Saturday, 28 April 2012
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Wakes held for girls who died in Christmas day fire
That wake was held at a funeral home on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
There were five caskets and so many broken hearts.
2,000 people are expected to attend the funeral for Lily, Sarah and Grace Badger at St Thomas' Church Thursday morning.Wednesday night, the girls' devastated parents looked to family and friends for support at their daughters' wake.
Madonna Badger was supported by two funeral home employees as she left the wake for her three daughters.
The girls' father, Matthew Badger, was also there.
His sadness and loss, made him appear so different than the man in a photo that was taken less than a week before the fire, where he was pictured smiling with 9-year old Lilly and 7-year olds Sarah and Grace.
Wednesday evening, a family friend read a statement from the grieving parents: "The family is here to remember, mourn and honor their beloved Sarah, Lilly and Grace as well as Lomer and Pauline Johnson. It is an incredibly difficult time for all of us."
Several hundred people attended the wake at the Frank E. Campbell funeral home on the Upper East Side.
Among the mourners was Michael Borcina, Madonna Badger's companion and the only other survivor of the Christmas blaze, Stamford's mayor, and more than a dozen Stamford firefighters, whom the Badgers thanked for their heroism.
"The amazing support from around the world has touched them deeply through this unbearable tragedy," their family spokesperson said.
People inside the wake said the chapel was filled with white and pink flowers, and included mementos from each of the three girls.
The children and their grandparents were all killed on Christmas Day; in a devastating house fire in Stamford that officials say was started by smoldering fireplace embers taken out with the trash.
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Northern Suburbs News »connecticut, stamford, fire, deadly fire, northern suburbs news, jen maxfield
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Funeral this week for Conn. Christmas fire victims
Eyewitness NewsSTAMFORD, Conn. -- A funeral service will be held in New York this week for three girls killed with their grandparents in a Christmas morning house fire in Connecticut. Dominic Carella, vice president of the Frank Campbell Funeral Home, says a private wake will be held Wednesday at the funeral home in Manhattan.
A funeral service open to the public will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Manhattan for 10-year-old Lily Badger and 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah Badger. A private service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery for all five victims.
Carella says funeral plans for the grandparents, Lomer and Pauline Johnson, are still being worked on.Authorities say embers in a bag of discarded fireplace ashes started the blaze.
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(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Northern Suburbs News »connecticut, stamford, fire, deadly fire, northern suburbs news
Friday, 30 December 2011
Funeral next week for Conn. Christmas fire victims
Eyewitness NewsSTAMFORD, Conn. -- A funeral service will be held in New York next week for three girls killed with their grandparents in a Christmas morning house fire in Connecticut.
Dominic Carella, vice president of the Frank Campbell Funeral Home, says a private wake will be held Wednesday at the funeral home in Manhattan.
A funeral service open to the public will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Manhattan for 10-year-old Lily and 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah Badger. A private service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery for all five victims.Carella says funeral plans for the grandparents, Lomer and Pauline Johnson, are still being worked on.
Authorities say embers in a bag of discarded fireplace ashes started the blaze.
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Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Off-Duty Firefighter Rescues Couple, Cat on Christmas
Marci Gonzalez, Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- An off-duty firefighter was driving home on Staten Island with his family on Christmas, when he spotted a house fire and was able to rescue two people and a cat trapped by the flames.
"We were awakened by a woman screaming," said George Aiello, a neighbor.
The sounds of Christmas night took a terrifying yet fateful turn.
"It had to be Christmas, it had to be Christmas," said Allen Palazzo, a neighbor.The flames that poured from the now boarded up home, catching the eye of an off-duty firefighter who just happened to be driving past with his family on their way home from Christmas dinner at around 11:45 Sunday night.
"And when I turned down the block I saw flames coming from the front of a private dwelling. I saw a lady in her nightgown on the front lawn with her face burnt, screaming that her babies were inside," said Steven Carl, a firefighter.
Steven Carl of Ladder 81, quick thinking and brave, jumped from his car and into action.
"I ran around the rear of the house and I saw an elderly couple on the balcony where heavy smoke was coming out, the fire underneath them. I was able to look in the backyard and found a ladder and put it up to them," Carl said.
Before other firefighters could arrive, Carl managed to carry the man and woman, both in their 60's, down the ladder to safety, as well as their 20-year-old cat.
"I'm just glad I happened to be there and was able to help the people out because they were in pretty bad shape. The lady was burnt, the husband was bleeding and his hair was singed. Time was of the essence, there was a fire underneath us and it was just any second before they caught on fire," Carl said.
The fire destroyed the home, but renewed the spirit of those who watched this unlikely holiday rescue.
"I believe in fate, just wasn't their time," Aiello said.
"It's just a Christmas miracle, that's it," Palazzo said.
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Monday, 26 December 2011
Rev. Sharpton helps those in need on Christmas
"We get to have a lot of fun and we can sing and dance and have a great time and have a good merry Christmas," Dynasti Grate, 7, said.
Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network goes into action every Christmas at the House of Justice headquarters.
A long line of volunteers dishes out the delicacies.Presents wait invitingly by the tree.
"The message is that you should use this holiday to be a blessing to someone else. Enjoy your family, enjoy your gifts, but be a blessing to someone else," Rev. Sharpton said.
Hundreds enjoyed Christmas here; the volunteers and the guests alike.
"It brings us closer together and it should make us realize what is needed. It's not just one day. These things should happen every day," volunteer Beatrice Arrington said.
"Ii like it and I hope it lasts forever," one man said.
The celebration went on for hours with hundreds coming through these doors to enjoy a very merry Christmas.
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(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New York News »new york city, harlem, christmas, new york news, jamie roth
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Pres. Obama & family attend Christmas church services
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha arrive to attend Christmas service at the Kaneohe bay Chapel on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, in Kaneohe, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) By JULIE PACEHONOLULU -- After spending a quiet Christmas morning with his family, President Barack Obama attended church services Sunday at a Marine base near his rented Hawaiian vacation home. The Obamas made the short drive from their multimillion-dollar Kailua Beach house to the chapel at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The president dressed casually in dark khaki pants and a short-sleeve blue shirt, and his wife and daughters donned sundresses for Christmas services on a bright and breezy day on the island of Oahu.
The Obamas have been spending the holiday with a small group of friends and family, including the president's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, who lives in Hawaii with her family.
On Christmas Eve, the president made phone calls to 10 service members stationed around the world, two from each branch of the military. The White House said he thanked them for their service and the sacrifice of being away from their families at the holidays.Obama has kept a low profile since arriving in Hawaii on Friday evening to start a vacation delayed by the stalemate in Washington over extending payroll tax cuts. He has no public events planned, and his only outings are expected to be to the golf course or to take his daughters for shave ice, a Hawaiian snow cone.
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Associated Press writer Jaymes Song in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, contributed to this report.
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(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more U.S. & World News »barack obama, christmas, hawaii, u.s. & world news
Christmas celebration of the Nativity
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- There was a festive celebration of the Nativity in Lower Manhattan on Christmas Eve. Parishioners at Trinity Church on Wall Street enjoyed carols performed by the youth chorus.
Children also enjoyed a retelling of the Christmas story by the church's reverend.
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(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New York News »new york city, lower manhattan, christmas, new york news
St. Patrick's Christmas Midnight Mass
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Archbishop Timothy Dolan says Midnight Mass is his Super Bowl. Several thousand worshipers inside and several hundred thousand others watching and praying along to his live broadcast, but even folks who won't see the service are glad to be here.
There were no tickets to Midnight Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown on Saturday night, but that didn't matter to one family.
"We stood in front of the church and said a quick prayer, thanking God for everything that's happened to us this year," Queens resident Marcus Alarcon said.Archbishop Timothy Dolan held early Christmas Eve Mass at Manhattan's Midtown Engine Company 8, Ladder 2.
"Peace be with you," Archbishop Timothy Dolan said.
Together they prayed for two firefighters recovering after a fire injured them this week.
In the middle of his service, a fire alarm sent most of his congregation out the door.
"Our prayers are with you. Hurry back," Archbishop Dolan said.
Archbishop Dolan previewed Midnight Mass reminding worshipers the importance of his faith's sacred night.
"Every Christmas Eve, as with other priests, I have honor of bringing the baby Jesus and putting him into the crib. And I'm going to say that when you think about it, that's what all of us are called to do; bring the divine to the world," Archbishop Dolan said.
And outside St. Patrick's Cathedral, worshipers were hoping to get a seat inside.
"We've heard the service is just spectacular," tourist Page Pattillo said.
Other's planned and prayed they'd be here months ago.
"You have to write a letter, have it post marked after Labor Day Monday, requesting tickets and if you're lucky they'll send you reserved seating tickets and I was lucky to get a ticket," tourist Marcia Lecour said.
More than 2,000 faithful Catholics attended the Christmas Midnight Mass.
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(Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New York News »new york city, st. patrick cathedral, christmas, new york news
Freedom Tower displays Christmas lights
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- One World Trade Center is lit up in red and green and blue for the holidays. The festive lights extend all the way up the Freedom Tower which is still under construction.
It's currently 90 stories high.
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Saturday, 24 December 2011
Wall Street protesters plan Christmas gathering
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK -- Occupy Wall Street protesters say they're planning to celebrate Christmas with a day of food, music and political discussion in New York's Zuccotti Park. The holiday will be the 100th day since the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations began in lower Manhattan on Sept. 17. Organizers say they will hold a midnight prayer service early Sunday morning, then serve breakfast at 9 a.m.
At noon they will read a 1967 speech by Martin Luther King Jr. opposing the Vietnam War.
That will be followed by a potluck, a communion service and several hours of poetry, storytelling and music.---
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(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New York News »new york city, occupy wall street, christmas, new york news
AccuWeather: 40s for Christmas
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- High pressure is expected to be the driving force behind the weather on Christmas Day, which will offer no less than partial sunshine. Temperatures on Christmas Day should be mostly in the mid and upper-40s.
Although most of the models show another front pushing from the north late on Sunday night and early Monday (while the "much talked-about storm" from earlier this week slides out to sea via the Carolina Coast), there really won't be much of an impact on temperatures around here... At most, temperatures on Monday afternoon will average 2-4 degrees lower than Sunday's...
The pattern throughout much of next week still looks remarkably quiet, as disturbances in both the northern and southern branches of the jet stream roll through the eastern half of North America with several hundred miles of room in between them... Or, in other words, there is no evidence that 'phasing' will occur, which would result in a major Eastern storm...
Have a fabulous holiday weekend!!!!
METEOROLOGIST LEE GOLDBERG
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Pope laments Christmas consumerism
By NICOLE WINFIELDVATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI decried the increasing commercialization of Christmas as he celebrated Christmas Eve Mass on Saturday night, urging the faithful to look beyond the holiday's "superficial glitter" to discover its true meaning. Benedict presided over the service in a packed St. Peter's Basilica, kicking off an intense two weeks of Christmas-related public appearances that will test the 84-year-old pontiff's stamina amid signs that fatigue is starting to slow him down.
The Christmas Eve Mass was moved up to 10 p.m. from midnight several years ago to spare the pope a late night that is followed by an important Christmas Day speech. In a new concession this year, Benedict processed down the basilica's central aisle on a moving platform to spare him the long walk.
Benedict appeared tired by the end of the Mass and a dry cough interrupted his homily.In his homily, Benedict lamented that Christmas has become an increasingly commercial celebration that obscures the simplicity of the message of Christ's birth.
"Let us ask the Lord to help us see through the superficial glitter of this season, and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem, so as to find true joy and true light," he said.
It was the second time in as many days that Benedict has pointed to the need to rediscover faith to confront the problems facing the world today. In his end-of-year meeting with Vatican officials on Thursday, Benedict said Europe's financial crisis was largely "based on the ethical crisis looming over the Old Continent."
Benedict officially kicked off Christmas a few hours before the evening Mass, lighting a candle in his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square in a sign of peace, as crowds gathered to witness the unveiling of the Vatican's larger-than-life sized nativity scene.
Security was tight for the evening Mass, as it has been in recent years. There were no repeats of the 2008 and 2009 Christmas Eve security breaches, in which a woman with a history of psychiatric problems and wearing a telltale red sweat shirt jumped the wooden security barrier along the basilica's central aisle and lunged for the pope.
In 2008, the pope's security detail blocked her from getting to Benedict. But in 2009, she managed to grab Benedict's vestments and pulled him to the ground. The pope was unhurt and continued along with the service, but a French cardinal who was nearby fell and broke his hip.
On Sunday, Benedict will deliver his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" speech, Latin for "to the city and the world," from the central loggia of St. Peter's overlooking the piazza. Usually, the speech is a survey of sorts of the hardships and wars confronting humanity. He's also due to deliver Christmas greetings in dozens of languages.
Next weekend, he'll preside over a New Year's Eve vespers service, followed by a New Year's Day Mass. A few days later he'll celebrate Epiphany Mass followed by his traditional baptizing of babies in the Vatican's frescoed Sistine Chapel.
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Friday, 9 December 2011
Christmas decorations blamed for Westchester fire
Eyewitness NewsNEW ROCHELLE (WABC) -- Holiday decorations are being blamed for a fire that nearly destroyed a house in Westchester County.
Officials say wires from decorations overheated a surge protector and ignited the Christmas tree in the New Rochelle home around 9 p.m. Thursday.
The fire spread to a Christmas tree, the walls and the furniture in the living room.Everyone inside the two family-house made it out safely. (Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Amy Smart talks about '12 Dates of Christmas'
Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Amy Smart spoke to 7online about starring in the new ABC Family original movie "12 Dates of Christmas".
Smart stars alongside Mark-Paul Gosselaar ("Franklin & Bash," "NYPD Blue"). She plays Kate, a young woman infatuated with Christmas and trying to find true love. She wants to win back her ex, but Miles (Gosselaar) is in her way. Her mother set her up with him on a blind date on Christmas Eve.
She gets to relive that day 12 times in order to not miss out on finding her real love! Smart says getting to kiss Gosselaar was a tiny perk of her job, but quickly stated that they are both happily married to other people.
In fact, Smart got married just this past November and says that like her character, she is looking forward to sharing Christmas traditions and starting her own with her husband.Smart's character Kate goes on a shopping spree, gets a tattoo and alters her appearance drastically, while reliving Christmas Eve over and over. In addition to improving herself, she starts to help others and decides to make this Christmas Eve what she wants it to be. By letting go of her controlling ways and fear of being alone, Kate not only helps others find their happiness, but finds her own by finally trusting fate.
Don't miss "12 Dates of Christmas" on ABC Family Sunday, December 11 at 8 p.m.!
Amy Smart as Kate Stanton on ABC Family's "12 Dates of Christmas"
Amy Smart has emerged as one of Hollywood's brightest talents on both the silver screen and on television.
Amy is currently starring opposite Ryan Kwanten and Leslie Bibb in CBS Film's "Flight 7500", a thriller that is being directed by The Grudge helmer Takashi Shimizu. The focus is a group of passengers who encounter what appears to be a supernatural force while on a transpacific flight. She is also recurring on the John Wells series "Shameless" on Showtime opposite William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum. She recently completed the ABC Family Christmas Movie "12 Dates of Christmas" in which she stars opposite Mark-Paul Gosselaar.
In 2009, Amy reprised her role in "Crank 2: High Voltage," reteaming her with both Jason Statham and directors Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine. Previously she was in the horror film "Mirrors" opposite Kiefer Sutherland, directed by Alexandre Aja.
Amy has been in several high profile projects over her career such as New Line Cinema's romantic comedy, "Just Friends" opposite Ryan Reynolds, "The Butterfly Effect" opposite Ashton Kutcher and "Starsky & Hutch" opposite Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller.
Additional film credits include Crank, Peaceful Warrior, Project Greenlight's Battle of Shaker Heights, Rat Race, Roadtrip, Outside Providence, Varsity Blues and Starship Troopers.
On the small screen, Smart previously starred in the John Wells' series, "Smith" on CBS opposite Ray Liotta, Simon Baker and Virginia Madsen. Amy's additional television roles include "Scrubs", "Felicity" and the NBC miniseries "The 70's."
Amy also participates in various non-profit organizations such as Heal the Bay and the Environmental Media Association.
She currently resides in Los Angeles.
For more information on "12 Dates of Christmas" please visit: http://abcfamily.go.com/movies/12-dates
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