Saturday, August 28, 2021
The Little House just got bigger - Santa Barbara News-Press
Quirky structure inspires Nova Scotia designer
The Little House, which stands between West Gutierrez and Haley streets, has been featured in many newspapers and magazines and on HGTV.
The large package arrived in early January for Neil and Sue Ablitt.
The sender was a woman in a small town in Nova Scotia.
“We didn’t know anyone in Nova Scotia, and we were even more surprised to find inside a model of our Little House that was made of felted Hudson Bay blankets, a work of art, by an unknown person from Canada,” said Mr. Ablitt.
The Little House, often called the Ablitt Tower, is the quirky structure that he and his wife built in 2006 on the tiny lot behind their drycleaning business on West Gutierrez Street. Designed by architect Jeff Shelton, the 53-foot-tall, four-story home sits on a 20-by-20 foot lot, which is smaller than a two-car garage.
Peggy Jenkinson, a designer in Nova Scotia, surprised Neil and Sue Ablitt with this model of the Little House, the quirky Santa Barbara structure where they used to live. The Ablitts thanked her for taking photos of the model at Santa Barbara landmarks.
The Santa Barbara home has captured national attention. It’s been written about in dozens of newspapers and magazines and appeared on the HGTV network and on KCET-TV’s “California Gold” with the late Huell Howser.
The Ablitts, who lived in the house for almost six years, now occupy a condo nearby.
“The model in the box is about 2 feet square and made of felting, which is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers together,” Mr. Ablitt told the News-Press. “We also learned that its hollow three-dimensional shape was designed to be a cover for a coffee maker.”
When they recovered from their shock — and delight — at receiving the unusual gift, the Ablitts decided they wanted to thank the designer in a unique way.
“But first we had to find the mystery lady from Canada. We contacted our friends Donald and Nancy Thom who live in Quebec and found out she was a relative of theirs,” said Mr. Ablitt. “Her name is Peggy Jenkinson, and she had never been to Santa Barbara or seen our house. It seems that the Thoms had shown her a photo of the Little Tower, and she was so intrigued by the design that she wanted to recreate it in felting.
“It turns out she is a dedicated environmentalist who does not own a computer and had to study the tower on a computer at the local library.”
Jim and Monika (who didn’t want their last name in the News-Press) are currently renting the Ablitt Tower. It was Monika who came up with the very special way to thank Ms. Jenkinson by photographing the model at various landmarks around Santa Barbara and with photos of the people who were involved with the construction of the building.
“I took all the pictures with my iPhone camera. It took six months to coordinate everything. It was time consuming and a tremendous amount of work, but it was a lot of fun, too,” Mr. Ablitt said.
The result is a 12-page hardcover book that includes pictures of the Ablitts; their daughter Sasha; granddaughter Hudson; architect Jeff Shelton; his brother David Shelton, who did the iron work; plumbers Victor Beltran, Jesus Beltran and Ignacio Rios; Jim and Monika; David Mosley, woodworker; Dan Upton, contractor; Juan Rios, tile setter; Andres Johnson, sculptor; Bob Peace, electrician; and a list in tile of Contributors to the Cause.
There are also photos of the model at the beach, the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Santa Barbara Mission, La Arcada Court, The Granada and on State Street.
At left, Jeff Shelton, the architect behind the Little House, is featured in one photo in the 12-page book that Neil and Sue Ablitt sent Peggy Jenkinson, who created the small model. At right, An illustration shows the design specs for the Little House.
“When I finished taking the pictures, Monika suggested we publish them in a book not only for Ms. Jenkinson but for everybody involved with the construction and all the rest of us,” said Mr. Ablitt.
The first page reads:
“Dear Peggy Jenkinson,
“As you can see in this photo book, your building-of-blankets has become a moving mascot for the Ablitt House. We love that we now can transport the joy and whimsy of the Little House to places our concrete tower cannot go. We love how your soft and supple walls express our warm and cozy feelings about the House. Thank you from the top of our Tower!
“Neil and Sue Ablitt
“2021”
A long time went by before they heard from Ms. Jenkinson with a brief note of thanks:
“What a wonderful surprise. Thank you so much for the fantastic book. A very special keepsake. All the best.”
On the last page of the book is a picture of the Ablitts holding the model, and below are the words: “May the Little House continue to delight and inspire — and to all who made it possible, our deepest gratitude.”
email: mmcmahon@newspress.com
The Link LonkAugust 28, 2021 at 07:30PM
https://newspress.com/the-little-house-just-got-bigger/
The Little House just got bigger - Santa Barbara News-Press
https://news.google.com/search?q=little&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
Friday, August 27, 2021
Rockies’ Bud Black prepared to dig “little deeper” into Daniel Bard’s struggles - The Denver Post
Daniel Bard’s splits are so dramatic they might warrant an Oscar nomination.
And after a couple unsavory homers allowed in the Rockies’ most recent series against the Cubs, manager Bud Black said it was time to address his August struggles.
Black said he and Bard met Friday, two days after he conceded a (wind-aided) three-run homer in relief against the Cubs. On Monday, he served up a walk-off, two-run homer at Wrigley Field.
“You look at every closer, every late-inning reliever, there are at times a slump — I don’t want to say peaks and valleys because you don’t want that out of your closer, but this is a little bit of a downturn for him,” Black said prior to Friday’s game against the Dodgers. “I think we really gotta get a handle on the splits between the left-handed batters and the right-handed batters. I think a little bit of that is pitch selection and his pitches and how to attack the hitters. That’s gonna be addressed a little bit more thoroughly.”
Against righties, Bard’s kept hitters to a paltry .221 batting average, allowing only one homer in 95 at bats. But that number is .345 against left-handed hitters, including seven homers in 110 at bats.
“We talked today about a few things,” Black said. “… It’s not uncommon for pitchers to go into slumps just like hitters. We’ve talked about Daniel’s outings each and every night based on the type of games that he pitches in, the very high-leverage games. Save opportunities … close games. Those are tough innings.”
In dissecting the issues, Black said it boils down to command. His slider, in particular, has hurt him recently as has the placement of some of his pitches.
“Now I think it’s maybe time to dig in a little deeper and get some of his thoughts, combined with our thoughts of teaching,” Black said.
The good part, according to Black, is how receptive Bard is to feedback. He called it “refreshing” to work with a player as open and communicative as Bard has been. The concern stems from his nine appearances in August, a period that has seen Bard post a 9.39 ERA and an opponent batting average of .371.
“There’s a wide-variety of angles to discuss with Daniel,” Black said.
Story on the mend: The Rockies held shortstop Trevor Story out for Friday’s series opener against the Dodgers, apparently, for precautionary reasons.
He injured his left leg running the bases late in Wednesday’s win over Chicago and was getting treatment Friday night. Following Thursday’s off day, the Rockies saw no harm in giving him an extra day’s rest. There is hope, Black said, that he could be in the starting lineup Saturday.
On Deck
Rockies RHP Jon Gray (7-10, 4.13 ERA) at Dodgers LHP David Price (4-2, 3.82)
7:10 p.m., Saturday, Dodger Stadium
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
After a fantastic July, Gray’s struggled mightily in August. He’s lost all four of his starts and ran up an ERA of 6.75. If you were looking for a silver-lining, Gray’s strikeouts haven’t abandoned him. He’s averaged seven strikeouts per contest. In two starts against the Dodgers in late July, Gray conceded just four earned runs in 12 innings but caught no decisions in both appearances. Price, not nearly as dominant as he once was, has picked up just one loss in August, and that’s it. His longest outing was 5 1/3 innings, with no other starts even getting through the fifth inning. His last start against the Rockies came on July 23, where Price gave up three earned runs and two homers in 5 2/3 innings. At home, where Price has appeared 18 times with eight starts, the lefty has a 3.47 ERA.
Trending: Connor Joe has knocked in 19 runs in his last 16 games. Joe hit his first career grand slam in the nightcap of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cubs. It was the second time in his career he’s knocked in four runs.
At issue: Entering Friday night’s game, the Rockies are 3-10 against the Dodgers this year and 10-32 against them since 2019.
Pitching probables:
Sunday: Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (2-9, 4.42) at Dodgers TBD, 2:10 p.m. ATTRM
The Link LonkAugust 28, 2021 at 08:09AM
https://www.denverpost.com/2021/08/27/daniel-bard-rockies-closer-august-struggles/
Rockies’ Bud Black prepared to dig “little deeper” into Daniel Bard’s struggles - The Denver Post
https://news.google.com/search?q=little&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
FINAL FOUR: Field Set for 2021 Little League Baseball® World Series Championship - Little League - littleleague.org
After an exciting week of competition, the final four teams are set to take the field for Championship weekend of the 2021 Little League Baseball® World Series.
Below are the four teams who have worked their way from their local Little League® fields to the biggest stage in youth sports as they get set to face off for the Tom Seaver and Hank Aaron Championships on Saturday, August 28, and the ultimate prize of being named Little League Baseball World Series Champion on Sunday, August 29.
Tom Seaver Championship (12:30 p.m. – ABC)
Ohio – West Side Little League (Hamilton, Ohio)
Serving as the visiting team in the Tom Seaver Championship, West Side Little League from Hamilton, Ohio, has made it to the final weekend after earning a spot in the World Series as the Great Lakes Region runner-up. Ohio heads into the weekend with a 4-1 record in the World Series after dropping its only game in a 9-0 loss to California on Sunday, August 22. Leading the way at the plate has been Chance Retherford (.333 avg., 4 RBI) and Chase Moak (.444 avg., 2 RBI), while JJ Vogel (10.2 IP, 1.125 ERA, 17 Ks) has been their star on the mound. Squaring off against South Dakota for the Tom Seaver Championship, Ohio is in search of its state’s first ever Little League Baseball World Series championship title.
South Dakota – Sioux Falls (S.D.) Little League
Heading into the weekend with an unblemished 3-0 record throughout the World Series, the Midwest Region Runners-Up out of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Little League are in search of the state’s first World Series title this weekend. In its three games, South Dakota has only allowed one hit, thanks to a pair of no-hitters by Gavin Weir (11.2 IP, 29 Ks) and impressive pitching by Maddux Munson (6.0 IP, 4 Ks). Offensively, Weir also leads the team with 4 RBI and the team’s only home run, while Noah Kuenzi (.429 avg., 2 RBI) helped drive in the team’s other two runs to get them to the championship weekend.
Hank Aaron Championship (3:30 p.m. – ABC)
Michigan – Taylor (Mich.) North Little League
Representing the state of Michigan as the Great Lakes Region Champions, Taylor North Little League heads into the weekend with a 3-1 World Series record and is looking forward to a rematch as its only loss in the tournament came against Hawaii in a 2-0 shutout on August 25. The team is led by the hot bat of Jackson Surma (.462 avg., 4 RBI) as Michigan has combined for 29 runs over the course of its four games. On the mound, Ethan Van Belle (6.0 IP, 10 Ks) and Jakob Furkas (6.0 IP, 3 Ks) have led the charge as the team heads into the weekend with a 3.13 ERA. Making its first appearance as a league, Taylor North Little League is looking to bring home Michigan’s first World Series title since 1959.
Hawaii – Honolulu (Hawaii) Little League
Taking the field first as the home team for the Hank Aaron Championship, Hawaii is looking to bring back to World Series title to Honolulu Little League after winning it all in 2018. Leading the way with a 3-0 record, the West Region champions have put together 22 runs over the course of three games, with Kekoa Payanal (.625 avg) leading the way at the plate. On the mound, it has been lights out by Ryan Keanu (12.0 IP, 10 Ks, 0.50 ERA) and Kaikea Patoc-Young (5.0 IP, 6 Ks, 2.40 ERA) as Hawaii has held its opponents to only three earned runs.
The winners of both the Tom Seaver and Hank Aaron Championships will square off for the World Series Championship on Sunday, August 29 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
To learn more about the Little League Baseball World Series, including the full schedule and how to follow along, visit LittleLeague.org/LLBWS.
The Link LonkAugust 28, 2021 at 01:11AM
https://www.littleleague.org/world-series/2021/llbws/news/final-four-field-set-for-2021-little-league-baseball-world-series-championship/
FINAL FOUR: Field Set for 2021 Little League Baseball® World Series Championship - Little League - littleleague.org
https://news.google.com/search?q=little&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
Analysis | Stephen Breyer retirement watch just got a little more interesting - The Washington Post
That’s not what those advocates wanted to hear. Given Democrats’ razor-thin 50-seat Senate majority, it’s not at all clear how much more time they would have to replace him on a court that has shifted substantially to the right in recent years.
His new interview with the New York Times, though, gives those advocates a little more to work with. It provides some tea leaves that suggest Breyer is also looking at this pragmatically — and even that he’s open to a conveniently timed retirement that would allow a more like-minded replacement (i.e. one chosen by Democrats).
In the CNN interview, Breyer spoke broadly about “the court” being a consideration in his decision — something I highlighted back then. In the interview with the Times, Adam Liptak got Breyer to drill down a little more on what that means:
He recalled approvingly something Justice Antonin Scalia had told him.“He said, ‘I don’t want somebody appointed who will just reverse everything I’ve done for the last 25 years,’” Justice Breyer said during a wide-ranging interview on Thursday. “That will inevitably be in the psychology” of his decision, he said.
Liptak noted that Breyer’s new book — the motivation for the interviews he’s giving — says: “A judge’s loyalty is to the rule of law, not the political party that helped to secure his or her appointment.” Breyer has been emphasizing this for a long time.
But he also, crucially, told Liptak that this emphasis on an apolitical court doesn’t necessarily apply so neatly to retirements:
That may suggest that judges ought not consider the political party of the president under whom they retire, but Justice Breyer seemed to reject that position.He was asked about a remark from Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who died in 2005, in response to a question about whether it was “inappropriate for a justice to take into account the party or politics of the sitting president when deciding whether to step down from the court.”“No, it’s not inappropriate,” the former chief justice responded. “Deciding when to step down from the court is not a judicial act.”That sounded correct to Justice Breyer. “That’s true,” he said.
Liptak noted that Breyer’s publisher, in setting up the interview, said the justice would not respond to questions about his retirement plans. But he also described Breyer being “at pains” to emphasize how he’s looking at this question from the standpoint of a realist.
“I’ve said that there are a lot of considerations,” Breyer said. “I don’t think any member of the court is living in Pluto or something.”
This is hardly shocking stuff. Not only have those Republican-appointed justices suggested that conveniently timed retirements are okay, but almost every recent retirement has been conveniently timed for when the party with which those justices were most aligned could choose their replacements (which can hardly be dismissed as a coincidence).
It also doesn’t mean Breyer is retiring soon or even leaning in that direction. But for a man whose book is all about an apolitical court and whose publisher said he wouldn’t talk about that subject, he sure gave the political world something to work with on that subject.
And this question remains one of the most important in Washington. Not only do Democrats have the slimmest of Senate majorities that could be gone after the 2022 election, but it conceivably might not even last until then.
It only takes one vacancy to change control, and there are often vacancies in the Senate, because of death, resignation or scandal. And 14 of the 50 Democratic senators come from states where a Republican governor could replace them or there would be an unpredictable special election with no assurances of a Democratic replacement. Half of those 14 are at least 70 years old.
That could rise to 15 if California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is recalled, potentially leaving a Republican governor to lead a state featuring the oldest senator, 88-year-old Dianne Feinstein. And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has made no secret he’ll continue to use all the bare-knuckle tools at his disposal to continue guiding the court to the right.
In other words, if Breyer wants to be relatively certain he wouldn’t be replaced by someone “who will just reverse everything I’ve done for the last 25 years,” time is of the essence. Sticking around could mean not just a 6-to-3 conservative court, but potentially a 7-to-2 one. He’s made clear that isn’t the only consideration, but it’s notable he’s talking about it in those terms and agrees it’s fair game for him to keep an eye on who’s going to replace him.
August 27, 2021 at 08:28PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/27/stephen-breyer-retirement-watch-just-got-little-more-interesting/
Analysis | Stephen Breyer retirement watch just got a little more interesting - The Washington Post
https://news.google.com/search?q=little&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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