Funeral services for Mary Kennedy

  by DAVID B. CARUSOBEDFORD -- Mary Richardson Kennedy had been close to the Kennedys for much of her life, as a teenage friendship led to a marriage into one of America's most famous families.

But her death stirred tension between her relatives and the Kennedys, as they faced off in court over custody of her body and as they arranged separate memorial services for the 52-year-old architect, environmentalist and estranged wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The court dispute came hours before a wake at the suburban New York estate where she hanged herself Wednesday.

The Kennedys planned a funeral Saturday morning at a Roman Catholic church in her suburban New York hometown, followed by burial later in the day near the family's seaside compound in Hyannisport, Mass. Meanwhile, her siblings announced that they were planning a memorial service in Manhattan, though they didn't say when. But as mourners gathered at the brick mansion in Bedford for her wake Friday evening, one of her brothers-in-law sounded a note of unity.

"She loved everyone and she doesn't want fighting," Douglas Kennedy said. "... She loved for everyone to be together, which is what we're trying to do."

Earlier in the day, Robert Kennedy declined to speak about the legal dispute after emerging from a closed court session in White Plains, saying only, "It's all done." Lawyers for Mary Kennedy's siblings also declined to comment or didn't return phone calls.

One of Mary's brothers, Thomas Richardson, filed legal papers in White Plains on Thursday listing Robert Kennedy as the defendant. The medical examiner's office in Westchester County was told there were court proceedings related to custody of Mary Kennedy's body and waited for a court order before releasing it to a funeral home in Bedford, said county spokeswoman Donna Greene.

A judge sealed details of the legal dispute, which came on the day the Kennedys had announced their memorial plans for Mary, including the wake Friday evening.

Relatives, friends including "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator-star Larry David and "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King, and other mourners - so many that some had to park on nearby side streets - converged to pay their respects. Two police cars were stationed at end of the long driveway, keeping reporters at a distance.

"Everyone loved her. She was part of our family," Douglas Kennedy said as he left the gathering. "She was the most organized, fun-loving person."

Mary had known the Kennedy family for decades, dating back to a teenage friendship with one of Robert's sisters, Kerry Kennedy. Mary and Robert married in 1994.

But they had been going through divorce proceedings since 2010, and Mary grappled for years with depression and alcohol.

"She struggled so hard, for so long, with mental illness, which so many Americans suffer with," Kerry Kennedy said in brief remarks to reporters Friday outside the church where the funeral was planned. "She fought with dignity, and in the end, the demons won."

Mary and Robert, the son of assassinated U.S. senator and Attorney General Robert Kennedy, had been living in separate homes. They had four children together.

"We're trying to take care of Bobby and Mary's kids. That's all that anyone should be caring about," Douglas Kennedy said.

Records in the couple's divorce case are sealed, but the public docket sheet showed that Robert Kennedy's lawyers had sought a contempt order in the case last summer, indicating a dispute between the two sides.

American Express also sued Mary Kennedy in April, claiming she owed $32,624 in unpaid bills. Her lawyers didn't respond to inquiries about that lawsuit.

--
Caruso reported from New York City.

---
Get Eyewitness News Delivered

Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters | Text Alerts

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Northern Suburbs News »

mary kennedy, robert kennedy jr., famous deaths, northern suburbs news

View the original article here

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.

---
Associated Press writer Jaymes Song in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, contributed to this report.

---
GET THE LATEST NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS FROM ABCNEWS.COM

---
Get Eyewitness News Delivered

Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters | Text Alerts

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more U.S. & World News »

barack obama, christmas, hawaii, u.s. & world news

View the original article here

New York Moving Company - Best Services

Every year thousands of families plan to relocate and if you are one of those; then simply contact the best New York moving company. New York is one place where you can find various moving companies offering best and affordable services. But choosing best from the lot is tough deal to crack.

If you are moving within or in New York, you should consider of hiring the services of best New York moving company. Nowadays families prefer to hire services of moving companies as it is easier on them. The main highlight of any New York moving company is that it will make your moving very easy, without worrying about how your belongings will be moved from one place to another.

If you have decided to move then it is wise to hire moving services of Redline Movers. This New York moving company has got years of moving experience and guarantees fast and safe moving. Selection of any New York moving company depends on few prime factors such as:

1. Cost of services

2. The type of services offered

3. The area that each moving company focuses on.

Redline Movers thoroughly scores well on all these factors and thus, becomes the best choice. Majority New York moving companies cover wide area of New York and therefore, moving becomes so easy. However, selecting any New York moving company it is wise to examine their cost of services. Although majority New York moving companies carry a fixed fees which may be large, small and even average.

Moving estimate is something which plays a very important role. If moving cost is high it is wise to switch over another New York moving company offering same services at lesser rate. Apart from that you should also make sure that the moving cost includes everything starting from assembling to reassembling. At times people prefer to avail storage facilities too, availing this storing facility carries an additional cost. But Redline Movers offers this service too at an affordable rate. Thus, it won't be wrong to say that selecting this New York moving company over others is the best choice.

Hence, try to keep all these points in mind and surely you will find best New York moving company to move with. For more information on New York moving company, New York moving companies, New York City movers and professional moving company Nyc please visit http://www.redlinemovers.com.

Shane writes for professional NYC Moving Companies like http://www.redlinemovers.com

Academic Intervention Services Available from New York Schools

As with all public schools across the nation, New York schools have standards in reading and mathematics that must be met by its students. Unfortunately, many students fall short of the standards and their families are not in a position financially to provide the extracurricular tutoring that is required to improve the skills of their children. The schools in New York do not want to see any child at any grade left behind and provides the solution.

The New York schools have student academic intervention programs that provide the needed tutoring, counseling and teaching of skill sets. The schools in New York services are a supplement to the general teaching curriculum.

New York schools students who are academically at risk and need assistance in the areas of English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and/or science are candidates for intervention. The schools in New York support may address the areas of guidance, counseling, attendance and study skills, all of which affect a student's ability to perform well academically.

The New York schools academic intervention may be offered during regular school hours or during an extended school day or year, depending upon the school. The New York educators determine the need for intervention. It is not something that may be requested or refused by parents, though their cooperation can make a difference between success and failure of the program.

If a child in the New York schools is determined to need such intervention, the parents are notified in writing, telling them of the commencement of the program for their child, what services will be provided, the reason intervention is required, and the consequences for the student of not achieving the expected performance levels. New York schools communication with the parents is ongoing and encourages their cooperation and participation in the program. There is at least one consultation a semester with the classroom teacher and other New York schools professional staff, who are assisting their child. Progress reports are given the parents at least on a quarterly basis. Additionally, information is provided to the parents on how to work with their child to improve academic achievement, how to monitor the child's progress, and how to work with New York schools educators to improve their child's achievement.

New York schools student academic intervention is determined as follows:

o Kindergarten through grade three --

1) Student lacks reading readiness, including knowledge of sounds and letters, and is based on appraisal by the New York schools; OR

2) Student is at risk of not meeting the schools' required performance level in English language arts and/or mathematics. This may include diagnostic screening or vision, hearing and physical disabilities; and limited English proficiency determination.

o Grades four through eight --

1) Student scores below the state required performance level on one or more elementary assessments in English language arts, mathematics, social studies or science; OR

2) Student is at risk of not achieving New York schools standards in English language arts, mathematics, social studies and/or science. This may include diagnostic screening or vision, hearing and physical disabilities; OR

3) Student is limited English proficient and at risk of not achieving standards in English language arts, mathematics, social studies and/or science by using English or their native language. This may include diagnostic screening or vision, hearing and physical disabilities.

o Grades nine through twelve --

1) Student scores below the required performance level on one or more state intermediate assessments in English language arts, mathematics, social studies or science; OR

2) Student scores below required performance level on any one of the state examinations that are required for graduation; OR

3) Student is at risk of not achieving New York schools standards in English language arts, mathematics, social studies and/or science. This may include diagnostic screening or vision, hearing and physical disabilities; OR

4) Student is limited English proficient and at risk of not achieving schools standards in English language arts, mathematics, social studies and/or science by using English or their native language. This may include diagnostic screening or vision, hearing and physical disabilities.

The New York student academic intervention is ended, when a student successfully meets the state's required performance level in the areas he or she was having difficulty. Though school standards are now the norm across the nation, theschools in New York are going one step beyond to ensure students meet those standards.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on New York schools visit New York School Ratings and Private School Rankings