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Zakary Aaron Osiris DeGross dies at 14

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:52:12 +0000

Zakary Aaron Osiris DeGross, a Boys’ Latin School student who excelled in both the classroom and on the athletic field, died June 18 at Johns Hopkins Hospital after a nearly 1 1/2-year struggle against cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was 14.

"He was most notably characterized by his broad smile and wide eyes, and his optimism and cheerfulness that abounded in the face of a most difficult medical challenge," said Christopher J. Post, headmaster of the North Baltimore boys private school.

"I’ve known lots of kids over the years, and Zak sought nothing but unconditional love from those around him. He had an enormous capacity for thoughtfulness and generosity," Mr. Post said. "He was pretty exemplary."

Zak was born in Baltimore and raised in the city’s Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello neighborhood.

He spent his first five school years as a student at Mount Zion Baptist Christian School, where he received special recognition for testing beyond the 12th-grade level in reading.

He transferred to Boys’ Latin in the sixth grade.

"He excelled in Latin and math and played flag football, basketball and lacrosse," said his mother, Lesli J. DeGross.

In March 2009, Zak was diagnosed with Stage 3 renal medullary carcinoma, a rare type of kidney cancer that is linked to sickle cell trait, his mother said.

Zak then submitted to a grueling schedule of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

"He never complained. He’d get down sometimes, but not complain," his mother said. "After a treatment, he’d be sick for a week and then he’d go back to school. He was determined to go back and make up the work he had missed."

Zak had set a goal for himself, his mother said.

"He loved school and wanted to remain a part of the student body. He was also determined that he’d walk across the stage at his eighth-grade graduation," Ms. DeGross said. "And he did, and he got a standing ovation."

Inspired by their friend’s valiant struggle against cancer, his classmates designed and wore "Strength and Courage" bracelets to let him know they were standing alongside him and sharing his experience.

The school faculty organized a dodgeball tournament as a fundraiser for Zak.

Last summer, Alan Locey who was Zak’s math teacher, adviser and coach at Boys’ Latin,discount tiffany cuff Links, treated him and his family to a week at Keuka Lake in upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region.

Mr. Locey said Zak learned to water ski, parasail and swim, and took in the natural beauty of the lake.

"He was determined to get up and ski, and when he fell,tiffany earrings on sale, I had to yell for him to let go of the rope," recalled Mr. Locey.

Zak was a movie buff and collected movies ranging from classic Hollywood films to the latest sci-fi or thriller. He planned to one day work in film production and as an editor.

"He liked all kinds of movies and could analyze them," his mother said.

Last October, through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Zak traveled to Los Angeles, where he visited the set and met the cast and production crew of "Suite Life on Deck," a favorite TV show.

In March, after more than 50 chemotherapy treatments and 10 weeks of radiation, Zak’s family was told that he had not responded as hoped and his condition was terminal.

"Zak came from a wonderfully supportive family, and he had a wonderful compassionate relationship with his mom who was there at his bedside until the end," Mr. Locey said. "He was a fighter in academics and sports. He tried to hold on and fought his cancer to the end."

Zak spent the final weeks of his life in the pediatric oncology center at Hopkins.

One of Zak’s final wishes was to go to the movies and see the debut of the remake of "The Karate Kid," which was being released June 11. But because of his illness, he could not leave the hospital. One of his doctors had a contact at Sony Pictures in Hollywood. Some 18 hours later, a representative from Sony’s East Coast office was aboard a train bound for Baltimore carrying a copy of the film to be shown in Zak’s hospital room.

Family, friends and schoolmates jammed the hospital room.

"They brought in a large-screen TV. The hospital provided nachos and cheese,discount tiffany earrings, soda and popcorn, just like the real movies," Ms. DeGross said.

The Rev. Stanley Fuller, formerly pastor of Grace Baptist Church, where Zak was a member, was also a friend.

"The thing that stands out about Zak was that he was a respectful kid — he could be mischievous and do all those things kids do — but he was wonderful. He had balance," said Mr. Fuller, who is executive minister at Mount Calvary African Methodist Episcopal Church in Towson.

"He always had deep thoughts that he’d share with me. He loved school, and he loved church. He was a sheer pleasure to be around," he said.

"I watched Zakary as he got sick, and he never complained because he didn’t want to worry his mom. He wanted to make sure that she was OK," Mr. Fuller said. "He had the poise and dignity of a person well beyond his years. He had a special grace, and I thank God for that."

Mr. Fuller said he wanted to remember Zak’s smile, his love of education and sports, and his enthusiasm and courage.

"Those moments will never die," he said.

Mr. Post,thanksgiving bracelets, who spoke at Zak’s funeral Saturday at Action Ministries at Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter,cheap tiffany key rings, said Monday that he "will live on in each of us because of the way he lived his life."

Also surviving are his father, Troy Lee Sr.; a brother, Troy Lee Jr.; a sister, Adonekka Lee; his paternal grandmother, Sharon Barnes-Thomas; his maternal grandparents, Steven and Geraldine DeGross Sr.; and aunts, uncles and cousins. All live in Baltimore.

fred.rasmussen@baltsun.com

Gentleman’s game, my foot

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:43:29 +0000

It’s probably the last thing on most people’s minds,bangles, but spare a thought for Suraj Randiv. The young offspinner, expected to follow in Muttiah Muralitharan’s giant boots, is a mere stripling in international cricket — with all of two Tests and 16 ODIs under his belt. And yet, he’s already made the most embarrassing and public mistake of what should be a long career.

Randiv’s act of bowling a no-ball, with the scores level and Virender Sehwag on 99, has inevitably stirred a hornet’s nest. But just how much of the outrage is justified?

Randiv, even if he deliberately overstepped to deny Sehwag the chance of reaching three figures, is well within the laws of the game. What has angered the usual suspects, however, was that Sri Lanka were not playing in the Spirit of Cricket.

The problem here is a straightforward one — different people interpret the spirit of the game differently. In the early 1990s the Marylebone Cricket Club, still responsible for the Laws of Cricket,shop for tiffany bracelets, asked two eminent English cricketers– Ted Dexter and Lord Colin Cowdrey — to draw up a code that would "remind players of their responsibility for ensuring that cricket is always played in a truly sportsmanlike manner".

In 2000, these recommendations were codified, as a preamble to the Laws. The seven-point Spirit of Cricket is something the International Cricket Council tries to enforce, through its umpires and match referees, with varying success.

Just as in life, where you and I obey laws rather selectively — who among us has not driven 10 km above the speed limit, or perhaps after a few drinks at an impromptu celebration? Both of these are against the law, and we know it, but don’t pay heed, not merely because the punishments, if caught, are relatively mild,tiffany bangles for sale, and because peer pressure does not even come to bear.

It’s as though it’s okay to break certain rules.

In cricket, it’s much the same. "When a batsman edges the ball to the keeper and does not walk, he is called a cheat. But bowlers and fielders appeal for dismissals knowing fully well they’ve not dismissed the batsman, and this is ok," said a former India captain. "When you sledge, it’s ok to use all kinds of foul language, but if you say something about someone’s mother or wife, it becomes a crime. Who sets these rules?"

Like any other sport, cricket only mirrors society at large. To make Randiv, or the person who instructed him to bowl a no-ball, the villain of the piece is at best short-sighted and at worst opportunistic.

"The Spirit of the Game is a grey area and asks captains to make moral judgements that sometimes are contrary to the laws of the game," says Mike Atherton, the former England captain. "It demands interpretation, which, in turn, renders it worthless. One man’s sledge is another man’s aside."

Atherton also debunks the myth surrounding the phrase "it’s just not cricket", which has come to mean someone doing something that’s not right and suggests that cricket is somehow unique. "Cricket has had its share of controversies, enough to know that any mention of ‘unique’ appeal is utter rubbish. Match-fixing, sledging,thanksgiving cuff Links, racism, cheating — it is all there," says Atherton.

Closer home and specific to the latest controversy, Ajay Jadeja has a practical view. "Sehwag would have done the same thing if he was bowling," says Jadeja. "This is very

common in cricket."

The other fact that is being glossed quite conveniently over is that incidents of this kind have happened as long as cricket has been played (see box).

Chandu Borde, who played at a time when cricket happened at a much gentler pace, recounted his experience. "When Gary Sobers was batting against us on 199, we ran him out by bringing in the field. We could have allowed him to make a double ton but we did not," said Borde. "The lines between fair and unfair play have blurred."

When Randiv sought out Sehwag in his hotel room to apologise, soon after the game, the matter should have been buried, as it had been sorted out, player-to-player, man to man. But since then Sangakkara has had a word with coach Gary Kirsten,discount tiffany, and Sri Lanka Cricket has apologised and ordered a probe into the issue.

What more can they possibly do?

Handsome and inclusive Budget

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:58:52 +0000

from BUSINESS LINE,bangles, February 27, 2010 Presenting a broadly acceptable Budget for a country of India’s size and complexities is always a formidable task. It is especially so in such difficult and uncertain times as we are passing through these days, when the entire economy and polity are so severely buffeted by clashing sectional and sectoral demands. The Finance Minister, therefore,Bead bracelet, deserves kudos for coming out with a handsome Budget in such times. He has handled the contrary demands he faced with a deftness that can come only from long experience in public life and government.

I am sure it will be widely acknowledged that he has manoeuvred his way out of the difficult times with great adroitness. He has contained fiscal deficit to the extent feasible and that too without curtailing growth. He has given concessions where required, raised allocations for the poor, especially the rural poor,necklaces, besides offering much required relief to tax-payers that should sustain demand for consumer goods in the economy.

Some duties have, of course, been raised and these will, no doubt, add to some pressure on prices. These increases were, however, largely expected, and the manufacturers and consumers had taken them into account. I think that the roll-back of incentives, talked about for so long, has been kept within bearable limits.

Social stability As in the last Budget, the Finance Minister has once again focussed his attention on reaching the poorest of the poor. That is where the benefits of all national efforts towards boosting growth must be directed. India must begin to rise from deep below – from where all growth will ultimately come.

Also, it is only by adopting an inclusive growth paradigm that orderly and sustainable economic progress and social and political stability can be attained. If growth and its benefits do not reach the bottom, everything we have attained so far will be jeopardised. The increase in allocations for these sections and the improvements envisaged in delivering the benefits to them are, therefore, especially welcome.

Farm focus The renewed and increased emphasis on raising agricultural production and providing incentives for food storage and processing are other very important points. As we have seen,Atlas charm bracelet, the last two years’ inflationary pressures have largely, almost solely, been the outcome of scarcity of agricultural commodities.

It is the most urgent need of the times not only to arrest negative growth in agriculture but reverse the falling trend and boost production of all commodities, including oil-seeds. The increase in allocations for this area is highly commendable. In addition, this calls for some very innovative measures all along the base and frontiers of agriculture.

Overall, I am sure Mr Pranab Mukherjee’s Budget will put India on a path that will lead to achieving the targets he has set for the country for 2010-2011 and beyond. It is a handsome and inclusive Budget which will propel the country’s ambition of fulfilling the dreams of a billion-plus population.

Video Gambling in Bars Holds Promise of Handsome R

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:57:12 +0000

On Chicago’s gritty far southeast corner, which in the past few decades has seen factories rust and grandiose plans for a Lake Calumet airport fizzle, a couple of dozen neighborhood bar and restaurant owners gathered at the Knights of Columbus hall on a late winter evening to learn about the latest big-ticket plan: video gambling.

Alderman John Pope (10th Ward) told them he believed that a "large majority" of City Council members would soon join him in voting to lift the ban on gambling in Chicago,Charm bracelet, placing the city in a state program that will allow as many as five video gambling terminals in any business that has a license to sell liquor for on-site consumption.

"We’re interested in putting people to work; we’re interested in putting money in people’s pockets; and, honestly, we’re interested in legalizing what is happening already," said Mr. Pope, referring to illegal gambling that takes place in many Chicago bars.

Illinois officials estimate that video gambling, legalized last summer by legislators and Gov. Patrick J. Quinn, will generate more than $1 billion a year in total revenues from at least 45,rings,000 new machines across the state. The video gambling revenues will be taxed at 30 percent.

That would mean hundreds of millions of dollars for the financially struggling state, making it the most important source of money for Illinois’s first major spending spree on public works in a decade, officials predict. Proponents promise a long list of construction projects, like school and park fieldhouse renovations, new streetlights and rapid transit improvements.

But a deeper look reveals that the state will receive a far less lucrative deal from gambling than did other states that have adopted similar video gambling plans. The new gambling initiative is a richer deal for Illinois’s politically connected video gambling industry than for similar operators in other states. Moreover,necklaces, state regulators say it will be nearly impossible for them to police the new form of gambling as closely as they scrutinize the state’s casinos.

Concerns about the regulation of gambling have festered since the days of Al Capone and could make the passage of a Chicago video machine ordinance far less certain than Mr. Pope predicted. Mayor Richard M. Daley has not yet publicly endorsed the issue, and if Chicago does not approve video gambling, the state’s potential new source of revenue would decrease sharply.

If video gambling does become a reality, the vast majority — 70 percent — of revenues from the new machines will be divided evenly between the liquor license holders and the companies licensed by the state to own and operate the new gambling terminals.

The state’s share from video gambling is set at 25 percent, and 5 percent of total gambling-machine revenues are left for municipalities. Even at that low rate, Illinois projects a potential $534 million a year in tax revenue.

Illinois’s share of video gambling revenue is in stark contrast to the situation for the state’s nine casinos, and a 10th planned in Des Plaines. The casinos must turn over in taxes as much as 50 percent of what they earn.

The new video betting legislation in Illinois is also far more lucrative for the gaming industry than in other states with similar laws. In South Dakota and West Virginia, the state gets 50 percent of what is earned at video gambling terminals in liquor-licensed establishments. In Oregon, where the state owns and operates the machines, the share jumps to 73 percent.

"Why are they giving this away for so little?" said Bridget Gainer, a Cook County commissioner who supported a measure banning video gambling in the unincorporated parts of the county. "In a rush to please the industry, we got stuck with a terrible deal."

In forging the deal in Springfield, the gambling industry benefited from lobbyists with close connections to government leaders. One lobbyist, Joseph Berrios, is chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party and a close ally of Michael J. Madigan, the Illinois House speaker. Another is Tom Cullen, who worked for Mr. Madigan for 12 years, according to the organization’s Web site.

Video Gaming Technologies, a major manufacturer in Tennessee, also employs clout-heavy lobbyists: the firm of Michael Kasper, lawyer and treasurer for Mr. Madigan’s state Democratic Party organization. Mr. Kasper’s firm also includes David Dring, the former spokesman for Tom Cross, the Illinois House Republican leader.

The legislation received bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly, and Governor Quinn signed it into law in July.

Even as the state is preparing to allow installation of gambling machines by the end of the year, regulators say they lack the resources to properly police the new form of gambling, as well as the manpower to scrutinize the machine makers, the terminal operators and the thousands of businesses that could agree to install the machines. The Illinois Gaming Board said it would have to at least double its staff of 150 to do what is required.

"You have to understand, it’s a completely different industry," Aaron Jaffe, the board chairman, said after a board meeting this week.

"In a casino," Mr. Jaffe said, "everything is confined in one area. We have our state police there. We have our revenue agents there. We have video cameras all over the place. With video poker, there are about 15,000 liquor licenses in the state."

The law legalizing video gambling came together so quickly that Mr. Jaffe said he had "no idea" whether the state’s financial projections were accurate.

The revenue numbers hinge on whether Chicago is involved. Without its participation, state fiscal analysts say, the amount the state gets from the machines could plummet as much as $177.7 million. They had estimated that, with Chicago on board, video poker would produce $287.5 million to $534.2 million a year for Illinois.

More than 70 municipalities, most in the Chicago suburbs, have prohibited the machines.

To stem the tide of municipalities that opt out, and to make certain that Chicago opts in, business and labor leaders have joined forces and recruited the public relations and political consulting firm of Greg Goldner, a former campaign manager and aide to Mayor Daley. In November, Mr. Goldner formed a public advocacy group and gave it a populist-sounding name: Back to Work Illinois. The group’s initial budget of up to $700,000 is financed entirely by a Las Vegas-based trade group for video terminal makers and the state association of machine operators, Mr. Goldner said.

He said his company had contacted more than 40 of Chicago’s 50 aldermen and sent materials about video gambling to Mayor Daley’s office.

Despite the lobbying efforts, many aldermen remain uncommitted.

"I’m not sure these sources are where we want to go as a city," said Alderman Thomas Tunney, whose 44th Ward includes the bar district around Wrigley Field. "At what point does the drive for revenue supersede other issues?"

The state long has allowed video game machines for amusement only, but that restriction is frequently flouted. As Mr. Gardner tried to drum up support at the meeting with tavern owners last month, he warned that anybody caught with a machine illegally paying out winnings will be banned from the new legal form of video gambling.

Mingling in the crowd was Anthony Abruzzo,cuff Links, whose new company, Midwest Gaming Technologies, plans to install and maintain video gambling machines. Mr. Abruzzo said he heard about the meeting from Sam Panayotovich, a former state legislator who works for Mr. Berrios’s Springfield lobbying firm.

"We saw the bright future that this could hold," he said.

BILATERAL PARTNERSHIP FOR LEADERSHIP IN CIVIC ENGA

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:20:41 +0000

S. Department of State issued the following press release:

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs will host the graduation ceremony for the Mexican students participating in "Youth in Action: A Bilateral Partnership for Leadership in Civic Engagement" on Thursday, August 19, 2010, at the U.

S. Department of State,rings, Loy Henderson Auditorium. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for North America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Alex Lee and Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of Mexico Mabel Gomez will give the keynote remarks at 10 a.m.

Youth in Action: A Bilateral Partnership for Leadership in Social Engagement (Jovenes en Accion: Una Alianza Binacional de Liderazgo en Compromiso Social) is a unique exchange program established by the Department of State through its Embassy in Mexico and Mexico’s Secretariat of Public Education (SEP). The program offers Mexican youth the opportunity to study and develop their leadership skills in the United States. This program is funded as a joint initiative between the two governments in collaboration with the private sector and implemented by AYUSA International. The 50 participants have been living and working alongside American counterparts in Berkeley, CA for four weeks. At the August 19 event,key rings, they will present their community projects, which they will implement upon return to Mexico. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock will address the students after their presentations.

Keynote remarks will be open to the press.

Pre-set time for cameras is 8:45 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.

Final access times for writers and stills is 9:45 a.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.

S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State,watches, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver’s license,cuff Links, passport). For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

Darla Jordan, 202/647-4252, Wha-Press@State.Gov.

JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek Offering Unique

admin — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:56:20 +0000

Girls’ night out in Denver just got a whole lot more exciting thanks to the JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek hotel and spa packages in Denver,necklaces, CO. Ladies will delight in the luxurious accommodations and non-stop pampering they’ll get with the Girlfriend Getaway – Ladies’ Night Out Package which includes:

Deluxe accommodations

Rates from $280 double occupancy (a 25% savings)

Two $50 gift cards to the Spa at Cherry Creek for two girlfriends

Two complimentary drinks or appetizers in Second Home Bar

Two complimentary breakfasts in Second Home Restaurant

One welcome amenity of decadent European-style chocolates (one per room)

Valid Friday through Sunday based on availability

When not getting spoiled at the spa,pendants, the ladies can explore the picturesque neighborhood that this Cherry Creek hotel is nestled in. With the mountains providing a breathtaking backdrop, the Cherry Creek area boasts 300 unique shops and restaurants, and is just minutes from downtown Denver.

There’s no better reason to grab the girls and indulge in an unforgettable girlfriend getaway at the elegant and chic JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek.

About JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek

Encounter a Denver hotel unlike any other at the JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek and discover an exceptional location, personalized service, and distinguished comforts. Nestled in the picturesque Cherry Creek neighborhood, this AAA, Four-Diamond luxury hotel provides easy access to over 300 unique shops, restaurants and is within minutes of the cultural and sporting venues in downtown Denver. Revitalize body and mind in each of the 196 spacious Denver luxury hotel rooms,tiffany, many offering stunning mountain and downtown views. Guest room amenities include complimentary wired and wireless internet,Charm pendant, 37" high-definition TV, DVD/CD player, and exquisite marble and granite bathrooms with separate glass shower. Indulge the senses at Second Home Kitchen + Bar, an award-winning restaurant featuring artisan dishes served amidst the ambiance of an outdoor stone fire pit. From the stunning grand staircase to the complimentary 24-hour fitness center and Spa, the JW Marriott Hotel in Denver epitomizes refined elegance.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 303-316-2700, or visit http://marriott.com/denjw.

SOURCE JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek

Woman accused in shooting says husband punched her

admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:42:43 +0000

A woman accused by police of shooting her husband claimed he punched her and struck her head with a glass mug, according to charges filed.

Police charged Thomas McCormack, 62, of Main Road, on Wednesday with simple assault and harassment after his wife, Tammi Ann McCormack, 31, alleged he assaulted her in their home early Saturday morning.

Tammi McCormack was charged after the shooting early Saturday with aggravated tiffany sale and reckless endangerment for allegedly shooting her husband in the leg. She remains jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $25,000 bail.

After Tammi McCormack was arrested, she told police her husband “attacked” her by punching her several times and striking her head with a glass mug during an argument, according to the criminal complaint.

Police said Tammi McCormack had injuries to her head and was treated at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital after she was tiffany bracelets sale by District Judge James Tupper on Saturday.

Police said Tammi McCormack allegedly fired three shots from a handgun inside the home, striking her husband once in the leg.

Joseph McCormack walked out of the home and was met by police in the driveway, the tiffany rings sale complaint says. Police said Tammi McCormack was found inside sitting on a couch.

Police filed the simple assault and harassment charges against Thomas McCormack with Tupper on Wednesday. The charges were mailed to Thomas McCormack.

Credit: The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Fused glass plus metal equal iridescent jewelry

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:25:20 +0000

Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” probably didn’t work with as many outfits as Maegen Kissell-Nair’s does.

Kissell-Nair makes fused-glass jewelry, with hearts being one of her beautifully fashioned themes.

She recently taught a class at WaterWorks Art Studio, 1710 Charles Page Blvd., valentines gifts her students learned to make Valentine’s gifts using fused glass.

Even though cupid’s arrows have already flung, you can still learn how to make fused glass jewelry at two upcoming WaterWorks classes — either during four 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday sessions March 2-23; or four 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday sessions April 7-28.

Before we rhapsodize on how pretty these pieces can be, you don’t need any artistic expertise to make them, said Ginger Tomshany, manager of WaterWorks, a city of Tulsa facility dedicated to fine arts.

We met with her, Kissell-Nair and board member Mary Ann Harrison recently to learn more about fused glass, also called dichroic glass, Tomshany said. They had arranged several colorful pieces on a table — earrings, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, all gleaming — and, on occasion, seeming to change shades.

Dichroic means two colors. The glass has a metallic film fused to its surface, making the glass appear to be different colors when viewed from various angles or in varying degrees of light. When layered and fused together in a glass kiln, “an array of brightly colored and flashy pieces of unique jewelry can be created,” Tomshany said.

The glass, purchased with

the metallic film already fused to it, is cut into different shapes, which are then tiffany rings upon one another and placed in a specialized kiln. This process takes about 24 hours.

“It’s really kind of serendipitous,” Tomshany said. “You open the kiln, and it’s like Christmas.”

Because the jewelry is so colorful, it can be worn with anything, from denim to dressy affairs, said Tomshany, who wears hers often — “And when I do, I’m always getting compliments.”

DICHROIC JEWELRY

When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays, March 2-23; and 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays, April 7-28

Where: Waterworks Art Studio, 1710 Charles Page Blvd.

Cost: Four sessions is $105, which includes all supplies for six items of jewelry demonstrated in class.

Enroll: 596-2440, tulsaworld.com/waterworks

What is WaterWorks?

This city of Tulsa facility, located in historic Newblock Park, brings visual fine arts experiences, hands-on classes and quality art exhibits to the community.

The center is housed in a renovated building that once served as Tulsa’s tiffany bracelets treatment plant and was later the site of the city’s first public swimming pools — hence WaterWorks.

The center partners with such prominent organizations as the Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa City-County Library, Tulsa Zoo and Oxley Nature Center, as well as with the public and private schools, serving artists of all ages and the public at large.

SAKS JEWELRY TAKES CENTER STAGE

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:13:59 +0000

There were diamonds in the air and pearls strung around town last week, as the fine jewelry industry held some sparkling events.

Jewelry designers and executives came out in force on Monday night at Saks Fifth Avenue for a sneak preview of jewels that may be worn during the upcoming Academy Awards.

Sponsored by the Women’s Jewelry Association and WWD, the event drew designers such as Robert Lee Morris, David Yurman and Kenneth Jay Lane, as well as Ralph Destino, the former chairman of Cartier in the U.S., and Helene Fortunoff, head of the Fortunoff chain.

Inspiration for the jewels came from star stylists Phillip Bloch and Anne Caruso, who didn’t attend the event, but sent their ideas for Oscar jewelry styles. Among the items on display were gold and diamond necklaces from Cartier, a green stone choker from Antonini, a diamond and pearl necklace from Stefan Hafner and a gold weave choker with emeralds from Roberto Coin.

The event, which came on the heels of the JA fine jewelry show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, gave Saks the opportunity to show off its refurbished jewelry boutique, which opened earlier this year, as reported.

“We felt this was a great way to introduce the department,” said Sue Ann Newberg, vice president and divisional merchandise manager at Saks. “So far, we are very pleased with its performance. Diamond fashions have been selling particularly well.”

“I love what Saks has done here,” said Destino. “It was a very smart and savvy decision to make the floor like this.”

Robert Lee Morris said fine jewelry has become more important to the Oscars, but he doesn’t go out of his way to get his designs on the red carpet, although his creations have often made it to the big event.

“I never try, although placing jewelry on a celebrity can make someone,” he said. “Getting jewelry on Britney Spears can definitely help launch a career.”

Saks got into the party spirit once more Thursday night when it teamed up with Cartier, which has an exclusive boutique in Saks, for a cocktail reception in honor of the New York Botanical Garden. With Valentine’s Day approaching fast, Cartier put a love bracelet up for grabs for anyone who picked the right key for the display case.

“Fortunately, my wife didn’t win it; it would have been so embarrassing,” said Alain Viot, president and chief executive officer of Cartier Inc. “But thankfully, she already has one.”

Meanwhile, a few blocks up the street, Tiffany & Co. hosted a reception with a live and silent auction to benefit the Wildlife Conversation Society.

Dancers in mermaid costumes emulated ocean living, and Tiffany pearl jewelry was on display, often paired with models in eveningwear by Carolina Herrera.

“I realized how amazing these pearls were when I took a walk on the floor,” said Michael J. Kowalski, Tiffany’s president. “I am quite a pearl junkie.”

7 decades’ worth of Valentine’s Days

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:06:28 +0000

Milton and Julia Bryant celebrate their 72nd Valentine’s Day together Saturday. Today is also their 72nd anniversary.

They’ll mark both those milestones in their favorite way — spending a quiet day at home together.

The two are twin pillars of their Grand Ridge community, and it is the strength of their marriage that has set them firmly in the role of mentors and advisors.

The two say mutual respect, the hand of God, common interests and working together toward common goals are what have made their marriage a happy one.

They’ve had so few disagreements through the years that they can’t remember ever really arguing. Harsh words and hard feelings can find no foothold in their lives; when they do disagree over minor matters, they simply agree to disagree and let it go. As they put it, they both “hate a fuss.”

With one of their great-grandchildren now grown and engaged to be married, the young man, Trevor Johnson, and his bride Kaylena might do well to take a page from their book.

Julia was 15 and Milton was 21 the day they met at church back in 1936.

When she and her big family left the gathering that day in their horse and wagon, he jumped up on the wagon and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

That was the beginning of their romance, an innocent courtship carried out in the tradition of the day cheap valentines day jewelry, under the watchful eyes of chaperones at church and at Julia’s home.

He proposed one evening in 1937 while they were sitting on a swing outside her house.

He hadn’t planned to do it, but it just felt right. He went home that night with a peaceful feeling in his heart, an assurance that he’d made the right decision.

He’s never regretted asking, and she’s never regretted saying yes.

He had to ask her father for her hand, and daddy wasn’t crazy about losing his daughter.

When Milton did ask, her father said something along the lines of, “Heck no, I didn’t raise my young’uns to give away.”

Milton then posed a second question.

“Well, will you just stay away (and let it happen)?”

His future father-in-law agreed to that, and he and Julia were married in a simple ceremony at the old domed courthouse in Marianna, with Julia’s mother standing by their side.

They would soon learn that Julia’s dad had “lost” two kids that day. Although she didn’t know it at the time, her bangles bother had gotten married the same day, in the same place.

The Bryants spent their wedding night and two more weeks with her parents, until their first home could be vacated by its tenant at the time.

The old house was small and had cracks in the floor, but they were very happy there. They eventually found a 12-by-12 rug for the 14-by-14 room. And even though it would buckle up in a high wind, it helped shelter them from the chill.

They first outfitted the house with an iron-frame bed, a couple of chairs and a little wood stove that Julia cooked on. They had a fireplace, too, and it played an important, romantic role in their early days as husband and wife.

Every morning before daybreak on those first winter mornings, Milton would get up and light a fire while his wife lay sleeping. He’d go back to bed and, when it had warmed the room a bit, he swept his bride up in his arms and took her to warm by the fire.

At night, he still warms her side of the bed before rolling over to sleep.

Other rituals they began in those early days still survive.

She always made sure he had a buttermilk biscuit and a strong cup of coffee to start his morning right. Milton says she’s always kept him well-fed.

For most of their lives, they ate only what they could raise; their gardens, a shared interest, are something of a legend rings in the community.

She canned, froze and preserved all she could every year to keep the cupboard well supplied. At the ages of 88 and 94 now, the couple depends more often on the grocery store, but they cherish those self-sufficient years.

They also raised chickens then, and viewed them mostly as pets and sources of eggs. Rarely, one might make its way onto the dinner table, but for the most part the animals were doted on and allowed free range.

Milton says his wife worked as hard at home as he did out in the world.

For many years, she cleaned their clothes on a washboard, switching to a wringer washing machine much later, and then to an automatic when that modern marvel first appeared.

She cooked on various models of wood stoves, with Milton keeping a steady supply of wood cut, until modern stoves came on the market.

The Bryants moved several times over the years as Milton farmed, carpentered and did other jobs to keep his growing family fed. With three children, they eventually built their current home on State Road 69 South.

It started as a 24-by-24 structure without interior doors and no partitions when they moved in, which they built for the grand sum of $60. To finish the home, Milton would save a certain amount from his paycheck each week and purchase however much lumber it would buy.

Together, the couple would install the materials bit by bit. It took a long time; money was scarce in those days.

They were used to scrimping, though — they’d lived through the ration days of World War II when kerosene, coffee, sugar and many other supplies were short, and they’d never made a pile of money.

At Christmas in the lean years, they sometimes couldn’t buy toys for the children. But the couple always found a way to make sure they had a Christmas anyway — treats like apples, oranges and raisins, firecrackers for their son, and other small trinkets for their two girls were always provided.

Their home is now quite a bit bigger, with the couple building two additions over the years. In one of those added rooms, their last wood stove holds a place of honor. They kept the washboard, too.

The old treasured objects are valued, they say, not so much for themselves but for the memories attached.

Talking about their upcoming anniversary, they said their marriage has worked for some very simple bracelets reasons.

Trust was one. Milton recalled a time in their lives long ago when trust was needed most.

He had taken on a big job, farming 80 acres for another man. At the end of a long, exhausting stormy day in the peanut field, working with his own mules and equipment, he decided he’d had enough.

When he fell into bed that night, he told his wife, “Honey, tomorrow I’m selling everything I’ve got except you and the young’uns and the furniture.”

He did just that, and embarked on a new venture.

Julia said she never for a moment worried about how that sudden decision might work out.

“Whatever he did, I was satisfied with,” she said. “I knew he’d take care of us; he always did. It didn’t scare me a bit.”

The Bryants say that kind of thinking is one of the things that has kept their marriage strong.

“I don’t try to control too much of what she does, and she doesn’t try to control too much of what I do,” Milton said. “We each have our own way to go on some things.”

That was evident, too, when Julia started learning to drive. Her husband had operated all manner of vehicles through the years, including their first one, a used Model T truck. They later owned a used 1937 Chevy and a brand new 1953 Ford.

With all that experience, Milton tried to teach her how to operate the Oldsmobile he bought her years later.

He couldn’t. “He confused me,” Julia said with a laugh.

So, she struck out on her own. She learned by driving short distances. Because she never really went very far, she didn’t see the need to get a license. She drove without one for eight years, until a highway patrolman got her in his sights.

Julia admits to having the tendency to drive the way her brothers did — she liked to squeal away as she pulled out, and her unique style had caught the officer’s attention. A store owner warned her that a trooper was looking for her and had just pulled away before she drove up.

That’s when she decided she needed a driver’s license.

Teasing his wife about her old driving technique, Milton said she liked to “show out” with her squealing tires. She also had a tendency to “cut corners” at intersections, and it took her a while to earn her license after the trooper took such an interest.

Finding easy humor in things is another key to keeping their marriage sound, they say.

But the number one thing, they agree, is their enduring belief that God put them together in the first place.

The Bryants say their trust in each other is exceeded only by their trust in God and his plans for their lives.

They’ll be giving thanks to that source of guidance Sunday, when their children take them out for dinner, the only thing they want for their anniversary.

They say the “kids,” now 70, 67, and 62 years old, did enough in 2007 when they threw a big 70th anniversary party that almost everyone in their circle attended.

Having their friends and family gather in their honor that year was very special, the couple said, and provided warm memories for them to share this year and beyond.