Of course, with an honorable mention all-state catcher in Andi Alsalahat, it looked like Chelsea Cadwalder would have a couple years to learn behind Alsalahat.

That all changed in the fall when Alsalahat tore an anterior cruciate ligament. And in the long run, it’s been a bit of a blessing in disguise.

“Coming in we knew she had big shoes to fill,” Revello said of Cadwalder. “We couldn’t wait for her to get to our level. She had the opportunity to step right in and she did it, and did it in big way.

“She’s a freshman but she thinks and acts like a junior or senior,” Revello said. “She’s Tiffany Pendants an outstanding job, far exceeding our expectations.”

In addition to hitting .293, Cadwalder’s defensive skills made Revello’s decision easier when Alsalahat was cleared to play a few weeks ago. They kept the freshman behind the plate.

“I thought she was going to be a backup catcher and a good hitter off the bench,” Revello said. “She’s hitting for us and she’s a top quality catcher.”

And Alsalahat has settled into right field, where she’s able to utilize her speed and more importantly, get a big bat in the lineup.

Going down

Old Forge isn’t the only place that things are falling into place as the playoffs draw Tiffany Earrings.

As each learns a new position, the junior battery of Katelyn Molinaro and Katie Stevens has the learning curve moving in the right direction at Abington Heights.

In their first six games together, the Comets were 2-4 and Molinaro’s earned run average was 6.59. In the last six, the Comets are 5-1 and Molinaro’s ERA is a petite 0.72.

“She’s gotten a lot more confident in herself,” Comets coach John Kelly said. “Early on, with success of Emily Orr the last couple years, I think she felt a lot of pressure to perform.

“She was trying to overthrow and do things she wasn’t capable of doing. I told her to be yourself and do what you can do.”

The girl behind the mask sees a big difference, too.

“There are so many things she’s improved on, but it’s her confidence,” Stevens said. “I’m positive she was nervous. I was nervous in a new position. I can only imagine how nervous she was.”

In a clinch

Inclement weather has made some athletic directors’ jobs a challenge during the final week of the baseball season.

With Monday being the final full schedule date, makeup games have been scheduled and could Tiffany Necklaces heavy on the division races.

In Division I, it’s possible that Scranton (10-2) and Honesdale (8-2) could be playing for the division title on Friday.

The Hornets have four games left, including games Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Knights will have a much quieter week, with their only game scheduled for Monday against crosstown rival West Scranton.

With a win on Saturday, Valley View (12-0) has clinched the Division II title and will likely be a top seed in the District 2 Class AAA playoffs.

Mountain View (10-2) remains atop Division III while Blue Ridge (10-3) and Western Wayne (7-3) still have a chance to overtake the Eagles.

The Raiders complete their season with a game Monday at Forest City Tiffany Rings the Wildcats will play four games in four days, battling Susquehanna twice and Mountain View and Montrose.

The report provides historical data and forecasts for the UK tiffany jewelry and Watches industry in the period 2004-2013, analysis of the competitive landscape and profiles of the major market players, plus top-level analysis of the key factors driving the industry.

Scope of the report:

– Historic market, channel and category data for the period 2004-2009 (estimated for 2009)

– Market, channel and category forecasts for the period 2010-2013

– Analysis of the industry’s performance since 2004 and future outlook to 2013

– Overview of the competitive landscape

Profiles of major market players including

– Key company information

– Business description

– Financial comparison

Reasons to buy:

– Gain a strong understanding of the country’s retail market.

– Facilitate market analysis and forecasting of bangles industry trends

– Benchmark the performance of each channel and category against the industry average

– Understand the competitive positioning of the leading market players

– Develop strategies based on strong historic and forecast market, channel & product category data

– Save time and effort conducting entry-level research

– Strengthen your presentations & pitches

Key Topics Covered:

Market Analysis

– Overview

– Market Value

– Market Segmentation by Channel

– Category Share of Retail Market

Retail Industry Characteristics

– Key Trends

– Growth Drivers

– Major Challenges

Competitive Landscape

Leading Companies

– Signet Jewelers Limited

– Goldsmiths Limited

– Claire’s rings UK Ltd

– Beaverbrooks the Jewelers Ltd

– Boodle & Dunthrone Limited

– Sales & Earnings Comparison

Market Forecast

– Forecast Statement

– Market Value Forecast

– Future Market Segmentation by Channel

– Future Category Share of Retail Market

Macroeconomic Indicators

– Population

– Economy

– Energy Costs

– Internet Penetration

The event highlights the fact that it will have some of the most beautiful and stunning collections from the world of jewellery and watches. Well known designers like Roberto Coin, Carrera Y Carrera, Mikimoto, Fope, Parmigiani, Chronoswiss and many more from Italy, Spain, Japan and Switzerland will be present during this prestigious event. Damas is quite confident that by organising this event for the first time at The Dubai Mall Les Exclusives Boutique it will attract more clients. The visitors would be able to enjoy and appreciate impeccable service while they choose from a wide range of exclusive jewellery and timepieces.

Tamjid Abdullah, Deputy Managing Director of Damas, said: “We derive great pleasure in bringing the most stunning collections from some of the world’s most renowned, appreciated and loved brands during this annual event. Such an event shows our continued leadership in this market segment as well as our strong partnerships with leading watch and jewellery houses that are known for their high aesthetic and technical standards. For sure, the new creations available during Damas Luxury Week will captivate Dubai’s connoisseurs with their magnificence.”

The launch to be held on November 5 will be a gathering of 1000 guests including Damas officials, international brand principals and members of the media. Guests will have a chance to witness a walk-through of models wearing some of the most beautiful creations on display during the week-long extravaganza and something very exciting awaits all the visitors who visit Damas Les Exclusives Boutique located at The Dubai Mall during the week.

About Damas:The journey of Damas began in 1907. It has grown from a UAE based company into a global fashion and jewellery network spanning the Middle East, South Asia, Europe and North Africa. The Damas Group has over 500 stores in 18 countries around the world as of 30th April 2009. Damas houses internationally acclaimed jewellery and watch brands such as tiffany & Co., Mikimoto, Daniel K, Faberge, Carrera y Carrera, Paspaley, Pasquale Bruni, Roberto Coin, Fope, Chronoswiss, Parmigiani, Perrelet, Quinting, Montega, Frederique Constant, Chanel, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin, Girard-Peregaux, Jaquet Droz, Parmigiani, Perrelet, Chronoswiss, Chaumet, Sarcar, Hysek among many others. The innovative in-house collections include the majestic Bridal jewellery, exclusive jewellery brands such as Damas Cut, Boudoor, Hayati, Riwaya, Jawaher, Farasha, Fairouz, Harmony, Farfasha, Al Manthourah; watch brands Varotti and Aquamarin; and a wide range of other classic and contemporary jewellery and watch collections. Quality consciousness, inspirational leadership and international reputation have led Damas to win prestigious awards including the exclusive De Beers Award 2000, 2004 and 2007 for jewellery design. Damas International Limited is listed on Dubai Nasdaq (former Dubai International Financial Exchange) and its shares are traded under the ticker ‘DAMAS’. 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

“No one was looking for platinum anything – there was zero market for it,” said Bondanza, vice president of Michael Bondanza Inc. in New York. “People thought we were crazy to go near the stuff.”

Today, Bondanza laughs about those days, especially as platinum makes a fierce comeback after a 50-year absence. Sales have jumped over 30 percent in the last three years.

Prior to World War II, platinum was considered the premier metal for jewelry-making. The finest jewelry and most bridal pieces – engagement rings and wedding bands – were exclusively platinum.

Consumers flocked to platinum for its look and feel. It’s rich, silvery tone was styled in either a matte or polished fashion. It was also considered the heaviest and purest precious metal, enabling more detailed jewelry designs.

But platinum’s reign came to an abrupt halt during WWII when the U.S. government temporarily restricted its use to military purposes.

“Platinum went from being the ultimate to being virtually unknown in a blink of the eye,” said Laurie Hudson, president of the U.S. office of the Platinum Guild International, a trade group based in Newport Beach, Calif.

When the ban was lifted after the war, platinum was unable to regain its place. Consumers, instead, turned to white gold, which mimicked platinum’s silvery luster but cost less.

It wasn’t until the early 1990s that platinum again found its niche, mostly due to an intensive 10-year drive by the Platinum Guild to educate the public, jewelry designers and retailers about the metal.

“We put ads in magazines, held sales training seminars and we really pushed platinum at every trade show we could,” said Hudson, who opened the U.S. office of the guild in 1992. “There was a whole generation out there that had never even seen platinum.”

During the same period of time, the availability of platinum increased as more mines opened and more sophisticated mining processes were developed.

“It’s still rare, but it wasn’t as hard to get anymore,” said Carl Denney, a spokesman for Johnson Matthey, one of the world’s largest platinum suppliers. “That helped expand the market.”

There are only 133 tons of platinum produced annually, compared to 1,782 tons of gold, the guild said.

Interest eventually caught on, and a generation of consumers _ namely young working women between the ages of 18 and 35 _ started purchasing platinum.

“Platinum is for the ’90s woman who wants something that is elegant but understated,” said Rudolf Erdel of OE Design, a New York jewelry maker that specializes in platinum.

Such was true for Andrea Wiesel, a 26-year-old financial analyst, who fell in love with platinum after she got an engagement ring in the metal last year, and has since bought two pins.

“My grandma always said platinum was the best,” she said. “Once I started wearing it, I felt the difference.”

Retailers from major department stores to small jewelers are expanding their platinum collections to reflect the growing demand.

In the last year, tiffany Co. introduced two new lines of platinum jewelry, while continuing its tradition of setting all its diamonds in the metal.

“There is a coolness of platinum that you can’t find in other precious metals,” said Jeanne Daniel, vice president of merchandising at Tiffany’s. “Many people want it because its quality without the flash.”

And there has been a boom of U.S. designers and manufacturers working in platinum. There are over 250 companies working with the metal today, up from 50 in 1980, the guild said.

Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi promoted his new platinum and diamond necklace – called “Angel Rings” – during this spring’s New York fashion shows. And jewelry designer Paloma Picasso mixes platinum and gold in her “Little Secrets” collection.

As the number of manufacturers using the metal has grown, so has the consumption level. More than 60,000 ounces of platinum was used in the United States last year for jewelry making, up from 20,000 ounces in 1991, according to Johnson Matthey.

That number is expected to rise in the coming years, with estimates reaching as high as 190,000 ounces by 1999. That would nearly double what consumption was in the 1920s, the height of the platinum era.

Still, the cost of platinum exceeds all other precious metals, making it pricey for some. On the current commodity markets, platinum is about $430 an ounce, compared to $385 for gold. And many designers are just starting to make smaller, affordable pieces for the general market, said Erdel of OE Design.

“It is expensive,” he said. “We’ve gotten people to notice platinum again, so I guess as the demand goes up (and more platinum is on the market), the price will start to fall.”

“Collectors are drawn by the fire in yellow, pink and blue diamonds and love their color,” noted Doyle’s Jewelry Specialist Susan D. Sullivan. An Edwardian, natural pearl and diamond collar from the estate of Marian Dickerman, the last surviving great grandchild of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt sold for $28,000. Also from the Dickerman estate, a fancy, yellow diamond ring centered by a square cut diamond (approx. 18 cts.), sold for $110,000. Other pieces came from the estate of Sylvia and Samuel Marco, who had an abiding passion for fine jewelry during their 50year marriage. A stunning emerald and diamond ring centered by a rectangular– cut emerald (approx. 20.81 cts.) and flanked by two diamond trillions set in platinum sold for $17,500. In addition, a gold, sapphire and diamond snowflake pin by Tiffany & Co. sold for $3,000.

During the auction, Doyle hosted the GIA Alumni Assoc. at an event benefiting the Eunice Miles Scholarship find

Auction to be Held at Austin Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC Austin) 75th Anniversary Gala

WHO: Austin Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC Austin), CASA of Travis County and many well-known Austin celebrities WHAT:Jewelry Box Decorating Party benefiting CASA of Travis County WHEN:Sunday, September 12, 2004, 12-4 pm/CDT WHERE: The Work*shop, 1211 West Sixth Street, Suite 400

The Austin Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC Austin) is bringing together Austin’s shining stars including Sarah Hickman, MIX 94.7 DJ Bridget Taylor and children’s book authors Angela Shelf Medearis and Trevor Romaine. Austinites’ favorite celebrities, politicians and media will be decorating jewelry boxes to benefit CASA of Travis County, which helps abused and neglected children in Travis County.

This creative and charitable affair will take place at The Work*shop, located in the West Sixth Street Marketplace. The decorating event will be held on Sunday, September 12, 2004 from 12- 4 pm, and all of the jewelry boxes will be auctioned off at AWC Austin’s 75th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, September 18, 2004 at 7 pm. Proceeds from the Jewelry Box Auction will benefit CASA of Travis County, the only non-profit organization in Austin that provides long-term volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children.

Interview Opportunities:

–AWC representatives to discuss the upcoming 75th Anniversary Gala

–CASA representatives to discuss how the organization is changing the lives of abused and neglected children

–Sarah Hickman, singer, songwriter and humanitarian

–Angela Shelf Medearis and Trevor Romaine, local children’s book authors

–Lisa Maxwell, longtime AWC member and co-owner of The Work*shop, a newly opened craft workshop

To buy a one-of-a-kind jewelry box decorated by your favorite celebrity, make plans to attend the AWC Diamond Anniversary Gala on September 18 at the Hilton Austin Hotel. The Gala will celebrate Austin’s history in communications while honoring some of AWC’s most precious gems from the past 75 years who have told the stories of our times and impacted Austin’s history. The Gala will also feature a Diamond Champagne fundraiser where attendees can win a 1-carat diamond while supporting AWC’s Joe Caldwell Meyer scholarship fund. The Gala includes a unique video presentation, an elegant dinner, and entertainment by The Newsboyz and the Mike Kasberg Quartet. Tickets are $75 and are available now by visiting www.awicaustin.com/ gala.htm.

CASA of Travis County

CASA of Travis County is the only non-profit organization in Austin that provides long-term volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children. CASA of Travis County has been advocating for the abused and neglected children of Travis County since 1985. For more information about CASA of Travis County please visit http://www.casatravis.org/.

The Work*shop

The Work*shop is a walk-in arts and crafts studio where guests can explore their creativity in a variety of artistic projects, such as ceramics, beading, bath products and more. The Work*shop also offers a wide variety of classes, and can assist with developing custom events, fundraisers and private parties. The Work*shop features a selection of fine arts and crafts from Austin artists in its retail section. Located in the West Sixth Street Marketplace, The Work*shop is open seven days a week. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.theworkshopaustin.com/, or call 512-473-ARTS (2787).

AWC Austin

The Association for Women in Communications serves to advance professionals in all disciplines of communications. AWC Austin’s membership is comprised of journalists, graphic designers, small business owners, marketers, meeting planners, writers, public relations experts and more. AWC Austin provides professional development opportunities; develops mentor relationships; cultivates networking and community volunteerism opportunities as well as to promotes leadership opportunities in Austin. Founded under the name Theta Sigma Phi, AWC has long been known for innovative programming, unique educational and professional growth opportunities and leadership in the field of communications. For more information about AWC Austin, please visit http://www.awicaustin.org/.

Other premature holiday fare includes the TV movies “Santa Who?” ( ABC Family, 7 p.m.) and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.).

A screening of “Shrek the Third” (ABC, 8 p.m.) makes for fine family entertainment.

“Bill Moyers Journal” (CPTV, 9 p.m.) considers the implication of a president escalating silver bracelets troop numbers in a military conflict. In his case, it’s Lyndon B. Johnson’s decisions regarding Vietnam, from recently released tapes of phone conversations and Moyers’ own recollections of being in the administration.

It comes after UConn women at Holy Cross (CPTV, 7 p.m.).

It’s not a case of the future being so bright that she has to wear shades on “Medium” ( CBS, 9 p.m.), it’s that Alison can see the future by donning sunglasses.

Major Zod is the ruler of “Smallville” ( The CW, 8 p.m.), so it’s time for a mayoral runoff.

Couples who don’t want to spend years planning their big event are chronicled on “Happily Ever silver cufflinks Faster” (TLC, 10 p.m.).

Funny, at the beginning of the week, Sarah Palin appearing on a show was big news. Tonight she’s on “20/20″ (ABC, 10 p.m.) with Barbara Walters.

Buying intentions forchristmas gift 2009:

Gift voucher – 20 per cent

Consumer electronics – 19 per cent

Toys – 14 per cent

Clothing – 12 per cent

Food and wine – 10 per cent

CDs, DVDs – 8 per cent

Books – 6 per cent

Homewares – 5 per cent

Cosmetics and beauty products – 4 per cent

AAP djb/apm 19-11 0001

City crews lowered a Colorado blue spruce from the city’s tree nursery into place Tuesday morning in the 100 block of South Main Street.

The tree will be part of downtown’s ceremonies forchristmas gift on Main, which will include the tree lighting and Parade of Lights, on Dec. 5, said Randy Grismer, a board member of the Aberdeen Downtown Association.

The tree probably is about 25 years old, said Aaron Kiesz, city forester.

The tree can still absorb water for one to two weeks, Kiesz said, and it should stay green, he said.

Grismer and his wife, Korine, will string lights on silver cufflinks the tree.

Credit: American News, Aberdeen, S.D.

Britain’s national debt, currently at record peacetime levels, has become a charitable cause.

The Charities Advisory Trust, which has offered to collect donations and send them to the Treasury to help “whittle down Britain’s national debt”, has already received individual gifts of up to 500 from publicly minded citizens.

The scheme is being promoted as an ideal Christmas present for those worried about bequeathing the legacy of the banking crisis to the next generation. “Why lumber your descendants with a staggering debt burden?” the advertisements ask. “A wonderful present for children and grandchildren … Now is the time to start reducing the National Debt in their names”.

A donation of 20 is suggested, although bankers feeling weighed down by guilt have the option to pay in 1,000. Higher rate taxpayers should be able to claim back tax relief on donations made to the Treasury, according to PwC, the professional services firm.

Dame Hilary Blume, director of the Charities Advisory Trust which disburses donations to charities silver bracelets, said that although the idea had raised eyebrows, money was already arriving. “This is a way for people to feel that they are helping,” she said. “People feel that the only way we can sort out this situation is if we all take responsibility.”

The scheme evokes the “I’m backing Britain” campaign of the late 1960s, when office workers volunteered to stay at their desks for an extra half-hour each day in order to help the flagging economy, while the Treasury received envelopes containing “conscience cash” from the public to pay off government debt.

Public-spirited action on national debt is not confined to the UK. In the US, contributions to reduce the country’s debt have been on the rise this year, at just more than $3m, according to the Bureau of the Public Debt.

Unfortunately for the Treasury, it will take more than 20 a person to dig Britain out of its fiscal hole. John Sibson, partner and government and public sector leader at PwC, estimates the current debt equates to 17,000 for each adult in the country.

The Budget predicts a deficit of 175bn this year and debt is expected to more than double from 37 per silver cufflinks cent of national income to almost 80 per cent by 2015. Accountancy firms say high levels of national debt could lead to persistently high interest rates, higher currency volatility and uncertainty for business.