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Fringe review: ‘Write Me Letters,’ funny and sentimental, is a must-see musical

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

Must seeKeep an eye on this musical written by St. Paul composer Noah Gundermann, a recent Concordia St. Paul grad — it’s going places. In “Write Me Letters,” Gundermann plays a kid between high school and college who starts exchanging letters with his reflective and occasionally kooky grandma, played well by Grace Czywczynski. Gundermann, in his Fringe debut, is clearly comfortable on stage and a delight to watch, with excellent comedic timing. The family-friendly show is exceptionally polished at this stage, and its well-written sentimentality grows organically. Is it cliché to say “This performance will make you laugh and cry” if it’s true?Presented by Noah Gundermann at Augsburg Mainstage; 10 p.m. Aug. 5, 10 p.m. Aug. 8, 7 p.m. Aug. 11, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12Still unsure of what to see? Check out all our Fringe reviews here.The Minnesota Fringe Festival turns 30 this year, presenting 101 hourlong stage acts from Aug. 3-13 at theaters throughout Minneapolis. Pioneer Press reporters wi...

Rainy summer has been mostly beneficial to crops at Eckert’s in Belleville

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Families have been coming out to Eckert’s Family Farms all summer long to pick peaches and blackberries.Farm manager Jerry Hearn said the recent rain has kept crops looking vibrant and healthy the season. However, there have been challenges with the weather including recent storms and the cold snap we had in the winter.“Remember back, way back in December, we had -5 degree temperatures and it was really, really windy? We had 50-mile an hour winds for two days,” he said. “We actually lost about 50% of our peach crop because of that. We consider ourselves very blessed this year that we have a crop. A lot of growers in the Midwest here actually lost their crop so they don't have peaches. That's why it's a little bit harder to find peaches this summer.”Hearn said you still have a couple weeks left to come out to Eckert's and pick peaches and blackberries. That’s what Chris and Amanda Wang did with their four-year-old twin boys, 6-year-old and one-year-old daughters. ...

The 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

What is a V60? The V60 is a 5 door station wagon, labeled as a compact premium crossover, built in Ghent, Belgium and sold worldwide by Volvo. The V60 is a hybrid wagon with a good sized rear cargo area to carry all your stuff, pets, and grocery’s. Volvo has been building wagons since 1962, and the nice thing about Volvo wagons is that they all have a healthy dose of style, luxury and safety items included as standard equipment.What is the difference between a Volvo V60 wagon and a Volvo V60 Cross Country? They are almost identical in looks but the Cross Country has more ground clearance. It’s not the most off road ready vehicle you can buy but it will get you through some wet and muddy roads.  The V60 and the V60 Cross Country are both mild hybrid models.And what does B5 mean in Volvo speak? The B5 is an engine code for an efficient turbocharged gasoline engine that has been enhanced by a mild hybrid system to achieve higher MPG’s and lower emissions. B5 power com...

Jason Giambi, Rickey Henderson opine on Oakland A’s relocation to Las Vegas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

OAKLAND — A warm applause greeted Jason Giambi as Tony La Russa introduced him as the Oakland A’s latest Hall of Fame inductee. It was a bit surprising given the way Giambi left a 102-win Oakland team for the New York Yankees and a lucrative contract 12 years ago.Giambi fleeing town was a slap in fans’ faces, so his comments in March that the team’s potential relocation to Las Vegas would “be amazing” served as a gut punch. Giambi doubled down on his pro-Vegas thoughts in the minutes before the A’s Hall of Fame ceremony on Sunday afternoon prior to the final Bay Bridge Series game against the San Francisco Giants.“If you’re a fan, you’re going to follow your team no matter what,” Giambi said. “That’s the part that’s exciting, the buzz in Vegas. There’s a lot of great players that have come out of there. (Bryce) Harper, (Joey) Gallo, Kris Bryant. It’s not just California that has great baseball, a lot of great baseball is co...

Angus Cloud's death not a suicide, mother says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

(KRON) -- The mother of Angus Cloud, an actor and co-star of "Euphoria" who died in his Oakland home last week, says that his death was not a suicide. Video: Car pulled from Antioch river after sideshow Lisa Cloud posted an update on Facebook on Friday about this "shattered time" for their family. She said she appreciates the love their family has received since Cloud's death on Monday. "I also want you to know that although my son was in deep grief about his father's untimely death from mesothelioma, his last day was a joyful one," Lisa Cloud wrote. She said he spent his last day reorganizing his home and talking about how he wanted to take care of his sisters. Lisa Cloud did not mince words, "He did not intend to end his life," she said. Cloud was unaware if her son took any substances. She said he put his head his desk, which was filled with art projects he was working on, and he fell asleep. Cloud never woke up. He was only 25 years old when he died. "We may find out that he ...

Meyers hits pair of 3-run HRs and Astros go deep 4 times to beat Yankees 9-7 for a 4-game split

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jake Meyers hit two long three-run homers and the Houston Astros beat New York 9-7 on Sunday after struggling Yankees starter Carlos Rodón exited early with another injury.Yordan Alvarez and Martín Maldonado also went deep to help Houston split the four-game series, the first meeting between the teams since the Astros swept the ALCS last October.Houston, which holds an AL wild-card spot, remained 2 1/2 games behind first-place Texas in the AL West.Jeremy Peña scored twice for the Astros, who have won 11 of their past 15 matchups with the Yankees — including last year’s playoff series.Gleyber Torres homered and reached base five times for New York. The second baseman has hit safely in 22 of his last 25 games and is batting .545 in August.Harrison Bader also had three hits and two RBIs for the fourth-place Yankees, who fell 4 1/2 games behind Toronto for the final AL wild card. Rodón was removed in the third inning with left hamstring tightness. He threw a 96 mph...

Ataque armado contra una aspirante a la presidencia del municipio Iguala, en Guerrero, deja a su esposo muerto

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

(CNN Español) — La Fiscalía General del estado Guerrero informó este domingo que abrió una investigación contra los responsables de lesiones calificadas contra Zulma Carvajal y por el homicidio calificado de su esposo, a quien el ente acusatorio identifica como Humberto -N-.El boletín oficial detalla que el ataque con arma de fuego ocurrió en la colonia Centro de Iguala de la Independencia, donde Carvajal aspira a la presidencia municipal por el partido oficialista Morena.Para fines de investigación, participan agentes de la Policía Investigadora Ministerial y personal de los Servicios Periciales.En sus redes sociales, a través de un video, Zulma Carvajal agradeció las muestras de solidaridad y dijo que el actual gobierno va a seguir trabajando hasta conseguir los cambios. También contó que tiene una herida en la espalda y llamó cobardes a los atacantes y “que Dios los perdone”, agregó.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. D...

Bellinger, Swanson, Happ power Cubs past MLB-leading Braves 6-4 for 6th straight series win

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger had his third straight multi-hit game, scored twice and drove in a run as the Chicago Cubs beat the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Sunday for their sixth straight series win.Dansby Swanson added a double and two RBIs against his former team, and Ian Happ drove in a pair of runs, helping the Cubs win for the 15th time in 19 games.All-Star Justin Steele scuffled at times through 5 1/3 innings, and won his fourth straight start on a misty day at Wrigley Field. Mike Tauchman had two hits, scored two runs and threw out Ronald Acuña Jr. at the plate from right field in the fifth to limit an Atlanta rally.Atlanta’s Matt Olson hit his NL-leading 39th home run, a monster 453-foot blast to the top of Wrigley’s right-center bleachers, and finished with three RBIs. Ozzie Albies had three hits, including a double. Olson and Acuña and each had two hits.Olson launched his third homer in four games and sixth in seven. He’s second in the majors in homers, trail...

Filly euthanized, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. unseated in racing incident at Saratoga

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — A 4-year-old filly broke down in the fourth race at Saratoga and was euthanized on Sunday, the second consecutive day a racing death occurred at the track in upstate New York.Ever Summer sustained a catastrophic injury to her left front leg in the final turn of the turf race and was euthanized, according to the New York Racing Association. Irad Ortiz Jr., the leading rider at the summer meet, was unseated. He was later cleared to ride the rest of the card.Frivole, a 4-year-old filly, was pulled up early in the same race. Trainer Graham Motion told the Daily Racing Form that Franco made the move “out of an abundance of caution” after she took an odd step. Motion said Frivole returned to her stall.Ever Summer passed the required pre-race veterinary inspection, according to NYRA.NYRA officials moved the final three turf races on Sunday’s card to the main dirt track after consulting with the jockeys, who expressed concern with the overall condition of the c...

Nationals beat Reds 6-3, complete first 3-game sweep since 2019

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:38:45 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Washington’s CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas hit Lyon Richardson’s first two major league pitches for home runs and the last-place Nationals finished a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with a 6-3 win on Sunday.Over the last 50 seasons, Richardson, 23, is the only pitcher to allow a home run on each of the first two pitches of his major league career, according to Optastats.Abrams and Thomas teamed up to hit two fastballs a combined 808 feet. Abrams reached the first section of seats down the right field line with a 402-foot shot for his first career leadoff homer. Thomas followed with a 408-foot drive to center field for his third homer of the series.“As the leadoff hitter, I’m looking fastball,” Abrams said. “I got one middle up and put a good swing on it.”“It was cool to put another good swing behind him,” Thomas added.“We got off to a great start,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “Two pitches, two runs. Those two are catalysts for us. They’ve...