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‘Rapper’s Delight’ – Wonder Mike’s Genuine Rags to Riches Story

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

Originally published by the Village Voice.Rapper’s Delight: Michael Wright — better known as Wonder Mike, of the Sugarhill Gang — was working at a candy factory in New Jersey when he penned some of his first rhymes. With a strong aroma of jelly beans, chocolate-covered peanuts, toffee, and buttermilk wafting in the air, the Newark native’s inevitable sugar rush fueled his creativity, and for a moment he felt like anything was possible. Earlier that day, his cousin had introduced him to something called “hip-hop,” a cultural movement exploding in the Bronx.“It was May of ’79 when my cousin came up to me with a boombox,” he remembers. “I had never seen a boombox. I didn’t know what it was. It was just really big and it was blasting this thing called rap. It wasn’t anybody known really, just some bullshit guy. I was into hard rock at the time, so I thought, ‘Wow, this sucks.’”Undeterred by Mike’s dismissive reaction, his cousin — who went by the rap moniker Daddy Wright — encouraged hi...

Kebab joint opens in Livermore, closes Walnut Creek spot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

An East Bay-based collection of Mediterranean restaurants, Sultan’s Kebab, recently swapped a Walnut Creek location for a Livermore one. The new kebab shop opened on Livermore’s First Street in March, while the two-year-old Walnut Creek spot closed in June.Sultan’s Kebab, which also has locations in Pleasanton and Danville, offers gyros, shawarma and other Mediterranean dishes prepared daily, according to owner Fevzi Dinc. In Livermore, meals range from $9 to $20 per plate and include abundant sides, such as salad, rice, hummus and pita bread.“Our prices are pretty reasonable,” he says.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | Dust Bowl Brewing opens in Livermore with barbecue and ‘smoothie beers’ Restaurants, Food and Drink | Chipotle’s Pizzeria Locale closing all locations, dissolving the business Restaurants, Food and Drink | 7 incredible Bay Area things to do this weekend Restaurants, Food and Drin...

Founding member of Bay Area rock act Journey dies at age 76

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

George Tickner, a founding member of the Bay Area Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act Journey, reportedly died on July 5.He was 76.Many fans learned about his death via social media postings from Journey guitarist Neal Schon.“RIP George you now fly with the Angels,” Schon wrote on Twitter.He also added on Facebook: “Rest peacefully, Dr. George Tickner … you will be missed immensely. Thank you for your incomparable contributions to Journey’s early years.”No cause of death has been given.RIP George you now fly with the Angels https://t.co/jOug74sJxD— NEAL SCHON MUSIC (@NealSchonMusic) July 5, 2023Tickner, a New York native, played rhythm guitar with the Journey from its start in 1973 through 1975. Prior to that, he was a member of the Bay Area psychedelic rock outfit Frumious Bandersnatch, which also included another future Journey star — Ross Valory.The guitarist was a key contributor to Journey’s self-titled major label debut, which ...

TheatreWorks director Tim Bond leaving post to lead Oregon Shakespeare Fest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

Tim Bond, who in 2020 became only the second artistic director in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley history, announced today, July 6, he is stepping down from the post to lead the famed Oregon Shakespeare Festival.The move is scheduled to take place later this month. Stepping in as interim TheatreWorks artistic director is Giovanna Sardelli, an award-winning stage director who’s been affiliated with the company for more than 15 years. She most recently had been the troupe’s artistic associate and director of new works.The move will reunite Bond with the 88-year-old Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, a company that draws theater fans and tourists from around the world. Bond worked there for 11 years as associate artistic director and, as he notes, “it is a place my family thinks of as home.”But Oregon Shakespeare, like many performing arts companies in the post-COVID landscape, is facing financial difficulties and an uncertain future. The company, citing poor t...

2 firefighters killed fighting blaze on boat at New Jersey port

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

Associated PressNEWARK, N.J. — Two firefighters were killed and five others injured battling a blaze that began deep inside a docked cargo ship carrying more than a thousand vehicles, officials said Thursday.Responding firefighters found five to seven vehicles already on fire when they reached the 10th floor of the cargo ship at Port Newark around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night. The blaze quickly extended to the 11th and 12th floors, and as firefighters were pushed back by the intense heat, two of them were lost, Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson said at a news conference at the port, where the fire was still burning early Thursday.Firefighters weren’t initially able to find their colleagues. Outside rescue companies from around the state were called in. Augusto “Augie” Acabou, 45, and Wayne “Bear” Brooks Jr., 49, were found and removed from the structure but unfortunately they lost their lives, Jackson said.Three Newark firefighters and two Elizabeth firefigh...

Suspect wanted in fatal shooting of Oakland flower delivery person arrested in Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

OAKLAND — A man wanted in the killing of a flower delivery person in broad daylight last month has been found in Chicago and arrested, police said.Police had been searching for Eric Loc Elvira since the June 21 shooting that killed 27-year-old Matheus Gaidos, 27, of Daly City. The shooting happened about 6:30 p.m. in the 400 block of 26th Street near Telegraph Avenue, roughly one block away from Loc Elvira’s residence, police said.Police first identified him publicly June 27 as a person of interest in the case along with a woman. They subsequently issued an arrest warrant for him charging him with murder. Police said they identified the woman and that she no longer was wanted.In a statment, police said they found Loc Elvira with the help of the U.S. Marshal Service and that they took him into custody safely in Chicago.Loc Elvira was charged and the warrant issued after a former employer saw photos of the person of interest that police released to the media, and identifie...

Delays on Capital Beltway’s Inner Loop due to serious crash in McLean

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

Drivers on the Capital Beltway’s Inner Loop should expect heavy delays due to a serious crash in McLean, Virginia.A traffic camera from the Virginia Department of Transportation showed multiple vehicles, including a tractor-trailer involved in a crash near the median after Exit 44 for Georgetown Pike. Ambulances, fire engines and police were on scene.The WTOP Traffic Center reports one right lane was getting by as of 4:30 p.m. with traffic stretching back to Va. Route 7. Outer Loop commuters should expect delays in the area due to rubbernecking.For the latest road and traffic conditions, see WTOP’s traffic page or listen to updates every 10 minutes online or on the air at 103.5 FM. Download the free WTOP News app for Android and Apple phones to sign up for custom traffic and weather alerts.Source

Sifco: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — CLEVELAND (AP) — Sifco Industries Inc. (SIF) on Thursday reported a loss of $2.6 million in its fiscal first quarter.The Cleveland-based company said it had a loss of 44 cents per share.The producer of forgings and machined components for the aerospace and energy market posted revenue of $21.3 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SIF at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SIFSource

French government paints a rosy picture for tourism despite unrest over the police killing of a teen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The Eiffel Tower, chateaus in the Loire Valley — and cars on fire. Tourists to France faced a new reality during an eruption of nationwide anger following the police killing of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk.While hotel owners cite a drop in bookings in some areas, the French government insisted on Thursday that the overall picture for the tourism industry remains rosy, and promised a “great season” for visitors despite the simmering discontent.Officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance held a meeting Thursday with representatives of the tourism industry to discuss the consequences that the nationwide unrest following Nahel’s death has had on France’s tourist activity and international image.The fatal shooting sparked anger across France and stirred up already existing tensions about racial and class-related discrimination in policing, which often targets neighborhoods with low-income families with origins from former French colonies. The violence ebbed this we...

Stewart and Collier plan to start a new women’s league to play in WNBA offseason

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:20 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier are starting a new women’s basketball league to give top players another option to play in the U.S. in the offseason once the league’s prioritization rules go into effect next year.The new league, which is called Unrivaled, will run from January through March and have 30 of the top women’s players playing on six teams. Instead of the traditional 5-on-5 game, the teams will play 3-on-3 and 1-on-1 at a custom-built soundstage in Miami.The league was first reported by ESPN.“We remain committed to the WNBA, however there’s a problem that exists, which is players having to choose whether to play overseas to maximize earnings in the winter or stay home with family. We’ve decided to create our own solution,” Collier tweeted.The hope is to raise enough funding to pay players roughly what they make during the WNBA season to help offset the money they’d be losing out on by not playing overseas in the offse...