Senin, 31 Maret 2014

Fears for future of Hall Green Greyhound Stadium after sale

The Birmingham stadium has been sold to Euro Property Investments Ltd, part of Yardley-based Europackaging


Hall Green Greyhound Stadium


Birmingham greyhound track Hall Green Stadium, home to dog racing for nearly 90 years, has been sold for over £3 million - sparking fears it could be redeveloped for housing.


The site, which includes a 2,700 capacity greyhound racing stadium, snooker club, restaurant, bar and a 48-bedroom hotel, has been sold to Euro Property Investments Ltd, part of Yardley-based Europackaging.


But Racing Post chief greyhound correspondent Jonathan Kay said the sale raised immediate concerns for the future of the dogs at Hall Green, a popular venue for dog racing in Birmingham since 1927.


The Hall Green site is currently let to the Greyhound Racing Association after a 15-year term to 2028 was agreed - but the agreement is subject to a break clause after five years.


Jonathan Kay said: 'Every time a greyhound stadium is sold, one of the first things people look at is the property angle. It is a fact of life that hard-headed businessmen are more likely to look at property, especially now that we are back in a time of rising property prices.


'It is on a 15-year lease to the current management. However, there are break clauses - people will naturally speculate.'


The new owners, Euro Property Investments Ltd, is a subsidiary of Europackaging, which was itself the subject of a pre-pack administration in September 2009.


The pre-pack deal was hailed as saving 200 jobs in Birmingham and more than 800 worldwide, when it was bought back by former owners the Majid family.


But it later emerged that dozens of small suppliers and an eight-strong syndicate of banks had been left out of pocket to the tune of £76 million.


Leisure entrepreneur Luke Johnson had bought the dog tracks at Hall Green, Perry Barr, Manchester, Wimbledon, Oxford and Portsmouth in a £50.3 million deal in February 2005 from previous owners Wembley.


No-one from Europackaging was available for comment.


Mudslide death toll rises again


Photo By Ted S. Warren/AP


DARRINGTON, Wash. (AP) - Estimated financial losses from the deadly Washington mudslide that has killed at least 24 people have reached $10 million, Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday in a letter asking the federal government for a major disaster declaration.


In seeking additional federal help following one of the deadliest landslides in U.S. history, Inslee said about 30 families need assistance with housing, along with personal and household goods. The estimated losses include nearly $7 million in structures and more than $3 million in their contents, Inslee's letter said.


The Snohomish County medical examiner's office said Monday afternoon that it has received a total of 24 victims, and 18 of those have been publicly identified. Previously, the official death toll was 21, with 15 victims identified.


The remains of three additional victims were found Monday, but they have not yet been included in the medical examiner's official numbers, Snohomish County Executive Director Gary Haakenson told reporters at a Monday evening briefing.


The county sheriff's office released a list of 22 people believed missing following the March 22 slide that destroyed a rural mountainside community northeast of Seattle. That's down from the 30 people officials previously considered missing.


'There's been an exhaustive effort by the detectives to narrow the list down to one that they feel comfortable releasing,' Haakenson said.


'These are 22 people whose loved ones are grieving,' he said. 'We want to do all we can to find them and put some closure in place for their families.'


He said there could be some overlap between the list of missing and the handful of victims who have not been positively identified by the medical examiner.


Steve Harris, a division supervisor for the search effort, said Monday that search teams have been learning more about the force of the slide, helping them better locate victims in a debris field that is 70 feet deep in places.


'There's a tremendous amount of force and energy behind this,' Harris said of the slide.


Harris said search dogs are the primary tool for finding victims, and searchers are finding human remains four to six times per day. Sometimes crews only find partial remains, which makes the identification process harder.


Inslee's request Monday also seeks federal help with funeral expenses, and mental health care programs for survivors, volunteers, community members and first responders.


He also is asking for access to disaster housing, disaster grants, disaster-related unemployment insurance and crisis counseling programs for those in Snohomish County and for the Stillaguamish, Sauk-Suiattle and Tulalip Indian tribes.


Meanwhile, a dozen members of the Seattle Seahawks football team and Seattle Sounders FC soccer team visited Monday with more than 300 children, parents and area residents at the Darrington Community Center.


Players said they signed autographs, tossed footballs and kicked soccer balls in an effort to bring some smiles to an area hit by tragedy.


'To be able to offer a little bit of a release or a distraction from what's going on, I mean that's all you can do,' Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith said.


Sounders forward Kenny Cooper said he played pickup soccer with the kids.


One child, 10-year-old Jacob Spelman, wore an autographed bright green hat commemorating the Seahawks' Super Bowl victory as he spoke to reporters after the visit.


'I just feel like they care and that they would like it if we felt better and they came to help us,' he said.


___


Baumann reported from Seattle.


Local designer makes debut at New Orleans Fashion Week


For businesswoman turned designer Tiffany Langlinais, the latest events in her life have shown her that life can unfold in a most 'unexpected fashion.'


Her new Freret & Napoleon fashion line made its runway debut at New Orleans Fashion Week recently, at the Board of Trade in the Central Business District.


Langlinais, 23, was born and raised in Biloxi. She recently graduated from Millsaps College, where she studied business administration.


She is living in New Orleans and working as the state development manager for the American Diabetes Association in Mississippi and Louisiana.


Langlinais said that when she began to work in a corporate environment, she felt she was sacrificing her self-expression and creativity in wearing the expected business attire.


This led her to design her own clothing.


Last November, she taught herself to sew and began creating what became the Freret & Napoleon collection.


Langlinais describes herself as always being an artistic person who loved art and fashion.


'I felt like it was something I always had in me and wanted to express myself in all kinds of different ways,' she said.


Freret & Napoleon takes its name from the area of New Orleans which she calls home.


Once a rough part of town, it's now 'a very up-and-coming area. It's young and fresh and continually being developed,' she said.


Langinais said the line reflects the area's 'multiple checkered histories intertwined in a rugged past and a hopeful look toward a more refined future. It is contradictory in lines and texture, always on the cusp of polished, but never just so.'


Freret & Napoleon is inspired by New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.


Her pieces include furry fabric reminiscent of Spanish moss, a shimmer alluding to oyster shells and neon chartreuse colors, which are a tribute to the shades of New Orleans city life.


On a recent visit home, she collected oyster shells from the shipyard by Boomtown Casino, and the shells inspired jewelry in the collection.


She said her advice to women in terms of fashion is, 'If you have this feeling about a certain piece, you should go with your gut instinct and wear it no matter what, because the feeling that you get when you're wearing something you truly like will never match anything anyone else could possibly get you to wear. If you like it, you should wear it.'


Langlinais said she applied to Fashion Week on a whim, and when she found out she was accepted, she reread the email three times because she couldn't believe it.


'Each day since, I've pinched myself the second I wake up to make sure it wasn't a cruel dream,' she said. 'This was finally everything I hadn't realized I wanted so badly, rushing to meet me in the most unexpected fashion.'


Local designer makes debut at New Orleans Fashion Week


For businesswoman turned designer Tiffany Langlinais, the latest events in her life have shown her that life can unfold in a most 'unexpected fashion.'


Her new Freret & Napoleon fashion line made its runway debut at New Orleans Fashion Week recently, at the Board of Trade in the Central Business District.


Langlinais, 23, was born and raised in Biloxi. She recently graduated from Millsaps College, where she studied business administration.


She is living in New Orleans and working as the state development manager for the American Diabetes Association in Mississippi and Louisiana.


Langlinais said that when she began to work in a corporate environment, she felt she was sacrificing her self-expression and creativity in wearing the expected business attire.


This led her to design her own clothing.


Last November, she taught herself to sew and began creating what became the Freret & Napoleon collection.


Langlinais describes herself as always being an artistic person who loved art and fashion.


'I felt like it was something I always had in me and wanted to express myself in all kinds of different ways,' she said.


Freret & Napoleon takes its name from the area of New Orleans which she calls home.


Once a rough part of town, it's now 'a very up-and-coming area. It's young and fresh and continually being developed,' she said.


Langinais said the line reflects the area's 'multiple checkered histories intertwined in a rugged past and a hopeful look toward a more refined future. It is contradictory in lines and texture, always on the cusp of polished, but never just so.'


Freret & Napoleon is inspired by New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.


Her pieces include furry fabric reminiscent of Spanish moss, a shimmer alluding to oyster shells and neon chartreuse colors, which are a tribute to the shades of New Orleans city life.


On a recent visit home, she collected oyster shells from the shipyard by Boomtown Casino, and the shells inspired jewelry in the collection.


She said her advice to women in terms of fashion is, 'If you have this feeling about a certain piece, you should go with your gut instinct and wear it no matter what, because the feeling that you get when you're wearing something you truly like will never match anything anyone else could possibly get you to wear. If you like it, you should wear it.'


Langlinais said she applied to Fashion Week on a whim, and when she found out she was accepted, she reread the email three times because she couldn't believe it.


'Each day since, I've pinched myself the second I wake up to make sure it wasn't a cruel dream,' she said. 'This was finally everything I hadn't realized I wanted so badly, rushing to meet me in the most unexpected fashion.'


What Women Watch on TV


In last season's premiere of FX's American Horror Story, two teenagers are lying on the bed, nervously making out. 'I don't want to hurt you,' says the boy, moments before having a seizure, bleeding profusely from his eyes, nose and mouth, and then dying. If viewers were hoping for a respite from the race-hate charged torture sequence that immediately preceded the scene, they didn't get it. What kind of show is this? Call it television for women.


First, some data. On cable, AHS: Coven was the most popular series in the two most vital female demos-the 18-49 'dollar demo' (2.6 million live-plus-7 viewers, meaning many ad-valued moms liked it) and 12-34 (1.8 million, meaning that teens, who are far less likely to watch TV, liked it). The show skews female, with women comprising 59 percent of its viewership. After that, the most popular scripted series on cable were dramas about zombies (AMC's The Walking Dead, 1.9 million) and biker gangs (FX's Sons of Anarchy, 1.2 million) and, of course, murdered high schoolers (ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars, 1.3 million).


It turns out that the revolution in cable that gave rise to testosteriffic dramas like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad and Mad Men has been plenty good to women, too. The cast of AHS: Coven is mostly female, and Katey Sagal plays arguably the most interesting character on the show in Sons of Anarchy. The Walking Dead has Michonne, played by Danai Gurira, an award-winning playwright. Television is, after a long time, a place to find women who are accomplished on their own terms.


'Even sci-fi has changed,' says Katherine Wintsch of consultancy The Mom Complex. 'When you look at Game of Thrones or American Horror Story, it's a whole new [world] that's opened up for female characters.' And there are huge, female-dominated fandoms for series like BBC America's Doctor Who and PBS' Sherlock-both bastions of male nerdery.


Other genres have also changed to accommodate women. 'You have female characters in political shows: Julia Louis-Dreyfus in [HBO's] Veep, Olivia Pope [Kerry Washington] in [ABC's] Scandal,' says Wintsch.


On the broadcast front, Scandal and ABC's Grey's Anatomy dominate the landscape alongside football and the music competition juggernauts NBC's The Voice and Fox's American Idol, as well as CBS' ubiquitous The Big Bang Theory. Wintsch says she thinks the scripted series that hit with women manage to convey nuances men don't necessarily get. 'I feel like my husband watches [Pope] and his only comment every weekend is, 'She's such a slut,'' Wintsch says. 'And I watch it and I think 'She's so broken, she's so flawed, and that's why she's looking for love with these men.''


Purchasing power Part of the reason so much is available to women now as opposed to a decade ago is simply that as viewership has fragmented still further, men have become less important to advertisers who want to reach viewers with control over disposable income. (According to the Boston Consulting Group, women control or influence 73 percent of all household purchases.)


Another factor: The recovery from the recession is benefiting women more than men. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that as of four months ago, women had recovered all jobs lost and were beginning to make up for lost time while men were still 2.1 million jobs short. 'Women control the family finances and are weighing in increasingly heavily with their own finances,' says Kate Juergens, evp, original programming and development and chief creative officer of ABC Family. 'They make all the major purchasing decisions and control the TV dial a lot of the time, except for sports events. More college graduating classes [are made up mostly of] women. More law school applicants are women.'


With cable networks having proliferated since the '90s, the rise of the female network seemed inevitable-among them, Bravo, TLC, We and OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. But the evolution of the market suggests a different fait accompli: the obsolescence of the female network. After all, if all of TV is for women, why ghettoize them?


Women's TV execs are, naturally, quick to defend their turf. At a women's network, 'you're speaking more directly to them and to their passions,' says Sharon O'Sullivan, evp, ad sales at Discovery Communications, where she oversees networks including female-skewing ID, TLC and Animal Planet. 'The average length of tune on ID [which is heavily female] is 51 minutes.' (That's very high.)


But there can be problems, O'Sullivan admits-many of them stemming from knowing what women you're trying to reach and how they'll react to your programming. 'We had a series last year called Sin City Rules [on TLC],' O'Sullivan recalls. 'That was a group of women in Las Vegas on a trip who were put together in a somewhat contrived environment. It was not as authentic as our viewers expect.' The show was canceled after five low-rated episodes-an oddity on cable, where series usually get to finish at least one season.


O'Sullivan says it was a learning experience. 'What we realized from that show failing on our air was that that's not what we're here for,' she says. Accordingly, TLC is working to improve its brand-expect to see the signature red door open for the first time-and it's eschewing the ginned-up (sometimes literally) drama that characterizes other reality shows that might work in a different environment in favor of less obviously contrived shows. 'You can evolve your brand, but the consumer also has an expectation of it,' she adds.


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Pirates fans flock to PNC Park for opening day

By Josh Frketic Published: Monday, March 31, 2014, 6:31 pm



PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WKBN) - Monday was opening day for baseball season at PNC Park, which is the home field for the Pittsburgh Pirates.


'I have heard they are trying to make opening day a national holiday and I am 100 percent behind that,' said Travis Ishikawa, Pirates first baseman.


Tens of thousands of people must agree because they showed up in force at the stadium to watch the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 in the Pittsburgh season opener. The crowd of 39,833 set a PNC Park regular season record.


'It is great. It's an excuse to see everyone I have not seen in a while and make some new friends. Everyone is a friend. You walk into that stadium and you have 30,000 friends,' said fan Alex Yoder.


'We do this every year, so it's a tradition,' said fan Mary Nee.


Fans said there are a few key things to make a great pre-game tailgate celebration.


'Have a little beer, a little sangria. Have a piece of chicken,' Nee said.


'Always have to have fried chicken. And then the small sandwiches. As long as you have enough beer, you should be OK,' Yoder said.


And if the food and drinks are not enough, fan Laura Sheaffer offered another way to liven up a tailgate party.


'Cornhole is the best,' she said.


There are a few new additions to PNC Park this year, especially when it comes to food. It is not just the traditional baseball game fare like hot dogs, hamburgers and peanuts. There are a lot of gourmet food additions, many of which can be found at the Rivertowne Inn Suite that sits in left field.


Incidentally, PNC Park was ranked number one on TripAdvisor's list of Top 10 ball parks in America. It was followed by Oriole Park at Camden Yards, which is home of the Baltimore Orioles.


For a complete list of TripAdvisor's top 10 baseball fields, click here.


Fashion Week is Coming to Costa Rica

Costa Rica News - Last week, model Leonora Jimenez announced the second edition of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week San Jose. She said it 'will change the way of fashion forever in Costa Rica. In Costa Rica there is fashion and we want to prove it.' It will serve as a showcase for designers not known outside of Costa Rica and also bring in top designers from around the world.


The fashion world will come to Costa Rica, in addition to Milan, New York, and London. The event is high-profile internationally. It's to be held the first week of May 2014, from the 8th to the 10th.


Six national designers along with five international fashion brands will present their work on the catwalks of Fashion Week. Some of them include Ana Gutierrez and Daniel Moreira, Daniel Espinosa, and Rosa Clara. The grand finale will be especially breathtaking.


The event will take place at the Real Intercontinental Hotel. Ticket prices range from $50-$60. Only 400 tickets are available. Attendance options include preview activities, seminars, a live fashion show, a viewing party of a live transmission, and an after party. Tickets are on sale in Multiplaza in Escazu.


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Cristiano Ronaldo's Girlfriend To Be The Star Of Sao Paulo Fashion Week


Russian model Irina Shayk, the girlfriend of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, is the big star of Sao Paulo Fashion Week, which starts on Monday.


The 28-year-old Shayk will take the runway on Tuesday night in designs by Triton.


Sao Paulo Fashion Week, which runs until Friday and is Brazil's biggest fashion show, will feature 34 brands and designers this year.


Shayk will be joined by other world-famous models, such as Brazil's Gisele Bündchen and American Sean O'Pry.


Bündchen and O'Pry, one of the male models most in demand right now, will walk the runway on Wednesday night in designs by Brazilian fashion house Colcci.


The 37th Sao Paulo Fashion Week is being held at Candido Portinari Park, which has about 85 hectares (209 acres) of open space and was recently opened.


The venue for the fashion shows was designed by photographer Eder Chiodetto and was transformed 'into a great gallery,' organizers said in a statement.


Monday's session, the first of 2014 Sao Paulo Fashion Week, will showcase the designs of Animale, João Pimenta, Tufi Duek and Cavalera, while Yvan Rodic's book, 'Facehunter,' will be launched at a parallel event.


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4 Cute Ways To Wear Socks With Pumps This Spring

Glamour (blog)4 Cute Ways To Wear Socks With Pumps This SpringGlamour (blog)The jury is still out on wearing socks with sandals, but socks with pumps is definitely a spring trend that we can get behind. Sure, it takes a little bit of know-how, but this onetime fashion faux pas is trending everywhere, from the runway to the street.

Live +7 Ratings: ABC Delivers the Week's Top 5 Biggest Broadcast Drama ...


via press release:


Live + 7 Day Ratings for the week of 3/10/14 (Week #25) :

ABC claimed 6 of the week's 10 biggest broadcast gainers in TV playback among Adults 18-49 ( the most for any network), (+1.9 points) and (+1.9 rating points) tied at #2, (+1.7 rating points) - #4, Resurrection (+1.5 rating points) - #5, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (+1.4 rating points) - #6 and (+1.3 rating points) - #7.


The second episode of ABC's Resurrection saw substantially bigger percentage increases in TV Playback than the prior week's debut episode. From the Live + Same Day to the Live + 7 Day numbers, Resurrection's Total Viewer count grew by 38% in Total Viewers (vs. 29% for the premiere) from 11.2 million to 15.5 million and jumped 48% in Adults 18-49 (vs. 39% for the premiere) from a 3.1 rating to a 4.6 rating.


(+83%) (+63%) scored their biggest-ever percentage gains in TV playback among Adults 18-49. In addition, Once Upon A Time matched its largest playback increase this season, spiking +1.3 rating points this week over its L+SD Adult 18-49 number. In fact, growing to a 3.7 Adult 18-49 rating in the final L+7 numbers, Once Upon A Time delivered its highest young adult rating since October - since 10/6/13.


Season-to-Date TV Playback (9/23/13-3/16/14) :

In the final Live + 7 Day ratings, Resurrection shot up to the week's Top 3 highest-rated broadcast series in Adults 18-49 (4.6 rating), ranking #3 versus #6 in the initial Live + Same Day numbers and (4.2 rating) skyrocketed to the #7 position (from #14). (5.4 rating) climbed up to rank as the #2 broadcast program of the week (from #3) among Adults 18-49, moving ahead of both the Monday (4.6) and Tuesday (4.4) editions of NBC's for the 2nd week in a row.


Based on TV playback data for the 2013-14 season, ABC continues to claim the most Top 10 playback gainers of any broadcast network in Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers. ABC has 5 of the season's Top 10 in TV playback among young adults: Modern Family (+2.0 rating points) - #2, 's (+1.8 rating points) - #4, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (+1.6 rating points) and (+1.6 rating points) tied at #5 and Resurrection (+1.4 rating points) - #8. ABC also has 5 of the 10 biggest overall gainers: (+4.4 million) - #5, Modern Family (+4.4 million) - #6, Resurrection (+4.2 million) - #7, 's (+4.0 million) - #8 and (+3.9 million) - #9.


Nearly all of ABC's key returning series are seeing bigger percentage gains among Adults 18-49 from L+SD to L+7 this year than last: The Bachelor (+24% vs. +22%), (+60% vs. +50%), Dancing with the Stars (+20% vs. +18%), Grey's Anatomy (+64% vs. +50%), Last Man Standing (+46% vs. +33%), Modern Family (+56% vs. +49%), (+80% vs. +63%), Once Upon A Time (+55% vs. +45%), (+53% vs. +48%), Scandal (+53% vs. +38%) and (+30% vs. +21%).


Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is Tuesday's #1 scripted show this season with Adults 18-49 based on original telecasts, (4.2 rating vs. 4.1 rating). Based on first-run telecasts in the L+7 Adult 18-49 ratings, ABC claims the season's #1 scripted show on Tuesday (S.H.I.E.L.D. - 4.2 rating), the #1 show on Wednesday (Modern Family - 5.6), the #1 dramas on Thursday (Grey's and Scandal tied - 4.6) and the #2 show on Friday (with within 1-tenth of a rating point of NBC's - 2.7 vs. 2.6).Modern Family is the season's #2 scripted series among Adults 18-49 on the broadcast networks (5.6 rating).

Source: The Nielsen Company, as dated. Network averages based on all programming. Program rankers based on regular, original telecasts only.


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Fears for legendary Birmingham dog track after £3m sale

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In Your Area Buy, Sell & Tell

The site has been sold to Euro Property Investments Ltd, part of Yardley-based Europackaging



Legendary Birmingham greyhound track Hall Green Stadium, home to dog racing for nearly 90 years, has been sold for over £3 million - sparking fears it could be redeveloped for housing.


The site, which includes a 2,700 capacity greyhound racing stadium, snooker club, restaurant, bar and a 48-bedroom hotel, has been sold to Euro Property Investments Ltd, part of Yardley-based Europackaging.


But Racing Post chief greyhound correspondent Jonathan Kay said the sale raised immediate concerns for the future of the dogs at Hall Green, a popular venue for dog racing in Birmingham since 1927.


The Hall Green site is currently let to the Greyhound Racing Association after a 15-year term to 2028 was agreed - but the agreement is subject to a break clause after five years.


Jonathan Kay said: 'Every time a greyhound stadium is sold, one of the first things people look at is the property angle. It is a fact of life that hard-headed businessmen are more likely to look at property, especially now that we are back in a time of rising property prices.


'It is on a 15-year lease to the current management. However, there are break clauses - people will naturally speculate.'


The new owners, Euro Property Investments Ltd, is a subsidiary of Yardley firm Europackaging, which was itself the subject of a pre-pack administration in September 2009. The pre-pack deal was hailed as saving 200 jobs in Birmingham and more than 800 worldwide, when it was bought back by former owners the Majid family.


But it later emerged that dozens of small suppliers and an eight-strong syndicate of banks had been left out of pocket to the tune of £76 million.


Leisure entrepreneur Luke Johnson had bought the dog tracks at Hall Green, Perry Barr, Manchester, Wimbledon, Oxford and Portsmouth in a £50.3 million deal in February 2005 from previous owners Wembley.


Nobody from Europackaging was available for comment.


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Pursued by police the driver weaved through the streets of Birmingham reaching a top speed of 92mph when it crashed and overturned on the pavement outside a parade of shops in Bordesley Green


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Spring fashion 2014 must

After a long, cold winter filled with wooly knits, parkas and layers galore, spring has finally sprung, bringing with it the promise of sunny skies, carefree days and - of course - breezy, colorful fashions to keep New Yorkers looking stylish all season long.


Photographer: Jeremy Bales


Fashion/styling: Julie Gordon


Hair: Judy Chamberlain for Mizu New York Salon (505 Park Ave., 212-688-6498, mizuforhair.com)


Makeup: Cindy Recile (imagecreativenyc.com)


Models: Drew Winburn, Lauren Schumann for Images NYC


Flower arrangements courtesy of Kate Gilman and Petal by Pedal, a new Manhattan-based floral delivery service that couriers local blooms throughout NYC - by bicycle (petalbypedal.com)


Cycle in style


On Drew: Theory denim shirt, $195; at Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Ave., 212-705-2000. life/after/denim tie, $48; at lifeafterdenim.com. Gant Rugger jacket, $275; at Gant, 353 Bleecker St., 212-620-5949. Armani Exchange chinos, $88; at Armani Exchange stores. Call It Spring slip-ons, $55; at Call It Spring, 100 W. 33rd St., 212-967-4645


On Lauren: Tibi eyelet crop top, $345, and skirt, $398; at Tibi, 120 Wooster St., 212-226-5852. Elk Accessories necklace, $50; at elkaccessories.com. Call It Spring pumps, $60; at Call It Spring


Mosi 'Carolina' bicycle (with basket), $1,599; at mosibicycles.com


(Credit: Jeremy Bales)

On Drew: Theory denim shirt, $195; at Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Ave., 212-705-2000. life/after/denim tie, $48; at lifeafterdenim.com. Gant Rugger jacket, $275; at Gant, 353 Bleecker St., 212-620-5949. Armani Exchange chinos, $88; at Armani Exchange stores. Call It Spring slip-ons, $55; at Call It Spring, 100 W. 33rd St., 212-967-4645


On Lauren: Tibi eyelet crop top, $345, and skirt, $398; at Tibi, 120 Wooster St., 212-226-5852. Elk Accessories necklace, $50; at elkaccessories.com. Call It Spring pumps, $60; at Call It Spring


Mosi 'Carolina' bicycle (with basket), $1,599; at mosibicycles.com


(Credit: Jeremy Bales) A walk in the park

On Drew: Sandro sweater, $430, Jack Spade corduroys, $195, and Charles Philip Shanghai loafers, $199; at Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Ave., 212-705-2000.


On Lauren: DL1961 denim shirt, $148; at dl1961.com. alice + olivia skirt, $440; at Bloomingdale's. G By Guess sandals, $59; at Macy's, 151 W. 34th St., 212-695-4400


(Credit: Jeremy Bales)

On Drew: Sandro sweater, $430, Jack Spade corduroys, $195, and Charles Philip Shanghai loafers, $199; at Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Ave., 212-705-2000.


On Lauren: DL1961 denim shirt, $148; at dl1961.com. alice + olivia skirt, $440; at Bloomingdale's. G By Guess sandals, $59; at Macy's, 151 W. 34th St., 212-695-4400


(Credit: Jeremy Bales) Easy and breezy

On Drew: Gant by Michael Bastian sweater, $185; at Gant, 353 Bleecker St., 212-620-5949. J Brand jeans, $165; at Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Ave., 212-705-2000. Call It Spring loafers, $50; at Call It Spring, 100 W. 33rd St., 212-967-4645


On Lauren: alice + olivia dress, $495; at Bloomingdale's. Suzi Roher belt, $305; at suziroher.com


(Credit: Jeremy Bales)

On Drew: Gant by Michael Bastian sweater, $185; at Gant, 353 Bleecker St., 212-620-5949. J Brand jeans, $165; at Bloomingdale's, 1000 Third Ave., 212-705-2000. Call It Spring loafers, $50; at Call It Spring, 100 W. 33rd St., 212-967-4645


On Lauren: alice + olivia dress, $495; at Bloomingdale's. Suzi Roher belt, $305; at suziroher.com


(Credit: Jeremy Bales) Cool and colorful Samantha Pleet crop top, $119, and shorts, $150; at The Rising States, 168 Ludlow St., 646-649-2410. Belle by Sigerson Morrison sandals, $265; at Sigerson Morrison, 28 Prince St., 212-219-3893 (Credit: Jeremy Bales)

Samantha Pleet crop top, $119, and shorts, $150; at The Rising States, 168 Ludlow St., 646-649-2410. Belle by Sigerson Morrison sandals, $265; at Sigerson Morrison, 28 Prince St., 212-219-3893 (Credit: Jeremy Bales)


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'GMA' Bids Farewell to Josh Elliott


Josh Elliott was nowhere to be seen on Monday's Good Morning America, but new news anchor Amy Robach was there for her first of many mornings as the show's new full time co-host.


Elliott was off on a pre-arranged vacation day, but co-host George Stephanopoulos acknowledged the news, reported by The Hollywood Reporter Sunday night, that Elliott was leaving for NBC Sports and Robach would be taking over for him as the show's news anchor.


PHOTOS: 'GMA' and Other Talk Shows Get in Halloween Spirit

Stephanopoulos congratulated Robach on her promotion at the top of Monday morning's show and briefly touched on Elliott's departure.


'He is going to back to his roots, reporting on the NFL and the Olympics on NBC Sports,' Stephanopoulos said. 'He let us know last night, and, Josh, it has been a great run with you here on GMA. We're very happy you're going to be pursuing your passion.'


Elliott's news leaves Stephanopoulos as the only male co-host on GMA, something co-anchor Lara Spencer seemed to acknowledge as she told him, 'The estrogen is flowing.'


STORY: Josh Elliott of 'Good Morning America' to Depart ABC News for NBC Sports

Later when Stephanopoulos threw to Robach for the first news update, he said he hoped this would be the first of many tosses to her.


'Thank goodness I've ridden this bicycle before,' Robach, who's often made appearances as a correspondent on the show, said.


Robach also did Elliott's signature 'Play of the Day' segment.


EXCLUSIVE: Lara Spencer Finalizes New Deal to Stay at 'Good Morning America'

At the top of the 8 o'clock hour, the GMA anchors noted the change again, with Stephanopoulos saying Elliott is 'doing his passion.'


Spencer called him her 'TV brother,' saying, 'he's in his zone. We love you. We wish you nothing but the best.'


She also teased that they would look back at some of the show's memorable moments with Elliott later, which presumably means later this week, since those weren't featured in the remainder of Monday's show.


Robin Roberts was also missing from GMA's Times Square studio on Monday, but that's because she's in L.A. preparing for her guest-judging gig on Dancing With the Stars, something GMA showed behind-the-scenes footage of throughout Monday's show.


While NBC Sports is expected to officially announce Elliott's new role later this week, Elliott's new NBC colleague Al Roker welcomed him to the family with the following tweet Monday morning.


Welcome, Josh Elliot to NBC Sports after your conscious uncoupling from GMA/ABC.


- Al Roker (@alroker) March 31, 2014


3rd UPDATE — Death toll in Oso mudslide rises to 21; overworked search dogs ...

3rd UPDATE - Death toll in Oso mudslide rises to 21; overworked search dogs take break from recovery work



By JONATHAN J. COOPER and LISA BAUMANN dogsdeservebetternrvdavidsbestmate.blogspot.com


SEATTLE - The 5-month-old baby rescued from the Oso landslide is listed in serious condition and improving at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.


The hospital said Sunday that Duke Suddarth remains in the intensive care unit.


His mother, 25-year-old Amanda Skorjanc, is in satisfactory condition at the hospital.


Three men rescued from the March 22 slide also are at the hospital.


A 37-year-old is in serious condition in intensive care. An 81-year-old in serious condition in intensive care. And a 58-year-old is in satisfactory condition.


The family of the mother and baby released a statement through the hospital:


'We are so grateful to all the responders who jeopardized their safety in order to pull Duke and Amanda out of the debris. Words alone cannot tell you how thankful we are.


'Our hearts and support continue to go out to everyone who has been affected by this tragedy.'


EDITOR'S NOTE - A list with photos of known victims of the mile-wide mudslide near Oso - persons confirmed missing or dead by authorities or families - can be accessed at http://ift.tt/1gRwAi6 story: 'Snohomish County mudslide - how to donate to victims, how to report someone missing': http://ift.tt/1pvBylU - Many of the dogs essential in the search for victims of the deadly mudslide that buried dozens of home in the mountainside community of Oso will take a two-day break, rescue crews said Sunday, as the official death toll rose to 21 and more bodies were recovered.The dogs can lose their sensing ability if overworked in the cold and rain.'The conditions on the slide field are difficult, so this is just a time to take care of the dogs,' said Kris Rietmann, a spokeswoman for the team working on the eastern portion of the slide, which hit March 22 about 55 miles northeast of Seattle and is one of the deadliest in U.S. history.Dogs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that arrived more recently will continue working.On Sunday evening, the number of people who have been confirmed dead increased from 18 to 21, said Jason Biermann, program manager at the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.Fifteen of the victims have been identified by the Snohomish County medical examiner, and six have yet to be identified, Biermann said.Another four bodies were found in the debris field on Sunday, but they won't be added to the official count until the medical examiner receives the bodies. Biermann said 30 people remain missing.Authorities have said the task of finding and identifying victims from the debris field has been extremely challenging, and not all may ultimately be recovered.Crews have completed a makeshift road that will link one side of the debris field to the other, significantly aiding the recovery operation.They have also been working to clear mud and debris from the highway, leaving piles of gooey muck, splintered wood and housing insulation on the sides of the road.Searchers have had to contend with treacherous conditions, including septic tanks, gasoline and propane containers. When rescuers and dogs leave the site, they are hosed off by hazardous materials crews.The slide dammed up the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, causing water to pool up on the east side. The river cut a new channel through the mud, but the rain has raised the water level nearly a foot, Rietmann said.In at least one place, the water level got so high that it covered areas that have already been searched, said Tim Pierce, leader of Washington Task Force 1, a search-and-rescue team.'At this point, there's no point in searching (that area) again until the water drops back down,' he said.Rescuers should get some relief soon. Conditions were improving Sunday, and mainly dry weather is forecast Monday through Wednesday in western Washington.The size of the debris field is also smaller than initially thought, officials said Sunday. After review and analysis, geologists have determined it is about 300 acres - just under half the size of an earlier projection of 1 square mile.Away from the whirring chain saws and roaring bulldozers, many residents of nearby Darrington sought comfort in church services.'I can only compare it to a hot, hearty meal after a very cold day,' said Slava Botamanenko, who works at the hospital in Arlington. He said he spent two nights there to be sure he was available for work after the mudslide blocked the road.All week, a steady stream of people has stopped in to pray at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God on the edge of town, said Lee Hagen, the senior pastor.'At a time like this, everybody knows they've got to have God's help,' he said.Country singer Susie McEntire, sister of Reba, performed for the congregation Sunday, crooning: 'You'll get through this and you'll break new ground.'At the St. John Mary Vianney Catholic church a few blocks away, Father Tim Sauer said: 'Bless our communities, bless our people, bless our valley.'The Rev. Owen Couch, a chaplain for the fire district in Darrington, said he's worried about the first responders.'My concern is when this slows down and they're not going full tilt, and they have time to kind of reflect on what they've seen and what they've done,' he said. 'That's when the critical incident stress starts to kick in.'Steve Huot, lead chaplain for the Arlington Fire Department, said he is seeing people in various states. Some are in shock, while others have begun to grasp the reality of the disaster. Many are exhausted.'It's more about listening right now. You need to encourage them and maybe change their focus to staying busy for the group, for the team,' he said.'The conditions on the slide field are difficult, so this is just a time to take care of the dogs,' said Kris Rietmann, a spokeswoman for the team working on the eastern portion of the slide, which hit March 22 about 55 miles northeast of Seattle and is one of the deadliest in U.S. history.Dogs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that arrived more recently will continue working, said Heidi Amrine, another spokeswoman for the operation.Late Saturday, authorities revised the number of people believed to be missing from 90 to 30, while the official death toll increased by one, to 18, said Jason Biermann, program manager at the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.Officials have said they had expected the number of missing to change as they worked to find people safe and cross-referenced a list that likely included partial information and duplicate reports.Authorities have said they recovered more than two dozen bodies, but they won't be added to the official tally until a formal identification is made. Underscoring the difficulty of that task, Biermann said crews are not always discovering complete remains.Crews have completed a makeshift road that will link one side of the debris field to the other, significantly aiding the recovery operation.They have also been working to clear mud and debris from the highway, leaving piles of gooey muck, splintered wood and housing insulation on the sides of the road.Searchers have had to contend with treacherous conditions, including septic tanks, gasoline and propane containers. When rescuers and dogs leave the site, they are hosed off by hazardous materials crews.The slide dammed up the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, causing water to pool up on the east side. The river cut a new channel through the mud, but the rain has raised the water level nearly a foot, Rietmann said.In at least one place, the water level got so high that it covered areas that have already been searched, said Tim Pierce, leader of Washington Task Force 1, a search-and-rescue team.'At this point, there's no point in searching (that area) again until the water drops back down,' he said.Rescuers should get some relief soon. Conditions were improving Sunday, and mainly dry weather is forecast Monday through Wednesday in western Washington.The size of the debris field is also smaller than initially thought, officials said Sunday. After review and analysis, geologists have determined it is about 300 acres - just under half the size of an earlier projection of one square mile.Away from the whirring chain saws and roaring bulldozers, many residents of nearby Darrington sought comfort in church services before another week of recovery efforts.'I can only compare it to a hot, hearty meal after a very cold day,' said Slava Botamanenko, who works at the hospital in Arlington. He said he spent two nights there to be sure he was available for work after the mudslide blocked a road.All week, a steady stream of people has stopped in to pray at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God on the edge of town, said Lee Hagen, the senior pastor.'At a time like this, everybody knows they've got to have God's help,' he said.Steve Huot, lead chaplain for the Arlington Fire Department, said he is seeing people in various states. Some are in shock, while others have begun to grasp the reality of the disaster. Many are exhausted.'It's more about listening right now. You need to encourage them and maybe change their focus to staying busy for the group, for the team,' he said. 'You might need to drive them into something productive and make sure that they feel a sense of accomplishment and contribution.'


Last modified: March 30. 2014 8:03PM


Minggu, 30 Maret 2014

Mudslide death toll rises; search dogs take break


Photo By Ted S. Warren/AP


DARRINGTON, Wash. (AP) - Many of the dogs essential in the search for victims of the deadly mudslide that buried a mountainside community will take a two-day break, rescue crews said Sunday, as the official death toll rose and more bodies were recovered.


The dogs can lose their sensing ability if overworked in the cold and rain.


'The conditions on the slide field are difficult, so this is just a time to take care of the dogs,' said Kris Rietmann, a spokeswoman for the team working on the eastern portion of the slide, which hit March 22 about 55 miles northeast of Seattle and is one of the deadliest in U.S. history.


Dogs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that arrived more recently will continue working.


On Sunday evening, the number of people who have been confirmed dead increased from 18 to 21, said Jason Biermann, program manager at the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.


Fifteen of the victims have been identified by the Snohomish County medical examiner, and six have yet to be identified, Biermann said.


Another four bodies were found in the debris field on Sunday, but they won't be added to the official count until the medical examiner receives the bodies. Biermann said 30 people remain missing.


Authorities have said the task of finding and identifying victims from the debris field has been extremely challenging, and not all may ultimately be recovered.


Crews have completed a makeshift road that will link one side of the debris field to the other, significantly aiding the recovery operation.


They have also been working to clear mud and debris from the highway, leaving piles of gooey muck, splintered wood and housing insulation on the sides of the road.


Searchers have had to contend with treacherous conditions, including septic tanks, gasoline and propane containers. When rescuers and dogs leave the site, they are hosed off by hazardous materials crews.


The slide dammed up the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, causing water to pool up on the east side. The river cut a new channel through the mud, but the rain has raised the water level nearly a foot, Rietmann said.


In at least one place, the water level got so high that it covered areas that have already been searched, said Tim Pierce, leader of Washington Task Force 1, a search-and-rescue team.


'At this point, there's no point in searching (that area) again until the water drops back down,' he said.


Rescuers should get some relief soon. Conditions were improving Sunday, and mainly dry weather is forecast Monday through Wednesday in western Washington.


The size of the debris field is also smaller than initially thought, officials said Sunday. After review and analysis, geologists have determined it is about 300 acres - just under half the size of an earlier projection of 1 square mile.


Away from the whirring chain saws and roaring bulldozers, many residents of nearby Darrington sought comfort in church services.


'I can only compare it to a hot, hearty meal after a very cold day,' said Slava Botamanenko, who works at the hospital in Arlington. He said he spent two nights there to be sure he was available for work after the mudslide blocked the road.


All week, a steady stream of people has stopped in to pray at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God on the edge of town, said Lee Hagen, the senior pastor.


'At a time like this, everybody knows they've got to have God's help,' he said.


Country singer Susie McEntire, sister of Reba, performed for the congregation Sunday, crooning: 'You'll get through this and you'll break new ground.'


At the St. John Mary Vianney Catholic church a few blocks away, Father Tim Sauer said: 'Bless our communities, bless our people, bless our valley.'


The Rev. Owen Couch, a chaplain for the fire district in Darrington, said he's worried about the first responders.


'My concern is when this slows down and they're not going full tilt, and they have time to kind of reflect on what they've seen and what they've done,' he said. 'That's when the critical incident stress starts to kick in.'


Steve Huot, lead chaplain for the Arlington Fire Department, said he is seeing people in various states. Some are in shock, while others have begun to grasp the reality of the disaster. Many are exhausted.


'It's more about listening right now. You need to encourage them and maybe change their focus to staying busy for the group, for the team,' he said.


___


Baumann reported from Seattle.


Craigslist Caper Leads Police to Stolen Puppies


Two German shepherd puppies were snatched from their home earlier this week on Wednesday in the San Francisco bay area and put up for sale on Craigslist. When the puppies' owner discovered her pets were missing, she contacted area police, and they set up a sting operation to get her puppies back. The Craigslist caper eventually led police directly to the stolen pups.


After the woman, who has remained unnamed, discovered her puppies had disappeared from her Livermore home, she went on Craigslist and found a pair of German shepherd puppies posted for sale that she suspected might actually be hers. In an undisclosed area within San Leandro, she set up a meeting time and place with the seller listed on the post, police said. To her dismay, when she confronted the seller, he ran away from her.


In a second attempt to recover the puppies, police officers were able to scheme the Craigslist caper to a second location feigning interest in buying the stolen goods. This time, the puppy bandit was arrested on the spot. One of the pups was with him, and after the arrest, police officers spoke with him until he eventually took the police to the location of the second little pooch.


For those who suspect that an item of theirs has been stolen and fear it is up for sale on Craigslist, Google has designed a custom search site dedicated to locating stolen property within Craigslist, www.stolen911.com. Simply, type the missing property in the search bar provided, and the site will search Craigslist's database for similar items. The site accesses all Craigslist locations, not just the local area.


Since Craigslist is relatively an open, unregulated buyer and sellers market, many stolen items are posted for sale frequently, and often by the thief. The Burglary Task Force of Portland, Ore., has been set up to conduct sting operations for Craigslist related theft. Since launching the unit, the task force says it succeeds every 8 out of 10 times. The unit strongly urges victims of Craigslist theft to not try to buy their belongings back, instead they say get law enforcement involved immediately. Some items will not appear for a few days after the heist, but the task force suggests checking the website frequently and recording the date and time the suspected item appears for sale.


One of the officers on the scene, Police Lt. Mike Sobek, said the San Leandro police department takes all of its cases very seriously, but 'this crime struck a nerve with one of our officers and he went that extra step to help recover those puppies and return them to a grateful owner.'


Richard Coleman, a 30-year-old San Leandro man, was arrested on the scene. His bail was set for $30,000, and he was due to appear in court Friday pending a review of the case by Alameda County prosecutors.


After the recovery, the pets were returned to their owner unharmed and unfazed. Despite the dodgy games employed by the Craigslist caper, the fact the he led police to the stolen puppies resulted in a once again happy home.


By Stacy Feder


2nd UPDATE — Overworked search dogs take break from recovery work at Oso ...

2nd UPDATE - Overworked search dogs take break from recovery work at Oso mudslide



By JONATHAN J. COOPER and LISA BAUMANN dogsdeservebetternrvdavidsbestmate.blogspot.com


SEATTLE - A 58-year-old man who was injured in the Oso landslide is back in the intensive care unit Friday following surgery to repair his pelvis at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.


He had been in satisfactory condition Thursday but the hospital says it's common for that to change to serious following very long surgery. His condition is stable.


Four others injured in the landslide remain in the hospital.


A 5-month-old boy injured in the mudslide has been updated from critical to serious condition and is breathing on his own, Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg said.


The baby's mother is in satisfactory condition, Gregg said.


Three other people are hospitalized with injuries sustained in the slide.


A 5-month old boy remains in critical condition in intensive care. His 25-year-old mother is in satisfactory condition.


An 81-year-old man is in serious condition in intensive care. And a 37-year-old man is in satisfactory condition.


EDITOR'S NOTE - A list with photos of known victims of the mile-wide mudslide near Oso - persons confirmed missing or dead by authorities or families - can be accessed at http://ift.tt/1gRwAi6 story: 'Snohomish County mudslide - how to donate to victims, how to report someone missing': http://ift.tt/1pvBylU - Families coping with the loss of friends and neighbors sought comfort Sunday in church services, while crews searched for more victims of the mudslide that buried dozens of homes in the mountainside community of Oso more than a week ago.Many of the dogs that have been essential in the search will take a two-day break, rescue crews said. Days of working in the cold and rain have taken their toll on the animals, and officials say the dogs can lose their sensing ability if overworked.'The conditions on the slide field are difficult, so this is just a time to take care of the dogs,' said Kris Rietmann, a spokeswoman for the team working on the eastern portion of the slide, which hit March 22 about 55 miles northeast of Seattle and is one of the deadliest in U.S. history.Dogs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that arrived more recently will continue working, said Heidi Amrine, another spokeswoman for the operation.Late Saturday, authorities revised the number of people believed to be missing from 90 to 30, while the official death toll increased by one, to 18, said Jason Biermann, program manager at the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.Officials have said they had expected the number of missing to change as they worked to find people safe and cross-referenced a list that likely included partial information and duplicate reports.Authorities have said they recovered more than two dozen bodies, but they won't be added to the official tally until a formal identification is made. Underscoring the difficulty of that task, Biermann said crews are not always discovering complete remains.Crews have completed a makeshift road that will link one side of the debris field to the other, significantly aiding the recovery operation.They have also been working to clear mud and debris from the highway, leaving piles of gooey muck, splintered wood and housing insulation on the sides of the road.Searchers have had to contend with treacherous conditions, including septic tanks, gasoline and propane containers. When rescuers and dogs leave the site, they are hosed off by hazardous materials crews.The slide dammed up the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, causing water to pool up on the east side. The river cut a new channel through the mud, but the rain has raised the water level nearly a foot, Rietmann said.In at least one place, the water level got so high that it covered areas that have already been searched, said Tim Pierce, leader of Washington Task Force 1, a search-and-rescue team.'At this point, there's no point in searching (that area) again until the water drops back down,' he said.Rescuers should get some relief soon. Conditions were improving Sunday, and mainly dry weather is forecast Monday through Wednesday in western Washington.The size of the debris field is also smaller than initially thought, officials said Sunday. After review and analysis, geologists have determined it is about 300 acres - just under half the size of an earlier projection of one square mile.Away from the whirring chain saws and roaring bulldozers, many residents of nearby Darrington sought comfort in church services before another week of recovery efforts.'I can only compare it to a hot, hearty meal after a very cold day,' said Slava Botamanenko, who works at the hospital in Arlington. He said he spent two nights there to be sure he was available for work after the mudslide blocked a road.All week, a steady stream of people has stopped in to pray at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God on the edge of town, said Lee Hagen, the senior pastor.'At a time like this, everybody knows they've got to have God's help,' he said.Steve Huot, lead chaplain for the Arlington Fire Department, said he is seeing people in various states. Some are in shock, while others have begun to grasp the reality of the disaster. Many are exhausted.'It's more about listening right now. You need to encourage them and maybe change their focus to staying busy for the group, for the team,' he said. 'You might need to drive them into something productive and make sure that they feel a sense of accomplishment and contribution.'


Last modified: March 30. 2014 4:32PM


Woman Finds Strength After Losing Mother, Baby in Landslide

(SEATTLE) - A woman who lost her home, mother, and 4-month-old baby girl in the Washington state landslide says she is feeling 'strong,' despite her devastating ordeal.


Natasha Huestis lost just about everything she owned in the world when a wall of mud and rock engulfed the rural area where she lived about 55 miles northeast of Seattle on March 22, killing at least 17 people. But it's not her home or possessions, but her family that Huestis is missing above all else.


Huestis said she wishes she 'could bargain with someone, and make a deal,' to get back her daughter, Sanoah, and mother, Christina Jefferds.


'You could never imagine this happening to anyone,' Huestis told ABC News affiliate KOMO-TV in Seattle. 'My little baby Snowy. I wish I would have had more time with her because you just look at her and she smiles at you. ... She's precious. She meant the world.'


At the moment the landslide swept through the area, Christina Jefferds was babysitting her granddaughter in their Arlington home, while Huestis and her stepfather, Seth Jefferds were both at work.


On Sunday, volunteers found Christina's body as they dug into the 5 million cubic yards of mud and debris with poles, family friend, Jan Schuette, told ABC News.


Four days later, rescue teams recovered Sanoah's body 10 feet away from where her grandmother had been found.


'It was an extraordinarily emotional day,' Schuette said. 'It is a real miracle that they found that little tiny baby. It was heartbreaking for them but they never gave up hope.'


All that remains now of the family home is 'six boxes of their whole life,' which are currently spread out in Schuette's garage, she said. Muddy photos, wedding items, and stuffed toys are among the only mementos Huestis and Seth Jefferds have left of their family.


Some of the other items found near the home did not belong to the family, but to neighbors. They had been swept from other homes 'as far as five houses up,' Schuette said.


Schuette said Huestis has been 'so gracious and so grateful' throughout the ordeal, with the help of a tight knit community that has 'really pulled through' in this time of crisis.


'Natasha is the most incredible person, I cannot believe how torn she has been and how she has dealt with this unspeakable tragedy,' Schuette said. 'Seth and Natasha are both strong people and they'll get each other through.'


'It's too easy for someone to sink into a hole and not want to get out of it,' Huestis said. 'My mom would never want me to live my life that way. Never.


'It's not over and there's so many good things to come,' she said. 'There are.'


Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio


Danny Cipriani shines in rain as Sale hold on for narrow win over Bath


Quite how Sale won this game will remain a sore point in the West Country for a long time. Bath had all sorts of reasons to curse this agonising defeat, not least their inability to finish off a team who spent virtually the entire last half-hour of the contest trapped in their own 22, for 10 minutes with 14 men, and had to survive one of the most prolonged scrummaging sieges of recent times.


Bath were understandably aggrieved that nine scrums and half a dozen penalties failed to yield them a penalty try under the posts instead of a 75th-minute score wider out for the hooker Ross Batty which left George Ford with an awkward angled conversion. Ford could not find the target and missed two desperate late drop goals as well, allowing the Sharks to secure a fourth successive away league win and move within four points of third-placed Bath with four regular-season games to play.


Mike Ford, Bath's head coach, admitted afterwards to being 'frustrated beyond belief' with the interpretations of the referee, Dean Richards, who sin-binned the replacement prop Henry Thomas but declined to punish the creaking Sale front row any further.


'I don't know how he didn't go under the sticks,' said Ford Sr. 'There were seven consecutive penalties and the referee's just got to change [players'] behaviours. They tell me they can't go under the sticks unless the scrum goes backwards. But how can the scrum go backwards if they keep collapsing it?'


It was probably inevitable that a game billed as a showdown between two England international fly-halves should end up embroiled in front-row controversy. On a cool night the contest between Ford and Danny Cipriani was always going to be interesting, particularly with the England attacking skills coach, Mike Catt, in attendance and a summer tour to New Zealand looming large. Steve Diamond, Sale's director of rugby, reckons Cipriani should be picked and the latter's four match-winning penalties here from four attempts, having shaken off a midweek bug, did nothing to weaken his cause.


Cipriani is now 26 and the last of his seven England caps seems a long time ago. Finally, however, he has recognised that innate talent alone is not always enough and his commitment to the Sale cause was indisputable. Stuart Lancaster may still need some more convincing but, with Gloucester's Freddie Burns having lost form, the chances of him featuring either as a midweek tourist or in an England jersey against the Barbarians at the end of the season are much less remote then they were six months ago.


At this rate it could also be the Sharks who make the play-offs, rather than a Bath side who have spent the entire season in the top three and have now lost their Springbok flanker Francois Louw with an ankle injury that may rule him out of most, if not all, of his side's remaining fixtures


. Despite the late withdrawals of skipper Dan Braid (dead leg) and Mark Cueto (calf) Sale were good value for their 9-6 half-time lead and their defensive resolution in the second half late on was remarkable. 'As we've proved time and time again, we fought like dogs to get the result,' said Diamond, Sale's director of rugby, who has also been around long enough to appreciate a touch of good fortune when it materialises, a reward for his side's tortuous 10-hour trip down the M6. Bath's replacements made a discernible difference and t


The sustained 14-minute period of pressure close to the Sale line could also have produced a try for Leroy Houston, who believed he had touched down only for the television match official to disagree. Amid mounting tension Thomas, who is joining Bath this summer, was finally binned before Batty, belatedly, crashed over on the left. Ford's conversion, however, flew wide as did his brace of drop-goal efforts and a couple of earlier penalties. On such moments can entire seasons turn.


Bath Abendanon; Watson, Devoto (Henson, 66), Eastmond, Rokoduguni; Ford, Stringer (Young, 49); James (Catt, 59), Batty, Wilson (Perenise, 59), Hooper (Day, 62), Attwood, Garvey, Mercer (Fearns, 55), Houston.


Sale T Arscott; Brady, Leota, Tuitupou, Miller; Cipriani, Peel; Roberts (Harrison, 64), Jones, Cobilas (Thomas, 64) Ostrikov, Mills, Paterson, Seymour, Gaskell.


Pens Cipriani 4.


Sin-bin Thomas, 67


Referee D Richards (RFU). Attendance 11, 837


Kate Middleton Attends Wedding Of Close…

Kate Middleton, along with Princes William and Harry, attended the spring wedding of close friends Lucy Meade and Charlie Budgett in Marshfield, Gloucestershire, and her style was as incredible as ever!

Can the Duchess of Cambridge do any wrong when it comes to her amazing style? On March 29, Kate Middleton was spotted attending the wedding of close friends - Lucy Meade and Charlie Budgett - in an ensemble perfect for the still-slightly chilly spring air.


Kate Middleton's Spring Wedding Style

The Duchess was seen with Princes and , who were no slouches in the style department themselves. Kate wore a blue wool peacoat with an almost braided detail around the collar and front zipper, and her bright blue, floral-patterned dress can be seen peeking out through the beautiful coat.


Never one to not take advantage of an occasion for a great hat, Kate opted for black with what looks to be a bird on top. So cute! Her plain black clutch, black pumps, and sparkling earrings complemented the simple yet stylish look.


As ever, Kate's hair and makeup were simple, elegant and accentuated her natural beauty.


Kate Middleton And Prince William Attend Spring Wedding

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Both William and Harry wore three-piece suits with pinstriped pants, with William opting for a light blue vest and Harry a pale yellow one. Not too sure about the yellow, if we're honest, but he still looks pretty handsome!


It was fitting that the Duke and Duchess attended Lucy and Charlie's wedding; after all, Charlie actually delivered the joint best man's speech at William and Kate's wedding! They must have been thrilled to see their two good friends tie the knot.


What did you think of Kate's spring wedding style, HollywoodLifers? Will you be emulating it for any spring weddings you'll be attending? Let us know!


- Amanda Michelle Steiner More Kate Middleton Style News: Kate Middleton: Gorgeous In $345 Coat On St. Patrick's Day Kate Middleton Stuns In Jenny Packham At National Portrait Gallery Kate Middleton's Super Shiny Waves - Get Her Look

Spring fashion 2014: Stripes

Stripes for spring are a must have every year and for 2014 we have some inspiration from celebrities.


Emma Stone has started her promo tour for The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro and what a stylish one we've had so far; wearing a loose-fitting striped lace two piece, featuring a ¾ sleeve top and handkerchief skirt from Chloe, the actress looked chic and comfortable.


January Jones and Beyonce have also been spotted wearing a must have Topshop structured dress that has since sold out, unfortunately.


Stripes are ideal for spring, whether it's a skirt, top, dress or shorts and we'll be dressing them up with heels and structured pieces and dressing them down with a pair of slip-ons and loose-fit denim.


A striped top is going to be ideal when festival season rolls around too, perfect when paired with trusty denim cut-offs and your wellies, it's a go-to style that is forever fashionable thanks to Kate Moss.


Shop our stylish stripe fashion picks now and be ready for spring fashion 2014.


Femalefirst Taryn Davies


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Sabtu, 29 Maret 2014

Photoset: Spring Fashion 2014


Posted by Julia Tanaka on March 28, 2014


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The Spring Fashion edition of the Voice is here, declaring the official arrival of spring (despite the snow). Although we turned out a spread for the print edition, here is a photoset of some of the other great photos that were taken that day.


'Spring 2014 showcased bright patterns and pop art prints, but don't let the colors fool you-with longer skirts, traditional cuts, and monochrome, this spring we're going back to basics.'


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Photos: Julia Tanaka/Georgetown Voice

Pick up a copy of the print edition or check out a pdf of the print edition here.


Alleged Puppy Thief Nabbed After Victim's Craigslist Sting Operation


Though there are literally thousands of adoptable dogs in California, that didn't stop one man from allegedly stealing two dogs from their home, then attempting to sell them Craigslist.


30-year-old San Leandro resident Richard Coleman (that's him in the picture above) was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possession of stolen property and extortion, after a woman says that he stole her two German Shepherd puppies then tried to sell them online.


The woman told San Leandro police that the puppies were stolen from her Livermore home last week. She found them listed for sale on Craigslist, and arranged to meet with the seller in San Leandro. At the meeting, she confronted Coleman, who fled. Police then lured Coleman into a second meeting, and arrested him.


Coleman had one of the puppies with him when he was arrested, and led San Leandro police to the second dog. San Leandro police returned both dogs, who were safe and sound, to their rightful guardian.