6 May 2008

Bigger Group Photos Of Highland Youth Music Groups At Alness

5 May 2008

Sandwich Tern May Have died Due To Oil At Sinclairs Bay
The photo below shows a Sandwich Tern found at St John's Pool with oil in its feathers.  the other photo shows Sandwich Terns as they should be. the dead Sandwich Tern arrived at St John's Pool on 30th April and was dead by 1st May.
From three days ago
Oil Spillage At Sinclair's Bay, Wick
The public is being advised to keep off the beach at Sinclair's Bay, near Wick, following the discovery of tar balls, which have been washed up along the length of the shoreline. The Highland Council is working with other agencies to clean up the beach. There is no evidence of oiling of birds or other wildlife. A spokesman said: "This is not a major incident. However, we have erected signs at either end of the beach advising the public to keep off until we have completed the clean up, which involves collecting the tar balls by hand. We will be working with the Maritime Coastguard Agency to identify the origin of the oil, which appears to have been at sea for some time. We are also checking other nearby beaches for evidence of these balls of oil."  Bird Watching In Caithness

John O'Groats - Looking To The Future
Highland council is currently running an item about John O'Groats and have asked that it is featured on the web site. so here it is and if you have a few minutes head over and complete the survey.........
We need your help!  Please help us to scope the potential for John O’Groats as a visitor destination.
We invite you to take part in an on-line survey which is aimed at both previous and potential visitors to John O’Groats, situated in the north of Britain.  The purpose of the survey is to gather your impressions of John O’Groats (you can take part regardless of whether you have visited the area or not) so that a tourism and leisure plan can be developed for the future.
The survey forms part of a wider study that is currently being prepared by consultants RGA on behalf of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), to scope the potential for improving the visitor experience at John O’Groats.
To take part in the survey, simply click on the following link: Click Here to take survey
This should take no longer than ten minutes to complete and both HIE and RGA appreciate your input.

Roads At Two More Caithness Schools Get Speeding Restrictions
From today Monday 5th May new speed restrictions come into force at South School Wick and Lybster primary schools.  The restrictions to 20 MPH applies when the flashing lights are showing at times before and after starting and finishing times.  Many Highland schools now have the speed restrictions in place and eventually all schools in Highland will have them.  As with other speeding restrictions Northern Constabulary will enforce the regulations with normal fines being charged if anyone is caught over the 20 mph limit within the zones.

Kayaking Round Dunnet Head In A Force Five Gale - Cailean’s Blog

Elise Lyall Dancers Fundraisiing To Head Off To Canadian Championships 2008
9 dancers from the Elise Lyall school of dance ages 8-21 are making a 2 week trip to Canada leaving Wick on the 28th June, to compete in the Canadian Interprovincial Dancing championships held in Victoria, British Columbia. This competition attracts dancers from all over the world for the week long event. There has been various events to raise funds over the pass few months towards the dancer's travel expenses.  The next event is a licensed ceilidh on FRIDAY 16TH May Assembly Rooms Wick, 9.30pm entertainment from Remix, Highland Dancers plus Andrew Harvey on pipes and there will be soup and sandwiches available at the break. Tickets are on sale from D.R Simpson Wick at £5 each. So come on down for a good night out and support the Dancers.

Gardening In A Gale - A New Web Site From Caithness Gardener Mike Clark
Mike Clark a gardener and writer living and working in Caithness has contributed a number of articles to Caithness.org over the years in a section called Gardening with Attitude.  Mike's brand of wry humour is usually present in his articles that are full of tips and suggestions for gardeners in the north and any place were the climate is slightly more extreme than in the far south.  Mike has now set up a new web site and kicked it off with a few articles to pass a rainy afternoon, cold evening or if the midges have won the outdoor battle that day.  He kicks of with items entitled - Polytunnel on the Edge - Wild Wine - Love Your Legumes - Going Grey.  With food prices still heading up maybe this years is the time to dig over that old vegetable patch to get some tasty food and lose a few pounds of excess weight at the same time.  To exchange gardening tips or ask questions head over to the Caithness.org Gardening Forum
For the record Bill Fernie (Caithness.org web master) has planted his spuds - Pink Fir Apples and Kerr's Pinks, a couple of varieties of peas, swedes, turnips, radishes and the carrots are going in shortly.  Bill has thinned out an overgrown strawberry patch, pruned a few over grown sycamores and cut the grass twice this year (He hasn't lost any weight yet but has lost an inch round the wasteline - so there is hope yet).  All the best with the new web site Mike.

3 May 2008

Lyth Arts Centre To Lose Scottish Arts Council Funding From April 2009
The Scottish Arts Council (SAC) has announced that as from April 2009 it will cease to fund Lyth Arts Centre, the only dedicated professional arts venue in Caithness. The Council has funded the Centre on an annual basis since it first opened in 1977. For many years it was one of the Council's Core Funded Organisations. In 2006 the Council re-organised its methods of funding, awarding core-funded status to a small selection of what is regarded as key strategic organisations and reclassifying the others, including all of the Scottish theatre companies and many venues as Flexibly Funded Organisations. Lyth Arts Centre received Flexible Funding which is awarded (and has to be re-applied for) every two years. Lyth's Flexible Funding application for 2009 - 2011 was one of 106 eligible applications which requested a total of £14,677,011 across the country. But, with only £6,980,000 to distribute, the Council has given awards to only 63 applicants and Lyth's application has been turned down.

Vehicle Excise Duty - Discussed In House Of Commons
In 2008-09, according to an answer given by the Exchequer Secretary, VED will raise £2.9 billion—an increase of £1 billion in the space of two years. That is a significant tax take that has been justified on the basis that VED is an environmental tax.  John Thurso MP pointed out the difficulties facing rural areas faced with ever increasing fuel costs.   Caithness.org Comment - Does this go some way to explaining the council election results in England and Wales.

2 May 2008

Oil Spillage At Sinclair's Bay, Wick
The public is being advised to keep off the beach at Sinclair's Bay, near Wick, following the discovery of tar balls, which have been washed up along the length of the shoreline. The Highland Council is working with other agencies to clean up the beach. There is no evidence of oiling of birds or other wildlife. A spokesman said: "This is not a major incident. However, we have erected signs at either end of the beach advising the public to keep off until we have completed the clean up, which involves collecting the tar balls by hand. We will be working with the Maritime Coastguard Agency to identify the origin of the oil, which appears to have been at sea for some time. We are also checking other nearby beaches for evidence of these balls of oil."

First Meeting Of New Wick High Action Group
The first meeting of the newly formed Action Group aiming to get a new school for Wick will meet in Wick High School at 7.00pm on Tuesday 6th May.  52 people have already signed up to help the Action Group and the steering group are extremely pleased that so many people have already come forward.  The group are under no illusions about the task ahead and volunteers for the group can still put their names down to help.  There may be many small tasks that need to be undertaken from leaflet issues, poster distribution, fund raising and so on.  All of this will need time so any small amounts that people can devote even one a one off basis occasionally will be very useful to the group.  Anyone interested but who cannot make the meeting can email organiser Julie Mackinnon at  julie.mackinnon1@btinternet.com
Anyone who has not signed the petition yet is asked to do so as soon as possible.  The group want to reach at least 1000 signatures.
Sign the petition to support Wick High Parents Council demands to renew or seriously make building improvements at Wick High.

Caithness & Sutherland Walking Festival Is Underway - Check What's On for Details
The Caithness and Sutherland Walking Festival is underway with a variety of walks both long and short.

1 May 2008

Lovely Stray Cat Found At Newton Hill, Wick - Do You Know Who Owns It?
"We live up Newton Hill and have a stray cat roaming around the house since approximately 2 weeks. We do not think it belongs up Newton Hill. It must be about 4-5 years old and is medium sized. It is white and tabby. Very friendly. And has a green studded collar" Tel 01955 605319

Thurso East Beach Clean
The Thurso East Beach cleanup event organized by Thurso In Bloom and Thurso Rotary held last Friday and Saturday was a roaring success. Nearly 40 volunteers participated in picking up an entire skip full of litter. Thurso East Beach was completed the first day allowing ample time to clean up many areas of Thurso including Thurso Beach, a major portion of the river walk, and both sides of the road from Thurso East to the car bridge.

BT Payphone Consultation - 194 Payphones In Highland To Go
BT is proposing to remove 194 payphones from the network in Highland. BT say the increase in mobile telephone ownership has resulted in the number of calls made from payphones in the last three years being halved and therefore believes that there is a need for them to re-examine payphone provision. Under Ofcom regulations, the local authority has the responsibility of facilitating the consultation with the local community on these proposals. The Highland Council is therefore encouraging anyone, who wishes to respond to the consultation, to contact the Council with their comments.  It is only three years ago since the last big removal of telephone boxes. It seems that the march of the mobile phone will carry on wiping out the telephone box where many rural boxes get only a few call made from them in a year.

Do you live in a remote place – miles away from the nearest town or built-up area?
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