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2012年9月28日星期五

Mulberry Selects Richard Johnson as New City Manager

MULBERRY | After interviewing two candidates Wednesday night, city commissioners in Mulberry gave top ranking to a Dundee city commissioner with a background as a corrections officer and no experience in city management.

But Richard Johnson said he's confident in his ability to run the city, despite his limited experience.

"I've been a hands-on commissioner in Dundee," Johnson said. "I've worked very closely with our town administrators and I've watched them for the last several years."

Mulberry commissioners voted 3-2 Wednesday to begin negotiating a contract with Johnson, 52.

Commissioner Terry Evers opposed the motion, but not because he didn't think Johnson would make a good city manager. He wanted the opportunity to ask the candidates more questions.

"I don't think we need to make a hasty decision without the commissioners asking the questions we want to ask," he said.

During Wednesday's interviews, candidates fielded prepared questions that commissioners had previously approved.

Evers, however, wanted to know whether the new manager would review each employee on the city's payroll to determine whether he or she is working to his or her potential, and what would happen to those who weren't performing well.

"I want to be sure," Evers said.

Commissioner Collins Smith cast the other opposing vote, saying he supported the other candidate, Larry Strickland of Valrico, a management analyst for the city of Zephyrhills.

A third finalist for the job, Judith Jankosky of Lady Lake, the interim city administrator in Arcadia, withdrew her application Wednesday morning.

Johnson, who's been a commissioner in Dundee since 2005, said he already had decided not to seek a fifth two-year term on the commission in April.

mulberry outlet' charter requires the city manager to move into the city, which would mandate that Johnson resign from Dundee's governing board.

Johnson completed his master's degree in non-profit management and public administration last year at the University of Central Florida. He's currently working as an employment specialist with the deaf service bureau in Polk County.

He spent 20 years with the Connecticut Department of Corrections, rising to the rank of lieutenant before retiring in 2001.

Mulberry commissioners will begin negotiating a contract with Johnson, to include salary and benefits, which must be approved before he can start working.

Commissioners have budgeted $63,000 for the job.

If he's hired, Johnson would replace Frank Satchel Jr., who was fired in May following his arrest on forgery charges. He was accused of altering employee time cards.

$116 Millionmulberry mulberry outlet Budget Approved

mulberry outlet | City commissioners in Mulberry signed off on an $11.6 million budget Tuesday night for the fiscal year beginning October 1.

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At least a majority did.

Commissioner Terry Evers cast the lone dissenting vote on both the 2012-13 budget and the accompanying $8.90 tax rate, saying he'd like to see a portion of the estimated $900,000 in reserves spent on projects or used to reduce property taxes.

"If we have $1 million in the bank, how come we haven't spent some of that on roofs all year?" Evers said, referencing the need to reroof five of the city's buildings.

"Either spend it for what we need or reduce the (tax) rate."

He said it's too late to reduce the tax rate this year, but it's something the commission can consider next year.

At $8.90 for every $1,000 in assessed property value, Mulberry has one of the highest property tax rates in Polk County. At that rate, homeowners whose houses are assessed at $100,000 with a $50,000 homestead exemption will pay $445 in municipal property taxes.

The budget includes nearly $240,000 for new roofs on City Hall, the library, the Mulberry Phosphate Museum, the Mulberry Civic Center and the building that houses the Mulberry unit of the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The city's general fund, which pays for most of the city's day-to-day operations, totals $3.54 million, about 6 percent less than the current year's budget. A portion of that decrease represents a reduction in the city's work force through attrition.

More than half of the remaining $8 million in the spending plan reflects projects to upgrade the city's water and wastewater systems.

Mulberry whimsy, abstract Ilincic end London Fashion Week 2012

LONDON (Reuters) - London served up a thick slice of cute, abstract and surreal themes on Tuesday to end its reign on the fashion calendar with the Mulberry, Roksanda Ilincic and Meadham Kirchhoff shows.

British brand mulberry outlet, famously known for its covetable bags, offered up a collection of sorbet-colored and floral-inspired outfits on the last day of London Fashion Week's spring/summer 2013 shows.

The collection saw Mulberry go back to its roots, taking inspiration from the rich florals of the English countryside, displaying clothes in delicate shades of peach, mint, and cream, embellished with detailed floral motifs.

Creative director Emma Hill revamped a 1970s silhouette using flowing dresses with low backs and tailored jackets, but introduced a sexy edge with bonded leather.

Outerwear was inspired by English country heritage, with models in military peacoats and boxy biker jackets over evening dresses in tan and black leather. Navy prints and jacquard textures, added the whimsical twist that the brand has become known for.

As always, all eyes were on the accessories as Mulberry debuted its Willow collection of bags and clutches, centered around a tote bag with floral prints and detailed petals added to Mulberry's signature postman lock.

"It's a great British brand. It's timeless pieces that just go with everything. There's such a variety of colors and styles, it's a brand that I just really love," British Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis told Reuters from the front row of the catwalk.

The show was held at London's Claridges Ballroom, which had been transformed into an English country garden, with pastel-colored garden gnomes and wheelbarrows dotted around, accompanied by lush floral hangings. Guests were treated to slices of angel cake and fruit juices.

ILINCIC

Designer Roksanda Ilincic offered a more abstract-inspired collection of elegant day dresses, skirts, and blouses with a modern graphic feel in the grand setting of the Savoy Hotel.

Sherbet lemons, burnt tangerines, and dusky pinks were paired with crisp whites, pale greys and cobalt blues to provide sharp color contrasts across the designer's spring/summer 2013 line.

Colorful tweed dresses, soft jersey maxi skirts and cute neck ties also featured, along with delicate ruffled details, chic cardigans and knitted pencils skirts.

Ilincic told Reuters she was inspired the work of two artists, Niki de Sainte Phalle and Josef Albers for her latest collection, comparing the differences between their work and their personalities.

"Like feminine and masculine, sportswear with eveningwear, something luxurious with something quite accessible and everyday, and it was a combination of everything really."

The designer said she liked to mix different things to create interesting opposites taking the color palette from Albers and the shapes of the clothes from Sainte Phalle.

"The color palette came from Josef Albers, and he's known for his minimal color combinations, which have lots of different shades of yellow, or white, honey color, mixed with black and blue," she added.

Meadham Kirchhoff presented a dramatically elaborate show entitled "A Cautionary Tale" which saw the catwalk decadently decorated with iced cakes, fresh floral bouquets and wallpapered screens printed with birds and flowers.

Models meandered down the runway in pieces adorned in rich textures and patterns, in hats or with flowers in their hair, and an abundance of ribbon and bows embellished over the majority of the collection.

Denim, satin, taffeta and tulle featured heavily across the line, as well as woven jacquards. Jackets, trousers and skirts were covered with ornate embroidery, beading and sequin detailing.

"I just wanted to create something that was really beautiful and only beautiful," designer Edward Meadham told Reuters after the show.

Meadham and his design partner Benjamin Kirchhoff, are famous for their highly creative and surreal shows and did not disappoint with a surreal production and their offering of flouncy patterned dresses, lace bloomers and plush full skirts paired with beaded trousers.

"It's all about make-believe, it's all about making people want to desire and I think that's kind of maybe a reflection as well on that," Kirchhoff told Reuters.

(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Paul Casciato)

Mulberry delivers sweet and sassy London collection

LONDON (Reuters) - British brand mulberry outlet, a staple of London Fashion Week with its trademark bags, also offered up a collection of sorbet-colored, floral-inspired outfits for spring/summer 2013 on Tuesday.

Creative director Emma Hill revamped a 1970s silhouette using flowing dresses with low backs and tailored jackets, but introduced a sexy edge with bonded leather. A poodle dog joined the models walking down the runway to lend a vibe of strolling through rural England.

Outerwear was inspired by English country heritage, with models in military peacoats and boxy biker jackets over evening dresses in tan and black leather. Navy prints and jacquard textures, added a twist of whimsy that the brand has become known for.

Classic Mulberry bag collections were also given their own spring/summer 2013 editions, adding a floral motif on leather for the Del Rey named for singer Lana and on artisan woven silk jacquard for the Alexa (socialite Alexa Chung). Both namesakes were on the front row.

The star-studded front row also included supermodel Kate Moss, "Downton Abbey" stars and Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis.

"It's a great British brand. It's timeless pieces that just go with everything. There's such a variety of colours and styles, it's a brand that I just really love," Ennis told Reuters.

"It was really cheerful but subtle, it felt like spring but in a quirky, original way," "Downton Abbey" actress Elizabeth McGovern told Reuters after the show, adding that designer Hill brought a "fabulous sense of pattern and cut" to the brand.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, additional reporting from Joanne Nicholson, editing by Paul Casciato)

2012年7月20日星期五

Basic timeline for suspected Colo. theater gunman

Time line for suspected Colorado theater gunman James Eagan Holmes: Dec. 13, 1987
Born in San Diego County, California.
Parents: Robert Milton Holmes and Arlene Rosemary Holmes.
2006
Graduated from Westview High School, Class of 2006, according to Dr. John Collins, Superintendent of the Poway Unified School District.
2006 - 2010
Attended the University of California, Riverside, graduating with a BS in neuroscience in the Spring of 2010. Chancellor Timothy P. White said Holmes graduated with honors.
2011
Holmes enrolled in the Ph.D. neuroscience program at the University of Colorado-Denver, said spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery.
May 2011
An Address of 1690 Paris Street, Aurora, CO for James Holmes shows up in public records searches.
July 20, 2012
Montgomery said Holmes "was in the process of withdrawing" from graduate school.
July 20, 2012
The suspect identified as Holmes opens fire in a crowded movie theater.

Read more: Basic timeline for suspected Colo. theater gunman - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21122368/basic-timeline-suspected-colo-theater-gunman#ixzz21DK7pHao
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Gunman turns 'Batman' screening into real-life 'horror film'

By Michael Pearson, CNN

updated 8:01 PM EDT, Fri July 20, 2012

James Holmes, 24, was identified by two federal law enforcement officers as the man who opened fire during a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" at an Aurora, Colorado, theater early Friday. At least 12 people were killed and 38 wounded, Police Chief Dan Oates said.

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

"Dark Knight Rises" director condemns the shooting as "savage" and "appalling"
Source: The gunman told police he was "the Joker"
The suspected gunman's apartment is heavily booby-trapped, the police chief says
Police say 12 people were killed and 59 wounded in movie theater shooting

(CNN) -- The suspect in the mass shooting at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater screening of the new Batman film early Friday had colored his hair red and told police he was "the Joker," according to a federal law enforcement source with detailed knowledge of the investigation.

At least 12 people were killed in the rampage and 59 were wounded.

A mug shot of James E. Holmes has not been released. Witnesses to the shooting described him as wearing a gas mask that concealed much of his face and head. But the federal law enforcement source's information about the suspect's appearance fits with a statement from New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who was briefed by Colorado authorities Friday.

The Joker has long been a fixture in Batman comics and was famously brought to life by the late Heath Ledger in 2008's "The Dark Knight," the predecessor to Friday's release of "The Dark Knight Rises." Ledger won a posthumous Academy Award for his sinister portrayal of the iconic villain who encourages anarchists to take over Gotham City.

Meanwhile, authorities were faced with the difficult task of entering Holmes' Aurora apartment, which was left rigged with traps.

"It's booby-trapped with various incendiary and chemical devices and trip wires," Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said, adding that it could take days to work through the apartment safely.

Five buildings around the apartment building were evacuated, Oates said.

Investigators don't expect a decision until Saturday about entering the apartment and what to do about the explosives inside, according to a law enforcement source.

Shootings cast pall over 'Dark Knight Rises' blockbuster weekend

Police say Holmes, 24, dressed head-to-toe in protective tactical gear, set off two devices of some kind before spraying the Century 16 theater with bullets from an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and at least one of two .40-caliber handguns police recovered at the scene.

Law enforcement sources said the weapons were purchased legally by Holmes at sporting goods stores in the Denver area over the past six months.

A receipt obtained by CNN shows Holmes bought some of the tactical gear, including a vest and magazine pouch, online on July 2.

Oates said investigators are "confident" that Holmes acted alone.

The shooting unfolded inside a darkened theater packed with Batman fans, some in costume for the premiere of the movie.

Aurora police said how the suspect entered the theater is still under investigation.

A law enforcement source working the investigation told CNN that the gunman walked into the movie theater after purchasing a ticket.

After the movie was under way, he went out a rear exit door, propping it open, and gathered weapons before re-entering through the door, the source said.

As he re-entered, he tossed in a canister before starting to shoot, according to a second law enforcement source involved in the investigation and several witnesses.

Screaming, panicked moviegoers scrambled to escape from the black-clad gunman, who shot at random as he walked up the theater's steps, witnesses said.

It was a scene "straight out of a horror film," said Chris Ramos, who was inside the theater.

Video: Chaos at theater shooting scene

Witness: Little girl wasn't moving

Witness: He pointed gun at my face

Listen to theater shooting 911 calls

"He was just literally shooting everyone, like hunting season," Ramos said.

In Aurora, the agonized seek answers through faith

A federal law enforcement official told CNN the man used tear gas, but Oates said Friday afternoon that it was not clear what the substance was.

Holmes surrendered without resistance within seven minutes of the first calls from panicked moviegoers reporting the shooting, Oates said.

Victims flooded overwhelmed hospitals. One of the injured is just 4 months old, the child's mother said. The infant was treated and released from the hospital.

"I don't know how else to explain it. It's horrific," said Tracy Lauzon, director of EMS and trauma services at Aurora Medical Center.

Theater shooting unfolds in real time on social media

Oates said the man was wearing a ballistic helmet and protective gear for his legs, throat and groin, black gloves and a gas mask.

Jennifer Seeger, who survived the attack, said she had seen the man and thought his get-up was part of the entertainment for the film's debut.

She said the man first shot toward the ceiling, then began shooting at people. He reloaded during his attack, she said.

"He was just literally just massacring anybody that got up that was trying to run away," Seeger said.

Holmes is scheduled to appear in an Arapahoe County, Colorado, courtroom Monday morning, Rob McCallum, spokesman for the Colorado Judicial Department, said Friday. The court file was sealed, according to a court order.

A statement from Holmes' family in San Diego asked for "privacy during this difficult time."

"Our hearts go out to those who were involved in this tragedy and to the families and friends of those involved," the statement said, adding, "We are still trying to process this information."

Shooting turns movie into surreal horror: 'This is real'

The FBI is assisting in the investigation, officials said, though it did not appear that the incident was related to terrorism.

Prior to Friday's shooting, Holmes' criminal record in Aurora consisted only of a traffic summons.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said the attack was the work of a "very deranged mind."

"Obviously no words can express the intensity of this tragedy," he said.

Aspiring sports reporter feared dead in shooting

President Barack Obama canceled campaign events Friday, telling supporters at what had been scheduled as a rally in Fort Myers, Florida, that "there will be other days for politics."

"This will be a day for prayer and reflection," he said, calling for the country to unite as one and support the victims.

"Such violence, such evil is senseless. It is beyond reason," he said before ending the event to return to Washington.

Flags at the White House were lowered to half-staff Friday afternoon in honor of the victims.

Several people remained in critical condition Friday evening at hospitals.

iReporter witness: 'We have to run'

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were conducting emergency traces on the weapons to see how they were obtained, agency spokesman Tom Mangan said.

A law enforcement source said two of the guns were purchased at a Bass Pro Shop in Denver, while the two others were bought at separate Gander Mountain Guns outlets in the area. Investigators also found a drum magazine, capable of carrying 100 rounds of ammunition, which was attached to the AR-15 rifle, two law enforcement officials said.

KWGN: Witnesses first thought gunfire was part of movie

A statement from Bass Pro Shops said its Denver store followed appropriate protocol on the sale of the two weapons.

Authorities also searched the suspect's car in the parking lot of the movie theater and found more magazines and ammunition, a federal law enforcement official said.

"It was everywhere," the official said.

Opinion: Gun control won't stop mass murder

Christopher Nolan, director of "The Dark Knight Rises," condemned the shooting as "savage" and "appalling."

"The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me," Nolan said in a statement on behalf of the cast and crew of the film. "Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families."

Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, canceled the movie's Paris premiere, while New York police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said his officers would watch over screenings of "The Dark Knight" in the city to prevent copycat shootings. AMC Theatres, meanwhile, said it would not permit guests in costumes that make others uncomfortable, nor will it allow face-covering masks or fake weapons.

911 tape: 'I need somebody to shut this movie off'

Aurora, a Denver suburb, is about 13 miles from Littleton, Colorado -- site of the April 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

In that incident, two teenage students, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, armed themselves with guns and bombs and shot people inside the high school. They killed 13 and wounded 23 before killing themselves.

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