Robbie Myers is spotted wearing Bottega Veneta to celebrate Elle’s 25th

Elle Magazine celebrated their 25th anniversary last night at the ELLE 25 Summer Cocktail Celebration held in Wainscott, New York. Editor in Chief of Elle Magazine Robbie Myers hosted the event and was spotted carrying a classic and highly coveted Love Knot clutch by Bottega Veneta. The famous fashion editor paired her classic black Love Knot clutch by Bottega Veneta with an on-trend lace cocktail dress which was flattering and perfect for the event.

Robbie Myers carried the Bottega Veneta Love Knot clutch in black. The Love Knot clutch is one of the famous Italian design house’s most iconic handbags. Bottega Veneta offers the Love Knot clutch in several woven fabrications including satin, leather and suede. The clasp on the top of the hard box frame has a “knot” shape which is instantly recognizable and Bottega Veneta’s signature clasp.

Sunday Focus: Misconceptions persist about those with disabilities

GALESBURG —

Stone-Hayes Center for Independent Living was established in Galesburg 15 years ago. While the name is known in the community, many people still have no idea what the center is and does. Even some people now receiving those services at one point did not know what Stone-Hayes is.

Stone-Hayes serves people in Knox, Warren and Henderson counties. No fee is charged for those services. While it is best known for the work it does to help disabled individuals live independently and speak for themselves, anyone can receive help from the agency. A good example is this summer’s fan drive. Fans were donated to the center or bought by Stone-Hayes and were available to anyone who needed one.

What would the community be like if there were no Stone-Hayes?

Assistant Director Vanya Peterson said there would be a gap.

“If there was no Stone-Hayes, there would be no empowerment for disabled individuals,” Peterson said. “We are an empowering agency. People come here because they want to, not because they have to. It’s the consumer that makes it happen.”

Consumers making it happen

The members of this year’s 16-week Legislative Internship Program developed a disabilities simulator, a demonstration available to area organizations to help their members better understand people with disabilities.

“It bridges the gap between people in society who may not be familiar with disabilities,” Charles Allen of the Stone-Hayes staff explained June 22 when the members of the internship program graduated.

Despite 21 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act, many people still have misconceptions about people with disabilities.

Felicia Owens of Galesburg, one of the graduates of this year’s Legislative Internship Program, is in a wheelchair now, but that has not always been the case. While some Stone-Hayes consumers deal with conditions they were born with, others have had to learn to cope with disabilities later in life.

Owens worked at St. Mary’s Square for eight years, was an in-home certified nurse’s aide and also was a support worker at Bridgeway. Owens most recent job was in the billing department at Galesburg Hospitals Ambulance Service. She suffers from a form of multiple sclerosis.

“That was a wonderful place to work,” she said. “It was like a family atmosphere.”

Owens, who normally is on oxygen, was able to take breathing treatments at the ambulance service, or go home, then come back later and finish her shift.

She lost her job in 2003 when billing was shifted to an outside agency. Owens has been in a wheelchair since 2009. She is waiting for a total knee replacement once the modification of her house is completed.

“Even with a new knee, I don’t think I could walk from here to The Register-Mail,” she said of a two-block distance.

Owens and Deb Williams, another Stone-Hayes client, admitted they did not know what Stone-Hayes did until they needed the agency’s services.

The move has been welcomed by environmental groups

The move has been welcomed by environmental groups, but business leaders have voiced concerns about the economic impact.

Mr Lochhead said: "Plastic bags are a scourge on the environment and a blight on our streets, our countryside and our seas - that's why we are so determined to drastically cut back on their use.

"It's hugely encouraging that so many people are now taking this issue seriously, and over the past five years we have seen a lot of progress in cutting plastic bag use, both by shops and shoppers.

"We want to phase out the use of free plastic bags in supermarkets, with the continued help of retailers."

Marks & Spencer charges 5p for plastic bags, while Aldi and Lidl also charge. But Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons do not currently charge.

Former Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Pringle tried to introduce a 10p charge on carrier bags in 2006. But his Private Members' Bill at Holyrood, and a subsequent move to revive it, was not backed by MSPs.

The latest consultation will take place later in the year and look at options for cutting plastic bag use even further, including the prospect of legislation .

But CBI Scotland's assistant director, David Lonsdale questioned the need for the measure at a difficult time for business. "Retail businesses are already doing a lot to improve their environmental performance and have delivered very significant reductions in the use of plastic bags," he said.

"Any potential new environmental taxes such as on plastic bags could prove unnecessary and a costly administrative headache for firms, at what is a particularly challenging time for the retail sector."

A tax on plastic shopping bags in the Republic of Ireland introduced in 2002 cut their use by more than 90 per cent and raised millions of euros.

The Thomas Merton Center also is a partner

The Thomas Merton Center also is a partner, helping the Tote Bag Project with any financial concerns.
“It’s rewarding to me that we are able to do something that makes such a simple difference and to know that on an individual level, it could really matter for someone and allow them to get a little bit more food and not be so tired,” Kerr said. “For me, the fact that the food pantry trusted me enough and were willing to take a risk to try and do something brand new. That was good.”

A wide array of business partners, individuals and collaborators have held tote bag drives. Anyone can host a drive in their work place or organization.

“The concept of helping our neighbors who are hungry is universal and we aren’t hitting them up for a lot of cash—just tote bags,” Kerr said “I think the simplicity strikes people.”

The East End Food Co-Op started a drive in July which is now continuing. They have collected more than 250 bags so far.

Construction Junction also is a drop off center for the Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project.
Kara Holsopple, member services manager of the co-op, said the project is perfect for the organization.

“The co-op has been encouraging shoppers to bring in their own re-usable bags for years, and a few years ago, we made it official by no longer offering plastic bags at our registers,” she said. “We're so pleased to be working with the Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project to make that choice a reality for food pantry clients. Sustainability and community—it's a natural fit for us.”

Kerr said her next goal is to create a five-year plan and to get people thinking about the need on an ongoing basis.

“What we need to to do is get you thinking, 'Oh I need a tote bag,' so you grab an extra one, run to the co-op and drop it off. That is what we need to do. Some people are invested because of the hunger aspect while others are invested because of the environmental aspect.”

A Mebane man accused of killing a woman

A Mebane man accused of killing a woman and carrying her bones around in a backpack could be cleared of wrongdoing because her family later cremated the remains.

Michael Charles Dorman, 33, of 1411 Sundown Drive, is charged with murder and concealing or failing to report a death.

Durham police arrested Dorman in July 2010 after one of his friends told investigators that Dorman admitted to killing a prostitute and asked him to help dispose of her remains.
Dorman had been storing Lakiea Lacole Boxley’s bones in a backpack, prosecutors have said, adding that he told investigators he only found the remains and planned to use them for his sexual gratification.

Boxley, 31, had been missing since March 2008, and an autopsy determined that she might have been shot in the head.
Defense attorney Lawrence Campbell has asked that the case be dismissed because critical evidence – Boxley's remains – has been destroyed.
The state Victims Compensation Services office paid more than $2,700 for the cremation, and Campbell pointed out during a Monday court hearing that local law enforcement must determine that a victim is innocent before the state agency will pick up the tab for something like that.

Durham County District Attorney Tracey Cline said the state agency has nothing to do with investigations and doesn't get permission from prosecutors to pay for cremations. Remains are routinely released to family members, and the State Medical Examiner's Office provides an autopsy report and photographs needed for court, she said.

Versetta? Handbags and Cases Deliver Form and Fashion for Today's iPad? Users

Scott Creations LLC is pleased to announce the availability of Versetta handbags and cases. Versetta bags are designed specifically to make carrying and interacting with your iPad simple and intuitive—like it was supposed to be! Each bag features an incorporated frame, with a protective flap, which securely holds the iPad (version 1 or 2). Once the flap is opened, the iPad, and it's ports, can be accessed without removing it from the bag.

Peoria, IL (PRWEB) August 11, 2011

While the benefit of having your iPad bag double as a work station is obvious, it's Versetta's style and color choices that are exciting customers. Whatever one's personal preference in bags – purse, tote, satchel, hobo, attaché - there's a Versetta bag available, in colors ranging from business black and brown to turquoise, pink, sunny yellow and trendy coral.

The Prima collection is a line of women's fashion handbags in sought-after colors and styles. Women who appreciate fashion and technology will appreciate the freedom from frumpy, stuffy laptop bags, and will love Versetta handbags' quality construction, material and hardware. “No longer do women have to dig in their purse to find their tablet, nor do they have to carry a separate bag to carry their iPad safely and securely”, stated Susan Scott, founder of Scott Creations LLC.

The Affari collection is classic designs for professionals who have embraced today's technology. Lawyers, executives, realtors, road warriors and medical reps will welcome the ability to work on-the-go. All bags have an exterior compartment with a frame to hold your iPad? 1 or 2 securely. The padded protective flap keeps the iPad safe and discreet when not in use.

Versetta handbags are now available online for purchase. Scott Creations LLC, the manufacturer of Versetta handbags, will take orders through their website,. The fully functional online store will process all credit cards, issue gift certificates, and create wish lists for their clients. Retailers can also contact Scott Creations LLC directly through the web site to carry the popular handbags in their stores.

“We introduced the Versetta bags and cases at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show and received rave reviews,“ said Scott. “iPad enthusiasts, particularly the ‘Techy Moms' were thrilled to find a truly fashionable solution to easily access and interact with their tablet computers. “

Versetta is the first bag of it's kind in the marketplace. Demand for the collection is expected to be great, as consumers and bloggers have been anticipating the release. Consumers and retailers are encouraged to place their orders quickly.

Scott Creations LLC was founded in Illinois in 2010 by Susan Scott of Morton, IL. Scott partnered with Janice Wong in 2011 to expand the company's vision to create high quality fashion bags for technology users.

Talbots, Guess, Nine West coming to Sands

Now that Sands casino officials have people spending millions of dollars a week on slot machines, table games and food, they're hoping patrons still have some money left over for handbags, jeans and shoes.

Talbots, Guess and Nine West are among several factory outlet stores due to open Nov. 1 at the casino in south Bethlehem, with two dozen more due to open in February.

Sands officials have remained tight-lipped about which stores will be in the new mall, but Talbots Outlet Store, Guess Factory Store and Nine West Outlet all have applied for building permits from the city's Planning Department in recent weeks.
"What I can say is that we are on target to have eight to 10 stores ready for a soft opening Nov. 1," said Sands spokeswoman Jennifer Reese. "The rest will be ready for a February grand opening."
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The Shoppes at Sands will be the Lehigh Valley's first collection of outlet shops. To this point, shoppers in search of trendy name-brand merchandise at reduced prices have had to drive to the Crossings Premium Outlet in Tannersville, Philadelphia Premium Outlets in Limerick, VF Outlet Village in Reading or Liberty Village Premium Outlets in Flemington, N.J.

City officials have said the 30-35 stores at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem will have many of the same clothing, accessories and shoe factory stores as those other outlets. Sands has yet to announce which will be coming to the 200,000-square-foot mall.

Guess, headquartered in Los Angeles, is scheduled to have one of the anchor spaces, at nearly 6,500 square feet. Founded in 1981, Guess built a clothing empire around designer jeans. But as it was overtaken by the likes of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, the company has remade its brand and style to include not only clothing, handbags, watches and shoes for women, but also merchandise for teens and men. Though its annual report lists nearly 900 stores worldwide, its shop at Sands will be only its eighth outlet store in Pennsylvania.

Talbots, based in Hingham, Mass., is scheduled to occupy a 4,160-square-foot shop at Sands, according to its building permit filing. Established in 1947, Talbots sells upscale women's clothing, shoes and accessories. While it has hundreds of retail stores nationwide, Talbots' website lists just 29 outlets across the country, including four in Pennsylvania.

Nine West, whose parent company, the Jones Group, also owns women's apparel sellers Jones New York and Anne Klein, has applied for a 2,410-square-foot space where it can sell its handbags, shoes, jewelry, hats and sunglasses. With hundreds of retail shops nationwide, its closest outlets are in Tannersville, Monroe County; outside Doylestown, Bucks County, and at Limerick, Montgomery County.

All three of the new outlet shops will be along a corridor connecting the casino floor to the Sands Hotel, according to the building permits.

"It's just one more reason to come to the city, and hopefully those new people will venture into the community and spend some time — and money," said Joseph Kelly, city director of community and economic development, said of the outlet stores.

The building permits for each store likely will be approved by the end of the month, said Eli Skrimcovsky, the city inspector handling the Sands outlet mall. Building permit applications for the remaining five to seven outlet shops have not arrived, but Skrimcovsky said the new shops could be built quickly.

Sands opened its casino on time in May 2009, but construction of the hotel, outlet mall and events center was halted in November 2008 with the arrival of the global recession. While the economy continues to limp along, Sands' casinos in Asia are posting big revenues and its casino in Bethlehem has become the second-busiest of the 10 casinos in Pennsylvania.

At issue in Rohnert Park

At issue in Rohnert Park was the proposal's hefty pricetag and drawn-out process associated with the project, proposed by the Sonoma County Wast Management Agency. Councilmembers said they were committed to environmentally-friendly practices citywide, but decided unanimously that they needed more information to OK the ban.

Mayor Gina Belforte and councilmember Pam Stafford called the proposal "inefficient and cumbersome at best."

"We all understand the problems with plastic bags," Stafford said. "That's not the issue."

"I'm not against getting plastic bags out of the environment," Belforte said.
While Vice Mayor Jake Mackenzie said "the evidence is overwhelming one-use plastic bags present a huge environmental disaster," he asserted the issue may be more about economics than education.

There needs to be an economic incentive, like five cents per bag, to spur compliance, he said.

Councilmember Joe Callinan said it should be the consumer's choice whether or not to choose plastic, paper or reusable.

Belforte said she thinks Rohnert Park can reduce or eliminate using single-use carryout bags without the expensive and lengthy California Environmental Quality Act process. The council was reluctant however, to halt the ban entirely; settling on revisiting the issue in the future.

According to an agency report, the ban would cost between $135,440 to $193,240 for a CEQA analysis, legal costs and drafting the ordinance, and an additional $137,000 annually to enforce the ban.

All cities countywide must be on board with the ban in order to move forward. What do you think? Should Rohnert Park comply with the waste management agency's recommendation to forbid the use of
plastic bags? Should it be up to the government to decide, or do you think it should be a personal choice?

I have never taken the British Broadcasting Corporation

I have never taken the British Broadcasting Corporation non-seriously. If and when Lyse Doucet conducts a high profile interview, I listen to her questions and answers very seriously.

No matter even I have to develop little domestic tiffs.
Monday evening Lyse Doucet held a prime time interview with US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, whose worries should be release of salaries of many thousands US soldiers making extra effort to out match militants in Afghanistan. But to my surprise Mullen mostly spoke about Pakistan. To several straight questions what he said and I quote here ,”My biggest worry is continuing instability in Pakistan. Acolytes of Osama bin Laden are plotting operations against the United States. There are safe havens of terrorists in Pakistan. After operation against Osama security has improved. But Pakistan has not done enough against safe havens”.

He said, “ Border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan is still the most dangerous region in the world”. He termed Pakistan-Afghanistan border region an epicentre of terrorism”.
Admiral Mullen further stated, “Probably one of the things I’ve learned is that I’m a little bit more impatient and I’d like to see things happen more quickly,” Adm Mullen said.

“Their patience level is such that sometimes we would disagree on time frames and the need to move now, but again that’s a choice they get to make with their own forces, it doesn’t mean we don’t continue to address these issues.” Adm Mullen said Pakistan had lost many of its own troops taking action against some groups.
But he said that unless they moved against terrorists like the Afghan Haqqani network, it could affect relations between Washington and Islamabad.

It's difficult to sell anything

It's difficult to sell anything if it bears a mundane classification or title. It's tough to sell a two-hundred dollar nineteen inch television.

However, if a manufacturer produces a Flat Panel Thirty-six Inch Plasma HDTV Video Display Module with Three-Thousand Watt Surround Sound Stereo, there will be seventy-eight fools each waving five thousand dollars towards the unctuous Video Department Representative at BigDealElectronicsHyperMartEmporium LLC.

Similarly, For those in the entry level market, one brand of premium automobile dealerships presents only the Marque's specially chosen, inspected-and-serviced-to-factory-standards vehicles.

I infer they escort peons inquiring about a mere used car out to the wall behind the dealership and shoot them where blood won't splatter on the Marque's prestigious Previously Owned Models.

I once bought a mechanical pencil that boasts Power-Press Lead Advance, SuperClean Eraser, Ergonomic Grip, 0.5mm Super Leads and Life-time Durability enough to be hammered through a mahogany two-by-four by an inebriated gorilla in three blows with a six pound sledge hammer.

The pencil is ten years old and still clicks lead out as I expend it or when I snap it off. I've not encountered the gorilla so I can't attest to the pencil's ultimate durability.

Recently a store I used to visit twice each year for aficionados of finer tea re-opened. It's my British heritage dribbling through.

The organisers of the original Tweed Run

The organisers of the original Tweed Run in London had seen photos of when cycling for pleasure was last big in London at the turn of the century,'' Sydney Tweed Ride, organiser Susan Goodwin, said. ''Those people were wearing the equivalent of the jeans and T-shirts of the day, which was plus fours, knee-high socks and tweed jackets. It looked so fabulous that we thought we'd got to do a ride too.''

Sydney's ride has doubled in size each year since its first outing in 2009. ''The first year we had 70 people, last year there were 150 and this year we are hoping for well over 300 people,'' Goodwin said.

Aimed at encouraging more people to ride bicycles for pleasure and as exercise, the Tweed Ride unashamedly eschews lycra in favour of more traditional attire.

''You don't need to be a super-fit person,'' Goodwin said.
''It's about being a little bit more elegant and taking a little bit more time. Because we look so fabulous we get a more positive reaction from bus drivers, car drivers and pedestrians, which is great because we want people to look at us and say 'I want to ride my bike too'. We are not against the full sports stuff, it's just a different way of encouraging people to ride bikes rather than drive their cars.''

Enrique Morris was yesterday taking part in his first Tweed Ride in a Harris tweed shooting-style jacket he had purchased for the occasion. ''It just seems like a nice way to spend a Sunday morning,'' the 24-year-old said. Yesterday's ride culminated in a picnic at Moore Park with the ''Tweed Games'' including tea and saucer races, and prizes for best dressed cyclists on the day.

Grandparents who watch grandchildren

Grandparents who watch grandchildren should know what Ruth and Dave Halpern of Staten Island have discovered: The weekly children's programs at Holmdel Library at Town Hall are educational, entertaining, and best of all -- free. 

"This librarian, she's phenomenal," said Ruth Halpern, who watches over her twin 5-year old Holmdel granddaughters, Danielle and Sandra, on weekdays. Nelson was referring to Children's Librarian Alanah Mellin, who was on the carpet nearby, cheerfully cleaning up goop from a Dr. Seuss activity that had just ended on March 7.  "She has patience, and she motivates them," she said.

On weekly storytime days, families like the Halperns arrive early to browse through the picture books in the children's room. When the librarian signals the storytime will begin, the children take a seat on the carpet to hear the story read aloud and a related craft, if included. Unless noted they must stay, the adults can exit to the main library.

On this day the children listened to Mellin read Dr. Seuss' classic, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, about a boy that must save a kingdom from a gooey substance. Then the eight children actually got to make oobleck, from cornstarch, water and a few drops of green food coloring. For little people in the K-2 age demographic, this is an intensely joyful way to spend a Thursday afternoon. The adults who had not retreated to the couch to flip through People Magazine, observed through the big glass windows, grateful this was not a take-home craft.

Zhanna Vernikov of Morganville said she had tried storytime in three other libraries with her son Steven, 6, before coming to Holmdel. It was her first visit, and she said she was impressed by Mellin's gentle manner. Occasionally, the kids interrupted the story, or strayed from the craft, but they were always guided back to the lesson without drama.  "She seems to be the most patient," Vernikov said.

Mellin said she had not even noticed the distractions,  "Its a natural part of their development. They explore at this age, and you should be concerned if they don't," she said.

Arkansas Fires Pelphrey After 4 Seasons

Pelphrey was 69-59 in four seasons with the Razorbacks, including an 18-13 record this season. Arkansas lost to Tennessee in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday.

Pelphrey replaced Stan Heath as coach of the Razorbacks in 2007-08 and finished 23-12. Arkansas advanced to the NCAA tournament that season, defeating Indiana before losing to North Carolina.

The Razorbacks struggled in Pelphrey's next two seasons, winning 14 games in each. This season will mark the third straight year Arkansas will miss the NCAA tournament.

Athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement that a national search would begin immediately. The school called a 6 p.m. news conference to address the program's future.

"After a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of our men's basketball program, including an assessment of the overall student-athlete experience within our program, it is clear that we have not made the progress over the last four years that is necessary to return Razorback basketball to a place of national relevance," Long said.

Arkansas saw a steady decline in attendance in Pelphrey's four seasons. The Razorbacks averaged 17,148 in his first season, 16,043 in his second and 13,182 last year. This season, the school averaged 12,022 in 18 games in the 19,200-seat Bud Walton Arena.

During its national championship season of 1993-94, Arkansas averaged 20,134 at home. This season, the school drew a season-high 14,174 for its game against Ole Miss in February.

Two weeks ago, following a home loss to Mississippi State that cost the Razorbacks second place in the SEC West and a bye in the conference tournament, an advertisement ran in the statewide Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The ad called for Razorback fans to contact university officials "on the future of Arkansas basketball before too much times passes."

Despite dire predictions of hellfire

Despite dire predictions of hellfire, brimstone and bumper-to-bumper traffic, the much-feared (and much-hyped) "Carmageddon" that was expected to ravage all of Los Angeles last weekend was somewhat similar to the Rapture two months before — if it happened, most people didn't notice.

That's because, in large part, people seemed to stay home, which presented real opportunities for local businesses that could take advantage of the glut of trapped customers.

CalTrans boasted to media outlets that its aggressive print, broadcast and social media campaigns kept two-thirds of drivers off of compromised roadways, making travel possible for that recalcitrant 30 percent.

In Santa Monica, locals and local businesses jumped at the chance to market Carmageddon-themed deals, like $4.05 menus at Angel's and the Daily Grill, or drinks with names like "Flat Tire" beers and "Road Rage."
Businesses that could draw people in as gathering places reported that they had done well over the weekend, said Kim Koury, owner of Spin Public Relations.

To some degree, Koury and a team of friends, all young professionals in Santa Monica, are somewhat to blame for that.
The team also produced videos, created T-shirts and merchandise and reached out to local businesses to encourage 405 specials to create a party atmosphere out of what was expected to be a car apocalypse.

Car-mageddon debuted three weeks before the actual event, complete with a calendar, maps and a countdown to the closure.

We went around the market

We went around the market and bought some stuff: orange chocolate chip cookies, a sack of beef jerky, some tomatoes, couple of apples. All that for about $13. The container cost more than the cargo.

On our return trip, we were so engrossed in the novel we were reading on our phone that we overshot our stop and wound up at the Glen Park station again. Lord, if it is your will that we visit Glen Park on this trip, send us some sort of sign.
We got on the train taking us back to Market, where we waited for the MUNI to haul us back up the hill.

Market and 24th is what some people might call a dicey area. It's one of the few neighborhoods in this glorious town that has defied gentrification. We don't mind it. There's a lot of everything there, a collision of Asians, Latinos, blacks, hipsters, old folks, homeless people. Not a lot of rich folks. Our Ferry Building tote stood out like a Gucci in the ghetto.

We sat on a bench near the front of the bus and watched the road for a while as things turned tonier by the block.
We glanced back to find a fellow in his early 30 s peering at us over the waistband of a pair of underpants that he was holding stretched out in front of his nose. We hasten to assure you that it wasn't repulsive. The androgynous undergarment looked like the sort of underpants they might give you in the hospital, if hospitals gave out underpants: They were fresh out of the bag, scrubs-blue, looked almost like they were made of paper, and seemed to maybe be disposable. Yeah, we were looking a long time and he was giving us a big guileless grin.

We turned and watched the road some more as the bus continued to climb the steep grade.
Finally, the road leveled out. We looked back at the underpants guy who was now at the very least shirtless and was apparently working at liberating his more southerly apparel. We seemed to be the only person paying any attention. The rest of the passengers certainly weren't self-absorbed as many of their haughty co-citizens in the nicer parts of the city. Probably, they had plenty of problems of their own and didn't need to add a disrobing bus passenger to their list of cares.

Forgetting that it's our sworn duty in this life to collect weird and marvelous stories for our readers, we reached up and pulled the cord and rose to wait by the doors to get off the bus in the extraordinarily eventless Noe Valley.

Massive solar system installed University of Queensland

Australia's largest flat-panel photovoltaic solar power system has been installed at The University of Queensland in Brisbane.

The system generates 1.22 megawatts of power from the sun, harvested from 5004 panels on the rooftops of four of UQ's biggest buildings.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield said the UQ Solar Array would provide between five and six per cent of peak electricity demand at the St Lucia campus.

The solar panel installation at the University of Queensland. Photo: Stewart Gould via Brisbane Times


The asset will be shared with the community, by giving interested people access to a website showing live and historical data about the solar power generated from the UQ array.

"The project is enhanced by its strong industry partnerships, including research agreements with a number of world-leading companies in renewable power," Professor Greenfield said.

UQ will undertake ongoing solar research projects with:

Brisbane firm Ingenero, which installed the array, and worked on its design and engineering

Separate to the rooftop panels, UQ has installed a ground-mounted, seven-metre-by-six metre 8.4 kilowatt concentrating photovoltaic array (CPV) that follows the sun each day as it moves across the sky.
Ingenero donated the SolFocus CPV array to allow UQ researchers to undertake detailed comparisons with a different type of solar technology.

Designing and installing Australia's biggest rooftop PV solar power system
drew on the combined resources and significant expertise of UQ academics and engineers, working with industry leaders.

UQ's Property & Facilities division and UQ's School of Mathematics and Physics worked closely with engineering consultants Aurecon and lead contractor Ingenero.

The 1.22 megawatt UQ Solar array is almost 25 per cent larger than any other flat-panel PV system in Australia, with the added complexity of being split between four buildings.

Scott County supervisors cool to tax breaks for solar project

GATE CITY Scott County supervisors are waiting to hold a public hearing next month before voting on a property tax exemption for solar equipment that would benefit a local energy project.

The tax break a 100 percent exemption projected to total almost $300,000 over the next 10 years would apply to 1,800 solar panels being installed in Duffield through a partnership of the Lenowisco Planning District Commission, Scott County Economic Development Authority and Staunton, Va.-based Secure Futures, LLC.

The solar project is part of a 10-year power purchase agreement that would supply green energy to the Pioneer Business Center and Crooked Road Technology Center.

The $3 million project is funded in part through a $1.75 million research and development grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission. Additional funding was obtained through state and federal sources. Secure Futures also contributed roughly $250,000 of its own capital to the project.

Representatives from Secure Futures the firm that will install and maintain the solar panels and the Scott County EDA lobbied supervisors for the exemption at the board’s July meeting.

Read the expanded version of this report in the print edition or the enhanced electronic version of the Kingsport Times-News.

A leader in the style of music

A leader in the style of music known as nuevo flamenco, Ottmar Liebert made his wine country debut Tuesday night before a sold-out Napa Valley Opera House crowd. The show proved to be a mixed bag.

Flamenco is a genre of music and dance that originated in southern Spain in the latter part of the 18th century in which Andalusian gypsies played an important role.

Born in the United States, there’s a musical movement derived in part from flamenco, as well as other styles of Latin music and world jazz. It’s been given the name nuevo, or nouveau, flamenco.

After he settled in Santa Fe, N.M., in the late 1980s, German-born Ottmar Liebert formed a band he called Luna Negra and launched a very successful career championing nuevo flamenco. Luna Negra’s initial recording in 1990 included “Barcelona Nights,” a tune that appealed to listeners around the world and propelled Liebert and Luna Negra onto the global stage.

Liebert blazed a new musical trail, and audiences were attracted to this new style of music for a number of reasons — nimble, articulate fingerwork; charming, uncomplicated melodies; and just enough flamenco authenticity to convince pop listeners that they had discovered something exotic.

No one would dispute that Liebert’s repertoire provides graceful and pleasant listening, even though the similarity in tempos gives his recordings a slightly homogenous feel.

And that was the problem Tuesday night. The concert was divided into a pair of approximate hour-long segments. The opening segment was repetitious and ultimately boring. I noted some audience members’ heads bowed, busily texting. Some left at intermission. One local guitarist slept through most of the opening set. It took the headliner’s switch to electric guitar on “Snakecharmer” to liven things up just prior to intermission.

These are impressive I have to say

These are impressive I have to say, they secure the pole rigs well and are not difficult to undo at the end of the session. At the other end I have had Pulla Bungs fitted so I can easily shorten the elastic – thanks to Ryan Watson of Sutton (who is in this year's England U18 squad) and David Sandford who furbished the pole.

One extra I asked for is a short No 4 that is a useful piece of kit as it stiffens the pole even more.
The pole is very smooth but I am not totally convinced about the "suncore" finish which is supposed to keep things cool in the sun.

Although smooth, you certainly feel the joints as they go through your hands but the pole is extremely strong. I get the impression it can take more punishment than my old one.

My first outings with my new toy was to Hartleylands Farm and I told of my disasters there in last week's paper. Last Sunday I went with Wars to fish at Tylers Common's Horseshoe Lake near Brentwood, Janet and Arthur Birch run the fishery and always make me welcome.
I drew peg 25 on the far arm and decided to set up a pellet waggler, method feeder plus pole rigs.

To cut a long story short, the method feeder wasn't used and a small carp fell to the pellet waggler, thereafter it was all pole work. Maggots over ground bait gave me skimmer bream but it was cat meat that sorted out the carp. One mirror carp gave a very good account of itself and took 20 minutes to land. The pole proved it was strong with no noticeable give when gripped tightly, so apart from the cosmetics and lack of a short four, it is simply brilliant.

I fished with 38-8-0 for second on my bank behind Steve Allen of New Addington on 42lb. But we could do nothing against the top four on the opposite bank who had over 75lb.

Ann from Dublin was travelling

Ann from Dublin was travelling via Dublin airport last week and had a most unpleasant experience and she contacted us: “We had our usual checklist complete for trying to make things as trouble free as possible,” she writes. She had made sure to use hand luggage within the dimensions and weight allowance, had her passport, had checked in online and printed out her boarding pass. Her liquids were in 100ml or less containers and placed in the resealable plastic bag. She was even wearing flat shoes so she wouldn’t have to take them off going through security.
“All was well until we reached the security screening area: Our liquids were in the resealable bag but we were told it was too big. We had measured the bag before purchase and had used it on previous trips. We told the person that it was the right size. He informed us that it was the wrong type of bag according to a Department of Transport directive,” she writes.
The security official then went to the person operating the screen “and they opened the bag and checked each and every bottle contained within. We then went through the metal detector, no beeps. The first bag came out along with the plastic tray of phone/wallet/belt. The line then stopped for three to five minutes, which I can only assume was to teach us a lesson. Eventually the second bag came out and we went on our way,” she says.
She also highlights another occasion when she was told that decanting shampoo into 100ml bottles “was not allowed, only original bottles from the manufacturer. On that occasion we had to rub some cream onto my hand to show that is was not a weapon. We hope that the operator at the X-ray machine enjoyed his little power trip.”