Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application of Janesville passed away surrounded by family on Sunday Betty was the daughter of Otto and Bertha (Schendel) Possin She was baptized on April 21,1929 and confirmed in her faith on March 29 Mueller at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Freedom Township She attended Immanuel Lutheran School where she was involved in their youth groups and church choir During the summers she worked at Birdseye in Waseca 1955 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Freedom Township rural Janesville by Rev They lived and raised their family on the Zell Family Farm She became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Wilton Township where she belonged to their ladies aid and altar guild She also worked nights for a few years at Birdseye and Brown Printing to supplement the family farm Betty and Harvey rented out their farmland and moved out to Alma City They continued to clean up and mow at the farm shoveling snow and helping babysit her grandchildren She created many memory and photo albums for her children and grandchildren.  Amy (Daren) Arndt of Waseca; grandchildren Brittany Arndt and Tyler (Abbie Hermel) Arndt; great-grandchildren She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; siblings Funeral Service will be at 2:00 PM on Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wilton Township Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church Interment will follow in Woodville Cemetery in Waseca Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors administered by the Austin Public Library for a two-year term is veteran theater artist and spoken-word poet Zell Miller III "My responsibilities are to elevate poetry and literacy," Miller told the American-Statesman on Tuesday "I will do that through events and appearances I am hoping to elevate literacy to get our youth excited about reading and writing their ideas and thoughts I hope to make poetry accessible to folks who think poetry is just young people speaking really fast in clubs." who was inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame in 2017 developed a wide following among theater and coffeehouse audiences during the early 1990s a short-wired version of every rap star," the American-Statesman noted in a 1993 review of "Vivisections from a Blown Mind," "also conveying the sensitive "I am going to push the boundaries of how poetry can be used as entertainment "and bring light to a group of artists and art that gets overshadowed by all the other amazing artistry in this beautifully complicated and diverse city of Austin." Miller has served as ambassador to young people for the arts all along he plans to introduce the idea of a poet laureate a role that goes back to to John Dryden in England in 1668 I am using a creative way to highlight writing and reading," Miller said "My job is to write and perform poetry about the city except I'm using more colorful and exciting words to give you information Miller named more than a dozen personal North Stars who have inspired and supported his career in Austin recently named to the Texas Institute of Letters; the founders of Catfish Poets; and Mike Henry creator of Austin Slam Miller hopes that the part of poet laureate essayist and cultural worker based in Austin will help him promote a love of reading and carve out time for his own writing "It gives me a bigger platform and mic and speaker to amplify the message," he said "The budget will allow for me to spearhead some programs and activities and pay artists who are based here in Austin Hopefully it will open doors to opportunities that were not possible before having this title to actually create as well so that is a huge blessing." Miller emphasizes that everyone can promote literacy in their daily lives get the phones and iPads out of their hands "But if it is easier for you to access literature through one of those devices then by all means let me encourage you to sit with your child and read the story or listen to the story together Take your babies to all these amazing libraries the city has to offer Come out to events that highlight this art form." Miller added a note that should seem familiar to anyone who has visited an arts or music venue in Austin for the past 50 years "Stop asking poets to perform at your events for free," Mille said "treat them just like musicians or singers that you have also booked." The position is through the Austin Public Library Zell Miller III, Austin’s first poet laureate was born and raised in Austin’s capital city He said he has a complicated – but beautiful – relationship with his hometown “I have seen just the devastation of gentrification,” he said “But in terms of what it has given me as an artist and the opportunities and the people around it I can honestly say I would not want to be raised anywhere else but the city of Austin listening to music on the radio and writing his own lyrics to his favorite songs He remembers envisioning the narrative of the song “Hotel California” by the Eagles and trying to rewrite Prince’s greatest hits.   “But really the (main) moment was when my brother left And he left me Nikki Giovanni’s ‘My House,’” Miller said And so it was at a moment where a lot of change was going on for me I didn’t want to be of this plane anymore I looked down and saw that the book was there Let me read it.’ And once I read that book Miller said he is honored to be Austin’s first poet laureate It’s a two-year role through Austin Public Library with the goal of  promoting poetry and literary arts in Austin and serving as ambassador to advance the library’s mission “I think that Job #1 is to make sure that I do such a great job that the position continues “Job #2 is to promote poetry and reading and literacy to everybody in the city of Austin I think that poets should be looked at on the same plane as musicians or actors or dancers because it’s everything that you get from seeing shows like that You can come to a poetry reading and get the same thing Miller also has experience in the theater world and with teaching poetry He has seen first hand the positive impact writing and reading poetry can have on young people “I think that once you’re able to tap into somebody’s story — and that’s the way that I approach it as a teacher or when I would talk to people about it – you can’t say ‘poetry’ because then people kind of flip out about that term I want to know your thoughts,’” he said “And so if you can get people to understand that poetry is just their thoughts and they can kind of be master of their own story and you have a tool that can be a great equalizer in terms of equality it kind of wipes away the stereotypes or the ideas that you had about them before you hear their story.” If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. Your gift helps pay for everything you find on texasstandard.org and KUT.org ©2024 Texas Standard. A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin | Contact us Janie Zell (Pruitt) Brumbelow Janie Zell Brumbelow Georgia went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday Janie started her career at Sears Corporate office in Atlanta before moving on to the Forsyth Co GA and rounded out her career with Reliance Heating and Air Cumming She is preceded in death by her father and mother Janie is survived by her devoted husband of 52 years son and daughter -in-law Robbie and Tiffney Brumbelow daughter and son-in-law Karen and David Motley Son Allen Brumbelow and daughter Jennifer Brumbelow Ronald and Annette Pruitt and sister Judy Dockery and numerous nieces and nephews  Graveside funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 PM Saturday The City of Austin has chosen its first poet laureate: spoken word poet and theater artist Zell Miller III to be the first one and to lay the legacy,” Miller said states and countries to document important cultural moments and events through poetry They also serve as advocates for literacy and the literary arts Miller said he will take an equity-focused approach to promoting literacy in the county by involving diverse groups in writing workshops and events like National Poetry Month “I think literacy can be a great equalizer,” he said “I want to make sure that everybody is represented – every nook and cranny That includes our elder community that gets ignored; youth; and all of the beautiful races creeds and colors that help to make the fabric of the beautiful city that we all love.” Until now, Austin was the only major city in Texas without its own poet laureate. Austin City Council voted last year to establish a program administered by the Austin Public Library in response to a grassroots campaign led by writer KB Brookins Miller begins the inaugural position in April and will serve a two-year term The new laureate has lived in the Austin area for most of his life with a career in the local arts scene that spans decades Miller was voted best local poet in The Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin awards back in 2004 and was inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame in 2017 Miller, who currently resides in Elgin, said his relationship with the City of Austin has influenced his work as a poet and playwright. That includes his most recent one-man show, Chronicles of an Indigenous Offspring “That was really a deep exploration into the city that I love,” he said with gentrification just being this monster that has pushed poor families and families of color to the absolute edges.” In addition to bringing his spoken word poetry to community events like the Austin Poetry Slam Miller has toured nationally with the acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni and the poetry collective The Last Poets He said he favors free verse poetry that breaks traditional form with a performance style influenced by jazz “I don’t know if that's my little rebellious nature – even in my theatrical scripts I don’t use capitalization or punctuation,” he said Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSAINTE GENEVIEVE COUNTY Joseph School in Zell will close after the 2024-2025 academic year Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski said the decision to close the Sainte Genevieve County school was because of increasing costs and low enrollment with only 27 students in its core Kindergarten through fifth-grade program “After reviewing recent financial projections and consulting with parish leadership about the school’s viability Ryan Weber has determined that continuing to fund the school is not sustainable For this reason and in the interests of protecting the financial wellbeing of the parish Joseph School in Zell at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year,” read part of the closure announcement from Archbishop Rozanski Louis will provide placement assistance to the school’s four faculty and staff members The Office of Catholic Education will work with the 17 school families to find a neighboring Catholic school that best suits their children His Equity Group Investments is about to exit its fifth company (Bloomberg)—Sam Zell is increasingly looking for the exits outside of his real-estate empire The billionaire’s Equity Group Investments has sold or plans to sell stakes in at least four companies since October 2017 Chicago-based EGI has announced one new investment a hospital operating company Zell’s firm bought in 2015 according to people with knowledge of the matter A spokeswoman for EGI declined to comment on the transaction and the pace of the firm’s selling The company is “always evaluating strategic opportunities with respect to our investments," EGI said in a statement who’s described himself as a net seller of real estate since at least 2015 said in April the industry was in the eleventh inning ahead of a “tsunami of supply." Equity Residential the real estate investment trust where Zell is chairman has sold $8.5 billion of properties since the start of 2015 He’s been more tight-lipped about his other assets transportation and infrastructure companies with some of the holdings going back decades The Bloomberg Billionaires Index pegs his wealth at $4.4 billion “At the moment we don’t see enormous opportunity," Zell told Bloomberg TV in March primarily because of the supply-demand scenario in terms of capital and there’s too much capital chasing too little opportunity." Zell got a law degree in 1966 but was more excited with his off-campus student housing investments than his studies which started out buying real estate and later added distressed companies After the property market tumbled in the early 1990s Zell reconfigured much of his investing into publicly traded REITs He sold Equity Office Properties to Blackstone Group LP for $39 billion in 2007 the biggest leveraged buyout at the time and right before the real estate market tanked owner of the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times newspapers The media giant ultimately went into bankruptcy Asked where he was putting his money in a January CNBC interview he said he was “primarily keeping it in cash where possible." Equity Commonwealth had about $2.7 billion in cash and equivalents at the end of last quarter --With assistance from Paris Wald.To contact the reporter on this story: Simone Foxman in New York at [email protected] To contact the editors responsible for this story: Pierre Paulden at [email protected] Steven Crabill RIA Edge 100: Growing Rapidly but Responsibly What truly sets peak performing retirement plans apart Tech Stacks & Growth Strategies for Future-Ready Advisory Firms Ask the Experts: Grow Your Practice with Philanthropy: Comparing DAFs and Private Foundations See how advisors are combining active and passive strategies for optimal portfolio results Registered in England & Wales with number 01835199 welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Mike Waltz as US Ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Acting National Security Advisor "I welcome President Trump’s decision Mike Waltz and Marco Rubio have long been among Israel’s most loyal friends consistently advancing a clear position in favor of Israel’s security and against radical Islamic terrorism," Zell said who brings with him a strong record as a National Security Advisor is widely regarded as a leading voice in the US in the fight against global terrorism He has consistently expressed strong positions against Iran demonstrated unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defense and has never hesitated to speak out clearly in international forums His appointment to one of the most significant positions in American foreign policy - US Ambassador to the UN - is a clear expression of President Trump’s continued firm policy line and his deep commitment to standing with Israel." "The role of US Ambassador to the UN carries enormous influence especially in areas where the UN often poses challenges to American and Israeli positions - such as Gaza "The appointment of Secretary of State Rubio as Acting National Security Advisor also sends a clear message: Trump is not backing down - he is doubling down on his principles and acting with resolve." The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA) has announced a $50 million gift from Helen and Sam Zell on behalf of the Zell Family Foundation The gift will strengthen the organization’s finances by reducing debt over time and increasing its endowment the gift is earmarked to provide essential funding for musician and staff retirement benefits the orchestra’s domestic and international touring activities special artistic projects shaped by CSO music directors and digital content initiatives for marketing and promotion Helen Zell is a member of the CSOA’s board of trustees serving as one of three vice chairs and as part of the board’s executive committee I understand the importance of philanthropy in filling the gap between earned revenue and operating expenses,” said Helen Zell “I’ve been a champion of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for many years and I think about this gift as an investment in preserving the CSO’s future.” While benefits of volunteering have been well documented, less than 1 percent of total giving went directly to volunteer engagement between 2016 and 2025, a report from Points of Light finds Where should nonprofits focus resources dedicated to volunteers select any of the newsletters listed below Please report it so we can improve the news we bring you and more delivered to your inbox with Philanthropy News Digest newsletters Candid gets you the information you need to do good The Austin Public Library named the city's first poet laureate in March …1990 Georgia gubernatorial campaign of Zell Miller and the 1991 landslide victory of Harris Wofford (who overcame a 40-point deficit in the polls) in Pennsylvania’s senatorial election Carville then managed Clinton’s successful presidential bid winning the Campaign Manager of the Year award from the American Association of Political Consultants for… and Governor Zell Miller led an unsuccessful campaign to replace it with an entirely different design the son of Charles Leroy and Janet Ruth Billock Zell and lived in this community his entire life after working many years for Quality Heating and Cooling he also enjoyed watching wrestling and feeding the birds and squirrels He cherished the time spent with his grandchildren and their activities Zell of Niles and Thomas Juillerat of Warren; seven grandchildren Charles Zell of Warren and John (Amy) Zell of Brookfield; three sisters Yvonne Thompson of Warren and Barbara Soles also of Warren; and many nieces and nephews He was preceded in death by his parents; son Visit holetonyuhasz.com to view this tribute and share condolences | https://www.tribtoday.com | 240 Franklin Street SE has established a web presence where additional information is available a prominent figure in the modern Pagan movement and co-founder of the Church of All Worlds released a statement about an upcoming magickal working as an act of resistance who orchestrated an act of magick to prevent the Nazis from setting foot on British soil she tells of enlisting the support of many renowned occultists of the era and British Intelligence operative Ian Fleming “The war has to be fought and won on the physical plane before physical manifestation can be given to the archetypal ideals What was sown will grow and bear seed.” Fortune’s objective was to halt the Nazi’s covert invasion plan known as “Operation Sea Lion” gripped by an overwhelming fear of the British Navy abruptly abandoned their plans and never launched the attack on Britain Zell and Pagan Solidarity envision a similar action “I hereby propose and advocate a major campaign of Pagan outreach to other non-Christian (or perhaps just non-Evangelical) religions and organizations to forge a significant alliance/coalition to stand against the right-wing Evangelical/Dominionist/Christian Nationalist agenda outlined in Project 2025—to turn the U.S into a dictatorial Christian theocracy (specifically Evangelical/Southern Baptist) which will have no room for anyone else,” Zell told The Wild Hunt and Pagan Festivals to reach out to Unitarians Atheists—even liberal Jews and Christians—as well as to the LGBTQ+ community We must unite to stand against the takeover by Christian Nationalists.” encouraged Pagans to proudly display their beliefs through symbols such as pentagrams embracing Pagan identity in everyday life can help demystify the tradition and showcase its values supportive members of their neighborhoods by volunteering at soup kitchens and joining civic organizations like school boards and service groups such as the Elks and Oddfellows A simple smile or friendly conversation at the grocery store can go a long way in demonstrating that Pagans are kind Pagan Solidarity circulated a message from Oberon Zell “Mama Maureen and I had a long talk this morning regarding the importance of our taking immediate and concerted magickal action to thwart the outrageous and threatening agenda of Trump and his shadowy backing of Christian Nationalists the Wall Builders (‘The 7 Mountains Mandate’) and the Heritage Foundation (‘Project 2025’)… whose collective agenda is to abolish the First Amendment and turn the United States into a theocratic dictatorship,” Zell wrote “Maureen referenced the famous ‘Magickal Battle of Britain’ that Dion Fortune organized on Lammas Eve to dissuade Hitler from crossing the English Channel.” Zell’s message included a statement from Mama Maureen: “Instead of surrendering to the chaos that has been generated by the many actions of the Administration over the last few weeks our immediate magickal focus should be on stopping the Administration in its tracks and preventing any further damage of any kind to our democracy a mirror spell of consequences is needed to surround those whose behaviors are damaging our country so that their actions are reflected back on them we do not have the luxury of being leisurely in our progress This action needs to be immediate and powerful to be effective!” “Democracy thrives on the principles of transparency When certain politicians engage in illegal activities it weakens public trust and erodes the very foundations of democratic governance Hesitation or complacency in the face of illegal actions allows damage to democracy that may never be fixed making it all the more crucial that clear and firm steps be taken now to restore integrity and uphold constitutional values the illegal actions of a few can have lasting detrimental effects on democracy and its ability to function effectively.” you don’t form a committee to decide to buy a water hose or call the fire department You take appropriate action at the appropriate time Zell emphasized the importance of this moment: “Our Pagan Solidarity coalition includes the most powerful magick-workers of our time—far more of us today than in 1940 The Spring Equinox will occur this Thursday Most of us will be conducting rites of Ostara this weekend.” “I call upon all of us to join together over these coming days in visualizing and enacting a Great Working to ‘stop the Administration in its tracks and prevent any further damage of any kind to our democracy raise a mirror spell of consequences to surround those whose behaviors are damaging our country so that their actions are reflected back on them.’” The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content Visit our The Wild Hunt subreddit! Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/ to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit nonprofit news journal serving the collective Pagan Heathen and Polytheist communities worldwide Follow us each day to stay up to date with the latest news and commentary Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News We are a global communion of churches in the Lutheran tradition country programs and partner organizations to promote justice reconciliation and dignity for individuals and communities LWF membership represents over 78 million Christians in the Lutheran tradition in 99 countries across the globe as well as ten recognized churches and congregations We strive to put our faith into action within and beyond the communion and seek God’s Word and Spirit to guide us Your partnership truly makes a difference.Together a better world is possible.With Passion for the Church and for the World LWF Vice-President Isabella Reimann Gnas pays tribute to a 16th century woman Reformer who challenged traditional gender roles through her beliefs and writings Brazilian church youth leader and LWF Vice-President Isabella Reimann Gnas As churches across The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) mark Reformation Day in October the legacy of Protestant Reformer Katharina Schütz Zell and the Bible story of Ruth offer beautiful examples of fidelity chose to accompany her mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem leaving behind her homeland and everything she knew We see her profound devotion: “But Ruth replied I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my God if even death parts me from you!’” (Ruth 1: 16-17) but her loyalty to Naomi and her willingness to work hard in foreign fields were rewarded The story of Ruth not only demonstrates the importance of loyalty and hard work but also how God can transform difficult situations into blessings.  showed courage and determination in times of great challenges through unique personal beliefs and actions. Despite social restrictions and openly challenged the way things were through her writings she is a testament to the spirit of the Lutheran Reformation.  By breaking barriers and challenging traditional gender roles Katharina Zell paved the way for countless women to pursue their passions and contribute to their communities Brazilian church youth leader and LWF Vice-President Katharina’s legacy goes beyond her personal life she played a fundamental role in the Reformation movement Her life demonstrates that women have always been an integral part of shaping religious thought and practice she paved the way for countless women to pursue their passions and contribute to their communities Katharina teaches us about the strength and lasting impact that faith and continue to strive for a world where all people are treated with dignity and respect regardless of their gender or social status The young women of today can find inspiration in the examples of Ruth and Katharina Zell knowing that their voices have the power to shape the future I encourage you to reflect on the following questions:  This post is part of the monthly LWF Youth theological series called “Global Faith Unfiltered.” It features reflections from young theologians on the most pressing issues and topics across their communities from a perspective of the priorities highlighted at the 2023 LWF Assembly Ms Isabella Reimann Gnas is a young leader in the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil and she serves as LWF Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean She is a labor lawyer and has been a youth leader in her church since she was 15 years old.  Chemin du Pavillon 2,1218 Le Grand Saconnex [email protected]+41 (0)22 791 60 00 whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine Vance and Dru Zella Beal; she also had two older brothers going to school there until her Junior year when it was switched to North Sanpete High School in Mt Pleasant Zell Rae was active in typing and shorthand including taking part in competitions with other schools She graduated in 1958 and went to Snow College Zell Rae had very good friends who were classmates from Fairview and they continued to get together a couple times a year Zell Rae married Leslie Seely on November 20 They were all sealed as a family in the Salt Lake Temple on October 8 She worked until her son's were born and then stayed home Zell Rae went back to work doing secretary work and then moved onto work at Z.C.M.I where she was a seamstress doing alterations on many types of dresses Zell Rae liked to bowl and was in a league for many years She was a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (D.U.P) and company of the group and served in several different positions and had a lot of enjoyment from it all Zell Rae would go with Les camping and fishing Les had a job that required him to travel at times Zell Rae would stay home taking care of their sons; but once they graduated school she started to travel with Les to those jobs Zell Rae had many friends and family and will be greatly missed Zell Rae is survived by her husband Les of 64 years daughter in laws Karen and Julie; granddaughter Sherri and her husband Josh The viewing will be held at McDougal Funeral Home followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m The family extends thank you and gratitude to the staff at Legacy Rehab for the kindness they showed to Zell Rae Smart home gym maker Tonal has appointed a new CEO where he served as chief customer officer and chief marketing officer and has over 20 years of global digital strategy and business development expertise MacDonald has held senior leadership roles at Jet.com As one of the few female CEOs in the fitness industry, Zell had served as Tonal’s chief since January 2023, during which she raised $130 million in funding for the smart home gym brand and oversaw the advancement of AI-driven hyper-personalized strength training.  The Harvard Business School grad cited the need to recharge spend more time with family and less commuting to San Francisco on her LinkedIn page as reasons for her exit She called the transition “bittersweet” and noted that it was a difficult decision in light of an “intense” few years “Together, we transformed Tonal into a company that will sustain long into the future in order to serve our devoted members,” Zell wrote “We’ve grown our membership even in the wake of the post-Covid era achieved healthy financials and have driven incredible innovation especially in the areas of hardware and AI capabilities.” She added that she’s excited for MacDonald to take the reins as the new CEO of Tonal “I’m certain his skills and experience are exactly what Tonal needs moving forward.” In a statement regarding his new role as Tonal CEO MacDonald shared that he’s a big fan of the smart home gym maker writing on his LinkedIn page that he was a Tonal member before joining the team “I’m excited to work with such a talented team at Tonal,” he said “We’ve set the bar high by being the first to offer truly personalized strength training technology and I’m eager to push our offerings even further we’ll continue to empower people everywhere with the best strength training experience possible.” which he says positioned the company for continued success.  we are excited to welcome Darren and his impressive background in retail strategy and consumer-driven growth which we believe will propel Tonal to new heights in market share member loyalty and product development,” he added.  Earlier this year, Tonal announced a major partnership with Spartan Race, putting Tonal as a required obstacle at all stadium races where participants complete a rotational chop. It’s a move that gives Tonal a massive audience of over 50,000 racers who can experience the equipment firsthand Jonathan Shottan, Tonal’s chief product and content officer, shared with Athletech News this spring that the strength training hardware brand has been transformative for its members, with data showing Tonal members make 70+% strength gains in their first year on the at-home device He also indicated that the brand was considering bolstering its retail presence — an area in which MacDonald has considerable experience At-home fitness has been in a rocky place at times in a post-pandemic setting, and although Tonal has been referred to as the “Peloton of weightlifting,” Zell had strived to differentiate Tonal from the pack, even recoiling from the “connected fitness” label “That’s fundamentally not what Tonal is trying to do,” Zell told ATN last fall in a wide-ranging interview highlighting the data Tonal has amassed to drive the user experience “We’re not trying to create this class experience where you’re connected we have a very different philosophy: we are trying to bring intelligent strength to the market.” MacDonald referenced the strength-based data set that Tonal has amassed on his LinkedIn page where he noted that Zell had done a “herculean job” and positioned Tonal for continued growth “I’ve been blown away with the innovation in the product and equally impressed by how many lives it has changed,” he wrote “People who try this product end up buying it and sticking with it (lowest churn in the category) as it improves their health and wellbeing.” Check out ATN’s exclusive Q&A with Tonal coach Kendall “Woody” Wood here where she shares her gym bag staples and favorite wellness products.  Sign Up for Our Newsletter Trusted by 100k+ Fitness Athletech News provides comprehensive media coverage of the most impactful news and trends shaping the fitness and wellness sector Our newsletter and website cover emerging fitness technology new fitness formats and the industry’s economic outlook Keep pulse with the latest in fitness news TrendingCommercialChicagoASam Zell’s former firm to close after investors call for liquidationEquity Commonwealth’s years-long search for megadeal proved fruitless It’s the end of an era for Equity Commonwealth as the Chicago-based real estate investment trust plans to liquidate its assets and shut down After years of accumulating cash, Equity Commonwealth, previously led by the late Sam Zell, intends to liquidate all company assets and dissolve after calls from activist investors to return capital to shareholders, Crain’s reported The firm had been looking for a megadeal to deploy its warchest and take it to the next level for years we have been unable to consummate a compelling transaction our board of trustees has determined that it’s advisable and in the best interest of our shareholders to proceed with the wind-down of our operations and the liquidation of our assets in order to maximize value for shareholders,” Equity Commonwealth CEO David Helfand said during a conference call with analysts on Wednesday The company had already sold most of its office properties before the COVID-19 pandemic, amassing a large cash pile earmarked for real estate acquisitions. A significant deal almost materialized in 2021, when Zell’s firm tried a $3.4 billion takeover bid of Monmouth Real Estate Investment but it ultimately lost out to Industrial Logistics Property Trust who took over Equity Commonwealth with Helfand in 2014 leaving the company without his crucial guidance Shareholders became increasingly frustrated notably San Francisco’s Indaba Capital Management and Stamford which collectively hold approximately 6 percent of the company SIGN UPExtended immobilization of capital and high executive expenses at the company led the two activist investors to amplify their calls for liquidation Equity Commonwealth had nearly $2.2 billion in cash on hand at the end of March The company still has four properties in its portfolio Three are in the process of being sold — two in Austin and one in Washington — and the fourth is being marketed in Denver The firm plans to distribute sale proceeds to shareholders by June of next year A preliminary proxy recommending the liquidation plan is expected by mid-September The liquidation has been positively received by some shareholders including New York-based investment firm Irenic Capital Management “We commend Equity Commonwealth’s Board and its management team for making the difficult but correct decision to recommend a liquidation At the risk of being too subtle: we’re pleased,” a statement from Irenic said TrendingCommercialChicagoAChicago Daily News building hits market amid Sam Zell’s estate liquidationIconic building was part of late real estate titan’s personal holdings The former Chicago Daily News Building downtown has hit the market amid liquidation of assets tied to the property’s late owner Zell’s firm, Equity Group Investments, has tapped Bryan Rosenberg and David Caprile of Eastdil Secured to find a buyer for the 26-story office building at 2 North Riverside Plaza, CoStar reported Riverside Plaza, a landmark of Chicago’s riverfront since its completion in 1929, is expected to attract interest for its historic value and development potential. The listing is part of the ongoing liquidation of Zell’s personal real estate portfolio following his death in May of last year This move is part of a broader effort that includes the recent listing of the Cobbler Square Lofts in Old Town another Chicago property previously owned by Zell Another Chicago-based firm formerly led by Zell, Equity Commonwealth, is liquidating and shutting down, at the request of shareholders. It recently listed two Austin office properties The historic Riverside Plaza building is 54 percent leased and its largest tenant is Equity Residential a real estate investment trust previously led by Zell but Real Estate Alert estimated the sale could approach the value of a $65 million loan issued on the property in 2016 SIGN UPOriginally designed by architects Holabird & Root the art deco structure served as the Chicago Daily News headquarters until the newspaper closed in 1978 It was the first office tower in Chicago to be built using air rights over train tracks and incorporating a public plaza concepts that influenced subsequent developments in the city Zell acquired the property in the 1970s and moved Equity Group Investments’ headquarters into the building in 1982 Known for his unconventional approach to real estate Zell made several modifications to the property including commissioning a riverfront terrace that served as a personal retreat and meeting space the real estate titan considered significant redevelopments such as adding a residential or office tower to the plaza or even demolishing the structure but those plans were shelved due to economic downturns and opposition from preservationists Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct the formerly Zell-led entity that is liquidating assets and shutting down at the request of shareholders By Rob Bates | August 22 who went from managing his family jewelry store to a decades-long career as a sales trainer a well-regarded Portland-based jeweler that his father and three uncles founded in 1912 he received his first lesson in jewelry sales “My father stood next to me and we looked at the many display cases in the showroom,” Zell told Southern Jewelry News in 2023 ‘What do we sell in these cases?’ My response was ‘Jewelry those words came back to him when a girl was shopping for a gift for her mother “The girl talked at length about the locket from her grandmother which she kept close to her heart,” he said merging it with high-end chain Bailey Banks & Biddle and when his new employer bumped him up to sales trainer In 1981, Zell started Professional Jewelry Sales Training and became an in-demand instructor and educator, eventually teaching in 16 countries. He often wrote about sales for trade publications, and was still contributing articles in his nineties “Sell as you would like to be sold,” he told JCK in 2014. “Treat a first-time customer like a friend in your home “He never missed writing a poem for every wedding anniversary or birthday,” said an online obituary and he was proud to have made a difference in so many lives.” (Photo courtesy of Professional Jewelry Sales Training) By Rob Bates May 05 By Annie Davidson Watson May 05 By Brittany Siminitz May 05 By Karen Dybis May 05 2025 © RX USA. Use of this website is subject to terms of use. Longtime Industry Sales Trainer Lenny Zell Dies at 97 Said to be the first to write a jewelry sales manual for the industry, Zell is remembered for his zest for life. IndependentsMay 05, 2025Zadok Jewelers Opens Store in AustinThe Houston-based jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot showroom will include a Rolex boutique. AuctionsMay 05, 2025Nancy Astor’s Cartier Tiara Heads to AuctionThe turquoise and diamond tiara hasn’t been on the market since it was purchased by Lord Astor in 1930. SourcingMay 05, 2025Crater of Diamonds Yields 4-Carat Brown Diamond“The Duke Diamond” is the largest diamond registered at the Arkansas park so far this year. Brought to you byLas Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week. TrendsMay 02, 2025Ring Concierge, Kraft Partner on Mother’s Day Macaroni Necklace The childhood craft of making dried pasta necklaces for Mother’s Day is all grown up as the 14-karat gold “Forever Macaroni” necklace. CollectionsMay 02, 2025Piece of the Week: Angely Martinez’s Emerald Promise RingSet with May’s birthstone and featuring an earthworm, this ring is a perfect celebration of spring. SourcingMay 01, 2025Tariffs & Colored Gemstones: Relying on Stock, Considering the Ripple EffectThough currently paused, high tariffs threaten many countries where gemstones are mined. Dealers are taking measures now to prepare. Brought to you byWatch: The Winston Red: GIA Examines the Smithsonian’s Newest AdditionSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA TrendsMay 01, 2025Amanda’s Style File: 20 Pieces of Emerald Jewelry for MayMay babies are lucky indeed, born in a month awash with fresh colors and celebrated with one of the most coveted colored gemstones. MajorsMay 01, 2025Jewelers of America Opens Applications for 2025 ScholarshipsThe deadline to apply for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship is June 12. SurveysApr 30, 2025Consumer Confidence Hits Pandemic-Level Low Amid Tariff ConcernsWhat’s really worrying U.S. consumers isn’t the present situation; it’s what the economy is going to look like six months from now. Events & AwardsApr 30, 2025Instore Show Debuts New Name, Look, and FocusNow called The Instore Jewelry Show, it will include holiday-focused education, interactive workshops, and a window display contest. SourcingApr 30, 2025GemGuide Has a New Pricing Chart for Colombian EmeraldsIt includes pricing for unenhanced Colombian emeralds in the fine to extra fine range. CollectionsApr 30, 2025Tiffany & Co. Goes Deep-Sea Diving in New Blue BookThe “Sea of Wonder” collection features pieces inspired by the ocean, from its waves to flora and creatures like urchins and sea turtles. AuctionsApr 29, 2025‘Golconda Blue’ Diamond Pulled From AuctionThe 23-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, set to headline Christie’s May jewelry auction, was expected to sell for as much as $50 million. IndependentsApr 29, 2025Maryland Jeweler to Close After 36 YearsG.B. Heron Jewelers in Salisbury, Maryland, is set to close as its owner, Jeff Cassels, retires. ColumnistsApr 29, 2025Google Ads vs. Social Media Ads: Which Are More Effective?Emmanuel Raheb outlines the differences between the two platforms and posits that the most successful jewelers use both. SourcingApr 29, 2025Gemfields Mini Ruby Auction Achieves $7MThe miner said its April sale featured a mix of commercial-quality primary rubies and secondary rubies of varying quality. CrimeApr 28, 2025Customs Seizes Nearly 2,000 Pieces of Counterfeit Van Cleef & Arpels JewelryU.S. customs agents in El Paso, Texas, intercepted the package, which would have been worth $9 million if the jewelry was genuine. TrendsApr 28, 2025Suzanne Kalan Launches Tech Ring Jacket CollectionHealth monitors become statement pieces when paired with the brand’s new collection of stackable diamond-studded bands. Events & AwardsApr 28, 2025JCK Industry Fund Announces 2025 Grant RecipientsTen organizations were selected this year. IndependentsApr 28, 2025John Atencio Appoints 2 to Wholesale TeamKim Carpenter and Sam Gevisenheit have joined the brand. CollectionsApr 25, 2025Sylvie Looks to Water in New Sculptural Bridal Collection“Shell Auranova” is the next generation of the brand’s bridal line, featuring half-bezel engagement rings with bold and fluid designs. FinancialsApr 25, 2025Kering’s Jewelry Brands Persevere as Q1 Sales Sink 14%Boucheron and Pomellato performed well in an otherwise bleak quarter for Kering amid struggles at Gucci. EditorsApr 25, 2025Piece of the Week: Deborah Meyers Experience’s ‘The Birds’ EarringsDesigner Deborah Meyers created her birds from oxidized sterling silver, rose-cut diamond eyes, and Akoya Keshi pearl feathers. SourcingApr 25, 2025De Beers Sales, Production Fall in Q1 Amid UncertaintyThe company said it expects sightholders to remain “cautious” with their purchasing due to all the unknowns around the U.S. tariffs. Supplier BulletinApr 24, 2025Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy She is survived by her children: David (Tiera) Huff and Derrick (Taylor) Huff; grandchildren: David Jr. Cathy (Brian) Elliott and Christy Zell; and many nieces and nephews She also liked to play computer games and spend time with her dogs and cats She loved her family deeply and was such a light to all who knew her Pastor Bryan Meadows will officiate a memorial service at 3 p.m at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center Inurnment will be later in Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center is honored to serve the Zell family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at www.edsfh.com The lakeside resort of Zell am See is big on outdoor fun We could feel the carefree spirit in the crisp air the moment we stepped off the train at Zell am See Pleasure seekers have been coming to this lake and mountain resort in search of clean air crystal waters and Alpine adventures ever since the railway connected what was then a mere village to Salzburg and beyond in 1875 swim a bit and reward ourselves with Austrian cuisine – at a restorative High society: the 3k-Connection cable car Photograph: Zell am See-Kaprun TourismusWe passed bakeries hiking shops and the Romanesque church in the old town on the way to our hotel before joining the 10km tree-lined promenade that rings the lake the glistening lake… It felt like we had gone back in time one of a handful of public lidos that pepper the lake The lido was so perfect, it felt surreal: manicured lawns, teenagers playing frisbee, a café selling apple cake and ice-creams, super-clean changing rooms, a heated, metal-lined swimming pool and steps leading into the cool, clear – and drinkable – lake. The mountains all around us, paddle-boarders ambling past, the MS Schmittenhöhe I Schiffart heading to various drop-off points on the lake including Thumersbach lido across the water – it’s a dream ticket The lake’s charms are not lost on tourists from the Gulf States who have been coming to the resort to escape the sun ever since someone from the local tourist board realised that Zell am See’s lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains matched the description of Paradise in the Qur’an – and duly promoted the destination The inn sits at 1,200m between the Kitzsteinhorn and Schmittenhöhe a family-friendly hiking trail and eponymous farm which It took another local bus to the Maiskogel cable car station to make the ascent to the highest point of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier the final one being the James Bond style 3k-Connection – so-named because the summit you can see the peaks of Hohe Tauern National Park – apparently we had to imagine them: the mist had closed in and we couldn’t see a thing Creature comforts: the Tirolerhof Hotel.Our eyes feasted that evening, though, as we were taken on a regional culinary tour over five courses at Kraftwerk (kraftwerk-restaurant.at) but were left wanting more – more of this fine restaurant’s mouth-watering dishes This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Here’s how to plan the perfect ski trip to Zell am See 2016—Zell am See in Austria’s Salzburgerland has built a new lift that will allow it to re-open terrain not used for more than three decades the first stage in a two-year plan to (re)connect Zell am See to the Saalbach- Hinterglemm-Fieberbrunn will make Zell am See part of one of Austria’s largest ski areas links Glemmtal in the Saalbach Hinterglemm area with Zell’s Schmittenhohe area The new lift runs to the top station of the Salersbachköpfl at 1,920m (6,300 feet) reopening access to once popular downhill runs to the Glemm Valley that resort managers say were used for 50 years between 1930 and 1980 More upgrades are planned in the area for the 2018-19 season as part of the €25m (about $28 million) project to expand terrain and add an additional cable car connection from and into Glemmtal the linked area will have nearly 350km (217 miles) of runs Over at Zell am See’s other neighbor and main ski resort partner the new Schmiedingerbahn lift will replace the Schmiedinger glacier lifts on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier becoming Salzburgerland's highest situated chairlift Operating between 2,530m and 2,775m (8,300 and 9,104 feet) the modern eight-passenger bubble lift will include heated seats This report is courtesy of Snow24 World Snow Resort News Ski Area Management - SAM |  P.O. Box 644 Woodbury, CT 06798 |  Tel. (203) 263-0888 | Fax (203) 266-0452 |  Email news@saminfo.com Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved. Ski Resort Websites and Marketing by nxtConcepts and take it private reflected all the dangers of an easy-money era where caution was pushed aside an army of bankers and Tribune Co.’s top executives forged ahead with their deal to turn the company over to Sam Zell Zell’s team of outsiders brought a new approach to running Tribune Co. but their ideas never took off and their style alienated employees the big winners are members of a powerful new industry of investment firms set up to profit from boom and bust cycles Tribune reporters Michael Oneal and Steve Mills break down Zell's broken deal Sam Zell is interviewed shortly after taking over Tribune Co Zell has strong words for a reporter at a meeting in Orlando Zell speaks at an employee town hall meeting at the Tribune Washington bureau Real estate mogul Sam Zell speaks during an April 2007 interview the economy would spiral into recession and the company would file for bankruptcy Continue reading » owned more than two dozen television stations nine daily newspapers and one major league baseball team ALSO: In hot market, leveraged buyout deals got riskier ALSO: Zell's deal for Tribune Co. was unconventional Warning signs were everywhere that Sam Zell’s deal to buy Tribune Co The media company’s business was deteriorating Projections of growth in its digital business were speculative at best The transaction would leave the company with a total of $13 billion in debt to manage a group of elite financial professionals and company leadership moved the deal forward anyway No one could have predicted the historic economic collapse that began as the ink was drying on the lending contracts buyout shows how the powerful momentum created by the deal-making apparatus and its promised rewards propelled it to completion Continue reading Court documents show mixed emotions among the bankers financing Zell's deal chief executive Randy Michaels gestures as he speaks to employees of the Los Angeles Times during a town hall meeting February 2008 Continue reading Randy Michaels made many changes at Tribune Court-appointed examiner Kenneth Klee holds a leather bound copy of his report on Tribune Co Court-appointed examiner Kenneth Klee made a detailed analysis of Tribune Co Browse through previous stories or visit our timeline creditor loses appeal to halt reorganization Judge says he'll grant a stay of his bankruptcy ruling if Aurelius and the junior creditors can post bond of $1.5 billion by Aug that group said they were likely unwilling or unable to do so Aurelius and the junior creditors appeal the bankruptcy ruling calling the settlement unreasonable and saying it discriminated against bondholders Carey says in a memo that he will confirm the reorganization plan proposed by the Tribune Co Carey says he cannot approve either plan and that the case must be resolved soon or he will consider appointing a trustee This series is based on a review of thousands of pages of court documents dozens of interviews and hours of firsthand observation in U.S The bankruptcy produced a four-volume examiner's report on the buyout and other documents related to the deal Reporters reviewed depositions of key players emails and memos that provided a detailed picture of events as they unfolded Any emails quoted in the series were found in court documents Reporters interviewed current and former Tribune Co lawyers and others involved in Sam Zell's 2007 buyout of the media conglomerate and its journey through bankruptcy court Reporters also interviewed numerous experts on corporate buyouts Zell declined to be interviewed for the series information in the stories is attributed to unidentified sources because interview subjects asked for anonymity citing the extensive litigation that resulted from the complex bankruptcy case