Local Employees: 652
Address- 577 Western Avenue, Westfield, MA 01086
Telephone: (413) 568-3311
Fax: (413) 572-5438
Web Site: www.wsc.ma.edu
Top Officers: Frederick W. Woodward, president; William H. Lopes, senior vice president for academic affairs; Arthur Jackson, vice president for student affairs; Nick A. Wojtowicz, vice president for finance; Steve Reynolds, chief information officer
Products/Services: College/Higher Education
Parent/Subsidiaries: …
Assailants using homemade bombs launched a series of attacks and engaged police in a deadly battle Sunday in a western Chinese city far from the Beijing Olympics, state media said. At least seven attackers and one security guard were killed.
The pre-dawn violence in the restive Muslim region of Xinjiang came despite tightened security for the games and followed threats by an al-Qaida-linked militant Islamic group to disrupt the sporting event.
The official Xinhua News Agency, citing local police, said one explosions occurred at government buildings in Kuqa county in the early hours of Sunday. Xinhua described the attackers as suicide bombers who used …
* I am totally against the government bailing out all these bigcompanies even the automakers. If they are making bad businessdecisions and losing their companies, thats their fault. Let themfile bankruptcy. Someone else will rise up and take their place. Noone rose up to help me when I filed bankruptcy. The government neverstepped up to help me out. It was my decision. n For all you chumpsso eager to pat Bill Stewart on the back: West Virginia should neverhave lost to a Conference USA team, should not have lost toColorado, should not have lost to Pitt. The only team to beat themthat had a better team and players was Cincinnati. The reason theylost the other three games was poor …
WASHINGTON - A former Mississippi sheriff's deputy was arrested Wednesday in the 1964 slayings of two black teenagers who were long believed to have been kidnapped and killed by the Ku Klux Klan.
The former deputy, James Ford Seale, of Roxie, Miss., was named in a federal indictment charging him in connection with the teens' disappearance and deaths while they were hitchhiking in a rural area of the state east of Natchez.
Until recently, Seale was thought to be dead, and the investigation into the two deaths had long been abandoned.
Seale was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon and was taken to Jackson, Miss. He is expected to be arraigned Thursday on …
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Football Hall of Famer Andy Robustelli, who played for the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams during a 14-year NFL career, has died. He was 85.
"He was one of the greatest players in franchise history, and one of the finest, most dignified gentlemen you could ever meet," Giants President John Mara said. "Andy was a man's man in every respect."
It wasn't immediately clear where and when Robustelli died. His death was first reported by The Advocate of Stamford.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound defensive end played for the Rams from 1951-55 and the Giants from 1956-64, but his arrival in New York ushered in one of the greatest eras in Giants' …
Two suicide bombings that killed 42 at a popular Sufi shrine in Pakistan's east stirred outrage in this terror-scarred nation Friday. Several people blamed the U.S. presence in Afghanistan for spurring the attacks, while some faulted a minority sect that itself was viciously targeted weeks ago.
The bombings of Lahore's Data Darbar shrine, the burial site of a famous Sufi saint, struck at the heart of the moderate Islam most Pakistanis practice. The assault wounded 180 people and again demonstrated the potency of militant groups that are linked to but operate far from the northwest tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Thousands of people had gathered late …
The single most underrated speed element today is the time it takes Web pages to load. That can be very frustrating when doing voting record and opposition research.
SPEED HAS PLAYED a key role with computers since the inception of the digital age in the 1940s. The very raison d'�tre of electronic machines is their ability to carry out computational procedures faster than humans.
But speed is not always what it's cracked up to be. On the other hand, speed is sometimes given short shrift. Understanding the differences can help campaigns and political organizations make smart PC buying decisions and smart Web site design decisions.
The central processing units of …
Pakistani militant groups are joining forces to fight the government, a fugitive cleric said Tuesday, and offered sanctuary to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
Faqir Mohammed, a pro-Taliban cleric in the Bajur region, said militant leaders based near the Afghan border had formed an umbrella organization called Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.
He said they had given the government 10 days to halt army operations in Waziristan and Swat, two militant strongholds in the northwest.
"If the government continues war against us then we have chalked out our strategy and we will avenge for the blood of each of our people," said Mohammed.
He …
But Briggs said Bears fans are getting him pumped up for the NFL season, even though training camp is more than three months away.
''Nowadays, fans get me amped up,'' Briggs said Wednesday. ''You have a lot of things going on, but they like talking about football.
''I can't wait until football season.''
There's plenty for Briggs to be excited about, both professionally and personally.
He has been working out at Halas Hall, and he's encouraged that fellow linebacker Brian Urlacher is fully recovered from the wrist injury that sidelined him …
YOUR GUIDE TO BUSINESS & ACCOUNTING ON THE INTERNET
My eldest son just got a Mac for use in high school. Last year his Windows laptop was stolen and so he learned his lesson - he never lets the machine out of sight. He also has a Kensington laptop lock for extra protection. Yet, what if it did disappear? Would we be able to figure out where it is? Most likely yes, because of the release of PC/Mac location software.
The iPhone is a pioneer in providing a GPS based location status should the phone become lost or stolen. Simply go to the MobileMe website for the iPhone linked to your account, click on Find my Phone and in a matter of min utes you'll have a map featuring …
A Chinese government spokesman says the death toll has risen to 62,664 from the massive earthquake that hit Sichuan province nearly two weeks ago.
Cabinet spokesman Guo Weimin …
MADRID (AP) — Golf great Seve Ballesteros has died. He was 54.
According to a statement on his website, Ballesteros died early Saturday surrounded by his family at his home in the northern Spanish town of Pedrena.
The Ballesteros family said it "is very grateful for all the support and gestures of love that have been received since Seve was diagnosed with a brain tumour on 5th October 2008."
On Friday, his family announced that the five-time major winner had suffered "severe deterioration" in his recovery from a cancerous brain tumor.
Ballesteros fainted at Madrid's international airport while waiting to board a flight to Germany on Oct. 6, 2008, and was …
JERUSALEM (AP) — The prime minister of Israel is accusing Turkey's leader of incitement for saying the Jewish state uses the Holocaust as an excuse to kill Palestinians.
Relations between the once-close allies have deteriorated dramatically since Israeli commandos raided a ship of activists trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip last year, killing nine Turks on board.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a TV interview Sunday that Israel behaves "as if they are the victims all the time."
He also questioned Israel's claims about the number of citizens killed by Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza.
Israel's premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Monday that Erdogan's comments were "outrageous charges against Israel that have nothing to do with the facts."
Outlook
Many Canadians are hoping Canada will establish a parallel private healthcare network comparable to the system in the US. A comparative study by the World Health Organization on healthcare performance may shed some light on this issue and help in any decision-making.
Among 191 countries in the 1997 WHO study, Canada ranked 30th for the performance of its health system, which was measured against eight indicators, including the overall level of health in the population, accessibility, quality of care and fairness. Western European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Britain all placed higher than Canada. Our only consolation is that the US placed 37th, the worst among the large industrialized nations.
Paradoxically, the US spent the most on healthcare. In fact, no correlation was noted between the level of expenditure and performance. Americans spend twice as much as Canadians for a system that doesn't perform as well as ours; and Britain, which invests less than any industrialized country, outranks the US.
The figures do not provide a clear answer for the debate on public versus private care. However, the strong private-- sector role in the US is clearly associated with mediocre performance and high costs. On the other hand, Italy's 43% private expenditure share did not prevent it from placing second for performance, with a less costly system than that of France, which spends less on private healthcare.
One may criticize the WHO's methodology. But there is no smoke without fire. The differences are too significant to dismiss the stark truth they reflect: Western Europe is doing much better than us, and at a lower cost. The situation in Europe The Romanow Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada is spending millions to enlighten us on our healthcare system. It will surely try to understand the functioning of healthcare services in Western Europe and why countries there perform so much better than we do.
Of course, the issue is complex. The medical profession in Canada is based on US structures, which has an impact on our performance. Standards and practices in hospitals, the key expenditure area in the system, are also important factors.
In Europe, where there are
a wide variety of systems and strategies operating, the private sector plays a major role in several countries. But a common thread exists among all these systems - universal standards of quality for service delivery that apply to all citizens.
These standards are not as sacred in North America. As a result, more inefficiencies are tolerated in our healthcare systems.
Our neighbours to the south With its poor performance and high costs, the US healthcare system can charitably be described as a lemon. One of its most glaring flaws is the lack of universality that deprives tens of millions of Americans from accessing services that are taken for granted in Canada. But the problem is more deepseated than that, one of the causes being the key role played by private health insurance.
Insurance has a major flaw. An insured person is less costconscious as expenditures are picked up by the insurer. Health insurance is no exception. It's the attitude of "someone else is paying." Not only is the frequency with which people seek medical attention very high, but when their health is at stake, they want the best.
Health insurance is more prone to cost escalation than is other insurance, such as material damage to your automobile. Not only is the maximum value (i.e. replacement value) of a vehicle known, but claims are only made in specific circumstances, as in the case of theft or accident.
Healthcare patients demand the best at any cost and require healthcare frequently. There are a few self-constraining features.
It's not surprising, then, that the US health system, financed mainly by employerpaid private insurance, is twice as costly as that in Canada!
A parallel private system in Canada is inconceivable without private insurance funding, likely paid by employers. The risk with such a system is that we could end up with the inflated costs that characterize the US system.
If we want to truly reform our healthcare system, we should look to Europe and not to the US for solutions.
Before introducing a two-- tiered system in Canada patterned on the US system, we should ensure it won't lead to the high costs that have made the US model the most ineffective in the world.
[Author Affiliation]
Marcel Cote is a partner at SECOR Inc. in Montreal
PHILADELPHIA - Over and over, Cole Hamels threw his baffling change-up until even Barry Bonds couldn't handle it. Backed by timely situational hitting, Hamels pitched his second complete game to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the San Francisco Giants 5-2 on Saturday night.
The Phillies had lost four straight at home after sweeping a three-game series in Atlanta to move a season-best two games over .500.
Hamels (8-2) allowed two runs and five hits to become the NL's first eight-game winner. Relying on a sharp fastball and his trademark change-up, the second-year left-hander kept the Giants off-balance all night. He struck out five and didn't allow a walk.
With one out and a runner on in the ninth, Hamels threw his change-up five straight times to Bonds. Finally, the feared slugger struck out swinging.
"That at-bat should tell you how good that kid's change-up is," catcher Rod Barajas said. "To throw the same pitch five times in a row and have Barry do nothing with it should tell you something. Any time he wants to throw that pitch, I'm fine with it."
Hamels wasn't going to give in and throw a fastball to Bonds, who finished 2-for-4.
"I saw he was ahead of the change-up, so I kept throwing it and decided to drop it a little lower," Hamels said.
Bonds, who also dropped a fly ball in left field, certainly was impressed after facing Hamels for the first time. He remains stuck on 746 career homers, 10 shy of breaking Hank Aaron's record.
"He's good. He's a pretty good pitcher," Bonds said.
Giants starter Noah Lowry (5-5) gave up four runs and five hits in seven innings.
Kevin Frandsen homered to left in the first inning to put the Giants ahead 1-0. But the Phillies answered with a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth.
Jayson Werth reached on an infield single leading off the bottom of the fourth. Chase Utley followed with a double to right-center. Ryan Howard then hit a high drive to deep left that Bonds dropped on the warning track for his first error this season. Werth scored on the sacrifice fly, Utley went to third and Howard advanced to second.
Fans cheered wildly as Bonds looked up at the scoreboard to watch the replay. An inning earlier, they chanted at Bonds: "You took steroids." Pat Burrell's sacrifice fly scored Utley to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead.
"It just hit the palm of my glove," Bonds said. "I went back, turned my head then lost it for a split second."
Jimmy Rollins hit an RBI triple in the fifth and Werth followed with Philadelphia's third sacrifice fly to make it 4-1. The Phillies aren't known for moving runners on the bases without getting hits.
"That's how you play the game," manager Charlie Manuel said.
Bonds ripped a double to center leading off the seventh. It gave Bonds 5,863 total bases to push him past Ty Cobb for fourth place on the all-time list.
Bengie Molina's sacrifice fly scored Bonds to cut it to 4-2. Howard had an RBI double in the eighth against Jack Taschner.
"Maybe we were a little overaggressive," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "(Hamels) has good stuff. He's one of the fine young pitchers in the league."
Notes:@ A crowd of 45,153 was the most this season and the fourth-largest in the four-year history of Citizens Bank Park. ... The Phillies are 21-14 in Hamels' 35 career starts. He's 17-10. ... Lowry hasn't allowed more than four runs in any of his 11 starts. ... Hamels has both of Philadelphia's complete games this season.
Macy's on State Street presented GIamorama on Aug. 13, at the Chicago Theatre. The event benefitted the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
"Without the support of the (Ronald McDonald) house we wouldn't be able to function as a family and deal with the crisis," said Jared Herrick, of the Ronald McDonald House Charities' ambassador family for Glamorama and father of Max Herrick who was treated for hypoplastic left heart syndrome and is uttler treatment for other health ailments.
Before the show began a video was shown of the Herrick family who expressed their gratitude for the assistance given by the Ronald McDonald House, which is currently trying to raise $30 million to build a new house that will house 86 families.
Chris March of Bravo TVs Project Runway opened the show with his the dramatic and even dark (the color scheme consisted of deep colors) dance performance and the suspended models who wore Elizabethan-inspired gowns that had seven yards of fabric.
Following was a back-to-school feel with Tommy Hunger's classic and preppy line intertwining current trends like over-the-knee boots and harem pants.
The audience was taken abroad with Jean Paul Gaultier with traditional headwear inspired by Indonesia and Russia
Sportmax invited winter in with thick knits and Hugo Boss brought in a bit of holiday wear with an unexpected velvet men's suit.
"I'm feeling undepressed, I should have worn heels probably," joked Eric Hutchinson, who was the first musical performance.
Hutchinson gave the audience a sense of having a private concert armed with his keyboard and a spotlight with OK, It's Alright with Me. His second song Rock 'N' Roll, where he played the guitar humorously, encouraged crowd participation.
The fashion show proceeded with Sonia Rykiel 's quirky puff hats, Material Girl which is Madonna's daughter, Lourdes, clothing line, Just Cavalli and Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti.
Marc Jacobs had a dramatic choral soundtrack that intensified his line of librarian meets classic and prep.
Then Issey Miyake's cosmic and colorful infinity scarf sweaters made the stage pop and a modeling of undergarments by Felina and 2(X)IST closed the show.
Macy Gray smoothly graced the stage in a gown with sequin detail and a pink microphone stand beginning with her first hit I Try. Her background singers adorned platinum blonde wigs and their velvety voices paired with Macy's raspy, soulful humming made for a great performance. She kicked up the beat with When You Kissed It.
For her last song. Beauty in the World, she invited to stand up and participate with her - but remaining seating was OK too. The show ended with the audience joyfully singing and clapping also with the models as a colorful backdrop.
[Author Affiliation]
by Lauren Wilder
DEFENDER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
NEW YORK - Wall Street fell sharply Friday, extending its losses for the week as concerns about inflation and oil prices once again stirred interest rate concerns. The Dow Jones industrial average was at times down more than 150 points.
A pullback coming a day after decent gains was characteristic of the somewhat erratic sessions Wall Street has seen in recent weeks as it has dealt with concerns ranging from interest rates to the health of hedge funds to prospects of unfavorable legislation from Washington.
Friday's session, unusually devoid of economic or earnings data, began with a focus on the initial public offering of a stake in the management arm of Blackstone Group LP. The most talked-about IPO since Google Inc. went public saw the buyout shop's stock open well above the $31 a share at which it had been priced late Thursday. The stock recently changed hands up $4.70, or 15.2 percent, at $35.70. Enthusiasm over Blackstone wasn't broad enough to prop up the markets.
"Nobody wants to go into the weekend overextended. Once you see start to see momentum push it down it's hard to stay in the way of it," said Bill Schultz, chief investment officer at McQueen, Ball & Associates, referring to the stock market.
"There are clearly worries now that are creeping in that weren't necessarily there before," he said, citing concerns about inflation, rising oil prices and the woes of subprime lenders.
In midday trading, the Dow industrials fell 161.12, or 1.19 percent, to 13,384.72. On Thursday, stocks fluctuated before ending higher, with the Dow recovering 56 points following a 146-point tumble on Wednesday.
Broader stock indicators also dropped Friday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 19.61, or 1.29 percent, to 1,502.58, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 32.36, or 1.24 percent, to 2,584.60.
Stocks fell even as bonds rose; the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 5.15 percent from 5.20 percent late Thursday.
Light, sweet crude rose 20 cents to $68.85 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Investors have been grappling with concerns about whether the economy will heat up and prompt the Federal Reserve to put off cutting, or perhaps even raising, interest rates. Also, concerns about the health of Bear Stearns hedge funds involved with subprime loans, those made to people with poor credit, have weighed on the markets. In addition, news from Washington has shown some lawmakers are impatient with some of the vast sums Wall Street investors have generated and could look to tamp down big payouts with higher taxes.
Schultz contends the pullback in stocks isn't unexpected given the sizable gains Wall Street has seen. Heading into trading Friday, the Dow was up 8.7 percent for the year, while the S&P 500 had advanced 7.3 percent and the Nasdaq had risen 8.4 percent.
"There's a point where you need to see a pause before people get excited again. Do you commit at this point or do you wait for a pullback? There's a sense that maybe we may be a little bit overextended here."
Friday's session brought volatility for some stocks as the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Russell indexes implemented changes, adding and subtracting some names. The changes can stir some unusual trading activity as investments that track the index try to square their holdings with the latest look of an index. The S&P 500 is dropping PMC Sierra Inc. and ADC Telecommunication Inc., sending the shares lower as investors try to exit positions.
PMC fell 36 cents, or 4.3 percent, to $7.78, while ADC fell 63 cents, or 3.3 percent, to $18.51.
Neil Massa, senior trader at MFC Global Investment Management, contends stocks were showing volatility Friday in part because of the rebalancing of the Russell indexes. Even the moves among some smallcap companies can affect larger stocks, he said, as investors jockey for positions.
"I think it spills over and I think this is a little healthy pullback from the highs we've been seeing," he said.
The session comes ahead of a busy week in which the Federal Reserve meets and in which investors will receive several readings on the housing sector and the final report on economic growth in the first quarter, with release of the gross domestic product.
In corporate news, Jabil Circuit Inc., a contract electronics manufacturer, rose $2.22, or 10.5 percent, to $23.42 after its fiscal third-quarter profits excluding items such as restructuring costs topped Wall Street's estimate.
Cognos Inc., a software maker and technology consultant, forecast a fiscal second-quarter profit that fell short of Wall Street's expectations. The stock fell $1.01, or 2.6 percent, to $38.61.
Taser International Inc., the stungun maker, rose 71 cents, or 5.6 percent, to $13.34 after a court dismissed a lawsuit alleging the company's product resulted in an accidental death.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 9.86, or 1.17 percent, to 829.95.
Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.28 percent, while the sometimes-volatile Shanghai Composite Exchange fell 3.3 percent. In afternoon trading, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.30 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 0.29 percent, and France's CAC-40 fell 0.18 percent.
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On the Net:
New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com
Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com
Who: 5th Projekt
Where: Toronto and surrounding area
What: haunting
Contact: Organik Rekords PO Box 59009, 2238 Dundas St. W., Toronto, Ontario M6R 3B5 piay@5thprojekt.com, www.5thprojekt.com
The band's bio needed deciphering and follow-up, but here are the basics: a mix of varied British influences from Siouxie And The Banshees to more Old English folk, Nathan Kaye, Peter Broadley and Sk�dt D. McNalty esq. wrote this haunting material before seeking a singer. Enter rich-voiced Tara Rice, whose 2003 folk album, Face, was nominated for an Independent Music Award. She linked up with 5th Projekt in the summer of 2003. The band put out two EPs, DEMOnOOI and DEMOn002 in the fall and winter of 2004, respectively, produced by Mark Mclay (Headstones, Jeff Healey, Goddo, Ronnie Hawkins) at Velvet Sound, in Mississauga, ON. "Skepticosm" made John Sakamoto's respected Anti-Hit List in Toronto's Eye Weekly. CBC Radio's Sook Yin-Lee dubbed the band independent artist of the week on Definitely Not The Opera. College radio has been highly supportive. The Tales Of Don Quixote contains all six DEMOn songs, plus five others recorded at Toronto's Umbrella and Nucleus, plus home studios. The instrumentation is vast and various - Rice (vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming), Kaye (acoustic and electronic percussion), Broadley (5-string bass), McNalty (6- and 7-string guitars, vocals, keys and programming). 5th Projekt is currently tracking at Toronto's Chemical Sound with James Heidebrecht (The Constantines, Luke Doucet, Tangiers). The release is planned for early 2006.
DAVE MOORE, 8 p.m. Saturday, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport.
One of the great unsung intrumentalists and songwriters who easilymoves between folk and blues, conjunto and rock, Dave Moore hasn'tbeen heard from since 1990's "Over My Shoulder." Now on his sublimenew release "Breaking Down to 3," he returns with 10 soulful songsthat showcase his wise and aching baritone. Tickets, $8, at Schubas(773-525-2508).
TAB BENOIT, 10 p.m. Saturday, Buddy Guy's Legends, 754 S. Wabash.
Louisiana singer-guitarist Benoit continues in a blues traditionthat blends urban and country blues with Cajun and zydeco. Reviewershave weighed in with comparisons of Benoit to guitar greats such asJimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Winter. But theguitarists Benoit holds in highest regard are Buddy Guy, Albert King,B.B. King and Albert Collins. Admission is $10 at Legends (312-427-0333).
GIPSY KINGS, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, Chicago Theatre, 175 N.State.
With more than a half-dozen chart-topping albums, the Gipsy Kingsare one of the most successful bands in world music. Brothers Paul,Canut, Nicolas and Patchai Reyes and their cousins, Diego, Tonino andPaco Baliardo, are descendants of gypsy families who first developedtraditional flamenco music. Tickets, $36.50-$76.50, at Ticketmaster.
RADNEY FOSTER, 9 p.m. Thursday, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport.
In the '80s, as one half of the county-rock duo Foster & Lloyd,Radney Foster gained attention in Nashville for his songwriting andsinging skills. After he split amicably with Bill Lloyd in 1990, heforged a solo career with two hard-core country albums for Arista.Now relegated to the rebel outback, Arista Austin, Foster hasdelivered the impassioned "See What You Want to See," the best effortof his career. On this new batch of songs, ranging from alt-countryto pop, he defies the "country formula" and takes creative risks thatresult in mature, full-bodied songs. Tickets, $10, at Schubas (773-525-2508).
Patrick Sharp scored three times and Rene Bourque added two short-handed goals and an assist to lift the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.
It was Chicago's fourth straight victory over the Red Wings this season. The Blackhawks tied a team record with three short-handed goals, and Detroit tied its record by allowing three. Nikolai Khabibulin made 39 saves.
Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom each had a goal and an assist for Detroit, and Brian Rafalski also scored. Dominik Hasek stopped 12 shots.
Sharp gave Chicago the lead with 6:52 left with the Blackhawks' third short-handed goal of the game. Nicklas Lidstrom couldn't keep the puck in at the blue line and then fell, giving Sharp a breakaway the other way. He fought off Nicklas Kronwall and out the puck past Dominik Hasek.
Sharp added an empty-net goal with 30 seconds left. He had tied it 3-3 at 4:30 of the third period with his eighth goal.
Bourque's second short-handed goal of the game gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead 7:11 into the second period. He is the eighth Blackhawks player to score two short-handed goals, the last being Steve Sullivan in January 2001.
Detroit went ahead with two goals in the last 6:35 of the middle period.
Holmstrom jammed in a shot from in front of the net for a power-play goal just 36 seconds after Bourque's second goal for his 10th goal of the season. Henrik Zetterberg put the Red Wings ahead with 31 seconds left in the frame on a one-timed shot from the bottom of the left circle. It was his 14th goal.
Chicago took a 1-0 lead on Bourque's first short-handed goal, 1:16 into the game.
After picking up the puck from a faceoff in his own zone, Bourque carried it into the neutral zone and banked it off the boards. He then beat Rafalski to the puck to give himself a breakaway, and then beat Hasek with a wrist shot.
Rafalski atoned for Bourque's goal when he put in the rebound of Kris Draper's shot to tie it at 5:47.
Notes:@ Chicago C Jason Williams missed the game because of a groin injury. ... Detroit D Chris Chelios, at 45 the NHL's oldest player, got the day off. ... Bourque was hit in the hand by Rafalski's slap shot with about 11 minutes left in the third period and left the game.
On behalf of the Barnardo's fundraising store in Oldfield Park,Bath, I would like to thank everyone who supported our stall at therecent charity fayre at the Guildhall.
The event raised more than pounds100 to support children andyoung people affected by poverty, abuse, disability anddiscrimination.
Those people who didn't have a chance to attend are welcome tovisit our shop where they will see an even wider range of clothes,books, toys, puzzles and games.
We are always keen to hear from potential volunteers. Call us on330339.
ELLEN VAUGHAN Barnardo's Shop Manager Oldfield Park, Bath
NEW YORK (AP) — Rescued Chilean miner Edison Pena is returning to run the New York City Marathon following a year in which he was hospitalized for psychological problems and reported drug and alcohol issues.
Pena became a media sensation in the United States when he completed the marathon last year, less than a month after he and 32 other miners were rescued from a collapsed Chilean copper mine. They had been trapped for 69 days.
He said Thursday that the trauma of the event has "hit us now." The first anniversary of the rescue was Oct. 13.
"I don't really want to go into depth about the challenges that I faced, but suffice to say that I have gotten help and declared a truce with the problems I've had," Pena said at a press conference in New York. "I'm very fortunate to have a team of therapists, and right now I feel pretty good."
It was a stark contrast from the press conference last year, when a jovial Pena charmed more than 100 media members and topped it off with a rendition of "Return to Sender" by Elvis Presley. He declined a request for a song Thursday, saying many of his fellow miners don't have jobs and suffer from "psychological issues" and insomnia.
"The impact of being trapped in the mine — we're feeling after we got out of the mine," Pena said through an interpreter.
He's received no financial benefit from the mining company or the Chilean government, but has gotten support from his wife and family during his ordeal, he said. No book or movie deals have materialized.
"The hardest time of the last year was when I was hospitalized. I realized that I felt like I was divided in two," Pena said. "That there was a normal me and a me that was a gorilla, and that I need to control that gorilla."
He's back to tackle the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course in New York because "running is very therapeutic for me."
"I decided to run again because I wanted to encourage others, and I wanted to show them and show myself that, 'Yes, we can,'" he said.
The 35-year-old Pena earned the nickname "The Runner" after logging up to six miles each day through the gold and copper mine tunnels in Chile to keep his mind and body sharp. He ran in steel-toed boots in the sweltering darkness until rescuers managed to make contact after 17 days and lowered down food and a pair of running shoes.
He also requested Presley songs be sent down and sang for his trapped miners to lift their spirits. His beloved singer was blasting over speakers when he crossed the NYC Marathon finish line last year, draped in the Chilean flag. He ran, walked and hobbled on a bad knee to finish in 5 hours, 40 minutes.
His whirlwind U.S. tour included an appearance on the TV program "Late Show with David Letterman" and a visit to Graceland, Presley's estate in Memphis, Tennessee.
Accompanied by his therapist to New York, Pena cracked a rare smile during the press conference when he heard himself singing an Elvis tune during video highlights of his marathon quest from last year.
"Stay tuned for songs," Pena said. "Maybe not today, but another day."
DNA samples taken from 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrichhave been matched to blood bags seized in the Spanish dopingscandal, German prosecutors said Tuesday.
"We found nine blood samples that we were able to compare withthe blood samples," Friedrich Apostel, a spokesman for prosecutorsin Bonn, said during a TV interview. "We were able to establish theidentity of Ullrich."
Ullrich retired from cycling Feb. 26, 10 months after his namesurfaced in Operation Puerto, which led to him being excluded fromthe Tour last year. He has denied using banned substances.
Earlier this year, Ullrich gave a saliva specimen to be used fora DNA comparison with blood samples seized in the Spanish dopingprobe. Ullrich is under investigation in Germany because of acomplaint from a professor that his alleged drug use representedfraud.
Apostel said the comparison established the link "without adoubt" and proved that Ullrich's blood was stored in the Madridclinic that was raided last May. Ullrich has denied having anycontact with the clinic.
"In my whole career, I have never cheated or hurt anyone,"Ullrich said at his farewell news conference.
BASEBALL
FOREIGN PLAYERS ON RISE
The percentage of major-league baseball players born outside theUnited States increased slightly to a near-record level.
Of the 849 players on rosters at the start of the season, 246were born outside the United States, the commissioner's office said.That comes to 29 percent, up from 27.4 percent last season and nearthe record of 29.2 percent set in 2005.
The Dominican Republic had 98 players on major-league rosters. Itwas followed by Venezuela (51), Puerto Rico (28), Canada (19), Japanand Mexico (13 each), Panama (seven), Cuba (six) and South Korea(three). Colombia and Taiwan had two apiece, and Aruba, Australia,Curacao and Nicaragua each had one.
The New York Mets had the most foreign-born players for thesecond consecutive season with 15. The New York Yankees had 13 andthe Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners 12 each.
SELIG MADE $14.5M LAST YEAR
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig earned as much last year as someof the top players in the majors.
Selig received $14.5 million in the 12 months ending Oct. 31,according to Major League Baseball's tax return, which was
obtained by the Sports Business Journal. The publication, citingunidentified sources, said Selig received a $6 million base salary,an equal amount in a bonus and the rest in expenses and personalfees.
NFL
JONES, HENRY TALK WITH GOODELL
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and league officials met withTennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones and CincinnatiBengals receiver Chris Henry as the players tried to avoid longsuspensions after a series of arrests.
Goodell also met with members of the NFL Players Association'sexecutive board as he prepared a tougher policy on NFL players whoviolate the law. He said he will announce his decision onsuspensions or other disciplinary action before the draft April 28.
KICKER MARE DEALT TO SAINTS
The Miami Dolphins traded kicker Olindo Mare to the New OrleansSaints for a sixth-round draft pick this month. Mare, who had beenthe Dolphins' kicker since 1997, became expendable when the Dolphinssigned former New York Giants kicker Jay Feely this offseason.
QB CARR VISITS PANTHERS
Free-agent quarterback David Carr, who was released last month bythe Houston Texans, visited the Carolina Panthers, who are lookingfor someone to back up starter Jake Delhomme. Carr was cut looseafter the Texans acquired Matt Schaub in a trade with the AtlantaFalcons.
Sherese Johnson, a 39-year-old wife and mother, prefers to do a lot of walking as a means of exercising to help control her Type 2 diabetes. Walking is among the many activities, including bike riding, swimming and other traditional exercises, that health professionals say are helpful with managing the disease.
In 1997 Johnson was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and since then she has made several lifestyle changes to keep the disease under control.
"Diabetes is a life changing disease but it can be managed if a person does what is needed," she said.
Johnson no longer eats pork, limits her intake of fried foods and alcohol and watches how many calories are contained in her meals. Daily insulin shots are usually taken by Type 1 diabetics, but Johnson is among me rare Type 2 diabetics who needs the daily shots.
Two years after her twin sister was diagnosed Johnson said she was not surprised to learn she too had the disease that health professional say is running rampant in the Black community.
"It was no surprise when I found out because diabetes runs in my family, and once my twin sister was diagnosed I knew it was just a matter of time for me," she said.
Dr. Thomas Pitts, a consulting physician at Provident Hospital of Cook County, said it is important that people know more about the disease and how to manage it.
"More diabetes education programs are needed so people know exactly what diabetes is," he said. "Provident provides free diabetes education programs to inform people about the disease but more outreach programs are needed."
Of the two forms of the disease - Type 1 and Type 2 - the American Diabetes Association says that Type 2 is more common among minorities, including Blacks.
Dr. Glenda Remister, a pulmonary specialist with a private practice in Joliet. said it's important that people know the differences between the two types of the disease.
Remister said with Type 2. the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. In order for the body to be able to use glucose for energy insulin is needed. When a person eats food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. And when glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can lead to diabetes complications, she explained.
However, Type 1 is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. In Type 1, the body does not produce insulin. Only 5 percent to 10 percent of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Remister explained.
And diabetics should be aware that the disease could also create other health problems, such as high blood pressure. Remister said.
"African Americans are not only at risk for Type 2 diabetes but also the co-morbid illness associated with the disease such as hypertension," she said.
Healthy eating is another lifestyle change health professionals recommend.
"Diet and exercise is critical to staying healthy whether you have diabetes or not," said Dr. Sirimon Reutrakul, an endocrinologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "Instead of taking the elevator you could take the stairs. And instead of sitting down all the time you could try standing more."
Obesity tends to be one of the major contributing factors for Blacks developing diabetes, especially Black women, she added.
[Author Affiliation]
by Wendell Hutson
DEFENDER STAFF WRITER
Shedding some light on sunroof work
Sunroofs never seem to go out of style. Some car, truck and SUV owners just can't seem to do -without the ability to gain a breeze and a little fresh air.
The vast majority of sunroofs (more than 90 percent, manufacturers estimate) are sold with a new vehicle, which enables the buyer to include the cost of the sunroof in the vehicle financing. While many sunroofs are factory-installed, there is a strong aftermarket because vehicle manufacturers don't offer a factory-installed sunroof for every model. Or sometimes a sunroof-seeking car buyer may want a specific color-but may be unable to find a sunroof-equipped vehicle in that color on the lot.
While some dealers will install a sunroof for the buyer others farm that work out, creating a business opportunity for body shops that have the guts to cut a big hole in a brand new car.
"There's quite a learning curve," notes Jim Stegall, owner of Stegall Auto Accessories in Ridgeland, Miss. "Expect to paint some roofs." Until a few years ago, Stegall operated a body shop, which also handled custom work such as sunroofs. Eventually he decided to focus only on the custom work. "I got tired of owning a business that the insurance industry told me how to run," he quips.
Stegall gets most of his sunroof work through car dealers. He has two technicians who focus primarily on sunroof installation and, together, complete an average of three sunroofs a day. The company installs all three of the basic sunroof types-the lowest cost manually operated pop-up models; the mid-range spoiler models, which typically require power and rise up at the rear; and the high-end motorized retractable in-built models.
Body shops can get started installing pop-up or spoiler sunroofs for a relatively small investment. The tools required to install these items, such as precision saws, are among those that a body shop would typically have on hand-and technicians can usually learn how to do an installation by watching a videotape.
After a technician gets proficient, he or she might be able to complete a pop-up sunroof job in an hour, depending on the vehicle model involved. Such jobs usually retail in the range of $200 to $500, with parts and labor of $150 to $350.That means net margins can run in the range of 30 percent or higher-although some car dealers may take a cut, yielding a body shop margin as low as 15 percent to 20 percent. Spoiler-type sunroofs typically retail for between $500 and $800, requiring about two to four hours to complete and yielding similar margin percentages.
Higher end sunroofs are a more significant undertaking. They take longer to complete-in the range of four to six hours, sometimes longer, for a proficient technician-and they retail for around $800 to $1,400. Net margins can be in the range of 30 percent to 40 percent at the retail level, less if the dealer takes a cut.
Manufacturers of higher end sunroofs typically require that technicians receive special training, for which the shop must pay. The shop also may be required to purchase dedicated tools and enough parts for at least a few jobs. Startup costs can easily run $5,000. However, shops planning to aggressively pursue the sunroof business may need to invest substantially more, notes Dave Bosiljevac, co-owner of Executive Motors in Gibsonia, Pa.
"You've got to stock a good selection," Bosiljevac says. "That means an investment of $50,000 to $100,000 if you're going to do power sunroofs."
Executive Motors does collision repair and customization-including sunroofs, suspension kits, navigation and other aftermarket equipment-under the same roof. But in many ways, the two businesses operate independently. Each line of business has a dedicated portion of the shop-and although technicians help out as needed, all of them have a specialty.
"Trying to get a body man to do a sunroof is really hard," says Bosiljevac, who likes to train young technicians whose habits and skills can more easily be molded to fit the unique requirements of sunroof work. "It's like the difference between a rough carpenter and a finish carpenter, with the sunroof technician being more like the finish carpenter," adds Bosiljevac.
[Author Affiliation]
By JOAN ENGEBRETSON, Contributing Editor
[Author Affiliation]
JOAN ENGEBRETSON has more than 10 years of editorial experience. In her shop profile this month Joan profiles a shop whose owner kept his shop successful, despite owner and location changes. She also looks at the profit opportunities of sunroofs in New Profit Center.
KASHIWAZAKI, Japan - A powerful earthquake tipped over barrels of nuclear waste at a power plant and officials on Tuesday were investigating whether there were any radioactive leaks, a day after they said the quake had caused the reactor to spill radioactive water into the sea.
The death toll stood at nine a day after the 6.6-magnitude quake. One person was missing and another 13,000 were homeless, as rescue workers rushed to locate any survivors in the rubble amid fears of landslides.
The quake had caused a leak of water with radioactive material Monday at the Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world's largest in terms of electricity output, although officials said that leak caused no harm to the environment.
On Tuesday, officials said about 100 drums containing low-level nuclear waste fell over at the plant during the quake. They were found a day later, some with their lids open, said Masahide Ichikawa, an official with the local government in Niigata prefecture.
A spokesman at Tokyo Electric Power Co., which runs the plant, said the company was still trying to determine whether any hazardous material had spilled but said there was no effect outside the plant.
"We have no information at this time that there is any effect on the outside environment," TEPCO spokesman Manabu Takeyama said.
Another leak at the Kashiwazaki power plant would feed fresh concerns about the safety of Japan's 55 nuclear reactors, which supply 30 percent of the quake-prone country's electricity and have suffered a long string of accidents and cover-ups.
Monday's quake initially triggered a small fire at an electrical transformer in the sprawling plant. But it was announced 12 hours later that the temblor also caused a leak of water containing radioactive material.
Officials said the water leak was harmless and well below safety standards, but the delay in notifying the public spurred concern among anti-nuclear activists and triggered criticism from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
"They raised the alert too late. I have sent stern instructions that such alerts must be raised seriously and swiftly," Abe told reporters in Tokyo. "Those involved should repent their actions."
Meanwhile, nearly 13,000 people packed into evacuation centers such as schools and other secure buildings in the quake zone 160 miles northwest of Tokyo, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.
People packed school gymnasiums and community centers in the city, camping out on traditional Japanese futon mattresses and fanning themselves from the muggy summer heat.
Thunderstorms and flooding were expected Tuesday throughout the quake zone, increasing the likelihood that the quake-softened, water-logged ground would give way on hillsides and cause even more damage, officials said.
Light rain began to fall by early afternoon in Kashiwazaki and up to 2.4 inches were expected by Wednesday morning, according to the local observatory.
"The damage is more than we had imagined," Kashiwazaki Mayor Hiroshi Aida said while inspecting damaged areas of his town. "We want to restore the water supply as soon as possible so more people can return home."
Nine people in their 70s or 80s - six women and three men - were killed in the quake, and 47 were seriously injured.
The Defense Ministry dispatched 450 soldiers to the devastated area to clear rumble, search for any survivors under collapsed buildings and provide food, water and toilet facilities. People formed long lines to fill bottles with fresh water.
About 50,000 homes were without water and 35,000 were without gas as of Tuesday morning, local official Mitsugu Abe said. About 27,000 households were without power.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency put the initial quake's magnitude at 6.8, while the U.S. Geological Survey said it was 6.6. The quake, which hit the region at 10:13 a.m., was centered off the coast of Niigata, 160 miles northwest of Tokyo.
The area was plagued by a series of aftershocks, though there were no immediate reports of additional damage or injuries from the aftershocks.
Near midnight, Japan's Meteorological Agency said a 6.6-magnitude quake hit off the west coast, shaking wide areas of Japan, but it was unrelated to the Niigata quake to the north and there were no immediate reports of damage.
Individuals concerned about the environment are saying "No" toglitzy gift wrapping paper and ribbons that are neither biodegradablenor recyclable. Instead, they are choosing ecology-safe paper andrecyclable trim.
"There are many ways to wrap gifts without using products thatare harmful to Mother Earth," says Deborah Kravitz, co-owner ofPro-Pak, a professional packing and shipping company in northsuburban Northfield. "It's also a perfect holiday project for thefamily. Today's schoolchildren learn about protecting theenvironment and can add their own original ideas to the project.Grandparents, too, should get involved."
Kravitz encourages her four youngsters to participate in thegift-wrapping sessions. "We start by using 100 percent biodegradablebrown Kraft paper, which the children decorate by using watercolorpaints. We cushion the inside of each gift with biodegradable,water-soluble "peanuts" that protect breakable gifts and/or help asmall object to snugly fit into a large box."
Go outside to find the perfect trim, Kravitz suggests. "Pinecones, branches with berries, nuts and leaves are lovely gifts ofnature," she said. "To wrap a large or oddly shaped item, use arecyclable plastic garbage bag. Tie with a jumbo bow and artificialflowers that you have sprayed with cologne.
"This kind of gift-wrapping project not only protects theenvironment, but it is also short on money and long on love. Justopen up the dining room table and begin!"
GOURMET TIDBITS: Cream butter with a dollop of curry powder andput on freshly cooked peas. This is delicious with roast leg of lamband oven-browned potatoes.
BEAUTY BRIEFS: When planning a party, schedule at least an hourto recharge your psyche. When your pre-party chores are completed,you should have time to indulge in a warm, relaxing bath. Pour in 1cup of baking soda to soften the water and your skin. Allow enoughtime to dress leisurely so that you sparkle along with the star onthe Christmas tree when your guests arrive.
DECOR DELIGHTS: The traditional poinsettia will enhance thebeauty of any home during the Christmas season. It makes a beautifulgift, and with a bit of care the poinsettia can be enjoyed throughoutthe holiday season.
When buying a poinsettia, look for tightly clustered smallflowers with crisp, bright foliage. Foliage that's green all the waydown to the soil indicates the plant has healthy roots.
Water your poinsettia when soil is dry to the touch. The plantshould have plenty of natural light. Poinsettias thrive in highhumidity. Avoid cold drafts or high heat from appliances, radiatorsor ventilators.
TIMELY TIPS: An open-house party is an ideal way to entertainfriends and family during the holiday season. If you are inviting alarge group, stagger their arrival times on the invitations. Inviteone-third of the group to arrive at 4 p.m., another third to arriveat 5 p.m. and yet another third to arrive at 6 p.m.
At an open house, most of your guests will not tarry long. NewYear's Day is a great time for an open house. It has become atradition for many families. Renting equipment can helptremendously when you are entertaining large groups. You can rentcoat racks, wine coolers, coffee urns, chairs, tables, glassware,silverware, china - almost everything you will need. Check "PartySupplies - Renting" in your Yellow Pages.
DEAR DORSEY: In our hard-water area, we often get a buildup oflime deposits on the inside of our faucets. I poured some limeremover into a plastic sandwich bag and tied it onto each spout. Iused a wire twist-tie to secure it. The lime bubbles away with noeffort on my part. I've enjoyed your column over the years. If youuse this letter, please send the $5 to the Naperville Humane Society.
CHAR MASSA
DEAR DORSEY: I enjoyed your TV show and still use a wire coathanger to retrieve objects that fall behind the piano. I alsoelongate the hanger to light the furnace. I save mesh bags that holdonions and potatoes and use them to hold charcoal briquettes. I hangthem in the basement to prevent musty odors.
I also used the charcoal bags when I bought a car that had beenowned by a cigar smoker. The obnoxious odor disappeared in a fewdays. Keep up the splendid work!
MILDRED KOVACICH
Many thanks, Mildred, for the fine hints.
Send your helpful hints to Dorsey Connors, Box 3600, Chicago60654. If your letter is used in this column, we will send you $5.
RICHMOND, Va. - Republican Sen. George Allen and Democratic challenger Jim Webb sparred over familiar issues from the Iraq war to taxes Monday night in the final televised debate in Virginia's tight, closely watched U.S. Senate race.
The face-to-face matchup failed to reveal anything new about the candidates in a race that could help determine whether the GOP retains control of the Senate.
The debate also touched on allegations that Allen used racial slurs in the past and on a 1979 magazine article in which Webb, a former Navy secretary under President Reagan, argued that women are not fit to command men in battle.
The most heated exchange centered on taxes in which candidates were allowed to ask each other questions.
Allen said he has supported tax cuts that Webb has criticized. Webb said tax cuts during a time of increased federal spending and a growing deficit are unwise.
"You can't keep spending like this without increasing revenues," Webb said.
Allen asked Webb if he knew "how many Virginians have benefited from the tax relief you criticize."
Both candidates began talking at the same time, making it difficult to understand either, before Allen ended the exchange by saying: "The answer is 3 million Virginians."
On foreign policy, Webb, a decorated combat veteran, called for a "diplomatic solution" to the war in Iraq while Allen stuck by his support of President Bush's strategy.
Allen dismissed as "baseless allegations" claims by some of his former University of Virginia football teammates that in the 1970s he freely used an epithet to describe black people. He urged people to look at his record on race, including his efforts to help historically black colleges and universities.
Webb said Allen's use of the word "macaca," an obscure racial slur, to single out a Webb campaign volunteer of Indian descent amounted to "unnecessary bullying."
Asked about his 1979 Washingtonian magazine article, "Women Can't Fight," Webb said he is now comfortable with the role of women in the military.
Allen touted his own record of appointing women to Cabinet positions when he was Virginia's governor from 1993-1997 and his efforts to get more women interested in science and engineering.
---
Associated Press Writer Larry O'Dell contributed to this report.
Allen, Webb Spar in Final TV DebateRICHMOND, Va. - Republican Sen. George Allen and Democratic challenger Jim Webb sparred over familiar issues from the Iraq war to taxes Monday night in the final televised debate in Virginia's tight, closely watched U.S. Senate race.
The face-to-face matchup failed to reveal anything new about the candidates in a race that could help determine whether the GOP retains control of the Senate.
The debate also touched on allegations that Allen used racial slurs in the past and on a 1979 magazine article in which Webb, a former Navy secretary under President Reagan, argued that women are not fit to command men in battle.
The most heated exchange centered on taxes in which candidates were allowed to ask each other questions.
Allen said he has supported tax cuts that Webb has criticized. Webb said tax cuts during a time of increased federal spending and a growing deficit are unwise.
"You can't keep spending like this without increasing revenues," Webb said.
Allen asked Webb if he knew "how many Virginians have benefited from the tax relief you criticize."
Both candidates began talking at the same time, making it difficult to understand either, before Allen ended the exchange by saying: "The answer is 3 million Virginians."
On foreign policy, Webb, a decorated combat veteran, called for a "diplomatic solution" to the war in Iraq while Allen stuck by his support of President Bush's strategy.
Allen dismissed as "baseless allegations" claims by some of his former University of Virginia football teammates that in the 1970s he freely used an epithet to describe black people. He urged people to look at his record on race, including his efforts to help historically black colleges and universities.
Webb said Allen's use of the word "macaca," an obscure racial slur, to single out a Webb campaign volunteer of Indian descent amounted to "unnecessary bullying."
Asked about his 1979 Washingtonian magazine article, "Women Can't Fight," Webb said he is now comfortable with the role of women in the military.
Allen touted his own record of appointing women to Cabinet positions when he was Virginia's governor from 1993-1997 and his efforts to get more women interested in science and engineering.
---
Associated Press Writer Larry O'Dell contributed to this report.
Byline: Wendy Victora
Jun. 5--After a year in which controversies surrounded the annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival treasure hunts, organizers say the process will be changed by next year.
They are even considering discontinuing the hunt.
"It will be done differently next year," said Ted Corcoran, president of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the hunt. "It's totally for fun. Totally, totally for fun.
"Some people are taking it really serious. Some people are very competitive about it and when they don't get (the prize), they get mad."
This year, the senior treasure was turned in last Friday by a pair of Okaloosa County School District employees who had actually found the coin May 28.
Corcoran said the winners did not call the chamber or notify them in any way that the coin had been found until they walked in Friday morning.
"We were on standby, we had the camera. We were just waiting to find out," he said.
But during that gap of several days, more clues were released and people continued searching.
Some were quite angry that they had spent that time looking for treasure that was no longer up for grabs.
Since the coin was discovered in front of the Okaloosa County School District headquarters, there were also those who implied the two workers had inside information.
"There's no conspiracy," said Tom Rice, owner of Magnolia Grill restaurant. He hid the coins this year and wrote the clues. "Good Lord of mercy.
"There's enough Richard Nixon stuff going on in people's mind to sink a ship."
One of the two people who found the coin was the daughter of Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools Alexis Tibbetts' secretary.
The 18-year-old victor told the Daily News she decided to look near the school district offices after reading the May 27 clue about a Viking queen. She found the coin the next day.
Tibbetts is a former Bowlegs queen and was the principal of Fort Walton Beach High School, whose mascot is the Vikings.
She said that even when she was the Bowlegs queen, she had no knowledge of the coins' hiding places.
"I don't know anything about it," Tibbetts said. "Never have. Even the Krewe of Bowlegs don't know anything about it."
The two are completely separate, she said.
"I'm a person with a lot of integrity," she said. "It's important to me that people don't think I would ever know anything about it or tell anyone if I did."
The Chamber of Commerce organizes the treasure hunts, with the help of a local person like Rice.
The clues are published every other day and released through several media outlets, including the Northwest Florida Daily News.
Even the release of clues has become complicated.
Kayla Lynn-Clawson, the 15-year-old Shalimar girl who claimed this year's junior prize, was among those lined up at the back dock of the Daily News early Saturday morning.
Her parents got a paper soon after it came off the press at about 1 a.m., read the clue and raced her over to Camp Walton Schoolhouse near the Indian Temple Mound Museum.
There were others who did the same thing, but Kayla was the first to find the coin taped to a wooden beam under the schoolhouse.
She claimed her prize Saturday afternoon. The announcement was made Monday that the junior treasure had been found, after another clue had been released early Monday morning.
Corcoran said chamber staff had been busy at Saturday's events and did not get a chance to issue the release until Monday morning.
The treasure hunt has been a part of the annual festival for at least 40 years.
Originally, a wooden key was buried in a box on the beach and discovered by people who used metal rods to probe the soft sand.
That was stopped in 1988 after it was determined that too much damage was being done to the dunes.
In more recent years, a junior coin and senior coin have been hidden in downtown Fort Walton Beach with a series of clues leading searchers ever closer to the pirate's booty.
The value of the prize has also climbed. In 1988, the prize was a $1,000 savings bond. This year's senior treasure included roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the world and was valued at about $2,500.
The junior prize was worth about $750.
Daily News Staff Writer Wendy
Victora can be reached at 863-1111, Ext. 478.
To see more of the Northwest Florida Daily News -- including its homes, jobs, cars and other classified listings -- or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.nwfdailynews.com.
Copyright (c) 2007, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Is the treasure hunt sunk?: Organizers say they're considering discontinuing the event.Byline: Wendy Victora
Jun. 5--After a year in which controversies surrounded the annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival treasure hunts, organizers say the process will be changed by next year.
They are even considering discontinuing the hunt.
"It will be done differently next year," said Ted Corcoran, president of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the hunt. "It's totally for fun. Totally, totally for fun.
"Some people are taking it really serious. Some people are very competitive about it and when they don't get (the prize), they get mad."
This year, the senior treasure was turned in last Friday by a pair of Okaloosa County School District employees who had actually found the coin May 28.
Corcoran said the winners did not call the chamber or notify them in any way that the coin had been found until they walked in Friday morning.
"We were on standby, we had the camera. We were just waiting to find out," he said.
But during that gap of several days, more clues were released and people continued searching.
Some were quite angry that they had spent that time looking for treasure that was no longer up for grabs.
Since the coin was discovered in front of the Okaloosa County School District headquarters, there were also those who implied the two workers had inside information.
"There's no conspiracy," said Tom Rice, owner of Magnolia Grill restaurant. He hid the coins this year and wrote the clues. "Good Lord of mercy.
"There's enough Richard Nixon stuff going on in people's mind to sink a ship."
One of the two people who found the coin was the daughter of Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools Alexis Tibbetts' secretary.
The 18-year-old victor told the Daily News she decided to look near the school district offices after reading the May 27 clue about a Viking queen. She found the coin the next day.
Tibbetts is a former Bowlegs queen and was the principal of Fort Walton Beach High School, whose mascot is the Vikings.
She said that even when she was the Bowlegs queen, she had no knowledge of the coins' hiding places.
"I don't know anything about it," Tibbetts said. "Never have. Even the Krewe of Bowlegs don't know anything about it."
The two are completely separate, she said.
"I'm a person with a lot of integrity," she said. "It's important to me that people don't think I would ever know anything about it or tell anyone if I did."
The Chamber of Commerce organizes the treasure hunts, with the help of a local person like Rice.
The clues are published every other day and released through several media outlets, including the Northwest Florida Daily News.
Even the release of clues has become complicated.
Kayla Lynn-Clawson, the 15-year-old Shalimar girl who claimed this year's junior prize, was among those lined up at the back dock of the Daily News early Saturday morning.
Her parents got a paper soon after it came off the press at about 1 a.m., read the clue and raced her over to Camp Walton Schoolhouse near the Indian Temple Mound Museum.
There were others who did the same thing, but Kayla was the first to find the coin taped to a wooden beam under the schoolhouse.
She claimed her prize Saturday afternoon. The announcement was made Monday that the junior treasure had been found, after another clue had been released early Monday morning.
Corcoran said chamber staff had been busy at Saturday's events and did not get a chance to issue the release until Monday morning.
The treasure hunt has been a part of the annual festival for at least 40 years.
Originally, a wooden key was buried in a box on the beach and discovered by people who used metal rods to probe the soft sand.
That was stopped in 1988 after it was determined that too much damage was being done to the dunes.
In more recent years, a junior coin and senior coin have been hidden in downtown Fort Walton Beach with a series of clues leading searchers ever closer to the pirate's booty.
The value of the prize has also climbed. In 1988, the prize was a $1,000 savings bond. This year's senior treasure included roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the world and was valued at about $2,500.
The junior prize was worth about $750.
Daily News Staff Writer Wendy
Victora can be reached at 863-1111, Ext. 478.
To see more of the Northwest Florida Daily News -- including its homes, jobs, cars and other classified listings -- or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.nwfdailynews.com.
Copyright (c) 2007, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Everybody was crying, he continued, ". . .all the girls, even my teacher."
"They were passing out Kleenex . . ."
It was the class' response to sad news: the departure of a little boy who was moving to Alaska, or, in their third-grade minds, to the other side of the world. So on his last day of school, one by one, the girls dissolved into tears upon saying farewell.
One of the boys started crying too. Then another boy, seeing his male classmate's tears, scolded, " 'Man up!' "
"But I didn't cry," my son said …
There are murmurs in many quarters, including among Azapo members and sympathisers, concerning signs that the gloss on our democracy is fading fast.
The promise we held as one of the beacons of hope on the continent in terms of our democratic constitution, supporting institutions and legal arrangements, is receding; the efforts made by many in the past 14 years to entrench democratic processes and practices in our country are being undermined by others in pursuit of dishonourable goals.
Those concerned about the fast deteriorating state of our democracy point to the following developments:
l The shenanigans at the SABC and attempts by parliament to …
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Kay Stephenson, who once coached the Buffalo Bills, resigned as coach of the Edmonton Eskimos after just one season with the CFL team.
``I have decided that in the best interests of my family and the Edmonton Eskimo organization, I will resign my position …
Wellington Hurricanes center Ma'a Nonu has been cleared of making a reckless tackle in his team's 37-13 loss to the Stormers in round five of the Super 14.
Nonu was cited for tackling Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant above the shoulders during the game in Cape Town on Saturday.
SANZAR Judicial Officer Rob Stelzner found the All Blacks center not guilty of the …
The Indiana House of Representatives passed a measure Feb. 15 to send to voters a constitutional amendment that blocks recognition of same- sex marriages and any status similar to marriage.
House Joint Resolution 6, which passed 70-26, states: "Article 1 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana is amended by adding a new section to read as follows: . . . Only a …
TrickleMeter Series flowmeters catersto low- or high-viscosity fluids with flowrates ranging from 0.005 to 0.5 gal/min, and temperatures from -20 to 450 [degrees] F. Four models are available, offering pressure limitations of 250, 1,000, 6,000 and 10,000 psi. A surface-reference pick-up (SRP) sensor provides a reliable pulse output over the full range of flows. Built into the SRP is an amplifier that enables signal transmission over a distance of …
COHOES -- There will no trash pickup in the city today due to Good Friday being a holiday for the Department of Public Works.
Garbage, recyclables and newspapers …
TODAY Other: EU, U.S. leaders hold summit meeting in Washington, D.C.
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Jeffrey Lacker speaks at the Virginia Bankers Association's annual convention in Hot Springs, Va.
Treasury bill auction.
Conference Board reports its monthly Leading Economic Indicators Index in New York.
Sentencing for John and Timothy Rigas, convicted in the Adelphia fraud trial last summer.
TUESDAY Annual meetings: DayStar Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: DSTI) of Halfmoon, 11 a.m., The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Albany Shaker Road, Colonie Other: Spain's Industry Minister Jose Montilla opens an energy …
Byline: DONNA LIQUORI and MICHAEL MCKEON with wire reports
The storm that wasn't Thursday still caused some problems for motorists and police.
The small amount of snow - less than an inch at the Albany County Airport - coupled with high winds in the immediate Capital Region made for some rough commuting Friday morning.
Police agencies reported several traffic accidents, including a rollover on Corporate Circle in Albany.
Gregory Kenegar, 27, of Delmar was traveling south when he lost control of his car and it flipped, police said. There were no injuries and no tickets were issued.
Albany County officials spent Friday hoping the …
