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According to Wikipedia.com
Digital painting is an emerging art form in which traditional painting techniques such as watercolor, oils, impasto, etc. are applied using digital tools by means of a computer, a digitizing tablet and stylus, and software. Traditional painting is painting with a physical medium as opposed to a more modern style like digital.
Digital Paintings is a new way of creating a vibrant and lively painting using new technologies like graphics tablet,adobe photoshop and many more.
Here are the 20 Must See Professional Digital Painting Tutorial that you would like to see.
1).Making of Superbad
My painting of Michael Cera, titled "SuperBad", was actually created as part of a pitch for his new movie, Youth Revolt. The client wanted to persuade the studio to use an illustrated poster for this film, rather than the usual photographed one sheet.
2).Making of Funfair
I like my pictures to describe funny or strange situations, such as in my picture, 'Funfair'. The idea of the funfair came about when I was sitting in the park on one of my lunch breaks. A friend and I were eating ice-cream when a small insect landed on hers.
3).Making of Fire Energy
I have this idea in my mind, to translate the fire energy to an image, and this came out, I didn't do any sketch, for that I consider this a speed painting; (it took less than 2 hours to do).
4).Creating a Spider Harp
This picture represent a fantasy musician able to play harp on a spider web. I paint it as a personal piece, and it was a really big and fragile work.
5).Old style pin-up art
Painting pin-ups can be a whole lot of fun, no matter whether you go for the old-school vintage cheesecake kind of look or if you want to add a modernised twist to them.
6).Advanced Digital Painting
This is a fairly advanced tutorial–definitely more difficult than the clouds tutorial. It covers my whole painting process, from sketch to finishing touches, and can be applied to either Photoshop painting or oil painting.
7).Making of Equilibrium
I've always been fascinated by realism, and because of this it is really important to me that the base line-art sketch has got proper proportions. I usually use the old trick by putting a grid on top of a reference photo I've shot.
8).Paint Realistic Hands
Painting hands often causes serious trouble to both professional and amateur artists. The complexity of their build, especially in realism, puts them among the hardest parts of a human body to render properly.
9).Digital Painting Tutorial
I just used the paintbrush as mentionned clearly in the tutorial.
10).Bio Shock Digital Painting
In this walkthrough I explain how I used Photoshop and a Wacom Tablet to paint a character from the new videogame Bioshock for GamePro Magazine. This walkthrough gives you an overview on how to use textures in a digital painting.
11).The Making of Spanish Girl
This image was created as a request by my Grandmother; she wanted something for her dining room wall. I had plenty of things to choose from, but I thought it would be nice to paint something that she could identify with.
12).Red Assassin Digital Painting Tutorial
Author of this tutorial says, "Here's how I do my painting. This is a work in progress so you'll see the steps I do in creating a piece. Below is a quick sketch over a black background."
13).How To Make A Digital Painting Of A Rose From Scratch
I'll help you to create a digital painting of a rose from scratch. Beginning from a simple sketch, into the transformation of a beautiful rose.
We'll use drawing and painting techniques using Photoshop.
14).Making of Lida
In this work, I want to interpret a new feeling of an old Chinese poem, and try to make it more fantasy ,sci-fi and surreal. So I start doing research…here is some I searched on Google.
15).Paint a Sexy Siren
This started off as a small doodle in Photoshop while I was working on something else. There was something about the mermaid scribble that I liked, so I saved it for possible future development.
16).Making of Bronze Dragon
In this tutorial we are going to color a dragon portrait. Like I always said, it's impossible to make a good painting without a good sketch, that's why if your drawing is not as strong as you'd like, you should go ahead and buy a sketchbook before taking up photoshop or tablet or any other stuff like that.
17).Making of The Lady Bird
For this painting I did first the rough on a sketchbook and then I used exclusively Photoshop. I tried to pull together a few stages of my working progress here.
18).Making of 'Aretha Franklin'
These are the steps I took while painting my recent caricature, 'Aretha Franklin'. The sketch was drawn in Photoshop (Fig.00), using a small round brush. For the painting I used Photoshop CS and a Wacom Cintiq;
19).How To Create Realistic Cat Fur
In this tutorial I will show you how to create realistic cat fur.
It takes some patience to get to the desired result, but eventually you'll end up with a super cute, furry kitten!
This tutorial is written for beginners.
20).How to Make a Beautiful Spring Butterfly Scenery
In this tutorial I will show you the steps I have used for making the Butterfly in the spring image.
The main tool we will be using is the soft round brush. All the effect are made by changing the brush size and opacity ,also we will be using lots of layers.


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Blurb Tally is a writer's utility, designed to help you to quickly and easily calculate the number of characters, words, and paragraphs in a blurb of text. Once launched, Blurb Tally hovers above the other windows and applications on your Mac. Write content directly in Blurb Tally, or simply copy content to the clipboard and paste it in for a quick tally.
Possible uses include:
- Generating text for character-limited fields in Web forms. How often have you entered text into a Web form field, only to have the form rejected because a field contains too many characters?
- Identifying the length of articles,
What's New in Blurb Tally
Version 1.1.2:
- Implemented sandboxing.
Requirements for Blurb TallyMac OS X 10.6 or later
Similar Software
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subset: commoncrawl


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One of the most beautiful beaches in Cantabria. From this beach you can see Cape Ajo. Beside the beach is a County Council 9-hole golf course. There is a promenade that starts at this beach, runs along the entire length of the golf club and ends up in El Sardinero. To get to this beach you have to go down some steps off the promenade. The sand is fine and white, with absolutely crystal-clear water. There is a lifeguard service. The walk has beautiful views of the Peninsula of Magdalena. It lies well inland and is sheltered from the wind.
Type of beach
- Seafront promenade:
- Composition: Sand
- Type of sand: Golden
- Conditions: Moderate waves
- Mooring berths:
- Vegetation:
- Protected space:
- Length: 125 (m)
- Width: 40 (m)
Occupancy rate:
- Degree of urban development: Isolated
- Marina: Santander - Puerto Chico
- Distance to beach: 4,5 km
- Toilets
- Footwash
- Litter bin
- Cleaning service
Accesses and safety
- Marina: Santander - Puerto Chico
- Distance to beach: 4,5 km


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I had lots of photos left to scrap from last year Halloween! I chose this one of Camryn in her cute Halloween outfit...
I may have to do another page about my kids' costumes!!
Take a peek at the blog for the Ready to Haunt Challenge and play along!
All DD:
Katie Pertiet
Orange Black + Creme Mini Kit
Happy Halloween CLusters
Twine Twists No.1
Spooktacular Element Pack
Textured Canvas: Neutrals Paper Pack
Simple Collage Frames No. 03
Stitched Layered Template No. 02 (modified a lot)
Studio DD
Readymade Banners: Halloween


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|Tony Crocker
|Tyler Evans
|Cory Gonzalez
|Garner Shivers
SUWANEE, Ga.—Four members of the Birmingham-Southern men's soccer team have been voted Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference in exclusive voting by the league's head coaches, it was announced today.
Seniors Tony Crocker and Garner Shivers and sophomore Cory Gonzalez were voted to the Second Team, and senior Tyler Evans was voted to the Third Team.
Crocker, a midfielder from Mountain Brook, Ala., was fourth on the team with eight points (2 goals, 4 assists).
Shivers, a forward from Oxford, Miss., led the team and ranked fourth in the conference with 27 points (12 goals, 3 assists). He finishes his career ranked fourth with eight game-winning goals.
Gonzalez, a defender from Birmingham, Ala., scored one goal this season while helping the BSC defense shut out six opponents.
Evans was second on the team this season and eighth in the league with 23 points (9 goals, 5 assists). He finishes his career ranked third with nine game-winning goals.
"I am extremely pleased for three of our seniors, Garner Shivers, Tony Crocker and Tyler
Evans, to make one of the All-Conference Teams, as well as sophomore Cory Gonzalez," Head Coach Preston Goldfarb said. "While I personally feel we should have had at least
two of them to have made the First Team and the others to have made the Second Team, I am so very proud of all of them for the dedication and honor they have not only brought to our team, but to the college as well. All four are most deserving of this honor."
The Panthers went 10-7 this year and 6-3 in the SCAC, finishing third in the regular season standings.
To view the complete release with all honorees listed, click here.


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When to Plant Peanuts in Cherokee, Alabama, United States of America
Planting vegetable seeds at the correct time is the most important step for getting the most out of your garden. Knowing exactly when to plant peanuts in your garden in Cherokee, Alabama, United States of America will increase growing success and provide better yields.
Check optimal planting dates regularly for best results because the weather, and our results, change daily.
The optimal time to plant peanuts in Cherokee, Alabama, United States of America is - . The best day is with a success rate of %.
Anywhere between 70-100% is great. If consistently below that you may want to start growing from seedling or young plant, or possibly grow in sheltered environment
Optimal time frame to start
Frost free days
Grow period
Tell us what you think about these results
You are very interesting!
Important peanut growing information relevant to your exact garden location in Cherokee, Alabama, United States of America:
The total number of frost free days for your garden in Cherokee, Alabama, United States of America is days, but the total number of optimal days to plant peanuts is days.
For best results you should start planting peanuts in days starting .
Gardening Data Sources
Gardening Websites
Gardening Blogs
Other Sources
How to Grow Peanuts in Cherokee, Alabama, United States of America
The peanut plant originated in South America. There is a 7600-year-old fossilized peanut hull that was found in Peru in 2007 which shows the importance of this plant in South America. Peanuts grow well in moderate soil and require little attention. One of the advantages of growing peanuts is that they can be stored for a long time and transported long distances without spoiling. It was not until the early 1900's that peanut cultivation began in the US when the image of peanuts as a poor-man's-food changed, harvesting techniques improved and most importantly successful research conducted by Dr. George Washington Carver, long considered the father of the peanut industry, began.
For more real-time hyper local detailed growing information download the GardenWeather App on IOS. It is now the leading gardening and weather app, more accurate than The USDA zone map for frost dates. GardenWeather™ is a technology and agri-tech startup providing real-time hyper local planting and gardening recommendations enabling home gardeners and homesteaders to make data-driven gardening decisions.
Use these images to know if your peanut is heading in the right direction and growing properly. Exact number of growing days varies for each peanut variety. Below is the average number of days for each stage gathered from many different varieties.
Peanut Germination Guide
(Stage 1: Germination)
Germination is the process by which a plant grows from a seed. It is the first stage of the plant growing process and it begins when the seed is sown and ends when the radicale emerges out of the seed.
All seeds require proper soil temperature, moisture, air and light conditions to germinate successfully. However, during the germination stage the seeds require more soil warmth and moisture than light exposure.
Seeds respire just like any other living organism, requiring oxygen and producing carbon dioxide (CO2), so it is crucial to use a soil media that is sufficiently aerated so that the seeds do not "suffocate".
NAN% of our growing experts recommend to directly sow peanut seeds into the ground. What is direct sowing and why do I care about it?
Required germination period
0-0 days
Optimal germination period
10-14 days
Required soil temp.
60º-85ºF / 15.6º-29.4ºC
Optimal soil temp.
77.1º-78.6ºF / 25.1º-25.9ºC
Required day temp.
0º-0ºF / -17.8º--17.8ºC
Optimal day temp.
0º-0ºF / -17.8º--17.8ºC
Required night temp.
0º-0ºF / -17.8º--17.8ºC
Optimal night temp.
0º-0ºF / -17.8º--17.8ºC
Optimal seed depth
3 inches / 7.6 cm
Optimal plant spacing
7 inches / 17.8 cm
Optimal row spacing
NAN inches / NAN cm
Peanut Growing Guide
(Stages 2-5: Growth)
Once seed has germinated and radicale has emerged the second stage of the plant growing process begins, developing from radicale to cotyledon -the embryonic first leaves of the seed forming a young seedling.
During the third stage of plant development cotyledon develops to 3-4 true leaves, stem begins to grow, becoming a mature seedling.
In the fourth stage the mature seedling develops to a young plant, ready for transplanting.
The fifth stage of plant development the plant is fully mature bearing fruit and/or flower.
The following guidelines apply to all of the peanut plants' needs during stages 2-5 from radicale emergence to full maturity. During these stages sunlight becomes a more active participant in plant growth and development than in the germination phase.
Soil pH is an important factor during these stages as well. What is pH and why is it important?
Required soil temp.
60º-NANºF / 15.6º-NANºC
Optimal soil temp.
65º-85ºF / 18.3º-29.4ºC
Required day temp.
NANº-NANºF / NANº-NANºC
Optimal day temp.
NANº-NANºF / NANº-NANºC
Required night temp.
NANº-NANºF / NANº-NANºC
Optimal night temp.
NANº-NANºF / NANº-NANºC
Required sunlight hours
Optimal sunlight hours
Required soil pH
Optimal soil pH
Required watering amount
1-1 inches / 2.5-2.5 cm (per week)
Optimal watering amount
NAN-NAN inches / NAN-NAN cm (per week)
Optimal depth
NAN inches / NAN cm
Optimal plant spacing
9 inches / 22.9 cm
Optimal row spacing
20 inches / 50.8 cm
How difficult is it to grow peanuts?
Growing peanuts, or any other vegetable for that matter, is not hard, however some plants require more attention and care than others depending on the following factors:
Are you starting to grow your plant from seed? seedling? young plant? Depending on what stage plant you choose to plant will impact growing difficulty and patience.
The length of the growing season for your exact garden location.
If you have a short growing season and you want to start growing from seed then you may need to start the growing process in a sheltered environment (greenhouse or inside your home) which will require more involvement in the growing process.
Whether you direct sow in the garden or start in trays and then transplant also affects the level of difficulty
Growing difficulty level - 0
Growing patience level - 0
Companion Planting Guide
What is companion planting?
Companion planting is intentional planting of two or more vegetables and/or flowers next to each other in order to positively impact plant health and yield
Get More with Growmigo Pro
- No more estimated planting dates, only research based, accurate planting dates for your specific garden location
- Unlimited access to all research links
- Download Unlimited PDF's
- Access to growing information of new plant varieties that are added daily.
- Cancel anytime if you're not happy
Join the thousands of satisfied gardeners that have already signed up to Growmigo Pro


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3 killed in Pa. shooting believed caused by long-running dispute over ramshackle property
A man feuding with officials in his rural Pennsylvania town over living conditions at his ramshackle, trash-filled property killed three people at a municipal meeting — including at least one town official — in a rampage that blew holes through the walls and sent people crawling for cover, police said.
The gunman, Rockne Newell, was tackled to the ground and shot with his gun after firing gunshots through the wall and bursting into the meeting Monday night, witnesses said. They said he then went to his car and got another weapon to keep firing.
"I heard more than 10 shots," Pocono Record reporter Chris Reber said in a first-person account. "It was automatic, like a string of firecrackers."
State police said they believed two people may have subdued the gunman, who was shot in one of his legs. Witnesses and officials called them heroes.
The shooting, which injured at least two other people, happened shortly before 7:30 p.m. during Ross Township's monthly meeting, Monroe County emergency management director Guy Miller said. State police said about 15 to 18 residents and town officials were at the building, a short drive from Newell's property, when the gunfire erupted.
Two people died at the scene, and a third person died after being flown to a hospital. Police confirmed that at least one of the dead was a township official but declined to give additional details. A fourth person, a woman, was undergoing surgery late Monday. Her injuries were not disclosed.
Investigators said Newell began shooting as he approached the building and continued as he walked into and through it. He then went back out to his vehicle in the parking lot, retrieved a handgun and went back into the building, firing more shots, police said.
Reber said he was at the township building when a man armed with a long gun with a scope shot through a wall into the meeting.
"The thing that got my attention: plaster flying out, blowing out through the walls. Witnesses would later tell me they saw pictures exploding away from the walls," Reber said in the first-person account told to his editors Marta Gouger and Chris Mele.
He said he crawled out to a hallway, exited the building and took cover behind a vehicle.
"The gunman was this guy wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt," he said. "I saw him go back out to his car, a silver Impala, and get another gun.
"It wasn't real to me until I went back inside and saw people bleeding."
A local official at the meeting grabbed the shooter and subdued him, Reber said.
"(West End Open Space Commission executive director) Bernie Kozen bear-hugged the gunman and took him down," Reber said. "He shot the shooter with his own gun."
Rep. Matt Cartwright, who represents the state's 17th District, said he was "stunned and appalled at the atrocities that claimed the lives of innocent citizens in Ross Township." He said he had heard about what Kozen did to prevent more bloodshed.
"Mr. Kozen is a true hero tonight," Cartwright said in an emailed statement.
Kozen's wife, reached by telephone at their home Monday night, said he wasn't there and she was unsure when he'd be back.
Newell had been in a long-running dispute with township officials over the dilapidated condition of his property, state police Capt. Edward Hoke said. The township supervisors voted in February 2012 to take legal action against Newell for violating zoning and sewer regulations, according to meeting minutes posted online.
Last October, Newell set up a fundraising page online and was trying to raise $10,000 to pay for legal fees in his battle with the township.
"Ross township took me to court & the court ruled I have to vacate my home of 20 years," he wrote on the page called saveRockyshome. "I live on SSI which comes to $600 a month I have no money to clean it up."
Newell said his two rescue dogs "will be put to sleep because no one else will take them."
The property includes an old camper in the front yard filled with wooden pallets, pieces of what appear to be old railroad ties and trash. A garage leans and appears close to collapse, and a propane tank sits inside an old dog house.
State police, who guarded the property early Tuesday, were awaiting a search warrant so they can enter it.
In June, the Pocono Record wrote a story about what it said was an 18-year fight between the township and Newell over his property.
Monroe County Court in August 2012 sided with the township and ordered Newell to vacate and never again occupy or use the property unless he had the permits to do so. The report said Newell had been living out of a car, a 1984 Pontiac Fiero, and in abandoned buildings since being ordered to vacate.
Newell told the paper he was unemployed for years after an injury from a crash and had nowhere else to go.
"They have no right to kick me off my property," he told the newspaper. "They call my property an eyesore. When I bought it, it was one of only three properties on the entire road that didn't have what they call junk."
Newell was in police custody after being treated at the hospital Monday night and couldn't be reached for comment, and there was no telephone number listed for his property.
Ross Township has about 5,500 residents. According to its website, the board of supervisors meets at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month.
Associated Press writer Michael Rubinkam and photographer Chris Post contributed to this report.
Copyright (2013) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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The Boost Mobile website server was temporarily overwhelmed today by a traffic spike following the operator's launch of new 3G prepaid plans on the Telstra network. Visitors to the site were able to register as of yesterday afternoon.
"There has been an overwhelming response which has caused the site to slow down and timeout for some customers," a Boost Mobile spokesman said.
The problems occurred after Boost announced details of new plans coming March 1 that ride on the Telstra Next G network. Boost had previously used the Optus 3G network, but in October announced it would be moving networks.
Boost announced three rate plans, all of which include unlimited talk, text and MMS to standard national numbers. A $10 plan provides up to 500MB of data in a five-day period. A $20 plan includes 1GB of data for a 15-day period. And a $40 plan includes 3GB of data for a 30-day period.
Data is charged in 1MB increments and will be rounded to the nearest MB at the end of each data session.
The service doesn't go live until March 1, but Boost has a pre-order promotion that gives buyers a golden SIM card and $10 of free credit.
Boost Mobile has said that its existing customers will remain on the Optus network.
Follow Adam Bender on Twitter: @WatchAdam
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia


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From the days of the PS one, this downloadable game allows you to play the classic original on compatible PlayStation handhelds & consoles as well as PlayStation-certified systems.
Everyone's favorite mermaid is back on the PlayStation in Disney's The Little Mermaid II. Featuring elements of both Little Mermaid movies, this game finds Ariel and her human friend Melody on a mission to rescue Prince Eric and foil Ursula and Morgana's nefarious plot. Along the way, you'll have to find your way to Atlantica saving it from Ursula, conduct Sebastian's Orchestra, and escape from the castle. Recapturing the Trident from Morgana and searching for clues to your identity are also on the agenda. Everything unfolds with the help of over 30 minutes of footage from the movie. If you're a fan of The Little Mermaid or if you're just a casual Disney observer, you'll flap your fin with joy for Disney's The Little Mermaid II.
Also known as: The Little Mermaid 2, Disney's The Little Mermaid II -- Return to the Sea
Release Region: United States
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Publisher: THQ
Also available on: PlayStation, PlayStation 3, Macintosh, PC
The Little Mermaid II at IGN
The Little Mermaid II at GameSpy
The Little Mermaid II at GameStats


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Baseball Cards
I'm in the midst of a stretch where both the Pirates and Indians are away for awhile, so I won't be attending any more games any time soon. (Possibly one this weekend, but its a small chance). Since there is this lull, I've decided to blog a bit about baseball cards.
My obsession with baseball cards began in the spring of 1989. I had started to get into baseball in 1988, but baseball cards hadn't taken ahold of me yet, until that fateful day at K-Mart. I was with a childhood friend, Nick Yakabishin. He was already a seasoned collector of cards. I remember Nick and I both getting a jumbo pack of 1989 Topps Cards.
Nick said that the goal was to find Pittsburgh Pirates cards, but that if I got an Andy Van Slyke, he "would die." Andy Van Slyke was the most popular Pirate in the late 1980's, and his cards were like gold to children. I watched Nick tear into his pack. He got a couple crappy Pirates like Dave LaPoint and Mike Dunne, but no Andy Van Slyke.
I then opened mine. I remember sniffing the gum and then chewing on it while I shuffled through the deck. Somewhere mid way through, there he was. A fresh, crisp 1989 Topps Andy Van Slyke card.
I started going crazy. My friend was happy for me, but jealous. He was shocked that I had found a Van Slyke card. I was hooked.
My obsession grew. I was most active in collecting cards up until about 1995. I continued to collect until college in 1999, when my interest waned.
Any time my parents would take my brother and I anywhere, picking up a pack of cards was a necessity. My brother was also obsessed with cards. We used to look forward to our trips to see our grandma in Connecticut because of a card shop that we considered the Mecca of all sporting good stores, Rock's Sports Cards. I'm not sure if its still around anymore, but the place was great. My dad used to get annoyed because my brother and I would spend upwards of an hour there browsing and looking through all of the bargain bins.
At Christmas time, half of our gifts involved baseball or baseball cards. The first complete set I received was the 1989 Score set, during the Christmas of '89. I would go on to put my first set together from cards pulled from packs in 1993 (Topps).
In late 1992 or thereabouts, the unthinkable happened. A man by the name of Dick Brown had purchased an old candy store and turned it into a Sports Cards store. He named it Discount Sports Cards. It became a daily destination for my brother, Joe, and I. We were his best customers and fondly called the store "Discount" amongst ourselves. The shop was located roughly about a mile away, and we would ride there on our bikes, buy grab bags (which he would put a few good singles and the rest filler cards), and look through the latest singles.
We would hold "card shows" in the back yard or in the living room, where we would all set up our cards to display for everyone to see. Usually, we ended up just buying each other cards, so it was basically trading.
I used to spend almost all of my disposable money on baseball cards. As a child, I never had much money, but when I could scrape together a buck or two, I was buying cards. How many cards do I have? I would estimate about 80,000. There's boxes everywhere.
The entire area under our bed is baseball cards.
I believe there are still more at my parents house.
My most valuable card? I don't have any super valuable ones. Possibly a 1962 Topps Stan Musial. It might be worth $100, maybe. I have a 1972 Hank Aaron. A 1992 Mariano Rivera Bowman Rookie Card. I don't think any of them could sell much these days. The value of baseball cards plummeted.
My entire collection? Its probably not even worth that much. My cards mostly range from 1987-1995.
I remember being a Beckett Baseball Monthly subscriber and looking up my top cards each month to see if they'd "gone up" or "gone down." The magazines are probably worth more than most of the cards now.
I remember my dad bought a 1990 Donruss set in 1990. Its still sealed and in the cellophane. "One day, this will be worth a lot of money," he told us and my brother. Unfortunately, the baseball card bubble burst, and its worth less now than what he paid.
I remember my mom telling me about how she used to buy packs of cards in the late 50's, early 60's, just for the gum. I recall listening in horror as she described how one day my grandma threw all of her cards in the trash.
Baseball cards dominated my life in the late 1980's, early 1990's, as did my interest in baseball. I'm still interested in baseball, but no longer cards. Most companies have folded, like Fleer, Donruss, and Score. I believe only Topps and Upper Deck are still around.
My wife thinks I'm a weirdo because every time we go to Wal Mart, I have to walk past the Baseball card aisle to stop and stare. Some habits never die.
Did you collect cards? How many did you have? What got you hooked? What's your best card?


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GARFIELD HEIGHTS, OH (WOIO) - Police were called to a confusing scene Thursday evening when they responded to reports of a home invasion.
According to police, witnesses saw two men steal a purse from inside a car on Maplerow Avenue, and they proceeded to chase them down the street around 7 p.m. Thursday.
The suspects ran into a nearby relative's house, called police, and told them they were being chased and the home was being invaded.
When Garfield Heights police arrived, witnesses outside explained the suspects involved in the theft were posing as victims.
The suspects were arrested, and the purse was returned to its owner.
No names being released.
Copyright 2012 WOIO. All rights reserved.


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7:30 am Friday Prayer Meeting @ Calvary Loveland
Friday Prayer Meeting @ Calvary Loveland
Jun 21 @ 7:30 am – 8:30 am
"What is the goal of the Christian life? It is godliness born of obedience to Christ. Obedience unlocks the riches of the Christian experience. Prayer prompts and nurtures obedience, putting the heart into the proper "frame of mind" to desire obedience." R.C. Sproul «The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Psalms 34:17 Prayer is as important to our Christian life as food...Keep Reading
8:30 am Women's Study (Friday Morning) @ CCL Fellowship Hall
Women's Study (Friday Morning) @ CCL Fellowship Hall
Jun 21 @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Jesus In The Old Testament Please prayerfully consider joining us for our Women's Bible Study as we examine Jesus in the Old Testament. The entire Bible is about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Testament says He's coming. The Gospels say He's here. The book of Acts proclaim Him. The epistles explain Him. And Revelation says He's coming again. That's the Bible in a nutshell. The very first verse of...Keep Reading
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75 Sold Out Shows, 250,000 Tickets Sold in U.S. to Date
Peppa Pig's Big Splash, Peppa's first North American theatre tour resumes on September 14 and will visit Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara on March 26 at 5:00 PM.
The Peppa Pig stage show, based on Entertainment One's (eOne) top-rated TV series airing daily on Nick Jr., is one of the most successful family tours this year. It has sold 250,000 tickets in the U.S. to date with 75 venues completely selling out. The fun-filled show brings the hit TV series to life on stage, giving families the opportunity to engage with their favorite characters like never before for in an unforgettable first live theater experience.
"Peppa Pig's Big Splash has been so successful because kids adore interacting with the characters on stage. Just like the incredibly popular TV series, the live show is funny, lighthearted and a delight for the whole family," said Jonathan Shank, Executive Producer, Red Light Management.
"Peppa Pig's Big Splash is everything fans love and expect from the TV show combined with the excitement of live theater," said Lib Campbell, the actress who beat out 2,000 people who auditioned to play the role of Peppa Pig live on stage. "Everyone gets the chance to jump in muddy puddles with Peppa and sing along with Polly Parrot. Fans at each show can be seen singing and dancing in the aisles."
"The live show features a lively blend of costumed characters and puppets that walk, talk, dance, and jump up and down to give audiences a unique, interactive theatrical experience from the moment we open the curtain," said Director Richard Lewis. "Peppa Pig's Big Splash is a fully immersive musical production featuring a dozen familiar and original songs, as well as a sing-a-long."
In Peppa Pig's Big Splash, the nursery roof is leaking and Peppa and her friends need to fix it quickly. They set up a fair to raise money so Mr. Bull can do the repairs. There's plenty of fun to be had as Peppa, George, Mummy and Daddy Pig, along with Danny Dog, Pedro Pony and Suzy Sheep work together to organize an exciting day out complete with a Champion Puddle Jumping Competition judged by Mr. Potato, where everyone gets wet! An interactive experience full of singing, dancing, games, and muddy puddles, Peppa Pig's Big Splash is a guaranteed oinktastic blast for the whole family.
Episodes of Peppa Pig currently air on the Nick Jr. channel, in nearly 73 million households daily.
Tickets available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.thearlingtontheatre.com, www.nederlanderconcerts.com or at the Arlington Theatre ticket office. To charge by phone, call (800) 745-3000 or (805) 963-4408. All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. Convenience charges apply to all phone and internet outlet ticket orders.
For more information about Peppa Pig's Big Splash, please visit www.peppapigliveus.com, Facebook and Twitter.
Show Credits:
- Directed by Richard Lewis
- Composer Mani Svavarsson
- Matt Lewis is lyricist
- Simon Scullion is designer
- Andy Booth is music director
- Produced by Red Light Management, Fiery Angel and eOne
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a global independent studio that specialises in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. The Company's diversified expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales, family programming, merchandising and licensing, and digital content. Through its global reach and expansive scale, powered by deep local market knowledge, the Company delivers the best content to the world.
Entertainment One's robust network includes film and television studio The Mark Gordon Company; content creation venture Amblin Partners with Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, and Reliance Entertainment; leading feature film production and global sales company Sierra Pictures; unscripted television production companies Renegade 83, Paperny Entertainment and Force Four Entertainment; world-class music labels Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang; and award-winning digital agency Secret Location.
The Company's rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 100,000 hours of film and television content and approximately 40,000 music tracks.


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Player Tracking Technology Goes to Duke
Cameron Indoor Will Be the First College Arena Equipped With SportVU, a Statistical Movement System Used in NBA
The player-tracking cameras that are now in all 30 NBA arenas have revolutionized the way NBA wonks think about the sport. Now they'll be aimed at a new target: college basketball.
Stats LLC's SportVU system will record every movement this season inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, making Duke the first college team to embrace the technology that has swarmed the NBA in recent years. Stats also has installed SportVU's high-resolution cameras in Duke's practice facility to log the Blue Devils' scrimmages, a step that most NBA teams haven't taken yet.
Basketball quants have hailed SportVU—which codes the location coordinates of the players, referees and ball 25 times per second—as the big-data gateway to the statistical movement that has swept through baseball. The early adopters in the NBA began using SportVU in 2010, and 15 NBA teams had signed up for SportVU by last season, leading the NBA to announce a deal with Stats in September to bring the cameras to every NBA venue.
NBA team officials who have dived into SportVU's data say it reveals all kinds of hidden truths about the game: a player's exact number of touches, how many rebound chances he converts, his total of secondary assists and potential assists, where on the court he shoots best, his total distance run and how fast he accelerates on offense or defense, among other statistics. NBA analysts say their proprietary work with SportVU's raw numbers fundamentally alters their understanding of basketball—one reason why most progressive teams protect their SportVU insights like state secrets.
Duke was intrigued by SportVU last spring, when a former team manager who works at Stats showed off some of Duke's geo-spatial statistics from its 2013 NCAA tournament games in Philadelphia, and Stats senior vice president Brian Kopp pitched Duke's staff at a June meeting in Durham, N.C., that included Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski. The only difference between the six SportVU cameras installed last month in Cameron and those in NBA venues is that Duke's tiny arena required smaller lenses with wider angles.
Another team that stands to benefit this season from SportVU is Marquette, whose coach Buzz Williams values advanced statistics as much as anyone in college basketball. Marquette shares with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks the BMO Harris Bradley Center, where the infrastructure existed, so the Golden Eagles will see SportVU data for its 16 home games. "Knowing our coach, two minutes into their presentation, we knew it was something he'd want to pursue," said Marquette deputy athletic director Mike Broeker.
Limited by opportunities to collect game data—NBA teams play 82 regular-season games, while Duke has 17 home games against teams of varying quality—Duke also outfitted its practice courts adjacent to Cameron. "You add 75 or 100 practices when the quality of your opponent is the same every day, and you can get a much better picture of who a player is," said Kevin Cullen, Duke's director of information technology. With its emphasis on practice data, Duke hopes that SportVU is as much a tool for its training and medical staff as it is for the basketball coaches, Cullen said.
Focusing the SportVU cameras on practice sessions is a move that NBA teams may follow soon. "It's something a lot of NBA teams have asked me about but we haven't done," Kopp said.
The system will be used officially for the first time in a college arena during Duke's season opener against Davidson on Nov. 8. The team's first 12 games could be covered by SportVU: eight in Cameron and four in NBA arenas, like its Nov. 12 meeting with Kansas in Chicago's United Center, which logged SportVU's first college games in March during the Big Ten Conference's tournament.
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VersaCell X3 Solution
Dynamic STAT prioritization with advanced workflow through robotics and an optimal mix of analytics
Choose the VersaCell® X3 Solution* for the instrument and menu that best fits the requirement of your laboratory to connect up to three analyzers through a single robotic sample interface.
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The VersaCell X3 Solution is agile by allowing three instrument connectivity of multiple Siemens analyzers in various configurations to provide labs with the optimal mix of analytics to achieve delivery targets. These configurations are designed to meet lab requirements in order to support productivity and growth.
The following Siemens analyzers can be connected:
- ADVIA® 1800 Chemistry System—a high-throughput analyzer with an extensive menu
- ADVIA Centaur® XP Immunoassay System—a high-volume immunoassay-testing analyzer with an extensive menu and onboard reagent capacity
- IMMULITE® 2000 XPi Immunoassay System—a specialty immunoassay-testing analyzer that combines routine immunoassay and esoteric testing (e.g., allergy and infectious disease)
- Dimension® EXL™ Integrated Chemistry Systems—integrated chemistry and immunoassay analyzers with general and specialty chemistry testing, including cardiovascular immunoassay testing
Which two- or three-instrument combination of chemistry and immunoassay systems will best suit your laboratory needs?
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The VersaCell X3 Solution is streamlined for operational efficiency to ensure that productivity targets are met, especially when staffing and financial resources are limited. The solution helps reduce operator hands-on time for more effective utilization of staff and resources. The VersaCell X3 Solution helps maintain throughput, while the connected analyzers allow replenishment of supplies without interrupting sample processing.
Improve productivity at a cost you can justify
The VersaCell X3 Solution is cost-justified with its flexibility and variety of connectivity options. It provides the capacity to increase testing capabilities and expand menu options for in-house testing, supporting opportunities of growth and cost savings. The solution can streamline a non-automated environment without the complexity, cost, and real-estate requirements of track-based automation.
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Related Products, Services & Resources
* Product availability varies by country.
The products/features (mentioned herein) are not commercially available in all countries. Due to regulatory reasons their future availability cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens organization for further details.


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Department of Interior Design
The design of interior spaces directly affects human activity at the most immediate level - the spaces where we learn, work, play, worship and heal. Interior designers enhance quality of life for their clients and improve the quality of our environment, by the spaces they design, and the products they select.
The Interior Design Program stresses the development of problem solving and critical thinking skills. The curriculum includes the study of art and design history, innovation in new materials and building technologies, and human behavior.
Students apply their growing knowledge and skills under the direction of experienced faculty in classrooms, labs, and studios. Other opportunities include collaborative work with students from other disciplines in the classroom and on community-service and extra-curricular projects. Juniors have the opportunity to spend a summer semester in Europe.
Recognized for its excellence, the Interior Design Program was ranked in the "Top Ten Undergraduate Programs in the US" by Design Intelligence, a publication of the Design Futures Council. The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).


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Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows 8 is almost here. The new Metro interface is both refreshing and smart, but for users familiar with seeing a traditional desktop view as the face of Windows, the colorful tiles might be confusing at first glance. Microsoft is planning to introduce Windows 8 to new users and old ones with four new commercials that focus on apps, personalization and work. It's not going to be an easy task to convince people that Windows is completely different, but given how prolific mobile devices and touchscreen interfaces are today, Microsoft really had no choice but to do something bold and radical. Microsoft's four upcoming spots follow below.
[Via Neowin]


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Mini kid-free vacations are the perfect way for me to rejuvenate, relax, and reconnect with my hubby. As a busy mother of 4, these little getaways are quite limited and cherished beyond belief! Typically, when my husband and I get that rare hall pass from the kids, we escape to a local hotel or revisit somewhere from our past. For some reason, I fail miserably to think out of the box, and always go for the same old thing…can I say Vegas?
As a last shindig before the end of summer, my hubby and I decided that a quick getaway was needed for our sanity. We found a last minute "weekend babysitter" for our favorite monsters and we were all over going anywhere away from the craziness of our daily routine. It was last minute and we weren't set on anything specific. While browsing the internet (of course looking for a deal on a Vegas getaway), I came across a last minute deal on a couple of flights to Denver. The flights were a steal and we were even able to take advantage of some hotel points that we don't typically use for family travel. It all fell into place and I pulled the trigger. While everything seemed to work perfectly, I was honestly still a little unsure about Denver for "vacation".
We arrived in Denver with a rental car waiting and 2 nights booked at the Cherry Creek Marriott. We had no plans or expectations, how completely out of character for me! We kicked off our weekend with a champagne toast and set off on foot to explore.
The night life was fabulous, food was amazing, and the crowds were overflowing with hip, yet laid back people. We spent the weekend walking all over and loved the bike rental stations (felt very Paris like…haha) to really let us explore every corner of Denver. We covered miles of the Mile High City and were able to totally unwind. One of my favorite weekend getaways of all time…sorry Vegas!
Where to go next? Maybe St.Louis or Boise? I don't want to plan too much, it ruins the excitement.
(Thanks to Pinterest for the great photo of the summertime dining and biking scene in Denver)


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New song identifies ongoing need
'One Common Hope' sparked after 2012 flood
Helping people after the flood of 2012 has sparked a new song, "One Common Hope." And, one year later, that song brings awareness to people that there is still a need for help.
After the devastating flood, people flocked to the affected areas to help friends and the people in the communities. Two of those people were Rory Butkiewicz and Mary Rose Varo.
"I, like so many other people, was stranded for a few days," said Mary Rose in a telephone interview. "I was feeling bad for everyone.
"After a few days I was able to get out and went to help. I worked in homes in Moose Lake and Barnum. People were coming from all over.
"It all was very meaningful, and very sad for the people who were affected."
Mary Rose found a message on her answering machine when she returned home from her friend, Rory. He suggested that she write a song about people helping people.
Mary Rose has written several songs: "Unsung Hero" commemorated the lives of the fallen heroes, "This Old Farm" commemorated the Butkiewicz Century Farm, "Light Up the World" was written for the luminary ceremony for Relay for Life, "Walk with Me Tenderly" was written for cancer survivors, and "Walk On" was written for the caregivers of cancer survivors.
Rory has recorded the songs at his This Old Farm Studio.
The message on the answering machine planted a seed in Mary Rose's mind.
"I was still immersed in the experience of helping people after the flood," she related. "I said that I'd pray about it. I went out to mow the lawn.
"Within minutes, I saw the word 'common,' and it became one common faith, one common hope, one common love, one common trust. The words had started to come.
"I mowed a third of the lawn, and then I had to go in and write down the words. Within a week of the flood, I had one verse and a chorus written."
Mary Rose is well known for accompanying herself on the guitar as she sings her songs at public appearances but this song took her in a new direction.
"I wrote this for the piano, I couldn't do it on the guitar," she said.
Mary Rose started to write the second verse, and then Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast.
"Our tragedy felt small compared to that," she said. "But I liked the commonness of everyone sharing."
Meanwhile, the words kept coming, and Mary Rose was able to write a third verse.
Another dimension was added that she wasn't prepared for.
"When I finished it, I said that it sounds like it needs a choir," she remembered. "But I'm not a choir director. I contacted the churches and said that a choir was being formed. And the people came.
"Every Sunday night, we practiced (at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Moose Lake). Some couldn't come one night but others came. There were always 14 people. I was moved every week. They were sharing their gift. They came in and put it out there. They were all singing together, 'One Common Hope.'"
As "One Common Hope" developed throughout the year, it came time to record the song. Mary Rose and Rory enlisted the help of Bill Taylor.
"He could understand just what I wanted," said Mary Rose. "I would explain what I wanted in a certain part, and he could bring up that sound."
Mary Rose applied to the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council for a grant to cover Bill's services and other expenses.
The grant was approved, and many hours were spent to record the song.
Mary Rose's niece, Maggie Unzen, sang the bridge that Mary Rose wrote in the song. Rory's video recording of the crew from the Challenge Incarceration Program, who marched in the Fourth of July parade and sang a cadence that they had written, is included.
Through their experience in helping people right after the flood and since, a long-term need has become obvious. The song brings awareness to the need still out there for flood victims, one year later.
"The ultimate goal was to raise money for flood relief," said Mary Rose. "We are going to use this song to make an appeal."
"One Common Hope" can be downloaded from Mary Rose's website, maryrosevaro.com, for $1. People can give by increasing the amount for the song. All donations will be handled through the United Way for Flood Homes with Hope.
Bob Hunt contributed his talents to set up the website.
Donations are still a way for people to come together to help others in the community and area.
"The need hasn't stopped," said Mary Rose. "It will never be too late to help."
Mary Rose also used her many contacts to gather photos for the video about the flood to accompany the song on the video. She contacted friends on Facebook, the AFSME Council, the Duluth News Tribune, and the Aitkin Independent Age, and was sent photos from throughout the region, as well as the local area.
"Everyone is listed in the credits on the video," said Mary Rose. "I'm so grateful for all of those photos."
As she looks back on the past year, Mary Rose sees the journey that the flood brought about.
"It's been quite an evolution," she said. "I'm excited to give my gifts to help raise awareness."
The eight-minute video has been shown at the Lake Theater and at the Moose Lake Area Music Festival Street Dance, Rebuilding Hope. Watch for future showings. The video can be seen on YouTube, "One Common Hope."
For a CD of "One Common Hope," contact Mary Rose Varo at (218) 644-0920, or visit maryrosevaro.com to download the song and donate or FloodHomeswithHope.org to donate.


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HARRISBURG - Call it the anti-honeymoon.
The interaction between midterm Gov. Tom Corbett and newly inaugurated Attorney General Kathleen Kane has been tense since before she took office a month ago. Just this week, it sent sparks flying in a dispute over the legality of a Pennsylvania Lottery contract.
Corbett, the seasoned pol and former attorney general, is countering a stubbornly low job-approval rating with an ambitious agenda that would chop down the backlog of highway and bridge work, overhaul the state pension system and hand over to the private sector the sale of alcoholic beverages and the management of the Pennsylvania Lottery.
Kane, the former county prosecutor and political novice who resoundingly won her first election campaign, is walking a tightrope between fulfilling her professional responsibilities as the state's chief legal officer and living up to expectations that come with being the first woman and the first Democrat to be elected to the post.
Corbett, 63, a Republican who faces potential re-election challenges in both the primary and general elections next year, is eager to convince voters he is an effective leader worthy of a second term. Kane, 17 years his junior, is equally determined to prove that she is an independent prosecutor who will fairly apply state laws.
The tension between them pre-dates Kane's arrival in Harrisburg.
Kane threw down the gauntlet during last year's campaign by repeatedly questioning - at the height of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual-abuse scandal - why it took state prosecutors almost three years to arrest the former Penn State assistant football coach. She vowed to launch an investigation to answer that question, if elected.
Corbett, who was the attorney general during most of that period, said it took time to build the case that convicted Sandusky on 45 counts and sent him to prison for at least 30 years. The governor said he did nothing wrong and rebutted critics' suggestion that he dragged out the investigation to ensure it didn't become public during his 2010 campaign.
Corbett bristled when reporters broached the subject.
'Anybody can come in and sit down and Monday morning quarterback decisions, OK? But for a true investigation, there has to be some criminal act. I know I didn't commit any criminal act. None, zero,' he said several days after the election.
Corbett went on to question Kane's motives in investigating a successful prosecution: 'I think the people ought to look at that and say, 'Hmmm, is that investigation political in nature?'
Last month, with no more fanfare than a news release, Kane named a former federal prosecutor as a special deputy to direct the investigation. She promised 'a comprehensive and independent examination of the facts,' but set no timeline for completing it.
This week, Kane provoked a sharp reaction when she announced that her office had determined that Corbett's plan to contract out the management of the $3.5 billion state lottery to a British company violated the state constitution and state law.
Corbett has said the contract with London-based Camelot Global Services would produce larger and more stable lottery profits that the state will need to satisfy growing demand for senior citizens' services that the lottery finances.
Kane said the decision was a product of careful consideration by staff lawyers who had worked for previous attorneys general, including Corbett.
'Promising money to people in need based on a contract that is not legal and then blaming those entrusted to do their job correctly is both disingenuous and a perfect example of putting the cart before the horse,' she said.
In a radio interview with KDKA in Pittsburgh on Friday, Corbett declined to call Kane's decision politically motivated, but didn't reject the idea that it was a political move either.
'I think the people of Pennsylvania are going to have to decide whether they think it's political or not,' he said. 'I have my personal opinions. ... I think she's wrong. I'm disappointed by the decision.'
___ Peter Jackson is the Capitol correspondent for The Associated Press in Harrisburg. He can be reached at pjackson(at)ap.org


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Fusion MX offers free delivery on all products over £200. Simply add all products to your basket to receive this discount.
Pre-Printed backgrounds are available for selected makes and models. Backgrounds come complete with front number plate and both side panels.
Backgrounds can be customized with the letter/number styles, colours and federation logos seen on the style sheet.
Fusion MX offer a UK based 100% Safe Online shopping experience backed with secure servers. Simply make your selections with the product drop down boxes (if applicable) and click Add to Cart button. Then follow our secure checkout process or click continue shopping to add more products to your shopping cart. Once processed you will receive an order number and a confirmation email will be sent to you. When your product is dispatched you will receive another email to let you know your goods are on the way.


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When Toni Barca was 10 years old, she heard her mother talking about a female model whose partner abandoned her after she'd had a double mastectomy to prevent the spread of breast cancer. The injustice of that woman's predicament and the emotional scarring it must have caused never left Barca, and today, the subject matter still weighs heavy on the South Pasadena artist's heart.
"The message is, if you're not perfect, men won't love you," she says. "We as women have to deal with the shame of losing a breast. I just felt compelled that this was a discussion we weren't having."
The dynamic power of love, lust and partnership in the face of great loss is at the heart of Barca's "The Breast Cancer Series — An Erotic Love Story" on display at South Pasadena's Tah Gallery through March 18. The series of small, linocut drawings portray partners pushing through the painful transformation of breast cancer and mastectomy to rediscover the passion and love waiting on the other side of acceptance.
"An Erotic Love Story" is not the artist's first foray into themes of love, lust and sexuality. In 2006, 10 samples of her work were accepted into the collection of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction at Indiana University, founded in 1947 by pioneer sexuality researcher Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey one year before the publication of his "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male."
Tah Gallery curator Sandy Taylor said she was happy to provide a forum for Barca's important work, despite society's reluctance to embrace sexualized nudity in public art. "Her works reveal the delicate interaction between male and female, and others, in relationship to self-esteem, the need to still be loved and the fragility of the human soul and its ability to overcome adversity," Taylor adds.
The four linocuts in "An Erotic Love Story" are part of Barca's bigger exploration into themes of eroticism, survival and femininity. She remembers learning about a tribe of Amazonian females who voluntarily had their left breasts removed to become better archers; when one such woman emerged during a sketching session, Barca knew she had to go deeper into the subject.
"It was a light bulb moment," she recalls. "It was an Amazon woman kneeling with a scar. I went 'Oh my God, breast cancer.' I immediately knew that's what I had to draw."
The panels are small, meant to draw the viewer in for an intimate conversation. Each depicts a woman in recovery from mastectomy; the surgical scar prominently displayed alongside a healthy breast seems to indicate the woman's strength in having survived. "I Have the Power," shows a solitary nude female figure in a victory stance before a rising sun that, Barca explains, "represents the dawning of a new self." The piece "I Still Love You" reveals a tender moment between a couple — a sexually aroused nude male figure reaches out his hand a tearful and scarred lover, even as she tentatively shrouds her still-healing wound from his sight.
"Because of her transformation, he is really turned on by her spirituality, her soul as a warrior," Barca says of the piece. "Sexuality is really what happens between two people and their souls and minds. It's beyond the body."
The artist will be available during a March 17 closing reception for "A Breast Cancer Series" from 5 to 8 p.m. at Tah Gallery, 1015 Mission St., South Pasadena. For more information on the exhibit or gallery, visit tahgallery.com or call (626) 441-6846. To learn more about Barca and her art, check out tonibarca.com.


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Latest media releases
UBS and PaineWebber complete merger.
UBS and PaineWebber completed their merger on 3rd November creating a preeminent global investment services firm. The total cost of the transaction to UBS was USD 11.8 billion.
UBS and PaineWebber completed their merger on 3rd November 2000. "I am pleased with the speedy and successful completion of the merger. The smoothness with which it has been accomplished means we can now concentrate on rapid value creation for our employees, clients and shareholders", commented Marcel Ospel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the UBS Group, "With PaineWebber becoming an integral part of the UBS Group, we are exceptionally well placed in wealth management in the United States as well as the rest of the world. The combination of PaineWebber's client franchise and UBS's product range unlocks immense opportunities for growth. Our two organizations are an excellent strategic fit."
The combination of UBS Warburg and PaineWebber creates a world-class investment services firm employing 39,000 people, 28,000 of them in the United States. PaineWebber brings 2.7 million new clients to UBS's customer franchise and approximately CHF 865 billion in client assets.
PaineWebber will be an integral part of the UBS Warburg business group. PaineWebber's private clients and asset management businesses will continue under their current management and will absorb all UBS Warburg's existing private client activities, including about 1500 employees. The PaineWebber brand will be retained for all US private client business. The capital markets activities of PaineWebber are being integrated fully and rapidly with those of UBS Warburg, including the transfer of approximately 1600 employees after rationalization, and a full review of options to consolidate premises. UBS expects all these businesses to be fully integrated before the end of this year.
Financing the PaineWebber transaction
In completing the transaction, UBS acquired a total of 163.8 million PaineWebber shares for a total consideration of USD 11.8 billion (CHF 20.8 billion), based on the closing UBS share price on the SWX Swiss Exchange on 3rd November 2000 of CHF 252.5 per share, and a CHF/USD exchange rate of 1.762.
In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the consideration was satisfied by the delivery of 40.6 million UBS shares and a cash payment of USD 6.0 billion (CHF 10.6 billion). Final results of the proration of cash and share elections will be published on 7th November 2000 via the website: www.ubs.com/investor-relations.
As previously announced, UBS has chosen to make an initial issuance from authorized capital of 12 million ordinary shares, as well as re-issuing 7 million ordinary shares currently held in Treasury. The remaining shares delivered at the completion of the merger have been borrowed.
Following the exercise of options by PaineWebber employees, 12.7 million PaineWebber options remain outstanding and will be converted into 6.3 million new UBS options, with an implied economic value of USD 0.5 billion (CHF 1.0 billion). As a result of the exercise of options, PaineWebber has received cash proceeds of USD 0.5 billion (CHF 1.0 billion).
Based on the value of the consideration paid to PaineWebber shareholders and the implied economic value of the converted options, less the receipt of option exercise proceeds, the total economic cost of the transaction to UBS is estimated to amount to USD 11.8 billion (CHF 20.8 billion).
Treasury share repurchase program
Following the end of restrictions in force during the PaineWebber merger process, UBS is now free to resume normal capital management activities, and it intends to start today a Treasury share repurchase program that will run until June 30th 2001 at the latest. Any shares that are repurchased will be used for Treasury purposes, and will not be cancelled.
The strong market positioning of UBS's business groups drives strong cashflow generation which can lead to levels of capital in excess of that required for building its core businesses. As with its previous repurchase programs, UBS will mitigate this capital build-up by selectively investing in its own shares. UBS is and intends to remain one of the best-capitalized financial institutions in the world.
UBS will restrict its total daily repurchases to 25% of the average world-wide daily traded volume over the preceding 30 business days.
Zurich / Basel, 6 November 2000
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements:
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements", including, without limitation, statements relating to the implementation of strategic initiatives, including the implementation of the integration of PaineWebber into UBS, and other statements relating to our future business development and economic performance. While these forward looking statements represent our judgments and future expectations concerning the development of our business, a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors could cause actual developments and results to differ materially from our expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to, (1) general market, macro-economic, governmental and regulatory trends, (2) movements in local and international securities markets, currency exchange rates and interest rates, (3) competitive pressures, (4) technological developments, (5) changes in the financial position or credit worthiness of our customers, obligors and counterparties, and (6) our ability to carry out the integration of PaineWebber into UBS within the scheduled timeframe and to achieve the anticipated resulting benefits of the merger.
Other key factors that we have indicated could adversely affect our businesses and financial performance are contained in our past and future filings and reports, including those filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Additional information concerning factors that could cause such a difference can be found in UBS's Second Quarter 2000 Report and other filings made by UBS or Paine Webber with the SEC. Neither UBS nor PaineWebber are under any obligation to (and each expressly disclaims any such obligations to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


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March 2010
Pine trees dying from an outbreak of mountain pine beetle infestation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. To view these forests on Google Maps, enter the degrees of 43.775189 latitude and -110.170233 longitude. Photo: U.S. Forest Service.
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
The mountain pine beetle is killing pine trees in many areas of North America. The beetle's effects are particularly devastating in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). Yellowstone National Park looms large in the history of conservation—not only in the history of the United States but of the entire world. As the world's first national park, its example has inspired the creation of other parks and natural reserves worldwide; and within the United States, it has played an important role in the creation of the National Forest System.
The history of the area goes back to the late 1800s:
- The first National Forest (the Shoshone) was established in 1891, which abuts the eastern boundary of the Park.
- Subsequently, national forests and protected areas were established in surrounding areas.
- This collection of national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges has become collectively known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.1
The GYE is an informal designation, and the exact boundaries vary with each agency.
- Currently accepted boundaries include approximately 8,093,712 ha (20,000,000 ac)—an area roughly the size of South Carolina.
- A significant part of this (approximately 1/3) is formally protected as either national parks or designated Wilderness areas.
- Much of the remaining land maintains its wild character.
"A wilderness area can have two dimensions: a place that is mostly biologically intact; and a place that is legally protected so that it remains wild, free of industrial infrastructure, and open to traditional indigenous use, or low impact recreation."2 Even though the exact boundary is ambiguous, it is recognized generally that the GYE is one of the last enduring, large, and nearly intact ecosystems of the Earth's northern temperate region.
Across the vast GYE, an important component of the ecosystem may be facing catastrophic collapse. The high-elevation whitebark pine (Pinus albicalus) forests are experiencing unprecedented outbreaks of a native insect, the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), a type of bark beetle. This devastation was largely unexpected. Under historic climate regimes, these areas were too cold for the beetle to thrive. Although past tree mortality did occasionally occur during periods of unusually warm weather (e.g., the 1930s and 1970s), these outbreaks were short lived and limited in scale. Unfortunately, with the level of anthropogenic (human-caused) climate warming that has already occurred, the harsh conditions needed to protect these forests have become increasingly rare. Therefore, significant tree death caused by mountain pine beetles is taking place year after year, and if these outbreaks continue unabated, the ecological collapse of this important ecosystem appears likely.3
Whitebark pine ecosystems in GYE
Whitebark pine is the main pine tree found at high elevations throughout the GYE. Typically, forested landscapes above about 8,500 feet (2,600 meters) are either "climax," which is where the plant community is dominated by mature whitebark pine trees, or mixed spruce/sub-alpine fir forests with whitebark pine as an important component.4 John Muir was amazed to find a six-inch whitebark pine in the high sierras that was over 450 years old. The oldest documented whitebark pine is well over 1,000 years old.5
Whitebark pine is a slow growing and long-lived tree that has adapted to the harsh environments of the high mountains.6 These forests provide a beautiful open-canopy environment with diverse understory plants and abundant wildlife. Growth forms range from an upright form with a distinctive "bushy" canopy, often with multiple stems growing in clumps of several trees, to a stunted brush-like Krummholz7 form found above timberlines. These ancient forests form the rooftop of the continent and they have evolved to have a special relationship with wildlife.
The Clark's Nutcracker has a special relationship with pine trees. Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
The entire whitebark pine ecosystem depends on a reciprocal relationship between the pine tree and a bird in the crow family, the Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana).8 Unlike the cones of many pines, whitebark cones remain tightly closed until they are torn apart—typically by an animal seeking the large, highly nutritious seeds. Clark's Nutcrackers harvest and bury thousands of whitebark pine seeds in caches from which they retrieve seeds to feed on throughout the year. The reproduction of whitebark pine is almost wholly dependent on surplus or neglected seeds buried in nutcracker caches. Whitebark pine reforestation occurs when these neglected seeds subsequently germinate. In effect, the bird harvests and plants seeds for future generations of whitebark pine.9,10
Clark's Nutcrackers are not the only wildlife that utilize whitebark pine seeds. During late summer and fall, red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) harvest and store large numbers of pinecones in middens (small piles) located on the ground beneath the trees. Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), in turn, raid these middens for the high quality food provided by the nutritionally rich (high-fat content) seeds. This abundant food resource is available at little risk to the bears as red squirrels pose no threat to the great bears.11
Whitebark pine nuts are especially important for impregnated female bears during the time prior to hibernation, the period of hyperphagia, during which the intake of highly caloric foods is essential for the adequate accumulation of fats required to sustain the bear throughout the winter.12 Female reproductive success is related directly to their nutritional condition entering hibernation. A loss of this important food resource results in not only higher direct overwinter mortality, but it also reduces the reproductive potential of the bear population drastically.
Perhaps even more importantly, when there is a shortage of pine nuts in the remote whitebark pine habitat, ravenous bears are more likely to focus on alternative foods, like garbage or hunter "gut piles," which brings them into conflict with humans more often. While human/bear conflicts may be dangerous for people in the short term, the conflicts are usually disastrous for the bear in the long term. Nowhere are whitebark pine seeds more important to grizzlies than in the GYE, where alternative food such as berries or spawning salmon is scarce. Here, as nowhere else, whitebark pines not only feed the bears but also keep them out of trouble to some extent.13
Elk grazing in the Rocky Mountains. Photo: Oksana Hlodan.
In addition to the bird-squirrel-bear story, whitebark pine forests are critical to other wildlife. At some time during the year, the fauna that benefit from the forests include:
- elk (Cervus canadensis)
- mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
- big horn sheep (Ovis canadensis), and
- pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana)
For example, elk typically calve in high country forests during spring or early summer. In these environments, whitebark pine often provides their only cover for thermal regulation and protection from predators.
Beyond the whitebark pine's importance to wildlife, the ecosystem's protective canopy also provides other important ecological amenities such as the regulation of alpine hydrology. The source of water for most western rivers is accumulated winter and spring snowfall. Whitebark pine forests are responsible for both the distribution of winter snowfall, by providing wind breaks that shelters snow from the incessant wind, and prolonging snowmelt in the spring because of the shade provided by the whitebark pine canopy. Without this protective shading, peak stream-flow would occur earlier and be shorter.
Furthermore, altered hydrology not only affects water resources for humans, it has important implications for coldwater fisheries. Early and spiked spring flow translates into a greater likelihood of dangerously reduced flow and lethal high temperatures later in the summer. During the summer of 2007, the record fishing restrictions on the Yellowstone River resulted from just such a flow scenario and such restrictions will become increasingly likely as high elevation forests are lost to bark beetles.
In short, whitebark pine provides the foundation for some of the most magnificent intact landscapes remaining on the North American continent. In the words of Ron Lanner, "Working in concert, the Clark's Nutcracker and the whitebark pine build ecosystems."14 These forests immeasurably increase the diversity and richness of the GYE, and their loss would result in irreparable consequences for future generations.
The mountain pine beetle
The mountain pine beetle is a native insect that most likely moved north along with its host pines as the trees colonized the Rocky Mountains. The mountain pine beetle is unique; it belongs to the relatively small group of "aggressive" bark beetles that must kill their host to reproduce successfully. To do so, the bark beetles make a hole in the tree bark, all the way to the phloem layer (the tissue that carries nutrients to the various parts of the tree)—the part they like to eat. They also lay their eggs in this location. Special chemicals are released by the first beetle invaders, and these attract more and more beetles. The trees try to block the entry of beetles by increasing their own production of resin; however, the beetles are resilient and introduce blue-stain fungi that helps to overcome tree defenses and also provides an important food for developing larvae. Eventually, the phloem layer is too injured to deliver food and water to the tree, so the trees die from the inside out. Mountain pine beetles may also seek to inhabit already damaged trees.15
Figure 1
Left: A diagram of the life cycle of a mountain pine beetle (by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development). Right: A cross section of a pine tree (by Inside Education).
Episodic outbreaks are common in the principle host, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and they can be truly spectacular events. Even though large-scale outbreaks are common in lodgepole pine, they do not typically pose a threat to continuity of the ecosystem as a whole.16
Effects of global warming
The role of climate as a regulating mechanism for the distribution of mountain pine beetles in northern and high-elevation areas was recognized by scientists early on.17,18 Their early findings indicated that seasonal weather of the high mountains imposed two key constraints that served to protect whitebark pine from mountain pine beetles:
- First, historical winter temperatures in whitebark pine habitats were frequently cold enough to kill all mountain pine beetle life stages everywhere but in the most protected sites, i.e., in the tree bole (trunk) beneath the insolating snow cover.
- Second, summer temperatures typically did not provide enough hotter temperatures to complete an entire life cycle in one year. Mountain pine beetles are univoltine, that is, they have one brood a year.
This combination of cold temperature, winter mortality, and cool summer temperatures served to keep mountain pine beetle populations in check. The simultaneous occurrence of conditions necessary to change this historical pattern occurred only infrequently in high-elevation whitebark pine forests.3 With the advent of a warming climate, however, winter temperatures have become mild enough to allow substantial overwinter survival of all bark beetle life stages; and there is sufficient summer thermal energy to complete an entire life cycle in one year.
With the onset of anthropocentric global warming in recent decades, the ecological relationship between mountain pine beetle and whitebark pine has undergone a fundamental shift. The potential for climate change to intensify mountain pine beetle activity in whitebark pine was first recognized in theoretical modeling studies.19,20 These studies suggested that increased mountain pine beetle activity in whitebark pine would be a good "canary in the coal mine" indicator for the ecological impacts of climate change. Unfortunately, subsequent events have played out much along the lines of these early model predictions, with two important differences: the anticipated impacts occurred earlier than predicted; and the spatial extent and intensity of mortality was much greater than anyone could have projected. Although the models accurately predicted the qualitative impacts of a warming climate, the failure to predict the speed and intensity of mortality has resulted from the vulnerability of whitebark pine to mountain pine beetle attack. Apparently, the vulnerability of this species of pine to attacking beetles is much greater than that of the lodgepole pine.
Figure 2
Annual minimum temperature and modeled mountain pine beetle survival for the Togwotee Pass, WY. Data was taken at a site close to the massive mortality occurring in the Teton Wilderness, GYE. Temperatures were interpolated and survival was predicted using the model described by Régnière and Bentz.23 Source: Logan and MacFarlane.
The combination of chronic warm weather and vulnerability to attacking beetles has produced a worst-case scenario. We have consistently observed large numbers of successfully attacked trees in late spring/early summer.21 Apparently, re-emerging beetle parent adults from the previous summer, perhaps augmented by an early phase emergence of newly emerging adults, are responsible for this mortality.22 Winters are becoming mild enough that even adult beetles, a freeze-intolerant stage, are surviving.23 These surviving beetles, at even relatively low densities, have been able to attack new whitebark pine trees successfully. We have observed that strip attacks, in which only a portion of the tree's phloem tissue is killed, are more commonly observed than in lodgepole pines.
Broods produced by re-emerged adults may experience enough thermal energy to complete the life cycle within the same year of attack.24 Even if this early brood does not reach the adult stage, all life stages—even those previously susceptible to winter mortality—are surviving. The result is a bipeak emergence of early, re-emerged beetles, and a later traditionally timed emergence. The combination of a warming climate and vulnerability to attacking beetles has resulted in a shift from non-overlapping, semivoltine (life cycle requiring two years to complete) generations to overlapping, univoltine generations that also have a greater potential to reproduce.
The future of whitebark pine ecosystems
Since whitebark pine is a foundation and a keystone species (a species that plays a critical role), its loss would seriously impact the ecological integrity of the entire GYE, with repercussions reverberating from the highest mountains to the river valleys below. Undoubtedly, a major disturbance has already taken place and shows no indication of abatement. Ecological disturbances including "catastrophic" disturbances such as the large 1988 fires, however, are an integral component of this ecosystem.25 The relevant question becomes, how likely is the loss of whitebark pine forests and the collapse of the ecological services they provide?
A disturbance of this magnitude in whitebark pine is unprecedented in the ecological history of the GYE, and several aspects of whitebark pine ecology indicate they may not readily adapt to such large-scale disturbances.16
The first indicator is the nature of the relationship between whitebark and the Clark's Nutcracker. The tree is more dependent on the bird than the bird is on the tree; consequently, there is a threshold of cone/seed density where the opportunistic nutcracker will seek alternative food sources.26 If cone-bearing overstory trees (larger, taller trees) are removed by mountain pine beetles in large areas, then recovery from even small disturbances will be problematic.6
The second indicator is that due to the high nutritional value of whitebark pine seeds, seeds that are not protected in Clark's Nutcracker caches are utilized by other wildlife—such as squirrels or bears. As a result, the copious seed bank typical of forests resilient to large-scale disturbance (i.e., lodgepole pine) is not present in whitebark pine forests.
Finally, the patchy spatial structure of whitebark pine forests, which has served them well for protection from disturbances such as fire, is no deterrent to the mountain pine beetle. Since rock does not burn, it is an impediment to fire; however, these bare areas pose no barrier to dispersing beetles. In effect, the mountain pine beetle is the fire that does not go out with winter snows; their attacks continue year after year, as long there are sufficient host trees and seasonal weather remains favorable.27
The bright side
Although it may be difficult to see any positive elements in the current situation, we must not forget the inherent strength and hardiness in whitebark pine, which is:
Windswept dwarf whitebark pine on Electric Peak. Photo: RG Johnsson, Yellowstone National Park Service.
Robust: Whitebark pine is a tough species that has evolved to withstand some of the harshest environmental conditions on the continent. Some of these evolved attributes confer a resiliency that may help bridge even a prolonged climate crises.
Slow growing: Whitebark is extremely slow growing; it takes a minimum of 50 years to reach cone-bearing age (a more typical figure in the GYE would be 75-100 years). Slow growth/slow maturation goes hand in hand. Of course, the growth rate heavily depends on site-specific conditions, but it is safe to say that current whitebark pine seedlings will be immune from mountain pine beetle attacks for decades at least.
Krummholz: Whitebark pine in the typical high elevation climax forest is the upright, dominant tree over much of the GYE; however, it also exists as a Krummholz growth form above the timberlines. Krummholz-growth trees are usually bushy, dwarf conifers. Importantly, the dwarf Whitebark pine forest is immune from beetle attack.28 As the climate warms, Krummholz forms are also capable of shifting to upright growth, and therefore, may provide a genetic sanctuary for a limited time.
These attributes may well hold the key to the future of whitebark pine within the iconic Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
© 2010, American Institute of Biological Sciences. Educators have permission to reprint articles for classroom use; other users, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com for reprint permission. See reprint policy.


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AF Tharb sets new track record in Sharjah
With Saturday afternoon`s second meeting of the season from Sharjah sponsored by Porsche through Al Nabooda Automobiles, it was perhaps fitting that the Tony Manuel-trained AF Tharb sped to a new track record in the opening 1200m Purebred Arabian maiden.
Ridden by James Doyle, partnering his first ever winner in a Purebred Arabian contest, Manuel`s charge always looked to have things under control.
Doyle said: "He was always travelling very strongly and I was happy from a long way out. He quickened when I asked him to put the race to bed in a few strides. I only rode a few Purebred Arabians when in the UK and it is nice to open my account on them."
He promptly doubled the tally, with the intervention of the stewards, when AS Bahe was awarded the following race, also a 1200m maiden for Purebred Arabians.
The Doug Watson-trained Almajd was first-past-the-post under Tadhg O`Shea but they veered sharply across Doyle`s mount about 200m out, leaving the stewards with little option but to reverse the placings.
AS Bahe is also trained by Tony Manuel, as is BH One who then landed the following 2000m handicap under Harry Bentley to complete a great start to proceedings for Manuel who was saddling a second career treble.
Manuel said: "I really fancied a few of ours today so was hopeful of at least one, perhaps two, but to win the first three is more than we could have hoped for. I did get a treble at Abu Dhabi a few years ago but this is the first from my new base in Al Ain."
The official feature was the concluding 1200m handicap for Thoroughbreds and Doug Watson, who trains the unfortunate Almajd, gained some compensation when Dubai Set landed the spoils under Pat Cosgrave.
Watson said: "Almajd was unfortunate; it was his first start and he has just looked around when he hit the front. Obviously it is nice to get a winner on the board and Dubai Set ran very well on his seasonal debut over 1400m at Meydan. He struggled a bit last time but has coped well with the dirt this afternoon and it is nice for owner Malih Al Basti who also bred him."
The first of two Thoroughbred races was a 1700m maiden in which the Mubarak bin Shafya-trained Busker initiated a Cosgrave double.
Jaci Wickham and Richard Mullen combined to win a 1700m maiden with Yakoota W`Rsan, before Royston Ffrench steered Saifaldin Deeb`s Gabas Noor to victory in a handicap over the same 1700m.


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Annual gunfire and drum rolls will be heard from Tryon Palace�s South Lawn during a live reenactment of the Stanly-Spaight Duel on Saturday.
Annual gunfire and drum rolls will be heard from Tryon Palace�s South Lawn during a live reenactment of the Stanly-Spaight Duel on Saturday.
This famous duel was Sept. 5, 1802, when prominent New Bern lawyer John Stanly Jr. met his political rival, Richard Dobbs Spaight. It turned into a lethal duel on the streets of New Bern. Spaight, who had served as North Carolina�s first native-born governor, was mortally wounded after four rounds, and Stanly was forced to flee the city. Stanly was eventually able to return to New Bern when his friend Judge William Gaston convinced the governor to grant North Carolina�s first gubernatorial pardon to Stanly.
�This is one of New Bern�s most famous stories, but you really have to see it to get the full experience of what that day must have been like,� said Matt Arthur, Living History Program coordinator for Tryon Palace. �Unlike large battle reenactments, this one is between two people, so it�s much more intimate and personal. Once you see those dueling pistols take aim and then hear the crack of each shot, you are immediately connected to the people and emotions behind this story.�
It begins at 4 p.m. and visitors can watch an afternoon of dueling and a performance by the Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps. In the event of rain, performances will be moved into the North Carolina History Center�s Cullman Performance Hall.
Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for students, and includes admission to the Tryon Palace gardens. A One Day Pass to Tryon Palace includes the duel at no additional cost, as well as admission to the Stanly House and the Regional History Museum, which includes an exhibit of dueling pistols from the early 1800s and a portrait of Gaston, the man who helped Stanly get his pardon.
For more information, call 252-639-3500 or on the web: tryonpalace.org.
Here is a sampling of the week�s other top events:
The New Bern-Craven County Public Library presents �Let�s Talk About It...Picturing America: Land of Opportunity� today at 7 p.m.
This opening session of the series begins with a discussion of the novel �Ragtime.� Published in 1975, it is an extraordinary tapestry that captures the spirit of America in the era between the turn of the century and the First World War.
The discussion will be led by visiting scholar Nan Miller, who is retired from Meredith College. The series is sponsored by the Friends of the New Bern Library and is made possible through funding from the N.C. Humanities Council. Advanced registration is required. Copies of the book are available at the Library Circulation Desk.
The New Bern chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America will meet on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at 1325 McCarthy Blvd. in the Common Room at McCarthy Court Apartments.
This is a support group for people with all degrees of hearing loss, meeting the fourth Tuesday of every month. The chapter�s purpose is to open the world of communication for people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support.
Tuesday�s guest speaker will be Tony Monaco, who will discuss tinnitus. Tinnitus is described as a ringing, whistling, roaring or buzzing sound in the ears. The meetings are open to all. For information, call 635-2189.
The Pamlico County Library hosts basketweaving for adults to learn patterns and techniques. It is Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Hollowell Auditorium at the Bayboro library.
On Friday at 10 a.m., it is Preschool Story Time, with puppets, crafts and interactive games.
Also on Friday, at 6:15 p.m., the Book to Film Series continues, with popcorn, refreshments and a movie to be announced.
New York choreographer, dancer and instructor Wendy Osserman will be featured at six workshops on Tuesday evenings, beginning this week through Oct. 8. The sessions are at 6:30 p.m. at Pamlico Community College. It includes children�s stories, monologues and speeches. It is designed to develop and strengthen skills for use in the classroom teaching, interviewing for jobs, performing and other public functions.
Call Leigh Russell at PCC at 249-1851, ext. 3033, or email firstname.lastname@example.com
The local chapter of �Mended Hearts,� a national organization of open-heart surgery survivors, has an open meeting Thursday at CarolinaEast Medical Center.
The 8 a.m. meeting is in Classroom No. 1. Healthy refreshments will be served.
The speaker is Dr. Alex Kirby from the Heart Center, who will talk about updates on the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation.
On Thursday, the New Bern-Craven County Public Library hosts a noon �Lunch �n Learn � Skills that Help You Flourish.� Join Heather Brewer, LCSW, to learn about positive psychology and the skills that can improve mood and overall well-being. Bring a brown bag lunch. Desserts and beverages will be served.
The Pamlico County Democratic Party meets Thursday at the Pamlico County Courthouse Annex.
The 6:30 p.m. meeting is open to the public.
Ratio Theatre Company opens its new season Friday with the first of six performances of �Red,� a story about art and the famous abstract expressionist Mark Rothko.
Shows are at Cullman Performance Hall in the N.C. History Center as part of the Tryon Palace Performing Arts Series.
Shows are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The following week, 8 p.m. performances are on Sept. 5 and 6, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sept. 7.
Tickets are $25, with students admitted for $10. Tickets are available at the Ratio box office, 901 Pollock St., or on the web: ratiotheatre. Also, call 626-0358.
It is a two-man play, with Joey Infinito as the artist and newcomer Alex Bryant as Rothko�s assistant.
The show is directed by Michael McGinn. Michelle Wood is the production and stage manager, with lighting and set design by Infinito.
A Community Fun Day is set for Saturday at Community Baptist Church on U.S. 70 in Newport.
It is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and admission is free. The offerings include a petting zoo and pony rides, watermelon seed spitting, inflatables, popcorn and cotton candy, back hoe competition and Coastal Kona Ice.
Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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