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een attacks babies with ‘fart spray’
A 15-year-old California boy was arrested on three counts of felony assault with a dangerous substance, after he allegedly sprayed a Newport toddler and baby with "fart spray" while they were being walked by their mother in a stroller down Memorial Boulevard. The mother said she was walking with her 2-year-old and newborn when the teen came up on a bicycle and began spraying her children with an unknown substance from a white aerosol bottle. He then rode away. The mother said the infant was covered in the substance, but neither child appeared to have any negative reaction. Coincidentally, a day earlier, Middletown police were called to Second Beach to investigate a report that a 15-year-old boy was bodysurfing into young boys to touch them inappropriately.

When animals attack – tag team
A Barrington woman called police one evening after her dog was attacked by another dog – and a cat. The woman was walking her dog when the dog and cat challenged her dog. She said the cat jumped on her dog’s back, dug in its claws and hissed at them.

That’s just not called for
After going away for a weekend, Seekonk residents came home to find a large envelope full of feces at the bottom of their driveway. Their address was written across the envelope in blue magic marker and it was stapled shut.

Angry woman attacks her own bedroom with blue paint
A 37-year-old North Kingstown woman took out her anger on the home’s master bedroom when she allegedly smashed picture frames, ripped photos, threw a lamp and then got out the blue paint. She allegedly painted messages on every wall in the room, with the words “SAD” and “Liar” and many other miscellaneous signs and symbols. When asked about it, the woman said she was simply “expressing” herself.

A Baltimore was robbed after a woman he picked up and took to a Washington Boulevard motel was more than she bargained for. The victim met a woman who called herself Shannon, and is described as a white female about 5’ 6” tall with a medium build.

The victim and Shannon went to a motel room. Shannon left the room for about 20 minutes. After she returned to the room, there was a knock at the door. Shannon opened the door and two white male suspects entered the room. The men had their faces covered with white towels, and one had as silver knife. The victim was ordered to lay on the bed. The two men took the victim’s belongings and fled with Shannon.

Armed Robbery in Lansdowne
A man walking on the 2900-boock of Lakebrook Circle in Lansdowne at around 10:10 a.m. on August 11 was robbed by two men, one of whom held a black revolver. The suspects took a backpack containing two iPods and a wallet.

Armed Robbery in Riverview
Two men walking to a bar on Bero Road in Riverview were robbed at around 10 p.m. on Aug. 10. The victims said that two suspects approached them. One of the suspects held a gun which appeared to be a 9 mm handgun with a silencer.

The suspects ordered the victims to empty their pockets and took wallets, an ID card, money, and a GPS device before fleeing on foot toward Hollins Ferry Road.

Attempted Purse-Snatching at Lansdowne Station
A 24-year-old woman was loading groceries into her car at the Lansdowne Station Shopping Center at around 1:54 p.m. on Aug. 10, when a suspect in a black Honda Prelude pulled up next to her. A man got out of the car, asked for directions, and unsuccessfully attempted to grab her purse. The suspect got back into his car and left the location.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s.

Richfield Village Council took a step toward spending funds for the second half of 2011 at the Aug. 2 meeting.

While income tax revenue is up 10.3 percent over last year, most of the $423,780 in planned expenses would come from grant money, said Finance Director Sandy Turk.

The rest of the expenses would be funded through income tax and increased fees from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

One of the main expenses would be for an analysis of the Highpoint Trucking Project/ Soni property on Congress Parkway East. A Clean Ohio Grant would cover $262,140 for the project, while the village would contribute another $6,000, according to village officials.

The village also plans to spend $25,000 from another grant on the engineering and construction of the Carter/Pedigo trail system, according to village officials.

Council read the appropriations legislation for the first time and waived the second reading, so it could be passed as soon as the Aug. 16 meeting.

In other action:

? Council approved a deal with HD Supply Waterworks for remote water reading equipment and software. The cost will be $9,582, according to village officials.

? Council also approved assessments for the Motor Road sewer project.

Council member Patrick Lovejoy thanked everyone for their hard work on the project, and Council President Bobbie Beshara thanked Service Director Melanie Baker and her staff.

Ellis noted that the original estimate for the assessment was $14,000, but the actual price was around $4,000.

? The Ohio Division of Liquor Control informed the village that liquor permits would be expiring Oct. 1. The village must notify the state if it wants a hearing to challenge the renewal of a permit. Police Chief Dale Canter said those permits would be reviewed.

? The village also received a letter from the attorneys for Water and Sewer LLC. The utility is seeking to raise the sewer rates for its 75 customers in the Briarwood subdivision by approximately 40 percent.

? Canter said the Sweet Corn Ride went very well, with only “a few minor scrapes” from the 2,300 riders at the July 31 bicycle outing.

Council member Andrew Ellis said he was “amazed” at how smoothly the event went, crediting volunteers and the Chamber of Commerce for a “work of art” in coordinating the ride.

? Canter talked about the upcoming car show at Regina Health Center Aug. 17 at 6 p.m.

“It’s really a nice show,” he said. “It’s free, and there are a lot of classic automobiles.”

? Canter also said 339 people participated in a memorial bike run for Sgt. Robert Gilbert, and he offered his condolences to retired Brecksville police chief Dennis Kancler, whose son, like Gilbert, was killed in military action in Afghanistan.

? Parks and Recreation Director Ruth Jocek said plans for this weekend’s Community Day celebration were coming along well.

Events will begin tomorrow, Aug. 12, with the annual parade starting at 6:30 p.m. at Richfield Elementary School on Streetsboro Road and proceeding to Richfield Woods Park, 4100 Broadview Road.

The next day, Aug. 13, the Community Day Sprint 5K run/walk will begin at Richfield Woods Park at 8 a.m. and the children’s run — the Community Day Scamper — will follow at 9:30 a.m. for ages 7-12.

Community Day, Aug. 14, will see events at Richfield Woods Park, 4100 Broadview Road, from 11 a.m. until the conclusion of the fireworks.

? Council welcomed Brian Krantz, who is the village’s new planning and zoning director.

? Council member Mike Wheeler said the Buildings and Grounds Committee will meet today, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall for 45-50 minutes. Council’s work session will then begin at 7 p.m.

Junkies for the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook stairs will be pleased to know that plans are underway to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, with construction slated to begin in May 2012, city officials said.

The mountain of stairs that looms 715 feet in the air and its looping one-mile hike is a well-known area attraction in Culver City, but frequent attendees said setbacks include a lack of parking and crosswalks near the entrance to the Overlook.

"Parking can be annoying, especially if you come during rush-hour," said Sarah Emerson, who comes to climb the stairs at least once a week. "I always wonder if I am going to get a ticket for jaywalking."

Said Jess Bravo, who comes to the stairs three times a week: "I think a crosswalk would be a good idea; cars are speeding down that curve and you don't see them."

The Overlook has also recently been the center of media attention—a driver crashed into a group of late-night cyclists in mid-June near the entrace. Officials say the late-night timing of the ride makes it unrelated to safety questions spurring the pedestrian improvements project, however.

The plan for the area, which includes a new parking lot, sidewalks on both sides of the street, and crosswalks with walk signals and flashing lights, has a price tag of $755,000—composed of a $570,000 grant from the Baldwin Hills Conservancy and matching funds from the city, said Hong Wang, the city engineer for the project. The target date of completion is December 2012.

Dan Tyte wants to be a cool rider – but where to start?

I THINK it was Freddie Mercury who said, ‘I Want to Ride my Bicycle’.

Until now, I haven’t really been one to follow the lifestyle choices of the late, great Queen front man.

Unless, I suppose, you count that ill-advised attempt to grow a pencil moustache one summer.

Ah well, at least I’ll always have the memories of South America even if the photographic evidence is infested by what looks like an underfed slug on my upper lip.

But just recently, I’ve found myself following in Freddie’s footsteps. And no, I’ve not been vacuuming in drag, or slipping into sequinned gold jackets and I certainly haven’t been hanging out with guitarists with power-fros.

I mean, come on, I’m 30 – my poor friends are mostly balding.

Where I have been taking life lessons from Mr. Mercury is thus: I’ve getting around town on two wheels.

You know, the old spokey dokeys. A bit of the old bikey wikey...what’s that? Get on with it? Right, okay, sorry.

A bicycle. I’ve been riding a bicycle.

It all started when my girlfriend’s dad visited in his camper van. In the back he had a well-loved but in need of attention Carrera.

He had me at the name. It just exuded cool. It sounds a bit like a Camaro, the ride of choice of pimps and cowboys in 1970s American B-movies.

I imagined small talk in the lifts at our office never being the same again. “How did you get in this morning?” a suit from the sixth floor would ask.

Not the 82 bus for me, but a Carerra. That’s right, uh huh, how do you like me now, sixth-floor man?

Not that anyone ever did ask that in the lift though. We generally talked about the weather or the length of time left until we’d get in the lift again to go home (“Nearly there, just a few hours left now”. “Oh aye, nearly there”.)

Anyway, I probably should make a concession here for you non-bikeys, I think that’s what you’re called. A Carrera is a make of bike. Up to speed? Then let’s continue.

Cycling to work and back has given me a new perspective. I now have the chance to see the world from the eye level of a very tall dog or a very small horse.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/columnists/2011/08/09/on-your-bike-91466-29200918/#ixzz1UWO15Zs5

Life as a Category 1 cyclist has been the most fun I have had in years. Of course, you need a very understanding family and some serious discipline on your part.

All bicycle racing is based on categories and age. All start as a Category 5 racer and can upgrade to the highest amateur level of Category 1. The only next step to take is to sign a contract with a professional team.

Some cyclists, including many from Marc Pro-Strava's locally-based elite cycling team, have the ability to make it pro. But they are either too old, anywhere close to 30, or have jobs that earn them more money than the average pro cyclist.

So as an amateur we eat, breathe and live bike racing, all for what? Money? Definitely not. Fame and glory? Not really. It's all about fun and the reward of personal achievement.

This year the newly formed Marc Pro-Strava Elite team has been all across the West Coast racing our bikes and having much success and competing against the best professional and amateur talent this country has to offer. The beauty of cycling is you don't have to be a pro to beat a pro. There are some exceptions when we can't race — i.e., the Tour of California and Tour de France — but for a majority of the races we can test our fitness against some of the best professionals.

So what does it take to compete at this level? First you need some serious discipline and the ability to suffer. Actually, you need to enjoy suffering; we get a certain high out of it. You need a job. Yes, that's right, we are amateurs who pay for all the travel, gear, race and food expense.

You need a plan. Some hire a coach and some have the ability to read and learn their own bodies and create plan. This includes a strict diet. There are certain occasions that you can splurge, but for the most part you need to think about what you are putting in your gullet and whether it will help you.

Cyclist walk a fine line of eating enough food to recover from the abuse they dish out to their bodies, and starving themselves to be light enough to hang going uphill. Try being 175 pounds and staying on Jesse Miller-Smith's wheel riding up Donner Summit. His record is right around 14:20; go take a stab at it.

On the subject of recovery, a cyclist will do anything to recover faster than the competition. Supplements, massage, stretching, compression tights for better blood circulation and, of course, our team's title sponsor, electronic stem muscle recovery (Marc Pro).

Traveling is a huge part of racing. The 4 a.m. drive through a snow storm over Donner Summit is one of my favorites. We frequent cheap hotels, usually somewhere in Central California, and go to bed hoping the car doesn't get vandalized. Then there is crashing. It really hurts.

Imagine falling off a bike at 30-plus mph and hitting the asphalt wearing nothing but your underwear. It is part of racing and it happens to everyone at some point. Hopefully you don't break any body or bike parts in the process and just have to deal with some painful road rash.

I know what you must be thinking: This doesn't sound like fun. But it is. The places I have traveled are amazing. We certainly have some beautiful countryside here in our own back yard. The adrenaline of a bike race and being able to push yourself is indescribable to the average person. Luckily, cycling is a team sport and we can share our experiences with each other.

So if you have a bike, go out and ride it. If you enjoy pushing yourself, come out and race. Just beware, it is highly addicting.