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on-Trent (UK) – HIGHWAYS 'SELL-OFF' SLAMMED

HIGHWAYS ‘SELL-OFF’ SLAMMED

0 Comments | Sentinel, The; Stoke-on-Trent (UK), Jul 27, 2010 | by DAVE BLACKHURST

HUNDREDS of staff are facing possible redundancy or outsourcing under council plans to allow a private firm to take over its highways maintenance department.

Managers at Cheshire East Council want to give the work, currently split between in-house staff and outside contractors, to a private firm to drive down costs.

But the authority has said the move would lead to an undisclosed number of workers losing their jobs, or transferring to the new provider.

The council also wants to accelerate the tendering process for the transfer to complete the deal before October next year.

Now furious councillors fighting the move have had the decision called in for further discussion by the local authority’s co- operative and environment scrutiny committee.

They say they have been kept in the dark over what they call a “sell-off ” of the lucrative highways contract – and have been called to a briefing on Thursday.

Crewe councillor Dorothy Flude, the Labour group leader, pictured, said: “I have had this called in as it has not been scrutinised properly and there are so many unanswered questions on a contract worth Pounds 10 million.

“I don’t believe other options have been looked at, such as sharing services with other local authorities.

“We need to know how many staff will be made redundant, how the contracts will be monitored, how the town and parish councillors will be able to hold contractors to account for work done and how much money has already been spent on legal advice and employing private consultants.

“Expressions of interest have already been sought through an advert in the European Journal yet these crucial questions remain.”

A council spokesman confirmed that while some skilled staff would be retained, others may transfer to the new provider.

He said: “The council has the opportunity to modernise the whole of the service. The council will also need to continue to work within the constraints of reduced funding from the Department of Transport and this may lead to some limited voluntary redundancy ahead of the new contract.”

Crewe East Labour councillor Chris Thorley said: “This has got to mean redundancies yet the loyal staff aren’t being considered in it all. It represents privatisation of the worst type.

“It will also be bad for residents, who will have less say over which repair jobs are being done.”

Tory councillor David Brickhill, former Highways portfolio holder, said: “We are supposed to be monitoring all this on behalf of taxpayers yet we are kept in the dark.

“I have worries about how the highways repairs will be monitored and the fact a portion of the Pounds 10 million will go straight to shareholders of whichever company gets the work.”

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Dawn J. Brooks

0 Comments | Sun Journal; Lewiston, Me., Jul 27, 2010 | by Anonymous

LEWISTON ? Dawn J. Brooks, 60, of Pettengill Street died Sunday, July 25, at her home after a long illness.

She was born in Portland, Nov. 22, 1949, a daughter of Adam and Marian (McPhee) Sturtevant. She was educated in Portland, graduating from Deering High School, Class of 1969. She graduated from nursing school at Central Maine Medical Center and worked there for many years as a nurse. She also worked for TD Banknorth as a research clerk. Dawn married Gary L. Brooks in 1993.

Dawn was a member of The American Legion Post 153, Acme Club, and the Pastime Club
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I was driving the truck

I was driving the truck and Jason riding shotgun. I was careful to say very little and encouraged Jason to carry the conversation. As long as Jason speaks he cannot record, obviously multi-tasking skills come later in life.

Everything was going great until I looked in the rear view mirror as one of the boxes flew out of the truck and hit the windshield of the car behind me.

I pulled to the side of the road, but before I could get the door opened the lady from the car behind me was verbally attacking me. This lady screamed about my being a hazard to the highways and irresponsible, she also proceeded to call me everything except a child of God. I was powerless; there was nothing that I could say because the tape recorder was ready to grab every angry word I uttered. All I could do was nod and smile?not my usual response to this kind of abuse.

Finally the lady ran out of steam so I was able to apologize and let her know how grateful I was that she was not hurt.
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Prescription creams that

Prescription creams that contain vitamin A, such as Retin-A or Retinova, work more effectively than the over-the-counter fade creams.

There are more invasive options available to you for those suffering from a more serious case of age spots. Chemical peels are one of these options. Using 30%-70% glycolic acid, the fading factor is much more pronounced than in either of the creams mentioned above. The treatment is simple and can be done in a short session, even on your lunch break if need be. You will need more than one treatment to reach the full effects of the procedure.

Laser resurfacing is another option similar to the chemical peel.
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The branches, twigs and even the leaves

The branches, twigs and even the leaves are corkscrew twisted.

Every Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick was propagated from a single plant that was discovered in an English hedgerow in the 19th century. The branches will add outstanding winter and early spring interest to your garden. They are particularly ornamental in early spring when they are covered with pendulous catkins. Contorted Filbert works well planted as a specimen or as a contrast to more traditional shrubs. The branches can be cut and forced in water indoors. When the catkins dry they can be removed and the naked branches can remain handsome without water for years.

Planting and Care

Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick performs well in average, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade.
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HMV online store takes on iTunes

0 Comments | Daily Mirror, The; London (UK), Jul 26, 2010 | by Anonymous

HMV goes head-to-head with iTunes today by launching a music downloads website.

The site – hmvdigital – is an attempt to break into a market dominated by iTunes, Apple’s download service.

Melanie Armstrong, HMV’s head of music, said: “Some people tend to think of us as a traditional retailer, but the fact is we’ve completely transformed our business.

“The launch of hmvdigital means we have a world-class music download platform” The site was built by download service 7digital, in which HMV bought a 50% stake in September 2009.

It offers many tracks at the highest-quality mp3 compression of 320kbps
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on the move

0 Comments | Daily Post; Liverpool (UK), Feb 24, 2010 | by Anonymous

JAYNE MASON has been appointed by small enterprise advisers Business Doctors as a management accountant.

She will handle financial management for the Newton-le-Willows firm which is expanding across the UK.

LEADING north-west law firm Mace & Jones is boosting its tax, trust and estates team, with the appointment of Paul Horton and Julie Burgess, from Manchester-based George Davies. They will be associate solicitors giving specialist private client services including the preparation of wills, administering estates, trust and estate tax planning. Mr Horton and Ms Burgess will be based predominantly at Mace & Jones’s Knutsford office
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Bike racing and bike riding

Bike racing and bike riding in general have become very popular lately with a lot of it being attributed to the high cost of gasoline now a days.

There are also many competitions in the US and around the World that draw competitors from all over. One of the most popular is the famous X-Games. If you watch TV you have probably come across one of these competitions being broadcast on a sports channel and many are even broadcast on one of the major networks. If you have seen this type of competition, then you know that some of the stunts performed seem almost impossible for a person to do. It’s mind boggling to imagine how much practice along with all the bumps, bruises and injuries that some of these competitors must go through to accomplish these feats. Everyone in a competition wears a lot of safety equipment to protect the elbows, knees and most importantly, the head with a helmet. If you have never seen one of these X-Games before, make sure you keep your eyes open and watch your TV guide so you can catch one of these wild competitions for yourself as you will be amazed.

Of course you don’t have to compete to buy a BMX bike to enjoy.
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Leading the way on buying local; in association with RBS

0 Comments | Journal (Newcastle, England), The, Feb 29, 2008

Byline: NICHOLAS CRAIG

AFTER the all-out onslaught by Jamie, Gordon and Hugh on the plight of battery hens, I doubt any of us are unaware of the horrors of mass-produced poultry.

The unrelenting spotlight on chickens reveals our unthinking consumption of reconstituted meat in convenience food, eggs laid by cramped, cooped-up birds and Frankenstein chickens reared in super-quick time to be full size in 34 days and a trussed-up pounds 1.99 bird on day 35.

Contrast that with our generous approach to animal charities. Demanding that farm animals are reared decently is the logical reaction of a nation of animal lovers. It is easy, however, to be seduced by cheap chickens and battery eggs during the tunnel-visioned supermarket run.

Perhaps because of the North East’s large proportion of rural land and centuries of farming history, I believe we are more aware than most of the need to support locally-produced organic meat and free-range eggs.

As supermarket shoppers we can choose to buy locally-produced eggs and meat, and there are now many farmers’ markets and farm shops, often with delicious produce served at adjoining farm restaurants, such as the admirable Brocksbushes Farm Shop temptingly close to me at Corbridge.

These, along with regional hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions insisting on locally-bred produce, are boosting the local economy and job market.

This region has never been known for its ‘me too’ attitude. It prefers to decide independently and lead the way.

Given the number of local food initiatives from our farmers and food producers, I believe we are driving forward the ‘buy good quality local produce’ message with success, ahead of other regions. The sky’s the limit where our enterprising producers are concerned. And as public demand grows, farmers and suppliers are becoming more innovative.

An organic beef farmer in north Northumberland is aiming to produce highly sought after Kobe beef from rare Wagyu cattle next year. Olefeira rapeseed oil produced in the Borders is selling well, and awards continue to accumulate at Doddingtons Dairy Ice Cream and the Robson family’s Chain Bridge Honey.

Tellingly, the two national winners of the Best Farm Shop Butchery award 2007 are located within three miles of each other in Northumberland
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