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KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — Adrian Wooley and Simeon Cottle each scored 32 points and Kennesaw State beat Brewton-Parker 112-77 on Sunday. Wooley added eight rebounds and eight assists for the Owls (8-5). Cottle went 11 of 16 from the field (8 for 13 from 3-point range) to add 32 points. Braedan Lue went 5 of 8 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 14 points. Dre Burroughs finished with 25 points for the Barons. Brewton-Parker got 20 points and seven rebounds from Tommy J Tisdale III. Kennesaw State took the lead with 15:42 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 57-31 at halftime, with Cottle racking up 16 points. Kennesaw State extended its lead to 83-38 during the second half, fueled by a 10-0 scoring run. Wooley scored a team-high 19 points in the second half as their team closed out the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .This story was originally published on Nov. 26 and misreported fee changes related to renting SD 27 facilities, stating they had doubled when in fact they have been cut in half. Several organizers of events raising funds for student programs were surprised this year with a hefty bill in order to operate in School District 27 (SD 27) facilities. The annual Cariboo Hobby Con and Craft Fair was scheduled to run on Nov. 23 this year at Columneetza Jr. Secondary in Williams Lake, but with less than two weeks before the day organizers announced they would cancel the fair. “It is with great sadness we have to announce that this year’s Cariboo Hobby Con has been cancelled,” wrote the organizers on their Facebook page. They credited the cancellation to policy changes which led to “uncertain financial constraints that would be detrimental to our fundraiser.” The annual fair event raises funds for a volleyball club run by SD 27 employee Tim Hurley. The funds are used to buy equipment such as a referee stand and uniforms, as well as to help out students in need with travel and accommodation. Last year Hobby Con raised about $2,000 for the club, but Hurley told Black Press Media it’s more than just the money, as Hobby Con provides a space for other clubs to run their own fundraisers and for young entrepreneurs to set up their own vendors. He added that his volleyball club has served as a “turning point” for vulnerable students whose interest in the sport has kept them in school and safe. SD 27 updated its policy 730 – Community use of School Facilities – in August of this year. Changes to the policy include “more robust vetting” of events such as craft fairs, large sporting tournaments and Parent Advisory Council (PAC) events. In a statement sent to Black Press Media, SD 27 secretary-treasurer Brenda Hooker provided reasons for the policy updates. “The District updated AP730 to clarify our process and publish the applicable fees when applying for facilities use. In most cases, the cost to rent a space in our various facilities was decreased.” She wrote that fees were not always applied consistently in the past, such as whether or not the use of school equipment would be charged. When asked if the district took into account what impact the changes could have on events which benefit students, Hooker wrote the district recognized there were changes in fees “by applying our policy consistently and fairly.” “Some organizers have chosen to cancel instead of moving forward, which is their choice...The district recognizes that access to our schools is important to the community and we are striving to balance the demand while covering the associated costs and conducting our due diligence for all involved,” she wrote. Hobby Con is not the only event which has been impacted by the changes. The annual Chilcotin Road Elementary School PAC Ladies Night, which raises money for the school to buy things like books, projectors and playground equipment, operated in SD 27 facilities for 11 years without cost. This year’s event, which was in April, the organizers found out they would have to pay $600 to run the Ladies Night at the school. Even the lakecity’s beloved Medieval Market, which raises money for student programs and also equips participating students with work experience, has seen quite the impact. Without any real change to the event’s layout, which as previous years was hosted at Lake City Secondary School, the total cost to run the market increased by more than $4,000 from 2019 until now. While in 2019 the market operated at a total cost of about $800, this year’s market came to a total of just under $5,000. Even in 2023, prior to SD 27’s policy changes, organizer Kirstin Lauren said custodial charges had doubled from the previous year. This was despite few, if any, changes being made to the market which would result in further custodial requirements. Custodial hours, organizers said, doubled from 24 to 48 hours without explanation. In fact, Lauren said it’s been difficult to get any clear answers from the district, and while she is hoping to maintain a relationship with the district and see the market thrive in its traditional location of several years, there needs to be better communication. Hooker told Black Press Media organizers are made aware of requirements and risks associated to holding their event before their application is approved. The biggest change the Medieval Market saw this year was in insurance fees. While costs going specifically to the district amounted to about $4,000, the market had to pay an extra $800 for third party liability insurance. Organizers were told they had to purchase the insurance this year, while in previous years this was not a concern. Lauren told Black Press Media students were still able to benefit from this year’s market, which attracted about 3,500 guests, 100 vendors and 100 student workers. “But the more money we have to pay out, the less money we have to give to students,” she said, adding all she wants is to figure out what’s going on and continue having a positive working relationship with the district. In her statement to Black Press Media, Hooker said insurance requirements have always existed. “The district is now clarifying these requirements with users and consistently ensuring the appropriate insurance is obtained. The cost to obtain liability insurance is minimal and is needed to cover both the organizers and the volunteers working any event that is not directly related to education. The district values all of our employees and volunteers and is simply trying to make sure organizers have appropriate insurance coverage in place in the case of an unexpected event,” Hooker wrote. She later clarified with Black Press that these events were simply not being insured previously, a fact which was overlooked, and the policy change was to ensure everyone’s safety. Lauren said she and other organizers are planning to meet with the district to understand why their costs have seen such an increase and what can be done to mitigate the impact on students for which the event is being hosted. Most of the fees related to renting SD 27 facilities have been cut in half, with some additional fees being added to the list. New fees include $200 for wireless access, which is available only to weekend sports tournaments and craft fairs. A small fee was added for access to the entire sports equipment room and $85 has been added for intruder alarm activation. Fees which have seen no change include non-profit adult sport groups’ use of multi-purpose spaces such as libraries and cafes, as well as field use by any type of group. Fees marked as “local delivery” and “out of town delivery” haven’t changed, nor have weekend custodial charges seen any changes. However, general custodial charges have seen a change. Non-profit groups used to be charged $30 per hour for custodial services, a custodian’s regular hourly pay, and now pay $30 per use. Other groups, such as private craft fairs and political parties, used to pay $30 per hour for custodial services and now pay $67.75 per hour. A $200 key deposit was also removed, replaced by a $30 charge to replace a fob or get an extra one. Hooker also told Black Press Media that the district does not profit from the fees. “The fees collected are applied to the direct staffing costs associated with approving the request. We are not charging rates that provide any funds towards repairs and maintenance of our facilities nor capital replacement costs,” she wrote. Tammy Woodcock Banks was one of more than 40 vendors registered to sell their crafts at Hobby Con. She told Black Press Media Hobby Con is one of the most important markets where she sells her wind chimes and Christmas cards which she makes under the name Tammy’s Creations. “I had loads of stock that I had worked on this year for the show,” she said. Banks said she was grateful to be welcomed as a vendor at the Cariboo Corner market instead, but only made about one third of what she would normally make at Hobby Con. However, she said the market’s cancellation is also a big loss for the students who benefit from Hobby Con. “It’s not only us that got let down, it was the kids,” she said. When they heard the news that Hobby Con was being cancelled, Bewitching Market organizers Wanda Sheppard and Sunny Dyck decided something needed to be done. They quickly organized a new market without using SD 27 facilities so local crafters and business owners can still benefit from the holiday season. “They’re quite happy with it, they’re excited,” Sheppard told the Tribune about the almost 40 vendors who have registered for the new market called A Misfits and Mistletoe Christmas Market. The market, which will be taking place on Dec. 15 at the Ramada Convention Centre, is open to everyone and any kind of item being sold. “If you want to do goth you can do goth, if you want to do Christmas you can do Christmas,” Sheppard said. She said all she wants is to be fair to the vendors, promote their works and have fun.
MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. Announces Closing of Public Offering
Hobby Lobby CEO, Heritage Foundation finance director not the same person | Fact checkUS stocks experience mixed fortunes on quiet day of trading
NoneThe soon-to-be first lady praised her teenage son on Friday for his role in getting his father elected to a second term. "He is a grown young man," Melania Trump said of 18-year-old Barron in a Fox News interview, per . "I'm very proud of him, about his knowledge, even about politics and giving advice to his father." Melania described him as "very vocal" during the campaign, adding, "He knows his generation." She didn't provide specifics, but previous stories—such as this one at —have speculated that it was Barron who encouraged Donald Trump to make the rounds of podcasts, . Barron is a freshman at New York University's Stern School of Business, where he reportedly keeps a low profile. One of the rare instances of his voice being captured comes in from the , a documentary series about the campaign. It shows Donald Trump introducing Barron to Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White. "Can we make him a fighter," jokes the president-elect, per the . (More stories.)
Eagles look to clinch NFC East title while Cowboys hope to play spoilerATI Inc executive chairman Robert S. Wetherbee sells $1.47 million in stockNBA's Christmas Day ratings skyrocket, even going up against NFL gamesHANNAH BETTS: Cosmetics expert reveals her beauty resolutions for 2025 UK beauty expert Hannah Betts reveals what she is focusing on for 2025 READ MORE: The 15 best beauty buys this year as chosen by YOU (and they start from just £1.22!) By HANNAH BETTS FOR THE DAILY MAIL Published: 20:45 GMT, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 20:45 GMT, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments We got there! Christmas has been skipped or staggered through, and New Year is honing into view. I hope you've had time to rest and zone out a bit, recharge and refuel. Now for a little light retooling. When I say I'm writing about New Year's resolutions, I'm not suggesting that there's an inadequate 2024 you to be reformed for 2025. We're adults and we're fine. However, January 1 does provide a useful focusing device for reappraising the things we do and tweaking them around the edges. And our beauty rituals are no exception. Here are the five things I'll be doing over the next few days, and you might want to, too. Relax The greatest gift I gave myself this Christmas was those earplugs one sees youngsters sporting to block an ever-demanding world. My Loop Switch 2s (£54.95, loopearplugs.com ) can be switched between 'quiet' (peace), 'experience' (decreasing concert volume) and 'engage' (lowering people's voices) modes. I now crave a Loop Dream set (£44.95) to keep beside my bed. I'll still hear my alarm, just not those morning planes that have been waking me with a stressed jolt. I'll slather myself in Nikura Sleep Essential Oil Blend (£5.99, nikura.com ) and use them with my Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask (from £52, drowsysleepco.com ) for the ultimate beauty sleep. Hannah Betts reveals what her beauty resolutions are ahead of 2025 Think Use this interlude to ponder, read and watch. Magazines will yield a wealth of ideas - even merely the advertising looks. While I highly recommend Lisa Eldridge's YouTube videos, you may be galvanised by a novel in which the heroine has a signature beauty gesture or a friend's party look for tomorrow night. Maybe you'd like to go into 2025 with a fresh hair colour, or foundation technique? Now is the time to fantasise. Look I was talking to a great British beauty the other day, and she told me that what she wants in a make-up artist is not fiddling about with different gimmicks, but someone who takes a long look at her face, then acts on those findings. Do the same. Is your mirror midlife eyesight-ready? I use the excellent Mirrorvana Double-sided with 10X/1X Magnification (£25, amazon.co.uk ). Restock Go through your cosmetics kit, axing anything that isn't working such as old make-up and balding brushes. Then clean the remaining blighters. Wash, sanitise and/or replace your cosmetics bag, too. Restock your cleanser, use up pots of old cream and streamline your kit to see you into spring. It's going to be cold – make sure your face is ready for this. And lay down some hand and hair nourishment, too. January 1 provides a useful focusing device for reappraising the things we do and tweaking them around the edges. And our beauty rituals are no exception (Stock Image) Plot January and February are a great time for winning little projects such as bolstering your eyebrows or growing your nails. You might wish to invest in silk pillowcases to be gentle on skin and hair. (I rely on stray eyeliner-proof black Bedsure Satin Pillowcases for Hair & Skin, £5.04 for two, amazon.co.uk ). You may commit to a beauty supplement, or yearn to whiten your smile (me, too – watch this space). I'll be 54 in March, meaning pigmentation is setting in, so I'll be looking into remedies. I also intend lifting my features with my hands using Deciniee Gua Sha Massagers (£12.89 for two, amazon.co.uk ) and the brilliant Mini Eye Cool Rollers (£4.99 each, amazon.co.uk ), which are exquisitely soothing. Perhaps you will resolve not to let your lips crack before resorting to balm, or conclude: 'Scent makes me feel alive. I shall wear it every day.' Small tweak, beautiful New Year. See you in 2025. RACE YOU TO IT! Nutriburst Enhanced Hydration + Beauty Electrolyte & Vitamin Formula Parched skin and brittle hair and nails are the price of festive dehydration brought on by booze, central heating and simply not drinking enough water. Stockpile Nutriburst Enhanced Hydration + Beauty Electrolyte & Vitamin Formula (from £9.49 for six sachets, amazon.co.uk) for New Year. £9.49 Shop MY ICON OF THE WEEK: Nicole Kidman The actress admits that she is 'pretty addicted' to By Terry's Baume de Rose Lip Care Make-up artist Kate Synnott used Beauty Pie to get Kidman, 57, glowing for her new thriller Babygirl. She prepped with Superluminous Skin Glow Filter Tinted Hyaluronic Complexion Brightener (members’ price £20, beautypie.com), followed by the Everyday Great Skin Hyaluronic Blur Concealer (£12.50) and Triple Beauty Luminising Highlighter Wand (£11). COSMETIC CRAVING Olixa Gummy Facial Cleanser Removing a party face in the wee small hours is a chore. What’s needed is Olixa Gummy Facial Cleanser (£28.50, olixabeauty.com), the bestseller from this natural skincare brand. Plant-based ingredients create an antioxidant-rich formula designed to refine tone, boost hydration and brighten the complexion. However, it’s the texture that stands out: xanthan gum lending glue-like grip. Work a dollop into dry skin, pressing and lifting to create suction. Wet fingertips and continue to massage until the cleanser turns milky, then rinse. Understandably cherished by make-up artists, one application eradicates every scrap of slap – no cloth required. Then, hit the sack in a state of virtue. £28.50 Shop PARTY PIECES Pat McGrath Eye Shadow Quad Sublime Blooms in Opalescent Orchid Pat McGrath Eye Shadow Quad Sublime Blooms in Opalescent Orchid (£55, patmcgrath.com) Floral fantasies for tomorrow night and into spring. £55 Shop Hildun Immortal Metallic Eyeliner in Silver Hildun Immortal Metallic Eyeliner in Silver (£16, hildunbeauty.co.uk) Glinting, mirror-like, metallic – go from desk-to-disco with a swipe of each lid. £16 Shop Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Balm (£34.40, boots.com) Sheer skin tint which gives a fresh, youthful sheen. £34.40 Shop Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara (£29, lisaeldridge.com) Flirtatious length and curl is so now. Kitten Lash is purr-fect. £29 Shop Dior Addict Lip Glow in 63 Pink Lilac Dior Addict Lip Glow in 63 Pink Lilac (£33, dior.com) Have the most kissable mouth for New Year’s Eve. Warm-toned women should pick 75. £33 Shop TikTok Chinese New Year Share or comment on this article: HANNAH BETTS: Cosmetics expert reveals her beauty resolutions for 2025 e-mail Add comment
LOS ANGELES — Go to Phoenix on Monday, play Tuesday. Fly to San Antonio late Tuesday and play the next day. Back to Los Angeles late on Thanksgiving eve, off for the holiday and then play the Thunder on Friday. Fly to Utah the next day, play the Jazz on Sunday. Then off to Minnesota on Sunday night, land late and play the Timberwolves on Monday. Then go to Miami for a game Wednesday. Then go to Atlanta for a game Friday. Off for a day, then host Portland on Sunday. And then, for the first time in weeks, exhale for 48 hours. The Lakers practiced Wednesday after two full days off, a rare oasis in an early schedule that featured them playing six preseason games outside of Los Angeles only to begin the season with the second-most road games in the Western Conference through their first 24 contests. The time off is a benefit of elimination from the NBA Cup, the Lakers idle during the knockout games this week. While the more than $500,000 in prize money eluded them, they got something that could be more valuable. JJ Redick said the team used the time to first relax and then regroup. The Lakers coach met individually with players Tuesday as the team begins an advantageous stretch of schedule. Wednesday the Lakers tried to maximize it with the kind of practice, Redick said, they haven’t had in two months. “We have a great opportunity the rest of the month. Today was one of six potential practice days that we have and we got a lot done today,” Redick said. “And I think the group came with a good, workmanlike approach and yeah, we’re going to try to get better. We’re going to try to get better. I thought coming off of Friday, coming off of Sunday — where we played the right way where we were competitive, we were together, connected, all of those things — we have something to build on.” The building, though, didn’t begin with a whole team. LeBron James didn’t meet with Redick on Tuesday and didn’t practice Wednesday, an excused absence for personal reasons keeping him away from the court. Redick said he was unsure whether James would travel with the team to Minneapolis. Austin Reaves, who has missed the Lakers’ last five games after a scary fall during the loss to Oklahoma City, returned to practice and is trending toward a return. “Both of them, it seems like, are sort of day to day and just kind of wait and see how it looks tomorrow and see how it looks Friday,” Redick said when asked about James and Reaves. After games with Minnesota on Friday and Memphis at home Sunday, the Lakers again have another three-day stretch between games, giving them more chances for physical practices like Wednesday’s workout. “It’s good, honestly, just to get to bump against each other, I think, because that’s how it is in a game, right?” guard Max Christie said. “You’re going to be bumping against guys and bruising against guys. So it’s good to kind of feel that competitive level and competitive energy — even against each other as teammates — because it makes it that much easier to compete with each other when we’re out playing in a real game. So I think it’s advantageous, for sure.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Transforming Businesses With Enterprise Architecture: Driving Agility, Efficiency, And Growth
TOKYO, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: MRM), “MEDIROM”, a holistic healthcare company that operates over 300 wellness salons across Japan and provides healthcare services, today announced the closing of its public offering of 2,860,000 American Depositary Shares at a public offering price of $1.75 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $5,000,000 before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. In addition, MEDIROM has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 429,000 American Depositary Shares to cover over-allotments at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount. MEDIROM intends to use the proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include investments, acquisitions, or strategic collaborations to expand its customer base, as well as marketing of new services. ThinkEquity is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering. A registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-281771) relating to the shares was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and became effective on December 9, 2024. This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained from ThinkEquity, 17 State Street, 41st Floor, New York, New York 10004. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. MEDIROM, a holistic healthcare company, operates over 300 wellness salons across Japan, Re.Ra.Ku® being its leading brand, and provides healthcare services. In 2015, MEDIROM entered the health tech business and launched new healthcare programs using an on-demand training app called “Lav®”, which is developed by MEDIROM. MEDIROM also entered the device business in 2020 and has developed a smart tracker “MOTHER Bracelet®”. In 2023, MEDIROM launched REMONY, a remote monitoring system for corporate clients, and has received orders from a broad range of industries, including nursing care, transportation, construction, and manufacturing, among others. MEDIROM hopes that its diverse health-related product and service offerings will help it collect and manage healthcare data from users and customers and enable it to become a leader in big data in the healthcare industry. For more information, visit https://medirom.co.jp/en . Forward-Looking Statements Regarding MEDIROM Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include estimates or expectations about MEDIROM’s possible or assumed operational results, financial condition, business strategies and plans, market opportunities, competitive position, industry environment, and potential growth opportunities. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “design,” “target,” “aim,” “hope,” “expect,” “could,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “goal,” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements relate to future events or to MEDIROM’s future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause MEDIROM’s actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond MEDIROM’s control and which could, and likely will, affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects MEDIROM’s current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to MEDIROM’s operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. Contact: Investor Relations Team E-mail: ir@medirom.co.jpAustralians are buying Christmas presents early this year, with “many shoppers choosing to tick off their Christmas lists by the end of this month”, according to the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Chief Industry Affairs Officer, Fleur Brown. “We are predicting a $69.7 billion boost in the lead up to Christmas, with $6.7 billion spent over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday period alone.” She said the peak trading period over Black Friday, Cyber Monday and pre-Christmas allowed many “discretionary retailers the chance to make up to two thirds of their annual profits”. “While customers are being savvy with their dollars in certain areas, they also are showing increased spending across food and discretionary categories which includes sporting and recreational goods.” The ARA and American Express Small Retail Index shows 44 per cent of small retailers were forecasting sales “to be slightly up or significantly up on last year’s figures”. Nearly a third (31 per cent) expected sales to be flat compared to last year. Around one-in-four (26 per cent) Australian small retailers say they will take part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. The introduction of new products and services would be a “primary focus” for 35 per cent of small retailers. A majority (57 per cent) were expecting more customers to prioritise sales and discounts this festive season, with 28 per cent saying they will be offering more promotions to meet this rising demand, per the ARA survey. Almost three quarters (73 per cent) of small retailers “are trying something new this year to entice customers, with only 27 per cent following the same approach as in previous years”. Around one-in-four (26 per cent) small retailers said they would take part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. As for trading conditions in 2025, the ARA said 41 per cent of small retailers “feel somewhat (34 per cent) or very (7 per cent) optimistic ... 31 per cent say they feel neutral”. That left around three in 10 (28 per cent) who felt neither optimistic or neutral.
Robert Half director Dirk Kempthorne sells $76,729 in stockThis story was originally published on Nov. 26 and misreported fee changes related to renting SD 27 facilities, stating they had doubled when in fact they have been cut in half. Several organizers of events raising funds for student programs were surprised this year with a hefty bill in order to operate in School District 27 (SD 27) facilities. The annual Cariboo Hobby Con and Craft Fair was scheduled to run on Nov. 23 this year at Columneetza Jr. Secondary in Williams Lake, but with less than two weeks before the day organizers announced they would cancel the fair. “It is with great sadness we have to announce that this year’s Cariboo Hobby Con has been cancelled,” wrote the organizers on their Facebook page. They credited the cancellation to policy changes which led to “uncertain financial constraints that would be detrimental to our fundraiser.” The annual fair event raises funds for a volleyball club run by SD 27 employee Tim Hurley. The funds are used to buy equipment such as a referee stand and uniforms, as well as to help out students in need with travel and accommodation. Last year Hobby Con raised about $2,000 for the club, but Hurley told Black Press Media it’s more than just the money, as Hobby Con provides a space for other clubs to run their own fundraisers and for young entrepreneurs to set up their own vendors. He added that his volleyball club has served as a “turning point” for vulnerable students whose interest in the sport has kept them in school and safe. SD 27 updated its policy 730 – Community use of School Facilities – in August of this year. Changes to the policy include “more robust vetting” of events such as craft fairs, large sporting tournaments and Parent Advisory Council (PAC) events. In a statement sent to Black Press Media, SD 27 secretary-treasurer Brenda Hooker provided reasons for the policy updates. “The District updated AP730 to clarify our process and publish the applicable fees when applying for facilities use. In most cases, the cost to rent a space in our various facilities was decreased.” She wrote that fees were not always applied consistently in the past, such as whether or not the use of school equipment would be charged. When asked if the district took into account what impact the changes could have on events which benefit students, Hooker wrote the district recognized there were changes in fees “by applying our policy consistently and fairly.” “Some organizers have chosen to cancel instead of moving forward, which is their choice...The district recognizes that access to our schools is important to the community and we are striving to balance the demand while covering the associated costs and conducting our due diligence for all involved,” she wrote. Hobby Con is not the only event which has been impacted by the changes. The annual Chilcotin Road Elementary School PAC Ladies Night, which raises money for the school to buy things like books, projectors and playground equipment, operated in SD 27 facilities for 11 years without cost. This year’s event, which was in April, the organizers found out they would have to pay $600 to run the Ladies Night at the school. Even the lakecity’s beloved Medieval Market, which raises money for student programs and also equips participating students with work experience, has seen quite the impact. Without any real change to the event’s layout, which as previous years was hosted at Lake City Secondary School, the total cost to run the market increased by more than $4,000 from 2019 until now. While in 2019 the market operated at a total cost of about $800, this year’s market came to a total of just under $5,000. Even in 2023, prior to SD 27’s policy changes, organizer Kirstin Lauren said custodial charges had doubled from the previous year. This was despite few, if any, changes being made to the market which would result in further custodial requirements. Custodial hours, organizers said, doubled from 24 to 48 hours without explanation. In fact, Lauren said it’s been difficult to get any clear answers from the district, and while she is hoping to maintain a relationship with the district and see the market thrive in its traditional location of several years, there needs to be better communication. Hooker told Black Press Media organizers are made aware of requirements and risks associated to holding their event before their application is approved. The biggest change the Medieval Market saw this year was in insurance fees. While costs going specifically to the district amounted to about $4,000, the market had to pay an extra $800 for third party liability insurance. Organizers were told they had to purchase the insurance this year, while in previous years this was not a concern. Lauren told Black Press Media students were still able to benefit from this year’s market, which attracted about 3,500 guests, 100 vendors and 100 student workers. “But the more money we have to pay out, the less money we have to give to students,” she said, adding all she wants is to figure out what’s going on and continue having a positive working relationship with the district. In her statement to Black Press Media, Hooker said insurance requirements have always existed. “The district is now clarifying these requirements with users and consistently ensuring the appropriate insurance is obtained. The cost to obtain liability insurance is minimal and is needed to cover both the organizers and the volunteers working any event that is not directly related to education. The district values all of our employees and volunteers and is simply trying to make sure organizers have appropriate insurance coverage in place in the case of an unexpected event,” Hooker wrote. She later clarified with Black Press that these events were simply not being insured previously, a fact which was overlooked, and the policy change was to ensure everyone’s safety. Lauren said she and other organizers are planning to meet with the district to understand why their costs have seen such an increase and what can be done to mitigate the impact on students for which the event is being hosted. Most of the fees related to renting SD 27 facilities have been cut in half, with some additional fees being added to the list. New fees include $200 for wireless access, which is available only to weekend sports tournaments and craft fairs. A small fee was added for access to the entire sports equipment room and $85 has been added for intruder alarm activation. Fees which have seen no change include non-profit adult sport groups’ use of multi-purpose spaces such as libraries and cafes, as well as field use by any type of group. Fees marked as “local delivery” and “out of town delivery” haven’t changed, nor have weekend custodial charges seen any changes. However, general custodial charges have seen a change. Non-profit groups used to be charged $30 per hour for custodial services, a custodian’s regular hourly pay, and now pay $30 per use. Other groups, such as private craft fairs and political parties, used to pay $30 per hour for custodial services and now pay $67.75 per hour. A $200 key deposit was also removed, replaced by a $30 charge to replace a fob or get an extra one. Hooker also told Black Press Media that the district does not profit from the fees. “The fees collected are applied to the direct staffing costs associated with approving the request. We are not charging rates that provide any funds towards repairs and maintenance of our facilities nor capital replacement costs,” she wrote. Tammy Woodcock Banks was one of more than 40 vendors registered to sell their crafts at Hobby Con. She told Black Press Media Hobby Con is one of the most important markets where she sells her wind chimes and Christmas cards which she makes under the name Tammy’s Creations. “I had loads of stock that I had worked on this year for the show,” she said. Banks said she was grateful to be welcomed as a vendor at the Cariboo Corner market instead, but only made about one third of what she would normally make at Hobby Con. However, she said the market’s cancellation is also a big loss for the students who benefit from Hobby Con. “It’s not only us that got let down, it was the kids,” she said. When they heard the news that Hobby Con was being cancelled, Bewitching Market organizers Wanda Sheppard and Sunny Dyck decided something needed to be done. They quickly organized a new market without using SD 27 facilities so local crafters and business owners can still benefit from the holiday season. “They’re quite happy with it, they’re excited,” Sheppard told the Tribune about the almost 40 vendors who have registered for the new market called A Misfits and Mistletoe Christmas Market. The market, which will be taking place on Dec. 15 at the Ramada Convention Centre, is open to everyone and any kind of item being sold. “If you want to do goth you can do goth, if you want to do Christmas you can do Christmas,” Sheppard said. She said all she wants is to be fair to the vendors, promote their works and have fun.Joe Biden, Donald Trump and More Pay Tribute to Jimmy Carter: “An Extraordinary Leader, Statesman and Humanitarian”
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