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First names only with 'Namesake' author
Anyway, I stumbled across another compelling book recently, "The Namesake" by Steven Parlato, who teaches English at Naugatuck Valley Community College. This novel is such a page-turner, I was forced to stay up until 3 a.m. on consecutive nights to finish it. (Yeah, it took two nights. My lips move when I read and that slows me down.)
As I read the book, two thoughts kept popping into my head: 1) Steven Parlato is a great writer, and 2) therefore, I hate him.
All right, I don't really hate him. But as someone who does a fair amount of free-lance writing and who is even about to start teaching a course on the "Basics of Humor Writing" in a couple weeks (there are still a few openings, so hurry and sign up at EducationConnection.org), I get quite humbled when I read prose that, by comparison, makes my best work seem like it was produced by a chimp slapping a computer keyboard.
And it's very difficult to hate Mr. Parlato when you meet him in person, which I did recently. He's one of those really nice guys you don't run into too often nowadays. Steve (he lets me call him Steve) and I have a lot in common. He lives in the Naugatuck Valley (Waterbury) and I live in the Naugatuck Valley (Torrington). He just published his first novel ("The Namesake") and I just published my first novel ("Purge the Evil"). He is about to become a famous novelist and I, uh, live in the Naugatuck Valley.
"The Namesake" is the story of Evan Galloway, a witty 15-year-old high school student whose world is rocked when his father commits suicide. When he discovers an old trunk his father hid away many years ago when he was a teenager, Evan begins to learn his family and his community have been keeping a lot of secrets.
The story admittedly deals with some rather dark issues, such as sexual abuse and suicide. But the characterizations created by Steve (he lets me call him Steve), and especially the dialog, are so well-done you really feel like you know these people and care very deeply about them.
When the story was still in manuscript form, it won the Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Children's Literature in 2011. This award got many literary agents and publishers interested. (Which I found surprising, because based on my experience the main job of literary agents and publishers is to avoid returning phone calls and replying to emails. I guess they want the manuscripts sent to them to be high quality. Snobs.)
The novel was published just this month by Merit Press, and I predict it will make a really big splash in the Young Adult segment of the publishing world. I also predict Steve (he lets me call him Steve) soon will become so well-known in literary circles, he'll have to hire a special assistant just to handle all the invitations to cocktail parties in Malibu and Manhattan.
Try to attend one of the readings or book-signings scheduled in the Waterbury area in the coming weeks. But please address him as Mr. Parlato. He only lets close friends call him Steve.
Bill Dunn is a freelance writer who resides in Torrington. He can be reached via his website at: www.boomertrek.com.
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- Old toys, new dangers
- Even when we are wrong we still go on the attack
- Tablets for kids
- First names only with 'Namesake' author
- Another Road performance to heat up Northwest Corner
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- Learn to fix it yourself
- Public contrition self-serving sans change
- 'Cirque' is focus of Saint Mary's gala


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Today, we're thrilled to announce the launch of our newest filmmaker opportunity in partnership with Vistaprint: the Reality or Fiction? Independent Business Owner Web Series Competition. Vistaprint, a global leader in affordable, high-quality products for small and emerging businesses, is looking for both narrative and reality show web series that will captivate viewers with the unique emotional highs and lows of being a small business owner or entrepreneur.
Starting today through February 24, pitches are being accepted at ZoomTilt.com. Interested filmmakers can pitch to Vistaprint's narrative brief, reality show brief or both – best of all there's no limit to the number of times you pitch! Multiple finalists will be selected and funded to produce pilot episodes of their series, and if Vistaprint (not to mention your audience) loves your pilot, you could win a $15,000 per episode web series deal! For more information, visit ZoomTilt.com – and feel free to forward this opportunity to friends and colleagues if you think you can handle the extra competition.
Good luck – and may the best filmmaker win!

subset: commoncrawl


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San Francisco police make arrests for being naked in public Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, in front of City Hall in San Francisco. Four protesters were arrested entirely in the buff as they took to the steps of San Francisco City Hall in a brazen challenge of the city's ban on public nudity on Friday, the first day it went into effect. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)


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Bridget Thomas is a founder of Kirksville - Protect Our Pets (KV-POP), a non-profit organization dedicated to community outreach for the benefit of the area's pet dogs and cats. KV-POP helps low-income (or no-income) people spay/neuter, train, and tag their pets. Their ultimate goal is to help people care for their pets and thereby reduce the number of animals surrendered to overcrowded shelters. KV-POP also promotes adooption from a local shelter or rescue. She was a board member of the Adair County Humane Society from 2008-2013.
I frequently encounter two common misconceptions about the local Animal Shelter.
Some people think that we are a city pound or an arm of the county government. Who can blame them? Our name includes the words "Adair County." It IS confusing!
Please allow me to clear this up. We receive no financial support from Adair County, even though the citizens of Adair County bring in animals to the shelter every day. And we are not a city pound. The city of Kirksville provides a monthly stipend in exchange for the care of animals brought in by the Kirksville Animal Control Officer. But the great majority of our revenue comes from donations from animal-loving folks like you. We are in fact a local non-profit organization with tax exempt 501(c)(3) status.
Other people assure us that they already make regular donations. Yep, they mail their checks to Washington DC, New York City, or St. Louis and are happy to help the animals.
These people also mean well. But what they don't realize is that the checks they send to the national and state animal welfare groups don't actually help us do our work locally. We don't get even a small cut. Not a penny. There are many animal welfare groups out there and they may do some good work on the national or state level. But they don't have much effect on our local population of homeless animals.*
But a check sent to a Kirksville address (P.O. Box 481) for the purpose of supporting your local Humane Society can make a huge local impact. (The same goes for donating online at www.adairhumane.org.) Every penny of your donation to the Adair County Humane Society will be spent locally on kibble to restore the poor malnourished dogs who were just brought in as strays; on kitty litter for these adorable little kittens and their mama who will need to be with us for eight weeks before they can go to their forever homes; on spay/neuter certificates to help your neighbor fix his dog before she has yet another litter of unwanted puppies; or on fuel to transport hundreds of animals each year to collaborating rescue groups. We think all of these animals deserve a second chance and your support.
We operate the Animal Shelter on a modest budget with a small staff of dedicated individuals. Our treasurer manages our limited resources extremely well. Believe me: every penny is stretched as far as it can go. But we are in constant need of the support of community members who care about homeless animals locally and want to see them treated well. If this describes you, please consider making a donation today.
*An important exception to this is the ASPCA grant program. We have been lucky enough to receive three grants (in the amounts of $1500, $2000, and $3000) from the ASPCA within the last three years to support our March spay/neuter campaign. But let's be honest: these grants, although significant for us, are just a drop in the bucket for this large organization. Why not write two checks? Support us and them.


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After 40 Years, Morgan Stanley Banker Gets Name in Lights
When Jim Runde arrived at Morgan Stanley's New York office for his first day of work, he joined a bustling Wall Street firm of 500 employees — and one computer (an IBM mainframe powered by transistors and punch cards).
Mr. Runde, one of Morgan Stanley's longest-tenured employees, has been an enduring presence in an industry marked by constant change. On Saturday, he will celebrate a rare milestone on Wall Street: 40 years as an investment banker, all at the same firm.
"Most guys didn't stay in banking that long," Mr. Runde, 67 years old, said this month from a conference room in Morgan Stanley's headquarters. "They didn't stay at a firm that long, or they moved into administration or management."
The firm, which now employs 54,000 people, honored him this Thursday with a morning reception and a framed photograph of the electronic ticker outside Morgan Stanley's Times Square headquarters. The lights were arranged to read: "Jim: Thank you for 40 years."
He has witnessed the end of fixed commissions on stock trades, the rise of the leveraged buyout and the fall of the Glass-Steagall Act. His 40 years span more than half of the firm's run since its founding.
He watched S. Parker Gilbert make the decision to take the firm public, and then, years later, saw the former chairman go public with his frustrations with Phil Purcell's run as Morgan Stanley's top executive. He remembers talking to Mr. Purcell on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, preparing for the IPO of JetBlue Airways, when they were told the scope of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Bob Scott, another senior executive, would rush in to interrupt the conversation with a chilling message: "We've lost a lot of people."
Through it all, Mr. Runde had remained an adviser to corporate chieftains and, more recently, to generations of younger investment bankers by adapting along with Wall Street.
"I've had to evolve," he said.
So have the way clients work with Wall Street. At the start of his career, Mr. Runde said, most big U.S. companies tended to use one investment bank. Soon, though, clients relationships would become more "transactional," where multiple banks had a crack at winning a lucrative assignment.
In one episode in 1979, he remembers, Morgan Stanley had learned this the hard way. That year, International Business Machines called to tell Morgan Stanley that it wanted to sell $1 billion in bonds. IBM wanted the firm to help manage the sale, with Salomon Brothers as co-lead. The firm said no – and was left out of the deal.
The financial crisis may have thinned the ranks of investment banks, Mr. Runde says, though the business remains highly competitive.
Mr. Runde's life at Morgan Stanley began when he left a job with the U.S. Navy helping design nuclear submarines. While he started his career on the Street as a generalist, he soon recognized an opportunity few had sought: advising the nation's railroads. By the start of the 1980s, the industry was rife for consolidation. What's more, many of Morgan Stanley's closest relationships with railroad CEOs were held by the firm's top bankers. In covering those companies, Mr. Runde would get the chance to work closely with many of firm's current and future leaders.
He would soon branch out to other industries, including airlines and logistics companies, and started Morgan Stanley's transportation group.
While he no longer runs point on client relationships, he does help make introductions to CEOs and government officials, and attends meetings when it makes sense. And he gives his fellow bankers a lot of tactical advice on how to handle client relationships, deals and competitors.
"I try to say `learn from my mistakes,'" he said. "`Watch out for this, or try this technique.' "
He has no plans to step down any time soon – calling his anniversary "a milestone, but not a capstone."
"The reality is I could never find a place where I thought I would be happier," Mr. Runde said. "I didn't say wealthier. I said happier."


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Holiday Types
Holiday TypesKE Adventure Travel offer holidays with a difference, with packages to suit everyone from family groups to seasoned explorers. Whether you want to climb Kilimanjaro, trek the iconic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or cycle across the Tibetan plateau, we can make it happen.
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Our School Expeditions programme presents a worldwide collection of adventurous and educational itineraries, each of which has been devised with school groups and students in mind.
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DestinationsA holiday with KE Adventure Travel will expose you to the world's most amazing landscapes and cultures and allow you to get under the skin of your chosen destination! With over 400 adventure holidays to more than 80 countries on offer, where will you choose next?
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Lying between the Mediterranean and the Arabian Sea, the Middle East is steeped in history and this is part of the appeal of any holiday to this region.
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About UsWith more than three decades of worldwide experience, KE Adventure Travel is one of the world's most respected adventure tour operators. Proudly independent and with a team of some of the most travelled staff in the industry you can always find someone to talk to who has actually been on your chosen trip.
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Holiday Overview
Holiday Overview
- Superior walking holiday in New Zealand
- Trek the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – New Zealand's best 1 day walk
- Visit Marlborough Sound and hike the Nydia Track
- Walk parts of the famous Abel Tasman and Routeburn Tracks
- Milford Sound Cruise and Mount Cook Walks
Kia Ora! Welcome to New Zealand. To the Maori, New Zealand is Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud and the contrasting North and South Islands have become a patchwork of Maori, European, Asian and Pacific Island history. Geographically, New Zealand is an outdoor lover's paradise with volcanoes, mountains, beautiful coastline, forest, beaches and huge lakes to enjoy. With only 4 million inhabitants in a country the size of the UK, there is a lot of fresh air and open space! Over 3 weeks we have attempted to include the hiking highlights of this wonderful and welcoming country. Starting in the North Island, we arrive in Auckland from where we transfer to volcanic Rotarua and hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a traverse of an active volcano and 'the best 1-day hike in New Zealand'. Then taking a ferry across the Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton on the South Island, we enter the famous Marlborough Sounds where we enjoy a trek to remote and lovely Nydia Bay and then hike part of the stunning Abel Tasman Coastal Track. Driving down the West Coast, we visit the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki and hike up to the Fox Glacier. Looping inland via Lake Wanaka, we reach the gateway to the amazing Fiordland at Te Anau. Here we make short and scenic hike on the Routeburn Track and take a cruise on Milford Sound. Making our way back north to Christchurch, we have included a final day hike to the Mueller Hut below Mount Cook and then an overnight hike to the Rex Simpson hut near Lake Tekapo, recently declared an International Dark Sky Reserve. Stargazing from the hut, we can reflect on our unforgettable visit to this amazing country, far away in the South Pacific.
Is this holiday for you?
Putting together this New Zealand North to South hiking holiday, we have picked out many of the highlights of this dramatic country. This necessitates some long journeys to cover the distances required, but we will use a comfortable bus throughout our tour and have designed the itinerary to take the opportunity to stop off and stretch our legs. Starting out on the North Island, we spend time at volcanic Rotorua and also tackle one of New Zealand's foremost one-day walks, the Tongariro Crossing, which is a tough walk taking up to 7 or 8 hours to complete. Crossing by ferry from Wellington to Picton, we make a counter-clockwise circuit of South Island, where we start with a 2-day walk on the Nydia Track in Marlborough Sounds. For the rest of our tour, we stop off to take advantage of unmissable day-hikes and shorter walks along the way, ranging from 2 to 7 hours duration. Most of these walks will follow good trails and tracks. There are a couple of days with a minimal amount of walking and on these days you have the option to take it easy.
Brief ItineraryView in full
- Meet at the group hotel in Auckland. A single, timed transfer from Auckland Airport is provided.
- Transfer to Rotorua. Afternoon hike of the picturesque Blue Lake, sacred to the Maori people.
- Visit to Lady Knox Geyser. Walk on trails around Wai-O-Tapu thermal area. Visit Lake Taupo.
- Walk the spectacular Tongariro Alpine Crossing, exploring the famed area of the Lord of the Rings!
- Transfer to Wellington, afternoon to explore. Afternoon inter-island ferry crossing to Picton.
- Walk along the Nydia Track deep into the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Cross the Kaiuma Saddle.
- Walk across the Nydia Saddle and descend to Duncan Bay. Transfer to Motueka via Nelson.
- Walk along the Abel Tasman Track from Marahau to Torrent Bay. Afternoon water taxi back to Motueka.
- Transfer south to the pretty coastal town of Punakaiki. Afternoon choice of walk in the local area.
- Transfer to the town of Fox Glacier, home to the magnificent Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
- Morning walk around Lake Matheson. Afternoon transfer to the dramatic Mount Aspiring National Park.
- Walk to the summit of Mt Roy (1578m) for awesome views of Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring.
- Walk around Diamond Lake and to the summit of Rocky Mountain (773m). Enter Fiordland National Park.
- The spectacular Milford Sound by boat. Hike to the Key Summit viewpoint on the Routeburn Track.
- Drive to Twizel, gateway to Mount Cook National Park, via Queenstown on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
- Day-walk beneath Mount Cook (3754m), the highest mountain in New Zealand to the Mueller Hut.
- Drive to Lake Tekapo and hike to the Rex Simpson Hut, home to the best start gazing in the world!
- Ascent of Erica's Peak (2000m) for fantastic views of the Southern Alps. Drive to Lake Tekapo.
- Departure Day. Transfer to Christchurch and explore the city on the way to the airport.
Tour dates and prices
Tour dates and prices
Land Only
|Sun 13 Nov - Thu 01 Dec
|Code TNZ /03/16/
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|Mon 23 Jan - Fri 10 Feb
|Code TNZ /01/17/
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|Sun 26 Feb - Thu 16 Mar
|Code TNZ /02/17/
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|Sun 12 Nov - Thu 30 Nov
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|Sun 10 Dec - Thu 28 Dec
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|Sun 21 Jan - Thu 08 Feb
|Code TNZ /01/18/
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|Sun 25 Feb - Thu 15 Mar
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Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'.
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The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.
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Map & Itinerary
Map & Itinerary
The Route
- airport
- point
- peaks
- trip direction
- transfer
Holiday Itinerary
Meet at the group hotel in Auckland. A single, timed transfer from Auckland Airport is provided.
Meet at the group hotel in Auckland. KE Land Only packages start in the early afternoon, with a single, timed transfer from the airport to our hotel in the city centre. In the afternoon there will be a short optional (as many people may feel tired and depending on arrival times) city tour of the points of interest in this 'City of Sails', which is famous for its many sailing yachts in the Hauraki Gulf. Auckland is an ethnically diverse city and home to more than a quarter of New Zealand's population. Most people will have an early dinner and be early to bed, to catch up on lost sleep.
Accommodation Hotel
Transfer to Rotorua. Afternoon hike of the picturesque Blue Lake, sacred to the Maori people.
After an early breakfast we drive south to Rotorua (4 hours), the most active thermal area in the country. After checking in at our accommodation, there will be an afternoon guided walk at picturesque Blue Lake, a crater lake surrounded by native and exotic forest, including giant redwood trees which were planted in 1901. Our 2 to 3-hour walk through an area sacred to the Maori people will give us a better understanding of the volcanic history of this fascinating region. In the early evening we will attend a traditional 'hangi' and cultural experience at one of the popular Maori Villages. This will be a relaxed evening, including a series of song and dance performances followed by a meal prepared in the traditional 'earthfire' oven using hot stones. From the moment we arrive in Rotorua we know that this is a special place - there is the whiff of sulphur in the air and the sound of spouting geysers.
Accommodation Lodge
Ascent 250m
Distance 4km
Meals bld
Descent 250m
Time 2 - 3 hrs walking
Visit to Lady Knox Geyser. Walk on trails around Wai-O-Tapu thermal area. Visit Lake Taupo.
After breakfast, we visit the famous Lady Knox Geyser, which is induced to erupt at 10.15 every morning and can continue erupting for many minutes, reaching a height of 20 metres. We will also spend some time walking the trails at the Wai-O-Tapu thermal area, a colourful wonderland of craters, sulphur caves, hot springs and boiling mud pools. In the afternoon, we continue our drive southwards beside the stunning Lake Taupo, New Zealand's biggest lake, to Tokaanu (near Turangi). Here, we check in at our lodge accommodation for a 2-night stay.
Accommodation Hotel
Meals bld
Time 2 hrs walk
Walk the spectacular Tongariro Alpine Crossing, exploring the famed area of the Lord of the Rings!
Today there is the option for everyone to walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Mount Tongariro reaches 1978m above sea level and has at least 12 separate ash cones, several of which have shown signs of recent activity. Peter Jackson chose this area as one of the locations where the Lord of the Rings trilogy was shot. Established in 1887, Tongariro was the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth in the world. It is also a World Heritage area, a status which recognises the park's important Maori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features. An early start is needed for this 18 kilometre (11 mile) walk, which starts out from the Mangatepopo Valley and finishes at the Ketetahi road. The Tongariro Crossing passes over varied and spectacular volcanic terrain. Cold mountain springs, lava flows, an active crater, steam vents, emerald-coloured lakes and magnificent views combine to make this an enjoyable and memorable trip. The Tongariro Crossing is a full day hike into a mountain environment and traverses steep and often difficult terrain. Most people will take 7 hours or more to complete this walk. For those who don't wish to make the crossing, there is the option to explore the surrounding scenery or relax at the lodge in Tokaanu. We spend a second night at the Tokaanu lodge tonight.
Accommodation Lodge
Ascent 1600m
Distance 20km
Meals bld
Descent 2000m
Time 7 hrs walking
Transfer to Wellington, afternoon to explore. Afternoon inter-island ferry crossing to Picton.
We drive south to Wellington, the 'Windy City' and New Zealand's capital. Our scenic route takes us on State Highway 1, the first section of which is called the 'desert road'. We see some of the North Island's upland sheep farming areas and also its rich agricultural plains. Arriving in Wellington in the late morning (the drive should take around 4 hours), we should have time to explore some of its standout sights, including the incredible Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand as well as the colourful harbour area. In the afternoon we board the inter-island ferry for the crossing to Picton, which takes us across the Cook Strait (named after Captain Cook, the first European to sail through it) and into the picturesque waterway of Marlborough Sound. This is a 3-hour ferry ride. Overnight in simple holiday park lodge accommodation in Picton.
Accommodation Lodge
Meals bld
Walk along the Nydia Track deep into the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Cross the Kaiuma Saddle.
Today we begin the lovely Nydia Track, a 2-day walk in the heart of the beautiful Marlborough Sounds on a trail maintained by the Department of Conservation. We make the short transfer via Havelock to the start of the walk in Kaiuma Bay. This excellent route follows old bridle paths and passes through lush coastal forest, with native rimu, nikau and beech trees. Today, we walk for 4 to 5 hours, crossing the Kaiuma Saddle, with superb views that extend southwards to Tapuae-o-Ueneku (2885m), the biggest peak of the distant Kaikoura Mountains. Descending easily to the sheltered shoreline of historic Nydia Bay, we check in at On the Track lodge, our charming and comfortable eco-lodge accommodation which is only accessible on foot or by boat.
Accommodation Ecolodge
Meals bld
Time 4 - 5 hrs walking
Walk across the Nydia Saddle and descend to Duncan Bay. Transfer to Motueka via Nelson.
It's hard to leave this beautiful place, but we head off after breakfast to hike around the margin of the bay to the campsite at its northern end. From here, we climb 350 metres to the Nydia Saddle, for great views of Tennyson Inlet, then drop down northwards to the sea once again, rounding a blunt promontory to reach the rendezvous with our transport in Duncan Bay. Today's walk takes 4 to 5 hours, after which we drive via Nelson to Motueka, following the coast road around Tasman Bay. The drive should take around 2 hours. Overnight in a motel in Motueka, the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park.
Accommodation Lodge
Meals bld
Time 4 - 5 hrs walking
Walk along the Abel Tasman Track from Marahau to Torrent Bay. Afternoon water taxi back to Motueka.
Today, we will walk a 3 to 4-hour section of the Abel Tasman Track, from Marahau (just north of Motueka) to Torrent Bay. The track is a total of 54.4kms in total and one of the Department of Conservations "Great Walks". The short section we will walk shows off the best features of this coastline, with its golden beaches, forested headlands, offshore islands and hidden coves. Arriving at Torrent Bay, we will have lunch and then take a water taxi (our own catamaran!) back to Motueka, where we will spend a second night.
Accommodation Lodge
Ascent 1000m
Distance 14km
Meals bld
Descent 1000m
Time 3 - 4 hrs walking
Transfer south to the pretty coastal town of Punakaiki. Afternoon choice of walk in the local area.
After breakfast, we set off on the scenic drive southwards to the West Coast and the coastal township of Punakaiki. This takes us inland, through a pleasant landscape of farmland and forest, then we descend beside the Buller River to the sea. Following the rugged coastline, we reach Punakaiki at lunchtime and check in at our motel accommodation. In the afternoon, we will be keen to see the famous 'pancake rocks' and if the tides are in our favour we may also get to see the blowholes erupting seawater high into the air as the water surges deep into the cliffs. Also easily accessed from our accommodation is an excellent walk beside the Pororari River, through sub-tropical forest with many Nikau palm trees and limestone cliffs. A good place for a short (2-hour) hike before dinner. Drive time today will be around 4 hours.
Accommodation Lodge
Ascent 650m
Distance 9km
Meals bld
Descent 650m
Time 2 hrs walk
Transfer to the town of Fox Glacier, home to the magnificent Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
We continue our drive down the West Coast, a wild and dramatic shoreline that is engaged in a continual battle against the rolling waves of the Tasman Sea. On our left hand side the peaks of Westland and the Southern Alps become increasingly dominant. We stop off to make a 1.5 hour walk to the scenic Okarito Trig viewpoint. A former mining track (the area was once scene of a Klondike-style goldrush) leads up to the viewpoint from where there are 360 degree panoramic views of the Southern Alps and down to the Okarito lagoon below. The lagoon is one of NZ's largest natural wetlands, and is home to over 70 bird species including the White Heron (Kotuku) and the Royal Spoonbill. The world's rarest and most endangered Kiwi (the Rowi) lives in the surrounding podocarp forest. Situated at the heart of the Southern Lakes, ringed by golden hills, snow-clad peaks, ancient forests, crystal-clear lakes and rivers, the town of Fox Glacier is a magnet for New Zealanders and international visitors alike. We have time to look around its shops and cafes and to walk up to the face of the glacier, before checking in at our holiday park lodge accommodation. Fox Glacier and its near neighbour, Franz Josef Glacier, tumble down from the highest peaks to an elevation of just 300 metres in the midst of luxuriant tropical forest - a unique phenomenon. Drive time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Accommodation Lodge
Meals bld
Morning walk around Lake Matheson. Afternoon transfer to the dramatic Mount Aspiring National Park.
We start the day with the 90-minute walk around the jewel-like Lake Matheson. It is the perfect spot from which to watch the early morning sun illuminating the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps, reflected in the waters of the lake. This short walk sets us up nicely for the day, before we head south again, along the coast to the town of Haast. Here, the road heads inland and into the dramatic Mount Aspiring National Park. We take several opportunities to stop off at the best coastal and lakeside viewpoints. Crossing the Haast Pass (562m) which has only been covered in tarmac since 1995, we enter the region of Otago, we reach the town of Wanaka, our home for 2 nights. Drive time will be approximately 4 hours.
Accommodation Hotel
Meals bld
Time 2 - 3 hrs walk
Walk to the summit of Mt Roy (1578m) for awesome views of Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring.
A short drive out of Wanaka takes us the startpoint for the hike to the summit of Mt Roy (1578m). The path zigzags up through open farmland initially, and then rises steeply up steeper and wilder terrain to the ridgeline before a final climb to the summit trig point. The views from the summit provide awesome views over Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring and the Matukituki Valley. After the hike (approx 6 hours), we return to spend a second night at our accommodation in Wanaka. Anyone not wanting to join the walk today can spend their time in the town or exploring the surrounding area.
Accommodation Hotel
Meals bld
Time 6 hrs walk
Walk around Diamond Lake and to the summit of Rocky Mountain (773m). Enter Fiordland National Park.
Driving out of Wanaka past lovely Glendhu Bay, we take the 3-hour round trip walk to Diamond Lake and on to the summit of Rocky Mountain (773m). The track rises steeply through the native forest before we leave the vegetation behind and the trail contours the summit viewpoint. Views from the summit range from Mt Aspiring in the west to the Minaret Mountains in the north and Lake Wanaka and the river delta to the east. Driving south-west from Wanaka, we cross the Crown Range to reach Arrowtown, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the spectacular range of peaks known as the Remarkables. Our route follows the edge of the lake into the region of Southland, well known for its untamed and 'tussocky' landscapes. Journey's end today is the town of Te Anau, the point of entry into the Fiordland National Park, stunningly situated beside a lake and surrounded by mountains. We should arrive in Te Anau in the late afternoon.
Accommodation Lodge
Ascent 900m
Distance 10km
Meals bld
Descent 900m
Time 3 - 4 hrs walk
The spectacular Milford Sound by boat. Hike to the Key Summit viewpoint on the Routeburn Track.
It is a 2-hour drive through amazing scenery to reach Milford Sound, where we can expect to see some of the world's most spectacular scenery. A boat cruise on the fiord is a not-to-be-missed experience and is included for everyone. This area has the highest rainfall in New Zealand and there are many spectacular waterfalls that cascade into the sound. After the cruise we will make the 3-hour hiking excursion up to the dramatic viewpoint of Key Summit on the Routeburn Track. From the top, there are superb views down onto the Hollyford, Greenstone and Eglington valleys. We will then drive back to our lodge in Te Anau, stopping off at one or two rest areas beside the road to try to spot the cheeky 'keas' (mountain parrots) whose party piece is stripping out the rubber seals from around car windscreens.
Accommodation Lodge
Ascent 700m
Distance 8km
Meals bld
Descent 700m
Time 3 hrs walk
Drive to Twizel, gateway to Mount Cook National Park, via Queenstown on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
This is largely a driving day, but we will find time to stop off for a brief walking tour of the exhilarating, year-round resort of Queenstown. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown has become a mecca for adventure activities including bungy jumping, sky diving, canyon swinging, jet boating, horse riding and river rafting. Then, heading north, we cross the Lindis Pass to reach the east side of the Southern Alps, the 'Misty Mountains' of Peter Weir's Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and continue our journey as far as the town of Twizel, beside the lake of the same name. This is the gateway to the Mount Cook National Park. Drive time today will be 4 to 5 hours and we will spend the night in holiday park accommodation in Twizel.
Accommodation Lodge
Meals bld
Time 1 - 2 hrs walk
Day-walk beneath Mount Cook (3754m), the highest mountain in New Zealand to the Mueller Hut.
After breakfast at our lodge, we drive to the northern end of Lake Pukaki and set off on a full day return hike to the Mueller Hut. This is the classic Mount Cook 1-day trek and provides us with great views of the Hooker and Mueller glaciers, as well as of Mount Cook itself. Mount Cook (or Aoraki to the Maori) is the highest mountain in New Zealand at 3754m. The route to the hut is quite steep and climbs rapidly from the valley floor, past a couple of tarns, and then up to the top of the ridge. The Mueller Hut is situated at the very top of the ridge at an altitude of 1830m and the views across the whole area are excellent. There are easier options for those seeking a less active day, including the Hooker Valley or the Mount Sebastapol ridgeline. In the afternoon we drive back to our accommodation in Twizel.
Accommodation Lodge
Ascent 1800m
Distance 13km
Meals bld
Descent 1800m
Time 6 - 7 hrs walk
Drive to Lake Tekapo and hike to the Rex Simpson Hut, home to the best start gazing in the world!
It is just a short drive to Lake Tekapo from where we begin our 3 to 4-hour walk-in to the Rex Simpson Hut. The trail crosses open grassland to the northern end of the lake. Arriving in the early afternoon, we have plenty of time to enjoy the expansive views across the huge interior plateau, with the peaks of the Southern Alps beyond. This remote hut is a great place to chill out and enjoy the fabulous views of the lake and surroundings mountains. In 2012, Lake Tekapo and the Mackenzie Basin were declared an International Dark Sky Reserve on account of the virtually light-pollution-free skies and the high number of clear nights throughout the year. The Magellanic Clouds – satellite galaxies to the Milky Way – that are only visible in the southern hemisphere can be seen from here year round.
Accommodation Mountain Hut / Refuge
Ascent 1200m
Distance 11km
Meals bld
Descent 800m
Time 3 - 4 hrs walk
Ascent of Erica's Peak (2000m) for fantastic views of the Southern Alps. Drive to Lake Tekapo.
We have an early start to make the most of this last day of walking to ascend Erica's Peak. Above the hut, we soon gain a beautiful, sinuous ridge, nicknamed 'Snake Ridge' and follow this, gaining height gradually across tussocky terrain, to the top of Erica's Peak (2000m). This is a fantastic viewpoint for the peaks of the Southern Alps, including the east face of Mount Cook. Returning to the hut, we descend to our vehicle and drive to Lake Tekapo Township where we enjoy a final, celebratory dinner and reflect on our experiences of this amazingly varied and friendly country.
Accommodation Lodge
Ascent 800m
Distance 13km
Meals bld
Descent 1200m
Time 6 hrs walk
Departure Day. Transfer to Christchurch and explore the city on the way to the airport.
This morning we drive to Christchurch (3 hours) and will have a chance to view reconstruction of the city following the devastating earthquake which struck in February 2011 on our way to the airport. KE Land Only package services end at Christchurch Airport.
Meals b
Holiday Information
Holiday Information
What's included
- Professional experienced local leader
- A single timed transfer from airport to hotel in Auckland on day 1 of the itinerary
- A single timed transfer to the airport in Christchurch on day 19 of the itinerary
- All land and sea transport involved in the itinerary including the inter-island ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Milford Sound Cruise
- 17 nights hotel and lodge accommodation
- 1 night in a mountain hut
- All National Park Fees
- All meals as described in the meal plan
What's not included
- Travel Insurance
- Tips for staff
- Miscellaneous personal expenses - bar bills souvenirs etc
Breakfasts are cereals, toast, fruit, juice and tea or coffee, provided at our overnight accommodation. Lunches are picnic style, with group members preparing their own sandwiches etc at breakfast time, from ingredients sourced and provided by the guide. Dinners are either fixed menu at nearby restaurants or are cooked by the guide.
Meal plan
Joining Arrangements & Transfers
View the gallery below for images of the style of accommodation used
Group Leader & Support Staff
Spending Money
A total of £300 should cover the cost of your miscellaneous expenses, including the 1 or 2 meals that you may need to purchase on Day 1 (see meal plan). You should take at least some of your travel money in the form of cash and exchange this on arrival in Auckland. It is not necessary to obtain New Zealand dollars prior to departure. It is possible to withdraw cash from ATM's at towns throughout the trip and credit and debit cards can be widely used. If you are intending to buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly (plastic cards can be useful in this respect). Also, if you expect to buy considerable quantities of soft drinks or beer, you should make an allowance for this.
Guidance on Tipping
Tipping is not expected in New Zealand, although if your guide has done a good job, you may feel it is appropriate to reward him or her with a tip or a gift. Also, for good service in restaurants it is not uncommon to leave a tip of around 10%.
Baggage Allowance
This trip is fully vehicle supported and all accommodation is in hotels and lodges. Nevertheless, it is recommended that you keep the weight of your trek bag to around 15kgs.
KE Trek Bag
All KE clients will receive a FREE KE trek bag. These have been specially made to stand up to the rigours of adventure travel. Your KE bag will be posted to you when your trip is guaranteed to run or on receipt of your booking if the trip is already guaranteed. If you have travelled with us before and already have a KE trek bag you can select an alternative free gift in the booking process.
The altitudes attained on this holiday are not extreme and the maximum altitude attained is no more than the equivalent of a pressurised cabin on an international flight. You may 'feel' the altitude the first time you trek above 2000 metres but all that is required is a slower pace to compensate. You should pay particular attention to your hydration levels while trekking above 2000 metres.
Equipment List
The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.
You must bring the following items:
Hiking boots
Training shoes
Trekking trousers
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof overtrousers
Baselayer shirts (1 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve)
T-shirts and/or casual shirts
Fleece jacket or warm jumper
Warm fleece gloves or mittens
Warm hat
Daypack 30 litres
Headtorch and batteries
Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
Water bottles 1 litre (x2)
Washbag and toiletries
Antibacterial hand wash
Small padlock to lock trek bag
The following items are optional:
Spare laces
Thermal baselayer - leggings
Trekking poles
Insect repellant – (DEET)
Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage)
Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
A basic medical kit will accompany each trek. We recommend that you bring your own personal first aid kit consisting of the following: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Immodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), antihistamine cream and tablets, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).
Group Size and Holiday Status
For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in 'Dates and Prices' table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.
Passport & Visas
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit.
Visa New Zealand
UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa for short stays.
If you are intending to arrange a stopover in Australia either before or after your visit to New Zealand, please be aware that you will need to arrange an e-visa http://www.border.gov.au/
Transit via USA
You will require an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), and you must get this before boarding any US-bound aircraft or ship, or entering on a land border. The fee is USD$14 and you should apply for it at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/. With the ESTA complete, the majority of British Citizen passport holders can enter the US under the Visa Waiver Programme, VWP. As of 1st April 2016 you will be required to have a passport with an intergrated chip. Note that if you have travelled to Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan in the last 5yrs you will have to apply for a visa.
NOTE: This is required if you are transiting through the USA
Health & Vaccinations
You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.
Electricity Supply & Plug
We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:
Preparing For Your Trip
It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking or climbing trip getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime leading up to your trip. Running, cycling and swimming are good for developing better stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country.
Know before you go
As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices 'Know before you go' campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas, and we recommend that all KE travellers take a look at the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination on the official FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.
KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.
We run our New Zealand trekking trips during the Southern Hemisphere spring and summer period of November through to March. At this time of year, we can expect temperatures of between 20°C and 25°C during the day, falling to between 10°C and 15°C at night. Surrounded by warm oceans, New Zealand has a maritime climate and does experience rainfall throughout the year. In the South Island, the West Coast receives far more rain than the east of the island, which lies in the rain shadow of the mountains.
Lonely Planet. New Zealand.
Fodor's Exploring. New Zealand.
The Rough Guide to New Zealand.
Recent Reviews & Blog Posts
Recent Reviews & Blog Posts
Good or bad we publish ALL reviews so you can make an inspired and informed choice.
Why KE?With all meals included in the price of the trip - and the cruise on Milford Sound - this holiday is superb value for money when compared with other New Zealand tours
At A glance
- Max group size: 12
- 18 days touring
- sightseeing and walking
- Max. altitude - 2000m
- Join in Auckland, End in Christchurch
Accommodation & Meals
- 4 nights Hotel
- 12 nights Lodge
- 1 night Ecolodge
- 1 night Mountain Hut / Refuge
- All meals included
KE Holiday Gallery
Our photos
Traveller Albums
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Campbellsville Middle School eighth graders in Melisa Morris' algebra I and pre-algebra classes made fruit smoothies to relate equation solving techniques to real life situations. The activity, in which students applied the equations to smoothie recipes, was a "Thoughtful Classroom" activity.
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Rethinking Twitter
By DaveLevy on Aug 15, 2008
I have been arguing with Constantin Gonzalez about the best way to use twitter. He ended one of his mails to me with the advice to get a better phone and/or client. Yesterday twitter announced that they were terminating SMS transmissions in the UK. Oh Hoorah! So it looks like I need to take his advice.
I use a Sony Ericsson K610i, which I have also been advised to change and so I have the choice of using a WAP service or looking for a Java application. So far I have found
- http://m.tweete.net/, which works on my wap browser. I loose the disticntion between follow on phone and read on the web, and as far as I can tell I need to go and look at my messages.
- twitter have a mobile optimised site at http://m.twitter.com which suffers from the same problems as above.
- http://www.tinytwitter.com/, is a java application, which was pointed out to me by an article on http://www.twittown.com/.
- Someone at http://twitter.com/TweetTxt, messaged me offering an SMS forwarding service that I pay for. Some of what I receive is not exactly what I want to pay for to read early, but maybe its the answer.
The twitter blog article offers some other advice including http://www.cellity.com/, this looks neat but does anyone know what their business model is? It also suggests looking at a page on getsatisfaction, where a lively discussion is taking place.
I have had a quick look at the two wap sites. tweete.net looks OK, but how shall I get it to discriminate between those I want on the phone and those I don't. Its font size is smaller than twitter's, so harder to read, but more white space.
tags: technology internet twitter sms mobile client sonyericsson k610i java wap


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Mr. Shane Gordon and Mrs. Jennifer Gordon (Koehn) are delighted to announce with lots of love the arrival of their twin boys born at McPherson Hospital.
Easton Trace Gordon was born at 9:29 a.m. Nov. 29, 2013. He weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces and was 18 inches long.
Jase Austin Gordon was born at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 29, 2013. He weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces and was 18 1/4 inches long.
Maternal grandparents are Vernon and Judy Koehn of McPherson. Paternal grandparents are Darrell and Ann Gordno of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Easton and Jase are welcomed home by Skylar, 6, Shane II, 4, and Paiton, 2.
Location, ST | website.com


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Elections 101: Election Day trivia
POSTED: 08:46 AM MDT Oct 21, 2011 UPDATED: 12:19 AM MST Nov 06, 2012
Find out more about Election Day right here.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.blog comments powered by Disqus


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Open spot.
Open spot.
Last call.
Where are you playing and what are the fees?
Lake County Fastpitch
Heritage Park in Crete, Il.
$195 includes 3 games, 2 umpires, and leather covered softball.
Sign-up ling on our webpage @ www.cubsfastpitch.com in left column.
Last spot.
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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Adding a Little 'Zip' to ZAP: Improved venue breathes new life into annual zin event
Post by Chuck Hayward | February 2nd, 2012
The last weekend of January always manages to banish the mid-winter blues with its promise of three highly anticipated annual events: the impending Super Bowl, the release of Silver Oak's Napa cabernet, and the annual ZAP tasting in San Francisco. No matter what one thinks of the grape, the red wine confab is truly one of the great wine events held in the United States. Populist in approach with its sprinkling of thought-provoking seminars to placate budding wine geeks, the annual tribute to California's heritage grape attracts a happy crowd of consumers and industry folks alike, and not surprisingly, very few sommeliers.
As much as ZAP has been a model of consistency from year to year, 2012 brought about a big change as its venue transitioned from the familiar confines of Fort Mason to the far more spacious San Francisco Concourse in San Francisco's South of Market district. The event certainly benefited from the change, as the new digs seemed to infuse everyone with renewed energy. Incredibly, all the wineries were housed under one roof and with plenty of room to spare. The carpeted floors helped to keep the noise down, especially the cheers that inevitably follow the occasional broken glass. Most importantly, there was plenty of room to maneuver about and tables were noticeably less cramped. (more…)


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To our readers
Planned power outage to affect circulation call center on Saturday
Published: Friday, September 27, 2013 at 10:21 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, September 27, 2013 at 10:21 a.m.
The Times-News customer service department will be affected by a planned Duke Energy power outage on Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Customer service representatives in the Spartanburg, S.C., call center will be unable to accept calls after 8:30 a.m., but our automated service at 828-692-5763 should be able to assist with most circulation matters.
We apologize for any inconvenience to subscribers.
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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WHAT: The free Couchsurfing app connects travelers for lodging, meet-ups and conversation.
HITS: I always thought staying on someone's couch was only for broke backpackers. Not so. The Couchsurfing network spans all demographics. I value the safety features that let you fine-tune your search results to specify gender, profiles with pictures, and profiles that have been vetted. This really helped my trust factor because I want only female "hosts" if it's just me and my daughter traveling. I was able to find hosts and locals in every city I looked up in the U.S., Britain and Canada.
MISSES: My experience varied when I used it on different platforms. Mixed reviews on Google Play didn't give me much confidence. When I tested it on my Android, I was annoyed because I couldn't read the page easily. When I used the app on my iPad, it said I could log in with Facebook, but when I tried it said the mobile app couldn't link my Facebook and Couchsurfing accounts.
-- Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times


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Yahoo Again Delivers Disappointing Revenue
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer delivered another mixed report card on her year-long turnaround effort, showing a 46% jump in quarterly earnings for the Internet pioneer but continued revenue declines that underscored her challenges.
Her willingness to sacrifice immediate gains as she positions the company for future growth has led to the continued deterioration of its core business of selling online ads. Yahoo posted a second-quarter revenue drop of 7%, though the decline was just 1% when excluding Yahoo's payouts to its business partners.
By contrast, the U.S. online-advertising market grew by 15% last year, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, a trade group. Rivals such as Web-search giant Google, social network Facebook, microblogging service Twitter and Web-radio service Pandora have been garnering an increasing share of marketers' budgets while Yahoo's growth has faltered.
As has been the case recently, Yahoo's profit was buoyed by the strong performance of China-based ecommerce giant Alibaba Group Holding, in which Yahoo holds a 23.5% stake. Yahoo's stakes in Alibaba and Yahoo Japan account for about half of its entire market valuation, according to analysts.
Yahoo's disclosures Tuesday included new information about the financials of Alibaba, which is planning an IPO and is on track to generate more revenue than Yahoo this year.
In the first quarter of 2013–the most recent period available–Alibaba generated $1.38 billion, up 71% from a year earlier. It generated $669 million in quarterly profit, 203% higher than a year earlier. That means its profit margin growth accelerated, rising to 48.4% in the first quarter from 35% in the fourth quarter of last year.
"I don't think anybody was expecting that; that's a massive acceleration," said Sameet Sinha, a stock analyst at B. Riley & Co.
He added that investors were disappointed with Yahoo's outlook for the rest of the year. The company said it expected a roughly 0.7% rise in full-year 2013 revenue. In the prior quarterly report, Yahoo forecast a roughly 1.8% rise in full-year revenue.
The results initially caused a 2% drop in the Sunnyvale, Calif., company's stock in after-hours trading, though the shares were more recently trading at $26.68 Down, off 20 cents or less than 1%. Still, the stock is up more than 70% from a year ago, thanks largely to the Alibaba stake.
Mayer, who took the unusual step of doing the quarterly earnings announcement and conference call in a live-video webcast, said Yahoo had achieved year-over-year growth in global daily average page views, which had previously been in decline. The increase didn't include Tumblr, a site that Yahoo recently purchased for $1.1 billion, she said.
"Renewed traffic growth in the face of multiple years of decline is, to my knowledge, unprecedented among industry players that operate with billions of page views, and we've achieved just that," she said.
The 38-year-old Ms. Mayer said she was focused on facilitating a "chain reaction" that begins with hiring talent, building "inspiring products" to attract new audiences, and "that traffic will increase advertiser interest and ultimately translate into revenue" growth.
Yahoo has redesigned many of its services, including its mobile apps, and increased its personalization features so that individual visitors to Yahoo sites will see different content based on what Yahoo knows about their interests.
She said the company has seen a surge of job applications, and that 10% of hires in the second quarter were former Yahoo employees who chose to come back.
Mayer also said the company now has hundreds of engineers dedicated to developing services for mobile devices, up from dozens of engineers before her tenure.
Yahoo's display-ad revenue, which represents roughly 40% of the company's sales, dropped 12% to $535 million from a year ago on declines in the number and prices of graphical and video ads. Search-ad revenue dropped 9% from a year earlier to $418 million.
There was a bright spot in the revenue figures, however. Yahoo generates about $1 billion per year from transaction-related fees on its auto, travel, shopping and other sites, where it takes a commission from the sale of products or services. That segment of Yahoo's business had its third quarter in a row of 10% growth after payouts to business partners. Profit margins in e-commerce tend to be lower than those for online ads, however.
Overall, Yahoo reported earnings of $331 million, or 30 cents a share, up from $227 million, or 18 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue decreased to $1.14 billion from $1.22 billion.
Excluding traffic-acquisition costs, Yahoo's earnings per came to 35 cents, while revenue came $1.08 billion. On that basis, analysts had expected earnings of 30 cents and revenue of $1.08 billion, according to Thomson Reuters.
(Correction: A previous version of this article reported incorrect numbers for second-quarter and year-earlier revenue.)


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STOCKTON - Members of the Stockton Police Department's Community Response Team and the multiagency San Joaquin County gang task force arrested three people during a probation search Thursday in south Stockton, authorities said.
Officers searched a residence in the 400 block of South San Joaquin Street about 2:45 p.m., police said. Inside, they discovered a loaded handgun and ammunition, officers said.
Altonio Burton, 19, Rodney Carroll, 19, and Franklin Easter, 53, were arrested on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and other crimes, authorities said.
Location, ST | website.com


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A Canton man was sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping a child in Massillon.
Adam P. Garner, 34, 429 Fulton Road NW, Apt. 2, who previously lived in Massillon, was found guilty of rape, a felony, and sexual imposition, a misdemeanor.
Garner pleaded guilty Monday and was sentenced in Stark County Common Pleas Court to 11 years by Judge Frank G. Forchione.
The child was younger than 13. The incident happened in April in Massillon, said Det. Bobby Grizzard of the Massillon Police Department.
Garner was arrested Oct. 14. He pleaded not guilty last month and bond was set at $1 million in Common Pleas Court. At a pretrial hearing Monday, Garner changed his plea.
He was found guilty in 2002 in Massillon Municipal Court of sexual imposition, a misdemeanor. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to burglary and robbery and served four years in prison, according to court records.
Location, ST | website.com


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News 12 at 6 o'clock / Monday, April 1, 2013
Mayor Frank Addy (WRDW-TV)
SALUDA, S.C. (WRDW) -- A South Carolina town was in mourning on Monday as word spread of its mayor's Easter morning death.
Saluda Mayor Frank Addy Jr. was found dead Sunday at his family's Lake Greenwood home.
The Newberry County coroner says he took his own life.
Mayor Addy was the subject of an ongoing SLED investigation, but now that file is being closed. Meanwhile, the community is coping with the loss.
"No husband, no son, no daddy, no mayor," friend Chris Bosket said.
That is everything the town of Saluda lost when Addy took his own life Sunday morning.
"Tough day for Saluda," Bosket said.
Bosket has lived in Saluda for almost 50 years. He says he couldn't believe the news.
"It was kind of devastating. It was kind of shocking that, you know, he would take his life through this situation," Bosket said.
Addy was being investigated by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
"Mr. Addy was under a preliminary investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division because there were allegations that were raised of improprieties in his duties as mayor of the town of Saluda," SLED agent Thom Berry said.
A local newspaper published a report questioning almost $38,000 in mileage reimbursements he received from the town. Addy claimed he drove more than 48,000 miles for economic development for Saluda last year.
Now that he's gone, the investigation is going away, too.
"Since Mr. Addy is deceased, we will be closing that file," Berry said.
"We seen a little bit of writing in the paper about it. We really didn't know what had got to it. But we didn't know it had gotten this bad of a situation," Bosket said.
Bosket says now he's thinking of Addy's kids and how they'll always remember Easter Sunday.
"They'll always remember that day. The day Jesus rose, and the day their daddy died," Bosket said.
SLED says details on the investigation are still limited until they officially close the file. Berry says that should happen within the next couple of days.


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Dallas Fed economist studies the fear of higher taxes on the weak U.S. economic recovery
Carlos E.J.M. Zarazaga, a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, recently studied whether the prospect of higher taxes has affected weak job growth during the U.S. economic recovery from the Great Recession.
In his working paper released this week, Zarazaga used a macroeconomic model called the Frisch elasticity of labor supply, which measures total hours worked amid changes to wages or taxes.
The premise: Some economists have attributed the nation's weaker-than-expected labor input growth during the U.S. economic recovery to the prospect of higher taxes in coming decades. Is that true?
The conclusion: When the Frisch elasticity formula is adjusted to account for real business cycles (vs. lower values estimated by models and studies), it predicts nearly half of the decline of labor input since the recession.
In another recent working paper, Zarazaga and co-author Finn E. Kydland explored the "fiscal sentiment hypothesis" — the effect of the fear of an imminent switch to higher tax, mainly higher capital income tax rates, on the anemic recovery. Kydland is an economics professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2004 with Edward C. Prescott of Arizona State University.
The two scholars concluded that the fiscal sentiment hypothesis can can account for between three-fifths and 100 percent of the decline in private gross domestic investment and for between one-third and half of the drop in labor input since the Great Recession's trough. The findings suggest that fiscal considerations must be included in efforts to explain the the slow recovery from the Great Recession.
Last week, lawmakers reached an agreement to avoid the "fiscal cliff" — a combination of government spending cuts and tax increases. The new law skirts the full force of budget cuts but some taxes, such as payroll and capital gains taxes, will increase this year.


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MARIETTA - The Christmas Spirit is alive and well in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
Drive-thru customers at Tim Hortons in Marietta have been "paying it forward" to those waiting in line behind them, by paying their tab before they roll up to the drive-up window.
The result can be a chain reaction from those in line who keep on paying, for others' orders. One day it went to 16 cars before the last person, said Kathy Ferguson, owner and operator of three Mid-Ohio Valley Tim Hortons stores.
They don't ask for the total on the person's bill, she said.
"They don't even care," Bethany Benear, a customer service cashier at the Marietta Tim Hortons, said.
The good samaritan's tab might be just $1 and the person she's treating could have $12 worth of food and drinks, she said.
Fact Box
About Layaways
* Layaway plans are a way for customers to pay for purchases in installments.
* A layaway plan makes it easy for a customer to make larger purchases.
* Layaway plans discourage impulse spending because the customer can't take the purchase home until it is paid in full.
* Using a layaway plan lets a customer "reserve" a purchase when the item is available, or when it is at a special sale price.
Source: ehow.com.
These Tim Hortons' customers "aren't looking for a thank you. They pay it forward and move on through their day," Ferguson said.
Customers at the Marietta Tim Hortons who are on the receiving end of paying it forward tend to ask the same questions.
"They'll ask 'Who is that?' 'Do I know that person?' or 'Did they say their name?'" said Jennifer Rios, supervisor at the Marietta Tim Hortons.
Something similar has been happening at the Marietta McDonald's on Pike Street, according to Todd Morris, general manager.
One McDonald's customer comes through the driveway every morning and uses her debit card to pay it forward for the driver behind her, said Morris.
Customers are "very appreciative 99 percent of the time," he added.
For Morris, this continuing trend is better than all the negative news he usually hears.
"It's those random acts of kindness that are what the season is about," he said.
Although the Marietta Kmart has not had a Christmas layaway angel winging his way into the store to pay off a lucky someone's account this year, staffers did see them last year and are expecting the angels to start flocking into the store around Dec. 15, said Judy Sharp, softlines area manager.
Until then, corporate Kmart has instituted "the big layaway giveaway" to give the season a kick start.
Under the program, Kmart layaway customers are randomly chosen to have their layaway totals paid off.
Four Marietta Kmart customers have benefited from the program so far this year, Sharp said. One customer had a $400 layaway paid, another a $300 layaway and a third a $20 layaway.
The Kmart giveaway started in October and continues through Dec. 24, said Sharp.
One of the lucky winners tracked Sharp down in the store to say thank you.
"I could hear her coming from the back of the store. I thought something was wrong," Sharp remembered.
The customer, who was beyond excited, was saying "I just won! They just paid off my layaway!"
Kmart shopper Cindy Rogers, 38, of Waterford, was delighted to hear that strangers are paying it forward for other Christmas shoppers.
"With the economy the way it is, the generosity of somebody paying off your layaway would be a huge relief," she said.
Elizabeth Bellville, 40, of New Matamoras, who was shopping at Kmart Friday, has two layaway accounts with the Marietta Kmart store.
The cost of recent health care issues combined with the cost of buying Christmas presents for her family has been challenging this year, she said.
However, Bellville remains faithful about the lessons she learned as a child raised in the church.
A member of Washington Hall Christian Union church in New Matamoras, she said she and other church members "try to give back all year long. If you can give, give."


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Crowne Plaza Hotel Executive Chef Shawn Dickensheets, and Tina Morales Director of Sales, serve up chocolate chili during the 20th annual Chocolate Lovers' Expo to benefit Easter Seals, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Sunday afternoon in Southbury. The annual event featured a myriad of vendors, and included cakes, cupcakes, cookies, candies and gourmet specialty foods. The event was held to help raise money for Easter Seals which provides "exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living with autism and other disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities." Christopher Massa Republican-American
20th Annual Easter Seals Chocolate Lovers' Expo
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German Shepherd Rescue & Adoptions
For adoption/rescue inquiries: firstname.lastname@example.com
Or use "Contact Form" online: http://www.gsdrescue.org/
P.O. Box 471
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
Lacey is an 8 year old, female, German Shepherd. Lacey is a sweet, senior girl who enjoys a good massage. What girl doesn't? She loves to snuggle with her people and get attention. She's a little hard of hearing but responds to a clap of the hands. She's a 'leaner' and will lean on you for any additional attention you want to give her. She would love another laid-back dog as a companion and a quiet home where she can contemplate the mysteries of the universe.
WFMY News 2 / German Shepherd Rescue & Adoptions


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BOSTON (AP) � Maine Sen. Angus King says he's reluctant to endorse a federal ban on the kind of assault weapon used in last month's Connecticut school shooting.
The newly-elected senator, an independent, told the Associated Press on Thursday that he supports universal background checks and limits on high-capacity ammunition clips as proposed this week by President Barack Obama. But King says he hasn't decided whether to embrace a ban on new assault weapons.
He says most of his friends in Maine who hunt use semi-automatic hunting rifles. And he's not sure if the assault weapons ban would apply to them.
King says he thinks the most important aspects of the president's proposal is the "expansion of background checks, which I believe is appropriate, and the limitation on the size of magazines."
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Location, ST | website.com


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Product Description
Bright, whimsical heart earrings by polymer clay artist Irene Semanchuk from Asheville, North Carolina.
The hearts are textured and painted, and dangle from sterling ear wires--each pair is a "matched set" but no two earrings are exactly alike, so expect some variation in texture) from the images.
Hearts are 5/8 inch long, 5/8 inch wide.
Artist statement included.
Please give us a call or send an e-mail if these are a gift and you'd like us to include a "To...From..." card.


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I am just barely old enough to be considered a baby boomer �still I'm not quite old enough to be one of those people who remembers where they were on November 22, 1963. I might have some sketchy fragments of watching the funeral I recall, but I am not even sure. Memory can be deceptive. What I do recall growing up �in an Irish Catholic family in the Boston area� was a common reverence for the man and a sense of identity with him. I saw the same memorial portrait of him �a pullout from the newspaper� framed and on the wall in both my grandparents homes, cousins houses too. For all he was a wealthy privileged man of power he was also somehow one of us. The grim fact of his murder, the majestic ceremony of mourning, they hung there on the wall, or upon our hearts, with moment not unlike the images of Saints and the Crucified Christ.
The first day of my education was at The John F. Kennedy Memorial Elementary School in Franklin, Mass. I came of age hearing his speeches telling me to "ask not" what my country could do for me, but what I should do �sending the word forth about torches passed forward to new generations. Those speeches �that voice and call� were a huge part of what formed my understanding of being an American. We landed on the moon remembering he'd sent us.
With time of course the worship wore off. The contrasting portrait of the womanizing rich kid whose dad bought him elections came along, courtesy of the iconoclasts. I learned of things like the Bay of Pigs fiasco. I heard the arguments back and forth about flaws and virtues. He was weak or he was clever in dealing with Kruschev �at Vienna �over Cuba �the Berlin Wall. He caused Vietnam. He would have ended it. He was a civil rights champion or a foot dragging, cautious and opportunistic politician.
Over time I've come to believe and accept a little of both narratives. JFK was a flawed man, both measured and inspired, craven and noble �a bit of both. He was one of us. And it strikes me that it was the terrible fact of his death that allowed us to love him, to allow his better angel a voice and hear him in a way we seldom listen these days �in our modern oh so skeptical state of mind.
"For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children�s future. And we are all mortal.�Those are the words that come to mind for me just now. From a speech he gave to college students, about the challenge, the promise, the possibility of peace. I woke this morning hearing that speech in my mind � I've heard those words all my life, tried in my own flawed way to remember them �words indeed so very well said.