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?
Does
your location make getting to the shops, schools and public transport a
problem? We’re interested in hearing from families, preferably with
children, who feel that the remoteness of where they live affects their
lifestyle and relationships. If this is you, then the new series of Wife
swap would love to hear from you.
Contact Katie Yeats on 020 7013 4517 -
katie.yeats@rdftelevision.com
Or apply online at www.meontv.co.uk