Ventnor Blog

We took a stroll down past the Ventnor Skate Park yesterday and were amazed at the transformation.

All those months ago, when the fate of the skate park was hanging on a thread, who would’ve thought that so much could be done just by volunteers, donations and a passion to keep this facility for all to enjoy?

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Up until recently it’s been fairly rare for VentnorBlog to publish content over the weekend.

However, more and more people have been writing to us saying they’d love a weekend fix of VentnorBlog.

There aren’t enough hours in the day to cover everything that we’d love to, so if you fancy getting involved and sending in the odd article that we could publish at the weekend, do get in touch.

In the meantime, starting tomorrow and running every weekend between now and Christmas, we’ll be bringing you the serialisation of one of David Yates’ (he of Bomb Alley fame) unpublished novels, The Last Bullfighter.

We thank David for choosing to share his work with the many readers of VentnorBlog and hope you enjoy catching up with the story every Saturday and Sunday for the next nine weeks.

Image: Anette Schaeffer

This weekend, everyone in the UK gets an extra hour in bed.

Yes folks it’s that time of the year … spring forward, fall back.

At 1am on Saturday night the clocks will return back to midnight and we all get an extra hour to snuggle up in bed.

Unless you have kids of course, who don’t really take much notice of the clocks going back (unless they’re teenagers!)

Image: Laffy4k

After the official unveiling of the new public artwork at the Eastern Gardens in Sandown, we caught up with Hannah George from Island 2000 who has been managing the project since it’s inception.

Hannah explained that she’d met with the then current head of Tourism many years ago to discuss Island 2000’s thinking on using the space to display public art.

It was quite a challenge to come up with something that would work within the mixed use space. Clearly, as it is right on the seafront, whatever was chosen would need to withstand the sea, rain, wind and possible vandalism.

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There seem to be so many roadworks going on at the moment, so to help you plan your route here’s details of some upcoming works that may cause delays.

Ventnorians be aware that from 4pm today until next week, temporary traffic lights will be in place opposite number 24 Alpine Road.

The reason for the roadworks is due to urgent low voltage electric cable repair works by Scottish and Southern Energy.

Should be all over and done with by 4pm next Wednesday.

More to follow tomorrow.

We’ve received quite a few complimentary comments that VentnorBlog has forced the County Press to up it’s online game *blush*.

We see that the CP has now followed our lead on using photos from photo sharing site, Flickr, to illustrate their stories. But is it right for such a profitable company, like the CP, to do that?

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According to the Isle of Wight Council’s Trading Standards Service a new round of scam phone calls from abroad have targeted residents on the Island.

They have received reports from many who say that the caller claims they have won a prize in a draw with sums bandied about from £50,000 up to £495,000.

Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is.

You will then be asked to send money (from £150 - £350) in order to receive your prize. This is a scam - do not send any money.

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The temperature has suddenly got colder and fuel prices aren’t getting any cheaper.

If you’re concerned about your fuel costs over the winter then you might want to go along on one of the Future Energy events that taking place on the Wight next week.

The aim of the events is to offer some help and advice to those facing high energy bills.

But it’s not just for the benefit of individuals, businesses will also have an opportunity to find out ‘Energy Options, Profits & Savings’ from Business Link on Friday 31 October at the Riverside Centre at 1.30pm, as part of the wider event.

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In order to raise funds for the Christmas Shopping Fun Day mentioned yesterday, the Ventnor Business Association are holding a Jumble Sale and Raffle.

It takes place at the Baptist Church on Pier Street, between 11am and 3pm on Saturday 8 November,

The VBA would be very appreciative of any donations of jumble or raffle prizes.

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Congratulations to the Isle of Wight chapter of the Freecycle movement - they’ve just signed up their 2,000th member.

Back in April, 2007 VentnorBlog did a little piece about Freecycle because we thought it was such a fab idea.

A month and a half later we had to post again when we heard that some computer parts were claimed a mere nine minutes after they had been publicised on Freecycle. Clearly it was going well.

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We noticed a posting on the Ventnor Permaculture Blog last week which should be of interest to our readers.

With the winter nights drawing in (clocks go back next weekend) now is the time to get busy in the evenings and potentially make some money every Saturday morning.

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The Christmas Shopping Fun Day return to Ventnor again this year and will be held on Saturday 13 December.

This is a great opportunity get your products in front of eager shoppers as a variety of activities and entertainment is also planned to help pull the punters in.

If you would like to take up this opportunity to sell your wares, get in touch with either Sue on 855569 or Wendy on 852681.

Don’t forget to tell them where you heard about it.

Image: Cyron

Thanks to Stella Childs for sending through details of Raw Samba taster sessions. Ed

Raw Samba will be holding taster sessions at the Carnival Learning Centre (next door to Waltzing Waters) for people to come and join in and have some fun, have a coffee then stay and listen to them practice.

This is with a view to holding formal beginners classes early next year.

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The saying goes that ‘the sun shines down on the righteous’ and boy was it shining hard yesterday afternoon.

There was standing room only at St Catherine’s Church as the vicar gave a very fitting service for former VentnorBlog contributor, Farmersboy, otherwise known as Derek Williams.

Derek was just 62 years old when he passed away suddenly at the beginning of last week, it was a great shock to his family and friends.

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Eek, do Friends Reunited know something that we don’t about the proposed schools reforms?

We came across this image on Flickr today, which shows that someone searching for secondary schools on the popular social network Web site drew a blank with their search.

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Many thanks to Avril Mhunduru for sending through details of this worthy appeal that takes place this weekend in Newport. Ed

Computers4Africa, a charity organisation that collects unused computers, monitors or other working IT equipment and ship them to schools in Africa, will be holding an appeal in Newport this weekend.

Have you got any computers, monitors or other working IT equipment that you no longer have a use for? Would you like to see it go to school children in one of the World’s poorest areas?

Our previous appeals have been a huge success and we now have a date for another appeal in Newport, details below. Computers donated will be sent to schools in Africa, to help them teach vital IT skills in areas where they would otherwise be unable to afford the equipment.

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At Monday night’s Town Council meeting in Ventnor, Rob Reed, the Town Centre Manager gave his monthly report to members of the council.

One of the items Rob reported on was the imminent changes to the Safer Neighbourhood Partnership.

As part of the reorganisation detailed below, the Safer Neighbourhood Partnership will now known as the Community Safety Service.

Rob told us that from 1st December the Town Manager programme will be expanding to the entire Island.

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News reaches us that ThWART (The Wight Against Rural Turbines) have organised a couple of local presentations regarding the Cheverton Down turbine proposals.

There are two dates to accommodate those who may not be able to attend the weekday presentation.

The first takes place next Wednesday, 22nd October at the Shorwell Parish Hall, Russell Road, Shorwell from 7pm.

The second takes place on Saturday 25th October at the Brighstone Scout Hut, behind Wilberforce Hall, Main Road, Brighstone from 10.30am.

These notices were posted in the Brightstone Parish Newsletter, who in the interests of balance also provided contact details for Cornwall Light & Power

Many thanks to Wendy for letting us know about the proposed meetings.

Image: .Martin.

Film buffs don’t forget that the Ventnor Film Society will be screening Into The Wild tonight. It’s a film that will capture the hearts of those who feel like just getting away from it all.

Taking place in the man hall at the Ventnor Winter Gardens and costing just £4.50 (£3.50 concessions), this is great way to spend the evening.

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It’ll be sometime in the next week or so that the judges for the HantsWeb Awards come to their decisions on who the winner will be for each of the twelve categories.

As mentioned previously, VentnorBlog have been shortlisted for the
HantsWeb Awards Best Local Area Website (Sponsored by the Daily Echo), but as we mentioned at the time, there are also quite a few others Island Web sites that have also been shortlisted in the other categories.

In the ‘the Most Accessible Website’ category, you’ll find the Web site for MAS FUSION, a voluntary family orientated community carnival group.

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If you’re aged between 10 and 17 years old and don’t have any plans for the October half term, then read on.

Between Tuesday 28th and Friday 31st October, each day you can take part in what looks set to be (and based on previous events) a brilliant Murder Mystery event, that promises to be engaging, educational, lots of fun and could win you great prizes such as a new mountain bike, driving lessons or even and Xbox 360.

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As reported earlier in the week, Bardon Vectis are scheduled tomorrow to be bringing down and pouring concrete to the required areas surrounding the Ventnor Skate Park.

The first delivery arrives at 8am and the organisers are on the look out for volunteers to help during the day.

If you can spare some time and would like to help out, just turn up at the Ventnor Skate park at the far end of the Eastern Esplanade car park.

In response to the vacancy for a Town Councillor in Ventnor East, we have just heard that two well known members of the Ventnor Community have been nominated and will be standing for the position.

The first is Mrs Joan Garlick of South Street, Ventnor and the second, Mr Christopher Welsford or Dudley Road, Ventnor.

The election date has been set, we believe, for Thursday 6th November and we’ll let you have more information once we receive it.

Best of luck to both nominees who will be volunteering their time for the benefit of the Ventnor residents.

Image: MsAnthea

In part one of Maeve’s article, she looked at the dreaded ‘flu and covered some of herbal preparations that can help. As a registered and experienced homeopathic practitioner, Maeve sets out below some of the homeopathic remedies that she has found helps keep the runny noses at bay. Ed

Remedies
There are over 50 remedies in the homeopathic materia medica indicated for flu, here are just a few of the most common remedies I use for flu in my practice.

But first:- how to give homeopathic remedies-

Remedies if bought from a shop usually come as pills; remedies can be taken straight into the mouth or dissolved in a glass or bottle of water.

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Anyone wishing to send comments on proposed schools reforms have only until the close of business tomorrow to get their letters or emails into the Council.

If you’re dissatisfied with the consultation process or proposed changes, but not sure how to get your points across, you might want to have a look at Dave Botha’s excellent letter to Alex Moffatt.

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