West Windsor Arts and Art Against Racism, (both 501(c)(3) organizations, invite artists to submit artwork for “Not Afraid,” a juried exhibition of work that empowers artists to explore the intersection of identity and culture. It is open to all artists 16 years of age and older. All art must be original and new to West Windsor Arts. The deadline to submit art is December 9. There is a $5 entry fee for each work of art; each artist may submit up to three works.
https://www.towntopics.com/2025/11/26/call-for-art-not-afraid-juried-exhibition-at-wwa/
Tag Archives: organizations
“Nature of Scotland Awards 2025: Affric Highlands Reaps Success in Rewilding Efforts”
Affric Highlands, a collaborative effort to restore nature in the central Highlands of Scotland, has been awarded the Nature and Climate Action Award at the prestigious Nature of Scotland Awards 2025, organized by RSPB Scotland. The ceremony, held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on November 20th, brought together 53 award finalists from all over Scotland to celebrate their contributions to supporting Scotland’s wildlife and natural environment. The event was hosted by BBC Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams and BBC Scotland Landward presenter Arlene Stuart. The Nature of Scotland Awards recognize individuals and organizations making a difference in local communities, schools, and businesses to support wildlife and the environment. Affric Highlands, which brings together landowners, local communities, businesses, and partner organizations, aims to restore nature across more than 200, 000 hectares of the central Highlands. “We are deeply honored to receive this award,” said Stephanie Kiel, executive director of Rewilding Affric Highlands. “It recognizes the extraordinary commitment of our partners, landowners, and local communities who have embraced this vision for a healthier, more connected landscape.” The initiative, coordinated by charity Rewilding Affric Highlands, covers a vast area stretching from Loch Ness to Kintail, including Glens Affric, Cannich, Moriston, Shiel and Urquhart. Through peatland restoration, native woodland expansion, nature-friendly land management, and reconnection of ecological corridors, Affric Highlands is boosting biodiversity, tackling climate change, and creating long-term benefits for people who live and work in the area. According to Rewilding Affric Highlands, the collaborative approach is helping to secure the future of one of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes, while demonstrating the power of collaboration in achieving large-scale restoration for the benefit of wildlife, climate, and rural livelihoods. In a recent development, both the world-famous Glen Affric National Nature Reserve managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and the Barrisdale Estate have joined Affric Highlands, bringing the landscape’s growing partnership to 21 landowners, covering a combined total of more than 81, 000 hectares. Each landholding has signed a memorandum of understanding and is making its own decisions on nature restoration activities, with support and guidance from the Rewilding Affric Highlands team. The initiative is encouraging more landowners to join, as the Affric Highlands landscape aims to cover over 700 square miles and is mostly owned by 56 large estates. The Nature of Scotland Awards, delivered by RSPB Scotland and headline sponsor NatureScot, have been running for over a decade and aim to recognize and celebrate the passion and hard work of individuals and organizations working towards conservation and climate action. According to Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, the awards showcase the incredible conservation work happening in every corner of the country and thank the winners for their contributions. Professor Colin Galbraith, chair of awards headline sponsor NatureScot, also praised the award winners for their creativity, commitment, and achievements in helping nature and everyone across Scotland. Affric Highlands is a member of Rewilding Europe’s family of major European-wide flagship rewilding landscapes, which include Sweden’s Nordic Taiga and Italy’s Central Apennines. In April 2025, Rewilding Affric Highlands launched as an independent charity, having previously operated as a joint venture led by Trees for Life since 2021, with support from Rewilding Europe. This followed the initiative’s first three years as Trees for Life’s East-West Wild project, which involved extensive preparation and local consultation. For more details on Affric Highlands, please visit affrichighlands. org.
https://www.businessmole.com/nature-of-scotland-awards-2025-affric-highlands-reaps-success-in-rewilding-efforts/
Justin Haak tells The Post that NYCFC contract talks ‘getting better’ — but interest is growing elsewhere
Just The 24-year-old defender will become a free agent when NYCFC’s season concludes the club is in the middle of a playoff run, facing the Union on Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals but multiple reports have indicated that other organizations are starting to line up for his servives. Speaking with The Post at NYCFC’s training facility in Orangeburg, Haak revealed the conversations between the club and his reps. “Yeah, there have been talks that have been getting better here,” Haak said. “It started off slow, I would say, but since the season’s been going well as well, I feel like it’s picked up a little bit.” Haak is a shining example of NYCFC’s academy program, with the Brooklyn native becoming a big part of the club’s recent success and developing into one of the league’s top defenders. It’s part of the reason why he’s likely drawn such an interest from teams across the globe. Sixteen MLS teams have reached out to inquire about Haak’s services, and six clubs from the English Football League Championship, the country’s second division, amNewYork reported Thursday. NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen indicated that his focus was on the club’s upcoming playoff match on Sunday against Philadelphia when asked about the reports. “Personal interest about individual players or whatever they plan for the next season is irrelevant,” he said. Jansen and Haak have developed a strong relationship over the course of the gaffer’s first year with the club. Still among the teams mentioned that have shown interest in Haak, both Coventry City and Middlesbrough have been mentioned as both clubs could be looking at a promotion to the Premier League, depending on the way things shake out this season for them. Haak said Thursday that he was aware of his contract situation when the season began and has been focused on just playing his best on the pitch. He has appeared in 35 matches for NYCFC this season, recording a goal and being one of 10 players in MLS to log more than 3, 000 minutes. He’s also been one of the best ball movers in the league, completing 1, 747 passes, good for 16th-best in MLS. While Haak said that he’s been in regular communication with his reps, the message has always been the same. “Throughout the season, there’s been a bunch of talks going on, but it’s always been that I just need to do my job on the field,” he said. “That’s always been my biggest focus and they’ll take care of the rest.”.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/21/sports/justin-haak-tells-the-post-nycfc-contract-talks-getting-better/
PennWest Cal Hosts Holiday Drives Throughout Campus
As the holidays approach, many families face the stress of providing food, clothing, and gifts for their loved ones. Relief may come from community partners, food banks, and often, donation drives. Senior Ahmiya Edwards, a Psychology major, has started a “stay warm” drive, collecting coats, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, and throw blankets. “I chose to donate these items to the Light of Life Rescue Mission,” Edwards said. “I’ve spread the word on my social media and talked about how everyone needs a little help and that helping people changes you for the better,” she said. Edwards felt she was called to help this holiday season. “Many people can’t provide for themselves, and I feel that my role on this earth is to help those who are struggling. (I saw) families out in the cold with not really a lot of things that can keep them warm,” she said. She also acknowledged that members of her own college community may be struggling. “Anyone on campus can feel free to take what they need if they’re in need of it,” Edwards added. Although Edwards is graduating, “I do plan to make this an annual thing; I will be doing it in my hometown, but I will also be recruiting a freshman to continue it on campus,” she said. “My goal is to make it a foundation so it can be expanded in the future.” The warm clothes drive will be running until the end of the fall semester (Dec. 12), and people will be able to drop donations in boxes in the lobbies of all four dorm buildings. “I feel it’s important for students to donate during the holiday season because most of us can give back and keep people warm,” Edwards said. Edwards isn’t the only one collecting donations several other PennWest California clubs and organizations are offering drives for students and faculty to donate to.
https://www.caltimes.org/11870/news/pennwest-cal-hosts-holiday-drives-throughout-campus/
The Decisions You Don’t Know You’re Making: QCon Keynote Explores Hidden Choices in Engineering
Engineering teams make their most consequential decisions not in architecture reviews or sprint planning, but through invisible choices embedded in metrics, defaults, and everyday behaviors. In their QCon San Francisco 2025 keynote, Shawna Martell and Dan Fike challenged the industry’s focus on documented decision-making while the decisions that truly shape systems and culture go unrecognized. The talk invited engineering leaders to ask uncomfortable questions: What behaviors do our CI/CD pipeline speeds actually incentivize? Which defaults have we inherited without examination? What are we measuring, and what behaviors does that measurement reward? For organizations struggling with poor outcomes or culture issues that seem disconnected from technical choices, the hidden decision analysis offers a new lens. Rather than prescribing solutions, the speakers offered a diagnostic framework for recognizing hidden decisions. Their approach echoes broader industry conversations about Architecture Decision Records. The key insight: hidden decisions can be named and examined once teams learn to identify them. Hidden behaviors and choices have a broad impact on the engineering work we eventually see “Sometimes, as engineers, the right decision for us is not to build,” they said. The hidden decision to build implicitly accepts the costs and risks of building and maintaining something new. As developers, we often love to solve problems with code. But we never stop to ask ourselves, “Is this the correct solution?” when, many times, it isn’t. The problem, they explain, is that engineering organizations measure outcomes such as features shipped or system uptime but rarely examine the decision quality that produced those results. This phenomenon creates a dangerous blind spot where teams optimize for the wrong things without realizing it. Examples of metrics that, when measured, can drive the wrong behavior The speakers illustrated their thesis with CI/CD pipelines. When pipelines run slowly, engineers aren’t just waiting longer for builds to complete. They start exhibiting behaviours like bundling PRs together. As a result, instead of having small, manageable PRs, we have massive changes that are harder to review, rubber-stamped approvals, and deteriorating quality. Per the speakers, we should ask ourselves, “What behaviours do we want to incentivise, and how can our tooling support that?”. The speakers then termed “the default trap.” Teams accept defaults and act on them whether they consciously accept them or not. They cited an example of a team that decided to build its own platform instead of using an existing one within the organization, even though the existing one already solved a similar problem, simply because the default in that organization was for every team to own its own stack. In this case, team ownership became the “default” and was not challenged until Martell explicitly called it out. “We need to name the defaults to be able to explicitly accept or reject them as required”. The most insidious hidden decisions emerge from metric selection. The speakers described how, during an architectural change, measuring events sent to Kafka led to massive unnecessary traffic because teams optimized for the metric rather than the underlying need. “Most events were not even required,” they explained. Similarly, measuring career progress through title changes obscures the real decision about career strategy-whether engineers are actually making progress in a direction that makes sense for them. Engineers build skills that lead to specialization, which builds their reputation and the value they provide, which in turn determines their roles, until changing direction becomes risky. “Once you’re building that view of yourself, deciding to change is risky,” and so identifying these hidden decisions in real time is even more crucial.
https://www.infoq.com/news/2025/11/hidden-decisions/?utm_term=global
With Big Ten $2.4B deal looming, lawmaker asks questions about tax-exempt status of college sports
A lawmaker skeptical of the Big Ten’s proposed $2. 4 billion deal with a private investor has requested a Congressional analysis of the tax consequences for the NCAA, its schools and conferences in the changing college sports industry. “Legitimate questions have been raised about whether it is time to rethink the tax-exempt regime under which college sports currently operates,” Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., wrote in a letter Monday to the head of the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. Last month, Cantwell sent a letter to Big Ten leaders warning that deals with private investors could have negative consequences, including impacting the schools’ tax-exempt status. Her letter Monday asked for a more detailed look at how a number of changes impacting college sports could impact the longstanding tax-exempt standing held by those who oversee college athletics. Among the questions from Cantwell, who is the ranking member on the Senate committee that oversees college sports, were: Whether Congress should consider rewriting tax rules for name, image and likeness collectives that work with schools to provide payments to players. She cited other analysis that has determined collectives don’t qualify as tax-exempt organizations. If there were measures Congress should consider “with respect to addressing excessive compensation for coaches” and the size of their buyouts. The tax implications for athletes if they are classified as employees or independent contractors. The timing comes at a key moment for the Big Ten, which is facing resistance from the universities of Michigan and Southern California over a proposed $2. 4 billion deal that would break off the league’s media rights and other properties and place them in a separate business that could negotiate deals through 2046. Among the reservations Michigan and USC leaders have expressed about the deal are an uneven distribution of the funds from the deal and the overall impact of joining with a private investor. “We greatly value our membership in the Big Ten Conference and understand and respect the larger landscape,” USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen wrote in letter to boosters last week. “But we also recognize the power of the USC brand is far-reaching, deeply engaging, and incredibly valuable, and we will always fight first for what’s best for USC.” In her letter last month to the Big Ten leaders, Cantwell spelled out the stakes of selling part of the conference’s media rights. “Your university’s media revenues currently are not taxed because they are considered ‘substantially related to’ your tax-exempt purpose,” she wrote. “However, when a private, for-profit investor holds a stake in those revenues it raises questions whether the revenue loses its connection to your institution’s educational purpose.” ___ AP college sports:.
https://ktar.com/national-news/with-big-ten-2-4b-deal-looming-lawmaker-asks-questions-about-tax-exempt-status-of-college-sports/5778145/
25 Great Jobs for Retired Teachers That Suit Your Skills
Are you looking for a new career or a side hustle after retiring as a teacher? If your retirement plans include finding new things to do, there are many excellent jobs for retired teachers waiting for you. Retired teachers are some of the world’s most intelligent and passionate people. And while some may choose to spend their golden years relaxing, others may want to find ways other than teaching careers to stay active, productive, and engaged. You can use or build on the qualifications, skills, and knowledge from decades of your teaching career. Or go on a completely different track, doing work you may have set aside or postponed while you were a teacher. Either way, many opportunities and low-stress jobs after retirement are available for you. If you’re a retired teacher searching for a new job, here are 25 job opportunities to consider. Jobs for Retired Teachers Work From Home 1. Surveys Survey jobs can be flexible, allowing retirees to work from home on their schedule. And because surveys provide valuable data that businesses and organizations rely on, retirees can feel good knowing that their work is helping to inform critical decisions. Check out these apps and websites that offer paid surveys. Swagbucks. A rewards program that lets you earn points by taking surveys, browsing the web, shopping online, and doing other microtasks. Sign up with Swagbucks for free and convert your points into gift cards or cash-backs. Here’s our full Swagbucks review. Rakuten. If you want cashback while shopping at over 3, 500 stores, check out Rakuten to save some shopping money. Read our full Rakuten review here. InboxDollars. Making money can’t get any easier with InboxDollars. Sign up, take the surveys and different online tasks, and earn extra cash. For more details, go to our full InboxDollars review. Survey Junkie. Earn extra cash with Survey Junkie by completing online surveys or sharing your data. Get paid with gift cards or cash through Paypal. Read our full Survey Junkie review for more information. However, it’s essential to be aware of some potential drawbacks of survey work. For instance, surveys can sometimes be repetitive and tedious, and the pay can be low. 2. Proofreading Proofreading involves reading through a text and correcting grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. While it may sound easy, it’s challenging, even more so when the text is long or complex. But for those with a sharp eye for detail, proofreading can be a fun and rewarding way to earn money. With many people working from home, there’s more demand than ever for quality online proofreaders. If you are serious about becoming a proofreader, a useful course would be Proofread Anywhere, a popular training by Caitlin Pyle. Caitlin made over $36,000 per year part-time as a proofreader, attesting to this job’s high-income potential. Try out her completely FREE workshop and learn how to start proofreading and where to find clients. FREE WORKSHOP SIGN ME UP 3. Transcription Retired teachers looking for a new job may want to consider transcription. Transcription is the process of converting spoken words into written form, and it can be a great way to stay mentally active in retirement. Many transcription jobs are available, from court reports to medical transcripts. And because you can do transcription work from anywhere, it’s an excellent option for retired teachers who want to travel or work from home. So, transcription could be the perfect fit if you’re looking for a new way to use your skills in retirement. You may consider GoTranscript in looking for transcription jobs from home. Read the full GoTranscript review for more details about the platform. Start Making Money Online 4. Blogger If you’re a retired teacher or thinking about retirement, there are plenty of opportunities to remain in touch with the education field. One option is to start an educational blog, and you can focus on a particular subject or write about various topics. You can also write for a specific age group or educators of all levels. Whatever you decide, make sure your blog is full of helpful information that teachers will appreciate. If you want to start your educational blog, Bluehost is a cheap option for beginners as your hosting platform. ✨ Start My Blog Today 5. Freelance Writer If you’re ready to start your next chapter, why not try freelance writing? There are many different types of writing jobs available for freelancers, so you can choose projects that interest you. Whether you’re writing articles, blog posts, or even social media content, there’s sure to be a freelancing opportunity perfect for you. You can also try platforms like FlexJobs, Fiverr, and Upwork. There are plenty of new jobs posted on those sites every day. 6. Data Entry There are several reasons why data entry jobs are well-suited for retirees. First, they can be done at one’s own pace, allowing retired workers to take their time and avoid rushed mistakes. Second, most data entry jobs can be done from home, letting retirees work around their other commitments. Finally, many data entry jobs require minimal training, making them relatively easy to learn. If you’re retired and looking for a way to stay busy, consider giving data entry a try. 7. Course Creation Have you ever considered creating an online course based on your subject of specialization? It’s a great way to use your knowledge and expertise and can also be a great source of income-especially if you’re a retired teacher. You can work from home, set your hours, and control the content of your course. In addition, you’ll be able to reach a global audience of students who might not otherwise have access to your expertise. So, if you’re looking for an exciting and rewarding way to spend your retirement, try creating an online course. Jobs for Retired Teachers School-Related Jobs 8. Tutor For those who recently got out of their teaching jobs, you might find tutoring a nice alternative. Tutoring jobs for retired teachers usually entail working with students on a one-to-one basis, although some tutors also work with small groups. You can do online tutoring in Math or Science. You can also teach a foreign language or English as a Second Language (ESL) to online pupils on a per-hour basis. Suppose you want to work overseas and have Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), or similar English teaching certifications. In that case, you can also teach English abroad or at international schools. There is also a growing demand for tutors who can help with test preparation, such as the SAT or ACT. In addition to working with students, tutors often collaborate with parents and teachers to develop lesson plans and assess student progress. 9. Substitute Teacher Working as a substitute or a part-time teacher can be the perfect way for retired educators to stay connected to the world of education without all the stress that comes with working full-time. Substitute teaching opportunities for former school teachers are generally easier to come by than full-time positions, and the hours are usually more flexible. And while the pay is not as much as a full-time salary, becoming a substitute teacher can still be an excellent way to supplement your income in retirement. 10. Research Assistant Another option is to become a research assistant (RA). RAs work with professors and other researchers to help with data collection and analysis. A background in education makes retired teachers ideal candidates for this type of work. 11. Librarian Looking for a job that could be perfect for retirees? Become a librarian. You need to have a passion for books and knowledge and be able to share that passion with others. Other qualifications for librarians include being patient and organized, as they often deal with many books and people. But most importantly, they need to be good communicators since they will be working with people of all ages and backgrounds. 12. Test Marker If you want to stay busy after years of being an educator and earn extra income, you’re in luck! Different schools hire retired teachers to work as test markers, and it is a perfect job for those who want to stay connected to the education field but want to avoid the commitment of full-time teaching. As a test marker, you will mark standardized tests and provide student feedback; you will be asked to grade learners’ assignments. It is a great way to stay sharp and use your expertise to help others. 13. Teaching Material Provider You can become a teaching material provider after you work as a teacher. You’ll create and deliver educational content to schools and teachers in this job, including lesson plans, worksheets, assessments, and instructor manuals. In many cases, you’ll also be required to provide support and guidance to teachers of your materials. As such, you must understand the education system and your employers’ needs well. 14. Exam Coder You would be responsible for creating and administering examinations as an exam coder. It would involve developing exam questions, coding them, and then grading them. You would also be responsible for maintaining examination records and results. To become an exam coder, you’ll need to be familiar with coding languages such as Java and C++. Then, you’ll need to be able to work independently and meet deadlines. And finally, you should be able to handle a high volume of work. 15. Laboratory Technician Working with students in a lab setting can be very rewarding. You’ll get to help them with their experiments, and you’ll also get to teach them the importance of safety in the lab. Most importantly, you’ll see the excitement in their eyes when they make a discovery. If you have retired from teaching and looking for a new challenge, consider becoming a laboratory technician. Jobs for Retired Teachers Teaching-Related Skills 16. Career Advisor/Consultant With your teaching experience and expertise, you can easily find a job as a career advisor or consultant. In this career path, you’ll help people choose suitable careers for their skills and interests. You can guide them in resume writing, interviewing, and job search strategies. In addition, you’ll be able to share your insight and advice on teaching and related professions. 17. School Guidance Counselor A job option for retired teachers is to become a school guidance counselor. Guidance counselors help students plan their studies, select colleges and find scholarships and financial aid. They also provide counseling and support to students struggling with personal issues or at risk of dropping out of school. While the job of a guidance counselor can be demanding, it can also be gratifying. 18. Teacher Recruitment Specialist The recruitment process is excellent if you want to work in education but not as a teacher or administrator. Teacher recruitment specialists recruit suitable people for schools with additional training and support available. As an experienced teacher who has gone through all these hiring processes-from finding your first teaching position to negotiating salaries and benefits packages-you will know what it takes! So, it might be perfect for you to try being a teacher recruiter. 19. Instructional Coach Being an instructional coach is one of the best jobs for retired teachers. Retired teachers can act as teaching coaches with years of experience in the field and provide valuable insights and guidance to new teachers or struggling educators on teaching effectively. An instructional coach allows one to stay involved in the education community while enjoying a flexible schedule. Since you can also do many coaching positions remotely, it’s a great way to stay connected with colleagues across the country. 20. Textbook Author Are you thinking about becoming a textbook author? It’s an excellent job for retired teachers! You get to share your knowledge with the next generation of students, and you also get to work from home and set hours. And, with today’s technology, you can even format and publish your books! 21. Educational Consultant Fortunately, several jobs for retired teachers can be financially and personally rewarding. One option is to become an educational consultant, where you could use your expertise to help other educators improve their teaching methods and student outcomes. It could involve conducting workshops, writing articles or books, or providing one-on-one coaching. 22. Corporate Training Undoubtedly, corporate training can be a valuable asset for any business. After all, it helps to ensure that employees are up-to-date on the latest skills and knowledge. Many retired teachers find corporate training the perfect way to stay active and engaged in their later years. Not only does it provide a much-needed sense of purpose, but it also offers an excellent opportunity to share their wealth of knowledge on specific topics with the next generation of workers. 23. Human Resources Human resources is a field that deals with employee recruitment, selection, and training, and it also deals with the development and management of employee benefits programs. Retired teachers often have the necessary skills and experience to be successful in this field. They are familiar with guiding, training, and evaluating students. They are often excellent communicators and have strong people skills. Jobs for Retired Teachers Other Side Hustles 24. Babysitting For many retirees, babysitting conjures images of frazzled parents and screaming children. However, jobs for retired teachers are often in high demand, as parents appreciate the experience and patience that comes with years of teaching. Set clear expectations with the parents about your availability and rates. A good understanding of child development and basic first aid is also essential. Also, patience is essential-even well-behaved children can have their moments. But if you like children and are up for the challenge, babysitting can be a rewarding way to spend your retirement hours. 25. Private Nanny Private nannies are in high demand, especially in larger cities where parents often have demanding jobs and schedules. While the position of a nanny is to care for children, it also requires patience, creativity, and the ability to think on one’s feet. For these reasons, many nannies are retired teachers with years of experience working with children. In addition to providing care and supervision, private nannies often serve as confidantes and sounding boards for parents. They are someone who parents can trust to give honest feedback and advice. So, private nannies play a vital role in the lives of many families. If you do not find the above options appealing and still want to find a job that suits your preferences, you can sell your skills as a freelancer and find various job postings at Fiverr, FlexJobs, and Upwork. Just highlight your marketable teaching credentials, create a smashing resume, and list your profile on these online job platforms. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Jobs for Retired Teachers At What Age Do Most Teachers Retire? Teachers usually retire between 55 to 60. With an early retirement option down to 55 years old, some may be looking for another career, an additional source of income, or simply flexible work now that they have time to do what they enjoy while collecting a pension. Are Teachers’ Pensions Paid for Life? Teachers will receive a pension after retirement. This is based on their years of service and their salary at the end of their retirement. What State Has the Best Teacher Retirement? South Carolina has the best teacher retirement plan in the United States. The quality of benefits offered to school teachers for their retirement plan far outweighs any other plans that are being offered now. Conclusion Jobs for Retired Teachers If, after years of teaching, you find the prospect of not working after retirement unpleasant, the job openings listed above would give you ideas on how to enjoy your golden years while still earning an income, whether as a new career or a part-time gig. Whatever you choose, your experience and skills as a teacher will undoubtedly be marketable, if not in high demand, in today’s online work mode and gig economy. With a job you want, done on your own schedule, terms, and at your own pace, your retirement years can be enjoyable, lucrative, and still full of possibilities and growth. Related reads:.
https://radicalfire.com/jobs-for-retired-teachers/
East Texas cities celebrate holiday season with parades and more local traditions
Editor’s Note: This is one of multiple stories in ETX View’s 2025 November/December Holiday issue that published Nov. 15. To read more stories and view the full digital edition, visit our ETX View homepage. East Texas has a special aura all year long, but its communities really come alive during the holiday season to become a magical place of wonder. From Christmas parades to the lighting of Kilgore’s oil derricks, the cities and towns across the region come together to celebrate the season in a big way each one a little bit unique. Tyler In Tyler, the annual Rose City Christmas Parade is a beloved tradition that residents have enjoyed for decades. This year, a monumental change is in store as the parade will be held at an all-new location. “New year, new location, same Christmas magic,” organizers say, as the parade moves from downtown Tyler to Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. A three-year construction project in downtown Tyler means ongoing road closures, construction equipment and more in the area the parade has called home for so many years. Organized by the city’s four Rotary International Clubs, members say the parade still promises to impress. Set to begin at 6: 30 p. m. Thursday, Dec. 4, the parade will line up on West Houston Street and go west to Fair Park Drive. Parade participants will begin staging at the Railroad Tracks on West Houston Street, but may be requested to stage at a different location based on entry type. The parade will continue onto Fair Park Drive before taking a left into the stadium parking lot and left onto the track around Earl Campbell Field. The parade will exit right into the stadium parking lot before taking a left going west on Fair Park Drive. The parade will continue North on Fair Park Drive to exit and complete the route. Public organizations, bands, and other groups will participate in the highly-anticipated “United For Good”-themed parade sponsored by South Tyler Rotary, Sunrise Rotary, The Rotary Club of Tyler, and the Tyler Food Bank Rotary Club. Like every other year, this year’s parade is expected to be Tyler’s most attended tradition to usher in the holiday season. The parade will feature Santa Claus and be followed by the Rose City Christmas Drone Show, visible from the stadium. Spectators can view the parade by parking or sitting along the parade route for free, but those who wish to sit inside the stadium will need to pay $1 or provide one canned food item. All proceeds and donations will go to the East Texas Food Bank. After the Rose City Christmas Parade, participants are invited to shift from the stadium to the W. T. Brookshire Center to enjoy the City of Tyler’s 40th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The tree-lighting ceremony, typically held on the downtown square, also had to be relocated this year due to construction. The square has been demolished to make way for a newly designed space. Longview The streets of downtown Longview will be sparkling with dazzling floats and cheery smiles awaiting the Longview AMBUCS Annual Christmas Parade, set for 6: 30 p. m. Thursday, Dec. 6. (If the parade happens to get rained out, it will be held Dec. 9 instead). Organized by AMBUCS, the City of Longview and Downtown Longview, the parade will feature marching bands, floats and an appearance by Santa himself. Food trucks will be on site. The parade route travels through downtown Longview, primarily on Whaley and Methvin streets. It’ll start at the intersection of Whaley and Green streets, moving west along Whaley before it turns south on Harney Street then east on Methvin, where it will conclude at the intersection with N. Third Street. Paradegoers are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, and their Christmas spirit for this beloved Longview tradition. Kilgore Kilgore will be full of holiday cheer this season. To kick off the season, A Very Derrick Christmas will be held beginning at 5 p. m. Thursday, Nov. 13. The stars atop the city’s oil derricks will be lit at 7 p. m. creating a magically bright and colorful display downtown to last through the holiday season. During this event, downtown Kilgore will be filled with vendors, activities for the kids, entertainment by the Kilgore College Rangerettes and much more. Then from 6 to 9 p. m., the city will hold its Mingle and Jingle, during which downtown stores will stay open after-hours to allow shoppers to grab some deals while supporting the local economy. Kilgore’s 94th annual Christmas Parade is set for 6: 30 p. m. Dec. 2 in the town’s historic downtown center. Dozens and dozens of decorated floats will flood the streets, Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to appear, and a good time is sure to be had by all. Marshall Marshall has been named one of the 10 most magical Christmas towns in Texas, and for good reason. The city’s annual Wonderland of Lights is definitely worth a visit. An opening ceremony will kick off the festivities Nov. 26, followed by the Christmas parade at 6 p. m. Dec. 6. The city’s Main Street organization will host a variety of themed events throughout late November into December downtown such as an ice rink, Christmas carols, Santa sightings and much more. Gladewater Gladewater Chamber will host the Sounds of Christmas Open House from 5 to 7: 30 p. m. Saturday, Nov. 8 featuring late-night shop hours, kids activities, food trucks and a visit from Mr. Claus. The city’s tree lighting will be held that night at 6 p. m. in downtown historic Gladewater. The city’s Christmas parade is set for 5 p. m. Dec. 13. Gilmer Gilmer is the place ‘yule’ want to be on Dec. 6. The annual Yulefest is an all-day event, beginning with Breakfast with Santa sessions at both 8 a. m. and 9: 30 a. m. (tickets are required). More festivities will be held throughout the day before the annual Yulefest Parade, which is set for 6 p. m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The parade starts heading south on Titus Street, then it’ll take a right and head west on Buffalo. Be sure to make time for the annual tree lighting, held at 6 p. m. Nov. 20 at the Gilmer Civic Center. Hallsville Hallsville’s Christmas parade, organized by the Lions Club, will be held at 6: 30 p. m. Tuesday, Dec. 2. The parade starts on Tex Hatley Parkway then proceeds East on Highway 80 before turning left downtown onto North Central Street, where it ultimately concludes at the Hallsville City Park. The parade will be immediately followed by the Light Up the Park Celebration event, which features the annual tree lighting, pictures with Santa and more. Lindale The 13th annual Christmas in Lindale event is set for Saturday, Dec. 6 with a lineup of activities. Locals can head to Picker’s Pavillion at Blackberry Square, which will be transformed into a winter wonderland, for a Christmas festival set for 1 to 5 p. m. The parade will start to line up at Pepperell Primary School at 5 before officially starting at 5: 30 p. m. at Park Avenue. Athens This year’s Athens Christmas Parade, hosted by the city and Athens Chamber of Commerce, will be held at 6: 30 p. m. Saturday, Dec. 6 with a theme of “Sounds of Christmas.” Bullard Bullard is a special, cozy town year-round but Magic on Main makes the town really feel like a dreamy Hallmark movie. Join the city from 6 to 9 p. m. Friday, Dec. 5 for the start of two days of winter fun in front of Bullard City Hall. The first night will feature an evening filled with fun, food, vendors, shopping, kids activities, free pictures with Santa and of course, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting which is set for 6: 30 p. m. The annual Christmas parade, hosted in partnership with the city and Bullard Chamber of Commerce, returns at 5: 45 p. m. Saturday, leading up to a Movie on Main featuring a Christmas-themed movie at 7: 30 p. m. on the greenbelt in front of city hall (114 S. Phillips St.). Admission is free but attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. Whitehouse Christmas on Main in Whitehouse is something residents cherish each year. One of the most anticipated events is the free ice skating rink, which will be open from 3 to 7 p. m. Dec. 5 and 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Dec. 6 at 309 E. Main St. A holiday market will be held in that same location from 9 a. m to 5 p. m. Saturday, Dec. 6, featuring all sorts of fun activities, vendors, food and more. The parade will begin at 3: 30 p. m. with decorated floats, marching bands, local organizations and businesses and much more. Find a place to park and sit or bring your chairs for a front-row seat and enjoy the show. Jacksonville Jacksonville’s Christmas parade is scheduled for 6 p. m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at 307 E. Commerce St. in Jacksonville. The parade route starts at South Bolton/Commerce and goes to the Tomato Bowl, taking a left on Austin Street then another left on Wilson Street. Liberty City With a theme of “Favorite Christmas Movie,” there should be an exciting lineup of floats in this year’s Liberty City Christmas Parade set for 2: 30 p. m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Floats could be decorated based on movies like Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf, A Christmas Story, Rudolph, It’s a Wonderful Life, the Grinch, Home Alone and much more. The parade begins at the intersection of Old Highway 135 and FM 1252, heading south to Interstate 20. Jefferson Jefferson is one of the best places to spend Christmas, as the city really comes alive with seasonal spirit this time of year. One of the best events is the annual parade, which is set to begin at 6 p. m. Nov. 29, followed by a grand finale an enchanting tree lighting ceremony at 6: 30 p. m. at Lions Park on Jefferson St. Henderson Henderson’s annual Downtown Christmas Parade is scheduled for Dec. 4 at 6 p. m. Enjoy town spirit and seasonal cheer during this special tradition.
https://news-journal.com/2025/11/17/east-texas-cities-celebrate-holiday-season-with-parades-and-more-local-traditions/
‘It’s a basic human right to be warm’: Worcester County Sheriff’s Office kicks off annual coat drive
WORCESTER, MASS. (WHDH) — The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and Worcester County Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s Association are keeping the community warm this year with their annual Winter Coat Drive, which began on Thursday.
During the first weeks of November, Sheriff Lew Evangelidis and his team will distribute thousands of coats directly to local service organizations and community members in need.
“Especially, it breaks your heart when you see kids and people like that in need of these, so I’m really proud that I work with such a generous group of people and a generous community that wants to keep people warm,” said Evangelidis. “It’s a basic, basic human right to be warm in the winter.”
The Sheriff’s Office aims to distribute 4,000 brand-new, warm winter coats to those in need, helping them stay comfortable throughout the cold months.
The coat drive also symbolizes the support and care from local law enforcement to the community during the winter season.
https://whdh.com/news/its-a-basic-human-right-to-be-warm-worcester-county-sheriffs-office-kicks-off-annual-coat-drive/
DAN GAINOR: The 5 craziest stories of October — from Karine Jean-Pierre to PETA plaques
We have passed the spooky season of silly “No Kings” protests and whines about White House renovations. Halloween marks the start of one of our favorite times of year: eating. The three biggest food holidays all land within two months.
Halloween came right after an event commemorating the recently departed revolutionary Assata Shakur, the former member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army who escaped a New Jersey prison to Cuba 46 years ago. In other words, another cop killer.
According to the New York Times’ loving farewell to Shakur, she murdered “state trooper Werner Foerster, who was killed, and another, James Harper, who was wounded.” Notice a trend? You should. Shakur died in September, or I’d dwell more on the media’s love fest for her. Watching Zirin lament the poor health of “the country’s best-known political prisoner” was bad enough. For the record, I lament his health, too, just not in the same way.
### Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
If you travel the back roads of the United States, you will encounter oddities: large monuments to furniture, trolls, a giant elephant, and even Carhenge (just what you think it is; Stonehenge is better). Count wacky museums in that list.
But we are losing one—Leila’s Hair Museum in Missouri. Alas, Leila Cohoon died at 92, and now they are “rehoming the collection of more than 3,000 pieces to museums across the country,” according to the Associated Press.
The AP describes the hair art coming from “past presidents, Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe, and even Jesus” (that last one, I kind of doubt). Hair art used to be how people remembered loved ones or captured keepsakes of famous people. The museum also drew the attention of celebrities from comedian Phyllis Diller to Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne.
It’s good to see other museums taking on these unusual memories, but that’s one less cool roadside stop.
### When You’ve Lost the Washington Post
Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made the news in October—and not in a good way. She should be used to that after an inauspicious term in her role, covering for President Joe Biden’s obvious dementia.
“KJP,” as she is sometimes called, has a new book out, *Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America*. In World Series terms, she whiffed on all three. Don’t wait to buy your copy.
Even the Washington Post had unkind words for it. Book critic Becca Rothfeld wrote a lead 190 words long with six semicolons and two em dashes. She complained that KJP had only given up on the Democratic Party because it helped “usher a doddering Joe Biden out of the 2024 presidential race.”
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https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/dan-gainor-5-craziest-stories-october-from-karine-jean-pierre-peta-plaques