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Aberdeen SOUTH & North Kincardine
ABERDEEN SOUTH & NORTH KINCARDINE Constituency (Scottish Parliament)
Became a Regional List MSP on 19 April 2006. Minister for Schools & Skills and Convener of the Environment & Rural Affairs Committee 2007-9.
Elected as the MSP for ABERDEEN SOUTH & NORTH KINCARDINE on 5 May 2011, taking the seat from the Liberal Democrats. Re-elected on 5 May 2016.
Convener of the Infrastructure & Capital Investment Committee and Co-convener of the Cross-party Group on Oil & Gas, 2012-14. Minister for Public Health Nov. 2014 -- May 2016. Minister for Mental Health May 2016 -- June 2018.
Maureen was born in Aberdeen, and worked as a teacher and in the oil industry before entering politics. She has considerable experience, and a strong insight into the challenges and needs of the North-East economy and Aberdeen families. She is married and lives near Banchory in Aberdeenshire.
Contact MAUREEN WATT at her CONSTITUENCY OFFICE:
51 Victoria Road,
Aberdeen, AB11 9LS
Tel.: 01224 876743 * Fax: 01224 695397
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 10.00am -- 4.00pm.
Surgeries: Appointments can be made for Mondays and Fridays at the Constituency Office. Surgery times are as advertised in the local press.
E-mail: email@example.com
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On September 7, Maureen Watt announced that she would not seek re-election for her Aberdeen South & North Kincardine seat in next May's Scottish General Election.
Maureen said: "I will be nearly 75 by the end of the next term, and the time is right for another woman to take on the role." She added: "I love my job. Since spring 2006 it has been a huge privilege and a joy to represent the people in the North-East, and subsequently those in the constituency of Aberdeen South & North Kincardine. However, after months of deliberation and 15 years as an MSP, I have decided not to seek re-election next year."
The daughter of the late Hamish Watt MP, Maureen joined the SNP in 1974, "when persuading the people of Scotland of the merits of independence for our country was hard graft. The prospect of elected office, never mind an SNP Government in a devolved Scotland, was a distant dream. But through responsible governance and bold leadership, we are now on the brink of independence." She entered Parliament as a Regional List MSP for the North-East on 19 Apr. 2006; then won her constituency in the election on 5 May 2011 and was re-elected five years later. She served as the Minister for Public Health in Nov. 2014 -- May 2016, and Minister for Mental Health in May 2016 -- June 2018.
Maureen said: "For me, the most rewarding part of holding elected office has always been helping constituents and assisting the communities I serve, to make their surroundings better places to live and work. Although I will continue to campaign with all my vigour, it will be for others in an elected capacity to take us there. I am also hugely grateful to my husband Bruce, and children Stuart and Kirsty, for their unstinting support. I will continue in these last few months to work as hard as ever in the constituency and Parliament. I will miss my job and colleagues."
Watching dolphins at TORRY BATTERY
Torry Battery is a very large former military gun emplacement, situated south of the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour.
A "blockhouse" had been there since 1780, but was replaced by the present structure in 1859-61. The battery housed nine heavy guns -- six 68pounders and three 10" shell guns -- capable of attacking ships over ten miles out to sea. Reconstruction took place in 1904-06 and the site was fully operational throughout the First World War. During World War II, the battery's artillery was augmented by anti-aircraft weaponry.
In the housing shortage that followed the war, the battery was occupied by a number of homeless people. Aberdeen City Council later took over provision of housing, and the buildings in and around the emplacement remained home to several families until 1953. The artillery was removed three years later, and demolition of most of the buildings followed. Now unused, the site was virtually abandoned and became increasingly derelict. However, some restoration took place in the 1970s and, today, Torry Battery is a scheduled ancient monument, managed by Historic Environment Scotland.
Aberdeen is regarded as one of the best places in Europe to watch dolphins in the wild, and Greyhope Bay Ltd. is a charitable organisation which is on course to deliver a £10million dolphin viewing centre. In 2018, they began by constructing a temporary building -- composed of 14 disused shipping containers -- on the coastal road, near Girdleness Lighthouse. It was originally intended to build a permanent centre on the site, but it was later decided to relocate "up the brae" to the nearby Torry Battery. Dolphins at the Battery will consist of a glass-fronted viewing platform, café and outdoor exhibition, and is scheduled to open in 2020.
In November 2017, Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, met with marine biologist Dr. Fiona McIntyre, co-founder and now managing director of Greyhope Bay Ltd., to discuss the development. Ms. Watt said: "I am delighted to support this project, which will provide Aberdeen and the North-East with the world-class natural visitor centre it deserves."
### More information at:-- https://www.greyhopebay.com/about-us
CASHBACK for Communities
A highly successful Scottish Government programme involves recovering funds through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. CashBack for Communities re-invests the money gained from criminal activity into community programmes, facilities and activities. This benefits mainly young people at risk of turning to crime and anti-social behaviour as a way of life.
Since it began in 2008, the programme, which is unique to Scotland, has re-invested almost £110million. Applications are invited from organisations who wish to become a CashBack Partner for Phase 5 of the scheme, which runs from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2023. Organisations must have a proven track record of delivering activities and opportunities to young people, families and communities most affected by crime.
On 16 May 2019, Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine. commented: "I welcome the next phase of funding from CashBack for Communities. The scheme re-invests criminal assets into community projects which support young people into positive destinations -- diverting some away from potentially criminal or anti-social behaviour. In the city of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, almost £4million has gone to help local projects that help young people. The next phase of funding will focus on projects that support young people and communities most affected by crime. Phase 5 of the programme opened for applications from 12 noon on 15 May until 28 June 2019.
### More information at:-- https://cashbackforcommunities.org/
The AWPR is opened
The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR), the city's long-awaited bypass, was finally completed on 19 February 2019.
Announcing the opening, Michael Matheson, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure & Connectivity, said: "The new section of the AWPR, between Parkhill and Craibstone, now allows the full benefits of this transformational project to be fully realised. The bypass was first proposed over 70 years ago, but it was the SNP Government which took the project forward in 2007."
"Despite the many challenges since then, we have taken a responsible and steadfast approach to delivering for the long-term benefit of the people and businesses of the North-East and Scotland as a whole. We will continue to work constructively with Aberdeen Roads Ltd., as it moves into the operational phase of the project and builds stronger relationships with the community it now serves. We would like to thank local communities, road-users and businesses, in the North-East and beyond, who have been extremely patient waiting for the final section of the road to be opened."
The road's northern Parkhill to Blackdog section was opened for traffic on 27 June 2018, followed by the 7.5mile-long A90 Balmedie-Tipperty dual carriageway on August 15. The major 20-mile part of the route -- from the Craibstone roundabout near Bucksburn to the A90/A956 junction at Charleston, together with the "fastlink" to Stonehaven -- opened, in stages, on 12 December 2018.
►Considerable delays and cost increases for the project were initially incurred through expensive and never-ending court actions by the "RoadSense" group, led by university lecturer William Walton and Cllr. Marie Boulton, who is now the Deputy Leader of Aberdeen City Council.
The collapse of Carillion plc in January 2018 also resulted in an inevitable delay in completion. The giant Wolverhampton-based company, together with Balfour Beatty plc and Morrison Construction Ltd., was part of the Aberdeen Roads Ltd. (ARL) consortium, which built the 28-mile, £1billion route. Picture: Blackdog Junction.
### AWPR Virtual Flyover: -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDkc2s0XVFo
Celebrating 20 YEARS of our PARLIAMENT
In 2019, the nation celebrated the 20th anniversary of the restored Scottish Parliament.
The first session actually took place on 12 May 1999, at the Assembly Hall (of the Church of Scotland) in Mound Place, Edinburgh. The SNP's Winifred Ewing, it's oldest member, chaired the meeting and began with the words: "The Scottish Parliament, adjourned on the Twenty-fifth day of March in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seven, is hereby reconvened."
However, it is the later "official" opening, on 1 July 1999, which was commemorated. A year-long programme of special events were held in Holyrood, designed to showcase the positive impact the Parliament has had on the lives of all of those living in our country over the last two decades. The full programme was released throughout the year, with many opportunities for the public to be involved. This included up to 163 individuals -- who were actually born in Scotland on 1 July 1999 -- being invited to take part in the main celebration, which was held in the Debating Chamber on Saturday, June 29.
Demand for OIL REVENUES to be devolved
The SNP has stepped up its demand for revenues from our oil and gas reserves in the North Sea and Atlantic to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
It is estimated that more than 20billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) remain in the Scottish sector –- enough to maintain production beyond the next two decades. Norway, which has far fewer oilfields, has wisely invested in its reserves. Its Sovereign Wealth Fund is set to reach a staggering £1trillion by 2020. Reports have shown that had Scotland had the power to set up a similar fund in the 1980s, it would be worth in excess of £500billion now. However, the London Treasury has long treated the North Sea as a cash cow -- siphoning off virtually all of the revenues over the past 50 years, with none of it directly invested in Scotland.
Prior to becoming the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, Maureen Watt worked for an oil-related company, and currently co-convenes Holyrood's cross-party Oil & Gas Group. On 8 November 2018 she said: "Over the past decades, successive UK Governments have squandered billions in North Sea revenues, with little reinvested in Scotland's economy. We shouldn't make those same mistakes again. It's high time that Scotland took control of oil and gas revenues – allowing us to use these more wisely to grow our economy, create jobs, realise our potential and build for the future."
Alex Russell, Professor of Petroleum Accounting at the Aberdeen Business School of Robert Gordon University, agreed and commented: "As the bulk of the profits are being made by the oil companies and not the UK or Scottish Governments, it is through mismanagement of the oil resources, which rightfully belong to Scotland and not the UK, We've got to maximise the returns for the long-term good of the country, and the only way to do that is to have a Sovereign Oil Fund that should have been there right from the word Go."
Scotland's STOLEN SEAS
In 1999, UK PM Tony Blair -- aided and abetted by the Scottish Labour leader Donald Dewar -- annexed 6,000 square miles of Scottish waters to England, including the Argyll field and six other major oilfields.
The Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999, was a flagrant "statutory instrument" of the UK Government. It was merely conceived by a Westminster committee on March 23, rubber-stamped on April 13 and came into force on 1 July 1999. With the full agreement of Donald Dewar, the Order was quietly made an adjunct to the Scotland Act 1998, which established the devolved Scottish Parliament. Its introduction was also timed for just before Holyrood's first elections. The map shows the 1987 sector boundary, which went due east from Berwick, and the new borderline which stretches as far north as Arbroath! The annexation was clearly intended by Labour to be a crude measure to weaken Scotland's economic case for independence.
In Jan. 2012, Craig Murray, the former British ambassador to Ukbekistan, and head of the Maritime Section of the UK Foreign & Commonweath Office, said: "The UK's other maritime boundaries are based on what is known formally in international law as the "modified equidistance principle." The England-Scotland border was of course imposed, not negotiated. It is my cold, professional opinion that this border lies outside the range of feasible solutions that could be obtained by genuine negotiation, arbitration or judgement."
"It is essential that Scotland is not conned into accepting this maritime boundary as a precondition of any independence referendum. This boundary must be subject to negotiation between equal nations post-independence, and in my opinion is most likely to end with referral to the International Court of Justice. I have no doubt the outcome would be a very great deal better for Scotland than the Blair-Dewar line, which would cost Scotland billions."
Watt condemns UNIVERSAL CREDIT
The UK Government's controversial Universal Credit social security benefit was rolled out in Aberdeen on 31 October 2018.
It has replaced six means-tested benefits and tax credits:-- Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment & Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Anyone currently receiving any of these benefits cannot claim Universal Credit at the same time.
Speaking in a Scottish Parliament debate on 6 November 2018, Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, strongly condemned the UK Government for the misery its draconian welfare cuts will bring to thousands of people in Scotland. She said: "I am ashamed, angry and despondent that in the 21st century, in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, we have a situation where the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting even more rich -- when that is solely due to Westminster Government policy choices. It is so bad that it has, in fact, attracted international attention and condemnation from the United Nations and other bodies concerned about human rights. I am mortified."
"The roll-out of Universal Credit began in Aberdeen last Monday and, to be honest, all of us in any way involved in it are just dreading the consequences. Whether it be all of the public sector agencies involved, Citizens' Advice Scotland locally, food banks, housing providers or my own staff -- all of whom are expecting to see a rise in demand for their services. In Scotland, we have already demonstrated that we can treat people with dignity and respect with the welfare benefits we now control. It is time that we had control of all of them."
### To view Ms. Watt's speech in full, click on: -- https://www.facebook.com/maureensnp/videos/2250253351861761/
Aberdeen's new SOUTH HARBOUR
Work is well under way to develop a major expansion of Aberdeen Harbour -- in Nigg Bay, to the south of the main port. The project has been accorded national priority status by the Scottish Government.
Two breakwaters are being built across the bay, plus 1,400 metres of operational quay. Work on building the north breakwater and its access road commenced in May 2017. Additional infrastructure will initially include car parks, fuel and water tanks, a gatehouse and welfare facilities. The cost of the development will be £350million -- assisted by a £175million loan from the European Investment Bank. Dragados S.A. was the main contractor, but the Spanish construction giant left the project on 15 June 2020, and Aberdeen Harbour Board took over full control of the development. On July 1, a £1.6million contract for completion of the harbour's north breakwater was awarded to Ashleigh Contracts. On Aug. 31, the Dutch company Van Oord was awarded a £20million contract for rock removal and revetment work. The project was originally scheduled for completion in Aug. 2020, but this has been put back to 2021. Picture: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visits on 17 July 2017.
The port of Aberdeen already contributes £510million to the Scottish economy annually, and supports in excess of 11,000 full-time jobs. Harbour Master Jeff Gaskin said the expansion would make it "the "biggest harbour in Scotland by berthage." The dredging of Nigg Bay required the removal of over 2 million cubic metres of sand and gravel, plus some blasting of areas of rock. The deeper water will enable very large vessels to berth alongside the quay. This will include cruise ships, and will eliminate the necessity for passengers to be ferried ashore, which was the case at the main harbour. Capt. Gaskin added: "Cruise liners normally sail past us, because they can't come into the current harbour at the moment. It's all looking good so far. We've already had a few tentative inquiries and a booking. VisitAberdeenshire is working with us to make Aberdeen and the shire a destination, so this can be a huge opportunity for the whole region."
The new harbour is in the Aberdeen South & North Kincardine constituency of SNP MSP Maureen Watt. She commented: "The fact that Aberdeen Harbour is currently nearing capacity is a demonstration of the enormous success of the Scottish North Sea oil and gas sector. It is extremely positive for the Harbour Board to be so confident of this success continuing that it proposes such significant expansion plans. Aberdeen prides itself on being the Energy Capital of Europe. It is clear that the port currently plays a fundamental role in both the local and national economy, and that working to maintain this position for the future is essential. A key factor in achieving this will be to ensure that the port has the capacity to meet the increasing demands of both the oil and gas sector, and the offshore renewables industry. I look forward to the Harbour Board developing their proposals so that we can all see and contribute to their vision for the city."
### More information on the ABERDEEN HARBOUR website. Click on "South Harbour Development"
LINN MOOR School
A new hall has been opened at the Linn Moor School by MAUREEN WATT, the Minister for Mental Health.
The school, in the Aberdeen suburb of Peterculter, provides residential care and education for children and young adults with autism, learning disability, and related conditions such as social and communication difficulties. The £90,000 A.G. Bain Activity Hall will enable residents to take part in a large range of activities, including forming a cinema club, a youth club, playing tennis and running a tuck-shop.
On January 22, Ms. Watt said: "It is an honour to open this new facility. Linn Moor has long been an outstanding part of the community. It's very important to discover the abilities that autistic people have, so we can find a job that they are suited to." Much of the funding came from the A.G. Bain Trust, which has given financial support to the Voluntary Service Aberdeen (VSA) charity organisation for many years. John Booth, the deputy chief executive of VSA, said: "For more than 30 years, the Trust has supported the work of the charity, and helped us achieve our aims of supporting those with additional support needs. The naming of the hall is a thank-you to them."
Fishermen can't use COVE HARBOUR
Local fishermen are to be denied access to Cove Harbour, on the southern outskirts of Aberdeen.
The harbour has been used by fishing boats since the 1700s, and by an increasing number of recreational craft in more recent years. However, the landowner, Pralhad Kohle -- whose house overlooks the bay -- has blocked the entrance for some time and, by continuing to do so, has stoked up considerable resentment from Cove residents. Jim Adam, chairman of the Cove Fishermen's Association, fought hard for his members to continue using the refuge, and delivered an 11,000-signature public petition of support to Aberdeen City Council. The fishermen also had the firm backing of Maureen Watt MSP, and her SNP colleague Stephen Flynn (the councillor for Kincorth, Nigg & Cove), who suggested that the Council should explore the possibility of using the purchase powers contained in the Community Empowerment Scotland Act 2015 to facilitate a community buyout of the harbour.
On 11 July 2018, after a long-running legal dispute, the fishermen were told to move their boats and equipment from the harbour. In a written judgement, Sheriff Andrew Miller gave the fishermen 28 days to comply, but also ordered the removal of obstructions to vehicular access onto the pier.
### More information on:-- "Save The Fishing Boats of Cove Harbour" page on Facebook.
High FEMALE EMPLOYMENT rate
The latest Eurostat figures show that Scotland's female employment rate is second only to Sweden in Europe.
From April to June 2015, the rate stood at 70.6%, while Sweden's was 74.0%. The UK is in eighth place at 67.4%. Scotland also recorded the second lowest female unemployment rate among the 28 EU countries at 4.9%. Only Germany recorded better with 4.2%.
On 16 November 2015, Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, commented: "Once again the Eurostat figures show that Scotland is among the best in Europe for women's employment. This is something we can be proud of, but it also means we can look to countries like Sweden and Germany to see what further improvements we can make. We recognise how effective role models are in encouraging more women to believe in themselves, and the Scottish Government is supporting a range of training in this area."
The Minister for Youth & Women's Employment, Annabelle Ewing, will join representatives from other European countries in Brussels this week to discuss how they are tackling gender inequality in the workplace.
### Eurostat data can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/home
Community will own MARYCULTER woodland
Inevitably, concerns have been raised over the impact the new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will have on the highly scenic area of Maryculter, to the south-west of the city.
In its appeal for funds to preserve the Kirkton of Maryculter Wood (coloured in red on the map), the Maryculter Woodlands Trust said: "The land around the woodland has long been thought of as an area with development potential and this has now become a reality. To the east, the AWPR bypass will drive through the ancient woodland of the Kingcausie Estate. Further east, the Blairs development project will consist of 280 homes and a golf course. To the south, the AWPR will continue its southward track, skirting the Chapelton (of Elsick) development, where thousands of homes will be built. The chance to purchase the wood for the community means that we could have one place that will remain wild, and be a refuge not only for people but for the animals displaced by roads and houses."
On 8 September 2015, it was announced that, as part of its National Forest Land Scheme, the Scottish Land Fund would contribute £196,000 towards a community buyout of the 67-hectare woodland. The Fund supports rural communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets. It provides practical support and funding so that local people can work together to develop their ideas and aspirations, put in place effective structures, and plan and complete viable land acquisition projects. It is funded and delivered by the Scottish Government, in partnership with the Big Lottery Fund and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, said: "This is fantastic news. With Kirkton of Maryculter Wood belonging to the local community, it paves the way for fresh ideas on to what to do with, and how to maintain the land in its natural state. Everyone will get to have a say and it will be a tremendous asset. The Scottish Government is committed to distributing money to good causes and local organisations that can really make a difference. Instances like this demonstrate how important it is to fund organisations like the Scottish Land Fund, to ensure that local initiatives like the Maryculter Woodlands Trust benefit."
Multi-storey CAR PARK for ARI
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is to have a new multi-storey car park, which will be built opposite the main hospital entrance in Foresterhill Road.
It is estimated that around 11,000 vehicles visit the hospital every day -- bringing patients, staff, visitors and deliveries. Currently, there are only 800 parking spaces available to cope with this huge volume of traffic. The new parking block will have five or six storeys, with space for 1,000 cars, and there are plans to connect it to the main hospital building via a covered walkway. Balfour Beatty will be the main contractor, with work due to begin early next year. Construction of the building is being funded by oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood, who will donate £10million from his family's charitable trust. Sir Ian said he was considering financial backing for other big projects in the city.
Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, commended this latest development at the ARI. Speaking on 29 July 2015, she said: "It goes without saying that the city of Aberdeen is grateful for the immense generosity of Sir Ian Wood in donating such a large amount towards the cost of providing this much-needed facility. The new car park will make a big difference to many people, both in the city and the North-East, who have occasion to visit the ARI. Going to hospital can be a worrying and stressful time. The last thing people should be worrying about is whether they can find somewhere to park before even setting foot in the premises, so this multi-storey car park is exactly what is needed."
Fall in hospital INFECTIONS
A Health Protection Scotland report published on July 7 shows that "C.diff" (clostridium difficile) infections in patients aged 65 years and over in Scottish hospitals have fallen to the lowest level on record.
When compared to the previous quarter, there was a decrease in clostridium difficile infections across all age groups: Patients aged 65 and over, by 19.4% (at their lowest level since monitoring began), while infections for patients aged 15-64 went down by 29.5%. MRSA infections decreased by 35.3%, when compared to the previous quarter. However. incidences of MSSA increased slightly by 3.8% over the same period
Minister for Public Health Maureen Watt commented: "There is no doubt we have made considerable progress in tackling healthcare-associated infections in our NHS. We have seen huge reductions in infections across the board since 2007. That is a tribute to the hard work of NHS staff at all levels, who are doing all they can to ensure we have some of the safest hospitals in the world. But there is more we must do. We will continue to work closely with Health Protection Scotland and the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force to carry on reducing these infections and support health boards deliver further improvements for patients. We are taking forward the recommendations which came from the Vale of Leven report, to improve the systems in place – such as creating local infection taskforces, and working to give the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate the power to close wards to new admissions."
### Full report at: http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/news/newsdetail.aspx?id=21031
Improvements in A&E waiting times
The statistics also showed improvements in waiting times for patients in Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments.
In week-ending 28 June 2015, 94.7% of people were seen within four hours at Scotland's core A&E sites. This is an improvement from 93.9% the previous week, and the best performance since weekly reporting began. During May, 93.5% of attendees at A&E services were seen -- and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged -- within four hours. This compares with 92.8% in April, and the fourth consecutive improvement since January 2015.
Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, said: "The latest figures show A&E performance is steadily improving, with weekly figures getting closer to meeting our world-leading targets. However, we cannot afford to lose momentum now. Our focus remains on hitting that target, ensuring the best possible service for patients across Scotland. Furthermore, monthly performance has improved by over six percentage points since January – showing that our NHS staff are continuing to work hard towards delivering a first class service for Scotland. Long waits of over eight hours have significantly lessened by nearly 90% since weekly reporting began in February."
"It is vital that, with ongoing support from the Scottish Government, health boards continue to deliver strong performance in the summer months, to ensure they are in the best position they can be before heading into next winter. We have put record funding and staffing in place, and are committed to tackling delayed discharge, including through the integration of health and social care. That means we have the strong foundations in place to ensure our NHS continues to deliver quick, high-quality care for the people of Scotland."
TTIP is threat to NHS
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States of America.
The new agreement has the support of the UK Government, which says that it would create jobs and economic growth by reducing tariffs, harmonising regulations and generally making it easier for businesses to trade with the US. However, the SNP is concerned about a potential loophole in the deal, which would apparently enable large US multinational companies to take legal action to block any moves to remove large parts of the National Health Service from corporate ownership.
On 18 February 2015, Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, added her support to the campaign to protect the NHS. She commented: "The status of Scotland's NHS as a publicly-owned and operated institution is too important to be put at risk from the TTIP. It must be protected, and the SNP will do everything in its power to ensure that happens. This is why SNP MSPs are pledging that if the NHS is not explicitly exempted from the agreement, we will call on the Prime Minister to veto it." The Unite trade union shares the SNP's concern about this threat to the NHS, and Ms. Watt (pictured) was one of the first MSPs to sign their pledge in the Scottish Parliament.
Ms. Watt -- who is the Minister for Public Health -- added: "The Scottish people have the opportunity to secure meaningful influence and power in Westminster by voting SNP in May. The more SNP MPs there are, the more we'll be able to ensure that Westminster does not lose sight of the things that are most important. Protecting Scotland's NHS is at the heart of our campaign, and our MPs in any hung Parliament will use their clout to protect our budget from the UK Government's agenda of austerity, patient charging and privatisation."
BUDGET benefits for Aberdeen
The economy and future of Aberdeen are set to benefit from the 2015-16 budget delivered by Finance Secretary JOHN SWINNEY.
The city will receive a better deal than ever before, by sharing in the Scottish Government's £10.8billion local government allocation -- including an extra £11.3million from the new 85% funding floor formula. Aberdeen will also benefit from a £6.1million boost to its housing stock, plus investment in the new Torry-Kincorth Academy and the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary campus. This comes on top of the Government's financial contribution to the Aberdeen Community Health & Care Village and Woodside Health Centre, the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the Aberdeen-Inverness rail improvements.
On 5 February 2015, Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, commented: "I believe that the budget's investment in key areas over the coming year will substantially benefit the people of Aberdeen. Especially welcome is the increase in spending on health and social care in NHS Grampian, which has had its frontline budget increased by almost £246million since 2007. This is the largest increase awarded to any health board in Scotland. Top-class services are also being developed through the new cancer centre and the women's hospital at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary campus."
ENERGY JOBS Taskforce
The Scottish Government has set up a new Energy Jobs Taskforce, to support the country's oil & gas sector.
Chaired by the chief executive of Scottish Enterprise Lena Wilson, the taskforce will report to the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, and will focus on supporting jobs across the energy sector, with an initial emphasis on oil & gas. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also guaranteed that Modern Apprentices (MAs) facing redundancy in the oil & gas industry would be offered continued training, pending alternative employment. Specific support will also be made available through the Adopt An Apprentice programme, which offers incentives to re-employ MAs who have been made redundant.
On a visit to Aberdeen and Westhill on 14 January 2015, the First Minister commented: "While oil prices are at a low level we need to pull together to support the industry. For example, it is essential that the UK Government immediately introduces tax breaks to enable the oil & gas sector to weather the current storm." Membership of the Energy Task Force will include industry bodies and commercial interests, as well as cross-Government representation. Ms. Sturgeon attended its first meeting in Aberdeen on Jan. 28, and later addressed 60 delegates at an Aberdeen Oil & Gas "summit meeting" at the Exhibition and Conference Centre on Feb. 2. The First Minister stressed that investors needed a "strong signal that the North Sea is open for business. I hope oil companies will do all they can to avoid making apprentices redundant. It is essential that Scotland retains and improves their expertise and skills."
Welcoming the creation of the taskforce, Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, said : "The North Sea has made an enormous contribution to the Scottish and UK economies over the last 40 years. In order to prolong the life of the industry beyond 2050 and maximise economic benefits, it is now vital that the Westminster Government maintains the momentum for urgent fiscal and regulatory change in the oil & gas sector. The recent drop in the price of a barrel of crude oil -- combined with the UK Government's chronic mismanagement of its oil & gas fiscal policy, and other challenges facing the industry -- poses a threat to a number of jobs. So I am delighted to see the formation of the new Energy Jobs Taskforce, to maintain jobs across the sector and mitigate the potential impact of any losses."
Kevin Stewart, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central, added: "Our oil & gas industry is resilient and I am sure that it will weather this current downturn. However, it is essential to ensure that those who make their livelihoods in the industry are supported, and in particular those young folk who are new to the industry. The guarantee given to modern apprentices shows our Government's commitment to tackling youth unemployment, and I am pleased that it continues to support young people."
New homes at CRAIGINCHES site
Affordable homes -- many overlooking the River Dee -- will be constructed on the site of the former Aberdeen Prison at Craiginches in Torry.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is in the process of transferring the land, between Grampian Rd. and Wellington Rd. (pictured) to the Scottish Government -- for onward sale to the Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association, which will build 127 flats and terraced houses on the site. In order to attract key workers to Aberdeen, the target market for the new development will be council workers, medical staff and schoolteachers. Pending planning approval, construction will start in early 2016, with completion scheduled for autumn 2017.
Craiginches Prison closed in January 2015, with its unwilling residents being transferred to the new HMP Grampian in Peterhead. Demolition of the 13 prison buildings began soon after, and was completed on July 14. All that remains is the high granite boundary wall, which contributes to a significant narrowing of Wellington Road -- one the city's main arteries. Aberdeen City Council says it plans to remove this traffic bottleneck by buying the necessary land, demolishing the wall and adding a second lane to the southbound carriageway.
After persistently campaigning for more affordable housing to be provided in the North-East, Maureen Watt, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen South & North Kincardine, is delighted the site will now be used to attract people to locate in Aberdeen. She commented: "I saw a great opportunity arising from the newly vacated site of the former prison. When the decision to build much needed homes at Craiginches was announced in August last year, it was a great result for the North-East. I am please to see the plans progressing swiftly, and hope that it will not be long before public sector workers can benefit from these new homes. This development will significantly boost the local economy and job market by improving local recruitment and retention of staff.
The SNP won all three ABERDEEN constituencies in the Scottish General Election on 5 May 2016.
Election Result: ABERDEEN SOUTH & NORTH KINCARDINE
Maureen Watt SNP 13,604
Ross Thomson Con. 10,849
Alison Evison Lab. 4,994
John Waddell Lib. Dem. 2,284
SNP HOLD. Maj. 2,755 Turnout 54.2%


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We regretfully announce cancellation of Florida tournament
It is with great regret that we are forced to cancel the 2019 Fort Lauderdale Major Event. While we remain committed to this exciting event and to the City of Fort Lauderdale, in our preparation and planning we have discovered some financial and operational deficiencies that simply do not allow us to produce the tournament.
Beach Majors and our partners take extreme pride in providing only the highest level of quality as well as the best overall experience. Unfortunately forces outside our control have led us to make the difficult decision to cancel the event for 2019.
We hope to resolve these issues quickly so that we can bring this exciting event back to Fort Lauderdale Beach in 2020.
For now, the Beach Majors team is concentrating its efforts on the tournaments in Gstaad and Vienna and will do everything in its power to deliver to fans, athletes and partners an unforgettable Beach Volleyball FIVB World Championships in Hamburg.
After all, Goosebumps don't lie.
Your Beach Majors Team
Further information for volunteers and fans:
I'm registered to be a volunteer, what's my next step?
If you signed up to volunteer for the Fort Lauderdale Major, you should have already received an email containing further information. However, if you have yet to receive this, or if you have further questions, please email firstname.lastname@example.com.
I've purchased medal match tickets/VIP tickets/a fan ambassador package – how do I go about receiving a refund?
If you have purchased any kind of ticket or package for the Fort Lauderdale Major 2019, you will be contacted by a member of the Beach Major Series team by email with information on how to receive your refund.

subset: commoncrawl


text: On April 9th, 2011 at BAR in New Haven, CT come join the CT chapter of the Surfrider Foundation for their Rock'n The Sound Benefit Concert. Â Music, Go-Go Dancers, prizes, giveaways, great pizza, and all for a awesome cause. Â HEAL will be there showing support to CT chapter and hope to see a bunch of you there.


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What it means to be a Lance Todd Trophy winner
It is 70 years since Billy Stott of Wakefield Trinity was the first to be presented with this prestigious trophy after his side's victory over Wigan in 1946. Many greats have gone on to win the coveted award including Alan Prescott, Alex Murphy, Joe Lydon and Ellery Hanley.
Some have gone on to win it multiple times with Paul Wellens, Martin Offiah and Andy Gregory all winning twice. Some have even shared it with Wigan's Ray Ashby and Brian Gabbitas of Hunslet in 1965, as well as Paul Wellens and Leon Pryce in 2007, doing just that.
Even more impressive is Sean Long's record of winning three times with this year seeing him celebrate the 10th anniversary of his third win. Others celebrating anniversaries include Jason Robinson who won it 21 years ago in 1995.
Last year saw Leeds Rhino Tom Briscoe pick up the award after his 5 tries in his side's victory over Hull KR, but whilst the masses recognise these names and associate the man of the match award at the Wembley held Challenge Cup Final, with the name of Lance Todd, not many know the story behind it.
Lance Todd was a New Zealand born rugby player and coach who died in a car accident during a blackout in 1942, whilst serving in the Home Guard. He was a hugely popular character who coached Salford to their one and only Challenge Cup Final triumph in 1938. To celebrate his life, the Salford RLFC past players association commissioned a trophy to be awarded at the Challenge Cup Final each year.
The Award is traditionally presented to the winner at a gathering of the Red Devils Association on the Wednesday immediately after the Saturday's cup final. This year is no different when a player from Warrington or Hull will claim the coveted prize.
In recent years Salford Red Devils Foundation have taken over running of the event alongside the Red Devils Association, with the 2016 event being held on 31st August at the AJ Bell Stadium.
For more information about this year's awards evening please visit http://www.salfordreddevilsfoundation.co.uk/latest-news/news/foundation-to-host-lance-todd-dinner
Alternatively please contact John via firstname.lastname@example.com or 0161 786 1591


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Hey everyone! Happy NaNo week two! How are we all feeling after the first seven days? Excited? Exhausted? Well, don't worry. No matter what your situation, you're in luck. Week 2 is notorious for giving Wrimos everywhere a hard time, but it doesn't have to. I guarantee you're in a better position than me (oh, hello, 1,200 total word count seven days in!) but even if you're still at zero, the awesome thing about week 2 is you still have SO. MUCH. TIME. to make up for any snags you've hit so far.
If you thought you'd be at a certain point by now and you aren't, you may need to reassess your pace for the rest of the month.
But say you really are stuck and have no idea what to write about next. Here are a couple things you can do if you should happen to find yourself at a loss for words. Have any other suggestions for what gets you through a mental block? Let us know in the comments!
Make it Awkward.
See how your character would react if they were forced into a situation completely outside their comfort zone. What would your main character do if he lost his sight for a few days? What would she do if she had to do a presentation in front of a large crowd completely on the spot? What if he got lost in a foreign city where he didn't speak the language? Put your characters in uncomfortable situations to get to know them better, see how they would react, and, of course, to add to your word count.
Use Music.
Listen to your favorite (or least favorite) song, and use the lyrics as plot points. Okay, so maybe your urban fantasy novel doesn't need a scene about getting down on Fridays. But you know what? You don't have to keep it. Just write it, stick it in a separate folder (totally counts towards your overall word count) and then continue on. It'll get you out of your rut, and help you get closer to 50k.
Dialogue first, exposition later.
You can progress your story quickly through dialogue while also adding a ton of words. You might start heading down an unexpected road if your characters start talking a lot, and who knows where that could lead. Once you're happy with the direction, go back and add all those little things happening to and around d your characters while they're talking. If you aren't happy with the direction, stick it in a folder and move on to something else.
Skip ahead.
If there's a scene part-way through your novel that you're particularly excited about, skip ahead to write it. It'll get your creative juices flowing, amp up your excitement, and you can go back later once you're in the groove to fill in any gaps.
Describe your world.
I find if I'm stuck and I'm not sure what to do, describing the environment around my character helps a lot. It adds a ton of words to my word count (which will probably get cut later, but who cares right now) and I might notice something in the room that I didn't know was there. Maybe there's and urn on the mantle. Maybe that old guy in the corner of the bar knows something my character really needs to discover. Maybe the spoon on the table is a family heirloom my main character will take on his journey. Think about how many words it took J.K. Rowling used just to describe Hogwarts Castle. Start adding those sensory details and you'll be well on your way to your word goal.
Something incredible happens when we let our brains work out problems while we aren't consciously trying to. If you're stuck, give yourself permission to abandon your laptop without feeling guilty. Get in a quick cardio sesh and see if it helps. If nothing else, it'll help shake out your body, which has probably been sitting at a desk too long anyway.
Step away.
I was recently talking to an author and she told me she struggled to find the perfect opening line to one of her recent(ish) novels. Until, that is, she stepped away from her project and went to a museum. The art, the lighting, and the people around her all worked together and the perfect opener just fell into her head (if only we could all be so lucky). Get away from your laptop every now and then and just go take in some art, visit a museum, see a standup show (even if it's terrible, it'll be great fodder). And if you're legally able to, definitely give yourself permission to take time away from your novel to GO VOTE TODAY. Bring a notebook with you if you want to keep writing, and take in the people and scene around you while you wait on line.


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Home > French > French Books > French Children's Books > French Chapter Books
Product Code: 1115
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Eoin Colfer
Artemis Fowl in French
Twelve-year-old villain, Artemis Fowl, is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. His bold and daring plan is to hold a leprechaun to ransom. But he's taking on more than he bargained for!!
Artemis Fowl is intended for native French readers. It would suit a child aged 9+ if they were fluent in French. Otherwise, this would be excellent reading material for older students wanting something a little different, or perhaps for a fluent parent to read to a younger child.
Paperback, 368pp, 125 x 178mm
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Since our girl is attracting attention on the charts and on here as well, let's keep it going!!! When you have been around as long as she has, there are of course lots of "best of" collections. So in my rotation in my car today (remember I am the one who still managed to find a 2019 car with a CD player!!!!) a collection of hers came around that I would highly recommend.
It is called The Real Dionne Warwick and it is a very reasonably priced 3 CD/49 track collection on Sony Music Group. Now first of all, it is all Arista material, so if you are one of those fans who preferred her Scepter years, you might not enjoy this as much.
But for us Aristacrats (I just made that one up!!!!) it is a great collection because it features cuts from every album she did for that label. And even though some folks don't like this, they are all scrambled up as opposed to being in chronological order. So if you just stick the CD in your player and listen while you are doing whatever without looking at the packaging, you will be surprised with each track that comes along because they are not in any order.
Of course with "only" 49 tracks to select from a dozen or so albums, not all of your favorites have made the cut. But it is still a pleasant collection, even if you already had 10-12 copies of some of the songs, as I do in some cases.


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Superbowl News
Super Bowl ads caught in political whirlwind
By AFP
Washington - The ads appearing during the Super Bowl weren't supposed to be political -- but some brands wanted to make a statement, and others may have been just caught in the crossfire.
New owner of Formula One wants to make it like the Super Bowl
Business Insider
Liberty Media, the U.S. media company controlled by John Malone that acquired Formula One for $8 billion this year, is planning a huge overhaul of the motoring competition that it hopes will boost sponsorship revenue and its fanbase in the U.S.
Perry subtle diss at Super Bowl in ongoing Taylor Swift feud
Nicole Weddington
Many fans were hoping that the ongoing Taylor Swift-Katy Perry feud would heat up during Perry's Super Bowl performance, but they were surprised at the subtle jab Perry aimed at the "Bad Blood" singer.
Bob Arum says Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather deal near done
Marcus Hondro
It's next to impossible to determine if the information coming out of the camps of boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is simply pre-fight hype, or an honest evaluation of the negotiations. The latest quote comes from none other than Bob Arum.
Op-Ed: Goodell, NFL want us to forget Deflate-gate but Go, Hawks, Go!
Marcus Hondro
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft tried to manipulate us into forgetting Deflate-gate so the game's big day can go on without being besmirched. Fans fell for it and the issue seems closed but we can exact revenge.
Floyd-Pacman fight announcement expected on Sunday's Super Bowl
Leo Reyes
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Vincent Gerace
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Green Bay Packers pack up; Brandon Bostick mans up, accepts blame
Marcus Hondro
Players from the team cleaning out its lockers after the big game are never in a good mood. Especially players who made big mistakes in the game. Sometimes those players compound their on-field mistake by refusing to accept blame. Not Brandon Bostick.
Op-Ed: Seattle, New England to meet in Arizona — Super Bowl XLIX
Vincent Gerace
The Seahawks and Patriots meet in Arizona to decide who will be crowned Super Bowl 49 Champion. Tom Brady looks for his fourth world championship in his sixth trip to the big show while the Seahawks try to remain champs for at least one more year.
Katy Perry to be joined by Lenny Kravitz at Super Bowl halftime
Sravanth Verma
Katy Perry, who has already bagged the coveted Super Bowl halftime show next month, will be joined by Grammy-award winner Lenny Kravitz, on stage for a guest appearance.
Super Bowl would be welcome at Wembley, says FA chief
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Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl victory parade draws some 700,000 fans
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Seattle jubilant as Seahawks return from Super Bowl victory
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The Seattle Seahawks football team enjoyed a low-key homecoming to a jubilant region on Monday, a day after trouncing the usually high-scoring Denver Broncos 43-8 to win the Super Bowl and the franchise's f
Analysis: Seahawks' total team effort stops Broncos
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Seattle's "Legion of Boom" secondary made the noise this season as poster boys for the Seahawks' league-best defense, but it took a team effort to send the high powered Denver Broncos crashing in Super Bo
Age no barrier for coach Carroll's first Super Bowl win
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Life goes on for Denver's Fox after Super Bowl loss
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Justin Raimondo, of antiwar.com and The American Conservative, wants people to look past the "both heroic and pathetic" anti-government group that's taken over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. Beyond a call for more snacks, tearful goodbye videos, and a lack of sympathy from both local law enforcement and a Native American tribe, Raimondo tells the story of Oregon ranchers and their fight against the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service:
…the federal officials who today preside over the refuge don't remember or don't care to recall that it was the ranchers who saved the land from being despoiled. Imbued with what can only be described as an imperialistic impulse, the feds have relentlessly sought to expand the refuge, using every method, legal and illegal, to drive them off the land.
In the 1970s the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) launched their campaign of conquest: ranchers were informed that grazing was inimical to wildlife and had to be reduced, if not eliminated. Out of a total of 53 permits, 32 were revoked; grazing fees were raised sky-high, and many ranchers were forced to give up their land. The irrigation system they had created and which had attracted birds and other wildlife to the area was appropriated by the refuge. While the original refuge established by Teddy Roosevelt included only Malheur Lake, and neither the rivers whose waters flowed into it nor most of the land surrounding it, today it covers some 187,000 acres, completely surrounding the Hammonds' ranch.
Those who held on, including the Hammonds, were continually pressured to sell, but the hardscrabble ranchers—who had fought the developers, the state politicians, and the forces of nature to preserve their land and their way of life—were not about to surrender to an army of bureaucrats and the urban elites who ran the environmentalist lobby. Their answer was a firm: no way, no how.
Read the rest of the story at The American Conservative: What the Oregon Standoff is Really About
From The American Conservative comments section:
Very well written article explaining the full story. All of the main news organizations leave critical information out of course. They could still summarize, but make sure critical info is included. But they don't. With the internet, its not that hard to research more details. But most people don't do it. Especially if the details get a little complex. They like white and black. Good and bad. The twittersphere is of course loaded with these kinds of ignorant people. Enough of these sorry people who put meat in the grocery stores. Now back to the Kardashians and other more important subjects.
Hmmm… No mention that the Hammonds original indictment includes multiple incidences of arson and efforts to hinder firefighters. No mention of the death threats issued by the Hammonds to various government officials over the years. No mention that their neighbors freely call them habitual criminals – on the record. And an absurdly one-sided version of history in which ranchers are the angelic saviors of the environment, thwarted only by the big, bad federal government and never their own greed, inability to get along with others, or massive sense of entitlement.
This article is just as slanted as the ones it attacks, if not worse. The part where Mr. Raimondo condemns the "howling mob" on Twitter for using words like "arsonists" to describe arsonists should win some sort of award.
The funny thing is that I'm very sympathetic to criminal justice reform, I don't think that these men should ever have been tried under terrorism statutes and I'm pretty opposed mandatory minimum sentencing.
But reading articles like this – written to attack people like me and spread a partisan viewpoint rather than to illuminate a complex issue – makes me far less sympathetic. The Hammonds are not sympathetic characters to begin with, and the more one learns the less there is to like. Being reminded that their most ardent supporters are intensely dogmatic partisans that pretty much hate people like me doesn't help matter any.
Do you really think that if this land were sold at market value that families who've been farming it could afford it? Even if it was leased at market value? Their 'way of life' is dependent on government largesse, too; and their deeply-discounted lease rates reflect shared use.
The fires they set put fire fighters lives at risk. The forest service has methods and ways of doing controlled burns to combat invasive species. So that noble-hearted excuse for arson doesn't sit too well with me, I have too many friends train and volunteer to fight forest fires.


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Varsity Swimming · Orem High Swim Wins Battle for the Paddle!!
Last night the Orem High swim team fought hard vs Mountain View to come away victorious in the legendary "Battle for the Paddle" meet. This marks the 24th year in a row that our Tigers have won the paddle. The girls "swam their guts out" to secure the win for OHS on their senior night,


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Lorelei is currently in her second year of painting, living, and traveling abroad, having spent time in seven countries. She recently completed commissions for clients in both London and Dubai, and just finished a three-month artist residency in the Caucasus Mountains of the country of Georgia.
An ambitious series of paintings is underway, and three of these paintings in the series are featured on the home page. These oversized panels contain up to fifteen figures, and explore the idea of the forces of nature personified, with titles such as The Stormbringers, The Daybringers, The Nightbringers, The Wavemakers, and The Windmakers.
Beckstrom wants to leave her visual storytelling open for interpretation, not packaging particular emotions or messages. Her work inspires curiosity; she wants us to wonder- and she leaves the door cracked just enough to peek in.
Lorelei Beckstrom was born in Minnesota in 1967. After studying painting, sculpture, and graphic design for seven years, she relocated to Colorado in 1994, soon turning her focus exclusively to narrative figurative oil painting.
Beckstrom's work has steadily evolved over the years- beginning with paintings and installations about the brain as a machine- canvases and rooms filled with twisting colored wires and painted and etched plexiglass which depended on light to create shadow images on all surfaces- virtual neural networks for the viewer to enter.
These wires soon led her into painting a series of wire walkers- exploring the human qualities of risk-taking, balance, and perseverance. As these performers were often shown high above crowds, newer paintings filled with staring audiences followed- confronting the viewer with the question of who is watching who- blurring the line between the observer and the observed.
Beckstrom's moved on to favor stuffed animals as her models- using Greek mythology to tell the stories of human tragedy. Others involved the use of giant rabbit heads on her painting's models, playfully looking at the subjects of identity and anonymity. They urged us to think about the masks we wear and what we choose to allow the world to see in a non-threatening way. This work ended with a series of Nordic folktales told through humans in her handmade animal masks.
In 2016, more highly-rendered multiple figure panels addressed the interplay of human relationships and how we relate to our environment. Glowing lights and objects, flying machines, alien plants, and scientific instruments convey a sense of mystery while communicating something familiar.
She has been dedicated to developing the arts culture in Colorado Springs, where she co-owned the award-winning Rubbish Gallery and currently works as gallery assistant/program director for the award-winning Modbo Gallery/ModboCo School of Arts.
In 2012 she was voted by the Colorado Springs Gazette as 'Best Artist on the Rise'. She was featured in a cover story by the Colorado Springs Independent and awarded a Bronze Medal for 'Best Exhibition' for her 2013 solo show 'Fluff'. The Colorado Springs Business Journal included her in their feature 'The Best Artists of the Region' in 2014. In the fall of 2015 she was awarded silver medal for best artist in the Colorado Springs Independent's Best-Of.
Her paintings were part of 'Springs Surreal' exhibition in 2016 at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. The museum featured artists working in a more modern interpretation of surrealism, and were hung along with Dali drawings and Magritte paintings.
Her work was featured in 'Beautiful Grotesque', an exhibition featuring top international artists at the Sangre De Christo Art Center. The museum later acquired one of her paintings for their permanent collection.
She is currently living abroad working on several large commissions both in London and Dubai.
Beckstrom has exhibited prolifically in Colorado, along with galleries in Minneapolis and Santa Fe. Her work resides in collections in the United States, Mexico, the UAE, and England. She is represented by The Modbo in Colorado Springs and the Carla Wright Gallery in Denver.


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Alaska Denied Request to Limit Commercial Bear Part Sales
The Federal Subsistence Board recently denied a Request for Reconsideration (RFR) submitted by the State of Alaska, through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), asking the Federal Board to reconsider its decision that allows commercial sale of bear parts including claws, skulls, teeth and bones taken under federal subsistence regulations. Federal regulations allow the sale of handicrafts made from bear parts on the Internet and in curio shops.
In May 2006, the Federal Board refused the State's request to limit sales, but did adopt an unenforceable prohibition against sales of handicrafts that are "significant commercial enterprises." In August 2006, the State filed an RFR challenging the Board's May 2006 decision. This request was recently denied.
"It is important to allow customary and traditional use and exchange of handicrafts made from bear parts," said ADF&G Commissioner Denby S. Lloyd. "However, the Federal Board went too far in creating a new market for bear parts that will mask illegal sales and provide incentive for more harvest. The State wants the Federal Board to minimize commercial sale of handicraft made from bears before, not after, it jeopardizes bear populations."
The Federal Board's refusal to limit commercial sale creates problems for management biologists and enforcement officers because purchase of claws, teeth, skulls, and bones is prohibited under State law. The State argues that federal regulations violate sound management and create problems under the Endangered Species Act. Unrestricted sales may contribute to illegal harvest, overharvest, and waste of bears in Alaska, and in other states and countries, in the same manner that legal sales of elephant ivory contribute to the illegal harvest of elephants.
The State manages bear populations for sustained yield and provides subsistence use of bears throughout Alaska, including on federal lands. The State allows bear parts to be used in handicrafts that are not sold, but only allows the sale of bear fur in handicrafts and, in limited circumstances, allows intact bear hides to be sold under a permit. State authorized sales do not raise conservation concerns because the fur products are not extremely valuable and because intact hides can be tracked under a sealing and transfer permit system. Federal regulations authorize sales of extremely valuable bear parts without implementing a tracking system.
The State has also submitted a proposal for consideration at the Federal Board's April 30-May 2, 2007, meeting to revise the definition of "skin, hide, pelt, or fur" to exclude claws in federal regulation and to limit the sale of handicraft articles made from allowable bear parts among federally-qualified subsistence users.
To learn more about this issue and view the State's RFR recently denied by the Federal Board, visit www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=management.subsistence.


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