Mind the Gap: Join the Place North Viability Gap Campaign Work on phase two is expected to take around 12 months Vivly is building 52 homes in the village near Huddersfield in phase two of its Knowle Grange development which consisted of 31 homes ranging from one- to five-bedrooms is now sold out with the developer hoping for similar success in this next step Plans for the scheme were originally rejected by Kirklees Council prompting a redesign by Vivly that was approved in January associate director – land and development at Vivly Living said: “These homes will be energy-efficient and offer additional garden space providing comfortable and sustainable living for our customers “I’d like to say a personal thank you to Cllr John Taylor the Shepley ward member and deputy leader of the Conservatives on Kirklees Council who has helped to ensure that we can build much-needed affordable housing for Shepley and allowed us to introduce the First Home Scheme helping first-time buyers get a foot on the property ladder.” Cllr Taylor explained: “The first phase proved popular and in both phases I am pleased to see properties for first-time buyers “It is important that the younger generations get the same opportunities to get their foot on the housing ladder as I did “Shepley is a wonderful and active village and a great place to start and bring up your family “This plan includes some two-bed houses under the First Homes scheme which will be ideal for young people wanting to buy their first home “Being able to buy a home in the village you grew up in is an aspiration for many young people locally.” “I have supported this sensitive development which is perfectly in tune with the character and ambience of the rest of Shepley since the early planning stages and it is very satisfying to see the original vision become reality and be so successful.” Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Contractor Bowmer & Kirkland topped out on the 368 BTR apartments last April and has now handed it over for occupation completing phase one of the £300m regeneration scheme Following on from plans submitted by Persimmon last month for 240 apartments the developer is looking for input from city residents Register for free Yorkshire property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Stay updated on the latest news and views in Yorkshire property views and opportunities in Yorkshire property By subscribing, you are agreeing to Place Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" 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 Posted by | Jan 13, 2025 | | 0 Planning permission has been granted for the second phase of a village housing development which will include affordable homes and homes for first-time buyers Kirklees Council has given the go-ahead for 52 more homes at Vivly Living’s Knowle Grange development in Shepley associate director for land and development at Vivly Living said: “We’re thrilled to announce we’ve been granted planning permission for Shepley Phase 2 “This means we can bring forward 52 fantastic new and much-needed homes to the community These homes will be energy-efficient and offer additional garden space providing comfortable and sustainable living for our customers.” The scheme includes affordable housing and a First Home Scheme for first-time buyers The development had the backing of Shepley Tory councillor John Taylor who said: “I’m glad that Kirklees Council has agreed to Vivly Living’s revised proposals with more space and houses which have larger gardens than before which is much better for families there is a demand for well-designed houses like this here in the village “This plan includes some two-bed houses under the First Homes scheme which will be ideal for young people wanting to buy their first home Being able to buy a home in the village you grew up in is an aspiration for many young people locally “So hopefully we’ll see spades in the ground soon and people moving in as the first residents of this second phase before the year is out.” Work on Shepley Phase 2 is due to begin this month and should be completed within 12 months with prices ranging from £150,000 for a starter home to five-bedroom houses at £700,000 Chan Khangura on a housing paradox for Baby Boomers stuck in a property log-jam Vivly will build the 52 homes at Knowle Grange as phase two of its scheme in the village near Huddersfield Work is due to start this month and the developer is aiming to have it completed within 12 months Shepley ward member and deputy leader of the Conservatives on Kirklees Council said: “I’m glad that Kirklees Council has agreed to Vivly Living’s revised proposals with more space and houses that have larger gardens than before as the first residents of this second phase before the year is out I am very proud of this wonderful new addition to our village The 65 affordable-home development is three miles from the city centre and was brought forward in a £13.1m land-led deal in partnership with Together Housing Search    Shop    My Account    E-Newsletters by | Feb 4, 2025 | Feature|Opinion Who are three people (other than your family) who have shaped your life and worldview If you could freeze your life into an already-lived 10 seconds Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens Phone: 615-627-7763 Email: info@goodfaithmedia.org Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage has acquired AiK2 Insurance Services a New Jersey-based firm specializing in business insurance solutions for wealth and asset managers Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed AiK2 will rebrand under the Starkweather & Shepley name integrating its services with the firm’s Private Client Insurance division is a partnership between the Wealth Advisor Growth Network (WAGN) and KORE Insurance The company serves approximately 300 clients across the US and manages more than $200 billion in insured assets emphasized the strategic benefits of the acquisition “This acquisition strengthens our financial services team bringing new technology and talented professionals to the table,” he said “We look forward to continuing to build on this foundation and expand our offerings.” will continue with the company in an advisory role He expressed confidence in the alignment of the two companies citing shared professional and cultural values The acquisition of AiK2 allows Starkweather & Shepley to enhance its offerings in the wealth management and asset management sectors providing clients with a broader range of insurance solutions In another move to expand its portfolio, Starkweather & Shepley, in September 2024, acquired MacDonald & Vacarro Insurance Agency MacDonald & Vacarro specializes in professional liability and directors & officers liability insurance particularly for human services organizations Starkweather & Shepley is one of the largest independent insurance agencies in Rhode Island employee benefits and risk management services A robust 722,000 sq ft of take-up was recorded in the West Yorkshire and Humber region during Q2 2024 bringing the half year total take-up figure to 1.2 million sq ft (units over 50,000 sq ft) partner in Knight Frank’s Yorkshire Industrial & Logistics team said: “This puts the market in a good position against last year’s total of 1.6 million sq ft “One of the main drivers impacting the positive figures is the notable increase in demand from the manufacturing sector Out of five leasehold and three freehold transactions to complete this year (as of end of June 24) all three freehold purchases have involved manufacturers.” The largest of these transactions was air conditioning manufacturer Airedale which acquired the 314,714 sq ft former Hallmark Cards facility at Dawson Lane in Bradford the 275,413 sq ft former Ilke Homes factory in Flaxby was bought by bottled water manufacturer Shepley Spring Water earlier this year McPhail said: “The West Yorkshire and Humber market has seen a mini revival during H1 2024 which has also been driven by the increased availability of speculatively developed warehouse space in the region Konect 62 and Velocity Point benefiting from pent-up occupier demand for small and mid-box units “With the marked rise in manufacturing enquiries we have seen increased demand from occupiers needing buildings with large electrical capacity This further emphasises the need for developers to factor-in sufficient power supply to their speculative schemes to accommodate not only the B8 distribution sector more than one million sq ft of space has been taken by manufacturers in the region This is substantially higher than the circa 200,000 sq ft recorded in the same four-quarter period last year Manufacturers now comprise over half of the space taken (56%) with distribution companies making up an additional 30% when distribution firms occupied 72% and manufacturers only 16% The largest letting in Q2 involved food and beverage logistics company Oakland International who secured K161 at Konect 62 in Selby speculatively developed by Cole Waterhouse and reached practical completion in Q4 2023 Prime rents in Leeds for units over 50,000 sq ft remained stable in Q2 at £8.75 psf with quoting rents for prime mid-box units now at £9.50-£9.75 psf Knight Frank expects to see a substantial increase in headline rents within the next two quarters McPhail added: “Despite a small handful of second-hand modern warehouse space returning to the market recently we have seen total supply reduced by around 13% this quarter due to take-up levels and the notable absence of proposed speculative development on the horizon who are currently underway with their impressive speculative warehouse scheme located in South Leeds (Baytree Leeds) which consists of two best-in-class warehouse units of extending to  76,000 sq ft and 145,000 sq ft respectively.”   Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Rhode Island’s largest independent insurance agency has unveiled an AI-powered (artificial intelligence) platform designed to simplify the insurance procurement process and optimize underwriter risk assessment Registered investment advisors often face cumbersome multi-page applications and lengthy approval processes when securing management and professional liability coverage Starkweather & Shepley aims to alleviate these challenges by automating much of the application process the software can pre-fill insurance forms and underwriting worksheets using a proprietary algorithm and extensive data to expedite the process senior vice president and financial institutions practice leader at Starkweather & Shepley noted: “Our clients’ feedback has been instrumental in shaping our approach and guiding our decision to utilize cutting-edge technology to facilitate the insurance process “We understand the complexities that our clients face with insurance applications. By introducing this innovative solution we are taking a significant step toward providing as stress-free an experience as possible for our clients.” She added: “Our goal is to simplify the insurance journey We want to ensure that our clients can focus on what matters most without the burdensome complexities of traditional applications.” the company opened a new office within the Golden Bear Plaza at 11760 U.S Highway One West Tower in Palm Beach Gardens then executive vice president for Florida and now chairman of the firm said at the time: “We are excited to celebrate the expansion of our Palm Beach Gardens location and proud of what our team has been able to accomplish in Florida “As we celebrate 145 years of business this year our growth is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team.” Founder & Creative Director of TwentyOne06 discusses the studio’s dynamic rebranding and his forward-thinking vision for the future of design Govind Shepley is a visionary storyteller whose designs stand out for their blend of creativity and purpose he transforms Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels into immersive experiences that evoke emotion groundbreaking projects that will redefine the future of interior design Video is produced by Eduardo Buenagua & Joel Amparo Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and never miss a thing Input your search keywords and press Enter A MAN’S body has been discovered in Dukinfield A police cordon was put in place on Ashton Street And the Greater Manchester force has confirmed a male was found dead at the scene They also insist there is no danger to the public In a statement issued to The Correspondent GMP said: “At 10.15am this morning (Thursday October 3) we were called to Ashton Street “Emergency services attended and sadly discovered the body of a man believed to be in his 40s “We do not believe there is a risk to the wider public A scene is in place and enquiries are ongoing.” Andover News To help voters make decisions, Andover News is publishing profiles of candidates running in the 2025 Andover Town Election on March 25. You can also view all Andover News election coverage Responses are from a questionnaire sent to all candidates in February and Today’s profile is from Christopher Shepleyn a candidate running in a four-way race for two open seats on the school committee It is Shepley’s second run for school committee Campaign Website: www.apsrenewal.com Campaign Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shepley4sc What prompted you to run for elected office I ran for School Committee because Andover’s schools have been plagued by years of poor leadership The 2023 teachers’ strike exposed just how badly the administration had failed we’ve seen two years of budget deficits with more on the horizon I’m proud to be a son of Andover and a product of our public schools My family has been a staple of Andover for generations and I’m committed to helping improve it everyday I love this town and have been actively involved from serving on the Ballardvale Historic District Commission to engaging with residents on issues that matter and I’m committed to giving back by ensuring our schools are strong What are the most important issues facing Andover that you will need to address if elected on March 25 – Restoring Trust in Leadership: Parents and teachers are frustrated by a lack of transparency especially after years of head scratching decisions by our School Committee We need leadership that prioritizes open communication and sound decision-making – Addressing Ongoing Budget Deficits: For two years in a row we’ve faced budget shortfalls with more projected yet the administration has failed to provide a clear Fiscal responsibility is critical to prevent future financial crises – Ensuring Academic Excellence: Andover should be a leader in education but that requires real investment in a stronger curriculum Academic performance must remain a top priority What are your thoughts on Andover’s comparative school performance Our community invests heavily in our schools but we’ve been coasting on our reputation while performance lags It’s time to get back to basics: strong academics and greater transparency to ensure Andover remains a leader in education Andover is considering a plan to upgrade Andover High School to extend its life until the Town is in a better position to apply for state aid to build a new school Please outline your position on the AHS project I opposed the original $450 million AHS project because it would have decimated our bond rating and forced many seniors and fixed-income residents out of town The overwhelming vote against 7A at the November 2023 Special Town Meeting showed residents agreed that it was simply too much I supported 7B as a responsible interim solution to extend the life of AHS while positioning Andover for state aid on a full rebuild when our community is in a better financial position we need steady leadership on the School Committee to ensure this project delivers the best for students while keeping taxpayers protected Andover Public Schools is facing a $1.9 budget deficit — the second deficit in as many years The school committee is considering a plan that cuts 19 FTEs and raises certain student fees Please outline your position on the APS budget issue and the strategies proposed to close the deficit It’s unacceptable to cut teaching positions and raise student fees while central administration keeps growing even as we face back-to-back budget deficits The administration wants to eliminate 19 teaching positions and increase costs for families yet they refuse to rein in their own spending Before we even think about cutting teachers we need to reduce bloated consulting and legal fees and account for every tax dollar spent in our school system Outline your views on class-size guidelines established by the school committee I believe the School Committee should reevaluate our current class-size guidelines to ensure students receive the best possible education while maintaining fiscal responsibility Smaller class sizes can improve learning outcomes but any changes must be strategic and financially sustainable we should prioritize the grade levels and subjects where smaller classes have the greatest impact APS should consider reallocating resources from administrative overhead and optimizing spending to ensure every directly dollar benefits our students A data-driven approach will help us make informed effective decisions that balance student success with budget realities APS has had a 3.75 percent annual budget increase over the past ten years What are your ideas to keep cost growth in line with revenue With a 3.75% annual increase outpacing the town’s 2.75% growth we’re still facing deficits and tough financial decisions year after year It’s time to take a hard look at our long-term financial plan and make necessary adjustments The School Committee must take a stronger role in scrutinizing the budget I support implementing a line-by-line budget hearing where the Superintendent and her team justify each expense to ensure resources are being used efficiently leaving municipalities like Andover to make up the difference with local tax dollars I will lobby our state legislators to push for a fairer distribution of education funding so Andover gets its fair share of state aid Strong schools require smart fiscal planning and advocacy at every level highlight your biggest accomplishment(s) during the current term highlight some of your professional and/or life experiences I’ve been actively involved in our community and smart fiscal management to local government I graduated from the Andover Leadership Academy in Fall 2024 deepening my understanding of town government I’ve attended countless School Committee meetings and taxpayers to advocate for responsible decision-making I also serve on the Ballardvale Historic District Commission working to balance preservation with practical town planning and that’s exactly what I’ll do on the School Committee What differentiates you from your opponent(s) I’m the only candidate who has attended Andover Public Schools and my recent experience in our classrooms gives me a unique perspective on what works and what doesn’t While my incumbent opponents vote on policies that affect students That’s the kind of insight and leadership we need on the School Committee Is there anything else you want Andover News readers to know about you and your campaign I’m running for Andover School Committee to empower our residents and bring academic excellence back to our schools and taxpayers deserve clear leadership and responsible decision-making I’d be honored to earn your vote on March 25 We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info Learn more about Andover News and what we're trying to do: Read our Mission Statement and Policies Copyright © 2025 Andover News Services Inc.All rights reserved Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive G DESIGN MIDDLE EAST | OCTOBER 2024 ovind Shepley the Founder and Creative Director of TwentyOne06 has been a driving force in transforming the hospitality design landscape in the Middle East Govind’s work fuses storytelling with strategic design is renowned for its award-winning designs that seamlessly blend creativity and a profound understanding of client needs Govind’s design philosophy centres on one core belief: great spaces tell powerful stories It’s this narrative-driven approach that has set him apart in the competitive world of interior design From Michelin-starred restaurants to luxury hotels Govind’s spaces don’t just look good—they evoke emotion Whether he’s collaborating with international brands like Jumeirah or bringing to life the vision of renowned chefs like Reif Othman Govind consistently pushes the boundaries of design ensuring that each project delivers on both aesthetics and functionality His journey to success was not without its hurdles Govind established TwentyOne06 from his modest apartment—number 2106—equipped with only a laptop and an ambitious vision the studio is celebrated as one of the most respected boutique design agencies in the region known for its innovative and award-winning concepts in the F&B and hospitality sectors the company has expanded from its Dubai roots to a global presence all while maintaining the personalised approach that characterises boutique firms His commitment to creativity and client satisfaction has been instrumental in driving the firm’s growth and reputation TwentyOne06 has garnered several prestigious awards including multiple recognitions from local and international design platforms His designs have been featured in leading publications and his firm is known for pushing the envelope—never settling for the status quo What makes Govind truly stand out is his commitment to data-driven design He believes that each project should begin with a deep dive into research It’s this research-first approach that ensures TwentyOne06 doesn’t just follow trends but sets them As he continues to lead the way in the design industry his innovative spirit remains at the heart of everything he does he redefines what it means to create spaces that not only function but inspire In the wake of the retirement of Lawrence E Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage has unveiled significant leadership transitions and key personnel appointments including over seven years at the helm as Chairman and CEO the agency witnessed significant expansion elevating its annual revenues to close to $80 million The firm's workforce grew to include over 300 associates spread across 15 offices nationwide evidencing its robust development under his leadership Starkweather & Shepley has not only grown in size but has also cemented its standing in the insurance sector These include placements on the Insurance Journal’s Top 100 Agencies and Top 50 Property & Casualty Insurance Brokers lists as well as being recognized among the nation’s best personal lines agencies The firm is also frequently listed as one of the best places to work within the industry The company is proud to announce Elizabeth A has significantly influenced various aspects of the agency from technical operations to leadership across multiple departments who started in 2016 as chief financial officer played a crucial role in navigating the company through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic A unique feature of Starkweather & Shepley is its status as a trust-held agency since 1935 ensuring its private ownership and providing stability and continuity for its clients Plumb (pictured) has been named the new chief executive officer His deep understanding of the industry and forward-looking vision are expected to propel the agency into its next growth phase expressed enthusiasm about the new appointments highlighting their crucial roles in steering the agency through the evolving insurance landscape it remains dedicated to maintaining its tradition of excellence while adapting to the dynamic needs of its clients Do you have insights or opinions on these leadership changes at Starkweather & Shepley ShareSaveCommentBusinessSportsMoneyDallas Cowboys Center Dakoda Shepley Launching New Show On CarsByMat Issa Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Mat Issa has covered the NBA at-large since 2021 As Dallas Cowboys center Dakoda Shepley gets set to kick off his fifth NFL season he’s also preparing for another launch — the beginning of his new show “The Auto Files,” which is set to premiere on Wednesday The show can be found exclusively on YouTube and it will center around the discussion of athletes and their immaculate car collections “Auto Files is a show that focuses on athletes and their cars we will start with who they are and how they grew up and try to pry into the automotive history from there,” Shepley explained to me in an exclusive interview And then the future portion will look at what is next for their garage and where they see themselves going moving forward.” will be hosted by Shepley — a registered car junkie since birth Michigan (home of the Big Three) in Windsor and that alone is kind of enough to influence someone to take an interest in the car world,” Shepley told me and his dad’s dad have all worked in automotive and the first thing they did when they came over from there was work at Ford nearly everyone in my family has worked in automotive before me.” Shepley was destined to be involved with cars his father always cautioned him against following in his family’s footsteps my dad’s advice to me was to never get into automotive because the pay is great I decided to play in the NFL,” Shepley joked his son couldn’t resist the urge rooted deep in his bones Shepley is parlaying his platform as an athlete to tell the stories of himself and his peers cars aren’t just efficient means of transportation They are the keys to unlocking friendships and a deeper understanding of others They are his means for bonding with his teammates They allow him to connect with his brothers on the field “I’ve been on my fair share of teams already,” Shepley said I walk through the parking garages and see all these high-level cars I go into the locker room and try to figure out who drives what I’ll chop it up with my teammates for hours about their cars That’s how I initially get to know my teammates.” I’m learning so much about their life just from them telling me about why they switched from a sedan to a pickup truck.” it got to the point where Shepley decided to formalize these conversations so that the outside world could glean all the wonderful insights he was extracting from these discussions he needed an outlet to express his admiration for the 2005 Ford GT — his personal favorite car I want to learn even more about these guys.’ And that’s how the idea for Auto Files was born,” Shepley told me Shepley is well aware of all the baseless claims that the average fan throws around about him and his colleagues He’s heard half-baked narratives like ‘athletes need to be 100 percent dedicated to their craft in order to succeed’ more times than he can count Shepley even joked that “Everyone always says they are humans just like us.’ But then they seem to forget it when their team is down a couple of touchdowns!” He sees having passions outside of football as a blessing “Having an outlet to take your mind off things is so important my mind is always on football,” Shepley confessed having something that you can pour all your focus into is rare in professional sports and it’s a crucial part of maintaining your mental well-being.” Outside of talking about his love for cars that’s Shepley’s big goal in all of this — to showcase a passion many of his football brethren share He’s so invested in that cause that Shepley even said that while he’d love to partner with a larger media outlet sometime down the line he will only do so if they “keep the main thing the main thing.” “I hope that people see the importance of the passions of athletes off the field because that’s what makes them who they are,” Shepley explained but there is also always one other thing that they really care about I’m just highlighting one of those potential possibilities.” with Kentavuis Street (the subject of the first episode) Shepley also hopes to record with Dak Prescott and Al Harris (former player and current defensive back coach for the Cowboys) — among others — in the near future “What Dakoda has done with creating The Auto Files has given athletes a new and unique way to share who they are off the field and how their personalities and styles translate to the cars they drive,” Trey Lance “The show has opened a new door to understanding athletes as people It’s going to be incredible to see how fast this platform grows the reason I enjoy a show like The Auto Files is the opportunity for people to see our personality expressed in our vehicles or do we just want something to get us from point A to B I like to think of what we drive as an extension of ourselves and what kind of lifestyle we live off the field,” Terence Steele Shepley is very appreciative of all the support he’s gotten from America’s Team they are one of the biggest sports franchises in the world But something they do a great job of is giving athletes an opportunity to build their brand and that in of itself is unique in my experience in the NFL,” Shepley proclaimed The Cowboys have been so supportive of Shepley’s off-the-field venture that they’ve even connected him with their production team who is filming the episodes of “The Auto Files.” Shepley hopes to express his gratitude by stepping up in a big way for them this season “I’m really dialed in on being who the team needs me to be,” Shepley told me. We lost Tyler Biadasz so there is an opening on the offensive line I just really want to lock in and be the player my team needs me to be.” “I’m at that point in my career where I’m going to be reliable And I’m going to come to work every day ready to go.” the Dallas Cowboys want to win playoff games The mindset this year is that we are going for it all And I’m going to do everything I can to help the team achieve that goal.” Cowboys and car fans can pass the time by kicking their feet back and enjoying Shepley and his ensemble cast of guests on “The Auto Files.” 🤝 Huddersfield Giants are delighted to continue our partnership with Shepley Spring for the 2023 Season! Shepley Spring is a family owned company nestled in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Village They operate in two manufacturing facilities and own several high-speed production lines with the capabilities of producing both still and sparkling water site by fluidcm.co.uk Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage has expanded its reach with the acquisition of MacDonald & Vaccaro Insurance Agency a specialized insurance provider based in Burlington Known for its expertise in professional liability and directors & officers liability insurance MacDonald & Vaccaro specifically caters to human services organizations financial terms of which were not disclosed president Bob MacDonald said: “When we were considering potential acquirers it was imperative that we align ourselves with a partner that has a strong commitment to human service organizations.” vice president Frank DiTucci added: “Starkweather’s longstanding commitment to their clients particularly their human service organization clients MacDonald & Vaccaro will continue to operate from its Burlington office as a division of Starkweather & Shepley maintaining service to its existing client base while leveraging the support of its parent firm which is Rhode Island’s largest independent insurance agency saying: “We are extremely excited to have MacDonald & Vaccaro join the Starkweather team and for our organizations to collectively expand the resources afforded to our human service clients.” The transaction follows Starkweather & Shepley’s unveiling of its AI-powered (artificial intelligence) platform aimed at streamlining the insurance procurement process while optimizing underwriter risk assessment “Our goal is to simplify the insurance journey,” Jessica Thayer “We want to ensure that our clients can focus on what matters most without the burdensome complexities of traditional applications.” The firm’s new software can pre-fill insurance forms and underwriting worksheets Following a three-day strike in November 2023 the union last year backed Lauren Diffenbach and Shauna Murray two educators who were making their first run for elected office The two women ended up winning and ousted incumbent Susan McCready in the process Get more local news every weekday. Sign up for our newsletter The four candidates in Tuesday’s race for the two seats up for reelection were separated by just 111 votes suggesting there remains a divide among voters on the direction Andover Public Schools should take This year was Tamarkin’s first run for political office ran unsuccessfully in the five-way race for two open seats last year.   “Thank you to Andover’s voters for your confidence in me,” Tamarkin said in a statement “I am looking forward to working together to build a brighter future for our kids and community.”  The school committee race was the only contested race in Tuesday’s election. In the uncontested races Moderator Sheila Doherty was reelected to a 19th one-year term while Alex Vispoli and Melissa Danisch will return to the select board for three-year terms Steven Pekock will serve a three-year term on the Punchard Free School Board of Trustees Hoenig was elected to a five-year term on the Andover Housing Authority Shepley and Tamarkin portrayed Andover Public Schools as a district that was improperly managing its finances and not living up to its reputation as one of the top school districts in the state campaigned on their experience and pointed to initiatives already underway to improve student performance and address budget deficits.  Support local news coverage. Make a tax-deductible donation to Andover News today The MTA’s political action committee offered financial support and members canvased for the two challengers after they were endorsed by the AEA Shepley was also criticized for reimbursing the Massachusetts State Republican Party for use of its bulk mail permit In a filing with the Andover Town Clerk Thursday the Massachusetts Teachers Association’s political action committee said it had spent $1,307.54 for mail printing and postage in support Shepley and Tamarkin The state’s biggest labor union also reported $1,416.92 in “in kind” contributions separate from the $1,307.54 it spent on each candidate including $232.92 for use of a voter list and $1,184 for staff time The furor was enough for the Boston Globe to take the rare step of writing an article about a local election “This is a logical extension of the great political and electoral work we’ve done,” MTA President Max Page told the newspaper suggesting the state’s biggest labor union would look to get more involved in local elections in other communities 5 minutes with Daniel Khosravinia: Lego DNA Stuart Parkin’s parents – Janet Shepley and Derek Parkin – both trained at King’s in the 1950s going on to become a consultant microbiologist and a nursing officer respectively Stuart developed the Shepley Parkin Empathy Award to honour Janet and Derek but also because he believes that empathy plays a key part in establishing the confidence of patients and increases the chances of effective healing Empathy is defined as ‘the ability to understand and share feelings of others’ You need to be able to suspend your judgement of the person and engage with them with a completely open mind Stuart has spent 25 years working in the media business where building relationships have been crucial to success and he has been learning about the power of empathy in practice The Shepley Parkin Empathy Award is worth £1,000 and the first winner of this has just been announced – King’s student Nikki Kerdegari who has just completed her second year of Medicine Nikki volunteered as a Youth Programme Facilitator for the mental health charity ‘Mind’ for three years She worked as a Youth Mental Health First Aider and helped to deliver psychoeducation programmes providing young people with mental health conditions healthy coping strategies and the chance to meet others and build support networks She also undertook a General Practice placement this year and was able to have open conversations about mental health with the patients here She was also the Sponsorship Officer for the Medical Students’ Association (MSA) throughout 2020/21 where she secured over £2000 to support the work here and build new partnerships with local businesses to support the community Nikki formed collaborations between GKT MSA and medical education organisations to deliver free webinars during the pandemic to support student at King’s and beyond in developing their clinical knowledge Nikki is now the 2021/22 MSA Vice President for Welfare and in this role she is committed to making a lasting impact on her community and supporting her team in breaking the stigma around mental health in the medical school She wants to ensure every student knows thy are supported with welfare initiatives integrated through the academic year Nikki added: "Empathy is invaluable in every field of medicine and I look forward to seeing this develop while also furthering it in myself during future placements and beyond." King’s College London recently launched an AI in Education free to access course Muscle cells contain their own circadian clocks and disrupting them with shift work can have a… The School of Life Course & Population Sciences and King’s Population Health Institute welcomed… Halting the building of new homes could help to address the dramatic decrease in the number and… +44 (0)20 7836 5454 The following letter to the editor was submitted by Andover residents George and Martha Walsh. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Andover News. You can learn more about our policy on opinion and commentary on our Mission and Policies page When I think of qualities that I prioritize in a School Committee candidate the ability to ask tough questions is at the top of my list.  I believe that Chris Shepley has shown our community that he is willing to do just that Recent letters have highlighted the incumbents’ “accomplishments” during their term.  They reference the adoption of the Social Emotional Learning curriculum conducting both a literacy audit and an equity audit and the restoration of the curriculum councils.  While I don’t find issue in any of these actions I think we need to be clear about how the School Committee members participate in these operational tasks.  As has been made clear through a March 2024 workshop and an incumbent’s own video the School Committee is responsible for governance they are not involved in completing and/or executing the above named actions.  As the body that oversees the Superintendent the School Committee’s role is to do research and ask thoughtful and probing questions that both sets policy and establishes the district’s educational goals.   Rather than simply list these initiatives that have occurred during their term what should be evaluated is how much research and what level of curiosity was displayed by the incumbents to push the district to be the best it could be…or did they simply rubber stamp whatever was put on the tightly controlled agenda?  During the budget season last year there was a shocking lack of deeper questioning.  No School Committee candidates asked questions that required the administration to get creative.  This year we have seen a shift.  The administration after pressure from the town last year and the election of two new School Committee members read the room and dug deeper.  There are new line items that are being reduced three positions from administration are cut or going unfilled and the town was asked to help during these challenging times.  The incumbents had the opportunity to push the administration to get creative last year to save student-facing positions We need a School Committee that deeply considers the issues facing the schools and is willing to ask the tough questions.  We need Chris Shepley Andover News accepts and encourages reader submissions, including letters to the editor and opinion columns. Submissions should be 750 words long or fewer and Andover-focused. Please include your name, title if applicable to your topic and connection or interest in Andover. We also need a phone number so we can confirm authorship. Send us your prose!  The two school committee candidates endorsed by the Andover Education Association have received a total of $2,615.09 in campaign support from the teachers union’s parent The state’s biggest labor union also reported $1,416.92 in “in kind” contributions separate from the $1,307.54 it spent on each candidate While union and political action committee contributions are commonplace in state and federal elections they had been rare in local Andover politics until last year Along with the Andover Public Schools budget AEA’s endorsement of Tamarkin and Shepley and the campaign support it entails has become a key issue in this year’s race a group of 22 Andover residents — including former select board and school committee members — signed a letter urging voters to not vote for two candidates “As the only contested local race and one that now introduces a significant conflict of interest, voters should be very concerned,” the residents wrote. “Historically these races were funded by personal donations with total campaign expenses approximating $3,000 That was shattered last year when the Massachusetts Teachers Association Independent Political Action Committee injected over $15,000 into the Andover Select Board and School Committee races.” After the AEA endorsed first-time candidates Lauren Diffenbach and Shauna Murray in last year’s election, MTA’s PAC spent $4,461.96 to support each woman’s campaign, according to finance reports maintained by the Town Clerk The women won the two open seats in a five-way race ousting incumbent Susan McCready in the process McCready was among the signers of the letters along with former school committee members Joel Blumstein and Tracey Spruce and the husband of current school committee Chair Lauren Conoscenti XFASTINDEX TIS will operate within Shepley Engineers subsidiary West Cumberland Engineering (WCEL) expanding the group’s portfolio of nuclear specialist capabilities Shepley Engineers is part of Renew Holdings Workington-based TIS was founded as Top Inspection Services in September 1995 by managing director Tony O’Pray and has grown to be a leading nuclear fabrication specialist. The acquisition will double the WCEL workshop capacity and increase crane capability Shepley said that the acquisition would ensure that WCEL can not only continue to deliver its current workload nuclear new build and small modular reactors Shepley Group managing director Gavin Jakubowski said: “The Shepley Group has been providing crucial support for the nuclear industry for over 75 years and by bringing TIS into the group we are futureproofing our business and accelerating its growth.” said: “I am delighted that TIS Cumbria has found a new home within the Shepley Group that will allow it to continue to grow and develop I look forward to seeing the team thrive under the new ownership bringing an exciting new chapter for the workforce.” Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk 1 hour Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is undertaking early market engagement for infrastructure works. 18 hours Following a recent expansion into North America, Murphy Group has now entered Australia. 55 minutes Innovative tracked carrier manufacturer among 2025 King’s Award for Enterprise recipients 1 hour Modular construction business Integra Buildings has received royal recognition for its approach to sustainability. 2 hours MTX Contracts has been selected as the preferred bidder to build a diagnostic centre in Pitsea, Essex. 2 hours House-builder Springfield Properties has promoted Darren Thomson to construction director for its north of Scotland operations. © 2025 The Construction Index [Company No ' + response[i].created_nice + ' ' + response[i].description + ' Posted by | Mar 31, 2023 | | 0 A village pub which has been shut since November 2019 is to re-open after a £435,000 refurbishment Work is to start on The Farmers Boy in Marsh Lane The investment is being made by Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars and there will be a new licensee Dan Ayscough-MacGowan The pub is expected to re-open in early June The Farmers Boy was first listed as a beer house in 1897 The works will restore and redecorate the exterior of the Yorkshire stone building The pub will have three separate outside areas seating 80 people all kitted out with new furniture and planting which are expected to be particularly popular with the area’s many dog walkers The investment will upgrade the inside of The Farmers Boy to a high standard whilst keeping its traditional character and feel It will have a comfortable bar – complete with old wood beams and a new log burner – for drinks and bar food opening onto a spacious dining area in what was once the farm’s barn The original large arched barn window will remain a feature Other improvements include revamped toilets and a kitchen refit The Farmers Boy will open from 10am and serve freshly prepared food all day starting with a café-style menu of homemade cakes sandwiches and barista-quality coffee – using beans from a local roasters – in the mornings followed by light lunches and afternoon teas The evening menu will focus on British cuisine and include pub classics with a twist Locally-sourced ingredients will be used wherever possible and there will be a wide choice of vegan Dan wants The Farmers Boy to be known for the quality of its drinks as well as its food and is installing state-of-the-art cellar dispense equipment to ensure consistently perfect pints The extensive drinks selection will span cask ales interesting wines and spirits from local distilleries Customers’ four-legged friends have not been forgotten either and will be well catered for with complimentary treats Although his father’s job forced his family to move away when Dan was two years old he loved returning every year to visit relations and always wanted to settle back down near Huddersfield one day With 12 years’ experience working in pubs and coffee shops Dan was looking for a pub of his own when he spotted The Farmers Boy Dan said: “I knew it was ‘the one’ as soon as I walked in and I jumped at the chance to take it on It will look beautiful once the refurbishment is complete “Local residents are desperate for The Famers Boy to re-open and have been incredibly welcoming My aim is to make The Farmers Boy a pub they can be proud of once again and it’ll be supporting community events and activities.” Star Pubs & Bars’ area manager Anthony Briggs said: “The challenges of the past three years have held up our investment in The Farmers Boy “It is fantastic to finally be breaking ground on the works Dan has a passion for service and his plans for the pub are spot-on He’s the ideal licensee for The Farmers Boy The Farmers Boy won’t just be a great local for Shepley but will serve the needs of those from across the wider area as a warm welcoming village pub offering excellent food for every occasion.” Photo by: Karl Maasdam/Oregon State AthleticsJessica Shepley Named Assistant Women’s Golf Coach July 30 The following inspirational story was received for publication from Caledon resident Barrie Shepley owner of Personal Best Health and Performance and head coach at C3 Canadian Cross Training Club Steve and Jo were in Tucson getting ready for their summer Ironman  Steve was weeks away from retirement and was helping his food charity with another massive fundraiser The same incredible effort that helped him be a world class OPP officer and fundraiser also has helped him in the recovery process We all know that anything worthwhile is going to take some effort Today our C3 gang and Steve’s partner Jo Coburn continued his recovery to the next level of mobility in the local pool  You can see Ian Steer and Dave Uglow in the pool (photo above) with Jo I have told Steve Coburn he and Bob will be water running in the quarry by the end of May  As soon as the snow leaves the trail we will have him back out there as well I have nothing but massive respect and appreciation for Steve and Jo Coburn and for the many C3 pals who have continued to reach out and help the two on their recovery journey  But I continue to believe we all need to live life with NO REGRETS Bravo Jo-Steve and your swimming pals today Receive our stories and events directly to your inbox Just Sayin’ Caledon brings you stories about Caledon people Connect with us on social media using #AllAboutCaledon Member of the Canadian Association of Journalists Patti Foley was a Bolton resident from 1991 until 2016 A former Regional Councillor and a long-time community volunteer she remains passionate about Caledon’s issues non-profits and businesses and continues to share those stories through Just Sayin’ Caledon Connect with us on social media using #AllAboutCaledon Copyright © 2025. 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Administrated by Foley Web Dev Home   News   Article A Newark-born musician has retired from an orchestra — after four decades of playing music around the world has retired from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra after 40 years Rob was born in Newark in 1960 and studied the violin at Grove comprehensive school from the age of thirteen taught by Anthony Foster who was a well renowned teacher in Nottinghamshire This led to him training in the Nottinghamshire County Youth Orchestra under conductor Christopher Adey touring with them to Rome where the orchestra received the honour of an audience with Pope John Paul II Rob then went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama afterwards joining the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra viola section in 1984 Rob said: “Well the 40 years have flown by with many memories of wonderful concerts all around the world including two tours of China and Japan but for me the stand out tour was playing in Prague before the iron curtain came down “The place was grey and sombre but when we returned later after the Berlin Wall came down the whole place was full of colour We were the very first foreign orchestra to play The Prague Spring festival which was a huge honour I have loved playing in the Royal Albert Hall in the proms and many other occasions “I played in bands around Nottinghamshire back in my youth so I naturally played guitar banjo and mandolin with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra too A memorable event was the summer pops in the 1990s on Liverpool’s famous Albert Dock in a massive circus tent playing the theme from Concerto Aranjuez on solo guitar with José Carreras singing and Carl Davis conducting.” While his time with the orchestra has come to an end music and performance will continue to take centre stage in Rob’s life He added: “I’m certainly not giving up playing music just my full-time post in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra I will continue playing with my string quartet and indulging my passion for the music of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt on violin and guitar.” The following letter to the editor was submitted by Andover resident Geneva Crowley. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Andover News. You can learn more about our policy on opinion and commentary on our Mission and Policies page My name is Geneva Crowley and I have four children who represent the three different phases of a K-12 public school career: a graduate of AHS We moved to Andover 11 years ago in large part due to the town’s schools I have a background in accounting and finance with both public companies and not-for-profit organizations (including schools) and am a former board member of a start up nonprofit I am excited to cast my votes on March 25 for Jake Tamarkin and Chris Shepley They are exactly what our town and schools need derived from his wealth of first hand experience through his career on Wall Street and as CEO of an investor-backed startup up His financial expertise will be essential to not only our schools but also our town as a whole as we navigate the multi-year budget deficit our schools have been facing The budget has been a major source of contention time and energy for all parties involved – government a HUGE amount of time has been dedicated to this at Town and School Committee meetings Jake’s background will be an asset to the community in terms of the schools’ success (getting what they need!) and financial stability of the schools and town (concerned taxpayers take note here even if the schools do not directly impact you) Examining and building the budget from the ground up as Jake can with his experience instead of rolling over the same broken model will undoubtedly allow for an alignment of all concerned parties’ interests including an excessive enrollment decline and poor labor relations will require a big picture perspective and strategic thinking that Jake is also well equipped to lead our town through as a recent Andover High School graduate with strong roots in the community will bring an important and fresh perspective of the current state of our schools – both their strengths and weaknesses – as no one else can He has been actively engaged in our local politics since his years at AHS and I remember being particularly impressed with him when he was still a student at AHS for not only caring enough as a student in our schools to show up to the Town and School Committee meetings but to stand up and not be afraid to share his ideas and ask the tough questions (in a thoughtful and respectful way at that!) He has consistently pushed for transparency and academic excellence and these are the values he will bring to the Committee and our schools As we rebuild and strengthen our schools his first hand perspective will be vital to identifying key issues where and what is worth investing in given current experiences understanding what our kids are facing today and how our schools can best support them and creating schools which will not only incapsulate ideals from a teacher and parent perspective but also that of the school’s biggest stakeholders – its students The ideal School Committee is well rounded so that it is well equipped as a whole to deal with the wide variety of issues our town and schools face while also representing all the citizens and stakeholders Jake and Chris bring two very important and currently absent voices to our Committee which will nicely compliment the voices of Shauna Murray Pheiffer and Lauren Diffenbach two teachers currently serving on the Committee these two individuals have taken the time to truly listen to all concerned citizens that reach out to them and work tirelessly to understand the intimate details of our town and school politics over the past few years from many different perspectives I am confident in their abilities to lead our schools into a strong future and represent and fairly weigh the concerns of all citizens I am also excited for their refreshing and collaborative approach to problem solving and negotiating their commitment to repairing relationships and trust between the Committee and teachers as well as their overall desire to strengthen our schools while doing so in a fiscally responsible way They are creative thinkers with creative solutions for all I hope you will join me in voting for these excellent candidates on March 25 Andover News accepts and encourages reader submissions, including letters to the editor and opinion columns. Submissions should be 750 words long or fewer and Andover-focused. Please include your name, title if applicable to your topic and connection or interest in Andover. We also need a phone number so we can confirm authorship. Send us your prose!  Posted by | May 17, 2023 | | 0 Shepley threw another spanner into Hoylandswaine’s title ambitions after Tom Denton’s batting heroics set up their demise at Marsh Lane Also in Sunday’s fixtures in the Huddersfield Cricket League Premiership Marcus Walmsley fired a serious broadside for Moorlands by hammering a substantial century to overtake Thongsbridge’s weighty total Lewis Evans crashed his first hundred of the campaign for Honley and Skelmanthorpe picked apart Scholes to move into third Long-serving Shepley mainstay Tom Denton sprinkled more grit into Hoylandswaine’s well oiled machine with a masterful batting display against the Premiership champions Denton has impressively managed his professional football career with cricketing commitments at Marsh Lane and Danny Glover’s side benefitted massively from his availability to help plot a memorable win George Booth’s well-earned 48 gave a platform for Denton to take the game to the visitors as he hit 72 in Shepley’s challenging 167-8 with Muhammad Azzharullah claiming 3-42 Hoylandswaine beetled their way to 56-1 and looked firmly in control with the ever-consistent Asif Iqbal making his way to fifty Shepley’s bowlers removed him and began to make inroads as Oliver Davidson took 4-52 to help send the away side spinning towards defeat Hoylandswaine eventually crashed to 163ao as Shepley registered their second win of the season Miry Lane witnessed a runfest as Thongsbridge piled up a 320-8 total at home to Moorlands Opener Richard Marshall made 76 before South African batsman Jiv Pillay added 65 and Aussie Jack Lees racked up 89 from 48 balls Marcus Walmsley took 4-86 but then went on to score a huge 152 from 129 balls Eighteen fours and five sixes made their way over the boundaries before all-rounder Siraj Sajid (73) got in on the act as Moorlands replied with 321-5 Skelmanthorpe moved to third in the table by taking advantage of Scholes’ travel-sick batsmen ‘Shat’ were put under pressure by Scholes bowler Josh Brook who claimed 6-39 Captain Allan Greenwood pushed himself up the order for a Skelmanthorpe high score of 24 in their below-par 121ao but Scholes’ batting evaporated once again on the road Prayesh Kumar Singh (5-18) and Paul Cummins (4-15) were constant thorns as Scholes were castled for 91 Kirkburton sank Almondbury Wesleyans at Riley Lane made 40 before Saif Bhojani (62) enjoyed a half century Chris Abbey took 7-66 for Wesleyans to size up Kirkburton’s 204 However they were sent home with nothing after Jack Byrne (4-39) and Roscoe Tahttil (4-22) undid the visitors’ batting with Almondbury Wes finishing on 132ao Lewis Evans carved a massive century to help Honley to back-to-back wins Evans put Mirfield Parish Cavaliers to the sword by hammering 153 from 142 balls which contained 13 fours and eight maximums Timmy Taylor’s 63 added to the visitors’ displeasure as Honley set a huge 284-6 Brayden Brehaut claimed 3-61 but couldn’t match the hosts’ pace as Parish perished on 108ao Joel Size (5-34) and Lewis Kenworthy (3-18) caused the damage for Honley Matty Weston’s 92 wasn’t enough for Barkisland who slumped to their second defeat of the weekend at Broad Oak which saw them slide down to fifth Fletcher Coutts and Dan Taylor all took three wickets each for the Oak who kept the visitors in check on 190ao Two half-centuries were scored in Broad Oak’s 191-3 reply by Connor Dimech (54) and Cameron Todd (59no) both building on inroads made by Dom Finn (38) Andover’s 2025 election season got off to an early start Wednesday when Christopher Shepley announced he would run for school committee for a second straight year and I am truly passionate about serving this community,”Shepley said in a statement “Andover Public Schools is at a crucial crossroad and the decisions we make today will shape our school district for the next few decades School committee members Emily DiCesaro and Sandis Wright are up for reelection next spring Neither has said whether they plan to run for what would be a second Shepley ran last spring while he was a senior at Andover High School. He placed fifth in a five-way race for two open seats on the school committee which were won by Shauna Murray and Lauren Diffenbach Paul was a data scientist and contributed to the Institute’s research work on data and digital in government.   Paul co-led a piece of research into government data sharing practices during the pandemic and had growing interests in how government uses data either in for managing itself or in designing and evaluating policy decisions he helped teams across the Institute with their data work including across all major tracker projects.  Paul was a lecturer in geotechnical engineering at the University of Sheffield teaching civil engineering students and conducting research experiments on construction processes This was the topic of his PhD in geotechnical engineering.  Intermountain Health today announced Shepley Bulfinch and Gensler as the two architect firms that will design the upcoming stand-alone children’s hospital in southern Nevada The announcement marks a crucial step after the location was unveiled in October at UNLV’s Harry Reid Research and Technology Park “The selection of these two firms is a celebration as Intermountain conducted an extensive analysis to bring a state-of-the-art comprehensive children’s hospital here to Nevada,” said Lawrence Barnard Intermountain Health assistant vice president of pediatrics in Nevada “Shepley Bulfinch and Gensler both have very impressive backgrounds in designing healthcare facilities around the globe Our goal of bringing essential specialty care to children The team of Shepley Bulfinch and Gensler approached the Nevada Children’s Hospital with a singular commitment: improving outcomes for patients and their families The firms share the belief that a patient-centered design approach produces the best environment for not only the patients but also their families Shepley Bulfinch brings deep experience in pediatric healthcare design to this project With a strong focus on patient and family centered solutions the firm understands how spaces and systems influence patient and staff journeys including 10 million square feet of recent healthcare projects four million of which are dedicated to pediatric facility design — Shepley Bulfinch tailors environments to meet the unique needs of children of all ages from toddlers to teens and their families.  Shepley Bulfinch's approach prioritizes improved outcomes addressing the wholistic well-being of patients in ever-evolving pediatric hospital settings and promote normalcy for patients and their families through an appropriate sense of scale and need for privacy so potentially intimidating spaces are infused with timeless design and a sense of fun,” said Shepley Bulfinch Principal Andre Kamili “We are thrilled to bring this thinking to families throughout the Las Vegas community.” “The Nevada Children’s Hospital is not just a much-needed addition to the healthcare landscape in Las Vegas but an opportunity to inform and quantify new ideas and approaches to pediatric healthcare,” said Candra Mathis “In partnership with Shepley Bullfinch and Intermountain Health Gensler is thrilled to bring our comprehensive knowledge of Las Vegas and our deep cross-disciplinary experience to this exciting project all in service of improving pediatric healthcare delivery and outcomes.” “This hospital will greatly reduce strain on families already burdened by emotionally and physically challenging health conditions,” added Barnard “Nevada’s children deserve to receive comprehensive care close to home.” and other workstreams needed for an undertaking of this magnitude began years ago workforce planning (including sustainable recruitment) Intermountain Health operates two children’s hospitals in Utah – Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital Salt Lake and Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital Lehi which are both known for their high-quality and compassionate care.  Intermountain Health offers patient care at more than 65 clinic locations across southern Nevada Intermountain Health delivers patient-centered primary and urgent care services to approximately 350,000 southern Nevadans in Clark and Nye counties.    Learn more about Intermountain Health and follow the progress at intermountainhealth.org.  Intermountain Health welcomes the opportunity to work with local and international journalists and news media outlets We are always available to respond to your questions and help support your newsgathering efforts Interview requests with Intermountain Health medical experts should be directed to our media relations team FOR NEWS MEDIA ONLY: To contact a member of the Intermountain Health Media Relations team for assistance:  > Email: IntermountainNews@imail.org  > Phone: On-Call Media Relations Representative: 385-275-8245  Caron Shepley’s biggest passion was her animal charity work Her family and friends raised another $170k this summer to get her over $ 1million raised for charities they have created the Caron Shepley Dog Park at the C3 James Dick Quarry They are calling it Canada’s Greatest Dog Park (and right in Caledon) C3 are hosting a FREE C3 is Going to the Dogs afternoon at the C3 James Dick Quarry  A free afternoon of draw prize give aways and a chance to come and see the dog park  The first 50 families who arrive get a free winter walking hat for the dog walker and a chance to see the park “My late wife loved dogs and cats and dedicated many thousands of hours helping raise over $ 1million for dog charities and I know she would be honoured to have her name attached to Caledon and Canada’s best dog park” said her husband Barrie Shepley The C3 beach is open from 1:00 to 2:30pm on Sunday Oct 27th at 18075 Hurontario Road (in Caledon Village just south of the Caledon Fair Grounds).  Dog families and non-dog families are welcome to the free drop in, and see Canada’s hidden jewel.   For more information you can contact barrie@personalbest.ca or call 647-400-3845 No registration required and all are welcome For the second straight year the union representing Andover Public Schools teachers endorsed challengers in the race for two open seats on the school committee The union said it conducted a thorough review of the four candidates and more than 90 percent of its membership voted to back Tamarkin and Shepley “Our schools are at a crossroads and this upcoming election is vital to ensure we have fully funded schools with small class sizes and a commitment to excellence,” AEA president and Andover High School history teacher Matt Bach said “Jake Tamarkin and Chris Shepley will help us protect Andover Public Schools during such uncertainty.”  The endorsements will likely come with campaign support from Andover Education Association’s parent and the state’s largest labor organization the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association After the AEA endorsed first-time candidates Lauren Diffenbach and Shauna Murray in last year’s election, the Massachusetts Teachers Association spent $4,461.96 to support each woman’s campaign, according to finance reports maintained by the Town Clerk The MTA’s expenditures included mailings “The educators in Andover have known for a while that our schools will benefit from a diverse group of elected officials,” Bach said we supported two educators from neighboring communities I’m proud to support a recent graduate and a strong public schools activist.” MTA also spent $3,111.95 to support Kevin Coffey and $3,112.96 to support George Thorlin AEA’s endorsed candidates in last year’s select board race Coffey and Ellen Townson ended up coming out on top in a four-way race for two open seats AEA did not endorse either of the two incumbents running unopposed in this year’s select board race Coffey said there was no coordination between his campaign and the MTA’s efforts “I had…zero involvement in planning any of their activities and received zero money from them — I wouldn’t have taken any in any case,” Coffey said in an email earlier this month “I never even saw many of the things they reported doing but I did get a mail card and see the lighted truck driving around.” teachers will be standing in front of schools to raise awareness about the election “to raise awareness of the election on March 25 and why it’s important for the community to be plugged in,” according to Elizabeth Tyrell the union’s vice president and math teacher at Doherty Middle School “Every student deserves a high quality free public education I don’t understand how larger class sizes and eliminating elective classes fulfill our town’s obligations to that mission,” Tyrell said “Jake Tamarkin and Chris Shepley have been outspoken on prioritizing resources that benefit our students They must get elected to ensure our students continue receiving the education Andover is known for.” The union has had a tense relationship with the school committee for several years peaking with a three-day strike in November 2023 when the two sides were struggling to reach an agreement on a new contract AEA was vocal in opposing the district’s budget which cut teaching positions to close a deficit Both Tamarkin and Shepley have been critical of the current school board citing deficits last year and this year as signs of poor financial management The district is currently trying to close a $1.8 million deficit and has said it will once again cut teaching positions “I ran for School Committee because Andover’s schools have been plagued by years of poor leadership and financial mismanagement,” said Shepley a 2024 AHS graduate who ran unsuccessfully for school committee last year “The 2023 teachers’ strike exposed just how badly the administration had failed has put his 25 years in finance front-and-center in his campaign then reducing our workforce a little would make sense to me,” he said meaning that we need more substantial change to get to a sustainable cost structure.”