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New Wiretapping Revelations from Inspector General
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Closings….Not the Good Kind!
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Sound Check:
LeVert II live performance Saturday night — "Dedication" album due July 13,
HRLite House:
DDI One of Best Places to Work
Akron Gamer:
Video game sales drop in May
By Mary Beth Breckenridge
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Dec 20, 2008
Macedonia artist Barbara Franzreb found herself with a couple of high-profile clients this year: President George W. and Laura Bush.
Franzreb, a decorative painter who does business as the Calico Goose, was commissioned to create the Christmas ornament the first couple is giving to family members, friends and White House staff members.
Franzreb got the assignment through the Society of Decorative Painters, which was contacted about the project by Laura Bush's office. The society sought designs from four of its members who do historical painting, and Franzreb got word in late July that the first lady had chosen hers.
The ornament features a painting of the White House on blue glass. Unfortunately, she said, her contract prohibits her from sharing a photo of it with us.
Franzreb said she spent about 31/2 months turning out 1,010 ornaments, with help from four students, who did tasks such as tracing the outline of the house and packing the decorations for shipment. Otherwise, Franzreb did all the painting.
''I kind of ate, slept and drank ornaments,'' she said.
All that work paid off when she met the Bushes at a White House reception this month, which she attended with two of her students.
She's still trying to come to grips with it all, she said. ''I still pinch myself and go, 'Did I really do that?' ''
The Calico Goose's Web site is http://www.calicogoose.com. The phone number is 330-467-7402.
Power of Paws
Pet owners know how their animals enrich their lives. Now you can enrich a pet charity by sharing your pet story with others.
The Power of Paws program invites people to submit their stories of how pets, past or present, have helped them. For every story submitted through April 30, Power of Paws will donate $1 to a pet-related charity.
You can find information and read others' stories at http://www.powerofpaws.com. The site also has information on the therapeutic value of pets.
Events, programs
• Warm Up Akron meetings, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mogadore Library, 144 S. Cleveland Ave. Members knit and crochet rectangles that are used to make afghans for needy people in the Akron area, and they'll teach others the skills. Information: 330-699-3252 or http://www.geocities.com/warmupakron.
• WinterShow, through Jan. 4, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Garden is decorated in a ''City Sidewalks'' theme. Special programs this week: Spiced Sachets, 1-3 p.m. today; Paper Poinsettias, 1-3 p.m. Sunday. WinterShow hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Christmas and New Year's days. Admission: $7.50; children ages 3 to 12, $3; members and younger children, free. Information: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Deck the Hall, through Dec. 28, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. Christmas decorations, sheep and goats for children to pet, life-size Nativity. Manor House has historical exhibit of the Seiberling family at Christmas and more than 40 Nativity scenes on display. Musical groups perform Tuesdays and Sundays. Hours: 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, except Christmas Eve and Christmas. Tickets: $14 for admission to the Manor House and grounds, $8 for the grounds only, $2 for children ages 6-17 for either tour. Advance ticket purchase recommended. Reservations: 330-315-3287 or http://www.stanhywet.org. Stan Hywet is also open 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, except Christmas Eve and Christmas. Daytime prices start at $12 ($6 for children ages 6-17).
Mail notices of classes, programs and events two weeks in advance to: Home and Garden News, Features Department, Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron OH 44309-0640. Please include your name and telephone number. All events must be open to the public.
Mary Beth Breckenridge can be reached at 330-996-3756 or mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com.
Macedonia artist Barbara Franzreb found herself with a couple of high-profile clients this year: President George W. and Laura Bush.
Get the full article here.

