Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Christian Bale visits CO theater shooting victims





Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston



Actor Christian Bale visits Aurora shooting
victim Carey Rottman.
(Special to The Denver Post)
AURORA, CO (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) One of the victims of the Colorado movie theater shooting took to Facebook on Tuesday to share a photo of a surprise visitor.

Carey Rottman, a Wisconsin native who played football at Winona State in Minnesota, received a visit from "The Dark Knight Rises" star Christian Bale.

TMZ reports Bale visited the hospital around 4 p.m. on his own. He was not representing Warner Brothers during the trip.

Christian Bale was in the Denver metro area Tuesday to meet
with victims of the Aurora theater shooting.
In this photo released by Swedish Medical Center in Englewood,
Colorado, via Twitter, Bale meets with Swedish staff members.
(Swedish Medical Center)

Rottman's father has previously told the Associated Press that his 27-year-old son was expected to undergo another round of surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday. It will take about one year for Rottman to fully recover.

Bale also visited with six other victims of the mass shooting, as well as the first responders who were on the scene shortly after a shooter began firing into the crowded theater, reports the Denver Post.

Bale asked that the media not be notified about his trip to Aurora.


Christian Bale, who stars in
"The Dark Knight Rises," and his wife, Sibi Blazic,
on Tuesday afternoon visit a growing
memorial to victims of the Aurora theater
massacre, which left 12 dead and 58 wounded.
The couple also spent time at Medical Center of Aurora.

(
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)


Read more: http://ow.ly/cu3Ao













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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Will the Oxford Maine Casino be forced to shut down? (UPDATE)

Maine Superior Court nullifies Oxford Casino development permit

OXFORD — One year — nearly to the day — after the Maine Board of Environmental Protection issued a permit granting development of the Oxford Casino, the permit was nullified by Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy. 


 “The law is pretty clear that without a permit they can’t operate. And, presumably, if the department (DEP) doesn’t shut them down, the Gambling Control Board will.” 


According to the suit, “in its rush to permit the casino project, the applicant (BB Development) failed to conduct the studies necessary to affirmatively demonstrate that either Phase I or the full project proposal meets legal standards.” And, that rather than “correct these errors and omissions, the department (BEP) actually accelerated the permitting process,” granting the permit in “less than half of the 180-day statutory review period, despite ongoing staff concerns regarding the lack of data,” violating state law and its own rules in the process by not considering cumulative environmental impact of the entire project when complete.

Full Story 







UPDATE:

Maine's radio news team including news director, Dave Alpert; reporter, Ed Fairbanks and Augusta chief, Mal Leary have provided the following which you can hear:
The Oxford Casino will remain open, despite a court decision that nullifies its Department of Environmental Protection site permit.  The DEP says it will follow a judge's order and reopen the permit review process, but won't pursue closing down the casino. Attorney Stephen Hinchman, representing the Androscoggin River Alliance, which challenged the DEP's granting of the permit, says the DEP is now violating state law by allowing the casino to continue to operate.  Hear him.



Sunday, July 22, 2012

Coyote pups spotted in Weston MA backyard

Coyote Pups 7/20/2012


WESTON, Mass. -- A Weston family got a big surprise in their backyard when they looked outside and found a wandering pack of coyote pups.
Mom Jill Lenhardt couldn't believe it.
“When I first came home, they were here before I came home and Lisa, our babysitter, sent me a couple pictures over texts and I was like, ‘Stay inside!’” said Lenhardt.
One was even bold enough to venture up onto their deck.
“The far corner of the deck right outside. These guys saw them, the coyote, right there. Just right outside the family room just standing there and sitting around scratching himself,” Lenhardt said.
The kids were excited, snapping away some up close and personal pictures of the baby coyotes.
And even though they look cute and cuddly, there is still the element of danger.
“So then when I got home, I was looking at them I just thought they were really cute. Because they really are cute but we also have had a lot of conversations with the boys about safety,” Lenhardt said


Source: http://ow.ly/cpLOg

Maine lobstermen finding more odd colors in the catch

PORTLAND, Maine -- Reports of blue, orange, yellow and other odd-colored lobsters used to be a rarity.

But these days, it's common to hear several stories a month about a lobsterman bringing one of the quirky crustaceans to shore.

Scientists, lobstermen and dealers say more bizarrely hued lobsters are being caught.

One explanation for the rise is that the overall lobster harvest has soared in recent years, to more than 100 million pounds in Maine last year, making it likely that more unusual lobsters are being caught.

The popularity of cellphone cameras and social media has also made it easier to spread the word -- and photos -- about strange lobsters.

Normal lobsters are a mottled greenish-brown, but some come in a variety of colors because of genetic variations.


Disabled Vet Says UNITED Employees Kicked His Service Dog, Asked Him If He Was Retarded

Flying the UN-Freindly Skies!

The founder of a group that places service dogs with disabled vets says he went through a 48-hour ordeal at Dulles airport outside Washington, D.C., this week and that not only did United Airlines employees kick his service dog twice, but one staffer actually insulted him in public.

In a detailed YouTube video posted earlier today, Paws and Stripes' Jim Staneck claims that the first kick happened while he was in line at the ticket counter. An employee walked by and was startled by Jim's service dog, which allegedly led to a light kick to the dog's ribcage.



Rather than cause a scene, Jim said he let the incident go.

His flight was then delayed and ultimately cancelled because of mechanical delays, meaning a second day at the airport, where he had originally only intended to spend a short time making his connecting flight.

While riding a shuttle during his second say of fun at Dulles, Jim says that a second, startled United staffer kicked his service dog, this time with some substantial force.

"[He] kicked her so hard on the rib cage, that she flew into my lap… He said he was afraid of dogs," Jim tells KOAT-TV.

Things only got worse when Jim, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has a traumatic brain injury, had difficulty reading a confirmation e-mail on his phone and asked a United representative to assist him.

"He said, 'Just read it' and I said, 'Sir I can't read it,' and he said, 'What are you retarded?'" recalls Jim. "Prior to this I told him I have a brain injury and PTSD, I'm a disabled vet, this is my second night here; I need help."

Jim says he would like to talk to the CEO of United just to discuss the proper way to handle both disabled customers and their service animals.

Elderly hiker rescued on Mt. Washington

Officials, "Woman given bad hiking advice"

BRETTON WOODS, N.H. - An elderly woman from New Jersey had to be rescued from Mount Washington after she was given bad hiking advice, said authorities.

Dee Schardt, 69, of Sea Girt, N.J., had gone up the mountain on the Cog Railroad with a friend.

When they were at the top, someone had told them taking Jewel Trail would be an easy way down the mountain, said officials.

The pair started their descent just before noon Saturday with no food, water or lights.

At about 8 p.m. authorities fielded several calls from people who were concerned about Schardt’s safety.

Conservation officers found her some ways up the mountain. Hikers had given her food and something to drink.

The officers assisted her back down to the Cog Railroad parking lot, giving her several piggy back rides on the way.

They arrived there at about 11 p.m. Schardt was tired, but didn’t require additional medical attention, said authorities.

Weir Hill: Great exercise, nice views, lots of dogs North Andover, MA

Weir Hill: Great exercise, nice views, lots of dogs » Haverhill » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
By Bill Kirk, bkirk@eagletribune.com The Eagle-Tribune

NORTH ANDOVER — For the past 9,000 years or so, the hand of man has been heavy on Weir Hill.

Starting around 7000 BC, it is believed the Algonquin Indians started using the site, building fish weirs in Cochichewick Brook and sometimes even burning the property to flush out game or improve the soil for agriculture.

When colonists arrived in the 1600s, they cut timber and cleared the land to make way for livestock pastures.

In the 1700s, the site took on a more industrial use, as hydro power from ponds and streams off Lake Cochichewick was used to power lumber and grist mills.

And in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the property was used for recreation, becoming home to the clubhouse of the North Andover Country Club, where members would gather before paddling across the lake in canoes to play golf.

More recently, the Trustees of Reservations has decided to incorporate much of that history into its management of the property, now an active recreational area, as well as habitat for a growing diversity of plants and animals, in addition to being the source of North Andover’s drinking water.

Weir Hill is in North Andover, just a few minutes from the busy Route 114 business corridor. From Route 114, take Andover Street to Great Pond Road to Stevens Street. Go past the intersection with Pleasant Street and you’ll see parking on either side of the road near a large map kiosk. From 495, take Massachusetts Avenue to Great Pond to Stevens. Parking for a dozen or so cars. Alternate, unofficial entry is from the spillover lot at the Town Beach with access to the Hatch and Alewife trails.

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult, with several hill climbs. Maps are available at the main parking area, and sign posts throughout the park indicate the trails, marked with different colored blazes.

Note to dog owners: Pick up after your dog, ie., do not leave plastic bags of dog feces on the side of the trail. (We did see this on Thursday.) And when you encounter someone without a dog, put your dog on a leash in case the other person is afraid of dogs. Be thoughtful.

Continued at the link above.....


Friday, July 20, 2012

Photo Tips: Capturing Lightning

Exercise helps improve balance, prevent falls | exercise, balance, seniors

Exercise helps improve balance, prevent falls | exercise, balance, seniors - Getting Fit - Victorville Daily Press

Exercise is the single most important component in maintaining healthy balance and preventing falls. In fact, exercise is so effective in not only reducing fall risk but also eliminating many types of chronic dizziness. The main question is "What kind of exercise works best?"

Not all exercises are equal. Many seniors mistakenly assume that walking is the best form of exercise. Although walking is extremely important for mobility, cardiovascular and joint health, it also has major limitations.

A recent study looked at seniors who walk in the mall for exercise. The group used walking as their only source of exercise and averaged 1 to 2 miles a day, four days a week. The results showed that this group had the same amount of falls as sedentary seniors. What went wrong? Absolutely nothing. These seniors did enjoy health benefits such as lowered blood pressure, improved cardiac and lung function, and less arthritic pain. But when their balance was tested there was no change in balance control.

The best exercise for balance. Research has shown that exercise such as Tai Chi, dancing, bicycle riding, group exercise classes and weight training done in the standing position share a theme — dynamic, challenging positions and poses while engaging large balance sensory control systems. Exercises that are not so good for balance include walking on flat surfaces, pool exercises and universal weight machines.


Article continued at the link above............

New Rail Trail Could Potentially Cripple Traffic in Salem NH

Salem Patch

Dave has shared the following blogpost from Salem Patch:
45b3053023740ae68d22004099e7e3fd New Rail Trail Could Potentially Cripple Traffic in Salem
The Planning Board held a hearing on Tuesday....
I thought you might be interested in this Blog Post from the Salem Patch.
The hearing on the rail trail posed more questions than it answered.
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PRISON BREAK: 1,600 Turtles Break Out Of Farm, Slowly Crawl To Freedom

On the lighter side today!  No soup for you!

It's like a real-life version of the movie "Chicken Run," only without Mel Gibson and much, much slower. Near Summerville, Georgia, there is a turtle farm. Thousands of adult turtles, all native species to the southern United States, live in ponds on the property. Thanks to vandals or scrap metal thieves, breaks in the fence have allowed the turtles to wander off the property, taking up residence in surrounding waterways. The operation is something like a hatchery, and about 1,600 of the 2,200 turtles that form its breeding stock have run away.

The owner of this particular farm, one of only three in Georgia, started out in pest control and is descended from trappers. He started out trapping turtles for food, then learned how to farm them. The goal is to catch adult turtles, then confine them to the property. They live presumably happy turtle lives, reproducing and laying eggs on land surrounding their ponds. The farmer's family then gathers up the eggs and hatches them indoors. Some of the hatchlings are shipped to China and raised as food; others go to pet distributors in the United States.

The farm's owner is currently moving his operation to a new property, and is happy to pick up nuisance turtles for free and give them a new home. But the global turtle market is weak. A baby snapping turtle sold for about $14 a year ago, but fetches only $7 today.


Great Day in the White Mountains!

What I wouldn't give to be on Mt. Washington today!


The perfect day is today: 130 miles of visibility winds, 3-6 mph and temperature is 52º!!













Tragic: 12 Dead and 50+ wounded at Aurora Colo. Batman Premere (rev.)



At least 12 dead and 50 injured after gunman opens fire during showing of 'The Dark Knight Rises' at Aurora, Colo., theater. Police say they have a suspect in custody, identified as 24-year-old James Holmes, who witnesses say was armed with a rifle and handguns, and who wore what appeared to be a bullet-proof vest and gas mask.

Police initially said 14 people had died -- 10 in the theater and four at area hospitals, but revised the death toll to 12 later Friday morning, according to Lanigan.

Several people remained in critical condition at area hospitals, however.

Of the wounded, at least 20 were being treated at the University of Colorado Hospital, said spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery. All of the wounded suffered from gunshot wounds, which ranged from minor to critical, she said.

"They're arriving by police, by ambulance. Some are walking in," she said.

The victims being treated there ranged in age from 3 months to 45, the hospital said.

Denver Health Center had six patients from the shooting, one of them in critical condition, five in fair, said Shelly Davis, house supervisor.

Swedish Health Center spokeswoman Nicole Williams said her hospital was treating three people, two of them in critical and one in fair condition. A fourth patient was on the way, she said.

Parker Adventist Hospital was treating two people for minor injuries, according to a spokeswoman.

Hundreds of police officers descended on the theater, and the FBI has joined the investigation.

"We were calling for help from every police and fire agency," Fania said.
Aurora, a Denver suburb, is about 13 miles from Littleton, Colorado -- site of the April 1999 Columbine High School massacre.



President Barack Obama said Friday he was "shocked and saddened" by a deadly shooting at a suburban Denver movie theater and urged the nation to "come together as one American family" in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Obama said in a statement that he and first lady Michelle Obama were shocked by the "horrific and tragic" shooting. Obama said his administration would do everything they can to support the people of Aurora, Colo.

"As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors," Obama said.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a statement that he and his wife, Ann, were "deeply saddened by the news of the senseless violence" that led to the loss of life and injuries. He said they were praying for the families and loved ones of the victims "during this time of deep shock and immense grief. We expect that the person responsible for this terrible crime will be quickly brought to justice."

A gunman opened fire early Friday at a theater on the opening night of the latest Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." Authorities say at least 12 people were killed and at least 50 others were injured. The FBI said there was no indication that the shooting had any connection to terrorism.

Obama was in Florida at the time of the shooting. The White House says Obama was informed of the shooting by his Homeland Security Adviser, John Brennan, at 5:26 a.m. EDT.

UPDATE: Shooter planned attack


(11:15am) Law enforcement has evacuated 5 buildings around the suspects apartment as a safety precaution. Reports are the suspect has sophisticated boobie traps within this apartment preventing safe access at this time.


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