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Marble Falls High School choir performs unexpected concert on European stage

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After a 30-hour travel day, the Marble Falls High School choir finally touched down in Europe, ready to visit, and possibly perform, in some of the most breathtaking cathedrals and basilicas in Spain and Portugal. The group did not know it yet, but their adventure would soon lead them to a perform on a stage very few high school choirs get a chance to see. It is a tradition that Bryce Gage, the Marble Falls choir teacher, started back in 2013. Every two years, Gage will take his students overseas to learn about the history and culture of different countries and to perform concerts. "We sing nearly everyday somewhere," Gage explained. The trip can be life-changing and eye-opening for many students. Gage said some of the kids on this most recent spring break trip had never been on a plane before, and some had never even left the state of Texas. Gage also said he pushes the kids to avoid eating at the international chains, such as Starbucks and McDonald's, and instead...

Keeping the connection: On Wisconsin’s Madeline Island, residents aim to preserve their ferry lifeline

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

The Island Queen cuts through a channel after departing La Pointe on Madeline Island Tuesday, March 21, 2023 in Lake Superior. The ferry provides a critical lifeline for the island’s residents, who depend on it for transportation of goods and services, daily commutes and tourist travel. (Derek Montgomery / MPR News)LA POINTE, Wis. — Ask any of the 400 or so year-round residents of Madeline Island about the ferry that motors back and forth on Lake Superior from Bayfield, Wis., and invariably they’ll use the word “lifeline” to describe its importance to their day-to-day lives.The Madeline Island Ferry Line’s five boats carry locals and their vehicles on the 25-minute trip across to the island. They also carry workers back and forth and, of course, throngs of tourists in the summer.The ferry hauls the mail, groceries, propane tanks, beer, lumber and appliances.It also takes students to and from school on the mainland. And when there’s an emergency on the island, a boat is a...

St. Paul centenarian Gordon Kirk ‘still trying to be of assistance to others’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

There were four generations of Gordon Kirks at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Sunday morning.The eldest Gordon Kirk celebrated his 100th birthday last week, and his grandson, great-grandson and great-great-grandson joined about two dozen parishioners in the church’s basement after the 10 a.m. service to mark their namesake’s milestone.“I guess I’m just one of the lucky ones,” Kirk said of his longevity. “I’ve been blessed. I mean, I’m the first Kirk to ever reach 100 years old. Dad died at 99, mother died at 94.”St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz both issued proclamations last week recognizing the World War II veteran’s service to his city and state.Kirk has spent much of his long life helping others. Holy Trinity parishioner Paula Mitchell described Kirk as a pillar of the community.“We could always depend on him,” she said Sunday. “At 100 years old, he’s still trying to be of assi...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Was I Wrong to Fix My Friend's Restaurant Bill Tip?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Jason, and it's about tipping. Here's the email: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. I was put in a strange situation the other night at dinner and now my buddy is mad at me. Let me explain. My friend Ken and I went out to dinner. He INSISTED on picking up the tab because we hadn't seen each other in a while, and that was mostly due to his crazy schedule. Anyway, I noticed that Ken left a terrible tip for the server. And this server actually went above and beyond and deserved a great tip. Anyway, when I saw that, I pulled out my wallet and threw in another ten bucks on top of what Ken left. Apparently, that insulted Ken. I tried to explain that I just really liked the service, but he got pretty angry, and we left the evening not on the best terms. Was I wrong to do that? I certainly didn't want to insult Ken, but I also wanted to make sure the server g...

Trout Day at Grafton Lakes State Park

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

GRAFTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Grafton Lakes State Park will host its annual Trout Day in April. While the exact date is yet to be determined, a spokesperson for the event says it will fall during Spring Break between April 11-14. It will start at 10 a.m. and last until 12:30 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Trout-shaped treats, crafts, and educational booths will be offered. Anyone can come to learn about their habitats, fly tying, and macroinvertebrates. It will be $3 cash per person, with anyone 5 and under free. The Department of Environmental Conservation will bring trout at noon. After the event, children under 16 will have the chance to learn to fish. Anyone 16 and over must have a valid NYS fishing license to participate.No registration is necessary, and the event is wheelchair accessible. Grafton Lakes State Park is off Route 2, twelve miles east of Troy, New York. Attendees are asked to use the park's main entrance...

Ask Amy: Enduring friendship marred by drunk-dials

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

Dear Amy: I have a good friend from college who I’ve kept in touch with for decades.He lives in another part of the country, and I see him every few years.He’s had a lot of challenges in life. I’ve always been a good friend to him, and really care about him. We share a lot of laughs.Unfortunately, he is an alcoholic.His daughter once told my husband and me not to confront him about his drinking because he will get defensive.The last time we saw him, he kept his drinking in check and we had a great visit.The problem is, he regularly “drinks and dials.”I don’t pick up if he calls in the evening. He sometimes leaves slurring, rambling voicemails for me. I will call him back a few days later during the day when he is sober.He recently left a particularly drunken voicemail, and I haven’t called him back.I doubt he even remembers leaving the message. He’s called a few times since and hasn’t left a message.I’ve never confronted him about his drinking, bu...

Spain's PM Sanchez to push for 'territorial integrity' for Ukraine

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (pictured) said on Saturday (25 March) he would push for fair peace in the war in Ukraine that included "territorial integrity" during a state visit to China next week.Sanchez, speaking to journalists at the Ibero-American Summit meeting in the Dominican Republic, said he would discuss peace prospects with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is trying to position himself as a mediator in the war between Russia and Ukraine."The most important thing ... is that when this peace is reached in Ukraine, it will be fair and lasting ... and when we talk about fair, I mean that the territorial integrity of Ukraine, which has been violated by Putin, is respected," Sanchez said in a news conference.Spain, a NATO member whose foreign policy is closely aligned with the United States, is a staunch ally of Ukraine and will assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union in July.Last month, Beijing outlined a 12-point peace plan and called for a compreh...

Ski resorts in California got so much snow they’re going to stay open through June

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

By Zoe Sottile | CNNThe slopes are open for summer, at least in California.Several California ski resorts have announced they have received so much snow that they plan to stay open until well into the summer months.Mammoth Mountain, a popular four-season resort located in the Eastern Sierra mountains, announced earlier this week it would be open for skiing at least until the end of July. This is the earliest in the year the resort has ever announced it would be open so late, communications director Lauren Burke told CNN over email.RELATED: Top 10 historic Sierra snow seasonsBurke said that the resort was just 5 inches away from breaking its season snowfall record of 668″ inches, set in 2010.“We aim to keep lifts spinning until as long as conditions allow, which definitely could go into August this season,” she wrote. “Spring skiing and riding conditions are going to be the best we’ve ever seen with the mountain in mid-winter form.”Snow blankets Ma...

FDIC announces First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company to purchase assets of Silicon Valley Bank

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

By Mark Thompson and Liz Enochs, CNNFirst Citizens Bank is buying most of the business of Silicon Valley Bank, the US tech lender that failed earlier this month.The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said in a statement late Sunday it had agreed that First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company would buy all of SVB’s deposits and loans that regulators had transferred to a bridge bank in the wake of its collapse.Seventeen former branches of SVB will begin operating as “Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank,” on Monday, First Citizens said. SVB customers should continue to use their current branch until they receive notice from First Citizens that systems have been converted to allow full service at its wider branch network, FDIC added.RELATED: Could the Silicon Valley Bank collapse be a good thing for Bay Area homebuyers?SVB was shut down by regulators on Friday, March 10, after clients withdrew $42 billion in a single day. It was the second-la...

Bridge: March 27, 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:19:57 GMT

Having canceled five of its 10-day North American Championships in a row due to COVID-19, the ACBL has now staged four straight. The Fall NABC was held in Phoenix in November.In the Super Senior Pairs for players age 75 and higher, Bruce Ferguson was today’s East. Against South’s four hearts, West, Brenda Keller, led a trump. Declarer drew trumps and next let the jack of diamonds ride.Suppose East takes the queen and returns a spade. South will play low, win in dummy and lose only to the ace of diamonds, making five. But Ferguson won with the ACE of diamonds and led a spade.DISCARDSouth not unnaturally took the ace and passed the nine of diamonds, hoping for three diamond tricks and a spade discard. Ferguson produced the queen and cashed his king of spades, holding South to 10 tricks.Ferguson-Keller scored well here — and won the event. I suspect that at many tables, North played at four hearts after a transfer auction and was helped when East led a high club.DAILY...