CARBONDALE, IL (KFVS) - Acting Carbondale Mayor Don Monty gave the State of the City Address on Tuesday, addressing positive developments happening right now around the city.

He says anyone who drives along Main Street or Route 13 in Carbondale can see the changes going on.

From a new apartment building, to several new fast-food restaurants, Acting Mayor Don Monty says the city is growing.

Aside from the obvious changes, Mayor Monty says there are a few projects he hopes to see happen over the next few years, including a new train and bus depot and several other restaurants beginning to take shape, along with a new water park that will open May 2015.

During his State of the City Address, he revealed what he hopes to turn the existing train depot in to and gave some insight into projects that haven't been announced.

There is a big rumor floating around town, another chain, fast-food kind of place that has bought a piece of property in Carbondale but they are not ready to announce yet. But there are things that are going on and that's very hopeful. The more economic activity that can occur in this city obviously the better it is for the entire community, says Monty.

The projects don't stop there.

Planned additions to the downtown include increasing parking with a parking garage, building a new hotel and adding upscale housing.

Of course all of these projects take money.

Mayor Monty didn't sugarcoat some of the financial struggles the city is facing now and could face five years down the road if changes are not made.

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Carbondale mayor gives State of the City Address

NEW MILFORD, CONN. Applebrook Auctions presented a sale comprising about 75 percent of the estate of screen actress and entertainer Polly Bergen on December 5 at the firms new auction location, The Maxx, a club just a two-minute walk down the street from its gallery.

Bergen (born Nellie Paulina Burgin on July 14, 1930) was an American actress, singer, television host, writer and entrepreneur. She died September 20, 2014, of natural causes at her home in Southbury, Conn., surrounded by family and close friends. Borenstein said that the consignment of her estate to his firm came about through mutual friends. The rest of the sale included additions from a clock collector and other local estates.

During preview on the day before the sale, Borenstein was in his office readying for the auction. The Internet is going crazy, he said. Inside the gallery, however, things were much more sedate, with a few visitors examining the fine art, decorative accessories and loads of estate gold and costume jewelry that would be on offer.

As it turned out, the sales top two lots were not once owned by Bergen. An 1863 thank you letter from US President Abraham Lincoln wore the auctions top hat, bringing $12,650 from the trade on the phone, battling with two online bidders. Of the lots modest $400/800 presale estimate in relation to its selling price, Borenstein quipped to the crowd, If you have a letter by Abraham Lincoln, its best you find someone else to appraise it, but bring it to me to sell. On a more serious note, the auctioneer explained that the lower estimate was predicated on the fact that the letter had been written by Lincolns secretary and Lincoln had only signed it. The letter had come from the estate of J. Sinclair Armstrong, a Republican in the Eisenhower administration who served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission from May 1955 to June 1957.

The second highest selling lot also did not come from the Bergen estate. It was a rare signed Robert Rauschenberg litho titled Signs, which carried a $4/6,000 estimate and realized $6,325, going to the trade.

As for the Bergen material, Borenstein said, There was a lot of interest because of who it belonged to. The crowd [in the hall] was good, the place was filled. There were about 800 registered on two online platforms.

The standout Bergen lot was a handsomely carved Grinling Gibbons Father Time clock, which sold for $5,750. During preview, it was displayed along with a photo of Bergen standing next to it, probably in her Los Angeles, home, according to the auctioneer. An ex-computer guy bought it for himself, said Borenstein.

A Chinese sterling and enamel carriage brought a strong, twice-the-high-estimate price of $4,600, despite missing one of the horses, while a Willem De Kooning Paris Review signed and number litho drew $4,313.

Much of the Bergen material comprised estate and costume jewelry, with an exquisite David Webb 18K gold and diamond necklace going out at $3,450.

Fetching a surprising $2,990 was a pair of French-style chinoiserie end tables that had been discovered in the attic above the garage.

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Applebrook Sells Off Partial Estate Of American Actress Polly Bergen

Credit: Thinkstock

Speaking at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia on Sunday, Angelica Peralta Ramos, La Nacion Data project leader, told delegates of the organisation's "initiative to develop data journalism and contribute to opening data".

There is no shortage of stories in a country ranked 106 out of 177 on the global Corruption Perceptions Index, she said, but with no freedom of information laws accessing the data can be difficult.

However, "data is the new raw material for journalism", she said, and "if we use data as journalists then more information will be demanded" of governments or organisations that are less open.

The first step is in overcoming assumptions, or "excuses", about the difficulties of producing data journalism stories when the political environment is less than accommodating.

A list of "excuses" that can sometimes hold journalists back from getting started in data journalism, according to Angelica Peralta Ramos

Too often news organisations can assume there is no credible data available, that an absence of transparency laws make the process impossible, or that a lack of developers or necessary skills in the newsroom mean the project is a non-starter, Peralta said.

Having faced similar situations at La Nacion in the past, she shared her advice on how to overcome such obstacles.

1. Never stop learning

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have opened up much of the information needed to get started in data journalism for anyone with an internet connection, she said, while a quick search should turn up a range of webinars, blogs and books to aid in the process.

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5 tips on data journalism from La Nacion

DAD-OF-TWO Peter Downes is expecting hundreds of people round to his house in the run up to Christmas.

The 46-year-old has lit up his home in All Alone Road, Idle, for the ninth year running in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Over the years a number of celebrities including soap and sporting stars have been invited to do the honours and flick the switch but this year Mr Downes decided to do it himself.

People going along to be dazzled by the light show are invited to pop their donations through the letter box - the grand total so far since he started the idea has reached around the 12,000 mark.

Christmas comes early in the Downes' house because of preparations for the festive extravaganza light, displays have to be checked and bulbs tested.

More than 50,000 bulbs are lighting up the night sky this year and there are some new additions including a carousel and some extra Santas.

His seasonal collection has grown since he started it off with flashing icicles - now the roof, house walls, garage and garden are covered with twinkling snowmen, moving reindeer, parachuting Santas, steam trains and penguins, some of the decorations even play carols.

The lights have become an established tradition, attracting visitors not just from the district but from different parts of the country.

The display are up in memory of Mr Downes's dad Timmy who died of lung cancer in 2006 and was helped by Marie Curie Cancer Care.

"We've always had celebrities in the past to come and switch the lights on for us but this year we decided to try it without and see what we could do ourselves," he said.

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Christmas spectacle raises charity cash

DAD-OF-TWO Peter Downes is expecting hundreds of people round to his house in the run up to Christmas.

The 46-year-old has lit up his home in All Alone Road, Idle, for the ninth year running in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Over the years a number of celebrities including soap and sporting stars have been invited to do the honours and flick the switch but this year Mr Downes decided to do it himself.

People going along to be dazzled by the light show are invited to pop their donations through the letter box - the grand total so far since he started the idea has reached around the 12,000 mark.

Christmas comes early in the Downes' house because of preparations for the festive extravaganza light, displays have to be checked and bulbs tested.

More than 50,000 bulbs are lighting up the night sky this year and there are some new additions including a carousel and some extra Santas.

His seasonal collection has grown since he started it off with flashing icicles - now the roof, house walls, garage and garden are covered with twinkling snowmen, moving reindeer, parachuting Santas, steam trains and penguins, some of the decorations even play carols.

The lights have become an established tradition, attracting visitors not just from the district but from different parts of the country.

The display are up in memory of Mr Downes's dad Timmy who died of lung cancer in 2006 and was helped by Marie Curie Cancer Care.

"We've always had celebrities in the past to come and switch the lights on for us but this year we decided to try it without and see what we could do ourselves," he said.

Originally posted here:
VIDEO: Dad's Christmas lights spectacle set to raise charity cash

With the excitement surrounding the teams third straight bowl appearance in three seasons under the direction of head coach Hugh Freeze, today is a milestone day in the Forward Together campaign, as Ole Miss moves one step closer to making the master plan for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium a reality.

Launched in the fall of 2011, the Forward Together Campaign has now reached $125 million in total cash and pledges, and between the ongoing construction of The Pavilion at Ole Miss and the parking garage, the front door for Ole Miss is beginning to take shape.

When the Forward Together Campaign was launched in the fall of 2011, the goals for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium were to expand the overall stadium capacity and fan experience amenities, upgrade exterior elements around the stadium that provide more consistency with university architecture, and to expand premium seating offerings in order to provide necessary funding, Director of Athletics Ross Bjork said. We are confident and believe this master plan accomplishes those objectives while adding in new elements along the way.

As part of this front door, scheduled for completion by the start of the 2016 football season, there will be construction of two new entry points. One will be a new plaza between The Pavilion and Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, and the other will be a new green space that extends the Walk of Champions through a new north stadium plaza and bell tower. The plans also include the construction of an M-Club letterwinners wall honoring every letterwinner from every sport at Ole Miss.

The campus of Ole Miss is incredibly unique, Bjork said. Everything from the architecture, to the campus layout, to immaculate landscaping, to green spaces like the Grove and the Circle, they are all key factors for why we are voted the most beautiful campus year in and year out.

The location of the front door of athletics not only connects us to the heart of campus, but builds upon that beauty, while also serving as a functional and effective way to continue to provide Rebel fans with an unmatched gameday experience.

The master plan also includes two phases of renovation and expansion that will have Vaught-Hemingway Stadium completed by the start of the 2016 football season, bringing the seating capacity to 64,038.

The first phase will be a renovation and expansion of the south end zone, scheduled to start on January 7, 2015 and be finished for the first game of the 2015 season. As part of this phase, 30 luxury suites and 770 club level seats will be added. All 30 luxury suites have already been sold, and 60 percent of the club level seats have been sold.

We chose the south end zone for the expansion of premium seating because it allows for us to capitalize on the efficiencies of using the same infrastructure already in place, such as a kitchen, elevators, concourse and access to parking, Bjork said. In addition to the premium seating, the south end zones main concourse will be expanded by 2,500 square feet to accommodate more walking space, as well as the addition of 43 new toilets and 32 concession points of sale.

The second phase will be a renovation and expansion of the north end zone that will include the completion of the stadium seating bowl with a new brick and stone exterior that matches campus architecture.

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Ole Miss Unveils Stadium Expansion Plans

CRYSTAL LAKE The workshop was filled with cannons, varying in size, made of metal and wood, and all different.

One it probably took all winter to make is a train, each billet aluminum piece fitting neatly into each other with a brass boiler and when its maker, Paul LoCascio, lifted the boiler, he revealed a hidden cannon.

Its just in my head, the 71-year-old Crystal Lake man said. Many people ask me where I get the blueprints or designs, I dont use any blueprints or designs.

The cannons are more pieces of art than weaponry; LoCascio doesnt sell anything that can fire.

LoCascio is in the process of arranging an art show featuring his cannons. A date has not been set.

His biggest wish is that someone will come up to him with a challenge for him to make, a problem to solve.

LoCascio showed reporter Emily K. Coleman his collection and talked about his work.

Coleman: What happened? How did you get into this?

LoCascio: Ive been in the home improvement business all my life. Then about four years ago, I started losing my vision. I cant hardly see you. I got forced into retirement. I couldnt work any longer. I was totally depressed. I didnt know what I was going to do. I couldnt run the business anymore, so forth and so on.

Normally when we strip a house with aluminum siding, we would get the aluminum, and instead of just dumping it in the garbage, we would take it over to the scrapyard and turn it into scrap. It was a little bit of money.

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On the Record with: Crystal Lake man crafts cannons as he loses sight

Multiple shootings in Southeast DC on Wednesday Multiple shootings in Southeast DC on Wednesday

Updated: Thursday, December 11 2014 8:32 AM EST2014-12-11 13:32:38 GMT

Police say a teen is dead after he allegedly tried to rob a man on a D.C. street and had his own gun turned on himself.

Police say a teen is dead after he allegedly tried to rob a man on a D.C. street and had his own gun turned on himself.

There's a lot of uproar over a TMZ headline announcing Marion Barry's death on Sunday. It reads: "Marion Barry -- Crack Mayor Dead At 78."

There's a lot of uproar over a TMZ headline announcing Marion Barry's death on Sunday. It reads: "Marion Barry -- Crack Mayor Dead At 78." We asked TMZ creator Harvey Levin about it in a live interview on FOX 5 News, and he said the headline will not be changed despite the outrage some have expressed.

Updated: Friday, November 28 2014 12:55 PM EST2014-11-28 17:55:19 GMT

Americans celebrating Thanksgiving in Britain may have felt right at home as Black Friday shopping chaos caused disruptions. The practice of offering bargain basement prices the day after Thanksgiving has spread across the Atlantic, with some retailers opening overnight to lure shoppers.

Americans celebrating Thanksgiving in Britain may have felt right at home as Black Friday shopping chaos caused disruptions. The practice of offering bargain basement prices the day after Thanksgiving has spread across the Atlantic, with some retailers opening overnight to lure shoppers.

Updated: Friday, November 28 2014 12:42 PM EST2014-11-28 17:42:19 GMT

Excerpt from:
Car plunges through roof of California home

Variance, special exceptions and site plan reviews continued

* 780 S. Ocean Blvd.

Attorney Peter Broberg, representing owners: Landmarked house. Built before current zoning codes. Variance to build new guest house with three-car garage.

Motion to grant variance. Passed.

*105 Clarendon Ave.

Attorney Maura Ziska, on behalf of owner Chuck Schumacher: Variance requests to rebuild demolished landmarked house beyond the threshold of 50 percent cubic volume. Variances include side and rear yard setback, building height and overall height.

President Robert Wildrick: So what youre proposing to do is to replicate the house exactly to what was there?

Architect Harold Smith: Yes, except for slightly different roof configuration on the south side.

Gloria Stuart, 129 Clarendon: The east side of my property is the west side of Mr. Schumacher property. Their proposals would be an encroachment on my property.

Wildrick: I believe that what theyre saying is theyre just taking down an old building and putting a new building that will be exactly the same. Is that correct?

Originally posted here:
Town Hall Live: Council grants variances for 105 Clarendon

Palm Beach attorney Emmett E. Tracy Jr. and his wife, Marilyn, have parted with Villa Filipponi their 1929 landmarked estate at 322 Clarke Ave. for a recorded $8.775 million.

A revocable trust in the name of Marilyn Tracy sold the seven-bedroom house on a double lot in Midtown to a Delaware limited liability company named EJHFL LLC, according to the deed recorded Wednesday. No other information about the buyer was immediately available because of Delawares strict corporate privacy laws.

Fite Shavell & Asssociates agent Thor M. Brown had listed the house for sale at about $10.9 million in August 2013, and the property landed under contract in March, according to records in the Palm Beach Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. But the sale did not close until this week.

Brown said a confidentiality agreement prevented any of the parties involved from discussing the sale. MLS records list the buyers real estate agent as Gary Pohrer of K2 Realty.

With 7,682 square feet of living space inside and out, the Spanish Mediterranean-style house stands one house east of Cocoanut Row on four-tenths of an acre.

The Tracys have downsized to a four-bedroom home at 161 Main St., which Marilyn Tracys trust bought in October for a recorded $4.3 million. The seller was Laura T. Andrassy, the first wife of professional golfer Greg Norman. Brown acted on the Tracys behalf in that deal opposite agents Toni Hollis and Gloria Mor, who also work at Fite Shavell.

The house entered the towns landmarks registry in 2002, about five years after the Tracys paid Thomas and Renate McKnight $3.2 million for it, according to property records.

Although the house is usually attributed to noted society architect Marion Sims Wyeth, the Landmarks Preservation Commissions designation report did not identify the architect. Because the house is landmarked, exterior walls viewed from the street cannot be significantly altered.

The house already had been renovated and expanded by other owners before the Tracys bought it. They have family ties to the Detroit area.

In 2004, the Tracys expanded a sitting room, built an adjacent outdoor pergola and enlarged the guest apartment and garage, according to a 2013 Daily News article.

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Landmarked Midtown estate brings $8.8M