Blackhall – Page 32 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Happy birthday, city libraries!

Edinburgh’s library service began 125 years ago today

Edinburgh’s library service is celebrating its 125th birthday by serving up a feast of special events to mark the landmark anniversary.

A big birthday bash, readings by children’s authors, a rare glimpse of Japanese art and a debate on the future of libraries are all examples of the packed programme of events taking place this month.

The Central Library was the first to open in the Capital to the public on June 9th, 1890, and now a total of 28 across the city welcome 3.4 million visitors each year.

Lord Roseberry officially opened it after previous attempts to set up a free public service failed as it would “put an unnecessary burden on the ratepayers”!

Andrew Carnegie offered £50,000 to establish the iconic library on George IV Bridge and less than a year later he laid the foundation stone.

In the space of 15 years, Edinburgh opened a substantial number of branches in the north, south, east and west districts, as well as a library in Portobello Town Hall.

The Council has continued to invest in new buildings in the 21st century, with a new library for Muirhouse in 2000 and the most recent community hubs opened in Drumbrae and Craigmillar in 2012.

Recent upgrades have been carried out at Stockbridge, Leith, McDonald Road, Morningside and Central.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener, said: “Libraries have been serving the people of Edinburgh for well over a century and I’m delighted to be part of the birthday celebrations.

“Our library team can keep a large group of toddlers entertained at Bookbug sessions, support the ever-changing population of Edinburgh through community language collections, help people to get connected digitally, and also open up a world of heritage, history and information. I’d like to thank staff for all of their hard and imaginative work.

“There’s a wealth of information and services mainly for free at our fingertips through libraries – support your local branch by keeping them going for at least another 125 years by paying a visit today.”

Edinburgh’s libraries – something to shout about!

Sainsbury’s in Edinburgh trials cooking oil recycling banks

Sainsbury’s stores across Edinburgh are trialling recycling banks for cooking oils. The trail launched on 20 May with the aim to encourage customers to recycle, whilst also saving their kitchen sink from blockages often caused when oils are poured down the drain.

In partnership with Olleco, Scottish Water and Zero Waste Scotland, customers can simply deposit household cooking waste including vegetable oil, animal fat and lard in a plastic bottle at the recycling banks located in Sainsbury’s car parks. From there the oils are collected by Olleco and taken to their recycling plant to be made into biodiesel.

Paul Crewe, Head of Sustainability at Sainsbury’s, said: “Cooking oils probably aren’t the first thing you’d think of recycling however it’s a great way of keeping your drains clear and putting waste to a good use. This is an exciting trial that adds to the recycling our customers already get involved in, including clothing, and even Christmas cards! The recycling banks are really easy to use so we hope customers across Edinburgh and the surrounding area get involved in the trial.”

The trial has been welcomed by Scottish Water, as this links to their Cycle campaign which aims to highlight simple steps to prevent blocked pipes.

Power of Food Festival is fast approaching …

North Edinburgh plays a major part in this month’s Power of Food Festival with events and activities in Blackhall, Drylaw, Granton, Leith, Muirhouse and the Botanics to name just a few …!

Hello everyone!

It’s an amazing privilege to be in a position today to launch the programme of Edinburgh’s first Power of Food Festival, only five and a half months after we decided to turn the original idea into a reality. It’s been a bit of a mad time getting everything in place, but really exhilarating to see it all coming together thanks to the efforts of a wide range of individuals keen to share their resources, skills, energy and passion. And how appropriate to be launching such an initiative on Volunteers Week! Volunteers are at the heart of community food growing and of the centre of the Festival.

We look forward to seeing you in one (or several!) of the 15 gardens of the Festival on 20-21 June and hope you enjoy the celebration!

Best wishes from

The Power of Food Festival Committee

Rebecca Crowther

Christine Giraud

Marie-Amélie Viatte

After months of preparation, The Power of Food Festival is pleased to announce an exciting programme of free events organised by each venue in line with what they do best: connecting people!

From well established award winning gardens, to new grassroot food growing projects, the diversity of the initiatives which feature in the programme will surprise and delight Festival goers. Venues open on the weekend of 20 and 21 June include a library, an office block, a secret garden, and a farmhouse which is undergoing an incredible transformation!

A citywide celebration

From Portobello to Wester Hailes, Granton to Blackhall, Tollcross to Old Dalkeith Road, and many others in between, every corner of Edinburgh will have a garden celebrating the joy of community food growing. There will be a rich menu of events suited for every taste, for children and adults alike, including: children’s poetry writing, bug hunting, storytelling and sharing, choir music, conversations on nature, food and sustainability, wind band, foraging, cooking and eating, as well as practical gardening workshops, and the launch of Edible Edinburgh Food Charter of a Sustainable Food City.

In association with Sustrans, visitors can also join in a guided bike tour of the
gardens (free but ticketed). Bookings can be made online.

Whether on foot or on two wheels, visitors can plan their Festival trip and keep up to date with the latest events and information via The Power of Food Festival website (details below).

A Festival for everyone

Why not invite your friends and family to take part in the first Edinburgh Power of Food Festival? The weekend will give everyone a chance to meet people in their local community, to join those who are transforming the city landscape everyday, and to give a deeper meaning to the word ‘community’. Maybe it will be the beginning of a great adventure: who knows where The Power of Food will take you?

The full programme of events can be accessed here: PoF Programme

Come with family and friends to The Power of Food Festival

Celebrating community food growing and local change makers

summer solstice weekend 20-21 June

W: poweroffoodfestival.wordpress.com E:poweroffoodfestival@outlook.com

Twitter @PoFFest FacebookEdinburghPowerofFoodFestival

Power of food poster 2

Gremlins and ghouls at Granton Campus

Granton Campus charity event’s not for the faint-hearted!

Gremlins, fantasy warriors and witches will descend on Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus tomorrow as the college’s imaginative make-up students put their talents on display at a showcase event.

Second-year students from the college’s HND Make-Up Artistry course will apply the skills they have learned to produce a variety of jaw-dropping looks on models for the Ministry of Make-Up event. The students will present a range of fashion make-up looks alongside more unusual character and special effects designs that wouldn’t look out of place in a Hollywood blockbuster.

Following the show there will be a chance to see the models up close and speak to the students about the techniques they used and the inspirations for the looks.

Photography work from first-year HND and VTCT Fashion and Photographic Make-up students will also be on display.

Money raised through a raffle on the night will go towards the charity Look Good Feel Better, the international charity dedicated to improving the wellbeing and self-confidence of people undergoing treatment for cancer.

The Ministry of Make-Up event will take place on Tuesday 26 May at 7pm at the Apprentice Restaurant, Edinburgh College Granton Campus, 350 West Granton Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1QE. Tickets are £7 and can be booked from Jakki.jeffery@edinburghcollege.ac.uk. The event is only suitable for over 16s.

Running order:

18.30 Doors open

19.00 Show starts

19.45 Raffle

20.00 Free viewing and interaction with students and models, and photocall

20.20 Show ends

20.30 Doors close

Crackdown on housebreaking continues

‘All reports of housebreaking are being thoroughly investigated in Edinburgh and we are arresting people every day for these offences’ – Superintendent Alan Porte

A second man has been arrested and charged as part of an ongoing investigation into a housebreaking and theft in Craigcrook Road on 24 March.

A Honda Civic and Volkswagen Passat were stolen during the incident and were later recovered in the West Pilton area. Following continued enquiries an 18-year-old was detained at his home in Granton Mill March and charged with the break-in and theft of the vehicles.

He is scheduled to appear in Edinburgh Sherriff Court.

In a separate development two men have been arrested and a vehicle recovered during further Operation RAC activity in Edinburgh.

Plain-clothes officers attended at Harrison Park in the early hours of Friday morning (22 May) following reports from the public of a group in possession of a motorcycle.

A 21-year-old man was subsequently detained and a Yamaha bike seized. The motorcycle was established as stolen from nearby Harrison Road and the male was charged.

He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow (Monday 25 May). Police are following a positive line of enquiry to trace others believed to have been involved in this offence.

Superintendent Alan Porte said: “Those responsible for breaking into people’s homes and stealing their valued possessions, such as vehicles, may think they are immune to the law. However, we continue to demonstrate through Operation RAC that this is not the case.

“All reports of housebreaking are being thoroughly investigated in Edinburgh and we are arresting people every day for these offences.

“We will continue to actively pursue anyone involved in acquisitive crime and our communities can help us by reporting any suspicious activity they witness, as well as ensuring they keep their homes, outbuildings and businesses appropriately secured at all times.

“If you have information relating to housebreaking in your area, or wish to receive information on crime prevention then please speak with your local policing team or contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership public meeting

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership

Public Meeting

Monday 25 May 6.30pm

Blackhall Library

Come along to the Inverleith NP meeting on Monday at Blackhall Library!

If crime is an issue for you, please come and hear what’s being done and what you can do to reduce risks!

Unlucky for some: thirteen BoS branches to close

Bye, bye Blackhall: Bank of Scotland branch to close

Bank of Scotland has announced plans to close thirteen branches across Scotland this year. Among the unlucky thirteen is the Blackhall branch on Hillhouse Road. The branches will close by 18 September.

The announcement follows a strategic review of the business which was announced in October last year.

Edinburgh bears the brunt of the closures and is set to lose SEVEN branches. As well as Blackhall the city will lose Fairmilehead, Holyrood, Marchmont, St James Centre, Murrayfield and Sighthill. Four branches will also close in Glasgow and one in Aberdeen. Another branch in Moray closed earlier this month and was replaced with a mobile branch service.

A Bank of Scotland spokesman said: “Our focus has been on urban areas where there is another Bank of Scotland branch nearby. Branches continue to play an important role for us.”

The nearest local branches for BoS customers will be Deanhaugh Street in Stockbridge, 43 Comely Bank or the Barnton branch on Queensferry Road.

The Bank of Scotland news comes hot on the heels of the Royal Bank’s announcement of several branch closures – including Goldenacre – earlier this week. Clydesdale Bank customers – brace yourselves!

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership meets next Monday

Local crime and Raeburn Place issues on the agenda

The next public meeting of the Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership takes place next Monday 25 May at Blackhall Library from 6.30pm. Agenda and papers are now available online and can be found here.

If you have concerns about crime / housebreaking in your neighbourhood, come hear from Inspector Happs about some of the work that is taking place to tackle this.

Also, Raeburn Place: what are your views on traffic / waste / street furniture, etc ? Come and share them!

Amnes-T in the Park!

Broughton High School students stage event to support World Refugee Day

On Saturday 20 June (10am– 2pm), Broughton High School’s Amnesty International Youth Group is holding Amnes-T in the Park to raise awareness of World Refugee Day. Get into the summer festival vibe and come along to the school’s rugby pitch for a day of live music, games and food for all the family to enjoy!

New local talent, including Rastafarian White Boys, will bring the field alive as you dig into a delicious selection of home baking. The event will focus on the current issues surrounding refugees through a series of artwork made by school pupils. These will highlight important facts in a fun and engaging way!

All ages are welcome, although primary school children should be accompanied by an adult – and entry is free!

All the money raised on the day will go towards helping Amnesty International carry out their vitally important work protecting human rights worldwide.

Niamh McNulty

Broughton High School Amnesty International Youth Group

Give blood in Blackhall

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service are asking donors to make an extra special effort to give blood at St Columba’s Parish Church on Hillhouse Road tomorrow (Tuesday).

Sessions run from 2.30 – 4pm in the afternoon

and there’s an evening session from 5.30 – 8pm.

If you are not sure if you are eligible to donate, call 0845 30 17 270

email NSS.snbtsenquiry@nhs.net

or call in to speak to a member of staff at one of the sessions.