CAITHNESS.ORG HEADLINES ARCHIVE ::  FEBRUARY 2012
Clive GrucockWizards Are On Their Way
In these days of austerity there is one businessman who is delighted to be able to bring a sparkle of childhood back to life. That is Highland magician Clive Grewcock who is based in Golspie, Sutherland but has the privilege of taking his magic throughout Scotland.  Clive (44) said, "It is an age old story that Magicians were bitten by the magic bug at a young age and that interest lingers and only when these guys are older do you see the potential and relevance of Magic as an Artform in our lives. Magic is so much more than a bag of tricks, it is as much to do with presenting a piece of visual art as well as working in a social environment and getting people involved with the performance whether on stage or at fingertip distance."

Wind Farm Exhibition at Reay
Windfarm at Reay Offers Huge Community Benefit
Green energy developer Infinergy is set to showcase its plans for the Limekiln wind farm, near Reay, which could bring in £9.75million to support community initiatives over its lifetime.  The proposed wind farm of up to 26 turbines would have a generating capacity of around 78 megawatts (MW), enough to power around 43,600 homes - equivalent to 43% of Highland households.  With an associated community benefit package worth up to £5,000 per MW, the project could generate an annual windfall of around £390,000 each year for the local community over its 25-year lifespan.  For more information see www.limekilnwindfarm.co.uk
The company is holding community open days at Reay Village Hall on Thursday 8th March, from 2pm to 8pm, and Friday 9th March, from 12pm to 6pm
Get Your Business Noticed On The Caithness.org Group Of Web Sites With Google Banner Ads
Google Ads are now showing between 1.5 and 2 million ads per month on Caithness.org.  Google ads are highly effective as they target users surfing to feed ads closely related to searches and other clicks.  The ads often relate to the pages being viewed.  The rates charged are set by you so why pay for fixed banner rates on sites with low volumes of page views.  You can set you rates to pay per click and so you get a double bonus for people who see the ad but you do not pay for it unless it is clicked.  For new businesses in Caithness and Sutherland you can still get your free page in the Business Index - Caithness   Sutherland
More FREE coverage for your business is available if you have any new features or offers.  Just send us an article with details and we will consider it for inclusion in the business index linked to your free page at no cost to you.  If possible send a suitbale digital photo with the item.  Itesm in our Business index appear in the forum Business pages and also often in the Caithness.org Facebook pages automatically so you get even more free coverage and let the audience know what you have to offer.  Advertising used to cost an arm and a leg but now your business can access many free mentions on Caithness.org - FREE - why pay more?
Kessock Bridge Repairs To take place Feb to June 2013 and 2014Essential Roadworks To Upgrade Kessock Bridge To Take Place In 2013 and 2014
An estimated £18 million programme of essential works is to be started next year on the Kessock Bridge to bring the key route into Inverness and the North of Scotland up to modern standards and ensure public safety.
The road surface on the bridge, which carries 30,000 vehicles every day, has reached the end of its working life and the need for ad-hoc repairs has become increasingly disruptive to traffic. It is now necessary to intervene and resurface the bridge in its entirety, saving motorists time lost to emergency roadworks that would otherwise be increasingly required without undertaking these essential repairs.
A programme of works has been planned to upgrade the bridge under a single contract and this will commence in February 2013 and last until June 2014. Traffic restrictions will be in place for phases during this period as follows: -
•       Phase 1 Resurfacing (February 2013 to June 2013) - 2 lane running 24 hrs.
•       Phase 2 Resurfacing (February 2014 to June 2014) - 2 lane running 24 hrs.



'Most Radioactive' Particle Found On Beach Near Dounreay
The particle, which was found on 14 February, was the 208th to be recovered from the beach by contractors. Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) said further analysis may confirm the find as "significant". If so, it would be the first particle from Sandside to be given that classification.  Initial tests estimated that an isotope called Strontium-90 in the particle had a radioactivity of between one and two million Bq.
Doanalsin's Diary
Noel Donaldson writes Doanalsin's Dairy

Fit's in 'e Groat 'e day?

Fire service committed to its communities

Cases from today's sheriff court session

NHS Highland clarifies hip op.concerns


Castletown's Youth Club Valentine Day Was A Huge Success
Valentines Fun Day fund-raiser for Thurso Youth Club held in the Drill Hall was very successful.  They raised £636 for the Club.  A big thanks to everyone who came along.

Chief Constable presents prize to Rock Challenge 2012 winners Thurso High School
Thurso High RocksThurso High School and Dingwall Academy will be going through to the inaugural, national final of the Be Your Best Foundation's Rock Challenge.  The event, held at Eden Court Theatre last Tuesday, was won by Thurso High School with Dingwall Academy as runners-up.  As a result both will go through to the national showcase event at the Caird Hall in Dundee on Wednesday 13 June 2012.  We can reveal that there may be a wildcard opportunity for Alness Academy. The school performed excellently and may still have the chance to take part in the Dundee final.  Northern Constabulary's Chief Constable George Graham presented Thurso High School with their prize after their winning entry, 'Alice through the computer glass' wowed the judging panel. Their entry was based on the potential perils of the internet and general web safety.  The Rock Challenge is an international performing arts competition for schools and colleges, focuses on driving home positive messages about substance misuse and crime prevention by providing young people with the opportunity to experience a 'drug free high'.  The event aims to capture the imagination of young people by providing them with an exciting and unique opportunity to experience the buzz of performing in a professional venue in front of their peers, families and friends.  This year the Rock Challenge\u00ae reaches out across the world to reach young people in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Dubai, Japan, Europe, and the UK. The focus is on bringing young people together to have fun and be the best they can be without the need for tobacco, alcohol and other substances.
The Rock Challenge tour in the UK in 2012 is the biggest anywhere in the world. This year the organisation will stage 45 events across the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, involving 25,000 young people aged 7-18 from 315 schools and colleges.  Eden Court's event marked the start of this year's road to the final in Dundee and was backed by Northern Constabulary.  Northern Constabulary's Drugs and Alcohol Co-ordinator, Inspector Tom Ogilvie, has been heavily involved in the planning and delivery of the event.  He said: "Northern Constabulary is delighted to have been involved in the second Highland Rock Challenge show at Eden Court Theatre.  "The youngsters really benefitted from taking part in the event and the feedback we have received has been excellent."  He added: "We wish both school the very best of luck in the Scottish final in Dundee."

Natural Retreats Racing To Completion Summer 2012 - Now Invites Local Suppliers To Be Involved
Natural Retreats Invitation To local Suppliers Natural Retreats invitation to local suppliers
After decades of talking about the future of John O'Groats the new development ftom Natural Retreats is moving fast to completion.  The company behind the development is now inviting local suppliers to meet with them to see if local produce and goods can be made available to visitors to the area.  On Tuesday 6th March company representatives will run session at Mackays Hotel to discuss the possibilities.  If your business can supply anything that visitors might be interested in then you can make an appointment to meet the team.
HAVE YOUR SAY – CAITHNESS TOWN CENTRES SURVEY
What’s important to you when you go shopping? 
Do you spend locally?  If not, why not?  Tell us and ‘Have your say’!
‘Have your Say’ is a questionnaire designed to gather information on town centre shopping trends.  It will explore what kind of factors influence these trends and gather opinions of your shopping experiences within Wick and Thurso.  The survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete and will be available until 31st August 2012.  Your feedback will help us to enhance, protect or improve your town centre by feeding back to the public agencies and private sector businesses that have responsibility for providing those products and services.
For more information on Wick and Thurso Town Centres visit www.wicktown.co.uk or www.thursotown.co.uk.
To take the survey visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/HaveYourSayCaithness
www.spanglefish.com/NorlinPlaygroup
Norlin Playgroup has recently created a website as a communication forum with parents within the playgroup. The website also promotes the service they provide for children and their families. Please feel free to have a look at the website.   Feeling Fit? - Wick Triathlon Club's Entry For the Easter 10K is Now Open

Halkirk Gala Week Dates Confirmed
Organisers of the Halkirk Gala Week have confimred the dates for 2012 as 8th - 16th June2012
We ahave been receiving enquiries about Glal dates from around the world as always for sometime so it would behelpful if gala show organisers etc could add them to the Whats On Index as soonas dates are known as many folk wish to organise trips to coincide.
Caithness Man Finds Stash Of Ancient Coins - STV
Mike Aitken from Killimster has discovered a number of coins dating from the 13th century.  The find was made using a metal detector.  This was featured on STV news last night.


Valentines Fun Day At Castletown Drill Hall
VALENTINES FUN DAY - TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY
  - 2.00pm TO 4.00pm - DRILL HALL, CASTLETOWN
Valentines Fun Day At Castletown Drill Hall
MICKEY AND MINNIE MOUSE - FROM 2.30pm TO 3.00pm
Valentines Fun Day At Castletown Drill HallValentines Fun Day At Drill Hall Castletown
Bouncy Castle, Face Painting, Cake Decorating, Valentine Card Making, Stalls and more....
Admission £1 - Funds for Castletown Youth Club
Valentines Fun Day At Castletown Drill Hall

Hi-Scot Credit Union Crosses "The Pond"
Highlands and Islands Credit Union under the name Hi-Scot has now passed 2000 members and is growing fast.  They have just launched a pre-paid debit card - very handy.
Way To The West - Kinlochbervie
Kinlochbervie Kinlochbervie Kinlochbervie High
East Sutherland Photos
Winter In Sutherland - A Few Years Ago
Caithness Science Fair 2012 - 10th & 11th March
Caithness Science Fair 2012 10th and 11th March 2012
2012 marks the 10th Caithness International Science Festival - to celebrate this milesstone, over the weekend of 10 & 11 March 2012, Science O3 will be hosting a Science Fair, comprising talks, demonstrations, displays and workshops. There will be talks by Stuart Munro, Scientific Director of Dynamic Earth Edinburgh, Alison McLure of the Institute of Physics and Ian Rae from the Scottish Association for Marine Science.
DSRL, MeyGen, STEM and Lifescan will also be hosting displays highlighting their current work, while UHI's Derek Gorrie will be bringing a robotic arm for people to test their skills on.  Workshops will be offering the Highland Solar System, Scratch computer programming and K'nex challenges. There will also be displays from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, local Countryside Rangers and Caithness Astronomy Group, while our very own "Tugmistress", Paula Fisher, will be demonstrating her weather station and charts.  There will also be displays of digital photography technology, as well as the chance to make a bandroller and construct molecular models.  There will be plenty to make, discover and enjoy.
Wick Harbourfest 2012 Is Coming In June - Take a Look Back To Earlier Photos
Harbourfest Flashback Harbourfest flashback Habourfest Flashback
Some new photos from Noel Donaldson to start this  flashback to earlier harbourfests to highlight the bigger and better than ever Wick Harbourfest 2012 in June to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.
Search begins for Wick Diamond Jubilee HarbourFest Queen

For a Few Smiles Hop Over To Our Local EEJITS
Eejits

One of our forum memebrs linked to this local web site.  George Mackay who hails from near John O'Groats has created a host of EEJITS and you can browse them all, add comments to his forum, buy a book of Eejits and more having a few laughs along the way.
Eejits Eejits eejits eejits eejits

NEW  MODERN JIVE CLASSES
Learn a new skill that’s fun, helps you get fit and is a great way of meeting new people – no partners are required.  The biggest draw back of some dances, if your new to dancing, is that you spend time and money learning the moves but then find there is nowhere to put what you have learnt into practice. This is where Modern Jive comes into it’s own, because it can be danced to a huge variety of music from Rock & Roll to Salsa, R & B to Country, Swing to Jazz and even to Reggae. Not only does the variety of music make Modern Jive more pleasurable to dance to but the basic footwork is simple and easily learnt, even if you’ve two left feet!!  So start something new for the New Year with Steve Hicks who has been teaching dance in the North for the past 6 years.  Steve will be starting up new beginners classes from 7:00 to 8:30PM in Thurso at the Girl Guides Hall on Tuesday 7th February.  Classes cost £5/person

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