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Much Ado about Nothing - Part 3
By James Lester SOLE MBE
Abridged by Bob Sheldon
This article was originally published in the April 2004 edition of Soul Search, the journal of The Sole Society
Jim arrived home after twenty months RAF service in Australia to find his wife Grace 'standing on the threshold and already holding back the tears. She looked very thin, very tired but, so beautiful. The next few days I spent finding out exactly how badly Grace was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. If only I had known just how bad Grace was I could certainly have got a compassionate posting home, but my obstinate wife had refused [to tell me]'.
With Grace now in a wheelchair the house in Margate which stood on a hill was not suitable and the family moved to Birchington. This gave Jim a five mile journey four times a day to and from his former job at the Margate Borough Council. Unfortunately for him after only one month he was knocked off his cycle by a taxi and he broke his collarbone and injured his leg, but 'I did not have to miss any work time.'
Living at the seaside the summer holidays were the focal point of the year. 'Nephews and nieces descended on us in force. What did it matter if some beds were makeshift or if meals were taken at queer times and in queer places. Every year a Carnival would take place, and many large floats would parade round the town in a very long procession. On some memorable occasions there would be a circus visiting town at the same time and the atmosphere was wonderful. I am writing this on my eighty-seventh birthday and can close my eyes and bring to life those halcyon days of which time has improved the memory.'
'During 1947 some Royal Air Force head-hunters called on me. The Government was setting up what they called Fighter Control Units, one for each county, . . . and they wanted me to start as Training Officer for the Kent unit. Expenses were paid and these would help appreciably as Grace's treatments were quite expensive. So I went ahead and agreed. I often had misgivings after that as to whether . . . I should have devoted more time at home. I was promoted to Squadron Leader, and when the Commanding Officer left a year or so later, promoted to CO and made Wing Commander.'
As the RAF became more and more demanding, Jim's employers were extremely good in letting him take time off for his duties both home and away and for the growing number of social functions which as CO he was obliged to attend. 'Grace went with me to all these affairs she could attend, though some of them – such as visiting ships where physical activity was concerned – had to be avoided by her. I , too, had to hold some social functions, and at these she acted as hostess, which she did graciously.'
There was one social function which Jim recalls with some humour, this was a fancy dress ball. 'I took my staff car with Grace and two other officers and their wives and we hadn't gone more than a mile when the car broke down. I was Wee Willie Winkie with long flannel nightgown, long tasselled night-cap and candleholder with lighted candle. Grace was a witch with long black dress, tall pointed hat and false long nose with wart and hair! Henry Sowerbutts was dressed as Beau Brummel and his wife as Nell Gwynn and Leslie Rose was dressed as Norman Wisdom (a film comedian) and his wife as Little Bo Peep. We could not turn the car round so we began to push it backward. Henry lived close by so we decided to push the car to his house and take his vehicle. . . . we heard a car coming towards us. The car stopped and two big policeman got out and came over to us. They listened very politely to our explanation . . . we all had the giggles trying to explain . . . and in the end one of the policemen drove his car in front of us and the other gave help in pushing the car. Two or three days later I received a letter from the Chief Superintendent of Police warning me he was sending the papers on this case to the Director of Prosecutions. Charges pending were reversing without lights; driver seemed incapable; inadequate lighting of vehicle (my candle was on top of the car unlit). I replied to the letter and told the Chief he would never be invited to another cocktail party.'
'Then occurred something which caused quite a stir in all our lives. We had been away for a few days over Christmas, staying with Grace's sister. When we arrived home we found a lot of telegrams and letters on the hall floor and I discovered that I had been awarded the MBE. Sir Anthony Eden was then our Honorary Air Commodore and he had wired asking me to see him so that he could congratulate me personally. The award was in the Military Division and very rare to regular officers let alone reserve personnel. I was completely taken by surprise and had no idea or hint of what was coming. A ridiculous fuss was made in the local papers and I received a lot of mail from all over the country. The award was really earned by my Unit, and I had a full parade and told them so. Grace and I found ourselves being invited to all sorts of affairs and turned a lot of them down. It was a lot of baloney really and eventually the dust settled.
The day came for Jim to receive his MBE from the Queen. 'I was only allowed two guests to attend actually inside the Palace and inevitably decided that Gina, being the eldest daughter, and Grace should be the two. The room in which the ceremony was to be performed was called the Blue and Gold Ballroom. The band was playing on one of the balconies. We were lined up, in full uniform and medals, and one at a time taken to the Queen, who stood with her attendants and officers on a large stage at one end of the room. Eventually it came to my turn and she presented the award and had a very short conversation with me. The Commanding Officer of Manston had lent me his staff car for the occasion, as it was larger than my own. About a fortnight later I received an invitation to a garden party at the Palace and took Grace and several of my officers with me.'
'Responsibility for the Unit had been heavy. During 1954 I was taking part in an exercise over Kent during which we were intercepting heavy bombers. It was 2am when I was demonstrating to a group of officers how interceptions were carried out when my fighter, which I was using to intercept a target, vanished from the air and from the screen. Shortly we had news of a crash on a hill in north Kent. Both pilot and navigator were killed in a horrendous explosion. About seven days later a Board of Inquiry was held at Manston and I was duly called . . . this was only one step below a Court Martial. When one is the chief suspect (as I obviously was) one gets all kinds of morbid thoughts. However I was able to prove, by means of radio telephone logs that I had warned the pilot he was too low several times and he had ignored my instructions to climb higher. Result (as far as I know) pilot error.'
Life for the family continued uneventfully. Both daughters attended grammar school in Canterbury, a seventeen mile journey each way and Jim tried to help with their homework 'but it was obvious that I would soon be left far behind in the intellectual stakes. But I was able – by considerable bluff and clever evasion – to conceal my ignorance of physics and algebra, etc., for a reasonable period.' The family acquired a dog Bessie (an Airedale bitch) who eventually had seven black and tan puppies 'all over the house . . . none in the snug home we had prepared under the stairs.' Despite the growing weakness and frailty of Grace she surprised them all when she insisted on going on a camping holiday touring Devon and Cornwall. Despite the bad weather most of the time it was a successful venture and they went camping in tents and motor campers many times after that.
'We were now well into the late fifties and the Unit, along with others throughout the country was due to be disbanded in 1957. In a way I was not sorry. I had felt for some time that I had too much on my plate and was neglecting my family to some extent, so this news pleased me.'
'Grace was as stable health wise as she would ever be. Susan was doing well at school and Gina had got her first job. The dog was well and I had been truly bitten again by the fishing bug. To add to all this we had decided to move back to Margate in 1959. Gina had developed a deep friendship with Anthony and they suddenly sprung the news on us that they wished to get married and emigrate to New Zealand. It sent us into a turmoil and . . . at once the whole tenor of our lives changed. After a hectic few months Gina and Anthony got married from our home and within eight months left England for New Zealand . . . among the first emigrants to fly to their destination.'
'Then I took what was, for me, a momentous step. I bought a car. It was a Hillman model called "Gaylook" and was miles ahead of its time. The engine was marvellous and the bodywork good, the only fault being a lot of small rust holes round the bottom of the body and doors.' Jim did his own repair job and 'we were all thrilled with it. About a fortnight later I . . . left the car in a parking space whilst I did some shopping. I went back and found that a very large lorry had backed into the front of my car. The body work was not damaged but the lorry had got its front bumper over my back one and the driver could not get them apart. Eventually he did . . . cause it to jerk itself free . . . except the sudden jerk caused all the fibreglass to fall out, leaving clean bright holes giving the impression that the car had had all its teeth extracted. The firm who owned the lorry sent me a letter of apology and a cheque for £50.'
They decided to drive in their new car to Spain for a camping holiday. By this time Susan was going steady with Rod and all four of them for the ferry journey to France. They had an exciting journey through France and over the Pyrenees. They had a bit of trouble making themselves understood for example in buying milk. 'I shall always remember how Rod and I charged around the shop with our fingers alongside our ears, trying to imitate a cow. To make it more lifelike we mooed!' They eventually arrived at the Barcelona camp site only to be 'eaten alive by mosquitoes' but it was an enjoyable holiday despite Jim having a slight altercation with an officer in the Spanish army at a bull fight. 'This lad got fed up with my reluctance to enthuse and finally asked me outright what I thought of the bullfight. I told him that we had a much quicker, and my opinion, more civilised way of killing bulls. He was furious . . . and studiously ignored me for the rest of the tedious and cruel performance.' They went for many holidays after this one but with the pulling a caravan with the improved comfort compared with the tents.
Sue and Rod were married and as Rod had joined the Police Force and was stationed in London Jim and Grace were left in 'what seemed an empty house. We were hearing frequently from Gina and always her letters assumed we were going to join them after my retirement.'
'Fishing was my overwhelming interest . . . and three of us founded a new fishing club . . . which after a few months attracted about three hundred members with something like forty boats between us.' I was President of this Club for six years and we had a very successful time . . . and gaining a national reputation.' A founder member of the club was Felix the owner of a large fresh fish shop in Margate. He died and in his will he asked to be cremated and his ashes strewn on the sea at his favourite fishing spot. 'Arrangements were made. I was to say a few words and then deposit the ashes in the sea. On the day the weather was dreadful . . . I was tempted to cancel the whole affair . . . but we decided to carry on . . . and after a few minutes most of the mourners looked as though they wished they had never started. I shouted a few appropriate words and threw the ashes all over Felix's wife and family – in generous though not equal portions. Just as I had lifted the small urn . . . a huge gust of wind had swept the remains inboard. When we landed and all adjourned to our headquarters I apologised to all concerned. I even helped brush the remains of Felix off his wife's dress. Ted (my fishing crony) remarked very unkindly, I thought, "That's not the first time Felix got the brush off from his wife".'
Changes were happening at work with the restructuring of Margate Council in readiness for the planned amalgamation of all local authorities in the early 1970's. 'I came out of it with a very nice salary increase and an enormous widening of my responsibilities. I changed my car for a more powerful model and also bought a small caravan. They were wonderful times and Grace's handicaps and pains often faded into the background as we went everywhere we could, and did everything we could together. Suddenly I found myself considering my retirement in months. We had always assumed we would go to New Zealand . . . and it hit us that we were proposing to leave our younger daughter and her family . . . not to mention Grace's sisters and relatives. We both began to wonder whether we were doing the right thing.'
However, after Sue and Rod had stated their intention to also emigrate to NZ in due course, plans proceeded and there were a succession of farewell parties and some pressure from his employers to stay on a few years. 'It was too late to make alterations, and in any case we would be silly to miss the chance of what would be a new life. I will not deny I was disappointed not to be able to take a plum job at the council, but then thought of the sacrifices my wife had made all her life . . . and it seemed paltry to even consider going against her wishes.'
'We hired a large car and Rod and Sue drove us to Southampton where we embarked on the "Australis"' en route for New Zealand.
NEW ZEALAND (To be concluded)
Return to The Sole Society Home Page


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Putting Bold Makeup Claims to the Test
I'm guilty of impulse purchases at the drugstore (candy, household items, etc.) but my greatest weakness is beauty products. I'm a sucker for the bold marketing claims companies plaster on their packaging, so I put six products to the test to see if they really lift, plump and ...read more

subset: commoncrawl


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This past weeks Yes No argument was one for the books. It was a very difficult topic to understand so much of the material I had read had escaped me when we started the argument. However, after the argument started and seeing the Yes sides argument I started to notice that the problem we were discussing was much more wicked than I had anticipated. Technically, the government was involved in both parties and that made both arguments invalid, which I thought was pretty funny.
The end of the 11th hour was a eye opening experience. I enjoyed the movie as a whole, seeing the adverse effects that we have as humans on our environment. I was glad to see that so many people had came together to make the video we all enjoyed this past 4 weeks. Overall I would say that the solutions presented in the video offer many roads for discussion. They were not all the same they were each different coming from different perspectives which was something that helped me think outside the box and look at different possibilities. Not only did the video inform me on the problems we face in our environment it also showed me how urgent each one of them is. Stating that this is the 11th hour 59 minutes in and we are at the 59th second before 12 o clock strikes. That painted an extremely vivid picture, climate change is a problem we let get too far ahead before thinking about doing something about it. Unfortunately it seems we are too far in to do something yet, whether we know it or not our government is doing something about it.
This course was an extremely interesting course. The way it was set up made me challenge my mind in ways I hadnt thought possible. From the meditations to the fast pace of the course I was challenged from start to finish. I enjoyed the bean bag chairs as it added a nice touch to the class. Most college courses are done sitting in desks and I thought it was very fitting of a DHM class to have chairs just as creative as the students in it. I enjoyed this class and would recommend it to others with an importance on doing the work and actually coming to class prepared. Im sad that it is coming to an end because I do not think that I will have another class as interesting as this one.


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The leading peer-reviewed journal for digital medicine, and health & healthcare within the Web age. ACLS for medical professionals is the following stage of training that builds on the individuals' prior certification in CPR/AED and Basic Life Help skills. ACLS training expands on the medical professional's current data of cardiac-event preparedness by educating advanced abilities akin to defibrillation, administering IV medicine and drug protocols, intubation and EKG and ECG evaluation.
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Half III explores how one can use knowledge to inform your curriculum planning, outlines the eight steps for curriculum growth, and shows you find out how to design meaningful assessments. In part IV, you learn how to create a constructive learning atmosphere, implement a skills-primarily based strategy, and meet the distinctive wants of elementary health education. Finally, partly V, you examine pertinent topics past the classroom, including professional development, advocacy, and cross-curricular connections.
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Rochester Police Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Incident
Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A Rochester man was killed Sunday night after being struck by a pickup truck near the Hy-Vee Barlow store.
A police department spokesman says the 61-year-old man was walking across the street when he was struck around 9:40 p.m. in the 1300 block of Civic Center Dr NW.
A police spokesman says the man may have fallen before he was struck by a pickup truck. The man died at the scene. He has been identified as Leslie Kruegel of Rochester. He lived several blocks away from where he was killed.
Charges are not expected to be filed against the 24-year-old Rochester man who was driving the truck.
That one time I was a super dumb 18 year old boy story with two equally dough-headed endings. Click HERE or the picture.


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WUI in the News
Here you can find current news articles about wildland-urban interface issues in the U.S. and abroad. Please note that while Interface South maintains news archives for reference, the links may no longer be active. You may need to contact the source or host website for more information.
Mar 2004 contains 61 News Articles.
Babies on Board! Springtime Brings Extra Concerns for Wildlife, Says Fund for Animals
PRNewswire - 30 Mar 2004
This time of year, people may think they're home alone until they hear ghostly scratching noises coming from the attic, or chirping sounds resonating from the chimney. It's baby season! Springtime is when many wild animals take advantage of holes in attics, uncapped chimneys, and openings under sheds to raise their young.
Maine likely to ban MTBE
Portland Press Herald, ME - 29 Mar 2004
Maine is one of 17 states that either have MTBE bans or are considering them, years after the additive was discovered to be contaminating water supplies. MTBE has been detected in hundreds of public water supplies in 28 states, including, as of 1998, 16 percent of public water supplies in Maine. Thousands more private wells have been tainted with the substance, a potential carcinogen that even in tiny amounts makes water taste like turpentine.
Old growth, new junk
Bremerton Sun, WA - 29 Mar 2004
While providing a nature haven in the middle of an urban environment, the park has again become a private dumping ground for a few law-breakers. Controlling illegal dumping has been a problem since the county took over the land from the Department of Natural Resources in 2001.
Battle lines formed over growth plan
The News-Press, FL - 29 Mar 2004
Hometown democracy or ballot-box planning? That's the debate being sparked over a proposed amendment to the state's constitution that puts certain land-use decisions in the hands of voters.
Alabama congressman explores why environmental damage hampers poor most
al.com - 28 Mar 2004
The freshman congressman says he is keeping an open mind as he launches an environmental justice tour and symposium next month, but he rejects the idea that landfills, coal mines or polluting businesses are necessary in poor neighborhoods to spark economic growth.
EPA investigating pollution levels around former Picayune plant
Sun-Herald, MS - 28 Mar 2004
It could be years before EPA officials understand what risks, if any, the site represents to the community. However, a report shows soils and waters both at the site and in nearby properties are contaminated with wood-treating chemicals.
Within easy urban reach, a small patch of the wild
Boston Globe, MA - 28 Mar 2004
Hall's Pond is Brookline's first land conservation purchase and one of the Boston area's finest examples of green-space restoration. Hall's Pond reflects a national trend, as small patches of the wild are being nurtured and preserved -- not as formal parks or playing fields, but as pristine natural environments that don't require a two-hour drive for urban residents to enjoy.
Pollution and the Slippery Meaning of 'Clean'
New York Times, NY - 28 Mar 2004
What makes the notion of clean so slippery is the relative newness of the idea of decontaminating industrial sites and the unpalatable truth that treating pollution, even rendering it harmless, almost never means getting rid of it. The sin, once committed, cannot be entirely undone, and this is something no one really wants to hear.
Regional conservation plan aims for coordinated effort
Kansas City Star, MO - 27 Mar 2004
Instead of patchwork management, area planners are developing a coordinated effort to boost preservation and restoration of natural systems in greenways, parks and development projects.
San Gabriel River due for major revitalization
Pasadena Star-News, CA - 27 Mar 2004
New master plan brightens future of area waterway. The plan outlines 134 projects dealing with natural vegetation, wildlife, recreation, open space, flood protection and water quality. These projects start at the Cogswell Dam in the Angeles National Forest and end at Seal Beach, 58 miles away.
CCX Members Commit to Cutting Emissions
GreenBiz.com - 26 Mar 2004
Members of the Chicago Climate Exchange have committed to cutting their carbon emissions by 4% by 2006. CCX have made the commitment to prove that, despite there being no binding emission reduction targets in the U.S., companies can strive to mitigate climate change nonetheless.
This forest was purposely set on fire to help keep blazes in check
Idaho Statesman, ID - 25 Mar 2004
The pair of elk marching down a partially snow-covered hillside near Grimes Creek Wednesday didn´t seem to care about the helicopter above them, setting the forest on fire. But the fire was being set for the benefit of the elk, several homes to the east of the hillside and everything else in the surrounding forest, including the trees.
Land conservation program expands in Pennsylvania
Environmental News Network - 24 Mar 2004
Under the Ohio River Basin Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, western Pennsylvania farmers would be paid to allow the land to revert to native grasses and vegetation, which helps prevent erosion.
Climate Debate Gets Its Icon: Mt. Kilimanjaro
New York Times, NY - 23 Mar 2004
Kilimanjaro, the storied mountain that rises nearly four miles above the shimmering plains of Tanzania, is beginning to resemble the spotted owl - at least in the way it has become a two-sided icon in an environmental debate.
Turning the Kalamazoo from a river choked by pollution to one with clean, clear waters
Environmental News Network - 23 Mar 2004
The river is much cleaner now, mostly because of stricter federal guidelines for industrial discharges and wastewater treatment enacted in the late 1960s and 1970s. But it is by no means pollution-free.
Council: Tree Study A 'Wake Up Call' For Town
Leesburg Today, VA - 23 Mar 2004
According to a study by American Forests that was presented to the town council Monday night, Leesburg's tree canopy has declined by 71 percent in the decade from 1992 to 2001. In the same time period, a 23 percent reduction in open space and a 112 percent increase in urban area was reported, according to the study, which was conducted at no cost to the town.
Survey finds builders lax on avoiding soil erosion
Portland Press Herald, ME - 23 Mar 2004
Nearly half of Maine construction sites violate the soil erosion laws that protect lakes and streams from pollution, according to a state survey.
Bill seeks testing for home wells
Poughkeepsie Journal, NY - 22 Mar 2004
Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, a Democrat from Long Island, has proposed a bill requiring all private wells in New York be tested for a variety of contaminants whenever a home is sold. The bill closely resembles a New Jersey law. New Jersey environmental officials said recently they found 8 percent of tested wells failed to meet health-based standards for drinking water contaminants, mostly excessive nitrates or bacteria.
Pollution threatens rural water supplies
Dayton Daily News, OH - 22 Mar 2004
The ongoing study focuses on Clark County, but Ohio water experts say the conditions there are the same throughout the state: Rural drinking water supplies are being polluted by sources such as agricultural runoff and failing septic tanks.
Rural area poses test on growth
The Oregonian, OR - 22 Mar 2004
This transformation from clearing to metropolis is at the crux of a modern debate: whether to choose permanent barriers to growth. An ordinance being considered this spring at Metro, the Portland area's regional government, would stop southward development by protecting land south of the Willamette River and west of the Pudding River. Some leaders want to consider other stopping points, such as Sauvie Island or the Sandy River.
South Lido Park returning to nature
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - 22 Mar 2004
For the next year, George Tatge is god of South Lido Park. Tatge is the man overseeing an environmental restoration of the 100-acre park, cutting out invasive species, planting native ones and smoothing and sloping the land so water sheets across the ground as it used to before mankind meddled with it.
Crusade in Orange turns focus on sludge
Durham Herald Sun, NC - 21 Mar 2004
Nancy Holt is tired of the health problems she and her neighbors in the Oak Grove community have experienced of late. Holt believes that sludge, also known as biosolids, sprayed on nearby farm fields is to blame. Holt has locally led efforts calling for increased oversight and investigation into just how safe the practice of using treated solid waste as fertilizer is.
City officials to use innovative planting method
Idaho State Journal, ID - 21 Mar 2004
It's an urban arborist's dilemma. Trees make a downtown shady and scenic, but their roots break up sidewalks. With help from the Pocatello Tree Commission, city officials believe they've found a solution. It's called structured soil.
Environmental and government groups tell gardeners to go native
Penn Live, PA - 21 Mar 2004
Nonnative plants in a back yard or flower bed may look lovely, like purple loosestrife, or smell divine, like the honeysuckle vine, but they can choke out wildflowers and other plants that are native to the area, said Susan Munch, an Albright College associate biology professor.
Residents want authority to power sewage pumps
Carlisle Sentinel, PA - 20 Mar 2004
Of 120 homes in the controversial South Mountain Estates project, 12 lie so low that they need pumps to move liquid waste from the tank to the main line. The residents have asked Cumberland Franklin Joint Municipal Authority to pay for the cost.
Fresh studies support new mass extinction theory
Environmental News Network - 19 Mar 2004
Fears that Earth is undergoing a mass species wipe-out similar to that which destroyed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago gained new ground Thursday with the publication of two British studies.
Can green space, southern loop co-exist?
Daily Times, TN - 18 Mar 2004
They talked about promoting a consolidated urban environment, preserving green space, promoting tourism, recruiting "clean industry,'' ensuring clean water and clean air and maintaining the quality of life of the region. So can the Southern Loop, a loosely planned bypass that would cut across the southern part of the county, be compatible with those progressive ideals?
Satellite imagery to help fight wildfires
Denver Business Journal, CO - 18 Mar 2004
Space Imaging Corp. said March 18 it is teaming with a Boulder fire management consulting company to offer a community fire hazards and risk assessment program to help firefighters and planners make better decisions.
New York may join growing number of states banning backyard trash burns
Environmental News Network - 17 Mar 2004
New York may join a growing number of states that ban the burning of household and farm trash in backyard barrels, as physicians and environmentalists argue the practice releases harmful toxins into the air.
Ecology restoration boosts region's economy, study finds
Sacramento Bee, CA - 17 Mar 2004
The study found that natural resources restoration work generated more than $65 million between 1995 and 2002 in the North Coast county - mostly from contracts and grants from state and federal agencies. It has spawned a complex, well-coordinated network of groups dedicated to reinvesting in ecosystem health, said Mark Baker, author of the 60-page report.
Goat project gets final OK
Payson Roundup, AZ - 16 Mar 2004
After a decades-long absence, goats will once again be grazing in the Tonto National Forest. Final approval has been granted to use the bearded herbivores to reduce fuel levels on 1,400 to 1,600 acres of forest land south and southeast of Payson.
Soaring sewer fees discourage growth
Belleville News-Democrat, IL - 15 Mar 2004
Exorbitant costs of connecting to the Caseyville Township sewer system are curbing growth in one of the fastest-growing commercial districts in the metro-east, local developers say.
Sigurd residents are fighting construction of a coal-fired power plant
Salt Lake Tribune, UT - 15 Mar 2004
"I don't want any part of it," said Bastian, a fourth-generation Sigurd resident who drives trucks for a nearby coal mine. "It'll pollute the air; it'll pollute my scenery; it'll pollute my nights."
Water pacts may affect growth
Raliegh News Observer, NC - 15 Mar 2004
A series of water and sewer system mergers with Raleigh is leaving the city in control of how fast some small Wake towns can grow in the future. Merger agreements with Garner and Rolesville include limits on how much more water they will receive each year, as does a draft agreement with Wake Forest. Officials in Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon expect similar deals.
Oregon makes its water count
The Oregonian, OR - 15 Mar 2004
While Oregon's population gained a quarter-million lawn-watering, car-washing and toilet-flushing residents in the late 1990s, the influx didn't prevent the state from curbing its total water use, which declined by 12 percent from 1995 to 2000.
Governing - 15 Mar 2004
The problem is that where schools go up development inevitably follows. This seems an obvious point, but it has been only within the past few years that the issue has taken wing around the country. Driven in part by concerns about stemming urban sprawl, in part by movements promoting smaller, neighborhood schools as antidotes to ailing educational quality, and in part by burgeoning concern over keeping community cores intact, many people are asking whether it makes sense to keep putting up large new schools on the edge of town.
Emory University Sees 'Green' Building as Good Investment
Miami Herald, FL - 15 Mar 2004
Emory spent an extra $570,000 to make its new Whitehead biomedical research building environmentally friendly, but the university expects to get that money back within six years.
Transit group wants to tie funds to sprawl
San Jose Mercury News, CA - 14 Mar 2004
Environmentalists and affordable-housing and transit advocates vowed Saturday to push for new rules that would force communities to curb sprawl if they want transportation dollars.
Conservation works: United States' water use is holding steady
Environmental News Network - 12 Mar 2004
Water use in the United States has been stable since the mid-1980s despite population growth, a sign that conservation works, researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey said Thursday. The country's water use totaled 408 billion gallons per day in 2000, the same as in 1990 and down from 440 billion gallons per day in 1980, the agency reported.
Study links race, pollution risk
Democrat and Chronicle, NY - 12 Mar 2004
Minority communities statewide are disproportionately affected by industrial pollution, according to Environmental Racism in New York State,' a study released Thursday by the Citizens' Environmental Coalition, a statewide activist group. Neighborhoods that are 90 percent to 100 percent minority have 30 times the number of air pollution sources as neighborhoods that are predominantly white, the report said.
Low flows hurting water quality
Bend Bulletin, OR - 11 Mar 2004
Water quality in the Deschutes Basin could be improved by increasing the flow of water throughout the year and by controlling the amount of urban runoff pollution, according to three reports issued this month by the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council.
Water bills favor banning interbasin water transfers
Hartwell Sun, GA - 11 Mar 2004
As the struggle goes on to protect Georgia's river basins, including the Savannah, from invasion by heavy water use areas such as Atlanta, Powell said he and McCall are working together on the issue.
New mercury warnings on south Alabama streams
Mobile Register, AL - 10 Mar 2004
New data from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management suggests widespread and intense mercury contamination in most freshwater rivers in the southern part of the state.
Judge says dairies must comply with federal, state clean-water laws
Sun-Sentinel, FL - 10 Mar 2004
Large dairies in Florida must apply for waste discharge permits to comply with state and federal clean water laws, and the state must more vigorously regulate the farms, a judge ruled.
State lets growth plan go forward
Miami Herald, FL - 10 Mar 2004
Environmentalists protest the state's decision to allow Monroe County to expand beyond its growth limits, saying more development will harm the fragile Florida Keys.
Objections to Lake Mary Ronan subdivision plentiful
Missoulian, MT - 9 Mar 2004
Wildlife biologists, water-quality experts and neighboring property owners have raised a host of objections to a proposed 28-lot residential subdivision on the shores of Lake Mary Ronan.
For Wildlife, Migration Is Endangered Too
New York Times, NY - 9 Mar 2004
Long-distance migrations are among the most spectacular displays of the animal kingdom. Wildlife are peripatetic for a reason to find more or better food at certain times of the year, to escape harsh weather or to bear young in a place with fewer predators. Around the world, many great overland migrations have ended as more and more habitat is converted to human use.
Colorado Faces New Divide: Deiced Roads vs. Ecosystems
New York Times, NY - 9 Mar 2004
Interstate 70 in the Rockies can be at its busiest in winter, when hordes of skiers from around the world join the daily tide of commuters and long-haul truckers climbing the Continental Divide. All of them expect the road to be free of ice. And that is creating an environmental problem that lasts far beyond winter.
Study: Triangle air to be 4th worst in country
Durham Herald-Sun, NC - 9 Mar 2004
A study released Tuesday says the Triangle is poised to have the fourth-worst air pollution per capita in the country from cars and trucks if new road construction is not slowed.
Neighbors file suit against DeCoster egg farms
MaineToday.com - 9 Mar 2004
Neighbors of the former DeCoster Egg Farm have filed a civil lawsuit claiming odors and flies coming from the farm have made them hostages in their own homes.
Florida Firms Cut Deals to Avoid Pollution Penalties
GreenBiz.com - 9 Mar 2004
Corporations that violate pollution laws in Florida are almost always able to negotiate their way out of paying fines, according to a new report by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
No Safe Arbor in the City
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 Mar 2004
Trees are disappearing from urban areas. Most people don't realize the significance of the loss, but one man is fighting for a place in the shade.
Computers 'must be greener'
BBC News, United Kingdom - 8 Mar 2004
A study says making the average PC requires 10 times the weight of the product in chemicals and fossil fuels. Many of the chemicals are toxic, while the use of fossil fuels help contribute to global warming.
Various methods address issue of deer population
Montana Forum, MT - 5 Mar 2004
Some deer are spayed, most are shot. Others are hauled to the butcher; one city trucked 800 to Mexico. To control deer, communities across the country take different approaches.
Ecotourism takes a toll on wildlife
Environmental News Network - 4 Mar 2004
Ecotourism is taking its toll on wildlife and may be endangering the survival of the very animals people are flocking to see, according to researchers.
Second Thoughts on a Chemical: In Water, How Much Is Too Much?
New York Times, NY - 2 Mar 2004
The Defense Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have squared off in a continuing dispute over the danger from a widespread contaminant of groundwater. The contaminant is ammonium perchlorate, an additive that NASA and the Pentagon used for rocket fuel and munitions starting in the 1950's.
Monsanto and Pfizer could be facing fines
St Louis Post-Dispatch, MO - 1 Mar 2004
Environmental regulators, fed up with finger-pointing and legal wrangling over the cleanup of a toxic mess in Sauget, have given Pfizer Inc. and Monsanto Co. until today to say how they will deal with the matter.
Land Buy a Costly Lesson for State
Lakeland Ledger, FL - 1 Mar 2004
King marvels at the turnaround -- and the hard lessons Florida keeps learning about the price of failing to keep environmental protection in sync with growth.
Officials boost efforts to test water by landfills for toxins
Knoxville News, TN - 1 Mar 2004
State officials are stepping up efforts to monitor groundwater near closed landfills and urging people who live near the old landfills to have their water tested for toxic chemicals. So far, officials have inspected more than two dozen of the 116 landfills in the state without groundwater monitoring systems. The state plans to check all of them by the end of the year, Norman told The Tennessean newspaper.
Farmland cleanup a priority for city
Lawrence Journal World, KS - 1 Mar 2004
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday is expected to pass a resolution that would put developers of the defunct Farmland fertilizer plant on notice: They won't get city services if they develop the good parts of the property while leaving the public to pay for environmental cleanup on the rest of the site.
'New urbanism' offers alternative to sprawl
Rockford Register Star, IL - 1 Mar 2004
Washington Avenue is an example of 'new urbanism,' a concept strongly supported by Norquist, who was in town Sunday. He promotes developing neighborhoods that are walkable and hold a diversity of housing and jobs. In other words, it's the antithesis of suburban sprawl and shopping malls surrounded by vast parking lots.


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Important Notice: In some countries there are restrictions on the use of the Software. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are legally allowed to use the Software where you are located.
In these Terms, capitalized terms have the following definitions:
1.1 BlaBla Credit: means the equivalent value in USD reflected on your BlaBla profile
1.2 BlaBla Websites: www.blablaconnect.com
1.3 Paid-For Products: any fee based BlaBla services
1.4 Privacy: BlaBla Connect data privacy policy as it is reflected on https://www.blablaconnect.com/privacy-policy
1.5 Products: Topup services, voice call minutes, Minicalls, generally any product as reflected on www.blablaconnect.com
1.6 Software: BlaBla's internet communication software applications including any improvements, modifications, enhancements, fixes, updates, upgrades and future versions and whether made available for free or for a fee
1.7 Terms: the terms of this Use License Agreement
1.8 Third Party Services: any website, software and/or other technology owned and controlled by third parties which may be incorporated into or accessible through the Software, the Products or the BlaBla Websites.
1.9 User Account: the account with user ID and password chosen by or assigned to you for the purpose of installing, accessing or using the Software and/or the Products.
1.10 User Submissions: any forms or emails or information submitted by the User
2.1 BlaBla's internet communication software applications and associated documentation (whether in printed or electronic form) including any improvements, modifications, enhancements, fixes, updates, upgrades and future versions and whether made available for free or for a fee, is licensed (not sold) to you by BlaBla Connect Limited.
2.2 "BlaBla'' means BlaBla Connect Limited UK
3.1 In order to download and/or use the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites you must first accept these Terms. These Terms are accepted by you (a) when you click to accept or agree the Terms; or (b) when you download and/or use the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites. These Terms remain effective from the date of acceptance until terminated by you or BlaBla in accordance with paragraph 12.
3.2 You cannot accept these Terms if: (a) you are not lawfully entitled to use the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites in the country in which you are located or resident or (b) if you are not of legal age to form a binding agreement with BlaBla.
3.3 In some countries the Products may be provided to you by BlaBla's local partner. If so, that local partner may ask you to accept its own terms of service. If there is any inconsistency between those local terms and these Terms, then the local terms shall govern to the extent of that inconsistency.
4.1 BlaBla may make changes to these Terms from time to time. BlaBla will publish the changes at https://www.blablaconnect.com/terms-and-conditions. Changes to the Additional Terms will be posted on the applicable BlaBla Website. The changes will be effective when published. Please review the Terms on a regular basis. You understand and agree that your express acceptance of the Terms or your use of the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites after the date of publication shall constitute your agreement to the updated Terms. If you do not agree with the amended Terms, you may terminate your relationship with BlaBla in accordance with paragraph 12 below.
5.1 Subject to your compliance with these Terms, you are granted a limited, personal, non-commercial, non-exclusive, non-sub licensable, non-transferrable, non-assignable, free of charge license to download, install, access and use the Software on a personal computer, mobile phone or other device; and personally use the Software through your individual BlaBla user account and for the sole purpose of using the Software. BlaBla reserves all rights not expressly granted to you under these Terms.
5.2 You may not and you agree not to: (a) sub-license, sell, assign, rent, lease, export, import, distribute or transfer or otherwise grant rights to any third party in the Software; (b) undertake, cause, permit or authorize the copying, modification, creation of derivative works or improvements, translation, reverse engineering, decompiling, disassembling, decryption, emulation, hacking, discovery or attempted discovery of the source code or protocols of the Software or any part or features thereof (except to the extent permitted by law);(c) remove, obscure or alter any copyright notices or other proprietary notices included in the Software;(d) use the Software or cause the Software (or any part of it) to be used within or to provide commercial products or services to third parties. The foregoing shall not preclude you using the Software for your own business communications, subject to Section 5.1 above;(e) other than for the purposes of download and installation, use the Software except through your User Account.
5.3 The following shall apply to Third Party Services:
5.3.1 any Third-Party Service that is incorporated in the Software, the Products or the BlaBla Websites is subject to the provisions of these Terms;
5.3.2 use of Third Party Services may in addition be subject to your signing up for an account with and accepting the terms and conditions of the relevant third party, including provisions relating to processing of personal data which may differ from BlaBla's policies and for which BlaBla is not responsible. You acknowledge and agree that you are not entering into a contractual relationship with BlaBla or its related companies regarding such Third-Party Services and your rights and obligations are exercisable exclusively between you and the applicable third party;
5.3.3 BlaBla in its sole discretion, reserves the right to add or delete features or functions, and/or to provide programming fixes, updates and upgrades to the Software, the Products or the BlaBla Websites. You agree that BlaBla has no obligation to make available to you any particular version or element of the Software, the Products or the BlaBla Websites and that they are subject to change, termination or suspension for any reason at any time, at BlaBla's discretion, including without limitation for maintenance, changes in applicable laws, BlaBla's business decisions, breach though your User Account of any provision of these Terms, or other policies or instructions given from time to time, or for any other reason within or outside BlaBla's control. BlaBla will not accept any liability in relation to any loss or damage whatsoever caused by the release and/or the absence of release of new versions of the Software, the Products or the BlaBla Websites and/or the suspension or termination of provision of or access to any part of the Software, the Products or the BlaBla Websites or these Terms. You also agree that you may have to enter into a modified version of these Terms, in order to download, install, access or use a new version of the Software, the Products or the BlaBla Websites.
6.1 In order to use the Software and the Products you will need an Internet broadband connection. You are responsible for providing all equipment required to access the Internet or enable communications such as headsets, microphones and webcams.
6.2 Neither the Products nor the Software are intended to support or carry emergency calls to any type of hospitals, law enforcement agencies, medical care unit or any other kind of services that connect a user to emergency services personnel or public safety answering points ('Emergency Services'). For Emergency Services, you acknowledge that BlaBla is not a replacement for your primary telephone service and that it is your responsibility to obtain, separately from the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites, traditional wireless or fixed line telephone service that supports such calls.
6.3 BlaBla is not the source of, does not have any control over, does not monitor and takes no responsibility for the content of data or communications sent or received using the Software. By using the Software, you agree that any content that you submit may be transmitted to the recipient of your communication. The content of communications is entirely the responsibility of the person from whom such content originated. You will be solely liable if you send or receive content referred to in Section 6.5 and you accept the risk that such content might be sent to you. BlaBla will not be liable for any type of communication made by means of the Software. You may report an infringement of these Terms or inappropriate content, behaviour or use of the Software from or by any other user to [email@example.com] although all decisions on any action to be taken shall be at BlaBla's sole discretion.
6.4 BlaBla cannot guarantee that the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites will always function without disruptions, delay or errors. A number of factors may impact the quality of your communications and use of the Software, Products (depending on the Products used) or BlaBla Websites, and may result in the failure of your communications including but not limited to: your local network, firewall, your internet service provider, the public internet, the public switched telephone network and your power supply. BlaBla takes no responsibility for any disruption, interruption or delay caused by any failure of or inadequacy in any of these items or any other items over which we have no control.
6.5 You will use the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites exclusively for lawful purposes. In particular but without limitation you may not (a) intercept, monitor, interfere with or modify any communication which is not intended for you, (b) interfere with, hack, disrupt or gain unauthorised access to any network, computer system, database, server or hardware of BlaBla or any other person, (c) impersonate any other person or use their User Account or ID, (d) use any type of spider, virus, worm, trojan-horse, time bomb or any other codes or instructions that are designed to attack, distort, delete, damage, disassemble or otherwise interfere with the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites, (e) send any unsolicited commercial communication not permitted by applicable laws, regulations or codes of practice (e.g., spam), (f) collect or harvest personal information from other users (e.g., phishing), (g) harass or threaten any person, (h) expose any person to material which is offensive, defamatory, harmful to minors, indecent, illegal, in breach of third party rights or otherwise objectionable, or (i) undertake any activity that is in breach of the law, public order, or public morality using the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites.
6.6 BlaBla reserves the right to edit, correct, take down, store and/or permanently delete any material posted by you in any user profile, forum, chat or other use of the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites that BlaBla in its discretion deems to be in breach of the above rules or otherwise inappropriate for any reason, or as required by any public authority, and to cooperate with and when requested to do so retain and/or provide such material to any such authority. You understand that sending or posting content referred to in Section 6.5 may result in termination of these Terms and/or your exclusion from some or all Software, Products or BlaBla Websites.
6.7 You must only use the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites in accordance with the terms of your agreement(s) with your internet service, mobile and fixed line communications provider as applicable. You must not use Software, Products or BlaBla Websites if they are not permitted by such agreement(s).
6.8 You agree that BlaBla may impose limits on the use of the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites and/or terminate your use of the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites in order to ensure "fair use" and to protect the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites, in particular if it appears to BlaBla that the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites are being resold or otherwise misused including through their use or access using any software or system not distributed or authorised by BlaBla.
7.1 You must use the Software, Products and BlaBla Websites in accordance with the laws of where you are located. In some countries there are restrictions on the download and use of the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are legally allowed to use the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites where you are located.
8.1 The Software, Products and BlaBla Websites contain proprietary and confidential information that is protected by intellectual property laws and treaties.
8.2 BlaBla and/or its licensors retain all intellectual property rights in and to the Software, Products and BlaBla Websites and any derivative works created therefrom by or for BlaBla and/or its licensors, and retain exclusive ownership of the Software, Products and BlaBla Websites and all intellectual property therein (whether or not registered and anywhere in the world). Nothing in these Terms shall act as a transfer or assignment of any such intellectual property rights to you, or permit you to use such intellectual property rights except as provided by BlaBla.
You will not take any action to challenge, jeopardize, limit or interfere with BlaBla's intellectual property rights in the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites.
8.3 All the intellectual property rights in and to any third-party content, products or services that is not contained within the Software, Products and BlaBla Websites, but may be accessed through use of the Software, Products and BlaBla Websites, are the property of their respective owners.
8.4 You agree that you will not remove, obscure, make illegible or alter any notices or indications of the intellectual property rights and/or BlaBla's (or any other person's) rights and ownership, in whatever form attached to, incorporated in or associated with the Software, Products and BlaBla Websites, or any other materials.
8.5 You retain the intellectual property rights you may have in the applications, materials, products or processes you create which connect to the Software, Products and BlaBla Websites. BlaBla, its related companies, or any of their licensors, licensees, assigns or successors, shall have no liability for any and all damages, liabilities, causes of action, judgments or claims: (a) pertaining to any intellectual property you develop that is based on, uses, or relates to the Software, Products and BlaBla Websites; and (b) which otherwise may arise in connection with your use of, reliance on, or reference to the Software, Products and BlaBla Websites.
9.1 The charges payable for calling phones (outside of a subscription) consist of a per-minute rate as set out on BlaBla Websites.
9.2 BlaBla may change the rates for calling phones at any time without notice to you by posting such change at BlaBla Websites. The new rate will apply to your next purchase after the new rates have been published.
9.3 Using the Software on mobile applications may require you to contract, set up and pay for data and/or communications services from your internet service or your mobile network operator. Out-of-country usage may lead to significantly higher costs than regular usage, and you are solely responsible for keeping yourself informed and paying for possible roaming and other applicable charges levied by your mobile network operator.
10.1 If you wish to use Paid For Products, you must agree to all the terms of this Section. All the other provisions of this Terms also apply to Paid For Products.
10.2 You can pay for select Paid-For Products using BlaBla Credit. You can purchase BlaBla Credit using any payment method made available to you by BlaBla from time to time. The BlaBla Credit that you purchase will be credited to your User Account at the time of purchase. You need to agree to any specific terms presented at the moment of making a payment, including without limitation provisions relating to processing of personal data by service providers separate from BlaBla which may differ from BlaBla's policies and for which BlaBla is not responsible.
10.3 Any BlaBla credit shall expire ninety [90] calendar days from the date of purchase.
10.4 You are solely responsible for any charges incurred using your User Account and must keep your log-in details private and notify BlaBla if you believe that another person has had unauthorized access to your User Account. In particular, if you use any chatrooms or other services reserved for adult users you must keep you User Account details private in order to prevent access by underage users.
10.5 Please be aware that occasionally third party websites may pose as BlaBla sites and may request your User Account details. BlaBla seeks to prevent the operation of such sites, but BlaBla cannot be responsible for any consequences of interacting with any such site and recommends that you only log into your User Account via pages reached from www.blablaconnect.com.
10.6 If the law of your country or location prohibits you from using the Paid For Products whether due to age restrictions, content laws or other legal restrictions, you must not use the Paid For Products and any payments that you make will not be refunded.
11.1 Subject to paragraph 11.2 below, you can request a refund of your BlaBla Credit balance in your User Account, provided (a) the balance is active and totally unused; (b) you purchased the BlaBla Credit online directly from BlaBla and not from a third party; and (c) your request for refund is made within seven [7] calendar days from the date of purchase. All refund requests must be submitted in writing and in English language. No refunds shall be given for services paid or credit acquired through vouchers, gift tokens or similar. Refunds can only be made to the credit card used to purchase the unused BlaBla Credit.
11.2 BlaBla reserves the right to refuse a refund request if it reasonably believes (a) that you are trying to unfairly exploit this refund policy, for example, by making repetitive refund requests in respect of the same Product; (b) if you are in breach of these Terms or (c) if BlaBla reasonably suspects that you are using our Products or Software fraudulently or that your User Account is being used by a third party fraudulently.
12.1 These Terms will be effective from the date on which you accept them (a) when you click to accept or agree the Terms; or (b) when you download and/or use the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites.
12.2 You may terminate your relationship with BlaBla at any time and without recourse to the courts by requesting closure of your User Account, ceasing to use the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites.
12.3 BlaBla may terminate its relationship with you, or may terminate or suspend your use of the Software, User Account(s), Products or BlaBla Websites at any time and without recourse to the courts:(a) if you are in breach of these Terms;(b) if BlaBla reasonably suspects that you are using the Software, the Products and/or BlaBla Websites to break the law or infringe third party rights;(c) if BlaBla reasonably suspects that you are trying to unfairly exploit or misuse the refund policy, or any of our policies; (d) if BlaBla reasonably suspects that you are using our Products, Software and/or BlaBla Websites fraudulently or that your User Account is being used by a third party fraudulently;(e) if you have purchased BlaBla Credit from an unauthorized reseller;(f) in respect of a particular Product, on thirty (30) days' notice if BlaBla decides to cease offering that Product;(g) immediately, if required due to a change in laws/regulation by a regulator or authority with a lawful mandate, or by any of BlaBla's partners;(h) on thirty (30) days' notice if BlaBla decides to cease offering the Software to users in your jurisdiction generally.
12.4 BlaBla shall effect such termination by preventing your access to your User Account, the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites (as applicable). We reserve the right to cancel User Accounts that have been inactive for more than one (1) year.
12.5 Consequences of Termination: Upon termination of your relationship with BlaBla: (a) all licenses and rights to use the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites shall immediately terminate; (b) you will immediately cease any and all use of the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites; and (c) you will immediately remove the Software from all hard drives, networks and other storage media and destroy all copies of the Software in your possession or under your control.
12.6 BlaBla will not be liable for any direct or indirect loss or damage caused by the termination of these Terms whether or not BlaBla has been advised of the possibility of such loss.
13.1 You represent and warrant that you (i) are authorized to enter into these Terms and comply with these Terms, and to use the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites that you use, (ii) will only provide true, accurate, up to date and complete registration, contact and billing information, and (iii) will at all times comply with your obligations hereunder, as well as any and all applicable laws, regulations and policies.
13.2 For the purposes of this paragraph 13, "BlaBla" includes its subsidiary companies and affiliated legal entities and all their directors, officers, agents, licensors and employees.
13.3 No Warranties: TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW: THE SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS AND BLABLA WEBSITES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND USED AT YOUR SOLE RISK WITH NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER; BLABLA DOES NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES, CLAIMS OR REPRESENTATIONS AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL SUCH WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO THE SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS AND/OR BLABLA WEBSITES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR USE FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. BLABLA FURTHER DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS AND/OR BLABLA WEBSITES WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE, ACCESSIBLE, UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, ACCURATE, COMPLETE AND ERROR-FREE OR WILL OPERATE WITHOUT PACKET LOSS, NOR DOES BLABLA WARRANT ANY CONNECTION TO OR TRANSMISSION FROM THE INTERNET, OR ANY QUALITY, ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF CALLS MADE THROUGH THE SOFTWARE.
13.4 Nothing in this these Terms shall exclude or restrict BlaBla's liability for (a) death or personal injury, (b) loss resulting from BlaBla's wilful default or gross negligence, (c) fraud or deliberate misrepresentation, or (d) any liability which cannot be limited or excluded by applicable law.
13.5 No Liability: YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT BLABLA WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR LOSSES HAS BEEN NOTIFIED TO BLABLA, IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF BLABLA WEBSITES, OR THE INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE OR OTHER SOFTWARE THAT IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. YOUR ONLY RIGHT OR REMEDY WITH RESPECT TO ANY PROBLEMS OR DISSATISFACTION WITH SUCH SOFTWARE AND/OR BLABLA WEBSITES IS TO IMMEDIATELY DEINSTALL SUCH SOFTWARE AND CEASE USE OF SUCH SOFTWARE AND/OR BLABLA WEBSITES.
13.6 Limitation of Liability: Subject to paragraphs 13.4 and 13.5 above, BlaBla shall not be liable to you, whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or any other theory of liability, and whether or not the possibility of such damages or losses has been notified to BlaBla, for:(a) any indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages; or(b) any loss of income, business, actual or anticipated profits, opportunity, goodwill or reputation (whether direct or indirect); or(c) any damage to or corruption of data (whether direct or indirect);(d) any claim, damage or loss (whether direct or indirect) arising from or relating to: your inability to use the Software to contact Emergency Services; your failure to make additional arrangements to access Emergency Services in accordance with paragraph 6 above; the service limitations set out in paragraph 6;your failure to provide accurate physical location information to an Emergency Services operative; or conduct of third party Emergency Services operatives and calling centers to which you may be connected; (e) any claim, damage or loss (whether direct or indirect) arising from or relating to: any product or service provided by a third party under their own terms of service, any Third Party Technology; any third party website.
13.7 Subject to paragraphs 13.4 – 13.6 above, BlaBla's total liability to you under or in connection with these Terms (whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or any other theory of liability)) SHALL NOT EXCEED IN AGGREGATE THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU FOR THE PRODUCTS IN THE 12 MONTH PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE RELEVANT CLAIM, SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM OF ONE THOUSAND US DOLLARS IN ALL CASES.
13.8 If any third party brings a claim against BlaBla in connection with, or arising out of (i) your breach of these Terms; (ii) your breach of any applicable law of regulation; (iii) your infringement or violation of the rights of any third parties (including intellectual property rights); (iv) your User Submissions or (v) your complaint in relation to any User Submission, (vi) use or misuse of the Software, Products or BlaBla Websites you agree to indemnify, defend and hold BlaBla harmless from and against all damages, liability, loss, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and costs) related to such claim.
Your privacy is important to us and we take great care to safeguard the ways in which any information you provide us with is collected and used. BlaBla is committed to respecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information. We will process your personal information, the traffic data and the content of your communication(s) in accordance with our Privacy.
15.1 These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and BlaBla with respect to your use of the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites. BlaBla reserves the right, without prior notice, to modify these Terms at any time in accordance with paragraph 4 above.
15.2 Should any term or provision hereof be deemed to be invalid, void or unenforceable this shall not affect the other terms of these Terms, which shall remain in full force and effect.
15.3 The failure or delay by BlaBla to require performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect its right at a later time to enforce such provision, or act as a waiver, unless such waiver is in writing and signed by BlaBla.
15.4 You may not assign these Terms or any rights or obligations contained in them. BlaBla may, without prior notice, assign these Terms or any rights or obligations contained in them to any third party.
15.5 This paragraph 15, along with paragraphs, 5.2, 13 and any other provisions, which are expressed or clearly intended to survive or operate in the event of termination, shall survive termination of the Terms.
15.6 Unless stated otherwise, all rates and charges shall be stated in US Dollars and shall be exclusive of value added taxes (VAT) or any other applicable taxes or fees.
15.7 You acknowledge and agree that if BlaBla is unable to provide the Software, Products and/or BlaBla Websites as a result of a force majeure event, BlaBla will not be in breach of any of its obligations towards you under these Terms. A force majeure event means any event beyond the control of BlaBla.
15.8 These Terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of UK and shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the district of UK.
15.9 AVC/H.264 NOTICE If the Software is used to make video calls (i) between a personal computer and a device that is not a personal computer or (ii) between devices that are not personal computers, the AVC/H.264 codec may be used to facilitate video functionality in which case the following notice applies: THE AVC VIDEO FUNCTIONALITY IN THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED UNDER THE AVC PATENT PORTFOLIO LICENSE FOR THE PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF A CONSUMER TO (i) ENCODE VIDEO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AVC STANDARD ("AVC VIDEO") AND/OR (ii) DECODE AVC VIDEO THAT WAS ENCODED BY A CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND/OR WAS OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDER LICENSED TO PROVIDE AVC VIDEO. NO LICENSE IS GRANTED OR SHALL BE IMPLIED FOR ANY OTHER USE.


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The 5th Avenue Theatre Awards honors outstanding achievement in high schools and celebrates the hard work and dedication students and educators put forth to make their schoolmusical productions a success. This program was created to shine the spotlight on musical theater similarly to the way sports are regularly celebrated in schools.
Are you a high school director who is interested in participating? The information and application packets for 2018/19 are available now. Please download the Information Packet as well as completing the Application below or in downloadable PDF version
SEE HIGH SCHOOL SHOWS! Click here to see a show near you!
Some inportant dates:
Our viewing season for awards consideration ends May 12th.
Nominations will be announced on May 21st at 5PM.
The ceremony honoring all of our high school participants for their incredible work will be June 3rd at The 5th.
Recipients and nominations for last year's 2018 5th Avenue Awards are posted on The 5th Avenue Theatre blog and on Facebook.
Click the "Recipients" box to the right to view the 2018 list of recipients.
The 2017/18 5th Avenue Theatre Awards ceremony was held at The 5th Avenue Theatre on June 11, 2018. The ceremony was a joyous celebration of a thrilling year, with nearly 100 schools participating with 119 productions across Washington State. Congratulations to all of the students, teachers and families who made musical theater happen in their high school communities!
To remember past honorees, please click on the date below to see a full list from that Awards year.
The 5th Avenue Awards: Honoring High School Musical Theater is proudly sponsored by Wells Fargo with additional support from Alaska Airlines.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Museum of History & Industry (860 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109)
Enjoy a FREE community performance of Northwest Bookshelf.
Saturday, May 11, 2019
3:00 pm - 4:45 pm
University Heights Center (5031 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105)
Enjoy a FREE community performance of Northwest Bookshelf. Before the performance, children, families, and the community will enjoy a reading of "The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred," by Samantha Vamos. This story is one of the many children's stories featured in the show. The reading will be done by the author herself, Samantha Vamos.
Musical Theater for Grades K-8
Since 1994, the Adventure Musical Theater Touring Company has brought the wonder and joy of live musical theater to students throughout Washington state. Adventure Musical Theater musicals engage students through storytelling, song, and dance. Our productions are created by local composers and writers and are designed to incorporate standards-based educational content.
You Provide the Place, We Provide the Magic
Our touring company brings all the necessary costumes, props, and equipment. All you need to supply is a performance space measuring approximately 30' x 30' with an approximate 20' height. We suggest that students sit on the floor directly in front of the performers for the best view.
We are now booking for our Spring 2019 tour of Northwest Bookshelf.
When you open a book, you start an adventure! In the musical revue Northwest Bookshelf, six children visit their school library searching for the perfect book to read. What they discover are shelves filled with books written by authors from the Pacific Northwest. With witty lyrics and enchanting music, each story comes to life in delightfully entertaining musicals. Your students will take a musical journey, meeting zany characters, exploring the world from new points of view, and discovering the rich history and cultural diversity of the Pacific Northwest.
Students will enjoy a live musical theater performance that inspires a love of reading, storytelling, and pride in the Pacific Northwest region. The 2019 production will feature musical adaptations of new stories, ranging from poignant to wacky, and igniting every child's imagination.
Click here to access the Northwest Bookshelf Curriculum Guide.
Tour Pricing
Maximum attendance is 300 students per performance. For a larger group of students, schools must book a double performance.
Prices include an accompanying curriculum guide.
Single performance $699
Double performance $849
Schools that are more than 125 miles from Seattle will be charged an additional $300 travel fee.
Early Birds!
Book Northwest Bookshelf before November 30, 2018, and receive $100 off!
In-class Workshops
In-class workshops are available to further engage students and explore themes and concepts in depth. $100 for a 50 minute workshop for one class (up to 30 students). A $75 travel fee will be added for schools located more than 100 miles from Seattle.
Share the news
When your school and a neighboring school book on the same day, each school receives $100 off.
Book a performance for your school
Adventure Musical Theater productions are very popular and sell out every year. Please call us at 206- 625-1418 or email firstname.lastname@example.com to book a performance.
Theater is a powerful tool to connect students to new concepts, history, and literature. Recent studies show increases in knowledge retention, tolerance, and empathy in students who attend live performances. The 5th Avenue Theatre invites you to extend your classroom to the stage and use musical theater as a means to inspire and invigorate your students.
School performances include accompanying curriculum resources designed to help educators connect their students' theater experience to classroom objectives and learning standards.
In-class workshops are also available to further engage students and explore themes and concepts more deeply.
We have two special school performances in our 18/19 season!
Come From Away - Wednesday, October 31, 2018, 11:00 AM
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical - Thursday, April 25, 2019, 11:00 AM
Thursday, April 25, 2019 11:00 AM
Recommended for grades 3-12*
Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki, Book by Joe Tracz
A musical adventure based on the New York Times Best-Seller. This "winning adaptation" (The Hollywood Reporter) of the best-selling Disney-Hyperion novel by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is "electrifying!" (Newsday). The Greek gods are real, and they're ruining Percy Jackson's life. As a son of Poseidon, Percy has newly discovered powers he can't control, monsters on his trail and is on an epic quest to find Zeus's lightning bolt to prevent a war between the gods. Nominated for three Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, The Lightning Thief is "mesmerizing" and proves "lightning can strike twice!" (TheaterMania).
*Some content may not be appropriate for all grades. Please check the 2018/19 content advisories if you may have concerns.
Curriculum Connection
Students will explore Greek mythology and fantasy-adventure literature in this thrilling musical adaptation of the best-selling book by American author Rick Riordan. Themes include coming of age, discovering one's identity, dyslexia, and living with attention deficit disorder.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018 11:00 AM
Recommended for grades 5-12*
Book, Music & Lyrics by Irene Sankoff & David Hein, Directed by Christopher Ashley
Broadway's Come From Away is a Best Musical winner all across North America!
This New York Times Critics' Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. On September 11, the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all.
This show is 100 minutes with no intermission.
*Some content may not be appropriate for all grades. Please check the 2018/19 content advisories if you may have concerns.
On September 11, 2001, America changed. Come From Away offers a hopeful introduction to the historical events surrounding the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Themes include community, cultural differences, and oral history. We invite educators and students to explore recent history through this moving and thought-provoking musical.
"Welcome to The Rock if you come from away,
You'll probably understand about half of what we say.
They say no man's an island but an island makes a man... I am an islander!"
The I AM AN ISLANDER project is a 6-8 week Arts Integrated in-class residency and cultural exchange program that connects students from the greater Seattle area with students in Newfoundland, Canada and New York City. Using the same model for gathering stories used to create the musical Come From Away, students will engage in storytelling and community building.
Students who participate in this project will learn more about:
Taught by professional teaching artists, students will learn and practice interviewing and storytelling skills - collecting stories from family , friends, and members of their community about their experiences surrounding the events of September 11, 2001. With support from The 5th Avenue Theatre Education staff and teaching artists, students will create a unique presentation to be shared online through social media, and both the Come From Away and The 5th Avenue Theatre websites. projects may include:
Throughout the program, students in participating Seattle classrooms will be partnered with students from Newfoundland and/or New York City to discuss their processes and what they are learning.
Participating classrooms will receive a 6-8 session in-class residency with professional teaching artists. Schedule will be determined with teaching artists and classroom teachers. Each student and teacher from participating classrooms will receive a complimentary ticket to attend the 11 AM performance of Come From Away at The 5th Avenue Theatre on October 31, 2018.
All collaborative projects will be featured on the Come From Away and The 5th Avenue Theatre websites. Selected projects will also be presented at a Come From Away community event.
The I AM AN ISLANDER project is offered at no cost to participating schools.
June - August 20, 2018
Teachers apply to participate in the I AM AN ISLANDER residency.
August 24, 2018
Selected teachers will be notified.
September 2018
In class residencies begin. Residencies will be 6-8 weeks and will be scheduled in consultation with the classroom teacher and the teaching artist(s).
October 31, 2018
School performance of Come From Away
October - November 2018
Come From Away Community Event - Date TBD


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Name: Sheryl Gesinghaus-Gatzke
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Website: tntsonline.com
Why I decided to transform
I was chubby for most of my childhood, but my weight got really out of control when I hit puberty and gained 30 pounds during one summer. At 5-foot-1, the extra weight showed clear as day. I tried dieting constantly and would lose 10 pounds and gain back 15 pounds. This cycle went on for most of my life.
I frequently stood in front of the mirror and moved fat around to see what I would look like if I changed. I always knew there was a fit, athletic person living in the wrong body. I just needed to figure out how to find her.
After giving birth to my second beautiful boy, I hit an all-time high at 205 pounds and was very unhappy, so I decided to try to lose weight one more time. It was now or never and I picked a start date. I spent lots of time thinking about my upcoming change. When the date came, I felt ready and had a sense of clarity like never before.
I started a weight-loss program that was livable and flexible and the weight started to come off. I lost about one and a half pounds every week and it stayed off. It was slow but steady and I felt amazing going to the gym twice per week. I started to see the person I knew was inside appear on the outside. I felt in total control and nothing could stop me.
I made my desire to change public and kept everyone up-to-date with my changes. I didn't hide my goals, which inspired others around me. After I lost a good amount of weight, my family and I went to a cottage for a week. I couldn't go to the gym, so I ran every day and still lost four pounds on vacation.
Running ignited my love of exercise and made me feel athletic. I ran a 5k, 10k, and a half marathon. I loved pushing my body to the limit. Running was good for me, but then I met my trainer, Craig Bongelli, who took my training to another level.
I worked in dentistry for 10 years and was paid well, but I quit dentistry when I started to change my life and began working at a local gym. I met Craig shortly after I started. He saw potential in me and was impressed with my accomplishments. Craig is a pro strongman competitor and a professional strength and conditioning coach. He offered to train me, and after some hesitation, I agreed.
Weight training is the reason I still maintain fat loss. Craig ignited a fire that drives me to train consistently. Craig helped me see abs for the first time. It's amazing how my life change affected my children. My youngest son, Eric, doesn't remember me as big, but my oldest child, Ian, does.
Ian loves to work out, understands healthy eating, and asked for an hour of training with Craig for his sixth birthday. Craig, being the amazing friend that he is, happily trained Ian for an hour at his gym. My boys understand that working hard is worth it. If you want something, go after it with everything you have.
How I accomplished my goals
I accomplished my goals because I decided to finish what I started, no matter what. It felt like the right time and I had the right frame of mind. I thought about my goals before I started the change and was determined to be the person I was meant to be.
When I got rolling, quitting never entered my mind. I approached it as a life change. I was real with myself before I started and knew I couldn't eat bags of chips or devour pizza. I let go of my old life and was ready to start again. Food is a drug that I was done with. I wanted something different.
I lost nearly 100 pounds and never gained weight back. I looked inside myself every day, thought about what I was doing, and viewed it as rehab. I was addicted to food and self-harm for most my life. My inspiration came from the control I felt and the person I could see emerging.
Apply Here To Be A Transformation
Bodybuilding.com honors people across all transformation categories for their hard work and dedication. Learn how our featured transformers overcame obstacles and hit their goals!
Of The Week!
Supplements that helped me through the journey
Diet plan that guided my transformation
I had great guidance from my friend, Alyssa Coppolino, who's the fiancee of my trainer, Craig Bongelli. Alyssa introduced me to macro dieting and it truly saved my life. My diet is all about hitting my daily macro needs.
- Magnum Nutraceuticals Quattro
1 serving
- Almond Milk
12 oz
- Green Veggies
1 serving
- Banana
- Magnum Nutraceuticals Quattro
1 serving
- Rice
1/2 cup
- Chicken
1 serving
- Veggies
2 servings
- Magnum Nutraceuticals Quattro
1 serving
- Peanuts
1 serving
Training regimen that kept me on track
I want to grow my upper body more to create a solid V-taper and broader shoulders. I held most my weight in my lower body, so legs are very important to me. Hitting big deadlifts is a major goal for me.
- Dumbbell Shoulder Press
4 sets of 10-12 reps
- Standing Military Press
4 sets of 8-10 reps
- Side Lateral Raise
3 sets of 10-12 reps
- Reverse Flyes
3 sets of 12-15 reps
- Bent Over Barbell Row
4 sets of 10-12 reps
- Pullups (Assisted)
4 sets of 8 reps
- Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row
4 sets of 10-12 reps
- Barbell Squat
3 warm-up sets, 3 working sets of 5 reps
- Pause Squat
3 sets of 10 reps
- Belted Squat
3 sets of 25 reps
- Glute Kickback
3 sets of 15 reps (each leg)
- Dumbbell Step Ups
3 sets of 20 reps (each leg)
- Ab Roller
3 sets to failure
- Dumbbell Side Bend
3 sets of 20 reps (each side)
- Prowler Sled Push
15 min (total)
- Arnold Dumbbell Press
3 sets of 15 reps
- Shoulder Press - With Bands
3 sets of 20 reps
- Around The Worlds
3 sets of 15 reps (each direction)
- Side Lateral Raise
3 sets of 12 reps
- Lying T-Bar Row
3 sets of 15 reps
- Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row
3 sets of 15 reps
- Pullups (Assisted)
3 sets of 10 reps
- Bent Over Barbell Row
3 sets of 10 reps
- Glute Kickback
3 sets of 15 reps (each leg)
- Barbell Deadlift
5 warm-up sets, 2 sets to failure
- Stiff-Legged Barbell Deadlift
4 sets of 15 reps
- Butt Blaster
4 sets of 15 reps
- One Leg Barbell Squat
3 sets of 15 reps (each leg)
- Bodyweight Walking Lunge
100 reps
- Barbell Incline Bench Press - Medium Grip
3 sets of 15 reps
- Dips
4 sets of 15 reps
- Lying Triceps Press
3 sets of 15 reps
- Triceps Pushdown - Rope Attachment
3 sets of 15 reps
- Barbell Curl
3 sets of 15 reps
- Hammer Curls
3 sets of 15 reps
What aspect challenged me the most
Grasping how to eat like an athlete was challenging. Learning how to eat to grow and not be afraid of see the scale change was hard. I wanted a muscular physique, but I wasn't prepared for the scale to move as I grew. Letting go of a number was hard. It's been a journey full of wonderful feelings, highs, and lows. Change isn't easy, but it's 100 percent worth it.
My future fitness plans
I gave up my career in dentistry altogether. I enjoyed that aspect of my life, but felt that I accomplished something worth sharing. I completed my ISSA training course and look forward to helping others understand the power of weight training.
Craig introduced me to powerlifting and I've become a good deadlifter. I weigh 115 pounds and pull 195 pounds. Entering a powerlifting competition would be awesome. I have mixed feeling about getting on stage to compete in bikini or figure.
Suggestions for aspiring transformers
- Consistency is the key.
- Take progress photos.
- Accept that people will judge your body, lifestyle, and training.
- Take time to think about why you want to change.
- Transformations take time and a complete lifestyle overhaul.
- You may look worse before you look better.
- Seek out help, find a good trainer, research training, and learn about dieting.
- If you want it bad enough, it will happen. If you don't, you will fail.
How Bodybuilding.com helped me reach my goals
I read lots of info by Dr. Layne Norton because I eat a macro diet like he recommends.
I also enjoy reading the transformation stories. It's motivating to help others achieve their goals.
Sheryl's Top 5 Gym Tracks
- "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
- "My Body" by Young The Giant
- "Hypnotize" by Biggie Smalls
- "Crazy In Love" by Beyonce
- "Wake Me Up" by Avicii
- To Craig Bongelli and Alyssa Coppolino for the help and support.
- To my husband and children for their support.


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Schedule a Free Consult
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"Lack of skilled personnel is a major drawback. Also, the lack of efficient training facilities to use and handle new products is another important issue. We have talent but we do not train them properly", comments Anil Manduskar, MD, WAM India
With an objective to view the changing market scenario, WAM India participated in EXCON 2011. "Increasing the number of clientèle, maintaining our relationship and lookout for more innovative products were the main aims", said Anil Manduskar, MD, WAM India. "The Indian market needs adoption of new technologies and introducing them all over the world and adoption is something to be looked at. We cannot simply give a technology and say this is what we want to do. It is basically a mindset which needs a change".
WAM India, the Indian Subsidiary of WAMGROUP S.p.A. (Italy) has its main office and manufacturing unit at Navi Mumbai and branches at Gurgaon, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. WAM INDIA commenced its operation in India from April 1998. Today, WAMGROUP manufactures and supplies a comprehensive product range including equipment for bulk material handling, dust filtration, waste water, mixing and vibration technology. Strongly focused on the requirements of the market, WAMGROUP aims to produce market-oriented solutions and to turn them into a particularly user-friendly standard. High quality and a price-performance ratio make WAMGROUP equipment the ideal choice for every project engineer and give the customer the best deal available on the market.Schwing Stetter, Lafarge, Aquarius Engineers are few of the prominent clients of WAM India.
Focus on Innovative TechnologyHighlighting the company's efforts towards sustainable technology and environmental safety, Mr. Manduskar said, "For our market, Concrete Reclaimer is a new product. It is not the product we talk about; rather we focus on the technology, the environmental safety, with awareness as a key. The idea here is to make people aware and communicate to them that the solutions are available. For instance, the Concrete Reclaimer pays back what is invested depending from one year to 15 months also the concrete is completely recycled".
Growth StoryWAM India has been achieving 100 per cent growth throughout. Now the company's focus is on established business. With a major market share, WAM India plans to introduce new products as part of its growth strategy. "We are basically powder handlers; powders are everywhere – cement, fly ash even in glass. We supply glass to Saint Gobain, Hindustan National Glass. So, wherever there is a batching plant of any kind, we are there. That's where we supply, that's where we are concentrating now".
Future Outlook"We are also coming up with diversification in vibrators, screw conveyors, and butterfly valves. We are having equipment for solid liquid separation and therefore have a plan to venture biogas because that is the need of the day", Mr. Manduskar highlights.
Major RoadblocksFor mining WAM India offers vibrators. Elaborating the price consciousness in the Indian market Mr. Manduskar said, "The difficulty today in India is people are looking out for cheaper products in mining, cheaper quality which are not technologically driven". However he feels the situation is changing faster as the requirements are being identified. "The whole concept is identifying the market demands and localise the products. We will go into production of vibrators for the mining industry from next year in our new factory", added Mr. Manduskar.
Also, manpower is a common problem for every industry. Mr. Manduskar feels, "Lack of skilled personnel is a major drawback. Also, lack of efficient training facilities to use and handle new products is another issue. We have talent but we do not train them properly. This is the need of the hour; we are trying to bring our talent back from the rest of the countries which is an opportunity".
"Indian Industry Facing Talent Crunch" [Dec 2011]
"Lack of skilled personnel is a major drawback. Also, the lack of efficient training facilities to use and handle new products is another important issue. We have talent but we do not train them properly", comments Anil Manduskar, MD, WAM India