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Lakeland police officer arrested on charges of falsifying time slipsThe LedgerLAKELAND – A Lakeland police officer was arrested Tuesday on grand theft charges after police say he falsified time slips for off-duty work assignments
was booked into the Polk County Jail on Tuesday evening
He has been an officer with LPD since 2013
Police said Wednesday in a news release that Avigliano signed up for extra
off-duty details at an apartment complex between May and October and submitted overtime slips for those assignments
Investigators said several of the assignments couldn't be verified through the agency's dispatch system
and that his cell phone records indicated he was at different locations during the shifts
More: Polk deputies charge 10 with CARES Act fraud
More: Polk Fire Rescue captain accused in connection to COVID vaccine theft turns himself in
The grand theft charge is a third-degree felony
Avigliano has been on administrative leave since the start of the investigation
“We expect all members of the Lakeland Police Department to uphold the highest standards of conduct in both their personal and professional life in order to maintain the public trust and confidence of the citizens we serve," Lakeland Police Chief Ruben Garcia said in the prepared statement
"When that trust is breached by a law enforcement officer
we must be held accountable to the highest standards as well.”
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Molly Sansom is many things besides the brain injury she suffered at birth and the learning disability that resulted
and she looks great with blue and green hair — a style she calls “mermaid.” This weekend
Sansom will celebrate all that she is and everything she's accomplished alongside her fellow Jean O'Dell Learning Center graduates
adding that she can't wait to wear her cap and gown
one of three Polk County Public Schools learning centers for students with special needs
the school staff has worked closely with her to identify and apply her strengths
“The school is really amazing,” Patricia said
“Molly likes to be the leader and the helper
whether it was passing out papers or walking a message to another classroom
and they found places and roles for her to excel.”
squash and collard greens — though she's most proud of her ferns
She also competed in a whip-cracking event at the county's Youth Fair
She participated in Special Olympics sports
and the basics of budgeting and life skills
such as how to do laundry and place an order at a restaurant
but she's become a beautiful woman who is better able to express her wants and needs,” said teacher Samantha Avigliano
“She is able to go out into the community and talk to people
will participate in Saturday's graduation ceremony
she is actually deferring her high school diploma until age 22
she will study in PCPS' Transition program
taking part in a specialized curriculum focused on developing life and job skills
As she continues in the Transition program
Molly said she wants to improve her ability to read
write and help her mother with household chores
and she plans to do so with the things and people she loves most
“We're going to get pizza and take pictures,” she said
PCPS' three learning centers – Doris A
Siegel – will stage their Class of 2020 graduations beginning at 10 a.m
The ceremonies were delayed because of COVID-19
PCPS will livestream the ceremonies on our YouTube channel, at youtube.com/polkcountypublicschools
The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students
Mathew Barzal wasn’t the only hockey player wearing New York Islanders colors during All-Star Weekend
as a pair of mini-Isles were also representing the team in Toronto
a pair of graduates from the Islanders Learn to Play Program
earned a trip to All-Star Weekend to play in the NHL’s Youth Hockey Jamboree
It's making her grow and love the game even more.”
Michael and Nadia were guests at the NHL’s Red Carpet on Thursday night and got to meet Mathew Barzal
who signed autographs for the young Isles fans
Nadia’s used to seeing some of the Islanders
whose kids are also involved in youth hockey programs on Long Island
but seeing one of her favorite players in person left her in awe
“She sees Brock [Nelson] and all those guys at the rink a lot so she doesn't get too star struck,” Alvarado said
he's right there!’ She was pretty starstruck.”
Nadia and Michael from the #Isles Learn to Play Program got to meet Mat Barzal on the Red Carpet! pic.twitter.com/MyeSFQXSJt
Nadia and Michael had collected plenty of all-star autographs and memories to last a lifetime
“Having the time on the [red] carpet with the all-stars
I don't think there's like a better gift you could give somebody at his age that's into hockey,” Mike Avigliano
which offers participants a full set of Islanders gear and an eight-week introduction to the sport
provided the launching pad for Michael and Nadia’s hockey careers
Nadia had been to Islanders games and played a little roller hockey
but hadn’t skated before joining the Learn to Play program
Nadia has joined the Islanders Girls Elite program
and become a goalie and is looking to advance her hockey career
“Learn to Play was her first experience on ice and ever since then I can't get her off of it,” Alvarado said
For the Avigliano’s Michael’s involvement in Learn to Play has reignited the whole family’s love of hockey
Avigliano figured he hadn’t been to a game in 35 years
but after his son caught the hockey bug – his uncle brought him to his first Isles game – the family has been all-in
I ended up becoming a partial season ticket holder
things I wouldn't have imagined if told me a year ago… it’s really incredible.”
Avigliano has even started to learn to skate at age 48
so he can spend more time on the ice with his son and help continue to foster his son’s love of the game
Michael and Nadia were on the ice on Saturday morning
skating with representatives from around the league in the jamboree
They were joined on the ice by coaches and PWHL players offering instruction and a fun environment for the kids
The unforgettable weekend included a trip to the Friday’s All-Star Skills Competition and Saturday’s All-Star Game
“It was like two older fans screaming at the top of their lungs,” Avigliano said
and we're just really happy and we're happy to be here representing the Islanders.”
Learn to PlayLearn to Play is a program that provides a unique opportunity for families to join the hockey community and for participants to develop fundamental skills to help them succeed both on and off the ice
Created jointly by the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL)
Learn to Play’s goal is to inspire youth and welcome more families into the hockey community
the people working to nudge Montessori education into the mainstream believed they had a lot of good answers for strengthening Delaware’s public schools
But they also faced more than a few good questions:
How will teachers get the intensive training needed to master the technique
Who will support those teachers once they are trained
And what can be done to give more parents access to a movement that has historically been the domain of elite private schools?
those existential educational questions are now leading to some practical answers
thanks to a still-growing program that seeks to bring the “Montessori method” within everyone’s reach
both in Delaware and around the country.
In just four years, the UD Montessori Teacher Residency program within the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS) has expanded its mission far beyond the original two-year certification residency that has produced 15 teachers for schools in and beyond Delaware
the program was instrumental in the 2020 launch of the Sussex Montessori Academy
a school in southern Delaware that has a keen focus on low-income children and is now staffed by many UD-trained teachers.
UD's program—known as UDMTR—is ready to reach higher and further
building on the momentum of recent accomplishments.
the program was awarded crucial accreditation for elementary education (ages 6-12) from the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
It is also expected to earn credentials for early childhood education (ages 3-6) in spring 2025
the program’s organizers began pushing ahead with an effort to provide professional development support for Montessori schools in Philadelphia
Baltimore and as far away as Wisconsin and Oregon
“Our focus is to provide Montessori schools the support that they need to be successful,” said Linda Zankowsky
a veteran Montessori educator who directs the UDMTR program
“One of those pieces is highly trained Montessori teachers
and another piece is continuing professional support for their teachers and school leaders to be able to maintain that quality in the public sector
With the help of the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector
that support has ramped up over the last year.”
the aim is to transform UDMTR into a new “Montessori Academy” at UD that offers a more holistic and community-oriented array of services
while also advocating for the student-focused teaching technique to be offered in other Delaware charter schools and school districts — an effort spearheaded by an affiliated volunteer nonprofit called Montessori Works
“The goal of Montessori Works over the next year is to increase the communication campaign
to survey across the state the desire of families to have Montessori education in their communities
and to leverage that work so that we are able to help school districts and others in the communities to see the possibilities for future accessible Montessori schools,” Zankowsky said
The time is right for such a focused outreach campaign
out of roughly 150,000 public school students in Delaware
fewer than 1,500 are in Montessori programs
These include two public charter schools: First State Montessori Academy in Wilmington (grades K-8) and Sussex Montessori (K-6)
Proponents say parents are increasingly attuned to Montessori’s potential for molding self-regulated
more veteran teachers are realizing that “standard” educational models aren't allowing them to achieve their own professional aspirations
“Many teachers coming to our public Montessori schools have taught in traditional schools,” Zankowsky said
“They’re coming to us because they really don’t feel like they’re teaching in a way that is child-centered
in the way that they always thought teaching would be.”
the Wilmington charter that was launched about a decade ago
is happy to enjoy the benefits of those newly inspired teachers
especially as more parents clamor to enroll their children
First State started in 2014 with 278 students and one school building
and has since grown to 650 students in two downtown buildings
“There’s a lot of momentum around it now,” said Courtney Fox
“We’re realizing kids need more than a traditional classroom was providing
And schools are expected to be so much more for kids.”
the rigorous certification training needed by would-be Montessori teachers in this region was many miles away and practically out of reach
“It’s basically like going to graduate school again,” Melissa Sugzdinis
“Montessori teacher training is expensive in general
but it’s so much more accessible now because of UDMTR.”
The two-year residency allows its students—many of them already seasoned “traditional” teachers—to assimilate Montessori techniques in a real-world setting and become proficient in the methodical planning and practice required to create an inspiring Montessori lesson
“Wonder and awe are huge parts of our curriculum,” Sugzdinis said
“And wonder and awe often lead to action.”
UDMTR serves as a primary source for new Montessori teachers in Delaware
and the follow-up training that UD creates for schools is proving crucial inside and outside of Delaware’s borders
In the Riverside and Northeast neighborhoods of Wilmington
UDMTR is providing the teacher training needed to launch Kingswood Community Center’s own Montessori offerings
And when Baltimore Montessori Public School reached out for assistance
UD responded with an array of professional development tools
leadership guidance and one-on-one support for teachers embarking on their Montessori careers
“I don’t know of another training program that is specifically tailored to the needs of the public sector,” said Monica Donnelly
“Most of the people offering training have a set package
They have their own goals and structures and ideas
what can we put together?’ It doesn’t feel like it’s out of a box
The Baltimore school opened in 2008 with 168 students
and parent interest shows no signs of waning
“There’s certainly demand for it,” Donnelly added
safe environments where students will be lifted up instead of a heavy-handed
They sense students no longer learn best sitting at desks
Lower-income families deserve quality education
and Montessori is seen as part of the answer
“We know it works and we know families want it,” Donnelly said
That demand arises from Montessori’s nurturing
egalitarian approach to students: There are no desks
students of different ages are encouraged to work from individual floor mats
while a team of two teachers attends to their needs
Proponents stress that it’s just as much about fulfilling students’ human potential as their academic potential
“It’s a learning method that respects children as whole people and doesn’t try to fit them into boxes,” Donnelly said
It’s preparing children for the future we don’t yet know exists.”
this may be the first time they are really heard,” said Ellen Kropiewnicki
teachers continuously refine lesson plans with the help of coaches like Kropiewnicki
they come to realize that they are there to prepare students not just for tests
That’s especially important when the students are born into situations that sometimes make it hard to find the right path forward
That was partly what inspired UDMTR graduate Mason Falligant
who was a Montessori student himself through sixth grade
and now serves as upper elementary team leader at Sussex Montessori
UDMTR made it possible to pursue two of his dreams: finding a teaching job where he could bring Montessori’s benefits to a new generation
while also pushing back against the educational inequities he saw as a high school student in Alabama
“I always knew I wanted to make my way back into the Montessori classroom
“It’s fairly rare that there’s access to a Montessori school in the public sector
especially in an area that’s not affluent.”
about half of the students come from low-income households
“It’s amazing to see how the parents are responding,” Falligant said
“It’s really exciting to see the understanding of what Montessori means grow so fast
A lot of our families had no idea what Montessori was
and now more people are seeking it out specifically.”
Fox — who was Delaware’s Teacher of the Year in 2008 — agrees
“Being a public option has definitely changed the perceptions of Montessori in Delaware,” Fox said
“And having it now in Sussex County helps show that it is something for all kids
no matter who they are or where they live.”
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Full Results / Race Videos
Here are all the team and individual champions from the NJISAA Prep Championships, congratulations to everyone on their 2020 titles! We were recording race videos and you can watch all the races from Saturday's Championship meet here
55m - Christiana Nwachuku - Kent Place School - 7.12
55H - Ije Achebe - The Lawrenceville School - 9.14
200m - Christiana Nwachuku - Kent Place School - 25.57
400m - Christiana Nwachuku - Kent Place School - 57.85
800m - Charlotte Bednar - The Lawrenceville School - 2:21.58
1600m - Miranda Lorsbach - Kent Place School - 5:12.00
3200m - Charlotte Bednar - The Lawrenceville School - 10:43.58
4x400m - The Lawrenceville School - 4:15.84
HJ - Amy Aririguzoh - The Lawrenceville School - 5-06
SP - Julie Soldat - Kent Place School - 32-01.25
55m - Chinedu Okeke - Peddie School - 6.52
55H - Gregory Foster - The Lawrenceville School - 7.90
200m - Chinedu Okeke - Peddie School - 22.87
400m - Jakob Kunzer - The Lawrenceville School - 49.71
800m - Luke Avigliano - Seton Hall Prep - 2:00.59
1600m - Henry Wood - Pingry School - 4:28.84
3200m - Alex Pesendorfer - The Lawrenceville School - 9:58.28
4x400m - Seton Hall Prep - 3:32.33
HJ - Reece Watkins - Seton Hall Prep - 6-00
SP - Joe Licata - Gill St
55m - Heather Kwafo - Stuart Country Day School - 7.66
55H - Alexandra Ottomanelli - Stuart Country Day School - 9.23
200m - Heather Kwafo - Stuart Country Day School - 27.67
400m - Tiffany Agkpo - Newark Academy - 1:04.61
800m - Alexandra Ottomanelli - Stuart Country Day School - 2:29.34
1600m - Sarah Hanifin - Villa Walsh Academy - 5:26.58
3200m - Sarah Hanifin - Villa Walsh Academy - 11:27.44
4x400m - Stuart Country Day School - 4:28.93
HJ - Audrey Blandford - Stuart Country Day School - 5-00
SP - Silvia Cortes - Villa Walsh Academy - 26-10
55m - Isaiah Muse - The Pennington School - 6.80
55H - Jayshon DuBose - Morristown-Beard School - 8.13
200m - Isaiah Muse - The Pennington School - 23.03
400m - Isaiah Muse - The Pennington School - 51.66
800m - Peter Swope - Newark Academy - 2:14.42
1600m - William Strong - Gill St
3200m - Owen McCann - Morristown-Beard School - 11:11.02
4x400m - The Pennington School - 3:56.42
HJ - Jayshon DuBose - Morristown-Beard School - 5-06
SP - Tim Polizzi - Seton Hall Prep - 49-06
Vito Mollica moved with his family to Origgio
From an early age he showed a strong interest in cuisine
inspired by the Lucanian specialties prepared by his mother
This passion led him to attend the hotel school of the Lecco valleys
His career took off in 1996 when he joined the Four Seasons Group
where he was able to create a restaurant with its own identity and win significant accolades
Mollica returned to Italy to head up Il Palagio at the Four Seasons Hotel in Florence
the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in 2011
he developed a philosophy based on the quality of ingredients and the promotion of local producers
advocating the importance of "knowing the man behind the product"
opening Chic Nonna inside Palazzo Portinari Salviati
reflecting greater control and personal vision in the management of the entire complex. A year later
he received his first star at the presentation of the Michelin Guide 2023
His approach to the art of cooking is characterized by balance
His dedication and commitment to preserving the country's gastronomic tradition by supporting small producers make him a prominent contemporary figure
Do you want to discover the latest news and recipes of the most renowned chefs and restaurants in the world
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Fisheries ResearchCitation Excerpt :The absence of environmental heterogeneity in the isotope signal is a limitation for the study of fish migrations
Other works that analyzed large geographical extensions have highlighted the same problem
for example in the basins of the Santa Cruz and Rio Gallegos rivers (Avigliano et al.
The Iberá Wetland is a paleochannel of the Paraná River (Popolizio
the intermediate 87Sr/86Sr (∼0.712) could be associated with the weathering of the oldest Precambrian radiogenic rocks located in the upper reaches of the Paraná River
.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Anne-Gerard Flynn | Special to The RepublicanFullSizeRender (1).jpg
daughter of Tom and Aileen Avigliano of Holyoke
HOLYOKE - Harriett Avigliano celebrated her first birthday March 1 and will celebrate it again June 10
The now 20-pound infant gets two birthday parties several months apart because she was born a one-pound preemie at 25 weeks at Baystate Children's Hospital on Feb
more than three months before her due date of June 10
March celebrations organized by parents Tom and Aileen Avigliano
where she was once again held by her primary Baystate nurse
but who held Harriett this time in the role of godmother
registered nurse Stacey Thomas holding former patient and goddaughter Harriett Avigliano
May 6 marks the start of National Nurses Week
"I was visiting them shortly after Harriett was discharged from the hospital
when Aileen and Tom said they wanted to ask me something
When they asked me to be Harriett's godmother I was floored
I had never been asked to be a godmother and I started to cry
I told them I would be honored," said Thomas in a statement
who has worked as a registered nurse in the hospital's Davis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 17 years
oversaw Harriett's care during the preemie's three-month stay in the unit
"She was really good about talking in layman's terms
There was a lot of medical jargon thrown at us at first and she helped us understand what was going one
She would tell us when something was 100 percent normal for a preemie and say
'Don't stress about it,'" said Aileen Avigliano of the family bond that began to be formed with Thomas
Interviewed just prior to the start of National Nurses Week Saturday
"Stacey is of those people you meet and feel you have known forever."
"It was almost like Harriett was her child in that
she would check in to see how Harriett was doing or check on us and she would talk about things outside the NICU
and sometimes that is what you want when you are sitting there holding your baby
You don't want to feel stuck in the hospital," said Avigliano of Thomas who studied nursing at the University of Rhode Island
Harriett was delivered by Cesarean three days after her mother was admitted to the Women's Evaluation and Treatment Unit at Baystate Medical Center as a precaution
Avigliano had been diagnosed with a syndrome called HELLP during her first pregnancy four years earlier with daughter Scarlett who was born without complications at 38 weeks
This time the syndrome was causing life-threatening symptoms necessitating delivery six months into the pregnancy
"HELLP syndrome is a severe form of preeclampsia
which is associated with serious adverse effects if not promptly managed
One of these complications is bleeding around the liver
which in medical terms is called subcapsular hematoma," said Dr
a maternal-fetal medicine expert in Baystate's obstetrics and gynecology
even when appropriately and promptly managed."
Avigliano says only "it was pretty intense."
she quickly adds that tiny Harriett faced "a lot of medical issues at the beginning," including respiratory
feeding and heart-related issues that required surgery and a one-week's stay at Boston Children's Hospital
She also needed a course of antibiotics for an infection and treatment for a viral infection that can cause long-term problems
"It was an roller-coaster ride the whole time
In the mornings we would call in and we would never knew what we would be told
It made things really tough," Avigliano said
A full-term pregnancy is generally considered between 39 and 40 weeks. Babies born preterm
that is before completing 37 weeks of gestation
or at a birth rate below five pounds are at increased risk for immediate as well as long-term health problems
Avigliano and her husband visited Harriett "multiple times a day" so they could "see what was going on and see how she was doing."
their youngest daughter is "doing awesome," Avigliano said
She is doing really well," Avigliano said
I tell people after everything she has been through that it is easy after that."
Avigliano, who is helping to spread the word about the Baystate NICU Family and Friends 5k benefit run June 10 in Longmeadow
adds that Harriett has a "deep belly" laugh and is quite capable of managing interactions with her five-year-old sister Scarlett
two traits that do not completely surprise Avigliano
"She actually cried when she was first born
She surprised everyone that she was that vocal," said Avigliano of Harriett who was just over one pound at birth
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By Jeff Mosier
residents of Ponder were suspicious of what was coming out of their taps
They complained of skin rashes and irritation that seemed to only happen when in contact with their city's water
Meghan Avigliano said her entire family — her husband and their 3- and 5-year-old daughters — experienced everything from itchiness to pain
Other residents complained of kidney and bladder infections
residents of this town of 1,600 and home of the famous Ponder Stakehouse
Researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington reached the Denton County town Tuesday afternoon
The team from UTA's Collaborative Laboratory of Environmental Analysis and Remediation took skin samples from 15 to 20 Ponder residents and water samples from their homes
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Test results are expected to be available in about three weeks
a UTA lab affiliate and member of its scientific advisory board
He said one possibility is Pseudomonas aeruginosa
a drug-resistant bacteria sometimes found in hospitals
The bacteria are also seen occasionally in drinking water supplies and aren't necessarily killed by chlorination and other forms of disinfection
"Some of these microbes can survive those rather challenging conditions," Hildenbrand said
Serious Pseudomonas infections typically occur in people in the hospital
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Healthy people can also develop mild illnesses with Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Researchers will test for about 2,500 microbes
more than 100 chemicals in disinfectant by-products
Ponder officials have tried to reassure residents
"I have no problem at all telling you that the water is safe," public works director Gary Morris told WFAA-TV (Channel 8) in March
Water quality has been a heated topic since environmental activist Brockovich posted a criticism of Plano water on Facebook. In the last month, she's spoken to a crowd of concerned residents in Frisco, and a local Facebook group created in response has grown to more than 10,000 members.
Officials with the North Texas Municipal Water District, which supplies water to Plano and many other cities, have said its water is safe and meets state and federal standards. Ponder does not get its water from that district.
"In addition to our required testing, we are conducting additional tests to address this concern," officials said in a statement on the town's website in response to resident complaints. The town's water supply, regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, meets or exceeds all quality standards, officials said.
The state agency said Tuesday that its investigation of resident complaints found no violations of quality standards.
Ponder resident Avigliano said she started experiencing dry skin as early as September. Months later, she said, she had crossed off all options other than her city's water.
"As soon as I got in the shower one day, I was in excruciating pain, and I was itchy," she said. "I hadn't touched a towel or soap or anything."
Her family had similar reactions, Avigliano said. Her daughter suffered from rashes and complained of itchiness in the bath, before any soap was added. And she said her husband's knuckles, when exposed to water there, looked like they had chemical burns.
After posting about experiences on a neighborhood Facebook page, Avigliano said she was shocked when least 60 others reported similar problems.
Avigliano said she's "relieved and ecstatic" that tests are being done. But she said she's also aware the results might not necessarily provide her with definitive answers.
"If these results come back fine," she said, "we've done everything we could."
Correction: Original story incorrectly suggested that Ponder had water quality violations. They did not. The violations and fine was at the city's wastewater treatment plant.
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The founder of the Westbourne Agency tells Laura Weir how agents provide an essential service for indie retailers
After five years as sales manager at young fashion brand Fullcircle
what prompted you to set up your own agency
I started the agency [which represents brands including Fullcircle
premium Danish brand Ganni and accessories brands Black Lily and Agent Provocateur Jewellery] because I wanted a new challenge
I really loved my job but I wanted to push myself further
It seems that retailers are increasingly going direct to the source for product
Do you find retailers are looking to cut out the middle man
or is there still a place for the fashion agent
I don’t find they are looking to cut out the middle man
I’m always visiting stores and I make it my duty to know what’s working in store and why
In that respect I can serve my stores well - not just with the information I have but also by sourcing the brands for them
as there are a lot of indies that don’t have the budget to attend many trade fairs
How has the agent’s role changed in the past 18 months
You must be so much more proactive and understand what retailers need
They need to rotate their stock and I encourage buyers to always keep budget back for in-season stock
What do you find retailers expect from brands in terms of operations and product
Quite simply to deliver good-quality product on time
I would say the standards of quality and delivery have become more scrutinised since the recession
When sales were more consistent you could get away with delivering later - you knew that when Christmas or Easter was around the corner it would boost your sales and save the season
it really puts some of the onus [to perform] back onto brands
What do you look for from the brands in terms of product and operations
I look for the whole package - a strong identity
good visual material and a product that reflects its price in terms of quality - so that I can envisage who would buy into it
a good back office and good IT systems are fundamental in building a brand
I’ve deliberately chosen to work with brands that have this
I look for labels that won’t conflict with what I already represent and product that I think would work for retailers
as jersey brands are key for retailers at the moment
What I love is that every day I’m doing something different and I get to travel a lot
I get to go to shoots and launches and currently I’m working with the designers at Fullcircle to do some exclusive lines for one of our key accounts
It has a bit of everything: design products
great jewellery and it’s a beautiful environment to be in
A pair of Nicholas Kirkwood shoes for my wedding day
They look amazing but unfortunately I can’t walk in them
Who in the fashion world do you most admire
I really do have ultimate respect for Vivienne Westwood
and bought my first pair of her shoes (a classic round-toe stiletto
Daniela Avigliano is founder of fashion agent the Westbourne Agency
director of brand marketing at kidswear phenomenon Mori
chief product and sustainability officer at Swedish cool-kids brand Pop,…
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Vincent Martyr fourth-graders: Justin Slabaugh
Rileigh Baggett and Darby Campbell communicate with classmate Leo Avigliano via Skype
.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Christina Giannantonio|The Star-LedgerMADISON —Sidelined by a recent surgery
Vincent Martyr School fourth-grader Leo Avigliano has been keeping up with his school work
while he recovers at home using his computer
a computer software application that allows him to communicate with his teachers and classmates as if he were in the classroom with them
To submit school news send an email to morris@starledger.com
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2022 girls soccer seniors: Top row (l-r) Megan Hiller
and Mara Lovric Bottom row (l-r) Rachel Barton
The Highlanders celebrated their seniors on Feb
9 in a game against Castro Valley at Witter Field
The seniors were originally supposed to play the first 10 minutes before coming off
but Chubbock and his staff kept them on the field against Castro Valley through the 22nd minute
“I looked at my assistant coaches and said
‘we don’t need to do anything,’” Chubbock said
and Zenobia Pellissier Lloyd in the starting lineup
The game was still scoreless when the normal starters took the field
Cameron Lorin then set up Emily Fitzgerald for the game’s first goal
and Goldberg converted a penalty kick for a 3-0 victory
The offensive outburst was refreshing after Piedmont was held scoreless in its previous three matches
“Their field is a dust bowl and they play it very well,” Chubbock said
“They looked dangerous on the counter attack
We played well and just didn’t create enough chances
I came away from the game pretty bummed to be honest
It was a game that was there for us to win.”
Chubbock said he also was diappointed because that loss ultimately took the team out of contention for the WACC division title
the Highlanders battled to a 0-0 tie at San Leandro
“Alameda and San Leandro are very similar teams,” Chubbock said
They try to win the ball and try to attack quickly
We weren’t good enough to break them down
It just showed that we struggle to score goals.”
Piedmont fell to visiting Bishop O’Dowd
Chubbock said a crowd of about 200 people came out to see the game
“It has been one of the most enjoyable seasons,” Chubbock said
The Highlanders conclude their regular season at Berkeley on Feb
They hope to draw a home game when the North Coast Section announces the Division 4 playoff bracket on Feb
“I’ll be disappointed if we don’t (get a home match),” Piedmont coach Dan Chubbock said
The only team we saw was Head-Royce at the start of the season
A lot of the schools up in Sonoma County are strong.”
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.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mark Mueller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comEditor's note: This story about the death of Geetha Angara was published in The Star-Ledger on Feb
Nearly two years after a chemist was choked into unconsciousness and left to drown in a Totowa water treatment plant
the state Attorney General's Office and the State Police are poised to take over the stalled investigation
The involvement of the two agencies comes as a "great relief" to the family of Geetha Angara
has waged a yearlong campaign to enlist outside help
contending the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office has not done enough to find the killer
"We're hopeful," Jaya Angara said
"We believe it can be solved if it's given the proper attention
But we also think this should have happened a long time ago
Angara's body was found in a lightless subterranean tank containing 1 million gallons of purified water
Authorities said she had been dumped in the tank a day earlier
Passaic County Prosecutor James Avigliano said investigators continue to believe it was a co-worker who killed Angara but that detectives have been unable to find evidence to make a murder charge stick
who has pressed investigators to solve the case
"Thinking you know who did it and proving it are two different things," Avigliano said
The case has been investigated exhaustively
My detectives worked like hell on this."
Avigliano ratcheted down the investigation early last year
leading the Angara family to wage a campaign for outside help
who initially resisted calls to seek assistance
Rush Holt (D-12th Dist.) and other legislators
Avigliano wrote to then-Attorney General Zulima Farber
members of the State Police major crimes unit have acquainted themselves with the details of Angara's murder
Leonard said state investigators are expected to take a lead role in the probe once they wrap up work on another high-profile case
a 34-year-old fertility clinic nurse accused of killing and dismembering her husband in the couple's Woodbridge home three years ago
10 years later, Geetha Angara's death remains a mystery
Opening arguments in the McGuire trial are scheduled for March 5
and it's going to be picked up at the conclusion of the trial," Leonard said
a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office
confirmed the state's involvement in the probe but declined to elaborate
citing a policy restricting comment on active investigations
Avigliano said the likely killer is hiding in plain sight
reporting to work as usual and maintaining a veneer of normalcy
then-Passaic County Prosecutor James Avigliano
announces that the death of Geetha Angara has been declared a homicide
Angara drowned in an underground water tank at the Passaic Valley Water Commission's treatment plant in Totowa
a native of India with a doctorate in organic chemistry from New York University
worked as a senior chemist at the Totowa plant
responsible for ensuring the quality of drinking water piped to 800,000 people in 17 northern New Jersey communities
she descended to a deserted passageway on the facility's lower level to calibrate instruments
a task she performed frequently during her 12 years on the job
the hallway sits atop a vast tank containing ready-to-drink water
Angara walked along the tunnel's concrete floor toward the instruments she intended to service
Authorities have only a hazy portrait of what happened next
Avigliano has said investigators believe the killing was an unplanned crime of passion
that Angara argued with someone in the dim
industrial tunnel or stumbled across something she wasn't meant to see
the prosecutor says — struggled with Angara
wrapping his hands around her neck until she passed out
He then pried open a 4-foot access hatch set in the floor
On the one-year anniversary of Geetha Angara's death
mourners attend a candlelight vigil at the entrance to the Passaic Valley Water Commission's treatment plant in Totowa
her killer replaced the 50-pound hatch and returned to work
It would be 30 hours before police divers discovered her body
investigators interviewed all 50 people who had been inside the building around the time of Angara's 10:30 a.m
They winnowed the list of suspects to eight
But linking a suspect to the murder has been harder than anyone initially imagined
plant employees and police officers who searched for Angara on the night of Jan
fouling any evidence it might have contained
submerged in chlorinated water for so long
saying Angara had no known enemies and was not involved in an extramarital affair
the prosecutor's office asked the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency to review the plant's records
an EPA dive team bearing a remote-controlled
camera-equipped submersible mapped every inch of the massive water tank's floor to search for evidence that might have been missed
Angara's family members continue to press for answers
and they question why the federal government — chiefly the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security — have not taken an interest given the contention that a killer continues to work at the plant
"The potential danger is there," Jaya Angara said
"Maybe the killer is hibernating right now
But what happens if he chooses to do something to the water supply?"
the family is preparing to file a wrongful death suit against the water commission
contending it didn't do enough to safeguard the plant
Jaya Angara calls his active role in the case a form of therapy
saying it gives him hope for justice and a reason to carry on
As he struggles to raise his children — a 15-year-old son and two daughters
11 and 21 — the husband says he is reminded every day of his wife's strengths and his own shortcomings
It was Geetha Angara who dispensed motherly advice
solved everyday problems and soothed bruised feelings
"It changes your entire life," Jaya Angara said
"There's just a permanent void there
Mark Mueller may be reached at mmueller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJMueller. Find NJ.com on Facebook
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Gallery: Geetha Angara's Death Still a Myster
It was written by Mark Mueller and Russell Ben-Ali
A 10-foot fence surrounds the Passaic Valley Water Commission's treatment plant in Totowa
Cameras and motion detectors watch over the perimeter
sheriff's officers and police officers patrol the compound's 35 acres on foot and in vehicles
But in the two weeks since the murder of a 43-year-old chemist in the facility's subterranean reaches
the security measures have done only so much to allay the fears of people who work there
While fences and guards will keep outside threats from coming in
authorities say the killer was almost certainly inside already
Someone with a water commission ID card and paycheck
"Everybody's frightened," said Indrakumar Patel
who worked with chemist Geetha Angara and considered her a friend
was discovered in a vast underground water tank beneath the facility on Feb
someone pushed or otherwise forced her into the tank
The worry that a co-worker committed the crime has not stopped people from coming to work
in the cavernous treatment plant's offices and laboratories
the thought is rarely spoken aloud among the 85 employees
a tense companion to the grief over Angara's death
daughter Pavithra Angara and father Jaya K
"There's no question that we are wondering," said Joseph Bella
the water commission's executive director
"But as one person said to me: 'I'm just going to go about doing my job
That's what I've always done.'"
said the treatment plant is safe and will be even safer following the completion of a long-planned security upgrade
But he acknowledged the disquiet filtering through the building
"I think there is a legitimate concern for anyone," Landante said
"but we are confident the prosecutor and his investigators will quickly find the answers we all need to have."
Passaic County Prosecutor James Avigliano said investigators continue to question employees but have not identified any suspects
it will most likely be among Angara's co- workers
"Could it be someone from the outside?" Avigliano asked
a senior chemist charged with ensuring the quality of water that the facility pumps out to 800,000 people
disappeared after descending into an underground tunnel — one of two that run beneath the plant — to calibrate monitoring equipment and to collect water samples from hoses along the wall
sit atop several enormous tanks that collectively hold 9 million gallons of water
The tanks can be reached only through 4-foot access panels in the floor of the tunnels
workers walk through a tunnel at the Passaic Valley Water Commission's treatment plant in Totowa
The tunnel is similar to the one where Geetha Angara disappeared in 2005
Her body was later found in an underground tank
It was through an open panel that Angara plunged
The water level is 5 feet below the tunnel floor
and none of the tanks is equipped with a ladder
While there was initial confusion over the placement of the access panel when searchers first arrived to look for Angara
Avigliano said investigators have determined through interviews that the panel was in place or nearly in place
That alone suggests Angara's death was not an accident
He did say Angara was not sexually assaulted
Avigliano acknowledged the difficulty his investigators face in making an arrest
He also acknowledged potential problems with a prosecution should authorities find a suspect
firefighters and water commission employees — walked through the tunnel in search of Angara before the prosecutor's office was notified of her disappearance the morning of Feb
The broken remnants of a glass beaker Angara had been holding when she was forced through the hole had been swept up and thrown in the trash
depriving detectives of the chance to view the crime scene exactly as it appeared when Angara died
The same could be said of the crime scene in general
it was nonexistent as a crime scene when we got there," said Avigliano
who last week criticized Totowa police for failing to notify his office about Angara's disappearance sooner
"It had already been compromised at that point in time."
Asked if the failure to secure the crime scene could compromise a criminal case
Avigliano responded: "In the hands of a competent defense attorney
there will be a competent defense attorney."
Prominent New Jersey defense lawyer Anthony Pope agreed
saying juries are loath to convict in cases of blatant crime scene contamination
"Barring anything that's really a smoking gun — a video or a confession or someone who saw this person do the act — once you've trampled on the crime scene
you've taken away all of those clues that police normally rely on," Pope said
"How are you going to know beyond a reasonable doubt?"
ROME—Baker Umberto Avigliano of the southern Italian town of Maratea was just doing business when he put the finishing touches on the toothbrush mustache on a cake emblazoned with the face of Adolf Hitler above the inscription
He had taken the order for the €30 ($36) cake from the waitstaff at a local restaurant who apparently have a running joke with their chef who they say looks and sometimes acts a lot like the German Führer
But when he put the cake in the refrigerated window case for pick up
locals from the town complained and the local paper accused him of “making Nazism banal” under the headline: “How is it possible that we have made a sweet treat from the man responsible for the Holocaust?”
“It wasn’t my choice to make that cake,” Avigliano told The Daily Beast by phone
“Some people want sexy women on their cakes; some people want dictators
Avigliano says he took the Nazi cake out of the window case after several people stopped in the shop to complain
But the fact he felt no qualms about making a Hitler cake in the first place is telling
The country is peppered with monuments to Italy’s dark past
and it is common for Italians affiliated with the far-right parties to lament the passing of that dark era
There is wine with Benito Mussolini labels and even a 650-bed beach club near Venice that was warned last month for displaying outright Fascist Party propaganda
the far-right Forza Nuova Party introduced an anti-immigration poster featuring a white woman in the clutches of a black man
almost exactly like the propaganda Mussolini used against American soldiers during World War II
right down to the slogan: “Defend her from the new invaders.”
But homage to the horror might soon be a thing of the past
Italy’s lower house of parliament passed a law that criminalizes fascism fanaticism
The measure includes jail time for the public display of the stiff-armed Roman salute commonly used by fascists and Nazis
Those who display or sell fascist or Nazi gadgets also face six-month to two-year sentences
which would increase by eight months if those goods are sold online
The new law still has to pass the Italian senate where it faces stiff opposition from Italy’s Five Star Movement and right-leaning parties who say it is an infringement on free speech
It replaces a law that only goes as far criminalizing attempts to revive the Fascist Party
The law does not address what to do with the many monuments to fascism across the country
Unlike many of the Confederate statues under scrutiny in the United States
the Italian monuments were all put up by Mussolini to feed his egomania
part of the forest he planted north of Rome that spelled out “Dux” (Duce in Latin) in enormous letters was destroyed in a wildfire
Those who support the bill aren’t calling for the many obelisks and towers built as shrines to fascism to be brought down
just that they be scrubbed of the standard “MUSSOLINI DUX” engravings
But they do want to shutter stores like the many in the northern city of Predappio where Mussolini was born
guests can sleep in the very bed where Mussolini was briefly held prisoner during World War II
It’s unclear whether the new law will ever make it past the final hurdle
the maker of Mussolini-labeled Vino Camerata (which translates as comrade wine and sells for €7.50
including some Autogrill service stops along the country’s main highways) intends to keep putting various images of Il Duce on the label
He sells around 10,000 bottles of the wine each year
He also sells wines with Hitler and Stalin and some less controversial figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Winston Churchill that sell much less
We have already had the tyrant in Italy and it was more than enough
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here
has reported from Italy for Newsweek since 1997 and for The Daily Beast since 2009
She is also a CNN Contributor and frequent writer for Scientific American
Christopher Dickey, a veteran foreign correspondent, was The Daily Beast’s World News Editor, and the author of seven books, including Securing the City and, most recently, Our Man in Charleston: Britain’s Secret Agent in the Civil War South
Bottles of wine with label depicting Nazi Adolf Hilter and Benito Mussolini and other Nazis a on a table ready to be sold on a Wine shop on Semptember 12
2003 in Bibbione a turistic site near Venice