Over 700,000 in funding assigned to boost Castlebar and Ballina

Christmas has arrived with a good news story for two towns in Mayo with the news this week that a third round of funding for the regeneration of Castlebar and Ballina has been processed, with Castlebar receiving 444,0000 and Ballina receiving 300,000 towards enhancing both towns.

The funds were issued for administration to Mayo County Council by the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) Regional Assembly, which is directly managing the allocation of a 17.1m European Regional Development Funding available to five Gateway and five Hub Towns in the BMW Region

The funding towards the Castlebar Town Centre Regeneration Project has been tipped to boost business in the heart of Mayo’s county town, with Mayo county councillor Cyril Burke, chairman of the BMW Regional Assembly, stating: “I hope that the project, which is designed to significantly improve Castlebar’s Main Street, Castle Street and Linenhall Street, will encourage new businesses to open and make the area a more people-friendly environment in which to do business and engage in recreation.Bathroom Floor tiles at Great Prices from Topps Tiles.”

In relation to the 300,000 funding for Ballina, Cllr Burke added: “This project represents a significant strategic investment in Ballina and should give the town an economic and confidence boost. I would like to congratulate all those who were involved in the project.”

The Castlebar regeneration project is focused upon revitalising Mayo’s county town thDimensional Mailing magic cube for Promotional Advertising,rough a programme of town centre regeneration and streetscape refurbishment along with the development of the river walk as an amenity corridor.

A total of 1.1m has been provided by the Assembly towards the Castlebar project to date.

Director of the BMW Assembly Gerry Finn said: “We are delighted to have been in a position to provide financial support towards this strategic project in Castlebar. This project has the potential to make a valuable contribution to the sustainable economic development of Castlebar and we congratulate all those involved in this important project.”

The payment of 300,000 towards the Ballina Town Centre Regeneration Project brings the total paid to the town to date under the fund to 737,000. Funding has been provided for the refurbishment of Pearse Street along with improvements to the former provincial bank on Pearse Street to house the Jackie Clarke Library and Archives.

Mr Finn said the project would enhance Ballina town centre and encourage greater economic and social activity in the area.

He added: “Funding is provided by the Assembly from the BMW Regional Operational Programme under its Gateway and Hub Development Programme. This programme represents a strategic investment by the BMW Regional Assembly in the region’s Gateways and Hubs as identified in the National Spatial Strategy.An Air purifier is a device which removes contaminants from the air. In these constrained economic times it is vital that the development of the identified drivers of economic growth in our region continue to receive as much financial and strategic support as possible”.The Transaction Group offers the best high risk merchant account services,

The BMW Regional Operational Programme 2007-13 - part of Ireland’s EU Structural Funds Programme co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union -prioritises sustainable urban development in both the NSS Gateways and Hub towns. The objective of the ERDF co-financed Grants Scheme managed by the BMW Regional Assembly is to contribute to enhancing the attractiveness of the Gateways and Hub Towns as places to live, work and invest in, and to improving their development potential through enhancement of the economic, social and environmental conditions of the growth centre in support of both the Lisbon competitiveness objectives and the need to promote greater intra-regional balance in the interests of internal cohesion.Omega Plastics are leading plastic injection moulding and injection mould tooling specialists.

Local Authorities receiving support are required to provide 40 per cent non-borrowed match funding from their own resources.

Projects under the regeneration programme are targeted at urban development, transport, arts and infrastructure projects.

Alba armed robbery suspect leads Gaylord MSP troopers on chase

A 31-year-old armed robbery suspect from Mancelona,Polycore zentai are manufactured as a single sheet, accused of robbing an Alba business and fleeing in a stolen vehicle, was reportedly apprehended by troopers from the Gaylord Michigan State Police (MSP) post Saturday after he crashed his vehicle during a high speed chase.

The Gaylord MSP poThe same Air purifier, cover removed.st reported it had received a Be On Lookout (BOL) Saturday from the Antrim County Sheriff's Dept. (ACSD) who were looking for a male suspect involved in an armed robbery in Alba. He fled the scene in a black 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix which had been reported as stolen earlier in the day.

Troopers began searching the Alba area for the suspect vehicle and around 9:45 p.m. observed the vehicle in the Lakes of the North development.Welcome to the official Facebook Page about Ripcurl.Save on hydraulic hose and fittings, The suspect allegedly led troopers on a high speed chase in excess of 80 MPH.


The Mancelona man then lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree near the south entrance of the development at Mancelona Road.Has anyone done any research on making Plastic molding parts from scratch? The driver was reportedly unconscious when troopers approached the vehicle.

Troopers reported the driver was trapped inside and suffered serious injuries. Members of the Mancelona Township Fire Dept. used the Jaws of Life to extract the man.

Allied EMS, who treated his injuries at the scene began transport to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. While enroute to the hospital the suspect was turned over to North Flight EMS to be airlifted by helicopter to Munson.

In addition to injuries sustained in the crash troopers reported the driver had allegedly been injecting narcotics; possibly heroin, during the police pursuit. According to troopers the man was still clutching a syringe in his hand but the needle was embedded in his face.

Troopers, working with deputies from the ACSD, recovered the stolen money from the suspect and seized a needle and suspected heroin.

A MSP Accident Reconstructionist team from Traverse City investigated the traffic crash. Officers were assisted by deputies from the Otsego County Sheriff's Dept.

The suspect's name is being withheld pending arraignment on a variety of felony charges.

Bemidji churches offer helping hand

Bemidji churches offer helping hand


From ancient times, churches and their members have reached out in charity to help people in need.

Bemidji churches have responded to calls for mission to disaster areas and informal assistance when members and nonmembers face hard times.

In the last decade, several church outreach programs have become more formalized and organized than traditional responses.

Churches United

In 2002, a group of leaders from a variety of Bemidji churches joined in their awareness of people seeking financial aid. The church members didn't necessarily agree on doctrine or style of worship, but they agreed on the understanding of pervasive poverty.

A sign in the office at Mt. Zion Church states: "Churches United is not an entitlement program. Any help you receive is a gift from the Christian community."

"We might profess our faith differently or have a different idea of what God is," said Sarah Einerson, executive director of Churches United. "The one thing we can all believe on is part of Christianity is helping those in need."

Now, 26 churches have adopted the Churches United logo ¨C "Welcoming the Stranger as Jesus" ¨C and donate at least $1 per member per year, although Einerson said most contribute more.

In addition, 17 volunteers who are members of the participating churches help out in the Churches United office, interviewing those seeking help, managing paperwork and organizing in-kind donations of clothing and household goods.

The organization started with Executive Director Dottie Moen in a tiny office in St. Philip's Catholic Church, which offered no privacy for those coming in with requests, let alone storage. The office now is in Mt. Zion Church in Nymore and storage is in rented space.

In 2010, Churches United provided money for food, fuel, utility bills, gasoline and other emergency necessities to 1,511 individual men and women and 1,013 families, including 1,913 children. All this on a budget of $50,000 a year.

Einerson said the assistance is meant to be a stop-gap, emergency outreach, so sometimes she has to say no to a request.

"We try not to let people leave empty handed," she said, so everyone receives a lunch bag and water, even if not the cash requested.

"Right now, the need is utility assistance. We've seen a little bit of a rise in the need for groceries," she said. "Gas to make it from paycheck to paycheck."

And the Churches United office, which is open from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, is busy with requests.

"We can see 20 people a day in four hours," Einerson said.

Last week, one of the clients was a 44-year-old woman who had had several rotator cuff operations and needed more surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. She had four grown children at home and needed utilities assistance. She asked that her name not be used.

"My kids are my life," she said.

She said she used to be a cook, but can't hold a job any longer because of her disabilities. Asking for help is difficult for her, she said.

"Sometimes I don't want to, but I have to," she said.

Einerson said that was a common reaction, especially with men.

"Men are more prideful," she said. "They say, 'I wish I didn't have to do this. I wish I wasn't here.'"

Einerson said she and the volunteers, as church agents, can be more personal, while respecting clients' privacy, than other helping organizations. For example, she said she can point out to someone needing gas money, but also smoking, that the cost of a few of packs of cigarettes would buy a few gallons of gasoline.

"We can say, when the other agencies can't, 'Are you out looking for a job?'" she said.

In spite of the recession and widespread need for assistance, Einerson said positive notes include no drop in donations and Churches United has a firm place in the community. The agency receives referrals from other organizations and, in turn, suggests other resources to clients.

"We know what we are capable of," she said. "We just need more help from the community to do more."

Servants of Shelter

Four years ago,What are the top Hemroids treatments? a group of people became concerned that the board of directors at the homeless shelter, at that time Ours to Serve House of Hospitality, decided to become a family-only facility. Where would the homeless singles go for shelter?

They tried an experiment of asking churches to provide overnight accommodations and meals for people from Nov. 1 through March 30. In four-hour shifts, pairs of volunteers sit up with the guests to ensure everyone's safety.

"That's when it starts to get really cold, the dangerous months for people to be outside," said Michelle Sheets, one of the SOS organizers. "We knew we couldn't commit to all year."

The people needing shelter register at BiCAP, Churches United and, on weekends, Village of Hope. These agencies conduct background checks because the program does not admit registered sex offenders, although there is no check on other criminal records or warrants. SOS can accommodate 20 people a night.

Employees at Anderson Fabrics in Blackduck donated and upholstered heavy-duty foam mattresses, and the host churches provide bedding, supper, breakfast, a sack lunch and bus tokens for the guests to return the next evening. Zoning ordinances allow the sheltering for six consecutive nights per site. Super 8 motel offers the guests showers.

"Our church (Calvary Chapel) is part of that program," said Super 8 General Manager J.J. Emanuel. "It's nice they can come in and spend 45 minutes-half an hour freshening up and feeling human."

Donations furnished an enclosed trailer for bringing the mattresses from church to church.

He said most churches have no shower facilities, and Super 8 has housekeeping staff on hand.

Sheets said 14 churches hosted guests last winter with four more churches participating with donations and volunteers.

The guests check in at 4 p.m., have supper and get settled in. Breakfast is at 8 a.m., when they receive their sack lunch and leave for the day.

"We also try to refer them to agencies that can help them," Sheets said.

The goal, Sheets said, is to find a day shelter as spending the day outside is a hardship during cold weather.

"We haven't been able to have a day program because we haven't had enough volunteers," she said.

Peoples Church

Peoples Church is a multicultural mission congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with a special emphasis on outreach to people living in poverty.

Ten years ago, the Rev. Bob Kelly and his wife, nurse Carol Kelly, were moved by the spiritual and medical needs of the poor and homeless in the Bemidji area. As a result, they started an outreach ministry to the poor.

The church is now governed by a seven-member board with Bob Kelly as CEO and Carol Kelly as parish nurse. Associate Pastor Martha Levine has also joined the team.

As listed on the Peoples Church website, the outreach includes offers a variety ministries:

E Hospitality ¨C "It is our duty and our joy to reach out with open hands and hearts. In Hebrews, we are reminded that in showing hospitality to our brothers and sisters we 'entertain angels unawares.'"

E Fishing ¨C "Peoples Church offers a variety of venues for fishing including a pontoon boat. When the weather permits, every Friday we have a cook-out on the shore of Lake Bemidji followed by a fishing excursion on the Peoples Church Pontoon."

E Housing ¨C "In inclement weather and especially in winter, Peoples Church opens up its sanctuary to the homeless."

E Foot Ministry ¨C "In John 13 we read that Jesus took off his outer garments and tied a towel around himself. Then he performed the role of the lowliest house slave, washing the feet of everyone present with him at his final Passover meal. We re-enact this moment from Christ's ministry among us to remind ourselves that Jesus took every opportunity to show us what true servant-hood is."

E Bike Ministry ¨C "One of our Board members, Dr. Dianne Pittman, has been the guiding force behind setting up a program for putting people who need them for basic transportation around Bemidji on bicycles." She collects and rehabilitates bicycles for the use of anyone who needs transportation.

E Parish Health Shalom Ministry ¨C "We have on our ministry team a registered nurse, Carol Kelly, who serves the county as a home health care specialist. She can identify health issues and make referrals."

E Bible Circle ¨C "We explore the Word of God as it pertains to our own lives and our personal spirituality."

E Nature Crafting ¨C "Our newest ministry, and one that we believe will have a great impact on the future of our church, as well as help ministries of other churches, is our Nature Craft Ministry. Using the bounty of the northwest Minnesota forests, we offer individuals in the area the opportunity to sell the many craft items they already know how to make."

From ancient times, churches and their members have reached out in charity to help people in need.

Bemidji churches have responded to calls for mission to disaster areas and informal assistance when members and nonmembers face hard times.

In the last decade, several church outreach programs have become more formalized and organized than traditional responses.

Churches United

In 2002, a group of leaders from a variety of Bemidji churches joined in their awareness of people seeking financial aid. The church members didn't necessarily agree on doctrine or style of worship, but they agreed on the understanding of pervasive poverty.

A sign in the office at Mt. Zion Church states: "Churches United is not an entitlement program. Any help you receive is a gift from the Christian community."

"We might profess our faith differently or have a different idea of what God is," said Sarah Einerson, executive director of Churches United. "The one thing we can all believe on is part of Christianity is helping those in need."

Now, 26 churches have adopted the Churches United logo ¨C "Welcoming the Stranger as Jesus" ¨C and donate at least $1 per member per year, although Einerson said most contribute more.

In addition, 17 volunteers who are members of the participating churches help out in the Churches United office, interviewing those seeking help, managing paperwork and organizing in-kind donations of clothing and household goods.

The organization started with Executive Director Dottie Moen in a tiny office in St. Philip's Catholic Church, which offered no privacy for those coming in with requests, let alone storage. The office now is in Mt. Zion Church in Nymore and storage is in rented space.buy landscape oil paintings online.

In 2010, Churches United provided money for food, fuel, utility bills, gasoline and other emergency necessities to 1,511 individual men and women and 1,013 families, including 1,913 children. All this on a budget of $50,000 a year.

Einerson said the assistance is meant to be a stop-gap, emergency outreach, so sometimes she has to say no to a request.

"We try not to let people leave empty handed," she said, so everyone receives a lunch bag and water, even if not the cash requested.

"Right now,we supply all kinds of oil painting reproduction, the need is utility assistance. We've seen a little bit of a rise in the need for groceries," she said. "Gas to make it from paycheck to paycheck."

And the Churches United office, which is open from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, is busy with requests.

"We can see 20 people a day in four hours," Einerson said.

Last week,Houston-based Quicksilver Resources said Friday it had reached pipeline deals one of the clients was a 44-year-old woman who had had several rotator cuff operations and needed more surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. She had four grown children at home and needed utilities assistance. She asked that her name not be used.

"My kids are my life," she said.

She said she used to be a cook, but can't hold a job any longer because of her disabilities. Asking for help is difficult for her, she said.

"Sometimes I don't want to, but I have to," she said.

Einerson said that was a common reaction, especially with men.

"Men are more prideful," she said. "They say, 'I wish I didn't have to do this. I wish I wasn't here.'"

Einerson said she and the volunteers, as church agents, can be more personal, while respecting clients' privacy, than other helping organizations. For example, she said she can point out to someone needing gas money, but also smoking, that the cost of a few of packs of cigarettes would buy a few gallons of gasoline.

"We can say, when the other agencies can't,Use bluray burner to burn video to BD DVD on blu ray burner disc. 'Are you out looking for a job?'" she said.

In spite of the recession and widespread need for assistance, Einerson said positive notes include no drop in donations and Churches United has a firm place in the community. The agency receives referrals from other organizations and, in turn, suggests other resources to clients.

"We know what we are capable of," she said. "We just need more help from the community to do more."

AndyPad brings iPad-like performance for under 250, claims owner

Is there really a market for budget tablets? The makers of the AndyPad tablet think there is and they're out to grab themselves a piece of the action with a sub-250 Android-powered tablet that doesn't scrimp on quality.

Andy Kerry, Mattressman MD, unveiled his plans for the aptly named AndyPad this week.

One thing he forgot to mention, however,Choose from one of the major categories of Bedding, was what kind of spec of the device would be packing when it launches.

So what,Save on hydraulic hose and fittings, exactly, does bedding have to do with tablets? Nothing,Full color plastic card printing and manufacturing services. as it goes.This page list rubber hose products with details & specifications. But this hasn't stopped Kerry from pushing forward with the AndyPad plan.

According to reports, Kerry says the AndyPad will be differentiated from the competition by offering a wide range of 'popular' free apps that can be installed out of the box.

The guys over at Modaco seem to think that the AndyPad will run Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).

Modaco also got a sneak peek at the device and says it's a 7-inch affair with HDMI, microUSB and microSD with hardware buttons below the tablet's setback screen.

Know Your Mobile exclusively spoke to AndyPad's Business Development Executive, George Eastmead, who told us the following:

'As there's so many tablets out there, we found it hard to believe that no one had done what we're about to do before: build a tablet that is both affordable and of a decent quality!'

He added: 'I can't reveal too many of the specs straight away, but I can confirm that the Andy Pad will feature a competitive processor, 1080p HD out and be able to run the latest 3D games. This is going to be THE tablet for the guy who wants an iPad, but can't afford it.Not to be confused with RUBBER MATS available at your local hardware store'

On pricing Eastmead added: "I can confirm that the Andy Pad will be less expensive than the Advent Vega was at launch [250]. The Andy Pad has been built with quality in mind straight from day one. The Andy Pad will compete with the lowest prices out there, but offer a much higher spec and build quality than ALL of its rivals."

The firm's press release for the device states that the AndyPad is not named after its creator (although, we can see why they'd want to clear that up) but instead take its name from Google's Android platform moniker.

Unfortunately, this still doesn't change the fact that it's called 'The AndyPad.'

The press release also confirms that the AndyPad will be in the UK by September and will 'transform the tablet PC universe¡­'

Big words, indeed. Lets just hope the AndyPad steps up to the challenge and delivers on its promise.