The Angevins babies have the right to be made a first-name!

 The first-names of babies published in the weekly section of the Angers newspapers give a glimpse about the wishes of families to endow a touch of originality to their offspring. And the contrast with first-names of defuncts is striking. The Eugène or Léontine gave way to a new generation of inhabitants of Angers of which one wonder if they are really French.

While, in the last list of records, there are always English or American first names (Wyatt, Tom or Lenny), sometimes linked to the success of a movie (Ethan with Mission Impossible, Eliott imposed by The extra terrestrial), the most recent sections display a creativity which gives dizziness : Elia, Eléa, Manoah, Noa, Malo, Lola. In the years to come, teachers in school will have to call upon their memory!

If this diversity of first-names is lawful in France since 1993, it may indicate a loss of landmarks. People take offence of the choice of Angers Loire Valley but in the same time show themselves to be very sensitive to English brands when they go for shopping. 

Credit Wikipédia

If in England the first source for first-names is the Bible and the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and Peter, James, Andrew, Thomas), another source of 'English' first names is the Celtic tradition, like in Angers, and other 'English' names were brought to the country through invasion. So the Normans of north-west France brought many names to England as a result of the invasion of 1066.

The Angers Cesbron solar powered headquarter reflects the economic priority of tomorrow

A visit of the new headquarter of the Cesbron Group located in an industrial area at the East of Angers gives to the visitors an idea of the world which awaits them : a world where savings will be central. If the architecture of the building, outside and inside, is uncluttered and functional, it is, above all, technically astonishing with its heat devices, light systems which generate, at worst a very low conception of energy, at best the production of the power needed! The inspiration which preceded the construction is revealing of the worrying of the priority of tomorrow.

Savings are of course intimately linked to the protection of environment and the limitation of natural resources but the visit of the Cesbron Group recalls that the first meaning of savings is economical : there are no button switches in the offices of the two stages building nor in the corridors. Every emission of heat, for example in the informatics room, is totally salvaged and recycled. The solar panels, under different forms, are everywhere : on the roof, on the outside wall, and the presence of a pond which circles the building enhance the intensity of solar rays.

The regulation of heat is also a return to old uses : the temperature ranges from 19° to 26°, meaning that inside that scale people have to adapt their dressing. That was the rule formerly and that will be the rule in France tomorrow.

Sunday superstores openings : tensions are increasing with Angers trade unions

The local trade union offices, Imbach square

The tensions may increase regarding the opening of stores on Sunday. Angers trade unions threaten to block the Saint-Jean-de-Linières Leclerc superstore if it opens next Sunday and the Angers Loire Métropole have launched an appeal to lead the prefect to prohibit such openings. But, through the Sunday opening of superstores, two conceptions confront one another in Angers economic and social lobbies about what the families need to do on that day. 

The signature for Megarama complex in 2013 (Angers city)

On one side, Angers Loire Metropole repre-sentatives and trade unions, claim that Sunday must stay dedicated to rest, leisure and family life. On the other side, commercial centres owners who, during a depressive economic period on consumption, must, nevertheless, make their business run (what preserves jobs) and consumers, who don't speak but walk throughout the commercial malls and the departments of superstores. 

The Leclerc superstore entrance in Saint-Jean de Linières

The problem is all the stakeholders of the debate never give the floor to the last ones. But, except for superstores, many commercial activities in Angers are running on Sunday and recently, Angers Loire Métropole itself was happy to announce the conclusion of a contract with the Megarama company which will set up a building hosting six cinema opened, probably, on Sunday in Les Ponts-de-Cé. For consumers, there is no difference between an entrance to cinema or the purchase of an item in a commercial gallery on Sunday.

The change comes from consumers who, apparently, consider going for shopping on Sunday is a family leisure like a walk in the countryside or a movie in a cinema for others. Apparently, Angers Loire Métropole representatives or local trade unions' leaders didn't notice that change.

Students and Angers town hall attempt to rebuilt a new relationship

Credit : Angers Fine-Arts Museam

The city makes its heritage accessible the students. The Fine-Arts Museum will be free for these on Thursday November 17th from 7 pm to midnight. The idea is nice because every Thursday evening, many students are in town for gathering which signal the (next) end of the week. Moreover such an initiative may prompt them to frequent other places than bars (even if, most of them are not addicted to over drinking habits).

This initiative could reflect that both youth and town hall are decided to work together to built a new way for student's life in town. At the beginning of the month both signed a chart defining rules for the inhabitants' stillness and students' security during these evenings. Such initiatives could encourage a better understanding of students and the inhabitants. 

Credit Angers city

Along the recent years, many people have, in reason, criticized the behaviour of students. But may be the city should consider this alcoho-lization is not unrelated with grim perspectives for young people. With 30 000 students living in Angers from September to June, the town is right to promote actions recognizing young are an essential element of its dynamism.

Angers Loire Métropole launches a plan of economic support in 2012 after taxes increase in 2011

Offices for sale in an Angers industrial park

Face to a "staggering increase of unemployment", Angers Loire Métropole is about to implement a second plan of support to companies and employment. "The figures of unemployment show a staggering increase of 34%" in three years, points out the website of town hall (about 30 000 jobs seekers are counted in Maine et Loire). The city is going to unlock 6 millions € in 2012 and 2013 to support about a thousand jobs. The main measures of that policy concern the companies and the job seekers.


The Alm plans to dedicate 0,7 million €, i.e. 12% of the total amount of its financial resources, to companies. The aids will consist in loans with a low interest rate or even in grants. Others aids aim to stimulate the creation of jobs in the little companies. Regarding the job seekers the city will maintain the four job points on the territory of Angers Loire Métropole while the "Employment bus" has been stopped.

Crédit : Angers Loire Development

This plan seems most of all aimed at the protection of Angers inhabitants against the consequences of the economic crisis. But the territorial authority should have in mind that the best aid it can give to the private sector and consecutively to the job seekers consists in lowering the taxes on companies and households. But in 2011, Angers city increased, for the 1st time in 28 years its local taxes and Angers Loire Métropole created a new one. The authorities should deal first with the local roots of the crisis instead of its consequences.

Unaesthetic use of balconies depreciate Angers' social housings

Old buildings

The social buildings are often characterized by the way the tenants use their flats. A good example of that case is located along Bédier boulevard where old buildings have seen their front side completely re-designed. Loggias and balconies stand out against the black and white surfaces of the building testifying the care dedicated to the conception of the renovation works.

Renovated buildings

Some of the tenants have not the same care or didn't notice the efforts of their lessor. Sometimes, the balustrades are disguised with an ugly screen breaking up the harmony of the building front side. Other tenants have simply set up a stays on which a satellite dish has been fixed. Some use their open air extension to display as flags their most personnal washings...



This practice, common in old and renovated social buildings, only leads to depreciate the building and those who live there. The lessors, if they are not entitled to compel the sober use of the flats by their tenants, should recall them that the social harmony doesn't exist without discreet behaviour.

An Angers window on kindness

Sometimes people pay attention to others on a very discreet way. That is the case in a quiet street of the North district of Angers where inhabitants of a little house, for months, have designed the front side of their home in a nice way both for the eyes and for the heart of passer-by. The front window, framed with shutters, is liven up with small potted plants and flowers. Such a decoration yet points out the kindness of the occupants. But another detail attracts attention and sympathy.


The occupants have also set up some slates on which they have written with a chalk a few words on the date of the day, the hours of sunrise and sunset, the saint patron, the weather and even a recipe. Even on the pace of a pedestrian, it is difficult to read the little texts. But, nevertheless, a simple glance allows the passerby to catch the message and the care which is behind.


The gesture is obviously appreciated by neighbours who respect it. But how the occupants of the house know that? Are they informed of that? Are they aware of that? Are they only worried of that? Daily, they resume their little work which may give them the certainty that a good action has been done. Turned towards the anonymous passerby, the little slates and the plants their owners don't see from inside warm relationships and life. Simply. Discreetly. Lively.

The Angevins look nearer to a façade solidarity than consistency

Angers superstores were full

Angers city will be part to a "Week of international solidarity" planned from the 12th to the 22nd November with numerous other French towns, announced the townhall website. This event will be "a time for bandy and an awareness campaign about different themes ranging from the access to the rights to the aid to development". A lot of gatherings will take place throughout the city and will, notably, be focused on many rights "the right to democracy", "the children's rights", "the right to the earth". Some original initiatives are also set up : "the world championship in shunning fondamental issues". 

of cars during Memorial Day.

Obviously, the Angevins look very interested by interdependency with abroad. In the 2011 edition of the "Week", underdevelopped countries from Africa to Carrribean Islands got the attention of the instigators of the event. So it is logical that the ideas discussed during these days concern mainly the ways to help the economic take-off of these countries.


But another conception of solidarity could be appropriate and legitimate (and not necessarily exclusive with the present one) : the solidarity with the rising generation of Angevins who may inherit from French state and possibly territorial authorities mountains of public debt to refund. What, moreover, could prevent them to finance their own projects. 

What's the difference with a no working day?

A very expressive way to express that solidarity would be to reconsider, locally, the stance about the openings of stores on Sundays because it could allow a supplement of money for employees. But the opposite position has just been adopted by Angers representatives and the prefect while it has also be reasserted by inhabitants (even if the parking lots of superstores were full of cars on November 11th "Memorial Day"). So the Angevins say one thing and do another...

Angers inhabitants "chat" their eyes in internet talk with the mayor

Prefecture Mall where troubles are criticized

News analysis. - The bimonthly chat of Angers mayor, Jean-Claude Antonini, published on the town hall website on Tuesday is an interesting sum-up of the local issues the inhabitants have had in mind during the last months. These seem to reflect contradictory worries. At the same time, chatters recall civic duty, the defence of French as mother language but also their confidence in just board signs to prevent troubles and noise from youths in Prefecture Mall.

If same people criticize the tax increase, others, meanwhile, refuse categorically Sunday economic activity which could possibly fuel revenues and jobs. Angers inhabitants seem worried about the implementation of civic duty. Positioned at the beginning of the chat, an elector recalls that "vote is a duty, above all next year" while Mr Antonini points out that abstention reflects "despair". This unanimity is cracked regarding the choice of English words for the international brand of the city : "Angers Loire Valley". An inhabitant thinks that "We must defend our national language before all" (instead of using English) but the mayor notices it is possible to love French and speak another language.

"Pround to be Angevins"

The only economic issue evoked in the chat is the opening of superstores on Sundays. On that point again, very fixed opinions are expressed : according to an inhabitant, these openings are a "coup regardless of employees and family life".  The mayor considers these openings are "a war" he believed "was over for 150 years". Both seem to ignore that parking lots are full of cars during no working days. Impression of pride and unconsciousness of what is at stake presently emerges from that chat in which, to a certain extent, questions were as interesting as answers.

Angers city recognizes the current failure of VeloCité+

After almost a year of implementation, VéloCité+ has not yet found its customers. Praised by the former deputy-mayor in charge of transportation in Angers, Bernadette Caillard-Humeau, as an astounding success, the service displayed of Saint-Laud railway station esplanade didn't in fact convinced consumers. "A new concept needs time to establish itself", recognizes Vincent Dulong, who inherited the field of transportation when Mrs Caillard-Humeau was dismissed of her charges a few weeks ago. 

His successor guess changes are necessary "Maybe should we [set up] new stations in town?", he said to the daily Ouest France. Designed at the origin for work uses, the bikes are in fact rented by (a few) people for their leisure. This is not surprising : it's not really easy to go to an appointment if the biker is dressed in a classic professional style? Moreover, where can he park the bicycle and is it fair to spend money for the rent of the stopped bike during the appointment? But almost, why to pay a rent per hour when thousands of other bikers got their engine for free and for months thanks to VéloCité? 

The bicycle sheds scattered all over the city for bikers using trolley don't look to convince Angers inhabitants. Most of them are empty all day long and they will not be filled up with VeloCité+ which should cost 45 000 € per year to the Angers taxpayers.

Letter from the editor

Dear Fourmenterian,
Thank you for your comment on the article about the Englicized des Lices Street. Yes, I didn't saw the fact we are approaching the 1 000th anniversary of that dynasty.
Warmest regards 
Ed

Between Loire and Océane : an exhibition on man looking down upon nature

"Entre Loire et Océane", an exhibition hosted by Le Quai Theatre from November 4th to December 18th, is an attempt to catch the profound, but unnoticed, changes of the Anjou landscapes along these two major ways of communication, one natural, part of the visual environment, the other, the Océane highway, also known under the reference A87, artificial part of the local geography. Curiously, the 13 twinned panels set up on two parallel tracks in the entrance hall of Le Quai don't reveal such changes because they are too abstractive.

No explanations, no titles, no indications about the places which have been photographed, prevent the visitors to cling to their visual memory and to realize the amplitude and, in some cases, the irreversibility of landscape changes and deteriorations. The author maybe sacrificed the learning power of his work to its artistic dimension.

That one is nevertheless real. Viewed from the sky, concrete surfaces of parking lots, where customers or employees run like ants, point out the material and intellectual imprisonment of individuals in contemporary world. But the most intriguing and perhaps the most worrying impression is, whether it be Loire river or A87, the results are the same : a shaping by man of his environment after an era of man dominated by nature.

Angers, Des Lices street : English license

In order to give to the Des Lices street a foreign touch, the Angers city decided a  long time ago to give it a double name sounding Italian "Corsa Italia". If along years, that foreign touch has came, the results do not sound Italian but... English, from end to end of the way. Along the pavements, many shop signs are English what ever be their products : garments, accessories, shoes, pubs or restaurants active or opened soon : Xclusivity, Wolford, MellowYellow, or Fendisuperstar dedicated to women, or Events for young men while Opus One, Del Ice Cocktails or the future Chandler Sandwich Bar.


 The communication boards or the interior design is clearly anglicized. In one of them a huge totem is entirely written in English : "For its 30th anniversary since 1981, Noa Noa has created timeless garments for divine women" adding "welcome to our world of wonderful colours, delight authentic details". In a pub recently opened at the extremity of the street, Union Jacks lights are put up on the walls but it's not sure the tv screen is broadcasting English programs.
 
If the circumstances for retail trade are not easy presently, the English vocabulary is fashionable. One a front side of a boutique, a huge poster has been stuck. If it isn't written "to rent" (only for regulation reasons), the agency in charge of the dealing is... Century 21. Only lacks English accent in the shops. Would the English speaking students looking for a job on weekends be interested?

A special issue of Charlie Hebdo made a hit in Angers

Charia Hebdo was a hit in Angers. After the Paris headquater of the satirical newspaper was destroyed by firebombs during the night between the 2nd and the 3rd November, the issue of Charlie Hebdo dedicated to the Islam topic with the prophet Mahomet laughing on the front page was impossible to find in Angers kiosks and in news distributors on Thursday.


Answered during the Thursday evening if issues of the weekly newspaper were still available, most of these told the copies of Charia Hebdo were already sold as soon as the opening hour on that day. According to these professionnals, the destruction of the offices of Charlie Hebdo appears only to have excited the curiosity of Angers readers. "It will be a collector's edition", commented several news dealers in downtown, well aware the phenomena wasn't specific to their stores. "Some issues could be for sale in Angers surroundings", they believed. Nevertheless, to the pitch of the reaction of some news dealers, it's not sure all of them put Charia Hebdo in sale in order to avoid possible troubles.


The local press didn't report on that week hostile or even negative reactions coming from Angers Muslim circles to Charia Hebdo, what could mean that in Angers persons having religious convictions are willing to distinguish the stakeholders to a debate from the ideas of that debate, was it religious. On Saturday, supplementary copies of the special issue were again delivered.

African comers : Angers townhall tempers its ambitions in admissions

The French Home minister has decided to alleviate the pressure Angers city felt since months from "asylum seekers" arriving from the Horn of Africa. The minister ordered to the prefect of the Pays de la Loire to dispatch towards different places in the region the persons arriving till now in Angers from Eritrea, Somalia or Sudan. If that answer does not fit to the wish of Angers representatives - to get from French State more important resources to deal with the number and the needs of these African families -, it will nevertheless reduce the material difficulties and individual uneasiness managers Angers charity communities complained.

So if these communities didn't get the financial help they were looking for, it means they will have to adjust their qualitative and quantitative objectives to their resources instead of, maybe, doing beyond their resources. And their members will have to bear their scruples.

Rose-Marie Veron

During weeks before the meeting between Angers representatives and the French Home minister, the stance of city hall has changed. "We, representatives and associations, ask to the State to lock off the necessary resources in order to implement a help to asylum seekers everywhere and fairly. This is necessary in order, in Angers, to fulfil our goals" said Rose-Marie Veron, deputy-mayor on october 28. A few days later, on november 3rd, Mrs Veron told "We have to be realistic, we shall not be able to welcome all the Somalians in Angers". It could be wiser, for Angers to aim efficiency instead of fame.

Industry : massive losses of jobs in Angers metallurgical industry on 10 years

Crédit : Angers Loire Développement

After previous takeovers of Anjou companies like Cesar or France Champignons, the French investment fund Butler Capital Partners had recently bought the Anovo group including its factory of Angers. Anovo is dedicated, among other things, to the repairing, extension of guarantee, or regeneration of electronical products, like mobile phones, computers, internet boxes, for distributors (CDiscount), operators (Orange or Bouygues) and manufacturers (Alcatel). The problem is the repairing of these products in Europe became more expensive than the purchase of new one produced in low cost countries.

In order to put the company back on its feet, Butler Capital Partner has taken tough measures that consist in lay-off : in Angers, 72 employers of 107 will loose their job. The Butler company paid 22 millions € and aims for a return to financial balance within 18 months. 

 

 That new loss of jobs reflects the trend in the Angevine metallurgical industry since the last 10 years. From more than 27 000 jobs, the companies of that field don't employ today more than 21 500 persons. One of five jobs has been lost since a decade. The world economic circumstances, but also national measures and among them the work time reduction, endangered the competitiveness of Anjou industry. And 2012 should not be good.

Pierre Cointreau : death of a "Gentlemanager"

Credit : Maine-et-Loire Chamber of commerce and industry

It was said by local medias of Pierre Cointreau he looked like an English man. The church of Montreuil-sur-Loir where his funerals took place on Thursday had that touch too. The monument is erected on a little hill where the parishioners arrive by a path lined with lime trees and, with the difference of French churches, is simply circled by a lawn "brightened up" by a war monument. The weather under which all the relatives of the former chairman of Cointreau came to say goodbye had an English touch too : a drizzle under a grey and low sky.

Of course the church was too small to gather the public arrived from numerous places outside the Maine-et-Loire who share the same reverence in the defunct memory. The ceremony was, in keeping with Pierre Cointreau wishes : "sober and short", warned the priest who even respected the will of the deceased in a brief homily, preceded and followed by simple prayers and choir songs.

With Pierre Cointreau disappears for a while a entrepreneur who reached to keep his company strong links where the territory where it was created and to push it among the world spirits brands. Besides to his business, Pierre Cointreau had dedicated a part of his life to local responsabilities at the head of the Montreuil-sur-Loir city hall, Angers Chamber of commerce and industry, Angers Exhibitions Park and in social housing. He was 91 years old.

Preparatives to Angers municipal elections have already started for the left candidates

The preparatives for the Angers municipal elections due to take place in 2014 could be already under way. On the left political side, important persons in the majority of the town council will withdraw, some at the end of their mandate, others, and among these, may be the mayor, before the term of the office. 

Angers city hall

So, the left side is trying from today to look for new figures to join a team for the next campaign. The left side of Angers municipal council fears a new battle with the leader of the right wing in Maine-et-Loire, Christophe Béchu who, in 2008, only just missed the office of mayor but has been recently elected senator, and has now a more important stature. 

In order to compensate a possible imbalance in terms of notoriety, the candidates to lead the left list of town councillors to the city hall in 2014, have just contacted a local manager, but famous in the world computer industry, who never played a part in Angers policy. Until now involved in local business circles through conferences or in sport community, this person hasn't yet given his answer and could not do so, publicly, in the months to come.

The deterioration of economic circumstances, global and local, on households and companies doesn't spare the municipal authority like Angers city. So, the involvement of a successful manager would bring some economic credibility, fame and openness to the left list which hopes to succeed to the present mayor and his companions. "Angers licks large".

In a day dedicated to defuncts, Angers consumers look alive

On Thursday, the weather was nice and the temperature was mild, 18° in Angers. It was really a beautiful weather for spending time en famille... to go for shopping in the local superstores opened on a day dedicated to memory of defuncts. The wish of the mayors of Angers Loire Métropole, the protests of Angers section of Europe Ecology Les Verts and of Jean-Luc Rotureau, deputy-mayor of Angers, on behalf the left group of the Conseil général de Maine et Loire, apparently didn't dissuade the families to do what they wanted.

If they were not full, the parking lots of the Carrefour superstores of Grand Maine and Saint-Serge were nevertheless well filled up by cars. Apparently, the Angers consumers didn't come there only for vital purchases. Near Carrefour Saint-Serge, the parking lot of the Conforama store was itself crowded, and that brand is not famous for its food products... 

These facts seem to contradict the opinions of these political representatives opposed to the opening of superstores on Sundays. Families could not be sensitive to their arguments : the attachment of Angers inhabitants to a day for family leisure or the doubt about their purchasing power if the stores are opened all week long (could it increase if they were closed two days a week?). Of course, November 1st wasn't a Sunday but it is nevertheless a no working day. So where is the difference? 

Sunday openings : the Angers Cci wishes the debate be open

After the mayors of Angers Loire Métropole, the Angers section of Europe Ecologie Les Verts, then the left part of the Conseil général de Maine et Loire, the issue of the sunday openings of stores has just involved the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Maine et Loire. In the october issue of its newsletter EssenCCIel, the deputy-chairman of the consular authority says that in spite of work regulations, the position of the sunday rest and the organization of French society in which numerous leisure communities display activities on sunday, "the debate must begin" because "the world is changing [and] the new generations have not the same expectations" compared with those of previous.

The main difference of the Cci of Maine et Loire with the stances of Angers political movements and representatives is the refusal to oppose "economy and way of life" as well as "retail trades and superstores" or "work against leisure", writes Eric Grelier. The deputy-chairman, who notices that even superstores haven't a strategy in this area, points out that the decision to open on sundays must follow "real standards of earnings for the consumer".

A good way to objectivize the opinion of Angers inhabitants would be to poll them. In another point of view regarding the new commercial center Atoll, due to open in spring 2012, the Cci brings the final object of the debate regarding the interest of commercial openings on sundays : "It's useless to confront one another. Instead, we must have a look  to the assets [the sunday openings] bring because we must all work to improve the attractiveness and the economic development of our territory".