Latest news with #MaryRichardson
American Press
a day ago
- American Press
Mary Richardson: Exploring the beauty of our planet
1/5 Swipe or click to see more Oslo, Norway (Mary Richardson / Special to the American Press) 2/5 Swipe or click to see more Lisbon, Portugal (Mary Richardson / Special to the American Press) 3/5 Swipe or click to see more Panajachel, Guatemala (Mary Richardson / Special to the American Press) 4/5 Swipe or click to see more Giza, Egypt (Mary Richardson / Special to the American Press) 5/5 Swipe or click to see more Kirkenes, Norway (Mary Richardson / Special to the American Press) Mary Richardson is not just a tourist. She's an explorer who seeks to immerse herself in new environments, embracing diversity and forging genuine relationships with the locals. 'I consider Lake Charles my community — my church is here, my friends are here, half of my family is here. But I also feel a broader connection with humanity,' she said. Richardson, who shares her travel experiences several times a year through her writings in the American Press , said she travels not only for the beauty she finds when she arrives at the destination but also out of sheer curiosity. 'There's a sense of awe with our planet,' she said. 'I'm a history major and Joe (her husband) has an undergraduate degree in history and it's one thing to read about a country, it's another thing to see it. In Egypt, we were climbing up the Step Pyramid near Cairo and it's 5,000 years old! It's only been 2,000 years since the beginning of Christianity and that had already been there for 3,000 years. There's this sense of timing; you're only a piece of dust in it.' When Joe and Mary were courting, Richardson said the couple never had big plans to see the world. That came later. 'We had a Pinto with a stick shift and we would pull a boat,' she said with a laugh. 'That's how we traveled. We would go camping in national parks and state parks.' He's from Kentucky, she's from Minnesota. They met and married in Florida and shortly after moved to Nevada for his work as a civil engineer. Eventually, Joe was awarded a Fulbright Professorship — a prestigious opportunity for American faculty members to teach abroad — and the program took their family to United Emirates, Sharjah, Namibia, Singapore, Indonesia, Holland and Dubai. 'We started traveling when he started working in these foreign countries,' she said. 'He went to Rwanda first, 10 years after the genocide, and that's when we started thinking about the world. Then he became a department head in Dubai, then he had a Fulbright to Namibia. That's how I got to see Africa. Very few of the trips have been planned, most came by circumstance where he happened to be. That's where we got a taste of being part of the world as opposed to being part of a small community.' The pair found themselves in Lake Charles in 1986. 'We were passing through back to Gainesville, Fla., where Joe was getting his Ph.D. in civil engineering and we stopped and I had the blackened catfish and I told Joe, 'I'd like to stay here.' That's the truth,' she said. Both found work at McNeese State University — he as an engineering professor and she as the director of the Banners Cultural Series. 'We don't appreciate what we have,' she said. 'This country is a miracle. One of the miracles is our founding fathers. At one time, they were all there together, forming our democracy, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Nothing like that has ever happened in Haiti. Haiti has not had good government not one day in its life.' She said travel has given her a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the gifts she's been given. 'It's not due to you; it's chance that you were born here and had these opportunities,' she said. 'In Guatemala, I developed an appreciation for gratitude. You can look at them and say, 'Oh, poor thing. You don't have enough electricity. You don't have carpets on the floors.' They don't care. They're just grateful for what they do have.' She said traveling has deeply changed her view of the world. 'We went by a refugee camp on the border of Ethiopia. People have been there for years and they weren't going to get out. It was a hopeless situation. If I hadn't seen that I would have known about it in my mind, but not know about it in my heart. It hurts. The tragedy at the border has a face. 'Travel broadens you as a person,' she continued. 'I do see myself as a piece of dust in the world as opposed to a little piece of sand in Lake Charles.' When Joe retired she said that's when the travel bug really hit the pair — and, as Johnny Cash sings, the Richardsons have 'been everywhere man.' They've been to five of the seven continents. They haven't been to Australia or Antartica. Joe has been to 48 states, Mary said she's still catching up. Istanbul is top on her bucket list of sites to see. 'Joe has been to Istanbul but I have not,' she said. 'And I've been to Morocco but Joe has not. I want to see Istanbul, that's the kind of architecture that feeds my soul. I'd also like to see Nepal.' Before retirement, the couple planned two trips a year. Now they take about four. 'We're in a travel period of our life,' she said. 'I feel like time is chasing us. We're both healthy right now but he's 80 and I just turned 78. If we're going to do something, we've got to do it now. Age makes you feel vulnerable to chance.' Mary is an adventurous eater, but Joe 'not so much.' 'I've had some really bad meals, though, especially if I can't read a menu,' she said. 'In Singapore, I had my first tuna pizza. I will never forget that because it was not a match made of heaven. That was not a good idea.' Also not a good idea? Shark. 'I tried the shark in Iceland, though I was warned against it,' she said. 'That was doubly unfortunate. First of all, it's something you never want to put in your mouth but second of all, a friend asked us to bring some home and I put some frozen shark in my backpack but the pressure during the flight opened it up and oh boy.' During the pandemic, the couple realized they needed to see more of the United States. 'We went out west and back to the Grand Canyon,' she said. 'Joe had been there many times a nd I had been only once as a child and I think everyone who has been to the Grand Canyon remembers that sense of awe. That gasp. Some of the most beautiful sights in the world are right here in the United States.' Their fall trip this year will cover six national parks. 'We're going to stay at the historic lodges that we looked at in when we were staying in tents,' she said. 'And just because we're staying in these historic lodges, doesn't mean we're staying in luxury.' Traveling is incredibly important for personal growth, cultural understanding and global awareness. It also broadens perspectives, fosters empathy and provides opportunities for learning, skill development and lasting memories, Richardson said. 'I don't know if you become a better person, necessarily. I don't know if you become smarter or wiser. I'm not sure about that. I don't think you can help but become more appreciative and more grateful — not to feel sorry for other people; it's a different kind of gratitude. I don't know how to define it. It's a valuable experience.'
RNZ News
17-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Part of Christchurch council building shut down for months
The annex on the Worcester Boulevard side of the civic offices was closed last month. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Part of the Christchurch City Council building will remain closed for months after an engineering report showed it was an earthquake risk. The annex on the Worcester Boulevard side of the civic offices, which usually housed the council chamber and mayor's working space, was closed last month. An engineering seismic assessment showed it only had a new building-standard (NBS) rating of 40 percent. A building with an NBS rating of less than 34 percent was considered earthquake-prone, while a rating between 34 and 67 per cent was deemed "moderate risk". Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Council chief executive Mary Richardson said the area would remain off-limits to staff as a precaution so strengthening work could be carried out. "The likelihood of a large earthquake is considered low, however based on the potential consequences and the temporary mitigation measures available, we have determined that the council should continue to vacate the annex area," she said. "Safety of council staff, elected members and visitors is paramount and after discussing the risks, mitigations and options with the council engineers and the executive leadership team, we're not willing to take any risks on that." The work was expected to take six months. The investigation and construction could happen promptly because the annex would be unoccupied during this period, Richardson said. "Although, we are still working on logistics for how the remedial programme will run," she said. "Due to the longer period of restricting occupancy of the annex, we will be looking at options to improve the working environment for staff and elected members, particularly those who have been relocated." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Seismic strengthening of council building could take 6 months
Christchurch City Council staff and the mayor will be unable to use part of their central city offices for up to six months as work to strengthen the building gets under way. An engineer's seismic assessment indicated the main Te Hononga Civic Offices building off Hereford St is 100% of the New Building Standard (NBS), but the annex floor connections on the Worcester Boulevard side are at 40%. Council staff forced to relocate Council chief executive Mary Richardson said while the NBS rating for the building is above 34% - meaning it is not quake-prone - the annex floor connections could behave unpredictably or fail abruptly during a strong earthquake. "The likelihood of a large earthquake is considered low, however, based on the potential consequences and the temporary mitigation measures available, we have determined that the council should continue to vacate the annex area," Richardson said. "Safety of council staff, elected members and visitors is paramount and after discussing the risks, mitigations and options with the council engineers and the executive leadership team, we're not willing to take any risks on that." The design and seismic strengthening of the building is expected to take up to six months. "There is an advantage of the annex (being) unoccupied over this time to allow for investigation and then construction works to happen as quickly as possible. Although we are still working on logistics for how the remedial programme will run," Richardson said. "Due to the longer period of restricting occupancy of the annex, we will be looking at options to improve the working environment for staff and elected members, particularly those who have been relocated." The entrance on Worcester Boulevard has reopened and the civil servant café is operating with some tables in the main building. "Having assessed the usage of the Worcester Boulevard ramp and entrance, we consider there is a lower risk to users of this entrance due to the shorter time the area is occupied," Richardson said. "Once again, I want to thank staff for continuing to provide advice and services to our residents, in spite of the disruption, as well as the mayor and councillors and visitors to our civic offices for their patience and understanding."
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meet RFK Jr.'s budding model daughter Kyra Kennedy as she makes waves at Italian fashion week
.'s budding model daughter Kyra Kennedy made waves at Italian Fashion Week on Thursday. The daughter of the US secretary of health and human services, 30, turned heads as she attended the Gucci Cruise 2026 runway show in Florence, Italy, wearing a chic, gray skirt and jacket combo. Underneath the jacket she donned a sheer turtleneck top, which left her bra on full display. She completed the look with some black pumps and a Gucci purse. Kyra left her long, brown locks in loose waves around her face and opted for striking makeup that included a smokey eye and pink lipstick. Kyra - the youngest child of RFK Jr. and his second wife, Mary Richardson - found herself in hot water back in 2016 after she was accused of 'cyberbullying' a reporter. New York Magazine writer Allie Jones had written a piece commenting on a New York Times profile about Kyra and her friends entitled Move Over, Rat Pack and Brat Pack: Here Comes the Snap Pack. Allie called the story a 'delightfully nauseating look into the lives' of the privileged 20-somethings in a fierce article. Underneath the jacket she donned a sheer turtleneck top, which left her bra on full display And it seemed to anger Kyra, who left a slew of sarcastic comments on Allie's profile, including one that said, 'I can play games too b***h,' along with a devil emoji. '@allierileyjones are you maybe gorgeous,' Kyra wrote on another post, this time using the tears of joy emoji. '@alliereilyjones clearly taking your insecurities out on others. We can play too,' she added in a third comment. At the time, Allie responded by writing an essay for The Cut entitled, I'm Being Cyberbullied on Instagram by a Kennedy. She recapped the entire ordeal and included screenshots of Kyra's comments. 'I [replied to] Kennedy this morning to see if she'd like to email me about her concerns. Whatever game we're playing, I hope it inspires others,' Allie wrote. In the aftermath, it was revealed that Kyra's dad had forced her to shut down her Instagram account altogether. A rep for RFK Jr. - who is known for being an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist - told The New York Post: 'Mr. Kennedy has spoken to Kyra and informed his daughter that their family does not bully people. 'He has instructed her to shut down all of her social media accounts immediately.' It was also reported that she had been 'shipped off to strict boarding school in Italy' around that time, after her excessive partying allegedly got in the way of her school work. 'She was really having a tough time, partying a lot,' a family friend told Page Six. 'It's a very strict therapeutic school, with no internet, no phones. The only communication is by mail.' She was absent from Instagram for three years, but since her return in 2019, she has become a star in her own right - gaining more than 35,000 followers by showcasing her extremely jet-set lifestyle as an up-and-coming model. A graduate from Fashion Institute of Technology, Kyra has interned at Kenneth Cole and Dior, per Harper's Bazaar. Kyra seems to be supportive of her father's controversial opinions as she was by his side when he posed with President Donald Trump at the White House after he was sworn in for his new role in February. She seems to be supportive of her father's controversial opinions as she was by his side when he posed with Donald Trump at the White House after he was sworn in for his new role Plus, she was one of three of RFK Jr.'s six kids who were with him on stage at an event in Boston in June 2023 as he kickstarted his 2024 Presidential campaign. 'There are other members of my family who are not here today,' he said to the crowd with a laugh. 'I know most American families - they never have any differences with each other,' he added sarcastically. Kyra made her modeling debut in 2019, when she posed for her close friend Andrew Warren's clothing line. She also walked in his runway show at New York Fashion Week that year. Now, she is often spotted at elite fashion events hosted by brands like Giorgio Armani, Max Mara, and Louis Vuitton. Back in October, she announced that she was starring in a campaign for BVLGARI Official, writing, 'A dream come true! So excited.' Most recently, she graced the cover of ¡HOLA! Fashion in January.
American Press
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- American Press
High-energy JigJam ready to take SW La. by storm
The iGrass band JigJam will perform Friday, April 25, in Bulber Auditorium for the McNeese Banners Series. (Special to the American Press) By Mary Richardson JigJam, an Irish group self-described as 'what happens when virtuoso Irish playing jumps the pond and runs through the wide-open fields of bluegrass and Americana' will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, April 25, in the historic F.G. Bulber Auditorium for the McNeese Banners Series. Banners Director Brook Hanemann said the people of Lake Charles are in for 'some foot stompin', high-energy badassery!' Hanemann said that Lake Charles people will recognize the Irish roots of JigJam. 'Once you've stood in the wild wind of Ireland, you recognize it instantly in JigJam's music,' she said. 'It's joyful, untethered, and full of the kind of jubilant rhythm that feels like it's leaping straight off the Irish hillside.' She said their music will speak to Southwest Louisiana: 'There's something about the Irish spirit — generous, funny, fierce — that speaks to the South. It feels like home and a celebration all at once.' Band members, all Offaly- and Tipperary-born, debuted at the Grand Ole Opry in 2023 and received a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd on country music's most renowned stage. The group was joined that night by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Earle, Lauren Alaina, and many more. In their words, they started 'the first wave of attack in the new Irish invasion of Americana' on that night. Founding members of the 'iGrass' (Irish Bluegrass) quartet are Offaly-born Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar) and Daithi Melia (five-string banjo and dobro). In 2016, they were joined by Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (mandolin and enor banjo), and this year they were joined by Kevin Buckley (fiddle). Reviews for the group have been positive. One reviewer described them as 'the best Irish band in bluegrass' and 'sparkling, infectious,' adding that 'these lads have been hailed as Ireland's answer to New Grass Revival.' Another said that 'iGrass and JigJam is what happens when the Irish find their prodigal son.' a TICKETS: $20 each. Included in all Banners memberships and sold at the door. Advance tickets are available at All events are free to McNeese and Sowela Technical Community College students and children 12 and younger.
