Latest news with #Kowalski
Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Plan commission member cleared by Chesterton Town Council for conduct during meeting
Chesterton Advisory Planning Commission member James Kowalski, criticized by a councilwoman for his treatment of a developer and uttering a vulgarity during a public meeting, stated that he was cleared of misconduct allegations after a June 13 Town Council executive session. Chesterton Town Council President Sharon Darnell, D-4th, confirmed by email that Kowalski was told he had been cleared by the Town Council. She had no further comment. Kowalski, 73, a veteran member of the Advisory Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, was thankful when he learned about the council's decision. He admits that he was worried and had some 'sleepless nights' before the council rendered its decision. 'I've got a job to do. I put the community in front of my own opinions. That's my creed,' Kowalski said. 'I try to do the right thing. Do you have to pay the price for doing the right thing for what you thought?' Councilwoman Jennifer Fisher, R-5th, at the May 30 Town Council meeting requested the executive session, citing state code that it was to receive information concerning an individual's 'misconduct.' She didn't publicly name whom she was talking about, but Kowalski, who was at that May 30 meeting, told the Post-Tribune that she clearly was 'throwing him under the bus.' Fisher said the council did have an executive session on June 13 to discuss allegations of misconduct. 'I'm not sure what he (Kowalski) means by cleared,' Fisher said. 'There were no pending charges.' Fisher said a result of the meeting is that board members were going to be reminded of their obligations under the Shared Ethics Commission rules that the town follows. Some of the standards of conduct include treating every person with dignity and respect and acting in a professional, responsive and courteous manner. Fisher was upset with Kowalski after a May 15 Advisory Plan Commission meeting, when the proposed development of the Brassie Golf Club property was discussed. During the presentation by PMM Chesterton, Kowalski was sharply critical and at one juncture used the vulgarity for bull waste. After the meeting, Fisher told the Post-Tribune, 'It is really inappropriate for an advisory plan commission (member) to be yelling and cussing when talking to people.' Kowalski apologized for using the word 'BS.' But Kowalski said his real concerns dealt with the proposed density of the project — 600 housing units on 200 acres — and its impact on the community. PMM Chesterton is currently reworking its proposal for the Brassie property. Councilwoman Darnell, during the May 30 council meeting, seemed to come to Kowalski's defense, noting that people should have a 'First Amendment' right to express their opinion during a meeting. She is a plan commission member who shares Kowalski's concerns about the proposed density of housing on the Brassie property. Fisher has made it a point that Chesterton needs to improve its reputation in the economic development community. The town last year created the position of economic development and operations, appointing Rebecca Parker. The town also retained two consultants to help with economic development-related issues. Fisher said they are striving to have a more collaborative approach with prospective developers. The town's economic development team met with PMM Chesterton before the plan for the Brassie Golf Club property was presented. Fisher also noted Chesterton's Advisory Plan Commission has been known for its adversarial approach to developers.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Karl E. Held Dies: A Producer Of Broadway-Bound ‘Kowalski' Was 63
Karl E. Held, a longtime arts advocate who was a producer on the Tony Award-nominated 2009 Broadway production of Ragtime and most recently on the Off Broadway hit Kowalski, died of a heart attack June 23 in New York City shortly after attending a performance at Carnegie Hall. He was 63. His death was announced by a spokesperson for Kowalski. Gregg Ostrin's comedy, about the first meeting between Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando, ran in January and February at Off Broadway's Duke on 42nd Street. Producers recently announced their intentions to move Kowalski to Broadway. More from Deadline 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries Mark Brokaw Dies: 'This Is Our Youth', 'How I Learned To Drive' Director Was 66 'Phantom' Spin-Off 'Masquerade' Sells Out Six Weeks Of Previews In Three Hours; Additional Dates To Be Announced Karl Edward Held was born on June 7, 1962, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (as an adult he split his time between New York City, Hollywood and his hometown). In 1990 he joined Emmy Award-winning producer Roger Englander and Freddie Gershon of Music Theatre International to create an acclaimed video series capturing the conception and creation of Broadway shows with their original creators. The series featured conversations about musicals including George Gershwin's works, Stephen Sondheim's Assassins and Into the Woods, Kander and Ebb's And the World Goes Round, She Loves Me, Starting Here, Starting Now, Forever Plaid, Claude-Michel Schönberg's Les Misérables, and George Abbott's The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees. Throughout his career Held collaborated on various projects with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, the Spoleto Festivals (Charleston, SC, and Spoleto, Italy), Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, Frank Wildhorn, Yo-Yo Ma, Harry Belafonte, Betty Buckley, Elaine Stritch, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He also produced projects with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, Westminster Choir College, and the American Boychoir School. In 2009 Held joined the Broadway producing team of the Terrence McNally-Stephen Flaherty-Lynn Ahrens Ragtime. Tony-nominated for Best Musical, the production took home four Tonys (Best Book, Best Score, Best Orchestrations and, for Audra McDonald, Best Featured Actress/Musical). Other New York theater credits included Into the Woods (1989) and White's Lies (2010). Beyond the theater, Held's producing work extended to major civic and cultural events, serving clients such as the governors of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, the Pennsylvania Governor's Arts and Humanities Councils, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Citizens for the Arts, the National Trust, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 2005, Held led the renovation and gala reopening of the Gettysburg's historic Majestic Theater, transforming the 1925 vaudeville house into a state-of-the-art performing arts facility. He also spearheaded the creation and launch of the Gettysburg Festival, a ten-day interdisciplinary arts festival, and founded The Ambassadors Series, an international concert and lecture series at Gettysburg College. In 2007, he produced the Governor's Arts Awards at the Majestic at the invitation of then-Governor Ed Rendell. Other projects included a four-CD box set of Sondheim's works for the composer's 80th birthday, and a 15-year archival project with composer Alice Parker, supported by the NEA. He also served on national councils for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, including its 25th Anniversary Celebrations in 1996. From 2005 to 2010, he was instrumental in bringing the Leonard Bernstein Center for Artful Learning from the Grammy Foundation in Los Angeles to Gettysburg College. Held served as President and CEO of The American Boychoir School and was the founding executive director of the Princeton Center for Arts and Education. He also served as Senior Advisor to the President of Gettysburg College from 1997 to 2009, working with three administrations, and held leadership roles with the Adams County Arts Council, the National Trust for Historic Gettysburg, the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, and the Nassau Club in Princeton. He is survived by brother Michael Held of Las Vegas. Memorial services will be held in both New York City and Gettysburg. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Adams County Arts Council or any organization supporting the arts. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Chicago Tribune
23-06-2025
- Science
- Chicago Tribune
Oak Lawn students' numbers line up for new football stadium ticket booth
Students at Oak Lawn Community High School got hooked on construction, incorporating what they learned in geometry classes to create new structures and other items around campus. Their latest undertaking is a ticket booth for the school's football field. They did all the work with a little help from teachers Sara Strelow, who teaches geometry, and Kyle Kowalski, a career technology educator. The students previously had created a shed, so for the ticket booth, teachers modified the plans to add windows, and graphic design students will be recruited to design the door. 'Students were up on the roof doing electrical, painting. It's all basic fundamentals, Kowalski said. But it's definitely a case of learning by doing. 'You've got to be okay screwing up.' Part of what's made the class work, according to the two teachers, is the students' motivation. 'They always do their stuff,' said Strelow. 'In other classes, it's like pulling teeth.' 'They outperformed my regular geometry class on every assessment,' said Strelow. The two-period class starts each session in Strelow's classroom, where students work on the math needed to construct the projects. Then they move into Kowalski's workshop or even outside.' Math lessons sometimes include the Pythagorean theorem with its A squared plus B squared equals C squared to help calculate angles for roofing, as well as volume and surface areas. Kowalski said they also incorporated artificial intelligence into the process to calculate the costs of building materials. Some of the actual construction took place at the football field. 'The school allowed us to purchase battery powered tools so they can be moveable,' Kowalski said. The class had its beginnings three years ago when math chair Chris Newton and the two teachers traveled to a conference in St. Paul, Minnesota where the idea was presented. Then they adapted it to OLCHS, after spending a year on the planning. Math isn't Kowalski's thing, nor is construction Strelow's, and the two have completely different personalities. Kowalski is spontaneous and Strelow says she's very 'Type A and plans everything.' But the two make it work. Kowalski said he brings ideas to Strelow and she may put it into a document to try. 'We're both willing to give up what we're used to and try something different,' said Strelow. Kowalski said he's even taught a few of the math lessons and has taken tests with the students as a way of showing he's part of the team. 'They kind of enjoy watching that,' he said. 'They sometimes beat me.' They also learned to collaborate as a way to bring out the best in students and help them succeed. Students get a small electrical unit in his class and also learn about drywall and plumbing. They've made saw horses and a miniature golf course. The teachers are hoping to get industry professionals to speak to the students, host events and offer financial support. There were 22 students in the class, including eight females. But the class is a popular one and enrollment has increased each year. Once the new field house is complete, the two said they'll be able to move their space to one of the gyms. The class appears to be bringing out the best in many students, even the ones who aren't pros at math or construction, according to their teachers. 'They're all different, from AP honors, regular and even remedial,' said Strelow. 'It's interesting to see the kids you thought were going to struggle, flourish.'
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
All EA FC 25 Natasha Kowalski Shapeshifters SBC tasks and solutions
Image via TOI The Natasha Kowalski Shapeshifters SBC is live in EA FC 25, and it's a good option for beginners to improve their squad. This is the first time that Kowalski has arrived as a promo item in Ultimate Team. Since she's part of a SBC, all players have equal chance to unlock the card. The requirements are pretty minimal, making it easy for all to complete. Let's take a look at all the tasks that players have to complete to obtain the promo item. All EA FC 25 Natasha Kowalski Shapeshifters SBC tasks The new Shapeshifters challenge has just one task, making it one of the easiest SBC to complete in recent times. Here are the requirements of the solo task. Task 1 - Natasha Kowalski Min. 1 Players from: Germany Min. 1 Players: TOTS Honourable Mentions OR TOTS Highlights OR TEAM OF THE SEASON OR Team of the Week Min. Team Rating: 84 The following section has details about the cheapest possible combination players can run to complete the solo task. EA FC 25 Natasha Kowalski Shapeshifters SBC solutions Here's a set of cards players can use to complete the solo task without spending too many coins. They're also advised to use fodder from their own club as much as possible, as doing so will prevent them having to buy the cards from the market directly. Any 88-rated TOTW item England 82 Luana 82 Mariona 84 Rafaelle 82 Cascarino 84 Schmidt 82 Marta 84 Fabian Ruiz 82 Ruben Neves 84 Goretzka 83 The new SBC is definitely one for the beginners, as regular players should already have better options in their current squad. The new card is positioned as a ST, but she can also play as a CAM and a LW. She offers Quick Step+, Low Driven+, and Power Shot+. Since she's rated at 94, it's also possible to add a fourth playstyle+. While she has good stats in key areas, the cutting edge is missing from this item, ranking it pretty low on the current meta. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gold Star families honored at VA Hospital Memorial Day Ceremony
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — The James E. Van Zandt Veterans Affairs Medical Center honored families who lost loved ones in combat with a Gold Star Memorial Plaque. The hour-long ceremony provided those families a chance to see the new plaque, in partnership with the Blair Garden Club, revealed to the public outside the Wall of Healing. The plaque marks the second one erected in the state of Pennsylvania, the first being in Patriot Park at the Flight 93 Memorial. The long weekend that Memorial Day provides for the common person gives others a chance to enjoy the nice weather. Other families find significance in the holiday. 'Oftentimes for Memorial Day, we think of weekend picnics, hamburgers and hot dogs,' VA Executive Director Derek Coughenour said. 'But that's not the true meaning. The meaning is to remember the sacrifice, the love and commitment that our men and women rose their right hand to serve and pledge allegiance to the United States.' 'Remember that for 58,000 names, there are probably thousands and thousands of more people who knew them and loved them, and they're not coming home,' Blair Garden Club President Emma Kowalski said. For Carol Adams, whose son died after suffering an injury in Iraq in 2004, Memorial Day is a time to observe and mourn the loss. As a Gold Star family, she feels that the distinction brings grief. 'To become a gold star family yourself is not something you want to do,' Adams said. 'It is not a club you want to go to.' 'Those families that still suffer the loss that came to honor but can't stand up in front of the world and say 'This happened to me,'' Kowalski added. 'That's quiet loss.' With normal veteran ceremony traditions, such as taps, Amazing Grace on the bagpipes and presentation of the colors, the plaque reveal provided a special moment to the families in attendance. The unveiling made the ceremony more special to officials at the VA. 'It's a tremendous honor for our hospital,' Coughenour said. 'It gives us the opportunity to partner with the Blair Garden Club and Gold Star families to show our commitment to serve the men and women and their families.' 'That's a beautiful plaque. And, it means a lot to us,' Adams added. Families say that the plaque hopes to serve as a constant reminder to those walking the Wall of Healing to never forget those who defended the United States and those who died in the line of duty. For those who are younger, the Gold Star Memorial looks to provide a learning experience. 'We just want people to remember all the sacrifices, all the names on this wall here and don't forget our sons here,' Adams said. 'I hope people take the time to come and see this plaque and this memorial that's now going to stay here permanently, that they need to come and respect,' Kowalski said. 'And the young people need to come and be taught about why they can do the things that they do.' The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center plans to make the Memorial Day Celebration an annual tradition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
