A WOMAN FROM BETHLEHEM IS ROWING 3200 MILES ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. IT’S JUST INCREDIBLE. I LOVE THIS STORY. NOW RENEE BLACKMAN WILL BE RACING SOLO FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS TO ANTIGUA IN WHAT’S CALLED THE ATLANTIC DASH. FOR 60 TO 90 DAYS, BLACKMAN WILL BE COMPLETELY ALONE. NO MOTOR, NO SAIL AND NO FOOD SUPPLY. SHE’S ROWING TO SUPPORT OUTDOOR ADVENTURING FOR GOOD, A NONPROFIT FOR TRAUMA RECOVERY PROGRAMS. I’M SO LOW OUT THERE, BUT I’M PART OF THIS BIGGER COMMUNITY. I’M PART OF THIS BIGGER PICTURE. I AM PART OF MAKING SURE THAT THESE RESOURCES EXIST, THAT PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TO GO THROUGH HARD, HURTFUL, CHALLENGING, CONFUSING TIMES IN THEIR LIVES. NOW, BLACKMAN STARTS HER JOURNEY ON SATURDAY. THE 43 YEAR OLD COULD MAKE HISTORY AS THE FIRST SOLO FEMALE TO FINISH. WHAT AN ENDEAVOR. AND THAT BOAT TOM. IT’S N
Woman prepares to row 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean
A woman from Bethlehem, New Hampshire, is preparing to row 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Atlantic Dash.Renee Blacken will race solo from the Canary Islands to Antigua and could make history as the first woman to complete the journey alone.The trip is expected to take between 60 and 90 days. During that time, Blacken will have no motor, no sail and no food resupply. She is rowing to support Outdoor Adventuring for Good, a nonprofit that raises money for trauma recovery programs. “I’m solo out there, but I’m part of this bigger community. I’m part of this bigger picture. I am part of making sure that these resources exist so that people don’t have to go through hard, hurtful, challenging, confusing times in their lives,” she said. Blacken is scheduled to begin her journey Saturday.
A woman from Bethlehem, New Hampshire, is preparing to row 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Atlantic Dash.
Renee Blacken will race solo from the Canary Islands to Antigua and could make history as the first woman to complete the journey alone.
The trip is expected to take between 60 and 90 days. During that time, Blacken will have no motor, no sail and no food resupply.
She is rowing to support Outdoor Adventuring for Good, a nonprofit that raises money for trauma recovery programs.
“I’m solo out there, but I’m part of this bigger community. I’m part of this bigger picture. I am part of making sure that these resources exist so that people don’t have to go through hard, hurtful, challenging, confusing times in their lives,” she said.
Blacken is scheduled to begin her journey Saturday.
Aloka the Peace Dog was reunited with the Walk for Peace monks for the first time since undergoing leg surgery following an injury during the 2,300-mile Walk for Peace in early January. The reunion happened in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Aloka briefly appeared in front of supporters during the group’s lunch stop. He appeared to be in good spirits. The monks say his spirits remain high and he is healing well. “We are happy to share that Aloka is recovering very well from his surgery,” the group wrote on a Facebook post after his surgery.Video below: More about the Walk for Peace and the monks’ stop in North CarolinaA team at the Charleston Veterinary Referral Center in Charleston, South Carolina, performed the surgery and assisted Aloka through the early stages of his recovery.The monks say Aloka received a professional therapy massage and red-light therapy. He will not be walking with the group for now so he can continue healing.Find a map of the monks’ path on sister statin WXII’s website.
Aloka the Peace Dog was reunited with the Walk for Peace monks for the first time since undergoing leg surgery following an injury during the 2,300-mile Walk for Peace in early January.
The reunion happened in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Aloka briefly appeared in front of supporters during the group’s lunch stop. He appeared to be in good spirits.
The monks say his spirits remain high and he is healing well. “We are happy to share that Aloka is recovering very well from his surgery,” the group wrote on a Facebook post after his surgery.
Video below: More about the Walk for Peace and the monks’ stop in North Carolina
A team at the Charleston Veterinary Referral Center in Charleston, South Carolina, performed the surgery and assisted Aloka through the early stages of his recovery.
The monks say Aloka received a professional therapy massage and red-light therapy. He will not be walking with the group for now so he can continue healing.
TONIGHT, A STORY ABOUT RUNNING OUTRUNNING RATHER LIMITS WHILE DEFYING THE ODDS FOR ONE ALABAMA TEENAGER. THIS ALL BEGAN THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM HERE. ONLY ON 13 TONIGHT, BRITTANY DECKER INTRODUCES YOU TO AN OAK MOUNTAIN STUDENT ON THE FAST TRACK. AFTER A JOURNEY THAT SPANS THE GLOBE. I’M GOING TO FOLLOW YOU. DON’T GO TOO FAST. OKAY? BEFORE CHASE EVEN RAN A RACE, BEFORE HE SPOKE A WORD OF ENGLISH. BEFORE HE HAD A FAMILY CHEERING IN THE STANDS. HE HAD THIS. A BRACELET, LEATHER WITH A SINGLE THREAD GIVEN TO A LITTLE BOY IN A CHINESE ORPHANAGE BY THE MAN WHO FIRST TAUGHT HIM HOW TO WALK. NO ONE KNOWS HIS TITLE. THERAPIST. CARE WORKER. ALL THEY KNOW IS HE SAW POTENTIAL IN A CHILD. THE SYSTEM HAD ALREADY GIVEN UP ON. THEY KIND OF DEEM A PERSON WITH ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY AS JUST NOT AT THE HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL FOR SOCIETY. NOW IT’S IN HIS HAND, A REMINDER OF THE MILES BEHIND HIM AND EVERYTHING HE’S STILL CHASING. AFTER ALL, THAT NAME WASN’T AN ACCIDENT. I WANTED TO INCORPORATE HIS CHINESE NAME, WHICH IS TAOTAO, AND SO WE KEPT TAO’S MIDDLE NAME. BUT I TOLD HIM I WAS LIKE, I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP CHASE BECAUSE I THINK GOD WANTS US TO CHASE AFTER HIM. WE KNEW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, GOD HAD CALLED US TO ADOPT A BOY OLDER THAN THEY EXPECTED. 11 AT THE TIME, NOT THE 5 TO 7 YEARS OLD THEY PLANNED FOR A BOY WHOSE FIRST ADOPTION HAD FALLEN THROUGH. A BOY WHO IN CHINA WAS MONTHS AWAY FROM AGING OUT FOREVER. BUT THIS FAMILY REFUSED TO GIVE UP. WE REALLY HAD TO ADVOCATE AND SAY WE WANT HIM APPROVED. IN LATE 2019. HOME. IN JANUARY 2020, JUST DAYS BEFORE FLIGHTS SHUT DOWN, WE WERE ACTUALLY THE LAST FAMILY WITH LIFELINE TO COME BACK FROM CHINA. HE JUMPED ON IN OUR FAMILY AND HADN’T SKIPPED A BEAT. YOU KNOW, WE JUST IMMERSED HIM JUST INTO OUR FAMILY IMMEDIATELY AND HE ADAPTED WELL. HE WAS READY TO GO TO SCHOOL, READY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE. CHASE IN THE ORPHANAGE. CHASE SAYS EDUCATION WASN’T AN OPTION. WITHOUT EDUCATION. YOU CANNOT YOU CANNOT REALLY DO MUCH. BUT IN THE CLASSROOM AT OAK MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL, HE THRIVES. I MET CHASE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. OKAY, HERE YOU GO, CHASE. ONE DAY I WAS IN MY ROOM. YOU READY? YES. THERE YOU GO. AND I WAS GOING TO ERASE SOME MATH PROBLEMS OFF THE BOARD. AND CHASE WALKED IN AND HE STARTED ASKING ABOUT THEM. AND A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS I HAD UP THERE WERE AP PRE-CALCULUS AND AP CALCULUS. I CAN DO ARE 12 ANIMALS. PRETTY GOOD? THAT’S GREAT. GOOD JOB. HE’S HARD WORKING AND HE’S VERY DETERMINED AT SCHOOL ON THE TRACK. IN LIFE, NOTHING KEEPS CHASE DOWN, POP BACK UP, BLOODY AND ALL RAN AND FINISHED THAT RACE. AND THEN THEY GAVE HIM THE CHASE LEVEL AWARD. HE DOES HAVE SOME LIMITATIONS, BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, YOU DON’T SEE HIM ON THE TRACK AT ALL. AND IT’S NICE BECAUSE I THINK HE’S A LOT OF TEAMS RECOGNIZE WHO HE IS. AND SO WHEN HE GOES TO MEETS, IT’S A LOT OF CHASE, CHASE, CHASE. HE JUST THE DESIRE THAT HE HAS TO MAKE IT ONCE WITH NO FAMILY, HE NOW WAVES TO HIS OWN IN THE BLEACHERS, A BRACELET IN HIS HAND, A FINISH LINE AHEAD AND A LIFE HE STILL QUITE LITERALLY CHASING. HIS JOURNEY WAS RECOGNIZED STATEWIDE RECENTLY, WHEN THE GOVERNOR HONORED CHASE AT THE ALABAMA GOVERNOR’S COMMITT
A young man’s journey from Chinese orphanage to high school track star
Before Chase Lovell ever ran a race, spoke a word of English or had a cheering family in the stands, he had a bracelet.Leather, worn, with a single thread. It was given to him in a Chinese orphanage by the man who first taught him how to walk. No one knew the man’s official title, therapist or caretaker, but he saw potential in a child the system had already given up on.“They kind of deem a person with any kind of disability as just not at the high enough level for society,” said Adam Lovell, Chase’s adoptive father.The bracelet stayed with Chase, a reminder of the miles behind him and everything he’s still chasing. His name, “Chase,” wasn’t chosen by accident.“We kept his Chinese name, Tao Tao, as his middle name, but ‘Chase’? I told him I think God wants us to chase after him,” said Miranda Lovell, his mother.Chase’s adoption was not simple. His family initially planned to adopt a 5 to 7-year-old, but Chase was 11. A previous adoption had fallen through, and he was months away from aging out of the system. But the Lovells refused to give up. “We really had to advocate and say we want him. I wrote more words to China than I ever have, telling them I’m a speech pathologist, we have resources, therapies — we can give him everything he needs,” Miranda Lovell said.Approved in late 2019, Chase arrived home in January 2020, just days before flights shut down worldwide.“He jumped on in our family and hadn’t skipped a beat,” Miranda said.In China, Chase had little access to education.“Without education, you cannot really do much,” he said.But at Oak Mountain High School, he thrives in math, in the classroom, and on the track.One teacher recalls, “I met Chase about two years ago. One day, I was erasing math problems off the board, and Chase walked over asking about them — a lot of the problems were AP pre-calculus and AP calculus.” Chase said, “I can do 12th-grade math pretty good.”On the track, nothing keeps him down. When he fell during a race, the crowd held its breath — but he popped back up and finished strong. His determination earned him the Chase Lovell Award. “He does have some limitations, but you don’t see them on the track. A lot of teams recognize who he is and so when he goes to meets, it’s a lot of, ‘Chase! Chase! Chase!’” said his coach.Once told that “family isn’t for you,” Chase now waves to one in the bleachers. With a bracelet in hand, a finish line ahead, and a life he’s still quite literally chasing, his story is far from over.
Before Chase Lovell ever ran a race, spoke a word of English or had a cheering family in the stands, he had a bracelet.
Leather, worn, with a single thread. It was given to him in a Chinese orphanage by the man who first taught him how to walk. No one knew the man’s official title, therapist or caretaker, but he saw potential in a child the system had already given up on.
“They kind of deem a person with any kind of disability as just not at the high enough level for society,” said Adam Lovell, Chase’s adoptive father.
The bracelet stayed with Chase, a reminder of the miles behind him and everything he’s still chasing. His name, “Chase,” wasn’t chosen by accident.
“We kept his Chinese name, Tao Tao, as his middle name, but ‘Chase’? I told him I think God wants us to chase after him,” said Miranda Lovell, his mother.
Chase’s adoption was not simple. His family initially planned to adopt a 5 to 7-year-old, but Chase was 11. A previous adoption had fallen through, and he was months away from aging out of the system. But the Lovells refused to give up.
“We really had to advocate and say we want him. I wrote more words to China than I ever have, telling them I’m a speech pathologist, we have resources, therapies — we can give him everything he needs,” Miranda Lovell said.
Approved in late 2019, Chase arrived home in January 2020, just days before flights shut down worldwide.
“He jumped on in our family and hadn’t skipped a beat,” Miranda said.
In China, Chase had little access to education.
“Without education, you cannot really do much,” he said.
But at Oak Mountain High School, he thrives in math, in the classroom, and on the track.
One teacher recalls, “I met Chase about two years ago. One day, I was erasing math problems off the board, and Chase walked over asking about them — a lot of the problems were AP pre-calculus and AP calculus.”
Chase said, “I can do 12th-grade math pretty good.”
On the track, nothing keeps him down. When he fell during a race, the crowd held its breath — but he popped back up and finished strong. His determination earned him the Chase Lovell Award.
“He does have some limitations, but you don’t see them on the track. A lot of teams recognize who he is and so when he goes to meets, it’s a lot of, ‘Chase! Chase! Chase!’” said his coach.
Once told that “family isn’t for you,” Chase now waves to one in the bleachers. With a bracelet in hand, a finish line ahead, and a life he’s still quite literally chasing, his story is far from over.
With Killington Resort officially open in Vermont, skiers and riders were excited to kick off their season on Thursday. Among them was Harley Ruffle, a 7-year-old who has gained thousands of followers on social media with his journey on a snowboard.Harley Ruffle is only 7 years old, but he has already completed five seasons of snowboarding for at least 100 days. His quick progress already has him riding with professionals. He first picked up a snowboard at only 2 years old. His family was at a ski shop for his older brother, but ended up leaving with another rider. Harley’s mom, Jill Ruffle, said she turned around and Harley had strapped himself into a mini snowboard. “We brought him into the store in a stroller and he’s on snow, balancing on a snowboard with absolutely zero problems,” she said. From then on, snowboarding was all he wanted to do. Harley is homeschooled and started going to the mountain as much as possible to practice. His mom said that while he began riding with the Killington Mountain School last season, he started with no formal training. She said right away she noticed Harley’s ability to quickly pick up new skills. He landed his first front flip at just 4 years old. “I just try it, and most of the time I get it,” Harley said. Since he began snowboarding, Harley has made it to the mountain a total of 678 days. One season, he was out for 172 days. Now, he is hoping for his sixth 100-day season this year. “That wasn’t something we set out to happen. It was just, again, his passion led to that,” said Jill Ruffle. Harley’s mom began posting videos of him riding several years ago to document his snowboarding journey. Since then, he’s gained over 26,000 followers and sponsors who have supported his progress, providing him with equipment and more. “He’s a goofy, happy little snowboarder,” she said. “I think they want to end up where — you know, see where he ends up on his journey.”Harley’s family has built a community through his snowboarding. He became family friends with professional snowboarders who enjoy riding with him. “Ever since I’ve known him, I swear it was before he could even talk, he was on a snowboard, you know, just smiling, doing his thing,” said professional rider Zeb Powell. Harley said he is happy to begin another season on the slopes. He said he has been waiting to get in his first runs for weeks, and with another year starting, he’s aiming for another 100 days on the mountain.
With Killington Resort officially open in Vermont, skiers and riders were excited to kick off their season on Thursday. Among them was Harley Ruffle, a 7-year-old who has gained thousands of followers on social media with his journey on a snowboard.
Harley Ruffle is only 7 years old, but he has already completed five seasons of snowboarding for at least 100 days. His quick progress already has him riding with professionals.
He first picked up a snowboard at only 2 years old. His family was at a ski shop for his older brother, but ended up leaving with another rider. Harley’s mom, Jill Ruffle, said she turned around and Harley had strapped himself into a mini snowboard.
“We brought him into the store in a stroller and he’s on snow, balancing on a snowboard with absolutely zero problems,” she said.
From then on, snowboarding was all he wanted to do. Harley is homeschooled and started going to the mountain as much as possible to practice. His mom said that while he began riding with the Killington Mountain School last season, he started with no formal training. She said right away she noticed Harley’s ability to quickly pick up new skills. He landed his first front flip at just 4 years old.
“I just try it, and most of the time I get it,” Harley said.
Since he began snowboarding, Harley has made it to the mountain a total of 678 days. One season, he was out for 172 days. Now, he is hoping for his sixth 100-day season this year.
“That wasn’t something we set out to happen. It was just, again, his passion led to that,” said Jill Ruffle.
Harley’s mom began posting videos of him riding several years ago to document his snowboarding journey. Since then, he’s gained over 26,000 followers and sponsors who have supported his progress, providing him with equipment and more.
“He’s a goofy, happy little snowboarder,” she said. “I think they want to end up where — you know, see where he ends up on his journey.”
Harley’s family has built a community through his snowboarding. He became family friends with professional snowboarders who enjoy riding with him.
“Ever since I’ve known him, I swear it was before he could even talk, he was on a snowboard, you know, just smiling, doing his thing,” said professional rider Zeb Powell.
Harley said he is happy to begin another season on the slopes. He said he has been waiting to get in his first runs for weeks, and with another year starting, he’s aiming for another 100 days on the mountain.
With the wave of classic rock bands that have been calling it quits lately, it should come as no surprise that Journey have announced that they’re embarking on their final tour. The trek, dubbed their Final Frontier farewell tour, begins Feb. 28 in Hershey, PA, and will run through 60 cities and wrap up July 2 in Laredo, TX.
Journey Thanks the Listeners
“This tour is our heartfelt thank you to the fans who’ve been with us every step of the way — through every song, every era, every high and low,” founding guitarist Neal Schon said in a statement. “We’re pulling out all the stops with a brand-new production — the hits, the deep cuts, the energy, the spectacle. It’s a full-circle celebration of the music that’s brought us all together.”
Schon will be on the road for Journey’s farewell along with keyboardist Jonathan Cain, vocalist Arnel Pineda, keyboardist Jason Derlatka, drummer Deen Castronovo and bass player Todd Jensen. Presale tickets for Journey’s farewell run will begin Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets will go on sale to the general public starting on Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. local time. For the full roster tour dates and ticket information, head to the band’s official website.
In other news, Journey has officially been named as the band with the “Biggest Song of All Time” by Forbes for “Don’t Stop Believin’.” “According to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), the hit rock song likely heard by everyone around the world is now an 18-times Platinum-certified single,” Journey states on their site. “Released in October 1981 for their seventh studio album ‘Escape’ through Columbia Records, ‘Don’t Stop Believin” quickly became the band’s signature song.”
It’s true that “Don’t Stop Believin’” is an opus and one of the most recognizable songs of the classic rock era. It’s motivational. It’s fun. It’s uplifting. Now, Journey will be playing that song live for the final time. Reach out to the author of this story with your Journey memories.
Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.
Oct. 28 is a big day in rock history associated with many legendary album releases and performances from iconic names such as Queen, Elvis Presley, ZZ Top, and The Allman Brothers Band. Here’s a rundown of all the major events that happened on this day in rock history.
Notable Recordings and Performances
On Oct. 28, several iconic albums were released, and rock fans enjoyed unforgettable concerts:
1956: Elvis Presley made his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Presley was presented with a gold record for his single “Love Me Tender,” and he performed “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Love Me Tender,” “Love Me,” and “Hound Dog.”
1977: Queen released their sixth studio album, News of the World, via EMI Records in the U.K. and Elektra Records in the U.S. It went 4x Platinum in the U.S., and it includes two of the most famous songs in music history, “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You.”
1977: The Sex Pistols released their first and only studio album, Never Mind the B******s, Here’s the Sex Pistols. It went Platinum in the U.K. and the U.S., and it’s widely considered one of the most influential albums in history.
1977: Journey played their first show with lead vocalist Steve Perry. Although some band members were initially hesitant about Perry joining, this move led to the band’s most successful era.
1985: ZZ Top released their ninth studio album, Afterburner, through Warner Bros. Records. Despite not reaching the heights of their previous release, Eliminator, the album was a commercial success and sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. alone.
2014: The Allman Brothers Band played their final show at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. They released it as a live album 10 years later, under the name Final Concert 10-28-14.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Some changes and challenges in the music industry occurred on Oct. 28, including:
1953: Songwriter and producer Desmond Child was born in Gainesville, Florida. Some of the singers and bands he’s written songs or produced albums for include Kiss, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, Meat Loaf, and Dream Theater.
2022: Rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis died aged 87 at his home in Nesbit, Mississippi. He started his professional career in 1952 and was one of the first-ever rock stars in the 1950s. Lewis released hits such as “Great Balls of Fire,” “Breathless,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”
These are the notable events that took place on Oct. 28 over the years. Come back tomorrow to explore the most important moments from that day in rock history.
Have you ever felt confused or overwhelmed or wondered how a friend or partner feels? Maybe you’ve gotten to the point in a relationship where you aren’t moving forward. Perhaps the relationship has plateaued. When this happens, it is possible one or both of you are emotionally unavailable.
NASA’s Europa Clipper has embarked on its long voyage to Jupiter, where it will investigate Europa, a moon with an enormous subsurface ocean that may have conditions to support life.
The spacecraft launched at 12:06pm EDT Monday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Central Florida.
The largest spacecraft NASA ever built for a mission headed to another planet, Europa Clipper also is the first NASA mission dedicated to studying an ocean world beyond Earth. The spacecraft will travel 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometers) on a trajectory that will leverage the power of gravity assists, first to Mars in four months and then back to Earth for another gravity assist flyby in 2026. After it begins orbiting Jupiter in April 2030, the spacecraft will fly past Europa 49 times.
“Congratulations to our Europa Clipper team for beginning the first journey to an ocean world beyond Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA leads the world in exploration and discovery, and the Europa Clipper mission is no different. By exploring the unknown, Europa Clipper will help us better understand whether there is the potential for life not just within our solar system, but among the billions of moons and planets beyond our Sun.”
Approximately five minutes after liftoff, the rocket’s second stage fired up and the payload fairing, or the rocket’s nose cone, opened to reveal Europa Clipper. About an hour after launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket. Ground controllers received a signal soon after, and two-way communication was established at 1:13pm with NASA’s Deep Space Network facility in Canberra, Australia. Mission teams celebrated as initial telemetry reports showed Europa Clipper is in good health and operating as expected.
“We could not be more excited for the incredible and unprecedented science NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will deliver in the generations to come,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Everything in NASA science is interconnected, and Europa Clipper’s scientific discoveries will build upon the legacy that our other missions exploring Jupiter — including Juno, Galileo, and Voyager — created in our search for habitable worlds beyond our home planet.”
The main goal of the mission is to determine whether Europa has conditions that could support life. Europa is about the size of our own Moon, but its interior is different. Information from NASA’s Galileo mission in the 1990s showed strong evidence that under Europa’s ice lies an enormous, salty ocean with more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined. Scientists also have found evidence that Europa may host organic compounds and energy sources under its surface.
If the mission determines Europa is habitable, it may mean there are more habitable worlds in our solar system and beyond than imagined.
“We’re ecstatic to send Europa Clipper on its way to explore a potentially habitable ocean world, thanks to our colleagues and partners who’ve worked so hard to get us to this day,” said Laurie Leshin, director, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “Europa Clipper will undoubtedly deliver mind-blowing science. While always bittersweet to send something we’ve labored over for years off on its long journey, we know this remarkable team and spacecraft will expand our knowledge of our solar system and inspire future exploration.”
In 2031, the spacecraft will begin conducting its science-dedicated flybys of Europa. Coming as close as 16 miles (25 kilometers) to the surface, Europa Clipper is equipped with nine science instruments and a gravity experiment, including an ice-penetrating radar, cameras, and a thermal instrument to look for areas of warmer ice and any recent eruptions of water. As the most sophisticated suite of science instruments NASA has ever sent to Jupiter, they will work in concert to learn more about the moon’s icy shell, thin atmosphere, and deep interior.
To power those instruments in the faint sunlight that reaches Jupiter, Europa Clipper also carries the largest solar arrays NASA has ever used for an interplanetary mission. With arrays extended, the spacecraft spans 100 feet (30.5 meters) from end to end. With propellant loaded, it weighs about 13,000 pounds (5,900 kilograms).
In all, more than 4,000 people have contributed to Europa Clipper mission since it was formally approved in 2015.
“As Europa Clipper embarks on its journey, I’ll be thinking about the countless hours of dedication, innovation, and teamwork that made this moment possible,” said Jordan Evans, project manager, NASA JPL. “This launch isn’t just the next chapter in our exploration of the solar system; it’s a leap toward uncovering the mysteries of another ocean world, driven by our shared curiosity and continued search to answer the question, ‘are we alone?’”
Europa Clipper’s three main science objectives are to determine the thickness of the moon’s icy shell and its interactions with the ocean below, to investigate its composition, and to characterize its geology. The mission’s detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet.
Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, NASA JPL leads the development of the Europa Clipper mission in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The main spacecraft body was designed by APL in collaboration with NASA JPL and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The Planetary Missions Program Office at Marshall executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission.
NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at NASA Kennedy, managed the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft.
Occasionally, stray vestiges might pop up, and you might feel uncomfortable. Perhaps you might see it as a repeated lesson, that you’re running into a particular situation or person. But people and situations will always exist, whether or not you have accepted what happened to you. And so maybe it isn’t about you, but rather, a fact of life. Or, as Danielle LaPorte pens it so beautifully in her book How To Be Loving, “We can choose to let someone be who they are for us today, not a hologram of yesterday’s issue.”
Def Leppard and Journey with Steve Miller Band The Summer Stadium Tour 2024 Minute Maid Park August 14, 2024
“Time keeps on slippin’ slippin’ slippin’ into the future…”
Doesn’t it, though? I couldn’t help but think these lyrics could have been relevant (in a negative way) to The Summer Stadium Tour – featuring Def Leppard and Journey with the Steve Miller Band – if the concert was simply pure nostalgic indulgence. But it wasn’t. It was far from it.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: Bold claim considering only one act on the bill – Def Leppard – had tracks on their set list written after the Reagan administration. Nostalgia plays a role, yes, but the reason these groups keep having their songs appear and reappear in the media – Space Jam, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Sopranos, Glee, Cobra Kai, etc. – is because there is something timeless and good about them. It’s not indulgent to want to hear them, and as long as these guys can still play, it’s easy to see why people would flock to them. And they can still play, as those in a packed Minute Maid Park last night can attest to.
Up first was Steve Miller, who, based on his spectacles and business casual attire, looked like he went straight from an office to Minute Maid Park, which, to be fair, many concertgoers did to make the 6 p.m. start time. Seriously, you wouldn’t think him out of place if you saw this Space Cowboy refilling his Hydro Flask at your office water cooler. The outfit does, however, fit Miller’s “musician first, celebrity never” attitude, and a musician he is – for sure. In front of the colorfully winged horse from his Book of Dreams album cover, Miller showed off his bluesy rock bona fides with a set that boasted infectious tunes and jam session vibes.
Steve Miller and his band at Minute Maid Park on The Summer Stadium Tour.
Photo by Eric Sauseda
After imploring the crowd to dance with “Swingtown” and charming them with “Serenade,” Miller got his guitar licks in on “The Stake” before playing “Living in the U.S.A.” He dedicated the song to the men and women serving in the armed forces before busting out a harmonica and delivering an absolutely blistering turn on it. A run of classics followed, including “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Rock’n Me,” “Jungle Love,” “Take the Money and Run” and his embarrassingly catchy hit “Abracadabra” from 1982, a song Miller couldn’t help but point out Eminem recently sampled for his track “Houdini.”
“Abracadabra” was one of only three songs on his set list that didn’t come from either Fly Like an Eagle or Book of Dreams, the other two being “Living in the U.S.A.” (from the 1968 album Sailor) and “The Joker,” a song from Miller’s 1973 album of the same name and which served as the set’s penultimate tune. Miller brought out his “special guitar” for “The Joker,” its blue, bedazzled exterior a sight that couldn’t distract the audience from happily singing and swaying along to the 1973 hit. Finally, following an anecdote about his godfather, Les Paul, Miller launched into “Jet Airliner,” much to the crowd’s delight, to close his hour-long set.
Approximately 25 minutes later – just enough time to muse on the fact that the same man is responsible for “Take the Money and Run,” “Fly Like an Eagle” and “Abracadabra” – Journey took the stage.
Arnel Pineda of Journey performing at Minute Maid Park on The Summer Stadium Tour.
Photo by Eric Sauseda
Led by original member Neal Schon, near-original member Jonathan Cain, and lead singer (since 2007) Arnel Pineda, Journey opened their set with “Only the Young” off the 1985 soundtrack to Vision Quest, and it was immediately clear what a talent Pineda is. By the way, if you’re not familiar with the Filipino singer’s story and how he became Journey’s lead vocalist, do yourself a favor and Google it. Of course, he’s not Steve Perry, but with his powerhouse vocals, the set was anything but some kind of Journey karaoke night.
Not only that, but decked out in all white, you couldn’t help but see Pineda as he traversed the stage – running all around it, back and forth, up and down, and fist bumping and high-fiving fans. He definitely brought the energy. Vocally, he came out of the gate strong, following “Only the Young” with “Be Good to Yourself” and “Stone in Love,” the first of six songs pulled from the band’s 1981 album Escape.
Now, that’s not to say that the rest of the band lacked enthusiasm. In fact, Schon was quite dazzling in multiple guitar solos and surprisingly smiley considering he’s currently being sued by a man he shares the stage with (that would be his near-original bandmate Cain).
Neal Schon and Arnel Pineda of Journey performing at Minute Maid Park on The Summer Stadium Tour.
Photo by Eric Sauseda
The Journey jukebox continued with “Ask the Lonely” and “Escape” before the band started slowing things down, first with “Who’s Crying Now” and then “Faithfully”, which was also dedicated to the armed forces and resulted in the first sighting of cell phone flashlights waving around the park. Some whiplash followed, with the band moving on to the significantly more rocking “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” and whiplash hit again following a solo from Cain that led into the band’s 1981 hit “Open Arms.” The power ballad gave way to an unpleasantly noisy section that included “Line of Fire” and “Dead or Alive.” Luckily, things righted themselves with “Wheel in the Sky,” but it was “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” that really had the crowd leaping to their feet and staying up for “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Any Way You Want It.”
Another 30 or so minutes later, and it was time for Def Leppard to close the show, and here’s where y’all need to explain yourself.
Joe Elliott of Def Leppard performing at Minute Maid Park on The Summer Stadium Tour.
Photo by Eric Sauseda
Judging by the attire of the fans in attendance, it seemed that Def Leppard was the crowd favorite. It was Def Leppard merch galore in there. And yet, you all seemed just a bit…quiet. One thing that’s not the audience’s fault is that, despite a 15-minute countdown to showtime (called the Pyro Clock), the band’s entrance felt quite abrupt, with Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, and Vivian Campbell suddenly just being there and launching into “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop).” But after the initial “oh, I guess we’re starting” feel wore off, it still seemed the crowd was still a little subdued – and it wasn’t the fault of the music or the musicianship.
Def Leppard is still riding high on the 40th anniversary of their iconic 1983 album Pyromania, and “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)” turned out to be the first of a total of seven tracks from that slick and shiny Mutt Lange-produced album. We got the balladry (“Foolin’” and “Too Late for Love”), the synth-y and anthemic (“Rock of Ages”), the classic rock-ish (“Billy’s Got a Gun” and “Die Hard the Hunter”) and the very pinnacle of pop-rock (“Photograph”).
Def Leppard performing at Minute Maid Park on The Summer Stadium Tour.
Photo by Eric Sauseda
Then there were the songs from the band’s 1987 album Hysteria, itself iconic, sprinkled throughout the set, including “Rocket,” “Armageddon It,” “Animal,” “Love Bites,” “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” Again, all big power chords and memorable hooks – more songs that are just as catchy as ever. Elliott’s recognizable voice is a treat, especially during his brief acoustic solo, and it’s a joy to hear Savage, Collen, and Campbell bring the vocal harmonies in their music to life. Campbell and Collen also put forth a masterclass on the guitar, while Savage’s bass line on “Switch 625” is as infectious as Allen’s drum solo is impressively exhausting.
Speaking of exhausting, the concert was about five hours long. Starting a show at 6 p.m. is obscene, but it’s ultimately a necessary evil as the show proved to be totally worth braving rush hour traffic to see.
Other scraps from the notebook…
Someone told Steve Miller about the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Someone needs to give the man a Space Cowboys T-shirt, stat.
The award for pandering goes to Journey. Cain in particular for bringing up the Astros’ two championships and then emerging from behind the keys with a jersey on, and also Pineda for changing the “south Detroit” lyric to Houston.
Set List
Steve Miller Band Swingtown Serenade The Stake Living in the U.S.A. Fly Like an Eagle Abracadabra Rock’n Me Jungle Love Take the Money and Run The Joker Jet Airliner
Journey Only the Young
Be Good to Yourself
Stone in Love
Ask the Lonely
Escape
Who’s Crying Now
Faithfully
Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
Open Arms
Line of Fire
Dead or Alive
Wheel in the Sky
Lights
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Don’t Stop Believin’
Any Way You Want It
Def Leppard
Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)
Rocket
Foolin’
Armageddon It
Animal
Love Bites
Just Like ’73
Billy’s Got a Gun
Too Late for Love
Die Hard the Hunter
Two Steps Behind
This Guitar
Bringin’ On the Heartbreak
Switch 625
Rock of Ages
Photograph
Hysteria
Pour Some Sugar on Me
Can you believe we’re already in the eighth month of 2024? We’re not quite yet at the end of the year, but it’s creeping up on us quickly! As summer concerts have come to a close, our post-concert depression has hit. If you’re experiencing the same thing, don’t worry. We’re here to help you cure your PCD with concerts like Def Leppard / Journey and Post Malone that will fill in the rest of your concert lineup.
Def Leppard / Journey: The Summer Stadium Tour
This tour has to be one of the most iconic tours ever! This past summer, Def Leppard and Journey teamed up on a stadium tour with openers Steve Miller Band and Cheap Trick. Attendees can expect five hours full of rock anthems, which, if you ask us, is a dream come true! The tour only has a few dates left so run, don’t walk for your chance to attend the remaining shows. Tickets are available for purchase, here.
If you’ve attended Coachella or Bonnaroo, Taking Back Sunday might sound familiar to you! Following the band’s performance at these festivals, they’ve kicked off the second leg of their North America Tour. If you’re into Pop Rock / Pop Punk, this tour will be a great time for you. If you can’t make one of these shows, you can also find them co-headlining with The Used this fall! Tickets for both tours are available for purchase, here.
Four Year Strong will be kicking off their fall headline tour on October 30th! This tour is the perfect fit for any fans of experimental pop punk music, their unique sound shines in ‘aftermath / afterthought’ and ‘uncooked.’ That same sound will undoubtedly be present in their new album analysis paralysis. The album is releasing on August 9th and is available for pre-save here. If you like what you hear, purchase tickets to the tour, here.
It’s no secret how much we love Post Malone here at the hive, so naturally, we had to mention his tour! He’s had a busy year, collaborating with Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, and more. We can’t wait to see what songs make the setlist and all the other fun things that come with touring! The tour will be kicking off on September 8th, and if you want to be there, tickets are available here.
Carrie Underwood’s Reflection: Las Vegas Residency
Carrie Underwood making history? We’re not surprised. She is the first-ever resident headliner at Resorts World Theatre and will have her next performance there on August 14th, running until October 26th. The chance to hear her hit songs like ‘Before He Cheats’ and ‘Blown Away’ is too much to resist. Can’t make these upcoming dates? No worries, you can also purchase tickets for March – April 2025 dates. If you’re like us and you need tickets, you can buy them here.
We could go on forever about all of the amazing upcoming tours but we won’t keep you. What’s your 2024 concert season looking like for the rest of the year? Will you be attending any of these shows? Tweet us @TheHoneyPop or find us buzzing on Facebook or Instagram to share your concert lineup!
As once prophesied, the wheel in the sky keeps turnin’ … out lawsuits for the current members of Journey. According to Bloomberg Law,keyboardist Jonathan Cain has sued co-founding guitarist Neal Schon for allegedly racking up an Anna Delvey–esque lifestyle of lavish spending that has made him an outlier within the band. Among the points of contention in the court filing: Schon has ignored a $1,500-per-night hotel-fee cap in favor of accommodations ten times the price, maxed out a credit card with a $1 million limit, excessively used private jets for travel, created an unnecessary security job for a close friend, and blocked efforts to pay debts and expenses associated with Journey’s ongoing summer tour. The lawsuit notes that this public animosity between Cain and Schon is “impacting the band’s reputation throughout the music industry” and “such negative publicity may potentially impact the band’s fan base.” Numerous crew members have also departed from the tour “because of such tensions.” (Meanwhile, Steve Perry is somewhere else minding his damn business.)
A similar lawsuit between the duo was waged in early 2023, when Cain alleged Schon’s spending problem was exacerbated by his wife — a woman who used to be a Real Housewife and once famously crashed a White House state dinner. At the time, it became so contentious that personal guards were hired to prevent the musicians from provoking each other when they weren’t performing. Maybe they just need to kick back and enjoy some peak TV.
Knowing your boundaries, as well as periodically revisiting and updating them, is part of a healthy self-care practice. You might have boundaries around your body, home, money, health, and relationships, but have you ever pondered spiritual boundaries?
FRESNO, Calif. — Robin McGehee made history becoming Fresno’s first LGBTQ+ liaison, as her pursuit for equal treatment continues in the face of politics.
“You have a choice in a moment of conflict that you can either just take it and, succumb to the conflict, which only builds resentment,” McGehee said. “It only is going to drive you more crazy. or you can decide that I’m going to do something about this. I want to be active. I want to stand up for myself.”
McGehee recalls her experience leading up to the 2008 Presidential Election, which had the controversial California ballot measure Proposition 8 go to voters. The measure would add language to the California Constitution that defined marriage as between one man and one woman.
“All I could think about is we need to organize and show them that we’re just like everyone else, that we need to be welcomed into this society,” McGehee said.
She remembers election night vividly.
“We lost Prop. 8 on the exact same night that Barack Obama won,” McGehee said. “So it was like a sucker punch. I had my hands up here, and then my belly was like in turmoil.”
The Fresno Bee interviewed that same week at a candlelight vigil that McGehee had organized at her church, the Wesley United Methodist Church.
That interview would be seen by the priest of the church. and create a domino effect that would lead McGehee down the path of community activism.
“I got a phone call from the principal and said that she was in tears. She was like, I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, but we’re going to have to remove you from the president of the PTA,” McGehee said.
In response, she pulled her son who was attending school at the church and severed ties completely.
“I swore I would never stop fighting until they felt as welcomed in the community as every other kid,” McGehee.
Joined by other frustrated parents, McGehee would organize a march onto the steps of Fresno City Hall called “Meet in the Middle.”
“The reason that was significant is because the mayor at the time was, Alan Autry,” McGehee said. “He was using the steps as a bully pulpit to speak out against our families.”
“I do believe that ‘Meet in the Middle’ showed the community, you’re not alone.”
McGehee would take her activism to the national level, co-directing the National Equality March that saw 250,000 people march in Washington D.C.
As well as founding the non-profit organization “GetEQUAL.” A group that advocated for LGBT social and political equality through confrontational but non-violent direct action.
“We highlighted the injustices. We brought attention to the bills that needed to be repealed…” McGehee said. “But we also brought attention to the fact that our movement is intersectional. We were arguing for trans rights early on, pushing different environments, about racial identity and not just being a white movement.”
The conversation about mental health has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Public figures, including celebrities and influencers, have become increasingly open about their struggles with mental health, particularly within the Black community.
In the process of answering these questions, clients may realize that they’re resourceful, creative, curious, or persistent—all strengths that can be useful for implementing new health habits. Your thoughts create your reality, so focusing on the positive (like your strengths and past successes) will set the groundwork for your well-being vision.
‘Life is what you ‘bake’ of it’: Woman shares journey from homelessness to owning a bakery
Updated: 3:59 AM PST Feb 25, 2024
BUSINESS, IT’S THE STORY OF A NEW ORLEANS WOMAN WHOSE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS IS ONE YOU’LL REMEMBER WELL. WDSU REPORTER SHAY O’CONNOR JOINS US WITH THE STORY OF A NEW MID-CITY BAKERY SHOP OWNER WHO WAS ON THE STREETS JUST YEARS AGO. THE OWNER OF NOLITA EXPLAINS WHY LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT. BAKING IS A LOT LIKE LIFE. IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PATIENCE TO GET THE BEST OUTCOME. AND THERE’S NO ONE WAY TO TRULY DO IT RIGHT. IT JUST HAPPENED. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT I LOVED THIS PROCESS, BUT IT IS SO. IT IS SO METICULOUS AND PARTICULAR AND BEAUTIFUL. FOR MARTHA GILREATH, THE OWNER OF NOLITA BAKERY IN MID-CITY. IF YOU WANT A GOOD RESULT, SHE SAYS, YOU HAVE TO TRUST THE PROCESS. I LIKE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. UM, AM AN ADDICT AND AN ALCOHOLIC, AND I LIVED WITH THAT FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I WAS SICK FOR, YOU KNOW, THE BETTER PART OF 16 YEARS. GILBERT’S ADDICTION TO HARD DRUGS AND ALCOHOL LED HER INTO HOMELESSNESS OFF AND ON FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS. AND I KNOW THAT AT SOME POINT YOU WERE HOMELESS. IF YOU COULD KIND OF TELL ME ABOUT, UM, HOW THAT HAPPENED, I THINK THAT IT DOESN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT’S GRADUAL. YOU STOP PAYING BILLS, YOU STAY IN A HOTEL ROOMS, YOU SLEEP ON OTHER PEOPLE’S COUCH. THE LONGER I WAS IN ACTIVE ADDICTION, THE MORE WILLING I WAS TO ACCEPT THINGS. AT ONE POINT, GILREATH LIVED UNDERNEATH THE CRESCENT CITY CONNECTION BRIDGE. FOR THE MOST PART, IT’S JUST SURVIVAL. UM, IT IS VERY SCARY, BUT I THINK AT THE TIME YOU’RE NOT AWARE OF ANY OF THAT BECAUSE YOU’RE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE. YOU’RE JUST TRYING TO GET RIGHT. JUST TRYING TO FIND MONEY, DO THE NEXT THING. BUT GILREATH SAYS GOD AND FATE WOULD INTERVENE IN 2019. UM, AND ONE OF MY FRIENDS I CALLED HER AND SHE PICKED UP THE PHONE AND I ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD COME GET ME AND SHE SAID, IF I GET IN THE CAR, WILL YOU STAY WHERE YOU ARE? AND I DIDN’T MOVE FROM THAT SPOT. SO I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ME WAS HELPING. AND SHE GOT ME AND I WENT BACK INTO TREATMENT. THIS TIME, RECOVERY WAS A LOT EASIER. MONTHS LATER, SHE APPLIED TO CULINARY SCHOOL AMID THE PANDEMIC. RIGHT HERE AT NOKI, LESS THAN A BLOCK AWAY FROM WHERE SHE ONCE LIVED. SHE GRADUATED VALEDICTORIAN OF HER CLASS. I OWE THEM A DEBT OF GRATITUDE. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REPAY BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, I HAVE NOT HAD DIRECTION IN MY LIFE SINCE I WAS PROBABLY 19 YEARS OLD, AND WHAT THEY ASKED OF ME PUSHED ME TO BE BETTER. UM, YOU KNOW, IT REQUIRED DISCIPLINE. IT REQUIRED REQUIRED FOLLOWING DIRECTION AND LISTENING TO OTHER PEOPLE, UM, PUSHING MYSELF THAT PUSH WAS THE LASTING ONE. I HAD TRIED TO GET SOBER BEFORE, AND I WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ASKED OF ME, OR I DIDN’T THINK THAT I HAD TO, UH, THIS TIME, I THINK IT WAS A MATTER OF REALIZING THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO DIE THIS WAY. YEARS LATER, HER BAKERY IS THRIVING HERE ALONG ORLEANS AVENUE. AFTER ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY LAST JULY, SHE WAS ABLE TO OPEN UP HER SHOP IN JANUARY, SHE SIGNALING A FRESH START TO THE YEAR AND HER LIFE. IT ALL HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. UM, MY SISTER, MY BIG SISTER DESIGNED THE SPACE. UM, I’VE HAD ONE BROTHER HELP ME WITH OFFICE WORK. ONE BROTHER. UH, DO WOODWORKING IN THIS SPACE. ANOTHER BROTHER HAS HELPED ME WITH BOOKS FOR THE CHILDREN’S LIBRARY. THIS. NOT TO MENTION AN AWESOME TEAM OF HELPERS AND CUSTOMERS THAT HELP MAKE WORK FUN OVER AT THE FRONT DOOR IN EVER GROWING COLLECTION OF ITEMS. DONATE BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS MARTHA GIVES THESE ITEMS TO THE UNHOUSED POPULATION ALMOST WEEKLY. IT’S GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE OUTSIDE. IT’S GOOD TO SEE THE KIDS TAKING BOOKS OUT OF THE LIBRARY. HER MESSAGE TO OTHERS WHO MAY FIND THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION SIMILAR TO HERS IS YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP. WHETHER WHETHER YOUR HARD TIMES ARE SOMETHING EXTREME, LIKE NEEDING TO GET SOBER, HOMELESSNESS OR YOUR HARD TIME IS. I DON’T KNOW HOW TO FIND A BANKER TO FINANCE MY DREAM. YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP. WE’RE NOT MEANT TO DO ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD ALONE. MORE THAN A HALF MILLION PEOPLE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS ACROSS AMERICA JUST LAST YEAR HERE IN NEW ORLEANS, THE POPULATION HAS BEEN GROWING, BUT LEADERS ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO OFFER THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES NEEDED. I SIT DOWN WITH THE DIRECTOR OF HOMELESS SERVICES ON HIS PLAN. YOU’LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS TOMORROW RIGHT HERE ON WDSU. EXCELLENT STORY THERE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MARTHA’S INSPIRATIONAL STORY, OR EVEN HOW YOU CAN DONATE ITEMS TO THE UNHOUSED POPULATION BY VISITING HER BAKERY
‘Life is what you ‘bake’ of it’: Woman shares journey from homelessness to owning a bakery
Updated: 3:59 AM PST Feb 25, 2024
From homelessness to running a business — it’s a story of a Louisiana woman whose journey you will remember.Our sister station WDSU has the story of a New Orleans bakery owner who was on the streets just years ago. The owner of Nolita, Martha Gilreath, explains why life is what you “bake” of it. Gilreath said she struggled with drugs and alcohol for “the better part of 16 years,” which led her to be living on the streets on and off for about 10 years. In 2019, she went into treatment for her addictions and saw success in the program. Amid her recovery, she applied to culinary school at the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute and graduated valedictorian.”I had tried to get sober before and I was not willing to do all of the things that were asked of me,” Gilreath said. “This time, I think it was a matter of realizing that I was not going to die this way.”Years later, her bakery is thriving in the Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans. Last July, she acquired the property for her bakery and opened in January.”It all happened very quickly. My big sister designed the space, I’ve had one brother help me with office work, one brother do woodworking in the space, another brother has helped me with books for the children’s library,” she said.In addition to a children’s library in the space, there is also a collection of items like clothes and toiletries at the front of the story. These items are donated by community members and Gilreath gives them to the unhoused population in the area almost weekly.She has a message for others who may find themselves in a situation similar to hers:”You have to ask for help. Whether your hard times are something extreme — needing to get sober, homelessness or your hard time is ‘I don’t know how to find a banker to finance my dream,’ you have to ask for help,” she said. “We’re not meant to do anything in the world alone.”
NEW ORLEANS —
From homelessness to running a business — it’s a story of a Louisiana woman whose journey you will remember.
Our sister station WDSU has the story of a New Orleans bakery owner who was on the streets just years ago.
The owner of Nolita, Martha Gilreath, explains why life is what you “bake” of it.
Gilreath said she struggled with drugs and alcohol for “the better part of 16 years,” which led her to be living on the streets on and off for about 10 years.
In 2019, she went into treatment for her addictions and saw success in the program. Amid her recovery, she applied to culinary school at the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute and graduated valedictorian.
“I had tried to get sober before and I was not willing to do all of the things that were asked of me,” Gilreath said. “This time, I think it was a matter of realizing that I was not going to die this way.”
Years later, her bakery is thriving in the Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans. Last July, she acquired the property for her bakery and opened in January.
“It all happened very quickly. My big sister designed the space, I’ve had one brother help me with office work, one brother do woodworking in the space, another brother has helped me with books for the children’s library,” she said.
In addition to a children’s library in the space, there is also a collection of items like clothes and toiletries at the front of the story. These items are donated by community members and Gilreath gives them to the unhoused population in the area almost weekly.
She has a message for others who may find themselves in a situation similar to hers:
“You have to ask for help. Whether your hard times are something extreme — needing to get sober, homelessness or your hard time is ‘I don’t know how to find a banker to finance my dream,’ you have to ask for help,” she said. “We’re not meant to do anything in the world alone.”
