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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Gay couple sues over engagement photo use

by IVAN MORENODENVER -- A gay couple from New Jersey is suing a group that used their engagement photo in an attack mailer against a Republican Colorado state lawmaker who supported civil unions this year.

The Southern Poverty Law Center said it will file a federal lawsuit against the Virginia-based Public Advocate of the United States on behalf of the couple Wednesday. In the photo, Brian Edwards and Tom Privitere hold hands while facing each other and kissing with a New York City skyline as a backdrop.

The photo was used in mailers in a June primary election involving Sen. Jean White, one of a handful of Republicans who supported a civil unions bill that was blocked in the state House. The mailer, which replaced the Manhattan skyline with a snowy background, read: "State Senator Jean White's Idea of 'Family Values?'"

White lost the primary against a fellow Republican in a northwestern Colorado district.

Public Advocate of the United States did not respond to two emails seeking comment.

The Southern Poverty Law Center on Tuesday issued a release announcing its plans to take legal action, saying Public Advocate of the United States "used the couple's personal engagement photo without permission and altered the image to include anti-gay propaganda."

The law center declined to comment further but said it would issue statements during a news conference Wednesday in front the federal courthouse in Denver. It wasn't immediately clear what relief the couple is seeking.

Edwards and Privetere didn't immediately return a message. Law center spokeswoman Apreill Hartsfield said the two also would comment Wednesday.

The photographer who took the photo is a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

The couple also is suing over a Public Advocate mailer that used the same photo in another northern Colorado state legislative race. That race involved a Republican candidate who was not in the Legislature when civil unions were considered.

The mailer, which changed the New York background to Colorado plains, used the couple's photo with the caption: "Jeffrey Hare's vision for Weld County?" Hare also lost his primary.

Civil unions were among the most contentious proposals considered by state lawmakers this year. A bill that would have let Colorado couples enter civil unions passed the Democratic-controlled Senate but was defeated in the Republican-led House with a GOP filibuster. Republicans have a 33-32 advantage in the House, but Democrats said enough GOP lawmakers supported the bill to send it to the governor if there was a full House vote.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper supported the legislation.

The measure would have granted gay couples rights similar to those of married couples, including letting partners make medical decisions for each other. The protections also would enhance parental and inheritance rights.

Republicans argued gay couples already have some of the rights they are seeking, and said the bill was too similar to traditional marriage.

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Hurricane devastated home fixed for couple

Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsPARLIN, N.J. (WABC) -- A New Jersey couple whose home was badly damaged during Hurricane Irene received a special gift.

They haven't been able to go home since then, but Tuesday there was a big step toward getting them back in their home.

"I didn't think I'd ever come back here, I really didn't," said Alice Best, a homeowner.

Alice Best and her husband Charlie raised their three children in the home and they have almost five decades of memories there.

Tuesday, they watched dozens of volunteers give it a much-needed makeover as part of the Home Depot's "Celebration of Service", which helps military veterans like Charlie repair their homes.

"They understand your problem and they're here to help. Just like when I was 17 and I joined the Navy, to help," said Charlie Best, a homeowner.

During Hurricane Irene last summer, the Bests had to be rescued from their home when the basement foundation wall crumbled and officials feared the whole house would collapse.

"It was devastated, at any point it could have been a condemned property, thousands and thousands of dollars in damage," said Tracey Burke, Home Depot Manager.

The Bests' homeowners insurance didn't cover floods, so they feared they would lose their beloved home.

But then Home Depot stepped in, offering to donate the materials and volunteer labor that contractors had estimated could have cost the Bests more than $100,000.

During the storm, the kitchen was flooded with six inches of water.

Now it's been completely redone and 48 years after she moved in, Alice Best is getting the dream kitchen she's been waiting 48 years for.

"We went one day and picked everything out and it was heaven to not have to go to the cash register," Alice Best said.

For the last year, Charlie and Alice, who have been married 63 years, have been living first in a shelter, then with their daughter and now in a church apartment.

Volunteers say they'll be able to return to a home that is beautiful, clean and safe by next week.

"The smile on their faces, that was enough payment for me today," said Mark Boyko, of MCB Landscaping.

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

New Jersey couple pleads for return of stolen parrot

Eyewitness NewsDENVILLE (WABC) -- A couple from New Jersey is pleading for help in tracking down a beloved pet parrot that was stolen by a burglar.

The expensive African gray parrot, named Szulu, was snatched in Denville last week.

After breaking in, the burglar stabbed and seriously injured the family's dog.

Then he stole the bird and other valuables.

The owners are desperate to get their pet back home safely.

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Saturday, January 21, 2012

NJ couple talks about escaping sinking cruise ship

Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsNEW JERSEY (WABC) -- A couple from New Jersey ignored the advice of crew members to relax and have a drink and evacuated the sinking cruise ship in Italy. Ignoring that advice may have saved their lives.

"The scene from the Titanic when the plates fall, it was exactly like that," said Michael Stoll, cruise ship survivor.

Michael Stoll and his wife Addie were enjoying an Italian dinner on board the Costa Concordia Friday night when there was a sharp jolt, and then the ship began to tilt.

"I said let's get out of here, let's get our life vests,"

With dishes shattering around them, the newlyweds ran to their room, packed their valuables in a backpack and headed to the lifeboats.

All the while, crew members were telling passengers there was nothing to worry about, and that they should relax and have a cocktail.

"They said it was an electrical malfunction,"

"One of the crew members said go in, have a drink, calm down. And then we heard plates crashing,"

45 minutes later, the captain finally gave the order to start boarding the lifeboats.

But Mike and Addie say the passengers were on their own.

"It was chaos; people were pushing and shoving,"

Mike and Addie are grateful they got off the ship safely on one of the first lifeboats.

But they can't understand how the captain could put so many lives in jeopardy.

"You have to give orders, you have to give a signal, you are in charge of all of these people, you have to be responsible and he wasn't,"

The couple eventually made their way back to Rome and flew home Sunday night.

Their luggage is gone, sunk with the ship, but they're grateful to be back on dry land.

"Things could have gone worse, people died, we got out,"

After a few days of relaxing at home, Mike and Addie will go back to work and school Wednesday.

They say that will be their first and only cruise.

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

NJ couple launches new food pantry - for pets

Eyewitness NewsEWING -- A year-old central New Jersey food pantry is aimed at pets, not people.

It its first year, The Pet Food Pantry a couple operates out of their Ewing home supplied nearly a ton of food for 59 dogs, 83 cats, five parrots and a duck.

Liz and Jonathan Iszard say people need companionship during tough times - and pets fit the bill.

But in a slow economy, pet abandonment has risen quickly.

The couple owns a natural pet treat company and contributes 10 percent of their profits to their food pantry.

They provide pet food to local animal shelters, senior citizens and low-income people. They tell the Times of Trenton (http://bit.ly/uMmTs6 ) that most clients have asked for help just once.

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