Although a final tally for the weekend is pending, the total for Saturday and Sunday is at least 3,500 more than in 2009 and roughly 1,000 more than in 2008, said Mike Geddry Sr., Museum of Flight president and air show organizer.

Last year, in a change from the past, the Santa Maria Museum of Flight’s annual show had to do without the aerial demonstrations of modern and classic warbirds for which the event has become known. Organizers said they were unable to secure the required federal waivers in time.

However, this year the aerial spectacular returned, albeit in a truncated form from what had been scheduled.  Previously arranged demonstrations, such as an Air Force C-17, were canceled by the military or pulled to other shows, and armed forces regulations coupled with Federal Aviation Administration requirements cut into the air show’s flights.  “It hurt us,” Geddry said.

For next year, Geddry pledged to get more warbirds in the air.  The 2011 show will be dedicated to 100 years of naval aviation, Geddry said.

Despite the red tape hassles, Geddry said there are positives to fall back on.  “There was a lot of good things that came out of this,” Geddry said, “besides the bumps.”

Geddry was particularly thankful for the hundreds of volunteers from the community who staffed the show.  “All the volunteers did great,” he said.

About $15,000 in total income was raised, but a profit has yet to be determined, Geddry said.  Profits go back into the museum and are split between the general fund for renovations and into a fund for the air show.

The 21st edition of the event was specifically dedicated to the U.S. Coast Guard and a C-130 Hercules cargo plane crew the Coast Guard lost in an October 2009 crash with a Marine Corps Super Cobra helicopter over the Pacific Ocean in Southern California.

Santa Maria’s air show is unique as it is dedicated annually to veterans and active-duty men and women of the armed forces and their sacrifices for our freedom, Geddry said.

Santa Maria Times | Posted: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 12:00 am

Likewise, military members standing beside the planes and helicopters that they fly were excited to be at the show, explaining their work to wide-eyed youngsters at the Santa Maria Public Airport.

Mike Geddry Sr., Santa Maria Museum of Flight president and air show organizer, said that few planes took to the air Saturday because of various issues that kept aircraft on the ground.  However, Geddry estimated that 4,000 attendees turned out to take in the annual show, viewing planes on static display, sampling food from vendors and checking out informational booths.

About 40 aircraft, some based as far away as Canada, sat on the asphalt Saturday on the south side of the airfield.

The air show continues from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. today with more flight demonstrations and events. To reach the air show, take Highway 135 to Foster Road and turn right on South Blosser Road.  Admission costs $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 7 to 12 years old, $15 for families and free for military personnel with identification.

Geddry said that one plane expected to fly Saturday had mechanical troubles. All C-17s were grounded because of the crash of a similar plane in Alaska during a training exercise, and the national Coast Guard commander pulled all Coast Guard aircraft from air shows and other public demonstrations.

This year’s Thunder Over the Valley paid special tribute to the Coast Guard.

The Santa Maria show is not about putting planes in the air or making money, Geddry noted.  “It’s about honoring our military and veterans,” he said.

A “Seahawk” Naval helicopter out of San Diego drew the attention of several people, including a little boy who sat in the cockpit, fiddling with the aircraft’s instruments and asking the sailors questions.

One of the crew, Chief John Myrbeck, said Seahawks are typically used for surveillance, and that particular helicopter was involved in training.  Myrbeck helped monitor the children as they explored the aircraft.  “Some of the kids get pretty amped up,” he said.

Myrbeck said he attended air shows as a child with his father, who was in the Air Force, and still enjoys going to them as an adult.  He said many attendees at Saturday’s event were appreciative, thanking military members for their service.

A C-130 cargo plane with the Kentucky Air Guard was packed inside with visitors.  Lt. Col. Rick Shelton said that while that plane was built in 1991, C-130s were first manufactured in 1954 and are the military plane to be the longest in production.  The planes carry out a variety of tasks, he said, including dropping food and equipment.  “This one’s probably going to Afghanistan in a couple months,” Shelton said.

Another hit with those who came to the air show was a sleek-looking F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet out of Lemoore Naval Air Station.

The Gibson family from Santa Maria attended their first Thunder Over the Valley air show on Saturday.  Andy Gibson’s toddler son hurried ahead with mom in tow to look at more planes, as Andy explained the family interest in planes.  “I’m an aerospace engineer, so he has an interest by default,” Gibson said.  Gibson, who is normally involved in the design phase of planes, said he enjoys seeing the finished products.

The Hollon family from Santa Maria also attended the air show for the first time.  “I think that’s really neat that it’s hands-on for the kids,” said Breann Hollon, adding the display provided a good opportunity to teach her children about history.

Posted in Local on Sunday, August 29, 2010 12:15 am

Because of a crash of a similar aircraft in Alaska during a training exercise for an air show in July, all C-17s have been grounded from public demonstrations pending the conclusion of an investigation, said Lt. Col. Ben Hackworth of March Air Reserve Base in Riverside.  “It’s extremely disappointing,” Hackworth, a 26-year Air Force veteran, said of the news given to the crew Friday morning.

However, the Globemaster III plane from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing will be on static display for air show attendees.

Capable of carrying 180,000 pounds of cargo, the C-17 is a nimble aircraft, said Lt. Col. Tim Harris.  “It flies like a little plane,” said Harris, a 24-year Air Force veteran.

One of his C-17 flights included carrying killer whale Keiko of the movie “Free Willy.”

Hackworth and Harris are two of the original 12 Air Force C-17 pilots, said Lt. Col. Stu Rodriguez.  The flight from their home base in Riverside took a mere 35 minutes Friday.

Three pilots and three loadmasters are part of the C-17 crew here for the air show.

Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday, the 21st edition of the event is specifically dedicated to the U.S. Coast Guard and a C-130 Hercules cargo plane crew the Coast Guard lost in an October 2009 crash with a Marine Corps Super Cobra helicopter over the Pacific Ocean in Southern California.

Coast Guard aircraft had been scheduled to participate in the air show, but the national Coast Guard commander has pulled all Coast Guard aircraft from air shows and other public demonstrations, according to Mike Geddry Sr., Museum of Flight president and air show organizer.

Geddry’s decision to keep working the phones paid off Friday with a brief visit from an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, the Coast Guard version of the Army’s Blackhawk chopper.  The visit was made in part by the work of a Santa Maria native.  Petty Officer Matthew Schofield, a public affairs officer, was able to get a San Diego-based Jayhawk crew to fly up for a tri-tip barbecue. 

“I don’t know if anyone has had [tri-tip],” Schofield, a 1996 Righetti High School graduate, said of the volunteer crew.  That the show is dedicated to the Coast Guard is a big honor, he said.  “It shows the city of Santa Maria opens its arms to us,” he said.

Santa Maria’s air show is unique as it is dedicated annually to veterans and active duty men and women of the armed forces and their sacrifices for our freedom.

Posted in Local on Saturday, August 28, 2010 12:28 am

Last year, in a change from the past, the Santa Maria Museum of Flight’s annual show had to do without the aerial demonstrations of modern and classic warbirds for which the event has become known. Organizers said they were unable to secure the required federal waivers in time.

However, this year the aerial spectacular will return, including aircraft from Canada’s air force and a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, a 174-foot-long cargo plane, according to Mike Geddry Sr., Museum of Flight president and air show organizer.

Also expected are a Marine Corps AV-8 Harrier jump jet, Marine Corps helicopters, Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighters, and a Navy E-2C Hawkeye, an early warning and control aircraft.

Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the 21st edition of the event is specifically dedicated to the U.S. Coast Guard and a C-130 Hercules cargo plane crew the Coast Guard lost in an October 2009 crash with a Marine Corps Super Cobra helicopter over the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, he said.

However, Geddry has been told the national Coast Guard commander has pulled all Coast Guard aircraft from air shows and other public demonstrations.  “It would have been nice to have them,” Geddry said. Undaunted by the news, Geddry said he will not give up on an appearance by the Coast Guard aircraft until 4 p.m. Sunday.

Santa Maria’s air show is unique as it is dedicated annually to veterans and active duty men and women of the armed forces and their sacrifices for our freedom, Geddry said.

New to the show is a Saturday concert, scheduled from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m., of patriotic music performed by the Central Coast Gazebo Band.

The museum at 3015 Airpark Drive is dedicated to collecting, developing and preserving artifacts related to aviation history.

A fundraiser tri-tip cook-off for the museum, hosted by members of The Society of Petroleum Engineers, is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the museum. The cook-off, which is open to the public, will cost $25 per plate.

For more information, call the museum at 922-8758.

Posted: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 11:20 pm

Sponsored by the Santa Maria Museum of Flight

Honoring U.S. Coast Guard Aviation

10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Santa Maria Public Airport

Military demonstration teams, special exhibits, military and warbird static displays, souvenir and food vendors, Kiddie Corral

For inquires:  Contact the Museum of Flight at (805) 922-8758.

Real-time flight information, weather updates, and the latest news and sports scores for airline passengers are coming to the Santa Maria Public Airport.

Known as the ProDIGIQ system, the airport TV network is meant to keep passengers in the airport terminal informed on the status of their flights while providing news, weather, and sports reports. There will also be a link on the airport’s website for up-to-the-minute arrival and departure flight information.

Advertising space for sale is also a component of ProDIGIQ.

A meeting with the Calabasas-based vendor is scheduled in about a week to hash out the installation schedule, said Chris Hastert, airport general manager.

The Santa Maria Public Airport District Board of Directors approved the $27,000 purchase of the system hardware, licensed software, a 4- inch HDTV, two years of service, support fees and other costs, Thursday in a 4-1 vote.

Director Chuck Damiano, who cast the dissenting vote, said he believes revenues generated by advertising on the system won’t recover the costs spent by the district, and the money could have been better spent.

At the moment, there is a small computer monitor with a single page of flight schedules near the United Airlines check-in counter, while the passenger waiting area in the terminal, also known as the hold room, has two TV sets with flight schedules and news programming from Dish Network.

The new 48-inch screen will be installed in the check-in counter area, and one of the screens in the hold room will stay tuned to Dish Network news content, Hastert said.

Keeping passengers informed on the timing of their flights should ease their fears of late or delayed flights, Hastert said.

Santa Maria Airport, also called SMX, will become the second Central Coast airport and the sixth nationwide with ProDIGIQ.

The system is currently in place at Santa Barbara Airport, and airports in Redding; Medford, Ore.; Missoula, Mont.; and Elmira, N.Y.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Nipomo resident Vance Breese almost died 15 years ago while attempting to set a land speed record on a streamliner motorcycle. Years later, he has recovered and can be seen in area skies piloting a unique experimental gyroplane aircraft with his girlfriend, Edna. The two have plans to fly cross county in a new gyroplane in the coming years and create a book about their experiences.

When the Santa Maria Times wrote about local pilot and former motorcycle racer Vance Breese more than two years ago, the Nipomo resident had recently received medical clearance to pilot an experimental gyroplane. He was content learning how to fly his unique aircraft on solo trips around the Central Coast.

In the years since, however, Breese — who lost vision in his left eye and suffered a brain injury in a high-speed crash 15 years ago — earned a full-fledged pilot’s license in the summer of 2008 and the right to legally carry passengers. And that’s a good thing, because Breese and his girlfriend, Edna Arlt, are pursuing a dream of flying cross-country in a new gyroplane that they are designing and building with the help of friends.

Their goal is to arrange a publishing deal before the journey and create a coffee table book about their adventures along the way, documenting what they call a “Route 66 in the sky.”

Breese and Arlt, who had been a couple years earlier, reunited shortly after Arlt read that article about Breese in the Times in January 2008.  When Breese invited Arlt to the Santa Maria Airport to see the gyroplane at his hangar, Arlt was not impressed.  “I thought he was insane,” she said with a laugh. “It doesn’t even look like it can fly.”

Gyroplanes, also known as autogyros, are a type of aircraft with an unpowered rotor for lift and an engine-powered propellor for thrust. Developed in the 1920s by a Spanish engineer, gyroplanes have a small but devout following in the U.S. and abroad.

Despite her initial misgivings, Arlt eventually became a gyroplane convert and is now just as passionate about the machine as Breese is. During their flights in the two-seater, Arlt snaps pictures from her bird’s-eye view behind the pilot’s seat, listens for any unusual rumblings from the craft and works as a spotter, alerting Breese to other pilots in their immediate air space.

“We’ve had some close calls,” Arlt said, adding “we’re kind of small up there and blend into the sky.”

A bright color scheme for higher visibility is one of a litany of improvements Breese and Arlt have in store for the new version of their gyroplane. The updated machine will replace the Predator, which Breese purchased from a friend in the fall of 2007.

Breese, an engineer at heart and the son of Vance Breese Sr., a renowned pilot who tested many of the planes flown by the Allies in World War II, is excited to shepherd his new gyroplane from the design stage to reality.  “It will be a better machine in a lot of ways,” he said, noting that the navigation systems and additional creature comforts will make the open-cockpit vehicle, tentatively named the Mariah Gale, that much more enjoyable to fly.

Breese recently turned 61 and considers himself incredibly lucky to be alive and pursuing his passion for flying.

Doctors once thought he’d barely be able to walk and talk after his crash in 1995, which occurred at more than 260 miles per hour as he was trying to set a land-speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on a specialized motorcycle called a streamliner.  He credits Jodi House, a treatment center in Solvang for people with brain injuries, with helping him find ways to cope with the frustrations of living with disabilities resulting from his crash. Those include difficulty multitasking and speech aphasia, a language impairment that sometimes leaves Breese searching for the right words to express himself. 

“I feel very grateful,” Breese said, adding that his survival and recovery are due to a combination of determination and luck.   “A lot of people I raced with are dead or crippled and can’t do the things I’m doing,” Breese said. “I try to spend time each day being grateful for the gifts I have.”

After owning the Santa Maria Harley Davidson dealership for more than a decade, then developing and marketing software to help other motorcycle dealers run their businesses more efficiently, Breese is looking forward to the freedom and adventure of the cross-country journey he and Arlt are planning.

They are plotting a coast-to-coast itinerary that includes aviation events, visits to small regional airports and a lot of reunions with friends and fellow gyroplane enthusiasts.  Breese expects to complete his new gyroplane within a year. The couple wants to set out on their cross-country odyssey no later than the summer of 2012.

“It’s got romance. It’s got old people having fun. It’s got impossible dreams,” Breese said.   “How could it not work?”

By Mark Brown / Staff Writer / mbrown@santamariatimes.com

Posted: Monday, August 2, 2010

By Julian J. Ramos

Nearly 70 Marines from Camp Pendleton are among the newest fans of Santa Maria-style barbeque.

Members of the Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 were the guests of honor Tuesday at the Santa Maria Museum of Flight for a barbeque that doubles as a “thank you” for their service.

The Marines landed at the Santa Maria Public Airport in a dozen helicopters made up of CH-46 Sea Knights, AH-1W Super Cobras, and UH-1Y Yankees.

Capt. Jason Harris of HMM(T)-164, a Sea Knight transport helicopter pilot, said the tri-tip sandwich lunch was a welcome diversion from the daily routine.  “It’s always great to see a sign of support from the public,” the Orange County native and a veteran of three Iraq tours said shortly after entering the museum to a standing ovation from the crowd that included Major Larry Lavagnino.

The trip up the coast to Santa Maria served as a reward for the hard work of support crews who make flying helicopter possible, said Capt. Chris Cayere of HMLA-169, a Yankee utility helicopter pilot from Oakland.  In the Marines for five years, Cayere has served one tour in Afghanistan.

Most of the Marines, 60 of them, were from HMLA-169 – a squadron scheduled for a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in November.

Pfc. Erik Everard, a Michigan native who works as an avionics technician with HMLA-169, had never flown in a helicopter until the trip from San Diego County to Santa Maria.  Everard, in the marines for less than two years, had never tasted Santa Maria-style barbeque before Tuesday either.  “Fantastic!” he said of Santa Maria’s signature meal.

July 28, 2010

With less money coming in from the city, the Santa Maria Museum of Flight is looking to add events to boost its attendance and revenues.  In the current fiscal year, which began July 1, the museum will receive $15,000 from Santa Maria’s General Fund — $8,960 or 37 percent less than last year.

Despite losing funding, Museum of Flight President, Mike Geddry Sr. is confident the museum can withstand any financial trouble and will not fail for a lack of local interest.   “It could never happen,” he said this week of operating the museum without community support.

Since 1991, municipal financial support to the museum has come from the city’s General Fund —  which includes public safety, libraries, recreation and parks, and general government spending — rather than from transient occupancy tax (TOT) receipts.  Per the city code, funding for the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Santa Maria Valley Historical Society and Museum has been tied to a portion of TOT revenues.  Both entities also have seen their city contributions shrink this year, which mirrors a TOT drop of about 12 percent compared to the previous year.

Better known as the “bed tax,” the 10-percent tariff is charged to visitors as part of the cost of a hotel room.  Through June 30, 2011, the city expects to collect just over $2 million in bed tax, 12 percent less than a year earlier.  Overall, municipal contributions to outside agencies have shrunk by 6 percent — similar to departmental budget reductions across all city departments.

Unlike other museums in the city, Geddry said, the Museum of Flight has no resources such as grants and endowments to fall back on.

The museum at 3015 Airpark Drive is dedicated to collecting, developing and preserving artifacts related to the city’s aviation history.

Geddry also said he doesn’t like taking money away from the city’s General Fund that could go toward employees, and strives to give the city a return on its investment, with the philosophy of giving back $5 for every $1 given.  Instead of General Fund money, Geddry has suggested a funding switch from the General Fund to a percent of TOT receipts and working with the chamber to bring in tourism and boost TOT revenues.

The museum draws visitors from outside the state and country, Geddry said, and there are plans in the works to attract tour bus stops with overnight stays in the city. 

The annual Thunder Over the Valley air show, scheduled from Aug. 27 to 29, is the largest event at the airport, and is expected to draw up to 10,000 spectators for the weekend.  Despite significant growth in airshow attendance over the past five years or so, the event has yet to turn a profit since 2005. 

In 2009, the nonprofit museum saw about 6,000 visitors.

The historical society is also dealing with the funding cut by raising money to cover its deficit.  While grateful to the city for its years of support, the effect of the reduction has been crippling, said Richard Chenoweth, historical society director. If the group can’t narrow its deficit, hours at the museum at 616 S. Broadway could be slashed, he said.  For the year, the historical society will also receive $15,000, just like the Museum of Flight, a cut of $8,960.  The council also allocated $15,000 to the group last year instead of a small percentage of bed tax.

Fundraisers have included an “Evening with Jane Russell” program in June and the organization is selling a block of tickets for “Songs for a New World,” a Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts production next month on the Hancock College campus.  Also, members have been asked to give extra donations, and the drive has been successful,  Chenoweth said.

The Chamber of Commerce won’t see as much of a change as other agencies because its budget is in step with and adjusted according to TOT figures from the previous year, said Bob Hatch, president and CEO of the chamber.  When bed tax money goes up, its funding goes up, and accordingly it goes down when there is less, he said.  The chamber’s portion of bed tax funding is based on a formula of the original 8-percent bed tax and the additional 2 percent tax. The city gets the bulk of the first part of the bed tax, while the chamber gets a sizable share of the second part, Hatch said.

Santa Maria Administrative Services Director Rene Vise said the chamber gets 20 percent of the initial 8 percent of the TOT and the economic development contract receives 8.5 percent of the 8 percent of TOT.   Of the remaining 2 percent of the bed tax, the chamber gets 70 percent.

For the current fiscal year and the second consecutive year, the chamber also voluntarily took a funding cut, matching city department reductions in the municipal budget.  “We thought it would only be fair and reasonable that we would take that same reduction,” Hatch said.

Over the next two years, the chamber is budgeted to receive $652,210 total from bed taxes for its services to the city, including economic development services to retain and attract new businesses to Santa Maria and operation of the Visitor and Convention Bureau, which is meant to promote and increase the trade, commerce, tourism, and convention activity in the city.

A two-year extension for economic development services has been approved for $120,520 per year — a $22,410 drop from last year.   Funding for the contract also comes from the bed tax.

Hatch said the chamber also supports attractions in the city, such as museums, through its special events grant fund of about $80,000 for marketing of events that bring overnight stays to local hotels.

Posted in Local on Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Beginning today, various rates and charges at Santa Maria Public Airport will go up as the Airport District tries to recover costs of operating and maintaining hangars at the facility. To generate more money to cover expenses for a money-losing part of the airport, the Santa Maria Public Airport District Board of Directors has raised hangar rents by an average of 11.8 percent — to be spread out over the next two years in six-month increments.

The new fee structure is based on a flat per-square-foot basis.  Average cost per square foot was about 17 cents — it is now close to 19 cents under a new formula set by the highest per-square-foot rate before the new fees.  For example, over the next two years, the cost of a 940-square-foot hangar will go up $15.08 or 9.2 percent, and a 1,078-square-foot hangar will go up $41.22 or 25.3 percent.

Rents for storage units — located on the ends of hangar buildings — are also going higher, based on square footage.

For the 2010-11 fiscal year, which begins today and runs through June 30, 2011, hangar-area operations are expected to end $54,343 in the red, excluding depreciation.

There are more than 180 hangars on the airport property — 140 T-hangars, eight corporate T-hangars, and 35 corporate hangars.  All are rented on a month-to-month basis, and there is a waiting list for access.

Revenues for the hangar area come solely from hangar storage fees and expenses include utilities, maintenance, and supplies.  Airport General Manager Chris Hastert said the hope is to reduce administrative costs for the hangar area while bringing revenues for the sector up.  “We hopefully meet up somewhere in the middle,” Hastert said of reaching a break-even point in two years.

Hangar rates will go up every six months for two years, with the last hike on Jan. 1, 2012.  Owner-built hangars are not included in the rate changes approved in May.

At the end of the two-year period, the airport will see an estimated $55,960 in new hangar revenues or $13,990 more every six months.

Before the new rate structure, rent for T-hangars — ranging from 870 square feet to 1,078 square feet — were set at $163 per month. Per square foot averages for all hangars varied widely, from just over 15 cents to almost 19 cents.  The previous rates had been in place since July 2008.

Airport board member Ted Eckert, who voted with Carl Engel and Hugh Rafferty in favor of the hangar increases, said this week the new methodology of the hangar fees is easy to understand and logical.  As with any increases, Eckert said, there will always be a few people who are unsatisfied and contest any changes.  However, the decision of the Board to break up the increases over four increments are meant to make the hike less painful, said Eckert, a Board Member for 21 years.

In a down period in the economy is not the time to raise rates, said Director Chuck Damiano, who voted against the hike.  Instead, the airport should focus on belt tightening when it comes to it’s own spending, he said this week.  “(Rate increases) sound more Washington (D.C.) than Santa Maria Airport,” he said.

Director Chuck Adams abstained from voting on the new rates.

Lack of maintenance to the hangars was brought up by public speakers and Board Members during the rates discussion.  A planned preventative-maintenance program is meant to tackle bird and rodent entry to the hangars and other issues before they become more costly, Hastert said. 

Corporate hangars, which are about 2,000 to 3,000 square feet each, house larger planes or multiple small planes, while nesting T-hangars, from 870 square feet to 1,078 square feet, are suitable for one small plane. Corporate T-hangars are about 1,000 to 2,000 square feet.

Santa Maria’s hangar rates typically are among the lowest among Central Coast airports, Hastert said.

On the South Coast, Santa Barbara Airport owns and operates 24 – 1,026-square-foot T-hangars at a rate of $698 a month — about 68 cents per square foot, according to Hazel Johns, Assistant Airport Director.  Santa Maria Airport, also called SMX, is well-known for having “disproportionately” low hangar rates, Johns said.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2010 of the 24 Santa Maria Airport storage unit rates are set to go up.  New rates have been set at about 39 cents per square foot. Under the old rates, per-square-foot costs varied from 15 cents to about 39 cents.  For example, monthly renters of 155-square-foot units will see no change, while 537-square-foot unit holders will see a $127 increase or a 157-percent hike.  The Airport District uses four units for storage while the Federal Aviation Administration has two.

Posted in Local on Thursday, July 1, 2010 9:30 am