This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page PELHAM – Police continue to investigate the circumstances of a crash involving a car and a motorcycle that has claimed the life of a 72-year-old local man was rushed to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua following the crash 3 at the intersection of Mammoth and Keyes Hill roads Police said at the time Perigny had sustained life-threatening injuries and that when officers arrived at the scene they don’t believe alcohol or speed were factors in the crash and “no criminal charges are forthcoming at this point.” attended Nashua schools and graduated from Nashua High School and worked as a welder with the Iron Workers Union of Boston for more than 33 years The family plans to hold a celebration of life next spring for family and friends They ask that contributions in memory of Perigny be made to the Nashua Salvation Army Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com Copyright © 2025 Ogden Newspapers of New Hampshire LLC | https://www.nashuatelegraph.com | 110 Main St 21 as Timothy Hero sat in his car on the Southern Boulevard Causeway looking out at the Intracoastal Waterway and thinking about ways to kill himself Should he park his car on the tracks and wait for a train to hit him Or should he unbuckle his seat belt and drive his car at a high rate of speed into a concrete pole Hero said he had battled with depression and suicidal thoughts for a couple of years With a wife and son and another baby due the next month Hero worked a part-time job and had mounting debt The growing family lived with his mother in West Palm Beach Hero said his life was changed that night because of Officer Jonathan Perigny who was recently honored at the Palm Beach Police awards ceremony Perigny saw Hero sitting in the parked car and decided to stop just to make sure everything was all right It’s called “citizen contact,” and Perigny asked Machate to handle it as part of his training “You make friendly conversation with the person and find out how their night’s going,” Perigny said but there was something he was holding back the lack of eye contact — he sounded discouraged and down and out.” Perigny stepped in and began asking questions about Hero’s family and his life Something isn’t clicking,’ and his eyes started watering,” Perigny remembers Perigny told Hero that he wasn’t there to put him in jail; he just wanted to help “Timothy said he wanted the best for his wife and kids and doesn’t think he could give it to them,” Perigny said Hero also told Perigny the two ways he was thinking of killing himself “That’s when I focused on the reason why he should live and directed that to his wife and kids,” Perigny said The officer “talked him down” from his bad thoughts Perigny told Hero about the mental health facility on 45th Street and said he would bring him there to receive care and medication Perigny called Hero’s mother and wife and explained what was happening and stayed with Hero through the intake process but didn’t think I needed that type of help and he opened my eyes that I needed help,” Hero said Perigny promised to stay in touch and has kept that pledge The officer still texts and talks to both Hero and his mother Hero and Leighton sent letters of appreciation to Public Safety Director Kirk Blouin in March, outlining Perigny’s actions that night. At the Sept. 30 police department promotions and awards ceremony Blouin named Perigny Officer of the Month for March Blouin said if he hadn’t received the letters “Officer Perigny wasn’t doing this from a selfish place,” Blouin said “He was doing it from a place of compassion The reality is it’s above and beyond what’s expected from his job He’s doing it on his own time because he genuinely cares about another person Both Hero and Leighton said there’s a lot of negativity directed toward police officers and they wanted to make sure his superiors knew what Perigny did and continues to do “I will be forever grateful to this officer for the time he took to not look the other way and to get the help for my son that he so needed,” Leighton wrote “This I feel made the difference between my son wanting to end his life and wanting to start living his life This officer in my eyes is an angel that happened to be at the right place at the right time.” and two boys to “get a new start.” He’s studying for his real estate exam “The reason most people battle with depression is that their minds are stuck on the negative,” he said “I’m learning to focus on my passion (real estate) and the things that make me smile Jon told me to reach out to people and don’t keep things inside Hero recently sent a text to Perigny with a photo of him and his two boys I wouldn’t see him in that photo playing with his two kids I feel that God puts you in certain places to make a difference and that’s why I love my job.” David Perigny, age 72 of Pelham, NH has succumbed to his injuries sustained in the crash and has died as a result. The crash remains under investigation with no criminal charges forth coming at this point. PELHAM, NH - On Saturday, October 3, 2020 at 1:38pm, the Pelham Police and Fire Departments responded to the intersection of Mammoth Road and Keyes Hill Road for a motor vehicle crash involving a motorcycle. While officers were responding, it was reported that CPR was in progress. Upon arriving on scene, medical aid was being performed on an unconscious male subject who was operating the motorcycle. The 72-year-old male subject of Pelham, NH was subsequently transported to the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center with life threatening injuries. No injuries were reported by the other driver involved. The Hudson Police Department and Windham Police Department assisted with the motor vehicle crash. The Hudson Police Department Traffic Accident Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene to assist with investigating the crash. The crash remains under investigation at this time. Alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors. Questions can be directed to Corporal James Locke or Sgt Glen E Chase of the Pelham Police Department 603-635-2411. Photojournalist Paddy Dowling travels to Haiti to document its next generation: ‘restaveks’ – children separated from their families heartbroken and forced into a life of slavery Seated in a darkened room at the end of a long corridor tears cascade onto the table where he sits given up by his biological parents aged eight finds space and tries to wipe away the suffering with each pass of his shirt sleeve A country once enslaved, Haiti revolted in 1791 to free itself from the shackles of its French masters Haitians – led by the heroic military strategist Toussaint L’Ouverture – had achieved the only successful slave revolt in modern history children like Esperence are given away to more affluent households and new masters They become domestic servants – forced to work without pay isolated from other children and often prevented from attending school A form of slavery is thus still deeply engrained in their culture Haiti today seems paralysed after having endured devastating earthquakes It is the poorest country in the western hemisphere with 6 million living below the poverty line and 2.5 million living in extreme poverty contributes to its extremely vulnerable situation The Haitians expected salvation from their misery as aid agencies and international NGOs poured in with offers of assistance The best efforts have been unable to change Haiti’s fortunes what has resulted is a mindset of subserviency That change is possible with effort and resources, including the power of education and role models to demonstrate to the next generation what is possible The Remote Rural Schools Construction project between EAC and buildOn, a non-profit organisation, aims to inspire and train more than 78,000 parents in rural and isolated villages to improve the quality of, and access to, education for 51,000 out-of-school children and 117,000 children at risk of dropping out of primary school. This will be achieved through school construction, leadership development, role models and community mobilisation. Parents will be empowered to take an active role in bettering their children’s education. Long-term sustainability is intended for every school that is built. As part of the project, the partnership aims to prepare and support communities in maintaining their schools, both in terms of the physical structure and their ability to conduct classes for children and adults – providing more educational opportunities for decades to come. Haiti must create a conducive environment for dreamers, its next generation. According to Restavek Freedom foundation, 300,000 of Haiti’s future dreamers like Esperence are still in domestic servitude, mopping floors, doing dishes and laundry in households the length and breadth of the country. Haiti does, in fact, have much of the expertise and talent it needs to rewrite its history. Many citizens just happen to be living abroad, exported to the benefit of other nations. With sustainable educational partnerships, reform of its government and institutions, and the desire of the Haitian people to own their destiny, perhaps Haiti can embark on a period of renaissance once more. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Haiti’s child slaves","description":"Photojournalist Paddy Dowling travels to Haiti to document its next generation: ‘restaveks’ – children separated from their families a secret meeting took place in a house in Périgny 26 delegates represented eleven revolutionary organizations from around the world Two dozen more organizations supported the Congress even though they were unable to send representatives Workers of the World Unite in the 4th InternationalMan Controller of the Universe (1934) Mural by Diego Rivera This Congress took place under conditions of terrible repression: it’s secretary, the 29-year-old German revolutionary Rudolf Klement had been kidnapped and murdered by Stalinist agents only six weeks earlier His dismembered corpse was later found in the Seine the author of the Congress’ draft document the 59-year-old Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky He was living in exile across the ocean in Mexico because every other country denied him a visa The eleven organizations represented at the Congress were small the Socialist Workers Party had several thousand members The delegates believed that the Russian section composed of tens of thousands of Communists who had resisted the rise of Stalinism most of them had been massacred in a Stalinist Gulag No one outside the USSR could yet believe the rumors about this political mass execution While the first three internationals had each been founded when the revolutionary workers’ movement was on the ascent (in 1864 the Fourth International was founded in 1938 Nazi Germany had annexed Austria and was reaching for Czechoslovakia which had begun with a workers’ uprising against a military coup in 1936 This is why delegates from Poland and Austria argued against the foundation of an international to proclaim a new “world party of social revolution” Precisely because a second imperialist maelstrom The Spanish Revolution had been the last chance for the workers of Europe to stop the march towards war The workers and peasants in the Spanish state fought heroically forming militias to hold back the fascist troops But the working class was not just fighting against Generalissimo Francisco Franco and his backers The workers were forced to fight against their own leaderships as well the Social Democrats and Stalinists who governed the Spanish Republic The Second (Socialist) International had gone over to the camp of the bourgeoisie in 1914 when most of its member parties voted to support the First Imperialist War originally founded as an alternative to chauvinist reformism itself moved into the counter-revolutionary camp in 1936 the Stalinists were determined to maintain an alliance with the “democratic” bourgeoisie at any price even if this meant massacring thousands of revolutionary workers which had taken over the Soviet Union and the Communist International was so afraid of proletarian revolution that it actually fought to defend bourgeois rule founded by Leon Trotsky and his co-thinkers to fight against Stalinist degeneration maintained the Comintern’s tradition Leon Trotsky worked during the First World War to bring together socialists from the warring countries for a common revolutionary struggle to end the war He authored the manifesto of the Zimmerwald Conference for this purpose Trotsky understood firsthand that the workers’ movement had been disoriented and paralyzed when the war broke out in 1914 and most socialist organizations came out in support of their “own” bourgeoisie He was determined that this would not happen again with the parties of the Second and Third Internationals supporting capitalist governments there had to be an internationalist banner that was visible around the world The Trotskyists of the Fourth International fought heroically against Nazism was marked by massive revolutionary upheavals both in the imperialist countries and the colonial world Working people had enough of the capitalist system that had condemned them to the second mass slaughter of a generation the Fourth International was unable to lead these struggles to victory Its cadres had been decimated – including Leon Trotsky himself Countless other activists were murdered by fascists This helped the Social Democrats and Stalinists contain the revolutionary wave at the end of the war saving the existence of capital by suppressing workers’ self organization The Fourth International became disoriented in the 1950s and abandoned its revolutionary heritage, splintering into different factions. Yet its legacy – especially the Transitional Program adopted by the founding conference in 1938 – summarizes the lessons of the most important struggles in the history of the working class Capitalism is leading humanity to new forms of barbarism which is why we fight to re-build the Fourth International A world party of social revolution is necessary to liberate humanity from the chains of capitalism before it’s too late You might be interested in Why Trotskyism? Trump’s first 100 days have shown that “peace through strength” is fundamentally an experimental It is not at all peaceful or as strong as its proponents claim Trump’s zigzags on tariffs could undermine his credibility in an escalating trade war with China which threatens to violently “decouple” the two economies Despite claiming to offer an alternative to Shawn Fain's chauvinistic defense of U.S Sean Crawford and Labor Notes are just putting forward a slightly more progressive vision of business unionism and students fighting genocide to mobilize together let’s unite to confront Trump in the streets 55,000 SEIU members in California have gone on strike A victory for these public sector workers would mean a victory for the labor movement and a defeat for Trump and the bosses As protests grow and Trump’s approval ratings decline the administration has been forced to reinstate thousands of student visas This is a reminder that Trump and the Far Right have never had a mandate Sign In Subscribe Now Fire tore through a Sardis neighbourhood so fast Wednesday morning that one resident said her working smoke alarms didn’t even go off “When I woke up I couldn’t even smell anything,” Rachel Perigny said just hours after the blaze destroyed the house where she lived with her husband and two children there wasn’t enough smoke inside to set them off.” Perigny and her family were awakened instead by pounding on the door from a resident of the coachhouse behind the Safflower Crescent house they rented Perigny said her 12-year-old daughter and a friend (over for a sleepover) heard the neighbour’s pounding Their family is one of six who are at least temporarily displaced after the fire that struck in the early hours of July 11 including a single mother and her son in a basement suite and the couple from the coach house who saved them when the Chilliwack Fire Department was dispatched to the house 5 and 6 arrived to heavy smoke and flames from two homes Due to the intense fire and structural damage to multiple residences and were able to stop the fire from spreading to adjacent properties In addition to the five structures essentially destroyed 11 more structures suffered minor heat damage There were no civilian or firefighter injuries and while Perigny and her family escaped with their dog it’s unclear if a cat escaped the basement suite the Chilliwack Fire Department said the fire was under investigation They didn’t say whether the cause was suspicious but anyone with information was asked to call the RCMP (604-792-4611) or Crimestoppers (1-800-222-8477) Perigny said there “seems to be some strange circumstances around it all.” In the short term, she said he family has a place to stay but they need to find something else for around $2,000 a month to rent. A friend set up a GoFundMe to help with short-term needs at www.gofundme.com/z5vpv-emergency-funding-needed The page says the family will need immediate items such as clothing and in the long-term they will need funds for furniture Perigny said they lost everything and she feels “silly” for not having content insurance “We did have it and then when it came for renewal we just couldn’t afford it So I don’t want to play any pity card,” she said “I’m so grateful that the living beings are OK.” Perigny said the neighbouring house that was also destroyed was recently purchased by a couple with two small children @PeeJayAitchpaul.henderson@theprogress.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines The eighth round of the PSGL was won at Spa by Jarno Opmeer but it’s wasn’t plane sailing as Simon Périgny fought until the end Jarno Opmeer continued his dominance in the Premier Sim Gaming League after taking his fourth win in a row at Spa-Francorchamps The Flying Dutchman dominated in the intermediate conditions at Jeddah he had to fight for it against an F2 championship contender Opmeer had a 22-point lead from Bardia Boroumand with Shanaka Clay costing those in the drop zone a chance of getting Q2 The rain continued to fall throughout Q2 and for the majority of Q3 until the sun started to peak through the clouds with four minutes remaining Alvaro Carreton and Jake Benham left the garage on intermediate tyres and they could not get round to the pits in time to bolt on a set of slick rubber meaning they lined up eighth and 10th on the grid respectively Clay lined up ninth after failing to cross the line before the chequered flag fell as it was the case of starting your lap later would give you the most amount of grip And that proved to be correct with the last man across the line, Nicolas Longuet taking pole position by the barest of margins from fellow Frenchman Simon Perigny Opmeer lined up third on the grid with his former F1 Esports teammate Daniel Bereznay keeping him company on the second row The McLaren Shadow pairing of Boroumand and Tomek Poradzisz who was the first man to set a time of the dry tyres Perigny managed to get the jump on Longuet at the start with Boroumand producing one of the overtakes of the season on Bereznay after they went side by side through Eau Rouge and Raidillon in the battle for fourth Further back, Benham gained four places on the opening lap, moving him into the top six. Poradzisz was out of the running early on after picking up heavy damage from a spinning Joni Tormala, causing the current F1 Esports Challengers Series leader to retire in the pits Perigny led by just over a second at the end of the opening lap after Longuet made a small mistake into the bus-stop chicane under pressure from Opmeer and he took it by diving up the inside of his new Veloce Esports teammate into La Source to take second place The Frenchman’s struggles continued as the track slowly dried up falling behind Boroumand on the fifth lap as the top two went off into the distance The Iranian’s move into the podium places sparked Opmeer into another gear as he searched for the race lead The two-time F1 Esports Series Pro champion edged closer and closer to the rear of Perigny’s Ferrari he got the run onto the Kemmel Straight to take the lead of the race Perigny tried to hold it around the outside Les Combes but he could not get enough traction over the kerbs the dice were rolled in the lead group by Bereznay and Benham as both pitted for the slick tyres: the Hungarian going for the mediums and the Englishman opting for the softs Benham’s tyres fired up quicker in the tricky damp conditions and he overtook Bereznay into the bus-stop chicane as the rest of the leading group dived into the pits for soft tyres The undercut by Benham was not enough to get him into the DRS of the top two but he seared past Boroumand on the Kemmel Straight to move up into the podium places With half of the fuel burnt off and with the track still not 100 per cent dry Berenzay started to fall back through the field slipping down to seventh and most importantly he dropped out of the DRS of Longuet and Carreton who had got themselves into the battle for the podium It was the battle for the podium that turned into controversy Longuet had found some pace in the dry conditions who was right behind Boroumand as they went onto the Kemmel straight Boroumand appeared to move slightly late as they approached the kink causing Benham to lift out the throttle Longuet’s momentum then took him alongside the two of them as they went three-wide into Les Combes leaving Benham and Longuet to go wheel-to-wheel Opmeer’s mirrors were still full of red until Lap 21 The Frenchman decided to bite the bullet and take the lead on the penultimate lap breezing past the Dutchman on the Kemmel Straight It seemed to be Perigny’s downfall as he looked to become the first PSGL ‘F2’ – the second tier of the competition – driver to take victory in the top tier on PC The Ferrari driver realised his mistake as Opmeer closed going into the Chicane The DRS would be crucial down towards Les Combes Perigny was lifting into La Source and the DRS detection point stretched his legs in the middle sector and won his fourth PSGL race in a row Benham could not make it two Mercedes drivers on the podium as Boroumand held onto third meaning he is now 28 points behind in the championship fight Next up in PSGL is a trip to Zandvoort for Opmeer’s home race Opmeer failed to score points after choosing to stay out on the slick tyres when the heavens opened Boroumand will be hoping for something similar as he tries to reignite his championship hopes… You must be logged in to post a comment In new book Destination Art: 500 Artworks Worth the Trip Phaidon editors confront readers with the question: ‘Why do we travel for art?’ Inspired by the success of 2017’s Destination Architecture this new guide to the wonders of the art world divides the planet into seven regions: Australasia Featured artworks are grouped geographically and the message championed throughout is one of exploration and enrichment As explained in the book’s somewhat poetic introduction the origins of travel lie in pilgrimage and Artists celebrated in the book include Marina Abramović Pop Art icon Roy Lichtenstein designed House lll as an optical illusion The sculpture was one of his last works and was inspired by the large-scale paintings of domestic interiors he produced during the 1990s Lichtenstein was fascinated by perspective the aluminium structure appears strangely proportioned – the unmistakable form of a house is only visible from a certain angle Covering an incredible 1,610 square metres in Périgny-sur-Yerres monumental installation evokes the isolation of a secluded escape The Closerie – the outermost section of the work – commands a feeling of containment reminiscent of a walled garden a structure that houses the Cabinet Logologique visitors are confronted by graffiti-like work in red Picasso’s Le Déjeuner sur L’Herbe – which translates as “luncheon on the grass” – is a reinterpretation of Édouard Manet’s 1863 painting of the same name only the men are clothed and the women are nude while in Picasso’s sculptural installation both parties are in a state of complete undress sketchy style that is synonymous with the Spanish artist is contrasted by the weight and durability of the concrete effigies at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art Leandro Erlich’s Swimming Pool challenges our skills of perception with a breathtaking optical illusion Visitors looking into the pool might be surprised to see others walking beneath the surface of the water the water is only four inches deep and held between two glass sheets Erlich’s mind-bending pool sits alongside an engaging collection of site-specific installations at the museum Argentina’s James Turrell Museum is the first dedicated to the artist and his groundbreaking work with light Displayed throughout nine purpose-built rooms a large version of his enchanting skyspaces are able to observe the sky’s shifting colours through a large aperture in the roof with both natural and artificial light mingling to create a hypnotic spectacle Friend of Henry Moore and fellow Yorkshire native Barbara Hepworth split her lifetime between the north and south of England Nestled among the beautiful streets of St Ives the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden forms part of the prolific artist’s former home and studio The site is now a celebrated museum of her work and a must-visit destination for lovers of abstract sculpture Eduardo Paolozzi’s much-loved works boast a strong sense of self and an undeniable aesthetic presence The artist’s work can be found across the globe including the incredible mosaic pieces salvaged from the recently renovated Tottenham Court Road tube station but his work in Santa Cruz is in fact an homage to Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi and his hexagonal tile design Millennial Time Machine: A Landau Carriage Converted to a Mobile Camera Obscura Artist Rodney Graham once described this piece of work as “a kind of time machine in which the spectators Just one part of Vancouver’s thriving art scene Graham’s striking installation saw him transform a 19th-century carriage into a camera obscura viewers can see the camera’s upside-down image of a sequoia tree that stands behind them In elegant juxtaposition to its overgrown surroundings Federica Marangoni’s Rainbow Crash sees the artist fuse coloured Murano glass and neon at Chianti Sculpture Park the rainbow crashes to the ground in the form of glass shards an overt reference to the fragility of nature explored throughout the sprawling location Located only a few miles from the artist’s birthplace Reclining Woman: Elbow sits atop an easily accessible plinth guarding the entrance to Leeds Art Gallery and neighbouring the Henry Moore Institute lounging woman was installed by Moore himself in 1982 and forms part of a citywide art trail as well as the impressive Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle Destination Art: 500 Artworks Worth the Trip is out now Sign in Join now, it's FREE! RenoAssistance by Desjardins is using lighthearted approach to show homeowners that they can be confident in the contractors it sets them up with The company pairs clients with reliable contractors who are able to execute large-scale residential or commercial renovation projects Desjardins became its majority shareholder in 2020 This first mass campaign following the acquisition was planned for shortly after it happened but those plans were derailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic the brand has enlisted comedian François Bellefeuille as its spokesman in a mass campaign Bellefeuille goes into an interrogation room to discuss the 53-point verification contractors have to pass in order to be listed with RenoAssistance an unlicensed contractor and friend of a brother-in-law casually admits he’ll abscond with a couple’s deposit “We wanted to highlight that we verify contractors thoroughly and humour works well in Quebec,” says Eric Périgny The concept of hiring or asking advice of a friend-of-a-friend is something a lot of people can relate to admitting that the founding of the company is in part informed by his experience losing tens of thousands of dollars through dealings with a disreputable contractor Supplemental spots will highlights the peace of mind provided when people choose a RenoAssistance-verified contractor while a third  emphasizes the coaching provided until the renovation is complete by the company’s advisors [iframe_vimeo video=”684204042″] “People just don’t know what to look for,” Périgny says of people taking on renovations for the first time He tells strategy the goal of the campaign is to create awareness among Quebecers of RenoAssistance’s vetting services which includes providing a verification report that includes a Contractor Confidence Index score According to recent RenoAssistance insights 66% of homeowners surveyed believe they are likely or very likely to complete renovations worth at least $5,000 by 2024 while 64% of respondents will entrust their renovation work are required to display a licence number issued by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) Sometimes contractors use a number that isn’t registered or illegally borrow one from someone properly licensed [iframe_vimeo video=”684206397″] “Everyone wants to avoid nightmares,” Périgny notes And while referrals from someone you know may seem trustworthy they may not have the skillset to do every type of job He tells strategy he hopes Bellefeuille is a long-term face of the company, rather than the campaign being simply a one-off. Bellefeuille recently co-hosted the annual hit Quebec satirical New Year’s show, Bye Bye which in 2021 was the top-rated program in Quebec’s history drawing 4.862 million people and representing a 94% market share for the night The brand worked with an internal agency and Quebec-based Idea Factory on the campaign televised spots will be supported by ad display , , professional” and “positive attitude” are some of the words Public Safety Director Kirk Blouin uses to describe Sgt It will be 10 years in March since Walley started working in the Palm Beach Police Department receiving a promotion from detective to sergeant during the department’s awards and promotions ceremony “He gets along with everyone,” Blouin said at the ceremony held in the Town Council chambers filled with co-workers and family members of the honorees “I’m proud to make him a member of the supervisory team.” Sons of the American Revolution Commendation Medal and the 2008 Raymond J Kunkel Award for the ocean rescue of a swimmer caught in a rip current Joseph Guelli was promoted from sergeant during the ceremony “He’s a very dedicated family man and is always talking about his children,” Blouin said Guelli has been with the department 13 years He oversees the field training program and is the Professional Standards lieutenant in charge of internal investigations and staff inspections He’s received 66 commendations and was named Officer of the Month five times “Joe has always been a winner,” Blouin said somebody who comes to work wanting to make a difference.” “It’s a great example to some of the younger officers if you stay positive and come to work with a positive attitude good things happen,” Blouin said Blouin recognized four recent retirees: Capt Kurt Burfield (25 years); Officer Tom McLaughlin (nine years) and Officer Charles Reed (six years) Officer of the Month recognitions included: who works part-time with a Palm Beach County Internet Crimes Against Children task force Medeiros assisted in the investigation and arrest of a Loxahatchee man who allegedly downloaded thousands of images of child pornography who prevented a man from committing suicide talked him into entering a mental health facility and stayed in contact with the man for weeks afterward who assisted Perigny on the suicide call the previous month He was recognized for apprehending and arresting a man accused of brutally attacking and setting his girlfriend on fire Become a free member today and receive top local stories right to your inbox banner is flying more prominently than ever after some major acquisitions and store upgrades Drivers will have noticed the Co-op sign going up on local gas bars last year following the acquisition last September by parent company Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) of 171 retail fuel sites in Alberta from B.C Central Alberta Co-op was among 23 co-ops to receive new sites as part of the deal Central Alberta Co-op CEO Rodney Perigny said it now owns and operates four former Husky sites three in Red Deer and one in Lacombe and has supply agreements with two other Husky stations It was Federated Co-op’s biggest acquisition and was immediately followed by the sale of most of the sites to various co-ops “The same day that FCL purchased those sites they transferred them over to us and we bought them the same day,” said Perigny the deal also offered a way to boost the number of litres running through its Regina refinery to boost efficiency “It was not only a Central Alberta Co-op opportunity 3,000-square-foot convenience store and car wash was opened last year in Sylvan Lake to boost its presence in that community which draws upwards of a million visitors each summer We had a number members from that community because this gives us an opportunity to get more people from that community as Co-op members Another major Red Deer investment saw the Home Centre at 4738 Riverside Drive completely renovated “That location hadn’t seen a renovation in over 20 years it was time for a renovation and we knew there was an opportunity to renovate and get some of our previous customers back to that location.” signage and fixtures inside updated and other improvements made to freshen up the store and make it more customer-friendly We knew if we wanted to continue to grow that business we knew we had to renovate It was really just about maintaining our assets and keeping that shopping experience for our customers at the top end.” “We had some very positive upswings in sales in those store locations.” A candy shop was added late last year and has proven a big success The idea was tried out in an Edmonton co-op store and was a hit so Central Alberta Co-op wanted to give shoppers here a taste “We thought if we’re going to do this let’s do it right We wanted that ‘wow factor’ for the Candy Shop.” adding they plan to add popcorn and cotton candy soon “The week of Easter we did about $8,000 in candy sales out of that corner — which is a lot of sales “We’re going to continue to grow and expand in that candy shop The intention is we’ll roll it out to all four of our big food stores.” planning is already underway for a major renovation of the Lacombe Co-op store Work will likely not get underway until early next year because of lingering supply chain issues and to avoid disruption during the busy holiday season There are other projects in the works as well but it is a little early to unveil them “We have a growth strategy and we want to continue to grow in the commodities we’re in We continue to explore opportunities as an organization.” Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines.