Latest news with #Miller
Los Angeles Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Sawdust Festival brings ‘magic' during kickoff event for its 59th season
It was an unmistakable scene as a line of foot traffic weaved its way toward downtown and threatened to overtake the Village Entrance. Laguna Beach's local-focused Sawdust Art Festival reopened its doors for an invite-only preview night on Tuesday, and what played out was nothing short of a family reunion. Just ask Doug Miller, the lively acrylic painter who was sorely missed when a battle against sepsis landed him in a hospital during much of the show last summer. The 78-year-old was treated like a hometown hero, guests lining up to say hello, and in kind, he greeted many by taking their picture. 'I rebounded,' Miller said. 'I came from the dead back, I think. My skin turned gray, somebody said. It was pretty scary. The doctor said it's like an oil spill in your bloodstream, and it has to clear out. It takes about two months to clear that out.' The Sawdust has been a second home to Miller for much of his life. He told a tale of his wedding day, when he married Becky on the grounds in the summer of 1979, long before there was a performance stage above his booth. Miller showed off an assortment of his mini canvas paintings, explaining that he painted for 30 years consecutively without missing a day, amassing a catalog of 20,500 paintings. All the while, he was presented with gifts, one person bringing him a beer and another offering him chocolate. 'This only goes as far as you live, so I want to hang on for a couple more years,' added Miller, who said he has exhibited at the festival for 55 years. As the sun rises on the 59th season at the festival, several creative souls are making their debut. If the sage burning in her booth didn't immediately set her apart, Jennifer Kennedy was quick to express her affinity for the perfectly imperfect. 'What I don't like about perfection is I feel like it's been made by a machine,' said Kennedy, a ceramics and sculpture artist. 'And we're so mechanical now in society that I want to get away from that. I want to get back to nature. 'I took ceramics in high school, and I did the wheel, and I could do it, but I decided I didn't want to do the wheel,' she said. 'It was too mechanical. … It just wasn't my gig, so I got into hand-building, and I fell in love.' Then there was mixed media artist Linnea Brooks, whose artwork included a multi-level, ladder-climbing scene she whimsically referred to as 'Thousand Steps,' after the beach in South Laguna. She also produced sculptures of the Victoria Beach Pirate Tower. 'I had a pile of wood sitting in my yard,' said Brooks, who said she started building her pieces in October. 'I was looking at it one day going, 'What am I going to do with that?'' It's a homecoming of sorts for Brooks, an architect who grew up in Laguna Beach before moving to Hawaii for 31 years. She's been back for three years. New additions to the grounds go beyond the select first-time exhibitors at the summer show. Starfish, an Asian fusion restaurant in Laguna Beach, is debuting a culinary experience at the festival called the Cove. With sand poured out around the dining area and a DJ spinning tunes deep into the night, it kept the crowd coming and energized for more following their meals. A short walk from the Cove down the southernmost aisle, one could find the husband-and-wife duo of Jason and Sarah Hanck exhibiting together. Jason, who said he is in his eighth year as an exhibitor at the festival, added his wife is 'hooked' after he 'drug her into the goodness.' 'We both independently were artists,' Jason said. 'She hadn't done this type of work before, she hadn't been working in oils and doing plein air. John Eagle and I got her going in that direction, and so now she and I go out and paint all over the place together.' An action-packed night was rounded out with musical sets, as well as performances by Cirque du Soleil Echo and an Orange County-based aerial-and-ground act called Palindrome Entertainment. Hannah Lawson of Palindrome indicated the group was also able to tap into the small-town vibe of the evening. 'For the community, it's always more fun because it's so personal,' Lawson said. 'Everybody interacts a lot more. We're local to the area, as well. All of the performers are from Orange County — San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna — so it's really fun to see our friends and colleagues and neighbors and family when we're performing. It's really fun to give back to the community while having a lot of fun and doing what we love.' A band played its last song as 10 p.m. approached and the dancing had not stopped on the hilltop. When the creatives and locals gathered for the first time in six months since Winter Fantasy, no one wanted the party to end. The Sawdust Art Festival kicked off its summer season, welcoming the public to opening day Friday. The festival will be open through the end of August, with weekend hours from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. It is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Kids ages 5 and younger get in free. 'You really got to feel that energy to really understand what the Sawdust is,' said Joshua King, president of the board of directors for the Sawdust Art Festival. 'It's not a typical art show. Obviously, the artists are so good, and everybody's there to sell their work, but there's much more there. The experience is so rich. It's different than anywhere else. Our environment underneath the eucalyptus trees and the waterfalls — all of that — it really does bring out some magic.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
13 hours ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Jason Miller outlines Trump's Africa trade vision at Afreximbank meetings - Economy
Speaking before policymakers, financiers, and industry leaders, Miller said Africa's rise hinged on strategic choices. In a conversation with Viswanathan Shankar, CEO of Gateway Partners, he analyzed America's evolving trade posture and its implications for the continent. Miller began by stating that Africa will surpass Europe as the world's third-largest economic bloc by 2050. He added that Nigeria would rank among the top ten global economies. By 2100, sub-Saharan Africa will host four of the world's most populous nations, Miller predicted, positioning the continent as an economic superpower. "This is Africa's century," he declared, "but if these opportunities aren't seized strategically, Africa risks being taken advantage of again." Miller contrasted US engagement with that of other global players. He criticised decades of exploitative practices where outsiders "took, took, took, leaving broken promises." By contrast, America, he argued, aims for strategic partnerships anchored in private capital with no debt traps, military occupations, or hollow rhetoric. The distinction lies in market-driven investments, which demand mutual accountability, unlike what Miller termed "debt diplomacy." Miller outlined non-negotiables for nations seeking a partnership with the US. First, Africa must demand tangible value over empty deals, avoiding unsustainable debt disguised as aid. Partnerships should prioritise foreign direct investment in future-proof infrastructure: roads, ports, data centres, and clean energy. He highlighted Africa's critical minerals and youthful workforce as key factors in dominating the AI supply chain, the impact of which he likened to that of the Industrial Revolution. Second, accelerating business climate reforms is essential. Enforcing contracts, stabilising currencies, and rooting out corruption are not just suggestions but "the price of admission" for attracting trillion-dollar US pension funds and private capital. While praising Nigeria's "gutsy" currency reforms, Miller urged broader, faster action continent-wide. Third, Africa must choose allies wisely. Miller drew sharp contrasts between China's record of "unregulated fishing, environmental disasters, and crippling debt" and the US's contributions such as PEPFAR's HIV/AIDS support, security cooperation against groups like Boko Haram, and conflict mediation in hotspots like the DRC-Rwanda border. True friendship, he stressed, respects sovereignty and borders without exploitation. Furthermore, Miller decoded recent US moves. He explained that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), set to expire in September 2025, faces an uncertain future. "Why renew one-way preferences," he noted, "if African nations impose tariffs on US goods or favour Chinese partners?" His solution: proactive renegotiation focused on reciprocity. Miller defended Trump's signature tariffs as multipurpose tools for protecting strategic industries such as auto manufacturing ("a US national security issue") while forcing fairer trade terms. Meanwhile, he emphasized that the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) emerges as Africa's catalyst, deploying profit-driven investments in projects such as the Lobito Corridor and the Mozambique LNG project. "This is revenue-generating capital, not debt," Miller emphasised, urging reforms to unlock giants like BlackRock and CalPERS. Miller offered advice to African leaders on how to deal with the US. He stressed the importance of preparation before meetings. He also underlined identifying President Trump's priorities before meetings by following his Truth Social Platform. In addition, Miller advised African leaders to engage with specific asks and solutions, and shun "photo-ops." He urged them to emulate Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose investment commitments and peace-building efforts earned early presidential visits. Moreover, he encouraged them to push CEOs and investors, not just bureaucrats, to amplify Africa's economic narrative globally. In conclusion, Miller called for Africa's potential to be translated into provable partnerships through renegotiating AGOA terms for mutual benefit, fast-tracking business reforms to attract private capital, and demanding infrastructure-for-minerals deals to build AI capacity. He also urged African leaders to proactively engage the DFC on bankable projects and, above all, to champion stability, the bedrock of investment. In closing, Shankar revealed that Miller has been appointed Senior Adviser to Gateway Partners to "bring American capital to Africa's future industries." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Miami Herald
13 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Epique Realty Unveils EpiqueAI 2.0 - Thinking Outside the Chatbox
NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESS Newswire / June 26, 2025 / In a highly anticipated keynote at PowerCON 2025, CEO and Co-Founder Joshua Miller, the original architect of Epique's award-winning technology, unveiled the next leap forward: EpiqueAI 2.0. This bold evolution of the proprietary AI platform is designed to move beyond simple automation and serve as a strategic partner for every agent. "The first wave of AI was about handling simple tasks. That's yesterday's news," Miller declared to the energized audience. "EpiqueAI 2.0 is about amplification. It's about making our agents smarter, more creative, and more strategic. We're not giving you a better chatbox; we're giving you an on-demand business partner that lives in your pocket. We didn't just think outside the box-we've deleted the box entirely." Building on the success of industry-leading tools like AIPRO, Virtual Staging, and the fan-favorite Sound Smarter tool, EpiqueAI 2.0 introduces a new suite of groundbreaking features: BrokerAI: Now smarter, faster, and more intuitive, providing instantaneous, expert-level answers to your most complex real estate Coaches: Move beyond generic advice with on-demand, personalized business coaching in real-time to sharpen your skills and game-plan your next 2.0: Your upgraded Epique Real Estate Intelligence Quotient, now with enhanced market insights, predictive analytics, and AI-generated action plans to help you dominate your market. EpiqueAI 2.0 is a testament to the company's philosophy of building technology that doesn't just support agents but empowers them to reach new heights of success. Welcome to the future of real estate. Powered by AI. Built by Epique. About Epique RealtyEpique Realty is a trailblazing, agent-first real estate brokerage committed to empowering its agents through a comprehensive suite of free resources and benefits including extraordinary support, award-winning AI technology, and a culture of radical generosity that fuels agent success. By questioning industry norms and putting agents at the center of its universe, Epique is not just transforming the real estate market-it is defining the future. #BeEpique Learn more at Barbara Simpson | PR and Communications 281-773-7842 | Barbara@ SOURCE: Epique Realty
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Zohran Mamdani called 'Hamas sympathizer' in Islamophobic attack, Trump ally says 'there will be another 9/11 in NYC'
Even before Indian-origin Zohran Mamdani 's claimed decisive win in the first round of the New York city Democratic mayoral primary, he had become a target of racist attacks from the far right. A barrage of Islamophobic attacks- "Hamas terrorist sympathizer", "jihadist terrorist", calls for deportation and predictions of another 9/11- have been hurled at him on social media and conservative political circles following his stunning victory, according to multiple media reports. The state assembly member, 33, a democratic socialist would become the first Muslim mayor of America's largest city. He has been subjected to a barrage of death threats and xenophobic rhetoric from prominent Republican figures and online activists since his primary win became apparent. These attacks have intensified with Republican elected officials and right-wing media figures accusing him of promoting Islamic law, supporting terrorism and posing a threat to the safety of New Yorkers, especially Jews, reports New York Times. ALSO READ: Zohran Mamdani's win rattles Wall Street mogul: Bill Ackman's stunning pledge to crush NY's likely new mayor Zohran Mamdani faces Islamophobic attacks Right wing media and Republicans targeting Zohran Mamdani have seized on his immigrant background and Muslim faith. Far-right activist and White House whisperer Laura Loomer posted on X that 'there will be another 9/11 in NYC' under Mamdani's leadership. The New York City councilwoman Vickie Paladino described him as a 'known jihadist terrorist' and 'communist' in a radio interview, calling for his deportation despite his American citizenship. Live Events Senior Trump administration figures and officials have also joined the call with White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and architect of mass deportations claiming: 'NYC is the clearest warning yet of what happens to a society when it fails to control migration.' In a series of posts on X, Miller attributed the expected outcome of the primary to 'unchecked migration.' 'The commentary about NYC Democrats nominating an anarchist-socialist for Mayor omits one point: how unchecked migration fundamentally remade the NYC electorate. Democrats change politics by changing voters. That's how you turn a city that defined US dominance into what it is now,' Miller said in a post on the social platform X early Wednesday. ALSO READ: Zohran Mamdani at risk of losing US citizenship? Shocking twist as New York's mayoral race heats up 'To understand the pace and scope of migration to America in past years, one-third of NYC is foreign-born and almost two-thirds of NYC children live in a foreign-born household,' he added in another post. 'NYC is the clearest warning yet of what happens to a society when it fails to control migration,' Miller said in another post, which generated some pushback among more liberal X users. The New York representative Elise Stefanik, Trump's one-time pick for UN ambassador, sent fundraising emails branding Mamdani a 'Hamas terrorist sympathizer' before the race was even called, according to The Guardian. Donald Trump Jr amplified a post reading, 'I'm old enough to remember when New Yorkers endured 9/11 instead of voting for it,' adding: 'New York City has fallen.' Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted an AI-generated image of the Statue of Liberty draped in a burqa. On the other hand, conservative commentator Matt Walsh lamented on how the famously immigrant New York isn't 'an American city anymore' because of its population being 40% foreign-born. ALSO READ: On camera: Pete Hegseth explodes at Fox News journalist and ex-colleague, says 'you're about the worst' Trump calls Mamdani 'communist lunatic' President Donald Trump also weighed in on Wednesday, calling Mamdani a '100% Communist Lunatic' while criticizing his appearance and voice. Speaking on MSNBC about the attacks, Mamdani reflected on their broader impact: 'I've spoken to many Muslims across this city who have shared that their fear of having to be essentially branded a terrorist just by living in public life is one that keeps them preferring life in the shadows, life outside of that specter. And this is not the way that we can have our city be. It's not the way that we can have our country be.' Republicans have also called for deportation of Zohran Mamdani.
USA Today
a day ago
- Business
- USA Today
Black Mountain Golf Course in North Carolina partially reopens after Helene damages
BLACK MOUNTAIN – Following a nearly nine-month closure due to damages from Tropical Storm Helene, the Black Mountain Golf Course has reopened the back nine holes. About a dozen people came out to support the golf course at a June 23 ribbon cutting, marking the course's partial reopening. The back nine holes were available for everyone to play starting June 24. The Black Mountain Golf Course is owned and maintained by the town. At a May 15 special call meeting, Town Manager Josh Harrold gave an update, saying 'more money' has been spent on the golf course since Helene than anything else in the town other than critical infrastructure. According to a June 24 news release posted to the town website, Black Mountain "has invested more than $135,000 in repairing the golf course." These repairs include getting the back nine holes open, culvert and cart path repairs, irrigation system restoration and pro shop renovations. The release said repairs to the front nine holes, golf cart barn and cart paths and bridges will take place "in a few months" as funds become available. At the May 12 regular session meeting, nine residents spoke in favor of opening the golf course during the public comment period. Some spoke of not wanting the golf course to be closed, something Harrold said 'has never been discussed or considered' at the May 15 meeting. According to Harrold, the FEMA damage inventory estimate for the golf course and operations is $2 million. According to a document provided to Black Mountain News by Harrold, the golf course made nearly $182,000 in revenue in 2024. Black Mountain Golf Course Manager Brent Miller said golf has increased in popularity since COVID and net profit in a "good year" is between $150,000 and $200,000. At the June 23 ribbon cutting, Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cheryl Hyde said the chamber is 'excited' to have the golf course back open. Including staff, Miller said the golf course spends between $450,000 and $500,000 on maintenance each year. Harrold said the town is continuing to work on getting the front nine holes open and that it will 'take some time.' 'I hate that it's taken this long to get the back nine open,' Harrold said. 'But we are finally here and ready.' Harrold said he wanted to thank Miller and Jerry Brigman, golf course superintendent, for the work they have put in getting the back nine holes open. 'They're they rockstars here,' Harrold said. 'They've busted their butts to get this course open, and they've done a hell of a job.' Brigman told Black Mountain News the golf course had 35 trees come down across the property during Helene. Helene brought historic flooding across Western North Carolina, killing more than 100 people across the state and causing nearly $60 billion in damages. Much of the golf course equipment flooded from rain and water from the Tomahawk branch of the Swannanoa River and became unusable, leaving the town searching for options. 'We lost our shop, all of our equipment,' Brigman said. 'We went seven months without being able to mow anything, maintain anything. We didn't have irrigation for almost eight months.' The June 24 news release said the maintenance building will need to be demolished and relocated to be in compliance with FEMA standards, and the work will be reimbursable by the agency. Once the town leased equipment at the end of April, Brigman said the team was able to start mowing to playable heights. He said he wants to 'thank everybody' for being patient as the town works to get the golf course reopened. 'We still got a lot of work ahead of us,' Brigman said. 'But we're buckling down and we're doing all we can do to try to get this back to 100%.' Miller told Black Mountain News having the back nine holes reopen is a 'relief.' 'We've needed to get going in the right direction for a long time,' Miller said. 'We've been working towards it, but this actually feels like the culmination of that.' He said the Black Mountain Golf Course would usually see around 150 golfers each day, and he expects to see half that number with only half the course being open. Annually, Miller said there are between 30,000 and 33,000 rounds played. As for what is next for the golf course, Miller said he wants to continue working to get the front nine holes reopened. 'Doing what we can within the funds and the means that we have to get it done as quick as possible,' Miller said. 'And also have a product that people want to come back and play on this golf course. We've always kept it in relatively good shape for what we had to work with and we don't want to put out a subpar product.' Karrigan Monk is the Swannanoa Valley communities reporter for Black Mountain News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kmonk@
