Appliance Repair in Riverdale, CA

Movie and TV productions are ramping up on the UBC campus after a pandemic slowdown, with officials boasting 75 shoots have taken advantage of the university's scenic locales since March.

With its forest backdrops and mix of old and new buildings, UBC is said to be one of the most-filmed locations in the world – a claim that wouldn’t be possible without film manager Arlene Chan, who has been fielding production requests for the last 36 years.

Chan helps everyone from major Hollywood studios to aspiring student filmmakers scout locations – while also ensuring shoots aren’t detrimental to learning or campus life in general.

"Just the presence of a film crew can have an impact on university activities, so we have to ensure we aren’t interfering with any classes, exams or student-led events," Chan said in a university news release.

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Here are some of the major TV shows and movies that have used UBC to tell their stories over the years.

The critically panned but commercially successful 2015 adaption of "Fifty Shades of Grey," starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, filmed at a number of locations in Vancouver, including the hallways of UBC's Chemistry Building, the steps of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre and the Chan Centre for Performing Arts.

The gardens of Cecil Green Park House were used to simulate the roof of a Hong Kong high-rise in Dwayne Johnson's 2018 action thriller "Skyscraper" – another critical dud that still pulled in hundreds of millions of dollars.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine"

Hugh Jackman's first of three spinoffs from the X-Men franchise, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," saw the exterior of Buchanan Tower stand in for a high-rise in Nigeria. The 2009 movie also co-starred Vancouver's own Ryan Reynolds.

Reynolds filmed another project at UBC, the Netflix science fiction family drama "The Adam Project" that came out earlier this year. Reynolds tries to explain a "time travel emergency" on the university's Main Mall between the Chemistry Building and Sauder School of Business, according to Netflix's website detailing the local shooting locations.

According to UBC, Irving K. Barber was used in the Syfy fantasy series "The Magicians" as well, depicting the fictional Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy. The same building has been used in a number of other series, including "Fringe" and "Charmed."

The Chemistry Building was also used during the filming of the third "Night at the Museum" movie, which had a massive cast of stars including Ben Stiller, Rebel Wilson and Robin Williams – none of whom could spare the 2015 sequel its lacklustre reviews.

The hit Netflix series "Riverdale," very loosely based on Archie Comics, used the Cecil Green Park House as well, setting the scene as the mansion belonging to Cheryl Blossom's family in the pilot, according to UBC.

Another Archie Comics adaption, 2001's "Josie and the Pussycats," starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Rosario Dawson, used UBC's Chan Centre for Performing Arts – though not for a staged performance of the fictional rock band. According to the centre's website, the lobby was "transformed into a stunning high-end apartment."

Instructions for a walking tour of filming locations on campus is available on the UBC website.

Riverdale overcame a seven-point halftime deficit, which included back-to-back kickoff returns for touchdowns, to defeat Stewarts Creek 33-14 on Friday night, clinching a playoff berth for the Warriors, who would have been eliminated with a loss.

The Warriors (6-4, 2-3 Region 4-6A) earned the No. 3 seed with the win and will travel to Lebanon in the first round of the 6A playoffs. The Blue Devils knocked Riverdale out in the second round last season. Stewarts Creek (5-5, 2-3) finished fourth and will travel to Coffee County in the first round.

Riverdale allowed a 93-yard kickoff return to Stewarts Creek's Javarian Otey to open the game. Then, after Riverdale tied it with a 72-yard TD run by Isaiah Verser, the Red Hawks (5-5, 2-3) struck again, as Tayden Mounivong returned the kickoff 91 yards for a TD to put the visitors ahead 14-7.

However, Riverdale's defense put the clamps on from there. The score remained 14-7 at halftime and the Warriors scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to pull away.

Junior Isaiah Verser rushed 22 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns for Riverdale while D.J. Taylor added 13 carries for 86 yards and a TD.

Mounivong and Otey both left the game in the second half with injuries. Mounivong suffered a shoulder injury after a big hit on a kick return and Otey took a hard hit early in the fourth and did not return.

Oakland 49, Rockvale 7

The Patriots (9-1, 5-0 Region 4-6A) had already clinched a No. 1 seed, but eliminated the Rockets (4-6, 2-3) from making the playoffs. It was the fifth consecutive loss for Rockvale.

Oakland will play host to Shelbyville in the first round of the 6A playoffs.

Sophomore T.T. Hill had a rushing touchdown, a punt return for a TD and added 89 yards receiving for the Patriots while quarterback Kade Hewitt was 9-of-14 for 196 yards and a TD. Eric Taylor added two rushing scores for Oakland, which racked up 400 yards of total offense.

A 15-yard TD pass from Anthony Thiphavong to Skyler Miller accounted for the lone score for Rockvale.

Blackman 26, Siegel 14

The Blaze (8-2, 4-1 Region 4-6A), which had already locked up second in the region, jumped out to a 20-7 lead and held on in the second half.

Blackman will play host to Cookeville, a rematch of a Week 10 game in which the Blaze won 47-21, in the first round of the playoffs. Siegel finished 5-5 (0-5 region), its first season at .500 or better since 2013.

Blaze quarterbacks Jack Risner and Peyton Thomas combined to go 21-for-33 for 304 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Senior Ben Marshall, a California commitment, completed his only two pass attempts for 18 yards, rushed nine times for 71 yards and added five receptions for 75 yards.

Blackman's Justin Brown, a Mississippi State commitment, had eight catches for 116 yards and a TD while also rushing for 50 yards. Blaze tight end Campbell Lee had two TD runs and a TD reception as the team racked up 515 total yards.

Siegel's Cory Sims rushed for 39 yards and a TD and Quintin Groves returned an interception for a touchdown, the third defensive TD in two weeks for the Stars.

Smyrna 31, Overton 20

The Bulldogs (8-1, 5-1 Region 6-6A) clinched the No. 2 seed with the win and will play host to Hendersonville in the first round of the playoffs.

Smyrna raced out to a 24-6 halftime lead and never looked back.

Bulldog quarterback Landon Miller rushed for 65 yards and three touchdowns and was 7-for-8 passing for 109 yards. Fellow senior Arion Carter had 18 carries for 109 yards and a TD and added seven tackles (two for loss).

McGavock 19, La Vergne 14

The Raiders (7-3, 3-3 Region 6-6A) captured the fourth playoff spot over the Wolverines (2-8, 2-4), who led 14-12 before allowing the go-ahead TD.

Friendship Christian 28, MTCS 14

The Cougars (8-2, 3-1 DII-A East) finished with the No. 2 seed in the region and will play Tipton-Rosemark in the first round of the playoffs.

MTCS cut the FCS lead to 21-14 with 8:47 left in the fourth, but the Commanders put the game away with a late TD.

Eli Wilson had 21 carries for 99 yards and added a five-yard TD catch and Nate Sembiring had nine carries for 61 yards and a TD for the Cougars.

Giles Co. 42, Cannon Co. 0

The Lions (4-6, 2-2 Region 4-3A) were already locked into the No. 3 seed before the blowout loss to the region champs. Cannon County will play at Loudon in the first round of the 3A playoffs.

Camran Carr rushed for 52 yards and Cannon County QB Kolby Miller passed for 55 yards and rushed for 24 yards in the loss.

Fayetteville 52, Eagleville 6

The Eagles (6-4, 4-2 Region 5-1A) finished third in the region and will travel to Dresden in the first round of the 1A playoffs. Eagleville's lone score came on a pass from Jesse Brown to Elijah Fearns.

Lili Reinhart is saying goodbye to Riverdale, but that's not necessarily the last time viewers will see her onscreen.

The 26-year-old actress revealed that while she might not do a project as intensive as Riverdale again, fans could see her in perform in a specific type of television show or even make an appearance on the big screen.

"Right now with my production company, we have a lot of TV in development and film but, I think my heart's in both places, honestly," she exclusively told E! News at the Women In Film Max Mara Face of the Future Celebration on Oct. 25. "I think I'm not going to sign up for another 22-episode show, but I like a good limited series."

"That's seems to be what's lined up for me right after Riverdale—a limited series, so I won't say no TV," she continued. "It's all about the story. It doesn't really matter what kind of box you put it in. The standards are so high for TV right now, you can't really go wrong with that."

While there's no word on what that limited series might be, she recently starred in Netflix's Look Both Ways, which was released on Aug. 22.

For now, the actress is processing what it means to receive the Face of the Future Award at the Oct. 25 event—an honor that took some time to click with her.

"I didn't really fully realize at first because of the imposter syndrome a little bit. I was like, 'Wait, why me?'" she shared, "But I think I've worked hard to be a positive advocate."

The mental health advocate added, "To be seen as a face of the future from an acting standpoint is very encouraging for me, someone who's worked for this my whole life. Basically, it's nice to feel like I'm being seen in that light."

Lili, who gained breakthrough recognition from playing Betty Cooper in Riverdale since 2017, also spoke about the highs and lows of filming the show's seventh and final season.

"We just started a week ago, so I already went through my first week and it was really great to be back," she said. "I feel really grateful and happy. I'm trying to go into it with the attitude of like, ‘This is it,' so I'm gonna embrace it and enjoy every minute."

She teased that the drama was in the process of filming its first and second episodes, and that she knows "kind of a little bit" of how the show might end.

"It's very sweet," she revealed, "and it kind of wraps the show up with a really beautiful sentimental bow, so I'm happy about it."

Consultant estimates 50% of Island's softwood trees downed by Fiona

Some members of P.E.I.'s forestry industry say Fiona caused so much damage to Island woodlots — it may not be possible to recover.

Island forestry consultant Mike Gallant who has 28 years of industry experience estimates 50 per cent of the Island's softwood stock came down last month.

He said that's put a lot of pressure on those in the industry because if it isn't harvested quickly enough, a valuable resource will be left to rot.

'Total devastation'

"I seen total devastation," said Gallant. "We got a small window to harvest these pieces of wood because after two years, it becomes biomass, which is worthless."

Gallant said over time, all that wood will dry out and become a fire hazard.

He said the association that represents woodlot owners is in meetings with the provincial government on potential support, but nothing has been firmed up yet.

Woodlot owners can apply for the province's Forestry Enhancement Program, Gallant said, which provides funding to owners looking for financial assistance to manage their woodlands for forest products, recreation as well as forest restoration.

According to the province's website, if an application is approved the program could cover up to 70 per cent of the cost of recommended treatment of a property.

"You can contact your local, regional forestry technician and they will be glad to help you out. All you have to do is give them a call and people like me will come out and assess the damage and take it from there," he said.

Gallant said contractors are putting in long hours — and racking up gas and repair bills — trying to clear and harvest woodlots across P.E.I.

"There should be some sort of an incentive for the contractors as well because we are putting up with this mess and it's very difficult," said Gallant. "It slows us down about 25 per cent of our capacity of cutting because we're dealing with a lot of fallen down trees."

He said another concern is the longevity of the industry on the Island. He said it'll take about 40 years for trees to regrow to the height they were before Fiona hit — and having this many trees down at once isn't good for the industry's sustainability.

"I'm a little worried about my future after what I've seen," said Gallant.

"I think within a couple of years, there's not gonna be no more industry. Our softwood species is our most important thing for our livelihood. With that gone ... we might as well say we have nothing. We have hardwood. But you can't survive on hardwood."

Gallant says with all this lumber being harvested now, supply will increase, and that could bring prices down — which will also be a hit for woodlot owners. He'd like to see the province offer owners free trees for replanting, as one way to support the recovery of the industry.

"I feel for the land owners," said Gallant.

"They had trails in these woods, beautiful trails. Now, they're destroyed, and all the wood is on the ground. It breaks people's hearts."

'Mostly a salvage job'

Woodlot owner Tom Mann said it's still too soon to say what will become of his 40 acres. Last year, he invested in a forestry management plan, to determine what would best support the land and nearby rivers, and make a plan for selective harvesting. Now, there's no way to move forward with that plan.

"It's going to be mostly a salvage job," said Mann. "We're basically talking with harvesters as to where do we go from here? You know, what's best for the forest?"

He said options could include replanting — or leaving the trees as they are, to decompose. Either way, new plans will need to be made for Mann's 25-year investment.

"Its value has diminished greatly," said Mann.

"That was one of the reasons for getting the forestry plan, was to possibly make some income from the forest. I'm not sure where that is now."

Officials with the P.E.I. Woodlot Owners Association said work is underway to support the approximately 15,000 private woodlot owners on the Island. The province announced Friday a new task force would be formed in the wake of Fiona's impacts to address the needs of private woodlot owners and the forest industry.

The task force will be made up of representatives of the P.E.I. Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division, the P.E.I. Woodlot Owners Association, L'Nuey, Island Nature Trust, forest contractors, and other local experts. Meetings will begin on November 1.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessica Doria-Brown is a videojournalist with CBC in P.E.I. Originally from Toronto, Jessica has worked for CBC in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Ontario.

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FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The lawsuits are piling up against a Riverdale church and school where pastors and educators are accused of abusing children over the course of decades.

Five lawsuits now target Riverdale Assembly of God and its leadership for alleged abuse dating back to the 1990s.

For more than 50 years, the Riverdale Assembly of God has served people in rural Fresno County through its church and the attached school.

For about 30 of those years, the church and school have exposed boys and girls as young as 8 to sexual abuse, according to a series of lawsuits.

"We believe there was a pervasive and persistent pattern of grooming and sexual abuse that took place in the church and the school," said plaintiff's attorney Steven Dias of Dias Hall.

Steven Dias has filed four lawsuits on behalf of five former church members.

They blame a few employees, most notably Charles Spencer, Jr., a son of the church's founders.

The lawsuits claim Spencer groomed children and worked his way up to inappropriate messages, then sexual contact.

One woman says when she was a teen, she felt she had to allow Spencer's actions because of his position with the church and school.

"When they are abusing the children, the children feel almost powerless and basically perform the acts they want performed on them," Dias said.

We repeatedly tried to contact Spencer and the leadership at Riverdale Assembly of God, but they never responded.

When Action News went to the church in person, they referred us to their attorneys, who also didn't return multiple messages.

The National Assemblies of God organization told us they're evaluating the lawsuits, but can't comment about pending litigation.

But lawyers for the church and the national organization have filed some responses in court.

They denied causing any damages to the plaintiffs.

They also questioned the constitutionality of California's temporary extension to the statute of limitations in cases of childhood sexual abuse, a change Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in 2019.

"For a three-year period from January 2020 to December 31, 2022, there is no statute of limitations," said legal analyst Tony Capozzi. "This allows anyone to file a lawsuit -- no matter how old you are -- alleging some kind of child abuse."

Lawyers for the National Assemblies of God said the organization exercised reasonable care to prevent any inappropriate behavior.

And they said the plaintiffs waived any claims as a result of their own behavior.

Dias and his lawsuits claim the church has commonly resorted to victim blaming, even forcing some of them to apologize to their attackers.

"In most cases, the victims were shamed by the elder members of the church and made to admit to those church members and elders that the victims triggered the sexual contact with the adult church leader and teachers," Dias said.

A spokesman for the Fresno County sheriff's office tells us deputies are investigating recent reports of sexual misconduct at Riverdale Assembly of God and its school.

A similar report to the sheriff's office in 2015 hit a wall because of the statute of limitations.