News August 2009

Find out the latest North Howe Transition toun news.

The Kettle Wednesday club will start again in the Memorial Hall on Wednesday 9 September at 2pm.

Fife Council's external auditors have told the local authority it needs to improve the way it looks after the Common Good funds.

Tuesday 1st September sees the first Positive Coaching Scotland (PCS) workshop specifically for young female footballers and their parents.

Amateur artists are being reminded that the deadline is looming for entering Fife Art 2009.

Fife’s 13 Community Use Schools offer access to a wide range of excellent recreation and education programmes in an informal friendly atmosphere based within the local community.

The syllabus for the 2010 Fife Festival of Music has been launched.

Fife Council Transportation Services are set to commence a carriageway improvement scheme in Station Road and Bower Park, Gateside.

Recycling services in north east Fife could be extended.

The fight against a proposed waste-to-energy plant branded 'a toxic time-bomb' by campaigners has moved up a gear.

Comedy lovers are being urged to get involved in this year's Kirkcaldy Comedy Festival.

A golden eagle kept in captivity for so long she could no longer fly is spreading her wings once more with the help of Elite Falconry near Kirkcaldy.

James Robertson's acclaimed novel, ‘Joseph Knight', concerning slavery and its part in amassing wealth for Scotland, will be under the microscope of the Giffordtown Book Club members next Thursday. There are just thirteen remaining days in which to read it before finding out their verdict.

Fife Employment Access Trust (FEAT) is a registered charity that supports individuals back into work following mental illness.

The Eden Estuary, Scotland's third oldest nature reserve, is hosting its third annual open day on Sunday 30 August.

Fife Council's Transportation and Education Services, in conjunction with Fife Constabulary, have launched a campaign to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion outside the school gate.

Fife Family History Fair is Scotland’s premier family history event.

The service last Sunday was conducted by Rev. George Nicol, and scripture readings were given by Mrs. Irene Veitch. Wednesday 2 September, will be the final afternoon tea, with proceeds going to CHAS, Kinross. Teas will be from the usual time of 2pm - 3.30pm, and CHAS will be manning a stall selling a selection of their own goods.

The North Howe Transition Toun Local Food Group have organised a Local Food Festival in Letham Park on Saturday 19 September from 12.30 to 5.30pm.

The new St Andrews Community Hospital has been linked in to the bus network in time for its opening next month.

A development in a north east Fife hamlet that was denied permission by local councillors is to come under the scrutiny of a Scottish Government reporter.

All four local authorities in Tayside and Fife have managed to improve their performance in recycling rubbish, according to official figures.

As the recession stretches the gap between the rich and poor in Fife, more people are dying early in the region’s most deprived areas.

How Fife's leading organisations will work with the Scottish Government formed the backdrop to a high-level partnership agreement.

Teams of young conservation volunteers, working with the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), have been transforming kilometres of pathes throughout Fife, as part of the Fife Core Paths Network Project.

Children are invited to join a great day out to the gardens of Scone Palace as part of an outing on Sunday 23 August (1 - 3 pm) planned by the young people's branch of Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT); Wildlife Watch.

Falkland Youth Theatre Drama classes new term starts back on Monday and Tuesdays.

The Cupar Homecoming team quiz will be held at Cupar Golf Club on Friday 18 September.

Users of Cupar Sports Centre have hit out after a major refurbishment programme was postponed at the 11th hour.

Doubts have been raised over a rail link ever being re-established for Leven.

Young people across Fife are excelling in a varied and interesting range of national awards.

An inspirational Fife doctor is preparing to walk across Scotland in a week-long fund-raiser to raise more money for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres.

Hundreds of classic car enthusiasts will assemble at Brucefield Farm, near Ladybank, this weekend for the Fife Association of Vintage Vehicle Owners' 21st rally.

Residents of Falkland are hoping for another blooming success.

A revised bus timetable has recently been issued.

The craft fair on Saturday 8 August raised a total of £245.08 which will be split between Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Marie Curie Cancer Care.

There will be a conservation volunteer day on Auchtermuchty Common tomorrow (Saturday) between 11am and 2pm.

People living in the Howe of Fife are to be given the chance to learn new skills, thanks to a range of courses being launched later this month.

The Ladybank Development Trust are holding consultation sessions outside the Spar store in Ladybank this weekend - 22 and 23 August between 11am and 3pm (weather permitting).

Pupils from Bell Baxter High School have organised a jumble sale at the YMCA in Bonnygate in Cupar tomorrow (Saturday).

Gordon Brown believes Britain can lead the way on tackling climate change - and plans to enlist the help of pupils and businesses across Fife to do so.

C U in the Park returned to Cupar in style last Thursday with young people from across north east Fife converging on Duffus Park for the music and sports event.

Scottish Water's investment programme at the Lomond Hills treatment works is complete.

Threatened telephone kiosks in north east Fife have been given a lifeline.

Fife Council Transportation Services are set to commence a carriageway improvement scheme in Main Street, Gateside.

The second annual Kirkcaldy Comedy Festival was launched yesterday in Kirkcaldy by one of the headline acts appearing in this year's event, Adam Hills.

A recent qualification delivered by a partnership between Elmwood College and Auchtermuchty Primary School has been hailed as a great success.

Fife's reputation as a world-leading player in Scotland’s renewable energy manufacturing industry is set to be enhanced by a multi-million-pound investment.

Freuchie in Flower are holding a Cream Tea on Sunday 23rd August between 2.30pm and 4pm.

The Rotary Club of the Howe of Fife last week welcomed, as their speaker, Jean Ballentine of the Fife Branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Fife's Health board has been awarded £100,000 to help lead the fight against heart disease, it has been announced.

Pupils from Auchtermuchty have been busy of late since they decided to raise money for the Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) at Rachel House, Kinross.

The new paths between Maspie Den and Craigmead wind through a wealth of overgrown rose bay willow herb and countless other shrubs.

Congratulations to Freuchie's very own Katie Muir, who won a gold medal for the 25m freestyle in Leicester. Special thanks to Fay & Ronnie at the Lomond Hills hotel for sponsoring her.

Busy Bees toddler group is now open to all pre-school children. Come along to Strathmiglo Village Hall on Wednesday mornings at 9.30am for a chat and coffee while the kids have some fun. Sessions begin on 19 August.

Active Play Sesssions for pre-school kids are about to get under way in Gateside Memorial Hall.

Almost 200 young Fife musicians will take part in the 2009 Festival of British Youth Orchestras in Edinburgh.

Fife Employment Access Trust have teamed up with the Fife Animal Park in Collessie to offer a half-day training session in mental health awareness.

People with disabilities living and working in Fife can sign up for an innovative service for job vacancy information.

Well done to all those who entered the recent Letham Primary School children's sunflower competition. There were some fantastic sunflowers and the winners were..

Ladybank Forest Users Group is promoting a series of evening walks focussing on Ladybank Woods for the next four Wednesdays. Participants should assemble in the golf club car park, The Beeches, Ladybank, which is located opposite the water tower. It is anticipated that each walk will take about one hour to 90 minutes depending on stops to look at anything of interest! Walks will commence at 6.30pm.

The Kettle arts and crafts project is now finished for the summer and leaders Pete Cunningham and Susan Reid would like to thank all the youngsters and parents for attending and being a great bunch of people to work with. They would also like to thank all the activity leaders who helped to make it a success.

The next session of Dru yoga starts in the Memorial Hall on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm. Newcomers welcome. Learn how to relax, enjoy stretches and sequences, and feel the benefit of the instruction of Agnes McAdam.

The next Energy Group meeting will be held at Ash Cottage, Monimail, on Tuesday 18 August at 8pm. Please feel free to come along if you would like to learn more about our plans to reduce carbon emissions in our area.

Dance classes for ages three - adults resume in the Masonic Hall, Ladybank on Saturday 22 August. New pupils welcome. Further details are available from Joyce Anderson on 01334 652 418 or 07951 403 460.

The annual Collessie art show, this year entitled ‘... An a' that' (Burns and a' that) is looking for exhibits for this year's show.

A new book evoking the heyday of the salmon fishing industry on the Tay has just been published.

Although the General Election has yet to be called, Fife’s Electoral Registration Team is already working hard to make sure that the Kingdom’s eligible residents can have their say on polling day.

Find out the latest news including Letham Nights #6, Transition Trail 2009, the Historic Orchard study weekend and the Monimail Woodland Group update.

Scouts returned last Saturday after a week spent at the Auchengillan International Jamboree, near Glasgow.

The service last Sunday was conducted by Rev. George Nicol, and scripture readings were given by Mrs. Pauline Normand.

Members of the Howe of Fife Rotary Club raised a sum of £280 in aid of CHAS.

With continuing bad news of British casualties in Afghanistan, ‘Three Cups of Tea' by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, was a timely, salutary read for Giffordtown Book Club members.

The next Freuchie Community Council meeting will be on 12 Aug 09, at the Lumsden Memorial Hall in Freuchie. Start time: 7.30pm

The September art show in Collessie is seeking entries.

Howe of Fife Church will play host to a charity concert given by renowned local singer Linda Ballingall and her guests in Kettle Kirk, Kingskettle, on Friday 28 August.

The biggest changes to hit Fife's planning rules for 60 years came into effect on Monday.

A project set up to help save Fife's red squirrels has been given a £50,000.

Volunteers are needed to take part in an action day on Auchtermuchty Common.

The 2010 Falkland in Bloom calendar has just been launched.

The poverty of Pakistan and the religious angst of Afghanistan is a long way from the douce pleasures of summertime East Neuk.

Muchty is set to have its first comedy festival in honour of a classic Fox Hat' beer commercial, which first aired in January 1999 and starred comedian Rich Hall.

Schedules for the flower show are now on sale at the Kettle Show.

Plans have been revealed for a music festival in the grounds of Kinross House.

PEOPLE in Falkland are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their village hall.

FALKLAND is preparing for a visit by representatives from the Royal Horticultural Society next week.

Elmwood College has announced ambitious plans to build a new multi-million pound campus in the grounds of its existing sites in Cupar.

Saturday the 1st of August saw the start of the Shukokai Karate Academy Scotland's campaign in support of "Help for Heroes". To officially open the campaign the students had a visit from Member of Parliament for Gelnrothes, Lindsay Roy.

Could you or someone you know impress Britain's most famous restaurant critic with your cooking? Infamous critic Michael Winner is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to talented amateur cooks.

The charity behind the project to create a heritage trail round Loch Leven is rallying last-minute public support in its bid to win lottery cash.

Announcing the 2009 winners of Freuchie in Flower's Garden Competition.

The Collessie 2010 calendar competition closing date is nearing. Have you submitted your favourite photo yet?

Fifers are being urged to ‘walk the extra mile' for Diabetes UK Scotland.

Giffordtown Hall has a long-standing connection with traditional Scottish Music.

About twenty folk turned up at the Transition Toun Group meeting in Giffordtown Hall a week past Tuesday.

The Loch Leven Heritage Trail, a pathway recently opened in Kinross-shire that gives access to a recognised nature reserve which was previously closed to the public, has battled its way through to the final stage of the National Lottery Awards 2009.

We're looking for some paid Sessional workers to undertake a survey amongst local residents about how best to reduce carbon emissions.

If any of you happen to be travelling to Edinburgh this August for the Festival (or any other reason), the Edinburgh convivium would like to extend a warm invitation to join one of our Slow Suppers @ Home, taking place in local members' homes across the city right through the month.

Birnie & Gaddon Loch News Aug 09

Visitors to Loch Leven were recently surprised to see a boat full of sheep on their way to St Serf's Island.

Fife Council is about to embark on long-awaited new traffic calming measures in Falkland.

T in the Park may be over for another year, but the music plays on in North East Fife with more "Letham Nights".

The grounds of Myres Castle near Auchtermuchty, are to open to the public next month so that people can see a trio of new arrivals that have been making an impression in every sense of the word!

Plans for a residential development in countryside just outside Strathmiglo, cannot be justified, according to a Scottish Governement reporter.

Ladybank Woods provide the backdrop for a new children's adventure from Fife author C. Richard Toye.

Organisers are looking for accommodation for visitors to the festival, please get in touch if you are able to let out your room/accommodation.

The yoga group will take a short break and recommence the next session in the Memorial Hall in Kettle on Wednesday 19 August at 7.30pm.

A wee tent was erected at the Big Tent by the Rotary Club of the Howe of Fife at last weekend’s eco-friendly Falkland Festival.