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Alexandria, this brewery is for you!
Over the course of our history, Alexandria has had 4 breweries. Copper Trail is the 5th. The last brewery closed its doors over 70 years ago, so let's take a moment to appreciate this.
The craft beer movement took its hold when the Surly bill was introduced in 2011. This allowed the State of Minnesota to allow what is now knows as the Brewery Taproom. Beer is brewed on site, and you are allowed to consume it on site. Since then, Minnesota's craft brewers have grown to a 1.3 billion dollar industry, and have topped over 100 breweries!
Locally, you will finally be able to enjoy some of the freshest beer you've ever tried a mere 20 feet from where it was made. Please enjoy all the hard work that everyone has done to make this a possibility!
The Taproom
A clean-cut craftsman and industrial style taproom with a relaxing atmosphere. With seating for 60 at either our bar top, BORD tables, couch by the fireplace or custom made picnic tables we can accommodate groups of all sizes.
Ask for a tour of our brewery system and see exactly how your craft beer was made 20 feet from where it was poured.
Please make use of the wide selection of games we have on hand. From Cribbage to Checkers, Jenga to Scrabble, have fun! Try not to flip any boards over when your niece puts that last hotel on Park Place...
Stop in, have a brew from the frequently changing tap list, and grab a Growler or Crowler to go.
Proud enough to represent your favorite brewery? We're talking about Copper Trail Brewing obviously. Come into the taproom to explore the brewery and pick up some merchandise. There's plenty to pick from for yourself or one of your friends! We carry hats, t-shirts, glassware, souvenirs, and even our own custom beard oil.
Don't forget we also offer gift card purchases online.


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"Thinly sliced, seasoned pork served with a homemade, spicy au jus on the side."
That sounds like comfort food, yes? In no way was I prepared for the in-your-face, garlic-y, pungent, cheesy taste sensation that threw my delicate tastebuds into serious sensory overload, so much so that for a few minutes I contemplated giving up and trying again, in search of something a little more … balanced. How could I have gone so wrong in my menu ordering? In not specifying my preference of cheese (provolone, sharp or mild), the sharp cheese was added by default, which only compounded the intensity of flavor: garlic-y broccoli rabe, spicy au jus, sharp provolone. Wow.
I think Shorty's claim to be "NYC's only authentic cheesesteak" is a little audacious, but the ingredients are done right, the goods are quality and the venue comfortable — I'll definitely be back for the evening special — $8 for a cheesesteak and a pint, weekdays between 4-7p and 11p until closing. That's a damn good deal — just make mine with mild.

subset: commoncrawl


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Would You Try A Life Coach For Your Skin?
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Photo Credit: Courtesy of DailyMakeover


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'tis the season for 10 Best Posts. They are everywhere. Here two... Maybe I could even do a "10 Best of the 10 Bests" post... (that might be going too far)
I think these are my 10 Best Favorite Posts for 2009...
From LaneBailey.com
- Think you have time to mull over that house buying decision for weeks?
- Cheap Sex and Real Estate...
- My home is worth what?
- Can a $29,000 Home be overpriced?
- Where in the World is Lilburn, GA?
And from ActiveRain/GwinnettGarageGuy.com
- The best agent to use is the one that tells me the highest price
- I turned down a listing today... because it was the right thing to do...
- Thomas Edison, Kids' Hockey and Failure... Lesson?
- Absorption Rate? What is this all about?
- What IS the value of an Open House?
All of these posts were from Calendar Year 2009. For the ones on Active Rain, none of them got a feature. Some had a couple thousand views, others only had a couple hundred. Some of them might have been "overlooked"... others weren't.
I liked them. I hope you like them too. Feel free to drop the name of the one you like the most into the comments. And if you have a "Best of" or "Favorites" post, drop that into the comments, too.


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Auto Shine Detail, Attention To Details auto detailing provides the top quality, full service, auto detailing services. Our full service, temperature controlled detailing bay provides you with quality
results that cannot be matched by any mobile detail company. Our fully loaded shop uses nothing but the best quality equipment & products to ensure the great results that not only makes
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About Benovia www.youtube.com/watch
Ben Dewane and Novian Anderson never met, yet they raised their children with similar old-fashioned values. Hard work brings its own rewards, they would say. Be the best at what you do. Surround yourself with good people, and let them get to work. And never, ever produce anything that wouldn't make you proud.
Owners, Joe & Mary Anderson & Mike Sullivan.
With such similar family backgrounds, it's no wonder Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane would eventually find each other and marry. Together, they began a journey that led them to establish a winery that would make them, and their fathers, proud -- proud enough that the Benovia name pays homage to Ben and Novian.
Their journey also inspired Joe and Mary to assemble the best possible team of respected winemaking professionals. They partnered with Mike Sullivan, one of northern California's top winemakers, and someone who shares their passions for quality. With Mike as Benovia's co-owner, general manager and winemaker, they brought on Christy Simon as CFO to manage the financial side of the business. To bring even more depth to the winery operations, Chris Kangas was hired as vineyard manager, Nick Finarelli as assistant winemaker, and Tucker Catlin as vineyard development consultant. All good people who together make an even better team.
"At Benovia, our team is an extension of an extraordinary family," says Joe, "a family that eats, drinks, and breathes a lifelong passion for wine."
That passion led to the purchase of the renowned Cohn Vineyard atop a mountain near Healdsburg, where the couple lives, and led to a new winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The journey will continue with an exciting new Pinot Noir vineyard near Freestone, and the Martaella ranch (named after Joe and Mary's mothers), surrounding the winery itself.
Joe and Mary have invested in all the right things to make Benovia flourish-vineyards with unique terroir and a well equipped winery. But their most important investment is people.
"We see these people as the soul of Benovia," says Joe. "Mary and I trust in their passion and in what they bring to the wine. They expect a lot of themselves, and they expect it from each other. We like to call them 'Benovians.' I think our fathers would be proud of them."
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Homes by Email
Be the first to see new listings as soon as they hit the market!
Gamalier Sturgis
Estate Sale & Trash Removal
The family can take what they want and our Estate Sale Partners will handle everything else. The Estate gets the proceeds.
Repairs & Remodeling
Our contractors can do any type of work from minor repairs to full renovations. Investing in the right repairs improvements will allow the family to sell for the highest possible price in the shortest amount of time.
Sell at Highest Maximum Value
We have a 151 point strategy to get the property sold in the shortest time for the highest price using our proven system. On average we sell our homes in 30 days or less.
Sell in 24 hours to Cash Buyer
If the situation calls for a "quick sale", we work with cash buyers willing to purchase properties in "as is" condition with or without the remaining personal property. These buyers will write an offer in 24 hours from first visit, pay all of the closing costs and close in less than 7 days.
Donate the house to a Grief Support Org.
We would help you Donate the estate to a Grief support non-profit like Judi's House, (judishouse.org) who helps grieving children. This can be, not only fulfilling, but also saves your family money on possible taxes.
Handling Probate Issues Is NEVER Easy!
Whether you are a newly appointed executor or personal representative or an attorney that has been retained by the estate or appointed by the court, it's an absolute certainty that there will be difficult moments ahead.
First, there are usually the obvious emotional aspects of the situation. Often, the person chosen as the executor or personal representative to deal with the deceased person's probate issues is also someone who is still grieving over the loss of that loved one or friend. Then, that same person is faced with the added challenge of having to make many decisions in areas in which they have no previous experience.
These decisions must also be made with the added pressure of knowing that whatever the results of these decisions are, they will likely be very closely scrutinized and (all too frequently) second-guessed by family and/or friends. Couple this with the legitimate concern that everything must be handled "legally and properly" as well as all the horror stories about probates that have gone badly and the pressure and stress really begins to multiply.
Even if there is no real estate in the matters to be disposed of by the personal representative or executor, this is a big undertaking and when Real Estate is involved, the load is compounded.
Be aware that no one should ever tell you that being an executor or personal representative can truly be stress-free because decisions will indeed have to be made. As an experienced Real Estate Professional, we will make sure that you are always well-informed in regard to these decisions – especially as they pertain to real estate. We will also help you with some of the difficult conversations you may have to have with family members and other heirs. If you haven't yet secured the services of a competent probate attorney, we can help you choose one whose good work we know and are comfortable recommending.
We'll help you at every step along the way and do everything possible to steer you clear of the minefields. Of course, you'll still have to make some interesting choices, but having us as an advisor by your side makes the task significantly less lonely.
Here's where we really shine. First, we will help you determine specifically what the most critical objective or objectives are in regard to the real estate that's involved in the probate.
Do you need to dispose of the property as quickly as possible?
If so, we can provide immediate cash buyers from our list of qualified investors. Often, this is vital to allow a surviving spouse to move into a more suitable location, handle medical or other bills or simply get asset funds into the hands of the heirs quickly. Our investors can often make offers within 24 hours on almost any property and can close really quickly. Sometimes, funds can even be advanced prior to closing. Of course, timelines are frequently subject to the courts and filing timelines which are beyond our control, but our efforts minimize these delays whenever possible.
Do you need to maximize the selling price to provide the greatest cash benefit to the heirs / stakeholders?
When maximum revenue is the focus, we'll make certain the property is not only listed properly but marketed aggressively and intelligently to assure maximum exposure. We'll make sure you know exactly what the property is worth if you are willing to wait for the right buyer and we'll help you determine any possible repairs (if any) that might add more to the final selling price than their cost – in other words, the greatest bang for the buck. Be aware that all too often, ill-informed sellers spend far too much on repairs that do not even cover their cost in the final sale price. This is where our experience, preparation, and savvy marketing skills come into play.
We work especially well in these situations. Typically the attorney of record has one of two roles. They are either appointed to the task by the court or selected by the family or executor / personal advisor. If you've been court-appointed, then your role is usually focused strictly on the legal issues regarding any transactions and dispersal of assets. However, if you are retained by the family or the executor / personal representative, your role usually extends to include a more advisory capacity as well. In either case, we will at all times keep you well-informed about any aspect of the process in which we are involved – especially when it comes to fielding offers on the real estate.
In some cases, the family or executor / personal advisor will want ALL aspects of the probate to be handled completely by the attorney. In these cases, we'll work with you as "the client" regarding the real estate, just as we would with the executor / personal advisor.
We have focused our efforts on working in this unique area of Real Estate because we feel it allows us to not only perform a much-needed service to people in times of great stress, but also because it is a place where we can differentiate our level of expertise from others who are not as focused in this niche. We've taken the time to and made the investment to properly prepare to assist you. If you'd like some general information, please review our list of Frequently Asked Probate Questions below. We are ready to start working with you today and ease any unnecessary burdens quickly.
Glossary of Important Probate Terminology
When a person dies, their last will and testament (assuming they prepared on in advance) is handled and their wishes for the distribution of their personal property implemented through a process called probate. Probate simply means the procedure by which their last written directives are legally certified as the final statement of their wishes in regard to their worldly possessions (including any property or properties they may have owned). It also confirms the appointment of a person or entity the deceased person selected to administer their estate. The term probate is also frequently used to refer to the entire process of "probating" an estate. In this usage, it refers to the entire process that gathers all of the available assets, pays any outstanding debts, taxes, administrative expenses and then finally makes the specified distribution of remaining assets to those persons or entities designated by the will.
The personal representative (also know as the executor or executrix) who is named in the will is legally in charge of this process and is responsible for handling the orderly method for administration of the estate as set forth by the probate laws and procedures of their state. The executor is typically held accountable for their actions and decisions by the heirs and other beneficiaries and in some cases may be formally supervised by a probate court. If a will does not exist or a personal representative is not designated in the will, the court will appoint one (assuming there is personal property to distribute).
The personal representative is often entitled by law to a reasonable fee or commission for their services.
Probate law generally encourages or provides for partial distributions of funds during the period of administration and assets are often distributed "in kind" rather than sold during this period. Tax laws generally look to the personal representative as being responsible for making death tax filings and other tax payments from the outstanding assets of the deceased. Therefore, choosing an executor / executrix / personal representative is an important decision.
The basic job of administration and accounting for assets must be done whether the estate is handled by a personal representative as part of the probate process or if probate is avoided. In the recent past, lawyers and other professionals have advocated the use of probate avoidance techniques (such as revocable trusts, etc.) in states where the probate process has been seen to be too slow and overly expensive. In recent years, many states have simplified or streamlined their probate processes and in such states, there is now less reason to employ probate avoidance techniques.
A probate court, which is sometimes referred to as a surrogate court, is a specialized court and legal process that deals with matters pertaining to the probate and the administration of the estate of deceased persons.
These specialized courts ascertain and oversee that proper administration and distribution of the assets of a decedent (one who has died), determine and certify the validity of wills, enforce the provisions of a valid will (by issuing the grant of probate), prevent improper action or malfeasance by executors and administrators of estates, and provide for the equitable distribution of the assets of persons who die intestate (without a valid will). In such cases, the court may appoint a personal representative to administer the matters pertaining to an estate.
If there are disputes regarding an estate, the probate court ultimately decides who is to receive the property of a deceased person. In a case of an intestacy, the court determines who is to receive the deceased's property under the laws it is governed by. The probate court will oversee the process of distributing the deceased's assets to the proper beneficiaries. In some states or jurisdictions, probate courts are also referred to as orphans courts, superior court, courts of ordinary or other names. Not all jurisdictions have specific probate courts and in some locales, probate matters are handled by a chancery court or another court of equity.
The probate court can be petitioned by parties that are interested in or who have claims against an estate, such as when a beneficiary feels that an estate is being mishandled or someone to whom the decedent owed money. The court has the authority to demand that an executor, executrix or personal representative give an account of their actions on behalf of an estate.
Probate Court
The Personal Representative, also known as the Executor (if the personal representative is a male) or Executrix (if the personal representative is a female) is the person who is designated by the will of person who has died to administer their estate and handle the distribution of its assets to those entities designated by the provisions of the will. Unless there is some valid objection or the person designated refuses to serve in that capacity, the probate judge will appoint the person who is named in the will to serve as the personal representative.
It is the duty of the personal representative to ensure that the deceased person's wishes, as expressed in the will, are carried out. Some of the tasks that may be required to be performed by the personal representative include determining and protecting the specific assets of the estate; obtaining information (name and location) in regard to all beneficiaries named in the will and any other potential heirs; collecting and arranging for payment of the debts (if any) of the estate; approving or contesting any claims made by creditors; making sure estate taxes are calculated and paid, filing any required forms, and assisting the attorney for the estate (often selected by the personal representative if not specified in the will).
Joint Tenancy With Rights of Survivorship
Joint tenants (or tenancy) with right of survivorship (JTWROS) is a type of ownership of real property or financial assets in which all joint owners have equal portions of ownership that are immediately re-allocated to remaining owners if one or more owner dies.
This term refers to a person who has died and left a "Last Will and Testament" that specifies their wishes pertaining to the distribution of the assets of their estate following their death. In this case, the estate will be distributed according to the provisions of the will.
This term refers to a person who has died and did not leave a "Last Will and Testament". In this case, the administration of the estate will be handled by the court of jurisdiction and according to the laws of the state.
A codicil is a document, attachment or rider that is added to an existing will that modifies or supersedes existing provisions or adds new provisions. This is done as an alternative to redrawing the entire will and is often done to change a beneficiary or assign disposition of a particular property or define the rights of a specific beneficiary.
Probate Definitions And General Information
Q: How does the probate process work?
A: While the process can vary from state to state and is often subject to outside factors that can certainly change it, the list below represents a VERY simplified step-by-step description of the process:
Q: How long does probate usually take to complete?
A: The duration of the probate process is subject to lots of different variables, but a general rule of thumb is approximately six months. However, you should be aware that it can and frequently does takes far longer. Some of the matters that can delay the completion of the process (among others) can include:
The complexity of the task and these myriad of possible delaying factors make it all the more imperative that a well-organized and meticulous personal representative be selected who can effectively manage the process and reduce the chances of complications and delays.
Q: Why is probate actually required?
A: There are many reasons for probate, but some of the most important are:
Q: Is it necessary for all of the decedent's property to go through probate?
Not necessarily, however, some legal method must be employed to transfer the legal title and ownership of the deceased's property into the name of the beneficiaries and/or heirs. Many states also allow a some types of property to pass to certain beneficiaries free of probate or via a simplified (express or fast-track) probate procedure.
Usually, real and personal property owned under a structure called "joint tenancy with rights of survivorship" passes to the surviving co-owner(s) without a requirement for probate.
Other types of benefits, such as a life insurance policy or an annuity that is payable directly to a named beneficiary can often be tendered without the requirement for probate. Also, IRAs, Keoghs, and 401(k) accounts usually transfer to the persons named therein as heirs or beneficiaries automatically without probate. Bank accounts that are set up as "payable-on-death" accounts; ones that are being "held in trust for" specific heirs or beneficiaries (also called a "Totten Trust") also pass the proceeds directly to the named heirs or beneficiaries without probate.
A "living trust" that holds title to a property held in trust also passes that property to the heirs or beneficiaries without probate. Such a trust is a legal entity which survives after the death of the person who created it.
Q: How much does probate cost?
A: The cost of probate may be set by state law or by practice and custom in your community.
When all the costs are added up – and the costs may include appraisal costs, executor's fees, court costs, costs for a type of insurance policy known as a "surety bond", plus legal and accounting fees, probate can easily cost from 3% to 7% of the total estate value, and more. If there is a "Will contest" all bets are off.
Q: If there is a really small estate, is probate still necessary?
A: Possibly. In some states, there are processes often referred to as "simplified procedures" that are used for estates whose value is below certain financial thresholds. The limits can be as small as a few thousand dollars or as much as a hundred thousand dollars. It depends on the court of jurisdiction. This is certainly a matter to consult with an attorney about, but if there is real estate involved or there are debts against the estate, regardless of the size of the estate, the full probate process may be required or advisable.
Q: What goes on in the probate of an uncontested will?
A: Typically the person named as the deceased's Personal Representative (a more formal term is "Executor" or "Executrix") goes to an attorney experienced in probate matters, who then prepares a "Petition" for the court and takes it, along with the Will, and files it with the probate court.
The lawyer for the person seeking to have the Will admitted to probate typically must notify all those who would have legally been entitled to receive property from the deceased if the deceased died without a Will, plus all those named in the Will, and give them an opportunity to file an formal objection to admitting the Will to probate.
A hearing on the probate petition is typically scheduled several weeks to months after the matter is filed. Depending on the state, and sometimes who the named beneficiaries are, how long before the death the Will was signed, whether the Will was prepared by an attorney, who supervised the "execution" of the Will, and/or whether the Will was executed with certain affidavits, it may be necessary to bring in the persons who witnessed the deceased's signature on the Will.
If no objections are received, and everything seems in order, the court approves the petition, appoints the Personal representative, orders that taxes and creditors be paid, and requires the Personal Representative to file reports with the court to assure all the deceased's property is accounted for and distributed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Will.
A: The appropriate court in the State and County where the deceased permanently resided at the time of his or her death is usually the court where the probate is processed. A court that handles issues such as these can often be referred to my several different names. For example, in the state of New York, the court that handles probate is called the Surrogate's Court, while, in the state of California, it is called Superior Court, Probate Division. However, it's most common for it to be referred to simply as "probate court".
Q: Can I handle probate without a lawyer?
A: While there is usually no legal requirement to use a probate lawyer, probate is a rather formalistic procedure. One minor omission, one failure to send Great Aunt Maggie a copy of the petition, or a missed deadline, can cause everything to come to a grinding halt or expose everyone to liability.
The death of a family member or friend sometimes tends to bring out the very worst in some people. Experience shows that even in close families there is a tendency to get overly emotional about relatively trivial matters at the time of a loved one's death, such as who gets the iron frying pan and who gets the kettle. Such minor matters or any delays or inconveniences can be upsetting, pose issues of fairness, and create unfounded suspicion among family members. Thus, it generally is a very good idea to "let a lawyer do it".
Definition and Duties of the Personal Representative / Executor / Executrix
Q: What happens when the person who dies owned land in multiple states?
A: Usually, the laws of the state in which the deceased was last a permanent resident prevail in regard to governance of probate issues – covering all of the deceased's personal property, wherever it was located, and all the deceased's real property located within the state. Therefore, probate almost always filed in the last state where the deceased person lived.
If the decedent owned out-of-state real property, the laws of the other state can govern (or certainly affect) who inherits it if there is no will. If a will exists and it has been filed for probate in the state of most recent residence of the deceased, it usually must be submitted to probate in the other state(s) of jurisdiction in which the deceased owned real property. That additional probate filing is formally referred to as "ancillary probate". Some states require the appointment of a personal representative who is a local resident or the state to administer any in-state property.
If there is no Will, probate is usually required in each state where the real property is situated, in addition to the home state and each individual state can impose it own methodology that controls the distribution of assets. As an example, in one state, the real estate might go only to the spouse. In another state, it might be equally divided between a spouse and each of his or her children. In still another, half of the assets might go to a spouse and the remainder divided equally between the children. This is one of the reasons a will is so important to properly express the wishes of the deceased and prevent family struggles and quarrels following a death.
Q: Who is legally responsible for handling the probate process?
A: If there is a will, the Personal Representative (sometimes referred to as the "executor" or "executrix") is usually responsible. If there is no will, an "administrator" is appointed by the court as part of the probate proceeding and that person has the responsibility for managing the estate through the proceeding, subject to established probate rules and procedures.
In many states, the probate court has a considerable amount of control over the activities of the Personal Representative, and requires that she or he obtain prior permission of the court before certain actions, such as the sale of real estate or business interests owned by the estate, may take place.
Q: What are the main duties of a personal representative?
A: The main tasks of a Personal Representative are to:
(1) determine if there are any probate assets;
(2) identify, gather, and inventory the assets of the deceased;
(3) receive payments due the estate, including interest, dividends, and other income (e.g., unpaid salary, vacation pay, and other company benefits);
(4) set up a checking account for the estate;
(5) figure out who is going to get what and how much under the Will (if there is no Will, the state's "interstate succession laws" apply);
(6) value or appraise the estate's assets;
(7) give legal notice to potential creditors (the procedure and deadlines for creditors to file claims vary from state-to-state);
(8) investigate the validity of all claims against the estate;
(9) pay funeral bills, outstanding debts, and valid claims;
(10) pay the expenses of administrating the estate;
(11) handle various paperwork, such as discontinuing utilities and charge cards, and notifying Social Security, Civil Service, and Veterans Administration of the death;
(12) file and pay income and estate taxes;
(13) distribute the remaining property in accordance with the instructions provided in the deceased's Will; and
(14) close probate.
Q: If I am named as the personal representative, do I have to accept the job?
A: Of course not. It is always your option to serve or decline. Even if you agree to serve you can resign later. If you do quit before the completion of probate, you may be required to provide an "accounting" for the period you served. If you decline to serve (or accept and resign later) any alternate named in the will is typically appointed by the court. If no alternate representative is named in the will or the named alternate dies or is unwilling to serve (or, of course, if a person dies without a will, the probate court will appoint someone to serve as the personal representative.
Q: Are personal representatives usually paid for their work?
A: It is not a requirement, but usually they are compensated. Certainly all personal expenses they incur in the management and process of settling the estate must be paid for. Typically, a personal representative earns a fee of +/- 2% of the total value of the estate for their work. This can be mandated by the courts or by law in some states and also varies moderately from state to state. Generally, this percentage diminishes as a percentage as the size of the estate increases.
All of the funds paid to the personal representative are subject to approval by the probate court. Additional fees may be allowed by the court in cases of unusual difficulty or extraordinary circumstances. On the other hand, if a personal representative does not perform their duties in an orderly or timely manner, the court may reduce or deny compensation and the Personal Representative may be held responsible for any damages caused.
If a person is both the sole beneficiary of the estate, and the estate is not subject to Federal Estate Tax, it usually does not make sense to take any fees as all fee income is subject to income tax. (The money a beneficiary receives from the estate is income tax-free.)
Q: What happens if the personal representative fails to perform his or her duty?
A: An executor or administrator who is derelict in his or her duty is personally liable for damages caused in the administration of the estate.
Liability may arise from improperly managing the assets of the estate, failing to collect claims and moneys due the estate, overpaying claimants, selling an asset without the authority to do so, or at an inappropriate price, neglecting to file tax returns on time, distributing property to the wrong beneficiaries, etc.
This means that the Personal Representative might wind up paying for the loss out of his or her own pocket.
Q: What if someone objects to or contests the will?
A: If someone files an objection to the Will or produces another Will, what is known as a "Will contest" has begun. While Will contests are not that rare, and while few people actually win one, they can be extraordinarily costly and create incredible delays.
It's also important to know that the requirements for contesting a will require a person to have "standing" to mount a contest. Despite the fact that you feel your next door neighbor's children ignored her and treated her badly. that does not give you the right to contest her will. If, a person has proper standing to contest a will (ex: a child who was cut out of the Will by an angry parent, or even by a kindly parent who felt that the local charity, not his children, should get his assets) that person would have standing to bring a "Will contest". If a Will gives one sibling 2/3rds of a parent's estate and the other 1/3rd, the one receiving less has standing to bring a Will contest. Similarly, if a later Will is less favorable to someone than an earlier Will, or no Will at all, that person has standing. A Will contest sometimes is launched to have a different person, bank or trust company serve as Personal Representative for the estate, or as a trustee of Trusts created by the Will.
Q: What is the basis for a will contest?
A: Most of the challenges to invalidate Wills are by potential heirs or beneficiaries who got little or nothing. Questions on the validity of a Will must be filed in probate court within a certain number of days after receiving notice of the death or petition to admit the Will to probate.
The typical objections and unhappiness is not one of them are:
(1) the Will was not properly drawn, signed or witnessed, according to the state's formal requirements;
(2) the decedent lacked mental capacity at the time the Will was executed;
(3) there was fraud, force or undue influence; or
(4) the Will was a forgery.
If the Will is held invalid, the probate court may invalidate all provisions or only the challenged portion. If the entire Will is held invalid, generally the proceeds are distributed under the laws of intestacy of the probating state.
Needless to say, if there is even the possibility of a Will contest, an experienced probate lawyer is a must.
Q: How can a will be "contested"?
A: A "contest" is usually mounted by the filing of the necessary documents with the probate court by an heir, prospective heir or another beneficiary. Each state has different time limits that control the window for filing. To successfully challenge a will, there must be sufficient evidence that the will was not created properly. Sour grapes or being upset that a person didn't receive what they felt they had coming are not sufficient grounds for contesting a will. Typically, only certain factors are mandated by law to be contestable. These might encompass the incapacity or incompetence of the decedent at the time the will was prepared, fraudulent intent on the part of some parties to the will or undue influence or duress perpetrated on the decedent.
A: If a person dies without a Will (known as dying "intestate"), the probate court appoints a Personal Representative frequently called an "Administrator" to receive all claims against the estate, pay creditors, and then distribute all remaining property in accordance with the laws of the state.
The major difference between dying testate and dying intestate is that without a valid Will an intestate estate is distributed to beneficiaries in accordance with the distribution plan established by state law; a testate estate is distributed in accordance with the instructions provided by the decedent in his/her Will.
Q: What happens if a will cannot be found?
A: Missing Wills raise all sorts of interesting legal issues which often turn on the specific facts and circumstances, and the law of the state in which the deceased resided.
The Will may be missing because the deceased intentionally revoked it, in which case, depending on state law, an earlier Will or the state's rules on intestate succession would determine who gets the deceased's estate.
Alternatively, the Will may be missing because it can be proven the Will was stored in a bank vault that was destroyed in an explosion and fire. In that case, the probate court may accept a photocopy of the Will (or the lawyer's draft or computer file), together with evidence that the deceased duly signed the original.
Q: How can I find out if there was a will?
A: The first place to check is with the probate court in the County of the State where the deceased lived. In almost every case the Will, if filed, will be available to the public.
Anyone can get to see it, and for a modest fee, obtain a copy. If you are far away, a local lawyer or legal service bureau often can arrange to do a search and get a copy for you, at a relatively modest fee.
The fact that a person died — even if he or she "owned" substantial assets — does not mean that he or she actually had a Will, or that the Will was duly filed with the Court. In fact, if the deceased held property exclusively through a Living Trust or a joint ownership arrangement, there may not have been a need to file a Will, because the Trust did not "die" with the individual. Also, with certain forms of joint ownership, the property usually passes to the other joint owners automatically.
Q: How can I avoid probate of my estate?
A: One approach to reduce or eliminate the need for probate is through the use of a Living Trust that holds legal title to some or all of your property at the time of your death. The Trust is a legal entity which survives you after your death.
Q: How are creditors against the estate handled?
A: Creditors are notified of the death as part of the probate process. This notification process can vary from state-to-state and can range from a letter to each creditor to a blanket notice to all creditors published in the local newspaper. Once this filing or notification has occurred, creditors have a fixed period of time (defined by the court of jurisdiction) to to file any claims against the estate either by notifying the personal representative or, in some states, notifying the probate court. If the claim is approved by the personal representative, the bill is usually paid out of the estate. However, if the personal representative rejects a claim is, the creditor must sue the estate for payment.
If the estate does not have sufficient funds to pay the lawful debts to the creditors, the determination of who receives payment and in what order is usually a matter of law. Also, the personal representative may be required to sell some or all of the decedent's property to satisfy the claims of the creditors.
Q: Do beneficiaries have to pay creditors out of their own pocket if the estate is insolvent?
A: Generally not. Just as you "can't take it with you" you just can't make others responsible for your general debts, at least without their consent. (Otherwise a person could run up lots of debts, name his worst enemy as his beneficiary, and saddle his enemy with those debts at his or her death.)
Unless the deceased had gifted away his or her assets to someone shortly before dying, or otherwise acted in concert with them to defraud his or her creditors, beneficiaries should not have any liability to the deceased's creditors just because they are beneficiaries. Of course, the Estate may not have anything left for them, but the beneficiaries would not be in the hole.
Of course, if the children or beneficiaries took any property or benefits from the deceased or the estate or had assumed liability for care given the deceased, or guaranteed payment, they could be held liable for some or all of the deceased's debts separately, not because they are relatives or beneficiaries.
Q: How are taxes handled in probate?
A: For federal and state tax purposes, death triggers two events:
(1) It ends the decedent's last tax year for purposes of filing an income tax return, and,
(2) It establishes a new, separate entity for tax purposes, the "estate."
For Federal tax purposes, it may be necessary to complete and file one or more of the following, depending on the decedent's income, the size of the estate, and the income of the estate:
(1) Final Form 1040 Federal Income Tax return.
(2) Form 1041 Federal Fiduciary Income Tax returns for the estate.
(3) Form 709 Federal Gift Tax return(s).
(4) Form 706 Federal Estate Tax return.
For state purposes, an executor must file the appropriate state income tax return (assuming the decedent was required to do so while living) and any state income tax returns during the probate period, plus possible estate tax, inheritance tax and gift tax returns. (In many states, gift, estate and inheritance taxes have been eliminated for most small and medium-sized estates.) The requirements for filing and payment vary widely from state-to-state.
Other taxes require the attention of the personal representative in the probate process, such as local real estate and personal property taxes, business taxes, and any special state taxes.
The Personal Representative should also be alert to the possibility of issues arising from tax years prior to the decedent's death.
Q: After a will is created, can it be modified?
A: Of course. The only real requirement is that the person making the will be competent to make the change. In the movies, you ha probably heard this stated as "of sound mind". A will can be modified with an addendum, often referred to as a codicil or replaced by a completely new will. Sometimes the law can modify the effect of a will. This is especially common in cases of divorce which usually terminates an ex-spouse's rights unless a specify provision keeps them in place. However, separation doesn't terminate a spouse's rights. This just one example, but a probate attorney should always be up to date on prevailing legal issues in your state.
Q: Are provisions for the care and guardianship of minor children usually provided for in a will?
A: Often they are, but a court is not bound by these provisions and might overrule them if there was a specific reason to do so or a justifiable challenge to the guardianship was offered by another family member or interested party. It is also possible that a different guardian would be appointed if a designated guardian was deemed to be incompetent to adequately serve in such a role or is judged to be an otherwise inappropriate choice, based on moral or other character issues. In all such cases, the decision of the judge will determine the final guardianship, but the wishes of the person making the will always be given first consideration. It is important to add this provision to a will since it is possibly the only way your wishes in this matters would ever become known.
Q: Are there any specific rules about how property can be disposed of?
A: In general, the answer is yes, but if (for example) you indicated that all your effects should be buried in a big hole in the back of your property, that request might be deemed inappropriate by the courts and denied. A judge can void all or part of a will. You cannot change the effects of law just by stating your wishes in your will. For example, you may not suspend or terminate any legal rights or claims that a spouse, child or business relationship may rightfully have against an estate just by stating that in a will. They will remain in effect.
Q: Can there be more than one designated personal representative?
A: You could do so by appointing co-representatives or a secondary representative. However, this could not only cause problems during probate if there is a disagreement between the representatives. Normally, one representative is all that is needed and appointing more than one should only be done where there is a specify reason to do so. A possible example might be where one person handled only the real estate aspects of probate and the other one was designated to handle all other issues. Appointing co-representatives just to protect someone's "feelings" is almost always a bad decision and should be avoided. Often, a frank discussion with the people involved can eliminate any issues of concern and allow one person to take on the challenging role or representative without the added challenges of co-representation.
Q: Is it necessary for the personal representative to live in the decedent's state?
A: It depends on the laws of the state, but usually isn't an absolute requirement, but it is usually easier – especially in regard to larger estates and real estate.
Q: How does "joint tenancy" effect a will?
A: Joint tenancy with right of survivorship (FTWROS) is a common legal method of defining property ownership when shared with another person, but it doesn't replace a will. Typical, this "survivor" is a spouse, but can apply to other relationships. If one of the owners dies, the other becomes the sole owner of the property. This means that the real estate isn't part of the decedent's estate, and therefore, is not subject to probate. However, all parties should be aware of possible tax liability implications (if any) of such survivorship.
Q: Must a will actually be read out loud to the family by the personal representative or attorney
A: A state law could possibly require this, but generally this is a movie scenario and not done in real life. Usually, the personal representative of the estate provides notice of probate to all interested parties and they can obtain a copy of the will from the probate court if desired. Often, enough copies of the will are made and distributed to the affected parties by the representative.
Q: Should a will provide a separate list that details and bequeaths specific personal property?
A: If this is allowable in the state in question, the benefit of doing so is that the list can be changed from time to time as opposed to changing or adding codicils to the will.
Q: What are the actual requirements for a will to be valid?
A: While each state may impose additional or alternate requirements, in general, a valid will must be hand-written or printed and signed by the person who has created it. This person is the "testator" and a will is usually witnessed by two (or more) persons who must normally be "disinterested" parties – meaning they are not named as beneficiaries in the will. Witnesses must also be of "sound mind" (mentally competent). The required number of witnesses may differ by state. The testator needs to have reached the age of "majority" (18 in most states) and also be of "sound mind" (mentally competent) when the will is executed. A married person who has not yet reached the age of majority is usually adjudged legally capable of executing a will. Normally, it is not a technical requirement for a will to be notarized, but it certainly is helpful to add strength to the will. Fully "holographic" (totally handwritten) wills are still recognized as valid in many states without being witnessed. Such a will must be in the normal and provable handwriting of and signed by the testator. As always, state law might impose other conditions on a holographic will.
Q: What happens if a person dies without leaving a will?
A: The laws of each state usually provide a "default will" for any person who dies without a will, which is referred to as "intestate". The spouse and children of the decedent will usually be given the property of the deceased. If no spouse and no children exist, then the decedent's parents will usually receive the property. Following them if they are not alive are other siblings, grandparents, and children of the grandparents. If no close direct family can be found, the property will eventually revert to the state. Just be aware that in all cases, any creditors (including taxing entities such as the state, local and federal government) will be allowed to extract what they are owed from the estate prior to its final disposition and this could necessitate the sale of property to provide funding for these liabilities.
A: The simple answer is … immediately. Usually, death comes as a surprise to us all and no one is aware of their impending demise. Making a will represents doing the "right thing" today for those you love and you should occasionally review your will to make sure it continues to represent your final wishes. If not – modify it. Also, almost everyone who dies owns some sort of personal property, therefore, everyone needs to provide their heirs with a will to prevent confusion or strife after their death. While state law will decide what happens to property in the estate of a person who dies intestate, the default plan normally distributes property to relatives. Therefore, a girlfriend, boyfriend, partner or fiance' will have no provision made for them by law unless provide by a valid will.
Q: Who can or should draft my will?
A: If you do not do it yourself (which is perfectly acceptable) only an attorney can legally draft a will for you. Be aware that personally drafted wills are often incomplete and therefore, some or all of such will can be held to be invalid under state laws. While there are certainly kits available from multiple resources for creating a will, they are often not state-specific. If your will fails to follow state law in creation areas, it could be held to be invalid.


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This meeting is open to the general public. Please arrive a bit early to chat and order dinner if you like.
Spring soaring season is opening up in Hollister, and we have many topics to discuss this month:
- Buying a Discus 2
- Selling 9JH (Pegasus)
- Reviving the BASA Student Membership opportunity
- Creating a "Mentor Membership" for experienced pilots outside BASA to fly dual cross-country flights with current BASA members.
- Air Sailing Camps: Gianni will be sending out info for Thermal & Cross Country camps
- News from HSC
- Panoche checkouts went well last week-end; additional similar event to be set up for April.
- HSC will be announcing special XC Tow Rates based on Tach Time.
- Russell Holtz is available at HSC for XC instruction (this will be for a fee, structure to be determined).


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Lucy in the Sky
There's a point at which this joke stops being funny and turns sad, and it's very early in its over two hours runtime.
There's a point at which this joke stops being funny and turns sad, and it's very early in its over two hours runtime.
The fact that Midnight Traveler even exists is a bit of a miracle.
Roger Ebert on James Ivory's "Howards End".
"The Ballad of Narayama" is a Japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty. What a space it opens…
An article about the 4K restoration of George T. Nierenberg's "Say Amen, Somebody" currently receiving a limited theatrical release.
An article about the second annual Ebert Symposium, "Creating an Inclusive Cinema and Media Ecosystem," scheduled for Friday, September 27th at the University of Illinois…
An article about the 4K restoration of George T. Nierenberg's "Say Amen, Somebody" currently receiving a limited theatrical release.
An article about the second annual Ebert Symposium, "Creating an Inclusive Cinema and Media Ecosystem," scheduled for Friday, September 27th at the University of Illinois…
A reappreciation of a Billy Wilder classic.
FFC Seongyong Cho looks back at Alan J. Pakula's twisty thriller Presumed Innocent.
A dispatch from Toronto on three foreign films.
An interview with director Pablo Larraín and star Mariana Di Girolamo about their new film, Ema.
What a lovely film this is, so gentle and whimsical, so simple and profound. Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion" is faithful to the spirit of the radio program, a spirit both robust and fragile, and yet achieves something more than simply reproducing a performance of the show. It is nothing less than an elegy, a memorial to memories of times gone by, to dreams that died but left the dreamers dreaming, to appreciating what you've had instead of insisting on more.
This elegiac strain is explained by the premise that we are watching the last performance of the weekly show. After a final singing of "Red River Valley" (the saddest of all songs), the paradise of the Fitzgerald Theater will be torn down so they can put up a parking lot. After 30 years, the show will be no more.
The show is hosted by a man referred to as G.K., and played by Garrison Keillor as a version of himself, which is about right, because he always seems to be a version of himself. Keillor, whose verbal and storytelling genius has spun a whole world out of thin air, always seems a step removed from what he does, as if bemused to find himself doing it. Here his character refuses to get all sentimental about the last program, and has a dialogue with Lola (Lindsay Lohan), a young poet who likes suicide as a subject. It seems to her G.K. should offer up a eulogy; there is sufficient cause, not only because of the death of the program, but because a veteran of the show actually dies during the broadcast.
"I'm of an age when if I started to do eulogies, I'd be doing nothing else," he says.
"You don't want to be remembered?"
"I don't want them to be told to remember me."
So the last show is treated like any other. In the dressing room, incredibly cluttered with bric-a-brac and old photos, we meet Lola's mother and her aunt, Yolanda and Rhonda Johnson (Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin). They are the two survivors from a four-sister singing act: "The Carter Family was like us, only famous." Their onstage duets are hilarious, depending on a timing that rises above the brilliant to the transcendent; they were doing this double act on the Academy Award telecast last March.
We also meet Chuck Akers (L. Q. Jones), an old-time C&W singer, and Dusty and Lefty (Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly), two cowboy singers who threaten to make the last program endless as they improvise one corny joke after another. We also meet the people who make the show work: The stage manager Molly (Maya Rudolph), and, borrowed from the show itself, the makeup lady (Sue Scott), Al the backstage guy (Tim Russell), the sound effects man (Tom Keith), the bandleader (Rich Dworsky) and the P.H.C. house band. Molly is surely so pregnant she should stay calm, but she is driven to distraction by G.K.'s habit of never planning anything, and moseying up to the microphone at the last conceivable moment.
Adding another level is the materialization in the real world of Guy Noir, Private Eye (Kevin Kline). Listeners of the program will know that Keillor and his stock company perform adventures from the life of Noir, as a salute to old-time radio drama. In Altman's movie, Noir is a real person, a broken-down gumshoe who handles security for the show (he lights his cigarettes with wooden kitchen matches, just like Philip Marlowe in Altman's "The Long Goodbye"). Guy is visited by a character described as the Dangerous Woman (Virginia Madsen), who may perhaps be an angelic one.
The final visitor to the Fitzgerald theater is Axeman (Tommy Lee Jones ), who represents the investors who have bought the lovely theater and will tear it down. He doesn't recognize the bust of a man in the theater's private box, but we do: It is F. Scott Fitzgerald, that native son of St. Paul in whose honor the theater is named. A little later, Ed Lachman's camera helps Altman observe that Fitzgerald and Guy Noir have profiles so similar as to make no difference.
Like the show that inspired it, "A Prairie Home Companion" is not about anything in particular. Perhaps it is about everything in general: About remembering, and treasuring the past, and loving performers not because they are new but because they have lasted. About smiling and being amused, but not laughing out loud, because in Minnesota loud laughter is seen as a vice practiced on the coasts. About how all things pass away, but if you live your life well, everything was fun while it lasted. There is so much of the ghost of Scott Fitzgerald hovering in the shadows of this movie that at the end I quoted to myself the closing words of The Great Gatsby. I'm sure you remember them, so let's say them together: And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Sometimes, Roger Ebert is exposed to bad movies. When that happens, it is his duty -- if not necessari...
A review of Netflix's The I-Land, the worst show in the streaming service's history.
This message came to me from a reader named Peter Svensland. He and a fr...
A review of the new film by Roman Polanski, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.


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KAФEDRA – exhibition by the department of Jewellery and Blacksmithing at the Estonian Academy of Art 29 April, 2016, Narva Art Residency Sofia Hallik Merlin Meremaa Hanna-Maria Vanaküla Federica Cogliandro Miikael Danieljants, Jens Clausen Federica Cogliandro, Viktorija Domarkaite Krenholm Jens Clausen, Miikael Danieljants, Rauno Paju, Darja Popolitova A speech of Kadri Mälk Küllike Kullerkupp (from the left left) […]
All posts tagged 'jewellery'
I had a pleasure of being accompanying Professor Kadri Mälk in Munich for the conference Real Magic. Different lecturers and guest professors from various disciplines are invited to speak about current realities of magic and its rediscovery in the arts. Kadri also made a 4-day schedule for us to walk around Munich. We had a […]
Androgyny: Jewellery Beyond Gender / Photosession of the book
Book "Andorgyny: jewellery beyond gender" is a MA thesis research, where I consider the concept of gender as disintegration of the wholeness, that generated male and female duality. The idea of merging natural and synthetic was also represented through the book design, where instead of classical binding rubber bands were used. collaboration with: Olga Makaronskaja, Sofia […]
Tanel Veenre, the most inspiring tutor! Great to have so much beholders!
BEHIND THE SCENES "Androgyny: Jewellery Beyond Gender" MA project
By documenting backstage events that happened in my life during while working on the topic of Androgyny helped me to move forward with this project. The documentation has a chronological order. June 2013 I applied for MA of Jewellery and Blacksmithing department at EKA. It was an interview. I knew that in order to […]
Photography: Jackie Wilde Model 1: Aleksandr Janchuk Model 2: Aleksej Katjuk Stylist: Dmitry Knut MUA: Margarita Leonova Jewellery: Darja Popolitova Special thanks to Levvis Benuchi, Eleonora Shljanda May 2014
This order was a present at a wedding day for a groom. The view on a desk at the Monquer studio , pink quartz and a natural moonstone, which shines with geometrical pattern under a certain corner of light.


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Miyamoto on alternative controllers
A recent interview of Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto by Chris Kohler (Wired) deals with alternative game controllers employed with casual/sport applications:
"I'd always wanted to try to find a way to make a game out of that, and I felt that with the Wii, that's something that I would normally do in the bathroom is weigh myself. But, with the Wii, if there was a way that we could take that into the living room and turn it into an experience that everybody takes part in, then that might be fun.
What about the timing of this device seems auspicious right now? Does it have to do with the acceptance of alternative controllers now?
I think there are a couple of reasons. One is that at this point the Wii is wireless, and so I think the fact that it's wireless certainly makes it easy to use. For me, personally, also, in this NES era, I myself didn't really think that weighing myself and tracking my progress every day is something that I could turn into a game. (...) initially we created the Balance Board in order to create Wii Fit, and it was essentially designed to enable that experience. And, then after we finalized the design, we looked at it and realized -- or as we were finalizing the design, we realized it could potentially be something that could be used for other games, as well. And, so in finalizing those designs and finalizing the final Balance Board, we ultimately tried to do it in a way that would enable other developers to also take advantage of it. The other thing that we found is that actually in the sports world there are devices that are somewhat similar to this that are used for training athletes. (...) there's actually a game out already called We Ski. It's a skiing game that uses the Balance Board that's developed by Bandai Namco. (...) Using a Wii remote, you could track the timing of the swing and the shifting of the balance on the Balance Board to calculate kind of how good the swing is. Of course, there's still the question of whether or not the mass market would want a game that perfectly replicates that type of an activity. But, in terms of golf training, you could certainly do something like that.
Is there a danger of maybe burning people out on extra controllers?
we are creating a number of different controllers and peripherals for the Wii, as well, so in that sense, I can see your point of how having so many different controllers can be a little bit inconvenient. But, at the same time, we feel that the videogame audience has gotten to the point now where it's so broad that there are different tastes and different needs within people, within the audience of people who are playing the videogames. (...) when we're designing games and designing peripherals, we're not designing them for the purpose of simply creating more devices to use with the Wii. We're trying to create devices that are creating a more streamlined and intuitive approach to gaming so that a broader audience can feel that they're able to interact with and better use the device."
Why do I blog this? great lessons here, with good connections to some current research about tangible interactions. There are good things to wonder about concerning the relationships between the user experience and different use of tangibles interactions. For instance, the "direct mapping" rule is often perceived as the best solution for intuitive apprehension of games. Using the same movement in the physical space as the one rendered in the digital world is indeed a relevant approach but is it that simple? is it that fun? is the movement so physical that it becomes less fun? And what about the overemphasis on gestures, playing soccer by doing gestures which are not a direct translation from the physical to the digital (yes I am thinking about PES on the Wii with its click-and-drag system)?
On a different note, the scale-turned-into-game-platform reminds me of 2 projects which focused on transforming everyday objects into game controllers: Everyday games by Are Hovland Nielsen and Control Freak by Haiyan Zhang.


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BRUSSELS - The European Union condemned on Wednesday the killing of a Palestinian teenager in an apparent revenge attack, saying it was "extremely concerned" about the potential for more violence.
"We condemn in the strongest terms the killing of a Palestinian boy in Jerusalem," EU Foreign Affairs chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement. "The perpetrators of this act must be brought to justice," she said. Similar comments were made by Quartet Representative Tony Blair.
Sixteen-year-old Mohammed Abu Khder was killed in a possible revenge attack for the murder of three Israeli youths whose bodies were discovered earlier this week. His death sparked further clashes on Wednesday between Palestinians and police in east Jerusalem.
Ashton urged Israelis and Palestinians to exercise "maximum restraint" in the wake of the deaths.
"We are extremely concerned about the latest developments which increase the risk of further escalation," she said.
Tensions have soared across the region since June 12 when three Israeli teenagers disappeared while hitchhiking in the West Bank. Their bodies were discovered on Monday, with Israel blaming Hamas and vowing to retaliate.
The Palestinians accused Israeli extremists of abducting and killing an Arab teenager and burning his body Wednesday, sparking hours of clashes in east Jerusalem and drawing charges that the youth was murdered to avenge the killings of three kidnapped Israeli teens.
Seeking to calm the explosive situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged a swift inquiry into the "reprehensible murder" and called on people to respect the rule of law. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said it was clear extremist Jewish settlers were responsible and called on Israel to bring the killers to justice.
"The settlers have killed and burned a little boy. They are well known," Abbas said, accusing Israel of tolerating settler violence toward Palestinians. "I demand that the Israeli government hold the killers accountable."
The discovery of the bodies led to a national outpouring of grief, with tens of thousands of people attending a funeral Tuesday in which the teens were laid to rest side-by-side. As the burial took place, hundreds of young, right-wing Israelis marched through downtown Jerusalem screaming for revenge.
Hours later, relatives of Mohammed Abu Khdeir said the 17-year-old was forced into a car in a neighborhood of east Jerusalem that quickly sped off. A burned body believed to be his was found shortly afterward in a Jerusalem forest, though police said late Wednesday they were still awaiting forensics tests to make a positive identification.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said authorities were looking at "a number of different directions" in the killing, including nationalistic or criminal motives. "We are waiting for the final results of the autopsy," he said.
But Abu Khdeir's family said they had no doubt about the killers, accusing extremist Israelis of killing him to avenge the deaths of the Israeli teenagers.
"Who else could do this? There's no one else," said the teen's father, Saed Abu Khdeir. He said he spent the day with police and gave DNA samples to help identify the body.


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How to Help
The Friends of Chatham Traction was formed in March 2007 to restore, exhibit and operate as an educational resource the sole surviving Chatham Traction bus, GKE 68.
An agreement to make regular donations of at least £20 a year to the Friends allows participation in the affairs of the organization, principally by having voting rights at the AGM. You'll receive our periodic updates and have priority on special events.
In addition anyone who offers help or provides support in any way is added to the Friends' list of Supporters and receives updates. The Supporters list includes a whole range of people such as ex-Chatham Traction employees, bus preservationists, local government officers and industry journalists.
There is, of course, no upper limit on donations or regular payments so its up to you - all contributions gratefully received!
DONATIONS can be made directly to our account by on-line transfer:
The Friends of Chatham Traction CAF Bank sort code 40-52-40 account number 00032126.
Or send a cheque payable to Friends of Chatham Traction to Paul Kemsley - details here. Paul can also help arrange GIFT AIDING your contribution, or setting up a regular payment.


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|The Potage Cups for first and second place
Baby Bro sent the rules out a few weeks in advance and there was a new category added for this year "Patriotic-ness"... well, that I can do.
Every year the other contestants go all out, testing out recipes, looking for clever ideas, sourcing unusual ingredients. Every year I find a random fruit, add a slug of alcohol, a bit of garnish and give it a clever name.
|15 mins of prep time
|15 mins of prep time
|15 mins of prep time
How very dare they!
Last year I did a vodka, orange and chilli gazpacho in shot glasses, the year before I hollowed out a melon, blended it, added some vodka, a spring of mint and served it in the melon skin. Genius!
This year? I blended some fresh raspberries with some rose wine, sieved out the pips, served with blue meringue clouds and some white creme fraice, placed on a patriotic tray and named it Red, white and blues-berry soup, with meringue clouds and Royal furniture.
The Entries
|Soup 1: Red, white and blues-berry soup, with meringue clouds and Royal furniture.
|Soup 2: Rubbish soup
|Soup 3: Roast chicken soup with chorizo bits and triple cooked chicken ciabatta blue croutons.
|Soup 4: Squishy and squashy butternut squash soup with chestnut and bacon topping and olive Olympic rings
|Soup 5: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
|Soup 6: Pea, pear, mint and ginger with caviar and fish roe biscuits.
The marks were allocated as follows:
- Taste (/10)
- Texture (/5)
- Moreishness (/5)
- Presentation (/5)
- Colour (/5)
- Christmas Spirit (/5)
- Britishness (/5) (In honour of the Jubilee and the Olympics!
In second place came Joanna, with her Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire having received very high points for Christmas Spirit.
...and in first place, Mr G with his self-proclaimed Rubbish Soup. He's a very good cook usually, but this soup was cobbled together at the last minute, tasted pretty vile and was rather un-festive or patriotic (until he raided my Jubilee party box and London 2012 souvenirs). Quite how he won, we're not sure. Absolutely nothing to do with the fact that his mother was involved in the voting... hmmmm.
Will there be an adjudicator's enquiry?
Either way, after years of striving to reclaim his trophy, he's finally got it back and he's finally stopped whinging about the previous years' winners being cheats, so that's good enough for me!
So now he's putting up a shelf for his trophy...


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Obstacle Race - Dornoch Highhland Gathering 2007
One of the last events of the day is the Obstacle Race, the highlight of which is the slippery slope. Competitors have to get over the top, but the wooden slope has been liberally doused with water and washing up liquid making it incredibly slippery. Great fun to watch!
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Taken on August 3, 2007


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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!!!!!
Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota is participating in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by promoting early screenings for breast cancer detection. We have been working hard to promote our Breast Cancer Awareness Program as part of our Health Education and Prevention Program through presentations and educational classes. We have been recruiting young women (ages 20-30) to help educate and promote Breast Cancer Awareness (including early Mammography screening) to their mothers, aunts and elder sisters who may or may not have the knowledge they need about breast cancer due to various cultural barriers (i.e. language barriers). We provide services to help alleviate frustrations and confusion among Lao women during their screening processes (including setting up appointments, providing transportation, arranging health insurance papers and instructions and interpreting both at the screening site and at the office of various doctor's notes, appointment reminders and insurance papers).
LACM is aware that Breast Cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the United States. In the past decade, breast cancer has affected many women in the Lao community. Confused and frustrated, family members have approached LACM for help. Since then, LACM has been helping family members and survivors as well as those currently affected by breast cancer deal with various issues related to the stages of cancer from the first diagnosis through treatment and sometimes during the lost of a family member to breast cancer. We encourage the Lao women to participate in early screening as part of our Health Prevention Program.
For more information contact:
Chongchith Saengsudham
Health Prevention and Cancer Education Program Manager
Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota
503 Irving Ave. No. Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Phone: 612-374-4967
Voice mail: 612-767-8902
Fax: 612-312-1150
You may also be interested in:
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month


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Gold & Glam: New Year's Eve Wedding
What better way to spend our first New Year's Eve as The Claytons than doing what we do best? We rang in the new year with the sweetest couple, the most fun bridal party, all things gold & glam, and a party to remember for years to come!
Whitney & Kenneth had every little detail planned out from the gold sequin dresses and jet black suits, down to the new year's resolution table numbers and the selfie station. Vintage clocks decorated the tables as family & friends celebrated and counted down to the new year with hats, 2016 glasses and noise makers. Guests even joined in the theme of glitz and glamour as they showed off their own gorgeous sequin dresses. We can't forget the perfect touch of holiday spirit and Whitney's lovely antique accessories.
What a perfect way to end an amazing year. We have no doubts this is just a taste of what is to come in 2016 and we couldn't be more excited! Enjoy #newwyseeve!