text:
First time at Proteopedia? Click on the green links: they change the 3D image. Click and drag the molecules. Proteopedia is a 3D, interactive encyclopedia of proteins, RNA, DNA and other molecules. With a free user account, you can edit pages in Proteopedia. Visit the Main Page to learn more.
From Proteopedia
Target cell lysis is regulated by natural killer (NK) cell receptors that recognize class I MHC molecules. Here we report the crystal structure of the human immunoglobulin-like NK cell receptor KIR2DL2 in complex with its class I ligand HLA-Cw3 and peptide. KIR binds in a nearly orthogonal orientation across the alpha1 and alpha2 helices of Cw3 and directly contacts positions 7 and 8 of the peptide. No significant conformational changes in KIR occur on complex formation. The receptor footprint on HLA overlaps with but is distinct from that of the T-cell receptor. Charge complementarity dominates the KIR/HLA interface and mutations that disrupt interface salt bridges substantially diminish binding. Most contacts in the complex are between KIR and conserved HLA-C residues, but a hydrogen bond between Lys 44 of KIR2DL2 and Asn 80 of Cw3 confers the allotype specificity. KIR contact requires position 8 of the peptide to be a residue smaller than valine. A second KIR/HLA interface produced an ordered receptor-ligand aggregation in the crystal which may resemble receptor clustering during immune synapse formation.
Crystal structure of an NK cell immunoglobulin-like receptor in complex with its class I MHC ligand., Boyington JC, Motyka SA, Schuck P, Brooks AG, Sun PD, Nature. 2000 Jun 1;405(6786):537-43. PMID:10850706
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
[B2MG_HUMAN] Defects in B2M are the cause of hypercatabolic hypoproteinemia (HYCATHYP) [MIM:241600]. Affected individuals show marked reduction in serum concentrations of immunoglobulin and albumin, probably due to rapid degradation.[1] Note=Beta-2-microglobulin may adopt the fibrillar configuration of amyloid in certain pathologic states. The capacity to assemble into amyloid fibrils is concentration dependent. Persistently high beta(2)-microglobulin serum levels lead to amyloidosis in patients on long-term hemodialysis.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
[KI2L2_HUMAN] Receptor on natural killer (NK) cells for HLA-Cw1, 3, 7, and 8 allotypes. Inhibits the activity of NK cells thus preventing cell lysis.[15] [IMA2_HUMAN] Functions in nuclear protein import as an adapter protein for nuclear receptor KPNB1. Binds specifically and directly to substrates containing either a simple or bipartite NLS motif. Docking of the importin/substrate complex to the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is mediated by KPNB1 through binding to nucleoporin FxFG repeats and the complex is subsequently translocated through the pore by an energy requiring, Ran-dependent mechanism. At the nucleoplasmic side of the NPC, Ran binds to importin-beta and the three components separate and importin-alpha and -beta are re-exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm where GTP hydrolysis releases Ran from importin. The directionality of nuclear import is thought to be conferred by an asymmetric distribution of the GTP- and GDP-bound forms of Ran between the cytoplasm and nucleus. [B2MG_HUMAN] Component of the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Involved in the presentation of peptide antigens to the immune system.
About this Structure
1efx is a 5 chain structure with sequence from Homo sapiens. Full crystallographic information is available from OCA.
See Also
- Boyington JC, Motyka SA, Schuck P, Brooks AG, Sun PD. Crystal structure of an NK cell immunoglobulin-like receptor in complex with its class I MHC ligand. Nature. 2000 Jun 1;405(6786):537-43. PMID:10850706 doi:10.1038/35014520
- ↑ Wani MA, Haynes LD, Kim J, Bronson CL, Chaudhury C, Mohanty S, Waldmann TA, Robinson JM, Anderson CL. Familial hypercatabolic hypoproteinemia caused by deficiency of the neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn, due to a mutant beta2-microglobulin gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Mar 28;103(13):5084-9. Epub 2006 Mar 20. PMID:16549777 doi:10.1073/pnas.0600548103
- ↑ Gorevic PD, Munoz PC, Casey TT, DiRaimondo CR, Stone WJ, Prelli FC, Rodrigues MM, Poulik MD, Frangione B. Polymerization of intact beta 2-microglobulin in tissue causes amyloidosis in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Oct;83(20):7908-12. PMID:3532124
- ↑ Argiles A, Derancourt J, Jauregui-Adell J, Mion C, Demaille JG. Biochemical characterization of serum and urinary beta 2 microglobulin in end-stage renal disease patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1992;7(11):1106-10. PMID:1336137
- ↑ Momoi T, Suzuki M, Titani K, Hisanaga S, Ogawa H, Saito A. Amino acid sequence of a modified beta 2-microglobulin in renal failure patient urine and long-term dialysis patient blood. Clin Chim Acta. 1995 May 15;236(2):135-44. PMID:7554280
- ↑ Cunningham BA, Wang JL, Berggard I, Peterson PA. The complete amino acid sequence of beta 2-microglobulin. Biochemistry. 1973 Nov 20;12(24):4811-22. PMID:4586824
- ↑ Haag-Weber M, Mai B, Horl WH. Isolation of a granulocyte inhibitory protein from uraemic patients with homology of beta 2-microglobulin. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1994;9(4):382-8. PMID:8084451
- ↑ Trinh CH, Smith DP, Kalverda AP, Phillips SE, Radford SE. Crystal structure of monomeric human beta-2-microglobulin reveals clues to its amyloidogenic properties. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Jul 23;99(15):9771-6. Epub 2002 Jul 15. PMID:12119416 doi:10.1073/pnas.152337399
- ↑ Stewart-Jones GB, McMichael AJ, Bell JI, Stuart DI, Jones EY. A structural basis for immunodominant human T cell receptor recognition. Nat Immunol. 2003 Jul;4(7):657-63. Epub 2003 Jun 8. PMID:12796775 doi:10.1038/ni942
- ↑ Kihara M, Chatani E, Iwata K, Yamamoto K, Matsuura T, Nakagawa A, Naiki H, Goto Y. Conformation of amyloid fibrils of beta2-microglobulin probed by tryptophan mutagenesis. J Biol Chem. 2006 Oct 13;281(41):31061-9. Epub 2006 Aug 10. PMID:16901902 doi:10.1074/jbc.M605358200
- ↑ Eakin CM, Berman AJ, Miranker AD. A native to amyloidogenic transition regulated by a backbone trigger. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2006 Mar;13(3):202-8. Epub 2006 Feb 19. PMID:16491088 doi:10.1038/nsmb1068
- ↑ Iwata K, Matsuura T, Sakurai K, Nakagawa A, Goto Y. High-resolution crystal structure of beta2-microglobulin formed at pH 7.0. J Biochem. 2007 Sep;142(3):413-9. Epub 2007 Jul 23. PMID:17646174 doi:10.1093/jb/mvm148
- ↑ Ricagno S, Colombo M, de Rosa M, Sangiovanni E, Giorgetti S, Raimondi S, Bellotti V, Bolognesi M. DE loop mutations affect beta2-microglobulin stability and amyloid aggregation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Dec 5;377(1):146-50. Epub 2008 Oct 1. PMID:18835253 doi:S0006-291X(08)01866-4
- ↑ Esposito G, Ricagno S, Corazza A, Rennella E, Gumral D, Mimmi MC, Betto E, Pucillo CE, Fogolari F, Viglino P, Raimondi S, Giorgetti S, Bolognesi B, Merlini G, Stoppini M, Bolognesi M, Bellotti V. The controlling roles of Trp60 and Trp95 in beta2-microglobulin function, folding and amyloid aggregation properties. J Mol Biol. 2008 May 9;378(4):887-97. Epub 2008 Mar 8. PMID:18395224 doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2008.03.002
- ↑ Ricagno S, Raimondi S, Giorgetti S, Bellotti V, Bolognesi M. Human beta-2 microglobulin W60V mutant structure: Implications for stability and amyloid aggregation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Mar 13;380(3):543-7. Epub 2009 Jan 25. PMID:19284997 doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.01.116
- ↑ Snyder GA, Brooks AG, Sun PD. Crystal structure of the HLA-Cw3 allotype-specific killer cell inhibitory receptor KIR2DL2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Mar 30;96(7):3864-9. PMID:10097129
Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)
Categories: Homo sapiens | Boyington, J C. | Brooks, A G. | Motyka, S A. | Schuck, P. | Sun, P D. | Class i | Hla | Immune system | Immunoglobulin fold | Kir | Mhc | Nk cell receptor | Receptor-mhc complex


text:
Baseball, explored infographicallyBy
Over the weekend, we witnessed a mini-viral baseball phenomenon. Late on Friday night, David Pinto at Baseball Musings tossed up a post with a link to a site called Flip Flop Fly Ball. The site, run by a baseball fan/graphic designer, features some fascinating infographics about America's Pastime. The one on the right, for example, is a quiz of any fan's baseball field acumen. It's nigh impossible.
As I poked around the site on Saturday, I dropped a link to it on Twitter via both the River Ave. Blues account and my personal feed. It was re-Tweeted all over the place, and one RAB reader wanted to know if prints of the graphics were available.
I inhaled the site. The combination of interesting graphics and baseball made for a good amount of high-quality wasted time over the weekend. Take a look, for example, at the height of the Green Monster as compared to some well-known landmarks, the directional orientation of home plate at every stadium and the amount of travel the Royals have to do this season. The rest are equally as entertaining.
After looking at a few graphics and poking around the site, I realized that Craig Robinson, the man behind Flip Flop Fly Ball was a Yankee fan and a River Ave. Blues reader. In fact, he sent us the ticket prices infographic a few months ago. I e-mailed Craig yesterday, and he answered a few questions about himself and the infographics. The interview follows. Be sure to visit the site as well.
What inspired you to develop the infographics at Flip Flop Fly Ball?
The main reason is that I'm relatively new to the game (I've never known a World Series-winning Yankees team), and I was finding it difficult to retain so much information about the Yankees and the sport in general. For whatever reason, I found it easier to remember team relocations and stuff if I made charts and graphs. It spiraled out of that.
I saw you recently added an amusing new one on the felonious side of stolen bases. How often do you plan to produce new sports infographics? From where do you derive ideas for the new graphics?
Hopefully, I'll be doing a new one every week. That may not be the case in the next month or so, unfortunately, as my wife and I just split up and, without a green card, I'll be leaving the country soon. Ideas tend to pop up just from little things I see watching games. Just seeing Chief Wahoo; one day it just seemed an obvious question: How many native Americans live in the Cleveland area?
As a big fan of Bruce Springsteen, I loved the one entitled Really Fantasy Baseball in which the Wu Tang Clan, behind a complete game by RZA, tops the E Street Band for Eastern Division champions. What's your personal favorite? Which ones were the most fun to make?
I'd agree that the Wu vs. E Street one is definitely one of my favourites. Mostly because I enjoyed spending a day working out how each half-inning was played out. The Cleveland Indians one is probably my favourite, though; it just seems to sum up the ridiculousness of their name quite nicely.
Tell me a little about your background. I understand from your website that you are a UK native who spent some time in Bellingham, Washington but you are a Yankee fan. How did you find your way to both baseball and the Yanks?
Yeh, I was born in the UK, lived most of the last decade in Berlin, Germany. Until last weekend, I lived in Bellingham and went to see Mariners games. I'm returning to Berlin shortly, but hopefully, I'll be breaking the piggy bank to try to get a ticket to see my first game at the new Yankee Stadium, ironically, against the Mariners. I'd always been primarily a soccer fan, but I was on a business trip, and one of the people I was working with was an NY-based lifelong Yankees fan. His colleague was a Mets fan. When I expressed an interest in going to see a baseball game, I left it up to them to fight it out whether I'd be going to the Bronx or Shea. The Yankees fan was on it right away, and I went to a fairly pedestrian defeat at the hands of the Twins, but, I know it's a cliche, I fell in love straight away. The sport just seems so perfectly beautiful. The next day, I watched a Yankeeography of Mickey Mantle on YES in my hotel room, and, well, the rest is a history of very late nights watching live streaming games on MLB.com, and more recently, having people in Washington continually reminding me that the "Yankees suck!"
Can you preview any upcoming FFFB infographics? And at the request of some readers, do you plan to offer prints of the infographics for sale?
Once I get my life sorted out again, I'd love to do some prints. I'm working on a few new ones at the moment. Once this current round of Interleague play is done with, I've got one about how each league's teams fared in the history of Interleague play; a Venn diagram about the origins of team nicknames; a history of Japanese teams in a style like the history of the NL and AL teams; and a more research-intensive one, looking at how much of each team's opening day roster were homegrown/traded/free agents.
* * *
I'm looking forward to the new graphics. In the meantime, the current ones provide enough of a distraction. A big RAB thanks to Craig as he gets everything straightened out.
38 Comments»
I love that the guys in Led Zep are the umpires in the Wu Tang-E Street game!
i wonder how max weingerb's range is in cf
The ODB didn't make one error. He made two.
He didn't get burned one time, he got burnt actually two times, if you really look at it.
All of this is all sorts of awesome.
Craig, you are one of my new favorite people.
This is really great!
Greatest. Website. Ever. (Besides RAB)
This infograph is wonderful.
Agreed. It's more scintillating than your own family tree.
poor polyphonic spree in last place even though they have twice the size talent pool to draw from. but earth wind and fire…..man
Earth Wind and Fire always dances in September.
They are people of the mighty.
Mighty people of the sun.
Public Enemy would dominate them all, they are way too deep. S1W alone, could field a team.
Also, The Specials could be very strong.
But on second thought, I have to give Menudo a great chance also. All of those Puerto Rican players on one team! Jorge would be proud.
I think the Eagles would be great, but they might have a problem with the random drug tests.
This site is mrpibbandredvibe-ish crazy delish.
I just got taken to a dreamworld of magic.
Anybody know of a place where we could get Craig a shady, under-the-table green card? I'd start up a collection for sure–we could fundraise by selling personalized TSJC snarky witticisms and Whizzo proverbs.
That could be his next infographic. Or all of RAB's meme's.
There's no way I wouldn't buy several of these.
[...] for updates on this topic.Powered by WP Greet BoxEarlier today, Ben of River Avenue Blues did a post about a great site called Flip Flop Fly Ball, which features top-notch infographics about baseball. [...]
Are the Pogues in last place becuase of all the infighting, the drinking, or a combination of both?
I think it's because they're Irish, and baseaball isn't big in Ireland. Now in the soccer league, the Pogues are near the top of the table!
Not baseball, but awesome nonetheless.
These are completely fantastic! I would definitely buy prints when they become available.
I can't believe there isn't a graphic design company in NYC that wouldn't want to sponsor Craig with a green card!
[...] to Adam Feit for the heads up — Adam, in turn, got it from RAB, so thanks to those guys as [...]
No shocker that scum bag group called the Boston Bean Eaters were the last team to integrate in 1959.
Awesome job man, my favorite though: http://www.flipflopflyin.com/f.....women.html
[...] to River Ave Blues, I just discovered a great baseball website. The name of the site is Flip Flop Fly Ball, and it is [...]
Thank you all so very much for your kind comments. As a foreigner, I still feel like a bit of an interloper in your wonderful world of baseball, so it makes me feel unashamedly warm inside reading your comments.
Hey, great site!!
But take a look at the Stadium Naming Rights Pure vs Non Pure Infographic. Notice anything wrong with it??
[...] last month Ben interviewed Craig Robinson, owner of the great site Flip Flop Fly Ball. Craig produces baseball infographics like this one [...]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dear Readers: Blount Today to close
Photo by Jolanda Jansma
The Back Roads Motorcycle Ride begins the trek through scenic Blount County at the Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson shop, ending at Courtyard Grille on Alcoa Highway.
Be the first to post a comment!
Feels Like: 64°
Humidity: 81%
Precip: 10%
Feels Like: 74°
Humidity: 49%
Precip: 7%
Feels Like: 60°
Humidity: 87%
Precip: 4%
Check out the happenings around Blount County in Community News
See what our community columnists have to say
This week's area high school sports plus much more
See what Robin McDaniel is cooking up in this week's In The Kitchen
See who's in Snapshots this week
Find us on Facebook and keep up with breaking news and more.


text:
Unclaimed Property Defined.
Unclaimed property is a term used for outstanding checks, including checks issued by the University that have not been cashed by the payee, e.g. payroll checks, checks issued to vendors, payments to human subjects, reimbursement checks, etc.
How are we doing? We welcome your comments, suggestions, and feedback. Click here to send us a message.
Do you have a confidential concern about an impropriety or irregularity at the University of Miami? Visit 'Cane Watch to share it.


text:
The children from Hudson Elementary had an opportunity to fish at W.C. Patton Park in Birmingham. The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and BirminghamParks and Recreation sponsored this event.
About Us | Contact | Links | Photo Gallery | Alabama.Gov | Legal Information | En Español
Official Web site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources©2008 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | 64 N. Union Street, Suite 468 - Montgomery, Alabama 36130


text: CONNEAUT'S PLAZA speaks volumes about the local economy. The anchor retailer has gone out of business, leaving a payday loan shop, a Family Dollar store, Curves and discount tobacco and grocery stores to meet the basic needs of residents. Conneaut, like many other Ashtabula County communities, once had stores that sold higher-end merchandise and specialty shops that provided a livelihood for local business owners. Those have virtually disappeared, thanks to competition from chain retailers and a loss of good-paying jobs that once gave residents the discretionary income necessary to spend on "extras."


text:
- Northern New York Newspapers
- Watertown Daily Times
- The Journal
- Daily Courier-Observer
- NNY Ads
- NNY Business
- NNY Living
- Malone Telegram
Seth Owens notched a hole-in-one on Friday at Ives Hill Country Club, acing the 137-yard 15th hole with a 9-iron.
He was playing with Tim Cole, Todd Doldo and Gary Miles.
Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.
You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:


text:
- Computers & Tablets
- Cameras & Camcorders
- TV & Home Entertainment
- Portable Devices
- Car
- Mobile Phones
- PlayStation®
IMPORTANT: This file is only for use with the models identified. Not all models are sold in all countries.
|Important Notes
|Download and Installation Instructions
The installation of the Sony® Firmware Extension Parser Driver is complete.


text:
By Mark Allen
Editor's Note: The Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection Spotlight is a new monthly feature for the Daily Democrat.
Written by Michael Vance and Mark Allen, this column will include reviews of current comic book series as well as features on Oklahoma Cartoonists. Pauls Valley's Toy and Action Figure Museum is the home of The Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection.
For more columns by Vance and Allen, go to the Daily Democrat's web site at www.paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com and click on the OCC link in the Arts and History section of the web site or go to www.fourcolorcommentary.blogspot.com
Ron Goulart is the author of an incredibly informative and fun (that's right, FUN) history book published in 2001 called Great American Comic Books.
What, you never considered the world of comics having a history? You'd be shocked, my friend, at what an
interesting, and colorful (pun intended) history it is. You see, Goulart doesn't just cover the progression of the genre, from collections of comic strip reprints, to the first comics containing original stories containing pulp heroes, the emergence of super heroes, the age of crime comics, horror comics, etc., etc.
He also includes details of many creators, themselves. People such as Major Malcom Wheeler-Nicholson, a retired cavalry officer who founded the company today known as D.C. Comics.
Stories such as this prove the point that reality is sometimes as interesting as fiction.
Goulart also sheds light on important events in the history of comics, such as the flames of the "anti-comic hysteria" of the '50's, which were fanned by injurious articles in magazines such as Collier's, Saturday Review, Newsweek and Time, as well as blunt criticism from psychiatrist Fredric Wertham, in his book Seduction of The Innocent. Not to mention the Senate hearings to which it all eventually led.
Perhaps even more entertaining, however, are the hundreds of color illustrations of strips, panels and covers Goulart includes in his book. A fan can easily get caught up in them, alone.
This is far more, however, than reference material. It is to be read and enjoyed, that one may, hopefully, better appreciate the progression of comics themselves.
Great American Comic Books is recommended for anyone interested, not just in the history of the genre, but the genre in general. I can sum it up no better than a blurb from the description on the dust jacket: "It's as much fun as comic books themselves!"
Now out of print, shop bookstores and online retailers and auctions for the best deals.


text:
My Party
- 55 guests
- 31 March 2012
- my home / Florida / New York / United States
PhotosView all 42 photos →
Party Recap...
Our 2nd Annual Children's Easter Egg Hunt was held 3/31. For the 2nd year in a row it rained and was cold 8( It did not stop anyone from coming or enjoying themselves!
Little Chick Party printables by: Eye Candy Event Details
Party Highlights
Cake, oreos, Peep Pops
Activities / Games
Egg Hunt
$ 300
Party Favors
Bubbles, Lego Magazines and goodie bags
Best Moment
watching the kids at the start line
What People Ate
Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Pasta, Salads
What People Drank
Beer, wine, juice, water, hot chocolate


text:
Washington Capitals training camp likely won't start until Sunday, but more players are trickling into town and skating at the team's practice facility.
Fifteen players were on the ice for Wednesday morning's informal workout, including new arrivals Troy Brouwer, Karl Alzner, Marcus Johansson, Mathieu Perreault and Jeff Schultz. They joined Alex Ovechkin, Braden Holtby, John Carlson, Mike Green, Mike Ribeiro, Jason Chimera, Jay Beagle, John Erskine, Jack Hillen and Matt Hendricks.
Brouwer and Alzner traveled Tuesday, from Chicago and Calgary, respectively. Schultz had also been skating in Calgary. Johansson and Perreault returned from playing in Europe.
Expect informal skates to continue until camp opens.
Nicklas Backstrom is in town but was not on the ice. He suffered a neck injury while playing for Dynamo Moscow in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.
Players injured during the lockout do not have to be paid by their teams.


text:
Claremore Progress
The Skiatook Bulldogs came away with a clean sweep Tuesday night against Claremore Sequoyah.
In the girls' game, Skiatook won the low-scoring affair, 25-19; while the boys' game saw the Bulldogs topple Sequoyah, 67-57.
Sequoyah (0-2) dropped its second game of the season on the girls' side, following last week's opening loss to Chelsea.
Against Skiatook, though, Sequoyah fell behind 11-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Aubyana Matussak, a 5-foot-6 sophomore guard, led Sequoyah with a team-high seven points.
Sequoyah rallied with seven points in the second quarter and narrowed the halftime deficit to 13-9.
Courtney Nugent joined Matussak in scoring with six points, while Jessica Hansen, Savannah Mathews and Hunter Thompson each had two points.
Skiatook outscored Sequoyah, 12-10 in the second half.
Schulanberger led Skiatook with 11 points.
In the boys' game, Lawless and A.J. Surritte tallied 15 points each to spark Skiatook past Sequoyah.
Skiatook leaped out to a 23-15 first quarter and extended the margin to 37-23 at halftime.
Blake Mills, who scored 26 points in Sequoyah's opening win over Chelsea, responded with 20 against Skiatook.
Alex McGoffin followed Mills in double figures with 17 points and Logan Moody added 11.
Sequoyah (1-1) amassed 34 points in the second half.
Daniel Devore contributed with four points, while Logan Tacker added three and J.J. Filby scored two.


text:
The Lynbrook village board unanimously denied a zoning change request from the owners of the Monday night that would have allowed the hotel on Sunrise Highway to build a parking lot where three vacant residential homes now stand.
The board's decision brought to an end a debate that has played out across several months as village officials listened to arguments from Alan Stein, an attorney representing the hotel's owners, and a group of residents who vehemently opposed the plan.
The Morash family, which owns the Holiday Inn Express in Lynbrook, had purchased three neighboring homes – 417 Ocean Ave., 3 Merton Ave. and 9 Merton Ave. – with the intent of demolishing the houses to build an additional parking lot, but the plan required the village board to grant a zoning change (from residential to commercial), and a special exception permit.
After hearing from both sides, Mayor William Hendrick that the proposal was too "aggressive" and most likely wouldn't get approval, but gave Stein and his clients one more chance to work out a "real compromise" with the concerned neighbors.
The amended proposal Stein presented Monday night reduced the overall side of the parking field, preserved some existing trees and kept one of the homes (9 Merton Ave.) intact with a slight modification to the property line.
"It appears," Stein said, "the position that has been adopted by the neighbors is one of just simply being against the application with there being no possibility of having any compromise."
"We feel we are compromising, Patti Nicoletti, a Merton Avenue resident, told the board. She explained that originally she and her neighbors were against seeing any of the homes demolished for the sake of erecting a parking lot, which she says the Morash family admitted they didn't need but wanted. However, they were now willing to sacrifice 417 Ocean Ave., a house that is in dire condition.
Nicoletti admitted that the homes on Merton do have sentimental value to the residents (Her husband even grew up in 9 Merton Ave, and they now live across the street.) but she said the driving force for their opposition to Stein's proposal was the detrimental impact it could have on their property values.
"We appreciate the concession," she said referring to the elimination of 9 Merton from the amended application, "but we feel our homes are our major investments."
Mayor Hendrick asked Stein if his clients would be willing to further amend their application to only include 417 Ocean Avenue, but they decided to keep it as is.
"That [property] is really insufficient," Stein said. "It's long and narrow and really would not afford us any opportunity to create anything that would be of any significance for us."
Hendrick responded, "People have made a point that they just don't want commercial moving in on them." Then, the board -- with the exception of Deputy Mayor Alan Beach, who was absent as he is recovering from surgery --unanimously denied the request.
"We will continue to help our local businesses including the Holiday Inn," Trustee Hilary Becker added. "But in this situation, I felt the neighbors were right that the parking lot would have devalued their properties."
As the Holiday Inn Express does own the three homes, they could still seek out a permit to demolish them but would be responsible for maintaining the properties.


text:
On February 9, 2009, something unusual occurred. I was in Wal-Mart, shopping with my daughter and niece. As I walked down the isle en route to the rest room, where my niece was running to ahead of us, I saw a younger aged woman about 20 years or so. Absolutely nothing unusual at first: blondish-brown hair pulled up into a pony tail, t-shirt, sweat pants to the knee, tennis shoes. She appeared to be biting her nails, for her hand was next to her mouth.
As we got closer in passing, there was something about her walk... her strides seemed to be longer or something. She was about 5 ft. 9 in. in height, but it just seemed different. As we got closer, what appeared to be nail biting turned into an aggressive biting of her fingers. She did not display this kind of aggression when my niece passed her, but she turned and looked at her as she ran by. Her eyes -- I swear this -- were black! She was staring me down as to intimidate me. It was like nothing I had ever experienced.
A thought came to my brain: "I'm not afraid of you. I know what you are." My daughter says I was staring her down, like she was staring at me. I walked by, ignored her and confidently kept going. My daughter stopped to fix her shoelaces, and told me when this woman got so far behind us. She turned to look at us, and her head turned in fast motion and what looked like almost completely around! It frightened my daughter.
I feel as though this is something evil in nature. It had negative energy and an unusual feel about this thing. I tell you, I never really believed in this black-eyed people thing, but there is truth to this. I feel they are demonic and have taken form of man/woman, who knows, maybe even kids!