The Spirit Wear Shop

karen — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:20:23 +0000

BLUEGRASS ON HARSENS ISLAND…

karen — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:04:14 +0000

Admission is $20 per person. Free for Kids 12 and Under.
Art Fair Admission and Parking are Free.

Trolley Rides from Offsite Parking locations are $3.

Proceeds go to Harsens Island Lions Club Emergency Fund & Harsens Island Historical Society

Holy Cattails!

Bluegrass is taking over Harsens Island Sunday

(Harsens Island, Mich. – Aug. 11, 2010) — Foot tapping, thigh slapping, good old bluegrass music will be jangling through the air on Harsens Island when the Harsens Island Bluegrass Festival packs the playground at the former Harsens Island Schoolhouse Sunday, Aug. 15 from noon until 9 p.m.

Harsens Island, known for it rustic charm, laid back atmosphere, scenic sunsets and wonderful waterways, is gaining a new attraction with this first-time event, which will bring six outstanding Michigan and Ohio bands to the Clay Township island this weekend. Admission for the festival is $20 per person, but is free for kids 12 and under.

The old schoolhouse is now the home of the Harsens Island Schoolhouse Grille, 2669 Columbine. Owned by Kristin and Tony Bane, the former schoolhouse is the perfect location for the event that organizers say is a nod to the past and a simpler way of living. For many islanders the location echoes with memories of their youth. But for festival goers, the schoolhouse playground is going to come alive with energetic, award-winning bluegrass music performed by headliner Lonesome County, Company of Strangers, Balduck Mountain Ramblers, Catfish Mafia, Skin and Bones and Deepwater Bluegrass.

“This region has incredibly talented musicians,” said festival producer Kate Hart, a Grammy nominated blues singer and songwriter. “And although this area is not as well known for bluegrass as we are for other music genres, we truly have some amazing bluegrass bands here. Lonesome County won a presitgious award competing in the heart of bluegrass country.”

While music is at the core of the festival, it’s not the only thing the event has to offer.

“When we decided to host this festival, one of our goals was to offer local businesses a chance to showcase their talents and wares,” said vendor coordinator Bernard Licata. “We’re thrilled at how much local support we’ve gotten, especially since this is a first-time event. Some amazing artists will be participating – painters, flute makers, potters, jewelry makers. We have quite an array of vendors, including facepainting and concessions.”

Admission to the art and vendor fair is free. Parking is also free. Trolley rides from offsite parking locations are $3. (See box below for parking and trolley stop locations.)

What’s a festival that only satisfies sight and sound? Well it’s not this Bluegrass Festival!

Slow-roasted barbecue beef cooked over an open flame, fabulous fried perch, grilled veggie pitas, hotdogs, coleslaw and corn on the cob are just a few of the culinary delights that will tantalize visitors’ other senses, Hart said.

For those who want more than lemonade, water or soft drinks, there’ll also be a Beer Tent and Wine Bar offering microbrewed beer and locally made wine from Sue’s Coffee Shop of St. Clair.

(30) Media Contacts:

Festival Producer ~ Kate Hart

(810) 748-3204

katehart@speakeasy.net

Publicist ~ Peggy Blue

(586) 291-2018

bluehorizonmedia@hotmail.com

U.S. judge in Conn.: Cheerleading not a sport

karen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:42:55 +0000

by Pat Eaton-Robb

HARTFORD, Conn. — Competitive cheerleading is not an official sport that colleges can use to meet gender-equity requirements, a federal judge ruled Wednesday in ordering a Connecticut school to keep its women’s volleyball team.

The volleyball players had sued Quinnipiac University after it announced last year that it would eliminate the team for budgetary reasons and replace it with a competitive cheer squad.

The school contended the cheer squad keeps it in compliance with Title IX, the 1972 federal law that mandates equal opportunities for men and women in athletics.

“Competitive cheer may, some time in the future, qualify as a sport under Title IX,” U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill wrote in his decision. “Today, however, the activity is still too underdeveloped and disorganized to be treated as offering genuine varsity athletic participation opportunities for students.”

Quinnipiac has 60 days to come up with a plan to keep the volleyball team and comply with gender rules.

An activity can be considered a sport under Title IX if it meets specific criteria. It must have coaches, practices, competitions during a defined season and a governing organization. The activity also must have competition as its primary goal — not merely the support of other athletic teams.

Quinnipiac and seven other schools recently formed a governing body, the National Competitive Stunts and Tumbling Association, to govern and develop competitive cheer as a sport.

Previously, competitive cheerleading championships were decided by two organizations — the National Cheerleaders Association and the Universal Cheerleading Association. Both are tied to Varsity Brands Inc., which makes cheerleading apparel and runs camps.

Quinnipiac had argued that if it could not count competitive cheerleading as a sport it might be forced to shut that program down, eliminating 36 positions on the squad.

School officials responded to the ruling by saying they would start a women’s rugby team, but they refused to answer any questions, discuss the future of other athletic teams or say whether they would continue offering scholarships to competitive cheerleaders.

“We will continue to press for competitive cheer to become an officially recognized varsity sport in the future,” Quinnipiac spokeswoman Lynn Bushnell said in a statement. “Consistent with our long-standing plans to expand opportunities in women’s athletics, the university intends to add women’s rugby as a varsity sport beginning in the 2011-2012 academic year.”

Attorneys for the volleyball players did not immediately return calls for comment.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, which assisted the volleyball players in bringing the lawsuit, said the decision gives force to Title IX.

“Today’s ruling directs Quinnipiac University to stop playing games with the important principle of equal opportunity for women,” the organization said in a statement.

The cheerleading issue was one of several Underhill was asked to decide as he considered whether the school had improperly manipulated it rosters.

He also found the school was underreporting the participation opportunities for its male athletes and overstating the opportunities for women.

Evidence showed the men’s baseball and lacrosse teams, for example, would drop players before reporting data to the Department of Education and reinstate them after the reports were submitted. Conversely, the women’s softball team would add players before the reporting date, knowing the additional players would not be on the team in the spring.

School officials have said any improper manipulation of the rosters has stopped.

Underhill also agreed with the plaintiffs’ argument that female runners who participate on school’s indoor, outdoor and cross country track teams should be counted just once for Title IX purposes. The men have just a cross country team.

“Quinnipiac’s practice of requiring women cross-country runners to participate on the indoor and outdoor track teams, and its treatment of the indoor and outdoor track teams as, in essence, an adjunct of the cross-country team, are sufficient to show that some cross-country runners who participate on the indoor and outdoor track teams should not be counted under Title IX,” he wrote.

Draft created on July 20, 2010 at 11:23 pm

karen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:24:27 +0000

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holloway

karen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:36:24 +0000

Patriots’ Cheerleaders Puttin On The Glitz!

karen — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:46:41 +0000

Found this great story as we did not get the chance to bling up the outfits.. I wanted to share this new look since I am in the business to be a bling kind of gal… I felt this should be shared. I do love to rhinestone and bling out costumes and have been doing this kind of work for years.

If any one out there has some costumes you would like to spruce up please feel free to contact me … would love to help .. of if you have a design concept you would like a quote on by all means send it our way we will be more than happy to help with this..

Have a great day and Happy reading to my wonderful followers!!

Story by Jessica Fargen

Thursday July 8,2010

The New England Patriots [team stats] Cheerleaders are going Patriotic this year with new bedazzled red, white and blue uniforms sure to shine from the sidelines.

“They are really NFL glamour,” said head pom-pom princess Tracy Sormanti, who gave the Herald a sneak peek at the sexy squad’s new glitzy duds.

Last year, the 24 high-steppin’ gals sported white uniforms with fringed skirts. But this year, Sormanti kicked up the design by adding red and blue, a team logo and lots of sparkles!

“The Patriots are so lucky to have the best colors in the NFL,” Sormanti said. “I wanted to bring us back to the official real team colors.”

The unveiling of the new uniforms just so happens to coincide with the opening of “Cheers Through the Years,” an exhibit featuring a visual history of 50 years of Patriots cheerleading.

The exhibit at The Hall at Patriot Place in Foxboro opens tomorrow and runs through September.

“Cheers Through the Years” features life-size cheerleader images, photos and videos from auditions and calendar shoots and some Patriots Cheerleader trivia.

Did you know the gals perform 8,400 high kicks in a single year? Or that each girl can do 12,000 sit-ups?

Siss, boom, baaaah . . .

Get Your Complete Outfit For Your Team Here!!!!

karen — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:08:53 +0000

Hello all,

This is a complete set that includes: Halter, Jacket, Pants, 3/4 Sleeve Top And Shorts

This is an amazing set for any team!!

You can pick and choose your color combinations.

Just email or call us and we will help you with color choices and sizing!

Email: kandddesigns@gmail.com

Office: 810-956-9032

Cell: 810-278-0390

We are there for you every step of the way!! Get your orders in now for the new season!

We can also add your team name or logo to the outfit for an additional cost. We manufacture it here in our Algonac Michigan Location… along with the embroidery and silk screening is kept in house! MADE IN THE USA!!!

The price for this amazing complete set is ONLY $290.00

Look Forward To Hearing From You!!!

Cheers!!

Karen

Draft created on June 16, 2010 at 2:42 am

karen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:43:37 +0000

Draft created on June 16, 2010 at 2:11 am

karen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:13:42 +0000

Fun Times

karen — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:34:26 +0000

This was some fun times with some Ben-gals at Our shop in Algonac, Michigan.

Terry and Maria came to our shop to have some outfits made for the Ben-Gal’s Tryouts this year and we had a blast working with them!!!!

What fun we had…. Just see for yourself with the pictures…. They came into town stayed with us on Harsens Island. They got to experience the first had of what it takes to make an outfit as well as getting to choose from our fabric selection. And any and all alterations could be made on the spot… They called in advance to set up an appointment and faxed or emailed their ideas to us.. We worked on designs and ideas for several hours and hammered out exactly what they wanted and then the next day … went to production of their ideas… Well with making of the outfits… we had some time to play around and they got to dress up and try some different designs on and have fun… as you can see….

If you have a chance and want to schedule a one on one appointment just give us a call and set it up… we will be happy to have you come visit us and experience our hospitality and amazing capabilities for you or your team.

Come and see all of what we have to offer!!!

Let us help you design or enhance your ideas! Just 45 minutes from the Detroit Airport. So don’t hesitate to contact us and schedule a one on one appointment or call us and discuss what all you want…