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Municipal Demarcation Board, SALGA, Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent, National Disaster Management Centre on their 2015/16 Annual Reports
Chairperson: Mr M Mdakane (ANC)
Annual Reports 2015/16
The Municipality Demarcation Board (MDB) obtained a clean audit. There were however challenges on the usefulness and reliability of performance information. These challenges have been addressed in the new 2016/17 Annual Performance Plan (APP). MDB had irregular expenditure of R66 000 but it was a substantial improvement from 2014/15 when it amounted to R3 million. There was no fruitless or wasteful expenditure. MDB administrative costs increased from R17 million to R30 million and this was mainly due to the Section 22(2) Municipal Outer Boundary Redetermination project requested by the Minister.
MDB reported that most of their challenges were a result of the Municipal Demarcation Act of 1998 which needs a revamp. The legislation does not provide for adequate public participation and the criteria for delimitation of wards are based on voters and not other issues that the communities are raising. One of the solutions suggested is regionalisation of the MDB to give it a regional footprint. The MDB requested an additional R32 million to roll out the regionalisation programme. The other recommendation was that demarcations or delimitations should be made over a ten year period and not five years as this will take into account the long term plans of municipalities.
The MDB cited the following as its key challenges;
- Legislative constraints and gaps
- Under funding which is incompatible with organisational strategy and mandate
- Perceived negative public perception due to lack of understanding of the MDB mandate
- Lack of regional footprint which creates disconnection with the public.
- Reliance on stakeholders, specifically municipalities, to provide venues and to extend public participation.
The Committee expressed concern about the administrative costs of the MDB but it replied that these were unavoidable expenses due to the 34 proposals in the Municipal Outer Boundary Redetermination project. Members asked who it benefits to take a financially viable municipality and amalgamate it with a financially unviable municipality and drag them both down. Not enough thought was being given to the long term effect of these amalgamation decisions. The failure to achieve set goals was a major concern. The DA was opposed to the MDB proposal to amend the ward delimitation criteria by changing the variation permitted from 10% to 30% above or below the norm as they said it would be undemocratic.
The MDB continued to urge the Committee to revamp the legislation and to increase funding since the MDB has historically been underfunded.
The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) highlighted a number of achievements. SALGA had received a clean audit for the second consecutive year. SALGA demonstrated its extensive involvement in support to municipalities. It had established the SALGA Centre for Leadership and Governance to ensure learning, reflection and sharing among administration and politicians in order to improve capacity. Over 23 000 councillors over the past five years have been trained through this project and in the last financial year it trained about 3 500 councillors and 300 officials. Generally, SALGA reported that it had registered incremental performance over the last four years.
Members expressed concerns that some of the targets were soft and vague. SALGA was urged to get specific with its targets and key performance indicators. There was concern on the remuneration policy with members advising that remuneration should be in line with the collective bargaining agreement. SALGA's response was that it took into account the cost of living increase in determining the increase in remuneration packages. The Committee recommended that mayors and speakers should not represent municipalities at SALGA meetings because this affects service delivery in those municipalities. Other council members should represent the municipalities.
The Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) presented its Annual Report which was incomplete since AGSA had not concluded the audit report. The report presented indicated that MISA had achieved nine out of 11 of its key targets. One target that was not achieved involved supporting 60 graduates towards professional registration. This was not achieved as a management decision was taken not to recruit because there was a backlog in sending apprentices to on-the-job training and so the money was diverted to address this backlog. The second unachieved target was giving 170 experiential learners workplace exposure in municipalities. MISA only managed to support 42 learners who were already in the system. The explanation was that a management decision was taken not to recruit learners. Overall, MISA's performance for the year stood at 78% which was a decline of 1% from the previous year. MISA's high level of irregular expenditure was the main concern to Committee members.
The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) presented their annual report on their activities during the year, the results of adaptation and mitigation initiatives, the significant natural disasters that occurred during the year, their specific recommendations and an evaluation on the implementation of these strategies. The underlying theme in the both the briefing and discussion was the 'El Niño' drought. The Western Cape and Eastern Cape are the only regions where a provincial state of disaster has not been declared, while the Northern Cape most recently declared in January 2016. In response, the Presidency has recently approved the Interim Committee on Disaster Management (ICDM), making provincial disaster reporting a statutory requirement and creating a legislative platform for effective and responsive policy creation in coordination with the NDMC. The Disaster Management Amendment Act 2015 was concluded during this period, outlining a strategic framework for disaster mitigation. In this regard, water restrictions have proven relatively successful in water conservation across larger dams. The NDMC highlight that the South African Weather Service has reported positive predictions for higher-than-normal rainfall beginning in November.
The Chairperson said the presentations need not cover the details, rather it should cover the real issues that concern the entity. He congratulated Councillor Parks Tau on being elected as 'mayor of the world'.
Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) on its 2015/16 Annual Report
Ms Jane Thupana, MDB chairperson, indicated that it key mandate involves determination of municipal outer boundaries, delimitation of municipal ward boundaries, assessment of municipal capacity, and rendering advisory services to stakeholders. She highlighted that MDB obtained its first clean audit in its history.
Mr Naresh Patel, MDB Chief Financial Officer, presented the audit report and the financial performance of MDB. Whilst MDB had a clean audit, there were some challenges concerning the usefulness and reliability of performance information. However these challenges have been addressed in the new 2016/17 Annual Performance Plan (APP) which has been reviewed by Auditor General South Africa (AGSA), the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the internal audit.
MDB had irregular expenditure of R66 000 but this is being addressed and it was a substantial improvement from 2014/15 when it was R3 million. There was no fruitless or wasteful expenditure. MDB administrative costs increased from R17 million to R30 million and this was mainly due to the Section 22(2) Municipal Outer Boundary Redetermination project requested by the Minister.
Ms Thupana stated that MDB has been lamenting how to deal with strategic misalignment between resources and its mandate as well as legislative constraints. In this financial year, she reported that MDB made substantial progress and had taken steps to mitigate the challenges. She pointed to some examples of steps taken. She spoke about the conference in June which was a convergence of ideas on what areas of the legislation had to be amended and how. She pointed to major feedback from communities about the frequency of demarcations. 'These have been so disruptive to local government systems because they do not take into account long term plans of municipalities', she said. She proposed that demarcations be made after every ten years and not five years. In general she emphasised that the legislation needed a revamp.
Adv T Mekuto, Acting CEO of MDB, presented the performance outcomes of MDB for the financial year. She highlighted the strategic objectives which the MDB could not achieve and explained that this was mainly due to the Section 22(2) project which was requested by the Minister. The other reason for failure was the capacity constraints within the Human Resource department and the organisational restructuring process that is still ongoing. She spoke to some of the municipal boundary litigation that MDB was involved in during 2015/16 (see document). She explained the strategies to implemented to achieve good governance:
She highlighted the key challenges that MDB faced:
She concluded by proposing regionalisation for MDB as well as making the following legislative amendments to address the challenges;
- Enhancement of public participation and consultation processes
- Municipal and ward boundary demarcations should place in cycles of 10 years
- Enhancement and clarification of the demarcation objectives and criteria
- Review of the ward delimitation criteria, especially the variation
- Regulating timeframes for all stakeholders in the ward delimitation process.
Mr Patel presented MDB's budget for the next three years. He lamented that historically the MDB has remained underfunded. For 2016/17, the MDB's total revenue is R51.131 million. R50.631 million of this is from government while R500 000 is from other non tax revenue. The MDB has budgeted R30.459 million to be spent on compensation of employees, R15.147 million for goods and services, R1.394 million for Capex and R4.131 million on office accommodation. He indicated that the MDB needed an additional R32.818 million for the rollout of the regionalisation footprint. He stressed that some of the challenges already identified will be addressed by the regionalisation programme.
Ms Thupana concluded by appealing to the Committee for increased support as well as for increased levels of funding.
Mr E Mthethwa (ANC) asked what constituted most of the MDB's administrative costs. He wondered whether indeed it was an issue of underfunding or poor budgeting that the MDB faced.
Mr K Mileham (DA) stated that he does not think that AGSA would have given MDB a clean audit if it had taken into account the performance measures of the MDB. From page 66 of the Annual Report, he pointed to the fact that what the MDB reported on was not what it had said it would report on. He reiterated AGSA's finding that 67% of MDB's targets were not specific and measurable and 67% of the indicators were not verified. All of those matters are within the MDB's control. This is something that needs to be addressed.
He went on to inquire how many municipal capacity assessments were completed during the year under review. MDB concluded a number on demarcation decisions where it decided on a number of new boundaries. He asked how these decisions could be made without the municipality assessments. He said that many of the amalgamated municipalities should not have been amalgamated because they are not financially viable and that as a result, those municipalities are struggling.
On the money spent on Programme 2, MDB had budgeted about R1.3 million and it spent R411 000 on personnel costs and yet that programme has zero personnel associated with it for the year under review. He asked how R411 000 was spent on a project with no personnel.
He asked about the ward delimitation criteria particularly on the proposal to amend the variation from 10% to 30% above or below the norm. In a municipality, the norm is about 10 000 voters, 30% more would be 13 000 voters and 300% less would be 7 000 voters. Therefore in one ward 7000 voters elect a councillor and in the ward right next door you need 13 000 voters. In fact you only need a majority which is 3 500 and 6 500 voters respectively. He asked how such a proposal is democratic.
Mr N Masondo (ANC) congratulated the MDB on its achievements. He however cautioned them about irregular expenditure. MDB should point out how the challenges identified are being addressed in the medium and long term. He requested a high level summary of the litigation be provided to the Committee.
Ms Thupana replied that MDB is working very hard to address the performance matters in the audit. MDB did not have an HR component in the organisation. They have a large staff turnover. A large number of the challenges point back to lack of resources. Some of the critical positions are on contract and when people are on contract they want to leave immediately when they get a better offer.
On municipality capacity assessments, she indicated that the MDB would never make any determinations without being informed by extensive information that includes the capacity of the municipalities concerned. When MDB received the Section 22(2) proposals from the Minister we only had assessments that targeted the affected municipalities. MDB acted on only 13 of the 34 proposals where there was convincing evidence that the municipalities would be sustainable.
She pointed to the fact that the law provides that the wards are delimited for the purposes of voting purely and that is why the criteria leans towards voting and are not looking at other elements which the communities are raising. She added that MDB tries to maintain wards in order to maintain local government stability. People are unhappy about ward changes. She urged the lawmakers and the public to engage in order to find solutions.
Mr Patel responded that the administrative costs are largely unavoidable. MDB tries to save on costs but by and large they are the usual inevitable costs. There are drives to contain costs such as telephone and electricity. In terms of underfunding, he warned that if MDB does not receive more funding from government, the same challenges will inevitably persist. He noted the two instances of irregular expenditure and said procurement policies have been rectified and workshopped. The procurement procedures had been interrogated and aligned to necessary prescripts to resolve the challenge of irregular expenditure. There was a delay in the delivery of a server for IT. He said that as an independent institution, the MDB has to be very careful from which body it takes funding and so finding alternative sources of funding remains a challenge.
Ms Thupana explained that Section 25 contains a dozen criteria of which financial viability is but one of the twelve and it is not given any priority in the Act. Some municipalities have a long way to go to be financially viable as they have no cost recovery. Those municipalities need to address the payments issue for services delivered. The idea is to see how one municipality can potentially cross subsidise the other as there are huge pockets of poverty we are dealing with in our municipalities.
Mr Mileham noted there had been no response to his question on Programme 2 expenditure where R411 000 spent on a project with zero personnel. He stated that when looking at amalgamating municipalities, financial viability has to be the most important criteria whether or not it is prioritised in the Act. He wondered whom it benefits to take a financially viable municipality and amalgamate it with a financially unviable municipality and drag both of them down. He said that there is not enough thought being given to the long term effect of these amalgamation decisions.
Ms Thupana said she had mentioned the legislative constraints and that there are gaps. Parliament should not throw back to MDB problems that should be resolved by Parliament. She repeated that the legislation is problematic. She explained that the law does not say that financial viability is the overarching criteria. If they considered financial viability as the overarching factor, someone could successfully take them to court and win. She promised that when the lawmakers change the law, MDB will implement it. They looking forward to legislation certainty and that is why they are proposing a legislative review. The gaps are breeding instability and people are unhappy about consultation. For example, section 26 it says "notify" not "consult". There are quite a number of contradictions and grey areas in the Act.
Mr Patel promised to get back to the Committee on the issue of the R411 000 of which R350 000 was allocated to personnel on Programme 2 which appears on page 56, which in fact had zero personnel. He would rather research this and get back to the committee secretariat with a more structured response in writing.
In reply to a question, Ms Thupana explained the forensic investigation on the tender awarded in 2014 found a number of irregularities. When MDB asked the party to withdraw, they resorted to threats of litigation so a forensic investigation had to be conducted. They only withdrew thereafter. A copy of the forensic report exists and they matters it raised have been addressed.
South African Local Government Association (SALGA) on its 2015/16 Annual Report
Mr Subesh Pillay, a Member of the National Executive Committee of SALGA, conveyed apologies from the SALGA chairperson, deputy chairperson and CEO who were unable to attend. He indicated that SALGA was still in a transitional period having concluded the local government elections on 3 August. There has been an incremental increase in terms of performance and 2015/16 was the second consecutive year that SALGA received a clean audit. He reported that the financial position of the organisation has improved for the better.
Mr Lance Joel the Executive Manager: Parliamentary Affairs, indicated that SALGA plans for a five year period based on the election cycle and that the year under review was the fourth. The annual performance plan for 2015/16 was focused on streamlining the plan towards greater performance and so the strategic goals were reduced. He reported performance improvement of 100%. He said that SALGA had to play a role in the transition of municipalities as well as in mergers of municipalities.
There has been an increase in access to electricity, piped water, and sanitation amongst households but that the demand was going to increase as up to 800 000 new households were projected for the next three years. SALGA has done a study with the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) on the cost of municipal services. He urged members to read the report to understand the cost of providing municipal services. SALGA played a central role in engaging with Eskom on the debt owed by municipalities to Eskom but no consensus has been reached. He stated that there has been the establishment of internal audits in all municipalities through the support given by SALGA. SALGA has the deliberate intention of dealing with corruption and has been very active in this fight.
He indicated that SALGA has made significant progress on the training and welfare of councillors. It launched the SALGA Centre for Leadership and Governance to ensure learning, reflection and sharing among administration and politicians to improve capacity. SALGA has developed over 23 000 councillors over the past five years and in the last financial year it trained about 3 500 councillors and 300 officials SALGA ran an extensive integrated councillor induction after the 2016 local government elections in which 8 000 councillors have been trained on what the expectations are for councillors. This training involved 700 traditional leaders. With regard to challenges, the debt owed to municipalities remains a challenge.
Mr Nceba Mqoqi, SALGA Chief Financial Officer, presented the accounts of SALGA. In general the financial performance of the entity was adequate. He pointed out that the asset coverage ratio has increased. He noted that the overall total liabilities increased more than the total assets but overall revenues increased.
Mr Mileham indicated that some of SALGA's outcomes are soft and vague. SALGA needs to get specific with its outcomes and key performance indicators. He said that training of councillors is not an outcome; the outcome is whether they can do their jobs in the municipality. He inquired about SALGA's remuneration policy. He noted that Mr Xolile George, the SALGA CEO, attends no less than 12 board meetings annually for PRASA. He inquired if this does not affect his efficiency. SALGA should link its salaries to the levels agreed in the collective bargaining agreement. He inquired about the staff levels of SALGA, noting that SALGA has 488 employees. He asked what all these people do.
He asked if it was proper for SALGA to trumpet about a specific municipality right before an election. He stressed that Councillor Tau is not the mayor of the world, that he is not even a mayor anymore. He was elected as the president of the United Cities and Local Governments Association. He warned about congratulating him on being elected as mayor of the world. He wondered why the Committee was even talking about this.
He wrapped up by recommending that councillors should not receive a stipend from SALGA since they receive a salary from the council. He suggested that other council representatives represent the municipality at SALGA rather than the mayors or speakers because their absence affects service delivery in those municipalities.
Mr Masondo inquired as to who the temporary employees were. He inquired as to the top managers of projects and how suited those projects were to meet SALGA's goals. He spoke of media reports that the Democratic Alliance was intending to establish a separate body.
Mr A Madau (ANC) asked if SALGA assists councillors after their term of office. He asked what SALGA can do to help with the many legal cases against municipalities which were leading to financial loss.
Mr C Matsepe (DA) directed his question to the debt owed by municipalities, part of which was owed by councillors. He asked what SALGA was doing about this.
Mr Subesh Pillay replied that the law makes it unlawful for councillors to be in debt for more than three months. SALGA's system has been that as councillors assume office, they have to make arrangements to settle whatever debts they owe to the municipality. He stated that SALGA has not received any formal indication that DA intends to establish its own organisation outside of SALGA. He reported though that there is a process to engage DA-run municipalities. There was a deliberate effort in making sure the adverts by SALGA do not advantage or disadvantage any municipality. He stated it was to strengthen democracy and reaffirm public confidence in the local government system by profiling best practices. On the remuneration of the CEO, he said that it is never a consideration where else one serves, in determining remuneration. There is a remuneration policy in place and the CEO is remunerated according to that policy.
Mr Lance Joel replied that SALGA was giving training to councillors that could be used after their term in office. The programme was accredited and the councillors could use the credits towards a tertiary qualification and other future opportunities. He explained that the programme was an integrated capacity induction programme which starts with an entry level induction followed by portfolio based training. He explained that the temporary employees were interns. SALGA has 10 offices in all the provinces. The 488 employees are spread out across the ten offices.
Mr Mileham clarified that the DA is not establishing an alternative organisation and that the media reports are merely speculative.
Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) on its 2015/16 Annual Report
Mr Themba Dladla, Acting Chief Executive Officer of MISA, indicated that the Annual Report is still in draft form because there is no final audit report from AGSA. However MISA has received communication from AGSA that the audit will be finalised before the end of October 2016. He reported that MISA is still in a transformation process and that there is an ongoing review of the organisational structure that was signed off by the Minister. As part of the refocusing strategy, MISA has been looking into how best to perform. Its main focus has been on infrastructure planning as well as implementation. This has led to the introduction of the Project/Programme Management Office (PMO). MISA has adopted an approach to conditionalise support given to municipalities by providing for a fixed period and a clear focus on support areas that need to be looked at.
The Head of Capacity Development presented MISA's performance on its predetermined objectives. MISA's mandate is rendering technical service, and rendering advice and support to municipalities. This is done by supporting municipalities to plan, deliver, operate and maintain municipal infrastructure. For 2015/16, MISA had four strategic goals. His presentation however focused on two of those which were in line with technical support and capacity building to municipalities. MISA had 11 key performance indicators on the two strategic goals. Nine out of 11 key performance indicators were achieved. The two that were not achieved come from the capacity development programme. The first was on supporting 60 graduates towards professional registration which was not achieved. He explained that a management decision was taken not to recruit because there was a backlog on sending apprentices to on-the-job training and so the money was diverted to address this backlog. The second was giving 170 experiential learners work place exposure in municipalities. This was not achieved. MISA only managed to support 42 learners who were already in the system. His explanation was that a management decision was taken in this case not to recruit learners. In conclusion, he indicated that MISA's performance for the year stood at 78% which was a decline of 1% from the previous year.
Ms Fezeka Stishi, Chief Financial Officer of MISA, presented MISA's accounts. MISA had R206 million as income. The expenditure incurred was R291.7 million. There was a decline in contractual services because of the contracts that terminated during the period under review and because some of the consultants resigned. The current liabilities increased to R49.2 million due to a drought relief programme that was undertaken towards the end of the financial year.
The Chairperson said there was no need to present an itemised breakdown of the accounts. He urged that the presentation should focus on the general status of the account and what the problems are. He would prefer to give more time for members to pose questions.
The Chief Financial Officer wrapped up her presentation by stating that the biggest challenge faced is capacity constraints. Even though AGSA has not concluded the audit report, MISA's financials indicate that MISA is headed in the right direction.
Mr E Mthethwa (ANC) recommended the Committee should wait for the final report from AGSA. They should not engage the report being presented. He was afraid to engage on an incomplete report.
Mr Mileham disagreed, saying they have to work with the information in order to finalise their recommendations. He directed his question to the irregular expenditure. He stated that 46% of MISA's expenditure was irregular. 'Irregular expenditure is bad even if it is condoned', he said. Some of these things are avoidable if MISA puts in place the proper checks and balances.
The Chairperson stated that according to MISA's interim report, there were major problems about fruitless and wasteful and irregular expenditure. What is MISA's strategy going forward? Despite the unqualified audit opinion, he stated that the Committee should wait for the final report from the AGSA before discussing the financial intricacies in too much detail.
Mr Mthethwa noted that although the report presented by MISA was not yet official, it served to acclimatize the Committee to the key areas of concern, particularly considering the Committee's forthcoming Budget Review and Recommendations Report (BRRR). He highlighted that according to the interim report, there is little improvement year-on-year with regards to fruitless and wasteful expenditure, however the Committee should await the AGSA's final report to confirm this.
Mr Mileham (DA) stated that he respectfully disagreed, arguing that the Committee would have to engage with the interim report, as the information contained would be vital in finalising the release of the Committee's BRRR later this week. According to the interim report, R136 million of MISA's R291 million total expenditure was irregular, amounting to 46%. He referred to the incident of the agency not advertising a R113 million tender for 21 days, calling for greater organisational capacity and transparency within MISA. Further, he noted that R26 million of travel expenditure was signed off by an individual not authorized to do so. In this instance, he argued, the nature of expenditure was unauthorized, rather than irregular. If MISA had sufficient checks and balances to regulate spending, this level of irregular expenditure could have been avoided. Considering the lack of year-on-year improvement, what is MISA doing to correct this?
Mr Masondo (ANC) questioned MISA on how tenders were being awarded without being properly advertised, as well as how written quotation requirements in awarding tenders were not met. These were signs that MISA was heading in the wrong direction with irregular expenditure, and that there was much to reflect on.
Mr Mudau (ANC) asked how MISA's debt would be dealt with at a later stage, considering the irregular channeling of funds within the agency. He said that the audit report would reveal whether sufficient checks and balances were in place. Further, he noted that a comparison with the previous financial year reveals the situation is deteriorating.
Ms Stishi replied that the classification for irregular expenditure had been adjusted by the AGSA in 2015, after consultation with National Treasury. Around R78 million classified as non-compliant in the previous financial year was now treated as irregular expenditure as a result of these updated guidelines. The escalating level of irregular expenditure could partially be explained by the capacity constraints in supply chain management. On MISA's strategy to address its deteriorating financial position, she noted that MISA had revised both its standard operating procedures to enhance internal controls and its internal policy to cater for new regulations stipulated by Treasury. Although tenders were not advertised for 21 days, they were still advertised for a shorter period of time. She concluded that although there was improvement in enhancing internal controls, the fundamental challenge of capacity constraints is still central.
The Chairperson questioned why tenders were advertised for a shorter period of time, considering the amount of money (R113 million) to be awarded. Furthermore, it was noted that information technology services were not procured through the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).
Mr Dladla replied that the data in the interim presentation may be misleading, as many of the figures were a result of actions in previous financial years, not necessarily the financial year in question. To this extent, he stressed that the picture is not as grim as it would appear to the Committee, as MISA too awaits the final report from AGSA.
Mr Ntandazo Vimba, Head of Technical Support for MISA, pointed out that the financial figures reflect the majority of contracts procured in 2013.
Mr Masondo interjected "It is now 2016, we have to move forward".
Mr Vimba replied MISA had been proclaimed in 2012, and has since made considerable improvements in internal controls, despite having no approved organisational structure since its inception. A revised structure awaits approval from the Public Servants Association (PSA) and the National Treasury. As a result, the supply chain had previously been manned by individuals not qualified for such a position.
Mr Masondo interjected once more, stating "This is a serious problem. The question that arises is do we really need this MISA thing?"
The Chair addressed Mr Masondo's question himself by stating that it is not appropriate question to be answered by MISA employees, and that the matter should rather be considered by Minister Van Rooyen. He added that if local authorities have built sufficient capacity, there truly is no need for MISA. The fact that there has been no approved organisational structure since 2012 reflects a lack of clarity in MISA's political administration.
Mr Dladla said that the revised organisational structure has indeed improved internal controls, and is aligned with the demands of local authorities. He stated that all key stakeholders appreciate the challenge.
The Chairperson called for the delegates to have a discussion amongst themselves on a political level to assess the long-term goals of MISA. When assessing the capacities of local authorities, he added, do they need an entity to assist them? He stated that AGSA would decide if MISA is capable of acting according to recognised accounting practices. Despite the considerable issues raised by the delegation, the lack of clarity and direction within the agency remains an area of concern for the Committee.
Mr Vimba addressed the question of MISA's strategy going forward, stating that recent structural improvements include enhanced technical capacity through the procurement of engineers in the bid specification and evaluation committees. Moreover, enhanced training of personnel in these committees in the standards for infrastructure procurement and regulations of National Treasury provides further room for optimism.
The Chairperson noted that further discussion will be enabled when MISA returns for the presentation of the final audit report by AGSA.
Mr Dladla expressed appreciation for the chance to engage with the Committee, particularly in highlighting critical weaknesses within MISA. He reassured the Committee that the new organisational structure would soon be approved, and that the agency was committed to making improvements where needed.
Natural Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) on its 2015/16 Annual Report
Mr Ken Terry, Head of NDMC, reminded the Committee that this annual report does not include a financial report, as this was presented to the Committee in the previous week. He stated that one of the NDMC's highlights of the last financial year was the conclusion of the Disaster Management Amendment Act 2015, assented to by the Presidency during December 2015. The major issue during the period was the drought, the first major natural disaster since the new legislation was introduced. As a result, the processes of the NDMC in addressing the disaster were necessarily recalibrated.
Mr Jurgens Dyssel, Senior Manager: Legislation, Policy and Compliance Management at NDMC, said that coordination with the Ministry has produced substantative progress in recent years, with amendments to the Disaster Management Act, the creation of an integrated urban development framework, and facilitating a coordinated response to disasters such as the drought and other smaller incidents. The NDMC undertook monitoring of various prevention and mitigation initiatives during the period, including the introduction of the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) commemoration in 2015, where they visited disaster management stakeholders across the country. On this occasion the NDMC was able to engage with communities on how traditional knowledge systems can, with science, help inform disaster management systems.
NDMC's challenges in implementing disaster management include the poor functionality of Disaster Management Advisory forums, the failure of stakeholders – including local governments - to report on and implement disaster risk reduction measures, non-responsiveness of the state to prescripts to respond to disaster occurrences, and the lack of funding for awareness programmes. Details on the state of disasters show that the Western Cape and Eastern Cape are the only regions where a provincial state of disaster has not been declared, while the Northern Cape was most recently declared in January 2016.
Mr M Mileham (DA) said that he is concerned with the lack of reporting from local and provincial government entities. This is a statutory requirement, and the Committee should engage with the Auditor-General to include this in their yearly compliance checking procedure. None of the metros in South Africa have submitted a disaster management plan for 2015/16. In terms of the disasters declared and classified, he noted that all related to drought, and expressed concern that several provinces were declared so late. He asked about the disproportionate travel expenditure occurred during this period, considering the small scale of the NDMC organisation.
Mr Terry replied that since the time of reporting, the President has approved the Interim Committee on Disaster Management (ICDM), making the reporting of natural disasters a statutory requirement. NDMC does not feel it is necessary to submit new disaster management plans yearly, but rather to review and update existing plans. He noted that committee meetings regarding the drought are ongoing, and that the South African Weather Service recently reported positive predictions for higher-than-normal rainfall beginning in November. Despite the low levels of the Vaal dam, flash-flooding has caused water levels to rise in some areas. Water restrictions have been relatively successful in reducing water wastage. Water levels at many of the larger dams were dropping by around 1 percent per week before restrictions were introduced. Since then, the figure has been reduced to 0.2 percent per week. On travel expenditure, Mr Terry replied that the NDMC does not attend conferences, although some members occupy leadership positions within international organisations requiring their presence. He reassured the Committee that NDMC does not attend any conference unless it is totally necessary.
The Chairperson thanked the NDMC for their briefing, as well as the positive rain predictions.
The meeting is adjourned.
Municipal Demarcation Board; SALGA; Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent & National Disaster Management Centre 2015/16 Annual Reports 3
South African Local Government Association (SALGA) 2015/16 Annual Report presentation
Municipality Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) 2015/16 Annual Report presentation
National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) 2015/16 Annual Report presentation
Municipality Demarcation Board (MDB) 2015/16 Annual Report presentation
Mdakane, Mr MR Chairperson
Bhanga, Mr BM
Galo, Mr MP
Maluleke, Ms B
Masondo, Mr NA
Matsepe, Mr CD
Mileham, Mr K
Mthethwa, Mr EM
Mudau, Mr AM


text:
Council rakes in millions from parking
Nearly £10 million profit has been produced from council parking operations over the last five years in Gloucestershire.
The figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats also show just under £2.5million was made both in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016.
Reference will be made to this huge sum of money by the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr. Paul Hodgkinson (Bourton and Northleach) in a question directed to parking bosses at next Wednesday's County Council Cabinet Meeting.
In commenting, Cllr. Hodgkinson said:
"Next week, I'll be challenging the Cabinet Member for parking to provide me with details of exactly what this surplus in parking has been spent on over the last few years.
"I'm aware that any profit generated must by law be spent on transport-related activities. It would however be good to see precisely those things that have been funded from money created from parking charges and penalty notices.
"Nearly £10 million is indisputably a huge amount of money. Gloucestershire was ranked 79 out of 353 councils in England with the largest parking surpluses. It could and should have been seen as making a very real difference in Gloucestershire, but I'm at a loss to see exactly what benefit this money has actually had. I'm dissatisfied and frustrated that the roads across the county are still dreadful. Where has this massive profit gone?
"The Conservatives have had 12 years in power on Gloucestershire County Council to get this right and they've simply failed to sort out the roads and pavements despite this windfall.
"I am saddened that we haven't seen significant road improvements reflecting this significant sum of money generated from people who have paid for parking charges and penalty notices.
"Only a total change of approach will end the vicious cycle of potholed roads and ever increasing parking profits."
The Cabinet meeting will take place at Shire Hall on Wednesday 1st February at 10am.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
When I was little (ancient history), I used to relish in delight at the weekday dinner time hour. Soon everyone would converge on the kitchen table, and Daddy would be home. But, most importantly, I would get to pregame with a solid dose of Mr. Rogers. It was my brief time to become absorbed in the hypnotic pace of the show, the imagination, and the expression of empathy. Sometimes, my brother—who is 7 years older than me—would abrasively plop on the couch and force me to watch Hogan's Heroes or Ponderosa. On those evenings, I was devastated. But whenever I was able to get the TV all to myself, Mr. Rogers and I would have our very special time together and, for those 28-minutes, I would be filled with warmth and a sense of comfort and safety.
In the Mr. Rogers documentary on Netflix, they highlight how haters would attack Mr. Rogers' integrity, placing blame on him for children feeling entitled. They suggested that telling children they were 'special' would ruin our generation. I've spent years after his death on nervous watch, hoping no one would ever find anything to make Fred Rogers another Bill Cosby or worse. "Lloyd, please don't ruin my childhood," the actress Susan Kelechi Watson said to her reporter husband in the 2019 movie It's A Wonderful Day In The Neighborhood with Tom Hanks, and I echoed the sentiment. I sighed a sigh of relief, between sobs, after seeing the movie. It appears my icon has not faltered from integrity.
I could come at this article from so many angles: the state of our politics, the level of hatred and racism in our world, the myriad of pain so many suffer, but is that really different from any other generation? We've had war, economic challenges, global health scares, pollution, racism, violence and oppression in every decade. Is it just me? Why does it feel worse this time around? Well, I think it's because we need more Fred. (I feel like that would make a great t-shirt, or rally chant). Mr. Rogers took the topics of the day and broke them down into simple, human terms; terms a child could process and grapple with. He validated my experiences, my worries, and my curiosities when the adults in my life couldn't or wouldn't. And he validated me. Where I often questioned my value within my family, or at school, or elsewhere in the world, Mr. Rogers reassured me that I was okay just as I was. "The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile."' I'm in awe of the man's capacity for generosity and love. Rogers is also known for saying, "Love isn't a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now." He didn't just speak these words, he lived them. If only I could possess a modicum of his tenets.
I don't often mourn deeply for the famous—for people I've never met. But Martin Luther King, Jr.(although he died before I was born), Anthony Bourdain, and Mr. Rogers' deaths all touched me deeply. It's a funny mix of people to have to dinner, but I think the one thing that holds them in the same category is that they all lived their truth. They all felt very 'real' to me, conveyed strong values and humanness, and did things their way despite the rub. For me, it begs the question: Have we lost all of our heroes?
Or maybe heroes just take on a different sheen these days. Maybe that's what Fred was trying to nurture in each of us back then—hero status. He is also known for stating in times of crisis to "Look for the helpers..." and I see them everywhere. When we look beneath the media frenzies, the 'fake' news, and the toxic political slants; what we see is everyday people doing heroic acts in ordinary ways: from people giving strangers their cars to shielding them with their own bodies during 9/11, to rallying around the 9-year old in New Zealand being bullied because he's a dwarf, to the guy that let me into traffic the other day with a wave and a smile.
Don't be the person holding their phone to make sure the incident goes viral. Be the person who stands up and doesn't allow the incident to continue. Ask yourself WWFD (what would Fred do)? And then do that. We need more everyday heroes. We need more Freds.
Everybody In The Van!


In this section you will our large and keep-growing databse of flash templates. Our website templates are exclusivly original, very modern and mostly with clean style (with exceptions). Our templates comes in a veriaty of formats, We have Flash Templates, html with flash Templates, Joomla Templates (soon flash templates with the new version), and Fast Loading flash templates (for the slow connections). Soon to come are Drupal Templates, Wordpress Templates, DotNetNuke Templates.. And many other useful open-source templates.


These frogs haven't croaked yet.
The increase in number of the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog (Rana sierrae) over the past two decades in Yosemite National Park indicates it has a fighting chance at recovery despite numerous stressors working against it.
Based at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara biologist Roland Knapp led the research in documenting the frog's recovery. Combining data with that of U.S. Geological Survey research biologist Gary Fellers two years ago, Knapp and his colleagues have amassed extensive records containing over 7,000 surveys at more than 2,000 sites within Yosemite National Park. Together, they have been studying the populations of Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs, an endangered species whose numbers have experienced about 95 percent decline in the Sierra Nevada, including in Yosemite.
In a collaborative effort with Patrick Kleeman of the U.S. Geological Survey, David Miller from Penn State University, Vance Vredenburg from San Francisco State University, Cheryl Briggs from UCSB and Erica Rosenblum from UC Berkeley published their findings in the Oct. 18, 2016 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. In their paper, they detailed the 11 percent annual growth rate and seven-fold increase of yellow-legged frog populations since the 20-year study began.
Factors contributing to this amphibian's decline include pesticides and non-native fish, the latter of which has negatively impacted population numbers since as early as a century ago. A more recent stressor introduced about 45 years ago is the infectious and often fatal fungal disease, chytridiomycosis — a source of declining global populations for 30 percent of amphibian species around the world.
Given that these stressors caused the original decline — and are still present in the frog population — has made the yellow-legged frogs' recovery even more significant within the science community.
"Many other species and populations of species are in serious decline, so finding that this highly endangered frog has actually — following a very severe decline — begun recovering and recovering quite dramatically is really important information for those of us trying to recover this species. Because it indicates that for some of these amphibians, recovery is possible," Knapp said.
Factors linked to the frogs' recovery are policies instituted by Yosemite National Park 25 years ago ceasing the stocking of non-native fish. This allowed for some habitats to revert to their original fishless conditions so that the frogs could recolonize them.
The chytrid fungus has lessened its impact on populations as well. According to Kleeman, time is a significant cause in the frogs gradually overcoming this particular stressor.
"One thing working in [the frogs'] favor is that [they've] been exposed to this fungus for quite some time, probably since at least the early 1970s. We don't know exactly the mechanism of how they're defeating the chytrid fungus currently, but it's given them the chance to overcome it over time and basically either build up resistance [to it], or they may have otherwise inherently had that resistance all along," Kleeman said.
While several frog species in Australia have shown similar trends of recovery from the fungal disease, the particular importance of Knapp's study is that it is one of the first of its kind to express such a great increase in population on a large spatial scale.
Knapp and his colleagues are continuing to monitor species populations to describe their recovery trends and observe whether they will maintain stability. Further actions comprise of the ongoing program to remove non-native fish from key habitats and conducting additional studies on the likely changing relationship between this frog species and the chytrid fungus.
"Even though what we're seeing is really exciting and really good news for the Yosemite frog populations, it's just the beginning of recovery. We have a long way to go," Knapp said.
Jacqueline serves as the Science and Tech Editor. She enjoys watching movies and learning about science and tech, and is definitely not that person in your class that's dozing off.


The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), headquartered in Chicago, is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. AISC's mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural-steel-related technical and market-building activities, including: specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development. AISC has a long tradition of service to the steel construction industry providing timely and reliable information.
Founded in 1911, ASSE is the oldest professional safety organization. Its more than 33,000 members manage, supervise and consult on safety, health, and environmental issues in industry, insurance, government and education. ASSE is guided by a 16-member Board of Directors, which consists of eight regional vice presidents; three council vice presidents; Society president, president-elect, senior vice president, vice president of finance and executive director. ASSE has 17 practice specialties, 151 chapters, 28 sections and 58 student sections.
The Construction Labor Research Council is the industry's most comprehensive source of construction labor cost and related information for use in better understanding and administering labor and its cost. Focusing on the union sector, CLRC data and analyses facilitate informed decision making. Information provided by CLRC is accurate, timely, objective and recognized and respected throughout the construction industry.
Founded in 1989 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of safety and health interests in the field of construction throughout the world. It was chartered by a board of directors composed mostly of large construction company owners and operators whose vision and leadership made the organization possible. Since its humble beginnings in 1989, the organization has quickly grown to become a world-class professional construction consortium with associations that span the globe. With an emphasis on quality and customer service, all of the construction safety and health resources and loss reduction tools developed by the Construction Safety Council have been designed to maximize positive impact on your safety program.
Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) is dedicated to helping National Guard, Reserve, retired and transitioning active-duty military members connect to quality career and training opportunities in one of America's most challenging and rewarding fields - the construction industry.
IMPACT is a labor-management partnership designed to provide a forum for union Ironworkers and signatory contractors to address mutual concerns and encourage reasonable balanced solutions. The IMPACT Regional Advisory Boards extend this approach, creating a national labor-management network, which promotes discussion of issues affecting the industry as a whole and enables the creation of effective strategies for resolving concerns to create opportunities for the union ironworking industry. Our primary mission is to expand job opportunities through progressive and innovative labor management cooperative programs.
The Laborers? Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA) exists to enhance jobsite safety and health, improve the competitiveness of Laborers International Union of North America?s signatory employers, and strengthen LIUNA LHSFNA embraces the collaborative strategy of LIUNA and its signatory employers to build market share for union Laborers. The Fund is managed jointly by an equal numbers of trustees from labor and from management. It embodies the common interest of union members and union employers in the areas of health and safety.
The Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) brings the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) and its signatory contractors together to address issues of importance to both. Laborers and their employers share a lot of common ground. Working as a team, they secure projects and jobs, increase union-sector market share, advertise their services, develop a workforce, and advance shared market-related interests. One of LIUNA's three cooperative labor-management Tri-Funds, LECET, is similar to a trade association. It looks down the road, sees where the construction industry is going, then musters the resources of LIUNA and the Tri-Funds to position Laborers and their signatory contractors to make the most of the future. It works closely with leading industry organizations on issues of importance to the entire industry such as transportation funding, market-related legislation, marketing strategies, and workforce development. LECET consists of one national office, located in Washington, DC, and a network of 31 regional, state, and local funds.
The National Safety Council saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership, research, education and advocacy. The NSC partners with businesses, elected officials and the public to make a positive impact in areas such as distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, and safety in the home and community. Workplace safety and transportation have been critical areas of focus to the council since its inception in 1913. Over the years, increases in unintentional injury and death rates in the homes and communities have resulted in the council expanding its focus to include safety in homes and communities.
The ACCSH is a continuing advisory body established by statute that provides advice and assistance in construction standards and policy matters to the Assistant Secretary. There are 15 members of this advisory body. The ACCSH meetings are open to the Public and are announced in the Federal Register. Additional information about Advisory Committees is found at 29 CFR 1912.
The Quality Construction Alliance is a coalition of five premier construction specialty contracting associations formed to raise awareness about the value of quality construction among national, state and local leaders, as well as the general public. The Alliance is actively involved at all levels of public policy to ensure that taxpayers receive full value for their construction dollar. "Quality construction" means high-quality work offered at a competitive price that meets or exceeds the customer's specifications and is produced on time and on budget using a well-trained, efficient and highly skilled workforce. Sponsoring organizations and their members are dedicated to bringing construction buyers this kind of quality construction.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. More than 96% of U.S. Chamber members are small businesses with 100 employees or fewer.


One of the most poignant scenes in the Hollywood blockbuster "The Pursuit of Happyness" is when the lead character, Chris Gardner (Will Smith), is accepted into the internship program of a stock broker firm despite his shabby appearance owing to his overnight stint in jail!
The internship was unpaid, yet the victory on Gardner's face was unmistakable. He had reason to rejoice because he knew that this was just the beginning, the tidings of many good things to come. The internship was for him an instrument to learn more about the profession he loved and to impress with his skills. It gave him a stage and he was ready to shine.
The value of internships cannot be stressed enough for people who are ready to make a transition from being a student to a professional. It gives students priceless work experience, with which they can knock on an employer's door with confidence.
Most internships are unpaid, but what you take away from them is priceless. In addition to valuable experience, you also get your first brush with the workings of the professional world.
That's exactly what Seamedu's Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Mass Communication student Ayushi Garg discovered when she joined CNN News 18 in Delhi as an intern. "I came across many new things and the actual workings of the news organization, especially the internal politics and how the whole system works in a newsroom," said Ayushi.
She also picked up many new skills – skills that will help her throughout her career. For example, she learned the basics of how to cut and edit packages for a news story in a software called ''Avid Media Composer.'' She also learned the value of multitasking and sticking to deadlines, vital for anyone working in the newsroom.
Many college students have never even seen the inside of an office. They are young, enthusiastic, raring to go, and eager to prove themselves to their teachers, parents, and potential employers if only given a chance.
Internships are that chance! Take the case of Viraj Deshpande, a Seamedu's Journalism and Mass Communication student, for instance. When he joined the prestigious Times of India group in Nagpur as an intern, he felt like a dream had come true.
His employers also tapped into his infectious enthusiasm, assigning him enough work to keep him on his toes. "In the tenure of my internship I went on field and talked with as many people as I can remember." The mentoring that he received from his superiors is bound to bring value to his career ahead as a journalist. "My mentors provided me with every help they could, they corrected me and taught me how to actually get things done," said Viraj.
Both Ayushi and Viraj cannot thank their respective employers enough for giving them the opportunity to intern at their esteemed organizations. They know that they have hit gold as far as learning practical, industry-specific skills was concerned. Their internships have not only given them mentors for life, but also laid down roots to build a professional network.
Do you want to join the ranks of Viraj, Ayushi, and several of our other students who have successfully completed journalism internships? Browse through our course details and get in touch with Seamedu School of Pro-Expressionism now!


Pure Aqua's pressure filters clarify water by removing turbidity, unpleasant tastes and odors, sediment, iron, suspended particles, and unwanted color, all of which are commonly found in surface water.
Sand is the most common filter media. Generally, fine mesh sand is coupled with a course grain support bed.
Anthracite is used in applications where silica pick-up from sand media is undesireable.
Activated Carbon is recommended for removing bad tastes, odors, dechlorination, and organic contaminants.
Manganese Green Sand is used to reduce iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide through oxidation.
Multimedia is used for maximum water quality when sediment is too small to be removed by standard media.
When the filter begins to clog or when the head loss (pressure drop) through the bed increases, flow rates are reduced. To prevent degradation of water quality, the flow is reversed. This is directed by the control valve(s) to drain, carrying with it, the particulate matter that has built up during service. The required flow is specific to the media and is essential to proper cleaning of the media bed.
100C705MM 2.7 4 5.3 4 7X44 0.5 3/4"
100C8075MM 3.5 5.4 7 5.4 8X44 0.75 3/4"
100C910MM 4.4 6.6 8.8 6.6 9X48 1 3/4"
100C1015MM 5.4 8.1 10.8 8.1 10X54 1.5 3/4"
100C1220MM 7.8 11.7 15.6 11.7 12X52 2 1"
125C1325MM 9.2 13.8 18.4 13.8 13X54 2.5 1"
125C1435MM 10.7 16.1 21.4 16.1 14X65 3.5 1-1/2"
125C1645MM 13.9 20.9 27.8 20.9 16X65 4.5 1-1/2"
150C1855MM 17.7 26.6 35.4 26.6 18X65 5.5 1-1/2"
150C2175MM 24.1 36.2 48.2 36.2 21X62 7.5 1-1/2"
150C24100MM 31.4 47.1 62.8 47.1 24X72 10 1-1/2"
200C30150MM 49.1 73.7 98.2 73.7 30X72 15 2"
200C36210MM 70.7 106.1 116.2 106.1 36X72 21 2"
200C42280MM 96.2 116.2 125 125 42X72 28 2"
300C48400MM 125.7 188.6 250 188 48X72 40 3"
100C705AG 2.7 4 5.3 4 7X44 0.5 3/4"
100C8075AG 3.5 5.4 7 5.4 8X44 0.75 3/4"
100C910AG 4.4 6.6 8.8 6.6 9X48 1 3/4"
100C1015AG 5.4 8.1 10.8 8.1 10X54 1.5 3/4"
100C1220AG 7.8 11.7 15.6 11.7 12X52 2 1"
125C1325AG 9.2 13.8 18.4 13.8 13X54 2.5 1"
125C1435AG 10.7 16.1 21.4 16.1 14X65 3.5 1-1/2"
125C1645AG 13.9 20.9 27.8 20.9 16X65 4.5 1-1/2"
150C1855AG 17.7 26.6 35.4 26.6 18X65 5.5 1-1/2"
150C2175AG 24.1 36.2 48.2 36.2 21X62 7.5 1-1/2"
150C24100AG 31.4 47.1 62.8 47.1 24X72 10 1-1/2"
200C30150AG 49.1 73.7 98.2 73.7 30X72 15 2"
200C36210AG 70.7 106.1 116.2 106.1 36X72 21 2"
200C42280AG 96.2 116.2 125 125 42X72 28 2"
300C48400AG 125.7 188.6 250 188 48X72 40 3"
100C705AC 1.9 2.1 3.2 3.2 7X44 0.5 3/4"
100C8075AC 2.5 2.8 4.2 4.2 8X44 0.75 3/4"
100C910AC 3.1 3.5 5.3 5.3 9X48 1 3/4"
100C1015AC 3.8 4.3 6.5 6.5 10X54 1.5 3/4"
100C1220AC 5.5 6.2 9.4 9.4 12X52 2 1"
125C1325AC 6.4 7.4 11 11 13X54 2.5 1"
125C1435AC 7.5 8.6 12.8 12.8 14X65 3.5 1-1/2"
125C1645AC 9.7 11.1 16.7 16.7 16X65 4.5 1-1/2"
150C1855AC 12.4 14.2 21.2 21.2 18X65 5.5 1-1/2"
150C2175AC 16.9 19.3 28.9 28.9 21X62 7.5 1-1/2"
150C24100AC 22 25.1 37.7 37.7 24X72 10 1-1/2"
200C30150AC 34.4 39.3 58.9 58.9 30X72 15 2"
200C36210AC 49.5 56.6 84.8 84.8 36X72 21 2"
200C42280AC 67.3 77 115.4 115.4 42X72 28 2"
300C48400AC 88 100.6 150.8 150.8 48X72 40 3"
100C705BM 1.9 2.1 3.2 3.2 7X44 0.5 3/4"
100C8075BM 2.5 2.8 4.2 4.2 8X44 0.75 3/4"
100C910BM 3.1 3.5 5.3 5.3 9X48 1 3/4"
100C1015BM 3.8 4.3 6.5 6.5 10X54 1.5 3/4"
100C1220BM 5.5 6.2 9.4 9.4 12X52 2 1"
125C1325BM 6.4 7.4 11 11 13X54 2.5 1"
125C1435BM 7.5 8.6 12.8 12.8 14X65 3.5 1-1/2"
125C1645BM 9.7 11.1 16.7 16.7 16X65 4.5 1-1/2"
150C1855BM 12.4 14.2 21.2 21.2 18X65 5.5 1-1/2"
150C2175BM 16.9 19.3 28.9 28.9 21X62 7.5 1-1/2"
150C24100BM 22 25.1 37.7 37.7 24X72 10 1-1/2"
200C30150BM 34.4 39.3 58.9 58.9 30X72 15 2"
200C36210BM 49.5 56.6 84.8 84.8 36X72 21 2"
200C42280BM 67.3 77 115.4 115.4 42X72 28 2"
300C48400BM 88 100.6 150.8 150.8 48X72 40 3"
100C705CF 1.9 2.1 3.2 3.2 7X44 0.5 3/4"
100C8075CF 2.5 2.8 4.2 4.2 8X44 0.75 3/4"
100C910CF 3.1 3.5 5.3 5.3 9X48 1 3/4"
100C1015CF 3.8 4.3 6.5 6.5 10X54 1.5 3/4"
100C1220CF 5.5 6.2 9.4 9.4 12X52 2 1"
125C1325CF 6.4 7.4 11 11 13X54 2.5 1"
125C1435CF 7.5 8.6 12.8 12.8 14X65 3.5 1-1/2"
125C1645CF 9.7 11.1 16.7 16.7 16X65 4.5 1-1/2"
150C1855CF 12.4 14.2 21.2 21.2 18X65 5.5 1-1/2"
150C2175CF 16.9 19.3 28.9 28.9 21X62 7.5 1-1/2"
150C24100CF 22 25.1 37.7 37.7 24X72 10 1-1/2"
200C30150CF 34.4 39.3 58.9 58.9 30X72 15 2"
200C36210CF 49.5 56.6 84.8 84.8 36X72 21 2"
200C42280CF 67.3 77 115.4 115.4 42X72 28 2"
300C48400CF 88 100.6 150.8 150.8 48X72 40 3"


Imagine your News & Magazine Joomla site in multilingual, that is going to reach out a lot of audiences. Who wouldn't like to read the world most popular news immediately when it is out in their own language? The impossibilities becomes real with JA Magz.
All props go to our recently developed JA Multilingual Component which strives to taking over the burden of complication in setting up a Joomla multilingual site in just 5 steps. It transforms JA Magz to be available in 41 languages, which Bing currently supports. Here are the demo we build to prove the possibilities of JA Magz. For the sake of the database, we would like to keep it at 20 languages for now.
Some of you might got freaked out and wondering how excessively heavy JA Magz is going to be with all these languages built in. No worry, mate! The quickstart and the template files are just going to be shipped with JA Multilingual extension only. We leave it up to you to choose which languages you like to install and cling onto. Here is the quick video tutorial on how you can do so after successfully install JA Magz on your site.
JA Magz is extremely customizable.
Does that look neat? You can move those modules around if you like, or add/remove/resize them if you feel like it. You can fit up to 6 modules with width of 2 for each row or snap all of the modules off and get a full width slider. That is all on you to decide on both Widescreen or Mobile layout. Flexibilities and Full control over the template.
With no exception, JA Magz is a fully responsive Joomla 2.5 & Joomla 3 template that looks astonishingly on whichever screen it is. RTL lovers are no longer missing out especially with JA Magz.
>EasyBlog component is also featured in this template. Apart from all amazing features EasyBlog embraces, it just fits so well with all the design elements in JA Magz.
JA Magz is a Joomla News & Magazine template. That means the content plays a really really REALLY important role here. The content can come from various collaborative copywriters located almost everywhere. Understanding this fundamental, JA Magz now grants your copywriters the freedom of collaboration in content.
It enables authors to create and edit articles directly on the front-end without the whole complication of explaining to them the back-end logistics. If you would like to get those articles translated immediately after they gets posted, quickly run a round of JA Multilingual extension and you're all set to go.
Each author also has their own profile page, which is a custom feature for JA Magz only. On this particular page, you can choose to view all the articles of this author in either Grid view or List view style. This feature is applied to all the other categories pages as well for both desktop and mobile version.


Human Beings are helped or hampered by many types of Microbes. From the Sub-Microbe virus to animal like Bacterium and plant like Fungi.
An Affordable Portable Electronic Microbe Detector using Mass Spectrometry; may be very useful for Small HealthCare Centers and Homes. If a Person Breathes into an adapter in the instrument, it should show a simple analysis of the Air Microbe Levels. It can also be used for CleanRoom Air Purity Indication.
This is just an idea for an urgent need, this may prevent spread of flu to escalate into an epidemic; due to early detection of microbe, at the root, in every home.
Here are some Mass Spectrometry Resources that students can study and attempt to research to Develop a cost-effective consumer flu-detection device.
Ideas of delabs - 2004- First posted in my blog Analytical Bionics.


Deepika Padukone has been a regular on reality show Bigg Boss almost every year whenever she had a film to promote. This year will not be an exception either.
Padukone, along with Shahid Kapoor, will be seen promoting Padmavati on Bigg Boss 11 during a Weekend Ka Vaar episode soon.
DNA reports Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor will enter the house to interact with the contestants. The same report states that the house will be turned into a palace before the Padmavati team's arrival and the contestants will be given some fun tasks during the interaction.
The same report states that the Bigg Boss house will be converted into a palace and will be called Shahi Darbar. Deepika has always said she likes the show and has appeared every time she had a film to promote.
While Deepika, who plays the titular role in the film, will be seen with Shahid who plays Maharawal Ratan Singh, Ranveer Singh will promote the film on the sets of Dance Champions, as per the same report. Ranveer is currently on a vacation in California and will start on the promotion works as soon as he is back in the country.
There were reports earlier that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ambitious project Pamavati's promotions will mainly be anchored by Deepika. And even Shahid Kapoor will no be attending the Bigg Boss promotions and it will only be the actress on the reality show. During an event in Mumbai, Shahid was asked about the film's promotion plans where he reportedly said, "Why should I tell? Ask Deepika Padukone!" News18 quoted him as saying.


The European Union is an economic bloc with disparities among its 28 member states. For example, Luxembourg's per capita GDP last year was roughly 12 times more than Bulgaria's. In addition, Western European countries are better off than their Central and Eastern European counterparts.
This is the stark reality that EU policymakers have to keep in mind while trying to find ways to develop a more prosperous and stable economic bloc. In other words, bridging the development and wealth gap among the member states is a pressing task for EU politicians.
The EU has set 2020 as the target for optimum employment, investment in research and development, low-carbon economic growth and social inclusion. But these targets are at risk of being missed. The job market is still tough, and many companies are not yet capable of investing enough in R&D. And 118.7 million people, or 23.7 percent of the population of the 28 member states of the EU, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion at the end of 2015.
These difficulties are mostly faced by the Central and Eastern European countries. To overcome them, many CEE countries' politicians have decided to increase their connectivity and attract foreign investments, just as China did in the early days of reform and opening-up.
Waldemar Pawlak, twice Polish prime minister in the 1990s, was a European pioneer in this regard. In 2009, when Xi Jinping, then vice-president of China, visited Poland, Pawlak, then Poland's deputy prime minister and minister of economy, raised the idea of establishing Poland as a regional hub. This concept was evaluated and developed by Xi. That, according to Pawlak, was the origin of the platform of the 16 CEE countries plus China that we know today as the"16+1" cooperation mechanism. The heads of government of all the 17 countries met in Budapest on Monday for the sixth time, after the first such meeting in Warsaw in 2012.
Apart from various economic exchanges, this framework has also served as a mutually-beneficial platform to learn from each other's governance experiences. European countries want to learn from China's infrastructure development and trade-led economic policy to achieve fast and stable economic growth.
Several CEE countries have also decided to turn their major cities into regional hubs of aviation, finance, industrial development and/or high-tech zones. Under this framework, China has been helping them to turn their ambition into reality. For example, by the middle of next year, six direct flights are scheduled to link China's big cities and Prague, which can help the Czech Republic capital to turn into an aviation hub linking Europe and China.
These are some of the achievements that the EU expects to fulfill as part of its 2020 strategy. But it is still imperative for the EU to remove the regional disparities in order to achieve its 2020 development goals.
China's strategy offers some food for thought in this regard.
Beijing's Westward development is related to its western China development program-and the Belt and Road Initiative-to bridge the national development gap. Recently, China announced that cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Chengdu will become its "central mega-cities", or its major economic poles. The southwestern Chinese cities of Chongqing and Chengdu are new entrants to the list, which is an encouraging sign, and the success of this plan will turn China into a better balanced economy.
Does the EU have such a plan-to turn Athens, Warsaw, Budapest, Prague and other cities into real hubs and make them as important as London, Paris and Frankfurt?
An incremental development strategy is vital to common prosperity. Brussels is set to move two central EU institutions from London after the United Kingdom leaves the bloc, which is fine. But the fact that Central or Eastern Europe doesn't have such an institution is worrying.
The EU has enough reason to learn from some of the economic and development policies of China.


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Inception ****
"Inception" couldn't have come at a better time. In a summer full of tired retreads, here is a movie that is completely fresh and original in every way. Each scene merges imagination and thought seamlessly, and the end result is a brilliantly told mind-bending action drama that's one of the best movies of the year.
Dom (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) have perfected the process of "dream-sharing," in which they invade another person's dream in order to extract information. More difficult is the concept of "inception," which means planting an idea in someone's mind and getting the person to believe it's his/her original thought.
Good thing "difficult" doesn't mean it can't be done. By promising Dom, who's a wanted criminal, that he'll be able to return to America to be with his children, corporate mogul Saito (Ken Watanabe) convinces Dom to use inception on the son (Cillian Murphy) of his competitor (Pete Postlethwaite). What Dom and his team (Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao) don't realize is how Dom's ex-wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) will affect the mission, and how far they'll have to go to stay alive.
There are numerous layers to the dreams, including dreams within dreams and then some. That sounds like it could be confusing, but writer/director Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight") has so carefully and expertly constructed the story that what's happening – and why – is always very clear.
Better, Nolan explores the premise with great curiosity, and keeps us hooked as the levels of dreams and reality continuously offer superb drama and action. It's also fascinating to watch as dream worlds are created and altered, as memories affect and invade dreams, and as people adapt to and live with the ramifications of their actions both in dreams and reality.
The visual effects look stunning, and the editing, especially of the climactic sequence, is masterful. With so many story elements a lesser director could've gotten lost in the mix, but Nolan smartly keeps the focus on DiCaprio's Dom. And when you have one of the most talented actors alive giving yet another phenomenal performance in what is fast becoming a great, great career, it only makes sense that success would follow. As for the rest of the cast, Cotillard is a captivating and haunting presence as Mal, and Gordon-Levitt very nicely handles a zero gravity sequence.
Thank you, Christopher Nolan, for reminding Hollywood and audiences everywhere what a new, innovative idea looks like, and for executing your vision with such precision. "Inception" bursts with creativity and imagination in every frame, and is a truly marvelous, unforgettable experience.
Nolan tried to capture as much of the film in-camera as possible, and relied on visual effects only when necessary. Because of this, the actors had their equilibrium challenged by gravity-defying sets that were designed to revolve a full 360 degrees, and another set constructed on a giant gimbal that put everything and everyone on "tilt."


Established in 1976, Concord Lamp & Shade has been providing New England with traditional and custom lighting and lampshades for over 30 years. With an inventory of over 2,000 lampshades in our store and access to hundreds of styles, fabrics and trims through our vendor's catalogs, our trained professionals can help you find or design the lampshade of your choice. Additional services include handcrafted lampshades made from our fabrics, the customer's own fabrics or nautical and aeronautical charts. We also offer shade recovering and relining.
Drawing from resources around the world, Concord Lamp & Shade offers a wide selection of custom designed table lamps made exclusively in our workshop in Concord, MA. Our design experts can work with you to create a unique lamp from pottery, family treasures or other objects you bring to the store. We also represent the leading lighting manufacturers in the U.S. including Chapman Lighting, Visual Comfort, Wildwood & Frederick Cooper, Hubbardton Forge, Currey and Company, House of Troy, Simon Pearce, Northeast Lantern, Murray Feiss, Justice Design, and others.
Another important part of our business is our lamp repair and restoration services. We routinely repair and rewire table and floor lamps, chandeliers and wall sconces.
Prior to acquiring Concord Lamp and Shade, Ann Eckert enjoyed a successful career running sales and marketing divisions for Fortune 500 companies. Looking to combine her business acumen and love of interior design into a business of her own, Ann has dedicated her considerable energies into expanding the product offering while building on the shop's solid reputation for quality, creativity and innovation.


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New York Theatre Review gives DUCKLINGS a nice review
Clockwise: Victoria Wallace, Cristina Pitter, Quilan Arnold, Katchana Agama, Khalia Davis (Photo Credit: Ed Forti)
I didn't have any preconceived notions going into Ducklings. I just knew I wanted to see Amina Henry's work because I heard she was amazing. And by God, Ducklings delivered.
Ducklings follows four women in a competing in a YouTube reality show to become Dancehall Queen of Pittsburgh. I have a weakness for reality competitions a la America's Next Top Model, not just for the ridiculous drama, but also the raw emotion that shines thorough, the bare-faced humanity heightened to a fever pitch. As articulated by the host Spider, "It's a fuckin' jungle out there. We're hungry. Thirsty. We're lonely. We need shit. Life is about filling needs."
Like many reality show contestants, the women at the center of Henry's play don't have a lot of power in their lives, politically, financially, romantically—but the televised forum allows them the promise of escaping what they have been dealt. When they manipulate their bodies to the pulsating rhythm, they are transformed and transported, regaining a measure of autonomy s often denied them.
What distinguishes all of the women is a sense of resilience in the face of impossible odds. Henry's script sketches their lives in hilariously tragic detail, but they soldier on with rugged bravado and refuse to be pitied, trading throwing shade and trading Instagram posts like sniper fire. There's Rihanna P (Khalia Davis), who dreams of buying an industrial copy machine so she and her backwater boyfriend Lester can overturn the corporate hegemony from rural Michigan. Bunny (Katchana Agama), the "good girl" works at a Walmart to support her son with cancer and previously appeared on Maury. Rihanna T (Victoria Wallace) doesn't give a shit about anything but launching her lip gloss line. Donna (Cristina Pitter) is an assistant librarian whose family kicked her out and shows up for her interview not with a picture of her boyfriend, but the house she wants to buy with the prize money.
Director Christopher Burris has a ton of fun with the circumstances Henry has provided, and the actors fully commit to the wacky ride. There is a frenetic, giddy, energy to the staging, and choreographer Joya Powell manages to make every woman's movement incredibly distinct and revealing. Davis's revolutionary Rihanna P punctuates her final routine with finger guns that would make Pam Grier proud, while Wallace's Rihanna T completes hilariously unspeakable acts with a tablet computer.
One of the quirks of visiting Jack is the foil-covered walls, and Jason Folk's lighting design of magentas and blues reflects against the silver to bathe everything in a funkadelic flair. Set designer Christiana Teng and Andy Evan Cohen design pepper the production with whimsical touches—like Spider's ringtone being the "Greed is good" mantra from the movie Wall St. Sabrina Bianca Guillaume costumes precisely reveal each character and her worldview, from Donna's regal turban to Bunny's feminine bob to Rihanna P's bright gold body suit and voluminous curls and Rihanna T's frosty pixie and stringy neon leotard.
On a personal level, it's also a thrill to see a story that is not my story and to enter into a world that is not mine but fully alive and accessible. It's important as theatre makers to continue to diversify the stories that we see and put ourselves into unfamiliar situations. For a rare occasion as a theatre-goer, I was very much in the minority as a white person, which was an educational and important experience not just as a critic, but as a theatre maker and educator.
I don't know whether Henry began this play before this political moment, or how much of it was rewritten afterward, but there is a familiar sense of desperation, bewilderment, and seething rage that undercuts every interaction. They're all in survival mode, but with wildly different strategies. For some it's political anger, for some it's spiteful apathy, for others it is a Pollyanna-ish cheeriness. This desperation is embodied most soulfully in Pitter's Donna, a returning competitor from the previous year, who becomes dismayed as she learns the contest orchestrated by Cole Taylor's oily host Spider may be less than fair: "All of my dreams, everything I want out of life, is wrapped up in this competition," she cries. "And now – my whole life is based on – what now?!" I remember feeling similar sentiments in the months following the most recent election. When your life is upended by forces outside of your control, what is the appropriate, most ethical response? And what if there isn't one and you have to accept the darker underbelly of the world, of your own nature? Do you rage against the machine or do you resign yourself and strive to get as much as you can? "Whatever, America," Rihanna T shrugs, "What fucking ever."
By Amina Henry
Director: Christopher Burris
FEATURING: Katchana Agama, Quilan Arnold, Khalia Davis, Cristina Pitter, Cole Taylor, Victoria Wallace
Choreographer: Joya Powell
Set Design: Christina Tang
Lighting Design: Jason Fok
Sound Design: Andy Evan Cohen
Costume Design: Sabrina Bianca Guillaume
505 1/2 Waverly Ave, Brooklyn NY 11238
Thursday, May 25-June 10
Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM
http://www.jackny.org/ducklings.html
http://newyorktheatrereview.blogspot.com/2017/06/shaking-it-in-dancehall-like-nobodys.html?m=1
Posted on June 7, 2017 by aminahenryplaywright	• Leave a comment
DUCKLINGS gets a positive review in the New York Times
The New York Times calls DUCKLINGS "a sneaky charmer".


The Harvard political economist argues that Americans must rethink some important cultural myths and self-definitions if the U.S. is to retain its dominant role within the emerging global economy.
About Robert B. Reich (Author) : Robert B. Reich is a published author. Published credits of Robert B. Reich include Tales of A New America.


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Asia Today: Sri Lanka reimposes curfew; India eases lockdown
Health officials watch thermographic monitors at a quarantine inspection station at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. Countries both in the Asia-Pacific and elsewhere have initiated body temperature checks at airports, railway stations and along highways in hopes of catching those at risk of carrying a new coronavirus that has sickened more than 200 people in China. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
BANGKOK (AP) — Sri Lanka has reimposed a countrywide 24-hour curfew after a surge in the number of coronavirus cases, most of them navy sailors who were searching for those evading quarantine.
The 46 new infections on Friday were the highest in a day. The Indian Ocean island nation has confirmed 420 cases of the virus, including seven deaths, and has ramped up testing.
Sri Lanka partially lifted a monthlong curfew on Monday during daytime hours in more than two thirds of the country.
The new curfew imposed on Friday night remains in effect until Monday. Police have arrested more than 30,000 violators.
Among the newly infected were 30 navy sailors from a camp on the outskirts of the capital, Colombo. A total 60 sailors so far have been infected and the camp has been isolated.
The virus is believed to have entered the camp through sailors who were deployed to search for a group of drug addicts who had contact with a COVID-19 patient and were evading quarantine.
Sri Lanka's health ministry said Saturday that it has significantly increased the number of coronavirus tests being done. Some 1,500 tests were performed on Saturday — more than double the roughly 700 tests on Thursday, and over 350 more than the 1,142 tests on Friday, according to the ministry.
— INDIA EASES LOCKDOWN: India announced the easing of a stringent lockdown for its 1.3 billion people by allowing neighborhood and standalone shops to reopen. India has reported more than 24,500 coronavirus cases and 775 deaths. Last week, the government allowed resumption of manufacturing and farming activities in rural areas as millions of daily wage earners were left without work.
— NO NEW DEATHS IN CHINA: China reported no new deaths from the coronavirus for the 10th straight day. Twelve new cases were reported on Saturday — 11 brought from overseas and one local transmission in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang bordering Russia, according to the National Health Commission. Just 838 people remain hospitalized with COVID-19 while another 1,000 are undergoing isolation and monitoring for being either suspected cases or having tested positive for the virus while showing no symptoms. China, widely believed to be the source of the global pandemic, has reported 4,632 deaths among 82,816 cases.
— AUSTRALIA MARKS ANZAC DAY WITH HOME VIGILS: Traditional crowds at dawn services for the Anzac Day memorial holiday in Australia were replaced with candlelit vigils in driveways and neighbors gathering to listen to buglers play "The Last Post." Restrictions on crowds and social distancing due to the coronavirus meant that the usual packed dawn services in cities and towns across the country were not held. The holiday, also celebrated in New Zealand, marks the anniversary of New Zealand and Australian soldiers, known as Anzacs, landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. In New Zealand, where even tighter crowd restrictions are in place, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stood at dawn on the driveway of Premier House, the leader's official residence, for a ceremony.
— DOWNWARD TREND HOLDS IN S. KOREA: South Korea reported 10 new cases of the new coronavirus, the eighth day in a row of a jump below 20. No new deaths were reported Saturday for the second straight day. The figures released by South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought national totals to 10,718 cases and 240 deaths.
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


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Society and individuals
Your rights - important info for immigrants in Iceland
Polish - Icelandic
Arabic - Icelandic
Thai - Icelandic
Russian - Icelandic
Spanish - Icelandic
French - Icelandic
Equal Pay Certification
Gender-based violence, sexual and gender-based harassment
Initiatives and Action Plans
Governmental Report 2012
Equality in the labour market
EN / News / The Gender Equality Action Plan submitted to Parliament
The Gender Equality Action Plan submitted to Parliament
Fréttir 11.09.2019
The government has agreed that a proposal for a parliamentary resolution on a gender equality action plan for the period 2020-2023 be submitted to Parliament at the beginning of the 150th legislative session this month.
Article 11 of the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men no. 10/2008 states that an action plan shall be drawn up "on the basis of proposals from individual ministries, the Equal Opportunities Office and the Equal Rights Council". It also states that the plan should "include projects designed to ensure equal status and equal rights for women and men in Icelandic society, cf. Article 1 Act ". This arrangement is intended to ensure that the government's priorities in the field of gender equality are clearly stated.
In preparation of the plan, proposals were received from all ministries, a total of 24 projects, of which 10 will be conducted in collaboration with the Prime Minister. In accordance with the government's policy, all projects are linked to the United Nations' global goals. This includes gender economic policies and budgeting, gender equality certification and the labor market equality, measures against gender-based violence, equality in school work, science and arts, and men and equality. The project proposals were approved without comment after the presentation of the meeting of the Equal Rights Council on May 28 and then submitted for comment in the government consultation portal
ID no: 710800-2940


Apprende School is a private, non-parochial, co-ed school with small classes and personalized instruction. Whether your child is advanced, average, or needing an alternative to the standard classroom, we provide students with the opportunity to enjoy learning. Summer activities for all ages!


Interior is much nicer than exterior; property is currently being rehabbed. Polite staff. Public transit provides quick access to downtown.
Construction everywhere Had to drive around for 15 minutes till I could find an available entrance (around the back through an alley and up an huge incline ) in the dark in an area which I was told to be very careful in. I saw on website no late check in and called to inform them o was going to be late a you would think that would give a heads up and directions. No hot water in shower, a construction dust film on the floors , a sink not attached to wall almost fell over. No place to hang anything from and extremely rude woman behind bullet proof glass who ignored me and walked away after lying to me about the rooms there.
Old building getting an uplift.
Not a hotel I would feel comfortable in terms of the outside neighborhood. Inside was decent a little on the sparse side. Not a good place for families.
Outside might look a little worse for wear but the room itself was very nice.
This was truly a hidden gem. The room far exceeded my expectations. The building is under construction so it looks rough on the outside but once we opened the door to the room my reaction was "wow !!" The room was plush and comfortable. It was beautifully decorated and super clean. The staff and the couple that I assume were the owners were super nice and did everything possible to make our stay comfortable. They provided a super nice breakfast with Starbucks coffee and upscale pastries as well as fresh fruit. They definitely have the right idea about how to treat their customers. We most certainly feel like we got far more than we paid for with this room. The location was great too. It is downtown and just a short drive to the river walk or to stroll along Lake Michigan.


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Former children's home owner, John Michael Webber, convicted of abuse
By Joseph Carr
In December 2018, John Michael Webber, 78, was convicted at Hove Crown Court in relation to 26 sexual offences against children at the Old Rectory Care Home during the 1970s and 1980s, including 19 indecent assaults, two counts of indecency with a child and five other sexual offences including a total of six boys.
In February 2018 the manager of the care home, Don Grasty was also charged with 10 counts of indecent assault, three of gross indecency and one of serious sexual assault relating to children at the Old Rectory Care Home. However, Grasty, who was 94 years old, passed away before he could face trial.
Bolt Burdon Kemp's Joseph Carr has been instructed by one of the individuals abused at the Old Rectory Home in the early 1980s, to pursue a civil claim for compensation arising out of the abuse they were subjected to. If you have any information that could assist with this case or you think you may have a case, please get in touch.
Joseph Carr is a Senior Solicitor in the Child Abuse team at Bolt Burdon Kemp. If you or a loved one have a claim, contact Joseph free of charge and in confidence on 020 7288 4807 or at josephcarr@boltburdonkemp.co.uk. Alternatively, complete this form and one of the solicitors in the Child Abuse team will contact you. Find out more about the Child Abuse team.
josephcarr@boltburdonkemp.co.uk
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Anthony Shenton, a former Design & Technology teacher at Langleybury School in Hunton Bridge, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after a four-day…
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Now that the Independent Review has concluded, it is time to take a look at what the Review said in relation to Frank Roper, a…
Beauchamps High School teacher Gabriel Uttley jailed for sexually abusing pupils
After a five-day jury trial at Basildon Crown Court, Uttley was convicted on 13th November 2020 of seven offences of indecent assault relating to three…


Suggest making the search function more google-like. I tried to search for a word within a note and couldn't find it. Had to select that I wanted to search there.
I would say Searching is one of the most important features in the app. Lose the advanced tab and search everything by deafult. Cheers.
Maybe you could add a preference item for this, if you think people would generally prefer to search only into the title.
YES YES YES - *most* of the time I am searching for something in the notes.
I know about that noteContains, but I'm not typing that into my phone!!!
Yes, this is a good idea, but agree with norz that it should be a settings option so those who need/prefer it the way it is now won't be blindsided.


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Michael R. "Pappy" Powers
Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department
Mr. Michael R. Powers, 70, of Libertytown, passed away on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in the line of duty while operating at an emergency incident scene.
He was the husband of Linda R. Powers, his wife of 47 years.
Born February 2, 1949 in Frederick, Maryland, he was the son of the late Lertie Robert Powers and Betty Jane Wineholt and stepfather Ernest Wineholt.
Mike served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, and after his active duty he entered the Army Reserve with the 558th Signal Battalion, serving on their color guard.
Mike was a lifetime volunteer firefighter for over 50 years. He started his volunteer fire career at the Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company in the 1960s, then transferred to Carroll Manor Volunteer Fire Company in 1972. Mike moved to Libertytown in 1980 and began his career at the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department, where he was still active. Mike was also a life member and on the board of directors at the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department.
Mike was employed for 47 years with Montgomery County Board of Education and had plans to retire this year.
Above all else, Mike loved being with his family, especially spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed working outside, attending his grandchildren's sporting events, being a G-Pap to Gavin the last three months, bowling at the Pomona Grange Friday Night League, and hanging out with his coffee club friends at the firehouse.
In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by his two daughters, Shelly Beaton and husband, Brendan, of Frederick, and Tammy Ambrose and husband, Mike "Rocky," of Jefferson; a granddaughter, Megan "Snookums" Ford; three grandsons, Colby "Sport" and Blake "Champ" Ambrose and Timmy "Timbo" Beaton; a great-grandson, Gavin Redden; a sister, Patti Haller, and husband, James; his brother-in-law, Jim Roderuck, and wife, Deanna. He will also be remembered by his numerous nieces, nephews, other extended family members, numerous friends, and his special dog, Willow Mae.
Daddy you are missed more then ever. There is not a day that goes by that you are not on my mind. Love and miss you.
– Tammy Ambrose
Such a positive role model, a loving father, Pappy, recently G-Pap, friend to anyone he met! I knew when you said you were done a few years ago that the old adage is so very true…you can take the boy out of the firehouse but you can't take the firehouse out of the boy. Dedicated doesn't seem quite strong enough to exemplify Mike's love of the fire service, especially driving. He went out truly doing what he loved and I'm positive, given another chance, he would undoubtedly do it all over again. It's never goodbye, as we say in the business, see you on the big one!
– Brendan Beaton