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US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves officeDear Eric: We live on a lake and love hosting our great-nieces and nephews on school breaks and the entire family on vacations. My husband and I have no children. Our niece’s families are dear to us. Our 11-year-old great-nephew has been gaming now for about a year. When he comes to visit, instead of reading or playing cards or board games with us, he wants to disappear with his video games. We feel vacated. How do we navigate this with his parents who think his being on a video gaming team at school is awesome and I think it is a bad omen? What is a fair place of compromise and balance? — Game Off Dear Game Off: Let his parents parent their child. The other night I re-watched the movie “Network” from 1977. In it, a character in his 60s dismisses a character played by Faye Dunaway by saying, “She’s the television generation. She learned life from Bugs Bunny. The only reality she knows is what comes to her over her TV set.” Every generation has anxieties about the ways that technology is changing social interactions or altering the minds of the generations below. While some of those concerns are valid, those of Faye Dunaway’s generation (now in their 70s and 80s) would argue that they’ve managed to stay quite well-rounded, despite TV. In moderation, video games have been shown to improve a child’s cognitive function and working memory. While your great-nephew’s gaming might not be your choice, it’s important that you not seek to undermine the research and thinking that his parents have done about it. What you’re really yearning for is a sense of togetherness as a family, so try talking to your niece and her spouse about group activities you can plan to meet your great-nephew where he is. Dear Eric: I eat at a local restaurant a couple times a week and tend to get one of three meals. This one waitress asks me what I want to eat, but then interrupts me to make guesses or tell me my choice. I just put my head down and nod yes or no to the guesses. It’s frustrating, but not life-threatening. She enjoys it. I hate it. However, if I were to say something, it would force her to make the choice of being herself, doing something she likes doing, or appeasing me so I can order the way I want to order. I don’t know if this is a big enough problem to have a “high road.” The answer will not change my life. She can easily change, and I can easily suffer. The question is who gets to be themselves? — Speaking Up Dear Speaking Up: I worked in the service industry for more than a decade. I loved it. I loved seeing regulars, meeting new people and carrying a lot of beverages in my hands at one time. The whole bit. I also loved knowing what people wanted, but I would always ask and confirm. That’s part of the job. She may think you’re a regular who likes to be known in this way. So, informing her that that’s not the case won’t be keeping her from being herself. It will be helping her to do her job better. You may not have the kind of temperament that easily or comfortably course-corrects in social situations. That’s just fine. But know you won’t be causing her suffering by saying something like, “I’ve already decided on my meal. Let’s skip the guessing today and I’ll just tell you.” This also clears the path for the two of you to talk about something else, if you want. Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsChina on Friday slapped sanctions on seven US companies after Washington's approval last week of a $571.3 million military aid package to Taiwan, which Beijing said infringed on its "sovereignty and territory". Last Friday, US President Joe Biden authorised the drawdown of up to $571.3 million for defence assistance to the self-ruled island, which China regards as its own territory. Washington's actions "interfere in China's internal affairs, and undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity", the Chinese foreign ministry said as it announced the sanctions. The statement also hit out at Washington's 2025 defence budget, which includes a security cooperation initiative with Taiwan, as well as calls for strengthened defence industrial cooperation with Taipei. Beijing will freeze the China assets of US defence companies Insitu, Hudson Technologies, Saronic Technologies, Aerkomm and Oceaneering International, as well as Raytheon's Canada and Australia subsidiaries, the ministry said. The sanctions, which kick in on Friday, also prohibit the targeted companies from doing business with organisations and individuals inside China. The United States does not officially recognise Taiwan diplomatically but it is the self-ruled island's strategic ally and largest supplier of weapons. China, which has said it will use force to bring Taiwan under its control if necessary, has intensified pressure on the island in recent years. It has staged three rounds of major military drills since Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te came to power in May. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning warned the United States' support for Taiwan "will only burn itself" COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our

Heirlooms Jewelry at 36 Main Street in downtown Stockbridge, will be under new management starting Jan. 1 as long time owners Robin Fleet and Phil Coleman, are retiring. New owners Ella and Shaun Hall are planning to continue a 54 year tradition of local ownership. STOCKBRIDGE — Since 1970, Heirlooms Jewelry — a shop tucked into the back of The Mews at 36 Main Street, near Once Upon a Table — has maintained a robust presence within the compact downtown business center. That presence will continue in 2025, with new owners. After 25 years of co-proprietorship, Philip Coleman and his wife and shop owner Robin Fleet are retiring at the close of business at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Without skipping a beat, Stockbridge native and current Lee resident Shaun Hall and his wife Ella, the new owners, will be opening the doors around 11 a.m. on New Year’s Day, with the intent of being open year-round, seven days a week. Heirlooms Jewelry in Stockbridge, established in 1970, is the second oldest business downtown. It will be under new ownership as of Jan. 1 as co-proprietors Robin Fleet and Phil Coleman, at left, are retiring and moving to a condo in a French chateau. At right, new owners Shaun and Ella Hall are planning to keep the store as is. During a recent conversation on a busy day inside the brightly-lit store, the foursome made it clear that very little will change following a smooth transition. Heirlooms counts on repeat visits by longtime steady customers, said Coleman. “It’s a business that people love,” he said. “This has been our best years.” Why sell it now? Coleman and Fleet are retiring to a condo they’ve purchased at a chateau in the Loire Valley of central France — where they had been frequent visitors for 50 years. “It’s a lovely spot,” said Coleman after acknowledging that leaving the store and the Lenox home they recently sold would be bittersweet. He had been ready to retire several years ago, but Fleet was not. “This store has been like a second child,” she explained. What did it take to persuade her? “He found the chateau!” she exclaimed. “We’ve met thousands of people from all over the world,” Coleman pointed out. “We’re going to miss the people and the good times with literally thousands of frequent customers who love the store and feel like they’re dealing with regular people. It’s a cool, fun place.” He said the store completes more than 5,000 sales annually, with tens of thousands of customers passing through. Heirlooms Jewelry in Stockbridge has had a 54 year tradition of local ownership. Specializing in antique and estate jewelry from the Victorian era to the present. Philip Coleman and Robin Fleet, co-proprietors for a total of 25 years, are retiring, having sold the business tp Shaun and Ella Hall of Lee. Fleet recalled one of her favorite moments, when a customer gifted a $250 piece of jewelry to a total stranger who had been looking it over but deemed it unaffordable. “I’m doing it because I can,” said the customer. “It was just a complete gift,” Fleet recalled. The business, originally called Folklorica, was started by Ellen Kenwood, taking over a space first occupied by fashion designer Nicole Miller . In 1980, Minna Zaret, the second owner, bought it, renaming it Heirlooms Jewelry. Befitting its name, the store always has specialized in antique and estate jewelry — “anything that’s technically not new,” Coleman explained. The stock is acquired from wholesale jewelry dealers, local estates, trade shows and events such as the Brimfield antique show. Coleman, a Philadelphia native, met Fleet, who grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., in first grade after his family moved there. They’ve known each other for 64 years and have been married for 40, moving to the Berkshires to raise their daughter. Fleet, stopping at Heirlooms to look for a ring, returned a week later, encountered a sign for a “closing” sale and bought business from Zaret in October 1995, paying about $130,000 for the value of the business and the inventory. Last summer, the Halls had considered buying it, Shaun explained, but it didn’t work out. On the day after this past Thanksgiving, with some revisions, the deal was consummated. With 75 percent of the store's inventory sold since last January, the price of the business transaction was $50,000, said Coleman. The building is owned by a subsidiary of William Gottlieb Management, LLC. Shaun Hall, born and raised in Lee but with deep family roots in Stockbridge, noted that his father and grandfather were models for Norman Rockwell . “We are very happy to be part of the community,” he said. A year ago, just a pebble’s throw from Heirlooms, Hall purchased 7 Arts Music, a record store specializing in vinyl, including half of his personal collection of 30,000 discs, which includes CDs and some vintage 45s and 78s. Customers call it “a walk down memory lane,” he said, with albums including '60s and '70s rock as well as classical and jazz. His wife Ella is a native of Armenia whom he met while in the Peace Corps teaching English from 1998 to 2000 in Armenia. Ella was among his students prior to their marriage. They’ve been raising four daughters in Lee, now ranging in age from 16 to 22. Ella, who teaches seventh grade English Language Arts at Lee Middle and High Schoo l, will keep that job despite her new role as co-proprietor of Heirlooms. The Halls have been apprenticing with Coleman and Fleet, learning how to run the business. “It will be a juggling act,” Ella conceded, “but I’m a hard worker and these are my passions — teaching and being surrounded by jewelry.” Her husband, who will keep his part-time job at St. Mary’s School in Lee , and their oldest daughters, Liana and Ariana, will take their turns running the store. Heirlooms Jewelry will continue to be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and 11 to 8 Fridays through Sundays. A revamped website, heirloomsjewelry.com, will be online soon, complementing the store's Facebook page. “We have a lot to grasp and learn,” Ella said. “Eventually, I’d love to bring in jewelry from around the world.” Coleman and Fleet will be available for consultation even after they’re ensconced in the French chateau. “I have his number,” said Shaun, though he’ll bear the six-hour time difference in mind. “We’ll keep everything here exactly the same, the service and everything customers are used to,” he said. “This store has been a part of Stockbridge history for a very long time.” Heirlooms Jewelry is the second-oldest business in Stockbridge. Williams & Sons Country Store holds pride of place as the first, established about 60 years ago. “We’re keeping the legacy,” Ella said. “We wish Robin and Phil the best of luck, and we’re really thankful to them for their guidance and support.”

You have a parade of options to watch “America’s New Year Celebration” which of course is the 136th Rose Parade and 111th Rose Bowl game. The parade kicks off at 8 a.m. PST Wednesday, Jan. 1, and will be broadcast on ABC, NBC, KTLA Channel 5, Hallmark Channel, RFD-TV and Univision. You can stream the parade on Fubo, PTT Studio, Pluto TV, DirectTV, Hulu+, Live TV, Peacock, Sling TV and YouTube TV. Following the Rose Parade, the 111th Rose Bowl game between the Oregon Ducks and either Ohio State or Tennessee will start at 1 p.m. PST, only on ESPN. Rose Parade 2025: Your guide to every float, band and equestrian unit, in order The Rose Parade airs in many countries worldwide, showing live in Armenia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Armed Forces Network. Other broadcasts air in more than 170 other countries. According to the Tournament of Roses, which produces the duo of New Year events, more than 45 million viewers catch the spectacle on TV nationally while a live audience of more than 700,000 line the 5.5-mile route along Colorado Boulevard in person. If you have a hankering for a deeper dive, the Tournament of Roses YouTube channel includes videos on the history of the parade, highlights from this year’s events, replays of livestreams and more.

Ancient Native Americans Had Mysterious Use for Lethally Toxic FishA piece of individual brilliance from Daizen Maeda earned Celtic a Champions League point after an incredible blunder from Cameron Carter-Vickers gifted Club Brugge the lead at Parkhead. There was little surprise that Brugge took the lead in the 26th minute but the manner of the goal was a total shock. Nicolas Kuhn was forced into his own box as Brugge pressed and laid the ball off for Carter-Vickers, who passed back without looking. Kasper Schmeichel was at the opposite side of his goal to where the defender guessed and the ball rolled into the corner of the net. Celtic struggled to make inroads until Maeda took centre stage on the hour mark. The wide player’s Cruyff turn set up the chance to shoot from a tight angle and he curled in off the post. Brugge had a goal disallowed before Celtic finished the game on top as they moved on to eight points ahead of their trip to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb on December 10. “Mistakes happen and it was just unfortunate,” said Celtic boss Brendan Rogers. “He’s played that pass a million times and it’s gone back and then we’ve been able to play forward. “But he’s a really, really tough character. He’s a great guy, he picked himself up. He was really strong and aggressive again in the game and got on with it and had a real bravery in the second half, because he was the one carrying the ball forward for us to start the attack.” Elsewhere in the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund moved into the top eight with 3-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb , where English forward Jamie Gittens, Ramy Bensebaini and Serhou Guirassy got on the scoresheet. Monaco dropped to eighth after suffering their first loss of the league phase, 3-2 at home to Benfica . Despite having Wilfried Singo sent off just prior to the hour mark, the French side took the lead for a second time via Soungoutou Magassa in the 67th minute, only for late goals from Arthur Cabral and Zeki Amdouni to give Benfica all three points. Lille , in 12th, have the same amount of points as Monaco and Villa thanks to a 2-1 win at Bologna , with Ngal’Ayel Mukau notching a brace. PSV Eindhoven, now 18th, produced a dramatic late turnaround to beat 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2 at home. The visitors led 2-0 through Danylo Sikan and Oleksandr Zubkov before having Pedrinho sent off in the 69th minute, and PSV then hit back with three goals in the closing stages, Malik Tilman scoring in the 87th and 90th and Ricardo Pepi then notching the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Red Star Belgrade registered their first win of the league phase by thrashing Stuttgart 5-1, as did Sturm Graz , beating Girona 1-0. PALAS VEGAS , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Resorts World Las Vegas LLC announced today the formation of a Board of Directors, with industry veteran Jim Murren as the Chairman, and the appointment of Alex Dixon as its Chief Executive Officer as a key part of the Company's plan to deepen and strengthen its leadership. The new team, with a combined 130 years of experience in the gaming industry, will accelerate the Company's growth strategy and continue its mission to remain Las Vegas's premier resort destination for unmatched luxury and entertainment experiences and unforgettable moments. This announcement underscores Resorts World Las Vegas's path of evolution as the appointments bolster the property's governance structure to help drive the go-forward business strategy. The members of the Board assumed their roles on December 4, 2024 and Dixon will assume his position as CEO effective January 16, 2025 . "As Resorts World Las Vegas continues to establish itself as the premier resort destination in Las Vegas , we are excited to welcome this group of industry leaders overseeing and guiding the Leadership Team to deliver unparalleled guest experiences while fostering our commitment to compliance," said Kok Thay Lim , the Chairman and Chief Executive of Genting Berhad. "With over 40 years of collective experience in the global gaming and hospitality industry, we are confident that Alex and Jim, alongside the Board, will help drive the Company forward in pursuing our strategic goals for years to come." Industry veteran Murren will assume the role of Chairman, bringing a depth of expertise in the global gaming and hospitality industries. He previously served as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at MGM Resorts, where he led the company through a period of expansion and growth. He currently holds leadership positions with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority in the United Arab Emirates , Cirque du Soleil, and Playstudios, as well as serving as a trustee on Howard University's Board of Trustees. Dixon, a Las Vegas native, will assume his role following his tenure as CEO at Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association. He has more than 20 years of combined global gaming, hospitality, entertainment, real estate, and banking industries experience across iconic and Fortune 500 businesses, including MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment Corp., and Goldman Sachs & Co. Additionally, Dixon brings extensive experience in building winning teams, developing underutilized real estate, re-invigorating legacy brands, and driving clarity of purpose from the Boardroom to front-line operations. "Resorts World Las Vegas has transformed the Vegas Strip with its unceasing focus on providing the ultimate guest experience, which is why I'm thrilled to join the team and help continue setting the standard for premier hospitality," said Murren. "The Board and I are excited to continue building on the strong foundation set by the Executive Leadership Team and driving continued growth and innovation to benefit all of RWLV's key stakeholders." In addition to Murren as Chairman and independent member, the newly established Board of Directors includes three additional, prominent members, two independent and one non-independent from diverse backgrounds: Dixon added, "We have a bright future ahead of us, and I look forward to supporting and collaborating with Resorts World Las Vegas's leadership alongside the Board to continue showcasing the best the Strip has to offer. We have an incredible team of talented and committed employees throughout the organization and are confident we can achieve amazing things together." For more information about Resorts World Las Vegas, please visit www.rwlasvegas.com . About Resorts World Las Vegas Resorts World Las Vegas LLC is the owner and operator of Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV), a world-class integrated resort with over 3,500 hotel rooms and suites, and includes a multitude of gaming, convention, retail, food, beverage, and entertainment amenities. Located on approximately 86 acres on the northern end of the Strip, RWLV brings state-of-the-art technology and distinctive entertainment and experiential amenities to Las Vegas . Additionally, the Resort has over 42 acres of undeveloped land, which offers significant growth potential which few of its peers can match. Resorts World Las Vegas LLC is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Genting Berhad, an investment holding and management company focused predominantly on the global gaming and hospitality industry. The Genting Group has a track record of close to six decades relating to sourcing, developing and operating integrated resorts in various parts of the world, including in highly rated and regulated jurisdictions such as Malaysia , Singapore , the U.K., the United States and the Bahamas . The Genting Group comprises Genting Berhad (KLSE: Genting) and its listed companies including Genting Malaysia Berhad (KLSE: GENM), Genting Plantations Berhad (KLSE: GENP) and Genting Singapore Limited (SGX: G13), as well as principal unlisted subsidiaries Genting Energy Limited and Resorts World Las Vegas LLC. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resorts-world-las-vegas-establishes-board-of-directors-with-jim-murren-as-chairman-appoints-alex-dixon-as-chief-executive-officer-302324364.html SOURCE Resorts World Las Vegas

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