from BUSINESS LINE, March 14, 2010 Bangalore, March 13 – Increasing Elsa Peretti Bean necklace and professionalism in the Rs 1-lakh crore domestic jewellery industry, which is seeing a modest 10-12 per cent growth currently, can spur the market to grow at 20 per cent year-on-year in two, three years, says the Gems and Jewellery Federation (GJF). “The jewellery industry in the country is getting organised with even small and medium players realising the need for innovation in products and design. While the entry of branded players poses challenging times for small, medium and family jewellers, it also stresses the need for professionalism – higher salaries, staff training and higher levels of craftsmanship. With more and more jewellers selling hallmarked gold jewellery, the quality has improved.

“Today, consumers also get certified diamonds. Retail experience and service has also improved,” says Mr Sumesh Wadhera, Director, GJF. Retailers. They are also realising the need for modernising operations using software for billing, managing inventory and security.

Mr Wadhera sees the industry consolidating itself – big retailers taking over smaller ones or Elsa Peretti Butterfly pendant players organising themselves together. According to Mr Wadhera, for the last five years, gold has been fetching good returns.

“Even during the slowdown, the market grew 8-10 per cent. Despite high prices, gold was seen as an attractive investment, whereas stocks and dollars didn’t find favour.” The Tier-2 cities are growing faster than the urban centres since gold is the only investment option in these markets, he adds.

Manpower crunch However, the industry needs to tackle the problem of skill shortage. While there is plenty of skill in manufacturing, the jewellery industry, which has around 3,00,000 retailers, faces a huge shortage of quality manpower at the retail level – in sales, design and innovation, says Mr Wadhera, who is also the Convenor of the South India Jewellery Show, a B2B trade platform for networking, knowledge and awareness.

The fourth edition of this trade show, from March 20 to 22, will showcase 125 Elsa Peretti Cross pendant, including Gitanjali, GRT and C. Krishniah Chetty Jewellery.

Around 8,000 retailers from across the country are expected to visit the show, which is being supported by GJF and the World Gold Council.

Commissioner Ricardo Abcede of the Presidential Commission on Good Flower charm bracelet (PCGG) has bowed to the order of President Gloria Arroyo to stop any effort to auction the fabled pieces of jewelry of former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

Abcede, who rebelled against the order of PCGG Chairman Camilo Sabio to let the next set of agency officials deal with the disposal of the Marcos assets including the pieces of jewelry, said that he regrets the decision of President Arroyo.

He added that the government at the least should have pursued appraisal of the jewelry pieces.

Earlier, Sabio said that he intended to pursue the auction of the jewelry collection of Mrs. Marcos, and even met with Sancroft Baker, the representative of the famed Christie’s auction house.

On Wednesday, a representative from Christie’s arrived in Manila to start the Frank Gehry Fish pendant process. On Thursday night, the representative of competing auction house Sotheby’s also came to Manila to do the same.

But the decision of the President forced Abcede to break the disappointing news to the foreigners–that they have to postpone sale of the Marcos jewelry pieces and their appraisal.

“I am quite embarrassed because their efforts [of coming over to Manila] were wasted,” he said.

On Tuesday, the PCGG, in a statement, junked the proposed auction of the Marcos jewelry collection, saying that it was not timely and “could be viewed as a so-called midnight transaction.”

Except for Abcede, the rest of the PCGG commissioners voted in a May 6 en banc meeting not to auction off the Marcos jewelry pieces.

Display in museum

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also on Friday advised that the jewelry collection of Imelda Marcos be loaned to the National Museum so the public can get a glimpse of it.

The senator stressed that instead of locking the former First Lady’s 3,000-piece Heart Band Bangle trove in a vault at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), it would be better to display the collection at the National Museum.

The pieces of jewelry have been locked up at the BSP for more than 20 years.

“I suggest that the Marcos jewelry composed of three collections, the Hawaii, Malacanang, and Roumeliotes be loaned to the National Museum for safekeeping and as an added attraction to our national, historical and cultural treasures,” Zubiri said.

He added that the jewelry of the former first lady would make more people visit the National Museum.

“The National Museum needs an added boost to be able to attract our citizens and tourists around the world to visit this historical and cultural site. And I’m sure the jewelry collection of the former first lady will excite the public as well as foreign tourists to flock towards the museum,” the senator said.

He likened the Marcos jewelry to similar attractions that are viewed by millions of people around the world like the Crown Jewels found in Great Britain and the artefacts of Tutankhamen in Egypt.

“I’m sure the next administration would like to dispose off the jewelry to generate additional Heart chain bracelet for the national government which we can do so at a later time after all legal impediments have been overcome, but for the meantime let’s display this for the Filipino people to see and enjoy in our very own National Museum,” Zubiri said.

With report from Maritoni Athena B. Tiongco

She has been collecting both acclaim and criticism from fashion critics for her “short Tiffany Beads necklace” and sari appearance on the Cannes red carpet, but actress Deepika Padukone says she knows that she looked good.

“I had not even considered a Western outfit. I decided I was going to wear a sari. There are some people who will always find faults. If I had worn a gown, they would have said I should’ve worn a sari. Everyone told me I looked good. If some people have issues, I choose to ignore them,” says the actress, who is currently shooting in Mauritius for Break Ke Baad.

Fashion blogs too have been abuzz with how the actress looked just as she looks every time she wears a sari, with the same hair bun and styling. She also repeated the jewellery that she wore at a recent awards function.

“My stylist Anaita Adajania suggested my look. As a youth icon at an Tiffany Blue heart lock charm and bracelet platform, I have to balance both the traditional and the modern looks, which is what I have been doing. I’m sure Rohit (Bal, who designed her sari) and Anaita knew what they were doing,” says Deepika.

She adds that she didn’t see anything breathtaking in terms of fashion on the red carpet. “I was there just for a day and no one really caught my attention.”

About speculations that she, Aishwarya Rai and Mallika Sherawat avoided each other at the festival, she says, “I was there just for a day. I’m not aware of who else was there and what they were doing.

It’s not too hard to get to the top of the fashion world when you start out there in the first Paloma.

But whether Annapolis resident Melissa Masciarelli’s colorful hats catch on remains to be seen. The 27-year-old just started her company, Modern Millinery, about six months ago.

So far, she’s had some Internet sales and a few regional shops have agreed to carry her products, but Masciarelli’s business is still in the beginning stages.

“A lot of hats are vintage, but hers are a little bit trendier,” said Maria Peck, owner of Tiara Day in Frederick. “I’m tickled, I’m just tickled she approached me (to carry them).”

Masciarelli’s just had two big events that she hopes will further get the word out. She had a booth at last weekend’s Preakness Stakes, and a show with another designer in Annapolis last night.

“It was a very good day,” she said of the Preakness. “We had people in our Paloma Picasso Loving Heart pendant the entire day.”

Masciarelli sold six hats at the event and took orders for more. But the hat business is still part time at this point. Masciarelli also works retail to make ends meet.

“Melissa’s an extremely hard worker,” said Madelyn Ulrich of New York, a lingerie designer who went to college with Masciarelli and helped her at the Preakness. “I’ve never met someone as devoted to what she does. She’s all in — 100 percent.”

For now, Masciarelli, who has a degree in fashion design from Marymount University in Arlington, Va., works out of her home. She first sketches out designs, picks the different colors of Panama straw she’d like the hats to be constructed with, and then places an order. Once she gets the hats from Ecuador, which all come as giant floppies, they’re sent to New York to be molded into the various shapes she selects.

When Masciarelli gets them back to Annapolis, she then chooses the trim she wants to put on them and hand-sews it and the hatband, making sure no stitches are showing. The straw hats are generally meant for spring and summer, and she designs felt hats for cooler days.

“Her talent, her eye and her drive are just absolutely incredible,” said Leigh Spatafore of Eastport, whom Masciarelli met in college and worked with at a local handbag company. “I love her idea that hats should be just as important an accessory as handbags. She’s kind of old school. I really look up to her.”

Capping things off

Masciarelli’s favorite hat is a striking purple fedora, but her work space is filled with lots of Paloma Picasso Loving Heart ring hats in a variety of colors and styles. Some hang on pegs on the wall, while others are stacked on top of a cabinet.

Besides fedoras and large floppies with added adornments, she mainly makes sun hats and cloches. She intends for her hats to be an everyday fashion item for women, and prices them between $128 and $300 each.

Masciarelli, who studied millinery both in college and after, loves all the options she has in creating hats, though the vast array of choices can sometimes be a bit daunting.

“The biggest challenge is not getting overwhelmed with the possibilities,” she said.

She said she gets the ideas for her hats by reading lots of magazines and just “being out in the world.” Her affection for them runs deep, and she admits it’s not something that’s easy to explain.

“There’s something that’s different about hats than every other accessory,” Masciarelli said. “They’re a little more artsy, a little more quirky.”

Even in school, when she was designing dresses, she’d make a matching hat, too. She always wanted to open her own hat business one day, and in December she decided the time was right.

“This has been a longtime dream,” she explained. “I’ve found my personal success is in doing Paloma’s Crown of Hearts pendant I’m passionate about.”

A business partner helps her with the financial aspects of the business, and friends like Ulrich also lend a hand occasionally. But by and large, Modern Millinery is a one-woman show.

Although hats aren’t as popular today as they were in days past, Masciarelli hopes to be at the forefront of a comeback.

“A lot of people think (they’re) not a hat person,” she said. “But you just have to find the right shape for you and the right size for you.”

Her hats come in three sizes — small, medium and large — and she also offers customizing. Her target customers are women in their 20s to 50s. She’d eventually like to expand into men’s hats as well.

“I think Melissa, just in general, is extremely creative and very talented,” said Cindy Solloa, a Fairfax, Va., resident who used to supervise Masciarelli at the handbag company.

Solloa said she’s been impressed with both the materials used in the hats as well as their design flair. “I’m proud of her,” she added.

Masciarelli said hats can go with a variety of outfits, from casual to dressy, and she recommends wearing them slightly titled on the head.

“Asymmetry is never bad in hats,” she said. “I tilt mine over my left eye.”

The most common mistake people make is wearing hats too far back on the head, she Paloma’s Grown of Heart bangle. They look better when they’re moved forward, and they also provide more shade that way, she said.

And the right hat can make someone shine.

“You stand out a little more,” Masciarelli said. “You look a little more polished.”

So today, graduates, I have one more request to make of you, one more Return to Tiffany Oval tag key ring, and that is: Keep going. Keep giving. Keep engaging.

I’m asking you to take what you’ve learned here and embrace the full responsibilities that a degree from an institution like GW gives you. I’m asking your generation to be America’s face to the world. It will make the world safer, it will make America stronger, and it will make you more competitive.

Now, you didn’t think I’d show up here without another challenge, did you” (Laughter.)

I know that some of you may be thinking, well, “Hang on, Michelle. I’m in debt, I’ve got to find a job in a tough economy, and now you want me to what?”

And I know there are parents out there thinking the same thing. “Hang on, Michelle. I just shelled out six figures to get my kid to this day, and now you want her to do what?” (Laughter.)

I’m just asking you to keep being you, to keep doing what you’re doing. Just take it global.

Yes, that can mean serving in the world’s most broken places. Or it can simply mean surfing foreign news sources to get an idea of how other young people see things in other parts of the world.

It can mean continuing your own personal and professional growth by traveling far and wide. Or it can mean reaching back to convince the students behind you to try study abroad programs, especially students from communities and backgrounds who might not normally consider it.

It can mean seizing that overseas opportunity with a company. Or it can Return to Tiffany Oval tag pendant staying here and fixing the world by doing business with the world, and, at the same time, creating opportunity in your own community.

This class of graduates in particular has a leg up, because at GW, you’ve already been trained to think this way. Nearly half of undergraduates here study abroad. As Zoe said, you can’t walk a block without running into the State Department, or the World Bank, or any number of NGOs and faith-based organizations. And all around you, every day, are classmates and friends from more than 130 different countries. So for you, it’s as easy as falling out of bed, even if some of you stay in bed until noon. (Laughter.)

But so many Americans either don’t have those opportunities or simply don’t consider them.

And as interconnected as we are; as quickly as the 21st century global economy moves; we have to find ways to extend those opportunities to as many young people as possible.

And I say this as someone who, like, perhaps many of your parents, didn’t always have or consider those opportunities. As you heard, I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, where the idea of spending some time abroad just didn’t register. My brother and I were the first in our families to go to college, so we were way more focused on just getting in, getting through, and getting on with our lives. And after law school, my priority was paying off my student debt. So, I just never considered that I needed to take an additional journey or expand the boundaries of my own life.

And then I met my husband, whose life was — yeah, yeah — (laughter) — his life was somewhat different than mine. His had been more informed by experiences abroad. And watching him helped me to expand the way I looked at things; to consider my life as connected not just to my country but to the world. And it’s a perspective that we now are trying to instill in our daughters, as well.

And today, fortunately my new role, it affords me extraordinary opportunities to visit foreign countries. And during these trips, I try to spend as much time as possible with young people. And those experiences are what convince me so fully that it’s in this nation’s best interest that your generation get out there, because it’s Square cuff links to strengthen all of us.

Now, there are some things that government can do, and things that I’ll pursue as First Lady, to bring these opportunities within reach to more young people.

For example, my husband is committed to substantially increasing the number of volunteer opportunities within the Peace Corps. And, by the way, joining the Peace Corps only requires that you be young at heart, because the oldest active member is 85 years old! (Applause.)

We’re also expanding exchange programs, study abroad opportunities; and encouraging universities like GW to create their own, because as those of you who have already participated in study abroad know, the most lasting lessons sometimes don’t always come from books.

But more important than anything government can do will be a sincere willingness on your part to keep sharing your enthusiasm; to keep believing that you can make a difference; to keep going to places where there is brokenness and injustice and despair, and asking what you can do to lift those places up.

It is through the simple act of engaging with your counterparts around the world that you can make the world a safer place. As you know, in times of tension, we tend to focus on what makes us different — things like color or creed; class or country — when sometimes, that only serves to deepen misunderstanding and harden mistrust. In the midst of our struggles, we too easily forget about all that we share in common — that no matter where or how we live, we all have the same dreams: a life of dignity, a chance at opportunity, a better future for our kids.

It reminds me of a story our Secretary of State and friend, Hillary Clinton, told during a visit to one of our embassies earlier this year. She spoke about a meeting she attended with a State Councilor of China, who proudly told her that he had just had his first grandchild.

And Secretary Clinton responded that she thought everyone should bring pictures of their Tiffany & Co bangle and grandchildren to international meetings, and set those pictures right in front of them and ask themselves, “Is the decision that we’re about to make going to make their lives better?” And then at the very next meeting together, the first thing he did when he had arrived was pull out a picture of his grandchild.

Now, perhaps some of you have had similar interactions with your classmates; interactions that helped you discover that when we just make that effort to engage with one another; when we share our stories; we begin to build familiarity that often ultimately softens mistrust. We begin to see ourselves in one another. We begin to realize that the forces that bind us are so much more powerful than the forces that blind us.

And because many of you already serve around the world, this class knows firsthand that each one of those interactions in the world has the power to start a chain reaction. Every child that learns to read can teach another. Every girl taught that she has power inspires dozens of others. Every school built improves thousands of lives.

And just as that makes the world safer, it also makes America stronger.

Imagine a child whose first memory of an American is a student who helps him see again. Imagine a community whose first experience with America is a group of youth on winter break standing side by side with them building homes. Imagine a country shattered by a catastrophic earthquake that they see wave after wave of rescuers and doctors and relief workers all wearing the stars and stripes on their sleeve.

Imagine how powerful that is. Imagine what impact thousands of stories like that today can have a decade from now.

Now, this is not to discourage any American from continuing to serve in their own communities in this country as best they can, especially in a time when so many fellow Americans need help here at home. And thanks to the ingenuity of the American people, and a newly strengthened AmeriCorps, there are more opportunities to serve at home than ever before.

But just know that when you serve others abroad, you’re serving our country, too. You’re showing the world the true face of America — our generosity, our strength, the enduring power of our ideals, the infinite reservoir of our hope.

And yes, serving abroad will make you stronger, more competitive, a more valuable asset for a career in the public or private sectors. Just talk to any of your colleagues who have spent some time abroad. And one of the first things they’ll tell you, for example, is that you’ll never learn a language or develop self-reliance as Tiffany 1837 bangle as you will when you’re on your own in a foreign country!

But they may also tell you that making a difference abroad might just be the thing that inspires you to come back and make a difference here at home. They might tell you that engaging with the world doesn’t just change the course of other people’s lives — it may change the course of yours, too. You may just find that pivot point that you’ve been looking for, or maybe one that you didn’t even expect at all.

An extraordinary young woman that I met in Mexico last month, during my visit, she told me that in high school, she felt as if she were living in a bubble. So on a whim, she went to Vietnam to volunteer with children.

She described her days there as very “unfair” and “difficult.” She said there were days there “that [made] us feel meaningless.” But she also said there were days “…where I felt I could change the world.” And that trip made her realize she wanted to be a doctor. And when she returned to Mexico, she enrolled in medical school. But her journey led her to an important pivot point in her life. She said, and these are her words, “I realized that this is my country. This is where I belong and this is my culture, where I need to help.”

You see, that young woman, she went halfway around the world before she found her way home. And I suspect that something has — like that has happened to many of you.

I know it did for Davina Durgana, who’s a remarkable young woman who’s graduating with you today. A simple mission trip to El Salvador inspired her to take up the cause of human trafficking — modern day slavery — when she came back. She found an internship that allowed her to work on an anti-human trafficking campaign, and she’s going to pursue graduate studies in human rights next year at the Sorbonne.

And by the way, Davina, she also serves as a Big Sister to a young girl in Anacostia; she volunteers with wounded warriors at Walter Reed; she helped run a Girl Scouts troop where she encouraged underprivileged girls to get involved; she volunteers as an EMT at the busiest fire department in the D.C. area, and convinced other classmates to join her — and, somehow, she found time to graduate! That’s for your parents, Davina. (Laughter.)

In the end, the simple act of opening your mind and engaging abroad — whether it’s in the heart of campus or in the most remote villages — can change your definition of what’s possible.

And more importantly, you can change ours. See, after all, it’s your generation that always has — often from the very Mall where we’re sitting right now. I mean, just look around you. It was on this Mall where young people marched for women’s rights. It was on this Mall where young people marched for civil rights. It was on this Mall where young people marched for peace, for equality, for awareness.

Decade after decade, young Americans who loved their country; and loved its ideals; who knew that it Tiffany 1837 Double cross pendant for something larger in the world; came here to this spot to wade into the rushing currents of history because they believed that they could change its course.

And on a cold January morning last year, many of you came here to wade in yourselves. It was the day my husband took the oath of office as President of the United States. And that day, he pledged to seek a new era of American engagement, and he asked each of us to embrace anew our duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world.

Now, I’m not a President. I’m just a citizen. But as a citizen, I’m asking you, as graduates of this global institution, to seize those responsibilities gladly. I’m asking you to fully embrace your role in the next vital chapter of our history. I’m asking you to play your part.

And from what I’ve seen from your class, I have no doubt that you will. Look, we believe in you so deeply. So, your new challenge begins now — and it’s one that doesn’t end after 100,000 hours.

So thank you, graduates. I wish you God’s grace and the greatest luck on the journey ahead. Congratulations. Thank you. (Applause.)

With a few days of rest and reflection following his team’s disappointing Heart tag charm necklace in the Southern Conference softball tournament, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coach Frank Reed was turning his attention toward next season while reflecting on what could have been in 2010.

After winning the regular-season title, the Lady Mocs went O-2 in the tournament and were the first team eliminated Thursday at Jim Frost Stadium.

“You know whether we had won or lost, you start thinking about what you’re going to do and how you’re going to try to be better next year,” Reed said Saturday. “I think one of the things with this team, the expectations were so high. I guess I placed them on them myself. It’s probably my fault for doing that, because I thought we had a really good team.

“Of course you never factor in that you’re going to have a bump in the road somewhere, and then it happens.”

After watching Elon win the tournament title on their home field, the Lady Mocs Heart tag Key ring have a chance to gain a measure of redemption on the same field next season.

Laura Herron, UTC associate athletic director and senior administrator for women’s athletics, announced Friday that UTC was bidding to host the SoCon softball and tennis tournaments for 2011, 2012 and 2013. The tournament sites will be selected by the member schools.

Herron said the softball facilities and staff at Warner Park are a key asset in their bid to host one or more of the upcoming softball tournaments.

“The city and the ground crew are just exeptional,” she said. “We always get a lot of praise in how they have the fields ready to go no matter what the weather is.

“And the extra fields are definitely a step up for us. A lot of other schools just have one softball field, whereas we can play as many as five games at the same time at Warner Park.”

Among difficulties faced by Reed and UTC this season were losing pitcher and first Horse charm bracelet Michelle Fuzzard to a knee injury and having senior outfielder Laci Upchurch leave the team early in the season. Without those bats in the lineup, more pressure was on the rest of the team to make up for the lost offense.

“That three spot with losing Michelle was huge,” junior leadoff hitter Lyndsey Stiles said. “She is the best No. 3 hitter I’ve ever seen. She’s clutch. I’ve never seen somebody hit so many doubles our sophomore year.

“I think we knew it was going to hurt us, but I don’t think we really knew how much we really did need her until the end.”

There were some bright spots that UTC can build on for next year. After a slow start, junior Nikki Waters pitched well late in her first season after transferring from Southern Illinois. With the return of Fuzzard, Waters and relief pitcher Kandice Irwin, UTC will enter next season with a solid pitching staff despite the loss of I Love You drop pendant Loudermilk to graduation.

Offensively, third baseman Tiffany Baker will enter her senior season already holding the UTC career and single-season home run records. She’ll need some help around her, having Fuzzard back in then lineup should provide more power next season.

If the tournament returns to Chattanoooga in 2011, Reed already has decided he will try to find ways of keeping his team together. He said he is considering housing his team in a hotel for the tournament or at least having the Lady Mocs travel to and from Warner Park in buses as a way to keep them focused.

“I can tell you this, if they say Chattanooga is going to get it again for next year, I Love You Lock charm necklace Reed’s going to start asking for help early,” Reed said. “We want to see if we can get some commitments to see if we can have a way to keep them together and feed them together and have more control.

“We do it all during the year (on road trips) already. It’s something that we’ve got to do.”

In the movie “Casablanca,” Humphrey Bogart said, “Play It Again, Sam.”

That’s what the Coal Grove Hornets and Fairland Lady Dragons did Friday night as they Return to Tiffany Heart tag bracelet their titles and won their second straight Ohio Valley Conference track championships.

Coal Grove rolled to the title with 204 points, 39 more than runner-up Fairland.

“We knew that Fairland had a very strong team and we were going to have to perform well if we were going to be able to win,” said Hornets’ coach Jay Lucas.

“(Fairland) coach (Jon) Buchanan does a great job getting his kids ready.”

The Lady Dragons had 182 points to win by an even larger margin over South Point who finished with 125 points.

Oakie Haynes led Coal Grove’s win with high point honors as he won the long jump along with the 100, 200 and 400 dashes.

But there was plenty of help for Haynes.

Greg Bender won the shot put, Aaron Dickess the discus, Cody Damron the high jump, and Return to Tiffany Heart tag choker Pauley the 1600-meter run.

The Hornets’ 4×100 relay team of Alex Bare, Jake Brown, Evan Ferguson and Boo Woods also took first place as did the 4×200 team of Brad Hager, Brown, Ferguson and Woods.

First place winners are named All-OVC.

“Oakie Haynes had an exceptional night winning four events. Aaron Dickess, Greg Bender, Cody Damron, Jake Brown, Boo Woods, Evan Ferguson, Alex Bare, Brad Hager, and Jacob Pauley all earned All-OVC honors for winning first place, but I really felt like it was a total team effort. Without depth, we could not have won,” said Lucas.

One of the key contributors was Jake Murphy who is the catcher on the baseball team. Murphy pole vaulted for the first time and cleared 11-feet to place second.

“Jake Murphy was a big surprise. He is blessed with a lot of athletic ability and stepped up to help our team be successful,” said Lucas.

“We have a tremendous group of kids. God has blessed them with great talent and a tremendous work ethic. We have talked about winning the OVC since the first day of practice and the kids really worked hard to achieve their goals.”

Fairland got first place wins from Logan Froehlich in the pole vault, Hunter Gibson in the 800, Return to Tiffany Heart tag necklace Stewart in the 3200, the 4×800 relay team of Raine Wireman, Chad Gibson, Logan Rowe and Kyle Taubenheim, and the 4×400 relay of Matt Bloomfield, Hunter Gibson, Garrett Wireman and Taubenheim.

The Lady Dragons got six first place finishes led by Jordan Aldridge and Megan Brooks.

Aldridge won the 100-meter hurdles and was second in the 300 hurdles and the high jump. Brooks easily won the pole vault was second in the 100 and 400 dashes. She was third in the 200.

Other winners for Fairland included Sydney Pettit in the 800 and 1600 runs and Megan Ashton in the 3200.

Fairland’s 4×800 relay team for Grace Skiles, Tori Hutchinson, Pettit and Ashton also took first place.

Ohio Valley Conference

Girls’ Team Scores

Fairland 182, South Point 125, River Valley 95, Coal Grove 85, Chesapeake 30, Rock Hill 8.

Field Events

Shot Put: 1, McWhorter (Ch) 34-5.5, 2, Winters (CG) 33-7.25, 3, Morris (SP) 32-9.5, 4, Roberts (RV) 32-1.75, 5, Delong (CG) 31-11, 6, White (RH) 29-3.75.

Discus: 1, Delong (CG) 113-8, 2, Roberts (RV) 110-10, 3, Hankins (CG) 91-6, 4, Morris (SP) 88-4, 5, Gibson (F) 86-11, 6, Taubenheim (F) 83-1.

Pole Vault: 1, Brooks (F) 10-6, 2, Shockley (F) 7-0, 3, Littlejohn (CG) 6-6, 4, Nelson (Ch) 6-6, 5, Goad (CG) 6-6.

Long Jump: 1, Fletcher (SP) 16-2.5, 2, Gore (SP) 14-5.5, 3, Johnson (CG) 14-5, 4, Aldridge (F) 14-1, 5, Pappas (F) 13-8.5, 6, Hawthorne (Ch) 13-6.

High Jump: 1, Bradburn (SP) 5-0, 2, Aldridge (F) 5-0, 3, Ruffner (Ch) 4-8, 4, Return to Tiffany Heart tag ring (F) 4-8, 5, Stewart (SP) 4-2, 6, Erwin (CG) 4-0.

Running Events

100M Dash: 1, Fletcher (SP) 13.12, 2, Brooks (F) 13.69, 3, Stewart (SP) 13.73, 4, Price (F) 14:24, 5, Harrison (CG) 14.33, 6, Chapman (Ch) 14.34.

200M Dash: 1, Hager (RV) 26.46, 2, Fletcher (SP) 27.56, 3, Brooks (F) 28.58, 4, Stewart (SP) 28.9, 5, Harrison (CG) 29.07, 6, Short (CG) 29.32.

400M Dash: 1, Fields (RV) 1:03.12, 2, Brooks (F) 1:04.73, 3, Franklin (F) 1:06,78, 4, Bradburn (SP) 1:08.06, 5, Johnson (CG) 1:08.43, 6, Montano (RH) 1:11.0.

800M Run: 1, Pettit (F) 2:39.89, 2, Hutchinson (F) 2:40.12, 3, Khounlavong (SP) 2:53.48, 4, Letchford (SP) 2:54.78, 5, Houck (RV) 3:03.64, 6, Thibodaux (RH) 3:18.71.

1600M Run: 1, Pettit (F) 5:50.25, 2, Hutchinson (F) 5:51.97, 3, Letchford (SP) 6:19.29, 4, Hollingsworth (RV) 6:28.81, 5, Pruim (SP) 7:18.08, 6, Houck (RV) 7:18.08.

3200M Run: 1, Ashton (F) 13:38.6, 2, Tanner (F) 14:18.25, 3, Letchford (SP) 14:49.32, 4, Kverven (RV) 15:19.53, 5, Pruim (SP) 17:03.17, 6, Littlejohn (CG) 20:12.3.

100M Hurdles: 1, Aldridge (F) 15:46, 2, Hager (RV) 16:62, 3, Fletcher (SP) 17:37, 4, McKnight (CG) 17:73, 5, Goodwin (Ch) 18.88, 6, Henderson (SP) 19.32.

300M Hurdles: 1, Hager (RV) 46.95, 2, Aldridge (F) 48:40, 3, Pappas (F) 52:53, 4, McKnight (CG) 54.26, 5, Goad (CG) 1:02:18, 6, Mills (SP) 1:09:39.

Relays

4x100M: 1, River Valley 54.22 (Jai Nai Fields, Ashley Rucker, Kelsey Sands, Aubrie Rice), 2, Coal Grove 54.51, 3, Fairland 54.92, 4, South Point 55.64, 5, Chesapeake 58.16, 6, Rock Hill 1:03.94.

4x200M: 1, River Valley 1:56.13 (Jai Nai Fields, Ashley Rucker, Kelsey Sands, Aubrie Rice), 2, Coal Grove 1:56.27, 3, South Point 1:57.41, 4, Fairland 1:59.67, 5, Chesapeake 2:04.25, 6, Rock Hill 2:14.32.

4x400M: 1, River Valley 4:26.29 (Jai Nai Fields, Kelsey Sands, Rylie Hollingsworth, Jessi Hager), 2, Fairland 4:36.4, 3, South Point 4:37.32, 4, Coal Grove 4:58.2, 5, Rock Hill 5:5.18.

4x800M: 1, Fairland 11:05 (Megan Ashton, Grace Skiles, Sydney Pettit, Tori Hutchinson), 2, South Point 11:35.2, 3, River Valley 12:12.8, 4, Coal Grove 14:31.8, 5, Rock Hill 16:51.1.

High Point: Kayla Fletcher, South Point

Boys’ Team Scores

Coal Grove 204, Fairland 165, Chesapeake 57, River Valley 32, South Point 31, Rock Hill 17.

Field Events

Shot Put: 1, Bender (CG) 46-10, 2, Delawder (CG) 46-8, 3, Carey (RH) 42-6.5, 4, Scholl (F) 42-3.75, 5, S. Wilds (RH) 41-3.5, 6, McCoy (Ch) 40-8.5.

Discus: 1, Dickess (CG) 141-4, 2, Bender (CG) 138-1, 3, Scholl (F) 123-10, 4, Kirkpatrick (RH) 122-0, 5, Zerkle (F) 113-0, 6, Hall (SP) 111-3.

Pole Vault: 1, Froehlich (F) 12-3, 2, Murphy (CG) 11-0, 3, Tweel (F) 10-6, 4, Estep (CG) 10-0.

Long Jump: 1, Haynes (CG) 22-0, 2, Hintz (Ch) 20-4, 3, Woods (CG) 19-8.5, 4, Miller (RH) 19-7, 5, Campbell (SP) 19-4.5, 6, Harrison (RV) 19-1.

High Jump: 1, Damron (CG) 6-0, 2, Smith (F) 6-0, 3, Gibson (F) 5-8, 4, Brown (CG) 5-6, 5, Sydenstricker (Ch) 5-4.

Running Events

100M Dash: 1, Haynes (CG) 10.84, 2, Bloomfield (F) 11.46, 3, Woods (CG) 11.58, 4, Mitchell (SP) 12.15, 5, Wireman (F) 12.19, 6, Lane (RH) 12.28.

200M Dash: 1, Haynes (CG) 22.63, 2, Bloomfield (F) 23.43, 3, Brown (CG) 23.84, Return to Tiffany mini heart tags bracelet, Button (SP) 24.21, 5, Martin (Ch) 24.74, 6, Harrison (RV) 24.82.

400M Dash: 1, Haynes (CG) 51.7, 2, Gibson (F) 53.33, 3, Pinson (Ch) 53.72, 4, Ferguson (CG) 55.57, 5, Payne (SP) 57.16, 6, Lively (Ch) 1:01.14.

800M Run: 1, Gibson (F) 2:02.47, 2, Pauley (CG) 2:07.09, 3, Wireman (F) 2:07.32, 4, Beals (CG) 2:12.31, 5, Welch (Ch) 2:13.2, 6, Bennett (Ch) 2:18.46.

1600M Run: 1, Pauley (CG) 4:54.25, 2, Wireman (F) 4:59.45, 3, Stewart (F) 5:04.02, 4, McComas (Ch) 5:05.81, 5, Steele (CG) 5:19.3, 6, Ashworth (Ch) 5:21.45.

3200M Run: 1, Stewart (F) 10:59.14, 2, Rowe (F) 11:56.59, 3, Oberly (Ch) 11:59.10, 4, Hollingsworth (RV) 12:24.32, 5, Barrett (CG) 13:37.82, 6, Heffner (Ch) 15:28.36.

110M Hurdles: 1, Hollingsworth (RV) 16.49, 2, Adkins (F) 17.2, 3, Morrison (CG) 17.47, 4, Estep (CG) 18.05, 5, Clagg (Ch) 18.17, 6, Smith (F) 18.83.

300M Hurdles: 1, Hollingsworth (RV) 41.62, 2, Adkins (F) 43.69, 3, Smith (F) 44.45, 4, Morrison (CG) 46.02, 5, Estep (CG) 47.49, 6, Lucas (Ch) 48.08.

Relays

4x100M: 1, Coal Grove 45.13 (Alex Bare, Jacob Brown, Evan Ferguson, Boo Woods), 2, South Point 46.71, 3, River Valley 46.84, 4, Fairland 48.0.

4x200M: 1, Coal Grove 1:34.81 (Jake Brown, Evan Ferguson, Boo Woods, Brad Hager), 2, South Point 1:37.35, 3, Chesapeake 1:38.48, 4, Rock Hill 1:40.29, 5, Fairland 1:44.85.

4x400M: 1, Fairland 3:37.36 (Matt Bloomfield, Hunter Gibson, Kyle Taubenheim, Garrett Wireman), 2, Chesapeake 3:41.93, 3, River Valley 3:49.45, 4, Coal Grove 3:54.23, 5, Rock Hill 4:07.21.

4x800M: 1, Fairland 8:45.1 (Raine Wireman, Chad Gibson, Logan Rowe, Kyle Taubenheim), 2, Coal Grove 8:50.6, 3, Chesapeake 9:29.9, 4, River Valley 10:44.5, 5, South Point 11:13.1.

High Point: Oakie Haynes, Coal Grove.

When it comes to the question of color, Virginia’s first lady quibbles not.

“Red, definitely red,” said Maureen McDonnell, wife of Gov. Bob Frank Gehry Fish pendant, as she stood in the great room of White Hall Vineyards, a small glass of viognier — a crisp, fruity white wine — in her hand.

“I’ve always preferred red wine and even more so when I learned about the natural chemicals — resveratrol — that help fight disease and keep your heart healthy.”

If she loves red wine, why was she sipping a white?

“Viognier is a wonderful wine and Virginia viogniers are being recognized around the world,” said Lisa Champ, sales manager for White Hall. “It’s also known as the white wine for people who prefer red.”

McDonnell joined Todd Schneider, chef at the Governor’s Mansion, Todd Haymore, state secretary for agriculture and forestry and assorted business leaders, wine industry officials and news reporters on a Friday bus tour of Central Virginia wineries. The entourage stopped at Jefferson Vineyards and Veritas Vineyards before finishing up at White Hall.

The trip was part of McDonnell’s First Lady’s Initiatives Team Effort program that focuses on calling attention to preventive health and wellness programs, economic development and opportunity for military families and for women.

“When Bob was inaugurated I knew that I wanted to help Virginia businesses receive Heart Band Bangle and global attention,” she said. “I also wanted to find ways to let Virginians know of the great products within their own state.”

Friday’s tour was to call attention to the state’s award-winning wine industry and local products, McDonnell said.

“For some time we lived in California and we really enjoyed the wines out there,” she said. “When we came back to Virginia, we found the wine industry just beginning and some good wines being made. Now there are so many world-class wines produced in the state that we want others to hear about them.”

McDonnell said studies showing that resveratrol helps fight cancer and heart disease made the trip fit in with her hopes of promoting a healthy lifestyle, as well.

“What could be better than something that tastes good being good for you?” she asked.

For Schneider, the trip was a chance to learn more about vintners’ products and ways to Heart chain bracelet Virginia wines with locally grown food.

“We try to serve local foods with local wines, and I like to find new combinations,” he said. “We try a lot of new things.”

Tony Champ, who owns White Hall Vineyards with his wife, Edie, said he appreciated the first lady and crew dropping by.

“What it shows me is that this administration is serious about helping local industry,” HEART LINK DROP EARRINGS said. “It would be great to call more local attention to Virginia’s wines. In California, people tend to drink more California wines but we don’t seem to do the same in Virginia. Efforts like this could help change that.”