| PHOTOGRAPHED BY HARLEY SOLTES
THE NEON SIGNS float like beacons in the night sky at one end of a welcoming, spacious downtown: red, tempting and foreign. GO BY TRAIN pleads one. GO BY STREETCAR urges the other. Something tells me we're not in Seattle anymore, Toto. No, we're in Portland, American headquarters of the "New Urbanism" philosophy that touts neighborhood density, walking and transit over the car. Portland is doing almost routinely what Seattle keeps dreaming and arguing about. Light rail? It's here. Streetcar? Ditto. Transit mall? Yep. Close-in, upscale neighborhoods dotted with restaurants and shops? Check. Approximately 27 blocks of parks to create an airy, inviting downtown? Got it. Elimination of Harbor Drive along the Willamette River and its replacement with a riverside park? Yes, plus a companion park on the opposite bank.
Inside Boeing's mega-factory
The Boeing factory near Seattle is so massive, it once began generating its own weather systems. A state-of-the-art air circulation system had to be installed inside the monolithic manufacturing plant because clouds - the product of accumulated warm air and moisture - were forming inside. Even if you're not really into aeroplanes, such facts make touring the Boeing factory - the world's biggest building by volume - truly fascinating. Located at Everett, 50km north of Seattle in the Unites States' north-west, the almost 100 acre (40.47 hectares) factory houses Boeing's 747, 767, 777 and new 787 aircraft production lines. About 25,000 people work at the site, which boasts its own security force and fire department, a fully equipped medical clinic, a childcare centre, a water treatment plant, its own electrical sub-stations, and 19 cafeterias which serve around 17,000 meals per day.
Tomac Launches U.S. Dealer Program
LINCOLN, NE (BRAIN)Tomac Mountain Bikes has launched a U.S. dealer program. Phil Doerflein, a bike industry veteran of 20 years, and a former IBD dealer from the Pacific Northwest, has been hired to manage U.S. sales for Tomac. The response to the new line of Tomac bikes has been phenomenal, said Tomac's owner Joel Smith. Weve expanded the models, introducing three new bikes this year, and now have a line that will be very attractive for dealers. The Tomac brand is the namesake of racing legend John Tomac and was relaunched in 2006 by former Manitou brand manager Joel Smith. The focus is on high-end mountain bikes for discerning riders. Tomac bikes resonate with top tier mountain bikers, and shops who want to service these riders, Doerflein said. The brand is once again situated at the high end and can really help cutting edge shops remain the choice for discriminating buyers.
Fireball mum in fight for life
A MOTHER is fighting for her life after suffering horrific burns when she became a "human fireball". Yvonne Buckley, aged 38, was discovered in flames by her teenage son, Alex, in the living room of their home in Holly Grove, Brownlow Fold. He dashed for help as Ms Buckley's partner rushed to extinguish the flames with his bare hands. .
LOVE, FRANKLIN-STYLE
FRANKLIN Four couples gave their significant others the gift of themselves for Valentine's Day.
The couples all township residents were married by Mayor Brian Levine on Thursday morning in a civil ceremony. Each had a different story to tell before exchanging vows in front of two witnesses and a handful of family members. For Donna Gower, 57, and Ernest Albert Hofer, 64, who live in the same housing development, it was about a year ago when they spotted each other on bicycles. "We lived in close proximity, so we saw each other bicycling, and so we started bicycling together," Hofer said. "One thing led to another." The couple chose to get married on Valentine's Day because two of Hofer's sons were born on Valentine's Day during different years. Next, they are planning a honeymoon trip in March to a ski resort out West and plan to travel to Africa in 2009.
Muscatine! the Musical update: Costumes inspired by fashions of 1896
MUSCATINE, Iowa — Ostrich plumes and parasols swaying in a sea of frothy lace and bodacious bustles will dress up the stage at the world premier of "Muscatine! the Musical" Friday, Oct. 12. The original costumes for the play are inspired by the fashions of 1896, the year of the musical’s setting. Marie and Peter Press of Muscatine wrote the book for the musical, which is built against the backdrop of a bustling river town that once hosted the historical characters of Buffalo Bill Cody and Mark Twain and fancy world travelers, such as the musical’s leading lady, Lulu Belle Larkin. Marie plays the role of Lulu Belle, who dresses up Muscatine’s late 19th century social scene with elegant Parisian fashions. Costume concepts for the production began with a technological walk through history, via the Internet.Peter selected images that represented the era and the spirit of the musical and printed them out to create a scrapbook of ideas."The more authentic the costume, the better the audience will understand the time period and the nuances of that time period in the script," said Peter.He passed his ideas on to the mother-and-daughter design team of Mary Taeger and Lisa Cameron-Babcook of Burlington.Cameron-Babcook opened a costume shop in Burlington in 1995.
Vancouver city council enacts helmet law
Beginning in 30 days, all cyclists and skaters in Vancouver will have to strap on helmets or risk receiving a $50 ticket. The city council, by a 5-1 vote Monday, decided to require both juveniles and adults to wear helmets when riding bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, roller blades, scooters and unicycles on public streets, sidewalks and trails. Once the law takes effect, Vancouver will become the first city in Clark County to require helmets. Safety was the prime reason for the law. Councilwoman Jeanne Harris recounted how, more than 25 years ago, a bicyclist wearing a helmet smacked into her car and walked away. "I can’t tell you how it affected me that I could have hurt somebody," Harris said. "You can’t plan not to have an accident, and that is what’s this is about.
WHY GRAN CANARIA IS BECOMING A TOP WEDDING DESTINATION
For the romantics & adventuresome couples there is nothing like setting sail into your new life together as husband and wife.
Just imagine the sensation of sailing away with your soul mate and maybe a few friends to a small harbour for an intimate ceremony to be legally united by a local minister. Then toasting with champagne and hor d'oeuvres as the sun sets on the horizon!
What was once a dream is now very possible in Gran Canaria where the legislation has been recently amended to make it very possible for Non Residents to come and get married in this beautiful Island with year round sunshine and outstanding temperatures that others can often just dream of.
Imagine yourself getting married on a beach at sunset with a fragrant breeze wafting over you, or exchanging your vows in a tropical garden.
10 ideas to keep the kids entertained during spring break
If staying home during spring vacation isn't an option for your kids, you might consider enrolling them in day camps. The parks and recreation departments of Roanoke and Roanoke County both offer programs. Roanoke: For $10 per day, students ages 6 through 12 can attend Out of School Fun Days at the Preston and Eureka recreation centers. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 24 through 28. Call 853-5360 for more information. Roanoke County: Details are still getting worked out, but the county program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade will feature one off-site trip per day. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 24 through 28 and the cost is $125. Call 857-5036 to register. 5. Just for teens Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism will offer Ultimate Spring Break Camp, a new program for teens March 24 through 29.
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