Category Archives: Ascension

Earlier this year, the X Collective announced their debut album, which is now set to be released in 2022.

The X Collective have shared 'Ascension,' the second single from their upcoming debut album.

The music initiative which was founded in May 2020 by Emily Shaw and Ele Breslin, or Zapho has over 100 artists and creatives. Three members of the collective have collaborated for 'Ascension': Jess Kav, Senita and Toshn. The soulful R&B track reflects the excellent musicianship of not only the three members, but also of the collective as a whole.

"The X Collective approached me at a time when I really needed a creative community for support," explained Jess Kav. "I feel bolder and more confident knowing I have a support system of musicians and friends I can call on for help and encouragement. It doesn't hurt that we put on an incredible show too!"

"It's great to be back in such a safe and nurturing environment where I can perform my art, be challenged creatively and go outside of my comfort zone and make friends for life in the process," commented Toshn.

In 2020, the X Collective shared their first single, 'Collide (feat. Jenny Browne)' by Zapho and Tol Makay. Earlier this year, the collective announced their debut album, which is now set to come out in 2022, and released 'WB,' performed by Chlo Agnew, Zapho, Senita, Toshn and Gemma Bradley.

"We are beyond thrilled to see the growth of the community considering its inception was just under 18 months ago," said Zapho. "It seems mad writing out our goals or plans for the collective during a pandemic, but against the odds we actually managed to achieve them all, we have a building and growing community, we hosted a songwriting camp, recorded our album and have a full showcase of original music ready for festival season!"

Emily Shaw said: "Lots of hard work, but it's worth it, forging close friendships and further connections is what glues this whole project together. We are all genuinely rooting for one another."

The collective also plan to perform at a number of headline events and festivals in Ireland ahead of the release of their debut album. Each performance will include a varied group of approximately 18 members from the collective. Learn more about their upcoming shows here.

Listen to 'Ascension' below:

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LISTEN: The X Collective share new anthemic single, 'Ascension' - hotpress.com

As a remarkable interfaith gesture, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will deliver prayer from ancient Sanskrit scriptures at the event to commemorate The Centenary of the Ascension of Abdul-Baha, head of the Bahai Faith from 1892 to 1921, in Reno (Nevada) on November 28.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, plans to recite from Rig-Veda, worlds oldest extant scripture; besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He plans to start and end the prayer with Om, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.

After Sanskrit delivery, Rajan Zed will then read the English interpretation of the prayers. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.

Zed, a global Hindu and interfaith leader, has been bestowed with World Interfaith Leader Award. Zed is Senior Fellow and Religious Advisor to Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, on the Advisory Board of The Interfaith Peace Project, etc. He has been panelist for On Faith, a prestigious interactive conversation on religion produced by The Washington Post; and produces a weekly multi-faith panel Faith Forum in a Gannett publication for over ten years.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.2 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

According to bahai.org: The Bah Faith is established in more than 100,000 localities in virtually every country and territory around the world.

Details of the picture attached: Rajan Zed at Bahai Centre in Australian Capital Territory.

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Rajan Zed to read Sanskrit prayers at Abdu'l-Baha' Ascension Centenary event in Nevada - NewsPatrolling

A Prairieville woman who was driving while intoxicated received a 10-year prison sentence over a 2018 crash that killed the 5-year-old daughter of a St. John the Baptist sheriff's deputy while injuring her sister and others.

Angela Gaudet, 35, pleaded guilty earlier this week to one count of vehicular homicide in the crash on La. 621 north of Gonzales. Ascension Parish prosecutors also agreed to drop obstruction of justice, first-degree vehicular negligent injuring and other charges against her, court minutes say.

Gaudet had been headed east on La. 621 on April 6, 2018,and tried to take a left from the two-lane highway onto Mire Road, Louisiana State Police said at the time.

She turned head-on into an oncoming vehicle in which 5-year-old Addisyn Teekell, her sister and others were riding.

Teekell's father, Benjamin, a St. John sheriff's deputy who was driving at the time of collision, shared the video of the crash on Facebook on the day Gaudet was sentenced along with a picture of his dead child.

"I share it in hopes that someone will understand the true cost of drunk driving," Ben Teekell wrote. "We never had a chance. Ill never get my daughter back, her sister no longer has her best friend, lives are forever devastated. Im grateful for the 5 years God gifted her to us. Dont drink & drive."

See Facebook post, video

Investigators determined Gaudet was intoxicated at the time of the crash. Testing found marijuana and a drug for which she had prescription in her system, her attorney said.

Investigators also gathered testimony that Gaudet had been drinking alcohol at a fair shortly before the crash.

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But, Angela Gaudet's blood tests were delayed because her husband, Joey Gaudet, initially lied to state troopers, telling them that he was driving and that Angela was a passenger. Also, immediately after the crash, Angela Gaudet was suffering from a medical issue, her defense attorney said.

The family of a 5-year-old girl killed in a head-on crash in Ascension Parish is seeing an outpouring of support from local law enforcement agencies.

The attorney, Jeff Heggelund,said blood tests were never able to determine the degree of Angela Gaudet's intoxication. For alcohol, drivers are deemed presumptively too intoxicated to drive if their blood-alcohol concentration is 0.08 percent or higher.

Heggelund noted that had Gaudet gone to trial, she would have faced a maximum of 30 years in state prison with a conviction for vehicular homicide alone. He said the victims' family consented to the plea agreement.

In December 2019, Joey Gaudet, 39, also of Prairieville, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and injuring public records. He received sentences of five years in state prison for each count but they will run together, court records say.

The father of a 5-year-old girl killed in a crash Friday evening in Ascension Parish said that he forgives the driver who struck their vehicle

Judge Alvin Turner Jr. of the 23rd Judicial District Court handed down the sentence for Angela Gaudet on Tuesday in Gonzales after Benjamin Teekell and other victims testified and Gaudet had accepted her plea.

Turner made three years of her 10-year sentence without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension. He also ordered that she go through substance abuse treatment while in state prison, court minutes say.

A spokesman for the district attorney's office didn't return an email for comment Thursday.

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After 5-year-old killed in crash in 2018, intoxicated driver gets 10 years in prison - The Advocate

Once Upon a Time in Uganda and On the Other Sidewere among the winners in DOC NYCs 2021 awards, winning grand jury prizes at the film festival.

DOC NYC, the largest documentary film festival in the U.S., revealed its 2021 award winners on Wednesday (Nov. 17). Five juries selected films from the festivals U.S. Competition, International Competition and Kaleidoscope sections, as well as its Metropolis and Shorts lineups.

In DOC NYCs U.S. Competition, the grand jury prize was awarded to Once Upon a Time in Uganda (pictured), directed by Cathryne Czubek, co-directed by Hugo Perez, and produced by Czubek, Perez, Gigi Dement, Matt Porwoll and Kyaligamba Ark Martin. The film is about the friendship between a Ugandan filmmaker and American film programmer, as they make movies with minimal resources. Special mention was given to the film Refuge.

TheInternational Competition grand jury prize was awarded to On the Other Side, directed by Ivn Guarnizo and produced by Jorge Caballero. Guarnizos mother was abducted by FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) for 603 days during its conflict with the Colombian state. She spoke fondly of one particular guerrilla before her death, and Guarnizos film covers his search with his brother for this person, using their mothers journal. After the Rain received a special mention from the jury as well.

The Kaleidoscope section features essayistic and formally adventurous documentaries. The grand jury prize in this section went to Nude at Heart, directed by Yoichiro Okutani, and produced by Asako Fujioka and Eric Nyari. The film looks at the lives of Odoriko dancers performing in Japans variety theatres. A special mention went to the film Nothing But the Sun.

The festivals Metropolis section recognizes films dedicated to stories about New Yorkers and New York City. The sections grand jury prize winner is Hold Your Fire, about the longest hostage siege in New York City history. The film is directed by Stefan Forbes and produced by Tia Wou, Fab Five Freddy and Amir Soltani. A special mention went to the film Charm Circle.

The Short Sections grand jury prize recognized Nasir, directed by Nasir Bailey and Jackson Kroopf, and produced by Kroopf. By winning, Nasir qualifies for consideration in the documentary short subject category at the Academy Awards. The sections special mention went to the film American Scar.

Films from the Short List: Features were also recognized by two juries of filmmaker peers from a field of titles that the DOC NYC programming team considers to be strong awards season contenders this year. The Short List: Features films were eligible for awards in directing, producing, cinematography and editing. The Short List: Shorts films, also considered awards contenders, were eligible for a directing award.

In DOC NYCs Short List: Features section, the directing award was presented to In the Same Breath filmmaker Nanfu Wang, which looks at the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The producing award was presented to Flee, produced by Monica Hellstrom, Signe Byrge Srensenand Charlotte De La Gournerie, an animated documentary about a boy who relied on human smugglers to reach Denmark after leaving Afghanistan.

Ascension director and editor Jessica Kingdon received the editing award for her film about Chinas industrial supply chain. And Jessica Beshir received the cinematography award for her film Faya Dayi, which follows the stimulant leaf khat from harvest to consumption in Harar, Ethiopia.

DOC NYC also awarded a special jury prize for cultural treasures to Summer of Soul ( Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), directed by Ahmir Questlove Thompson, and produced by Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein.

In the Short List: Shorts section, Dont Go Tellin Your Momma, directed by rubberband and Topaz Jones received the directing award. Meanwhile, TheQueen of Basketball, directed by Ben Proudfoot, won a special jury mention.

DOC NYC also released the winner of The Redford Center and IF/Then Shorts nature access pitch contest, which celebrates stories spotlighting spending time outdoors. Between Earth and Sky, directed by Andrew Nadkarni, and pitched by Nadkarni and producer Swetha Regunathan, won the competition and will receive a $25,000 production grant and a year of wraparound mentorship from IF/Then Shorts.

The festivals in-person portion will continue through Nov. 18, including a closing night screening of The First Wave. Online screenings run through Nov. 28.

Audience Award voting at DOC NYC will continue through Nov. 18, with the winner announced on Nov. 19.

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Once Upon a Time in Uganda, Ascension among 2021 DOC NYC award winners - Realscreen

Staff Report| Gonzales Weekly Citizen

Brandon Trosclair, an Ascension Parish business owner who operates 15 grocery stores in Louisiana and Mississippi, has made national headlines after mounting a legal challenge to the Biden administration's vaccine mandate for larger businesses.

The USA Today, which shares the parent company Gannett with this publication, published a Nov. 10 opinion article contributed by Trosclair.

A previous Republican candidate for the Louisiana House of Representatives, Trosclair owns and operates the two Ralph's Market stores along Hwy. 44 just north and south of Gonzales, as well as the two Butcher Boy stores in Plaquemine and Donaldsonville.

A second-generation grocer, Trosclair acquired several stores in the New Orleans area over the summer.

President Joe Biden announced that the federal government will mandate COVID-19 vaccines for companies with 100 or more employees, a move thatprompted a challenge from Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.

A federal appeals court temporarily halted the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more employees on Nov. 6.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to bevaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly testing.

In the USA Today opinion piece, Trosclair stated he is "grateful to be living the American dream" as a business owner.

He went on to praise the hundreds of employees who showed up to their jobs to serve customers "every day in the face of a scary, unknown virus."

"I am humbled to employ hundreds of these heroes. It is no small thingfor me to be able tohelp their families live out their own versions of the American dream. But now I am faced with an incomprehensible choiceimposed upon me by the federal government: Force these workers, whose dedication and skills have fueled my businesssuccess, to take a COVID-19 vaccine, submit to weekly testing at either my or their expense or show them the door," Trosclair stated.

Later in the opinion article, he pointed out that the American dream is not just about a good job to provide families with a good life, but also about individual freedoms.

"As a business leader in my community and the head of our company, I must fight against this administrations misguided attempts to take those dreams away," he concluded.

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Ascension Parish business owner featured in USA Today opinion section - Weekly Citizen

Staff Report| Gonzales Weekly Citizen

The Ascension Parish Library will host a Grow With Google virtual workshop on using YouTube to grow business.

Participants will discover best practices for creating a YouTube Channel and compelling video content that promotes products and drives engagement. Topics of discussion also include understanding different video formats and how to target and measure results.

The seminar, at noon Dec. 2, will be led by a Google-supported trainer. Advance registration is required. Visit Ascension Parish Librarys Business Resource Center website at aplbusinessresource.com and click on the banner to register online. Once registered, you will receive an email with more information on how to join the webinar, hosted on GoToWebinar. For further assistance, call the library at (225) 647-3955.

Use YouTube to Grow Your Business is sponsored by Ascension Parish Library and co-sponsored by a Libraries Lead with Digital Skills grant through the Grow with Google Partner Program and the Public Library Association. Ascension Parish Library is a Silver partner with the Grow with Google Partner Program. This program helps organizations host trainings for local business owners on how to use digital tools to be successful online and ensures that the opportunities created by technology are available to everyone.

Library to close for Thanksgiving

The Ascension Parish Library will be closed Nov. 25 and 26 for Thanksgiving.

LEGO Club meets Nov. 29

The Ascension Parish Librarys LEGO Club will meet at 4 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Dutchtown branch.

First-time builders and LEGO masters alike will enjoy putting the pieces together and building whatever they imagine. LEGO bricks are provided, and materials and creations must stay at the library. Builders may bring a camera to capture the moment.

LEGO Club is open to kids of all ages. Duplo Blocks and Mega Blocks will be available for younger children. Please note: Contains small parts which present a choking hazard and are not suitable for kids under 3 years.

For more information about this event, call (225) 673-8699 or visit us online at myAPL.org.

Decorate the Kids Tree

Christmas is almost here, and the library is ready to spread some holiday cheer. Kids of all ages are invited to add their creative touch to Ascension Parish Librarys Christmas tree for kids and receive a prize for helping to make it look fun and festive.

Stop by the library any time during the month of December, color an ornament, hang it on our kids tree, and you will get to choose a small prize as a thank you. While youre at the library, sign up for a library card if you dont already have one, and check out the variety of great Christmas themed materials in our collection. The whole family is sure to find something to enjoy. For more information, call your local library location or visit us online at myAPL.org.

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Ascension Parish Library to host YouTube business webinar - Weekly Citizen

DONALDSONVILLE, La. (BRPROUD) The Ascension Parish School Board said yes to a one-time payment for employees in the district.

The payment is for the 2021-22 school year and the school system is providing a breakdown of who will get what and when below:

In a letter sent to employees, Superintendent David Alexander said that each and every one of you is deserving of this one-time payment, which will be distributed in December. You go above and beyond to serve the children in Ascension Parish to ensure they have quality experiences at every touchpoint. What you do absolutely matters!

These eleven Ascension Parish School Board Members approved this one-time payment:

Superintendent Alexander finished the letter by asking everyone to Please be sure to show your appreciation to our Ascension Parish School Board Members for this decision, in addition to the recurring pay increases implemented this past summer, that recognizes your hard work and your essential role in our mission, our vision, and our daily purpose.

Originally posted here:

Ascension Public Schools saying thank you to employees through one-time payment - BRProud.com

GEISMAR, La. (BRPROUD) Two have been arrested in connection to a series of October vehicle burglaries within Ascension Parish.

Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office deputies arrested Eric Troquille, 36, of Gonzales and Natalie Gremillion, 29, of Hessmer on Monday.

According to APSO, deputies responded to vehicle burglaries at two different businesses on Hwy 75 on Oct. 14 and Oct. 17. Handguns were allegedly stolen from vehicles on these dates.

On Oct. 30, deputies responded to a suspected vehicle burglary on Ashland Road where a security guard told authorities that a male allegedly pointed a firearm at him before running into the woods.

Troquille faces charges of 17 counts of simple burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, four counts of theft $1,000, 10 counts of theft of a firearm, five counts theft less than $1,000, seven counts of criminal trespass, aggravated assault with a firearm and attempted burglary.

Gremillionfaces charges of illegal possession of stolen things and theft.

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Two arrested in connection to series of vehicle burglaries in Ascension - BRProud.com

Coming into this season, the Orlando Magic often felt more like a series of questions than a legitimate basketball team. How long will this rebuild take? When are Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz coming back? Whats the future of the veterans on the roster? Can Mo Bamba and WCJ play together? Might RJ Hampton actually be a wing? Will this side ever enter a game as the presumptive favorites?

And the most significant question of all: when is this team going to land a star?

Its a pertinent thing to ask of any team either thinking about or in the midst of a full-scale teardown. Genuine superstar talent is ultimately what creates contenders in the NBA, and for a team racking up losses the best way to acquire such a player is with a pick in the upper echelons of the annual draft.

The Magic are evidently aware of this fact, having made the decision last season to blow up what they had and invest even further in the potential of youth. The team now features six recent lottery picks on the current roster, along with three other players taken in the Drafts first round. However, the front office has never personally wielded a pick higher than fifth in the annual entry event, a fact which theoretically makes nabbing that much-needed franchise-altering talent a slightly more difficult proposition. As such, the search continues.

So we arrive back at the driving question. Where is the star that is going to lead the Magic back to contention? When will the draft gods show mercy on a long-starved franchise and gift them the luck they need to return to relevance?

Or what if they already have? What if instead of inquiring about the stars arrival, we changed the equation and asked instead about the stars ascension? Is there someone already on the roster who could yet rise to the occasion?

Cole Anthony certainly thinks so, and his game is starting to suggest as much, as well.

Anthony endured what was a visibly rocky start to his rookie season, with the young point guard struggling to make efficient contributions to a team that had its sights set on the postseason. Although he opened his career as a reserve, it wasnt long before he was thrust into a much more significant role for the Magic; a cruel season-ending injury to teammate Markelle Fultz presented an early opportunity for Anthony as he was asked to step into the vacated starting backcourt slot in just his ninth game. Unfortunately predictably he wasnt terribly effective before a rib injury forced him to the sidelines for an almost two-month stretch.

This lack of impact across the opening 25 games of his career can largely be attributed to poor shooting numbers. In that time Anthony made just 37.5% of his attempts from the floor, including an unpalatable 32.5% from deep. He also wasnt able to offset this by generating either free-throws or assists, with a miniscule 2.2 attempts from the charity stripe and only 3.8 helpers each night. Some of this was a result of the fact that he was a long way down the pecking order on a roster still dominated by veterans, but it also remained true that he wasnt able to reliably convert in terms of the things that were being asked of him. To watch Cole at the time was to see a player obviously uncomfortable navigating the speed, length and athleticism of the professional game, and it dulled his scoring capacity significantly.

Anthony was only able to return from the injured list with 22 games remaining in the season, at which time he rejoined a team that looked vastly different compared to the one he had last taken the court with. The vast majority of his most talented teammates were now out of the picture, the rebuild in Central Florida finally underway in earnest. As a result Cole found himself suddenly one of the Magics most relied upon players, paradoxically a veteran presence despite being very much still a rookie himself. His natural confidence and positional importance launched him into a significant leadership role, even with very little experience.

Despite the poor team results of the tank job stretch, Anthonys individual play began to flourish in the back half of the season. Like it was pre-All Star break, the determining factor in his performance largely came down to shooting numbers. He pushed his field goal accuracy to 41.7% and his three-point stroke to 34.8%, both major improvements considering the significant increase he also experienced in frequency an extra 2.1 shot attempts each night (despite similar court time) and a usage rate up from 21.5% to 25.8%.

Also significant was the increased aggression he showed in getting into the lane, along with the improved body control he exhibited in those moments. The result was 3.5 free throw attempts each night, a rate more than 50% greater than he had previously been racking up. Consider this alongside the improved finishing numbers and youve got a player who added almost five whole points to both his effective field goal and true shooting percentages, bumping the former to 47.2% and the latter to 51.8%. Both are far from superstar figures, but contextually they represented significant improvement and an upward trajectory for a player still learning the ropes in his rookie campaign.

If visible development was the positive takeaway from Anthonys first year in the big leagues, it would be entirely fair to say that hes seemingly intent on making such an observation part and parcel of his basketball experience. Across 14 games to open the 2021/22 season, the effervescent sophomore has racked up averages of 20.2 points, 5.6 assists and a whopping 6.6 rebounds each night, with 1.5 stocks (combined steals and blocks) for good measure. He has arrived at these on the back of significantly more efficient shooting numbers, converting from the field at a clip of 43.8% and from beyond the arc at a tropical 39.4%. Elsewhere, his trips to the line have also jumped up (4.0 per game on a .260 free throw rate), the net result being that his true shooting percentage has rocketed up to 58.1%. Its the best non-center mark of anyone on Orlandos roster.

That last figure a 58.1% true shooting percentage is of further interest. Its something that Anthony has managed to nudge above the league average, and that looks even more impressive when you isolate just the leagues backcourts. Among all guard-eligible players seeing at least 30 minutes per night, Anthony currently ranks twelfth by true shooting percentage, a smidge behind Chris Paul and James Harden but ahead of names such as Ja Morant, Trae Young, Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, and the Ball brothers, among others. Relatively speaking, Cole is pushing his offensive play into a category somewhere closer to elite than acceptable.

There are still other elements of his game worth noting at this early juncture as well. Although smaller, Anthony is making some strides as a playmaker and game conductor, with a slight hike in his usage rate 25.6% this season compared to 24.3% as a rookie being accompanied by a 2.6% increase in his assist rate (now up to 26.7%) and a 0.2% reduction in his turnover rate (now down to 14.6%). Although slender shifts, theyre complementary numbers that are pushing in the right direction and that speak to an improved read of the game. Anthony has also raised his already impressive rebounding numbers to historically elite levels, with the 6-foot-2 guard swooping up 6.6 caroms each night courtesy of a beastly 20.3% share of all available defensive rebounds thats a rate not far off what Mo Bamba grabs!

Predictably, the advanced metrics love Anthonys game so far this season, particularly when one factors in the handicap he carries as a result of Orlandos shoddy record. Lets rattle off the list: Anthony is currently sporting a PER of 17.8 (2nd on the team), VORP of 0.4 (1st), a 1.7 box plus/minus figure (2nd), a win shares per-48 rate of .111 (4th), and a whopping on-off rating of +32.5 per-100 possessions (1st). The Magic clearly havent been great, but Cole has hardly been the cause. Rather, hes been the closest thing the team has to a dependable star.

Its one thing to notice that a player is making more shots but another to understand why that might be the case. For Anthony, much of it comes from the combination of a recalibrated shot profile and the re-emergence of his shooting stroke.

More important than having simply increased his shot attempts each night is the fact that the second-year guard has committed to stretching opposing defenses out, with almost half of all of his looks this season coming from beyond the arc (109 of 219). Considering the almost 6% increase in accuracy from deep this has been a real boon to his efficiency, and a welcome sight for a team long-starved of long-range threats. Catch-and-shoot triples now make up 28.8% of his overall shot diet (17.2% last season), while pull-up attempts account for a healthy 20.7% (up from 13.0%). Hes also getting way more of them with what NBA tracking categorizes as either open or wide-open defensive attention, with 43.5% of his total attempts each night coming from deep with the nearest defender at least four feet away (compared to just 27.5% last season).

Anthony is also getting up significantly more long range attempts off the bounce, testament to his developing feel for the rhythms of the professional game. Last year he took only 1.5 three point shots per-game after one or more dribbles, a rate he has more than doubled in his second season with 3.2 long-range launches each night coming off the back of a bouncing ball. Its important to note that Anthony has always been more accurate when his shooting motion involves a dribble gather, as opposed to the feet-set mechanics of catch-and-shoot attempts; its a trend that has continued this season, with Cole shooting no less than 40.0% on attempts that are preceded by anywhere from one to seven-plus dribbles. Hes noticeably comfortable hunting for his own shot with the ball in hand, particularly on hard-left drives and feints that create a little separation between him and his defender.

Speaking of his dribbling, its also clear that Anthony is a more assured ball handler in just his second year. Hes always had an impressive set of heels, but hes making much more effective use of angles, opportunities and tempo variation this season. Hell frequently use a burst of speed to get his direct opponent back-pedaling, before slamming on the breaks and settling into a balanced pull-up jumper on the perimeter or in the extended mid-range. Hes active in hunting out switches, with a demonstrated ability to roast any slow-footed bigs who happen to find themselves temporarily adrift from their preferred assignment. And now that his three-pointer is falling theres an uncertainty as to what hell pull from the bag of tricks next, gifting him the opportunity to simply select the right option when the opponent commits too far in one direction.

During the seasons early stages Anthony has also been significantly better at finishing in the areas around the hoop. He has connected on 60.0% of his attempts at the rim, as well as an enormously improved 41.9% of shots in the 3 to 10 foot range; the eye test screams of a floater game that is more effective this year, with the crafty use of his body to create space and soft banks off glass now peppering his resume. Last season, particularly early, Cole appeared to only really be looking to attack seams at speed, a straight line drive that was frequently stymied in the painted area by aware help rotations. This years version of the young point guard is a little less predictable and, as a result, a whole lot more impactful.

Some of this extra juice is a result of the effective two-man game that is emerging between Anthony and Wendell Carter Jr. There were flashes of this post-trade last season, but across the first 14 games this duo is emerging as the teams primary cog on offense. There is no one on the side that Cole dishes the ball too more frequently than WCJ, with 12.9 passes per game, or 21.4% of all Anthony passes, going to the big man; likewise, Carter Jr. puts the ball directly in Anthonys hands 19.5 times each night, a whopping 28.0% of all passes that are directed towards Anthony. When these guys share the court, the offense is essentially funneled through the pair.

Interestingly, the passes that come from WCJ result in 3.3 shots each night for the young point guard, attempts on which Anthony is currently shooting 48.8% from the floor, including 51.4% on those within the arc. It speaks to the burgeoning effectiveness of their pick-and-roll game, with Cole benefiting from the solid contact his teammate is routinely able to establish on screens; space and separation creates opportunity, and Anthony is finding ways to exploit this for shots, assists, and give-and-go chances. Hes currently generating 0.92 points per possession as the ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations, a figure that places him in the 65th percentile league-wide. WCJ, by comparison, is at 1.10 points as the roll man, a 44th percentile mark that isnt great but that paces the Magic bigs by a country mile (for reference, Bamba currently ranks in the shield your eyes! 2nd percentile). These individual figures arent exclusive to the pair as a duo, but they certainly are each others most frequent dance partner.

(A side note and something worth monitoring: Franz Wagner is currently posting an absurd 1.10 points per-possession when asked to handle the ball in the pick-and-roll. Its something hes done only 26 times so far, but that rate places him in the 89th percentile league-wide. As David Steele might ask, is this anything?)

In terms of Anthonys scoring theres one other interesting observation to note at this early juncture. Hes currently producing 1.06 points per possession when attacking out of isolation, a strong figure that sits just outside the top 25 league-wide (when you isolate the numbers for those with a decent volume of attempts). Its currently being buoyed by a sky-high free throw rate in such circumstances 19.0%, ninth behind foul-drawing savants like James Harden and Joel Embiid among the 88 players who have generated at least 10 such play types this season. However, its worth noting that Coles field goal percentage in such instances isnt as comparatively strong, with 41.7% shooting from the field combining with his three-point proclivities for a 50.0% effective field goal percentage in isolation sequences. Interestingly, that does still rank thirty-sixth among the qualified players, a decent result for what is a difficult shot type.

Now, these isolation figures are being drawn from an obviously volatile small sample size. But Anthonys early success suggests that its an arrow in his quiver that he could be well-served by unknocking more frequently. As it stands, Cole is only averaging 1.2 isolation plays per night, a number that accounts for just 6.2% of all his shooting possessions. This is a rate that ranks 82nd among the 88 qualified players, behind others like Cade Cunningham, Dennis Schroder, Anthony Edwards, and Jrue Holiday, each of whom have been woefully inefficient by comparison. Maybe theres something to be said for the Magic letting Cole cook a little more often.

If the obvious area of improvement to Anthonys offensive game is his scoring punch, its his passing chops that are developing in a slightly more subtle manner. The sophomores reputation is definitely as a score-first point guard, but there has been some growth evident in his play that suggests this definition is a bit too narrow.

Across the seasons first 14 contests Anthony has raised his nightly assist numbers to 5.6 per game, up from 4.1 as a rookie. He has bumped his assist rate up to 26.7% this year (from 24.1%), while nudging his turnover rate down ever so slightly (from 14.8% to 14.6%). Some of this improvement is simply equal parts court time and increased responsibilities, as evidenced by the relatively static figures achieved per-36 minutes (5.5 assists this year compared to 5.4 as a rookie) and per-100 possessions stats (7.4 assists compared to 7.3). However, theres a developing nuance to his quarterbacking skills evident when watching him play that simply wasnt there as a rookie.

Anthonys feel for the professional game is rightfully improving as he gains experience, and its resulting in more assured and incisive play as a point guard. In the same way that a growing ability to read the floor has aided his scoring, so too has it started to unlock him as a passer; nowhere is this more evident than in his drive-and-kick game. Cole has shown a knack in knowing when to accelerate towards the paint in a way that forces the help defender to commit, at which point he can simply swing the ball to a waiting and willing shooter on the wing picture Franz Wagner lurking below the break and youve got it.

According to Basketball Reference, Anthonys 67 assists on the season thus far have generated 176 points for the Magic, a clip of 2.63 points per successful helper that highlights his increasing ability to find this exact type of shot for his teammates. By way of comparison, the 192 assists he totaled last year generated 457 points for Orlando, a number which equates to just 2.38 points per dime. One might be able to argue that Cole is primarily tallying more assists because the ball is in his hands more frequently, sure, but a deeper dive into the numbers suggests that his assists are simply more valuable so far this season.

There are other elements to Anthonys passing game that indicate hes headed in the right direction. Hes averaging fewer seconds per possession (5.13 to 6.00), taking less dribbles per touch (4.58 to 5.67), and simply moving the ball more frequently than he did last season (60.5 passes each night compared to 42.8). None of these are necessarily indicators of an effective passing game, but they certainly speak to a player who is both a more willing facilitator and a more decisive decision maker with the ball in hand. Its an approach to the game that stands to benefit any young point guard.

So what exactly have the Magic got in Cole Anthony?

Is he a scoring-oriented combo guard destined for a career of providing offensive punch off the bench? Or is he the type of dynamic playmaker that could be one of the key cogs on a serious playoff contender?

Are his numbers through fourteen games this year the result of his playing a massive role for a bad team? Or should they rightfully catapult him into the discussion for the Most Improved Player award?

Moving forward, is he a nice complementary piece to have around or an essential part of Orlandos long-term foundation?

As is so often the case in the NBA, no one can know for certain and we wont find out for a while anyway. Still, with the offensive ascension Anthony has been able to demonstrate already, it feels like theres a real chance that his star shines brightly for this franchise long into the future.

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The offensive ascension of Cole Anthony - Orlando Pinstriped Post

Courtesy/Villa Franciscan Place - Joliet

Ascension Living Villa Franciscan Place, a skilled nursing facility located at 210 North Springfield Avenue in Joliet, has been named by U.S. News and World Report as one of Americas Best Short-term Rehabilitation Centers. U.S. News and World Report identified the Best Nursing Homes for 2020-21 after evaluating more than 15,000 sites nationwide, in every state and nearly 100 major metropolitan areas.

This designation is a testament to the dedication, personalized care and service provided by every member of the Ascension Living Villa Franciscan Place team who are driven by a commitment to delivering quality care and living out our mission, said Danny Stricker, president, Ascension Living. It truly is an honor to have Villa Franciscan Place as one of the 13 of our communities nationally recognized by this leading publication.

The 12th edition of the U.S. News Best Nursing Homes merges extensive information about care, COVID-19 vaccination requirements for residents and staff, flu and pneumonia vaccination rates, and infection control performance. This years methodology includes an emphasis on skilled nursing facilities meeting certain standards of resident safety. These standards include a minimum threshold for the staff COVID-19 vaccination rate, appropriate use of antipsychotic drugs and visits to the emergency department, among other criteria.

U.S. News takes pride in providing relevant, up-to-date information when making any sort of healthcare decision, said Zach Adams, health data engineer at U.S. News. Profiles now include resident and staff COVID-19 vaccination rates alongside information on how to pay for a facility. This important information can help families, residents and caregivers make a decision that keeps safety and accessibility at the highest priority.

To learn more about Ascension Living Villa Franciscan Place, visit ascensionliving.org/villafranciscan.

Ascension Press Release

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Ascension Living Villa Franciscan Place Named to Best Nursing Homes List - 1340 WJOL - 1340 WJOL