Latest news with #QueenCity
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ruais, Cavanaugh among 41 running for major offices in 2025 Manchester municipal election
Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais filed papers seeking a second term Tuesday, one of 41 candidates running for office thus far in the 2025 municipal election. Among those filing Tuesday was Ruais's opponent for mayor in the 2023 general election, Kevin Cavanaugh, who is seeking the Ward 1 alderman seat he occupied for eight years. Since publicly announcing his intention to run for a second term in January, Ruais's campaign reports over $500,000 raised, with more than $450,000 cash on hand. Ruais said when he was sworn into office 19 months ago, he promised the people of Manchester "a new beginning" with a goal of making the Queen City the best mid-sized city in the United States. 'Working collaboratively with our community partners, we have realized many successes on affordable housing, reducing crime and overdoses all while delivering two budgets that came further under the tax cap than any previous budgets,' Ruais said in a statement. 'However, we know much more work remains, and we are just getting started. 'We have bigger plans on the horizon to keep Moving Manchester Forward. I humbly ask you for the opportunity to lead the city for another two years so that we can continue achieving positive results for the Queen City.' Ruais is running unopposed at the moment. Cavanaugh enters the Ward 1 alderman race with one opponent thus far — Planning Board chairman Bryce Kaw-uh. 'Manchester is where I was born and raised as well as where my wife Kerri and I chose to raise our kids. To us, Manchester is home,' Cavanaugh said in a statement. 'With every campaign, I have focused on public safety and public education, and this campaign will be no different.' Ward 1 resident and former Manchester Chief of Police Allen Aldenberg voiced support for Cavanaugh, saying he was 'very supportive of the Manchester Police Department and public safety initiatives' during his tenure as chief. 'He was willing to have open and honest discussions about public safety issues and the means to address them,' Aldenberg said. 'As a Ward 1 resident I am confident that Kevin will continue to serve the residents of Manchester well and with integrity.' The two-week window for candidates to file papers to run for office in the 2025 Manchester municipal election opened Monday, July 14, at 8 a.m. Declarations of candidacy will be accepted at the City Clerk's Office at City Hall during regular business hours until the filing period ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 25. Voters in each ward will select a mayor, two aldermen at-large, two school committee members at-large, one alderman, one school committee member and various ward officials, including a moderator, a ward clerk and three selectmen. A total of 41 candidates for aldermen and school board seats have now filed paperwork during the first day of the filing period. The municipal primary election will be held on Sept. 16 with the general election being held on Nov. 4. The following candidates all filed paperwork as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, to run for office: Citywide races Mayor: Jay Ruais. Alderman at-large: Chris Morgan, Dan O'Neil School committeeman at-large: Jim O'Connell, Cindy Stewart WARD 1 Alderman: Bryce Kaw-uh, Kevin Cavanaugh School board: Julie Turner WARD 2 Alderman: Dan Goonan, Ben Prescott School board: Sean Parr, Melodye Smith WARD 3 Alderman: Avery Cyr, Dana Dexter, Glenn RJ Ouellette School board: Sarah Georges, Cali Rojas WARD 4 Alderman: Christine Fajardo School board: Leslie Want WARD 5 Alderman: Jason Bonilla, Kathleen Paquette School board: Jeff Taylor, Mark Millet WARD 6 Alderman: Crissy Kantor School board: Dan Bergeron, Chastice Cocchiarella WARD 7 Alderman: Ross Terrio, Tom Bozoian School board: Chris Potter WARD 8 Alderman: Ed Sapienza, Clyde Perezcastaneda School board: None WARD 9 Alderman: Jim Burkush, Troy Micklon School board: Bob Baines WARD 10 Alderman: Bill Barry School board: Gary Hamer WARD 11 Alderman: Norm Vincent, Lawrence Bryant School board: Elizabeth 'Liz' O'Neil-Wong WARD 12 Alderman: Kelly Thomas School board: Carlos Gonzalez Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Charlotte's sports scene surges with 2026 MLS All-Star Game
Charlotte likely cemented itself as a soccer city this week after MLS commissioner Don Garber announced the Queen City will host league's 2026 All-Star Game. Game On: MLS All-Star Game coming to Queen City It's part of an ongoing effort to put Charlotte on the map through sports. Channel 9 sports reporter DaShawn Brown sat down with one of the key players making it happen. Charlotte-native Will Pitts was named CEO for the Charlotte Sports Foundation this past spring, after his work with the nonprofit since 2010. Pitts was part of the team for the city's first ACC Football Championship game. 'As we think about future opportunities, we need to continue to be creative,' Pitts said. 'When we think about the industry, I would define it as sports and entertainment.' This includes bringing Savannah Bananas baseball to a football stadium when a franchise record-setting crowd was recorded in Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium. Savannah Bananas bring Banana Ball to Bank of America Stadium Then there's the Charlotte Invitational, which returns for a second year, which featured a tennis match in what's normally a basketball arena, at the Spectrum Center. Pitts said it's part of their winning formula: Innovation and collaboration. 'We're working closely with the city, the county, the venues, Tepper Sports and Entertainment, Hornets Sports and Entertainment to think creatively about what opportunities are out there that would be great for our community. Some events that already exist, and others that we manufacture and create new.' CSF officials publicly stated their interest in future events including the NFL Draft and an Army-Navy football game. To date, Pitts said they haven't submitted an official bid for the draft but received feedback for both events. 'They've experienced Charlotte through site visits and conversations to this point. They're experiences have been great; they've been very complimentary of what Charlotte has to offer. It probably just comes down to timing,' he said. 'We'll be working through that trying to bring that to fruition in the future.' Meanwhile, the total economic impact from its events continues to grow each year, according to the CSF Annual Report: 2024: $90.6 million 2023: $79.7 million 2022: $77.2 million Pitts projects CSF could surpass $100 million in total economic impact in 2025. VIDEO: Game On: MLS All-Star Game coming to Queen City
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
15 Cheap Thrills In Charlotte That Cost Next To Nothing
Enjoy Charlotte's cultural side for free with museum nights, public art walks, and live music in Midtown. Savor the outdoors with scenic bike rides, garden strolls, and picnics in Freedom Park or the Whitewater Center. Keep it fun and frugal with open mic nights, yoga at Lenny Boy Brewing, and bustling farmers not difficult to find something to do in Charlotte; the Queen City is filled with all sorts of ways to stay busy, from sporting events and public art exhibitions to gorgeous green spaces and world-class museums. And if you're trying to stick to a budget while simultaneously immersing yourself in all that Charlotte has to offer? You've got options. There are plenty of low-cost (or even completely free), low-effort things to do that visitors and residents of all ages will enjoy—you just have to know where to find them. To save you the time, we went ahead and did the legwork for you. Below, you'll find our official list of the best cheap or free things to do in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte's roster of museums is impressive; there's history, science, and art of all mediums to explore. Several of the institutions also offer free admission on select days every month. On Wednesdays from 5 to 9 p.m., the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, both of the Mint Museums, and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art are all free to visit. The Schiele Museum of Natural History is also free from 4 to 8 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. 551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202 500 South Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202 (Uptown); 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 (Randolph) 420 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054 Charlotte's creative side isn't just relegated to museums and galleries. Its neighborhoods—including NoDa, South End, and Plaza Midwood—boast a variety of their own public art displays and murals. Spend a morning or an afternoon exploring your chosen area, and using the Art Walks curated maps to guide your journey. There's always a reason to celebrate in Charlotte, and its residents go above and beyond during several free-to-attend festivals throughout the year. The family-friendly Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival and the Asian Festival out on Lake Norman celebrate Asian cultures, and the Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade includes improv shows, live music, film events, and more. Taste of Charlotte is another exciting event to add to your summer calendar; admission is free, and you can purchase 'coins' to buy food, drinks, and tickets for kids' activities. You don't have to leave the city to find green spaces and an abundance of natural beauty. The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens are free and open to the public, and the greenhouses and outdoor gardens are the perfect places to ground yourself among all kinds of flowers and other types of plants. Don't miss the McMillan Greenhouse's collection of desert succulents and tropical and exotic plants. 9090 Craver Rd, Charlotte, NC 28262 Late spring and early summer days (before the real heat sets in) call for a bike ride through some of Charlotte's beautiful neighborhoods. There is a seemingly endless number of places to ride, and you can plot out your journey using TrailLink or Tarheel Trailblazers' maps. Just be sure to wear a helmet, share your location with a friend or family member, and bring enough water to keep you hydrated. Walking around a local farmers market is a fun, affordable way to spend a weekend morning, and Charlotte has several to choose from. The year-round Charlotte Regional Farmers Market has everything you might need on your weekly grocery list: fruit, meat, dairy products, and vegetables, among other goods. Kings Drive Farmers Market and Mount Holly Farmers Market are both open seasonally, April through October. 1801 Yorkmont Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217 226 S. Main St. Mount Holly, NC 28120 938 S Kings Dr, Charlotte, NC, United States, North Carolina Weekends at the Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte (or CATch, for short) are full of laughs. There's an improv show every Friday and Saturday night, and tickets are just $10 per person. You can purchase tickets online or in person, and the theater serves a selection of local and regional beer, as well as red and white wine options. Have dinner before the show—most of them last around an hour and a half—or snack on some concessions before grabbing a late-night meal afterward. 4128 South Blvd. Suite A3, Charlotte, NC 28209 If you're not careful, even a casual meal can result in a relatively high bill. Instead of running that risk, invite your friends for a picnic lunch or early dinner in Freedom Park. Either pack your own sandwiches or other delicious bites, or pick up a few pizzas—maybe the margherita and the pistachio—from the Inizio Pizza Dilworth location. Freedom Park: 1900 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203 No interest in rafting? Don't forgo the Whitewater Center just yet. It has more than 40 miles of trails along the Catawba River and through pine and hardwood forests, and hikers and trail runners don't need a pass to access them. Familiarize yourself with the Trail Map ahead of time, and check the website before you leave your house (just in case weather conditions result in trail closure). 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214 Open mic nights are one of the most affordable ways to spend a fun night out in Charlotte. The Evening Muse hosts one every Monday night, and tickets are just $5 (plus service fees). Or, you can swing by Town Brewing on Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.; it's free to attend, but you'll want to bring a few dollars for one of the brewery's signature beers. 3227 N. Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28205 800 Grandin Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208 Meet new people, get some exercise, and learn a new skill (or brush up on an old one) with the Charlotte Ballet. Sponsored by Culture Blocks, the organization hosts weekly dance classes—like jazz fitness, Afro beats fitness, and senior ballet—for all skill levels and ages. The classes are free to join, and they're hosted at various locations in the Charlotte area. various locations When warm weather arrives in Charlotte, so does the live music. Every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., local musicians bring their talents to the Metropolitan shopping area. Parking and admission are both free, and the event is dog-friendly. While you're there, enjoy dinner at 3rd & Fernwood or Dressler's, then a sweet treat from the Peach Cobbler Factory. 1111 Metropolitan Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204 $5 for a yoga class and a drink is a tough deal to beat, so make your way to Lenny Boy Brewing on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. The 7:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. beginner-friendly vinyasa flow classes also come with a 6-ounce pour of kombucha, which Lenny Boy brews in-house (along with beer, sours, and wild ales). 3000 S. Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28217 Keep your mind sharp with a weekly game of chess. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system hosts a handful of chess meetups for all ages. Join the Gaining Freedom Chess Club or Chess Time! to learn the game or start to hone your skills. There's also a community drop-in event called Checkmate'd that's ideal for all skill levels. various locations For a flat, relatively easy, shaded trail, head to the Evergreen Nature Preserve. The kid- and dog-friendly walk is about a 1.7-mile loop that consists of several smaller trails, and the entire route will take around 30-35 minutes to complete. The 77-acre preserve is open year-round, and it's just a few miles from Uptown—so it's great for those days when you want a quick escape into nature. 1336 Norland Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205 Read the original article on Southern Living
CTV News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Proud to be Canadian': National pride on full display during Canada Day events in Regina
The true north was certainly 'strong and free' on Tuesday, as those in Regina flocked to Wascana Park for a day full of family friendly activities and entertainment. 'We definitely have a large group of every culture that's in Regina. It's really cool to see everybody in the community come together and just be proud to be Canadian,' shared Brice Perkins, media coordinator for the Regina Canada Day Committee. More than 50,000 people attended Canada Day celebrations in the Queen City, where they were treated to bouncy castles, food trucks, live music and other activities. The crowds in attendance resembled a sea of red and white – stemming from Canadian merchandise like red hats to tattoos of the maple leaf. 'That's something really nice about Canada Day it just brings out all the positivity that everyone has,' Perkins added. 'It's like Christmas in July, everyone's happy for one day and it's just really good to see the public over there.' Aside from the events in Wascana Park, other festivities were held at Government House. Canada Day Regina Canada Day festivities were held in Wascana Park on July 1, 2025. (Sierra D'Souza Butts/CTV News) While this year's attendance numbers were comparable to previous years – the committee admitted that national pride seemed to be top of mind to many residents. 'We're definitely seeing more pride. For example, last year we ordered about 2,000 flags and tattoos. This year we did 10,000 and we ran out in the morning,' explained Perkins. 'It just shows you that there's a lot more people in the park, a lot more people feeling that Canadian pride and just showcasing that they're proud to be Canadian.' The day-long celebration is set to close with a 17-minute-long fireworks display at Wascana Park.
CTV News
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Here's what's happening in Regina for Canada Day
A Saskatchewan and Canadian flag can be seen in Regina. (David Prisciak/CTV News) Canada Day, also known by many in Regina as Tatanga Day, falls on a Tuesday this year, but there will still be plenty of events for people to take part in. Here are some of the things you can do to celebrate July 1 in the Queen City. Wascana Park A pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m. will be followed by several activities throughout the day at Wascana Park, including a family fun zone, a vendor market, and food truck alley. From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a tethered hot air balloon ride will also be offered. The main stage will feature musical performances beginning at 1p.m., leading up to Jake Vaadeland & the Sturgeon Boys, and Harlequin. The festivities will conclude with fireworks. More information on the day's events can be found here. Albert Street from College Avenue to Regina Avenue will be closed to traffic in the evening and will remain closed until after the fireworks end. Legislative Drive will also be closed and will reopen on July 2. Government House The Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan will be hosting a celebration at Government House from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Several performances will be held on the main stage, including Kung Fu Regina's Lion Dancers and The Austrian Edelweiss Dance Group. There will be shows from KAOS Dogsports, as well as face painting and a bouncy castle. In addition, the Government House Historical Society's Vintage & Collectibles Sale will be held inside the building from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event is open to the public and free to attend. More information can be found here. RCMP Heritage Centre From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., the RCMP Heritage Centre will be hosting their Canda Day celebration. There will be face painting, a balloon artist, lawn games, a Cadet obstacle course, craft making station, and a meet and greet with Monte the Moose. The event is open to the public and free to attend. More information can be found here. There will also be a Sunset Ceremony beginning at 6 p.m., with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. For anyone who misses the ceremony, there will be three more taking place in July. Buffalo Meadows Park Hosted by the Buffalo People Arts Institute, Tatanga Day festivities will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Buffalo Meadows Park. The annual event was introduced for people to celebrate and acknowledge Indigenous history on July 1. The event will showcase music, dance, art, storytelling, as well as craft and food vendors. All are welcome to attend the free gathering. All Regina Public library (RPL) locations will be closed. However, library staff will be taking part in the Tatanga Day gathering, as well as the RPL family fun zone at the Legislative grounds. City services Some City of Regina services will be closed or will be operating on reduced schedules on Canada Day. All civic offices will be closed. Outdoor pools will have regular operating hours with Buffalo Meadows, Maple Leaf, Massey, and Regent all open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wascana outdoor pool will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The North West Leisure Centre will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the Sportplex – Fieldhouse & Lawson Aquatic Centre will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, the Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre is closed for maintenance. Bus service will be operating on the Sunday schedule, but the Information Centre and RIDELine will be closed. Paratransit will be operating on a holiday schedule from 8 a.m. to midnight. Waste collection, including garbage, recycling, and compost will be picked up per their usual schedule. The landfill will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with entry gates closing at 5:15 p.m. The office at Riverside Memorial Park and Regina Cemetery will be closed but the gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Parking meters will not be in effect.
