First Gentleman cleared
Former elections chairman Benjamin Abalos and Social Security System president RomuIo Neri will be charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged part in the controversy-ridden contract between the government and Chinese firm ZTE Corp. for the national broadband network (NBN) project.
However, the Office of the Ombudsman absolved First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo of the same charges.
"Quite interestingly,tiffany Pendants clearance, the only memory that stands out during this meeting (at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong) was (Mr.) Arroyo's statement that (Jose) de Venecia (III) was told to back off from the project," read the resolution.
"There is no other independent statement or source of evidence that the meeting was purposely availed of to allow (Mr.) Arroyo to influence the project.
"Thus,buy tiffany Pendants, the panel continues to maintain the position that only surmises and conjectures have been presented to this panel for assessment. To be certain, this presumption cannot be given any weight."
The Ombudsman stood firm on Neri's sixmonth suspension.
At Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said proceedings in a court of law will be of a higher standard of due process than an inquiry in the Senate.
"We hope that everyone involved will remember to conduct themselves according to the rules,buy tiffany bracelets," he said.
Ruy Rondain, Mr. Arroyo's lawyer,tiffany, said several months ago Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez issued a resolution clearing his client of any culpability.
Lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr.,buy tiffany earrings, one of the complainants in the case, said the anti-graft agency's action was designed to ensure that Mr. Arroyo and several others charged would be absolved while President Arroyo is in office.
"This also proves that we cannot trust the present Ombudsman to really go after those charged with corruption," Francisco said.
He will study the possibility of having the investigation reopened in the next administration to include Mrs. Arroyo among those to be investigated, Francisco said.
Perfect gentlemen
There they were, together again,tiffany cuff Links clearance, the hero and villain of this story,tiffany money clips for sale, looking a lot like hero and hero.
Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga and the man who accidentally robbed him of a perfect game, umpire Jim Joyce, shook hands Thursday afternoon and tried to move on from one of the most bizarre nights in baseball history. And everybody from Comerica Park to the governor's residence to the White House was still talking about Galarraga's Extra Perfect Game.
Galarraga received a standing ovation and a new Corvette (courtesy of Chevrolet). But he did not get what many fans and politicians and news media personalities wanted: a restoration of his perfect game. Galarraga apparently had finished his masterpiece Wednesday, but umpire Joyce blew a call at first base.
"He was robbed," Gov. Jennifer Granholm said. U.S. Rep. John Dingell,tiffany earrings clearance, a Dearborn Democrat, said he would introduce legislation on the House floor to overturn the call. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he hoped "baseball awards a perfect game to that pitcher."
But this is baseball commissioner Bud Selig's can of worms,discount tiffany, and Selig decided he is not ready to open it. He did, however, issue a statement saying he would look into instant replay.
"I cannot believe the outpouring of support I've gotten," Joyce said. "Not only from my fellow umpires, but all my friends, my family. Frankly, you guys. I can't thank you enough."
What do fans want from sports? Michael Rosenberg,thanksgiving day celebration, 5B
Gentleman’s game, my foot
It's probably the last thing on most people's minds, but spare a thought for Suraj Randiv. The young offspinner, expected to follow in Muttiah Muralitharan's giant boots, is a mere stripling in international cricket -- with all of two Tests and 16 ODIs under his belt. And yet, he's already made the most embarrassing and public mistake of what should be a long career.
Randiv's act of bowling a no-ball, with the scores level and Virender Sehwag on 99, has inevitably stirred a hornet's nest. But just how much of the outrage is justified?
Randiv, even if he deliberately overstepped to deny Sehwag the chance of reaching three figures, is well within the laws of the game. What has angered the usual suspects, however, was that Sri Lanka were not playing in the Spirit of Cricket.
The problem here is a straightforward one -- different people interpret the spirit of the game differently. In the early 1990s the Marylebone Cricket Club,tiffany necklaces on sale, still responsible for the Laws of Cricket, asked two eminent English cricketers-- Ted Dexter and Lord Colin Cowdrey -- to draw up a code that would "remind players of their responsibility for ensuring that cricket is always played in a truly sportsmanlike manner".
In 2000, these recommendations were codified, as a preamble to the Laws. The seven-point Spirit of Cricket is something the International Cricket Council tries to enforce, through its umpires and match referees,cuff Links, with varying success.
Just as in life, where you and I obey laws rather selectively -- who among us has not driven 10 km above the speed limit, or perhaps after a few drinks at an impromptu celebration? Both of these are against the law, and we know it, but don't pay heed, not merely because the punishments, if caught,tiffany rings sale, are relatively mild, and because peer pressure does not even come to bear.
It's as though it's okay to break certain rules.
In cricket, it's much the same. "When a batsman edges the ball to the keeper and does not walk, he is called a cheat. But bowlers and fielders appeal for dismissals knowing fully well they've not dismissed the batsman, and this is ok," said a former India captain. "When you sledge,buy tiffany bangles, it's ok to use all kinds of foul language, but if you say something about someone's mother or wife, it becomes a crime. Who sets these rules?"
Like any other sport, cricket only mirrors society at large. To make Randiv, or the person who instructed him to bowl a no-ball, the villain of the piece is at best short-sighted and at worst opportunistic.
"The Spirit of the Game is a grey area and asks captains to make moral judgements that sometimes are contrary to the laws of the game," says Mike Atherton, the former England captain. "It demands interpretation, which, in turn, renders it worthless. One man's sledge is another man's aside."
Atherton also debunks the myth surrounding the phrase "it's just not cricket", which has come to mean someone doing something that's not right and suggests that cricket is somehow unique. "Cricket has had its share of controversies, enough to know that any mention of 'unique' appeal is utter rubbish. Match-fixing, sledging, racism, cheating -- it is all there," says Atherton.
Closer home and specific to the latest controversy, Ajay Jadeja has a practical view. "Sehwag would have done the same thing if he was bowling," says Jadeja. "This is very
common in cricket."
The other fact that is being glossed quite conveniently over is that incidents of this kind have happened as long as cricket has been played (see box).
Chandu Borde, who played at a time when cricket happened at a much gentler pace, recounted his experience. "When Gary Sobers was batting against us on 199, we ran him out by bringing in the field. We could have allowed him to make a double ton but we did not," said Borde. "The lines between fair and unfair play have blurred."
When Randiv sought out Sehwag in his hotel room to apologise,thanksgiving gift ideas, soon after the game, the matter should have been buried, as it had been sorted out, player-to-player, man to man. But since then Sangakkara has had a word with coach Gary Kirsten, and Sri Lanka Cricket has apologised and ordered a probe into the issue.
What more can they possibly do?
Great player, true gentleman
Fans remember running backs and tight ends and,buy tiffany rings, after their National Football League careers are done, their names draw polite applause and perhaps a cheer or two when introduced at a banquet.
But quarterbacks? That's different. Introduce a Hall of Fame quarterback and you'll see a standing ovation and hear the loudest cheers.
That's the way it was Friday night for Len Dawson, the former Kansas City Chiefs' great. Mr. Dawson attended the "Evening in Red" event at the St. Joseph Country Club. As his name was announced, a room full of Chiefs fans jumped to their feet and paid homage to the man who was the face of Kansas City football during its infancy.
In his younger days, Mr. Dawson eluded hulking defensive tackles and blitzing linebackers with an unhurried presence,tiffany money clips clearance, all the while tracking receivers downfield. Now, he calmly signs his name on programs,tiffany key rings clearance, hats and footballs, while still telling stories and greeting each fan with understated class. Every fan who approached left the table with an autograph and a quiet smile.
Len Dawson accomplished just about everything a quarterback can in football. He was the AFL's Most Valuable Player in 1962. Super Bowl MVP in 1970. The NFL's Man of the Year in 1973. First-round draft pick coming out of Purdue in 1957.
Now he talks about the game as a sports announcer for KMBC, a Kansas City television station, and as color man opposite play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus on the Chiefs' radio broadcasts.
Mr. Dawson's biography on the KMBC website leads off with a quote: "I'm one sports fan talking to another."
True, except most sports fans didn't play 19 years of professional football or win a Super Bowl.
Thus, Mr. Dawson's commentary is always realistic and can be critical. He will point out that the Chiefs' offensive line needs to better protect its quarterback or that the defense needs to stop the other team's running game. He leaves the cheerleading and spin to others. For that, he is a unique voice on the airwaves.
You might not know what to expect if you were to sit and have dinner with Len Dawson, which I had the pleasure of doing. Would he be the stereotypical ex-jock who relives the glory days over and over, spinning stories of his greatness to local businessmen and Chamber of Commerce members? Would he be arrogant? Aloof? Too good for the backwater stage that is St. Joseph?
Turns out, Mr. Dawson was none of those things.
He was calm and poised. His quietness seemed to be innate, present whether he was reading defenses from legendary coach Hank Stram's "moving pocket" like he did decades ago or carving up a banquet meal and exchanging pleasantries with VIPs.
He did tell a few stories, mostly about college. He'd just returned from a function in West Lafayette, Ind., home of the Boilermakers,bracelets, and told a story about a particularly fearsome defender who terrorized opposing quarterbacks.
"That's when I learned the quick release," he said with a wry smile.
But he also talked about Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon and a Purdue graduate two years ahead of Mr. Dawson. Turns out, Purdue has produced 20 astronauts, including Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon.
After the banquet, when the speeches had run out and diners had picked at the last bits of strawberry cheesecake, the crowd rose and several attendees sought out the Hall of Fame quarterback to say hello or score an autograph.
Despite the press of the crowd and the groups of fans waiting to pay homage, Mr. Dawson made time and eye contact with everyone. He takes it in stride when fans tell him what a thrill it is to meet him,cheap tiffany Pendants, or how they admired him when he played football. He has the demeanor of a man who has attained success in both football and broadcasting and has nothing else to prove.
Steve Booher's column runs on Monday. He can be reached at steve.booher@newspressnow.com.
Gentleman’s Agreement between Industry Titans No M
The New America Foundation issued the following news release:
During the 19th century a handful of wealthy industrialists dominated steel, oil refining and railroads; striking agreements to receive favorable terms for the carriage of their goods,thanksgiving bracelets, while subjecting farmers and competitors to unreasonable and excessive charges.
Now, over a century later, history is in danger of repeating itself. After weeks of closed-door meetings sanctioned by the Federal Communication Commission, two of the largest corporations in the communications industry have reportedly negotiated an agreement on network neutrality. Though details of the agreement are not available, its terms are immaterial. It should not be the policy of the FCC to allow the largest companies to write the regulations that will determine the future of the Internet.
"The FCC today is a regulatory purgatory where endless process is being substituted for clear leadership," stated Sascha Meinrath,discount tiffany Pendants, Director of New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative. "It is remarkable that the Obama administration is abandoning its campaign promise to ensure an open Internet and is instead actively supporting a process where some of the largest companies in the country control the future of communications."
"Voluntary and non-binding agreements leave an open Internet to the whims of the largest Internet and communications companies, who have every incentive to create a market that prioritizes their own content and services, while limiting the potential of new start-ups,tiffany Pendants sale, small businesses, and individual entrepreneurs," added Benjamin Lennett,tiffany cuff Links clearance, Policy Analyst for the New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative. "We cannot afford to follow the same 'leave it to the market' philosophy that has left our economy in shambles and contributed to the worst oil spill in U.S. history."
The following New America Foundation staff are available to discuss the latest news:
Sascha Meinrath, Research Director, Wireless Future Program; Director,cheap tiffany rings, Open Technology Initiative
Benjamin Lennett, Senior Policy Analyst, Open Technology Initiative
James Losey, Program Associate, Open Technology Initiative
Please contact Kate Brown with requests at 202-596-3365 or brown@newamerica.net
Beautiful day to start a tradition
Saturday was a picturesque day at Aiken Golf Club, which seemed appropriate since it is likely many will look back on it as a memorable day. That's because the first round of the inaugural City of Aiken Amateur Championship was held at the nearly 100-year-old golf course.
"It's just fun being here," said Chuck Woodard, one of 80 golfers to complete the first round of the 36-hole event which will conclude today. "I'm amazed it didn't start 50 years ago."
Given the rich tradition and standing golf has in Aiken, it's hard to believe there hasn't been a singular championship for either the city or the county prior to this tournament.
"It had been discussed with clubs and the city on and off for years," said Tom Soderstrom, the tournament director. "Bo McCullough, one of the members (at Aiken Golf Club), and Lorraine Morgan, the golf shop manager, took initiative for it to get off the ground. They took the bull by the horns. Now, the city is very enthused by it. The concept is to create an annual event that rotates between the Aiken city clubs in hopes that it becomes one of the major amateur golf events."
Saturday was the culmination of the years of conjecture regarding the City of Aiken Amateur Championship. When Terry Montgomery hit his tee shot on No. 1, the tournament was official.
"I got to hit the first shot in the city inaugural championship," said Montgomery, a member at Aiken Golf Club.
He finished with 92, second best in his foursome composed of Aiken Golf Club members Charles Osborne (90), Charlie McPherson (95) and Ray Parker (117).
It was another foursome with Aiken Golf Club members, however, that produced the co-leaders at the end of the first round. McCullough -- who took the initiative to make the tournament a reality -- shot 2-under-par 68, tying him for the top spot on the leaderboard with reigning Aiken Golf Club champion Ron Schroder.
"It feels pretty good," McCullough said of leading, although he said he didn't play that great. "I'm more happy the tournament is going so well and that the players are having a good time."
That was definitely the consensus of the players as they returned to the clubhouse. Regardless of their score, most were pleased to be in the field of the inaugural event.
"I think it's great for the community,cheap tiffany key rings," said Patrick Cunning,thanksgiving money clips, who is three shots off the lead after his first-round 71.
"I'm honored to be a participant," said Mike Wiland, who was unhappy with his performance although he's in fourth place after shooting 72. "It's an honor for the Aiken Golf Club to have the first one, and I'm glad the McNair family got it."
The McNair family's fingerprints were all over the event. Ellyn McNair, widow of Jim McNair, Aiken Golf Club's former owner,thanksgiving gift ideas, was on hand. She was there, in part, to cheer on her grandson, Jim McNair III, who was in the field and shot 80.
"I think it's fantastic,thanksgiving teacher gifts," Ellyn McNair said. "This will set a high standard for other clubs, hopefully."
Much of the credit can go to Jim McNair Jr., owner, head golf professional and superintendent at Aiken Golf Club. He set up the course for the championship. By all accounts, it was in top condition.
"The course is in excellent shape," said Bob Petrulovich after carding an 87. "It was difficult but fair. You couldn't ask for anything more."
Most players echoed those sentiments. It seems that the course -- which is playing at a distance of 6,tiffany cuff Links sale,007 yards for the Regular and Senior Division and 5,660 yards for the Super Senior Division -- compensates for its lack of distance by demanding accuracy around the green.
"If you get on the wrong side of the hole, be careful," said Todd Fields, who shot 77. "This golf course, its only defense is the greens, and they're rolling fast."
"Pin placements is what made it challenging," said Matt Musolf, who played with Fields and shot 73, leaving him tied for fifth with Stephen Anaclerio and Chaz Masters. "The greens won today."
McCullough might have summed it up best, saying, "The way Jim has it set up is awesome."
The players will return for the final round today. The first group is set to tee off at 8 a.m., with the leaders slated to start at 11:20 a.m.
While some players are likely out of the running for the overall title, the event has been flighted to give all players a chance to win prizes, regardless of the overall scores.
There will be a champion who will have his name emblazoned on the championship's trophy. It will be in the unique position of being on top of all future winners.
"The player who wins the city championship is going to be a player who has all facets of the game," Jim McNair Jr. said.
Contact Noah Feit at nfeit@aikenstandard.com.
Beautiful weather provides welcome respite from he
Last week's oppressive heat and humidity was replaced with cooler and drier conditions Sunday and that beautifully comfortable weather should continue for several more days, according to the National Weather Service.
The high temperature is not expected to break 80 until Wednesday -- and then not by much -- giving Madison "near normal temperatures" this week, according to the Weather Service.
Monday should be sunny with a comfortable high near 79 degrees and a low of 56.
Tuesday calls for more of the same with a high near 78 and low of 59.
Wednesday and Thursday could see a high of 82 degrees -- a far cry from last week's heat advisories when temperatures topped 90 and the heat index topped 100. Lows on Wednesday and Thursday are forecast at 62 and 65.
Rain does appear in the forecast until Friday,tiffany on sale, when there's a 30 percent change of showers and thunderstorms. Friday should see a high near 80 and low around 60.
The chance of rain continues into Saturday with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day and a partly cloudy evening with a low of 61.
Sunday is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 81.
The high Sunday was 78,discount tiffany key rings, 2 degrees below normal and 17 degrees below the record of 95 set in 1955 and 1988.
The low Sunday was 67, 8 degrees above normal and 30 degrees above the record of 37 set in 1979.
The Madison area didn't see any rain over the weekend after Friday's storms dropped 1.47 inches. That brings this month's rain total to 3.04 inches,tiffany cuff Links on sale, 0.91 inches above normal.
For the year,tiffany key rings for sale, Madison has experienced 29.45 inches,tiffany bracelets sale, 7.93 inches above normal.
Within The Hustle-Bustle Of Fairfield County, A Be
One of my favorite rides at the country fair was "The Scrambler." You would climb aboard, sit in the middle of the seat for a brief moment and then the carnival operator would push that green button and you would smash into the sides of the seat and twist and spin, all the while getting a lesson about the forces of gravity.
That's what you feel like after a visit to Monroe's Webb Mountain Park, a 136-acre preserve high on the banks of the Housatonic River. You scramble up to the top of an overlook known as "Goat Rock,discount tiffany Pendants," with a gorgeous view downstream of the river whose name, translated from the Native American, means "beyond the mountain place."
And if you travel slightly out of the park's boundary,tiffany rings sale, you scramble up an imposing rock formation along the Connecticut Forest and Park Association's blue-blazed Paugussett Trail before passing more scenic overlooks and scrambling down the other side. This hike is not only a good journey through the natural world,tiffany Pendants for sale, it'll give you a good workout, too, with four or five miles worth of trails.
My journey started along the fire road that brings visitors into the park. For those who want to experience the entire Webb Mountain, there is a parking area at the entrance. Those looking for one of the easiest climbs to a lookout can park where the red trail crosses the road and follow the path to one of the largest free-standing boulders I've seen in the state. Visitors can then hike along the purple path to the lookout.
The red path travels through the heart of Webb Mountain, along a picturesque stream filled with boulders covered with large mats of moss. Although only a trickle this time of year, the stream has multiple waterfalls during the wet season.
After the overlook,money clips, I followed the red trail to the fire road where a family was camping at one of the dozen sites offered by the town. At the last campsite, a trail takes visitors down to an old railroad line that runs along the banks of the Housatonic. The tracks will take you past the Stevenson Dam on Lake Zoar, the fifth-largest lake in the state.
The hydroelectric dam is an impressive structure with myriad power lines and transformers buzzing with electricity. A trail cuts down to the road, where hikers can cross the dam and see the huge, greenish lake on one side and a rocky chasm where the Housatonic starts its flow again on the other.
Visitors can hook up with the Paugussett Trail along the tracks and return to Webb Mountain. The path offers some beautiful views of Lake Zoar as well as some imposing 100-foot rock outcroppings. Be sure to keep an eye on the blue blazes because it can be a bit confusing; there are a number of unnmarked trails.
So scramble off to Webb Mountain and enjoy a ride through the natural world. The beauty of this ride is you don't need a ticket.
Route 15 (Wilbur Cross/Merritt Parkway) to exit 58. Continue on Route 34 west, turning left on Bridge Street. Take a right on Route 110 and take a right at the light onto Maple Avenue, which turns into East Village Road. Follow the signs to Webb Mountain Park/Webb Mountain Discovery Zone. Visit http://www.monroect.org/webmountain.aspx for a map of the park.
Questions or column suggestions are welcome. Peter Marteka may be reached by phone at 860-647-5365, by mail at The Courant,tiffany money clips on sale, 200 Adams St., Manchester, CT 06040, by e-mail at or by fax at 860-643-8548. Visit courant.com/cthiking for more adventures in Connecticut's natural world
Silk Road Project is still spinning beautiful musi
During its decade-long run,tiffany necklaces clearance, Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project has become the kind of ambitious,Thanksgiving surprise gift, multicultural ensemble and free-ranging idea that speaks to the master cellist's searching intellect, relentless curiosity and impatience with musical categories.
Inspired by the East-West exchange of culture, art and music that took place along ancient trading routes between Europe and Asia, Ma's ensemble showcases newly composed and traditional music from Silk Road cultures and destinations, from China to Iran, Azerbaijan and Korea. Music from the Americas has also seeped into the concept, including new works by the Argentine-born Osvaldo Golijov. The ensemble employs a revolving cast of musicians and 15 players are scheduled to appear in Detroit on instruments that range from traditional violin and viola to the Chinese pipa, Galician bagpipe and all manner of percussion.
At the center of it all is Ma, the self-effacing ringleader, sharing the spotlight generously with his colleagues and teaching by example that music is about the communication of inspired emotions, the quest for new modes of expression and authoritative mastery over the fundamentals of the idiom. And with the Silk Road Project, he has found a vehicle that manages to celebrate equally our differences and our commonalities.
7 p.m. Sunday, Orchestra Hall, Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111. detroitsympony.com. $25-$75.
JAZZ
Pianist and composer Herbie Hancock,tiffany Pendants sale, who turned 70 earlier this year, is one of the great jazz musicians on the planet. When he is in good company and in the mood to honor his straight-ahead roots, the inspired brilliance of his improvisations can stop the world.
Of course, Hancock has always had a populist side to his personality too, and the Big-To-Do in his landmark 70th year is the recent release of "The Imagine Project," an earnest crossover CD with a global-peace theme and starry guest list including, among others, Dave Matthews, Anoushka Shankar, Jeff Beck, John Legend, Chaka Khan, Seal, Wayne Shorter and Juanes. As a jazz critic, I'm not the target audience for the album, and found it mostly mundane, lacking the sublime melodic expression, surprise and texture of "River: The Joni Letters," Hancock's Grammy-winning marriage of jazz and adult-pop interpretations of Joni Mitchell's music.
Hancock's road band that arrives in Detroit next week is built to champion "The Imagine Project," with Hancock joined by guitarist Lionel Loueke, keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, bassist Pino Palladino,shop for tiffany earrings, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and vocalist Kristina Train. Hancock will surely mix in a few of his classic compositions; even in crossover mode, jazz and the spark of improvisation percolate through his conception. But don't expect state-of-the-art post-bop from this group. (Some material calls the concert a tribute to Donald Byrd, the Detroit-bred trumpeter who gave Hancock his first big break in 1960, but at press time it remained unclear whether any specific tribute programming was planned.)
8 p.m. Wednesday, Chene Park Amphitheatre, 2600 E. Atwater,tiffany bracelets on sale, Detroit. 313-393-7128. cheneparkdetroit.com. $22-$55.
Contact MARK STRYKER: 313-222-6459 or stryker@freepress.com
MORE CLASSICAL PERFORMANCES
Jack Wright and Bob Marsh: With the Saturnian Chamber Ensemble, 8 p.m. Fri. Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth, Ann Arbor. 734-769-2999. $5-$25.
Villagers vow to fight for ‘beautiful’ church
A VILLAGE church must not be demolished in favour of a modern brick building, say angry residents.
Villagers in Middleton St George,tiffany key rings for sale, near Darlington,shop for tiffany earrings, have also called on the Durham diocese to give more information about the future of St Laurence's Church.
The 19th Century church has been closed since September 2008 because structural problems rendered it unsafe.
Since then the congregation has been meeting in the village school.
Last month,tiffany bangle, the diocese sent letters to interested parties in the village saying that it was proposing closing the church,thanksgiving cuff Links, and any proceeds from its sale would be used to provide a new place of worship.
More than 30 people attended the meeting of Middleton St George Parish Council on Monday night to express their concerns at the proposals.
The residents were upset that there was no representative from the church present to answer their questions.
Council chairwoman Doris Jones said: "This does raise more questions than answers and I think we've got to admit that.
"It's put us in a very difficult situation because we've been put here to consult but we can't because we don't know what's what."
Many villagers were worried that the grade II-listed church would be demolished to make way for a house or flats.
One resident said: "If they do decide that they want a new church,thanksgiving rings, we don't want a modern brick building otherwise we're going to lose all the history."
People also questioned whether there were enough church funds to repair the present building and what had happened to money that people had donated for its repair.
Former church warden Bill Maybrey said: "If no one says anything, at a stroke of a pen 150 years of history will be wiped off. Apart from being a beautiful building, the church is a focal point of our village."
It was agreed that representatives from the church would be invited to a public meeting where they could address villagers' concerns.
A steering group was also set up by residents to fight the proposals and a petition was also planned.
Councillor Jones added:
"There's a lot more to a church and its worship than its bricks and mortar, but we've still got to preserve our historic values in rural areas."
Yesterday, Bill Heslop, the diocese's churches secretary, said: "There are no plans and the future is still to be reviewed. It's a slow process and there's eight months' consultation, it's a long time. Nothing has been decided yet."