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The fence around Highlands' softball field has had little significance to the home team in recent years.

In fact, there probably were games when the Golden Rams forgot the barrier was even in the outfield.

"When I coached here for the first 10 or 12 years, we hardly ever saw a home run go over the fence," Highlands coach Mike Zendarski said. "Now, they're going out all over the place."

Could be the moved-back mound, spring-effect bats or wind-aided fly balls over short porches. Whatever the case, home runs have been plentiful early in the Alle-Kiski softball season.

Highlands homered three times in its season opener and twice in its second game. Sophomore shortstop Cassidy Runyan has two homers, including a grand slam. And she's the leadoff hitter.

"There have been balls hitting fences, too," Zendarski said. "There have been a lot close to going out, too. It's nice to see more offense back in the game. I mean, we had four (homers) in two games. I think we had three all of last year."

On Opening Day alone, local teams hit seven homers including two each by Valley and Knoch. Both of Valley's came from Katrina George. Knoch's were by Karson Simpson and Mikayla Moretti.

Knoch added two more homers Wednesday by two different hitters: Bethany Hay and Codi Reed. Burrell and Freeport each hit two homers against each other yesterday.

"Perennial home run hitters are hitting the ball again," Knoch coach Tim Knappenberger said. "They work on batting the whole year. They play travel ball, and the proof is in the pudding.

"After we ended the season last year, they played summer ball, then fall ball as an entire team, then at least hit once a week all winter. They are more prepared at the beginning of the season than when you're just getting into the gym after basketball season."

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Homers are up early in area softball season

Submitted March 29, 2012 1:24PM

With warm temperatures, container gardening can start, too. Clean them up first before replacing soil and planting. | Submitted by Heather Prince

storyidforme: 28134088 tmspicid: 10172426 fileheaderid: 4686488

Updated: March 29, 2012 6:06PM

Spring flowers are bursting into bloom with the recent warm temperatures.

Its time to plant containers and decorate porches and patios.

Take a few minutes to prepare your containers for another season before planting colorful spring flowers.

Container designers at The Growing Place recommend that, if your container has been outside, empty it and compost the used potting soil to minimize the chances for disease and insect problems. Inspect each container for damage, including cracks and chips. Using a mild bleach solution, about one part bleach to 10 parts water, and a firm brush, to thoroughly scrub pots inside and out to clean and disinfect.

Place your pot in the desired spot before refilling with new potting soil so you dont have to try to move a heavy container. Make sure it is raised off the ground for drainage, using pot lifters, bricks or caddies. Think about adding new pots and rearranging your containers to freshen your look. When choosing flowers to plant, look for those with lots of buds, rather than lots of blossoms. You might not have instant color, but youll be rewarded with a longer stretch of bloom time.

Garden Tip is courtesy of Heather Prince, The Growing Place, 630-355-4000, http://www.thegrowingplace.com

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Garden Tip: Clean up containers this spring

CARLSBAD (CNS) - A pair of men suspected in a series of thefts from front porches, residences and vehicles throughout Carlsbad were behind bars Thursday.

Police said there could be as many as 19 cases in the series that spanned the first three months of the year.

Two suspects, 28-year-old James Dorman and parolee Victor Alaniz, 34, were arrested Tuesday after a resident called police just before noon to report suspicious activity at a neighbor's vacant house on Calle San Blas, according to Carlsbad police spokeswoman Jodee Sasway. The two suspects allegedly rang the bell then proceeded through the yard's side gate and entered the residence from the back, she said.

Officers arrived and arrested the two men, Sasway said.

Police also received a previous report that the same two men were allegedly taking property from the bed of a truck parked at a hotel on Grand Avenue, Sasway said.

Detectives on Jan. 11 arrested nine suspects though to be involved with the series at Dorman's residence on Phillips Way in Vista, Sasway said.

Oceanside police on Monday arrested Saul Tellez, 41, on suspicion of similar crimes, Sasway said.

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Police arrest two suspects in Carlsbad burglary series

(Photo: Creation Museum)

Model display of Noah's ark as seen at the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky. The biblical apologetics ministry, Answers in Genesis, plans to build a life-sized replica of the ark in Williamstown, February 2012.

March 29, 2012|3:34 pm

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has denounced the project, which would provide $11.1 million for various improvements to KY 36, a highway that is near the site where Answers In Genesis' Ark Encounter Theme Park will be located.

Known as the "Ark Park," the theme park would showcase a life-size replica of Noah's Ark, built in the same dimensions described in the Genesis account of Noah's flood.

Alex Luchenitser, associate legal director for Americans United, told The Christian Post that his organization opposes the monetary expenditure over its apparent religious entanglements.

"The Highway-36 appropriation is intended to promote and support a religious, evangelical enterprise, violating the separation of church and state and the Kentucky Constitution's prohibitions on government support of religion," said Luchenitser.

"The KY-36 road project has only one purpose: to support the construction of the Ark Encounter Theme Park a proposed biblical theme park that would be in the shape of a full-size replica of Noah's Ark, using the dimensions set forth in the Bible."

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Chuck Wolfe of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet told CP that the project was necessary given the expected traffic increase courtesy of the Ark Park.

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Church-State Group Opposes Road Project That Benefits 'Ark Park'

This week, the general Council of the Bucharest Municipality voted to allot EUR 2.5 million for the pharaohnic project of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) to build the Nations Salvation Cathedral and another EUR 4 M for 47 churches and parishes throughout the Capital.Despite the many urgent problems of the city, from pollution to hygiene, sewage, insufficient number of schools, kindergartens and foster homes for retirees and homeless, Mayor Sorin Oprescu found it appropriate to give EUR 6.5 M to BOR. With the local elections drawing in, Oprescu like all Romanian politicians tries to draw upon himself the sympathy of the Orthodox Church, which retains a strong influence upon the electorate, especially in rural zones.Some figures are worth considering, if we want to understand how BOR has become the priority of our secular state, for many years.In 2011, BOR had incomes exceeding EUR 16 M and a profit of EUR 1.74 M, according to data recently posted by the Patriarchy on the internet site of the Finance Ministry.Yet, in 2011 BOR paid neither profit tax, nor property tax, not even the tax due for the land it owns, although it is the main landowner in Romania, and also no tax on commercial activities. We should remind, in the context, that BOR has a fabulous wealth estimated at more than EUR 3 bln, plus the value of forested lands it received back from the state, evaluated at EUR 2 bln about 2-3 pc of the total forested area at country scale which is also exempted from tax.The Church has fabulous real estate assets, with more than 17,000 churches, 600 monasteries, convents and other religious sites. Besides, the Church also controls 279 social sites, 275 museums and collections, and 42 preservation and storage centers.There are twice more churches than schools and hospitals in Romania. A survey conducted at the end of 2010 shows that, over the last two decades, 200 new churches were built each year in Romania, while the number of schools dwindled by 1,000 a year, and hospitals lost 4,000 beds each year.Well, in the country where more money is spent on religion than on health and education, nobody should wonder why the last two of them are in a serious state of decline and backwardness.We can see BOR as one of the most profitable institutions in Romania, although we might also consider it a business, because it obtains a profit. Yet, the secular state, the underfinanced and flexible state as it was called by President Basescu the state where social assistance is about to become history, sponsors the church with fabulous sums taken from public money. This is not only an act of defiance against the cash-strapped population that barely survives after two years of austerity, but also an attack against common sense and Christian teachings. Above all, Romania needs a moral reform, rather than megalomaniacal buildings that remind about the ephemeral existence of certain politicians or patriarchs. Incapable of guiding their believers towards spiritual cleanliness, the leaders of the Church get into prosperous business with the state, because the key of any successful business in Romania is doing business on public money.Judging by the number of churches and the clerical personnel over 55,000 (the Army has 75,000) paid 80 pc from the state budget (around EUR 65 M a year), one might reach the conclusion that the Romanian Orthodox Church has become the top priority of our secular republic.The works for the Cathedral whose construction is estimated at EUR 200 M began at the end of 2010. The cathedral will be built in the Byzantine Romanian style, will be 100 meters high, with a capacity of 5,000 people, and will withstand earthquakes above 8 on the Richter scale. The building will have 14 elevators and over 700 parking lots. The architectural complex of the church will include four separate buildings, along with the cathedral.It is hard to accept that money so necessary for the treatment of chronic patients, for hiring medical personnel a sector where Romania has a deficit of approximately 40 pc and for the recently enforced preparatory classes in schools, are spent instead on the salaries of priests (who should see religion as a vocation, a spiritual mission, rather than a source of material benefits) and on building churches at every corner. Unfortunately, the Orthodox Church goes through a crisis of morality, after turning into an institution that has little to do with religion and everything to do with the real estate industry.Last autumn, the Patriarchy announced that the Nations Salvation Cathedral will be partly financed from the state budget, and will rather relay on donations. In September 2011, over 36,000 people had donated to this regard.The donation generously made from the money of Bucharest inhabitants adds to the EUR 2.5 M donated in February 2011 by the government and to the EUR 1.3 M offered by the Mayors Office of District 3. When should we expect similarly generous donations for schools and hospitals, for the vulnerable people whose welfare benefits were cut by the flexible state? Most likely on Saint Tibs Eve.

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Church, the no.1 priority of the secular state

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Historic Glen Leslie Church to be restored

Published Date: March 30, 2012

Tags: Catholic, church, Mountain Province, Sagada

THE Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe will soon have its first Catholic church in Sagada as construction is set to begin this year.

The church will be built in Sagada town and will also serve as the new center of the Churchs mission in the area.

In our desire to expand the Catholic presence in Sagada, we see the need to continue the construction of a shrine, said Fr. Pablo Lumiwan, Sagada Mission Rector.

The church will also provide devotional destination for Catholic tourists who are looking for a church nearby where they can pray or celebrate the Eucharist, Lumiwan said.

The ground breaking for the church was held in 2009 but its construction was delayed due to lack of funding.

Organizers are hoping for a huge turnout for an upcoming fundraising concert in order to augment Sagada mission centers limited resources for the project.

The Sagada In My Mind concert will be held at the chapel of the University of Santo Tomas on May 4 in coordination with the USTs Santisimo Rosario Parish.

Performers include the renowned choir of Coro San Jacinto and Cagayan State University Ensemble under the baton of Fr. Ranhilio Aquino together with UST Symphony Orchestra.

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First Catholic church soon to rise in Sagada

LYNDHURST, Ohio - More than 100 firefighters battled a large fire after construction crews ruptured a gas line next to an apartment building in Lyndhurst Thursday.

Crews broke the line at 12:30 p.m. right next to a building at the Sherri Park Apartments on Acacia Park, near the Interstate-271/Cedar Road area.

Lyndhurst Mayor Joe Cicero said emergency crews responded as soon as they learned of the 4-inch gas line rupture, and evacuated all the residents from the building.

A short time later, the gas caught fire and crews struggled to turn off the pipeline feeding that main.

Chief Mike Carroll with the Lyndhurst Fire Department said the fire was not widespread in the building. The fire department said the gas spread through the first, second and third floors, with most of the damage confined to the one wing of the building.

Carroll said many of the 120 residents in the building are elderly, but all were able to make it out safely. All of the evacuees were taken to the Greens Nursing Home in Lyndhurst with the help of the Red Cross and South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools.

Video from the Nikki Ferrell from the Beachwood Patch news website ( beachwood.patch.com ) shows flames shooting in the air.

At about 3:20 p.m. almost three hours after the fire started the gas line was shut off and the fire was put out.

The fire left behind black soot that covered the side of the apartment building and ground, and destroyed the construction vehicle that struck the gas line.

Three firefighters were accessed on the scene for injuries and one resident was taken to Hillcrest Hospital.

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Fire out after gas line rupture near apt

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) This weekend we have yet another chance to get out and enjoy Minnesota. Spring fever just wont stop.

Temperatures are expected to hit 72 and 79, respectively, on Saturday and Sunday. The warm weather means were able to enjoy activities wed usually have to wait weeks for.

I think people want us to be open, said Chris Weglinski, who co-owns Sea Salt next to Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. Our staff wants to work. I want to get back to work. The weathers nice.

Hes stocked up on calamari, shrimp and other food. Theres also plenty of beer on tap and wine for the season opener. It comes a full week earlier than usual. Sea Salt starts serving Friday.

People are just antsy to get outside, and if youre from Minnesota, you spend those Januarys and Februarys just twitching to do something fun, Weglinski said.

Fan favorites will make another comeback, including grilled fish tacos, crab cakes and much more.

I havent had this food in like five months, so Im kind of craving it, he said.

Minnesotans have been craving sun, and theyve been getting it in record doses.

This March will be the warmest on record every for a Minnesota March. Weve hit 70 degrees or warmer eight times this month.

Lord Fletchers on Lake Minnetonka is setting its own record too.

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Bar Patios Opening Early With Warm Spring

One clean bike leaves the bike wash area every 15 seconds, 4 cleans bikes leave per minute and 240 bikes per hour. Each bike takes on average 1 minute...

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Physical asset management company cleans, tracks 1000+ bikes

Getting more than 1000 bikes clean after each stage and storing them between stages is no simple task at the Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race in South Africa. Physical asset management company Pragma once again joined forces with the organisers of this year's event provide finish line services, bike washing and bike parking. Pragma is not a bike washing company, but it does have plenty of logistics experience, managing over 3.5 million physical assets globally.

"After a rider crosses the finish line of any stage at the event, a Pragma crew member takes the bike from the rider so that the participant can go directly to the food zone to collect some necessary nutrition before retiring for the rest of the day," said Chief Executive Officer of Pragma, Adriaan Scheeres.

"The bike is registered on our On Key EAMS system as it enters the bike wash area. It is carefully, yet thoroughly, washed with Motorex, an approved bio-degradable, non-decreasing soap. Upon its exit from the wash area, a SMS is sent to the rider informing him or her that the bike is clean and in the bike park."

"Pragma ensures that the numbers are sequential and that the bikes are parked in the correct locations, and aims to complete the entire process for each bike within two minutes. This is an incredible accomplishment if one keeps in mind that we do this with about one thousand bikes a day. One clean bike leaves the bike wash area every 15 seconds, four cleans bikes per minute and 240 bikes per hour. Each bike takes on average one minute and 45 seconds to wash. We use 10,000 liters of water per day and 300 liters of soap!"

As in the past, the bike wash consists of six dedicated wash bays. After being sprayed with bio-degradable non-degreaser detergent, the bikes are mounted on specially designed bike stands and then hosed down with high-pressure Krnzle washers. The stands and washers are all on a water retainer sheet to ensure that none of the polluted water runs onto the surrounding area. This enables the team to catch the water and pump it away to the nearest drain. As to ensure that these services are provided in an environmentally friendly fashion, environmentalists are supervising all activities.

Pressure washer making company Krnzle has a production facility in nearby Capetown in which they can custom-make a system for any industry requirement, such as a bike race.

Typically, a day on the event for the approximately 15 Pragma crew members and volunteers will start at around 5:00 am and finish at 6:30 pm. Apart from the challenges with providing the services, the team will also have to move to five different locations during the 2012 Cape Epic. Other challenges include water shortages or power failures, which the Pragma engineers always manage to overcome thanks to their expertise.

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Behind the scenes at the Cape Epic: Bike cleaning