District News

Planning list

Applications - Mr Gordon Ness - Demolition of existing rear extensions and erection of new rear and side at Am Fasgadh, Scalpay, Isle Of Harris.

Mr Donald A Currie - Erect boat shed (retrospective) at Boat Shed, Gasaigh Island, Lochboisdale, Isle Of South Uist.

Ms Mairi Macmillan - Erect house at 16C Guershader, Laxdale, Isle Of Lewis.

Mr John Henry - Erect house with access, parking, drainage and air source heat pump at 7C Carriegreich, Isle Of Harris.

Uists

School Reunion - The Class of 88 Reunion will take place between 3 and 5pm on Saturday 30th July in the theatre at Sgoil Lionacleit.

Former pupils of Sgoil Lionacleit who made up the very first S1 in 1988 when the school opened, or joined S3 in 1990 from Daliburgh or Paible, are invited to attend their first school reunion, any staff who worked in the school from 1988 to 1994 are also welcome to attend.

Lochmaddy/North Uist - There are just two more days to go and see the Annual Exhibition of Arts & Crafts organised by Lochmaddy Women’s Rural Institute.

The Exhibition - in Lochmaddy Primary School – continues on Friday, July 22nd and Saturday 23rd July.

It is open from 11am each day and will close at 4pm on Friday 22nd but at 2pm on Saturday 23rd.

Enjoy the wonderful display of arts and crafts: needle-craft, knitting and crochet, paintings, photographs, jewellery and much, much more.

Many of these items are for sale, and you can also buy locally-prepared wool in an array of colours, home baking, preserves and plants.

Stornoway

Gathering ideas - Stornoway Wind Farm recently held its second drop-in event to provide locals with an opportunity to contribute ideas on how community funding will be spent.

The event at Stornoway Town Hall saw huge enthusiasm for the wind farm project and an excellent exchange of ideas between around 80 locals and employees from Lewis Wind Power and the Stornoway Trust.

They discussed how best to spend funds arising from community benefit, as well as distribution of profits from the 20% community ownership of the proposed wind farm.

Following on from an initial drop-in event in March, the event demonstrates how the wind farm project is going from strength to strength, with further meetings and events being organised later in the year.

In the meantime, a quarterly newsletter has also been published to keep the local community up to date.

Commenting on the event, John Buswell, Stornoway Wind Farm Project Director, said: “Events like these provide us with an invaluable opportunity to hear from locals who will be positively impacted by the community fund.

“Benefiting from the millions of pounds over the lifetime of the wind farm project, it’s vital that locals have an opportunity to have a say.

“Lewis Wind Power are committed to developing the Stornoway Wind Farm and our activities on Lewis will increase over the coming years. We look forward to hearing more from locals at forthcoming events.”

Thought of week

Public Service - So, we have a new Prime Minister and we now enter a period of change in government circles.

Whether or not you are a political person, it’s hard not to be intrigued by the comings and goings of Parliament.

It’s a world that most of us are not exposed to apart from the decisions made on our behalf and when we are called to the polls to vote. Other than that, we have to rely upon media coverage to keep us informed and live, in the oft times vain hope that it remains unbiased.

In my previous occupation I had the good fortune to liaise regularly with several well known Westminster grandees and I have to say that every one of them were astute, articulate and always willing to listen. I’m not defending all members of parliament, clearly there have been issues in the near past that have put some of them in a very unpleasant light and it’s difficult to defend the insensible.

I do however know that most work extremely hard and care deeply for the constituencies they have been democratically elected to serve.

Public service, in whatever form it takes, is a demanding and sometimes thankless task and I know that the majority of people appreciate that there are many out there just ‘getting on with it’.

For all of you in public office I offer my thanks and gratitude for your hard work and I know you don’t need reminding, but don’t forget those who rely on you on a daily basis for so many things.

Blessings Always,

Reverend Terry Taggart

Laxdale

Fun Day - The Laxdale Community Association and the Newmarket Play Area Committee have announced their first joint venture, a Community Fun Day, which will take place on Saturday 20th August from 2-6 pm at the Laxdale Hall.

It is planned to have a BBQ (with wet weather shelter), teas and cakes, musical performances, Candy Floss, Bouncy Castles, a raffle & balloons. In addition, the Historical Exhibition in the Hall, recording life in the district, will be open once more throughout the afternoon, with recently acquired material.

We extend a most cordial welcome to folk of all ages to come along and meet up with friends.

Donations of baking will be gratefully received at the Hall on the Saturday morning from 10am onwards. Donations will be accepted on the day for the BBQ and baking to raise funds for both the Community Association and the Play Area.

The continuing evolution and transformation of the Play Area shows clearly how all monies are invested in a way that benefits the whole community.

Ullapool

Literally Literary - Ullapool Book Festival (UBF) has announce more writers for their Literally Literary tent at Loopallu on Saturday 1 October.

Singer/songwriter James Yorkston’s first novel Three Craws was published by Freight and UBF is thrilled to have him at their tent to read from the book and to talk about it with Loopallu regular Vic Galloway.

Also appearing will be the young performer and poet Harry Giles. Harry, who was brought up in Orkney, has been shortlisted for two major literary prizes with his first collection Tonguit – the Forward Poetry Prize Best First Collection award and the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award. He was BBC Scotland Slam Champion in 2009.