Ventnor Blog

If you fancy your chances at being nominated this year for a People’s Award, you’ll need to get the job first (and make sure you don’t use your mobile on the job).

The latest position being advertised for crossing patrol is to work outside St.Boniface School to assist children crossing the road.

You’ll be needed for half an hour a day between 2.15pm and 2.45pm during term time.
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Rebecca Tuck from the Isle of Wight Council has been in touch this week, asking us to advertise a position for an afternoon School Crossing Patrol in Ventnor (more on that later).

It reminded us of Ventnorian, Wendy Marshall who many of you will know, picked up the IW Radio People’s People Award for Crossing Patrol Person of the Year in 2007 last year.

We caught up with Wendy a while ago to talk about her work and the awards.
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Many may feel that Ventnor Town Council are a bit stuffy and behind the times, but last night they went some way to disproving that.

It must be over a year ago since we originally suggested to the Ventnor Town Council that it would be a good idea to record their bi-monthly meetings. We felt that these recording would be of great benefit to those couldn’t make it along to meetings, enabling them to catch up on the discussions that the councillors had about matters in the town.

We raised the question again at the Annual Town meeting a couple of weeks ago, and the subject was discussed last night, at the Annual meeting of the Ventnor Town Council.

It is with great pleasure that we can inform you that in principal, the councillors agreed to have their meetings recorded and available on VentnorBlog for the public to listen to.
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Last night at the Annual Meeting of the Ventnor Town Council, the mayor for the coming year was announced.

Deputy Mayor, Maureen Cawley, proposed that current mayor, Susan Scoccia be voted in again to enable her to complete her work with helping Ventnor achieve Quality Council status and the Town Plan.

Val Taylor seconded the proposal and went on to thank Cllr Scoccia for her help with the youth cafe project. There were no other nominations, and with gleaming smiles Cllr Scoccia accepted the role for another year.
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Further to my earlier posting, at the Ventnor Town Council Meeting tonight, during public question time, I asked whether the Town Council could arrange for a board to be added to the front of the loos in the Eastern Esplanade car park explaining what work was due to happpen later in the year, with drawings of the plans.
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If you’ve just read the notes from last Monday’s Town Council meeting, you might have seen the reference by Val Taylor to the fact that the Eastern Esplanade toilets will be servicing the public in their current state for yet another summer.

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Was an interesting Town Council Planning meeting last week, with another fun packed one lined up for tonight.

There were only three items discussed at the Planning Committee, but they raised some very interesting debate and the report is well worth a read.

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We’ve noticed on the VentnorBlog Forum recently, that many people are using the board to seek out recommendations.

The variety of recommendations is wide, from dressmakers to builders, aga servicing to pest control.

Because of this, we’ve decided to break out some of these recent posts and start a new board called Recommendations?.
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As you may be aware, earlier in the year, we met up with Freshwater resident Chris Jarman, to discuss the previously proposed change of use for Weston Manor. Since meeting with Chris, the Real World Trust, who were in the process of converting Weston Manor from a residential care home into a drug and rehabilitation centre, have pulled out of the proposal.

At a meeting in March with the local residents and town council, the owner of the Manor, Mrs Robertson, stated that she would be putting the Manor on the market the following day.
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Elections take place today on the Wight today in two parishes.

As part of the election process, those already elected include Tony Coburn and Geoff Lumley for Pan Ward in Newport Parish.

In Northwood Parish Peter Brooker, Colin Cramp, Paul Fuller, Roger Mazillius, Colin Palmerton, John Pullen and Eileen Turner-Palmerton were all elected uncontested.

In Whippingham Peter Clark, Richard Haynes, Ian Husbands, John Kirwood-Slack and Frederick Richards were all elected uncontested.

In Ryde, several wards held elections today, check out the Council website for more details of which wards elections were held in.

image: Emmaline

Next week and then again at the end of the month, Age Concern will be holding their information and advice drop-in session at Ventnor Library.

If you have something worrying you and are looking for some advice, the Age Concern team will be there to help.

Just turn up between 9.30am and noon and let you friends know too.

Tuesday 6th May and again on Tuesday 27th May

SOCIAL care managers on the Isle of Wight are celebrating this week after they scooped a top award for their ground-breaking free home care scheme for the over 80s. (more…)

Regular users of the VentnorBlog discussion forum will know that for some time, we’ve a free ads section, where members can freely post items for sale.

In the past, users have had to be logged on to be able to see the ads or post replies.

We’ve scrapped that rule now, and as of today anyone can read the free ads board, thereby hopefully opening it up to a wider audience!
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Thanks to Ced from the Solace team for sending in this review of the great action happening in Church Litten last Friday night. We’re really pleased to hear it went so well. We’d recommend you check out their website, lots of great info and a brilliant video well worth watching - it’ll warm the cockles of your hearts. Ed

Thanks to everyone who turned up to the free BAND NITE gig in Church Litten on Friday evening.
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We popped over to the Soul II Soul sound check at The Venue, Ryde on the afternoon before they played to have a chat to the funky dread himself, Mr Jazzie B, OBE.

Proving his reputation as a sound bloke (pun intended), Jazzie B gave us a good 40 minutes of his time for the interview.

We’ve got the bulk of the interview coming out later, but thought you’d be interested in hearing his views on the Ryde Theatre.

To say that he’s keen on the idea of keeping it open is an understatement.

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Don’t forget that tomorrow sees the Brighstone Beach Clean takes place.

Those willing to go down and help collect litter from the beach, should assemble at the Grange Farm reception at 10am.

The weather forecast is lovely for tomorrow, so why not do something to improve the environment you share and help make a difference. (more…)

Over the years some resistance has built up against the St George Cross, as it was adopted by the politically far right, much in the way that the confederate flag was in America.

This is a huge shame because, those who want to declare their Britishness are put off by celebrating the flag, not wishing to be associated with the hate peddled by the far right.
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Many thanks to Ray Harrington-Vail form the Footprint Trust for sending through this update to the Adopt-A-Garden scheme which was launched on the Wight recently. It’s a brilliant scheme but we were surprised to hear that the take up in Ventnor is very low. Take a read through following and if you think you;d like to get involved, contact details are at the bottom. Ed

The Adopt-A-Garden scheme is an innovative idea, which seeks to bring together two types of people. The person who has a garden they can no longer look after and the individual who wants a growing space.
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THE ISLE of Wight’s Carnival Learning Centre , the first in the UK truly dedicated to the spirit of carnival - is due to open its doors later this week — with a spectacular taste of the Caribbean. (more…)

Ventnor Residents don’t forget that tonight at 7pm, the Ventnor Town Council meets for the Annual Town Meeting.

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The Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service is this week (21 - 25 April) hosting a ground breaking scheme designed to change the behaviour and attitudes of youngsters at risk of offending. (more…)

We’re really proud to give you an update on VentnorBlog’s traffic levels - translated into English, how many people have been looking at VentnorBlog.

Having started VentnorBlog as a bit of light fun, it’s grown over the past two and a bit odd years (some odder than others!), into this time-eating monster that we’re really proud to say, has resulted into a site that appears to have been embraced by Islanders, ex-Islanders and visitors alike.

You may have noticed last week the Isle of Wight County Press disclosed (for the first time we’ve noticed) how many hits they’re getting on their Website on a monthly basis.

To say it made us smile, is somewhat of an understatement.
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It was really heart warming to hear this lovely story of civic pride which is happening every day in Ventnor. It’s this level of pride in the community and surroundings that restores one’s faith in humanity.

Well done Lesley, you’re doing a fantastic job, let’s hope others follow suit, or better still that the litter bugs start putting their rubbish in the bins provided. Ed

A while ago I discovered Lesley from The Ventnorian made herself useful in picking up rubbish other people had dropped in the central car park, the pavements around it and in Spring Hill Gardens. (more…)

This Monday sees the Ventnor Town Council Annual Town Meeting take place. As you can judge from the title, this meeting only take place once a year.

From memory, the dates published for the meeting last year were a little confused and we think that the meeting (please correct us if not true) was not particularly well attended by the public. You never know that may be a different matter this year.
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Thanks to Nicky Hargreaves, Chair of the Ventnor Community Projects for sending through this press release regarding the Ventnor Skate Park. Ed
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