Latest news with #Piedmont
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
100 years after 1st Black family in Piedmont, California was driven out, memorial moves forward
A memorial sculpture park honoring the first Black family to own a home in the city of Piedmont is once again gaining momentum, with Oakland artist and landscape architect Walter Hood ready to bring his design to life. "We are interested in people, how people remember and how that becomes part of their future," said Hood. This past week, the city of Piedmont announced a new a timeline and confirmed the target date for the project. "We are intending in the next 12 months to complete the design for the project and proceed with its installation," said Rosanna Bayon-Moore, City Administrator of Piedmont, "At this time, the city is at the 50-percent concept stage." The genesis of the project reaches back five years ago in 2020 during COVID, when residents who had a lot of time on their hands, uncovered the history of a dark time in their beloved city, even setting up a website documenting the city's dark past. In January of 1924, Sidney Dearing and his wife Irene became the first Black family to become homeowners in Piedmont, with help of Irene's mother who purchased the home on Wildwood and Fairview Avenues, during a time when many communities were redlining people of color to prevent them from living in certain neighborhoods. Sydney Dearing and his wife, Irene, who moved to Piedmont, California in Jan. 1924 and became the community's first Black residents. CBS Newspaper articles show the city council and residents wanted the Dearing family out, and when they refused, the town became angry. The Dearing home became a target for violence, including an unexploded bomb made of dynamite that was found in the garden. In May of 1924, a mob of 500 people surrounded the home. Eventually, the Dearing family, for their own safety, sold the home back to the city of Piedmont. Gary Theut has lived in the Dearing House with his family for almost 20 years, and did not know about the home's history when he first bought it, but said he looks forward to the memorial that will be built in a triangle-shaped redwood grove that sits in front of the house. "I think, although the history is ugly, I think it is really important that we honor those people who went through it," said Theut. "And I'm glad we know about it now, and that the community is aware." The Piedmont City Council first gave the green light to the memorial in 2022, looking to right a wrong that happened in their town. "We are committed to being a different community today, and being a different community means facing difficult topics," said Bayon-Moore. "It means confronting difficult chapters in our history. It means having a difficult conversation to be able to move forward. The city chose Hood to lead the conversation. His work can be viewed around the world, around the country and in the Bay Area, including the gardens at the De Young Museum, the Bow along the Embarcadero, and Panorama Park on Yerba Buena Island. Hood said he wanted to work on the Dearing family project because it was personal. "I'm a Black man, it is just that simple," said Hood. "I think if we don't tell our stories, someone else will." In his original design, Dearing's story will be told through two portals that visitors sit inside, and through a mirror can look out two windows. "These are metaphorical for the couple who never had a chance to dwell here in Piedmont," said Hood. "And the last piece is up high on a flagpole is an oversized mailbox that has the Dearing name on the side, the flag is up, meaning that they have mail." Recently, Hood finished the garden at the International African American Museum in South Carolina. Although the two projects are different in scale, he believes all the stories are connected. "Charleston prides itself on its history as the oldest city in the country, and they lost the site where 45% of the African slave diaspora landed there and was sold," said Hood. "And so, if a place like that steeped in history can forget something that consequential to the making of America, little Piedmont, this little story, it is easy to be swept under."
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Could 76-seat, two-class American Airlines jets soon be based at Harrisburg Int'l Airport?
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — It still has fewer flights and higher fares than larger airports, but that has been changing at Harrisburg International Airport, which also has something few other airports its size have: an airline's maintenance and crew base. Since 2022, Piedmont Airlines, which flies the 50-seat ERJ-145s commonly seen at the airport ('ERJ' stands for 'Embraer regional jet'), has based dozens of pilots and flight attendants at the airport, complementing a maintenance base that opened years earlier. Piedmont — which is headquartered in Salisbury, Maryland, and is a subsidiary of American Airlines — also has a Harrisburg-based human resources team. The Harrisburg presence means a lot of direct jobs and — although this part is harder to quantify — indirectly perhaps some flights that might not otherwise exist, because American has to route planes through Harrisburg for maintenance and to get its people to and from work. For perspective, Delta operates three daily flights to its Atlanta hub, which is the world's busiest airport, according to an abc27 analysis of Cirium schedule data; American operates seven daily flights to Charlotte. (Delta, operating larger aircraft, offers about half as many seats to Atlanta as American offers to Charlotte despite having fewer than half as many flights.) But there was an important potential problem for Piedmont's future — and thus for the future of its base in Harrisburg: Manufacturers haven't produced 50-seat jets in years, and airlines have been phasing them out in favor of larger regional jets, which passengers generally find to be more comfortable and airlines generally find to be more economical to operate. Piedmont currently operates 69 ERJ-145s, which are on average almost 22 years old, according to an abc27 analysis of Cirium airline fleet data. That meant one of two things: Sooner or later, either the airline would have to either phase in new planes — or phase itself out of existence, as other regional airlines have done (most recently Silver Airways just Wednesday, which once flew small planes branded 'Continental Express' for United's predecessor Continental Airlines). Fortunately for Piedmont — and by extenstion, for Harrisburg — the far better outcome is emerging: Piedmont announced it'll get 76-seat Embraer 175s, known as E175s, beginning in 2028. Unlike the current all-economy 50-seat jets, Piedmont's E175s — like others already flown for American by other regional airlines — will have 12 business-class seats in addition to 64 economy seats. 'So seeing that they're getting an upgrade in aircraft that allows them to continue their mission of flying for American and being part of the Central Pennsylvania community is really good news,' Scott Miller, Harrisburg International Airport's spokesman, said. 'The expansion represents a significant investment by parent company American Airlines Group,' Piedmont said in a statement of the 45 eventual E175s it expects to receive. During the transition, the airline plans to continues operating its 50-seat jets 'well into the 2030s,' the statement said. 'They provide all of our service to Philadelphia, to Boston, as well as some to Charlotte,' Scott Miller said of Piedmont. 'So upgrading to larger aircraft — more comfortable aircraft — is a huge benefit for the airport, for the region and for those who fly American.' Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Harrisburg is just one of three crew bases for Piedmont, alongside much larger Philadelphia and Charlotte, which are both American Airlines hubs. Piedmont has maintenance bases at those three airports plus Salisbury; Albany, New York; and in Virginia, Richmond and Roanoke. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Why Loro Piana has reason to celebrate as it turns 100: the original ‘quiet luxury' brand is prized by those in the know – including David Beckham and Jeremy Strong – for its quality materials
As anniversaries go, Loro Piana's 100th this year couldn't have come at a better time. The Italian luxury label celebrated the milestone with its first-ever exhibition, aptly titled 'If You Know, You Know. Loro Piana's Quest for Excellence', held at the Museum of Art Pudong in Shanghai, China. The event was a fitting way to cap a momentous few years for the low-key maison. Known as the purveyor of the finest fibres in the world – from baby cashmere to merino wool and vicuña – Loro Piana has experienced significant growth recently. Advertisement Founded in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy, the family company was acquired by LVMH – the largest luxury group in the world – in 2013. Since then it has expanded into categories such as footwear and leather goods, while staying true to its roots as a maker of high-quality, functional and well-designed garments that stand the test of time. Yarns at Loro Piana's Quadrona factory in Piedmont, Italy. Photo: Handout It's hard to believe that as recently as a decade ago, Loro Piana was not widely known outside industry circles, where it always had a reputation for the utmost quality thanks to its other business of providing yarns and textiles to the world's top fashion houses and tailors. From Hermès to Louis Vuitton and Fendi, the most prestigious luxury brands rely on Loro Piana for the raw materials to produce creations such as knitwear, scarves and tailored jackets. The first thing you notice when visiting Loro Piana's main factories in Roccapietra and Quadrona – both in Piedmont and about an hour's drive from Milan – is how similar they are to a watch manufacturer or a jewellery workshop. Quality control that requires painstaking attention from seasoned artisans; hi-tech machines that detect the tiniest imperfections in a skein of yarn; and a state-of-the-art logistics system for materials ranging from linen to cashmere are some of the feats of engineering and savoir faire at the heart of the two plants. Classic styling: a look from the Loro Piana autumn/winter 2025-26 women's collection. Photo: Handout Tradition and technology, not to mention nature – thanks to the quality of the water in the surrounding mountain region – come together to make the Loro Piana mills symbols of the prestige long associated with the Made in Italy label. 'For me Loro Piana is first and foremost about textiles,' says fashion editor and front-row regular Anna Dello Russo at the Loro Piana Knit Design Award , a yearly event the company holds to support fashion students. 'It represents Italian excellence and it's about true luxury and being timeless. They start from the yarns and the textiles in order to then develop a silhouette. To me they're the real source of luxury as they're the only ones to have the capability to produce fabrics of such high level, and they do it in Italy.'
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Forbes
Orient Express Launches Train Journey Through Italy For Truffle Lovers
Take a trip for truffles. You don't often see a luxury train journey dedicated to a fungus. But here we are. Not just any fungus, mind you. We're talking about the white truffle—the kind that shows up on menus with eye-watering prices and shows up in your dreams if you've had it done right. This November, the legendary Orient Express is leaning into truffle season with a new itinerary: The Truffle Route. Two nights, rolling through northern Italy aboard the swanky La Dolce Vita Orient Express, with enough food, wine, and countryside to make you forget your inbox exists. The trip kicks off in Rome, then winds up into Piedmont—a region that, if we're being honest, knows its way around a bottle of red and a truffle shaver. This isn't a tour for people who just 'like Italian food.' It's for those who can tell you the altitude of their favorite Nebbiolo vineyard. You know the type. Maybe you are the type. From the moment you step onto the train at Rome's Ostiense station, it's clear subtlety isn't on the menu. Think gleaming wood, artful brass, and seats that invite you to sink in for a conversation. If Wes Anderson and an Italian count collaborated on a rail car design, this might be it. There's a strong chance you'll be handed Champagne before your coat's even off. Dinner is served not long after departure—Heinz Beck is in charge, which tells you most of what you need to know. The mood is elegant, but it never veers into stiff. There's music, candlelight, and linen that definitely wasn't bought in bulk. You start to realize that, yes, you're eating truffle risotto on a train, and no, you're not dreaming. It's absurd in the most delightful way. By the time the sun rises, you're in Nizza Monferrato, a town that feels like someone photoshopped together every perfect Italian hilltop you've ever seen. It's quiet and beautiful, with a faint scent of soil and breakfast. In other words, you've arrived. Here's where it gets interesting: passengers get the choice to head off on two truffle-forward excursions. First is a visit to Tenuta Cucco, a winery that's been doing its thing for more than half a century. You're welcomed with a glass of local red and a quick stroll through the vines before heading underground to their aging cellar. Travel in luxury and sample white truffles. Then comes lunch, a multi-course celebration of Piedmontese cooking—rich, savory, and a little rustic, paired with wines that taste even better when someone else has chosen them for you. After lunch, it's time to chase truffles. Literally. You head into the woods with a trifulau (that's a local truffle hunter) and his dog, who frankly does most of the work. You'll learn how to spot the right terrain, why truffles are so hard to cultivate, and maybe—if you're lucky—witness the moment when the dog catches a scent and starts to dig. It's quiet, oddly suspenseful, and moving in an unusual way. This is not your average tourist experience. Of course, once you've found the truffle, it's time to eat it. Back in the village, lunch is served with the freshly found treasure shaved generously over dishes like tajarin or fonduta. It's indulgent, sure, but also kind of sacred. Truffles are weird like that. Later that afternoon, you're off to Canelli, home of the Underground Cathedrals (yes, that's really what they're called). These are enormous stone cellars cut into the hillside, where some of Italy's best sparkling wines are made and stored. A tasting is included, naturally, followed by another meal—because if there's one thing this trip isn't short on, it's reasons to eat. The train departs for Rome that evening. There's one more dinner onboard, one more chance to stare out the window at the Italian countryside as it fades into night. By the time you wake up the next morning, you're back in Rome. Hopefully, with a suitcase full of wine and a camera roll full of food photos, you won't be able to explain to coworkers. Prices start at $9,490 per passenger, which is, admittedly, not pocket change. But if you've ever dreamed of combining a truffle hunt, a wine tour, and a luxury train journey into one long, slow, delicious weekend—well, it might be exactly the splurge you've been waiting for.
Associated Press
09-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Piedmont Office Realty Trust Rebrands to Piedmont Realty Trust
Atlanta, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- --Piedmont Office Realty Trust (NYSE: PDM) ('Piedmont'), a real estate investment trust (REIT), announced today the launch of its new brand identity including a name change to Piedmont Realty Trust, Inc. The rebrand was undertaken to better reflect the company's focus on Piedmont PLACEs which are designed to elevate the workday and reflect a higher standard of service for our clients. Commenting on the rebrand, Piedmont's President and Chief Executive Officer, Brent Smith, said, 'We've recently completed an extensive update of our brand identity. We understand that today's employees seek environments that support their company cultures and foster a sense of community. At our core we are dedicated to transforming traditional office buildings into Piedmont PLACEs that deliver a cohesive experience, welcoming our clients into premium workspaces that are paired with an elevated service model. Our simplified brand better reflects this strategy and aligns with the bespoke approach we deliver to our clients.' Piedmont's strategy remains dedicated to transforming the essence of the workplace, focusing on creating environments that promote collaboration, offer convenience and cultivate a sense of connection. Whether an office building is in a bustling city or a serene suburb, Piedmont PLACEs are designed to offer intentional spaces where people, collaboration and service thrive. To learn more, please visit Piedmont's website at About Piedmont Realty Trust Piedmont Realty Trust™ (NYSE: PDM), is a fully integrated, self-managed real estate investment company focused on delivering an exceptional office environment. As an owner, manager, developer and operator of 16 MM SF of Class A properties across major U.S. Sunbelt markets, Piedmont Realty Trust™ is known for its hospitality-driven approach and commitment to transforming buildings into premier 'Piedmont PLACEs' that enhance each client's workplace experience. Contact: Sarah Heimlich Company: Piedmont Office Realty Trust Phone: 770 418 8800 Email: [email protected]
