Warning: Spoilers ahead for the tiny details that differentiate the 2017 remake of Beauty and the Beast from the 1991 animated version.

Theres been a fair bit of controversy over Bill Condons live-action remake of Disneys animated 1991 classic Beauty and the Beast, mostly centered over Condons proclamation that hes given Disney its first canonically, openly gay character. In an interview with Attitude, Condon described that character, the villains sycophantic sidekick LeFou, as if his sexuality was a significant, foregrounded part of the plot, and as if it ultimately arrived at some major moment of truth:

Hes confused about what he wants. Its somebody whos just realising that he has these feelings. And [actor Josh Gad] makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And thats what has its payoff at the end, which I dont want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie.

But when it arrives, that nice, exclusively gay moment is a one-second shot of LeFou in a fancy ballroom-dance finale, accidentally shoved into the arms of a nameless man whos wearing drag because of an earlier sight gag. It isnt an exclusively gay moment, its about a dozen vaguely campy frames. Much like Finding Dorys controversial, much-ballyhooed lesbian couple two women who appeared in a extremely brief, silent reaction shot in the film LeFou is all PR blitz and no actual payoff. But the tepidness of this built-up moment hasnt stopped the predictable backlash, from online complaints to an Alabama theater noisily pulling the film from its lineup (proving the bigoted old chestnut why are they pushing their views on us is still alive and well in the world) to Malaysia banning the film. To Disneys credit, the company has refused to recut the film to appease Malaysian censors, which is an admirably principled stand to take over a single second of footage.

The LeFou imbroglio is an immense wasted opportunity. Promoting Beauty and the Beast by touting its daring inclusivity (or, grotesquely, its tribute to lyricist Howard Ashman), makes for a lot of attention-grabbing articles. But the actual execution is dull or mildly offensive, given that Disneys first official gay character (ignoring its coded ones and fan-canon ones) is a catty, clingy, regressive, confused stereotype. Beauty and the Beast isnt necessarily the right forum to explore the nuances of the gay experience. But given how much virtual ink the character has gotten, its baffling how little there is to him, not just as a gay man, but as a developed figure of any kind.

Its largely a frustrating clone of the original movie

And he isnt the only wasted opportunity in Condons remake. Its largely a frustrating clone of the original movie same songs, same script, often even the exact same shot choices but it replaces every moment of authentic or moving emotion with bombast and hyperbolic overemphasis. It slows down the flow of the familiar music by jamming in extra phrases, and builds up the energy by jamming nonstop, busy action onto the screen. Its a garish, strident film, as well as a profoundly unnecessary one. And wherever its creators come up with fresh subplots or new character details, they tend to be poorly integrated, slapped erratically over the existing narrative like a half-assed coat of paint. Among the other things the film throws out and instantly discards:

The prerelease hype around LeFou was mirrored by the prerelease hype around Belle, with Emma Watson, who plays her in the film, telling EW that Belle is now the talented inventor, rather than her father Maurice. The idea was to give Belle more of a background, and more of a purpose in life than wandering around singing about how her community disappoints her. In practice, though, her big background development consists entirely of a scene where she uses a barrel and a donkey to do her laundry so she has more time to read. She doesnt actually use her newfound inventing skills to any meaningful narrative purpose. When she needs to escape a cage, Beasts servants help her; when she needs to pick a lock, Maurice handles it. Any ambitions she has as an inventor are never verbalized, and her theoretical skills never become useful. Past the brief laundry sequence, inventing never comes up again. Its not part of the story, its a random, unattached moment.

In the same way, theres a quick shot of Belle teaching a young girl to read, and angering the local peasants, who quickly stop her. Apparently female literacy is anathema in a fantasy villa where only the boys are seen going to school. This is meant to explain why the entire town is so obsessed with Belle being, as the opening song says, very different from the rest of us and a beauty but a funny girl. The idea of Belle trying to overcome institutionalized sexism in a provincial town is a pretty heady one. But again, the film does nothing with it, apart from a single line from Belle, late in the film, complaining about how she doesnt fit in with the locals.

Less hyped, but still strangely underlined in the new movie, is the idea that the villainous blowhard Gaston (Luke Evans) is such a jerk because hes a professional soldier with no battles left to fight, and he longs to return to a simpler, more purposeful time in his life. He and LeFou know each other from the war, where they were comrades in arms. Its a potentially meaningful relationship that explains why Gaston blankly tolerates LeFous creepy handsiness, and why LeFou sticks with a loudmouthed bully. Its mildly implied that Gastons temper and inability to control his rage comes from his past, and that LeFou is an actual friend who shares Gastons history and honestly respects and understands him. Thats another potentially powerful development, but it mostly surfaces via a couple of throwaway lines, and one joke about LeFous Gaston-whispering talents.

The heel-face turn is a great tradition in stories about villains, and its given American pop culture some of its most memorable story endings in Return of the Jedi, in Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, even most recently in Moana. So the idea that LeFou might not play out entirely as a villain is potentially intriguing and certainly in keeping with Condons larger intentions for the character. Bad enough for Disneys first supposed openly gay character to be swishy, obsessive, and annoying without him also being an irredeemable villain. If only the characters development had any meaningful roots in the earlier parts of the story. There are tiny hints at him having a personality past sidekick in his emotional support of Gaston, but as character development goes, its a thin soup. At most, he gets a couple of lines to support the idea that he has his own morals and goals the best one is a new addition in The Mob Song, as Gaston whips the villagers into a fury against the Beast. His Meh, Ive decided to switch sides! line is particularly offhanded and silly.

One of the minor problems viewers grumbled over in the original Beauty and the Beast was the question of why Beasts servants Lumire, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, et al stand by him and seem to care so much about him, when he brought a magical curse down on them by being a selfish brat, and has subsequently turned into a temperamental, dangerous tyrant. That isnt actually much of a plot hole. Of course they stand by him and serve him hes their only chance at getting the curse lifted. Their affection for him is largely crisis management and mollification. And where can an anthropomorphic candlestick, clock, and teapot expect to go if they leave the enchanted castle?

When the film does try something new, its via halfhearted throwaway lines

But Condons version of the film does expressly take up the question. Mrs. Potts has a little monologue explaining how Beasts mother died early and his father was a vain tyrant who turned him into a vain tyrant in return. The servants did nothing to stop any of this, so they feel responsible. Screenwriters Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos try hard to bring an old-world servant-and-master relationship into a 2017 setting, where loyalty and service are expressly about emotional responsibility and the idea that all awful behavior has its roots in childhood trauma. But this quickie application of plot-spackle raises more questions than it answers. Where is Beasts father? Why did the servants think they had any responsibility, or ability, to fix a prince following in a kings footsteps? Why is Disney so obsessed with dead mothers? If the servants are only hanging around because they feel they owe Beast for not interfering in his upbringing, why arent they making any efforts at all to help him improve his awful personality and terrible behavior?

Disney has struggled to define exactly what it wants to do with its seemingly endless (and depressingly profitable) run of live-action remakes of animated classics. Are they meant as homages, updates, brand deposit reminders of existing franchises, or just high-profile cash grabs? The answer varies slightly from film to film. Alice in Wonderland didnt feel like a remake so much as a new version of Lewis Carrolls classic novel, strained through Tim Burtons house brand of morbid whimsy and the cultural landscapes contemporaneous obsession with young-adult-novel-worthy teen action heroines. Maleficent tried to give Sleeping Beautys villain a tragic backstory, and wound up as a pretty but uncomfortably imitative merging of Disneys film and the Broadway hit musical Wicked. Cinderella made the title character more bland and passive, ramping up the villains personality at everyone elses expense. So far, only The Jungle Book has made it to the screen with a strong point of view and additions to the story mostly from Rudyard Kiplings original Jungle Book stories, but in part original creations that deepen the characters and make their conflicts more meaningful.

In Beauty and the Beasts case, virtually all of the new additions to the story are aimed vaguely in the same direction. As the marketing suggests, the updates are all about backstory, about trying to make the characters more three-dimensional, to make their choices more meaningful, their origins clearer, and their traumas more involving. But few of the new ideas have any sort of depth or dedication to that cause. Theyre shallow, surface additions that dont add to the story, or change its direction, or reveal anything new.

one character shows how much better this all could have been

The updates in Condons Beauty and the Beast arent exclusively superficial. Beast finally gets a song to himself, and its a powerful musical moment, even when it improbably transforms him from what Belle describes as sweet, and almost kind and so unsure to a bellowing operatic hero, as ostentatious and over-the-top as the evil Gaston. Lumires feather-duster girlfriend Plumette (voiced by Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and the living wardrobe Madame Garderobe (Audra McDonald) get slightly larger roles, giving the story a place for actors of color, even if theyre mostly offscreen voices matched to animated objects.

And most significantly, Belles dad Maurice has been upgraded from a wacky cartoon eccentric to a more nuanced character, a grieving widower doing his best to support a headstrong daughter. His embellishments include a sweet (and too short) song of his own, and a history that explains the decisions he faced when Belles mother died. (Of course she did; this is still a Disney movie.) Kevin Kline plays him as sentimental and struggling, and gives him a backbone in the moments where it counts. But more significantly, his backstory is more than an idle joke or a tweaked line. Its an integral part of the story. It affects Belles character, and alters her actions, and leads to a strong new scene that deepens Belles relationship with Beast. It hints at how much better and more committed the other character changes could have been as well.

In an interview with USA Today, actor Josh Gad boasts that the film improves LeFou, a character originally defined by cartoon conceits, by expanding on that, giving him dimension, making him human. Thats a worthy goal that might have made Beauty and the Beast feel less like an empty experiment in visual hyperbole, or at best, a timid toe testing the waters of diversity. But for the most part, the 2017 Beauty and the Beast doesnt follow through on Condons promises about LeFou, or on Gads enthusiastic claims. It doesnt follow through on many of its gambits. Its much more dedicated to copycatting a classic, while making it bigger, louder, and broader. For a $160 million movie, endlessly hyped and trumpeted as a ground-breaking act of creativity and imagination, thats a remarkably small and unworthy goal.

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The Beauty and the Beast remake is a long series of wasted opportunities - The Verge

JUPITER, Fla. Earlier this week, Nationals pitching coach Mike Maddux praised Erick Feddes competitiveness, the way he seems to want to beat each hitter, the way he never backs down. But competitive fire can manifest itself in unhelpful amounts of emotion. Asked if Fedde seemed able to handle his, Maddux admitted he could not tell.

Weve only had success, said Maddux, who watched Fedde allow no runs and three hits through his first seven innings in big league camp. Failure would be the only stress test for that competitive nature everyone mentions when they talk about Fedde. Maddux joked that he hoped Fedde would never fail, so no one would have to learn how his fire held up to disappointment.

But Friday, the day finally came, as Maddux and others knew it would. Fedde failed, ending his quest to be the first pitcher in baseball history to enjoy only success. In a start scheduled to last at least four innings, Fedde could not escape the second. He allowed five runs on four hits and struggled with command, walking three men and hitting another. He threw 51 pitches, 26 of them for strikes, an uncharacteristic set of numbersfor a pitcher whohas a sported a strikeout-to-walk ratio in two minor league seasons better than 4 to 1.

[Dusty Baker thinks WBC is hurting Daniel Murphy]

I think I just kind of let the game speed up, Fedde said. My fastball command was bad, and that just kind of led to the hitters staying off of everything else.

Fedde faced a Marlins lineup that included most regulars not at the World Baseball Classic. He allowed a bunt hit to Dee Gordon to start the game, then four more base runners before he got out of the first. In the second, he walked Gordon, hit Derek Dietrich, and hung a slider to Marcell Ozuna who redirected it over the left field foul pole.

Its really a completely different game, just the way hitters approach at-bats. Thats the thing Ive probably learned the most, just how the hitters approach the game and what theyre looking for and how they sit on pitches, Fedde said. If you dont have good command, theyll wear you out for it.

Fedde said Maddux talked to him after the game, and reminded him that things like deep breaths and stepping off the rubber can help slow escalating trouble in its tracks. But Fedde could not slow the game down in time Friday.

He was barely missing with all his pitches, and when he got behind, he didnt know those hitters, but theyve got a good-hitting club, said Dusty Baker, who noticed Fedde missing with his slider, and up and out with his fastball. He said in-season scouting reports probably would have discouraged Fedde from throwing a slider to Ozuna, who the Nationals know well. But Friday, Baker felt Fedde was missing just enough to cause problems.

[Max Scherzer offers glimpse into baseball truth: Sometimes, youve gotta play hurt]

By Feddes next turn in the rotation, Tanner Roark could be back from the WBC. Max Scherzer will be back in the rotation, too. The Nationals could, therefore, move Fedde back to minor league camp to continue preparation for the minor league season. Once the rotation begins to fall into place, once Opening Day sits just a few turns away, carrying extra starters can limit the preparation of the others. When the Nationals begin to line up their rotation, Fedde and A.J. Cole seem likely to be the last men bumped out.

This has been a great experience. Everything is just preparing me for the future, Fedde said. Im really happy I got to have this experience, coming to early camp. It will be something Ill definitely be happy with when the time comes.

>>>>> After Feddes early struggles, then an RBI triple from Wilmer Difo in the fifth, the Nationals found themselves trailing by four in the seventh inning. By then, most of the major league players were out of the game, leaving a comeback in the hands of a few non-40-man additions to the travel roster. Those additions compiled a four-run rally, which included hits from Adrian Sanchez, Caleb Ramsey and Ike Ballou. Ballous two-run single tied the game, scoring speedy outfielder Rafael Bautista, whose run tied the game at five. It finished tied at five, too.

The Nationals optioned Bautista out of major league camp before Fridays game, a day after he lost a flyball in the sun in center field and got picked off second base. Baker said those moments were the only lows of an otherwise impressive spring, and that he plans to bring Bautista back to big league games over the next week to see more of last years minor league stolen base king.

You dont know when hes around, but he always pays attention. Hes fundamentally sound, Baker said. I told him yesterday, of all the young hitters here, you work on hitting more than anybody. You watch his batting practice, and its not slugging practice, its batting practice.

Baker, who does not usually gush much about young players before they prove themselves, continued.

Hes definitely on the radar. You see hes back today. Hell be back tomorrow and back the next day, Baker said. Hes an outstanding outfielder with a good arm, got speed, and hes learning how to drive the ball. Hes potentially a five-tool player, which is rare.

Bautista is one of several speedy young outfielders in the Nationals system, along with Andrew Stevenson, Victor Robles and others, all of whom impressed Baker this spring. But none earned quite as much praise as Bautista, who was hitting .333 in 16 games when the Nationals optioned him to Syracuse Friday morning.

Continue reading here:
Right-handed prospect Erick Fedde struggles for the first time this spring - Washington Post

The journey from best friends to bitter enemies has made the United States championship match between Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho a must-see attraction at WrestleMania 33.

Tim FiorvantiESPN.com

We are just over two weeks away from WrestleMania 33. Take that in for a second. We've gone from one match on the card to 11 (with a few more likely additions) in the past couple of weeks, and it feels like now is as good a time as any to take one last breath and take stock of where things stand.

The WWE on ESPN staff got together to answer three big questions -- what we're most excited about, what's the biggest problem and what realistic change we would make to make the biggest positive impact on the show.

Here's what we came up with, and we'd love to get your opinions as well, so tweet your answers to @WWEonESPN and get ready for the home stretch on the "Road to WrestleMania."

With personalities as big as their in-ring skills, the battle of former best friends will unquestionably arouse the crowd from start to finish. Few other performers in the business can entertain and captivate the way Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho can, and the soap opera between the two is that much more fascinating after their acrimonious split during the Festival of Friendship. Whatever the outcome, there's a good chance it will be the highlight of the show. -- Matt Wilansky

All the matches. All the events. Everything you want to know about the biggest week and biggest event of the year in wrestling.

Drink it in, man

KO vs. Jericho. It's going to be the best match of the night. I also expect the video package that runs before the match to be Oscar-worthy. -- Steve Braband

I think I'm most excited to see the Seth Rollins versus Triple H match ... if that's ever officially announced. While the storyline has been disjointed with a lack of air time by Triple H for most of the winter, and then the injury to Rollins, I think the build and emotion is there to make this one of the must-see matches of the night. It's likely a payoff that leads to much of what we'll see going forward between the two of them, and whoever else gets pulled in by proxy. -- Andrew Feldman

Since their poorly received WrestleMania match back in 2011, The Miz and John Cena have both shown significant improvement in the ring and on the microphone. Combined with the seemingly real-life hostility between Maryse and Nikki Bella, the foursome's mixed tag team match should be very entertaining. With Cena and Nikki's mainstream popularity and the rumored possibility of a postmatch marriage proposal, look for this match to gain headlines well outside the world of sports. -- Nick Irving

Say what you will about pairing AJ Styles with Shane McMahon, but they have the potential to create multiple WrestleMania moments built upon risks and acrobatics in this encounter. Could Styles have put on a classic five-star match with a superstar who had more of a prototypical wrestling style? Of course, but that's not what this is about. It's about the spectacle and the moments. It's about the memories, and I'm certainly excited about it. -- Sean Coyle

There have been two long-term stories that have been properly set up for big payoffs at WrestleMania, but I'll single out the Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton match for the WWE championship. At times the story of the Wyatt Family got a little rocky in the past few months, but the big moments -- their Survivor Series win, the tag title victory, all of the acrimony involving Luke Harper and finally Orton committing Arson in burning down the Wyatt compound -- all rang true. Wyatt's further decent into madness will be fun to watch in the coming weeks, and I don't think this match will be the end of things by a long shot -- Tim Fiorvanti

The main event, plain and simple. If it's Brock Lesnar-Goldberg, there is a serious risk of ending the show with a dud of a match, a la WrestleMania 20, especially since Goldberg hasn't competed in a bout that has gone longer than 90 seconds since his comeback. If it's Roman Reigns-Undertaker, the final image cannot (I repeat, cannot!) be the self-proclaimed Big Dog standing victorious over his fallen opponent. Just imagine that particular crowd's reaction. The best option seems to be Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt, but I'm not sure that has the same cachet as the other two matches to close out the biggest day of the wrestling year. -- Wilansky

I'm nervous that the WrestleMania main event will be the shortest one in WrestleMania history. If Goldberg and Brock Lesnar close out the show -- and that seems likely at this point -- there's a good chance the match doesn't reach five minutes in length. That would be a major disappointment. The WrestleMania main event should be geared toward magnificence; the Goldberg/Lesnar outcome seems to be more geared toward making a definitive statement. -- Coyle

There was minimal significant in-ring action on SmackDown Live, but AJ Styles' efforts outside of the ring resulted in a WrestleMania match against Shane McMahon.

Austin Aries won a five-way elimination match Tuesday on 205 Live to seal his spot in a match against Neville for the cruiserweight championship at WrestleMania 33.

After the early part of Monday Night Raw followed a familiar pattern, the second half created the perfect kind of chaotic energy that should be abundant with two weeks before WrestleMania 33.

2 Related

I could write an essay about the downfall of the tag team division, but in honesty, my biggest disappointment is the disappearance of Luke Harper in the past few weeks. He was on the precipice of what could have made for a very interesting dynamic in a triple threat match for the WWE championship, but after losing in a very entertaining qualifying match with Styles, he has completely disappeared. Harper played a big part in making Wyatt-Orton so special, and he deserves more than a run-in or a token spot in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

I think there are a number of disappointments, but the Braun Strowman omission in a significant match is probably on the top of my list. He's been built so well since the draft, only to be used as a stepping stone for Reigns on his path to The Undertaker. Strowman has earned his WM spotlight and deserves to be booked better in Orlando, so we'll have to see how the next couple of weeks go. -- Feldman

For the second WrestleMania in a row, Styles will be in a midcard match. At nearly 40 years old, how long can he maintain his exciting in-ring style? His match with Shane should be fun, but the WWE could be wasting one of AJ's prime years in which he could have easily produced a match of the year candidate against someone like Wyatt, Cena, or even a debuting Shinsuke Nakamura. -- Irving

My biggest concern is how Samoa Joe, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, American Alpha and other young superstars are used. They need to get their moment, and at this point it does not look like that will happen. -- Braband

I'm stating the obvious, but a legitimate Reigns heel turn would send the crowd into a frenzy and set up months of fresh, compelling storylines. Ironically, it might also help garner the fan support the WWE brass has long wanted for Reigns down the line. True, many have hungered for this character change for a long, long time to no avail, but, c'mon, it's WrestleMania -- bring on the swerve. -- Wilansky

Shane. McMahon. Dude went through a car window on an episode of Smackdown. Imagine what's next. He's going to win the "top moment" of Wrestlemania for the second straight year. -- Braband

The realistic change I'd like to see in the next few weeks is adding Strowman into the WrestleMania match between Reigns and The Undertaker. He deserves to be in the spotlight and has the agility to make this match shine, and can help patch over some holes that might otherwise show in a match between just Reigns and Taker. On another note -- can we make Shane versus AJ Styles a no-DQ match? -- Feldman

The SmackDown Live women's division has been one of the highlights of the show Tuesday nights, but the multiwoman match at WrestleMania seems a bit thrown together. NXT women's champion Asuka puts her title on the line the night before at NXT TakeOver: Orlando and could lose it on the one-year anniversary of her championship victory. Insert her into this match the next night as a surprise entrant, give her the title and create a memorable moment. -- Coyle

The Styles-Shane McMahon match should be filled with a ton of aggression and will undoubtedly include some exciting spots. But what if Styles attacks Shane again on SmackDown next week, sending him to the hospital and no longer allowing SmackDown's commissioner to fight at WrestleMania? Needing a replacement, GM Daniel Bryan announces that Styles will have to instead fight someone he knows very well from his time before the WWE -- Nakamura. -- Irving

While the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will get a lot of guys on the card, I think the cruiserweight division deserves a little more love than (the admittedly exciting) title match between Neville and Austin Aries. What about including six-to-eight of them in a ladder match to conclude the kickoff show and amp up the crowd heading into the main card? It could be for the next in line to be the No. 1 contender for the cruiserweight title, or their own version of Money in the Bank. Akira Tozawa, Rich Swann, TJ Perkins, Brian Kendrick, Mustafa Ali, Ariya Daivari, Jack Gallagher, Noam Dar and Tony Nese could each benefit from the showcase, and any of them could be the next one up, and it would be a shame to end the streak of entertaining ladder matches at WrestleMania. -- Fiorvanti

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Taking stock two weeks out from WrestleMania 33 - ESPN

Visiting Brown (17-12) led from start to finish and won, 81-75, over UMBC (15-16) in the opening round of the Women's Basketball Invitational on Thursday night. Pandora Wilson (19 points) and Taylor McCarley (18 points) led the Retrievers' offense.

Men's college basketball: Salisbury senior forward Wyatt Smith (John Carroll) was named to the D3hoops.com All-Mid-Atlantic second team and to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Middle Atlantic District second team.

Men's college lacrosse: Towson sophomore faceoff specialist Alex Woodall headlines a group of first-round additions to the Tewaaraton Award watch list. The Annapolis resident and St. Mary's graduate ranks ninth in Division I with a .645 faceoff percentage and 16th in ground balls per game at 6.7. Woodall shared Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week honors with Hofstra junior midfielder Dylan Alderman. The list includes a pair of Princeton players in senior midfielder Zach Currier and junior midfielder Austin Sims. There are also two freshman midfielders in Virginia's Dox Aitken and Penn State's Gerard Arceri. More players can be added to the watch list April 6. The pool of candidates will then be narrowed to 25 on April 27 and five finalists on May 11 before the Tewaaraton Award ceremony on June 1 in Washington.

Women's college lacrosse: Maryland sophomore goalie Megan Taylor (Glenelg), Elon junior attacker Stephanie Asher (Glenelg) and Florida sophomore goalie Haley Hicklen (Towson) were added to the women's Tewaaraton watch list along with Virginia Tech junior attacker Tristan McGinley, Elon senior goalie Rachel Ramirez, Harvard senior attacker Marisa Romeo and Florida senior attacker Mollie Stevens. ... Host UMBC (5-3) used a 13-0 run to take control and won, 17-5, over Longwood (4-4). The Retrievers were led by three players with three goals each: Sam Nolan (Fallston), Jennie Milligan (South River) and Carolyn Jamison (Westminster). Sam Moeller (St. Paul's) scored twice for UMBC. ... No. 19 Duke (5-3) used a 4-0 run to break a 7-7 tie and won, 16-10, over host Saint Joseph's (2-4). Maddie Crutchfield, Kyra Harney, Catherine Cordrey and Haley Shaffer each scored three goals for the Blue Devils.

College baseball: Catholic sophomore Jon Mierzwa (Reservoir) was named Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Week. ... Johns Hopkins jumped 19 spots to 21st in the American Baseball Coaches Association Division III poll. ... Frederick Community College (17-4) rose eight places to No. 7 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II poll.

Baseball: The Commissioner's Office named former Orioles second baseman Roberto Alomar a special consultant who will focus on youth baseball development and other league goals in Puerto Rico.

NFL: Free-agent guard Jermon Bushrod (Towson University) has re-signed with the Miami Dolphins after starting all 16 games for them last season. Bushrod was part of a unit that helped Miami reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008. He blocked for running back Jay Ajayi, who rushed for 1,272 yards, third most in a single season in Dolphins history. Bushrod has 112 career starts. The 10-year NFL veteran also played for the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears and joined Miami last season. ... The Washington Redskins signed linebacker Chris Carter.

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Digest: UMBC women lose in first round of WBI - Baltimore Sun

A developer has sought to turn this property along Lorraine Avenue, seen Nov. 28, 2016, into retail and office space.(Photo: Mollie Shauger/NorthJersey.com)

A group of residents near Lorraine Avenue finally obtainedthe outcome they had been seeking for months, when the Montclair Planning Board on Monday, March 13, voted5-4against a proposal to turn the former Warner Communications Building into retail and office space.

DeveloperMichael Pavelhas been seeking approval for a mixed-use development at 237-249 Lorraine Ave., near the Upper Montclair Train Stationand Valley Road businesses of Kings supermarketand Williams-Sonoma.

Within the past year, there have been several hearings before the Planning Board and Historic Preservation Commission. The board had earlier approved a plan for a two-floor building consisting of 4,925 square feet of retail space on the first floor and 5,300 square feet of medical office or general office space on the second floor, along with 60 parking spaces.

The developer then amended the plans, increasing the second-floor office space by 3,671 square feet, ora 36 percent increase in building area. The second floor would contain general office suites.

Developer seeks more office space on Montclair's Lorraine Avenue

Montclair board to hear revised plans for Lorraine Avenue

One small development on Lorraine Avenue in Montclair, one giant leap for residents

Several residents who live near the property, mostly along Braemore Road, have voiced their objections to the amended plans, particularly its size and perceived disparity with the surrounding historic district. Theyve also cited safety and traffic concerns.

The municipalHistoric Preservation Commission had labeled the proposed addition to the building as too intrusive in size and scale in the Upper Montclair Historic Business District. The commission also believed the proposed project does not meet the criteria under the HPCs Historic Design Guidelines, particularly in regards to rear additions, as one was proposed with the new building.

On Monday night in the Municipal Building, during the third hearing on the new plans, planning consultant Peter Steck testified and affirmed there was no new variance required. Steck was also asked to weigh in on something that had come up at the last hearing on the application, when it was thought a design waiver might be needed for the project. Board member Martin Schwartz had argued at that hearing that the waiver is required because the application doesnt meet certain municipal design standards.

In my opinion, there is no waiver needed, Steck told the Planning Board.

Steck debated with board members overhow to interpret whether the design standards in play should take into account the historic district as a whole or just buildings in the immediate vicinity of the project. Steck argued for the the latter.

The rug was pulled out from under our feet, and now this structure is going to set a dangerous precedent.

Applicant attorney Neal Zimmerman had previously argued that the applicant complies with the zoning ordinance, and the design guidelines should not supersede that fact. Zimmermanreiterated that belief following the boards decision.

The board cant just say we dont like a project. They have to base a denial in the municipal ordinances, he told The Montclair Times. We dont see a basis in the municipal ordinance for the denial.

Some board members, along with members of the public, have argued that the proposed building is not compatible with the surrounding historic district.

Braemore Road resident Jennifer Haughton on Monday night asked how an office building like the ones on Route 46 will blend with the neighborhood and historic district.

John Padovanoof Braemore Roadwas concerned the project could set a bad precedent.

What would stop the next developer from putting a similar type of building in this neighborhood, and its charm would be eroded even more? asked Padovano.

He noted how the developer and community had previously agreed on a smaller building, one that would fit within the neighborhood, and then it was changed.

The rug was pulled out from under our feet, and now this structure is going to set a dangerous precedent, Padovanosaid.

Braemore Road resident Rob Macfarlane, along with another neighbor, voiced safety concerns with the proposal. Does it make sense to keep adding density to the whole area, and potentially casualties? asked Braemore Road resident Patricia Abad, who feared an increase in traffic accidents.

Resident Yahui Olenik addresses the planning board and consultant Peter Steck, left, during Monday night's planning board meeting.(Photo: Mollie Shauger/NorthJersey.com)

Planning Board Vice Chair Jason DeSalvo pointed out how the previous plans had been praised by the board and neighbors, claiming that theapplicanttried to slide one in with an amended plan.

DeSalvo also believed thecase may have to end up being litigated to determine the HPCs power in similar applications.

We live in a beautiful town thats not meant to look like Route 46, he said.

DeSalvo, along with Schwartz and board members Robin Schlager, Carole Willis and Stephen Rooney, voted against the project.

Board members Anthony Ianuale, Carmel Loughman, Keith Brodock, and board Chair John Wynn supported the application.

Schlager agreed with Padovanos comment about the rug being pulled out from under residents.

These are peoples backyards, not just a commercial use, she said.

Wynn said he wasnt a fan of the buildings design or bulk, but he couldnt ignore Zimmermans legal arguments.

I think the best we can do on this application is to make sure weve got the best-looking building there we can get, and we have the buildings [aesthetic] impact mitigated as much as possible, Wynn said.

He reluctantly motioned to approve the application, saying its what were compelled to do.

Ianuale noted that office space is needed in the town.

Its an existing building thats failing, and I think the applicant is making an attempt to revitalize it, so I think its favorable. In my opinion, it complies in all respects with zoning, he said.

After the board was polled for votes, and it was realized the application wouldn't pass, residents in the audience clapped and cheered, with many thanking the board. The board also thanked the residents for showing up to hearings so often.

Zimmerman said Wednesday no decision had been made on the how the developer would proceed, and whetherhe would appeal the decision.

The Planning Board on Monday alsoapproved an application from Luther Flurry and Jarmila Packardfor a two-lot subdivision at 14-16 Madison Ave.A previous application involved demolishing the former Clover Rest Nursing Homeand subdividingthe property into three lots. The new application retains the former nursing home, which would be renovated, as well as anothersingle-family home in the rear of the property.

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Montclair Planning Board votes down Lorraine Ave. proposal - NorthJersey.com

President Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate key additions to his Administration.

James Donovan of Virginia will serve as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Donovan is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law and a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. He earned a BS in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master's degree in management from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and his JD from Harvard Law School. His career at Goldman Sachs has included work on corporate strategy for the firm, investment banking, and investment management. For the past eight years, Mr. Donovan has also taught classes on corporate strategy and team management to law and business students at UVA. Mr. Donovan has long been involved in efforts supporting medical research and cancer treatment and prevention, serving on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and the Board of Trustees of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

J. Christopher Giancarlo of New Jersey will serve as Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Mr. Giancarlo was confirmed to be a Commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission by unanimous consent of the Senate on June 3, 2014. He was designated as Acting Chairman of the Commission on January 20, 2017. Before entering public service, Mr. Giancarlo served as the Executive Vice President of GFI Group Inc., a financial services firm. Prior to joining GFI, he was Executive Vice President and U.S. Legal Counsel of Fenics Software and was a corporate partner in the New York law firm of Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner. He attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Government Department Honors. Mr. Giancarlo received his law degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Law where he was an associate research editor at the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law and President of the Law Schools International Law Society.

Eric D. Hargan of Illinois will serve as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Hargan is a shareholder of Greenberg Traurig, LLP in its Health & FDA Business practice, based in Chicago. He earned a BAcum laudein philosophy from Harvard University, and a JD from Columbia University Law School. Mr. Hargan previously served the Department from 2003-2007 as Deputy General Counsel, as Principal Associate Deputy Secretary and as Acting Deputy Secretary. In 2014-2015, he served as Co-Chair and Convener of the Healthcare and Human Services Transition Committee for Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2016-2017, he served on President Trumps transition team for HHS. He is a previous recipient of the HHS Secretarys Award for Distinguished Service. He and his wife currently reside in theChicago suburbswith their two sons.

Adam Lerrick of Wyoming will serve as Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Finance and upon confirmation will be designated as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Finance. Mr. Lerrick is a Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. From 2001 to 2010, he was the Friends of Allan H. Meltzer Professor of Economics at Carnegie Mellon University. From 2001 to 2007, Mr. Lerrick served as Advisor on International Economic Policy to the Joint Economic Committee of Congress. He was also an Advisor on International Economic Policy to the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. He was awarded a PhD and Institute Scholar, in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A Phi Betta Kappa, he graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in Economics.

Andrew K.Drew Maloney of Virginia will serve as Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs and upon confirmation will be designated as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Legislative Affairs. Mr. Maloney is a recognized government affairs expert with over 25 year of experience. Prior to his nomination, he was Vice President of Global Government and External Affairs for the Hess Corporation.Mr. Maloney also served as CEO of Ogilvy Government Relations, a prominent bipartisan government affairs firm. In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Maloney has served as a senior advisor to several presidential campaigns and counseled on presidential legislative transition efforts. He also held senior positions in the U.S. House of Representatives, including working for members of the House Leadership. Maloney originally from Rockingham County, Virginia earned his BA from Randolph-Macon College where he is a member of the Board of Trustees, and his JD from Catholic Universitys Columbus School of Law.

David Malpass of New York will serve as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs. Mr. Malpass returns to the Treasury after an extensive career in government and international finance. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Developing Nations in the Reagan Administration and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the George H. W. Bush Administration. Mr. Malpass was also a Senior Tax Analyst on the Senate Budget Committee during the preparations for the 1986 Tax Act and Republican Staff Director of Congresss Joint Economic Committee. He was founder of Encima Global, an economic research firm. Mr. Malpass served as Senior Economic Advisor for President Trumps campaign. He has appeared in the media as a commentator and columnist on issues focusing on growth policies, the Federal Reserve, tax reform, and international monetary policy. Mr.Malpass holds a BA from Colorado College and an MBA from University of Denver.

Sigal Mandelker of New York will serve as Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. Ms. Mandelker is currently a partner at Proskauer Rose LLP. She previously served in senior law enforcement and national security positions at the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. As Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, Sigal oversaw four major sections and a number of significant cross-border prosecutions. Prior to that position, she served as Counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security. She also previously worked on counterterrorism and national security issues as Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General. Sigal was also an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York.Sigal served as a law clerk to the Honorable Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court, and to the Honorable Edith H. Jones, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Sigal received her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and her BA from the University of Michigan.

Brent James McIntosh of Michigan will serve as General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury. Mr. McIntosh is a partner in the law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell. He was born and raised in Michigan, and he earned degrees from the University of Michigan and Yale Law School. After law school, he was a law clerk to Judge Dennis Jacobs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and to Judge Laurence H. Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. From 2004 until 2006, he served in the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General. He served in the White House from 2006 until 2009, first as Associate Counsel to the President and then as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Staff Secretary.

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President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Key Administration Posts - Whitehouse.gov (press release)

Restoration of the original theater facade and marquee are shown in this rendering by Allford Hall Monagham Morris, with the Elk Valley Brewing Co. tap room and rooftop bar to the south of the former theater.[Rendering provided]

A brewery and tap room are set as the next tenants of a theater redevelopment in Midtown while yet another surprise retail announcement is set to follow soon.

Pivot Project partners David Wanzer, Jonathan Dodson and Ben Sellers bought the former Uptown Theater and adjoining retail and office space at 1212 N Hudson Ave. last October for $2.86 million. Their first-announced tenant was Resolution Legal Group, a law firm that will occupy an expanded office wing on the north end of the property.

Wanzer confirmed Elk Valley Brewing Co. will open a brewery and tap room on the south end of the development which, like the office annex, will include new expanded space. Broker Allison Bailey confirmed the pending tenant will be a retail mix.

The tenant is not ready to talk publicly, but I'm excited to see this project coming to Midtown, Bailey said. It will be a good fit for visitors and neighbors alike.

Renderings by Allford Hall Monagham Morris show the original theater facade dating back to the building's opening in 1941 will be recreated along with the former theater marquee. Modern additions will be built behind the office annex on the north end and for the brewery that will extend from a retail space that will be the Elk Valley's tap room with a rooftop bar.

The Pivot Project also owns surface parking to the south of the development, which plans show could evolve into housing, a hotel and retail. Wanzer said no such plans are set, however, and are only a potential future use for the property.

With the streetcar stop on that corner, transit-oriented development may make sense there at a later date, Wanzer said.

The two-story, 5,300-square-foot office addition is set to include a rooftop terrace and a formal entrance facing a new parking lot to the east of the building. Construction by Smith & Pickel is set to start soon with the firm scheduled to move in by early 2018.

John Elkins, who is hoping to open the brewery and tap room by mid-2018, started his Elk Valley Brewing Co. in 2013, first with Choc in Krebbs and then taking on more of a role in the business side of the operation in a cooperative venture with Mustang Brewing.

The guys at Pivot talked to me about ideas they had, and I was glad to find a place I could call my own, Elkins said. We looked at different properties and this was the right fit. It's the community I want to be in.

The tap room will be in the 900-square-foot retail storefront south of the former theater.

We're looking to have some fun things on tap, things people haven't had a chance to try, Elkins said. We will have 16 taps, some will be non-alcohol. We will have sodas and we have a guy coming in who will be making Kombucha (a fermented, sweetened black or green tea). It's something I'd love to do that nobody is doing on-site here in the city. It's natural and good it's good for digestion.

The 4,000-square-foot expansion for the brewery, meanwhile, is being designed to reflect the use of metal, aluminum and glass being used with the Resolution Legal Group office addition.

It will allow me to double production, Elkins said. I'm pretty conservative in my projections. We will be going from two to eight people. We can grow to 10 times our production in that place before we'd have to grow to another location to handle distribution.

Wanzer said he sees the development as a tribute to R.G. Sieber, who built the theater and also built the landmark Sieber Hotel, butcher shop, restaurant and other retail across the street. The 650-seat theater opened in January 1941, boasting air conditioning and double seats for couples on date nights. Top movie tickets cost 20 cents, while matinee tickets cost 15 cents.

The theater was closed in 1955 by heir Delrose Sieber, and a second floor was added into the theater's auditorium. The modernization included changes to the theater's first floor facade that are now set to be reversed back to the original appearance.

The Sieber family was trying to create a neighborhood with all their properties in the area, Wanzer said. We feel like we are honoring that original vision.

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Brewery on tap for Midtown Oklahoma City development - NewsOK.com

CHARLESTON, SC -

As the RiverDogs get set to host some of the biggest stars from two of the premier franchises in baseball at the second annual Legends in the South Alumni Game, the club has announced more additions to the Braves and Yankees rosters. Joining six members from last years teams, first baseman slugger Sid Bream will once again suit up for the Braves in a night of nostalgia at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on Friday, June 9 at 6pm presented by Budweiser and Container Maintenance.

Other new additions to the Braves roster include four members from last years victorious Atlanta team: Marquis Grissom, Greg McMichael, Pete Smith, and Jeff Treadway. Also returning from last years contest, Gene Stick Michael and Jeff Nelson have been announced as the first members of the Yankees roster. Former Braves slugger Ryan Klesko has already been announced as the first member to officially sign on with the Braves.

The Braves and Yankees produced some of the most memorable World Series and postseason moments in baseball history during their rivalry in the 90s, and it will be truly special to see these players take the field once again here at The Joe, said RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols. All of last years attendees were great ambassadors of the game through their participation and engagement with the fans, and we couldnt be happier to welcome back the Braves and Yankees alumni.

A veteran of 12 Major League seasons, Bream most famously scored the winning run of the 1992 NLCS that lifted Atlanta to their second consecutive World Series berth. In a career that included three seasons with Atlanta (1991-93), the Pennsylvania native hit .264 with 90 homers and 191 doubles while slugging .420 in over 1,000 games.

A former second round pick out of Liberty University, Bream first cracked the Bigs in 1983 with the Dodgers before being traded to Pittsburgh where he had some of his most impressive seasons including 1986 when the lefty slugger hit .268 while ripping 37 doubles, third most in the National League, as the starting first baseman for the Bucs. In 1990, he bounced back from a knee injury with the Pirates and was honored with the Fred Hutchinson Award, given to the MLB player that best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire to win.

The Braves Legends outfield will once again be highlighted by the four-time gold glover Grissom who spent two seasons as a member of the Braves and most famously recorded the final out of the 1995 World Series. Grissom hit .272 with 227 home runs and 429 stolen bases in his 17-year MLB career with the Expos, Braves, Indians, Brewers, Dodgers, and Giants. Some of the Atlanta natives best seasons came as a member of his hometown club when he earned two of his four consecutive gold gloves in 1995-96. Grissom twice led the National League in stolen bases, swiping 76 and 78 bags respectively in 1991 and 1992.

McMichael will suit up in a Braves uniform once again after logging over 500 innings with 459 strikeouts in his 8-year career in The Show to go along with a 31-29 record and 3.25 ERA out of the bullpen. The right-handed hurler debuted with the Braves in 1993, a season in which he would be the runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies as the 21st overall pick in the 1984 Draft, Smith was traded to the Braves before making his Big League debut on September 8, 1987 with Atlanta at the age of 21. In 1988, Smith pitched three shutouts the season after his rookie year. Smith played for the Braves from 1987-93 and joined the New York Mets for the 1994 campaign. The Massachusetts native finished out his career with the Reds, Padres, and Orioles, accruing a 47-71 record, 640 strikeouts, and a 4.55 ERA in over 1,000 innings in the Majors.

Treadway will once again feature in the Braves infield as he returns for the second annual midsummer showcase. A product of the University of Georgia, Treadway hit a consistent .281 over his 9-year MLB career while also collecting 28 home runs in 762 games with the Reds, Braves, Indians, Dodgers, and Expos, playing mostly second base.

Michael, a native Ohioan and 10-year Big Leaguer, joins the squad of Yankee greats for the second time after stints as a player, manager, and general manager in New York. Nicknamed Stick for his lanky frame, the 62 switch hitting infielder was a career .229 hitter with 15 home runs in 973 career games with the Pirates, Dodgers, Yankees, and Tigers. An adept fielder, Michael posted a career .962 fielding percentage while playing mostly second and short and was a master of the hidden ball trick, successfully pulling off the feat five times in his career. After his playing career, Michael enjoyed stints as the manager for the Yankees (1981-82) and Cubs (1986-87) before serving as the General Manager in New York from 1991-95.

A part of the Yankees bullpen in their dominant run of the late 90s, Nelson racked up four World Series rings while with the Bronx Bombers from 1996-2000 and posted a career 3.41 ERA in 15 seasons that also included stints with the Mariners, Rangers, and White Sox.

General admission tickets for the two-time World Series rematch start at just $12, and can be secured online at http://www.rileyparkevents.com , at the Riley Park box office, or by contacting the RiverDogs front office at 843-577-DOGS (3647). Batting practice will be open to all ticket holders starting at 4 with the Legends available to sign autographs pregame.

Along with tickets to the game on Friday, fans will have the chance to rub shoulders with some of the all-time greats the night before as the RiverDogs take on the Asheville Tourists at 7:05pm at The Joe on Thursday, June 8. The Braves and Yankees legends will mix-and-mingle with fans in the Riley Park Club during the game with all-inclusive tickets to the brand-new luxury gameday venue that includes complimentary food, beer, and wine for $120 each with a limited number available.

RiverDogs season tickets, half-season ticket packages, mini plans, and group tickets are now available for the 2017 campaign, including options for the all-new Riley Park Club. The RiverDogs, the Class-A affiliate of the 27-time world champion New York Yankees, begin their season on April 6 when they host the Lexington Legends at The Joe. Single-game tickets are now available and can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at http://www.riverdogs.com.

Braves Legends Roster

Sid Bream, IF

Marquis Grissom, OF

Ryan Klesko, IF/OF

Greg McMichael, RHP

Pete Smith, RHP

Jeff Treadway, IF

Yankees Legends Roster

Gene Michael, IF

Jeff Nelson, RHP

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Playoff Hero Sid Bream Joins Legends in the South - Live 5 News

The story of how Eddy Martinez opened Beijing Bistro in Buda starts in Manor.

The landlord of a new commercial center in Buda at FM 967 and FM 1626 came in to Martinezs Manor restaurant in 2015 and ordered lunch. That day, he offered Martinez a spot at his new development.

I guess he liked it, Martinez said.

Martinez, who co-owns the bistro along with Marino Alvarado, opened the Buda restaurant in mid-2015. He said the restaurant has gained popularity with customers because it takes classic American Chinese food recipes and tweaks the recipes slightly.

Sesame chicken ($8.95) is the most popular item on the restaurants menu, co-owner Eddy Martinez said. BRETT THORNE

Its almost the same like everyone else, but we try to change our recipes with little touches, he said. I think the customers like it.

Martinez and Alvarado have been working in restaurants together since 1995 and in that time have formed a close bond, Martinez said. The pair worked together at Chinese food restaurants throughout Austin in the late 90s and early 2000s. When Martinez decided he wanted to open a restaurant of his own, Alvarado joined him.

The restaurants most popular menu item is the sesame chicken entree ($8.95), Martinez said. The dish is made with dark meat and served with a side of rice. Orange chicken ($8.95), another top seller, is also served with rice.

In late 2016, the restaurant added beer and wine to its menu. Beijing Bistro now offers a variety of American and Chinese beers as well as sake.

The Buddhas Feast ($7.50) includes sauteed mixed vegetables. BRETT THORNE

More than a year after opening the Buda location, Martinez said he feels like he is ready to begin thinking about other additions to the restaurants menu.

Martinez said he also has a longer-term plan to begin serving sushi at the restaurant. Right now, he is waiting to hire the right sushi chef, he said.

Looking ahead, Martinez said he hopes to add new appetizers to his menu. Dumplings, lettuce wraps and Japanese ice cream may be added in the near future, he said.

Beijing Bistro

3420B FM 967, Ste. B-110, Buda 512-523-8030 Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

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Beijing Bistro restaurateur chooses Buda for second location - Community Impact Newspaper

After the April 4 municipal election, a new district board at Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 will be responsible for carrying out and guiding a mutli-million dollar expansion project at the Buffalo Grove-based school district to completion.

District officials have said they plan to spend as much as $25 million on building additions to keep pace with anticipated enrollment increases coming from areas around Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire, but they don't plan to ask for a tax increase to cover the work.

The project, along with other issues facing a district that serves 2,225 students in kindergarten through the eighth grade, has attracted four candidates, including three incumbents, who are running for three seats on the District 102 board during the upcoming local election.

The District 102 portion of the ballot also will include Laura Golden. But district officials said Golden recently dropped out of the race after filling an election petition in December.

She never returned requests for comment.

All three incumbents on the board also are seeking new terms in this election. Jeremy Galfield, who was first elected in 2013, Scott Lin, who also won a seat in 2013, and Pelleg Graupe, who has served two consecutive terms, all are running for re-election this year.

The four candidates each gave different answers when asked why they wanted to be part of the District 102 board.

A native of southeast Kansas, Suzann Audi, a Prairie View resident who is the only non-incumbent vying for a seat on the District 102 board, has three children who attend Pritchett Elementary in the district

If elected to the District 102 board, she said, she would work on finding a balance between students' use of electronic devices and the more traditional ways of learning in the classroom.

"I want kids to learn how to use it effectively and how to survive without it," Audi said. "I'm not looking to join because I see a problem. I just want to work with them and help in any way I can."

Graupe said he has focused his attention lately on proposed building additions to Aptakisic Junior High along with the other list of proposed renovation projects at other school buildings in District 102.

If the plans for a large subdivision on the nearby Didier Farms property comes to fruition, each grade level in District 102 likely will see an influx of new students, he said.

If re-elected to the board, he would work to balance the expense on taxpayers for the upcoming building additions at the district with need to develop additional space for students, he said.

"It's a huge project that the district hasn't been through in a while," he said. "Every student needs to see a tangible benefit."

Calling public education a key building block for children, Lin said he wants another term simply because he wants more time to make contributions to a district not only undergoing building changes, but also changes to its demographics.

District officials have seen increases in recent years to the number of Asian and Hispanic students enrolled at District 102.

The district includes an Asian population that totals 37 percent of the student body and a Hispanic population that totals 7 percent, according to district figures.

"The district has been embracing this diversity change quite advantageously, and I want to make sure the district continues to do that," Lin said. "I want to make sure the board continues to meet its challenges."

Galfield said he wanted a second term because of the past accomplishments he and other board members achieved during his initial term.

The work included a new contract with the teachers' union, a transition to full-day kindergarten and the addition of new Superintendent Lori Wilcox, he said.

Going forward, he said, a major priority for him would be ensuring that the curriculum at District 102 adequately prepares students for life at Stevenson High School, the highly regarded high school in Lincolnshire known for its academic rigor.

"What we're doing right now is the important work," he said. "What we're teaching right now is Stevenson-ready."

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Contested race for spots on Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 board - Chicago Tribune