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By Karl Bremer
The Annandale-based homophobic hate ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International (YCR) was organized as a self-described "sham" ministerial trust in 2005 by a bizarre religious group in Washington state that ran afoul of federal tax authorities for setting up such tax-avoidance trusts. Yet the controversial Wright County nonprofit, which paid thousands of dollars to have trusts created for itself and its mysterious sister nonprofit Old Paths Church, continued to operate as a "sham" trust until 2008, when it initiated legal action to sever its ties from the Washington group and its leader, IRS scofflaw Glen Stoll.
What YCR thought it was getting when it signed up for Stoll's tax-avoidance program—and what drove the organization to take such drastic steps to remove itself from his trusts four years later—is unknown. YCR declined to comment for this article.
Details about YCR's finances and real estate gleaned from property tax records and court filings raise more questions than they answer about the group's tax status and its relationship with Stoll, his trust-creating business Remedies at Law, and the Embassy of Heaven, a fanatical religious cult in Oregon.
You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International is run by President Bradley Dean Smith of Annandale, who is better known to his followers as "Bradlee Dean," and Secretary Jacob McMillian MacAulay, a/k/a "Jake McMillian," the only two paid members on the organization's board. Other directors include Nicole Bengston, vice president; Heather MacAulay (Jake's spouse), treasurer, Ron Stone, director; and Todd Bergren, director.
The group describes its charitable purposes and major program activities in its 2009 State of Minnesota Annual Report as "to reshape America by redirecting our youth morally and spiritually through education, music, radio, and street teams." Much of the organization's activities seem to revolve around Smith's "Bradlee Dean" personna and the punk-metal-Jesus band he leads and drums for, Junkyard Prophet.
The group has come under fire in the past for bringing religious proselytization masquerading as anti-drug programs into public schools. More recently, however, YCR has become widely known for the controversial, homophobic on-air rants of Dean and his sidekick Jake on their weekly "Sons of Liberty" radio show, broadcast by local conservative talk station WWTC-AM. It's through his "preaching" from that pulpit, which cost YCR $35,054 in radio time in 2009, that Smith has garnered the attention and scorn of everyone from Rachel Maddow to Anne Rice.
According to YCR's 2009 IRS Form 990, Smith was paid $51,303 in compensation and $45,887 in housing allowance last year for a total of $97,190. Not bad for a "minister." That's nearly double his 2008 reported compensation of $27,433 (it's not clear from its tax filings whether Smith received a housing allowance in 2008).
MacAulay was paid $42,028 in compensation and $24,869 in housing allowance for a total of $66,897 in 2009. That's also nearly double his 2008 reported compensation of $21,522. MacAulay also received a $12,976 "minister's housing allowance" in 2008. Four other "ordained ministers" with the group received a total of $41,555 in housing allowances.
An independent audit of YCR's 2009 books stated that the "expected commitment" for ministers' housing allowances in 2010 is $124,600.
Housing allowances for YCR's "ministers" have come under scrutiny before. Whether "ministers" such as those employed by YCR would qualify for tax-free housing allowances in the eyes of the IRS is murky at best. The use—and abuse—of this special tax exemption for ministers has been the subject of considerable debate.
The IRS defines "ministers" as "individuals who are duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed by a religious body constituting a church or church denomination. They are given the authority to conduct religious worship, perform sacerdotal functions, and administer ordinances and sacraments according to the prescribed tenets and practices of that religious organization."
The lofty salaries and housing allowances of YCR's top two directors/"ministers" were fueled by soaring revenues for the controversial "ministry" from 2008 to 2009.
YCR reported a deficit of $41,478 on total revenues of $385,670 in 2008, according to the group's IRS Form 990. By the end of 2009, YCR reported net assets of $197,081 on total revenues of $985,319—despite the fact that the group stated on its Form 990 that it did not "undertake any significant program services during the year which were not listed on the prior Form 990 or 990-EZ."
YCR lists the source of its income on its 2009 Form 990 as follows:
• $473,789 from "contributions, gifts and grants" ($238,338 in "noncash contributions" of vehicles and equipment)
• $444,126 from contributions collected by Street Teams. It claims its street teams "shared the gospel six days per week through the year" and "shared the message of Christ with over 250,000 individuals." Street team members, each of whom is either a "certificated, licensed or ordained minister," distribute CDs, DVDs and printed materials from tables set up at gas stations and special events, such as the Michele Bachmann-Sarah Palin rally in Minneapolis April 7 and the 2010 GOP State Convention.
• $29,787 from its annual reception for guests and donors (offset by $17,542 in expenses).
• $18,471 from five school assemblies, where issues including "drugs, alcoholism, suicide, sex, media, our country, our veterans and the Constitution" are covered (offset by $16,778 in expenses).
• $10,684 from contributions at a State Fair booth.
• $8,492 from training or church services conducted "at various churches in and outside the state of Minnesota."
Bradley Dean Smith first set roots in Annandale on November 17, 2004, when he bought a lot on County Road 3 NW from Stephen B. and Barbie Jo Kalash on a contract-for-deed for $160,000. That same day, Smith assigned the contract-for-deed to an entity called "Old Paths Church," which currently shares the same address as YCR and was registered with the State of Minnesota by Jake MacAulay, YCR's secretary. The 2005 property tax statement lists "Old Paths Church, c/o Bradley Smith" as the property taxpayer.
Meanwhile, according to 10th District Court documents filed in Wright County, Smith and MacAulay attended classes offered by Glen Stoll of Edmonds, WA, who operated a business called Remedies at Law. There, they were promised they could buy what Stoll said were "established, exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable and assignable ministerial trusts" that would allow them to operate as a 'free church' that would be invulnerable to state regulation and control."
For a fee of $6,500, they were told, Stoll would create three trusts that would give them "absolute tax-exempt status," eliminate all federal tax return filing requirements, allow donations to the organization to be tax-deductible, and allow the organizations to retain control and enjoyment of all assets of the ministries. They would also be assigned a trustee to deal with all federal, state and legal systems.
According to court documents, Stoll advised his customers to transfer all assets to these trusts, and these asset trusts would be used to issue "grants and other disbursements." Customers also were advised to stop paying all income and employment taxes and stop filing federal tax returns.
Stoll would assist his customers in creating "corporations sole," entities established by law in some states for churches to hold title to property used in association with church activities. These ministerial trusts then would be created under the corporations sole.
Stoll advised his customers to complete a "Political Profession of Faith" that he claimed would enable anyone to create their own personal ministry. And he would assist customers in getting such things as ID cards from the "Embassy of Heaven Church" in Stayton, OR, which Stoll said helps people sever all ties to government and become "Citizens of Heaven." The Embassy of Heaven Church, which describes itself as "God's Government on Earth," at that time already had a long and controversial history of clashes with government authorities.
But Smith's own "Kingdom of Heaven" ID card, a copy of which was found in court filings, indicates he didn't need any help from Stoll to get introduced to the Embassy of Heaven cult. His ID card states he was "baptized" on 11-17-02, the ID was issued on 9-30-03 and expired on 9-30-10.
Smith's official record at EmbassyOfHeaven.org states:
"On file is a signed statement by Bradley Smith renouncing allegiance to the world and declaring citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven.
"We are fellow citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Government of God, which was handed to the Apostles by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper (Luke 22:29), We fulfill the Great Commission by traveling from place to place using old and modern conveyances. Our government is not of this world, and we expect to be held accountable to the laws from which we come. Our conduct is not an offense if it not an offense in the Kingdom of Heaven."
By April 2005, Bradley Dean Smith began the unusual transfer of property to the new trusts being created by Stoll. Stoll claimed to be a lawyer, but according to the Justice Department, he was not a member of or licensed with any state or federal bar.
A new warranty deed was issued April 29, 2005, for his Annandale property—this one from the original sellers to "Old Paths Church Ministries, State of Washington." That same day, Smith filed an "affidavit of identity" stating that his earlier assignment of the contract-for-deed should have been to "Old Paths Church Ministries" and not "Old Paths Church."
About the same time Smith started doing business with Stoll, the federal government swung into action against Stoll's sham ministry mill.
On Feb.15, 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint against Stoll and his enterprises seeking a permanent injunction to prohibit him from engaging in a whole host of illegal tax schemes and conduct, and also seeking a complete list of all of his customers.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against Stoll on April 26, 2005. The judge's order also required Stoll to provide the government his customers' names, mailing and e-mail addresses, and Social Security and telephone numbers, and to notify customers of the injunction.
"People who buy into tax-fraud schemes are buying nothing but trouble—past due tax bills with interest and penalties and the possibility of criminal prosecution," said Eileen J. O'Connor, Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division. "The Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service are committed to stopping the promotion of tax fraud."
Smith and MacAulay continued transferring assets of YCR and Old Paths Church to the new entities being created for them by Stoll, even after the temporary injunction had been issued against Stoll.
On June 21, 2005, the Old Paths Church Ministries PTA trust was established. Smith was listed as an agent of the trust and a "Director of the Family Defense League," which was the corporation sole created by Stoll under which two of the three trusts were held.
A permanent federal injunction was issued against Stoll June 27, 2005.
On July 11, 2005, another warranty deed was issued for Smith's Annandale property, conveying it "as a gift" from Old Paths Church Ministries to Old Paths Church Ministries PTA (Washington State).
YCR Ministries transferred its assets to another trust, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide PTA. These included: office equipment, three televisions, an aquarium, fountain, 16 Coca Cola bar stools, one Coca Cola cooler, 39 Coca Cola artwork pieces, 63 pieces of framed art, eight Macintosh computers, a recording studio, drums, PA system and fog machines.
YCR, Inc. transferred its assets to a third trust, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide Ministries PTB. Those assets included a 1997 Polaris Indy snowmobile, a 2005 Honda Rincon ATV and a 1994 Prevost bus.
Smith and MacAulay apparently continued to operate YCR and Old Paths Church under the trusts created by Stoller until early 2009. It's not known whether they followed Stoll's illegal tax-avoidance advice during those years.
Property tax statements for Smith's Annandale property from 2006-2009 list "Old Paths Church Ministries PTA, Director Family Defense League Trustee" as the taxpayer. A new house was built on the property in 2006, using a construction mortgage of $336,552 issued to Old Paths Church Ministries and signed by Smith. The property's estimated market value rose from $92,700 to $361,600.
The year Smith moved into his new house in rural Annandale in northern Wright County, he moved his controversial YCRBYCH "ministry" to downtown Annandale in the city's former fire hall. He told the Annandale Advocate at the time that his group and band would put Annandale on the national map.
Court documents indicate that Smith and MacAulay found out about the federal injunction against their friend Stoll in 2008, and that in September 2008, they claim Stoll told them there wasn't any injunction.
That's not entirely surprising, since as recently as this fall, according to a Justice Department spokesman, Stoll has continued to thumb his nose at the injunction order's demands, which included informing his customers on the injunction. Indeed, his Remedies at Law website shows little indication of compliance with the order, and he appears to be continuing to offer some kind of ministerial trust advice.
According to court documents, Smith's and MacAulay's attorney advised them to sever all ties with Stoll, demand his resignation from their trusts and return all property from the trusts. Stoll refused, and on December 9, 2008, a summons and petition was attempted to be served on Stoll's address, where a person there "refused to accept the documents" and "slammed the door."
In affidavits filed with the court, Smith and MacAulay's attorney stated that "The trusts that (Stoll) creates for their customers are shams, devoid of economic substance." Stoll's "false and fraudulent schemes" induced at least 30 customers to participate in their "illegal schemes" through at least 89 corporations sole and 47 ministerial trusts.
On March 27, 2009, District Court Judge Stephen Halsey granted Old Paths Church, Inc. and YCR, Inc. their motion for a summary judgment against Stoll that terminated Stoll's trusts, removed Stoll as trustee, transferred assets from the trusts back to the two original entities, and awarded attorneys fees plus the $6,500 they paid Stoll to create the sham ministerial trusts.
Smith purchased the property back from Old Paths Church, Inc. on July 29, 2009, for $349,200. On August 14, 2009, another warranty deed was issued for the Annandale property from Old Paths Church, Inc. to Bradley Dean Smith. The Old Paths Church mortgage was satisfied, and a $367,344 mortgage was registered from Mortgage Depot in Bloomington to Smith. And the taxpayer of record for the former Old Paths Church property is once again listed as Bradley D. Smith.
Smith managed to get a swimming pool installed at his "parsonage" before the title transferred, though. A building permit was issued by Wright County for the pool on June 4, 2009, listing Smith as the applicant and Old Paths Church Ministries as the owner. It's not known who paid for the installation.
While Bradley Smith and Jake MacAulay may have shed themselves of Glen Stoll and his sham ministry mill, YCR's critics still consider them to be running a sham ministry.
In a Minnesota Independent report on the group's ministerial housing allowances last year, a former IRS attorney told reporter Andy Birkey:
"No one can qualify for (the housing allowance) unless they are licensed or ordained ministers … I doubt that all five of the members of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide would meet that requirement. I mean, some of these guys are musicians."
Added Alex Luchenitzer, senior litigation counsel for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State:
"Are they just five people who just decided to get together or are they ordained by an organized religious body? It it's the former, it's probably not what the IRS intended."
Interestingly, one of the Justice Department's complaints against Glen Stoll and his sham ministries is that they "falsely advise customers that if their residence or real estate is titled in the name of the ministerial trust, then the participant can use and maintain it as a tax-exempt parsonage or management housing."
YCR declined to comment on its "ministers" or their housing allowances.
Questions remain about other aspects of YCR.
What is the relationship between the elusive Old Paths Church Ministries and YCR? They share the same address and at least one of the same officers—Jacob "Jake McMillian" MacAulay. Is this the "religious body" that ordains YCR's "ministers?"
An extensive internet search turns up no references to Old Paths Church in Minnesota or its activities, events or services, other than the former address of the "church" in Plymouth. That address is a small office building housing several small commercial businesses, according to one current tenant, and is not a "church" at all. Old Paths Church, Inc.'s address registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State is identical to the Annandale address registered for YCR with the SoS.
Yet Old Paths Church or Old Paths Church Ministries—they are one and the same, according to court documents—was the taxpayer of record for Bradley Smith's residence in French Lake Township in Wright County from 2004-2009.
A search of the YCR website turns up only one curious reference to Old Paths Church—this "Statement of Faith" that appears to be largely lifted from this "Statement of Faith" for an Old Paths Christian Church in El Paso, TX. However, a spokeswoman for Old Paths Christian Church in El Paso says they have no connection to Old Paths Church—or any other organization—in Minnesota.
YCR declined to comment on Old Paths Church or its relationship with the nonprofit.
Some also question whether YCR crosses the line from ministerial work to political work.
The YCR Articles of Incorporation filed with the State of Minnesota in 2008 state:
"No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publication or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office."
Yet YCR had a booth at a political rally for Michele Bachmann's congressional campaign April 7, 2010, that featured former half-term governor Sarah Palin. And the group also was invited to set up shop at the 2010 Minnesota GOP Convention.
Perhaps the biggest question looming is whether Smith, MacAulay and their "ministers" lived by the tenets of their tax-dodging sham ministries from 2005 until 2009, when they severed all ties to Stoll and his trusts. Smith's pursuit of these tax-avoidance trusts, and his renouncement of his allegiance to the world and declaring citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven suggests that he may have a proclivity toward not paying taxes.
If so, are they now liable for back taxes, penalties—or worse? Or was it an IRS enforcement action that prompted their divorce from Stoll in the first place?
Unfortunately, the only person who can answer all these questions is Bradley Dean Smith, and he's not talking.


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President Barack Obama says being a father is the best job he's got.
Obama says a Father's Day luncheon at the White House on Friday was a great way for all the dads to celebrate the coming occasion and remember how lucky they are. Obama has two daughters, 14-year-old Malia and 12-year-old Sasha.
Fathers and their kids along with students and leaders from the Becoming a Man program at Chicago's Hyde Park Academy were among those treated to burgers, fries and lemonade in the State Dining Room. Obama spoke at the school in February.
His chief of staff, several economic advisers and his legislative affairs director sat with guests during the lunch.
Father's Day is Sunday. Obama leaves that night on a three-day trip to Northern Ireland and Germany.
article courtesy of TheHuffingtonPost.com
Obama On Fatherhood: 'It's The Best Job I've Got' was originally published on praisecleveland.com

subset: commoncrawl


text: Well, my dream for the arts education is that, you know that, it never disappears. I feel like if I went to school where we did a lot of artwork, I feel like I would have done so much better. And maybe not necessarily like painting, but art is music or sculpting or art can be anything. We just cannot live without art. And I don't know how anyone can even think about getting rid of the arts education. Because it's so important, not just to people who love art, but people who see the art.


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Sports Birthdays for July 14 — Tim Hudson and More
Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on July 14:
Roosevelt Grier
Age: 80
Profession: Retired NFL Player
Best Known For: A two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Roosevelt Grier played in the NFL from 1955 to 1966 with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams. Grier was a member of the 'Fearsome Foursome' defensive line for the Rams, before retiring to pursue a career in entertainment, movies and television through the 1970s and 1980s.
Steve Stone
Age: 65
Profession: Retired MLB Player/ Broadcaster
Best Known For: Winner of the 1980 American League Cy Young Award, Steve Stone was a journeyman pitcher who had one exceptional year while pitching for the Baltimore Orioles. In 1980, Stone went 25–7 for the Orioles and started the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium. He finished his 11-year career with a record of 107-93 and a 3.97 earned run average. Since his retirement, Stone has served as a broadcaster on Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox games.
Robin Ventura
Age: 45
Profession: Retired MLB Player/ Current MLB Manager
Best Known For: A two-time All-Star third-baseman, Robin Ventura won six Gold Glove Awards during a major league career that spanned from 1989 to 2004 with the Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. While in college at Oklahoma State, Ventura had an NCAA-record 58-game hitting streak in 1987. He is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox.
Erick Dampier
Age: 37
Profession: NBA Player
Best Known For: A first-round NBA draft pick of the Indiana Pacers in 1996, Erick Dampier has been a serviceable center during his NBA career with the Pacers, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks. Dampier has averaged 7.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game over the span of his career.
Tim Hudson
Age: 37
Profession: MLB Player
Best Known For: A three-time All-Star, Tim Hudson is one of the winningest active pitchers in baseball. Having pitched for the Oakland A's from 1999 to 2004 and the Atlanta Braves since, Hudson has recorded 188 victories and a 3.41 earned run average. Both totals place Hudson among the 10 best active pitchers.


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FARMINGTON — The Farmington boys basketball team slipped above .500 with Tuesday's 50-38 win over D-IV Portsmouth Christian.
Kevin Poulin led the D-III Tigers (5-4) with 16 points, Kevin Radcliffe added nine, Shane Hill tossed in eight and Austin Healey scored six.
Matt Geil led PCA with 12 points.
Farmington hosts Gilford Friday, while PCA hosts Nute the same night.
Farmington girls top PCA
DOVER — Division III Farmington slipped past D-IV Portsmouth Christian in girls basketball action Tuesday, 43-32.
The Tigers (7-4) were led by McKenzie Lloyd with 13 points, nine rebounds and six steals, while Shannon Cardinal added six points and 10 boards, and Emily Squires chipped in with eight points.
Farmington plays at Gilford Friday.
The Tigers suffered a 48-44 loss Friday to Raymond in Division III.
Kayla Squires had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Tigers
Raymond improved to 2-8.
Spaulding girls lose to North
ROCHESTER — The Spaulding girls basketball team lost to Nashua North in D-I action Friday, 68-45.
The Red Raiders (1-9) were led by Emily Benway with 17 points, while Chloe Routhier and Lyndsee Thompson added nine each.
Spaulding boys bounce North
NASHUA — The Spaulding boys improved to 7-1 with a 62-41 victory Friday over Nashua North in Division I.
Dominic Paradis scored 22 points for the Red Raiders and Nick MacGregor had 14.
Spaulding hosts Exeter next Friday.
Hinsdale races past Nute boys
MILTON — The Nute boys remained winless Friday with a 65-45 loss to Hinsdale in Division IV.
Mark Levesque scored 11 points for the Rams (0-6), Dominic English had 10 and Corey Wilson added nine.
Nute visits Portsmouth Christian Academy next Friday. Hinsdale improved to 2-6.
Nute girls fall to Hinsdale
MILTON — The Nute girls basketball team lost to unbeaten Hinsdale in D-IV action Friday, 51-33.
Brittany Locke led the Rams (2-6) with nine points, while Erin St. Lawrence and Alissa Mitchell had seven apiece.
Nute (2-6) plays at Epping Thursday. Hinsdale is 10-0.
Red Raiders skate to 8-0-1
SALEM — Justin Jewell recorded a hat trick and the Spaulding High School boys hockey team remained undefeated with a 9-2 win at Timberlane (0-8) on Saturday night.
Kyle Carignan and Zach Poisson each scored twice while Alex Turgeon and Zander Allen scored with two assists. Jewell had a four-point night, adding an assist, and Carignan also assisted on a goal. Goalie Derek Scott made 13 saves. The 8-0-1 Red Raiders hosted Keene Wednesday past deadline, and entertain unbeaten Merrimack Saturday night at 8 in a D-II showdown.
Spaulding boys, girls sixth
BENNINGTON — The Spaulding alpine ski teams were each sixth during a recent meet Friday at Crotched Mountain.
Seth Johnson led the boys with an 18th-place finish. Cody Sceggell was 21st and Kyle Beckwith was 26th.
For the girls, Emily Beckwith was 26th and Cheyenne Letourneau was 32nd.
The Red Raiders are back in action at Wildcat Mountain on Feb. 1.
Paradis, Phillips share RAA award
ROCHESTER — Spaulding high School boys basketball player Dominic Paradis and ice hockey player Brent Phillips have been named Rochester Athletic Association December co-athlete of the month.
Paradis averaged a shade under 18 points per game during the month as the Red Raiders went 5-1 overall and lost in the final of the Bobcat Invitational in Durham to Winnacunnet. Paradis was named to the all-tournament team.
Phillips had seven goals and eight assists in December for Spaulding, which went 5-2 (one forfeit at holiday tournament) and 4-0 in D-II.
Any amateur Rochester athlete is eligible for nomination. Nomination forms are available at the Rochester Community Center and Collins Sports Center. The deadline for January's award is Feb. 7. Nominations may be sent to the RAA, Box 864, Rochester, NH 03866-0864. The email address is email@example.com.
Men's hockey: Seacoast mauls Merrimack Mortgage
ROCHESTER — Seacoast Kettlebell jumped out to a 9-1 lead after two periods en route to rocking Merrimack Mortgage's boat, 12-3, in Rochester Men's Hockey League action Monday.
Zach Joy led Seacoast (8-5-1) with four goals and three assists, while Steve MacIsaac added four goals and two assists. Steve Riker had a hat trick, Jeremy Hersey pitched in with a goal and two assists. Ian Duffy and Zach Cobb had four helpers each, Chuck Robbins added two, and goalie Keith Mackenzie made 28 saves.
John Zoeller scored twice for MM (2-10-2), and Steve Fowler added a single. Derek Colwell stopped 34 shots.
RSA Realty and Finishing Touches skated to a 3-3 tie. Bob Brady, Jon Ellis and Jeff McCutcheon all scored for RSA (5-5-4), while Casey Cox stopped 25 shots.
Jeff Berlin (assist), Tad Smith and Sean Holt scored for FT (6-5-3). Tim Puls had two assists. Ethan Baker made 34 saves.
League-leading DeNiro Development tied up Towle Pallet, 3-3.
DeNiro (7-3-4) received single goals from Hans Carbonneau, Brett McKay and Josh Anderson. Pat Giguere made 32 saves.
Scott Brown, Jeff Nolin and Jake Moody lit the lamp for Towle (6-6-2). Dan Trepanier stood on his head and stopped 38 shots.
Comedy show to benefit Howie's Field of Dreams
ROCHESTER — A comedy show to benefit Howie's Field of Dreams will be held Jan. 26 at the Rochester Elks Lodge. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Tickets are available for the Night of Dreams Comedy Show IV starring Boston comedians Mike Prior, Jim Lauletta and Harry Corcell. All proceeds to support Howie's Field of Dreams. It is sponsored by Bootleggers. There will also be appetizers, cash bar, live auction, and 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $20 per person and are available at Granite Steak & Grill, Windjammers, and Profile Insurance Group.


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World-class, multisport complex is just the beginning of a three-phase growth project
One of the most prominent sports training facilities in the world is about to become much bigger.
IMG Academy broke ground Wednesday on one of the largest expansion projects in its 35-year history, bringing the campus' academic and athletic training facilities to more than 500 acres.
The expansion will be a boost not only for IMG, but for the regional economy. Officials estimated that the construction projects alone would inject $390 million into the economy, and that events at IMG, many held in the new facilities, would generate another $200 million annually.
The scope of the plans would fill many colleges — perhaps even some pro sports franchises — with envy.
The 15-year, five-phase, multimillion- dollar project includes a multisport complex, field house, student dormitory and research facilities.
The stadium, which will seat 5,000 with the ability to double that, features a Bermuda-grass surface, TV-ready lights, an eight-lane, 400-meter track, press box, suites, collegiate-style video board and other track training areas.
Set to open in August, the facility will be used for IMG Academy's inaugural high school football season, lacrosse, soccer and track and field.
A residence hall opening in June will house up to 500 students, and will also be used during summer camps.
A baseball quadruplex rivaling "any spring training facility," according to IMG Academy, will also be added. Baseball offices will be housed at the stadium, where a 40,000-square-foot field house will be completed in 2014.
The new facilities should allow IMG to attract even bigger events, bringing more athletes and fans to the area. The academy hosts many events, including the IMG National Baseball Classic and IMG Lacrosse Nationals.
Phase 3 of the project will create a research facility for companies such as Gatorade, Under Armour and Prince to develop products using IMG as a testing ground, said Sam Zussman, managing director.
"This facility gives us the chance to go even further, not only for our student-athletes, but also the community," said Greg Phillips, athletics director.
The expansion reflects the academy's broad appeal. It is a training ground for elite athletes including tennis star Maria Sharapova and NFL quarterback Cam Newton, who prepared there for the draft. It also attracts hundreds of prospects to its K-12 school and camps as they aim to earn college scholarships.
"We are first and foremost a school," said Kim Berard, head of public relations. "Everything we do is for the kids. These facilities are for the student-athletes competing in the new stadium, competing on the new fields."
About 800 athletes from 80 countries are enrolled as year-round students at IMG Academy. Each year, some 25,000 athletes of all skill levels train individually, at camps or as part of teams or leagues.
"By nature, we expect numbers for camps and events to increase," Berard said, adding that IMG Academy hopes to expand student enrollment to at least 1,200.
Melissa Shobe looked Wednesday at renderings of the baseball fields on which her son, Connor, will play.
"The fields here are already beautiful, but we'll have nice concession stands, better bleachers, more fields, changing facilities in closer proximity," said Shobe, whose 16-year-old son is in his third year at IMG. "We thought we moved here in 2004 to expand our business, but really it was so he could go to IMG.
"It-s world-class, year-round training, nutrition — all aspects for a total student-athlete."
The sports training mecca began in 1978 with the founding of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. IMG purchased the facility in 1987, and has been expanding ever since. The Bradenton location now boasts training for baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and track.
Attracting nearly 200,000 people a year for training and events, IMG Academy continues to benefit the local economy.
"In 2012, our annual economic impact was $180 million per year," said Chip McCarthy, chief financial officer. "Right now we're at about $517 million. You can see the growth."
"We don't want this to be a six-day-a-year facility. We want this to be a 365-day facility," said athletics director Phillips.
To achieve that goal, Phillips said, IMG Academy looks to draw high school games, state championships and pro events with the expansion. Through IMG Performance, an event management group, the Bradenton facility already hosts the IMG 7v7 National Championships, the IMG National Baseball Classic and the IMG Lacrosse Nationals. Those events will move to the new facilities.
"We have always considered that we could match up against anyone as far as number and quality of facilities," Berard said. "Now we've taken it up to a new level with the stadium. We're making ourselves more accessible to different events that may want to come in and bring business to the area."
It's possible the facility will receive $3 million in state funding, via action last month by Florida House leaders. The Senate has yet to approve the allocation.
"What we're trying to do is secure money from the state to attract and build additional facilities for events that are currently outside the state . . . to bring events to the area," McCarthy said. "We've been successful so far, but we're looking for larger events."
Manatee County Commissioner John Chappie, who recently voted with the board to rezone 220 acres owned by IMG Academy to the master planned/institutional category to allow a wide range of development options, reflected on the facilities' history.
"We recognize the importance of IMG Academy," said Chappie, adding that Bollettieri had a vision more than 30 years ago.
"It's a global destination. We all agree the possibilities are endless."


text:
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How to Obtain Financing a Business
Finding the right investor to finance a business plan…
This can be a daunting task. Then, once you locate potential investors, convincing them to finance a business is a whole new challenge.
Business owners looking for investors interested in financing a business, read on to learn places to find investors and presenting a winning business case.
Where Do I Find Potential Investors interested in financing a business?
The probability of finding the right investors interested in financing a business depends on the size of your network. While you network, keep in mind that your average investor is an (retired) entrepreneur who will offers
His or her business expertise as you grow and expand your business. Start looking locally and gradually network your way out to maximize time and efficiency.
Community. Your local community is one of the best places to start your search. Try to meet other business owners in your area who know investors. A referral from a trustworthy local
Business owner increases the chance an investor will invest in you and the chance that you will find the investor a good match.
Business and Trade Organizations.
Business and trade organizations are optimal places for networking. With many business owners concentrated in one place, you can meet potential investors and learn about opportunities more easily. You can also look into national and local investing and venture capital groups like the National Venture Capital Association and the Angel Capital Association. Chamber of Commerce. Your local Chamber of Commerce is another resource you can tap into. Ask your representative if they have database of local investor associations or business incubators. You can use this list as a starting point to meeting investors. Small Business Development Centers. Call the small business development center in your area to for information about local investors.
Visit SBA.gov to find your local SBDC. State Economic Development Agencies. Regional and State Economic Development Agencies help new and established businesses start, grow, and succeed.
Check if they can refer investors in your state or local area. Contact your State Economic Development Agency here.
How Do I Win Investors interested in financing a business?
Assuming that you found a potential investor interested in financing a business, how do you convince them to invest in your business? The main strategy is to sell, sell, and sell. Instead of asking for money, explain how
Investing in your business is to their benefit. Thoroughly research your business and potential investors, and be prepared to answer questions about your long-term growth plans. Lastly, take these sales pitch tips with you to win investors over. Give a Good Reason to finance a business. Why does the investor invest? Is it mostly for monetary gain? Do they enjoy investing in new and exciting businesses? Do they sympathize with businesses with certain causes like those that are environmentally- or community-friendly? Do they want to be actively involved in the business?
Fine-tune your pitch according to what the potential investor wants to hear.
Sell Your Business Plan
After you convince your potential investors to hear you out, you must prove that your business plan is strong and convincing. Make sure you have a detailed and well-written business plan to show you have done your homework. Include financials and market research. Learn how to write a business plan at Business.gov. Show Them the Money. Detail how your business will generate profit and how it ends up in their pockets. Ultimately, all investors want a solid return on their investment, so make sure your sale makes good business sense.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Silver's more popular and volatile than ever, ready to finish the year with gains more than double those of gold, as the industrial staple wins more favor as an investment asset.
"The evidence is clear that investment, not industrial demand, is what is driving silver prices higher," said Mark Thomas, chief investment strategist and author of SilverPriceAdvisor.com.
Last month, Thomson Reuters GFMS said investment demand will likely be the prime driver of the silver price this year.
The precious-metals consultancy forecast that implied net investment would jump 82 million ounces to 234 million in 2012 from 2011, even as demand for silver in industrial applications is expected to fall nearly 28 million ounces. Read more on the Thomson Reuters GFMS report.
Investment interest also shows in holdings of silver global exchange-traded products, which — at around 600 million ounces as of Nov. 23 — were close to an all-time high, according to ETF Securities.
"Current investors in silver now have survived a parabolic rise, a subsequent plunge in price and some extremely dramatic wide trading ranges," said Thomas. That means "current owners of silver are very solid, committed, long-term investors."
The iShares Silver Trust
"Many analysts tout silver's dual role as an industrial metal as an added advantage," said Brien Lundin, author of the Silver Bullet Strategy, published by Gold Newsletter. However, "it is silver's monetary utility that justifies its current valuations, and that is the only basis on which it should be analyzed in the current environment," he said.
Even with a backdrop of weak economic growth, silver can benefit from its dual roles.
"On the industrial side, the demand for silver is not just discretional," said Julian Phillips, contributor and founder of SilverForecaster.com, meaning that it has uses in applications that are deemed necessary so it's used even in the event of a recession. If there's a "downturn or flat economy combined with uncertainty and a decaying monetary world, then investment demand is high," said Phillips. Silver "wins both ways."
Following recent declines, silver may be a bargain too.
"Silver is increasingly seen as an undervalued asset and its strong consolidation levels around $30-$33 are seen as a buying opportunity," said Paul Mladjenovic, author of Precious Metals Investing for Dummies. "Silver is also getting more acknowledgment as being more scarce and more affordable than gold."
On Thursday, silver futures US:SIH3 closed at $33.11 an ounce, down over 4% since the end of September, but up around 19% year to date. Gold US:GCG3, on the other hand, has gained nearly 9% for the year so far, following a Thursday close at $1,701.80.
"A continued weakening of the U.S. dollar or a geopolitical event could certainly propel silver higher, but a further rotation out of equities would also free up additional resources that could be invested into the precious metals market," said Roy Friedman, executive vice president of business development for precious-metals dealer Dillon Gage Metals.
That "could help us break out of the current trading range, with prices moving back into the $40s and perhaps higher," he said.
And silver, along with gold, benefits from being a monetary asset.
Silver and gold are both "the ultimate currencies," said Gijsbert Groenewegen, a managing partner at Silver Arrow Capital Management. "They don't have counter-party risk and can't be manipulated by the politicians and printed ad infinitum by writing a nominal value on a piece of paper in order to give it value by decree."
Risks and rewards
Before putting money in silver, investors need to keep a few things in mind.
"Silver usually climbs about twice as much as the price of gold during uptrends, and declines by about twice as much during downtrends," said Steven Kaplan, a senior editor at TrueContrarian.com, a site that offers analysis on financial markets, adding that silver has a much smaller total market capitalization.
"Silver is for investors who are willing to take about twice the amount of risk as gold investors," he said.
The white metal is also more ideal for investors who have a long investment time frame.
It's a "better fit for investors who are fairly confident they will not need to liquidate the metal in less than a 24-month time period, given silver's price volatility," said Anthem Blanchard, chief executive officer of Blanchard Vault, a retail gold and silver dealer, adding that silver is the most volatile of all heavily-traded metals.
"Funds used to purchase silver are similar to funds placed in a CD in that investors should not expect to access the funds for 2-3 years," he said.
If that's not an option, then the "lack of volatility [in] gold's versus silver's price makes gold the safe way to go," he said.


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Top 10 Time Management Tips
This story appears in the April 2001 issue of HomeOfficeMag.com. Subscribe »
They say time is money, and if that's true, then every minute you spend on your business should be time well-spent. Working from home has a lot of benefits, but it also brings its share of distractions. Here are 10 ways to take control of your activities and make the most of every minute:
1. Manage your time around objectives rather than activities. "People get caught up doing tasks when they really need to ask themselves why they're doing those tasks," explains Bill Brooks, founder and CEO of The Brooks Group, a sales training and business growth company in Greensboro, North Carolina. "Ask yourself what your long-term goals are, what your short-term goals are and what your strategy is to accomplish those things. Those then become the specific tasks that you work on."
2. Understand the power of lists. Time management expert Tony Jeary, author of A Good Sense Guide to Happiness in Your Business and Personal Life, suggests making personal "to-do" lists that overlap properly with business lists. Be sure you prioritize the most important items on each list.
3. Learn how to build a file. Ideas and issues that relate to a certain project can rob you of your ability to think straight and accomplish other projects. "Put them together in a file so that you can keep your mind free to keep going," suggests Jeary.
4. Master the telephone. Phone calls are one of the most common interruptions. Measure each call's importance, and get off the phone the moment you realize the call isn't relevant to your business.
5. Understand your peak times. If you're a morning person, get up at the crack of dawn and get things done. Recognize your most productive times, and schedule your most important tasks within those times.
6. Remember, clutter breeds confusion. "A cluttered work space does nothing but raise stress," warns Brooks. "Clutter causes you to be so focused on what you're doing that you lose sight of your purpose. Don't get stuck in that activity trap."
7. Develop a family strategy. Sit down with your family and discuss good ways to respect your time when you're working. Discuss when it's OK to interrupt and when it's not.
8. Master your listening skills. Don't make yourself have to do double the work because you weren't listening in the first place. Get it right the first time.
9. Hire an assistant. "People don't realize the power of having a part-time assistant," says Jeary. For one thing, having an assistant forces you to delegate-but it also forces you to prioritize tasks and organize them so that someone else can take care of some of your work, thus freeing you up to grow your business.
10. Know how to manage yourself. "Time management is really self-management first," says Brooks. "The biggest cause of failure for people is a lack of self-discipline. How well are you disciplining yourself to accomplish things?"


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GIG Support Group Branches and Generation GF Groups are found in multiple locations and allow you to connect with others in your local gluten-free community. Through events, fundraisers, and group meetings, our GIG Branches and Generation GF Groups will allow you to become more involved in the promotion and advocacy of the gluten-free lifestyle.
There are several benefits to starting a local GIG Branch or Generation GF Group in your community that we would be happy to discuss with you. Fill out the Branch Inquiry Form and a member of the GIG staff will reach out to you to provide more details about the process.


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Mark sent me an email regarding my recent article,
Some Thoughts on the Long Term, in which he asked the following question:
I still don't see any compelling reason to worry about my future more than about five years down the road. I can think about where I'd like to be in ten years, but life shifts so rapidly that no matter what I think of it won't happen. Why should I even think for a second about anything beyond five years or so?
It's a good question and Mark does make a good point. I think there are a few pieces, though, that he's missing.
Unless you unexpectedly die at an unnaturally young age, you will grow old. It doesn't matter where your path leads you. Eventually, you will grow old. Eventually, you won't be able to keep up with the levels of productivity that you have right now. Eventually, you will be less employable.
Retirement is a long-term savings goal that makes a lot of sense to participate in for those reasons. It's preparation for a situation that you know will happen down the road. Unlike many long-term goals, aging will happen and it's worth your while to be prepared for it.
Most other worthwhile long term goals are centered around the accumulation of flexible skills and resources. Many people set goals in the five to ten year range in many areas: career advancement, business building, personal growth, a house down payment, and so on.
The vast majority of these goals have results that are incredibly flexible.
For example, if you're saving for a down payment and your life path changes so that home ownership is no longer a goal you're interested in, you still have a significant amount of financial resources saved up that you can apply toward whatever direction your life is now headed.
Another example: if you've set a long-term goal of heading the IT department at your company and you spend years building an appropriate resume and skill set, only to see your company fold up, you've still got a great resume and skill set to shop elsewhere and help your career.
I can go on and on with such examples. The core principle holds throughout all of them: a great long-term goal usually creates resources and skills that are still valuable even if the goal changes.
Many people are motivated by having goals of all terms. I find a big, ambitious long term goal to be really exciting and invigorating. The vision of doing something that leaves a major mark in my life and the lives of others keeps me wanting to move forward on that goal.
Short term goals motivate me as well, but in a different way. They often feel very reachable, as though it's almost inevitable that I get there.
I can describe the difference as if you were a person standing on a hilltop in Seattle. There's a street sign nearby and you could reach it quite quickly. It's easy to see yourself walking half a block to get there.
On the other hand, you can see Mount Rainier off in the distance, about fifty miles away. Reaching it on foot is a long journey, but the idea of going there often seems exciting (particularly if you're new to Seattle).
Long term goals are like Mount Rainier. They feel almost impossibly far away, but they look enormous and inviting in the distance. The idea of journeying there excites you and you can't wait to get going.


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Bing Pulse, the real-time viewer polling and feedback tool from Bing, is going to be part of CNN and MSNBC's coverage of the upcoming State of the Union address by United States President Mr Barack Obama.
The way it worked in the past is analysts and pundits across networks and publications would try to make sense of the variety of feedback channels they get their data from, and then try to provide the updates to the viewers. Naturally that took some time and the final analyses would take hours and days, if not weeks.
Instead, Bing Pulse will enable MSNBC and CNN to provide real-time voting capabilities along several points within the President's speech on Tuesday January 20. The results of these votes will be available in real time to the networks, which can then send it back to the viewers in a way that will make most sense.
Per the blog post by Bing:
Easy to activate and simple to use, Bing Pulse lets viewers make their voices heard from the convenience of a web-enabled device, on any platform. With a click of the mouse or tap of the screen, audiences can "pulse," or weigh in, on how they feel as often as every five seconds. Bing values your privacy, so voting is anonymous.
To participate in the CNN's debates/questions, go to bing.com/CNN and to participate in the MSNBC coverage, go to pulse.msnbc.com.
Have you used Bing Pulse before, either as a publisher or as a participant? Please share your feedback in the comments below.


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|Jerry Nelson
|Bonnie Erickson designer
|Don Sahlin builder
Jerry is the guitar player for the Country Trio, a Muppet band that performed in variety show appearances in the mid 70s, and occasionally on The Muppet Show. Jerry, and his fellow Trio members Jim and Frank, are based on their respective performers. Bonnie Erickson, who designed and built Jim and Frank, said that "[the puppets] are dressed that way, because that's how [Jim, Frank and Jerry] dressed then."[1]
They were created for an appearance on The Perry Como Winter Show in 1972, where they sang "You Don't Mess Around with Jim." The group next appeared on The Dick Cavett Show in 1973, singing "Momma Don't Allow."
They also appeared in The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence and several episodes of The Muppet Show, including episodes 105 and 123.
On The Dick Cavett Show, the members of the Trio addressed each other as "Jim", "Frank" and "Jerry". In The Muppet Show episode 322, Jerry is referred to as Tex.
- ↑ Bonnie Erickson quote from the "Muppet Rarities" event at the Museum of Television and Radio, 2003.
See also
- Mr. Jerry
- Slim Wilson (sometimes known to fans as "Jerry")


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CareerBuilder surveyed IT managers in the United States in charge of hiring. The job site subcontracted the interview work with these IT managers out to Harris Interactive, which did surveys from November 15 through December 2, 2010.
When the numbers were all tabulated, 42 per cent of the managers contacted said they planned to add permanent, full-time IT people in 2011, up from only 32 per cent who said they would hire full-timers in the IT department a year ago. Sixty-six per cent said they will be increasing the compensation of their existing IT staff in 2011 – the average expected pay raise works out to 3 per cent – and 56 per cent of those polled said they were worried about losing their best employees as the economy continues to improve. Salaries for new positions are expected to go up by between 1 and 3 per cent.


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You'll be surrounded by natural wonders when discovering Southern Queensland Country. Explore huge granite boulders towering above open forests in Girraween National Park, dense subtropical rainforests found in the Bunya Mountains and feel the cool spray of Queen Mary Falls, near Killarney.
If you're looking for a weekend getaway or a Sunday drive, you'll be spoilt for choice. From sunlfowers fields lining country roads in summer to enjoying the views of Picnic Point Lookout in Toowoomba or relax at picturesque Lake Boondoomba - delightful!
With everything from waterfalls to swimming holes, picnic spots to breath-taking national parks that form part of the Great Dividing Range, you'll be spoilt for choice with these natural encounters. So start planning your next weekend getaway or Sunday drive now, it's all just a short drive from Brisbane!
Traditionally a meeting place for Aboriginal tribes, the Bunya Mountains is a natural wonderland and an offshoot of the Great Dividing Range formed about 30 million years ago and shelters the largest ancient bunya pine forest in the world today. This recently declared national park is the second oldest in Queensland where you'll discover dense rainforest, grasslands and water falls which make for unique walking trails where you'll also be able to spot native wildlife from wallabies to 121 species of birds.
Just two hours from Brisbane, the Bunya Mountains makes for the perfect next day trip or weekend escape with various accommodation options also available.
You'll find the spectacular and popular Girraween National Park, outside Stanthorpe in southern Queensland. Unlike other national parks, this one replaces rainforests with rocks, and stands alone from its neighbours, Springbrook National Park and Lamington National Park. A bush walkers wonderland, the park has over 30 kilometres of walking trails available from exploring the famed Granite Arch to The Pyramid for great views over the park, it's hard to fit everything in! Rest assured, camping is an option. Castle Rock or Bald Rock Creek camping areas or relax with a picnic in the shady Bald Rock Creek day-use area for day trippers.
Check out our guide to tackling this rugged beauty.


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The ductus arteriosus is a normal connection in utero between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Since the lungs are still developing, the baby receives oxygenated blood from the mother during pregnancy. The ductus arteriosus allows the greater part of the oxygenated blood to bypass the non-aerated lungs by flowing directly from the pulmonary artery to the aorta. After the baby is born and begins breathing, hormonal changes occur causing the ductus arteriosus to close. A patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, is when this connection does not close as it normally should. If the ductus remains open, the direction of flow reverses and some of the oxygen-rich blood from the aorta flows to the pulmonary artery and into the lungs. This may cause an excessive amount of blood flow to the lungs.
There are two reasons that necessitate the closure of a PDA. The first is the size of the ductus, which in turn determines the volume of extra blood being directed to the lungs. A large volume overload may result in enlargement of the heart and over time heart failure. The second reason is to avoid the risk of developing an infection in the heart known as endocarditis. Approximately, one-eighth of patients with a PDA will develop endocarditis. This increases mortality by 50% whereas the risk of surgery is almost zero.
Depending on the size of the ductus, a PDA may be treated in one of two ways. If the ductus is large, the child may require surgery that involves closing off the ductus with a clamp or suture. However, in many cases, the PDA can be closed using a spring coil or a synthetic plug. Both devices are introduced through a heart catheter, which is passed through a vein in the leg that leads up to the heart.
How Does Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Differ From Normal Cardiac Anatomy?
If your child has patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) or another congenital heart defect, there's usually something wrong with the structure of his or her heart.
Heart with Normal Cardiac Anatomy
When your child has a congenital heart defect, there's usually something wrong with the structure of his or her heart's structure.
The heart is composed of four chambers. The two upper chambers, known as atria, collect blood as it flows back to the heart. The two lower chambers, known as ventricles, pump blood with each heartbeat to the two main arteries (the pulmonary artery and the aorta). The septum is the wall that divides the heart into right and left sides. The atrial septum separates the right and left atria; likewise, the ventricular septum separates the two ventricles.
There are four valves that control the flow of blood through the heart. These flap-like structures allow blood to flow in only one direction. The tricuspid and mitral valves, also known as the atrioventricular valves, separate the upper and lower chambers of the heart. The aortic and pulmonary valves, also known as the arterial valves, separate the ventricles from the main arteries. Oxygen-depleted blood returns from the body and drains into the right atrium via the superior and inferior vena cavas. The blood in the right atrium then passes through the tricuspid valve and enters the right ventricle.
Next, the blood passes through the pulmonary valve, enters the pulmonary artery, and travels to the lungs where it is replenished with oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins, draining into the left atrium. The blood in the left atrium passes through the bicuspid, or mitral, valve and enters the left ventricle.
Finally, the oxygen-rich blood flows through the aortic valve into the aorta and out to the rest of the body.


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Name: Jonna Edwinson
Height: 5'2
Weight: off season is around 118-120, competition weight is 108-112
Birthplace: Healdsburg California
Current Residence: Sacramento, California
Sports: Figure Competitor
Tell us a little about yourself, what you do for a living, what hobbies / interests / passions you have.
I am a full time fitness instructor/ group exercise coordinator at a large gym in Sacramento. I lead a very active lifestyle, not only at work but at home, too. I teach a variety of group fitness classes including: Cycle, Boot Camp, Pilates, Kickboxing, and more. I have a background in dance and I'm certified through ACE, NSCA, Schwinn, Zumba, and AFFA. I love outdoor mountain biking, roller blading with my golden retriever, and playing the piano. I am a huge advocate for animals. I volunteer at a number of local sanctuaries, and shelters in my area 3-4 days a week, and I host fundraiser boot camps for animals/shelters in need. I have a huge passion for training mentally handicapped adults for special Olympics competitions. I worked as a fitness director at a weight loss center for high functioning mentally disabled adults, and it was a highlight in my teaching career. I continue to support them and their efforts to live healthy, active lives.
Why did you become vegan?
It's simple. I love and respect animals. I support a cruel free and compassionate lifestyle.
When and why did you become interested in fitness?
I've always been very active all my life. I danced from a young age, and so I was fortunate to have many opportunities come my way after high school to teach dance classes in after school programs, summer camps, and so forth. I loved teaching so much and my students would tell me that they would get such a great work out from my classes. I applied for a position at a gym and the rest is history! My passion for dance evolved into other forms of fitness which lead me into the fitness industry.
How would you describe your nutrition program?
I do my best to count my calories and chart what I'm putting into my body everyday. I focus on a alkaline, plant based diet. I eat about 6-7 small meals a day. Breakfast is probably my largest meal. I love all Vega products, especially my post work out shake. I try and keep it simple, and add variety to keep things interesting. By Sunday I have just about all my meals cooked for the entire week to help me stay on track. The work week gets pretty busy and I often don't have time to cook. I love my routine and it helps me stay prepared and on top of all my meals.
How would you describe your training program?
My training program really varies depending on the season. I focus on a traditional body builder lifting program. I lift Heavy legs about 2x a week, and I hit 1-2 muscle groups for upper body everyday. When I'm in competition mode it's about 6 days on 1 day off. I try and add some variety, not too much cardio but I do love HIIT (high intensity interva training) once a week, and I try and balance my work outs with Pilates on the reformer and some good old Yoga.
What are some common misconceptions about veganism?
Oh the list just goes on.... well for one, people think that vegans are weak, skinny, unhealthy, and smell like patchouli. I for one think I represent a very healthy and strong physique.. and I'm vegan. People are so concerned that we don't get adequate amounts of protein. That's just not true. I am able to gain 5-8lbs of muscle during my bulking phase of dieting and have no problem finding natural, healthy sources of non-animal protein.
What advice do you have for people who are just starting out with veganism or training?
Educate yourself on proper nutrition when it comes to vegan diet. Take your time, do your research (there's tons of resources out there) and contact a professional who has a background in vegan bodybuilding. PETA has a great vegan starter Kit for people who are interested in turning vegan.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6737978
Do you have any other thoughts you'd like to share?
Strengthen your morale, rethink what your relationship with animals really is, and help save the planet! Surround yourself with positive successful people, and remember that life is progress. It doesn't get easier, you just get better! Eat Better, Feel Better!


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Callaway County Recovering From Heavy Flood Damage
Related Story
CALLAWAY COUNTY - Road crews are working to make some county roads more accessible Monday after recent storms left Callaway County with at least $80,000 in flood damage.
Presiding County Commissioner Gary Jungermann said the majority of the damage came from culverts being filled with debris and washing hundreds of feet down a creek. The metal pipes are supposed to help water flow under roads to prevent flooding. Three six-foot culverts washed down stream, causing major flooding on county roads such as County Road 1005.
"We are just now finishing up replacing some of those," Jungermann said. "We had roads closed for a week and a half or so."
Jungermann said Callaway County doesn't have the funds to pay for road repairs in its budget. If it doesn't get federal assistance, it will have to tap into emergency funds.
"We can only hope that maybe there will be some sort of declaration saying there was a disaster and FEMA could help," he said.
If FEMA doesn't declare a state of emergency, Jungermann said Callway County will have to use its rainy day fund to pay for repairs. As a Class 1 County, Callaway County has an emergency fund built into its budget.
"In order to provide and keep things open for the citizens of the county, we have to do what we have to do," Jungermann said. "Financially, it'll hurt, but Mother Nature gave us what she gave us and we're fortunate to be able to get through it."
David Crane owns Crane's Country Store on County Road 1005 in Williamsburg. He said the flooded roads were an inconvenience to local residents and customers.
"Some people couldn't get their sandwiches or their groceries or gas because of it," Crane said. "It makes it a little harder, makes them plan ahead. But obviously you wouldn't think that road would be as trafficked as it was until everyone keeps asking how to get around."


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Scott Sawitz | July 2, 2012 | | No Comments
About The Author
Scott Sawitz
Scott Sawitz is an Inside Pulse original. He's also been featured on The Ultimate Fighter.com, Fox Sports.com, Nerdcore Movement.com, CagePotato.com, Inside Fights.com and Film Arcade.net (among others). When Scott isn't writing about film he's making his own. Check out Drunk Justice Productions right here.


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This job posting is no longer active.
We Are Hiring
Technologist-Surgical - LDRPN Unit 001 - Full-Time,Rotating - ASV Riverside Hospital - Jacksonville,FL
Why Join Ascension?
Ascension St. Vincent's, based in Jacksonville, Florida, has served the people of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia since 1873. It is home to the largest cardiovascular program between Atlanta and Orlando. From its humble beginning to its current status as a regional healthcare system, Ascension St. Vincent's is widely recognized for delivering quality, compassionate care.
Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, especially to those most in need. In FY2018, Ascension provided nearly $2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs.
What You Will Do
As an Associate with St. Vincent's HealthCare-FL, you will have the opportunity toFacilitates the safe and efficient performance of surgical procedures.
What You Will Need
Work Experience:
Equal Employment Opportunity
E-Verify Statement
St. Vincent's HealthCare participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click the E-Verify link below for more information.
E-Verify (link to E-verify site)


text:
Mossberg's Mailbox
A Tablet With Office
I am looking for a tablet that can run Outlook and all Microsoft Office programs, and connect to Microsoft server-based business programs. Is there anything now or in the near future with this functionality?
Yes. While Windows 7 wasn't designed primarily as a tablet operating system, it does support touch, and thus a number of companies sell tablets that run Windows 7, and therefore, presumably, the Windows software you mention. These companies include Acer, Asus, and ViewSonic. I haven't tested any of these, because Microsoft's true tablet operating system will be Windows 8, which is expected to be out next year.
I use Gmail. When I type the name of a correspondent, the email address shows up. However, if the correspondent has given me a new email address, the old one still shows up, which is totally confusing. How can I get rid of the old address?
One way to do it is to either enter the person's correct address in your Gmail contacts list, or edit the old one if that's in the contact list.
You can get to the contacts list by clicking on "Contacts" in the left sidebar of Gmail. More information about Google contacts is here.
My wife and I love the simple photography-editing application on my Mac. Are there any apps that offer good basic photo-editing features for the iPad?
There are many iPad apps that let you make simple edits to photos, though none that I know of with the editing power of a PC or Mac photo-editing program. One iPad app in this category that I have used and like is Adobe Photoshop Express. This app is free, though a package of extra features costs $5.
Write to Walt at firstname.lastname@example.com


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BjDiamonds Shop with ebay!
Men's and Women's Chains
Coloured Diamond Clarity
|Understanding coloured diamonds
Coloured diamond clarity
In addition, investors must also understand which diamond colours are perceived in the commercial marketplace as being more rare than others.
Table W.1
Table W.1 is designed to explain different levels of rarity. However, there are exceptions, such as pure orange diamonds, which are almost as rare as reds or blues. Orange is more common with secondary colours of brown or yellow, whereas blue and red rarely appear as secondary colours.
It is important to understand that stones that are classified as modestly rare, such as yellow diamonds and brown diamonds, have also seen dramatic sales increases because of their affordability, beauty and rarity relative to colourless diamonds. Canary yellows and cognac browns are two of the most popular offerings in the market, with sales at the retail and auction level continuing to increase.
Conversely, stones classified as extremely rare are truly one of a kind pieces and are available in the open market only a few times a year. These stones continue to set new record prices at auction on an annual basis and will often see several buyers competing for the same stone. A 1 carat red diamond just sold privately through a US dealer for $1.5 million dollars, while a 6-carat vivid blue diamond sold at auction for a new record price of $1.3 million dollars per carat. Both scenarios have a positive impact on the market and add to the continuing demand and appeal of coloured diamonds.
In the coloured diamond marketplacewhere buyers compete against one another to own the so-called best stones for their collection and/or portfolioknowing the order of coloured diamond rarity from least rare to more rare is an important step in determining a diamonds present and potential value.Certificates & reports
When purchasing a fancy coloured diamond, it is essential that the stone have an origin-of-colour report from the GIA or one of the other qualified gemological laboratories. The most identified laboratory in the world for grading and certifying coloured diamonds is the GIA. The GIA will analyse the stone and create a colour-only report, which identifies the colour, the weight, the measurements and colour grade. This report will also determine whether or not the diamonds colour is natural and unaltered, which is the single most important information on the report. The GIA also produces more detailed full-certificates, which includes the clarity, a measurement of the fluorescence of the stone and an analysis of the shape and polish of the stone. The other laboratories used for grading and certification are: the IGI, EGL, Gubelin and the HRD. A Stephen Hofer report from Fancy Color Consultants is also a valuable coloured diamond document. Mr. Hofer analyzes and measures the colour, provides a historical reference for that type of stone and explains why that particular piece is a rare and unique collectors item.


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ClickFind your business in Modbury North Dc SA Australia, search reviews, contact details including phone numbers, maps with locations and address of local businesses. If you are planning a visit to Modbury North Dc Australia here are some of the attractions nearby that you can enjoy while you are there.
Address: 152 South Tce, Wingfield SA 5013
Address: 59 South Tce, Wingfield SA 5013
Address: 310 Cormack Rd, Wingfield SA 5013
copyright © 2020 Click Find. All rights reserved.


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I have one of those rubbermade type bins about 2/3 full of unsorted legos. I'm not at all sure what is in there, though the parts are pretty clean as they have been in the sealed bin. I see a lot of basic bricks in white, red, yellow, black. There are also a lot of plates and well it is just a big honkin' unsorted lot.
I would prefer to trade for castle and or space items, but will also do a strait sale.
If you wish, I can see about getting you a picture.
Also for CC members with greater than 10 feedback I'm willing to ship the lot in exchange for a base + whatever you think is fair.


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Mountain village built in a dense beech forest at an altitude of 1.190m. It is a passage for all villages of west Pilio and a popular place for people visiting the ski resort of Pilio in "Agriolefkes". Chania is located 25 km NE of Volos.
Useful Phone Numbers
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more!
All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way.
For information please contact: email@example.com. All Rights Reserved. GNTO © 2020.


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- Our stores are open with new safety measures
Wash Case Black Natural Leather
Send a hint to share your dream gift.
Make travelling that little bit easier with this surprisingly spacious wash bag, featuring a leather handle and front pocket zip, for those bits you want to keep close to hand. Subtly embossed with the Mulberry tree on the front, this sleek piece is unisex in design and has an easy-care interior with additional zip compartment.
Unisex leather wash bag with carry handle.
- Mulberry Antique Brass
- Side handle
- Zip closure
- One zip pocket
- One main compartment
- Internal zip pocket
- Embossed Mulberry tree
- Height
- 12cm
- Width
- 25cm
- Depth
- 11cm
Natural Leather
A Mulberry favourite, Natural Leather is tanned using a natural vegetable tanning technique. The soft leather retains the individual grain pattern of the skin, and is left untreated. This beautiful skin ages wonderfully, taking on unique pattern with age and use. Many of our Natural Leather products are left unlined, to show the characteristics of this leather inside and out.
Caring for this product
Collonil Leather Gel is a solvent-free gentle gel to improve the water resistance of certain leathers. It can help leather to resist dirt and moisture.
This product's code is RL3833-342A100
We are committed to the responsible sourcing of all raw materials and to consistently improving the sustainability metrics of our supply chain. We see this as a perpetual work in progress.
Discover our responsibility commitments through the Mulberry Green Charter.


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The world depends on mariners. Mariners depend on SCI. And we depend on you.
On October 6, 2012, SCI-Bay Area hosted a Sunset Cruise for supporters aboard the California Hornblower.
Photos by David Rider, President & Executive Director.
Special Events are an important source of funding for the Seamen's Church Institute's programs. If you would like to receive information or invitations to our events, please email SCI's Special Events Team or telephone 212-349-9090.


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The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) entered into force in 1975, and became the only treaty to ensure that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their survival in the wild. A State or country that has agreed to implement the Convention is called a Party to CITES. Currently there are 183 Parties. They include 182 member countries and the European Union .
CITES in the United States
Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has been designated to carry out the provisions of CITES through the Division of Management Authority and the Division of Scientific Authority. We work with numerous partners including federal and state agencies, industry groups, and conservation organizations.
U.S. CITES Implementation and Biennial Reports
CITES requires each Party to regularly submit reports on how they are implementing the Convention. These reports may contain information on legislative and regulatory changes, as well as law enforcement, permitting, communications, and administrative matters. The reporting process is a valuable assessment of our program, allowing us to identify successes as well as areas for improvement.
PDF downloads of U.S. CITES implementation and biennial reports:
U.S. CITES Implementation Report 2013-2015
U.S. CITES Biennial Report 2011-2012
U.S. CITES Biennial Report 2009-2010
U.S. CITES Biennial Report 2007-2008
U.S. CITES Biennial Report 2005-2006
U.S. CITES Special Single Year Report for 2004
U.S. CITES Biennial Report 2002-2003
U.S. CITES Biennial Report 2000-2001
Banner Credits: Orchid background: USFWS; Alligator: USFWS; Primate: Vanessa Woods; Pink Lady's Slipper orchid: Thomas Barnes/University of Kentucky; Paddlefish: Tennessee Aquarium


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Securities and Exchange Commission Chairwoman Mary Jo White said Tuesday that she will meet Sept. 12 with leaders of the exchanges and other self-regulators "to accelerate ongoing efforts to further strengthen our markets" following last week's technical glitch that paralyzed trading on the Nasdaq.
The meeting, to be held at SEC headquarters in Washington, will address "the market data dissemination system involved in last week's halt as well as other critical market systems and infrastructure issues," according to SEC spokesman John Nester.
White said on Aug. 23 that while the technical glitch that paralyzed trading on the tech-heavy Nasdaq for hours was "resolved before the end of the day" the previous day, the incident was "serious."
White said that the malfunction should "reinforce our collective commitment to addressing technological vulnerabilities of exchanges and other market participants." The SEC, she said, "is determined to enhance the safeguards necessary for strong market systems."
White said she would "work to advance rules that the commission proposed earlier this year regarding new standards for the trading and other systems that are central to the integrity of our markets."
Nasdaq OMX issued a statement Thursday stating that it became aware that price quotes were not being disseminated by the Securities Industry Processor (SIP), which consolidates and disseminates all prices for the industry.
The exchange said it issued the halt in order to protect the integrity of the markets. Nasdaq said it wouldn't be canceling any open orders, but that customers could cancel orders if they wanted to.
"In the first 30 minutes, technical issues with the SIP were resolved," Nasdaq said. "For the remaining period of time, NASDAQ OMX, other exchanges, regulators and market participants coordinated with each other to ensure an orderly reopening of trading in NASDAQ-listed securities."
Trading then resumed and the balance of the trading day finished in normal course, Nasdaq said. Nasdaq OMX said that it "will work with other exchanges that are members of the SIP to investigate" Thursday's technical issues, and that "we will support any necessary steps to enhance the platform."
Nasdaq resumed trading around 3:25 p.m. and closed up 1% at 3,638.71. Shares of Nasdaq OMX (NDAQ), however, fell 3.4%.
The technology malfunction echoed the sudden plunge in stocks in May 2010 that came to be known as the flash crash and the glitch-plagued initial public offering of Facebook last year.
The SEC charged Nasdaq in late May with securities violations resulting from "poor systems and decision-making" during the IPO and secondary trading of Facebook shares.
Nasdaq agreed to settle the SEC's charges by paying a $10 million penalty — the largest ever against an exchange.
Check out SEC's White Vows New Trading Rules After Nasdaq Glitch on ThinkAdvisor.


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CREW TV brings you closer to the industry's
most influential leaders and thinkers. Click on the videos below to watch the interviews:
RRSP: They`re not just about the mutual fund, and as Kyle Pulis of Pulis Investment Group outlines, Canadians are increasingly using approved real estate investments to grow their retirement savings.
Video transcript below:
Kyle Pulis, Pulis Investment Group
Kyle Pulis: Yes, absolutely. Canadians can invest RRSP for real estate and oftentimes these are investments that provide a higher return than what you typically see in their return RRSP portfolio. What they are going to invest in, what we are going to be investing is typically alternative investments divided by the exempt market product [started by] the investment [world]. You can search for these online by just typing in 'real estate investing RRSPs' or talking to other people in the exempt market products who can operate these alternatives for you.
Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Devin P. McComb has joined the firm's Seattle office as a partner in the Real Estate & Land Use practice
Grimsby skyline to be reshaped by tallest buildings in city: two-tower residential complex
Connect Asset Management Challenges the Financial Community to Invest in Downtown Toronto Real Estate for a Good Cause


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Is there a comparison of the SEO capabilities of different blogging software/blogging plugins? I'd like things to be as optimised as possible.
I have a basic grasp of SEO principles, probably 12-24 months old.
I'm about to start a blog, after having a few previously.
Also, I'm not up to speed on what pings are in the blogging world. What are they, and how do they work?
I assume it is best to have blogging software that automatically pings.


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Worst Conflagration Since the Ocean House Was Burned in 1885
The Hamptons Union, Thursday, November 16, 1911
(Postmark is August 8, 1911)
[Post Card photo not in original newspaper article.]
The most serious fire conflagration which Hampton Beach has experienced since the Ocean House and nearly a score of small buildings were burned in May, 1885, occurred Monday night when four cottages and a hotel were destroyed. Fortunately at the time of the fire the wind was blowing directly out to sea. Had the wind been from the south or southwest, and had it been blowing with the force that characterized it the night before, Hampton Beach would now be a mass of blackened and smoldering ruins. As it is the property loss is about $14,000, which falls upon the owners of the burned buildings and the insurance companies.
The fire started in the Priscilla, corner J Street and Ocean Avenue, four blocks south of the Casino, owned by W. F. Thayer of Haverhill. When discovered a little before six o'clock the flames were bursting through the roof and the whole upper part of the building was on fire. The alarm was given by Warren Drew and others, and the shouts of men and the tinkle of telephone bells soon summoned a large number to the scene.
From the Priscilla the fire communicated itself to the Josephine, owned by Ira J. Webster of Haverhill, and named in honor of his wife: and from the Josephine spread to the Stanwood, another of Mr. Thayer's cottages. Beyond the Stanwood stood the Pentucket, a summer hotel purchased only a few months before by Mrs. E. M. Fogg of Manchester. This in turn was swept away by the flames, which were only halted in their march northward by I Street. To the south they crossed J street and completely gutted the Hiawatha, owned by Emery J. Smith of Haverhill.
Both of the Beach hose companies were soon on the scene and did good work. Three streams were thrown on the fire. The preasure was weak and the streams were not as powerful as could be desired. The chemical fire wagon came down from Hampton Village, the horses on the gallop, Thomas Cogger at the reins, and aided greatly in protecting adjoining property. Captain Smart and his men from the life saving station rendered efficient service; and the fire ladders, under the direction of such veteran firefighters as L. C. Ring and F. J. O'Dea, waged a winning battle with the devouring element.
Help was proffered from other places, but was not needed. The local men demonstrated that they were amply able to cope with the situation. Amesbury sent down a line of hose, but it was not connected. By eight o'clock was under control.
The fire loss is about $14,000, distributed as follows: W. F. Thayer, Haverhill, $5,000; Ira J. Webster, Haverhill, 2,500; Mrs. E. M. Fogg, Manchester, $5,000; Emery J. Smith, Haverhill, $1,500. This is about two-thirds covered by insurance.
The only accident that comes to our notice is that which happened to Harry I. Noyes, the builder, who was on the roof of the Pentucket, fighting the flames, when he slipped and fell to the ground below, a distance of some fifteen feet. No bones were broken, but the fall severely strained the ligaments of his right foot, and will confine him to the house for several days.
Sensational reports are in circulation as to the origin of the fire, but the most probable explanation is that it caught from the electric wires.
Saturday and Sunday were very warm, causing the wire to stretch; than came the cold snap on Sunday night and Monday, which suddenly contracted them. The high wind which prevailed fifteen miles an hour must have caused the wires to chafe and the continued abrasion may have worn off some of the insulation. This theory is favored by the fact that the fire followed the turning on of the electric currant Monday afternoon by about the space of time that would have required for it to start and get underway.
Had the fire been of incendiary origin it would have been more likely to have come in the night. Firebugs work while honest men sleep.
The fire demonstrated three things: (1) The need of some fire alarm system at the beach. (2) The need of a night man at the pumping station to keep the pressure up to the highest point when a fire is discovered. (3) The fact that the Hampton fire department can do a good job if it has half a chance.
The second Pentucket fire
The Hamptons Union, Thursday, June 6, 1912The Pentucket, a four story house owned by Mrs. Etta M. Fogg of Manchester, was damaged by fire about six o'clock this morning, from an unknown cause. The Pentucket was burned last fall, with several other houses adjoining, and the fire this morning destroyed the new structure just built on the site. Mrs. Fogg had moved in her furniture and stored it on the top floor yesterday, and it was on that floor that the fire originated, perhaps by a spark from a smoker's pipe which smouldered, and later broke into flames. The upper part of the building and contents were a total loss, but adjoining property was saved by excellent work of the fire company. It was insured in the Continental.
[Post Card photo not in original newspaper article.]