PERSEID METEOR SHOWER PEAKS TONIGHT!

GET READY FOR TONIGHT'S PERSEID METEOR SHOWER PEAK: Tonight is the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower and whether you have clear or cloudy skies, there are more than a few surprising ways that you can get involved and enjoy a potentially spectacular cosmic light show: http://dne.ws/1L6Kmd5

So, Where to Look?

As I said, “up” is a good place to start, and so long as your eyes have adjusted to the dark, you shouldn’t have any problems spotting the Perseid meteors (or “shooting stars”) flash across the sky. But if you want to be even more pro, make sure you know where the constellation of Perseus is in the sky. Perseus can be found in the northeast between the bright star of Capella (that will be rising above the horizon after 11 p.m. local time) and the constellation Cassiopeia. SPACE.com has a handy night sky rendering that can help you track down Perseus.

Why Perseus? Well, that’s the reason why the Perseids are named after this constellation — it just so happens that the meteors from this particular shower at this time of year appear to originate in the general direction of Perseus. This is what is known as a “radiant” and all the other annual meteor showers throughout the year have been named after the constellation they appear to be radiating from. However, it is not necessary to stare directly at Perseus to see tonight’s Perseid meteors, just be aware they will be coming from that direction and sweeping directly overhead.

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EDWARD GRAY GAR WOOD AND ELMER LESUER: INFORMATION NEEDED

The boat wells behind my parents and grandparents?

Dear Kim...

Found your page searching for information on who might be Evangeline Cote-Dahlinger’s brothers. My grandfather worked for Edward Gray, Ford’s chief engineer from 1909 to 1914. He started working with him in Oil City, PA at Riverside Engine- my grandfather (on my mother’s side) Elmer Allen LeSuer, listed at the bottom working for Riverside Engine, Edward Gray at the top
 

When Edward Gray moved to Detroit, grandpa (Elmer LeSuer) went with him. 1912 City of Detroit Directory (image below), now in Detroit working for Gray, NOT Ford.

During this time Edward Gray divorces first wife Nina Myer Gray and then marries Agnes G McGuigan, she is listed as a maid then an actress in city directories.

Agnes and Edward Gray have one child that dies at birth. In Gray’s biography listed in the City of Detroit list of important people it mentions one daughter from his first marriage, Mildred. And this is where Evangeline comes in... another ‘Ford high level marriage’ according to one former Ford employee- (I’m ‘cutting and pasting’ this from a pdf file so there will be some errors but…)

And a better view of the concrete boat wells (top left in photo) behind my mother leaning on Phil Wood’s boat, one of Gar Wood’s eight brothers. Apparently Gray was very concerned about the fire hazards of all that fuel and wooden boats.

My interest is in seeing if there are any descendants of Edward Gray with info and photos...

Apparently Mayo looked after the larger engineering projects. In fact, I think he called himself chief engineer. He took over the job that Edward Gray started originally. Edward Gray developed a combination steam and diesel engine for Mr. Ford, he eventually got out for some reason or other and got into this boat well business at the Detroit River.

His WWII draft card

I just mentioned him because he was still there when I left Highland Park. Later I met him again when he was running the boat well business. I already bought a speedboat and I kept it at his place on Ray Dahlinger’s suggestion. (Later, I found out that one of the Gray girls and Evangeline Cote Dahlinger's brother married. I didn't know that at the time but I found out later.) It was a nice well. I found too much concrete in it and I bumped it a couple of times, which didn't do my boat any good.

He had pretty good ideas on how to accomplish things.

I thought this might be interesting in your research. My interest is in seeing if there are any descendants of Edward Gray that would have any photos of those days. He died in 1939 and there not much of a ‘trail’ after that. Nothing on Agnes that I can find, nothing on Mildred either.

WWI card showing how he continued to work for Gray after Gray left Ford- June, 1917.

My grandfather left Detroit in 1919 but returned in 1937 at Edward Gray’s request for grandpa to come and interview with Gar Wood, the speed boat racer. Gray died soon after so Grandpa LeSuer stayed on with Gar Wood until his death in 1945 while he was working on projects for Wood for a WWII landing craft to be used in the invasion of Japan (which of course never happened.)

And Gray’s boat that he named after the one daughter I know of, Mildred- (I confirmed grandma’s notes, it is Gray’s boat)

 And finally, a bio on Gray from around 1920s

If you have any information on Edward Gray and Elmer LeSuer please email me at Retrokimmer@gmail.com

★NEW BOOK★ RHYTHM RIDE: A ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE MOTOWN SOUND!

I am getting this book very soon and cannot wait to review it! Right up my alley.. Thanks so much Andrea and Brittany!

“When a group of high school girls had first showed up at Hitsville in 1960 hoping to be discovered, one of them made Berry Gordy stop. And look. And consider. It was her singular beauty that caught his attention. She and her friends had formed a singing group called the Primettes. There were four of them— Florence ‘Flo’ Ballard, Barbara Martin, Mary Wilson, and the gawkiest one of them all, a tenth grader named Diane Ross.”

“When I look back on those days, it makes me proud to be the Groove. ‘Cause you see, the Groove is most alive when souls ache. I was there when mothers cried at the loss of their sons. Through my rhythm, I kept their broken hearts beating. I kept faith’s flame on the front burner when despair tried to take over.”

From critically-acclaimed author Andrea Davis Pinkney comes the story of the music that changed the world.

RHYTHM RIDE

A Road Trip through Motown Sound

by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Rhythm Ride is the story of the music that defined a generation and a movement that changed the world. Andrea Davis Pinkney has faithfully captured the celebration, controversy, and ultimate success that encapsulated this pivotal era in our country’s musical history.

With untold behind-the-scene stories and awe-inspiring photos that have never been published before, RHYTHM RIDE is a treat for the eyes, the ears, and the soul.

Andrea Davis Pinkney is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 books for children, many of them illustrated by her husband Brian Pinkney. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York.

ALCATRAZ PRISON OPENED AUG 11, 1934

A view from the 1930's of the Alcatraz island and penitentiary, in San Francisco Bay. Opened on August 11, 1934, Alcatraz ("the Rock") was America's premier maximum-security prison, and for 29 years the final stop for the nation's most incorrigible inmates, including Al Capone. Alcatraz closed its doors 50 years ago, on March 21, 1963.

A group of federal prisoners classified as “most dangerous” arrives at Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcrop situated 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay. The convicts–the first civilian prisoners to be housed in the new high-security penitentiary–joined a few dozen military prisoners left over from the island’s days as a U.S. military prison.

On the last day of Alcatraz, convicts were handcuffed, shackled and marched out of the prison.

Alcatraz was an uninhabited seabird haven when it was explored by Spanish Lieutenant Juan Manuel de Ayala in 1775. He named it Isla de los Alcatraces, or “Island of the Pelicans.” Fortified by the Spanish, Alcatraz was sold to the United States in 1849. In 1854, it had the distinction of housing the first lighthouse on the coast of California.

Beginning in 1859, a U.S. Army detachment was garrisoned there, and from 1868 Alcatraz was used to house military criminals. In addition to recalcitrant U.S. soldiers, prisoners included rebellious Indian scouts, American soldiers fighting in the Philippines who had deserted to the Filipino cause, and Chinese civilians who resisted the U.S. Army during the Boxer Rebellion. In 1907, Alcatraz was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison.

 

In 1934, Alcatraz was fortified into a high-security federal penitentiary designed to hold the most dangerous prisoners in the U.S. penal system, especially those with a penchant for escape attempts. The first shipment of civilian prisoners arrived on August 11, 1934. Later that month, more shiploads arrived, featuring, among other convicts, infamous mobster Al Capone. In September, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, another luminary of organized crime, landed on Alcatraz. READ MORE

Watch this Alcatraz Documentary Here

THE ART OF MARGARET BERG

Margaret Berg OR Magrikie Berg in her native Afrikaans, was born and raised in South Africa. In 2000 she left her beloved country to pursue her creative passion and continue her studies at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.

She has been part of creative teams at award-winning agencies such as Art Machine / TrailerPark and Ignition Print, where as Senior Art Director and Finisher, she was responsible for the development and management of high profile advertising campaigns. In 2007 she received a Key Art Award nomination for her Pan's Labyrinth Poster Art.

Today, Margaret is bringing her illustrations to a wide range of products including books, magazines, food & beauty packaging, greeting cards, stationery, gift ware, wall décor, tabletop & drink ware, fabrics & textiles, tech accessories and more.

Margaret lives in Santa Monica, California where she enjoys the sun, sea and not needing a car. She delights in the wonder of creation and she feels blessed that her favorite pastime can be her career. Her work is exceptional...read more here

ONE MAN WALKING HIS HUSKY 5500KM FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH

Animal and Man Walking for Kids Mental Health CAMH

On September 28 Man and husky leave Toronto on a 5500km walk to the top of Whistler Mountain.

 Help make it happen: 

CONTRIBUTE NOW

WISHBONE ASH NEW FALL ROAD WARRIOR TOUR!

Wishbone Ash

Danbury, CT - Wishbone Ash, one of the most influential guitar bands in the history of rock, returns to these shores in September with the Road Warriors North American Tour. The tour begins in Colorado and moves eastward through the month, passing through 12 states and Ontario, Canada. Longtime fans and new converts alike will revel in the group’s signature twin-guitar mastery and powerhouse rhythm section as they present classics spanning their career and showcase selections from their latest studio release, “Blue Horizon.”

True road warriors, each year Wishbone Ash logs around 30,000 miles, roughly equivalent to circumnavigating the earth; but this year may just set an all-time record with a series of July performances in South Africa. “We are looking forward to reconnecting with fans from the past who are just catching on that we've been touring non-stop for 46 years, to see and hear how we’ve grown while carrying the torch,” says founding member Andy Powell “And for our faithful fans who have walked with us consistently through the years, we have some special things in store to reach new heights in our relationship.”

The Road Warriors North American Tour also comes on the heels of two live recording projects in May, including a direct-to-vinyl performance at renowned Metropolis Studios complex in London slated for a fall release, expected to be available on both vinyl and CD. “Recording live in a studio and going straight to acetate is rarely done,” says Powell. “The conditions have to be just right, because you only get one shot. Everything has to be in sync.”

Immediately following the Metropolis session, the band did a three-day residency at Le Triton Theatre in Les Lilas, Paris that was recorded for a DVD release in October. Powell says, “We recorded three nights of material, including current versions of some classic songs, plus some deep tracks that people won't necessarily expect.”

Formed in 1969, Wishbone Ash is led by Powell on guitar and vocals, trading licks with Finnish guitar master Muddy Manninen. Bassist Bob Skeat, an 18-year veteran of the band, sets the pace with Joe Crabtree, one of the best of Britain’s new breed of drummers whose performance credits include Pendragon and David Cross of King Crimson.

Through the years the band has delved into various musical genres, from folk, blues and jazz to pedal-to-the-metal rock and electronica. Whatever the style, Wishbone Ash’s hallmark is the distinctive twin-melodic lead guitar interplay that has influenced such bands as Thin Lizzy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Iron Maiden and, more recently, Opeth. Wishbone Ash has to its credit 24 original studio recordings, 11 live albums and five live DVDs along with a DVD rockumentary (“This is Wishbone Ash”).

In 2014, the band released “Blue Horizon” (Solid Rockhouse Records) to international acclaim. Praised for its stylistic variety and powerful performances, the album features guest artist, Ireland’s Pat McManus, on fiddle for two tracks. “Blue Horizon” also includes two songs written by Aynsley Powell (Andy Powell’s son) and one by former Wishbone Ash guitarist Roger Filgate.

According to Powell, the album’s diversity reflects the culmination of several factors. “The band basically lives together year-round, so we have a very strong level of communication that translates in our performances and recordings,” he says. “We’ve come to an era where the industry has to pigeonhole a band as Classic Rock, Prog Rock, Heritage Rock and so on. The truth is that we have always kept our options open and always relied on the musicianship of the players to lead the way. It’s fun to be stylistically diverse and this has, in its way, contributed to our longevity.”

Powell has been working on his autobiography, “Eyes Wide Open: True Tales of a Wishbone Ash Warrior,” which is slated for October publication and will be available through Amazon. “It’s quite an undertaking to put 46 years of being a touring musician in this one band into book form,” he says. “I’ve seen a lot of changes in the music business and the world in general, as you can imagine.”

There is no other rock band in history that has done more with the twin guitar concept than The Ash. Be sure to catch them on the Road Warriors Tour this September. Tour dates and more information can be found at www.wishboneash.com.

WISHBONE ASH 'ROAD WARRIORS NORTH AMERICA' SEPTEMBER 2015

SEPT. 3 DENVER CO SOILED DOVE
SEPT. 5 WICHITA KS CROWN UPTOWN THEATRE
SEPT. 6 KANSAS CITY MO KNUCKLEHEADS
SEPT. 8 MINNEAPOLIS MN FAMOUS DAVE'S
SEPT. 9 DAVENPORT IA REDSTONE ROOM
SEPT. 10 MILWAUKEE WI PABST THEATRE
SEPT. 11 WOODSTOCK IL WOODSTOCK OPERA HOUSE
SEPT. 12 EDWARDSVILLE IL WILDEY THEATRE
SEPT. 13 EDWARDSVILLE IL WILDEY THEATRE (featuring “Argus Live”)
SEPT. 15 AUBURN HILLS MI CALLAHAN’S
SEPT. 16 CLEVELAND OH BEACHLAND BALLROOM
SEPT. 17 BUFFALO NY SPORTSMEN'S TAVERN
SEPT. 18 BARRIE ONT VIOLET'S VENUE
SEPT. 20 BEACON NY TOWNE CRIER CAFE
SEPT. 21 NEW YORK NY B.B. KING'S
SEPT. 22 FAIRFIELD CT FAIRFIELD THEATRE
SEPT. 23 SELLERSVILLE PA SELLERSVILLE THEATER
SEPT. 24 SHIRLEY MA BULL RUN
SEPT. 25 ALBANY NY VAN DYCK
SEPT. 26 JIM THORPE PA MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
SEPT. 27 BORDENTOWN NJ RECORD COLLECTOR