Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s Fun Day will take place on Saturday 28 July from 11am – 2pm. All the usual attractions plus more (see poster)! The sun always shines on Drylaw’s Fun Day (well, nearly always) so don’t miss it!
Day: July 19, 2012
Countdown to The Quest 2012
Summer’s flying by (or maybe floating by!) and one of the highlights of the summer youth programme is now just a week away. The Quest is the annual event enjoyed by hundred of local young people, and the final destination this year is , as always, a closely-guarded secret.
Muirhouse Youth Development Group’s (MYDGs) Joanne Stewart explained: “The Quest is an area-wide event – a scavenger hunt across Edinburgh ending in a secret location with a barbecue and fun activities for around 100 young people and volunteers, which promotes team work and sportsmanship. The Quest aims to include each youth agency in the North Edinburgh area and is one of the most popular area-wide activities – it’s been taking place for many years, always with a great turn out. We are very proud to say that we won an award from the Edinburgh Evening News last year for ‘the best youth initiative’, voted for by Evening News readers, which I think shows the popularity of the event in the community. We’re hoping this year’s Quest will be even better!”
The Quest starts from Scottish Gas HQ on Waterfront Avenue next Friday (27 July) at 11am and finishes … well, who knows?
Some pictures from Quest 2010:
Niki – 'it's all good!'
‘It’s All Good’ as award winning Jazz singer Niki King is revealing her soulful, funky side during a summer tour of Scotland. Niki and her band The Elements have got the chemistry just right in time to hot things up at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival.
Local girl Niki has been getting great reviews and feedback during her tour where, supported by some of the best musicians in the industry, she is performing songs from her self penned ‘It’s all Good’ album. The Jazz Festival performance marks the mid point of her tour and Niki is looking forward to bringing her own sound to Teatro Spiegeltent on Friday 20th July
The outstanding Scottish female vocalist of our times” (The List) gets down and funky with her pounding eight-piece funk and soul band featuring a super tight horn section, some real dirty grooves and King’s punchy vocals.
Tickets £15 (http://www.hubtickets.co.uk/)
Listen to tracks from her new album and watch a video of Niki in action at http://www.nikiking.com
Follow Niki on facebook
Ann Confrey
Niki – ‘it’s all good!’
‘It’s All Good’ as award winning Jazz singer Niki King is revealing her soulful, funky side during a summer tour of Scotland. Niki and her band The Elements have got the chemistry just right in time to hot things up at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival.
Local girl Niki has been getting great reviews and feedback during her tour where, supported by some of the best musicians in the industry, she is performing songs from her self penned ‘It’s all Good’ album. The Jazz Festival performance marks the mid point of her tour and Niki is looking forward to bringing her own sound to Teatro Spiegeltent on Friday 20th July
The outstanding Scottish female vocalist of our times” (The List) gets down and funky with her pounding eight-piece funk and soul band featuring a super tight horn section, some real dirty grooves and King’s punchy vocals.
Tickets £15 (http://www.hubtickets.co.uk/)
Listen to tracks from her new album and watch a video of Niki in action at http://www.nikiking.com
Follow Niki on facebook
Ann Confrey
Postcode Challenge was 'wheelie' great!
Last year’s event was a hard act to follow, and we all know what the ‘summer’ weather has been like this year, so the signs weren’t promising – but this year’s Postcode Challenge proved to be a great success with hundreds of keen cyclists and enthusiastic walkers taking part in the 1 July event.
Although billed as a ‘challenge’, the Postcode Challenge is really a fun event and an opportunity to discover – or rediscover – your local natural habitat, by bike or on foot. Participants of all ages and abilities set their own pace, checking in at ten pit-stops along the cycle path routes and collecting stamps to be in with a chance of winning prizes. There were also loads of goodies to collect along the way, including high-visibility cycle vests from People’s Postcode Lottery, and flower and seed packets from the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust team.
Zero Waste Aware Scotland, State Street, Drylaw Community Centre, Drylaw Community Garden, Spokes and MYDG (Muirhouse Youth Development Group) also had stands along the Postcode Challenge route.
Liz Stewart, of organisers Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust said: “The Postcode Challenge was a great event and we were so lucky as it must have been about the only sunny day in the last month! We believe that there were at least 300 participants – walkers and cyclists. Although cyclists had to pick up a stamp from each of the 10 ‘postcode stops’, walkers only had to collect 5, which made it easier to include them. The day went really well and it was such a happy, good-natured event and loads of great feedback – helped of course by some good weather for a change!”
It took a mighty team effort to make the Challenge such a success, Liz said.
“There’s a huge list of people to thank! The Postcode Lottery and their players for funding the event in the first place, for manning a postcode stop on the day and for providing prizes. Other stall holders were our co-organisers, The Bike Station, who also provided bike repairs on the day and kept all the wheels turning; Spokes, State Street, MYDG Muirhouse Youth Development Group, Drylaw Community Centre and Drylaw Community Garden. We also had the following prizes to give away and were very grateful to all donors:
· 37 bike themed Goody Bags from The Bike Station
· 2 Tickets to see a Film of your choice at The Filmhouse
· 2 Vouchers for Greenyonder Tours
· Lunch for Two at Hula Juice Bar
· Grow your own veg & wildflower seed packets from ELGT
· 1 of 4 cycling maps of in and around Edinburgh and the Lothians from Spokes
· 2 Herb planters, 2 bird nests & 2 nectar feeders from ELGT
· An assortment of prizes from the Postcode Lottery
· A £50 Alpine Bikes gift voucher donated by State Street
· Two tickets for a free tour of Royal Yacht Britannia.
I think that’s everyone, but it’s quite a list so apologies if we’ve missed anyone out!”
“We were delighted to support the Postcode Challenge Treasure Hunt again this year,” said Clara Govier, Head of Charities, People’s Postcode Trust. “It’s a great event and it gets everyone outside and learning a little more about the beautiful environment right here in the city.”
Organisers also encouraged participants to leave messages on the Edinburgh Innertube blog (which can be found at: http://innertubemap.com/.) and comments were very positive. One person wrote: ‘As good as anything I’ve ever done in Edinburgh – great for all the family/all ages and all abilities. You all deserve medals and loads of funding for this!’
Postcode Challenge was ‘wheelie’ great!
Last year’s event was a hard act to follow, and we all know what the ‘summer’ weather has been like this year, so the signs weren’t promising – but this year’s Postcode Challenge proved to be a great success with hundreds of keen cyclists and enthusiastic walkers taking part in the 1 July event.
Although billed as a ‘challenge’, the Postcode Challenge is really a fun event and an opportunity to discover – or rediscover – your local natural habitat, by bike or on foot. Participants of all ages and abilities set their own pace, checking in at ten pit-stops along the cycle path routes and collecting stamps to be in with a chance of winning prizes. There were also loads of goodies to collect along the way, including high-visibility cycle vests from People’s Postcode Lottery, and flower and seed packets from the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust team.
Zero Waste Aware Scotland, State Street, Drylaw Community Centre, Drylaw Community Garden, Spokes and MYDG (Muirhouse Youth Development Group) also had stands along the Postcode Challenge route.
Liz Stewart, of organisers Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust said: “The Postcode Challenge was a great event and we were so lucky as it must have been about the only sunny day in the last month! We believe that there were at least 300 participants – walkers and cyclists. Although cyclists had to pick up a stamp from each of the 10 ‘postcode stops’, walkers only had to collect 5, which made it easier to include them. The day went really well and it was such a happy, good-natured event and loads of great feedback – helped of course by some good weather for a change!”
It took a mighty team effort to make the Challenge such a success, Liz said.
“There’s a huge list of people to thank! The Postcode Lottery and their players for funding the event in the first place, for manning a postcode stop on the day and for providing prizes. Other stall holders were our co-organisers, The Bike Station, who also provided bike repairs on the day and kept all the wheels turning; Spokes, State Street, MYDG Muirhouse Youth Development Group, Drylaw Community Centre and Drylaw Community Garden. We also had the following prizes to give away and were very grateful to all donors:
· 37 bike themed Goody Bags from The Bike Station
· 2 Tickets to see a Film of your choice at The Filmhouse
· 2 Vouchers for Greenyonder Tours
· Lunch for Two at Hula Juice Bar
· Grow your own veg & wildflower seed packets from ELGT
· 1 of 4 cycling maps of in and around Edinburgh and the Lothians from Spokes
· 2 Herb planters, 2 bird nests & 2 nectar feeders from ELGT
· An assortment of prizes from the Postcode Lottery
· A £50 Alpine Bikes gift voucher donated by State Street
· Two tickets for a free tour of Royal Yacht Britannia.
I think that’s everyone, but it’s quite a list so apologies if we’ve missed anyone out!”
“We were delighted to support the Postcode Challenge Treasure Hunt again this year,” said Clara Govier, Head of Charities, People’s Postcode Trust. “It’s a great event and it gets everyone outside and learning a little more about the beautiful environment right here in the city.”
Organisers also encouraged participants to leave messages on the Edinburgh Innertube blog (which can be found at: http://innertubemap.com/.) and comments were very positive. One person wrote: ‘As good as anything I’ve ever done in Edinburgh – great for all the family/all ages and all abilities. You all deserve medals and loads of funding for this!’
Legionnaires' outbreak officially 'over'
The Edinburgh Legionnaires’ disease outbreak is officially ‘over’. The outbreak, which struck in May and has so far taken the lives of three people, was declared over following a review meeting of the Incident Management Team (IMT) on Tuesday.
To date, there are a total of 101 confirmed and suspected cases. All of these cases have links to the south west of Edinburgh and fit the timescales of exposure and the incubation period for developing Legionella-related illness.
Detailed investigations into the source of the outbreak continue with further testing and analysis of the environmental samples taken from potential sources being carried out.
Lothian and Borders Police and the Health and Safety Executive are jointly investigating the circumstances of the deaths under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) Health and Safety Division, and research is also underway to better understand the full extent of the outbreak.
Dr Alison McCallum, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lothian said: “As we have seen over the last week, we can expect further cases who have been ill for some time to continue to come forward and our increased surveillance will continue.
“However, all the evidence is suggesting that the action taken when the outbreak was first identified was effective and all cases fall within the expected incubation period, so the decision has been made to declare the outbreak over.
“Laboratory work is ongoing to try and identify the source conclusively but, as we have said from the start, it may not be possible to do so.
“There is also more work to be done to gain a better understanding of the scale of the outbreak and how to manage outbreaks in the future. We hope that people who are approached to participate in these studies will come forward and help us with this significant piece of research.”
A full report into the outbreak detailing the epidemiological, environmental, meteorological and microbiological investigations and recommendations for the prevention and control of future outbreaks will now be produced.
Welcoming the announcement, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “It is good news that the outbreak has been declared over, and as we have already seen, the number of new cases has been dropping off over recent weeks.
“We have worked closely with NHS Lothian to ensure the outbreak was well managed, and I would like to pay tribute to NHS staff who have coped extremely well with this situation.
“However, we have to remember that there are some patients who remain extremely ill, and NHS staff are maintaining high quality care for those patients.
“The Health and Safety Executive and Edinburgh City Council are continuing their investigations into the source of the outbreak.”
Legionnaires’ outbreak officially ‘over’
The Edinburgh Legionnaires’ disease outbreak is officially ‘over’. The outbreak, which struck in May and has so far taken the lives of three people, was declared over following a review meeting of the Incident Management Team (IMT) on Tuesday.
To date, there are a total of 101 confirmed and suspected cases. All of these cases have links to the south west of Edinburgh and fit the timescales of exposure and the incubation period for developing Legionella-related illness.
Detailed investigations into the source of the outbreak continue with further testing and analysis of the environmental samples taken from potential sources being carried out.
Lothian and Borders Police and the Health and Safety Executive are jointly investigating the circumstances of the deaths under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) Health and Safety Division, and research is also underway to better understand the full extent of the outbreak.
Dr Alison McCallum, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lothian said: “As we have seen over the last week, we can expect further cases who have been ill for some time to continue to come forward and our increased surveillance will continue.
“However, all the evidence is suggesting that the action taken when the outbreak was first identified was effective and all cases fall within the expected incubation period, so the decision has been made to declare the outbreak over.
“Laboratory work is ongoing to try and identify the source conclusively but, as we have said from the start, it may not be possible to do so.
“There is also more work to be done to gain a better understanding of the scale of the outbreak and how to manage outbreaks in the future. We hope that people who are approached to participate in these studies will come forward and help us with this significant piece of research.”
A full report into the outbreak detailing the epidemiological, environmental, meteorological and microbiological investigations and recommendations for the prevention and control of future outbreaks will now be produced.
Welcoming the announcement, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “It is good news that the outbreak has been declared over, and as we have already seen, the number of new cases has been dropping off over recent weeks.
“We have worked closely with NHS Lothian to ensure the outbreak was well managed, and I would like to pay tribute to NHS staff who have coped extremely well with this situation.
“However, we have to remember that there are some patients who remain extremely ill, and NHS staff are maintaining high quality care for those patients.
“The Health and Safety Executive and Edinburgh City Council are continuing their investigations into the source of the outbreak.”
St. Nicholas summer fayre raises £1700
St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex raised £1700 at its annual summer fayre. The complex, on Ferry Road, had a number of attractions including face painting, home bakes stall, barbeque, tombola and clothing, books and bric-a-brac sales.
Maureen Tait manages the Port of Leith Housing Association sheltered housing development. She said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day. We got about the only two hours of sunshine there was the entire fortnight it seemed and people flocked along. We were busy the entire time with people enjoying the sunshine, food and company of the day. This is a great sum for us and we are very grateful to everyone who came along and helped us raise this superb total.”
The funds will be used to fund social outings for the complex’s 35 residents. Last year, the money they raised helped pay for trips to Dynamic Earth, exercise classes, social evenings and buying a 50” TV and a Wii console.
City copes with latest deluge
With weather warnings now lifted, and today’s forecast showing signs of improvement, it looks like the worst of the weather is over – for the timebeing at least.
The city council was well-prepared for Wednesday’s deluge. Speaking yesterday, city transport convener Councillor Lesley Hinds (pictured above) said: “Our roads teams have been fully prepared to deal with predicted heavy rainfall and we are keeping in regular touch with partner organisations. A Flood Control Coordination Centre has been set up as part of the Council’s Emergency Flood Plan. Drains and waterways have been cleared of debris, while river levels and hot spot areas have been continually monitored throughout the day. Around 7,000 sandbags were ready to be deployed, some of which were delivered to households in response to residents’ concerns. Residents can be assured that the situation will continue to be monitored over the next 18 hours while the amber alert is still in place.”
Some local scenes yesterday:
While today’s forecast is for improving weather, it may be prudent to keep those wellies handy just in case …!