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HomeLatest newsTemporary library service point for Ealing Broadway
Temporary library service point for Ealing Broadway
A pop-up library service point is now open in Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre giving local people access to services, including collections and reservations.
It is in place on the site of the old Ealing Central Library to support customers during the current relocation project which is delivering a new, modernised library in the shopping centre.
Customers can make reservations, pick up and return books, and have the use of two computers for quick online searches for up to 15 minutes. There is also a small, quick pick selection of books for both adults and children on site to browse and borrow from.
Ealing Council is working alongside the developer British Land on the relocation of Ealing Central Library that will see it moved to a new, modern space in the shopping centre, close to the old site.
The new library is due to open in spring 2019. It will still be located on the first floor of the shopping centre but will benefit from brand-new, modernised facilities and better self service facilities, as well as superior online and digital services.
The new facility will accommodate around 40,000 books and provide a range of study areas. It will be designed to enable the space to be used flexibly in a variety of ways, including for events, activities and adult learning classes.
The relocation is funded in full by British Land, meaning local residents will benefit from a new, modern town centre library, with reduced running costs, at no cost to council tax payers.
British Land will provide temporary study and learning space in the shopping centre over the relocation process until March 2019, with further spaces across the borough's libraries being made available to support local students during the run-up to mock exams in December.
Users will still be able to access the 24/7 online resources, order books online, as well as ordering and collecting books from other library locations. The closest libraries are Acton, West Ealing and Northfields.
The Archives and Local Studies Store is relocating to the new facility in the shopping centre. During this current relocation period, customers can order items for viewing by appointment at the new Local Studies Customer Desk in West Ealing Library.
Councillor Jasbir Anand, cabinet member for business and community services said: "The relocation of Ealing Central Library is great news for local residents and the regeneration of the area.
"Local people will benefit from a brand-new, fully fitted modern library in Ealing town centre at no cost to council tax payers. It also opens up new retail opportunities as a result of the space vacated by the old site.
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The new pop-up library service is open from 9am to 5pm Mondays-Fridays and 10am-5pm on Saturday.
Information about the library service and to find details of the other libraries that are open, please visit ealing.gov.uk/libraries
The picture is a CGI image of how the new Ealing Central Library may look when it is completed in 2019.
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Cancer awareness 2021
Ham radio club gathers to connect with others around the world
Annual Amateur Radio Field Day includes open house, competition for enthusiasts
Amateur radio operators, also known as "hams," install a telecommunications tower in a field near the North Hall Lions Community Center in Clermont on Saturday, June 23. The radio operators were there for the annual Amateur Radio Field Day exercise. - photo by Layne Saliba
In a small, open field beside the North Hall Lions Community Center, amateur radio operators put together and raised a telecommunications tower. Soon after, an antenna was sent to the top using a pulley system.
The radio operators, also known as "hams," were in Clermont on Saturday, June 23, for the American Radio Relay League's annual ham radio field day that serves as an open house for new operators and competition for others.
"We're just showing that we could use generators or batteries and talk all over the world," said Tony Dougherty, a member of the Lanierland Amateur Radio Club. "That's what this antenna will allow you to do, so it's just been a fascination of mine for years."
Being an amateur radio operator is a hobby many enjoy. More than 40,000 people across North America take part in field day. Each year, they gather and set up temporary transmitting stations to show what ham radio can do.
The main purpose is to allow communication during an emergency when there's no other method available. The signal doesn't need electricity or cellular service and is transmitted worldwide by an antenna.
John Lipscomb said ham radios traditionally helped military members communicate with loved ones at home while they were deployed.
"Nowadays, they've got the internet and they Skype and do everything else, but back then, just to hear mama's voice meant a lot to an 18-year-old kid," Lipscomb said.
He said he's been interested in ham radio since he was young and recently got back into it after retiring from the Navy and raising a family. This was his first field day.
"We're kind of the last line of communication," Lipscomb said.
Being able to talk to people across the world draws ham radio enthusiasts. The competition is over who can make the most contacts in 24 hours.
"This field day is kind of why I got into ham radio," said Brandon Brock, an LARC member. "Just going out, being able to operate off-grid remotely and just talking across the world."
There are three classes of licensed amateur radio operators: technician, general and amateur extra. Hams take a test for each one to be able to use different bands or frequencies, opening them to a wider range of contacts.
Brock wasn't interested in amateur radio to begin with, but his friend kept asking him to try it. Eventually he gave in, took his technician test and said he was "hooked."
Brock said he earned his general license in November. In December, he started having regular communication with a man named Alex in Ecuador.
"I've talked to him every month since December," Brock said. "We just run across each other. And now, weekly, we get on and get on the band somewhere and we just talk."
When amateur radio operators talk to each other, it's usually about simple things like weather or current events. Dougherty said it's "friendly conversation."
"It just fascinates me to be able to hear the different accents from all over the world," Dougherty said.
Whether they're talking with friends or helping during an emergency, Brock said he's trying to build up the LARC. Numbers are dwindling, so the field day was a good way promote the club and show people the fun that comes from talking to people around the world.
"I like talking to people, making friends, and if we do have a crisis, being able to still communicate," Brock said. "And maybe, if we have a grid go down, I can help my community and provide communication for emergency or anything really."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Butt out of tobacco biz, N.C. pastors tell Burr..
January 16, 2009 - Four conservative religious leaders from North Carolina Thursday called on Sen. Richard Burr to drop his opposition to a tobacco regulation bill - Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act - he blocked last year. The measure Burr opposes would let the Food and Drug Administration regulate cigarettes and tobacco products, possibly leading to better labeling and, the ministers say, almost certainly saving lives.
The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming support, but a threat from Senator Burr to block it and a veto threat from the White House helped stall it in the Senate. In fact, Senator Burr and the White House did the people a favor because the measure being considered was written with the wishes of Altria - Philip Morris in mind. As stated so clearly by Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-WY), "Poison peddlers shouldn't get to decide how we as responsible legislators fight the war against their deadly products."
Rather than give the FDA the mission of regulating tobacco, Burr said the task should be given to other federal agencies. He said he was working on legislation that would put "a new regulatory map in place."
The bill must be revised before moving forward in the Senate.
Reference: Butt out of tobacco biz, pastors tell Burr by Mark Binker, news-record.com, 1/16/2009.
Image - Richard Burr, senior U.S Senator from NC - Republican.
Posted by tobaccowatch.org Friday, January 16, 2009 at 1:04 PM
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Wisconsin Town Pays 30K For Police Assist During Recovery
Home / Legal • Repossession News / Wisconsin Town Pays 30K For Po …
Jan 10, 2020 DaveLegal, Repossession News
NEENAH – The city will pay $30,000 to settle a federal lawsuit against three Neenah police officers for their role in a disputed repossession of a car.
The Common Council unanimously approved the payment to plaintiff Charles Gable of Neenah earlier this week. The city previously spent $45,000 defending the officers, raising the total cost to taxpayers to $75,000.
City Attorney Jim Godlewski said the settlement didn't admit any liability by officers Nathan Franzke, Erik Douglas and Zachary Mulroy.
"We evaluated the case and the costs on it," Godlewski told The Post-Crescent. "It just made sense for us to settle on this matter at this time. Going to jury trial may have cost as much as another $50,000."
Gable and fellow plaintiff Precious Castner alleged that the officers violated their rights by assisting a repossession company in taking a car from their property against their will without a court order.
The city asserted the officers did nothing wrong — that they were merely there to maintain peace and didn't take sides in the dispute — but Godlewski said the situation and others like it could require further review.
"There has been a spate of municipalities that have experienced judgment on these kinds of cases recently, so there's some unsettledness about the law that we're going to have to look at and maybe do some additional training," Godlewski said.
The incident dates to Dec. 22, 2016, when two repossession agents arrived at Gable and Castner's residence on South Lake Street to tow away a 2004 Kia Optima that Gable had bought for $10,000. Gable had financed the purchase through Universal Acceptance Corp. and was behind on payments but hadn't been sued for repossession, according to the lawsuit.
Gable and Castner objected to the taking the car and asked to see paperwork authorizing repossession, but the agents refused. Castner called Neenah police for help.
The responding officers, without requiring the agents to show paperwork to Gable and Castner, ordered Gable and Castner to allow the repossession to occur, the lawsuit alleged.
Gable and Castner sued the officers for violating their rights.
"A properly trained police officer called to the scene on December 22, 2016, would have advised the tow company to come back another day, or get a court order," the plaintiffs said in court documents. "That is what Castner and Gable were hoping to achieve when they called the police to appear at the repossession.
"Instead of having the defendants here actually enforce Wisconsin's law, Gable and Castner were told to get out of the vehicle and hand over the keys, or face arrest."
The city sought to dismiss the case, contending the officers acted in good faith and were entitled to qualified immunity, which shields government officials from liability so long as their conduct didn't violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights.
U.S. District Court Judge William Griesbach dismissed Castner's claims of damages because she wasn't a co-signer of the car loan and had no ownership in the car. Griesbach denied the dismissal of Gable's claims, determining that the issues of the case couldn't be resolved without a trial.
Ten days after Griesbach's decision, the city proposed the $30,000 settlement, and Gable accepted.


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Before I begin, I believe it should be noted that this is entirely an opinion piece. Some will respect my beliefs on this subject, some will despise it, but I truly believe that we can all learn something from it.
I posed a question on my personal Facebook page a little while back, not so much to ruffle feathers, but to open some honest and intelligent discussions on the subject. Many of you chimed in with solid responses, and a good friend, Drew Haerer, even added his thoughts on the subject in his personal blog. There was, however, one response that truly bothered me. I know the responder, and I think that added to the fact that I completely disagreed with his reply. I'd thought about not posting this, but events and conversations over the past couple of days have reinvigorated the belief that I simply need to put my 2 cents worth into this discussion.
Kayak fishing is easily one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and rightfully so. More and more are realizing the benefits of kayak fishing, not only to get to out to reach shallow areas, but also because of the freedom it presents. I've often said that when kayak fishing, you're not only observing nature but also become part of it. To clarify, I believe due to our proximity to the water and nature in a kayak, that we have the opportunity to see so much more and experience so much more. We take a nice leisurely pace to reach our fishing destinations, therefore are more observant of our surroundings. I for one, notice that I'm looking around much more, thus witnessing all the serenity that being out on the water offers.
As great as all of this is, I believe there's also so much wrong with our sport. Back to the initial response that spurred all of this… The question was, what does it take or what qualifies your being called the best. The answer was along the lines of whomever gets the most free stuff. The person who gets the most free stuff must be doing something right. Obviously, this answer could be attributed to the mindset in it's entirety in today's society. Instead of putting in the necessary legwork, many are simply inclined to find the easiest way to get something for free. I find this true in the sport of kayak fishing as well. Some in our sport have truly paid their dues, by building the sport through their dedication. This dedication could derive from giving seminars, writing for periodicals, writing books on the sport, or something as simple as helping out a newcomer to our sport while launching their kayak. I, myself, have been approached at a local kayak launch area, either launching or coming in, and have been asked questions on rigging, fishing techniques, or just general information on kayak fishing. I believe it's our responsibility to assist those who ask for advice. I've also seen it in the various kayak fishing forums/clubs across the country. A newcomer will pose a question asking what kayak would be best suited for their fishing needs. You can always tell who the pro staffers are in their replies, as they say Brand "X" is the way to go. There's truly nothing wrong with this type of response as this is what pro staffers are required to do. The issues lies with the fact that an explanation isn't offered as to why Brand "X" is the way to go. I've often said I can tell you til I'm blue in the face that the brand kayak I use is the best there is, but ultimately, the most important issue is how will said kayak fit you, the individual. What suits me will not necessarily suit everyone. To that, my advice has always been to test out several brands and find the kayak that best "fits" you.
I've also seen several newcomers to our sport bounce from one brand to another within a few month's time. This manufacturer doesn't give them their expected due, so they look to go with another company. Here's an interesting idea… promote the products that you believe in. Don't ask to pro staff for a company who's products you've never tried yourself personally. Work with the manufacturer, you might be surprised at how well the relationship grows from that simple gesture. Building relationships in this community is how you're going to grow in the sport of kayak fishing. The relationships you build, will set you apart. Instead of simply looking for an easy hand out, put in the required time to build something, and that will be more beneficial that any simple free accessory that you'll ever receive. Another thing I've noticed is how many expect and believed that they're owed something in our sport. I was reminded of this on a recent trip where I took my 4yr old son to one of my favorite redfish spots. I myself, did not fish at all, but simply let my son catch the fish. Watching his excitement reminded me of why I started kayak fishing in the first place. It's sheer enjoyment of being out on the water, catching fish, and enjoying myself. I believe many of us have forgotten the simple reason of why we started kayak fishing initially. It wasn't to become the sport's next big star, it was to simply find an affordable way to enjoy being on the water and catch fish.
In conclusion, I offer this advice. Bouncing from one brand to the next will only burn bridges and you'll find yourself with the unenviable title of being a product monger. You'll lose every ounce of credibility that you've earned, and that will be your ultimate downfall. Having your kayak littered with decals and stickers from your list of sponsors doesn't' entitle you to call yourself the best there is in our beloved sport. I've strived to build strong relationships in the kayak fishing community and amongst a variety of manufacturers. I firmly believe that how you carry yourself amongst your peers will be the defining factor of how you're perceived in this sport. Besides, kayak fishing is supposed to be fun. I will never consider myself the best in this business. Mainly because I know there are many others who offer as much and more to the sport. I'm simply trying to enjoy the sport that I love so much, and share what little knowledge I have with those who are kind enough to ask. So, get your yak loaded up, head to your favorite paddle spot or fishing hole, and enjoy it.
I disagree that all prostaffers just pimp their boats without reason to why. I work demos with many manufacturers all over the state of Texas and I have found that most staffers will not go out of the way to put someone in the wrong boat. They talk about their boats and the benefits those boats have but we dont dog other brands.
Ryan, thanks for the comments. Out goal with this piece wasn't to stereotype all pro staffers as being bad. In fact, many of my friends and peers Pro Staff for one company or another, and most are quite honorable. It was more of an opinion about how we can make things better, as well as the increasing number of newcomers to the sport who simply want a free handout. Thanks again for the comments and we look forward to more.