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Business booms at Montgomery's Perennial restaurant after NYT honor
A local Montgomery restaurant built on sustainability has seen an overwhelming uptick in business since being named to the The New York Times Restaurant List for 2026.
Public health report: Inspectors find critical violations at eight restaurants in August
Health Department inspectors found minor health violations at nearly half of the 73 restaurants, stores, hotel, and other locations they inspected in
Jeffrey Adams, an established restaurateur's first business, is closing after 14 years
Jeffrey Adams on Fourth, an upscale New American restaurant in downtown Winston-Salem, closes after 14 years due to financial challenges.
Entertainment-Booking Startup Ande Raises $52 Million From Lightspeed, Redpoint
Personal AI agents like Instinct and Muse have promised to take away the hassle of booking hard-to-get restaurant reservations, Broadway tickets and sporting events. Now, a startup is coming out of stealth to do the same for corporate entertainment—events, group dining, catering, sporting events ...
Wendy’s moves to take 314 restaurants from bankrupt Meritage
Wendy’s terminated Meritage Hospitality Group’s franchise agreements for 314 restaurants, citing about $147 million in unpaid royalties and fees.
Is 50 the new 60?
Subscribe TL;DR: Younger generations are showing signs of worse health compared to earlier-born cohorts at the same age This backward “drift” is showing up both in mortality risk and chronic disease Worsening trends in obesity and diabetes are the most consistent signals Taking the long view, we’ve made astonishing gains in health and life expectancy in the last century. Global average life expectancy has more than doubled from 32 years in 1900 to 73 years in 2024. (But don’t forget, there were still old people when life expectancy was 32). As people lived longer, they also generally lived healthier along the way. It turns out that avoiding things that can kill you early, like malnutrition and lots of childhood infections, also keeps you healthier later in life. In a classic 2004 paper, Finch and Crimmins proposed that cohorts of children who benefited from fewer early life infections had less lifetime exposure to inflammation and cardiovascular disease later in life, accelerating mortality improvements at older ages. Poor nutrition in the womb has also been linked to a higher risk of later chronic disease. The upshot is that improvements in childhood health can pay dividends many decades later. The combination of better living conditions (nutrition, sanitation) and medical advances (antibiotics, vaccines, blood pressure meds, etc) meant that people’s healthy lifespan generally expanded, even as they lived longer. Aging researchers call this best-case scenario “compression of morbidity”—meaning we delay the onset of disease and disability even faster than the years of life we are adding. During my 20+ year research career, we could generally bank on the idea that younger generations would not only live longer but also keep getting healthier along the way. “60 is the new 50” as they say… Enter “Generational Health Drift” Sadly, this expectation of steady progress may be changing. You’ve probably heard that US life expectancy gains have slowed to a crawl in the past couple of decades. Mortality improvements are also slowing (though less dramatically) in many other high-income countries (you can read more about that in a review paper I wrote here). Mortality is a very blunt health measure, but it is often a good barometer for the broader population health trends happening underneath. And we are now seeing that younger generations may be in worse health at similar ages compared to earlier born cohorts. My collaborator Prof. George Ploubidis at University College London coined this worsening health in more recently born cohorts “generational health drift.” “Generational health drift” is bad news on multiple fronts. Most obviously, we don’t want our health progress to go backward. But the timing is also bad, since our populations are aging. In demographic terms, “population aging” means that the proportion of the population at older ages (i.e >65 years) is increasing. Fun demography fact: Current population aging is not due to the recent declines in the birth rates making the news, but declines in fertility decades ago, after the “baby boom.” As baby boomers reach older ages, the smaller cohorts behind them mean the percentage of older adults will increase. For example, the share of the population age 65 and older in the US increased from 12.4% in 2004 to 18.0% in 2024. This story of population aging was written long ago. Many worry that population aging will put pressure on health care and pension systems. But if people reach older ages in better health than in years past, those fiscal pressures would be less dire than projected. Healthy older people can also continue to contribute to society in many valuable ways, including paid work, caregiving, community service….even high political office 🤷. On the flip side, if younger generations reach retirement age in worse health and with more disabling conditions, this could magnify the societal challenge of population aging. Evidence for worsening generational health A recent paper that I LOVED in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Leah Abrams and colleagues examined which birth cohorts (aka generations) were behind worsening US mortality. Behold the Lexis diagram (cue swooning demographers). Calendar time is on the x-axis, age on the y-axis. Birth cohorts can be followed over time as they age on the diagonal lines moving up and to the right. This figure plots the year-on-year % change in all-cause mortality at a given age. Green shading indicates mortality improvements over time, white is stagnation, and gray shading indicates worsening mortality. Following the diagonal line for those born in 1950, you can see a noticeable shift from green to gray that follows this cohort for most of their lives. This gray shading shows generally worsening mortality for the 1950 to 1959 birth cohorts compared to their predecessors across all ages. Concerningly for my GenX and elder millennial peeps, there was also a deterioration in mortality for birth cohorts born in the 1970s and 1980s, visible as dark gray areas at ages 30 to 45 during the 2010s. While some of these mortality changes reflect specific shocks such as the opioid epidemic, most deaths still occur from major causes of death such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. For cancer, the gray in the top left corner of the figure below reflects the legacies of smoking for older cohorts, followed by a period of green with improvements in cancer mortality as smoking rates declined. But the white/gray shading in the bottom right corner highlights a stagnation and reversal of the cancer trends, with cohorts born around 1970 to 1985 experiencing worsening cancer mortality. This deterioration was most noticeable for colon cancer mortality, possibly linked to obesity or dietary factors. Not just dying more, but less healthy along the way. A recent paper by Dr. Laura Gimeno of University College London (of which I am a co-author), found evidence that more recently born cohorts in Great Britain have stagnating or worsening health. A stylized picture of what“generational health drift” might look like: The review paper found: Rates of childhood overweight and obesity were highest among Gen Z. Rates of diabetes in the 40s almost doubled from 3.1% among the Baby Boomers to 5.9% in Generation X. Gen Z reported higher rates of poor mental health in adolescence compared to earlier-born groups. These UK results are consistent with studies showing worsening health across generations in the US as well. A 2021 US study found that more recently born cohorts had worse biological markers (like blood pressure and blood sugar) than earlier generations at the same age. A separate 2022 study of Americans aged 50 and over found that more recently born generations had a higher number of chronic diseases, with younger age of disease onset. A 2024 Lancet paper found that in the US, women born in 1945 had 33% obesity prevalence at age 50, rising to 48.2% for women born in 1970 turning 50. So what’s going on, and can we turn it around? We don’t have a definitive answer for what’s causing the deteriorating health of younger cohorts, but circumstantial evidence points to worsening trends in obesity and diabetes in both the US and UK. Remember that cohort trends reflect lagged effects of early environments, and younger generations have faced both earlier onset and more severe obesity across their lifetimes. Despite these very concerning trends, the future is not set in stone. We’ve reversed poor generational health trends before: drops in smoking are a major reason cancer and heart disease deaths fell so dramatically in recent decades. GLP-1 drugs may finally turn the tide against rising rates of obesity and diabetes, though it is still early days. But things could also get worse…for example from a return to higher levels of childhood infectious diseases that can have a lasting impact on health. See for example: [ ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) [ Don’t You Forget About Me(asles): The Virus That Erases Immune Memory ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Jenn Dowd, PhD · March 24, 2025 [ Read full story ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Even as an optimist, emerging data on the “generational health drift” has my full attention. For most of my research career, we took it for granted that each generation would be healthier than the last. But if present trends continue, **50 could be the new 60….**and Gen Z celebrities will soon look older than Paul Rudd :). Stay well, Jenn Share the Health! If you found this post useful, please share it with a friend. Share
How lip-syncing to AI let Forced Entertainment ‘play the game of theatre’
Today we have a fascinating piece by long-time Forced Entertainment fan Ben Kulvichit, speaking to Tim Etchells about their latest show Cold Sweat, how they are integrating lip-sync and AI voices into their work, the question of ‘authenticity’ on stage, and how lip-sync has even opened the door for them to make “something a little bit like drama”. This piece is a paid partnership with the Southbank Centre, where you can see Cold Sweat next month – we’re very grateful to the Southbank Centre for their ongoing support for Exeunt. Holly Williams ‘It was immediately interesting and uncanny’ **By Ben Kulvichit** “Is the microphone on?” So goes one of the opening lines of Signal to Noise, delivered by a human performer lip-syncing to an AI-generated voice. The voice is American, cheery but sluggish, slowed down into a gelatinous drawl. It repeats ad infinitum in a farce of stuckness; an answer never materialises. I find myself asking the same question as I hop on a Google Meet call with Tim Etchells, the artistic director of Forced Entertainment. We spend five or ten minutes frowning at each other, muting and unmuting, me gesticulating in semaphore into my webcam, checking if I am coming through now, restarting the laptop. To Etchells, I appear exaggeratedly mouthing words, my voice missing. In this gloopy purgatory of broken communication, life imitates art imitates life imitates art. We try a Zoom instead. Forced Entertainment, the pioneering British theatre company who have been at the avant-garde of performance since the 1980s, turned an interesting artistic corner with Signal to Noise, created on the occasion of their 40th anniversary. The whole performance employed this lip-sync technique to AI voices; on the face of it a left-field move from a company whose identity has long been grounded in the earthy, immediate presences of its performers and its unassuming, low-tech approach to theatricality. The technique, however, turned out to provide the company with a “rich new seam” of artistic enquiry, and has now spawned a trilogy of works. The second instalment, Cold Sweat, plays at Sheffield Theatres, Southbank Centre, and Lancaster Arts in October, while the third part, Everything Must Go, has been touring in Europe and is slated to come to the UK in 2027. As is often the case with Forced Entertainment shows, the main conceit for this work didn’t arrive until quite late. They were “four or five weeks into rehearsals for Signal to Noise,” Etchells recalls, and getting nowhere. Away from rehearsals, he had been playing around with feeding “weird texts” to AI voices to see how they would cope with them – “basically for my own amusement” – and was compelled by the uniformly “serviceable, benign, good-natured” tone they would read in, no matter how poetic, fractured or experimental the writing. On a hunch, he brought some examples into rehearsals and the performers gave lip-syncing a go. “It was immediately interesting and uncanny,” he recalls, with the performers having to deal in the moment with the problem of mapping themselves onto another artificial ‘performer,’ which itself was dealing with the problem of a very human text. “Almost all the writing for these projects would be useless to us unless it was done in this way,” says Etchells. “We wouldn’t know what to do with it. It’s too poetic. It’s too fictional. It’s too tangled.” But exploring lip-syncing along to the text has opened “an enormous reservoir of ways of thinking about writing and performing.” Subscribe to Exeunt, and get two in-depth pieces on theatre a week, direct to your inbox Subscribe Forced Entertainment have long been sifting through the detritus of popular culture, from daytime TV to end-of-the-pier vaudeville, magic acts and clown shows, to find frameworks for their own unusual entertainments. Lip-syncing, then, makes sense for them to experiment with. As a mode of performance, it’s wired into popular consciousness through pop stars trying to convince stadium audiences of their liveness, or those same voices as channeled through the made-up lips of contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race, or movie dialogue spreading virally through the host bodies of TikTok users. For Etchells, lip-syncing is often about “approaching real voices and trying to take on their aura,” subsuming that original human presence into yours. “There’s a very basic, elemental sort of theatre magic to it, produced in this very easy way.” This broad approach resonates with instances of lip-syncing within contemporary performance, too. In works like Re-Member Me and Showmanism, performance artist Dickie Beau acts as a kind of spirit medium for archival recordings (this process of re-membering – as in, giving corporeal form to voices – relies on his masterfully precise actor’s technique), while Frankie Thompson is similarly possessed by a host of characters ranging from a nine-year-old Jacob Rees-Mogg to Cliff Richards, all of whom she finds compellingly nauseating, in the exorcism ritual that is her latest show, Horrible Things. What’s different about Forced Entertainment’s use of lip-syncing is that here, there is no original presence to be channeled. The performers are instead taking on what Etchells describes as “the voices of nobody,” or rather the “phantasmic, aggregated echoes” of the many many voices on whose data the AI has been trained, and which are now conjuring into existence words they never actually said. There is a sort of mournful, empty quality to these voices, having “washed up” far away from the people they originally belonged to, to find themselves in stranger’s mouths listing objects, wondering if anyone can hear them and glitching in interminable loops. There is a cold, sad anonymity to it all. Etchells remarks that occasionally the software company he used has notified him that particular people are withdrawing their voices from the platform, instructing him to cease use of those voices. Using these technologies in performance certainly brings up ethical questions around digital rights, consent, identity and ownership, although in the grand scheme of things, Etchells is fairly blasé about it: of all the purposes someone’s voice might be put to without their knowledge, “an avant-garde performance is probably the least of their worries.” [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) [ Frankie Thompson: How I manage my own ‘horrible things’ at the Edinburgh Fringe ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) Exeunt · Aug 25 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) For the performers, though, lip-syncing to these strange, artificial voices is an odd task, requiring them to bend their live, human presence into the shapes produced by machines. Politically, it mirrors processes that are already at play in the continued computational automation of human life. Etchells brings up James Bridle’s writings on new technologies as a reference point: one example Bridle gives is of “chaotic storage”, a logistics technique employed by Amazon fulfilment centres whereby items are stored not according to traditional methods of categorisation or alphabetisation, but in a way that an algorithm determines to produce the most efficient routes for ‘picking’ based on customer purchase patterns. This appears completely random and incomprehensible to humans, with paddling pools sitting next to USB sticks sitting next to blowtorches, and so for the warehouse workers, the process of picking items becomes completely reliant on technology which tells them where to go. Our world is increasingly being designed not with humans in mind, but rather machines. As Etchells puts it, “technology malforms the space, and then you end up having to live in it.” Initially, Forced Entertainment tried their best to live in the world of machines: “I was in the it’s-got-to-be-perfect school of lip-sync,” says Etchells. But with their aesthetic being so tied to the failing act, the slipping mask, the shoddy costume, “it’s no surprise really that that didn’t last.” Instead, the performers got to enjoy being late for a line, or playing games with each other, “stealing” each other’s voices. Etchells compares it to the principles of ventriloquism, in which a free-floating voice unattached to a body is fundamentally discomforting and “sort of traumatic”. That discomfort is equally as alluring to Forced Entertainment as the satisfaction of precision, the pretence of authenticity only interesting if shown to be a pretence. Lip-sync has also opened up new avenues for the company. Having been allergic all their lives to Plays-with-a-capital-P, with Cold Sweat Forced Entertainment find themselves approaching something a little bit like drama. Rather than the presentational arena of Signal to Noise’s open white stage, Cold Sweat places us more decisively in a “fictional locale”: what appears to be “the aftermath of some disastrous party or backyard drinking binge” where three figures – family members, or neighbours, perhaps – are the last ones standing. “It’s all quite acrimonious and accusatory, everyone’s talking over each other.” For Etchells, this more fictional mode is “a door that we’ve never been able to open. We’ve just never really gone there.” Perhaps it is the technique of lip-syncing, an extra buffer of mediation, that allows them to venture away from the here-and-now without feeling that they have to commit to the “psychological claptrap” that comes along with acting; to be able to “play the game of theatre, without getting one’s hands too dirty.” As I wonder how else the impulses behind Forced Entertainment’s work have changed over time, it occurs to me that over the last ten years of new creations, with the exception of If All Else Fails, the company’s performers haven’t ever spoken on stage: there were two shows without any language at all, Out of Order and Under Bright Light, and then this trilogy of lip-sync works. Etchells agrees it’s a shift away from earlier productions, that were so often about “the actual voices of the performers and their actual presences. We had a lot of money, in some ways, on an authentic approach to what it might mean to speak on the stage.” But this sense of authentic presence itself had a fakeness to it; these days, Etchells can’t stand that mode of being onstage where performers “are here to be cheeky and witty versions of themselves. I don’t want to be charmed.” Pulling back into a more anonymous space has resulted in works that feel slightly sharper-edged, more brutal in a way. “All of these shows are post-Brexit, post-Trump, post-truth, post-everything,” Etchells notes. Speech, charisma, authenticity – these things feel politically loaded, and perhaps warmth and openness just don’t feel like the right tools to reflect the world we’re living in. “It feels like the space is closing down, and we’re trying to deal with the fact that the system, the structure that you’re in, is more oppressive and more powerful. It probably always was, but I think we’re just more tuned to it now.” Yet even without their voices, the performers’ distinctive presences – ones that many audiences have followed around for years, if not decades – still, inevitably, shine through as they physically navigate whatever unending task the system of the piece has set for them. They’re still trying to keep up with the onslaught of text, still running about, changing costumes, moving stuff around. The human is always stuck in the teeth of the machine, jamming the smooth, frictionless cheeriness of the not-real, gesticulating silently, trying desperately to communicate. Cold Sweat is at Sheffield Theatres, 2 to 3 October; Southbank Centre, London, 9 to 10 October; Lancaster Arts, 14 October [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) [ Exeunt recommends... the best autumn theatre ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) Exeunt · Sep 16 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) This piece was paid for by the Southbank Centre. Such support helps Exeunt to keep publishing the most interesting writing, about the most exciting theatre. Interested in partnering with Exeunt? Visit our Advertise with Exeunt page, where you can get more information, download an advertising pack, and find our contact details.
Newtown Restaurant And Business Appreciation Week October 16-25
The Economic and Community Development (ECD) office, in partnership with The Restaurant Week Company, will be promoting “Newtown Restaurant and Business Appreciation Week,” happening October 16-25. EC...
ICE fears weigh on Latino business owners as DeLauro tours Fair Haven
Connecticut representative Rosa DeLauro visited restaurants and a retail store in New Haven’s majority-Latino Fair Haven neighborhood, where business owners said customers’ fear of ICE activity was driving down sales.
Police, business owner frustrated after series of arrests made near Aliquippa restaurant
Aliquippa Police were called three times in just about 24 hours to the Good to Go restaurant on Sheffield Road between Friday and Saturday.
Back-to-back festivals drive visitors to Louisville businesses
Bourbon and Beyond follows Louder Than Life in Louisville, bringing crowds that tourism leaders say boost NuLu shops, restaurants and hotels.
Laura Bruner Honored with 2026 Allen D. Leman Science in Practice Award
Swine Vet Center veterinarian recognized for leadership in swine health, biosecurity and practical disease management.
University of Tennessee breaks ground on 865 Neyland project
865 Neyland will feature about 100,000 square feet of entertainment space, restaurants, shops, event space, fan experiences and a 24-story condo-hotel.
Business Monday: Once a popular food truck, Bite the Eye now serves up ahi in converted shipping containers
The one-of-a-kind restaurant for Puna residents and visitors has become a local gathering spot known for its creative island-inspired menu, relaxed vibe and live local entertainment booked every weekend.
Whitney Houston Tribute Concert Coming to Norwegian Aura
Launching aboard Norwegian Aura in May 2027, the 45-minute tribute concert will reimagine Whitney Houston's biggest hits with live vocals, a live band and immersive visuals.
Is Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) Undervalued As Norwegian Aura Entertainment Plans Roll Out?
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) just put entertainment at center stage for its upcoming Norwegian Aura ship, outlining a Whitney Houston tribute show and several original productions tailored exclusively to this vessel. For investors tracking Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the focus on exclusive entertainment comes against a weaker trading backdrop. The share price is at US$14.12 after a 30-day share price return that is down 18.10% and a 1-year total shareholder return that has...
Augusta wings spot raises score 35 points, but still has ants
The following is a list of restaurants in Richmond County that were inspected Sept. 11-18, accompanied by their scores and, in some cases, the health infractions that lowered those scores. Scores below 70 are considered failing.
Spud Drive-In approved as larger entertainment destination
Teton County, Idaho, commissioners have cleared the way for the Spud Drive-In to reopen, unanimously approving plans for a rebuilt theater, restaurant, bar and event venue at the landmark’s historic
I-5 Rose Quarter closure puts pressure on local businesses
Week 2 of Portland’s southbound I-5 Rose Quarter closure is lengthening commutes and hurting nearby businesses. Hayden Island’s Island Cafe reports sales down 40%, while I-5-area restaurants hope customers still come.
Massachusetts' plan to offer postpartum screening home visits sparks online debate
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is investing $2.25 million to send nurses into homes of new parents, sparking a heated government overreach debate.
In ‘Lioness’ finale: Arlington hospital, Fort Worth restaurant and more
The Paramount+ series has wrapped up its third season.
How America's Best Restaurant Serves 450 Pounds Of Meat Every Week
Kabawa was just named the best restaurant in America by Food & Wine. So, what does it take to run a full service at America's best restaurant?
Natrona County health and food inspections (9/11/26–9/17/26)
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper-Natrona County Health Department inspects restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, mobile food units, commissaries and
Laramie County health and food inspections (9/11/26–9/17/26)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department inspects restaurants, bars, convenience stores, delis, grocery stores, bed and breakfasts
Downtown Bethlehem sports bar, restaurant up for sale
Located at 515 Main St., the restaurant and bar is listed for $799,000 and features a full menu, sports viewing and established clientele.
Who passed health checks in Wichita KS? Burgers, coffee, Mexican food & more
See Wichita-area restaurants, stores & hotels that passed health inspections. Thirty-five locations made the Sept. 6-12 list.
Bristol, Blue Star ‘breakup’ has Ivywild hallways abuzz
Bristol Brewing Co. and Blue Star restaurant marked the beginning of a beautiful business partnership almost 30 years ago, inside neighboring operations, in co-owned property near the intersection of South Tejon Street and East Ramona Avenue. When the historic former Ivywild elementary building went on the market just blocks away at 1604 S. Cascade Ave., […]
Early voting begins in US midterm elections that could flip control of Congress
In Fairfax, Virginia, 18-year-old Sanya Singhal said she voted early to “try to be the first early voter.” In Henrico County, Laura Bland said she cast a ballot to send “a signal that we’re still here.”
Frontier Restaurant CEO donates $250,000 to UNM business school
Shannon Rainosek’s gift will support internships, competitions, conferences and international travel for UNM students.
Frontier Restaurant CEO donates $250,000 to UNM business school
Shannon Rainosek’s gift will support internships, competitions, conferences and international travel for UNM students.
Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (Sept. 10-17)
There were 16 restaurants and food establishments ordered closed by Orange County inspectors from Sept. 10 to Sept. 17.
Small businesses, big impact | Inside Blount County's hospitality growth
Oldham Hospitality and Gemini Hospitality are proving that locally-owned restaurants can be real engines of small business growth and economic and community development.
Bar Harbor Parents Again Raise Concerns About How Some Science Education In Sixth Grade.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Restaurant Barn. BAR HARBOR—Parents again raised concerns this week about how Bar Harbor students receive science instruction after fifth grade, months after the same issue came before the Bar Harbor School Board. The concern centers on a past scheduling change at Conners Emerson School that gives fifth graders a full year of science rather than switching between science and social studies at midyear. Principal Dr. Heather Weir Webster told the board that the school has been monitoring test scores, teacher feedback, and the experience of students as it considers whether the current approach is working. If it is not, the approach may be changed, but that would not likely occur this school year. In fifth and sixth grade, the school used to have one semester of social studies and one of science in each year. That schedule shifted because switching at midyear often broke up the learning units. So, approximately two-three years ago, they decided to shift that a bit. Science became a dedicated focus in fifth grade. Social studies was the dedicated focus in sixth grade. The school staff members are hoping to dive deeply into the data and see if the students are having a more quality experience throughout their time in those grades when it comes to science and social studies. If not, things could shift again. This year, Dr. Webster said at the September meeting, potential changes to curricula have been a bit complicated by moving into the school’s new building in late October and early November. “There have been no changes this year because it’s hard enough to handle the move. That allows them to have consistency,” Dr. Webster said. Dr. Webster said that after the Covid pandemic which prevented students from attending school in person, many fifth graders were struggling. “We tried several different configurations,” she said, including a co-teaching model to help with that struggle, but to also see how to best schedule and support those students. “We found that a January switch” where classes switched from social studies to science was really difficult. Part of the decision making stemmed from science being more hands-on and accessible to fifth graders. Social studies was a bit more abstract content, which was why the school tried the current configuration. In a letter submitted as public comment, parent Beth Dumont wrote, “In May 2026, I wrote to express my concern that our middle school students are not receiving consistent instruction in science and social studies. I appreciate that the Board took this concern seriously and requested a presentation from Principal Webster. I am also grateful for the opportunity to meet with Principal Webster and Julie Keblinsky in July to learn more about the current curriculum and scheduling. “During that meeting, I learned that the current model is intended to integrate science and social studies into other subjects during the years or semesters when they are not offered as standalone courses. “While I appreciate the intent behind this model, I remain concerned about its premise. Science and social studies are core academic disciplines that provide students with essential knowledge, skills, and ways of thinking. Yet under the current schedule, students are not guaranteed consistent instructional time in these subjects. Instead, exposure to content in these disciplines may depend on whether opportunities for integration arise within other classes. “To be clear, I strongly support interdisciplinary learning. Integrating science and social studies across the curriculum can enrich students’ educational experiences and help them make meaningful connections across subject areas. My concern is not with integration itself, but with relying on integration as a substitute for dedicated instruction in core disciplines.” Dr. Webster said that they’ve been monitoring test scores, talking to teachers, seeing how the pilot program works. It’s in its third year now of this schedule. One science teacher, she said, told her he’d seen positive outcomes with full year science and that there was a stronger classroom community. Another science teacher had concerns over the readiness last year, but she isn’t feeling that way about this year’s current class. A third teacher for social studies said he loves the full year. A fourth teacher of social studies hasn’t said that anything has changed. For the three fathers who spoke at the school committee meeting, the fractured science curriculum caused concerns. One father said that when he spoke to others, “all were surprised and confused as to why there was no dedicated, continuous science education,” at the school. Though students are testing well in science and math, he worried that without continuity in education, learning is lost. “We shouldn’t have to choose between key learning disciplines,” he said. Matthew Bergin, another father, agreed, adding, “I’m just a little concerned.” In her letter, Dumont wrote, “As the parent of a recent sixth grader who completed an entire year without a dedicated science course, I saw very little evidence that this integration was occurring in a consistent, systematic, or readily identifiable way. This is not a criticism of our middle school teachers, who have been uniformly excellent. Rather, it is a structural criticism of the current schedule.” Dr. Webster gave an update about all aspects of the schedule and how it’s created and she also spoke to social and emotional learning (SEL) in middle school. It’s explicitly taught but also embedded. Science is embedded as well and explicitly taught at all but that one grade. The school schedule is built from lunch out, then electives like art and physical education are placed, before going into the instruction time, teacher planning time, multi-tier support systems (MTSS), and then social and emotional learning. Teachers have to have 250 minutes a week of planning time per their contracts. That’s the minimum and occurs when their students are at specials. “The schedule is really not the purview of the board,” School Board Chair Marie Yarborough reminded the other board members and the public and thanked Dr. Webster for the presentation. The parents were also thanked for coming. LINK TO LEARN MORE [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/despite-strong-rankings-some-bar) [ Despite Strong Rankings, Some Bar Harbor Parents Raise Concerns About School's Science Education ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/despite-strong-rankings-some-bar) Carrie Jones · Jun 4 [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/despite-strong-rankings-some-bar) HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment
Thai restaurant in the Grove to close after 7 years as owner shifts focus to grocery business
How a fun night out got to be so expensive
With the cost of concerts, sports games and restaurants far outpacing inflation, more people are staying home.
How a Minneapolis clinic helped bring healthcare to patients during Operation Metro Surge
Operation Metro Surge took a toll on schools, businesses, restaurants and medical care. Inspire Change Clinic in south Minneapolis responded by changing how it delivered care.
New Business: Flatbread Co. to take over IHOP in Bedford; Salem restaurant gets new name
An “earth oven” flatbread pizza company with locations in destination spots like North Conway and Portsmouth — and even Hawaii — is set to open in the former IHOP building
Doral mayor says city can’t stop ICE as businesses report 70% drop in sales
“People are scared to come out. It’s affecting us,” a restaurant worker says.
Novant Health drives $4.33B in regional economic impact, study says
Novant Health Coastal Region generates an annual overall economic impact of $4.33 billion in the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), according to a new report. Commissioned by Novant Health and conducted by Mouhcine Guettabi, associate professor of economics at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and the area’s regional economist, the report evaluates population growth in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties and whether the area’s healthcare infrastructure is positioned to meet the region’s demand. According to the study, while healthcare employment has kept pace with population growth in New Hanover and Pender counties, it has not kept up with the rapid population growth in Brunswick County, which is skewed toward an older population. “It points very clearly to Brunswick County being the bottleneck, or being the place where investment is most needed,” Guettabi said to the Business Journal Friday, “because the growth is the fastest, the composition of the growth is older (adults) and demand for healthcare is much higher for the subpopulation.” The Novant Health Coastal Region employs 8,295 full-time equivalent workers, according to the report, and is the region’s largest employer. Overall, through direct, indirect and induced impacts, the Novant Health Coastal Region supports 19,573 jobs, the report said. Using data collected from internal payroll, financial and capital reports, the report estimates that Novant Health Coastal Region pays approximately $1.15 billion in total compensation to its employees. According to the study, the provider’s annual operating expenditures, or direct economic impact, total $2.36 billion. That direct impact ripples through the regional economy through spending at its suppliers, or indirect impact, and household spending by staff and its suppliers’ workers, or induced impact. The report estimates the Novant Health Coastal Region’s indirect economic impact is $786 million, reflecting the multiplying effect of the provider’s operating expenses on expenditures like medical supplies, facilities, food, IT and professional services. Because 86.9% of Novant Health Coastal Region employees live within the tri-county region, the report estimates that wages paid by Novant circulate into the regional economy, creating an induced economic impact of $1.17 billion. “That money just doesn’t go into thin air,” Guettabi said of the wages paid to Novant Health Coastal Region employees. “Some of that money is being re-spent, and therefore it’s supporting grocery stores, hiring, restaurants and bars, and there are a lot of other companies or organizations whose employment, whose activity partially depends on that.” The combination of direct ($2.36 billion), indirect ($786 million), and induced ($1.17 billion) impacts totals an estimated $4.33 billion, according to the report. A study commissioned by Novant Health in 2024 and conducted by FTI Consulting’s Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy found that Novant Health generated nearly $2 billion of direct impact, with $628 million in indirect impact and $857 million in induced impact. Healthcare investments in the pipeline for Brunswick County Additionally, the study found that while healthcare employment has kept pace with population growth in New Hanover and Pender counties, it lags in Brunswick County. “Once you go below the metro level and you decompose the three counties that make up the Wilmington Metro,” Guettabi said, “it becomes fairly clear that Brunswick is the standout. And not only that, but clearly the growth there is fully domestic migration and largely retiree-driven migrants.” Using data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on per-capita healthcare spending among age groups, Guettabi estimates that adults aged 65 and older demand 2.44 times the healthcare of working-age adults. “The share of the population in Brunswick County that’s over the age of 65 is 33%,” Guettabi said, “which is so much higher than the average share of people over the age of 65 within the state or within the country.” The report emphasizes that Brunswick County is the “strongest candidate” for new healthcare investment, adding that patient discharge records show Brunswick residents rely heavily on facilities in New Hanover County for inpatient care. “Investments in Brunswick County would not only meet the demand for those residents, but it would also relieve pressure for New Hanover County residents,” Guettabi said. Laurie Whalin, president of the Novant Health Coastal Region, told the Business Journal Friday that the provider plans to expand services at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, in addition to other investments in the area. In April, the state granted conditional approval to both Novant Health and Columbus Regional Healthcare System to build new hospitals, just miles apart, on either side of the Columbus County and Brunswick County borders. Columbus Regional’s $214 million 30-bed hospital would be located at the former Acme-Delco Middle School in Delco, according to the application. The project’s approved timetable has construction slated to finish in May 2029, with the hospital open for service by October 2029. The Whiteville-based provider, which Atrium Health manages, broke ground on an Advanced Care facility in December 2025 and operates four specialty clinics in Leland. Meanwhile, Novant Health’s proposed $251 million 20-bed hospital would be built just miles from Columbus Regional’s proposed hospital, near the Compass Pointe community in Leland. The provider estimates the hospital will open by 2030. State officials also approved Novant Health in March to build a freestanding emergency department in Carolina Shores, near U.S. 17. The project is estimated to cost $24 million, according to the application, and will operate under the Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center license. Additionally, Novant Health’s 16,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center is slated to open in Leland by year’s end, officials said.
San Bernardino County restaurants shut down by health inspectors, Sept. 9-17
Three facilities were ordered to close, while one shut last week reopened.
These San Antonio restaurants fell short in August health inspections
The Express-News looked at establishments that fell short of an "A" grade, which is 90 points or more. Here are the ones that received a score of 75 or below.
Reno health inspectors find wine, linens stored under sewer line
One restaurant was cited for improper storage of wine and linens, and sauce that had been cooling too slowly to prevent bacterial growth.
Executive Profile: Laura Martina
Laura Martina Founder/CEO Leadby What we do: Results-driven leadership development services customized to meet the needs of executives and teams. Education: Bachelor of Science from Fresno State in business administration, human resources
New attractions highlight Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta opening Tuesday
This year's festival, which runs Tuesday through Sunday, will feature some new events and a record number of restaurants.
Recycling Committee Starts Brainstorming Green Business Certification
The Recycling Committee toyed with a new green initiative at its meeting on Monday, September 14, that would have them work with local businesses to reduce restaurant waste.
Sponsored: From Belfast to Lakewood Ranch
Darren Shore turned a passion for the bar business into a growing restaurant career built on hard work, resilience and relationships.
Business Ins & Outs: Bizzeria, UNIQLO and More Georgetown Openings
Discover the latest Georgetown business openings, including Bizzeria, UNIQLO, and other new restaurants, shops and businesses coming to the neighborhood.
New Jersey Politics (Episode 528)
On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Host Laura Jones speaks with Valerie Velazquez-Stetz, a Jersey City police officer who responded to
Spotlight on Business: New family-run Italian restaurant and small business workspace
(ABC 6 News) – In this week’s Spotlight on Business, Justin Collopy from Realty Growth is introducing us to a new family-run restaurant serving up scratch-made dishes and a flexible workspace designed to help small businesses grow.Realty Growth showcases local businesses every Wednesday in Spotlight on Business. Have a place you’d like to see featured […]
Tempe sports grill, casual Scottsdale spot hit with health code violations
A popular Tempe sports grill and a causal Scottsdale eatery were among restaurants hit with health code violations in this week's Dirty Dining report.
The Science of Kindness
Dr. Laura Saunders from the Institute of Living explains how random acts of kindness boost happiness in both those who give and those who receive.
West El Paso noodle restaurant receives low health inspection score
A West El Paso Asian restaurant got low inspection scores in visits conducted Sept. 7-11.
Libya power cuts push small businesses and weary citizens to brink
Power cuts have been a fact of life for years for Naseem Al-Akkari, who owns a chain of restaurants in Libya's capital, Tripoli.
Weekend spotlight: A plethora of entertainment choices
The Catalyst’s every-Thursday guide to bay area entertainment and the arts.
Aura Entertainment on Life After Distributing Obsession
A year after the biggest Toronto sale in history, the founders of the indie distributor open up about staying disciplined, choosing "the movie no one else sees," and why the market gap is still original content.
The Carriage House at Paper Mill Playhouse announces 2026 Fall Entertainment Series
(MILLBURN, NJ) -- The F. M. Kirby Carriage House at Paper Mill Playhouse has announced its 2026 Fall Entertainment Series, featuring an exciting lineup of live entertainment every week at the restaurant and event space throughout September, October, and November.
How New Aura Entertainment Plans Will Impact Norwegian Cruise Line Stock
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has outlined the entertainment slate for future ship Norwegian Aura, including an estate-approved Whitney Houston tribute, illusion shows, live band concepts, and adults-only nightlife, all positioned as exclusive onboard experiences following the 2026 announcement. The focus on branded, exclusive entertainment partnerships points to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings leaning harder into experience-led differentiation that can support onboard spending and help...
Delaware health officials warn of measles exposure in greater Rehoboth area
Delaware health officials issued an alert after a person with measles visited stores and restaurants in the greater Rehoboth area.
Downtown Boone restaurant says new traffic pattern cut business nearly 28%
BOONE — The owners of fizz Ed, a restaurant at the corner of Howard and Depot streets in downtown Boone, said a permanent shift in traffic patterns on Howard Street
Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs happening tonight
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — More than 100 businesses and organizations will come together Wednesday night for the 2026 Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs. The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event from 5 to 9 p.m. at Indian Canyons Golf Resort. The annual showcase will feature more than 40 restaurant
Las Vegas restaurateur turns 10M social media followers into a business advantage
Alexandra Lourdes has built a nearly 10 million-follower social media following while expanding her Las Vegas restaurant group to eight Southern Nevada locations.
Louisville Originals Gift Card program returns after 6-year hiatus
Louisville Independent Business Alliance revives its gift card program to support local restaurants, with eight establishments currently participating.
4 Central Florida restaurants shut down after health inspections last week
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shut down four Central Florida restaurants during the week from Sept. 6-13 after conducting health inspections.
Whitney Houston production headlines Norwegian Aura entertainment lineup
Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled the entertainment lineup for its new ship, Norwegian Aura, including a headline production called Whitney: A Celebration of Whitney Houston. Developed with...
New businesses: Fresno County fictitious business name filings
See the latest Fresno County fictitious business name filings, including restaurants, farms, transportation, health and service businesses.
See which Westland restaurants failed inspections
Wayne County health inspectors found debris and improper storage at several Westland restaurants this summer.
Confirmed measles case visited north metro Denver restaurants, hotel and hospital, state says
A person with a confirmed case of the measles may have exposed others in Boulder, Lafayette and Westminster last week, Colorado public health officials said.
Tempe business owners find success despite fewer people drinking alcohol
Data shows that less Americans are drinking alcohol each passing year. Despite this, local business owners are confident that the bar and restaurant industry can still thrive.
Small businesses feel the squeeze as gas and diesel prices surge in Michigan
Rising fuel costs are forcing small business owners and their customers to adapt, with some restaurants already closing their doors.
Massachusetts governor unveils proposal to expand postpartum mental health care
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announces a new proposal to expand screening and support for new parents and bolster the state's postpartum mental health resour
Massachusetts governor proposes improved postpartum healthcare after Lindsay Clancy trial
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey proposed providing free home visits by nurses to all parents with newborns as well as updated regulations governing mental health screening of new mothers.
Massachusetts governor proposes improved postpartum healthcare after Lindsay Clancy trial
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is proposing free home visits from nurses for every new parent in the state and expanded mental health screenings for new mothers.
Massachusetts governor proposes improved postpartum healthcare after Clancy trial
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is proposing free home visits from nurses for every new parent in the state and expanded mental health screenings for new mothers
Massachusetts governor proposes improved postpartum healthcare after Lindsay Clancy trial
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is proposing free home visits from nurses for every new parent in the state and expanded mental health screenings for new mothers.
Downtown’s Project Scarlet taps chef Doug Katz for new Italian restaurant
The famous local chef will develop a Northern-Italian-themed restaurant and menu for the large project.
Whitney Houston show to headline NCL's Norwegian Aura
New, original Whitney Houston show will headline entertainment aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's 2027 ship, Norwegian Aura
New Mexican restaurant to open in former Casa del Rey
A new Mexican restaurant is moving into the former Casa del Rey location.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE® UNVEILS SHOW-STOPPING ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP ABOARD NORWEGIAN AURA™ WITH "WHITNEY: A CELEBRATION OF WHITNEY HOUSTON" TAKING CENTER STAGE
- The New Original Production, Developed with The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and Primary Wave Music, Celebrates the Unmistakable Voice, Music and Legacy of...
Business group abandons Lombardo in favor of Ford
The Retail Association of Nevada, which represents stores and restaurants in Nevada, is endorsing Democrat Attorney General Aaron Ford for governor, a turnaround from the 2022 election when it endorsed now-Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican. “This is the first time in recent history that RAN has endorsed a Democratic candidate for governor,” the association said […]
National restaurant chains join big retail project in growing North Carolina city
Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse and Aspen Dental plan locations at Adams Crossing in Sanford, joining other national chains in the fast-growing Lee County development.
Get hooked: New lakeside ‘destination’ with dining, music and event space planned for Lake Murray
In addition to live music, the lakeside “dining and entertainment destination” plans to offer distinct menus for its fine-dining and casual restaurants and bar spaces overlooking the lake.
Inflation impacts small business in Tampa: 'Our profit margin is getting smaller and smaller'
A long-time burger restaurant in Tampa is fighting surging food costs and inflation.
Polsky 10: UtilityInnovation Group acquired for projected $2.6B | Aura Life Science joins ISS accelerator | OrisDX launches first diagnostic product - Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Polsky 10 is a bi-weekly newsletter featuring 10 things to know from the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center.
Scientists discover real “dragon” lizard
In the mountainous evergreen forests of the Tak-Kamphaeng Phet Province, Thailand, scientists discovered a new species of lizard. Researchers named the species Acanthosaura syrax, commonly called the Syrax mountain horned dragon, in reference to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s dragon Syrax in the “Game of Thrones” prequel series, “House of the Dragon.” A research team led by...
New coffee shop, wings and catfish restaurant opens, Two Sisters Restaurant new chapter, florist and boutique opens, and more Quad-Cities business news
AWAKE Coffee opens third location, new wings and catfish restaurant, florist and boutique opens, and more Quad-Cities business news and more Quad-Cities business news.
The powerful millionaires hiding in plain sight
They own car dealerships, law firms, dental practices, and restaurant chains. Collectively, these overlooked business owners hold far more wealth than the Forbes 400 — and wield considerable political power.
The powerful millionaires hiding in plain sight
They own car dealerships, law firms, dental practices, and restaurant chains. Collectively, these overlooked business owners hold far more wealth than the Forbes 400 — and wield considerable political power.
6 Shreveport restaurants flagged for critical health violations
New health inspection reports for Caddo Parish reveal which local restaurants had critical safety violations.
Terrebonne, Lafourche restaurants cited for critical health violations
The Houma Courier obtained food safety inspection information for the week of Aug. 5-14 from the Louisiana Department of Health.
Businesses are eyeing Germantown opportunities. The neighborhood is proceeding with caution.
The area has a new visitors center and it has welcomed coffee shops and a food co-op. Residents would like restaurants and more retail.
3 Plano restaurants closed for serious health violations, roaches seen at others
Three Plano restaurants were temporarily closed for serious health violations, according to the latest city health inspections.
Who better to defend Reform’s latest millions that Honest Bob Jenrick?
The man who once helped Richard ‘Dirty’ Desmond save a load of tax was wheeled out to face Laura Kuenssberg
Natrona County health and food inspections (9/4/26–9/10/26)
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper-Natrona County Health Department inspects restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, mobile food units, commissaries and
Laramie County health and food inspections (9/4/26–9/10/26)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department inspects restaurants, bars, convenience stores, delis, grocery stores, bed and breakfasts
I've spent 20 years caring for 5 loved ones. It cost me my career
Laura Lee Ehrlich, 54, spent two decades caring for five loved ones. She left work and used savings and her 401(k) along the way.
Scientists used centuries-old aurora sightings to reconstruct 8 solar cycles from 1560 to 1640; their method placed solar minima within 2 years with more than 90% reliability
Centuries-old reports of strange lights in the night sky have helped scientists reconstruct a missing chapter in the Sun’s history. A study published in Scientific Reports by Kristof Petrovay, Laura G.
Trump’s Kennedy Center takeover has pushed this nearby restaurant to the brink
The drama engulfing the arts institution is hurting the small businesses that surround it.
Houston-area restaurant forced to add fees as inflation strains business, owner says
The owner of Lankford's, a staple Houston restaurant, said he has implemented a 3.5% surcharge on credit card purchases because of rising costs for goods and services.