Watercooler Stories

Woman holds 'hire me' sign at Obama speech

NEW YORK, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A New York woman who lost her job on the day of President Barack Obama's visit to the city stood among the crowd with a "hire me" sign.

Jennifer Flowers, 41, of Westchester said she was laid off at 9:30 a.m. Monday, only hours before President Barack Obama was due to give a speech on the economy at Federal Hall in New York's Manhattan borough, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

"The fact is, I needed to do something," Flowers said. She purchased poster board and markers from a drugstore near her former office and created a sign reading: "LAID OFF TODAY 9:30 A.M. HIRE ME."

Flowers stood with her sign in the crowd listening to Obama speak.

"I didn't want to just go home. I stayed out there and did something that made me feel productive," said Flowers, who said she voted for Obama and supports his economic reforms. "I have no experience making signs. I'm not a protester, I've never done anything like this before."

Flowers -- among 12 people laid off from the Council on Accreditation, which evaluates and certifies non-profits -- said her only regret about the experience is not putting her qualifications or contact information on the sign for prospective employers to spot.

City refuses kite-flying regulation

NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 16 (UPI) -- City officials in Norfolk, Va., say they are refusing to regulate kite flying on city property, despite a 1953 law banning it.

The Norfolk City Council declined a request from city staffers Tuesday to regulate kite and model airplane flying on city property, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday.

Council members said they opposed the proposal because it would have effectively banned the bucolic pastime in areas not specifically named in the legislation.

"I'm not going to oppose kids trying fly a kite on the beach," Councilman W. Randy Wright said.

But Assistant City Manager Stanley Stein said kite flying on city property has been banned since 1953. Officials said no one knows the reason the ordinance was adopted and it is rarely enforced.

Suit: Wedding ad features girl, uncle

NEW YORK, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A New York teenager is suing a wedding hall and bridal shop for allegedly using pictures of her with an uncle in wedding advertisements.

Katelyn Aviles, 17, said The Sanz banquet hall and Margie's Bridal have been distributing fliers featuring a picture of her with her uncle, Anthony Cabrera, at her sweet 16 party, the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.

Aviles said the fliers gave the impression that she and her uncle were a couple preparing for marriage. She said her party was not held at The Sanz and she does not know how the businesses obtained the photograph.

The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, was filed Tuesday at the city Supreme Court.

Soldier's family wrongly informed of death

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y., Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A New York state couple say they are searching for answers after they were mistakenly told their son had died serving in Afghanistan.

Raymond and Robin Jasper of Niagara Falls said they received a phone call Sunday from a civilian liaison in Duluth, Minn., they had previously spoken with informing them that their son, Army Sgt. Jesse Jasper, 26, had been killed in Afghanistan during the weekend, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News reported Wednesday.

The couple said they returned home and began spreading word of their son's death to family and friends. However, they said a Facebook posting in memorial of Jesse caught the attention of his girlfriend, who immediately called the soldier's parents.

"She said, 'He's not dead, he's not dead, I just talked to him (earlier Sunday). I just got off the phone with him,'" Robin Jasper said. The Jaspers said they called an Army captain who knew their son and confirmed he was alive and well.

She said she talked with her son Monday and he expressed anger about what happened and planned to address the matter with his commander.

The family also is demanding answers from the military and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has voiced his support for the Jaspers.