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THE world premiere of a Malton and Norton Musical Theatres new pantomime, Robin Hood, written by local West End star and former company member, Scott Garnham takes to the stage this weekend.

Directed by John Hall, with musical direction by Mike Thompson, and choreography by Rebecca Neacsu, the production runs at the Milton Rooms, Malton, from January 16 to January 24, with shows at 7.15pm, except Sunday, and matinee performances on both Saturdays at 2.15pm.

Lead roles feature Paula Cook as Robin Hood, Adam Hymas as The Sheriff, Ben Greenhough as Will Scarlet, Margaret Lukey as Terroressa the Wicked, Matthew Hodsman as Willow, Ria Williams as Maid Marion and local panto stalwart Mark Boler in the dame role as Nurse Nelly.

A full company supporting cast of more than 60 includes Neil Paylor, Finn Dalton, Claire Fowler and Graeme Hargreaves, as well as chorus members and junior and senior dancers from Kirkham Henry Performing Arts.

The panto tells the story of children Jack and Jills kidnap, at the hands of the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, and subsequent rescue by Robin Hood and his band of Merrymen.

Along the way theres the usual slapstick of panto, good and evil, all accompanied by an extravaganza of music and dance.

Tickets are available from No 1 Health & Beauty, and Fab, and the Milton Rooms booking office in Malton, phone Domestic Heating Services on 01653 694275 or go to http://www.positickets.co.uk

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Robin Hood rides into town for pantomime

RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --Bulk TV & Internet (Bulk TV), a leading provider of television solutions to hotels nationwide announces their television partnership with the Hilton Americas-Houston, the largest convention hotel in Houston, Texas. Bulk TV is providing a full residential lineup and interactive channel guide throughout the property's 1200 guestrooms.

"The DIRECTV Residential Experience (DRE) is an outstanding amenity we are now able to provide to our guests," said Jacques D'Rovencourt, hotel manager for the Hilton Americas-Houston."DRE offers the familiar comfort of the same entertainment experience guests receive in their own home, which is in alignment with our goal of making our guests feel like they are at home when staying with us. Additionally, the extensive HD channel selection allows us to differentiate ourselves from other brands."

Located in the heart of downtown, the 24-story Hilton Americas-Houston is known for providing leading edge technological amenities in order to give guests an unparalleled experience. As a complement to the hotel's offerings, DRE offers a robust HD lineup with over 100 channels, a faster interactive programming guide and an anti-microbial, simplified remote. DRE is one of the recent advancements the property has made to enhance the overall guest experience. The hotel is also adding a Starbucks in the east lobby that will be close to 5,000 square feet as well as an onsite UPS Store.

D'Rovencourt adds, "It is imperative for us to select credible partners that offer extensive experience. Partnering with a respected name in the industry such as Bulk TV & Internet was critical to ensure quality and customer satisfaction."

Bulk TV has installed the DIRECTV Residential Experience (DRE) in hundreds of hotels and is the leader in DRE installations nationwide. Based on the company's demonstrated abilities and following an extensive review process, Bulk TV was recently selected by Hilton Worldwide as a Strategic Partner to provide HD services to all Hilton brands at pre-negotiated terms and exclusive rates.

"Hilton Worldwide is known for transforming the guest experience with forward thinking, customized offerings," said James Jessel, vice president of sales, Bulk TV & Internet. "The DIRECTV Residential Experience gives guests the television services they expect at a hotel that is as impressive as Hilton Americas-Houston."

Bulk TV provides DIRECTV programming services to over 4,000 properties in every state and across every hotel brand. Each customized TV solution receives thorough quality assurance throughout every step of the process, which includes engineering, project management, professional installation and 24/7 technical support.

In addition to DRE, Bulk TV also provides centralized headend solutions that enable hotels to provide a customized channel lineup without equipment in the guest rooms. For more information on both solutions, please visit http://www.BulkTV.com or call 877-285-5881.

About Bulk TV & InternetBulk TV & Internet is a leading provider of DIRECTV services designed to meet the unique needs of the hospitality industry. Bulk TV & Internet provides service to upwards of 300,000 rooms nationwide including free-to-guest television programming and digital satellite TV systems. In addition to award-winning television services, Bulk TV also offers high-speed Internet access services and Mitel phone systems. For more information, please visit http://www.BulkTV.com.

About Hilton Americas-Houston Directly connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center, the Hilton Americas-Houston contains the city's largest number of guestrooms, ballrooms, hotel meeting space, and the most technologically advanced services available under one roof. Conveniently situated between Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park, this AAA Four Diamond rated hotel boasts 1,200 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, 91,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, two restaurants, lobby bar, coffee emporium, and full service spa and health club. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.americashouston.hilton.com.

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Bulk TV Transforms In-Room Entertainment at the Hilton Americas-Houston

The current wastewater disposal system within the United States is flawed, costly and outdated. The core notions of a wastewater treatment plant the fact that we, for lack of a more specific word, dispose of our waste in perfectly treated, drinkable water, is absurd. Additionally, the fact that we use water, an extremely limited resource, to transport our waste is flawed. There is an extreme necessity to challenge the current system of wastewater treatment processes and additionally propose alternatives to said flawed system.

One huge problem introduced via modern wastewater treatment plants is the unnecessary loss of fertilizer feedstock which is what manufacturers to use to convert solid human waste to specific plant fertilizer. The fact that the waste is mixed with water, sent to the wastewater treatment plant and then stripped of the very waste that was put into it is crazy. From here, the treated water is again sent back to the toilets. This is unnecessary and wastes large amounts of energy used to clean the water.

Also, the ability to use the waste as potential fertilizer feedstock is lost. Newer, no-flow toilets dont use any water and therefore allow for the isolation of waste. This isolation of waste allows the implementation of certain fertilizer manufacture. So, the introduction of a waterless system allows for a cheap isolation of waste and paves a path for cheap fertilizer manufacture.

Yet another downfall of the wastewater treatment process is that it treats all water for the best possible case, which in our case is drinking. This means that water sent out of any wastewater treatment plant whether it be for drinking, lawn sprinklers, or even waste disposal is cleaned to a standard necessary for human consumption. This raises a gigantic red flag. We are wasting extreme amounts of energy by cleaning our toilet water to drinking water standards.

The problem here is that the wastewater treatment system doesnt differentiate the final location of the treated water. The current system in place cleans all the water to one acceptable standard because the piping system from the treatment plant to recreational use is imperfect. The piping system transfers all the treated, drinkable water to specific locations.

A recommended solution to this problem would be to introduce a treatment plant that treats certain percentages of water for certain uses. Obviously, drinking water and water for waste-disposal have different standards, and its extremely wasteful to treat water not for its intended use.

Treating certain percentages of water for specific uses is admittedly complicated and expensive. However, the initial cost of implementation would eventually save more money and more energy. An implementation of an idea this grand would also take time. What should be done is small-scale tweaks to the current piping and wastewater treatment frameworks.

A good place to start would be to introduce a subset to traditional wastewater treatment plants a treatment option that cleanses water to both drinking and waste-disposal standards. This will save the wastewater treatment plant energy (and ultimately money) as they arent over-treating a certain percentage of their water. From here, the differently treated water would be separately transported to the necessary locations and then distributed to the necessary locations. The water treated for waste disposal would be sent to each house and then subsequently distributed to the toilets. The drinking water, once at the house, would be sent to the sinks, faucets, etc. This implementation is a feasible engineering task, and would introduce a system with substantially reduced energy consumption.

The post-industrial revolution population boom necessitated a smarter and more efficient way of transporting and disposing waste. The solution to this problem was the wastewater treatment plant. One may find it strange, however, that we are still making tweaks to a system that was created almost 200 years ago. Maybe we are looking at the concept of waste negatively, when it should be viewed as a potential feedstock. Maybe we are crazy for using such a very limited resource water to help dispose of our waste. Maybe the entire framework of a wastewater treatment plant is wrong and outdated. Although this may not be true, it is still obvious that there are apparent problems with our current system.

BRENT LUND can be reached at brlund@ucdavis.edu

Excerpt from:
Sustainability in the Built Environment: The Downfalls of Our Current Wastewater Treatment System

DEPICTING CHRONIC PAIN: Chronic pain is the subject of the upcoming movie, Cake, starring Jennifer Aniston.

Chronic pain affects more people than cancer, diabetes, heart attack and stroke combined. It's estimated there are more than 100 million sufferers in the United States, costing the nation as much as $NZ816 billion a year in medical treatment and lost productivity.

Nearly one in five New Zealand adults experience chronic pain, according to the New Zealand Health Survey's 2013/14 findings. The survey found rates of chronic pain increase with age, affecting around a third of adults aged 75 and over.

The condition is even the focus of an upcoming movie, Cake, starring Jennifer Anniston as a woman struggling with chronic pain.

Chronic pain can be devastating, and a challenge to treat. As a mental health counsellor, I have seen it damage productive lives and tear families apart.

Pain sufferers often are misdiagnosed, misunderstood and miserable. Their friends and family can become worn out from listening to complaints. Their identities may be significantly altered because they cannot engage in activities they once enjoyed. Doctors get frustrated by the inability to provide a cure.

I have worked with people who had full, rich lives as corporate leaders, mothers, athletes and professors before their chronic pain. However, by the time I saw them they were isolated, over-medicated and depressed, and they believed their life was devoid of meaning.

Read more: No snake-oil quick fix can cure my pain

A DIFFERENT APPROACH CAN HELP

The good news is that chronic pain is treatable with the right blend of approaches. The traditional healing model take medications, rest, get better doesn't work with this illness. But there are ways to reduce pain and rebuild yourself.

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A different approach to chronic pain

BRADENTON --

A dog named Bear who was rescued from a burning home last weekend by firefighters with the Bradenton Fire Department has been reunited with his owners.

The German shepherd was found unconscious with labored breathing at a fire at 6:55 p.m. Saturday in a home in the 600 block of 32nd Street

Bear is now back with his loved ones, who have been waiting for days for his return from an animal clinic.

On Saturday night, Bradenton firefighters arrived at the 32nd Street home. They discovered flames and smoke coming from the home. Bear was still inside.

Firefighters were able to rescue Bear and give him oxygen on the front lawn. Bear has been at an animal clinic for treatment since the fire.

Owner Robert Fischbach said the dog shakes and is a little out of it but overall, he is doing better.

By the looks of things he seems to be getting better, so we want to remain hopeful. And its awesome just to have him back, he said.

The Fischbachs will be able to move back into their home eventually. However, the fire caused about $15,000 in damage.

So far, Bears vet bills are around $1,200.

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Dog rescued from fire reunited with owners

You could, but not while you're pregnant and feeling crazy.

Dear Polly,

Since the age of 13 my mother and I haven't gotten along. As a small child I got plenty of love and support from her. I distinctly remember how jarring it was as a teenager when all of a sudden we were fighting constantly.

At first my mom took me to see therapist after therapist, who, one after the other, would tell her that she herself would really benefit from therapy (and then we'd move on to the next one). We had the same fights as any family, but ours seemed to escalate to new dimensions never imagined by my friends and their families. The first time I left home was over not mowing the lawn one week. Then I ran away again after she stole my diary and we had to call the police to settle our domestic dispute. I left at midnight on my 18th birthday to go to college, and promptly self-destructed. Several years later after making a plan to get myself together, my mom welcomed me back into her home while I finished school and worked. I got married to my best friend right after I graduated and moved to NYC, where I've had an amazing career for the past five years.

It seems like my mom and I have been on the road to recovery since then, but lately I've been doubting how much of this is real. The fantasy of having an endearing, stable, and respectful relationship with her might be manipulating my emotions. While I'm immensely proud of the life I've strung together for myself, my mom always has reservations about my accomplishments. We talk on the phone once every two months, but it's mostly about her interests or her gossip, and I usually shove in ten minutes of what I've been doing so I can fish for compliments. We email and I have to write very concrete sentences that won't be misinterpreted and lead to an argument. Her emails are the opposite of this; I am disrespected and made to feel childish and nave.

Lately my therapist and I have been working on the idea that my mom is not capable of being emotionally supportive, and that I'll likely never have the relationship with her that I want. I crave a mom I can talk with about lady stuff and share stories and get advice. I'm only now accepting that isn't in the cards with my mom, and that's not her fault or mine.

And then I got pregnant. My mother-in-law was so thrilled. My mom was less than thrilled. She wanted to know why I wasn't paying off my student loans instead, how I expect to live in a fourth-story walk-up both pregnant and as a new mom, and what if the Crohn's disease medication that my husband is taking hurts the baby?Well, (a) I am paying them off, (b) that's just how we do it in NYC and everyone on my floor has a very small child, and (c) we know it won't because we talked with his doctor and are you really asking if we'd have an abortion?

It is filling me with overwhelming rage thinking about her flinging this bullshit at me and my family. I'm not sure if it's the hormones or what, but I feel the need to protect myself and my child from her. I've been thinking about just ending this relationship altogether. I feel like she has nothing constructive to offer me and my family, and will only bring an onslaught of negative bullshit. My husband agrees with me, and is terrified of her. She works in child protective services, and he's afraid she'll use her position to lodge a complaint against us as parents if we piss her off or she perceives that we're not taking good care of the baby. I don't disagree with him, but I'm not good at anticipating her next move.

All the logical equations in my brain point to think about the best interests of your family" there's my therapist "and get out of this now," but the other part is thinking single mother, gave up everything to raise you, be a good daughter and stop being pregnant and crazy." What do I do? Is that voice just the part that wants the supportive fantasy mom? Is my logical brain thinking in the best interests of my family, or just overreacting?

Can I kick my mom out of my life?

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Ask Polly: Can I Kick My Mom Out of My Life?

Quad-City families may get their first introduction to Bettendorf's long-awaited Forest Grove Park this fall.

Bettendorf park board members got a detailed look at the project's preliminary phase of work Wednesday night as Scott Crawford, senior partner and landscape architect with RDG Planning & Design of Des Moines, presented the plans.

The $1.4 million first phase of the project will be completed in two stages, and will develop what Crawford referred to as the community corner of the park, that will serve as a neighborhood park for adjacent subdivisions.

It will include 25 parking stalls, an open-air shelter that will seat up to 20 people, a playground for children ages 2-10, a half-court basketball court and a circular path that surrounds the southeast corner of the park and eventually will connect with the rest of the park's trail system.

This will be the gateway into the whole park from the south edge, said Crawford, who began designing the space in 2011.

While Crawford said he does not think the first phase of work will attract regional attention, overall plans for the 100-acre park will create something that the Quad-City community does not yet have.

Ideas for the park include a large greenspace, an adventure course, an amphitheater, a community building, an enclosed shelter, restoration of Spencer Creek and a winter plaza with opportunities for cold-weather sports.

The park, which Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher has referred to as a wow project, will cost up to $20 million and will be completed in stages with the assistance of grant funding, Steve Grimes, the citys parks and recreation director, said.

Between 2016 and 2021, the city plans to borrow $2.1 million in bonds for work on the park.

A future elementary school in the Pleasant Valley Community School District is planned to be built adjacent to the park.

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Initial plans for Forest Grove Park unveiled

The Christmas Bird Count was on Jan. 3; we are now in the process of finalizing the results, which will be published in the Gazette soon. There have been a lot of birds sighted this week, so here goes.

Probably the best bird of the week is Dick Jenningss observation of a common yellowthroat at his Tisbury feeder on Jan. 6; it was hunkered down along a border of liriope that surrounds the bird feeders. This is a good sighting because it is uncommon at this time of year, although it is common in the breeding season.

Anything that has bright orange feathers is also a welcome sight at this time of the year. Thus, it is good to hear that the West Tisbury Baltimore oriole has survived more cold weather. This time the bird was observed at Heidi and Ronnee Shultzs feeder on Jan. 12. Nancy Dole observed the oriole perched in a pine tree in her yard on Jan. 11. And Ronnee Schultz reported the oriole amidst snowflakes near the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury on Jan. 6, so this bird has recently headed a little bit northward to the State Road area. Please keep reports of this bird coming so we can track its movements, hopefully through the winter.

And they'll all float on, okay. Lanny McDowell

Joan Malkin is thrilled to have a new neighbor, as she discovered a screech owl is living in the nesting box that she got from the Nature Conservancy a few years ago. Since society rapidly cuts down dead trees, appropriate nesting cavities can be in short supply, which is why bird houses can be so important.

Liz Goud reports that there is a great blue heron hanging around her home, regularly perching in a tree or near the driveway.

Speaking of yards, Jacqueline Beauvais Cromwell just got a new field guide and immediately put it to work and identified northern flicker, red-bellied woodpecker and cedar waxwing on Jan. 12.

Soo Whiting and Flip Harrington observed a snow goose in Whitings Field next to the West Tisbury cemetery on the afternoon of Jan. 13. This is probably the same lone snow goose that was observed on the nearby Mill Pond on the Christmas Bird Count. The same day, Tim Johnson observed the flock of snow geese that has been present at the Keiths farm on Middle Road in Chilmark. Roger Cook observed four there on Jan. 7.

Stan and Marie Mercer called to report four eastern bluebirds in their Menemsha Crossroads yard on Jan. 12. They were excited since these were the first bluebirds they had in their yard in several years.

Samantha Chaves used her telephone to take a picture through her binoculars of a snowy owl at the Katama air park on Jan. 11. Such photography takes practice to get a good image, but is a useful technique for confirming a bird sighting. Believe it or not, there are binoculars that have built in cameras! I may need one since other authors of this column occasionally comment that I should carry a camera with me.

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Colorful Birds Brighten Dreary Winter Landscape

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) January 14, 2015

Walters Golf invites avid players and the young at heart to experience the first-ever Golf Digest Think Young Play Hard Invitational from April 16 through April 19, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The inaugural tournament will feature two competitive rounds at Walters Golfs Bali Hai and Royal Links Golf Clubs, a four day/three night stay at The Mirage, exclusive parties and events at notable venues on the Strip, and numerous perks reserved only for players.

Consistently rated among Las Vegas best courses, both Bali Hai Golf Club and Royal Links Golf Club will serve as the backdrop for the two-person best ball tournament play. At Royal Links Golf Club, players can expect a challenging layout that is unmistakably reminiscent of the British Open rotations most legendary holes. And, a far cry from the British flair of Royal Links, Bali Hai Golf Club offers a South Pacific-inspired landscape that makes for low scores when played wisely. As players contend for the maiden trophy on Friday and Saturday, theyll also be treated to pre- and post-round game-improvement clinics, tour-level equipment fitting and long-drive exhibitions from fellow title sponsor Callaway Golf.

While golf may be the focus of the event, players are also encouraged to indulge their youthful, spirited side off the course at The Mirage. The weekend exudes Las Vegas-style vibes with private parties at The Mirage's most daring venues, including its Bare Pool Lounge and world-famous Siegfried and Roys Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. Were essentially condensing the ultimate Las Vegas experience into one weekend, said Josh Hill, Vice President of Marketing at Walters Golf. The opportunity to hang with well-known DJs and world-famous celebrities and attend private, premium open bar parties does not typically present itself at your average golf tournament. And by typically, I mean never.

Partying aside, there are perks for the thrill-seeking type, too. Las Vegas Pole Position Raceway is set to close its doors for a special evening reserved exclusively for Think Young Play Hard Invitational guests, featuring a playoff-style competition on go-karts equipped to reach speeds of 45 MPH. "Pole Position Raceway is proud to be a part of this fast and furious weekend," said Brad Mark, COO at Pole Position Raceway. "We heard the best "drivers" were coming to Vegas so now we want to see if that "driving" skill will be displayed at some of the finest golf courses in the world along with the fastest go-kart track in America." The Mirages expansive casino will swap its usual table-gaming felts for those that are TYPHI-branded during the weekend, which also includes a players-only casino night after the first day of competition. Adventure lovers will relish the overhead excitement provided by Maverick Helicopters, as well as the opportunity to win one of 15 cameras from event sponsor GoPro.

With R&B vocal group Boyz II Men rumored to tee it up, the 144-person event is expected to sell out well before its April 16, 2015 debut and currently only has 30 spots still available. The $1,499 per person price includes an exclusive 30% discount on all on-site shows at The Mirage in addition to numerous other tournament and event partner offerings. For reservations and further information, visit GolfDigestInvitational.com.

About Walters Golf:

Walters Golf, a division of The Walters Group, has become one of the fastest-growing and most widely respected golf companies in the country. From its first venture into the private country club market in 1995 to todays ownership and operation of top-quality, daily fee golf courses, Walters Golf continues their commitment to quality and profitability while offering customers excellent value.

Led by businessman and avid golfer Bill Walters, Walters Golf is known in the national golf industry for developing first-class golf facilities. According to Executive Golfer, Walters is Nevadas leading golf entrepreneur who recognized the need for visitor and corporate friendly golf facilities and packages, and seized on the opportunity, investing millions in [two] magnificent properties.

In Las Vegas, the company owns and operates Royal Links Golf Club and Bali Hai Golf Club in addition to Las Vegas Golf Getaways, Las Vegas Preferred Tee Times and Cili Restaurant & Bar. For additional information, visit http://www.waltersgolf.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @WaltersGolf and interact on Facebook at facebook.com/WaltersGolf.

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Las Vegas Walters Golf to Add Exclusive Events, Entertainment and Endless Excitement to Inaugural Golf Digest Think ...

The director for Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire has praised the council for standing its ground over a planning appeal for 117 home in Banbury.

A government planning inspector last week <6/1> backed Cherwell District Councils decision to reject the controversial plans for Crouch Hill.

The council had thrown out Gleeson Developments Ltd's application for planning permission for the site on the outskirts of the town in March.

CPRE Oxfordshire director Helen Marshall said: It is good to see such a sensible decision from the planning inspectorate and well done to Cherwell District Council for standing their ground. This site is an important landscape feature, providing a rural backdrop to the town, as well as being of cultural importance in relation to the Civil War."

The plans proposed developments on the 10.5 hectare land south of Broughton Road including up to 117 homes with parking.

On Tuesday, January 6, inspector Jennifer Vyse refused the appeal concluding that the plans would have a significant adverse impact on the character and appearance of the part of the district.

She said: In my consideration the site is still seen as an essential component of the rural setting of the hill and is very sensitive with a low capacity for residential development.

"I am in no doubt that the erection of up to 117 dwellings on the lower field would constitute a considerable intrusion into that setting.

Cherwell District Council rejected plans originally calling it a "sporadic and unsustainable" extension of the town's boundary.

Cherwells lead member for planning, councillor Michael Gibbard, said: The site was not thought suitably practical on landscape grounds and it is pleasing to see the inspector has supported that view.

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CPRE happy Crouch Hill housing plan thrown out