Latest news with #ParksAndRecreation
CBS News
5 hours ago
- CBS News
Former Massachusetts Parks and Recreation director pleads guilty to stealing $125,000 from town
Kevin Ryder, the former Medfield Parks and Recreation director, pleaded guilty to charges that he stole more than $125,000 from the town. Ryder, 51, was originally indicted in 2023 on four counts of larceny over $1,200 by scheme, one count of larceny under $1,200, one count of accepting illegal gratuities and two counts of use of official position to secure an unwarranted privilege. Prosecutors said that most of the stolen money was collected from entrance and concession fees at Hinkley Swim Pond. He was also accused of using the town's Amazon account to purchase items and resell them online. On Thursday, the Massachusetts Attorney General's office announced that Ryder pleaded guilty and was sentenced in Norfolk Superior Court to 2.5 years in the House of Correction. The judge ordered Ryder to serve six months, with the balance suspended for three years. As part of the plea agreement, Ryder must pay restitution to the Town of Medfield. In addition, he cannot hold a fiduciary role in any job while on probation. Ryder held the director position from 2014 until August 2022 when the town noticed something in its finances. That is when Medfield officials referred the matter to the Attorney General. Prosecutors said Ryder allegedly sold thousands of dollars' worth of youth sports equipment that had been purchased by the town. Sometimes he would make the sales at a small markup, prosecutors said, then keep the proceeds. He also was accused of arraigning for the Parks and Recreation Department to sponsor an exercise program at a gym in town. Ryder allegedly received 50% of the gym's profits, which reached $16,000.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This 'Parks and Rec 'character is Adam Scott's pick to get a spinoff: 'I'd like to see how that worked out'
Scott says he'd love to see if "there were any scandals" with this fan-favorite character, "or if he was able to keep his powder dry." Everyone else is doing it, so why can't Parks and Recreation have a reboot? While various members of the Parks cast and crew have expressed their interest in a reboot, revival, or some kind of return to the beloved fictional town of Pawnee, Ind., no formal plans have yet materialized. But the powers that be likely haven't heard star Adam Scott's bright idea. Scott sits down with Entertainment Weekly Editorial Director Gerrad Hall on this week's episode of EW's Awardist podcast to discuss his freshly Emmy-nominated performance in the Apple TV+ thriller series Severance. Noting that The Office, the mockumentary series that informally spawned Parks, is getting its own spinoff called The Paper, Hall asks Scott, "Of the Parks and Rec characters, is there one specifically you would love to catch up with now, see where they're working, find out what they're doing?" Scott responds without hesitation, and his pick might surprise loyal Parks fans. "Probably Jerry [Jim O'Heir]," Scott replies. "I think because when we left the show, he was mayor, still, of Pawnee. I'd like to see how that worked out, if there were any scandals or if he was able to keep his powder dry and run the town in the way we know it should be run." Indeed, when Parks and Rec wrapped up its seventh and final season in 2015, viewers didn't have to guess where all their favorite characters would end up. The series informed them — Six Feet Under style, but without all the doom and gloom — by flashing into the future and offering closure for each beloved alum of the Pawnee Parks Department. O'Heir's Garry Gergich, mean-spiritedly referred to as "Jerry" throughout most of the series, is Parks' perpetual underdog — overlooked, undervalued, and even mocked for his enduringly sunny outlook. Which is what makes the great fortune bestowed upon him by the Parks finale so sweet. The character is elected mayor of Pawnee in a write-in campaign coup, a position he happily holds until his 100th birthday. "I don't know how my life could get any better than this," he tells Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope in one of their final scenes together. "I feel like Jerry would've done a terrific job," Scott continues, and adds one more idea to boot. "I think also Tom would be a good one to check in with, find out what's going on with Tom, with [Aziz Ansari's] character," he says. Similarly to Garry/Jerry, Ansari's Tom Haverford finds a happy ending in the Parks finale, though one that doesn't come without its hitches, meaning it could make for great spinoff fodder. , On the finale episode "One Last Ride," Tom continues to operate his "classy, authentic" restaurant, Tom's Bistro, which has become the most successful chophouse in Pawnee. However, an economic recession throws open a money pit that pulls Tom's Bistro. But with the help of new wife Lucy (Natalie Morales), Tom writes a bestselling book, which he naturally parlays into a lucrative motivational speaking gig. Tom and Garry/Jerry are prime candidates for a Parks spinoff, and in 2022, one of the series' most key players signaled her openness for more. Poehler, who also produced the series, said she was "always standing by" for a Parks reboot. "Anytime anybody gives me the word, and I'm down." Listen to the full episode of EW's Awardist podcast above. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Halifax takes natural route to keep beaches healthy
New plants at a pair of Halifax-area lakes are expected to do more than just beautify the shorelines; it could keep the waters free of dangerous bacteria. Last summer, the Halifax Regional Municipality 're-naturalized' Birch Cove Beach in Dartmouth as part of an effort to ward off Canada geese. The process involved planting 237 shrubs, grass and perennials around the lake, reducing the lawn space for geese and other winged visitors. 'Canada geese love open areas, they don't want predators hiding behind tall grass,' said Tracy Jessen, naturalization coordinator with the municipality's Parks and Recreation department. Jessen notes geese produce a lot of feces, which can spike the bacteria count at lakes if they are congregating there. The municipality will issue water quality advisories at supervised beaches if tests reveal high levels of bacteria like E. coli. As of Friday, water quality advisories were in effect for Taylor Head Beach, Penhorn Lake Beach and Lake Echo Beach. Jessen said the re-naturalization of Birch Cove was successful last summer, although the municipality will have to continue supporting it for a few more years until it can stand on its own. 'We're seeing more insects, more plant life in the area,' she said. 'It takes a good three years to be established. We've winterized it to help it and then removed that protection. 'We're hoping to get community involvement in maintenance of the site. We still need to keep an eye on invasive species.' The municipality has expanded the re-naturalization project to Penhorn Lake, which has had a problem with a steady geese population for years. Deputy Mayor Tony Mancini said the municipality plans to bring in trained border collies to shoo the birds away. Penhorn Lake Workers helped re-naturalize Penhorn Lake Beach in 2025. (Source: Halifax Regional Municipality) In May the municipality partnered with Heling Nature Heal to run a planting workshop at Penhorn. Along with the re-naturalization, Jessen said they reinforced the water's edge with plants. 'These are beaches that are on bus routes so it's important we keep them open as much as we can,' she said. 'That's why the beach was chosen. It's still about bringing plants and making everything healthier.' Jessen said the re-naturalized beaches do more than ward off birds; they can stop stormwater from filtering into the lakes, further cutting down on the spread of bacteria. Other benefits include improved biodiversity and protection from erosion. 'It's also good for attracting pollinators,' she said. 'When you help pollinators, you help the bird population. A huge part of their diet is caterpillars. We're feeding that whole web.' Jessen said they plan to launch a re-naturalization project at Kinsmen First Lake Beach Park in Lower Sackville in October through the Living Lakeshores program. She notes that beaches and lakes are a crucial part of Nova Scotia's identity, which is why it's important to keep them healthy and thriving. 'A lot of our community identity is through our parks,' she said. 'People like to visit beautiful cities, so tourism is one of those aspects. 'I like to say I'm inviting nature back into the parks.' -With files from CTV News Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Fox News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Nick Offerman says he's 'not going to pick an argument' with Trump-supporter co-star Dennis Quaid
Actor Nick Offerman said last week he wasn't looking to have a political squabble with his "Sovereign" co-star Dennis Quaid over President Donald Trump. "Dennis Quaid is a fantastic actor whom I've looked up to my whole life, and he [is] better in this film than almost anything I've seen him in," Offerman said in a response on Reddit to a commenter asking about how he deals with Trump supporters like Quaid. Offerman had made an "ask me anything" post on the site inviting users to inquire about "Sovereign," his new film with Quaid about an anti-government extremist and his son, and an eventual police standoff. "We didn't have a lot of time together on set, so the context wasn't really conducive to digging into settling the world's problems, or even just those of America. 'Good morning, Dennis. How about those Epstein files? Anyway, want to run our lines,'" Offerman added. The actor, famous for his role as Ron Swanson on "Parks & Recreation," said he believes those who voted for the 47th president are good people, even though he disagrees with them. "Dealing with Trump supporters in the world is something I try to handle with nuance, because I know many others around the states who are very good people and citizens and would give you the shirt of their back," Offerman said. "They are on the receiving end of an absolute firehose of misinformation, so it's really cognitively dissonant (impossible) to engage in rational discourse." He has said that his libertarian "Parks and Recreation" character would have "despised Trump," and he thinks Republicans trend toward fascism. "I think we're all wrong about a lot of things, but the reason I lean left is because at the end of the Republican plan is austerity and literal fascism, sad military muscle parades and mounted troops in the LA, the coolest city in the world, and all the rest of the current bed-s---tings, and at the end of the Democrat plan is health care and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for everybody," he said. Offerman added that he wanted to work with Quaid and leave politics out. "No matter who we voted for, it requires all of us (including an overwhelming number of immigrants) to make the great bounty this country produces, and is then so disproportionately pocketed by the ultra-wealthy, so I am not going to pick an argument with Dennis Quaid over our political leanings because I'm going to shake his hand and try to make a great film," Offerman said.
CNET
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
12 of the Best Peacock Shows You Can Stream Right Now
No, it's not an original Peacock series. But I'd be doing anyone reading this a huge disservice if I didn't mention that the seven-season sitcom focused on the zany occupants of Pawnee, Indiana, has a home on Peacock. This goofy, big-hearted show has drawn genuine belly laughs out of me countless times. It's buoyant, witty and just as good on rewatch. The point is, you'll want to keep this one handy for a mood refresh when you can't get creepy Dr. Death and his spooky scalpel out of your head.
