IPIP Blog

On Wednesday Metallica Add New Summer Vacation Tour Date was a top story. Here is the recap: Fans across the pond will be celebrating a Metallica Black Album summer in 2012. The band has been rolling out the dates and this week jokingly announced the latest addition with this message:

Were baaaaccckk!! Welcome to the 2012 edition of the one show at a time tour announcements. Todays installment finds us traveling to Paris on May 12 as we continue to extend our summer vacation with a show at Stade de France.

And in keeping with the theme of the summer, we will be performing the Black Album in its entirety… just another anniversary to celebrate! – More from Tallica here.

Not bad considering this was Montanas vacation home while he wasnt in Southern California, where he and his wife Jennifer reside just outside Los Angeles.

Montana, of course, is best known as one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time — he was an eight-time Pro Bowler with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. He now owns his own wine label, Montagia, and has four children — two are currently playing college football.

[Related: Doug Fluties daughter now New England Patriots cheerleader]

Who knows — if current 49ers quarterback Alex Smith continues playing the way he has and he leads the Niners to their first Super Bowl in nearly two decades, maybe #34;Joe Cool#34; will throw in a extra discount to the new guy.

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by Mariana Silva | Reporter

Munroe Falls — An ordinance to allow for up to four weeks paid vacation to department heads is now before City Council.

During a City Council meeting on Jan. 16, Council members observed the first reading of a proposed ordinance that would allow for the finance director, and police and fire chiefs to receive up to four weeks of paid vacation regardless of time of service.

According to the ordinance, that will allow the city to be more competitive when hiring and retaining experienced department heads.

We cant compete, said Mayor Frank Larson to City Council. He added it is not easy to find people with several years of experience without being able to offer them benefits such as vacation.

Council members suggested voting on the ordinance and passing it on the first of its three readings, but Council members Ron Meyer and Gary Toth said they would prefer to allow time for the public to review it and make comments.

This is a financial matter, Meyer said. As far as Im concerned we need three readings.
He added he would not vote to suspend the rules and pass the ordinance in its first reading

Toth said if there was no urgency in passing the ordinance, Council should allow for the three readings.

Meyer said Larson told Police Chief Rick Myers he would be allowed paid vacation before he accepted the position as chief, and that by doing so Larson had ignored current ordinances.

Larson said he did tell Myers he would be allowed to take a vacation before he completed a year in the job.

According to the citys charter, the current ordinance allows for full-time employees to receive two weeks of vacation after one year in service, three weeks after five years of service, four weeks after 10 years of service, five weeks after 20 years of service and six weeks after 24 years of service.

Council decided not to suspend the rules and allow for three readings.

During the meeting Larson also appointed Sarah Hegnauer as a member of park board, Mike Barnes as a member of the board of zoning appeals and Pat Miller as a member of the planning commission.

All new members were unanimously confirmed by Council.

Larson also told Council about the residents he has gathered to serve in the citys Charter Review Commission. Council opted for holding on the appointment of the members until Larson has finished gathering all seven qualified electors of the municipality to serve in the commission.

Council also unanimously voted down an ordinance to establish fees associated with street right of way openings. As written, the ordinance would have allowed the city to charge residents, businesses or companies working in the city for street and right of way openings.

However, Council wishes to work on a new ordinance in which residents would be charged a different and smaller fee, if any, than businesses and companies.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 pm on Feb. 7 at City Hall.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh made one thing clear Monday: A playoff bye week is nothing like the break teams get at midseason.

Still, the NFC West champion 49ers are relishing some extra prep time considering all the players trying to get healthy ahead of their first playoff game in nine years.

It feels like an advantage. How big, well see, Harbaugh said of the extra week. I know this: Were not going to treat it like a vacation. Its not a midseason bye, in my view, where you can afford to come back in midseason form. Well treat it as such.

Harbaugh said he spoke about the schedule with big brother John, the Ravens coach whose team also gets the opening week off as the AFCs second seed.

Compared notes, Jim Harbaugh said. Some things are the same, some are different.

Also, WR Kyle Williams, who missed Sundays finale with a concussion after taking a helmet-first hit Dec. 24 against Seattle, said he is on schedule to be cleared for practice by the time the team starts preparing for its Jan. 14 division game.

FALCONS: Mike Smith wants his first two playoff losses with Atlanta to be growing experiences that will help his team prepare for Sundays first-round game at the Giants.

With Smith in his first season as coach and QB Matt Ryan starting as a rookie quarterback, the Falcons lost to Arizona in the first round of the playoffs after the 2008 season. The Falcons had a first-round bye last year before losing 48-21 to Green Bay.

Smith said its important the Falcons learn from the losses. He said based on those lessons he is planning tweaks to practice this week.

We havent gotten the outcome weve wanted, he said. We are learning from those experiences. Were going to use those as growing experiences and were looking forward to competing this week, and thats not just Matt Ryan.

Thats Mike Smith and every member of our team.

SAINTS: Rookie RB Mark Ingram and LB Will Herring were placed on injured reserve, ending their seasons. Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama, missed the past four games with a sprained toe on his left foot. Herring has a sprained MCL in his right knee, coach Sean Payton said.

CONWAY Skiers are here and theyre appreciative of what weve got. Were pretty busy.

Thats how executive director Thom Perkins of the Jackson Ski Touring Center described this weeks Christmas Week business so far at the world-renowned ski touring center, which was able to offer 23 kilometers of skiing Tuesday, despite the region having limited natural snowfall.

Most touring centers and alpine areas received 5 inches of snow Thursday night and Friday morning, prior to the Christmas holiday Sunday a storm that many referred to as the Christmas Miracle, since it fell even though temperatures were warm.

Alpine areas were able to make snow before and after the storm heading into the holiday week, as was Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, which stands alone among ski touring centers in its ability to make snow.

Great Glen Trails offered 1 kilometer of free skiing Tuesday, a day that touring centers such as the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation and Bear Notch Ski Touring in Bartlett said was busy, despite the limited amount of terrain.

Were seeing a lot of people today. People are very understanding about the lack of natural snow, and we have not talked to a customer who was not appreciative of what weve been able to offer, said Doug Garland of Bear Notch Tuesday, noting that the family-owned ski touring network located in Bartlett had 10 to 12 kilometers of skiing that day.

Similarly, Perkins at Jackson Ski Touring said, We havent heard any complaints. Everyone knows that there is very little natural snow in New England. They are keeping their sense of humor, and enjoying the skiing.

Alpine areas reported that business picked up significantly on Tuesday after Sundays holiday, with many skiers and boarders apparently using Monday as their travel day.

They are definitely here today, said Attitash and Wildcat marketing director Thomas Prindle Tuesday afternoon. Its been a trend the past few years to have people spend the holiday at home, then they travel north, so things have really surged today.

Attitash (374-2368) had 15 trails and six lifts open Tuesday, with top-to-bottom skiing on both Bear Peak and Atittash.

Our goal is to get them connected, with snowmaking continuing as aggressively as we can,said Prindle, who said Attitash was open Christmas Day, as were Bretton Woods and Cranmore.

Attitashs Nor-Easter mountain coaster is open daily this vacation week, as is Cranmores mountain coaster.

Prindle said its sister Peak Resorts area, Wildcat Mountain, also has top-to-bottom skiing, with general manager Josh Boyd and his crew working Christmas Day to get the Upper Lynx and Cattrack trails open Monday off the summit.

Wildcat (466-3326) as of Tuesday had six trails and two lifts open.

Upcoming highlights at Attitash this vacation week include an EMS touring day Dec. 28 and a Ramp skis demo day Dec. 31. The first of the seasons ATP series takes place Dec. 31, featuring a rail jam.

Kathy Bennett, marketing director at Cranmore Mountain Resort (356-5543), said North Conways in-town resort is seeing the benefits kicking in of its $7 million investment under new ownership this vacation week.

Its been really encouraging, said Bennett about Cranmore, which had a total of 18 trails and eight lifts open with top-to-bottom skiing Tuesday, compared to 24 at the start of vacation week last year, which was also was challenging concerning natural snowfall at the start of the vacation week. We have been up each day 20 percent compared to last year, so even though Mother Nature has been a little stingy this year with natural snowfall, we are expecting our trail counts to increase as snowmaking will continue when temperatures permit, said Bennett.

I think people have heard about all the improvements we have made, as we are in the second year of our capital improvement campaign. Also, I think with the delayed start, there is a lot of pent-up demand. We hope it will be a trend for the rest of the winter, said Bennett.

Cranmore president and general manager Ben Wilcox thanked skiers and riders for their business.

I think it shows they are confident of our snowmaking capabilities, said Wilcox.

In addition to its mountain coaster, Cranmores tubing, giant swing and indoor adventure zone are both open through Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm

Cranmore is presenting its first Cranapalooza of the season Dec. 28 with skiing and riding until 6 pm, and fireworks on New Years Eve at 6:30 pm, prior to King Pines at 9 pm and North Conway Villages at 9:30 pm

Speaking of King Pine (367-8896), the East Madison family-owned resort was experiencing strong business on Tuesday, according to marketing director Emily Eastman.

The resort had seven trails and four lifts Tuesday, with night skiing and tubing through Jan. 1.

Things have really picked up today, said Eastman, noting that the resorts tubing slope was packed to the gills.

Owned and operated by the Hoyt family for five generations, King Pine is celebrating its 50th anniversary season this winter, and the 100th anniversary of Purity Spring Resort.

The resort was featured on a live remote broadcast on local station WMWV 93.5-FM Tuesday afternoon.

Shawnee Peak (207-647-8444) in nearby Bridgton, Maine, had 17 trails and three lifts Tuesday, with night skiing until 9 pm nightly, and until 10 pm Fridays and Saturdays. Shawnee is presenting its annul Ullr Fest Dec. 28, featuring fireworks and more beginning at 6 pm

Black Mountain (383-4490) opened for the season Tuesday, a day later than projected, with skiing on four trails and one lift. Spokesman Adam Gallichon said snowmaking is expected to return, once Tuesday nights and Wednesdays projected rain passes and colder temperatures return.

Bretton Woods (278-3320) had 25 trails and eight lifts as of Tuesday, with night skiing nightly through Dec. 31. Bretton Woods Ski Touring (278-3322) is open with 6 kilometers.

Dining and lodging

Janice Crawford, executive director of the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce (356-5701), and Dick Delaney, director of the Valley Originals group of local independent restaurants and one of the owners of Delaneys Hole-in-the-Wall (356-7776), were upbeat about the week so far, despite the lack of natural snow.

Weve been busy we were way up Monday over last year, which was also busy, said Delaney Tuesday. I have heard there are big vacancies at a lot of inns, but I am not sure about that, and hopefully people are filling up those rooms.

Crawford said she did not have a report on lodging availability as of Tuesday morning.

We have had many calls. I do not have a handle on whether there may have been cancellation for lodging, said Crawford Tuesday.

Messages left with the North Conway Grand Hotel and the Red Jacket Mountain View Tuesday were not returned as of press time.

As for dining, Crawford said she had gone to dinner with her daughter Christmas night at the Red Fox Pub and Grille in Jackson, and that it was very busy. My daughter Jamie asked why it would be so busy Christmas night, and I told her that I think that people spend Christmas at home, then they head north and they were grabbing a bite to eat once they got here, said Crawford. She added the chamber had fielded many calls from visitors seeking to do activities such as ice skating and inquiring about the upcoming New Years Eve weekend.

While the rink in North Conways Schouler Park had yet to open as of Tuesday, Nestlenook Estate and Resort (383-7101) was open, offering outdoor skating at its Victorian Emerald Lake skating area, as well as sleigh rides daily from noon to 9 pm

Skating is also available daily indoors at the Ham Ice Arena (447-5886) in Conway.

It has not been a record-setter, but we have been busy, and I am sure that we will be OOC out of control Wednesday with the days projected rain, said Ham executive director Darrell Umlah Tuesday, a day that saw many cars backing up as the day progressed on North Conways North-South Road, always a good sign of gauging how busy things are in North Conway.

He said that public skating is offered daily this week noon to 3 pm and 6 to 8 pm, except on New Years Eve, when the arena will close at 3 pm Stick and puck sessions (helmets required) are also being offered 3:10 to 4:40 pm daily except on New Years Eve.

Susan Logan, marketing director at Conway Scenic Railroad (356-5251), said the local tourist railroad was experiencing strong ridership on its Christmas week runs, which are offered daily this week at 11:30 am to Bartlett and 1:30 pm. to Conway.

This is the second year that the Conway Scenic Railroad is offering rides Christmas week, she said.

Ridership has been up daily from last year, which was the first year we tried it and found it was successful, said Logan. Monday was a travel day, but today it is definitely up. We are offering trains daily through New Years Eve. We tried it, because not everyone skis, or not all day, and they are looking for things to do, said Logan, who had Monday off.

Shopping

What did she do with that day?

I went shopping at Settlers Green and JC Penney, and I can tell you that both were very, very busy Monday, said Logan commenting on the day known to Canadians and Brits as Boxing Day the day after Christmas, now said to be one of the busiest shopping days of the season in many regions as shoppers flock to take advantage of sales and to make returns.

Ezra Timberlake-Aldes, an employee at Zebs General Store (356-9294) in North Conway, said business was steady Tuesday.

Dot Seybold, general manager at Settlers Green Outlet Village (356-7031), said Monday at noon that business that day was quieter than expected, but that she expected visiting shoppers to begin arriving later that day and on Tuesday.

By Leah Ornstein – Radar Style amp; Beauty Editor

From Miami Beach to Mexico, Hollywood stars spent their vacations in the sun this holiday season, steaming up the shorelines of the best beaches in barely-there bikinis and swimming trunks.

RadarOnline.com has photos of the 10 sexiest stars showing off their assets while having fun in the sun!

PHOTOS: The Hottest Beach Bodies Of The Holiday Season

Talk about a hot mama in Mexico! Jessica Alba,30,revealed her bombshell post-preggers body in Cabo San Lucas, stripping down into a sexy hot pink bikini during her family vacation.

Over in Miami Beach, sexy supermodel turned big screen bombshell Rosie Huntington-Whiteley dropped jaws in a super skimpy zebra print bikini, while Real Housewives star Melissa Gorga showed off her perfect 10 bod in a fabulously fringed L*Space bikini.

Elle Macpherson,47,flaunted the still fab figure that earned her the nickname The Body, and Mischa Barton, revealed her recently rehabbed body in South Florida.

As for the hunks, we were delightfully surprised by Kevin Bacon’s abfab figure at 53, as well as fashion designer Marc Jacobs’ sexy six-pack at 48.

Who had the hottest holiday beach body? Let us know what you think by sounding off below.

Last voting session of term set for Monday

With five days left for the Democratic-controlled Legislature to change the way sick and vacation benefits are provided to public workers, Gov. Chris Christie Wednesday visited the New Brunswick home of Frank and Joan Deiner to discuss the impact what the governor describes as his Zero Means Zero proposal would have in delivering property tax relief to New Jerseyans.

After their leaders cooperated with Christie in pushing through changes that make public employees pay more for their health and pension benefits, Democratic legislators are reluctant to take any additional actions that would make Christie look good politically. The sick and vacation time proposal is not on the Senate or Assembly agendas for the final voting sessions of the current term on Monday.

Christie has put forward what he sees as a common sense policy to bring an end to the practice of paying public workers for unused sick days. He charged the Legislature wants to continue the usually hefty payouts.

The Legislature has not acted on Christie’s December 2010 conditional veto that would provide property tax relief by eliminating cash payouts for future unused sick days, and limiting the ability to carry forward unused vacation days to one year only.

Presently, accumulated sick and vacation liabilities total over $825 million on municipalities’ books.

In New Brunswick, the total accumulated liability is over $14.5 million, or $1,330 for every property taxpayer in the city – the highest per taxpayer total in the state – on property taxes that already average $6,392 for the city’s residents.

“Time is running out for the Legislature to act on these common sense reforms to curb this expensive practice that, in reality, has a direct and significant impact on the property taxes borne by New Jersey families,” Christie said. “In New Brunswick, the average property taxpayer, people like Frank and Joan Deiner, is on the hook for over $1,300, for nothing more than unused public worker sick and vacation days. If the Legislature is serious about delivering property tax relief and helping towns manage their budgets under the cap, they will end the delays, make this reform a priority and pass real reform before they close business on the 215th Legislative Session.

The governor has called on the Legislature to enact his so-called tool kit bills that he believes would drive down costs and deliver sustainable property tax relief to New Jerseyans, including sick and vacation benefit reform, civil service reform, and disability pension abuse reform.

Last month, a bipartisan group of 234 mayors joined Christie’s call for the Legislature to act on the sick and vacation pay proposal.

The governor’s office offered these examples of the cost of accumulated sick and vacation time to taxpayers in 10 cities and towns:

New Brunswick: $14,515,297 – (cost per household) $1,220

Jersey City: $73,979,519 – $1,169

Alpine: $850,523 – $1,169

Hackensack: $18,875,368 – $1,039

Harrison: $3,517,916 – $979

Asbury Park: $4,819,259 – $903

Madison Borough: $4,512,480 – $883

West New York: $7,782,193 – $869

Ridgewood Village: $7,203,566 – $861

Weehawken: $4,249,583 – $859

–TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

A tanned Mayor Emanuel talked about his familys winter vacation to South America during a news conference on the citys recycling efforts. | Al Podgorski~Chicago Sun-Times

HIGHER hotel prices, airline capacity cuts and rising travel demand mean travelers will have to work harder to find a good deal in 2012. But there are plenty of online tools to help keep your vacation expenses in check. Here are 19 go-to Web sites to help you save money this year.

AAA Travel announces the expansion of AAA Vacations^® – a customized collection of tour and cruise packages designed to provide AAA members with unique, exclusive and engaging life experiences. The collection now includes vacation options to faraway, exotic destinations throughout the world and close to home in the United States and Canada.

AAA members can purchase AAA Vacations products from one of the more than 3,178 professional travel counselors located at AAA Travel offices nationwide. Each departure features AAA’s Best Price Guarantee and 24/7 AAA Member Care.

“AAA Vacations is the perfect ticket to fulfill bucket-list dreams,” said Bill Sutherland, vice president, AAA Travel Services. “AAA members will enjoy unique experiences like private cooking demonstrations with top local chefs, VIP access to the Vatican Museum and priority embarkation on some cruise lines.”

Vacation planning can be a daunting task. Utilizing the expert services of a professional travel counselor to book a pre-packaged trip that includes unique experiences such as a AAA Vacations destination product, will save vacationers countless hours of research time.  Travel counselors at AAA receive frequent travel updates and stay abreast of price changes, document requirement changes, travel alerts and continuously monitor the overall travel landscape. Their time, personalized service and first-hand destination knowledge that enables them to offer valuable destination tips and sightseeing recommendations adds irreplaceable value to the vacation price.