Boys BasketballBriar Woods Holiday Tournament
Middleburg Academy 58, Briar Woods 56
Handley 63, Kettle Run 42
Falls Church TournamentMarshall 60, Freedom 59
Girls BasketballBriar Woods Holiday TournamentMillbrook 78, Briar Woods 40
Fauquier 52, Battlefield 45
Westfield TournamentCentreville 55, Freedom 48Pohanka Tournament
Loudoun County 62, Langley 41
Saturday, January 1, 2011
A Few of My Favorite Things about 2010
Greg Cybulski, WINNIPEG, MB (January 1, 2011) This list of some of my favorite things about 2010 is in no particular order. Each holds it's own distinct significance and is equally as important. The only common thread is that they all involve racing. Here we go...
Inaugural Big Al Delaine Memorial Wissota Modified race, Red River Co-op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB. Pat Mooney and the Delaine family carried on the legacy and paid tribute to one of the biggest supporters of the local racing community. This race was created and promoted for all the right reasons.
Ricky Weiss of St. Francis Xavier, MB: 2010 Wissota National Late Model champion. Weiss won 29 of 85 shows he competed in this season, At 22, Ricky is the youngest Canadian driver in the history of Wissota to win the National Late Model championship.
Dana Brandt's IMCA Hobby Stock winning streak at Estevan Motor Speedway, SK. In 11 starts, Dana won 10 Heats and 10 Features!
Chris Unrau's #27 'Harvest for Kids' Lightning Sprint. A beautiful car campaigned for a worthy cause.
Being a part of the Harvest for Kids event in Winkler, MB. When community comes together, good things happen. We need more of this in our society.
Gerald Balcaen Memorial, Red River Co-op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB. The best part of this night was seeing Amber Balcaen pick up the Northern Lightning Sprint Association feature win and deliver an emotional victory lane speech.
Amber Balcaen's Lightning Sprint run for the 2010 NLSA points title. Amber spent the rain-shortened NLSA season inching her way to within striking distance of the reigning NLSA champion. Misfortune on the second last points race would prove to be her undoing and be the difference that gave Roland Bernard his second consecutive championship.
Danny Schatz takes over Red River Valley Speedway in Fargo, ND. The half-mile in Fargo was one of my favorite stops. With the attention it will be getting from Danny, something good will be that much better.
2010 Wolff Pack Run weekend, IMCA Modifieds at Speedy Creek Raceway, Swift Current, SK. $40,000 in prize money. For that kind of money, I would build a car!
Continuing support of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. These folks are awesome in every sense of the word. Support is a two way street and I have seen this first-hand with the NSCHoF in Knoxville, Ia.
Working with the Northern Lightning Sprint Association. The NLSA went through some sophomore growing pains in 2010. Year 3 will be much better. The on-track product will continue to grow and be awesome for Winnipeg's open wheel fans.
The opening of ALH Motor Speedway in Morden, MB. The locally proclaimed 'Miracle in Morden' ran a few late race dates in 2010. The track is still a work in progress but has a lot of potential. There's something about the atmosphere of a rural community race track that has always been enjoyable.
Super Truck special at Emo Speedway, Emo, ON. Anthony Leek IS the true definition of a promoter. If he wants something, he goes out and he gets it. It isn't easy, but he always appears to find a way to get things done. The Saturday racing community culture that he has helped create in Emo should be a model for others to learn from.
Being invited on to Marty Gold's The Great Canadian Talk Show on 92.9 KICK-FM. I got my first taste of radio from inside the studio. What an awesome experience.
Writing and voicing the Prairie Dirt Racing Report on 1570 CKMW radio in Winkler, MB. I'm going from every Friday at 9:45am in 2010 to a weekly Monday to Friday time slot at 9:45am in 2011. I am so grateful for this opportunity.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Inaugural Big Al Delaine Memorial Wissota Modified race, Red River Co-op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB. Pat Mooney and the Delaine family carried on the legacy and paid tribute to one of the biggest supporters of the local racing community. This race was created and promoted for all the right reasons.
Ricky Weiss of St. Francis Xavier, MB: 2010 Wissota National Late Model champion. Weiss won 29 of 85 shows he competed in this season, At 22, Ricky is the youngest Canadian driver in the history of Wissota to win the National Late Model championship.
Dana Brandt's IMCA Hobby Stock winning streak at Estevan Motor Speedway, SK. In 11 starts, Dana won 10 Heats and 10 Features!
Chris Unrau's #27 'Harvest for Kids' Lightning Sprint. A beautiful car campaigned for a worthy cause.
Being a part of the Harvest for Kids event in Winkler, MB. When community comes together, good things happen. We need more of this in our society.
Gerald Balcaen Memorial, Red River Co-op Speedway, Winnipeg, MB. The best part of this night was seeing Amber Balcaen pick up the Northern Lightning Sprint Association feature win and deliver an emotional victory lane speech.
Amber Balcaen's Lightning Sprint run for the 2010 NLSA points title. Amber spent the rain-shortened NLSA season inching her way to within striking distance of the reigning NLSA champion. Misfortune on the second last points race would prove to be her undoing and be the difference that gave Roland Bernard his second consecutive championship.
Danny Schatz takes over Red River Valley Speedway in Fargo, ND. The half-mile in Fargo was one of my favorite stops. With the attention it will be getting from Danny, something good will be that much better.
2010 Wolff Pack Run weekend, IMCA Modifieds at Speedy Creek Raceway, Swift Current, SK. $40,000 in prize money. For that kind of money, I would build a car!
Continuing support of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. These folks are awesome in every sense of the word. Support is a two way street and I have seen this first-hand with the NSCHoF in Knoxville, Ia.
Working with the Northern Lightning Sprint Association. The NLSA went through some sophomore growing pains in 2010. Year 3 will be much better. The on-track product will continue to grow and be awesome for Winnipeg's open wheel fans.
The opening of ALH Motor Speedway in Morden, MB. The locally proclaimed 'Miracle in Morden' ran a few late race dates in 2010. The track is still a work in progress but has a lot of potential. There's something about the atmosphere of a rural community race track that has always been enjoyable.
Super Truck special at Emo Speedway, Emo, ON. Anthony Leek IS the true definition of a promoter. If he wants something, he goes out and he gets it. It isn't easy, but he always appears to find a way to get things done. The Saturday racing community culture that he has helped create in Emo should be a model for others to learn from.
Being invited on to Marty Gold's The Great Canadian Talk Show on 92.9 KICK-FM. I got my first taste of radio from inside the studio. What an awesome experience.
Writing and voicing the Prairie Dirt Racing Report on 1570 CKMW radio in Winkler, MB. I'm going from every Friday at 9:45am in 2010 to a weekly Monday to Friday time slot at 9:45am in 2011. I am so grateful for this opportunity.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
New Pitt Coach Arrested
Michael Haywood, who was just hired 2 weeks ago as the University of Pittsburgh's new football coach, is jailed in South Bend, Indiana on a domestic violence charge. Assistant Police Chief Bill Redman says the mother of Haywood's 21 month old child told police that Haywood grabbed her by the arm and neck and pushed her as she tried to leave his home with the toddler. The university issued a brief statement saying that it is aware of an alleged incident involving Haywood....."The university expects the highest standards of conduct from its employees including its coaches, and any breach of those standards is a very serious matter. "
The statement concluded with there would no further comment until "more complete information is available."
Haywood was hired away from Miami University of Ohio to replace Dave Wannstedt who resigned under fire aftr 6 seasons at Pitt.
The statement concluded with there would no further comment until "more complete information is available."
Haywood was hired away from Miami University of Ohio to replace Dave Wannstedt who resigned under fire aftr 6 seasons at Pitt.
Turnpike Fares Increase For New Year
In 2011, for the first time since the introduction of electronic E-ZPass transponders, travelers who use the device will pay significantly less than those using only cash. The toll increases 3% for E-ZPass users and 10% for drivers who pay with cash.
“Most of our customers already use E-Zpass, in fact two-thirds of our motorists now pay electronically,” DeFebo says. “It’s much more efficient. It’s safer because there’s no stopping and fewer traffic backlogs through the toll areas.”
In order to remain compliant with Pennsylvania’s Act 44, which requires the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to pay $450 million annually to PennDOT for road maintenance across the state, fares will be raised annually to meet that figure. To this point, the PTC has given $2.5 billion in funding to PennDOT and will continue funding through the remaining 47 years of the agreement. Formerly, the turnpike revenue was reinvested internally, therefore not requiring significant increases.
The Turnpike Commission had also planned to stop printing toll prices on tickets beginning Jan. 1, as a cost-cutting measure. However, after public outcry and a letter of disagreement from Auditor General Jack Wagner, the printed fares will remain. However, until a new batch of tickets can be printed with the higher tolls, the tickets will reflect the old tolls but you still will have to pay the higher amount.
“Most of our customers already use E-Zpass, in fact two-thirds of our motorists now pay electronically,” DeFebo says. “It’s much more efficient. It’s safer because there’s no stopping and fewer traffic backlogs through the toll areas.”
In order to remain compliant with Pennsylvania’s Act 44, which requires the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to pay $450 million annually to PennDOT for road maintenance across the state, fares will be raised annually to meet that figure. To this point, the PTC has given $2.5 billion in funding to PennDOT and will continue funding through the remaining 47 years of the agreement. Formerly, the turnpike revenue was reinvested internally, therefore not requiring significant increases.
The Turnpike Commission had also planned to stop printing toll prices on tickets beginning Jan. 1, as a cost-cutting measure. However, after public outcry and a letter of disagreement from Auditor General Jack Wagner, the printed fares will remain. However, until a new batch of tickets can be printed with the higher tolls, the tickets will reflect the old tolls but you still will have to pay the higher amount.
Short Film Showcase - Guillotine Guys (2010)
Presenting short films from independent filmmakers... Guillotine Guys, 2010.
Written and Directed by James Ricardo.
Starring Russ Kingston, Mark Wood and J.C. Maçek III.
Guillotine Guys is a short comedy thriller "about loss and detachment" from Los Angeles-based filmmaker James Ricardo, best known for his 2005 feature debut, the independent comedy Opie Gets Laid (a.k.a. Sunnyvale). The darkly comic tale centres on a liquor store hold-up that takes an unexpected turn for the robber (Mark Wood) when he finds himself up against the cunning of weary shopkeeper Elmer (Russ Kingston).
An imaginative and well-crafted short that also features an impressive soundtrack courtesy of composer Jason Solowsky, Guillotine Guys screened at a number of festivals in 2010 including the Arizona International Film Festival, LA Shorts Fest and South Korea's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival.
Click here to view more short films and public domain features.
Pension Bailout Enacted
Now it's up to the Pennsylvania Employees Retirement Commission (PERC)whether to sign off on a bailout plan approved by Pittsburgh Council Friday in an attempt to avert a state takeover of the city pension fund. State officials said they would take over control of the pension fund unless it was at least at 50% of its $990 million obligation to retirees and current workers. Prior to passage of this legislation, the value stood at 29.3%. Council beat the deadline of the threatened takeover by several hours by approving a plan to invest an additional $45 million toward the fund and dedicate nearly $736 million over 31 years from parking revenues.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who preferred his own plan to lease parking assets for 50 years but definitely wanted to avert a state takeover, quickly vetoed Council's plan. Council within the hour then overrode the veto shortly before 4 p.m. thereby enacting the bailout measure.
Councilman Bill Peduto called it the best plan of all the proposals that have been put forward.....
"There was no way to not have to put money in there. We were being told we have to get to 50%. So, we tried to find the least impact way of doing that. We also provided the funding for that which is the parking rate increases."
PERC will now examine the bailout plan but might not approve it for several months.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who preferred his own plan to lease parking assets for 50 years but definitely wanted to avert a state takeover, quickly vetoed Council's plan. Council within the hour then overrode the veto shortly before 4 p.m. thereby enacting the bailout measure.
Councilman Bill Peduto called it the best plan of all the proposals that have been put forward.....
"There was no way to not have to put money in there. We were being told we have to get to 50%. So, we tried to find the least impact way of doing that. We also provided the funding for that which is the parking rate increases."
PERC will now examine the bailout plan but might not approve it for several months.
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