Toowoomba’s Easterfest becomes a major Queensland event

The State Government has announced that Easterfest is one of Queensland's Major Events and will play a key role in expanding interstate tourism. This is the first event for Toowoomba and the Darling Downs to be listed by Events Queensland as a Major Event. Festival Director, Dave Schenk is excited that Events Queensland has recognised Easterfest just 15 years after it was first birthed in Toowoomba's CBD. "This is a tremendous vote of confidence not just in Easterfest, but also in the overall Read more [...]

What’s Happening in Area Churches

Editor’s Note: Events listed in the church calendar must be submitted in writing. Church calendar items are not accepted over the telephone. Information may be e-mailed to mevans@thestokesnews.com or faxed to 591-4379. The deadline is 3 p.m. Monday prior to publication. Ongoing church calendar items will publish the last week of each month if space allows. However, the complete calendar, including ongoing events, may be accessed on the website. Items may be submitted two weeks prior Read more [...]

So many buyers, so few homes

Buying a house in today's market isn't for the faint of heart. For starters, there just aren't that many houses for sale -- at any price point, in any condition. And once-reticent buyers, who may have been sitting on the fence for the past couple of years, are hopping off -- with cash in hand. Multiple offers are clearly the norm and are driving prices up, and buyers need guidance on how to navigate those seas. But, the good news is, from Labor Day through Thanksgiving, there's Read more [...]

Listing makes CEA catastrophe bond the first to be tradable

By Sarah Mortimer Wed Oct 10, 2012 2:18pm EDT Oct 10 (Reuters) - A private catastrophe bond has been listed on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange, the first time such a deal has been made fully tradable in the secondary market. The California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and reinsurance firm Solidum Partners set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in Guernsey to issue cat bond notes through a transformer reinsurance contract.The SPV - called Solidum Re Eiger Read more [...]

Banbury listed metal gates stolen from former Alcan site

10 October 2012 Last updated at 16:06 GMT Campaigners secured Grade II listed status for the Alcan factory gates before its closure in 2007 Thieves have stolen a set of Grade II listed metal gates from a former Oxfordshire factory. Made in 1931, they stood outside the former Alcan factory in Southam Road, Banbury, where metal for World War II planes were manufactured. Thames Read more [...]

Westchester Home Sales Rise, But Prices Drop

Westchester and Putnam counties saw a second round of increased residential real estate sales during the third quarter, July 1 to Sept. 30, of this year, according to Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service. While sales volumes increased for two consecutive quarters, selling prices have not.  Realtor firms participating in the Westchester-Putnam Division of the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service reported 2,243 closed residential transactions in Westchester, a 15 percent increase over the same Read more [...]

LG Nexus 4 sneaks up in Carphone Warehouse inventory

<!-- Pull Quote Image PrevNext "Xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xx xxxxxx xxx!" Joe Blogs xxx xxxx xxxxxx Xxxxxxx xxxxx --> A screenshot of the listing was sent to consumer tech website The Verge, who spotted a device named the 'LG Nexus 4' which the system says will be available in two different colours - black and white. If genuine, the device would be the fourth entry into the Nexus range of smartphones and, according to further rumours, will be heavily based on the Optimus Read more [...]

Building Control Awards for Building and Design Quality 2012

Nominations for the best of this year's building design and build quality are being sought by Bath North East Somerset Council. The Bath North East Somerset Council, Building Control Awards for Building and Design Quality sponsored by Bath Stone Group are now in their thirteenth year. Established to celebrate the very best of design and build quality in the area the Building Control awards are divided into categories ranging from small extensions up to large commercial projects. The Read more [...]

Work to listed home ‘harmed heritage’

HISTORIC features lost during "unacceptable alterations" to grand Amberley Court have been inspected by planners. Some 33 contraventions of listed building rules at the 200 year-old mansion were discussed on a site visit for an informal public inquiry. ​ Amberley Court entrance Government inspector Anthony Davison heard from Stroud District Council's Jamie Cooper and Kate Russell the alterations Read more [...]

Lousy landlords could wind up listed

Dalhousie Crescent is one of the areas where homeowners, students and landlords have been at odds because some homeowners speculate that landlords are renting homes out to far too many students. By Geoff Zochodne/The Oshawa Express  Council’s latest move to clarify its muddled student housing situation is to keep a list, check it twice and find out which landlords are naughty or nice. Previously, the City’s Corporate Services Committee directed staff to create a demerit point Read more [...]