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Further information on Guildford Borough Council’s Ash Road Bridge works is available on the council’s dedicated webpage Join us at our Surrey Highways Open Day 2025 Get ready for a fantastic day out for the whole family After the huge success of last year’s event we’re excited to invite you to our second Surrey Highways Open Day – and this year it’s going to be even bigger hundreds of you joined us to see behind the scenes of Surrey Highways – and we had an amazing time Kids loved playing “hook a duck,” climbing onto real rollers and gritters and setting up their own mini roadworks on our giant play mat Grown-ups had the chance to chat with our teams learn about exciting projects like hydrorock drainage and road resurfacing we’re bringing back all your favourites – plus even more games and ways for you to get involved and have your say about the future of our roads and transport there’s something for everyone – and it’s completely FREE to attend Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The Stormont Minister responsible Northern Ireland's planning system has decided against using call-in powers to determine an application for a £20m hotel proposal at the NW200 paddock In August 2024 Causeway Coast and Glens Council's planning committee approved plans for the Merrow Resort and Spa which will create 100 jobs and generate £5.5m per year for the local economy from high spending guests thanks to almost eight years of controversy surrounding the project the council was under instruction to notify Stormont's Department for Infrastructure Officials there have since been considering whether or not to 'call-in' the decision the department's Director of Regional Planning Governance & Legislation told the council to continue processing the application itself it has been concluded that the above application does not raise issues of such importance that their impact is considered to extend to a sub-regional or regional level nor are the circumstances of the case exceptional to warrant the use of the Department's 'call-in' power under Section 29 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 “The Minister has therefore decided that [the application]will not be ‘called in’ to the Department for determination and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council can continue to process the application accordingly.” was quashed by the High Court following a judicial review launched by Jim Allister who Planning officers assured councillors last August that of the 12 grounds for quashing approval submitted to the High Court the four that succeeded had been addressed Share your opinions on Alpha Newspaper Group Stay connected to us to get the latest news and updates Computer generated image of what Merrow Hotel and Spa may look like Gabrielle SwanWed 26 Mar 2025 at 19:12A controversial new hotel on the north coast will bring a “significant boost” to the Northern Irish economy The green light has been given for the £20m Merrow Hotel & Spa near Portstewart It is due to begin construction in the coming months the project has divided opinion with TUV leader Jim Allister leading opposition to the development conferencing facilities for up to 350 people and nine chalets and a base for visitors during the North West 200 it is estimated to bring in a £5.5m guest spend and 100 jobs to the area Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s planning committee gave the green light on Wednesday after a near decade-long planning process which involved the courts A spokesperson for C&V Developments said today’s decision “is another important step towards making the Merrow Hotel & Spa a reality” “The proposal is the same today as was first brought forward in 2016 The unnecessary delays to the application over the last eight years have only served to frustrate the investment the job opportunities and the boost to the local hospitality sector that the complex will create,” they added “They have also led to uncertainty to other businesses and organisations who will benefit from the project not least the NW 200 team who deserve a permanent home to manage one of the best known outside sporting events in the world “Ratepayers across the borough have lost out Had the hotel been open and operational as planned Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council would have benefitted from the substantial annual rates contribution from the hotel.” “This is a welcome investment in Portstewart and the wider Causeway Coast,” she said “I’ve worked closely with the developer throughout this process and have seen first-hand the commitment they’ve shown to doing this right – not just for their business “This development will complement the natural beauty and visitor appeal of the North Coast while also supporting long-term economic growth “This hotel and spa will create new employment opportunities across a range of sectors – from hospitality and leisure to construction and local suppliers “It’s a real vote of confidence in our area and I look forward to seeing the Merrow take shape in the months ahead.” Shortly after Merrow was given panning permission by the council in 2016 Mr Allister issued a legal challenge over the property The case then became embroiled in a lengthy legal battle after the North Antrim MP won the first challenge The High Court identified a series of breaches in the process saying that Causeway council’s decision to make the approval on the site was procedurally unfair This meant that the planning permission had to be reconsidered by the council Final approval was given by the planning committee last August After the Department for Infrastructure decided last month the application will not be called in Causeway council’s planning committee approved construction today Mr Allister’s concerns over the property were that it was not adequately costed if the applicant will even get external funding and how this would be financed or if the applicant has the funds to even complete the process,” he wrote to the planning committee last summer “Councillors have no way to independently scrutinise any of their pronouncements “I have continually asked for the publication of this business plan It seems the planning department does not.” hit out at what he said were “politically inspired” objections to the project Margaret Canning's selection of business stories sent every Tuesday Please check your inbox to verify your details Merrow is soon to be a Post Office for the village once again Merrow Post Office is to re-open in May under new management at the same location as before The branch temporarily closed in January 2023 due to the resignation of the previous operator This location has now become a Post Office “Drop & Collect” branch for pre-paid parcels and the new management will soon add a wider range of Post Office services and re-open on Thursday at 1pm to restore Post Office services to the area The opening hours will be Monday to Saturday: 7am – 6pm; Sunday: 7am – 2pm; 73 hours per week Post Office Area Change Manager Graham Brander said: “We know how important a Post Office is to a community and we are delighted to be re-opening Merrow Post Office and the long open hours will make it easy to visit.” commented: “I am delighted that the post office will be returning to the Epsom Road shopping parade at the heart of Merrow in May this year other local councillors and our MP Zoe Franklin campaigned against the loss of post office services after the old shop closed “So it is wonderful to see that the hard work of the new shopkeeper to get the post office to agree to bringing back counter services has been empty for over two years but is soon to be a Post Office for the village once again” It has been a Nisa Local for at least a year George Potter is a Lib Dem borough councillor for Burpham Editor’s response: Thank you for pointing out the error Merrow ($2.10) and driver Leon Bailey won the featured $7,639 conditioned pace at Vernon Downs on Friday Starlit Jackson (Justin Huckabone) charged straight to the front and led to the quarter in :27.3 Merrow brushed on by heading down the backstretch and was first to the half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:26.4 with Cant Touch Nasty (Chris Long) challenging first-up Merrow found another gear and won easily in 1:54.2 Cant Touch Nasty followed five lengths back with Starlit Jackson holding on for third Merrow is a three-year-old Stag Party-Siobhan colt owned by Suheil Ashkar of Liverpool A winner of an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division and leg of the Harvest Series during his 10-race freshman season Merrow has launched his sophomore campaign with back-to-back wins at Vernon while under the care of trainer Joe Sansone Bailey drove three winners on the 10-race card while David Dewhurst had three training wins Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday (With files from Vernon Downs; photo of Merrow from a previous win at Woodbine Mohawk Park) Copyright © 2022 | Standardbred Canada. All rights reserved. Use of this site signifies your agreement and compliance with the legal disclaimer and privacy policy FALL RIVER — On a factory floor in this city’s downtown workers at Merrow Manufacturing are stitching sweaters and blankets destined for distribution across the United States and Europe “All open purchase orders are frozen,” Merrow said “The machines that we build already are expensive and we can’t export them He said Merrow machines average about $4,700 retail so tariffs from China would substantially increase their costs “We are not reducing our prices to offset tariff increases,” he said His company is among those Massachusetts manufacturers caught in the middle of a tit-for-tat tariff battle between the world’s two largest economies President Trump has suggested his administration might reduce tariffs eventually but it’s unclear what the final rates will be The import levies China placed on US goods after Trump’s tariffs means any company exporting US-origin products to China will face significant obstacles “It means a substantial cost of doing business in China and a substantial barrier to entry into the Chinese market,” said Matthew Bock Merrow said the potential loss of the Chinese market may not lead to job losses for his business for the moment. The decline in the value of the US dollar may help compensate since it makes US goods sold overseas cheaper But any additional costs along the way from tariffs only make it tougher to export for an industry with low profit margins “We don’t think that the suppliers and the factories have made their final decisions about what they’re going to do that we might see a significant change in the demand,” he said “The tariffs on the Chinese market are effectively an embargo on American goods.” Last year, industrial machinery products topped the list of goods exports to China from Massachusetts at $1.6 billion, data from the US-China Business Council show Analysts say high costs of selling products in China has Massachusetts companies facing the prospect of losing that market to competitors from other countries senior research manager at the UMass Donahue Institute A fall in exports could hurt jobs in the state “Companies will try to forestall any sort of layoffs but if the demand is not there or the demand is diminished then labor savings may be necessary for some companies,” he said Some businesses may try to find alternative ways to maintain access to China to other locations outside the United States where they could then still tap into the Chinese market,” Stewart said Merrow, the Fall River-based CEO, said his company was considering establishing a presence in Europe in 2025, which is also embroiled in a trade war with the US to mitigate against the impact of tariffs on his business “We are thinking about opening up an assembly facility in Europe to support the European market and using a European assembly and parts distribution facility to support the Chinese market and the European markets,” he said a trade compliance director with the freight forwarding company OceanAir said the challenge for some companies is they are getting hit by both sides in the trade war “There may be a component that’s imported and then built into a customized device So it is actually seeing the China tariff at time of importation on a component,” she said “Then [the product] could be facing retaliation when it gets back to China as a finished article.” “What we’re going to see for our export customers going to China is going to be a moment of pause for their customers in China to see how this plays out over the next couple of weeks,” Morneau said it could be too early to see the full effects of the tariffs on US exports to China “The effects will be real and will likely be seen in coming months but it is currently too soon to quantify the actual impacts of Chinese tariffs on US exports,” said Stewart from the UMass Donahue Institute Merrow said American exports are important for the South Coast and US manufacturing “There is sometimes a misperception that US manufacturing is driven by US demand for goods and in fact we are competitive building machinery and equipment and exporting it into markets around the world,” he said tariffs make it harder to export product.” Omar Mohammed can be reached at omar.mohammed@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter (X) @shurufu. Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The story and photos below about engineering firm P.A.M We have now received two further photos (see below) from Rob Richards is only in one of the two photos I have of the firm “I have been researching my father with little success He died in 1959 only a year after arriving in Australia and I was only five at the time “These two photographs of his workplace are the only information I have as to his career and I have no idea what position he held at P.A.M “One immigration document I uncovered did list his occupation as ‘engineer’ He passed away while working at the Weapons Research Establishment in South Australia “The only other info my mother was able to tell me was that during the Second World War he was unable to enlist because his job was considered too valuable for the war effort.” Ltd’s premises in Merrow with George William Richards on the far right This photo of staff appears to be some kind of performance If anyone can add any details about George William Richards an engineering firm that was based at Merrow Sidings Local historian and genealogist from Pirbright Historians He says: “Mamie was a former resident at the Abbeyfield here at Pirbright but was raised and spent much of her life at Merrow “Amongst her effects were some photos “Not much is available online about the firm They were originally Pooley Austin & Martin and during the Second World War were naval instrument makers and afterwards were incorporated into a conglomerate called the Southern Areas Electric Corporation “We’ve done some research on the names written on the backs of some of the photos and reckon they were taken about 1946-47.” I last met Mamie a couple of years ago when I gave a local history talk to the Rawlings Club that meets regularly at Pirbright Village Hall bright as a button with a lot of fascinating stories to tell Her and her husband also lived in Frog Grove Lane in Wood Street Village for a number of years During my time at the Surrey Advertiser I copied some of her and her husband’s photos they took in and around Guildford town centre in about the late 1950s and early 60s I have used some of them in past articles and in my books Some names of people featured have been written on the backs of the P.A.M My thanks go to Jonathan Foster who has additionally supplied them to me for this article Can anyone add any further details about P.A.M These photos are simply mesmerizing, I can say with confidence they would be proud of the engineers who are now developing wired technologies, introducing artificial intelligence in various spheres of life, designing huge houses and communications, or providing services at Engre.co to various business projects that bring only help and benefit to our lives My grandfather also had photos from the factory and he was an engineer I was apprenticed to PAM in 1956 and am certain that the initials referred to Perry A hugely fat man who could have been a model for Jabba the Hut We still made radar accessories for the Admiralty at that time and the apprentices were used mainly as a form of slave labour 2024 at 6:00am BSTAn eight-year planning saga over a multimillion pound north coast hotel proposal could finally be resolved this week Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council’s planning committee is expected to sign off on the recommendation to approve the £20 million Merrow Hotel and Spa in Portstewart on Wednesday C&V Developments Ltd has faced a number of legal challenges to its hotel project Despite the site not being in his constituency has been a longstanding objector to the plans The TUV leader mounted a successful judicial review challenge in 2019 where it emerged that an easement over lands at the entrance to the proposed hotel site had been granted for £1 - without a valuation having first been secured by the council Concern over the way the local authorities dealt with land disposals prompted a probe by the north’s Local Government Auditor Mr Allister’s latest objection concerned “a sliver of land” It prompted further delays in the planning process with the landowner eventually withdrawing her objection in May 2024 C&V Developments responded by reiterating the company’s commitment to the 119-bedroom hotel A source familiar with the project said eight years on The hotel project is due to once again go before Causeway Coast & Glens planning committee on Wednesday where councillors will be asked to consider a proposal from officials to approve the plans The site of the proposed hotel is located close to the start and finish line of the North West 200 A report presented to the planning committee ahead of Wednesday’s meeting said Mervyn White submitted a representation of support for the project in November 2023 The report contains a summary of the letter which highlighted the demand for premium hotel accommodation for those associated with the NW 200 event Mr White said it will enhance the race week experience with the office and exhibition space providing a permanent home for the NW 200 team “and allow promotion of races to a global audience throughout year” The latest objectors include The Anchor Bar in Portstewart, which claimed the hotel would result in a loss of business, with the availability of parking at the new site making it “more appealing to guests”. In response, council officials said: “While the proposal may have an adverse impact on the business of the specified town centre premises, this is outweighed by the wider employment, economic and tourist benefits arising from the proposal.” Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feed@2025 The Irish News Ltd A computer-generated image of how the new hotel will look Liam TunneyWed 28 Aug 2024 at 22:43The granting of long-awaited planning permission for a controversial north coast hotel will provide a “significant boost” to the economy Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the £20m project which developers say will bring an anticipated guest spend of £5.5m The development will see the construction of the Merrow Hotel and Spa a spa and conferencing facilities for up to 350 people said the project would bring a “significant boost for the local hospitality and tourism sector and wider economy in the Causeway Coast and Glens area” "The hotel will also provide a permanent home for the NW200 team and we look forward to continuing our support for the event and organisers long into the future as they deliver the best road race on the international motorcycle calendar “We are already engaging with and working alongside many organisations who will benefit directly and indirectly when the Merrow Hotel & Spa is open; this includes local colleges in relation to student training and employment opportunities to the north coast "We also hear daily from local people who look forward to enjoying the hospitality offering “We’re very proud to be bringing those opportunities to Portstewart and the surrounding area and we’re overwhelmed by the continued support from locals and businesses alike “We will now work closely with our project team and relevant stakeholders as we focus on the next steps for the project and continue our mission to bring the Merrow Hotel & Spa to life." A planning application for the hotel was first lodged and granted in 2016, but became the subject of a legal challenge by North Antrim MP Jim Allister. Permission was granted and subsequently quashed by the High Court on two occasions. The development also became embroiled in a controversy which ultimately resulted in an NI Audit Office (NIAO) probe into over council land deals. Its resultant 64-page report found “significant failings” in relation to an easement of land granted by the council at the site, and concluded the disposal was not granted lawfully. In a letter submitted to the planning committee on Tuesday, Mr Allister made it clear that he remained in opposition to the proposal, which he said had not been reliably costed. "No-one knows what it’ll cost, if the applicant will even get external funding and how this would be financed, or if the applicant has the funds to even complete the process,” the TUV leader said. "Councillors have no way to independently scrutinise any of their pronouncements, even as generic and outdated as they are. "I have continually asked for the publication of this business plan. At no time has it been made public. Why? Does council know or care? It seems the planning department does not.” DUP MP for East Londonderry, Gregory Campbell, hit out at what he said were “politically inspired” objections to the project. "In any planning application of this type there will usually be legitimate concerns and objections, thankfully those have been addressed and not a single councillor from any party opposed the approval,” he said. "Legitimate objections are not the same as politically inspired complaints and as I said at the hearing, if this hotel application had been from Ballycastle or Bushmills there would have been no political objections of the type local people have had to witness. "Good quality accommodation providing jobs for around a hundred people is positive news for the north coast. Thankfully progress can now be made despite the series of delays.” Mr Allister has been approached for comment. Portland, OR extreme metal outfit Vitriol has announced Keith Merrow (Conquering Dystopia, Nightmarer) has joined the band as co-guitarist. Along with the announcement, the band noted that writing for their third full length album will start soon. We are very pleased to announce that @keithmerrow has taken up the reins as the co-guitarist in Vitriol. For anyone unfamiliar with Keith's work, he's an intensely prolific artist, songwriter, and world-class player. We are extremely excited to bring him on as we approach the writing of LP3. Vitriol reminds me why I love guitar and extreme music. There is an energy to the band's sound that can only come from a place of true passion for extreme arts. I'm very excited and motivated to work with Kyle and Matt on upcoming tours and albums. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vitriol (@vitriolwarfare) Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Heather is a 1972 graduate of Firestone High School and a graduate of The University of Akron She retired from First Merit Bank with 40 years of service in 2017 loved a good cup of coffee or glass of wine was perfect at giving the most peculiar but useful gifts and had a great sense of humor that will be missed by all She is survived by her husband of 43 years Doug Brake; son Shawn (Melissa) Brake; adored granddaughter Emma; brothers Wade (Sheri) Merrow Rick (Linda Yost) Merrow; sister-in-law Loretta Brake; along with her loved nieces and nephews Krystle Merrow Terry Brown; and great-nieces Jenna and Emerson Sawyer memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society To leave an online condolence or share a memory This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Permutation loop Permutation loop Permutation Keith Merrow of Nightmarer and Conquering Dystopia fame has teamed up with Schecter for a brand new signature model, the KM-6 MK-III EX The KM-6 MK-III EX offers a Mahogany body Then there’s a Thin “C”-shaped 28″ Hard Maple neck with Ebony fretboard and 24 X-Jumbo frets The KM-6 MK-III EX comes loaded with a single Lundgren Black Heaven humbucker in the bridge controlled by a single killswitch with on/off functionality instead of a Volume knob Get the Schecter Keith Merrow KM-6 MK-III EX here for $1,599 You must be logged in to post a comment A one-stop shop for the serious musician. Founded in 2013 Read More // Contact Us // Privacy Policy 2024 at 3:46pm BSTDevelopers have finally been given the go-ahead for a £20 million four-star hotel on the north coast after a protracted eight-year legal battle and a series of challenges brought by TUV leader Jim Allister Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have formally approved a proposal by C&V Developments for the luxury Merrow Hotel & Spa in Portstewart a restaurant and a North West 200 visitor attraction. When developed - probably now by 2027 - it will include 119 bedrooms with an expected annual guest spend of £5.5 million It was first proposed by C&V Developments in 2016 but then faced a succession of legal challenges who is understood to have owned a property adjacent to the hotel site He mounted a successful judicial review challenge in 2019 But the council has now given the Merrow the green light - much to the delight of C&V A spokesman for the developers said: “In supporting the planning officer’s recommendation to approve the application the council’s planning committee has supported a significant boost for the local hospitality and tourism sector and wider economy in the Causeway Coast and Glens area the Merrow Hotel and Spa will will also provide a permanent home for the NW200 team “We are already engaging with and working alongside many organisations who will benefit directly and indirectly when the Merrow is open; this includes local colleges in relation to student training and employment opportunities to the North Coast We also hear daily from local people who look forward to enjoying the hospitality offering.” “We will now work closely with our project team and relevant stakeholders as we focus on the next steps for the project and continue our mission to bring the Merrow Hotel & Spa to life.” Since it was first proposed eight years ago, planners received 141 letters of objection but also 188 letters of support, including one from Mervyn White, events director for the famous NW200 road race. Ahead of the planning meeting council officials said they believed any adverse impact on the businesses in Portstewart town centre would be outweighed by the wider employment, economic and tourist benefits arising from the proposal. Following its very successful crowdfunding campaign with plans to develop a brand new horror anthology film the first from Amicus since 1974's Beyond the Grave In the tradition of films like Tales From the Crypt and Asylum In the Grip of Terror has been in production and we have first-look photos from the film's The One-Way Ward segment the iconic British horror brand synonymous with classic anthology films proudly announces the participation of legendary screen actress and Golden Globe nominee Jane Merrow (The Lion in Winter The System) in its highly anticipated return to the genre a commanding figure in the chilling hospital-set segment The One-Way Ward Joining Jane Merrow is Megan Tremethick (Ghost Crew Tremethick's work has been described as 'standout' for its nuance and emotional depth earning her recognition as an emerging talent in the genre Adding further gravitas to the cast is veteran character actor Jonathan Hansler (Axed bringing his wealth of pathos and trademark intensity to this gripping tale of terror Reviving the Amicus tradition of characters named Maitland Capaldi's portrayal brings a subtle nod to the studio’s storied history while adding a fresh The One-Way Ward relocates Lovecraft’s atmospheric tale to an ominous hospital that harbours a deadly secret This segment is part of In the Grip of Terror the first Amicus Productions horror anthology since From Beyond the Grave (1974) marking a triumphant return to the studio's celebrated anthology format and its legacy of chilling interconnected tales." In the Grip of Terror is co-produced by Brewster and Sarah Daly with Sergei Subotsky (son of the late Amicus Productions co-founder Milton Subotsky) serving as Executive Producer The film is a co-production between Amicus Productions with a plan to release In the Grip of Terror in 2025 After spending more than 10 years as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industry Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his interest in horror and sci-fi it has grown into an online magazine with a staff of writers that provide daily news Jonathan is responsible for bringing the latest horror news to millions of readers from around the world He is also consulted with as an expert on zombies in entertainment and pop culture providing analyses of the zombie sub-genre to newspapers by Zenae Zukowski | Apr 1, 2025 | News | 0 comments Vitriol have restructured following the sudden departure of bassist/co-vocalist Adam Roethlisberger in September 2024 The band has now added guitarist Keith Merrow (Conquering Dystopia officially announcing the lineup change via social media: “We are very pleased to announce that @keithmerrow has taken up the reins as the co-guitarist in Vitriol For anyone unfamiliar with Keith’s work We are extremely excited to bring him on as we approach the writing of LP3 Here’s a statement from Keith himself Roethlisberger’s departure came mid-tour after an 11-year tenure that included work on their latest offering, 2024’s Suffer & Become “Update: Full Terror Assault Fest today It is with heavy hearts that we announce the departure of founding member Adam felt it was the time to call it a day It was the straw upon the camel’s back of a long and difficult working relationship with myself (Kyle) Adam has our love and best wishes in whatever he pursues next Matt and I will continue as a two-piece for the foreseeable future Thank you to everyone who has shared their support and enthusiasm over these last several shows Vitriol are pressing forward as a three-piece A post shared by Vitriol (@vitriolwarfare) A post shared by Vitriol (@vitriolwarfare) “Little Lord Fentanyl,” featuring a guest performance from Maynard James Keenan (Tool The track marks the band’s first release since 2022’s Conspiranoid EP The single also introduces new drummer John.. Sleep Token have unveiled “Damocles,” the final single from their upcoming album Sleep Token will embark on their first-ever sold-out U.S Linkin Park have shared a visualizer for their latest single “Unshatter.” The song is one of two new tracks featured on the upcoming deluxe edition of their comeback album From Zero 2025 New & Noteworthy is Metal Insider’s weekly column highlighting some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week The final New Music Friday of April will see the return of Billy Idol New & Noteworthy is Metal Insider’s weekly column highlighting some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week Kicking off April’s release schedule are new albums from the likes of Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs The final New Music Friday of March sees highly anticipated albums from The Darkness Privacy Policy Have news you think would fit on Metal Insider? Send us a message at: tips@metalinsider.net The Weekly Injection: New Releases From PROPAGANDHI The Weekly Injection: New Releases From GHOST MACHINE HEAD & More Out This Week 4/25 The Weekly Injection: New Releases From MELVINS BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT & More Out This Week 4/18 The Weekly Injection: New Releases From EPICA THE MARS VOLTA & More Out This Week 4/11 The Weekly Injection: New Releases from ALLEGAEON FULL OF HELL Grinds Hard On New Single "Broken Sword HEALTH & CHELSEA WOLFE Team Up For Collaborative New Single "Mean" PRIMUS Recruits MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN For New Single "Little Lord Fentanyl" DRY KILL LOGIC Comes Back With New Single "Now You Belong With The Dead" WITCHCRAFT Stays Doomed On New Single "Spirit" 10 Modern Metal Artists You Need To Catch At Sonic Temple 2025 10 Butt Rock Anthems That Actually Kinda Rule LARCENIA ROE Names The Top Five Most Brutal Album Covers 10 Black Albums By Bands That Aren't Metallica 10 Greatest Nü-Metal Performances of All Time PARADISE LOST's New Record Is Done Being Recorded METALLICA Announces Massive Load Reissue Feat The Extended Version Of "The Outlaw Torn" Two Major Rock & Metal Names Appeared In Google's Year In Search 2024 Roundup Man Arrested For Getting Too Drunk & Resisting Arrest At A HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS Show In Disney Important: Here's CARCASS Partying To "Feliz Navidad" On Stage CRADLE OF FILTH's Jesus Shirt Is Still Making Crybabies Mad When We Were Young Festival Merch Riddled With Typos Interview: From Dystopian Thrash To Existential Cosmic Horror – How CRYPTOSIS Expanded Their Sound With Celestial Death Interview: ARCH ENEMY's MICHAEL AMOTT On Evolution & Pushing Boundaries With Blood Dynasty Inside IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT's "More Forgiving More Palatable Avant-Death Experience" Goldstar POWERWOLF's MATTHEW GREYWOLF Discusses The Band's New Album North American Tour & Historical Figures In Their Music MAX CAVALERA Sets The Record Straight On A SEPULTURA Reunion His Future Plans & Much More With Metal Injection SUFFOCATION Announces Headlining Dates Around CARNIFEX Tour PARADISE LOST & MESSA Announces European Tour Dates HIGH ON FIRE & NECROT Announce European Tour DANCE GAVIN DANCE Announces Full Lineup For Their Swanfest ANCIIENTS Announces First US Tour In Eight Years Vitriol announce a new guitarist six months after the departure of founding member Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter "It was the straw upon the camel's back of a long and difficult working relationship with myself (Kyle)." Vitriol have shared to their Instagram an official announcement that Keith Merrow has joined them as their new guitarist GR – Principal Club Theater05/13 Athens GR – Fuzz Live Music Club05/15 Istanbul TR – IF Besiktas Performance Hall05/16 Sofia Swarming Angels & Flies will be released this January The Wolf and The King will be released on October 4 rumors and updates from Metal Sucks and The Orchard Metal Newsletter All content created & copyright © 2025 Metal Sucks “We are very pleased to announce that @keithmerrow has taken up the reins as the co-guitarist in Vitriol. For anyone unfamiliar with Keith‘s work, he’s an intensely prolific artist, songwriter, and world-class player. We are extremely excited to bring him on as we approach the writing of LP3. Here’s a statement from Keith himself, “Vitriol reminds me why I love guitar and extreme music. There is an energy to the band’s sound that can only come from a place of true passion for extreme arts. I’m very excited and motivated to work with Kyle and Matt on upcoming tours and albums.” A post shared by Vitriol (@vitriolwarfare) "These bands are way too popular to be in arrears." "Guess you'll have to go Steal This Album if you want to hear it now.." FARMINGTON — Winona (Winnie) Jewel (Merrow) Mosher wife great grandmother and friend to many passed away peacefully at home with her family on April 22 Daughter to Basil and Geneva (Cramp) Merrow a beautiful and blessed fall day on Moose Hill Road in Fayette They were married for 47 wonderful and loving years and had eight children together They began their family life together in Norridgewock and moved into Farmington in 1984 Winona and Eugene spent many happy years together farming Winona was educated in Fayette/Livermore Falls and graduated from Livermore Falls High School in 1960 She later became a certified nurse’s assistant and worked in the medical field Winona stayed at home with her first six children and then started working retiring after 34 years with time spent in MS3 She continued her mothering with many of the FMH staff resulting in life-long relationships with many of the girls from her work family Winona enjoyed many hobbies and loved sharing her enthusiasm with her family and friends A mother whose love and devotion knew no bounds raising eight wonderful children with unwavering care and affection A kitchen that was always filled with the delightful aroma of her famous pies or custard-filled that brought joy to everyone and delicious baking have left an indelible mark on our hearts She loved gardening and entering her flowers and vegetables in the local fair Winona never met a flower that she didn’t love and found beauty in all of nature She enjoyed camping with her close four-legged companion Linwood and watching the beautiful birds flit about her feeders Winona was an active member of the Grange and Past Matron of Eastern Star Thank you for being the cornerstone of our family and for sharing endless love Jennifer and Jack Lanterman and their children Jared and Travis son Jeremy with Hailey and Colton; daughter Ericka with Mike and their children Emma Evelyn and Terrence Nelson and their children Vincent Jeanette and Joseph Ouellet and their four children Brittany and Ashli and Anthony Labbe and their son Graham Basil and Lori Mosher and their children Joseph and Logan Amy and Charles Smith and their children Ava and Benjamin Winona is greatly loved and will be sadly missed Our precious memories of her will be forever treasured and deeply cherished Family and friends are invited to visitation at Wiles Remembrance Center 137 Farmington Falls Road (Routes 2 & 4) followed by her funeral service at 6 pm with the Reverend Stanley Wheeler officiating Private family burial will take place at Fairview Cemetery on May 16 donations in Winona’s name can be made to Andwell Hospice & Health A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday April 27th at the East Wilton Grange Hall from 12 to 2 pm Family and friends are encouraged to visit Winona’s Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com to leave reflections sympathies or words of comfort for her family Honored to be caring for the family of Winona J Mosher is Wiles Remembrance Center – Farmington My sincere condolences to the Mosher family on your loss I worked with Winnie for several years at FMH when I was a CNA on MS3 She was such a great worker; always with a smile for everyone I always looked forward to the nights we worked together To the entire Mosher family I am so very sorry for your loss She was always upbeat.She would talk about her children the love of her life.Gene was just as important In regards to mothering the girls she worked with – she also mothered the boys She was always a comfort to me during challenging shifts and could be both gentle and firm She could seem so placid but she also had a backbone and wasn’t let going to let you get away with feeling sorry for yourself She could be the eye of the storm that helped the whole team stay on task My heartfelt sympathies for her family as they move through their grief My sincerest condolences to everyone who knew and loved her Lots of memories of Winnie in the ED when bringing patients in The Daily Bulldog is a completely free, fully online publication dedicated to covering the wide variety of happenings in Franklin County. We aim for timeliness, for our news to go far, and to be a reliable point of information for local residents. For immediate questions and concerns, please call (207) 778-8146 or email thedailybulldog@gmail.com  Daily Bulldog depends on businesses like yours to support our independently owned community paper and news reporting For information on how to advertise please visit our advertising page or contact us at (207) 778-8146 or thedailybulldog@gmail.com “What Are Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities?” by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow reflects a narrative shaped by Western and Israeli biases overlooking Iran’s stated policies and the historical context of its actions Masters and Merrow argue that a nuclear-armed Iran would destabilize the region and pose an existential threat to Israel.  this assertion ignores Iran’s consistent affirmation that its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes.  a government spokesperson reiterated in April 2024: “Nuclear weapons have no place in our nuclear doctrine.” This long-standing position is rooted in Iran’s religious and moral principles.  Israel’s nuclear arsenal—undeclared and outside the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)—is a clear source of regional destabilization that the authors fail to address Masters and Merrow minimize the repercussions of the U.S.’s 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).  This legally binding agreement successfully limited Iran’s nuclear activities until the Trump administration abandoned it Secretary of State Antony Blinken admitted in June 2024 that Iran could produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon in “one or two weeks.” Yet the authors fail to acknowledge that this occurred only after years of U.S The blame for heightened tensions lies with Washington’s abandonment of diplomacy Mischaracterization of Iran as an aggressor citing its two missile strikes on Israeli positions in the occupied territories in 2024.  However Masters and Merrow omit critical context: Iran’s actions were responses made in defense Tehran’s direct attacks only came after the regime struck Iran’s embassy in Russia and assassinated key Resistance figures including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.  Such double standards frame Israel’s aggressions as justified retaliation while labelling Iran’s defensive measures as provocations Masters and Merrow criticize Iran for its alleged nuclear ambitions but overlook the hypocrisy of the U.S While the article discusses Israel’s October 2024 strikes on Iranian facilities it remains silent on Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal.  the U.S.—a nation with a history of using nuclear weapons and modernizing its arsenal—continues to provide unconditional support to Israel while chastising Iran This selective focus undermines the credibility of the authors’ arguments about non-proliferation Masters and Merrow suggest that Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons would “change the game” for U.S dismissing Iran’s legitimate security concerns.  intelligence officials assess that the Leader of the Islamic Republic has not made a decision to resume the nuclear weapons program that Iran suspended in 2003.” Despite this such as Israel’s largest-ever attack on Iran in October 2024 and aggression have forced Iran to develop a robust defense strategy—not as an act of aggression but as a necessity The article implies that Iran’s potential nuclear capability would spark a regional arms race citing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2023 statement: “If they get one Masters and Merrow fail to address the actual drivers of instability arms sales and Israel’s unchecked militarization similar weapons used by Israel against civilians in Gaza are ignored This selective criticism unfairly vilifies Iran while excusing Western and Israeli actions Masters and Merrow’s article perpetuates a one-sided narrative that distorts Iran’s intentions and ignores the root causes of regional instability.  Iran remains committed to peaceful nuclear development under international law as evidenced by decades of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  the international community must hold all actors accountable—especially those who undermine treaties and violate sovereign rights A fair approach requires scrutinizing Israel’s nuclear arsenal and recognizing Iran’s right to self-defense in the face of relentless hostility The Managing Director of Boots has rejected Guildford MP’s plea for him to reconsider the decision to close their Merrow Branch he writes: “I can confirm that we have notified the local store team of the closure of the pharmacy in February.” But the local MP has responded to say the points the managing director Sebastian James raised were “insufficient” and has invited him to an “urgent onsite meeting”  at the Merrow Park pharmacy “to discuss and understand the impact of the closure so that the decision can be reconsidered.” In his response to Ms Richardson Mr James says: “The context is our business update in June where Boots announced that we would be accelerating our store optimisation programme in this financial year with a particular focus on our pharmacy portfolio… “The operating environment for community pharmacy is challenging with significant inflationary pressures and workforce challenges and Boots has also experienced disruption to supply chains and increased resource and property costs funding for the community pharmacy sector in England has been reduced by 30% in real terms over the past seven years which is not sustainable “Following a review of our portfolio in the local area we have decided to consolidate store operations in Guildford with the closure of the pharmacy on Kingfisher Drive in Merrow Park Team members affected by this decision have been briefed and will be offered redeployment to other Boots stores… “We will work closely with the NHS and local GP surgeries in the coming weeks to ensure that patients are fully informed and supported to have their care and prescriptions transferred so there is continuity in access to medicines and the provision of healthcare advice and services “We are also considering what operational adjustments are needed at the Epsom Road branch to ensure the pharmacy is equipped to handle the demand and dispensing workload as patients are transferred “Please be assured that Boots remains committed to supporting the local community in Merrow and continuing to deliver high standards of service to all our customers and patients in Guildford.” Angela Richardson’s response to Boots MD Angela Richardson has responded: “I appreciate that Boots is working with the healthcare sector to get the message out to patients and that the company is considering ways to optimise the Epsom Road branch “I believe that this would be a positive opportunity for you to witness the reality of the situation which is already challenging for pharmacy staff and residents This would provide a valuable chance to discuss with residents and staff the impact of the decision to close the pharmacy.” According to Retail Week Boots’ total retail sales grew by 12.5 per cent year on year for the full year ending August 31 driven by “standout performance from skincare and premium beauty categories” Skincare sales were up approximately 25% while the premium beauty category saw sales growth of 20% in the quarter questioning the justification for the closure a Dragon reader who did not wish to be named has pointed out that a spokesperson is on record saying: “More customers are shopping at Boots more often with the number of transactions up both in-store and online with footfall growth ahead of the wider retail market.” But from the “Glassdoor” website of experiences at former workplaces among numerous positive comments the following negative comments were made by Boots pharmacy dispensing staff: Perhaps the local private chemist group will take it over The closure makes a mockery of SCC traffic reduction plans As travel distances increase to find chemists journeys length inevitably increases Instead of trying to save Merrow Park (which is commendable) the MP should be pressuring Sainsburys in Burpham to re-install another pharmacy there Back in the day Boots and Sainsburys were in talks to pair up accross the Sainsburys estate but both companies fell out Surely this is the most convenient option for residents Burpham is becoming an NHS desert: no surgery; no chemist A trip to a mega-chemist is not an attractive alternative for the elderly and the immobile those having to travel with a young family and sick people who do not have family to do the medicine collection Privatised service is organised around the yielding efficient profits It is the public who fund this service through their taxes Our politicians need to get a grip on delivery organised around the needs of people Sue Hackman is Guildford Labour’s campaign manager I had to collect a prescription from Boots at Kingfisher Drive today and I noted there is a petition form for people to fill in I would have signed it but all the forms were full I remember a similar situation where my better half hails from In her small Karelian hometown [Karelia spans the Russo-Finnish border] the pharmacy was operated by one of their large national chains despite it being the only pharmacy in the largely rural district the company decided it was no longer financially viable (as profit comes before people) with the option of customers having their accounts and records sent on to the nearest alternate branch if positions were vacant at the city branch Due to the distance necessary to travel to obtain vital medications the community banded together and funded the pharmacy to remain open through donations and community fundraising events in order to allow them to build up resources with a view to continue self-sufficiently I appreciate the difficult times many of us are in but It would ensure residents don’t have to make potentially large detours in order to access their meds By continuing to browse this website, or closing this message, you agree to our use of cookies President and Founder of Independent Project Analysis to discuss the growth of the offshore wind market and their goal of fostering improvements in project delivery IPA benchmarks capital projects and capital project systems for major industrial companies around the world IPA has benchmarked over 20,000 capital projects in the process industries IPA also conducts project-related research and has the largest professional staff of project researchers in the world Our clientele includes many of the pre-eminent industrial companies in the world including the largest companies in all of the industries that we serve Our single focus is to help these companies develop and deploy their capital projects more effectively We are especially concerned with the front-end of projects from the formulation of the business case through scope development to preparation for execution although we have supported EPC companies in improving their project delivery as well We work on projects and project systems of all sizes ranging from site-based systems focused on small projects to multi-billion dollar projects We have worked on capital projects in Europe from the beginning of the company in 1987 and have long-standing offices in the Americas and Asia as well the most exciting development is the sheer growth of investment in new offshore wind projects The industry is going from a worldwide investment base of €30bn annually in 2022 to a peak of more than €60bn annually in the latter part of this decade This growth will be driven by technological advancements — including turbine size increases that allow fewer turbines to produce the same amount of power improved understanding of wind farm wake losses and wind farm interactions It will be exciting to see how the industry overcomes the challenge of meeting promises and continuing to bring down costs going forward Although the wind industry has gained efficiencies the selection of sites in deeper waters — further from shore with more difficult seabed conditions and higher waves — has increased costs faster than the improvements in the technology have been able to drive them down As the industry expands out of Europe into North America and beyond Offshore wind is less accepted or well-established in the United States and the regulatory challenges there will be unlike what the industry has mastered in Europe There are a number of changes that I think would benefit the wind industry: IPA’s goal is to help foster continuous improvement in project delivery, just as we have successfully done in other industrial sectors. We have already developed a number of benchmarking tools for the wind industry that can help owner companies know where they stand and what aspects of their project delivery can be improved IPA would like to be seen as a thought leader in renewables in general and the offshore wind sector specifically by understanding deeply and effectively measuring outcomes of offshore wind projects IPA’s approach to helping our clients has always involved collaboration and ongoing research WindEurope membership allows us to receive frequent market updates and to connect with the main industry players in Europe for our mutual benefit IPA hopes to help standardise the offshore wind industry as it pertains to developing and implementing projects we seek to demonstrate to wind industry companies how they are actually performing versus their objectives/promises as well as how they compare to their peers Our goal is to help organisations in the sector achieve predictability and enable success for their offshore wind projects IPA envisions implementing structures within offshore wind organisations to help them use capital more effectively From complete system health checks to drill-downs focused on the key system elements—work processes and performance management—our exclusive vantage point enables us to measure project systems against the top performers and generate insights to drive improvements in performance we plan to help the industry develop efficient work processes not only for project management and stakeholder alignment aspects of project delivery “We are honored to collaborate with the FEED Foundation, chef Hilary Sterling, and the Brady Hunter Foundation to bring folks to the table in support of our shared missions of ensuring everyone has access to healthy nutritious food,” Katie Baldwin and Amanda Merrow, founders of Amber Waves Farm said. Founded by Lauren Bush Lauren, the FEED foundation is an extension of her lifestyle brand which focuses on combating childhood hunger and building a stronger global food system. Her collaboration with the community-based farm, which is committed to educating and inspiring future generations about sustainable farming, underscored the event’s dedication to both nurturing the land and fostering a sense of responsibility toward those who depend on it. “Gathering good people around the table to enjoy good, nourishing food in such an idyllic setting is core to the FEED mission, so we are thrilled to do this in partnership with Amber Waves Farm,” Bush Lauren added. This event marked the second annual assembly of its kind, continuing a growing legacy of commitment to impactful change through food, the central rallying point for the hosts and attendees. Throughout the event, guests mingled, exchanged ideas, and were reminded of the power of collective action. The intimate, farm-sourced meal served as a poignant reminder of the importance of supporting local agriculture, as well as ensuring that future generations have access to healthy nutritious food. 1/10Amanda Merrow, Joey Wölffer, Lauren Bush Lauren, Katie Baldwin 3/10David Lauren, Stella McCartney, Lauren Bush Lauren The Guildford West station that will be in Park Barn and a Guildford East station at Merrow are considered priorities.. By Jamie Jubert · 1 September 2021 Guildford Borough Council is pushing ahead with plans to build two new train stations in order to add more houses It has sent a list of key infrastructure schemes that need support from Surrey County Council in order to help reach its housing targets which will see 30,000 more residents in the borough and a Guildford East station at Merrow are considered priorities Gosden Hill Farm by the Burpham A3 slip road is earmarked for residential development but would also be the site for the Guildford East train station John Rigg is responsible for the council's regeneration and insists the stations will encourage people to take a train rather than their car to get to the research park or hospitals for work Guildford Borough Council is now waiting for a reply from the county council before any projects can proceed Guildford can ask central government to contribute towards the schemes Mr Rigg added the M25 junction 10 interchange at Wisley is another key project that needs realising He said: "The future of transportation in Guildford is very bleak and in 2016 there was an identified infrastructure deficit of £500 million Guildford has the most polluted road in the UK running through its heart in the A3 "We desperately need investment and a modal shift away from motor vehicles "We need better park and ride and interrupter car parks which are on the edge of town to stop people driving into the centre "Surrey County Council are the transport authority and need a forward looking plan as we are going to have lots more residents here we have 30,000 outside individuals who look to Guildford for shopping "The government requires us to deliver housing which we have a statutory to do but do not provide money to local authorities to deliver infrastructure." The other major schemes on the list are the A3 northbound on and off slip-roads at A247 Clandon Road This is intended to offer sustainable transport links from the Royal Surrey County Hospital and University to the town centre and Blackwell Farm LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} Welcome to the ninth and as usual the final edition of our report of the season This report includes a complete roll of honour for the season and also a report on the Closed Championships The presentation evening at Merrow Village Hall is on Friday June 14 Burymead A made it a ‘one two’ for the club by finishing runners up in the Premier Division and College Hill B succumbed to the pressure by finishing in the second relegation place in Division One The winners of our cup competitions are as follows: As might be expected the results of the divisional competitions largely went with league form Merrow F from Division Three took on Godalming G from Division Four Well done to Godalming as they came through to win 9-3 Open Singles: Adam Laws (Godalming) defeated Ross Saxby (Burymead) 11-7 in the deciding set to win the open singles title Adam defeated Jake Buckley (College Hill) in the quarter finals and Shaun Robertson (Merrow) in the semi-finals Ross defeated Kinga Oryl (Godalming) in the quarter finals and then in the semi-finals he defeated Graham Faulkner (Merrow) who scored an excellent win against team mate Max Flint (Merrow) a round earlier 11-8 in the decider Group 5 was the most dramatic of the open singles groups: Shaun Robertson Dave Woodacre (College Hill) and Kinga Oryl were locked on three wins each in a five-player group after countback it was Shaun and Kinga who went through; Dave had to settle for a place in the consolation event which he ultimately won 3-0 against Charlie Alvarez (Godalming) Open Doubles: Ross Saxby paired up with Shaun Robertson to take the open doubles title by defeating top seeds Adam Laws and Max Flint Ross and Shaun had earlier scraped past Graham Faulkner and John Robinson (Merrow) 13-11 in the decider in a titanic battle Godalming’s Kinga Oryl took a clean sweep of Sunday’s events She won the ladies singles in a group of four with Daria Rudovskaia finishing second Kinga then won the mixed doubles with Adam Laws against Jake Buckley (College Hill) and Shula Laws (Godalming) and then partnered Elly Cheuk to win the ladies doubles in a group of three with Shula and Daria finishing second Under 19s: Harry Barker (Godalming) was the strongest competitor in the Under 19 events and took a clean sweep He beat Seamus Walker in the singles final 3-0; Oscar Snelling and Curran Kulkarni (both Godalming) were the defeated semi-finalists He then teamed up with Daria Rudovskaia in the doubles to defeat Chen Liang (Godalming) and Oscar Snelling 3-0 Under 15s: Seamus Walker defeated Rex Morgan 3-1 in a closely fought under 15 singles final Curran Kulkarni and Alexis Solomonides (Godalming) were the defeated semi-finalists The doubles title was taken by brothers Evan and Nathan Faulkner (Merrow) 3-0 in the final match of the whole tournament against number one seeds Curran and Seamus Under 13s: Evan Faulkner won 3-1 against Kayla Wong (Godalming) Elly Cheuk and Hersley Liu were the defeated semi-finalists Owen Cook won the consolation against Merrow team mate Gabriel Chan Under 11s: Elly Cheuk added the Guildford Under 11 title to her Surrey Under 11 girls title She defeated Lucas Owen who defeated his brother Cian Owen in the semi-final Kinga scored a brilliant 3-0 win over top seed John Robinson in the quarter finals John managed to get his revenge over Kinga in the Over 40 doubles event: he partnered Jason Tendler to defeat Kinga and her partner Mike Slifkin (Godalming) Diane McLellan won the Over 40 consolation event against Brendan Bayley (Abinger) Masters: John Robinson won a closely contested battle in the deciding end against Steve Davis – the last event to finish First and Second divisions: There were 10 entrants in the Division 1 singles event Kinga Oryl defeated Chris Pullinger in the first division singles final Jonathan Chernett (Godalming) and James Wyncoll (Ash) were the defeated semi-finalists Diane McLellan (Aftermath) beat Peter Palmer (Bramley) in the division 2 singles event Chris Pullinger and Brendan Bayley of Abinger won deuce in the decider against Harry Barker (Godalming) and Yevgeni Bohrieiev (Bramley) Third and Fourth division: Chen Liang produced his best table tennis to win the division 3 title against players with much higher Guildford League averages He needed five games to get past Merrow’s Anil Gadage Robert Warren (Merrow) won on countback in a three-way tie with Alexis Solomonides and Curran Kulkarni (Godalming) He defated Alexis 3-0 but lost to Curran 3-2 who himself lost 3-0 to Alexis His sets ratio of 5-3 was superior to the other two players Robert partnered Merrow team mate Ryan Troop to score a brilliant upset deciding set win over Godalming’s Division 3 pair Oscar Snelling and Chen Liang in the division 3 and 4 doubles event Congratulations to all those who took part The circulation of the association’s newsletter continues to grow through various media channels As with last year big thanks should also go to Mike Loveder and Mike Rhodes Website of the Guildford Table Tennis League. Today we’re taking a look at one of the best aquatic monsters out there We’re hauling the Merrow into the spotlight Merrows are an unexpected monster. They’re not one of the big three that spring to mind when you think aquatic monsterfolk – that’d be Sahuagin, Kuo-Toa But these murderous merfolk made monstrous by exposure to the Abyss are a fantastic foe Even if they weren’t always what they are today and let us peer back through the misty corridors of time and look at the humble beginnings of the Merrow the Merrow was an aquatic subspecies of Ogre that first appeared in the Monster Manual 2 Its ogre heritage still defines it today – but the Merrow of 1st Edition are a far cry from where they are now These aquatic ogres were an upgrade from the regular ogre–with lower AC and more attacks these ogres were a deadly foe both in and out of the water Aquatic ogres are greenish and scaled with sloping shoulders tougher ogres who still don’t have their own artwork The design team was getting a little creative with them though monstrous details about their descriptions Merrow have deep green eyes with white centers And all Merrow favor tattoos and are inked up – it’s a shame there’s no art of these Still you can see them start to come into their own in this edition carving out a little more of an identity than just “a damp ogre.” Which is a shame The same holds true in 3.5 as well – and they’re absent entirely from 4th Edition Which makes sense – with 4th Edition’s monster design it was hard to fit in a “subvariant” of a monster Every monster is already built with a few variants that define how they fight The Merrow would have had to use their own entry and you’d see like a Merrow Tidehunter or Waveraider or the like It’s not until 5th Edition that Merrow really come into their own they get some gorgeous art and a whole new identity Merrow are monstrosities that haunt coastal waters and any other edible creature that crosses their path Clearly taking an inspiration from Warcraft’s Naga, these new Merrow are a cursed race of Merfolk, who sank into corruption slowly when a tribe found an idol of Demogorgon at the bottom of the sea Those who touched the idol became afflicted with madness slowly twisting in on themselves until they performed a sacrificial ritual to open a gateway to the Abyss They return on occasion, wreaking havoc in the oceans. They’re still large, owing to their origins as Ogres, and still carry that 40ft swim speed that has come to define them throughout the edition, but the 5th Edition Merrow has a lot going for it It all comes down to three key parts that tell you exactly how you want to use this monster. On land, they’re slow and only have their hit points to really help them survive. But in the water, they’re going to be faster than most. Their swim speed of 40 means they can outpace most characters – even a monk – who don’t have a swim speed A +4 gives them a big boost on a grapple check This shows you exactly what to do with them Merrow are monsters that lie in wait in the deep water They grapple their opponents so they can’t escape and are attacking at disadvantage Then they claw and bite until their foe is defeated but there’s a lot you can do with them to threaten higher level parties Their strength in the water makes them a unique challenge that can instantly raise the stakes in any encounter And it pushes you to use terrain that has both ground (for your players to feel safe) and deeper water About Us | Contact Us Names, trademarks, and images copyright theirrespective owner. Click for details. Privacy, Terms of Use, Comment Rules POLITICIANS from the five main parties have lined up behind the £15m bid to build a four-star hotel just outside Portstewart SDLP and an Alliance councillor have urged planners to approve the Merrow Resort and Spa proposal The 120-bedroom hotel scheme which contains conference and banqueting facilities a NW200 visitor attraction and demonstration restaurant is located next to the circuit’s paddock The proposal is the subject of a pre-determination hearing before the elected members of the council's planning committee on Friday The planning officers’ report issued to members ahead of the meeting concludes with a recommendation of approval Read the full story in this week's Chronicle FAYETTE -It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Wilda F ME the daughter of Basil and Geneva (Cramp) Merrow they raised eight children in their home in Fayette Maine—a testament to their deep love and commitment Wilda embraced her role as a wife and mother wholeheartedly She found joy in the simple pleasures of life from feeding the birds that visited her yard Wilda’s true passion lay in her love for nature which she expressed through her stunning gardens and skilled knitting She won numerous blue ribbons at the Farmington Fair for her beautiful flowers and exquisite handiwork or through the meals and memories she shared with her loved ones An active member of the Old North Fayette Community Church and the local Grange She cherished the bonds she formed with her friends and neighbors and remained an integral part of the Fayette community throughout her life Wilda’s legacy lives on through her eight children and she will be remembered as a strong matriarch who always put others before herself Wilda is predeceased by her beloved husband She is survived by her sister Winona Mosher of Farmington and sister in-law Beverly McDaniel of Livermore Her children Sharon Snyder and husband Charles; Doris Mitchell of Fayette; Cindy Lee of Fayette; Tracy Wiles of Hollis; Keith McDaniel of Fayette; Lisa Odom and husband Terrell of MS; Vern McDaniel and wife Amy of Starks and son-in-law Scott Roy of AK Her grandchildren Rachel and partner Chris; Shawn and partner Brittany; Justin and wife Nicole; Heather and husband Cory; Tiffany and husband Noah; Carly and husband Matthew and Casey She was GG to Alyssa; Mason; Kobe; Ryanna; Zylus; Eric and Rose In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Wilda’s memory to Andwell Hospice House A graveside service will be held in May with a date yet to be determined Wilda’s legacy will continue to bloom in the hearts of all who knew her Honored to be caring for the family of Wilda F McDaniel is Wiles Remembrance Center – Farmington where family and friends are encouraged to visit Wilda’s Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com to leave sympathies Send help right to the people and causes you care about Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee Computer Generated aerial view of the proposed Merrow Hotel & Spa Kurtis ReidWed 22 Nov 2023 at 17:50The applicants behind plans for a four-star luxury hotel in Portstewart have said they are committed to delivering the project despite a planning application being deferred by the council Causeway Coast and Glens Council deferred the planning application for the Merrow Hotel and Spa development which was also set to include banqueting facilities a restaurant and a North West 200 visitor attraction During a pre-determination hearing this week planning officers indicated “they require more time to consider a last-minute procedural query regarding third party notification.” a spokesperson speaking on behalf of C & V Developments said their plans had met all requirements and “should be approved” "The planning application and all supporting information for the project is detailed and comprehensive It meets all the relevant policy requirements and all statutory consultees consulted during the process are content with the proposal we believe the project could and should be approved,” they said the planning officers have indicated they require more time to consider a last-minute procedural query regarding third party notification which was raised at the recent Pre-Determination Hearing “C & V Developments has provided the necessary information to demonstrate that the area in question relates to part of the main Portstewart / Portrush road prior to realignment and remains under the control of the Department for Infrastructure who were notified.” local people and businesses from the area and beyond who have been so supportive of the project "We are as committed to delivering the Merrow Hotel & Spa now as we were the day the planning application was submitted in 2016 and we look forward to making it a reality so it can be enjoyed by local people and visitors alike,” they added In May, a planning application for the property was previously approved by the council despite being challenged in a judicial review process by TUV leader Jim Allister, who has a house overlooking the site with the High Court identifying breaches in the process and holding that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's decision to approve the complex was procedurally unfair however it was considered again Causeway Coast and Glens Council has been contacted for comment Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening The Boots pharmacy on Epsom Road where 45-minute queues for prescriptions are now reported to be the norm Merrow residents requiring medication are now facing queues of 45 minutes to an hour following the closure of the Boots pharmacy in Kingfisher Drive has been struggling to cope with the resulting extra demand on them See interview with Angela Richardson below (apologies for poor sound quality) is receiving an increasing number of messages complaining about the situation and has written to the acting chief executive of NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB) asking for an “urgent response” which was conveniently located by a Doctors’ surgery has led to overwhelming demand at the Epsom Road branch – Google Street View The MP has also written to the public affairs director of Boots asking what action the company is taking to alleviate the widely predicted problem of inadequate capacity at the Boots pharmacy on Epsom Road following the closure of the Kingfisher Road branch Angela Richardson’s letter to NHS Surrey Heartlands In both her letters Ms Richardson  quoted messages from residents affected: In November, following the announcement of the Boots closure of its Merrow Park pharmacy and the predicted consequences (See: Merrow and Burpham Will Be Left with Inadequate Local Pharmacy Services) Ms Richardson met Marc Donovan Boots’ Healthcare Development and Public Affairs director She asked how the decision to close the pharmacy had been assessed and was told that the pharmacy had been operating at a loss and the lease had already expired After witnessing long queues at the Epsom Road pharmacy adaptations and layout changes were agreed Mr Donovan also committed to sharing with Ms Richardson the running costs of both pharmacies But the changes have not yet been made and the MP said: “My concern is that given they are struggling to meet demand at the moment how can they afford any closure time to reconfigure?” She has asked NHS acting CEO Karen McDowell for another urgent meeting to help the ICB understand the profound inadequacy of the pharmaceutical provision and that a solution is needed as soon as possible the actions that it is taking to improve the current provision at the Epsom Road branch “to ensure the pharmacy is fit for purpose” Guildford East) said: “There is strong local concern about the closure Nearly a thousand people signed the petition against the closure which was started by the local Lib Dem councillors The only pharmacy now serving Burpham and Merrow is the one on Epsom Road which is hard to access by public transport and has queues out the door due to the lack of floor space And Dragon reader Ian Blyth wrote in to say: “Sadly the intervention from Angela [Richardson] had no effect and the Merrow Park pharmacy is now closed following the recent closure of the Sainsbury’s pharmacy leaves us with one chemist to service a huge residential area with waits of up to 45 minutes on both occasions and whilst the customers that I shared the queues with were patient I am sure that this won’t always be the case.” Please listen to the interview with Angela Richardson… Ironic considering Boots recent advert containing the words ‘WITH YOU FOR LIFE’ The problems were predictable as the sun setting at the end of day Now a 4 mile round trip if the prescription is ready 8 Mile if not as they don’t answer the phone They want you to move to Internet and home delivery I’m very pleased that someone has at least acknowledged that the staff are marvellous Jennifer Sherriff and her team have provided an excellent service to the residents of Merrow for all the many years that she’s been at that pharmacy And for those opining the closure of the Merrow Park pharmacy they seem to have forgotten the many times that it was closed due to no pharmacist/staff being available and the Epsom Road branch was having to pick up the slack then too I very much support the comment by Wayne Smith where he says that Jenny and the staff at the pharmacy have provided excellent service in the past and do their best the deal with the increased demand now I compliment them for remaining cheerful whilst coping with inadequate working facilities and frustrated customers Boots’ management has done nothing in the past months to ease the pressure on their staff and provide a better service to their customers Shock horror – company wants to make a profit The government/NHS allows a company whose first duty is to maximise shareholder value Why is anyone surprised that it needs to shut down a non-profitable store The subsequent problems are not the fault of Boots – they don’t care about us – they care about their shareholders Angela Richardson says a PLC needs to take a longer-term view Our Conservative government awards contracts to companies and does not make adequate provision for policing their actions and submit repeat prescriptions using the NHS App to St Lukes GP Surgery The time to process seems to have significantly increased from a usual 2 days (yes it says allow 3 days) to more common 4-5 days Even the GP manager informed me it can take three days for a GP approval I was told at the pharmacy that the prescriptions are now made up across several branches locally and assembled at the designated branch So if there are issues on availability of pharmacy services one should examine the whole system from the GP prescribing medication (on screen or paper) to the final pick up It’s a lot more involved than individual branches Yet nobody in these long articles and comments has even mentioned that There are also prescription collection/delivery services offered to home addresses From: Angela Richardson the unsustainable provision of pharmaceutical services in the Burpham and Merrow area I will continue to update residents as to how the situation develops I can report that I have heard back from Marc Donovan OBE Healthcare Development and Public Affairs Director at Boots having written to him last week to ask that he confirms the actions the company is taking to improve provision at Epsom Road and to ensure the pharmacy is fit for purpose Marc has accepted that the Epsom Road pharmacy needs an upgrade to help staff manage the extra demand and workload I have been informed that the store is being supported by the local Boots leadership team with frequent interventions and visits to support its efficiency and performance below are some of the measures which Marc informed me that Boots is implementing to support the pharmacy: I am pleased that Marc has offered to give me a call to enable us to discuss these points in detail It is a great shame these improvements were not done prior to closing Boots in Kingfisher Drive Local people did warn that chaos would ensue The correct sequencing of cart and horse comes to mind One has to believe that the representative of Boots has the financial authority to commit to the proposals and commission Whilst interesting they are all in the future but when in the future – immediately Has Ms Angela Richardson contacted the Surrey Heartlands ICB to discover the reason behind the alleged refusal of an application to open a pharmacy in Burpham and what was the outcome of this discussion The ICB’s own response was bureaucratic gobbledegook Meetings and conversations are a fine diversion but the real need is not a further fireside chat or another debate but a pharmacy that fits the needs of the residents and the many thousands of patients who are registered with the only GP practice in Burpham and Merrow second pharmacist and another handset are all in place yet it still took nearly an hour on Friday to collect a prescription A lot more is going to be needed to rescue this failing service from Boots plc It’s worth making the observation that not only do we not have a pharmacy in Burpham or Merrow Park but that the Boots Branch in Stoughton Road Bellfields now regularly has queues sometimes extending on the pavement with waiting times approaching an hour It isn’t therefore a problem that only afflicts the Merrow Branch in Epsom Road It would be good to hear that our MP and the Management of Boots were treating the Bellfield situation equally seriously which is proposed for the Ballyreagh Road in Portstewart but was challenged in a judicial review process by TUV leader Jim Allister CGI aerial picture of the proposed Merrow Hotel & Spa Margaret CanningTue 2 May 2023 at 17:12The company behind a proposed new £20m north coast hotel at the starting point of the North West 200 have said they hope it will open “as soon as possible” in the aftermath of a legal challenge which wants to build Merrow Hotel & Spa on Ballyreagh Road in Portstewart said they received “positive responses” from all statutory consultees in the planning process The company has said the hotel and spa will support over 100 jobs which is based in Scotland and Northumberland have said the anticipated guest spend at the hotel is £5.5m A planning application for the property was previously approved by Causeway Coast & Glens Council it was challenged in a judicial review process by TUV leader Jim Allister with the High Court identifying breaches in the process and holding that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's decision to approve the complex was procedurally unfair it’s now being considered again by the council Director Vivienne Gilholm said: “We have made great progress with the application and are pleased to have received positive responses from all statutory consultees the council planning department will soon be in a position to make their recommendation to the planning committee.” Plans were first submitted by the company in October 2016 Statutory consultees are government bodies or companies like NI Water Historic Environment Division within the Department for Communities and Roads within the Department for Infrastructure Ms Gilholm said: “We have encountered setbacks along the way but we still believe this is a special project that will bring so much to the Causeway area and we’re committed to making it a reality so it can be enjoyed by locals and visitors from around the world.” She said that the jobs and spending that the hotel would bring were good for the area “We’re very proud to be bringing those opportunities to Portstewart and the surrounding area and we’re overwhelmed by the continued support from locals and businesses alike.” The site is located at the North West 200 motorbike race start and finish line The hotel is due to become the new home for the NW200 team and will also offer exhibition space for the road race The company said that subject to planning approval a spokesman for the company said there was no further detail of a timeline but that it was fully focused on securing permission C&V Developments is owed by Mrs Gilholm and her husband Colin Speaking at the time plans were resubmitted Ms Gilholm said: "We'll certainly take the recommendations of the court to re-do any of the areas we have to in terms of protocol and process," she added "That is where we're heavily focusing on this time The public desire for it is there to make it happen "We would be hopeful that consultees come back supportive again with no objections and together with the correct policy then it would go through this time."