NEW YEAR PARTIES PLANNED TONIGHT!
31 December 2007 -
Thousands of people are preparing to celebrate the New Year in style, on the Island. Parties are planned in most towns and villages. Cowes will host its annual fancy dress party in most of the bars and pubs.
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CRIME FIGHTING MEETING IN NEWPORT
31 December 2007 -
There's a new community meeting for Newport. A Neighbourhood Surgery will be held at Newport Bus Station Travel Office, on Thursdays between 2 and 4pm. It is a chance to meet a representative of the Newport South Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team.
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SCAM WARNING FOR ISLANDERS
31 December 2007 -
We are being warned not to fall for a lottery scam that is dropping through Island letterboxes, this morning. Staff at Newport sorting office say by law they must deliver thousands of cards asking Islanders to fill in bank details in return for cash. But the Island's trading standards officers are warning that it is not a genuine competition and they are urging us not to faul foul of the fraud.
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RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE!
28 December 2007 -
The Island’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling scheme launches on the 29th December.
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BUSINESS “EXPO” PUTS ISLAND ONLINE
27 December 2007 -
Island business is to be featured online, by the Hampshire based online marketing company ClickExpo Ltd. It is preparing to launch what it calls an online exhibition site, with 9 halls and 49 associated industry zones. The site will go live in March.
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FIRST CHRISTMAS FOR AMAZON WORLD’S BABY PENGUINS
27 December 2007 -
Three new baby penguins are celebrating their first Christmas, at the Amazon World Zoo Park at Newchurch, on the Isle of Wight. Jackass penguins Kyala and Oscar (the parents of Toga, who went missing 2 years ago), are rearing 2 babies. Another couple are happily raising a single chick.
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DARREN MEW’S AMERICAN DREAM FOR CHINESE GOLD
26 December 2007 -
Island swimmer Darren Mew is picking up the pace on his campaign to win gold in the forthcoming Beijing Olympics. With just over six months to go, Britain’s best breaststroke swimmer has turned to America’s 5 times Olympic Gold Medallist Gary Hall Jnr. Darren has left the Island to live in Florida, to train with the games veteran.
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RIGHT ROYAL ROTARY BALLOON RACE!
25 December 2007 -
The Royal Estate of Sandringham, a cow field in France and silage in Dorset were among the final resting places of the balloons released by the Cowes Rotary Club, during Cowes Week 2007. Nearly 3000 balloons were set off over 10 days. Nearly 180 were returned. The winner was Harry from St Albans, whose balloon travelled 553 miles to Bockholt in Germany. Close runners up were Samuel from Fleet, who racked up 509 miles to Lengede in Germany and Alice from the Island, whose balloon ended the race 465 miles away in Lajo in France.
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WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
25 December 2007 -
Happy Christmas from everyone at the Isle of Wight Beacon!
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101 IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
24 December 2007 -
The 101 non-emergency service is open for business, this New Year. Despite fears over how the service will continue to be funded, its operators are preparing to answer calls as the end-of-the-year parties get into full swing. The telephone service is dedicated to people reporting non-emergency crime and anti-social behaviour.
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REFUSE COLLECTIONS CHANGE THIS CHRISTMAS
24 December 2007 -
The days your rubbish is collected have changed, because of the Christmas break. Here are the new dates (The first is the day it would have been collected and the second is the day it will now be collected):
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CHEESE WARNING AFTER LISTERIA DISCOVERED IN ISLE OF WIGHT BLUE
23 December 2007 -
People who bought a batch of Island-produced cheese are being warned not to consume it and to return it to its makers or January’s farmer’s markets. It follows the discovery of the potentially harmful bacteria Listeria. The Isle of Wight Cheese Company’s own routine tests uncovered the problem. Only Isle of Wight Blue with the batch number 45 05 01 and a use-by date of Jan 6 2008 is affected. For more information visit www.iwight.com and follow the link on the front page.
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CARISBROOKE POND SCHEME: PART TWO
23 December 2007 -
Phase two of a scheme to enhance a Carisbrooke pond is underway. The Environment Agency’s carrying out work on the Lukely Brook. With support from Southern Water, the organisation is working to improve water quality. Wetland plants have already been planted, increasing wildlife. Now, they are continuing to restore the site by creating several ‘wet’ islands within the pond.
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EAST COWES HAS NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
21 December 2007 -
Following a series of public meetings and hours of debate, the future of the East Cowes Community Partnership is decided. The group will meet on the second Monday of each month, in the Town Hall, at 7.15pm. They will be public meetings and local people can use them to promote projects and raise issues. Organisers say they have been dismayed by poor attendance, but most Town Councillors and the majority of the public who have attended the set-up stages of the organisation voted in favour of a revamped and independent partnership that works in harmony with the IW Council, for the benefit of the town.
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£5M "FUNDING GAP" PROMPTS COUNCIL QUESTIONNAIRE
20 December 2007 -
The Isle of Wight Council's warning of a possible funding gap of £5 million - following this year's Government grant settlement. The authority says it spends more than £300 million pounds per year on services including recycling, education and community safety. It claims current spending will need to increase £10 million next year. It has launched a questionnaire to ask Islanders where we would like to see money spent and if there's anything we would be prepared to spend more on. It is available online at www.iwight.com/budget2008/survey/ and will also be published in the IW County Press.
Read more about - £5M "FUNDING GAP" PROMPTS COUNCIL QUESTIONNAIRE
EAST COWES HAS NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
13 December 2007 -
Following a series of public meetings and hours of debate, the future of the East Cowes Community Partnership is decided. The group will meet on the second Monday of each month, in the Town Hall, at 7.15pm. They will be public meetings and local people can use them to promote projects and raise issues. Organisers say they have been dismayed by poor attendance, but most Town Councillors and the majority of the public who have attended the set-up stages of the organisation voted in favour of a revamped and independent partnership that works in harmony with the IW Council, for the benefit of the town.
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ECO ISLAND PLANS TAKE NEXT STEP
13 December 2007 -
Plans to make the Island a world leader in caring for the environment have taken a step forward. IW Council Cabinet members have approved a Carbon Management Plan, which sets out the ways the authority plans to reduce its carbon footprint. Under the scheme, street lights, new-builds and waste will be among those areas to be targeted. Carbon emissions should be reduced by 4% per year – that’s 6,240 tonnes in five years. In 15 years, it will amount to a 60% reduction. The authority also plans to offer interest-free loans for energy-saving projects.
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MORE ACTS CONFIRMED FOR IW FESTIVAL
13 December 2007 -
Another raft of names are confirmed for the Isle of Wight Festival “2007. Ian Brown, The Kooks and N.E.R.D. will play Seaclose Park in June 2008. The Hoosiers and Scouting for Girls will join them. Tickets went on sale on 10 December and some are still available.
Read more about - MORE ACTS CONFIRMED FOR IW FESTIVAL
SAFE CHRISTMAS SCHEMES UNDERWAY
13 December 2007 -
A safe and happy Christmas and New Year holiday. That’s the wish of the IW Council, which says it is working with police and the NHS Primary Care Trust on schemes ranging from road safety campaigns to advice on preventing burglaries. Among the initiatives, Hampshire Constabulary is filming drunken teens and playing them back the embarrassing footage, before offering counselling and advice. There will also be an anti drink-drive campaign in Newport’s St Thomas' Square this weekend.
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"DISAPPOINTMENT" AS UNDERAGE DRINKER SERVED
13 December 2007 -
Thirteen Island premises have served underage drinkers, during undercover test purchase exercises, since April. The IW Council, which has been working with Island police to carry out the operations, says the figures are disappointing. Fifty two venues have been targeted and a quarter have failed. The IW Council’s Trading Standards Manager Richard Stone says, “The council is determined to crack down on the sale of products such as alcohol to underage customers…Having 13 out of 52 pubs fail test purchase exercises is 13 too many."
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5M FUNDING GAP PROMPTS COUNCIL QUESTIONNAIRE
10 December 2007 -
The Isle of Wight Council's warning of a possible funding gap of £5 million - following this year's Government grant settlement. The authority says it spends more than £300 million pounds per year on services including recycling, education and community safety. It claims current spending will need to increase £10 million next year. It has launched a questionnaire to ask Islanders where we would like to see money spent and if there's anything we would be prepared to spend more on. It is available online at www.iwight.com/budget2008/survey/ and will also be published in the IW County Press.
Read more about - 5M FUNDING GAP PROMPTS COUNCIL QUESTIONNAIRE
ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL TICKETS ON SALE
10 December 2007 -
Tickets go on sale today for the Isle of Wight Festival 2008. Lily Allen, The Zutons, Iggy & The Stooges and KT Tunstall have been announced for the forthcoming Seaclose Park event. They'll play alongside The Police, The Kaiser Chiefs and The Sex Pistols. The seventh Isle of Wight Festival takes place on the 13, 14 and 15 June.
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FLOOD WATCH FOR ISLAND
08 December 2007 -
A flood watch was in place around the Isle of Wight’s coastline, on Saturday night. It followed more bad weather on Saturday. On Friday, gusts of up to 70 miles per hour swept across the Island, downing trees.
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COWES TO POLAND, TO SEE THE BLYSKAWICA
08 December 2007 -
A former wartime Island shipbuilder and the mayors of Cowes and East Cowes have joined a party of VIPs in a visit to see the Cowes-built Polish warship ORP Blyskawica. Norman Barton, 74 (PICTURED), formerly from East Cowes, started working at the JS White’s yard in 1943. Members of the World Ships Trust were also in the party to visit Gdynia. The Trust has awarded an accolade to the managers of the Blyskawica, which was built on the River Medina and was commissioned in 1937 and which played a major role in protecting Cowes and East Cowes during a World War Two bombing raid. It is now run as a museum and is celebrating its 70th birthday this year.
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DISABILITY AWARDS WINNERS HONOURED
08 December 2007 -
Newport’s Riverside Centre, the Gateway Club and the IW College’s Independent Living Skills Recycling Team were among the winners at the IW Disability Awards in Ventnor. The Isle of Wight Council’s chairman Councillor Roger Mazillius and the High Sheriff David Langford hosted the event which recognised the work of people who have overcome disability, or who have helped to make the lives of disabled people easier. It was staged to mark the International Day of the
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KASIER CHIEFS NAMED FOR IW FESTIVAL
08 December 2007 -
The Kaiser Chiefs are the latest act to be confirmed for the Isle of Wight Festival 2008. The critically acclaimed combo from Leeds will headline the event’s opening night. They’ll be joined by The Sex Pistols and The Police at the three day Seaclose Park weekend, in June.
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CHRISTMAS GOES FOLK IN RYDE
08 December 2007 -
Ryde’s hosting A Traditional Christmas. Renowned performers Keith Kendrick & Sylvia Needham, plus the Island’s The Dollymopps, are appearing at the town’s George Street Centre, tonight.
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WALK THE WIGHT ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL
05 December 2007 -
Schools across the Isle of Wight are being challenged to “Walk the Wight” in May 2008. Instead of the annual trek from Bembridge to Alum Bay, pupils will be walking between 26.5 and 72 miles, in the lead up to the event. They can rack up the miles by leaving mum and dad’s taxi at home and walking to school, or by heading out for a walk instead of sitting in with computer games. If you would like to take part, you need to do so by 7 December. You can walk in teams and for every mile completed a sticker will be awarded. Seventy two stickers will be rewarded with a medal, certificate and T-shirt. Contact Karen Eeles at the Earl
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MINI-MOTO CLUB PROVES ROARING SUCCESS
05 December 2007 -
East Cowes has a new mini-moto club and it's looking for members. Hampshire and IW Police's ACTING INSPECTOR GED ARMITAGE has this report on why it was set up and how you can get involved:
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POSTER COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED
02 December 2007 -
The winners of the Environment Agency’s climate change poster competition will be awarded their accolades by Island MP Andrew Turner (pictured), on Monday. They’ll gather at Newport’s Riverside Centre. Children aged between 4 and 16 years were challenged to design a poster to show the things we can do to help the environment.
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DISABILITY AWARDS HELD IN VENTNOR
02 December 2007 -
December 3 is the International Day of the Disabled. An awards ceremony is being held in Ventnor, for people and places on the Isle of Wight who have excelled in driving forward the disability and equality agenda. The Island's Disability Awards take place at the Botanic Gardens, hosted by the Island's High Sheriff David Langford.
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WALKER BROTHERS' JOHN APPEARS ON ISLAND
02 December 2007 -
Singer John Walker will be appearing at Medina Theatre in Newport, later. From the 1960s group The Walker Brothers, he had his first hit in 1965 with 'Love Her'. The show starts tonight at 8pm.
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