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Mom-and-Pop Business Owners Grapple with Harsh Times
Report shows small business owners in NYS less optimistic about the economy. Taxes, inflation, labor costs and competition from larger businesses are major concerns right now, they say By Aaron Gifford [caption id=attachment_11067 align=alignright width=300] Ashley Ranslow is director for New York state at The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).[/caption] Owners of mom-and-pop businesses in New York state have been less optimistic lately than their peers in other parts of the country, a recent report indicates. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), based on a survey of 11,000 of its members in the Empire State, reported that taxes, inflation, labor costs and competition from larger businesses are major concerns right now. “Indeed, while taxes are a major problem in New York and the United States overall, New York small businesses notably are struggling more with the state’s onerous, multi-level tax burden,” Ashley Ranslow, NFIB’s director for New York state, said in the July report. Compared with surveys of business owners in other states, far fewer New York respondents rated their businesses as in excellent or good health. The report also said labor costs here are about 25% higher than the national average and are the “single most important problem” facing businesses. One respondent to the New York-specific survey complained that too much red tape, taxes and laws that restrict high-yielding companies have stifled their operation’s growth. Others said high disability and workers’ compensation insurance costs, alarming increases in utility rates and excessive building regulations are discouraging. Statewide, New York has a gross domestic product of $2.53 trillion (third in the nation, followed by Texas, $2.90 trillion; and California, $4.25 trillion), a per capita income of $90,500 (sixth) and an unemployment rate of 4.6% (34th). There are 2.4 million small businesses that employ 3.9 million people. [caption id=attachment_11112 align=alignright width=451] Member of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce gather at one of the several functions the chamber organizes monthly. “Everyone in this business community encourages each other to shop local. Everyone just wants to see each other succeed,” says Megan Wilmot, the chamber director[/caption] “New York state boasts one of the largest, wealthiest and most diverse cities in the world — and that’s still only about half the state’s population,” the report said. “In other words, the state is both its iconic city and so much more — geographically, demographically, economically. But New York is not without its challenges, challenges that include notably high taxes and other weaknesses that impact the small business environment,” it said. The report includes an optimism index that compares responses from New York (NFIB) members with those of their peers in other states across several categories. This ranges from plans to increase employment to expectations for higher sales, to plans to increase inventory or expand. The scores for Empire State business owners were lower in most categories, but they did score higher than the national average in noting that they have current employment openings, and that they are hopeful that the economy will improve. “The metrics so far paint a picture of a state with a series of challenges for small businesses, from a slightly below national average Optimism Index to a more seriously below national business health to very substantially below national Employment Index. What is going on with businesses that are creating these differences?” the report stated. In Central New York, the regional labor force comprises nearly 398,000 workers. The median household income here is $71,463, and the gross domestic product for the region last year totaled $61.3 billion, according to the CenterState CEO economic development and research organization. About half of the region’s labor force works for small and mid-sized businesses, although the number of people employed in that sector has decreased by 7% since 2010, according to CenterState’s 2026 economic forecast report. “While record-high employment in large-scale enterprises provides a strong foundation for Central New York,” the report says, “the long-term health of communities depends on a thriving small business sector to serve as a stabilizer.” Area employers identify several barriers to Central New York’s anticipated growth, including lack of specialized or skilled workers, government regulations, unaffordable housing options and long-term construction disruptions. In the city of Syracuse, the number of jobs in retail trade decreased by 1,500 or 4.7% between July 2025 and this past July. By contrast, the number of jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector increased by 2.5% or 700 jobs, in the same annual period, according to the New York State Department of Labor. Still, there’s plenty of interest for new businesses across Central New York. U.S. Census figures show that the number of applications for new businesses in all four counties increased significantly in the past 20 years. In Cayuga County, there were 324 applications in 2005 compared to 470 last year. In Madison County, the number increased from 385 to 480; Onondaga County, from 2411 to 4132; and Oswego County, from 553 to 836. Downtown Cazenovia is exemplary of Madison County’s trend: In the past year, the village welcomed a bait shop, a thrift store, a vitamin infusion center, a pizzeria, a Pilates studio and an Italian restaurant. A candy store is scheduled to open on the main drag in the months ahead. Oswego’s list of interesting new businesses in the past year includes a bubble tea shop, a hot dog eatery in Fulton, a specialty grocery store that features New York state products in Mexico, a beauty and esthetics studio in Hannibal and a hardware and farm supply store in Sandy Creek. In Onondaga County, the Liverpool area has also enjoyed a steady stream of new shops and eateries in recent years. That suburban community is unique in that, unlike neighboring communities, most of the restaurants are family-owned and not part of a national chain. [caption id=attachment_11116 align=alignright width=300] Megan Wilmot is the executive director of the Greater Liverpool’s Chamber of Commerce.[/caption] Megan Wilmot, executive director of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said independent business owners in her community maintain a strong sense of pride in holding their own against national companies. The chamber helps boost morale with red carpet events, ribbon cuttings, coffee hours and five-year anniversary celebrations for participating businesses. “We have built such a strong community,” Wilmot said. “Everyone in this business community encourages each other to shop local. Everyone just wants to see each other succeed.” In Syracuse, the downtown retail occupancy rate last year was about 82%, a slight improvement from 2024, according to the Downtown Syracuse Committee’s most recent annual report. Buildings with the largest amount of vacant space included The Galleries, One Park Place, and Equitable Towers, though not all of those spaces are designated for retail use. New businesses that opened in downtown Syracuse last year: Better with Time Clothing, Dakshin Curry & Biriyani, Havana Tattoo Society, Milano Bean Café, Miss Daisy, Pausa Coffee, Sweets for Babe, The Society CNY and Yafah Beauty Studio. The Destiny USA mall’s occupancy rate decreased from 80% in 2023 to 72% by the end of 2024, according to Integra Realty Resources. That leaves more than a quarter of the mall’s retail space vacant. “Looking ahead, the retail market is expected to see minimal rent growth, with vacancy rates likely remaining stable in community and neighborhood centers but continuing to rise in enclosed malls,” Integra’s report said. “New construction activity is low and redevelopment plans for former malls like Shoppingtown and Great Northern are still in the planning stages. The proposed Micron chip plant may spur development, but challenges remain in finding co-developers for large-scale projects.” Nationally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce expects that small businesses will remain resilient and see their sales and revenues eventually improve. That organization, in a recent national survey, found that 25% of small business owners expect the economy to improve in 2027, while 45% indicated that they plan to increase employment in the next 12 months. And 69% said they believe their small business is in good shape and 70% said they are comfortable with their current cash flow. Thirty-one percent of small businesses reported raising their prices in July and 28% are planning to raise their prices within the next three to four months, the report said. Twelve percent indicated that this is a good time to expand their business. “Small business owners voice optimism for future revenues and hiring,” the report said. “High costs continue to be a wet blanket on reinvestment.” The NFIB reported in July that Main Street, despite gas price hikes, “is OK … for now.” Its small business economics trend report said sales across the country have been strong compared to last year, but continued inflation and higher prices from mom-and-pop establishments are causing some “cracks” to show. “If costs stay this high for much longer, reduced investment will have a tangible economic impact,” the report said. “The status quo is OK, but the outlook? The outlook is uncertain.”
Candidates Debate Second-Home Tax, Other Issues at Villager Forum
Republican Cory Raymond and Democrat Josh Gerritsen took questions from voters at the Villager Cafe.
North Idaho bakery builds up skills from scratch
The Village Bakery owners, Dana and Todd Bellefeuile, have built their Hayden establishment around a workforce model that helps people with disabilities develop skills for future employment and independent living.
Autumn in Eden festival brings car show, live entertainment to downtown Sabina on Saturday
SABINA, Ohio — Downtown Sabina will host the Autumn in Eden festival Saturday, Oct. 10, featuring artisan vendors, family entertainment, a car show and local food offerings throughout the village center.
Islandia approves zoning revision for mixed-use project
The Village of Islandia approved revised zoning for a 12.6-acre mixed-use project by Motor Parkway Associates, including 366 apartments and a hotel.
East Dundee village president censured for partisan politics, ‘inappropriate’ comments
East Dundee Village President Dan Pearson was censured by the village board for inviting Republicans to give political speeches at Oktoberfest.
How speed cameras in East Canton are impacting local businesses
Some business owners in East Canton claim business has slowed after the village installed automated traffic enforcement cameras around town.
Salmon season brings business boost to Pulaski
The Salmon River in Pulaski is full of salmon and fly fishers, and that means business is booming in the village.
Sandhills Community College Small Business Center expands to Moore and Hoke Counties
Small Business Center Director, Laura Kinsman. Photo provided by: SCCSandhills Community College (SCC) is launching a redesigned Small Business Center model that expands no-cost entrepreneurial support across Moore and Hoke Counties. Rooted in the College’s commitment to strengthening small businesses and entrepreneurship as drivers of economic growth, the enhanced model is led by recently appointed Small Business Center Director, Laura Kinsman. The model also includes two new Senior Business Advisors who will provide trusted expertise, stronger community connections, and individualized guidance to entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the region.Kinsman brings a unique perspective to the director’s role as both a local business owner, operating in downtown Southern Pines, and a former Moore County educator. “Her combination of education, business ownership, leadership, and community involvement make her a great fit for the Small Business Center and the work we are continuing to build across Moore and Hoke counties,” said Taylor L. McCaskill, senior director of Workforce Development & Corporate Partnerships in a press release.Kinsman is an active member of the Southern Pines Business Association and has been connected to the Sandhills Small Business Center since the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. She looks forward to building on that experience by strengthening the Center’s partnerships and expanding its connections throughout the community.She will lead the Center's efforts to support entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Moore and Hoke County and be the connector to the North Carolina Community College System Small Business Center Network operations. The Center offers no-cost, confidential one-on-one counseling, practical workshops, and connections to the resources and partners that help local businesses start, grow, and create jobs.A key part of this new approach, only offered at SCC, is a network of Senior Business Advisors, experienced professionals who will provide individualized guidance in areas such as business planning, finance, marketing, operations, growth strategy, and problem-solving. These advisors will serve as trusted partners to entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them turn ideas into action, overcome barriers, strengthen existing businesses, and pursue new opportunities. This one-on-one counseling is available at no cost, ensuring that high-quality business support is accessible to entrepreneurs at every stage.Senior Business Advisor for Hoke County, Kenna Parks. Photo provided by: SCCKenna Parks has been named the senior business advisor for Hoke County. She is a business professional, entrepreneur, and educator who brings a unique combination of academic training and real-world business experience. She earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2017 and has built her career around entrepreneurship, marketing, business development, and helping others turn ideas into sustainable opportunities.Senior Business Advisor for Moore County, Katrin Henderson. Photo provided by: SCCAs a military spouse, she has successfully launched and operated businesses across five states, giving her firsthand experience in adapting to diverse markets, building new customer bases and understanding the importance of global reach in today’s business environment. Over the last decade, her areas of focus include business planning, marketing strategy, branding, customer development, financial preparedness, operational planning and connecting entrepreneurs with educational programs and community resources.Parks brings an especially valuable perspective to business advising because she is an entrepreneur herself. She is the owner of Glamo Society Bridal & Formal Wear in Raeford, N.C., giving her firsthand experience with the realities of launching, operating, marketing and growing a small business. She understands that entrepreneurship extends far beyond developing a great idea; it requires strategy, financial awareness, adaptability, strong customer relationships, and consistent execution.Katrin Henderson will serve as the senior business advisor for Moore County. Thriving in hospitality and retail, Henderson has enjoyed positions in Food & Beverage Management and Retail Management in various fine dining and retail establishments in the area, before opening her own children's shop in 2015, in the Village of Pinehurst. She is a native of Moore County.Quickly immersing herself in this new world of small business ownership, Henderson joined various boards and committees, including President Elect of Pinehurst Business Partners and Event Chair for the Holly Arts & Crafts Festival. She also partnered with local organizations such as Moore County Economic Development and Moore County Chamber of Commerce and Sandhills Community College Small Business Center in events and educational opportunities. In 2026, Henderson sold her shop and now offers full-time support to both new and seasoned entrepreneurs through freelance consulting mentorship and the SCC Small Business Center program.The Small Business Center team is passionate about making business resources more accessible, and ensuring entrepreneurs know they do not have to navigate business ownership alone. Through their work with SCC, they are committed to building meaningful relationships with local businesses, community organizations, and industry partners while helping entrepreneurs move from idea to strategy, strategy to action, and action to sustainable growth.“Sandhills Community College believes deeply in the power of small business and entrepreneurship because strong local businesses create jobs, spark innovation, generate investment, and strengthen the communities we serve,” said McCaskill in press release. “Through this new Small Business Center model, Sandhills is building a stronger ecosystem where entrepreneurs can connect, grow, and thrive, while helping drive long-term economic vitality throughout our region.”To learn more about the Center's services or to schedule a consultation, please contact Kinsman directly at kinsmanl@sandhills.edu or 910-695-3938.
Debt service and the Pentagon. Private equity and the politics of the US housing market. The return of black lung disease & the Franco-Prussian War in color.
Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. RALPH BALSON. 1890—1964. Oil and enamel, signed. Source: Gavekal This going to hurt - the two 7s in the US: diesel and mortgage rates Source: Gavekal In the US housing market, costs are soaring and the role of corporate, private equity-backed buyers is high on the mid-term election agenda. HEY READERS, THANK YOU for opening the Chartbook email. I hope it brightens your day. I enjoy putting out the newsletter, but tbh, what keeps this flow going is the generosity of those readers who clicked the subscription button. If you are persuaded to click, please consider the annual subscription of $60. It is both better value for you and a much better deal for me, as it involves only one credit card charge. Why feed the payments companies if we don’t have to. Subscribe It is striking how, since 2020, big banks have dropped out of the political spotlight in the US. For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Rates of the lung disease pneumoconiosis among working US coal miners have risen to levels not seen in nearly 40 years Source: Bloomberg Chinese Clean Technology Exports For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Ralph Balson (1939) Portrait of Grace Crowley Cole, G. O. & Haseman, S. M., (2023) “‘The Substance of Paint’: Class and Materiality in the Work of Ralph Balson”, Open Library of Humanities 9(2). Ralph Balson (1890–1964) was an English plumber and house painter who emigrated to Australia in 1913 and subsequently became a key member of Sydney’s artistic avant-garde. He is credited with having the first solo exhibition of purely abstract painting in Australia in 1941. Despite his role in developing Australian non-objective painting, Balson remained principally a house painter, working on his art practice at weekends. In 1955 he retired on a state pension and became a full-time artist. Balson’s artistic education and methods were critically shaped by his working-class background. He did not travel abroad until 1960 and was an avid auto-didact. His materials, palette, techniques and compositional strategies were likewise informed by his trade. Balson’s profession as a painter-decorator made him conspicuous within the predominantly middle-class Sydney art scene, though his painting partner Grace Crowley considered it an advantage in their pursuit of constructive painting. This paper explores the impact of Balson’s trade on his trajectory towards pure abstraction. While his art was at odds with the predominantly figurative mode of class-conscious art in Australian Modernism, we argue that it is embedded in the experience of class through its creative adaptation of labour into aesthetics. Source: OLH Svetlana Alexievich, The Art of Oral History No. 1 Paris Review Issue 257, Fall 2026 Interviewed by Elena Kostyuchenko INTERVIEWER How were you able to go to Chernobyl? Did you need special papers? ALEXIEVICH It was a time of chaos. They let me right into the zone. … More than anything, there was confusion. Adamovich [Ales Adamovich, the Soviet Belarusian writer], I remember, persuaded Gorbachev to send in the scientists, who showed up without even bringing their shaving kits. They were told that there had been an explosion at a nuclear power plant, but for some reason they thought that they’d be there for only a day or two. The first time I went was several months later, and people kept telling me about things they didn’t understand—how the fishermen couldn’t find worms, because they’d burrowed deep into the earth, how the milk wouldn’t curdle at the cheese factories. The honeybees wouldn’t come out of their hives. The evacuations started, I think, in the first month. The old women hid, they wouldn’t leave. I mentioned radiation to one of them and she said, “I’ve seen that radiation, all right! It’s yellow with green in it. I saw puddles of it in my garden, and I told the other women, and we ran and looked, and she had it in her garden, and the other one, too!” God, it was wild, the way the mind made sense of it. There was a story going around about Gorbachev telling the scientists to show him the radiation. “We can’t, it’s invisible.” “But I want to see it!” I also ran into the soldiers who’d been flown in on helicopters from Afghanistan. I asked them, “What are you doing here with your machine guns?” They said, “We’re collecting the radiation, that’s what.” So you had some of them running around with their guns, others out in the village washing off firewood or burying soil in the soil. These were the kinds of things that exploded our worldview. They made you realize that culture was just a chest filled with old manuscripts. There were no books in there that could help me. Our philosophers turned out to be useless when faced with the unprecedented. Derrida, Baudrillard—philosophy fell silent. What was happening? How would we live with it? That’s when I decided it simply needed to be witnessed. Which is what I did. INTERVIEWER I wanted to ask about how you talk to people. … ALEXIEVICH Yes, we sit and we talk—about what interests me and about life in general. About love, about everything in the world. That way, what comes out is three-dimensional. If you cut straight to the part you need, which is what journalists do, it won’t be interesting, and it won’t be the truth, either. Not the whole truth. INTERVIEWER Do people always open up when you ask questions, or can questions get in the way? ALEXIEVICH You have to ask questions, of course. Your job is to scour away the banality and return people to their true selves, to make them face what they rarely tap into. With every new person, you have to find a new way to do it. When you ask an interesting question or you share what happened to you, you help people really think about what they’re saying and not just repeat whatever they’ve picked up from the newspaper. But not everybody is capable of it, not everyone wants to put themselves through that. Either the chemistry starts to kick in or it doesn’t. A person might be wonderful, but you can tell that the conversation just isn’t going to happen. You can try to push it, but it will be a product of your own intellect, rather than of that mysterious connection. Life doesn’t come from the mind. Some people I can call two years after our last conversation, and they’ll say, “Oh, Svetochka! I think of you all the time,” and we’ll start talking again. With others, that won’t happen. That doesn’t mean they’re not extraordinary people, just that you can’t connect with them. They might have some insight, but you don’t have the right antenna to pick up their signal. Source: The Paris Review Colorized Franco-Prussian war … the ruins of Strasbourg with a French photographer and his mobile dark room. Ralph Balson (1961) Matter Painting If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe
Mold, unsafe building conditions force Ballston Spa to move court functions
The village board approved multiple measures Wednesday to hold court functions elsewhere.
Lidl To Close in Westhampton Beach
The Lidl discount grocery store in Westhampton Beach will close at the end of October, endly a nearly five-and-half-year run in the village.
Business 51 rebuild through Weston slips toward 2030 as village presses state for a crossing DOT says won't fit
Weston has been planning for Business 51 construction in 2029-30. The DOT's schedule now points to 2030-31. Meanwhile, the village is pushing for a pedestrian crossing at Neupert Avenue that the state says the highway can't fit, and it just lost a grant for a second crossing near the elementary school.
AxessPointe Plans to Open Health Facility
AxessPointe Community Health Services may partner with University Hospitals to operate a health clinic in Middlefield Village, Mayor Ben Garlich announced during Sept. 10 village council meeting. The potential partnership would involve the former BFG building, which the village is developing into a health care facility. “We’ve been working with UH on a medical center
The Villages Health’s $541 million settlement highlights the cost of ‘upcoding’
The settlement describes how The Villages Health would go back into patients' medical files months later and add diagnoses -- sometimes adding in monitoring, evaluations or treatments.
Prairie Meadows awards $275,000 to WesleyLife
Prairie Meadows has awarded $275,000 to the WesleyLife Foundation to support three of the organization’s initiatives. The grants include a $200,000 Legacy Grant supporting the $49.5 million redevelopment of The Village, a WesleyLife community in Indianola; $65,000 for WesleyLife Meals on Wheels; and $10,000 for WesleyLife Hospice. WesleyLife broke ground in 2025 on the redevelopment…
BOOK REVIEW: 'Charlie St. Cloud'
In the village of Marblehead, Mass., 28-year-old Charlie St. Cloud has spent his adult years taking care of the lawns and monuments of the cemetery where his younger brother, Sam,
Rise & Dine: Irish Hollow offers unique country charm
GALENA, Ill. — At the turn of the 20th century, a visitor traveling between Elizabeth and Galena would have encountered the village of Rodden.
Clinton Art and Music Festival Returns on Saturday
The Clinton Art and Music Festival will bring live music, art and family fun to the Village of Clinton.
Business is blooming: First Street Flowers stand a hit in the Village
A typical Thursday morning for Hannah Lazarz is spent in her front yard with a pair of shears. She carefully picks out her next batch of flowers, snipping them at an angle and plucking off most leaves. Those selected are bound for bouquets and jars for her flower stand, First
Voters in Wrightstown don’t want large data center developments
A total of 87% voted “No” to a referendum question asking if the village should authorize or participate in any public improvements related to them.
PHOTOS : Science Stroll Draws Crowd To Woods Hole
Woods Hole was buzzing with curiosity during the annual Science Stroll, as families filled the village for hands-on activities and a look at the ocean science happening in their own
Rochester's Davis-Fetch Building Corp. seeks tax exemptions for LeRoy expansion
The contractor wants to build a new $1.2 million 16,500-square-foot space on Lent Avenue in the village.
Bob on Business: The Village at Camp Bowie sold
The Village at Camp Bowie, a collection of shopping centers whose construction began in 1954, has been sold to Edens, a longtime owner of similar
Art Mart Owner Karen Fisher Expands Her Business in the Village
By Laurie Lunsford— MUNCIE, IN—“You are never too old to learn. Strive to do something new every day,” says Karen Fisher, teacher, artist, and owner of Art Mart. Fisher’s “something new” is construction. She is expanding her business in the Village by adding a large art classroom in the former tanning salon space in the strip mall. Along with wielding a paintbrush, she is learning to use tools to remove 20 tanning rooms, replace old flooring, and build fresh walls. Her dream is to create a place where people can gather and make art. She wants a place where she...
A journey to Snohomish for the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire
Knights on horseback, whip-based comedians and disappointing food options at the village of Merriwick.
How An Ancient Murder Was Solved Using Flies: The World's First Case Of Forensic Entomology In 13th Century China
The coroner asked every man in the village to drop their sickle in front of them. In a little while, without any further questioning, he turned and accused the perpetrator of murder.
5th Annual 'Party in the Park' Set for July 11 in New York Mills
The Village of New York Mills is inviting the community to the fifth annual Party in the Park, a celebration focused on family, friendship and local pride.
Georgia can do more to protect health coverage for its youngest residents
“If children are well, then the village is well.” This adage beautifully expresses a vital public health concept: A community’s health is best measured by how it protects and nurtures the welfare of its most vulnerable members. As an OB-GYN, I celebrate some of life’s happiest moments with families: a healthy pregnancy, a safe delivery, […]
Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote 'Y.M.C.A.,' dies
The group announced his death on Facebook, citing "a short but aggressive illness"
Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote 'Y.M.C.A.,' dies
The group announced his death on Facebook, citing "a short but aggressive illness"
Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote 'Y.M.C.A.,' dies
The group announced his death on Facebook, citing "a short but aggressive illness"
Victor Willis, Village People front man, dies at 74
(CNN) — Singer Victor Willis, front man of disco group the Village People, died Tuesday at age 74.
Victor Willis, Village People lead singer and voice behind 'Y.M.C.A.,' dies at 74
President Trump paid tribute to the Village People cofounder, who helped turn "Y.M.C.A." into one of disco's most enduring hits.
Trustees hear Glencoe neighbors who blast possibility of street parking near business district
Facing opposition from residents living adjacent to the Village’s business district, the Glencoe Village Board has adopted the findings of a long-in-development parking study without three areas that multiple residents spoke against during a recent Village Board meeting. In a 5-0 vote, with Trustee Dudley Onderdonk abstaining, the Glencoe Village Board on Thursday, June 18, […]
Whitesboro car show celebrates summer solstice
Whitesboro will host its Summer Solstice Car Show June 17 at the Village Green, with food vendors, live music and support for Feed Our Vets.
Skokie trustees raise entertainment tax, apply it to Netflix and other streaming services
It’s about to become slightly more expensive to stream television and music in Skokie. The Skokie Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Monday to raise the village’s Amusement Tax and expand its scope to apply to any “video streaming, audio streaming, or remotely accessed online games” that residents use on a rental or subscription basis, […]
‘The Odyssey’ gets 3-week run at Westwood’s the Village Theatre
“The Odyssey” opens everywhere July 17
Detroit investors are leaving their mark on this Lake Huron vacation town
The village of Lexington, snuggled up against Lake Huron, boasts of only about 1,000 or so year-round residents, but the population swells by maybe two-fold or more during the warmer months.
Making sports and fitness accessible to Ypsi-area kids is this nonprofit's focus
The grassroots nonprofit Ypsilanti Community - The Village was created by Ypsilanti Community High School alumni who wanted to reduce young people's barriers to participating in sports.
Rosemont Adds Another Layer Of Security At Its Entertainment District
The village of Rosemont will likely receive three magnetometers in a few weeks to provide added security at Parkway Bank Park where the community’s annual outdoor concert series will soon begin. DSI Security Services will provide the equipment. The magnetometers will be stationed at three entrances to the entertainment district. One will be located near
Oak Park celebrates National Small Business Week for the first time
Oak Park took part for the first time in National Small Business Week, hosting discussions on starting a business in the village.
Local village breaks ground on recreation and entertainment complex
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) – Leaders in Bellaire broke ground Monday on a $1.67 million recreation and entertainment complex they say will bring new energy to the village and serve as a long…
ACLU sues Palmetto Bay for ‘retaliating’ against Councilman who mocked Charlie Kirk’s death
The complaint claims the Village’s actions not only harmed Cody’s standing but also interfered with voters’ right to representation.
The politics of Trump's ballroom
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — President Trump was about a half-hour into his second speech of the day, musing about the danger he faced last week at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Saturday night, it was good for one thing. People are loving my ballroom now,” Trump told a crowd last night. “That’s the only thing. They love my ballroom.” Ever since he was hustled off stage at the Washington Hilton last week, after an attempted shooter breached the dinner’s security perimeter and sent guests diving to the floor, the president has argued that the incident is proof for why his White House ballroom is needed. Only his planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot project, Trump has reasoned, can keep a president truly safe at major events. It’s true that a bunch of GOP lawmakers have jumped on board with new legislation and words of support for Trump’s project. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Rand Paul and other prominent Republicans went on TV to talk about the need for a ballroom. But as we reported at The Washington Post this week, “people” aren’t really changing their minds on Trump’s ballroom. A new Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that most Americans still oppose the ballroom project: 56 percent against it versus 28 percent in favor. The numbers are the same as a poll from last year, the Post’s polling whiz Scott Clement found. Other new polls have found similar margins, too. “I’m just not a giant fan, especially of extravagance,” one independent voter told me. “I mean, in the era we’re in right now, given how much people are struggling, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to spend $400 million on a ballroom.” How we got here The Washington Post has followed Trump’s ballroom project very closely. (My colleague Jonathan Edwards may have written the most total words of any reporter about the project; I may be second.) The project exploded as a national issue after Trump tore down the White House’s East Wing after initially promising not to touch it.1 Historic preservationists sued, and about a month ago, a federal judge ordered a halt to ballroom construction.2 The only way the ballroom could proceed, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled, was if Congress explicitly authorized Trump’s plans. (An appeals court has stayed Leon’s order for now.) The judge’s ruling raised an obvious question: would Congress authorize the project? Keep in mind, “authorization” doesn’t mean that Congress needs to necessarily fund the planned $400 million project; they could just sign off on the private donations that Trump has solicited to pay for the ballroom.3 But GOP lawmakers really didn’t want to talk about the ballroom, we reported at The Post just a few weeks ago. One major reason was the ballroom’s bad polling — not a small detail with many of their own midterm elections looming. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, and Trump’s advocacy, may have changed the political conversation around the ballroom. As this week’s polling shows, it doesn’t seem to have affected the fundamental questions surrounding the project. To put it another way, voters still say that cost-of-living concerns are top-of-mind heading into the midterms. Some Republican and independent voters have told me that they see the ballroom as a vanity project that will help Trump but do nothing for their own lives. It might not help Republicans that Trump has dismissed some of the cost-of-living concerns. He’s described “affordability” as a buzzword manufactured by Democrats whose policies helped cause inflation. “They’ve got one good line of bullshit,” Trump said in his first speech yesterday, delivered at a Florida retirement community known as The Villages. Thanks for reading Dan Diamond's newsletter! Subscribe for free to stay up-to-date on my work. Subscribe Speaking of Trump’s speeches… I’m down in Florida because it’s my “duty week” as a White House reporter — basically, I follow the president wherever he goes. (And then hand the baton off to one of my Washington Post colleagues next week.) As part of my duty week, I’ve spent a few days covering the White House’s reaction to Saturday’s attempted shooting, including officials’ review of the security protocols to protect the president. Trump was restrained in the wake of the incident, addressing the nation from the White House briefing room about the need for peaceful dialogue and trying to lower the temperature. But he’s clearly been itching to get back out of the White House, and I was curious to hear how his Florida speeches would go. And — to my ears — it was an unburdened Trump. Not the one we saw Saturday night in the White House briefing room, but the one we witnessed on the campaign trail in 2024. Loose, dropping profanities, mocking everyone, including members of his team. “We have a man here who knows more about Medicaid, Medicare, medical crap than any human being. Where’s Dr. Oz? Where the hell are you, stand up,” Trump said, referring to Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “It’s the most boring trip I’ve ever made. He’s telling me about Medicare, Medicaid. All I want to do is take care of you, I don’t care. I said, ‘You work out the details.’” I wrote up the speech, as Trump headed to West Palm Beach to deliver more remarks a few hours later. The White House didn’t like my story. Their rapid-response team called it the work of a “total loser”4 and “a miserable TDS-ridden moron.” You can be the judge of whether it’s a fair story or the product of someone afflicted with “TDS.” (The White House’s shorthand for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”) I’ve pasted the story below with a gift link, meaning that you don’t need to be a Washington Post subscriber to read it. It might prompt you for an email address, though. Meanwhile, I’ll be down in Florida for the rest of the weekend, covering the president. It’s TBD whether those stories will be deemed TDS-afflicted, too. 1 Jonathan details the past six months of ballroom fallout, reactions and the implications for executive authority here. I also had a great time talking about Trump’s ballroom and other projects with Australia’s ABC News Daily on a podcast this week. 2 The judge allowed underground construction and national security-related work to continue. But that hasn’t been enough for Trump, who says the ballroom itself is essential for his protection. 3 The ballroom donors include companies like Palantir, Google and Amazon. For transparency, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, where I work. No one has ever interfered with our team’s coverage of the ballroom or our mentions of Amazon or Bezos, and if that changed, I’d speak out. 4 To be fair, I’ve spent the morning working on stories and writing this Substack post rather than enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. So they may be onto something about who’s winning and who’s losing.
Trump jokes about security concerns, mic problems and Dr Oz during freewheeling Florida speech
Trump turned a microphone malfunction into a comic riff at The Villages in Florida, joking that he was screaming his "a-- off" over the bad mic.
Pickleball and protests: How a Trump visit is roiling the world's largest retirement community
Politics have become an increasingly thorny issue in the Villages, the world's largest retirement community.
Skokie discusses hiking, expanding entertainment tax in early budget review
As Skokie staff and trustees meet this month to review their budget for fiscal year 2027, officials have recommended raising the local entertainment tax to fund a new ambulance and improvements to the village’s development services. The proposed tax hike, which trustees would have to approve by an ordinance separate from the budget, would raise […]
Women-owned businesses uplift the economy, and each other
Female owned businesses in Marcellus are showcasing a culture of community and support that uplifts the village's economy.
Sackets Harbor: Village & chamber respond to business owner’s Tom Homan decision
The village of Sackets Harbor and its chamber of commerce are speaking out about a business owner’s decision to refuse service to U.S. border czar Tom Homan.
Lincoln Heights community building brings more opportunities for businesses, organizations
The Village of Lincoln Heights is helping bring businesses and organizations together under one roof.
Byron Donalds to kick off 'Defending The Florida Dream' tour in The Villages
The first in a series of policy-driven events will focus of the rising cost of health care.
The art of small-town politics
When we arrived in River Forest, the village board was dominated by a village president who had reigned from 1993-2009. An interregnum of four years ensued, followed by the current board president, in place since 2013. Ours is a small town next to a large town. River Forest has about 12,000 residents. Our neighbor to […]
Why one Ohio village started its own medical transport business
Woodlawn Transport provides non-emergency rides for people inside and outside Woodlawn. The profits go straight into the village coffers.
BNP Paribas Open unveils expanded entertainment lineup for 2026 tournament
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) - The BNP Paribas Open is expanding its off-court offerings in 2026, announcing an entertainment lineup that includes live music, fireworks and special fan experiences throughout the tournament. Organizers said daily performances will take place at the Village Stage and Paradise Pavilion, beginning with Abi Carter during opening week. In addition
6 events in Lancaster County this week, from a whoopie pie festival to the Village\'s last weekend
Celebrate the arts and food scenes in Lancaster County this weekend.
Coach V’s Corner: Sports tidbits
A few days back, I came across an old Sports Illustrated article from 1988 about a mountain runner from the village of Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, named Al Waquie. Anything written about distance runners has...
$2,600 per month health insurance premium: ‘The math isn’t math-ing’
Insurance premiums are exploding across Florida — and for one retired math teacher in The Villages, the numbers are staggering. After nearly 30 years in the classroom, Michael Fell medically retired and moved to The Villages with his wife, Dawn. Instead of enjoying retirement, he’s trying to solve what may be the most baffling equation of his life. “The math isn’t math-ing for us,” Fell said. Last year, Fell paid $723 a month for coverage through Florida Blue. In January, after enhanced federal health care subsidies expired, the bill jumped to more than $2,600 a month. “Which caused our premium to go up by about 259%. I’ll throw some math out there for the audience as a former math teacher,” Fell said.
$2,600 per month health insurance premium: ‘The math isn’t math-ing’
Insurance premiums are exploding across Florida — and for one retired math teacher in The Villages, the numbers are staggering. Instead of enjoying retirement, he’s trying to solve what may be the most baffling equation of his life. Last year, he paid $723 a month for coverage. In January, after enhanced federal health care subsidies expired, the bill jumped to more than $2,600 a month.
Club Padel Newtown to bring fast-growing racquet sport and entertainment hub to village
A new sports and entertainment destination is coming to the Village of Newtown, introducing one of the world’s fastest-growing racquet sports to Greater Cincinnati’s East Side.
Live Square Entertainment for Sunday, February 1 - Villages-News.com
Nightly entertainment performing in The Villages Town Squares on February 1, 2026
Business Is Booming in the Village of Berwyn
It's new year, new businesses in Berwyn, which now boasts a Trader Joe’s, pet grooming spot, workout studio and coffee shop.
Village awards 5 new Lansing business licenses in November 2025
The following is information provided by the Village of Lansing regarding new business licenses awarded in November 2025.
Biltmore Village transforms into a Charles Dickens wonderland with music, entertainment
Biltmore Village invites the public to step back in time this holiday season during its Dickens Christmas in the Village event.