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Inna Faliks: Where have all the pianos gone? No one has time for them anymore

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

The students have too many activities and academic deadlines, the Montessori school principal informed me. This is not a good time for piano recitals, and the piano wasn’t needed either.“Please feel free to take the piano and donate it” elsewhere, the email said.Several months ago, with help from my favorite piano technician, I had found a free upright piano and arranged for its delivery with the school principal. It had stood against the back wall of the classroom, used as a table for lunches and backpacks, and now it was no longer wanted.As a pianist, I wanted my children, who attended the elementary school, and their friends to hear the sound of a real piano at school. The kids have one music class a week, which involves a few pop songs played on a keyboard. There is nothing wrong with pop songs or keyboards. But I had imagined the kids’ delight at hearing the full sound of chords on a piano, the storm of a Beethoven sonata, the mist of a Debussy prelude, ...

Working Strategies: Career management for middle-aged tweens

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

If you’re between 9 and 12 years old, you are a tweenager –not quite a teen, but almost. And if you’re a tweenager reading this column, holy cow — you’re also precocious and amazing.Now go find your grandparents, because they’re the tweens who need today’s advice.Amy LindgrenOr maybe the great grands? It’s hard to keep track of generations, but for folks somewhere between their mid-50s and perhaps their mid-70s, I’m devising a new moniker: Second-age tween.Well, that’s not exactly catchy, which explains why I don’t write slogans for a living. Let’s just say that you’re in a tween state, careerwise.When it comes to work, there is something terribly awkward about this span of 20 years or so, largely because of the elephant always tromping around the room: Retirement. Whether or when or how to retire tends to dominate career and work choices at this stage of life.The awkward aspect of the second-age tween stage can be sorted into at least three categories: Personal, social ...

Marking International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 988. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7.CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day falls on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving, as the holidays are often a difficult time for suicide loss survivors. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The day was designated by the United States Congress as a day on which those affected by suicide can join together for healing and support. It is also known as Survivor Day.Dan Egan, Chair of the Capital Region Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, sat down with Giuliana Bruno to discuss the ways people affected by suicide can find healing and hope. You can watch the full interview in the player above.

Colorado lawmakers aim to start passing bills on Day 2 of special session on property taxes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

Colorado lawmakers are convening for the second day of a special session Saturday as they advance legislation that aims to provide property tax relief, flatten state tax refunds and provide more aid aimed at preventing evictions for renters.Friday’s opening day featured quick work by committees to advance the majority Democrats’ bills — while also rejecting Republican-sponsored legislation. Tangling over the expedited three-day schedule erupted in a Senate floor dispute Friday night between Republicans and Democrats, resulting in contested rules votes and a delay that will likely extend the session into Monday.On Saturday, the Senate plans to convene mid-morning and hold preliminary floor votes on legislation. The House aims to take final votes on bills introduced in that chamber, sending them to the Senate.This story will be updated throughout the day.The special session that began Friday was called by Gov. Jared Polis in response to voters’ rejection of Pro...

Gunfire erupts during street takeover, 1 man killed 

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

A street takeover turned deadly when shots rang out early Saturday morning. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the takeover occurred shortly after midnight at the intersection of West 54th and Manhattan Avenue in Vermont Square. Units were originally dispatched to the location on calls of an assault with a deadly weapon, law enforcement officials said.  Residents worried over ‘dinnertime burglaries’ in Southern California When they arrived on scene, they located the victim, a 23-year-old Hispanic man, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said. The suspects were described as four black men who fled the area in an unknown vehicle when officers arrived. Anyone with information is asked to contact the LAPD.

Photos: Bay Area high school football playoffs, 2023

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

San Ramon Valley 7, De La Salle 17See a photo you like? Click Here to see these and more and to purchase high-quality prints or a keepsake photos on mugs, buttons, greeting cards, and more.The De La Salle Spartans pose for a photograph with the first place plaque after defeating San Ramon Valley during their North Coast Section Open Division championship game at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. De La Salle defeated San Ramon Valley 17-7 to win it’s 31st consecutive NCS title. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) San Ramon Valley’s Rhett Thompson (7) hugs teammate Kevin Spears (33) after being defeated by De La Salle during their North Coast Section Open Division championship game at Dublin High School in Dublin, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. De La Salle defeated San Ramon Valley 17-7 to win it’s 31st consecutive NCS title. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) De La Salle quarterback Toa Fa’avae (13) leaps into the end zone...

Hot job markets are No. 1 draw for ex-Californians

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

California’s long-running “net outmigration” data shows us the exits outnumbered new residents from other states by 341,866 in 2022.Migration is by no means a static number. Last year, California saw a 65,797 improvement in its in-vs.-out gap compared with 2021. And the direction of those interstate relocations continues to be a geographic jigsaw puzzle.Census Bureau stats show 2022’s largest net outflow was to Texas, which gained 60,163 more Californians than what the Lone Star State lost to the Golden State. Arizona was next at 46,745. Then came Nevada at 26,653.Conversely, New Jersey was the No. 1 net contributor to California’s population with 6,619 more exits than arrivals followed by Illinois at 3,986 and Nebraska at 1,512.So, what’s driving these mixed movements? My trusty spreadsheet tells me it’s all about the jobs.Weighing the factorsMy math compared interstate migration patterns against six scorecards created for my “Leaving...

Oakland pedestrian found dead near I-980 early Saturday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

(BCN) -- The California Highway Patrol said officers found a dead pedestrian near Interstate Highway 980 in Oakland early Saturday morning.The deceased man was seen lying on the 12th Street off-ramp near I-980 at 5:38 a.m. Saturday, the CHP said. The man was confirmed dead shortly after 6 a.m., according to officers. Monterey police arrest father and son suspected of having illegal firearms Authorities have shut down the offramp.Details about the identity of the man and the circumstances that led to his death were not immediately available. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Monterey police arrest father and son suspected of having illegal firearms

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

(BCN) -- A Monterey father and son were arrested by police on separate occasions this month on suspicion of possessing illegal firearms.It started with an alleged road rage incident at Cielo Vista Drive. Officers were dispatched there on Nov. 5 at 6:56 p.m., responding to reports of alleged road rage and someone brandishing a firearm. The suspect who allegedly flashed the gun was identified as 28-year-old Monterey resident Les Flores. Atherton home burglarized, police search for suspect Monterey police conducted a traffic stop in the area shortly after the incident and arrested Leslie Flores, 58 and the father of Les, on suspicion of possessing an unserialized firearm, committing a felony while out on bail, possessing an assault weapon and manufacturing a short barrel rifle. The elder Flores was booked into Monterey County Jail with his bail set at $500,000, officers said.Monterey police continued to investigate the original brandishing report and around 7 a.m. Wednesday, officers...

41 workers remain trapped in tunnel in India for seventh day as drilling operations face challenges

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:13:22 GMT

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Forty-one workers remained trapped in a collapsed road tunnel in northern India for a seventh day Saturday as a new drilling machine arrived on site to replace the damaged one.The nature of the exceptionally hard rock formation in the area coupled with the clearing of debris damaged the original machine and paused rescue efforts on Friday, according to officials. This added a new challenge to the long-drawn rescue efforts. The number of trapped workers was also revised to 41 from 40, said Anshu Manish, a director at the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, one of the agencies overseeing the rescue. He said the construction company building the tunnel, Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd, came to know about this discrepancy on Friday. Authorities began drilling into the rubble and debris on Thursday and have so far covered a stretch of 24 meters (79 feet), said Devendra Patwal, a disaster management official. It may require up to 60...