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CHICAGO - Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer in St. Louis' four-run ninth inning, and the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 10-6 on Sunday night in the majors' final game before the All-Star break.
Allen Craig lined a tiebreaking RBI single into left field before Molina drove an 0-2 pitch from Kevin Gregg (2-2) over the wall in left for his seventh homer. Craig and Molina tuned up for Tuesday's game in New York with four hits apiece, helping St. Louis to a season-high 21 hits overall.
Chicago went up 4-3 on Darwin Barney's three-run homer in the sixth and pinch hitter Cody Ransom had a tying two-run double in the eighth, but the Cubs' bullpen was unable to hold off the NL's highest-scoring team.
Pete Kozma had two RBI singles as the Cardinals won for the seventh time in nine games to salvage a split of the four-game series. Edward Mujica (2-1) had his second blown save opportunity in 28 chances, but managed to get the win on the same day he was chosen to replace teammate Adam Wainwright on the NL All-Star team.
Despite injuries to key pitchers Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia and Jason Motte, St. Louis heads to the All-Star break with baseball's best record at 57-36. It leads the NL Central by one game over surprising Pittsburgh, which lost 4-2 to the New York Mets earlier in the day.
Barney also had a run-scoring single for the Cubs, who went 6-4 on a 10-game stretch in Chicago that included a makeup game at the crosstown White Sox last Monday. The four RBIs for Barney matched a career high set in a 14-4 victory against Pittsburgh on July 30, 2012.
After a slow start, the Cubs (42-51) are a respectable 24-21 in their last 45 games. It's good enough for a four-game improvement compared to last year at this point, when the North Siders were 38-55 on their way to their first 100-loss season since 1966.
The Cardinals carried a 3-1 lead into the sixth, but Wainwright got into trouble after Alfonso Soriano began the inning with a fly ball to the warning track in right. Dioner Navarro and Brian Bogusevic then hit consecutive singles to put runners on first and second.
Wainwright bounced back to strike out Dave Sappelt, but his first pitch to Barney was up and over the plate, and he drove it into the basket in left field for his sixth homer.
That proved to be just a minor little speed bump for the Cardinals, who used four hits to regain the lead during a two-run seventh. Kozma singled in Molina to tie it at 4 and eventually came around on Matt Carpenter's bouncer into center field.
Adams tacked on an RBI double in eighth, setting the stage for the wild finish.
Travis Wood, who will represent the Cubs at the All-Star festivities, allowed three runs and a season-high 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings. It matched the shortest outing of the year for the consistent lefty, who pitched at least six innings in 17 of his first 18 starts.
Molina was out of the starting lineup for St. Louis' 6-4 loss on Saturday night and began the night in a 1-for-19 rut covering his previous seven games. But he singled in each of his first two at-bats and forced Bogusevic to make a leaping catch against the wall in center in the eighth.
NOTES: Cardinals OF Matt Holliday (right hamstring tightness) missed his third consecutive game. "We need to be real careful so we can continue to progress, make sure we are aiming for that first day after the break," manager Mike Matheny said. ... OF Cole Gillespie joined the Cubs, and reliever Henry Rodriguez was designated for assignment to make room on the roster. Gillespie was claimed off waivers from San Francisco on Saturday. He had a pinch-hit single in the eighth. ... Cubs RHP Scott Baker allowed four runs and six hits in three innings in his first rehab start with Class A Kane County. Baker missed last season with Minnesota after undergoing elbow-ligament replacement surgery. "Today was a big hump, to pitch against hitters and getting in a real game and the whole atmosphere and everything," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said, "and then hopefully we just start seeing gradual pickup in the velocities and all that."


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As well as selling electric gate kits we offer a fantastic range of iron & wooden gates and can assist with all aspects of installation and maintenance and can even offer gold and silver service contracts. Please take your time to explore through our range of products.
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subset: commoncrawl


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The Postal Service inspector general has recommended a slew of changes to 100-year-old law, including benefits cuts.
Federal workers' compensation laws discourage employees from returning to the job and create unnecessary and burdensome costs for federal agencies, according to the U.S. Postal Service inspector general.
USPS' workers' compensation costs have grown rapidly in recent years, the IG found, despite drastic cuts to the agency's workforce. The Postal Service paid $1.3 billion in benefits to employees injured on the job in 2013 -- a 35 percent increase from 2008 -- while it decreased its workforce by 26 percent in the same period. The agency maintains a $15.9 billion workers' compensation liability.
Workers' compensation costs have grown as USPS has fewer light-duty positions available for injured employees coming back to work, employs an older workforce and endured cost-of-living adjustments. The Federal Employees' Compensation Act, originally enacted in 1916, has amplified these problems, according the IG. The auditors said the law prevents the Postal Service from adopting many of the best practice cost control measures used by state governments and private companies.
The IG said USPS would see significant savings if it were permitted to implement a time limit for benefits or a maximum total amount of compensation an employee injured on the job could collect. FECA places no restrictions on when benefits should cut off. More than 10,000 postal employees collecting FECA benefits are currently older than 55, nearly 2,000 are older than 70 and two employees are more than 100 years old.
Federal employees hurt on the job now receive 66 2/3 percent of their basic salary tax-free, designed to approximately replicate their entire post-tax salary. That figure is bumped to 75 percent if the employee has dependents. Related medical expenses are also covered.
A Senate committee has cleared a postal reform bill that includes a measure to overhaul FECA for all federal agencies. The new plan would trim the benefit to 50 percent of an employee's salary, once that employee is eligible for retirement. Additional compensation for dependents would no longer be provided. The IG said several states do not provide extra benefits for employees with dependents.
"If the Postal Service limited the duration and amount of workers' compensation benefits," the IG wrote, "employees may be motivated to return to work sooner, obtain vocational rehabilitation and training, or retire, thereby reducing costs."
The Postal Service would also benefit if Congress lifted the prohibition on reaching a one-time settlement agreement with injured employees, rather than requiring periodic payments, the IG said. The payment would create closure for the workers, the IG said, and encourage them to return to work more quickly.
Additional reforms should include limiting physicians to those selected by the Postal Service, expanded use of vocational and rehabilitation programs, and a requirement to use generic drugs, the IG said. The auditors pointed to the private sector's loaning of recovering employees to charities and the maintenance of a database of light-duty jobs as examples of practices USPS should consider implementing.
The IG acknowledged it would be difficult to bring about any of the recommended changes, but called on postal management to lobby for change.
"FECA reform legislation has been proposed in each congressional session since 2011; however, to date, these reforms have not passed," the IG wrote. "Management should continue to work towards overcoming these challenges by educating lawmakers on the need for change and by addressing the questions and concerns of employees and unions."


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Start playing right away with built-in features and applications. Watch streaming videos, buy and download new games, take on friends with wireless play, and much more. Once you pick up a Nintendo 3DS family system, you won't want to put it down.
This popular feature from the Wii™ and Wii U™ consoles is available on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems with some exciting new touches.
It's easy to create a Mii™ character from scratch, choosing each facial feature to represent yourself, a friend, or some fanciful character. The real fun happens when you create a Mii from a photo. After choosing just a few basic settings, take a photo of yourself or a friend with the built-in camera, and let the Mii Maker™ application automatically generate your Mii character. Then make any final adjustments, and voilá! Your Mii is ready.
StreetPass™ Mii Plaza™ lets you meet and play with Mii™ characters created by other gamers. Simply carry your system with you in Sleep Mode, and it'll collect Mii information (and send yours) when you pass other players. When you visit your StreetPass Mii Plaza, you'll see the new Mii characters you've collected. You never know who you might meet!
Brighten up your Nintendo 3DS family system with a colorful variety of custom themes for your HOME Menu.
Choose from dozens of options to change your system's background, icons, folders, and sounds. Simply tap the HOME Menu Settings icon in the upper left corner to change your theme.
There are five basic themes available for free, or you can purchase premium themes from the Theme Shop featuring fan favorites like Mario™, Link™ and Pokémon™, priced from $.99-$1.99.
A system update may be required for some features. To learn how to perform a system update, click here.
Save yourself a trip to the store! You can buy and download tons of games directly from the Nintendo eShop. You'll find both new and classic titles, plus indie games, downloadable content, and more.
You can earn My Nintendo points on digital purchases, then redeem your points for fun rewards (like game discounts!).
Try before you buy! Enjoy demo versions of select games. Just download and play.
Nintendo eShop also has apps to let you access Video-on-Demand services, so you can watch shows and videos on-the-go.
Netflix brings you thousands of movies and TV series, instantly streamed to your Nintendo 3DS system .*
Use the Parental Control setting to limit access to games based on their ESRB rating for specific users on your Nintendo 3DS, or to restrict Nintendo 3DS Shopping Services. For more info, visit our support page .
Download codes are codes for specific digital games or content. To redeem your code, simply tap the Nintendo eShop icon on your HOME Menu, then select "Redeem Download Code" from the eShop menu.
You may also redeem your code online (except DLC or Theme codes) and send the content directly to your system.
Be ready to buy immediately—or give the gift of fun—with a Nintendo eShop Card
All systems in the Nintendo 3DS family (including Nintendo 2DS) come with the Nintendo 3DS Internet Browser. You can use it to browse right from your system anywhere with wireless Internet access. Pause your game at any point to search a website for game hints or catch up with email or news.
See information about open source software used in the Nintendo 3DS Internet Browser here.
Imagine seeing a video game unfold in the real world...right on your kitchen table, or the floor of your living room! AR Games uses the outer cameras and AR Cards included with all systems in the Nintendo 3DS family to present an amazing augmented-reality gaming experience.
Just place one of the AR Cards on a table or floor, and the camera will read the card and initiate game stages or characters right before your eyes. AR Games features different modes, from a wild shooting gallery to an interactive photo shoot with your Mii™ characters—plus more.
Face Raiders combines 3D* gameplay with the gyro sensor feature for some fast-paced fun. Using the camera, you can take a photo of yourself, a friend or family member, which is then placed onto a range of shooting targets. To play, you'll need to move with your system, physically leaning and turning to search all around and aim high and low, taking out your targets.
ESRB Rating: Everyone with Mild Cartoon Violence
Each system in the Nintendo 3DS family includes the Nintendo 3DS Sound application. It lets you listen to music saved on an SD Card in MP3 or AAC format. You can even record and play with sounds via your system's microphone with a variety of fun filters.
The Activity Log tracks both your game play activity, noting which games you've played and how long you've played them, as well as your physical activity, counting every step you take while carrying your system. Track your data by day, week, month, or year—and walk more every day to earn Play Coins, which can be used with compatible games and applications to acquire special content and a variety of other benefits.


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With search engine optimization being a big thing on the Internet, it is quite daunting to find the best SEO company. There are more and more companies that stake that claim with their myriad of SEO offerings. However, the best approach would be to check them out thoroughly and see if their claims hold water.
The best SEO company should have a high credibility in the market. The SEO service industry must be aware of the abilities of any SEO company that claims to be the best with its services and offerings.
A SEO company cannot appear overnight; time must be taken to establish its credentials. Its reputation cannot be based on hearsay. There must be sufficient proofs on the excellent services rendered and high quality products recommended. There must be an existing list of satisfied customers who have experienced the commendable services of the SEO with a growing number on the way.
A credible SEO industry should have the necessary operating license from the relevant authority to conduct its business. Such a company is not for a short stint in the technology industry but aims to stay around for a long time.
A SEO firm that is worth engaging for any web business need must be professional in all its dealings. There is no bias against any type of business regardless of its size or nature. There is no double standard practiced by a professional SEO industry.
The staff of a good SEO would be qualified and well trained in their scope of duties and responsibilities. The SEO industry team would be cohesive in the company vision and objective to establish its presence in the market. The team must be professional in their ways of dealing with their customers. Many business owners wanting SEO services may not know exactly what is required. Hence, it is up to the SEO company team to educate and discuss on the actual needs of the business owner so that the exact requirements would be identified and met with the right SEO tools and techniques.
A good SEO company would want to consider some beneficial collaboration with certain companies which can enhance the standing of the SEO company. Not all SEO companies may have the necessary expertise in all SEO matters; hence, it would be a wise move for an innovative SEO company to collaborate with others to establish their own presence in the industry.
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Road Trip: South Dakota's Badlands and Black Hills
Drive along gorgeous rolling prairies, twisting mountain roads, and past iconic American monuments like Mount Rushmore in this spectacular corner of South Dakota.
Get ready to visit historical monuments like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial, see the Old West come to life in historic Deadwood, and experience plenty of brag-worthy encounters with nature-where else can you say you were caught in a traffic jam because a herd of wild buffalo decided to cross in front of your car? Leave your trusty GPS behind (there's no reception in the mountains, anyway!), break out the old road map, grab your friends and family—or take on the adventure solo like I did—and whatever you do, don't forget your camera.
55 miles
From Rapid City Regional Airport, it's about an hour drive to Wall, a funky little town that's home to Wall Drug, an area institution since 1931 where you'll find everything from souvenir shops to a giant animated T-Rex, and plenty of space for the kids to unwind after a long day on the road. Stop by the Western Art Gallery Restaurant for their famous homemade donuts, bison burgers, and five-cent coffee. The best part: admission is free, as is the ice water—a marketing tool that has brought in visitors since the 1930s. As you leave Wall, stay on Highway 240 and head south into Badlands National Park along the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway, driving west to east through some of the most amazing prairie landscapes and impressive canyons in the country. Keep an eye out for bison, pronghorn, deer, eagles, prairie dogs, and hawks as you drive and be prepared to pull over every time there's a sign that says, "Scenic overlook." Trust me. The park is never too crowded and you can spend hours just admiring the views around you in relative peace and quiet. Stick around for the evening program, usually around 9 p.m., where kids can meet Smokey the Bear, stargaze, and learn about how the park was formed. Park entrance fees are valid for seven days: $15 per vehicle, $10 for motorcycles, $7 for hikers and bicyclists, or $30 for an annual pass. Stay at Frontier Cabins, located just off I-90 on the way into Badlands National Park (rates from $108-$149 per cabin from May-August; lower in shoulder season months).
100 miles
Cruise down I-90, turn off at Highway 79, and drive through Sturgis on the way to Bear Butte State Park. While a popular hiking spot for travelers, the site is still considered to be sacred to Native Americans—as the ranger in the Visitor Center explained it to me, hiking up Bear Butte is kind of like going to church, so remember to be respectful.
It's only about a 30-minute drive heading the opposite way on Highway 79 from here to Deadwood, but you might as well be driving 200 years back in time to the Old West. Visit during the summer to see the Days of '76 PRCA Rodeo—you can still go to the Days of '76 Museum year-round to see exhibits about Deadwood's first settlers (admission is $5.50 for adults, $2.50 for children ages 7-13, while children ages six and under get in free). Stroll around town-a dead ringer for any western town you've ever seen in the movies-and take the Alkali Ike Tour around historic Deadwood and up to Mt. Moriah Cemetery to see the gravestones of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane-real, legendary characters who once called Deadwood home ($10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-16, $9 for seniors). Catch a free reenactment of an Old West shootout in front of the Franklin Hotel (several times a day, just follow the crowd!) and witness the shooting of Wild Bill Hickok inside Saloon #10 daily at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. Their website proudly states, "Bring the kids!" Stay at the Springhill Suites by Marriott, located on Main Street about a 15-minute walk from the historic downtown area (rooms from $79 a night).
72 miles
Take a scenic ride down highway 385, then highway 16, and follow the signs to Mount Rushmore, one of America's most iconic attractions featuring the larger-than-life faces of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln carved into the side of the mountain. Take a walk on the boardwalk trails that lead up to the base of the mountain for a better view, and stop by Carver's Café for lunch and the chance to try out Thomas Jefferson's original ice cream recipe! (Admission to the park is free, but you must pay $11 to park your vehicle).


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- This event has passed.
AR Workshop FAMILY CRAFTERNOON
December 30, 2018 @ 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Join AR Workshop for a DIY class to make a Plank Wood Sign, Canvas Pillow, Canvas Tote Bag, Round Lazy Susan or Youth Wood Sign!
Customize your project with your choice of (non-toxic!) stain and designer paint colors. You will receive a VIP card after class – attend 5 workshops, get the 6th project free! (up to a $69.50 value) Youth projects for Ages 7+. An adult must be present.
**AR Workshop Loudoun is NOT a BYO WINE or BEER establishment. Due to VA ABC laws, guests cannot bring any alcohol into the workshop. Thank you for understanding.
**The workshop will start on time. If a guest arrives 15 minutes late, AR Workshop reserves the right to move you to another workshop date.
**Please check your personalization carefully. If AR Workshop needs to reprint a stencil due to customer error, there will be a $15 reprint fee.


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Over the next two weeks, MLSsoccer.com will take a look back at the 2013 season that was for all 19 clubs in Major League Soccer, starting with D.C. United and ending with the Supporters' Shield-winning New York Red Bulls. You can find the schedule and comprehensive reviews for each team here.
2013 record: 14-11-9 (51 points); 45 GF / 38 GA (+8 GD)
2013 Colorado Rapids statistics
It might not have ended the way they wanted, but 2013 was a season filled with pleasant surprise for the Colorado Rapids, who rode the play of several talented youngsters to earn the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Rookie of the Year Dillon Powers and runner-up Deshorn Brown provided instant impact, and the previously unknown goalkeeper Clint Irwin, along with youngsters Shane O'Neill and Chris Klute, helped the Rapids come into their own during the second half of the season.
They said it...
Head coach Oscar Pareja on progress made and the future:
"We are headed in the right direction for sure. I thought we accomplished a lot of objectives that we had drawn at the beginning of the season. Given the fact that this team was revealed in getting to the playoffs, that was the biggest accomplishment that we had. And then when you look around and you had one of the oldest teams in the league and now it's one of the youngest, it's encouraging."
President Tim Hinchey on the club's 2014 goals:
"I think we're on the right foot. I think this year's results met our expectations, but these were some of our expectations. The Open Cup was a huge disappointment, so we need to improve on that, because we do take that competition seriously. The Rocky Mountain Cup was a huge important goal for this year and making the playoffs was a goal."
Captain Drew Moor on the club's road woes to end the regular season:
"You go on the road to San Jose and you lose an ugly game, you go on the road to Vancouver and you lose an even uglier game. You have to realize we're in the playoffs now and it doesn't have to be pretty it just needs to be competitive. You just need to do what you need to do to win games, and that just comes with experience."
Head coach Oscar Pareja's up-tempo, possession-based attack grew as the season went along, and midseason acquisitions Gabriel Torres and Vicente Sanchez were valuable down the stretch in helping Colorado return to the postseason after a disappointing 2012.
With an extra year of seasoning and added depth at a few positions, the Rapids could be legitimate title contenders in 2014.
Best Moment of the Year
Everything came together on Oct. 5 when Colorado throttled the Seattle Sounders 5-1. Brown's opener 14 seconds in – yes, seconds – set the tone for an end-to-end destruction at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. It was the team's best performance of the season and best summed up what Pareja wants to see out of his young squad.
Worst Moment of the Year
The 2-0 Knockout Round loss to Seattle on Oct. 30 showed exactly what the Rapids need to work on moving forward: avoiding slow starts, particularly on the road, and finding ways to win "ugly" games. The starting lineup, notably, missed Powers and Sanchez, who were both nursing injuries (Sanchez subbed in during the second half).
Best Goal
From the timing of the goal to the goal itself, there's little question on this one. With the Rapids clinging onto the fifth and final playoff spot in the West and in their penultimate match of the regular seasono on Oct. 19, Colorado were level with the Whitecaps 2-2 at home in the 77th minute when Torres cut inside from the left and unleashed an unstoppable upper-90 blast, giving his side all three points. Without that highlight-reel goal from the newly acquired Designated Player, the Rapids wouldn't have made the postseason.
Team MVP
The whole point of Pareja's team-first mentality is that there isn't necessarily a set MVP or go-to player. But without Irwin's early season heroics stepping in for the injured Matt Pickens, it's hard to see how the Rapids would've made the playoffs this season. Irwin not only filled in admirably for Pickens while the veteran nursed a broken forearm, the 24-year-old unseated the veteran from his starting role altogether, making Pickens' departure a near certainty.
Best Move
The obvious candidate is the selection of Powers with 11th-overall SuperDraft pick out of Notre Dame, but the overlooked midseason acquisition of Sanchez was a stroke of genius from technical director Paul Bravo and the front office. The veteran Uruguayan provided creativity and consistently drew defenders playing along the wing, giving his teammates space to open up. His experience in the Champions League and playing internationally also came in handy for the otherwise youthful Rapids.
"[In the preseason], the expectation for us was to fight and to get into the playoffs, and that's when all hell broke loose. There were some very tough moments. It turned out that our philosophy we were going to have to implement it a little quicker than we thought with the inclusion of a lot of the young players, and from that point on, it started to blossom." – Technical Director Paul Bravo
Three Offseason Needs
1. Right back: Marvell Wynne never looked fully comfortable transitioning from center to right back, and Pareja appeared to feel the same way, moving the veteran in and out of the lineup. That position will likely be addressed this offseason.
2. Defensive depth: While solid for most of the season, the defense showed leaks as it drew to a close. O'Neill has made it clear he prefers a move to the midfield from his spot in central defense, and Diego Calderon returned to his native Ecuador. German Mera was inconsistent as a fill in, helping make defensive depth a priority for Bravo & Co.
3. Another striker: For Pareja's possession-based 4-3-3, strikers who can finish in front of goal are a priority. The Rapids think they have their answer there in the well-regarded August acquisition of Torres (pictured right). Still, Edson Buddle couldn't stay healthy, and while highly impressive overall in his rookie campaign, Brown had trouble finishing at times.
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.


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EXC Cap Mounted Earmuff
1 Part Number(s)
Comfortable for all-day wear with unique injection molded inserts providing excellent attenuation and maximum space for the ears inside the cup. Features a spring design that offers low pressure tension and a high level of comfort.
left/RIGHT™ Cap-Mounted, Passive
4 Part Number(s)
The MSA left/RIGHT™ Ear Muffs have dedicated right and left ear cups that are designed to fit ears of all shapes and sizes which offers increased comfort and protection.
HPE Cap Mounted Earmuff
1 Part Number(s)
Providing the highest-rated protection available for low-frequency environments, the MSA HPE Cap Mounted Muffs are designed specifically for very high noise levels and is ideal for airfields, power plants and other areas with intense noise. Super-soft ear cushions guarantee all-day comfort while ensuring full-time protection.
left/RIGHT™ CutOff Pro
1 Part Number(s)
The level-dependent left/RIGHT CutOff Pro ear muffs allow a user to engage in clear verbal communication while still hearing warning signals, alarms and other important sounds. The unit uses its electronic system to amplify a weak signal, and also features an AUX input for connection to MP3 or com radio. The thinner, flexible headband and left/right designation ensure a tight seal.


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A long-vacant hotel project at Norwich's southern gateway may be revived through tax breaks that a new investment team says will finally spark construction on a planned 113-room Hampton Inn.
Known as tax increment financing, or TIF, the request by Raleigh, N.C.-based Winston Hospitality Inc. seeks a 20-year abatement that would allow it to use $2.94 million it otherwise would have paid to the city in taxes to fill a funding gap currently preventing the project from moving forward.
Last week, aldermen decided the concept was worthy of consideration and charged City Manager Alan Bergren, Comptroller Josh Pothier and Norwich's legal team with reviewing the proposal and reporting its findings to the incoming council on Dec. 16.
"The city will not put any money in as an outlay. It will be money we repay for a period of time. That's a way we can get this project off the ground and under way," company CEO Robert W. Winston III told the City Council last Monday. "The vast majority of total capital that is going to be deployed to do this project will come from financial institutions and through our own equity."
Nearly all the financing — 86 percent — is coming from either commercial loans or developer equity, according to a breakdown Winston presented to the council last week.
Winston's firm obtained the 3.28-acre site, located across from the city's Holiday Inn and just off Interstate 395, in May following foreclosure proceedings that began in 2010, when Long Island Bank of Smithtown initiated legal action against PRA Development and Management of Philadelphia and 10 contractors and suppliers that worked on the site.
The hotel was nearly completed at the time, but a crippling economy and vandalism contributed to its deterioration. Winston said it would cost about $13 million to complete the venture.
The TIF money accounts for 9 percent of the project costs, while state Department of Economic and Community Development grants and loans and a sales exemption would make up the balance.
Even with the abatement, Winston officials said the hotel would return between $25,000 and $50,000 in taxes to the city through 2033.
"What we've got is a blighted construction site, but if completed, it can create revenues in the future, and that can be self-financing," said Jay Davies, Winston Hospitality's managing director.
The company projects 34 full-time jobs with a payroll of $600,000, and says Hilton's 38 million loyalty members guarantees a consumer base for the new hotel. Hampton Inn & Suites is a Hilton name.
"The size and strength of that brand will result in pulling revenue off of (Interstate) 395 and into this market," Winston said.
After asking Winston to explain the funding mechanism, mayor-elect Deb Hinchey said she was interested in the TIF plan.
"This project is not being carried on the back of the city," she said.
Newly re-elected aldermen Mark Bettencourt and Sofee Noblick also backed the concept.
"I think it's pretty exciting that developers are starting to come back to Norwich again, and these are the kinds of things we need to look at," Noblick said. "Nothing is going to be clean on the table with no questions. It's our job to do our due diligence."
Several residents expressed concern over the prospect of using public tax subsidies to help get another hotel built.
"I've been a landlord here in this city for 50 years now, and I haven't asked you for a dime. I expect people when they come to town to do things for themselves, not just all the time coming to us for more and more," resident Rodney Bowie said.
Samuel Browning, another Norwich taxpayer, agreed.
"I'm not sure why we're extending to a hotel that ostensibly should be able to obtain its own funding, or if it can't maybe underwriters from various banks have decided it's not a viable project. I really don't think the city of Norwich should enlarge its responsibility in this area," he said.
Bettencourt, who co-sponsored the resolution asking for the TIF analysis along with alderman Charlie Jaskiewicz, said the premise of a fully operational hotel in one of the city's most visible areas must be explored.
"I don't think the project as proposed is the world's greatest deal for the city, but that being said, I'm fully supportive of it because this one particular project really means something. It's sitting off 395 right now, and it's an eyesore," he said. "I don't think we have a potential liability here other than we won't be realizing as much of a tax increase as we would otherwise, but if we don't do this, I think we get something substandard down the road, and I'm hoping when vetted, the project will make sense for the city."


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Twist and shout: Teahouse rocks, Outback rolls
at Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar;
The Brown Notes
at Outback Lodge
Thursday, August 7
The Twisted Branch is slowly becoming one of my favorite places to see music. The environment is chill, and the drink and food menu is unique and satisfying if you are into tastebud exploration. What attracts me the most is the variety of music the venue hosts. Twisted Branch is the only venue in town that actively supports progressive music of all types. Honestly, it is a shame more venues don't open themselves to the new wave of music lovers who are into non-traditional audio-art forms (i.e. not the standard band format).
This past week, Twisted Branch ran a nightly series called Soft Control, featuring DJs spinning a wide variety of progressive and world music. Unfortunately, I missed all but one of the days. Thursday I managed to catch world music collective, Tanakh, hailing from Richmond. The line-up was unique– saxophone, bass, violin, percussion and singer/acoustic guitarist. They concocted an ambient blend of various international folk vibes with melancholy overtones. Depending on the tunes, I was either whisked away into the various textures or annoyed by not-so-subtle attempts at being experimental. Overall, it was quite enjoyable. I would have liked the vocals turned down and the instrument mix a bit more present. Regardless, I stayed until the end. They must have been doing something right.
After being sucked into a dreamy subconscious coma due to Tanakh and an incredibly blissful cup of Sencha tea, I needed to shake myself awake for fear that I might fall asleep at the wheel going home. Thus I headed to the Outback Lodge. The band performing when I arrived was from Miami and called themselves the Brown Notes. I dug how they rocked the white button-down shirts, black ties, buzz cuts, spiked hair, and high-energy three-minutes-or-less tunes. The lead singer had a style that bordered on straight-ahead rapping. I couldn't really make out what he was saying, except for the song choruses. If there was some deep meaning in his lyrics, it was probably better that he didn't waste the words on the embarrassingly empty room. Throughout the set, the group pleaded for someone to buy a t-shirt so that they could have money for food and gas. I felt sorry for them because I thought they put on a good show. Had a crowd interested in their kind of music been there, they probably would have been thoroughly entertained. Miami is a long way away, though. I think we may have seen the last of the Brown Notes.


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Release Date: June 10, 2009
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- WBFO-FM 88.7, UB's National Public Radio affiliate, won 10 awards -- including the coveted Stephen Flanders Memorial Award -- at the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association's annual awards banquet held June 6 in Saratoga Springs.
The Flanders award -- the AP's highest radio honor -- is given to the station (commercial or public) in New York deemed by the judges to "exemplify the best traditions of journalistic initiative and dedication in providing a complete news service to the listening public." The honor is awarded to the station receiving the greatest number of top finishes in the competition. It is named in memory of a distinguished New York City radio reporter who died of a heart attack while on his way to a City Hall news conference in 1983.
This is the second time in the past three years that WBFO has been named to receive the Flanders award. WBFO won six first place awards and four honorable mentions; it garnered more first place awards than any other radio station in New York State, including New York City. It is the only radio station in Buffalo to have earned the Flanders award.
In addition to the WBFO news team, comprised of Mark Scott, news director; Eileen Buckley, assistant news director, news producer and reporter; and Joyce Kryszak, cultural affairs reporter and producer, two members of WBFO's staff received first-place awards. Kara Sweet, Manager of Electronic Communications, received an award for designing a Web news page, and Alison Zero, talent manager for the Buffalo Music Project, received an award for her feature on a local musical group.
"To have received the Stephen Flanders award for the second time in as little as three years is an incredible honor. This award is the culmination of many years of superb reporting by WBFO's well-experienced and highly committed news team, as well as our talented Web designer and our music talent producer" said Carole Smith Petro, associate vice president and WBFO general manager. "As individuals and as a team, the news staff has consistently achieved the highest standards of radio reporting. We are delighted that two additional WBFO talents were recognized for their unique contributions. All of these awards confirm the high regard in which they are held by the Western New York community."
The 2008 awards that WBFO received are:
• Arts Athens Award for General Excellence in Individual Reporting: Eileen Buckley and Special Mention to Joyce Kryszak
• Best Interview: First Place to Joyce Kryszak for interview with UB artist Steve Kurtz after federal charges against him were dropped
• Best Enterprise Reporting: First Place to Joyce Kryszak for a report on predatory lending and Special Mention to Eileen Buckley for a report on the blood collection competition in Buffalo
• Best Continuing News: Special Mention to Eileen Buckley for her coverage of Buffalo Police Detective Dennis Delano's suspension to his run for the State Senate
• Best Sports Coverage: First Place to Joyce Kryszak for her report on the Winter Classic in Buffalo and Special Mention to Eileen Buckley for a report on Richard Zednik's nearly fatal hockey injury
• Best Use of Medium: First Place to Alison Zero for her story on the local music group, Too Many Sisters
• Best Web Site: First Place to Web designer, Kara Sweet, and the news staff
Celebrating 50 years on air, WBFO 88.7FM, a major public service of the University at Buffalo, is Western New York's most listened to National Public Radio (NPR) station. It reaches an audience of approximately 80,000 people through its main signal in Buffalo and through repeater stations WUBJ 88.1 FM in Jamestown and WOLN 91.3 FM in Olean, and additional audiences through its Web presence. WBFO's news department offers comprehensive coverage of regional news. The station also offers a depth of programming not available elsewhere in the community, including NPR/PRI news and entertainment programs, public and cultural affairs programming and jazz and blues.


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It has been such an honor to have been involved in the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival as Founding Chairman since 1992. We started with a small procession the Saturday before Thanksgiving to
light the Magnificent Mile and it has grown to become one of the nation's premiere holiday events. What makes the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival so special is that it started as a volunteer event and remains a volunteer events with strong civic and city support. We are particularly grateful this year to have the Harris Bank become the first presenting sponsor of the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Harris provided a great deal of help–in financial support to produce such a high quality event and in human capital with great volunteer support by Harris people.
The broad base of suport for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by Harris was highlighted in the
following cover story in the Forum, the publication of the Chicago Association Forum.
December 2006
Signature Story: Unwrapping the Wonder
Featuring Greater North Michigan Avenue Association
By Heather Ryndak
When Mary Oelerich considers her favorite holiday memories, she recalls her children interacting with iconic Disney characters dressed in holiday garb. She also thinks of the annual, sizeable holiday party she hosts in her Gold Coast home, and occasions for which her dear friends drive nearly 250 miles from Maumee, Ohio, to visit with her family and drink up the
bustling Chicago atmosphere. Luckily, Oelerich doesn't have to travel to distant corners of her mind to conjure up these memories. They occur each year. They are part of a tradition. They are possible because of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association's (GNMAA) Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.
A day-long celebration, The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by Harris may be best known for its ceremonial lighting of more than 1 million white lights, setting Michigan Avenue ablaze during the holiday season. The festival has grown to become the country's official start to the holiday season, drawing nearly 1 million spectators — and significant
business — to this thriving tourist and business district. It boosts retail sales, sells out hotel rooms, draws record numbers of diners to restaurants and
impacts virtually every business in the region. And that's great news to the GNMAA, which produces the festival — the association's largest-scale event — and
aims to preserve, promote and enhance Chicago's Magnificent Mile district.
Oelerich and her extended family have attended the annual, burgeoning festival each year, which occurs the weekend before Thanksgiving, since its inauguration 15 years ago. It is here where Snow White planted a kiss on the cheek of her then 4-year-old daughter, Madeline, who afterward refused to wash her face all weekend. It is here where her close friend, Ann Searles, and her family drive to from Ohio every year, with their belongings and holiday shopping lists in tow, to also enjoy endearing Disney entertainment while kicking off their holiday shopping and visiting exclusive
shops like Anthropology and Burberry that aren't found near their town.
It is here where the majority of the women's combined seven children, also longtime friends and festival attendees, have gradually traded in their enchantment with American Girl dolls and Disney
characters to a desire to visit, reminisce, shop and dine out with old friends.
"It's fabulous, it's moving and it's absolutely a tradition," Oelerich says. "It's what starts our holidays."
Extending the best season
The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival begins with eight stage performances in the morning, followed by dozens of acts of pre-procession entertainment. Next is the lighting of more than 1 million white lights on 200 trees along 16 blocks of North Michigan Avenue, from Oak Street to Wacker Drive, led by Mickey Mouse and his Disney pals. The event culminates with a holiday fireworks show at Michigan Avenue, over the Chicago River. Only the July 3 fireworks display along Lake Michigan eclipses the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival as the largest, single-day Chicago event. That success, which has manifested since 1991, would not be possible without the vision and tireless work of staff and key volunteer leaders at GNMAA who mobilize more than 650
individuals to produce this seasonal spectacle.
"The Magnificent Mile district differentiates itself from all other destinations and shopping centers — and the lights festival is the pinnacle," says John Maxson, president and CEO of GNMAA.
"Michigan Avenue is among the 10 great avenues of the world. Our Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by Harris reminds them of why. We want people to say, 'What an experience.' We want people to leave on a high note and feel like they can't stop talking about it. We want the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and The Magnificent Mile district to be the place where people's holidays begin."
Producing the lights festival the week before Thanksgiving was a strategic decision. The GNMAA committee knew it didn't want to hold the event the Friday after Thanksgiving because that day is already extremely busy on Michigan Avenue. Through marketing research, they discovered one of the lightest public relations periods was during the weekend before Thanksgiving. They decided to take advantage of a time when typically not many events are promoted.
"Before the lights festival, holiday lights traditionally went on Michigan Avenue the Monday before Thanksgiving, but it was anti-climactic," says Eli's Cheesecake President Marc Schulman, GNMAA board member and founding chair of the lights festival. "A crew went out and just did it, and suddenly they were on. Years before, starlets would come and light the lights. I saw the potential. But, we didn't want to duplicate Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. We needed something that would fit Michigan Avenue.
"It made sense to have it early and kick off the holiday season before the traditional busiest shopping day of the year, the day after Thanksgiving," Schulman says. "We came up with a magical and fun procession on a day that many retailers now report to be their biggest sales day of the year."
Maxson says advancing the busiest shopping day of the year by nearly a week and extending the most concentrated shopping period creates a competitive edge against alternatives in Chicago's suburbs — which are all competing for the same dollar. Additionally, the event sustains North Michigan Avenue as a peer of other experiential world-class venues like Beverly Hill's Rodeo Drive, New York City's Fifth Avenue and Paris' Champs-Elysées.
"We want to remain one of the premier shopping and hospitality destinations in the world. That's why the festival is always the week before Thanksgiving," Maxson says. "Our goal is to help our members extend their best season with more holiday shoppers and visitors. Come see our kick-off holiday event. Then, stay and shop."
Member Impact
At the time of the inaugural Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, hotel occupancy stood around 33 percent.
"Before the lights festival, the big holiday shopping push started after Thanksgiving and you could shoot a cannon through most restaurants the week before Thanksgiving," says John Chikow, member of The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Steering Committee, 2002-03 festival chair and a founding committee member of the event.
Four years after the event's inception, hotel occupancy reached and has sustained 99 percent the week before Thanksgiving, according to the GNMAA. Restaurants and parking facilities also report that they are at capacity. Retailers have seen their sales increase 5 to 7 percent annually since 2002. Some retailers report sales are higher the day of the
lights festival than the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Now, getting a seat in a restaurant on the festival weekend is as difficult as during the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show or Mother's Day, Chikow said, who is a top volunteer for GNMAA and the U.S. compliance and development manager for Dynamex Inc.
Hoteliers and the restaurateurs were the first to support the event. "They had a void and organized to fill it," Chikow says. "If it wasn't for them, this event wouldn't have gotten off the ground. Around the third year of the festival, as the economic impact hit the retailers, they came on board. This is also when Walt Disney Corporation became a major partner and
Disney paired up with many retailers to host 'meet and greets' with Disney characters."
Store owners in The 900 Shops at 900 N. Michigan since 1988, when the property opened, noticed the increased level of activity in the shopping center and on Michigan Avenue once the lights festival began.
"The atmosphere that day is just as bustling as the day after Thanksgiving," says Barbara Corrigan, senior marketing manager of The 900 Shops. "It's an absolutely magical experience. People all have smiles on their faces. It is the highlight of all the events on Michigan Avenue , it's exciting and is very important to the retail world."
Even if spectators are not specifically shopping that day, the experience of seeing the illuminated avenue makes them want to return to recapture that holiday experience, Corrigan says. "It introduces them to retailers they might not have been aware of before."
Anne Findley, manager of Hershey's stores on 822 N. Michigan Ave., says last year's event marked the store's biggest sales day of 2005.
"It was such an exciting experience last year that two people from the home office (in Hershey, Pa.) are hoping to make the trip this year to see what it's all about," says Findley, whose store opened in June, 2005.
Nicole Jachimiak, the 2006 Magnificent Mile Lights Festival volunteer chair and director of marketing and public relations at the Swissotel Chicago, says the hotel has been sold out the weekend of the festival for the past 10 years. Before the festival, capacity was at 30 percent.
Past festival chair Grant DePorter, who also is managing partner for Harry Caray's Restaurants, says he saw results in 1996, the first year he volunteered.
"I was walking around the day of the event in a Santa hat, handing out holiday activity guides," says DePorter, a member of The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Steering Committee since 1998. "I explained to people I own Harry Caray's. People said they've heard of it, and asked where it was located — which is only four blocks from the procession route. So many
people came that day that we ran out of food at lunch time. It turned a slow day for us into one of the busiest days of the year.
"People make a day of it; they come down for the shows during the day and then the lights procession at night. The whole region benefits. Not everyone can eat on Michigan Avenue, so they branch out to the surrounding neighborhood. Now every restaurant is packed around River North. We're all experiencing the same thing."
Measures of success
GNMAA quantifies and qualifies the success of each year's event. Past and current chairs gather shortly after the event to establish goals for the upcoming year's festival. Festival organizers set three main goals: 1) number of event attendees and the live television broadcast audience; 2) number of volunteers; and 3) number of sponsorships.
"Each year, the event is enhanced and, in turn, that increases the number of attendees, volunteers and sponsorships," Jachimiak says.
Festival crowds first surpassed 1 million after the 9/11 tragedy. "After 9/11, the first city-wide event was the Columbus Day parade. While it was a nice event, it was a bit somber," Chikow says. "I think people were wondering whether it was OK to have a good time so close to the national tragedy. It was an uncertain time and we just didn't know how the lights festival was going to go." That year, attendance was about 20 to 30 percent larger than previous years and that volume has sustained. "The lights festival that year was the first event where people seemed to let their hair
down and smile," he says.
News outlets around the country are promoting the festival at an increasing rate. In 2005, the broadcast media audience was 20.5 million people — an increase of 47 percent from 2004, says Ellen Farrar, GNMAA's vice president of marketing and communications. Some viewers are watching the festival broadcast from local station WGN-TV Channel 9 and nationally via the
WGN Superstation. Others learn of the event through coverage by CNN, The Weather Channel, MSNBC and Fox News. Individuals in certain outside markets including Washington, D.C., Phoenix, New York, St. Louis, Tampa, Houston and many other locations are able to tune in as well. Throngs of individuals also are logging onto themagnificentmile.com for more information. In November, 2005, more than 52,000 first-time users accessed the site.
As attendance and entertainment increases, volunteer needs increase. Jachimiak saw the number of volunteers rise from 200, when she became a volunteer coordinator four years ago, to 650 in 2006. Additional pre-procession entertainment, more vehicles in the procession, larger and more elaborate displays and special effects entails additional volunteer help.
"We are fortunate to have volunteers that have the dedication and passion that our leaders do," she says. "It's the one event that is very heart-warming. It brings personal and professional gratification. Volunteers return year after year." In 2006, 30 volunteers from Columbia College returned to help with virtually every aspect of the event — from stage shows to
the procession.
GNMAA staff's role is one of facilitator, Maxson says. They motivate and recruit volunteers, set up facilities and ensure the mission of the committee is being fulfilled. They are accountable for the
overall management of the event. But, says Karen Hickey, GNMAA membership director: "This event simply would not be possible without many key volunteer leaders and an army of willing and savvy volunteers." The lights festival also is an opportune way to introduce participation in GNMAA, Hickey says, which has 35 volunteer-driven committees that carry out the work of the organization. About 350 volunteers serve on these committees.
In the first years of the lights festival, a contingent of only 35 key volunteers was required. By 1996, it became apparent that a committee-of-the-whole approach would not continue to work, and a more segmented organizational structure was needed to effectively manage the details and steer the process of the development and execution of the event. Simultaneously, more attention was being given to growing event leaders. As a result, GNMAA created two major festival committees — operations and marketing — which boast 100 volunteers. Six operational sub-committees have since formed that assist with event production and crowd safety. Opportunities on both committees range from the coordination of the procession marshal to disabled viewing along the procession route to creating The Magnificent Mile Holiday Activity Guide.
Around 2001, city budget issues arose and to augment the necessary police security for the event, GNMAA organized the single largest volunteer Chicago's Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) program in the city — recruiting and training around 175 volunteers to assist with procession security such as traffic control. The training program was developed by a memberof the Chicago Police Department and coordinated by association volunteers.
The volunteer process starts two weeks after the previous year's event by asking volunteers to return the next year. The formal recruitment process starts in May, when past volunteers who have not yet responded are contacted by mail and e-mail with a sign-up sheet. In that timeframe, the committee co-chairs also identify key people who are willing to train volunteers. That's also when event sponsors are invited to participate in the "adopt-a-block program," in which two captains and 10 to 30 volunteers from a sponsoring organization manage a block along the procession route. Organizations participate to experience team building, Jachimiak says. She adds that volunteers must be recruited by members or staff.
Two days before the event, volunteers attend a two-hour orientation for welcoming remarks, introductions and break-out sessions for 10 specific areas ranging from procession safety to pre-procession entertainment to stage shows to surveys. As recognition, GNMAA also gives volunteer pins that note the number of years volunteers have been involved. People treat it as a badge of honor. They have to earn the pin, and they are proud of the amount of time they have contributed to this event," Farrar says.
At 6 a.m. event morning, the final set-up begins: first, for the 11 a.m. hands-on activities and stage shows; then, at 5 p.m., when the avenue closes for pre-procession entertainment; again, at 6 p.m., when The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Procession begins; and, lastly, at 6:55 p.m., when the festival literally ends with a bang — the fireworks display.
"The careful identification of board level volunteer leadership, as well as staff selected over the years, had an immense impact on the event's growth," Chikow says. "Allowing the event to expand also required many levels of civic involvement and encouragement. This required a multi-faceted education and influence process from the association's leaders — both staff and volunteers."Getting and staying involved
Six past chairs of the event remain involved. One of them, Harry Caray's Grant DePorter, says he stays active because of what he experienced his first day as a volunteer.
"It was unexpectedly kind-of fun and I couldn't believe its instantaneous impact on our business," he says. "I saw how important this was not only to me, but the whole city of Chicago — to not only increase business, but also increase the exposure.
"I've ridden in a procession vehicle with my wife. And I've gotten to watch my 11-year-old children growing up with this and see them react to the Disney characters. This festival really is a family affair. Kids have a great time and adults like to remember that time in their childhood."
Eli's Marc Schulman, who was festival chairman for the first four years, says it's like presiding over "Chicago's Rose Parade." "I'm still involved because it's one of the most significant things I've been involved in," he says. "I don't go to every meeting now; sometimes you just have to be a cheerleader for the event. But you feel so emotionally strong about it because it's grown into something so big. It's tremendous how it has caught on to such a degree that it is considered the leading event for the
holidays. Yet, it continues to be a very community- and volunteer-driven event."
It's worth the time and commitment to be a volunteer, and be behind the work that sets Michigan Avenue aglow, Schulman adds. "It's been an important part of my life as a resident, community service member and business owner. I live on Michigan Avenue, I chaired GNMAA 12 years ago and I am president of Eli's Cheesecake Company, so I have many reasons to stay involved."
Chikow says the reason why he remains active is because he ties many of his personal and professional achievements to his festival involvement. "My involvement started with selfish business reasons — to grow and develop my business — but now it has evolved," he says. "I am proud to watch so many people get involved and grow themselves. We grow leaders."
For example, current event chair Nicole Jachimiak's involvement began seven years ago on the marketing committee when coordinating the windows judging competition. Her responsibilities increased through the years.
"We regularly pitch senior leaders that the lights festival is a great opportunity for them to grow their people in leadership roles outside their organization. This event involves out-of-the-box thinking, networking, problem solving, people management, etc. on a different scale, all of which positively reflects back on the member organization," Chikow says.
Event evolvement
The first two years of the lights festival were more homespun in programming and detail, Chikow says. Traffic didn't even stop
on the avenue.
When Walt Disney Company called the GNMAA to inquire about becoming a major partner, it significantly raised the level of the event from 1993 and beyond — providing Mickey Mouse as master of ceremonies, stage acts with Disney characters and production support. The festival received another giant boost in 1994, when GNMAA partnered with the Tribune Company and
WGN, enabling the event to be televised nationally, instead of a half-hour local broadcast.
In 2000, GNMAA looked at improving the experience for attendees and decided to expand the procession entertainment by 40 minutes, which involved recruiting local groups to provide entertainment while people awaited the procession.
Three years ago, volunteers began performing "man-on-the-street" surveys during the event for the committee's and sponsors' benefit. The surveys are conducted to determine the demographics and motivation of the event audience and to understand the impact of the marketing endeavors for the event, Farrar says.
The lights festival also became the catalyst for the creation of GNMAA's other annual, large-scale, seasonal marketing events on "The Magnificent Mile," a slogan trademarked by GNMAA and created in 1947 as part of an extensive promotional campaign. Gardens of The Magnificent Mile, Tulip Days on The Magnificent Mile and Light Nights on The Magnificent Mile are growing in popularity and attracting national attention.
"We wanted to experiment with other time periods to do something similar, though we knew we couldn't create an event of the same magnitude as the lights festival with the time and manpower it requires," Chikow says. "Still, these events are strategic and enable association members to partner with local and state tourism efforts."
As the lights festival entered its 15th anniversary this year, many new activities and features were introduced. This year marks the first year of an important economic development. Harris, a financial service organization headquartered in Chicago, entered a three-year agreement to become the first presenting sponsor. GNMAA also enhanced and expanded its other sponsorship agreements. The association doesn't divulge how much of its $1.1 million annual budget is earmarked for the lights festival, but says the majority of the cost is absorbed by sponsorship support and in-kind donations for facilities, food, publicity, equipment and other needs.
New procession vehicles were introduced this year, as well as the use of snow machines and a "Chicago version" of balloons. Another new feature this year is the American Girl Theater joining the festival, providing four holiday stage shows.
Goal: 3rd Largest Holiday Event
While The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is already touted as the country's first major holiday event, the GNMAA also wants it to be one of the nation's largest.
"Our goal is to make our lights celebration become America's third largest holiday season activity, outside of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and The Rose Parade," Maxson says. That achievement can be measured by comparing attendance figures and national reach through public relations and televised broadcasts, Farrar adds.
"We already are in line with attendance figures and are emerging as tied as the largest single-day event in our city,"Farrar says. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade recorded 2.5
million attendees in 2005, the Rose Parade had nearly 1 million spectators in 2006 and the July 3 fireworks in Chicago reported less than 1.1 million attendees in 2006.
Jachimiak believes it's possible the lights festival can become the third largest holiday event as it's the only major holiday evening event and lighting procession. She also believes the festival
stands out because of its content and its family focus.
"Here, you don't see coolers. You see families and children with smiling faces," Jachimiak says. "Families return every year."
That is exactly the feedback Hickey receives each year from faithful and dedicated spectators.
"One e-mail from a family mentioned how they love the ability to see Mickey Mouse and many other Disney characters without having to travel to Florida or California. Another mentioned how her family makes the festival an annual holiday tradition and brings their entire, extended family," Hickey says.
That's also true for Mary Oelerich, who made sacrifices on occasion to attend each festival the last 15 years.
This year, Oelerich had to choose between attending her long-time babysitter's wedding or the lights festival. Both the wedding and reception were downtown, but the reception started at 6 p.m. — in the midst of the festival entertainment and her traditional holiday gathering with family and friends.
"When we found out the timing of Meagan's wedding, we called her right away and said, 'That's the lights festival! What are you thinking?' We ended up telling her we'll go to the Mass, but not the reception. She's understanding."
About the GNMAA
GNMAA was founded in 1913 to plan and promote the development and beautification of Michigan Avenue and help transform the avenue into a major commercial boulevard. GNMAA represents the interests of a broad membership of 660 organizations. Nearly half of the membership represents the tourism industry, including restaurants, hotels, retail stores, cultural attractions, various personal services, nightlife and travel services. The other half of its membership is comprised of professional services such as law firms, real estate, sign companies, landscape companies, printers, advertising and public relations firms, accounting firms, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, transportation and more.
A staff of 10 full-time association professionals and four interns manage the association.
GNMAA's Mission
-Market the Magnificent Mile district as a premier retail and travel destination.
- Create networking opportunities for members.
- Protect and enhance the streetscape through close vigilance over architectural changes by working with developers, architects, landscapers and the City of Chicago to ensure that visiting, living and working on The Magnificent Mile is enhanced.
- Establish, facilitate and host an annual gala, four quarterly meetings, membership projects and fund-raising
Magnificent Mile Stats
• A commercial district of 460 retail stores and morethan 275 restaurants
• A visitor destination featuring 52 hotels offering
22,000 rooms
• 50,000 pedestrians walk Michigan Avenue every day
• 22 million visitors each year
• 40-plus parkway gardens
• $1.9 billion in retail sales generated annually
• 3.3 million square feet of retail space
Magnificent Mile Lights FestivalBy The Numbers
• 1 million lights
• 850,000 to 1 million attendees each year
• 650 volunteers• 200 trees
• 100-member strategic committee
• 48 snow blasts
• 35 acts of pre-procession entertainment
• 30 vehicles in lighting procession vehicles
(Mickey and eight friends, city departments, sponsors)
• 16 pyrotechnic-shoots
• 16 city blocks
• 8 stage shows
• 6 past chairman still involved
• 6 major sponsors and content partners
• 1 presenting sponsor
• 1 amazing fireworks show
For more information, visit themagnificentmile.com or lightsfestival.com.
Heather Ryndak may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com .


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Let�s apply some logic to the issue of gun control.
Let�s apply some logic to the issue of gun control.
Arguments against gun control seem to center on the Constitution, which allows individuals a right to bear arms.
owever, it was signed in 1787. The country was still exploring the Western territory and there was no protection for many citizens, so protecting yourself was important. Also, there were no automatic assault weapons. So I think that argument is fallacious, applying to a different time and place.
The next argument is that guns don�t kill people, people kill people. Well, what would have happened if these shooters couldn�t get guns? We�ll never be able to weed out the crazies or potentially crazy, but we can control what they have access to.
Arming teachers with weapons is absolutely ridiculous. What about movie ushers, parking lot monitors and anybody else? Do we want shootouts in the classroom?
Is there any justification for citizens having automatic assault weapons at home? I�m not aware of any. If you think so, please explain it to the residents of Newtown, Conn., and see if they agree.
It�s time to take a leap out of the past and confront the problem at hand. Every gun sale should require a criminal and medical background check. Every request for a permit should require a reason for the specific weapon being purchased. Every weapon that�s not a target gun or hunting rifle in the hands of citizens should be confiscated and destroyed. Only the military and law enforcement should have assault-type weapons.
Let�s make this leap happen � before Newtown happens again.


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Independent Nation gives you the day's 5 must reads for independents and centrists:
1. "The Vanishing Battleground," in The New York Times.
Mitt Romney and Barack Obama have only campaigned in ten states since their parties' conventions. How much smaller can the battleground get?
2. "Vote the Bums Out: the Eight Worst Members of Congress," at The Daily Beast.
These days, everybody hates Congress. John Avlon on the eight U.S. Reps who deserve to get the boot on Tuesday.
3. "In Va., Kaine and Allen Seek Elusive Ticket-Splitters," at Real Clear Politics.
In Virginia, Tim Kaine and George Allen are on the hunt for independents in their hard-fought race for the Senate.
4. "Christie Was Mitt's First Choice for VP," at Politico.
Sources tell Politico that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was Mitt Romney's first choice for his running mate.
5. "The Final Reckoning," in The New York Times.
President Obama's political vision has narrowed, writes David Brooks. Would it expand over a second term?
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East Lansing Police Department has no set protocol for how and when liquor laws are enforced — instead it is up to the officer. Any patron at an East Lansing liquor establishment can expect random police checks to ensure public safety. This includes the possibility of a police officer asking any bar patron to provide identification in an attempt to deter under-age drinkers from frequenting liquor establishments, according to ELPD.
The State News, through a Freedom of Information Act request, acquired 13 police reports, all of which are from investigations regarding liquor infractions at East Lansing bars.
The State News requested all records and reports regarding bar walkthroughs/raids for all East Lansing bars frequented by MSU students since Jan. 1, 2016.
Of the 10 bars in East Lansing for which The State News requested information, six were included in the report. The Landshark had six reports filed for liquor infraction, all in 2016. The Riv and FieldHouse had two infractions filed over the two-year period. Harper's Restaurant and Brew Pub, Lou and Harry's Bar/Grill and The Tin Can each had one infraction. Bars included were ones listed as suspects in the case.
Infractions against the liquor establishments include allegedly over-serving a patron, allowing minors into the bar with a fake ID, serving alcohol after 2:30 a.m. and allowing patrons inside the bar with an under-21 ID.
Liquor laws
"The reasons we would patrol through a bar are very wide," Lt. Chad Connelly of ELPD said. "It can be everything from making sure liquor establishments are in compliance with some of the laws and rules that regulate what their operating. Other parts of it would be to make sure that there are not patrons being over-served, under-aged drinkers, fights, any type of thing that could be a safety concern for those people who are frequenting those establishments. There's really no set protocol for when we do it or how we do it. We'll walk through bars on a Monday night just like we will on a Friday or a Saturday night."
In addition to expecting regular police checkups in East Lansing's liquor establishments, ELPD increases its public presence on days with increased alcohol consumption, such as holidays and home football games.
When police enter a liquor establishment for random liquor enforcement, any patron inside the bar could be asked to present a valid ID.
"I just kind of chill with my friends that are obviously over 21 so that hopefully they wouldn't come near me," M., a sophomore at MSU whose initial has been given for privacy reasons, said.
M. said she frequently attends bars and has been in the presence of a police walkthrough.
M., even as a 20-year-old, has never been stopped when attempting to enter an East Lansing liquor establishment. She is almost a year away from her 21st birthday.
"I think I go to the bars because it's the cool thing to do. All my older friends go. If I wanted to hang out with any of my friends that are older I have to go to the bars, that's the only thing the older kids do. It makes you seem cool if an underage can go," M. said.
M. said she uses a real ID, given to her by an of-age friend. Using real IDs which look like the underage student is a common tactic to "trick" a bouncer into thinking they are in fact of age. Other false IDs can be ordered off the internet and alter the individual's birthday to make them appear of legal age.
This practice is confirmed from a police report on Feb. 23, in reference to an alleged liquor law violation by FieldHouse on 213 Ann St.
The report details a proactive check by former liquor liaison officer Tim Smith, who had anonymous complaints of minors being served. During the check, the first two patrons questioned were found to be under-age.
FieldHouse General Manager Mike Weinrich said his staff supports the Responsible Hospitality Council, or RHC. The council is a group of local restaurant owners that promotes " the responsible promotion and service of alcohol to the East Lansing community," according to its website.
Weinrich also acknowledged that bar searches were for public safety.
The liquor liaison position is rotational, with officers being assigned to the post for three to five years. The current liquor liaison is officer Jeffery Spitz.
"As law enforcement officers, we have the right to make sure the people that are frequenting liquor establishments are of age," Connelly said. "So if you do see someone who appears to be underage, you do have the right to ask them for ID, which hopefully they produce."
A number of things can happen once a police officer determines an MIP at a liquor establishment. It could result in anything from a warning to an arrest — officers hold discretion in their policing, Connelly said.
"If they are deemed to be underage, then you have a couple different issues. One, you have a minor in possession issue, two, you could have a minor in a liquor establishment issue," he said. "Now officers have discretion on how they take enforcement. Now that could be a verbal warning, It could be a citation, all the way up to arrest depending on what the infraction is."
A police report from Sept. 15, 2016, details an alleged liquor infraction against The Riv for over-serving a patron during a Thursday Burgerama, or Rama. The man had a blood alcohol content of 0.229 and was found during the random check holding onto a pillar, then falling down to the ground. When asked by police how much he had consumed a drink, the man stated he had been served two pitchers of beer, according to the report.
The report states the man repeatedly told the police he was not drunk. When asked to recite the alphabet, the report said "his performance was dreadful."
"His recital bore no resemblance to the actual alphabet, and it was impossible to keep track of the errors he made. Officer Horst noted this error-laden attempt to state the alphabet, and (name redacted) went on a minutes long effort to have Officer Horst recite the alphabet, claiming Horst did not know how to do this," the report stated.
The individual, with effort from bar staff and police, was sent home in a taxi. The bar manager paid the fare, according to the report.
Brian Leyrer, the general manager at The Riv, said management had the liquor liaison speak to his staff.
"Jeff (Spitz) came in to meet with our door guys, I asked him in," Leyrer said.
The individual was not cited for drunk and disorderly conduct violations. The bar, however, was in the report for allegedly over-serving a patron and for allowing a visibly intoxicated person in the bar, ELPD Deputy Chief Steve Gonzalez said.
"Simply being intoxicated at a 0.229 like this individual was is not against the law. There is a misnomer out there that being drunk and disorderly is against the law. To meet that disorderly threshold, we've got a very vast array of disorderly conduct violations," Gonzalez said.
Leyrer said The Riv, as part of RHC in East Lansing, passed its most recent sting on March 24.
"Some bars are notoriously known for letting in minors, we're hopefully not one of those bars anymore," Leyrer said.
Presenting false ID to either a liquor establishment employee or a police officer is considered disorderly conduct in East Lansing and could result in the immediate arrest of the individual, Connelly said.
A police report from Feb. 10, 2017, details an alleged incident at FieldHouse with multiple minors in possession at the bar from several trips. The first occurred on Feb. 2, and a woman was arrested immediately after presenting a false Illinois ID at the door.
On Feb. 10, sensing a trend, four police officers went back for more random checks, according to the report. A 20-year-old woman was questioned and it was determined she had used a fake New York ID to enter the bar. After an initial denial, she was deemed cooperative, received a citation and was driven home by a police officer.
The third incident from the report occurred after officers confronted the bar management and were escorted to the door. While at the door, two MIPs, one with a fake Ohio ID and the other with a fake Michigan ID, allegedly attempted to enter the bar.
The man with the Ohio ID fled on foot, while the man with the fake Michigan ID was apprehended and arrested for MIP with a blood-alcohol level of 0.12.
In a police report from Dec. 10, 2016, The Tin Can was subject to a random liquor enforcement sting. A 20-year-old police cadet was successful in using her under-21 ID to enter the bar. The report said she was served a beer, and immediately told her superior, the Liquor Liaison Officer.
The bartender was given a citation for providing alcohol to a minor — not the bouncer who let the cadet inside.
When the officers followed up with the establishment, ownership informed police the bouncer had let the undercover cadet inside was fired, according to the report.
Tin Can Manager Dave Sell said it had a good relationship with ELPD and is part of RHC. Sell wants to prevent problems with underage drinking.
"We don't play any cat and mouse games. The underage person uses their true age ID," Gonzalez said of undercover operations. "If the person is turned away at the door or not sold any alcohol, good, they leave."
Landshark Bar and Grill at 101 E. Grand River Avenue had the most infractions during the two-year span, with six police reports citing the liquor establishment as a suspect between Jan. 31, 2016 to Aug. 2, 2016. No other liquor citations for the bar are reported after this period in 2016.
Management at Landshark did not respond to a request to comment by the time of publication.
According to the report a police report from Jan. 31, 2016, around 3:30 a.m. an officer observed seven to 10 individuals walking into Landshark, many of whom appeared to work at the establishment. When the officer entered the establishment, he observed a bartender providing glasses of beer to two persons sitting at the bar with no monetary transaction.
The officer did not observe any employees cleaning the bar, which they had claimed to do after the officer made initial contact, the report said.
Landshark was reported because it had allegedly broken Michigan Liquor Control Commission rules, including furnishing and consuming alcohol between 2:30 and 7 a.m., selling liquor for less than wholesale cost and occupying the bar between 2:30 and 7 a.m. The report was turned over to the MLCC for issuance of charges for illegal bar activities, according to the report.
Other reports from Landshark allege individuals were let in with false IDs. Two of the reports, on Feb. 25, 2016 and Feb. 27, 2016, have exactly the same officer observations word for word. Each walkthrough had three officers and the amount of arrests and citations were redacted.
"A very simple data pull can tell you whether a liquor establishment is adding a bunch of problems... We can pull data out of our record management system and say, 'Hey, is this establishment having a problem?'" Gonzalez said. "We pull all the reports for the citations that have been taken out of our management system and say, 'Oh no, there's no problem here' or, 'Oh yeah, absolutely, look at all these things."
Under-aged drinking at liquor establishments has been a problem since the implementation of Michigan's 21 drinking age in 1978, and East Lansing liquor establishments will be tackling this issue for years to come.
"We have rules set for reasons, the state legislature sets those rules law enforcement doesn't," Connelly said. "Our job is to make sure they are executed and that it's done probably. It really boils down to a safety issue."


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Cooking For Engineers
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 16776765
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:05 pm
Post subject: Kitchen Notes: Wheat Flour
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Kitchen Notes: Wheat Flour
Article Digest:
There are several kinds of wheat flour available for sale with the most popular being enriched and bleached all-purpose flour. The differences between the flours comes down to the type of wheat, the parts of wheat included, the processing of the wheat, and any additives added to the flour. In this article, I'll examine each of these characteristics:
Protein content
A certain type of protein called gluten (glutenin) is responsible for wheat flour's elastic properties. The more gluten in a flour makes it easier for the flour to build up a tough structure able to trap the waste gases of yeast during kneading as well as rise effectively during baking. Less gluten in a flour produces a lighter, less chewier texture such as those found in cakes. The exact amount of gluten in your flour depends on where it was milled and the variations in growth of the wheat crop.
The main wheat varieties grown in the United States are, in order of quantity grown and sold, hard red wheat, soft red wheat, durum and white. Hard red wheat is used to produce flour high in gluten content, while soft red wheat is used for flour low in gluten. Durum is milled to produce semolina flour used mainly for macaroni pastas. Semolina flour has the highest gluten content of all mass produced wheat flours. White wheat is produced in smaller quantities in the U.S. and makes low gluten flour.
High gluten flour
bread flour
is produced from hard wheat. High gluten flour has a gluten percentage of about 12-14% while bread flour contains about 10-13% gluten. Both flours are almost completely made of hard wheat, but some high gluten flours are treated to reduce starch content, raising the gluten content to around 14%. These flours are generally used for making breads. High gluten flour is reserved for breads that are extra elastic such as bagels and pizza.
Cake flour
is produced from soft wheat and is low in gluten content (8-10%). This flour is used for making delicate cakes. Baked goods made with cake flour has a tendency to crumble because of the low gluten content.
All purpose flour
is made from a mixture of hard and soft wheats. The gluten content ranges from 9-12%. This is the most versatile flour because it can be used to make both cakes and breads. However, breads won't be as chewy and cakes won't be as tender as if you used bread or cake flour.
Pastry flour
is also a mix of hard and soft wheat flours with an emphasis on soft. Generally, the gluten content is 9-10% and is often recommended for pie crusts.
Whole wheat flour
contains the germ (the embryo of the wheat kernel) and is more flavorful than regular all-purpose flour which does not include the germ. Because the germ is included, there are more nutrients as well as fiber and fat content in whole wheat flour. However, the flour should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent the germ oils from becoming rancid.
Almost all the flour sold is
steel ground
meaning a large machine with steel hammers or rollers crushes and grinds the wheat kernels down. This is a very efficient means of producing flour, but the steel surfaces heat up with the high speed and volume of wheat being ground. This heat causes some of the vitamins in steel ground flour to be destroyed during the grinding process.
stone ground
flour is produced by the relatively slow grinding of large stones together (with the wheat in the middle). This type of flour is harder to find and almost always leaves the germ intact producing whole wheat flour. There is no heat build up, so all the nutrients stay intact as the four is made.
Bleaching or aging is another process that differentiates flours.
Bleached flours
produce doughs that are less sticky and rise better than unbleached flours. Bleaching can be accomplished by aging the flour over time (the oxidation of the flour causes the yellow pigments to fade) or through a chemical means (usually using chlorine dioxide and potassium bromade to age the flour). The aging process removes some of the naturally occurring vitamin E present in wheat. The flour ends up uniformly white and has (generally) better baking properties.
The texture of the flour is determined by how much sifting (or bolting) is performed at the mill. The degree of sifting will result in a powdery flour or a coarse flour. Prior to packaging, most flours in the United States are also presifted.
Presifted flour
can be measured directly from the bag by stirring, measuring with a dry measuring cup, and leveled with a straight edge.
Unsifted flour
needs to be sifted prior to measuring (by volume). If unsifted flour is measured by weight, it should still be sifted prior to use in a recipe requiring sifted flour (assume all recipes require sifted flour).
Enriched flour
contain vitamins and nutrients that have been added to offset the loss from the grinding and aging of flour. Usually, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin and iron are added to flours that do not contain wheat germ. In addition vitamin E is often added to bleached wheat. Some brands will also contain additional vitamin A, C, and D.
Some bread flours will have a little bit of malted barley flour added to help yeast growth. In addition, potassium bromate may be included to lend strength and help the dough maintain the yeast gases.
The addition of baking powder and salt produces
self-rising flour
leavened flour
. When using self-rising flour, simply omit the baking powder and salt from the recipe (leave in any baking soda a recipe calls for).
Other names?
Outside of the United States, different types of flour may have different names. For example,
plain flour
is often similar to all purpose flour. However, the regional differences that cause all-purpose flours to vary from U.S. state to state, also cause similar flours from other nations to differ slightly in property from those in the United States.
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an anonymous reader
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:07 pm
Post subject:
Great article!
It really more than answers my
on "all-purpose" flour.
Excellent, now I can easily translate recipes and use the correct flour, etc.
And now, I'm that bit more knowledgable! Thanks.
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an anonymous reader
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:08 pm
Post subject:
thanks for the info! i never knew there were so many variations of wheat flour. gosh!
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Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:08 pm
Post subject:
Regarding gluten:
My mom has celiac disease, an allergy to gluten that she contracted while she was pregnant with my little brother. If she eats anything with gluten in it (wheat, barley, rye, or oats), the villi in her small intestine shrivel up and die, and she has gastrointestinal distress.
So I grew up in a house without much bread, cake, cookies, or pretty much anything else with wheat in it. We ate lots of rice and potatoes, and sometimes had interesting things like buckwheat or Pai Mai Fun rice noodles. It really broadened my food horizons, something I took for granted until I got to college and found out that most people would never try things that I found delicious because they hadn't been exposed to it.
Celiac disease affects about 1 in 133 people in the US. For more information, check out
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an anonymous reader
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:09 pm
Post subject:
Excellent article, I just had one thing to add. I mill my own grain at home and we also can get hard white wheat. I haven't found the soft red but I have hard red, hard white, and soft white, spelt, rye and kamut. I would like to get soft red because my father told me that that is what he grew when on the farm in Ohio growing up. I started milling my own flour when friends told me about it. It's a lot more nutritious and the fiber is easier on the system. I also found that I could use other grains that are less allergenic than wheat. I recently red about "diastatic malt" made from sprouting wheat and used in breadmaking. I am currently researching that topic.
St. Petersburg, Florida
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an anonymous reader
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:09 pm
Post subject:
a very informative and clearly written article. thanks for the enlightenment. at 71 i have just retired and i am beginning to cook and bake. i was desperately in needed of this valuable information.
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an anonymous reader
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:09 pm
Post subject:
should that me "any" rather than "and"?
recipe (leave in and baking soda a recipe calls for).
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Michael Chu
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 1654
Location: Austin, TX (USA)
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:10 pm
Post subject:
re: typo
Good catch, problem fixed.
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Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:22 pm
Post subject:
Good article.
I got all the info I needed.
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:51 pm
Post subject:
this was a very excellent article and i also liked alot of the comments as well..I am a nutrition major and I see what I learn in my classes does matter in people's lives
-UH student
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Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:53 pm
Post subject: Wheat Flour
Being an engineer, I love to be precise. I don't believe any flour contains gluten. Wheat flour contains two proteins, glutenin and gliadin. Gluten is not formed until water is added and you begin to stir the mixture. The proteins combine with water and with each other to form gluten. The more you stir, the more gluten is formed.
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Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 1
Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:02 am
Post subject:
My friend avoid recipes that rely on convenience foods. Go back to the "from scratch" recipes the convenience food replaces. Learn to make the basic sauces and gravies often used in casseroles and soups. Look in a gluten-free cookbook or Lifeline for a similar recipe. Compare proportions, they are the key. Flour and other ingredients that act as thickeners are compared to the amount of liquids in the recipe.
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Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 2
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:22 pm
Post subject:
Well have you people heard about the latest craze towards the protein foods? I am sure you people must have heard this, where the emphasis is on a no carbohydrate diet and everuthing that one has for food involves the protein. But then there are pros and cons of this diet, as we all know carbs are the main suppliers of energy in the human body. So I wonder what the others have to say regarding this.
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 5:33 pm
Post subject: Transforming All purpose flour to bread flour
Excellent article!
Does anyone knows how to transform all-purpose flour to bread or cake flour? Unfortunately, in Brazil, only all-purpose flour is sold.
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:46 am
Post subject:
Does any one has specific information on soft wheat flour? You may suggest excellent reading materials or websites to gather information.
Thank you so much. Your help is greatly appreciated.
you may email me at
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Voting is now open for Dewsbury Rams fans to have their say on The Press' player of the year for 2013.
Last term Steve Crossley clinched the prize and we plan to unveil this year's winner in the Friday September 20 edition.
To take part all you need to do is send an email entitled 'Dewsbury Rams Press Player of the Year 2013' to: firstname.lastname@example.com with the name of your chosen player.
Voting will close at noon on Monday September 16.