Racing career.

Open wheel career.

Leffler began his career racing midget cars in the USAC series, where he won three consecutive midget championships from 1997 and 1999, as well as the Silver Crown series championship in 1998. He was the third driver to win three consecutive midget car championships. He won the Hut Hundred and Belleville Nationals in 1997, and the Turkey Night Grand Prix and Copper Classic in 1999. He won his second Turkey Night Grand Prix in 2005.  Roger Penske met Leffler at the 1998 Hut 100. Leffler's success also caught the attention of Joe Gibbs Racing, a team which had previously signed Tony Stewart from the USAC ranks. Leffler joined the team in 1999 and made four starts in the Busch Series during the season with moderate success. At the same time, he also started a race in the Indy Racing League at Walt Disney World Speedway in the No. 5 Treadway Racing machine, but finished last after crashing early in the race.  Leffler made his first, and only, start in the Indianapolis 500 in 2000. This effort was put forth by Treadway Racing with backing from Roger Penske's United Auto group. Leffler qualified in the 17th position, which was also where he finished.

NASCAR career.

During the 2000 season, Leffler drove full-time for the No. 18 MBNA sponsored Joe Gibbs Racing team in the Busch Series. He finished twentieth in the final standings, earned three pole positions during the year, and finished second at Phoenix. He also made two IRL starts, among them a start for Treadway in the Indianapolis 500 where he started and finished seventeenth. After that season he moved up to the Winston Cup Series to become the driver of the #01 Cingular Wireless Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing as the permanent replacement for Kenny Irwin, Jr., who was killed in a practice crash while driving for the same team at New Hampshire in 2000. Leffler's car retained sponsorship from BellSouth through its Cingular Wireless property, and with Ganassi's purchase of a stake in Felix Sabates' former team came a switch in manufacturer as Leffler became one of several drivers to drive Dodge Intrepids in the brand's return to NASCAR. It was a controversial decision, as Leffler performed poorly the season prior in excellent Joe Gibbs equipment in the Busch series. During his inaugural Cup season, he had only one top 10 finish and four failures to qualify. He was, however, the inaugural pole setter at Kansas Speedway. After his 37th-place finish in the 2001 championship, Ganassi replaced him with Jimmy Spencer for the 2002 season and remade Leffler's former car into the #41 Target Dodge.  Leffler joined Ultra Motorsports in 2002 to drive the #2 Carquest/Team ASE Dodge Ram in place of the departed Scott Riggs and had great success early on with the team. In his first year, he tied a single season Craftsman Truck Series record by scoring eight pole positions, and qualified no worse than eighth at any race during the season. Despite not winning a race, he had six second-place finishes and a fourth-place finish in the championship. He also won the Night Before the 500 midget race and got to drive Ultra's #7 car in the final two races of the Cup Series season after the team fired Casey Atwood. Leffler finally broke through in 2003 when he scored his first career victory at Dover. Despite the success, Leffler ended up losing his ride at Ultra in controversial fashion. Haas CNC Racing, which was fielding its first full-time Cup Series team, had fired its driver Jack Sprague after the Tropicana 400. Team owner Gene Haas named John Andretti as his replacement, but he was unavailable for the Brickyard 400 due to a prior commitment with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.. Haas approached Leffler to drive the #0 NetZero Pontiac Grand Prix in the race and he agreed to do so. Ultra, which had warned Leffler that such a move would be in violation of his contract, responded by firing him.  Leffler made ten starts in the #0, becoming the permanent driver after the Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen. The team then signed Ward Burton away from Bill Davis Racing to take over the car, and he joined the team before the season was over to get a head start. Leffler was moved to the #00 Haas Automation car in the Busch Series for the remainder of 2003, with the idea that he would remain there for 2004. At Nashville Superspeedway in 2004, Leffler scored his first career Busch Series victory. He was running third in the points when the team released him from his contract. He ended up finishing twelfth in the championship despite missing the last seven races.  Shortly after his dismissal, Leffler signed a deal to re-join Joe Gibbs Racing for 2005, taking over a newly created Cup team sponsored by FedEx. The No. 11 Chevrolet was regularly outside of the top 35 in points, meaning that it was not guaranteed a starting spot for all races; Leffler was unable to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600 because of it. He was replaced by Terry Labonte for the two road-course races and, eventually, was fired from JGR after nineteen starts in which he failed to record a top ten finish. He was replaced by a mix of Labonte and JGR developmental drivers J.J. Yeley and Denny Hamlin, the latter of whom took over the car full-time the following season.  While racing with Gibbs, Leffler briefly raced with Braun Racing in the Busch Series, a team that had lost their regular driver, Shane Hmiel, to a drug suspension. After leaving Gibbs, Leffler joined Braun Racing on a full-time basis for the remainder of the season. Leffler had scored four top ten finishes with Braun in nine starts for the team.  For the 2006 season, Leffler was signed to return to Braun Racing to drive the No. 32 Chevrolet. The team carried sponsorships from Lucas Oil, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and ABF U-Pack Moving. The No. 32 team became the No. 38 team with sponsorship from Great Clips after it merged with Akins Motorsports. Jason also attempted to qualify for the second to last race of the chase at Phoenix in the No. 71 for Braun Racing but failed to qualify.  During the 2007 season, Leffler won the pole for the Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway. He finished ninth. Leffler would make NASCAR history July 28, 2007 as he passed Greg Biffle with two laps remaining to win the Busch Series Kroger 200 at O'Reilly Raceway Park. The win marked the first race victory for a Toyota Camry in Busch Series competition, and the first win for a foreign manufacturer in a top-tier NASCAR series since Al Keller won in a Jaguar in 1954. The win also marked Leffler's second career Busch Series win and first win since the 2004 season. Leffler returned to Sprint Cup in 2008 for a few races in the No. 70 Haas CNC Chevy while driving full-time for Braun Racing's No. 38 Toyota Camry.  In 2009 at the July Daytona race weekend it was announced that the No. 38 Toyota car would be shared with Kasey Kahne for the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. Leffler remained in the Great Clips Toyota in 2010 and 2011. In late 2011 he was informed that he was free to pursue other opportunities for the 2012 season.  On January 9, 2012, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that Leffler would drive the No. 18 truck for fourteen races with sponsorship from Dollar General. However, strings of bad luck and poor finishes plagued the team, and Leffler was released on August 14.  Leffler also returned to the Cup Series in 2012, driving for Robinson-Blakeney Racing at Watkins Glen International, and for Humphrey Smith Racing at Michigan International Speedway.  Leffler made a single Cup Series start in 2013, driving Humphrey Smith Racing's No. 19 Toyota Camry at Pocono Raceway in early June, three days before his death; he started and parked, finishing 43rd in the event.

Death.

On June 12, 2013 at 8:30 PM, Leffler was involved in a crash during a 410 sprint car heat race at the Bridgeport Speedway in Logan Township, New Jersey. Running second with a few laps left, his car suffered a front suspension failure, causing it to crash into a wall and flip several times.  Leffler instantly lost consciousness in the accident. When it was found that Leffler was not breathing, the rest of the race was cancelled and victory lane ceremonies did not take place. He was airlifted by helicopter to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at 9:00 PM EDT, 30 minutes after the accident. An autopsy report stated that the cause of death was a severe blunt force neck and backbone injury.  After his death, many drivers and racing associations such as NASCAR and IndyCar made statements on the death and gave their condolences. NASCAR drivers competing in the 2013 Quicken Loans 400 had special stickers placed on their cars in honor of Leffler. Denny Hamlin, who replaced Leffler in the No. 11 FedEx Toyota in late 2005 had his car repainted to resemble Leffler's livery.

Personal life.

Leffler was the son of Charles and Patricia Leffler. Leffler had a son, Charlie Dean, with Alison East, who was five years old at the time of his death. He shared his life with live-in girlfriend Julianna Patterson; they resided in North Carolina. Leffler was engaged at the time of his death to Julianna Patterson.

Career awards.

Leffler was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2003. He had 18 national championship midget car wins at that time.

Motorsports career results.

NASCAR.

Camping World Truck Series.

Ineligible for series points

Jason Charles Leffler (September 16, 1975 – June 12, 2013) was an American professional open-wheel and stock car racing driver. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks, competing in the 2000 Indianapolis 500 before moving to primarily NASCAR competition. He died from injuries sustained in a 410 sprint car race at Bridgeport Speedway in Bridgeport, New Jersey.


Early life.

Wetzel was born in Puyallup, Washington and began playing soccer as a young girl. Starting at age eight, she played for club soccer team, FC Royals, a team she won five state championships with. She attended Puyallup High School where she played on the varsity soccer team for three years. She finished her high school career with 47 goals and 17 assists. As a senior, she was named to the all-state second team after scoring 19 goals.  Wetzel also played for the Washington state and Region IV Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams. She won the 2004 national championship title with the Washington state ODP team and was a finalist in 2005.

Oregon State Beavers.

Wetzel attended Oregon State University from 2007 to 2010. She ended her collegiate career with 81 caps for the Beavers and seven goals. She also appeared in two games for the women's basketball team.

Playing career.

Club.

Wetzel played for the Seattle Sounders Women in 2007 and Ottawa Fury Women in the W-League in 2008 and played for the Fury for four seasons. She was named to the W-League Team of the Week in 2012 after scoring a goal and serving an assist during a shutout win against Hamilton.  On April 5, 2013 she joined the Portland Thorns FC for the 2013 NWSL season as a discovery player. She scored her first goal for the Thorns during a home match on June 7 against FC Kansas City. Wetzel made 18 appearances for the Thorns during the 2013 season and helped the team win the league's championship title.  On April 5, 2014, Wetzel was traded with Kathryn Williamson and Portland's first-round pick in the 2015 NWSL College Draft to the Western New York Flash for Sarah Huffman and a player to be named later. April 7, 2014, Portland Thorns revealed that the player to be named later was Verónica Boquete. The draft pick became Jaelene Hinkle.  She was waived by the Western New York Flash in September 2014.

International.

Wezel was called up to the United States women's national under-23 soccer team in 2010.

Courtney Wetzel (born February 25, 1989) is an American soccer midfielder. She played for the Western New York Flash and Portland Thorns FC of the NWSL, and the Ottawa Fury Women and Seattle Sounders Women in the W-League.


History.

St. Michael's Secondary School is a part of the Anglican Diocese of Sabah. The development of Anglican Church schools was inspired by foreign settlers to provide education to their children.  St. Michael's was founded in 1888 by the late Rev. William Henry Elton. At first, there were two students in the school, who taught Rev. William Henry Elton Malay language and Chinese language. In exchange, Rev. William Henry Elton taught them English.  After World War II St. Michael's collapsed, but the school was rebuilt using donations from people around the district.  St. Michael's is divided into two sections. The new building consists of five floors including washroom, staffroom, science laboratories, IT lab, library and classrooms. The other part of the school includes classrooms, Canteen A and surau (a small place of worship for Muslims). Canteen B is located in front of the Canteen A. Between the two buildings, there is an open place for outdoor activities. In addition, there is Elton Square on the ground floor of the new building.

School anthem.

<poem> "Upon the crest of Elton Hill, "The old St. Michael's School remains; "Here youth are trained with zeal and will, "That all may drill their youthful brains.  "Thy fame spreads far beyond the seas, "Of Borneo, the isle of bliss; "Advance thy work and never cease "To serve mankind with naught amiss.  "Ye sons and maids of Sandakan, "Uphold thy alma mater dear; "Spread wide the truth and join the van, "To fight all evils without fear." </poem>

Facilities and buildings.

Elton Square.

Located on the crest of Elton Hill, next to the World's Heritage, is St. Michael and All Angels' Church, the oldest stone structure in Sabah. It has two academic buildings, a cafeteria, and a multi-purpose court. Legacy Block is a 2-storey wooden building with classrooms, a hall, a cooperation store and a utility room. Another academic building is a 6-storey concrete building leaning on the crest of Elton Hill. It consists of five laboratories, the staff office, the principal's office, a library, an auditorium, a skill training workshop, a kitchen workshop, an art centre, a dental clinic, a book storage room, and a sport equipment storage room.

St. Michael's Secondary School is a dual session secondary school located in the city of Sandakan, state of Sabah, East Malaysia. It is located at the foot of Elton Hill which is at the hub of the city on the Churches Road. The school was established on 5 October 1888, making it one of the oldest schools in Sandakan.


Early life.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Mathias attended and played for Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham. Mathias was one of the top-ranked recruits in the nation according to Soccer Buzz Magazine. She was a Parade Magazine high school All-America selection in 2007 and the 2006 and 2007 National High School Coaches Association All-America.

University of North Carolina, Texas A&M University, 2008–2011.

Mathias attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she played for the Tar Heels for two seasons in 2008 and 2009 before transferring to Texas A&M University where she majored in Agriculture leadership and development. During her first season with the Aggies, she started in 20 matches and scored nine goals – third best on the team. She was named to the All-Big 12 first team and the Big 12 All-Newcomer team. She was also a two-time Big 12 Player of the week. During her senior year, she started in all 24 matches and scored eight goals, including three game-winners. She ranked second on the team in assists with 11 and led the Big 12 Conference in all games with 93 shots on the season while ranking second in shots per game at 3.88. She ranked third in assists at eleven and third in assists per game at 0.46. Mathias ranked second in Top Drawer Soccer's Big 12 Top 20 Player Rankings and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team as well as the Big 12 All-Tournament Team. Mathias ended the season ranked at number 17 nationally in total assists was number 35 for assists per game.

Club career.

New York Fury, 2012.

Following the folding of the WPS, Mathias signed on to play with the New York Fury of the WPSL Elite.

FC Kansas City, 2013–2014.

Prior to the start of the National Women's Soccer League's inaugural season, Mathias was selected 22nd overall in the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft by FC Kansas City. During the 2013 season, Mathias started in 20 of the 23 matches in which she played. She scored two goals: one against the Portland Thorns on June 30 resulting in a 2–0 win for Kansas City and the second in the ninetieth minute against Boston Breakers on July 24. Kansas City finished the regular season in second place with an 11–6–5 record and advanced to the playoffs. They were eliminated in the semi-finals after being defeated 3–2 by Portland in overtime.  During the 2014 season, Mathias helped FC Kansas City finish second in the regular season standings with a 16–6–2 record and ultimately win the league championship after defeating first place Seattle Reign FC 2–1. Mathias started in 18 of the 22 matches in which she played.

Seattle Reign FC, 2015–2017.

In November 2014, Mathias was traded to Seattle Reign FC in exchange for Kate Deines and two 2015 draft picks. During the 2015 season, Mathias started in 19 of the team's 20 regular season games and recorded 1,480 minutes on the pitch. During a match against the Washington Spirit on May 2, she scored the game-winning goal in the 48th minute helping the Reign win 3–1. During a match against the Houston Dash on August 12, she scored an equalizer in the 22nd minute. The Reign defeated the Dash 2–1 and earned a berth to the playoffs. Mathias served two assists throughout the season. The Reign finished the regular season in first place clinching the NWSL Shield for the second consecutive time. After advancing to the playoffs, Seattle faced fourth-place team Washington Spirit and won 3–0, advancing to the championship final. Seattle was ultimately defeated 1–0 by FC Kansas City during the championship final in Portland.  During the 2016 season, Mathias made 17 starts in her 19 appearances for the club. She scored the club's lone goal (a header goal) during a 2–1 loss to Sky Blue FC in April 2017, the club's first loss at home in 24 games. During the first few months of the season, a number of offensive players became unavailable due to injury including Manon Melis, Jess Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe. Seattle finished the regular season in fifth place with a record, narrowly missing a playoff spot by two points.  Returning to the club for the 2017 season, Mathias scored a goal in the 39th minute in a match against the Portland Thorns FC. After the match, she was fined and suspended three matches for an incident with Emily Sonnett.

North Carolina Courage, 2018–present.

Mathias was traded to North Carolina Courage in January 2018. She appeared in 22 regular season games for the Courage, scoring 3 goals. Mathias was an important part of the backline that broke the record for fewest goals concealed, and won the NWSL Shield. She was named to the 2018 NWSL Second XI. In the 2018 play-offs, Mathias was in the starting lineup for the semi-final and final. She recorded an assist in the Championship game as the Courage won the 2018 NWSL Championship.

International career.

Mathias has extensive experience at the youth national team levels having played on the U-15, U-16, U-17, and U-23 teams. In October 2016, Mathias was called up to camp for the United States women's national soccer team. She received her first cap for United States women's national soccer team on June 12, 2018 in a friendly against China PR in Cleveland. Mathias came in as a substitute replacing Sofia Huerta in the 77th minute.  She was named to the U.S Roster for the 2018 Tournament of Nations, but she didn't appear in any games. The U.S won the tournament. Mathias was on the provisional 35-player roster for the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship but wasn't named to the final 20-player roster, however she would still join the squad to train and help in preparations.

Honors.

Club.

FC Kansas City  Seattle Reign  North Carolina Courage  Personal

Merritt Elizabeth Mathias (born July 2, 1990) is an American soccer forward currently playing for North Carolina Courage in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for FC Kansas City and Seattle Reign FC.


History.

Shin-Tōmei Expressway was partially opened on April 14, 2012 with 162km section from Gotemba, Shizuoka to Mikkabi, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka.  On February 13, 2016, the 55km section connecting with the eastern terminus of Isewangan Expressway in Nagoya to Mikkabi was opened.  On January 28, 2018 the outer circumferential highway of Tokyo, the Ken-Ō Expressway, was linked with the Shin-Tōmei Expressway in Ebina, Kanagawa, but the section between Ebina and Gotemba is under construction.

Future.

The section between Gotemba JCT and Ebina JCT is still under construction and slated to open in 2020. Once completed, Shin-Tōmei offers direct connection between Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo through Isewangan Expressway and the Shin-Meishin Expressway. The entire cost for the project from Tokyo to Osaka is 7 trillion yen (around 70 billion dollars).

List of interchanges and features.

Shin-Tōmei Expressway route.

!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|No.!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Name!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Connections!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Dist. fromOrigin!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Bus Stop!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Notes!colspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Location!style="background-color: #BFB;"|1!style="background-color: #BFB;"|2!style="background-color: #BFB;"|5-1!style="background-color: #BFB;"|-!style="background-color: #BFB;"|-!style="background-color: #BFB;"|-!style="background-color: #BFB;"|-!style="background-color: #BFB;"|-!style="background-color: #BFB;"|-!style="background-color: #BFB;"|7-1!style="background-color: #BFB;"|6!style="background-color: #BFB;"|6-1!style="background-color: #BFB;"|7!style="background-color: #BFB;"|8!style="background-color: #BFB;"|PA!style="background-color: #BFB;"|9!style="background-color: #BFB;"|10!style="background-color: #BFB;"|10-1!style="background-color: #BFB;"|11!style="background-color: #BFB;"|PA!style="background-color: #BFB;"|12!style="background-color: #BFB;"|PA!style="background-color: #BFB;"|13!style="background-color: #BFB;"|13-1!style="background-color: #BFB;"|-!style="background-color: #BFB;"|14!style="background-color: #BFB;"|14-1!style="background-color: #BFB;"|15!style="background-color: #BFB;"|16!style="background-color: #BFB;"|PA!style="background-color: #BFB;"|17!style="background-color: #BFB;"|SA!style="background-color: #BFB;"|1 {|table class="wikitable"

Shimizu Connection Route.

!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|No.!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Name!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Connections!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Dist. fromShimizu JCT!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Notes!style="background-color:#BFB;"|9-2!style="background-color:#BFB;"|9-1!style="background-color:#BFB;"|9 {|table class="wikitable"

Inasa Connection Route.

!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|No.!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Name!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Connections!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Dist. fromMikkabi JCT!style="border-bottom:3px solid green;"|Notes!style="background-color:#BFB;"|17-1!style="background-color:#BFB;"|15-1!style="background-color:#BFB;"|15

The, literally meaning New Tōmei, is a national expressway in Japan running parallel to the Tomei Expressway as an alternate route. It is operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company. The expressway is also numbered E1A under the "2016 Proposal for Realization of Expressway Numbering".


Taxonomy.

From the time it first became known to science (in 1993) until 2007 or 2008, it was considered a subspecies of the western red colobus ("Procolobus badius") and more recently Pennant's colobus ("Procolobus pennantii"), and its trinomial name was "Procolobus badius epieni" or "Procolobus pennantii epieni". Colin Groves recognized the Niger Delta red colobus as a full species in 2007, although Groves considered all the red colobus monkeys, including the Niger Delta red colobus to be in the genus "Piliocolobus", rather than "Procolobus" (this nomenclature has been followed here). However, other authors consider "Piliocolobus" to be a subgenus of "Procolobus".

Description.

The Niger Delta red colobus is black on top from the head to the rump, becoming orange-brown on the sides and outer legs. The undersides and inner legs, and most of the arms are white. The hands and feet are black. The tail is red-brown on top and chestnut or maroon below, becoming darker towards the tip. It has white whiskers.

Distribution.

The Niger Delta red colobus is found only in the western part of the Niger Delta. It is restricted to marsh forest, that is, forest with a high water table year round but no significant flooding. It shares this habitat with several other primate species, including the Nigerian white-throated guenon ("Cercopithecus erythrogaster pococki"), the red-capped mangabey ("Cercocebus torquatus"), the putty-nosed monkey ("Cercopithecus nictitans"), the mona monkey ("Cercopithecus mona"), and maybe also the olive colobus ("Procolobus verus").

Status.

When it was first discovered, the Niger Delta red colobus was locally common but under some pressure from deforestation, especially logging of "Hallea ledermannii", which is an important food tree for the monkey. Since then, pressure from bushmeat hunting and logging has increased. Red colobus monkeys generally appear to be particularly sensitive to hunting and habitat disturbance, hence concerns that the species may be on the verge of extinction.  The Niger Delta red colobus was still found in the Edumanom Forest Reserve in 2008. However, as of 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers it critically endangered, due a reduction in population of more than 80% over the past 30 years largely caused by hunting and habitat loss. In 2010, the Niger Delta red colobus was included in the list of The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates, published by the IUCN and other organizations.

The Niger Delta red colobus ("Piliocolobus epieni") is a critically endangered species of colobus monkey endemic to the western part of the Niger Delta. It is threatened by hunting and habitat loss.


Investigation.

Initially, the body of Clinton Trezise was found at Lower Light in 1994, although no connection to Bunting was made at this time. Similarly, the death of Thomas Trevilyan in 1997 was initially treated as a suicide. It was police inquiries into Elizabeth Haydon's disappearance which eventually led them to Snowtown, and on 20 May 1999, the remains of eight victims were found by the South Australian Police in six plastic barrels in a disused bank vault. For this reason, the murders were dubbed the "bodies in barrels murders".  It is believed that the bodies had been held in several locations in South Australia before being moved to Snowtown in 1999. Prosecutors believe that the killers moved the bodies after they became aware of the ongoing police investigation. Two more bodies were found buried in the backyard of Bunting's house in Adelaide. Police later arrested and charged Bunting, Wagner, Vlassakis and Mark Haydon on 21 May 1999 for the murders. At the time of the arrest, Vlassakis lived in Bunting's home.

Trials and verdicts.

The trial of Bunting and Wagner lasted almost twelve months, the longest in the history of South Australia. In December 2003, Bunting was convicted of committing eleven murders, and Wagner of ten murders, of which he had confessed to only three. Vlassakis pleaded guilty to four of the murders. In 2004, Haydon was convicted on five counts of assisting with the murders (of which he admitted to two). The jury did not come to a decision on two murder charges against Haydon, and another charge of assisting murder, at which the senior prosecutor, Wendy Abraham, indicated that she would seek a retrial on those charges. The final count against Bunting and Wagner—that of murdering Suzanne Allen—was dropped on 7 May 2007, when a jury had been unable to reach a verdict.  Justice Brian Ross Martin determined that Bunting was the ringleader, and sentenced him to 11 consecutive terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of release on parole. Wagner was sentenced to 10 consecutive terms under the same conditions, and at his sentencing, he stated from the dock: "Paedophiles were doing terrible things to children. The authorities didn't do anything about it. I decided to take action. I took that action. Thank you." Vlassakis was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences with a non-parole period of 26 years and Haydon was sentenced to 25 years with no possibility of parole for 18 years.  More than 250 suppression orders prevented publication of the details of this case. In early 2011, a judge lifted the remaining orders in response to a request by the producers of the film "Snowtown", a dramatisation depicting the murders and the events leading up to them.

Perpetrators.

Several individuals were involved in the murders: John Bunting, Robert Wagner and Mark Haydon were all charged with the killings; additionally, James Vlassakis pleaded guilty to four murders and provided testimony in exchange for a lesser sentence.  John Justin Bunting (born 4 September 1966 in Inala, Queensland) was found to be the leader of the perpetrators. When he was 8 years old, Bunting was beaten and sexually assaulted by a friend's older brother. He is reported to have "enjoyed weaponry, photography and anatomy," and grew to develop a strong hatred of paedophiles and homosexuals. At age 22, Bunting worked at an abattoir and reportedly "bragged about slaughtering the animals, saying that's what he enjoyed the most". Bunting moved to a house in Salisbury North, South Australia in 1991 and befriended his neighbours Mark Haydon and Robert Wagner. Wagner's romantic partner, Vanessa Lane, a.k.a. Barry Lane, was a male cross-dresser with a history of paedophilia.  Robert Joe Wagner (born 28 November 1971 in Parramatta, New South Wales) was befriended by Bunting in 1991. Bunting encouraged Wagner to assist in the various murders.  James "Jamie" Spyridon Vlassakis (born 24 December 1979), along with his mother and half-brother, lived with Bunting and was gradually drawn into helping with the murders. Vlassakis, 23, helped torture and kill his own half-brother, Troy Youde, and his stepbrother, David Johnson. He confessed in 2001 to four murders, including Johnson's, and became a key witness for the Crown. The detail he provided, supported by other evidence, helped convict Bunting and Wagner. Vlassakis was sentenced in 2002 to a minimum of 26 years and is held in isolation in an unidentified South Australia prison.  Mark Ray Haydon (born 4 December 1958), an associate of Bunting, was initially the subject of "suppression orders or statutory provisions prohibiting publication" and could not therefore be identified as anything other than an alleged perpetrator. In January 1999, he reportedly rented the abandoned state bank building at Snowtown. A jury deadlocked on the murders of Haydon's wife, Elizabeth Haydon, and of Troy Youde. The murder charges were not retried when Haydon pled guilty to helping the serial killers dispose of the bodies of Elizabeth and Youde.

Community impact.

The notoriety of the murders led to a short-term economic boost from tourists visiting Snowtown, but created a lasting stigma. "The Age" reported in 2011 that Snowtown would be "forever stigmatised" due to its association with the murders. Shortly after the discovery of the bodies in Snowtown, the community discussed changing the name to "Rosetown", but no further actions were taken., one shop in Snowtown was selling souvenirs of the murders "cashing in on Snowtown's unfortunate notoriety".  The house in Salisbury North where Bunting lived and buried two bodies was demolished by its owner, the South Australian Housing Trust. The bank, with a four-bedroom attached house, was placed on auction in February 2012 but only reached half its reserve price of $200,000. After holding an open house which raised $700 for charity through charging an entrance fee, the property sold later that year on 27 September for just over $185,000 with the new owners intending to live in the house while running a business from the bank. A plaque will be installed to commemorate the victims.

In media.

Film.

"Snowtown", also known as "The Snowtown Murders", a feature film based upon the life of John Bunting, was released in Australia on 19 May 2011.

Music.

Australian comedian Eddie Perfect wrote a demo song for "Snowtown the Musical" intended to be screened at the 2011 "Inside Film Awards" that he was hosting. The song was not broadcast.

Books.

Books detailing the crimes include:

The "Snowtown" murders (also known as the bodies in barrels murders) were a series of murders committed by John Bunting, Robert Wagner and James Vlassakis between August 1992 and May 1999, in and around Adelaide, South Australia. A fourth person, Mark Haydon, was convicted for helping to dispose of the bodies. The trial was one of the longest and most publicised in Australian legal history.


Life and career.

Dayton was born in Clifton Springs, New York, the son of Caroline Wesley (Draper) and David Day Dayton.In 1883, he moved to Minnesota, migrating from New York. His family was one of average means, and he had hoped to become a minister, but was lured into the business world. He married Emma Chadwick in 1878 and began buying farm mortgages in southwest Minnesota. In 1883 he and his family moved to Worthington, Minnesota where he was able to build wealth in the growing economy.  He presided over the Bank of Worthington and founded the Minnesota Loan and Investment Company, advancing his social status and prosperity. In 1890 he built a large home on eight lots, designed by Sioux Falls architect Wallace Dow. Dayton continued to live by his religious principles by improving his community and dedicating himself to the service of others; he served on the Worthington Board of Education, and was church clerk, elder, and trustee of Westminster Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday School and hosting church events at his home.  In 1902 he purchased land on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis and founded Dayton's Dry Goods store, later to become Dayton's department store. Dayton's dedication to service continued after his move to Minneapolis, where he continued to donate significant sums of money to the Worthington church and establishing The Dayton Foundation, dedicated to promoting the welfare of mankind. In 1926, he served on the finance committee for the Community Fund, a predecessor of today's United Way. Dayton's sons David Draper Dayton (1880–1923) and George Nelson Dayton (1886–1950) continued their father's business and his commitment to the community.  In 1956, the Daytons built Southdale Center in Edina, Minnesota. In 1962 the Daytons began the Target discount store chain.  George Nelson Dayton was great-grandfather to Mark Dayton, former U.S. Senator and Governor of Minnesota.  George Draper Dayton died of cancer in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 18, 1938, at the age of 80. He was buried at Minneapolis' Lakewood Cemetery.

George Draper Dayton (March 6, 1857 – February 18, 1938) was an American businessman and philanthropist, most famous for being the founder of Dayton's department store, which later became Target Corporation.


History.

St. Gertrud's Cemetery was located at the site in the 16th century but the area was later built over. Hauser Plads was created as a result of the British bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807, which resulted in large damages on the city centre. A working facility operated by the Poor Authority ("Fattigvæsnet") had until then been located on the site but it burned during the attack. In 1809, Conrad Caspar Hauser purchased some of the empty lots in the area. He was originally from Basel but had moved to Copenhagen after marrying the sister of the Danish ambassador to Algeria. The area where Hauser Plads is now located remained empty and was used for handling and storage of timber by the many craftsmen who worked on rebuilding the surrounding neighbourhood. Hauser's own house was completed in 1811. It was first proposed to establish a proper square at the site in 1818, mainly to release the pressure on Kultorvet, the city's coal market, which became very busy on market days. City architect Peder Malling created a plan for the area. Hauser proposed that a fountain be included in the plans, an idea which was supported by the fire brigade. City architect Peder Malling made a design proposal for the fountain, featuring a lion's head, but it was never built and it would take until 1939 before the square was completed. The square was formally called Suhrs Plads after the historian Peter Frederik Suhm who had lived at the site until his death in 1798 but this name never gained popularity. The square was instead colloquially known as Hausers Pladsand this name was used when the first street signs was installed.  In the 1950s, the buildings on the west side were demolished to make way for the new Central Library. The buildings that disappeared were a house row from the 1830s. The new building was completed in 1957 to designs by.  The square was renovated in 2011 as part of a project which also included Købmagergade and kultorvet. The design competition was won by Danish architectural firm Polyform in collaboration with Dutch Karres en Brands.

Current square.

The project converted an underground parking facility into a new home for the City's Cleaning Facility Center ("Center for Renhold"). The premises open to a sunken central courtyard with an amobic shape that optimize the influx of natural daylight. Facilities include offices, canteen, showers, changing rooms and parking spaces. The courtyard is surrounded by a landscaped playground.

Notable buildings and residents.

Namesake Conrad Caspar Hauser's house from 1811 is located at No. 32. He also constructed a warehouse which is located to the rear. The façade on Hauser Plads was altered in about 1870. The buildings were listed together with the neighbouring buildings at No. 28 and No. 30 in 1929/1945.  The only building that dates from the time before the bombardment in 1807 is No. 24, on the corner of Åbenrå, which dates from 1730. The buildings at No. 10–18 and No. 26 all date from the 1820s or 1830s and are listed. Restaurant Schønnemann at No. 16 has existed since 1870 and is one of the oldest "smørrebrød" restaurants in the city.  The beverage company State Drinks is based at No. 10.

In culture.

Hauser Plads is mentioned several times in Søren Kierkegaard's "Stages on Life's Way". In Section 3, the narrator explains that he used to visit Hauser Plads every Wednesday at 4 am.

Hauser Plads is a public square in the Old Town of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is separated from the larger, more well-known square Kultorvet by the former Copenhagen Central Library Building. A landscaped playground and Copenhagen Municipality's underground Cleaning Facilities Centre occupies most of the site since a renovation in 2011..


Topography.

The island was initially composed of two small drumlins connected by a spit, with an approximate size of. The name is believed to derive from its then-resemblance to a pair of spectacles. However, dumping of trash and dirt, together with subsequent landscaping, have resulted in a significantly larger island with a permanent size of, plus an intertidal zone of a further.  The island is now composed of two artificial earth mounds, terraced with retaining walls, roads and newly planted vegetation. With a height above sea level of, Spectacle Island is now one of the highest points on Boston Harbor. The island's inner harbor acreage is 114, with 85.5 upland acres and 28.4 intertidal acres.

History.

Starting in the early 19th century, the island was used exclusively for its relative remoteness from Boston. Two hotels were built in 1847, only to be closed by police ten years later when it was discovered they were used for gambling and other illicit activities.  A horse rendering plant was built on Spectacle Island in 1857, followed by a city trash incinerator that remained active until 1935. When the incinerator closed, trash was simply dumped on the island for the next thirty years. A bulldozer was supposedly swallowed up by the trash sometime during the 1950s. The island remained a smelly, leaking dump until the 1990s. Two sets of range lights were erected on the island by the United States Lighthouse Service. The Spectacle Island Range Lights were established in 1897 to mark the last leg of the channel into Boston itself, past Governor's Island; they were not long-lived and were discontinued in 1913. The Broad Sound Channel Inner Range Lights were first lit in 1903 and discontinued around 1950; these indicated the middle leg of the trip. No trace of any of these lights remains.  When the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project, or the Big Dig, began work in Boston in 1992, some of the project's excavated dirt and clay was used to resurface the island. The island was covered and built up by dirt, capped with two feet of clay, and covered with two to five feet of topsoil. Thousands of trees were planted, and paths, buildings, and a dock were built.  Spectacle Island opened to the public in June 2006 for use as a recreational area with hiking trails, a beach, a visitors' center with cafe, and a marina with 38 boat slips for visitors.

Transportation.

Spectacle Island is accessible to the public either through a ferry from Long Wharf or to private watercraft at the island's marina. Ferries run hourly from and to Boston as well as from and to Georges Island. The marina was closed for almost two years in the late 2010s due to repairs required as the result of a storm in the winter of 2015. As of July 2017, the marina is open and public moorings are available.

Spectacle Island is a 105-acre island in Boston Harbor, offshore of downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It is part of the city of Boston. The island has a varied history, and today is a public park with a marina, visitor center, cafe, lifeguarded swimming beach, and five miles of walking trails, forming part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. It is served all year by ferries from Boston, and on weekends and summer weekdays by a shuttle boat to and from nearby islands.


History.

Sup'Biotech was created in 2003 by IONIS Education Group. It provides middle management for biotechnology industry. Biotechnology industries belong mainly to health, innovation food or environment. On 11 January 2012, the degree delivered by the university was recognized level 1 by CNCP. The same year, on 21 February, the university was labeled by the "Industries et Agro-Ressources" (IAR) cluster. Since 8 January 2015, the university is recognized by the French Ministry of National Education. The 6 December 2016, Sup'Biotech is recognized by the "Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur".

Administration.

Governance.

Sup'Biotech is owned by IONIS Education Group, making Marc Sellam is the president of the university. He is assisted by a director.

Director.

Since the creation of the university, the director has been Vanessa Proux, who has a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Technology of Compiègne.

Teaching and research.

Curriculum.

Bachelor in biotechnology.

First cycle of three years including a "classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles" of two years and one year of professionalization with a 3-month internship. During the third year, a trip abroad in a partner university education is compulsory.

Master in biotechnology.

cond two-year cycle which includes the fourth and fifth year with the choice of a specialization : research / development / production processes or marketing / sales engineer. Students also makes the choice of an option: health / medicine, environment, cosmetics, food industry or bioinformatics. During this cycle, two internship (4 and 6 months) are compulsory. Sup'Biotech has signed in January 2011 a partnership with the Cancer Institut Gustave Roussy. The majority of the courses in this cycle are given in English.  In the final year, students who wish can prepare in parallel an MBA at the "Institut supérieur de gestion", a Master at IONIS STM, a Master in basic research at the University of Évry Val d'Essonne or at the "École pratique des hautes études", or also a double degree with a partnership university abroad. In addition, the school has a partnership with the "Ecole Centrale Paris" allowing two fifth-year students to follow in parallel a "Mastère Spécialisé" in biomedical engineering data.

International partners.

Sup'Biotech has partnership with universities abroad, including : Tunisia Private University, University of California at San Diego, "Université de Montréal", Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, University of Essex, University of Sussex in United Kingdom,...

Research activities.

Sup'Biotech has opened a Bioinformatics laboratory in September 2010, called « Bio Information Research Laboratory », which purpose is the research at the interface between computing and biotechnology, and also a cellular models laboratory. In May 2012, the university has inaugurated a new bio-production laboratory. It has also a partnership with Pasteur Institute.

The Institut Sup'Biotech de Paris (Sup'Biotech or ISBP; ) is a French private engineering school created in 2003, located in Villejuif, near Paris, and in Lyon.


History.

Kanaker has developed as a satellite town of Yerevan throughout the history. With many historical churches and monuments, Kanaker was severely damaged in the earthquake of 1679. The town has played a key role in the Russian siege of Yerevan in 1827.  Many prominent figures of Armenian literature and art are natives of Kanaker such as historian Zakaria Kanakertsi, writer Khachatur Abovian and musician Djivan Gasparyan.  In order to establish the Zeytun district in 1944, the "Artsvabuyn Zeytun" Reconstruction Committee was formed in Aleppo, whose members were Panos Norashkharyan, Yeghia Alajajyan, Rev. Petros Kilikian, Hovsep Bshtikyan, Harutyun Azaryan, Parunak Shishikyan, KarapetKarapet Tozlikyan (Yeghyan) and Levon Chopuryan. The committee had 3 additional members in Yerevan: Avetis Surenyan, Dovlat Karanfilyan, and Dovlat Boyamian.  After the repatriation of in 1948, the members of the committee received permission to construct the new Nor Zeytun settlement at the north of Yerevan.  With the rapid growth of Yerevan, Kanaker and Nor Zeytun were gradually absorbed and became part of the Armenian capital. After the independence of Armenia, Kanaker and Nor Zeytun were merged and formed a single district within the capital, bearing the name Kanaker-Zeytun. Currently, the district is among the developing areas of the capital with a population of 79,600 and an area of 8.1 km2.  The district is home to many industrial plants including the Yerevan Champagne Wines Factory, the Coca-Cola Bottlers Armenia Factory and the Pepsi Bottlers Armenia Factory. The district is also home to the Gazprom Armenia headquarters.

Kanaker-Zeytun (), is one of the 12 districts of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, located in the northeastern part of the city. As of the 2011 census, the population of the district is 73,886.


United States Department of State list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Identification of candidates.

The Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT) of the U.S. Department of State continually monitors the activities of groups active around the world to identify targets for the "terrorist" designation. When reviewing potential targets, S/CT looks not only at the actual attacks that a group has carried out, but also at whether the group has engaged in planning and preparations for possible future acts of violence or retains the capability and intent to carry out such acts.

Designation process.

Once a target is identified, the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism prepares a detailed "administrative record," which is a compilation of information, typically including both classified and open sources information, demonstrating that the statutory criteria for designation have been satisfied. If the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, decides to make the designation, the United States Congress is notified of the Secretary's intent to designate the organization and given seven days to review the designation, as the INA requires. Upon the expiration of the seven-day waiting period, notice of the designation is published in the "Federal Register", at which point the designation takes effect. An organization designated as an FTO may seek judicial review of the designation in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit not later than 30 days after the designation is published in the Federal Register.  Under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the FTO may file a petition for revocation two years after the designation date (or in the case of redesignated FTOs, its most recent redesignation date) or two years after the determination date on its most recent petition for revocation. In order to provide a basis for revocation, the petitioning FTO must provide evidence that the circumstances forming the basis for the designation are sufficiently different as to warrant revocation. If no such review has been conducted during a five-year period with respect to a designation, then the Secretary of State is required to review the designation to determine whether revocation would be appropriate.  The procedural requirements for designating an organization as an FTO also apply to any redesignation of that organization. The Secretary of State may revoke a designation or redesignation at any time upon a finding that the circumstances that were the basis for the designation or redesignation have changed in such a manner as to warrant revocation, or that the national security of the United States warrants a revocation. The same procedural requirements apply to revocations made by the Secretary of State as apply to designations or redesignations. A designation may also be revoked by an Act of Congress, or set aside by a Court order.

Other effects of designation.

The U.S. Department of State lists the following items as additional considered beneficial effects of designation:  Official designation of a group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization also triggers more robust means of combat under the Authorization for Use of Military Force act enacted in 2001, which is still in force today.

Groups designated as FTOs.

List is current as of September 24, 2017, organized by region and country of origin:

Delisted FTOs.

The following groups have been removed from the Department of State's list as of June 1, 2017, most due to having been disbanded and thus being no longer active.

Criticism.

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue noted in a 2006 report that third parties play no role in the designation process, and that designated organizations only learn of the designation once it has occurred, with no chance of rebuttal. Listed entities may request reviews, or challenge the listing in court, but success is limited.  In April 2014, Noam Chomsky criticized the list, saying:

Controversies.

The 2012 delisting of Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) was supported by numerous US lawmakers, and defense and foreign policy officials, but was criticized by the National Iranian American Council. The Treasury Department investigated allegations that payments to former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, on behalf of his lobbying for the MEK, had violated the legal ban on material support for an FTO.  In November 2013, the State Department listed the Nigerian terrorist organization Boko Haram as an FTO. In 2014, Republican members of Congress criticized the State Department for not designating the group as an FTO earlier.  In August 2014 the Christian Science Monitor reported that U.S. military was coordinating with Kurdish forces in Iraq, including elements of the PKK, seemed to be in violation of the ban on assistance to a designated FTO.

"Foreign Terrorist Organization" (FTO) is a designation for non-United States-based organizations deemed by the United States Secretary of State, in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (INA), to be involved in what US authorities define as terrorist activities. Most of the organizations on the list are Islamist extremist groups, nationalist/separatist groups, or Marxist militant groups.


RAF career.

Lloyd joined the Royal Engineers as a sapper in 1915 during the First World War: he was wounded in action three times before enlisting as a cadet in the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and joining No. 52 Squadron, flying the RE.8 on army co-operation missions. After the war, he remained with the recently formed Royal Air Force on a permanent commission.  In January 1939 Lloyd became Officer Commanding No. 9 Squadron, equipped with Wellingtons. Later in 1939, with the Second World War under way, he was promoted to group captain and given command of RAF Marham. His stay at RAF Marham was brief and in November he was appointed to the staff of No. 3 Group and, in May 1940, he became Senior Air Staff Officer at No. 2 Group.  On 1 June 1941, Lloyd was appointed Air Officer Commanding in Malta, with the difficult task of protecting the island from German and Italian air attacks as well as attacking Axis shipping delivering supplies to Erwin Rommel's "Afrika Korps" in North Africa. However, his lack of knowledge of fighter tactics and the dominance of the Messerschmitt Bf 109F against the outdated Hawker Hurricane, prolonged the Siege of Malta. When Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring was appointed to lead the Axis air-offensive from December 1940, RAF Command at last reacted. After installing a fighter control room similar to those in the United Kingdom, from April 1942 they assigned the island two squadrons of Supermarine Spitfires totaling 47 aircraft, which led later that year to the Allies moving to an offensive campaign.  Lloyd was assigned to RAF headquarters in the Middle East as Senior Air Staff Officer in 1942 and commanded the Northwest African Coastal Air Force and then the Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force in 1943. His role there was to carry out harrying of enemy transport by land and sea. In November 1944 he was appointed commander designate of Tiger Force, a Commonwealth heavy bomber force which was intended to join the air offensive against Japan but was disbanded shortly after the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki effectively ended the war.

Postwar years.

After two years as senior instructor at the Imperial Defence College, Lloyd was made Air Officer Commanding Air Command Far East, later retitled Far East Air Force. He was made Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Bomber Command in February 1950 before he retired in June 1953.  Lloyd was President of the London Welsh Trust, which runs the London Welsh Centre, from 1962 until 1964.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Pughe Lloyd, (12 December 1894 – 14 July 1981) was a senior Royal Air Force commander.


Life.

Jill Adams was born Jill Siggins in London in 1930, the daughter of the silent-screen actress Molly Adair (real name Mary Marguerite Potter). Jill's New Zealand-born father, Arthur Siggins, had met the Irish-American Adair when she was on location in Algiers filming a spectacular version of A.E. Mason's adventure novel The Four Feathers (1921). Siggins, a former member of the Rhodesian police and an expert animal handler, worked on the film, and later wrote a book about the experience, Shooting with Rifle and Camera.  Jill was one of four children. When she was six years old, she moved to Wales where Jill continued her education, after which she worked for four years on a farm. Her ambition was to become an artist, and she moved to London to pursue that career, taking work as a sales assistant, secretary and window dresser. After working as a window dresser, by 1944 Adams was an assistant artist at Mr & Mrs Jones, a department store, where she was required to attend fashion shows and sketch the clothes. One day a model failed to arrive, and Adams, found to be the perfect size, stepped in, thus beginning her modelling career, which included a flag-hoisting recruitment poster for the Wrens. During her modelling days she was'discovered' and begin an acting career that spanned two decades.  Her most notable films were comedies, at which she excelled, such as "Doctor at Sea", "Brothers in Law" and "The Green Man", in which she starred with Alastair Sim and George Cole. She also did some stage and radio work.  In 1951 she married a young American navy yeoman, Jim Adams, whose surname she adopted professionally, which resulted in the birth of a daughter, Tina. The same year, Jill Adams had a part in a late-night stage revue, On with the New, starring Anthony Newley, and though her marriage ended in 1953, she began taking bit roles in movies – dancing with Nigel Patrick in Forbidden Cargo (1953), appearing in the Arthur Askey comedy The Love Match (1954), and in Doctor at Sea (1955) with Dirk Bogarde.  She had one of her first substantial roles in the sprightly "B" movie One Jump Ahead (1955), in a rare villainous portrayal as a murderess who was once an old flame of a reporter (Paul Carpenter) who is usually "one jump ahead" of the police. Adams was one of Rex Harrison's seven wives in the sophisticated comedy The Constant Husband (1955).  At the peak of her acting career in 1957, Adams married the well-known BBC TV and radio personality Peter Haigh, and had a second daughter, Peta Louise. Adams appeared with Attenborough again in The Scamp (1957), and was given star billing in an Australian movie, Dust in the Sun (1958), but it had limited distribution. In 1960/61 she featured in a television series, The Flying Doctor, based on the real-life activities of the Royal Flying Doctor Service serving the Australian outback.  Her career at this point seemed to lose direction. Death on My Shoulder (1958) and Crosstrap (1960) had been poor "B" movies, and her roles in Carry On Constable (1960) and Doctor in Distress (1963) were small. The Yellow Teddy Bears (1963) was an exploitation thriller (its US title was Gutter Girls), and her small role in Promise Her Anything (1965), starring Warren Beatty and Leslie Caron, was to be her last.In 1971, the whole family moved to the Algarve, in southern Portugal, where they ran a small hotel for several years in the village of Albufeira.  When her second marriage ended, she continued with a restaurant career, accompanied by her partner Mike. Some years later she retired from the business and with her new partner, Alan "Buster" Jones, an accountant, went to live just outside Lisbon. They later moved to Spain, where they enjoyed homes close to Alicante, then Barcelona and eventually in the Costa del Sol.  After Buster died in 1996, she moved back to Portugal, to be with her granddaughter, Emma, and her great-granddaughter, Tania, and began painting again. She battled cancer from 2005 until her death.

Jill Adams (22 July 1930 – 13 May 2008) was an English actress, artist and fashion model. She featured or starred in over 25 films during the 1950s and 1960s.


History.

William Paterson University was founded in 1855 as the Paterson City Normal School. For more than a century, training teachers for New Jersey schools was its exclusive mission. In 1951, the University moved to the present campus. Originally known as Ailsa Farms, the site was purchased by the State of New Jersey in 1948 from the family of Garret Hobart, twenty-fourth vice president of the United States.  The original manor house was built in 1877 in the style of a castle, and was the home of John McCullough, a Scottish immigrant who made a fortune in the wool industry. It was later purchased, enlarged and made the weekend retreat and summer residence of the Hobart family. Today the building is known as Hobart Manor and is home of the Office of the President and the Office of Institutional Advancement. Hobart Manor was designated a national and state landmark in 1976.  The university changed its name to Paterson State Teachers College when it relocated from Paterson in 1951. In 1966, the curriculum was expanded to include degree offerings other than those leading to a teaching career. In 1971, it was renamed William Paterson College of New Jersey. The change of name honored William Paterson, who was the state's first senator, its second governor, and a United States Supreme Court Justice appointed by President George Washington, and reflected both the institution's beginnings in the city that also bears his name and the legislative mandate to move from a teachers' college to a broad-based liberal arts institution.  The Commission on Higher Education granted William Paterson university status in June 1997.  Dr. Richard J. Helldobler, former interim president of Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Illinois, is the eighth president of William Paterson University. He took office July 1, 2018 to replace the retiring Kathleen Waldron, who had served as the school's president since August 2010.

Academics.

The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, National Association of Schools of Art and Design, National Association of Schools of Music, and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, among others.  It is organized into five academic colleges: College of Arts and Communication, Cotsakos College of Business, College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and College of Science and Health, offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. "U.S. News & World Report" in its 2018 edition of Best Colleges ranks the university as number 102 of Regional Universities North with an Overall Score of 49/100.0.  The Honors College offers tracks in several disciplines as well as independent study.

Faculty.

William Paterson counts 41 Fulbright scholars among its faculty.

Campus.

William Paterson University is on a hilly, wooded campus in northern New Jersey in the suburban township of Wayne. The campus is located along the eastern town line of Wayne, and borders on High Mountain Preserve, a forested area, as well as the boroughs of Haledon and North Haledon, nearly of wetlands and woodlands, and is west of the historic Great Falls in Paterson. New York City is to the east, the Jersey Shore is an hour's drive south, skiing is north, and the Meadowlands Sports Complex is a half-hour drive away.

Facilities.

William Paterson University's buildings include:

Student life.

Residential life.

The university provides housing for nearly 2,600 students in ten residence halls, including two that opened in 2006. Two residence halls, High Mountain East and West, offer learning communities in collaboration with the University's Honors College, and feature smart classrooms that are used as part of the living/learning experience.  With accommodations ranging from double room suites to apartments, the University's modern, smoke-free buildings range in size from 100 to 400 students and are coed by suite, with four residents sharing a suite or apartment. First-year students start out in traditional residence halls such as Overlook South and North, Hillside Hall, White Hall, Matelson Hall, and Century Hall, while upper-class students and older transfer students experience the added independence of the apartments, Pioneer Hall and Heritage Hall.  The newest residence hall, Skyline Hall, completed construction in 2019.

Organizations and campus activities.

Offering an active campus experience for both resident and commuter students, William Paterson University hosts 24 fraternities and sororities and more than 70 clubs and organizations, as well as intramural and recreational activities, peer education, and leadership programs. William Paterson University's Club Sports include Cheerleading, Bowling, Equestrian, Ice Hockey, Rugby, Dance and Track.  William Paterson has been nationally recognized for its alcohol prevention program, which requires freshmen and transfer students to take AlcoholEdu, an online alcohol prevention course to educate students about the consequences of alcohol abuse. In addition, student workers serve as peer health advocates and help to spread the message to their peers about the need to take a responsible approach to alcohol. William Paterson is also an active member in the New Jersey Higher Education Consortium on Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and Education.  WPSC 88.7 Brave New Radio, William Paterson's student-run radio station, is the headquarters for College Radio Day, an effort to celebrate the importance of college radio. In 2012, more than 500 college radio stations in 20 countries participated in the event.  In 2018, sorority student Jasmine Barkley, who had been elected to the Greek student senate, posted a video along with a white female student from Penn State University, in which she used the n-word in an apparent song; she later posted a video saying that her video was not racist, but the school's administration issued a statement condemning her action.

Athletics.

The university has 13 intercollegiate sports teams in the NCAA Division III, six for men and seven for women, including NCAA teams in men's baseball and women's softball. The William Paterson University Pioneers compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), as well as in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The Faculty Athletic Support Team (FAST) was established in 2013 by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, The Office of the Provost, and a number of faculty members, to create a formalized program to enhance communication and serve a resource to assist student-athletes with retention, success and growth.

Cultural events, lectures, conferences, and art.

WP Presents! is the university portal to information about performing arts programs produced and presented by the College of The Arts and Communication. University Performing Arts and University Galleries administrate programs in creative and performing arts including the Jazz Room Series, New Jersey Playwrights Contest, and all public productions in the Shea Center for Performing Arts and the Hunziker Black Box Theatre. Cultural events take place on campus throughout the year, including theater productions, gallery exhibits, and concerts presenting jazz, classical, and contemporary music.

William Paterson University, officially William Paterson University of New Jersey (WPUNJ), is a public university in Wayne, New Jersey. Founded in 1855, William Paterson is the second-oldest of the nine state colleges and universities in New Jersey. William Paterson offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees through its five academic colleges. During the fall 2017 semester, 8,838 undergraduate students and 1,414 graduate students were enrolled.


Early life and education.

Freeman was born in the upper peninsula of Michigan on July 26, 1948. He grew up on a farm near Engadine, Michigan.  Freeman earned a BS degree in physics from Michigan State University in 1969 and a master’s from University of Illinois in 1971. He worked in the Peace Corps for several years, then went to Teletype Corporation to design a custom PMOS circuit.

Founding of Xilinx.

Ross postulated that because of Moore's Law, transistors would be getting less expensive each year, making customizable programmable chips affordable. The idea was "far out" at the time, but the company and technology grew quickly, eventually catching the attention of new-found competitors in what is now a mature industry.  With Bernard Vonderschmitt and James V Barnett II Freeman co-founded Xilinx in 1984, and a year later invented the first Field Programmable Gate Array. Freeman's invention - patent 4,870,302 - is a computer chip full of 'open gates' that engineers can reprogram as much as needed to add new functionality, adapt to changing standards or specifications and make last minute design changes.

Death and legacy.

Freeman died in 1989, only a few years after creating a new industry with the FPGA and launching what would become a multi-billion dollar company.  In 2006, 17 years after his death, Freeman was inducted into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame, which honors men and women responsible for fundamental technology advances for human, social and economic progress. That year was the integrated circuit's 50th anniversary so the hall of fame inductees were themed with inventions fundamental to modern computing.  To honor Freeman's memory, encourage technical innovation, and reward employees, Xilinx began a new tradition in 1992 of honoring a Xilinx employee each year with the Ross Freeman Award for Technical Innovation. Participants are nominated, finalists are chosen by a nomination committee at Xilinx and award winners are chosen by a vote from the company's technical staff.

Ross Freeman (July 26, 1948 – October 22, 1989), was an American electrical engineer and inventor, and co-founder of the leading FPGA developer Xilinx.


Biography.

He was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, to Anna Catherine (Holz) and George-Michael Ege, who had immigrated from Germany in 1738. George's father participated in the French and Indian War, subsequently had health problems, and died in 1759, when George was just 11 years old. After his father's death, George and his two brothers, Jacob Ege (b. 1745) and Michael Ege (b. 1753), were sent to live and study with their mother's wealthy brother-in-law, Henry William Stiegel, a noted glass-maker who had mansions in Manheim, PA and at Elizabeth Furnace, PA, as well as several other outside business interests, including an iron operation he called “Charming Forge” in the Womelsdorf area of Berks County, PA. Under "Baron" Stiegel's tutelage, George and his brothers learned about how to run iron operations.  In 1774, George Ege succeeded the Baron as owner of Charming Forge and also built a mansion on the property, adjacent to the stream used by the iron mill; this mansion was also called "Charming Forge," and it is still occupied today. George prospered with the forge, added additional forges and properties, and became one of the wealthiest citizens of Berks County.  In 1783, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was appointed one of the first associate judges of Berks County under the Pennsylvania Constitution in 1790, and served from 1791 until 1818, when he resigned. He resumed his extensive business interests, and was elected as a Federalist to the Fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Daniel Hiester. He was reelected to the Fifth Congress and served from December 8, 1796, until October 1797, when he resigned. He resumed his business interests, and built and operated Schuylkill County Forge, near Port Clinton in 1804. He died at his residence, "Charming Forge," in Marion Township; interment was in Zion's Church Cemetery, Womelsdorf.

George Ege (March 9, 1748 – December 14, 1829) was a United States Congressman, elected to the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.


Geography.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 0.48%, is water.  Boxborough is bordered by Littleton to the north, Acton to the east, Stow to the south, and Harvard to the west. Prior to incorporation in 1783, the area that is now Boxborough was part of Stow, Harvard, and Littleton.

Demographics.

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,868 people, 1,853 households, and 1,271 families residing in the town. The population density was 469.7 people per square mile (181.4/km). There were 1,906 housing units at an average density of 183.9 per square mile (71.0/km). The racial makeup of the town was 88.82% White, 0.33% African American, 0.02% Native American, 8.48% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.  There were 1,853 households, out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.25.  In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.  According to the 2010 Census (http://www.clrsearch.com/01719_Demographics/Household-Income), the median income for a household in the town was $115,639 and the average income for a household was $147,625. The per capita income for the town was $59,551. About 1.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education.

Boxborough residents attend schools in the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District.  Boxborough has one elementary school, Blanchard Memorial School. Blanchard Memorial School consistently achieves MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) test scores within the top ten of Massachusetts school districts. In the school year starting September 2014, the elementary school became part of the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District as a result of a town vote. Children living in Boxborough have priority for attendance, with any remaining spaces available for Acton children. Prior to this, only upon reaching Junior high (grades 7–8) did students become part of the regional system, attending school in the neighboring town of Acton.  Acton-Boxborough Regional High School (ABRHS) is highly ranked within Massachusetts and nationwide. The U.S. Department of Education designated the institution as a Blue Ribbon School in 2009. In 2008, Newsweek magazine ranked ABRHS as one of the best high schools in the country. Also, the school has ranked in the top ten for the National Academic Decathlon.

History.

Early history.

The area which became the town of Boxborough was first inhabited by the Native Americans of the Nipmuc and Pennacook tribes. It was probably visited by colonists as early as the mid seventeenth century, when the neighboring towns of Stow and Acton were founded. However, the land in Boxborough was not settled until the beginning of the eighteenth century by farmers looking for fertile land to establish farms. Over the next decades, this area would become one of the most productive agricultural farming areas in the county. Several men from the area served in the Seven Years' War.

Revolutionary War.

On April 19, 1775, 21 men from Boxborough met at the Boaz Brown house on Hill road before marching with the companies of Littleton and Acton to the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Most of these men, previously farmers, would go on to serve the colonial militia for the remainder of the war.  Sons of Simon Blanchard, descendant of some of the earliest settlers of Boxborough (and killed during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759 during the Seven Years' War), Calvin and Luther Blanchard, are two prominent revolutionary veterans. Luther marched with Captain Isaac Davis's company of Acton to the Battle of Concord, serving as a fifer. At the North Bridge, several minute-men companies engaged with the British troops in a conflict remembered as the shot heard round the world, eventually forcing the redcoats to retreat. Blanchard is remembered by some historians as the first man wounded, but it is hard to confirm considering the nature of the battle. He received a musket-shot to the chest. Historian Lucie Hager documents Luther's witty interaction with a Concord woman who was tending his wound:  "Nurse:" “A little more and you’ve been killed.”<br> "Luther:" Yes, and a little more and it would not have touched me.”  Luther died three days later, ostensibly of the wounds he received in these battles. He is buried at the Old Burial Ground in Littleton, Massachusetts. A picture of Luther is featured on the Boxborough seal. Calvin survived the war and went on to be involved in early Boxborough politics. It is after descendants of this same Blanchard family that Blanchard Memorial School was named.

Founding.

A closer church served as the motivation for establishing a new district; those who lived in the extreme parts of this area found it difficult to travel all the way to church every week (the community had been built on Puritan ideals, attending church was required at this time). Perhaps the key players in this movement, fresh from fighting in the Revolutionary War, were pursuing further independence.  Boxborough was formed from Harvard, Littleton, and Stow. A member of Middlesex County, Boxborough established a new county line between Middlesex and Worcester. On January 31, 1775, men of this area formed a “Sartain Society” which agreed to purchase the Harvard Old meeting-house to act as a town hall and a church.  The people of Boxborough were denied registration to be an independent district three times before being accepted in 1782, then incorporated on February 25, 1783. At first, Boxborough didn't send a representative to the General Court, instead continuing to help elect a representative from Stow.  Besides the Blanchard family, several other early settlers of Boxborough were instrumental in its establishment as an independent district. John Wetherbee and his family built houses in what would become Boxborough as early as 1717, and some historians consider John the first settler of the area. Silas Wetherbee, born a generation later, fought for a Stow company during the Revolution, and gave the land on which the new meeting-house and church was built after the war. Silas was not just a veteran and financial backer, but was also elected as an original selectman. The Wetherbee Family continues to influence Boxborough politics for a century to come.  The Taylor brothers were also some of the first settlers in the area. Silas Taylor served as a captain in the Revolutionary War before serving as the first clerk of the district of Boxborough, as well as an original selectman and assessor. Phinehas Taylor Jr. also served as a captain in the War, going on to serve as the original treasurer and deer-reeve of the district.  One Boxborough family, the Martins, lived in a stone house on the side of a large hill. The entire family was slaughtered by a group of British soldiers in 1775.  Other old Boxborough families include the Hager Family, the Wood Family, and the Stone family, each of which settled in the area before its incorporation and had men serve during the Revolutionary War. Bennet Wood and Joseph Stone served as the first official Boxborough government, serving as the committee for the Sartain Society, along with moderator Henry Cooledge. Joseph Stone, originally from Harvard, was deeply involved in the area, serving as justice of the peace and a deacon of the congregational church until his death. The Wood Family was also influential in the early politics of Littleton; Bennet's father, Jeremiah, served as collector, selectman, and eventually treasurer.  Most of these influential Boxborians were buried in the Old North Cemetery, which has graves dating back to the eighteenth century.

Attractions.

On October 16, 2005, the Boxborough Historical Society opened the Boxborough Museum. The museum is located at 575 Middle Road and is open several Sundays a year. Boxborough is also known for Steele Farm, a popular location for sledding and hikes, with dog-friendly conservation trails.  There is a good example of a glacial esker, over one mile in length, located in the Beaver Valley Preserve.  An annual Harvest Fair is held in September, celebrating Boxborough's agricultural legacy.  Boxborough is home to several historical landmarks and sites on the Freedom Trail. The Silas Taylor Farm can be found on Flagg Hill. The Silas Wethebee House (est. 1770), or Walnut Farm, can be seen today on Hill Road as part of the "Path of the Patriots."

Conservation areas and playing fields.

Boxborough has fourteen distinct state, non-profit, conservation or municipal tracts of lands with trails suitable for a number of non-motorized activities. These are maintained by town volunteers and the town employees (mostly where mowing is required).  Flerra Meadows provides soccer fields, as well as a small playground and pond. Liberty Fields has a baseball diamond, multiple soccer fields and a conservation trail in the woods.  The Boxborough Mamils, a cycling group, meets regularly at Flerra Meadows for community bike rides in Boxborough and neighboring towns.

Reenactments and commemorations.

Boxborough Minutemen Company.

The Boxborough Minutemen Company is a historical society founded in Boxborough in 1967 with the goal of preserving the memory of the town's role in the American Revolution, as well as serving the community. The Minutemen sponsor local activities and businesses, give out scholarships, and participate in historical reenactments.  The legacy of the revolution has lived on through several groups similar to the Minutemen Company dating back to the end of the eighteenth century. Following the Revolutionary War, the "Slam Bang Company" was founded by patriotic men of Boxborough, eventually dissolving into the "Boxborough Light Infantry Company." The goals of these groups seem purely honorary, though it is recorded that they met three times a year for annual military training through the nineteenth century.

Fifer's Day.

Boxborough is known for its annual Fifer's Day celebration, put on by the Minutemen, which commemorates Luther Blanchard. Fifer's Day is held every June at Flerra Meadows in Boxborough. It begins with a road race, followed by a parade and many different festivities. Booths with hamburgers, hot dogs, snow cones etc. line the field and games, bands and volleyball tournaments complete the afternoon. Other Fifer's Day activities typically include pony rides, air balloon rides, fire engine demonstrations and a flea market.

Boxborough is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,996 at the 2010 census. The town name is often simplified to "Boxboro" on highway signs and official documents.


Yinka Folawiyo & Sons.

Folawiyo established Yinka Folawiyo and Sons in 1957, a business that later grew to have interest in various sectors of the Nigerian economy. Initially, Folawiyo and Sons developed relationships with building and construction material firms in various Eastern European countries. The group imported cement and sugar from the former Soviet Union, then later introduced building materials from Romania and Bulgaria into the Nigerian market. In 1967, the firm was incorporated as a limited liability company. When Folawiyo and Sons' revenues increased, the firm began chartering vessels to bring in commodities including cement, building materials, frozen fish and fertilizer.

Green Lines.

To provide logistics support for the firm's trading operations, the group established Maritime Associates (International) as a vessel chartering, clearing and forwarding company. The company was later invited to bid for shipment of agricultural produce from Nigeria to Europe. In 1972, the group established Green Lines shipping company when demand for chartering of ocean liners increased. M.V. Ahmadu Tijani, a 10,826 dead-weight ton carrier was purchased in 1973 as the first ocean liner. By 1980, the firm owned six vessels and had joined the UK/West Africa Lines Joint Service and the Continental West Africa Conference. In the 1970s, regular service was provided between Hamburg/Antwerp and Lagos. The firm later acquired M.V. Bello Folawiyo and M.V. Yinka Folawiyo in the mid 1980s.

Philanthropy.

As a philanthropist, he was active in several social and religious (particularly Muslim) endeavors. He funded the establishment and construction of mosques throughout the country, including both the Lagos Central and Surulere Central mosques in Lagos and the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna. He also funded the Bab Es Salam Home for orphans in Lagos.  In sports, he was the sole philanthropist of the Yinka Folawiyo U 15 Athletics Championships and the National Amateur Wrestling Championships. In education, he endowed the professorial chair in Physics at the University of Lagos, and contributed to virus research at the University of Ibadan. Folawiyo, in June 1998, also became the first private individual to put together a physical structure at the University of Lagos when he upgraded the University's Health Centre to a full-fledged hospital complete with an X-ray Unit.

Death.

He died in the early hours of 6 June 2008, at his residence in Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos, at the age of 79 surrounded by his family; he was to have celebrated his 80th birthday on 16 June. He was buried, by Muslim dictates, on the same day (at 4:45 p.m.) in the Central Mosques' burial ground meant for imams of the mosque; only two other people besides Folawiyo, Imam Ibrahim Otun and Imam Murah, are buried in the cemetery. Former members of government rushed to the mosque to pay respects, including former president Olusegun Obasanjo and former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, while state governors sent their condolences.

Chief Abdulwahab Iyanda "Wahab" Folawiyo, CON (16 June 1928 – 6 June 2008) was a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. In 1957, he founded Yinka Folawiyo & Sons, which has become the parent company of the Yinka Folawiyo Group of Companies. He was born in Lagos to Pa Tijani, a wealthy local merchant, during the British colonial era. He attended the University of North London in 1951, where he read Management, specialising in Ship Brokerage. He returned to start Yinka Folawiyo & Sons, an import and export business. Folawiyo was also the first African-descended Principal Member of the Baltic Exchange in London.


Early life.

Pedro Pablo "Pedrito" Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, September 12, 1973 in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood of Old Havana. Cayo Hueso is a neighborhood known for African-derived rumba rhythms. He grew up near the Palacio de la Rumba theater and watched renowned artists rehearse and perform as a child. The house he grew up in was across the street from a park where he became fascinated by men playing percussion, singing and dancing Cuban rumba, a foundational folkloric music and dance with deep roots in Africa. He began his musical career at the age of eleven performing with Cuban artist Tata Guines, and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas as a teenager. Pedrito steeped himself in this style, eventually achieving the status of "rumbero." He was then introduced to Yoruba, also known as Santeria, another Afro-Cuban folkloric tradition of great significance, a religion of West African origin which has its own powerful style of music involving ceremonial drums called Bata. Martinez mastered the extremely complex rhythms played on the batas as well as the litany of Orisha chants associated with the religion, which eventually led to him assuming the role and status of "babalawo", or Santeria priest. In 1996, Canadian bandleader Jane Bunnett, while visiting Cuba, had occasion to see Pedrito play and returned two years later to bring him to play in Montreal with her band Spirit of Havana.

Career.

By the fall of 1998, Martinez had settled in New York City and very shortly thereafter, won first prize in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Competition for Afro Latin Hand Percussion, presented at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In 2000, he was featured in the important documentary film on Cuban music, ""Calle 54"". He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D'Rivera, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Sting, Steve Turre, Bill Summers, Cassandra Wilson, Joe Lovano, Brian Lynch (musician), Stefon Harris, Jane Bunnett, Issac Delgado, Eliane Elias, Stefon Harris, Angélique Kidjo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Conrad Herwig, Edie Brickell, Rubén Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Esperanza Spalding, Alfredo Rodríguez (pianist born 1985), Elton John, and Los Hombres Calientes and has contributed to well over 50 albums.  Pedrito Martinez was a founding member of the highly successful Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat band Yerba Buena, which was formed in 2004, and with which he recorded two albums and toured the world. His career as a bandleader, of the Pedrito Martinez Group, began in 2005 in NYC with a four-night a week residency at Guantanamera, a restaurant in midtown Manhattan, where, once word spread, began attracting musicians like Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Steve Winwood, Taj Mahal, and Roger Waters. "The Pedrito Martinez Group", the first album recorded by Pedrito as a leader, was released October 2013 on Motema Music. The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album and was chosen among NPR's Favorite Albums of 2013 and the Boston Globe Critics "Top Ten Albums of 2013." Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield, and Steve Gadd appeared as special guests. Around the same time, an album of flamenco music, "Rumba de la Isla" was recorded with a different set of musicians, distributed by Sony Masterworks. "Habana Dreams", the second album by the Pedrito Martinez Group, was recorded largely in Cuba and was released June 10, 2016 on Motema Music. Guests include Ruben Blades, Issac Delgado, Wynton Marsalis, and Angelique Kidjo. In February 2019, Pedrito Martinez and Cuban pianist, Alfredo Rodriguez released a duo album called "Duologue" which was selected by NPR for a First Listen: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/24/687794667/first-listen-alfredo-rodr-guez-pedrito-martinez-duologue.  In February 2019, NPR released a performance of the Pedrito Martinez Group that was filmed in January for the "Tiny Desk Series". https://www.npr.org/2019/02/14/694731448/the-pedrito-martinez-group-tiny-desk-concert

Pedrito Martinez is a Cuban percussionist, drummer, singer, dancer, bandleader, songwriter, composer, and educator. He was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. He is a Cuban Conguero performing classic Cuban Rumbas, Afro-Cuban folkloric and religious music. He is a Santería priest. He came to the United States of America from Havana in 1998. He plays the Batá drum, conga, cajón, timbale, and bongo drums, among other percussion instruments. Pedrito learned his craft from the streets of Havana, Cuba. He has performed with Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo O’Farrill, Brian Lynch, and Bruce Springsteen. He settled in the New York City - New Jersey area in 1998.