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A CAF chain is seeking permission to expand its business into Westbourne.

Bristol-based Boston Tea Party has applied to BCP Council to take over the disused NatWest building in Poole Road which has been targeted by squatters.

The chain, which has 24 outlets across the south west and west of England, has a caf in Ringwood but none in Dorset.

Boston Tea Party looks for prominent locations in busy commercial areas where their services support a mixed clientele, a statement submitted by its architect says.

It is hoped the caf can both provide an informal meeting place for local professionals and their clients and a place for residents, either from the immediate area or from further afield, to meet and dine.

The business continues to be robust and able to invest in the improvement of its operations.

The statement adds that the caf would source local produce as much as possible.

The chain has applied for a change of use of the former NatWest building as well as to replace some of its windows and doors.

Earlier this year a group of squatters moved in, leaving it in a disgusting state before being evicted, according to people living in adjoining flats.

They left the building a day before a High Court hearing was due to be held on the issue and it was then boarded up and secured.

NatWest closed the branch in October 2017 with the building remaining empty since then.

Boston Tea Party submitted its application last month and has said the caf would create 15 full-time and 10 part-time jobs.

If the application is approved, it would be able to open from 7am until 8pm seven days a week.

An outdoor area at the back of the building would also be created, reducing the number of parking spaces from 11 to three.

The application will be considered by council planning officers in the coming weeks.

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Boston Tea Party plans to open first Dorset cafe in Westbourne - Bournemouth Echo

Jeez, I think Ive finally heard it all. Talk about a day, no, a week, to live in infamy.

The week of December 17, 2019 will surely go down in history as one of the most profoundly consequential of all time. As it relates to political hypocrisy, at least.

This of course is the week President Donald Trump was impeached. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (RKY) says it was the fastest, most unfair impeachment process hes ever seen. As if hes seen more than two. So, the investigations werent long enough? Not enough fact witnesses? No documents reviewed?

Hmmm.

I wonder if that has something to do with Trump sending out a letter to all of his administration officials stating, You work for me, do not cooperate with any investigation or subpoena?

Senator McConnell insists that the impeachment of this president is a partisan crusade, partisan rage that sets a toxic new precedent. This from the man who has shattered most every legislative norm and issue of constitutional order that has come before him.

I guess it wasnt partisan when President Bill Clinton was investigated for years on end until Special Prosecutor Ken Starr finally came up with something. As it happened, that something had zip to do with the original Whitewater fiasco; nope, that led to a dead-end. Poor pathetic Bubba was impeached for so-called perjury.

Yep, he lied about that little thing every man lies about, what he does with hiser, adulterous affairs.

Me thinks toxic partisan rage is better defined in witnessing the 2010 rise of the anti-Obama Tea Party, what with the Capital Hill protests showing teabaggers spitting on at least one long-time Black Congressman hailed for his civil rights work. Not to mention the following six years of Tea Party/GOP obstruction when our legislators literally sat on their hands and did squat while still collecting 179 grand per annum.

Yes, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosisaid impeachment must be bipartisan and the evidence overwhelming and obvious to all eyes. But lets take five and be real; she was giving Republican lawmakers way more credit than they deserve. McConnell and my home-state boy Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have already said they have no intention of honoring their pledge swearing before God and the Constitution to deliver impartial justice.

Rank, meet ranker still. Hypocrisy, indeed.

And speaking of toxic partisan crusades, perhaps McConnell should look in the mirror. He has played no small part in the Rights never-ending crusade to rig a Supreme Court to always and forever adjudicate all-things economic and financial to the advantage ofwell, the advantaged.

By blocking the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, McConnell follows another eras historic precedence of unethical whites stealing-off with the labor of any African descendant who presents himself/herself (that whole chattel slavery thingy). This time, of course, it was the President of the United States, one Mr. Barack Obama.

McConnell had to hold that seat open for a full year!

It didnt matter that President Obama was being bipartisan in choosing a registered Republican who many liberals were against; Mitch cared not. He wanted another Catholic crusader in the vein of loony-toons Clarence Thomas.

No really, Mr. Thomas recently delivered the dedication address at the dedication ceremony for far-right Hillsdale Colleges newly constructed Christ Chapel. He says Our country was founded on the view that a correct understanding ofGod and the human person is critical. He further quotes founding father John Adams: Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

(Can you imagine the uproar if an agnostic/atheist Supreme Court justice suggested America is only for secular unbelievers?) Justice Thomas leaves out the fact that it was this very argument that Adams proffered when running for a second term as president but lost when a wiser founding father, Thomas Jefferson, answered with There is no religious test for office or citizenship.

I know Ive wandered into knee-deep gnarly weeds here, but the point I am making is about intellectual honesty, constitutional order, and the hypocrisies thereof; even from folks we presume are better. No way, Justice Clarence Thomas doesnt understand the holes in his and Adams theory; were talking Constitutional Law 101.

Clearly, he overly enjoys the thunderous applause emanating with shouts of Hosanna! Hallelujah! from his Christ Chapel captive audience. Some folks just cannot bear that America is a pluralistic society with space for everyone. Cant beat them? Rig it.

As for overly enjoying the applause, same goes for Senators McConnell and Graham (who took positions 180 degrees counter when prosecuting the Clinton impeachment): awash in the praise of their Audience of One, McConnell and Graham spew their hypocrisy to rig the senate impeachment trial of Trump in vain.

If Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has anything to do with it, that is.

Not that I expect spin-master DJ Trump to be removed from office; electoralhindsight is 2020. Happy New Year!

Bernie Evans is a writer whose opinions have appeared in local publications, TIME and The Nation.

Read the original here:
Guest column: The Rigged Systems of America - Bryan County News

No one likes us/I don't know why/We may not be perfect/but heaven knows we try

Randy Newman wasn't writing about New Jersey in his brilliant song "Political Science,'' but he may well have. New Jersey is the nation's most mocked, maligned and misunderstood state. It's also the most interesting state. Don't laugh. Not best or prettiest or most livable, just most damn interesting.

What other state packs more scenic wonder and cultural/ethnic diversity in such a tiny, tidy package? From swamps to the Shore, refineries to wildlife refuges, we have it all. But you can't see Jersey in just a week or two.

This is a list of 20 spots you need to visit in 2020. It's a mix of old favorites and under-the-radar spots, weekend getaway destinations and quick afternoon jaunts.

I did similar lists in 2017, 2018 and 2019, but this one is all-new.You won't find many of these places/events on tourism websites. Some of them are downright quirky. You didn't expect us to regurgitate the same tired, old places everyone already knows about, did you?

What places are on your 2020 N.J. bucket list?

Roll out a barrel or two at the Deutscher Club beer garden, Clark

The Deutscher Club, established in 1935, is the state's largest German club. About 10 events every year are open to the public, including the Biergarten (June 7, July 12, July 26, Aug. 23). And there are two Oktoberfests open to the public Sept. 7 and Oct. 5.

Step back into the past at Victorian Days, Belvidere

Ladies and gents in Victorian garb (the hats alone are worth the trip), horse-drawn carriages, walking tours of town, an antique and classic car show, vendors, food and a parade Victorian Days is one of the state's 10 most colorful and entertaining fests. It's held in September. Check the website in the coming months for the dates.

Saed Hindash I The Star-Ledger

Visit the Greenwich tea-burning monument and the rest of Cumberland County

The Boston Tea Party was the most famous, but not the only tea-burning ceremony in protest of British rule in the 1770s. There were others in Annapolis, Princeton, Charleston and Greenwich. On Thursday, Dec. 22, 1774, a group of villagers burned a stolen shipment of tea in the town square. In 1908, a monument (photo) was built on Ye Greate Street in Greenwich. The town's annual charity 5k run is called the Tea Burner Race; the logo is a flaming crate. Quaint historic Greenwich is a good jumping-off point for an exploration of Cumberland County, New Jersey's least-known county at least to the rest of the state.

Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Meander along Washington Crossing State Park

I grew up minutes from the southern end of Washington Crossing State Park, and years (OK, decades) later, it remains one of the state's underappreciated parks. Start at that south end, with its leafy, lovely views along the Delaware, and then head north. You can pull over at several points and cross footbridges to the D&R Canal Towpath. You can even explore an island Bulls Island Recreation Area, just north of Stockton. Two other charming small towns are along the way Lambertville and Frenchtown. In all three towns, you can walk across the bridge into Pennsylvania.

Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Visit an old-school Jersey diner

New Jersey is the diner capital of the world, with about 600 in every nook and cranny of the state. But there's nothing like an old-school diner, one of those stainless steel-shiny, time-warp wonders from the '40s and '50s. A heaping side order of history and nostalgia comes free with every order. Here's my list of the state's 30 greatest old-school diners, ranked. The photo is from Angelo's Glassboro Diner, Glassboro.

Take a choo-choo ride at the New Jersey Museum of Transportation, Allaire State Park

Did you know there is a New Jersey Museum of Transportation? I sure didn't until last year. It's supported exclusively by train fares, souvenir sales and private contributions, is not funded by the state and is staffed by volunteers. It operates the Pine Creek Railroad, one of the oldest operating narrow gauge rail lines in the country. You can ride the train seven days a week from July 1 to Sept. 2, and on weekends in the fall. The fare for the 15-minute ride is $4 for anyone 3 and older.

Order the roast beef and mozzarella sandwich at Fiore's Deli, Hoboken

If I had to bring one N.J. sandwich to my desert island, it just might be the roast beef and mozzarella sandwich at Fiore's Deli in Hoboken. Fiore's, with its red-stencilled window and brick storefront, looks like some old-school deli movie set tin ceiling, fluorescent lighting and a display case filled with olives, roasted red peppers, mushrooms and other specialties. There's no website or official Facebook page and no printed sandwich menu no surprise there. The roast beef and mozzarella sandwich is available Thursdays and Saturdays only.

Finally visit Batsto Village

Batsto Village, like the Great Falls in Paterson, is one of those N.J. treasures that everyone knows about, but too few visit. The site consists of 33 historic buildings and structures, including the Batsto Mansion, gristmill, sawmill, general store, workers' homes and post office. You can take a free guided tour by smart phone, and guided mansion tours are conducted Wednesday through Sunday. The annual Country Living Fair, held in October, is a good day to visit. Batsto is located on Route 542, one of the state's 20 most scenic roads.

John Munson I The Star-Ledger

Take a white-knuckle ride on the Pulaski Skyway

Don't laugh. First of all, the Skyway (no real Jerseyan calls it the Pulaski Skyway) is the state's greatest, grittiest sight: three and a half miles of pure chaos or charm, depending on how you look at it. It snakes and slithers across a shadowy world of warehouses (including one filled with 5 million bottles of booze), bustling container ship depots, belching smokestacks, truck stops, train tracks, power lines, bars, one jail and one sewage treatment plant. It's N.J.'s greatest cheap thrill ride and must be experienced at least once in every Jerseyan's lifetime.

Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Spend an afternoon at the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival, Chatsworth

New Jersey is one of the nation's leading cranberry-producing states, and no event pays homage to the scarlet harvest quite like the annual Chatsworth Cranberry Festival. Chatsworth, part of Woodland Township, is considered the unofficial capital of the Pine Barrens. Blink once, and you're in and out of it. Admission to the festival held the third full weekend of October is free, and there are food and craft vendors, music and more.

Smithville

Call Smithville the anti-mall, a great side trip from AC, and just a cool place to shop and hang out. It started as a one- room stage coach stop and is now a cute/quaint/folksy town with 60 shops in an attractive park-like setting. The Historic Smithville Inn the original one was built in 1787 is here, plus three other restaurants, and you can even spend the night in town, at the Colonial Inn Bed and Breakfast. My favorite places at Smithville include the Smithville Bakery, Country Folk, and Underground, the latter for all your punk rock merchandise needs.

Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Go on a boardwalk food tour

Boardwalk food gets no respect, and maybe it shouldn't. Underwhelming and overpriced, boardwalk food caters to takes advantage of? a captive audience.

But there is good, even great, boardwalk food out there, if you know where to look. I've spent the past two summers roaming up and down the boards to find the best boardwalk food, visiting 108 restaurants/stands and sampling almost 200 items for the ultimate N.J. boardwalk eats list. Stop stuffing yourself with that awful pizza, icky lemonade and limp fries. Check out my list and schedule your own boardwalk food tour.

Spend a day in Atlantic Highlands

Atlantic Highlands is one of those Shore towns that gets overlooked in everyone's pell-mell rush to the beach. Bayfront setting, vibrant restaurant and cafe scene, one of the state's best breweries (Carton), ferry to New York City: what more could you want? Atlantic Highlands, not to be confused with next-door-neighbor Highlands, is an architectural treasure house, with Victorian, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival homes. Take a guided walk starting at the Strauss Mansion through the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society. Must-stops: the Flaky Tart dessert/pastry shop and Nicholas Creamery, for terrific small-batch ice cream. For stupendous views: Mount Mitchill, the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic Seaboard.

Hike to Buttermilk Falls

Buttermilk Falls may not have quite the grandeur of the Great Falls in Paterson, but getting there is half the fun. The Buttermilk Falls trail winds 1.4 miles from the trailhead in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to the top of the falls. From there, the trail continues to make a steep climb to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail for spectacular views of the valley below. If there were a list of the state's eight great under-publicized wonders, Buttermilk Falls would be on it.

Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Order the country's best Cuban sandwich at La Pola, West New York

West New York boasts a United Nations of food choices Cuban, Colombian, Argentinian, Mexican, Italian and more in one compact package. Dulce de Leche Bakery is one of the state's 10 best bakeries. The late Food Network personality Carl Ruiz called the Cuban sandwich at La Pola the best he's had anywhere. It's a perfect combination of bread, ham, pork, cheese and mojo or marinade. You can imagine the reaction in South Florida when my story about Ruiz's claim appeared; the mayor of St. Petersburg and the official Twitter account of Tampa joined the angry protest.

Find hidden treasure or not-so-priceless junk at a flea market

Junk? Yard-sale castoffs? Tell that to the thousands of people who pack Englishtown Auction, Collingwood Auction and Flea Market and the Columbus Farmers Market New Jersey's three major flea markets on a typical weekend. It's bargain hunting on a grand, cluttered scale, both indoors and outdoors. Flea markets, by the way, have nothing to do with fleas. The term has been an American expression dating back to Dutch colonial days, when there was a Vallie Market in Manhattan. Vallie Market was eventually shortened to Vlie Market and pronounced as "flea market." There's some good eating in the markets. The Chicken Coop at Columbus Farmers Market made my list of the state's best fried chicken spots, and Kate & Al's Pizza and Pete's Pizza, also at Columbus, are highly recommended.

Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Chow down on an Italian hot dog at Dickie Dee's, Newark

Dickie Dee's is a hotdog hole-in-the-wall and essential Jersey food experience. It opened in 1958 between Parker and Ridge streets, opening in its current spot, a short stroll from Calandra's, in 1967. Make sure that cell phone is off when it comes time to order and be prepared for the good-natured gruffness of the guys behind the counter. An Italian hot dog is the only hot dog you can get at Dickie Dee's. No chili dogs. No dogs with mustard and sauerkraut. No grilled dogs. Just deep-fried Italian hot dogs, with a fistful of potatoes and onions.

Rent a canoe or kayak at Cranford Canoe Club

Here are two words to put on your N.J. bucket list: Rahway River. Yep. Rent a canoe or kayak at the Cranford Canoe Club and paddle or row your way down that river. Two-hour canoe or single kayak rentals are $25. "Two hours of peaceful water and pretty sights," one happy customer posted on Facebook. "A great quick escape from stress, in a beautiful setting. It's a treasure.'' Reward yourself with ice cream and hot dogs at the concession stand upon your return.

Spend a day in Mullica Hill

Mullica Hill, just off Exit 2 of the New Jersey Turnpike, is one of those oh-so-cute towns New Jersey seems to have the franchise on. Antiques and specialty shops line the main drag, and there are another 15 or so in the Antique Co-Op. Napes at The Warehouse for pizza, and good, albeit pricey, barbecue at 322 BBQ. An upcoming must-event: The 3rd annual Chocolate Walk, on Feb. 8. And one of my favorite specialty markets in the entire state is minutes away, the Amish Market at Mullica Hill. Stop at Beiler's Bakery for breads, donuts and sticky buns, and Chicken Shack (formerly Yoder's) for juicy, delicious rotisserie chicken.

Visit Cloverdale Farm County Park, Barnegat

You can never get enough cranberries. They're one of the highlights at Cloverdale Farm County Park, 90 acres of Pine Barrens wetlands, uplands and cranberry bogs. There's a self-guided nature trailand a cedar-shingled visitors center. The park is open from dawn to dusk every day. County parks are one of the 50 best reasons to live in New Jersey.

Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

What's on your travel list?

So what did we leave out? What never-visited places are you determined to hit in 2020? Let us know in the comments section.

Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

More stories about N.J. travel and tourism

N.J.'s 20 most scenic roads

N.J.'s 33 best small towns, for that weekend drive

N.J.'s 10 most scenic views

View post:
The 20 places in New Jersey you need to visit in 2020 - NJ.com

At the end of 2009, the total federal debt was $12.3trilliona staggering amount of money.

Now, it stands at an astonishing $23.1trillion. Thats roughly $180,500 of debt for every U.S. household.

It is important for Americans to understand how we got here,and what lawmakers can do to bring back fiscal sanity.

Poor Handling of the FinancialCrisis

The federal government entered the 2010s with sky-highannual deficits. This had two primary causes.

First, the Great Recession reduced incomes and profits,which meant a sharp decrease in tax revenue. A slow economic recovery kept tax revenuerelatively low for several years.

Second, legislators used the recession as an excuse to massively increase the amount of federal spending. The 2009 stimulus package in particular led to record-setting spending levels.

President Barack Obama largely sold this additional spendingas a way to jump-start the economy. But the structure of the stimulus packagetold another story. The politically motivated design of the package meant thatit was ineffectiveat growing the economy.

What it did do effectively was grow the national debt. Lowtax revenue and high spending combined to generate federal deficits of over $1trillion per year starting in 2009.

Between the big-government stimulus and bank bailouts, millions of Americans were fed up with how both parties responded to the financial crisis. The tea party movement was born out of this backlash, and the 2010 election put dozens of believers in limited government in the House and the Senate.

Deficit ReductionEfforts Fell Short

Two events in 2011 showed both the promise and the limits of the tea partys political muscle. On the positive side, the practice of earmarking spending for narrow political purposes came to an end.

The publics concern over deficits led to the Budget Control Act of 2011, which raised the debt limit in exchange for rules meant to reduce the deficit in future years. The law had serious flaws, and tea party members roundly opposed it.

Although the law did serve to restrain spending for a fewyears, its flaws ultimately proved fatal.

First, the Budget Control Act created an ill-fated Committee on Deficit Reduction, which failed in producing follow-up legislation to reduce future deficits. This failure resulted in spending reductions through the annual discretionary spending process, known as sequestration.

Here, the Budget Control Acts primary flaw came to bear: It didnt create a single spending limit to cover everything, but instead created separate defense and nondefense categories, both of which were cut. This meant that sequestration did not distinguish between the vital work of national defense and the secondary activities, such as politically-driven business subsidies.

Defense-focused members of Congress constantly chafed at thespending limits. This gave leverage to members who desired ever-more domesticspending. As a result, Congress passed a series of bills to increase spendinglimits for both categories.

At first, these increases were somewhat modest and partiallypaid for to avoid growing the deficit. However, they established a precedent thatwould have devastating fiscal consequences.

The 2018 and 2019 spending deals were massive and undid much of the Budget Control Acts deficit reduction. Rather than doing the hard work of prioritizing what areas to spend taxpayer dollars on, the McConnell-Schumer and Mnuchin-Pelosi deals threw away any pretense of federal self-control.

At the same time, Congress has also allowedmandatory programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaidto balloon. Each of these programs is growing at an unsustainablerate, and combined they threaten to crowdout core priorities such as national defense.

This brings us to a terrifying prospect: The deficit for 2020 is expected to exceed $1 trillion once more. Worse, the deficit is projected to stay above $1 trillion for the rest of the coming decade.

What makes this situation especiallyunconscionable is the strength of the economy. A time of low unemploymentand no major wars is usually an occasion for low deficits and even balancedbudgets. Instead, Washington is abandoning its responsibilities.

But its not too late for that to change.

A Path to SeriousReform

The Heritage Foundations Blueprint for Balance provides a comprehensive guide for responsible policymakers to bring the federal debt under control.

This includes making pro-growth tax reform permanent and expanding on good tax policy; strengthening budget rules to impose fiscal discipline and legislative accountability; reforming Social Security and federal health care programs to target benefits toward the most vulnerable while reducing costs; and eliminating wasteful and inappropriate spending on federal agencies and programs that fail to deliver on national priorities.

Taking this path would preserve individual liberty,strengthen the economy, and enable civil society to flourish. It would also restorefairness for younger and future generations that would bear the burdenof the $23.1 trillion (and growing) national debt.

The 2010s were a decade of debt. The 2020s must be thedecade of balance.

Follow this link:
How the 2010s Became the Decade of Debt - Daily Signal

Tomorrow will see the Duchess of Cambridge turn 38, but the royal has already begun celebrating the occasion. This weekend, the Duke and Duchess welcomed friends to their Norfolk country home, Anmer Hall, for a pre-birthday gathering.

According to US news outlet People, guests are thought to have included Thomas van Straubenzee and his fiance Lucy Lanigan-OKeeffe, Lady Laura and James Meade, the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, and Kates parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

The Duchess of Cambridge

Getty Images

The friends are a tight-knit group; Thomas van Straubenzee, one of Prince Williams closest friends, is godfather to Princess Charlotte. His fiance Lucy is also a teacher at Thomass Battersea, where William and Kates two eldest children are students. Lady Laura Meade is the godmother of Prince Louis and is married to another member of Williams inner circle, James Meade. David, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley and his wife, Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, meanwhile, have been friends of the royal couple for over a decade. Although last year saw speculation of a falling out between Rose and Kate, there was no sign of animosity among the friends when they joined the Queen at church in Sandringham on Sunday.

The Marchioness of Cholmondeley

Getty Images

Indeed the Norfolk January weekend seems to have become something of a tradition for the Duke and Duchess, encompassing activities that are thought to include shooting and a dinner with the Queen at Sandringham House.

They royal couple also hosted friends this time last year, before attending the St Mary Magdalene Church Sunday service the next morning. This year saw William, Kate and their friends smartly dressed for the occasion, looking no less worse the wear for the weekends festivities.

Lucy Lanigan-OKeeffe and Thomas van Straubenzee

Getty Images

Seemingly not a fan of lavish celebrations, Vanity Fair reported last year that the Duchess would mark the actual day of her 37th birthday with a small tea party at Kensington Palace, attended by her husband and children. Now back in London in time for the new school term, it is expected that Kate will again celebrate the day itself with an intimate gathering.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Getty Images

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