Latest news with #TheHeart
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Michelle Obama on why she's 'not letting up' about nutrition for kids
In a Parents Magazine interview published July 22, Obama, 61, said that "we've simply got to make it easier for families to raise healthier kids. We need to make the healthy option the easy option." "We've got to make it easy for parents to afford - and cook with - fresh ingredients," Obama continued. "We've got to make it easy for kids to get some exercise during the school day. We've got to make it easy for everybody to hydrate themselves without loading up on sugar." Michelle Obama: 'Everyone would know' if she divorced Barack Obama: 'I'm not a martyr' Obama -who said that "children's health is about so much more than our kids" - told Parents that "what's available in our stores, what's on the menu in schools, whether or not our kids can play safely at the playground, it all ladders up to the wellbeing of our families and communities." "It's a challenge I've tackled from a variety of ways for more than a decade and a half. And I'm not letting up any time soon," she added. Obama got candid for the interview as Parents honors her with its Next Gen Awards, which applauds the work of 40 "changemakers" that have "made life better for kids and families this year." When did Michelle Obama start advocating for school lunch changes? Obama has advocated for healthier nutrition for children since the first term of her husband and former President Barack Obama, who took office in 2009. He signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law in 2010 and Michelle Obama supported the idea to improve the nutrition of school lunches and farm-to-school programs. During her husband's second term in 2014, she sparred with some congressional Republicans, who believed the school lunch nutrition issue was local versus federal. Michelle Obama discusses parenting daughters Malia and Sasha in the White House In the Parents interview, Michelle Obama, mom to Malia Ann, 27, and 24-year-old Sasha Obama, also got candid about parenting, telling the outlet that she and former President Obama, 63, "did everything we could to give our girls as normal of a life as possible" while they were growing up. "When we were at the White House, we made sure they were doing things like making their beds every morning and as they got older, getting summer jobs," she added. Michelle Obama reveals daughter Malia Obama's name change The "IMO" podcast cohost said that her daughters' lives "slowly began to inch a little closer toward normalcy," but their "extraordinary" circumstances have "forced them to learn critical skills like discipline, flexibility, and determination to go after what they really wanted." Now, Malia Ann is pursuing a film career in Hollywood and recently helmed a 2023 short film "The Heart" which she wrote and directed. The Obamas celebrated the birthday of their youngest daughter Sasha, a University of Southern California grad, last month. Contributing: David Jackson, Christine Rushton
USA Today
07-07-2025
- General
- USA Today
Twin sisters. Woman who 'shaped generations of campers': Texas flood victims remembered
Camp directors. Sisters. Teachers. Grandparents. More than 80 people died in flooding in central Texas. Here are stories of those who lost their lives. A director of a Texas summer camp for girls who was known as the "heart and soul" of the program. Two sisters found together after being swept away by floodwaters. A beloved teacher from the Houston metropolitan area. Destructive flooding triggered by unrelenting rain that rapidly overwhelmed the Guadalupe River has killed at least 81 people across central Texas. State and local officials said search and rescue efforts were still underway, including for 10 children and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp at the edge of the Guadalupe River. At least 27 children and counselors from the all-girls summer camp, which has long had ties to top Texas political figures, have died. The river surged over 26 feet in less than an hour on July 4, carrying away cars, RVs and structures. It blew out the wall of one camp building where children slept, leaving debris-covered mud amid pink blankets and stuffed animals. Flooding-related deaths have been reported in six counties. The victims include summer camp directors, teachers, grandparents, parents, and children. Here are the stories of those who lost their lives: Jane Rasgdale Jane Ragsdale was the "heart and soul" of Heart O' the Hills, a summer camp for girls in Kerr County, according to the program's website. She was a camper and a counselor there before becoming a co-owner of the camp in 1976. Ragsdale later served as the camp's program director from 1978 to 1987, and went on to become the camp director in 1988, the website added. In a statement, the camp said it was "right in the path of the flood" and its facilities sustained serious damage. They noted that since the camp was between sessions when the flooding occurred, no children had been staying there. "However, our Director and the camp's longtime co-owner, Jane Ragsdale, lost her life. We at the camp are stunned and deeply saddened by Jane's death," the camp said in the statement. "She embodied the spirit of Heart O' the Hills and was exactly the type of strong, joyful woman that the camp aimed to develop with the girls entrusted to us each summer." The camp also paid tribute to Ragsdale in a Facebook post, saying she was "the heart of The Heart." "Jane wasn't just our director, she was our guiding light, our example, and our safe place. She had the rare gift of making every person feel seen, loved, and important. Her kindness, strength, and wisdom shaped generations of campers and staff," the post states. "Her legacy lives in every laugh heard on the hill, every tradition passed down, every song we sing, every manner she taught us and every life she touched, which is too many to count," the post continued. − Thao Nguyen Blair and Brooke Harber Two young sisters, Blair and Brooke Harber, were staying in Hill Country over the Fourth of July holiday when their "lives were tragically cut short" by flooding along the Guadalupe River, according to St. Rita Catholic School. The school said in a statement on Facebook that Blair was a rising eighth grader, while Brooke was entering the sixth grade. The school described Blair as an "outstanding student" who was enrolled in advanced classes and actively involved in school activities. She played several sports, cheered for the school's cheerleading team, served as a student ambassador, and was part of the yearbook team and speech and drama program. Brooke was an "excellent student who brought joy and energy wherever she went," according to the school. She also played several sports, and loved speech and drama, in which she had a gift for improv, the school noted. "Blair had the kindest heart and loved to serve others," the school said. "Brooke never met a stranger and loved everyone she met." The two girls had been with their grandparents, who remain missing, when the flooding occurred. The girls' parents were in a separate cabin and were safe, according to the school. "Blair and Brooke were young women of deep faith, and religion was one of their favorite subjects. On the night they died, they went to the loft of their cabin with their rosaries," the school said. "When Blair and Brooke were found the next day, fifteen miles downriver, they were together. Even in their last moments, they held tightly to each other, a powerful symbol of their lasting bond and their trust in God." − Thao Nguyen Jeff Wilson Jeff Wilson died in the flood, according to a social media post from the Humble Independent School District. "Tonight our #HumbleISDFamily is grieving the devastating loss of @HumbleISD_KPHS teacher Jeff Wilson, who passed away due to the catastrophic flooding in Kerrville," the school district said, which is located in the city of Humble in the Houston metropolitan area. Wilson had been a teacher in the school district for 30 years. He worked at both Humble High School and Kingwood Park High School. "He was a beloved teacher and co-worker to many and will be deeply missed," according to the school district. "Jeff's brother-in-law has shared that at this time, Jeff's wife Amber and son Shiloh are still considered missing. Please continue to keep their entire family, and ours, in your prayers." − Thao Nguyen Sarah Marsh Sarah Marsh, an 8-year-old from suburban Birmingham, Alabama, died in the flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas, according to Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch. Welch said the city of Mountain Brook was heartbroken over the "tragic loss" of Sarah, who was a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary. The mayor noted that the community would come together and support the Marsh family. "This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school, and our entire community," Welch said in a statement on Facebook. "Sarah's passing is a sorrow shared by all of us, and our hearts are with those who knew and loved her. As we grieve alongside the Marsh family, we also remember the many others affected by this tragedy." − Thao Nguyen Dick Eastland Camp Mystic owner Richard "Dick" Eastland died while trying to save campers, the Houston Chronicle and the Washington Post reported. Family and friends of Eastland described him as a father figure for generations of girls who attended the summer camp, according to the Chronicle. In an Instagram tribute, his grandson said Eastland was more than his grandfather. He said Eastland was his "dear friend, fishing buddy, hunting guide, golf partner, avid Texas Longhorns fanatic, my #1 fan, and above all else: a hero." "If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for," George Eastland wrote in the post. "That's the man my grandfather was. A husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to thousands of young women, he no longer walks this earth, but his impact will never leave the lives he touched." − Thao Nguyen Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence The twin granddaughters of David Lawrence Jr., the former publisher of the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, were among the dozens killed over the weekend, he told the Miami Herald. The girls, both 8 years old, and their sister, 14, attended Camp Mystic, the newspaper reported. 'It has been an unimaginable time for all of us," Lawrence told the Herald. "Hanna and Rebecca gave their parents, John and Lacy, and sister, Harper, and all in our family, so much joy. They and that joy can never be forgotten." Contributing: Charles A. Ventura, USA TODAY
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Business Standard
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Tagore's handwritten letters fetch ₹5.9 crore at AstaGuru auction
A set of 35 handwritten letters by Rabindranath Tagore, along with 14 envelopes, was sold for ₹5.9 crore in AstaGuru's recent 'Collectors' Choice' auction, underscoring his undying allure. AstaGuru said the auction — held on June 26 and 27 — was especially significant as the lot was not a visual artwork but a manuscript-based archive, and yet achieved the second-highest price ever for a Rabindranath creation at auction. The letters were addressed to sociologist, musicologist and confidant Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji, and dated between 1927 and 1936. Twelve of these letters were written on various letterheads — from Visva-Bharati, his Uttarayan residence, Glen Eden in Darjeeling, and aboard his houseboat, Padma. 'This is not just a literary artefact; it's a self-portrait of the Nobel Laureate in his own words,' said Manoj Mansukhani, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), AstaGuru. 'Their correspondence captures everything from philosophical musings and literary self-defence to aesthetic theory and emotional vulnerability.' According to Mansukhani, Tagore's letters are rare, though individual ones occasionally surface. 'But a set as extensive, intellectually rich, and emotionally candid as this, comprising 35 handwritten letters and 14 envelopes, is exceptionally uncommon,' he said. 'Also, most of Tagore's important correspondence is held in institutional archives. So offerings like this in the public domain are few and far between.' The letters were part of a private collection. The provenance has been carefully documented, and several of the letters have been published in major journals and books over the years, Mansukhani added. Apart from the trove of letters, The Heart — the only known sculpture by Rabindranath Tagore — also went under the virtual hammer at AstaGuru's 'Collectors' Choice' auction. Believed to be dedicated to Kadambari Devi, the wife of Rabindranath Tagore's brother Jyotirindranath Tagore, the quartzite piece was sold for around ₹1,04,52,210. It dates back to 1883 during a retreat in Karwar, Karnataka, when Tagore was 22. Tagore's letters and The Heart were among 77 lots offered at the auction. While the letters fetched the highest price, the second-highest was for a work by M F Husain from his Mother Teresa series, which sold for approximately ₹3,80,08,036.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rabindranath Tagore's only known sculpture sells for Rs 1.04 crore in auction; set of 35 handwritten letters fetches Rs 5.9 crore; rare works shed light on poet's emotional world
Rabindranath Tagore's only known sculpture, 'The Heart,' believed to be dedicated to Kadambari Devi, fetched over ₹1 crore at a Kolkata auction. A set of 35 letters from Tagore to sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji sold for ₹5.9 crore. Created in 1883, 'The Heart' features a poignant Bengali inscription. KOLKATA: 'The Heart', the only known sculptural piece attributed to Rabindranath Tagore, was sold for Rs 1,04,52,210 at an auction in the city on Friday. Its estimated price was between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 70 lakh. According to auction house AstaGuru's 'Collectors' Choice', the sculpture is believed to have been dedicated to Kadambari Devi, wife of his brother Jyotirindranath. At the same auction, a set of 35 handwritten letters and 14 envelopes sent by Tagore to sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji between 1927 and 1936, fetched Rs 5.9 crore. The estimated bidding price of the set was between Rs 5 crore and Rs 7 crore. Tagore was only 22 when he sculpted 'The Heart' in 1883 during a contemplative retreat in the coastal town of Karwar in Karnataka in the company of his brother Satyendranath and sister-in-law Jnanadanandini Devi. On it, he engraved in Bengali — 'Having cut my heart of stone,I have engraved (the words) with my own hand. Will it ever be effaced by the flow of tears?' You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata In 1941, a photograph of the sculpture was published in 'The Calcutta Municipal Gazette'. The caption mentioned it as a 'piece of quartzite stone cut in the form of a heart by the poet's own hands and the verse composed and engraved by him... It was presented to his friend, the poet Akshoychandra'. Akshoychandra Chowdhury was a classmate of Jyotirindranath. 'This emotionally charged and deeply personal object not only expands the understanding of Tagore's artistic practice but also offers a rare glimpse into his inner world during a formative period. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Preserved in a russet pouch, this intimate object reveals a lesser-known dimension of the Nobel laureate's creative life: a brief foray into sculpture infused with emotional vulnerability. Seen by many as a gesture of unrequited love, the sculpture transforms inner grief into form—bearing the emotional weight of a young Tagore's private longing, etched forever in stone,' said Manoj Mansukhani, CMO, AstaGuru Auction House. Akshoychandra passed on the piece to his daughter, Umarani, who subsequently gave it to her daughter, Debjani. Painter Atul Bose was married to Debjani, and the piece was in their care until its re-emergence for public appreciation when it was exhibited in Kolkata in 2024. 'Any piece by Tagore, be it a sculpture or a letter, is priceless. It does not surprise me that they fetched a high value. Though it is completely the prerogative of the owner to decide where they want to keep it, I would personally love to see them in museums where the public has a chance to view them. People should be able to read letters written by Tagore or see a piece sculpted by him. Though I belong to the family, I believe Tagore belongs to humanity,' said Sumanto Chattopadhyay, great-great-grandson of Satyendranath Tagore. The letters that Tagore sent to sociologist Mukerji offer deep insight into the poet's creative evolution, philosophical reflections, and transition from literary to visual expression. 'The result is especially significant considering the lot was not a visual artwork but a manuscript-based archive and yet became the second-highest price ever achieved for a Rabindranath Tagore creation at auction,' Mansukhani said.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Tagore's 'heart' fetches Rs 1 cr & letters Rs 5.9 cr
'The Heart', the only known sculptural piece attributed to Rabindranath Tagore , was sold for Rs 1.04 crore at a Kolkata auction on Friday. Its estimated price was between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 70 lakh. According to auction house AstaGuru's "Collectors' Choice", the sculpture is believed to have been dedicated to Kadambari Devi, wife of Tagore's brother Jyotirindranath. At the same auction, a set of 35 handwritten letters and 14 envelopes sent by Tagore to sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji between 1927 and 1936, fetched Rs 5.9 crore. The estimated bidding price of the set was between Rs 5 crore and Rs 7 crore. Tagore was only 22 when he sculpted 'The Heart' in 1883 during a contemplative retreat in the coastal town of Karwar in Karnataka in the company of his brother Satyendranath and sister-in-law Jnanadanandini Devi. On it, he engraved in Bengali - "Having cut my heart of stone, I have engraved (the words) with my own hand. Will it be ever effaced by the flow of tears?" "Any piece by Tagore, be it a sculpture or a letter, is priceless. It does't surprise me that they fetched a high value. Though it is the prerogative of the owner to decide where they want to keep it, I would personally love to see them in museums. People should be able to read letters by Tagore or see a piece sculpted by him. Though I belong to the family, I believe Tagore belongs to humanity," said Sumanto Chattopadhyay, great-great-grandson of Satyendranath.
