washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Volunteers ensure abused children have a voice

GRAND ISLAND , Neb .
( AP ) - During the last 15 years , Jackie Kuskie has helped a lot of children .
Kuskie recently retired from her work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate .
CASA volunteers often work closely with young people who are the victims of abuse or neglect .
She told The Grand Island Independent she did the work “ because I love children .
I think every child deserves a childhood they want to remember.
” The volunteers are appointed by a judge to advocate for a child ’ s best interest in court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 years old .
CASA volunteers work with the child on a long-term basis .
They stay on the case until the child finds “ permanency in housing , ” said Erin Howe , executive director of Heartland CASA .
The children eventually are adopted by a new family or return home to their biological family .
CASA volunteers strive to make sure the kids have a voice .
“ These children are in a situation that is completely out of their control , ” Howe said .
“ They feel guilt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” They are lost , she said .
The parents have lawyers , and social workers are involved in the case .
“ But as we know , in the hustle and bustle of things , the kids get kind of pushed back and their voices get smaller and smaller until they disappear , ” Howe said .
CASA volunteers work to make sure the children wind up in a safe , caring and stable environment , she said .
In addition to the children , the CASA volunteers build relationships with other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , judges , social workers and guardians ad litem .
A CASA volunteer is an anchor in a child ’ s life .
The attorneys and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services representatives are all busy with other cases .
But the children involved are a CASA volunteer ’ s sole focus .
“ It ’ s one volunteer per family , ” Howe said .
“ And that is what I believe really sets CASA apart from the rest of the team that surrounds these families.
” To work as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an open mind , understanding and a dedication to children , she said .
“ We deal with children from every walk of life .
Abuse and neglect is not just a poor thing , ” Howe said .
“ It doesn ’ t matter the color of your skin or how much money is in your bank account .
Abuse and neglect can happen across the board.
” Tonja Brown is a current CASA volunteer .
The Grand Island woman is active in many community organizations .
“ I ’ m pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but a lot of what I had been spending time with was very boardroom-oriented , ” Brown said .
“ I wanted to do something very personal .
So I chose CASA.
” She remembers a time when there was no legal intervention for children , who often fell through the cracks .
“ And now we have a pretty good legal system in place for children .
And I want to be a part of that , ” Brown said .
She has been a CASA volunteer for a little more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to look out for what is best for the children , ” Brown said .
She enjoys “ being the eyes and ears that are looking out for the kiddos.
” “ Children have been a part of my heart forever , ” said the Central City woman .
She especially enjoyed working with kids 5 and younger .
“ I ’ ve always just felt a connection with younger kiddos , ” Kuskie said .
As a CASA volunteer , she didn ’ t establish a connection just with the child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
“ Because I can learn a lot by getting to know them , ” she said .
She sometimes went to a day care to spend time with the child .
In many ways , she became part of the family .
Trust developed .
The child would say that Kuskie might not be her mother , “ but she ’ s a friend of my mom.
” The cases are complex and can last a long time .
Kuskie ’ s longest case lasted four years .
The role of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over time .
Kuskie , who says she can sometimes be a bulldog , remembers attorneys who felt they didn ’ t have to talk to her .
She would show them a court order .
Her message was , “ I am indeed an officer of the court and you do indeed have to talk to me.
” CASA volunteers receive good support from area judges , Howe said .
Heartland CASA works in Hall , Howard , Hamilton and Merrick counties .
Judges give a lot of credence to the reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those reports are entered as evidence .
Still , CASA volunteers sometimes have to make difficult decisions .
“ In the case I ’ m on right now , the goal at the beginning of the case was reunification with the parents .
And the way the case evolved , that goal had to change , ” Brown said .
“ When you have to agree that termination of somebody ’ s parental rights is necessary , it ’ s hard , ” she said .
Nobody wants to separate children from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s in the best interest of the entire family , ” Howe said .
Not all women are meant to be mothers , Kuskie said .
The parents involved often are addicted to drugs .
In some cases , parents “ disappear off the map ” for up to six months , Howe said .
Still , CASA has a good success rate .
The organization is happy when the children get what they need and no longer run the risk of being lost , she said .
One day at Walmart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her name .
She had worked with the little girl , who was 4 or 5 .
The case had been over for months .
But the little girl was pleased to see her .
That experience showed her she had done the right thing .
“ Because that little girl was happy , ” Kuskie said .
“ She was back with her mom.
” Sometimes , the parties involved think there ’ s no way a story will have a happy ending , but yet the parents “ pull it off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sober , find employment and housing and get their kids back .
Kuskie already knew she had a good rapport with children .
But before signing up with CASA , she wondered if she was smart enough , which is a common fear .
Like many other volunteers , she also worried that she wasn ’ t familiar enough with the legal system .
Kuskie soon found out that she could do the job , and that she could make a difference in children ’ s lives .
“ It makes me feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy for that child ” when he or she finds a forever home - “ someplace where they ’ ll be loved and cherished , as they deserve to be , ” Kuskie said .
CASA always is looking for volunteers .
To find out more , visit www.heartlandcasa.org or call 308-385-5125 .

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) - During the last 15 years, Jackie Kuskie has helped a lot of children.
Kuskie recently retired from her work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASA volunteers often work closely with young people who are the victims of abuse or neglect.
She told The Grand Island Independent she did the work “because I love children. I think every child deserves a childhood they want to remember.”
The volunteers are appointed by a judge to advocate for a child’s best interest in court. Those kids can be up to 19 years old.
CASA volunteers work with the child on a long-term basis. They stay on the case until the child finds “permanency in housing,” said Erin Howe, executive director of Heartland CASA. The children eventually are adopted by a new family or return home to their biological family.
CASA volunteers strive to make sure the kids have a voice.
“These children are in a situation that is completely out of their control,” Howe said. “They feel guilt, they feel anger, they feel resentment.”
They are lost, she said.
The parents have lawyers, and social workers are involved in the case.
“But as we know, in the hustle and bustle of things, the kids get kind of pushed back and their voices get smaller and smaller until they disappear,” Howe said.
CASA volunteers work to make sure the children wind up in a safe, caring and stable environment, she said.
In addition to the children, the CASA volunteers build relationships with other family members, foster parents, attorneys, judges, social workers and guardians ad litem.
A CASA volunteer is an anchor in a child’s life.
The attorneys and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services representatives are all busy with other cases.
But the children involved are a CASA volunteer’s sole focus.
“It’s one volunteer per family,” Howe said. “And that is what I believe really sets CASA apart from the rest of the team that surrounds these families.”
To work as a CASA volunteer, people need heart, an open mind, understanding and a dedication to children, she said.
“We deal with children from every walk of life. Abuse and neglect is not just a poor thing,” Howe said. “It doesn’t matter the color of your skin or how much money is in your bank account. Abuse and neglect can happen across the board.”
Tonja Brown is a current CASA volunteer. The Grand Island woman is active in many community organizations.
“I’m pretty selective about what I get involved in, but a lot of what I had been spending time with was very boardroom-oriented,” Brown said. “I wanted to do something very personal. So I chose CASA.”
She remembers a time when there was no legal intervention for children, who often fell through the cracks.
“And now we have a pretty good legal system in place for children. And I want to be a part of that,” Brown said.
She has been a CASA volunteer for a little more than five years.
“My job is to look out for what is best for the children,” Brown said. She enjoys “being the eyes and ears that are looking out for the kiddos.”
Kuskie also enjoyed that role.
“Children have been a part of my heart forever,” said the Central City woman.
She especially enjoyed working with kids 5 and younger. “I’ve always just felt a connection with younger kiddos,” Kuskie said.
As a CASA volunteer, she didn’t establish a connection just with the child. She built relationships with the entire family. “Because I can learn a lot by getting to know them,” she said.
She sometimes went to a day care to spend time with the child.
In many ways, she became part of the family. Trust developed.
The child would say that Kuskie might not be her mother, “but she’s a friend of my mom.”
The cases are complex and can last a long time. Kuskie’s longest case lasted four years.
The role of the CASA volunteer has become more established over time.
Kuskie, who says she can sometimes be a bulldog, remembers attorneys who felt they didn’t have to talk to her.
She would show them a court order. Her message was, “I am indeed an officer of the court and you do indeed have to talk to me.”
CASA volunteers receive good support from area judges, Howe said. Heartland CASA works in Hall, Howard, Hamilton and Merrick counties.
Judges give a lot of credence to the reports written by CASA volunteers, she said. Those reports are entered as evidence.
Still, CASA volunteers sometimes have to make difficult decisions.
“In the case I’m on right now, the goal at the beginning of the case was reunification with the parents. And the way the case evolved, that goal had to change,” Brown said.
“When you have to agree that termination of somebody’s parental rights is necessary, it’s hard,” she said.
Nobody wants to separate children from their parents. “But sometimes that’s in the best interest of the entire family,” Howe said.
Not all women are meant to be mothers, Kuskie said.
The parents involved often are addicted to drugs. In some cases, parents “disappear off the map” for up to six months, Howe said.
Still, CASA has a good success rate. The organization is happy when the children get what they need and no longer run the risk of being lost, she said.
One day at Walmart, Kuskie heard a young girl call her name. She had worked with the little girl, who was 4 or 5. The case had been over for months. But the little girl was pleased to see her.
That experience showed her she had done the right thing.
“Because that little girl was happy,” Kuskie said. “She was back with her mom.”
Sometimes, the parties involved think there’s no way a story will have a happy ending, but yet the parents “pull it off,” Howe said. They get sober, find employment and housing and get their kids back.
“It’s a huge accomplishment,” she said.
Kuskie already knew she had a good rapport with children.
But before signing up with CASA, she wondered if she was smart enough, which is a common fear. Like many other volunteers, she also worried that she wasn’t familiar enough with the legal system.
Kuskie soon found out that she could do the job, and that she could make a difference in children’s lives.
“It makes me feel good, but it makes me so happy for that child” when he or she finds a forever home - “someplace where they’ll be loved and cherished, as they deserve to be,” Kuskie said.
CASA always is looking for volunteers. To find out more, visit www.heartlandcasa.org or call 308-385-5125.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Signs help visitors find their way in downtown Sioux City

SIOUX CITY , Iowa ( AP ) - Corner traffic signal boxes wrapped with brightly colored vinyl directional signage will help visitors and locals alike better navigate Sioux City ’ s downtown .
With a number of new developments having sprung up since 2005 , Ragen Cote , executive director of Downtown Partners , said the previous wayfinding system was outdated .
Wayfinding , or directional signage , is described as “ direction for people in motion.
” “ When wayfinding isn ’ t accurate , people just don ’ t trust it , so they ’ re not looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that really needed updating in downtown , ” Cote told the Sioux City Journal .
A few years ago , Roger Brooks , a placemaking expert , visited Sioux City and presented his findings through the eyes of a tourist .
Brooks targeted the downtown wayfinding system as a “ must do ” for the community , according to Cote .
Since then , Downtown Partners , the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and the city have partnered to move the wayfinding project forward .
Cote said hundreds of community members , groups and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process , which was led by Corbin Design .
Design services were provided by JDG Creative and installation was completed by Siouxland Signs .
“ We ’ re going to see a lot more development in downtown that ’ s going to inspire more walk-ability .
When you get out of your car and see something like this , you ’ re able to understand what ’ s around you , ” Cote said .
The total cost of the project is roughly $ 250,000 , which includes pedestrian and vehicular signage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Historical Development covered quite a bit of the cost of the project .
“ What we ’ ve ended up doing , just due to funding , is we ’ ve split the project into two phases .
One was pedestrian and one was for cars , ” Cote said .
“ Pedestrian is the one that got done first to help people as they ’ re walking downtown.
” Cote said bids for the vehicular piece of the project , which is the most expensive , were recently received .
She said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ award a contract to the lowest bidder in the next couple of weeks .
“ The vehicular side of things is more of a citywide based system , ” Cote explained .
“ It takes a little bit of our history .
You ’ ll see some of the steer heads in the design .
You ’ ll see a lot of golds and terra cotta colors that you would see in downtown.
” The new signage and maps will help connect people with entertainment areas , museums , parks , residential living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hundreds of downtown small businesses .
Each traffic signal box is wrapped using an image of how that intersection once looked and a map that shows the current location and identifies businesses within a two-block radius .
“ I think these are really fun .
They ’ re colorful .
They ’ re bright .
You notice them , ” Cote said .
“ We can change those out every year .
As businesses change , as things change downtown , those can come off and be put right back on very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the following corners : Third and Pearl , Fifth and Pearl , Sixth and Pearl , Fifth and Douglas , Sixth and Douglas , Seventh and Douglas , Third and Pierce , Fourth and Pierce , Fifth and Pierce , Sixth and Pierce , Third and Nebraska , Fourth and Nebraska , Fifth and Nebraska , Sixth and Nebraska , Third and Jackson , Gordon Drive and Virginia , Fourth and Floyd , and in the Farmer ’ s Market area .

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - Corner traffic signal boxes wrapped with brightly colored vinyl directional signage will help visitors and locals alike better navigate Sioux City’s downtown.
With a number of new developments having sprung up since 2005, Ragen Cote, executive director of Downtown Partners, said the previous wayfinding system was outdated. Wayfinding, or directional signage, is described as “direction for people in motion.”
“When wayfinding isn’t accurate, people just don’t trust it, so they’re not looking. That was one of the things that really needed updating in downtown,” Cote told the Sioux City Journal.
A few years ago, Roger Brooks, a placemaking expert, visited Sioux City and presented his findings through the eyes of a tourist. Brooks targeted the downtown wayfinding system as a “must do” for the community, according to Cote.
Since then, Downtown Partners, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and the city have partnered to move the wayfinding project forward. Cote said hundreds of community members, groups and businesses have been involved in the design process, which was led by Corbin Design. Design services were provided by JDG Creative and installation was completed by Siouxland Signs.
“We’re going to see a lot more development in downtown that’s going to inspire more walk-ability. When you get out of your car and see something like this, you’re able to understand what’s around you,” Cote said.
The total cost of the project is roughly $250,000, which includes pedestrian and vehicular signage. Cote said a grant from Missouri River Historical Development covered quite a bit of the cost of the project.
“What we’ve ended up doing, just due to funding, is we’ve split the project into two phases. One was pedestrian and one was for cars,” Cote said. “Pedestrian is the one that got done first to help people as they’re walking downtown.”
Cote said bids for the vehicular piece of the project, which is the most expensive, were recently received. She said the City Council will be asked to award a contract to the lowest bidder in the next couple of weeks.
“The vehicular side of things is more of a citywide based system,” Cote explained. “It takes a little bit of our history. You’ll see some of the steer heads in the design. You’ll see a lot of golds and terra cotta colors that you would see in downtown.”
The new signage and maps will help connect people with entertainment areas, museums, parks, residential living units, city services, the riverfront and hundreds of downtown small businesses.
Each traffic signal box is wrapped using an image of how that intersection once looked and a map that shows the current location and identifies businesses within a two-block radius.
“I think these are really fun. They’re colorful. They’re bright. You notice them,” Cote said. “We can change those out every year. As businesses change, as things change downtown, those can come off and be put right back on very inexpensively.”
Pedestrian signs are located at the following corners: Third and Pearl, Fifth and Pearl, Sixth and Pearl, Fifth and Douglas, Sixth and Douglas, Seventh and Douglas, Third and Pierce, Fourth and Pierce, Fifth and Pierce, Sixth and Pierce, Third and Nebraska, Fourth and Nebraska, Fifth and Nebraska, Sixth and Nebraska, Third and Jackson, Gordon Drive and Virginia, Fourth and Floyd, and in the Farmer’s Market area.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Doctor: Trump improving, but not 'out of the woods' yet

BETHESDA , Md .
( AP ) - President Donald Trump went through a “ very concerning ” period Friday and faces a “ critical ” next two days in his fight against COVID-19 at a military hospital , his chief of staff said Saturday - in contrast to a rosier assessment moments earlier by Trump doctors , who took pains not to reveal the president had received supplemental oxygen at the White House before his hospital admission .
Trump remained at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday .
He offered his own assessment of his status Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suite , saying he was beginning to feel better and hoped to “ be back soon.
” And he was back on social media early Sunday morning , sharing a video of flag-waving supporters , most not wearing masks , gathered outside Walter Reed .
“ Thank you so much !
” Trump tweeted at 7:18 a.m .
The day before , chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters outside the hospital , “ We ’ re still not on a clear path yet to a full recovery.
” In an update Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed cautious optimism but added that the president was “ not yet out of the woods.
” The changing , and at times contradictory , accounts created a credibility crisis for the White House at a crucial moment , with the president ’ s health and the nation ’ s leadership on the line .
With Trump expected to remain hospitalized several more days and the presidential election looming , his condition is being anxiously watched by Americans .
Moreover , the president ’ s health represents a national security issue of paramount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. government but also to countries around the world , friendly and otherwise .
Saturday ’ s briefing by Navy Cmdr .
Dr. Sean Conley and other doctors raised more questions than it answered .
Conley repeatedly refused to say whether the president ever needed supplemental oxygen , despite repeated questioning , and declined to share key details , including how high a fever Trump had been running before it came back down to a normal range .
Conley also revealed that Trump had begun exhibiting “ clinical indications ” of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known .
Conley spent much of the briefing dodging reporters ’ questions as he was pressed for details .
“ Thursday , no oxygen .
None at this moment .
And yesterday with the team , while we were all here , he was not on oxygen , ” Conley said .
But according to a person familiar with Trump ’ s condition , Trump was administered oxygen at the White House on Friday morning , before he was transported to the military hospital by helicopter that evening .
The person was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press on condition of anonymity , Conley said that Trump ’ s symptoms , including a mild cough , nasal congestion and fatigue , “ are now resolving and improving , ” and that the president had been fever-free for 24 hours .
But Trump also is taking aspirin , which lowers body temperature and could mask or mitigate that symptom .
“ He ’ s in exceptionally good spirits , ” said another doctor , Sean Dooley .
He said Trump ’ s heart , kidney and liver functions were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breathing or walking around .
In an evening health update , Conley said Trump had been up and moving around his medical suite without difficulty and conducting business .
“ While not yet out of the woods , the team remains cautiously optimistic , ” he said .
In the hospital video , Trump defended his decision to continue campaigning and holding large events during a pandemic .
“ I had no choice , ” said Trump , who refused to abide by basic public health recommendations , including mask-wearing .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe .
… As a leader , you have to confront problems.
” Trump also thanked his medical team and hailed the state-of-the-art treatments he was receiving , comparing them to “ miracles coming down from God.
” Trump ’ s medical care is far superior to the average American ’ s , with around-the-clock attention and experimental treatments .
The president was angry at Meadows ’ public assessment of his health and , in an effort to prove his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and authorized longtime confidant Rudy Giuliani to release a statement on his behalf that he was feeling well , according to a Republican close to the White House not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations .
Trump is 74 years old and clinically obese , putting him at higher risk of serious complications from a virus that has infected more than 7 million people nationwide and killed more than 209,000 people in the U.S. First lady Melania Trump remained at the White House to recover from her own bout with the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nicely , ” Trump said in the video , noting with a touch of humor that she was “ just a little tiny bit younger ” - in fact , 24 years younger .
Meadows himself had insisted Friday morning that Trump had only “ mild symptoms ” as the White House tried to project an image of normalcy .
It was unclear whether Trump already had received oxygen when Meadows spoke .
“ President Trump remains in good spirits , has mild symptoms and has been working throughout the day , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She said Trump had only been sent to Walter Reed as a precaution .
Trump ’ s administration has been less than transparent with the public throughout the pandemic , both about the president ’ s health and the virus ’ s spread inside the White House .
The first word that a close aide to Trump had been infected came from the media , not the White House .
And aides have repeatedly declined to share basic health information , including a full accounting of the president ’ s symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results .
In a memo released late Friday , Conley did report that Trump had been treated at the hospital with remdesivir , an antiviral medication , after sharing that he ’ d taking another experimental drug at the White House .
Conley declined to say when Trump had last been tested before he was confirmed to have COVID-19 late Thursday .
He initially suggested that Trump was 72 hours into the diagnosis - which would mean that he was confirmed infected Wednesday .
Conley later clarified that Trump was administered an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon , after White House aide Hope Hicks was confirmed to be positive and Trump exhibited “ clinical indications ” of the virus .
The White House has said Trump was expected to stay at the hospital for “ a few days ” and would continue to work from its presidential suite , which is equipped to allow him to keep up his official duties .
In addition to accessibility to tests and equipment , the decision to move to the hospital on Friday was made , at least in part , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send a worrying signal if he took a turn for the worse .
On Saturday , Conley said Trump ’ s blood oxygen level was 96 % , which is in the normal range .
The two experimental drugs he has received , given through an IV , have shown some promise against COVID-19 .
On Friday , he was given a single dose of a drug Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. is testing to supply antibodies to help his immune system fight the virus .
On Friday night , he began a five-day course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently used for moderately and severely ill patients .
The drugs work in different ways - the antibodies help the immune system rid the body of virus and remdesivir curbs the virus ’ s ability to multiply .
“ We ’ re maximizing all aspects of his care , ” attacking the virus in multiple ways , Conley said .
“ I didn ’ t want to hold anything back if there was any possibility it would add value to his care.
” He noted that in many cases , COVID-19 can become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The first week of COVID , and in particular day seven to 10 , are the most critical in determining the likely course of this illness , ” he said .
At the same time , the White House has been working to trace a flurry of new infections of close Trump aides and allies .
Attention is focused in particular on the Sept. 26 White House event introducing Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee .
That day , Trump gathered more than 150 people in the Rose Garden , where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmingly without masks .
There were also several indoor receptions , where Trump ’ s Supreme Court pick , Amy Coney Barrett , her family , senators and others spent time in the close quarters of the White House , photographs show .
Among those who attended and have now tested positive : former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway , the president of the University of Notre Dame and at least two Republican lawmakers - Utah Sen. Mike Lee and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bill Stepien , and the head of the Republican National Committee , Ronna McDaniel , have also tested positive , though they were not at the event .
Another prominent Republican who has tested positive : Sen. Ron Johnson .
R-Wis. One of the president ’ s personal assistants , Nick Luna , tested positive after having traveled with Trump several times recently , a White House official said Saturday night .
The official wasn ’ t authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity .
Colvin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported from New York .
Associated Press chief medical writer Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee contributed to this report .

JONATHAN LEMIRE, JILL COLVIN and ZEKE MILLER

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Infected and contagious, President Donald Trump briefly ventured out in a motorcade on Sunday to salute cheering supporters, a move that disregarded precautions meant to contain the deadly virus that has forced his hospitalization and killed more than 209,000 Americans.
Hours earlier, Trump’s medical team reported that his blood oxygen level dropped suddenly twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid typically only recommended for the very sick. Still, the doctors said Trump’s health is improving and that he could be discharged as early as Monday.
With one month until Election Day, Trump was eager to project strength despite his illness. The still-infectious president surprised supporters who had gathered outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, driving by in a black SUV with the windows rolled up. Secret Service agents inside the vehicle could be seen in masks and other protective gear.
The move capped a weekend of contradictions that fueled confusion about Trump’s health, which has imperiled the leadership of the U.S. government and upended the final stages of the presidential campaign. While Trump’s physician offered a rosy prognosis on his condition, his briefings lacked basic information, including the findings of lung scans, or were quickly muddled by more serious assessments of the president’s health by other officials.
In a short video released by the White House on Sunday, Trump insisted he understood the gravity of the moment. But his actions moments later, by leaving the hospital and sitting inside the SUV with others, suggested otherwise.
“This is insanity,” Dr. James P. Phillips, an attending physician at Walter Reed who is a critic of Trump and his handling of the pandemic. “Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary presidential ‘drive-by’ just now has to be quarantined for 14 days. They might get sick. They may die.”
“For political theater,” the doctor added. “Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater.”
White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump’s trip outside the hospital “was cleared by the medical team as safe to do.” He added that precautions were taken, including using personal protective equipment, to protect Trump as well as White House officials and Secret Service agents.
Joe Biden’s campaign, meanwhile, said the Democratic presidential nominee again tested negative for coronavirus Sunday. The results come five days after Biden spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with Trump. Biden, who has taken a far more cautious approach to in-person events, had two negative tests on Friday.
For his part, Trump still faces questions about his health.
His doctors sidestepped questions on Sunday about exactly when Trump’s blood oxygen dropped - an episode they neglected to mention in multiple statements the day before - or whether lung scans showed any damage.
It was the second straight day of obfuscation from a White House already suffering from a credibility crisis. And it raised more doubts about whether the doctors treating the president were sharing accurate, timely information with the American public about the severity of his condition.
Pressed about conflicting information he and the White House released on Saturday, Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley acknowledged that he had tried to present a sunnier description of the president’s condition.
“I was trying to reflect the upbeat attitude that the team, the president, that his course of illness has had. Didn’t want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction,” Conley said. “And in doing so, you know, it came off that we were trying to hide something, which wasn’t necessarily true. The fact of the matter is that he’s doing really well.”
Medical experts said Conley’s revelations were hard to square with his positive assessment and talk of a discharge.
“There’s a little bit of a disconnect,” said Dr. Steven Shapiro, chief medical and scientific officer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
According to CDC guidelines, “In general, transport and movement of a patient with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection outside of their room should be limited to medically essential purposes.”
Even before Trump’s motorcade outing on Sunday, some Secret Service agents have expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude toward masks and social distancing inside the White House, but there isn’t much they can do, according to agents and officials who spoke to The Associated Press. This close to the election, thousands of agents are engaged on protective duty so they can be subbed out quickly should someone test positive.
The disclosures about Trump’s oxygen levels and steroid treatment suggested the president is enduring more than a mild case of COVID-19.
Blood oxygen saturation is a key health marker for COVID-19 patients. A normal reading is between 95 and 100. Conley said the president had a “high fever” and a blood oxygen level below 94% on Friday and during “another episode” on Saturday.
He was evasive about the timing of Trump oxygen drops. (“It was over the course of the day, yeah, yesterday morning,” he said) and asked whether Trump’s level had dropped below 90%, into concerning territory. (“We don’t have any recordings here on that.”) But he revealed that Trump was given a dose of the steroid dexamethasone in response.
At the time of the briefing, Trump’s blood oxygen level was 98% - within normal rage, Trump’s medical team said.
Signs of pneumonia or other lung damage could be detected in scans before a patient feels short of breath, but the president’s doctors declined to say what those scans have revealed.
“There’s some expected findings, but nothing of any major clinical concern,” Conley said. He declined to outline those “expected findings.”
Asked about Conley’s lack of transparency, White House aide Alyssa Farah suggested the doctors were speaking as much to the president as to the American public, “when you’re treating a patient, you want to project confidence, you want to lift their spirits, and that was the intent.”
In all, nearly 7.4 million people have been infected in the United States, and few have access to the kind of around-the-clock attention and experimental treatments as Trump.
Trump’s treatment with the steroid dexamethasone is in addition to the single dose he was given Friday of an experimental drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. that supplies antibodies to help the immune system fight the virus. Trump on Friday also began a five-day course of remdesivir, a Gilead Sciences drug currently used for moderately and severely ill patients. The drugs work in different ways - the antibodies help the immune system rid the body of virus, and remdesivir curbs the virus’ ability to multiply.
Garibaldi, a specialist in pulmonary critical care, said the president was not showing any side effects of the drugs “that we can tell.”
The National Institutes of Health COVID-19 treatment guidelines recommend against using dexamethasone in patients who do not require oxygen. It has only been proven to help in more serious cases. Among the concerns with earlier use is that steroids tamp down certain immune cells, hindering the body’s own ability to fight off infection.
Trump is 74 years old and clinically obese, putting him at higher risk of serious complications.
First lady Melania Trump has remained at the White House as she recovers from her own bout with the virus.
Several White House officials this weekend expressed frustration with the level of transparency and public disclosure since the president announced his diagnosis early Friday.
They were particularly upset by the whiplash between Conley’s upbeat assessment Saturday and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows’ more concerned outlook. They privately acknowledge that the administration has little credibility on COVID-19 and that they have unnecessarily squandered what remains of it with the lack of clear, accurate updates on Trump’s condition.
Many in the White House are also shaken and scared - nervous that they have been exposed to the virus and confronting the reality that what seemed like a bubble of safety has become a COVID-19 hot spot. It took until late Sunday for the White House to send a generic note to staffers suggesting they not come to the building if they do not feel well.
___
Peoples reported from New York. Miller reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard, Jonathan Lemire and Aamer Madhani in Washington, and Bill Barrow in Wilmington, Del., and Marilynn Marchione in Milwaukee contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Pantries help keep Virginia families from hunger in pandemic

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) - He is pen-on-paper squiggles are written promptly at 8 a.m. , eyes darting from the Maruchan chicken-flavored ramen noodle soup leaned against the high-protein dog chow to the elbow macaroni inventory that ’ s dwindled since he checked the night before .
People often arrive at the Little Free Pantry - one of at least five pantries of free food in the Richmond area modeled after Little Free Libraries - planted outside his house under the cover of night .
It ’ s added anonymity as they deal with a situation they didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves in : unemployed , in a pandemic , with no money and no food , asking for help .
Russell Hicks marks what ’ s needed to make sure people are taken care of if they decide to swing back - noting the favorites of pancake mixes , canned spaghetti and meatballs , rice , and boxes of macaroni and cheese .
Six months after putting up the box built by his neighbors and tucked inside a neighborhood near Chesterfield County Airport , he ’ s come to know what people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white-rimmed wooden cabinet doors , heads back up the driveway of the house he has shared with his wife , Lucy , for over 35 years - more than half of their 61 years of marriage - and lets the left-hand side of the pantry speak for itself : “ Take what you need .
Leave what you can.
” He doesn ’ t ask questions .
He doesn ’ t wait for people to arrive .
He just hopes they do .
“ ( Russell ) was out in the yard yesterday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they asked him if the food was really free and he told him ‘ Sure !
, ’ ” Lucy said .
“ And she said , ‘ Oh , honey , we need it so badly.
’ ” Then she went for the syrup .
Some pancake mix .
A peanut butter jar .
“ People in the beginning questioned and said , ‘ Well , what if they just come and take everything ?
’ If that ’ s what they need , then that ’ s what they need , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far that hasn ’ t happened .
… It ’ s doing a heart good.
” Throughout the pandemic , the box on Watchhaven Lane in Chesterfield has been emptied , refilled , emptied again .
It ’ s seen the faces of six-person families , new mothers , kids on bikes and father-daughter duos on walks .
They ’ ll take pasta .
Spaghetti sauce .
Ketchup .
Mustard .
Rice and then beans - whatever will keep them from going hungry , Russell said .
In recent weeks , the Hickses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baby formula , pet food and sugar packets that have taken over their kitchen table - and hands reaching in for what they can ’ t currently afford .
Nationwide , the battle against food insecurity - or the lack of consistent access to food - is ongoing and exacerbated by a pandemic that ’ s wreaked havoc on families and spiked unemployment rates .
Before the COVID-19 outbreak , 13.7 million households did not know where their next meal was coming from , according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tripled among households with children , according to a study done by Northwestern University ’ s Institute for Policy Research .
Food banks are doing what they can , but with millions in need , they ’ re inundated .
The Chesterfield Food Bank , which caters to a county population of nearly 353,000 , has reported giving out 1 million meals per month and experiencing a more than half-mile lead-up to access meals .
Little Free Pantries like the Hickses ’ have helped alleviate the demand for those who don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea , Lucy said , came from a combination of Pinterest and her daughter sharing stories of hours-long lines at local food banks .
More than five Little Free Pantries exist within the Richmond area .
One in a Henrico County church parking lot .
Another in Chesterfield inspired by Lucy and Russell .
One in Shockoe Bottom and another on Forest Hill Avenue in front of a church .
Lucy hopes more pop up .
As she talks about the increased traffic to what ’ s nicknamed Deanie ’ s Blessings Box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirit of her son , Deanie - who died in 1997 - guiding people toward the house and letting them know they ’ ll be safe here .
They ’ ll be taken care of .
That ’ s who he was , Lucy said : someone who always helped .
Atop the white cabinet box , on an outdoor lantern , is a dedication to him and her neighbor ’ s 20-year-old daughter , who died suddenly in 2013 .
“ This light burns in honor of those watching from heaven , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the phone interrupted Lucy ’ s words .
She ’ s settled into the habit of always answering .
“ Hi , ma ’ am .
I was just wondering what the location of the Blessings Box is ?
” “ Yes sir , ” she said .
“ It ’ s on Watchhaven Lane .
”

SABRINA MORENO, The Richmond Times-Dispatch

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - He is pen-on-paper squiggles are written promptly at 8 a.m., eyes darting from the Maruchan chicken-flavored ramen noodle soup leaned against the high-protein dog chow to the elbow macaroni inventory that’s dwindled since he checked the night before.
People often arrive at the Little Free Pantry - one of at least five pantries of free food in the Richmond area modeled after Little Free Libraries - planted outside his house under the cover of night. It’s added anonymity as they deal with a situation they didn’t think they’d find themselves in: unemployed, in a pandemic, with no money and no food, asking for help.
Russell Hicks marks what’s needed to make sure people are taken care of if they decide to swing back - noting the favorites of pancake mixes, canned spaghetti and meatballs, rice, and boxes of macaroni and cheese. Six months after putting up the box built by his neighbors and tucked inside a neighborhood near Chesterfield County Airport, he’s come to know what people are looking for.
Then he closes the white-rimmed wooden cabinet doors, heads back up the driveway of the house he has shared with his wife, Lucy, for over 35 years - more than half of their 61 years of marriage - and lets the left-hand side of the pantry speak for itself: “Take what you need. Leave what you can.”
He doesn’t ask questions. He doesn’t wait for people to arrive.
He just hopes they do.
“(Russell) was out in the yard yesterday and this elderly couple pulled up and they asked him if the food was really free and he told him ‘Sure!,’” Lucy said. “And she said, ‘Oh, honey, we need it so badly.’”
Then she went for the syrup. Some pancake mix. A peanut butter jar.
“People in the beginning questioned and said, ‘Well, what if they just come and take everything?’ If that’s what they need, then that’s what they need,” Lucy continued. “But so far that hasn’t happened. … It’s doing a heart good.”
Throughout the pandemic, the box on Watchhaven Lane in Chesterfield has been emptied, refilled, emptied again.
It’s seen the faces of six-person families, new mothers, kids on bikes and father-daughter duos on walks.
They’ll take pasta. Spaghetti sauce. Ketchup. Mustard. Rice and then beans - whatever will keep them from going hungry, Russell said.
In recent weeks, the Hickses have seen an uptick in donations - baby formula, pet food and sugar packets that have taken over their kitchen table - and hands reaching in for what they can’t currently afford.
Nationwide, the battle against food insecurity - or the lack of consistent access to food - is ongoing and exacerbated by a pandemic that’s wreaked havoc on families and spiked unemployment rates. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, 13.7 million households did not know where their next meal was coming from, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
That number has since doubled overall, and tripled among households with children, according to a study done by Northwestern University’s Institute for Policy Research. Food banks are doing what they can, but with millions in need, they’re inundated.
The Chesterfield Food Bank, which caters to a county population of nearly 353,000, has reported giving out 1 million meals per month and experiencing a more than half-mile lead-up to access meals. Little Free Pantries like the Hickses’ have helped alleviate the demand for those who don’t have the time to wait.
The idea, Lucy said, came from a combination of Pinterest and her daughter sharing stories of hours-long lines at local food banks.
More than five Little Free Pantries exist within the Richmond area. One in a Henrico County church parking lot. Another in Chesterfield inspired by Lucy and Russell. One in Shockoe Bottom and another on Forest Hill Avenue in front of a church. Lucy hopes more pop up.
As she talks about the increased traffic to what’s nicknamed Deanie’s Blessings Box, Lucy said it’s the spirit of her son, Deanie - who died in 1997 - guiding people toward the house and letting them know they’ll be safe here. They’ll be taken care of.
That’s who he was, Lucy said: someone who always helped.
Atop the white cabinet box, on an outdoor lantern, is a dedication to him and her neighbor’s 20-year-old daughter, who died suddenly in 2013.
“This light burns in honor of those watching from heaven,” it reads.
The ringing of the phone interrupted Lucy’s words. She’s settled into the habit of always answering.
“Hi, ma’am. I was just wondering what the location of the Blessings Box is?”
Lucy smiled.
“Yes sir,” she said. “It’s on Watchhaven Lane.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--'Valley girl' brings outdoor Shakespeare production to W.Va.

BELLE , W.Va. ( AP ) - Cathy Deobler , artistic and managing director for the BlackRoot Theatre Company , said she didn ’ t quite make it as a star of the stage and screen in Hollywood .
Speaking over the phone from her home in Belle , the California native said , “ I do not have the body type or the youth to become a star , so I turned my intentions toward directing.
” Deobler , who opened an outdoor production of Shakespeare ’ s “ Romeo & Juliet ” Friday night at the BlackRoot Theatre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a schoolteacher and ran a small community theater company for children in the Los Angeles area for a while , but retirement loomed .
She wanted to open her own theater and run a theater company that would mount full-scale productions that included shows for more mature audiences , but LA was crowded .
There were a lot of theaters and theater companies .
“ LA was really saturated , and California was just so expensive , ” Deobler said .
“ Then I met a guy on a movie set.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open a factory in a small West Virginia town .
Community outreach was part of the company ’ s profile and he was interested in doing a theater program .
She said he told her , “ I ’ m an artistic person .
I act .
I sing .
I dance , but I don ’ t want to run the place.
” On the basis of that conversation , she moved east from California to Belle .
“ Now , I own a home and pay a third of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did in rent for a one-bedroom apartment in LA , ” the director said .
“ Life is good.
” That was two years and two months ago , she explained .
After she got to West Virginia and got settled , she began working on her theater company .
She did a couple of children ’ s productions at the London Community Center and then debuted her first regular theater production , “ Arsenic and Old Lace , ” last fall .
Then they began working out of a former Lowe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theater in the old Quincy Mall .
“ It ’ s a work in progress , but we have 2,500 square feet and a huge parking lot , ” Deobler said .
BlackRoot did a children ’ s holiday production and was working on “ Alice in Wonderland ” for the late spring when COVID-19 shut down their show and every other show in America .
For a while , BlackRoot waited to see what would come next .
Meanwhile , Deobler joined the cast of the Alban Arts Center ’ s production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a Shakespeare in the Park production in St. Albans .
The show was held outside .
Cast members wore face shields and the audience watched from their cars .
It seemed like a good plan for her theater company in Belle .
BlackRoot has a big parking lot , so the company cast for “ Romeo and Juliet ” and began construction on an outdoor stage .
“ We ’ ve got an FM transmitter , so people can hear everything from their cars , ” she said .
Deobler had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theatre .
The community has been very welcoming .
“ The kindness and generosity of the people here have transformed this valley girl into a Mountaineer , ” she said .
BlackRoot Theatre Company ’ s production of “ Romeo & Juliet ” runs this weekend and next .

BELLE, W.Va. (AP) - Cathy Deobler, artistic and managing director for the BlackRoot Theatre Company, said she didn’t quite make it as a star of the stage and screen in Hollywood.
Speaking over the phone from her home in Belle, the California native said, “I do not have the body type or the youth to become a star, so I turned my intentions toward directing.”
Deobler, who opened an outdoor production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” Friday night at the BlackRoot Theatre in Belle, made her living as a schoolteacher and ran a small community theater company for children in the Los Angeles area for a while, but retirement loomed.
She wanted to open her own theater and run a theater company that would mount full-scale productions that included shows for more mature audiences, but LA was crowded.
There were a lot of theaters and theater companies.
“LA was really saturated, and California was just so expensive,” Deobler said. “Then I met a guy on a movie set.”
The man told her his company was planning to open a factory in a small West Virginia town. Community outreach was part of the company’s profile and he was interested in doing a theater program.
She said he told her, “I’m an artistic person. I act. I sing. I dance, but I don’t want to run the place.”
Deobler laughed and said, “Hello!”
On the basis of that conversation, she moved east from California to Belle.
“Now, I own a home and pay a third of what I paid on a mortgage for what I did in rent for a one-bedroom apartment in LA,” the director said. “Life is good.”
That was two years and two months ago, she explained.
After she got to West Virginia and got settled, she began working on her theater company. She did a couple of children’s productions at the London Community Center and then debuted her first regular theater production, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” last fall. Then they began working out of a former Lowe’s turned Dollar General turned rough theater in the old Quincy Mall.
“It’s a work in progress, but we have 2,500 square feet and a huge parking lot,” Deobler said.
BlackRoot did a children’s holiday production and was working on “Alice in Wonderland” for the late spring when COVID-19 shut down their show and every other show in America.
For a while, BlackRoot waited to see what would come next. Meanwhile, Deobler joined the cast of the Alban Arts Center’s production of “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” a Shakespeare in the Park production in St. Albans.
The show was held outside. Cast members wore face shields and the audience watched from their cars.
It seemed like a good plan for her theater company in Belle. BlackRoot has a big parking lot, so the company cast for “Romeo and Juliet” and began construction on an outdoor stage.
“We’ve got an FM transmitter, so people can hear everything from their cars,” she said.
Deobler had high hopes for the future with BlackRoot Theatre. The community has been very welcoming.
“The kindness and generosity of the people here have transformed this valley girl into a Mountaineer,” she said.
BlackRoot Theatre Company’s production of “Romeo & Juliet” runs this weekend and next.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Virginia artist turns her pie into art

Virginia artist turns her pie into art

NEWPORT NEWS , Va. ( AP ) - Karen Freidt wasn ’ t thinking about couture or kudos in late May when she dug out a mixing bowl , spoons , milk and blueberries and started to bake .
Freidt had spent weeks weakened by pneumonia and at times couldn ’ t walk through her Newport News home without losing her breath .
While she wasn ’ t sick with COVID-19 , she was certainly sick of it , and had to turn away from the news while being stuck at home .
On this day , her search for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of course , Freidt being Freidt , she created something more .
It was a dessert - delicious , fruit-filled , tender crust - but different in Freidt ’ s hands .
Freidt learned to art about the time she learned to tie her shoes .
Creativity has always been her secret ingredient .
She has been able to visualize beauty in the most benign items , at the most necessary times .
Her pie emerged hot and syrupy from the oven covered with a flaky garden of golden-brown flower petals , twisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo and shared it with friends on Facebook and Instagram .
It made her happy .
It made them happy .
She made more .
By the end of the summer , Freidt was having to think about kudos , couture and so much more .
Freidt ’ s first bakes got passed around on social media like her pies did among her family and neighbors .
The images caught the eye of internationally renowned fashion designer Anna Sui who was pulling together her Spring 2021 collection in the sequestered confines of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of comforting inspiration .
Sui printed out pictures of the pie and tacked it on her inspiration board and developed a clothing line called “ Heartland.
” Sui tracked Freidt down and asked if she could use one of her desserts as part of her fashion show .
On Sept. 15 , Sui ’ s virtual New York Fashion Week debuted , and one of Freidt ’ s pies made a grand appearance within the opening seconds .
Critics were talking about “ the pie ” as much as Sui ’ s homespun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and comfy sweatshirts .
“ The pie ” got a mention on Vogue.com .
Designerzcentral.com effused , “ Turns out , not all pie crusts are visual equals , and Sui couldn ’ t resist working one of the exquisite desserts into her narrative .
You can ’ t wear Freidt ’ s blueberry miracle , but boy is it photogenic.
” The Daily Beast was just as enamored : “ Probably nothing could stop Anna Sui , a NYFW perennial , from showing her eighty-forth collection at the event….It opened with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or embroidery detail , but a damn delicious-looking pie.
” The invite for the online show describes why Sui selected Freidt .
She compared her work to artist Charles Burchfield , who was known for his genius with watercolor .
“ To complete the mood , I discovered the artist Karen Long Freidt on Instagram , who made the most incredible pies you have ever seen !
She is baking one just for us , with a crust that brings me back to Burchfield , with stylized daffodils and daisies , budding hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , Freidt is still in disbelief at how and why her baking spree has landed the NASA retiree in the same glossy pages with haute couture and celebrity gossip .
She is using the attention , though , to add to another delectable she ’ s baked up : Raffling off one of her pies and handmade dish towels for charity through a fundraiser with the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank .
People who donated $ 25 for the fundraiser , which ended on Tuesday night , got their names entered into a raffle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the foodbank .
The winner , whose name was drawn Wednesday , got a blueberry pie , towel and ice cream .
Freidt said the foodbank also got donations from outside of the area from people who have bitten into what she ’ s selling and want to help .
She raised more than $ 3,200 , which was another one of Freidt ’ s plans .
“ I ’ ve always wanted to use my art to help people , ” she said .
Freidt grew up in Hampton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a father engineer and mom , Ethel Long , a popular local painter .
Freidt often trotted beside her mother to art shows .
Freidt studied art in college , worked at an ad agency , and then spent more than three decades at NASA as a print and web designer , communications specialist and a team facilitator , specializing in helping people be more creative in their work .
Freidt said she learned years ago that fear can kill motivation like bad apples can ruin a pie .
Getting people to chase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became her mantra .
It was a necessary part of being an artist , too .
In the middle of her career , raising two daughters , divorcing and remarrying , she painted and modeled odd and whimsical figures out of cardboard , resin and found objects .
Her husband , Wade Mickley , is also an artist and works at NASA .
Freidt ’ s work has been in more than 70 exhibitions throughout the state , including solo shows .
Freidt even found time to produce a coloring book .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ironically , was baking .
When it came to a work or family potluck , Freidt was given soda or “ bring-the-paper-products ” duty .
“ I was always the one who tried to get out of baking , ” she said .
“ I just didn ’ t have time.
” Last fall , however , Freidt decided to retire to find the time for things she always wanted to do .
After the first of the year , she took an improvisational comedy class .
It was days after she graduated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down because of COVID-19 .
She also got sick .
The spring baking was comforting and being creative chased away the anxieties brought on by confinement and illness .
As she posted photos , she realized her friends needed the uplift , too .
Freidt loved playing with the dough - it was another medium .
She played with cookie cutters and then fondant tools to create different shapes .
She experimented with recipes that wouldn ’ t allow the fruit filling to bubble over and ruin her canvas .
She learned how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to apply foil on the crust to prevent burning .
She learned that ready-made pie dough was better than trying to perfect her own .
Recently she started using food coloring to paint her pie sculptures .
Each pie can take three or four hours to make , which is why Freidt isn ’ t interesting in selling them .
And , she also doesn ’ t want to sell them because making money isn ’ t why she started making them in the first place .
When she got the Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t believe it was the fashion icon .
She asked Sui for confirmation and the two exchanged phone numbers and chatted .
Sui wanted one of her pies , but it would need to be brought up to New York for the shoot .
Freidt only had two weeks to develop the promotional materials and prepare the pie .
Freidt didn ’ t hesitate .
“ Anna asked me , “ Are you sure ?
You don ’ t need to think about it , ” Freidt said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the things that happened to me in my life happened because I didn ’ t think about it for too long .
You work really hard and you jump on opportunities quickly .
You have to celebrate the doing , not perfection.
” Freidt spent two days working on two identical pies , building structural towers of dough within the filling to make the desserts edible but jiggle-resistant for the long drive and traipsing around New York .
Freidt ’ s daughter Rachel , who lives in New York , happened to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ babied the pies during the hourslong drive to Manhattan .
Freidt ’ s is now working on a book about pie sculptures that she plans to release next year .
She also started working with block printing and creating embellished tea towels .
Several of her pieces were recently accepted into the 2020 Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition at The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center in Hampton this month .
“ This has all been crazy but it makes me feel not so alone with all that ’ s going on at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I realize how important it is to put who you are out there .
When you are authentically out there you never know how you ’ re going to connect with others .
”

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - Karen Freidt wasn’t thinking about couture or kudos in late May when she dug out a mixing bowl, spoons, milk and blueberries and started to bake.
She wanted comfort.
Freidt had spent weeks weakened by pneumonia and at times couldn’t walk through her Newport News home without losing her breath. While she wasn’t sick with COVID-19, she was certainly sick of it, and had to turn away from the news while being stuck at home.
On this day, her search for comfort got her thinking of pie. Of course, Freidt being Freidt, she created something more.
It was a dessert - delicious, fruit-filled, tender crust - but different in Freidt’s hands. Freidt learned to art about the time she learned to tie her shoes. Creativity has always been her secret ingredient. She has been able to visualize beauty in the most benign items, at the most necessary times.
Her pie emerged hot and syrupy from the oven covered with a flaky garden of golden-brown flower petals, twisting stems and leaves. She took a photo and shared it with friends on Facebook and Instagram. It made her happy. It made them happy. She made more.
By the end of the summer, Freidt was having to think about kudos, couture and so much more.
Freidt’s first bakes got passed around on social media like her pies did among her family and neighbors.
The images caught the eye of internationally renowned fashion designer Anna Sui who was pulling together her Spring 2021 collection in the sequestered confines of a pandemic. Sui was also in need of comforting inspiration.
Sui printed out pictures of the pie and tacked it on her inspiration board and developed a clothing line called “Heartland.” Sui tracked Freidt down and asked if she could use one of her desserts as part of her fashion show. On Sept. 15, Sui’s virtual New York Fashion Week debuted, and one of Freidt’s pies made a grand appearance within the opening seconds.
Critics were talking about “the pie” as much as Sui’s homespun line that included pastels, flowing dresses and comfy sweatshirts. “The pie” got a mention on Vogue.com. Designerzcentral.com effused, “Turns out, not all pie crusts are visual equals, and Sui couldn’t resist working one of the exquisite desserts into her narrative. You can’t wear Freidt’s blueberry miracle, but boy is it photogenic.”
The Daily Beast was just as enamored: “Probably nothing could stop Anna Sui, a NYFW perennial, from showing her eighty-forth collection at the event….It opened with a close-up shot not of a floral embellishment or embroidery detail, but a damn delicious-looking pie.”
The invite for the online show describes why Sui selected Freidt. She compared her work to artist Charles Burchfield, who was known for his genius with watercolor.
“To complete the mood, I discovered the artist Karen Long Freidt on Instagram, who made the most incredible pies you have ever seen! She is baking one just for us, with a crust that brings me back to Burchfield, with stylized daffodils and daisies, budding hope for a better future.”
A week later, Freidt is still in disbelief at how and why her baking spree has landed the NASA retiree in the same glossy pages with haute couture and celebrity gossip.
She is using the attention, though, to add to another delectable she’s baked up: Raffling off one of her pies and handmade dish towels for charity through a fundraiser with the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. People who donated $25 for the fundraiser, which ended on Tuesday night, got their names entered into a raffle. Every dollar raised equaled four meals, according to the foodbank.
The winner, whose name was drawn Wednesday, got a blueberry pie, towel and ice cream. Freidt said the foodbank also got donations from outside of the area from people who have bitten into what she’s selling and want to help. She raised more than $3,200, which was another one of Freidt’s plans.
“I’ve always wanted to use my art to help people,” she said.
Freidt grew up in Hampton and Newport News, the daughter of a father engineer and mom, Ethel Long, a popular local painter. Freidt often trotted beside her mother to art shows. Freidt studied art in college, worked at an ad agency, and then spent more than three decades at NASA as a print and web designer, communications specialist and a team facilitator, specializing in helping people be more creative in their work.
Freidt said she learned years ago that fear can kill motivation like bad apples can ruin a pie. Getting people to chase their fears instead of running from them became her mantra. It was a necessary part of being an artist, too.
In the middle of her career, raising two daughters, divorcing and remarrying, she painted and modeled odd and whimsical figures out of cardboard, resin and found objects. Her husband, Wade Mickley, is also an artist and works at NASA. Freidt’s work has been in more than 70 exhibitions throughout the state, including solo shows. Freidt even found time to produce a coloring book.
One thing she never found time for, ironically, was baking. When it came to a work or family potluck, Freidt was given soda or “bring-the-paper-products” duty.
“I was always the one who tried to get out of baking,” she said. “I just didn’t have time.”
Last fall, however, Freidt decided to retire to find the time for things she always wanted to do. After the first of the year, she took an improvisational comedy class. It was days after she graduated in March that the world started shutting down because of COVID-19. She also got sick.
The spring baking was comforting and being creative chased away the anxieties brought on by confinement and illness.
As she posted photos, she realized her friends needed the uplift, too. Freidt loved playing with the dough - it was another medium.
She played with cookie cutters and then fondant tools to create different shapes. She experimented with recipes that wouldn’t allow the fruit filling to bubble over and ruin her canvas. She learned how to change the temperatures and when and how to apply foil on the crust to prevent burning.
She learned that ready-made pie dough was better than trying to perfect her own. Recently she started using food coloring to paint her pie sculptures. Each pie can take three or four hours to make, which is why Freidt isn’t interesting in selling them.
And, she also doesn’t want to sell them because making money isn’t why she started making them in the first place.
When she got the Facebook message from Sui in August, she didn’t believe it was the fashion icon. She asked Sui for confirmation and the two exchanged phone numbers and chatted. Sui wanted one of her pies, but it would need to be brought up to New York for the shoot.
Freidt only had two weeks to develop the promotional materials and prepare the pie. Freidt didn’t hesitate.
“Anna asked me, “Are you sure? You don’t need to think about it,” Freidt said. “I said, ‘no.’ Most of the things that happened to me in my life happened because I didn’t think about it for too long. You work really hard and you jump on opportunities quickly. You have to celebrate the doing, not perfection.”
Freidt spent two days working on two identical pies, building structural towers of dough within the filling to make the desserts edible but jiggle-resistant for the long drive and traipsing around New York. Freidt’s daughter Rachel, who lives in New York, happened to be in Norfolk for a wedding. Rachel babied the pies during the hourslong drive to Manhattan.
Freidt’s is now working on a book about pie sculptures that she plans to release next year. She also started working with block printing and creating embellished tea towels. Several of her pieces were recently accepted into the 2020 Virginia Artists Juried Exhibition at The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center in Hampton this month.
“This has all been crazy but it makes me feel not so alone with all that’s going on at the moment,” she said. “I realize how important it is to put who you are out there. When you are authentically out there you never know how you’re going to connect with others.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Maryland inmate dug his way to freedom in 1951

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - As the wrecking ball continues making its way through the lugubrious and now-closed Maryland Penitentiary that squats for several blocks on East Forrest Street in Baltimore , it ’ s time to recall the adventures of “ Tunnel Joe ” Holmes , the only resident of the institution who ever successfully dug his way to temporary freedom , and was returned there after pulling off a stickup in Mount Vernon .
Holmes was into the eighth year of a 20-year sentence for burglary when , fearing he would “ blow up - as he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” reported The Baltimore Sun , he made the conscious decision on July 8 , 1949 , to start digging his way to freedom , and began hacking away at the slate floor beneath his cot .
An experienced criminal , Holmes , who only had a fifth grade education , was first sentenced to the city jail in 1928 for breaking and entering and at the age of 19 began serving a 30-month sentence in the pen .
By 1939 , he had earned the newspaper moniker of “ Dinner-Time ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guilford and Roland Park mansions occupied by the wealthy at the dinner hour .
After robbing Dr. Hugh Hampton Young , a well-known Johns Hopkins surgeon , urologist and patron of the arts , who lived on West Cold Spring Lane , Dr. John B. Whitehead , an electrical engineer , and John R. Shea , an industrial executive , Holmes was sentenced in 1941 to a 20-year sentence in the Maryland Penitentiary .
Holmes began his tunneling project using a stick with a nail attached to its end , and after 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trapdoor that he was able to keep away from the prying eyes of guards who inspected his cell .
He chose to conduct his labors as nightly radio broadcasts were piped over the pen ’ s public address system , and after placing a dummy on his cot and stripping down to his underwear and shirt , wiggled into the shaft he had fashioned and started digging away for at least four hours every day .
Holmes used a small homemade kerosene lantern for illumination as he dug with a shovel he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he attached a piece of metal .
He then carefully packed earth he had removed into hand-sewn bags which he carried up into his cell and then flushed down the toilet .
After encountering water , he designed and built a 9 foot deep by six feet wide drain which allowed him to dispose of 140 gallons of water nightly .
Twenty months of tunneling resulted in a narrow tube that was 70 feet long and plunged 26 feet down under the prison ’ s outer wall , ending in a grassy plot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The morning before the escape , he completed the entire project , leaving a thin layer of topsoil on the lawn above , but poking a small peephole through to see the outside , ” reported The Sun .
“ He saw the night light , and above him , framed in the tiny peephole , the stars .
That gave him a great deal of satisfaction.
” On Feb. 18 , 1951 , Holmes made a run for it when he packed his civilian clothes and a $ 152 dollars he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through his tunnel in 45 minutes .
Outside , he shed his muddy clothes , changed into the ones he had packed , and then ran and jumped a 7-foot picket fence near the warden ’ s residence , landing in Eager Street .
For several weeks , he wandered to Wilmington , Delaware ; Philadelphia and New Haven , Connecticut , before returning to Baltimore to board a ship for a foreign port .
After being involved in a bowling alley shootout on Howard Street , Holmes was arrested after robbing John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 in Mount Vernon Place .
Col. Edwin T. Swenson , the pen ’ s warden , told The Sun it was “ the most fantastic escape I ’ ve ever heard of … and that his ex-charge must have been an engineer.
” He banned all copies of the newspaper that showed detailed drawings of Holmes ’ escape , fearing that it might inspire other guests of the State of Maryland to take up excavation work as a creative and possibly lucrative pastime .
Holmes , who was sentenced to another 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the idea of making a run for it .
In 1953 , he was placed in solitary and given a diet of bread and water after guards discovered escape plans , a cache of weapons and a bed sheet rope he and an accomplice had fashioned .
On Oct. 27 , 1970 , after serving 29 years , nine months and 17 days , Tunnel Joe was paroled , and spent his first day as a free man going to the movies .
Holmes was 61 when he died April 17 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being lowered into an unmarked grave in Westport ’ s Mount Auburn Cemetery .

FREDERICK N. RASMUSSEN, The Baltimore Sun

BALTIMORE (AP) - As the wrecking ball continues making its way through the lugubrious and now-closed Maryland Penitentiary that squats for several blocks on East Forrest Street in Baltimore, it’s time to recall the adventures of “Tunnel Joe” Holmes, the only resident of the institution who ever successfully dug his way to temporary freedom, and was returned there after pulling off a stickup in Mount Vernon.
Holmes was into the eighth year of a 20-year sentence for burglary when, fearing he would “blow up - as he’d seen others do in nearby cells,” reported The Baltimore Sun, he made the conscious decision on July 8, 1949, to start digging his way to freedom, and began hacking away at the slate floor beneath his cot.
An experienced criminal, Holmes, who only had a fifth grade education, was first sentenced to the city jail in 1928 for breaking and entering and at the age of 19 began serving a 30-month sentence in the pen. By 1939, he had earned the newspaper moniker of “Dinner-Time” burglar for his penchant of breaking into Guilford and Roland Park mansions occupied by the wealthy at the dinner hour.
After robbing Dr. Hugh Hampton Young, a well-known Johns Hopkins surgeon, urologist and patron of the arts, who lived on West Cold Spring Lane, Dr. John B. Whitehead, an electrical engineer, and John R. Shea, an industrial executive, Holmes was sentenced in 1941 to a 20-year sentence in the Maryland Penitentiary.
Holmes began his tunneling project using a stick with a nail attached to its end, and after 40 days of steady work, had fashioned a trapdoor that he was able to keep away from the prying eyes of guards who inspected his cell.
He chose to conduct his labors as nightly radio broadcasts were piped over the pen’s public address system, and after placing a dummy on his cot and stripping down to his underwear and shirt, wiggled into the shaft he had fashioned and started digging away for at least four hours every day.
Holmes used a small homemade kerosene lantern for illumination as he dug with a shovel he had made from a stick to which he attached a piece of metal. He then carefully packed earth he had removed into hand-sewn bags which he carried up into his cell and then flushed down the toilet.
After encountering water, he designed and built a 9 foot deep by six feet wide drain which allowed him to dispose of 140 gallons of water nightly.
Twenty months of tunneling resulted in a narrow tube that was 70 feet long and plunged 26 feet down under the prison’s outer wall, ending in a grassy plot at Forrest and East Eager streets.
“The morning before the escape, he completed the entire project, leaving a thin layer of topsoil on the lawn above, but poking a small peephole through to see the outside,” reported The Sun. “He saw the night light, and above him, framed in the tiny peephole, the stars. That gave him a great deal of satisfaction.”
On Feb. 18, 1951, Holmes made a run for it when he packed his civilian clothes and a $152 dollars he had saved, and made his way through his tunnel in 45 minutes. Outside, he shed his muddy clothes, changed into the ones he had packed, and then ran and jumped a 7-foot picket fence near the warden’s residence, landing in Eager Street.
For several weeks, he wandered to Wilmington, Delaware; Philadelphia and New Haven, Connecticut, before returning to Baltimore to board a ship for a foreign port. After being involved in a bowling alley shootout on Howard Street, Holmes was arrested after robbing John W. Garrett’s cook of $5 in Mount Vernon Place.
Col. Edwin T. Swenson, the pen’s warden, told The Sun it was “the most fantastic escape I’ve ever heard of … and that his ex-charge must have been an engineer.” He banned all copies of the newspaper that showed detailed drawings of Holmes’ escape, fearing that it might inspire other guests of the State of Maryland to take up excavation work as a creative and possibly lucrative pastime.
Holmes, who was sentenced to another 20 years for the escape, never gave up the idea of making a run for it. In 1953, he was placed in solitary and given a diet of bread and water after guards discovered escape plans, a cache of weapons and a bed sheet rope he and an accomplice had fashioned.
On Oct. 27, 1970, after serving 29 years, nine months and 17 days, Tunnel Joe was paroled, and spent his first day as a free man going to the movies.
Holmes was 61 when he died April 17, 1973, beginning his permanent underground journey after being lowered into an unmarked grave in Westport’s Mount Auburn Cemetery.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Delaware high school field hockey team prepares for season

SMYRNA , Del .
( AP ) - Yes , Megan Keller is well aware that Smyrna High opens its field hockey season against powerhouse Delmar .
All the Wildcats have done is win four state titles and 62 games in a row .
But Keller , a senior defender , hopes that just motivates the Eagles to work harder in pre-season .
“ As a defender , they ’ re super good , ” Keller said about Delmar .
“ But we ’ re going to try our hardest to put up the best fight we can against them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way to push us .
It ’ s good that Delmar ’ s first .
It ’ ll push us to practice a little harder.
” Besides , Smyrna proved it was a pretty good team itself last fall .
The Eagles finished 9-6-1 after losing to Padua in the DIAA Division I state tournament quarterfinals .
It was Smyrna ’ s second-straight tourney appearance after not making the playoffs since before 2009 .
All the Eagles ’ losses last season were to state tournament teams , as well , despite having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but six freshmen .
“ The Henlopen Conference is a tough conference no matter what sport you ’ re in , ” said coach Nicki Shirey , who is also Smyrna ’ s softball coach .
“ Having a shortened season , with the 12 games we have , every game is going to be competitive .
“ We ’ ve been chipping away each year , as a program .
I ’ m excited about the season.
” The Eagles , who host Delmar on Oct. 20 , play 11 Henlopen schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is condensed by the coronavirus pandemic .
Smyrna ’ s players hope they ’ re ready to be a consistent contender for a state tournament berth now .
Senior goalie Brynn Rifino was a first-team all-Henlopen Northern Division selection a year ago .
“ We were seeded seventh , which is the highest since I ’ ve been here , ” she said .
“ So it was a rewarding experience - especially since some of our starters were freshmen players .
And a bunch of girls that are my age , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
“ I ’ m already seeing collective teamwork .
We ’ re already doing way better than we have before.
” The Eagles did graduate three first-team all-North players , including one at each position - offense , midfield and defense .
But junior Madi Simpson , who made second-team all-North as a junior , and honorable mention all-North player Ryla Wilber both return .
Smyrna did start three freshmen last fall .
Shirey believes that group of sophomores is ready to play an even bigger role this year .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors , ” said Shirey .
“ And we had a big group of freshmen last year that are ready to go .
They fill in the spots nicely.
” Like most Henlopen programs , the Eagles played in summer-league games at DE Turf over the last few months .
They ’ ve still got a few more games left heading into the high school season .
So even with the late start to the season , Smyrna ’ s players feel like they ’ re ready to go .
“ I felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ) , ” said senior forward Emily Thompson .
“ It showed us what we really can do moving forward .
I ’ m excited with all the potential and talent we have on the team this year .
… .
We want to prove that we can hang with the top teams in the state .
“ It ’ s so exciting to see how far they ’ ve grown , ” she said about the sophomore class .
“ I think they ’ re pretty used to it ( playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start , we connected more , ” said senior back Abbie Anderson .
“ And we have a lot of skill on this team .
We have a lot of potential.
” Six of Smyrna ’ s first seven games are against schools that made last year ’ s state tournament .
The Eagles go to Lewes to face defending Division I state champion Cape Henlopen on Oct. 29 .
Of course , being in the Henlopen Conference , Smyrna ’ s players expect every game to be tough .
“ Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Keller .
“ We have to have that positive mindset all the time .
Even if we lose the game , we use that to build us .
”

SMYRNA, Del. (AP) - Yes, Megan Keller is well aware that Smyrna High opens its field hockey season against powerhouse Delmar.
All the Wildcats have done is win four state titles and 62 games in a row.
But Keller, a senior defender, hopes that just motivates the Eagles to work harder in pre-season.
“As a defender, they’re super good,” Keller said about Delmar. “But we’re going to try our hardest to put up the best fight we can against them. We’ll use that as a way to push us. It’s good that Delmar’s first. It’ll push us to practice a little harder.”
Besides, Smyrna proved it was a pretty good team itself last fall.
The Eagles finished 9-6-1 after losing to Padua in the DIAA Division I state tournament quarterfinals. It was Smyrna’s second-straight tourney appearance after not making the playoffs since before 2009.
All the Eagles’ losses last season were to state tournament teams, as well, despite having a squad that featured only four seniors but six freshmen.
“The Henlopen Conference is a tough conference no matter what sport you’re in,” said coach Nicki Shirey, who is also Smyrna’s softball coach. “Having a shortened season, with the 12 games we have, every game is going to be competitive.
“We’ve been chipping away each year, as a program. I’m excited about the season.”
The Eagles, who host Delmar on Oct. 20, play 11 Henlopen schools plus Padua on their schedule, which is condensed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Smyrna’s players hope they’re ready to be a consistent contender for a state tournament berth now. Senior goalie Brynn Rifino was a first-team all-Henlopen Northern Division selection a year ago.
“We were seeded seventh, which is the highest since I’ve been here,” she said. “So it was a rewarding experience - especially since some of our starters were freshmen players. And a bunch of girls that are my age, it was our first year starting, as well.
“I’m already seeing collective teamwork. We’re already doing way better than we have before.”
The Eagles did graduate three first-team all-North players, including one at each position - offense, midfield and defense.
But junior Madi Simpson, who made second-team all-North as a junior, and honorable mention all-North player Ryla Wilber both return.
Smyrna did start three freshmen last fall. Shirey believes that group of sophomores is ready to play an even bigger role this year.
“It’s a great group of seniors,” said Shirey. “And we had a big group of freshmen last year that are ready to go. They fill in the spots nicely.”
Like most Henlopen programs, the Eagles played in summer-league games at DE Turf over the last few months. They’ve still got a few more games left heading into the high school season.
So even with the late start to the season, Smyrna’s players feel like they’re ready to go.
“I felt like we did really well (last year),” said senior forward Emily Thompson. “It showed us what we really can do moving forward. I’m excited with all the potential and talent we have on the team this year. …. We want to prove that we can hang with the top teams in the state.
“It’s so exciting to see how far they’ve grown,” she said about the sophomore class. “I think they’re pretty used to it (playing varsity) by now.”
“From the start, we connected more,” said senior back Abbie Anderson. “And we have a lot of skill on this team. We have a lot of potential.”
Six of Smyrna’s first seven games are against schools that made last year’s state tournament. The Eagles go to Lewes to face defending Division I state champion Cape Henlopen on Oct. 29.
Of course, being in the Henlopen Conference, Smyrna’s players expect every game to be tough.
“Every single team is very competitive and challenging,” said Keller. “We have to have that positive mindset all the time. Even if we lose the game, we use that to build us.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--$500M aquaculture plant nears finish line but lawsuit looms

BELFAST , Maine ( AP ) - A nearly three-year effort to build a land-based salmon facility in Belfast is nearing the finish line , unless a judge rules against the company in a dispute over ownership of the intertidal zone .
Nordic Aquafarms executives remain hopeful the company can soon move forward with its $ 500 million project .
In September , the Maine Board of Environmental Protection approved draft water , air and land permits for the project .
The board is expected to issue the final permits after a comment period .
But two land-use lawsuits pending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts based on a 1946 land-sale agreement is the last - and best - hope for opponents who want to stop the project , the Bangor Daily News reported .
At dispute is who owns the sliver of intertidal zone where Nordic wants to bury its intake and outfall pipes .
A judge ’ s ruling could force Nordic to find another path to the bay , thereby slowing or potentially stopping the project .
Marianne Naess , executive vice president of commercial for Nordic , said the company isn ’ t going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactics .
“ ‘ Delay till they go away , ’ ” she said .
“ But we ’ re in it for the long run .
”

BELFAST, Maine (AP) - A nearly three-year effort to build a land-based salmon facility in Belfast is nearing the finish line, unless a judge rules against the company in a dispute over ownership of the intertidal zone.
Nordic Aquafarms executives remain hopeful the company can soon move forward with its $500 million project.
In September, the Maine Board of Environmental Protection approved draft water, air and land permits for the project. The board is expected to issue the final permits after a comment period.
But two land-use lawsuits pending in Waldo County Superior and U.S. District courts based on a 1946 land-sale agreement is the last - and best - hope for opponents who want to stop the project, the Bangor Daily News reported.
At dispute is who owns the sliver of intertidal zone where Nordic wants to bury its intake and outfall pipes.
A judge’s ruling could force Nordic to find another path to the bay, thereby slowing or potentially stopping the project.
Marianne Naess, executive vice president of commercial for Nordic, said the company isn’t going to give in to opponents’ delay tactics.
“‘Delay till they go away,’” she said. “But we’re in it for the long run.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Vermont seeks public input water cleanup priorities

MONTPELIER , Vt. ( AP ) - The state of Vermont is seeking the public ’ s input on how @ @ @ @ @ be used to clean up water pollution around the state .
The water quality funding @ @ @ @ @ and others reduce pollution flowing into the state ’ s waterways , the Agency of @ @ @ @ @ Examples of projects include everything from farmers applying improved land management practices , to homeowners @ @ @ @ @ and floodplains , to municipalities stabilizing roadside erosion , and more , ” the agency @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
The money will be available in 2022 .
Comments may be sent to @ @ @ @ @ an online questionnaire through Oct. 30 at 4 p.m .
Printed copies of the questionnaire @ @ @ @ @ ANR.CleanWaterVT @ vermont.gov .
A virtual public hearing will also be held on the clean @ @ @ @ @ at 12 p.m .

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The state of Vermont is seeking the public’s input on how roughly $30 million should be used to clean up water pollution around the state.
The water quality funding helps municipalities, farmers, and others reduce pollution flowing into the state’s waterways, the Agency of Natural Resources said.
“Examples of projects include everything from farmers applying improved land management practices, to homeowners protecting and restoring river channels and floodplains, to municipalities stabilizing roadside erosion, and more,” the agency said in a written statement Thursday.
The money will be available in 2022.
Comments may be sent to the Clean Water Board in an online questionnaire through Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. Printed copies of the questionnaire may be requested by emailing ANR.CleanWaterVT@vermont.gov.
A virtual public hearing will also be held on the clean water budget on Oct. 22 at 12 p.m.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Vehicle rollover ejects driver, closes turnpike for 2 hours

MERRIMACK , N.H. ( AP ) - A vehicle rollover on the Everett Turnpike in Merrimack ejected the driver and @ @ @ @ @ a couple of hours , New Hampshire State Police said .
Police said the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ all lanes of travel , then struck a barrier and rolled over several times on @ @ @ @ @ was ejected and the front end of the vehicle came to rest on top of @ @ @ @ @ caught on fire , but was quickly extinguished by passers-by .
Police used the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ it and remove the driver , who was taken to a hospital .
The crash @ @ @ @

MERRIMACK, N.H. (AP) - A vehicle rollover on the Everett Turnpike in Merrimack ejected the driver and closed the southbound lanes for a couple of hours, New Hampshire State Police said.
Police said the vehicle struck a guardrail, crossed all lanes of travel, then struck a barrier and rolled over several times on Saturday afternoon. The driver was ejected and the front end of the vehicle came to rest on top of him. The vehicle also caught on fire, but was quickly extinguished by passers-by.
Police used the vehicle’s carjack to lift it and remove the driver, who was taken to a hospital. The crash is under investigation.
.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Few requests for help with graves damaged by Hurricane Laura

NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) - Hurricane Laura damaged nearly 1,900 graves in Louisiana , but fewer than 25 families have asked for help with them , officials say .
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry ’ s office has surveyed 127 cemeteries in nine parishes , and found about 1,880 damaged graves in 89 of them , spokesman Cory Dennis said in an email Friday .
Damage included about 50 caskets swept from tombs by the hurricane that hit land Aug. 26 in southwest Louisiana , he said .
“ We have had less than 25 inquiries , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 , the Attorney General ’ s Office asked affected families to call or email .
“ The Louisiana Department of Justice has been leading the State ’ s cemetery recovery efforts , ” it said .
Those , it said , have ranged “ from locating , gathering , and identifying displaced caskets and vaults , damaged tombstones , and even human remains to getting them to their appropriate places.
” People who need help finding or fixing a grave damaged by Hurricane Laura should call 225-326-6056 or email cemeterytaskforce @ ag.louisiana.gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Management Agency can help pay for fixing graves and returning caskets in one of the 20 Louisiana parishes declared major disaster areas because of the storm , a news release said .
Oct. 27 is the deadline for applying for all FEMA assistance with damage from Hurricane Laura in Louisiana .
FEMA said such aid can include money for transferring remains and for damaged caskets , containers , vaults , urns , headstones or markers .
FEMA can also help with costs for identifying and for reinterring them .
FEMA spokespeople in Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message and email asking if there was also such damage and aid available there .
The Louisiana Attorney General ’ s Office has checked cemeteries in Allen , Beauregard , Calcasieu , Cameron , Jackson , Natchitoches , Rapides , Vermilion and Winn parishes , Dennis said .
The federal disaster declaration for individual aid also includes Acadia , Caddo , Grant , Jefferson Davis , La Salle , Lincoln , Morehouse , Ouachita , Sabine , St. Landry , Union , and Vernon parishes .
The state Department of Justice “ certifies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims occurred actually did , ” then works with the family on repair logistics , Dennis said .
“ That can range from replacing a damaged tombstone or ( something ) more complicated like a displaced casket .
In these cases , we assist the family in working through the process of replacing the casket and ensuring their loved one receives a proper interment , ” he wrote .

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Hurricane Laura damaged nearly 1,900 graves in Louisiana, but fewer than 25 families have asked for help with them, officials say.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office has surveyed 127 cemeteries in nine parishes, and found about 1,880 damaged graves in 89 of them, spokesman Cory Dennis said in an email Friday.
Damage included about 50 caskets swept from tombs by the hurricane that hit land Aug. 26 in southwest Louisiana, he said.
“We have had less than 25 inquiries,” he wrote.
In a news release Sept. 25, the Attorney General’s Office asked affected families to call or email.
“The Louisiana Department of Justice has been leading the State’s cemetery recovery efforts,” it said. Those, it said, have ranged “from locating, gathering, and identifying displaced caskets and vaults, damaged tombstones, and even human remains to getting them to their appropriate places.”
People who need help finding or fixing a grave damaged by Hurricane Laura should call 225-326-6056 or email cemeterytaskforce@ag.louisiana.gov, Landry said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency can help pay for fixing graves and returning caskets in one of the 20 Louisiana parishes declared major disaster areas because of the storm, a news release said. Oct. 27 is the deadline for applying for all FEMA assistance with damage from Hurricane Laura in Louisiana.
FEMA said such aid can include money for transferring remains and for damaged caskets, containers, vaults, urns, headstones or markers. FEMA can also help with costs for identifying and for reinterring them.
FEMA spokespeople in Texas did not immediately respond to a phone message and email asking if there was also such damage and aid available there.
The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has checked cemeteries in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jackson, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vermilion and Winn parishes, Dennis said.
The federal disaster declaration for individual aid also includes Acadia, Caddo, Grant, Jefferson Davis, La Salle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Sabine, St. Landry, Union, and Vernon parishes.
The state Department of Justice “certifies to FEMA that the damages the applicant claims occurred actually did,” then works with the family on repair logistics, Dennis said.
“That can range from replacing a damaged tombstone or (something) more complicated like a displaced casket. In these cases, we assist the family in working through the process of replacing the casket and ensuring their loved one receives a proper interment,” he wrote.