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Manhattan, KAN (WIBW)-- A Manhattan physician is charged with a federal offense stemming from a year-long investigation into faulty prescriptions and an alleged pill mill at his pain clinic.
The case is getting national attention, making headlines across the country.
The FBI and Riley County police detectives executed a search warrant at the Manhattan Pain and Spine Center Tuesday. The clinic is located at 1135 Westport Drive. It is operated by Dr. Michael Schuster.
U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom revealed that Schuster, 53, is accused of unlawfully prescribing prescription drugs, causing some patients- including Fort Riley soldiers and their family members- to overdose on the medications.
The FBI confirms that Schuster was arrested at the Manhattan Regional Airport Tuesday afternoon without incident. Officials said he has since been transferred into federal custody. FBI Public Affairs Specialist Bridget Patton could not comment on what Dr. Schuster was doing at the airport at the time of his arrest.
Physician Michael Schuster, 53, who operates Manhattan Pain and Spine in Manhattan is charged with one count of conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances.
A criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Topeka alleges that Schuster employed unlicensed staff members who distributed controlled substances to patients using Schuster's signature on prescriptions while he was traveling out of the state or out of the country.
The indictment alleges that Schuster was out of the office when a total of 542 patients received prescriptions for medications including oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, fentanyl, amphetamine salts, tapentadol, methadone, methylphenidate, hydrocodone, diazepam, alprazolam, zolpidem titrate and clonazepam.
According to an affidavit from the FBI agent on the case, the investigation began early in 2012 when the Riley County Police Department received reports that Schuster was issuing prescriptions for high dosages of scheduled drugs based on minimal or cursory physical examinations. As a result, several patients had overdosed on their medications and Riley County Police were investigating the diversion of prescription drugs. Simultaneously, physicians and hospital staff at Fort Riley voiced concerns to Army Criminal Investigative Division that active duty soldiers and family members who died from overdoses were patients of Schuster.
Fort Riley Public Affairs officials declined to release information about the reported deaths involving soldiers and their family members.
"I confirm we are supporting the US Attorney's investigation. This is a community concern and as members of the community, we, the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, want to make sure we do our part…While Dr. Schuster was at one time an authorized TRICARE medical provider, any details concerning patients is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and again delves into investigative matters," said Jason Roberts, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Media Relations Manager.
In the affidavit from the FBI agent on the case, it also states Schuster would sign blank prescription pads that his staff would use to issue medications when he traveled.
He was the only person in the office with a DEA registration number to prescribe controlled substances, the agent said.
Red flags were raised by local pharmacists who called his office with questions after receiving prescriptions with his signature that were "early"- meaning that they had been issued prior to the expiration of the normal 30 days between prescriptions, given the frequency the drugs were to be taken- only to be informed that Schuster was out of the office traveling. Manhattan pharmacies were notified not to fill prescriptions from his clinic.
"During these interviews, I learned of Dr. Schuster's pattern and practice of using unlicensed staff members to issue prescriptions to patients at times when he was not present in Kansas, let alone his clinic," the FBI agent wrote in the document.
Schuster, previously known as Mikhail Pavlovich Shusterov, is a 1982 graduate of Stavropol State Medical Academy in Russia. Around March 2004, he moved from the northeast to accept a position at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan and eventually opened his own practice nearby.
The 14-page affidavit goes on to state findings from interviews with Fort Riley physicians and local area pharmacies, including allegations that Dr. Schuster prescribed unusually high dosages of narcotics "despite questionable medical necessity;" allowed patients to get early refills and had a tendency to attract patients suspected of selling their prescription medications on the street.
Investigators documented various prescriptions bearing Schuster's signature while he was on trips to Russia, South Africa, Uruguay, Canada, New York, Chile, Argentina, and Israel.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million. If death or bodily injury results from the crime, the penalty is not less than 20 years. Schuster made his first appearance Wednesday, April 24, 2013 in federal court in Wichita.
A bond was not set by the magistrate judge. Instead, the judge ordered Dr. Schuster to be held in custody pending a hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 30 in federal court in Topeka.
"Tuesday's hearing will focus on whether the judge will allow the defendant to be released pending trial, and, if so, under what conditions he would be released," said Jim Cross, Public Information Officer for U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom in the District of Kansas.
Investigating agencies in the case include the Riley County Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Defense, Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS); the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (DHS-HSI); and the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
Calls to Dr. Schuster's attorney were not returned Wednesday.


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Hazlehurst, Miss.
Linda Gale Reed has pleaded not guilty to three counts of embezzlement.
Reed entered the plea Friday in Copiah County Circuit Court in Hazlehurst. Circuit Judge Lamar Pickard denied bail for Reed and set her trial for July 23.
The 65-year-old Reed, a Neshoba County native, was first reported missing in April 2012 by her daughter after Reed's car was found abandoned on a county road near Crystal Springs. Her status changed from missing to wanted for embezzlement in the summer.
She was arrested in Longview, Texas, in October, working as a bookkeeper using her own name and official identification.
Authorities say Reed embezzled $20,000 from her Mississippi employer, Moore's Fabrications. She had worked for the company since 1999. They say an accountant found the money missing from the petty cash fund.

subset: commoncrawl


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This year Suffolk embarks on its 6th consecutive year participating in Recycle Mania, a national waste reduction and recycling competition for colleges and universities.
"Recycle Mania provides a fun and structured way for campuses to engage in waste reduction and recycling activities and see how they measure up. We are eager to outdo last year's performance, as we strive to achieve a 50% recycling rate," said Campus Sustainability Coordinator Erica Mattison.
The competition runs from February 5-March 31,2012. Each week, hundreds of schools around the country provide their trash and recycling data and visitors to the website can see how schools are performing.
Just before the start of the 8-week competition, Suffolk Sustainability and Residence Life co-hosted kick off parties in Miller Hall and 150 Tremont. During the competition, Eco-Ambassadors will be conducting waste audits and providing feedback to the campus to raise awareness about items that can be recycled. They will also be hosting several informational tables.
To learn more, visit www.recyclemaniacs.org.
The Grand Champion category is based on the percentage of the total waste stream that gets recycled, in other words the school's recycling rate.
For this category, Suffolk is striving to place in the top 20% nationally and to finish in the top 5 schools statewide.
The campus has been struggling against increased trash output and decreased recycling output, and is seeking to get back on track with its recycling rate. For the first half of FY12, the campus recycling rate has lingered around 40%. The goal for FY12 is to recycle 50% of the waste stream.
How You Can Get in the Game
"Suffolk accepts a wide array of items, and with single stream recycling, all recyclables can go in any recycling bin," said Mattison. "It's easier than ever to recycle at Suffolk and we encourage students, employees, and visitors to take advantage of our hundreds of conveniently located recycling receptacles. In addition to typical items like bottles, cans, plastic containers, and papers, some locations, such as the Donahue Cafe, also enable composting of food scraps."
Recycling Tips
Coffee cups currently make up a significant amount of the campus trash output. Paper and plastic iced coffee cups, but not Styrofoam, are recyclable. Reduce waste by using a travel mug, but if you forget to this time, choose a paper or plastic cup (not Styrofoam) and recycle it when empty.
Since corrugated cardboard boxes can take up a lot of space in recycling bins and fill them up quickly, users are asked to empty and flatten boxes and place them next to recycling bins for pick-up.
For more information on how to recycle at Suffolk, visit www.suffolk.edu/recycling.


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The season's first snow, luckily, has not produced major problems on the roadway in town.
In fact, only one accident was reported this afternoon.
"I'm surprised that we only had one," said Geneva Police Commander Julie Nash.
And she said that she could not credit the weather as the sole cause of that accident.
Nash is reminding drivers to slow down, especially when the temperature is not very cold and causing a wet snow.
"The roads get very slick," Nash said.


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Romelu Lukaku enjoying time at West Brom but knows future rests with Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku appreciates that Chelsea will decide whether he can stay on at West Brom for another season.
Last Updated: 25/02/13 9:39am
The 19-year-old striker has excelled during a loan spell at The Hawthorns this season, with regular football allowing him to fulfil his potential.
Game time has been hard to come by for the Belgium international during his time at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea reluctant to ask for too much from their teenage frontman.
The Blues were, however, prepared to part with £18million to secure Lukaku's services and have high hopes for him in the future.
It could be that the Stamford Bridge outfit wish to draft him back into their plans for next season, after seeing him shine in the Premier League this term, but Lukaku claims to be unaware as to what the 2013/14 campaign will hold for him.
He said: "I don't know what Chelsea will decide. We'll have a chat about how to build up a good career for me there.
"There are a lot of clever people over there and they're seeing that I am playing in a good way.
"Every 10 days I have a meeting with Chelsea. Sometimes they just come and talk with me and say what I have to improve, if I go back there I have to be like this or like that.
"There is a lot to improve on. I am only 19 so I can improve loads. They will see maybe I need one more year or maybe I don't. I have a great understanding with them."


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WKU students taking a Study Away course this summer are encouraged to apply for a $100 scholarship offered through the Student Government Association (SGA). The scholarships will be awarded to five WKU students planning to take a summer 2012 Study Away course.
Applications must be submitted online by 4 p.m. (CDT) April 23. The Study Away office will announce the scholarship awards in early May. Students do not have to be currently enrolled in a Study Away course to apply, but the award will only be made after the student has paid for the course.
Summer 2012 Study Away courses include U.S. National Parks throughout the southwestern U.S., Art & Literacy in Los Angeles, Geographic Concepts & Skills for Teachers in Kentucky and South Dakota, Fashion/Design Market Trends in Las Vegas, Social Inequality & Community Development Solutions in the Mississippi Delta and Life & Literature of Chicago.
For information concerning SGA Study Away Scholarships, contact Kendrick Bryan at email@example.com. Additional information about WKU Study Away is available at www.wku.edu/studyaway.
Contact: Jerry Barnaby, (270) 745-2231.


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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A dude rancher has reached an agreement with the federal government over construction of a road that leads to the Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Nigel Turner says he won't charge visitors for traveling on the road that crosses his property. He had imposed a toll on Diamond Bar Road earlier this year, fueling outrage from the Hualapai Tribe that runs the Skywalk.
The tribe turned to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs for a bypass road. Turner argued in federal court that the construction harmed his ranch guests and didn't comply with a 2007 settlement over amenities for a new road.
A judge's order this month gives the BIA a temporary easement for road construction. The agency also must give Turner notice before opening up the new road to public use.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Greg GabrielFree Agent
Team Official
Ht: | Wt:
News | Stats | Stat vs. Team | Targets | Injury | Depth Chart | Roster
|Bears | Will not renew Greg Gabriel's contract
Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:31:38 -0700
The Chicago Bears will not renew the contract of college scouting director Greg Gabriel, sources have told the Chicago Sun-Times' Neil Hayes.
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|Bills | Gabriel may be a candidate for GM job
Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:58:10 -0800
Mark Gaughan, of The Buffalo News, reports Chicago Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel may be a candidate for the Buffalo Bills' vacant general manager job if the team decides to hire an external candidate.
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|Giants | Gabriel interviewed for front office job
Fri, 18 May 2007 12:01:10 -0700
Ralph Vacchiano, of the New York Daily News, reports the New York Giants interviewed Chicago Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel for the team's director of player personnel job Wednesday, May 16. The vacancy was created when Jerry Reese took the general manager job.
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|Bears | Gabriel not under contract for 2007
Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:36:16 -0800
David Haugh, of the Chicago Tribune, reports Chicago Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel will see his contract expire in May, according to team sources. It was previously reported that Gabriel was under contract for next season.
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New Help for Old Friends VII
This page collects notes and pointers to changes coming up in the WTP 3.4 (Juno) release.
This page acts as a central "jumping off" point for those adopters of WTP that are moving up from a previous version of WTP. Most of this information may be already contained in various mailing lists and Bugzilla reports, but it is believed best to have a central place to get people started. Adopters: if you run into trouble or notice things that are not covered here, please update this page and/or let us know (such as by opening a bug, or sending a note to wtp-dev). Web Tools is a Platform and we strive to provide compatible API evolution with clear migration paths, instructions, etc.
One thing we have learned in the past is that some adopters do not move with us to every new release. Some early adopters went from 0.7 directly to 1.5, for example. Unfortunately, it is difficult to present the information in that way, covering multiple changes across multiple version ranges, so those types of migrations have to read about migrating to each version.
Note: as these notes develop and grow in number, they may occasionally be re-organized into categories, etc.
Java EE
- The Java Facet can now be installed on more projects than before, specifically on projects also having the Static Web facet, with which it previously conflicted. Discussion can be found in bug 353775, including early configuration issues similar to those that may be encountered by adopters.
- bug 319736 - provisional API changes throughout the model to switch Iterators to Iterable
- While fixing bug 277017 provisional API was added for resolving a JDT IType for class names specified throughout the JPA model. This would only affect those who have their own implementation of the interfaces listed in the bug.
This document ONLY covers changes between WTP 3.4 and WTP 3.3. See also: New Help for Old Friends VI (3.3), New Help for Old Friends V (3.2), New Help for Old Friends IV (3.1), New Help for Old Friends III (3.0), New Help for Old Friends II (2.0), and the original New Help for Old Friends (1.5)


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Music playlist for the end of the world
Dec. 21 marks end of the world, according to some interpretations of the Mayan calendar. Doomsday preppers may be stock-piling gas masks and Velveeta, but what about some tunes to go along with that paranoia? A playlist for the End Times from the Los Angeles Times:
Copyright © 2018, Chicago Tribune


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To the editor:
Nov. 6, all registered voters in Jasper County will have the opportunity to elect a new sheriff. I hope everyone will take the time to do some research on who will be the best leader for our county law enforcement. After comparing the two candidates, it becomes obvious that Steve Hoffman is the right choice.
During his 21-year career in law enforcement, Steve Hoffman has excelled in every area. He is a born leader and has the administrative and management skills necessary to bring our Sheriff's Office up to the highest standards.
His experience working in an internationally accredited law enforcement agency has given him the foundation to mold the Jasper County Sheriff's Office into the premier law enforcement agency that the residents of Jasper County deserve.
In order to be an effective sheriff, there are a multitude of areas where he or she must be proficient. Management and administrative skills are of paramount importance. This is where the similarities in the candidates end and the choice to elect Steve Hoffman becomes most obvious.
Steve's administrative skills and management practices are second to none. His business-like approach to managing the jail has produced revenue like has never been seen here in Jasper County. Through his marketing of the jail, Steve has had average annual revenue of more than $1 million. As a taxpayer, this is the type of leadership we need in Jasper County.
When Steve made the decision to run for sheriff, he asked if I would co-chair his campaign committee and I gladly accepted. With Steve's management and business perspective, along with his work ethic, leadership and true integrity, I knew that he was the man Jasper County needed as its sheriff.
I would encourage you to visit the Hoffman for Sheriff website at www.hoffmanforsheriff.com, or his Facebook page, "Hoffman for Sheriff." I am confident that once you see everything Steve Hoffman will bring to Jasper County, you will come to realize, as I have, that Steve Hoffman should be the next Sheriff of Jasper County.
Nov. 6, I ask you to join with me in electing Steve Hoffman the next Sheriff of Jasper County.
Aaron Axtell


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• What: "Annie."
• When: Friday, Dec. 7-Sunday, Dec. 23. Curtain at 8 p.m. Fridays; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays (except 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8); 2 p.m. Sundays; 7 p.m. Thursdays.
• Where: MainStage, Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.
• Admission: $10-$30.
• Phone: 267-8534.
• Website: TheatreCentre.com.
Special programming with "Annie."
• Friday, Dec. 7: Opening Night Gala, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages, 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 8: Late curtain (8:30 p.m.) allows patrons to watch the city's lighted boat parade and fireworks from theater's deck, complimentary snacks and beverages, 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 13: Real-time captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons, 7 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 14: Talk Back with cast and director following 8 p.m. show.
• Sunday, Dec. 16: Take photos of Annie and Sandy after the show, 2:30 p.m. (sold out).
• Friday, Dec. 21: Girls Night Out, with complimentary adult beverages and snacks, 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 23: Take photos of Annie and Sandy after the show, 2:30 p.m.
Chattanooga Theatre Centre has tied its Christmas present for theatergoers with a red bow.
Red as in the famous hair color of the title character in the musical "Annie," which opens on the MainStage on Friday, Dec. 7, and continues through Sunday, Dec. 23.
"It's got everything that people like," director Maria Chattin-Carter says, referring to top-notch songs, a lead with a "power voice," a variety of children, a problem that must be solved, a happy ending and even a dog.
The Tony Award-winning musical, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and book by Thomas Meehan, is based on the "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip by Harold Gray.
The Depression-era musical focuses on Annie, a resident of an orphanage run by a mean-spirited, gin-swigging supervisor, and the unexpected invitation the youngster receives to spend Christmas with rich businessman Oliver Warbucks.
"Because it's 'Annie,' people expect a certain thing," says Chattin-Carter, who doubles as the choreographer. "This musical is a big musical, and we want to do it well."
The 27-member, all-ages cast has "clicked," she says. "They've enjoyed being around each other."
In a play with "so many good numbers," she says, 10-year-old lead Emmy McKenzie's singing of the signature song "Tomorrow," and the adults' "hilarious" "Easy Street" are among the highlights.
The score is so good, Chattin-Carter says, audience members may leave the show with as many favorites as there are songs.
In other lead roles are Scott Shaw as Daddy Warbucks, Thaddeus Taylor as Rooster, Laura Holland as Lily St. Regis, Jennifer Major as Grace Farrell and Scott Dunlap as Miss Hannigan. Andrew Chauncey is the musical director.
Contact staff writer Clint Cooper at firstname.lastname@example.com or 423-757-6497. Subscribe to his posts online at Facebook.com/ClintCooperCTFP.


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This documentation is archived and is not being maintained.
SqlCompareOptions Enumeration
Visual Studio 2010
Specifies the compare option values for a SqlString structure.
This enumeration has a FlagsAttribute attribute that allows a bitwise combination of its member values.Namespace: System.Data.SqlTypes
Assembly: System.Data (in System.Data.dll)
|Member name
|Specifies the default option settings for SqlString comparisons.
|Specifies that SqlString comparisons must ignore case.
|Specifies that SqlString comparisons must ignore nonspace combining characters, such as diacritics. The Unicode Standard defines combining characters as characters that are combined with base characters to produce a new character. Non-space combining characters do not use character space by themselves when rendered. For more information about non-space combining characters, see the Unicode Standard at http://www.unicode.org.
|Specifies that SqlString comparisons must ignore the Kana type. Kana type refers to Japanese hiragana and katakana characters that represent phonetic sounds in the Japanese language. Hiragana is used for native Japanese expressions and words, while katakana is used for words borrowed from other languages, such as "computer" or "Internet". A phonetic sound can be expressed in both hiragana and katakana. If this value is selected, the hiragana character for one sound is considered equal to the katakana character for the same sound.
|Specifies that SqlString comparisons must ignore the character width. For example, Japanese katakana characters can be written as full-width or half-width and, if this value is selected, the katakana characters written as full-width are considered equal to the same characters written in half-width.
|Specifies that sorts should be based on a characters numeric value instead of its alphabetical value.
|Performs a binary sort.
Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows XP SP3, Windows XP SP2 x64 Edition, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core supported with SP1 or later), Windows Server 2003 SP2
The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.


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Police activity reports
Compiled from selected police activity reports.
Buckeye Lake
• April 14: A Walnut Road woman said someone rummaged through her vehicle and removed several items.
• April 17: A Hebron Road man believed an acquaintance ransacked his house.
• April 16: An officer stopped an Everett Avenue woman whose vehicle's license plate was missing. She had no driver's license and she was borrowing a friend's car.
• April 16: A BP service station employee said a customer left without paying for $25 of fuel.
• April 16: A Hebron Road woman reported her husband violated a restraining order.
• April 17: An Englefield Oil Company trucker said he thought a person used an electric pump to siphon diesel fuel from the Englefield tanker into the person's vehicle. The suspect strongly denied it and there were no direct witnesses, but the suspect paid Englefield Oil for $187 of fuel.
• April 18: Two people who were fighting in Wendy's truck parking area were charged with public intoxication. Neither person pressed charges against the other.
• April 19: A Rosebraugh Circle man said someone damaged his house and his car.
• April 22: Police Chief Ron Small said 14 or 15 Myers Addition residents reported someone rummaged through their vehicles, mainly looking for money and easily sold items. He warned all Buckeye Lake residents to remove money and valuables from parked vehicles. He said particularly with the strained economic conditions, parked vehicles are vulnerable to theft.
• March 10: Police on patrol at 12:52 a.m. saw an open garage door at a Hamilton Avenue home. Police contacted the owner who advised everything was OK and had just forgotten to secure it. Police checked the area again and saw the door open again. Police then stood by and saw the garage door open and close on its own. Police left a note for the homeowner about the "open and shut" case.
• March 10: Police on patrol at 1:39 a.m. saw a large fire on South High Street. It was a brush pile fire. The attendant told police that the fire chief had been advised about the burn. He was advised to stay with the fire until it was out.
• March 10: A West 4th Street resident reported the theft of a catalytic converter from a van parked behind a South High Street address. Police took a report and photos.
• March 10: A Lakewood Drive apartment resident reported she had a verbal argument with her boyfriend in the parking lot. She said another woman in the parking lot thought she was talking to here and they got into an argument. The mother of the other woman then went to the complainant's apartment where they got into a scuffel. Neither party wanted to press charges. Both were advised.
• March 11: Bexley Police picked up a subject wanted on a Hebron warrant for criminal damaging. Police met Bexley Police at Ohio 310 and I-70 and then took the subject to jail.
• March 11: Police were called about a suspicious van in the Park National parking lot. Police discovered the driver wasn't valid. He made arrangements for someone to pick him up and remove the van.
• March 11: Police made a traffic stop after determining the plates on a white Chevy came back to a silver Jeep. The driver produced a registration card showing that the plates had been transferred that day. Police noticed that the driver seemed very nervous during the stop and asked for permission to search the vehicle. The driver gave permission for the search. It didn't turn up anything.
• March 11: An East Cumberland Street resident told police that a juvenile had just taken a BMX bike from her front yard. Police found the juvenile on West 1st Street and took him to his Heron Road home. He allegedly admitted taking the bike and it was returned. Juvenile charges are pending.
• March 11: Police were asked to check on a person who had left Moundbuilders and could be suicidal. Police were given an Elm Street address, but no apartment number. Police spoke to several residents who said the person in question had moved out six months ago. Police also checked the area for her vehicle, but didn't see it.
• March 12: Police helped administer a BAC test for a sheriff's deputy. The woman had been arrested in Buckeye Lake for OVI. She ended up refusing the test and was taken to jail.
• March 12: Police were called about 7:14 a.m. about a break-in at the Subway restaurant. Police discovered that the rear door had been pried open. About $312 was reported to be missing. The investigation is continuing.
• March 12: Police served a warrant on a Louella Drive resident for failure to appear on a DUS charge.
• March 13: Police were called at 5:11 a.m. about a possible burglary in progress at TK. Police recognized the vehicle as belonging to an employee.
• April 13: Police were called to a domestic dispute on Lancaster Street. A report was taken and forwarded to the prosecutor's office for review of possible charges.
• April 13: A Lancaster Street resident was arrested and taken to the Fairfield County jail. The subject was wanted on Michigan felony warrants for burglary and breaking and entering. He is awaiting extradition to Michigan.
• April 14: Police assisted the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office with a mentally disturbed person on Shell Beach Road.
• April 14: Officer warned a Wolf Boulevard resident about riding unlicensed ATV's on the roadway and the consequences of impoundment.
• April 17: A Millersport resident reported a road rage incident. The elderly complainant said he was followed from Millersport to Buckeye Lake by another driver who harassed him and tried to provoke a fight. The Millersport resident ignored the threats and called police.
• April 17: Police checked out an open door on Chautauqua Boulevard.
• April 18: A motorist was warned for traffic violations on Lancaster Street.
• April 18: Police assisted park officers on West Bank at Lakeside.
• April 19: Police conducted approximately 216 business checks during the week in the village.


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Latest update : 2012-03-08
The Syrian opposition - a tangled web
Today we look at the complex web of divisions in the Syrian opposition, whether Libya is about to break up, and women's rights in China - on the occasion of International Women's Day.
Foreign Policy reports from Syrian refugee camps in Turkey - where the Turkish army is cracking down on people crossing the border, and the resistance movement is riven with sectarian divisions.
The Guardian says the presence of so many refugees could spark ethnic tensions in Lebanon - while the Independent tries to untangle the complex web of different opposition groups.
The National looks at whether Libya is also about to fragment.
The New York Times has a series of reports for International Women's day - saying women are being forced out of the workplace in China, and also in the UK.


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The Kenai Municipal Airport commission opened the floor Thursday to hear comments about Federal Aviation Administration regulations that could result in a number of trees being cut down, much to the dismay of some residents.
During a periodic FAA inspection early last year, trees southwest of the runway were noted as a potential hazard for aircraft arriving and departing procedures.
"The Proposed Action is needed in order to protect public safety and preserve the existing published instrument arrival and departure procedures for Runway 1L-19R," according to a draft environmental assessment commissioned by the city of Kenai.
Two companies worked on the assessment, Aries Consultants Ltd. and Wince-Corthell-Bryson. The assessment contains the proposed action and alternatives, consequences and other important aspects of the project. There are two projects included in the assessment, one calls for on-airport property tree removal, and the other calls for "selected tree removal on private property with avigation easements," the report said.
An avigation easement, Airport Manager Mary Bondurant said, is basically a clear-zone easement that acknowledges the property owner will not have, or erect, any structure on a property in an excess of a certain height.
The problem is there are many Kenai residents who will be affected by the plan that were not aware of such restrictions, Bondurant said.
"You got from them (Thursday night) that these property owners did not know they had avigation easements on those lots when they purchased that property," she said.
The thought of having trees cleared from their property did not sit well with residents testifying before the Airport Commission. Residents brought up many concerns including decreased property value, decreased protection from noise and a decrease in wildlife.
"I saw a couple of pictures online of homes that have been clear cut," Maureen Shaffer said. "And it's like what homes look like after a tornado. I mean the houses are still there, but the yards, which are so much a part of our homes — are decimated."
Shaffer addressed concerns about her and her husband Keith's property value dropping by 20 percent, coupled with an increased electric bill due to the wind that would cut through the property.
"The electric bills on houses in cold, windy areas — and we have all that wind though there — go up 20 to 30 percent," Shaffer said. "This has huge impacts. Plus the drifts that take place, the amount of snow piled up on First (Street) by the airport shows the difference between just there and a few hundred feet up the road where there's trees to protect it."
Notions of having trees completely removed is somewhat premature, Bondurant said. In the assessment, under the selected tree removal on private property with avigation easements project overview, there is an alternative given.
"... Each property owner will be given the option of removal or topping on a tree-by-tree basis," the assessment reads.
Topping of trees was the procedure used almost a decade ago in the Kenai Cemetery. The trees were shortened significantly, but they are still alive and thriving today.
"I totally think that airport safety is paramount," Float Plane Road resident Susan Bradley said. "I also think the value of trees is paramount — I don't think that we need to sacrifice either.
"I would really like to suggest topping all the trees on the airport property as you did the cemetery — maintain that as a hedge."
Bradley said the trees provide a buffer area between the runway and residents.
"The city needs that barrier between the runway and all of us that live other there," she said. "That's a vital piece of tree land and it just should not be torn out."
Bondurant said all the public comment she has received since October will be compiled in the assessment and forwarded to the FAA.
"All of those comments are going to be circulated, addressed and considered," she said. "That's why we're going through the process."
Bondurant said she has been trying to get in touch with the property owners and find a way to meet and discuss the issue at hand.
"We can discuss the project and how we can mitigate the problem," she said.
The public comment period will end on Tuesday, but Bondurant encourages residents affected to contact her office.
Logan Tuttle can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
(RNN) - For some, a good beer needs more than a familiar brewing company and a low price to be consumed.
As micro and regional breweries have grown in the U.S., specialty and low calorie beers have replaced light beers in the hearts of beer aficionados everywhere.
A post by 247wallstreet.com with statistics from Beer Marketer's INSIGHTS lists the nine beers Americans no longer drink. Familiar names and faded tastes are represented on the list, which is based on low sales and low barrel brewing by the largest names in beer.
According to 24/7 Wall St., the numbers were compiled as the "beer brands with a five-year (2005-2011) decline in sales of 30 percent or more."
The list of the least consumed beers is:
9. Milwaukee's BEST Light (Brewer: MillerCoors)
8. Miller High Life Light (Brewer: MillerCoors)
7. Amstel Light (Brewer: Heineken)
6. Miller Genuine Draft (Brewer: MillerCoors)
5. Old Milwaukee (Brewer: MillerCoors)
4. Milwaukee's Best (Brewer: MillerCoors)
3. Budweiser Select (Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev)
2. Michelob Light (Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev)
1. Michelob (Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev)
The site lists aggressive marketing of specialty beers by brewers, creation of new flavors and the strength of the economy between that time span as factors in the decline.
Many of the top brewers, like Anheuser-Busch Inbev and MillerCoors, have taken hits with their classics. In turn, they have created marketing strategies for new fan favorites like Budweiser Light Platinum, Shock Top and Blue Moon.
As consumer's priorities moved toward more taste and improved quality, top brewers filled that demand. In turn, they abandoned the marketing of some brews once considered household names.
"I think that part of the reason that brewers felt we had three down years was primarily the economy and a lack of innovation," said Beer Marketer's INSIGHTS executive editor Eric Shepard in an interview with 24/7 Wall St. "The buzzword for this year was innovation."
Copyright 2013 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.


text:
The experiences in World of Warcraft through the eyes of a player that can't spend 10 hours a day raiding.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Wow Web Stats
That said, I have to go on record and say that I kind of hate in-game damage meters. It's like you're seeing one small piece of this really huge pie. Hey! That rogue did the most damage; he must be the best. It's like only looking at the revenue of a company's profit and loss statements. Oh great! This company is making millions of dollars! Of course, they're spending billions, so they're really deep in the hole, but who cares, right?
Enter Wow Web Stats. This tool gives an amazingly detailed and useful tool in analyzing your raid or group. You can sort the stats in many different ways. You can see individual players and down to the level of each spell. How much does that Fireball crit for in one night? How is the healer's HPS? Who over-healed the most? Which mage was removing more curses? The stats just go on and on. It really provides more of a true picture than just who was the top 3 on the meters.
It's really quite easy to set up and do. You simply type /combatlog while in game. (Note: each time you want a new combat log, you have to manually delete the old one.) Wow will tell you where the combat log is being generated. (Wow folder/logs if I remember correctly.) Once you're finished, you can type /combatlog again, and then get to work creating your report. You can even have multiple people gathering data and combine it in one report for increased accuracy. All the details of what to do and how to create the report can be found over at the WWS site. You can also see an example of how a report looks.
Just a really amazing tool to help you see the big picture.
8 comments:
I'm having a real problem with why our 3 different damage meters are showing 3 different things.
In game Damage meters are syncing and they are showing me at about the right number but I had Leiandra below me and Sirsha at the top. Kathyra was showing up above Leiandra and then it was me.
Yours are showing you, then Kath, then me, then Sirsha.
I understand that the damage meters are or used to be based on area (e.g. if someone was outside of a certain radius their damage was not being recorded). But why such a wild variation in numbers?
- August 15, 2007 at 11:39 AM
- Leiandra said...
As I posted on our forums when I linked to our raid last night, my numbers are gonna be skewed. I only had one source gathering the data (me), and I died the most because of silly things on non-boss fights (6 times). So, as I was ghosting back into the instance, I wasn't capturing data. Basically, it probably made me look better then I was, but the boss fights would have been dead on.
That said, I didn't think the sync'ed damage meters (SW Stats) were that far off, but I also wasn't looking at them very much.
If we get a few more to do /combatlog tonight, we'd have a better picture.
Don't worry about it though, bud. Look at the whole picture. ;) And besides, Crimzn beat all 4 of us.
- August 15, 2007 at 11:49 AM
I'm not so much worried about being #1 on the meters anymore because I know I'm never going to get there, but it is nice to be able to see how a respec stacks up against the rest of the comparable DPS (Sirsha, Kathyra, Leiandra, Lichas). Just looking for something accurate I guess. If it will help I'll download SW Stats and try to not die ;)
- August 15, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Hey Leiandra I made a post about your spell rotation, dmg, etc. I'm not sure if you saw it so I'm gonna Hijack here and let you know :) so I can hear your feedback.
Also for what its worth I really like dmg meters. I use it to try and push myself. I realize I'm not the best geared, and most likely will not end up on top just because my damage capability is not as high as some others. I'm very competitive in nature and this adds just a little excitement and fun to the raiding experience for me
- August 15, 2007 at 12:57 PM
I think stats are fun to look at, and can help improve, but you have to take them all with a grain of salt.
For example if a shaman is in the group and puts down a windfury totem, or grace of air totem, then the melee classes are going to see their numbers go up.
Healing is another one. Big heal numbers don't necessarily equal good healing. If the heals were to the wrong people, or if you used up all your mana at the beginning of the fight.
Again I think stats are fun to look at and can be useful, but don't tell the whole story.
- August 15, 2007 at 12:57 PM
- Leiandra said...
Lichas: Good point about respecs. I thought you were running SW Stats. Yeah, that one seems to be better than Damage Meters because it syncs... hmm.. maybe that'll have to be another blog topic soon.
Sirsha: I saw it... forgot to comment on it.. will do that soon.
Elinor: I think that was the point I was trying to make, which puts us on the same page. Highest HPS but 99% overhealing is stupid. Even this report doesn't tell the whole story though. Where does it say that Notlok was shackling ghosts? Or Lichas and Kathyra had to tank one of the ghosts with Moroes? It provides a better picture, but yes... there's still more to be considered.
- August 15, 2007 at 1:54 PM
One idea that would be really cool is to evaluate game footage, like they do with sports.
If someone on the raid uses a mac, they have built in video recording in the next patch.
I tried it out on the PTR, and it worked very well. I didn't see any noticeable performance change.
Even if it wasn't used for evaluation it would still be cool to post so that people could see how Primo takes down the bosses, or just for the fun of it.
- August 16, 2007 at 7:36 AM
- DadGuy said...
remind me, when trodar first posted this I increased the range of my combat log. I'll log and send the data to you if you'd like, just remind me. =)
- August 16, 2007 at 10:46 AM


text:
Shortly after he settled into a patio chair outside USC's McKay Center on Wednesday, Max Browne was spied by a group of campus visitors who walked past.
"Hi, new quarterback," one shouted, before another jogged over to shake Browne's hand and wish him luck.
Browne, the Gatorade national high school player of the year, is the most high-profile player in USC's football recruiting class. And the recognition factor will begin to increase exponentially next week when the Trojans open spring practice.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Browne graduated early from Skyline High in Sammamish, Wash., so he could enroll in January and compete against third-year sophomores Max Wittek and Cody Kessler to succeed Matt Barkley.
"Those guys have two years up on me, so it's a little disadvantage," Browne said. "At the same time, as long as I can pick up stuff quickly and adapt to college football, I think I should be fine."


text:
BOSTON – Having played for Peter Laviolette during Carolina's run to the 2006 Stanley Cup championship and having seen a lot of motivational tactics by different coaches over his more than two decades in the game, Mark Recchi isn't surprised by the Flyers bench boss's Game 2 postgame comments.
After Boston won Game 2 in Philadelphia Monday night to take a 2-0 lead, Laviolette alluded back to the Bruins' inability to close out Philadelphia last spring with a 3-0 lead when asked about pressure heading back to Boston for Game 3 and 4.
"It relives us of the pressure, I believe, a little bit to just go in and play a game in Boston," said the coach. "And while that relieves us of the pressure, it certainly mounts onto them to be successful now that they have a 2-0 lead."
Game 3 is tomorrow night at the TD Garden. As for which team carries more pressure into it, Recchi respects Laviolette's opinion but begs to differ.
"He's very intelligent. He's a good coach and he's very intelligent and he'll try to take the pressure off his hockey club," said Recchi today at the TD Garden, where the Bruins went through some off-ice workouts. "That's why he's a good coach and that's why he's won a Cup. He's good at it and I have a lot of respect for him as a coach. He's going to do whatever he can. That's what he's good at. …
"But we can't worry about what he says. We worry about what happens in this dressing room. We'll be ready to play and we believe in each other and we trust each other and that's all you can do."
Recchi's fellow alternate captain Patrice Bergeron also isn't worried his team will get caught up in any verbal or mental warfare with the Flyers, regardless of who says what.
"Obviously he's trying to do whatever it takes and play head games and we can't worry about that, to be honest with you," said the veteran center. "We're feeling good about ourselves and all we have to worry about is winning Game 3, don't worry about what they're saying and what they're thinking."
The Bruins are banking on the notion that they're a totally different hockey team than the one that lost that 3-0 lead last spring and that they proved that by vanquishing their Game 7 demons against Montreal in the first round. Compared to playing and winning a Game 7 in overtime against the hated Habs, the Bruins' current situation should be less stressful.
"Well, I mean there's no pressure. We have to focus on what we do," he said. "Again … we get in our bubble and we worry about what we have to do and not what people are saying and obviously there's a lot of pessimism about the past. And hey, we got rid of one in the first series and we've just got to go play."
We'll find out if the Bruins are feeling any of the heat when they take the ice Wednesday evening.


text:
Writer Rick Edgerton talks #MHFBeanie Round, the harrowing statistics behind Brain Cancer - and what...
17 hours ago
The South Sydney Rabbitohs will farewell former captain and current international front rower Roy Asotasi at season's end, with Asotasi announcing that he will join English Super League giants, the Warrington Wolves, for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Asotasi, 31, has played 122 NRL games for the Rabbitohs to date since round one, 2007, in a career which currently spans 206 first grade games.
Asotasi has also played 25 Test matches for New Zealand and Samoa over the past decade, having become the first Rabbitohs player to captain two different Test playing nations, and is set to captain Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup later this year.
Asotasi won a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2004 before joining the Rabbitohs in 2007 when he was widely regarded as the best prop forward in the world.
Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson paid tribute to Asotasi and his contribution to South Sydney.
"Roy started the revolution at the Rabbitohs when he signed with us back in 2006 and we will never forget that," Mr Richardson said.
"Roy was the best prop forward in the game at the time and his faith in the vision for the Club has led us to where we are heading now.
"Along with Roy came the likes of David Kidwell, Nigel Vagana and Dean Widders, and following him came players of the calibre of Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess, Michael Crocker and Matt King. He has also helped develop the talents and leadership qualities of the likes of Issac Luke, John Sutton and Adam Reynolds.
"Roy has played well over 100 first grade games for this Club, overcome some tough battles with injury, captained the Club for a number of seasons, and has given 100% every time he's pulled on the red and green jersey.
"Roy is one of our forward leaders and will always be remembered as such, and now he has an opportunity to extend his career at a quality English Club in Warrington.
"Roy will always be remembered as one of the players to set us on our current path, as a person who has helped take us from the doldrums on the field to a position where we are a contender for the premiership, and hopefully we can send him out on the right note at the end of the year.
"We wish him and his young family the best of luck in England next year, and we look forward to seeing him represent South Sydney on many more occasions this year."
Rabbitohs Head Coach Michael Maguire says Asotasi has played a large role in mentoring many in the current South Sydney squad.
"Roy's professionalism really stood out for me when I first came to Souths," Coach Maguire said.
"You could really see the passion that he had, and still has, for the Club. He wanted the Club to progress in the right direction and he's played a huge role in helping us take that direction. He's a very loyal person; he shows great loyalty to what we're trying to do here.
"He's been a major part of the leadership here at Souths, and he's been a very big part of the development of a lot of our players' careers over the years.
"With Roy, it's always about the team, and he will do everything possible to achieve the best for the Club and for his mates."
Asotasi says he's looking forward to the rest of this season with the Rabbitohs before beginning a new adventure in England.
"I've loved every minute of playing at the Rabbitohs and the ride certainly isn't over yet," Asotasi said.
"I can't wait to run out there with the boys this weekend in Perth and hopefully many more times for the rest of this season.
"I'll always think of myself as a South Sydney boy, and I'll be looking forward to the next chapter of my career once this season comes to a close.
"We have much more to achieve at this Club and the job isn't done yet. I'm looking forward to playing my part for the rest of the year."


text:
Learn Game Development with Cocos2D
I'm most active on Stackoverflow.com where I moderate, and sometimes answer, questions on Cocos2D, SpriteBuilder, Sprite Kit, and 2D game development in general.
Since 2015 I'm working on TilemapKit, a complete solution for all tilemap game developers!
My Latest Book: Learn SpriteBuilder
SpriteBuilder is a visual and versatile design tool for Cocos2D. In Learn SpriteBuilder you learn how to get the most out of SpriteBuilder to create a full-featured 2D action game that you can use as a basis for your own games.
You'll learn SpriteBuilder best practices, how to incorporate SpriteBuilder into your game development workflow, and how to use the various features of SpriteBuilder, including game physics, scrolling, menus, and playing audio assets. You'll learn everything from the basics to advanced topics like visual effects, soft-body physics, rendering textured polygons and porting to Android.
You'll be using both SpriteBuilder and the latest version of Cocos2D, version 3. If you have a bit of iOS development experience and you want to learn to create imaginative 2D games, Learn SpriteBuilder for iOS Game Development is exactly the book you need.
225 Responses to "Learn Game Development with Cocos2D"
Hi Steffen,
thanks for your contributions to cocos2d. It has made a number of things a lot simpler and understandable for some of us. Recently, I posted a question on stackoverflow (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16101596/making-a-box2d-body-move-in-a-sine-wave-type-motion) which you commented on. I am trying to use the approach you recommended but I've hit the wall. I am not even sure how to set the gravity scale for a range. I've been at it for quite a while, I would appreciate it if you could explain your solution a bit further for me. Thanks.
Hi in my whole life I've read about 40 it books connected with programming (generally speaking I'm a flex developer but I also code in java and obj-c html) or maybe more but this one was the best… I never had so much fun when developing something really solid great book and I can only said congrats and keep up doing good job
I am chinese developer.I learn Cocos2d by this book.
Thanks for all you have to do,thanks for all you have to say.
Hey Steffen, I have your newest addition of Learn Cocos2D and I am dealing with tile maps. Is there a way to put a shader or some similar transform on my isometric tile map to make it appear with True Perspective, like this – http://blog.ponoko.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/isometrictut.jpg
Is Kobold Touch capable of that, or do you know how I can achieve something similar, thanks!
Hi Steffen, great work. Please keep it up. I've learnt tons of stuff from your book and this site. I have an issue that I recently posted on stackoverflow I hope you wouldn't mind taking a look at it for me. The link is below:
Hi Steffen. This is in regards to your reply to my previous question:
Original question:
"I have a CCSpriteFrameCache that I use for various game graphics. However, I also have a CCLayer where I display various images in a UITableViewCell (which are the same images as in the game). I'd rather not add all these image files to the project so that the UITableViewCell can use them (since they are the same as in the CCSpriteFrameCache).
Just wanted to double check to see whether it's still true that you can't use a sprite from a CCSpriteFrameCache as an image in a UITableViewCell. If not is there any alternative besides adding the image files directly to the project?"
Your reply on November 23, 2013 at 10:23 was:
"That's still true and will always be true. Cocos2D uses OpenGL. OpenGL content is drawn to a OpenGL view, and other views are either above or below that view. What you're trying to do is the equivalent of sneaking in another view between, say, a UIButton's underlying button image and the button text. It just won't work."
I was able to work around this by doing the following however:
//Get CCSprite from the CCSpriteFrameCache
CCSprite *foodItemSprite = [CCSprite spriteWithSpriteFrameName:[aDict objectForKey:@"FoodItemImageName"]];
//Convert the CCSprite to a UIImage
UIImage *imageFromSprite = [self renderUIImageFromSprite:foodItemSprite];
//Put that UIImage into the table cell
cell.imageView.image = imageFromSprite;
– (UIImage *) renderUIImageFromSprite:(CCSprite *)sprite {
int tx = sprite.contentSize.width;
int ty = sprite.contentSize.height;
CCRenderTexture *renderer = [CCRenderTexture renderTextureWithWidth:tx height:ty];
sprite.anchorPoint = CGPointZero;
[renderer begin];
[sprite visit];
[renderer end];
return [renderer getUIImage];
This appears to work ok. Do you see any risks to this approach? The UITableView is on a CCLayer that just has a static background; there is no action on this layer; it's basically just a static information screen.
thanks for your expert opinion
btw, I love your book – it's one of 2 absolutely essential reference books I have for Cocos2D and iOS
Hi Steffen.
How can I simulating mud/slime like this (http://www.emanueleferonato.com/2012/05/16/simulating-mudslime-with-box2d-bitmaps-and-filters/) by cocos2d-html5 ?
the example is AS3 in flash. I want to know how to implement it by html5
Thank you ^_^
Hi Steffen,
I've been working on an ios roguelike for about two years now (with cocos2d of course) and you've helped me on several occasions on stackoverflow – thanks! I've been having doubts about whether 2d is relevant now as mobile technology continues to accelerate. What do you think?
I am a reader of your Learn cocos2D 2 Game Development for IOS(3rd edition).
It's a very nice book.
I am using cocos2D 3.0.Some of the contents of the book and the code does not apply to V3.0.
May I ask you to tell me that what are major differences between 2.X and 3.0, and how to correctly apply the 3.0 version of your book.
Thank you very much!
For those of you interested in creating your own iPhone game this summer in 8 weeks, check out MakeGameWithUs' Online Academy! (June 23-Aug 16, 2014)
Greate job! Thank you,Steffen!


text:
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text:
Increased moorage fees will become effective Jan. 1, 2013
Petersburg Harbor will be increasing its moorage fees and charges for services at the municipal boat harbors as of Jan. 1, 2013.
Ordinance 971 was passed in its third and final reading during the regular meeting of the Petersburg City Council Monday evening.
Changes to the current fees and charges are as follows:
Overtime moorage will change from $15 to $25 per period along with other fees for prohibited acts, such as speeding or excessive wake charges; obstructing floats; causing a fire hazard and leaving a vessel sunken or in an unsafe condition will change from $25 to $50 per violation. Unauthorized use of another stall and miscellaneous violation charges will change from $15 to $25 per incident.
Moorage fees for vessels 18 to 34 feet in length are $34 per foot, which for an 18 foot vessel will total $612 per year or $51 per month. For vessels 40 and 42 feet in length the fees will be $38 per foot. This fee for a 40 foot vessel will total $1,520 per year of $127 per month.
Fees for vessels 48 to 50 feet in length will be $44 per foot which will total $2,112 per year or $176 per month for a 48 foot boat.
For vessels 60 to 100 feet in length, the moorage fees will be $50 per foot and for a 60 foot vessel these charges will total $3,000 per year or $250 per month.
Transient vessel moorage fees will change with the beginning of the year as well. All United States registered vessels and foreign vessels under 75 feet will increase from $.40 to $.50 per lineal foot and foreign vessels over 75 feet will go from $.80 to $1 per lineal foot.
The owner of any vessel mooring at a dock face shall pay $.50 per lineal foot or $50 whichever is higher which is an increase from the $.25 or $25 that is currently charged.
Anyone loading or off-loading materials, equipment, gear or any other item onto or off vessels at the port dock or crane dock shall be charged $20 for each vessel loaded or off-loaded or $200 annually for unlimited use of either dock. The current charges are $10 per vessel or $100 annually.
Fees for tour ship docking will increase also. For the float side, the fee will be $400 per stop as compared to the $300 currently charged. For the port dock, the fees will increase from $400 to $500 per stop and lighters to the harbor will be charged $250 per each 24-hours which is an increase from the $90 currently charged for this service.
Impounded vessels will be charged a minimum of $50 plus storage at a rate not less than $2 per day. The current impound fee is $35.
These changes and increases were approved by the council for the third and final time by a unanimous vote Monday evening.


text:
ON SATURDAY residents will vote to determine the make up of the next Fairfield Council.
There are a total of 87 candidates contesting the 12 available seats in the council's three wards: Parks, Cabravale and Fairfield.
These include 12 candidates representing The Greens, 12 representing the Unity Party, 13 representing Labor, four representing the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group), 33 running as independents and 13 others who didn't list a party.
There will also be seven mayoral candidates, including the mayor Frank Carbone (Labor) and, for the first time, The Greens' Bill Cashman.
In a shock move in the lead-up to the election the NSW Liberal Party decided to not endorse any candidate.
This has forced current Liberal councillors Joe Molluso and Zaya Toma to run under independent banners.
The Greens mayoral candidate Bill Cashman said he was confident that his party would fare well.
"Last time when we ran in Parks Ward we had a nine per cent base vote and the support for the party in general has grown, so we hope to be able to lift that," he said.
"If things go well, we will be able to gain at least one spot in one of the wards. We're hopeful."
Councillor Carbone was a little more reserved.
"I'm not going to make any predictions," he said. "It's the people's choice and whatever decision they make is the right one. I stand by what I've delivered in the last 150 days as mayor and people can judge me on that".


text:
New Wave Comics & Collectibles is nestled in the Victorian Carriage House Shops in Skippack Village, and while it is a small shop - about 600 square feet - within its walls are pathways to different worlds of limitless breadth and scope. With hundreds of comic book titles, as well as numerous roleplaying games, card games, miniatures (and accessories to all of the aforementioned) for sale, the recently-opened shop has fast become a popular location for those both familiar with and new to all that the business offers.
When the store opened June 1, it was as the brick and mortar expansion of an online comic book business started by owners Jason Radosky and Mikaela Martin-Radosky, who also run a therapy and counseling office in Souderton called Guidance for Growing. Jason is a licensed clinical therapist and Mikaela a health counselor.
�New Wave was incorporated over ten years ago as an online business,� explained Mikaela, who became a �comic book girl by proxy� after meeting her now husband, Jason.
�I have been collecting since I was six years old,� said Jason, who is in his early forties. �I knew it was just a matter of time before happened.�
Two of the walls at New Wave are covered in comics � the estimated exact number of titles is a friendly point of contention between the owners, with more than 300 being an agreed upon assessment. These include comics by DC, Marvel, Image, Vertigo, Dark Horse Comics and more. They also carry graphic novels, trade paperbacks and comic book character inspired d�cor such as the popular Pop! collectable figurines. Jason also appraises, buys and sells older comic books.
�We�ll also do special orders,� Mikaela said. �We are collectors ourselves and really like helping people hunt things down.�
�They have all of the comics I am looking for, and they are here right when they first come out,� said Ryan Kern, a 23-year-old customer from Harleysville.
Skippack resident Matt, age 16, has supported New Wave since it first opened and is involved in just about all of the activities held in the store.
�I buy comics and play Magic and Dungeons & Dragons. Actually, this shop opened my mind to comics and more games,� said Matt. �It has been really awesome coming here because I have made a lot of new friends �there is definitely a great community of people who will teach you anything that you want to learn� �the people here have a lot to share about everything.�
Although the gaming side of the business began as a secondary interest to the Jason and Mikaela, it has fast become just as popular as the comics.
�We love talking about comics and games and making recommendations about comics and games,� Mikaela said. �When customers come in and are interested in a game we can arrange a game night were they can play and make connections with other people. That is something that we have had a great reaction to since we�ve opened and we see a lot of new players come out of that.�
New Wave not only sells the different components of card games (such as Pokemon and Magic: the Gathering � New Wave is registered with �core status� for official Magic events), miniatures (such as Hero Clix and X-Wing miniatures), tabletop role-playing games (such as Pathfinder and Dungeons & Dragons), and board games (such as Ticket to Ride and The Settlers of Catan), but also serves as host to different gaming nights. Their weekly schedule for gaming currently includes Magic Fridays, Dungeons & Dragons Sundays and open-gaming Wednesdays. People of all ages come in buzzing for these events.
�Before this place opened these just sat around collecting dust,� said 11-year-old Thomas as he held up his stack of Magic playing cards. �Now I have a place to play that�s just down the road. This place is really great for those just starting out with games or comics.�
Thirteen-year-old Will is one of those just starting out with collectable card games.
�I really like it here. I like the comics and I just started playing Magic today,� he said, �People here have been treating me really nice.�
�I come here mainly for Magic but am interested in comics too,� said Lane Richardson, 18, of Collegeville. �Not only is it close to home, it�s a place that makes you feel very comfortable and appreciated. It has that family business feel.�
�I have been working here as a consultant since the store opened,� said Sean Hammond, 22, of Harleysville.
As the �resident game guy� he is a long-time aficionado of all types of games and shares his expertise at game nights for those new to a game or looking to improve at a game. He also runs events such as Dungeons & Dragons adventures and Magic special events.
�Jason and Mikaela are awesome and I love coming here,� he added.
In addition to the weekly events taking place at New Wave, there are also monthly events and special events put on.
�For First Fridays we give out a free comic and super hero tattoos. We have a nice home theater system here and just started holding a movie night once a month,� said Mikaela. �It�s free and we bring in popcorn for everyone�. we are also organizing a Zombie Crawl.�
The Zombie Crawl is a pub crawl (adults only, of course) where New Wave will bring in a make-up artist who will use his special effects skills to make attendees look like Zombies. They will patronize participating several bars and restaurants in Skippack for a night out. Not only will the Zombie Crawl be a fun way to let others know about New Wave, it is also a way for New Wave to let their customers experience other local businesses.
�Being in Skippack has been awesome. The businesses here and the people who come here are great,� said Mikaela. �This is a fantastic community. It takes heart and passion to be able to connect with other people about (what you do as a business), and a lot of shop owners here are like that.�
New Wave Comics & Collectibles is located within Victorian Carriage House Shops at 4039 Skippack Pike in Skippack (across the street from Skippack Pizza). Call 610-222-9200 for more information.
To keep up to date with all of their events and products visit http://newwavecomics.net/ or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newwavecomics


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News Release
Please note: As of January 20, 2017, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies.
MSHA News Release: [04/07/2010]
Contact Name: Jesse Lawder or Jaime Zapata
Phone Number: (202) 693-5060 or x4676
Release Number: 10-0454-NAT
MSHA appoints team to investigate Upper Big Branch South Mine explosion
WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has appointed a team to investigate the April 5 explosion at the Upper Big Branch South Mine (Performance Coal Co.) in Whitesville, W.Va.
"Twenty-five hardworking men died unnecessarily in a mine Monday," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The very best way we can honor them is to do our job. MSHA's investigation team is committed to finding out what happened, and we will take action."
"The investigation team will work tirelessly to evaluate all aspects of this accident to identify the cause of the disaster," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for MSHA Joseph A. Main.
A team of MSHA mine safety professionals from outside the district responsible for enforcement at the Upper Big Branch South Mine will evaluate all aspects of the accident, including potential causes and the operator's compliance with federal health and safety standards. A formal report to be issued by MSHA will summarize the findings and conclusions of the investigative team, identifying root causes of the accident and how the incident unfolded. Any contributing violations of federal mine safety standards that existed will be cited at the conclusion of the investigation.
The Upper Big Branch Accident Investigation Team is being led by Norman Page, district manager of MSHA's District 6 in Pikeville, Ky. Page has held a number of positions in his 25-year career with the agency, including mine inspector, ventilation/roof specialist, ventilation supervisor, roof control supervisor and assistant district manager. Page has participated in numerous accident investigations.
Other team members from MSHA's staff include Timothy Watkins, assistant district manager of District 6; Ben Harding, staff assistant of District 5 (Virginia); Erik Sherer, coal mine safety and health mining engineer from the headquarters office; Alvin Brown, program analyst of District 7 (Kentucky); Dave Steffey, mining engineer of District 6; Jerry Vance, educational field services specialist from Educational Policy and Development; and Jasey Maggard, electrical supervisor of District 7. Rich Stoltz, supervisory general engineer, Ventilation Division; Clete Stephan, general engineer, Ventilation Division; Tom Morley, mining engineer, Ventilation Division; and Sandin Phillipson, geologist, Roof Control Division in the agency's Office of Technical Support also will assist in the investigation.
Additionally, Derek Baxter and Dana Ferguson, trial attorneys for the Labor Department's Office of the Solicitor, are on the team.
MSHA's mission is to administer the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, and to enforce compliance with mandatory safety and health standards as a means to eliminate fatal accidents; to reduce the frequency and severity of nonfatal accidents; to minimize health hazards; and to promote improved safety and health conditions in the nation's mines.


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Brand Affinity Photo Services at CES
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Irvine-based advertising and social media company Brand Affinity Technologies Inc. is offering photo services during the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas under terms of a deal with the Consumer Electronics Association, the organizer of the event.
The show runs through Friday in Las Vegas, and is billed as the world's largest annual innovation event, with 150,000 people expected to attend.
Brand Affinity aims to connect sports figures, other celebrities and advertisers for endorsement deals. The company's main product, Fantapper, is a social media platform that allows users to become more easily connected with photos and new reports of celebrities. Another product, FanPhotos, allows users to upload photos at sporting events with team logos and sports stars.
Brand Affinity is promoting the CES photo experience through its FanPhotos and Fantapper platforms.
Attendees can have individual or group photos taken during CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where they will be given a code by the photographer which allows them to view and download the photos for free from the FanPhotos website.
Attendees are also able to view photos and videos posted by CES through the Fantapper platform and can upload and share their own photos and videos with others at the show.
Brand Affinity has deals with MLB Advanced Media LP and individual professional sports teams including the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Boston Celtics, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, and St. Louis Cardinals.
The company had an estimated $30 million to $35 million in 2011 revenue and employs about 50 in Orange County.


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30, makeup artist Hair statement: "I probably spend more on my hair than I do on rent." Hair history: "I started coloring my hair when I was 15. I only wash it every two weeks to keep the color from fading." How much: Cut every eight weeks, about $40; color every four to six weeks, $120-$300. What the neck tattoo says: "Success Unshared is Failure." If his hair could talk it would say: "I'm different."
Nancy Stone, Chicago Tribune
Copyright © 2018, Chicago Tribune


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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has voiced his frustration with the standard of refereeing in England and claimed "the rules are not the same for everyone".
Mancini did not want to comment on specific incidents but title rivals Manchester United have benefited from two controversial penalty decisions in the past fortnight, while City were left feeling wronged when striker Carlos Tevez was harshly booked for diving in last week's defeat of Norwich.
With four games remaining and City trailing United by five points, Mancini alluded to the refereeing decisions having an impact on their title hopes, saying: "After some of the situations I saw in the last three or four weeks, I think it is really difficult for us."
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved.
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New Features For Google Cloud Messaging
Announced last year, Google Cloud Messaging pushes data to different devices. New features announced at the I/O conference for the service include persistent connections to dynamically send messages to different devices, increased capabilities to support two-way traffic between applications and servers, and synchronized notifications. According to Hugo Barra, Google's vice president of product management for Android, the system sees high volumes of traffic with more than 1 billion message pushes per day.


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An Oregon woman is cut free after falling into a tiny space between two walls during her smoke break. Art Edwards reports.
An Oregon woman was freed after dangling for hours in a narrow space between two buildings, where she had just eight inches of wiggle room in the early-morning cold as rescue teams worked to cut a pathway out for her.
The incident, which occurred at a downtown Portland apartment complex, began at about 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, when the Portland Fire and Rescue Department received a call from a bystander who heard the woman yelling. The screams were coming from a tight space between the apartment building and a cinder block parking garage adjacent to the complex, said Lt. Damon Simmons, spokesman for Portland Fire and Rescue.
"Somehow, she was on top of this 20-foot-high wall and fell down between the walls," he said. "The space that was in between them, at the widest, was probably eight inches and it got narrower from there. She was wedged in. She fell down about 10 or 12 feet."
It wasn't clear why the woman was on top of the wall. Officials did not identify her; NBC affiliate KGW.com reported she was a 30-year-old who did not live in the apartment complex.
The woman was upright and conscious, but visibly agitated when firefighters arrived, Simmons said. Simply pulling her out wasn't an option because she was so embedded into the tiny space; breaking through the wall was the only solution, he said. Urban search and rescue teams, who normally respond to earthquakes and building collapses, were called in.
"They were going to cut the wall in front of her, and just pull it away from her. [But] that was creating a major dust issue," Simmons said. Instead, they cut out two "windows" in the wall on each side of her -- smaller holes that would give rescue teams some access to her without causing her to have to breathe in as much dust.
The "windows" also enabled paramedics, who had been pumping heat from the top of the wall, to get their radiators closer to her. Meanwhile, the woman's husband had also arrived, and was talking to her to help keep her calm.
Don Ryan / AP
Building maintenance man Josh Granados measures holes cut by rescuers to free a woman who fell part of the way down a 20-foot wall and got stuck between two buildings in Portland, Ore., on Wednesday.
"It's 36 degrees, and she's up against these two cold concrete walls. So they're pumping heat into her, and they're talking to her, and paramedics are assessing her. At that point they elongated one of the windows and turned it into a 'door,' and then they were able to use soap and basically grease her up if you, will and slide her out of that doorway," Simmons said.
Once she was freed, the woman -- shivering, but happy -- was taken to the hospital.
"She seemed really excited, obviously," Simmons said. "She seemed in good spirits. The hope is she'll be able to leave the hospital today."
The entire rescue took more than three hours and the coordination of more than 25 people, Simmons said.
Had the woman been stuck for longer, her situation could have been dire, Simmons said.
"In situations like that, where people are trapped and can't move around a lot, another concern is compartmentation syndrome," he said. "Your body is not able to circulate blood as well as it normally is with you moving around and walking around or lying down. And so you can almost get a blood poisoning: Your blood isn't getting cleaned like it should. And then when you're freed from that position, that blood starts circulating, and all those poisons start circulating. The rescue didn't take that long, so that didn't become an issue."


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(WASHINGTON) — The nation's climate in 2012 is on track to be the warmest and most extreme ever. And scientists tell us we should get used to it.
"It appears virtually certain that 2012 will surpass the current record (1998, 54.3 degrees F) as the warmest year for the nation," NOAA said in its monthly analysis of the nation's climate.
"We have a clear signal for rising temperatures for the contiguous U.S. and the globe," said Jake Crouch, a climate scientist at the NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Ashville, N.C. "If this trend continues, we will be breaking records and be near record-breaking warm more often in the future."
Scientists say the number of climate extremes, such as high daytime and nighttime temperatures as well as the amount of drought, heavy rain and even cyclones so far this year, is unprecedented.
"The percent of the U.S. experiencing extremes is twice what we'd expect. And that is a record," Crouch told ABC News.
A stubborn drought is taking the biggest toll, with 2012 so far ranking as the 12th-driest ever recorded.
"We have been really warm but we've also been really dry," said Crouch. "And that's having real-world impacts on people."
Climate scientists around the world warn the extreme trends will continue as long as humans continue to pump heat-trapping greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
The news comes as nations are feuding over how to best tackle the effects of rising global temperatures at the United Nations climate talks underway in Doha, Qatar.
New scientific studies show human-caused global warming is helping melt ice sheets around both poles. Melting land ice has helped raise sea levels by about half an inch since 1992, and scientists say that amount probably made flooding from October's Superstorm Sandy even worse.
"If the trend of warming temperatures continues into the future," Crouch said, "we would expect more years to be like 2011 and 2012."
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio
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Story highlights
- Kevin Kuske and Thomas Florschutz represent Germany at two-man bobsleigh
- Kuske has won four Olympic gold medals and a silver
- His speed off the mark is legendary and matches the great Usain Bolt
- Florschutz is seeking his first gold at world and Olympic level
He can legitimately claim to be the fastest man on ice, and Kevin Kuske could even give Usain Bolt a run for his money in a foot race over 30 meters.
The German bobsleigh superstar already has an imposing tally of four Olympic gold medals and seven world championship titles -- and he's looking for more.
Kuske and his two-man teammate Thomas Florschutz can reach speeds of up to 155 kilometers per hour (96 mph), as they hurtle down the high-speed turns and straights.
"It's a speedy sport, a racing type of sport, it's also known as the Formula One of the winter," the 33-year-old Kuske told CNN's Human to Hero series.
"There are accidents, I've crashed before and it's definitely dangerous. Sometimes you crash really quickly and get serious injuries.
"Up to now, I've been lucky in my crashes although I've crashed pretty fast and had minor head injuries afterwards."
Kuske is called the brakeman, but it's a misleading title, because he only applies the brake to pull the sled up after the finish.
His main job is to push-start the bobsled in the first crucial moments, building momentum before jumping in and allowing the 34-year-old Florschutz to do the steering.
His explosive speed off the mark has seen him timed at 3.69 seconds for those opening 30 meters. By comparison, Jamaican sprint hero Bolt was clocked at 3.78 for the same distance on his way to gold in a record-breaking 100 meters time at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Sprinting prowess is one of the key ingredients in a successful bobsleigh team, which is why Jamaica famously dabbled in the sport at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, inspiring the 1993 hit film "Cool Runnings."
Kuske actually started his sporting life as a track and field athlete of some note, claiming a bronze in Germany's 4x100m relay squad at the 1998 world junior championships in Annecy in France.
His sheer bulk -- weighing in at 120 kg as against 94 kg for Bolt -- was always going to be a barrier on the track, and he was persuaded to try a new challenge by Germany's national bobsled team coach Gerd Leopold.
It proved to be an inspired selection, and Kuske won his first Olympic gold medal at Salt Lake in 2002 as part of the victorious German four-man team.
Double gold followed in the two and four-man teams in Turin four years later, with his fourth gold in the two-man in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and a silver in the four-man.
Florschutz was a driver in the Germany II pair that took silver in the two-man in Canada and has now teamed up with Kuske to focus on going one better at the world championships next year in St. Moritz in Switzerland in January and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Punishing training
Despite their advancing years, the pair have a punishing regime, particularly in their "off" season.
"We're winter sportsmen, who were made in summer. We have to sweat in the summer while others are lying down in the sun," Florschutz said.
They train twice a day, six days a week, totaling about seven hours per day.
"Sunday is more laidback, just a bit of upper body strength. And we've got one unit that lasts three to four hours," said Kuske.
The four-time Olympic champion concentrates on a mixture of strength training with weights and sprint training, often pulling a weight behind him for extra resistance.
Florschutz also has to play his part as they charge down the course, pushing a sled weighing 170 kg, so his training is along similar lines, but as the pilot or driver he has the responsibility to capitalize on the blistering start.
"The pilot is always the first one sitting in there," he said, "so that you can get to the steering cords quickly and to be able to react quickly, too."
Formula One feeling
Lightning-fast reflexes are indeed a prerequisite of the driver's role, as the sled hurtles down an icy chute with the speed increasing all the time.
"I just try to drive straight down the track, but you really have to work together," said Florschutz.
For Kuske's part, his job is curl up into an aerodynamic position, not easy given his bulk, then flow with the rhythm going through the corners, supporting the driver with his weight -- rather like a motorcycle pillion passenger.
"And of course braking at the right time, so as not to let the pilot get too terrified!" he said -- unlike the "Cool Runnings" team who suffer a comical crash in the film after failing to stop at the end of the run.
The F1 comparison begins and ends with the speed comparison, because unlike a Sebastian Vettel or Lewis Hamilton, the pair have to repair and "fine tune" their own bobsled rather than having a massive team of mechanics to assist them.
And despite being at the top of their sport, both have trained for other professions -- Florschutz is a policeman while Kuske is in the German Federal Defense Force (the "Bundeswehr.")
German domination
They are seeking to continue the level of domination achieved by the German men's bobsleigh teams in world and Olympic championships.
Since Kuske's first Winter Games in 2002, German two-man teams have won three straight golds, achieving a 1-2 finish at Vancouver 2010.
In the four-man event, two gold medals were followed by a silver behind the U. S. quartet -- which, strangely given his winning record, Kuske rates as his most memorable achievement.
"The best was the silver medal in Vancouver. We had the best start times but we almost fell on our side on one run," he said.
"To pull that back and win the silver by one-hundredth (of a second, from Canada) was for me an emotional eruption, as it was truly hard earned."
Kuske came from a strong sporting background -- both his parents were in the German national track and field team -- and they encouraged him to go one better.
"We had a family dream to go to the Olympics. When you're sitting in front of the TV and watching the Olympic Games, and you have sporty parents, that's naturally a big dream for you, because the Olympics are the biggest event there is," he said.
"Naturally it became more than a dream, at the first Olympics with the gold medal, and that was really my greatest goal, which I fulfilled pretty quickly, but it didn't stop there."
Golden focus
His longevity and medal haul have seen him earn celebrity status in Germany, while Florschutz has won three world championship silvers and Olympic silver in Vancouver.
He is hoping his partnership with Kuske, formed after the great German driver Andre Lange retired, will see him earn that elusive gold.
"Our biggest aim is to become the world champions and to become Olympic champions. We're a strong team. We've got every chance to be the best in the world with this team."


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Warwick Neck's 'hidden secret' being discovered
In his retirement, Joe Renzulli has taken up golf. He likes to get started early in the day and he knows where to go. Andrew Ruscito lives in Anglesea on Warwick Neck. He has had major back surgery. Swimming and walking in water are prescribed therapy, and he knows where to go.
Both Renzulli and Ruscito have discovered Harbor Lights on Warwick Neck, the venture owned by former Governor Philip Noel and his son, Joseph, that links the former Seaview 9-hole golf club with the nearby Harbor Light Marina. An infinity pool, with its edge melding with a view of Greenwich Bay and the distant Jamestown Bridge, is the latest addition to the complex. The pool and its amenities include a bar opened about 10 days ago and a short walk from the marina to the clubhouse.
Already, the pool offers seasonal family and individual memberships and is free to boaters using the marina.
Ruscito signed up before it opened. He was delighted to have the facility in his backyard.
"You can order food and they'll bring it down [from the golf clubhouse]. It's really great," he said drying off after walking in the pool several times last Tuesday. A few other people lounged in chairs, reading or soaking in the sun.
On weekends, as many as 30 and 40 gather around the pool, but it's not crowded.
That's what Renzulli likes about Harbor Lights.
"It's a hidden secret. Not too many know about it," he said.
But Harbor Lights and the more than $3 million the Noels have invested over the last year are not likely to remain a secret too much longer. The golf course, which the city once considered acquiring and was the site for a proposed housing development later, has undergone extensive work in the past year, according to Edward Berube, country club and banquet manager.
Hopping into a golf cart, Berube offered a quick spin around a couple of fairways with views of the bay and the hills of Cowesett and East Greenwich on the horizon. The course's greens were velvety smooth and trees flanking the fairways had been cleared of dead and low-lying branches.
Berube has been friends with Joe Noel for years. They both attended Hendricken and, when Joe bought and renovated the former weather station on Block Island, he frequented the club Berube owned. He tapped Berube when they bought the former Seaview club and then put together plans to revive and enhance the property.
"He does things right and puts a lot into his projects," Berube said of his friend.
The city is in agreement. Chief of Staff to Mayor Scott Avedisian, Mark Carruolo, complimented the development, saying, "They've done everything they said they would."
A lot is still on the drawing boards for the clubhouse, although the property has already undergone a major facelift. It has also become a significant provider of jobs, with 21 employees and an additional 12 working the marina.
With an addition to the east side of the clubhouse, is a planned addition that will enable banquet space capable of seating 350. The building will have three kitchens, including an open-air kitchen. The club will also offer catering services.
The changes have started to pay off. Berube estimates that course play has doubled since last year and he said the club is booking weddings for next year.
A public-private course, Harbor Lights charges $19 for nine holes, a rate that will drop to $1 a hole later in the fall. It also has membership packages for unlimited play at $750 for an individual and $950 for a family. With golf membership, there is a $250 discount on pool membership, which is $500 on its own.
But the Noels' vision is greater than a golf and swimming club. It incorporates the marina and the idea of a destination for boaters unlike any other in Rhode Island. Boaters will be able to dock their yachts while playing a round of golf, enjoying the pool and dining at the clubhouse, all within a short walk.
Putting it all on the map hasn't been as easy as it would seem. Last week, Berube was working with Google to ensure that "Harbor Lights," rather than "Seaview," will pop up on GPS systems when the address is entered. There are a few unobtrusive signs to help motorists find the golf course and marina, but it's not easy for those who aren't familiar with Warwick Neck. The connection by sea is easiest of all. Harbor Lights is at the mouth of Warwick Cove, a first stop, so to speak, for a boater.
Berube is confident that a good thing wouldn't remain a secret for long.
Several leagues played the course this summer, including a Police Athletic League. PAL players aren't generating revenue but that doesn't trouble Berube. He's excited to have young players learning the game and sees it as a way to give back to the community.
Berube brings another skill to his job, one that few club managers can boast of. He is a master gardener, Rhode Island Tree Steward and a Coastal Resources Management Council invasive plant manager. As he drives the club's fairways, keeping a watchful eye not to interfere with play, he talks about "Japanese knotweed" and "mile-a-minute vine," two invasive plants to be watched.
But his main focus is on what's happening at Harbor Lights.
With completion of the banquet facilities next year, he sees additional jobs and, as people experience Harbor Lights, he expects the word will travel. For the time being, his message is that it wouldn't be happening if it weren't for the Noels.


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Seven women came together in a church writing group a few years ago in the hopes of putting the stories of their lives on paper.
Seven women came together in a church writing group a few years ago in the hopes of putting the stories of their lives on paper.
They wanted their loved ones and future generations to know a little more about how faith guided them through the ups and downs of their lives. But the women ended up producing much more than a family keepsake.
The stories the women first wrote in their writing group are now compiled in an inspirational book, "Stones of Remembrance: Seven Women's Experiences of Faith." The book is aimed at anyone interested in learning more about how faith gave the women the strength to survive some of life's worst blows.
"It's a testimony of faith," said author Beverley La Point. "I hope it will help people find lasting peace in their lives, the peace we have found."
La Point and her fellow authors — Faye Rider, Fran Ohlsen, Suzanne Noble, Annetta Collins and Sophie Stenman — attended the writing group at Trinity of Fairview Baptist Church. Kathy Rider, the book's seventh author and daughter of Faye Rider, contributed her story from the prison where she is incarcerated.
La Point said the women's stories are written from the experiences that shaped their lives and tested their faith.
La Point said she wrote a memoir of her father, "which is something that had been on my heart for 40 years."
Others wrote of heartbreaking loss and the importance faith played in reclaiming their lives.
"Some have lost children," La Point said. "They write from the perspective of what it was like and how God brought them through it."
Faye Rider was one of the authors who wrote about the death of her child.
She wrote about the day in 1972 when she watched as a pickup truck ran over her 11-year-old son. The boy later died in a hospital.
Faye Rider's story captures the horror of the accident. But it also tells of the kindness her neighbors showed, the forgiveness she and her husband showed to the driver of the truck and the faith her husband found after his son's death.
"Do I trust our Lord completely? YES! YES! YES!" Faye Rider writes in an excerpt from the book included on the publisher's website. "Have there been other trials, hurts, pain? Yes. Has the Lord stayed right with me? Yes."
Faye Rider's story concludes with a call for others to remember the importance of faith.
"We encourage others and tell how these Stones of Remembrance have, with the Lord of all Lords, brought us through. He has picked us up and carried us when we couldn't even walk through the trials, the hard times, even in the blessings to recognize where they came from," she writes in the excerpt. "We are not to live in the past. We are to press forward, but never forget what our Lord has done for us."
The story Rider's daughter, Kathy, submitted from prison is also an inspiration, La Point said.
"It's an amazing story of one woman in prison who is living for God," she said.
La Point said the book came about after she and Ohlsen decided about three years ago that they wanted to expand on the writing class they had taken.
"We wanted to pursue it and take it to another level," she said.
With permission from the church's pastor, the two began a writing group at the church.
"We just started a class for ourselves, and we wanted to leave something for our families," she said.
Over time, the group grew, and seven of its members, who had no background in writing or publishing, decided they wanted to publish their stories.
"It took a year to work through it and say, 'Yes, we want to do it,' " La Point said.
After deciding they wanted to publish a book together, the women met with representatives from YAV Publications in Skyland and got to work turning their stories into a book.
"Stones of Remembrance" was published in February.
The book is available at bookstores in the area and online. La Point and the other writers have also participated in a few book signings, but she said sales have been slow.
"I've given quite a few away," La Point said. "Making money would be great, but you learn as a Christian your rewards are not always on Earth. They are in heaven."
She said she and her co-authors hope the book will give those who read it inspiration, encouragement and a glimpse of what faith in Christ can do in their lives.
"We are all Christian women who found that our lives wouldn't be much of anything without him," La Point said.
To purchase or learn more about "Stones of Remembrance," visit www.interestingwriting.com.