The Jail Job: The intended guy is in Rikers Island doing a year. George uses Juanita’s computer skills to access the inmate Database and have him released early. Vinnie tells him he is a snitch and a suspected child molester, but the truth is he is an undercover ATF officer investigating Vinnie’s interests in Rikers Island, where he controls the drug and sex trade in the huge jail. When he is taken to the prison ferry and released, he has no idea what has happened. He finds himself on the street with no funds, phone, walking after he is dropped off by the prison transport bus. He resolves himself to the thirty block walk to the ATF offices. George catches him on the way and kills him.
The Streets By Wendell Sweet One evening, I found myself back at the scene of the car accident—the snow-covered road where my life nearly ended. The scars on my body served as tangible reminders of that brutal night; the emotional scars were far deeper. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional rustle of the wind. The cold night air, the harsh sounds of snow crunching under my boots; it all was reminiscent of the night that would nearly cost my life. Standing there, I felt a wave of sadness, a flicker of the old fear, but it quickly subsided. The trauma was still there, woven into the fabric of my being, but it no longer controlled me. I had faced it, processed it, and emerged stronger.#True #NonFiction #Crime #Memoir #Kindle #KU Kindle:
The air in the Manhattan garage was thick with the scent of old oil, ozone, and the faint, metallic tang of desperation. Ben Larkin stood before it, the yellow Ford Torino, a magnificent, sun-bleached beast of a car, gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights. It was a monument to a past he desperately wanted to bury, a gleaming, chrome-laden symbol of a life that had once promised freedom and now felt like a cage. He ran a gloved hand over the impossibly smooth, polished paintwork, the coolness of the metal a stark contrast to the heat that simmered beneath his skin. This was it. The last job. His final chance to break free, to outrun the shadows that had clung to him like cheap cologne for years.
Boldt Castle, located on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands region of New York State, is a majestic castle with a romantic and tragic history. The castle was built by George Boldt, a millionaire hotel magnate, as a tribute to his beloved wife, Louise.
History of Boldt Castle
In 1900, George Boldt began constructing the castle as a grand gesture of love for his wife. The castle’s design was inspired by European castles, specifically those along the Rhine River in Germany. Boldt hired the renowned architectural firm G.W. & W.D. Hewitt to design the castle, which would feature 120 rooms, including a grand staircase, beautiful stained glass, and intricate woodwork ¹ ².
The construction of Boldt Castle was a massive undertaking, involving over 300 workers, including stonemasons, carpenters, and artists. The castle’s design was meant to be a testament to Boldt’s love for his wife, with many features incorporating hearts, including the island’s shape, which was blasted to resemble a heart.
The Tragic Story Behind the Unfinished Castle
Tragically, Louise Boldt passed away suddenly in January 1904, just months before the castle’s planned completion. George Boldt was devastated by her death and immediately stopped all construction on the castle. He never returned to Heart Island, leaving the castle abandoned for over 70 years. The castle and its surrounding structures were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow, and vandals, causing significant damage.
Restoration and Current State
In 1977, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired Heart Island and the nearby yacht house for $1, with the agreement that all revenue generated from the castle’s operation would be directed towards restoration. Since then, over $50 million has been spent on restoring and rehabilitating the castle and its surrounding structures. Today, visitors can explore the castle’s grand halls, lush gardens, and hidden nooks, each filled with the echoes of a love story that transcends time ² ¹.
Exploring Boldt Castle
Visitors can access the castle by ferry or tour boat from Alexandria Bay, New York, Clayton, New York, Gananoque, Ontario, Rockport, Ontario, and Ivy Lea, Ontario. The castle is open seasonally from mid-May to mid-October, and guided tours are available. Some of the highlights of the castle include ¹ ³ ²:
The Main Castle: A six-story structure with over 120 rooms, featuring grand staircases, beautiful stained glass, and intricate woodwork.
The Power House: A picturesque building that once housed the castle’s power generators, now featuring exhibits on the history of the castle and its restoration.
The Alster Tower: A whimsical structure designed for entertainment, featuring a bowling alley, billiards room, and stage for performances.
The Gardens and Scenic Views: Beautifully manicured gardens and scenic views of the St. Lawrence River, perfect for relaxation and photography.
The George C. Boldt Yacht House: A historic yacht house located on nearby Wellesley Island, featuring a collection of antique and wooden boats.
Tips for Visiting
Visitors should plan their visit according to the castle’s operating hours and ferry schedules.
The castle is a popular tourist destination, so expect crowds during peak season.
Audio guides and self-guided tours are available, allowing visitors to explore the castle at their own pace.
Don’t miss the stunning views from the castle’s balcony and the beautiful gardens surrounding the castle.
In conclusion, Boldt Castle is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history, architecture, and romance. Its tragic love story and stunning architecture make it a unique and unforgettable experience. With its beautiful gardens, historic structures, and picturesque surroundings, Boldt Castle is a true gem of the Thousand Islands region .
Earth’s Survivors box set contains the entire Earth’s Survivors series in one volume. Book One: Earth’s Survivors Apocalypse follows survivors of a worldwide catastrophe. A meteorite that was supposed to miss the earth hits and becomes the cap to a series of events that destroy the world as we know it. Hopes, dreams, tomorrows: All buried in a desperate struggle to survive. Small group’s band together for safety, leaving the ravaged cities behind in search of a new future… 10 books. #Dystopian #Survival #Drama #Thriller #ApocalypticFiction #PostApocalypse #KU
The world, as Alex Chen knew it, had fractured beyond repair. The year was a ghost, a relic of a time when governments held sway and infrastructure meant more than shattered concrete and rusted rebar. America was no longer a nation, but a patchwork quilt of territories, each a desperate scramble for survival. In this mosaic of decay, the East Coast Police Department, or ECPD, stood as a thin, fraying shield. Their jurisdiction, a meager few hundred miles of crumbling asphalt and scattered, desperate outposts, felt less like a territory and more like a last stand. #Dystopian #ApocalypticFiction #PostApocalyptic #Survival #ECPD #Series #Dystopian
Summers in Upstate New York are beautiful. After the hard winters and sub-zero cold the warm temperatures are like Heaven on Earth. The river and the railroad tracks bisected the city and any given day would find myself and my friends somewhere along one or the other.
The True: True stories from a small town are true stories from that place. From my childhood up through my adulthood. Some heartfelt, some heart rending, some the horrible truth of the life I lived at that time… #NonFiction #Crime #Drama #Thriller #KU #True
By Dell Sweet In the small city of Glennville people tend to stay to themselves. Neighbors matter. The streets, even in the poorest of neighborhoods are safe for children to travel on their own. But the city has its secrets, and those secrets have their dangers. Under the city, a series of caves cut from the limestone by the Black River attract visitors, children, some have entered and never come out; maybe lost, maybe part of Glennville’s secrets. Something else lives in the cold, dark caves. Something some have suspected but refused to believe. After all, things in Glennville are rational, safe…
Glennville is a series of books that play out in the City of Glennville or that are somehow connected to the city of Glennville, Dell Sweet #Dystopian #Horror #Series #KU #Kindle #Drama #Thriller
