Sport
New wrought iron fence at the Tennis Center in Canyon Lake
Everyone invited to ribbon-cutting for new seawall
By SHARON RICE
Residents who have not yet played tennis in Canyon Lake will have a good reason to take up the sport when they see the improvements that have taken place at the Tennis Center, located next to the Lodge. An opportunity to view the improvements firsthand will take place this coming Tuesday, May 8, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Tennis Center seawall.
The dedication will take place at the lower Tennis Courts at the beginning of the POA Board meeting, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited, even if they don’t stay for the Board meeting.
After failing for a number of years and experiencing numerous temporary fixes, a portion of the seawall collapsed and became irreparable in 2010, resulting in the need to completely rebuild the wall. The project went out to bid that October.
The Board contracted with Albert A. Webb Associates for planning and design services related to the seawall, along with drainage and erosion improvements in the area around the Tennis Courts. General items of work to be completed included removal and replacement of the existing seawall, construction of new wrought iron fencing along the seawall, reconstruction of the asphalt parking lot, construction of property line retaining walls, drainage improvements and handicap ramps.
Paul Touw of TC Construction in Murrieta won the bid to construct the wall, Norton Iron installed the iron railings and Valley Crest did the landscaping. A new beach was added on the north side of the Tennis Center. The seawall and walkway is similar in design to the one surrounding the Pool area.
At the recommendation of the Tennis Facilities Committee, other improvements occurred at the Tennis Center, starting in 2010. These included the installation of a Tennis Center monument, lighting fixture upgrades, resurfacing of the courts, restoration of the restrooms and the addition of walkways.
A design has been completed and plans are underway to build a new Tennis/Community Building when funds become available. At Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting for the seawall, residents will see where the new amenity eventually will be located.
from fridayflyer.com
New wrought iron fence for Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium to get a ‘Champions Plaza’ and more
by David Blake
In the college football offseason, contractors are ready to do $8 million worth of work to improve the appearance of the Tiger Stadium. The chain link fence that’s been something of an eyesore along the west side of the stadium is being replaced with wrought iron, along with stone gates and archways.
Fans maybe even more excited about “Champions Plaza,” similar to the popular Champions Square outside the Superdome.
LSU has something similar at Alex Box stadium.
”It shows our six national championships there, as well as other recognition of great players of LSU baseball history,” said Vincent.
This plaza would be loaded with LSU football memorabilia, so that fans could experience the history of the sport. In addition, Vincent says they’re interested in expanding the stadium on the south end zone.
”We’re doing some ground testing now to see what that area of the stadium is like and what kind of problems we might have to tackle,” he explained.
They could add a mixture suites and both additional club and public seating.
from wwl.com
Olympic torch London 2012
London 2012: Olympic torch to go through Leeds Victoria Quarter
The Victoria Quarter The Victoria Quarter celebrated its 20th birthday last year
A torchbearer will run through Leeds’s Victoria Quarter with the Olympic flame when it comes to West Yorkshire next year, it has been announced.
During three days in June 2012 the torch will visit 25 places in the area.
The procession will first visit Boston Spa, Wetherby and Harewood on 19 June and will return to the area on 24 and 25 June.
There will be celebratory events in Leeds on 24 June, when the torch will stay in the city overnight.
The Victoria Quarter, which opened in 1990, was designed by architect Frank Matcham.
He used marbles, mosaics, cast and wrought iron and carved wood to create two streets, two arcades and the Empire Theatre, which is now Harvey Nichols.
A torchbearer will carry the Olympic flame through the centre on 25 June. The torch will also visit the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at West Bretton, near Wakefield, on that day.
Thousands of torch bearers are being recruited for the flame’s 70-day journey across the UK before the opening ceremony in London. The Olympic flame will arrive in the UK from Greece on 18 May 2012.
The relay will begin at Land’s End, Cornwall, on Saturday, 19 May and end on Friday, 27 July in the Olympic Stadium.
It is estimated it will be carried 8,000 miles.
from bbc.co.uk
Yoga and Wine in Clinton
Yoga And Wine – An Unexpected Combination
Chamard Vineyards In Clinton Looks To Draw Visitors To Its 40 Acres By Many Means
By Carolyn Murphy
Marie Burkle calls Chamard Vineyards the hidden gem of her neighborhood.
Burkle often comes through the black wrought iron gates of the Clinton vineyard to sip a glass of wine, listen to music and relax on the gravel patio after a hard day’s work on her Killingworth farm. Now she is also coming to Chamard to practice yoga as part of a new summer series at the vineyard.
“I live down the street so I try to take advantage of everything Chamard has to offer,” said Burkle, who was at her first yoga class Wednesday night since undergoing kidney surgery three weeks ago.
“I’m a nature girl and I love yoga so this is the perfect setting for me. I’d rather be here than in a studio.”
The classes are the brainchild of Branford yoga instructor Ava Tyler, who teaches in Guilford, Old Saybrook and New Haven and was recently named the Shoreline’s best yoga instructor by the E-List.
Tyler, 54, approached Chamard executives and offered to do classes as part of her ongoing initiative to offer yoga in unexpected places. She hopes to add museums, art galleries and other spaces to expose more people to yoga.
“This is a studio without walls,” said Tyler, surveying the vineyard’s lush 40 acres lined with rows of grapevines, rambling stone walls and a pond with a soaring fountain. “This is a very spiritual place. There is no noise and there are birds, water and fresh air. My hope is that by offering yoga outside of a studio, I’ll be able to reach a lot of people and show them that they need to be doing yoga.”
Known along the Shoreline for her innovative classes and focus on breathing, Tyler’s attitude toward yoga has changed since she first began at age 16 while trying to stay limber for her first love, modern dance. In her younger years, Tyler admits that she often felt competitive, considering it a feat to test her body and twist her legs behind her back. Today, she said her practice has mellowed and her ultimate goal is to listen to her body and keep it properly aligned. Like many of her clients, she has to cope with some physical limitations, including arthritis in her hands.
A resident at Turtle Bay in Branford, Tyler worked in real estate and retail before deciding to devote herself full-time to yoga about 10 years ago. Besides a busy class schedule, she has a long private client list that includes some of the Shoreline’s biggest movers and shakers. She said she wants to bring yoga to new places because she feels the world would be a better place if more people practice it.
“The world is getting to be a bigger place and more crowded and people are more stressed out than ever before,” she said. “Yoga gets you in touch with who you are. Your breath can tell you what’s right and what’s not working. Everybody should be practicing yoga.”
Though the one-hour classes are usually held on the grass near the pond, Tyler moved Wednesday night’s class inside a rustic barn when a light rain began to fall. About 12 people, including a few Chamard staffers, took their places inside the barn lined with huge oak barrels and a rough-hewn wooden bar, moving through poses while Tyler implored them to pause to “soak in the view, drink in the view.”
Jeff Vernon of Essex, manager of the winery, participated in the class and then quickly switched gears when four women wanted to sip wine after the mats were rolled up.
Pouring wine from a pitcher, Vernon explained that offering yoga is part of Chamard’s ongoing effort to draw more people to the vineyard and allow them to share the beauty of the property.
Founded as a winery in 1988, Chamard is owned by Guilford residents Jonathan and Bonnie Rothberg and produces about 6,000 cases of wine each year.
“We think this is a cool place, a special place that we want to share with the community and we feel that yoga is consistent with that spirit,” Vernon said. “I’ve had people tell me that they feel transported when they come through the front gates – like they’ve driven six hours when they are only 25 minutes from home. We want to share that feeling with a lot more people.”
Tyler plans to offer the $15 classes at 6 p.m. Wednesday throughout August at the vineyard. Other events this month include live music by area songwriters with food and wine from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night.
from clinton.patch.com
Wimbledon wrought iron gates
For all the changes at Wimbledon, some things never change
BY JUDY DALTON
WHEN I walked through the elegantly wrought iron gates of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club ahead of the 125th anniversary of The Championships my heart skipped a beat.
I feel so honoured to have been able to attend The Championships so frequently.
I first played at Wimbledon in 1962. It’s so many years ago. But it does not matter how often I go there, it is still an enormous thrill.
There’s something new every year nowadays.
A state-of-the-art sliding roof on centre court, a new number one court and a new number two court are among the latest developments.
This year we will see the opening of a new number three court, a new members’ enclosure and an array of new amenities for players, ensuring their needs are satisfied, and the public.
Henman Hill has been replaced by Murray Mound.
And there’s a new media centre. For all the changes, some things never change.
Ivy still covers walls over the front of the members entrance and the entrance into the Royal Box.
Flower arrangements still line the pathway from the main front gate to the back gate.
They have bloomed early this year, so ground staff are hoping that they will last the fortnight without any drama.
Players are dropped off outside the members’ entrance so the public can see all the stars arrive.
The members’ badges, the disciplined running of the referees office, the umpires, the ball boys (and girls) and ground staff – none of this has changed.
Probably the most visible thing that has never changed is the all-white clothing rule for players.
Her sister Venus has been seeded 24.
As the defending champion, Serena will still be given the honour of playing in the opening matches on “Ladies Day” even though she is not the number one seed.
• I WAS able to get a word with Tony Roche early this week while Lleyton Hewitt was practicing.
Roche was pleased Hewitt’s progressed and hoping for a favourable draw.
I also caught up with the head groundsman Eddie Seward, who is really happy with courts.
They’re in wonderful condition.
The new number three court has an incredible atmosphere which the players will enjoy.
• AGAIN, the United Kingdom is getting in a frenzy about Andy Murray after his win at Queens.
At least it will help people forget about the state of the economy here.
The question so many people ask me is: “how can the players adhere to this rule?” It is just a given rule that the players accept.
No other tournament would be able to get away with it.
It is tradition that makes Wimbledon so special.
• THE seeding of Serena Williams has been a major talking point ahead of The Championships.
I spoke to the referee on Monday about the pros and cons of the issue.
The decision to seed Williams eight is justified by the fact that she will not meet any of the top seeds before the quarter finals.
from THECOURIERE.COM.AU
