'Para Mi Familia': Mural depicts sugar beet workers in Fort Collins

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

'Para Mi Familia': Mural depicts sugar beet workers in Fort Collins FORT COLLINS, Colo. (KDVR) — In the city of Fort Collins, a new piece of art in the heart of that community’s downtown is being considered a milestone for the Hispanic community.It took years for a mural depicting Latinos' contributions there to come to life. This wild agua fresca dazzles the tastebuds with an old family recipe It stands in downtown Fort Collins along College Avenue, where there are beautiful pieces of art and other murals. But none of them are like the one being painted by artist Armando Silva.It’s called "Para Mi Familia," which when translated from Spanish to English, means "For My Family." It helps tell the story of Latinos' contributions and their longtime presence in this city’s history.“It’s an attempt to celebrate, to lift up, kind of, the Hispanic community here in Northern Colorado, specifically Fort Collins,” Silva said.'Mamas are always the glue of the familia'The mural depicts a child working in a beet field, with a woman prominently in the middle alo...

How will Thornton keep its road-crossing turkeys safe?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

How will Thornton keep its road-crossing turkeys safe? THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) — Off 124th and York in Thornton, a series of new, yellow signs warns drivers of a potential avian obstacle ahead.But these "slow down" and "watch for turkeys" signs aren't stopping the neighborhood birds from being struck, according to City Councilmember Karen Bigelow."They are getting run over," she said. "And some of them are dying painful deaths."The flock of turkeys is now very much in the spotlight after a Wednesday altercation between so-called "Turkey Lady" Mary Ann Strauch and a driver, who says Strauch hit her car with a stick while she was helping the turkeys cross the road to roost near her home. Coastal state agrees to relocate gray wolves to Colorado The Problem Solvers received multiple emails after the story aired, some voicing displeasure with Strauch's actions and others supporting her for what she does every night.Mary Ann Strauch, known in Thornton as the "turkey lady," helps the neighborhood birds cross the road to roost each evening. (K...

Carjacker swipes woman’s rental SUV at Apopka gas station mid-pump; suspect arrested

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

Carjacker swipes woman’s rental SUV at Apopka gas station mid-pump; suspect arrested APOPKA, Fla. (WSVN) — It was a different kind of pain at the pump for a woman who was taken for a ride when somebody hopped behind the wheel of her rental SUV in Central Florida, leading authorities to make an arrest.Surveillance video of Wednesday night’s carjacking at an Exxon Mobil gas station in Apopka is tough to watch.Witness Morning Leveille, described the frightening moments when a woman was attacked and her vehicle was stolen.“It was obviously like a harrowing incident,” she said.The driver of a light colored Toyota sedan is seen getting out and walks toward the victim, who was pumping gas.A few seconds later, Leveille noticed the man get in the driver’s seat of her SUV and start to take off, and the woman still hadn’t finished filling her tank.“She was like, ‘Get out of my car, and he said, ‘No,'” said Leveille, “and then they threw a couple of punches, and he drove off, which eventually flung her out of the...

Italy’s blue crab invasion: If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

Italy’s blue crab invasion: If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em Marcello Ross is a freelance journalist specializing in the environment and science.FERRARA, Italy — The sun was just coming up over the Sacca di Goro lagoon in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, when Marco Bellan and his wife Barbara hauled in a net teeming with squirming sea creatures — just not the kind they’re used to.In the shallow waters of this expansive inlet, where the Po River drains into the Adriatic Sea, fishermen catch clams for Italy’s signature dish “spaghetti alle vongole” (spaghetti with clams), alongside mussels and oysters. But this year, an unexpected — and decidedly unwelcome — addition joined the mix: blue crabs.And this invasive interloper isn’t only harming the viability of the local economy — there are roughly 3,000 family-run fishing businesses in the area— it’s also posing a threat to the global supply of clams.Originally from the bays and estuaries of the North Atlantic coast of the United States, the blue crab has crossed to the Mediterran...

Benelux battle: How 3 ex-PMs could end up jostling for jobs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

Benelux battle: How 3 ex-PMs could end up jostling for jobs Small countries sometimes have the biggest ambitions. After a decade leading the Grand Duchy, with a population of just 650,000, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel faces an uncertain future. Polls suggest he’s battling against the odds in this weekend’s general election, with the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) on track to kick Bettel’s liberals out of government.  If he does lose the election, he will join a crowded field of newly unemployed ex-leaders and other potential candidates competing for some of the biggest jobs in European Union politics. Many of them come, like Bettel, from the small group of neighboring countries known as Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg).  The three Benelux countries were among the EU’s six founding member countries. They have long enjoyed what some would say is an outsized influence over the way the bloc is run in the decades since it was formed, including taking on many of those prized positio...

How to watch Germany’s state elections like a pro

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

How to watch Germany’s state elections like a pro NÜRNBERG — Germans in Bavaria and Hesse will head to the polls on Sunday in state elections serving as a bellwether of the national mood during a time of rising angst over issues like the economy, migration and the fallout of the war in Ukraine.Bavaria is Germany’s second-most populous state, and Hesse is home to Frankfurt, the country’s financial center and one of its biggest metropolitan areas. Some 20 million people, about one-quarter of the country’s population, live in these states. The election results ought to give us a better sense of just how much angst Germans are feeling across the country.It’s not looking good for the three parties that comprise Germany’s ruling coalition on the federal level — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP). The Christian Democrats (CDU) and far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have been trying to cast the state elections as a referendum on the ruling coalition. It’...

Police investigating after bible, altar burned at vandalized East Bridgewater church

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

Police investigating after bible, altar burned at vandalized East Bridgewater church Authorities in East Bridgewater are investigating after a church near the center of town was vandalized on Friday.Officials with the East Bridgewater police and fire departments say “one or more people” appeared to enter the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church at 210 Central St. sometime during the middle of the day, and proceeded to attempt burning objects while apparently taking food from the pantry.Images shared by the police department showed that a bible as well as the church’s altar were damaged by fire. Officials added that there was also evidence suggesting whoever was responsible tried putting the flames out with both a fire extinguisher and a water jug from a nearby water dispenser.“Investigators believe the suspect or suspects attempted to douse the fire with the water, then used the fire extinguisher when that failed,” a news release stated.Police and firefighters found the scene after being called to the church around 3:40 p.m., after t...

Halloween parade back on for Northborough elementary students after school officials reverse course

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

Halloween parade back on for Northborough elementary students after school officials reverse course School officials in Northborough say a traditional Halloween parade will be back in-school, following feedback received from parents and locals.Gregory Martineau, Superintendent of Schools for The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough, announced on Friday that after he and principals reviewed emails from the school community, the school district would reverse course on a decision to alter the Halloween parade for elementary students.On Tuesday, parents said they received an email from the district saying Halloween costumes would not be allowed during the school day and that if students wanted to participate in a parade, they would have to do it away from school property.A day later, parents expressed opposition at a virtual school committee.“I don’t understand why it’s being taken away from my son, I don’t understand the reasons behind it,” said Edward Reiss, a parent who spoke during the meeting on Wednesday.At the same meeting, the chair of ...

Carver ends 17-year losing streak to Cohasset in overtime classic

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

Carver ends 17-year losing streak to Cohasset in overtime classic CARVER – Over three hours, four quarters, and an overtime – Carver will bask in every second.The Crusaders were able to end a 17-year losing streak at the hands of Cohasset and stunned the Skippers in a come-from-behind 42-36 overtime victory to remain undefeated.The contest was the first South Shore League Tobin Division game for each team and set the tone for the rest of the season as Carver claimed the top spot early on.Carver (5-0; 1-0) trailed by 15 headed into the fourth quarter before Tyler Lennox hit Robbie Anderson for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 6:29 left in regulation. After Derek Lopes hauled in the two-point conversion, the score ended 36-36 in regulation.Carver only yielded 4.5 points per game entering Friday but showed up when needed as it was able to limit the first overtime series for Cohasset to a 24-yard chip-shot field goal.It was Carver’s turn and after Lennox had two incompletions in the end zone, he went back to the bread and butter as he found Anderson on a...

Milton defense stands tall in hard-hitting 10-9 win over Needham

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:10:28 GMT

Milton defense stands tall in hard-hitting 10-9 win over Needham MILTON – While Milton is often known for its prolific offense, Friday night its defense told the story.Ferris Collins came through with a crucial interception at the goal line while Milton’s defense forced four turnovers as the Wildcats knocked off previously-unbeaten Needham, 10-9, on Friday night at Brooks Field.Milton held Needham to just 1-of-5 inside the red zone.“Our defense showed what they are made of tonight,” Milton coach Steve Dembowski said. “It was pretty impressive what they did.”Needham (4-1) entered the fourth quarter trailing 10-0 but trimmed the deficit to a field goal when Griffin Carr fired a 13-yard touchdown pass to Spencer Chapman with 8:38 remaining. After the Rockets defense forced a three and out, they had a pair of opportunities to go for the game-winning drive.Their first attempt made its way inside the Needham 25-yard line largely due to a pair of receptions by Chapman. On third down and six, Collins came through with ...