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[
"Sandra Engelland",
"Sengelland Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T12:58:48 | null | 2016-08-09T11:28:00 | The Keller school district sponsored the Bullying Prevention Summit Aug. 2 to help parents and educators equip kids for more positive peer interactions. Expert says courage is the missing ingredient. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle94570337.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/660ztp/picture94570302/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/anti-bullying%201 | en | null | Keller district parents gain strategies to reduce bullying | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article94570337.html | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/48a0f640940d44499e33814aa83a4380ce5acd58467e134900d8a0cf7fd4e436.json |
[
"John English",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T13:05:23 | null | 2016-08-16T14:26:00 | Marisabel “Mimi” Garza helped the Keller Timber Creek girls to a second-place finish at the District 5-6A cross country meet and a regional berth in 2015, and the junior distance runner wants even more this season. Garza (18:45.42) was the top runner at the regional meet for the Lady Falcons in 2015, helping the team to a sixth place finish. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle95972387.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/e3vuqg/picture95972382/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/garzaIMG_8149 | en | null | Keller Timber Creek runner brings leadership, humor, confidence | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article95972387.html | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/12208283b167bcda7908d65143ea1e90ae30a2d966f88124a21ece9f053173b3.json |
[
"Randy Sachs",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-30T20:50:15 | null | 2016-08-30T14:44:00 | The Keller Timber Creek football team has only made the playoffs once, and senior left tackle Alan Ali is determined to make it twice before he heads off to SMU next year. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle98849357.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/t3kgsw/picture98849352/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/ali | en | null | Timber Creek lineman determined to leave legacy | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 3:33 CHill and Drew talking Cowboys and rookie QB Dak Prescott Pause
0:55 TCU's Patterson updates kicking situation
0:45 TCU's Patterson weighs in on players returning from injuries
5:23 Lightning safety tips
0:48 TCU WR Gray says offense bonding behind QB Hill
0:26 TCU DE Carraway says SD State will be a challenge
0:41 TCU DE Carraway excited by defensive progress, home opener
0:48 Car on fire on I 35 south near Allen just south of downtown Fort Worth
0:50 Jeff Banister talks about Rangers' 1-2 rotation punch
0:39 Keone Kela comes up big in Rangers' win | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article98849357.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/fc82605f4045e5cc88fd31c355a2c7aade26cfbce80a4ff31dc9765dc386e679.json |
[
"Kevin Lonnquist",
"Klonnquist Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T13:00:55 | null | 2016-08-23T12:16:00 | When high school football fans wake up Thursday, there will be the unbridled excitement of anticipation. The hopes and dreams of winning a football state championship in Texas will dominate the thinking. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fcourier-journal%2Farticle97350902.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/courier-journal/op8c0e/picture97350892/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/roane | en | null | Predicting teams’ records, playoff chances | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday
0:46 Three Toco toucans hatch at the Fort Worth Zoo | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/courier-journal/article97350902.html | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/b4f09c3c39303052c1aaad905292bce49ef7016f1e3f597b053667ee300f3f83.json |
[
"The Lonnquist Notes",
"Kevin Lonnquist",
"Klonnquist Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T12:56:13 | null | 2016-08-08T12:40:00 | District changes, new schools and good old-fashioned rivalries have conspired to give North Texas football fans a must-see game (or two) nearly every week of the 2016 season, The Lonnquist Notes says. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle94380937.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/opperv/picture94380927/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/trinity%20carroll%20football | en | null | Previewing the biggest football games of 2016 | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article94380937.html | en | 2016-08-08T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/cc9ed47e8c8f0358aa37cd6653dbc269ace76c88f9a1cef804cc9a3131cb48da.json |
[
"John English",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-30T20:50:16 | null | 2016-08-30T14:49:00 | Analise Lucio is a renaissance woman. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle98850597.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/7w2qrm/picture98850592/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/IMG_3081 | en | null | Lady Texans setter an artist on, off the court | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 3:33 CHill and Drew talking Cowboys and rookie QB Dak Prescott Pause
0:55 TCU's Patterson updates kicking situation
0:45 TCU's Patterson weighs in on players returning from injuries
5:23 Lightning safety tips
0:48 TCU WR Gray says offense bonding behind QB Hill
0:26 TCU DE Carraway says SD State will be a challenge
0:41 TCU DE Carraway excited by defensive progress, home opener
0:48 Car on fire on I 35 south near Allen just south of downtown Fort Worth
0:50 Jeff Banister talks about Rangers' 1-2 rotation punch
0:39 Keone Kela comes up big in Rangers' win | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article98850597.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/a99ea8857a8c436c91472a4e7874e2b5d48f2ef7fa381cdf8fff3f3c62b91f4b.json |
[
"Randy Sachs",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T13:06:54 | null | 2016-08-16T14:08:00 | Two Keller Timber Creek wrestlers received All-American status after competing in the AAU Junior Olympics in Houston recently. Austin Fox and Roderick Valentine brought home the prestigious designations after the dual and individual competitions Aug. 1-5. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle95966722.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/ailp3u/picture95966707/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/foxIMG_20160806_105601 | en | null | Timber Creek wrestlers take All-American at Junior Olympics | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article95966722.html | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/7beac75ce428687221f88ba072dedf0633511d24bbf9280e6804846346bcd841.json |
[
"Randy Sachs",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T13:04:59 | null | 2016-08-16T14:29:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle95973157.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/32h5v3/picture95976737/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Reese%20Robertson | en | null | Central expects strong season with experience, youth | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article95973157.html | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/77200f23beb039d7aae9ba67091956006fb57db195d5f122137edf7c855b0f65.json |
[
"Kevin Lonnquist",
"Klonnquist Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T13:01:53 | null | 2016-08-16T14:11:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle95967812.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/wgvw6z/picture95968257/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Syrus%20Moore | en | null | Texans’ expectations high with drop to 5A, returning talent | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article95967812.html | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/3271c0ee53f0bdcdb5b87a84b077955073abea81d7b29ded754a02b67fedcf0b.json |
[
"Randy Sachs",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T13:07:40 | null | 2016-08-10T17:57:00 | There may be familiar faces in new spots, but the Keller Fossil Ridge football team has the talent to challenge for a district title and more this season. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle94922967.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/cx4ep1/picture94922962/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Anthony%20Smith | en | null | Fossil Ridge loaded to contend again | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article94922967.html | en | 2016-08-10T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/f1d264a12030ef37cf8843aa460b9407403b401b6cea55a1293b32f959706dfa.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:08:07 | null | 2016-08-18T16:35:00 | Keller community members and school district officials honored the 6A state champion Keller High School Lady Indians softball team last week. Festivities included speeches by Keller Mayor Mark Mathews, Superintendent Randy Reid and team captains, introduction of players and a cookout. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle96494712.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/anaenk/picture96494667/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/KHS%20Softball%20Champs%20Celebra%20(11) | en | null | Celebration honors Keller High champs | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article96494712.html | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/5892026ccb492b2dd74f4a426d5e41c1cf852c3746b3024759ea8d37f9ddc0e7.json |
[
"Randy Sachs",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T13:00:04 | null | 2016-08-23T12:24:00 | The Justin Northwest volleyball team has shown early the potential to be a force in its new 5A district. The district schedule won’t start for another week, but the Lady Texans are flexing some muscles in the early going. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle97352517.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/mm1szd/picture97352507/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/IMG_4365 | en | null | Northwest hitter feeling more defensive | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article97352517.html | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/29a6133ecbc2f0036674367325b2b6008c557472eeb812cf267aae94569291ac.json |
[
"The Lonnquist Notes",
"Kevin Lonnquist",
"Klonnquist Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T12:58:00 | null | 2016-08-15T12:49:00 | Competition at the big-league level is “slowing down” for Justin Northwest product Tyler Collins, now an outfielder with the Detroit Tigers. It just might mean the 26-year-old is in the majors for good this time. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle95752317.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/g2l469/picture95752302/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/tyler%20collins | en | null | Justin Northwest alum catching on with Detroit Tigers | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article95752317.html | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/8ec74870d5f6c04352c658dc3cdeb69b980e33fd2cd95592462acd6a6c824985.json |
[
"Kevin Lonnquist",
"Klonnquist Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T13:00:30 | null | 2016-08-23T12:22:00 | Northwest Byron Nelson has a new football coach. It has a roster that carries only 30 seniors. It’s moving into a district (5-6A) that features traditional powers Southlake Carroll and Euless Trinity. It’s changing defenses. There’s only one defensive starter returning. You’re probably wondering what’s realistic about the 2016 season. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle97351937.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/auwgqh/picture97351932/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/3%20hsfb%20FossilRidge-Nelson-12 | en | null | Bobcats not hung up on difficulty of district | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article97351937.html | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/4fc31dcae2ebaac4f6f0d44ab09fef2a4e1fcaef1036699d1a55e32055fa0185.json |
[
"Randy Sachs",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T13:04:40 | null | 2016-08-24T14:45:00 | Keller won’t be the first local football team to take to the field, but it will certainly be the first to get on the bus in preparation for the season opener. And the time it takes to drive the 157 miles to Abilene’s Shotwell Stadium will hopefully pay dividends for the Indians when the district standings race gets tight. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle97610912.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/9enth3/picture97610907/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Liam%20Ardigo | en | null | Keller’s start to set up hopeful late-season advantage | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article97610912.html | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/71a98b1ed1f586a7458cd1d7cb7b05da6d8d4ac707846a4d477b06ffcec1e547.json |
[
"Kevin Lonnquist",
"Klonnquist Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T13:03:10 | null | 2016-08-03T13:40:00 | Given his speed, skills, strength and size, it’s a head-scratcher as to why Northwest Byron Nelson football’s Pascal Mondombo doesn’t have a college offer yet. But the wideout is out to seal a deal and help the Bobcats fight for the playoffs this season. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle93506917.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/lh6cpr/picture93506912/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Pascal%20Mondombo | en | null | Bobcats WR out to win, convince college scouts | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article93506917.html | en | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/5401985c775be6d2891014a8b0c7d448e373b8cdc1c5981cbb3b99b173e37743.json |
[
"Mark David Smith"
] | 2016-08-26T13:07:09 | null | 2016-08-17T16:44:00 | After doing a few private drug searches for a large company with former K-9 handler Mike Wallace, Cooke left KPD in October to start a new business with Wallace, K9 Security Detection Services. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle96256472.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/2ge719/picture96256437/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Commercial%20Vehicle%20Fleet-%20Maureen%20n%20Boomer | en | null | Former Keller cop, K-9 back at work for new company | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article96256472.html | en | 2016-08-17T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/ca704477a607eeb88d06f9682f4e3fb831c671e8c0ea0a84a4c30bcedc074d4b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:57:35 | null | 2016-08-11T15:00:00 | A north Fort Worth company piled 1,250 backpacks into a bus Aug. 4 in support of Northwest school district students. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle95096522.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/9j3n3h/picture95096477/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Backpack%20Collection%20NISD%2008 | en | null | Backpacks, supplies fill bus for Northwest school district’s back-to-school fair | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article95096522.html | en | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/b3d5597c1a469060d2af873a06f3d086cffe1471a669a502595c19ee14099782.json |
[
"Marty Sabota"
] | 2016-08-26T13:02:20 | null | 2016-08-09T09:49:00 | This year, mosquitoes have been trapped in several Northeast Tarrant County cities that tested positive for West Nile virus. They include Colleyville, Grapevine, Keller and Southlake. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle94546532.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/p4tbpq/picture94546527/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Northeast%20West%20Nile | en | null | Denton County reports third West Nile virus case | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article94546532.html | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/c7efa65c442a18a9fb0513485164f1c2251f2058f89c644480d443d3a6a2a37a.json |
[
"John English",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T13:03:34 | null | 2016-08-03T13:36:00 | Though the district is tough and the team is inexperienced, head coach Diane Wilson believes she’s got the talent and getting the hard work that could make the Haslet Eaton volleyball team a contender. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle93505697.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/5q31h8/picture93505687/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Diane%20Wilson | en | null | Lady Eagles expect to compete in inaugural varsity season | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article93505697.html | en | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/3ecebaff03fd06c4857d936af14e52320733ba78bc8178bffdbb0c1c36299c10.json |
[
"Nicholas Sakelaris",
"Special To Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T13:07:53 | null | 2016-08-24T15:35:00 | Children, teachers, firefighters, politicians and even Batman himself came together to send a unified message of love and hope to Sawyer Davidson, a Westlake Academy second-grader who has been battling cancer. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle97628667.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/kft59v/picture97628657/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/1Sawyer%20Davidson%202 | en | null | Messages of love and hope for Westlake Academy second-grader | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article97628667.html | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/b1f245828941aa0347a7895c604140ef24429da63fe4f7ad3579bcaca44affed.json |
[
"The Lonnquist Notes",
"Kevin Lonnquist",
"Klonnquist Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T13:02:46 | null | 2016-08-22T12:51:00 | Behold, our most popular segment of the high school football season – the weekly high school football picks column – is returning for another run at glory. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle97157667.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/pkani0/picture97157662/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/lamar%20fossil | en | null | Week One high school football picks see lots of local winners | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article97157667.html | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/ca34dfa78f0028015cbf306c45fab5b6b57c2ae5f902648099472506b1bf1478.json |
[
"John English",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T12:54:57 | null | 2016-08-09T14:17:00 | Cameryn Zahradnik was a force for the Keller volleyball team in 2015. An all-district selection the past three seasons, the six-foot senior outside hitter is a player that coach Jamie Siegel said contributes a lot to the team, particularly on the offensive side of things. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle94612222.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/z9f9be/picture94612217/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/zahradnikNewpaper%20pic | en | null | Senior expects seasoned Lady Indians to improve on 2015 | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article94612222.html | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/b01b596154dbd5db3cd91c2887ca8ac4308ef96a5b9bf35122e4607a4f497dbb.json |
[
"Sandra Engelland",
"Sengelland Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T13:04:19 | null | 2016-08-24T13:36:00 | Northeast Tarrant school officials saw stable or modest increases in test scores despite the rise in passing standards. Some leaders said the assessment labels don’t help schools or students. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle97593282.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/aimr28/picture97797177/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/KISD%20accountability | en | null | School chiefs criticize rating system despite positive results | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article97593282.html | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/644e65b26aacf222a2221d7f3e4613052abe6c6527f4bbe00559484910f49e6e.json |
[
"Kevin Lonnquist",
"Klonnquist Star-Telegram.Com"
] | 2016-08-26T13:05:43 | null | 2016-08-09T14:13:00 | The benefit of being a first-year varsity football program is that no one expects anything. What is likely anticipated is that it will be a long season where blowouts are the norm and depth will be challenged. But that’s not how Northwest V.R. Eaton head coach Brad Turner sees it. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle94611252.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/z478fj/picture94611242/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/brad%20turner | en | null | Eagles aim to defy first-year expectations | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article94611252.html | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/3c283d0787ec5c7dc47d809d14fa8f2f981e124d60790dab2dc077eaf04cb2ac.json |
[
"Mark Wright",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-29T04:49:45 | null | 2016-08-28T21:55:00 | Late last month, the Byron Nelson High School solar car team earned its fourth consecutive championship in the Solar Car Challenge National Championship in the Veterans Classic Division. The three previous titles came in the Classic Division. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle98526517.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/akl7mn/picture98526512/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/Solar%20Car | en | null | Byron Nelson team wins fourth national title in solar car challenge | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 0:39 Fort Worth Play of the Year entry: Aledo Pause
2:13 2016 Big Tex Choice Awards
0:38 Fort Worth Play of the Year entry: Frisco Lone Star
0:51 Clint Probst talks about Big Tex Choice Awards
0:49 Big Tex Choice Awards -- Most Creative
0:49 Fort Worth Play of the Year entry: South Grand Prairie
1:20 Jeff Banister says Sam Dyson ultimately did his job Sunday
1:05 Despite cushion, Rangers to keep focus on each game
1:48 Jeff Banister: "When Derek throws strikes, Derek has success"
1:25 Derek Holland, Jonathan Lucroy on Holland's six strong innings Sunday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article98526517.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/bf41d05968e165185f6c35cb3d882f74013d0701a0ebdba4a63752fc4d4101ae.json |
[
"Sandra Engelland"
] | 2016-08-26T18:49:09 | null | 2016-08-26T13:28:00 | Keller school district officials drop the tax rate after gains in property values | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle98098302.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/626rwt/picture98098297/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/KISD%20bond%20rate | en | null | Keller trustees drop tax rate by 2 cents | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 0:54 Lake Dudes Talk Giant Salvinia Episode 1 - Fu Manchu Pause
1:33 Ridglea Room near completion
1:13 Cullen Davis on learning to forgive
2:59 Cullen Davis on meeting with John Farr
1:59 Cullen Davis on the murder victims: 'That's ancient history'
2:37 Cullen Davis recalls the mansion murders
1:35 Tony Romo said he dodged a bullet after perfect storm of a hit in Seattle
1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article98098302.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/8edca43e8f1cfe969f5079800fabd1b9c49f30d45029c9edecce872486ec0ad0.json |
[
"Randy Sachs",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T12:58:24 | null | 2016-08-16T14:33:00 | A quick look at Urban Dictionary shows a definition which gives a more perfect description of Trophy Club Nelson libero Elle Duis: “The best passer in a volleyball team. Wears a different color of shirt. Usually the smallest on the team but is also the most fiestiest [sic].” Grammar and spelling aside, that’s Duis. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle95975387.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/hy5n4r/picture95975382/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/bnhsIMG_9580 | en | null | Lady Bobcats libero fits position’s definition | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article95975387.html | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/91942a7c2c6e14008d1ae4476af8e3c81b4fa5179ca81ca5c41a8aec8caa6814.json |
[
"John English",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T12:57:08 | null | 2016-08-24T14:30:00 | The Fossil Ridge volleyball team missed the postseason by one game in 2015 and will look to junior setter Cassidy Zellmer to help get over the hump this year. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle97606677.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/wic2ph/picture97606672/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/IMG_4884 | en | null | Ridge offense revolves around team-captain setter | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article97606677.html | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/9e3584b3c1bb73c7874114d3b908f97b55a1dea7df8c251835cdfd3165904e6b.json |
[
"Randy Sachs",
"Special To The Star-Telegram"
] | 2016-08-26T13:06:37 | null | 2016-08-03T13:24:00 | Justin Northwest cross country runner Lindsay Klasek has a bad taste in her mouth after last season’s disappointing district meet. Now she’s using a role model and the philosophy of her new head coach to try to wash it out in her senior year. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcommunity%2Fkeller-citizen%2Farticle93500962.html.json | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/qbrvgx/picture93500952/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/klasekIMG_20160726_112527 | en | null | Northwest senior runner excelling with GRIT | null | null | www.star-telegram.com | 1:56 Timberview's defense puts stranglehold on Everman in 21-7 win Pause
1:30 Rangers manager Jeff Banister on Carlos Gomez's debut
1:27 South Grand Prairie holds off Arlington to start 2016 season
0:48 Gary Patterson says TCU has to prove Kirk Herbstreit right and others wrong
0:55 TCU's Patterson says new QB Hill stronger, faster than ever before
1:12 TCU's Patterson to new QB Hill: "our job is just to win"
3:19 Gary Patterson Names Kenny Hill TCU Starting QB
1:01 TCU Horned Frog quarterback Kenny Hill appreciates second chance
0:37 Euless Police get new, heavy, body armor kits
1:10 New Rangers outfielder Carlos Gomez gets the start in left Thursday | http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/keller-citizen/article93500962.html | en | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | www.star-telegram.com/fbb12bd81967463010e4cb46623fea966dfc44939a9726d4e8e4df270de97d0e.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:51:12 | null | 2016-02-11T15:41:54 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Firelands-leading-investors-to-be-honoured-at-launch-of-fdi-100%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FDI100-Event.jpg | en | null | Ireland's leading investors to be honoured at launch of FDI 100 | null | null | businessandfinance.com | The launch of the Business & Finance FDI 100, an annually updated index highlighting and honouring the decisions of multinationals to invest in Ireland, takes place in The Westbury Hotel on February 18th.
With a spotlight on job creation, innovation, thought leadership and the most vital contributions to the Irish economy, the index represents some of the most extensive profiling of Ireland’s largest multinationals.
Recent statistics released by the IDA reports that more than one-in-five private sector jobs in the economy (direct and indirect employment) are as a result of IDA supported foreign direct investment.
Foreign direct investment is growing in all regions, which is contributing to a strong overall national performance. Almost 19,000 jobs were created last year by IDA client companies in regions all over Ireland, with over 9,000 jobs created outside Dublin.
The number of investments secured during the year rose from to 213 from 197 in the previous year and the number of new name investments went to 94 from 88 in the previous year.
In other positive news, Ireland has been ranked first out of 109 states when it comes to foreign direct investment and the annual Global Talent Competitiveness Index has found Ireland ranks 16th in the world in terms of its record of attracting skilled workers, down from 10th last year.
Even through challenging times, Ireland has continued to attract high-performing industries to its shores and these large multinationals are maintaining a key presence here. FDI continues to be a driver of economic growth and job creation, both directly and indirectly, and Ireland is determined to remain a location of choice for enterprises.
SPEAKERS AND SPONSORS
Title sponsor of the event on February 18th is HP. HP creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through its portfolio of printers, PCs, mobile devices, solutions, and services, the company engineers experiences that amaze.
Gary Tierney, managing director, HP, said: “Ireland has traditionally been a strong performer in FDI, from a HP perspective we have made a continuous inward investment over the past four decades. The evolution of the HP business in Ireland is a great example and a practical case study for Ireland Inc. and is a positive reflection of the work of IDA Ireland.”
Airline sponsor of the FDI 100 launch is United Airlines. With the world’s most comprehensive global route network, including world-class international gateways, United is focused on being the airline customers want to fly, the airline employees want to work for and the airline shareholders want to invest in.
Business & Finance is delighted to announce Johann Butting, managing director, EMEA at Dropbox as a guest speaker at the event.
Dropbox is now the biggest sharing and collaboration network in the world, with over 400 million users. Butting, an engineer turned businessperson, has a passion for building things, regardless of whether that’s great technology, or great companies. | http://businessandfinance.com/irelands-leading-investors-to-be-honoured-at-launch-of-fdi-100/ | en | 2016-02-11T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/828a75e22d40e0b08a59220a4174cdb7d99d2ebabdb6ac93333cc43247d47c55.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:57:55 | null | 2016-08-09T16:31:28 | An expansion programme including some 600 new jobs saw the German discount supermarket hit the headlines recently. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fjuly-2016-lidl%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Lidl-DennisM2.jpg | en | null | July 2016: Lidl | null | null | businessandfinance.com | An expansion programme including some 600 new jobs saw the German discount supermarket hit the headlines recently.
Discount supermarket Lidl has established a firm foothold in Ireland since its establishment in 2000, now commanding 11.9% of the market according to the latest figures.
At the beginning of August the retailer announced plans for a major new expansion, recruiting 600 jobs across business units including store operations, warehouse and distribution support, as well as head office and regional office roles.
The recruitment drive is beginning immediately and will last for the next two years, and according to Lidl all roles will provide opportunities for long-term career advancement in the organisation. The retailer currently operates 146 stores nationwide, with recruitment also providing for its warehouse and distribution requirements: the retailer is planning its largest warehouse for Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The company currently has 4,000 staff on its roster.
Maeve McCleane, HR director at Lidl Ireland, explained: “Lidl is now recognised as a leading employer of significant scale in Ireland and with that brings a wealth of opportunities for ambitious and dynamic people with a passion for delivering exceptional service for Lidl Ireland’s 1.5 million weekly customers, whether they work in store or in a variety of other roles throughout our business.
“As an employer we believe in the importance of committing to our staff by providing a supportive work environment with training and development in all areas to help everyone achieve their full potential.”
GOVERNMENT APPROVAL
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell-O’Connor welcomed the announcement. “Lidl’s decision to hire an additional 600 new staff over the next two years is a real vote of confidence in the Irish economy and demonstrates further commitment from a company which has already invested over €1.5 billion in Ireland since 2000.
“It is encouraging to see recruitment across all parts of the business which will provide opportunities for those with a wide variety of skills. I am particularly pleased that much of this employment will be spread across the country in Lidl’s stores, regional offices and distribution centres which is a key objective of the Government’s Regional Jobs plan.”
As an employer we believe in the importance of committing to our staff by providing a supportive work environment with training and development in all areas to help everyone achieve their full potential
WINNING NEW CUSTOMERS
The latest market data from Kantar Worldpanel revealed the company’s 11.9% share of an industry that has grown its sales by 4% compared to last year.
“Lidl continues to post impressive sales growth as more consumers choose to shop with the retailer – a record 72.4% of all Irish households shopped in a Lidl store in the last quarter, widening the gap between it and rival discounter Aldi,” explained Kandar Worldpanel director David Berry.
“Sales growth for Aldi stands at 2.4% in the latest quarter – a positive step up from the previous results for April and an early sign that sales growth might be starting to improve again.”
SuperValue leads the standings with 22.5% of the Irish market, followed closely by Tesco (21.9%) and Dunnes Stores (21.3%) – with Lidl’s recruitment plans and the opening of new stores a clear sign of intent. | http://businessandfinance.com/july-2016-lidl/ | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/41accfb7b4ba3e783589f4524ee046fb4652cacb0ea398fcfe32cdac4f1f900c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:58:19 | null | 2016-08-05T10:53:26 | Business & Finance highlights some of the top movers and shakers in Ireland. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fones-to-watch-autoaddress%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/autoaddress.jpg | en | null | Ones to Watch: Autoaddress | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Autoaddress is the leading supplier of Eircode address solutions in Ireland. Customers from diverse sectors including government, telecommunications, retail, insurance, financial and healthcare rely on their solutions to effectively manage address capture and cleaning requirements.
Autoaddress is the solution of choice for government projects, providing services for household charge, NPPR, septic tank charge and the local property tax. They were members of the Capita Consortium chosen to design, develop and roll-out Eircodes in Ireland. Autoaddress was responsible for designing the Eircode format, creating the Eircode address database and appending Eircodes to millions of government department address records. | http://businessandfinance.com/ones-to-watch-autoaddress/ | en | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/f673b1671845869f392e181b9e0905a2f1f10c51ecbe3669dd573a6ac3efd65b.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:51:44 | null | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | The Awards, which recognise the fastest growing and most innovative companies across the island of Ireland, will officially open for entries on July 14th at the launch of the 2015 Elevation Fast 100 digital listing at The Marker Hotel. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fnews%2Fmark-little-honoured-at-launch-of-the-eircom-elevation-fast-company-awards-2015%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Mark-Little-launch-eircom-Fast-Company-Awards.jpg | en | null | eircom Elevation Fast Company Awards 2015 launch announced | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Pictured (L-R) at the eircom Elevation Fast Company Awards launch at The Marker Hotel are Ian Hyland (Business and Finance), Robot-TED, Mark Little (Storyful founder) and Eavann Murphy (eircom Business Solutions)
The eircom Elevation Fast Company Awards, which recognise the fastest growing and most innovative companies across the island of Ireland, officially opened for entries on July 14th at the launch of the Business & Finance Elevation Fast 100 digital magazine at The Marker Hotel.
With a spotlight on innovation, international scalability, differentiation and strategic investment to the Irish economy, the eircom Elevation Fast Company Awards celebrates the success of Ireland’s most innovative companies.
The Elevation Fast 100 digital edition
Speaking at the launch event, CEO of Business & Finance, Ian Hyland spoke of the importance of the Awards programme in highlighting the potential of Irish companies and providing them with the platform and networks to build on their progress to date.
“The eircom Elevation Fast Company Awards is indicative of Ireland’s position as an innovation nation and this awards programme plays a critical role in fostering creative and competitive enterprise across the island of Ireland.”
Hyland also added that the Awards would look “to increase market connectivity, direct employment and would give companies’ opportunities for expansion and success.”
Eavann Murphy, chief commercial officer, eircom Business Solutions, encouraged companies to get involved. “We work with so many of Ireland’s best and brightest companies and this is a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the innovation that is so often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of an enterprise in its early days. The eircom Elevation Fast Company Awards will be a platform to showcase the talent, creativity and success of Irish business on an international stage, and we are delighted to support it.”
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
A business will be eligible for the eircom Elevation Fast Company Awards having met the following criteria:
The applicant company will be able to illustrate revenue growth for up to four consecutive years prior to application.
The applicant company will be registered in Ireland and will have been operating for no more than 15 years.
The applicant company will be registered in Ireland and will have been operating for no more than 15 years. Revenue must be related to core trading income, excluding related party transactions.
The nominees must be able to demonstrate their achievements across the following core area – idea/concept, innovation, revenue growth, market share, scalability and profitability.
Promoters may nominate their companies in multi categories as appropriate. | http://businessandfinance.com/news/mark-little-honoured-at-launch-of-the-eircom-elevation-fast-company-awards-2015/ | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/271f3e45fdc77b1435a1834568daa2b423b3b27e3fbb5570675b601473074a15.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:57:31 | null | 2016-07-29T10:56:47 | Singularity is near, writes Valentina Doorly, so now is the time to start talking about it. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fhow-conscious-is-the-cognitive-agent%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Singularity.jpg | en | null | How conscious is the cognitive agent? | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Amelia software
Singularity is near, writes Valentina Doorly, so now is the time to start talking about it.
The date used in the environment to mark the point of no return is May 11th 1997. On that day, an artificial intelligence called Deep Blue defeated, for the first time, the best human brain available in the discipline of chess.
White queen in c4, black king trapped, and that was it, Mr Kasparov, world champion, a lifetime spent sharpening and refining his consumed art, was toast. The algorithm calculations had proved more comprehensive, foresighted and accurate than the best available skill set on the planet.
That was just the beginning. To anyone involved in the frontiers of technological progress, it has become by now, resoundingly clear that artificial intelligence will soon surpass the cognitive ability of our yet powerful brain. In fact, it already has.
SMARTER SOFTWARE
Long gone are the reassuring notions that automation will mostly impact the low ranks of logistics and manufacturing, replaced instead with shiny Robot Sawyer which can now directly learn from the arm movement of the worker, self-programming itself to replicate it, and coming at a once-off cost to the company of around $29,000 (ROI in one year).
Financial robo-advisors deliver well-informed suggestions on investments options, after having crossed thousands of information on data banks and implemented mathematical simulations on possible scenarios, matching odds in ranks of probability.
According to recent research by US fund giant Legg Mason, 76% of European millennials will be delighted to use the robo-advisors instead of human. Amelia software can now replace call centre employees having analysed thousands of queries and memorised the appropriate reply.
It takes an average of three weeks for this ‘cognitive agent’ to accomplish a process of ‘deep learning’ that involves semantic analysis of communications exchanged.
Spookily implanted in the operator’s computer set, Amelia listens, memorises and creates protocols of typified answers, after which she can pick up any inquiry arriving through the line and process it competently. She becomes smarter with time, and she speaks 20 languages.
DATA SUPPORT
Medical research can be supported by sophisticated software that, crossing infinite data across infinite researches, comes up with the most promising hypothesis for the pursuit of new innovation, research and treatment avenues. It is estimated that it would take a doctor an average of 100 days of reading a month, just to keep up with the relevant literature being published in the same span of time in his particular branch.
Amelia software can now replace call centre employees having analysed thousands of queries and memorised the appropriate reply
Clearly, that is humanly impossible. But not impossible for IBM Watson AI, currently used by oncologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre NY, and which draws from 600,000 medical reports on over 1.5 million patients plus circa two million pages of medical journals and literature to support diagnosis and treatments.
SPEED OF CHANGE
If you are an interpreter, you should get antsy, as voice recognition is progressing so fast, that the first products to deliver simultaneous translation language-to-language are entering the market as we speak. Being launched in autumn at the retail price of $129, the ear device called Pilot, by Waverly Labs NY, claims it can listen and translate simultaneously multilingual conversations.
This is a liquid tide that will melt barriers amongst millions of people, making contacts and communications even easier, faster and multicultural, marking maybe the end of dominance of the English language as the preferred option for international communications.
KNOW IT ALL
The principle of singularity – implying the moment when machines will be capable of self-programming their software, creating ever improved versions of themselves – is at the same time, the holy grail invoked by many techies and scientists and the scary tipping point of no return, feared by the opposing side.
Shall we impart accelerated new knowledge through the new technologies to implant memories in our amygdalae in a Matrix Reloaded scenario?
A rule of thumb in the futurist environment is that the impact of innovations is overestimated in the short-term and underestimated in the long-term. Yet, we are approaching the Q&A time very fast, so we need to start the debate on this crucially important issue.
Artificial intelligence knows better, knows more, knows faster. When will artificial intelligence stop aiding us and when we will start aiding it? As we don’t need to ‘know’ any more, as an artificial intelligence is always on hand with an all-comprehensive knowledge, and we don’t need to remember anything, really, as The Internet of Things (IoT) is always around us with bountiful solutions, are we aiming towards a dangerous stripping down of our cognitive skills?
CREATING SUPERHUMANS
The most noble of our organs – mysterious and mystical – our brains need to be stimulated and fed to be kept in good shape and sharp.
Artificial intelligence knows better, knows more, knows faster
The well-known phenomenon of neuroplasticity tells us that synapses form and wire the system accordingly to stimuli supplied.
In other words, the quantity and quality of stimuli (information, imagery, emotions, etc.) supplied to the brain, actually creates pathways inside it.
We wire our brain every time we learn something and we push the boundaries of our experiences.
But what if, beside us, around us, and even on our wrist – in the form of a smart watch – an artificial entity always knew better, more, faster than us?
We just need to ask him, right? What competence, knowledge, skills are we to retain if the net has it all?
Shall we start ‘competing’ with the superhuman capabilities of the machines we are creating, hybridising our neurological system with a digital layer?
Shall we impart accelerated new knowledge through the new technologies to implant memories in our amygdalae in a Matrix Reloaded scenario? It’s called ‘neural lacing’, nanotechnologists are working at it, and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors recently flagged this route in a public debate as a viable alternative to avoid humans becoming artificial intelligence’s lovely pets.
END OF THE LINE
But while on one side, transhumanists like Ray Kurzweil champion the creation of empowered post-humans manipulating our brain to overcome its limits, on the other side Stephen Hawking – two years ago – publicly warned during a BBC interview: “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race. It would take off on its own, redesigning itself at an ever faster pace. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, would be superseded.”
These topics and debate themes will soon need to leave the inner circles of futurists and super techies hot beds to become a public debate. Because, you see, at the end of the day, Jaron Lanier, the father of augmented reality, hit the nail on the head, when he asks, raw and simple: “What makes a man?” Lanier, not a luddite or conservative old wig by any standard, came to a halt and would like us to do the same.
What makes a man? Well, certainly not a smart watch. Certainly not a microchip, not an algorithm, not a screen.
What makes a man, and a woman, is our quest. Indeed, the quest and the capability of formulating that question is the answer itself. And if we stop querying, because we believe the system knows better, then we may as well be turned into a hologram. And we would certainly deserve that.
–––––––––––––
About the author: A member of the Copenhagen Insitute of Future Studies, Valentina Doorly holds a special interest in strategic foresight, consumers trends, predictive marketing and, incidentally, rethinking of capitalism.
A graduate from University of Florence in Political Science, and post grad in Entrepreneurial Training, her professional career unfolds amongst Italy and Ireland where she has worked in a number of industries. | http://businessandfinance.com/how-conscious-is-the-cognitive-agent/ | en | 2016-07-29T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/359fc2db48060052abc9f52b9b86cd4a5d95d2c0f81e08fa3a561a01bd923054.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:00:29 | null | 2016-07-28T10:16:57 | Peter Oakes talks to Niamh Mac Sweeney about the challenges and opportunities for Ireland’s fintech industry, and the pioneers shaping its future. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fceo-qa-peter-oakes%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Peter-Oakes-fintech-ireland.jpg | en | null | CEO Q&A: Peter Oakes | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Peter Oakes talks to Niamh Mac Sweeney about the challenges and opportunities for Ireland’s fintech industry, and the pioneers shaping its future.
Q: How is the fintech industry performing in Ireland?
Fintech is a bit of a catch word right now. Some think that this industry was born yesterday. However, Ireland has long been the home for many technology firms servicing financial services since the start of the IFSC.
Q: What is driving this evolution?
As technology has enabled greater interaction, many of the tech pioneers turned their attention to financial services, such as payments and mutual funds. Jump forward to today and we are creating a dynamic fintech ecosystem, deeper and wider than the pioneers may have ever contemplated.
Q: What are the key trends and investments taking place in the fintech industry in Ireland?
In Ireland, like elsewhere around the world, everyone is doing their own thing but they are generally pulling in the same direction – from the Government, incubators, accelerators and support groups like Fintech Ireland.
It is great to see Ireland make a statement of commitment to fintech in the IFS2020 strategy. It’s difficult to get any accurate figures for investment in fintech globally. Reports range from $13.8bn to $22bn in 2015. In the case of Ireland, the figure for 2015 is reported to be $631mn. That’s not a bad performance.
Q: Some of these fintech companies are early stage and fast growth companies. How did these companies come to be established and why is their growth prospects and potential so great?
Some are established by experienced industry hands, others by less experienced but visionary millennials. What they all share is a passion for delivering financial services which are far more connected, efficient, better and cheaper than that being provided by the traditional banking, insurance, payments and investment industries.
Some were established to ‘cherry pick’ specific aspects of the banking and insurance value chain. These players don’t wish to provide, for example, a full banking service, but rather focus on specific services, such as foreign currency (CurrencyFair), money remittance (TransferMate) and providing credit (Grid Finance).
The real revolution in fintech is the application of data analytics and artificial intelligence
Others are gearing up for new EU regulations which will allow non-banks to use existing bank infrastructure to provide bank accounts and without being a full blown bank.
This is a sea-change, but the real revolution in fintech is the application of data analytics and artificial intelligence to this new banking model (such as Cogni). And the same applies to insurance, such as peer-to-peer personal and motor vehicle insurance and to asset management, which is being disrupted by such creatures as ‘robo-advisers’. The growth prospects for some of these innovative disrupters are quite staggering.
Q: What can we expect from these pioneers in the future?
Don’t expect gigantic profits overnight: rather focus on transaction volumes and revenue generating capability. If this sounds fanciful, think of the success of another tech firm – Facebook. It’s a straight-forward social media play that just happens to sell advertising as an added value service.
Its sales turnover increased by a whopping 51.9% to $5.4bn last quarter and the number of active users jumped 15% year-on-year to a staggering 1.65bn. That’s the power of the internet – interconnectedness.
If you consider that the US fintech firm Stripe processes about $20bn a year, having only been established in 2010, then you might find it hard to believe that it is valued at $5bn plus. When you think that Irish fintech pioneer firm Realex Payments, which in 2015 processed €28bn ($9.2bn more than Stripe), was purchased by a global heavy weight for €115mn last year ($4.23bn less than Stripe), you might feel that Irish fintech firms are a better buy?
With regard to supporting and fostering fintech start-ups in Ireland, what are the conditions for these early stage enterprises, what are the challenges, and are there enough supports for them to succeed?
First and foremost, the question which every entrepreneur must consider is whether proposed funding terms are fair. Many start-ups obtain their first round of financing, in addition to the founders’ own pockets, from family and friends. After that, things are not necessarily easy in Ireland, leading many to look to London and further a field where investors don’t seek as much equity as those in Ireland.
To me this is critical. Ireland really needs to up its game in this space if it wants to keep local talent ‘local’. It is great that we have programmess like those of Enterprise Ireland, accelerators and innovation hubs which can provide advice, strategic thinking and access to both mentors and potential clients.
But if the level of funding is insufficient, if the amount of equity give-up is too much, if investment terms sheets are too one-sided and convoluted, then of course our fintech industry entrepreneurs must look overseas where, quite frankly, investors ‘get it’.
Q: What should investors look for and how should they approach a potential deal?
I know of deals in Ireland where investors in syndicated deals walked away because one of the co-investors imposed so many conditions that the cost of due diligence made the deal uneconomical. Fortunately, another source of funding was located and the deal went ahead. However, I am not so sure that the international investor will be rushing to join another majority Irish syndicated fund rising in the near future.
Irish investors need to understand that they operate in a global world. We also don’t have that many established technology investors in Ireland. The UK, USA and Nordics region adopt a more holistic approach when investing in fintech. They are not looking to make an immediate buck off the transaction.
They know we are going through the fourth industrial revolution. This is especially the case when it comes to overseas public and co-operative society investors. They share their countries’ view that it is best to future proof their economies by establish high-tech and high-value jobs and industries.
I have seen first-hand offers which other countries are making to entrepreneurs, such as interest free ‘settling-in’ grants and loans, free accommodation for staff, rent-free cars and six figure non-recourse investments, all for no equity give-up.
Q: Are there enough incentives in Ireland for fintech companies to establish a base here?
It is fair to say that Ireland may not be the most competitive, but it is certainly in the top half, perhaps top quartile, in terms of attracting fintech firms to establish a base here. Not everyone will agree. It depends on where your fintech business is on the maturity curve and of course the specific area which you are focussing upon.
IDA Ireland has had many great successes in getting blue chip technology firms to set up in Ireland. Many of these, such as Microsoft, have turned their attention to financial services and have thus morphed into fintech while here. Other fintech and payments giants, such as First Data, are increasing their Irish footprint through strategic expansions.
Irish investors need to understand that they operate in a global world … They know we are going through the fourth industrial revolution
But it’s a different thing altogether when it comes to the smaller entrepreneur which either moves to Ireland to establish their HQ or locals who set up here.
It’s hard to sell Ireland when they feel that availing of Enterprise Ireland’s funding offers means giving up 10% of their company for €50k. I am not saying that this is the correct characterisation of the schemes, but unfortunately this is the perception many have when they read through the T&Cs.
It is not until firms meet with Enterprise Ireland do they get the fuller picture and hear the context explained. And let’s remember, that we have many successful home grown stories including Trustserv, Fernergo, Corlytics, Currency Fair and Deposify where Enterprise Ireland has travelled with them on their journeys.
Q: Does Ireland have the capabilities to establish itself as a regtech centre of excellence?
Without doubt, the answer is ‘yes’. We excelled in regtech long before people noticed its existence. Companies like Norkom forged this market. In recent years we’ve seen the birth of great Irish regtech players which are exporting, including Corlytics and Fenergo.
This area is ‘big data’ and analytics driven. Arguably Irish firms like Corvil have pioneered the work leading to this new regtech space, and there is a lot of promise here. | http://businessandfinance.com/ceo-qa-peter-oakes/ | en | 2016-07-28T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/d11d5ef16476d53299d041c4769048d6c7f3944d2c988a63ae702bf76e93f5b5.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:48:20 | null | 2014-08-05T09:00:32 | Rohit Thakral, chief executive of Target Integration outlines the benefits of implementing open source software throughout your business. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fkeep-your-options-open%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Open-source-software.jpg | en | null | Keep your options open | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Rohit Thakral, chief executive of Target Integration outlines the benefits of implementing open source software throughout your business.
The IT landscape has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. In fact, it’s moving so fast that you could say it’s evolved beyond belief over the past ten years.
With the advent of smart phones, tablets and wearable technology, our acceptance for new and more practical technology is ever increasing. In the business world this is clearly evident by the rising popularity of open source software (OSS).
Not so long ago OSS was a term that was greeted with great scepticism and mistrust. CTOs and IT managers were apprehensive to work with anything that a) wasn’t produced by one of the main proprietary companies, and b) was free (or practically free).
The issue OSS had was that it was built around community development; that it was shared and as a result didn’t have the giant marketing budgets necessary to build a reputation that people associated with easily. Fortunately, OSS development received the major boost it needed from a very unusual source.
In 2007 in Ireland and across the globe, business confidence remained high and IT budget matched that. Businesses were not afraid to invest seven figure sums into the development of their IT structure or purchasing licenses that would help streamline their operations.
However, a year later, with the onset of the global economic crisis, attitudes were quickly changing. IT managers’ budgets were slashed but their bosses still expected results. Without the finance to go to the big players in the IT market they were left with little choice but to turn to OSS alternatives.
OSS is a much more bespoke offering, providing businesses with the ability to select the features they need and discard the rest.”
From here things began to move quickly. The realisation that OSS, with its communities of developers and desire to share knowledge, had a plethora of perks to it other than just was being significantly more cost effective than its proprietary rivals spread quickly throughout business networks.
For one, OSS is a much more bespoke offering, providing businesses (and their specific departments) with the ability to select the features they need and discard the rest.
Alongside this, OSS can be easily integrated into existing systems, it can be customised – giving businesses far more wiggle room with their software – and it mitigates the risks associated with being over dependent on a particular vendor, while providing greater security than proprietary software.
Today, most companies already use OSS in some way or another, often without realising they are doing so. For example, if your employees use popular browsers such as Firefox or Google Chrome, which are built on OSS platforms.
If your staff need to visit another website, then it’s highly likely they are interacting with OSS as it’s estimated that roughly 70% of websites, including Google and Facebook, are built using OSS. And these figures are growing. According to Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Linux Foundation, 80% of technology will stem from OSS in the coming years.
But how do you go about introducing OSS into your business? As I mentioned before, OSS is incredibly flexible, making it quite easy to introduce.
However, as with any IT project, failure to make proper plans can quickly result in problems, especially if you’re moving away from software with which your staff are familiar and comfortable.
Here are some tips for introducing OSS to your company:
1. Dip your toe
While it may be tempting to jump straight into replacing those behemoth software applications, that are a huge drain on your IT budget, like Microsoft Outlook or Office, the risks of doing so may outweigh the benefits unless you have prepared well and set aside a large training budget.
The reason for this is that replacing workhorse software, that has been used daily by staff for years, can be incredibly time consuming and disruptive to your business.
That said, it can be done but perhaps should be considered as a long-term goal. Rather, target areas that are more specialised or better still introduce an application rather than replacing an existing one. This brings me to my second piece of advice.
2. What was before out of your reach
More often than not, the greatest obstacle to introducing new software is the cost. Thanks to the free – or at least low cost nature – of OSS, this generally isn’t an issue. Why not look at business applications you’d like to implement but previously thought were unaffordable? Perhaps it’s a customer relationship management (CRM) system or an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
It can cost as much as €1,000 for each user of a proprietary CRM system, making it inaccessible for the vast majority of small to medium businesses. Better than just saving you a small fortune, OSS CRM systems often have web-based interfaces that you can access through your browser. This means you can introduce the software without changing how individual computers are set-up.
Here are some examples worth taking a look at for your business:
For CRM – Checkout vTiger. It’s a tried and tested CRM system capable of managing accounts, contacts, products (inventory management), invoices, service contract management, quotes, invoices, etc. It’s easy to install and is based on an open source license. Check www.vtiger.com for further details.
For ERP – If you’re looking for a software system that affords you the luxury of managing everything from your accounting and e-commerce to your manufacturing management and retail and distribution in one place, then look no further than Odoo. This web based application provides you with a comprehensive and detailed insight into the functioning of your businesses. Check www.odoo.com for further details.
For graphic design – While it might not sound too appealing, GIMP is a great tool. Among its features you find powerful painting tools, layers and channels support, multiple undo/redo, editable text layers. Gimp Shop is a version which is more or less the same in look and feel as Photoshop as well and hence for those who would like to move from Photoshop to Gimp, it gives an easy migration option. Check www.gimpshop.com for further details.
3. Pick the wheat from the chaff
While the rise of OSS should be praised for making increasing competition in the market, making high quality software accessible to the masses and challenging the proprietary giants, there is a downside to it. That is, there are now so many software solutions available that it is hard to see the wheat from the chaff.
As I highlighted earlier, OSS is highly bespoke and flexible. Because of this, developer communities have created solutions that may appear very similar but are really only suitable for specific industries. Trying to navigate your way through the mine field of different products can leave you feeling dizzy.
Having identified this issue, today there are many OSS specialists who can help you identify the software needs of your company and select the most appropriate solution. Better still, they can install the software for you and even provide training and support so that you can hit the ground running.
4. Invest in training
While the cost of acquiring an OSS application may be minimal, it is still necessary to set aside ample budget for training.
Just as with any proprietary software, in order to reap its benefits, you need to invest in training your staff to use your new, OSS applications so that they can confidently embrace the new technology. Remember that the software is only as good as the people using it.
Since I started my career in IT over 14 years ago, I’ve seen huge changes in the way businesses use technology. The Celtic Tiger freed us to invest in more advanced technologies, while the downturn taught us to be savvy with our budgets. All the while the goal was the same though – to improve and streamline operations so that businesses ran better.
Today, OSS is setting ever higher benchmarks for the standard, efficiency and flexibility. It is no longer a case of asking why you should use OSS but how. | http://businessandfinance.com/keep-your-options-open/ | en | 2014-08-05T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/e8d5411366eedd63dcf77dc7b430c98dca6cd113a0cf36387ae744e3420eb60a.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:00:03 | null | 2016-08-04T17:51:48 | With news of US expansion and investment of $4m in a new centre of excellence, Voxpro’s unrelenting growth continues throughout 2016. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fjuly-2016-voxpro%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/VoxPro.jpg | en | null | July 2016: Voxpro | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Pictured (L-R): Dan Kiely, Linda Green-Kiely, Aidan O’Shea and Louise Phelan
With news of US expansion and investment of $4m in a new centre of excellence, Voxpro’s unrelenting growth continues throughout 2016.
Established by co-founders, Dan and Linda Green-Kiely 20 years ago, Voxpro operates successfully from three purpose-built facilities in Cork, as well as offices in Dublin, San Francisco and Folsom.
Voxpro’s recent announcement of the creation of more than 500 jobs by 2010 at the new centre in Athens, Georgia is testament to the hard work of co-founders Dan Kiely and Linda Green-Kiely and the team in Ireland.
The company manages a range of business services on behalf of its partners, such as multilingual customer experience and technical support, trust and safety activity, social media management and harnessing product insights.
Speaking about the US expansion, CEO and Voxpro co-founder Dan Kiely commented: “North America is a critical part of our global expansion and we are excited to be a leading Irish company bringing jobs to the US. We’re delighted to be partnering with governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia Department of Economic Development on our latest expansion as we continue to scale internationally.”
He continued: “Our success is built on delivering beautiful customer experience and it’s our people and our culture that provide that point of difference.”
Georgia governor Nathan Deal also welcomed the news: “Georgia offers a wealth of resources for an innovative company like Voxpro to grow its business. Georgia’s top-ranked business climate and highly skilled workforce is critical to attracting international business. We established a strong relationship with Voxpro leadership in Ireland and look forward to the company’s continued investment in Georgia.”
North America is a critical part of our global expansion and we are excited to be a leading Irish company bringing jobs to the US
EXTRAORDINARY TEAM
Late last year, outsourced customer experience and technical support company Voxpro announced 400 new jobs in Cork, increasing employee numbers to over 1,400.
In March of this year, the company announced a further 450 jobs at its new centre of excellence in emerging Californian tech hub Folsom, where 200 people are already the Voxpro roster.
According to Kiely: “At Voxpro we believe that it’s not sufficient to provide world-class products or services – that’s a given. To be considered a global leader, it’s necessary to deliver a unique offering with extremely high levels of personal service. Our success has been built on delivering beautiful customer experience (BCX) in partnership with our clients and through the talent and determination of our team of extraordinary people. In that regard, we’ve been hugely impressed with the talent and passion of our new Folsom team members.”
The company’s customers include Google, Airbnb, Nest, Etsy, Stripe, Red Bubble and Weebly, and it was founded 20 years ago. It offers a range of services such as customer support, technical support, multilingual, sales and order management and outsourcing for clients.
Earlier this year the company also added PayPal EMEA vice president Louise Phelan to its board of directors, as well as Voxpro managing director Aidan O’Shea.
Voxpro also made the news when it was named one of Ireland’s best managed companies in the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards programme in March – its fourth successive victory. | http://businessandfinance.com/july-2016-voxpro/ | en | 2016-08-04T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/6ecb373e67186bcb57c0671a378b3f1d9df7f6a90752aaad37ffffbd78d979b6.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:53:45 | null | 2012-06-20T16:32:28 | The man who wrote the original proposal for the establishment of an International Financial Services Centre in Dublin remains one its most respected and influential figures. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Ffs-50-dermot-desmond-international-investment-underwriting-iiu%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DermotDesmond_awards.jpg | en | null | FS 50: Dermot Desmond, International Investment & Underwriting (IIU) | null | null | businessandfinance.com | The man who wrote the original proposal for the establishment of an International Financial Services Centre in Dublin remains one its most respected and influential figures.
Dermot Desmond is chairman of International Investment & Underwriting (IIU), which he founded in 1995. IIU is a private company, operating from the International Financial Services Centre in Dublin, specialising in direct equity investment and underwriting, funds management and capital markets trading.
Desmond began his career in 1968 working for Citibank Dublin. Subsequently, he joined the Investment Bank of Ireland and then worked as a banking consultant for Coopers & Lybrand (now PWC) on a World Bank project in Afghanistan between 1979 and 1980.
In 1981, he founded National City Brokers (NCB) an interbank moneybroking company, which developed into Ireland’s leading independent stockbrokers. In 1994 he sold his stake to National Westminster Bank (now part of Royal Bank of Scotland).
In 1984, he founded Quay Financial Software, which grew out of NCB’s internal technology requirements. QFS was a financial software company which developed software for use in dealing rooms worldwide. QFS’s flagship product, InVision, sold to 150 banks in 45 countries around the world.
In 1985, he established Financial Courseware Limited, to develop training products for financial market professionals. Intuition, as the company is known today, is one of the world’s leading providers of technology-enabled learning to a broad range of markets.
Desmond promoted the establishment of a financial services centre in Dublin in 1986. Today, more than 500 companies trade from the IFSC.
In 1995, he founded International Investment & Underwriting (IIU), primarily his private investment vehicle. IIU holds substantial investments in 50 or so companies, across different industries worldwide. Current investments include, Sandy Lane Hotel Barbados; Celtic Football Club; Global Betting Exchange; Chronicle Bookmakers; Daon; QED; Mountain Province; Execujet; Barchester; Pacemetrics; Titanic Quarter Development in Belfast; Rietumu Bank in Riga; and a hotel development project in Canouan.
Previous high profile investments include, London City Airport; Baltimore Technologies plc; Esat Digifone; Vivas Healthcare; Pembroke Capital; and Today FM.
Desmond is chairman of ‘Respect’, a charity which was set up by the Daughters of Charity to raise funds to develop their services to people with a mental and physical disability.
Desmond is a board member of several companies, charities and educational bodies. He has received many awards and holds a number of honorary positions. He is a sports enthusiast and a keen golfer, who plays annually in the AT&T at Pebble Beach and in the Dunhill Pro-Am in Scotland.
Dermot Desmond will receive the Outstanding Contribution to Ireland Award at this years Business & Finance Awards in recognition of his vision and role in establishing the IFSC 25 years ago. The 2012 Awards will take place on Thursday, 13th December at The Convention Centre Dublin. | http://businessandfinance.com/fs-50-dermot-desmond-international-investment-underwriting-iiu/ | en | 2012-06-20T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/987aeb9401a557c9ebcae87edc9fb1e5f53a0aab23d858ad9c57afe4766e9a06.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:50:40 | null | 2015-09-11T15:56:12 | Some of Ireland’s most important tech leaders gathered at the launch of the Business & Finance Tech 100, which took place at the Royal College of Physicians on September 9th. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fgallery-tech-100-2015-launch%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Tech-100-launch-advertisers.jpg | en | null | GALLERY: Tech 100 2015 launch | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Pictured L-R (standing): Marcus McKenna (HP PPS), David Gallagher (Hiscox), Linda Davis (Next Generation Recruitment), Robert O’Dwyer (Hiscox), Dejan Cusic (Comtrade). Seated (L-R): Eamonn Sinnott (Intel) and Ian Hyland (Business & Finance Media Group)
Some of Ireland’s most important tech leaders gathered at the launch of the Business & Finance Tech 100, which took place at the Royal College of Physicians, Kildare St on September 9th.
There are few areas of the economy as fascinating as the high-tech sector, and none that have captured the public’s imagination so completely.
Ireland is a crucial cog in this complex machine. From anatomy app innovators 3d4 Medical to Facebook gaming pioneers Zynga, the Business & Finance Tech 100 edition showcases the best and the brightest on Ireland’s tech scene.
Although much of the limelight is taken by multi-billion dollar giants, in many ways the smaller players can be just as interesting. The questions that have been on many lips over the past few years are: what will be the next Google? And what are the chances of it being an Irish company?
Irish entrepreneurs, Irish start-ups and Irish ideas have an important part to play – whether focusing on serving clients and markets close to home, or going for a slice of the Silicon Valley pie. Enterprise Ireland, universities and institutes of technology, initiatives like CoderDojo and the wider educational community all provide vital infrastructure. | http://businessandfinance.com/gallery-tech-100-2015-launch/ | en | 2015-09-11T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/7ee72770ce457313812e1f97a8d996c1d24ee5f1661d656cf61481b9ab599f48.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:53:17 | null | 2011-11-02T14:27:41 | Founded in 2000 the company has become one of Europe’s leading payment gateways, processing more than €12bn per annum. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Foctober-2011-colm-lyon-ceo-realex-payments%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/colm-lyon.jpg | en | null | October 2011: Colm Lyon, CEO, Realex Payments | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Founded in 2000 the company has become one of Europe’s leading payment gateways, processing more than €12bn per annum.
Because
Online payment processor Realex Payments recently announced that it is to create 50 new vacancies at its Monkstown office in Dublin as a result of securing a significant deal in the UK which will double its client base from 5,000 to 10,000 retailers.
CEO Colm Lyon founded the company in 2000 and has grown it to become one of Europe’s leading payment gateways, processing in excess of €12bn per annum for retailers in over 25 countries.
Revenue for year ended April 2011 increased by 10% to €7.6mn and accumulated profits increased 14% to €3.5mn.
Realex processes payments for merchants domestically and internationally, across a wide range of industries including airlines, mobile carriers, utilities, insurance companies and gaming companies. Their client base includes Virgin Atlantic, Vodafone, Aer Lingus, Boylesports and GlaxoSmithKline.
European expansion
Realex is headquarted in Dublin and Lyon says that they are working hard to expand their bases within continental Europe.
“Over the last few years, we have invested heavily in expanding our operations throughout Europe,” he said. “Our UK business is now boarding almost 100 retailers a month.
“We opened in Paris earlier this year and are now live processing into local French banks. In addition, we have established initial operations in Amsterdam and we are live within an Italian bank.”
Realex say that overseas customers now account for over 50% of their transaction volume.
History
Lyon was involved with his first company at age 11 when he and his brothers began a local newspaper delivery service.
He graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Management Science Degree and has spent further time in Harvard and Stanford Business School.
Lyon has worked in payment-related businesses for over 25 years, starting with 14 years in the financial services sector. He is a regular speaker at payments and internet industry events across Europe and frequently commentates for press as a payments and internet industry expert.
Awards
Earlier this year, Colm received the prestigious Ruban d’Honneur in round two of the European Business Awards which promote excellence, best practice and innovation in the European business community. In 2009, he was awarded the Internet Hero Award at the Golden Spider Awards for his contribution to the Irish Internet Industry and in 2007, was awarded lifetime membership of the Irish Internet Association after four years as chairman. Realex was also the headline sponsor at the recent Irish Web Awards.
Evolving
Lyon is also involved in other internet start-up businesses and has plans to launch a major new payment business Carapay in early 2012. Carapay is one of the first new companies to be awarded a licence under the Payment Service Directive (PSD) which allows new companies into the European market without having a banking licence.
The firm intends to advance the way customers and business transfer money and will incorporate a number of secure and social web and mobile applications. | http://businessandfinance.com/october-2011-colm-lyon-ceo-realex-payments/ | en | 2011-11-02T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/c17c3c3882b69ed75a1574ac4071c101f893fa04af2fba593d43d92931e348ca.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:56:07 | null | 2015-11-04T12:41:37 | Ciaran Mulligan recalls his journey as early stage entrepreneur and how he has grown his insurance firm. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fceo-qa-ciaran-mulligan-blue-insurance%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Blue-Insurance.jpg | en | null | CEO Q&A: Ciaran Mulligan, Blue Insurance | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Ciaran Mulligan recalls his journey as early stage entrepreneur and how he has grown his insurance firm.
Q: How is the insurance industry in Ireland performing?
The insurance business generates €25bn in premium income – domestic and overseas – and employs 27,000 people directly with thousands more employed indirectly in additional services and support activities. The industry contributes more than €1.6bn in taxes to the Irish exchequer each year.
The insurance industry in Ireland is currently facing some significant and well publicised performance challenges – this is most evident in the motor (mainly car) and liability insurance markets.
From end 2012 onwards, the market began to experience an increase in the frequency and severity of injury claims and this deterioration in performance has continued in the intervening period.
It is difficult to be precise about the causes of this adverse claims trend, however there are a number of factors cited by the industry including the adverse impact of a protracted period of recession, an increased propensity on the part of consumers to claim, reduced law enforcement (arising from Garda cut-backs), increased road usage as the economy begins to recover and a gradual return to more normalised levels of injury claims following a period of exceptionally low claims frequency. This has been compounded by a change in the treatment by the Courts of injury claim awards.
Insurers have reacted to this adverse claims trend by strengthening their claims reserves (monies set aside to cover likely claims costs), which in turn is now being reflected in both increased prices to the consumer and reduced capacity in the market (as insurers become more selective about the business they will now take on).
Whilst almost all consumers are now experiencing double-digit price increases, the reality is that many consumers are experiencing increases of a far greater magnitude in circumstances where they have been unfortunate enough to have had a claim in recent years
Q: What are the key challenges for the industry and what are you doing differently to the competition?
In response to this market dynamic of rapidly rising prices, Blue Insurance has recently launched its two-year car and home insurance products which a first of their kind for the Irish market.
Initial consumer sentiment towards these innovative products has been hugely positive. Consumers like the fact that it’s a differentiated product offering with price certainty and the opportunity for real savings at a time when car insurance prices in particular are increasing quite dramatically.
Q: What motivated you to set up Blue Insurance back in 2003?
The motivation to set up Blue Insurance was to be my own boss and to be very successful. Myself, and my former business partner Rowan Devereux knew we could do a better job than our competitors in the market at the time. We definitely lead the online insurance purchase revolution with up to 95% of sales purchased online. We soon became Ireland’s leading niche insurance specialist with brands such as Multitrip.com, gadgetinsurance.com, carhireexcess.com and petinsurance.ie, adding new products and brands each year in both Ireland and the UK.
Q: What were the challenges establishing a new insurance company in the market and what support or advice did you get at the time?
There are numerous challenges in setting up your own business. One key challenge was to provide an online booking solution and like most companies we outsourced our web development. Within a year we knew that development costs would escalate as we expanded so we decided to employ the owner of the outsourced development company as our IT director. We now employ eight talented and dedicated developers in Blue Insurance and are looking for more. Other key challenges included competitive rates, brand building, regulation and capital funding.
Q: How did you fund the start-up at the time and what advice do you have for other entrepreneurs in the start-up stage?
We actually funded the start-up ourselves after generating business from day one. We were lucky to have obtained an overdraft facility from our bank but we never had to use it thankfully. I would suggest that all start-up’s research funding options from various sources before they start their business. There are a significant number of grants available from R&D to employment grants. Enterprise Ireland will give helpful advice to any start-up.
Q: What is the best advice you got?
Never be afraid to fail and never take your eye off the business. Always challenge yourself and your business. Be innovative, be different and never fear trying something new.
Q: You recently announced you were expanding the business with the creation of 100 new jobs. How important will this be for the future growth of the firm?
New jobs are very important as we are planning significant growth over the next few years. We will be moving to new larger offices in the next few weeks and our target is to grow turnover to over €50m. Growth will come from car and home insurance, a new and pensions division as well a new outbound call centre team for our niche insurance products.
We recently opened a new office in Cardiff for our expansion in the Pet Market in the UK and have hired four new staff there. We also plan further international expansion.
We are currently recruiting for call centre operatives, .net developers, sales staff and junior management for our Dublin office.
Q: How have you grown the international arm of the business? And are there new opportunities in other markets that you want to explore?
Around 50% of turnover is from outside Ireland, mainly UK with a small amount from Australia. We are planning to bring our two-year car and home insurance to the UK market as well as growing our niche products there including gadget insurance and car hire excess.
We recently launched our own Multitrip.com.au website in Australia distributing our product through price comparison websites and that is growing steadily. We plan to launch car hire excess and gadget insurance in Australia. We also plan to bring our niche products to UAE and the US market.
Never be afraid to fail and never take your eye off the business. Always challenge yourself and your business
Q: How important is your team to the success of the organisation?
I believe no company can be successful without a great team. Luckily, I have amazing staff who are so dedicated to the company and very proud of the success of the business and all of the achievements we have reached so far.
Since the buyout of my former partner, I have strengthened my senior team in all departments and we are now prepared for sizeable growth both domestically and internationally.
We have won an award every year since opening and have been voted Deloitte Best Managed Company for the past three years. We recently won our first award in Australia with our Multitrip.com.au brand.
Q: Do you have a leadership style and how do you motivate the team?
I like to keep involved in all aspects of the business were possible. I delegate as much as possible to my senior team. At the moment I sit in the middle of the office so I hear what’s happening in the business on a daily basis, but that will change in the new office as we continue to grow and expand.
Our team is motivated by the success of the company which continued to grow during the downturn in the economy. We only had one pay freeze during the recession and a number of pay increases. The company is also involved in a number of CSR projects in which all the staff get involved in.
Q: With regard to future plans and opportunities, what do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months?
Our plan is grow the turnover to over €50m from €21m in the next few years. Over the next 12 months we will introduce our new CRM platform through Salesforces and Genesys our new telephony platform. This has involved a significant level of investment by the company and we are looking forward to implementing substantial changes and improvements to our processes over the months ahead.
We are also taking our first steps into the life and pensions market and we also plan a major assault into the UK pet insurance market in the next few months which is one of the fastest growing insurance products in the UK.
Internationally, we plan more expansion in the Australian market with our carhireexcess.com and gadgetinsurance.com brands. The UAE is also on our target list for 2016 especially as we own key insurance domains in the UAE. We also plan to bring gadget insurance to the US Market sometime in late 2016. | http://businessandfinance.com/ceo-qa-ciaran-mulligan-blue-insurance/ | en | 2015-11-04T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/ef03a053de5c1da86307fec5627248acde7b8634867753474c6db8802151eea0.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:52:46 | null | 2012-12-31T15:49:13 | EU medicines regulators and penny-pinching governments are locked in a battle that will shape Big Pharma’s future investment in R&D, writes Gary Finnegan. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Finto-the-eye-of-the-storm%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/eye-stock.jpg | en | null | Into the eye of the storm | null | null | businessandfinance.com | EU medicines regulators and penny-pinching governments are locked in a battle that will shape Big Pharma’s future investment in R&D, writes Gary Finnegan.
There is a war raging between cost-conscious national health authorities in EU member states and the EU drug regulators who ensure that medicines are safe and effective. In one corner is the European Medicines Agency (EMA), a London-based EU agency which effectively decides – based on expensive clinical trials – what drugs make it to market and which ones are consigned to the scrap heap. In the other sit national agencies like the UK’s National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE), which wants public hospitals to consider cost effectiveness when choosing which drug to give patients.
In Ireland, this debate has been kept well below the radar, but tensions over the use of a cancer drug to treat elderly patients with failing vision is threatening to bring the issue to a head.
Industry analysts warn that if hospitals are allowed to choose medicines based on cost rather than safety and effectiveness, the entire European medicines approval system will be undermined. Result: uncertain return on investment for pharma executives looking to sell into the European market.
Cost pressures
Some Irish consultant ophthalmologists are treating wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using Avastin, a drug that is licensed for chemotherapy in colorectal and breast cancers, as well as certain types of lung and renal cancers. It is not designed for use in ophthalmology, it has not been through rigorous clinical trials for AMD, and it is not licensed for injection into the eye.
In fact, the manufacturer of Avastin has written to ophthalmologists reminding them that this is a cancer drug, and highlighting a cluster of adverse events in Canadian AMD patients who were treated with Avastin. It was never shown that Avastin directly caused problems for these patients but it was seen as prudent to make it clear that the drug was designed for oncologists, not ophthalmologists.
So, then, how can it be that the Irish Medicines Board recorded ten suspected adverse events – ranging from infection to haemorrhage – in Irish AMD patients treated with Avastin?
Off-label use
To be clear, using medicines for purposes other than those for which they have been approved is in itself far from controversial. Indeed, it is fairly run-of-the-mill, particularly in treating children, older people and pregnant women – groups typically excluded from clinical trials for ethical reasons. And it is entirely legal for Irish doctors to prescribe ‘off-label’ or ‘exempt’ medicines in the best interest of the patient, especially when there is no alternative.
But here is the difference: with wet AMD there is a drug on the market that has been tested and licensed precisely for this purpose. The trouble is that the drug in question – Lucentis – is very expensive.
That is why the ophthalmic use of Avastin takes us into new territory – ethically, and perhaps even legally. It raises question marks over whether the decision to take the cheaper, off-label option can seriously be justified on clinical grounds.
Above all, if it becomes a trend, it undermines the potential profitability of drug makers.
The same but different
Despite the lack of an ophthalmic licence for Avastin, doctors all over the world began using it for wet AMD a few years ago. The precise safety profile was unknown and there was no guarantee that it would work.
However, through a series of educated guesses, some ophthalmologists figured they could use Avastin instead of Lucentis because the drugs are of the same class. Both are monoclonal antibodies, which target the same cell growth mechanisms. They are biochemical cousins; similar, but not the same.
All eyes were on Florida recently, where preliminary results of a head-to-head trial comparing Avastin and Lucentis were unveiled. It found similar visual outcomes after one year, but the Royal College of Ophthalmologists noted that the CATT study was not statistically powerful enough to comment on safety differences between the two medicines, particularly when it comes to systemic adverse events.
More research on safety is needed, said the college, adding: “It would be inappropriate for the college to compromise on safety and [we] urge caution in the interpretation of the CATT study.”
Patient concerns
The use of Avastin in ophthalmology is not a brand new phenomenon. The authorities know about it and politicians know about it.
Recently, the patient organisation Fighting Blindness sent a letter to Minister for Health Dr James Reilly, as well as taking their concerns to Irish MEPs. Avril Daly, the group’s chief executive, said Irish hospitals are using Avastin “as it is cheaper than the licensed therapy and therefore allows more patients to be effectively treated”.
She added that while off-label use of medicines is common where there is no alternative, this is not the case for wet AMD patients. “We are very concerned about the implications of these decisions by hospital managers on patient safety and in the reporting of adverse affects,” said Daly, who has made the same points in writing to former minister Mary Harney.
High-level clash
The issue has been on the radar in Brussels since last year but little has been done given the complex power-play between EU health agencies and national authorities.
Before Thomas Lonngren’s ten-year spell as executive director of EMA ended last December, he took the opportunity to open fire on NICE. Lonngren accused NICE of deliberately pushing the off-label use of Avastin over Lucentis in an effort to save money. The Finnish authorities stand accused of the same thing.
The wider fear is that if cost-effectiveness becomes the new standard for making clinical decisions, Europe’s entire drug approval system is undermined. If the choice is between two very similar medicines, both approved to treat a particular condition and with near identical safety profiles, then it is a no-brainer: prescribe the cheaper one. But the ophthalmological use of Avastin is, at best, a grey area.
While most legal experts and regulators refer to the use of Avastin by ophthalmologists as ‘off-label’, the IMB takes the view that it is an “exempt” or “unauthorised” product because it is “further processed” prior to ophthalmic use.
What they are referring to here is that while Lucentis comes in single-use sterile doses, Avastin comes in larger volumes which must be broken down into smaller quantities. This, incidentally, introduces a new infection risk even where wholesalers or hospital pharmacists exercise the greatest of care.
Fighting Blindness is not the only patient group to express unease. The National Council for the Blind in Ireland (NCBI) wrote to the IMB last summer questioning whether price was the main driver of off-label ophthalmic use of Avastin. In response, IMB chief executive Pat O’Mahony – who is also chairperson of the EMA – acknowledged that Avastin is not licensed for wet AMD, but he essentially knocked the ball back into the court of doctors and their employers. The IMB does not deal with pricing of medicines, O’Mahony said, and qualified doctors are permitted to use “unauthorised” medicines if they so choose. So what happens when something goes wrong?
Indemnity issues
In Portugal, in Germany, in Austria, in Canada, and in Australia, adverse events linked to injecting Avastin into the eye have been put into the public domain. Now, as revealed above, we know that Irish patients have also suffered infections and bleeding after treatment. Again, this does not prove causation, but it makes it worthwhile considering the legal consequences of a law suit against an ophthalmologist who spurns Lucentis for its cheaper cousin.
There are some data suggesting increased cardiovascular risks in comparing the two medicines used in an ophthalmic context – including a Portuguese paper published in Ophthalmologica in February. Could this be waved around by a patient’s lawyer in the years to come? And who would be standing behind the doctor on the receiving end of the suit?
The Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS) is run by the State Claims Agency (SCA) and covers doctors working in Irish hospitals. The SCA says it knows that Avastin is being used in AMD despite not being licensed for this indication. However, it gave the following statement: “The situation in relation to CIS cover is that if a hospital enterprise permits, for good clinical reasons, its clinical staff to use unlicensed medicines, such as Avastin, CIS indemnity cover will be provided in the event that the hospital enterprise (and/or its clinical staff) is sued in a personal injury action, alleging negligence caused by the use of such unlicensed medicine.”
On solid ground
The key phrase here is “for good clinical reasons”. Provided a doctor can clinically justify the use of Avastin there is no problem. But can they? A licensed alternative exists. The manufacturers advise against using Avastin for AMD.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ guidelines say doctors can only use off-label medicines if they are satisfied that the “evidence base and/or experience of using the medicine” can demonstrate its safety. It said Lucentis remains the treatment of choice until Avastin’s long-term ophthalmic safety profile is established.
Add to that the fact that the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has issued guidelines stating that pharmacists should not source or supply “exempt medicinal products” where an authorised alternative is available in Ireland.
Things go wrong in medicine – with licensed drugs, with unlicensed drugs, with surgery. Everyone hopes errors and adverse events are rare, but if a patient were to sue a doctor under the above circumstances it looks less than clear that the State would be obliged to stand behind the medic. Support is implied but not guaranteed.
The SCA also notes that that the choice of Avastin over Lucentis is a policy issue as well as a patient safety issue for hospitals and the IMB to deal with. It is not for the CIS to issue clinical guidelines, it says.
The Department of Health, for its part, said the CIS applies to unlicensed medicines provided hospital management have given their consent.
The bigger picture
Meanwhile, in the UK, NICE openly uses Avastin as a price comparator drug in ophthalmology, meaning that if companies have a new product they would like used by the NHS, it better be cheaper and more effective than Avastin. The old approval system is out the window.
The recent CATT study has dragged ophthalmologists back into the spotlight. But looking at the bigger picture, the results of that trial are irrelevant. The New England Journal of Medicine says that the outcome of CATT is unlikely to change prescribing habits one way or the other.
What matters is that price pressures have backed doctors into a corner and placed them at the heart of a monumental struggle for control of how patients’ medicines are chosen. The Avastin story is a microcosm of what’s coming down the tracks in every specialty. We cannot afford to pay for every drug for every patient. The question is: who decides and how?
For pharmaceutical companies weighing the value of investing in innovation, the answer is of serious concern.
*This article was originally published in the Life Sciences Review in January 2012. | http://businessandfinance.com/into-the-eye-of-the-storm/ | en | 2012-12-31T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/59550eb883b33783da18839b75372a5cc0969fcdd7a52fc2783912cc4ceb0488.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:00:55 | null | 2016-08-08T12:41:53 | Growth at the not-for-profit organisation gathers pace as UK expansion continues. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fjuly-2016-foodcloud%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/FoodCloud-Iseult-Ward-Aoibheann-OBrien.jpg | en | null | July 2016: FoodCloud | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Co-founders Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien
Growth at the not-for-profit organisation gathers pace as UK expansion continues.
FoodCloud – previous Business & Finance Ones to Watch – is a not-for-profit social enterprise that connects businesses with too much food with charities that have too little.
It is a social enterprise creating a solution that connects businesses that have surplus food with charities in their local community through a technology platform. FoodCloud allows stores to upload details of their surplus food and send a text message to a local charity to inform them. The charity then gets it to people who need it.
The company was founded in 2013 by Aoibheann O’Brien and Iseult Ward, two young female social entrepreneurs. In February 2012, they attended an Enactus event, immediately bonded over their love for food and distaste for waste, and knew they had to do something to reduce food waste.
FoodCloud’s Food Rescue Project arranges for volunteers to collect food from shops and businesses and deliver it directly to charities through its 150 volunteers.
Hundreds of charities collect food donations daily, directly from local supermarkets. FoodCloud has expanded to a network of more than 500 retail stores and 1,100 charities, redistributing 1,481 tonnes of food.
SUSTAINABILITY
FoodCloud’s revenue is based on charging retailers an annual service fee per store and an initial set-up fee. FoodCloud offers businesses an alternative to throwing out good food and paying the associated waste disposal costs, while meeting CSR goals and benefiting their community in a practical and meaningful way.
It is part of a movement of start-ups and innovators using technology to disrupt the food industry. As a young and growing organisation, FoodCloud are perfecting the model and working on technology development, processes and securing adequate resources to be able to scale in a sustainable way.
FoodCloud works with Tesco and Aldi in Ireland, and with Tesco in the UK, and hopes to scale to 3,000 Tesco stores by the end of 2017. FoodCloud charges retailers a fee per store and its current operating income covers its operating costs, enabling FoodCloud to be a self-sustaining non-profit social enterprise.
VA-VA-VOOM
Having competed against 3,000 entries, and qualified through a series of rounds, the non-profit made it to the final six of Virgin’s Voom 2016 entrepreneur competition in July. CEO Iseult Ward presented to notable individuals such as Richard Branson, Tyra Banks, Sara Blakely and Marcus Butle.
Marketing and communications manager Niamh Kirwan also helped launch the eir Elevation Awards 2016 during July. The awards recognise the growth and ingenuity of the fastest growing businesses across Ireland and the specific reasons for their success.
In 2015, FoodCloud picked up the ‘Social Entrepreneurship’ gong at the eir Elevation Awards. | http://businessandfinance.com/july-2016-foodcloud/ | en | 2016-08-08T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/4029f318b6e0e1d7eac2555f6602ea4f02621e45f231c2fbb701cbbe8bb85b31.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:55:38 | null | 2016-08-23T10:22:37 | An invitation to be fearless! – On Friday, September 30th, 250 of Ireland’s leading professional women and female entrepreneurs will be gathering in Cork for Network Ireland’s annual conference and Business & Finance would like to offer one lucky reader plus a friend the opportunity attend. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fcompetition-calling-all-women-in-business%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Network-Ireland.jpg | en | null | COMPETITION: Calling all women in business | null | null | businessandfinance.com | An invitation to be fearless! – On Friday, September 30th, 250 of Ireland’s leading professional women and female entrepreneurs will be gathering in Cork for Network Ireland’s annual conference and Business & Finance would like to offer one lucky reader plus a friend the opportunity to attend.
This is the flagship event for Network Ireland – an organisation focused on driving the personal and professional development of women.
The theme of the conference is ‘Fearless Ambition … see where it takes you’ and the event will feature a wide range of national and international business leaders, motivational speakers and influencers discussing risk taking and why we need to be fearless when it comes to business and our careers.
The prize is for two people and includes:
Full day conference tickets
Tickets to Gala Dinner and Network Ireland Business Awards
Overnight accommodation and breakfast at the Clarion Hotel, Cork
Among those already confirmed for this inspirational event is Hayley Barnard (founder and MD of MIX Diversity Developers), an internationally respected communications consultant who will be talking about raising the bar on our careers and businesses by being resilient and brave.
Haley will be joined by leaders in industry, the arts, non-profit and the public sector including:
Ann Doherty – CEO, Cork City Council
– CEO, Cork City Council Niamh Townsend – GM, Dell Ireland
– GM, Dell Ireland Gina London – former CNN correspondent
– former CNN correspondent Anne Clarke – Founder, Landmark Productions
– Founder, Landmark Productions Anne Sheehan – Enterprise Director, Vodafone Ireland
– Enterprise Director, Vodafone Ireland Sen. Colette Kelleher – CEO, Alzheimer’s Ireland
– CEO, Alzheimer’s Ireland Mark Fitzharris – Head of AIB, Cork City
Chairing the conference will be Newstalk’s Jonathan Healy and MC for the Gala Dinner and Awards will be businesswoman, broadcaster and humanitarian Maria Walsh.
The conference is being held in the beautiful four-star Clarion Hotel, which overlooks the River Lee and is only a two-minute stroll from the city’s thriving shopping and entertainment hotspots and the main business district. Amenities include Kudos Bar, Essence Spa and SanoVitae Health & Fitness Club.
Conference partners are AIB, Vodafone and Cork City Council. The conference will be supported by Enterprise Ireland with Business & Finance as the official conference media partner.
For further information on the event and on Network Ireland visit networkireland.ie and for further information on the Clarion Hotel visit clarionhotelcorkcity.com. | http://businessandfinance.com/competition-calling-all-women-in-business/ | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/8db4336e2c5b0416d5d81c95829c89d95f393c29050ec114e0cb1257dbbeec73.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:56:34 | null | 2016-08-05T17:01:45 | Larry Murrin has been a leading voice in highlighting the measures the Irish Government needs to take to ensure agri jobs are protected post-Brexit. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fjuly-2016-july-2016-larry-murrin-ceo-dawn-farms%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Larry-Murrin-Dawn-Farms.jpg | en | null | July 2016: Larry Murrin, CEO, Dawn Farms | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Larry Murrin has been a leading voice in highlighting the measures the Irish Government needs to take to ensure agri jobs are protected post-Brexit.
In the wake of the recent Brexit, Dawn Foods CEO Larry Murrin has been vocal about the impact it will have on the Irish agri business.
Murrin is concerned that the entire food sector should work together to manage what is going to be a very long period of uncertainty over the next two or three years.
“Inside and outside the farm gate in this country there are more than 200,000 incomes and jobs to be protected in what is the country’s most important indigenous industry,” commented Murrin.
He continued: “We’ve got to work together, all stakeholders led by the Government, to protect our position. This really needs to be an all hands to the pump solution, but the Government needs to lead this,” he said.
Naas-based Dawn Farms, one of Europe’s leading cooked meat ingredients company, is a supplier of meat to some of the world’s largest food companies.
The vast majority of the company’s produce is exported: some 85% of Dawn Farm’s output is exported to over 40 countries in the UK, Continental Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Our success has been based on having long-term relationships with our customers and working together to anticipate and meet the key trends in the competitive markets they serve
Dawn Farms Foods was born in 1985, with Dawn Meats becoming the main shareholder in the company. Murrin expanded into Cherrywood in Ballyfermot before moving to Naas, where the company now has two plants.
The company made a huge breakthrough in 1991 when Pizza Hut, chose Dawn Farms as one of five local suppliers for meat toppings.
The company has since expanded, opening a facility at Northampton, England, where it employs 250 people, in addition to 600 staff in Ireland.
Today, Dawn Farms plant in Naas is the largest producer of dried sausage for pizza and sandwiches in Europe.
Murrin believes an emphasis on developing long-term relationships with customers has been key to the company’s continued success. “We are a business-to-business operation. Our success has been based on having long-term relationships with our customers and working together to anticipate and meet the key trends in the competitive markets they serve,” he says.
He continued: “Research and innovation have always been at the heart of our approach and we are committed to maintaining this winning formula. Our customers want reassurance that the food being served to them is produced in a sustainable way with absolute certainty about safety, traceability and animal health and welfare practices. They want clear evidence of high-quality, lightly processed, nutritious ingredients.”
FOCUS ON SAFETY
Enterprise Ireland and University College Dublin recently launched a new innovation partnership to enhance food quality and safety.
Dawn Farms is heavily involved in the €1.7m programme aimed at developing a new predictive software toolbox to enhance food quality and safety approaches, nationally and with global reach, using environmental intelligence data.
We’ve got to work together, all stakeholders led by the Government, to protect our position. This really needs to be an all hands to the pump solution, but the Government needs to lead this
During a two-year period researchers at UCD will track the environments in a number of food manufacturing plants in Ireland belonging to the industry partners. These plants include infant formula grade ingredient plants, a cooked and fermented meat processing plant and a precision vitamin and mineral pre-mix manufacturing facility.
This will prevent bacteria which can spoil food or pose a human health risk entering the food supply chain in a faster and a more sustainable way.
GREEN SCHEMES
Dawn Farms is also a founder member of the Origin Green programme, the first nationwide sustainability programme of its kind in the world, run by Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board.
The company is also a sponsor and firm supporter of the Origin Green Ambassador Programme, which seeks to promote best practice by combining an academic qualification with work placement in sustainability roles within major global food companies, who are thought leaders in this area.
Dawn Farms was the first company in the Origin Green programme to develop a truly holistic approach to sustainability by incorporating targets and measures across key sustainability pillars.
Environmentally, the company is a zero waste to landfill site, a target achieved one year ahead of schedule in 2014 and has achieved notable reductions in relative energy usage, water usage and carbon emissions.
In the development of healthier options, all Dawn Farms products from its factories in Naas and Northampton are 100% free of artificial colours, as well as palm oil, nut and MSG. | http://businessandfinance.com/july-2016-july-2016-larry-murrin-ceo-dawn-farms/ | en | 2016-08-05T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/f63b83d2da9cb7abf54f6aa2b77e6cf7b283f62f1216ac45fa971465360bf72c.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:48:47 | null | 2016-06-30T11:43:09 | Retaining a talented team is the cornerstone for family business success, writes Dr Eric Clinton. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fteam-talent-line-up%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Family-Business.jpg | en | null | Team talent line up | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Retaining a talented team is the cornerstone for family business success, writes Dr Eric Clinton.
A skilled team is an essential element of success for any business. Family businesses represent a unique work environment, often comprising both family and non-family staff and management. In an increasingly globalised marketplace, it can prove difficult for a single family line to gather all the necessary skills, knowledge and strengths for business growth and development.
Searching outside the family for business talent presents two tasks: attracting non-family professionals to the business, and rewarding and retaining these key non-family personnel. Often the second of these two tasks is the most complex and vexing: once a family business acquires top talent, how is this competitive advantage retained as family involvement grows and evolves?
There are significant benefits to working in a family business that not only assists in attracting top talent but also secures their long-term involvement.
Firstly, the organisational structure is often less formal than in non-family firms. Greater accessibility to the top management team and reduced levels of bureaucracy can create a more cohesive and communicative workplace.
Secondly, this open organisational structure can increase the speed of decision-making, leading to greater efficiency and less frustration.
Thirdly, family ownership often creates a personalised work environment, whereby non-family members feel emotionally connected to the business. Fourthly, due to the inherent long-term outlook of family firms, the prospect of greater job security can entice staff and management.
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
The other side of the coin is that family businesses can descend into an environment of nepotism, ambiguity and resentment. There are multiple pitfalls to managing non-family involvement, as detailed in a recent article from Boston Consulting Group (Bhalla and Bratton, 2015).
Reduced levels of bureaucracy can create a more cohesive and communicative workplace
Mentioned firstly is the glass ceiling for non-family members, known as an invisible barrier to professional advancement. Non-family employees can feel demoralised if overlooked for promotion – for example, if the CEO’s son is appointed successor due to his surname.
The second challenge is referred to as ‘dealing with the old guard’. This occurs when loyal and long-serving employees are appointed to senior roles although they lack the management skills and knowledge required to best serve the business. Inevitably, this leads to a demotivated workforce.
Thirdly, tensions can arise from the integration of new hires with long-established employees. If not adequately overseen, it can leave seasoned employees feeling sidelined, while newcomers miss out on the in-house learning and support they require.
While these deterrents can be off-putting for prospective non-family members, there are ways whereby family firms can move towards a more merit-based professional organisation.
COHESIVE PARTNERSHIP
Harmonious relations between family shareholders and non-family management can be fostered through regular meetings. The culture of the organisation can be evaluated through anonymous employee satisfaction surveys.
Finally, rewarding non-family with incentives such as cash bonuses and share options (e.g. share-based rewards; pre-emption rights) can drive morale and increase employee loyalty.
In sum, it is important to evaluate the business from a family and non-family perspective and note the differences between both employment experiences. As stated succinctly by professor of global family business Ernesto Poza: “Can both family and non-family managers enjoy the prospect of career opportunities in the future? For the health of the business, they must.” | http://businessandfinance.com/team-talent-line-up/ | en | 2016-06-30T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/f0409455c4e38629b1e0624dac2e95ee0e7c429f03cc07b8d7b752a2347bf27e.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:55:13 | null | 2015-09-04T14:00:01 | IAG’s takeover of Aer Lingus means that CEO Willie Walsh’s career has come full-circle. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Faugust-2015-willie-walsh-ceo-iag%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/willie-walsh-iag-new2.jpg | en | null | August 2015: Willie Walsh, CEO, IAG | null | null | businessandfinance.com | IAG’s takeover of Aer Lingus means that CEO Willie Walsh’s career has come full-circle.
The success of IAG’s epic takeover bid for Aer Lingus, already one of the landmark deals in Irish corporate history, closes one chapter and opens another – both for the airline and for Willie Walsh, CEO of its new owner IAG.
On August 18th, IAG announced Ryanair’s acceptance to sell its shares in Aer Lingus and that the offer was now unconditional: the deal was in the bag following the acceptance of over 95% of shareholders.
“We’d like to welcome Aer Lingus into IAG,” said IAG chief executive Willie Walsh. “It will remain an iconic Irish brand with its base and management team in Ireland but will now grow as part of a strong, profitable airline group. This means new routes and more jobs benefiting customers, employees and the Irish economy and tourism.”
With that, north Dublin-born Walsh’s career had come full-circle since joining Aer Lingus as a 17 year-old cadet pilot in the late 1970s. He progressed to captain while building up his managerial know-how with a nighttime Trinity College master’s before his first chief executive role, with troubled subsidiary Futura, in 1998.
Returning to Aer Lingus proper in 2000, Walsh served as chief operating officer before taking over the CEO’s desk at perhaps the most inauspicious time for the airline industry in living memory: the aftermath of 9/11.
Walsh acted quickly to cut costs and reposition the airline, which avoided collapse. After plans for a management buy-out and flotation were blocked by the government, Walsh resigned in 2004.
He wasn’t long out of the spotlight, being appointed chief executive of British Airways the following year. IAG, or International Airlines Group, stemmed from a merger with Iberia in 2011 – making it one of the biggest airlines in the world.
THE NEXT STAGE
IAG’s bid for Aer Lingus this year had to clear numerous hurdles such as the flag carrier’s pension problems, rival Ryanair’s near-30% shareholding, union disquiet, political discomfort – and the future of valuable and strategically important Heathrow landing slots.
An understated, largely behind-the-scenes effort saw IAG fail to convince the Aer Lingus board to accept €1.23bn and €1.28bn, before €1.4bn – €2.55 per share – moved things on to the next stage, with chairman Colm Barrington and CEO Stephen Kavanagh coming out in favour of the deal. The Government, a 25.1% shareholder, agreed to support the bid in May, and Ryanair’s acceptance sealed matters.
It was a good year for Walsh’s IAG in other ways, too: 2015’s first-half operating profits were €555m, a jump of 141% backed by a 5.6% increase in passengers. “We said previously that profit improvement would be slower in the second quarter and we are on track to reach our full-year targets,” he said.
“We continue to take cost out of the business, with both employee and supplier unit costs down at constant currency, and improvements in productivity levels.”
Productivity has never been a problem for this acknowledged workaholic CEO, who has steered through a deal that will be remembered for many years to come. | http://businessandfinance.com/august-2015-willie-walsh-ceo-iag/ | en | 2015-09-04T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/962a410b4acd25186d97bd62111c00eb9772adfad4240fa2341ea4d0c1ebe530.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:58:43 | null | 2016-08-03T12:15:26 | Managing director of Fastcom Ross Palmer takes the Business & Finance 60 second challenge. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2F60-seconds-with-ross-palmer%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ross-Palmer-MD-Fastcom.jpg | en | null | 60 seconds with: Ross Palmer | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Managing director of Fastcom Ross Palmer takes the Business & Finance 60 second challenge.
Q. What was your first job?
I worked as a sailing instructor in my home village of Rosses Point in Sligo. After that I became a trainee accountant.
Q. What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
Transforming the business from a regional telecoms company to a growing international provider on managed network service solutions. It’s been doubly satisfying to do that from Sligo.
Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Trust your instincts. Looking back over the past 10 years, there are a few times I feel I should have gone with my gut more often.
Q. If you could step into the shoes of one business person for the day, who would it be and why?
It would have to be James Dyson. I admire his ability to reinvent the ordinary and transform one idea into a worldwide technology company, while always looking to see how it can be done better.
Q. In three words or less, how do you define success?
Contentment within yourself.
Q. How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
I work closely with my staff and focus on their positives, being constructive at all times. I like to ensure everyone is passionate about delivering the best service to our customers and positivity is the key to achieving it.
Q. How do your relax?
I like to get out with the family and enjoy the beautiful scenery and coastline around the west of Ireland, whether that’s through diving, hiking or fishing. I also like to chill out with a good book, too.
Q. What’s your motto?
Never give up.
Q. What are your aspirations for the future of your business?
From our base in Sligo, I want to grow the business to be one of the largest providers of managed network service solutions worldwide. I would like Fastcom to be recognised for its quality of service and the expertise of our staff. I also want to attract more skilled people back to Sligo to work with us and become a significant employer in the region.
I want to attract more skilled people back to Sligo to work with us | http://businessandfinance.com/60-seconds-with-ross-palmer/ | en | 2016-08-03T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/dd0245d8238baaf0dda7452401541fe5b6eec0f8af286692f420463d14681528.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:59:07 | null | 2016-08-09T14:27:44 | Take your business from good to great, not by managing, but by leading your team to success, writes Paul Fagan. | http%3A%2F%2Fbusinessandfinance.com%2Fleading-inspiration%2F.json | http://businessandfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Expert-leader-speaker-businessman.jpg | en | null | Leading inspiration | null | null | businessandfinance.com | Take your business from good to great, not by managing, but by leading your team to success, writes Paul Fagan.
In a recent interview I watched with Sir Richard Branson one quote really stood out for me. He said: “A company is just people.” If you own your own business, or manage a group of people within an organisation, this statement is worth bearing in mind.
When building a successful business, never underestimate the fact that it’s the people behind the brand that matter the most. And it’s how you treat these people as figure heads that will determine how motivated these people will be and how successful your company will be.
GOING FOR GROWTH
Hiring a good team of people is just step one. If your dream team isn’t backed up and guided by strong leadership, the results will be like having a cruise liner sailing the ocean without a rudder.
In order to take your business from good to great, you must share your vision with your team, inspire them to buy into this vision, and provide strong leadership and direction along the way. Your team in turn will help make your business the success you want it to be.
With the exception of the few who are born great leaders, the majority of us needs to nurture the right set of skills to be able to lead well. By properly developing your own leadership skills, and those of your team, you will foster a culture of growth, an environment for success, and a team of ‘can-do’ leaders.
THE POWER OF LEADERSHIP
Most business leaders agree that leadership is the foundation of consistent growth and success in any organisation.
However, while these individuals possess an in-depth knowledge of their industry, their company, and their products and services, very few have the background required to develop leaders within their teams.
… a leader is a person who has a clear vision of where they want to get to, has a defined plan of how to get there, and possesses the ability to inspire …
While each organisation, each team, and each industry are unique in their own ways, all leaders experiences similar challenges.
As a business coach, I’m most often asked to help solve challenges with communication, delegation and inspiration.
FIRST STEPS
Everything has a starting point, and leadership is no different. If you can’t define something, you can’t achieve it.
I recently addressed a room full of company directors, and asked them to define what they believe it means to be a leader. Unsurprisingly I got a large variation in answers.
In fact, if sitting with five different leaders from the same business, I find it’s not uncommon to receive five completely different definitions. With each leader defining leadership in varying ways, it’s no wonder each achieves different results from their teams.
The first step to take with your leadership team is to develop a shared definition of what it means to be a leader in your company.
To me, a leader is a person who has a clear vision of where they want to get to, has a defined plan of how to get there, and possesses the ability to inspire and bring their team on board to help them on this journey towards success.
VISIONARY
As a leader, you expect people to follow you. So you need to ask yourself – where are you leading them to? If you were expected to follow someone, you would want to know where you are going. So does your team. Invest the necessary time to consistently identify and share your destination.
When a leader clearly outlines a specified destination, he or she shares vision with all team members.
The success of your company is determined by the strength of your leadership team
Establishing a destination (goals and results) tells the team that they aren’t expected to stay still and that it’s okay to break the status quo in order to achieve the companies shared vision.
It’s the responsibility of the leader to help course-correct the actions of team members along the way. Great levels of growth and success aren’t the results of chasing perfection, but rather pursuing progress. Leaders support their team members, paying careful attention to finding ways to help them achieve greater results for the benefit of all.
LEADERSHIP VS MANAGEMENT
Most leaders have been promoted into a position of leadership, based on their ability to do a great job, not necessarily because of their ability to lead people. As a result many leaders find themselves stuck in the management trap.
In a recent meeting with a management team, I posed the question – “How many people in this room like to be managed?” You may have guessed, nobody raised their hands. Yet, many of them are guilty of managing, rather than leading, their people. Why do something to others that you don’t want done to yourself.
An important tip to remember is: manage the work, but lead the people. You can’t manage your way to success. You must lead your team there. Your team will only settle for management, when you settle for being a manager.
INSPIRATION
As you take on the responsibility of a true leader, you will inspire your team to follow you, and indeed to become future leaders.
Leaders must constantly: envisage goals, elevate priorities, empower people and exceed expectations When the goal is important enough, you must strive to develop your leadership skills and those of your entire team.
The success of your company is determined by the strength of your leadership team. Always be searching for your next leaders. Great leaders have the ability to transform not only companies, but people’s lives. | http://businessandfinance.com/leading-inspiration/ | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | businessandfinance.com/4ac26030fca3e221a4847c25d979394da29e216ab3f2600650aedde25a0266f4.json |
[
"Colleen"
] | 2016-08-26T12:53:22 | null | null | The festival will feature live performances by local artists Jojo Mason and Kiérah. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fcommunity%2F390352711.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/13660mapleridgeHopcott.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Farm festival at Pitt Meadows corn maze | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | The festival will be at Meadows Maze in Pitt Meadows and feature musical performances.
Hopcott’s Meadows Maze will be holding a farm festival to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pitt Meadows family’s meat shop.
The festival will feature live performances by local artists Jojo Mason and Kiérah.
Mason is a country music artist based out of Victoria. His debut single, called It’s All Good, was released in 2015 and reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Canada Country chart. His second single, called Good Kinda Love, was released in November of 2015 and a third single, Red Dress, was released earlier this year.
Kiérah Raymond is a Celtic fiddle performer with 13 years of classical training. Her first two CDs, Irish Madness and A Fiddle Affair, were nominated for Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2008 and 2010. Her third CD, called Stonemason’s Daughter, netted her a 2013 Canadian Folk Music Award for Young Performer of the Year.
Raymond has also written and published British Columbia’s first book of all original fiddle tunes, called Kiérah’s Collection.
In addition to the musical performances, admission will include full access to the Meadows Corn Maze, slide, petting zoo, pig races and corn cannon.
The 17th annual corn maze has been designed in honour of the meat shop’s 10th anniversary, with a butcher holding a big cleaver, cutting boards, hanging sausages and meats and the new building.
The Hopcott Farm Festival takes place Aug. 20 at Meadows Corn Maze, 13672 Reichenbach Road. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/community/390352711.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/69abff9a1f7cef05fe41ada4b1ac04dee6d0fcdb201829c82619d0365d998d92.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:11:04 | null | null | I spoke on how the city of Portland dealt with the same issue we face today, and that was in the ’80s. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F391079371.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | Letters: ‘Greatest north of Fraser’ | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Editor, The News:
Re: Businesses oppose shelter (The News, Aug. 19).
Last year, I suggested the city look at all the vacant warehouses in the area.
I spoke on how the city of Portland dealt with the same issue we face today, and that was in the ’80s.
It seems like this city council is determined to create a shelter where obviously the businesses and residents don’t want it.
Why does this shelter have to be near the downtown core and or in an area that impacts the people that live and or work there?
Vacant warehouses are already here. They have plumbing, electricity and heating, so the basic infrastructure is already in place.
A small fraction of the $15 million promised for a new facility can go a long way to framing in private rooms – 50, 60, or 150, if needed.
Community kitchens and bathrooms were also installed, while three meals were served a day.
There was 24-hour security, and medical services on hand, and local social services, treatment counselors and legal advocates were scheduled weekly and available. Most were certified in the field and volunteered, too
Two shuttle buses were donated that ran from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
One bus was for transporting people who had to attend treatment or medical appointments, and the other took those who signed up to various locations around the town to do community service: pick up garbage in parks and school yards, such as needles and condoms. They also did chores for private businesses. Some people even ended up getting jobs with some private businesses.
If these people are able to ride a bike and pick up recyclables, then they are capable of helping clean up the dangerous waste left throughout our town as a small token of payback.
This sort of intervention gave individuals a purpose again and got them back into a routine.
There were rules set in place as far as drug and alcohol use in or around the shelter, which were enforced.
Those who broke those rules were asked to leave. Those who chose to break the rules were treated as vagrants and were treated as such by law enforcement.
There have been enough meetings and petitions.
Enabling drug addiction as we do now by not having any consequences for there actions and or responsibilities does not help – especially the homeless who really don’t want to be there.
It’s time for this city council to make firm and quick decisions without impacting the citizens of the greatest little town north of the Fraser River: Maple Ridge.
R.J. Resek
Maple Ridge
‘As you are’
Editor, The News:
Re: Businesses oppose shelter (The News, Aug. 19).
Here we go again. The public said no to the Quality Inn site and council, in all its wisdom, moves the new location down a block and thinks this will be a good fit?
Let’s be clear: this is a low-barrier shelter, which basically means come as you are and stay as you are.
I, for one, am so tired of hearing our mayor preach acceptance and tolerance for the new shelter. Perhaps she should lead by example and move the shelter to her neighbourhood.
Let’s not even get started on the shelter having to be close to services. What exactly are these services, closer access to their dealers and a clearer path to steal from the surrounding homes?
We don’t want this anywhere in Maple Ridge.
Tannice Paeker
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/391079371.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/02e48b4c0a726d8bd4f9051c9ba7c516a0738de1fed9fc53b4b427cfb090c7e7.json |
[
"Sandy"
] | 2016-08-26T13:13:06 | null | null | While mayor claims city has had success locating homeless people into market rentals, few, if any, have left the neighbourhood. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2F390604231.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/85363mapleridgeMacdougallSandy.16.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Sidewinder: Greater consideration for others | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Sandy Macdougall.
Maple Ridge council, with plenty of help from the federal and provincial governments, and B.C. Supreme Court, have painted themselves and residents into a corner regarding homelessness.
The latest proposal calls for a purpose-built facility to be constructed on the city’s recently purchased property at 21375 Lougheed Highway.
The downtown temporary homeless shelter will be relocated at that site while the new facility is built.
The current homeless facility provides shelter for drug addicts, alcoholics and people suffering from mental illnesses. Operating as a low-barrier model, the shelter does little or nothing to discourage the use of drugs or alcohol by its occupants.
Since its inception, there has been a litany of complaints from downtown businesses and neighbouring residents that the residents of the shelter, as well as those at the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries are behaving in a totally unacceptable manner.
This has resulted in the attendance of RCMP, the fire department, ambulance services and, too frequently, the coroner, at the shelter and in the surrounding neighbourhood.
Discarded needles and condoms and other drug paraphernalia are found on a daily basis on the lawns and private property of apartment buildings and other nearby residences.
The outer stairwells of apartment buildings and other obscure nooks and crannies are utilized as shooting galleries and outdoor toilets, thus becoming highly visible examples of the failure of low-barrier and harm reduction models.
While Mayor Nicole Read claims the city has had some success in locating a number of formerly homeless people into market rentals, few, if any, of these people have left the neighbourhood, which is plagued by drugs, crime and prostitution.
If the current modus operandi of the low-barrier model homeless shelter is any indication of how the purpose-built facility would operate, council and the provincial housing authorities are going to find themselves in a pitched battle with area residents and voters.
If the purpose-built facility has any hope of achieving success and assisting alcoholics and addicts on the road to recovery, the plan has to be based on zero tolerance.
Placing practicing drunks and drug addicts in the same facility as people struggling to find their way will produce only failure, and social catastrophe for the entire community.
In a recent statement, Mayor Read alluded to the possible necessity of more than one facility to deal with homelessness, a direction that should be examined because it offers greater hope for the homeless.
The proposal for 21375 Lougheed Highway deserves to be heard at a public hearing, at which time residents can demand conditions and monitoring to ensure that conditions are met. The monitoring of any conditions imposed cannot be left to good will or simple trust.
The operators of any homeless shelter or recovery facility must be held accountable to ensure strict adherence to any of the community imposed conditions.
Four or more years ago, a spokesperson for one recovery facility built on city-owned land in the downtown area stated that it would operate on a zero-tolerance basis, but that didn’t last long. Maple Ridge doesn’t need another failure of this nature.
If we are to have a separate low-barrier facility to house those who shun treatment, a stricter monitoring process must be employed. Police should be urged to arrest and process anybody they find engaged in the drug trade and provincial courts should be encouraged to send convicted offenders to jail.
The businesses and residents of the immediate neighbourhood of the Salvation Army and the temporary homeless shelter have suffered long enough. Council must now do its job and begin to give greater consideration to people other than just the homeless.
– Sandy Macdougall is a retired journalist and former city councillor. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/390604231.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/96d538995c198f9e9e63ac0a2a8d8c2a2f71110095a5cac88a143222e311e62f.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T20:51:41 | null | null | Please let it be known that there are a lot more residents in Maple Ridge that have the thoughts of J. McDonald. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F391778601.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | Letter: Council told to 'Smarten up, or get out' | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | ‘Smarten up’
Editor, The News:
Re: Let’s get a grip, city councillors (Letters, Aug. 26).
Please let it be known that there are a lot more residents in Maple Ridge that have the thoughts of J. McDonald.
We just haven’t put it together yet.
She has spoken the absolute truth, and why not look after the housing of disabled, those on limited incomes and those working at a minimum wage – before looking after people who don’t ‘give a damn’ about their fellow citizens, and feel that they should be looked after.
Really?
I’m with J. McDonald.
I think the majority of the population is tired of looking after all those who won’t look after themselves.
We, as the people of Maple Ridge, say ‘get a grip, soon, councillors.’
When is the next election?
Smarten up, or get out.
L. Buchanan
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/391778601.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/c6e29152f0900814ff9797ecaf6c7a5b06a89a89b12e0523b8d237a39488710d.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:32 | null | null | Letter writers dismayed over new proposed site for homeless shelter in Maple Ridge. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F390355521.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/83709mapleridgeshelter.site.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Letters: ‘Send them somewhere else’ | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | The proposed site is located along Lougheed Highway near Laity Street.
Editor, The News:
Re: New shelter site ‘not perfect’ (The News, Aug. 12).
I am dismayed at the new choice of location as it puts the shelter even closer to my home than the Quality Inn site.
This guarantees that crime in the form of property theft will skyrocket in my neighbourhood.
The current level of break-ins is already too much. Please don’t cause it to double or triple by placing a crime-base camp near my part of town.
While I am sympathetic to those less fortunate who have fallen on hard times, these people make up the minority of these groups. Many choose this lifestyle and are addicts. In order to support their addiction, they must steal thousands upon thousands of dollars of other people’s property. They fan out on bicycles from their ‘patrol base,’ at whatever shelter or camp they occupy, and steal everything they can lay their hands on.
I, for one, will not stand for it. I don’t want them near my home and my children. Send them somewhere else.
David Vernon
Maple Ridge
‘Stop this’
Editor, The News:
Re: New shelter site ‘not perfect’ (The News, Aug. 12).
Proposed Homeless Shelter in Maple Ridge
This mayor and council continue to do things without the consent of the citizens of this community!
I also live very close to this location and worry about the risks involved in having a low-barrier shelter in Maple Ridge. I have two teenagers who are at vulnerable and impressionable ages. On our little street, of 11 houses, there are nine children who would now be exposed to the lifestyle choices of drug addicts, alcoholics and prostitutes.
Tell me, mayor, would you want this for your children, friend’s children or relatives? Would you want this in your backyard? Do you realize that there will be increased vandalism, crime and litter (needles and drug paraphernalia) in our beautiful cemetery and in surrounding neighbourhoods?
How will those who go to honour their deceased loved ones feel when they confronted by someone strung out on drugs?
Do you even care about the citizens of Maple Ridge and what they want? Would you feel safe and secure in your neighbourhood?
This town is not big enough to support the amount of resources that these people need. We are a small community and we just can’t let this keep happening.
When the city says it has purchased land, that means it has used our tax dollars, and I do not want my tax dollars used for homeless shelters, especially low-barrier.
This ludicrous idea will cause increased vandalism, theft and a feeling of insecurity for local residents.
And what about the daycare that is situated right next door? Who would want to put their kids in that centre?
This will also cause all of our properties to devalue. The residents of Maple Ridge have to stick together to stop this from happening.
Denise Chandler
Maple Ridge
‘Sad day’
Editor, The News:
Re: New shelter site ‘not perfect’ (The News, Aug. 12).
My home, which, of course, is in a residential area, is a 30-second ride on a stolen bike away from the land proposed to house a new shelter.
Also in my residential area are a number of schools, businesses, a daycare, preschools, a recovery house for women beating addiction, a hospital, a hospice, a seniors townhouse complex and playgrounds.
Does that sound like an appropriate area to place a shelter?
It will be a sad day when I have to tell my young kids that we can no longer walk to school, ride our bikes around the neighborhood or walk to 7-11 for a treat because our neighborhood is no longer safe. Drive by the current shelter day or night and it looks like the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver.
The drug problem in Maple Ridge is already running rampant, so much so that we had to educate our kindergartner about certain drug paraphernalia that we found on his school grounds so he would know to tell an adult if he ran across it again. I can only imagine how much worse this problem will become if we continue to attract druggies and drug dealers to our streets by building them a new playground.
These ‘hard to house’ people are preying on the legitimately homeless people of Maple Ridge. We need to stop enabling the illegal drug trade in Maple Ridge. Give your head a shake, Mayor Nicole Read.
Darn bloody right, not in my back yard. My kids deserve better.
Katie McElgunn Jonas
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/390355521.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/3813f2f6c05eaca6ea395d36c0746ab0c9a7c8a12f9eda9adf3ffb1e09c3c0d9.json |
[
"Neil Corbett"
] | 2016-08-28T16:50:49 | null | null | Low return was expected, better returns could follow | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fnews%2F391435321.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/14485mapleridge27944chilliwackSockeyeAdamsrunOct3.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Maple Ridge deals with worst sockeye run in 120 years | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Sockeye salmon not being sold from Kanaka Landing in Albion Industrial Area this year.
The worst return of sockeye salmon to the Fraser River in more than a century has kept the river’s commercial fishery shut down and curtailed aboriginal food fishing.
The run size estimate of 853,000 returning sockeye – the lowest on record since 1893 – is barely a third of the 2.3 million that had been expected this summer. Only twice in the past century has the Fraser run dipped below one million.
Six to eight gillnetters and two seiners operate from Kanaka Landing, but the only action there on Wednesday was a Rottweiler wrestling a well-chewed bucket.
The boats that have been working the river successfully in recent summers have all gone to fish out of Port Alberni.
“It’s the worst run in 100 years, following the best run in 100 years a few years ago,” noted John Murray, one of the owners of Bruce’s Market in Maple Ridge.
The bustling market is run by a family that has been in commercial fishing for four generations. Murray is a member of the Fraser River Panel of the Pacific Salmon Commission.
He said when the sockeye run can be 21 million in 2014, and drop to less than a million two years later, it can’t be relied on. Bruce’s gillnetters are on the ocean.
What does that mean for local fishermen?
“It means they better find another job,” answered Murray, adding that for the past 15 years most fishermen have had some other vocation to fall back on.
Murray accepts the scientific explanation that climate change and warming oceans are affecting the sockeye runs.
“That’s nature – things go in cycles, even the climate,” he said.
Mike Lapointe, the chief biologist for the Pacific Salmon Commission, agrees this year’s return is bad, but says it’s not a catastrophe on the same scale as 2009, when millions of Fraser sockeye unexpectedly went missing and triggered the Cohen Inquiry.
“I’m not sure I agree with people characterizing it as a disaster,” Lapointe said. “When you start from a spot that’s already pretty low and you get poorer than average conditions, unfortunately you can get this type of return that’s very low, but not completely out of the realm of possibility.”
Pre-season estimates indicated there was a one-in-10 chance the run could be this poor.
In contrast, 2009’s return of 1.5 million was proportionally much lower than the more than 10 million sockeye anticipated, and called into question the models used by fishery managers.
The bulk of sockeye in this year’s Fraser run were destined for the Chilko Lake system. Lapointe said their rate of return will likely be around 20 adult spawners for every 1,000 juveniles that went to sea. That’s much less than usual, but in 2009 the Chilko return rate was just three per 1,000.
Sockeye return on a four-year cycle and this part of the cycle is traditionally the lowest, so expectations weren’t high.
But wildly inconsistent salmon returns seem to be increasingly prevalent as the cycle gets more lopsided.
In 2010, the Fraser welcomed back a record 30 million sockeye.
And Lapointe said 2018 could once again be a big year, and even 2017 might exceed 10 million salmon, based on the number of adults that previously spawned.
There are also signs marine conditions that have been bad for a few years could improve.
A warm water blob in the North Pacific that’s thought to have reduced the food supply and attracted predators since 2014 has dissipated.
Lapointe said the recent results throw up more questions than answers.
“Is this a pattern that’s going to become more frequent because the ocean is becoming less of a favourable place for juvenile salmon?”
Watershed Watch Salmon Society executive director Aaron Hill agreed this summer’s record low return may not be as big a surprise and could soon reverse, but added the consequences right now are severe for First Nations who depend on salmon.
He listed past overfishing, viruses and parasites from salmon farms and extraction of water from the watershed as some of the factors that may be harming salmon populations.
“But the big one compounding all these other stressors is the climate,” Hill said.
“Not only is it the worst return on record but the fish swimming up the river are swimming into river water that’s lethally warm. A lot of fish won’t even make it to the spawning grounds. We just don’t know how many.”
More variability and wild swings in the salmon cycle appear likely, Hill added.
“It really puts a fine point on the need to move on things we know we can do to improve the numbers of salmon that get up the river and survive to spawn.”
Hill said the province has “abdicated its responsibility” to initiate more aggressive climate action to help reduce impacts on the fishery when it released its new climate plan last week.
And he said the federal government must do more to respond to the recommendations of the Cohen Commission.
“This crisis of Fraser River sockeye has not gone away.” | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/391435321.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/293b61100ab2aa266440242057590e5e57da077c85ae6450e9fb76219026aa1d.json |
[
"Colleen"
] | 2016-08-26T12:58:23 | null | null | Dwayne Martin will be doing the 200-kilometre ride at the end of August in memory of his mother. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fcommunity%2F389907941.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/84338mapleridgeDwayneMartin.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Maple Ridge man joins ride for cancer | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Dwayne Martin’s mother passed away from cancer.
Even before Dwayne Martin’s mother passed away from cancer he had decided he wanted to make a difference.
It was early in the year when the Maple Ridge resident decided to sign up for the Ride to Conquer Cancer and thought it would be great if he could raise $5,000 for the cause.
But after only three weeks of campaigning in February, he had already surpassed his goal.
Martin will be doing the 200-kilometre ride at the end of August in memory of his mother, who passed away from colon cancer on April 12 and his father’s best friend who passed away on February 26 of pancreatic cancer.
He will also be doing it for his father-in-law who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and is in hospice receiving palliative care.
Martin has been preparing for the ride by cycling to and from work every day and he is also a member of the Ridge Meadows volunteer bike patrol.
Now Martin is hoping to raise $10,000 before the ride.
The Ride to Conquer Cancer takes place Aug. 27-28 and is a two-day cycling event from Vancouver to Seattle, WA.
• To find out more about the ride or to donate to Martin go to http://www.conquercancer.ca. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/community/389907941.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/3891321f184a326e89b99c8e2056598d36fb1a2f1620da3361be1e4debb32948.json |
[
"Colleen"
] | 2016-08-26T13:01:30 | null | null | Artist demonstrations will take place on the sidewalk outside the Blue Heron Gallery in Pitt Meadows. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fentertainment%2F389662921.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/78117mapleridgelyn-thomas-withpastelweb.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Demonstrations at Osprey Day | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Lyn Thomas will be one of two painters doing demonstrations along the sidewalk.
The Blue Heron Gallery will be holding artist demonstrations outside for Osprey Village Day.
Lyn Thomas is a pastel painter and one of the 16 artists that opened the collective in Osprey Village, along with 10 other painters in acrylics, oils and water colour, two potters, a jeweler, a glass artist and a wood sculptor and furniture maker.
Thomas will be one of two painters doing demonstrations along the sidewalk.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. she will be painting a pastel of Osprey Village.
“I used to paint water colours, but I love the vibrant strong colours in pastel,” said Thomas.
The artist finds the village inspiring to paint and has already painted three works centred around the flower shop, Ode to a Bloom.
Variété D’Arts will be providing live music outside the gallery.
Caden Knudson will be performing from 1-2 p.m., and from 2-4 p.m. Brent Braidwood will take the stage.
The gallery will also be holding a silent auction of three baskets containing five original works by the artists.
Money raised will go towards the operating costs of the gallery.
Osprey Village Day is a free family friendly event in Waterfront Commons Park at the south end of Barnston View Road in Pitt Meadows.
There will be vendors, live music, food, face painting and bouncy castles.
It takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 13.
The Blue Heron Gallery is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays.
Blue Heron
For more information, call 604-459-0600 or go to www.Theblueherongallery.ca. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/entertainment/389662921.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/14402b266b9c992d4f65c7f4110c2215db15a30ea9d6d743c89876475e912942.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:11:51 | null | null | There’s another side to being cloistered up indoors in front of a computer screen for long hours at a time. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F389196461.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/47937mapleridgeProGamer.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Letters: Not envious of pro gamers | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Ben deMunck of Maple Ridge is a League of Legends pro and lives in a gaming house in Santa Monica, Calf.
Editor, The News:
Re: The Envy of all gamers (The News, July 29).
Ben deMunck may be “The Envy of all gamers,” but there’s another side to being cloistered up indoors in front of a computer screen for long hours at a time: addiction.
The creators of these games design them to be addictive. Typically, the more you play, the higher your character increases in status. But to maintain this, you must play even more. It snowballs easily.
Of course, not everyone who plays these games is addicted, but many are. For those of us on the other side of the addiction, it’s often difficult or impossible to have a healthy or fulfilling relationship with the gamer.
This compulsion can and does harm relationships, end marriages, and break apart families.
Sure, it’s not all bad: many can and do self-regulate.
But it saddens me that so many people can’t tolerate life without near constant entertainment.
That escapism is often more important than reality; that children must be plugged into their devices in the car, at the dinner table, at the store, in order to be tolerated or placated; that so many people prefer the avatars in the virtual world to the real human bodies in the next room; or that so many people feel they can’t explore their neighborhoods without a screen in front of them.
Call me a troglodyte, but we have never been so connected and disconnected all at the same time.
Danielle Raymond
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/389196461.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/7684bf0b66d5c26f07aa4140e5564a353307ba5adbf84f05da6603ae81e561b9.json |
[
"Tom Fletcher"
] | 2016-08-26T13:06:07 | null | null | B.C. stands in the way of Justin Trudeau government's plan to hike Canada Pension Plan contributions, but likely not for long | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fbusiness%2F389123291.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/82199BCLN2007Bateman-Jordan13-2.4.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Business pushing back on CPP expansion | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Jordan Bateman, Canadian Taxpayers' Federation
The B.C. government is hearing objections from businesses and individuals faced with increasing Canada Pension Plan contributions in the coming years, and is the last province needed to ratify the increase.
Instead of joining other provinces in meeting the federal government's July deadline to adopt the change, the B.C. government launched a consultation phase expected to run through August. And they are getting push-back on a plan that would increase payroll deductions and employer contributions starting in 2019.
Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation, said he's receiving hundreds of responses to his call to supporters to make their views known to the B.C. government. Most concerned are employers who would pay higher contributions for each of their employees.
Employer and employee contributions are to go up from the current 4.95 per cent of earnings to 5.95 per cent by 2023. For each employee earning $54,900, the employer contribution goes up $7 to $8 per month in each of the first five years of the phase-in.
"Obviously, lots of people are concerned about having to pay more," Bateman said. "But the interesting ones are the small business owners who talk about just how close to the edge they are financially."
B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong joined other provinces in agreeing in principle to the expansion in June. Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau said he is concerned about the decline in workplace pension plans and wants the CPP to move from replacing one quarter of employment income to one third by 2025.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business surveyed its members nation-wide when the CPP plan was announced, and more than 80 per cent wanted consultation and a delay of implementation. Morneau has indicated he plans to table legislation this fall.
B.C.'s refusal to sign on could derail the federal plan, but it shows little intention of doing so.
"British Columbia is committed to engaging with stakeholders in advance of ratifying the agreement in principle," said the statement from de Jong's office announcing the consultation.
The province's consultation website and feedback address can be found here. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/business/389123291.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/6a2b94fbd7d75a2ddd02537c34ff8c0dbcde1730df52b36cfe783649e8b76cfd.json |
[
"Tom Fletcher"
] | 2016-08-26T13:08:58 | null | null | Small communities have more than 400 doctor vacancies, with 'telehealth' and visiting specialists filling gaps | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Flifestyles%2F385489111.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/32759BCLN2007Kelly-Doug15-2.4.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Video links grow as rural health care shrinks | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Doug Kelly, chair of the B.C. First Nations Health Council
With patients in urban areas having difficulty finding a family doctor, the situation in rural B.C. is going from bad to worse, MLAs on the province's health committee were told Monday.
Ed Staples, a member of the B.C. Health Coalition, described his efforts to improve the situation in Princeton, a community of about 5,000 people that four years ago was down to one doctor providing on-call service.
Princeton now has four full-time doctors and two nurse practitioners, but there are still people who can't find a doctor in the region, including Penticton an hour and a half away. A recent search of the College of Physicians and Surgeons website turned up the nearest doctor accepting patients in Courtney on Vancouver Island, Staples said.
Health Match BC, the province's web portal for recruiting doctors, nurses and other health professionals, currently has more than 400 general practitioner vacancies, with 37 communities seeking 85 doctors. The result is "bidding wars" between communities to offer incentives to relocating doctors, and foreign doctors using a rural community as an entry point before relocating to the Lower Mainland, he said.
The B.C. government has announced its latest videoconferencing service for health care, linking psychiatrists with young people in Cranbrook. The service is available twice a month at the local Children and Family Development office, supplementing visits by specialists in communities such as Cranbrook and Princeton. Health Minister Terry Lake says video conferencing and electronic health records are a key part of the solution for reaching patients across B.C.
Doug Kelly, chair of the B.C. First Nations Health Council, told the committee of an Abbotsford doctor who travels to Carrier Sekani territory around Prince George for part of his practice, in a pilot project with Northern Health.
Kelly said video links and nurse practitioners are part of the solution to delivering rural and remote care, but the main obstacle is the business model for doctors that has them cycling through as many as 20 patients an hour to bill enough to cover their office overhead.
Committee members were also reminded that graduating doctors are increasingly reluctant to take on the demands of family practice, especially in smaller communities where they may find themselves on call around the clock. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/lifestyles/385489111.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/594bfa9fffecf485d0ec5415fed1e923bfe2cf889b24f237f5813eb046f2a1ad.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:10:05 | null | null | Carshill Street was blocked off at Lougheed Highway while police talked man into custody | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fnews%2F391108131.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/24237mapleridgepoliceincident3c.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Man in custody after incident in Maple Ridge | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | One person was taken into custody after an incident at the corner of Carshill Street and Lougheed Highway Tuesday afternoon.
The incident began just before 5 p.m. and lasted about half-an-hour, backing up rush-hour traffic along Lougheed Highway where people slowed down to look.
Police talked to the man over a fence in the front yard before he jumped over it and went with them peacefully. A female bystander with a grocery cart nearby wasn't involved.
Police offered no details other than to say it was a mental health incident. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/391108131.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/21def38c71919c69bb004baf6209faaa13701f8aaaec21ef5969853fb4c70f76.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:27 | null | null | Isn’t it a done deal by then? | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F389913311.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/84450mapleridgeMRPMNewsTwitter-FacebookFeedCommNewsNew.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Letters: ‘Consult the taxpayers first’ | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Editor, The News:
Re: Maple Ridge shelter location has been selected (The News, Aug. 10).
The announcement of the location of the new low-barrier shelter will be announced this week and then a new round of community consultation will take place.
Isn’t it a done deal by then?
Mayor Nicole Read said “if the site is not approved as a suitable location ... after public consultation ... ”
Shouldn’t the taxpayers be consulted before you spend their money?
And she goes on to say that she doesn’t think it is ever a bad thing for the city to own property.
Property flipping?
Where does that money go?
The public rally against the proposed Quality Inn shelter did not result in a negative impression of Maple Ridge.
People I have talked to in various B.C. cities were applauding that Maple Ridge was standing up and trying to take back the city.
And what does “there will be public engagement during the rezoning process” mean?
Thank you, Coun. Gordy Robson for at least saying “the public should ultimately decide the issue.”
But have you all been listening to the public?
To the public. To the people. Us.
S. Shea
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/389913311.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/b54b286bdfa34e43c0856c6f0d884b1d0070cb847d848822092f20370dbbbae6.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:02:51 | null | null | Pink Floyd tribute band bring its authentic sounds to the ACT. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fentertainment%2F388280701.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/22918mapleridgePinkFloyd.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | PIGS on psychedelic misadventure in Maple Ridge | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | PIGS will play 47 years worth of Pink Floyd songs on Saturday at the ACT in Maple Ridge.
PIGS, a Canadian Pink Floyd tribute band, will bring its authentic sounds to the ACT in Maple Ridge on Saturday, July 30, 7 p.m.
The band will be covering 47 years worth of Pink Floyd’s legendary repertoire, from 1967 to 2014, ranging from the band’s earliest release to its final album, from the psychedelic misadventures of Arnold Layne to the final float down The Endless River.
In addition to classics from legendary albums such as Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall, the band has a few surprises in store, including material that has rarely been performed live by the real Pink Floyd.
The band, and their lighting, sound and visual designers are all Floyd aficionados and are coming together to create a breathtaking audio/visual for what will be an incredible night.
• 604-476-2787. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/entertainment/388280701.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/0428a6543759ef82b359c289defc141eefd6530985896984be509e5bad65c151.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T14:51:50 | null | null | B.C. Golf closed out its championship season by presenting the bantam boys and girls trophies. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fsports%2F391342891.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | Golfers compete for bantam championship | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Local golf club members were in the hunt as B.C. Golf closed out its championship season by presenting the bantam boys and girls trophies.
The 2016 British Columbia Golf Bantam Boys’ & Girls’ Championships were held at picturesque and often demanding Bowen Island Golf Club.
The nine-hole course provided plenty of challenges for the young competitors in the 14 and under competition.
Two Pitt Meadows GC players, Leo Harper of Burnaby and Ethan Posthumous of Coquitlam both had strong events, as Harper finished third with a plus one, 141, and Posthumous was tied for seventh with a plus 11 151.
On the girls side, Chaewon Baek, Swaneset Bay Resort member from Langley, finished third. Amy Ehlert of Maple Ridge tied for seventh. She plays out of Meadows Gardens.
Baek shot a plus 13, 153, and Ehlerg a plus 28, 168.
She was just one shot out of second place.
The boys and girls trophies went to Ilirian Zalli of Vancouver and Akari Hayashi of Victoria respectively.
The first round leader in the boy’s division Zalli, was a little more conservative in round two on the heels of his course record-setting 63 as he settled for a four-over 74 but it was still good enough for a three shot win over Markus Yiu, also from Vancouver.
Victoria’s Akari Hayashi rebounded from an opening round six-over 76 to record the only under par round in the tournament by the girls at one-under 69 and a seven-shot win over her closet competitor, Claire Lovan of Surrey.
Zalli said he, “Felt the pressure,” when playing partner/competitor Harper closed to within two shots on the front side after back-to-back birdies on holes even and eight.
Zalli’s cushion was somewhat restored when Harper bogied 10 and 11 while Zalli was able to par 10 and birdie 11 to get back to a comfortable 5-shot lead.
Still, things may have gotten a little tight around the collar for Zalli, who plays out of Richmond Country Club, when he double-bogied the par three 13th to let Harper back within three shots with five holes to play, including the reachable par five 16th.
Zalli playfully announced to his two competitors, Harper and Surrey’s Kyle Chang that, “I’m going to birdie this hole, whether you guys like it or not.”
He may have just barely cleared the ravine that guards the front of the hole but he smoothly got the ball up and down for the promised birdie result.
All the scores here. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/sports/391342891.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/5973bb485da3b6624482e460c24f7f7613625811c65664fe7ba802eeae8d0ac9.json |
[
"Canadian Press"
] | 2016-08-26T12:58:48 | null | null | Tragically Hip kick off tour's final show with fan favourites | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fentertainment%2F390816951.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | Downie calls out to Trudeau during Tragically Hip's final show of tour | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | KINGSTON, Ont. — The Tragically Hip mixed fan favourites, newer songs and some politics on Saturday night during the final show of their "Man Machine Poem" tour.
Lead singer Gord Downie, who started the show wearing a metallic silver suit and hat with a "Jaws" T-shirt underneath, hugged and kissed his bandmates before they stepped on stage at the K-Rock Centre in the group's hometown of Kingston, Ont.
Minutes earlier, as the raucous sold-out crowd waited for the band to emerge, an impromptu rendition of O Canada broke out and a banner reading "Thank You Prime Minister Downie!" was passed around the arena.
The band immediately gave fans what they wanted to hear, starting their set with four straight hits from the classic album "Fully Completely:" opener "50 Mission Cap," followed by "Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)," "Wheat Kings" and "At the Hundredth Meridian."
The Hip then segued into their latest album "Man Machine Poem," with four tracks including the single "In a World Possessed by the Human Mind."
Before "Machine," Downie launched into one of his trademark onstage rants, calling out to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in the crowd for the show. Trudeau's official photographer tweeted a photo of the prime minister and Downie embracing before the concert.
"Well, you know, prime minister Trudeau's got me, his work with First Nations. He's got everybody. He's going to take us where we need to go," Downie said from the stage.
"It's going to take us 100 years to figure out what the hell went on up there," he continued, "but it isn't cool and everybody knows that. It's really, really bad, but we're going to figure it out, you're going to figure it out."
Many anticipate this will be the band's final tour, given the recent news that Downie is battling terminal brain cancer.
Before performing the "Road Apples" song "Fiddler's Green," Downie seemed to reference the outpouring of support from fans in the wake of his diagnosis.
"Thank you, people, for keeping me pushing and keeping me pushing," he said, which prompted a "Gordie!" chant from the audience.
After playing 21 songs, Downie and his fellow bandmates — guitarists Rob Baker and Paul Langlois, bassist Gord Sinclair and drummer Johnny Fay — embraced and prepared to retire for a pre-encore break. Downie was left alone on stage to take in the roaring ovation.
After returning for a few more songs, Downie again spoke about his fondness for Trudeau.
"Thank you to the prime minister for coming to our show, it really means a lot to all of us," he said.
"We're in good hands, folks, real good hands. He cares about the people way up North, that we were trained our entire lives to ignore, trained our entire lives to hear not a word of what's going on up there. And what's going on up there ain't good. It's maybe worse than it's ever been, so it's not on the improve. (But) we're going to get it fixed and we got the guy to do it, to start, to help.
"Thank you everybody. Thanks for listening to that. Thanks for listening, period. Have a nice life."
David Friend, The Canadian Press | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/entertainment/390816951.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/9517dcf5d544aed998138f41772180a76c46756c9f5b198425fa79a293a4d259.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:06:23 | null | null | Only until July 26. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fbusiness%2F387943412.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/17469mapleridgeSPCA.cats.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Half price adult cats at Maple Ridge SPCA | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | The Maple Ridge branch of the SPCA is offering half price on adoptions of adult cats until Tuesday, July 26.
With the province’s shelters filled with cats of all shapes, sizes, ages and colours, consider adding a furry feline companion to your household.
“We’re hoping this promotion, which offers 50 per cent off the usual adoption fees for all adult cats, will encourage anyone who has been considering cat adoption to take the next step and make it reality,” said Lorie Chortyk, B.C. SPCA general manager, community relations.
The adoption event will find more loving homes for cats throughout the province, which means the SPCA will have more space to help the many other animals in need of care in B.C.
There are several benefits to adopting a more mature cat over a kitten, Chortyk notes, as they’re calmer and more settled, litter trained, fully grown, and their personalities are already developed, so potential adopters are more fully aware of what they’re going to get.
“So many adult cats are waiting for loving, forever homes – why not come and see if one of them is the purr-fect match for you?”
Each year, the SPCA rescues more than 15,000 cats and kittens throughout B.C.
The Maple Ridge branch is located at 10235 Jackson Road. The shelter is open from noon to 5 p.m.
• More information: 604-463-9511. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/business/387943412.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/8de5f7e1e041be938678f6a958e6bb7edc8f092aa45c13ff77cdb9a119e6abcf.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:13:29 | null | null | If we’re not happy with the answer to either question, we start looking for a home in a different neighborhood. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2F389628661.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/28508mapleridgeMRPMNewsTwitter-FacebookFeedCommNewsNew.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Letters: Plan for growth, and stick to the plan | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Editor, The News:
Re: No help on school catchments (The News, Aug. 3).
Every time my family has moved to a new town, the first question we ask is where the nearest school is located?
The second question we ask is, what is the reputation of that school?
If we’re not happy with the answer to either question, we start looking for a home in a different neighborhood.
It should be routine for developers, school district planners, and city planners to meet and create a sensible plan for growth – and stick to the plan.
Tom Cmajdalka
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/389628661.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/60f647a942971946e0195e2281db540c0a9fff95edf51e5a1d08205ecb44c24f.json |
[
"Tom Fletcher"
] | 2016-08-26T13:05:26 | null | null | Gold mine near Prince Rupert shut down last summer for permit violations, owners charged for failing to report spill | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fbusiness%2F390008831.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/31694BCLN2007minebanksislandgold7web.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Banks Island miners face 18 pollution charges | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Two men and a mining company in receivership have been charged with 18 pollution infractions related to their shut-down gold mine on an island near Prince Rupert.
Benjamin Mossman and Dirk Meckert are scheduled to appear in Prince Rupert provincial court Sept. 7. Also charged is Banks Island Gold Ltd., which went into receivership after being shut down last year for provincial permit violations.
The Yellow Giant mine was ordered shut down by the Ministry of Environment in July 2015 after a tailings spill was reported on a tip. There is one charge of failing to report a spill of a polluting substance, and the other 17 charges are for failing to comply with permits.
North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice raised the issue in the legislature this spring, after receiving a letter from the Gitxaala First Nation referring to two separate tailings spills. Rice said the ministry did not inspect the operation for 15 months, until receiving a complaint.
NDP mining critic Norm Macdonald told the legislature a worker at the mine "became fed up, put his job on the line, sent the ministry and me a tip and pictures that documented what was going on there."
Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett said the mine was shut down when the situation was brought to its attention. The mine's 90 employees lost their jobs.
The province has a $420,000 security bond from the mining company, to provide ongoing monitoring. In March the mines ministry and Banks Island Gold removed explosives from the mine site and in May ministry technical staff assessed the hazardous materials on site.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service, which recommended the charges, would not comment on the current condition of the Banks Island site, because it is evidence for the prosecution. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/business/390008831.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/09af401ee0b6db54b17e01376b4810a9ccce2b280fb11eb0c3dad5ac7e049b7b.json |
[
"Colleen"
] | 2016-08-26T13:00:34 | null | null | Jonathan and Drew will sign copies of their new book at Black Bond Books in Haney Place Mall on Sunday. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fentertainment%2F390354001.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/14177mapleridgeBrothers8Copyright-2016bySBPublicationsLLCInteriorphotographycopyright-2016byDavidTsayw.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Property Brothers back in Ridge | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Jonathan and Drew Scott, graduates of Thomas Haney secondary, have a new book out.
The Scott brothers were 18 when they bought and flipped their first property.
With only $250 down, the twins assumed the mortgage, moved in and started renovating.
The place, just outside of Calgary, needed a lot of work, but they read every book they could get their hands on and watched every infomercial they could and ended up making a profit of $50,000.
“That was when the light bulb went on and we thought this could be a business,” said Jonathan Scott.
Drew Scott became licensed as a professional realtor, and Jonathan studied construction and design at college. After a decade of working in the industry, they were approached to do their first television show.
Jonathan and Drew, known to many as The Property Brothers, are now one of the most successful lifestyle and entertainment teams in the industry.
In addition to their own successful home renovation television show, the Thomas Haney secondary graduates have their own production company, Scott Brothers Entertainment, and home decor company, Scott Living Furniture and Decor.
Now they are authours.
Their new book, Dream Home: The Property Brothers’ Ultimate Guide To Finding and Fixing Your Perfect House, has become a New York Times bestseller.
The book is billed as a comprehensive source for buying, selling and renovating a house, covering topics from the hidden costs of moving, savvy negotiating tactics and determining your home must-haves.
“There was no one book that was a resource for buying and selling in real estate,” explained Jonathan.
“We started researching every other area and we wanted to show a lot of projects that we had done that are not on the shows so that people can get new inspirations,” he said, adding that out of the hundreds of photographs in the book.
The twins started their first business when they were seven years old.
“When we were seven, my dad said, ‘happy birthday, get a job.’
They decided to make decorative hangers. They took metal hangars and wrapped nylon around them with a little rosetta. Then the brothers went go door-to-door in their community and sold them to neighbours. One day they met a woman who had a chain of stores in Japan and she started buying them by the thousands.
At Thomas Haney, the brothers made short films in the technology lab, never dreaming one day of owning their own company.
Even at 12, when their parents were looking to buy a bigger house in Maple Ridge, they remember walking around with them and pointing out qualities that would make the property a good investment.
They started studying real estate before they were out of high school.
They don’t always agree on ideas.
“We are competitive as well and we don’t always have the same outlook. Even on this show we are shooting now, Brothers take New Orleans, we have differentiations on the paint colours that we want, the layouts we want for the space,” said Drew.
But, when there is something bothering them they address the issue right away and find fun ways to settle their disputes.
Once they had an oyster shucking competition to choose paint colours for a project.
Jonathan and Drew will sign copies of their book at Black Bond Books in Haney Place Mall on Sunday. They will also answer questions and offer advice.
One bit of advice is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to change the esthetic appeal to your home. Adding a coat of fresh paint or simply de-cluttering or rearranging furniture are low-cost improvements. Re-staining or reupholstering furniture is another way to save money and bring a fresh look to an old space.
“If you are trying to prep your home to sell, a lot of people think kitchens and bathrooms, ‘I need to spend big bucks there to impress everybody and sell the house.’ The more important thing to focus on is that the entire house feels fresh and updated,” Drew said.
“If you do a mild makeover and a mild, decent staging of the whole space to make it feel a little more fresh, that ’s going to go a lot further than just having a really nice kitchen, but the rest is dated,” he added.
The brothers said leave electrical, plumbing and building structure are for professionals.
And always make sure you get the proper permits.
“People don’t realize, say they do a renovation, they finish the basement or they do something on their own and they don’t get permits. That’s considered a latent defect and most real estate contracts say that you have disclose in writing when you sell your home,” said Jonathan.
“If there are any latent defects and say a house burns down 20 years after you sold it because of faulty electrical that you did yourself, you are still liable,” he explained.
“You have to think about what your goals are and what you want to accomplish and there are a million different ways to purchase real estate to make an investment,” said the brothers.
• Jonathan and Drew Scott will be at Black Bond Books in Haney Place Mall, 11900 Haney Place, at 2 p.m. on Aug. 21. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/entertainment/390354001.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/e0ac07e125fb0918e266ce9c9598ed831ad97858a8862a276f8c475778297273.json |
[
"Tom Fletcher"
] | 2016-08-26T13:04:01 | null | null | Vehicle traffic up 5% with no net fare increase and discounts offered for vehicles pulling boats and travel trailers | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fbusiness%2F391094851.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/59772BCLN2007ferrySpiritofBC7web.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | More discounts coming as BC Ferries traffic rises | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | BC Ferries sailings have been busier this year, thanks in part to strong tourist traffic and no net fare increase.
BC Ferries plans to continue its campaign of price promotions this fall and next spring in an effort to maintain increased passenger and vehicle traffic.
First-quarter results for the Crown corporation show passenger traffic up 2.5 per cent and vehicle loads up 5.1 per cent for the three months ended June 30, compared with the same period in 2015.
Buoyed by a strong tourist year for B.C. and no net fare increase, BC Ferries carried 5.3 million passengers and 2.1 million vehicles in April, May and June. The 1.9 per cent average fare hike was erased by a reduced fuel surcharge due to long-term contracts for cheaper diesel fuel.
Helped by reduced operating costs and higher retail sales from terminals and on-board gift shops, net earnings were $27 million for the quarter, up from $18.8 million in the same period last year. Revenues were up 4.9 per cent to $219 million, while costs for the quarter went up 1.5 per cent to $178.6 million.
BC Ferries CEO Mike Corrigan released the first-quarter results at the corporation's annual meeting in Victoria, where he also announced that unspecified pricing promotions will be offered this fall and next spring. This year BC Ferries has been offering discounts on over-length vehicles pulling boats or travel trailers.
Corrigan also announced he will be stepping down as CEO at the end of the fiscal year next March. He was promoted in 2012 to replace former CEO David Hahn, and presided over a controversial service review that saw sailings reduced on money-losing routes.
Transportation Minister Todd Stone praised Corrigan for reducing operating costs and embracing new technology, including three new medium-sized ferries using liquefied natural gas fuel that have been built in Poland.
LNG retrofits are also scheduled for the Spirit of B.C. and the Spirit of Vancouver Island, the workhorses of the main Tswassen-to-Vancouver Island route.
Corrigan's term also saw the first cable ferry in the BC Ferries fleet, the Baynes Sound Connector to Denman Island. Stone said the cable ferry cut fuel costs by half. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/business/391094851.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/8269d6c07ee80cf08089dbf813e0572e8c06dbad07ed8ac1e46018ed97a18a14.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:52:20 | null | null | Participants will learn two to three traditional dances and then be able to socialize with music and dance for the rest of the night. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fcommunity%2F390623571.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/23712mapleridgeMetisDance.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Metis family dance party coming | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Learn two to three traditional dances.
Learn the traditional dances of the Métis at a family dance party.
Participants will learn two to three traditional dances and then be able to socialize with music and dance for the rest of the night.
Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets are $6 each or $20 for a family of four.
The Metis Family Dance Party takes place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the ACT, 11944 Haney Place, downtown Maple Ridge.
• For more information call 604-476-2787. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/community/390623571.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/63517cf1e39b66f15e056e8d3bf2d6672376c732368841134503eff0d80e4107.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T16:52:01 | null | null | WLA final tied after Victoria wins 11-9. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fsports%2F391494171.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | Shamrocks pull even with Burrards. | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | The Maple Ridge Burrards and Victoria Shamrocks are now tied in the WLA final 1-1.
The Shamrocks outscored the Burrards 4-1 in the third period in an 11-9 win Saturday at Planet Ice in Maple Ridge.
Dan Taylor had three goals and three assists for the Burrards, while Ben McIntosh collected three goals and two assists. Mike Mallory added two goals and three assists, and Riley Loewen had four helpers.
Frank Scigliano made 38 saves for the Burrards, who were outshot 49-36.
The same two teams meet again Sunday night in Victoria, then on Tuesday in Maple Ridge, 7:45 p.m. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/sports/391494171.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/7a105c2cf3f98b6d9095c8ec0157afb5b5cb62a9f066255686c31e012e3b7760.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:06:40 | null | null | Donations for needs, special projects and education grants. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fbusiness%2F389194941.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/19143mapleridgeHyundai.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Hyundai gives $10,000 to Ridge hospital foundation | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Jessica Driediger, Perry Papadogonas, and John Kot of Maple Ridge Hyundai present $10,000 to Laura Butler of the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation.
Maple Ridge Hyundai has donated $10,000 to the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation.
For the second year in a row, Hyundai’s Operation 100 campaign donated $100 for every car sold in May to the foundation, for a total of $10,000.
"Supporting health care and our local hospital is important to us – keeping our families, our customers, and our community healthy," said John Kot, president of Maple Ridge Hyundai. "We’re proud to be part of the great work RMH Foundation does.”
The donation will help to purchase essential equipment for Ridge Meadows Hospital. This year the hospital foundation has committed more than $1.2 million towards new equipment, high priority needs, special projects and education grants at Ridge Meadows Hospital.
The RMH Foundation is a non-profit registered charity investing in better health through community partnerships. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/business/389194941.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/de4c8ad54a54eb7323f42171df91c63a2efc2ac04b104b807135d0c64219aa21.json |
[
"Canadian Press"
] | 2016-08-26T13:10:54 | null | null | Notice means delivery could be cancelled as early as Monday | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fnews%2F391302051.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/68221BCLN200782072cranbrookdailyCPweb.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Postal union issues strike notice after it says Canada Post refused special mediator | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | The union representing most workers at Canada Post has issued a 72-hour notice of job action as it tries to bargain a collective agreement with the Crown corporation.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says the notice spells out what actions it is planning, but stops short of a full-blown walkout.
CUPW national president Mike Palecek says Canada Post forced the labour disruption by refusing to accept a request from the federal labour minister to continue negotiations with the help of a special mediator.
But a spokesman for the agency says that's not the case.
The union's strike mandate was set to expire at midnight.
The two sides have been in negotiations for more than nine months but are far apart on key issues including pay equity for rural carriers and proposed changes to the Canada Post pension plan.
The Canadian Press | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/391302051.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/170ae9f4516cef848045bd3bb4f95d9024bc0982c421c78342a43bf7dcbce942.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:53 | null | null | Canada won 22 medals at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2F391080561.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | News Views: That they did | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Canada won 22 medals at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio, including four golds.
That’s one medal for every 1.6 million people in the country.
Conversely, the U.S. led the medal count with 121, or one for every 2.6 million people.
China was second with 70 medals, or one for every 19 million people.
Russia, a country embroiled in a doping scandal, still collected 56 medals, or one for every 2.6 million people.
While there are other debatable metrics for measuring Olympic performance, Canada tied its best ever summer medal haul at a non-boycotted Games.
As well, 87 per cent of Canada’s medals were won by women, who had their largest representation on the Canadian team ever.
And the future has never looked brighter, with multi-medalists Penny Oleksiak and Andre De Grasse poised to compete wearing the maple leaf for years to come.
Oleksiak won four medals, a record for the most claimed by a Canadian swimmer in one year, and tying her with Victor Davis for the highest Summer Games career total for a Canadian.
De Grasse, 21, won three medals, the most for a Canadian sprinter in one year since 1932.
Both have room to grow.
Other Canadian athletes had standout performances in Brazil – Derek Drouin winning gold in men’s high jump, Erica Wiebe the same in women’s wrestling.
So there is more optimism.
Others can argue the merits of hosting the Olympics – who benefits and who does not, or whether or not Rio was prepared – but they once again proved to be a captivating event, from blunders such as green water to the anticipation of a showdown between De Grasse and Usain Bolt, or when New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D”Agostino of the U.S. helped each other up after colliding in their heat of the women’s 5,000m.
The Olympic spirit, joy and heartbreak, lives on.
The podium is something Canadian athletes still strive for, to make their country proud.
That they did in Rio.
– Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/391080561.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/f3d4550502e7f0fb03395e21419ec8f2ba950dc1d310cf0859b52c865ee0b9aa.json |
[
"Tom Fletcher"
] | 2016-08-30T18:51:30 | null | null | Some urban districts struggle with overcrowding, special funds for declining rural schools, bus service to take effect | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fnews%2F391773061.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/2045BCLN2007Schoolstudentblurwide-BJ7web.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | B.C. school enrolment up for second year | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Students return to public school next week, with changes to curriculum and some provincial exams.
Students are returning to class next week in most of B.C.'s public schools, with enrolment expected to be up province-wide for the second year running.
Education Minister Mike Bernier says early forecasts show about 529,000 students, an increase of 2,900 from last year. But that increase is centred on fast-growing school districts, while many rural areas continue to struggle with declining student numbers.
Among changes that parents and students will see this year is a new curriculum in place up to Grade 9, with a test year for changes in the senior grades. Bernier said the new emphasis on collaboration and communication skills does not mean a watering down of the basic skills, and is designed to improve students' ability to work at modern jobs.
Report cards are to continue this school year, but the ministry is reviewing its system with an eye to providing more frequent updates. Parents are being consulted on the changes, Bernier said.
Foundation Skills Assessment tests in grades four and seven are also continuing after years of protests from teacher unions, but that program is also being examined for possible changes. FSA tests will be "enhanced" but not eliminated, Bernier said.
Provincial exams continue for graduates in math and English, but science and social studies will now be assessed at a classroom level rather than school-wide tests, Bernier said.
The ministry provided a series of top-ups to education funding this year, for bus service and to keep selected rural schools from closing. Applications are still being taken for a transportation fund until Sept. 30, requiring districts to drop across-the-board school bus fees to qualify.
Districts may still charge transportation fees for international students or those from outside a school catchment area.
NDP leader John Horgan highlighted the crowding in Surrey school district, where 7,000 students remain in portables despite an expansion program. The NDP says the B.C. government's claim of record per-student funding ignores a reduction of education funding as a share of the provincial economy.
"Since 2001, the B.C. Liberals have dragged public education funding in this province from the second best in Canada to the second worst," Horgan said. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/391773061.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/807d7ed77c23d338655ecc54f35836f30f48e57a7f1adebf4a76f47673477287.json |
[] | 2016-08-27T16:50:39 | null | null | Letter writer: Don’t let B.C Housing and the government turn Maple Ridge into a new Riverview | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F391322181.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/60612mapleridgehomelessweb.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Letters: Maple Ridge a new Riverview? | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Maple Ridge is trying to avoid more campsites in urban areas.
Editor, The News:
My first question is, did BC Housing and the provincial government give $15 million to every other municipality to build a shelter and support services in their communities?
Of course not. The B.C. government decided that Maple Ridge will be the new Riverview. My point is, the provincial government and BC Housing have chosen Maple Ridge as the new centre of resources for the Lower Mainland’s and Vancouver’s homeless problem.
Why was the Quality Inn going to be turned into 60 units when the so-called number at the time was 40 homeless in Maple Ridge?
More homeless would be brought into our community by BC Housing and the government to fill the empty units.
I watched an interview with the Port Coquitlam mayor as he stated he supports the shelter being built in Maple Ridge and would contribute resources to Maple Ridge. Anything to keep the homeless, out of his community.
I like the way Port Coquitlam handled its homeless problem.
You used to see them standing on the middle divider at Lougheed Highway and Shaughnessy Street with a sign asking for money every red light. How did the city deal with that? They put up a metal fence along the divider.
The homeless used to hang out and sleep under the foot bridge at Lougheed Highway and Shaughnessy Street.
How did the city deal with that? They blocked the area under the foot bridge with a tall metal fence to refuse access. The homeless used to sleep in the big hedges over on Tyner Street.
How did the city deal with that? They cut all the bottom branches so the homeless had no cover in the trees. They moved on.
Where do you think the PoCo homeless live now? One of the big reasons we do have the homeless problem in Maple Ridge is because of the Salvation Army’s (Ridge Meadows Ministries) Caring Place.
When you give out three free meals a day, shower and laundry so that the people can use their welfare money for drugs, of course they are going to come from far and wide.
We have to take back our streets. We can start by shutting down the Caring Place and put our support into the food banks.
Don’t let B.C Housing and the government turn Maple Ridge into a new Riverview with a $15-million shelter that we all know will be filled with those already here, in addition to the ones the government and other cities will send to us.
Please everyone, stand up now before it is too late!
Build it and they will come? Feed them and they will stay
Steve Tretick
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/391322181.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/eb1bed698d2a3c41b5ac3b92dc1dbad67d8ab72e041e924c58da9076e4bc710b.json |
[] | 2016-08-30T20:51:37 | null | null | Salvation Army has only about 30 backpacks for elementary students to hand out. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fnews%2F391780471.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/5554mapleridgeSalvationArmyschoolsupplies.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Maple Ridge school drive needs support | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Shelter worker Cheryl Finnie packs knapsacks with back-to-school supplies at the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries on Monday. The supplies were purchased with money raised by Jayden Buck and Megan Edwards of the First Albion Scout Group.
The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries’ Backpack and School Supply Drive is a little short this year.
“We have about a quarter of what we need,” said Amelia Norrie, with Ridge Meadows Ministries.
All told, about 200 backpacks full of new school supplies are required to help out needy families this year, said Norrie.
But so far, the Salvation Army has only about 30 backpacks for elementary students to hand out.
Reduced supplies from the B.C. headquarters has the Salvation Army looking for donations of new kids backpacks, as well as supplies that fill them, from paper to notebooks, pens and pencils, pencil crayons, dividers and duotangs.
“Our goal is to get those 200 backpacks and to get them filled and to get them ready for those kids and I know our community always steps up.”
Norrie said the biggest need is for high school students.
Norrie asks that any donations be new supplies.
“We feel that every kid deserves to have a fresh start for the school year.”
The program goes the first few weeks of September as students can get by the first week or so without the supplies.
The program needs backpacks, school supplies and, specifically, scientific calculators for teens.
Donations can be dropped off at the Salvation Army, Lougheed Highway and the Haney Bypass.
Or donations can be made at Staples, 20050 Lougheed Highway.
There will also be a barbeque at Staples to raise money for the program on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Cash donations are also being accepted, at the Ridge Meadows Ministries or by contacting the Salvation Army at connie.mcgonigal@saridgemeadows.com or 604-463-8296. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/391780471.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/a5a5eb15521fc026f49ef68083cc8ed29d50b141fb612cf57a566ffcd158ce06.json |
[
"Dan Ferguson"
] | 2016-08-26T13:05:03 | null | null | Mother-and-daughter team bring experience and expertise in high-end fashion | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fbusiness%2F389208801.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/24223langley0729Bagheerastore.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Familiar faces at the new Bagheera Boutique in Fort Langley | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Karlene Bullock (left) and her mother Delores Johns have been working together for years. The pair have 30 years in the industry.
The new Bagheera Boutique in Fort Langley aims to fill the fashion gap created when Ella’s Clothes Closet in Brookswood closed by bringing back top European brands to Langley, with names such as Laurel, Luisa Cerano, Marc Cain, Wolford, Brax and Vince, along with local Canadian accessories like Suzi Roher scarves, and Vancouver’s Sheereen De Roussea jewelry.
It also brings back Karlene Bullock and her mother Delores Johns, who have dressed the Fraser Valley for over 30 years, the last 10 of them working as a team at Ella’s.
When Ella Little shut down her namesake shop on 200 Street and 40A Avenue just over a year ago, it left a large hole in the market, Bullock said.
“We used to have women coming from Langley, Maple Ridge, White Rock, Chilliwack and all over Vancouver, to shop, and all of a sudden there were no options.”
When the owners of the Victoria-based Bagheera Boutique, Nataliia Bahirova and Anton Solonnikov decided to open their second store in Langley, they reached out to Bullock and Johns after hearing Ella’s had closed.
“They know the market,” Solonnikov — Bagheera marketing manager — said of the mother-daughter team.
“They have a following from 30 years.”
Bullock said she has been flooded with phone calls and emails from people excited that the new boutique is carrying the same lines.
“We want to be the go-to place for shopping for all women in the Greater Vancouver area,” Bullock said.
“Fort Langley is such a beautiful and quaint place, and the perfect getaway for the weekend.”
Johns said service is the key to keep customers coming back.
“It has to be honest service,” Johns said.
“Honest and continuous.”
Johns has been known to do things like drive to Harrison Hot Springs to ensure a bow on a customer’s bridal dress was properly tied for her wedding ceremony.
“Mom’s good at sales, she is good at talking to the customers,” Bullock said.
“There is no one in the valley who can do displays like she does.”
Johns gives her daughter high marks for bringing in the best of fashion.
“She’s very good at the buying,” Johns said.
The Fort Langley Bagheera Boutique is located in the new Coulter Berry building at Glover Road and Mavis Avenue.
Solonnikov said the store doesn’t only cater to the high-end shoppers, but carries low- to medium-priced brands from Europe as well.
Store phone: 604-371-2879. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/business/389208801.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/d7356566f976d1b904e5c0cdc9704dd583da63891125cf1a52093ba2b3fed603.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:13:16 | null | null | Mayor Nicole Read and some councillors, are not paying attention to us taxpaying citizens. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2F390625731.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | Letter: Citizens in neighbourhood not at the table | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Editor, The News:
Re: Petition for, against shelter (The News, Aug. 17).
Coun. Kristen Duncan, all the partners are not at the table.
We, the local taxpaying citizens in the neighbourhood, are not at the table.
The cemetery provides a buffer zone? For the centre for child care?
And we just built a new sidewalk/bike lane at the proposed site.
So many have bikes.
Mayor Nicole Read and some councillors, are not paying attention to us taxpaying citizens.
Nobody wants this potential disaster in our neighbour hood.
After watching what council allowed to happen on Cliff Avenue, so many citizens have absolutely no faith in council or its ability to handle situations like that mess.
Why do we always have to fight city hall to stop the continuing degradation of our neighbourhoods?
Some solutions:
• get the federal government and provinces to write a new chapter into our charter off rights and freedoms, titled ‘Responsibilities’;
• enact new laws that support our police departments and stop the revolving door syndrome;
• enact new laws that incarcerate hard or dangerous illegal drug dealers and smugglers, producers for 25 years;
• take the $15 million [from B.C. Housing] and build the facility at Riverview, with the necessary services relocated there.
For local citizens wanting to visit friends and family, we have buses and trains.
A neighbour said to some of us: ‘If you feed them, they will come.’
Maybe they should feed them at Riverview.
Chris Winchester
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/390625731.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/8bf1b592bed31b0277a782a3f15020262bc6316b030e4c7d5bc7d88eabadd554.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T22:50:50 | null | null | Housing is a necessity, not a luxury. Everyone needs a place to live. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2F391323571.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | Editorial: Housing crisis needs intervention | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | It’s comforting to hear that Maple Ridge city hall is applying its considerable resources to discovering ways to get more housing, of all types, on to the market.
A report is due before council this fall that will propose a range of options, possibly everything from property tax incentives, reduced processing time, relaxed zoning, to encourage developers to build rental apartments.
Purpose-built rental apartment blocks are cheaper than investor-owned condos when it comes to providing places for people to rent so it’s imperative Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows offer every enticement to allow such building.
Yet housing isn’t only a municipal issue. Both senior governments, and our MLAs and MP, must weigh in with equal vigour to ensure people have places to live.
The federal government is in the process of creating a national housing strategy. Many are hoping that offers real relief, such as restoring the tax incentives from decades ago that spurred building of apartment blocks.
According to Central 1 Credit Union, the 15-per-cent tax on foreign real estate purchases will have create only a temporary cooling of a red-hot housing market.
Low interest rates, a growing economy and a growing population will continue to fuel the housing market, says Central 1.
Unlike, exotic cars, recreational property or booze, housing is a necessity, not a luxury. Everyone needs a place to live. If our politicians ignore that, expect to see more tents on city streets. – The News | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/391323571.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/03c30ad301b5af217f688ab431c52b950734ac26568fed21e405f209dede1703.json |
[
"Dan Ferguson"
] | 2016-08-26T18:50:19 | null | null | RCMP release photo of Good Samaritan who stopped to help injured officer | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fnews%2F391420561.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/8285langleytruckdriver.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | If this is you, please call police about Langley crash | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | RCMP have released these pictures of the Good Samaritan and his truck taken at the scene of the Aug. 14 Hwy. 1 crash that injured an officer.
If your name is Earl and you are the man who pulled over his semi to help an injured RCMP officer, the police would like to talk to you.
The man with the truck is one of two Good Samaritans who stopped to provide assistance the morning of Sunday, Aug. 14 when an RCMP vehicle was rear-ended at the scene of a rollover accident in the westbound lane of Highway 1, near the 232 Street overpass in Langley.
"Earl" may have important information about the collision or its aftermath, RCMP said.
RCMP released photos of Earl and what is believed to be his truck, a greyish-blue Volvo tractor trailer, hauling a white 53’ refrigerated. There is a silver logo on the tractor’s door.
Earl has a tattoo on his right forearm.
The second witness was an Asian man in his 50’s. He is described as short, wearing a white button down shirt and tan pants.
He was driving a model year 2000 or newer tan or gold sedan in good condition .
Police believe the second witness was traveling behind the grey pick-up truck that collided with the police vehicle.
Anyone with any information on these individuals is asked to contact Sgt. Patrick Davies at 604-539-2730. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/391420561.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/f597b0f1b13d2b59909c0d7c07e1f45d2f728e35a2ef9bc33361b2b902f767d5.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:13:34 | null | null | Registration is open for the Aug. 22-26 and Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 camps. Costs are $169 and the camps run from ... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fsports%2F390620451.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | Soccer camps in Hammond | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | There are only two soccer camps left offered by the Royal Soccer Club.
Registration is open for the Aug. 22-26 and Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 camps. Costs are $169 and the camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the week, or $109 for either the morning or the afternoon half sessions.
The camps are for boys and girls from ages five to 13, and include a camp soccer ball, T-shirt, personalized certificate and medal.
There is free early drop-off and late pick-up supervised care.
The Maple Ridge camp takes place at Hammond field at 207th Street, north of Westfield Avenue, behind Hammond Pool.
• For more information call 1-800-427-0536 or go to www.royalsoccer.com. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/sports/390620451.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/5bbaf80c7438ee1f7f989147b9b1dbb893db676cf4f45646985ab424e23b8827.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:11:58 | null | null | The homeless need support and help here in Maple Ridge, and the residents of Maple Ridge have the right to feel safe... | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F390629261.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/25476mapleridgestreetsleeper.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Letter: Looking in the wrong direction | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Editor, The News:
Re: Petition for, against shelter (The News, Aug. 17).
Am I going to say this until I’m blue in the face?
I am not against the homeless.
I support them in many ways, and I believe the unfortunate need our support.
But I’d like to know how local are you Christine Bossley?
This isn’t rocket science. The homeless need support and help here in Maple Ridge, and the residents of Maple Ridge have the right to feel safe in their neighbourhoods.
Isn’t that the whole idea, to help the homeless function better without having to cause havoc?
Why should our neighbourhood be subject?
There is an answer, mayor.
You’re just not looking in the right direction.
Dalene Lazarenko
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/390629261.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/11657f1dd7da73cd26b13e81b03e1c11f89e2a3b0b7bf4a4f9e1bed71e8ac626.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:22 | null | null | This is the new reality in Maple Ridge, and in my humble opinion, doing nothing is simply not an option. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F390624811.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | Letter: There's a new reality in Maple Ridge | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Editor, The News:
Re: Petition for, against shelter (The News, Aug. 17).
I live in the downtown area, and I see piles of garbage, including used needles and drug paraphernalia, discarded shopping carts, people sleeping on sidewalks and in parking lots, and open drug use in doorways and alleys on an almost daily basis.
This is the new reality in Maple Ridge, and in my humble opinion, doing nothing is simply not an option.
John Szogi goes on to say that “[t]he system in place is not working”, and he’s right.
This is precisely why we need to move forward with the construction of a “purpose-built facility [that] will provide a more integrated housing approach and stronger support framework,” as stated by Mayor Nicole Read.
The expectation that the city engage in public consultation regarding the potential purchase of a property prior to securing it is unrealistic.
Now that the city has purchased the property, “[t]he zoning process for the new facilities will provide ample opportunity for community feedback ... ”
The comments made by Mr. Szogi and Jodi Statham are speculation, and I believe are based on the negative experiences many of us currently face without a purpose-built facility.
And to compare such a facility with the temporary shelter currently in place is naive at best.
I would be very interested to hear suggestions for viable alternatives to the proposed location from any member of “Protecting Maple Ridge.”
I cannot help but think that it is not the location they oppose – it’s the construction of any facility of this type in our community.
I am confident that the citizens of Maple Ridge will be given the opportunity to engage in a process of public consultation in order to identify and resolve the concerns and issues raised by those in opposition.
I would urge everyone to keep an open mind throughout this process and ensure that your voices, both for and against the proposal, are heard.
I would also encourage those of you who are looking for more conversation on the issue of homelessness to join the Facebook Page “Citizens Bridge.”
Christine Bossley
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/390624811.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/c338d644d7014faa85021be7c4bdb2c25b4930219b8669e19ade96c300e2970b.json |
[
"Laura Baziuk"
] | 2016-08-26T13:09:44 | null | null | The BC SPCA trying to identify two people after a Boxer-cross that had apparently died of heat exposure was found in a Dumpster. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fnews%2F391173801.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/97157BCLN2007DumpsterSPCA.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | VIDEO: Dead dog thrown in Dumpster in Coquitlam | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Surveillance footage taken at 68 Schooner Street in Coquitlam on July 26 shows two people appearing to dump a dog's body into the trash.
BC SPCA staff are looking for the public's help to identify two people who tossed a dead dog into a Dumpster about a month ago in Coquitlam.
Officials were alerted to the remains by the city's animal control, said Lorie Chortyk, the SPCA's general manager of community relations. Necropsy results that were just received suggest the young, female Boxer-cross likely died of extreme heat exposure.
Security footage from 68 Schooner Street shows a light-coloured van pulling up behind the building, and two people getting out to discard the animal.
"Someone will know this dog," Chortyk said. "They will recognize the people in the footage."
She added the SPCA is not so focused on how the dog was discarded, but how it died. Charges of animal cruelty could be considered if it turns out the animal died after being left in hot car, for example.
"If there was no wrongdoing in this case, then we just close the file. We just want to know what happened."
Anyone who recognizes the people or the dog's blue and grey collar with red and black leash are asked to call the BC SPCA's animal cruelty hotline at 1-855-622-7722.
The last time a dog's body being left in a Dumpster made headlines was in 2012.
A German shepherd named Captain was found beaten and bleeding in a Dumpster in Kitsilano four years ago.
His owner, Brian Whitlock, was jailed for 60 days for causing unnecessary suffering to the animal. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/391173801.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/77accc92f6cfa4e328d539525a5ac76b1e43578204f524271df6eafd348f71a0.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:37 | null | null | The logic of the current situation escapes me. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F389629401.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/28508mapleridgeMRPMNewsTwitter-FacebookFeedCommNewsNew.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Letters: Seems like a good deal to me | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Editor, The News:
Re: Garbage pickup in Ridge trashed (The News, July 29).
Well, the garbage issue has reared again.
Indeed, when we came to Maple Ridge, we were astounded to learn that there was no municipal pickup.
We still are.
The logic of the current situation escapes me.
If company ‘A’ is taking my garbage for, say, $20 a month, and servicing 30 per cent of the city, it would seem obvious that if we offered to give it a five-year contract to do the whole city, it would be happy to give us a discount.
We’d all pay the better rate rolled into our tax structure.
Seems a good deal to me.
Paul Gregory
Maple Ridge | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/389629401.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/475d522c331b42d32c83b75af797bd987db7f55525906aec8dcd87572a931e41.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:13:02 | null | null | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2F390604261.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/favicon2.ico | en | null | Maple Ridge News | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | You have already participated in this poll. Thank you!
Last Week's Question of the Week Final Results Do you support the location for a new homeless shelter in Maple Ridge? Yes 11 %
No 88 % | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/390604261.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/4de8e7914a50716778d7eda56696e0ea6a045213ab83354bf7a74a04da17e929.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:55:18 | null | null | Registration is coming up for MEND, a free program to help families with children work towards a healthier and active lifestyle. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fcommunity%2F390622051.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/23440mapleridgeMENDParachute.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | MEND for healthier kids | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | The 10-week program encourages kids to be more active.
Registration is coming up for MEND, a free program to help families with children work towards a healthier and active lifestyle.
MEND, which stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it!, is for families with children ages seven to 13 who need help achieving healthier behaviours.
It consists of 10 weeks of group physical activity and healthy eating sessions. Participants will learn how to make healthier food choices, become more physically active and reduce screen time. They will engage in group sessions that show how small changes can make a big difference. There will be practical food demonstrations, label reading tips and activity-based games. They will also be able to discuss their successes and challenges with trained program leaders.
MEND in Maple Ridge will start in late September from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Golden Ears Elementary, 23124 118th Avenue.
• Contact Kathryn Rieu at 604-467-7453 or go to mend@mapleridge.ca. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/community/390622051.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/39a9d0665ace6900e24ab3a07f706d88ebc8ad4f818e0e58c82f35f7eefbd5cf.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:43 | null | null | Seemingly, no one location is going to please all. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2F389909451.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/BlackNewsMedia-CLR.png?t=12345? | en | null | News Views: A solution | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | The City of Maple Ridge wants to move the temporary homeless shelter, in the old Sleep Shop building in downtown Maple Ridge, to a permanent location along Lougheed Highway and backing on to the cemetery.
Fewer people should be upset with that location.
Businesses and residents have complained about loitering around the current location, as they have for years about the same in and around the Salvation Army shelter.
And hundreds of people rallied against a previous pitch to purchase the Quality Inn and use it as a permanent housing facility for the homeless.
The new location, 21375 Lougheed Highway, is only a few blocks west of the hotel, and is bordered on each side by commercial buildings. A stream runs through the treed lot, which has remnants of homeless camps already on it.
Along its northern border is the Maple Ridge Cemetery. Fronting the property is a bike path, which cost more than $1 million to construct.
B.C. Housing picked the property.
Seemingly, no one location is going to please all.
This one is out of the downtown, not in a residential neighbourhood, and across the highway from Ridge Meadows Hospital – a convenient if not ironic fact, given the number of drug overdoses in the Metro region over the past year, including the many at the temporary shelter in Maple Ridge.
It is slated to close when modular buildings are erected at the new site, given public consultations go well enough.
We think they will. It is not enough to oppose housing for the homeless based on some notion that they should just choose to stop using drugs. Science tells us that addiction is a disease, but treatable. Mental illness complicates matters, and many on our streets share such a dual diagnosis. Enforcing constraints won’t help them any more than will power.
The choice here is for the city, and the province to help them, to first get them off the streets and out of the bushes, and track them along.
Help is the solution.
– Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/389909451.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/8419c129dda784dca10f1599a9ebd3a23a29eb9e4ff1ec8483707f59fc0895d9.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:00:09 | null | null | Tunes on the river, singest of summer, as series returns to old Port Haney | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fentertainment%2F386848381.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/53758mapleridgeHaneyWharfconcert08091c.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | More Music on the Wharf | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | The Music on the Wharf series continues this summer in Port Haney.
The 19th annual Music on the Wharf concert series has began with the Fraser River, once again, providing a perfect backdrop for the event.
Upcoming performances include the Siobhan Walsh Group on July 25, Ben Klick on Aug. 8 and Wichita Trip on Aug. 22.
Since 1997, the concert series has taken place on the Port Haney Wharf along River Road, across from the Billy Miner Pub, at 22355 River Road. It began when a local band offered to play a one-time concert.
Now it is one of the Maple Ridge Historical Society’s most popular annual events.
The Siobhan Walsh Group is a Vancouver based jazz band that infuses aspects of neo-soul, rhythm and blues, and gospel.
The group is made up of Siobhan Walsh on vocals, Adam Rohrlick on guitar, Cameron Hood on bass, Jason de Couto on keyboards and Jamie Fraser on drums.
Ben Klick is a country music artist based out of Kelowna. Klick began playing guitar at the age of six and has since received multiple awards and industry nominations including first place in the 2015 Edmonton Global Country Star Search. He was also nominated for five 2015 B.C. Country Music Association awards.
Klick has also performed in Nashville, Tennessee on the Ryman Auditorium stage.
His latest release, Today, was produced and recorded in Nashville by Clay Krasner and RyLee Madison of 7-17 Music.
Wichita Trip bills itself as a country, soul and rock’n roll band. The band is made up of Barb Wilkins on vocals, Rupert Lindsay on guitar and vocals, Gord ‘Gorehound’ Smithers on guitar, Terry Bramhall on bass and Mark Gruft on drums.
All shows start at 7:30 p.m. except for the final performance, which starts at 7 p.m. on Aug. 22.
In the case of rain, shows will be cancelled and the decision will be made by noon the day of the concert.
The concerts are free by donation to the historical society.
• For more information call 604-463-5311. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/entertainment/386848381.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/f6221aad9efef03735e811652f2207e65990b2fd3d5a70b2218860623e52ad16.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T12:58:00 | null | null | Laptop computers, portable DVD players, portable GPS, cameras, and video cameras recovered. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fcommunity%2F389753061.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/21384mapleridgeelectronics.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | RCMP looking for owners of electronics | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Police recovered a number of electronics, such as laptop computers, portable DVD players, portable GPS, cameras, and video cameras.
Ridge Meadows RCMP are looking for the legal owners of electronics that are believed to be stolen.
Police have come into possession of a number of electronics, such as laptop computers, portable DVD players, portable GPS, cameras, and video cameras, that investigators believe are stolen property.
“The items were seized during a vehicle check back in July of this year, but so far no owners have been identified," Cpl. Amanda Harnett said. "This was after an extensive search of the police data base.”
• If you have been a recent victim of a theft of electronics, and can identify your property, please call Cst. Dodgson at 604-476-6933, or email rm.inquiries@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/community/389753061.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/fbc3f37b640578b45ab1215e25c44bf3049a9b133748436463205f9535e41508.json |
[
"Phil Melnychuk"
] | 2016-08-26T13:05:46 | null | 2031-08-20T00:00:00 | Two most common complaints concerned building permits and bylaws. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fbusiness%2F389200831.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/21411mapleridgeRMCOC.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Businesses talk the walk in Maple Ridge | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Politicians and chamber of commerce members took to pounding the pavement last week to take the civic pulse and learn what makes business tick in Maple Ridge.
Between 60 to 70 businesses were contacted when groups of three or four knocked on doors in the Maple Meadows Industrial Park on July 27.
Once they connected with business managers, those were given a short survey asking questions such as what they most liked about being located in the area; what was the biggest challenge they faced; and what could be done to help them along.
People were impressed that the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Chamber of Commerce, along with the City of Maple Ridge, would make the effort, said chamber president Michael Morden.
Two of the most common complaints concerned dealings with city hall, in particular, with building permits and bylaws.
“That was half of the complaints,” Morden said.
Businesses complained it took long to get building permits or approvals and doing so wasn’t always the most pleasant experience.
Society has become so based on policy and regulations that people’s needs are left along the way, he added.
One example of the type of demands made by city occurred when one business took over the premises of another.
The incoming business had to make improvements to the premises, even though the use of the building hadn’t changed.
Another business had its sandwich board summarily removed from the sidewalk in front of its premises by city staff.
“There’s room for improvement,” said Morden.
Politicians were also part of the survey, with Maple Ridge councillors Bob Masse, Corissa Bell, Gordy Robson and Mayor Nicole Read, along with MP Dan Ruimy also asking questions.
Chamber staff and city economic development staff are now in the process of collating the results and will present a report later to council.
It was the first time Maple Ridge has had a business walk, said Lino Siracusa, manager of economic development with the City of Maple Ridge.
His group included the mayor and the MP and they visited Chrislan Ceramics, which makes the tap handles that are used to pour beer in bars, along with Pitt Meadows Plumbing, Mircom Engineered Systems, which makes fire alarms and a cabinet manufacturer.
“All of them were talking about growth,” Siracusa said.
Two prevalent issues businesses are facing are lack of room to expand and a shortage of skilled labour.
The city will try to help businesses try to re-configure their premises to provide more room to address the first, he added.
Regarding the issue of finding the right workers to keep the business running: “There’s an inability to find skilled labour.”
Siracusa added that Kanaka Business Park, on north 256th Street, was also beginning to fill up, with only six lots remaining to be sold.
But many businesses are using that property for storage.
“I’m not sure we’re going to see a lot of jobs up there yet.” | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/business/389200831.html | en | 2031-08-20T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/5f929e3788d43fc42fcca821fd2fedb7b072eeb3c43cdeb12e23779d352c9502.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:12:16 | null | null | A state-of-the-art cargo facility may be the answer. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F389629241.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/66172mapleridgePMAirport7c.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Letters: Think big, new Pitt airport committee | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Let’s develop the airport into a air cargo gateway to B.C. and western Canada.
Editor, The News:
The Pitt Meadows new airport committee must take a long and hard look at developing a business model to fit the strategically located Pitt Meadows airport.
A state-of-the-art cargo facility may be the answer. Let’s develop the airport into a air cargo gateway to B.C. and western Canada.
This is an opportune time to seriously look at a hub-and-spoke air cargo model with our proximity to Bellingham and Seatac Airports in Washington State.
Air cargo and its subsidiaries represent major economic activities for the local economy and that includes jobs for locals.
It is also time to offer incentives to lure cargo carriers to this airport.
Think big.
It is a revenue generator and the time is now to put a cargo business manager at the helm.
Orvis Noel
Pitt Meadows | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/opinion/letters/389629241.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/8358900454c361702b6074d55ed4c9a576bfa043c2660e09ffd54855c6416e1e.json |
[
"Val Patenaude"
] | 2016-08-26T12:57:08 | null | null | Quilting came to England in the Middle Ages as crusaders brought it back as undercoats for metal armor. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fcommunity%2F391064801.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/47677mapleridgeLook-quilt.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Looking Back: Industry and thrift, a story in every quilt | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | The winning quilt and crochet work at the 1958 Fall Fair was a traditional patchwork pattern that used many different types of fabric to make an eight-pointed star.
The idea of quilting – layers of fabric and padding held together by lines of stitching – stretches back to ancient Egypt.
It is a practical response to the need for heavier or stiffer fabrics for bedding or carpets or even protective clothing, including a faux armor for those who could not afford metal.
Quilting came to England in the Middle Ages as crusaders brought it back as undercoats for metal armor.
It was quickly adopted for warmth in jackets and over-skirts, and then for bedding.
It was at this point the more decorative elements were introduced.
It wasn’t until the idea hit the North American shores that it would find its fullest expression.
Beginning in thrift and a need for a creative outlet, women ‘recycled’ clothing, bedding and even the sacks flour and sugar came in to make colourful patchwork bedding.
For lonely women in a pioneer setting, quilt making also provided a reason to get together to share fabrics, patterns, and to hold quilting ‘bees,’ where an entire quilt might be finished in a day.
The stories for the old quilts were as complex as the patterns they displayed.
Each piece of clothing recycled told part of the story of all who had worn it – usually handed down in large families.
Old bedding that had been ‘sides to middled’ were incorporated as backings after how many had slept under them?
Men’s ties were cut up and incorporated along with shirting and suiting samples that an enterprising homemaker might obtain from a local tailor, bringing into the story the fashion of the day.
Today’s quilts are more likely to be made of fabric bought for the purpose and the fabulous art quilts don’t bring to mind either thrift or recycling.
But they still all have stories.
It may be that some of the fabric was purchased while on a special vacation or was given or left to the quilter by a friend.
The design of the art quilt is likely based on a photograph that holds a special place for the artist.
A tradition that has been maintained since our pioneer days is that of the quilting guild.
Combining artistry and companionship with charitable service to their communities, the guilds continue the practice of raffling quilts to raise money for community efforts and of making quilts to donate to the needy, veterans, and hospice patients, to name just a few.
The Ridge Meadows Quilters Guild is one such active guild which produces a raffle quilt each year – their most recent beneficiary was our Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue organization – and hundreds of ‘community quilts,’ including placemats for Meals on Wheels.
The guild puts on a show every three years and the next one is coming up on Sept. 9 and 10 at Burnett Fellowship Church, 20639 – 123rd Ave.
In addition to the main show of over 100 quilts, there will be a Fibre Arts Network show, a challenge show, a sampling of community quilts ready for donation, a merchant’s mall, and a boutique where you can do your Christmas shopping early.
– By Val Patenaude, director of the Maple Ridge Museum. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/community/391064801.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/746473758f37e1b67885108f860c7e4c178448a41fa158b9a5707419403c07ea.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:14:19 | null | null | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will be well represented as 30 B.C. canoe and kayak athletes from six clubs go for gold. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fsports%2F391344001.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/68974mapleridgeStuart-Chase-Pitt-Meadows.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Paddlers going for gold at sprint championships | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Stuart Chase of the Pitt Meadows paddling club is part of a strong local contingent that will be competing at the nationals in Nova Scotia starting on Tuesday.
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will be well represented as 30 B.C. canoe and kayak athletes from six clubs go for gold at the 2016 Sprint Canoe Kayak Canadian Championships.
The B.C. athletes will compete at the championships in Dartmouth, N.S. from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4.
The athletes qualified for the championships following trials earlier this summer.
National team member Brian Malfesi of the Ridge Canoe and Kayak Club leads B.C. to Nova Scotia. Malfesi recently competed at the U23 World Championships where he was sixth. Earlier this spring he won silver at the Piestany International Regatta.
Joining him is Matthew Koehler also of the Ridge CKC, who competed at the Junior World Championships in July.
Seven other athletes are representing the Pitt Meadows Paddling Club and Ridge Canoe Kayak Club including Corey Stewart, Verna McNichol and Sebastian Sorescu. Stewart, the five time CKBC Para Athlete of the year from Pitt Meadows, is looking to beat his personal best times and medal.
Ridge’s Verna McNichol is the only woman in Western Canada competing in the masters category at the Canadian Championships. She is looking to have fun regardless of her placing. Teammate Sorescu’s goal is to medal in the team boats at the championships.
Other Pitt Meadows Paddling Club athletes are Stuart Chase and Shon Cottrill.
Maple Ridge is also represented by Alex Brent and Justin Won.
The Sprint Canoe Kayak Canadian Championships are hosted annually throughout Canada. 1,200 athletes from more than 40 clubs will travel to Dartmouth’s Lake Banook to compete to be considered the best sprint paddlers in Canada. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/sports/391344001.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/0638164e96739a376fd8ed88304475a446766744c9baaab9f66c7283351ccece.json |
[
"Mike Lascelle"
] | 2016-08-26T13:07:55 | null | null | On a recent tour of the Colony Farms Community Garden I was grinning from ear to ear. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Flifestyles%2F388563711.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/48989mapleridgeHikerPlanter.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | gardening: The little plant that could | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | At Colony Farms Community Garden, plot after plot was festooned with old rubber boots or hikers, even a copper tea kettle, planted with Hens and Chicks.
When I was a young boy, one of my favourite books to read was Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel.
The obvious attraction was that one of the heroes and I shared the same first name, but what really struck a chord was a storyline that taught me, in a world which often looks to take advantage of people, one could still put in a hard day’s work and make an honest living without exploiting others.
It is a core value that remains with me to this day and it illustrates the value of children’s literature to the well-being of our society – because without a few people working hard and looking out for others, community as we know it would simply not exist.
So whenever I stumble upon someone or something just quietly doing their job, it puts a smile on my face, and on a recent tour of the Colony Farms Community Garden I was grinning from ear to ear.
The sheer size and diversity of this growing space really impressed me. But what caught my eye was the unique displays of succulents in tiny containers, in particular Hens and Chicks. Also known as Sempervivum, this often overlooked evergreen perennial survives in the toughest of environments with the exception of overly moist, which causes it to rot.
Plot after plot was festooned with old rubber boots or hikers planted to the brim with brightly coloured Hens and Chicks, many of which were in bloom.
There was even an old tarnished copper kettle lashed to an entrance arbor with bright red Sempervivum spilling out of its lidless top.
In fact every nook and cranny seemed to have Hens and Chicks tucked into it and they could be found adorning recycled containers of every sort – including tea cups, children’s toys and retired leaky watering cans.
Their uses also go well beyond novelty planters as they are also grown extensively on green roofs and dry rockeries.
Over the years, I have seen several attractive evergreen wreaths created entirely from Hens and Chicks, with little but a ribbon flourish to set them off.
The foliage colour range is quite impressive, with bright lime greens, icy blues, hot reds and oranges, purples and even a greenish-yellow (verging on gold) being a possibility, depending on the season.
Individual plants will often flower after a few years, with starry clustered blooms of pink, white, red or yellow.
But you need to keep in mind that the parent plant dies after flowering, with the offsets (or chicks) quickly filling the empty void.
Sempervivum thrive on neglect and only require full sun (or sun for the most of the day), good drainage (particularly in winter) and lean watering. Fertilizing is not necessary, but I know gardeners who do to get them to fill in faster. Do not use a granular as it tends to get caught in the foliage and cause burning.
A better choice is an occasional liquid application of 20-20-20 (mixed at quarter strength), which is absorbed right through the leaf.
Cold winters are never a problem as most Hens and Chicks are Zone 3 hardy, meaning they survive in Winnipeg (need I say more?).
A few of my favourite species or cultivars include ‘Oddity’ (chiseled tubular leaves with purple tips), S. arachnoideum or Cobweb types, with fine white hairs that look like spiderwebs, and ‘Commander Hay,’ an AGM winner with red/green bicolor foliage.
So if you are looking for garden beauty without maintenance, then the hard-working Sempervivum is the plant for you.
– Mike Lascelle is a local nursery manager and gardening author (hebe_acer@hotmail.com). | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/lifestyles/388563711.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/44b3c40db4415781b32defee202df57ff67a463d33c54cb973d0bf466b5e5966.json |
[] | 2016-08-26T13:03:16 | null | null | Grants were awarded to 15 local groups and ranged between $300 and $1,850. | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Fentertainment%2F389661741.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/77630mapleridgeemeraldpigweb.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Arts council issues $12,500 in grants | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Fifteen Arts Council member groups were awarded $12,500 in total grant funding.
The grants were awarded by the ACT Arts Council and ranged between $300 to $1,850 for the groups to use towards their 2016/2017 seasons.
Recipients had to be members in good standing with the ACT Arts Council before an evaluation was done that examined the degree to which the project will address the vision and mission of the Arts Council in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, the artistic merit of the proposal, the credibility of the applicant organization and the assessment of prudent financial management.
Recipients:
• Emerald Pig Theatrical Society;
• Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival;
• Royal Canadian Theatre Company;
• Cinema Politica/Youth Vision Film Festival;
• Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Art Studio Tour;
• Specc-tacular Productions;
• Ridge Meadows Quilters’ Guild;
• Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Katzie Community Resource Fair;
• Garibaldi Arts Club of Maple Ridge;
• Maple Ridge Concert Band;
• Clear Focus Camera Club;
• Maple Ridge Historical Society;
• Odeum Theatre Society;
• Maple Ridge Choral Society;
• Ridge Meadows Recycling Society – LAST Committee.
Grants will be used to support professional development including presentations or workshops by professional artists, exhibitions and demonstrations, artist performance fees for community events and festivals, performance and music rights and fees, production costs and workshops, marketing and attendance at promotional events and improving branding and marketing materials. | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/entertainment/389661741.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/1bb340f8a36f042636e1b03e39f443a9c1dbdc5efbed2c112cab39944df19f70.json |
[
"Mike Lascelle"
] | 2016-08-26T13:07:12 | null | null | Unlike the local real estate prices, no one is going to be outbidding you for these spaces . | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleridgenews.com%2Flifestyles%2F386844551.html.json | http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/52070mapleridgeDingwalls.w.jpg?t=12345? | en | null | Gardening: Room to grow in Pitt Meadows | null | null | www.mapleridgenews.com | Erna and Bill Dingwall at the Pitt Meadows Community Garden.
With a pending book on edible plants, I have been spending a lot of time around community gardens looking for photo opportunities, and one in particular never fails to impress me.
In fact, the Pitt Meadows Community Garden is currently undergoing a major expansion – essentially doubling the plot numbers from 100 to 200, and despite a lengthy waiting list, it still have some available.
Unlike the local real estate prices, no one is going to be outbidding you for these spaces – which will cost a paltry $35 a year, plus a one-time $5 membership fee, the price being the same whether you’re a financial tycoon or a regular ‘Joe’ like me.
But the most egalitarian aspect of community gardening is that this is no passive investment, as you only get what you put in, with a little hard work and weeding, plus some cooperation from Mother Nature.
By virtue of that investment of time, I find that these gardens only attract the best of people – those who know the meaning and fulfillment of a good day’s work.
I had a chance to meet two such couples on my last visit, one being a long-time member and the other, relative newcomers.
Thomas and Prunella Quanking have been gardening here for about seven years. They and their grandchildren have side-by-side plots and, by the looks of them, you wouldn’t know that their 13 year-old grandson, Jordan Bradford, was in charge of one side – as they are both producing abundantly.
While their garden provides them with about 95 per cent of their summer vegetable needs, Jordan’s is a little more focused on blueberries and kale (for kale chips).
In fact, Thomas and I were discussing blueberries (particularly ‘Northland’, his new favourite) just a few days ago at the garden centre where I work.
Their garden plot is stuffed full with healthy herbs (chives, cilantro, thyme, rosemary), as well as heirloom tomatoes, orderly rows of Swiss chard and flowers for cutting such as zinnias and dahlias.
They grow here because they live in a townhouse, but they also enjoy gardening with their children and grandchildren.
Prunella appreciates the fact that no pesticides are allowed on site, ensuring that everything they harvest is organic. They also value the many friendships they have made here and the way the executive runs the community garden so smoothly – in essence, everyone seems to get along just fine.
The other couple, relative newcomers who I found tending their second garden in the new expansion (they also have one in the original section) was Erna and Bill Dingwall. They were weeding a healthy crop of potatoes while I asked them a few questions about why they garden here and how they enjoy it.
The answer to the first query is that their home is so full of ornamental plants that they have no room to grow edibles there.
The second plot came into play when they realized that they both wanted to share the gardening experience with their four grandchildren, whose ages range from 4 to 12.
They also had high praise for their fellow community gardeners, who are always giving plants or some kindly advice to help them along.
With its own greenhouse, honeybee hives (for pollination), bathroom, tool shed and shaded leisure area the Pitt Meadows Community Garden is kind of like the world’s coolest fort, but with vegetables growing all around it, and unlike most clubs with these sort of amenities, everyone is welcome.
• pmcommunitygarden.ca.
– Mike Lascelle is a local nursery manager and gardening author (hebe_acer@hotmail.com). | http://www.mapleridgenews.com/lifestyles/386844551.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.mapleridgenews.com/d6284cabded90c7501f8889a04fa04d378c80871f42298e16d610f75377c1611.json |
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