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Political and racial tensions in Tennessee erupted into public view last week when Republicans in the state Assembly voted to expel two Black Democrats from the chamber.

It was an unprecedented action that Democrats across the country including President Joe Biden excoriated as racist and political.

But politics watchers in Tennessee and around the nation say that what happened was nothing new for the states GOP lawmakers and that the process Republicans have taken to minimize the representation of Democrats on both the federal and state levels has actually been years in the making.

In recent years, Republicans have redrawn maps that effectively curtail the number of districts that represent Democrats including some of the most diverse districts in the state and increase the number of solidly red ones.

The end result has been less representation for Democrats and for Black constituents in the state House in Nashville and in the U.S. Congress.

Over the past few years, too many in the Republican Party have employed a series of strategies to suppress the voice of the people, from partisan and racial gerrymandering to voter suppression to outright intimidation," former Attorney General Eric Holder, who now leads the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a statement."Now, without any pretense of justification, they are in Tennessee removing duly elected Democratic lawmakers from office.

Those efforts would not be possible without first rigging the electoral maps to prevent free and fair elections where the will of the people might be fully expressed, added Holder, who said Monday he was providing one of the two Democratic lawmakers who were expelled, Justin Jones, with legal counsel.

Just last year, the state Assembly which Republicans control with a supermajority sliced the one solidly Democratic congressional district that had for decades encompassed all of Nashville, into multiple new districts that are all now solidly red. (The new map helped Republicans pick up a seat in the states congressional delegation; they now outnumber Democrats 8 to 1).

And this year, Republicans in the state House, led by Majority Leader William Lamberth, moved legislation to cut the 40-seat Nashville city council known as the Metropolitan Council in half to 20. (State judges blocked that effort temporarily on Monday.) Democrats in the state have pointed to the fact that voters already rejected a measure in a 2015 referendum that would have accomplished a similar result, noting that shrinking the council would result in the most diverse neighborhoods in the city losing exclusive representation.

Democrats in the state also alleged that only local lawmakers should have the power to alter the size of the body and that the measure from Republicans in the Legislature amounts to political retribution after it killed efforts for the city to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.

However, efforts by Tennessee Republicans to effectively lessen representation for Democrats have been most obvious at the state level.

Such efforts in recent years have created a map of districts in the state House in which half of the Republicans in the chamber ran totally uncontested in 2022. Of the 38 who did have an opponent on the ballot, all but four won their election with 60% or more of the vote.

Recent statewide elections show a solid GOP advantage but one that still pales in comparison to the margins that Republicans have carved out in the Legislature and in the states congressional delegation.

For example, Donald Trump won the presidential vote in the state in both 2020 and 2016 with about 61% of the vote, and Republican Gov. Bill Lee won re-election last year with 65% of the vote.

But Republicans hold 27 of the 33 seats in the state Senate (82%) and 75 of the 99 seats in the state House (76%).

Politics watchers said the trends began years earlier, with a tea party-fueled backlash against the Barack Obama presidency that helped sweep Republicans into even larger majorities in the Legislature.

2010 redistricting essentially locked in a supermajority, and since then its gotten even worse [for Democrats], said Matt Anderson, a Democratic political operative who has worked with state Senate Democrats for years.

Republicans in the state House voted last week to expel Jones, along with Justin J. Pearson, who are both Black, over their gun-control protests on the chamber floor. A vote to expel a third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, fell short.Including Jones, who was reinstated to his seat following a vote Monday by the Nashville Metropolitan Council, and Pearson, whose reinstatement will be voted on Wednesday by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, there are 15 Black members in the state Assembly.

In a state where approximately 78% of the residents are white and 17% are Black, the expelled legislators represented districts that were far more diverse. State Assembly District 86, which Pearson represented, is 61% Black, while state Assembly District 52, which Jones represented, is 31% Black.

In interviews with NBC News, Democratic voters throughout the state said theyd grown furious in recent years as Republican effortsto consolidate control and lessen Democratic representation in areas with Democratic majorities intensified.

Because were in a state where you have majority Republicans, youre going to have people take advantage of their power, and thats what theyve been able to do for a long time, said Karlton Davidson, 48, of Nashville.

Republicans want to decide who represents me. They keep wanting to tell me who should be representing me. You know I dont want them to represent me, added Sidney Tate, 79, who lives in Memphis.

Sheila Hudson, 62, of Memphis, told NBC News, It should be us choosing who we want, not the Republicans.

Theyve been pulling things like this for years, she added.

Multiple spokespersons for and officials from the Tennessee GOP didnt respond to questions from NBC News.

But even a handful of former Republican officials have in recent days lamented the expulsions as just the latest example of increasingly aggressive tactics by the state GOP.

Today is such a sad day for our State, former state Rep. Eddie Mannis, a moderate Republican who served just one term in the chamber before declining to run for re-election, posted on Facebook last week after Jones was formally expelled.

Adam Edelman is a political reporter for NBC News.

Safia Samee Ali, Ben Kamisar, Bridget Bowman and Scott Bland contributed.

Continue reading here:
How redistricting brought Tennessee to this moment - NBC News

(Left to right) The writer and his wife, Charlene, enjoy the salad course with Ernesto and Aaron while server Patrick spices things up.

Sometimes when there is a lot of build-up for an event, you set up expectations in your mind and then the reality ends up being a let down. I was assigned on your behalf, gentle reader, to experience just such an event the opening of Trattoria Fondi, the newest dining destination at the Bedford Village Inn, and this is not one of those occasions.

Discretely tucked into the ground floor of The Grand (the most recent addition to the BVI grounds) is Trattoria Fondi. My wife, Charlene, and I arrived early to meet the amazing Kendal Bush (who took photos for this article), and everything was ready for service. Having both worked in and owned hospitality spots, I consider myself fairly in tune with the service aspect in bars and restaurants, and I enjoy reading the backstory through behavior and body language. I felt like we had walked into Delmonicos NYC during the grand era of dining. The entire staff made eye contact and invited us to sit at the bar while Kendal photographed a few drinks and plates. I was certain that the matre d must have lined up everyone before shift to make sure that nails were trimmed and shoes were shined.

We were joined by Kendals arm candy, Aaron, and my friend and musical collaborator Ernesto (who also publishes this magazine). I had my lovely bride as a designated driver, so I assumed the dominant drinking role for the evening. I ordered an Inn Fashion, which, in addition to being a great pun, was a quaffable beverage. Woodford Bourbon, Bully Boy Amaro, Lindemans Kriek and hopped simple syrup. I am not a huge Lindemans fan, but the balance of the herbal hops and sweet/tart cherry with the vanilla and oak of the bourbon and the hit of bitterness from the amaro made a cocktail that was dangerously easy to drink.

Dont forget the bruschetta, seen here with a crispy fig and prosciutto pizza.

Ernesto and Aaron started to argue about wine. I am not going to lie to you, gentle reader, and pretend that I am not a wine guy. I am. I was a wine guy with a lifetime tasting pass for Mirassou Winery as soon as I was 21 and I feel like I built the base of my flavor sense in those cellars. But the dude cannot abide wine conversations. Perhaps it is my California upbringing, where you heard phrases like terroir and cork taint in parent-teacher conferences, but I opted to gracefully back up from their chat (beep, beep, beep) and examine my surroundings a bit more closely.

The walls, partially wrapped in a lush, red grass wallpaper, gave a nice dimensionality to the space with much of the lighting tucked into soffits in the ceiling, so the illumination is diffuse and yet the space is not dark. A center half-wall displayed mismatched pieces of crockery, giving a nice homey diversion from the formality of the rest of the space. The room was originally a hotel lobby bar, and only emerged from its chrysalis late last year as Fondi. Occupancy is just 36 seats, and, as the cameras and lights were put away, most of those seats filled up quickly.

As the restaurant swung into full-capacity service, we sat down for our meal. Kendal may or may not have shot 100 or so more pictures and, in the process, perhaps moved us all around the table like it was the tea party in Wonderland and there was no room! Anything for the shot. I should have shaved.

Melissa Quinn-Samaras, sales and marketing director, organized the evening for us, and was there to make introductions and make sure we felt at home. We got to chat with Chef Tina Verville about seasonality and menu design, and then the first round of food arrived, opening with several salads, the best being a mix of bitter field greens, fennel and citrus supremes with a bit of ricotta salata cheese and a hint of bergamot vinaigrette. It reminded me of a salad we do at home, and mine disappeared in a flash.

As the next course made its way over, I was reduced to monosyllables of affirmation, such as mmmmm and yahhhhh. There appeared upon my table a tail of a whale with a bounty about it; a seafood tower to draw tears from Neptune himself. The shrimp were tender and sweet, perfectly toothsome. There were small, locally sourced oysters as well. I try not to be a snob, but when it comes to oysters, I am, and Im glad I managed to grab the last one. Briney and clean, perfectly shucked, no sauce needed. Some small raw clams joined the party, but I never got to meet them. Rumor has it they were quite enjoyable. The smoked salmon was silky and not over-smoked, but I felt the real star was the smoked trout. Light mouthfeel, flakey yet moist, perfect smoke I will totally try to rip this off the next time I fire up the smoker. And then, all of a sudden, all of the seafood was gone.

Bitter greens and sweet citrus made for a refreshing salad.

But fear not, my friend, for we have many more courses to go. Our server, Patrick, was masterful at assessing needs. He would silently walk by, making eye contact to see if we needed anything and continue on if not. Perfectly in tune yet unobtrusive, Patrick whisked the now-debauched tower away for a proper burial, and replaced it with a two-dimensional display of Mediterranean marvelousness; so many ways to make pork even better than it already was, all represented here: prosciutto, salume, capocollo. A nice assortment of olives adorned one end of the board, with fresh berries and candied orange peel. There were some airy housemade cacio e pepe crackers, as well as several fresh breads. On a normal night this would have been a wonderful dinner all by itself. The platter remained at our table, and we diligently worked on it over the next several hours. Servers removed plates, glasses and utensils as we discarded them. The service was truly top shelf.

We ordered another round, and Ernesto selected a bottle of Barolo, which had just the right balance of tannins and jammyness. Next up was a flatbread pizza. The crust was correctly crisped, the flavors were classic and on point fig, prosciutto, mesclun, fresh mozzarella, with a balsamic drizzle. These flavors just sing together, earthy sweet and tart with a touch of bitter, creamy and crunchy perfect. At this point, the dishes were coming out to be shared family-style, so we all got a taste of just about everything. An old-school bruschetta appeared and faded away like a ghost in a Colin Hay song.

Secondi started arriving, and the table quickly filled up. There was costolette di manzo brasate, a marsala-braised short rib with asparagus, herb-roasted potatoes and blistered cherry tomatoes. I definitely adopted that plate, and did not share well with the other children in class. Grilled shrimp with garlic and pesto followed, as did a wild boar bolognese with mascarpone, both of which were perfectly and delicately prepared. Lastly came tagliatelle allo zafferano, or clams with pancetta and garlic in white wine. It was like something you would see wiseguys eating in a gangster flick, with napkins tucked into their collars out-of-this-world good, in a very uncomplicated way. Perhaps I ordered another cocktail.

The desserts were on the way, and, at this point, I wasnt sure I was the right person for the job. But I am not here to let you down, and I persevered if only for the sake of literature. I started with the obligatory gelato affogato, in which vanilla gelato quickly melted into hot espresso. That got me into dessert mode and I stopped second- guessing my own gustatory fortitude. The tiramisu was traditional, with the right texture though a little sweet for my taste, but that cannoli. That cannoli was exquisite. A housemade pastry shell contained pistachio-infused ricotta with just a hint of sweetness. Paired with a very dark espresso, those flavors carried me into the gentle embrace of satiety, and there I realized that we had been eating and drinking for four hours (!).

I cant remember the last time I spent four hours on a meal. Looking ahead, I cant think of a place I would rather do so than at Trattoria Fondi.

Bedecked with a curated collection of crockery, this bench feature nicely divided the room without making it feel cramped.

Read more:
Bedford Village Inn's Trattoria Fondi Makes a Grand and Lasting ... - New Hampshire Magazine

Click here to sign up to our free newsletters! King Charles III will be crowned on Saturday, May 6.

Folk in Moray and Banffshire will be hanging out the bunting and flying the flags to mark the coronation of King Charles III.

A long list of events are taking place over the course of the extended three-day weekend.

These include a lunch at Elgin Town Hall, to which a special invitation is extended to Ukrainian refugees.

A full programme of all the local events currently known by Moray Council can be viewed at the bottom of this article.

In addition, communities hosting events are being invited to publish the details on the official online map HERE

Meanwhile, it's been suggested that churches could open their doors so people can watch the coronation service in the company of others.

In addition, bell ringers from around the UK are being invited to come forward to 'Ring for the King'.

The Lord Lieutenants of Moray and Banffshire Seymour Monro and Andrew Simpson will both be representing the region at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6, as will several local people who have received honours.

Seymour said: "Everyone is encouraged to join in the celebrations this is a great opportunity for communities to come together to mark a new era."

A special bank holiday on Monday, May 8, marks The Big Help Out, where residents are being encouraged to join local voluntary organisations for the day. More details HERE

At the start of the weekend a total of 500 outstanding volunteers from across the UK will be announced as Coronation Champions.

Several Moray and Banffshire individuals are among those whose names have been submitted.

Andrew Simpson said: "King Charles III was keen the events surrounding his coronation should reflect issues he views as vital to the country in the 21st Century.

"These themes of community and volunteering are central to all the activities being planned across our areas.

"The local organisers are to be congratulated on their hard work and creativity in putting together so many fantastic events."

Finally, on Sunday, May 14, a service of celebration will be held from 6pm at St Laurence Church in Forres.

This multi-faith service will be open to everyone with invitations also going to recent award winners, the emergency services, Armed Forces, community groups, youth organisations and schools.

John Cowe, Moray Council's civic leader, said: "The community spirit is very much in evidence throughout Moray.

"I hope we can all see the coronation weekend as an opportunity to be together, work together and celebrate together."

Council leader Kathleen Robertson said: "Weve all seen the footage and photos of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, so it will be wonderful for us all to make new memories together."

Coronation activities currently known about in Moray and Banffshire:

Thursday, May 4:

Cornhill Guild Coffee Morning: 10-11.30am

Friday, May 5:

Drummuir 21 group holding a service and tree planting: Location and time TBC

Saturday, May 6:

Buckie: Street party, High Street

Buckie sing-a-long: Fishermens Hall, 2-4pm & 6-8pm

Dufftown Royal British Legion: Ceilidh, 7-11pm

Findochty: Street party, Link Road

Findhorn Yacht Club: Screening of Coronation with tea and cake, time TBC

Findhorn James Milne Institute: community street party and flotilla in the Bay, 1pm-4pm

Forglen Hall: Coronation viewing and lunch, time TBC

Glenrinnes Community Centre: Hog roast and Ceilidh, 6.30pm

Portessie Community Hall Committee: Live screening with coffee and cake and family fun day, 10am-2pm

Sunday, May 7

Aberchirder Community Association: Fun day at MacRobert Park, 12-4pm

Alves Community Hall: Posh Afternoon Tea Party, 2-4pm

Banff Castle Community Gathering: 12pm

Buckie Rotary Vintage Vehicle Run: Buckie to Portsoy, 10.30am-3.30pm

Buckie Fishermens Hall: Indoor street party, 2-4.30pm

Burghead Community Hall: Posh Afternoon Tea, 2-4.30pm

Craigellachie Village Council: Community Picnic at Craigellachie Park, 1-4pm (tbc)

Duffus: Gordonstoun Community Picnic, time TBC

Elgin: Street party, Reidhaven Street

Elgin Town Hall: Ukraine/Scotland Afternoon Tea, 3-5pm

Elgin: Williamson Hall, St Columbus Church: Afternoon Tea Party, time TBC

Hopeman Bowling Club Big Picnic: 2pm

Hopeman: Community Picnic in the Pavilion, all day

Lossiemouth: 2-3 Group Soup & Sweet, Football Club, 12-2pm

Portknockie Community Council: Big Lunch, 12-4pm

Portsoy Royal Scottish Country Dance Society: Dances through the decades, Portsoy Church Centre, time TBC

Portsoy 75 club and thrift shop: Afternoon tea, Church Centre, Town Hall & Scout Hut, time TBC

Spey Bay Community Hall: Posh Afternoon Tea Party, 2-4pm

Monday, May 8

Banff & MacDuff Mens Shed: volunteering, time TBC

Drummuir 21: volunteering to clear and improve school grounds (Botriphnie Primary School), time TBC

Kingston: Unveiling King Charles III memorial bench, bring your own picnic, from 1pm

Private events

Abbeyside Care Home: Afternoon tea party and BBQ

Abbeyvale Care Home: Afternoon tea party

Andersons Care Home: Afternoon cream tea and street party

Glenisla Care Home: Afternoon tea party

Speyside Care Home: Garden Party

The Grove Care Home: Afternoon tea party

VIP Childcare nursery: A week of Coronation themed activities and picnic in the Biblical Garden, Elgin

Go here to see the original:
Coronation events in Moray and Banffshire - Elgin - Northern Scot

UMFKSign (1)

University of Maine at Fort Kent Credit: Don Eno / St. John Valley Times

University of Maine at Fort Kent Credit: Don Eno / St. John Valley Times

Contributed April 12, 2023

The Kentucky Derby-themed event will feature a southern tea and guests are encouraged, but not required, to get in the spirit of the evening by dressing in Derby attire.

FORT KENT, Maine The University of Maine at Fort Kents Foundation will host its 16th annual UMFK Foundation Gala dinner and entertainment fundraiser on Saturday, May 13 on the UMFK campus. The Kentucky Derby-themed event will feature a southern tea and guests are encouraged, but not required, to get in the spirit of the evening by dressing in Derby attire.

We are thrilled to welcomeour local businesses and partners toUMFK for the Gala fundraiser insupport of our amazingstudents, said event Chairperson and Foundation Vice President Nichole Jandreau. Helping our students is a cause I am passionate about and am lucky enough to witness the positiveeffectsof the work of the Foundation every day. Welook forward to seeing everyone on the dance floor on May 13!

The event kicks-off at 4 p.m. with a southern style tea party at the UMFK Blake Library withsignature drinks and light appetizers. At 5 p.m. guests will move to the quad under a heated tent for a very impressive derby inspired seven-course dinner, followed by an evening of dancing with music provided by Pulse Entertainment. A dessert station and cash bar will remain open during the evening.

The Gala will bea fun evening of great food, livelyentertainment, and reconnecting with friends from the community and beyond, said FoundationPresident Stephanie Chick. We are honored to be raising money in support of our UMFK-centeredmission while having fun in the process. We simply cant wait to share all the ways your donations have madepositive impactsover the recent years.

The UMFK Foundation financially supports academics, research, scholarships, facilities, and more that arenot budgeted in the Universitys annual operating budget.This importantwork assists the University in providing students access to opportunities to ensure they reach their full potential.

The Gala is the Foundations primary fundraising event of the year. The celebration brings togetherbusinesses and organizations; the UMFK community including staff, faculty, and students; and community friends.Attendees include supporters from the local area and beyondwho recognize the important contributions of the UMFK Foundation.

If you are interested in attending this great event and supporting the UMFK Foundation, gold, silver, and bronze sponsorship levels are still available. The deadline to sponsor a table is Friday, April 21. Individual tickets are also for sale.

To reserve your spot or for more information, please contact the UMFK Development Office by calling Shannon Lugdon at 207-834-7800.

Thank you for reading your 4 free articles this month. To continue reading, and support local, rural journalism, please subscribe.

Go here to see the original:
UMFK Foundation to host Spring Gala - fiddleheadfocus.com

Oulton Park Care Centre in Oulton hosted localRainbows, Brownies and Guides to help spread Eastercheer.

Staff dressed up for the Easter event Picture: Oulton Park Care Centre (Image: Oulton Park Care Centre)

The youngsters and residents enjoyed a Mad Hatter's tea party, an Easter egg hunt, a colouring competition, an egg and spoon race and acampfire sing-a-long.

A youngster hands out an Easter egg Picture: Oulton Park Care Centre (Image: Oulton Park Care Centre)

An Easter bunny also popped by to make sure everyone at the care home in Union Lanewas having fun.

Gemma Hatton, home administrator, said: "Bringing the community inbrings such a large amount of joy to our residents and really supports with their wellbeing.

Young and old alike enjoyed the Easter fun Picture: Oulton Park Care Centre (Image: Oulton Park Care Centre)

"Its amazing what a smile can do. There was so much fun and laughter had.

"The residents really got into the spring feeling with our Easter bunny visiting each and every one of them.

"To ensure the fun was shared all over the home staff dressed up to really get into the spirit of it.

A Mad Hatter's tea party was held Picture: Oulton Park Care Centre (Image: Oulton Park Care Centre)

"We had delicious cakes and wonderful refreshing beverages at the Mad Hatter's tea party made by our wonderful chefs."

See the rest here:
Lowestoft area Brownies and Guides in Easter care home visit - Lowestoft Journal