Latest news with #JanetMartin
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The charming Scottish seaside resort that survived against all odds
Gone are the days when half of Glasgow thrashed 'doon the water' on holidays to the Firth of Clyde resorts. The advent of cheap jet travel has spirited Glaswegians off to the Spanish Costas, sounding the Clyde's death knell. Ayr no more. Ardrossan no more. One resort town, though, survived the onslaught. Largs is the beguiling Clydeside resort they forgot to close down. Behind the town's evergreen tourist appeal are an embarrassment of natural charms. The emerald cloak of the surprisingly wild (and wildly beautiful) Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park provides a rugged natural amphitheatre, with Knock Hill a brilliantly rewarding yomp. The famed beachfront promenade unfurls over two miles, with Great Cumbrae sparkling just across the water. The isles of Bute and Arran glower beyond, competing with the hills of Argyll for cinematic attention. 'Largs is lovely and it just oozes nostalgia,' beams Janet Martin of Tasting History Scotland Tours, who hasn't looked back since moving up from Kent 40 years ago. There is only one place for us to meet – Nardini's, a graceful old Art Deco ice-cream parlour and café that ushers us gently into a different time. It's a warmer, more innocent world, the 1930s when the 'war to end all wars' had supposedly brought enduring peace to a war-ravaged Britain. 'That was a different Britain back then and visitors today enjoy tapping into the comfort of that age and its heritage,' muses Janet. If the name Nardini sounds familiar it's because – outside of Scotland's west coast – it's more synonymous with the actress Daniela Nardini, who scooped ice creams for customers as a child long before winning awards for her role as Anna Forbes in the BBC Two series This Life. Her Scottish family of Italian heritage are part of Largs' solid Ayrshire sandstone backbone. Their Art Deco creation has stood proudly since 1935, even surviving the dark days of the Second World War, when all able-bodied Italian men of fighting age were incarcerated on the Isle of Wight, despite one of the Nardini family fighting for the Allies in the Great War. In its heyday, a six-man orchestra struck up and a crooner sashayed around charming customers. The stage still stands. Though there is no live music today I savour delicious nostalgia with traditional haddock and chips and a strawberry milkshake topped up with double cream. Long gone, of course, are the halcyon days when dozens of paddle steamers swished into Largs daily, disgorging delighted holidaymakers for meanders along the town's palm-fringed waterfront. The palms still sway, but only one paddle steamer – the heritage vessel PS Waverley – still calls in summer. You can catch one of the modern ferries that ease across to the island of Great Cumbrae, home to a cracking gin distillery, the trim village of Millport and the only cathedral in the Hebrides. That ferry link and the hourly train service are the oxygen that Largs needs to continue winning its battle for survival. The railway arrived in 1885. More hotels, guesthouses and cafes followed suit, along with Barrfields Theatre. Remarkably it's still open today and has had a swimming pool and history museum (Vikingar!) wrapped around it. The roster of past performers is as impressive as it is eclectic, with everyone from Billy Connolly and Gregor Fisher (Rab C. Nesbitt), through to Ronnie Corbett. During Largs' golden age most people came for a day trip or just a night, a trend that continues today, but historically some more unwelcome visitors lingered longer in the Firth of Clyde. Much longer. The Vikings first descended on the Scottish isles with the shock sacking of the religious community of Iona in 795 AD. They ravaged, settled and then ravaged again, seizing control of almost all of Scotland's islands, as far south as the Isle of Man, a Scottish possession at the time. At Vikingar!, local schoolkids learn that Largs had Thor long before Marvel, as they're stirred by proud tales of how the mighty Norse eventually met their match in the Battle of Largs in 1293. The museum's Joe Thompson tells me, 'Largs was pivotal as it's when we finally sent the Vikings home to think again. Without Largs, Scotland today might have been very different.' Largs really does spread its wings far and wide. A plaque marks the sight of the hotel where Churchill and Eisenhower cemented Normandy as the site of D-Day landings. William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, inventor of the Kelvin Scale, loved Largs so much he built a mansion here and Largs luminary Sir Thomas Brisbane made such an impact as governor of New South Wales they named Queensland's capital after him. Largs has also had a seismic impact on football. The roll-call of managers who have honed their skills or taught at the legendary Inverclyde National Sports Centre, overlooking the town, includes Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Roy Hodgson, Jose Mourinho, Fabio Capello and Giovanni Trapattoni. Footballers may hate sitting on the bench, but people in Largs love them. The resort must have more benches – and more shades of them – per capita than anywhere in Britain. They're well-used: a couple share their love of Nardini's ice cream with their daughter, while a brace of fish-supper quaffing bikers fend off the gulls and two mature gents bemoan another defeat for Scotland at Hampden Park. My head swims in thoughts of the famous Largs alumni; my heart sways at the Arran Hills poking through the cloud that hangs low over the isles. I make a last stop on the waterfront at a pub called The Paddle Steamer. As the slick modern hybrid CalMac ferry glides in I raise a toast to Largs, the Clyde resort that survived against the odds.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Yoobi and SmileyWorld® Bringing Smiles & Optimism to Every School Day
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kid's lifestyle brand dedicated to emotional expression, SmileyWorld® and Yoobi Global LLC, a mission-based brand creating fun, colorful, and premium quality kids school supplies, have collaborated on a new range, with the goal of bringing together two brands that celebrate positivity, creativity, and individuality in each and every school day. The collection is designed to empower each student to make their mark by helping them bring creativity to all parts of every class. The collection, launching on June 17, 2025, features 44 products including pens, pencils, notebooks, pencil cases, keychains, stickers, activity sets, planners, binders, and lunch bags, available exclusively on and at Target stores nationwide. Aimed at inspiring Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences to express themselves, the products feature Yoobi's bold designs and SmileyWorld's icons, ensuring that each and every child starts their day with a smile. "We could all use a little more joy — and this exciting collaboration with SmileyWorld is guaranteed to bring big smiles and good vibes all around!" said Ido Leffler, co-founder and CEO of Yoobi. "Our purpose at Yoobi is to create fun and bright school supplies that make a big difference for kids in need. The new Yoobi and SmileyWorld line brings together iconic nostalgia and fun school essentials to inspire creativity and playfulness in the classroom and at home with our first ever decor and furnishing pieces." Janet Martin, CPO for Lifestyle Consumer Products at The Smiley Company, said, "We're absolutely thrilled to have worked on a SmileyWorld collection with Yoobi to create high-quality school products that bring a smile to each and every child. We're excited to see children across North America, celebrate their individuality and self-expression, something that is incredibly important to our SmileyWorld mission." Yoobi, renowned for its high-quality, functional, and design-forward supplies, donates an essential school item to a classroom in an underserved community with every qualifying purchase and will continue to do so for the entirety of the SmileyWorld collection, helping to spread smiles and support education in every community. To date, Yoobi has donated school supplies to kids in need for 11 years and counting with 96,965,016 products donated to over seven million children across the U.S. The Yoobi and SmileyWorld collection will be available exclusively at Target stores across the U.S. and Canada and on For more information, please visit About YoobiYoobi is a mission driven school supplies brand with a BIG IMPACT. Yoobi prides themselves as leaders in trend and design. Yoobi's exclusive give partner, Kids in Need Foundation, helps to find classrooms in need where 70% or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. For every qualifying item purchased, Yoobi donates a school supply item to a U.S. child in need. To date, Yoobi has donated more than 96 million essential school supplies to over 7 million students. Yoobi's stationery and school supplies products are available at Target nationwide, Amazon, and additional retailers. For more information on the brand, mission, and products, please go to and follow them on Instagram and TikTok. About SmileyWorld®A brand owned by The Smiley Company. SmileyWorld is a market leader and the first lifestyle brand dedicated to emotional expression, The Original Smileys™ is a creative universe filled with thousands of unique icons that make emotional expression easy and fun. Smileys provide a shortcut to understanding complex emotions and kickstarting meaningful conversations. Media Contact:Leah Brown(858) 337-2995396788@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Yoobi + SmileyWorld Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Beloved CTA worker dubbed the ‘Queen of Armitage Avenue' honored for decades of service at retirement party
GLENWOOD, Ill. (WGN) — The Lincoln Park community on Friday celebrated a longtime CTA employee who has greeted passengers for decades. Chicago residents hosted a retirement party for Janet Martin, who has served the neighborhood at the Armitage Brown Line station for 25 years. Known as the 'Mayor of the Armitage Brown Line' and the 'Queen of Armitage Avenue,' CTA passengers in Lincoln Park say Martin's infectious smile has greeted them for 29 years. So, for a final time Friday, Martin relayed the greeting so that many have become accustomed to hearing over the last three decades. Left on read? 'Ghosting' more than likely living in Chicago, survey finds 'Good afternoon, passengers,' Martin said with a smile to a chorus of cheers and applause. Speaking at the retirement ceremony, Martin expressed gratitude to the many faces she has come to know over the years. 'You know I love you. I know I'm going to miss every last one of you,' she said. 'But you're still going to be in my heart.' The Chicago City Council also designated Friday, Feb. 28, as 'Janet Martin Day.' Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley also had Martin's years of service and kindness put into the congressional record. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
28-02-2025
- General
- CBS News
After 32 years, CTA worker celebrates her retirement with help from Lincoln Park community
After more than 30 years of dedication to the Chicago Transit Authority, a beloved customer service worker on the Brown Line is retiring. That many years of service deserve a big party. There may not have been many retirement parties held at CTA stations before, but this one seemed to bring out the whole community—all celebrating Janet Martin. Janet has been with the agency for 32 years, 25 of which as a customer service representative at the Armitage Brown Line Station. Thursday was her last day, but her booth at the station on Friday was filled with flowers and cards from a very grateful community. Neighbors in Lincoln Park came together to throw Martin a party and to say thanks. Community members said she went above and beyond in her job by being helpful, caring, and kind—genuinely interested in people's lives and their pets, especially dogs. Martin said the people she's met over the years on the job have become family, and she's never had a day quite like this. "It's never happened before, so I'm enjoying every bit of it. I love people and my mother always told me 'be nice to other people. You never know what they're going through in life.' So, I've always took that and run with it and helped people along the way as I go," She said. Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) also attended the celebration with a proclamation, signed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, declaring Feb. 28 "Janet Martin Day" in Chicago.
