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OGDENSBURG Renovations for Blevins Bros. recreational vehicles sales and service in the town of Oswegatchie probably will be done in January, but the new business wont be open for another month after that.
Vice President Lynn L. Blevins said Friday that renovations at the site of the bankrupt Woods Fruit and Vegetable Market, 7384 Route 68, are proceeding on schedule. Outside, the parking lot is filling up with snowmobiles, trailers and motor homes. Inside, the service, sales and showroom are being built.
We hope to have everything operational by Jan. 1, Mr. Blevins said. The grand opening is Feb. 1.
Mr. Blevinss company paid $200,000 for the 8.22-acre property earlier this year.
Until they were relocated earlier this fall, the recreational vehicles were at the Blevins familys nearby flagship business, Blevins Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep at 5914 Route 812.
The renovations to the former Woods property will cost an estimated $200,000.
The new dealership will employ six workers full time. Four of them will move between there and the Ogdensburg dealership. The other two will be new hires.
The Blevinses other auto dealerships are in Potsdam, Massena and two in Gouverneur. They sell Chrysler, Jeep, Ford and Dodge vehicles.
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Let Him Be
Peter McNamee's debut feature introduces us to undergrad film students Tim and Kathleen. Tim is astonished to discover a rock icon, long thought to be dead, actually alive and living in a remote part of Canada. It all begins when he discovers a clip of an old man playing guitar on a tape left inside an old video camera. The man in the video bears a strong resemblance to John Lennon - that is, John Lennon as he might look today. Could it be him? Tim is excited to the point of obsession. Kathleen thinks the whole concept is ridiculous. Wasn't there some big "Paul is dead!" hoax that all those years ago? But what if Lennon really is still out there? Still singing? Still writing? Imagine!
Cast: Sean Clement, Graham Wignall, Mark Staycer, Kathleen Munroe
Produced by: Martin Katz, Peter McNamee, Carol Wright
Directed by: Peter McNamee
Written by: Peter McNamee
Running time: 1hr 22min
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Disgraceby J. M. Coetzee
Staff Pick
One afternoon while talking with a friend about books, I wondered how to best describe my experience of reading Disgrace, and this is what I came up with: it's like a finely crafted, very sharp knife resting gently against your skin. The uneasiness and suspense are there from the beginning, made all the more powerful by Coetzee's control and use of spare language, and you never really take a deep breath until it's all over. Set in modern South Africa, the book explores what it's like to personally confront deep prejudices. Prejudices of gender, sexuality, class, and race. Far from being a politically correct diatribe, this novel is about how we cope, how we survive as humans, and it forces the reader to reflect upon what seems at first a very twisted reality. For each of the characters in this astonishing novel, redemption is attained through what becomes the very reshaping of their souls.
Synopses & Reviews
From Powells.com:
"For a man of his age, fifty-two, divorced, he has, to his mind, solved the problem of sex rather well," begins J. M. Coetzee's Disgrace. Yet protagonist David Lurie's complacency is short lived, for piece by piece his life begins to crumble around him. David is a middle-aged professor of modern languages, who, under the guise of "the great rationalization," has been relegated to adjunct professor. He now teaches Communications 101. Like his employer Cape Technical University (formerly Cape Town University College), post-apartheid South Africa has also gone through a process of rationalization. The changes wrought by this shifting of political thought and enforced political correctness (which, as Coetzee illustrates, has not been absorbed by the collective consciousness) form a bleak backdrop for David's struggle to rebuild his life, or to at least make sense of his existence.
A brittle affair with a student in his Romantic poetry class leads to his being fired on sexual harassment charges, and he seeks refuge at his daughter's house in the country hoping to write a libretto on Byron. Far from a pastoral idyll, however, rural South Africa presents David with a harsh and violent reality, forcing him to reassess life as he has lived it. In spare and razor sharp prose, and in just over 200 pages, Coetzee presents us with an almost hopeless scenario and an almost tragic hero. Yet Coetzee's brilliance lies in whispering the possibility of hope and managing to reveal the humanity in his deeply flawed protagonist. It is a remarkable book, winner of the 1999 Booker Prize, which captures the political and the personal in a story that is dark, merciless and yet ultimately life affirming. Georgie, Powells.com
From Powells.com:
Publisher Comments:
Set in post-apartheid South Africa, J. M. Coetzee's searing novel tells the story of David Lurie, a twice divorced, 52-year-old professor of communications and Romantic Poetry at Cape Technical University. Lurie believes he has created a comfortable, if somewhat passionless, life for himself. He lives within his financial and emotional means. Though his position at the university has been reduced, he teaches his classes dutifully; and while age has diminished his attractiveness, weekly visits to a prostitute satisfy his sexual needs. He considers himself happy. But when Lurie seduces one of his students, he sets in motion a chain of events that will shatter his complacency and leave him utterly disgraced.
Lurie pursues his relationship with the young Melanie — whom he describes as having hips "as slim as a twelve-year-old's" — obsessively and narcissistically, ignoring, on one occasion, her wish not to have sex. When Melanie and her father lodge a complaint against him, Lurie is brought before an academic committee where he admits he is guilty of all the charges but refuses to express any repentance for his acts. In the furor of the scandal, jeered at by students, threatened by Melanie's boyfriend, ridiculed by his ex-wife, Lurie is forced to resign and flees Cape Town for his daughter Lucy's smallholding in the country. There he struggles to rekindle his relationship with Lucy and to understand the changing relations of blacks and whites in the new South Africa. But when three black strangers appear at their house asking to make a phone call, a harrowing afternoon of violence follows which leaves both of them badly shaken and further estranged from one another. After a brief return to Cape Town, where Lurie discovers his home has also been vandalized, he decides to stay on with his daughter, who is pregnant with the child of one of her attackers. Now thoroughly humiliated, Lurie devotes himself to volunteering at the animal clinic, where he helps put down diseased and unwanted dogs. It is here, Coetzee seems to suggest, that Lurie gains a redeeming sense of compassion absent from his life up to this point.
Written with the austere clarity that has made J. M. Coetzee the winner of two Booker Prizes, Disgrace explores the downfall of one man and dramatizes, with unforgettable, at times almost unbearable, vividness the plight of a country caught in the chaotic aftermath of centuries of racial oppression.
"As a writer, Coetzee is a literary cascade, with a steady output of fiction and criticism (literary and social) over the last two decades. This latest book, his first novel in five years, is a searing evocation of post-apartheid South Africa; it earned him an unprecedented second Booker Prize. An uninspired teacher and twice divorced, David Lurie is a 52-year-old poetry scholar-cum-'adjunct professor of communications' at Cape Technical University. Spooked by the flicker of twilight in his life trajectory, he sees himself as an aged Lothario soon to be 'shuddered over' by the pretty girls he has so often wooed; he is disappointed in and unengaged by the academy he now serves by rote; and he cannot locate the notes for his opera, Byron in Italy, in which he has placed so much reluctant hope. He is, even at his best, a man of 'moderated bliss.' So when he seduces Melanie Isaacs, a lithe student from his poetry elective ("She does not resist. All she does is avert herself"), he believes her to represent the final object of his desire, his last act of lush, Romantic desperation. And then he is found out. This not uncommon outrage earns him a dismissal and censure from the university committee he refuses to cooperate with in hopes of saving his job. He immediately shoves off for Salem in the Eastern Cape where his daughter, Lucy, manages a dog kennel and works her smallholding, harvesting a modest crop. Here David hopes to cleanse himself with time-honored toil. But his new life in the country offers scarce refuge. Instead, he is flummoxed to discover an unfamiliar Lucy-principled, land-devoted, with a heroic resignation to the social and political developments of modern South Africa. He also memorably encounters Petrus, Lucy's ambitious colored neighbor and sometime assistant. Petrus embodies the shifting, tangled vicissitudes of a new national schematic, and forces David to relate to the broad segment of society previously shrouded by the mists of his self-absorption. But a violent attack on the estate irrevocably alters how the book's central figure perceives many things: his daughter and her bewildering (to him) courage, the rights of South Africa's grossly aggrieved majority, the souls of the damaged dogs he helps put down at the local Animal Welfare League and even the character of Lord Byron's mistress and the heroine of his operatic "chamber-play." But this is no tale of hard-earned, satisfying transformation. It is, rather, a paean to willfulness, an aria on the theme of secca, or the drying up of 'the source of everything.' In Coetzee's tale, not a single note is false; every sentence is perfectly calibrated and essential. Every passage questions the arbitrary division between the 'major and minor' and the long-accepted injustices propped up by nothing so much as time. The book somehow manages to speak of little but interiority and still insinuate peripheries of things it doesn't touch. Somber and crystalline, it 'has the right mix of timelessness and decay.' It is about the harsh cleansing of humiliation and the regretfulness of knowing things: 'I lack the lyrical. I manage love too well. Even when I burn I don't sing, if you understand me.' To perceive is to understand in this beautifully spare, necessary novel. Publishers Weekly Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
J.M. Coetzee's distinguished novels feed on exclusion; they are intelligently starved. One always feels with this writer a zeal of omission. What his novels keep out may well be as important as what they keep in. And Coetzee's vision is impressively consistent: his books eschew loosened abundance for impacted allegory. Waiting For The Barbarians, his finest allegory, set in a nameless Empire with resemblances to turn-ofthe-century South Africa, has an Orwellian power. Even when his novels are set in a recognizable and local South African world, as is the case with Coetzee's new novel, the dry seed of parable can always be felt underfoot, beneath the familiar surfaces of contemporary life.
But this is a harsh exchange. Coetzee's novels eschew society, and the examination of domestic filaments, for the study of political societies... The New Republic (read The New Republic's entire review)
"The kind of territory J.M Coetzee has made his own....By this late point in the century, the journey to a heart of narrative darkness has become a safe literary destination....Disgrace goes beyond this to explore the furthest reaches of what it means to be human: it is at the frontier of world literature." Sunday Telegraph
"A subtly brilliant commentary on the nature and balance of power in his homeland...by a writer at the top of his form." Time
"Disgrace is not a hard or obscure book — it is, among other things, compulsively readable — but what it may well be is an authentically spiritual document, a lament for the soul of a disgraced century." The New Yorker
Set in post-apartheid Cape Town, Professor David Laurie attempts to relate to his daughter, Lucy, and to a society with new racial complexities. But that is disrupted by an afternoon of violence that changes him and his daughter in ways he could never have foreseen. Coetzee is the only writer awarded the Booker Prize twice, and this work is a finalist for the National Book Critic Circle Awards.
About the Author
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, on February 9, 1940, John Michael Coetzee studied first at Cape Town and later at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Ph.D. degree in literature. In 1972 he returned to South Africa and joined the faculty of the University of Cape Town. His works of fiction include Dusklands, Waiting for the Barbarians, which won South Africa's highest literary honor, the Central News Agency Literary Award, and the Life and Times of Michael K., for which Coetzee was awarded his first Booker Prize in 1983. He has also published a memoir, Boyhood: Scenes From a Provincial Life, and several essays collections. He has won many other literary prizes including the Lannan Award for Fiction, the Jerusalem Prize and The Irish Times International Fiction Prize. In 1999 he again won Britain's prestigious Booker Prize for Disgrace, becoming the first author to win the award twice in its 31-year history. In 2003, Coetzee was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
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CANTON Independence Party petitions filed by St. Lawrence County District Attorney Republican candidate Mary E. Rain are valid, county election commissioners have decided.
As a result, Ms. Rain will appear on three lines, including Conservative, in the upcoming general election. She is running against incumbent District Attorney Nicole M. Duve, who will be on the Democratic and Working Families party lines.
Ms. Rains Independence petitions were challenged by Anne Monck, Canton.
Democratic Election Commissioner Jennie H. Bacon and Republican Election Commissioner Thomas A. Nichols disagreed on whether some of Ms. Moncks objections were valid. Overall they decided that 32 of the 215 signatures on the petitions were invalid, which did not put Ms. Rain under the 163 signatures she needed for the party designation.
Ms. Rain said she thought the petitions would be upheld after reviewing the challenges made by Ms. Monck.
There were so many objections that were erroneous, she said.
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HELPER - Robert Albert Abbott, age 70, passed away on Aug. 26, 2009. Bob was born July 4, 1939 in Helper to Walter J. and Rhoda Mary Bishop Abbott.
He is survived by four children; William F. Abbott, Tooele, Judy (Donald) Laucirica, Pennsylvania, John J. (Heather) Abbott, Stockton, Sherrie (Rodney) Delaney, Grantsville, and 11 grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by parents, two brothers and daughter Deanna Jeys.
Graveside services will be held Friday, Sept. 11, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Mountain View Cemetery. Services are in the care of Fausett Mortuary. Family and friends may sign the guest book and share memories of Bob at www.fausettmortuary.com


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Pet accessories and jewelry are for decorative purposes only. Necklaces should not be used as a restraint and/or as collar. They are not intended and should not be used with leash. Do not leave your pet unattended and always supervise your pet when wearing any accessories.
* Sale items are not-returnable.
See Tarina Tarantino™ Care Guide to keep your jeweled pieces sparkling for years to come.


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For Babies, More Nighttime Sleep, More Daytime SmartsHeather Turgeon
An article in the November/December issue of Child Development shows a connection between nighttime sleep for babies and their skill at certain tests of cognitive function.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota and the University of Montreal tracked the sleep patterns of toddlers. At 12 and 18 months, they asked parents to keep a diary of the baby's sleep habits at 30-minute intervals around the clock (logging naps and night wakings). At 18 and 26 months, they gave the little subjects some baby brain challenges.
Here's what they found when it comes to sleep and smarts:
The ones who slept more during the night (between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.) did better on the tests than those who might have had the same amount of total sleep, but got a greater percentage of it during the day. In other words, nighttime sleep was more critical than naps. The researchers say the longer the nighttime stretch, the better the results.
The babies did tests of "executive function" which is the ability to hold information in working memory, control impulses, and make thought-out decisions (at 2 years old this is of course a work in progress). For example, in one test a researcher put a sticker in one of three pots, covered them with a blanket, and then asked the toddler to choose which contained the sticker.
Granted, this is a small study, but it resonates with earlier findings that sleep has a big impact on our executive functioning during the day — our ability to retain and work with information, and make sense of our surroundings. Same goes for babies.
I think it's interesting that the total amount of sleep didn't matter as much as the stretch of nighttime sleep that the babies had. If it holds up to further scrutiny, it means that catching up on nighttime sleep with a big long nap doesn't quite add up. Nighttime sleep and naps are managed by different brain circuits and circadian rhythms, so it makes sense that it doesn't just all go into one account — you can't just transfer hours from your daytime to nighttime account.
Remember, though, all babies wake up during the night (just like most of us do). Some just know how to put themselves back to sleep. This is an argument for keeping to early bedtimes so that our little ones are getting their nighttime dose of zzz's.
Image: Everystockphoto/Spigoo
More From Heather Turgeon
The 3 Most Important Parenting Qualities
Daydreaming Makes People Unhappy
ADHD in Childhood, Obesity in Adulthood
Girls Who Weren't Breastfed Get Pregnant Younger
Kids From Divorced Families Turn Out Great, Provided…
BPA Absorbs Readily Through the Skin: How You're Exposed
Labeled as Green or Organic, Found to Be Toxic or Hazardous
Sugar Doesn't Cause Hyperactivity, It's All in Your Mind
Heavy Dad's Bad Diet Affects His Baby
Top 20 Best YouTube Channels for Kids
Genetically Modified Salmon: Why I'm Not Afraid of the "Frankenfish"
Your Baby is About to Get Chubbier: Pediatricians Are Switching Growth Charts.
Too Much Pregnancy Weight Sets Up Babies for Obesity
Why I Abandoned the "Readiness" Approach to Potty Training.


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Reports of a chemical-weapons attack in Syria have the "rebels" and their allies among Western governments and Sunni Arab dictatorships blaming the Bashir al-Assad regime, while the regime and its foreign partners such as authorities in Russia are blaming the so-called "revolutionaries" for the alleged deployment. At this point, it remains unclear who really carried out the attack or even if it actually happened. Advocates of more aggressive U.S. government intervention in the bloody conflict, however, are seizing the opportunity to urge the Obama administration — already deeply and lawlessly involved in backing the Syrian rebels — to unconstitutionally put American troops on the ground.
Even before the attack, certain members of Congress were seeking to legalize the U.S. government's existing operations surrounding Syria, which reportedly include arming, training, and financing the so-called "revolutionaries" in the brutal civil war. However, with news of the alleged chemical attack — Obama had previously called the use of such weapons a "red line" that could not be crossed — pressure from advocates of deeper U.S. government involvement in the conflict is reaching a crescendo.
After financing and arming the so-called "rebels" — an establishment-backed coalition composed largely of foreign jihadists, self-styled al-Qaeda members, and other Islamic extremists — the forces seeking "regime change" in Syria are now touting their involvement in the conflict to justify U.S. intervention. Among those leading the charge for putting U.S. troops on the ground is Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), blasted by critics as a war-mongering "RINO" for his unabashed support of big government at home and more lawless intervention abroad.
"My biggest fear beyond an Iranian nuclear weapons capability is the chemical weapons in Syria falling in the hands of extremists and Americans need to lead on this issue," Sen. Graham told Foreign Policy after the alleged attack. "We need to come up with a plan to secure these weapons sites, either in conjunction with our partners [or] if nothing else by ourselves."
Click here to read the entire article.
Photo of victims of alleged chemical attack receiving treatment in Syria: AP Images


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Submission Microsoft fights Apple trademark on 'App Store'-> 1
angry tapir writes: "Microsoft is asking the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to deny Apple a trademark on the name "App Store," saying the term is generic and competitors should be able to use it. Apple applied for the trademark in 2008 for goods and services including "retail store services featuring computer software provided via the internet and other computer and electronic communication networks" and other related offerings."
Link to Original Source
Link to Original Source


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John F. Kennedy Assassination Map: 50th anniversary
POSTED: 11:00 PM MST Nov 18, 2013 UPDATED: 11:04 PM MST Nov 18, 2013
November 22nd marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Use our interactive map to retrace the events of that tragic day.
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Who knew Samuel L. Jackson was a T-Swift fan?!
Last week the actor appeared on London's Capital FM, where Jackson put his own spin on Taylor Swift's, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together."
Taylor seemed pretty excited about Jackson's version of the song, tweeting "Samuel L Jackson. YES," along with the link on Wednesday.
We've got to give it up to the 64-year-old, he definitely adds some swag to the pop ballad. The rest of the world seems to think so too -- the video's gone viral with over 290,000 hits!
What do you think of Jackson's rendition? Check it out and sound off below!
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Latest media releases
UBS's first quarter 2012 results
UBS first quarter adjusted pre-tax profit1 CHF 2.2 billion with improved profits in all business divisions; reported pre-tax profit CHF 1.3 billion; wealth management businesses' net new money CHF 10.9 billion; industry-leading Basel 2.5 tier 1 ratio strengthened further to 18.7%; annualized Q1 2012 costs2 down by CHF 1 billion; adjusted RoE approximately 13%.
UBS continued to successfully execute its strategy, improving performance in all its businesses to deliver adjusted pre-tax profit1 of CHF 2.2 billion. Wealth Management recorded a 24% rise in adjusted pre-tax profit3 on improved margins and continued cost control, and Wealth Management Americas delivered a record quarterly reported pre-tax profit of USD 209 million, up 34% on the prior quarter. Net new money inflows in the wealth management businesses more than doubled to CHF 10.9 billion. The Investment Bank successfully balanced revenue generation, risk reduction and cost efficiency, to achieve an adjusted pre-tax profit4 of CHF 846 million.
Strengthening its leading capital position further, reducing risk-weighted assets while remaining vigilant on costs, UBS continued to execute its strategy. The firm built its leading capital ratios significantly, reduced Basel III risk-weighted assets5 (RWA) by around CHF 30 billion and raised USD 2 billion in new Basel III-compliant loss-absorbing capital. UBS is ahead of its RWA reduction targets for 2012. The firm is on track to achieve its target of CHF 2 billion of cost savings by the end of 2013.
- Pre-tax profit CHF 1,304 million, up CHF 823 million; net profit attributable to UBS shareholders CHF 827 million; diluted earnings per share CHF 0.22
- Group operating income CHF 6.5 billion; adjusted operating income6 up 26%
- Group adjusted cost/income ratio1 improved to 72% from 88%; reported cost/income ratio improved to 80% from 92%; adjusted return on equity approximately 13%
- Group annualized costs for first quarter of 2012 down by CHF 1 billion compared with annualized costs for the first half of 2011
- Wealth Management pre-tax profit up 70% to CHF 803 million, including a CHF 237 million pension credit; net new money more than doubled to CHF 6.7 billion on strong inflows in Asia Pacific, emerging markets and Switzerland, as well as globally from ultra high net worth clients; gross margin up 2 basis points to 93 basis points
- Wealth Management Americas record pre-tax profit up 34% to USD 209 million; cost/income ratio improved further to 87%; net new money more than doubled to USD 4.6 billion
- Investment Bank adjusted pre-tax profit4 increased to CHF 846 million, reflecting higher revenues across all business areas, amidst improved market conditions, trading efficiency and cost vigilance; Basel III RWA5 reduced by an estimated CHF 21 billion to around CHF 191 billion; securities revenues7/IB VaR ratio up 58% to 76
- Global Asset Management pre-tax profit up 32% to CHF 156 million, mainly due to significantly higher performance fees, especially in alternative and quantitative investments
- Retail & Corporate pre-tax profit up 40% to CHF 575 million, including a CHF 190 million credit from pension plan changes; continued growth in client deposits as key initiatives yielded over 24,000 new private client accounts and CHF 1.6 billion in net new client assets; cost base well under control
- Capital, liquidity and funding positions remain strong:
– Basel 2.5 tier 1 ratio rose to 18.7% from 15.9%
– Basel 2.5 tier 1 capital increased by CHF 1.2 billion to CHF 39.6 billion
– Basel III RWA5 reduced by an estimated CHF 30 billion to around CHF 350 billion
– Basel III tier 1 ratio5 rose to 11.8% from 10.8%
- Invested assets CHF 2.1 trillion, up 1%
- Examples of progress against strategic objectives:
– Group Basel III RWA reduction ahead of plan; leading capital ratios increased further; adjusted cost/income ratio within target range
– Wealth Management annualized net new money growth 3.6% and adjusted cost/income ratio3 67%, both within target range; on track to deliver targeted gross margin as conditions improve
– Wealth Management Americas annualized new money growth of 2.4% and cost/income ratio of 87%, both within target range
– Investment Bank Basel III RWA reduction ahead of plan; adjusted cost/income ratio4 improved to 72% from 87%
– Global Asset Management gross margin steady and within target range at 34 basis points
– Retail & Corporate net new business volume growth 4.2%, slightly outperforming target range; adjusted cost/income ratio8 59% and net interest margin 159 basis points, both within target range
Zurich/Basel, 2 May 2012 – Commenting on UBS's first-quarter results, Group CEO Sergio P. Ermotti said, "We improved operational performance across all our businesses, strengthened our leading capital ratios further, reduced risk-weighted assets and remained vigilant on costs. The strong net new money inflows in our wealth management businesses provide further clear evidence of the trust our clients place in UBS. Given challenging market conditions, I am proud of what our employees have achieved, delivering high-quality results while deploying less risk and successfully executing our strategy. I am confident we can build on this strategic momentum to address the challenges to come, managing down costs, building capital and further improving our operational risk framework, while remaining focused on servicing our clients in the best possible way."
First-quarter net profit attributable to UBS shareholders CHF 827 million
Net profit attributable to UBS shareholders was CHF 827 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with CHF 319 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Pre-tax profit improved to CHF 1,304 million from CHF 481 million, reflecting increased revenues before own credit across all business divisions and the Corporate Center. The first quarter included an own credit loss on financial liabilities designated at fair value of CHF 1,164 million, primarily reflecting the tightening of our credit spreads over the quarter, compared with a loss of CHF 71 million in the prior quarter. In addition, the first quarter included a debit valuation adjustment loss on our derivatives portfolio of CHF 53 million compared with a loss of CHF 189 million in the fourth quarter. The quarter also included a reduction in personnel expenses of CHF 485 million related to changes to our Swiss pension plan, and restructuring charges of CHF 126 million compared with CHF 10 million in the fourth quarter. Excluding these four items, operating profit before tax increased by CHF 1,411 million to CHF 2,162 million due to higher operating income, partly offset by increased operating expenses. Operating expenses decreased by CHF 160 million to CHF 5,221 million. Salaries and variable compensation increased by CHF 579 million to CHF 2,813 million, mainly due to higher expenses for variable compensation and increased restructuring charges. General and administrative expenses decreased by CHF 254 million. Total restructuring charges in the first quarter of 2012 were CHF 126 million compared with CHF 10 million in the prior quarter. We employed 64,243 personnel as of 31 March 2012 compared with 64,820 personnel as of 31 December 2011. The decrease of 577 during the first quarter mainly related to our CHF 2 billion cost reduction program announced last year. The net income tax expense for the first quarter of 2012 was CHF 476 million, compared with CHF 160 million in the prior quarter.
Wealth Management pre-tax profit was CHF 803 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with CHF 471 million in the previous quarter, and included a reduction in personnel expenses of CHF 237 million related to changes to our Swiss pension plan. Adjusted for this item and restructuring charges, pre-tax profit increased by CHF 110 million to CHF 578 million. Total operating income increased by CHF 96 million to CHF 1,769 million from CHF 1,673 million, mainly due to higher net fee and commission income, reflecting higher client activity levels from very low levels seen in the previous quarter. The annualized net new money growth rate was 3.6% compared with 1.7% in the previous quarter. Net new money was CHF 6.7 billion compared with CHF 3.1 billion due to strong inflows in Asia Pacific, emerging markets and Wealth Management Switzerland, as well as globally from ultra high net worth clients. The gross margin on invested assets increased by 2 basis points to 93 basis points, mostly reflecting an improvement in client activity levels. Invested assets were CHF 772 billion on 31 March 2012, up by CHF 22 billion from 31 December 2011 due to rising global equity markets and net new money inflows. Operating expenses decreased to CHF 966 million from CHF 1,203 million, mainly reflecting the abovementioned reduction in personnel expenses.
Wealth Management Americas achieved its highest reported quarterly pre-tax profit of USD 209 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with USD 156 million in the prior quarter. The quarter was marked by higher transactional activity and included higher realized gains on sales of financial investments in the available-for-sale portfolio. Operating income increased by USD 64 million to USD 1,568 million from USD 1,504 million. Total operating expenses increased by USD 12 million to USD 1,359 million from USD 1,347 million due to higher personnel expenses, partly offset by lower non-personnel expenses. Annualized net new money growth for the first quarter was 2.4% compared with 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Net new money improved to USD 4.6 billion from USD 2.1 billion. Net recruiting of financial advisors contributed most of the inflows this quarter, while financial advisors employed with UBS for more than one year contributed to a lesser extent. In US dollar terms, the gross margin on invested assets decreased by 2 basis points to 80 basis points. A 4% increase in income was outpaced by a 6% increase in average invested assets.
Excluding an own credit loss of CHF 1,103 million, the Investment Bank recorded a pre-tax profit of CHF 730 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with a pre-tax profit of CHF 99 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. This result reflects higher revenues across all business areas amidst improved market conditions. Including own credit, we reported a pre-tax loss of CHF 373 million in the first quarter compared with a pre-tax loss of CHF 14 million in the fourth quarter. Risk-weighted assets measured on a Basel 2.5 basis were reduced by CHF 21 billion to CHF 114 billion at the end of the first quarter. In investment banking, total revenues increased 41% to CHF 396 million from CHF 280 million. Advisory revenues decreased 33% to CHF 169 million from CHF 254 million, as our market share declined and the global fee pool shrank 19%. Capital market revenues grew to CHF 430 million from CHF 268 million, an increase of 60%, as both our market share and rank improved, while the global fee pool increased by 27%. Equities revenues rose 41% to CHF 992 million from CHF 704 million, with cash revenues in particular benefiting from increased commissions as volumes improved across all regions. Fixed income, currencies and commodities revenues increased 45% to CHF 1,501 million from CHF 1,035 million. Credit and emerging markets saw improved results. In macro, improved results in most businesses were more than offset by lower revenues in short-term interest rates. Total operating expenses increased 14% to CHF 2,173 million from CHF 1,901 million in the previous quarter.
Global Asset Management pre-tax profit in the first quarter of 2012 was CHF 156 million compared with CHF 118 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Profit increased due to higher operating income, mainly due to higher performance fees in both alternative and quantitative and traditional investments, and lower operating costs, which included a reduction in personnel expenses related to changes to our Swiss pension plan. Total operating income was CHF 478 million compared with CHF 463 million. Net management fees were lower, mainly in alternative and quantitative investments, and also in global real estate where transaction fees were lower in comparison with an exceptionally strong fourth quarter. Performance fees were higher, mainly in alternative and quantitative investments and most notably in O'Connor's flagship single-manager funds, but also in traditional investments, especially equities. The annualized net new money growth rate was negative 5.7% compared with positive 0.2% in the previous quarter. Excluding money market flows, net new money outflows from third parties were CHF 2.9 billion compared with inflows of CHF 0.3 billion in the prior quarter, mostly as a number of large institutional clients reduced or redeemed mandates as part of portfolio re-alignments. Excluding money market flows, net new money inflows from clients of UBS's wealth management businesses were CHF 0.3 billion compared with outflows of CHF 0.8 billion in the fourth quarter. The total gross margin was 34 basis points, in line with the prior quarter. Total operating expenses were CHF 322 million compared with CHF 345 million. This decrease was mainly due to a reduction in personnel expenses related to changes to our Swiss pension plan.
Retail & Corporate pre-tax profit was CHF 575 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared with CHF 412 million in the previous quarter, mainly due to a reduction in personnel expenses of CHF 190 million related to changes to our Swiss pension plan. Adjusted for the this item and restructuring charges, pre-tax profit decreased 7% or CHF 28 million to CHF 392 million, primarily reflecting lower net interest income and higher levels of variable compensation accruals compared with the fourth quarter, which included downward adjustments of accruals. Total operating income increased by CHF 8 million to CHF 936 million from CHF 928 million in the prior quarter. Credit loss recoveries resulting from the release of certain collective loan loss allowances, as well as a provision release from a small number of workout portfolio cases, were partially offset by a decline in net interest income. Operating expenses decreased by CHF 156 million to CHF 361 million from CHF 517 million in the previous quarter, and included the abovementioned reduction in personnel expenses of CHF 190 million related to changes to our Swiss pension plan.
Corporate Center – Core Functions9 pre-tax result in the first quarter of 2012 was a loss of CHF 75 million compared with a loss of CHF 126 million in the previous quarter. Treasury income remaining in the Corporate Center – Core Functions after allocations to the business divisions was CHF 79 million compared with CHF 4 million in the prior quarter. The Legacy Portfolio's pre-tax profit was CHF 28 million in the first quarter compared with a loss of CHF 522 million in the previous quarter. This was primarily due to an increase in the value of our option to acquire the SNB StabFund's equity and an improved result in the remainder of the Legacy Portfolio.
Capital position and balance sheet
Our Basel 2.5 tier 1 capital increased by CHF 1.2 billion during the first quarter and we reduced Basel 2.5 risk-weighted assets by CHF 30 billion to CHF 211 billion which led to an improvement of 280 basis points in our Basel 2.5 tier 1 capital ratio to 18.7% from 15.9% on 31 December 2011. Additionally, we issued USD 2 billion of loss-absorbing notes, which qualify as tier 2 Basel III-compliant capital. On 31 March 2012, our balance sheet stood at CHF 1,366 billion, down by CHF 53 billion from 31 December 2011, mainly due to market-driven and exposure decreases in positive replacement values.
Invested assets
Invested assets were CHF 2,115 billion as of 31 March 2012 compared with CHF 2,088 billion as of 31 December 2011. This increase was primarily due to positive market performance, partly offset by the depreciation of the US dollar against the Swiss franc and a net reduction of CHF 17 billion from the sale of parts of the CHF 25 billion of invested assets acquired from ING Investment Management in Australia in the fourth quarter, as anticipated under the terms of the acquisition agreement. Of the invested assets, CHF 772 billion were attributable to Wealth Management, CHF 728 billion were attributable to Wealth Management Americas, CHF 559 billion were attributable to Global Asset Management, and CHF 56 billion were attributable to Retail & Corporate.
As in recent quarters, progress on sustained and material improvements to eurozone sovereign debt issues, concerns regarding the European banking system and US federal budget deficit issues, as well as continued uncertainty about the global economic outlook in general, will likely have an influence on client activity levels in the second quarter of 2012. Failure to make progress on these key issues would make further improvements in prevailing market conditions unlikely and would have the potential to continue the headwinds for revenue growth, net interest margins and net new money. Nevertheless, we believe our wealth management businesses as a whole will continue to attract net new money, as our clients recognize our efforts and continue to entrust us with their assets. We are confident that the coming quarters will continue to present additional opportunities for us to strengthen our position as one of the best-capitalized banks in the world, and we will continue to focus on reducing our Basel III risk-weighted assets and building our capital ratios. We have the utmost confidence in our firm's future.
1 Excluding an own credit loss on financial liabilities designated at fair value of CHF 1,164 million (4Q11: loss of CHF 71 million), debit valuation adjustments of negative CHF 53 million (4Q11: negative CHF 189 million), net restructuring charges of CHF 126 million (4Q11: CHF 10 million) and a reduction to personnel expenses of CHF 485 million related to changes to our Swiss pension plan.
2 Compared with annualized costs for the first half of 2011.
3 Excluding net restructuring charges of CHF 12 million (4Q11: credit of CHF 3 million) and a reduction to personnel expenses of CHF 237 million related to changes to our Swiss pension plan.
4 Excluding an own credit loss on financial liabilities designated at fair value of CHF 1,103 million (4Q11: loss of CHF 114 million), debit valuation adjustments of negative CHF 53 million (4Q11: negative CHF 189 million), net restructuring charges of CHF 101 million (4Q11: credit of CHF 13 million) and a reduction to personnel expenses of CHF 38 million related to changes to our Swiss pension plan.
5 The calculation of our pro-forma Basel III risk-weighted assets combines existing Basel 2.5 risk-weighted assets, securitization exposures based on a revised model that applies a fixed risk weighting, and new capital charges based on new models and calculation engines. These new models require regulatory approval that is not expected until after further guidance is developed. Our pro-forma Basel III risk-weighted assets therefore include estimates of the impact of these new capital charges and will be refined as new models and the associated systems are enhanced and as regulatory interpretations evolve. Figures presented on a Basel III basis in this release and in UBS's first quarter financial report are calculated on a "phased-in" basis using Basel III measures that will become applicable as of 1 January 2013.
6 Excluding an own credit loss on financial liabilities designated at fair value of CHF 1,164 million (4Q11: loss of CHF 71 million), debit valuation adjustments of negative CHF 53 million (4Q11: negative CHF 189 million).
7 Equities and FICC revenues.
8 Excluding restructuring charges of CHF 7 million (4Q11: CHF 8 million) and a reduction to personnel expenses of CHF 190 million related to changes to our Swiss pension plan.
9 On 30 December 2011, an agreement was reached to transfer a portfolio of legacy positions from the Investment Bank to Corporate Center. Starting with the first quarter of 2012, the Legacy Portfolio, which consists of these transferred legacy positions combined with the SNB StabFund option, is reported in Corporate Center as a separate reportable segment and all other Corporate Center operations are grouped together as Corporate Center – Core Functions. Refer to the "Recent developments and financial reporting structure changes" section of the first quarter 2012 report for more information. Prior periods have been restated to reflect the effect of the transfer.
Media release available at www.ubs.com/media and www.ubs.com/investors
Further information on UBS's quarterly results is available at www.ubs.com/investors:
- First quarter 2012 financial report
- First quarter 2012 results slide presentation
- Letter to shareholders (English, German, French and Italian)
The results presentation with Sergio P. Ermotti, Group Chief Executive Officer, Tom Naratil, Group Chief Financial Officer, and Caroline Stewart, Global Head of Investor Relations, will be webcast live on www.ubs.com/media at the following time on 2 May 2012:
Webcast playback will be available from 1400 CEST on 2 May 2012.
Investor contact
Switzerland: +41-44-234 41 00
Media contact
Switzerland: +41-44-234 85 00
Americas: +1-212-882 58 57
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements", including but not limited to management's outlook for UBS's financial performance and statements relating to the anticipated effect of transactions and strategic initiatives on UBS's business and future development. While these forward-looking statements represent UBS's judgments and expectations concerning the matters described, a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors could cause actual developments and results to differ materially from UBS's expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) developments in the markets in which UBS operates or to which it is exposed, including movements in securities prices or liquidity, credit spreads, currency exchange rates and interest rates and the effect of economic conditions and market developments on the financial position or creditworthiness of UBS's clients and counterparties; (2) changes in the availability of capital and funding, including any changes in UBS's credit spreads and ratings; (3) the ability of UBS to reduce its Basel III risk-weighted assets in order to comply with future Swiss capital requirements without materially adversely affecting its profitability; (4) changes in financial legislation and regulation in Switzerland, the US, the UK and other major financial centers which may impose constraints on or necessitate changes in the scope and location of UBS's business activities and in its legal and booking structures, including the imposition of more stringent capital and liquidity requirements, incremental tax requirements and constraints on remuneration; (5) possible constraints or sanctions that regulatory authorities might impose on UBS, including as a consequence of the unauthorized trading incident announced in September 2011; (6) changes in UBS's competitive position, including whether differences in regulatory capital and other requirements among the major financial centers will adversely affect UBS's ability to compete in certain lines of business, (7) the liability to which UBS may be exposed due to litigation, contractual claims and regulatory investigations, some of which stem from the market events and losses incurred by clients and counterparties during the financial crisis of 2007–2009; (8) the effects on UBS's cross-border banking business of tax treaties negotiated or under discussion between Switzerland and other countries and future tax or regulatory developments; (9) the degree to which UBS is successful in effecting organizational changes and implementing strategic plans, and whether those changes and plans will have the effects intended; (10) UBS's ability to retain and attract the employees necessary to generate revenues and to manage, support and control its businesses; (11) changes in accounting standards or policies, and accounting determinations affecting the recognition of gain or loss, the valuation of goodwill and other matters; (12) limitations on the effectiveness of UBS's internal processes for risk management, risk control, measurement and modeling, and of financial models generally; (13) whether UBS will be successful in keeping pace with competitors in updating its technology, particularly in trading businesses; (14) the occurrence of operational failures, such as fraud, unauthorized trading and systems failures, either within UBS or within a counterparty; and (15) the effect that these or other factors or unanticipated events may have on our reputation and the additional consequences that this may have on our business and performance. Our business and financial performance could be affected by other factors identified in our past and future filings and reports, including those filed with the SEC. More detailed information about those factors is set forth in documents furnished by UBS and filings made by UBS with the SEC, including UBS's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2011. UBS is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Numbers presented throughout this report may not add up precisely to the totals provided in the tables and text. Percentages and percent changes are calculated based on rounded figures displayed in the tables and text and may not precisely reflect the percentages and percent changes that would be derived based on figures that are not rounded.
Quarterly report
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CORPORATE PARTNER PROGRAM FAQs
What benefits are available to employees of Corporate Partner Members?
Depending on the level, employees will receive 10% or 15% discounts on annual Basic 2, Basic 5 or Basic 8 memberships.
How does the employee membership discount work?
The discounts are available on the Basic 2, Basic 5 or Basic 8 packages only.
Is family membership tax deductible for the employee?
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is a 501c3 non-profit. A portion of the cost of membership is tax deductible for the employee.
How do I sign up for the discounted employee memberships?
Your company will be issued a unique barcode and a code for online application. The employee must have a copy of this barcode or code and show company identification onsite at the Museum to qualify for the discounted rate on the membership application.
How can I renew my employee membership at the discounted rate?
Memberships are valid for one year. If your employer has renewed its Corporate Partner Membership then you can renew at the eligible discounted level.
How will non-renewal of our Corporate Partner Membership affect my employee discounted membership?
It will not affect your existing membership which is valid for one year from date of issuance. But, you will not be able to renew at the discounted rate.
What do complimentary admission vouchers include?
They include entry to the Museum exhibits and Energy Blast 4D Theater. Omni Theater and Noble Planetarium tickets are not included. Expiration dates on the vouchers coincide with the expiration date of the Corporate Partner Membership.
How do Corporate Partner Members redeem complimentary admission vouchers?
The vouchers provided in the Corporate Partner Program package will have the company name included on the front of the ticket. Present them at the ticket office where they will be exchanged for exhibit admission.
What is the Corporate Community Fund (CCF)?
The CCF is a great opportunity for a Corporate Partner Member to support a non profit agency or school by providing special Museum exhibit admission tickets under their name. This is available to companies at the Titanium level or above.
How do I activate a Corporate Community Fund project?
Contact your Corporate contact to make arrangements to secure your tickets. Should additional tickets be needed, you may purchase them at the group rate. For example, if 50 CCF tickets are in the corporate package but there are 65 children who would be included in the activity, those 15 additional tickets can be purchased by the company at the Museum group rate.
What is a Family Free Day?
Companies at the Silver level or above can arrange a day for their employees to take advantage of the exhibits at the Museum (exclusive of the Omni Theater and Noble Planetarium). The Family Free Day must be scheduled in advance through Corporate Giving. Available Monday through Friday only.
How does my company take advantage of the one-time annual facility rental discount?
Contact Corporate Giving. The Museum offers a variety of spaces for private events ranging from the 3,000-square-foot Special Events room to the Noble Planetarium to the Omni Theater, an IMAX Dome. Catering, audio visual and valet services are an additional charge.
How do I arrange to take advantage of the Premium Benefits?
Contact your Corporate Giving.
What does the after hours evening rental of the Omni Theater include?
The one-time rental of the theater included in the Premium Benefit offering is available for documentaries only and must be arranged in advance. The theater will seat approximately 370 individuals. Concessions will be open and, if requested, special arrangements can be made by the Corporate Partner to purchase refreshments. (Corporate Partner Members can subsidize employee purchases from the concession stand as well.)
For more information, please contact the Development Department at 817-255-9367.


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New Year Greeting from Mao and Taka:
Taka withdrew from all events and shows, reported due to injury Meanwhile he updated his blog where he said he is going to rest, heal .. and to learn how to swim (Taka can't swim! Lol), with some pics . Enjoy the life, Taka!:


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CANTON A Malone defense attorney who made waves as a potential candidate for St. Lawrence County district attorney said he does not want to see a Republican primary battle in the race.
I feel that a primary would put both the potential Republican candidates at a disadvantage compared with the Democrat candidate, Peter A. Dumas wrote Thursday in a letter to county Republican Chairman Thomas L. Jenison and the partys county committee.
Former St. Lawrence County Public Defender Mary E. Rain, a Republican, in March announced her plan to run for the post against two-term Democratic incumbent Nicole M. Duv�, who said she absolutely plans to seek a third term.
Mr. Dumas, who lives and works in Malone, Franklin County, confirmed last month that he had spoken with both the Conservative and Republican parties about a potential run. But Mr. Dumas had not formally announced his candidacy, nor had he received the blessing of any party, saying only that he was testing the waters.
Mr. Dumas emailed a reporter a copy of his letter Thursday afternoon, but efforts to reach him for further comment were not successful.
In the letter, Mr. Dumas wrote that he had considered his position on several issues following a previous meeting with the county Republican Committee. He said he cannot and will not vilify either Ms. Duv� or St. Lawrence County Judge Jerome J. Richards, another Democrat.
It was not clear why Mr. Dumas mentioned the judge in a letter regarding the district attorneys race, nor where the idea of vilifying either of them arose.
Both Ms. Rain and Mr. Jenison said the party had no platform calling for vilification of Ms. Duv� or anyone else, and both expressed surprise at Mr. Dumass mention of the judges name. Ms. Rain said she plans to run against Ms. Duv�s record, but had no intention of engaging in personal attacks.
Contacted Thursday evening, Ms. Duv� said she had not yet seen the letter and declined comment until she could read it.
I take issue with the way that the district attorneys office is run in St. Lawrence County, but this is mostly because I feel that (Ms. Duv�) tries to shoulder too much of the burden herself, Mr. Dumas wrote.
I cannot speculate with regard to the reason for this. I believe that she is a good person, and that she is trying to do the morally right thing, however, I believe that she is trying to do this in a way that is not successful, he wrote.
Mr. Dumas went on to refer to Judge Richards, a former district attorney, as fair and thoughtful, adding that he would revert the office to the model that (Judge Richards) used as the district attorney were I put in that position.
That letter is a mystery. ... Its not our position at all, Ms. Rain said.
Bluntly, if the Republicans want a primary, then they already have their candidate, Mr. Dumas wrote.
Mr. Jenison said he did not understand the meaning of that sentence, adding that he knows of at least one other person who is considering running as a Republican, although he declined to name the person. As a matter of policy, Mr. Jenison said, the party will not endorse a candidate for any post if that person faces a primary challenge within the party.
He said the party harbored no reservations about Mr. Dumas and remained perplexed by the letter.
He is a worthy person. I do believe he would represent the Republicans well, just as Mary Rain would, Mr. Jenison said.
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Top Rangers prospects like Tim Erixon and Christian Thomas
are scheduled to participate in September's Traverse City Tournament, but there
will also be a few relatively unknown players joining them.
Between now and September 10th, we'll take a look at some of
the less-touted prospects that will don the Rangers' sweater at Traverse
City. Today, we look at…
Jordan Hickmott
Pos: C
Shoots: R
Birthday: 4/11/90
Team: Edmonton, WHL (scheduled to attend the University of
Alberta this fall)
2009-2010 stats: 21g, 28a, 72gp, 31PIM, -8
2010-2011 stats: 28g, 38a, 72gp, 58PIM, 0-rating
2010-2011 playoffs: 1g, 4a, 4gp, 0PIM, -2
profile >
What's They're Saying:
Prospect Park – "Hickmott is a good character person and a 2 time 20 goal
scorer in the WHL and that is about it. Why Hickmott is on the Traverse City
roster and Max Campbell (who has a AHL contract) is not makes us wonder if this
is a mistake here. Hickmott is a nice
guy and a teammate of 2011 4th round pick Michael St. Croix but we have no
expectations that Hickmott is going to earn an invite to the main Ranger's
camp. In fact Hickmott is actually scheduled to enroll at the University of
Alberta Golden Bears for the 2011-2012 season…Not a chance Hickmott would make
John Tortorella a fan of his game as defensively Hickmott is not that great and
at only 6' 180; Hickmott fits in what we call the generic category of forwards.
To give you an idea of what we mean, Hickmott's 28-38-66 might look decent but
in the WHL that means he was 53rd in scoring. Not wanting to disrespect Hickmott as he does work hard but when you can
put up 66 points and still wind up even for the season then questions will be
asked about your defensive game."
Daniel Lizee (TheScoutingReport.org)
– "A cerebral player and uses his smarts and guile to get him by. He's a player
that has shown nice progression throughout his junior career but I have
questions about his ability to survive at the next level. His physical strength
as a 20 year old going against younger players was lacking. If he gains some
strength, he might have chance at an AHL career."
Curtis Deem (TheScoutingReport.org)
– "Jordan Hickmott is coming off of a career year with the Edmonton Oil Kings,
scoring 17 more points last year than he had in any previous year in the
league. He has a solid frame, and is capable of finishing around the net."
Guy Flaming (ThePipelineShow.blogspot.com)
– "Jordan Hickmott is a jack-of-all-trades kind of guy. Plug and play. Got a
couple offensive wingers that need a center to get them the puck? Hickmott.
Looking for a penalty killer or a guy you can put out in the last minute to
protect a lead? Hickmott. Anything but a star player, Hickmott is the Marty
Reasoner kind of guy that can fill just about any role in a pinch. Not a stand
out physically, his speed is average, hands average but every team needs those
complimentary type players and that's what he is. Never the star, always a
quality support guy for the star. Not sure he's a NHL guy but could be a good
minor leaguer. He's enrolled at the University of Alberta and will play for the
Golden Bears, a perennial favorite in CIS hockey, unless there is a pro
contract with his name on it after NYR camp."
Edmonton Coach Derek Laxdal (via The
Prospect Park) – "Laxdal compares him to former Ranger Bernie Nichols and
calls Hickmott's invite to Traverse City 'a tremendous opportunity.'"
SouthCampusSports.com – "His hockey sense seemed to be very good from what I saw, and he's steadily
improved over the last several seasons. Hickmott is the type of player that
seems to have potential to further develop his game, and could be a late
bloomer. He's going to get his chance to impress later this summer for the
Rangers at their rookie camp, and like Koper and Ferguson could end up going
onto the pro ranks before his CIS career gets started."
Sun – "Hickmott had been consistent through different wingers early on,
mostly with Josh Lazowski on the right, but had settled in as a trio with Dylan
Wruck on the left. Wruck had been surging to the top of the team scoring just
behind Michael St. Croix when Lazowski suffered what might be a season-ending
injury. Hickmott currently sits as the Oil Kings' third-leading scorer. 'That happens during a season, when you'll go
four or five games, get really hot and getting two points a night. Then you'll
go for a while and won't get anything. I
think for me and (Wruck), we need to keep plugging away and not get away from
our game. Lately we've been doing that a little bit, getting frustrated. We
just need to concentrate harder and it will come, not get frustrated when it
doesn't.' Sitting on the sidelines
against the Saskatoon Blades this week didn't help Hickmott or the Oil Kings as
they lost a close-but-no-cigar 4-3 game to the league's top team. Hickmott plays a controlled, smart, two-way
Kelly Friesen (Buzzing the
Net) – "He was a difference maker for the Oil Kings, scoring 28 goals and
66 points last year. He could see the ice well, and also had strong
positioning. Nothing about Hickmott really jumped out at me, but he seemed to
not have an obvious weakness."
Thoughts: Hickmott enjoyed a much better statistical season
in 2010-2011, but he's hardly a prolific scorer. After five seasons in the WHL Hickmott hasn't
drawn much attention from the hockey community and he's set to attend the
University of Alberta in the fall. He
appears to be a very average prospect and unless he plays tremendously well at
Traverse City, we probably won't hear much from him again after the tournament.
Click here for our full Summer 2011 Archive >
Follow us on Twitter (@NYRBlueBulletin and @kevinbaumer) and on Facebook.


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Weekends don't get any bigger than this one when it comes to the race for the Division II-B title and the other three playoffs spots up for grabs.
On Friday night, Tolman carries its 3-0 record into Pariseau Field for a 7 p.m. contest against Mount Hope (2-1), while on Saturday afternoon, the division's other 3-0 team, West Warwick, hosts St. Raphael (2-1) in a 1:30 p.m. affair.
After three weekends of action, these four teams appear to be the class of the division and on their way to playing in next month's Division II quarterfinals. The only questions are where they will end up in the final standings and if an under-the-radar team like Ponaganset can crash that group.
And while this weekend is an important one, folks may want to keep in mind the weekend of Oct. 28-29 because Pariseau Field will be the site of two big games between these teams. Tolman will host West Warwick on Friday night, and SRA and Mount Hope will lock horns on Saturday afternoon.
Back to Ponaganset. The Chieftains are 1-2 with back-to-back losses to West Warwick and Mount Hope. They will face a winless, but hungry Woonsocket team on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Barry Field. A victory keeps their playoff hopes alive, but a loss puts a sharp dagger in their aspirations.
And speaking of teams desperately needing victories this weekend, there are quite a few, such as Cumberland, which travels to Warwick Vets on Friday for a 7 p.m. battle of 1-2 teams who are tied for fifth place in Division II-A.
The Clippers, like the Chieftains, have suffered consecutive defeats to teams ahead of them in the standings, Chariho (1-1) and Westerly (3-0). With high-flying Central (3-0) and Johnston (2-1) awaiting them in the upcoming weeks, a loss to the Hurricanes will certainly put them behind the eight ball.
In Division III, the Lions are 1-2 and hosting Tiverton on Friday at 7 p.m. at Ferguson Field. The Tigers, who are 2-1 and one of five teams in the division with just one loss, are fielding one of their most experienced squads in recent memory, and they and Rogers (3-0) are considered two of the teams to beat.
These next few weeks will be crucial for the Lions, who after this game, will take on two more one-loss teams in Moses Brown and Narragansett. If they can at least claim two of these three games, they will certainly be in the hunt for a playoff berth.
Another contest that should get plenty of interest is the Division IV matchup between North Smithfield and Exeter/West Greenwich on Friday at 7 p.m. on the Northmen's turf complex.
Both teams dueled each other in last year's playoffs and rolled into the season as two of the teams to beat. But while the Scarlet Knights have rolled out to a 3-0 start, the Northmen have stumbled and dropped their two league games.
It's a crucial game for the Northmen, but which team will show up for it? Will it be the one that was firing on all cylinders and blasted Burrillville, 55-26, in their non-league opener, or will it be the one that was upset by Smithfield last weekend and lost by three touchdowns?
There are four other games on this weekend's schedule. East Providence will head to Cranston Stadium tomorrow for a 7 p.m. game against Division I foe Cranston East, Shea hosts Central in a Division II-A affair tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Max Read Field, and in Division IV, Central Falls entertains Scituate at 6 p.m. at Macomber Stadium.
On Saturday, Burrillville gets a jump on the day's action by taking on Moses Brown in a 10:30 a.m. Division III game at the Broncos' Alumni Field.
Here's a brief look at the weekend's nine games:
Mount Hope at Tolman
The Tigers' defense, which has allowed just 26 points in its three games, eyes a tough test in the Huskies, who average 31 points per game and boast one of the league's premier tailbacks in Aaron Booth and a fullback (Gian DiMezza) that torched Toll Gate for 273 yards and three touchdowns last week.
The Huskies' division defeat came at the hands of the Wizards, 22-20, in their league opener, and before that contest, they battled Division I foe Portsmouth to the final seconds before dropping a 21-18 decision.
While the Huskies are expected to be at full strength for this game, the Tigers are hoping senior running back Elvis George, who missed last Friday's 55-6 rout of Pilgrim with a knee injury, will be back in action. If not, expect Mory Keita, Darion Stubbs and Homlin Taylor to fill in nicely in the backfield.
St. Raphael at West Warwick
The Saints face a Wizards team that won a pair of nailbiters en route to its 3-0 start. Not only did they edge the Huskies, but they squeaked past Ponaganset, 14-12, last weekend.
The Wizards have one of the division's most experienced teams (19 returning starters), but the Saints have one of the most explosive stars in junior Charles Correa, who has scored seven touchdowns and will be looking to torment the Wizards with his speed and elusiveness.
Expect plenty of passing in this contest, with West Warwick's Ryan O'Kelly (37-of-69, 450 yards, five TDs) and SRA's Julien Diaz (20-of-35, 399 yards, four TDs) lined up behind center, but when it comes to running the ball, SRA may have the edge with Pat Miranda and Correa in its backfield.
Ponaganset at Woonsocket
A big game for the Chieftains, who can't afford to head into their next league game (an Oct. 22 battle with Tolman) with three defeats if they plan to reach the postseason, and the Villa Novans, who sorely want to avoid their first 0-4 start in five years.
While inexperience and key injuries have played major roles in Woonsocket's early struggles, the Chieftains can pin their recent defeats on their offensive woes. In last week's defeat to the Wizards, they produced just 172 yards, and the week before that, they totaled 149.
East Providence at Cranston East
For the second time in three Fridays, the Townies (2-1) march into Cranston Stadium, but unlike their last trip, a 19-10 loss to Cranston West, E.P. should take care of business against the Thunderbolts, who are 0-2 and were blasted earlier in the season by the Division II Wizards, 33-14.
Townies running back Jalin Braxton ran for 157 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries in last week's impressive 26-22 victory over Portsmouth. That was his third game of the season in which he picked up over 150 yards, and he could be in line for another monstrous night at the 'Bolts expense.
Cumberland at Warwick Vets
The Clippers only lost by seven points to the Chargers and Bulldogs, and with a little luck and a bounce or two their way, they could be 2-1 or 3-0.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have been outscored in their three contests by a 108-20 margin, and their win came last weekend in a close 14-8 victory over Coventry.
If the Clippers can control the clock and cut down on turnovers and penalties, there's no reason why they shouldn't capture this game, and not just by seven points. Sophomore running back Ryan Gaumond is due for a 100-yard game on the ground.
Tiverton at Lincoln
The Lions will be dealing with a Tiverton squad that's not only experienced, but can also play superb defense (25 points allowed in three division games) and has plenty of depth in their backfield, which is led by Jacob Kapstein and Keyvon Kronsberg.
Lincoln is coming into this game fresh off its 18-12 win over Burrillville that saw the Lions score the game-winning touchdown with 30.8 seconds left in the contest. Can the Lions carry the momentum from that thrilling victory into this very important matchup?
Scituate at Central Falls
Blowout of the weekend? Quite possibly. The Warriors (2-1) gave defending champ Mount Pleasant a run for its money last weekend in a 14-12 loss, and they have gotten the job done in the past few games behind a strong defense and the running of Josh Brandon (268 rushing yards in his last two games).
This looks like its going to be a very long season for the Spartans. They were outscored 90-6 in their division losses this year to North Providence and the Providence Country Day/Juanita Sanchez co-op team, and in their non-league opener, Ponaganset blasted them, 60-6.
Central at Shea
This contest could also be a mismatch. Knights tailback Michael Washington has scored 12 touchdowns and rushed for over 700 yards in leading his team to a 3-0 record. The Raiders have been outscored 101-34 en route to their 0-3 mark.
After this game, the Raiders will pay a visit to Tiverton for a non-leaguer, but the following weekend, they will face Coventry, which is also winless and has been outscored 70-22. Could this be Shea's best chance to break into the win column?
Moses Brown at Burrillville
The Broncos took a serious hit in last week's game with the Lions when their top player, fullback Kevin Deschamps, suffered a neck injury and was rushed to the hospital. Not having him in action will make this week's contest against the Quakers (2-1) a whole lot tougher for the Broncos (0-3).
The Quakers, like the Tigers, are exceptional defensively, and they boast one of the state's fastest players in running back/kickoff returner Josh Gilkenson of Pawtucket.


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New data released from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Bay Area's Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), shows that rates of bicycling and walking have increased throughout the region.
California is proposing to do something revolutionary for walking and bicycling. California Governor Jerry Brown's Administration has proposed a new Active Transportation Program (ATP) that will enable the state to become a leader in making walking and bicycling part of the mainstream transportation system.
In Los Angeles County, the popular narrative says that everyone drives all the time, and transportation policy has largely reflected this social understanding. However, active transportation modes are a significant form of mobility, calling into question the truth of the dominant narrative.
I've been looking at a lot of data lately, trying to get a strong grasp on California's record of getting kids walking and bicycling safely to school. I'm an engineer by training so I enjoy any opportunity to crunch some data, and California has particularly interesting numbers to analyze. Some of California's data is really good compared to the nation as a whole, and some is not so good. Here are a few e
Right now my work in the Bay Area region is at a very exciting phase. While earlier in the year our efforts were concentrated on our metropolitan planning organization (MPO)—the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)—our work now needs to focus on the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area.
It has been a productive year for the National Partnership in Southern California. This year, the Southern California team was off and running with a full-blown campaign at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to increase funding for active transportation in the 2012 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS).
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday – not just because of the delicious food and the afternoon nap on the couch. As we kick off the month of gift giving and celebration that is the holiday season this day is very simply about quality time with family and friends and giving thanks.
California's climate change legislation continues to provide opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian advocates to influence regional transportation policy and finance.
I spend a lot of my working hours getting into the weeds of transportation project funding and implementation, and working with our state network to sort out the complexities of state policy and bureaucracy.
October 3 was International Walk and Bike to School Day and we had an amazing experience all over the Bay Area celebrating the benefits of active transportation for our children. I spent the day at a media event in San Francisco with students at Buena Vista Horace Mann K-8 School.
Happy Walktober!
Advocates for Safe Routes to School and active transportation have long recognized the health impacts of our transportation system. The transportation decisions we make – or worse, the opportunities many people lack because of barriers in the built environment – can have beneficial or detrimental effects on our health. During an inspiring week at the Pro Walk Pro Bike Pro Place Conference in Long Beach, h
Like a number of staff at the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, I spent much of last week at the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Long Beach. In addition to getting to see my co-workers in the flesh, I really enjoyed the networking opportunities.
Next week, the City of Long Beach will host Pro Walk Pro Bike, a multiday conference that will bring together advocates from across the country.
One of the things I'm most excited about in my position as Bay Area policy manager is how perfectly the work fits my interest in public health. As someone who spent almost a decade working in public health policy, the shift to transportation-related policy such as working on Complete Streets was indeed a change. But in another way it wasn't a change at all.
This fall marks 20 years since I moved to California. I was born in Manhattan and grew up there and in New Jersey – learning important lessons about taking initiative and being direct - but I always had an eye toward the west and a fascination with the innovative ideas and policies that often originate in California and then go nationwide.
It's back to school time! Time for new experiences, teachers, friends, classrooms, subjects and maybe even shiny new Safe Routes to School infrastructure projects. In my second month as the California advocacy organizer, I am undertaking my own version of a back-to-school adventure learning about exciting programs and policies. And I get to meet our amazing network of partners across the state!
On May 17, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approved the One Bay Area Grant program to provide $800 million more than four years to cities and counties for transportation projects.
Physical activity has been central in my life since I learned to run and ride a bike as a kid. Though my career military parents moved my family often, they always prioritized living near a neighborhood school so that my sisters and I could walk or bicycle. I relished the freedom and responsibility of walking and especially bicycling to school, and still treasure those memories.
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Starting this year, all children in Detroit's public schools, from kindergarten through 12th grade, will receive free breakfast, lunch, and snacks, the school system has announced.
Nearly 100,000 schoolchildren will receive the free meals regardless of income, thanks to a program administered by the federal Department of Agriculture. Detroit schools are participating, they say, to eliminate the stigma associated with coming from a low-income household that requires such assistance.
Program Details
The city school system says "the effort is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Community Eligibility Option Program, which will be piloted starting with the 2011-2012 school year." It adds, "Michigan was one of three states selected to participate in the pilot program. Schools and Districts in Michigan may participate if at least 40 percent of their students are entitled to public assistance."
Click here to read the entire article.


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In this delightful range of sunflower seeds you'll find annual and perennial varieties in all sorts of colours - bright yellow, claret red, green and white. The various sunflowers listed here will grow from 45cm to 3m, depending on the variety you choose! Birds love to eat the seeds, so grow some sunflowers near your house and watch the birds feed in the autumn.
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Helianthus annuusPossibly the smallest and quickest flowering sunflower available. The dwarf multi-flowering plants of Sunflower Choco Sun produce their first blooms in eleven to twelve weeks from sowing. Ideal for adding interest to containers and fun for children to grow.
Culinary note: Some parts of these flowers are edible. For more details about edible flowers click here.
Companion planting: Try growing sunflowers with chives to deter aphids.
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COLTON Six Colton residents are appealing a recent town board decision to approve a local law granting permission for all-terrain vehicle operation on certain roads in the town of Colton at a hearing scheduled for Nov. 8.
The appeal was filed Monday in state Supreme Court by Mary Jane Watson, Brian Parrotte, Jill Parrotte, James Ferris, Joann Ferris and Mary S. Rutley, all of whom live on either Route 56 and Cold Brook Drive.
The local law was adopted Aug. 14 during the towns monthly board meeting.
The Article 78 appeal alleges the town board failed to satisfy the statutory standards for opening town roads to all-terrain vehicles, which are currently illegal to operate on town highways, it notes.
The appeal also charges the local law is arbitrary and capricious and violates the state constitution and suggests the town violated the states Environmental Quality Review Act when enacting the local law.
Town Supervisor Dennis B. Bulger said he was far from surprised by the filing.
I was not surprised at all. It was fully expected from day one. Even from the public hearings, it was evident that there is a small group that would carry this decision into litigation, Mr. Bulger said.
The law, as it stands, gives ATVs access to parts of Morgan Road, Windmill Road and Cold Brook Drive, equaling 2.95 miles. The route connects two trails that exist for off-road ATV traffic, according to town officials.
At the time of its adoption, town board members said the law would stimulate the local economy and be highly beneficial to the public. They also said it could attract more tourists.
Mr. Bulger said that despite the filing of Article 78 action, he and the board are confident with their defense.
Its a pretty set procedure. Copies are being made at the office as we speak. Copies will be sent to our attorney and to the county. Then we will get prepared to go for a hearing. It is set right now for Nov. 8, thats the preliminary date for now, he said. We think our position is defensible.
ATV traffic has long been a topic of discussion for the Colton town board. According to documentation of the groups appeal, the board passed a local law on Feb. 11, 2004, opening 50 of 55 miles, or 90.9 percent, of town roads to ATV traffic. That law was annulled, however, in the case of Hutchins v. Town of Colton because it was made in violation of lawful procedures, which imposes an obligation upon the municipality.
A presentation, Blazing Trails: New Life Through Community Links, was held in May at Colton-Pierrepont Central School.
There it was announced that the St. Lawrence County Multi-Use Trail System would be opening soon in Colton, Pierrepont, Parishville and Hopkinton and would run throughout the county and the north country.
The local law did come with eight rules, conditions and restrictions attached to it. The criteria ranged from restrictions from using the ATVs between midnight and 6 a.m., to disallowing the operator to exceed 30 miles per hour and the prohibition of riding on the shoulder of the designated roads other than on the travel roadway unless the person is bringing the ATV to a stop or already has stopped.
These modifications were not enough for Ms. Ferris and Ms. Rutley.
I just feel its a real safety hazard. Cold Brook Drive isnt meant for all of this extra traffic, Ms. Ferris said. For me, its a safety concern for now and for the future. ATVs are already on private property. My husband will be 82 in February, and this will be more than an inconvenience for us.
As you read through the violations, (the town board) didnt do their homework. They never did a traffic survey. Its not safe; its just not safe, she said.
We dont have any enforcement as far as ATVs in Colton. Theyre trespassing on other areas, and its been a problem for a long time. My husband is in a wheelchair now, and he would like to have more peace and quiet rather than commotion, Ms. Rutley said. Some of the tie-ups in Lewis County are similar to the ones here going on. As I see it, they have ignored the vehicle and traffic law. They are in violation of the state constitution as well.
Back in August, Mr. Bulger addressed the possibility of an appeal or some other challenge coming the town boards way.
This time, the county is going through this whole process, looking at the environmental impact and all thats required to get everything in position so that once were challenged, this time we should be in a position to defend it, he said.
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