Ventnor Blog

The Icandi crew are back in town and hoping to bring another successful night to Newport at the end of the month.

Once again featuring contemporary artwork from Paul Brown, Kitty Linnnington, Kim Purton, Patrick Wood, Rachael Berry and many more.

Expect Electronica, Retro Pop, Funk, Old School, Dub and Ambient Lounge from Mystery Guest DJ’s and all the usual fun and games including Paint Rally, Punters Gallery and ICANDI shop.

Free entrance so get yourselves along to Joe’s in Newport on Friday 29th from 9pm.

Sunday night (10th) saw the first of the social events for this year’s Ventnor Carnival week.

This new event in the Carnival calendar proved very successful with around 140 people enjoying music from the Caulkheads and caller, Bryan Reeves, brilliantly led the crowd in the intricacies of reels and circles.

It is hoped to make this a regular part of Carnival week. Don’t forget the Seafront Relay Race takes place tonight. Tapes up at 7pm by the Ventnor Skate Park.

Eleven teams have registered to take part with 10 team members each.

Image: Bruno Girin

Either someone at the County Press is being mischievous or page four of this week’s CP is a genuine mistake.

You know what it’s like, you get the CP, give it a quick skim through to see if there’s anything worth reading in it, but today something leapt out at us, causing us to nearly choke on our pork scratchings.

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Tune into Express fm tonight next Thursday* (14th) from 10pm to listen to Wight Trash Film Maker, John Cattle being interviewed about the Ventnor Skate Park and Transitions Volume One CD.

Turn your dial to 93.7 or listen online.

If you haven’t bought your copy of Transitions yet, and don’t forget all the proceeds are going to pay for work taking place on the skate park, get yourselves down to The Ventnorian in Spring Hill Ventnor, Switch45 or Wight Mountain in Newport, Earth Wind and Water in Shanklin and Revolver in Ryde, as well as through VentnorBlog and the Wight Trash

* Just had an update from the radio station and they’ve had to postpone the interview until next Thursday.

FRIEND AND WHYTE STAR AS VENTNOR MAINTAIN TITLE CHALLENGE
Ventnor are still in the hunt for a fifth successive Southern Electric Premier League title after a massive 241 run win over struggling Liphook & Ripsley on Saturday.

With four matches remaining, this latest victory edged the Islanders into second place behind Rowledge who won at Purbrook.

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We received an email earlier in the week from a guy called Ryan who wanted to share this unusual story of something that he experienced at the IW Festival last month. He was hard pushed to find someone else who saw the same, but if you did, get in touch and let us know.

I was at the Isle of Wight Festival and it was 11.30 on Sunday the 15th of June. (more…)

Angie’s excellent permaculture blog is always worth checking out on a regular basis.

Yesterday she posted an article reminding us all that it is possible to still sow seeds for many vegetables, including lots of salads which always come in handy over the summer.

With rocketing food prices, growing your own is a great idea (and one we’ve embraced after reading Angie’s blog). Even if you don’t have a big garden (like most Ventnor gardens) so much can actually been grown in pots.

Since the news release from the Police, we have been able to firm up details of the tragedy at Ventnor Haven this morning.

However, we’ve decided to respect the family’s privacy and will not, at this time, release the name of the man found in the Haven.

He was connected to a very well known family in Ventnor, who our thoughts are with.

Tragic news just in from the Police newswire that at 6am this morning, a man’s body was found at Ventnor Pier Head.

We have no other details at the moment, except that officers are on the scene investigating and we’ll bring you an update once we have more news.

• Brading CE Primary School 4 – 11 1FE (Rural School)
• Broadlea Primary School 4 – 11 2FE
  relocated to Lake Middle site
  
• Gatten and Lake Primary School 4 – 11 1FE
• Sandown CE Primary School Diocesan 4 – 11 2FE
• St John’s CE Primary School Amalgamation
  on the Sandown CEP site
  
• Shanklin CE Primary School 4 – 11 1FE
• Lake Middle School Closed
• Sandham Middle School Closed
• Sandown High School Closed
• New Secondary School 11 – 19 12 FE
  on Sandown High and Sandham Middle sites

You might’ve heard the news that as part of the Bestival bandstand at the forthcoming Big Green Picnic, The Bees will be gracing the stage and providing some quality entertainment for green loving punters (more details to follow later).

But, we bet you didn’t expect 20,000 of them.

We noticed on the Virtual Ranger’s blog yesterday, that a swarm of bees have set up home at County Hall and are causing a bit of a stir. Being a man of multi-media capabilities, he managed to capture the beauty of the bees on film (video after the jump)
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The Interact Performing Arts Group are on the lookout for people who might want to take part in a short creative movement/dance/drama project.

If you enjoy movement as an art expression and can commit to just five Saturday mornings between 10am and 12.30 you could be part of a production planned for the end of June (28th).

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What a stuning day it was yesterday, and yet more blue sky and sunshine today. Take the day off work and get out on the Wight. There are tons of walks to choose from the Isle of Wight Walking Festival including the Jimi Hendrix garden at Dimbola Lodge.

If you attend any of the walks and would like to share your experience with our readers, do get in touch.
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Concert in memory of Anthony Minghella launches new arts fund for young people

A concert is being held at Cowes Yacht Haven on 6th May to celebrate the life and work of Anthony Minghella, and to launch a new filmmaking, drama and music fund for young people.

Performers at the concert will include Paul Athey, Mick Cuffe, Jerry Cahill, Martinez, Mike Hugg, Mike Jolliffe, John Lytle, Tim Marshall, Mick Smith, Stickman, John Wroath, and other special guests.
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You might remember a while back we wrote a piece about how a member of the rather excellent West London band, The Peas, followed our advice and made a visit to Ventnor during a trip to the Wight.

Mr and Mrs ‘Peas’ had a lovely weekend ambling around Ventnor and taking in the delights of our fair town.

They were so impressed with what they saw of our town, that they’ve only gone and moved down here lock, stock and barrel.

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We heard the name of the main sponsor of the IW Festival back at xmas time. We’ve been totally torn between our loyalty to the friend who told us and letting all of you super peeps know.

In this instance, blood has been thicker than Blog, but, you’ll only have to wait a little while longer.

Tune back on at midnight on Sunday to find out who it is.

If you haven’t bought your tickets for the Fairport Convention gig next week, then get a move on, because we hear they’re moving fast.

Yes, despite problems with the people who organise the International Jazz Festival not paying them, Fairport Convention have kept their faith in the Island and return next week - this time to Ryde Theatre.

It’ll be a fully seated event, so you can just sit back and enjoy the music without having to worry about standing all night.

Tickets are priced at £18.50 and are available from the box office on 01983 568099.

Check out their website for more info about the band

Many thanks to Rich Cattle for sharing his experiences of investigating UFO sightings on the Wight. It’s written in response to the recent media coverage of UFO sightings and makes for a very interesting read. Rich clearly has a great deal of knowledge in this area. Ed

It was 6.30 am on the 13th of October 1996 when I saw my first UFO.

It was a large ball of white light that pulsated in and out but made no sound at all.

It appeared on the horizon north of me as I reached the top of Hunnyhill in Newport. At first I thought it was a planet still visible in the morning light, but soon dismissed this thought as the object drew nearer. It passed over the island from northwest to southeast at a high altitude. When I returned home which was only 10 minutes walk away, I recorded what I’d seen immediately.
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We hear from IW Radio that due to land movement in Lower Gills Cliff Road a large hole has appeared and it is likely that the road will be closed today.

We’ll try and find out more info and let you have it when we do.

Update: We hear that this section of the road will be closed for at least a week as repairs take place.

Thanks to Mark for sending through notes from the Town Council Planning meeting held last week. Ed

All council meetings (except where there is a conflict of needs for the stage) will now be held in the back of the Winter Gardens, under the stage, always starting at 6.30 on Mondays. (more…)

Don’t forget that tonight sees the return of the grandmasters of dub and reggae to The Venue in Ryde.

Repeata Sound, Johnny Dread I, Tala Steppa, K.T., Jammo, Jah Nipsy and The Mighty Spladoosh will all be cranking the tunes in this roots reggae special.

We hear that tonight is a success, another is planned for 14th March and will be featuring Macca B, the reggae master who last year played the Bestival.

Entry is £3 before 11pm or £4 after.

Tickets are going fast for the best New Year’s Eve Party in town. Blunt Promotions brings you Pura Vida, a night of great music, live hip hop and outrageous fancy dress.

All taking place in a heated (yes, girls heated so you can wear your skimpiest outfits) marquee just outside town.

Tickets for this extravaganza are only £10 and available from Kev @ The Local, Pier Street, Ventnor, Barnetts Hair and Beauty, High Street Newport or Revolver, High Street, Ryde.

Over 21s only

More news from IW Festival HQ about their new Festival First membership, when and how you can buy one.

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Niton/Ventnor band, The Windows will be reforming after a year split for a Platform One gig at Ryde Theatre in December.

Joining The Windows on stage will be Goodbye Stereo, Wight Noize 2007 winners Siniez and veterans of the Island gig circuit, Los Fantasmas.

It’ll only cost you £3 in advance or £4 on the door.

We’ll bring you more info when we get it.