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Ben Foster leads Kansas' largest independently owned broadband and communications company. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association announced the election of board officers for 2025, including Ben Foster as Vice Chair. Foster is the president & CEO of Twin Valley and ISG Technology – together the largest independently owned broadband and communications company in Kansas . Twin Valley is rapidly growing as a rural Kansas fiber and small-to-medium business IT provider, while ISG is a top national competitor in mid-to-enterprise level IT services with locations in Kansas , Missouri and Oklahoma . As the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based broadband companies, NTCA is committed to advancing policies that help close the digital divide and advocating on behalf of its members in the legislative and regulatory arenas. The association also provides educational programming, training and development by publishing comprehensive industry research, conducting in person and virtual events, and offering an array of employee benefit programs. "NTCA is instrumental in setting industry policy and putting important legislation in front of lawmakers," Foster said. "In my role as Vice Chair of the NTCA board, I aim to bring a rural Kansas perspective to national broadband policy discussions, ensuring the voices of local providers and communities are heard." In its Pledge made to rural communities, Twin Valley commits to building the most reliable broadband network and supporting meaningful outreach initiatives, including digital inclusion efforts. Industry policy and federal funding are keys to delivering on those commitments. As a fourth-generation leader of the Twin Valley family of companies, Foster brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the NTCA board, which he has served on from 2011 to 2014 and 2022 to present, acting as secretary/treasurer in the 2024 board year. He also serves as a board member for the Kansas Fiber Network. As NTCA board vice chair, Foster joins officers Roxie Jorgenson , director at MTA ( Palmer, Alaska ), who will serve as chair, and Ross Petrick , general manager/CEO of Alliance Communications Cooperative Inc. ( Garretson, S.D. ), who will serve as secretary/treasurer. Foster was also re-elected to serve as the Central Region Commercial Director. "As we head into a new year, I look forward to working with all of our board members to implement our new strategic plan centered around our efforts to advocate for the continued viability and sustainability of the Universal Service Fund," said NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield . About Twin Valley Twin Valley is a fourth-generation family business that has over 80 years' experience providing cutting-edge technology and connectivity throughout the central U.S. Twin Valley helps customers unlock possibilities to realize their full potential by providing a unique combination of broadband, mobile, home security, managed IT services, technology consulting, professional services and cloud/data center solutions for both residential and business customers. Twin Valley made a Pledge to their communities and customers, always striving to provide the most reliable broadband network, the best value for internet, local hometown customer service and meaningful community outreach initiatives. Learn more at twinvalley.com/pledge. About NTCA NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing about 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovative change in smart rural communities across America. In an era of transformative technological developments, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are advancing efforts to close the digital divide by delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks. Their commitment to building sustainable networks makes rural communities fertile ground for innovation in economic development, e-commerce, health care, agriculture and education, and it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org . SOURCE Twin ValleyI joined social media in my 30s. Back then, social media was still a new, exciting frontier. Sort of like outer space except no zero-gravity toilets. In the early days, I used Facebook to communicate with friends. I reconnected with schoolmates and marveled at how everyone had gotten old except me. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get news alerts and breaking news stories from the Albany Herald delivered to your email.
If you’re tuning into the radio in Boulder County, chances are the dial lands on 88.5 FM, the home of KGNU. Known for its eclectic mix of music, independent news and being listener-and-volunteer-supported, KGNU has been a beloved Front Range audible staple for 46 years. Now, the station is turning the volume up on its future with plans for a new downtown headquarters. So why the big move? KGNU’s current home at 4700 Walnut Street, where the station has operated for more than 25 years, is — according to Station Manager Tim Russo — looking a little worse for wear. The facility has older technology and limited community space for the plethora of activities that KGNU hosts — including over 200 live in-studio, on-air musical performances to date in 2024. After Boulder County’s devastating floods of 2013 underscored the need for more resilient infrastructure, KGNU began exploring possibilities for a new home base. By 2017, with the support of Boulder’s Community, Culture and Safety ballot measure, the dream of a new headquarters started to take shape. Last year, the station finally closed on the 14th Street property, a former office building that Russo calls “the perfect spot.” “The new facility is in an incredible location for us — right downtown and next to Boulder High School, which opens up so many opportunities,” said Russo. “We’re excited to have a permanent media training space where we can partner with programs like AVID for bilingual, first-generation students, providing a safe space to explore media, storytelling and literacy. Being a bookend to the Civic Center redevelopment and near the bus station also makes us more accessible to the entire community.” Russo said the new headquarters will help strengthen its partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder’s College of Media, Communication and Information. “Starting in the spring of 2025, we’ll be an official off-campus work-study partner, allowing students on financial aid to work at KGNU with partial stipends from the university,” Russo said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to mentor younger and more diverse media makers, giving them hands-on experience and exposure to community-centered media. We hope this space becomes a magnet for young people, offering them a safe and welcoming environment where they can not only learn, but also help shape the future of media.” The new headquarters isn’t just in a prime location; it’s brimming with some pretty snazzy features designed to inspire collaboration and creativity. A spacious, two-story community café will serve as the building’s social heart and caffeine center, with co-working spaces overlooking the buzz below. High-tech studios will host live broadcasts, podcasts and media-training programs, while a rooftop event space will provide stunning views and opportunities for everything from outdoor concerts to casual gatherings. Perhaps the crown jewel of the design is the black-box performance space, a flexible venue with retractable seating for up to 75 people. Equipped with top-notch audio and video capabilities, the space will be ideal for everything from live music and theater rehearsals to book readings and political debates. “We’re designing this as a flexible space to accommodate a wide variety of events, and we’re committed to offering below-market rental rates for nonprofits and cultural organizations so they have an affordable place downtown to host their activities,” Russo said. To keep the space accessible, KGNU plans to offer below-market rental rates for community groups and nonprofits, ensuring that cost isn’t a barrier to creativity. “So many organizations have been priced out of downtown,” Russo said. “We want to change that.” But the headquarters won’t just be a pretty new building. Sustainability is at the core of KGNU’s design philosophy, and the facility will feature a solar rooftop with innovative energy storage solutions to ensure the station stays operational during emergencies — an increasingly vital need in a region prone to wildfires and floods. “This is more than a building — it’s a resiliency hub,” Russo said. “We’ve designed it to serve as a lifeline during times of crisis, providing emergency alerts and critical information when the community needs it most.” Russo hopes the project will inspire other community media organizations to think big. “This is a complex, collaborative effort,” he said. “We’re learning a lot about public-private partnerships, sustainable design and how to create a space that truly reflects the needs of the community. Once this is done, we’re excited to share those lessons with others.” Construction is expected to continue into 2025, with a ribbon-cutting celebration planned for next fall. Hard-hat tours of the facility are set to begin later this year, offering a peek inside of what’s to come. Want to get involved or learn more? Visit kgnu.org/amplifying-community to find out how you can support KGNU’s big new chapter.
Tony Munguia and his daughter Bivianne were heading to a job fair at Cypress College when they saw smoke curling from a nearby roof. They stopped. Flames were dancing inside the home on Via Jacara in Stanton. Bivianne dialed 911 as her father rushed inside. “Is anyone here?” he bellowed into smoke so thick it stung his eyes. “Yes,” a weak voice answered – a senior who had recent surgery and couldn’t walk. Munguia couldn’t see. He told her to keep talking and followed her voice to a far bedroom. He scooped her up and headed back toward the door as best he could. A landscaper saw the commotion and rushed inside to help, and together they brought her out to safety. That’s when folks noticed Munguia’s pants legs were smoldering. Tony and Bivianne Munguia’s April adventure earned them the Fourth District Kindness Award for Stanton. The uplifting fall ritual from Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Doug Chaffee helps restore one’s faith in humanity, recognizing one person from each city in his district for doing something nice without any expectation of payback. Reading through the nomination papers has become a soothing launch to the holiday season for this grizzled scribe. “It is especially important for us to acknowledge kindness wherever we can find it and inspire others to perform their own acts of kindness in the community,” Chaffee said in a statement. “Our Kindness Award honorees have risen to the challenge and have gone beyond that to ensure the needs of our communities are met.” The winners are impressive, but many of the nominees are just as inspiring. There’s Janet Proctor and Bill Lawrence, who’ve helped families from Afghanistan and Ukraine settle into a strange new world. Erica Norgaard, a special education teacher for Access high schools, who has become a rock for her students. There’s Fullerton school nurse Susan Cravello, who transformed the garden at Woodcrest Elementary into a blooming oasis, and Paulette Holm, who didn’t crack under the stress of shepherding more than a thousand volunteers during the Orange County Point in Time Count of people experiencing homelessness, and Sunbie Harrell, who walks dogs at the Orange County Animal Care shelter. Then there’s Aaron and Allys Malais. On Aug. 3, a ’99 Toyota Camry heading north on Highland in Fullerton conked out in traffic. The driver was stuck, unable to find the emergency flashers. The young couple hopped out to direct traffic. Two more young couples saw the trouble and came to help as well. They all pushed the car across Chapman and into a parking lot, restarted it with jumper cables, and Aarona and Allys followed the owners home to ensure there was no further trouble. “They stayed with us the whole time offering full support both technically and emotionally,” the nomination said. “This was truly an exceptional act of kindness, and for all three couples that voluntarily pitched in, an affirmation of the goodness, caring, and high values, of our younger generation in our currently challenging society.” Wang is a senior at Troy High School who had a simple goal: to help his grandmother navigate the internet. Technology, he knew, was a powerful tool to help keep people connected, even if they couldn’t leave home. So he started volunteering at Happy Adult Daycare in Whittier, getting to know the seniors and understanding their needs. He developed an award-winning iPad application that uses augmented reality technology to help translate English into people’s native languages, and also designed a night-time medical monitoring device that allows families to keep a digital eye on loved ones and get timely alerts. “Dylan’s belief that technology should be an empowering tool for seniors, rather than something that alienates them, has driven his efforts,” the nomination said. “His work not only enhances the lives of the elderly but also exemplifies the spirit of kindness and service that this award seeks to honor.” Adults with disabilities can be quite capable and eager to work – but it’s often hard for them to find a job. So in 2021, Yoon stepped in. He started a nonprofit called Seesaw Communities to provide vocational training in areas like baking and coffeemaking and employs graduates as baristas at Seesaw Beans and Coffee. The work helps them grow in confidence and independence, together, just as people rise and fall together on a seesaw. “By focusing on their strengths and interests, he ensures that every participant can develop valuable skills and gain a sense of accomplishment,” the nomination said. “Under his guidance, Seesaw Communities has become a leader in providing integrated employment opportunities, fostering inclusive workplaces where individuals with developmental disabilities can thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.” When she was 7, Preston decided that she had enough stuff. For her birthday, she asked her friends to donate toys to needy kids instead of buying her gifts. The next year, she asked them to donate books. The next year, shoes. The year after that, school supplies, then board games, children’s clothing, food. Her most recent birthday resulted in 291 pounds of food for the Hub of Hope food pantry, the nomination said. A freshman at Fullerton Union High School, she volunteers at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fullerton, sings with the Southern California Children’s Chorus and was a soloist with the Pacific Symphony. “Her ongoing efforts exemplify how one young person, driven by empathy, can make a lasting difference in the community,” the nomination said. Wyckoff loves kids. During her career as a teacher’s aide with the La Habra City School District she was a guardian angel to those who needed help, buying them school clothes and Christmas gifts, and tutoring kids who struggled during school breaks, the nomination said. After she retired in 1985, she started volunteering at the Children’s Museum at La Habra . “Over the years she has literally volunteered at every capacity,” the nomination said, from manning the breakfast with Santa event to running the gift shop to creating a wishing well in memory of her late grandson. Those funds are used to help pay for school visits to the museum. Shiozawa has been a Rotary Club of Placentia member since 2015, including two terms as president. She has helped launch everything from neighborhood clean-ups to “stuffing” and distributing school backpacks to preparing hygiene kits and holiday gift packs. “It may be cliché, but Alice firmly believes that often it is the little things that count, that are meaningful to those in need or in pain,” the nomination said. Azaran , an independent living skills and outreach instructor at the Braille Institute, goes above and beyond by organizing free workshops for visually impaired individuals and their families and providing individualized attention to each student. “Her empathetic approach helps foster a supportive and nurturing environment,” the nomination said. Oates , former Fullerton Rotary president, got the Honorary Kindness Award. He has been a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club and at Crittenton Services for Children and Families. He’s been a coach at Golden Hill Little League and active in Fullerton’s Sister City Association. The honorees were nominated by community members and applications were independently scored by Tom Tait, former Anaheim mayor; Charles Barfield, general manager of the Orange County Employees Association; Rosalina Davis, owner of Tlaquepaque Restaurant; Christian Esteban, Project Manager of Store One; and Lorena Moreno, principal at Western High School. “There’s a lot going on in the world today,” said Oates’ wife, Elizabeth, “but if we can all just do a little bit where we are, we can make this such a better place.” Virginia Wyckoff, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of La Habra. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Sam Yoon, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Buena Park. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Mike Oates, former Fullerton Rotary President, awarded the Honorary Kindness Award the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Awards. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Dylan Wang, right, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Fullerton. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Tony and Bivianne Munguia, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Stanton. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Zelda Makanaaloha Preston, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Brea. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Alice Shiozawa (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Nicou Azaran, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of Anaheim. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District) Virginia Wyckoff, the 2024 Fourth District Kindness Award Honoree for the City of La Habra. (Courtesy of Orange County Fourth District)MLB NOTES
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