| Travellers make new appeal in bid to stay
Councillors rejected an application for retrospective planning permission in August and the traveller families lodged an appeal in November, which is due to go to a public inquiry. Now a second appeal has been lodged by 16 travellers living on the site. They are appealing against a planning enforcement notice served by the council requiring the caravans to move off and the land to be restored. The council said there was no need for another caravan park in the area where there are already two other sites - one an "official" travellers' site supported by the council and the other which was started without permission, but subsequently gained council approval. Council planners said the Breach Drove site was an "inappropriate, alien form of development in the countryside".
Primary Camera On Hubble Breaks Down
BALTIMORE -- The primary camera on the Hubble Space Telescope has shut down and is likely to be only marginally restored, NASA said Monday, a collapse one astronomer called "a great loss." While other scientific work can still be done by the aging observatory, the unit that failed, the Advanced Camera for Surveys, is the one most scientists depend upon. NASA scientists say they expect to be able to restore just one-third of its observation ability, probably by mid-February. "We're not optimistic at all" about returning it to full function, said Dave Leckrone, a senior scientist on the Hubble at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt. However, all is not lost. Next year NASA plans to send space shuttle astronauts to upgrade the popular telescope in a mission to install new instruments that will actually exceed the capabilities of the current system.
Sound Advice: Professional cleaning best in salvaging audio gear
Q. I have a Pioneer SX 700 receiver that I purchased new in 1968. Recently the left channel has become weak on all functions (phono, AM-FM, tape, etc.). To have both channels equal I have to adjust the balance to the left and I lose fidelity. Do you have any ideas how to fix this or where I could take it in the Twin Cities to have it repaired? JIM MOORE
Minneapolis A. I receive a lot of questions about repairing older audio gear, televisions, VCRs, etc. Before you consider repairs, you have to consider if the item is worth repairing. Most digital electronics such as surround-sound receivers, CD players and DVD players are not worth investing funds repairing unless you have a top-quality model that cost $500 or more new. Like computers, newer equipment is often (but not always) cheaper and better.
Garden club to hold photo contest
KEEN photographers are urged to enter an annual garden photography competition being held in Bahrain next month. The contest is one of the many events lined up as part of the Bahrain Garden Club (BGC)'s Annual Amateur Flower and Vegetable Show taking place over four days. The show offers competitive categories for adults and students in areas like gardening, flower arranging, experimental gardening and industrial gardening. The photography competition for beginners (aged 15 to 19) and adults (aged 19 and above) is divided into two levels for each, namely Amateur and Advanced, said club vice-chairwoman Tahera Jaberi. "The photographs taken must be in colour," she said. "The two themes for the photography contest are garden landscape and close-up of Bahraini desert plants or trees." Each exhibitor can submit two entries in each category.
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