A man who allegedly confronted the police in Linstead
a loaded gun and 44 additional rounds of ammunition were found
a police team was in Banbury district when it was allegedly challenged by a man armed with a sub-machine gun
The police took evasive action and opened fire
which was loaded with two rounds of ammunition
A further search resulted in the discovery of the additional ammunition
The injured man was assisted to the Linstead Hospital
The Independent Commission of Investigations is probing the incident
Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com
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Article contentFresh off his performance opening for the legendary Gipsy Kings
as well as a People’s Choice Award in the UK
Linstead is one of the most dynamic and best-selling guitarists in the instrumental
“Having someone of Johannes Linstead’s calibre perform for our community is nothing short of an honour,” Mark Mannisto
and we’re incredibly proud to bring him to our stage
Audiences who experience his talents will be privileged to witness his mastery.”
Linstead performs a style he calls guitarra latina — a vibrant fusion of Latin jazz
His performances are backed by a band of multicultural musicians and are infused with the energy of Latin percussion
His recordings feature collaborations with artists from Cuba
bringing a worldly flair to every performance
Tickets cost $35 for early-bird purchases made before April 10
Reserve your ticket early to secure your seat for an unforgettable evening of passion
transmission or republication strictly prohibited
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we want to feature the Change Makers in our world
Those people who create spaces for our imaginations to soar and for us all to feel hopeful for the future
I can't think of a better way to start this year than with the international music of this incredibly talented performer!" said Erica Angus
executive director for Theatre Collingwood
Prepare to be mesmerized as Johannes Linstead
delivers an afternoon filled with the magic of Spanish guitar
Accompanied by a talented ensemble featuring spicy Latin percussion
Johannes will set the stage aglow with his unique blend of world music
Johannes Linstead is a musical force with an impressive career spanning across the globe
With over 500 million streams and multiple accolades
including being named Canada’s Guitarist of the Year
Johannes has earned recognition as one of the bestselling guitarists in the Instrumental
His career boasts eight Best Album awards, seven top-ten US Billboard charting albums
and a recent induction into the L.A.-based Akademia Hall of Fame
Known for his ability to bring together musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds
Johannes' vibrant music incorporates elements from Cuba
His performances fuse upbeat rumbas and emotional ballads
making each performance a colourful celebration of global sounds
Even if you’re not yet familiar with his name
Johannes’ songs have been featured in popular TV shows such as Miami Housewives
His music also made its way into the world of sports
with world champion figure skater Stephane Lambiel using Johannes’ song Zabuca for his Winter Olympics choreography
several of Johannes’ songs appeared in the hugely successful video games Tropical 4 and 5
Johannes scored a huge radio success with his holiday song Tropical Christmas, which became a verified hit
charting at one for two weeks as the most added song on the Top 40 New Music Weekly chart and #1 Most Increased song
surpassing chart-toppers like Taylor Swift
This is a performance you won’t want to miss – an afternoon of passionate guitar playing
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.theatrecollingwood.ca or call 705-445-2200
More Spotlight >
The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has announced the launch of a new rural stage carriage route connecting Linstead to Spanish Town
The new 605 route will officially commence operations on Monday
and affordable transportation for residents along the corridor
Buses on the route will operate via Bog Walk and Angels
The adult fare is $100 using the SmarterCard and $150 using cash
The concession fare for seniors is $50 using the SmarterCard and $150 if cash is used
The concession fare for students and the disabled is $50 whenever the SmarterCard is used and $150 for cash
“JUTC remains committed to enhancing the commuting experience for all Jamaicans
This new Linstead to Spanish Town route is a direct response to the growing demand for convenient and affordable transportation in rural areas
We are confident it will make a significant positive impact on the lives of our passengers,” said acting managing director at the JUTC
Shantole Thompson added: “JUTC remains focused on improving our services to better serve our customers
our team will be on location at the Rose Duncan Park (Linstead) to assist with SmarterCard top-ups and answer any questions from commuters
We encourage all passengers to take advantage of the cost-saving benefits of the SmarterCard”
JUTC said the SmarterCard is an essential tool for commuters who wish to save time and money while traveling on its buses
passengers can enjoy reduced fares compared to paying with cash
making their daily commute more affordable
reducing delays and improving overall efficiency
THE BUILDING Cost Information Service (BCIS) has appointed Richard Linstead as CEO
with James Fiske appointed to the new role of executive director
who has been with the business for two years in his role as chief product and technology officer
brings over 25 years of experience in leading product
BCIS has been providing construction data to the built environment and insurance sectors for more than 60 years
Under James’ leadership the business has grown ARR by 100% in under three years since it separated from RICS in 2022 with the support of investor LDC
James’ decision to move into a newly formed executive director role will enable him to continue to develop BCIS’s relationships in built environment data and advocate for the important role data plays in decarbonisation
said: “BCIS occupies a special place within the UK built environment ecosystem
built on data integrity and deep contextual expertise – and a focus on supporting the whole industry to grow
“I’m looking forward to leading this exceptional team in evolving our existing platforms and services
while developing innovative new data products and tools to further improve the user experience and offering for our customers.”
added: “James has led BCIS through an ambitious growth phase
delivering improvements in market penetration
thought leadership and developing the BCIS culture as a standalone business
“We are grateful for his continued commitment to the strategic development of the business in the years ahead
“Richard’s drive has already made a significant difference to BCIS since he joined in 2023
and his appointment as CEO positions the organisation for future growth as it continues to deliver high-quality data and technology solutions to its customers.”
>> Read more about BCIS in the news
Issue 117 - March 2025
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Unlocking roofing potential: Onduline & Northstone Partnership
Traditional Roofing spring 2025
After a multi-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic
medical students from The University of the West Indies (UWI) Class of 2027 have revived their annual charity production
raising $2.5 million to purchase vital equipment for the paediatric ward at Linstead Hospital in St Catherine
and the proceeds were used to buy medical equipment
The donation was officially handed over to the hospital on Tuesday
it’s a tradition that happens every year where medical students put on a theatrical production to raise money for noble causes
specifically making donations to a Type C hospital in Jamaica,” said Toni-Anne Green
Green explained that Linstead Hospital’s needs struck a chord with the students
“The Linstead Hospital caters to a large population of people from St Catherine
A lot of persons go there for treatment and they indicated specifically that they would like to open a paediatric unit,” she disclosed
this resonated with the group so they used the money raised to purchase the equipment
we’re all proud of the fact that we were able to put this on after so many years of a hiatus,” Green noted
alumni and our sponsors for the supports in bringing this back
We feel that helping children at a young age
especially those with diseases that might follow them through their lives
is really important to us,” she admitted
Hospital CEO Camille Wallen-Panton expressed gratitude
noting the donation significantly reduces the hospital’s capital burden
“We are expecting to open our paediatric ward in a couple of months
We are presently acquiring the medical equipment for this cause
so the medical students coming on board is a huge help to us,” she told The Gleaner
“This means that we will be concentrating on buying less patient monitors
and they have also given a ECG machine,” she added
Wallen-Panton said it requires renovations
more than 110 paediatric patients are seen monthly and are referred to the Spanish Town and Bustamante hospitals for admission
editorial@gleanerjm.com
View the discussion thread.
towards the opening of its paediatric ward from The University of the West Indies (The UWI)
Among the donated items were an ECG machine
which were officially handed over to the hospital on Tuesday
Senior medical officer at the hospital Dr Trevor Bygrave underscored the importance of the donation
which serves more than 20,000 patients annually across five parishes — St Andrew
and St Ann — will significantly benefit from this much-needed equipment
Dr Bygrave highlighted that the equipment will support the launch of a paediatric service
as 18-20 per cent of the patients seen at the hospital on a monthly basis are children
“This donation will play a crucial role in supporting the opening of this service that will further enhance the hospital’s capacity to care for children,” said Dr Bygrave
The donation was funded through proceeds from the faculty’s annual benefit play
a Caribbean adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
and produced by the students of the Medical and Dental Class of 2027
Started in 1950 by the late Professor Barrie Hanchard and some of his classmates
Smoker was an outlet for medical and dentistry students to de-stress after their final examinations
over the years it evolved into something much more meaningful
a powerful tradition where third-year medical and dental students pour their hearts into creating a theatrical production to support a Type-C hospital
which falls under the management of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA)
The police in St Catherine are searching for a gunman who shot three men
The deceased has been identified as 42-year-old labourer Jason Martin of Russell Pen and Time and Patience district in the parish
The injured are a 57-year-old mason and a 46-year-old of Bog Walk addresses
the three men were sitting along Peck Street
when they were pounced upon by a man who brandished a handgun and fired
The other victims were admitted for their injuries
The police have not established a motive for the incident
The Linstead Criminal Investigation Branch is probing the matter
View the discussion thread.
View the discussion thread.
A 22-year-old man from St Catherine has been charged with theft after he was allegedly caught driving a stolen Nissan AD Wagon motor car in St James on Wednesday
is charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property
He was arrested on Wednesday following a swift police operation
according to a statement from the Jamaica Constabulary Force on Friday
Reports from the Montego Bay police indicate that around 9:30 p.m.
a man parked and securely locked the car along Kent Avenue in Montego Bay before heading to work
he discovered that the vehicle had been stolen
who circulated the vehicle’s details via the police radio network
a patrol team in St James spotted the stolen car being driven along Hague main road and intercepted it
He was arrested on the spot and later charged following a question-and-answer session in the presence of his attorney
View the discussion thread.
View the discussion thread.
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Tragedy has struck the Commodore district in Linstead
with the fatal shooting of Miriam Phillips
The attack occurred around 8:30 Friday morning and also left a six-year-old boy seriously injured
He is currently in hospital in serious but stable condition
This latest killing has cast a renewed focus on the Commodore community
which has seen escalating violence since the May murder of 50-year-old political activist
Dwarka was shot and killed days after a police team
including Acting Senior Superintendent Hopeton Nicholson
Sources suggest Phillips’ death is linked to Dwarka’s murder
Phillips had allegedly been marked for death by gang members
who accused her of being a police informer following Dwarka’s killing
Phillips’ house was riddled with bullets
and police collected several spent shells from the scene
while the injured child remains under medical care
who oversees the St Catherine North Police Division
noted that while a motive for Phillips’ murder has not been confirmed
the police are actively seeking two persons of interest in connection with the attack: Glendon Amos
and another man known only as ‘Six’
“The Commodore district is one of the areas that is of concern to the St Catherine North police
and we have been conducting a number of operations pursuing persons of interest in the area,” said Nicholson
He assured the community that the police are committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice
“We want to assure the citizens that we will be going after these persons and we will bring them to justice
We are asking citizens not to harbour him (Amos) because if they are caught with him
they will be charged for harbouring a criminal,” the senior cop said
ruddy.mathison@gleanerjm.com
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Copyright © 2025 Multimedia Jamaica Ltd
The man who was allegedly found in the company of reputed gangster Glendon ‘Bull’ Amos
was remanded when he appeared in the St Catherine Parish Court today
is charged with harbouring a fugitive and aiding and abetting
Dawson was ordered to return to court on February 14
Attorney-at-law Teddison May-Jackson told the court that he needs further instructions from his client before he will be in a position to make a bail application
Allegations outlined in court state that on 29th January
the police acted on information that a motor car was transporting Amos
The vehicle was observed on the Linstead Bypass in St Catherine
It sped away onto the North-South Highway and was pursued and intercepted in Moneague
When the vehicle was stopped and the police enquired of Dawson if he knew that Amos was a wanted man
he reportedly stated that he had heard about it
View the discussion thread.
Fans of Reggae Music will have lots to enjoy for the month of February in celebration of Reggae Month
This year will see the 7th staging of Reggae in the Park at the Rose Duncan Park in Linstead
The Linstead town centre will be buzzing with activities on February 7
and 28 with each week having its own theme
Action gets underway with the Reggae ITP official opening on Friday
On Friday the 14th there will be the Reggae ITP Film Fest (viewing of short films by Jamaicans) at 7:00 pm
will be the Reggae ITP 5K Umbuntu Love Run/Walk between 6:00 am and 10:00 am
February 21 with the Reggae ITP Art Walk & Fashion Night Out starting at 7:00 pm
Activities will come to a climax on Friday
February 28 with the Reggae ITP Food Expo & Festival
There will be musical presentations by various sound systems and radio DJs each week
said the event was conceptualised in 2018 as a response to the level of crime in the Linstead area
since we have been celebrating Reggae Month and Black History Month in Jamaica it was an opportune time to use this occasion to highlight what is happening in the community in regards to crime
and the culture to bring back a positive vibration in the park.”
According to Anderson the vision was to host this celebratory activity in the park every Friday in the month of February
“So far we have included the schools in and around the Linstead area
and now we are embarking on soliciting support from corporate Jamaica,” he said
The film fest on February 14 will this year be on National Hero Marcus Garvey
“Proceeds from the [Community Love Run on February 16] are geared towards building up our capacity as reggae practitioners
supporting schools and community groups in building up their infrastructure and enhancing what they do.”
Among the special performers this year on the final Friday will be Lutan Fyah as well as our local giants Iba Mhar and Sativa D Black 1
Jamaica – Two men said to be persons of interest in the shooting death of a fruit vendor in Linstead earlier this week were killed during an early morning joint police/military operation in the St Catherine North police division on Friday
The identities of the deceased have not yet been released
It is understood that police went in search of the men at a premises in Ewarton
During the operation the two men were fatally wounded and a firearm recovered
also known as ‘Telto’ of Grove Road in Linstead
was gunned down while selling at his stall on St George’s Street in Linstead
View the discussion thread.
Fowler School of Engineering
Linstead’s research includes artificial intelligence and machine learning with applications to software engineering
Congratulations to Dr. Erik Linstead on his promotion to Full Professor of Software Engineering for the Fowler School of Engineering
Linstead double-majored in computer science and computer information systems at Chapman University
and continued his studies at Stanford University
Linstead furthered his education and received a Ph.D
in computer science in 2009 from the University of California
he served as an embedded real-time software engineer at Boeing
In 2015, Dr. Linstead left Boeing and became a tenure-track Assistant Professor and program director in computer science in the Schmid College of Science and Technology
he focused his research on implementing machine learning to analyze and understand autism spectrum disorder
while at the same time mentoring several graduate students who have since embarked on their own faculty careers
Linstead was critical to the development of the Fowler School of Engineering
Andrew Lyon to sketch out the vision for academic programs and faculty recruiting
“It was a once-in-a-career experience to build an engineering school from the ground up.” – Linstead
Linstead became the Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Faculty Development for the School of Engineering in 2019 and used his twelve years of experience from his time at the Boeing Company to build the curriculum for Chapman Engineering
which is rooted in a hands-on approach to learning and prioritizing access to engineering for all
He was promoted to Senior Associate Dean in 2022
As the principal investigator of the Machine Learning and Affiliated Technologies (MLAT) lab
Senior Associate Dean of Fowler Engineering
Linstead is a core member of the Fowler Engineering community
Dr. Erik Linstead Faculty Articles and Research
April 23, 2025 by Lauren Henderson | Research
and Jonathan Weinberger were chosen as the 2025 Fletcher Jones Foundation Faculty Fellows in Engineering recipients
They join their fellow engineering faculty
who were previous recipients of this honor
This three-year faculty fellowship is a testament to the potential
April 4, 2025 by Lauren Sieberg | Students
We are delighted to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr
who has recently been awarded tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Computer Science for the Fowler School of Engineering (FSE)
Boyd whose teaching and research has a tremendous impact on our students,” shared Interim Dean Dr
View the discussion thread.
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View the discussion thread.
Best Wishes for May 5, 2025
Spread your wings and fly over to Urban Nature Store
Mapleview Mall’s interactive experience raises money for Halton Women’s Place
Lofttan’s new bracelet inspired by Fallon Farinacci in honour of MMIW
IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s taking place all across Canada at the end of May
Women of Soul celebrates female singers at the Westdale
Lyn’s Lindstead Market brings a taste of Jamaica to Hamilton
Owner Randy Seaton’s grandparents grew up in Riversdale
Jamiaca and shopped at Linstead Market there
So once Randy’s mom and aunt came to Canada they opened the market and brought along their parents to work in the shop
The shop has been opened for 24 years and has a lot of different and unique items that can’t be found at your traditional grocery store
they also have a hot bar serving up jerk chicken
Lyn’s Linstead Market is at 1000 Upper Gage Ave #1, Hamilton and is open seven days a week. Just give them a call, check their website or follow them on Instagram to get a little taste of Jamaica
Emily Vukovic went birding at Urban Nature Store in Ancaster
To celebrate Mother’s Day and raise funds for Halton Women’s Place
A beautiful and powerful new piece of jewelry has joined Lofttan‘s collection
The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s is taking place at the
‘Women of Soul’ is a captivating production that is revitalizing timeless soul
CHCH-TV started broadcasting in 1954 and is proud to be the news leader for Hamilton and the surrounding Halton and Niagara regions
Copyright © 2025 CHCH. All Rights Reserved. ZWD
View the discussion thread.
Jamaica — The cash-strapped Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC) has discontinued the rail service that moved some 400 students daily between Linstead and Spanish Town in St Catherine
around the same time the state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) launched a new Linstead to Spanish Town route
The update was provided by Transport Minister Daryl Vaz at the recent sitting of the Standing Finance Committee that examined the 2025/26 Estimates of Expenditure
ahead of the Budget Debate that gets underway Tuesday at Gordon House
who was responding to a question from Opposition Spokesman on Transport
as to why there was no allocation in the estimates for the JRC and whether the rail service was scrapped
revealed that the corporation had depleted its surplus of $286 million over the last few years
as it was forced to subsidise the rail service for students at a cost of $10 million per month
Vaz told the committee that the equipment operated by the JRC was outdated
“Cabinet has mandated that we look at the new system
which may include a public-private partnership to be able to get more economical equipment to use,” he said
“The reason for the discontinuation was strictly dollars and cents; they [JRC] just didn’t have the income anymore to subsidise $10 million a month after spending $300 million,” he stated
the transport minister said it has been working well
It is not the first time the rail service has been offered for students and then discontinued
prompting Phillips to ask about the reason for the back-and-forth
“I’m a little bit confused as to why we keep going back to the train system for schools
that we will not be going back [this time] until we have a more efficient
The model that is there is just unworkable,” Vaz said
Phillips asked whether the proposed rail system for western Jamaica to be developed with private interests and with a tourism slant has been shelved
Vaz disclosed that based on the proposed concept
advice was sought from the Attorney General’s Department
He explained that the partnership would necessitate some legislative amendments “which are not the easiest thing to do”
“The various different models that have been proposed between the private sector investor and the government
the only way to facilitate it and for it to be properly structured
and for the Government of Jamaica to be protected
are legislative amendments that are in train,” Vaz shared
He said it was “a very positive development for western Jamaica”
returning to teach at his alma mater meant giving back to the institution that once provided him with a foundational sense of community and belonging
Throughout his time as an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Fowler School of Engineering (FSE)
Linstead has spearheaded growth opportunities within academic programs to cultivate environments where students
and friends of the university can thrive together and feel supported
His research takes a human-centered approach
focusing on the application of machine learning and assistive technologies to improve the understanding and treatment of developmental disorders
particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
we spoke with Linstead to discuss his journey from freshman to faculty
gaining insight into the experiences within both industry and academia that brought him back onto Chapman’s campus
Q: What do your day-to-day operations look like as a Professor and Associate Dean here at Fowler School of Engineering (FSE)
Linstead: The day is always busy: there’s always something to be done
I really love being an Associate Dean; I enjoy working on academic programs and figuring out how we can push the School of Engineering forward
whether it’s building new degree programs or thinking about how we improve our reputation
It’s a constant juggling game—and then there’s teaching too
I like the fact that every day is a little bit different from the previous day
Being an academic is a pretty blessed existence
Erik Linstead ’01 with former Chapman president Dr
Q: How would you describe your transition from student to industry professional to Chapman faculty
Linstead: I completed my undergraduate degree in Computer Science at Chapman and graduated in 2001
so the smart thing to do was to go and hang out in grad school for a couple of years
I went to Stanford for my master’s and as I was finishing
I was meeting some friends at Chapman and ran into my former professors
I started teaching and started industry at Boeing at almost exactly the same time
I always knew that I wanted to teach but I never thought I would ever be an academic
I was at Boeing for twelve years while still teaching
I found myself thinking more and more about how I would rather teach
my daughter got diagnosed with autism and I wanted to be able to focus on autism research
so I decided to transition to being an all-in academic
but I’m glad it was; being in the industry makes me a better professor while teaching helped my presentation and soft skills in a way that paid dividends in the industry
Q: What have you found most fulfilling about teaching at your alma mater
Linstead: I showed up at Chapman in freshman year as an introverted
scared 18-year-old kid who wasn’t comfortable in his own skin and felt a little embarrassed to be the geek from high school
The community at Chapman and within computer science brought me out of my shell by putting me in contact with folks who were like-minded
so I became more confident and comfortable with myself
I think that now if you were to ask my students or coworkers
they would probably say that I’m an extroverted person
It’s satisfying now being in a classroom and providing students with the same kind of experience I had as a student: it’s okay to be excited about the things that we’re excited about
and it’s okay to be intellectually curious and feel supported in that
It’s also amazing when you’re sitting at commencement and you see a student walk across the stage and think
I taught them that class,” and now they’re going to go be an engineer at Google
It’s surreal to have students who come in and haven’t found their voice yet and then four years later they’re these confident young people who are going out to push the envelope within science and engineering
I can’t tell you if at fifteen years I’m still going to be excited about doing academic administration or research
I’m still going to be excited about teaching one hundred percent
Q: What are the most important technical or people skills you would recommend students work on as they prepare for life after college
Linstead: I think people skills trump technical skills
I met brilliant people who were stuck in mid-level roles because they couldn’t talk to others
The first important thing is to become very comfortable communicating technical ideas to non-technical people
Talk to everybody— there’s stuff out there that you’ve never heard or thought of
You never know what path you might find that could put you where you need to be in life
You don’t know who could be an amazing mentor or friend
It’s important to put yourself out there and talk
even though sometimes for a lot of us—especially as engineers—that’s not our natural inclination
Q: What advice would you give to Fowler students currently searching for job opportunities
Linstead: Be patient and make your own decisions
A lot of people might tell you that if you’re not getting a faculty job at MIT or Stanford then it’s not worth taking one at all
I am very glad to be at an institution like Chapman
You need to listen to that voice in your head that tells you where you’re most excited
you have to find your own happiness and your own fit
That’s the same reason I get questions all the time: “You’ve been at Chapman so long
why haven’t you gone someplace else?” I tell them it’s because I’m happy being where I am
and I’m not going to trade that to be at a bigger-name school
I know what Chapman provided me starting as a young
and I believe in the way that we do business
So many good things come from just putting yourself out there a little bit
Lauren Sieberg (Creative Writing & English ‘25)
Exploring Clean Engineering: The Eco-Friendly Career of Chapman’s Computer Science Club Vice President
Tyler Lewis - “I get the opportunity to put my effort into stuff that actually matters
And I love that Chapman gives me that opportunity.” Tyler Lewis ‘24
and his Journey from Transfer Student to Security Consultant - “I apply stuff that I learned in the Information Security and Policy (ISP) classes to what I'm doing currently." - Ben Fellows '24
Chapman Engineering Invites Students to Experience the Industry with a Workplace Tour - "It makes me a little more confident to go into the workforce,” - Trey Alexander (Computer Engineering '24
MS Electrical Engineering and Computer Science '25
Optimizing Technology through Innovative Design: Fowler Engineering Faculty and Alumnus Publish Research on Inverse Design Strategies
Chapman Computer Science Graduate Energizes Entrepreneurial Efforts in Engineering Students - “Go make the mistake
That’s the best way to learn.” - Grayson Berman (Computer Science '19)
Chapman Engineering Alumni Swings for Major League Baseball - “I love being able to apply the courses from my degree to my passion." -Jackson Thomas (Data Analytics '23)
Three Engineering Faculty Selected for The Fletcher Jones Foundation Faculty Fellows in Engineering for Their Research in Gesture-Controlled AI
and Infinite-Dimensional Proof Systems - Congratulations to Dr
Fowler School of Engineering Faculty Recognized as Top Cited Scientist in the World
Chapman Engineering Seniors Awarded at Annual Senior Celebration
Chapman Engineering Faculty Innovates With Empathy to Expand Neurodiversity Research - Honoring Dr
LouAnne Boyd’s bold research transition to support autism inclusion
Engineering Faculty Champions Inclusive User-Centered Technology for Diverse Identities - Highlighting Dr
Franceli Cibrian’s transformative steps toward engineering for all
Chapman Engineering Faculty Augments Electrical Engineering Through Passion-Driven Research - Faculty Spotlight: Dr
Chapman Faculty Lets Nature Be Her Guide Through Bio-Inspired Research and Design - Diving deep into Dr
Cassandra Donatelli’s groundbreaking work in biomechanics
February 21, 2025 by Lauren Sieberg | Students
Provost List In recognition of Academic Excellence the students below have been named to the Provost List
Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.800 or higher in at least 12 credits of residence course work taken for a letter grade in the fall 2024 semester
Professors Trudi Qi, Yuxin Wen, and Jonathan Weinberger were chosen as the 2025 Fletcher Jones Foundation Faculty Fellows in Engineering recipients. They join their fellow engineering faculty, Dr. Emad Arasteh, Dr. Mark Harrison, and Dr. Nasim Mohammadi Estakhri, who were previous recipients of this honor. This three-year faculty fellowship is a testament to the potential
HomeTributes & FuneralsView PhotoDeath NoticesLINSTEAD
Peter Charles Fredrick1932 - 2025 • Weston
Peter Charles Frederick Linstead Passed away peacefully on 17 February 2025 aged 92
Dearly loved husband and soul mate of Pamela
Loving father and father-in-law of Jane & Ian
Adored Pa to his grandchildren & great-grandchildren
Our appreciation for the wonderful care given to Peter at Warrigal Stirling & 11A at the Canberra Hospital
A celebration of Peter’s life will be held at Norwood Park Crematorium on Wednesday 26 February 2025 commencing at 1:30pm
Peter's service will be live streamed and can be accessed through the Norwood Park website
pleaded not guilty to larceny of a motor vehicle and guilty to receiving stolen property before presiding judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce
at some point during the day on March 12 the complainant parked his 2018 Nissan motor car on Kent Avenue in Montego Bay
and ensured the vehicle was securely locked
he discovered that his car had been stolen and reported the matter to the police
The allegations are that cops later apprehended Johnson while he was driving the complainant’s vehicle along the Salt Marsh main road in Trelawny
defence lawyer Donovan Collins asserted that Johnson had cooperated with the police and shared information regarding the circumstances under which he was driving the vehicle
he was in St James and the vehicle was given to him by another person to drive to St Catherine…He was not aware that the vehicle was stolen,” the attorney said
the judge asked why Johnson had failed to confirm ownership of the vehicle; the lawyer provided an explanation
Collins then requested that his client be released on bail
arguing that the prosecution had presented no evidence to suggest that
“But your client has been charged with a serious offence
and the allegations are quite strong against him
So you need to have frank discussions with your client,” judge Grant-Pryce advised
the judge mandated that he report to a specific police station on specific days and surrender his travel documents
your passport will have to be surrendered to the court’s office… It’s either your passport is surrendered or a stop order is imposed,” Grant-Pryce said
THE ANNUAL Tru-Juice 5K Run/Walk is set to return for its ninth staging on Sunday
at the Tru-Juice orchards and orange groves in Bog Walk
Building on the momentum of last year’s staging
organisers are aiming for a record turnout with a goal of 5,000 participants
will once again benefit the Linstead Public Hospital for the fifth consecutive year
and this year the goal is to significantly surpass that amount
The funds raised from the event will go towards purchasing medical equipment and supplies to enhance the hospital’s day-to-day operations and to improve patient care
The announcement was made during the official launch of the charity run on June 20 at the Linstead Public Hospital
managing director of Trade Winds Citrus Limited
expressed the company’s dedication to both the event and the community
“We are thrilled to be back and are looking forward to a great turnout
Achieving this goal will allow us to make a substantial donation to the Linstead Hospital,” McConnell said
He further emphasised the company’s commitment to the Bog Walk-Linstead community
sharing that the company is “deeply invested in contributing to the institutions that lift up the parish,” noting that Trade Winds will continue to give back to the institutions such as the Linstead Hospital and Dinthill Technical High School
as it continues to foster community development
The event also promotes community engagement
as McConnell also encouraged participants to bring a change of clothes so they can enjoy a refreshing dip in the river after the run/walk
we are encouraging everyone to come out and participate”
acting CEO of the Linstead Public Hospital
“The Tru-Juice Walk/Run is more than just a fundraiser; it’s a beacon of hope for our hospital and the Linstead community
The funds raised will directly improve patient care by providing the necessary equipment and resources needed,” Prendergast stated
brought remarks at the launch event and endorsed the 5K Run/Walk
noting that the inclusion of physical movement is a key part of helping to combat lifestyle diseases
Registration is now open and interested persons can register via the Tru-Juice website at www.tru-juice.com
Registration cost is J$2,500 and registration closes Wednesday
View the discussion thread.
View the discussion thread.
including the daughter of project lead Professor Erik Linstead ’01
The team’s research was featured in a clinical report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics
in computer science seem so inadequate as when his 3-year-old daughter
was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
maybe I could do something useful for her,” Linstead ’01 thought to himself at the time
“But then when I realized there was some interesting stuff to be done in machine learning
I decided the only rational decision was to quit my industry job and come to Chapman
where I could focus on building a research lab around machine learning and autism.”
So in 2015, Linstead left his position at Boeing and started down an academic path that led to his current role as principal investigator of the Machine Learning and Assistive Technology Lab at Chapman
And that “interesting stuff” he saw coming through machine learning
his faculty colleagues and their students at Chapman to address autism needs
Research is highlighted in a report by American Academy of Pediatrics
the lab team’s research was featured in a clinical report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics
The lab’s data analysis sheds new light on the link between intensity of clinical intervention and developmental progress by young people who are on the autism spectrum
the more directed time a caregiver invests with a youngster
“The clinical report is sort of a best practices guide for providing treatment to kids on the spectrum,” Linstead said
“My colleagues and I are filling a noticeable gap on applying machine learning to behavioral data to improve treatment.”
By focusing on the relationship between treatment intensity and learning outcomes
the report is doing more than influencing developmental interactions
It’s convincing insurers to pay for the extra caregiving time
That’s huge for the families of the roughly 1 in 59 U.S
children diagnosed with the neurodevelopment disorder
“Treatment hours alone can account for 35% of the learning outcomes being mastered,” he said
“That means as you consider which treatment knob to turn
the intensity knob is one of the biggest on the dial
Collaboration with industry partners moves the project forward
Machine learning uses algorithms to build a mathematical model for data analysis
As Linstead’s team uses machine learning and clinical data to evaluate treatment strategies
the lab benefits from a number of important partnerships
including with the consumer credit company Experian
the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) provides the lab with large data sets and expertise for projects
The association with CARD has boosted research on multiple fronts
The partnership springs from a connection between Linstead and Dennis Dixon
chief clinical officer at the Center for Autism
and they were at a point where they really wanted to start doing some interesting analysis,” Linstead said
“They ran into obstacles finding the right people for collaboration
and it’s one of those things where you meet someone and you just know right off that you’re going to be great friends and colleagues.”
A former student of Linstead plays a key faculty role on the team
Over the years, the lab’s collaborative connections have grown. Elizabeth Stevens ‘10 (Ph.D. ’18), a former data science student of Linstead at Chapman, left a job with Standard and Poor’s in Denver to join the research team. Last year, Stevens also took on the role of program director for the Fowler School of Engineering
“I’m looking at the data and outcomes and trying to figure out
How can we tailor it so everyone can be successful?” Stevens said
it’s exciting that we get to help people in need
even though we’re not right there with the child
the work has always been about the thousands of young lives impacted by the lab’s data analysis
And one life that’s as close to him as his own heart
Hannah is now old enough that he can joke with her as he also advocates for the resources she needs to thrive
She still struggles with some social and behavioral issues
“but I mean her dad’s a computer scientist
so she probably comes by some of that honestly,” Linstead said with a chuckle
Sometimes when he is working on a manuscript about the lab’s analysis
Hannah will look over his shoulder to read the abstract
then want to talk about the research and how it pertains to her
“my life and my family’s life has never been the same,” he added
View the discussion thread.
After qualifying for their first-ever ISSA/Wata DaCosta Cup final
head coach at McGrath High Jermaine Thomas says he wanted to help change the fortunes of the Linstead community
which has been affected by crime over the years
McGrath blew away first-time semi-finalists Ocho Rios 6-1 on Wednesday at the National Stadium
It was 1-1 after just seven minutes but the St Catherine side took over from that point thanks to Farrel Tucker’s 10th-minute goal and Pusey’s strikes in the 22nd
After winning their first title last season with the Ben Francis Cup
Thomas says he was confident that his team could go one step further
“We would have retained some of the players and the talent we have
they really dug in and they played well last year
We knew once we retained the players and prepared properly
the rest would be history,” he told the Jamaica Observer
the boys played today to instructions and they were rewarded
Thomas is hoping this will make a huge difference in Linstead and that its members will be inspired
our community would have been plagued by violence
We’ve lost a lot of young kids to crime so doing this
I’m hoping it can ignite the community and not only just football wise
that the kids who are growing up now can see and use football as a medium to move forward.”
Pusey joins a rare list of players to score a semi-final hat-trick and he knew it was coming
I expected those four goals because the coach believed in me and my team believed in me so I just went out there and did it for them
Ocho Rios Head Coach Veron Peterkin believes his team deserves high praise for their history-making run to the last four
There’s a lot of things that happened behind the scenes that can be better and if those things were better
the performance wouldn’t be this way,” he said
two semi-finals for the first time for all these players whether under-14
The final is set for Saturday at the National Stadium
TRADE Winds Citrus Limited raised a record-breaking $4.9 million for Linstead Public Hospital following the successful ninth staging of the Tru-Juice 5K Run/Walk this year
The official handover ceremony took place recently at the St Catherine-based hospital
which will be used to purchase medical equipment and upgrade hospital facilities
represents the largest amount ever raised in the event’s history and will significantly enhance the hospital’s ability to serve the growing needs of the community
emphasised the company’s commitment to supporting the Linstead community and reflected on the success of the event
“Supporting the community is at the heart of what we do at Trade Winds,” McConnell said
“The Linstead Public Hospital plays a crucial role in the lives of so many people
and we are proud to contribute to its growth and improvement
This year’s Tru-Juice 5K was a tremendous success
and the turnout exceeded all our expectations,” added McConnell
This marks the fifth consecutive year that the hospital has been the primary beneficiary of the event
expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership with Tru-Juice
It will allow us to provide better health-care services by ensuring that we have the right tools and equipment in place
We are thankful for the continued support from Tru-Juice
and it is heart-warming to see how much the community rallies behind this cause every year
The impact of this partnership cannot be overstated — it truly makes a difference in the lives of our patients,” said Wallen-Panton
it did not come without its share of challenges
posed significant difficulties in the lead-up to the race
With only 200 participants registered by July 8 and widespread damage in some areas
“When Beryl hit we were really unsure whether we could pull off the event as planned
registration numbers were far below expectations
and the hurricane had caused damage in several areas
“But we also knew that the Linstead Public Hospital needed the funds
and by race day we had over 3,000 participants — more than we had ever seen before
and the turnout reflected the strength and resilience of our community,” said Lauren Mahfood
She noted that this year the Tru-Juice 5K saw a record 3,125 participants
surpassing expectations and becoming the most successful staging to date
Trade Winds Citrus is already gearing up for the 10th staging of the 5K in 2025
which promises to be even bigger and better as the company continues its commitment to supporting the health and well-being of the Linstead community
View the discussion thread.