An Abingdon artist is using his artwork to give the gift of music to those who have experienced loss due to Hurricane Helene. Kyle Buckland, a lifelong artist and guitarist, is donating 25% of his painting sales to purchase and restore second-hand guitars for musicians who lost their instruments in the flood. A professional artist since 2008, Buckland’s impressionistic work is represented in hundreds of private, public and corporate collections locally and around the world. “It’s an unconventional idea because it’s more important that the victims get food, water, and shelter,” he said. “But as a musician, I know in tough times it’s always soothing to sit down and play your guitar.” Buckland is partnering with Music Mountain in downtown Erwin, Tennessee, WBCM Radio Bristol, ReString Appalachia and WoodSongs to distribute the refurbished instruments based on the greatest needs in the region. So far, he has restored eight guitars for the effort. The public will get a chance to see his artwork when the artist hosts “Deck the Halls: Buckland Fine Art Open Studio and Donation Event” from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30 at in the Art Lab at William King Museum of Art, 414 Academy Dr. NW, Abingdon. More than 200 original oil paintings by Buckland will be for sale at special holiday sale prices for a limited time with 25% of the sales going toward the guitar donation project. In addition, the artist will conduct a free live painting demonstration from 1 to 2 p.m. with the chance to win a free, original oil painting. “It will have a family-friendly atmosphere where the whole family can experience the joy of art,” he said. Online holiday sales also are offered at https://kylebuckland.com/collections/198989 . Buckland’s revelation to restore old guitars surfaced a few years ago when he came across an aging acoustic guitar in a local antique store. The guitar was affordably priced but required some work. “I took it home to repair it. Little did I know I would fall in love with the process of restoring guitars and bringing them back to life,” the artist said. “The whole process of working on them was like an art to me. It reminded me of my painting because it’s a refining process,” he said. Buckland, who was more accustomed to playing electric guitars, discovered he has a knack for repairing and playing the acoustic guitars. “I wanted to keep learning how to work on them but I didn’t have a reason to continue to buy a bunch of broken acoustic guitars,” he said with a laugh. That all changed after Hurricane Helene swept through the region in September, washing away houses and belongings. Buckland reached out to his friend Joel Janis at Music Mountain and learned about the number of their clients impacted by the hurricane. “The wheels started turning in my head to begin donating to the people who had lost their guitars in the flood waters. “It’s a win-win situation. I get to work on the guitars and it’s gratifying for me to serve the needs of the community. It all just fell into place,” Buckland said. His project is similar to last year’s holiday donations where for every painting Buckland sold, he donated a painting to a school in the region. He ended up supplying original oil paintings to 16 different area schools. Most of the guitars he finds have been damaged whether from wear and tear, accidents, or neglect, and require some “tender loving care” to restore them to proper playing condition. Buckland finds a lot of the guitars from Goodwill thrift stores and antique shops. “I look for good quality guitars made from solid wood and not plywood,” he said. According to him, restoring guitars involves a range of procedures including simple setups like changing strings, adjusting string action and truss rod, oiling the fret board, and tweaking the saddle height. More complex tasks involve repairing top cracks in the soundboard. While some of the guitars he donates are brand new, he still makes sure they are properly set up before donating them. “This ensures they are ready to play and provide a positive experience for the new owner from the very first strum,” Buckland said. Every now and then, some used guitars he finds are almost a lost cause. His biggest repair was on a Guild vintage guitar he located in Charlotte, North Carolina. “The guitar was in sad shape. The head stock was cracked and the bridge was coming off. I completely restored the guitar. By that point, I realized I could repair just about any guitar,” he said. Bringing old damaged guitars back to life has become a passion. “It’s such a gratifying thing to do. It’s another passion of mine,” said Buckland. “I’m giving these guitars new life and donating them to people who need them. It’s a feel-good situation.” While he works his magic on the stringed instruments, Buckland steals some time away from repairs to compose songs on the acoustic guitars. “The acoustic guitar goes hand in hand with the singer songwriter scene,” said Buckland. “I’ve always dabbled in songwriting, but now that my art career has taken off, I have time to step back and write more.” Visit the website for Kyle Buckland Fine Art at www.kylebuckland.com . The holiday sale page can be found at https://kylebuckland.com/collections/198989 . Carolyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer in Glade Spring, Virginia. Contact her at citydesk@bristolnews.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.

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Whether you spell it Hannukah, Hanukkah or Channukah, it’s a holiday celebrated by the Jewish community around the world. Also known as the Festival of Lights, it commemorates when Jews had to leave their temple after it was occupied by the Syrian-Greek empire. When they returned, they found only had enough oil to light the candelabras (now called the menorah) for one night. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. Today, Jews light the menorah for eight nights. They play games, sing songs and exchange gifts to joyfully celebrate the high holidays. Of course, the festive party cooking and eating a menu of delicious food is involved, too. The party spreads involve foods that are fried—like potato latkes and jelly doughnuts—as reminders of the oil in the Hanukkah story. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition against the slanderous remarks made by the US, the UK, Canada, European Union officials, politicians and anti-China organisations regarding its further actions against offenders absconded overseas. It announced the actions yesterday against the offenders who continue to engage in acts and activities endangering national security. In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applicable to the Hong Kong SAR are protected in accordance with the law. Legislation that safeguards national security only targets a very small number of organisations and individuals that endanger national security, it added. It explained that the seven specified abscondees are hiding in the US and Australia, and continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, inciting secession and requesting foreign countries to impose “sanctions” or blockade and engage in other hostile activities against the People’s Republic of China and the Hong Kong SAR. More so, they continue to collude with external forces to be covered for their evil deeds. It is therefore necessary to take such measures to make a strong blow. The specified measures aim at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts of abscondment, and procuring the return of absconded persons to Hong Kong to face law enforcement and judicial proceedings. The Hong Kong SAR Government strongly disapproves of the acts taken by foreign government officials and politicians as well as anti-China organisations, who deliberately smeared and spread irresponsible remarks on the measures and actions that it takes in accordance with the law, in an attempt to mislead the public. In fact, it pointed out, all specified measures including the cancellation of Hong Kong SAR passports and eligibility for application align with human rights requirements; and quite a number of countries including the US, the UK and Canada would also impose such measures on wanted criminals. It is indeed a demonstration of hypocrisy with double standards by any external forces or people with ulterior motives that, after the Hong Kong SAR Government has announced the relevant measures, attack the Hong Kong SAR in safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully and in accordance with the law. The Hong Kong SAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. The Hong Kong SAR Government said it has the responsibility to pursue those who have allegedly committed offences endangering national security and absconded overseas in accordance with the law. It emphasised that absconders should not think they can evade criminal liability by absconding from Hong Kong. Ultimately, they will be liable for their acts constituting serious offences endangering national security and be sanctioned by the law. The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterated that the Constitution and the Basic Law steadfastly safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people. It said any attempt by foreign countries or external forces to undermine Hong Kong’s situation will only expose their own weakness and faulty arguments and be doomed to fail, adding that it will continue to unwaveringly discharge its duty in safeguarding national security.( MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Traditional factors such as safety and security, infrastructure development, population growth, high capital appreciation and rental income as well as affordability will continue to drive Dubai's Real estate market in 2025. In addition, several upcoming projects are expected to further boost the market. The relocation of Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Dubai South and the launch of Dubai Metro's Blue Line will drive demand for properties from buyers and tenants in 2025 in Dubai South. This is also likely to drive demand for properties in communities along key routes such as Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. All these factors make Dubai's real estate market quite resilient even in the face of regional and global geopolitical challenges. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Richard Waind, CEO of Betterhomes, described 2024 as a year of mixed results, with both successes and setbacks for Dubai's real estate market. He pointed out that one of the standout positives was the significant population growth, which fuelled strong demand for both property rental and ownership. Another key factor supported to some extent was a drop in interest rates, but the pace was slower than anticipated, he added. The biggest surprise was transactions which were predicted to drop, but instead met with a 30 per cent surge, reaching an anticipated 170,000 transactions by year-end. Waind said that "2024 was a year of surprises". “While some predictions hit the mark, others reminded me how unpredictable the real estate market can be," he added. With 2025 on the horizon, Waind said with over 160,000 newcomers expected, he sees strong transaction volumes and sustained pressure on property prices.“Growth has become the new normal for Dubai.” As branded residences gain traction, Waind envisions a surge in tech-branded properties.“Tesla Tower, Meta Mansions, Apple Apartments-Dubai is perfectly poised for this trend,” he noted. Following a record year of 170 developers launching projects with nearly one every 16 hours, Waind anticipates a natural cooling-off period in new developments. Waind remains optimistic about Dubai's real estate prospects, emphasising the city's ability to adapt and thrive amidst changing global and local dynamics.“Dubai's appeal lies in its resilience and innovation. From population growth to cutting-edge developments, the city continues to set benchmarks in real estate.” “With population growth, technological advancements, and shifting work models on the horizon, the year promises to be another transformative chapter for Dubai,” he added. Fawaz Sous, CEO of Octa Properties, emphasised that safety and security remain top priorities for property buyers, particularly those purchasing outside their home countries. “Unfortunately, the majority of the Dubai (residents) take safety and security for granted. This matter is extremely on the top agenda of people in mid to high wealth and those who are growing financially. They want safety and security,” he said. In addition, he added that Dubai prioritises infrastructure development which is a key to boosting demand local property market and maintaining that demand as well. “Some cities' infrastructure is not able to catch up with the growth of the real estate sector. So the city gets a bad reputation. However, Dubai has continuously developed infrastructure even during the 2008 financial crash. Dubai didn't stop infrastructure work. It was a very wise thing to do. Because when the time comes, infrastructure supports the growth of the property market,'” added Sous. He added that the challenges of growing traffic in the city are also being addressed very quickly due to the population increase. Investors who plan to buy properties in 2025 to cash in on high capital appreciation or rental gains and end-users who want to turn owners will have many more options to choose from next year due to a big increase in new supply across the emirate. According to Cushman and Wakefield Core Research, Dubai is projected to see 42,000 new units being handed over next year compared to nearly 33,600 this year. This new supply will extensively cater to mid and affordable segments whose share and demand are likely to grow in the coming few years after a strong rally in the luxury and ultra-luxury segment. Fawaz Sous told Khaleej Times in an interview that a large supply will come towards Dubai South and communities located along Mohamed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road such as Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Arjan, Dubai South and other communities. Of late, developers have shifted their focus towards these areas following the announcement by the Dubai Government to relocate Dubai International to Al Maktoum International Airport. MENAFN29122024000049011007ID1109039811 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. 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Falcons drafting Penix no longer a head-scratcher with rookie QB shining in place of benched CousinsBALTIMORE — One of Baltimore’s most prominent families was thrust into the spotlight this week, when a son of the clan, Luigi Mangione, was arrested by Pennsylvania police and charged in the Dec. 4 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Locally active in philanthropy, both via individual donations and through the Mangione Family Foundation, the Mangiones gave millions to Baltimore’s various institutions and nonprofits, including more than $1 million to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and more to the American Citizens for Italian Matters, Baltimore Opera Company and others. Loyola University, which counts Mangione alumni among their ranks, has an aquatic center named after the family, and GBMC previously had a high-risk obstetrics unit, since closed, that bore their name. Their story is a uniquely American one: The Mangiones went from deep poverty to massive wealth in just three generations, with one cousin, Nino Mangione, now a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Despite an eventually deep portfolio of development properties and government contracting for 20 years, the family patriarch, Nicholas Mangione Sr. , said he still faced prejudice for his background when he attempted to buy land to build the Turf Valley Golf and Country Club, now the Turf Valley Resort, in Ellicott City. “Tongues started wagging,” Mangione told The Baltimore Sun in 1995. “People (were) wondering where an unknown Italian could get the money for a $5 million project. In those days, there were no Italians in real visible positions (in Howard County).” Mangione said the implication was that he must have backing from the mob, so he countered sharply. “People thought I needed money from the Mafia to buy this place. They asked me what family I belonged to,” he said. “I told them, ‘I belong to the Mangione family. The Mangione family of Baltimore County.’” The family is now defending its name again. On Monday, members released a statement on social media expressing dismay at Luigi Mangione’s arrest, saying they were stunned by the news. “We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved,” the family wrote . “We are devastated by this news.” The family did not respond to a request for comment via a family attorney or their foundation. From poverty to philanthropic elite How they went from the Depression-era streets of the city’s Little Italy to its philanthropic elite is straight out of a Horatio Alger novel. Nicholas Sr. was born in Baltimore’s Little Italy, and spent his first eight years in a one-room apartment with an outdoor privy, according to a 2008 Sun article. He earlier told The Sun his Italian immigrant father, Louis, could neither read nor write, and worked in the city water department until he died of pneumonia. Today, the Mangione family is a sprawling one, with a business empire to match: Nicholas Sr., made the beginning of the family’s fortunes in the post-World War II years as a bricklayer and contractor . He built up his business holdings throughout the following decades, with his wife, Mary , growing their family to include five sons, five daughters, and 37 grandchildren, including Luigi. The family’s holdings range from construction to commercial real estate to local radio station WCBM-AM and a majority stake in Lorien Health Services, which operates multiple assisted living facilities in Maryland. Aside from the Turf Valley Resort, with its 10,000-square-foot ballroom, 220-room hotel, and 85-seat amphitheater, the Mangiones also own the Hayfields Country Club in Cockeysville and a slew of companies registered in Maryland . Its family foundation had net assets of $4.4M as of its 2022 tax filing , the most recent on record. The Mangione Family Foundation’s stated focus is supporting, “Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn’t provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.” Politically active across the aisle Politically, the Mangiones have been active across the aisle. Luigi Mangione’s parents, Louis and Kathleen Mangione donated $35,935 to state and local politicians from 2005 through 2023, according to data from the State Board of Elections. Half went to Nino Mangione ’s campaign account for his state delegate races from 2018 through 2023. Other donations went to Howard County executives Calvin Ball and Ken Ulman, both Democrats, and Allan Kittleman, a Republican, along with additional high-profile candidates of both parties, including former Govs. Martin O’Malley and Robert L. Ehrlich, and former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. Large family The immense number of Mangiones also was briefly confusing for Baltimoreans on Monday. Aside from Nicholas Sr. and Mary Mangione’s 10 children and 37 grandchildren, city counts at least two other Mangione families, who were briefly inundated with phone calls from the media and queries from former schoolmates and acquaintances. One of Luigi Mangione’s two sisters is a physician at the University of Texas Southwestern, according to her LinkedIn profile. Another sister is a visual artist. Neither sister responded to requests for comment. His mother, Kathleen, comes from a family that owns a funeral home, the Charles S. Zannino Funeral Home in Highlandtown, the Baltimore Fishbowl reported , and now runs a travel agency, KZM Boutique Travel, which had removed its website as of Tuesday evening. His father, Louis was groomed to help take over the family’s business empire, according to a 2003 Washington Post article . ©2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers celebrated in the locker room Saturday after they wrapped up a playoff spot with a 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots . But even as they realized one goal by making the postseason, Harbaugh tried to keep things focused on the road ahead by stressing: “There's more to do.” The Chargers (10-6) go into the regular-season finale at Las Vegas knowing they will be at least the AFC's sixth seed and avoid a trip to Buffalo for the wild-card round. Los Angeles currently is in line to face Baltimore in a Harbaugh Bowl rematch, but it has an outside shot at the fifth seed and a trip to Houston if Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh next weekend. While Harbaugh credited his players for the turnaround from five wins last year to double-digit victories this season, Herbert gave most of it to Harbaugh and first-year general manager Joe Hortiz. “They have done such a great job of getting the right guys here. You look in the locker room and everybody plays for each other,” Herbert said. “(Harbaugh's) a competitor, and he wants to win no matter what it is. It definitely shows, and it’s the way everyone fights for him, wants to play for him, and respects him.” Harbaugh is the fifth coach in NFL history to win at least 10 games in his first season with two teams. He is also the eighth to make the playoffs in his first season with two teams. “Very little to do with me. If it goes right, then it’s our players. They’re doing a great job. It’s gone bad a couple times. That’s on me,” he said. “I’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid here from day one, I can’t give enough credit to Derwin James, Justin Herbert, and those two in particular. And Khalil Mack and Rashawn Slater. I mean, stalwarts. Brad Bozeman has come in. He’s been a stalwart. There’s a bunch. There’s probably, like — I counted it up early. There was maybe 15, 15 stalwarts that we had, and it’s grown since then.” Even though the Chargers are 3-5 against teams with winning records at the time they've played them, they are 7-1 against teams that were at or under .500. Four of those wins against opponents with losing records have come by at least 17 points, the first time since 2017 the Bolts have won that many games by as big a margin. Since halftime of their Dec. 19 game against Denver, the Chargers have outscored the Broncos and Patriots 61-13 over six quarters. “That’s the type of football we want to be playing in December, January, and hopefully on. That’s the type of football you want to be playing, especially in these big games like that. It was really good to see,” Herbert said. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has said throughout the season it's tough to use the full playbook when the Chargers have short drives. They came into Saturday's game ranked 26th with only 23 possessions of at least 10 plays, but they had four against the Patriots, leading to three touchdowns and a field goal. It was the first time since Week 10 last season against Detroit they have had at least four drives of double-digit plays. Kickoff return coverage. The Chargers have allowed nine kick returns of at least 30 yards, eighth most in the league. New England's Alex Erickson had three returns for 90 yards, including 34 and 31 yards. RB J.K. Dobbins was activated off injured reserve and provided a boost to the offense with 76 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Dobbins, who missed four games due to a knee injury, has set career highs in scrimmage yards (983) and rushing yards (842) in his first season with the Chargers. WR D.J. Chark was targeted four times but didn't have a catch. Chark was signed during the offseason to provide experience and speed to a young receiver group. However, he missed the first half of the season with a hip injury and has played sparingly since his return. He has three receptions on the season. Three starters — RB Gus Edwards (ankle), LB Denzel Perryman (groin) and OG Trey Pipkins (hip) — were inactive. WR Joshua Palmer (heel) and DB Elijah Molden (shin) were injured in the second half. 77 and 1,054 — Receptions and receiving yards by Ladd McConkey, both records for a Chargers rookie. 5 — Consecutive seasons by Herbert with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes, tied with Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson for the most to start a career. 2 — Sacks by Derwin James Jr. against the Patriots, the first time in the safety's seven-year career he has had multiple sacks in a game. The Chargers go for their first season sweep of the Raiders since 2018 in the regular-season finale. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLPresident-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former senior Trump adviser who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. RELATED STORY | Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are discussing tariffs. What should consumers expect? Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought. Christie has blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and has called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009.