying fields [such as primary care] just to pay off these sometimes massive student loans. If Bly's eventual last student loan payment was an emotional high, submitting his first was a low. 'It was very demoralizing when I saw how little of a dent this payment was making to the principal of the loan,' he says. 'This is where I decided to get aggressive about paying it back.' The wake-up call made him realize he needed a strategy, and some help executing it. 'My wife and I knew early on that we were going to need to make some sacrifices to get rid of this burden,' Bly says. 'And thankfully, we both were of very similar mind in terms of financial strategies, working through this whole process, taking a look at a three or five or 10-year plan and how do we get there.' Taking a '10,000-foot view' of the family's overall financial picture with a certified financial planner also helped. It was 'an overall global strategy of, yes, 'We're going to finance a little bit of our retirement. Yes, we're investing in the kids' educational accounts …'' Bly remembers 'But at the same time, 'We are going to take a majority or a huge bulk of any of our excess [cash flow] month to month and make additional payments to knock that principle down.' That was front and center for years here, trying to make these [loans] go away.' Related: How these borrowers are feeling about repayment in the Trump era Entering a stable, high-paying career made Bly and his family feel OK about giving up the safety net of federal student loans for the lower interest rates of a private lender. So, student loan refinancing became the focal point of their medical school debt repayment strategy. Bly shopped around and landed on SoFi. Friends relayed good experiences, and the lender offered the lowest student loan refinance rates at the time. While his career and income no doubt strengthened his student loan refinancing application, strong credit was equally critical. He gives 'kudos' to his mom for his credit score remaining in the 'high 700s' and 'low 800s.' 'She gave me a credit card at 16 in addition to a checking account that I've had since I was 12,' Bly says. 'And so my credit has been good to very good here for most of my adult life, which opens doors, allows for better interest rates or opportunities that might not be there.' After the first refinance, Bly kept an eye on available rates. Twice more it made mathematical sense to refinance. Date* Loan amount* New interest rate** New loan term** Refinance 1 April 2018 $404,596.27 7.50% 15 Refinance 2 Sept. 2019 $375,989.62 3.50% 10 Refinance 3 April 2020 $339,961.46 3.25% 5 'Within the SoFi application portal, there was the ability to kind of compare and contrast using current interest rates and amounts versus potential [scenarios]. And that was helpful, especially with my wife, to kind of show as opposed to just talking about it. 'She was a bit more scared of it than I was just because of the total number. And we live in Wisconsin, which is a communal marriage property [state]. So, as soon as we got married, she got to inherit half my debt. So, she was motivated too.' They remained driven to the end, realizing that their $5,000-ballpark monthly payments could soon be put to a more fun use. Like family trips, for instance. When an employment bonus arrived in July 2023, the Blys decided to make one last, extra-large payment. 'I don't want to use the word monumentous occasion,' Bly says, 'but it sure was a fantastic relief to move on from what can be such an onerous, overbearing situation.' Bly acknowledges that his high-income career expanded his repayment options far beyond what the average student loan borrower has at their disposal. Still, there are pieces of his debt payoff journey that are replicable. Bly's answers Questions for you Consider your career He chose his subspecialty (surgery), in part because it offered a higher-paying career to fend off his debt. Even if you're already committed to a job or industry, would upskilling or seeking a promotion super-charge your repayment? How about switching to a company that pays off student loans? Pick a lane He settled on an aggressive approach to repayment, mainly through student loan refinancing. Would you benefit from a similarly aggressive approach, making biweekly payments, or a slower-but-strategic route, such as enrolling in income-driven repayment or PSLF? See the big picture He temporarily sacrificed saving for retirement and experiences like family vacations to dedicate more of his income to his education debt. Have you thought about where a student loan payoff fits into the broader scope of your personal finances? Don't go it alone He highlighted the support of his wife, plus a financial advisor. Have you consulted or expanded your support system, perhaps to include a certified student loan counselor, lawyer or other professional? Stay engaged He closely monitored interest rates and refinanced three times because each saved him serious cash. Unfortunately, student loan repayment isn't set-it-and-forget-it — what can you do to stay apprised of your best options? You got to have a plan. Just winging it, when there's that many variables, doesn't usually end well. Safe to say: The majority of student loan borrowers don't earn the salary of a surgeon or have a pristine credit score, thanks in part to being given the responsibility of a credit card as a teenager. And the purpose of sharing Bly's story isn't to rub it in, trust us. Successful repayment for you might not resemble Bly's. For one, student loan refinancing with bad credit might not be possible or even beneficial, unless you have a workaround like a cosigner or co-borrower. For what it's worth, refinancing with a low income may be more realistic, assuming you have strong credit or a co-applicant. But student loan refinancing, if it's the right answer for you at all, is something you can work toward over time — perhaps when interest rates are lower anyway. So, you might start simpler. Consider the questions above. Also, create or update your budget, and learn about repayment strategies. It all takes time, but there's a zero balance in your future, too. 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San Francisco Chronicle
19-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Pets with a toolkit: Protection dogs train to handle burglars as sports stars boost home security
EMBOROUGH, England (AP) — Scream all you want, but Lobo isn't letting go. The young German shepherd has chomped into the arm of a would-be attacker wearing a padded suit at K9 Protector in southwest England. 'I describe them as pets with a toolkit built into them. A toolkit that you hope you're never going to use,' said Bly, K9 Protector co-owner. Expensive protection dogs like Lobo have been in demand among professional athletes to guard against burglars who target wealthy homes often as part of sophisticated crime rings. Athletes are particularly vulnerable while they're away at games. 'He will end up in somebody's home with high-net worth that is potentially at risk from more than your opportunist burglar,' Bly said of Lobo, who costs 45,000 pounds ($60,000) and boasts a Bavarian bloodline that is 'second to none.' The lengthy list of athletes whose residences have been hit includes Premier League stars Jack Grealish and Alexander Isak. England cricket captain Ben Stokes' home was burglarized while he was playing in Pakistan. It's becoming a major problem in the United States, too, with former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman a recent example. The homes of Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burglarized in October as part of a wave of break-ins that also targeted Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Seven Chilean men were charged in connection with those burglaries, as well as the break-in at Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis' home, where nearly $1.5 million in cash and valuables were stolen. After consulting the FBI, the NBA drew up guidance for players. One of the recommendations: 'Utilize dogs for home protection.' Which breed is best? While almost any dog can provide some deterrence, protection-dog providers offer breeds like German shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Rottweiler, Doberman and Cane Corso. Bly and his wife, K9 Protector co-owner Sian Bly, work predominantly with German shepherds. 'They are the most proven dogs at being family dogs,' Alaster Bly said. They begin to differentiate early on which pups show potential. 'If we've got a puppy that's really confident, is chasing a rag, biting hold of the rag, and their food drive is high, that's a good starting point,' Sian Bly said. 'We look at how competitive they are with their siblings, as well. You're looking for quite a strong dog.' Dogs that don't make the cut might get routed to prison service or police duty. 'You can't place a dog with young kids that's nervous or that the temperament isn't 100%,' she said. Protection dogs are expensive The handful of K9 Protector dogs that reach 'high-threat environment' status cost up to 75,000 pounds ($100,000). It can take a couple of years to train for all sorts of scenarios. 'It's vast — the ability to deal with four intruders at once, vehicle carjacking tactics, being acceptant of multi-handlers,' Alaster Bly said. 'Husband, wife, nanny, housekeeper, estate manager all being able to handle that dog in an equal way in a threat scenario, and the dog still responding in the same way — is very different to a pet-level-trained dog with protection training.' Clients must be a good match, though. Sian Bly said if they think a buyer 'might use the dog in the wrong way, then we don't sell them the dog. It doesn't matter about the finances.' Between 10-15% of their clients are professional athletes and they typically require nondisclosure agreements, as do the actors and singers who come calling. They sell about two or three dogs per month. When the economy is bad and crime increases — demand is higher. Winter months see more sales and the pandemic period of 2020-21 was 'the busiest we've ever been," Sian Bly said. UFC fighter Aspinall picks a German shepherd UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall added a protection dog to his family after moving to a new house. The Manchester native posted a video about it. 'I'm not here all the time. I just wanted someone else kind of looking after the family, as well as me, even when I'm here,' Aspinall said of his German shepherd. U.S. soccer midfielder Tyler Adams opted for a Rottweiler from Total K9, the North Yorkshire company that provided Aspinall's dog. Tottenham midfielder James Maddison got a 145-pound Cane Corso from Leicestershire-based Chaperone K9, which also counts Grealish as a client. Grealish's mansion was burglarized just after Christmas in 2023 while the Manchester City midfielder was playing a game at Everton. Family members called police when they heard noises and after Grealish's Belgian Malinois and Cockapoo reportedly started barking. Grealish later called it 'a traumatic experience for all of us, I am just so grateful that nobody was hurt." Tips for home security The NBA memo urged removing online real estate listings that show interiors. Some stars post their protection dogs on social media along with the pets' names — but they probably shouldn't. 'There is nothing more off-putting to a dog than being called by its own name when you're breaking into the home,' Alaster Bly said. The Blys use German commands, which buyers must learn. On K9 Protector's website, former long-distance runner Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic champion, described turning to a protection dog after his home was burglarized despite an alarm system, video coverage and 24-hour security patrols. Intruders at Burrow's house eluded manned security at his property while he was playing a Monday Night Football game at Dallas in December. The criminal complaint on the Chilean crew said they liked to approach from 'a wooded or dark area.' Knowing the rules Under the UK's 'Guard Dogs Act,' someone capable of controlling a guard dog must be at the premises, and a notice must be posted at the entrance about the dog. Technically, there are scenarios that could result in criminal prosecution of dog owners in Britain — even in burglaries. The National Association of Security Dog Users 'does not promote the use of dogs as personal/family protection dogs and issues no certification or training courses in relation to this type of dog,' said Roger Flett, a NASDU director. Samantha Gaines of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warned against the 'glamorization' of painful ear-cropping on breeds like Doberman and Cane Corso. The procedure is prohibited in England and Wales, but it's legal to import them that way. UK burglaries are decreasing It's unknown if break-ins at wealthy homes are increasing, but statistics for England and Wales show residential burglaries overall are decreasing. From the year ending March 2018 to the year ending September 2024, there was a 42% drop, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Alaster Bly, a former police officer, said it's not just about burglaries. A CEO of a company might be facing a threat, or a person might be dealing with a stalker. 'There are life-changing incidents that take place regularly,' he said. 'The array of problems and crime that's going on in the UK at the moment keeps us busy.'
Fox Sports
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Pets with a toolkit: Protection dogs train to handle burglars as sports stars boost home security
Associated Press EMBOROUGH, England (AP) — Scream all you want, but Lobo isn't letting go. The young German shepherd has chomped into the arm of a would-be attacker wearing a padded suit at K9 Protector in southwest England. A command later, Lobo is back at the feet of Alaster Bly and awaiting his next instruction. 'I describe them as pets with a toolkit built into them. A toolkit that you hope you're never going to use,' said Bly, K9 Protector co-owner. Expensive protection dogs like Lobo have been in demand among professional athletes to guard against burglars who target wealthy homes often as part of sophisticated crime rings. Athletes are particularly vulnerable while they're away at games. 'He will end up in somebody's home with high-net worth that is potentially at risk from more than your opportunist burglar,' Bly said of Lobo, who costs 45,000 pounds ($60,000) and boasts a Bavarian bloodline that is 'second to none.' The lengthy list of athletes whose residences have been hit includes Premier League stars Jack Grealish and Alexander Isak. England cricket captain Ben Stokes' home was burglarized while he was playing in Pakistan. It's becoming a major problem in the United States, too, with former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman a recent example. The homes of Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burglarized in October as part of a wave of break-ins that also targeted Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Seven Chilean men were charged in connection with those burglaries, as well as the break-in at Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis' home, where nearly $1.5 million in cash and valuables were stolen. After consulting the FBI, the NBA drew up guidance for players. One of the recommendations: 'Utilize dogs for home protection.' Which breed is best? While almost any dog can provide some deterrence, protection-dog providers offer breeds like German shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Rottweiler, Doberman and Cane Corso. Bly and his wife, K9 Protector co-owner Sian Bly, work predominantly with German shepherds. 'They are the most proven dogs at being family dogs,' Alaster Bly said. They begin to differentiate early on which pups show potential. 'If we've got a puppy that's really confident, is chasing a rag, biting hold of the rag, and their food drive is high, that's a good starting point,' Sian Bly said. 'We look at how competitive they are with their siblings, as well. You're looking for quite a strong dog.' Dogs that don't make the cut might get routed to prison service or police duty. 'You can't place a dog with young kids that's nervous or that the temperament isn't 100%,' she said. Protection dogs are expensive The handful of K9 Protector dogs that reach 'high-threat environment' status cost up to 75,000 pounds ($100,000). It can take a couple of years to train for all sorts of scenarios. 'It's vast — the ability to deal with four intruders at once, vehicle carjacking tactics, being acceptant of multi-handlers,' Alaster Bly said. 'Husband, wife, nanny, housekeeper, estate manager all being able to handle that dog in an equal way in a threat scenario, and the dog still responding in the same way — is very different to a pet-level-trained dog with protection training.' Clients must be a good match, though. Sian Bly said if they think a buyer 'might use the dog in the wrong way, then we don't sell them the dog. It doesn't matter about the finances.' Between 10-15% of their clients are professional athletes and they typically require nondisclosure agreements, as do the actors and singers who come calling. They sell about two or three dogs per month. When the economy is bad and crime increases — demand is higher. Winter months see more sales and the pandemic period of 2020-21 was 'the busiest we've ever been," Sian Bly said. UFC fighter Aspinall picks a German shepherd UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall added a protection dog to his family after moving to a new house. The Manchester native posted a video about it. 'I'm not here all the time. I just wanted someone else kind of looking after the family, as well as me, even when I'm here,' Aspinall said of his German shepherd. U.S. soccer midfielder Tyler Adams opted for a Rottweiler from Total K9, the North Yorkshire company that provided Aspinall's dog. Tottenham midfielder James Maddison got a 145-pound Cane Corso from Leicestershire-based Chaperone K9, which also counts Grealish as a client. Grealish's mansion was burglarized just after Christmas in 2023 while the Manchester City midfielder was playing a game at Everton. Family members called police when they heard noises and after Grealish's Belgian Malinois and Cockapoo reportedly started barking. Grealish later called it 'a traumatic experience for all of us, I am just so grateful that nobody was hurt." Tips for home security The NBA memo urged removing online real estate listings that show interiors. Some stars post their protection dogs on social media along with the pets' names — but they probably shouldn't. 'There is nothing more off-putting to a dog than being called by its own name when you're breaking into the home,' Alaster Bly said. The Blys use German commands, which buyers must learn. On K9 Protector's website, former long-distance runner Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic champion, described turning to a protection dog after his home was burglarized despite an alarm system, video coverage and 24-hour security patrols. Intruders at Burrow's house eluded manned security at his property while he was playing a Monday Night Football game at Dallas in December. The criminal complaint on the Chilean crew said they liked to approach from 'a wooded or dark area.' Knowing the rules Under the UK's 'Guard Dogs Act,' someone capable of controlling a guard dog must be at the premises, and a notice must be posted at the entrance about the dog. Technically, there are scenarios that could result in criminal prosecution of dog owners in Britain — even in burglaries. The National Association of Security Dog Users 'does not promote the use of dogs as personal/family protection dogs and issues no certification or training courses in relation to this type of dog,' said Roger Flett, a NASDU director. Samantha Gaines of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warned against the 'glamorization' of painful ear-cropping on breeds like Doberman and Cane Corso. The procedure is prohibited in England and Wales, but it's legal to import them that way. UK burglaries are decreasing It's unknown if break-ins at wealthy homes are increasing, but statistics for England and Wales show residential burglaries overall are decreasing. From the year ending March 2018 to the year ending September 2024, there was a 42% drop, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Just a small percentage of burglaries get solved, however. Only in late 2022 did police chiefs commit to responding to all break-ins. Alaster Bly, a former police officer, said it's not just about burglaries. A CEO of a company might be facing a threat, or a person might be dealing with a stalker. 'There are life-changing incidents that take place regularly,' he said. 'The array of problems and crime that's going on in the UK at the moment keeps us busy.' ___ AP soccer: recommended
Hamilton Spectator
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton students winners at international EV competition
A team of Hamilton post-secondary students has won a top prize at an international battery competition. The team, comprising students from McMaster University and Mohawk College, placed first of 12 post-secondary engineering teams from across North America in the second of a three-year Battery Workforce Challenge competition that began in 2023. The task? Design, build and test a battery pack for a 2024 Ram ProMaster commercial electric van. Students developed 'battery architecture' for an EV, including a battery module and disconnect unit, as well as related software. Designs are reviewed by industry experts to 'elevate students' understanding' of the design process, reads a May 12 news release. Each team, made up of students from a university and vocational school or Canadian college, presented its product to a panel, and were judged on design, project management, and market development and communications. 'This year's students have shown the determination and potential to be among the top engineers and technicians in the automotive space,' Micky Bly, senior vice-president at automaker Stellantis said in the release. Teams from Ohio and Indiana took second and third places. The Stellantis-sponsored competition is managed by science and technology research centre Argonne National Laboratory in collaboration with the United States Department of Energy. Students participate in workshops and other educational events as part of the program, Bly said. The competition is part of a broader program to cultivate 'a strong cohort of skilled engineers' that offers regional training, STEM education for youth and an online tool for careers and education in related fields.
