text:
They say a dog is a man's best friend, and we think Jay Bruce has found his new BFF.
Tuesday is Bark in the Park night at the Reds game, where fans get the opportunity to bring their furry little friends to the ballpark.
Bruce did his part to help promote the event prior to the game. Must have been tough to give that little guy back. Both Bruce and the pup look very content.
(We assume Bruce's arm strength translates to an incredible game of fetch.)
And no matter the outcome of the game, we know a paw-esome time will be had by all.


text: Calendar of Events ←Back to Search Results Morticians' 25th Annual Valentine's Dance Event for tourists Date: 2/9/2013 Time & Place:Waco Convention Center, Waco, TX 6:45pm to midnight Description:Get ready for our Twenty-fifth Annual Rock and Roll Valentine's Dance, hosted by yours truly – THE MORTICIANS! This year's big event will be at the Waco Convention Center on Saturday February 9th, 2013. Reservations include a hamburger dinner with all the trimmings, soft drinks, bottled water, and ice/cups. Beer, liquor, and wine coolers will be available for purchase on site. (No BYOB or ice chests permitted by WCC -no smoking facility). Doors open at 6:45 pm, dinner served until 9:00pm, dancing 8pm until midnight. Reservations must be prepaid by February 7th ! All reservations must include name, phone number, address, and email adress for all individuals for whom you want reservations. Indicate if you want to sit with another person or group. NO TICKETS ISSUED!-names checked at the door. Reservations are $23.00 per person-adults only. (No tickets sold at the door.) Mail or bring reservations and make checks payable to: Morticians' Valentine's Dance 2501 MacArthur Drive Waco, Texas 76708 For more information, call 254-754-2278. Don''t miss out on the fun; plan early & bring your friends— --- last year was a sellout. We''ll see you at the 2013 Valentine's Dance on Saturday, February 9th!!! On the Web: www.themorticians.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Happy Father's Day!
Thanks, Dad for all that you did & still do for me. Thanks for instilling in me a desire to study history, for without knowing where we came from we do not know where we are going. Your initial work on the family history, and your support in my efforts when I was a young kid, has led me on a 30-year plus journey into not only the family's history, but that of our nation.


text:
2 things-ENVS Weekly Seminar and student awards
The weekly ENVS seminar will feature Rick Fritsch, Climate Point for the National Weather Service. He'll talk about Juneau's climate.
|Environmental Science Weekly Seminar flyer
UAS Undergraduate Student Research & Creative Activity Awards
The deadline for proposals to be carried out in Spring and Summer 2011 semesters is February 28, 2011. Note that student applications for these activities require direct engagement with a UAS faculty member. We expect to continue this award program in coming years. Your feedback about how to make this effort a success is welcome.
2011 Undergraduate Student Awards
Uploaded: Mon Feb 14 10:49:13 2011 File size: 32153 bytes


text:
ROYAL OAK — All the gala preview tickets, parking and admission fees, beverage sales, and shopping during Ford Arts, Beats & Eats added up for area charities and the overall economy.
The 15th annual festival generated $337,000 for about 60 non-profit and cultural organizations – $119,000 of that for Royal Oak-based groups -- and gave the area an economic boost of $35.1 million.
It was the second best year for both charities and businesses, Jon Witz, event producer, announced Monday. As always, good weather helped bring out crowds, he said.
Attendance was pegged at 390,000 with 159,280 people paying $3-$5 to get into the festival. The others donated canned goods to the Citizen Bank Hunger Initiatives, went during free hours, or received complimentary passes from sponsorship packages or new outreach efforts, such as Autism Days.
The Deaf Arts Festival also debuted this year.
"This year was a special one," Witz said.
The $35.1 million figure for the economic impact of the festival is preliminary, he added. It is based on the Michigan tourism spending and economic impact model (MITEIM) developed for the state tourism industry. Of that amount, an estimated $13.8 million was spent on total bar, restaurant and retail revenues.
Pronto's does so well, it can afford to close its restaurant and corner store the day after four-day, Labor Day weekend festival. The same goes for Five15 media Mojo & More across the street.
"It's definitely the best weekend for us," said Richard Payton, manager of the coffee and gift shop. "The festival absolutely turns what was the worst weekend into a really big one. I worked 12- and 14-hour days. We were busy the whole time. Everybody got something to drink at least. We sold a lot of smoothies, Italian sodas and beverage in general."
The city of Royal Oak no longer gets a cut of the admission gate proceeds but it keeps almost all of the $10- and $15-a-car parking fees. The city will pay $8,500 to several organizations that supported parking operations.
"The city doesn't get anything for gate proceeds and we don't get anything for parking," Witz said.
Admission fees totaling $140,250 went to 15 groups: American Red Cross, Autism Alliance, Autism Speaks, Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland County, The Children's Center, Children's Miracle Network/Hope Center, Detroit Public Television, Detroit Rescue Mission, Forgotten Harvest, Gleaners Community Food Bank, JARC, Jewish Federation, March of Dimes, The Rainbow Connection, and Volunteers of America Michigan.
The beverage booths brought in $81,000 for 27 groups, including Aids Walk Detroit, Planned Parenthood, Royal Oak High School's Model United Nations, Royal Oak Football Team, Inc., Royal Oak's Jaycees, Lion's Club and Women's Club, Shrine Catholic, St. Mary's Church, St. Paul's Church and the YMCA.
The St. Mary's Men's Club sold water, pop and energy drinks and the church rented its parking lot to The Fifth for condo residents who couldn't get into their parking deck entrance on Washington Avenue.
"We were crazy busy with water and Gatorade sales on the Friday. It was a busy opening day," said St. Mary's Men's Club member James Torres, who helped staff 150 shifts with volunteers. "Everyone is happy to do it. It's a fellowship sort of thing to work side by side and sweat in the heat."
The club will use its money for school and young adult field trips.
"The way the festival involves local charities works out nicely," Torres said.
St. Mary's Church, First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, and Royal Oak First United Methodist also will share $10,750 from festival parking donations.
Ten groups will split $30,971 from the festival preview gala Arts Du Jour. They include the Arthritis Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs of South Oakland, Forgotten Harvest, Gleaners Community Food Bank, Michigan Pet Fund Alliance, Planned Parenthood, Rainbow Connection, Rose Hill Center, South Oakland Shelter, and Arts, Beats & Eats Foundation.
Planned Parenthood will use its money for reproductive health education and advocacy, said Desiree Cooper, spokesperson for the group.
"For us, you can't measure everything in dollars," Cooper said. "We were at Arts, Beats & Eats with a booth for the first time and it was really well received. Education is key for us. That's why we're putting our share of the money into outreach."
In addition to giving away festival passes to everyone who donated canned goods to Gleaners, Citizens Bank also matched $4,000 in winnings from its money booth with a donation to the Children's Miracle Network.
During its three years in Royal Oak, festival-goers have donated 29,577 pounds of food through the Citizen Bank offer.
The best year for charities and businesses was 2010, when the festival moved from Pontiac to Royal Oak and 423,000 people turned out for the concerts, food and art fair.


text:
Hannah Hayes
Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." Single-payer universal health care is the best way to dig out of the corporate mess we have now. Taking the profit out of health care will bring the greatest benefit to the largest number of citizens, and allow the U.S. a path to regain dignity in another area where we slip and slide so badly.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Columbine Courier, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
If you are new to the award winning Columbine Courier and wish to get a subscription or simply gain access to our online content then please enter your ZIP code below and continue to setup your account.
|ZIP Code:


text:
Youthful Highland hopes to be a contender
After advancing to the six-man state championship game three years ago, Highland has fallen on hard times of late, going just 5-14 the past two seasons.But there were signs late last year that the Hornets were on the verge of turning things around. In fact, a muffed two-point kick at the end of a 43-42 loss to Aspermont in the next-to-last week was all that kept Highland from making it back to the postseason. The Hornets' new four-team district, however, in-cludes two teams (Ira and Rotan) who are ranked in the state's preseason top 10 in Division I. Hermleigh is also in the district again.That, plus the fact that the Hornets have just two seniors and seven freshmen on their 21-player roster, will make getting back to the playoffs a tough propo-sition once again.Coach Jeff Shelton said his goal is to have his play-ers ready by the time the Oct. 26 opener with Rotan rolls around."We'd like to pick up where we were at the end of last year," he said. "We're so young. We know that anything we get as far as making it to the postseason will be gravy because we'll need a lot of kids who have never seen a varsity game to come through for us. It's going to take some time to get where we want to be."Highland still has some good talent to build around, however. There are five returning all-district players — seniors Ron Covington and Garrett Stewart, jun-iors Peyton Howard and Michael Hyde and sophomore Shelby Howard.The offense gets a slightly new look as Covington has been moved from quarter-back to tailback, with junior Ethan Wilson taking over behind center. Hyde will also play tailback and both Howards will be at fullback, though Peyton is recovering from a leg injury.The center will be Stewart or sophomore Zack Cornett and the ends will be sopho-more Gaga Soedarsono and freshman Seth Wood, with juniors Kaden Nachlinger and Laramie Thompson and sophomore Kevin Box all competing at receiver.Shelby Howard and Soed-arsono will be competing with Cornett and Stewart on the defensive in Highland's 2-3 setup, with Hyde at linebacker and Covington, Box and freshman Jacob Richburg competing for the two cornerback slots. The Hornets will use Wilson and another freshman, Eli Shel-ton, at safety. Coach Shelton, who said he expects a lot of competition for positions, has lined up a very tough non-district slate. Five of Highland's seven opponents won at least eight games in 2011.


text:
Needed: a loving freedom
Jess Shut Up
Last week in Connecticut, our country had another major tragedy. This time a sick young man walked into an elementary school and killed kindergartners and some staff. Pure, unblemished faces of the young meeting the violence of our new society head on, in an act that is incomprehensible by most. We have not learned a lot (by the time I started writing this) about the details, but we do know that it is obvious. The staff there gave their lives protecting kids. If this had not happened, more would be dead.
Over the years this has become more and more common. A theater in Colorado, a shopping center in Oregon, colleges, military bases and schools have become the battle grounds for sick individuals that have sought out the innocent for some kind of redemption. Once again we ask ourselves as a nation, why?
Some have blamed gun laws, either a lack of, or a weakness in, enforcement. Some say our children grow up entrenched in video games and TV shows that promote the cruelest acts of violence. Some say we need more security at schools. Some blame the medical and counseling fields for not recognizing these flaws at an earlier age. We blame parents, teachers, politicians and bullies. So where does the blame lie? Is it all of these or none? My opinion is these all play a role in one way or another, but they are not the solution or the answer to the greater problem.
We live in America, the United States of America. We are a free country and with freedom comes certain risks. Most of us in America take the responsibility of freedom and making choices with great honor and trust. I trust that my neighbor will not shoot my son for trespassing if he cuts across his property. I also trust that my son will respect our neighbor's property and not trespass. Now kids will be kids, and in the heat of a game or silliness my son might run across my neighbor's yard. Innocently in the wrong. I trust that my neighbor will talk to my son or me and correct this problem without any further problems. Now if my son continues to defy the respect of both of us, then a bigger problem arises. I do trust my neighbors to not turn to violence, still. But that is not the case everywhere and every situation might have different circumstances that make the freedom a little cloudier.
We like the right to vote, to have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, to bear arms and to attend free schools. We continue to vote in rights for all sexes, races, orientations. We can watch what we want to watch on TV, go where we want to go when we want to go. If someone stands in our way, we declare our rights as Americans. We might just have opened a can of worms here in America that we can't shut easily. We cut funding to law enforcement and education. We legalize marijuana. We cut budgets and expect more out of the remaining. We have every right to complain about the things we don't like, but very few of us do the things needed to make a change.
So what can you and I do? Talk. I talk to my kids and you to yours. We talk to our neighbors. We get to know one another. We talk to teachers. We don't have to all be best friends, but we have relationships. When we see a red flag in someone or especially a child, we seek help for him or her. We look for the best in everyone and love them for it. We invite someone we know that's struggling to church or dinner. We lend someone 20 bucks and don't except to see it again.
The Friends of Rachel is a group of kids that care. This club has recently started in local schools. One of their goals is to eliminate bullying in our schools by paying attention and reaching out to the easy targets for bullies and keeping them in a safer place. Sometimes the simple act of saying hello to someone can change their entire outlook on life. There is proof in our schools right now.
Bad stuff will always happen. That's just the way it is. As long as there is good, there will be evil. Our goal should be to push evil out of this area by loving and caring for all those around us. I know we are not perfect, but together let's make our freedom a loving freedom.


text:
The following text is originally from a We Are…Marshall Newsletter and can be viewed at its source here.
The Marshall University Foundation Inc. has established a pair of endowed funds in memory of the wife and in-laws of Dr. Del Kimbler, professor emeritus of industrial engineering at Clemson University.
The funds are called the Elisabeth Davidson Kimbler Award for Study Abroad, which honors Dr. Kimbler's late wife, Elisabeth Kimbler, and the Maxine Garrett Feldmeier and Arthur Nelson Davidson Endowment Fund, which honors her parents.
Elisabeth Kimbler had always wanted to do somethingmeaningful directed to students in higher education. When she passed away in October 2013, Del Kimbler decided to honor her wish. Considering that her parents were Marshall graduates, and in fact met as students at Marshall College, he selected Marshall as the place. Given Art Davidson's interest in languages, Modern Languages was selected as the program. The focus on Study Abroad comes from Beth Kimbler's interest in languages and her belief in the importance of experiencing international culture. The remainder of the endowment, named for her parents, will provide general assistance in support of Modern Languages academic programs.
The Feldmeier-Davidson fund is designed to provide program support to the Department of Modern Languages, to include, but not be limited to, books, films, equipment, conferences and travel. The dean of the College of Liberal Arts or his or her designee will make the purchase selections.
The Elisabeth Davidson Kimbler Award for Study Abroad will support students of the Department of Modern Languages with costs associated with Study Abroad, to include, but not be limited to, application fees, tuition, books and room and board. The dean of the College of Liberal Arts or his or her designee will select the recipients.
"The College of Liberal Arts is profoundly grateful for Dr. Kimbler's generosity," said Dr. R.B. Bookwalter, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts. "The endowment will make it possible for our Modern Languages program to provide resources and support travel and scholarship for years to come. The scholarship fund, endowed in Mrs. Kimbler's name, will create many opportunities for Marshall students to study abroad, which is so important in the global economy today. Second language study is proven to promote critical thinking, creativity, and multicultural awareness, not to mention broader career opportunities. Thanks to Dr. Kimbler and his family, Marshall University students will realize those benefits more than ever."
Del Kimbler is a photographer as well as a retired engineering educator. With the development of digital photography, his interest in photography was rekindled with a fine art focus leading to several works exhibited in South Carolina, as well as in two international shows (in Kortrijk, Belgium and in Tianjin, China). Most recently he is emphasizing social landscape and studio still life, and experimenting with infrared photography. Much of his work can be viewed at http://www.kimblerphoto.com.
Photo: Del Kimbler (left) has arranged for the endowment of two Marshall University Foundation funds in memory of his wife, Elizabeth Davidson Kimbler (right) and her parents.


text:
Girl Scouts of Rhode Island and Roger Williams Zoo in Providence are hosting a Scout Safari Day
on Saturday, April 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Spend an adventurous day at this Providence, R.I., Zoo with fellow Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of all ages.
Scouts can participate in interactive stations that will help you to complete a variety of badge requirements, while surrounded by a zoo full of fascinating animals. Meet special guest presenters, Zoo staff, and some very cool critters.
Cost: $12/Scout (includes admission and program fee; does not include lunch).
Non-participants: $5/children, $10/adults (admission only).
The $5 non-Scout admission means that siblings will not be allowed to participate in any of the special programs and interactive stations.
Pre-registration is required and payment is due upon registration.
Registration deadline is April 9.
There will be a late fee of $5 per scout after that date. Sorry, no refunds.
Registration forms will be available online at http://www.rwpzoo.org/
For additional information, contact Jen at 401-785-3510 ext. 352


text:
First Choice Quilt Pattern
A simple and beautiful quilt design to brighten your home!
This absolutely charming quilt pattern is perfect for just about anyone -- children and adults alike. Create a quilt that will be cherished for many years to come. The sample was made using the Turtle Talk collection from Choice Fabrics. Finished quilt size is 48" x 60" -- perfect for a wall hanging or lap quilt.
Overall rating:
5 out of 5
(1 reviews)
(1 reviews)
How do you like this product?
Share your thoughts with the Annie's community.
You must be logged in to leave a review. Please log in.
First Choice Quilt Pattern
Patricia S
February 2, 2014
February 2, 2014
Easy, beautiful. Have had so many compliments on the quilt. Annie's is awesome. Love their selection.
Customers Also Purchased
Roxanne Dip & Dab
No-Hassle Triangles Gauge
Dynamic Dinosaurs
(PDF download only)


text:
Women's Tennis Drops Season Opener to Wake Forest, 7-2
Related Links
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The UNCG women's tennis team fell to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons Monday afternoon, 7-2, at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
UNCG lost all four doubles matches to start down 1-0.
At No. 1 doubles, sophomore Jamie Grinberg (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill) and freshman Yasmin Franco (Largo, Fla./Indian Rocks Christian) fell, 8-5, to Kasey Gardiner and Xue Zhang. Junior Kayla Gammie (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Broward Virtual School) and senior Devon Sutherland (Lake Wylie, S.C./Clover) fell 8-5 as well to Samantha Asch and Luisa Fernadez at the No. 2 doubles spot.
At the No. 3 spot, Stephanie Falcon (Marietta, Ga./Walton) and Amy Ellis (Cheshire, Great Britain/Newcastle Under Lyme School) fell to Andrea Retolaza and Kimmy Guerin, 8-1. In the final doubles match, Masey DeMoss (Mayodan, N.C./McMichael) and Asha Iyengar (Raleigh, N.C./Broughton) fell, 8-3, to Karen Forman and Brigita Bercyte.
Next, the two teams faced off in eight singles matches. DeMoss fell first to Forman, 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 7 singles spot.
At No. 4 singles, Grinberg fell to Fernadez 6-0, 6-0.
Wrapping up third was the No. 6 singles pair, as Sutherland fell to Zhang 6-1, 6-1.
At No. 8 singles, Alisha Burton (Charlotte, N.C./Zebulon B. Vance) won two games in the first set but fell 6-2 in the first before a 6-0 defeat in the second to Kristina Centernari.
Falcon played number one singles but fell to Retolaza in two sets, 6-1, 6-1.
At the No. 2 singles spot, Franco won three games in the first set, but went down 6-3 in the first and 6-0 in the second set to Guerin.
Gammie, playing at the third singles spot, earned UNCG's first point of the match in a tie breaking third set. Gammie fell 6-1 in the first set but came back strong to take the second set 6-0. She won the tie-breaker 10-3.
A tie-breaker was forced at the No. 5 singles position as well after Amy Ellis defeated Kasey Gardiner in set one 6-3, but fell 6-3 in the second set. It required 12 points, but Ellis got the third set victory 12-10 to earn the Spartans a second point for the day.
UNCG falls to 0-1 on the season while Wake Forest improves to 2-0 after also earning a 6-1 win over College of Charleston Monday morning.
The Spartans will travel to Chapel Hill to take on the Tar Heels Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match. UNCG is then off until February 7 when they welcome East Carolina to the UNCG Tennis Courts for a 2 p.m. match.


text:
Il y Avait : Work information
- Composers
- Charles Aznavour ( Music, Images,)
- Pierre Roche ( Music, Images,)
- Performed by
- Juliette Greco (Voice)
This work
- Work name
- Il y Avait
- Work number
- n/a
- Key
- n/a
- Genre
- Composed
- 1950-01-01 02:01:00
This recording
- Label
- Isis
- Producer
- n/a
- Engineer
- n/a
- Recording date
- 1951-01-01 02:00:00
The Composers
Charles Aznavour
Aznavour was born in Paris, the son of Armenian immigrants Michael Aznavourian and Knar Bagdasarian. His artistic parents introduced him to the world of theatre at an early age.
He began to perform when he was nine and soon took the stage name Aznavour. His big break came when the singer Édith Piaf heard him sing and arranged to take him with her on tour in France and to the United States.
Often described as the "Frank Sinatra of France", Aznavour sings mostly about love. He has written musicals and about a thousand songs, made more than one hundred records, and appeared in sixty movies, including Shoot the Piano Player, The Tin Drum and Ararat. Aznavour sings in many languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Armenian, Portuguese, Neapolitan), which has helped him perform at Carnegie Hall and other major venues around the world. He also recorded at least one song from the 18th century poet Sayat Nova, in Armenian. Que C'est Triste Venise, sung in French, Italian (Com'è Triste Venezia), Spanish (Venecia Sin Ti), English (How Sad Venice Can Be), and German (Venedig im Grau), is one of Aznavour's most famous polylingual songs.
In the 1970s Aznavour became a major success in the United Kingdom where his song "She" went to Number One in the charts. His other well-known song in the UK was "Dance in the Old Fashioned Way".
An admirer of Quebec, where he played in Montreal cabarets before becoming famous, he has helped the career of Quebec singer-songwriter Lynda Lemay in France, and has a house in Montreal. On July 5, 2008, he was invested as an honorary officer of the Order of Canada and performed the following day on the Plains of Abraham as a feature of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.
Charles Aznavour Statue in Gyumri, Armenia.Since the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, Aznavour has been helping the country through his charity, Aznavour for Armenia. Together with his brother in-law and co-author Georges Garvarentz he writes the song "Pour toi Armenie", which topped the charts for 13 weeks. There is a square named after him in central Yerevan on Abovian Street. In 1995 Charles Aznavour was appointed an Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Armenia to UNESCO. Aznavour is a member of the Armenia Fund International Board of Trustees. The organization has rendered more than $150 million in humanitarian aid and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia since 1992. Charles Aznavour was appointed as "Officier" (Officer) of the Légion d'honneur in 1997.
In 1998, Charles Aznavour was chosen as Entertainer of the Century by CNN and users of Time Online from around the globe. Aznavour was recognized as the century's outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.
Aznavour and Norwegian singer Sissel performing in ViennaArtists who have covered his songs and collaborated with Aznavour include Fred Astaire, Andrea Bocelli, Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Liza Minnelli, Shirley Bassey, José Carreras, Laura Pausini and Julio Iglesias. In 1974, Jack Jones recorded an entire album of Aznavour compositions entitled "Write Me A Love Song, Charlie", re-released on CD in 2006. Elvis Costello recorded "She" for the film Notting Hill. One of Aznavour's greatest friends and collaborators from the music industry is legendary Spanish operatic tenor Plácido Domingo, who often performs his hits, most notably a studio recording of "Les bateaux sont partis" in 1985, as well as Aznavour's "Ave Maria" several times live in 1994. Also in 1994, Aznavour performed with Domingo and Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø at Domingo's third annual Christmas in Vienna concert. The three singers performed a variety of carols, medleys, and duets, and the concert was televised throughout the world, as well as released on a CD internationally.
Charles Aznavour, a photo by Xavier Thomas.At the start of autumn in 2006, Aznavour initiated his farewell tour, performing in the US and Canada, and earning very positive reviews. Aznavour started 2007 with concerts all over Japan and Asia. The second half of 2007 saw Aznavour return to Paris for over 20 shows at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, followed by more touring in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the rest of France. He has repeatedly stated that this farewell tour, health permitting, will likely last beyond 2010. At 84, Aznavour is in excellent health. He still sings in multiple languages and without teleprompters, but typically sticks to just two or three (French and English being the primary two, with Spanish or Italian being the third) during most concerts.On September 30, 2006, Aznavour performed a major concert in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia to start off the cultural season "Arménie mon amie" in France. Former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and French president Jacques Chirac, at the time on an official visit to Armenia, were in front-row attendance.
In 2006, 82-year old Aznavour traveled to Cuba, where he, together with Chucho Valdes, recorded his new album Colore Ma Vie, presented at Aznavour's Moscow concert in April 2007. Later, in July 2007, Aznavour was invited to perform at the Vieilles Charrues Festival.
"Forever Cool" (2007), an album from Capitol/EMI, features Aznavour singing a new duet of "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" with the voice of the late Dean Martin.
Aznavour finished a tour of Portugal in February 2008. On January 18, 2008 he participated as guest vocalist with the contestants of the French reality show Star Academy and sang his famous Emmenez-Moi with contestant Jérémy Chapron. Throughout the spring of 2008, Aznavour toured South America, holding a multitude of concerts in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.


text:
At the Quarter Moons, I'm not surprised when the plaintive wail of a siren breaks the silence of my otherwise sleepy town. Or when the nightly news features a sudden eruption of bomb threats, shootings, deadly traffic accidents, domestic quarrels exploding into murderous rage. Full Moons may have the greater reputation for inspiring wild or erratic behavior, but at the quarter Moons, there may be even greater tension in the air. Dane Rudhyar called the first and Last Quarter Moons "crisis" times.
Crisis isn't a particularly happy word. It suggests a heart-pounding moment when change is inevitable, and likely perilous. At such times, it's nice to recall how the Chinese language carries crisis and opportunity in the same ideogram. This dualism also holds at the quarter Moons: outcomes can go either way. Tragedies simply draw more reporters and crisis management teams, even sell more astrology books. But a wise astrologer keeps her perspective. She knows that on the quarter Moon, when one man is trampled by a wild horse, another digs a new well; another may break his mother's heart and finally leave home, striking out for a brave new adventure.
"We decide our futures at the quarter Moons. 'Caught,' as Rudhyar said, 'in the wheel of change,' we turn ourselves towards fulfillment or failure, as an incoming tide of possibilities slams against the momentum of what we've already known."
When a crisis subsides, we can more clearly see how it brought a turning point in our fortunes. This hints at the quarter Moon's significance, and it brings us closer to the origins of the word crisis in our own language. Deriving from the Greek krinenin, "to decide or determin," crisis is what Hippocrates called that stage when a patient's bodily humours, ebbing and flowing like the tides of the sea, shifted their direction. It was then a physician could determine whether the disease was taking a good or bad turn.[1]
We decide our futures at the quarter Moons. "Caught," as Rudhyar said, "in the wheel of change,"[2] we turn ourselves towards fulfillment or failure, as an incoming tide of possibilities slams against the momentum of what we've already known. This collision is imaged astrologically as a square, the relationship between Sun and Moon that defines the quarters. A square is the felt tension, whether in the birth chart, by transit, or the lunation cycle, of two bodies ninety degrees apart on the zodiacal wheel.
Squares bring two forces into conflict. Each planet works to block the expression of the other, a tension that promotes action. Remarkable growth can happen with squares, though it's not guaranteed. During the Sun/Moon square at the First Quarter, for example, we can bolster ourselves for forward movement, drawn by the promise of new revelations at the Full Moon. Or we can drown under the weight of our cluttered pasts, finding ourselves at the Full Moon not too far from the cycle's beginning.
Planets in square function much like the archetype of the disappointed king and his "stupid" son. The expectations, capabilities and desires of these two are so different, that resistance between them is inevitable. Typically one planet bullies the other. It's often the slower moving planet who initially sets the agenda, like the king who demands his slow-witted son shape up. He sends the boy on quests-to gain wisdom, slay a dragon, retrieve a magic pear-none of which the boy cares about or feels at all capable of doing. "Idiot!" growls the irritated king. "Yes... I must be an idiot!" mutters the rejected son.
Feeling so trapped, inhibited, and resentful, the boy (or faster-moving planet) struggles against his lot. His frustration mounts. The square's momentum for change is building. The faster-moving planet needs to somehow reorient itself. It doesn't know it yet, but it will find its success only on discovering a brand new castle (or paradigm). But first the pressure of the square must release: in a highly charged confrontation, the king disowns his son. This is the square's crisis or turning point.
The boy wanders in the forest (the realm of new possibilities) and magic helpers (intuitive voices) gather round. Free now (the slower moving planet has given up), the faster moving planet follows its fresh instincts, even though it doesn't yet completely understand them. Of course soon it arrives at a kingdom where a princess needs marrying (a new developmental situation); of course there's a test to pass. Where countless other suitors have failed (recalling the square's previous unsuccessful attempts and its mounting frustrations), the boy's instincts have been refined and are now uniquely suited. He succeeds. He makes the princess laugh, captures the magic bird, discovers the sorcerer's secret. The faster moving planet has come into its power. The "stupid" son can now marry the princess (integration) and the kingdom (the whole birth chart perhaps!) is regenerated.
As for the happily ever after, squares have a very long life. Whether they live as natal aspects, or surface by transit, or at the bi-monthly quarter Moons, their struggle and snap will enact again and again. That's good news really, for squares are phenomenal teachers. Their conflicts can build our stamina, develop our powers of discrimination, and increase our confidence. Again and again they take us to significant turning points. Squares give us the directional push to keep growing throughout our lives.
In practice, however, most astrologers discuss transiting squares as events, speculating on the particular crisis they may bring. When transiting Saturn squares natal Mars, for example, there might be accidents or injuries or confrontations with authority figures. Transiting Neptune square the Moon can bring gullibility, depression or disillusionment; it can reveal breast cancer, your mother might become hospitalized, swindlers could enter your home. Squares in the birth chart are likewise often discussed as their forms, as psychological constructs and personality features. Natal Saturn squaring Mars might mean your father was dictatorial or somehow failed to encourage your efforts; the result is you may inhibit your desires, have difficulty handling anger, your timing is off, or you feel defeated before you begin. A natal Moon/Neptune square might mean problems with addictions, a dreamy personality, or an inclination towards poetry or spirituality.
"Squares (and all aspects for that matter) are more properly understood as moments in the dynamic flow of time, as forces rather than forms, as a dance within the whole rather than a collection of parts. When we freeze aspects into 'static space-events,' said Rudhyar, we're no different than the scientist with his dissections and sterile lab experiments: we analyze death and let life escape."
When transiting squares loom in our future, we're eager to know what will happen. With squares in our birth chart, we want to know what personality traits they imply. This is an astrological shorthand that Rudhyar abhorred. Squares (and all aspects for that matter) are more properly understood as moments in the dynamic flow of time, as forces rather than forms, as a dance within the whole rather than a collection of parts. When we freeze aspects into "static space-events,"[3] said Rudhyar, we're no different than the scientist with his dissections and sterile lab experiments: we analyze death and let life escape.
One of the best astrological cures for this syndrome is Moon watching. Attuning ourselves to Moon phases returns us to a living experience of the sky. It brings a greater appreciation for aspects as temporal forces. We become more aware of their special roles in the full cyclic motion between two celestial bodies, any two bodies, not just Sun and Moon. We understand that the proper interpretation of any astrological aspect - whether sextile, square, trine or inconjunct, whether in the birth chart or transiting sky - requires that we also reckon what has come before, and, what can come after.
This leads to an obvious but rarely mentioned truth: some Moon phases (and transits) seem to bring nothing at all. If what has been seeded is timid, if no back and forth struggle has occurred, if little pressure has built, then the First Quarter's opportunity for crisis can come and go. We err if we think, for example, that all new or Full Moons should be meaningful to us, as though we ride on the gears of a cuckoo clock that sings without fail every quarter hour. Most of us travel currents of time far more mysterious. What's significant may take many Moon cycles to ripen.
Endeavoring to predict such moments, some astrologers will analyze upcoming Moon phase degrees against placements in the natal chart. This technique can bring startling results. And it can yield nothing. This sporadic proof for astrology doesn't deter me, as I've learned not to expect scientific certainty from this intuitive art. That life wants to guard at least some secrets is less troublesome to intuition. With an alert and receptive patience, intuition looks only for what it needs to know at the time. It joins chart symbols to "something in the air," an odd sequence of events, a dream, a fleeting thought, or an off-hand remark that brings a convergence of messages.
Working from intuition in cycle after Moon cycle, our sensitivity grows, even as our expectation for certainty declines. Our own rhythm comes into greater harmony with the Moon's. We sense the temporal difference between an aspect that waxes or wanes. We recognize, for example, that there's a different kind of tension at the First Quarter Moon than at the Last Quarter. Like a beachcomber who stands eyes shut in the waves, we can feel whether the tide is coming in or going away. We intuit when it's time to build our sandcastle... or pack a message in a bottle and fling it seaward.
We start making sandcastles at the First Quarter Moon. This is the midpoint of the Moon's waxing hemi-cycle, a building time. Its crisis brings both the excitement and threat of taking new action. To succeed, we need to prod ourselves forward, yet be nurturing too. Our project is yet young. It's not the time for completing; rather, we now lay a foundation, establishing a base of operations that can support our future efforts. Without this work, our revelation at the Full Moon will be disappointing; many Full Moon misfires can be traced to inaction back here.
The First Quarter can inspire in us the vitality of a child. And it can ignite a child's immaturity. Our insecurities might flare, as can our defenses. Bil Tierney describes a common First Quarter blunder: "Our typical manner of confronting stress patterns here is through the building of protective blockages, barriers, shells, and shields (all involving introspective focus) which in themselves, only further jeopardize our attempts to establish lasting inner security."[4]
We talk ourselves out of taking action. We blame someone or something out there. We barricade ourselves against the future, preferring the illusory safety of familiar cubbies. Opponents may appear in the outer world, but the greater enemy is often our own timidity. Because it draws from so deeply within our psyches, our First Quarter anxiety is elusive and tough to confront.
I have a policy at the First Quarter Moon: I try to take at least one consciously courageous act. I do something that scares me. As I summon the courage to go forward, I imagine the lady in the Moon applauding my positive attitude, my instincts for timing, my First Quarter skill. I am cooking the alchemical intention to step out of my cocoon. Give it a try at the next quarter Moon and see how it feels. Don't stop calling the personnel department until you hear an honest review of your resume. Be openly vulnerable... confess your love to someone. Write the first sentence of the novel you've been musing about.
Of course this is more of a ritual, a practice; it's like doing finger exercises instead of actually playing Carnegie Hall. In truth, few of us choose the First Quarter action that's genuinely required for our development. No matter how much we dare ourselves, what we consciously select is often more self-protective than what the fates serve up. A good rule of thumb: If it feels easy or comfortable, it's probably not much of a forward step.
"At the New Moon and Crescent phases, we might be overwhelmed by the ghosts (habits, thought patterns, family expectations) of our past. At the First Quarter we're challenged to actively overthrow them and stand on our own two feet."
More likely our challenge will be a surprise. If it's a subtle invitation, or even one more exciting, we may choose not to move, surrendering to the inertia of habit. We can be luckier sometimes if it arrives as a fight. I remember at one First Quarter Moon watching an interview with tv personality, Joan Lunden. That week she was in a major battle with the tabloids. She took a quintessentially First Quarter Moon stance: She was furious: "I'm not by nature a fighter," she said. "But there are times in your life when you have to come out swinging!"
If you find your back against the wall at the First Quarter Moon, bless the wall and whatever put you there. Resistance is critical to the creative process. It's like a cake pan; without it, our batter runs all over the oven and we don't get much of a cake. Resistance helps to shape our desire, that gooey stuff we've been gathering from New Moon to Crescent. The more we stir our desire in the prior two phases, the more we seem to magnetize the necessary crisis at the quarter. And if it lands us in a fight, then our passion for forward movement may finally cook us toward breakthrough.
At the New Moon and Crescent phases, we might be overwhelmed by the ghosts (habits, thought patterns, family expectations) of our past. At the First Quarter we're challenged to actively overthrow them and stand on our own two feet. This is not a single event that repeats each quarter Moon; it's a process through time. All First Quarters might draw our past and future needs into conflict, but over time, this meeting will wear many faces. Resistance, controlling our creative agenda, can be one of them.
In the Grimms' story "The Three Languages," a Swiss count plays the important "cake pan" to his son's developing gifts. Fearing his son is a simpleton, the count sends the boy to a famous master for a year. At the end of the year, the count asks the boy what he learned. "I know what dogs mean when they bark." The count is furious! He tries a second renowned teacher in another city, but after another year, the boy has only learned what the birds say.
The language of birds and dogs is more significant to the boy's future than anything his father wants him to learn. Yet if his father didn't arrange for the schooling, the boy might have never developed his strange and seemingly useless skills. When resistance has its say, when we try to satisfy whatever seems to oppose our growth, this too is a legitimate First Quarter experience. The unbearability of it can strengthen our powers of discrimination. We become more focused about what we don't want, as some new competence quietly grows within. Down the road it can repudiate what we're still unhappily trying to please, but not yet.
As the faster moving planet, the Moon at the First Quarter, through its sign and house position in our charts, may signal what new change wants to emerge. The sign and house position of the Sun may indicate where the weight of the past, our creative resistance, is operating. But if we're reading intuitively, we will always put the messages emerging from our lives ahead of astrological concepts; it's only when life confuses that it's wise (and great fun!) to consult the chart.
After a third year with a third master teacher, the count's son returns. He's now learned what frogs say when they croak. His desire to develop his gifts and his father's resistance have strengthened side by side: it is time for the square's release. The furious count orders his son put to death.
At the more powerful First Quarter crises, it may seem our very lives are at stake. The moment comes when it comes: we are challenged to grow or die. We don't always feel strong or heroic enough to meet it; frequently, we have to surprise ourselves. In the story, the count's servants take pity on the boy and abandon him in the forest. The boy is unprepared, lost, and confused. These are often the feelings that precede our reorientation.
Of course, as in any good fairy tale, the boy next arrives at a kingdom under the spell of a wicked sorcerer; only someone knowing the language of dogs, birds and frogs can release it. This is the fruition of all the hard work of the square. Astrologically, this is represented by the second major aspect of the First Quarter: the waxing trine, when the Moon is 120 degrees ahead of the Sun on the zodiacal wheel. It's the moment when all our skill comes together. Our cake is baked, so to speak. What might be difficult for others now flows easily for us. The trine is astrology's reward for all our suffering and struggling. It's the triumph of our development: a fully cooked creative expression.
"At the more powerful First Quarter crises, it may seem our very lives are at stake. The moment comes when it comes: we are challenged to grow or die. We don't always feel strong or heroic enough to meet it; frequently, we have to surprise ourselves."
If we keep to our discipline of reading aspects as temporal forces, we might conclude that waxing trines in the birth chart have been earned from struggles in a previous life. Given the difficulties suggested by the aspect following the trine (the waxing sesquiquadrate of the Gibbous Moon phase), we might also conclude that this gift has its drawbacks. Lovely as it is, a trine has none of the motivation or urgency of the square. Once the struggle to achieve the trine recedes, we're less inclined to express it in the outer world. We might know exactly what it means when frogs croak, in ten different dialects, but (yawn) who wants to go to the pond today.
Trines are comfort-loving and prefer the path of least resistance. In the course of a monthly quarter phase, this time brings a wonderful ease and encouragement. We won't necessarily redeem it every cycle. The First Quarter trine is a temporal window. Whether the curtain is drawn and the window is raised, has everything to do with the work we've done before.
Passion and action are critical to one's success at the First Quarter. These are Mars words. And if we're consistently having trouble with the First Quarter, we might look to an afflicted Mars as a possible source. Especially in the charts of those born at the First Quarter Moon, Mars is important. Doers, builders and fighters, First Quarter Moons need the energy of Mars to help them cleave with whatever conspires to hold them back. This is a lifetime to develop greater discrimination and strength of will. From their failures they learn more and more about the power of the subconscious and how to defeat it.
Many of the First Quarters in my files have launched their own companies, and of that group, many have started more than one company. It's as though they keep seeking the experience of beginning, because that's where their real fight takes place. It's the challenge of getting something off the ground. Once an enterprise is successful and running smoothly, they seem to get bored, and are on the lookout for new territories in which to find their old demons.
If a First Quarter's Mars is poorly placed, however, the struggle to get things off the ground may be a particularly difficult and central theme. A friend of mine, born at the First Quarter Moon, has such an afflicted Mars: in Scorpio, it's retrograde (turned inward rather than outward), in the twelfth house (difficult to access), and in an inconjunct aspect with his Sun (implying constant adjustments in fulfilling his will). His dream life is overwhelmed with angry, violent scenes, but in his daily life, he is gentle and acquiescent, finding it hard to ask for or go after what he wants. He started his own software company and has developed two unique products, but has had a frustrating time getting these products into users' hands. True to the condition of his Mars, he's felt powerless and victimized many times.
Years ago on a First Quarter Moon, he called me breathless with excitement. The monthly return of one's natal lunation phase, what Rhudyar calls the lunation birthday, often provokes one's Moon phase issues. "I just took aggressive political action!" he told me. Under the cover of night (twelfth house Mars in Scorpio), he had torn down a political sign opposing a slow growth measure in a local election. Angry at the overweening power of the developers in his area, he was buoyed by his bold (albeit illegal) action; he even went out a second time that night to take down more signs.
The next day all of the signs he'd torn down had been replaced (the frustration of a retrograde Mars). He confessed a nearly uncontrollable anger, as though he'd been erased by the return of the signs. He went out again that night. The irony is that he really was powerless, because he had neglected to register to vote, and so had no real voice in the election.
The slow growth measure lost, but I am happy to report that at the next First Quarter Moon, he took a positive step. He registered to vote. And in the years since, his expression of political power has been progressively strengthened and refined. He has published many passionate editorials in the papers. He has joined a political action group that is making a difference in the world. As I listen to him discuss his new accomplishments, he appears the happiest he's ever been. His First Quarter square has found its new kingdom.
Robert Hendrickson, The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins," (New York: Checkmark Books, 2000), pp. 178.
Dane Rudhyar, The Lunation Cycle, (Santa Fe: Aurora Press, 1967),
p. 28.
ibid, p. 35.
Bil Tierney, Dynamics of Aspect Analysis, (Reno: CRCS Publications, 1983), p. 24.
|As earth's closest celestial ally, the moon has a powerful influence on daily life, but few are tuned in. If you want to increase your sensitivity to the lunar rhythm, this is the workshop for you. Every month before the New Moon, you'll receive a 26-page workbook, personalized to your birth chart and current location. You'll learn about the astrology particulars — the new moon and solar ingress, how these influence your chart, along with moon phases, moon voids, moon signs and house transits. Throughout the cycle, you'll be guided into an ever more intimate appreciation for the moon's workings in your life
|Twelve Moons Workshop at mooncircles.com
Current Planets
19-Jun-2018, 07:08 UT/GMT
|16' 0"
|36' 3"
|34' 9"r
|Explanations of the symbols
|Chart of the moment


text:
Now that Florida's 2014 recruiting class is in the books, Gator Country's staff takes a look at the who's who among the newest Gators.
Most Likely To Be an All-American
Richard: Jalen Tabor. All the tangibles, the picture-perfect build of a Will Muschamp cornerback. With Muschamp's coaching and talented defensive backs on campus to learn from, the sky is the limit for Tabor.
Andrew: Will Grier gets my vote because of the talent I think he can bring to Kurt Roper's offense.
Nick: Jalen Tabor. Will Muschamp said Tabor is built the way cornerbacks should be built. That's a pretty glowing comment from the head ball coach of a player that has yet to play a down for the Gators.
Most Likely To Be Drafted in the First Round
Richard: Will Grier. If he pans out, there is no more sought after position in football than quarterback. If he lives up to his lofty expectations he'll have the best chance to be called by commissioner Goodell day one.
Andrew: Gerald Willis because pass rushing linemen are very hard to find. Willis had double digit sacks his senior year and Florida's defense sets up well for a pass rushing defensive end.
Nick: Will Grier. NFL teams are always looking for three things; a franchise quarterback, a big left tackle to protect said quarterback and someone to rush the quarterback. See the trend there? Yeah, quarterbacks.
Most Likely to Start Early On
Richard: Jalen Tabor. Linemen more often than not do not start early in their careers if coaches can help it, so that automatically puts most of Florida's class behind the eight ball. With Jeff Driskel at quarterback and Ryan Sousa or C.J. Worton unlikely to make an instant impact, Tabor has the talent and the opportunity on the depth chart to play early.
Andrew: Jalen Tabor because of his abilities plus the lack of a top cornerback not named Vernon Hargreaves.
Nick: Jalen Tabor. I think Tabor starts day one across from Vernon Hargreaves. The last cornerback to start their first career game? Marcus Roberson. Tabor will wear Roberson's old No. 5 this season.
Best Social Media
Richard: Quincy Wilson: besides being probably the most active, Wilson also knows his recent Gator history. Do you remember that Joe Haden wore No. 12 as a freshman? No? Well, Quincy Wilson does and tweeted that he will wear No. 12 like the former Gator and Gator great, Joe Haden.
Andrew: C'yontai Lewis, Khairi Clark and Quincy Wilson all love social media but this award for me goes to Clark as he loves the retweet and favorite button.
Richard: J.C. Jackson: on the record he's quiet and reserved but he's a guy that lets his game do the talking, and it speaks 1,000 words.
Andrew: Nolan Kelleher. Kelleher was one of the guys who didn't like to do interviews.
Nick: J.C. Jackson. Jackson is a funny, energetic and talkative kid. Just not with reporters.
Most Talkative
Richard: C'yontai Lewis: guy has a mouth that moves at 100 words per second it seems. Very personal kid.
Andrew: C'yontai Lewis, simply because he loves to talk.
Nick: C'yontai Lewis. He's funny, unapologetic and brash. If Lewis is thinking it, he'll tell you about it. Lewis is good-natured and competitive and isn't afraid to speak his mind. More on that in the very next category.
Best Moment of the Recruiting Cycle
Richard: Gerald Willis III: For the oh so awkward hat ceremony with an unhappy mother at the Under Armour Game. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, or so they say.
Andrew: This is a toss up for me between C'yontai Lewis Gator chomping Cam Newton or the look on people's face when Gerald Willis committed to Florida over LSU. Willis wins this award for me.
Nick: The highlight of the recruiting cycle, for me, came early on when C'yontai Lewis sent a Gator chomp Cam Newton's way after scoring a touchdown at the IMG 7-v-7 National Championship. Lewis later donned a Newton Auburn jersey and posed for picture with the one-time Gator quarterback.
The Nick Washington Recruiter of the Year Award
Richard: Khairi Clark: I went a little outside of the box with this one because Clark helped land an important prospect for Florida, best friend Thomas Holley, who flipped from Penn State late in the recruiting cycle. Clark sold Holley on dreams of a defensive line tandem that can wreak havoc.
Andrew: Quincy Wilson wins the award and he may have lost Dalvin Cook and Ermon Lane but he helped with Treon Harris, C.J. Worton and was the main reason for Brandon Powell. Wilson simply recruited everywhere he went.
Nick: Quincy Wilson. Before you point out Ermon Lane and Dalvin Cook, Wilson was an ambassador for the University of Florida everywhere he went. He talked with Thomas Holley and Gerald Willis at the Under Armour All-American game and like Andrew said, was a big help with several other prospects.
Best Personality
Richard: Duke Dawson: a great kid from a great family. Always willing to talk to you, rarely did I see him during the recruiting cycle without a smile on his face.
Andrew: Jalen Tabor hands down wins this award for me. Tabor has the wild hair and the superman tattoo is funny as heck.
Nick: Duke Dawson. Dawson was upbeat throughout the process and is just a down to earth kid who made a commitment and stuck by it without all the drama.
Best Senior Season
Richard: C'Yontai Lewis: Yes I am fully prepared to grade a player's entire season on one hit because this is my grading scale and I feel like it. I mean, c'mon folks most players go their whole lives without laying a block like this.
Andrew: Ryan Sousa. For the second straight year he led the state of Florida in receiving yards.
Nick: Uh, guys, Will Grier completed 70% of his passes for 4,989 yards and 77 touchdowns. That's the obvious pick here.
Biggest Unknown Recruit
Richard: Travaris Dorsey: he's such an unknown because his recruitment was so quiet. Only Dawson and Grier were committed before him and they had fanfare around them because one is a quarterback and the other is (relatively) local. Dorsey, an offensive lineman from Jacksonville, didn't seem to make a peep of news when he gave a verbal commitment to Florida.
Andrew: Taven Bryan wins this award as Bryan is a guy that wasn't talked about much with him being from Wyoming.
Nick: Taven Bryan. A lot of Gator fans were unaware of Bryan and can you blame them? Wyoming isn't exactly a recruiting hotbed but fans will be pleasantly surprised once they see Bryan in pads.
Biggest Surprise Commitment
Richard: Taven Bryan: out of Wyoming, because nobody saw that one coming.
Andrew: Gerald Willis as nobody expected this one to happen for Florida. The Gators hadn't signed a high school recruit out of the state of Louisiana since 2001.
Nick: Kavaris Harkless. Harkless was packed up and ready to enroll at Louisville before Charlie Strong's departure led him to have a change of heart. Harkless had been committed to Louisville since April 16, 2013 before flipping to Florida and enrolling in January.
The Trenton Brown Larger Than Life Award
Richard: David Sharpe: he's listed some places at 6-6, others 6-7 and even higher still at 6-8. After standing next to him at his commitment ceremony I don't think you can go high enough with an estimate of Sharpe's height.
Andrew: Khairi Clark as he looks to be the big nose tackle the Gators are looking for.
Nick: Also going to have to go with Khairi Clark. Listed at 6-2, 325-pounds, Clark is one large, large human being.
Best Interview
Richard: C'yontai Lewis: I gave him most talkative and in the world of high school recruiting coverage if they're actually talking to you, it's a good interview.
Andrew: Thomas Holley wins this award as every time you talked to Holley he gave good answers and very mature answers. Holley is a true student athlete.
Nick: C'yontai Lewis. Lewis has a ton of personality and no filter when you talk to him. He speaks what is on his mind and he's not afraid to tell you exactly how he feels.
Most Likely Starter That Nobody Is Talking About
Richard: Drew Sarvary: not necessarily because of skill level, but out of necessity if players get hurt along the line. Also there's an open spot at guard for someone to fill, it could be him.
Andrew: DeAndre Goolsby is a guy that I could see earning a role at tight end in the new offense under Roper.
Nick: J.C. Jackson. Jackson is probably the best athlete in the class and with that athleticism will come opportunity. Jackson could potentially start at receiver, cornerback or on special teams as a returner. The latter is most likely, in my opinion. Look for Jackson to make an immediate impact in the return game for the Gators.
Most Upside
Richard: Andrew Mike: a very sneaky good get out of Arizona with size (6-7) and most importantly, the technique already to play at his size. I think he has very good footwork and I forget how tall he really is because of his footwork.
Andrew: David Sharpe. He has the body of an NFL left tackle.
Nick: Thomas Holley. He is already an incredible football player despite having only played the game competitively for two seasons. Holley starts on his high school basketball team, which tells you the kind of athlete he is. He has so much to learn and the sky is the limit for him.
Biggest Miss
Richard: Adoree' Jackson. This team needs playmakers and athletes on offense, in my opinion there is no better one in the 2014 class than (now) USC's Jackson.
Andrew: Dalvin Cook because of the playmaking abilities he brings to the table.
Nick: Dalvin Cook. Gator fans may feel a certain way about the way Cook handled his recruitment, but after watching Cook interact with his teammates at practice, I believe he would be a good addition to any locker room. Cook is a tremendous talent but took time to work with the sophomore and freshmen running backs at practice and was the first player down the field to celebrate with the scout team when they scored a touchdown at the end of practice. Like Richard says, the Gators need playmakers on offense and there was none bigger, in my opinion, that Cook.
Most Loyal Commitment
Richard: Duke Dawson: it would be easy to give this to Grier but quarterbacks typically commit early so that was no surprise; but a talented DB sticking so firmly to his pledge even after going to Alabama and Florida State on visits? That's loyal.
Andrew: Duke Dawson as he never wavered once from his commitment once he committed in January of 2013.
Nick: Duke Dawson. Grier was a close second but like Richard said, quarterbacks commit early and spots fill up quickly. Dawson took a visit to Alabama but Gator fans may not even know it because there was never any worry about where Dawson would end up.
Flipper's Best Flip
Richard: Kavaris Harkless: Why? Not because of his talent (which I think is there, but he is just not the best lineman Florida signed) but because of his connection. He played at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, where one of the crown jewels of UF's potential 2015 class resides, Jeffrey Holland. They also have a teammate that, while he may be solid to LSU, wouldn't hurt to talk to while the coaches are on campus to see Holland. Perhaps you've heard of him, No. 1 player in the nation CB Kevin Toliver II.
Andrew: Treon Harris wins this award going away simply because of his bloodlines to Miami and his longtime commitment to Florida State.
Nick: Treon Harris. After losing out on Dalvin Cook and to a lesser extent Ermon Lane, Florida was able to get back at the school out west by taking away their coveted quarterback commit. The flip is more than just a stab at a rival, Harris is supremely talented and a player that can make an impact as a freshman.
Leader of the Recruiting Class
Richard: Will Grier: if he's the QB1 of the future, he'll be the leader by default.
Andrew: Will Grier was the guy texting everyone getting them ready for Florida and was a big twitter guy when guys committed.
Nick: Will Grier. For the above mentioned reasons. Grier was actively recruiting for Florida throughout the process and like Richard pointed out, he's the quarterback of the future.


text:
- Home
- News
- Sports
- Opinion
- Obituaries
- Features
- Special Sections
- Classifieds
- Public Notices
The Galax Hope House is collecting donations for the family of Andres and Christy Mendoza, who suffered a major financial loss when the house they were renting caught fire on Dec. 30.
Their family of nine — including seven adults, a three-year-old child and a two-week-old infant — wasn't harmed, but the house was completely destroyed, along with all of the family's belongings.
Hope House is accepting item donations, such as clothes, diapers and formula, for the family.
Donations can be made to the Hope House, located on 408 W. Center St. in Galax; to Jill Burcham of P.U.S.H. Ministries at Rooftop of Virginia, 206 N. Main St., Galax; or to Angela Crowder at Corinthian Hair Salon, 206 N. Main St., Galax.
A special benefit expense fund has also been set up at Grayson National Bank. The account is under Christy Mendoza's name, and can receive deposits from any Grayson National Bank location.
Donations can also be mailed to Grayson National Bank P.O. Box 186, Independence, VA 24348.
For more information, contact Hope House Executive Director Tammy Harmon at 236-7573.
Add new comment
Read and share your thoughts on this story


text:
Hostess goes out of business | News
BIDDEFORD, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - Hostess the maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread, is going out of business.
PHOTO GALLERY: Hostess strike
The company, based in Irving, Texas, filed for Chapter 11 protection in January. As part of the restructuring process, Hostess told workers they must make concessions in order for the company to stay in business.
Hostess reached a contract agreement with its largest union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. But thousands of members in its second biggest union, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, went on strike last week to protest cuts to wages and benefits under a new contract offer.
Joining the strike were 300 workers from the Hostess plant in Biddeford. They say the company had stopped putting their money into their pension funds last year, while still taking that money out of their pay. While some workers say they could accepts cuts to their benefits and wages, they draw the line at losing their pensions. The issue was important enough to them, they decided to continue their strike even after Hostess warned them it would result in the company being forced to liquidate.


text:
Student Recreation Center
275 North Campus Dr.
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: 610-436-1732
Fax: 610-436-3088
Email: email@example.com
There are three classifications of our Club Sports. Every new sports club must register with SGA and Sports Club Council according to the classifications below.
A competitive club sport provides students the opportunity to compete at a higher level than intramural sports but not at the intercollegiate level or if no such intercollegiate team exists. There are scheduled tryouts, scheduled practices. They compete to actively pursue participation in registered extramural, regional, national, or open tournaments and competitions against other universities. Each club sport is governed by a National Governing Body (NGB) that develops standards of participation. The must also promote a balanced lifestyle of wellness and physical activity. Examples of our WCU competitive sports club are: men's and women's ice hockey, volleyball, lacrosse, soccer; ski; ultimate frisbee; men's rugby; women's water polo; men's roller hockey; equestrian; men's wrestling; and tennis.
An instructional club sport may compete in a few tournaments per year, but the main focus of the club sport is to provide qualified instruction and advancement of specific skills and techniques. Instruction covers the necessary physical and mental safety prerequisites for participation, as well as strategy and rules. Instruction is provided for all levels of skill from beginner to advanced. Examples of our WCU instructional club sports are: bowling; equestrian; fencing; shotokan karate; and tae kwon do.
A recreational club sport provides interested students the opportunity to continue pursuing a recreational passion. Activities by this club sport are for fun and relaxation. There may be limited opportunities for some competition. Examples of our WCU recreational club sports are: bowling; outdoor; running; and snowboard.


text:
Customized TV Listings are available here: www.latimes.com/tvtimes
Click here to download TV listings for the week of July 28 - August 3, 2013 in PDF format
Franklin & Bash Rachel (Heather Locklear) puts Jared and Peter (Breckin Meyer, Mark-Paul Gosselaar) on the case of a man whose business was hit by a meteorite, which the government is trying to get its hands on. Malcolm McDowell and Reed Diamond also star in this new episode. 9 p.m. TNT
Camp As Little Otter celebrates Valentine's Day in July, Roger (Rodger Corser) wins a private tour of the camp with Mack (Rachel Griffiths) in this new episode. 10 p.m. NBC
Nazi Mega Weapons The new episode "V2 Rocket" profiles German scientist Wernher von Braun and his role in development of ballistic missiles. 10 p.m. KOCE
Top Chef Masters The chefs create a dish from ingredients prepared for them by their sous-chefs in this new episode. Kathie Lee Gifford is a guest judge in this new episode. 10 p.m. Bravo
Mystery Diners In this new episode the owner of Newport Beach Brewing Company has some suspicions. 10 p.m. Food
Best Daym Takeout This new series, premiering with two new episodes, features the likable Daymon Patterson, already a star on YouTube for his one-of-a-kind food reviews. 10 and 10:30 p.m. Travel
Hot in Cleveland "Melanie (Valerie Bertinelli) rebounds with Danny (Tom Arnold) in this new episode. 10 p.m. TV Land
INTERACTIVE: FALL 2013 TV preview
VH1 Do Something Awards Patrick Dempsey, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, LL Cool J, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Osbourne and five not-so-famous people 25 and under are honored for their good deeds in this new special. 8 p.m. VH1
CBS This Morning (N) 7 a.m. KCBS
Today Paula Patton; Leigh Gallagher; Giada de Laurentiis; James Oseland. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC
KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA
Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC
Live With Kelly and Michael Matt Damon; Jayma Mays. (N) 9 a.m. KABC
The View Lara Spencer; Teri Hatcher; Dean Norris; Michael Franti. (N) 10 a.m. KABC
The Talk Lionel Richie performs; chef Curtis Stone. (N) 1 p.m. KCBS
The Doctors Foods to flatten the abdomen; exercising while watching TV. 2 p.m. KCBS
The Dr. Oz Show Outrageous questions; an embarrassing health quirk. 2 p.m. KABC
Dr. Phil A woman's friends think her husband murdered her. 3 p.m. KCBS
Katie Craig Ferguson; Brad Goreski; Zooey Deschanel; Kym Whitley; Will.i.am performs. 3 p.m. KABC
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Simon Baker. 4 p.m. KNBC
To the Contrary With Bonnie Erbé Women's reproductive rights in developing countries; Melinda Gates; Mandy Moore; Barbara Bush. (N) 6:30 p.m. KVCR
Tavis Smiley Ethan Hawke. 11 p.m. KOCE
Charlie Rose (N) 11 p.m. KVCR; 11:30 p.m. KOCE
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Hank Azaria. (N) 11 p.m. Comedy Central
Chelsea Lately Jennifer Aniston; John Caparulo; Sarah Tiana; Josh Wolf. (N) 11 p.m. E!
Conan Kevin Nealon; NASCAR Pit Crew Member Christmas Abbott. (N) 11 p.m. TBS
The Colbert Report Author Emily Matchar. (N) 11:31 p.m. Comedy Central
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Kate Hudson; Bob Costas; Kopecky Family Band performs. (N) 11:34 p.m. KNBC
Late Show With David Letterman Matt Damon; Hanni El Khatib performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS
Jimmy Kimmel Live Johnny Knoxville; Logan Lerman; Queens of the Stone Age. (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Tyra Banks; Simon Pegg; chef Dominique Ansel. (N) 12:36 a.m. KNBC
The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson Jane Leeves; Ahna O'Reilly; Backstreet Boys perform. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS


text:
DeKALB – Holly McIntyre figures she'll have better luck finding a job in Texas after she graduates Saturday from Northern Illinois University.
McIntyre, an occupational therapy major, will look for a job at a clinic or as an occupational therapy aide as soon as she packs her things and moves to the Lone Star State, where she said a "help wanted" sign is found at almost every window.
"From the few times I've visited, there are so many clinics and hospitals," McIntyre said. "It shouldn't take too long before I find a job at one of them."
If McIntyre succeeds in finding a job, she might represent a positive trend. Statistics recently released by the U.S. Department of Labor show the unemployment rate for 2013 college graduates, defined as those ages 20 to 29 who earned a four-year or advanced degree, was 10.9 percent, The Associated Press reported. That was down from 13.3 percent in 2012 and the lowest since 7.7 percent in 2007.
According to NIU's Office of Registration and Records, 3,114 students are expected to graduate this semester, including 2,248 undergraduates and 866 graduate students.
Many NIU students who will graduate are choosing to continue their studies in hopes of standing out from other applicants, while others hope to set themselves apart through extracurricular activities.
NIU student Sarah Stuebing will head to Kansas State University this fall to begin a dual doctorate program in veterinary medicine and neuroscience. Veterinarians are not required to obtain an advanced degree in neuroscience, but Stuebing is pursuing both degrees out of love for research.
"It opens a lot of doors for me," she said. "That'll give me the unique set of skills to help humans and animals curably and preventatively."
Meanwhile, NIU senior Carolina Applebee is hoping her work as the programming coordinator for the newly formed Communiveristy Gardens will give her a unique edge. The NIU-based organization partnered with DeKalb County Community Gardens, which plants crops across DeKalb County for food pantries and others in need.
"It'll look very good on my résumé," she said. "It'll show I'm directly involved with community service. That's directly involved with nutrition."
Applebee, a nutrition major, hopes to become a registered dietitian after a dietetic internship at NIU in the 2014 fall semester.
Jacob Lawrence is using his involvement with Communiveristy Gardens for other reasons. A senior and president of Communiveristy Gardens, Lawrence will spend two years in NIU's master's of public administration program after he graduates Saturday.
Lawrence's dream job would be to work at a consulting agency for nonprofit organizations in conflict zones such as Israel and Palestine. But he also has other dreams.
"I want to get a farm," he said. "I want llamas, maybe some alpacas. Definitely chickens."
Jessica Bernstetter has other dreams. Bernstetter, a graduate anthropology student, was recently admitted into the doctoral program for anthropology at the University of Missouri.
Her goal is to become an anthropology professor at a university. She went to Italy last summer as part of a study abroad program.
"I got to work closely with local people and got to practice my Italian, which was a lot rustier than I had hoped," Bernstetter said.
Another graduate anthropology student, Megan Drennan, still isn't sure what she wants as a permanent job. However, she has landed a temporary job in cultural resource management, where she'll work in Loves Park to survey and dig land before a construction project begins.
Drennan said the job will be a nice start considering she has never worked in archaeology before.
"I got the job more through networking," Drennan said. "I'm lucky. Networking has become more and more important as a way to get jobs."


text:
Broken Housing
US and Canada Remain at Opposite Ends of the Housing Cycle
|Alex J. Pollock
|December 25th 2012
North American housing markets present an interesting contrast between the U.S. and Canada.
It now appears that the U.S. has passed the bottom of its housing markets at long last. After falling for six years from the 2006 high in a terrific bust, house prices are now widely rising from their lows, and house sales are increasing. So the U.S. is starting to come up from the bottom.
Canada is at the opposite end of the cycle. Having weathered the crisis of 2007-09 far better, it looks like Canada's housing markets have just gone over the top, a top of very high house prices and household debt levels, and now are starting down.
The U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency's house price index for the third quarter of 2012, counting house purchases financed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, was up 4% over a year ago, partially reflecting a lower proportion of distressed sales. This house price index rose in 39 of the 50 states. The widely followed S&P/ Case-Shiller National House Price Index was up 3.6% year-over-year in September.
Since the American Consumer Price Index rose 2% during this period, this represents a 1.6% real increase. The Wall Street Journal recently opined that "an improving housing market is buoying consumers' spirits."
As is well known, the U.S. situation partially reflects manipulation of the bond market by the Federal Reserve, with its intention of driving down interest rates on long-term mortgages. In this the Fed has succeeded, with mortgage interest rates having arrived at record lows: 3.3% for 30-year, freely prepayable, fixed rate mortgages; and 2.6% for 15-year, freely prepayable, fixed rate mortgages. These rates must inevitably rise sometime, but no one knows just when.
Meanwhile, Canadians are debating "Canada's housing market: Is it a cooling? Is it a crash?" as the Canadian news magazine, Maclean's, recently put it, adding that "virtually everyone – from the Bank of Canada and the Finance Department [the banking regulator] through Canada's banks to the IMF and independent analysts – agrees that housing is losing steam."
House sales are falling and house prices are down a little on average and 11% in inflated Vancouver. One analyst has estimated Canada's house prices are 10% overvalued, another has predicted a 10%-15% drop in average prices and another as much as a 25% drop—of course, nobody really knows. Moody's bond rating service has discussed its concerns about "elevated housing prices."
The Governor of the Bank of Canada, before long to be the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has issued renewed warnings about the high levels of household debt in Canada. Mortgage delinquencies are low—but they are always low in a housing boom. The question, needless to say, is what happens to them after the boom stops.
Canada, which has a major government exposure to mortgage credit risk, has made very sensible moves to reduce allowable loan-to-value ratios in government-insured mortgages. This is consistent with one of the most important ideas in housing finance: countercyclical credit policies.
In general, as house prices rapidly rise over their trend line, the price is growing riskier, and the amount lent against the current price should be reduced, with the required down payment correspondingly increased. This will help moderate the booms. What Canada did in this respect is admirable and directionally correct, but was it enough and soon enough? We will see.
Back in the U.S., the effects of the collapsed bubble continue, in spite of the recent market improvements. The government's Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which insures mortgage loans with the Treasury's credit, recently announced that it is insolvent by $16 billion. My AEI colleague, Ed Pinto, calculates that if the FHA had to keep its books like a private mortgage insurance company, its net worth would be a negative $25 billion. He further calculates that the present value of all projected cash flows of the FHA is negative $34 billion. The FHA has publicly tried to downplay the importance of its expected losses exceeding its resources. What a surprise that a government agency would react that way!
Another continuing effect of the collapsed U.S. housing bubble, when combined with the onerous mortgage regulation mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, is that the private mortgage securitization business remains moribund. Almost all mortgage securitization is being done by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both insolvent and now owned and managed by the government, and Ginnie Mae, a government corporation.
Pointing out the regulatory preference given to Fannie and Freddie, their financial travails notwithstanding, one securities firm has concluded that "the return of meaningful private securitization is extremely unlikely." A central policy question for the U.S. in the wake of the housing bubble, is how to reduce the government dominance of the housing finance sector?
Another effect of the collapsed bubble is the remarkable transformation of the balance sheet of the American central bank, the Federal Reserve. If you add the 12 Federal Reserve Banks together, the assets of the Fed have inflated to $2.9 trillion (up $2 trillion from the pre-crisis level). The combined capital of the Fed is $55 billion. In the Fed's new world, it now owns $900 billion, or 16 times its capital, of mortgage-backed securities. One way of looking at this is that the Fed has become the biggest savings and loan in the world. It owns more mortgage assets in portfolio that either Fannie or Freddie do.


text:
TEL AVIV -- The Green Line, across which generations of Israelis and Palestinians have fought and haggled, was given its name because the United Nations mediator, Ralph Bunche, used a green pencil to draw the cease-fire boundary in 1949. In the Middle East, arbitrary markings can assume the geographic seriousness of mountain ranges.
The last Israeli prime minister to try drawing outside the lines was Ehud Olmert, who proposed a map in 2008 giving Palestinians control over 94 percent of the occupied territories and half of Jerusalem, along with a plan for joint custodianship of the holy places. "I thought it may bring an end to my political career," Olmert told me, "but I was determined to do it." Then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice observed that another Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, had been assassinated for less.
Olmert lived; the peace process didn't. Olmert's Palestinian negotiating partner, Abu Mazen, never got to "yes."
Now the Obama administration -- or at least Secretary of State John Kerry -- is trying to restart peace talks. So far, this has involved a process to produce a formulation that would allow both sides to sit at the same table. If there is a more substantive policy outcome in the works, it has been effectively hidden from everyone but Kerry.
Israelis of various political stripes admire Kerry's dedication but wonder about this timing. Recent Israeli elections were almost exclusively focused on nation-building at home. Israel is in the midst of a tech-led economic boom. Tel Aviv is a cross between Miami Beach and Palo Alto -- and feels very distant (though it isn't by miles) from Gaza and the West Bank.
Israel is also protecting its "villa in the jungle" (Ehud Barak's description) more effectively than most thought possible. The vast security wall is ugly but effective. The Iron Dome and other missile defense systems have proved their worth. The result is the best security situation in Israel's history. This is a tribute to Israel's extraordinary talent for improvisation. But it has encouraged an Iron Dome mentality, in which every national problem appears to have a technical solution. Many Israelis seem content to manage conflict rather than resolve it through negotiations.
The arguments for Israel to define its borders through a two-state settlement remain strong. "Given the history and heritage of the Jewish people," Olmert says, "we can't occupy forever 3 or 4 or 5 million people without equal rights." An agreement, he argues, would increase Israeli legitimacy, open global markets and make a Jewish state more demographically sustainable.
But these arguments seem abstract and long term compared with the pleasures of life in the villa. The majority of Israelis vaguely support a two-state solution, but there is no critical mass of political support for concessions in that cause. And Israel's current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, doesn't seem inclined to follow the Olmert model of leadership and unexpected generosity from a position of Israeli strength.
On the Palestinian side, the need for a two-state solution is acute because the current quasi-state, the Palestinian Authority (PA), is a shell, dependent on outside donations to function. (The day before I visited Ramallah, the Palestinian administrative center, gas stations began denying PA security vehicles fuel for lack of payment.) Given Israeli settlement activity and general Palestinian distrust for Netanyahu, confidence in a negotiated solution is low. But the alternative that is gaining some traction among some Palestinian leaders -- a unilateral effort to gain recognition from the United Nations -- would cause both the U.S. and Israel to (once again) cut the flow of outside donations to the PA, risking its total collapse.
Several Palestinian leaders have sufficient strength to undermine each other. The question is whether any Palestinian leader is strong enough to deliver on a peace agreement. Hamas, meanwhile, seems content to retain control of Gaza and hold out for a return to Israel's 1948 borders -- meaning no Israel at all. And surrounding Arab nations, which might be expected to lend a hand in the peace process, are either distracted by regional chaos or engulfed in it.
The result is the Middle East at its most frustrating. Majorities of Israelis and Palestinians support a two-state solution. The broad parameters of a deal have been clear since the Clinton administration (though the details are devil-filled). The American secretary of state is energetically on the job. But little is likely to change.
Michael Gerson's email address is email@example.com.
© 2013, Washington Post Writers Group


text:
Dump Truck Quilt Pattern
Stitch together a bright and adorable quilt for a new baby's room!
Nurture the worker in your little one with this darling dump truck quilt, perfect for hanging on a wall, using as a lap blanket or as a crib quilt. Your little digger with adore the finished results! This quilt will make a great baby shower gift for a construction-theme room.
Finished sizes:
Finished sizes:
- Wall hanging: 24" x 28"
- Crib: 36" x 42"
- Lap: 48" x 56"
Overall rating:
5 out of 5
(1 reviews)
(1 reviews)
How do you like this product?
Share your thoughts with the Annie's community.
You must be logged in to leave a review. Please log in.
Dump Truck Quilt Pattern
Laura M
April 14, 2014
April 14, 2014
My future Grandson (July 2014) and his construction manager Father will enjoy the quilt. Easy to make and it looks really cute.


text:
Union members of the Lakeland Police Department took the first of two straw poll votes Monday night to determine whether an official vote of no-confidence is warranted on Police Chief Lisa Womack.
LAKELAND | Union members of the Lakeland Police Department took the first of two straw poll votes Monday night to determine whether an official vote of no-confidence is warranted on Police Chief Lisa Womack.
The meeting was held at Il Forno restaurant at 6:30 p.m. and 32 officers showed up to cast their vote, said West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association President Nick Marolda. The meeting was over shortly after 7 p.m.
"We will review the ballots tonight," Marolda said, declining to reveal the results of the first night of voting. "We'll wait and have another meeting next Monday to make sure everybody had the opportunity to show up and speak and have any other questions answered. And we'll count them all up next week and we'll come out with the final tally."
Members leaving the restaurant Monday declined to talk to a Ledger reporter.
Marolda emailed a letter to the nearly 200 PBA members Sunday alerting them of Monday's vote. A second vote for members who couldn't attend Monday will be held Nov. 25 at the same time and location, Marolda said. If enough votes are gathered, Marolda will again schedule additional meetings to take a formal vote of no-confidence on Womack.
"Once again, the reason for this meeting is to settle this issue once and for all, and to determine if the 'majority' of PBA members want to conduct a no-confidence vote," Marolda wrote in his email Sunday. "No anonymous letters, no anonymous unconfirmed phone calls. If you so choose, you can sign an attendance sheet, and mark a ballot which will clearly indicate what you would like the PBA TO DO, and how you would like the PBA to proceed."
The vote is in response to an anonymous letter sent by purported PBA members within the department that asked the union to hold a no-confidence vote on Chief Lisa Womack.
Marolda said he has been told union members are afraid to speak up, so the only fair way to handle the situation is through a general membership meeting to take a poll on the issue. Despite asking members he knows, Marolda said he has not been able to verify the validity of the letter.
And by Monday, that hadn't changed.
When asked Monday whether Marolda had heard any more concerns, he said, "Nope, nothing at all. That's why I'm intrigued (about the straw poll)."
In his recent letter notifying the members of the poll, Marolda stressed members be off duty at the time of the meeting.
"I don't want someone to come back and say they were conducting PBA business on duty," Marolda said Monday. "It's better being in an off- duty status. I don't need any problems."
Marolda said Monday's discussion with officers before the vote was positive and there weren't any questions about why they were there.
"It was just discussing the state of the union stuff and the guys were like, 'Let's vote and let's get this thing going,'" Marolda said.
The decision on what the threshold of the vote should be was left to the union members Monday, Marolda said.
"They came up with a consensus and said, 'Whoever shows up, 50 percent plus one of people casting a vote would be fair,'" Marolda said. "I agreed with that and thought it was fair."
The low turnout at the meeting was expected by Marolda because of another meeting involving LPD members being held at the same time, along with other officers being off and wanting to be with their families on their day off, he said. "I can understand that."
[ Jeremy Maready can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 863-802- 7592. ]