Latest news with #Carmel
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Carmel's Grace Brown, the 2025 News-Sun Softball Player of the Year, returns from torn ACL stronger than ever
One of the most painful moments in Grace Brown's life proved to be a turning point. Brown suffered a torn ACL a few months after her breakout sophomore season for Carmel. Although the injury forced her to miss the next season, she found a silver lining during her rehab process. 'I plan on going into exercise physiology now that I had so many physical therapy sessions,' she said. 'It wasn't even on my mind, but like halfway through PT, I realized I want to help people like the physical therapists helped me. 'I learned how long it takes to come back from an injury and how much work you have to put in. It was a negative that turned into a positive and definitely helped me in the long run.' Brown, the 2025 News-Sun Softball Player of the Year, was also more impactful upon her return to the field. The St. Joseph's recruit played at an elite level on offense and defense during her senior season as the Corsairs (20-10) reached a sectional championship game for the first time since 2016. Brown, a 3A all-state first-team pick, hit .589 with 18 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs, 64 RBIs, 56 runs scored and 15 steals, and she was dynamic at shortstop. 'Grace came into this year stronger and ready to work,' Carmel coach Nicole Parney said. 'She was a huge motivator to the team this year, and everyone fed off her energy and positivity. She was someone we could count on in any type of situation to make a play in the field or get on base when we needed it.' The Corsairs also could count on Brown to steer the ship. 'Grace was a great leader for us this year,' Parney said. 'She motivated everyone on the team with her goals for the team that we set at the beginning of the year. She picked her teammates up when they needed it and was always holding herself and others on the team accountable, both at practice and in games. She was a positive role model for the team.' Playing shortstop was a new wrinkle for Brown, who had moved around the field during her freshman and sophomore seasons and is a second baseman for her travel team. 'I felt pretty good on how I played at shortstop,' she said. 'Coming back from my injury, my range was pretty good. I had to adjust to throwing from different arm angles, but I loved being in nearly every play. At shortstop, you get a bunch of balls hit to you. It was fun.' It was fun to watch Brown put it all together this season. 'Grace is a talented softball player who has a high IQ of the game in all aspects,' Parney said. 'She runs the bases aggressively at all times and is always thinking ahead by taking extra bases. She is someone who keeps the grounders from reaching the outfield with her range and diving ability. At the plate, she has a solid approach and is always working to find any way on base that she can.' Brown, who hit .440 with eight home runs and 52 RBIs during her sophomore season, was determined to find her way back to the field after her knee injury, according to her mother, Valerie Campbell. 'Her desire to play the game again at a high level helped her come back stronger and better,' Campbell said. 'Her fortitude and work ethic every day propelled her to an amazing season.' Brown had team success in mind too. 'I knew it was my last season at Carmel, so I wanted to make it special and help my team win,' she said. 'I had no worries about my knee. It was nice to play freely after a year and a half. 'Our team had some very talented players, and we made a great run in the playoffs. It all worked out in the long run.'
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
'Hugely distressing for more and more' people facing homelessness in retirement
It is described as the ticking time bomb of the housing crisis. Many people wonder if they will ever afford to buy a home and how they will pay for rising rents in retirement. A recent meeting of the National Homeless Action Committee heard that housing charities and advocacy groups are sounding alarm bells over an increasing trend of people in their 60s needing to access emergency accommodation for the first time, with specific reference to Galway. The City of the Tribes has seen eight consecutive quarters of high rental inflation, a concerning trend, according to the Residential Tenancies Board. Galway Simon Community confirmed that it is seeing more and more older people entering homelessness for the first time. 66-year-old Carmel moved to the city from Dublin to be close to her son and grandchild nine years ago but has struggled to find a home. She qualifies for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) but "landlords won't accept it", she says, in such a competitive rental market. Carmel began working as a live-in carer for sick and elderly people to pay her bills, but also as a roof over her head. However, having injured her shoulder recently, she is no longer able for the physical work of personal care. Carmel is still living in the home of a previous client because she has "nowhere to go". With weekly pension payments of "€300 a week" and rent for apartments in Galway of around "€2,000 euro a month", she describes her situation as "impossible" and "soul destroying". "I never thought I'd be homeless," she told RTÉ's Drivetime, as she spoke of her constant stress and uncertainty that "feels like a dead end, like I'm never going to have a place where I can relax and call home". For Mary Jane, who is 65, it was "absolutely terrifying" to get an eviction notice from the Co Galway flat that she had be renting for seven years. The former chef raised her daughters in the city, but had to give up restaurant work in recent years due to back problems and found it "hard to get HAP" so she had to move. When that property was being sold, Mary Jane faced not knowing whether she would be "sleeping in a doorway, or on somebody's floor" or where she would be. She described her situation as "very frightening" at a time when she had hoped to plan her retirement. "I never thought I would become homeless" at this age, she added, tearfully, speaking of feeling "constantly sick" and crying at night. "It was just horrible, you just don't expect it," Mary Jane added. Across Ireland, 15,580 people are living in emergency accommodation, according to the most recent figures from the Department of Housing, with 244 of them - or 2% - over the age of 65. Facing homelessness in retirement is "hugely distressing for more and more" people, according to Galway Simon Community. With more people renting rather than owning their homes, Chief Executive Karen Golden said that when people "reach pension age and their income decreases fairly substantially, they're no longer able to afford the rising rents" in what she described as the "deeply problematic private rental sector". Galway Simon Community recently developed a block of ten one-bedroom A-rated apartments specifically designed for older people and those with impaired mobility. The building, on a former derelict site next to its 24/7 emergency hostel facility and support services, receiveved funding support from the Department of Housing through Galway City Council. According to Ms Golden, the plan is "to provide accessible homes with security for older people who could be otherwise facing homelessness", adding that she "would advocate for more of this type of development in Galway and elsewhere because it is so badly needed". The ten apartments were occupied within a week of their launch and could have been filled "many times over", according to Galway Simon, as it endeavors to provide a positive outcome for more pensioners in precarious housing situations, including Carmel, who said she does not know "what's going to happen to her in the future". Mary Jane was one of the fortunate ones to finally get her "forever home" in the development and is already "planning Christmas" with her grandchildren there. She spoke of "relief, when you come into somewhere, you know it's safe and secure, and yours for your lifetime" where you can "breathe and relax". "It's what we all deserve," she added, and it is "so important to feel that".
Refinery29
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Refinery29
These $16 Gel Nail Strips Are Simply Too Good To Gatekeep
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. As I'm typing this, I can't stop looking at my fingers gliding over the keyboard. Each nail is glossed to perfection (some even have dazzling glitter) in a gradient of luminous sunset tones. And the best part: I did them all by myself. I've dabbled in the trend of at-home gel — and have proved quite capable with a lamp and solid polishes. But when it comes to nail art, I'm no artist. I love press-ons for gorgeous designs with zero dry time, but I struggle to keep them on for more than a few days. That's where Ohora's gel nail strips come in. (I'm wearing the Carmel set here.) If you're old enough to remember nail wraps (basically, nail polish sticker sheets that you could apply directly to the nail and set with any top coat), Ohora's strips work in a similar way. The K-beauty brand makes its strips from a semi-cured gel that finishes curing under a UV lamp. I actually discovered them at a drugstore in Japan, but was delighted to find them online at the brand's Amazon storefront for $16 per set. (Great news for my nails, bad news for my wallet.) Ohora Semi Cured Gel Nail Strips, $16 Ohora offers a wide variety of solid and nail art designs (including ones for your toes), plus seasonal options for the holidays, Valentine's Day, and more. Each pack comes with 28 gel strips in various sizes. (I usually get two manicures per box before running out of sizes that fit my nails.) Since the nails are on clear sheets, you can visually 'try on' which size fits best by holding it above your hand. Before starting, prep nails with the included pad (or, once you run out, I also love Dazzle Dry's Nail Prep on a lint-free cotton pad) to remove oil from the nail surface. Now for the fun part: If I'm not doing a solid color, I plan out my accent nail(s) accordingly and start with my left hand (I'm right-handed), beginning with the pinkies and working my way to the thumb. Doing it in this order helps avoid sticking nails together since the strips are longer than my natural length. After making sure each strip is evenly adhered, it's time to finesse the shape. I like to follow a general rule of clipping 90% of the excess length and filing 10%, using downward strokes across the free edge to help it seal. I used my trusty SUNUV UV3 lamp and cured my nails for two minutes. (I tried 60 seconds for the first time and it wasn't enough.) Repeat the same steps on your other hand, and voilà, your mani is done!Now this last step is optional, but I highly recommend sealing your work with a gel top coat (I use this one from Amazon) for that hyper-glossy shine and extra protection against wear and tear. To give you a peek behind the curtain, I did this mani on Wednesday, I'm writing this article on a Monday, and my nails still look perfect. As in, not-a- single -chip perfect. And mind you, I'm gearing up for a cross-country move and spent the weekend packing boxes and cleaning every inch of my apartment. I did dishes, laundry, cooked, worked out… and they've held up impressively well. If that's not a stress test, I'm not sure what is.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TKSoftware Inc. Unveils ICONIC Pro: The All-In-One Medical Billing & Clearinghouse Solution
TKSoftware Inc. today launches ICONIC Pro, a unified, cloud–based platform that combines claims submission, electronic remittance, eligibility verification, and claims scrubbing—designed to simplify revenue cycle management for healthcare providers of all sizes. CARMEL, Ind., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TKSoftware Inc., a leader in medical billing and practice management solutions, has introduced ICONIC Pro, its next–generation all–in–one medical billing and clearinghouse platform. Built on a scalable cloud architecture, ICONIC Pro streamlines the end–to–end revenue cycle—from real–time eligibility checks to automated denial management—empowering medical practices to reduce administrative overhead and accelerate reimbursements. "With ICONIC Pro, we're redefining efficiency in healthcare billing. By unifying core clearinghouse functions into one intuitive interface, providers can focus on patient care, not claim paperwork," said Tony Kurzendoerfer, President and Chief Engineer at TKSoftware Inc. Key Features of ICONIC Pro: Integrated Claims Submission & Scrubbing: Submit claims to all payers with built–in scrubbing rules to catch errors before filing. Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA): Automatically receive and reconcile remittance advice, reducing manual posting errors. Real–Time Eligibility Verification: Instantly verify patient coverage across commercial and government payers to prevent claim rejections. Interactive Denial Management Dashboard: Drill–down reporting links directly to denied claims, enabling rapid remediation and appeals. Advanced Analytics & Reporting: Customizable dashboards highlight payer trends, denial rates, and revenue cycle KPIs to inform strategic decisions. HIPAA–Compliant Security: End–to–end encryption, multi–factor authentication, and routine compliance audits ensure patient data protection. Who Benefits: Independent Practices: Small to mid–size clinics gain enterprise–level billing tools without heavy IT overhead. Multi–Specialty Groups: Centralized revenue management across locations with role–based access controls. Billing Services: Third–party billers can handle larger claim volumes efficiently with automated workflows. Why ICONIC Pro Stands Out: Unlike siloed billing tools, ICONIC Pro integrates clearinghouse, analytics, and denial management in a single SaaS solution—eliminating multiple vendor contracts and disparate interfaces. Its cloud–native design delivers automatic updates and 99.9% uptime, backed by TKSoftware's responsive support team. About TKSoftware Inc.: TKSoftware Inc. is an Indiana–based technology company specializing in medical billing, practice management, and clearinghouse solutions. For over 25 years, TKSoftware has empowered healthcare providers with innovative, compliant, and user–friendly platforms that optimize revenue cycle performance and improve patient satisfaction. Learn More: Visit to schedule a demo and discover how ICONIC Pro can transform your practice's revenue cycle management. Contact:Tony Kurzendoerferinfo@ Photos: Press release distributed by PRLog View original content: SOURCE TKSoftware Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Scoop
20-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Dump Shop Rescues Items To Kit Out Homes For Struggling Families: ‘It Means Everything'
Article – Kira Carrington – Local Democracy Reporter Staff at The Dump Shop in Blenheim have been flat out, connecting households in need with furniture and appliances that were destined for the dump. Staff at The Dump Shop in Blenheim have been flat out, connecting households in need with furniture and appliances that were destined for the dump. JBL Environmental Ltd has been running the Unwanted Goods Project since it was contracted by Marlborough District Council to take over the shop formerly known as the Blenheim Re-use Centre on Wither Road, in July 2024. The aim is to divert usable items from waste for their many customers across Marlborough both those looking for a bargain, and those in urgent need of furniture, appliances and other basic household items. Managing director Chloe Abernethy said they had never found themselves short on donations. 'There's a really positive engagement with the community, they've been so supportive of us,' Abernethy said. 'When we went for this contract, our biggest goal was to just try and divert as much as possible [from landfill] and get it back out to the community. 'We try to not reject anything from anyone. We try to take as much as possible.' The service was particularly handy for people who did not have a truck or trailer to drop off or pick up items, she said. The service was free of charge. JBL operations manager Jabian Takarua said the project worked with organisations such as Women's Refuge, Work and Income, and Christchurch City Mission, sometimes kitting out families with a whole household's worth of items. 'It's an awesome feeling,' Takarua said. 'When you can grab this resource from seniors that would otherwise have to throw it in the rubbish … going to a family that's got nothing from the Hawke's Bay floods the other year, and coming down here trying to survive … it means everything. 'One man's trash, another man's treasure.' Gateway Housing Trust, which managed 16 transitional homes in Blenheim, worked with the project to secure household items for families leaving the service and moving into permanent homes. The trust's housing navigators Karyn and Carmel (who did not give their last names for privacy reasons) said they could not praise the project enough. 'Most of our families … they don't have a thing [when they leave], because all our units are fully furnished,' Karyn said. 'So when they go to move [out], they have nothing.' With eight families currently in the process of moving out, the trust reached out to The Dump Shop for help, and the team was able to spend last weekend organising furniture and household goods for the trust. They then put together starter kits to give to Gateway's families, made up of plates, pots, pans, sheets, pillow slips, and towels. 'I think JBL do an amazing job for our community and for our people,' Carmel said. Along with the Unwanted Goods Project, The Dump Shop's initiatives to divert waste included soft plastic recycling, a pallet recovery scheme, and even repurposing a tomato farm's coconut peat mulch. They planned to do even more community outreach and launch more projects, such as a construction and demolition waste recovery scheme. 'We've always said if we got kicked out of a job because there was no waste, then that would be a great day,' Abernethy said. 'We've done our job.' Collection and delivery forms were available by searching for the Unwanted Goods Project on the Marlborough District Council website.
