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Everyone wants a nice smelling home, which is why air fresheners are so popular. Many spray and plug-in fragrance products smell nice, but breathing in that fresh scent also causes you to inhale harmful chemicals such as phosphates, chlorine bleach, or ammonia.
These unnatural substances can cause allergic reactions, trigger asthma attacks, and irritate the lungs.
Spray fresheners dont just disappear into thin airthe chemicals linger on, staying in the home as they land on surfaces and floors and sink into carpets.
The Health Hazards of Home Air
Air fresheners that use chemicals to deodorize the air or cover odors with fragrances contain ingredients like camphor andparadichlorobenzene, which both have the capability to cause damage to the nervous system and increase cancer risk.
Unnatural fragrances added to products may contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), known to cause cancer.
Fortunately, alternatives to chemical-based air fresheners naturally refresh and scent the air, are biodegradable, and are not harmful to your health.
Natural Air Fresheners
Here are some simple, homemade air fresheners to try:
- Fresh Air; simply open a window. Windows should be opened for a few minutes each day. Indoor air can be more polluted then outside air due to outgassing of plastics, paints and surfaces
- White vinegar removes odors naturally on surfaces and in the air
- Candles from Beeswax or soy wax can wipe away odor particles and improve air quality
- Potpourri made from leftover herbs can make a quick and easy air freshener
- Baking soda absorbs odors, so place a few open boxes throughout the home
- Boiling spices like cinnamon in a little bit of water releases its fragrance
- Essential oils diluted in water can be used as a spray freshenrty a combination of your favorite essential oils like lemon and cedar
Eco Product Picks
Perfect Scents Air Freshener – The "Perfect Scents Green" air freshener is enviro-friendly and totally "green " inside and out. It is made with natural essential oils and contains no propellants. The continuous spray packaging is 100% recyclable aluminum.


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Juvenile charged in North Port arson
Published: Friday, March 29, 2013 at 12:48 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, March 29, 2013 at 12:48 p.m.
NORTH PORT - A juvenile has been arrested and charged with burglary and arson after a smoldering fire was discovered in a home Wednesday, says the Nort Port Fire Rescue.
Shortly after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Fire Rescue received a report of a house fire on Detroit Terrace. Firefighters discovered smoke coming from the rear of the house and extinguished the fire.
The cause of the fire was determined as arson. The same house had also been vandalized in recently, according to a news release.
State and local law enforcement officials were notified and began investigating.
A juvenile was later arrested after an investigation by the North Port Police and the State Fire Marshal's Office.
The juvenile, whose name is being withheld, was charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and first-degree arson, both felonies. The juvenile was transported to the Sarasota County Juvenile Assessment Center.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.

subset: commoncrawl


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Vermont's Jay Peak Resort is seeking to build a barn to hold weddings and other special events.
The 3,600-square-foot barn would be located near the first hole of the golf course and the clubhouse.
The club house contains wedding party suites that have been in use in conjunction with a large tent to host outdoor weddings and other events.
The Caledonian-Record reports a local environmental commission would need to approve the project.


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Jessica Hernandez is one of the best young rock-and-soul singers in the game.
Just dial up YouTube and watch her latest video, "Demons," and see if you don't agree.
Or, better yet, watch her video of "Dead Brains" that was recorded, in one take, while driving in a Lincoln Continental with her backing band, The Deltas. It's an absolutely captivating clip -- one that we're a bit amazed hasn't gone viral yet. (We'll do our part in that regard and embed the "Dead Brains" video with this story.)
The Detroit star-in-the-making impressed fans at the mega-influential South by Southwest music conference in Texas in March. Now, she's headed for the Bay Area.
Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas perform July 16 at The Chapel in San Francisco. Hungry Skinny and The Tropics are also on the bill. Show time is 9 p.m. and tickets are $12, www.thechapelsf.com.
Kenny Loggins was once known as the "King of the Movie Soundtrack."
The singer-songwriter delivered so many memorable movie anthems during the '80s, including "I'm Alright" in "Caddyshack," the title track to "Footloose" and "Danger Zone" in "Top Gun."
Yet, that's only part of his story.
The Grammy-winning artist also achieved much fame as one half of Loggins and Messina, the '70s soft-rock duo responsible for such favorites as "Your Mama Don't Dance," "Danny's Song" and "House at Pooh Corner."
Loggins performs Wednesday at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga. Blue Sky Riders are also on the bill. Show time is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $35-$125, www.ticketmaster.com.
Follow Jim Harrington at http://twitter.com/jimthecritic and www.facebook.com/jim.bayareanews.


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Fire officials have determined that three fires set at the same vacant apartment building last week were intentionally set.
The fires were located at 1600 E. 24th St. The first fire occurred around 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Firefighters quickly contained that fire, and no one was found inside the building.
Two other fires were set on Friday, Winston-Salem fire officials said. The building had no utility hook-ups, fire officials said.
Winston-Salem police are investigating the fires and are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at (336) 727-2800.


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This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
August 19, 2009
Treasury, DOE Offer $2.3 Billion in Tax Credits for Energy Manufacturers
The new federal tax credit is meant to encourage investment in new manufacturing facilities for clean energy technologies, such as this wind blade production plant in Pennsylvania. Enlarge this image
DOE and the U.S. Department of the Treasury have launched a new program to award $2.3 billion in tax credits to manufacturers of equipment for clean energy systems. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorized the Treasury Department to provide developers with an investment tax credit of 30% percent for facilities that manufacture particular types of energy equipment.
Qualifying manufacturers will produce solar, wind, and geothermal energy equipment; fuel cells, microturbines, and batteries; electric cars; electric grids to support the transmission of renewable energy; energy conservation technologies; and equipment that captures and sequesters carbon dioxide or reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The manufacturing tax credit is capped at $2.3 billion, and credits are available for two years or until the cap is reached. Companies can expect to receive payments within 180 days of filing for the credit. See the DOE press release and for more details, see DOE's Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C) Web page.
The new tax credit "will put America on track to once again be the global leader in solar manufacturing," according to Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. "This program will attract billions of dollars of investment in manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and will create new jobs in states where they are needed most. We expect solar-related provisions in the stimulus bill like this one to create 110,000 jobs in the solar industry in 2009 and 2010 combined." See the SEIA press release.


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FREMONT -- Knock, knock. ...
So the joke begins, but the punch line has left few East Bay and Peninsula residents laughing after their homes were brazenly burglarized in a bizarre string of thefts over the past week and a half.
Dressed to resemble city or PG&E workers, pairs of men and women have targeted elderly residents in Hayward, Fremont, Union City, Oakland, San Carlos and most recently San Mateo, stealing thousands of dollars in cash and other valuables. The catch, and the primary concern for police, is that residents are still home when the crimes occur, yet they are completely unaware of what is going on before it is too late.
In Fremont, Union City, Hayward and San Mateo, elderly residents have answered their doors to either a man or a woman claiming to be with Animal Control who said they needed to check the property for poisonous snakes or they needed to trim a neighbor's tree. While one of the suspects distracts the residents by taking them into the backyard, a second person burglarizes the home.
Only in the San Mateo case did the resident become suspicious of the visitor and ask her to leave before the home was burglarized.
Official-looking outfits and a convincing excuse to get residents out of their homes is an alarmingly bold tactic, according to Geneva Bosques with the Fremont Police Department.
"(The burglars) are taking advantage of a trustworthy system," Bosques said. "They are taking advantage of our city, of our government and of our residents. My fear is that they are going to continue to be sophisticated in their planning and then leave Fremont to take advantage of other communities."
Sgt. Eric Melendez, head of the robbery and property crimes unit with the Hayward Police Department, agrees with Bosques. He said the plans and the way they are carried out are the work of someone who is an experienced thief and who most likely has a record. More important, they should have been caught before, he added.
In Oakland and San Carlos, a man and his stealthy partner posing as a PG&E worker executed a similar ruse, also making off with thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry.
It is still unclear if all the crimes are related, police said, but similar suspect descriptions have been reported on multiple occasions. However, despite the scams' regularity, no one has been arrested.
In Union City and Fremont, the suspect posing as an Animal Control officer has been described as a white or Hispanic female in her 30s, roughly 5 feet tall with a medium build. In Union City, the female suspect was described as wearing a dark green outfit. In Fremont, the suspect was described as wearing a tan uniform. All uniforms, regardless of what unit officers work for, are dark blue, police said.
In San Mateo, the female suspect was similarly described, and officers said she had blonde hair and a nose piercing. In Oakland, the suspects were described as Hispanic males in their 40s, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, 185 pounds with dark brown hair. The men wore light-blue shirts, light-colored pants and light-colored hats. In Hayward, officers described the suspect who posed as an Animal Control officer as a white man, 25 to 35 years old, 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds with thinning, dirty-blond hair and mustache. He wore rectangular glasses. In the Hayward tree-trimming scam, the suspects were described as Hispanic males in their 30s and wearing dark clothing driving a red pickup truck.
"The concept of the crime has not changed," said Rebecca Rosenblatt, spokeswoman for the San Carlos Police Bureau. "The methods have, and when we foil one (plan), they start on another. And if it looks like it is in one area, there is a good chance someone else has seen it in another."
While more reports come in of residents being duped, detectives and agencies are trying to beat the thieves at their guise by getting the word out of what to look for so no one else is a victim.
"(City employees) don't just randomly show up," Melendez said. "If someone comes to your door, and you even have a shred of doubt, call the police. You can tell pretty fast if you are on the phone with a dispatcher if the person is who they say they are, because if they are not, they are going to disappear quickly."
"We don't mind those calls either," he added. "We love when we can catch (burglars) right in the act because then it's a done deal."
And there is nothing wrong with simply not answering or refusing to open the door, said Tracy Prioste with the Concord Senior Citizens Center. Though Contra Costa County seems to be the only area where there are no recent reports of suspects trying to lure people from their homes with stories of poisonous snakes or neighbors needing their trees trimmed, Prioste said the advice on how elderly residents deal with strangers is universal.
"I think now you don't owe that same courtesy to a complete stranger as (elderly residents) were raised to do," she said. "If you don't know the person, you don't have to open the door and greet them. Speak to them through the door, because maybe they are not supposed to be there."
Linda Olla, manager of the Fremont Senior Center, said while she knows that a majority of seniors grew up in a very trusting environment, the world is no longer like that.
"It's a cowardly thing for people to do, targeting seniors," she said.
Follow Katie Nelson at Twitter.com/katienelson210.
Police have released information about several similarly described suspects in recent scams that have plagued the East Bay and have trickled over to the Peninsula. Should you recognize any of the suspects listed below, police have asked that residents immediately contact their city's police department.
The suspect is described as white or Hispanic female, about 5 feet tall, with a medium to heavy build and a pierced tongue. She was wearing a hat, dark colored gloves and a tan short-sleeved shirt with patches on the sleeves. She may be driving a silver Land Rover, police said. A second suspect description could not be provided. The incident was reported Aug. 23.
The female suspect who was posing as an animal control officer wore a uniform consisting of a dark blue hat with a "CITY" logo on it, a dark green shirt with the same logo over the left chest area and dark green pants. The victims described her as a white or Hispanic female with blond hair that may have been dyed or possibly even a wig. The incident was reported Aug. 21.
Officers described the suspect who posed as a city worker as a white man, 25-35 years old, 5-foot-6, 160 pounds with thinning, dirty-blond hair and mustache. He wore rectangular glasses. The incident was reported Aug. 22.
Police described the suspect tree trimmer as a Hispanic man, 5-foot-4, between 30 and 40 years old, with a medium build and reddish brown hair. He wore an orange construction vest and blue jeans. The second suspect was described as a Hispanic man, about 30 years old with a dark complexion. He wore a black jacket, blue jeans and was last seen driving a large red lifted pickup truck. The incident was reported Aug. 20.
The first suspect is described as Hispanic, age 35 to 40, about 5-foot-6, 180 pounds with short dark hair. He was wearing a hard hat, gloves, a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and dark pants.
The second suspect is also Hispanic, age 45 to 50, with a light complexion, about 5-foot-6, 185 pounds with dark brown hair. He was wearing a light blue shirt, light-colored pants and a light-colored hat. Police said both carried clipboards. The incident was reported Aug. 20.
The suspect in this case was described as female, 30 years old, 5-foot-2, 120 pounds, with blonde hair and a nose piercing, wearing a tan hat and uniform. The victim was unable to discern the race of the suspect. The incident was reported Aug. 27.
Source: The Fremont Police Department, the Union City Police Department, the Hayward Police Department, the Oakland Police Department, the San Mateo Police Department.


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STANTON Ky. (WYMT) - Next up in our DQ Grill and Chill countdown to tip off series are the Powell County Lady Pirates.
Powell County finished with a 16-13 record last season but fell to Knott Central, a team they drew for the 3rd straight year in the first round of the 14th region. With the loss of just one senior from last year, the Lady Pirates are poised to make a run at region.
"This year we've got Keeley back in the post. We've got Nikki outside", said head coach Ken Jones. "We've got Stephanie at the two guard, and Triston at the three. We moved her over from the four, so we are pretty good."
"We just have to play together. Believe in each other, trust each other", said forward Lillian Shelton.
"Well, I think we just need to work harder as a team together and work on our defense", said guard Nikki Wells.
"We return a lot from last year, but we are going to have to get better at the little things", said forward Kelley Rogers. Like, this year, we are working harder on defense. We are having harder practices than we've had in the past and we just have to make up for our size."
"We have to make our fast breaks and take advantage of them. And do everything we can with them. Even though we don't have the size, but we do have the quickness", said guard Stephanie Knox.
"Speed definitely. And, our size is a big difference, but we are really fast", said forward Destiny Peck.
"I think we are pretty high up there, as long as we work together and we have the potential to be number one", said guard Triston Curtis.
The DQ Grill and Chill Roundball preview show with air on Thursday, November 29th from 7-8pm on WYMT. That is when we will announce the initial Alice Lloyd College mountain top ten for the both the boys and the girls.


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- Compatible with major browsers (IE8+,Mozilla,Chrome,Safari)
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I wrote a very detail and clear guide to help you easy work with Radja. But if you have any questions, please feel free go to our support forum http://satankmkr.ticksy.com, I'll answer your questions immediately if you have same GMT with me (GMT +8).
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Fixed: JSON Feed Result (make it support third party image) Fixed: Recent Post by Tag (make it support third party image) Fixed: Tabs widget Effect (Archive toggle) Update: Documentationsv1.00 – June 7th, 2013
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William C. Oliver, 35, of Taylor, Mo., died at the scene of a truck-pedestrian accident at 3:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, in Marion County near West Quincy, Mo.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the accident was on U.S. 24 one mile west of West Quincy, Mo.
Officers said Oliver was not at a crosswalk as he walked south across the eastbound lanes of U.S. 24. He failed to yield to traffic and was hit by an eastbound 1993 Ford truck driven by Nieckeo P. Daucsavage,18, of Quincy, Ill.
Oliver was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:22 a.m. by Marion County acting Coroner Steve Lewis.
Location, ST | website.com


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|Amsterdam - 6000 attend public talk by Sogyal Rinpoche
Invited to teach as part of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teaching programme in Amsterdam, Sogyal Rinpoche gave a public talk on the evening of 4 June. He taught on Finding Peace and Stability in a Troubled World.
On 5 June, Rinpoche will also participate with His Holiness and other speakers and panelists at
During the summer, further teaching events with His Holiness the Dalai Lama will take place in Europe, where Rinpoche has also been invited to give public talks. Details of these events can be found here.


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Friday, December 7, 2012
WINGATE, N.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken 11th-year head coach Mike Brandt claimed his 200th win as the Pacer mentor in USC Aiken's 73-65 road win over Wingate in non-conference action on Friday evening at Cuddy Arena.
Brandt is now 200-109 as the Pacer head coach. He is 453-238 in 24 seasons as a head coach.
The victory allowed the third-ranked Pacers to improve to 6-0 on the 2012-13 season. Friday's game marked USC Aiken's first road game of the year.
USC Aiken is now 2-0 against Wingate in the 2012-13 season. The Pacers also bested Wingate, who was a 2012 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional finalist last season, 72-49 at the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
The Pacers opened Friday's road win over Wingate by racing out to an 11-2 lead over the first almost four minutes of the game.
USC Aiken would control the rest of the first stanza to enter halftime with an 11-point 37-26 lead.
Wingate (5-4) would cut the Pacer lead down to as little as five in the second half, but USC Aiken would hold on for the eight-point win.
The Pacers concluded the win over Wingate shooting 47.5 percent (28-for-59) from the field as a team. Wingate shot 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the field as a team.
Kayla Harris led a trio of Pacers in double figures in the game with 25 points. Harris was 11-for-20 from the field in the game. Harris, who was 3-of-3 from the free throw line, also had a team-best eight rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Harris (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield HS) after her 25 points on Friday now has 999 points in her Pacer career. The preseason All-American is just one point away from becoming the ninth women's basketball player in USC Aiken's NCAA Division II era to score 1,000 points or more in their career.
Mackenzie Reese (Madison, Wis./Edgewood HS) ended the Pacer win with a career-best 18 points. Reese, who was 8-for-12 from the field in the game, also had four steals and two assists.
The final Pacer in double figures was Daniela Tarailo (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point HS), who ended her efforts with 11 points. Tarailo's two 3-pointers in the Pacer win allowed her to move into fifth all-time in USC Aiken women's basketball history in 3-pointers made with 139.
Brittany Hill (Mechanicsville, Va./Quinnipiac) dished out a game-high seven assists for USC Aiken, while Mia Antoine (Stone Mountain, Ga./Dominion Christian HS) claimed a game-high five steals.
Morgan McGee led the Wingate cause in their loss with 27 points. She also had a game-high 12 boards to claim a double-double.
USC Aiken will next turn its attention to exams for the majority of the upcoming week before returning to the hardwood to open Peach Belt Conference play at home against UNC Pembroke on Saturday, Dec. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.


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will be full soon!
almost full at 3 levels 1 spot left!!!
Please send info for Round Robins to firstname.lastname@example.com
thanks for the interest I sent you an email
looking for 10's and 18's to finish filling out the tourney
where are all the 10U teams?
still looking for 10U teams!
keep us in mind as we are filling up!
looking to fill 10, 12 and 18U
All are filling up...get registered now!
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


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Gas Parts
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Orifices, and thermocouples, and hi-limits; oh-my! If you're into DIY or the repair guy (or woman), these common gas equipment parts are right up your alley, and there's definitely nothing to be scared of. But for those of you that are still learning, we'd suggest hitting up The Back Burner (the blog, not the stove) to get a few lessons on how to fix things yourself.
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- Dec 22:
- Man pleads guilty to setting over a dozen fires in downtown San Jose
- Jan 18:
- San Jose arsonist case: Troubling, bizarre portrait of suspect emerges after end of alleged fire reign
- San Jose arsons: An inside look at the investigative work that led to arsonist's capture
- Jan 16:
- San Jose: Convicted arsonist and sex offender blamed for string of fires
- Jan 15:
- San Jose arson suspect arrested
- Jan 11:
- Two-alarm fire burns Victorian-style home in San Jose
- Jan 9:
- San Jose couple safely escape burning home
- San Jose: Massive warehouse blaze brings area to a standstill
- Jan 8:
- San Jose: Garage fire sends two to hospital, displaces seven
SAN JOSE -- In a span of 48 hours, seven suspicious fires were started outside homes, businesses and a portable building on a church property along a stretch of San Antonio Street, raising concern that an arsonist is at work.
The San Jose Fire Department responded Friday morning to three fires within 45 minutes around 24th and San Antonio streets, according to Capt. Mike Van Elgort. Since Wednesday, firefighters have responded to seven suspicious blazes in the same area, all within an approximately 5-mile radius.
"We are actively pursuing the evidence we have, and we are on the trail," Van Elgort said. "Clearly these fires are suspicious. You don't have multiple exterior fires with no ignition source. It is very scary; from the perspective this person has no regard for the fellow citizens of San Jose. They are putting them at risk."
View Area of fires in a larger map
Fire officials did not immediately provide information on all seven fires, citing the investigation.
One of the Friday's suspicious fires happened at a townhome at 28th and San Antonio. Martha Yanez said she and her husband woke up at 3:45 a.m. to the sounds of a man screaming outside their window "your house is on fire."
"We jumped off the bed and looked out the window," Yanez said.
The couple ran outside and began throwing water on the flames, Yanez said. She then ran inside the home and got her 11-year-old son to come help.
Yanez said they extinguished the fire quickly, before firefighters arrived.
"We turned it off, and we're all OK but my children are scared," Yanez said.
The fire burned just below the bedroom window of one of her children. One exterior wall was burned to the roof's edge where the first and second stories meet.
Yanez said she is "nervous and scared, wondering why and who is doing it."
The string of fires Friday morning comes on the heels of a massive five-alarm blaze that destroyed a large warehouse on East Julian Street, located about a mile away. Friday morning, firefighters said they do not believe the warehouse fire is connected to fires along San Antonio Street.
"We urge residents to be vigilant," said Councilman Sam Liccardo, whose district encompasses all seven of the suspicious fires "It's obvious that an arsonist has been at work over the last several days, and we're actively working with residents in the surrounding community to ensure people stay safe.
"Fortunately the rapid response of the fire department, and of concerned neighbors, has prevented any injuries."
Friday morning, firefighters also responded to a fire at 24th and San Antonio streets at about 3:31 a.m. and a fire at Peach Court.
"We have fire cause investigators and SJPD working together, scouring the area, interviewing occupants, and best we can, determine if these are suspicious, and if they are, catch the suspect, " Van Elgort said.
The building at 1165 Peach Court is home of a MGM Drywall, a commercial and residential drywall company. Sal Madrigal, the company's vice president, said someone tried to ignite his building two nights in a row.
Thursday morning, someone stuck a burning object through the company's mail slot, sparking other documents to catch fire, Madrigal said. The work foreman came into the office at about 5:05 a.m., noticed some smoke and put the small fire out.
Early Friday between 4:30 and 5 a.m., someone tried to pull a plywood panel off the side of the shop and stuffed newspapers inside. Madrigal said the person lit the newspapers on fire, but damage was minimal.
"It makes us nervous, especially with all the information, documents, years of information that is irreplaceable," Madrigal said. "It could really effect our day to day operations."
Just down the road from MGM Drywall there was a suspicious fire early Wednesday morning at Greater St. John Baptist Church that damaged a large portable located in the parking lot.
Deacon Felix Gibson said the portable was used as a classroom for both youth and adult programs.
"Of all places you would think that someone would not is set a church grounds on fire," Gibson said. "It's just crazy, man. I just don't understand the motive behind it."
Gibson said the damage caused by the fire has left the portable unusable.
Also Thursday morning, a husband and wife were asleep in a back bedroom of their home on South 17th Street at San Antonio Street when the woman woke up to the blaring sound of a smoke detector. The couple discovered flames shooting into their living room from the front porch and safely escaped through the back of their house.
The fire department said the cause of the three-alarm blaze is under investigation, and as of Friday morning did not specify if that was one of the seven suspicious blazes.
"It's one thing to have your place of business attacked, and it's another thing to have your home endangered, especially if you have a family," Madrigal said. "I can imagine how nerve-wracking that might be."


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Police say sale of computer apparently turned criminal
Published: Friday, October 4, 2013 at 9:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 4, 2013 at 9:16 p.m.
A Tuscaloosa man faces robbery charges after authorities said he stole a man's computer and smartphone.
Antwan Laderrick Adams, 20, faces one count of first- degree robbery and was being held Friday morning in the Tuscaloosa County Jail.
Sgt. Brent Blankley, a Tuscaloosa Police Department spokesman, said the victim met Adams at about 1 p.m. Thursday in the 5500 block of Alabama Highway 69 to sell Adams a laptop computer.
Adams asked the victim to get into his vehicle to discuss the sale of the laptop, the sergeant said. During the negotiations, Adams produced a handgun and demanded the computer and the victim's iPhone 5, the victim told police.
The victim then left the vehicle and Adams drove away from the area, Blankley said.
Investigators with the Tuscaloosa police and Tuscaloosa County sheriff's departments joined forces to identify the suspect as Adams, whom they later found at his residence in the 2300 block of Crabtree Road.
A search of the home turned up the victim's laptop but not the iPhone, according to Blankley.
Blankley said Adams was charged with the crime following interviews with detectives at the Tuscaloosa Police Department.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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A wild finish was only fitting for the wild contest that ensued between the Pierce City Lady Eagles and Neosho Lady Wildcats at the Neosho Holiday Classic on Thursday at Neosho Middle School.
In a heated contest that even saw fans jawing across the floor at one another, both teams did battle until the bitter end, well, bitter for the Lady Wildcats, as Pierce City scored with four seconds left to knock off Neosho, 49-47, in the second round of pool play.
After trialing by as many as 13 points in the second half, the Lady Wildcats closed the gap late and put themselves in a position to win. Victory nearly became a reality, too, as senior Morgan Rathmann, who scored four points in the game, stole an inbounds pass and scored with 14 seconds left to tie it at 47 apiece.
With no timeouts remaining, the Wildcats scrambled back on defense as the Lady Eagles quickly pushed the ball down the court. In a confusing frenzy, the Lady Wildcats lost contain and two Lady Eagles roamed free under the basket. There, Pierce City junior Christine Younker grabbed an open look at the basket and put the finishing touches on the game with four seconds left.
A final cross-court heave by Rathmann at the buzzer fell in vain.
"I'm proud of our effort," Lady Wildcats coach Lance Robbins said. "I thought we fought hard to get back in the game. It was an ugly game at times, but I felt like, once again, tonight we played well in spurts.
"I think we showed what kind of team we can be in spurts, but we've yet to show the consistency of playing four quarter of basketball. Tomorrow's another day. Hopefully we'll come back (tonight) and put together four good quarters of basketball."
Chelsea Henry had a nice game in the paint for the Lady Wildcats with 15 points while teammate Matty Liedtke was a force from long range with four 3-pointers to help account for her 14 points. Emily Harrell added four points while Corea Lowery finished with six and Morgan Rogers four.
Emily Ashley paced the Lady Eagles with 16 points while Krishna Merriman added 14, Becca Hatfield two, Bailee Hayward seven, Christine Younker six, Amber Wagner two and Shania Hogan two.
The Lady Wildcats (4-5) take on Van Buren at 5 p.m. today.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
The first brick courthouse in Wood County at the county seat of Quitman was finished in late 1883 and used until it burned in1925. – Photo from the June Preston Collection of photographs donated by June to the Wood County Genealogical Society.
Filed under: Historical Events Tagged: | 1884 courthouse, Preston, Quitman


text:
ELKO, Nev. --Many great games dot the history between the Sparks and South Tahoe
boys soccer teams.
Friday's wasn't one of them.
In the battle between the last two state champions, the defending state
champion, Sparks, routed South Tahoe 5-0.
The South Tahoe Vikings had no answer for the speedy Sparks forwards, who
scored four goals in the first half to quickly take all of the drama out of
the game.
"They're extremely well-rounded players. They're fast and they kept their
composure," South Tahoe coach Hugo Lizaola said. "We lacked all of that."
Sparks' Ruben Pacheco started the scoring frenzy for the Sparks Railroaders
with back-to-back goals in the 8th and 15th minute.
The first came on a through-ball from Edwin Navarro, as the South Tahoe
defenders begged for an offsides call.
The second came right in front of the goal when Pacheco received a ball from
Hector Hernandez and slapped the ball from 8-yards out to the right side of
the goal.
The South Tahoe goalie got a hand on the ball, but it had enough force to
carry itself into the goal.
In the 30th minute a misplayed header by South Tahoe made it 3-0 and Kevin
Partida added a penalty kick in the 33rd after he was fouled in the box.
In the 50th minute Partida added his second goal on a free kick to make it
"We're just firing on all cylinders. The kids have their minds on the goals
that they've set," coach Frank Avilla said. "The boys took this game,
Despite the score, it was a heated game for both teams as each side received
four yellow cards in the match.
Sparks only has three starting seniors and a young nucleus, but it still
looked very much like the defending state champions.
South Tahoe ends a season plagued by injuries, including losing its best
player, Rodolfo Castillo, in the first three weeks to a season-ending ACL
"It is what it is," Lizaola said.
South Tahoe was 6-4 in league play and graduates seven seniors.
With Friday's victory, the Railroaders clinched a state-playoff berth for
the fourth straight year. In that time, they've been the state-runner ups
twice and won their first state championship in the program's history last
"I don't know how they do it to be honest with you," Avilla said.
They face Truckee at 10 a.m. today in the regional championship game.
Truckee is 9-1 in league play and is the only team to defeat Sparks this
season. Sparks is also 9-1 and beat Truckee in the first two meetings of the
year between the two teams.
"We're going to give it our best and they will," Avilla said.


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Portal:2008 U.S. Congressional Elections
From SourceWatch
The 2008 U.S. Congressional Elections Portal
Congresspedia. Here you'll find profiles on candidates for Congress, coverage of the elections, listings of local blogs for each state and informal groups of citizen editors who are working together to improve and expand related articles.
Things you can do
|General, non state-specific articles on the 2008 elections:
Click on one of the states below to see more things you can do specific to that state's candidates and members of Congress.
Election information by state
Click on a state below to go to its corresponding Congresspedia portal. There you'll find information on the state's U.S. senators and representatives as well as candidates for congress, local blogs and things you can do to edit and improve the articles.
<us_map redirect="Portal:{state} and the U.S. Congress" />
(Post a new addition)
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Discover Belgium: Special themes - Brussels - Antwerp - Bruges - Ghent - Mons - Namur - Liège - Leuven - Mechelen - Ostend
Brussels is an essential destination for any tourist. The city is a leading cultural, historic, culinary and tourist centre.
In the centre of Brussels, you must certainly visit the Grand-Place with its large number of historic mansions, the magnificent 15th-century Town Hall and the well-known Maison du Roi Museum. There is also the Galeries St Hubert, which is the oldest covered shopping arcade in Europe. The fifteenth-century Saint Gudula and Saint Michael Cathedral is also worth a visit. You can relax in the Parc de Bruxelles facing the Royal Palace.
You can also go for a walk along the Place du Grand Sablon, with its large number of antique shops. The daily flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle is certainly an attraction. Other sights include Sablon Church with its Gothic interior and the Palace of Justice on the Galgenberg. The European quarter, which is the centre of government for the European Union, surrounds Place Schuman. Just outside the city centre, you will find the Atomium, a steel molecule enlarged 165 billion times.
Châtelain: a quarter full of independent boutiques and laidback restaurants: the square itself hosts a popular Wednesday evening food market.
Dansaert: there are always things happening – and a new boutique to explore – in the Dansaert quarter, the fashion heart of the city.
Louise: upmarket Avenue Louise is where all of Brussels heads at the weekend: the area has a real buzz and the city's best shopping.
St. Gilles: multicultural St. Gilles is full of hidden treasures: wonderful architecture; great restaurants and quirky boutiques.
Flagey: laid-back bars, an excellent weekend food and flower market and the beautiful Ixelles Ponds to stroll around.
Sainte Catherine: from the ultra-tradition fish restaurants on the square to the hip shops and bars of Rue de Flandre, Sainte Catherine is packed with distractions.
Uccle: Leafy Uccle has sweeping Art Deco avenues, pretty squares full of shops and cafés as well as acres of surprisingly wild forest to discover.
Creativity has always been an inherent part of Antwerp - in the 16th and 17th century, Antwerp was home to great masters such as Rubens and Anthony Van Dyck; in the 20th and 21st century, the city has been an inspiration to famous fashion designers such as Dries Van Noten and Walter van Beirendonck. There is much to do of a cultural nature, but the city is also well worth a visit for its excellent restaurants, bars and clubs. And of course for shopping: retail stores are also open on each first Sunday of the month. Much like Antwerp diamonds, the city sparkles with an impressive range of architecture from medieval buildings to Art Nouveau townhouses and the beautiful contemporary MAS or "Museum Aan de Stroom" ("Museum at the river").
EVENTS Luc Tuymans: Glasses (13.05.2016 - 18.09.2016): Museum aan de Stroom celebrates its 5th birthday with three new exhibitions. The most important one is a display of works by Antwerp's greatest living artist: Luc Tuymans. Tuymans has a fascination for people with glasses and in the spring of 2016 he will show 25 of his most famous portraits of world leaders. – Rubens market (15.08.2016): Antwerp relives the era of Baroque painter Rubens with a market where all vendors wear seventeenth-century clothes. Taste some delicious artisan products and enjoy the authentic atmosphere. – Bollekesfeest (18.08.2016 - 21.08.2016): A great urban festival with a unique atmosphere. Taste real regional products, enjoy great music of local artists and try a refreshing bolleke (De Koninck beer). - The Golden Cabinet. Royal Museum at the Rockox House (until 01.01.2017): Masterpieces from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (closed for renovation) and the most important works from the Rockox House itself.
EAT Michelin-starred Dôme (Grotehondstraat 2), is one of Antwerp's best-loved restaurants. Just across the street is the seafood eatery Dôme sur Mer (Arendstraat 1) and bakery Domestic (Steenbokstraat 37).
SHOP Hospital (De Burburestraat 4-5) is more than just another fashion store; it's an experience in itself. Shop the latest fashion in store or head to the wine cellar for the city's best wine selection. Plans are being made to add a small resto-coffee bar and a luxury B&B to the store.
LATER Well-heeled creatives make a beeline for the café-bar Vitrin (Marnixplaats 14), located on a key square in the trendy Zuid (South) district.
The heart of Bruges, surrounded by an almost continuous ring of canals, is the best preserved example of medieval Flanders. So picture postcard perfect is the city center, known as "the Venice of the North", that it is nigh on impossible to take a bad photograph. With the city center closed off to cars, all the stunning beauty and culture of this unforgettable city can be easily explored on foot, by boat ride along quiet canals, or by horse-drawn carriage over cobblestone streets. Although Bruges is a small city, it will easily take more than one day to explore all of its architectural and artistic treasures, folklore, chocolate shops, lace boutiques, and local restaurants. The historic center of Bruges is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is teeming with places of interest. Bruges is so magical that it's akin to a film set. This seems appropriate given that the 2008 film In Bruges was filmed on location in the city. This film, starring Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell, features two hit men holing up in the city after a difficult job. Farrell allegedly stayed in Bonifacius Exclusive Guesthouse (Groeninge 4) while in town filming.
EVENTS Wildlife Photographer of the Year (01.05.2016 - 09.09.2016): Every year, the Natural History Museum in London organises a competition for nature photographers. The Xpo Center Bruges displays the 100 most beautiful photos. - Zandfeesten Bruges (07.08.2016 - 25.09.2016): Both normal visitors and passionate collectors will find unique treasures on this biggest antiques and collectibles market in Flanders. - Great War Battlefields tour commemorating WW1 (until 31.12.2018).
EAT Bistro Bruut (Meestraat 9) has had a radical facelift; its dining room now combines vintage industrial-style lampshades and reclaimed-wood tabletops. The honest Franco-Belgian cuisine at Assiette Blanche (Philipstockstraat 23-25, assietteblanche.be) is a hit with the chic local crowd.
SHOP Family-run chocolatier Dumon (Eiermarkt 6) occupies a dollhouse-like shop near Markt Square, while newcomer BbyB (Sint Amandstraat 39) features chocolates from top chef Bart Desmidt in minimal Pantone-style packaging.
LATER Venerated 't Brugs Beertje (Kemelstraat 5) offers 300 different beers, including Brugse Zot ('the fool'), the city's only official home brew. A former employee runs Comptoir des Arts (Vlamingstraat 53), a hip and atmospheric cellar jazz bar with a roaring fire.
"Here's a secret within a secret: Ghent might just be the best European city you've never thought of visiting, in a country that continues to be criminally overlooked." - Lonely Planet 10 places to visit in 2011. If you're the type who prefers exploring away from the tourist hordes, funky Ghent is definitely the place to go. Ghent is praised for its brilliant mix of a wonderful past and a vibrant present. Here hides one of Europe's finest panoramas of water, spires and centuries-old grand houses. But this is no place to simply kick back. It's also Flanders' biggest university town, which means linger-as-long-as-you-like cafés, well-priced restaurants and a laid-back atmosphere. Under the watchful eye of Gravensteen Castle or Castle of the Counts, the city boasts an Opera House, 18 museums, 100 churches and over 400 historical buildings. The most visited site in Ghent is the famous polyptych, The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, painted by the brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck in 1432. It still hangs in its original location, the St. Bavo Cathedral. The locals, while intensely proud of their city, are very modest and would never brag about its merits. One reason, perhaps, why it has taken so long for the rest of the world to discover this little gem.
EVENTS Invisible Beauty | Paviljoen van Irak - La Biennale di Venezia (28.05.2016 - 04.09.2016): 5 artists who work in Iraq gather in Ghent to exhibit their old and new works. Works with unexpected content, about the genocide, ISIS and the refugee crisis. - Gentse Feesten (15.07.2016 - 24.07.2016): One of the biggest folk festivals in Europe. Enjoy national and international music, good food, street theatre and a cosy atmosphere on this 10-day urban festival. - OdeGand (17.09.2016): Ghent opens its cultural season with this great city festival. A line-up of national and international artists bring surprising music, ranging from Belgian pop to Spanish flamenco and Indian percussion. The evening ends with spectacular fireworks.
EAT Dine on tapas-style dishes at Pure Daphne (Gebroeders Vandeveldestraat 3), Belgium's first croquette bar.
SHOP Rustic interiors shop Comme un rêve (Brabantdam 56b) sells a mixture of super flea-market finds and new country-style knick-knacks for the home.
LATER Sip inventive, delicious cocktails out of glass balls and Mason jars at the futuristic Limonada (Heilige-Geeststraat 7).
Cultural capital of Wallonia since 2002 and European Capital of Culture 2015, Mons is a dynamic city with a rich heritage. Located close to the French border and at the centre of the largest mining and industrial region of Belgium, Mons has been a pilgrimage destination since the 7th century, when a Frankish woman, later St. Waltrude, decided to stop here and dedicate her life to God. St. Waltrude's Collegiate Church, one of Mons principal attractions, was never fully completed after 200 years of works! This can be seen on the church's exterior as the tower is not completed, the interior however, was completed in the 17th century. The church is considered one of the best examples of Brabant Gothic. Other remarkable landmarks of Mons are the Grande-Place, surrounded by the impressive Town Hall, and the Belfry (listed as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO), a bell tower hosting a carillon of 47 bells. If you have a more contemporary feel, don't miss the Marsh House, where painter Van Gogh lived around 1880.
EVENTS Tanks in town (26.08.2016 - 28.08.2016): The city of Mons becomes a living museum of armoured vehicles as it commemorates its liberation in 1944. Enjoy the impressive parade of World War vehicles in the historic centre or go for a ride in a real panzer.
EAT Jean-Philippe Watteyne is famous in Mons, thanks to his run on the French TV series Top Chef. He's also the genius behind iCook (Rue des Fripiers 2, restaurant-icook.be), one of the city's most popular restaurants.
SHOP Mons Où Venir (Rue des Clercs 13) takes souvenir shopping to a zany new level, with models of the doudou – the city's green medieval dragon – among the many items on sale in Catherine Franeau's quirky little boutique.
LATER Cuba'R (Rue de Nimy 57) is a cellar bar that has brought Cuban music, Cuban drinks and some great cigars to Mons.
Namur is the capital of Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium. Enjoy a stroll through the medieval city centre or the Citadel, one of Europe's most impressive strongholds. If you want to give your feet a rest, you can join one of the many boat trips on the rivers Sambre and Meuse, as the city is neatly tucked in between where both rivers meet, an ideal and romantic way to explore the region. Do you prefer a more challenging way of exploration? Namur is also the gateway to various nature hikes in the Belgian Ardennes, an extensive forest region famed for its gorgeous landscapes and hillsides.
EVENTS Namur Beer Festival (08.07.2016 - 10.07.2016): Namur Beer Festival celebrates its 5th birthday. Come and taste 150 beers from 40 different breweries or enjoy local delicacies and numerous live concerts. Even for the little ones, there is entertainment and children's games. Entrance is completely free. - Aperitifs in Namur (29.05.2016 - 28.08.2016): Between May and August, each Friday in Namur is party time! Drink a mojito in one of the street bars, catch up with your friends after a busy week and enjoy some live music. - Fêtes de Wallonie (16.09.2016 - 18.09.2016): Proud of its Walloon culture, the city of Namur organises les Fêtes de Wallonie. Visitors can taste regional products and play traditional folk games. There is a also a fun fair and a spectacle with stilt walkers.
EAT Le Métropole Brasserie (Rue Emile Cuvelier 1) is a good no-nonsense brasserie with an emphasis on beer and big portions. If it's a sunny day, nab a seat outside and enjoy the view of the Théâtre Royal.
SHOP b.d.Librairie (Rue Saint-Jean 8) has been selling that great Belgian art form, the bande dessinée (comic book), for 18 years.
LATER Exterieur Nuit(Place du Chanoine Descamps 6) is only open until 11pm but it's a good place for Belgian beer and French wine.
Just an hour from Brussels by train, Belgium's third most populous city is perfect for a weekend getaway. As your train pulls into Liège, the first thing you'll notice is the hypermodern train station designed by the famous Spanish architect Calatrava. The modern architecture of the train station contrasts with the rest of the city, which is a more eclectic mix of styles that reflect Liège's long history dating back to the Middle Ages. As a Prince-Bishopric, Liège was a city of great importance in medieval times. Later, in the first half of the 20th century, the city gained further importance as one of Europe's main centres of the iron and steel industries. Remnants of the city's history can be found in the old Citadel, and at the Archeoforum which lies below Liège's main square, Place Saint-Lambert. Liège's most famous tourist attraction is the long stairway Montagne de Bueren - after taking on the more than 400 steps, you'll be rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view of the city. Definitely a challenge that's worth the effort!
The city is located on the banks of the river Meuse, which divides the city into two parts. The Outremeuse (which translates to 'the part beyond the Meuse river') is famed for its more creative vibe and folklore. The most important character in Liège's folklore is Tchantchès, a marionette doll representing the stubborn and rebellious yet good-natured character of Liège. Enjoy the puppet theatre at the Musée de Tchantchès and learn more about Outremeuse's history with the help of Tchantches and his wife Nanesse.
EVENTS 15 August Festival in Outremeuse (14.08.2016 - 16.08.2016): Liège is a city of traditions. With a flea market, traditional dances, a folkloric parade and puppet spectacles, this folk festival is the highlight of summer in Liège. - Heritage Days in Wallonia (27.03.2016 - 24.05.2016): Discover the Walloon heritage on the Heritage Days. The city organises free guided tours, guided walks and fun games. Even buildings that are normally closed for the public now open their doors.
EAT Every bite is an adventure at Mandibule en Roue Libre (rue Souverain-Pont 38), a cosy bistro where chef-owner Fabien Henrard encourages customers to pick up their own orders from the kitchen and play their own vinyl records during meals.
SHOP For a genuine Liégeois shopping experience, forget the high street stores and join the foragers at the city's many antique markets. Every Sunday morning on the left bank of the Meuse river, La Batte (Belgium's oldest outdoor market) is a beehive of activity. Alternatively, try the Saint-Pholien market every Friday morning on the Boulevard de la Constitution.
LATER Party until the wee hours in the pubs and nightspots of the Le Carré neighbourhood.
Whether you're looking to quench your thirst for knowledge or just your thirst, Leuven is the ideal place. This youthful town, less than half an hour by train from Brussels, is home to one of Europe's oldest universities (KU Leuven), and history is present on every street corner. A few lucky students even have the distinct privilege of living in the 13th century stone beguinage (begijnhof) selected as a world heritage site by UNESCO. And where there are students... there is beer! Leuven is Belgium's reigning brewing capital – no small feat in a country that produces hundreds of delicious varieties. Leuven is the headquarters of AB Inbev, the largest brewery in the world, famous for Stella Artois beers. Centuries of Flemish tradition and craftsmanship lie behind Leuven's premium brews. The university, one of the oldest and most important in Europe, has its roots in the center of Leuven, and its historic college buildings dominate many of the squares and streets. The university and its 28,000 students and professors have a special tie with Leuven, which has existed since the university's founding in 1425. Leuven is a great place for the curious traveler with time to explore. It is an intimate city; any spot can be easily reached on foot or by bicycle.
EVENTSAglaia Konrad: From A to K (29.04.2016 - 18.09.2016): Austrian artist Aglaia Konrad displays beautiful photos, movies and other artistic installations in her first solo exposition. Theme of her work: world cities and their evolution throughout the years. - Hapje Tapje (07.08.2016): A culinary parcours will guide you through the city with delicious treats and snacks and tasty drinks. See the legendary bartender race or enjoy a cold beer on the famous Oude Markt. With lots of entertainment and great music, this urban festival won't disappoint. - InBev: biggest brewery of Belgium, located in the city centre of Leuven.
EAT Located at the heart of Leuven's culinary scene, Trente (Muntstraat 36) is run by a top young Flemish chef. Typical dishes include bream, fennel and bouchot mussels.
SHOP Running in parallel, Dietsestraat and Bondgenotenlaan streets house luxe labels such as Delvaux (Bondgenotenlaan 15). For more offbeat food and clothes, try Mechelsestraat and the Vismarkt: Sumo (Mechelsestraat 7) stocks shoes by Chi Mihara and Dries Van Noten.
LATER Sample Con Domus and Nostra Domus beers at home brewery Domus (Tiensestraat 8).
Mechelen is a small and picturesque city that is big on charm and history but is probably best known for its carillon school. Here students from all over the world come to learn to play church bells. One of the most pleasant experiences to have in Mechelen is to sit outside on the terrace of a cafe sipping a local beer while listening to the delightful bell music coming from the sky. It is a city thriving with quaint shops, car-free areas and amazingly pleasant little squares. The grace of centuries-old palaces and majestic churches appeals to everyone. Mechelen is a city for all ages. Young people can actively enjoy themselves in the Toy Museum or the Tivoli Children's Farm, whereas the young at heart can entertain themselves at the Anker, one of the oldest operating breweries in Belgium. There are also many parks and gardens to stroll in, and the boat trip to these parks from Mechelen Central Station is not to be missed. Mechelen has no less than 336 listed buildings and monuments including eight gothic and baroque churches from the 14th century through the 17th century.
EVENTS Hidden in Silence (05.02.2016 - 04.09.2016): Hidden in Silence is an exposition by Jewish artist André Gouzu. As a child, he managed to escape the Holocaust by hiding with a Belgian family. His paintings show the unseen side of having to hideout. - Maanrock (26.08.2016 - 28.08.2016): Extra special edition because Maanrock celebrates its 20th birthday. On this free city festival, you can enjoy rock, pop and alternative music on three different stages. In addition, there are great foodtrucks and lots of entertainment. - Mechelen Street Art Project. Mechelen Muurt: street art project led by city artist Gijs Vanhee. - Toy museum of Mechelen (Nekkerspoelstraat 21) displays several expositions all year round. – Boy descends the stairways: the work of contemporary artist Sarah Vanagt in the underground car park on St. Rumbold's graveyard.
EAT Brasserie Het Anker (Guido Gezellelaan 49) serves classic dishes prepared with beer and at Lam'eau (Van Beethovenstraat 8), you can enjoy classic French-Belgian cuisine in a former brewery next to the Dyle. For a completely different experience, Den Grooten Wolsack (Wollemarkt 16) is a modern hotel-restaurant where you can discover the unique culinary concept of foodpairing.
SHOP Kaashandel Schockaert (IJzerenleen 28) is a shop selling almost 300 cheeses and is particularly famous for its Gouden Carolus Brouwerskaas, which is made with local beer.
LATER Unwined (Steenweg 22) with a glass or two of grape at this unpretentious bodega. The sommelier has removed the snobbery associated with choosing wine by creating a selection chart based on country of origin and occasion.
At the "City by the Sea", over five and a half miles of sandy beaches invites you to delightful sunbathing and a refreshing dip in the North Sea. After frolicking in the sun, take a walk down the Promenade where you will find many shops, bars and restaurants. Ostend is a cosmopolitan city with a harbour, yacht-basin, airport and over 50 hotels. Visitors will be amazed by all there is to see and do. All year round, many activities take place. Some highlights are: Oostende at Anchor, Theatre by the Sea, Magic Lights in the Park, the Christmas Market with huge ice-skating ramp and Carnival week-end with the well-known Bal Rat Mort. One of Ostend's main, and maybe lesser known, trump cards is the gastronomy. What better place to sample the sea's delicacies than on the seaside. There are many restaurants, ranging from exclusive hot spots to cosy bistros, so there is something to suit everyone's taste and budget. The specialities are Dover Sole, shrimp croquettes and "tomato filled with shrimps". There is also plenty to keep you amused later on in the evening such as pubs, clubs and cinema complexes.
EVENTS Sand Sculpture Festival (18.06.2016 - 04.09.2016): On the biggest Sand Sculpture Festival in the world, dreams will become reality. Be enchanted by Disney-Pixar's magical fairy tale world and discover more than 150 beautiful sculptures like Snowwhite, Alice in Wonderland and Aladdin. - Firework Festival (11.07.2016 - 15.08.2016): Each Monday in July and August, seven pyrotechnicians battle for the title of Belgian champion. A great event for the public with magical fireworks.
EAT Traditionalists eat mussels only from September to April, and the busy De Mosselbeurs (Dwarstraat 10) serves up more than a dozen versions, from basic to Thai-style, spiced with coconut, curry and coriander. Otherwise head down to Ostend Queen (Westhelling 12), where you'll feel like you've stepped aboard a cruise liner that serves excellent seafood.
SHOP Stock up on local delicacies at the outdoor market on the Wapenplein every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
LATER Choose from 500 types of beer and 50 kinds of genever (a Belgian juniper-flavoured spirit) at the English pub-style Café Bottelje (Louisastraat 19) or throw shapes on the dancefloor at Tao Bar (Langestraat 24-26).
For the use of The Empire of Lights, 1954 : © Charly HERSCOVICI, with his kind authorization – c/o SABAM-ADAGP / For the concept of the buildingwrap: © GDF SUEZ


text:
WARD SIX: Jan. 3, 2012
'Teen Scene' event scheduled Friday
Published: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 7:49 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 7:49 a.m.
TOPS LA 0430: Chackbay TOPS, a weight loss group, meets at 6 p.m. Thursdays at the Ward 6 Senior Citizens Center on La. 20. Weigh-in begins at 5 p.m.
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church news
Teen Scene 6 for eighth- through 12th-graders is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church's parish hall, 529 La. 20, Chackbay. The event will feature music by Lori & Company, a skit by Teen Ministry members, a talk by Al Carter, food, snacks and games. You are asked to bring a snack to share. The theme for the night is "The Perception of Reality." There is no cost to attend, but a donation will be collected. Teen Ministry members will have a lock-in after, but you must give your name to Sharon by Thursday.
St. Lawrence the Martyr and St. James Catholic Churches news
St. Lawrence the Martyr and St. James Catholic churches' Finance Council is scheduled to meet for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 in St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Church's rectory, 3723 La. 307, Kraemer.
If interested in St. Lawrence the Martyr and St. James Catholic churches' RCIA program, call Nellie M. at 633-5714 or 633-5132.
Let people know: Ward 6 residents who would like to submit news of interest to be published in this column are asked to email Missy Kliebert Granier at email@example.com.
Interesting or heartwarming stories, special awards, landmark birthday celebrations, military service and fascinating travels are just some of the events that make for newsworthy stories.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Arts calendar: Auditions for 'Singin' in the Rain'
Published: Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 24, 2013 at 5:14 p.m.
Auditions for "Singin' in the Rain": 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday. Arrive at 6:30 to complete paperwork. Will cast 25 to 30 adult or teen (15 years and older) actors/singers/dancers. Presented by the Spartanburg Little Theatre, David Reid Theater, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E. St. John St. 542-ARTS (2787).
Ballroom dance class: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays. Marian Norman, instructor. Open to couples and individuals. Ballet Spartanburg's Dance Center, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E. St. John St. 583-0339.
Teen poetry performance workshop: 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Hosted by Moody Black. For ages 13-19. Travel and compete against other teen poetry slam teams. Free. 596-3720.
Painting With Coffee: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For any artist working in any medium. UCAC Gallery, Main Street, Union. 864-429-2817.
Piano jazz with Fred Whiskin: 6-8:30 p.m., 120 N. Trade Ave., Landrum. 864-457-5155.
Dance Parkinson's: 1:30 p.m. Every second and fourth Thursday. For patients with Parkinson's Disease. Free. Ballet Spartanburg, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E. St. John St. 583-0339.
Carolina Artists Create: Getting Back to Nature H2: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. All-day workshop and demonstrations for photographers and artists. $125. Reservation required. Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, John B. White Sr. Blvd. www.hatchergarden.org.
Auditions for "Carnival of Animals": 9-10 a.m. for 9- and 10-year-olds. 10-11 a.m. for 11- and 12-year-olds. 11 a.m.-noon for ages 13 and older. Bring pointe shoes. Ballet Spartanburg, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E. St. John St. 583-0339.
Concert with Johnnyswim: 8 p.m. A duo composed of Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano. Soul, folk, pop and blues. Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon, N.C. 828-859-8322.
Family Time, Kindermusik class: 10:45-11:30 a.m. For families with children of all ages. Bryant Belin, instructor. The class helps children develop musical skills as well as social skills. Tryon Fine Arts Center, Melrose Ave., Tryon, N.C. 828-859-8322
Ongoing exhibits
"Southern Fashion through the Years": Showcases the ever-changing styles of clothing of residents of the South. Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Through Friday. Spartanburg Regional History Museum, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E. St. John St. 542-ARTS (2787).
"Recent Prints," by Alice Kay McMillan: Through Friday. Martha Cloud Chapman Gallery, Campus Life Building, Wofford College, 429 N. Church St.
"Variety, Visions and Values" featuring Tom Rickis and Roy McBee Smith Jr.: Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Through Tuesday. Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E. St. John St. 542-ARTS (2787).
Sculpture 2013: A juried regional sculpture exhibition and sale. Through Thursday. Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon, N.C. 828-859-8322.
"Carl Plansky: 30 Years of Painting": Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Through June 8. Spartanburg Art Museum, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E. St. John St. 542-ARTS (2787).
"Tector: Crafted Sculptures" by Claudia McAninch and "The Circle of Life" by Garry Turpin: Through June 15. Gallery hours: 3-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. West Main Artists Co-op, 578 W. Main St. 804-6501.
"Perceptions" by artists Bonnie Bardos and Nathan Galloway: Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 1-5 p.m. Sunday. To run Friday-June 28. Artists' Guild of Spartanburg Gallery, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E. St.John St. 542-ARTS (2787).
The Thursday Afternoon Acting Group (TAAG) at USC Upstate, is an after-school theater program for children ages 8 to 18. It will meet on Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. in the Studio Theatre. For more information, contact 864-503-5621 or email@example.com.
Art calendar deadline is noon Tuesday. Submit events to Ashley Dill at firstname.lastname@example.com, 864-562-7272, (FAX) 864-594-6350 or c/o Herald-Journal, P.O. Box 1657, Spartanburg, SC 29304.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Wharton, N.J. (Dec. 7, 2011) – This weekend, 8th grade all-star teams from Kentucky and North Georgia will face off against one another in the third-round of the Football University National Championship in a slate of games starting on Saturday, December 8, at 9:00 a.m. at Buford Sports Complex, Buford, Ga.
The teams look to keep alive their hopes for an all-expense-paid trip to San Antonio to compete for the National Championship title in the Alamodome.
The FBU National Championship is a football version of the Little League World Series featuring 64 teams competing in a NCAA-style bracket tournament to select a true national champion in youth football's 8th-grade division.
The tournament kicks off Saturday, December 1, at various locations across America. Winners advance to the second round of the single-elimination, five-round long tournament. The first three rounds take place at regional sites and the semifinals and finals will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, with the champion being crowned following the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday, January 6th, 2013.
"This is more than a regional all-star game or weekend jamboree tournament; this is a real national championship that brings together the whole country," said All American Games president Rich McGuinness. "This is a chance to play with great athletes and represent your state. Baseball has the Little League World Series, basketball has AAU all-star teams, and now more than 2,000 eighth-grade football athletes will have the chance to test their ability and challenge themselves for a chance at the National Championship. That is core to our philosophy."
Official National Brackets, Scores, & In-Studio Video News Updates: Please visit http://www.footballuniversity.org/fbunc for updated tournament brackets, scores, and news updates. Additionally, studio-produced video content will air regularly on the site, providing detailed, round-by-round updates hosted by long-time TV/radio play-by-play announcer Neil Sika of the Columbus Crew, Big Ten Network and SportsTime Ohio. For game photos and additional tournament updates, also visit www.twitter.com/FBUNatChamps and www.facebook.com/NationalChampionship.
National sponsors of the FBU National Championship include Eastbay – The official apparel sponsor, adidas, SKLZ Performance, School of the Legends, U.S. Army, Gatorade, Battle Sports Science, Big Shots, Jersey Mike's, Xenith Helmets, and Youth Football Coaches Association (YFBCA).


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Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) is a type of prostate surgery done to relieve moderate to severe urinary symptoms caused by prostate enlargement, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
During TUIP, a combined visual and surgical instrument (resectoscope) is inserted through the tip of your penis and into the tube that carries urine from your bladder (urethra). The urethra is surrounded by prostate tissue. The doctor cuts one or two small grooves in the area where the prostate and the bladder are connected (bladder neck) in order to open up the urinary channel. This allows urine to pass through more easily.
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Went for a driver fitting at a local PGA Superstore the last couple weeks (took two days). Tried all the current hardware (ok, not the TM, I couldn't see carrying that club on looks alone. Don't worry, they'll sell plenty without my endorsement. But at the end of the day, the two that impressed me the most (and fit my swing best) were the Callaway Xtreme and the Ping Anser. I went with the Callaway because of the adjustable variants which made a huge difference. Previously played the Cobra ZL, which after time on the simulator I realized why I had lost so much distance. Good enough club, wrong for my swing. The Callaway was far more accurate, longer by a good margin and the 440 head looks better, allows workability (we'll see about that once I get on the course) and with the X-stiff Trinity shaft (I normally play Stiff), I could feel the club throughout the swing. I could get good results whether I used smooth tempo or pushed it, something I couldn't do with the Cobra. The simulator confirmed many things I've always speculated. I tried the Cobra AMP Pro, Titleist and the Ping line of drivers but the Callaway was clearly better for me. First Callaway I've bought, always felt they were overrated and overpriced. But this one is well worth the time and money. I ended up with the 8.5*, but I recommend getting fit first, it made a huge difference in my final set up.
I just purchased this driver (8.5, reg. flex.) from GlobalGolf. I hit it for the first time this morning. It is fabulous - long, straight and easy to hit. I have owned many drivers over the past 35 years (4 this year alone, and 8-10 in prior years), and based upon its performance this morning I would say its the best I have ever owned.
Hit all the new clubs at DSG and liked most of the new Callaways but didn't like the price so I decided to give this driver a chance since I owned the original, I must say that it was the right choice. I kept ballooning my 10.5 off the tee so I went to an 8.5 and I am very pleased. This club has a better feel than the original Razr fit and I loved that club. Decided on the Kuro kage blk in Reg. The combination of the hot face and this shafts just rockets the ball off of the club face. The lighter shaft and 440 head makes me feel like I've gained a little more clubhead speed not to mention it seems easier to hit and find the middle of the club face.
I ordered a "good condition" Club and it it so close to being brand new I totally love global golf. My club is amazing. This is for my second set down south and well worth it. Thank you global golf
Club Came in excellent shape
Callaway is calling its RAZR Fit Xtreme driver the longest fully adjustable driver it's ever produced, but it may also be the most dynamic. Its improved technology and new features make it more accommodating to a wider range of players, so whether you're a Tour professional or just a dedicated weekender, the RAZR Fit Xtreme will help you achieve maximum performance.
What make the RAZR Fit Xtreme so versatile are the differences between the higher-lofted drivers (11.5° and 13°) and lower-lofted drivers (8.5°, 9.5° and 10.5°). Instead of going with a "one size fits all" approach, Callaway listened to user feedback and created a more specialized driver.
"We took a step back and looked at how each loft was going to be played," explained Evan Gibbs, the manager of performance analysis and club configuration at Callaway. "We saw that better players wanted a smaller footprint and a more penetrating trajectory, while higher-handicappers wanted a larger, more forgiving footprint and more spin for optimum distance."
Accordingly, the lower-lofted drivers resemble Callaway's popular PGA Tour driver, the FT Tour. Like the FT Tour, the lower-lofted RAZR Fit Xtreme generates lower spin to work with higher head speeds. This is the result of discretionary weight being removed from the crown and redistributed for a lower Center of Gravity. The higher-lofted RAZR Fit Xtreme drivers, on the other hand, have a closer resemblance to the RAZR Fit driver. The head is larger (460cc to the lower-lofted driver's 440cc) and has a longer heel to toe measurement. This design positions the sweet spot further away from the hosel to increase draw bias and forgiveness.
Despite these differences, the higher- and lower-lofted versions of the RAZR Fit Xtreme have the same overall technology and engineering. These include Callaway's new Speed Frame Face Technology, which is an innovative blend of the brand's proprietary Variable Face Technology (VFT) and Hyperbolic Face Technology. Like VFT, Speed Frame Face Technology promotes efficient energy transfer at impact; like Hyperbolic Face Technology, it uses a uniquely curved face shape to produce a more expansive effective hitting area for higher ball speeds across the entire face. The face also has a tighter bulge radius than that of the RAZR Fit for more consistent sidespin and a more preferred look at address.
In addition to the new Speed Frame Face, the RAZR Fit Xtreme has newly enhanced versions of two of Callaway's most popular features: Forged Composite and OptFit Technology. Forged Composite is the advanced carbon fiber material that Callaway produced in alliance with Lamborghini and patented in 2010. Weighing just 12.1 grams, the RAZR Fit Xtreme's Forged Composite crown is the lightest on the market today. This saves about 3 grams of weight, which has been repositioned to the rear toe section of the sole for a deeper Center of Gravity. This results in faster ball speeds and greater distance.
The reworked weight distribution system also stabilizes the head by improving the symmetry of the driver's two OptiFit Weights. These weights (13 grams and 1 gram, respectively) optimize the Center of Gravity for achieving Draw or Neutral ball flights. The OptiFit Weights are complemented by the RAZR Fit Xtreme's OptiFit Hosel. This adjustable hosel offers Open, Square or Closed options to work with your preferences and playing style.
For further customization, the Callaway RAZR Fit Xtreme drivers come stock with your choice of Aldila Trinity or Matrix 7M3 Black Tie shafts.
Style and Design
Callaway played it safe when it comes to visual design; the RAZR Fit Xtreme's green paint scheme is similar to that of the popular 2012 RAZR Fit Tour Authentic driver. That's not a bad thing. The black crown and face reduce glare and give it a smooth look, while the green accents add a sporty quality without making it ostentatious. For those who prefer a more personalized look, the RAZR Fit Xtreme driver comes with Callaway's uDesign feature. Eight color options are available for separate customization of the crown and sole, and for the first time in uDesign's history, the sole can have custom laser engraving.
The Callaway RAZR Fit Xtreme driver is truly one of the most inclusive clubs on the market with its accommodating range of technical and visual features.


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OAKLAND -- An Alameda County judge ruled that a high-performing Oakland charter school can stay open and that the school district erred in revoking its charter in 2013 after it alleged that founder Ben Chavis funneled $3.8 million to himself through school contracts.
The school district, its school board and former Superintendent Tony Smith applied the wrong standard of law when it revoked the charter of American Indian Model Schools, Judge Evelio Grillo said in a July 17 ruling.
Grillo said the district failed to consider academic performance as the most important factor in revoking the charter as required by state education law. In the ruling, Grillo noted that the American Indian middle school had the highest Academic Performance Index for all of Alameda County in 2012 and was the fourth-highest performing middle school in the state that year.
Grillo's ruling, spurred by a school lawsuit against the school district, tosses out the school district's revocation and puts proceedings back in the hands of the school district.
"Basically, we're just pleased this is over with and we can stop spending a lot of money on lawyers, and we can get back to putting energy into educating children," said Alice Spearman, secretary to the AIMS school board and a former Oakland school board member who lost her seat in a November 2012 election.
Oakland schools spokesman Troy Flint said the school board and the administration has not yet decided what to do next and that the district is disappointed at the ruling.
"But we respect the ruling and appreciate that it affirmed OUSD's claim of serious financial wrongdoing at AIMS," Flint said. "Ultimately, the judge determined that the strong test score performance at AIMS outweighed the concerns raised by misuse of public funds for personal enrichment."
Spearman defended Chavis, who she said still has three children at the school and is still friends with some of the administrators and teachers but is not involved in day-to-day operations.
"There were allegations the school district made that were never proven, that's the sad part about it," Spearman said. "They made all these allegations about fiscal impropriety, but nothing was proved. From my standpoint it was almost like a personal vendetta against Ben by the Oakland school board."
When it revoked the charter and tried to shut the school down, the district instead focused on the financial misdeeds of Chavis. The FBI and the IRS opened a criminal investigation into the schools and Chavis last year, and agents served search warrants, taking away records from the schools and his mother-in-law's home.
No charges have yet been filed.
A state of California audit, performed in June 2012, found that Chavis misappropriated school funds and broke state laws, including the Political Reform Act, when he directed the school to hire his companies. The audit also found that upon learning about the alleged financial misdeeds, the AIMS board did not make significant changes or take any measures to recover the funds. It was later revealed that one of the board members resided in Chavis' home.
Spearman said since the school district first moved to revoke the charter in the spring of 2013, the school hired a charter management corporation to oversee the schools' financial dealings and it bought the downtown Oakland building from Chavis that houses the elementary school "just to make sure we separated ourselves from him."
Reach Doug Oakley at 925-234-1699. Follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/douglasoakley


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Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The last meeting of the year for the Augusta Commission was a night filled with big decisions.
Commissioners crammed in many last-minute votes on Tuesday, including a no vote on the Clean Augusta Downtown Initiative. This means CADI will expire at the end of the year and downtown property owners will no longer have to pay for the service.
The seven people employed by the CADI program will lose their jobs right before Christmas. Supporters of the program are angry that commissioners voted against it since they had a signed petition with 52 percent of property owners who wanted to keep it going.
"We're getting a triple tax, and we're paying more for stuff that should already be done," said Brad Owens, a downtown property manager. "I mean, before the bid, they cleaned the streets. Why shouldn't they clean them now?"
Supporters of the program say they may look at creating a smaller bid district and push for commissioners to approve the program at a later date.
Commissioners also said no to a million-dollar plan to build a skywalk linking the new downtown parking deck to the convention center. The walkway was one vote shy of getting approved.
Some commissioners argue that it will be dangerous for guests having to cross Reynolds Street without it, but others say it's foolish to sink another million dollars into any already-expensive project.
Commissioners also voted against rezoning property behind the Hillcreek neighborhood. People who live in the neighborhood packed the chambers to watch that vote.
The property owner wanted to rezone the land to bring in apartments. Residents living next door say that would increase noise and traffic and lower their property values.
Back in June, commissioners voted to deny the rezoning request, but the property owner filed a lawsuit against the city, saying they had no legal reason to deny it. On Tuesday night, commissioners upheld their original decision, saying no to the apartment project.
"I'm elated," said homeowner Elizabeth Nash. "It's not the end of it. Certainly, the suit will still be pending, but we did prevail today."
Now it will be up to a judge to decide if the city is within its rights to deny the property owner's request.
Another decision made Tuesday night involved The Patch. Commissioners voted 5 to 4 against a plan for a golf course management company based in Virginia to lease the property. The company was going to spend $100,000 of its own money on the course. So, for now, the course remains in the city's hands.


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Inlaid Wood Picture Frames
Overview & Details
- Inlaid wood picture frames.
- Beautifully handcrafted by Italian artisans.
- Inlaid wood panels are expertly fit together to create a rich tonal effect.
- Inset with glass.
- Available in Black, Blue, Red and Brown.
- Easel back allows the frames to stand vertically or horizontally.
- Available in two sizes to display a 4" x 6" or 5" x 7" photograph.
- Wipe clean.
- Made in Italy.
This stunning wood picture frame displays your favorite photographs in natural style, framed by the warmth and beauty of inlaid wood. To craft the Inlaid Wood Picture Frames, wood veneer panels are expertly fitted together by hand, creating a rich tonal effect. Artisan crafted in Italy.